Chapter 8: The contrast is too great

Xie Wantang lowered her head, looking at the gray apron lying just beside her feet.

Look—

Is this what passes for the quality of a noble lady?

The apron is just for throwing away—who are you trying to dirty?

Xie Wantang chuckled lightly; she had no intention of obeying Madam Lu's arrangement to go to the kitchen and wrap whatever damn little wontons—whose kid likes to eat, whose mother should wrap them; what's the point in ordering others around?

Besides, she isn't a servant in this household.

Then she certainly had no plan to pick up the apron on the floor.

Honestly, if you really reckon it up, it's not even fair to blame Madam Lu—after all, it was she who used to spoil Madam Lu rotten.

In the past, whenever she went to the old residence for a meal, no matter which Lu family member it was, and regardless of whether they truly or just pretended to want to eat something she cooked herself, as long as they mentioned it, she would go to the kitchen to make it.

Even if she was starving, she'd still make whatever they wanted to eat.

Back then, Madam Lu would often, either by tossing or throwing, give her the apron, and each time she would bend over to pick it up from the floor.

Upon careful reflection, it seems there really wasn't a single time when she took the apron directly from Madam Lu's hand.

Madam Lu acted as if she couldn't hold onto this thing steady—if she can't hold it, why bother grabbing it at all?

Since she loves to toss and throw so much, from today on she ought to learn to pick it up herself.

If she herself won't pick it up, then whoever wants to pick it up can do so.

Anyway, she won't pick it up.

Xie Wantang stood straight and stiff; seeing that she had no intention of bending to pick up the apron, Madam Lu was about to say something else when Xia Meng, holding Dongdong's little hand, walked over—seemingly intentional yet seemingly unintentional—stepped with one foot onto that apron.

She acted as if she hadn't seen a thing, smiling as she spoke to Xie Wantang: "Xie Wantang, you've really gone through trouble—Dongdong is just like that; if he wants to eat something, he must have it, and if he can't, he cries; I know wrapping wontons is rather troublesome."

"Dongdong, come, let's quickly thank Auntie Xie Wantang; in a moment, Auntie Xie Wantang will wrap you some tasty little wontons."

"Hurry, say thank you, Auntie."

"Thank you, Auntie." Dongdong echoed, his voice soft and childish.

Xie Wantang said, unmoved: "Really, I'm sorry, Miss Xia, but I went out today with nail polish on, and the smell hasn't faded yet—why don't you just wrap them yourself for your son to eat?"

Xie Wantang directly refused; having said that, she turned and was about to leave.

Madam Lu wouldn't let her just leave like that, saying, "What's the big deal about nail polish? We have gloves at home—Liu Ma, go get Xie Wantang a pair of gloves."

"All right, Madam."

"Liu Ma, stop." Xie Wantang promptly called out to Liu Ma; she turned her head to look at Madam Lu, glanced at Xia Meng, then lowered her gaze—there was Dongdong, staring at her with those pure, innocent eyes.

She really didn't want to play the villain in front of the child and scare Dongdong.

After all, she herself has a little baby in her belly.

She also rather wanted to pay attention to prenatal education.

But since some people simply refuse to understand human speech, what's the point of her worrying so much?

"My dear mother-in-law, Miss Xia, are you two operating on the intellect of a three‑year‑old? Nail polish is just my excuse—I said I won't wrap the wontons; he calls me auntie, not mother."

"Whose child wants to eat what—shouldn't it be the mother who makes it? If you let someone else do it, then let the kid call that person 'mom'."

"Do you understand now? Or do I need to explain further?"

""

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone in the Lu family except Old Madam Lu was stunned.

None of them had expected that the always gentle, obedient, sensible Xie Wantang—who would do whatever was said and even seek out tasks when nothing was said—would actually rebel.

You ask her to do something, and she won't even agree?

What does she mean by this?

Seeing both of them silent, after counting three seconds in silence, Xie Wantang saw that they seemed to have understood and probably had nothing more to say, so she turned and walked away.

She glanced around and saw that, aside from the smile on Old Madam Lu's face, every other Lu family member's face showed varying degrees of shock and disbelief.

That's understandable; she could see why they felt that way.

After all, the contrast between her and the former Lu Xie Wantang is just too great.

Lu Xie Wantang was obedient, sensible, mature, aware of the bigger picture, polite—basically indulging them in every way.

Having been Lu Xie Wantang for over three years, Xie Wantang was almost forgetting that she herself was actually called Xie Wantang, not Lu Xie Wantang.

Her love for Lu Yanshen is genuine, but she hasn't fallen into the kind of lovesick obsession that demands nothing in return.

Any relationship must be a two‑way pursuit.

If only one side puts in effort, the relationship won't last.

She relied on her own efforts, persisted for more than three years, and that was enough.

Lu Yanshen's face was dark as iron.

Madam Lu was even more so.

Xia Meng stood there, neither embarrassed nor at ease, and didn't even know what to say.

The Xie Wantang before her eyes was nothing like the gentle, temper‑free, ever‑accommodating housewife that Madam Lu and Lu Rourou had described, who was skilled at managing the household.

"Come here, Tangtang, sit with Grandma." Old Madam Lu reached out to greet Xie Wantang.

"All right, Grandma." After being in the old residence for so long, this was the first time Xie Wantang showed a genuine, heartfelt smile.

The banana in the fruit basket on the table—she pulled one out, peeled it herself, broke off half, and shared it with Old Madam Lu, saying, "Grandma, let's eat the banana together."

"Good." Old Madam Lu took the half that Xie Wantang handed over with a cheerful smile.

"Waa waa……"

The peaceful grandparent‑grandchild atmosphere was broken by the child's wailing; Dongdong's sudden burst of tears made Xia Meng ache as she scooped up her son, her eyes red as she looked at Madam Lu and said, "Auntie, if someone isn't welcoming us mother and son, we might as well leave."

Xie Wantang knew that the "someone" in Xia Meng's words was a thinly veiled jab at her.

If this had been before, she would have just let it go.

But right now, Xie Wantang had no intention of enduring this hidden resentment; she was just about to stand up when Lu Yanshen beside her pressed her wrist, saying, "Indeed, it's not really suitable for the two of you to be here right now; I'll have Pei Xiao escort you."

Lu Yanshen's words caused the tears that Xia Meng had forced out to stick stubbornly to the edges of her eye sockets.

She wanted them to fall, but her tear glands suddenly stopped, with no further supply, so no matter how she tried, they wouldn't drop.

Xia Meng had no idea that Lu Yanshen actually truly did not want her to stay here.

Why?

Is it just because of Xie Wantang?

"Yanshen, what are you saying?" Madam Lu, dissatisfied that her son wanted to drive away Xia Meng and her child, glared at him.

Lu Yanshen released Xie Wantang, calmly explaining, "I've notified the Xie Family; they know Xie Wantang has been found and are on their way. Some things aren't convenient to say with Xia Meng present."

"Is that so?" Madam Lu, realizing she had misunderstood her son, then softened her tone.

Upon hearing Lu Yanshen's explanation, Xia Meng's complexion eased and became much better.

Then, willingly holding Dongdong, she walked away.

Pei Xiao had barely driven Xia Meng and her child away for less than ten minutes when the Xie Family's car arrived.

Xie Wantang's biological parents and her sister Xie Bailu were all invited over by Lu Yanshen.

Xie Wantang looked at them, her expression also indifferent.

She was a bit puzzled, wondering why Lu Yanshen had summoned them.

That couple, wanting to control her, still lacked just a bit of the necessary influence.