A "respectable and elegant" lady, supposedly from a prominent family, who had taken an interest in Yuanfeng.
But behind her delicate mask, she was actually a poisonous snake.
The kind of woman who could sweetly slice open another's world while smiling through it.
And in that last life, she had.
She had ruined everything, manipulated the family, hurt her father's reputation, and hurt her.
Just seeing her again now made Huaijin's stomach twist with disgust. Her chest burned with a child's silent fury, though she forced herself to breathe and stay composed. She was six years old now. No one would believe her if she suddenly accused a grown woman of anything.
She had to be smarter this time.
Xu Meilin walked forward with the grace of a model, every step timed to draw eyes. Even before she spoke, her presence filled the room.
"Uncle Chi," she greeted softly, bowing her head toward Grandfather Chi, her smile sweet enough to rot teeth. "I hope my sudden arrival doesn't inconvenience you. I was in the area when your assistant told me about the family dinner. It would've been rude not to stop by and greet everyone, wouldn't it?"
Grandfather Chi's expression remained neutral, though his eyes briefly flicked toward his youngest son.
Chi Yuanfeng's jaw tightened.
He didn't respond, simply lifting his glass and pretending to sip his water, but Huaijin could feel the tension in his hand. His fingers, which had been resting gently on her shoulder moments ago, now trembled ever so slightly.
Xu Meilin turned her eyes to him, her lips curving into what she must've thought was a charming smile.
"Yuanfeng," she said softly, her voice dipped in honey. "It's been a long time."
Yuanfeng didn't even look up.
"Yes," he said simply. "Let's keep it that way."
The air froze for a second. The servants exchanging dishes paused mid-step. Even Grandfather Chi raised an eyebrow at the bluntness.
But Xu Meilin, ever the actress, laughed it off as if he had just made a flirtatious remark. "Still so cold," she teased. "You never change."
Inside, Huaijin's tiny fists balled under the tablecloth.
'Still so cold?' she thought furiously. 'You made him this way!'
Grandfather Chi cleared his throat. "Enough small talk. Let's begin."
As everyone took their seats, Huaijin realized the dinner table looked more like a battlefield than a family gathering.
On her right was her father, his jaw still tight, his expression unreadable. On the far end was Grandfather Chi, dignified as always, watching everything with calm detachment. On the left side, the two uncles and their families had begun whispering among themselves, throwing glances at Huaijin from time to time as if she were a curious animal on display.
Meanwhile, across from her, Xu Meilin sat gracefully, her red sleeve brushing the edge of her wine glass, her eyes occasionally darting toward Yuanfeng in a way that made Huaijin's stomach churn.
She remembered this too well.
The same soft smiles. The same lingering glances. The same fake politeness that made people think she was refined and gentle.
In truth, Xu Meilin was a viper, just waiting for the chance to strike.
"Yuanfeng," said the eldest uncle, Chi Yuantian, with his usual slick grin, "I heard that Father's been considering reinstating your shares in the company."
Yuanfeng's hand paused mid-cut over his steak. He didn't answer right away.
Across the table, the third uncle laughed lightly. "Well, it's only natural. The prodigal son returns, doesn't he? And with a daughter this adorable, Father must be feeling softhearted lately."
Chi Huaijin could tell it wasn't a compliment. The tone was mocking, like a knife dipped in sugar.
She blinked at him, then looked at her father, who only smiled faintly, clearly unwilling to argue in front of her.
But Huaijin wasn't having it.
"Uncle," she piped up sweetly, her voice pure and innocent, "Daddy says being jealous makes people's faces wrinkle early. Is that true?"
Yuanfeng almost spat out his drink.
Chi Yuanjie's smile froze. "W-What?"
Grandfather Chi coughed to hide a laugh.
"Because," Huaijin continued with bright-eyed seriousness, "you were smiling weirdly, like your face was tight. Maybe it's from being jealous?"
The table went silent for three seconds before Luo Ming, who was standing near the wall, coughed into his hand and turned away to hide his laughter.
Xu Meilin blinked, her smile twitching, clearly displeased by how this little girl had stolen the spotlight.
"Huaijin," she said gently, her voice laced with false sweetness, "you're such a clever little thing. But, dear, children shouldn't interrupt adults while they're talking."
Huaijin tilted her head, pretending to think deeply. Then she smiled, bright, mischievous, innocent.
"Then maybe the adults should talk about something clever," she said lightly.
A servant dropped a spoon.
Grandfather Chi choked on his tea.
And Yuanfeng, with his composure completely broken, pressed his napkin to his mouth to hide the laughter shaking his shoulders.
Xu Meilin's smile froze like a porcelain vase on the verge of cracking.
"Children can be so… blunt," she murmured, but her tone was brittle now.
Huaijin, perfectly aware of the woman's hidden temper, merely blinked up at her. "Daddy says it's better to be honest than fake," she said innocently. "That's how you stay pretty forever."
Yuanfeng was gone by now; his shoulders were trembling as he tried not to burst out laughing. He coughed violently, muttering, "Princess… eat your vegetables…"
Xu Meilin's eyes flicked toward him again, clearly realizing that no amount of charm could melt the icy wall between them tonight.
As the dinner progressed, the tension at the table thickened.
Huaijin noticed how the other relatives barely looked at her with kindness. Her eldest uncle's wife was whispering behind her hand, glancing at Huaijin's simple dress, the soft pink cotton one Yuanfeng had bought from a small boutique near their apartment. It wasn't fancy, but Huaijin liked it because her father had picked it out himself.
In contrast, the other children at the table wore designer clothes, glittering with jewelry that sparkled under the chandelier.