Little Fatty and the sports committee member came from the same neighborhood, and their families all believed in the incident, after all, Qiaoqiao’s stepmother was famously gentle and kind.
She had married Qiaoqiao’s father six years ago, and when Qiaoqiao was born, her biological mother left for overseas after the postnatal month was over, leaving the wailing Qiaoqiao to be raised single-handedly by her stepmother, as close as any mother and daughter.
If it weren’t for the fact that they didn’t hide the stepmother’s identity and moved somewhere no one knew them, had the stepmother told Qiaoqiao she was her biological mother, Qiaoqiao would have had no doubts.
Over the years, everyone had seen how well the stepmother treated Qiaoqiao.
Moreover, since Qiaoqiao knew she was a child not loved by her biological mother, she became less talkative, and to the homeowners in the community, she seemed like a troubled girl. If it had not been for her affectionate and amiable stepmother, she would surely have gone astray.
Therefore, after the incident, everyone chose to believe the kind and gentle stepmother, labeling Qiaoqiao as a ruthless and mischievously troublesome child.
At that moment, Little Taotie had a sense of déjà vu.
In the mountains, she too was isolated, disliked, and treated with prejudice.
Now, it was Qiaoqiao’s turn.
It turned out that whether in the old-fashioned countryside or in a big city, people were the same.
After school, Little Taotie suggested visiting Qiaoqiao.
She simply couldn’t believe that Qiaoqiao would push her pregnant stepmother.
Qiaoqiao always called herself "little sister" because she was three months older than herself, someone who was so eager to become an older sister, how could she possibly hurt her unborn sister or brother!
Little Taotie had to find out for herself.
Little Fatty, the sports committee member, and the boy who sat in the front desk all raised their hands to sign up, vying to go.
It wasn’t a villa area but a high-rise residential district.
This was an upscale community, with particularly strict security checks for entry and exit.
Little Taotie carried a basket of fruits in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other, asking in a soft voice, "Security brother, can we go in now?"
The guard checked the information of Little Fatty and the sports committee member and nodded in agreement.
Little Taotie had always thought that only villas were the best, where very rich people lived.
But now, she changed her mind; she lifted her head, looking up at the tall building, estimating it to be over twenty stories high.
"1,2,3...10,11,12..." Little Taotie counted, admiringly, "So tall, 21 stories!"
The sports committee member looked at his phone and said, "I visited her right after she got injured. Apart from injuries to her face, she seemed fine elsewhere. I suggested she come down for a walk, but she covered her face, stubbornly refusing to let go, likely deeply traumatized. Later, when I went to see her again, she refused to meet anyone."
The elevator stopped at the 8th floor.
Little Taotie led the way to the front door and knocked hard.
Soon, a Filipino maid in a white apron came forward, asking, "Kids, what do you want?"
"I’m looking for Qiaoqiao, is Qiaoqiao home?"
Hearing this, the Filipino maid called out loudly, "Qiaoqiao, you have visitors!"
There was no response from inside the house.
The maid seemed troubled, "Sorry, she doesn’t want to see you."
But Little Taotie didn’t give up, yelling inside, "Qiaoqiao, it’s me, Little Taotie!"
Still no response, and the maid advised, "You better go back, people have been visiting these past few days, but she hasn’t seen anyone."
Little Taotie persisted, shouting inside, "Qiaoqiao, I want to see you~"
Little Taotie repeatedly called out her name, and finally, there was a noise from inside— the sound of opening a door.
A little girl wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, with the hood pulled up and the drawstrings of the collar tightly tied, appeared.
Little Taotie was startled, "You’ve lost so much weight!"