Chapter 13: Tattling to Her Husband

The man's low, magnetic voice came through the phone, tickling Yun Manxia's ear. Then she froze.

"What gift?"

"Flowers," he said. "Lin Shen just told me they've been delivered. Probably downstairs. Go take a look."

Bai Hedu had actually sent her flowers?! Yun Manxia was both stunned and thrilled. That lingering sulk from earlier

evaporated in an instant.

"I'm going down to look!"

Hearing the unmistakable delight in her voice, Bai Hedu's features softened without him realizing it.

On her end, Yun Manxia grabbed her phone and headed for the stairs. But the moment she stepped out of her room, she

nearly collided with Wu Xiaoya.

Wu Xiaoya was carrying a striking bouquet, also on her way downstairs.

Yun Manxia's gaze snapped to the flowers instantly. "Where did you get those?"

Wu Xiaoya smiled smugly. "The Ninth Master gave them to me. Pretty, aren't they?"

"The Ninth Master gave them to you?" Yun Manxia's eyes were full of suspicion.

Was Bai Hedu really that unreliable? Had he sent two bouquets-one for her and one for Wu Xiaoya?

Just the thought of that possibility threatened to bring all her sulk rushing back.

Ignoring Wu Xiaoya, she hurried downstairs and asked, "How many bouquets were delivered here just now?"

"Just one, of course." Xiaomei caught sight of Wu Xiaoya coming down behind her, figured out what was going on, and

sneered. "Madam, you didn't actually think those flowers were for you, did you? Don't flatter yourself. The Ninth Master

had them sent specially for Xiaoya!"

The maids working nearby all cast glances over, overtly or covertly, silently concluding that this wife wasn't much

different from the previous ones after all. Look-the Ninth Master was sending flowers to Xiaoya, and nothing to her.

They exchanged meaningful looks and settled in to watch the drama unfold.

But when Yun Manxia heard there had been only one bouquet, the knot in her chest unraveled instantly. She spun around,

extended her hand toward Wu Xiaoya, and said, "These aren't yours. Give them back."

"What do you mean, not mine? If they're not mine, are they yours?" Wu Xiaoya scoffed, clutching the bouquet tighter.

"These are flowers from University A! A reward from the Ninth Master for me starting there this fall! You want them? Can

you even get into University A?"

Yun Manxia scoffed right back. "Sorry to disappoint, but I got in last year. So these flowers really are mine. Hand them

over."

Wu Xiaoya's heart lurched.

What? Yun Manxia went to University A too?

The gossiping maids also froze.

Her grip on the flowers tightened. A bad premonition crept up on Wu Xiaoya, but she still refused to let go. "You say

they're yours, so they're yours? The Ninth Master never said so!"

Yun Manxia couldn't be bothered wasting another word on her. She pulled out her phone and dialed back the number that

had just called her.

Wu Xiaoya: "Wait-"

But the call had already connected.

Yun Manxia didn't even hesitate. "Hubby, the gift you got me-is it the flowers from University A?"

She had the phone on speaker. So everyone heard Bai Hedu's voice come through:

"Yes. Lin Shen said a lot of students at your school want them, so I had someone prepare them for you. Do you like

them?"

Xiaomei's mouth fell slightly open.

Every other maid turned to look at Wu Xiaoya in unison.

Wu Xiaoya's expression locked up, her face burning.

"I do like them, but they never made it to me." Yun Manxia shot her a glance, speaking in a drawn-out, innocent tone.

Bai Hedu's voice dropped a register. Yun Manxia could practically picture the slight furrow of his brow.

"What's going on?"

Yun Manxia didn't hesitate for a second before tattling. "The flowers are with Wu Xiaoya. She says you sent them to her

and won't give them back."

"You-!" Wu Xiaoya lunged forward, dying to clap a hand over her mouth.

Over the phone, Bai Hedu said, "I'm coming back now."

The call ended.

Wu Xiaoya went pale.

She knew Bai Hedu too well. That tone meant the Ninth Master was angry.

She glared at Yun Manxia with pure venom, then shoved the bouquet at her-none too gently. "Take them! Who do you think

even wants them?!"

Yun Manxia sidestepped gracefully, letting the flowers pass right by her without touching them. "Don't want them? That's

not what you were saying just a minute ago. From where I stood, you looked like you loved them. Keep holding onto them.

I'll wait for the Ninth Master to come back!"

She sat down casually on the nearest sofa.

Wu Xiaoya was seething.

Bai Hedu returned quickly.

Yun Manxia stood up the moment she heard the commotion. "You're back!"

The man gave a low "Mm." Seeing her bright, clear smile-she didn't look like someone who'd been wronged at all-his stern

expression eased somewhat.

Then his gaze swept toward Wu Xiaoya.

"Ninth Master..." Wu Xiaoya stood there anxiously. She'd already set the bouquet down on the coffee table.

"What's going on?" Bai Hedu asked.

"I have no idea." Yun Manxia gave a little huff and went over to take the wheelchair handles. Lin Shen tactfully stepped

aside. "You told me you had a gift for me, and I was so happy. But then Wu Xiaoya said you'd sent it specially to her.

Weren't those flowers for me? How did they become someone else's?"

Bai Hedu would very much like to know that too. He'd sent them for Yun Manxia, specifically to cheer her up. How had

they ended up someone else's?

He furrowed his brow slightly and looked at Wu Xiaoya, waiting for an explanation.

"I... I thought the Ninth Master had sent them for me," Wu Xiaoya said, her voice small and pitiful.

Bai Hedu: "You thought?"

"Even if it was a misunderstanding at first, after I told you they were mine, you still didn't give them back." Yun

Manxia chimed in. "Let me think... oh, you also mocked me. You said, 'If they're not mine, are they really yours?' and

told me to get into University A first before dreaming about it-that's what you said, right? I haven't misremembered,

have I?"

Wu Xiaya stiffened.

Her eyes burned with resentment as she shot Yun Manxia a vicious glare.

It had just been a misunderstanding! Did Yun Manxia really have to blow it out of proportion and cut off every avenue of

retreat?!

Meeting her gaze, Yun Manxia gave a slight smile, her eyes cool as ice.

If it had genuinely been a misunderstanding, she wouldn't have made such a big deal out of it. But Wu Xiaoya's attitude?

If she didn't put her in her place now, this woman would never take her seriously as the Madam!

Wu Xiaoya's eyes reddened as she looked at Bai Hedu. "Ninth Master, you promised to give me a gift..."

He actually promised her a gift? Yun Manxia couldn't help sneaking a glance at Bai Hedu, a sour twinge in her heart.

For someone this cold and aloof, he was actually paying this much attention to Wu Xiaoya?

Sensing her gaze, Bai Hedu paused and corrected himself. "I never said I'd give you any particular gift. When your

acceptance letter arrived, you said you wanted a reward. For Auntie Wu's sake, I agreed. But you still haven't decided

what you want."

So Wu Xiaoya had asked for it herself, and he'd just agreed offhandedly?

Yun Manxia's mood bounced right back up.

Wu Xiaoya's cheeks burned. She felt utterly humiliated. The way the Ninth Master had put it made it sound like he was

desperate to distance himself from her...

"So tell me, what do you want?" Bai Hedu's tone was flat, his patience nearly depleted.

Wu Xiaoya glanced at Yun Manxia, then bit her lip. "I want a bouquet exactly like the Madam's."

Yun Manxia's smile vanished. She whipped around to look at him.

This was the first time he'd ever sent her flowers! If he actually gave Wu Xiaoya an identical bouquet, she'd be sick to her stomach!

She glared at him, eyes fierce yet pitiful, practically screaming "Don't you dare say yes!"