The scenes from yesterday replayed in her mind, making the rage inside her resurface.

Before the Xi family went on their downfall, the Han family tried so hard to get on Yue Lingsi's good side, but now they were straight-up bullying her!

Even her son-in-law, Han Yifeng, was rude towards her. No matter what, she was still his mother-in-law after all!

Moreover, there was also Huang Ziyao's dissatisfied tone of voice!

"If it weren't for your uncle's help, the Han Corporation product launch wouldn't have gone so smoothly. Their attitude now is really frustrating!" Yue Lingsi's tone was sharp, and a cold light gathered around her eyes as well.

However, Xi Xinyi shot her a disgusted glance. "Mother, it's enough! You're gambling all day, every day. What happened to your elegant self-image? Can you stop causing more trouble for me? The debt collectors are on our tail now. If Grandfather finds out, he'll lash out at me again! I don't hope that you can help me, but can you stop holding me back?" Xi Xinyi could not help but complain. She averted her gaze away and refused to look at Yue Lingsi's face.

Yue Lingsi's eyes widened after she heard what came out of Xi Xinyi's mouth. She could not believe what she just heard and thought her ears malfunctioned.

Given Xinyi's tone and those words...

Was she despising her own mother?

"Xinyi, what did you just say? I'm holding you back? What do you mean by that? Are you saying that I'm holding you back right now?" asked Yue Lingsi as she stared at Xi Xinyi.

Xi Xinyi took a deep breath and gave her an impatient glance. "Mother, don't you have any idea what's going on right now? Your reputation is at its worst right now. Why can't you be like Shen Wenna? At least, she could still keep father's heart after so many years, yet you're acting like a savage now! Shen Wenna is always so elegant and knows all the methods there is to keep a man's heart. Ugh, why can't you be more like her? Don't you know how badly you've lost already?"

Xi Xinyi thought about the hardships she had gone through, yet there were a lot of things that still did not go her way. She had nowhere to express her anger, so she lashed it all out on Yue Lingsi.

Without giving it much thought, her careless words pierced through Yue Lingsi's heart like arrows, causing her excruciating pain inside!

Shen Wenna and Xi Mushan were a taboo topic for her. There was no way she could stand it!

Her red eyes stared at Xi Xinyi as her voice trembled slightly. "What did you say? What? Who do you think I've worked hard for? I'm your mother! What's so good about Shen Wenna? That old witch! She said she didn't care. Lies! Her daughter is also another little witch! Xi Xiaye defeated you as well! You've really disappointed me, Xinyi! Just which aspect of Shen Wenna can measure up to me?"

"Based on the fact that she could stay virtuous for twenty over years and never caused any trouble for Xi Xiaye, what about you? If it weren't for your scandal, Grandfather wouldn't have gotten angry and Father wouldn't have divorced you. Grandmother wouldn't turn out this way too, and the Xi family would've still existed. You've ruined everything! It's all because of you!" Xi Xinyi just exploded at her.

"Shut up! Don't compare me to that old witch, Shen Wenna! Just who does she thinks she is!? How dare she steal my man away!? I showed interest in your father first. I thought of her as my best friend, yet she betrayed me! I simply imitated her act afterward! Your father was unwilling to even touch me for the past twenty years, so why should I keep myself virtuous for him? He doesn't like me, does he? There are a lot of people who like me! People who are much better and younger!"

Yue Lingsi had a dark and maniacal vibe around her. Nonetheless, Xi Xinyi put on a fierce expression to face her.

"You're crazy! You've ruined everything. Not only are you not going to repent, but you even gave up on yourself. If you're so capable, why don't you steal Father back again?"

"Shen Wenna is now only a useless, blind person. That's her karma! I'm not the one who ruined everything. It's you! If you didn't play those tricks and have so much negative news exposed, things would've been peaceful for us! You've really disappointed me, Xinyi!"

Yue Lingsi took a deep breath as she tried to calm down.

Xi Xinyi then replied, "You're still trying to avoid responsibility now. Things wouldn't have ended up this way if your scandal didn't exist. If you still think you're above Shen Wenna, think again! Don't embarrass yourself—"

Pa!

Before Xi Xinyi could finish her sentence, there was a loud slap and she felt a fiery hot pain on her left cheek!

A clear red palm mark appeared on her little face!

"Whose daughter are you? You're my daughter, but you're helping that witch, Shen Wenna, to humiliate your mother! Have you forgotten that you could never have become the princess of the Xi family if it weren't for me? Do you think you could've gotten married into the Han family? How dare you talk to me like this? Are you really my daughter?" Yue Lingsi held her palm as she looked at Xi Xinyi.

Xi Xinyi stared at her in rage. "I'm just telling the truth. Just admit that you're no better than Shen Wenna! It's because of you that I've become so unfortunate!"

"You... Are you trying to kill me?" Yue Lingsi's vision darkened. She quickly gripped onto the bed frame to stand properly as she almost collapsed. She could not believe this person in front of her was actually her daughter.

Was this even her daughter?

Xi Xinyi's face was icy cold as she wiped off the speck of blood at the corner of her mouth before averting her gaze away.

Yue Lingsi felt like her heart was being stabbed with a sharp knife. The pain almost knocked her out!

Yue Lingsi held back the urge to pass out with a ton of effort before she inhaled deeply and looked at Xi Xinyi. "Xi Xinyi, how did you become like this? Anyone in the Xi family has a right to diss me, but not you! All these years, who have I been fighting for? How dare you say such things to me?" She stared at Xi Xinyi with disappointment and heartbreak.

However, Xi Xinyi just laughed coldly. She covered her burning cheek and said, "I was just reminding you to be clear about the truth. Haven't you hit me today?"

"Be clear about the truth? What truth? I really didn't expect you to be like this. Are you looking down on me? Do you have to compare me to that slut, Shen Wenna? Don't forget that I gave birth to you, and not Shen Wenna!"

Yue Lingsi was so furious that her face turned beetroot, and her gaze was sharp as she stared at Xi Xinyi.

"Don't compare you to Shen Wenna? That's all because you think you're far superior to her! Otherwise, Father wouldn't have left us and not even take a second look at us. Instead, she returned to Shen Wenna's side! Wake up! Look at yourself right now! You're like a street shrew! Forget about how your reputation has been ruined. The debt collectors have even knocked on your door. Don't you know how terrible your image is right now! Can't you cause less trouble for me? Because of you, look at what we've become? We're homeless and are left with nothing!"

The more Xi Xinyi spoke, the angrier she was. Since they were on the topic, she went all out and insisted on straightening matters. "I should have had so many things if not for you... How did I get a mother like you?"

Xi Xinyi gripped her face. It was as if her beautiful eyes were covered in frost. They were so cold that one could feel a piercing pain from her gaze.

"Enough! You keep saying that it's all because of me! Have you seen your husband? Since your child was born, Han Yifeng didn't even take a second look at you. You're really capable, but you can't even watch your own man now?"

Yue Lingsi hit her below the belt as she could not help but ramble on with her harsh criticism.

Upon hearing this, Xi Xinyi just chuckled coldly. "At least, I'm still Mrs. Han right now. I am the head lady of the Han Corp, and even bore a son for the Han family, so they have no way of ditching me, and you? You've got nothing! The Xi family is gone! Grandfather is completely disappointed in you too. What do you have now? What? You have nothing—"

Pa!

In the midst of Xi Xinyi's sharp and cold shout, Yue Lingsi lifted a hand again and bitterly slapped the other side of her face!

Xi Xinyi shrieked and widened her red eyes furiously as she glared at Yue Lingsi. Her hands were twisted in a knot.

"Even if I am left with nothing, I am still your mother! I gave birth to you! This is karma for treating your mother this way! I can't believe that you are my daughter! Does that mean that your obedience all these years was fake? Did you lie even to your own mother? You're really daring now! Remember who raised you! I've really raised a thankless wretch!"

Yue Lingsi was so mad that the blood rose to her head. She shot Xi Xinyi a cold glare before getting up.

"Reflect on your own conscience!" she demanded and then turned to leave the ward.

Yet, Yue Lingshi had just opened the door when a tall figure greeted her sight.

In surprise, she subconsciously retreated two steps and then looked up to see, realizing that it was Han Yifeng!

At that moment, he stood coldly before the door. His handsome face did not reveal a hint of surprise at all. His dark eyes were filled with disdain as he looked callously at Yue Lingsi!

Yue Lingsi was shocked as if she realized something. Her heart started to beat really fast like a bullet train!

Could it be—?

That he had heard their conversation earlier?

How much did he hear?

Yue Lingsi was startled and started to feel uneasy as she looked at Han Yifeng.

Yet, Han Yifeng just looked mockingly at her. His gaze made Yue Lingsi's heart sink. She wanted to say something when Han Yifeng bitterly averted his gaze and looked at the sickbed.

"Yifeng!"

When Xi Xinyi saw Han Yifeng, she quickly propped herself up from the sickbed. Her gentle expression was still pale and was very different from her menacing expression earlier. Now, she did seem quite lovely and moving.

With her head of messy hair, Xi Xinyi asked Han Yifeng a little weakly, "Yifeng, you're here! How's our child?"

Yet Han Yifeng only responded with a cold expression, his cold gaze went back and forth between her and Yue Lingsi, then a sneer curved on his lips, Xi Xinyi was a little alarmed by this, she felt uneasy, and she started to have a bad feeling she quickly explained, "Yifeng, earlier I, earlier those were all angry words, I, I don't actually..."

"Whether it is or not, you know best. In fact, I'm not the one that needs an explanation."

As Han Yifeng spoke, he glanced coldly behind at Yue Lingsi and mocked, "This seems like you, but whenever you make a mistake, apart from pushing away the responsibilities and putting the blame on other people, what else do you know? Without a doubt, that's you, Xi Xinyi!"

"Yifeng, no! If it weren't for her, we wouldn't be like this. What do you want me, a weak girl, to do?"

Anger that was hard to conceal colored Xi Xinyi's pale face as she stared at Yue Lingsi for a long time. There was a sense of her being wronged that could not be hidden in her voice as she choked on her sobs. "You wouldn't understand that feeling of being so high at the peak and plummeting into a pit! If it weren't for all those scandals, Yueying would at least still be around, and so would the Xi family. Grandmother wouldn't be laying on the bed half-alive! You wouldn't understand the feeling of being chased by those fierce debt collections. Everything is so horrible now! Can't she just be more patient and let me have a few days of peace?"

Han Yifeng scoffed. "That's your problem. I'm just here to warn you that just because you've given birth to a child, you can't cover up all of that past. No matter what you do, if you want to move Grandfather, it's all useless to me. I'm set on getting this divorce!" Han Yifeng cruelly said, not wanting to see her face anymore. He turned around to leave the ward, ignoring Xi Xinyi's expression that had hardened.

The Han family had already planned to give the child a grand full moon banquet. In reality, they had already acknowledged Xi Xinyi's identity. Obviously, Han Yifeng was very displeased about that!

After a simple breakfast, Mu Yuchen and Xi Xiaye went straight back to Maple Residence.

Xi Xiaye slept till noon, so she was quite energetic. She went straight to the study room, intending to finish the data that she had cast aside. It was the Mid-Autumn Festival the next day, and she would return to the Shen residence to accompany Shen Yue who was at the Shen residence alone. Because she was more or less worried, Shen Wenna had previously reminded her to check on him too.

At this moment, inside the quiet and vast study room, Xi Xiaye was sitting before the study table and staring at the laptop screen before her with full concentration while Mu Yuchen lay on the lounge chair next to the bookshelf to read.

"Right, yesterday, the Administrative Department handed the documents in. It's for you to sign. Oh, and I forgot to tell you that the Administrative Department has been working on some office culture. Is it too much? It clashes with the PR Department a little."

Xi Xiaye studied the data on her screen when she suddenly remembered yesterday.

"The Administrative Department?" Mu Yuchen softly muttered as he looked up from the page to her. After he thought about it, he recalled. "You can make the decision. Manager Liu, who was just transferred over and previously did events, seems to have some conflict with you. She prepared the proposal, and she said that she'd like to properly promote the Imperial Sky Entertainment City during the National Day period."

When she heard Mu Yuchen, Xi Xiaye raised her brows and said softly, "A new broom sweeps clean [1], doesn't it?" She opened the document in her hand again. "Previously, I felt like because of my relationship with her, it was better for you to handle these things. Even though Manager Liu and I aren't quite on the same page, capability-wise, I do recognize her. I've seen her in negotiations with clients before. She does have a way with them. I do think that she can do better than the Administrative Department."

When he heard her, Mu Yuchen instantly smiled and stared at her through narrowed eyes. "I thought that you should at least complain about her to me, yet you spoke for her instead."

Xi Xiaye shrugged. "I've always been clear at differentiating work and personal matters. From the company's point of view, I obviously hope that her capabilities can be fully utilized."

He smiled and was about to say something when Sis Wang suddenly knocked on the door. "Master Mu, Master Ah Mo is here! He's downstairs and he says there's an important matter." Her respectful voice came from outside the door.

Ah Mo?

Mu Yuchen frowned slightly. He thought about it, then closed his book and got up. "I'll go down to take a look," he said. Upon seeing Xi Xiaye nod, he left the study room.

On the sofa in the living room downstairs, Ah Mo was already waiting. There was a faint joy on his expression that could not be concealed. When he heard the sound of footsteps, he immediately looked up at the staircase.

Once Ah Mo saw Mu Yuchen, he quickly went up to him. "Master!"

Mu Yuchen waved and indicated for him to sit back down as he slowly walked over. "What is it? You look quite pleased." He smiled and then turned to Sis Wang. "Sis Wang, bring us two cups of Blue Mountain coffee."

"Master, I thought you didn't like coffee." Ah Mo smiled.

"But I remember that you quite like Blue Mountain coffee. Yesterday, I was planning on meeting you for a chat, but after I finished the discussion with Father, it was already quite late. It's been quite busy at the entertainment club recently. Have you been quite exhausted too?"

"It's alright. I'm just worried that Lingshi's overworked. We've changed to a new set of sound systems, so she's been busy testing it out recently."

"Entertainment City is on the right track now although she's been worried about it too. I think I don't have to state my intentions of transferring you to be the executive manager at Imperial Sky so obviously."

Mu Yuchen's tone was casual, yet Ah Mo could hear the warmth in it.

Sis Wang quickly made two cups of coffee and served them.

After a while, Ah Mo softly spoke and sipped his coffee, "Thank you, Brother."

Mu Yuchen nodded. "What is it? Tell me."

When he heard this, Ah Mo set his cup aside and took out a few pictures from his pocket as he said, "Master, something's happened."

He handed the pictures over to Mu Yuchen as he explained, "As you ordered, after we sent our people away, we've been listening in to her ward. We realize that she did, in fact, call Qi Qiming. In fact, Qi Qiming and Yue Hai went over to visit her. The person in the picture is Yue Hai. From the looks of it, Qi Qiming could very possibly be the mysterious Mr. Wen."

Mu Yuchen flipped through the pictures. He did recognize Yue Hai as the person in it. After a momentary thought, he said softly, "If he's Mr. Wen, then he should know some things about Aunty. Check if Aunty had any connections with him previously. Also, arrange for me to personally meet Sis Wang tomorrow morning."

"Got it, Master!"

Ah Mo took the photos back. When he saw that he looked hesitant, he could not help but ask, "Master, don't you think Qi Qiming is behaving suspiciously?"

Mu Yuchen drank some coffee, then responded, "Yeah, he is. In fact, just with that incident alone, to go against me, he didn't spare threatening your sis-in-law. This shows that something must've happened to Qi Feng. However, what I don't understand is that if Qi Qiming is really intent on taking revenge against me, he should suppress me by winning me by surprise when I'm not ready and caught off-guard. Why does he have to warn me like this, and let me have my guard up instead? Based on my understanding of Qi Qiming, he wouldn't have done this so dumbly by himself. His abnormality makes me find it even odder instead." He finally raised his doubts after thinking about it.

"Qi Qiming has matured from his experience with Wang Qin. He has a lot of patience and always likes to win by surprise, unconsciously delivering a fatal blow. That's more like his sort of trick, and not appearing so brazenly, warning me, letting me watch him closely. It's the same logic as him supporting Xi Xinyi. If I guess correctly, then Qi Qiming should be quite ambitious. He wants to have the whole of Qi Kai. That means we have a problem. Doesn't him doing that mean that I'm working with Wang Qin?"

When he heard Mu Yuchen say this, Ah Mo was stunned. He thought about it in detail and felt that he did make sense.

"Master, you're saying..." Ah Mo felt tensed just looking at Mu Yuchen. Suddenly, he felt like there was a conspiracy.