Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Wen Xinya could still hear Wen Haowen berating her and calling her a treacherous bastard. She could completely imagine his expression.
Wen Xinya walked towards the backyard slowly. After a night of thunderstorms, the leaves had fallen onto the ground, causing it to be filled with lush greenery and the yard to be full of life. The ground was also covered in red, white and pink petals of withered flowers. However, there were also flower buds on the vines boasting of life.
Only flowers that had been through rain could blossom so vibrantly.
Xia Ruya stood quietly beside her and looked up at the flowers that only had their branches left, appearing as beautiful as a white swan, exuding a melancholic beauty.
“Yesterday, there was still white magnolia in the vase on the second floor. However, they were replaced with gorgeous begonia flowers this morning. It was just a thunderstorm and yet, everything is scattered and the ground is muddy.”
“It’s only common for flowers to bloom and wither,” Wen Xinya said with pursed lips. Xia Ruya was clearly trying to mock her and was referring to the scandal this morning.
“I think that the weather and life are far more predictable. Life is all about ups and downs, and it’s the same case for flowers,” Xia Ruya said while shifting her gaze onto Wen Xinya who was still beaming with joy. It was as if the thunderstorm last night had nothing to do with her at all.
Even if Wen Xinya is the rightful heiress of the Wen Family, has a reputable grandfather like Old Mr. Mo, and made her postpone her coming-of-age ceremony by three days, so what?
Wen Xinya is nothing but a joke now. Regardless of how successful the coming-of-age ceremony may be, it’s not going to overwrite her boorish nature. No amount of glory can erase her shameful past.
Soon enough, I’ll be the brightest shining star in the city, especially when Wen Xinya’s unglamorous past is juxtaposed against my glory.
Wen Xinya said calmly, “I do agree with your words, but there’s a popular ancient Chinese saying that roughly means ‘misfortunes and blessings go hand-in-hand’. Look… the flowers have withered but the leaves have grown again. Isn’t that a perfect example?”
Xia Ruya was at a sudden loss for words. She stared at Wen Xinya in a bid to see the despair within her.
Wen Xinya stared at Xia Ruya and said profoundly, “Miss Xia, the sun always shines brightly after the thunderstorm. Humans… have to be more open-minded. If you keep pretending to be sad and melancholic all day, you’ll shorten your lifespan and be prone to illnesses.”
Xia Ruya had an awful expression on her face, yet she was speechless.
“The emperor Jingyun said that the mind affects the spleen and overthinking is harmful for the stomach. The stomach is also the root of all diseases. I heard from the servants at the old mansion that growing up, Miss Xia has always been frailer than others. Look… you’ve only moved in with the Wen Family for a few days and yet you’ve already caught a cold and gotten diarrhea.” Wen Xinya had never planned to let Xia Ruya off like that. Since Xia Ruya had provoked her first, she decided to pay her back in her own coin.
“I’ve always been weak since I was born,” Xia Ruya said while staring at her. Wen Xinya’s lips seemed venomous and she appeared extremely terrifying underneath the sunlight. Every word of hers was filled with mockery. She was just beating around the bush and trying to say that she was scheming.
Wen Xinya burst into laughter and said, “Oh, I see! But that also means that it’d be difficult to treat your condition. You should relax and nourish your body properly. I do have a few herbal recipes…”
“No… no need for that. I’ve already recovered and gotten much better,” Xia Ruya said, appearing as pale as a sheet. At the thought of all the strange-tasting herbal soups, she felt a sudden wave of queasiness.
A sullen expression formed on Wen Xinya’s face and she said, “You don’t have to be so nervous. I was just making a casual comment. I have some herbal recipes, but I don’t give them to anyone, especially not to such hypocritical saints like you. You’re just greedy and vicious on the inside.”
“Xinya, I know you’re fretting over the news reports of your scandal in the magazines and newspapers. That’s why you’re saying such nasty words to me. I can understand how you’re feeling right now,” said Xia Ruya, who felt as if the coldness in Wen Xinya’s eyes had penetrated through her skin and into her bones. She clenched her fists tightly, feeling as if she was a scaled fish.
Wen Xinya snorted with laughter and looked at Xia Ruya in disdain. “Miss Xia, please don’t go around acting like a Saint again. That’s too noble for a peasant like me.”
Wen Xinya stared at Xia Ruya, appearing utterly disgusted.
Xia Ruya stared at Wen Xinya who was clad in a black and white suit, appearing noble and elegant with a look of disdain.
Wen Xinya guffawed incessantly and continued, “Hahahaha… speaking of scandals, no one can compare to you, Miss Xia. Two years ago, you became the loosest woman in the city and you were called a hypocritical, fake, pretentious bitch. Even until now, the photos of your virginity test report are still circulating around the internet. How could I compare to you?”
“Xinya, do you feel proud about deriving joy from others’ pain? Even if my scandal went viral, I still managed to prove my own innocence. How about you… could you deny that those reports are fake?” Xia Ruya asked, turning as pale as a sheet. Her tender face was contorted ghastly due to her immense anger and her eyes were like dark pools of ink that knew no bounds.
Wen Xinya smiled and said, “I’ve never denied that I used to have a shameful past and I won’t sell myself short either. I’ve never been one to be trifled with.”
Xia Ruya watched as Wen Xinya left, her slender waist and back exuding an intricate beauty.
