CHAPTER 796: CHAPTER 796: WHY WAS I LEFT OUT?

"Xiao Yue, we had some misunderstandings before, but we are sisters, and among sisters, there’s no need to be too concerned about such things. This is a gift I brought, just a token of goodwill, also to serve as an apology gift from a younger sister to an older sister. Sister Xiao Yue, you will forgive me, right?" Lian Qingqing handed over the gift she brought with a smile brimming with sincerity.

"I appreciate the thought, but let’s not bother with the gift." Tang Yue had no interest in whatever gift Lian Qingqing was offering.

"Are you still unwilling to forgive me?"

Lian Qingqing looked at Tang Yue with a face full of disappointment, her expression just right to make one believe her genuine wish to reconcile with Tang Yue.

Lian Tong sat on the side in silence.

Lian Qingyang intended to speak up, but considering Tang Yue was very assertive, he decided to keep quiet.

For a moment, the living room fell into an eerie silence.

"Come, have some fruit." Zhang Hualian came out carrying a plate of fruit, with peaches that were both red and big, strawberries that were vibrantly red — even without eating them, just the sight could make one’s mouth water, with the fragrance of fruit.

"Auntie, have a strawberry."

Tang Yue took two strawberries, handing one to her aunt and started nibbling on the other.

Being pregnant, she had a particular fondness for fruit and enjoyed all kinds of it.

Therefore, Zhang Hualian and Mo Xiaolin went out of their way to buy fresh fruits, making sure Tang Yue could have some every day.

"Sure." Lian Tong accepted with a smile; just like that, the aunt and niece simply ignored Lian Qingqing.

Zhang Hualian enthusiastically invited them to stay for a meal. Tang Yue hesitated for a moment, but Lian Qingqing, unabashed, stayed on.

What was supposed to be a dinner for four turned into one for six, as Zhang Hualian and Tang Zhengde added two more dishes at the last minute.

Steamed bass, pork with preserved vegetables, spicy stir-fried pork intestines, stir-fried cabbage, Mapo Tofu, scrambled eggs with Chinese toon, and a bowl of triple delicacy soup — the variety of dishes was abundant, including meat and vegetables, with spicy and non-spicy options, but most importantly, many were Tang Yue’s favorites.

"Dad, how come the dishes you make are so delicious?" Tang Yue, looking at the full table of dishes, secretly salivated, and stopped paying attention to Lian Qingqing. Regardless of her reasons for coming, Tang Yue didn’t want to talk much.

Lian Qingqing also knew about Tang Yue and Lian Tong’s attitudes; Tang Zhengde and Zhang Hualian, however, occasionally urged Lian Qingqing and her brother to help themselves to the dishes.

Lian Qingqing silently ate her food, unable to join the conversation.

Tang Yue had an excellent relationship with her dad and mom, even Lian Tong’s amiability was a revelation to Lian Qingqing; she never knew her Aunt Lian Tong could display such a gentle side.

And Lian Qingyang, needless to say, had been protective of Tang Yue since meeting her, and now he was even more so in his own home.

At the dinner table, it was lively, the warm light shining on the smiling faces, with everyone talking about everyday family matters, creating an atmosphere of warmth that Lian Qingqing had never experienced before.

"Xiao Yue, you love this fish the most, eat more of it." Tang Zhengde didn’t forget Tang Yue with whatever dish he was eating.

Although he was a stepfather, Tang Zhengde loved Tang Yue with his whole heart.

Lian Qingqing hung her head and ate her meal in silence, always feeling that Tang Yue’s life was just too good. Her dad, Lian He, was filled with guilt towards Tang Yue, wishing he could give her everything. Tang Yue’s stepfather was also genuinely good to her.

Even though Tang Yue’s stepfather wasn’t wealthy, he had a heart that dearly loved his daughter.

During that dinner, Lian Qingqing felt even more choked up. After the meal, seizing a moment, she pulled Tang Yue into her room.

"I have something to ask you." Lian Qingqing intended to find a place to sit, but as soon as she entered the room, she saw the bright red wedding bedspread covering the bed and a box next to it. The box looked ordinary, but a piece of paper scattered beside it caught Lian Qingqing’s attention.

Tang Yue was about to pick it up, but Lian Qingqing snatched it up first. It was a property deed, transferring property to Tang Yue, and Aunt Lian Tong had already signed it.

"Lian Qingqing, this is my aunt’s," Tang Yue snatched the paper back, probably something that hadn’t been put away properly before and had fallen next to the box.

"Why is aunt giving you this?" Lian Qingqing stared intently at the paper.

Even though Lian Qingqing didn’t need the house, why should Aunt Lian also give Tang Yue a house?

"I give because I want to. Why so many questions?" Lian Tong walked in, her high heels clicking. She stood in front of Lian Qingqing, even taller than her looking down from her elevated position and said: "What’s mine, Lian Tong, is mine to give to whoever I want, Lian Qingqing. Even if you go to the old master, it won’t help. These things are mine."

Lian Tong didn’t like Lian Qingqing, feeling that she was very scheming. Since the incident with Xu Mei’s death, Lian Tong liked her niece even less.

"Aunt," Lian Qingqing raised her head, the anger in her eyes quickly concealed. With reddened eyes and biting her lip, she said: "Aunt, that’s not what I meant. If Xiaoyue lacks anything, as her younger sister, I should help out."

"No need, keep your money for your dowry," Lian Tong dismissed the idea outright.

Lian Tong didn’t give them a chance to be alone. Lian Qingqing had no opportunity to talk to Tang Yue alone, until when leaving, Tang Yue ambiguously said, "Lian Qingqing, be at ease to be a bride-to-be, I wish you happiness."

Later, Lian Tong asked, "Xiaoyue, have you and Lian Qingqing kept something from me?"

"Nope." Tang Yue looked at Lian Tong with an innocent face and said with a giggly smile, "Aunt, what could I possibly hide from you? I’m not even that close with Lian Qingqing, we’ve barely seen each other."

Lian Tong thought about it and it made sense. Lian Qingyang was in Jing City, they spent a lot of time together and naturally, they were closer, whereas Lian Qingqing’s interactions were much fewer and they rarely even saw each other. Lian Tong warned, "I’m not trying to stir up trouble between you sisters, but Lian Qingqing isn’t as kind as she seems. If she asks you for something, don’t just naively trust her."

"Naïve," the three words made Tang Yue laugh.

Tang Yue lifted her head, unable to refrain from saying, "Aunt, do I really look that easy to deceive?"

"Mhmm." Lian Tong nodded emphatically.

Tang Yue lay on the bed, thinking about her previous life where she was indeed easy to fool. Even when she had suspicions, she was still naively trusting.

"Aunt, can you tell me about you and Uncle Gu’s story?" Tang Yue propped her chin with one hand, her face full of curiosity as she looked at Lian Tong.

Before, she had vaguely known that Lian Tong and Gu Chun had a good relationship, but she really didn’t know about their earth-shattering, sob-inducing love story.

"Xiaoyue, cherish the present. You and Si Yu are doing well," Lian Tong said with a faint smile, perhaps reminiscing about her youth. She let out a long sigh and said, "I used to be willful, thinking Gu Chun would never leave me. No matter how good Gu Chun was to me, I always felt something was lacking. But now, I understand that some happiness is right in front of us, yet we still greedily want more."