Chapter 074: You and Xu Xingchen Look a Bit Alike

The Bai family could at most be considered well-to-do, but her son was Duan Xiuhao’s flesh and blood—a Duan by birth! In the future, there was a real possibility he might inherit the vast Duan fortune, so she looked down on the Bai family’s daughter.

Xu Xingchen offered an awkward smile. Bai Chuwei absolutely wasn’t interested in him, and he couldn’t figure out why she had come to his house under the pretense of studying. He had noticed earlier that Bai Chuwei hadn’t brought so much as a pen; she clearly wasn’t here to study.

Xu Xingchen knew he was the Duan family’s illegitimate son. He pressed his lips together and said softly, “Mom, whether or not I’ll ever return to the Duan family is still uncertain.”

The Duan family’s finances, the whole family enterprise, were controlled by Fourth Master Duan Feihan. There was no guarantee he would accept a nephew like him.

A flicker of ruthlessness flashed in Xu Li’s eyes as she watched the juicer pulverize the oranges. With complete confidence, she consoled him in a low voice, “Xingchen, if Duan Xingye were out of the picture, you’d soon be able to go back to the Duan family.”

Xu Xingchen’s heart gave a sudden jolt at her words. He gazed at his mother thoughtfully.

That… sounded like it carried an ulterior meaning.

In the living room, Bai Chuwei smiled with subtle amusement, her fingers idly tapping her knee as she listened to the entire exchange between mother and son.

She nudged Duan Xingye in the waist with her elbow. “Duan Xingye, don’t you find something about this all a bit odd?”

Duan Xingye was baffled. “What’s odd?”

Bai Chuwei said, “I’ve heard that Xu Xingchen’s parents are very much in love, but have you ever seen any family photos in their home? Any wedding pictures? Any family portraits?”

Duan Xingye paused—she was right!

He had been to the Xu house several times, but had never seen Xu Xingchen’s father or any family photographs.

Bai Chuwei’s lips curled in a faint smile. She lowered her voice deliberately and continued, “Don’t you think you and Xu Xingchen look a little alike? Even your names are similar?”

Duan Xingye was startled; her words nearly made him jump to his feet in fright.

At that moment, Xu Li and Xu Xingchen were already carrying out fruit and juice, so Duan Xingye quickly composed himself and sat up straight beside Bai Chuwei.

Xu Li beamed at Bai Chuwei, exchanging pleasantries.

If Bai Chuwei hadn’t overheard the conversation in the kitchen, she would never have guessed from Xu Li’s smiling face that there was any disdain toward her at all.

Bai Chuwei got to her feet, hands clasped behind her back as she strolled around the first-floor hall, smiling as she said, “Aunt Xu, Xu, your home is decorated so beautifully.”

Xu Li felt a swell of pride—she had pestered Duan Xiuhao for ages before he finally bought this house, and she had personally overseen every aspect of the decoration; every item was the finest.

This Bai girl probably had never seen such luxuries.

Though she wasn’t Duan Xiuhao’s wife in the eyes of the law, her life was surely more comfortable than that of the legitimate wife. Even her son was more favored by Duan Xiuhao than Duan Xingye!

Xu Li covered her mouth and laughed softly. “It’s nothing special. I just decorated it to my own taste, nothing fancy.”

Bai Chuwei walked back, placing a hand on Duan Xingye’s shoulder and leaning back leisurely against the sofa. She smiled, “You’re being modest, Aunt Xu. This house was clearly designed according to the principles of feng shui and the five elements. Not only does it attract wealth, but it also keeps a man anchored—there’s nothing casual about it.”

Xu Li’s smile froze abruptly. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at Bai Chuwei.

What did this girl just say?

How did Bai Chuwei see that the house’s entire design followed feng shui principles?