Chapter 13: Caught in One’s Own Trap!

“Uncle Fang, Aunt Lu, long time no see. Please come in and have a seat.”

Ning Wanwan smiled politely, her tone courteous but distant.

Lu Xuemei’s smile froze, her eyes showing a trace of disappointment. Just as she was about to speak, Fang Shaocheng stopped her with a glance.

The couple exchanged a silent look, clearly holding back words.

The original Ning Wanwan had always harbored a grudge against them because of Fang Lanlan. After marrying He Yunshen, she moved far away to the southwest and almost completely cut off contact with the couple.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Xu Cuihua quickly went to the kitchen to make tea and brought out the medicinal soup that had been simmering.

She also brought over a bowl for Ning Wanwan.

“Wanwan, your medicine is ready. Drink it while it’s hot.”

Fang Shaocheng and Lu Xuemei looked at Ning Wanwan in confusion.

Lu Xuemei asked worriedly, “Wanwan, are you sick? Where does it hurt? Let Mom take a look.”

The Fang family was known for their medical background. Fang Shaocheng was the deputy director of a top hospital in the capital, and his wife, Lu Xuemei, was a professor at the Capital Medical University.

The two were highly skilled—he specialized in surgery, she in internal medicine—making them a perfect match in the field.

Only Ning Wanwan, who had been raised in their care, was an exception. Not only was she uninterested in medicine, but she was also considered a hopeless academic underachiever.

Ning Wanwan shook her head and lifted the bowl of medicine.

“Aunt Lu, I’m fine. I’ve just been working on a formula recently and want to try it on my legs.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Fang Lanlan. According to the novel, Fang Lanlan was supposed to accidentally knock over the bowl today, nearly disfiguring the original Ning Wanwan.

Before Ning Wanwan could turn around, Fang Lanlan’s voice rang out.

“Wanwan-jie, you’re not good at medicine. You shouldn’t joke around with your health. If you get sick, Mom and Dad will be so worried!”

With a flash in her cunning eyes, Fang Lanlan raised her hand to swat at the medicine bowl.

With a sharp crack, the white porcelain bowl shattered on the ground, followed by a sharp scream.

Scalding hot medicine somehow splashed all over Fang Lanlan’s face, instantly turning her already-not-so-fair skin bright red.

Ning Wanwan calmly wiped the medicine off her fingertips with a handkerchief and looked at Fang Lanlan, who was screaming in pain, with a mocking smile.

She wasn’t the original Ning Wanwan—she wouldn’t let anyone bully her so easily.

When Fang Lanlan reached out, Ning Wanwan, using her momentum and taking advantage of everyone’s distraction, twisted her wrist and threw the hot medicine right onto Fang Lanlan’s face.

Everything happened so quickly that even Fang Shaocheng and Lu Xuemei, who were closest, didn’t have time to react.

“Wanwan!”

“Ning Wanwan!”

He Yunshen was the first to react. Seeing her hand covered in medicinal soup, he completely ignored Fang Lanlan’s scalded face and rushed to the kitchen with Ning Wanwan, immediately washing her hand under the faucet.

Outside the courtyard, Lu Xuemei’s eyes turned red with worry. After all, she had raised Ning Wanwan as her daughter for twenty years. Her instincts led her to hurry inside after her.

Fang Shaocheng also anxiously looked toward the house.

Fang Lanlan, holding her burning face, watched this scene with clenched molars.

She could barely hold back from screaming: Your real daughter is right here! Why are you all caring about that imposter?!

Tears of grievance mixed with the medicine on her face, dripping slowly from her chin.

Fang Shaocheng finally came to his senses. Seeing the pitiful state Fang Lanlan was in, a flash of pity crossed his eyes, and his usually calm expression was replaced with urgency.

“Lanlan, are you okay? I’ll take you to the hospital now!”

Fang Lanlan slapped away the handkerchief he offered and yelled, “I don’t want your help! You only care about that fake, Ning Wanwan. You don’t care about me at all!”

Then she ran out of the courtyard crying.

Fang Shaocheng’s face darkened. He couldn’t understand why Lanlan was so angry.

After all, Lanlan had only been with them for just over a year. Naturally, their first reaction was to care for Ning Wanwan, whom they’d raised for twenty years.

But after regaining his composure, he had gone to check on Lanlan, hadn’t he? Was that really not enough?

Moreover, her behavior today really resembled that of her rural adoptive parents—completely lacking in manners.

Take earlier, for instance—if it were Ning Wanwan, even if she was angry, she wouldn’t have slapped his hand away like that.

Inside the house, Lu Xuemei was unaware of everything happening outside.

“Wanwan, are you okay? Do you need Mom to take you to the hospital?”

Seeing the redness on Ning Wanwan’s hand, Lu Xuemei’s eyes filled with worry. Her hands trembled as she tried to help, but she hesitated, afraid of being disliked by Ning Wanwan.

Ever since they had acknowledged Fang Lanlan as their biological daughter, Ning Wanwan had broken ties with them.

“Aunt Lu, I’m fine. Go check on Lanlan. She seems to have gotten burned too.”

Lu Xuemei glanced toward the courtyard but only saw Fang Shaocheng.

“Wanwan, then I’ll go look for Lanlan. If you need anything, just call for Mom.”

Lu Xuemei stepped out and looked around the courtyard but didn’t see Lanlan. Fang Shaocheng stood there silently, looking upset.

“Where’s Lanlan? How is she?”

“She got angry at me and ran off. She’s usually well-behaved—I don’t know what’s gotten into her today.”

Fang Shaocheng’s tone was full of disappointment.

Lu Xuemei gently patted his back and comforted him, “Alright, don’t be upset. Go find her. She doesn’t know her way around and might get into trouble. I’ll stay here with Wanwan. Don’t worry.”

Fang Shaocheng nodded, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and reminded her before leaving, “Wanwan’s delicate and hates pain. If it gets worse, take her to the hospital right away.”

Lu Xuemei nodded with a smile, sent him off, and then returned to the house.

Ning Wanwan’s hand had already been treated. He Yunshen was packing up the first aid kit.

The strong smell of ointment filled the room, and Ning Wanwan wrinkled her nose in slight distaste.

She had only been splashed a little—there really wasn’t a need for medicine. And this ointment smelled awful. A bit of spiritual spring water would’ve worked much better.

Thinking of the spring water reminded her of the white porcelain bottle that had been shattered the night before. She gave He Yunshen a not-so-happy glance.

He Yunshen: Did I just get blamed again?

Lu Xuemei, remembering the broken medicine bowl, hesitated and asked, “Wanwan, why did you suddenly want to treat your legs? Your father said—”

Ning Wanwan smiled slightly, eyes falling on her legs.

“Aunt Lu, I haven’t given up yet. So recently I’ve been studying a new formula and want to try it together with acupuncture to see if it works.”

Of course, this was just a cover story. With the spiritual spring water, she knew it was only a matter of time before she could walk again.

Lu Xuemei nodded and cautiously said, “Wanwan, why not let your father help? Your medical skills are limited, and we’d be heartbroken if you harmed yourself.”

Ning Wanwan shook her head, her water-like eyes sparkling. Then she looked straight at Lu Xuemei.

“Aunt Lu, Fang Lanlan is your daughter. I’ve already enjoyed twenty years of your love, and I can’t continue to accept your care with a clear conscience.”

“Now that He Yunshen and I are married, I can take care of myself. Please, you and Uncle Fang should go back.”