TNSFC – Chapter 5

The matter of transmigrating into a book had somehow become even stranger, but Que Yining couldn’t find any more clues. She could only sort out her thoughts and put the photo album back.

Que Zixi leaned against the door with her arms crossed and chuckled lightly, “Why are you suddenly looking at a photo album? Reminiscing about your childhood? I still remember you wailing and crying when I chased you as a kid.”

Que Yining shifted her gaze to Que Zixi, looking down at her without responding to her words.

Que Zixi had a small frame and wasn’t tall. Although she always liked to tease the original owner with an older sister act, she was actually only 1.5 meters tall.

The original owner was 1.65 meters tall, completely towering over her.

Seeing Que Yining’s lack of reaction, Que Zixi let the smile fade from her face and said, “Are you in a bad mood today?”

In the past, Que Yining would have retorted. She enjoyed seeing Que Yining jump up and down in anger, but today’s Que Yining was very cold, seemingly unwilling to give her any response.

Que Yining: “It’s alright.”

She walked past Que Zixi and headed straight for her room.

She had no particular entanglement with Que Zixi, nor did she harbor any ill feelings towards her. She didn’t want to feign familiarity, so she simply ignored her.

Que Yining returned to her room, removed her makeup, took a bath, and then began to organize her wardrobe.

Her aesthetic sense differed slightly from the original owner’s, and many items Que Yining saw made her want to pack them away at the bottom of a chest.

After tidying up the wardrobe, Que Yining was tired. She collapsed onto the bed, ready to welcome the next day.

The next day, Que Yining was awakened by a knock on the door. She frowned and walked to the door, looking at Que Zixi, who was knocking.

Que Yining: “What is it?”

Que Zixi: “Mom is downstairs. There’s a guest looking for you, someone from the Wang family. They said you put their son in the hospital yesterday.”

Que Yining remembered what she had done yesterday, nodded nonchalantly, and padded to the bathroom in her slippers to freshen up.

After freshening up and changing her clothes, Que Yining went downstairs and saw You Lanqing, the Que family’s mother, sitting on the sofa, and opposite her, an unfamiliar noblewoman.

The moment that woman saw Que Yining, she stood up, quite agitated and fuming with anger.

“You must be Que Yining. Was it you who beat up my son yesterday?”

Madam Wang remembered the stitches on her son’s head and his pitiful appearance, which made her angry.

He was her only precious son; how could she let anyone bully him like this? She immediately came to confront them.

Que Yining sat on the sofa, first smiled at the original owner’s mom, then looked at Madam Wang and admitted frankly, “It was me.”

Madam Wang: “See, Madam Que, your daughter has admitted she did it. How can you still try to beat around the bush with me?”

You Lanqing coughed lightly. “Well, perhaps there’s some misunderstanding. Wang Jie, don’t be too upset. Sit down, let’s sit down and talk.”

You Lanqing was a woman from a scholarly family, not particularly adept at arguing. She cast a reproachful glance at her daughter who had caused trouble, wanting to smooth things over.

Madam Wang: “What misunderstanding could there be? My son said it was her, everyone else saw it was her, and she herself admitted it. There should at least be an apology, right?”

You Lanqing: “Yes, yes, if it’s Yining’s fault, I’ll definitely make her apologize. Not to mention, our family will certainly cover your son’s medical expenses.”

Madam Wang’s tone was very unpleasant. “Is our Wang family short of that little bit of medical expenses?”

Que Yining lounged on the sofa and suddenly spoke, “Auntie, your family indeed doesn’t lack money for medical expenses, but you’re lacking in family discipline. Since you don’t know how to teach your son, I’ll discipline him for you.”

Madam Wang was furious. “How dare you still be so insolent? Madam Que, your family’s upbringing has truly opened my eyes! And you dare say our family has poor discipline?”

Que Yining: “Have you thoroughly investigated the cause and effect of this? I’m afraid your precious son didn’t tell you the truth, did he?”

Madam Wang: “It was just a few words exchanged, and you resorted to violence.”

Que Yining: “Then do you know what he said, why he argued with me, and who he was standing up for? Tsk, Auntie, it’s not that I’m criticizing you, but you should really keep a closer eye on your son. Tell him that someone who cries and fusses to get him to stand up for her and be a scapegoat is no good. What I did to him today was light. If he dares to provoke me again, it won’t be this simple.”

Although Madam Wang had been aggressive at first, Que Yining spoke so calmly and unhurriedly that she gained the upper hand in terms of presence, leaving Madam Wang speechless, inexplicably stunned, and even somewhat hesitant.

You Lanqing and Que Zixi looked on as if they had witnessed something horrifying, both standing frozen in place.

You Lanqing was surprised at how articulate her younger daughter had become, while Que Zixi was shocked by the powerful aura Que Yining exuded, completely different from her previous irritable and overbearing demeanor.

Madam Wang slammed the table in anger. “It’s for that Gu Qianqian again, isn’t it?”

Madam Wang had some reservations about Gu Qianqian from the start. She felt her son deserved the best, and what was the daughter of a mistress? But she couldn’t overcome Wang Ruiyuan’s fondness for her; he always praised her in front of Madam Wang, so Madam Wang thought the girl might be acceptable.

Anyway, that person from the Gu family was already gone, and it was only a matter of time before the mistress became the official wife, so their statuses would match. However, she hadn’t expected that girl to be so ambitious, basically stringing her son along.

Madam Wang had told Wang Ruiyuan countless times to interact less with her, and mother and son had even argued over it. This time, when Wang Ruiyuan was hospitalized, he hadn’t told her who it was because of.

Que Yining covered her mouth. “Oh, so Auntie, you knew? Wasn’t it her? I’m a straightforward person, and I can’t stand that coy act of enticing men to stand up for her. Who from a decent family would do that? Perhaps she also feels she’s not worthy of that status.”

She paused for a moment before continuing, “I originally didn’t intend to argue with Wang Ruiyuan. He insisted on standing up for her, and even said something like ‘I’m not even worthy to carry his shoes.’ I was wondering if your Wang family all look down on our Que family like this, looking down on us for running restaurants.”

Que Yining’s last sentence, delivered in a slightly mocking tone, forcibly elevated the friction between the rich second generations to the level of family rivalry. The Que family was in the restaurant business, while the Wang family ran an entertainment company; their businesses were unrelated, and the Wang family had no reason to provoke them.

When Madam Wang heard Que Yining’s insinuation, she panicked. She had come today simply to get an apology for her son. If she was branded with looking down on them, it would be awkward for any future dealings.

You Lanqing also became slightly angry upon hearing this. “My daughter isn’t worthy to carry your son’s shoes? This is truly interesting. If my husband hears about this, I’m afraid he’ll have to be extremely respectful to your Wang family too?”

Madam Wang became somewhat restless. “What are you talking about? Please don’t say such things. Ai, it was my boy who was a scoundrel and spoke rudely. It’s just a squabble between children. I’ll scold him when I get back. Younger sister Que, there’s no need to tell your husband about such a small matter, right? We can resolve it ourselves.”

Que Yining seized the opportunity to interject, “So, about that apology and the medical expenses…”

Madam Wang stood up. “Let’s just let this matter pass. I came here rashly without fully understanding the cause. I won’t disturb you any longer today.”

You Lanqing rose to see her off, and the house returned to quiet.

Que Zixi looked at Que Yining, who was slumped on the sofa and had changed the other party’s attitude with just a few words. She suddenly felt as if the sun had risen from the west; it was so unfamiliar that she found it a bit unsettling.

After You Lanqing returned, she had the maid bring over some fruit and fed a piece to Que Yining, nagging, “Our Ningning is truly amazing, getting better and better at talking. But next time, just tell Mom about such things right away. I only found out you were wronged when someone came to our door.”

Que Yining hadn’t been cared for by an elder with such a look in a long time and felt a bit unnatural. “It’s fine, I can handle it myself.”

Que Yining couldn’t bring herself to call her “Mom,” so she simply didn’t.

In her memory, the original owner’s mother’s love was genuine, almost doting on her like a princess.

You Lanqing: “But still, don’t resort to violence next time, okay? Fighting will hurt our baby’s hands.”

Que Yining nodded. “I know, that’s why I used a wine bottle to smash him.”

Que Yining didn’t even want her hands to touch things she didn’t want to touch. Slapping someone would be giving them too much credit; it was better to use another medium to achieve her goal.

You Lanqing was both amused and exasperated by her. “It’s not about not using your hands like that. We have plenty of ways to vent our anger.”

Although she doted on her daughter, You Lanqing would also teach her about boundaries and methods. Que Yining had a very good impression of this mother, especially since she bore some resemblance to her own mother in temperament.

Que Yining nodded obediently. You Lanqing gently patted her hand. “If you’re still sleepy, go back and sleep a little longer.”

Que Yining yawned. “Okay.”

Que Yining went upstairs. Que Zixi, who had been silent since just now, followed behind her.

As Que Yining walked down the hallway, Que Zixi suddenly spoke, “Who are you?”

Que Yining didn’t even pause, her voice tinged with impatience. “Que Zixi, are you acting up again? Go play somewhere else, stay away from me.”

It was the familiar attitude.

Que Zixi looked at Que Yining’s back, perplexed, but couldn’t figure out an answer.

Que Yining closed her room door, indifferent to the attitude of the person outside, and collapsed onto the bed, sending a message to Bian Ji’an.

Bian Ji’an had many friends and a wider network; he should be able to find out things.

【Que Yining】: Where can I run into Gu Shanxue today, do you know?

【Bian Ji’an】: Why are you looking for her???

【Que Yining】: To make a friend.

【Bian Ji’an】: There’s no need to go this far just to spite Gu Qianqian, right?

【Que Yining】: Gu Qianqian? She’s not worthy.

【Bian Ji’an】: I happen to know. My brother and his friends are having a small gathering to meet her today. I originally thought she’d be in a terrible state after returning, but my brother and his friends seem to think Gu Shanxue is quite formidable. Sigh, I don’t really understand the affairs of these elites.

Bian Ji’an was the type of rich second-generation heir from a wealthy family who just ate, drank, and had fun, without any dramatic family sagas. His older brother inherited the family fortune, while he was responsible for enjoying a carefree life, relying on the family’s influence.

【Que Yining】: Address.

【Bian Ji’an】: Are you serious?

【Que Yining】: Of course.

When faced with a ‘flower on a high peak,’ of course, one had to take the initiative to pick it.