"Yes, everything that has happened recently is so sudden and bizarre. No matter how I think about it, it just doesn't seem right," Bai Wenxi said, pinching the business card and lost in thought.
Since her father's death, the entire economic burden of the family had suddenly fallen on Bai Wenxi's shoulders.
Yao Chunmei had always claimed to be penniless. Apart from the promised dowry, Wenxi didn't even inherit much of the estate.
However, Yao Chunmei and her daughter still lived a life of luxury. They were even planning to sell the house left by her father.
Bai Wenxi had too many doubts in her heart. Everyone was persuading her that since she was already married, she should stop interfering in the Bai family's affairs and just let Yao Chunmei and her daughter do as they pleased.
But in the middle of the night, she could still dream of her father's kind face and his earnest teachings.
Even on the night before her wedding, she dreamed that her father was covered in blood, staggering towards her with a look of anger and pain on his face!
"Yuning, you interned at the Starry Art Museum for a while. Did you notice anything strange at that time?" Bai Wenxi had used the betrothal gifts from the Jiang family to pay off the museum's debts all at once, but she just couldn't swallow this humiliation.
Her father had actually mortgaged the Starry Art Museum to get cash for usury! The contract clearly stated the money owed to the bank, but she just couldn't figure out where the usury funds had gone.
Su Yuning was very distressed. "When I was working at the museum, I never felt that the operation was difficult. And every art exhibition was very popular. Uncle really didn't lack money!"
"I also find it very strange. How could he have owed such a large debt in just one or two years?"
She was very worried about Bai Wenxi's safety. "Sister Wen, why don't you go back to the Bai family today? It's better to go with your husband when you return to your parents' home. I'm really afraid that old witch Yao Chunmei will plot against you."
Bai Wenxi had already packed her things. Yao Chunmei had given her a very tight deadline. If it weren't for her strong opposition, the house might have been sold before her wedding.
Su Yuning had an idea. She put the fruit knife on the table into Bai Wenxi's handbag. "I'll go with you. You can also carry a small knife for self - defense."
Bai Wenxi looked at her younger cousin's sly expression with a smile and comforted her softly. "My relationship with Yao Chunmei is already very tense. If she sees you go, she will surely make a huge scene today."
"Don't worry. She doesn't dare to do anything to me. I'll contact you after I finish my business. Be nice to your uncle and aunt at home. Don't be so moody all the time."
"Got it, got it. You just got married. Why are you already becoming such a nag?" Su Yuning affectionately held her sister's arm and chirped like a happy little bird. "When I finish my exams in a few days, I'll invite you out for coffee."
Bai Wenxi tried her best to maintain a gentle smile. She didn't want her cousin to worry. But as soon as she got into the car, her eyebrows immediately darkened.
Just now, Yao Chunmei had sent her a text message, urging her to go home earlier. But this was not a caring reminder. She was just eager to get rid of the house left by her father.
This house was a private residence that her father had designed and rebuilt himself after her birth. It held all her wonderful childhood memories.
Although her mother had separated from her father when she was very young, the wealthy growth environment and her father's careful company had allowed her to spend a carefree teenage years.
That was until Yao Chunmei and her daughter came into the house, and the Bai family mansion got a new mistress.
Although the master of the house had passed away not long ago, the mansion had already been freshly painted. It was listed on the real - estate agency's website, waiting for a new owner.
Bai Wenxi stepped into the main hall with mixed feelings. The empty house was covered with dust covers everywhere. There was no longer the bustling scene of the past.
"Awen, there's a very generous buyer this time. This house should sell for a high price," Yao Chunmei greeted her with a beaming face, insincerely apologizing.
"Good girl, actually, according to the custom, you should return to your parents' home after your wedding. But you know, business waits for no one. The buyer is coming to sign the contract today, so I have to ask you to come back now."
"You don't need to apologize. Even if you didn't say anything, I would have come back myself," Bai Wenxi said coldly. She didn't want to make small talk with her step - mother at all. "What do I care about returning to my parents' home? Once this house is sold, I won't have a parental home anymore."
The polite smile on Yao Chunmei's face almost disappeared. "Well, you don't have to say that, do you? You've married into the Jiang family now. It's a wealthy and powerful family. They won't let you be bullied, right?"
She asked tentatively, with a hint of malicious glee. "What's the young master of the Jiang family like? A wealthy young master must have something in common with you, right?"
Her step - mother's ill - will was so obvious that Bai Wenxi simply ignored her.
"I want to take a look around my father's and my rooms. You can do as you please," she said, holding her head high and walking up the stairs, completely ignoring Yao Chunmei.
"Don't take too long. The buyer and my family will be here soon!" Yao Chunmei shouted, but received no response from Bai Wenxi.
Yao Chunmei's face was so dark and venomous that it seemed like she could squeeze out poison. She stared at Bai Wenxi's back resentfully, like a venomous viper waiting for the opportunity to strike.
If this bitch hadn't gotten married, she really would have wanted to push this troublesome girl down the stairs and smash her to pieces!
Bai Wenxi could of course feel the stabbing gaze on her back. She quietly tightened her grip on the small knife in her handbag, ready to fight to the death.
When she pushed open the door, her heart sank. The empty room showed Yao Chunmei's cruelty.
She had cleaned out all of her things, and even the furniture like the bookshelf and the desk had been dismantled and piled up in the corner.
Filled with anger, she rushed into her father's study and bedroom. His private space had also been treated so mercilessly. Only a few oil paintings were lying haphazardly on the ground.
"Awen, listen to me..." Yao Chunmei poked her head in from outside the door, calmly preparing to explain.
"Where did you put all the things?" Bai Wenxi finally lost her temper and shouted. "You're so shameless! Don't you know you can't just move other people's personal belongings?"
Yao Chunmei immediately shed big tears. "You won't understand if you haven't lost your husband! Seeing these things in the house makes me think of your father. It's cleaner for me to get rid of them all."
"I've also taken away all my and Axi's things. I didn't just move Zhongxun's and your stuff!"
She even thought she was quite aggrieved. "You don't know. The night your father went out, he was still painting my portrait at home. He really loved me!"
Bai Wenxi lifted the cover on the oil paintings. Sure enough, the only remaining works were portraits of Yao Chunmei.
"Where are the other paintings? Where did you put them?"
Yao Chunmei stammered. "I've placed them properly. Don't worry."