Xiao Fengru nodded vigorously, "I've heard about her. That woman is truly detestable! Thankfully, our Xiaoxiao didn't inherit her genes."
Lan Yu Xi sneered, "Are you so sure your Xiaoxiao didn't inherit her mother's genes?"
"Absolutely not! Our Xiaoxiao is such a kind and innocent child! Unlike that girl, Qiyue, who's so cold and doesn't even treat me like her mother."
Lan Yu Xi grew increasingly angry as she listened, her voice chilling, "If you want her to treat you like a mother, you need to treat her like a daughter first. You spend all your time doting on someone else's daughter; have you ever considered Qiyue's feelings?"
"How is Xiaoxiao someone else's daughter? I raised her, so she is my daughter."
"Since Nan Xiao is your daughter, then there's no need for you to take Qiyue back. Our Nan family members will be protected by me, the matriarch. You two can leave!"
Nan Jiang hesitated for a moment, "Matriarch, Qiyue is our biological daughter. No matter how close Xiaoxiao is, she's still an outsider. We came here specifically to apologize to Qiyue, hoping she can forgive us..."
Xiao Feng Ru glared at him unhappily, "I am her mother, why should I apologize to her? And watch what you say! If Xiaoxiao finds out you called her an outsider, how hurt she'll be!"
Lan Xiao Liu raised an eyebrow slightly, "Madam, you're only concerned about your adopted daughter's feelings. Where does that leave your biological daughter?"
"..."
Without waiting for a response, Lan Xiao Liu continued, "My mother also has an adopted daughter, and she manages to treat them equally. Can you? If you can, Miss Nan can go back with you. If not, please leave."
Xiao Feng Ru furrowed her brow slightly, "This is our Nan family's private matter. Who are you to speak to me like this?"
Seeing her rudeness, Lan Yu Xi said sternly, "Butler, show them out!"
The butler, accompanied by four bodyguards, quickly entered.
Sensing trouble, Xiao Feng Ru shouted upstairs, "Nan Qiyue, get down here! If you don't come back with me this time, you can forget about ever entering the Nan family's doors again."
Lan Yu Xi gave the butler a meaningful look. The butler understood and, with the bodyguards, escorted the two out.
Lan Xiao Liu scoffed, "Truly exceptional!"
After checking her phone, Lan Yu Xi looked up at him, "What's even more exceptional is that Nan Xiao. These two fools were instructed by Nan Xiao. She wants to escalate the conflict between Qiyue and her parents so she can secure her position as the eldest miss of the Nan family. Unfortunately for her, her plan has backfired. Nan Xiao has already met with the elders. No matter how much Nan Jiang and his wife value their adopted daughter, she won't be able to keep the Nan surname anymore."
Upstairs, Nan Qiyue closed her laptop expressionlessly.
Chao Chao looked up at her, "My mother has supported me and my sister all these years without anyone's help. You can do it too."
Nan Qiyue turned her head. When she saw the earnestness on the child's innocent face, she burst into laughter.
"Can I touch you?"
Chao Chao instinctively took a step back, but then thought about it and returned, "Just one touch is allowed."
Nan Qiyue smiled and patted his little head, "You and your mother are both kind people. When your mother was your age, she saved me once. She probably doesn't remember, but I've never forgotten."
"My mother saved you?"
"Yes, when I was four, I went to the park with my adoptive mother. I don't know who pushed me into the lake. There was no one around, and my adoptive mother had disappeared. It was your mother who found me. She called her mother to save me."
Nan Qiyue gave a self-deprecating laugh, "Now I finally understand why my adoptive mother took me to such a remote lake. And why I was pushed in. She actually wanted me to die, but I was lucky, and your mother saved me."
Chao Chao's bright black eyes blinked. How could there be such a heartless person in the world, capable of harming a child?
"Later, your mother saved me again. That was when I was in junior high. I didn't even know who Nan Xiao was then, but she brought a group of people to my school to block me, preventing me from going home. I was desperate and fought with them. I couldn't possibly fight so many people alone and was almost disfigured. Just as a knife was about to slash my face, your mother kicked the knife out of Nan Xiao's hand."
Chao Chao said proudly, "My mother is amazing!"
"Yes, she is truly amazing. Even the usually aggressive Nan Xiao didn't dare to speak loudly when she saw her. Afterward, she never dared to trouble me again." Nan Qiyue smiled at Chao Chao, "You're very fortunate to have such a mother. I've been trying hard to become like her. I heard she was going to Qing University, so I enrolled too. Unfortunately, she doesn't remember who I am, and I don't dare to approach her because she's too dazzling, and I'm too insignificant."
"My mother isn't someone who looks down on the poor or favors the rich. If you had met her earlier, Nan Xiao wouldn't have been able to usurp your position for so many years."
Nan Qiyue's eyes widened in surprise, "You're so young, and you've been living abroad, yet you know so many idioms."
Chao Chao pursed his lips, "Sister, my mission is complete. I need to go downstairs now."
"I'll go down with you," Nan Qiyue tentatively reached out her hand.
Chao Chao hesitated for a moment, then finally extended his small hand.
Nan Qiyue looked at him with amusement, "I can tell you don't like interacting with strangers. Why didn't you refuse me?"
"My mother said I'll meet many people in the future. If I always resist, I won't have friends when I grow up."
"Your mother has raised you and Mu Mu very well!"
"Are you praising me?" Lan Yu Xi walked over.
Chao Chao quickly pulled his hand away from Nan Qiyue and ran towards her, "Mom, I've completed my mission. Can I go find my sister now?"
Lan Yu Xi smiled fondly, "Go ahead."
Nan Qiyue watched Chao Chao go downstairs, then turned to Lan Yu Xi and said solemnly,
"Thank you, little aunt."
"We're family, why be so polite?" Lan Yu Xi went downstairs with her. "As you've seen, your parents have been completely deceived by Nan Xiao. It will likely take a long time for them to change their views about you."
Nan Qiyue smiled brightly, "There's no need to give them time. I don't need them to change. I'll do as President Nan and you wish. I will acknowledge my ancestors, but I won't acknowledge them. I'll live even more splendidly without them!"
Lan Yu Xi smiled with relief, "It seems you've finally let go."
"Yes, I've let go. After shedding the burden of so-called familial ties, I feel light as a feather. Tomorrow, I'll contact a real estate agent and find a place to start my wonderful life!"