"Zhouzhou, are you alright? Your aunt is here."
Zhouzhou snuggled closer to her, burying her little head in her waist, shaking her head vigorously, her shoulders trembling slightly, but she didn't shed a single tear.
Seeing this, Chen's mother became even angrier:
"What could possibly be wrong with her? It's my Jiaojiao who's in trouble! And you, without even asking what happened, are protecting her! I'm asking you, why did you push our Jiaojiao? Speak up! Are you mute?"
Zhuo's mother quickly stepped forward and grabbed Chen's mother's arm, her face showing embarrassment, and whispered to persuade her:
“Mrs. Chen, please calm down! Didn’t I specifically mention this to you before? This child… her situation is special, she can’t speak, so please ask everyone to take extra care of her. She definitely didn’t do it on purpose…”
When Zhuo's mother pulled her, Chen's mother seemed to remember that Zhuo's mother had specifically mentioned it to her earlier, but she had forgotten about such an unimportant matter and hadn't taken it to heart at all.
A fleeting hint of impatience crossed her face, quickly replaced by deep contempt.
"So what if someone is mute? Does being mute give them the right to bully others just because they can't speak?! That's not fair! If you pushed someone, you have to admit it! If you can't say 'sorry,' then bow and apologize to me! I need to give my Jiaojiao an explanation today!"
Her voice was shrill and sharp, carrying an unquestionable arrogance, as if she were giving orders.
The living room was so quiet that you could hear the ticking of the wall clock.
All the guests' gazes—some sympathetic, some scrutinizing, some indifferent—felt heavy on Zhouzhou's small shoulders.
Zhou Qiqi pulled Zhouzhou even tighter behind her, like a lioness who had been provoked, her eyes sharp enough to scratch, as she met Chen's mother's gaze:
"This parent! The matter hasn't even been clarified yet, and you're already insisting that Zhouzhou pushed him, and even forcing a child who can't speak to apologize? Where's the logic in that? If you're going to apologize, you need to get the facts straight first!"
“My daughter Jiaojiao said it was her who pushed her, isn’t that obvious? I believe her!”
Chen's mother pointed at her daughter, who was still sobbing, and spoke with absolute certainty.
“I trust Zhouzhou; she would never do such a thing for no reason.”
Zhou Qiqi's voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear and firm.
"Aren't there two children nearby? Ask them what happened!"
Zhuo's mother quickly looked at the two slightly older girls next to her. One of them, wearing a floral dress, was nervously twisting her fingers.
Mother Zhuo softened her voice: "Xiao Fang, you were right there, did you see? How did Jiao Jiao fall down?"
The girl named Xiaofang timidly looked up, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something.
But her mother, standing behind her, subtly changed her expression, pressing lightly on her lower back without her noticing, her eyes carrying a warning.
Xiaofang glanced back at her mother, swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, quickly lowered her head, and whispered:
"I...I didn't see it clearly..."
Another girl quickly shook her head: "I didn't see it either."
The two mothers exchanged a glance and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
They were all from the performing arts troupe, and Chen's father was the newly transferred head of the cultural department, so they dared not offend him.
A triumphant, sarcastic smile immediately appeared on Chen's mother's face, and she raised her chin even higher:
"See that? Nobody saw it? That's her pushing it! Apologize right now! This dress cost thirty yuan! Bow down and apologize, and pay fifty yuan in damages, and we'll call it a day!"
She muttered to herself, "A country bumpkin, no manners..."
These words were like a match, instantly igniting Zhou Qiqi's anger.
She shielded Zhouzhou completely behind her, staring directly at Chen's mother with eyes as cold as ice, each word spoken with resounding force:
"Apologize? Impossible! If anyone dares to force Zhouzhou to apologize again, don't blame me for being impolite!"
His protective stance and the resolute tone in his words sent a chill down the spines of everyone around him.
Startled by this imposing manner, Chen's mother's eyes darted around, then she turned to Zhuo's mother in a fit of rage:
"Sister Zhuo! Listen to this! What kind of guest did you invite? They have no manners or etiquette whatsoever! They're causing trouble in our house? You have to give me an explanation today! Otherwise, this isn't over!"
All eyes turned to Zhuo's mother, including Zhou Qiqi's.
Zhou Qiqi's eyes were calm, but beneath that calm lay a silent scrutiny.
She will not compromise!
If Zhuo's mother chooses to pressure Zhouzhou to appease the situation, then it's better not to be friends with her.
As for the job opportunity to design dance costumes for the performing arts troupe, it can be immediately cancelled.
Life offers many opportunities, and it's not a pity to give up one.
But forcing Zhouzhou to apologize for this opportunity might leave her with a lifelong psychological shadow.
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