Chapter 72: Xu Yunzhu Is Not the Daughter of the Xu Family?

Mrs. Xu's expression did not change at all in the face of Xu Muning’s venomous words, as if the curses from her daughter’s mouth were aimed at a stranger, not her own flesh and blood. Yet to her, Xu Yunzhu was less than a stranger. At least a stranger wouldn’t ruin her plans, but since the moment Xu Yunzhu appeared, she had repeatedly spoiled everything.

A faint, almost imperceptible crease appeared between her brows—there was something odd about all this. Xu Yunzhu should have been dead. The day before the engagement was broken off, she had seen her drink the water she’d drugged herself, yet nothing happened. The very next day, Xu Yunzhu attended the engagement party as if nothing was amiss.

With that thought, Mrs. Xu suppressed her emotions. Before long, Mr. Xu entered the room. Xu Muning’s twisted expression had no time to fade before Mr. Xu caught her in the act. He frowned at her, and her face looked a little comical as she mouthed, “Dad, Daddy.”

“Mm,” Mr. Xu responded lightly.

Xu Muning still harbored some fear of her father. He could be truly violent when he was angry. Though he usually doted on her, if his interests were at stake, he wouldn’t hesitate to cast her aside.

“I—I’ll go out now.”

“Go on,” Mr. Xu replied.

She hurried out as if escaping.

Once the door was firmly closed, Mr. Xu let out an angry snort. “Look at what you’ve made of Muning. She’s grown up with a poisonous mind, her head filled with nothing but love affairs, always competing with Yunzhu, jealous and petty. How is that acceptable?”

Mrs. Xu, sulking, retorted, “Muning is just anxious. She lost a good engagement because of Xu Yunzhu’s return. If I’d known, I’d have finished her off myself back then instead of leaving her to those traffickers.”

“Shut up!” Mr. Xu exploded in sudden fury.

Only then did Mrs. Xu realize she’d said too much. Seeing the veins bulging on his forehead, she stubbornly held her ground. “What are you afraid of? There’s no one else here. Who could possibly know?”

Mr. Xu took a deep breath. “Never bring this up again. Let it rot in our guts. If the truth ever comes out, none of us will escape.”

“Yunzhu is our child, our own flesh and blood. You and Muning are not to target her again. Besides… she still has contact with the Pei family, which could bring benefits to the Xu family.” His tone softened somewhat.

Mrs. Xu clenched her fists. “Why does it have to be Xu Yunzhu? Muning could do just as well. What is she lacking?”

Thinking of Xu Muning, Mr. Xu frowned, speaking frankly, “Is she as beautiful as Yunzhu? That face, whether in the past or now, is enough to make any man fall.”

As he spoke, a touch of reminiscence flickered in his eyes.

Mrs. Xu’s eyes blazed with anger. “You’re still thinking about that woman?”

Mr. Xu’s expression grew distant as he looked at Mrs. Xu. Her face, twisted with rage, was still beautiful—Xu Yunzhu resembled her by eight parts out of ten. But years of rarely smiling had left Mrs. Xu’s features slack and prematurely aged, her beauty greatly diminished.

He glanced at her, feeling only impatience.

“What’s that look in your eyes?” Mrs. Xu demanded, her anger rising. “Are you looking through me at that woman? Xu Hongye, don’t you go too far.”

Yet Mr. Xu’s expression remained indifferent. “You’re not her. Don’t bring her up again, all right? We’re here to talk about Muning. You’d better talk some sense into her. If her stupidity costs the Xu family, I won’t forgive her.”

Mrs. Xu’s eyes widened as she shoved Mr. Xu away. “Xu Hongye, are you insane? Muning is our own daughter! How can you treat her like this? She’s your flesh and blood. They say even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs, but you won’t help her at all. Now you dislike her because of Xu Yunzhu—what kind of father are you?”

Mr. Xu stared at her coldly. “A person without ruthlessness will never achieve great things. Isn’t that what you told me? I care only for profit. Whoever brings me the greatest benefits is the one I cherish most. With Yu’er in the company, that’s enough. And another thing—never mention that woman in front of me again. It disgusts me.”

With that warning, Mr. Xu opened the door and strode out.

Mrs. Xu burst into tears at once. She pounded the table in frustration, her anger mixed with resentment and, above all, bitter disappointment.

Xu Muning emerged from the guest room next door. Shaking all over, her face pale, she stared in a daze at the bedroom door left slightly ajar, from which Mrs. Xu’s muffled sobs could be heard. Stealthily, she slipped away.

She returned to her room, but her hands and feet still trembled uncontrollably.

What had she just heard?

She was Mrs. Xu and Mr. Xu’s biological daughter—not some adopted child brought in after Xu Yunzhu’s disappearance.

And Xu Yunzhu’s childhood disappearance was somehow connected to Mrs. Xu, with Mr. Xu in on it as well.

Did this mean Xu Yunzhu wasn’t really the Xu family’s daughter?

As the thought struck her, Xu Muning gradually calmed down. She sat before her vanity mirror. The face reflected there was delicate, ordinary, unremarkable without the aid of makeup. Yet Xu Yunzhu’s face bore a striking resemblance to Mrs. Xu’s.

No, something wasn’t right…

Xu Yunzhu must be related by blood to Mrs. Xu. How else could they look so alike? Anyone seeing them together would assume they were mother and daughter—no one would think otherwise.

Her own features, by contrast, bore no similarity to Mrs. Xu’s.

Yet Xu Muning couldn’t deny that, growing up, Mrs. Xu had always treated her with the utmost affection—never wavering, not even after Xu Yunzhu returned. Fearing she might feel jealous or neglected, Mrs. Xu had bought her countless gifts, while Xu Yunzhu received nothing.

Back then, she had felt smug; even if Xu Yunzhu was the real daughter, her parents’ love was hers alone.

But now, the truth was plain.

She was Mrs. Xu’s daughter.

Xu Muning’s mind was a tangled mess, her heart in turmoil. She longed to confide in someone—these secrets were suffocating her.

She thought of Xu Yu, her foster brother.

He had been adopted by Mr. Xu with Mrs. Xu’s consent when Xu Yunzhu was four years old. Xu Yu was three years older than Xu Yunzhu, already old enough to understand things.

Xu Muning’s mind grew more and more confused. Her fingers dialed Xu Yu’s number almost without conscious thought.

“Hello?” His gentle, cool voice came through the receiver.

Xu Muning instantly regretted calling.

She was silent for a long moment before Xu Yu asked softly, “Muning, did you need something from your brother?”

At the word “brother,” her long-suppressed tears finally slipped free. Though her parents had treated her well, it was her brother who had always been there for her.

Choking with sobs, she poured out everything she had heard.

Xu Yu was silent for several seconds before murmuring, “So you know everything now?”

Xu Muning, lost in her tears, didn’t quite catch his words. “Brother, what did you say?”

“I said, I’ll come pick you up. Tell me everything in detail when we meet,” he answered gently.

“Okay.”

She hung up, grabbed her bag, and hurried out the door.