C4 I will Personally Pick It up

Yi Lanyou clung to Yuan Hui's embrace, understanding the true value of this hug in a way only she could. "Mom, I don't want to leave you..." This was the deepest, most sincere thought in her heart. In her past life, Zhou Li had taken her back to the Yi family, where she faced her stepmother's bullying, her sister's oppression, the servants' disregard, and the scorn of other elite young masters and mistresses.

In that high society, she was an outcast. Her half-sister had ridiculed her at a significant banquet, saying she looked like a cavewoman trying to fit into a ballroom dance in her gown.

The memories of her past life were unbearable. She longed to flee, to shrink away.

She treasured every moment with her mother and didn't want to lose that warmth. In her previous life, she had tried so hard to fit into that circle, to avoid ridicule, always treading carefully. Her stepmother had strictly forbidden her from seeing her mother, and she had complied out of fear. But tragically, when they finally reunited, it was too late; her mother was gone.

As these thoughts flooded Yi Lanyou's mind, she wrapped her arms tighter around Yuan Hui's neck. She couldn't bear the thought of leaving her mother.

Meanwhile, after leaving Yi Lanyou's side, Zhou Li spiced up his tales, painting the Eldest Miss as the epitome of rudeness, arrogance, and unruliness. He nearly depicted Yi Lanyou as a monstrous creature.

"She's truly unfit for polite company," remarked a sixteen-year-old girl who overheard the conversation, rolling her eyes in disdain.

"Rui'er," the elegant and beautiful woman on the sofa chided, her eyebrows knitting together. Rui'er stuck out her tongue but held her tongue. The woman turned to the man beside her, his brow furrowed with concern, and suggested, "Brother En, perhaps you should go and bring her back yourself."

"Mommy, are you out of your mind?" Rui'er protested immediately. "She's nothing but a wild child. Why should Dad have to go and fetch her personally?"

"Rui'er, she is your sister!" the woman insisted firmly.

"I don't want a sister like that!" Rui'er retorted with a look of revulsion.

"Rui'er, go to your room!" the woman commanded, her face stern with a hint of anger.

"Humph!" The girl snorted coldly and stormed off.

"You may go as well," the elegant woman gestured, prompting Zhou Li to withdraw.

Now alone in the opulent living room, the couple remained. The woman spoke gently, "Brother En, Yi Lanyou is just a seventeen-year-old. It's natural for her to be immature. She probably acted out to defend Sister Hui. I was the one who failed her back then..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes welled up with tears. "She was my best friend, and I..."

"Fang Fang, let's not revisit the past," the man interjected, his brow creasing with discomfort at the memories.

"Brother En, please go bring Yi Lanyou back yourself. Father has already commanded it," Fang Fang sighed. "If Sister Hui's anger isn't quelled, then I'll accompany you. I'm prepared to endure any scolding or punishment..." Her voice broke into a soft sob, her eyes, already brimming with emotion, became even more heart-wrenching.

"You don't need to come with me," he reassured her, pulling Fang Fang into his embrace. "I'll handle it myself. And don't dwell on what happened seventeen years ago—it wasn't your fault."

"But it was my fault. I couldn't control my own heart..." Fang Fang confessed, nestled in his arms. "It's just that Yi Lanyou is such a pitiable child. A child raised with bitterness, I fear..."

He sighed deeply, "It's getting late. You should rest. I'll take care of this."

"Alright," Fang Fang agreed, rising to her feet. As she turned away, a cold, barely perceptible smirk crossed her face.