Xu Peiwei forced herself not to dwell on the matters concerning her maternal family, turning instead to the things Qin Yunyun had mentioned in her letters—about Qin Shuying… That girl actually dared!

  Just as that thought crossed her mind, she heard Madam Mao speak up, “Yun’er, your cousin’s been thinking about you every day. She was thrilled to hear you’d be visiting.”

  Xu Peiwei composed herself, lifted her brows, and smiled, “Little Sister Yun, come with me quickly—I have something wonderful to show you.”

  Without another word, she stood and took Qin Yunyun by the hand, heading straight for the courtyard. She didn’t spare a gnce for Qin Shuying or Qin Lulu.

  Such behavior was far from courteous, yet Madam Mao merely smiled and said on her daughter’s behalf, “She’s been dying to show off the little trinkets she brought back. Peiwei’s prepared something for everyone—you’ll each get a gift.”

  Qin Shuying remained unfazed by Xu Peiwei’s btant disregard and disdain, only smiling quietly.

  Qin Yunyun bid Madam Mao farewell and followed after her cousin. Qin Shuying and Qin Lulu trailed behind, making their way toward Xu Peiwei’s courtyard.

  At a corner of the corridor, Xu Peiwei gave her maid a meaningful gnce. The girl stopped in her tracks and turned to the maids following behind, smiling sweetly, “The young dies must want to talk in private. We’ll wait over here and not intrude.”

  Caiying and Cailuan, having been instructed beforehand, naturally slowed their steps. Ziteng and Luye exchanged a gnce and fell back as well. The maid Qin Lulu brought was inconsequential and followed suit.

  Qin Shuying acted as if she hadn’t noticed.

  Xu Peiwei had always liked to do this—sending away the servants, especially Nanny Fu—so she could corner Qin Shuying alone and press her with words, mocking and taunting her without restraint.

  Back then, when Qin Shuying had just lost her parents and was filled with fear and helplessness, she had clung to the idea of closeness with Xu Peiwei. Never had she expected to be struck again and again by that cousin’s cruelty, until her heart was left in tatters.

  Now, Xu Peiwei was chattering away to Qin Yunyun, not bothering to acknowledge the two girls walking behind.

  “Little Sister Yun, wait until you see what I brought you—it’s truly delightful. Can you imagine? A wooden bird that can walk! I didn’t believe it at first either, but when Cousin took me to the shop, I was so stunned I couldn’t move!”

  Her voice was pitched just loud enough for Qin Shuying and Qin Lulu behind them to hear clearly.

  Qin Lulu, naturally curious and lively by nature, was intrigued by the strange toy—but she wasn’t stupid. She could tell Xu Peiwei had no regard for her. Whatever enthusiasm she’d had during the carriage ride had now cooled.

  Qin Shuying walked at a leisurely pace, admiring the Xu family’s garden—it truly was pleasant.

  Xu Peiwei noticed that the two behind showed no curiosity, didn’t even ask a question, and instantly felt annoyed.

  “Your two sisters are truly ill-mannered! Coming to someone’s home as guests and not even bothering to speak—have they never mingled with proper noble girls before? So low-born and rustic—it’s a disgrace to your Qin family!”

  The tone was enough to rival Lu Changju.

  Still, Qin Shuying said nothing.

  Xu Peiwei snorted. She had initially thought Yunyun’s compints were exaggerated. She knew Qin Shuying well—how could that soft, timid girl become anything formidable?

  But now? Not a single blink after being insulted? That was strange indeed.

  She refused to believe Qin Shuying could possibly have changed that much. Lifting her brows, she sneered, “Hey, Qin Shuying, what are you staring at? Why aren’t you saying anything? What, are you mute now? It’s ughable, really. Someone like you, daring to accept an invitation and show your face in public? If I were you, I’d lock myself up and never come out to humiliate myself again!”

  Back then, Xu Peiwei had always spoken like this—vicious and cutting. Qin Shuying had never experienced such bullying before and had been trampled beneath her cousin’s heel time and again, unable to stand tall.

  But now, faced with Xu Peiwei’s open provocation, Qin Shuying’s face remained unchanged—serene, without a flicker of reaction.

  Xu Peiwei assumed she was still the same as always and only grew more reckless with her words. “If it weren’t for Aunt’s soft-heartedness, do you think you’d be allowed to parade around like this? Honestly, besides my home, who else would ever invite you anywhere?”

  Then she raised a brow, waiting to see the embarrassment and panic she expected from Qin Shuying.

  Instead, Qin Shuying’s lips curved into a brilliant smile. Her voice was unhurried and sweet as honey: “Cousin Peiwei, does your household keep a dog?”

  “…A dog?”

  Xu Peiwei blinked. What was she talking about? There were no dogs here.

  Qin Yunyun’s eyes widened—she realized immediately that whatever came next, it wouldn’t be good. She tried to change the subject, but Qin Shuying didn’t give her the chance.

  “If not, then how did I just hear one barking nonsense?”

  Pfft!

  Qin Lulu couldn’t help it—she burst out ughing. She understood right away that Qin Shuying was mocking Xu Peiwei. Serves her right for being so arrogant!

  And Qin Lulu wasn’t the type to let others bully her either. “I heard it too,” she added pointedly.

  Seeing Qin Lulu ugh and back up such a comment, Xu Peiwei finally understood—Qin Shuying was ridiculing her!

  Without thinking, she raised her hand to strike. “You shameless little—!”

  But Qin Shuying sidestepped gracefully, dodging the sp with ease. She waved her hand under her nose as if catching a foul stench, wrinkling her nose with disgust. “Not just a barking dog—there’s dog breath, and even dog shit.”

  “Hahahaha!”

  Qin Lulu ughed freely, completely ignoring the etiquette of being a guest.

  Xu Peiwei was shaking with rage. Never had she been humiliated like this! Pointing at Qin Shuying, she shouted, “Get out!”

  Qin Shuying’s smile vanished. Her expression turned cold, and with a flick of her wrist, she threw Xu Peiwei’s invitation to the ground. “And here I thought all this fuss was for something important.”

  With that, she turned on her heel and walked off.

  Xu Peiwei froze. She had meant to insult her, not actually drive her away. If Qin Shuying really left, what about the pn that was supposed to follow?

  The most panicked one was Qin Yunyun. She didn’t have time to think—she rushed to grab Qin Shuying’s arm. “Seventh Sister, Cousin was just speaking thoughtlessly. Don’t take it to heart. She did send you an invitation and even brought gifts for you. Doesn’t that prove she meant well?”

  Qin Shuying halted, turned slightly, and cast a half-smile back at Xu Peiwei.

  Xu Peiwei was fuming, but when she recalled what Qin Yunyun had arranged through Nanny Zhao, she knew she couldn’t afford to let this spiral out of control.

  She hadn’t expected Qin Shuying to really just walk off. In the past, Qin Shuying would have only swallowed her anger.

  Biting down her rage, Xu Peiwei gritted out, “Cousin Shuying… please forgive me. I spoke without thinking. I didn’t mean it…”

  Qin Shuying’s expression was calm as still water. She looked her in the eye. “Really?”

  She dared to question her?

  Xu Peiwei was livid, but forced herself to swallow her fury. “…Yes. Really.”