In a small meeting room, Xia Weiliang, dressed in black and wearing a baseball cap, stood by the window taking a call.
On the other end was Su Hui.
"Weiliang, we saw the news."
Xia Weiliang lowered her gaze. "Mhm."
"Those parents... I mean, Yiran's adoptive parents, your father and I have decided not to pursue it further. After all, they are your..." Su Hui trailed off, wanting to avoid making either party too awkward.
"I know."
Those parents, on the show, had heavily criticized her for being unfilial. They were her biological parents.
Yet, as the victim, the Xia family intended not to pursue the matter. This was the same choice they had made in her previous life. At first, she had thought their decision was driven by emotion and guilt, but later she learned that the Xia family truly detested that family. The reason they didn't pursue it was a result of discussions with Xia Yiran's company, all for the sake of her innocent and pure image.
The facts proved this to be a wise decision.
Because of the kind parents, netizens unanimously turned their attacks on her, while Xia Yiran became a beautiful and kind-hearted little princess.
"Weiliang, it's been so long since it happened, let's just not mention it again... After all, the hardships Yiran went through are also true. While she was struggling to make ends meet, you were pampered by us like a little princess..." As Su Hui spoke, her voice choked up, and it was clear she truly felt she owed her biological daughter.
"Weiliang, I'm begging you, don't say anything, don't do anything. Just consider it our compensation for Yiran."
Her eyes gently closed. In that instant, there was a sense of loss, and even more so, mockery.
She took a deep breath and spoke softly, "So, you always knew she was orchestrating this, that she was throwing mud at me, basin after basin, even at the parents who raised her for over twenty years."
As for whether those parents had a motive for showmanship on the program, she had actually suspected it in her previous life. But at that time, she had been so heavily criticized that her attention had shifted, and she hadn't pursued it further.
Thinking back now, perhaps they had done it for Xia Yiran, hence playing along with the Xia family.
Heh, she really envied Xia Yiran a little. Whether it was her adoptive parents or her biological ones, they all poured their hearts out for her.
Su Hui hesitated, vaguely avoiding the topic. "Weiliang... you have received so much. Even without the Xia family, you would have taken good care of yourself. But we owe Yiran..."
She suddenly interrupted, "It's you, not me."
"Wh-what did you say?"
Xia Weiliang tightened her grip on her phone, her chest rising and falling noticeably, her expression gradually freezing. "I said, you owe her, not me. Therefore, I will not humble myself before her, nor will I take the blame for things I haven't done!"
Su Hui became anxious upon hearing this. "Weiliang, how can you think like that? If it weren't for you, Yiran would be with us right now, our biological daughter!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Su Hui regretted it and hurriedly tried to salvage the situation. "Weiliang, Mom didn't mean it that way. Even if you're not my biological child, we have twenty-three years of mother-daughter affection! Can't you just let bygones be bygones and not worry your parents anymore!"
Towards the end, she spoke in a raised, emotional voice, with a hint of a cry.
Xia Weiliang lowered her gaze, her voice very low, slowly, every word clear: "Mom, it's not me who is wrong."
The call ended abruptly.
If she had harbored any hope when she first received her mother's call, she was now completely sobered.
Twenty-three years of mother-daughter affection could not, after all, outweigh blood relations.
She accepted it.
Nuomi and Song Yuan had been by her side, and they had guessed the general situation. Both of them were indignant on her behalf.
"I'm fine," Xia Weiliang turned around, a calm smile gracing her exquisite and radiant face.
Nuomi said with a bitter expression, "But what do we do next?"
The fans were too fierce, she was so scared!
Xia Weiliang, however, remained composed. "If they want to use me to build their persona, they'll have to see if I agree."