Chapter 93 - 32: What a Carefully Chosen Control Group

Chapter 93: Chapter 32: What a Carefully Chosen Control Group

What was so uncanny about her?

Anyone who got close to Lu Baozhen would suffer misfortune—in minor cases, bad luck; in severe cases, death.

What was even more horrifying was that she seemed to possess a strange sort of gravitational pull. Anyone who met her would find themselves inexplicably drawn to her, wanting to do everything in their power to be good to her.

This affection was aimless and sought no reward. Even if they were mired in their own suffering, they would still do anything for her.

It was downright creepy.

Lin Zhao recalled some of the casually written phrases in the book—phrases that sealed a person’s fate—and goosebumps broke out all over her skin.

It was sickening.

That sweet, cloying voice was immediately followed by Su Yuxian’s.

"Lin Zhao." As she spoke, she gently pushed open the door.

Su Yuxian stepped one foot inside. Seeing Lin Zhao in the courtyard, she spoke in a soft tone that carried a subtle note of complaint. "I called for you. Why didn’t you answer?"

"Everyone has times they don’t feel like talking." Lin Zhao was in a bad mood and had no desire to entertain guests, much less feign civility with this woman.

’Just get lost.’

Su Yuxian was taken aback. "What’s wrong with you?"

Before Lin Zhao could answer, she saw Lu Baozhen walking toward Da Zai and Er Zai.

She frowned slightly.

But she didn’t intervene.

She wanted to see what would happen.

Lu Baozhen walked over and stopped in front of the twins. Her large, clear eyes, as round as grapes, stared at the bowls in their hands. Tilting her head with a smile, her two perky pigtails swaying, she asked softly, "Brother Da Zai, Brother Er Zai, what are you drinking?"

Er Zai announced in a show-off voice, "Watermelon-lemon juice! My mom made it for us. She said it helps beat the summer heat."

"Is it good?" Lu Baozhen asked, her eyes full of longing.

"It has sugar in it, so of course it’s good!" Er Zai declared loudly.

"Brother Er Zai, I’ve never had it before," Lu Baozhen said, pouting with an aggrieved expression, her voice syrupy sweet.

She was a little over four years old, with rather flat features. She had single eyelids, eyes that were neither large nor small, a low nose bridge, and a wide nose tip—a thoroughly plain look. Her face was paler and chubbier than other girls her age in the village, which gave her a plump, cute appearance due to her youth.

And when she spoke in that soft voice, she seemed all the more deserving of pity and affection.

Er Zai didn’t take the bait. "I didn’t get to drink it when I was four, either," he said. "You’ll be able to have some when you’re five."

With that,

He opened his mouth wide and gulped down the last of the juice.

Lin Zhao: ...Pfft.

’Nice one.’

Lin Zhao had been genuinely afraid that Da Zai and Er Zai would fall under her spell and turn into little simpletons.

’Looks like as long as I’m alive, my boys won’t be affected.’

She struggled to suppress her excitement. Her eyes shone, and the corners of her mouth curled into a wide grin.

Da Zai saw the expression on his mother’s face, blinked, and seemed to be lost in thought.

Lu Baozhen looked at him with a pitiful expression and whined, "Brother Da Zai, Brother Er Zai is so stingy."

Da Zai’s little brows furrowed. "Er Zai is not stingy at all."

Er Zai made a face at Lu Baozhen, sticking his tongue out with a "BLEH BLEH BLEH," and said, "My brother won’t listen to your provocation."

Lin Zhao raised an eyebrow.

’Oho, he even knows a word like ’provocation’.’

Lu Baozhen was completely bewildered. She stood there, stunned, unable to understand why things hadn’t gone according to her plan.

’This isn’t right. Da Zai and Er Zai were supposed to give me the sweet drink.’

The little girl stared blankly at Da Zai and Er Zai as fat tears welled up in her eyes.

Su Yuxian shot the two Gu family boys a displeased glance. ’What’s the matter with these two rotten kids? How dare they not go along with my Baozhen? They’d better watch out, or they might just break their legs,’ she thought viciously.

"Lin Zhao, your two boys are so stingy and rude. I brought Baozhen here as a guest, and not only did they fail to offer a seat or pour some water, but they actually made a little girl cry. You really need to discipline them. What kind of future will they have if they carry on like this?"

Su Yuxian delivered this speech with a tone and expression that said, ’I’m only doing this for your own good.’

At her words, Da Zai’s body stiffened, and he looked at Lin Zhao nervously.

Er Zai’s face flushed with anger. Just as he was about to retort, Lin Zhao sneered.

"Get out." She bluntly told them to leave.

Su Yuxian couldn’t immediately process what had just happened.

After a long moment, she snapped out of her daze. "...You’re telling me... to get out?" Her voice was laced with utter disbelief.

"Take your new daughter and get out of my house," Lin Zhao repeated, her expression one of utter disgust.

She had always been headstrong and capricious, used to saying and doing whatever she pleased. The complicated notion of saving face for others had never been one of her concerns.

Focus returned to Su Yuxian’s glazed-over eyes. Anger broke through the carefully constructed mask on her face, and her voice rose, becoming unusually shrill. "Lin Zhao, do you have any idea what you’re saying?"

"I’m the only person in the entire Fengshou Team you can even talk to. Are you sure you want me to leave?" she threatened through gritted teeth.

"You don’t need to concern yourself with my sons. Coming to my territory and criticizing my children... you certainly don’t act like a guest, do you? We were never friends to begin with and have nothing in common. From now on, let’s just act like strangers when we see each other," Lin Zhao said, her tone unhurried.

Su Yuxian’s chest heaved. "What do you mean by that?" she demanded.