Bai Xiao, who had been through ups and downs in the business world was the first to avert his eyes before he acted tough and questioned, "How can you be so rude? Everyone in the family is here. Don't you know how to say hello?"
Bai Lin was put off by Bai Xiao's overbearing speech that felt like the traditional condescending parent. She ignored the man's red face from anger and turned to the kitchen.
Bai Xiao was so angry that he could not speak. Bai Xi went over and comforted him in a soft voice, "Dad, jiejie's just come back and isn't very familiar with us. Don't be mad."
"Don't be mad? She's still my biological daughter no matter what! I'm her birth father. What kind of attitude was that?!" Bai Xiao pounded the armrest. When he looked at Bai Xi, he sighed, "What's the use of a biological child? She's not even the slightest bit sensible as you are."
"She isn't raised by us after all," Zhao Yuan said, "No matter how good her genes are, it's a waste of effort when the education that follows is lacking."
Bai Xi only smiled without responding.
Zhao Yuan took Bai Xi's hand and changed the topic. "Xiao Xi, what's with the variety show that you were talking about? You could bring people along?"
Bai Xi nodded. "Yeah, family members are allowed."
"The Brave Traveler" focused on the survival and adventure of celebrities. It had been showing for three seasons and was extremely well-known. Whether it was a regular person or a celebrity, they had all received a lot of benefits.
Those who could participate in the variety show were either rich or had a high status. Even regular people who went were ones with outstanding statuses.
The guest lineup for the first three seasons was already star-studded and it was said that it was even better this time. They had managed to invite award-winning best actor Xie who had never participated in variety shows.
The female celebrities were thrilled when they heard that the man was going to be there. The competition was fierce. The opportunity did not come easy to Bai Xi and Bai Shao felt proud about it too as he got to show off to his classmates.
"Jiejie, come with us?" Bai Xi quickly asked, catching Bai Lin's figure from the corner of her eye, "This is a good chance for our family to bond."
Bai Lin looked over indifferently. "Go where?"
"The Brave Traveler. Have you watched it before?"
Before Bai Lin could answer, Bai Shao shouted, "Asking her to come along? How could an embarrassing bumpkin like her participate in a program of this level? Besides, what can a country bumpkin know? Are you crazy to let her go on this kind of variety show that requires intelligence?"
Bai Xiao glanced at Bai Shao, making him stop his firing attacks immediately and stay silent at the side.
"We're a family. Bai Lin, you should come with us, but..." Bai Xiao paused and said sternly, "You have to change these bad habits of yours. Otherwise, you'll only embarrass us when you're there."
Zhao Yuan sized up Bai Lin fastidiously. "You also need to change your style of dressing. How can a girl always dress so sloppily? You should learn from Bai Xi, she knows more than you."
Bai Xi pursed her lips and smiled. "Jiejie, I've bought a few dresses that are too big. You can go to my room to pick them up later."
What were they talking about?
"Are you guys mistaken?" Bai Lin wore a growingly confused expression as she asked strangely, "Who says that I'm going with you?"
She then turned to look at Bai Xi. "And why should I accept the clothes you don't want? You guys think too highly of yourselves."
Bai Xi had just been fanning the flames and deliberately provoking Bai Lin anyway. She was secretly happy but she wore a pitiful and disappointed expression, choking up and saying, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way... I didn't know that you hate me so much."
Zhao Yuan, upon seeing her precious daughter get bullied, scolded sternly with a frown, "Bai Lin! Listen to yourself! Bai Xi is helping you out of good intentions but why don't you know what's good for yourself?!"
Bai Shao could not watch in silence any longer and shouted, "Apologize to my sister right now!"
Bai Xiao sat straight in the main seat, indirectly pressuring Bai Lin as well.
'They sure are a family. See how united they are,' Bai Lin thought nonchlantly.
"Number one, I'm very happy with my clothes and habits. I don't have any intention of changing them.
"Number two, I won't have any feeling for you guys. Don't think too highly of yourselves.
"Number three." Bai Lin paused and her eyes swept over the few people.
Bai Xi shed tears with a lowered head while the other three glared at her. They were clearly the ones who abandoned Bai Lin back then, yet they consciously re-established their identity as "family" right now, thinking that it was a sharp weapon with the spearhead pointed at the real victim—judging her condescendingly and forcing her to admit her mistakes as well as to surrender.
Bai Lin actually did not care.
She had completely given up on yearning and admiring her parents and supposedly loving siblings when she was eight; she had recognize these people's true colors then.
Pft, it was boring.
"Alright, there's no number three. My time's too precious to waste it on you people."