"That's exactly right." Feng Lan agreed, nodding in firm approval of Jiang Yanna's words. "You seriously need to change your current style. You should wear something far more suitable and appropriate for a proper, dignified member of the Jiang family."
She then turned her gaze back toward Jiang Yanna, her expression instantly softening into a fond, doting smile.
"If you changed your style to something elegant and similar to our Yanna-er's taste, you would probably look much better than you do now." Feng Lan added gently, patting Jiang Yanna's hand affectionately.
"Thank you so much for the compliment, Mom." Jiang Yanna said sweetly, tilting her head as she snuggled even closer against Feng Lan's arm in a beautifully choreographed display of daughterly affection.
Qiao Meixia watched the dramatic interaction between the mother and daughter completely expressionlessly.
Out of the very corner of her eye, she easily noticed Jiang Yanna secretly glancing over at her, clearly checking to see whether she would react or show a single shred of jealousy at being excluded.
Unfortunately for Jiang Yanna, there was absolutely no reaction to be found.
"There is no need for that. I am perfectly capable of managing my own clothing choices." Qiao Meixia refused outright, her tone flat and completely dismissive of their suggestions.
"Manage it yourself?" Feng Lan's brow furrowed deeply as she looked Qiao Meixia up and down with a highly critical, judgmental gaze. "Just look at yourself right now. What kind of young girl wears nothing but plain black clothes all the time? It looks like you are constantly mourning someone's death."
Her tone was filled with obvious dissatisfaction and deep irritation as she stared at her biological daughter's stubborn attitude.
"You should be grateful that I am not mourning your death." Qiao Meixia stated expressionlessly, her voice entirely calm.
Feng Lan froze completely in shock after hearing such a blunt, chilling response.
'This girl... This unfilial girl...!'
Jiang Yanna was equally stunned by those bold words, but her manipulative mind quickly recovered, and she was the first one to speak up.
"Sister Meixia, you absolutely can't say something so horrible like that! It is such an unlucky thing to speak into existence. Do you really want Mom to die?" Jiang Yanna scolded her immediately, her voice rising to a perfect pitch of righteous indignation.
Qiao Meixia did not bother to reply to the accusation.
Seeing her defiant silence, Feng Lan's shock instantly morphed into explosive rage, her face flushing red.
"You ungrateful wretch! You actually dare to stand in my house and curse me?" Feng Lan shouted, her voice echoing through the grand living room.
The nearby domestic staff heard the loud commotion and quietly moved closer to the edges of the room to observe the situation. Of course, they remained carefully hidden behind pillars and doorways, not wanting their furious employers to realise they were watching the family drama unfold.
Sensing that things were getting dangerously out of hand, one of the maids immediately slipped away to go find Butler Jun, since he held the highest authority among the household staff and was the only one who could manage the family's tempers.
"No, I did not say that." Qiao Meixia said, shaking her head slightly. "Why do you always have to twist my words into something malicious?"
Qiao Meixia was genuinely becoming exhausted by this entire household's constant theatricality.
"If you don't like me being here, then you never should have bothered to bring me back to this city. You could have simply let me live outside without ever acknowledging my existence. Why don't we just do that instead?" Qiao Meixia stated frankly.
She then turned around on her heel, preparing to leave the suffocating living room.
"What exactly is going on here?"
A deep, commanding voice suddenly interrupted the tense atmosphere. Jiang Lukang had just returned home from a long day at work, handing his briefcase to a maid as he stepped into the foyer.
***This novel is a work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If it is not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, then it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko***