Wang Yalin lay in bed, her eyes red. Just as she was about to say that she wasn't feeling well, the doctor and Xu Mengyao came in. She had already received the test results, so she couldn't lie to the doctor. She lowered her head, got up from the bed, and tears fell to the floor. "Brother, wait for me. I'll be fine soon."
Feng Xiangjun quickly pressed her down, wiped her tears, and glared at Xu Zifan with annoyance, "Yalin isn't going today, I'm taking her home to rest. You..." She wanted to say that there was something fishy about the maid, but seeing the doctor was right next to her, she abruptly changed her words, "You take Mengyao there."
Wang Yalin forced a smile. "Mom, I'm fine. I'm in my final year of high school and I don't want to fall behind in my studies. I can go."
She didn't understand why her brother, who had always doted on her, suddenly stopped. But now that the maid's affair had been exposed, Xu Zifan was sure he disliked her. This playful man of his suddenly insisting on personally taking them to school—who knew what he was planning to do to embarrass her?
She didn't want to go to school with Xu Zifan, but the doctor said she was fine. If she used being in a bad mood as an excuse to skip school, it would be pretentious and would definitely displease her grandmother and father. It would be better to take the initiative and appear sensible and willing to compromise.
Of course, if Feng Xiangjun felt sorry for her and insisted on not letting her go to school, she could take the opportunity to go home and avoid this embarrassing situation. She didn't believe that Xu Zifan would really have the patience to meddle in these kinds of things.
Unexpectedly, Xu Zifan spoke first, "If you don't want to miss your studies, just hire a tutor. Why do you have to go to school if you're not feeling well? Won't that make Mom think I'm heartless? But remember to be careful going up and down the stairs, don't slip and make Mom worry. Mom, I'm taking Yao Yao to school now, I'm leaving."
Wang Yalin's face changed color at the sarcasm, but before she could reply, Xu Zifan left with Xu Mengyao.
Feng Xiangjun scolded Xu Zifan a couple of times, then took Wang Yalin's hand and told her to go home and rest. Wang Yalin nodded obediently, but a bad feeling crept into her heart. Her once stable life had suddenly slipped out of control, making her feel uneasy for the first time.
Xu Zifan called Xu Zhenhua, "Dad, I just picked up Wang Yalin. The doctor said she only had minor injuries and was perfectly healthy. However, she didn't really want to go to school and her eyes were swollen from crying. My mom also told her to go home and rest, so I left her alone and only sent Yao Yao to school."
Xu Zhenhua paused for a moment upon hearing the name "Wang Yalin," then frowned and said, "You called me several times just to say this? I'm in a meeting! You don't need to tell me about these things in the future."
Xu Zifan chuckled and said, "No way, what if my mom complains to you that I'm biased towards Yao Yao and bullying Wang Yalin? I went to pick her up myself, and it's none of my business if she doesn't go to school. I won't take care of her anymore, I'll only take care of Yao Yao."
Xu Zhenhua: "Fine, fine, do whatever you want. If there's nothing else, hang up. I'm in a meeting."
Xu Zifan: "Dad, look, this is an important matter for me. I promise you I'll take good care of Yaoyao. Isn't this the task I'm assigned to you? Shouldn't I report to you how I'm doing and what progress I'm making? Otherwise, you'll think I'm just playing around and not doing anything productive."
Xu Zhenhua laughed in anger upon hearing this, "You still have the nerve to talk about serious business? Taking care of a young girl is considered serious business? If you really want to take on tasks from me, you should get a proper job at the company. If you were more capable, would I need to be so busy?"
Xu Zifan casually replied, "Dad, you're still young and strong, what's wrong with working more? Can't I even have a couple more years of fun? At worst, I'll help you with some paperwork when you're tired, okay? It's no big deal. I'm at school now, bye, Dad, you're in a meeting."
"Hello? Hello?" Xu Zhenhua heard the busy tone on the phone and cursed, "You brat!" Thinking of Xu Zifan's words, he snorted coldly. The brat wanted to help him process documents? He probably couldn't even understand them, all he did was talk!
However, it was rare to hear his son "report his work" to him and even offer to help him. He felt quite relieved. Compared to Wang Yalin, who was crying and refusing to go to school, he suddenly realized that his own children were much better than the Wang family's daughter.
Of the three children in the family, only Wang Yalin was causing trouble. She would fall down the stairs and refuse to go to school. It was unclear whether it was because she had cried her eyes out after changing her surname; it was all very strange. Xu Zhenhua's dislike for Wang Yalin deepened. The already thin father-daughter relationship became even weaker after Xu Zifan repeatedly reminded him that she was a member of the Wang family.
The image of the troublesome adopted daughter has largely overshadowed her previous image as a caring daughter. As the current head of the Xu family, his thoughts are far more important than Feng Xiangjun's, and Xu Zifan successfully used the art of language to change his mind.
Xu Zifan frankly told Xu Mengyao about his purpose in going to the hospital to pick her up and calling Xu Zhenhua. He also specifically told her that he kept calling her "Yaoyao" and "Wang Yalin" when he spoke, which was a kind of psychological suggestion to his family. Over time, the closeness or distance between them would be engraved in everyone's heart.
Especially the character "王" (Wang). The more the Xu family understands how the Wang family mistreated Xu Mengyao, the less they will like Wang Yalin, who comes from the Wang family.
Xu Mengyao listened in a daze, and couldn't help but ask, "Brother, what was the purpose of what you said to them yesterday, about how bloodlines are the most important thing?"
Xu Zifan ruffled her hair and laughed, "Of course it's all just to fool them. Didn't I tell you that even biological parents can beat their children to death? What's so important about blood ties? But if it works for Grandma and Dad, then let's say it like that. Remember, relationships between people require time and fate. Sometimes, even relatives aren't as good as complete strangers. Don't let that limit you."
Xu Mengyao was somewhat bewildered, but felt even more impressed by Xu Zifan's abilities.
Oh dear, everything he said sounded like the truth, but it turns out a lot of it was just him deliberately trying to fool people. Even several elders in the family believed him, isn't that amazing? She then asked, "Brother, Wang Yalin isn't here today, should we still talk to the teacher about the household registration?"
Xu Zifan: "Of course, you have to say it when she's not around. Otherwise, what do you think I ordered all those afternoon teas for?"
Xu Mengyao: "What do you do?"
"Win people over! As the saying goes, 'He who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding, and he who takes another's gift is bound to do his bidding.' Once the teachers and classmates have accepted your gifts, they naturally won't speak ill of you. When Wang Yalin isn't around, whatever you say will be believed by them. They'll be more inclined to believe you because of their preconceived notions. That way, it won't be so easy for Wang Yalin to make up something when she comes to school." Xu Zifan looked at Xu Mengyao. "I'm teaching you these things. If you don't understand, don't tell anyone. Just do as I say, and you'll gradually understand everything."
Xu Mengyao nodded obediently, "I know, I'll listen to my brother."
Xu Zifan taught Xu Mengyao how to speak, and then took her to the principal's office.
The principal received him with a rather warm welcome, and even called over the vice principal, the dean of studies, and the homeroom teacher of the elite class.
Xu Mengyao was a little nervous, but seeing Xu Zifan chatting and laughing with these important figures from the school, she felt at ease. She felt she couldn't let her brother down, so she sat down with her head held high and a moderate smile on her face.
Xu Zifan took out Xu Mengyao and Wang Yalin's household registration documents and explained the situation of the Xu family switching the children.
"Wang Yalin is still living with us, but Yaoyao is my real sister. I'm worried that the two girls might not be able to explain things clearly at school, which could cause unnecessary misunderstandings and criticism. That's why I came here today to explain the situation and ask the school to cooperate by changing the names in their files and to pay more attention to them in their future studies. After all, this is a major turning point in their lives, and I'm worried that something might happen to them."
He smiled politely, showing extra courtesy to them because his sister attended the school. "Actually, I should have come earlier. Yao Yao has been here for almost two months, but there were some things that hadn't been settled, so the family told Yao Yao to keep a low profile and not tell anyone yet. Today, my dad changed their household registration, so I rushed over. Yao Yao has suffered for over ten years, and as her older brother, I can't wait to tell everyone that she's my real sister. I apologize for any inconvenience this sudden arrival may cause the school."
The principal waved his hand with a smile, "It's nothing, you're too kind. The school should understand such a big matter. We know the students' parents are worried. Xu Mengyao and Wang Yalin are in their senior year of high school, so the school will definitely pay special attention and communicate more with the parents. We hope to successfully eliminate the impact of this incident."
"Yaoyao said that the teachers and classmates take good care of her, so I have complete confidence in our school." Xu Zifan finished speaking right on time, and seeing that get out of class was about to end, he stood up and said, "I brought some drinks and snacks to thank the teachers and classmates for taking care of Yaoyao. Since get out of class is over, why don't I take them to the classroom and share them with everyone? It can also help the students replenish their energy."
The principal and others also stood up, saying, "We can't accept this. It's all what we should do."
"Students study hard, and teachers work hard to teach them. They deserve some extra help." After saying this, Xu Zifan seemed to have thought of something and clapped his hands, saying, "Principal, how about this? I'll cover the afternoon tea for the senior students from now on. Every day during the long break after the second period, we'll distribute drinks and snacks on time. In winter, we'll have milk tea, and in summer, we'll have iced milk. They're all healthy and nutritious foods. I hope all students can achieve good results in the college entrance examination."
It's only the first semester of senior year, and if we were to actually deliver afternoon tea, it would take more than half a year.
The principal had no objection, of course. This wouldn't affect the school at all; on the contrary, it would be an extra benefit compared to other schools. It was a kind of sponsorship from the Xu family, which was a good thing. It would also allow teachers and students to receive delicious desserts every day. Even if they didn't like them, taking them home would be a nice little gift. He had no reason to refuse!
After the principal agreed, Xu Zifan, accompanied by the homeroom teacher, took Xu Mengyao to deliver afternoon tea to each teacher in the office and greet them. Just as they finished delivering the tea, the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class, and they went together to the elite class.
When Xu Mengyao, whose hairstyle and clothing had been upgraded several notches, appeared in class, the students all put down their exercises in surprise and stared at her in disbelief. Of course, most of the girls were looking at Xu Zifan; it was rare to see a guy so handsome, like a movie star. Seeing him standing next to Xu Mengyao, everyone was curious about their relationship.
The homeroom teacher went up to the stage and explained the situation of Xu Mengyao and Wang Yalin in a simple and clear way. The dramatic incident of the real and fake heiresses, which only happens in TV dramas, suddenly happened to their class, and all the students were surprised.
Several girls who were close to Wang Yalin and boys who admired her wanted to refute the claim, but the teacher showed the students their household registration and ID cards, and introduced Xu Zifan as the eldest son of the Xu family and Xu Mengyao's older brother, leaving them no choice but to believe it.
After the teachers finished speaking, Xu Zifan stood on the stage with a smile. "Yaoyao will be spending her senior year with everyone. She is new to the school and unfamiliar with her classmates. I hope that the students can help take care of her."
"Why isn't Xu Yalin here? Did something happen to her?" a girl asked boldly. She was Wang Yalin's deskmate.
Xu Zifan smiled and said, "Ya Lin now takes her father's surname, Wang, and is called Wang Ya Lin. She is having some trouble accepting this, after all, the Wang family and the Xu family are not in the same situation. I believe everyone can understand her feelings. My father changed their household registration today, and she cried her eyes out and is resting at home. She may not come back to school for a few days."
He glanced at the students listening attentively below and continued, "I can see that everyone cares about her. Although she's no longer my sister, the change in her status is merely a change in personality; her character and personality will remain the same. Her current unhappiness isn't due to disdain for her biological parents being from the countryside; she simply needs time to adjust to her new identity. I hope everyone will refrain from judging her and continue to be her friend."
He put his arm around Xu Mengyao's shoulder and said with a smile, "Although my sister Yaoyao used to live in the countryside and worked in the fields every day, she didn't know much about the new things in the big city and didn't fit in with everyone. But that's not her fault. She has suffered enough in the Wang family for seventeen years. This shouldn't be her life."
So I ask everyone not to have any negative opinions about her. Yao Yao is a very simple and kind girl. If you are willing to get to know her, you will definitely like her. This afternoon tea was a gift from Yao Yao, so please let her distribute it. I'm leaving now. Study hard, everyone.
The classmates teased and tried to persuade her to stay a few times. Xu Zifan and Xu Mengyao exchanged a glance, patted her on the shoulder to encourage her, and then left with the homeroom teacher. They taught what needed to be taught and protected what needed to be protected, but they also needed to give the girl room to develop on her own.
Xu Mengyao had no feelings for her classmates. She usually listened to lectures and did exercises with a blank expression. If others didn't talk to her, she wouldn't talk to them either.
However, today she kept in mind that she was the eldest daughter of the Xu family and represented the Xu family's reputation in public. She could not be impolite or show weakness, so she kept smiling and personally distributed snacks and drinks to each classmate, including the classmate who bullied Wang Yalin.
She didn't even care about Wang Yalin anymore, so why would she care about Wang Yalin's friends? Her classmates surrounded her in the middle of the classroom, eating and asking her curiously how her background was discovered, how she was switched back, and whether any conflicts had occurred.
Xu Mengyao answered the questions one by one as instructed by Xu Zifan.
"It was only when the Xu family accidentally discovered that Wang Yalin was not their biological daughter that they found out about the switch at birth. Wang Yalin couldn't bear to leave my parents and felt that she should be switched back with me. She cried every day. My mother loved her and finally decided to keep her as our adopted daughter."
"My parents gave the Wang family five million. The Wang family favors sons over daughters and doesn't care about their daughters. They agreed on the spot to let the Xu family raise both daughters and that they would not bother Wang Yalin again. However, I don't know how long this guarantee will last. Given their personality, they may come back to us when they need money in the future, after all, five million came so easily."
"I don't think Wang Yalin and I have had any major conflicts. However, I grew up in the countryside and haven't seen much of the world. We don't have much in common, so we probably don't get along very well. You should all be able to see that over the past month or so. My brother dotes on me at home, and I'm very happy to have found family. My mom dotes on Wang Yalin, so she's quite happy every day. She's living very well in my home."
Wang Yalin's deskmate and best friend, Zhang Tingfei, held up her phone with a dark expression and questioned, "Is this what you call her living a good life? She didn't just cry her eyes out! She was clearly injured and hospitalized! How did she get the injury on her forehead? You dare say you didn't bully her?"
Wang Yalin was unaware of the change in household registration and never imagined that Xu Zifan would treat Xu Mengyao so well. She thought Xu Mengyao would go to school as usual today, so the night before, when she was alone in the hospital room, she sent Zhang Tingfei a WeChat voice message. Zhang Tingfei noticed that her voice sounded off and asked her a few more questions before she reluctantly sent Zhang Tingfei a selfie showing the injury on her forehead. When asked how she got it, she refused to say and kept saying that she was fine.
Xu Mengyao saw the photo on her phone, hesitated, then lowered her head, returned to her seat, and began to get her books to prepare for class.
The students, curious, followed and surrounded her again. Zhang Tingfei, thinking she had gotten the truth out of her, slammed her hand on the desk and said, "Tell me! You think buying a bite to eat will make everyone like you? You're nothing but a white lotus flower, pretending to be innocent and pure on the surface, but actually you love to scheme behind people's backs. No wonder you were raised in the countryside!"
Xu Mengyao, who hadn't been about to speak, suddenly turned cold and stared directly at Zhang Tingfei. "City people are people, and country people are people too. I grew up in the countryside; I've seen despicable bastards and loyal heroes. You should apologize for what you said. Your words only show your ignorance!"
"As for the photo Wang Yalin sent you, family scandals should not be aired in public. I didn't want to talk about it, but she used you to frame me, which is to tarnish the Xu family's traditions. We Xu family members are upright and never have petty intentions. On the contrary, Wang Yalin, whom you say was bullied, has truly continued the shamelessness in the Wang family's bloodline."
Xu Mengyao glanced at the curious expressions of her classmates and said clearly, "Wang Yalin deliberately rolled down the stairs and had her maid lie and say that she fell down because she heard my brother talking and became mentally confused. My brother only said that she was an adopted daughter and shouldn't keep suppressing me in the Xu family. My mother was angry because of her and almost fell out with my brother. Fortunately, my brother found out about their scheme, and now that maid has been fired by my grandmother."
"The doctor gave Wang Yalin a thorough full-body examination. Apart from some minor skin injuries, she was perfectly healthy. I don't know why she didn't come to school today, but she just changed her surname, legally severing all ties with the Xu family, and her lie about deliberately rolling down the stairs was exposed. It's understandable that she didn't come. If Zhang Tingfei doesn't believe me, she can bring the doctor to my house after school to have Wang Yalin examined again and see if she's alright."
Zhang Tingfei looked completely taken aback and immediately retorted, "You're lying! Yalin isn't that kind of person!"
Xu Mengyao flipped open the book nonchalantly. "Believe it or not, our whole family knows about this. You can ask the maid; otherwise, why would they change my household registration today, even though I've been home for over a month? The Xu family doesn't like the farmer and the snake story. Some things need to be clearly defined. But you don't need to worry about your good friend; my mom especially likes..."
She will always be Miss Lin of the Xu family; my mother won't mistreat her.
Zhang Tingfei immediately grasped the key point: "If your mother likes her, it means she's not wrong. Otherwise, you're the biological daughter, so why would your mother like the manipulative Yalin? You're clearly lying. What about your family's maid? Maybe you're framing her!"
Xu Mengyao looked up at her and said, "Are you implying that my dad, my brother, and my grandma can't tell right from wrong? Do you think the president of the Xu Group can't see through your so-called petty tricks?"
Zhang Tingfei was speechless. Many classmates looked like they suddenly understood. How powerful is the president of the Xu Group? Managing such a large group, how could he not understand this family matter? They even forbade Wang Yalin from using the surname Xu, so what Xu Mengyao said must be true!
Zhang Tingfei and Wang Yalin had been deskmates for three years, and Zhang Tingfei trusted Wang Yalin completely. She was only frustrated by Xu Mengyao's sweet talk today, which she couldn't out-argue. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and she sneered, "What 'farmer and snake'? You're talking about yourself, aren't you? Listen to what you just said! The Wang family is shameless and has a terrible character. They raised you all these years, and this is how you treat them? Not only do you not call them 'uncle' and 'aunt,' you even insult them! You're a gold digger, you're the real snake!"
Xu Mengyao's heart was pounding with anger. She took a deep breath and looked at her with surprise, just like her brother. "Do you have some kind of logical thinking problem? I am a daughter of the Xu family. I'm back now. What need do I have to slander the Wang family?"
"Since you're interested in the Wang family, let me tell you about it. The Wang family favors boys over girls. The boys eat meat every day, while the girls have to work in the fields after school, tidy up the house and yard, feed the pigs and chickens, and then eat leftovers. Wang Yalin's parents beat me whenever they're unhappy. They demanded that I not go to university after graduating from high school and marry a 40-year-old, abusive, crippled man in exchange for a dowry. Do you think such people deserve to be called uncle and aunt? My luckiest moment was when my biological parents found me before I graduated from high school. Of course, Wang Yalin is also lucky. If she went back to the Wang family now, she would probably be marrying that cripple very soon."
The whole class erupted in an uproar. Each of them had grown up pampered by their parents; they'd never heard of such a thing. Thinking back to when Xu Mengyao first came to the class—her hair was dry and yellow, her skin rough, and her hands covered in cracks—they suddenly understood why Xu Mengyao looked the way she did. Then they thought of Wang Yalin, with her fair skin, decked out in designer brands, and even a single lip balm costing hundreds or thousands of dollars. Almost everyone's hearts swayed towards Xu Mengyao.
Zhang Tingfei didn't expect Xu Mengyao to retort again. Before she could say anything more, the class bell rang. She glared at Xu Mengyao, returned to her seat, and her face turned pale with anger.
The teacher began the lesson, but the students' attention was scattered. They were overwhelmed by the information they were hearing and couldn't help but whisper amongst themselves. They had always thought Wang Yalin was pampered and wealthy, the richest girl in the class, but it turned out she was a fake heiress. Moreover, Wang Yalin refused to leave the Xu family, deliberately falling down the stairs as a self-inflicted injury, making it seem like a palace drama.
Thinking back to how Xu Mengyao had embarrassed herself several times since transferring to the class, Wang Yalin had never spoken up for her. Some classmates even saw Wang Yalin's friends making things difficult for Xu Mengyao, and there were even rumors that Xu Mengyao was a poor relative who came to the Xu family to freeload.
This is quite subtle. It's obvious that Wang Yalin has been bullying Xu Mengyao and has been hogging her spot. Now that Xu Mengyao's family has exposed the truth and changed their surnames, Wang Yalin has stopped going to school and even sent Zhang Tingfei those kinds of photos. Could it be that she wants Zhang Tingfei to bully Xu Mengyao?
Fortunately, Xu Mengyao's brother came to her rescue. Judging from his appearance, he wasn't doing these things because of their sibling relationship, but because he genuinely liked Xu Mengyao. It seems that Xu Mengyao must be a very nice girl!