Yan Xiao wanted to seize the opportunity to escape, but these people seemed to have anticipated Yan Xiao's motives. Just as Yan Xiao was contemplating an escape route, they bound her with ropes.
In her desperation, Yan Xiao shouted, "You'd better let me go. My brother-in-law is Fu Yan Ting. If he finds out about this, you'll all regret it."
Hearing Yan Xiao's words, these people found it laughable and, truly not giving her any face, burst into laughter.
Yan Xiao felt mocked by them.
Having been pampered since childhood and being the eldest daughter of the Yan family, she had never suffered such humiliation. Now, Yan Xiao was furious.
She spoke to them, "Brothers, I have an older sister. She's very beautiful. If you let me go, I can let you have her."
These people were mostly Fu Yan Ting's confidantes. The sister Yan Xiao was referring to was Fu Yan Ting's wife.
How would they dare to have any designs on Yan Xi?
Upon hearing Yan Xiao's words, the complexions of these burly men turned grim, and their attitude towards Yan Xiao became even more hostile.
Kong Ya Lan worried about Yan Xiao, but at this moment, Kong Ya Lan didn't know who to turn to. Helplessly, she decided to seek out Yan Xi for a plea.
Seeing Kong Ya Lan, Yan Xi asked coldly, "What are you doing here?"
"Xi Xi, your sister has been taken away. Ask Mr. Fu if he knows those people."
Yan Xi despaired.
Every time Kong Ya Lan approached her, it meant nothing good. This time, if Yan Xiao hadn't been in trouble, Kong Ya Lan probably wouldn't have come to her. Even if she did, it would have been to kidnap her.
Repeated heartbreaks had chilled Yan Xi's heart. Facing Kong Ya Lan, Yan Xi's expression remained unchanged, and she said calmly, "I'm sorry, I can't do anything about this matter."
Even if it was Fu Yan Ting's doing, Yan Xiao brought this upon herself.
Yan Xi believed Fu Yan Ting. He wouldn't have acted against Yan Xiao without reason.
Kong Ya Lan hadn't expected Yan Xi to be so heartless. Even with her own sister in trouble, Yan Xi could be so indifferent and unfeeling, showing no intention of helping Yan Xiao.
Kong Ya Lan's anger flared instantly. Looking at Yan Xi, she said coldly, "Yan Xi, you ungrateful dog! If it weren't for the Yan family, would you have had the chance to marry Fu Yan Ting? Now that we've put you on the throne of the Fu family's young madam, this is how you treat us?"
A faint smile played on Yan Xi's lips, but her eyes held no mirth.
Back then, they had threatened her with Yan Yi's life to force her to marry Fu Yan Ting, who was still in a vegetative state. It was because they didn't want Yan Xiao to suffer hardships by marrying him, yet they were unwilling to give up the exorbitant betrothal gifts from the Fu family.
Now that Fu Yan Ting had woken up, Kong Ya Lan put on a show of concern for her.
"Oh, how unfortunate my life is! My daughter, whom I raised with so much hardship, has married into a wealthy family and not only neglects her own sister but even refuses to acknowledge her birth mother."
Kong Ya Lan simply threw a tantrum, sitting on the ground outside Fu Yan Ting's villa and wailing loudly.
Unsuspecting passersby, upon hearing Kong Ya Lan's plight, felt immense sympathy for her.
They also began to point fingers at Yan Xi.
How could Yan Xi not see that Kong Ya Lan was doing this deliberately?
Yan Xi intended to ignore Kong Ya Lan and turn to leave.
However, her sharp eyes spotted someone lurking suspiciously in the shadows.
Yan Xi knew that Kong Ya Lan had come to find her today and had also brought reporters.
If she were to help Kong Ya Lan by pleading with Fu Yan Ting, she would be betraying Fu Yan Ting, as everyone knew he was responsible for this.
But if Yan Xi didn't help Kong Ya Lan, she would be branded an unfilial daughter.
Kong Ya Lan's scheme was indeed clever.
Yan Xi sneered, completely ignoring Kong Ya Lan and letting her put on her performance.
Yan Xi initially thought that if more onlookers gathered, Kong Ya Lan, being a person who cared about her reputation, would stop when she felt too embarrassed.
But Yan Xi had completely underestimated Kong Ya Lan's love for Yan Xiao.
For Yan Xiao, Kong Ya Lan was willing to sacrifice herself.
Seeing the growing crowd, she directly fainted.
Yan Xi felt embarrassed and wanted Kong Ya Lan to get up. Yan Xi walked over and whispered in Kong Ya Lan's ear.
Kong Ya Lan didn't open her eyes. She whispered, "Yan Xi, you are not actually my biological daughter. Don't you want to know who your real parents are?"
Yan Xi's body stiffened. She had heard Yan Jia Peng mention this topic before, but before Yan Xi could ask Yan Jia Peng, one incident after another had occurred.
Now, with Kong Ya Lan saying the same thing, Yan Xi couldn't help but doubt her own origins.
"As long as you agree to save Xiao Xiao, I will tell you the truth."
Yan Xi looked at Kong Ya Lan, who was looking at her triumphantly. Kong Ya Lan seemed to have known all along that Yan Xi would compromise; Yan Xi just needed time.
Yan Xi didn't know how she left.
Since childhood, Kong Ya Lan and Yan Jia Peng had treated Yan Xi and Yan Yi poorly.
Yan Xi had always been puzzled. If they were prejudiced against females, they should have treated Yan Xiao badly and Yan Yi well. But they were very repulsed by Yan Xi and Yan Yi, yet doted on Yan Xiao.
Yan Xi had always been self-hypnotizing, believing that as long as she and Yan Yi were obedient, Kong Ya Lan and Yan Jia Peng would eventually recognize their worth.
But now, Yan Xi realized how ironic it all had become.
Yan Xi had considered countless possibilities, but never imagined that the truth would be so cruel.
The surrounding people, seeing that Yan Xi didn't even care about her own mother fainting, condemned Yan Xi as heartless and wicked.
Facing the pointing fingers of the crowd, Yan Xi, possibly due to early pregnancy reactions, or perhaps stimulated by Kong Ya Lan's words, suddenly roared, "What do you know? This woman is not my biological mother at all."
"Xi Xi, I know you don't want to be implicated by us after marrying Fu Yan Ting, so you deny me as your mother. But can't you avoid saying such things? It truly hurts me."
Hearing Kong Ya Lan's words and seeing her tears, the crowd believed Kong Ya Lan and continued to point fingers at Yan Xi.
Yan Xi hadn't expected Kong Ya Lan to twist right and wrong so severely. Kong Ya Lan had told her about her parentage.
But now, in front of so many people, Kong Ya Lan had turned around and accused Yan Xi of denying her as a mother.
For so many years, they had never fulfilled their responsibilities as parents. Now that Yan Xiao was in trouble, Kong Ya Lan came to Yan Xi. When Yan Xi refused to plead with Fu Yan Ting, she took the moral high ground to condemn Yan Xi.