The Heiress's Game

Zhuo Shengnan and her daughter Cui Yiyi sat in the dressing room, where the maids had already arranged all the dresses that had been flown in.

Silk, satin, hand embroidery—each piece is wrapped in a dust bag, waiting to be chosen by its owner.

Cui Yiyi is twenty years old this year. She is studying physics in Germany and took a special leave to fly back to attend her older brother's wedding.

She inherited her mother's features, had neat short hair tucked behind her ears, and had a cheerful and straightforward personality.

At this moment, she was sitting cross-legged on the cashmere carpet in the dressing room, flipping through the wedding schedule that her older brother's assistant had just sent over, turning a page of the thick, gold-embossed cardboard between her fingers.

"Mom, my brother's assistant is really thorough; the procedures are written out clearly."

She read aloud, “‘Speech by Father Cui Qinghe and Mother Zhuo Shengnan’”, raising her eyebrows slightly as she read this.

"On Uncle Bai's side, only Uncle Bai's name was written; Meng Wanqing didn't go on stage. Big brother, this move was truly brilliant."

She placed the process card on the coffee table. "I've always thought Meng Wanqing is a tea master, someone who has mastered the art of tea to perfection."

When Uncle Bai was stranded in Taicheng, the Bai family issued so many missing person notices; newspapers and television were everywhere searching for the second master of the Bai family.

She genuinely didn't know, or pretended not to know, Uncle Bai's identity; only she herself knew the truth.

Zhuo Shengnan looked up from the dress rack, glanced at her daughter, and gave her a warning look.

"Some things are better left unsaid; keep them to yourself. After all, she's your Uncle Bai's wife, and what about your older brother?"

"You still have to save face for your older brother."

Cui Yiyi curled her lip indifferently, but did not refute it.

Zhuo Shengnan returned to the clothes rack, picked up a navy blue velvet cheongsam, and held it up against herself.

This cheongsam is her favorite style, with subtle embroidery in the same color on the cuffs, giving it a dignified and serene look.

She looked at herself in the mirror. She knew what Yiyi had said; she knew it better than anyone else.

But at this moment, she wasn't concerned about that woman; she was concerned about Bai Junze.

"When your dad comes back later, he'll definitely be happy to see this schedule."

Zhuo Shengnan adjusted the collar of her cheongsam in front of the mirror.

"Of course!" Cui Yiyi got up from the carpet, walked behind Zhuo Shengnan, and helped her zip up her cheongsam.

"Dad is definitely happy, and I'm happy too. Whenever your older brother and you had a falling out, wasn't Dad always the peacemaker?"

Zhuo Shengnan fastened the buttons on her collar and looked at herself in the mirror.

The woman in the mirror was no longer young. She recalled the tense relationship she had with Bai Junze back then.

She was too assertive and controlling, while Bai Junze had always had his own ideas since childhood. The mother and son clashed head-on for several years.

During the most tense period, they could go for months without speaking to each other, neither willing to back down first.

It was Cui Qinghe who mediated between them, repeatedly bringing them together for meals, speaking well of her in front of Bai Junze, and explaining things to Bai Junze in front of her.

He actually cares about you a lot, but he's just as stubborn as you are.

"Your mother has had a tough time too; she just doesn't know how to express herself."

These words were repeated again and again, like a bridge spanning the seemingly insurmountable rift between mother and child.

Later, as Bai Junze grew up, she learned to let go appropriately, and their relationship gradually improved.

Even today, her son's actions show her: I understand your grievances, and I stand by your side.

Cui Yiyi saw her mother's slightly reddened eyes in the mirror. She didn't say anything, but gently hugged her waist from behind and rested her chin on her shoulder.

After a moment, he finally spoke.

"Mom, my older brother has always been my idol. He has never let me down, and he will never let you down either."

Zhuo Shengnan placed her hand on the back of her daughter's hand and patted it gently, preventing her tears from falling.

After Bai Junze left, Bai Jingchuan sat in the main seat. The dishes in front of him were barely touched, and his chopsticks, which had been cold for a long time, were resting on their holders.

He had hoped to get the family to sit down and have a proper meal so they could calmly discuss the wedding arrangements, but to his surprise, Bai Junze didn't even sit down and stormed off.

Meng Wanqing silently ladled out a bowl of cordyceps and fish maw soup, placed it in front of him with both hands, and spoke in a gentle voice.

"Jingchuan, the soup is still warm, have some. Junze must be too tired from the wedding preparations lately, don't worry about it."

Bai Jingchuan took the soup bowl, took a sip, and slammed it down on the table with a dull thud.

Meng Wanqing sat down on the chair next to him, picked up the serving chopsticks and served him several of his favorite dishes with gentle and skillful movements.

She has been doing these things for over a decade, and has never once shown impatience or reluctance.

"I'm sorry you've suffered all these years."

Meng Wanqing paused slightly in her chopsticks, "Why are you suddenly bringing this up? I'm perfectly fine, what's wrong with me?"

"You've been married to me for so many years, coming from Taicheng to Yunjing, not knowing a single person, and having to adapt to everything from scratch."

The climate here is much colder than in Taicheng. Over the years, you have worked diligently at the Bai family, treating Junze with courtesy and the old man with utmost respect. You have managed the household in an orderly manner.

But he—he wouldn't even let you stand on the stage for a moment.

Bai Jingchuan grew angrier as he spoke, and his voice rose several decibels.

"Jingchuan," Meng Wanqing gently pressed his arm, her voice still in that soft, gentle Taicheng accent, as if she were coaxing a child throwing a tantrum.

"Junze did nothing wrong. He is Sister Zhuo's son, and it is only natural for him to protect his mother."

Over the years, in the Bai family, Junze has always been polite to me, never lacking in manners, and has never spoken ill of me. That's enough.

As for going to power, I don't care about those empty titles. As long as you're doing well and the children are doing well, I'll be content.

"You don't care, but I do!" Bai Jingchuan's voice rose a few decibels, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.

"You are my lawfully wedded wife, the mistress of the second branch of the Bai family."

When you did all the housework for him, he treated you like family. Now that you've been asked to stand on stage for a while, he treats you like an outsider? What kind of logic is that!

"Jingchuan, stop talking. Junze has had a tough time too."

He grew up alone with the old man since he was little. Seeing you and Sister Zhuo separate must have been painful for him.

He's getting married now, he should be happy.

I'm really fine with it. If I don't go on stage, I don't go on stage. I can watch from the audience.

"As long as you two don't fight, I'm fine with anything."

"He just doesn't understand! He has no idea how much you've done for him!"

Bai Jingchuan slammed his hand on the table.

Meng Wanqing didn't say anything more, but just sighed softly and got up to serve him another bowl of hot soup.

She kept her eyes downcast, as if she had swallowed all her grievances.

As Bai Jingchuan watched her retreating figure, the fire in his heart burned ever brighter.