As the mockery continued, Lixue stood firm, her head held high despite the biting remarks.
The whispers grew louder, the relatives were circling like vultures, but she refused to let them see how deeply their words cut.
Just then, the sound of the door opening interrupted the ongoing storm of gossip. The room fell silent for a brief moment as everyone turned their attention to the figure stepping inside.
Yu Zhengwei, Lixue's father, entered with a presence that demanded attention. His sharp gaze scanned the room quickly, his expression a mix of exhaustion and something deeper, more guarded. As his eyes landed on Lixue, his expression softened ever so slightly—an unreadable mixture of recognition and distance.
"Enough," Yu Zhengwei's voice broke through the tense silence, calm but equally commanding. "All of you, stop."
