“Oi!”
“Jiayao!” Zhou Huiping rushed forward, holding the huge child, checking him with concern.
Xia Jiayao was the child of Zhou Huiping and Xia Jianye—and the only boy in the family.
At home, he was a little tyrant: whatever he wanted, he got; whatever he demanded, it happened. He was the textbook definition of a spoiled brat.
Freshly washed clothes? Xia Jiayao would deliberately soak them with a bamboo-water-gun.
Freshly mopped floor? He would trample mud all over the house.
Freshly cooked meals? He’d eat all the meat…
Such things happened endlessly.
“Xia Wanqing, how can you treat your brother like this?” Xia Jianye, without listening to any explanation, grabbed a feather duster off the sofa, ready to swat her.
But Xia Wanqing was no longer like before—she didn’t just stand there and take it. With a swift turn, she ran to the side.
“Dare to run!” Xia Jianye’s temper flared, tightening his grip on the feather duster as he chased after her.
Xia Wanqing ran toward Xia Jiayao, and at the last second, made a 180-degree turn.
The feather duster fell where it would have hit her. By the time Xia Jianye realized, it had already landed on Xia Jiayao.
“Ah! Ah!!” Xia Jiayao froze, then let out an earth-shattering cry.
A red mark two fingers wide appeared on his arm and quickly swelled before everyone’s eyes, like a wriggling caterpillar.
Zhou Huiping hugged him in pain, patting his back and crying, her gaze full of hatred practically stabbing at Xia Wanqing.
“Wanqing, why are you taking it out on me? Jiayao is just a child and the only boy in the family!”
“Never seen a 180-pound kid? He’s ready for the New Year market!”
Xia Jianye crouched quickly, dropping the feather duster, carefully checking Xia Jiayao’s bones. When he saw nothing was broken, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, then glared at the culprit with gritted teeth.
“Xia Wanqing, you’re asking for death!”
He went to swat her again.
But Xia Wanqing was like an eel—the feather duster never hit her; it only landed on Zhou Huiping and Xia Jiayao.
Both cried out, “Ouch! Stop, stop!”
“Huff—huff—” Xia Jianye got tired from chasing them, hands on his knees, panting heavily.
This rebellious girl was getting out of hand.
If he hadn’t gone out of his way to look for her, she would’ve starved outside—and yet she had no gratitude.
“Xia Wanqing!”
“Lower your voice, I’m not deaf!” Xia Wanqing said lazily, fiddling with her ear.
“Xia Jianye, I know you suspect Zhou Xiaosan tricked you, that Xia Jiayao isn’t your child, but there’s no need to go all out. After all, he’s called you ‘Dad’ for years.”
Xia Wanqing casually scanned the people in the room, observing their reactions.
Zhou Huiping shivered, face pale, panic-stricken.
Xia Jiayao just kept crying, mouth wide open, chubby and ugly, like a little kappa with its mouth agape.
Xia Jianye’s face turned red with rage, chest heaving violently.
“Xia Wanqing, what nonsense are you talking about!” His blood pressure skyrocketed. He couldn’t catch his breath, head throbbing as he collapsed on the sofa, gasping. “I’m so angry… furious!”
Xia Wanqing’s lips curled slightly.
This family was… really something.
Looks like the sister and brother didn’t share the same father.
When Zhou Huiping first arrived at the house, she wasn’t this nasty, keeping up a friendly facade.
One night, Xia Wanqing woke up thirsty and went for water, accidentally seeing Zhou Huiping talking to a man.
She panicked and tried to run but slipped on something, hitting her head and passing out.
When she woke up, Zhou Huiping told Xia Jianye she had been misbehaving, running around at night. Xia Jianye ignored her head injury and locked her in the attic.
From then on, Zhou Huiping started causing trouble. Seeing Xia Jianye wouldn’t interfere, she grew bolder.
With no one to back her up, Xia Wanqing didn’t dare speak up at the time.
When she suspected Xia Yiyi was Xia Jianye’s child, she also wondered why Xia Jiayao didn’t resemble him at all.
Now, seeing Zhou Huiping’s reaction, it made sense.
Xia Wanqing’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Xia Jianye was a male chauvinist; in his mind, Xia Jiayao was the only child.
She wondered how he would react when he learned the truth.
Xia Wanqing cast Zhou Huiping a cold glance.
Zhou Huiping shivered in terror, eyes wide with fear.
The next second, she let go of Xia Jiayao, ignoring his loud cries, crawling to Xia Jianye.
“Husband, Wanqing is still a child. Don’t be mad at her.”
“Wanqing, go buy groceries. I’m here at home.”
Hearing this, Xia Jianye slammed his fist on the sofa, struggling to sit up, but Zhou Huiping gently held his wrist. “Husband, the property certificate is important.”
Already upright, Xia Jianye lay back down, closed his eyes, groaning. “I’m so angry!”
Zhou Huiping smiled at Wanqing, trying to appease her. “Wanqing, you should leave first.”
Xia Wanqing, practical and pragmatic, could be appeased by just a little kindness.
These few days, she would let them trick her, and after the matter was settled, they would never see her again—no need to fear them.
Xia Jiayao’s cries were deafening, giving Xia Wanqing a headache.
She didn’t want to stay any longer anyway; she needed to find where the family hid their money.
Stepping outside, the door shut, muting Xia Jiayao’s wails—Xia Wanqing finally felt some peace.
She didn’t leave immediately, instead climbing to the top of a camphor tree outside the yard.
Hidden among thick leaves, she pulled out a telescope from her space and observed carefully.
From her understanding, Xia Jianye was a miser; he wouldn’t hand over money easily and would find a way not to spend it.
Miserly people always hide their money in very secret places, sometimes unknown even to their closest companions.
Sure enough, after she left, Xia Jianye went into his study.
His gaze paused at a spot on the bookshelf before he walked to the window, closing the curtains tight.
A long time later, he emerged, the bankbook now gone.
Xia Wanqing had roughly figured out where Xia Jianye hid his money—saving herself a lot of trouble.
“Crrr—”
The cicadas screamed in her ears as Xia Wanqing slid down the tree and headed toward Yunlai Restaurant.
With money in hand, a hearty meal was in order.
Takeout? Not a chance.
Standing at the restaurant’s entrance, Xia Wanqing’s lips curled in mockery.
A huge hand-drawn poster was displayed outside:
“Family Feast for 99 yuan, free exquisite cake.”
And the cake pictured was the same one from her birthday yesterday.
Even their bribery came with freebies.
The last bit of familial affection in Xia Wanqing’s heart vanished; all that remained was pure hatred.
But food was priority.
A person’s iron, a meal’s steel—skipping one would starve her.
She ordered the restaurant’s signature dishes and feasted. Just as she was about to pay, she heard a voice that made her blush.
Who was shamelessly flirting in broad daylight?
She had been about to leave but unexpectedly heard her name.
“Xia Wanqing, who do you really like?” Xia Yiyi’s coquettish voice came from the next room.
In the next private room:
Gu Xing sighed. “Why bring her up for no reason?”
“I… I didn’t mean it,” Xia Yiyi said, eyes red, tears threatening.
In her previous life, she asked these questions for thrill.
After asking, Gu Xing would try harder, and she felt victorious.
But now, in her second chance at life, Gu Xing and Xia Wanqing had no connection.
Mentioning Gu Xing made him immediately tense.
Already in an awkward position, and being scolded by Gu Xing, Xia Yiyi felt extremely wronged.
She looked pitiful, and Gu Xing regretted his harsh tone.
“I’m not like that. Stop crying.” Gu Xing pulled her into his arms, quietly soothing her.
He didn’t handle it gracefully, his pride slightly wounded.
“Brother Gu Xing, I’m already yours. Don’t forget your promise—this life, only me.”
“I promise, I’ll love only you this life.”
“Annoying!”
Gu Xing leaned in slightly, kissing Xia Yiyi.
Xia Wanqing’s eyes went wide.
These two didn’t even spare money for a hotel room.
If you’re chasing thrills, go all the way.
Xia Wanqing cupped her hands like a megaphone and shouted, “Fire! Fire!”