Chapter 187
In the original text, Lai Bingxuan was written as a brainless, vicious supporting female character. But in reality, she wasn’t that vicious.
All of her malice toward Xu Shuangrong came from grudges she held when she was young. She never harmed people for no reason.
So rather than calling her vicious, Xie Mi preferred another description: someone who loves and hates with passion.
At this moment, she was sitting in the car of such a woman—one who loves and hates boldly.
After hearing Xie Mi’s plan, Lai Bingxuan furrowed her brows in disbelief.
“You’re saying you want Liu Woxing to continue appearing on the show?”
“Yes.” Xie Mi answered decisively.
Lai Bingxuan couldn’t understand it even more.
“Didn’t she say she couldn’t join because of personal reasons? Since she can’t, why do you insist on having her there?”
“Are you two that close?”
As she said this, Lai Bingxuan let out a small snort and turned her head away, refusing to look at Xie Mi.
Xie Mi raised her brows slightly.
“I wouldn’t say we’re that close. It’s just that I’ve always been a little rebellious.”
“Hm?” Lai Bingxuan turned her head back, clearly not understanding how this had anything to do with rebellion.
Xie Mi grinned and pulled out her phone, opening her chat history with Liu Woxing.
“Liu Woxing blocked me. I have to ask her what that’s about.”
“You…”
Lai Bingxuan’s lips twitched. She was at a loss for words.
But soon, she leaned closer like she had discovered something new.
“Liu Woxing blocked you? Then it seems your relationship isn’t that good after all.”
“Then, Miss Lai, do you want to help me?” Xie Mi’s smile deepened, looking a little like she was coaxing a child into mischief.
Lai Bingxuan felt uncomfortable under her straightforward gaze.
“Ahem… It’s not that I can’t help, but are you sure about this?”
“I’m sure.”
“There’s no better way?”
“Let me think… Nope!”
“…Fine then.”
Unexpectedly, the young Miss Lai was soft-hearted. Even when faced with Xie Mi’s rude request, she still agreed.
And as for what that rude request was…
Half an hour later, at the entrance of the Liu family estate—it was ten in the morning.
The Liu family lived in a manor far from the city. The whole estate was designed in a traditional style, fitting perfectly with their cultivated “scholarly family” image.
The first to receive them was the Liu family’s butler, the middle-aged man Xie Mi had seen once before at the end of a recording.
As soon as Lai Bingxuan reported her name, the butler’s attitude became instantly respectful. He said he needed to inform the madam, then hurried away.
When he returned, he brought with him a richly dressed middle-aged woman.
This was Liu Woxing’s mother—Lu Ping.
“Long time no see, Miss Lai. I hear you’re here for Woxing? Why so suddenly? You didn’t tell me in advance so I could have the butler prepare and host you properly.”
Lu Ping smiled with impeccable manners. Her every move mirrored Liu Woxing’s—one could instantly tell who Liu had learned from.
But Lai Bingxuan never liked such roundabout talk. She always spoke bluntly.
“Auntie Liu, here’s the thing. Woxing and I are on the same show. Today, according to the program’s requirement, we were supposed to go out shopping together. I already arranged the schedule and even booked the restaurant.”
“But now Woxing suddenly said she’s not coming. All my preparation went to waste. I’m very upset. So I want to ask her in person what’s going on.”
Lu Ping’s eyes flickered at her straightforwardness, but her smile never wavered.
“You’re right, it is Woxing’s fault. She should have told you earlier. Next time, I’ll make sure she apologizes.”
“Isn’t now the perfect time?”
Lai Bingxuan said casually, “Woxing’s at home, isn’t she? I want to see her, and she can apologize to me in person.”
“Today may not be the best time.” Lu Ping kept smiling. “Woxing has an appointment later and is getting ready to go out.”
“No. It has to be today. I’m already here. How much time does one meeting take?”
“Miss Lai, being unreasonable isn’t good.”
“What do you mean unreasonable? Clearly, it was Woxing who ditched me first. And I’m the one being unreasonable? I’m the one being unreasonable?!”
What kind of scene hadn’t Lu Ping witnessed before?
But this scene—she truly hadn’t.
She had long heard that Miss Lai was spoiled into being willful, but she hadn’t expected it to be this extreme.
To throw a tantrum at the drop of a hat… what was this?
She had planned to use the elegance of high society etiquette to subtly push Lai Bingxuan back. But seeing it wouldn’t work, and not wanting to create unnecessary conflict with the Lai family over such a small matter, Lu Ping could only keep her smile and soothe her.
“Of course, of course. Woxing was indeed wrong first. She should apologize to you in person. How about this—she’s in her room now. She’s leaving in five minutes, so you have five minutes to see her.”
The wise know when to advance and retreat.
Tantrum or not, Lai Bingxuan got what she wanted. She nodded.
“Five minutes, then.”
Lu Ping summoned the butler to lead her to Liu Woxing’s room.
“But…”
After holding it back for so long, Lu Ping couldn’t resist asking the question she’d been curious about from the start.
“Dressed like this, won’t it be inconvenient for you?”
“Not at all.”
Lai Bingxuan looked down at her extravagant evening gown, with its enormous, floor-sweeping skirt. She raised her head and said seriously,
“I dress like this all the time.”
“Mm… very nice.” Lu Ping’s smile remained polite, though inwardly she made a mental note: Best not to provoke this Miss Lai any further.
Judging by her state, it was better to just give way.
Lai Bingxuan, in her enormous skirt, shuffled forward with tiny, rapid steps—ten per second—moving steadily but slowly.
The butler kept a polite smile, showing no sign of amusement. He slowed his pace patiently, and after three minutes of this arduous trek, they finally arrived at Liu Woxing’s door.
Her room was on the first floor, visible from the hall.
It was a double wooden door with an elegant design. Lai Bingxuan’s expression froze suddenly.
Because half of the door panels were carved openwork, decorated with delicate patterns—but still allowing a clear view inside the room.
This was a corridor. Anyone passing by could see what Liu Woxing was doing.
At that moment, she was sitting at the desk by the window, reading.
“Miss Lai, you have two minutes.” The butler smiled faintly, raised his hand, knocked twice, then pushed the door open.
Inside, Liu Woxing quickly closed her book.
She smiled as she lifted her head, then froze upon seeing Lai Bingxuan.
“Miss Lai? What are you—”
Before she could finish, Lai Bingxuan’s angry voice rang out first.
“Hey! Who told you to go in?!”
The butler smiled politely, puzzled. “Miss Lai, is there a problem?”
“What do you mean ‘a problem’? Don’t you see a problem? You knocked twice and then pushed the door right open. What was the point of knocking? Did Woxing say you could come in? Even my dad waits for me to answer when he knocks. Who gave you the right to just push the door open?!”
Liu Woxing’s smile stiffened.
The butler’s gaze flickered, but his face remained calm with a smile.
“My mistake. I’ll report this truthfully to Madam and accept her punishment. Please calm down, Miss Lai.”
