Chapter 913: You are heartless

"Bai Meiyue, you need to understand—" Bai Yi began, rising to her feet.

"Xiao Wu!" Bai Meiyue called out.

The doors of the greenhouse swung open instantly; Xiao Wu, who was standing outside, walked right inside the greenhouse. Behind him were four armed guards. They raised their rifles when they saw Bai Yi standing in front of Bai Meiyue.

"Escort the imposter back to her armoured trucks," Bai Meiyue commanded, her gaze locked on Bai Yi’s furious, pale face. "Take the gifts with you; we have much better options waiting for you, as you can already see. My mother does not need the charity of the Bai family since she has me. With me by her side, she will never need such disgusting things."

"You will regret this insolence!" Bai Yi hissed, pulling her fur coat around her shoulders as the guards stepped beside her. "The matriarch will hear of this! You will be cast out."

"Do you think I care about being thrown out of your family?" Bai Meiyue shot back coldly. "We have been cast out since we were born. Do you think we grew up while relying on the charity of the Bai family? Tell your mother to continue eating her mutated meat and suffer in silence. I have no intention of helping her."

As the guards herded Bai Yi toward the exit, Bai Murong lingered behind. He looked at Bai Meiyue, with her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and genuine regret.

"I am sorry," Bai Murong whispered quickly; he stepped closer to Bai Meiyue while his aunt was distracted, arguing with Xiao Wu. "I did not know she was going to demand such a thing... I hate that she actually came up with such a demand. I swear, she told me that she was only going to come and meet with you. It was cruel what they did to your mom...you deserved better."

Bai Meiyue studied the face of the young man. There was no deceit there, only a lonely teenager trapped in a toxic noble house.

"If you ever want to visit without the woman who stole my mother’s life," Bai Meiyue said softly, her tone softening just enough for Bai Murong to hear. "I will open the doors for you. But leave the crest of the Bai family behind, or else you will not be allowed to enter the safe base."

Bai Meiyue’s words caused Bai Murong’s little face to light up with a small, hopeful smile. "I will. I promise." She gestured toward the small carved music box in Bai Meiyue’s hands. "Twist the bird’s wings. It will play a lullaby for your son."

He then turned around on his feet and chased after his aunt before Bai Yi could notice his disappearance.

**

"Wanning..." Old Master Bai whispered softly. His voice was thick with emotion. He took a step toward his daughter and held his hands out. "Let me know if there is something that I can help you with. You have been working since the morning, and I am worried that you will end up fainting. Why are you in such a hurry to plant these seeds?"

Yan Wanning sighed and turned to look at her father with gentle yet sad eyes. "Old Master Bai, I have to take care of my children. The entire safe base relies on me and my ability. If I don’t work hard, then there is a good chance that there will be trouble in the future."

"But you don’t have to work this hard! You..." he paused and then added, "You are my daughter and no daughter of mine should be working so hard."

"Old Master Bai—"

"Dad!"

Bai Yi was stunned when she saw Old Master Bai inside the greenhouse. She knew that her adoptive father was living in the safe base, but she had no idea that the once-cold master had actually lowered himself to this point where he was literally begging the unrefined street rat. What was he doing? Who was Yan Wanning? Why would her adoptive father lower himself to the point where he looked like he was begging her to come back with them?

"What are you doing? She is nothing. She is just a country bumpkin who doesn’t deserve anything. I am your daughter! You raised me for so many years; have you forgotten? So why are you trying to get close to her? Do you really care about blood relationships more than the bond we share?"

Silence fell over the greenhouse. Many of the wood ability users turned to look at the woman who had scolded Yan Wanning and frowned hard.

"Who is she? How dare she scold, master?"

"She looks like a rich, spoiled brat."

Some of the wood-ability users were about to deal with Bai Yi when Bai Zhan and Bai Jixuan walked into the greenhouse. They heard about Bai Yi rushing past the guards and coming to the greenhouse where their mother was. They knew that there was something going to happen and were really worried; sure enough, they saw their mother being insulted by the woman.

"Watch your mouth!" Bai Jixuan growled angrily. His voice was low and dangerous, and it echoed off the walls. "You are speaking to the mother of the leader of this base. Who do you think you are?"

"You snatched what belonged to our mother, and instead of showing repentance, you are insulting her? Don’t forget that if someone had not exchanged you with our mother, then you would be the country bumpkin!" Bai Zhan added, his voice cold as winter frost. "And there is no need for you to worry. Our mother is not as greedy as you; even if Old Master Bai cares about her, she will not rush to become his daughter just because he is from the Bai family."

Bai Jixuan tilted his head to one side. He snapped, "Well, I don’t blame our grandfather. Our mother has a heart and you, on the other hand," he curled his lips in a disdainful sneer. "You cannot buy one even if you use all the money from the Bai family. Because you are heartless."