Chapter 317: Rather Than Internal Struggle, Sell It Outward
“Big Sister Bai, from what part of me did you see a softhearted, eager-to-help pushover? Don’t try to morally bind me, okay?”
Ning Xiyue curved her lips into a sarcastic smile. Since Bai Yu had chosen to speak openly tonight, she would do the same—lay everything out clearly so Bai Yu wouldn’t make decisions for her again.
“Sis, I’m your cousin’s girlfriend, not yours. I’m not going to act like Zhou Cheng, who puts your wishes first in everything. I have my own thoughts. Whether I want to help or not—that’s my choice. You can’t decide that for me. Please don’t impose your will on me again, alright?”
Her voice was calm and reasonable, slow but firm, not a trace of impatience or shouting—yet also completely devoid of emotion.
And the gentler Ning Xiyue spoke, the more uncomfortable Bai Yu felt. Her heart grew heavier, realizing just how badly she had messed up. The problem wasn’t what she thought—it was that she had crossed boundaries. She had overstepped.
Ashamed, Bai Yu lowered her head and reflected. She finally understood that she had been far too self-centered, never considering others’ feelings or asking Ning Xiyue what she wanted, always acting based on her own assumptions.
While Bai Yu was lost in silence, Ning Xiyue continued evenly: “I also want to make one thing clear. I didn’t save that woman tonight because of you. I did it because there were two lives at stake—a mother and a child. I wanted to save them. It has nothing to do with you. Whatever I do in the future will also be because I choose to do it—no one can dictate my thoughts, not even your cousin.”
“…I’m sorry, Xiyue. I didn’t think about it that way. Maybe it’s just my personality—I’ve been like this for so long I didn’t even realize it.”
At this, Bai Yu lifted her head and looked at Ning Xiyue sincerely.
“Thank you for making me see the flaws in my character today. I’ll try to fix myself. I’ll never act self-centeredly again—you can rest assured, I’ll change.”
Ning Xiyue said nothing. Her dark eyes just stared steadily at Bai Yu, unblinking, until Bai Yu began to squirm under the gaze, her heart full of guilt.
Not far away, Zhou Cheng had been paying close attention. Seeing his wife lower her head like a scolded child, he felt a pang of distress and started to step forward.
But Ning Qingyuan moved quickly, grabbing Zhou Cheng’s arm before he could take a step.
“What do you think you’re doing? Don’t you know what ‘respect’ means? When two women are talking, you give them space. You going over now—what would that look like? People might think you’re picking a fight! Stay put. My sister’s reasonable—she doesn’t hit people for no reason. And if she does hit someone, you can be sure they deserved it.”
Zhou Cheng frowned but listened, drawing his foot back and staying where he was.
Ning Qingyuan didn’t care what he thought—he felt better just saying it. After all, he had realized earlier why so many women liked to argue when angry—it worked. Bottling up frustration only hurt yourself; letting it out felt liberating.
Still, he didn’t let go of Zhou Cheng’s arm right away, afraid the man might charge forward the moment he turned his back.
Zhou Cheng looked down at the hand gripping him. “You can let go now. I won’t go over.”
“Alright.”
Ning Qingyuan released him but stayed close, watching both him and Ning Xiyue’s side of the conversation.
“Xiyue, don’t just stay quiet like that. You’re scaring me,” Bai Yu said, unable to bear the silence anymore. Those clear black eyes of Ning Xiyue’s were downright terrifying when fixed on her.
Ning Xiyue blinked, finally retracting her gaze, and spoke in a flat, even tone.
“So, you do know how to be scared. Good. I think I’ve made myself clear. Just… be careful from now on. I’ll report this matter objectively and fairly to Comrade Ji.”
If they were to become one family someday, she’d treat them as ordinary relatives—nothing more. As for genuine closeness, that was out of the question unless Bai Yu did something truly extraordinary. Ning Xiyue would always keep her guard up around her.
“Alright, I’ll also write a letter of apology to him. Thank you, Xiyue.” Bai Yu exhaled softly, a relieved smile spreading across her face.
Seeing that smile, Ning Xiyue’s lips twitched—she couldn’t resist speaking again.
“I have to say, you’re kind of dumb. Not as clever as people claim. That plan of yours was doomed from the start, let alone any later execution.”
“Huh? Why?”
Being called dumb left Bai Yu stunned—no one had ever said that to her before. Everyone always praised her intelligence.
“See? You even look dumb right now.”
Ning Xiyue said whatever came to mind. She wasn’t holding back tonight—bottled-up words only led to health problems. Better to let them out, like her brother did.
“W-what?” Bai Yu widened her eyes, shocked.
“Don’t stare like that—it’s true, you’re dumb.”
Ning Xiyue shot her a disdainful glance.
“The baby born tonight—by every measure—was full term. Even if she hadn’t fallen, she would’ve given birth within the next few days. It was her due date anyway.”
“So your so-called plan was already doomed. And you thinking you could manipulate my emotions? Impossible. Your plan was full of holes, naïve, and stupid.”
Bai Yu gasped. “What? Huihui and I thought she still had a month left! We counted nine months from when her period stopped—”
“Exactly. So you are dumb. She never went for a checkup, did she?”
Bai Yu shook her head. “No… her family was going through a crisis back then. She wasn’t thinking about any of this. Later she just kept feeling nauseous, and we guessed she was pregnant.”
“There you go. Maybe what she thought was her last period wasn’t that at all—it was a sign of an early miscarriage or implantation bleeding.”
The more Ning Xiyue spoke, the more she confirmed it—Bai Yu really was foolish.
“Oh my god, you’re right… I really was stupid. I didn’t know at all. Thank goodness Huihui was okay in the end.”
Bai Yu clutched her chest in relief—unaware she’d already admitted to being dumb.
“You judged a pregnancy based entirely on guesswork—tsk tsk, you really are dumb. You’re in your thirties and not even as sharp as some of the kids in our brigade.”
After a few blunt remarks, Ning Xiyue ended with sincerity:
“Next time you’re doing something outside your expertise, listen to other people’s opinions. You might be smart in your own field, but in everything else you’re just superficially clever—hollow inside.”
She glanced at her wristwatch and spoke her final words:
“All those people calling you smart are just being polite. You need to stop believing nice lies and start accepting harsh truths. Otherwise, you’ll only get dumber and more arrogant.”
The words hit Bai Yu like thunder, leaving her frozen on the spot, lost in self-doubt and reflection.
Was she really that flawed? Did people really think she was stupid—a joke?
Ning Xiyue didn’t bother to continue. With a relaxed smile, she turned away and exhaled deeply.
Phew. Smooth.
Now that she’d said her piece, her whole body felt lighter—her pores practically breathing.
Tonight’s ordeal was over, the past was behind her, and she no longer felt the need to hold any grudges.
Zhou Cheng rushed forward to meet Bai Yu.
Ning Xiyue brushed past him without a glance, striding back to her brother. Waving her hand, she said, “Let’s go. Time to sleep.”
Ning Qingyuan glanced back at the couple and sneered, then turned and nodded. “I’m exhausted. Let’s hurry—I still want a few hours of sleep.”
“Let’s jog back,” Chen Yechu suggested. “We’ll need to wash up before bed, might as well save some time.”
“Alright. A light jog it is—since it’s not raining yet, we can fold up the umbrellas and move faster.”
Ning Xiyue led the way, breaking into a run, with the other three following close behind.
The four of them quickly left Bai Yu and Zhou Cheng far behind. Whatever happened afterward was no longer their concern.
