"What?!"
Chen Lishu's body trembled when she heard the news. She strode forward to Qin Yue, grabbing her shoulders and demanding, "Where is she now? Speak!"
Seeing Chen Lishu's worried face, Qin Yue couldn't suppress the upward curve of her lips.
So you're in pain now? But this is just the beginning.
She feigned an expression of utter despair, gasping for breath, refusing to reveal Su Nian's location.
She had always been at odds with that bitch in the army. Now that she had the chance, she naturally had to humiliate her properly, especially since Su Nian dared to side with Chen Lishu and had even threatened her earlier.
"What are you hesitating for? Tell me where Su Nian is immediately!" Chen Lishu's face turned ferocious, wishing she could throw this incompetent troublemaker out.
It was Li Xiuli who couldn't bear to watch. She stepped in front of Qin Yue and said matter-of-factly, "She's scared right now. Can you let Qin Yue calm down before you speak?"
"Any calmer and it will be too late!" The thought of Su Nian, in the prime of her youth, suffering inhuman torture made Chen Lishu glare fiercely at Qin Yue before turning and rushing out the door without another word.
"Lishu!"
"Lishu!"
Li Xiulan and Gu Xingdong's worried voices sounded simultaneously.
Li Xiulan, her face pale, clutched Gu Xingdong's arm and said, "What should we do? Lishu just ran out like that. I wonder if she'll encounter danger."
Gu Xingdong patted Li Xiulan's arm, his brow furrowed, and said earnestly, "Mom, don't worry. I'll go out and take a look now. With me here, there won't be any accidents."
After speaking, he prepared to follow, but as soon as he took a step, an invisible force pulled him back. Gu Xingdong turned his head with a gloomy expression to see Qin Yue looking distressed and pleading, "Brother Gu, don't go. There are so many of them, it's too dangerous.
Su Nian has probably met with misfortune. If we rush over, won't we witness her most humiliating moment? What if she can't bear it and has a breakdown? It's better to wait for her to calm down and go home by herself! Brother Gu, can you stay here with me? I... I'm really scared."
Gu Xingdong unhesitatingly pulled his clothes from Qin Yue's grasp. Just as he was about to rush out, the door opened again, and Su Nian and Chen Lishu entered.
"What, surprised to see me? Disappointed that things didn't go according to your plan and you didn't fall into the hands of those scoundrels?" Su Nian said with a mocking smile as she looked at the stunned Qin Yue.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Su Nian appear unharmed at the Li residence.
Li Xiulan hurried forward, examining Su Nian from head to toe, and asked with affection, "Child, are you alright? Qin Yue just said you were almost defiled. What exactly happened?"
"It's all thanks to Miss Qin. She pushed me directly into the arms of six or seven thugs. But you, a pampered young lady, probably don't know the intensity of our training in the army, do you?
I can tell you clearly that those six or seven thugs are nothing to me. Even ten more wouldn't be a problem. I'm truly sorry to have disappointed you." As Su Nian finished speaking, her hands began to twitch restlessly.
She was never someone who could be easily manipulated. No matter who Qin Yue's backing was, her own family's influence was not inferior. They wouldn't allow their daughter to suffer injustice outside without speaking up!
At worst, it would be a mutually destructive outcome. In any case, she had to teach Qin Yue a lesson today.
With that thought, Su Nian raised her hand and slapped Qin Yue across the face.
The crisp, loud sound of the slap was particularly jarring, and everyone was startled by the sudden turn of events.
Qin Yue shouted sharply, "Su Nian, you're crazy! How dare you lay hands on me!"
Su Nian let out a cold snort, lifting her chin haughtily. "So what? Want to call home and complain? Fine, my father has been idle for too long and wouldn't mind playing with you properly!"
The thought of Su Nian's connections in the capital, which were even stronger than hers, doused Qin Yue's rage with a bucket of cold water. She bit her lower lip, tightly clutched the hem of her clothes, and said with an expression of extreme grievance, "I know you resent what happened today, but I really didn't do it on purpose.
Those people were big and strong, and as a weak woman, I couldn't fight them. My only option was to run, to try not to be a burden to you. The first thing I did when I got back was ask Brother Gu and the others for help. Besides, pushing you out wasn't my intention. I was just too scared and my hands lost their grip unintentionally."
Su Nian sneered. Such a flimsy excuse was meant to fool an idiot.
However, she didn't intend to expose everything today. She needed to go home and tell her elders about Qin Yue's existence, so they could find a way to defeat Qin Yue's patron, preventing a fly from constantly buzzing around Brother Gu and Madam.
Having made up her mind, Su Nian said no more. Qin Yue, not hearing a response, couldn't make up her mind and could only signal with her eyes for the Li Xiuli family to say something to divert Su Nian's attention.
Receiving the signal, Li Xiuli pursed her lips, then smiled awkwardly. "This little girl, since you're alright, don't be so aggressive.
It's normal for Qin Yue, a young girl, to make mistakes when faced with trouble. Since we know the road home isn't safe, shouldn't we discuss the subsequent solution now?
We can't let Qin Yue live alone outside anymore. If such a beautiful young lady were to have an accident, it would be a great pity. Besides, she has no relatives or acquaintances in Beijing other than our two families."
Li Xiuli paused, then looked at Qin Yue and continued, "How about this, I'll give you two choices: either you move back to Xiulan's place, or starting today, you'll live with me. I have an extra room at home, though the environment isn't great, and you might have to rough it a bit and put up with some hardship."
"It's not hardship, it's just..." Qin Yue pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, then looked up again and said slowly, "It's just that Auntie, your situation is already difficult enough, I can't trouble you further. I'll go back to Aunt Xiulan's home."
How could Chen Lishu not see through Qin Yue's little schemes? She crossed her arms and asked with a cold smile, "What does it matter if the family is in difficulty? It's just providing you with a place to stay. Are you expecting someone to provide free room and board without you paying a cent?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Qin Yue's image immediately became that of a stingy person who freeloaded. Qin Yue's aggrieved expression almost couldn't be maintained, and her originally sharp and mean demeanor almost surfaced.