Meanwhile, Wen Qiao's gaze was cold and sinister. "Since you're ignorant of the law, let me teach you a thing or two. Wen Jianmin bought a bag costing hundreds of thousand yuan for you, and a two hundred thousand yuan piano for his stepdaughter with whom he has no blood relations. Wen Chi, Wen Mo and I are his biological children, the ones he has a legal and moral responsibility to raise. It's only right that he spends this money on us. For you to show up here to look for my mom, you're picking a quarrel and causing trouble on purpose. If this happens again, let's see each other in court."
Stewed snow pear with rock sugar was still dripping off Zhong Hui's hair. She knew that Wen Qiao was ferocious despite her tender age, and that she was neither this brat's match in a verbal argument nor in a physical brawl. Also, looking at how the convenience store boss was rolling up his sleeves fiercely, seemingly ready for a fight, she knew that if she were to hang around any longer, she was bound to suffer a huge disadvantage.
Despite wimping out inside, she put up a strong appearance and tossed out a snide remark. "It is indeed true that only awful children will come out of a lousy mother. None of you are decent."
With that, Wen Qiao grabbed the cup of coffee on the cashier counter and splashed it at her face.
Scalded by the remnant heat of the coffee, Zhong Hui screamed loudly, "You…!"
Wen Qiao said in an icy tone. "Still not getting out of here?"
In her wretched state, Zhong Hui fled the convenience store.
When Wen Qiao turned her head, she saw her mother with a terrible countenance. Her mother was a gentle and virtuous woman. Like she said, it was true that she had grown up wildly by herself.
But if she wasn't barbaric, she would only stand to be bullied.
She wasn't going to let herself be bullied again this lifetime.
Once Zhong Hui left, Wen Qiao hid away her sharp claws and transformed back into that obedient young lady. She walked to Su Yun and called out to her in a small voice. "Mom… Uncle Ji."
Ji Mingyuan hurriedly said, "Sister Su, you should go back with Qiaoqiao first. I'll help you pack up the stuff."
While Ji Mingyuan was packing up the things, Su Yun had already dragged Wen Qiao out of the convenience store.
Throughout the ten-minute journey on foot from the convenience store to home, Su Yun didn't say a single word. Her upbringing didn't allow her to lecture her children in public.
When they reached their house entrance, Wen Chi and Wen Mo were doing their homework on the old elm table in the small courtyard. Wen Chi covered a hand over his mouth and let out a soft cough, it seemed like he had caught a cold.
When Wen Chi saw Wen Qiao, he was about to go up to her, when the latter stopped him with a gaze.
Wen Qiao was pulled into the bedroom by Su Yun.
"Tell me, what happened?"
Wen Qiao set down her pipa case gently and smoothed her hair uneasily. "What do you mean by what happened?"
"Why did you ask for money from your father?" Su Yun's voice was trembling slightly and her eyes were reddened.
"Why can't I? He's our father in the eyes of the law. The three of us are his children, and he has a legal and moral obligation to support us financially. This is the money he ought to fork out."
Su Yun's eyes were brimming with tears. "Wen Qiao, what about pride? Do you not want your pride anymore? Do you want Mom to lose her pride? We should live on with pride."
"Mom, you can't sacrifice Wen Chi and Wen Mo's health just so that you can retain your meaningless pride. You can't just think of yourself!"
The minute those words left her mouth, she saw Su Yun's tears gushing out of her eyes.
Wen Qiao's heart quivered. She knew that she had spoken too harshly. She wanted to hold her mother's hand, but Su Yun pushed her hand away and walked out.
Wen Qiao felt as if a knife was being twisted inside her heart. "Mom… Mom, I didn't mean that… Mom, I misspoke."
Su Yun wiped away her tears haphazardly and said in a restrained tone, "I'll go to the fruit store and buy some snow pears to stew for Xiao Mo. He's been coughing for two days."
With that, she ran out.
Wen Qiao rapped her own head in frustration, annoyed at herself for not thinking before speaking.
By now, the lighting in the courtyard had dimmed, and Wen Chi walked over with a pencil hanging between his jaws. He asked cautiously, "What's going on?"
Wen Mo, too, was gazing at her with a worried look.