Apart from Xie's family, everyone else has moved out of the old house and only returns during holidays and other special occasions. The old lady went on vacation recently, so she didn't know that she had a granddaughter.
After Xie Jingyue left, the others were about to leave as well. The atmosphere was really awkward. After an awkward greeting, they picked up their bags and turned to leave.
Before leaving, Fifth Aunt couldn't help but say, "Second Sister-in-law, you should send your Wan'er away as soon as possible. The bloodline of that kind of person might produce bad results. You should listen to my advice."
Although she feared her newborn child would be kidnapped, she utterly despised her second brother's family's behavior. Instead of cherishing the child she had risked everything to give birth to, they were spoiling their enemy's child—wasn't that insane?
Madam Xie's face turned cold, and she said in an unfriendly tone, "You're in charge of taking care of your own children. My children are none of your business!"
"You! You really don't listen to good advice!" Aunt Wu was furious. She secretly made up her mind that if Xie Wan'er was around, she wouldn't bring the child over anymore. What if something happened?
Finally, she turned and left, ignoring her husband's gaze. After all, she was born into a prestigious family; he only addressed her as "sister-in-law" because of her social standing. Did he really think she was afraid?
After everyone left, the entire restaurant became empty in an instant. The servants around didn't dare to breathe and could only silently go into the kitchen to clean up.
Xie Wan'er coughed several times before bursting into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. "Dad, Mom, don't you want me anymore? Did I do something wrong? I didn't mean to, I don't want to leave you. It's all my fault, I shouldn't have fought with Sister Qingqing for you. I'll leave."
"What are you saying? You'll always be our darling! Don't listen to your aunt's nonsense. She just can't stand to see our family doing well. Anyone who dares to kick you out is going against our family!" Madam Xie was heartbroken and hugged her tightly, comforting her and calling her "my darling" over and over again.
Xie's father stood to the side with a cold face, looking at Xie Qingqing as if she were an enemy.
"Are you satisfied now? Do you really have to make things difficult for your sister? What good does this do you? Didn't we say before that we would treat you both equally? What are you thinking? Do you only feel at ease when you've caused chaos in our family?"
He says that without a shred of conscience. Treat everyone equally? Can he really do that?
No wonder he's a capitalist; he lies without batting an eye and without even blushing.
Xie Qingqing was just a ten-year-old girl. Faced with these accusations, she was at a loss. "No, I didn't. Dad, I didn't." She didn't say anything, but why was she the one being blamed for everything?
Is it because she appeared later? Is it simply because she hurt their beloved Wan'er?
But Dad, I don't want to be the older sister. I want to be the younger sister and be cared for.
"You dare talk back! If it weren't for what you said, why would your aunt have such a bad opinion of Wan'er?" He didn't actually dislike his younger sister; after all, she was just a girl, and the old lady liked her very much. So why did his sister turn bad? It must be because of something others said.
"I didn't, I really didn't." Xie Qingqing forced back her tears, refusing to let them fall. But they say the squeaky wheel gets the grease; if she didn't cry, who would know her grievances?
But then again, all children cry, and the reason she didn't cry was obvious: she knew that crying wouldn't do her any good and would only bring her more dislike.
"When I first saw you, I felt sorry for you. I thought you had suffered so much at such a young age and I wanted to make it up to you. But I never expected that you would target Wan'er at every turn. Even though you knew she was in poor health, you still had to show off in front of her. You have such a vicious mind at such a young age. No wonder you have suffered so much outside."
Madam Xie wasn't usually one to speak harshly, but when her precious daughter was wronged, she had to retaliate no matter what. Even if the person standing in front of her was her own daughter, perhaps in her heart she had never truly considered her daughter, which was why she could utter such harsh words.
Xie Qingqing's tears fell, but she didn't cry out loud. She was just too sad to cry. She didn't dare to cry out loud, for fear of arousing even greater disgust.
"Cry, cry, cry! What right do you have to cry? Quickly apologize to your sister. If it weren't for you, your sister wouldn't have suffered such injustice!" Xie's father said impatiently.
Why apologize? She didn't do anything wrong.
But Dad is so fierce. If she doesn't apologize, will she dislike me even more?
After a long silence, she choked back tears and slowly uttered a few words, "I'm sorry."
"Speak louder!"
"Sister Wan'er, I'm sorry!" she raised her voice.
Looking up, Xie Wan'er, nestled in Madam Xie's arms, wore a faint, victorious smile.
At that moment, she felt as if her self-esteem had been trampled underfoot, as if she had fallen into an abyss, a dark and hopeless place that made it hard for her to breathe.
"Sister, I forgive you, but you can't bully me anymore."
Xie Qingqing wanted to explain that she had never bullied Xie Wan'er, but the couple wouldn't listen, so she could only remain silent. Silence, however, seemed to imply acknowledgment, as if admitting that she had bullied Xie Wan'er before.
"Stay in your room tonight and don't bring her any food. Let her reflect on her actions!"
Xie Qingqing's room was on the second floor, with a private bathroom and walk-in closet. Initially, Madam Xie was quite excited about the child, so the room she prepared wasn't a maid's room. However, compared to Xie Wan'er's room, it was truly inadequate.
Xie Wan'er's room was not only large, but also in the best location; it was practically a small family room.
But Xie Qingqing didn't know that, nor did she go inside to see it. All she knew was that her life was much better than before.
Even though her biological parents didn't like her, how could a child not long to be loved by her parents?
So she learned to be patient and to please others, all just to get her parents' attention.
Xie Jingyue could see all of this clearly in the images transmitted by the system.
The little girl was isolated and helpless, and could only do as she was told. When she was bullied, she didn't know how to retaliate, and could only weakly apologize. This home seemed to her to be another cage.
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