Xiāo Míngzhū ran into someone just as she reached the elevator.
Mrs. Hu was as ostentatious as ever, her smug expression barely concealing her malice. It seemed she had the Hu Family's affairs all sorted out.
Xiāo Míngzhū composed herself and said excitedly, "Godmother."
Mrs. Hu's eyes widened when she saw her, "Míngzhū, my dear, how did you get hurt again? Did Suí Ān bully you? I knew it. Is that bitch still in the ward? Come, Godmother will help you get justice. Today, I'll let Suí Ān know what it means when an old ginger is spicier!"
"And make her cower before you from now on."
Xiāo Míngzhū said softly and timidly, "Godmother, let's forget it. We're all family, and I don't want to make Mom and Dad difficult. It's nothing for me to suffer a little. As long as the Xiao Family is harmonious, everything else is secondary. As long as the Xiao Family is well, I'm willing to do anything."
Perhaps one of her words struck Mrs. Hu's heart, and her feigned expression took on a hint of seriousness.
What a good child!
Just like her back then.
She also thought about the Hu Family being harmonious. As long as the Hu Family prospered, but those people, upon hearing a few rumors, started making trouble. In the end, weren't they all brought to heel?
With Suí Ān's situation, likely unloved by her parents, Mrs. Hu felt even a snake would curl up obediently before her.
Xiāo Míngzhū's methods were simply too naive.
Mrs. Hu said earnestly, "Godmother knows you're a good child, but you also know that the kind are bullied and the good are ridden. You're just too soft-hearted and too kind. Godmother will teach you a trick today, what life is like a play."
She pulled Xiāo Míngzhū aside and whispered, "In a moment, you'll..."
As Xiāo Míngzhū listened, her eyes widened more and more. Her face first showed shock, then gradually transformed into a distorted agreement mixed with fear and excitement... but she quickly adopted a timid tone:
"Godmother, this... isn't this too cruel? Suí Ān will be ruined."
Mrs. Hu looked at her, heartbroken and satisfied.
"Oh, my silly girl, it's precisely this kind and soft-heartedness of yours that always gets you into trouble! Godmother must make you tough today!"
Xiāo Míngzhū lowered her gaze, a glint of malice flashing in her eyes, and then she spoke with magnanimity and understanding, "Sister is a daughter of the Xiao Family after all. It's nothing for an outsider like me to suffer a little. Besides, I'm afraid..."
Mrs. Hu rolled her eyes in anger, fiddled with her freshly done pink diamond nails, and said indignantly, "Since you don't trust Godmother, then don't come to Godmother for anything in the future. After all, Godmother is useless in Míngzhū's eyes."
"No, Godmother misunderstood. I trust you." Xiāo Míngzhū waved her hands repeatedly, her eyes full of worry, and said softly, "I'm just afraid of implicating you, Godmother, and of you being wronged..."
Mrs. Hu patted her new bag with relief, "Trust Godmother, everything is under control."
Xiāo Míngzhū said with an uncertain tone, "Then shall I go now?"
"Go, go, I'll wait in the ward."
Mrs. Hu felt like she had overlooked something, but as she thought of her perfect plan, that sliver of doubt was dispelled by the successful fantasy.
Never mind, it's not important.
Míngzhū must have been so angry that she ran out just now.
Thinking of Suí Ān in the ward, Mrs. Hu held her head high. Thinking of the plan ahead, a victor's smile involuntarily appeared on her face.
However, when she reached the ward, she didn't see anyone. She frowned and asked, "Suí Ān isn't here?"
Dù Bīngméi said with disgust, "Why bring up that unlucky thing? How is the Hu Family? How are you?"
Mrs. Hu said proudly, handing over a set of purple gemstone necklaces, "Bīngméi, I misunderstood you a few days ago. If you like this necklace, consider it my apology."
This set of necklaces was a new acquisition of the Hu Family the year before last.
Dù Bīngméi had once offered a high price for it, but Hu Yulian refused to sell. She never expected...
Seeing her sincerity, Dù Bīngméi accepted it.
There are no permanent enemies in business, only permanent interests.
Mrs. Hu wasn't worried at all that Dù Bīngméi wouldn't accept, because they had a bigger interest to bind them. What was a small misunderstanding?
Moreover, besides her affection for Xiāo Míngzhū, she was also aiming to consolidate the alliance of interests with the Xiao Family. With Dù Bīngméi's help, she could better implement her next phase of the plan.
The two, having cleared the air, huddled together again.
Their heads close, their voices lowered, a ruthless glint of calculation in their eyes.
At the same time, a live-streaming account called "Today Hú Liǎo" on the internet became a trending topic for secretly filming and verbal abuse.
...
Meanwhile, Yáng Chéng, after a simple treatment for his burns, returned to his post, leaving the messy affairs of the Xiao Family to the heads of internal medicine and orthopedics.
Director Guān Lóu, upon learning the cause and effect, was so angry he almost flipped his desk. He made a statement and stormed off.
Suí Ān left with Yáng Yuányuan. Midway, she saw a small boy in a wheelchair. She brushed off Yáng Yuányuan's hand and turned to leave.
Perhaps influenced by the plot, or perhaps feeling guilty towards Xiāo Míngzhū, Yáng Yuányuan did not stop her.
Suí Ān didn't care at all.
She knew that for Yáng Yuányuan, this "Paper Person," to fully awaken, that little bit of stimulation just now was far from enough.
After only a short while, the Admiration Value above Yáng Yuányuan's head had reached 41 and was still increasing.
Although the number did not mention Xiāo Míngruì's name, after so many lifetimes, and how many lifetimes Yáng Yuányuan had secretly admired Xiāo Míngruì, this should be correct.
Alas!
Wait a little longer!
Now she had to go see why another minor cannon fodder was also in the hospital.
In her past life, this little guy should have been at home at this time. A chaotic place like the hospital was hardly suitable for recovery.
She turned to inquire about the reason for the little cannon fodder's hospitalization and then doubled back.
Xiāo Míngzhū had said something, and the two were already hugging and "reconciled."
"As expected, if there's no complete change, it will still lead back to the plot."
Afterward, she saw that the Admiration Value above Yáng Yuányuan's head had reached 74.
And it was still rising...
Was this Admiration Value for Xiāo Míngruì? Or for Xiāo Míngzhū? Suí Ān was a little unsure.
Could she have made a mistake?
Her mind raced with wild thoughts...
What if Yáng Yuányuan truly liked Xiāo Míngzhū, and due to societal pressure, she had no choice but to use her liking for Xiāo Míngruì to mislead everyone?
Wow!
Suí Ān felt she might have hit upon the truth.
After all, she had never heard Yáng Yuányuan say she liked Xiāo Míngruì. All she had seen were moments of intimacy between Yáng Yuányuan and Xiāo Míngzhū. Yáng Yuányuan often gave Xiāo Míngzhū gifts, always rushed to Xiāo Míngzhū's defense, took the blame for her, and even personally bought water for Xiāo Míngzhū on a hot day...
There were too many such instances.
Because Xiāo Míngzhū had too many simps, Suí Ān had never considered this angle.
Perhaps, a try would tell.
"Suí Ān, if there is a next life, and I fall into lovesickness again, please, you must slap me awake."
Suí Ān flicked away the words that Yáng Yuányuan had said to her countless times in previous lives, "Should I slap her? No, better not."
She had already slapped her countless times, yet Yáng Yuányuan still ended up on the same path as in her past life.
In this life, Suí Ān decided to try a different approach.
Just as she was about to leave, a voice filled with disgust called out to her.