Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 130: Mask Off (2)
Adrienne was pleased with Valerie’s answer. This would make it easier to expose Airi’s nefarious true nature soon. As long as the seed of doubt was planted in Valerie’s heart, she would be wary of Airi’s intention towards the Xia family.
"Val, don’t worry. Addie and I are here to help you. You don’t have to deal with this on your own. I’m sure your other friends would also say the same." Myrtle bumped her shoulder with Valerie to assure her. She had recently gotten acquainted with Valerie, but Adrienne could see their beautiful friendship was also about to bloom.
"I just wish Airi wasn’t involved with the wrong people. She’s a bit timid and a pushover, so I often worry about her." Valerie admitted.
"But Val, you can’t spoil Airi like this forever, right? From what I see, though your personality is different from your younger sister, your taste in everything are almost identical. Of course, being raised together would allow that, but you and Airi are different. Will you share everything with your sister once she grows up?" Adrienne questioned her.
Although Airi was wearing a pink dress today, the style and the brand were identical to what Valeri was wearing too. Was she trying to outstage the birthday celebrant by showing up earlier?
It’s normal for people to make comparisons. Just as Valerie said earlier, Airi looked more like a proper miss than her as her bearing was elegant, as if she was born into a noble family. Like her and Elise, Valerie and Airi were bound to be compared by everyone around them.
"Of course not!" Valerie exclaimed, but a realization dawned on her. Seeing her expression, Adrienne realized that Valerie was already aware of the issue but was trying her best not to acknowledge it.
"Airi isn’t like that..." She whispered with her eyes lowered. Her tone sounded like she was trying to convince herself, not Adrienne and Myrtle.
"I also said the same thing about Ayla, Val, but look where we are now." Adrienne stepped forward and gently brushed her fingertips over Valerie’s hair.
"You know what I like about you, Val? You are honest and straightforward to others, but do you know this is also a weakness? Why can’t you be more honest with yourself? Why do you expect everyone would treat you the same way you treated them? The world is not fair, Val, and it never will be."
Valerie was stunned into silence. Even when Adrienne and Myrtle left, she remained distracted.
It wasn’t like she didn’t know what Adrienne was trying to imply. She grew up with Airi and was forced to treat the latter as her younger sister. Of course, she knew why her late mother took Airi into their family. However, while it’s true that Airi’s mother saved her mom, allowing Airi to join the Xia family was a bit excessive in her opinion.
Was it necessary to add Airi to their family registry to repay the favor of Airi’s mother? Valerie thought otherwise.
As she returned to her quarters, her steps halted on the stairs when she spotted Airi coming down. Valerie remained silent and only stared at her younger sister’s face. She tried to suppress her ill feelings towards Airi, thinking her jealousy would destroy their relationship.
Valerie tried to ignore others’ comparisons between her and Airi, but she secretly felt annoyed by it. She thought that there shouldn’t be any competition around them as sisters, but Valerie always ended up being ridiculed in the end.
She tried to suppress the bitterness in her heart, but something stirred in Valerie’s heart upon hearing what Airi had done to her mother’s belongings. She didn’t want to believe Airi was capable of doing such things, but she couldn’t think of any reason or motive for Adrienne to sow discord between her and her sister.
"Sis, did your friends leave already? I hadn’t properly introduced myself to them, but I was a bit under the weather today. Would you please apologize to them on my behalf?" Airi asked with her usual gentle voice.
Adrienne had compared Airi with Ayla Jiang and Valerie now wondered if her sister also wore the same mask as Ayla. Was her gentle and sweet younger sister also harboring a wicked heart beneath her mask?
"Sis?" Airi called out when Valerie remained silent.
"Don’t worry about it, Airi. I’m sure Addie and the rest didn’t mind." Valerie responded once she snapped out of her daze.
Airi’s face immediately changed. "Sis, you should be wary of Adrienne Jiang. I heard things about her, and they weren’t good."
"Oh? So you are trying to teach me about who I should befriend and not?" Valerie snapped at her. This was the first time she scolded Airi, which startled the latter.
Airi acted as if Valerie wronged her. She turned to her side and glanced at Valerie cautiously.
"It’s not like that, Sis. I’m just trying to warn you..."
"I have known Addie longer than you, so I know what kind of person she is and is not. Airi, I didn’t know you were so gullible that you’ll easily believe what was being said about a person. If you believe Adrienne Jiang is such a bad person, I dare you to say it to her face. Addie is my friend, Airi."
Airi’s lips quivered. She couldn’t understand why Valerie was acting like this.
"But I’m your sister..." She said with her eyes welling with tears. Valerie used to fall under such trick, but not anymore.
"Are you really my sister?" Valerie deadpanned, her eyes fixated on Airi’s face. Perhaps it was time for her and Airi to remove their mask to see what was really in their hearts.
When Airi said nothing, Valerie walked past her until she reached the top of the stairs. Airi was too stunned to react and could only stand where she was. She felt an ominous feeling and was afraid that something bad was about to happen.
