Xu Hong noticed her mother’s strange behavior and grew anxious. “Mom? What’s wrong? You don’t have to think about it so hard. Xuanxuan is in the prime of her youth. She should be out there having fun with her friends and classmates. It would be selfish to keep her from enjoying her days as a high school student. You should let her stay in school.”
She could tell that the old woman wanted them to take Xu Xuanas well and have the girl stay at their home.
It was true that Xu HongandLiu Zhihad an empty room to spare at her house. But that didn’t mean that she was willing to hand it over toXu Xuan.
Her thoughts drifted to the girl’s parents, and Xu Honggrew even angrier.Xu Xuanwasn’t even her child, so why should she raise the brat?
If they gave that spare room to her, where would their future child stay, then?
Xu Xuan should have taken the cue and offered to stay at her school dormitory instead.
Xu Hong glared at the girl. “Xuanxuan, you understand the situation, don’t you? You’re mature and capable, surely you can manage to live on your own from now on. It would do you a lot of good to stay at your school dormitory and spend your time with your classmates. It might even help you improve your grades. Don’t worry about your grandmother and leave her to your uncle and me. You can count on us.”
Xu Xuan’s brow furrowed in confusion.
For as long as she could remember, Xu Honghad always hatedGrandma Xu. They had gone so far as to kick her out when she had fallen ill.
Now, they had appeared out of the blue, wanting to take the old woman back in.
No matter how she looked at it, something wasn’t right.
“What are you planning to do this time?” Grandma Xusaid through heavy breaths. “I already told you I don’t have any money to give you.”
“Stop saying that, Mom!” Xu Hongsaid before stepping toward the bed.
“Mom, I admit that I was wrong before. I truly want to make up for everything. Are you saying that you won’t even give me a chance to atone for my sins?”
She reached for her mother after saying this, but Yao Tangwas quicker.
She moved to block Xu Hong, her expression cold and unreadable. “Don’t touch her.”
Xu Hong’s lips curled into a sneer. “And who the hell are you?” she shrieked. “You’re so young, yet you don’t even know basic manners? Even Xu Xuanwould not dare to speak to me like that!”
She had actually noticed Yao Tangwhen she had first entered the room, but she quickly dismissed her as one ofXu Xuan’s worthless friends.
She couldn’t believe what the girl had done just now.
At this point, Xu Xuanstrode over and stood besideYao Tang, also shieldingGrandma XufromXu Hong. The two girls glared at the woman like she was a vicious enemy.
Xu Hong was naturally upset by this. She raised a hand to push Yao Tang aside, but Grandma Xu’s words made her pause.
“Touch her and see what happens! This is a guest I invited to treat my illness with acupuncture.”
Xu Hong immediately put her arm down and looked at the old woman.
Sure enough, her mother’s body was littered with needles—her arms, her chest, even her head. She wouldn’t have noticed if no one had pointed it out.
“Mom!” Xu Hongsuddenly wailed. “What happened? Why did things come to this? Are you feeling any better?”
Grandma Xu winced at the younger woman’s shrill voice. It was unpleasant to the ears and made her head throb. She rubbed her temples wearily and rasped, “I’m fine.”
“But… Treat you? This girl is treating you?”
Xu Hong lookedYao Tangup and down with a sneer.
She was barely at the cusp of girlhood, yet she was presumptuous enough to administer such a delicate treatment.
“Have you gone senile, Mom? Just look at how young she is! No, she must be a scammer who has targeted you.”
As if on cue, Liu Zhileaned forward and echoed his wife’s words. “That’s right, Mom. Don’t you know that there are a lot of con artists these days? And they always choose helpless, gullible people like you to be their victims.”
Emboldened by his support, Xu Hongcrossed her arms over her chest and regardedYao Tangwith arrogance.
“Who exactly are you, huh? You’re here to harm my mother, aren’t you? I can’t believe someone your age is already capable of swindling innocent people. You should be ashamed of yourself!”