"Your dad and I worry about you every day at home, wondering if something happened to you outside. Well, you're out there eating and drinking well, and you don't even come home to let us know you're safe!"
"How could you do this to me and your father?!"
Chen Zhou seemed to hear nothing clearly, only seeing Mi Xiuhua's mouth opening and closing incessantly, making a creaking sound like an old gramophone, causing her to tremble uncontrollably and want to escape.
Chen Zhou subconsciously took a step back. She looked around and saw that the guests and colleagues in the lobby were all looking at her with curiosity, indifference, and mockery. All kinds of gazes were like an invisible hand that gripped Chen Zhou's throat, making her unable to say a word.
Mi Xiuhua was still crying.
Suddenly a sound came from beside me.
Song Jianmin pointed at Mi Xiuhua and said, "What did you say? Who do you think you are, causing trouble here and affecting our store's business?"
In just a few minutes, Ah Ming, the store manager in charge of the dining area, came out of the kitchen and was shocked by what he saw.
Ah Ming was replacing Song Huimin and had been working at Phoenix Pavilion for over a year. He was quick-witted and responsive, and after a few moments, he understood what was going on. He said to Mi Xiuhua, "You're a guest in the Hibiscus Private Room, right? Why don't we go to the back open space to talk? It's too noisy in front, and it's not convenient for you to talk to your daughter, is it?"
A glint of light flashed in Mi Xiuhua's eyes. "She came here to eat?"
Chen Zhou and his two companions were still standing at the entrance of Phoenix Pavilion.
Amin's apologetic smile paused slightly. "They are our employees."
Mi Xiuhua moved her lips and said, "That's perfect, since they're your employees, you can all be the judge!"
At this moment, Xu Songyuan, who was upstairs reconciling accounts with the finance department, also came down. After hearing the commotion, he gave A-Ming a look and quickly took him to the back to handle the matter.
Mi Xiuhua gritted her teeth and said, "Let Chen Zhou come over too."
Amin glanced back.
Chen Zhou stood there, tears welling in her eyes, and nodded to A Ming.
No matter what, we can't let it affect the store's business.
Song Jianmin gritted his teeth and glared at Mi Xiuhua's back. He then said to Qian Yu'an, "Second sister-in-law, go upstairs and wait for me. We'll go back later."
Qian Yu'an nodded, "Go ahead, Zhouzhou's matter is more important."
Song Jianmin pulled Chen Zhou to the back. As they passed through the side door of the kitchen, a kitchen helper poked his head out and asked, "Chen Zhou, are you alright?"
Chen Zhou shook his head.
"Don't worry, we've known you for so long, you're definitely not what that crazy woman said!"
"That's right! We all believe in you!"
...
Chen Zhou smiled wryly; she never expected to meet Mi Xiuhua under these circumstances.
Song Jianmin pursed his lips and patted Chen Zhou on the shoulder.
“You’re an adult now, they can’t control you. They can’t just kidnap you and take you back, can they? There are so many people in our shop, they’re not just sitting around doing nothing.”
Chen Zhou: "...You don't need to come with me."
"That won't do!" Song Jianmin exclaimed, his eyes wide. "What if she hits you? Come on, let's go together."
After passing the kitchen, which is where they usually unload, prepare, and peel vegetables, Mi Xiuhua was standing there wiping away tears. A Ming looked over at Song Jianmin and Chen Zhou and gave them a wink.
Mi Xiuhua also looked over, and when she met Chen Zhou's gaze, a hint of annoyance flashed in her eyes.
Chen Zhou's clothes were much better than Mi Xiuhua had imagined. She had thought her daughter was out having a good time, but it seemed she was doing quite well. If she was doing so well, why didn't she come home?! After raising her for so long, she didn't even know how to repay her family!
Mi Xiuhua's anger surged.
When Chen Zhou was only one step away, Mi Xiuhua raised her hand to slap Chen Zhou's face, but Song Jianmin grabbed it—
"Hey, ma'am, I've already brought her here. Can't you speak properly? Your daughter didn't steal, rob, or do anything wrong. Why are you hitting her?"
Song Jianmin released his grip, and the force of his backward movement almost caused Mi Xiuhua to fall to the ground.
Mi Xiuhua frowned as she looked at Song Jianmin. "And who are you?"
Song Jianmin narrowed his eyes. "I'm in charge of this shop, and Chen Zhou is one of our employees. We can't just sit idly by!"
Mi Xiuhua immediately followed up, "Since you're Chen Zhou's superior, I'll tell you! Chen Zhou ran away from home more than two years ago and has never come back to see us even once! Is there any daughter in the world as unfilial as her?! She doesn't care about her parents and has never done anything for them! Her father and I cry every day at home, afraid that something might happen to her outside. And now look at her! She's out there eating and drinking well, but she just won't come home. How could I have given birth to such a daughter—"
Just as Song Jianmin was about to speak, Chen Zhou's voice rang out:
"Have you had enough of your acting?! You're only contacting me now because you're short of money and in a fit of anger! You won't let me go to school, you won't give me food, you're making me work so that your son can go to school, but I'm a human being too! If you don't love me, then don't have me in the first place!"
Mi Xiuhua pointed at Chen Zhou, her voice trembling, "You! You unfilial daughter! Shouldn't you support your brother? If you hadn't been so playful as a child, how could your brother have suffered brain damage from a fever—"
"You're talking nonsense! It's obvious that Chen Jiamu is just stupid and bad at studying. For ten whole years, Chen Jiamu has used all his brainpower on cheating and slacking off. He's just not cut out for studying! He inherited your and Chen Qing's stupidity!"
Mi Xiuhua screamed in despair, "Chen Zhou!!"
Chen Zhou stared at Mi Xiuhua and sneered, "Don't blame Chen Jiamu's failure on me. I've tolerated you for too long!"
Ten years ago, Chen Zhou was only eleven or twelve years old. His nine-year-old brother, Chen Jiamu, got caught in the rain while playing outside during the day. When he got home, he didn't change his wet clothes but just ran around in the stairwell playing with the neighbor's children.
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