Xia Qingyu ran to the hotel entrance and saw Xia Qingtian looking very angry.
Shi Xingwu and Miao Tong were both trying to hold Xia Qingtian back while urging Liao Tingting to leave. Liao Tingting stood foolishly in front of Xia Qingtian, not even knowing to dodge.
Many people were already gathering around, some even taking out their phones to record.
"Sis!" Xia Qingyu, sensing trouble, immediately rushed over and hugged Xia Qingtian's waist. "Sis! Don't be impulsive, what's going on!"
If Xia Qingtian's behavior was captured by someone with malicious intent and posted online, who knew what would happen.
"Qingyu!" Seeing Xia Qingyu, Xia Qingtian immediately seized the opportunity to pull Xia Qingyu into her embrace. With her other hand, she pointed at Liao Tingting and shouted, "Liao, listen carefully!
You have no right to butt into my sister's affairs!
If you dare to bully her again, you'll face the consequences!
I don't care about idol status or artist image!
The only one allowed to bully my sister is me!"
After shouting this, Xia Qingtian seemed to have vented her anger and regained her composure. She snorted coldly and tightened her arm around Xia Qingyu's shoulders.
Xia Qingyu, holding onto Xia Qingtian's waist, looked up at Xia Qingtian's face dazedly. A clear smile played on her lips, and her eyes were full of light.
Behind the statue at the entrance, Nie Qingkong froze slightly.
He had been there from the very beginning. Just moments ago, Xia Qingyu had run past him without even glancing his way, heading straight for Xia Qingtian.
Xia Qingtian's words didn't sound fake, and her demeanor didn't seem forced.
But…
Nie Qingkong clenched his fists at his sides.
Xia Qingtian was an actress, so he still needed to observe more before drawing any conclusions.
Meanwhile, Liao Tingting finally came back to her senses after hearing Xia Qingtian's words.
Liao Tingting's gaze shifted from Xia Qingtian's resolute, furious face to Xia Qingyu's. Seeing the genuine happiness on Xia Qingyu's face, the happiness of being cherished and protected, Liao Tingting felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
Her own assumptions now felt like sharp swords, piercing herself.
They made her bleed profusely.
It was painful and humiliating.
At this moment, two cars stopped at the hotel entrance. A middle-aged couple alighted from their respective cars and hurried through the crowd.
The man grabbed Liao Tingting's arm. Upon seeing her face, his eyes were filled with shock.
"Dad…" Liao Tingting's previously dazed expression finally softened when she saw the man's face. Her voice was choked with tears, and her nose felt sore.
She had so many things she wanted to say to her parents. She felt so sad and wronged right now.
"What happened to you! I couldn't believe it when your teacher called me!" Liao's father's tone was agitated. "I didn't even finish my meeting! What is wrong with you?"
As if a pause button had been pressed, Liao Tingting's eyes went blank for a moment. She shifted her gaze away from her father to the woman who had just arrived, hoping to find a shred of sympathy on her face. Instead, she found only disdain.
Unconcealed disdain.
"Do you know you're dark and ugly? This color simply doesn't suit you!" Liao's mother frowned as she scolded Liao Tingting. "When are you going to stop embarrassing yourself!"
"I really don't know what we spend so much money on you for every year!" Liao's father said angrily.
"You need me to come here for such a small matter? I have a flight to catch soon, don't make me late!" Liao's mother raised her hand to look at her watch, her tone displeased, unsure if she was blaming the teacher for overreacting or Liao Tingting for her immaturity.
"Going on another business trip? Do you even have this family in your heart?" Liao's father's brows furrowed even tighter upon hearing his wife's words. "Always busy with work, does the family lack your little bit of money? Can't you just settle down and take care of the child properly! Look at her now!"
"What right do you have to blame me? People call you Mr. Liao, and you really think you're a big boss? Your little broken company, wouldn't you have today if my father hadn't invested?" Liao's mother retorted fiercely when she heard her husband's accusations. "Is your career a career, but mine isn't? You dislike my management, manage it yourself!"
"Are you speaking human words? How can you be a mother!" Liao's father's face grew even uglier when he saw that his wife was giving him no face.
"Why don't you ask yourself how you are as a husband, as a father?" Liao's mother tilted her head to argue with Liao's father. "You don't earn as much as others, and you're not romantic. I really don't know why I married you in the first place!"
"You!" Before Liao's father could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a scream.
"Stop arguing, all of you!" Liao Tingting clenched her fists tightly at her sides. She bit her lower lip, her face flushing red. "If you can't live together, get a divorce! Stop fighting!"
"Bastard!" Liao's father raised his hand and slapped Liao Tingting. He was already enraged, and hearing Liao Tingting dare to interrupt, he immediately transferred his resentment towards his wife onto Liao Tingting.
"What right do you have to dictate to us! Eating our food, drinking our water!" Liao's mother glared at Liao Tingting. "Don't you know what you are? Do you really think your wings are strong enough now that you won't obey? You're bossing me around, do you deserve that?!"
Liao's mother was facing Liao Tingting, but every word she spoke was aimed at Liao's father, who needed her family's financial support in his business.
Liao's father clearly understood, feeling angry but unable to truly hit his wife, so he kicked Liao Tingting in the side instead.
This kick sent Liao Tingting sprawling to the ground. The onlookers couldn't bear to watch, their expressions awkward.
"Speak properly! What's the meaning of hitting a child here!" Although Xia Qingtian didn't particularly like Liao Tingting, she could tell that Liao Tingting's current personality was inextricably linked to her unreliable parents.
"Liao Tingting, you get up first." Xia Qingyu, standing closer, immediately stepped forward to help Liao Tingting, but was pushed away.
"I don't need your pity." Liao Tingting pushed Xia Qingyu's hand away, her gaze shifting from Xia Qingyu's face to Xia Qingtian's, then back to Xia Qingyu. After a sob, Liao Tingting suddenly smiled, "Xia Qingyu, you win, I lose."
Xia Qingyu had never thought of competing with Liao Tingting. Seeing Liao Tingting like this, she felt a pang in her heart.
Although she had no father since childhood and Aunt Liu was introverted and gentle, she had never treated her like this.
Compared to her, Liao Tingting, who grew up with both parents, lived like an orphan.
"You still have the nerve to laugh!" Seeing Liao Tingting smile, Liao's father became even more furious. He reached out to grab Liao Tingting, but she slapped his hand away. She gave them a deep look and then rushed directly into the traffic.