Chapter 53: Enemies and Interests

“How am I stupid?” Ou Jin Jue protested indignantly. Ou Xin Lai was clearly a year younger than him, yet she always acted as if she were much older and wiser. Whenever he was around Ou Xin Lai, Jin Jue felt like nothing more than a five or six-year-old child.

Ou Xin Lai rolled her eyes so hard it nearly hurt. He was hopelessly clueless. “Of all those people you mentioned, how many truly want to help Ou Xin Ya? How many genuinely care for her, solely for who she is?”

“None!” Jin Jue answered without a second thought. “Most people who stick around Ou Xin Lai aren’t sincere, especially the capable ones. When they're with Ou Xin Ya, it’s just mutual exploitation. I’m not saying Ou Xin Ya has bad character or popularity—it’s just the truth.”

Ou Xin Ya believed she was doing everything perfectly, thinking no one saw her real self.

Except for those naive women like Ou Xin Qing and Ou Xin Yu, who else didn’t know that Ou Xin Ya was a venomous snake dressed in the skin of a beauty?

“That’s exactly it. I am not who I used to be. What benefit would those people gain by opposing me now? Helping Ou Xin Ya to deal with me, can they really expect more favors from my less-than-ideal father? They’d be fools,” Ou Xin Lai calmly analyzed.

Those people had only clustered around Ou Xin Ya before because the original me was useless. No matter how skilled Ou Chen Feng was, the Ou family needed a new leader. With his daughter failing to live up to expectations, Ou Chen Feng would likely cultivate another heir.

In terms of relationships and excellence, the one most likely to catch the eye of my unreliable father was indeed Ou Xin Ya.

Everyone, fearing Ou Xin Ya would become Ou Chen Feng’s successor, naturally submitted to her tyranny. Yet, from what she’d observed during those days she slept as if dead, something seemed to have happened in the Ou family.

Not only did Elder Xuan clamor to take her as his granddaughter, even Xuan Ye, always so eccentric, had gone from being distant to openly declaring his intention to marry her.

Ou Xin Lai had always wanted to find out what happened during those days she was unconscious. But Jin Jue, that brat, would reveal one thing and hide five, so even now, Ou Xin Lai didn’t know for sure that while she was sleeping, she had unleashed her power and shocked many in the Ou family.

“Ah...ha...hahaha, I’d already figured it out. I was just testing you. Go now, and come back wiser. If you find anything good, don’t forget to bring me some,” Ou Xin Lai’s analysis finally clicked with Jin Jue, and if he didn’t understand now, he was truly foolish.

There are no eternal enemies in this world, only everlasting interests!

The announcement of the five participants going to the Chiyou Ancient Cave caused quite a stir in the Ou family. No one even noticed when Ou Xin Lai had signed up.

The journey to the Chiyou Ancient Cave was both an adventure and a sign of the family’s recognition.

Seeing Ou Xin Lai’s name on the list, many eyes turned red with envy.

But Ou Xin Lai was the daughter of the clan leader—who could compare with her status? No matter the era, it was always about having the right father!

Those who understood the situation respected Ou Xin Lai’s inclusion. That day, she had subdued Ou Chen Dong so thoroughly that he couldn’t move freely even now.

It was said that Ou Chen Dong had consulted the Saint Physician of Dragon City, but neither ordinary doctors nor the famed healer could cure the aftereffects left by Ou Xin Lai. Such skill—who could match it?

Don’t ask what kind of skill it was, or whether it was a sneak attack. At least everyone knew, even given the chance to ambush, none could subdue Elder Ou Chen Dong.

Moreover, Ou Xin Ya’s schemes against Ou Xin Lai had all been countered. Whether in ability or cunning, Ou Xin Lai had every qualification to enter the Chiyou Ancient Cave. Thus, not many accused her of favoritism. The capable higher-ups all knew her prowess.

Only those at the lowest rungs of the Ou family, ignorant and inexperienced, kept muttering sour grapes.

“I heard you were chosen to go to the Chiyou Ancient Cave?” When Ou Xin Lai and Jin Jue were once again holed up in the classroom, with Ou Xin Lai making Jin Jue bounce on that jade bead cushion, Xuan Ye appeared again.

The Xuan family was employing a delaying tactic.

If Ou Xin Lai could be persuaded to voluntarily retract her rejection and agree to marry Xuan Ye, that would be the best outcome. If Ou Xin Lai spoke up, the Xuan family would regain its dignity, even if her reputation for breaking her word would suffer.

Even if Ou Xin Lai didn’t take back her refusal, the Xuan family hoped to seize her weakness during the delay and force a compromise.

Originally, Xuan Yu planned to arrange a concubine for Xuan Ye after he married Ou Xin Lai. But after Ou Xin Lai’s uproar, Xuan Yu realized that although she was unattractive, it didn’t mean she lacked temper. Lately, he had been advising Xuan Ye as well.

If Xuan Ye managed to marry Ou Xin Lai smoothly, he should stop thinking about other women. Otherwise, if Ou Xin Lai caused another scene, it would disgrace the Xuan family.

Xuan Ye promised Xuan Yu that if he could marry Ou Xin Lai, he would treat her well and strengthen the bond between the Xuan and Ou families. Everyone knew Ou Chen Feng’s abilities were formidable, and as his son-in-law, Xuan Ye would surely benefit if Ou Chen Feng wished Ou Xin Lai to live well.

In truth, Xuan Ye’s previous indifference toward Ou Xin Lai, without breaking off the engagement, was because he valued Ou Chen Feng as a father-in-law. He hoped Ou Chen Feng would mentor him, helping him shine in the world of gifted abilities.