Chapter 45: Xiaoxiao, Am I Really So Shabby?
Mama Mu drove to the school gates of Eaton, where students were hurrying inside from every direction.
Mu Qiqi may have sounded convincing, but she also told Mama Mu that would understand once she asked around in school. Moreover, she was already out here, and a trip to Eaton would not be a big deal. She hence caught one of the students walking past and asked, "Excuse me, do you know Mu Tangxue?"
"Oh, White Lotus Mu? Who doesn't? Isn't that just disgusting, pasting your own sister's diary on the notice board?" Although the boy was as handsome as a god and wore glasses, he was quite well-versed when it came to school gossip.
"Didn't Mu Qiqi set her up?"
"White Lotus Mu herself was recorded doing the deed. It was all on video, that's solid evidence what's there to argue about? And who are you? Asking so many questions..." The boy impatiently adjusted his glasses, rolled his eyes at Mama Mu, and strode off.
Unsatisfied, Mama Mu asked another girl, "Excuse me, can I ask you something? Do you know Mu Tangxue?"
"White Lotus Mu? Of course. Everyone in school knows how incorrigible she is...she even tried to killed herself yesterday, so embarrassing!"
Mama Mu was stunned at that.
Everyone had always told her that Mu Tangxue had good grades and was well-behaved. This was the first time she had heard someone call her incorrigible' and 'embarassing'!
[Embarrassing'...
Now, it was clear that her darling daughter had not been forced to jump off the roof because of Mu Qiqi's bullying, but because she was embarrassed, caught in the act of pinning Mu Qiqi's diary on the noticeboard.
But that wasn't what Mu Tangxue told her yesterday.
What was worse, she had gone to school and pelted the class teacher with an almighty scolding without learning the truth of the matter.
Troubled, Mama Mu called her husband.
"I'm at work," Papa Mu answered impatiently, "can you not bother me with every little thing? Can't you do something so simple as sending Mu Qiqi overseas?"
Mama Mu was upset, but having gotten used to it, she told Papa Mu about everything that happened that morning.
Papa Mu was shocked too. After all, Mu Tangxue had always been obedient she could never be so calculating!
Even so, Mama herself saw the pictures of Mu Tangxue putting up the diary pages on the noticeboard.
Papa Mu exploded at once. "Such a disgrace, and she still has the gall to attempt suicide!"
"Husband, she didn't do that on purpose. You know she has always been sensible."
"What about Mu Qiqi? Is she leaving?"
"I spoke to her and Su Zipei. They are living comfortably in that little mansion and don't want to come back at all."
"That little monster, she wouldn't care who her ancestors are!" With that, Papa Mu hung up and turned to his assistant. "Call up Eaton, and check whether Tangxue was stirring trouble."
The assistant nodded and did as he was told and got an answer soon enough.
"President Mu, Miss Mu is now spurned by the entire school because of that diary incident!"
"Embarrassing! Just embarrassing!"
Papa Mu was beside himself with anger, and rushed to the hospital to see Mu Tangxue once he left work. At first, Mu Tangxue thought that he had managed to chase Mu Qiqi out of Jianchuan, and was taken aback that he was actually looking at her angrily.
She had seen that look before, but it was usually aimed at Mu Qiqi.
Now, however...
Mu Tangxue was a little afraid, because she had never seen her father glare at her like that.
"Dad..."
"It's enough to have one make me lose face in school, but you had to join her?" Papa Mu yelled, dragging her out of bed. "If you have what it takes to show off your sister's diary, why can't you avoid getting caught?"
Mu Tangxue's eyes promptly widened.
"Dad..."
"Now the whole school is calling you White Lotus. Happy now? Now the Mu family has no dignity at all!" Papa Mu cried. "I work hard every day and you lot throw everything away just like that!"
Mu Tangxue was scared and it was real fear.
Papa Mu had never been that angry with her, and Mu Qiqi would definitely be pleased if she saw that.
After all, Mu Tangxue was now suffering as she had.
"Don't cry..." Mama Mu reached the hospital just then, and quickly persuaded her husband when she saw Mu Tangxue being taught a lesson, "Husband, she's made a mistake, but that's the first time... don't blame her too much."
"Tangxue, you yourself have to restore your honor in school, or don't hope to see me pleased."
With that, Papa Mu left the ward.
It was the first time Mu Tangxue had thought how nice it was to have Mu Qiqi be her scapegoat.
In the past, she had always been watching as Mu Qiqi was being scolded. Now that she was gone, Papa Mu's rage is going to be vented on her.
Now, she cannot make a single mistake.
"Mommy..."
Mama Mu sighed and hugged her tightly. "I was useless; I couldn't protect you.
But she was the one who told Papa Mu about Mu Qiqi's sugar daddy...
Even so, if she couldn't bear the risk and Papa Mu learned that she wasn't telling the truth, she was going to be scolded again.
That was also the first time Mu Tangxue felt Papa Mu's opinion of her change...
***
After school, Mu Qiqi gave Sheng Xiao the short version of what had happened when Mama Mu came to the little mansion.
Sheng Xiao only replied when he was free. "The Mu family is getting restless."
"Xiaoxiao...actually, I naughtily told Missus Mu that Mu Tangxue is spurned by everyone in school. With her personality, she is definitely going to tell that person, and things wouldn't end nicely for Mu Tangxue when that happens..."
After all, she had experienced that terrible fate before, although Papa Mu did directly lay his hands on her...
The Mu family was just bizarre. Papa Mu cared only about saving face, while Mama Mu cared about riches. Was there anyone who really cared about the children?
In the past, Mu Tangxue gave them the perception that she didn't need them to worry and would protect their dignity.
Now, however, she left them utterly embarrassed. How could Papa Mu hold back?
"That's naughty? I can have you become naughtier!" Sheng Xiao teased.
"Missus Mu also told Aunt Zipei that I have a sugar daddy, and that I go out with a man every night and receive many presents...fortunately, Aunt Zipei didn't believe that." Mu Qiqi then added helplessly. "Sugar daddy? Would you even make the mark?" Sheng Xiao retorted poisonously.
Sheng Xiao's meaning was actually very clear: Mu Qiqi was not a canary he adopted, because he did not like that and did not thought it necessary.
"Am I really that shabby, Xiaoxiao?" Mu Qiqi could not help but ask.
"We'll see tonight when you come out."