“You’ve come to apologize?” Xue Jiao smiled lightly.

This expression, in Cheng Mingjiao’s eyes, was the smugness of a victor.

Cheng Mingjiao was nearly furious, but with Bai Xiumei standing right beside her, she held back, gritting her teeth: “Yes, I’ve come to apologize.”

Cheng Shuo and Cheng Mingze sat on the sofa. Li Sitong was pouring water for the old lady while watching them with a complex expression.

Cheng Mingjiao felt utterly humiliated, but she still remembered the old lady’s words from last night, so sharp.

She had said: “Cheng Mingjiao, you are a Cheng family young lady. Our family treats Gu Xue Jiao fairly. Previously, we didn’t mind what she did because her surname was Gu, not Cheng. For sixteen years, you’ve been a well-reputed young lady in our circle. Do you want to ruin your reputation over this one incident, because of Gu Xue Jiao?”

The old lady had also said: “If you had always been thoughtless, that would be one thing. But you were famously well-behaved and sensible before. Many elders were hoping to match you with their children after you came of age. You used to respect Li Sitong and Gu Xue Jiao, but now that Gu Xue Jiao has just improved, you suddenly changed. Others will only think your mind is calculating, and your previous good behavior was all an act. Think about it: is it worth it?”

It wasn’t worth it! Not at all!

Cheng Mingjiao took a deep breath, looked at Xue Jiao, and opened her mouth: “Cousin, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I was confused yesterday and spoke carelessly. I didn’t mean it that way! I hope cousin can forgive me!”

Bai Xiumei smiled, and so did Li Sitong.

“Cousin, since you’ve already recognized your mistake, remember to write your self-criticism today. I thought about it all night and still couldn’t figure out what I did wrong. Since you say it’s all your fault when you read your self-criticism in class today, remember to mention that your cousin did nothing wrong, so she won’t be writing one.”

Cheng Mingjiao’s eyes widened, and she nearly jumped up: “What?! Read a self-criticism?!”

“Yes.” Xue Jiao blinked her eyes.

Cheng Mingjiao was so angry she was breathing heavily: “You, you, you… you even want me to apologize publicly?!”

Xue Jiao nodded.

“Dream on! Teacher Yin didn’t say we needed to do self-criticism in class!”

“I’m saying it.” Xue Jiao smiled, speaking in a relaxed tone.

“Jiaojiao, Mingjiao already knows her mistake. She’s just a young girl. To read a self-criticism in class…” Bai Xiumei opened her mouth, looking troubled.

Noticing Bai Xiumei’s troubled expression, Li Sitong almost instinctively said: “Jiaojiao, since Mingjiao has already apologized, does she need to apologize in class?”

“Jiaojiao, family shame shouldn’t be spread outside. Mingjiao’s words were excessive this time, but don’t hold it against her.” Hearing Li Sitong’s softening attitude, Bai Xiumei stepped forward, took Xue Jiao’s hand, and looked apologetic and loving.

Xue Jiao pretended to adjust her hair, pulling her hand away.

“Grandmother, I’m not trying to make things difficult for Mingjiao. Last time in class, she loudly and righteously called my mother and me vixens. Others don’t understand our family situation. These words came from Mingjiao’s mouth, and I’m afraid they’ll believe it.”

She paused, “If they believe it, my days in class will be difficult. Besides, I don’t want them to misunderstand Mother… Mingjiao reading a self-criticism is more about explaining the truth.”

Li Sitong’s expression immediately changed. How could anyone want their reputation to be tarnished? She lived with dignity and shouldn’t be misunderstood by others.

So Li Sitong remained silent, even looking approving.

Bai Xiumei’s face became unpleasant for a moment. She had forced Cheng Mingjiao to apologize precisely to minimize the issue, not for this outcome!

“Jiaojiao, can’t Mingjiao just explain privately? She’s still young and sensitive.”

Xue Jiao shook her head: “A private explanation doesn’t have much impact. What if some people still don’t know? It’s better to write a self-criticism for the class, then others will believe Mingjiao just spoke wrongly in a moment of confusion.”

“So, Mingjiao had better write the truth in her self-criticism to explain publicly today.”

“No way!” Cheng Mingjiao exploded, unable to contain herself any longer.

She was the one who had been hit, yet everyone wanted her to apologize to Gu Xue Jiao. Apologizing was one thing, but why did she need to do self-criticism in public?!

“You’re unwilling?”

“Unwilling! You can forget about it!” Cheng Mingjiao’s eyes widened.

“Grandmother, please talk to Mingjiao. If she doesn’t apologize, who knows what rumors will spread in class? Besides, after next month’s monthly exam, there will be… a parent-teacher meeting. How will others view my mother then?”

She showed a troubled expression: “All of this is because of Mingjiao’s slander, so I think Mingjiao should clarify.”

Xue Jiao spoke with a smile.

Bai Xiumei and Cheng Mingjiao wanted to downplay the issue, but they needed to see if she was willing.

Not to mention how much-hidden suffering Cheng Mingjiao had caused Gu Xue Jiao in her memories, but considering Cheng Mingjiao’s multiple provocations since she arrived and her casual slander this time, Xue Jiao wouldn’t simply let it go.

Bai Xiumei’s smile was forced.

Li Sitong was stunned when she heard about the parent-teacher meeting. Previously, Cheng Shuo always attended Cheng Mingze’s meetings, while she attended Gu Xue Jiao’s. If the students in Xue Jiao’s class all misunderstood her and truly believed she was a vixen?

Moreover, the Seventh Middle School was a good school, with the experimental class full of talented students, many of whom were children of well-known figures in their circle. If misunderstandings about her spread, how could she face others in the future?

Thinking of this, she tugged at Cheng Shuo’s sleeve, looking worried.

Cheng Shuo patted her hand and stood up: “It’s indeed necessary to explain during the self-criticism. Mingjiao, knowing your mistake and correcting it is important. The consequences of your careless words must be resolved by you.”

“I won’t!” Cheng Mingjiao’s gaze swept over Gu Xue Jiao, who was smiling.

Half-squinting her eyes, they were full of the victor’s provocation.

Cheng Mingjiao was immediately irritated by this look, her entire being like oil ignited by fire.

“Impossible! Impossible! I won’t write a self-criticism! She didn’t even write one, why should I do it in class?!”

She couldn’t even imagine publicly admitting in class that she had slandered Gu Xue Jiao.

Impossible! Dream on!

“Mingjiao, it’s your careless words that caused…” Each of Xue Jiao’s sentences emphasized that her words were nonsense, reminding Cheng Mingjiao of what she had said.

To the extent that when Cheng Mingjiao was so angry her mind went blank, she blurted out: “I absolutely will not apologize publicly! I didn’t say anything wrong; your mom and you are both vixens!”

“Slap—” Cheng Mingjiao received a slap!

The person who delivered this slap was Li Sitong!

This time, not just the others, but even Xue Jiao was stunned.

Previously, Li Sitong was angry, but no matter how angry she was, she never thought of doing anything to Cheng Mingjiao. She was cautious in the Cheng family; hitting Cheng Mingjiao was something she wouldn’t have dared to even think about before today.

But she did it!

After hitting her, Li Sitong’s hand was also shaking as she began to cry: “Cheng Mingjiao! How dare you say such things about me and Jiaojiao!”

“You hit me! You hit me!” Cheng Mingjiao’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Cheng Mingjiao!” Cheng Shuo shouted at her, “Do you hear what you’re saying?”

“She hit me! I don’t have such an aunt!”

“Then don’t call me uncle anymore!” Cheng Shuo’s face was cold.

Bai Xiumei was breathing heavily, extending her hand with trembling fingers. How had things turned out this way?!

“Cheng Mingjiao…” Compared to Cheng Shuo’s shout, Bai Xiumei’s voice was very soft. Looking at the nearly hysterical girl before her, she opened her mouth, “You’ve disappointed me…”

“You’re all bullying me! All bullying me!” She was so angry that her words were nearly inaudible as she turned and ran, stumbling.

Bai Xiumei swayed: “Eldest son! Quickly go after her!”

“Mother!”

“No matter how disobedient she is, we can’t let anything happen to her. Find her and send her home first!” Bai Xiumei’s tone was commanding.

Although Cheng Shuo had spoken in anger, she was still his only niece. He grabbed his coat and went after her.

Xue Jiao turned, walked to the dining table, drank a glass of milk, and took a piece of bread.

Time was up—

She walked toward the door while eating her bread.

Cheng Mingze, who hadn’t spoken throughout, was stunned for a moment, then picked up his schoolbag: “Grandmother, Aunt Li, I’m going to class first!”

——

When she got into Uncle Xing’s car, Xue Jiao had just finished her bread and was sitting obediently in the back seat, hugging her schoolbag.

Cheng Mingze sat beside her, almost constantly watching her.

“You…”

Xue Jiao turned her head, expressionless, with coldness in her eyes.

Cheng Mingze paused, then said: “Today you…”

“What? Standing up for your sister?” These words were sarcastic, and her expression was half-smiling, but some people just look good no matter what. Even with a sarcastic expression, she was still dazzling.

Cheng Mingze uncomfortably averted his gaze, frowning: “You’re my sister too.”

“Oh.” Xue Jiao was noncommittal.

Silence fell between the two.

Xue Jiao’s gaze was on the window. It was just dawn, but the road to Seventh Middle School already had many vehicles.

Cheng Mingjiao had lost, and not only lost but also confronted Li Sitong. Would they all be less troublesome to her in the future?

Her gaze was unfocused, casually observing the passing vehicles.

Xue Jiao suddenly thought of the message she had received this morning, from that—cunning old fox of a man.

When she had answered that Cheng Mingjiao had come with Bai Xiumei, he had replied—

[Since her grandmother came along, it means Cheng Mingjiao didn’t come voluntarily, or at least not willingly to admit her mistake. She still thinks her words weren’t wrong. But she will apologize to you. If you refuse to accept, the “thoughtlessness” will shift from her to you. But you also can’t directly accept, otherwise, this matter will be resolved, and next time she’ll be even worse.]

[I suggest you try to shift the conflict. I think your mother’s attitude is problematic; she will always especially protect Cheng Mingjiao over you due to her position. Since Cheng Mingjiao hasn’t recognized her mistake, you can keep reminding her of what she said, then stimulate her with the handling method she can least accept. When she’s furious, with that sentence constantly in her mind, she will curse it out again.]

[As long as she curses it out a second time, and in front of your mother, this is evidence of her disdain for your mother. Then your mother’s attitude won’t matter. After she says those words, your stepfather will be angry. Between your angry stepfather and cousin, your grandmother can’t simply protect your cousin anymore. Then the central conflict in the Cheng family will no longer be between you and your cousin, but between your mother and your cousin.]

Thinking of those words, Xue Jiao’s mouth twitched slightly. Lin Zhihua’s idea seemed better the more she thought about it. This way, at least she could have an easier time for a while, right?

But… if he knew she called him a cunning old fox, would he glare at her in anger?