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Chapter 33: Confrontation
A few days later, in a parking lot near the police station.
Guan Ying sat in the driver’s seat, her voice somewhat low, “Yes, I’ve seen him. He didn’t suffer much, but he will definitely be detained… This is a kidnapping case, do you understand? What do you want me to do? He foolishly did all this on his own, and now he’s been arrested. What can I do!”
“Ying Ying, mom knows you’re in a difficult situation, but you know, Zhihong has always been a good kid. He has taken good care of you and our family. Now, he’s lost his mind, doing this just to vent his frustration… Can you go talk to your parents, see if they can help?”
Guan Ying tightened her grip on the steering wheel, “You know how much my dad dotes on Guan Xi. After what happened to Guan Xi, do you think he’ll easily let Zhihong off?”
“Then, go talk to Guan Xi. If she has nothing against it, maybe… maybe she’ll forgive Zhihong?”
Guan Ying couldn’t hold back her emotions. At home, she pretended to be gentle and obedient, but in this unfamiliar parking lot, in this corner, she didn’t want to hold back anymore. “Do you think someone like Guan Xi can easily forgive someone who hurt her? You don’t know anything. Can you please stop making baseless assumptions!”
“But you’re sisters after all. If you get along well with Guan Xi, she may not be so harsh on Zhihong. Ying Ying, Zhihong is the only child in his family. He cares too much about you, which led to this wrongdoing. Think of a solution, or else what will his parents do?”
…
The incessant chatter on the other end became unbearable for Guan Ying. She decided to end the call, staring at the empty parking lot and slamming the steering wheel hard. Originally, when she complained to Fang Zhihong, talking about how difficult her situation was, emphasizing that Guan Xi was her threat, it was all just to make Fang Zhihong feel that she was struggling and needed more time. She wanted him to stop coming to her, to stop asking her to go home with him to see their adoptive parents.
But who would have thought that instead of making him leave on his own, all those words led to him having even more foolish ideas. He actually thought about kidnapping Guan Xi?
Even more ridiculous, after attempting the kidnapping, he couldn’t follow through with it. Not only did he let Guan Xi come back unscathed, but he also landed himself in prison…
After hanging up the call, more messages came in, but she didn’t bother to check. She powered off her phone and tossed it aside. Leaning back in the chair, her mind was in chaos. She thought about Fang Zhihong and reminisced about the past.
She grew up in a not-so-affluent family, living in an ordinary small town, leading an exceptionally ordinary and mundane life. During her junior and senior high school days, she attended a relatively good local school. Some students with poor academic performance but wealthy parents would spend a considerable amount of money to secure a spot and enroll their children in the school.
Her deskmate at the time was one such person, growing up in a well-off and prestigious family. On regular days, she wore expensive clothes and shoes, using skincare products that cost more than a year’s living expenses for her. She knew her deskmate looked down on her because they belonged to different social classes. Her deskmate lived a glamorous life that seemed unreachable for her.
At that time, she pondered that many things in the world were only for her to observe, not to touch. Many things she liked and wanted, she probably could never have in her entire life. Of course, she occasionally fantasized about what her life would be like if she hadn’t been adopted by her current parents. Could she have a life similar to her deskmate’s?
At that time, it was just a fleeting thought. She never thought that one day her fantasies would come true, and she would become the classic female protagonist in novels and television shows. She found her biological parents and suddenly possessed a luxurious and extravagant life, becoming a pampered young lady.
She was genuinely happy. Previously, she had struggled to make ends meet, and now, she could walk on the path of a splendid future, holding a golden spoon in her mouth. Before arriving at the Guan family, she was always excited. However, when she truly arrived and saw Guan Xi, that excitement was instantly cooled.
The moment she saw Guan Xi, for some reason, the feeling of excitement was immediately dampened. At the first sight of Guan Xi, she thought of her former deskmate. High and mighty, unparalleled, from head to toe, even the aura around her was aristocratic… with just one glance, she felt that Guan Xi’s momentum and vibe were something she could never reach. She thought that she could have had such a life, but due to twists of fate, she missed out on more than twenty years.
After learning from her grandparents that Guan Xi wasn’t even biologically related to the family, and that she was adopted from an orphanage after they thought she had died, her jealousy turned into resentment. Why did Guan Xi deserve to have all of this?
Her confidence, her life, and even the person standing next to her should have originally been hers. Guan Xi had no right to compete with her for anything. Guan Ying’s thoughts were myriad, but when she turned back, she still had to deal with the issue of Fang Zhihong.
She indeed detested Fang Zhihong’s stupidity, but when it came down to it, she couldn’t just turn a blind eye. Setting aside any emotional connection she still had with Fang Zhihong, if she didn’t resolve this matter, his family and even her adoptive parents would continue to disturb her in the future.
—
After Guan Xi’s request to move was rejected by Guan Xinghao, she stayed at home for a few days, actively avoiding any encounters with Wei Shaomin. One day, someone knocked on her room door. Seeing Guan Ying at the door surprised Guan Xi. After the incident with Fang Zhihong, she assumed that Guan Ying would be more insightful and wouldn’t come to her without a clear purpose.
“What is it?” Guan Xi asked, maintaining her calm exterior.
Guan Ying looked at her and said, “There’s something I’d like to ask for your help with.”
Help? From her?
Guan Xi found it odd, but her expression remained indifferent. “Speak, what is it?”
Standing outside her room, Guan Ying seemed hesitant, struggling for a moment before finally saying, “I want to ask you to let Fang Zhihong go this time…”
Guan Xi furrowed her brows, “You should know that from the time I was hospitalized to my discharge and up until now, I haven’t been involved in this matter at all. It’s entirely handled by dad. You should go talk to him about it.”
“But you know, dad won’t just let it go.”
“Do you think then that I would just let it go?”
Guan Ying replied, “Guan Xi, I know it’s his mistake, but you haven’t been hurt that much after all… I know it sounds absurd for me to talk to you about this now, but he’s been a friend I grew up with. My adoptive parents are worried about him and begging me to help him. They don’t want him to have a criminal record from being in jail. I can’t help it, so I came to ask for your forgiveness. Can you forgive him just this once?”
Not hurt?
Physically, she had a high fever and almost died in the forest. Jiang Suizhou had injuries all over, and his leg, still in a cast, was no joke. Guan Xi felt that Fang Zhihong was quite foolish. He didn’t actually go as far as killing someone, but kidnapping and harming her and Jiang Suizhou had caused a big problem. She didn’t use any privileges to deal with him; she simply followed the legal procedures. Why did it seem like she was being relentless about it?
Guan Xi said, “Jiang Suizhou and I weren’t seriously injured, so the severity of the incident was considered in the judgment. Whatever punishment he deserves, he will get. Let him go? Dad will never agree to that.”
“Why not?” Guan Ying urgently asked, “If you talk to dad about it, he will surely listen to you.”
A surge of anger suddenly rose in Guan Xi’s heart, “Why should I do that? Jiang Suizhou is still in the hospital, and why should I not hold Fang Zhihong accountable! Moreover, this matter also concerns our entire Guan family. If we don’t pursue this, does that mean anyone can get away with kidnapping cases in the future?”
“Do you think that I’m the one who asked Fang Zhihong to do this?” Guan Yin suddenly said, changing the direction of the conversation.
The topic suddenly took a different turn.
Guan Xi was stunned, “I haven’t thought about it like that.”
But Guan Ying didn’t believe her. Seeing Guan Xi’s absolute refusal to speak, she directly said, “You already know, right?”
Guan Xi asked, “Know what?”
Guan Yin said, “During the time you were together, Fang Zhihong must have said something. And your eyes and attitude towards me these days also reveal everything. Since you know what I’m thinking, do we still need to pretend?”
Guan Xi understood Guan Ying’s implication. Guan Ying thought that Fang Zhihong had inadvertently revealed her mindset, so Guan Xi no longer pretended to be innocent in her presence. However, Guan Ying’s assumption was wrong; the two fools (referring to Fang Zhihong) didn’t actually reveal much, it was just her own speculation.
But now, seeing Guan Yin’s reaction, her speculations were confirmed. Whatever Guan Yin had said before about “liking her a lot” was all false. There was no harmony between them, and all along, they never considered each other as sisters.
Guan Xi smiled, “Actually, you disliked me from the beginning, didn’t you?”
Perhaps it was due to recent pent-up emotions, or maybe it was because Guan Xi knew she wouldn’t let Fang Zhihong off. When Guan Yin heard this question, she exploded, questioning, “So, do you think I should like you?!”
Guan Xi replied, “I never asked you to like me—”
“You took my place, enjoyed what should have been mine. Everything you have should have been mine… But what about now? I’ve come back! Yet, because of you, these things still don’t belong to me. Dad still favors you, and all those brothers and sisters in the family side with you! How do you expect me to like you? If it were you, could you accept it?!”
Guan Ying’s sudden outburst left Guan Xi stunned. In the past few days, she had known that Guan Ying’s obedience was just a façade, but knowing and actually witnessing such a contrast still surprised her. Normally, she wouldn’t let someone point fingers at her like this. She was always selfish and shameless, ready to fight back. However, at this moment, looking at Guan Ying with red eyes and a fierce expression, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
“You are also here because of me.” Guan Ying walked up and entered her room, “So, Guan Xi, shouldn’t you be grateful in your heart? You should thank me. Without me, you wouldn’t even know where you are now. So, you should help me this time, you—”
Before she could finish speaking, Guan Xi abruptly reached out. Her hand pressed against the door, blocking her way.
“Get out.”
Because of me, you are here in this family.
You should be grateful.
Without me, you wouldn’t know where you are now.
Every point of Guan Xi was hit—what the hell? Being given something? She was being fucking thankful?!
Guan Ying: “Guan Xi—”
“I told you to get out! Right now!”
“Xi Xi, what are you saying!” Suddenly, Wei Shaomin’s surprised voice came from the end of the corridor.
Guan Xi looked over, only to see Wei Shaomin hurrying towards them.
“I told her to leave my room.” Guan Xi gritted her teeth.
Guan Ying turned to Wei Shaomin, “Mom, I just wanted her to help me talk to dad about Fang Zhihong’s matter…”
“Don’t meddle in this matter. Didn’t I already tell you that?” Wei Shaomin said and then looked at Guan Xi, “But Xi Xi, no matter what, you can’t talk to your sister like this. What’s this about telling her to get out? This is her home, how can you say such things.”
Guan Xi looked at Wei Shaomin, who seemed to be on the verge of getting angry. She wanted to argue, to explain, to say that Guan Ying had also said unpleasant things, so she got upset. But after a quick thought in her mind, she realized that saying anything would be meaningless. This person in front of her would never stand on her side.
“I know, she shouldn’t leave and shouldn’t have been told to leave.” Guan Xi smiled, “It should be me leaving.”
“Xi…”
Guan Xi said coldly, “I wanted to leave. I’ve wanted to leave for a long time!”
**
Guan Xi didn’t know how she managed to close the door in the end. She only knew that after closing the door, she frantically packed her things, like a madwoman. Someone who usually traveled with three suitcases was now missing one, and she covered it up and left. When she opened the room door, no one was outside her room. She went directly to the garage, got in the car, and sped out of the residential area.
She didn’t have the urge to burst into tears, as if she had silently rehearsed this many times in her heart. Moving out directly from that house, no longer caring about anyone, not bothering herself, and not giving Guan Xinghao a chance to make things difficult for her again.
As for others knowing that she moved out, they might entertain wild thoughts, thinking that she’s being isolated from the Guan family. So what? Such thoughts were not entirely wrong, but she just didn’t want to fight for it, didn’t want to compete!
Did she really need those things to survive?!
Buzzing—
Her phone suddenly vibrated. Guan Xi parked her car on the side of the road and looked at the display. Surprisingly, it was a call from Jiang Suizhou.
Guan Xi stared at it, feeling inexplicably aggrieved for a moment. But when she answered the call and heard Jiang Suizhou’s cold and gentle “Where are you,” her sense of grievance was instantly suppressed in her throat.
She could tell everyone that she had moved, let everyone know that she had given up the struggle. However, she just didn’t want to tell Jiang Suizhou. Because what did that imply… It meant that she wanted to withdraw.
But they agreed that she would establish herself in the Guan family, work hard, and he would support her, mutually benefiting each other in the future. But now she was faltering, wanting to give up… With that, she would become meaningless to Jiang Suizhou.
What would happen if he found out? Most likely, they would break up, right? As Guan Xi thought about this, there was a faint anticipation in her heart, yet she didn’t dare to hope too much.
“Guan Xi?” Jiang Suizhou didn’t hear her respond and called her name again.
Guan Xi held the phone, her voice a bit low, “I’m here.”
“Why didn’t you speak just now.”
“I… I’m tired. Just felt a bit drowsy. I’m going to sleep.”
Jiang Suizhou responded with a simple “Hmm”: “I’ll be discharged tomorrow. I’ll come home.”
“Isn’t your leg still in a cast?”
“I can go home and rest. Can you come over tomorrow?”
Guan Xi tightened her grip on the phone, ultimately not directly mentioning tonight. She didn’t want to immediately face Jiang Suizhou’s possible reaction and decision. “I’ve been really busy lately because of work. Let’s talk when I have some free time.”
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