The Girl Who Spread Rumors About My Mom

When I got home from school, our residential complex was under lockdown.

Onlookers said that on the third floor of Building 17, a man had stabbed his cheating wife to death.

My classmate Jin Caixia leaned close to my ear and whispered, "It's over. Third floor of Building 17—that's your home!"

"Your dad stabbed your mom to death. Your mom was a slut. I could tell all along."

"Hahaha, let's see if you'll still act so pretty! Sooner or later, you'll be stabbed to death by a man too!"

I trembled all over in fear.

Suddenly, a large hand pulled me away.

I looked up and saw the aunt who lived upstairs from me.

"Qingqing, your mom called me. She asked me to take you to eat. She said she can't come out right now."

I wiped away my tears. "What? It wasn't my home? Then whose home was it?"

The aunt gestured with her chin toward Jin Caixia, who was clapping her hands in glee.

"Hers. Thirteenth floor. That's her home. Don't even ask—it's terrible!"

Chapter 1

Actually, our families had always gotten along well. My mom and Jin Caixia's mom had been good friends for years.

So Jin Caixia and I had known each other since we were young.

But I knew she had always hated me.

After high school, her dislike became almost overt.

She grabbed my crush, class monitor Gu Yu, and said with a smile, "Monitor, let me tell you—it happened at the third floor of Building 17."

Gu Yu frowned slightly. "Oh? And?"

Jin Caixia raised her high-arched eyebrows, her eyes glancing toward me.

"You don't know! That's Du Qingqing's home! Her mom has always been a slut. Now she's finally gotten what she deserved—cheated and stabbed to death by her dad! Serves her right!"

"Oh my god, really?"

Other classmates who lived nearby gathered around.

"I told you all pretty girls are vixens—none of them are any good!"

"Isn't that the truth! Pfft! She deserved to die!"

Jin Caixia turned and spat in my direction.

"If I were you, I'd jump off a building right now! Something this shameful happened, it's so embarrassing. Your mom was a cheater, and you'll definitely be a cheater too! Your family doesn't produce good women."

I was completely panicked.

My whole body trembled uncontrollably.

How could this be?

My mom and dad loved each other so much.

I had seen how they acted toward each other all the time—it couldn't be fake!

Usually, my mom would go practice yoga.

The rest of the time, she was either taking care of me at home or going out to eat good food with my dad.

I wouldn't believe she was cheating on anyone, no matter who told me!

But the onlookers spoke with such certainty: Building 17, third floor.

At eighteen years old, I was overwhelmed with fear and confusion.

Only a few months until the college entrance exam—was heaven trying to drive me to death?

Just then, a large hand suddenly pulled me away.

Chapter 2

I looked up quickly and realized the person who had pulled me away was the aunt who lived upstairs.

"Qingqing, something happened and they've locked down the building. Your mom can't come out right now. She was worried you'd be hungry, so she asked me to take you to get something to eat."

I tilted my head. "What? It wasn't my home? Then whose home was it?"

The tears on my face hadn't even dried when I heard another shocking piece of news.

The aunt gestured with her chin toward Jin Caixia. "Thirteenth floor. That's her home. Don't even ask—it's terrible!"

I looked at Jin Caixia in horror.

At that moment, she happened to look at me too, with an extremely smug expression on her face.

It was as if the person she hated had been torn limb from limb, making her feel utterly satisfied.

"Let's go. What do you want to eat? I'll take you."

I numbly pointed toward the KFC ahead. "Just a hamburger is fine."

The aunt didn't say anything, taking me directly into the restaurant.

She ordered my food and told me to eat and then read for a while.

"I'm going to watch the excitement over there. If you need anything, just come find me, okay?"

I nodded. "Okay, Auntie. Thank you. You should go over now!"

The aunt had only been gone for a couple of minutes when Jin Caixia led a group of classmates swarming into the restaurant.

The moment she saw me, her eyes lit up.

It was like a wolf that hadn't eaten in a week spotting a fat sheep.

"Oh my! Look at that! She's hiding here!"

Several people quickly sat down beside me.

Jin Caixia said with fake concern, "I know you're upset right now. As your childhood friend, I specially brought everyone here to comfort you."

Comfort me? I think you brought them here to laugh at me!

Chapter 3

Gu Yu looked serious and cautiously sat across from me.

A middle-aged woman walked up behind him.

The woman patted his shoulder. "Xiaoyu."

Gu Yu looked up and said, "Mom? What are you doing here?"

Gu Yu's mother said to him calmly, "I saw you come in and wanted to tell you something—don't make friends with girls from questionable families. There will be many troubles later."

Hearing this, Jin Caixia immediately covered her mouth to hide a laugh and turned to whisper to the classmates around her.

She kept winking at them, gesturing toward me.

Gu Yu responded awkwardly, "Mom, I know what I'm doing. Don't worry about it."

After Gu Yu's mother left, Jin Caixia pulled my bag of fries in front of her.

"Tell me, Du Qingqing, you really have some nerve! Your slut mom is dead, and you can still eat? Look at these fries—don't they look like your mom's fingers!"

I angrily pulled the fries back. "Your mom's the one who's dead! Watch your mouth. Making things up without any evidence—that's spreading rumors!"

She snorted disdainfully. "Hmph! Still so stubborn when death is at your door!"

After saying that, she grabbed a handful of my fries and shoved them into her mouth.

Her eating habits were uglier than a pig's.

With her mouth full, she kept mumbling, "Your mom is dead, your dad is going to prison, what will you do in the future?"

Suddenly, she seemed to think of something and burst out laughing.

Bits of fries sprayed all over me.

I stood up angrily, brushing off the filth.

"Otherwise, you can come to my house and be my foot-washing maid, hahaha!"

Several female classmates who usually didn't get along with me also erupted in thunderous laughter.

"Yes, yes! Let the class beauty wash your feet. Help you clean the dirt from under your fingernails!"

"Yeah, that dirt is the smelliest. Du Qingqing, when the time comes, smell it and tell us what it's like."

I felt so disgusted by them I wanted to throw up.

Gu Yu coughed lightly. "How can you girls be more disgusting than guys when you want to be?"

The girls immediately shut their mouths, too embarrassed to look up at him.

"Nothing has been confirmed yet. It's best not to spread rumors."

He gave me a slight nod.

I showed a pained smile, thanking him.

"What hasn't been confirmed? One person said it might be her home, but a whole group of people said it was her home. How could it be fake? Besides! I have proof!"

Chapter 4

What proof do you have? You have proof!

The incident didn't even happen at my home, and you have proof?

You've got me interested in eating melon from my own family now.

"Wait a minute!" I quickly stopped her.

She lifted her chin. "What? Scared now?"

I waved my hand. "Scared? Not really. I just wanted to say, what if your proof is fake? What then?"

"Fake? Impossible! I saw it with my own eyes!"

"How about this—let's make a bet."

The classmates nearby started egging us on.

"Bet then!" Jin Caixia slapped the table and jumped up.

"That's not necessary—I was just thinking..." I quickly tried to stop her.

"You're just scared! You don't dare to bet, right?"

Her face turned fierce, and her terrifying expression made me a bit afraid.

I shook my head. "What's there to be afraid of? I just think betting is meaningless."

"Then bet with me!"

I raised my eyebrows. "What are we betting?"

"If I can prove your mom cheated, then during the college entrance exam, you can't answer the Chinese language section. You must turn in a blank paper."

Everyone erupted in excitement. "Wow! That's amazing! I love this bet!"

"So impressive! So impressive!"

"Turning in a blank paper for Chinese means you can't get into college. So exciting!"

I coldly looked at Jin Caixia. "And if you can't prove it?"

"Then on the day of the college entrance exam, I'll turn in a blank paper for my Chinese section!"

My heart pounded heavily.

Thinking about the aunt who had watched me grow up already being stabbed to death made me very sad.

And now her daughter wanted to bet with me.

I knew she would definitely lose this bet—how could I agree?

This was just watching her jump into a pit of fire!

I frowned and无奈地 waved my hand. "Forget it. I don't want to bet with you. We shouldn't joke about our futures."

Chapter 5

But Jin Caixia wouldn't let it go. She tilted her head. "You must bet with me. Don't you believe I can prove it? I insist on proving it to you!"

She leaned close to me and whispered in my ear, "Let me tell you, I secretly took photos of your slut mom changing clothes at your home. If you don't want your mom to die without peace, you must bet with me."

I was so angry my heart rate increased, and my breathing almost stopped.

"You've gone too far!"

"Hmph, I don't care. You've always looked down on me since we were young. This time, I can finally ride over your head!"

I slammed my fist on the table. "Fine! Bet then! Jin Caixia, don't you regret this!"

"Oh ho, what do I have to regret? You poor thing whose mom is dead and dad has run away."

"You! Remember this! Whatever happens in the future is your own doing!"

"You'd better worry about yourself!"

In front of all our classmates, I was forced into making the bet with her.

Then, she leisurely began to tell us about the evidence she had.

It turned out that one day after school, she saw my mom struggling with a man.

The man had a vicious appearance and looked very frightening.

People around said he was a murderer who had just been released from prison.

He said he was looking for his wife and child.

He and my mom looked like they were about to start fighting.

Jin Caixia's mom rushed out. I don't know what she said, but she finally managed to separate them.

The more I listened, the more afraid I became. Suddenly I remembered overhearing my parents whispering when I was half asleep as a child.

Something about Caixia, not being their biological child, and being a problem in the future.

Everything clicked into place.

So Jin Caixia wasn't her father's biological child at all! The so-called man my mom was having an affair with was her real father!

And her real father was a murderer who had just been released from prison!

So her current father found out about all this and stabbed her mother to death.

The more I thought about it, the more scared I became. Tears started flowing down my face uncontrollably.

What should I do?

How will she live in the future?

A biological father who's a murderer, a stepfather who stabbed her biological mother to death.

My chest grew tighter, and tears actually started splashing down.

"Tsk tsk tsk! Scared into crying, are you? The daughter of a bitch can cry too. How delightful!"

Chapter 6

"Who are you calling a bitch!"

Jin Caixia's words stabbed deep into my heart. She could insult me, but she couldn't insult my mom!

"I am calling her that! Besides, I'm not even wrong!"

Just as we were about to start fighting, a classmate next to us suddenly tugged on Jin Caixia's sleeve. "Stop arguing. Look! It's on the news!"

All of us turned our attention to an uncle's tablet computer nearby.

The uncle saw we wanted to watch the news too and deliberately turned up the volume.

["A serious assault occurred in our city. Ms. A was injured by an attacker in her own home. The weapon used was a fruit knife from Ms. A's home. Ms. A has been taken to the hospital for treatment and is in critical condition. The attacker has fled, and Mr. B, Ms. A's husband, is preliminarily suspected. Police quickly sealed off the scene but found no trace of Mr. B on the entire floor. Citizens should exercise caution when going out to avoid accidents."]

The news included a blurry photo.

It showed a severely injured woman, but her face was blurred, so you couldn't tell who it was.

She lay on a stretcher, looking pitiful.

Jin Caixia curled her lips. "Look at this woman—even about to die, she still looks like a tramp."

I said quietly, "Caixia, have you thought about it? If it were your mom who was stabbed, could you still say such things?"

She glared at me. "Hmph, if my parents did something so shameful, I'd jump off a building immediately! Descendants of people like that don't deserve to live in this world. Taking the initiative to die would be a blessing to society."

Before I could say anything, the aunt from upstairs walked into the restaurant.

She handed me her phone. "Qingqing, it's your mom on the phone. The residential complex is now accessible."

I took the phone and met Jin Caixia's surprised gaze.

"What phone? How could it be her mom? Her mom is already dead."

The aunt's face darkened. "What nonsense are you talking about? Her mom is perfectly fine."

Then, she held the phone to my ear.

My mom's voice came through the phone: ["Qingqing, have you eaten enough? Do you want me to make you some congee?"]

For some reason, I felt a sense of having survived a disaster.

Hearing my mom's voice, tears instantly filled my eyes.

["I'm... I'm full, Mom."]

["You got lucky today, you naughty child. You got to eat the hamburger you've been craving. No more this week. That stuff isn't healthy."]

I nodded repeatedly: ["Okay, Mom. I won't eat it anymore. It doesn't taste good anyway. Your cooking is the best."]

Mom laughed on the other end of the phone.

But Jin Caixia suddenly snatched the phone from my hand.

"I don't believe it! It can't be your mom. You're putting on an act!"

Chapter 7

She pressed the speaker button and yelled without courtesy:

["Who are you? What are you pretending to be?"]

Mom was stunned for a second: ["Is... is that Xiaoxia? This is Aunt Chen speaking."]

Hearing my mom's voice, Jin Caixia was completely dumbfounded.

She had heard this voice since she was little—there was no way she could mistake it.

["Wh... what... really Aunt Chen? You, how come you're not dead?"]

Mom sighed heavily on the other end of the phone.

She understood everything.

Jin Caixia still didn't know the truth.

I reached out and took the phone back from her frozen hand.

["Mom, can I come home now?"]

Only then did Mom speak again: ["Yes, you can. Come back quickly. I'll come downstairs to get you. It's not safe outside right now."]

After hanging up, I thought again about everything Jin Caixia was about to face.

I wanted to cancel the bet for her mother's sake.

But I had just turned to face her and hadn't had time to speak yet.

She spoke first: "Even if it wasn't your mom who died, your mom still cheated. My evidence is absolutely reliable!"

I无奈地 shook my head. "Suit yourself."

She grabbed my upper arm tightly. "I'm telling you, our bet is still in effect."

I tried to push her hand away, but she seemed to want to break my arm.

"In effect, in effect. Let go of me."

Just then, my mom pushed open the restaurant door, panting.

"Qingqing, huff, I'm exhausted. Your mom wasn't comfortable letting you walk outside alone since it's getting dark."

I ran forward and hugged my mom.

A feeling of grievance filled my chest.

I seemed like such a mama's girl—even a slight headache would make me feel wronged when I saw my mom.

Even a small fright would make me feel wronged when I saw my mom.

She smiled and patted my back. "Okay, okay, feeling wronged now? Will buying you an ice cream make it better?"

I looked up and saw several police officers walking in through the door.

They cautiously asked: "Excuse me, is student Jin Caixia here?"

I slowly turned back and looked at her.

Her body trembled slightly.

She forced a smile: "Lo... looking for me? Hehe, is it because no one is at my home, and you're afraid that the man who stabbed someone might be hiding at my home..."

Chapter 8

The police officer showed a very difficult expression.

My mom also sobbed.

She took a step forward slowly: "Xiaoxia..."

But the words stuck in her throat, and she couldn't say another word.

Jin Caixia suddenly got angry: "What are you doing, Aunt Chen! Why are you crying at me!"

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became. She waved her hand and sat back in her chair: "I'm not going with you. I haven't broken any law. I'm not going."

The classmates looked at each other, none daring to step forward to persuade her.

The police officer walked to her side: "Student, something has happened at your home..."

But she didn't even let him finish a complete sentence: "What happened, what happened! Not my home! Whoever's home it is, go find them."

"Building 17, 1306. That's your home, right?"

Tears welled in Jin Caixia's eyes. She stubbornly lifted her head, veins bulging in her neck.

"What? Was my home burglarized?"

The police officer sighed helplessly: "Your mother is lying in the hospital now, with only her last breath left. Her final wish is to see you."

"Yes, you decide for yourself whether to come with us or not, to see her one last time."

"No, I'm not going. It can't be my home."

I was furious—would she really abandon her own mother just to save face?

"Jin Caixia! Stop being crazy! It was your home. Everyone was talking about the thirteenth floor, not the third floor at all! That's your biological mother. If you don't go see her one last time, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

I shouted this out angrily, my mind filled with the tragic image of Aunt Song expecting her daughter.

"Hurry, Xiaoxia. Auntie will go with you. Let's go quickly."

Only then did she straighten her neck and stand up, walking out while muttering: "Du Qingqing, I see you're playing some trick to make this about me, right? I'm telling you, I saw it right. If I'm going, I'm going, and I'll have my mom tell you the truth herself!"

This girl was really like a stone in a dry toilet—smelly and hard.

We accompanied her to the hospital.

Guided by a nurse, we found the hospital room.

Aunt Song lay dying on the hospital bed. When she saw Jin Caixia walk in, her dead eyes suddenly lit up.

Jin Caixia froze, standing dumbfounded at the doorway.

My mom gently pushed her forward from behind: "Quick... quickly go, Xiaoxia. See your mom one last time."

Aunt Song struggled to reach out a hand: "Xia... Xiaoxia... Mom... Mom is sorry to you..."

Jin Caixia rushed forward.

I was so moved tears streamed down my face, and my mom sobbed until she couldn't breathe.

Chapter 9

Jin Caixia ran to Aunt Song, who showed a pitiful smile.

She reached out, wanting to touch her precious daughter one last time.

But Jin Caixia suddenly spoke: "Mom, before you die, tell me first—did Aunt Chen have an affair? Was that murderer Aunt Chen's lover, right?"

Hearing the word "murderer," Aunt Song's mouth widened in an instant.

Her jaw moved, but no sound came out.

After a long time, she slowly squeezed out a few words: "No... no... that, that person is, is your..."

Jin Caixia stamped her feet impatiently: "No, no! You're lying! You disgusting woman! Do you want to kill your own daughter? I hate you! You're lying!"

She punched her own mother, then suddenly turned around and fled madly outside.

Aunt Song's body convulsed violently from the punch.

Medical staff rushed in frantically and began resuscitation efforts.

Actually, the resuscitation was meaningless. Aunt Song probably wouldn't have lasted the night anyway.

But she could have had a good conversation with her daughter and left this world with her daughter by her side.

She never expected to leave so unclearly.

The police followed Jin Caixia, afraid she might do something rash.

My mom went forward and clutched Aunt Song's hand, crying uncontrollably.

Aunt Song used her last bit of strength to gasp: "Xi... Xiao Chen, I... I'm begging you... help... help me take care of Xiaoxia... please... please..."

And so Aunt Song passed away from this world, with my mom and me by her side.

In her last second, she was still thinking of her daughter.

But her daughter was somewhere else, hating and resenting her.

My mom sobbed uncontrollably next to Aunt Song's body.

That was the friend who had accompanied her from youth to middle age.

She had thought they would grow old together, often imagining them as old friends.

At that time, they would dress colorfully, drink coffee together, and do square dancing together.

But now everything had become empty fantasy.

Aunt Song entrusted her newly adult daughter to my mom, and she had to accept.

She was completely exhausted, supporting herself on a chair to stand up.

"Xi... Xiaoxia, come home with Auntie..."

Chapter 10

Under the police's guidance, my mom found Jin Caixia.

Her face was full of anger, but she hadn't shed a single tear.

Seeing us approach, she turned back and glared fiercely at me: "I haven't lost! Since you have no evidence, I haven't lost."

No one responded to her words.

My mom reached out and grabbed her. "Xiaoxia, your mom has passed away..."

She violently shook off my mom's hand. "Dead then dead! Man-killing wretch. If she hadn't provoked my dad, how could he have stabbed her to death?"

My mom shook her head in despair. "It's too late. Come home with Auntie."

"What? To your home?" She took a suspicious step back. "Du Qingqing, you're vicious enough!"

"You actually want to humiliate me like this. Just because I joked about you being my foot-washing maid, you're humiliating me like this?"

I held my mom's hand. "Mom, let's go. Don't worry about her. She's sick."

She stiffened her neck. "I'm not going! I have a home. I'll go to my own home. Don't even think about humiliating me. Do you know how powerful my dad is? Be careful I'll have him stab you all to death!"

My mom was so angry her chest heaved: "You, you child, how can you be so inhuman!"

The police stepped forward: "Miss Jin, we have confirmed that your father is the murderer. He is still at large. You cannot go home by yourself. It's very dangerous."

"Don't you meddle in my business. I'm an adult. I know my own limits!"

No one could persuade her. She was stubborn beyond cure.

I called my dad, and he drove to pick up my mom and me.

I heard the police took Jin Caixia back to her own home, confirmed it was safe inside and out, and then left.

The next day, she came to school as if nothing had happened.

She told everyone: "Do you have such good luck? I just turned eighteen and I'm inheriting property. Once I get into college, I'll sell the house, and I'll be the richest person on campus. Then I'll find a rich second-generation heir to marry, and my life will reach its peak!"

Classmates couldn't understand and stayed several meters away from her, unwilling to approach her.

Probably their parents had all told them to stay away from the murderer's daughter.

It still wasn't clear which man was her father.

But whichever man it was, he was a fugitive.

Seeing that no one would talk to her, she reluctantly returned to her seat.

She kept muttering: "Hmph, you're all secretly jealous of me. When you inherit your family property, it will be decades from now. Maybe you won't even outlive your parents, and they'll inherit your property instead."

A classmate whispered.

"She's sick."

"Exactly. I heard she beat her own biological mother to death."

"So vicious."

Chapter 11

After school that day, my mom took me to eat pig's trotter noodles.

Then we walked home.

But as soon as we entered our building entrance, we heard a commotion inside.

"Quick, quick, go upstairs and see. It's really chaotic!"

"What floor?"

"Thirteenth floor. That's the home where the stabbing happened."

"Oh my, it's them again. Wait for me. I'm going too!"

When my mom heard "thirteenth floor," she immediately panicked.

She held my hand and tightened it suddenly.

I looked at her gently: "Mom, I'll go upstairs with you to see."

She bit her lower lip and nodded.

We arrived at the thirteenth floor just in time to see Jin Caixia's grandmother and aunt-in-law pushing her around.

Refusing to let her enter the house.

She wasn't easy to bully either. She pushed two women toward the door by herself.

"Why won't you let me in! This is my home, this is my house! What do you think you are!"

Her grandmother stood behind the aunt-in-law, pointing at her and cursing: "You little brat, you need to think about what you are!"

"You old thing, you just want to give my house to your grandson, don't you? Dream on. This is mine!"

Her grandmother suddenly laughed, without a trace of sympathy in her contempt: "Yours? Dream on! This is my son's!"

Jin Caixia also laughed: "That's my dad's! My dad isn't dead yet! I'll have my dad write a will leaving everything to me, not a penny for you, you old hag!"

"Pfft! Give it to you? Open your eyes wide and see what this is!"

With that, her grandmother threw a stack of photocopies in her face.

"Everyone, judge for yourselves. Look at these things.

"These were all given to me by my son.

"This child Jin Caixia was never my son's child to begin with!

"My son had already done a paternity test, but his wife refused to admit it.

"If my son hadn't been driven to the limit by that dead woman, he would never have stabbed her!

"My son was ruined by that disgusting woman!

"My poor son!

"This house was bought by my son before marriage, so it's definitely pre-marital property.

"Now my son has already written his will. This house will be inherited by me alone.

"He called me last night and told me to immediately drive this bastard Jin Caixia out!"

Someone in the crowd secretly took out their phone and dialed 110.

The police said: If you can provide information about the murderer's whereabouts, there is a reward of 500 yuan.

Chapter 12

Jin Caixia, who had always been stubborn and proud, truly felt fear for the first time.

She was afraid.

Her hands trembled as the black and white words became blurry before her eyes.

"No... impossible... these documents are fake, they must be fake..."

Her aunt-in-law rolled her eyes. "Your biological father is a murderer who just got out of prison."

She froze, then turned to look at me blankly: "Du Qingqing, you go tell them, it's impossible. That's not my biological father. That's your biological father! You go tell them now!"

She grabbed my arm and pulled hard.

Seeing me unmoved, she turned her gaze to my mom: "Aunt Chen, you go explain. That was your lover. My mom was just helping you out of trouble. You can't be so heartless. Go help me explain!"

My mom patted the back of her hand and spoke carefully.

"I know you saw it that day. But Xiaoxia, that really was your biological father.

"Your mother had just conceived you when he went to prison.

"Later, your mother met your father through a blind date. She didn't know she was pregnant at the time.

"But as time went on, she felt more and more that something was wrong and always suspected you were the murderer's child.

"The day he was released, he insisted on seeing you.

"Your mother was terrified of being chased by him, so I stepped in to help your mother drive him away."

"Impossible!" Jin Caixia stamped her feet angrily, then suddenly pushed toward my mom, "You're lying! You're lying! You slut! Liar! It was you who was cheating! Not my mom! You're lying!"

Jin Caixia's grandmother couldn't wait any longer: "You should take a good look at these documents. Don't come into my home again. This house will have nothing to do with you from now on."

Only then did she steady herself and looked through the documents with tears.

The evidence was conclusive and beyond doubt.

Her aunt-in-law also spoke: "Our family raised you for eighteen years for nothing. We didn't even ask you to pay us back. Get lost now!"

Her grandmother was about to close the door.

Jin Caixia knelt before my mom with a thud: "Aunt Chen, I'm my mother's only bloodline left. You can't watch me die without helping. My mom is watching you from heaven! If you don't help me, aren't you afraid she'll come to you in your dreams demanding your life?"

My mom stepped forward and carefully said to Jin Caixia's grandmother: "Auntie, at least let the child pack her things."

Jin Caixia's grandmother reluctantly nodded: "She can pack her things, but she can't take any gold or silver jewelry. That was all bought by my son's money."

And so, we accompanied Jin Caixia as she packed her own clothes.

She pulled her suitcase and followed us back to the third floor.

"Aunt Chen, I'll just make do and stay at your home from now on. I'm not picky, and you shouldn't feel burdened."

My mom froze, the hand that had reached out to open the door suspended in mid-air.

Chapter 13

A few seconds later, she turned around.

"Xiaoxia, you can't stay at my home."

Jin Caixia got anxious again: "Why? Then where will I stay? You don't want me to live on the street, do you? Be careful or my mom..."

"Shut up!" For the first time, I saw my mom so angry. "How dare you mention your mom?

"What did you do to her the day she passed away? Have you forgotten?

"All these days, have you burned a single piece of paper for her? Have you worshipped her even once?

"You don't even know where your mother is buried!

"Your grandmother wanted to take you in, but when she saw what you had done, her heart went cold!

"She asked me to tell you that their family has completely cut ties with you. No one will help you!

"As for why you can't stay at my home, you should know the reason.

"How you treated Qingqing, how you maliciously speculated about me—do I need to repeat it to you?"

Jin Caixia's arrogance diminished: "Th-then where will I stay... my mom is up there..."

"Shut up! Don't you dare use your mom to pressure me anymore.

"I will find you a place to stay, but that's only out of consideration for my old friendship with your mom.

"She must have hoped I could help you. But someone like you doesn't deserve my help at all.

"I have a small bungalow. You can move there.

"Once you leave for college, I will immediately take back that house!

"Take care of yourself from now on!"

My mom didn't even let Jin Caixia step foot into our home.

She found a key from a drawer by the door, told me to read at home for a while and eat some fruit.

Then she left with Jin Caixia.

Based on clues from concerned citizens, the police quickly caught Uncle Jin, who was hiding in a rundown house in the suburbs.

He was completely devastated and looked like he was just waiting to die.

Jin Caixia wanted to see him, begging him to give her the house for the sake of having raised her since childhood.

But Uncle Jin refused to see her and sent word out that his only descendant was a nephew.

The house would belong to the nephew alone.

She, Jin Caixia, shouldn't even think about getting a penny from his pocket.

Things finally came to an end.

Life had to go on.

Going to school, going home, preparing for the college entrance exam.

But there were always classmates with loose tongues who went to Jin Caixia to deliberately mock her.

"Jin Caixia, you lost your bet with Du Qingqing. Don't forget, you can't answer the Chinese paper during the college entrance exam!"

"Yes, you were the one who insisted on betting with Du Qingqing."

I didn't want to participate in this topic.

But when faced with mockery from her former followers, Jin Caixia actually only looked at me.

Cold and malicious.

Chapter 14

Uncle Jin had been arrested, and my parents thought there was no more danger outside.

So they let me walk home with classmates again.

Evening study ended at 9:30 PM, and my home wasn't far from school.

Plus, the whole route was well-lit.

My parents had been busy with work recently. Although they came to pick me up whenever they could, most of the time I still walked back with classmates.

The weather was particularly hot that day. I drank a few extra sips of water.

I kept feeling a bitter taste, but I didn't think much of it.

I stood up groggily, my backpack felt much heavier than usual on my shoulders.

The backpack slowed me down as I walked.

At the corner, my classmate turned into their residential complex.

Past this row of shops was the gate to my residential complex.

There weren't many people on the road. I checked my watch—it was almost 10 PM.

My eyelids grew heavier and heavier. I felt like I would fall asleep any second.

Just then, I heard a low male voice behind me.

He sounded like he was in his forties or fifties, and was unfamiliar.

"You little bitch. You're Du Qingqing, right?"

I dragged my feet and turned around.

A man with a murderous look glared at me with red eyes.

"You, who are you..."

He turned his neck, and something reflected the streetlight.

"Me? I'm Jin Caixia's biological father." This statement woke me up halfway. I slowly backed away.

"What do you want?"

He pressed closer: "What do I want? I heard you've been bullying my daughter. Today I'm going to chop you to death. Then my daughter will sweetly call me Dad, and I'd be willing to die!"

Only then did I clearly see the meter-long knife he held in his hand.

Then in an instant, he charged toward me.

I ran forward frantically.

There was one shop that hadn't closed yet. I was about to rush in.

But the person inside looked terrified and quickly closed the door tight.

Chapter 15

I cried and pounded on the door: "Please, I'm begging you! Save me! Open the door and save me!"

In that instant, I made eye contact with the person inside the door.

He looked so scared, so timid.

He was the class monitor, Gu Yu.

Suddenly, I felt an arm tightly grip me, and heat enveloped me from above.

I passed out.

I don't know how much time passed before I opened my eyes.

I lay on white sheets and suddenly felt like crying.

Tears flowed from my temples into my hair.

"Qingqing is awake. Quick, husband, bring some warm water."

It was my mom's voice.

A warm hand gently wiped away my tears.

Then, her forehead touched mine.

"I'm sorry, baby. It's all Mom and Dad's fault for not taking good care of you."

It turned out that day, my parents happened to see me from around the corner.

Just as they were about to call my name, they saw Jin Caixia's biological father calling me.

At the same time, my dad grabbed a chair from outside a shop and smashed it against him at the crucial moment.

My mom called the police nearby.

When the police arrived, Jin Caixia's biological father had run to the rooftop of the adjacent residential complex.

Tears streamed down his face, and Jin Caixia stood a few meters away, furious.

"Daughter, my daughter, won't you call me Dad? Just once!"

Jin Caixia yelled angrily: "No! You useless thing! You couldn't even handle this small task! Useless! Useless!"

The desperate man leaned back and fell straight into the dust.

My parents said that Jin Caixia would be sentenced soon.

She wouldn't even be able to take the college entrance exam.

Because she had put sleeping pills in my water cup and incited others to commit crimes.

She might be sentenced to two years.

She had my parents deliver a message to me: "Du Qingqing, although I lost the bet, I keep my word. I really didn't answer the Chinese paper!"

Nutcase!

The whole family is nutcases!

You won't even have the chance to take it!

A few months later, I achieved great success in the college entrance exam.

I got into the same city as Gu Yu.

After that incident, I never spoke to him again.

On the day we returned to school, he walked up to me and confessed:

"I know there are misunderstandings between us, but I hope you can understand me.

Anyone would choose to protect their own family first in that situation.

So I had to close the door.

Can you be my girlfriend? That way, you'll be my family too, and I'll definitely protect you well."

I looked at him expressionlessly: "No."

"Why?" He eagerly took a step forward.

"Because you're too disgusting!"

(End of Story)