"Beibei?"

Qian Song and Luo Chu looked at each other, not knowing what was going on. When they pressed him for details, however, Qian Xiao refused to say a word, his expression clearly indicating it was a secret.

Aside from the happy children, the other parents also clapped and cheered, all of them assuming it was just one of the aquarium's scheduled performances. One parent even recorded a video of the dancing dolphins and posted it online, where it quickly racked up a lot of likes. The aquarium staff, however, were on the verge of a collective meltdown as they frantically searched the area. Where did these dolphins come from? This was a huge deal. If they weren't careful, it could end up on the Channel C news network, and they would be torn to shreds by netizens for animal abuse. After all, getting dolphins to perform such synchronized moves would surely require some 'special methods'.

Seeing Ruan Tang's suspicious glare, Xu Lai knew what she was thinking and whispered, "Yes, Beibei did it. After all, she's the number one Sword master in this stretch of the sea. She has that much pull."

Ruan Tang's expression darkened. "I'll deal with you when we get home!"

Xu Lai was baffled. What does this have to do with me? It was obviously Beibei who wanted to interact with our daughter. But Xu Lai could understand Ruan Tang's reasoning. She had bought all sorts of clothes for Beibei, including miniature toothbrushes and other daily necessities, and was truly raising her like a second daughter.

A child's misbehavior is the father's responsibility. From that perspective, I guess this is my fault...

As a caring father, Xu Lai sent a mental message to Beibei. "Keep causing trouble, and I'll either stew you for dinner when we get home or throw you to Xiao Hei."

Beibei wasn't afraid of being stewed, since she knew Xu Lai would never actually do it. But being thrown to Xiao Hei... The inevitable result would be that detestable panda holding her in its paws and sucking on her. She shuddered at the mere thought.

She obediently scrambled back into Yiyi's pocket and didn't dare to poke her head out again.

The rest of the visit proceeded normally. By the time night fell, they had seen the fluorescent jellyfish, and the group of six from the two families headed home, their hands full of seashells and tiny jellyfish swimming in bottles.

"Let's have dinner at my place," Ruan Tang suggested with a smile.

"That sounds great," Luo Chu replied, tempted. "Qian Song only knows how to make instant noodles." She had eaten at their home once before and knew Xu Lai's cooking was second to none.

Qian Song felt a pang of sorrow. His wife had changed. In the past, whenever he made her a bowl of instant noodles, she would smile sweetly and say it was delicious. Now, she was starting to complain.

Have the noodles lost their flavor? Or have you lost your love for me?

Luo Chu pretended not to notice her husband's wounded gaze. Soon, the car stopped at the foot of Mount Haitang, and they decided to walk the rest of the way up.

Mount Haitang was a landmark attraction in East Sea City, drawing countless visitors daily. By day, the mountain was a sea of beautiful Haitang flowers, a true joy to behold. At night, it possessed an entirely different, unique charm.

"Hold hands," Yiyi said, taking one of Xu Lai's hands and one of Ruan Tang's. Qian Xiao saw this and did the same with his parents, creating an exceptionally harmonious atmosphere.

Just then, a woman's figure strode past them. She glanced back uncertainly several times before a sneer spread across her face.

"Well, well, if it isn't our campus belle, Senior Ruan Tang."

At the sound of her grating, mocking voice, both families stopped and frowned in her direction. She was a young woman dressed from head to toe in designer brands, her appearance flashy. She wore her hair in a trendy, wavy style, though it was dyed a 'granny grey'. Although she was reasonably attractive, the faint look of resentment on her face made her particularly unpleasant. She stood a few steps away, looking at them with scorn.

"You are..." Ruan Tang frowned, trying to place her.

Jiang Yuanxi was left speechless. She had considered Ruan Tang her nemesis ever since college, and now her rival didn't even recognize her—she couldn't even remember her name! Resentment flared as she bit out, "I'm Jiang Yuanxi!"

The name sounded vaguely familiar. Ruan Tang finally placed her. Jiang Yuanxi had been a junior, a year below her. She had once smeared Ruan Tang's name on the campus forum, which led to her getting beaten up by one of Ruan Tang's ardent pursuers. After that, she'd kept a much lower profile. Ruan Tang had even been called into a teacher's office because of the incident, which was the only reason she remembered it at all.

"Mommy, who is this old granny?" Yiyi asked, tilting her little face up cutely.

"..."

The atmosphere instantly froze. Even the whistling wind suddenly sounded harsh.

Jiang Yuanxi's face turned livid. "Who are you calling a granny?!"

"Your hair is all white, so you must be a granny," Qian Xiao chimed in with perfect timing.

"It's fashion! Fashion! Do you people understand anything?!" Jiang Yuanxi fumed, on the verge of exploding.

"I'm sorry," Ruan Tang said, barely suppressing a laugh. "Kids say the darndest things."

"I wouldn't call it that," Luo Chu drawled. "It's just that children don't know how to lie."

"So you're all ganging up on me now?" Jiang Yuanxi sneered. "You two were always bullying me back in college. I can't believe I ran into you again."

"Did we bully her?" Ruan Tang asked uncertainly.

Luo Chu shook her head. "No. I'd completely forgotten she existed."

"My first love was stolen by you, Ruan Tang! And you're standing there playing innocent? How ridiculous!" Jiang Yuanxi sneered. "His name was Lin Jie! Surely you remember him!?"

Ruan Tang thought for a long moment before shaking her head. "Sorry, I had too many suitors. I don't recall."

Jiang Yuanxi clenched her fists. This hateful woman! Still playing innocent after all this time! Back then, you were the high-and-mighty campus belle adored by all, but now—now you're just the laughingstock of East Sea City!

"Senior Ruan Tang," Jiang Yuanxi began with a sneer, "back when Lin Jie dumped me for you, I went on the campus forum and said you weren't a 'pure maiden' but a 'lustful woman.' I even got beaten up by your admirers for it. To think that just six months later, you turned up pregnant with some bastard's child. It seems my words were prophetic after all."

As she spoke, she sized up Xu Lai. Her heart skipped a beat. He's... actually kind of handsome? But she would never say that out loud. Instead, her tone dripped with mockery. "So, Ruan Tang, is this the father of your child, or your new boy toy?"

"Watch your mouth," Luo Chu snapped, her voice turning cold.

"Did I say something wrong?" Jiang Yuanxi laughed mockingly. "I may not have been your equal back in college, Ruan Tang, but now I've become someone you can only dream of aspiring to be. My husband is a young entrepreneur with an eight-figure annual income!"

"Are you finished?" In contrast to her best friend, Ruan Tang wasn't angry at all. She simply smiled. "If you're done, I'd like to go home now."

Jiang Yuanxi was stunned. She had expected Ruan Tang to fly into a rage out of shame and humiliation, but her expression remained perfectly calm. Jiang Yuanxi's arrogance returned. "What's the hurry? My husband's uncle lives in the Haitang Villa District. Why don't you all come over for a visit? It's a real luxury estate, you know."

"Thank you, but there's no need." With that, Ruan Tang and her group continued on their way up the mountain.

Watching them go, Jiang Yuanxi's expression grew even more scornful. Even though she had only recently returned to the country, she knew all about the most prestigious property in East Sea City. Strictly speaking, there was only one residence on Mount Haitang: Haitang Court, right at the summit. The upscale Haitang Villa District at the foot of the mountain, while a symbol of wealth and status with a starting price of fifty million, was just trading on the prestigious name.

She has the attitude of a princess but the fate of a maid. Does she really still think she's the great Miss Ruan from all those years ago? Jiang Yuanxi scoffed to herself. Still, learning that Ruan Tang hadn't had an easy life these past few years was deeply satisfying.

Just then, a young man approached from a distance. Jiang Yuanxi's harsh expression melted away instantly, replaced by a saccharine sweet smile. "Darling, over here!"

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