These few sentences were spoken calmly, yet each word pierced into everyone’s hearts.

Bai Xiumei frowned, and after a good while, she moved her cane: “Mingjiao, what are you thinking?”

“I… I…” Cheng Mingjiao opened her mouth, facing Gu Xue Jiao’s eyes, and momentarily couldn’t speak.

“Mingjiao didn’t mean it!” Liu Yazhen defended.

“Mingjiao, do you recognize your mistake?” Bai Xiumei was still looking at Cheng Mingjiao.

Cheng Mingjiao hurriedly nodded.

Bai Xiumei smiled slightly, looking rather benevolent: “Knowing your mistake and correcting it is good, but you still need to apologize to your uncle’s wife.”

Cheng Mingjiao was stunned for a moment, stiffly turning to face Li Sitong: “Uncle’s wife… I… I…”

“Mingjiao, you should apologize.” Bai Xiumei’s fingers tightened on her cane.

“I’m sorry!” She looked at Li Sitong and uttered these three words softly.

Xue Jiao had been sitting calmly all along, her mouth gradually revealing a cold smile.

“Enough!” A female voice suddenly spoke out.

This time everyone was truly stunned—the person who let out this angry shout was Li Sitong!

This woman, since marrying into the Cheng family, apart from scolding Gu Xue Jiao, had always been virtuous and kind in her daily life.

Li Sitong exhaled slightly, making herself appear calmer. Her original mindset was to minimize the issue and resolve it quickly.

But at that moment, she saw her daughter’s cold smile.

That kind of complete indifference.

Li Sitong’s heart ached. She looked at Cheng Mingjiao: “Mingjiao, you’re only two months younger than Jiaojiao, but you’re already sixteen, not a little child anymore. You can scold me and speak about me, but you cannot speak about my daughter. She has done nothing wrong; there’s no reason for her to be scolded.”

“You haven’t done anything wrong either.” Cheng Shuo said softly, standing up and taking her into his arms.

Li Sitong already had tears in her eyes, looking back at Cheng Shuo with gratitude.

Xue Jiao watched this scene with a blank expression.

“She hit me! She hit me!” Cheng Mingjiao’s eyes widened, “She hit me and still requires me to apologize first?! Why are you all protecting her? Why? I’m the one with the Cheng surname!”

“Because you disrespected her mother! Your uncle’s wife!” Cheng Shuo held Li Sitong and looked sternly at Cheng Mingjiao.

He didn’t know how that well-behaved, sensible niece had turned into this.

“Apologize!” Cheng Kai became fierce.

Cheng Mingjiao clenched her teeth, looking toward Bai Xiumei, who didn’t speak.

Her gaze moved to the old master beside her, who frowned with a hint of disappointment.

Boom—

Cheng Mingjiao’s mind exploded. She didn’t know how it had come to this.

Why would these blood relatives of hers require her to apologize to someone with the surname Gu?

“You all protect her!” She shouted, then ran out.

“Mingjiao!” Liu Yazhen called anxiously, looking at Li Sitong, “Are you satisfied now?!”

After shouting, she chased after Mingjiao, leaving the remaining people in silence.

Li Sitong was stunned.

Bai Xiumei sighed, walked forward, held Li Sitong’s hand, and said softly: “Mingjiao is indeed thoughtless. I don’t know what provoked her today. You’re her uncle’s wife; please be understanding. I know you’re a good person, a good child.”

Li Sitong had been married to the Cheng family for so many years. She was remarried, brought a child, and had no family support. Although Bai Xiumei hadn’t said anything openly, Li Sitong knew that the old lady had always been displeased.

So she had been cautious all these years, just wanting to secure a place in the Cheng family, to let those who mocked her know that she could also live well.

After all these years, this was a rare moment of warmth from the old lady.

Li Sitong was quite moved and emotionally called out: “Mother!”

Bai Xiumei nodded repeatedly, with a benevolent smile: “Good child, good child… Jiaojiao is also a good child…”

“Wuu—I’ve wronged Jiaojiao—” Li Sitong looked up at Xue Jiao, her face full of guilt.

Xue Jiao didn’t speak, keeping her head down, her eyes fixed on one spot.

——

That night, Bai Xiumei comforted Li Sitong for a long time, a rare intimate moment between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

Li Sitong’s originally sad mood had improved significantly, and her facial expression had also relaxed somewhat.

Xue Jiao didn’t speak throughout, returning to her room early.

This was the first time she had lain on her bed without reading, tossing and turning.

Today, everyone was speaking up for her, and even her “mother” had a rare outburst, but for some reason, Xue Jiao wasn’t happy, not at all.

After a while, she took out her phone and sent a message to Lin Zhihua—

[I’ve never been so clearly aware that I’m truly an outsider.]

Lin Zhihua quickly replied—

[What happened? What occurred after you went back?]

Xue Jiao’s fingers paused, not knowing when she had begun to have message contact with this person, and it seemed that starting today, she felt she could tell him anything…

Is this… friendship?

Without family affection… at least, she seemed to still have friendship…

[Cheng Mingjiao’s grandparents came over. They were all making her apologize to me. My mom also spoke up to protect me but for some reason… I feel very uncomfortable…]

Lin Zhihua—[What happened tonight?]

Xue Jiao then recounted the entire process from her return to when the Cheng elders left.

[Lin Zhihua: Cheng Shuo is fair. Cheng Kai making Cheng Mingjiao apologize to you isn’t fair; it’s educating his daughter. Your grandfather is the same, but this education is because their child made a mistake, so they were educated. Even if the person who hit her wasn’t you, they would still educate Cheng Mingjiao. The old lady only stands on your cousin’s side. She’s a clever person and managed things quite well tonight. If it weren’t for Cheng Mingjiao’s non-cooperation, this matter would already be over.]

Xue Jiao was stunned, not fully understanding.

After all, in her previous life, she was just a girl who had just graduated from high school. She couldn’t immediately grasp what he meant by the old lady… managing?

Fortunately, Lin Zhihua quickly sent another message—

[Your mother’s outburst is temporary. She cares too much about the family and your stepfather; this kind of outburst has no power. But your stepfather is different; your mother’s outburst will move him. Cheng Mingjiao ran out without showing remorse. As long as your grandmother soothes your mother, your mother can soothe you and your stepfather. Then she can soothe other members of the Cheng family, putting back the mask that Cheng Mingjiao tore off, and ending this matter.]

[Hmm?]

[Lin Zhihua: Your mother will come to find you tonight.]

Xue Jiao was stunned. How did he know?

Soon, she received another message. Xue Jiao read it carefully, then sat quietly, lost in thought.

At ten o’clock in the evening, there was a knock on Xue Jiao’s door.

She continued reading, not turning around. Soon, the door was pushed open.

“Jiaojiao…” It was Li Sitong’s voice.

Xue Jiao didn’t move. Li Sitong approached with a glass of milk, smiling somewhat awkwardly: “Jiaojiao, you suffered wrongfully today. Rest early, you can study again tomorrow.”

“I still need to write a self-criticism.”

Li Sitong’s smile faltered slightly. After a while, she said softly: “I’m sorry… Mom won’t do it again…”

“Really?” Xue Jiao looked up.

“Really! Mom promises!”

“But I don’t believe it,” Xue Jiao said softly, “just as you don’t believe me.”

“No… it’s not…” Li Sitong stammered.

“Mom, in the Cheng family, you still have your husband, but I only have you. I can tolerate Cheng Mingjiao calling me a burden because I truly am one. But slander is not acceptable. Although she has the Cheng surname, she cannot freely insult me… and you.” Xue Jiao’s eyes became slightly moist.

“No! Jiaojiao! You’re not a burden; you’re Mom’s treasure! Now you also have a father. Your Uncle Cheng will protect you. You and Cheng Mingjiao are the same!”

“Not the same. At least… her mother will protect her.” Xue Jiao smiled bitterly, “Mom, even now I don’t know what I did wrong. Do you know how awful I felt when you slapped me today? It was like being betrayed by the whole world, with only me left alone, no one caring about me.”

“Jiaojiao!” Li Sitong’s tears instantly flowed down.

She knew she had hurt her daughter today, but she didn’t realize how deeply she had hurt her!

“Please leave. I think I still need to calm down.” She placed her hand on her chest, looking extremely uncomfortable.

“I…”

“Leave.”

Li Sitong walked out, looking back several times. Someone was standing at the door of the room opposite.

She was stunned, forcing a smile: “Mingze… you haven’t slept yet…”

“Auntie, you were excessive today.”

After speaking, Cheng Mingze glanced at the girl who had her back to them, sighed slightly, turned around, entered his room, and closed the door.

When Li Sitong returned to her room, she was crying. Almost as soon as she entered, she burst into tears.

“Siting! Siting, what’s wrong?” Cheng Shuo anxiously lifted the blanket and walked over.

“I’ve wronged Jiaojiao! I’m not a good mother!” Li Sitong’s emotions, which had been calmed by Bai Xiumei in the afternoon, suddenly erupted, and she cried miserably.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry, I know you’re a good mother. Let’s apologize to Jiaojiao!” Cheng Shuo comforted her.

“Why is Mingjiao so excessive?! How could she be like this…” Li Sitong cried with hiccups.

“Mingjiao was indeed excessive this time! She must recognize her mistake!”

Cheng Shuo’s face became serious, and thinking of the incident in the afternoon, Mingjiao’s words echoed in his mind again.

This matter couldn’t be so simply resolved; otherwise, it would be bad for both children!

He immediately picked up his phone and made a call—

“Ah Kai, bring Mingjiao over tomorrow morning to apologize to Jiaojiao! She hasn’t apologized to Jiaojiao today. This child must be managed!”

——

Xue Jiao lay on her bed, couldn’t help but take out her phone, and turned to the message Lin Zhihua had sent before Li Sitong entered—

[Cheng Mingjiao’s grandmother will find your cousin after returning today. Tomorrow, your cousin will come to formally apologize, obediently coming to say sorry. But you cannot let her come ‘voluntarily’; it must be ‘involuntary.’]

[So, you need to let your mother know she was wrong, but she will avoid it. She won’t think it’s entirely her problem and will ultimately blame your cousin. Your mother will cry to your stepfather, letting him know her grievances. Then, your stepfather will realize this matter has a significant impact, thus making your cousin come to apologize and recognize what mistake she made.]

Had Lin Zhihua… predicted it all correctly?

Would the words she just said to her mother make her go back and cry?

Would Uncle Cheng also contact Cheng Mingjiao to make her come and apologize?

Early the next morning, just as dawn broke.

“Jiaojiao, come down quickly, Mingjiao is here.” Li Sitong’s voice carried a hint of happiness.

She thought this matter was mainly Cheng Mingjiao’s fault. If Cheng Mingjiao apologized, would her daughter also forgive her?

Xue Jiao walked out slowly. Just as she reached the staircase, her eyes swept downward, and her brows furrowed.

Not only had Cheng Mingjiao come, but Bai Xiumei had also come.

She reached behind her, took out her phone from her backpack, and opened WeChat.

Sure enough, Lin Zhihua’s message had already arrived.

[Two situations: one is that your grandmother has come along, the other is that your grandmother hasn’t come. Did she come?]

[She came.] Xue Jiao immediately replied.

Soon, several more messages came in succession. Xue Jiao read them carefully, then put away her phone and slowly walked down.

“Jiaojiao, you’ve come down?” Bai Xiumei smiled benevolently, “This child Mingjiao said early this morning that she wanted to come and apologize to you.”

Cheng Mingjiao looked up at Xue Jiao who was slowly walking down, annoyance flashed in her eyes, but she said—

“Cousin, you’re awake. I’ve come to apologize to you…”

Xue Jiao thought to herself, that Lin Zhihua had guessed everything correctly.

Thus, she looked at Cheng Mingjiao, her lips revealing a smile, slowly walking to stand before her.