"Dad, Sister probably loves Mu Bai too much, which is why she's been crying and making a scene. Alas, why don't I talk to Mu Bai and tell him we won't get engaged, so he can be with Sister?" Zhan Xiaoya's pretty eyes welled up with tears, appearing gentle, sensible, and kind.
"This isn't your fault, it's hers. Mu Bai would never like her," Zhan Zhicheng had always been pleased with this daughter. Furthermore, Zhan Xiaojun had embarrassed him in Yancheng a year ago, making him dislike the disreputable Zhan Xiaojun even more.
Wang Qi linked her arm through Zhan Zhicheng's and persuaded him softly, "Hubby, don't be angry. Just now, I heard Jun'er say she was going to commit suicide when she ran upstairs. Is she... is something wrong with her?"
"Still daring to cry, make a scene, and hang herself? It would be good if she died! She's making me lose all face!" Zhan Zhicheng's words were filled with disgust for Zhan Xiaojun. He had completely forgotten how despicable he had been in abandoning his wife and daughters back then.
Zhan Xiaojun heard it all clearly and sneered, pulling at the corner of her mouth. She stared at herself in the mirror. She hadn't intended to deal with these matters; she wanted to go home. She walked to the bathtub and stared at the glaring red water. She wanted to drain it and refill it, thinking that perhaps suffocating herself again would send her back. As the red water gradually receded.
Another knock came. "Jun'er? Hurry out and apologize to your dad!"
Zhan Xiaojun's mind suddenly flashed to the original host's birth mother, Lin Yuan. She was shocked because Lin Yuan bore some resemblance to her own mother. However, the resemblance was not perfect, as Lin Yuan had been emaciated and sallow from years of illness, looking much older than her actual age. The original host hadn't visited Lin Yuan in a long time. Under Wang Qi and the others' manipulation, the original host had come to dislike Lin Yuan over the past year, believing it was Lin Yuan's fault that she had to grow up in the countryside.
Thinking that Lin Yuan resembled her mother, she frowned. It probably wouldn't make much difference whether she went back sooner or later, especially since she might not be able to return. Perhaps she had come here because she had died, and then she had become the original host. She couldn't bear to see a woman who looked like her mother suffering so miserably from illness. Fine. She'd do one good deed. She'd clean up this mess. After she was done, she would find a way to see if she could go back. She had always been someone who never regretted her decisions.
She immediately relied on the original host's memories to find a medicine box. She redressed the wound on her wrist. She ignored the chaotic sounds coming from outside. They had already started kicking the door. "Don't let her die at home, it's too inauspicious," Zhan Zhicheng said hatefully. Just as the lock was about to be broken, the door, which had been locked from the inside, opened. The three people were startled on the spot. Zhan Xiaojun's beautiful eyes were calm, with a faint, cold frost lingering around them.
"You! Why did you open the door without a sound? What were you just doing? Didn't you hear us knocking?" Zhan Zhicheng recovered. Wang Qi stared at Zhan Xiaojun's excessively radiant face and felt something was off. She had been crying and screaming when she went upstairs earlier, so why was she suddenly so calm now? When she looked at her, her gaze was so cold that it made the hairs on their arms stand on end. It was peculiar.
"Sister, don't be angry. I can break up with Mu Bai for you. Please don't hate me, and don't ignore me." Zhan Xiaoya shamelessly approached, reaching out to grab Zhan Xiaojun. Zhan Xiaojun grabbed Zhan Xiaoya's hand back. "Don't call me sister. You're not worthy."
"You... Sister, are you really angry with me?" Zhan Xiaoya bit her lip, appearing frightened, and cursed inwardly, *She's not worthy? Zhan Xiaojun, look at yourself!* To be able to call her 'sister' was only because she had to act in front of her father and outsiders. Before marrying Mu Bai, she had to let everyone know she was a good sister, and Zhan Xiaojun was just a bumpkin from the countryside. Suddenly! "Ah! Sister, you're pinching my hand! It hurts so much!" she tried to wrench her hand away forcefully. The hand she was holding suddenly hurt intensely, as if her bones were being twisted!
Wang Qi, the model wife, changed her expression. "Zhan Xiaojun, what are you doing? Let go of Xiaoya!"
"Jun'er, you've gotten bold. You dare to hurt your sister?" Zhan Zhicheng raised his hand to strike, his face, which appeared refined to outsiders, turning ferocious and vicious. Zhan Xiaojun released Zhan Xiaoya and looked at Zhan Zhicheng. "Want to hit me again?" If it weren't for the fact that she had seen from the original host's memories that this was a society governed by law and that one couldn't kill people casually, the three people in front of her would already be dead.
"You're disobedient and embarrassing me again. Today, I will teach you a good lesson!" The more Zhan Zhicheng looked at this daughter, the more displeased he became. Although a press conference had been held a year ago and many 'rumors' had been clarified, those who opposed him in daily life still found various ways to deal with him over the past year. If it weren't for the Mu family's help, his reputation in Yancheng would be ruined! Therefore, he absolutely could not let a stinking girl from the countryside ruin things.
Zhan Xiaojun sneered, raising her hand and slapping Zhan Zhicheng twice across the face. *Slap, slap!* The blows made Zhan Zhicheng stagger back several steps, his head ringing. Two clear palm prints appeared on his cheeks.
"Hubby!" "Dad!" "Zhan Xiaojun, you dare to hit your father!" Wang Qi questioned angrily. Zhan Xiaojun wiped her palms with a tissue. Her palms felt slightly greasy. Since they weren't her elders, why couldn't she hit them? These two slaps were for the original host. However, she still felt the residual grief of the original host in her heart. She said nonchalantly, "Instead of having time to discipline me, you should go to the hospital. Doing too many wicked deeds will bring retribution." Judging by Zhan Zhicheng's appearance, he would soon suffer a serious illness that would take half his life.
"Zhan Xiaojun, you dare to hit me? I'm your father! Get out! Don't come begging me again!" Zhan Zhicheng came to his senses, touching his swollen cheek. He wanted to kill Zhan Xiaojun. In Yancheng, he had face and status. Today, he had been hit by the daughter he had always looked down upon. If this got out, he would lose all face. As for going to the hospital, he had always been healthy; why would he need to go to the hospital!
"Zhan Xiaojun, you are so unfilial! So ill-mannered, hitting your own father?" Wang Qi began to fan the flames. She also hated Zhan Xiaojun and Zhan Xiaojun's mother immensely. Over the past year, she had almost become a laughingstock in Yancheng. And yet, she had to pretend to be virtuous and kind, showing meticulous care for Zhan Xiaojun in front of outsiders. Now, she couldn't wait for Zhan Xiaojun to be driven out. Then, tomorrow, she would find reporters and create some news to make Zhan Xiaojun leave Yancheng.
Zhan Xiaojun turned, picked up the luggage she had just packed, and then said to Zhan Zhicheng, "You gave birth but didn't raise me. You're a father worse than a dog."
"What did you say?" Zhan Zhicheng thought he had misheard. Wang Qi's mouth gaped open. What had Zhan Xiaojun been stimulated by? Even Zhan Xiaoya was shocked. Zhan Xiaojun had always been trying to please her father and was cautious in front of him. How had she suddenly changed? First hitting her father, and now scolding him?