Chapter 10 She is the Outsider

She gently stepped back from the stairs, leaning her back against the cold wall, and let her breathing calm down a little.

She closed her eyes and replayed every moment with Fu Chen in her mind. Those sweet times have now become so bitter.

Tong Xiaoge was furious. She could no longer bear it. She took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and then walked towards the kitchen resolutely.

The sound of each step echoed in the silent Fu family, appearing exceptionally clear and resolute.

Lin Yan and Wang Ma noticed Tong Xiaoge's arrival. Lin Yan's expression froze for a moment, obviously she did not expect Tong Xiaoge to appear suddenly.

Tong Xiaoge's eyes were cold, she looked straight at Lin Yan, that look seemed to be able to penetrate people's hearts.

Tong Xiaoge walked up to Lin Yan and raised her hand without any warning. Two crisp slaps echoed in the kitchen.

Lin Yan covered her face with her hands, shock and pain intertwined in her expression.

"As long as Fu Chen and I haven't divorced, I will still be the young lady of the Fu family."

Tong Xiaoge's voice was as cold as the winter wind. "Before I leave this house, you'd better remember your identity. You are just a servant. How can you say anything behind my back?"

Lin Yan's expression changed, her eyes were filled with humiliation and anger, but also mixed with a hint of fear.

Her lips trembled as she tried to defend herself, "I...I just..."

"Just what?" Tong Xiaoge interrupted her, her voice even sharper, "You just think you can judge other people's lives at will? You just think you can do whatever you want behind my back?"

Wang Ma also felt the tension at this time, and hurried forward to try to ease the atmosphere, "Ms. Xiaoge, Lin Yan didn't mean it, please don't take it to heart."

Tong Xiaoge turned her head, her eyes moving between Wang Ma and Lin Yan, with a tired but calm expression on her face, "Wang Ma, I know you mean well, but some things can't be just said and forgotten. Although I am not the real master of this family, I will not allow others to trample on my dignity at will."

After Lin Yan's face was branded by the fiery slap, a gleam of anger flashed in her eyes. She stroked her slapped cheek, her eyes gradually changed from shock to anger, her breathing was rapid and unstable. The light from the kitchen cast a shadow on her flushed face, making her expression look even more distorted.

"Who do you think you are? The daughter of the Fu family?"

Lin Yan lowered her voice, each word revealing uncontrollable anger, "You are just a parasite who borrowed Master Fu's name!"

Facing Lin Yan's insult, Tong Xiaoge's inner anger was like ignited gunpowder. Her brows were furrowed and her eyes were as cold as ice.

"At least I'm better than a mean person like you who talks bad about others behind their backs. What qualifications do you have to judge me here?"

The atmosphere in the kitchen became tense, and the air seemed to freeze.

Mother Wang stood aside, her face full of embarrassment and worry. She knew that any loss of control by either side could lead to irreversible consequences.

Lin Yan refused to give in and fought back with gritted teeth, "At least I don't need to use marriage to prove my worth. I'm not like some people who pin their future on a man!"

"Do you think I want this?" Tong Xiaoge's voice suddenly rose, and she clenched her fists. "I was forced into this family, and I try to adapt every day, trying to become the qualified Mrs. Fu in your eyes. And you? You only add fuel to the fire behind my back, and never really understand me!"

Seeing this, Wang Ma hurriedly interrupted and tried to calm the conflict, "Okay, okay, Miss Lin, Miss Xiaoge, everyone calm down a little and don't say anything that would hurt the harmony."

Lin Yan snorted coldly, obviously not taking Wang Ma's advice seriously. She still stared at Tong Xiaoge with hostility, "Peaceful? She started it first, you all saw it!"

Tong Xiaoge took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She knew that her impulsiveness might bring more trouble, but her dignity and self-worth would not allow her to retreat.

"I just don't want to be misunderstood and slandered anymore. If insisting on my dignity means conflict, then I accept the consequence."

Lin Yan left the kitchen in a rage, with red marks from the slap still on her face and anger and humiliation flashing in her eyes.

She walked quickly through the magnificent corridor, her high heels making sharp sounds on the expensive marble floor, and every step seemed to vent her anger.

Her breathing was rapid and her heart was filled with resentment towards Tong Xiaoge.

As she walked, she kept thinking about how to tell all this to Fu's mother, to ensure that her story would arouse her sympathy and support.

When she arrived at Fu's mother's study, she tidied up her messy hair and clothes, trying to make herself look a little pitiful to increase the effect of her appeal. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door of the study.

When the door opened, Fu's mother was sitting at the table in the study, looking calm, holding glasses in her hands and flipping through a document. When she heard the door open, she raised her head, with a hint of inquiry in her eyes.

"Aunt, are you free? I want to talk to you about something." Lin Yan's voice was choked with sobs, trying to show the grievance of the victim.

Mother Fu put down the documents in her hand and motioned Lin Yan to come in. She frowned slightly and noticed the red marks on her face. "What happened? What's wrong with you?"

Lin Yan walked in and sat on the chair in front of Fu's mother with a wronged look on her face. Her voice trembled slightly, "It was Sister Xiaoge. She...she hit me."

Mother Fu's expression suddenly became serious. "Hit you? Why?"

Lin Yan seemed to have prepared the answer. She had tears in her eyes and her tone was filled with grief and anger, "I just gave her a little reminder, and she not only verbally attacked me, but also hit me. I was really scared. I felt unsafe in this family."

Mother Fu's eyes were deep. She knew that Tong Xiaoge had always been gentle, and it was hard for her to imagine that she would behave so violently.

"Why did Xiaoge do this? Did you... say anything too radical?"

Lin Yan quickly shook her head and pretended to be hurt, "I didn't say anything. I just saw her packing her things and asked her if she needed help. Who knew she would suddenly lose control of her emotions and say that I was talking bad about her behind her back."

Mother Fu frowned, obviously skeptical about this statement.

She knew that the marriage status of her son and daughter-in-law was not ideal, but Tong Xiaoge always maintained a dignified image, "I will handle this matter, you go back and have a rest first, and don't have any conflicts with Xiaoge ."

Tong Xiaoge stood in the spacious hall, carrying neatly packed luggage in her hands, a determined expression on her face.