Ning Yu flopped onto the floor, throwing a tantrum without shedding a single tear. “I don’t care! I want to eat it today! If you won’t let me, I’ll tell Grandma!”
Knowing her mother-in-law already disliked her, He Meili didn’t dare let her son make a fuss in front of the old woman. She could only compromise.
“Fine, fine! Mom will buy it for you. How about a serving of braised pork from the state-run restaurant?”
“Okay!” Ning Yu instantly got up once he achieved his goal, sat back on the sofa, and continued reading his comic book.
Ning Hong chimed in, “Mom, I want some too!”
“Eat shit!” He Meili snapped angrily.
Thinking about all the suffering she had gone through for nothing, she became furious and slapped Ning Hong across the face.
“You useless girl! You’re already old enough to get married, yet you’re not even as steady as your little brother. When you saw me like that, instead of helping me, you ran all over the place. Stupid brat! I must’ve owed you in my past life!”
Ning Hong had no idea what she had done wrong. Getting slapped out of nowhere left her feeling terribly wronged.
“Mom, why are you hitting me? It’s not my fault someone messed you up like that…”
After all, she had a proper job, unlike Ning You, that freeloader…
The moment she thought of Ning You, she forgot her grievance and immediately asked, “Mom, where’s Ning You?”
Before He Meili could answer, Ning Hong looked at her suspiciously, excitement in her voice.
“You sold that little bitch?”
Ning Hong never bothered hiding her malice toward Ning You.
She simply couldn’t stand seeing Ning You doing well and wished the girl would just die.
Thinking about Ning You’s face—still delicate and beautiful despite years of abuse from her and He Meili—made Ning Hong want to slash it apart with a blade.
Hearing her daughter speak so recklessly, He Meili lost her temper.
“Sold her? Sold what? She’s a living person, not livestock. How could I sell someone? Pig brain!”
Ning Hong stomped angrily. “Mom, can you talk without insulting me all the time?”
Ning Yu finally looked up from his comic book and mocked her, “Mom’s not wrong. You really do have a pig brain!”
If Ning Hong hadn’t been so stupid, he wouldn’t still be waiting to eat meat now!
“Mom, look at Ning Yu!”
He Meili rolled her eyes and ignored her.
She treated Ning Hong decently enough, but nowhere near as well as her precious son.
Yuyu was her trump card for securing her place in the Ning family—extremely important.
Seeing her mother ignore her, Ning Hong inwardly complained about favoritism, her face stretching long with displeasure.
“Mom, you still haven’t answered me… where’s Ning You?”
He Meili was carrying vegetables and about to cook. Hearing that question reminded her of Ning You, the damned girl who had suddenly seemed possessed. A vicious glint flashed through her eyes.
That little bitch would come back sooner or later. Then she’d learn her lesson!
Then she remembered all the money and ration coupons Ning You had taken from her, and her heart ached painfully. She immediately started scheming about arranging a marriage for Ning You to earn a bride price.
“Don’t mention that little bitch!”
He Meili cared deeply about appearances and maintaining her image. She couldn’t possibly tell her daughter that her miserable condition had been caused by Ning You.
“Go, go, stop blocking me from cooking. Go buy meat for your brother!”
Seeing that her mother was in a terrible mood and afraid of getting hit again, Ning Hong didn’t dare provoke her further. She stretched out a hand.
“…Where’s the money and ration coupons?”
He Meili glared at her. “Pay for it first. Am I going to shortchange you?”
After saying that, she stormed off to cook.
Ning Hong curled her lips. Who knew if she would…
Not daring to argue further, she obediently went out to buy meat.
On the way back, she spotted Ning You.
Seeing the many things hanging from Ning You’s hands, Ning Hong’s face darkened. She quickly stepped forward and blocked her path.
“What’s with all the stuff you’re carrying?” Ning Hong stared at the items in Ning You’s hands with her small eyes, her expression arrogant.
Ning You looked at her.
This stepsister of hers was just as ugly as she remembered.
Tiny eyes, a large flat nose, a broad face, and dark skin—ugly enough to shake the heavens.
No wonder she constantly bullied the original owner. It was naked jealousy.
“You didn’t wash your face? It’s so oily,” Ning You said calmly.
Ning Hong might not have been pretty, but she cared deeply about her appearance. Ning You’s words struck her straight in the heart.
Remembering that she had greeted her coworkers earlier while looking like this, Ning Hong completely broke down and buried her head as she ran back toward the residential compound.
Watching her sturdy figure disappear, Ning You clicked her tongue.
“People really care most about what they lack. She’s already this upset over something so small—how’s she going to survive in the future…”
Poor thing.
Ning You leisurely headed back toward the apartment building. The original owner had been a diligent, well-behaved girl with a good reputation in the compound. Everyone greeted her warmly when they saw her.
“Little Yuzu.”
“Little Yuzu went out shopping for the family again. Such a hardworking child.”
“…Have you eaten yet?”
…
Ning You copied the original owner’s meek manner, greeting everyone politely before lowering her head and returning home.
Watching her back, the residents sighed one after another.
“Such a good child. Engineer Ning really committed a sin,” one softhearted auntie said sympathetically.
“Exactly. Back when Little Yuzu’s real mother, Comrade Wen, was still alive, she was the prettiest and most fashionable girl in the whole compound. Ever since that second wife of Ning’s moved in, the child’s gotten thinner and thinner, and she’s nowhere near as cheerful and open as before…”
Everyone wanted to laugh bitterly.
A child without her real mother’s protection, living like an unwanted guest under someone else’s roof—of course she would grow thinner and weaker.
After chatting a bit more, the group changed topics.
Ning You returned home and pushed the door open.
The Ning family was sitting together in the living room.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, the man looked over instinctively.
The moment he saw Ning You, his gaze froze.
The girl standing at the doorway was sallow and skinny, with rough hair and ragged clothes. On the surface, she looked no different from before.
But her aura was completely different.
Her back was straight, her eyes bright and spirited, as though a galaxy of stars was reflected within them.
Clearly she wasn’t that similar.
Yet Ning Zhongyi still saw the shadow of that woman in Ning You.
“…Wen Ya,” he called out involuntarily.
The moment He Meili, sitting beside him, heard the man murmur that name, she lowered her head hurriedly, hatred twisting across her face.
Wen Ya!
That bitch had already left this family long ago. The only person who could stay with you until old age is me, He Meili!
Her nails dug into her palms as she glared sideways at Ning You with murderous hatred.
…That little bastard Wen Ya left behind should be dealt with too!
Ning You had sharp ears and eyes, so naturally she heard Ning Zhongyi’s whisper.
Her face immediately filled with disgust.
“You don’t deserve to say that name. It’s sickening.”
She possessed the original owner’s memories and knew that Wen Ya had been the little girl’s only warmth—and also the thorn in her heart.
Ning Zhongyi snapped back to reality. Remembering something, his expression turned cold and his voice filled with anger.
“Insolence! Your mother was my wife. Even if she’s dead, she still belongs to me!”
He stared at Ning You fiercely, as if he would strangle her to death if she dared argue back.
Was Ning You afraid?
Of course not.
“Who do you think you are, acting so overbearing? That’s downright criminal. All those years of education went straight into your ass!” Ning You said with utter disdain.
The woman was already dead—what was the point of pretending to be deeply affectionate now?
Even after mocking him, she still felt it wasn’t enough, so she stabbed him again:
“Belated affection is cheaper than grass!”
The relationship between Ning Zhongyi and Wen Ya was complicated. But in his mind, no one had the right to interfere in their affairs, and no one could question his feelings.
Not even Wen Ya’s daughter.
Consumed by rage, Ning Zhongyi’s eyes turned vicious as he took the leather whip down from the wall.