Chapter 47: Lies

Dazed and bewildered, Zhao Keke was pulled away from the Hermès boutique by Li Xuehui. Once she came to her senses, she grabbed Li Xuehui’s arm and spoke with a trace of lingering indignation, "Xuehui, why did we leave? She was being so arrogant, and you just let her get away with it?"

"Sigh—" Li Xuehui wore an expression of utter helplessness. "I know my sister’s temperament best. She has always been willful and reckless. If we had kept arguing, I was afraid it would turn into a ridiculous scene, and the negative fallout wouldn't be good for anyone."

"Xuehui, you're just too kind-hearted, which is why your sister keeps pushing her luck," Zhao Keke said with a frown. "She doesn't show you an ounce of respect as an older sister. Why don't your parents do something to discipline her?"

She had long known that Li Xuehui had a terribly difficult sister at home, but seeing her today proved the rumors true. That arrogant attitude showed a complete disregard for Li Xuehui as her elder sister.

"She—" Li Xuehui gently shook her head and continued, "Grandpa, as well as my maternal grandparents, dote on my sister endlessly, so my parents simply have no way to discipline her. The moment my sister complains to them, Grandpa and my grandparents immediately call to interrogate and reprimand my parents."

"How could it be like this?" Zhao Keke was at a loss for words, but a moment later, another matter popped into her mind. "Oh right, what was your sister talking about earlier regarding money? Something about you taking money from her?"

A flicker of impatience flashed deep in Li Xuehui's eyes, though her face mirrored only helplessness. "As I'm sure you've heard me say before, my sister entered the entertainment industry, so my parents cut off her allowance. However, my living allowance remained unaffected. She felt deeply resentful about this and went to complain to Grandpa. Afterward, Grandpa ordered my parents to make up for that sum and pay it to my sister."

"That's why my sister has always felt that the money I received rightfully belongs to her."

"Goodness! How does she even have the face to complain?" Zhao Keke frowned, a look of contempt crossing her face. "You two sisters are truly polar opposites! In your family, your parents must love and cherish you, the eldest daughter, so much more!"

Li Xuehui smiled without saying a word.

"I really envy you so much!" Zhao Keke couldn't help but sigh. "Born a wealthy young lady, adored by your parents, with a harmonious family—the only blemish must be that sister of yours!"

For a long time, whenever Li Xuehui introduced herself to friends, she claimed to be a true-born young lady of the Li family, never mentioning that she was actually adopted. Consequently, her friends always assumed she was the biological daughter.

Now, hearing Zhao Keke's words, she naturally had no intention of offering any clarification.

Meanwhile, browsing inside the store, Li Chuxi listened as Ling Lingyao relayed the fabrications Li Xuehui had spun about her.

At the end of the report, Ling Lingyao spoke with righteous indignation, "Host, how can that Li Xuehui be so shameless? To actually badmouth you behind your back like that, and fabricate so many lies!"

"Let her be," Li Chuxi replied calmly. "Though, coming up with so many lies must be exhausting for her."

She simply couldn't understand—didn't living a life built entirely on falsehoods feel exhausting? If one day those lies were exposed, the entire world she built would collapse along with them. Was it really worth it?

Then again, she was not Li Xuehui and simply couldn't comprehend what was going on in the other woman's mind.