Liu Qianqian’s father, Liu Dazhuang, had a dark expression on his face, while her mother, Wang Guihua, pointed at her nose and scolded:
“You stupid girl! I told you to go get on good terms with the new leader’s daughter, and what did you do? You went and offended her instead! And you even stood up for that useless Su Xiaomei? Is your brain full of paste or what?!”
Liu Qianqian lowered her head and didn’t dare speak. She didn’t even dare pick up her chopsticks.
She wasn’t favored at home. She did all the dirty and tiring work, so she had long grown used to such insults.
Her younger brother, Tiedan, smelled the aroma of fish soup and nearly drooled, clamoring, “Mom, I want to eat fish!”
“Alright, alright! Tomorrow I’ll have your sister go catch some! If she can’t catch any, she doesn’t get to eat!” Wang Guihua snorted. After soothing her younger son, she glanced at her silent eldest daughter and grew even angrier.
She said viciously, “If you hadn’t offended them, maybe if they were in a good mood they would’ve given our family a few big fish! Look at Chen Zihao and that Xiao Chen next door—look how many fish they got. Your brother could’ve eaten them for days!”
Liu Qianqian was scolded so badly she couldn’t even raise her head. Hatred filled her heart.
It was all that Lin Ruanruan’s fault for showing off! So what if she could catch fish? Hmph!
Liu Dazhuang waved his hand impatiently. “What’s the point of pulling that long face? Hurry up and go apologize to her and ask for forgiveness! If you can bring back two more fish for your brother, then at least you’ll be somewhat useful!”
Liu Qianqian didn’t want to go.
But her parents didn’t indulge her at all. Without caring whether she had eaten or not, they half-dragged and pushed her toward Lin Ruanruan’s house.
Liu Qianqian cried the whole way there.
After Lin Ruanruan and the others returned home, Lin Dayong was quickly called away by a comrade, saying there was an urgent mission.
The moment he left, Su Ting’s smiling face collapsed.
She shot Ruanruan a dark look, then went into the kitchen with a cold expression, clanging pots and bowls loudly as if venting her anger.
She didn’t even glance at the bucket of fish Lin Ruanruan had brought back, her face full of impatience.
Lin Ruanruan couldn’t be bothered with her. She had just opened the system shop, wanting to see what treasures were inside.
Just then, the courtyard door was knocked.
Ruanruan went to open it. When she saw Liu Qianqian outside—with red, swollen eyes—and her parents beside her wearing forced smiles but sharp, calculating gazes, her small brows immediately furrowed.
Her fair little face filled with caution.
“What are you here for?”
Liu Qianqian was crying miserably. Hearing this, she glared fiercely at Ruanruan but held back her words.
Her mother, irritated, pinched her arm hard before turning to Ruanruan with a bright smile.
“Oh my! You must be Ruanruan! Such a pretty child! I brought Qianqian here to apologize to you!”
Wang Guihua’s smile bloomed like a chrysanthemum as she quickly spoke first, then pushed the shrinking Liu Qianqian forward.
“This silly girl didn’t know better and offended you at the seaside. We gave her a harsh lesson at home! Qianqian, hurry and apologize!”
Ruanruan frowned.
She didn’t like Liu Qianqian, but her mother’s pinch had been really vicious.
It looked like she was trying to tear flesh off—Liu Qianqian’s arm was already bruised.
Sniffling, Liu Qianqian spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito.
“Ruanruan… I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have said you couldn’t catch fish…”
Su Ting came out holding a spatula. Seeing the situation, she immediately understood most of it.
The Liu family had some distant relation with her, so she had to show some consideration.
Without waiting for Ruanruan to say anything, Su Ting waved her hand casually.
“Kids arguing—it’s nothing serious. Since she apologized, let it go. Ruanruan won’t mind, right Ruanruan?”
Ruanruan pursed her lips and silently rolled her eyes.
She hadn’t even planned to argue about it.
Before she could speak, Su Xiaomei—who had been standing quietly to the side—suddenly spoke timidly.
Her voice was cautious.
“Aunt Wang, Sister Qianqian didn’t mean to say those things to Ruanruan. She was just kindly advising her. She didn’t expect Ruanruan to get angry, and later she didn’t even give Sister Qianqian any fish. Auntie, please don’t blame Sister Qianqian.”
As she spoke, she even cast Liu Qianqian a sympathetic look.
Ruanruan’s grape-like eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat.
Whoa!
Wasn’t this exactly the kind of seemingly weak but secretly manipulative malicious supporting female character from novels?
This Su Xiaomei looked timid and obedient, but she sure had plenty of schemes.
Wasn’t she basically saying Ruanruan was narrow-minded and deliberately stirring trouble?
Sure enough, Liu Qianqian’s expression turned even worse, her fingers gripping the small fish turning pale.
Inside, she thought resentfully: it was all because Lin Ruanruan had to show off and insist on catching fish!
Su Xiaomei revealed a trace of smugness.
She knew this idiot would definitely think along the lines she had set up!
Ruanruan’s eyes rolled, a crafty glint flashing through her round pupils. Suddenly, she spoke in a crisp voice.
“Sister Xiaomei, Sister Qianqian only helped you because she heard you say your mom scolded you and felt sorry for you. She argued with Ruanruan for your sake and even got scolded by Auntie. How can you say that I was the one who started the fight?”
“And besides! Sister Qianqian is your good friend. If you’re afraid she’ll get scolded, why don’t you just give her your share of fish? Then she won’t get scolded!”
Ruanruan crossed her arms leisurely, her little feet tapping lightly as she watched.
She wanted to see what Su Xiaomei would do next.
Sure enough, the moment she heard this, Su Xiaomei’s expression stiffened.
She hadn’t eaten any meat for half a month. Fish might smell a bit fishy, but it was still meat!
She absolutely couldn’t bear to give it away.
Unfortunately, Liu Qianqian was simple-minded and terrible at reading the room. She immediately looked at Su Xiaomei with hopeful eyes.
She believed their relationship was so good—and that she had argued with Lin Ruanruan for her sake—so Su Xiaomei surely wouldn’t abandon her.
But she was destined to be disappointed.
Su Xiaomei timidly stepped back and hid behind her mother, saying nothing.
Liu Qianqian’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Her mother Wang Guihua was sharp-witted and immediately understood everything. Furious, she slapped her daughter on the back and said sarcastically:
“Look at that! You stupid girl, sticking up for others. See if they care whether you live or die!”
“Waaah!” Liu Qianqian burst into tears.
The noise attracted many neighbors who poked their heads out to watch the commotion and asked what had happened.
Ruanruan explained the situation in her soft childish voice.
Immediately, people’s gazes toward Su Xiaomei became strange.
That child usually seemed so quiet and harmless—who would’ve thought she’d actually incite other kids to target Ruanruan?
Sure enough, appearances could be deceiving.
Su Ting’s face turned green.
What she feared most was family scandals being exposed, especially matters involving her stepdaughter and biological daughter. She was afraid people would say she was a bad stepmother.
Seeing more and more neighbors gathering, she angrily pulled Su Xiaomei over and shouted:
“Xiaomei! Apologize to Qianqian! What nonsense have you been saying outside? And apologize to Ruanruan too! Who told you to stir things up!”
Being scolded publicly by her own mother, Su Xiaomei’s face flushed red, tears swirling in her eyes.
But she didn’t dare resist. She could only mumble a tiny “sorry” to Liu Qianqian and Ruanruan like the buzz of a mosquito.
“Alright! Stop standing around here!” Su Ting waved impatiently to chase everyone away, clearly annoyed now even with Liu Qianqian’s parents.
“The apology’s been accepted. Take your child and go home!”