Mo Zheng looked at his mother with a cold smile on his face. "What's wrong? Feeling pained for your precious daughter? That barely made up for what she has done to me!" Then he turned to Mo Li, "Well, what do you have to say now? I still haven't heard an apology."
His tone was full of mockery. Taking in his mother's nervousness and his father's concern, Mo Zheng had never felt so unloved. At most, Mo Li would suffer a little burn but his life was ruined. His parents never showed such worry when they visited him earlier, but a little burn on their precious daughter and it was like their worlds were burning. The preferential treatment was enraging.
Mother Mo felt her legs go weak. If not for Mo Yun's support, she would have collapsed to the ground.
Both of them were her children. As parents, they were stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The atmosphere in the ward dropped to freezing point. The heavy atmosphere was suffocating.
Mo Li was the first to speak, breaking the awkwardness, "I'll have to go wash myself. Third brother, please have a good rest."
Then she strode out from the room. There was nothing she could do in that situation. Only by leaving could she make things less difficult for her parents.
Mother Mo watched as her daughter walk away. Tears welled up in her eyes.
However, she reminded herself to be firm. This was a lesson Mo Li needed, they couldn't pamper her unconditionally anymore.
...
Mo Li splashed her face with cold water but it did nothing to wash away the oil stains. Mo Li took a few deep breaths before returning to the ward.
Mo Yun and Mother Mo were waiting for her at the door.
Seeing her daughter's disheveled appearance, Mother Mo was at a loss for words, she really did not know what to say.
Mo Li was about to return to Mo Zheng's ward, when Mo Yu blocked her way, "Do you think you've not done enough damage? Let Lil' Three have some peace. Wait here, we'll come get you when he has calmed down."
"Yun 'Er, don't be so harsh. She should be able to come in. We can't leave her here all alone." Mother Mo's heart went to her daughter. They were after all, a family.
"It's alright, I can wait outside. This is better for third brother anyway." Mo Li said understandingly. Since Mo Li had said that herself, Mother Mo hesitated before nodding. "Then just stay here and don't wander off. Mommy and your brother will be back in a minute."
Mother Mo and Mo Yun returned to the ward without Mo Li and the atmosphere seemed to have lightened up. Mo Yun even told some jokes. The atmosphere in the ward was completely different from before.
Although Mo Zheng was still replying only half-heartedly, at least he was no longer as prickly as before. He even revealed a smile once or twice on his face.
Everything is so much better without me around... Mo Li glanced through the small window outside the ward
About half an hour later, Mother Mo had her husband and Mo Yun bring Mo Li home.
She would stay behind with the nurse to take care of her son. After such a tragedy, Mo Zheng needed care and companionship from his family.
This time, Mo Yun did not have any objections. He followed Mo Yi and ferried Mo Li home.
On the way back, it was Mo Yun who drove while Mo Yi and Mo Li sat in the back.
"I've already informed your school and applied for a week's leave for you. During this period of time, you're grounded and you're to reflect on what you've done." Mo Yun's tone was unfriendly, and there was even a hint of order in it. It was obvious that he still harbored strong enmity towards his sister.
Mo Yi frowned slightly, as if dissatisfied with Mo Yun's decision. "Li Li is in her first year of high school! This is the golden time for her to lay the foundation for her future. Do you know how much she'd miss from missing a week of class?"
"One has to learn how to walk, before learning how to run. What's the point of education if she doesn't even know how to act like a proper human?" Mo Yun's voice dipped with irritation before he added, "Dad, have you forgotten what we've discussed in Lil' Three's ward?"
Mo Yi was silenced after hearing that. In the ward earlier, he promised that he would stop spoiling and pampering his daughter. Mo Yun and Mo Zheng were his witnesses.
But he couldn't help himself from showing his fatherly instinct to protect his daughter. After all, he had loved Mo Li like a treasure for the last 16 years. The sudden change to her education and discipline style would take some getting used to for both himself and his daughter.
However, as the thought of his third son appeared in his mind, Mo Yi's face hardened.
Mo Yi decided to go along with Mo Yun's arrangement.
Mo Yi looked at Mo Yun through the rearview mirror. His son reminded him of himself when he was young.
Mo Li didn't argue, she merely nodded. She would heed her father and brother's arrangement. Furthermore, she needed a good rest after what happened.
...
In the original novel, Mo Li ostentatiously agreed with this arrangement but she still sneaked off to school. Naturally she wasn't there to study but to consolidate her position as the queen of the school. You've guessed it, our Mo Li was one of the school bullies.
No one dared to come for her because she would use Mo Family's influence to crush not only her opposition but their families as well. She was known as the Red Queen from Alice in the Wonderland. But there were other queens threatening to take her court, it was why Mo Li had to return to school, to protect her territory.
...
To be fair, it was not that Mo Yun did not love his sister. On the contrary, he was stricter with her because he cared about her. He believed discipline and education make a person's character. It was why he was so harsh with her. Spare the cane and spoil the child.
He also hoped this could be a learning opportunity for his sister, so that she would stop being so immature and willful. If he was hard on her, it was because he cared about her.