Zhou Yuxi looked around and studied her surroundings, taking in the familiar faces in the room with meticulous eyes. Gradually, understanding dawned upon her.
Basically, this here marked the first and foremost mental battlefield brewing in between the True and Fake Daughter.
And if things went according to the usual classic trope of faceslapping in between the sisters of different blood, this minute would be exactly the time when she, Zhou Yuxi–the very bitch who was deliberately causing trouble for the True Daughter–throw herself onto the floor to cut a sorry figure, weeping and playing the victim.
Unfortunately, she forgot that the True Daughter here wasn't just any ordinary pure and helpless True Daughter like the ones in typical Mary Sue webnovels.
Zhou Yuxi lightly dusted her knees, ready to poorly perform her green tea performance to disgust the family when the True Daughter beat her to it, dumping herself onto the sofa and sobbing softly like a weak rabbit.
Wait! What are you doing, snatching my lines like that!
Zhou Yuxi could only dumbly watch as Zhou Yuqi, took out her handkerchief and wiped her crestfallen crystal-like tears bead by bead, her soft and coy voice hanging in the air.
"I know that Sister isn't happy with my presence. After all, what am I, a country bumpkin, when compared to the beautiful sister who was both elegant and talented? However, blood is afterall thicker than water. How can I break the elder's heart of reuniting the family?" Zhou Yuqi said in between her tears.
"..."
It wasn't as if what she had said was untrue or anything but… What the failing White Lotus act was this!
Zhou Yuxi was left speechless. She looked at the pair of senior father and son, Zhou Mo and Zhou Ziyang, who were watching silently by the sideline.
As expected, unlike the still green and gullible Zhou Xingxing who could only stare at her with blank eyes, both Father Zhou and Grandfather Zhou weren't stupid.
As someone who stood in a high position of power and authority, how can they not see through Zhou Yuqi's pretentious act?
Noticing their darkening faces, Zhou Yuxi began to feel uneasy. Afterall, only she herself knew of the family's future, ah!
If the family were to offend this True Daughter, they would have their fates sealed and set to doom!
Zhou Yuxi's face began to slowly lose color. If things were to move according to the future she saw…
The True Daughter Zhou Yuqi, after her various poorly-disguised attempts to frame Zhou Yuxi and seek death, would utterly be loathed by the prestigious Zhous who valued virtue and integrity above all.
And with the Green Tea Bitch Zhou Yuxi fanning the flames, it didn't take long for Zhou Yuqi to be driven out of the Zhou Mansion.
From then on, the True Daughter would go down the path of revenge and be entirely blackened throughout and within, plotting the demise of the whole family with the help of the mysterious handsome man.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yuxi shot the pretentiously weeping Zhou Yuqi a begging look, inwardly expressing: 'This Sister here, stop digging your own grave, will you? Afterall, the grave doesn't only belong to you but also us all, okay?'
Unfortunately, Zhou Yuqi mistook her signal and thought that she was admitting her loss, therefore flashing her a haughty smirk in return.
And this unsightly side of hers, naturally didn't escape Father Zhou's and Grandfather Zhou's eyes.
"Yuqi! Cut it out!" Grandfather Zhou couldn't help but scold her a few words.
Flabbergasted, Zhou Yuqi stilled, her red puffy eyes wide and still dripping with crocodile tears.
Looking at her, Father Zhou could literally feel his veins popping against his skin, his forehead throbbing as he thought of the future troubles waiting for him and his family.
Without any doubt, with such lacking upbringing, this newly-found daughter of his would be losing a lot of face for the Zhou family in the future.
However, he could do nothing about it when the DNA certificate test had been shoved before his eyes–all loud, clear, and authentic.
With a sigh, his gaze traveled from his nervously fidgeting biological daughter, Zhou Yuqi, to his pitifully drenched and shaking adopted daughter, Zhou Yuxi, who he had meticulously raised and trained for years.
The more he looked and compared the two, the more he found Zhou Yuxi pleasing to the eye. Afterall, the Zhou family's teachings weren't placed there for nothing.
Although he and Zhou Yuxi weren't blood-related, throughout these years, the girl hadn't disappointed him for even a bit and had instead impressed him with every little aspect about her.
Be it her grades, mannerism, or talents in various fields–she never let the family's name down.
As for this poorly-raised biological daughter of his… Father Zhou's head once again throbbed.
"Let's stop the conversation and continue later on." Father Zhou tiredly started out, beckoning for the head servant to come forward. "Auntie Chen, show Xiao Qi to her room."
"Yes, Master." Housekeeper Chen nodded and bowed down in a perfect 90 degrees, her wrinkled face bearing a small polite smile.
Seeing this, Zhou Yuxi silently wiped the cold sweat drenching her forehead.
Fortunately, the matter didn't escalate and instead came to an abrupt end like this, neither too hot nor too cold; not a bad start at all.
Zhou Yuxi thought that there was still room left for improvement in the future. And yet, it was exactly at this moment that the 6-year-old youngest son, Zhou Xingxing, decided to jump out to cause trouble.
"She is not my sister! She is an evil witch. Daddy, we need to throw her out before she turns us all into ugly frogs!"
The little potato Zhou Xingxing pointed a stubby finger at Zhou Yuqi, his round bulging cheeks fuming red.
Zhou Yuqi's face immediately blackened, her lowered eyes flashing with hatred. Noticing this change, Zhou Yuxi's heart skipped a beat.
'Little potato, what are you doing? Digging the grave pit three feets deeper? We small side characters couldn't afford to offend this huge, alive and breathing ancestor, ah!'
Zhou Yuxi tried to salvage the situation, "It's none of big sister's fault. It is I who's being careless. I merely wanted to drink some water to quench my thirst and ended up washing myself instead haha, perhaps I'm just too thirsty."
Zhou Yuxi hadn't even exchanged her breath when she heard Zhou Xingxing raising his voice to once again incite trouble.
"Sister, you don't have to fear the witch! Xing'er will protect you! Daring to throw water at Sister on the first day, the witch is very vicious!" The little potato opened his short stubby arms to shield Zhou Yuxi.
Zhou Yuxi nearly puked out blood. It was indeed heartwarming to be whole-heartedly protected by such a cute bun. However…
The glass was clearly in her hand, how could it end up being Zhou Yuqi throwing water at her?
"Enough." Father Zhou finally opened his mouth, putting the bouncing little potato back in his place.
Zhou Yuxi's eyes shone with reverence. As expected of the dominating Boss Daddy! Resolving everything with just one overbearing word!
However, that excitement of hers didn't last for long.
Father Zhou casted his sharp gaze at the stiffening Zhou Yuqi, his voice stern and cold, "Xiao Qi, since you've returned to the family, it's time for you to act as a respectable member of the Zhous. Erase that bad habit of yours and stop pulling out petty tricks to scheme the others. Don't embarrass our name."
Again with the family reputation. Zhou Yuxi's foot nearly slipped.
'Good Daddy, I know that you're righteous and wanted to be fair and just. But Daddy, this girl here is the big deal! Offend her and she'll clear out the entire Zhou family in one year!'