Xiulan sniffled pitifully, lowering her lashes as tears welled up again. "It's nothing, Father. I just… no matter how hard I try, I'll never be good enough. Yòu'nà jiejie will always see me as a nuisance. Maybe it's better if I don't come to family dinners anymore."
She dabbed her eyes daintily, voice trembling like she'd practiced it a hundred times in the mirror.
Zhu Xinlan gasped, clutching her daughter's hand like she'd been struck. "How could you say that? You're part of this family too! Your cousin shouldn't belittle you so cruelly. Yòu'nà, you're too much sometimes!"
Tsk. White lotus act achieved.
Yòu'nà leaned back in her chair, amusement flickering in her gaze. "Oh please. If she's going to play the fragile flower, she should at least get her lines right. At this point, she's just recycling yesterday's pity act."
Xiulan's tears fell harder. "See? No matter what I say, she twists it against me. I can't even defend myself without being mocked."
"Defend yourself?" Yòu'nà arched a brow. "Sweetie, if you wanted defense, you should've brought a shield instead of crocodile tears. At least then I wouldn't get bored watching."
Guangxi piped up with a sneer, "Cousin, you're always laughing at people. Can't you just let Xiulan be? She's trying her best."
Xiao Tianming joined in, puffing his chest. "Yeah, you're just bullying her because everyone spoils you. If Grandpa and Grandma weren't here, you'd never dare talk like this."
Yòu'nà clapped slowly, smirking. "Ah, the peanut gallery has arrived. Tell me, do you two practice your chorus act at night, or is it just natural talent to bark on command?"
Both boys flushed red, sputtering.
BoWen slammed his hand on the table. "Enough, Yòu'nà! You can't just insult your cousins whenever you like. Show some respect."
Yòu'nà tilted her head, unimpressed. "Respect? Funny. I didn't see any respect when they ganged up on me just now. Or do family rules only apply when I speak?"
The tension snapped tight. Zhu Xinlan stood halfway, pointing a finger. "You're arrogant! Just because your grandparents dote on you doesn't mean you can trample over everyone else. One day, your mouth will ruin you—"
"—and today isn't that day."
Yòu'nà's voice cut cold and sharp as she slapped her palm down—not on the table, but on the very air.
CRACK!
The sound thundered through the dining hall. Plates rattled violently before the massive dining table split down the middle with a clean break. Food spilled everywhere, bowls shattering against the marble floor. Gasps erupted around her.
Everyone's dinner lay ruined—except her grandmother's, her two grandfathers', and her own. Their plates hovered serenely above the chaos, shielded by her spell, untouched and perfect.
Yòu'nà plucked a dumpling from midair and popped it into her mouth, chewing slowly as she looked around at their horrified faces.
"Eat like the starving, greedy dogs you are," she said lightly, eyes glinting with malicious delight.
Petty? Absolutely.
But Yòu'nà had never claimed to be anything else.