"Sorry, Ms. Qin, we are here to trouble you again," he interjected quickly before Old Madam Bai could say anything more. "It's alright," Qin Xiangnuan also sat down, gesturing to the chair on one side, "Please have a seat, Mr. Bai." "Thank you," Bai Xingqi exhaled in relief, thankfully there's no anger. "Do you have something on your mind?" Qin Xiangnuan asked knowingly while pouring tea for everyone, as that's the basic courtesy for guests. "Sigh..." Bai Xingqi sighed softly, "I have to apologize again. I won't beat around the bush. This matter was mishandled by our Bai Family. To win the competition, we 'borrowed' that Qingming River Painting, which my niece acquired, claiming she bought it from someone who is no longer alive. So, we..." Qin Xiangnuan's face darkened. The nerve, are they cursing her death? And Bai Xingqi's face was indeed quite embarrassed. He glared at He Juan. If she hadn't talked nonsense, things wouldn't have escalated to this point. If he had known that the painting had an owner, he wouldn't have entered it in the competition, to be cornered by foreigners . He Juan shrank her neck when glared at but fiercely glared back at Qin Xiangmei. Just like Qin Xiangmei, the two clearly disliked each other, yet oddly they could still stand together in the same air, same space, quite the spectacle indeed. And she didn't know that, not long ago, these two who were like water and fire were sitting together. Even if their eyes were full of loathing and disgust, they could stand each other for such a long time. He Juan: "Don't you feel that cooperating with me would be all advantages and no disadvantages for you?" Qin Xiangmei: "Like with a swindler like you?" He Juan: "Yes, I'm a swindler, but we're cut from the same cloth. You're no angel either. We made a deal, willingly, and that thing wasn't even yours. You didn't get 500 yuan for nothing. You seemed quite happy spending that 500 yuan, didn't you?" Qin Xiangmei: "Stop talking nonsense, what do you want?" He Juan: "I have no special meaning, just here to discuss a proposition with you, though it's not exactly business. It's beneficial to both you and me. You must also be aware of our Bai Family's fame and status in Capital City. Your life as a rural woman married into the Song Family can't be easy, right?" Qin Xiangmei clenched the cup on the table so tightly, she wished she could leave claw marks on it. He Juan sneered, apparently hitting right where it hurt in Qin Xiangnuan's heart, scouring it raw so the skin and flesh ached. Qin Xiangmei: "What do you want me to do?" He Juan: "Now you're talking. Why dwell on the past? There are no eternal enemies in this world, just eternal interests. What I'm asking you to do is simple: just make Qin Xiangnuan admit that she embroidered that painting, and our Bai Family won't treat you unfairly." She sneered on her face. And Qin Xiangnuan sneered in her heart. Selling their surname too, ah, 'our' Bai Family, completely forgetting what their own surnames are. So today she came here, but just catching a glimpse of Qin Xiangnuan made that unsubsiding jealousy in her heart nearly drive her insane. Why, oh why does Qin Xiangnuan have a better life than hers? She was the golden phoenix that soared out of the mountains, not Qin Xiangnuan. Qin Xiangnuan is no longer the frail girl she and Qin Pengfei used to bully. She used to treat Qin Xiangnuan like a horse to ride without care, but now, that ugly duckling has grown up, become beautiful, and is extremely capable, having married a secretary and birthed three children. How many people in this world could rival such luck? She couldn't help it; feeling no jealousy or hatred was impossible. Qin Xiangnuan slightly lowered her eyelashes, wondering why in this lifetime everything seemed turned upside down. No, it was still not right; she once envied Qin Xiangmei, but now Qin Xiangmei envied her, jealousy become nature, jealousy drove one mad. Bai Xingqi was looking from one to the other, instinctively sensing a very strange atmosphere. His gaze fell upon He Juan, who, startled by his look, broke into a cold sweat. Bai Xingqi put on a smile on his face nonetheless, knowing it wouldn't do to let the room go cold. "Ms. Qin, regarding this matter, we'll need you to intervene. As for your loss, our Bai Family is willing to compensate. As long as this matter can be resolved smoothly, let's not discuss the rest. I believe Ms. Qin wouldn't want the country's dignity to be compromised, right?" Qin Xiangnuan looked up, asking Bai Xingqi directly, "What do you want me to do?" Bai Xingqi visibly relaxed, as if things were much easier than he'd thought. He hurriedly said, "Ms. Qin, it's : My grandmother is very fond of you, so perhaps it would be appropriate for you to become our sworn kin, what do you think?" So this was their idea. Qin Xiangnuan had prepared for this possibility, but she still despised this family. Old Madam Bai, who always acted so high and mighty, was going to recognize her as what? A sworn granddaughter? Was she so cheap as to become someone's sworn granddaughter? She had heard of Old Madam Bai—her embroidery skills were legendary, a colossus in the embroidery industry. Her double-sided embroidery was particularly renowned, famous both domestically and internationally. She must have reserved some skills for herself, or else why would no one in the Bai Family surpass her? Was the old lady planning to take such extraordinary talent to her grave? Old Madam Bai clearly looked down on Qin Xiangnuan; it seemed she never gave Qin Xiangnuan a straight look from start to finish. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝·𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚·𝔫𝔢𝔱 Sorry, but Qin Xiangnuan had no interest in receiving anyone's disdain, especially when it had nothing to do with her. "I think, I do not wish for a sworn grandmother. I have enough elders in my family, all of whom I already struggle to take care of properly." Her meaning was simple; she already couldn't manage to dote on her own relatives, so why should she attend to someone else's? "Young lady, you shouldn't speak too absolutely," Old Madam Bai finally spoke, still with an elder's reproachful tone, "being part of the Bai Family would be your good fortune. Once you join our family, you'll have the opportunity to learn our embroidery techniques. I see you're in this line of work too. Not just anyone can enter our Bai Family." "Thank you for your high regard, Old Madam," Qin Xiangnuan's attitude was very modest, not talking back to the old lady. At her age, should she be provoked into illness, Qin Xiangnuan couldn't take that responsibility. "Hmph!" Old Madam Bai huffed dismissively, reverting to her coldly aloof demeanor, acting as though everyone had owed her for generations. "Mr. Bai," Qin Xiangnuan smiled at Bai Xingqi, who seemed somewhat flattered by the attention. Qin Xiangnuan's smile then widened, warm as the spring breeze, cheerfulness beaming. "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. That painting did not come from my hands, so, I cannot be of any help to you."