Xi Family was well-known for keeping a low profile. It was rare for them to put their personal lives on display for the world to comment on. And that was why, journalists killed to get even a single interview with them, irrespective of their position in Xi Corporations. Most difficult to get access to was Xi Yuan, amongst the lot, obviously. But this mysterious conduct of theirs was also the reason behind Country X's never-ending curiosity for them. Even the smallest of articles concerning the Xi trio or the Business King Xi Yuan would escalate rapidly, akin to the fires in the forests.

Even so, the Xi family were fiercely protective of their own. Regardless of how many internal conflicts they shared, this family would always combat each other's enemies together. Xi Chongkun and Xi Chonglin's disputes over the position of Xi Corps's CEO was the first and the last time that the media ever got hold of the family's weaknesses. Xi Yuan's strict leadership suppressed it years ago and no one ever witnessed anything of such sort since then.

So Lu Wei's rage was totally understandable. If they'd really deemed Rong Xinghe as a part of their family, how come they never defended her in public?

"We never realized Xiao Xinghe went through so much, Wei.", Xi Chongkun responded carefully after some time, "Trust me."

"That's pure crap, Uncle.", Lu Wei shook his head, "The only effort I've noticed from the Xi family for her are these false accusations, taunts, and mockery. And she hasn't even married Yuan yet. Just the thought of what you'll put her through after their wedding disgusts me to my very core."

"We treat Xinghe just like how we would've treated our own daughter.", Li Jungah explained anxiously, "She has been nothing but an angel to Yuan, and to us. We are indebted to everything she has done for us, Son. Don't misunderstand our intentions for her, please."

"If this is how daughters are treated in Xi family, I pity Ying.", Ningtao sighed, "You must know, Mr. and Mrs. Xi, that silence is just as much a crime as the wounding words are. Luo Youyou here, with the help of her brother, has been wrongly inculpating Xinghe for quite some months now, sure. But do you think your and Mr. Xi's low-key temperament has gone unnoticed? It's equally hurtful, you know?

"Besides, just what does this family think of itself? I genuinely desire to know.", the woman chuckled coolly, "I still remember Mr. Chonglin's reaction when Yuan announced Xinghe as his prime advisor in Xi Corporations. He didn't even bother to hide his spite then.

"No, seriously. What is it? What is all the arrogance about, really? Why do all of you believe that everyone out there has their eyes set on your goddamned wealth?!"

Ningtao's words were spine-chilling and wrathful, making even Lu Wei turn to glance at her. He knew his wife better than anyone there. She hated the way this society had normalized the idea of women having materialistic objectives for going after men. Ningtao was the kind of person who'd never relied on him for her expenses. In fact, at the beginning of their relationship, he had to act as a middle-class man to pursue her. That was how much she despised the shallow mindsets of high-class families. And now that his sister, her favorite person, was becoming a victim of this very trap, how could she simply stand by and watch it happen?

The woman too soon realized how resentful her tone had been, so she turned to look at her husband with uncertainty, waiting for him to speak up. Lu Wei, in response, leaned back against the back of the couch, a cunning smile making way to his lips, "Go on.", he finally whispered to her.

And as she received his green signal, the woman turned to face the Xi family's elders confidently. Rong Xinghe had always been her first child. Little baby Alix was her second one. How could she not protect the girl now when she needed her the most? What were mothers supposed to do anyway, if not to shelter their kids?

"Mrs. Lu... I--", Xi Chonglin was about to explain himself but Ningtao stood up before he could say any further, glaring right into his eyes, her presence no less terrorizing than her husband's.

The woman waited for the man to shut his mouth before she finally spoke up, "Xinghe doesn't need the Xi family, or its money, let me make this very clear today. Lu Business Empire, Zhi Empire, Su family's hospital chains, MZX Networks, and everything Superfamily owns to date, lies at her feet, making her a Trillionaire in a blink. Much more powerful than the Billionaire tag the Xi family carries oh-so haughtily.

"So I don't want to hear the rumors that Yuan was the one who completed her, or that he'll be the one getting bread in their home, revolving around anymore. She isn't, and will never be, a damsel in distress waiting for her prince charming. Her brothers raised her to be a warrior princess, and that is what she will always be.

"And one more thing. Xinghe chose to be with Yuan, and not the other way around. She fell for his efforts, his love, his patience, and his resilience. She acknowledged the real him, not his position in Xi Corporations. Truthfully speaking, Xinghe doesn't give a fu*k about his riches. Hence, Superfamily will not be entertaining any other side to this story, henceforth.

"Xinghe isn't Yuan's property. She's is his need, his drug, his desire. Never forget that. He is empty without her, just the way she is without him. So don't make her look like a trophy he has won.

"Else, this ego of yours, the one this family's elders have been holding onto for years, Superfamily won't even think twice before demolishing it to grounds. And trust me when I say this, you wouldn't want to see the consequences of our rage. Ever.", Ningtao concluded, inhaling a deep breath, calming herself down.

Xi Chongkun and Li Jungah hadn't expected Ningtao to express herself so articulately. She'd literally threatened the entire Xi family household, drawing a fine line between their do's and don'ts. No one, until tonight, had ever dared to speak to the Xi family members like this before, regardless of how infuriated they were. They were so used to watching people suppress their anger in front of them that they hadn't imagined a day like this to come. Luo Youyou and Xi Chonglin's reactions were no different. But all they could do was listen to the woman's sour remarks without retaliation, for they were the ones who'd awoken the tiger and the tigress this time.

Xi Fang, on the other hand, was in a state of approbation. No wonder his Sister-in-law was brought up by them. She'd inherited his domineering personality, and her confidence, clearly. Actually, she was a mix of all her brothers and her sisters-in-law. And the way they were protective of her this night was scarily enthralling to watch.

About a minute later, Lu Wei received a call from Zhi Xi. Turning the speaker to it on, the man asked his brother, "Done?"

"Yeah. Luo Chen is back on the streets. To where he belongs truly. Like a stray dog on the loose.", the man on the other end answered, "What happened, though? Why the sudden sweet revenge?"

"Mrs. Youyou attempted to defame Kiddo.", Lu Wei replied casually.

"What?! Why so merciful, then?", Zhi Xi questioned, his tone infuriated, "Shouldn't we buy off her shares in Xi Corporations too?"

Lu Wei fixed his gaze at the terrified expression upon Luo Youyou and Xi Chonglin's face before he said to his brother with a short breezy laugh, "They are going to be Xinghe's in-laws someday, Zhi Xi. For the sake of our sister, let's not rip them off of their pride, yeah? What if they bully Kiddo after her and Yuan's wedding?"

"They wouldn't. Not after tonight.", the man laughed back with a hidden meaning behind his words.