Chapter 51.1

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Qiao Ziman hurried downstairs, hailed a taxi, and made a beeline for her mother’s house.

Forty minutes later, she arrived at the front gate, dragging her overstuffed suitcase behind her.

In the yard, He Cuizhen was scattering feed for the chickens when she spotted her daughter’s sudden arrival. She froze for a moment before asking, “What’s going on?”

“Hey!” Qiao Ziman strode in like she owned the place. “Dearest mother, what kind of question is that? Isn’t this my home?”

He Cuizhen put down the basket of feed, walked around Qiao Ziman in a slow circle, then stopped beside the suitcase and gave it a few taps. “What’s all this?”

She glanced toward the gate. “Where’s Yin Yin?”

Qiao Ziman grumbled under her breath, “Ugh, Yin Yin again.”

Lifting her chin, she declared, full of defiance, “Listen up—I had a fight with Yin Yin!”

“You better not sell me out.” She let out a sneaky chuckle before adding, “Actually, even if you do, it’s fine. She wouldn’t be able to catch up anyway.”

He Cuizhen’s voice immediately shot up a few decibels. “A fight?!”

Blocking Qiao Ziman’s path, she reached for the broom. “You two have only been together for a few days, and you’re already fighting?!”

Qiao Ziman’s eyes were locked onto her mother’s every movement as she instinctively stepped backward. “Mom, let’s talk this out! No need for violence!”

But He Cuizhen advanced step by step. “And why exactly should I talk nicely to you? You just said you two fought—so why are you smiling? Tell me the truth, Qiao Ziman—did you bully Yin Yin again?”

Qiao Ziman pointed at herself in disbelief. “Again? Me? Bully her?”

“Then what do you call it?” He Cuizhen brandished the broom and charged forward.

Qiao Ziman bolted.

Chaos erupted in the yard—chickens flapped wildly, a stray dog yelped and ran, and the whole place turned into an absolute mess.

“Qiao Ziman, can you not control your damn temper? Yin Yin is such a good girl, and you just have to keep messing around!”

“Messing around?” Qiao Ziman felt so wronged she could cry. She suddenly stopped running, eyes rimmed red, glaring at He Cuizhen. “Can you be reasonable for once? Yin Yin bullies me all the time, and now you want to hit me too?”

“Go ahead! Beat me to death while you’re at it!” She stuck her neck out dramatically.

Wait… why was she tearing up? Could it be that she had misunderstood the situation? He Cuizhen quickly dropped the broom, suddenly anxious. “What happened? What did you fight about?”

Qiao Ziman sniffled but refused to say anything. She had her pride.

“Not hitting me anymore? Then I’m going back to sleep.” She let out a hmph, face cold, and stormed off into her room.

“Hey! At least tell me something! You’re killing me here!”

Turning her head, He Cuizhen found herself locking eyes with her mother—Qiao Ziman’s grandmother—who had been watching the whole scene unfold like a spectator at a drama.

She walked over and crouched down beside her.

“Mom, you know, right? No matter how wronged Qiao Qiao used to feel, she would never cry. But today… what’s going on?”

“Could it be that their fight was really bad?”

“Ugh,” He Cuizhen sighed, frustrated. “I got a little too impulsive. Why can’t I just keep my hands to myself?”

“Mom, what should I do?” Suddenly, she grabbed her mother’s hands tightly. “Should I ask Yin Yin about it?”

Her mother glanced down at her, unimpressed.

“Why are you worrying so much? Just sit with me and enjoy the show.”

He Cuizhen: “…”

—

Qiao Ziman slept straight into the evening.

She checked her phone—no messages from Chi Yin.

Frowning, she immediately texted Ji Yun.

[Where’s Yin Yin? It’s past nine. She’s still not done with work?]

Ji Yun responded.

[She got seduced away by a fox spirit!]

“What?!” Qiao Ziman shot upright, fingers flying across the screen.

[What fox spirit?! WHO?!]

Ji Yun instantly sent a voice message, her tone full of laughter.

“Hahahaha, I’m messing with you. I just tried calling Boss Chi, but she didn’t pick up. She’s probably still busy.”

Qiao Ziman: “!!!”

[Do you think this is funny?! Did you at least pass on my message to Yin Yin like I asked?]

Ji Yun sent back a simple: [ok.]

Qiao Ziman lay back on the bed, one leg casually crossed over the other, feeling quite pleased with herself. Hah, let’s see how you like being kept on the hook this time.

Just then—

A knock on the door.

He Cuizhen pushed it open, poking her head inside with a bright smile. “Qiao Qiao, did you sleep well? I made your favorite dishes. Come eat something.”

Qiao Ziman clicked her tongue twice in her mind. Ah, the classic slap followed by some candy.

Could her mom ever change up this routine?

No way she was letting her off so easily today. Otherwise, her status in this household would be in jeopardy.

She discreetly pinched the skin at the base of her thigh, hard enough to squeeze out a couple of tears. “I’m not eating.”

As expected, He Cuizhen’s guilt deepened instantly. She softened her voice, trying to coax her. “Alright, alright, Mom was wrong. I apologize. I swear I won’t play favorites with Yin Yin anymore, okay?”

Whoa. Mom actually apologized?

Looked like learning from Yin Yin’s acting skills was really paying off.

Suppressing the smirk threatening to creep onto her face, Qiao Ziman gave a nonchalant nod. “Fine.”

She dragged her feet lazily toward the dining table, plopped down, and took a glance at the spread.

Four dishes and a soup.

Two meat, two vegetables. Pretty generous.

Except…

Her gaze landed on the soup.

She slapped the table, expression instantly turning sour. “I am not drinking ginseng soup!!!”

He Cuizhen slammed her chopsticks onto the table. “Hey! You’re picky now?”

Qiao Ziman frowned and looked at her mother, deliberately reminding her, “Mom, you just promised not to play favorites. I should get the same treatment as Yin Yin. I want pork trotters soup too.”

He Cuizhen choked on her words. “Where the hell am I supposed to find pork trotters in the middle of the night?”

Qiao Ziman was relentless. “I don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t care! I want pork trotters!”

He Cuizhen took a deep breath.

Then another.

She shot Qiao Ziman a deadly glare before standing up. “Fine! I’ll go borrow one from your second uncle next door. Happy now?!”

Qiao Ziman, unbothered, calmly picked up a bite of scrambled eggs and tomatoes, chewing slowly. Then she frowned again. “Mom, why did you put sugar in it again?”

He Cuizhen, now at her limit, reached for the broom. 

Qiao Ziman immediately flashed a sweet smile, knowing exactly when to quit. “Mom, I love sweet food lately! You should hurry before Second Uncle goes to bed.”

With a huff, He Cuizhen stormed out. Five minutes later, she returned, carrying a fresh pork trotter. Qiao Ziman, however, had already put her chopsticks down.

He Cuizhen glanced at the nearly untouched dishes and scowled. “I know it’s not as good as Yin Yin’s cooking, but do you have to act like you’re being forced to eat?”

She clicked her tongue in irritation. “If you miss Yin Yin so much, just go back already. Why are you hanging around here, making my life difficult?”

Qiao Ziman: “Mom??? I’ve only been home for six hours and twenty-one minutes, and you’re already trying to kick me out?” She discreetly pinched her thigh again, her eyes misting up.

Just as expected, He Cuizhen panicked. “That’s not what I meant!”