Rebirth: My Reclusive Husband Helps Me Get Revenge!
Chapter 61: Was equivalent to eating with a bunch of dogs

Chapter 61: Was equivalent to eating with a bunch of dogs

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."

The relatives hesitated, their murmurs dying down as they turned to face him. Yu Guangshan, stood up from his chair, clearly displeased. "Zhengwei, she’s nothing but an outsider. It’s our right to remind her of her place."

Yu Zhengwei’s gaze hardened. "I said stop." His tone wasn’t raised, but the weight of his words was enough to quiet the room.

The relatives looked uneasily at each other, unsure of how to respond. Lixue could feel the subtle shift in the atmosphere. Her father rarely made waves in family matters, especially when it came to her, but this time was different.

Yu Zhengwei’s eyes flicked back to Lixue, who stood unmoving among the mocking crowd. For a moment, their gazes met, and she could see the faintest trace of guilt in his expression. "You may not respect her," he continued, his voice more restrained now, but still firm, "but she’s still my daughter. You all seem to forget that."

Yu Guangshan scowled, unwilling to back down. "She’s an illegitimate daughter, Zhengwei. You know that, we all know that."

Yu Zhengwei’s jaw tightened at his father’s words, but he didn’t raise his voice. "I know exactly who she is. And I know how you all treat her. But mocking her now, in front of me, is a mistake."

There was a flicker of hesitation in the room, the relatives eyeing one another, still unsure how to react. Yu Zhengwei’s words weren’t an outright defense, but they were a clear enough warning to stop the ridicule.

"If you think humiliating her makes you any more important," he added coldly, "you’re wrong. And you mock me when you mock her."

The room went silent at that, the weight of his statement hanging in the air.

Lixue stood there, feeling the moment stretch out before her. There was no warmth in her father’s words, no open affection, but in his own way, he was stopping them from taking it too far.

Yu Zhengwei looked away briefly, as if to collect his thoughts, and then spoke again, softer this time. "I don’t expect you to treat her like a precious jewel. I only ask that you show some basic respect. That’s all."

Lixue could feel the bitter edge of his words, but she didn’t respond. Her father’s actions weren’t enough to undo the years of neglect and distance. But there was a subtle, uneasy pride in him—he wasn’t allowing them to tear her down without consequences.

Yu Guangshan, seeing his son’s resolve, finally gave a reluctant nod. "Fine, fine. We should stop, it is immature for grownups to argue with the younger generations."

Lixue glanced around the room, at her extended family. Some were still fuming, their faces red with resentment, but they no longer dared to mock her. Their silent fury was palpable, but at least the mocking had stopped.

The sharp clap of Yu Guangshan hands broke the lingering silence. "Enough of this," he announced, his voice booming. "It’s time for the family dinner. Everyone, gather around."

The relatives began to move toward the dining room, their earlier venom muted but not completely forgotten. As they filed past her, Lixue caught murmurs of resentment.

"She’s only here because Zhengwei insists on bringing shame upon himself," one aunt whispered.

"Beauty won’t earn her a place at this table," another muttered.

Lixue let the comments slide, her expression serene. If they thought they could unsettle her with their words, they were wrong. She was here because she deserved to be—not for their approval, but for herself.

In the dining room, the table was lavishly set, the fine china gleaming under the chandelier’s light. Lixue was directed to a seat at the far end of the table, separated from her father and grandfather. The deliberate distance was another subtle reminder of her "place" in the family hierarchy.

As everyone settled into their seats, Yu Guangshan’s gaze swept over the gathered family. His expression was as stern as ever, his eyes finally landing on Lixue.

"Lixue," he said, his voice carrying a weight that made the room fall silent. "It has been years since you last attended a family gathering. I trust you remember the rules of this household."

All eyes turned to her, waiting to see how she would respond. Lixue met her grandfather’s gaze, her expression calm but firm. "Yes, Grandfather," she replied evenly.

Yu Guangshan leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Good. Then you know that respect is earned in this family, not freely given. Your place here depends on your ability to contribute. I hope you understand that."

"...."

The unspoken challenge in his words hung heavily in the air. Lixue’s relatives exchanged smug glances, clearly relishing the moment. But Lixue remained composed, her voice steady as she answered.

"I understand, Grandfather," she said. "And I intend to uphold that expectation." She said calmly, she had no sentimental value eating with the Yu family, that was equivalent to eating with a bunch of dogs or at least that was how she saw them.

Yu Guangshan not getting the reaction he wanted could only purse his lips and seat down.

Yu Zhangwei raised his hand, pointing at a family member, he asked them to stand up, "Please head to the back.." as he said this he eyes landed on Lixue "Lixue come seat beside me.."