Chapter 13: But I Just Want to Go a Little Overboard

Wu Liping jerked her head up, staring at her husband in disbelief. “Shen Yanghong! What did you just say?”

Shen Yanghong replied, “You’re begging Xiaolu for forgiveness, not because you truly know you were wrong. You’re just afraid that if Xiaolu leaves you, you’ll lose your cash cow. I understand that you love Xinluo, but you’re not helping her—you’re hurting her. Wu Liping, let’s get a divorce by mutual agreement. This is the last dignity I’ll grant you.”

This was all Shen Yanghong could do. With Master Yu protecting Bai Lu, she could only be coaxed, never offended, and certainly not threatened or intimidated as she was when she was a child. Now, he had to choose between his wife and his daughter.

Shen Yanghong chose his daughter, abandoning his wife.

Years of marriage allowed Wu Liping to instantly understand her husband’s thoughts. If sacrificing herself could preserve Xinluo’s reputation and keep the money tree, she was willing.

Wu Liping burst into tears, and as she cried, she dragged Shen Xinluo over and started beating her, fist after fist landing on her back.

“It’s all your fault, you useless fool! You’re your father’s biological daughter, I always gave you the best resources first, but you just can’t succeed! Bai Lu is already the nation’s sweetheart, starring as the female lead, while you’re still a minor supporting actress! What’s the point of giving birth to you? You’re nothing but a waste!”

Shen Xinluo sobbed, pleading with her mother to stop hitting her. The hospital room was thrown into utter chaos.

Bai Lu almost wished Shen Xinluo could take a few more punches, but being wrapped in Yu Fuqing’s arms made her feel even more nauseous.

Taking advantage of the commotion, Bai Lu quickly pushed Yu Fuqing away, rescued Shen Xinluo from Wu Liping’s grasp, and shielded her with her small frame, crying as if she herself were being beaten. “Please, don’t hit my sister anymore…”

Seeing Bai Lu finally let go and forgive Shen Xinluo, Shen Yanghong grabbed Wu Liping and threw her out of the ward. “Go. Our family doesn’t want to see you again. I’ll contact you about the divorce.”

Out of everyone’s sight, Shen Yanghong gave his wife’s palm a gentle squeeze and shot her a look that said, “I’m sorry you have to suffer this.”

Wu Liping shook her head at her husband, signaling that her grievance was nothing.

Shen Xinluo, looking as if she had been deeply wronged, flung herself into Yu Fuqing’s arms, crying pitifully and innocently. Unfortunately, Young Master Yu expressionlessly pushed her aside.

Afraid of being misunderstood by Bai Lu, after pushing Shen Xinluo away, Yu even edged further aside.

So Shen Xinluo hugged Bai Lu and cried.

Bai Lu was speechless.

Just like in her previous life, Shen Xinluo was still Shen Xinluo, unchanged in the slightest. Whenever her misdeeds were exposed, she would shift all blame onto Wu Liping and Shen Yanghong.

Her parents shouldered all the infamy and responsibility, while Shen Xinluo continued to play the innocent, pitiful white lotus.

Well, a dog can’t change its habit of eating filth.

If Shen Xinluo changed this time, Bai Lu wouldn’t have any fun left.

The flames weren’t high enough yet—she needed to throw in another log!

“Mom!” Bai Lu called out with deep emotion, not even bothering to put on her shoes as she ran barefoot out the door.

“Xiaolu!” Yu Fuqing failed to catch her and chased after.

Wu Liping paused at the sound, turning back. “Xiaolu?”

Bai Lu rushed over and hugged her tightly, rising on tiptoe and whispering slowly in her ear, “Wu Liping, did you think I couldn’t see through your retreat-to-advance tactic?”

Wu Liping screamed in shock, trying to push her away.

“Shh.” Bai Lu pressed her hand firmly against Wu Liping’s nape. “Don’t move. If you accidentally shove me out and Yu Fuqing sees, you’ll have an even harder time explaining yourself. Then you won’t even be able to fake a divorce with Shen Yanghong. You’ll be truly abandoned. You know better than anyone how your husband of decades values money over people.”

Wu Liping’s expression darkened as she realized she’d been tricked. “You little wretch! You set me up on purpose! You’re not really after Xinluo at all—you’re after—”

“Yes, from the very beginning, my target wasn’t Shen Xinluo—it was you, my dear mother.” Bai Lu’s voice was sweet and soft by her ear, her tone as cute as a child’s. “Shen Xinluo is too stupid. Without you, I could crush her like an ant any time I wanted. So, once you’re gone from this family, Shen Xinluo’s life and death will be in my hands. As for Shen Yanghong, he’ll be under my control as well.”

Wu Liping stood frozen, forcing words through clenched teeth. “Bai Lu, I’ll leave, as long as you don’t harm Xinluo. I can give up both my husband and my daughter.”

Bai Lu tilted her head and smiled with innocent malice. “You’re very clever, Wu Liping. But do you really think I’m doing all this just to drive you away? The one who wanted me dead, who pushed me down a seven-meter ski slope, wasn’t you—it was Shen Xinluo.”

Wu Liping dared not make a move. Yu Fuqing was watching her warily just a few steps away. She couldn’t give Bai Lu any excuse to act.

Bai Lu let out a soft laugh. “Wu Liping, you and Shen Yanghong exploited and abused me to the extreme. Shen Xinluo envied me, schemed against me, slandered me. The three of you—I won’t let any of you off. I also know Shen Xinluo loves Yu Fuqing and wants to marry him. But with me here, she won’t even get to be his concubine.”

Wu Liping’s teeth were nearly crushed by her rage. “Xinluo shouldn’t covet what’s yours, including Young Master Yu. Bai Lu, please, let Xinluo go. If you’re angry, take it out on me—I’ll bear it all.”

“No, no.” Bai Lu hugged Wu Liping in a mock display of affection, rubbing her cheek against her face. “That’s not nearly enough. If I want to take revenge on you, what matters most to you? Your biological daughter. So… let me think, how should I arrange Shen Xinluo’s death?”

Wu Liping’s eyes blazed with fury. “Bai Lu! Don’t go too far!”

Bai Lu cocked her head. “Oh? I can’t go too far? But I want to, just a little. Oh, I know how Shen Xinluo should die. Wu Liping, didn’t you teach Shen Xinluo to throw herself at Yu Fuqing? As long as she manages to get pregnant with his child, everything will be fine, right?”

How did Bai Lu know about the plan she’d made with her daughter, one even her husband was unaware of?

Wu Liping stared at Bai Lu in terror.

Bai Lu continued, “Don’t be surprised, it wasn’t hard to guess. If Shen Xinluo wants to marry Yu Fuqing, getting pregnant and using the child to force him is her only option. But Yu Fuqing is out of the question—he’s mine. However, I can help Shen Xinluo find another man to give herself to. How about Director Huang Feng? He has plenty of resources and would definitely give some to Shen Xinluo.”

Huang Feng was infamous in the industry as an old pervert, but unfortunately, he was also genuinely talented. Every TV series he directed became a hit, and over his decades in the business, countless young women had been ruined by him. What’s more, his tastes in bed were notorious—brutal and sadistic.

Her daughter was Wu Liping’s final bottom line. At last, unable to bear it any longer, she slapped Bai Lu across the face. “Don’t you dare lay a finger on my daughter!”

“Xiaolu! Are you alright?” From a few steps away, Yu Fuqing rushed over and picked up Bai Lu.

The fair, tender skin of his little darling’s face was now red and swollen, the mark glaringly obvious.

Yu Fuqing’s heart ached. “Wu Liping, you’re insane!”

Leaning weakly in his arms, Bai Lu shut her eyes in despair as tears slid down her cheeks. “Fuqing, it’s alright. Mom doesn’t like me. No matter what I do… I’ll never be able to make her happy…”