C3 For the Sake of the Family!

"I was able to get Pei Zijin out of the Pei family back then, and I can just as easily ruin Pei Xinxiao now! I originally planned to hand her over to those wealthy patrons, but she got lucky and met Shen Yunsheng. All your careful arrangements with those patrons were wasted!"

Zheng Siya smiled slyly, wrapping her arm around Zheng Rulan's. Her beautiful eyes gleamed with cunning.

"Does she really think she stumbled upon Shen Yunsheng and can now live the high life? Not if I can help it. After tonight's fiery encounter, any good feelings Pei Xinxiao has for Shen Yunsheng will vanish, and Shen Yunsheng will think Pei Xinxiao was a gift from our family. Who in their right mind would fall for a gift?"

"Exactly. The Shen family is complicated, and Old Master Shen is notoriously difficult. Even if Pei Xinxiao somehow wins his favor, all we have to do is expose their pre-marital affair, and she'll be done with the Shen family for good!"

"Mom, you always think of everything!"

The room was filled with the laughter of Zheng Rulan and Zheng Siya, but Pei Xinxiao couldn't take it anymore. She burst through the door.

"Mrs. Lan, Siya, why are you doing this to me? I didn't believe it when Shen Yunsheng said it was all your doing, but you... you..."

"Xinxiao, listen to what Mrs. Lan has to say. Things aren't..."

"Mom, why keep hiding it from her now? Just tell her the truth!" Siya pulled Rulan, who was trying to cover up, and confidently walked up to Xinxiao. She had to admit, Xinxiao was indeed a beauty, with her delicate, petite face and fair skin that had a captivating glow. But the more beautiful Xinxiao was, the more Siya wanted to mar that face.

"Yes, we did send you to Shen Yunsheng's bed, but wasn't it for the sake of the Pei family? Even if you can't marry into the Shen family, Shen Yunsheng might still think highly of you because of that one night. Wouldn't that give our family a chance to get through the financial crisis?"

"For the Pei family? Was driving my brother away also for the Pei family? Mrs. Lan, where did you deliberately send my brother all those years ago?"

"Xinxiao, don't make baseless accusations. Your brother's disappearance was a mistake by the servants, and your father knows about it too..."

"I just heard you say you could get rid of a Pei Zijin..."

"You must have misheard, Xinxiao. You have to trust Mrs. Lan. Everything we did was for the Pei family!"

"For the Pei family, always claiming it's for the Pei family. Don't make yourselves sound so noble!"

Pei Xinxiao finally saw the true colors of the two people in front of her. All these years, she thought she had a good stepmother, only to find out she was a backstabbing snake in disguise!

“What’s all this noise about at this hour? Can’t a person get some sleep around here?” Pei Zhengjun glared at Xinxiao with a displeased expression. “Your Aunt Lan and sister arranged a date for you and even introduced you to Shen Yunsheng. They’ve been worrying themselves sick over you, and this is how you repay them? Apologize right now!”

“Dad, are you out of your mind? Worrying about a date for me? It’s all a lie! Do you even know... tonight she set me up to entertain some wealthy patrons to secure funding...”

“Zhengjun, how could you think I’d do such a thing? This must be a misunderstanding...”

“Xinxiao, stop being so stubborn and apologize to your Aunt Lan!”

“Dad, have you lost your senses? What kind of spell have they cast on you? She’s trying to sell your daughter, and you want me to apologize? Remember, it was her who caused my brother to disappear back then!”

“You... you... you...”

Pei Zhengjun couldn’t get a word out before he collapsed backward.

“Zhengjun, Zhengjun!” With his eyes closed, it was clear he had fainted. Zheng Rulan immediately panicked. “Xinxiao, you’re too reckless! Siya, call 911 right away and get your dad to the hospital.”