Chapter 316

Xie Wanying's expression froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered. She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with one hand and looked at Li Chunyan with a hint of impatience.

"What could I possibly have to do with someone from the countryside like her? Does she even deserve to be my friend?"

The couple in the mountains didn't know what they were thinking. They let such a big person run away. She hasn't been able to eat or sleep well these past two days. Every time she closes her eyes, she worries that her background will be exposed.

She couldn't care less about Shu Ying's current movements; she only hoped that the secret about her background could be buried for a little longer.

Li Chunyan looked at Zhao Lijuan. From the very beginning, the two of them had firmly stood on Xie Wanying's side, but now that her background was clearly questionable, they were still bewitched and joined her side.

Zhao Lijuan's expression was somewhat unpleasant. "Wanying, we didn't mean anything by it. We just felt that Song Zhaodi was actually a pitiful person, and we didn't need to target her too much. In the end, it's all about Shuying."

"What do you two know? The more approachable someone seems on the surface, the more cunning they are. Besides, you two are from the countryside. Don't you know what kind of people there are?"

Having said all that, Xie Wanying was unwilling to waste any more words with them.

She initially tolerated their closeness only because she needed some of her own connections within the compound. Now, not many people are willing to associate with her, and fortunately, Li Chunyan and the other two are foolish.

"I can't be too explicit about the rest, since this is my family's business. But you've all seen what Shuying has done. I don't mean anything by it, I just hope that things can be more peaceful in my own family. So I'll have to trouble you two to keep a close eye on them for me during this time."

Zhao Lijuan's smile clearly carried another meaning.

Although many leaders went to Shu Ying's house, the approval for the report had not yet been issued. They were only happy to see Shu Ying in trouble, but that did not mean they would continue to work for Xie Wanying.

Moreover, even outsiders like them could see some clues. Could the Xie family really keep treating a fake as a treasure?

If Xie Wenyuan and his wife were to suddenly return one day to claim their biological daughter, their team would be in real danger.

“Wanying, that’s not how it works. We’re close because I think you’re a kind person. It’s only natural for neighbors to help each other out. It’s not about keeping a close eye on each other. If word gets out and other people hear this, who knows what they’ll say about us.”

Li Chunyan nodded repeatedly in agreement.

It has to be Xie Wanying. Even though she was about to die, she could still come back so calmly and arrogantly.

“That’s right. Now that you’re married out of the compound, you don’t have to deal with those people anymore, so you don’t know how much gossip can drown you. We can’t openly oppose Shuying, so I think we outsiders should stay out of your family’s affairs.”

Compared to before, the two people's attitudes had changed drastically, and Xie Wanying's brows furrowed tightly.

I don't know what's wrong with these two people today. Usually, when I see her, she smiles so brightly and seems ready to show off all her skills. Why are they so perfunctory today?

Especially Zhao Lijuan, who seemed completely detached and unwilling to get involved in anything, made Xie Wanying wary.

"What do you mean by that? It's as if I've made you do something shady. Ever since you two came to the compound, how many benefits have you taken from me, both openly and secretly? All I asked you to do was keep an eye on one person for me, and you wouldn't even do that. I bet you've been bribed by Shu Ying, haven't you?"

Seeing her desperate state, Li Chunyan became even more certain that there might be something wrong with the matter of Xie's biological daughter. Thinking of what she had done in the past, she couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

Even if they disliked Shu Ying, they shouldn't have strained their relationship with the Xie family too much at this time. It was still a question of who the Xie family's biological daughter was. They should at least remain neutral until the truth came out, but they always ended up siding with Xie Wanying without really understanding why.

Zhao Lijuan was filled with deep regret.

This wouldn't be a big deal for an ordinary family, but the Xie family earned their positions through hard work and skill. Everyone in the family lives in the same community and sees each other all the time. It's not a worthwhile deal to offend one's husband's boss for the sake of a stranger.

"What you're saying is meaningless. Do you think we can't have our own lives without you? Besides, you expect us to do whatever you tell us to do? What kind of people do you take us for?"

Zhao Lijuan posed a thought-provoking question.

She didn't like Shu Ying's confidence, but she also couldn't like Xie Wanying.

In comparison, Xie Mingzhu is now the person they can approach more easily and the person they can please the most.

If the other party's identity suddenly changes, it will be too late for the two of them to try to please them again. Especially considering their past grievances, the group would bicker from time to time, and they had said many hurtful things. Just thinking about how she might offend the Xie family because of her momentary lapse in judgment made Li Chunyan feel a tightness in her chest.

The only thing that's clear now is that Shu Ying's background is rather awkward. So many leaders have already spoken to her. If Shu Ying really affects the Xie family, at least their past actions don't pose any threat to me, which is one of the few good things.

However, the contributions made by the Xie family are evident to all, and it is unlikely that a mere Shu Ying would implicate the entire Xie family.

Therefore, Zhao Lijuan and her companion were still as anxious as ants on a hot pan. They wanted to go to the Xie family to show their loyalty, but they didn't want to appear as if they had lost to Shu Ying.

Xie Wanying's beautiful face was filled with disbelief. Usually, these two people spoke very politely to each other, but Zhao Lijuan blurted out something unintentionally, as if she had spoken her mind.

She gave a cold laugh and looked the two of them up and down.

"You've probably wanted to say this for a long time, haven't you? Before, when you needed me, you two were as eager as lackeys. Now that you don't need me anymore, you feel it's none of your business and want to stay out of it. Or maybe you think that since my parents aren't home, you two can't get any benefits from me, so you don't want to have anything to do with me anymore, right?"