Chapter 51: Happy New Year, May All Your Wishes Come True. Part 1

The floor numbers on the screen changed silently. Ni Xiaoying’s face was frosty, and Sheng Xingran stared fixedly at the floor. No one spoke in the elevator; the surroundings were so quiet that the faint friction sound of the steel cables pulling upward could be heard.

Miao Ling’s suspicious gaze darted back and forth between the mother and daughter several times.

She now knew who Ni Xiaoying had come to find. After dialing, Mu Shanyi had granted them access. What had happened to make Ni Xiaoying skip the New Year festivities and Sheng Xingran abandon her competition entirely, all gathering at Mu Shanyi’s place?

Mu Shanyi, Ni Xiaoying, Sheng Xingran—Miao Ling analyzed; this was family business.

Clearly, regarding this family matter, Ni Xiaoying and Sheng Xingran held opposing views. Sheng Xingran had tried to stop Ni Xiaoying from going upstairs, only to be forcibly dragged into the elevator by her.

Had Ni Xiaoying’s strength grown this much? It seemed her new weightlifting private trainer was quite… Miao Ling’s thoughts cut off as she suddenly realized something.

With Ni Xiaoying’s cautious personality, she would never drag her along to spectate family drama unless this matter directly involved her!

—Had Miao Zhu caused trouble?

That damn girl! What kind of trouble could reach Mu Shanyi’s doorstep!?

“Ding—”

The floor arrived, and the elevator doors slid open to both sides. Miao Ling shrank her neck and tentatively peeked out.

She spotted Mu Shanyi at first glance.

Mu Shanyi stood in the elevator hall, dressed in loungewear, fresh out of a shower. Her long hair was temporarily clipped up with a hair claw, and she wore gold-rimmed glasses, with a few damp strands of side hair draping by the frames.

Good, what a relief—Miao Ling felt a bit reassured. Though Ni Xiaoying and Sheng Xingran had come storming in late at night with great fanfare, Miao Zhu probably hadn’t offended Mu Shanyi too badly. Given Mu Shanyi’s casual home attire, the trouble wasn’t severe.

Mu Shanyi waited for them to exit the elevator, then stepped back two paces to open the shoe cabinet and retrieve slippers.

Miao Ling plastered on a smile and made small talk: “Sister A-Heng, sorry to bother you.”

Ni Xiaoying nearly rolled her eyes to the heavens. She cut straight to the point: “It’s too late, Aunt won’t come in. A-Heng, have her come out.”

Miao Ling was already bending down to take the slippers when she heard this. She twisted around like a top to stare at Ni Xiaoying, her eyes widening bigger than copper bells.

“She” who? Miao Zhu?

Miao Zhu was at Mu Shanyi’s?

Why would Miao Zhu be at Mu Shanyi’s? There was no reason for the guest to still be there while the host went midway to take a shower.

Miao Ling, ever quick-witted, pieced together the unusual events of the evening… Could it be!?

Mu Shanyi lightly pushed with her fingertips, and the cabinet door closed automatically. She turned to Ni Xiaoying and said slowly: “Aunt Ni, who are you looking for?”

Ni Xiaoying came prepared, though her aggressive momentum upon arrival softened into politeness facing Mu Shanyi’s demeanor: “Miao Zhu is pretty and cunning too. Aunt knows you’ve been temporarily fooled by her…”

“Mom!” Sheng Xingran caught Ni Xiaoying’s intent and interrupted urgently. Ni Xiaoying shot her a warning glance but continued: “Aunt watched Miao Zhu grow up and was fooled too, thinking she was a good kid. In reality, she’s vain and greedy! She used us as a springboard to get close to you, seduce you, even at the cost of hurting Xingran and sabotaging our family’s bonds. Someone so shameless and without bottom lines—you don’t need to protect her.”

Mu Shanyi frowned repeatedly at these harsh, vulgar words, and Miao Ling couldn’t stomach them either. She stepped forward: “Xiaoying, things aren’t clear yet—your words are too harsh.”

Miao Zhu’s glory was her glory, her loss her loss. Those slanderous terms aimed at Miao Zhu slapped her face and blocked her path. Moreover, Ni Xiaoying had completely excluded Mu Shanyi, storming to the door yet still avoiding offending her—that meant pinning Miao Zhu alone on the pillar of shame, letting her bear the consequences solo. How could that be?

This was the moment to take a stand; opportunities vanished in a blink!

Mu Shanyi or Sheng Xingran—Miao Ling hesitated for half a second, unsure.

She said gravely: “I know my daughter’s character best. Since you watched her grow up too, how could you bear to slander her with such filth?”

The moment Miao Ling opened her mouth, Ni Xiaoying knew her scheme—this social climber, bowing to the high and trampling the low, just saw the Mu Family as more prosperous than the Shengs and wanted to switch to a taller branch. Disgusting!

She sneered: “I have videos and photos here. It’s not clear until you see your daughter climbing into bed with your own eyes. Of course you know your well-trained daughter best—without your behind-the-scenes scheming, how could she, at such a young age, play both the Sheng and Mu Families around her finger?”

Ni Xiaoying convicted without evidence, but Miao Ling had no intention of stooping to shrewish cursing like her; she wanted to maintain decorum before Mu Shanyi.

She quickly glanced at Mu Shanyi and saw her face darken, further confirming they were on the same side. Considering Mu Shanyi was the junior and had been dragged into this, it wasn’t convenient to say too much, so Miao Ling confidently retorted: “Xiaoying, you can eat randomly, but you can’t speak randomly. I still don’t know what happened—you should calm down first.”