Chapter 345 Helping you with the daughter you had with your lover?

Cui Xiao's grip on the steering wheel tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning bluish-white, his fingertips almost digging into the cold plastic.

The leaves outside the car window were swirling in the sudden gust of wind, much like the turbulent emotions churning within her. The humiliation and grievances that had been deliberately sealed deep in her memory were instantly torn open, leaving a bloody wound, by Jin Ping's casual remark.

"Going to college?"

Cui Xiao's voice trembled uncontrollably, as if it were being squeezed out from deep in her throat, "Since high school, I've earned my tuition by working during winter and summer vacations. I worked my butt off to get into university, tried my best to get scholarships, and did hourly jobs to earn my living expenses. Over the years, I haven't taken a single penny of your tuition. You let me go to university? Ha, that's utterly ridiculous."

Prices in the port city were outrageously high; even the university cafeteria was more than twice as expensive as those in other schools. To save on tuition, Cui Xiao spent her spare time handing out flyers, working part-time in the cafeteria, and washing dishes at restaurants until 2 a.m. on weekends. In the winter, the water was freezing cold, and the chilblains on her hands would fester and heal repeatedly. Throughout all of this, her so-called mother never once inquired about it.

On the contrary, after she graduated and started earning money, Jinping reappeared, constantly asking for money under this pretext. To Jinping, she wasn't a daughter, but just a blood donation bag.

Supporting their entire family with endless blood transfusions.

Jin Ping paused on the other end of the phone, but her tone remained firm, even tinged with impatience. "Don't say anything useless. I gave birth to you and raised you; that's an act of kindness. Besides, Lulu is your sister. She's been spoiled since she was little and has never suffered any hardship. Now that you're doing well and have the means, isn't it only right that you help your sister?" Cui Xiao suddenly chuckled softly, her laughter filled with sorrow. "Only right? Mom, tell me, what is 'on right'? When Dad passed away, you gambled away all the family's money, losing everything until you didn't even have money for food. Why didn't you say raising me was 'on right' then? Later, when Grandma was seriously ill, I knelt down and begged you to lend me some money for her treatment, and you said you had no money. But then you bought Sun Lu's father a new car. Why didn't you say treating Grandma was 'on right' then? Now you remember I'm your daughter, and you think I should help the daughter you had with your lover?"

Cui Xiao took a deep breath, trying to suppress the tears welling up in her eyes, and her tone gradually turned cold.

"The house in Gangcheng was bought with money I saved up little by little over eleven years of hard work. My current job is something I earned by working countless sleepless nights under pressure. You have no idea about the hardships and suffering I've endured, and you've never cared. If Sun Lu wants to come to me, fine, but I won't take care of her, and I certainly won't hire a nanny for her. She's an adult now and should be responsible for her own life, just like I was back then."

Jin Ping shouted angrily on the other end of the phone, "Cui Xiao, you cold-blooded and heartless thing! How could I have raised such an ingrate? If you dare to ignore Lulu, I will go to Hong Kong to find you, I will go to your company and make a scene, and let everyone know that you are an unfilial daughter."

Cui Xiao suddenly loosened her grip on the steering wheel, then quickly tightened it again, her eyes filled with an almost overflowing coldness.

Looking at the endless stream of cars ahead, her voice was calm and undisturbed, "If you want to cause trouble, I won't stop you. But Mom, I'm warning you, don't push me. I was able to get to where I am now from nothing, so I'm not afraid to go back to the way things were. If you push me too far, neither of us will have an easy time."

Jin Ping on the other end of the phone seemed startled by Cui Xiao's tone.

She calmed down for a moment and thought it over. Although Cui Xiao hadn't been very kind to them over the years, she had never shortchanged them on money, and had been quite generous to them.

If they really manage to get her job, they'll be the ones who suffer in the end.

Jin Ping was silent for a moment, then began to complain in a tearful voice, "Why am I so unlucky? I raised two daughters, one is unfilial and the other is a constant worry for me..."

Cui Xiao, too lazy to listen to Jin Ping's sobs any longer, interrupted her directly, "Sun Lu arrives tomorrow, I can pick her up and take her to the hotel, but that's all. Her life afterward has nothing to do with me. If you don't agree, there's nothing I can do."

After saying that, Cui Xiao hung up the phone without waiting for Jin Ping's response.

The carriage fell silent instantly, with only her heavy breathing remaining.

Cui Xiao leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and a tear slid down her cheek, landing on the back of her cold hand.

Over the years, she thought she had long since gotten used to Jinping's favoritism and indifference, but every time she brought up the past, her heart still ached as if it were being pricked by needles.

You still care, don't you?

When Cui Xiao got home, she soaked in the bathtub to wash away her fatigue and anxiety.

She changed into clean pajamas and lay in bed. It was a rare moment of peace and quiet, and she didn't want to do anything but get a good night's sleep.

Cui Xiao slept until evening.

She looked up and saw the fiery clouds on the horizon, thinking that tomorrow would surely be a good day.

Cui Xiao got out of bed, intending to prepare a simple dinner for herself. She made a salad and a loaf of toast, and sat at the table to enjoy the moment.

Just then, the phone rang.

It was a call from General Manager Hou.

Without thinking, Cui Xiao answered the phone, "President Hou."

Judging from the time, President Hou should have just gotten off the plane. Cui Xiao assumed it was about work, but unexpectedly, President Hou said, "Assistant Cui, I've heard about what happened at noon. The company will definitely not ignore such a terrible thing that Pete did. Here's what I'll do: I'll give you three days off to relax and adjust yourself before coming back to work."

Cui Xiao was surprised, "You knew all along?"

President Hou took a deep breath. "Attorney Zhou has already contacted me. Assistant Cui, you should have told me immediately when this happened. The company will definitely seek justice for you."

So it was Zhou Mubin?

Cui Xiao's mind was a bit confused, so she casually explained, "I didn't think that much about it at the time; I just didn't want to put you in a difficult position."

Mr. Hou said, "What you said is wrong. You are my employee. I would never side with outsiders. Besides, such behavior is despicable and it's a disgrace to us men."

Cui Xiaoxin trusts President Hou's character; otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen East Asia Group from among so many offers.

Cui Xiao felt a warmth in her heart. "Thank you, President Hou."

Mr. Hou didn't waste any more words. "Alright, you get some rest. Call me if anything comes up."

Cui Xiao: "Okay."

Even after hanging up the phone, President Hou was still sweating profusely. He was terrified. Zhou Mubin's tone just now sounded like he was about to devour someone. President Hou strongly suspected that if Zhou Mubin were in front of him, he would definitely give him a good beating.