Thinking of this, Song Qinghuan’s grip on her mother-in-law’s hand tightened even more, leaving a clear bruise right there.
Old grudges and new grievances would be settled all at once today. If she let this vile old woman off easily, she would be betraying all the suffering she had endured in her past life!
“When and how I act is none of your business. You vicious mother-in-law who only knows how to torment your own daughter-in-law and throw your weight around at home – you’d better start praying for your own well-being instead!”
“Before you know it, all the wicked things you’ve done will catch up to you! May you get hit by a car or struck by lightning the moment you step outside!”
Song Qinghuan raised her hand and slapped Lu Lin hard across the face.
The force was so strong that the older woman was stunned on the spot, spun around from the blow, and her head slammed heavily against the wall with a loud thud.
The crisp sound was sweeter than any music to her ears. Song Qinghuan almost wanted to applaud – such a clear sound, only a hollow head could make that noise.
Before she could say the words, a mechanical voice suddenly rang in her ears:
[Congratulations to the Host for delivering 1 slap! +100 Points awarded!]
The voice sounded strangely familiar – exactly the same as what she’d heard in her head the moment the Lu family had walked in earlier.
Song Qinghuan froze. Could it be that what she’d heard before wasn’t a hallucination at all, but real? And what were these points? Did this mean she actually got rewarded for slapping people?
There was no time to think further – Li Qing’e had already scrambled back to her feet, her face twisted into a scowl longer than a donkey’s, seething with rage. When had this wretched girl gotten so strong?
Realizing she couldn’t overpower Song Qinghuan alone, Li Qing’e shot a vicious glare at Lu Lin. She’d been beaten black and blue by an outsider, and that useless good-for-nothing Lu Lin was still standing there like a coward, watching the show! What a bunch of helpless men!
Hands on her hips, she shrieked:
“Lu Lin! What are you standing there for? Get over here and help me! Teach this little hussy a lesson right now!”
“She’s not even married into our family yet and she’s already running wild! If we don’t rein her in now, she’ll be walking all over us before we know it!”
What on earth was going through that muddled mind of hers? Even after getting slapped, she still refused to call off the engagement with Song Qinghuan.
Lu Lin’s face burned with shame at being scolded. He glanced at Song Qinghuan, ready to lecture her to save face – but one look at the bright red handprint on his mother’s cheek and he instantly cowered. If his mother had gotten beaten, what would happen if he tried to step in? He’d be humiliated even worse today.
He cleared his throat loudly, putting on a dignified front to smooth things over and brush the incident aside.
Seeing him hesitate to stand up for her, Li Qing’e flew into a rage and slapped him across the face herself.
“What are you standing there for? Go!”
She shoved him toward Song Qinghuan, ordering him to deal with her. But she’d used too much force – Lu Lin stumbled straight into Song Qinghuan’s raised palm, and now he had a matching handprint on his other cheek, perfectly symmetrical.
“Look at how red both your faces are – anyone would think you’re a pair of monkey’s butts!”
Song Qinghuan laughed so hard she almost doubled over. Right then, the notification sounded again:
[Congratulations to the Host for delivering 1 slap! +50 Points awarded!]
She guessed she got fewer points this time because she hadn’t hit him on purpose. Not that it mattered – she still had no idea what these points were for anyway. But the thought of getting back at Li Qing’e and Lu Lin, and being rewarded for it in such a satisfying way, filled her with pure delight.
Li Qing’e and Lu Lin were already dizzy and disoriented; being mocked like this only made them burn with humiliation, so much so they could almost feel their toes digging holes into the floorboards.
This was no longer just about calling off the engagement. After the humiliation they’d suffered today, if they didn’t get even, they’d never be able to show their faces in public again. They would never let this rest!
Li Qing’e avoided Lu Lin’s gaze, acting as if the handprint on his face had nothing to do with her, and yelled at Song Qinghuan:
“How dare you hit people? That’s illegal! I’ll call the police right now and have you arrested!”
“You have no manners at all at such a young age! Maybe a stint in prison will teach you some respect – you’re completely out of control!”
Lu Qiming, who had sat silently all this while, stood up when he saw both his parents beaten, his expression dark and stormy. He looked down at Song Qinghuan, his imposing figure casting a shadow over her, his voice low and stern.
“I never thought you’d be this kind of person, Qinghuan. I am truly disappointed in you.”
“Where has that bright, kind-hearted girl I once knew gone?”
He pointed at Li Qing’e and Lu Lin, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“If you don’t want a criminal record, you will apologize to my parents right now.”
His lips were pressed into a thin line, as if his “generous offer” was some great favor he was granting her.
Song Qinghuan knew that look all too well. Back when they had first married in her past life, he was never home, disappearing for months on end without so much as a letter or a call – leaving his new bride all alone, ignored and neglected.
Even when he did turn up unannounced, before she could feel happy or try to build a life with him, Li Qing’e would be there first, throwing tantrums as his “beloved mother”.
She would claim Song Qinghuan abused her, or refused to cook for her on time. Then she’d say her temper was terrible, that she always spoke back and gave her heart palpitations.
Every word filled Song Qinghuan with helplessness. She worked herself to the bone every single day, waited on Li Qing’e and Lu Lin like royalty – and still it wasn’t enough. What more did they want? To drive her to her grave?
She had been so young back then, innocent and inexperienced. To be smeared with such lies for no reason made her want to cry. She tried to tell Lu Qiming how she felt, but he never stood by her side. Every time Li Qing’e complained, he would refuse to listen to a word she said, and berate her harshly, reminding her to know her place.