"Enough!"
Du Feng suddenly slapped the armrest of the sofa, making a dull thud that made Xia Lian flinch.
"What are you throwing a tantrum for so early in the morning! It's not your place to dictate how Assistant Wu does her job. Mind your own business!"
He was already in a foul mood because of Meng Ruozhao's matter and Yan Qiubai's refusal to loosen the agency rights.
Xia Lian's current pestering was like adding fuel to the fire.
Especially since he wasn't unaware that Xia Lian wasn't as kind to Meng Ruozhao as she seemed.
Maybe it was precisely because Xia Lian had prematurely revealed her malice towards Meng Ruozhao that the latter now had such a big issue with the family.
Xia Lian was publicly scolded.
Especially in front of Wu Qian, this "potential threat", and Meng Ruozhao, she immediately felt humiliated. Her eyes welled up with aggrieved tears.
She didn't dare to talk back to Du Feng anymore. As she turned her head, she happened to see Meng Ruozhao standing on the stairs.
All her pent - up anger and jealousy immediately found their best outlet and turned towards her.
"Oh! I wondered who it was! Our young lady has finally deigned to come down?"
Xia Lian's voice suddenly rose, full of mean - spirited sarcasm. Her cold eyes fixed on the suitcase in Meng Ruozhao's hand.
"What? Got too big for your britches? Learned to stay out all night and bring some shady people home?"
"Wasn't it embarrassing enough causing a scene at the hospital yesterday? Now what are you up to? Running away from home? Who are you trying to impress!"
Anger made her stop pretending.
Her eyes were like poisoned needles, stabbing hard at Meng Ruozhao.
She also glanced at the young man behind her.
She was briefly stunned by Pei Jiangmu's good looks and elegant demeanor, but then she noticed his clothes.
He looked good and had a noble air about him. If he changed his outfit, he might really look like a young master.
It was a pity. From his clothes, he was clearly a gigolo.
Since he was a gigolo, she didn't bother to hide the contempt in her eyes and sneered inwardly.
This step - daughter of hers didn't seem to have any other skills, but she did have a good - looking face.
It was no wonder that these men were so eager to pursue her.
Du Xixi immediately chimed in.
"Exactly, sister. You're being so unreasonable."
"Dad is doing all this for your own good. How could you break Dad's heart like this? And you even got Assistant Wu scolded."
As she spoke, she glanced at Wu Qian with a look of anticipation for a show.
Seeing the blame being shifted onto her, Meng Ruozhao decided not to be a "spectator" anymore.
She calmly walked down the stairs. The blush on her face from being in the room earlier hadn't completely faded yet.
But her eyes had regained their calmness, even with a hint of sharpness that was barely noticeable.
No one noticed her gaze. They only thought she was so beautiful with her red lips and white teeth that it was hard to look away.
Meng Ruozhao didn't remain silent or back down like before.
Since they had already half - exposed their true colors, if Xia Lian and the others didn't pretend to be kind parents, then she didn't need to act like a well - behaved daughter either.
She put the suitcase beside her, folded her arms, and tilted her chin slightly.
Her clear eyes were now like a frozen lake, coldly meeting the gazes of Xia Lian and Du Xixi.
She even let out a soft scoff. The sound was not loud, but it clearly drowned out Xia Lian's chatter.
"Aunt Xia, why are you so angry so early in the morning? Did you not sleep well last night, or was the bird's nest not cooked well this morning?"
Her voice was calm, with a condescending sneer.
"I just want to move closer to the store. How is that running away from home?"
"Besides, doesn't my leaving suit your wishes better?"
"Otherwise, having to look at my face day and night would only make you look haggard."
"Tsk tsk. Compared to Miss Wu, you really..."
She deliberately didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was obvious.
Xia Lian was so angry at her blunt retort that she was momentarily speechless. She pointed at Meng Ruozhao.
"You! How dare you talk like that? Have some respect for your elders!"
"Respect for elders?"
Meng Ruozhao raised her eyebrows, her eyes becoming even sharper.
"Right. After all, I'm not like my sister. She has a mother who plans everything for her."
"And she's also found such a good step - father in my dad, who dotes on her so much."
"No one taught me, so of course I don't know how to show respect for elders."
Her words were like ice - coated needles, precisely piercing through the "good step - mother" image that Xia Lian had carefully crafted before.
Xia Lian hated it the most when others mentioned that she was just a latecomer to this family and had brought a "burden" with her.
"You!"
Her face flushed red, and she trembled with anger. For a moment, she didn't know how to retort.
This little bitch. She didn't know what had happened to her over the years.
When she first came back, she was so submissive.
Now, she didn't take them seriously at all.
It was all because she had hooked up with Yan Qiubai and thought she was something special!
Meng Ruozhao didn't give her a chance to catch her breath. She turned her gaze to Du Xixi and the corner of her mouth curled up in an even colder arc.
"And you, Du Xixi, my dear sister."
"Dad has been worrying himself sick about me? Worrying about me so much that he won't even let me into the Du Group?"
"He doesn't even give me a single cent of pocket money. I earn my own money, and yet you guys say I'm embarrassing the Du family."
"If this is love, I'd be happy to give it to you."
"Oh, there's no need to give it. After all, although you're not Dad's biological daughter, Dad treats you better than his own daughter."
Du Xixi also hated it the most when others said she wasn't a real Du family member.
Over the years, she had changed her surname, flattered Du Feng in every way, and begged him to take her to various social events.
She had finally managed to make people forget that she wasn't the real young lady of the Du family.
Now, Meng Ruozhao had just exposed her most vulnerable spot.
Her eyes welled up with angry tears, and she looked on the verge of collapse.
But she couldn't say anything directly to Meng Ruozhao in front of Du Feng. So, she could only look at Du Feng with tear - filled eyes and call out pitifully.
"Dad!"
"Meng Ruozhao!"
Du Feng suddenly stood up, his face ashen. He was clearly dissatisfied with her indiscriminate attacks on everyone.
He also hated her attitude that was completely out of his control.
But Meng Ruozhao acted as if she didn't hear. Her eyes swept over her father with a grim face. She took a deep breath.
"Forget it. Since my staying here makes everyone so unhappy, I'll leave first."
"Let's all calm down and talk later."
Du Feng wouldn't side with her, and she couldn't really have a complete falling - out with them.
After all, the matter of the report was still unclear.
There were also many doubts about the past.
So she appropriately gave everyone a way out.
Du Feng looked at her, a shadow flashing in his eyes.
This daughter was more difficult to control than he had imagined.
He was now increasingly skeptical. Had she really lost her memory?
A little girl who had been lost since childhood and didn't know how she had survived should have been looked down upon and should be very good at reading people's faces.
But why didn't she have any awareness of this at all?
Moreover, he felt that he couldn't understand her.
A young girl in her early twenties had even stumped him, an old and cunning fox.
She must have something up her sleeve.
Or, was she deliberately brought back just to take revenge?
Many thoughts flashed through Du Feng's mind, but finally, they all faded away.
Since he couldn't see through her, it might be a good thing to let her move out for a while.