Beast World: From Villainess to Cub-Raising Chef
Chapter 119 - 118: Bai Rongrong’s Darkening
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Bai Su never expected Bai Rongrong to come looking for her.
Her audacity was simply beyond imagination.
Her restaurant was nearing closing time for the season, and the snow on the mountaintop was falling thicker.
Even so, the crowds only grew larger.
That was when Bai Rongrong made her way up the mountain.
She was dumbfounded when she saw the long line.
The line even included many nobles, earls, and influential figures from the Imperial City’s military.
It made sense. Ever since Lu Tingyan had debuted Bai Su at the Yan Family’s birthday banquet, these people had naturally caught the scent and flocked here.
They were all sharp; no one was a fool.
Bai Rongrong was incredibly grateful she had taken the time to dress up so nicely today.
The thought that she was related to Bai Su made her straighten her spine, and she glided gracefully past the crowd.
The people in line couldn’t help but crane their necks to watch her. "Why isn’t she getting in line?"
"Who’s that?"
"Which family’s young female is that? First time here? Doesn’t she know the rules?"
Someone called out to stop her. "Miss, you need to get in line."
This was exactly what Bai Rongrong had been waiting for. She turned gracefully, looked at the person, and said in a gentle tone, "Oh, the owner here is my sister. I’m here to see her, not to eat."
Upon hearing this, everyone had a moment of realization and sheepishly fell silent.
A wave of smugness washed over Bai Rongrong.
’See? I’m not like them. They have to wait in line, but I don’t.’
When Bai Rongrong reached the entrance, Kong Ji stopped her. "Miss, please go to the back of the line."
Bai Rongrong gave him a gentle look. "Go tell Susu that her sister, Bai Rongrong, is here to see her."
Kong Ji paused for a moment before letting her in. "Alright, one moment."
As Bai Rongrong entered the courtyard, a wave of fragrant aroma washed over her.
She froze, her mouth watering reflexively.
But when she saw the tables of guests using serving utensils to take food from the same platters, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of disgust.
’Eating and talking, their spit mixing on the platters...’
’How disgusting.’
’And it’s so loud and chaotic. It’s like a refugee camp.’
Kong Ji led her to the kitchen.
Bai Rongrong approached with feigned affection. "Sister, I had no idea your restaurant was this big! I should have come to visit sooner."
Bai Su shot her a look. "Spit it out. I’m busy."
Bai Rongrong had expected this attitude, but the smile never left her face. "Sister, I came to give you an invitation! Lady Zhu Li is hosting a tea party at her residence in two days. I managed to get an invitation, and I came specifically to invite you to go with me."
Bai Su: "I’m busy. I’m not going."
Bai Rongrong froze. ’How could any female possibly dislike a high-society tea party?’
She glanced at the frantically busy Bai Su, looking all disheveled, and couldn’t help a scornful thought. ’Bai Su has probably never even been to a tea party. Has she ever seen anything of the world?’
She explained to Bai Su, as if doing her a favor, "Lady Zhu Li is a very high-ranking female, you know. Her family holds a hereditary title. She’s incredibly distinguished..."
Bai Su rolled her eyes. "How distinguished? Is she more distinguished than me, the Leader’s Wife?"
Bai Rongrong was left speechless. ’Lady Zhu Li is a born noble,’ she thought, ’elegant and poised, a paragon for all females in the Empire. What the hell is Bai Su? A backwater female who was exiled. Every single move she makes reeks of the common rabble.’
But she couldn’t find a way to argue with Bai Su’s words, so she could only force a stiff smile. "I suppose not."
Without looking back, Bai Su brought out a tureen of Pork Stomach and Chicken Soup with Ginseng and Goji Berries and handed it to Bablo. "There you have it, then."
Bai Rongrong gritted her teeth and changed the subject. "Sister, what was that you just brought out? It smells amazing!"
Bai Su: "Pork Stomach and Chicken Soup. It’s a medicinal dish that’s good for your complexion and overall health."
When she heard it was good for one’s complexion, Bai Rongrong’s eyes instantly lit up.
The smile on Bai Rongrong’s face grew even warmer. "Sister, I’d like to try some too. May I?"
Bai Su: "Sure."
Bai Rongrong beamed. "In that case..."
Bai Su: "Go outside and get in line."
She called Kong Ji over, had him throw the girl out, and told him not to let any more irrelevant people in.
Kong Ji scratched his head as he escorted Bai Rongrong out. "Miss, next time you want to eat, just get in line. Don’t try to pull strings. Our boss is strictly by the book!"
Just like that, Bai Rongrong was tossed out right in front of all the nobles, her face burning with humiliation.
The crowd murmured, "And she acted like she was so important. Still got thrown out in the end."
"Trying to cut the line at her age. She deserved to get tossed."
"I knew it. I’ve never heard the owner mention having a sister."
"Hey, isn’t that the one who tried to throw herself at our Leader at the Yan Family banquet?"
Bai Rongrong couldn’t bear to listen any longer and quickly turned and fled.
Sitting in her luxury car, Bai Rongrong couldn’t stop herself from furiously slamming her fist on the steering wheel.
’How is this fair?’
’She had finally outlasted Bai Xue and gotten her chance to shine.’
’In the entire Bai family, besides Bai Xue, her Lion Rabbit bloodline was the purest! So why should that mixed-blood bitch Bai Su get to walk all over her?’
Bai Rongrong fumed for a while before quickly calming herself down.
She was isolated and helpless now; she needed allies.
And the enemy of her enemy was her friend.
She’d heard that Bai Xue had been locked away in a secret prison by Leader Lu, but Aunt Rachel was apparently being held in a regular detention center.
Bai Rongrong turned the car around and drove to the detention center. Just as she expected, she found Rachel.
Given her status as a member of the Bai Family, the guards didn’t dare to stop her.
Bai Rongrong knew this aunt of hers was a decisive woman, so she didn’t beat around the bush and went straight to the point.
After hearing her out, Rachel sneered. "You want my help to take down Bai Su? Why should I?"
Bai Rongrong: "Because right now, the Bai Family is pinning all their hopes on Bai Su. They don’t care if Bai Xue lives or dies anymore. But once Bai Su falls, won’t the family have to come crawling back to rescue Bai Xue? You’re a smart woman, Aunt. How could you not understand that?"
Rachel considered it for a moment. "Fine. As long as it gets Xue’er out."
Bai Rongrong sighed. "It’s just that right now, everyone is completely fixated on Bai Su, the high-and-mighty fiancée of Leader Lu. Who cares if Xue’er lives or dies?"
She lied without batting an eye.
Rachel pursed her lips, her eyes fixed on Bai Rongrong. She said suddenly, "You’re hoping to profit while they fight each other, aren’t you?"
Bai Rongrong’s eyelids twitched. She was still too young, unable to hide her intentions from an old fox like Rachel.
A flicker of understanding crossed Rachel’s eyes, and she let out a long sigh. "Actually, I understand how you young females think. Who doesn’t want to get ahead?"
Bai Rongrong looked at her. "Aunt Rachel, rest assured. Xue’er’s bloodline is purer than mine. I’m not stupid enough to compete with her for anything."
Rachel’s gaze softened. "Here’s what you’ll do. If you want the Bai family to withdraw their support for Bai Su, you will tell them that Xue’er has a superpower as well—a foreknowledge superpower. Tell them that in her vision, she saw the Bai family being crushed and utterly destroyed by Bai Su. If they want to avoid that fate, they’d better rescue my Xue’er first."
Bai Rongrong’s eyes widened in astonishment. "The Bai family will fall?!"
Rachel smiled gently. "My dear girl, I’m not just being an alarmist. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. If the Bai family is gone, you, the aspiring fisherman, will get nothing at all."
Bai Rongrong grew anxious. "What do you mean? What was the prophecy? Can you be more specific?"
But Rachel said no more. She turned her back on Bai Rongrong and refused to respond, no matter how many times the younger woman called out to her.
Bai Rongrong’s mind was in turmoil. She gritted her teeth, finally deciding to trust Rachel, and turned to leave the detention center.