Cheng Xiran returned a gentle smile. "You're overstating, stepmother. If I don't eat, where will I get the strength to fight you all?"
One by one, the family members left. Looking at the sumptuous feast on the table, Cheng Xiran was reluctant to waste it.
She ate two full bowls. Even though she was stuffed today, she felt happy inside.
Even though Father Cheng, along with his beloved woman and daughter, had started to deliberately distance themselves from her, Cheng Xiran didn't really care. Their estrangement was no different from their previous coldness towards her.
But it was fine this way. They could keep their distance. She would still go where she needed to go and attend to her business as usual. She wouldn't let such trifles delay her grand plans.
On this afternoon, after her noon nap, Cheng Xiran took the half - written manuscript and rushed to the newspaper office. Because at this time every day, before long, Ren Ning'er would surely come to pick a fight. Sometimes she even brought her unreasonable younger sister and Old Madam Ren with her.
If she couldn't afford to provoke them, couldn't she just avoid them?
Arriving at the newspaper office, she took the cold herbal tea that Xue Lianyu offered. She drank several cups in a row, finding the taste sweet and refreshing without being cloying, quite similar to the fruit and flower tea she had drunk in modern times.
"This tea was made by Miss Ruoyue. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be willing to take it out. Even Mu Tou wanted to have some, but I didn't give it to him. Do you understand my feelings now when I say this?"
How could she not understand? He was being so obvious. Even a random passer - by could tell.
"Ruoyue... Another of your old flames?"
Cheng Xiran poured herself another cup. Zhuque beside her worriedly said, "Miss, drink less. It won't be good if you catch a chill."
For this, she received a disdainful look from Xue Lianyu. "Zhuque, what are you talking about? There are just some flowers and fruits in it. How could it give your miss a chill?"
Zhuque quickly lowered her head and said nothing.
She kept silent because she knew that this Young Master Xue Lianyu in front of her was no ordinary person. He was very hard to deal with.
Xue Lianyu was about to continue chatting with her persistently when Cheng Xiran interrupted him. "Alright, alright. You haven't answered my question yet."
"Miss Ruoyue is not my old flame. She's a new acquaintance and a bosom friend. We met at the fireworks show by the river last month. She's a very well - educated woman, but it's a pity that her background is not so good."
This fruit tea tasted slightly sour at first, but the aftertaste was very sweet, much like the taste of love.
"Oh?" Cheng Xiran suddenly became interested. "For a big shot like Young Master Xue, could there really be a simple bosom friend?"
"What bosom friend? It's just a chance encounter. Sister, don't listen to his nonsense..."
Suddenly, a voice as clear as a silver bell rang in her ear. Looking in the direction of the sound, she saw Chu Liyin bouncing towards them.
Today, she was wearing a lotus - pink dress with a jade - green short jacket over it. There were embroidered auspicious clouds on the cuffs, which was a very good omen. Her chubby face was specially blushed. She still had two small buns on her head with tiny velvet flowers on them. From afar, she looked like a lucky mascot.