Just as Zhao Nuanyue was chatting with Xia Yingyu, Wang Lianhua returned. Three people were with her. One of them, a middle-aged woman, followed Wang Lianhua inside, while the other two remained outside.

Seeing Wang Lianhua’s face beaming with a wide smile made Zhao Nuanyue’s heart tighten with anxiety.

"Yingyu, Nuanyue, look who’s here!" Wang Lianhua said with a laugh, excitedly introducing her guest. "Mrs. Li has personally come to see us, gracing our humble home and making it shine with her presence."

Wang Lianhua’s clumsy, pretentious speech only made Mrs. Li, who stood behind her, smile more warmly.

"Oh my, it’s Mrs. Li! Please, have a seat. What a rare honor," Xia Yingyu said with a smile, making room for them. After all, this was the wife of an important leader; she dared not be disrespectful.

"I just so happened to have nothing to do today, and I heard you were on leave, so I came to see you." Mrs. Li’s gaze passed over Xia Yingyu and landed on Zhao Nuanyue, who was off to the side.

Her gaze was like an X-ray, scanning her up and down, inside and out, several times over. It made Zhao Nuanyue extremely uncomfortable. At the same time, she felt the Dragon Bright Grass on her neck grow faintly warm. It was clear this person held some malice toward her.

"Oh, Mrs. Li, thank you so much for coming to see me. My Old Zhao is always saying how well his superior looks after him and has been meaning to pay a visit," Xia Yingyu said with a laugh. "With this big belly of mine, I can’t go out to see you, so I haven’t had a chance to thank you properly."

"Oh, please, our families are so close, there’s no need to be so formal," Mrs. Li said with a dry chuckle. Her gaze fell on Zhao Nuanyue, and the more she looked, the more satisfied she became. ’She’s a pretty little thing,’ she thought. ’Quite simple and unassuming. Those eyes are so bright—she must be a smart girl.’

Even though her son was a fool, Mrs. Li had no intention of wronging him. She was determined to find him a good wife—one who might even give her a fine grandson.

’Li Jianfeng’s wife?’

When Zhao Nuanyue heard that one word, her mind exploded. ’Oh god, this is that fool’s mother?’

’Did she come here to inspect a potential daughter-in-law?’

Zhao Nuanyue felt Mrs. Li’s gaze confirmed her intentions. In her past life, she seemed to recall hearing that this same Mrs. Li had gone through several daughters-in-law, all of whom had died under mysterious circumstances. Rumor had it that they were beaten to death by Mrs. Li’s foolish son, but because the Li family was so powerful, the matter was always quietly dropped.

"Oh, our two families are already so close, just like one big family. And we’ll be even closer in the future!" Wang Lianhua beamed, her wrinkles fanning out across her face like the petals of a blooming chrysanthemum.

Seeing Wang Lianhua’s smile, Zhao Nuanyue felt a sinister chill run down her spine.

Xia Yingyu found it strange. ’When did my mother-in-law get so familiar with Mrs. Li?’ She couldn’t very well ask her in front of a guest. She would just have to wait until after they left.

The words "one family" sent a shudder through Zhao Nuanyue.

’Oh god, Wang Lianhua already sees Li Jianfeng’s family as her own. It’s obvious she’s confident she can marry me off to that fool.’

’But if I refuse, what can they do?’

’No, that’s not right!’

’Of course I’d refuse if they asked me openly. Otherwise, Zhao Jinghai wouldn’t have tried to drug me last night.’

’They plan to drug me and let things get to a point of no return. Once I’m ruined, I’ll have no choice but to agree.’

At this thought, a wave of retrospective fear washed over Zhao Nuanyue, and her heart began to pound.

’No, I can’t just sit here and wait for the worst to happen. I have to get out of here as soon as possible, away from this place of conflict, this den of wolves.’

While Zhao Nuanyue was lost in her panic, Mrs. Li sat down near her. She continued to study Zhao Nuanyue with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, then said cheerfully, "What a pretty girl. Truly lovely. Yingyu, you have a fine daughter."

Xia Yingyu just smiled, taking it as a polite compliment from Mrs. Li and not daring to boast.

"Nuanyue is very obedient. Oh, but she’s just average-looking, I wouldn’t call her pretty," Xia Yingyu said modestly. "Nuanyue, hurry and pour a cup of water for Mrs. Li. There are some tea leaves in the first drawer."

Flustered and wanting nothing more than to escape, Zhao Nuanyue seized the opportunity. Hearing her mother’s words, she quickly got up to pour tea for Mrs. Li.

Once she was in the kitchen, Zhao Nuanyue finally let out a long sigh of relief. ’God, I just got back, and I’m already facing such a grim situation.’

’It looks like I have to leave first thing tomorrow morning. The sooner, the better!’

With Xia Yingyu at home today, she couldn’t find an excuse to leave.

Not wanting anyone to see her panicked expression, Zhao Nuanyue patted her own cheeks.

’Calm down, calm down. I absolutely cannot panic. I can’t lose my head.’

Zhao Nuanyue made the tea, came out holding the cup, and placed it in front of Mrs. Li.

"Please, have some tea," Zhao Nuanyue said softly with her head lowered, not daring to look up lest she betray her inner panic.

Mrs. Li was very pleased. ’I just love to see a young girl so meek and obedient,’ she thought. ’A soft, weak personality. Only then can she live peacefully with my son!’

"Thank you!" Mrs. Li said with a smile. She picked up the cup and took a sip. The tea tasted even more delicious now.

Seeing that Mrs. Li was very satisfied with Zhao Nuanyue, Wang Lianhua was overjoyed. ’This proves it,’ she thought. ’My son’s promotion is halfway secured.’

’Well, well. So Zhao Nuanyue is good for something after all. I guess I didn’t raise her all these years for nothing.’

’After I deal with Zhao Nuanyue, I’ll take care of that fool Zhao Nuan Yang. We’ll see how arrogant they can be then!’

"Oh, Mrs. Li, you’re so right! I don’t mean to brag, but our Nuanyue is absolutely top-notch," Wang Lianhua said, her face alight with a smile as she loudly sang Zhao Nuanyue’s praises.

This praise, however, not only annoyed Zhao Nuanyue but also left her feeling, ironically, ’overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.’

Even Xia Yingyu frowned slightly when she heard her mother-in-law’s words. ’When has she ever said a single word of praise for Nuanyue?’

’Is she just trying to show an outsider how well she treats her step-granddaughter? That doesn’t seem like Wang Lianhua’s style at all!’

Xia Yingyu vaguely sensed that something was wrong, but no matter how she racked her brain, she could never have imagined that Wang Lianhua and Zhao Jinghai would actually try to marry her daughter off to a fool in exchange for a promotion.

"Yes, I agree. Nuanyue is a fine girl. There’s just something about her. I felt a connection the moment I saw her, as if she were my own daughter," Mrs. Li said with a chuckle. "It’s true, I don’t have a daughter. From now on, I’ll just have to think of Nuanyue as my own."

’Daughter?’

’What a complete and utter joke!’

Zhao Nuanyue sneered inwardly. In this place, how cheap and sordid that one word—"daughter"—sounded.

"You’re too kind," Xia Yingyu said awkwardly, sensing that Mrs. Li was being overly, almost inexplicably, polite, which left her at a loss. "This child is quite clumsy! Anyway, let’s not talk about her. We were so happy to hear about Manager Li’s recent promotion. We’ve been meaning to pay a visit."