Chapter 003: The Old Master Kneels Before Her in Supplication

In a beautiful row of European-style townhouses, the Bai family gathered together on their comfortable sofa. Old Master Bai Guofu gripped his cane tightly, his face flushed with anger as he scolded loudly, "Are my words useless now? I told you to go pick her up. Why didn’t you?"

The Bai family members present all had their own thoughts.

Three days ago, the usually unassuming old man announced he would bring a young girl into the family, who would henceforth live permanently with them. His declaration sent shockwaves through the household.

The patriarch was elderly, already considered half a step into the grave. Who could know if this newcomer would compete with them for the family inheritance?

A delicate, beautiful girl sat in the furthest corner of the sofa, muttering a defense, "Grandpa, the rain outside is so heavy. Why not wait until it stops before going to fetch her?"

Bai Yinyin felt a strong sense of crisis about this girl soon to arrive. Their branch of the family was not as capable as the eldest uncle’s; they relied on the hope of inheriting from the grandfather, so naturally, they disliked the idea of another person entering the fold.

They had originally agreed to go to Misty Mountain at one o’clock in the afternoon to pick her up. Bai Yinyin had a quick idea: she suggested to her father that they not go, hoping to teach the girl a lesson right from the start.

Watching the torrential rain outside the window, Bai Yinyin felt a bit gleeful. That girl was surely drenched through by now.

The doorbell rang.

Bai Yinyin stood and opened the door. The girl at the threshold wore clean clothes of an indeterminate material, with upright ink bamboo embroidered on the hem. Her shoes bore not a speck of mud, and her appearance was breathtaking—pure and ethereal, her temperament transcendent.

The visitor spoke, "I am Bai Chuwei."

Bai Yinyin stumbled back in shock. She whipped out her phone to check the photo previously sent to her, her voice sharp and shrill, "You’re Bai Chuwei?"

In the photo, Bai Chuwei rolled up her trousers, working in a field with a large straw hat atop her head, looking rustic and foolish—a perfect country bumpkin.

Bai Yinyin suspected that the photographer, who was pursuing her, had deliberately photoshopped Bai Chuwei to look so unattractive, so she wouldn’t feel threatened.

Never before had Bai Yinyin seen such a striking girl with such an otherworldly aura. Even Tong Qingyan paled in comparison.

Her sense of crisis soared. Bai Yinyin watched Bai Chuwei warily.

Bai Chuwei glanced at Bai Yinyin with a hint of amusement, stepped directly onto the plush carpet, and entered.

Inside the villa’s hall, everyone sized up Bai Chuwei with probing eyes.

The elderly man in Tang attire gripping the main seat’s cane was trembling with excitement, his entire face flushed red.

Bai Yinyin stared intently at Bai Chuwei’s flawless skin, raising her voice to scold, "So you really are a country bumpkin from the sticks. Why didn’t you change your shoes before entering my home? You have no manners—"

She didn’t finish her sentence, completely stunned by what happened next.

Old Master Bai abruptly threw aside his cane, staggered to his feet, and, with a weak knee, knelt before Bai Chuwei. He bowed deeply, his voice trembling with emotion as he cried out, "Ancestor, your junior Bai Guofu greets you!"

Bai Chuwei accepted the seventy-year-old’s kneeling salute as if it were her due, recalling warmly, "Little Fu, it’s been nearly twenty years since we last saw each other."

The old man’s eyes reddened as he wept bitterly.

Everyone in the Bai family was speechless.

Had the old man gone mad? Kneeling and kowtowing to a girl who didn’t look even twenty years old?