Chapter 317: Bai Rao Interrogates Mrs. Bai
Shi Lan could tell from their expressions that they were overthinking again. She gave them a reassuring look. "Don’t worry about me too much. I have you guys now, and I have the little one on the way. I feel like my life is already very happy. You can’t expect everything to be perfect. All these years have passed; I really don’t need parents."
’Especially not the Bai Family,’ she thought. ’I don’t like them at all.’
"Okay, we understand."
Ye Ming was the first to nod and speak up. "The next time they show up, we’ll just keep chasing them away."
"Mhm, let’s eat."
Shi Lan smiled and continued eating.
Perhaps it was the pregnancy, but she felt her appetite had gotten even better. Even though absorbing spiritual power sometimes made her feel full, she could still eat a lot.
Seeing Shi Lan’s hearty appetite, the men were certain she truly wasn’t letting the Bai Family get to her. They all breathed a sigh of relief and avoided mentioning those unpleasant people at the dinner table again.
After dinner, Shi Lan remembered something and brought it up with the others. "I just moved into the new house a few days ago. Why don’t we plan a housewarming dinner? Especially since Jiang Xia’s parents gave us this land, we should thank them properly."
The men had no objections, so Shi Lan added, "Since it’s a housewarming, the more the merrier. You all should think about any other family or friends we can invite."
Then, she looked at Jiang Xia. "Jiang Jiang, you should also invite your uncle and his family."
Wen Te had invited her to his wedding, and it was only right to return the favor. Shi Lan felt it would be improper not to include them in the housewarming dinner.
Jiang Xia agreed, but the other three men shot him a look upon hearing the overly intimate nickname, silently suppressing the jealousy and bitterness in their eyes.
"Since it’s a housewarming with family and friends, it wouldn’t be right to have robots cook. I’ll be in charge of the kitchen."
The moment Shi Lan finished speaking, Ye Ming immediately interjected, "No way. Lanlan, you’re pregnant. It will be busy with so many people, and you’ll get tired easily. Besides, this is something we males should be doing. You just need to give us the idea; we’ll handle the rest."
"That’s right, Lanlan! Don’t worry! I may not be a good cook, but I’m a pro at washing vegetables now!"
Jiang Xia enthusiastically raised his hand. Not to be outdone, Mu Tangfeng added, "Me too! I’m quick on my feet, and I can even chop some simple vegetables."
Yan Huoshui nodded. "Yes, Lanlan. I’ll help Ye Ming."
"By the way, Lanlan, when are you thinking of having the housewarming dinner? Should we send written invitations or just invite them verbally?"
Shi Lan had indeed been spoiled a bit lazy by them lately. Whenever she visited any of their homes, they would never let her cook. Ye Ming would cook himself, Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng would have robots do it, and Yan Huoshui often took her out for lavish meals.
’Come to think of it,’ she mused, ’I haven’t been in a kitchen for a long time.’
Shi Lan knew Ye Ming was a great cook, so she didn’t argue. She said happily, "I’ll leave it to you guys, then. Thank you."
"How about next Saturday? And let’s do written invitations. After all, it’s a sort of big family get-together, so this will feel a bit more formal."
Today was also a Saturday, which left a full week until next Saturday. That would be just enough time to spruce up the yard a bit more, and then they could have an outdoor meal.
Shi Lan shared her idea with the others, and Yan Huoshui praised her. "Lanlan, you’re so thoughtful. In that case, Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng, you two can compile the guest list. I’ll handle the invitations, and Ye Ming can prepare the menu for the day?"
"As for you, Lanlan, your job is to focus on your work and get plenty of rest. Don’t worry about these trivial matters."
The other three men nodded in agreement. Shi Lan, now the most idle one of them all, naturally had nothing to say.
Meanwhile, after the Bai Family scurried home in disgrace, Mrs. Bai glared at the man Bai Rao was supporting, her stomach churning with anger. "You useless waste! Look at you! Such a pathetic male! I sent you to bring our daughter back, and before she even agreed to come, you started yelling at her! Are you out of your mind?"
The more Mrs. Bai stared at Mr. Bai, the more disgusted she became. Her other Beast Husbands watched on, clearly enjoying the show.
Mr. Bai lowered his head in awkward embarrassment. Being scolded by his wife like this in front of her other Beast Husbands and his daughter made him feel furious, humiliated, and utterly mortified.
It was Bai Rao who finally spoke up, interrupting the even more humiliating words that were about to come from Mrs. Bai. "Mother, Father is injured. I’ll take him to a Treatment Pod to rest. As for bringing my sister back, there’s no rush."
Mrs. Bai opened her mouth, about to say more, but when she glanced at Mr. Bai’s pale face, she found him to be an eyesore and simply waved her hand dismissively. "Go on, go."
"Go to his own quarters, not here. Your Second Uncle will be resting with me tonight."
Bai Rao’s "Second Uncle" was the male who had been quick-witted enough to protect Mrs. Bai earlier. Bai Rao just hummed in acknowledgment, feeling little about it. Mr. Bai’s eyes, however, dimmed with sorrow.
In the week leading up to the housewarming dinner, the Bai Family tried to visit two more times, but they were chased away by Jiang Xia and the others on each occasion. Eventually, Ye Ming simply called the Capital Star Guard Team and had two officers stationed as guards at Shi Lan’s house.
At that, the Bai Family finally cowered and accepted the fact that even if they were her biological parents, Shi Lan would never acknowledge them.
As for Bai Rao, she couldn’t stop thinking about what Mrs. Bai had said before. She finally sought her out alone and asked, "Mother, why did you say something like that to Father—about who his daughter is?"
As an outstanding female whose life had always been smooth sailing, Bai Rao had the appearance of a sweet, non-confrontational girl next door. In reality, she was very ambitious and always spoke her mind.
She believed that truly capable people had no need for beating around the bush.
She had recently secured a high-paying job at the Capital First Hospital. As an S-level female, she was immediately appointed as an associate chief physician upon joining.
However, it wasn’t just her family that was constantly talking about Shi Lan; even her direct supervisor was always lamenting that he hadn’t been able to poach Shi Lan with a high salary.
Even someone like her, who had once been excited about having a sister, was now getting annoyed. Still, she had to admit that as the sole 3S Level individual, Shi Lan was indeed formidable.
Back at Imperial Capital University, Bai Rao had never paid any attention to Shi Lan, someone who was famous by name but was actually a good-for-nothing in terms of strength. Bai Rao only worshipped power. The first time Shi Lan’s name truly registered with her was during the Black Star incident. But even then, when she learned Shi Lan was stubbornly staying on Black Star for those useless males, she mostly just thought the girl was a lost cause, feeling a tinge of pity for her.
She never expected that those men whose spiritual power had collapsed could recover, or that the person she’d never taken seriously would become such an outstanding female—and now, her own twin sister.
To be honest, Bai Rao felt that her life had been thrown into chaos because of Shi Lan. She had to seize control of the narrative again. Her mother’s words had been echoing in her mind for days, which was why she had decided to confront her directly and find out the truth.
Mrs. Bai was already vexed. Being chased away by Jiang Xia and the others time and again had left her with a bellyful of fire and nowhere to vent it. All she wanted was to find a Beast Husband to console her, but now her clueless daughter, Bai Rao, was demanding to talk.
She was just about to tell her to spit it out, but she never imagined that the moment Bai Rao walked in, she would ask *that* question.