Lu Weining only mentioned that she encountered some gangsters. Her first reaction was to call Yan Beicheng but he did not give a damn about her at all.
At that moment, however, she no longer had the chance to call the police. When she was about to be molested by the gangsters, she bumped into a kind person who was passing by. She was only then rescued.
Listening to the conversation from the sound recording, Lu Weining seemed to have made an agreement with the three hoodlums in advance.
Yan Zhiqing always thought that she was very smart, so she could tell that Lu Weining wanted to lure Yan Beicheng to come over.
“Why would there be a misunderstanding? This is the amazing Lu Weining that you guys talk about,” Old Lady Yan sneered.
It was her first time knowing about this incident, and she felt disgusted.
“That’s only because Weining loves Beicheng too much. She merely wants to fight for herself,” Jiang Changdai said with a rigid look.
Old Master Yan grabbed the mug before him that was still half-full of the hot tea and threw it towards Jiang Changdai.
Jiang Changdai was shocked and dodged subconsciously. It was absolutely an unconscious action; apart from dodging, her first response was smoothly seizing the confused Yan Zhiqing to block in front of her body.
The tea, consequently, hit Yan Zhiqing’s arm. She was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt due to the current hot weather. Since her arm was not covered, a big red burned patch appeared on her arm immediately once the half-full mug of burning tea splashed onto Yan Zhiqing’s arm.
The mug fell to the floor. With a loud bang, the mouth of the mug cracked though it was not broken into pieces.
“Ah!” Yan Zhiqing shouted from being burned and collected her thoughts at last.
Jiang Changdai had already let go of Yan Zhiqing. Her face was pale, and she looked frightened. She lowered her head to look at the mug and tea by her feet.
Beside her, Yan Zhiqing was crying in pain.
Old Master Yan glowered at Jiang Changdai. Damn, she was indeed a selfish woman. To protect herself, she could actually use her biological daughter to cover for her!
“Get lost! You get out of my sight!” Old Master Yan slowly stood up, pointing at the doorway with his finger. If Jiang Changdai stayed on, he did not know if he could refrain from hitting her.
Lin Chu was shocked by the incident for she did not expect Jiang Changdai to be so shameless.
Seeing how Yan Zhiqing cried in pain, she ignored the small conflict she had with Yan Zhiqing.
In her point of view, Yan Zhiqing was silly and easily deceived by Lu Weining, as well as trusting her mother, Jiang Changdai, too much.
Yan Zhiqing ultimately did not cause her any tangible harm. Plus, she was Yan Beicheng’s younger sister.
Even if it was for the sake of the two elders and Yan Beicheng.
Lin Chu swiftly seized Yan Zhiqing’s unharmed arm, pulled her up and brought her to the kitchen.
Yan Zhiqing did not bother arguing with Lin Chu. It was so painful that she would do whatever Lin Chu said, being docile.
Luckily, it was an only half-full mug of the tea; the scalded area was not considered big.
Lin Chu turned on the faucet quickly, adjusting the water to the coldest temperature and placing Yan Zhiqing’s scalded arm under the cold water to rinse over it. As her arm was washed with cold water, Yan Zhiqing started to feel that the pain was not very unbearable but she still sobbed with sharp wheezes.
“Aunt Chen, does the house have any medicine for burns?” Lin Chu turned her head and asked Aunt Chen who came to lend a hand.
“No, there isn’t. I’ll go buy now,” said Aunt Chen.
“You don’t have to. I remember that there’s a community clinic in the residential area, right? Since her burns aren’t serious, I’ll bring her to the clinic to get it examined first.” Lin Chu said, “Aunt Chen, can you put a few ice bags in the fridge to cool it for a while. Give it to her to press it on her arm when we leave.”
“Oh, alright.” Aunt Chen went about to do what she was told at once.
Lin Chu was still holding on to Yan Zhiqing’s arm and rinsing it under the cold water. Old Lady Yan’s voice could be heard from outside, “You have such capability! For yourself, you can actually pull your daughter to cover yourself! I originally thought that you dislike Beicheng but you’d at least be fond of Zhiqing. She grew up by your side since young after all! I didn’t expect that you merely love her a bit more than you love Beicheng. That mug was thrown toward you. Why did you pull Zhiqing! Can you treat your own children with a hundredth of affection that you show the outsider, Lu Weining? If Lu Weining is present today, will you drag her to cover you from the hot tea? Can you?”
Although Yan Zhiqing was crying and letting Lin Chu do whatever is best for her due to the immense pain, she could hear very clearly of the conversation outside.
At that moment, her face became ashen and she trembled for a split second. She did not know if it was because of sadness or pain.
She could not help thinking that if it was Lu Weining, would Jiang Changdai pull her to protect herself from the hot tea?
Jiang Changdai always treated Lu Weining as superb as treating her. She always mentioned that she regarded Lu Weining as a daughter.
“Get lost!” Old Master Yan said angrily as he pointed at the doorway.
Jiang Changdai looked towards the direction of the kitchen. Because Lin Chu was inside, she was unwilling to go inside. Her heart did feel remorseful, wanting to tell Yan Zhiqing that it was unintentional and see if Yan Zhiqing’s wound was severe or not.
Though she opened her mouth, she was unable to speak aloud. Her facial expression struggled for a while, but her mouth closed shut in the end. As her face sank, she walked towards the entrance.
Walking halfway, she turned back out of the blue, grabbed the purse that was placed on the sofa, turned around once again and left.
In the corner, the little toy train was still running on its tracks and making sounds, “choo-choo”. Yan Ningbai and Mo Jinxi were already hiding somewhere earlier on.
Mo Jinxi felt that he had witnessed an extraordinary event today whereas Yan Ningbai had witnessed it before so he was calm and collected this time.
Yan Ningbai leaned against the door and listened to the activity outside with his buttocks stuck out. Hearing how it had quieted down, he then turned his head and waved his hand at Mo Jinxi. “It seems like she has left. Let’s go out to have a look.”
Mo Jinxi nodded, followed Yan Ningbai and went out.
Outside, after Old Master Yan and Old Lady Yan vented their anger, they calmed down in no time. The two elders were very open-minded; it was unworthy to be mad at that woman, Jiang Changdai.
Today’s visit was to tell her in her face that Lin Chu and Yan Beicheng had married. Whatever ideas she still had with Lu Weining, it should be put to a stop. Jiang Changdai, otherwise, would not be allowed to step in.
Seeing two small buddies came out, Old Lady Yan laughed and said, “You two were hiding somewhere just now?”
Mo Jinxi nodded cleverly. He only then sighed with relief when he saw the two elders did not look exasperated.
Yan Ningbai said directly, “Both of us went back to the room to play just now!”
Old Lady Yan chuckled, pulled the two small ones over and told Yan Ningbai, “You, you’re truly simple-minded.”
She, subsequently, looked towards Mo Jinxi, “You were shocked, right?”
Mo Jinxi shook his head, “Ningbai told me not to worry.”
Yan Ningbai’s simple-minded spirit was very contagious. Mo Jinxi was feeling anxious, but he was affected by Yan Ningbai and did not feel anything.
Now that he saw the two elders did not have much temper, he was more relieved.
Old Lady Yan smiled and let the both of them go have fun.
At this moment, Lin Chu came out and spoke to Yan Beicheng, “Can you drive us to the community clinic? I feel that Zhiqing’s injury isn’t severe. I think applying some medicine and having a checkup in the clinic will suffice. She won’t be able to endure the pain for such a long time as it’s too far to go to the hospital and it takes time to queue up.”
Yan Beicheng nodded and got up.
When Yan Ningbai realized that Yan Zhiqing had yet to go to the clinic and he would not be eating for a short while, he then told Old Lady Yan, “Eldest Auntie, can I bring Jinxi to look for Yuan to play? Since we still can’t have a meal, I want to bring Jinxi to introduce him to Yuan.”
Old Lady Yan glanced at the time and said, “Go but if you eat at Yuan’s, you have to make sure that you don’t return with a full belly. Even if you do eat, leave some space for your stomach to eat when you return. Today is an auspicious day for your big nephew and big niece-in-law. You have to eat at home to celebrate no matter what.”
Yan Ningbai nodded seriously with his small face, making a promise, “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t come back with a full stomach.”
Mo Jinxi, “…”
Did that not imply that he would still eat at someone else’s house?
When Yan Ningbai was dragging Mo Jinxi outside, it just so happened that Yan Zhiqing was pressing the ice bag onto her burned arm and following Yan Beicheng and Lin Chu outside.
While Yan Zhiqing got into the car, Lin Chu thought that Yan Zhiqing did not respect her anyway, she would not go so far as to fawn over her. She then sat at the front seat, having Yan Zhiqing to be seated alone at the back.
Outside the car, Yan Ningbai pulled Mo Jinxi to the Nan family next door. He tiptoed and pressed the doorbell.
Both kiddos were short. They could barely reach the doorbell until they stood on tiptoe and stretched their arms. The surveillance camera, therefore, simply could not catch a glimpse of them.
Aunt Huang, thus, could only see quietness outside from the screen inside the house.
A small chubby then could be seen swaying in the screen, “Grandmother Huang, it’s me, Yan Ningbai! I’ve brought a little companion with me to look for Yuan to play!”
Aunt Huang immediately opened the door and told Nan Yuan.
Nan Yuan waited gleefully by the doorway. A while later, Lin Chu saw Yan Ningbai brought along Mo Jinxi entering the house.
He entered the gate and ran towards the courtyard while shouting, “My big nephew and niece-in-law got their marriage licenses today. We’ll be having a meal at home tonight. I’ve brought my comrade along with me to visit!”
Old Lady Nan, “…”
Old Lady Yan was definitely the one who taught Yan Ningbai to talk like this!
Once they came in, the Nan family was coincidentally eating. The food was not very extravagant; instead, they were common family dishes. Only the mother was present as Nan Yuan’s father went on a business trip. There were five people including the two Nan family elders and Nan Jingheng. The variety of the dishes, hence, was rather many.
Old Lady Nan became particularly fond of Mo Jinxi when she saw Yan Ningbai led Mo Jinxi who was good looking as well inside the house; as he had a pair of big limpid eyes and good manners.
Yan Ningbai strolled toward the dining table, introducing to everyone, “He’s my best friend, Mo Jinxi. Yuan, let’s hang out together in the future!”
Nan Yuan was a generous child. As his hand held a chicken wing which he was nibbling, he nodded with greasy lips, “Sounds good.”
Old Lady Nan was busy having Aunt Huang to add two chairs by the dining table for Yan Ningbai and Mo Jinxi to have a seat.
“Have you guys eaten yet?” asked Old Lady Nan.
Yan Ningbai shook his head, both of his eyes staring at the chicken wings on the table.
Old Lady Nan was amused by the way he looked and burst out laughing. She let Aunt Huang added two sets of bowls and chopsticks.
“Then have a meal together with us,” Old Lady Nan invited.
Aunt Huang was about to scoop out some rice for the two little fellows when Yan Ningbai was heard saying, “Grandmother Huang, we won’t be eating rice. We’ll just eat a little amount of the dishes. We need to leave some space for our stomachs to eat when we go back home. Eldest Auntie had specifically exhorted me when we’re on our way here. Today is the day of big nephew and big niece-in-law receiving their marriage certificate, so we want to have dinner together to celebrate properly. She told me not to eat until I’m full here and to leave some room so we’ll have a meal together when we return.”
Old Lady Nan, “…”
She felt that she was suddenly full.
…
Yan Beicheng drove Yan Zhiqing to the clinic. In fact, walking would only take five minutes to reach the clinic since it was in the residential area.
The shock currently subjected to Yan Zhiqing was a bit intense. Not only was she suffering from physical pain, but she was also feeling as if she was betrayed for being pulled by her mother, Jiang Changdai, to block her from the hot tea. She was in a vulnerable moment.
Judging from Yan Zhiqing’s state, walking from the house and getting into the car outside was considered a limit for her to be able to walk for such short distance. Her legs were so weak that she could not walk much.
Yan Beicheng’s driving, thus, merely took a minute plus in total to reach the clinic. It was just a blink of an eye after getting into the car.
Luckily, it was the evening now as the weather was cool and refreshing. If it was daytime, the burn would be harder to bear, being scorched by the sun.
Yan Beicheng casually stopped the car and let Lin Chu and Yan Zhiqing get off first to go to the clinic before he went to park his car.
Yan Zhiqing and Lin Chu entered first. Soon after Yan Beicheng found a place to park his car and after locking it, he only then went inside the clinic.
Yan Zhiqing was already sitting in front of the table; the injury was being examined by the doctor.
The clinic was not huge because it only had two floors, providing simple medical treatment for food poisoning, cold, fever, and other ailments. Since the community was of the upper class, the second floor had a specialized computerized tomography (CT) scan machine.
Yan Zhiqing’s burns were indeed not severe. Although the tea was hot, it was not boiling water. Although the skin was red from the scalding, there was no blister. After examining, the doctor prescribed an analgesic ointment to treat the burn for Yan Zhiqing to apply it.
The ointment was cooling with a minty smell. She felt very soothed once it was applied.
“It won’t leave a scar, right?” Yan Zhiqing asked nervously.
“…” The middle-aged female doctor became speechless and glanced at Yan Zhiqing’s arm, “It’s only slightly reddened, just apply the medicine and it will be fine. Frankly, it’s also okay if you don’t apply the medicine. Just like how your fingertips are burned for a bit, won’t they be alright a while later? It’s nothing to make a fuss about.”
“How can you speak like this? I want to be an actress in the future. My performing career will grow. My arm absolutely cannot leave any scar!” Yan Zhiqing’s glared, “This relates to my future. You can’t be so casual about it!”
The doctor, “…”
“I can guarantee you that your minor injury has no issue at all. Once the redness has faded, it’ll be the same as before. This isn’t a blister that’s scalded by the boiling water, how will it leave a scar! Look, your skin is nothing but slightly red. It doesn’t even have a crease.” the doctor said, becoming somewhat impatient.
Yan Zhiqing verified once again but she was chased out of the clinic by the doctor in the end.
Three of them returned to the Family Mansion. Yan Beicheng stopped the car and Lin Chu and Yan Zhiqing got off first, walking towards the Family Mansion.
While Yan Beicheng was parking the car, Yan Zhiqing suddenly stopped, turned around and faced Lin Chu. Her face was rigid; she still did not give Lin Chu a good look.
She gave a cold groan, “Don’t you dare think that you’ll curry favor me by doing this. I’m telling you, my attitude toward you isn’t changed. I do look down on you. It’s useless no matter how you fawn over me.”
Lin Chu looked at her ridiculously, not even bothering to cover her disdain toward her. She curled her lips and said bluntly, “I truly don’t need to fawn over you. What’s the point of doing so? Ever since you came to B City, our relationship was never good so much so that I even argued with you. Even if this is the case, the two elders don’t blame me. As a matter of fact, they still like me. Beicheng never blamed my bad attitude towards you. He won’t blame me also even if I argue with you again. You said that our relationship was already very bad. None of them said it’s my fault, then why do I bother to curry favor with you? To treat you warmly but end up with indifferent treatment? Since I don’t need to fawn over you to protect the relationship I have with Beicheng and the elders, and as you mentioned that I’m ingratiating myself with you, what sort of benefit will I gain from currying favor with you?”
Yan Zhiqing became hesitant; the anger trapped inside her throat. She was not willing to admit what Lin Chu said was very well-reasoned.
“You want to fawn over my mom by the means of ingratiating me to let her approve your marriage with my brother.” Yan Zhiqing said stubbornly.
Lin Chu shook her head. “I’ve already gotten married to your brother. Didn’t you hear what grandfather and grandmother said? I don’t care about what your mother thinks. Our marriage is none of your mother’s business. Plus, I do not bother and I am unwilling to fawn over Ms. Jiang. She treats Beicheng so poorly; why would I want to ingratiate her? To let her feel good about herself and continue treating Beicheng badly? Let’s put it this way, I do not need to accomplish any goal by fawning over you. Beicheng as well as the two elders won’t harbor whatever dissatisfaction with me because of you.”
“Today I merely saw Ms. Jiang pulling you to cover her from the hot tea. Frankly, you’re very innocent in this situation. Perhaps you don’t like hearing me say that I feel very pitiful for you but this is indeed my thoughts. I’m willing to help you because you got hurt today but that’s all. Do whatever you want; you can still dislike me. Although it’ll be happy news for everyone if you can accept me as the two elders and Beicheng will be euphoric about it, but none of us will impose anything on you if you don’t want to.”
Seeing that Yan Zhiqing was no longer talking, she did not know how much of her words that Yan Zhiqing had taken in and listened.
Lin Chu saw that her lips were pursed tightly. She thought for a bit and said, “I know that you were by Ms. Jiang’s side since you were young. As for the two elders and Beicheng, you don’t have a close relationship with them. Instead, you’re slightly closer to Ms. Jiang and Lu Weining. Regardless of how and what we told you prior that Lu Weining’s up to no good, you don’t believe what we said at all. You’ve heard the voice recording today, so I hope that you can contemplate Lu Weining’s character carefully and whether she’s as good as what you think of her. You might as well think properly about Lu Weining’s trivial matters in the past if there’s anything that you didn’t discover but you feel confused about the matters thinking back now.”
“Also, judging from Ms. Jiang’s behavior today, there’s no harm in considering whether her words are deserved to be heard entirely or not by you. She can even use you to act as a shield simply for being splashed with hot tea. Fortunately, it was just hot tea and your wound isn’t severe but what if it was something worse? One’s character can be seen in critical situations. Think about it, were all the things she did truly right? Was it worth it for you to trust her so much?”
An abrupt change appeared on Yan Zhiqing’s face. It was a sensation that resembled how she could only look for some ruins to hide inside for she did not know how to support herself when the world she was always familiar with had collapsed.
Closing her eyes shut to avoid looking at the collapsed world and concealing in her bubble, she would not know the change of the world. As long as she did not think and look at it, the world would seem like it did not change.
“Don’t you even think about instigating my relationship with my mom! You just got married to my big brother and you want to instigate me and mom right away. You’re truly very malicious! Our family was fine, and we always got along in harmony before you appeared! Big brother likes me, grandfather and grandmother spoil me but there isn’t any peace in the house no more because of your arrival!” Yan Zhiqing said stubbornly, clenching her fist.
She would not change her view because of a few sentences Lin Chu uttered.
Her persistence in the past was correct. It was all correct!
Jiang Changdai pulled her over to cover herself from the hot tea merely because of the sudden incident. She did not do it on purpose.
Lin Chu smiled and no longer said anything; Yan Zhiqing pursed her lips, not uttering a word either. She turned around abruptly, walked towards the gate of the Family Mansion and pressed the doorbell.
Yan Beicheng walked over slowly. Lin Chu glanced at him and asked, “Why are you so slow?”
“To give you time to explain to her clearly,” Yan Beicheng replied with a gentle voice, turned his head and peeked at Yan Zhiqing’s back. “An opportunity will inevitably arise for her to understand.”
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