I Wasn't Doing Well at All

Yan Wen noticed that Li Zhaoxi's pant legs were wet and asked, "Your pants are wet. Aren't you going back to change?"

Li Zhaoxi took the opportunity to sit down. "It's sunny today. They'll dry if I sit in the sun for a bit."

"Then, uh, what did you want to see me about?"

"I don't know either, but I really wanted to talk to you."

Yan Wen called Xiao Qi out. What's going on? Why is Li Zhaoxi suddenly acting like this? Anyone watching would think we were close.

I don't know either. Host, just chat with Li Zhaoxi. You've got nothing to lose. Maybe you can even steer the conversation toward getting her away from that family from hell.

You've got a point. I'll give it my best shot.

Li Zhaoxi continued, "Your surname is Mu. As in the Mu Family of Weicheng, right?"

Yan Wen nodded. "That's right. But my surname used to be Yan. I only changed it to Mu after my parents found me."

Li Zhaoxi looked stunned for a moment, then disappointment filled her eyes. "Why aren't my parents like that? They found me, but they won't acknowledge that I'm their biological daughter."

Yan Wen feigned surprise. "What do you mean?"

Whoa, whoa! Just like that, we're on the right track. I'm a genius!

Li Zhaoxi went on, "You might not believe this, but I... I'm actually the Tao Family's biological daughter. Two years ago, they found me and brought me back to the Tao Family. There was another girl my age there, named Tao Niannian."

"But why is your surname still Li? Why didn't they take you to change your name?"

"I don't know why either. They said bringing me back was enough and told me not to ask for too much. In the Tao Family, I'm the adopted daughter, and Tao Niannian is their biological daughter. But when they came to bring me home, they held up a paternity test and kept insisting that I was their biological daughter. That's why I went back with them."

Yan Wen's eyes darted as he decided to press his advantage. Maybe he could help Li Zhaoxi see the Tao Family for what they truly were and escape that hellhole.

For a major overseas company to hire her before she even graduated, Li Zhaoxi had to be extraordinarily capable. The Tao Family couldn't recognize her worth, but her talents couldn't be allowed to go to waste.

Yan Wen rubbed his nose. "Well, don't blame me for being blunt. Since they tell everyone you're adopted, that means they don't see you as family at all. Think about it. How is your life with your biological parents different from your life with your adoptive parents?"

"You can feel whether someone loves you. People who love you can't bear to see you wronged or hurt. They'll care about whether you're eating properly and sleeping well. Think about it. Have you felt any of that since going back to your biological parents?"

Li Zhaoxi shook her head. "I haven't been doing well in the Tao Family at all. And I could have gotten into the Top Three Classes, but my parents said Tao Niannian was my younger sister, so I had to give way to her. They put me in Class Thirteen, the worst class, instead."

Yan Wen spoke up indignantly on her behalf. "Then that's all the more reason to stay away from them. This concerns your future. They're treating their biological daughter's future like a joke for the sake of an adopted daughter. Do you think that's love?"

"But they're still my biological parents."

"So what if they're your biological parents? They tell everyone you're adopted and that their adopted daughter is their biological child. You're the only one who still cares about that blood tie."

Taking advantage of Li Zhaoxi's silence, Yan Wen hurriedly asked, Xiao Qi, I've said so much already. She should be able to see sense now, right? If she stays with the Tao Family, she'll really ruin her whole life.

Xiao Qi replied, I don't know either. Let's hope Li Zhaoxi can see sense.

Li Zhaoxi suddenly spoke. "I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Yan Wen nodded. "Go ahead."

"I want to leave the Tao Family. I want to break free of them completely. But the Tao Family is still the tenth-ranked family in Weicheng. I'm afraid it won't be easy to get away from them for good. I'm worried that even if I leave, they'll use their influence to force me back again."

I really hadn't thought of that. Xiao Qi, hurry up and think of something.

Sorry, but that's beyond me, Host. I'm just a gossip system. You're asking too much of me.

Li Zhaoxi offered her own solution. "I'd like your help. The Mu Family is more powerful than the Tao Family. With your help, I'm sure I can do it."

Yan Wen suddenly remembered his current status. What couldn't he do now? Why did he even need to rack his brains for a solution?

Yan Wen asked, "Then what do you want to do?"

Li Zhaoxi gripped the hem of her shirt. "I want to expose everything they've done to me and sever all ties with the Tao Family. I think the Mu Family should be able to get proof that Tao Niannian is the adopted daughter. If I record a few videos too, that should be enough."

Yan Wen nodded. "That'll be enough. Are you sure you want to leave the Tao Family? You won't regret it?"

"I won't. They don't see me as family, so I don't need to care about them anymore. I was too foolish before. I kept thinking that one day, they'd truly accept me. I've thought it through. I should leave as soon as possible. I don't want to gamble with my future. I'll go back to my adoptive parents and take good care of them from now on."

The corners of Yan Wen's lips lifted. "I'm glad you've figured it out." Inwardly, he cheered. Oh yes! Mission accomplished! I'll call my dad right away. Hopefully, I'll see news of the Tao Family getting what they deserve tomorrow!

Xiao Qi abruptly interjected, It won't be that fast. Recording the videos alone will take several days.

Of course I know that. I was just getting carried away.

Yan Wen promised, "Leave it to me. I'll ask my dad to help."

Li Zhaoxi thanked him. "Then I'll treat you to a meal once it's done."

"Sounds good. Well, I've got something to do this afternoon, so I'll head off first."

"All right. See you next time."

Host, don't you have nothing to do this afternoon?

Of course I just made that up. I'm going back to contact my parents.

Li Zhaoxi held her phone. Recording videos probably wouldn't be feasible, but audio recordings should work just as well.

After all, the Tao Family's attitude toward her could only be described as vile. A few audio recordings of their phone calls could come in handy too.

With that thought, Li Zhaoxi called her adoptive parents. It was the first time she had contacted them since returning to the Tao Family.

The Tao Family had expressly forbidden her from contacting her adoptive parents. They said that since she had come back, she needed to cut ties with country people like them to avoid disgracing the Tao Family.

Thinking about it now, the Tao Family really was disgusting. Instead of thanking the Li Family for raising their daughter for twenty years, they looked down on their humble background. When they brought her home, they hadn't even offered her adoptive parents a single word of thanks.

"Hello? Who is this?"

A middle-aged man's slightly hoarse voice came through the receiver. Li Zhaoxi's eyes instantly reddened. "Dad, it's me."

"Xixi?! Why are you suddenly calling home? Wait a moment. I'll get your mom. Honey! Xixi's on the phone!"

The other end went quiet for a few seconds before Li Zhaoxi heard a tearful voice. "Xixi..."

"Mom... have you and Dad been doing well?"

"We're doing very well. What about you? Are you doing well with the Tao Family? They're so wealthy, though. I imagine your life must be better now. If it is, then I can rest easy."

"No, Mom. I'm not doing well. I'm not doing well at all. I want to come home. I want to come back and be with you and Dad."

Her adoptive father asked anxiously, "Xixi, have they been bullying you in the Tao Family? If you want to come home, come home. You'll always be our daughter."

Her adoptive mother agreed. "That's right, Xixi. If you're not doing well there, come home. Your dad and I miss you."

Li Zhaoxi reached up and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Mom, Dad, give me a little time. I have some things to take care of. Once they're settled, I'll come home, and I'll never leave again."