Chapter 38: You Must Become More Ruthless Than She Is!
Mu Qiqi actually knew that her aunt would eventually know about the matter since Mu Tangxue did. Even if it was alright to be caught in puppy love, she must stop her aunt from learning that it was Sheng Xiaolshe would not bet on Sheng Xiao not hating her if things went public, and how would her own aunt and others think of their relationship then?
Not to mention that she did not want to trouble Sheng Xiao.
With that being the case, Mu Qiqi hurried home immediately after classes were over.
She would prepare her aunt for it!
Su Zipei was surprised to find to be given a hug once she reached home. "What happened?"
"Aunt Zipei...actually, I like a boy in school. But I kept it a secret and only wrote about it in a diary...but Mu Tangxue took it and pasted it on the school noticeboard."
Su Zipei was taken aback. "You're having puppy love!"
"Aunt Zipei! I am, but I didn't do anything...we're from different classes too! We've never even talked to each other..."
Su Zipei nodded at that. "I believe that you'll behave yourself."
"But my secret's out..." Mu Qiqi was a little tearful. "I just didn't expect Mu Tangxue to go through a trash can just to humiliate me."
"Truly... it's hard to believe that the same Mu Tangxue, whom the Mu family thinks is well-behaved, could be so toxic." Su Zipei snorted coolly, hugging Mu Qiqi. "I really want to take off that mask of fake kindness that she wears... but it doesn't matter, Qiqi. I'm just afraid that your feelings might affect your studies, but your heart is clearly on the straight path since you could tell me about it personally." "Aunt Zipei...you're not blaming me?"
"Right now, I only hate that I couldn't protect you and give that sister of yours a few slaps in school. She's just low!"
Mu Qiqi's arms tightened around her aunt. "I'm not afraid of anything as long as you believe me, Aunt Zipei."
With that, she returned to her room upstairs.
Now, she was fine even if Mu Tangxue would tell on her. Still, although she had fooled Su Zipei, what would Sheng Xiao feel to learn that she liked a boy in school? She had carefully concealed her feelings towards Sheng Xiao because she was only too aware that it was a dangerous affection.
But what else could she do?
***
Meanwhile, Mu Tangxue certainly did not disappoint. She told Mama Mu about everything that happened to Mu Qiqi in school while pretending that she was merely a bystander.
Mama Mu snorted at that. "She's really no longer who she was since she's left...what other bad things has she not done? Even seducing men at her young age..."
"Mommy...actually...when Sis was still living with Aunt Zipei, I sneaked out to find her because I was worried about her... but I heard their neighbors saying that Uncle had sold her off..."
"I know that. The lawyers of that French backer have mentioned that." Mama Mu replied.
"But think about it...that Uncle and his friends? If Sis was sold off, is she still pure?"
Mama Mu was stunned; she had never thought about that.
Still, she realized what that meant at once with Mu Tangxue's hint.
"Keep it between us. I'm afraid someone will expose that," she said viciously. "That's why your sister must never be allowed to come home...there's going to be trouble if your father learns about such a filthy past."
As if chanting incantations, Mu Tangxue only ever tried to create a gap between her parents and Mu Qiqi.
The more they hated her, the more pleased she was!
Now, what could Mu Qiqi even do?
She still had so many pages of her torn diary. Why not put up another thirty tomorrow?
***
It was late night when Sheng Xiao returned to Jianchuan. Jing Yun had brought him home to rest, but he simply told him to hand him the keys.
Jing Yun knew what he was up to, but could only watch as he left since there was nothing he could do.
Sheng Xiao messaged Mu Qiqi when he reached the little mansion.
[Come out.]
Mu Qiqi saw it and wanted to avoid it, since she was unsure how she would explain about the diary incident. On the other hand, afraid of Sheng Xiao misunderstanding things, she stopped hesitating and put on a thick jacket, sneaking out to where they usually met when Su Zipei wasn't watching.
Sheng Xiao started the car but did not drive far, stopping by some nearby woods.
Meanwhile, Mu Qiqi had kept her head down, afraid of even looking at him.
"What happened?" Sheng Xiao knew at once from her look that something was wrong.
"Xiaoxiao.
......Mu Tangxue pinned my diary on the school noticeboard." Mu Qiqi told him.
Sheng Xiao promptly turned towards her.
Even if he did not know how much Mu Qiqi had written about him, he could guess that it was more than just a few lines.
"Actually, I've fallen in love...with a boy in the next class." Mu Qiqi was watching his eyes closely, and her words were as careful as it was probing.
"Is that so?" Sheng Xiao replied flatly, because he knew that Mu Qiqi would have to divert attention from him' if she wanted to keep things a secret.
After all, the little one was smart enough to only use pronouns in her diary.
"Xiaoxiao...actually...I..."
Mu Qiqi wanted to say something but could not because she did not want them to become strangers.
"How did Mu Tangxue get her hands on it?"
It was not that Sheng Xiao had too short a temper, but he certainly did not return that diary in the middle of the night so that Mu Tangxue could hurt Mu Qiqi with it.
"I tore it into pieces, kept it under my desk, and dumped it into a trash can outside during P.E... I didn't expect her to pick up the pieces." Mu Qiqi explained.
"And then? You're letting her bully you?"
"I'm no different from her if my heart becomes as dark as hers." Mu Qiqi replied.
"You must become more ruthless than she is!"
"I admit I don't have the experience to handle such people, but I'll learn!" She promised.
"I will look for evidence at her desk next morning. There must be evidence with so many pieces, but I just wanted to...prepare you in case the school asks for you..." she then added, trying to be optimistic. "I'm still a little immature, but I'll pay attention to that from now on."
***