If You Are A Dodder Flower Chapter 29 Part2

Before leaving, Cao Yang turned back to glance again at Xia Rou's room.

This room was just below his own bedroom and were similarly situated. When the renovation had been completed, he had come in to take a look and didn't feel that anything was different.

But not, looking at it again, something had already changed.

It was really a girl's room. Translated by The Novelst

Boudoir… Right, that was the feeling.

Cao Yang suddenly thought that maybe he should have chosen a more girly wallpaper color for Xia Rou.

Also, the design and the color of that sofa seemed a little old-fashioned.

Xia Rou's skin was white as snow, her hair dark and silky as a waterfall. When she smiled, her eyes would crinkle into crescents.

This kind of girl should be surrounded by soft, pure colors and flowers, right?

Cao Yang couldn't help but feel regret for being so careless when he had instructed people to redecorate the room.

It was just at that time he had no idea that he would come to like this girl so much, and neither had he expected to actually treat her as a real little sister.

Ever since the banquet had been held in August, all the wealthy families in the city came to know that the Cao Family had a new female member.

Although she had said herself that she was just living under their roof, their interest had been piqued. People would naturally ask around to obtain information about the relationship between her mother and Cao Xiong.

And naturally, she was seen as Cao Xiong's illegitimate child.

Even if she was just an illegitimate child, Cao Xiong had already brought her home and revealed her to the public, which meant that he had accepted her. This was why the wealthy families in the city took a proper look into her background.

Some of the children of these very families were studying at Nan Hua, so their parents advised their children to become closer to Xia Rou.

They heard back from their children that this girl was alright. Though she wasn't that smart, her grades were average but her personality was mild. She didn't become arrogant due to her change in status, nor did she cozy up to anyone; she knew not to offend people.

She wasn't an ignorant child.

Some of the parents had nodded their heads. In their families, they weren't afraid of their children's stupidity, but rather afraid of ignorance.

She didn't have stray thoughts, and was very clear. That was good.

This illegitimate child rumor spread far and wide. Cao Yang's uncle even purposely came over to visit the Cao Family.

He didn't come to complain, but rather to take a look at Xia Rou. As it was their first meeting, he even gave Xia Rou a huge red envelope.

It was a local tradition that elders who meet younger ones for the first time would hand over a red envelope. But usually the younger ones would be children.

Xia Rou was already sixteen. She couldn't help but blush, not knowing whether to take it or not.

"Just take it, take it," said Cao Yang, smiling. "Aren't you going to thank Uncle?"

To face Cao Yang's uncle, Madam Cao's younger brother, Xia Rou's ident.i.ty made her a little awkward.

Cao Yang used that word "uncle" and gave her an out, letting her address his uncle.

She tactfully received the red envelope, politely thanking him, "Uncle." She noticed the hint in Cao Yang's gaze, immediately returning back to her room.

"Quite cute," said his uncle.

Then he turned to ask his brother-in-law, "Really not yours?"

Having to face his brother-in-law, Cao Xiong was a little speechless.

"No!" he said, punching the bridge of his nose.

"It's nothing even if she is. It's been so many years already," said Uncle.

Just by her age, even if Xia Rou was really Cao Xiong's child, it was still after his sister had pa.s.sed away. It wouldn't be a problem.

To be honest, the way his brother-in-law had treated his sister and his nephews was already enough.

That was why the relationship between the Xu Family and their son-in-law Cao Xiong was really good. In their work, the Xu and Cao Families always helped each other out.

"Do you have too much time on your hands?" Cao Xiong was speechless before turning to ask this of his brother-in-law Xu Maosheng.

Xu Maosheng tsked. "When do you see me having free time? The education department is the most busy!"

"Didn't I just go to the capital for that meeting, and after that I went to each city to observe. And finally after all that I had the time to come and visit. Of course, that old man had already heard the news, so he let me come and take a look."

The Xu Family wasn't located in the same city, but rather in another province. But these families usually had branches that were knotted tightly together; they were quite well-informed of the latest information.

He couldn't make it to the last Cao Family banquet to celebrate with Cao Yang because he had a meeting in the capital.

But before that, when Cao Bain had asked him to help enroll Xia Rou in her new school, he'd already known about her, but he hadn't put it to heart. But because the rumor had made its way to the old man, the old man had become a little curious and asked him about it.

But because he was Cao Xiong's brother-in-law, n.o.body had brought this news to him. Although Xu Maosheng had been in the same city as the Cao Family, he was the last to hear this news.

"Don't think on it anymore," smiled Cao Yang, making tea for his uncle.

"When my father met Aunt Cheng, Xiao Rou was already 7 or 8 years old. Her surname is Xia; she had a father but he ran away with someone else," he explained.

In reality, whether or not Xia Rou was Cao Xiong's illegitimate child, whether or not her father had run away were all small things, barely worth mentioning.

Since the topic had changed to "running away," Xu Maosheng finally started in on the real reason he came.

"That old man sent me to ask this: that Zhao person escaped. The position of governor is now empty. Vice Li has been handling matters temporarily, that's the situation as of right now. If Vice Li moves up, then there will be an empty position. Do you think big brother can take that position?"

Suddenly, the atmosphere of the room turned serious.

There was a saying that prosperity and decline never last.

Cao Xiong had started with nothing. That year the Xu Family's daughter had decided to marry down. In the course of his career, he had been promoted thanks to his wife's family.

But now, when the political sphere had any movement, or the wind was blowing in an unknown direction, the Xu Family sought Cao Xiong's advice.

Luckily, the relationship between the Xu and Cao Families were deep.

Cao Xiong shook his head.

Xu Maosheng couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"Why do you say that?" he asked.

Cao Xiong flicked the b.u.t.t of his cigarette and said with certainty, "Don't even think about it. Vice Li isn't going to move up. The higher-ups want to send someone in."

Xu Maosheng left in disappointment. Translated by The Novelst

When his car left the gate, he saw Xia Rou in the courtyard through the window of his car.

A pure, beautiful girl. She looked like she had a mild temperament.

Looking at the daughter, he could imagine how her mother looked.

Probably a woman that men would fall into.

But to be able to raise his lover's child in his own house and claim her publicly…

It seemed like his brother-in-law had been very fond of this woman.

But in the end, he hadn't even let her enter the house.

Oh sister, your taste in men was quite excellent.

Proofread by: Hannah