The interrogative tone, the chin slightly tilted upwards, she looked every bit the superior.
"Uh..." Ji Anning was startled, stammering, "I've just been too busy lately..."
Before she could finish, Ji Ruoqian interrupted her, "So you haven't finished it, huh? You're definitely doing this on purpose. Registration has already started, and you must finish it for me by today."
She commanded Ji Anning with a spiteful gritting of her teeth, her pretty and youthful face twisted into the likeness of a jealous, shrewish woman.
"That..."
Ji Anning tried to explain, but Ji Ruoqian pounced on her like a fierce beast, her arms flailing wildly.
Ji Anning nimbly dodged, a sly glint passing through her sharp eyes.
The next second, Ji Ruoqian suddenly pitched forward, falling flat on her face.
"Ah..." She screamed in pain, lying on the ground, turning her head to glare at Ji Anning with a screeching voice, "Ji Anning, you shameless thing, how dare you trip me!"
The fall was not light, and her tears were brimming with pain.
Seeing Ji Anning's lofty gaze, she clenched her fists, as if she wanted to tear her apart.
Just now Ji Anning's face had been calm, but it instantly transformed into one of shock and confusion, her eyes wide, shaking her head in denial, "I didn't."
That innocent expression infuriated Ji Ruoqian, who, enduring the pain, got up and lunged at Ji Anning again, claws bared.
"What's going on?"
A stern voice suddenly came from the direction of the dining room.
Ji Ruoqian's hands had just reached Ji Anning's back when Ji Anning's feet staggered forward and she fell to her knees with a 'thud'.
An elderly gentleman, nearly seventy, emerged from the dining room, his serious face even more forbidding in a black shirt.
Accompanying the old gentleman was a middle-aged woman who, catching the scene of Ji Anning being pushed down by Ji Ruoqian, rushed over anxiously, "Anning, are you alright?"
She came to Ji Anning's side and helped her to her feet.
Ji Anning bit her lip and gently shook her head, "Mom, I'm fine."
This middle-aged woman was her future mother-in-law, Yang Yufang.
"Ji Anning, stop pretending with me!" The old man had come out, and Ji Ruoqian was also frightened; her previously arrogant face showed fear as she glared at Ji Anning accusingly, then quickly turned to the old gentleman, her eyes reddening as she explained, "Grandfather, it was Ji Anning; she deliberately tripped me with her foot."
With that, she showed the palm of her hand, which was red from the fall.
The tears that had been swirling in her eyes suddenly carved two rapid streams down her face, crying as if with rain-laden pear blossoms.
'Hmph!' The old gentleman snorted coldly, clearly disbelieving her, "Don't be in such a hurry to tattle to me, I have eyes."
Then he turned his gaze to Ji Anning, "Anning, what's the situation?"
Ji Anning bit her lip, hesitating, looking very troubled as if uncertain whether she should speak.
She glanced at Yang Yufang by her side.