Just Wanting to Divorce My Love Rival - Chapter 24

Yue Mei and Mu Aoxiong worked in tandem. When Mu Aoxiong’s methods failed, Yue Mei followed up with a different angle, but the core objective remained the same: to swindle a bit more money out of the old woman.

Actually, this kind of situation happened almost like clockwork. Mu Cheng was used to it; she stayed quiet on the sidelines and offered no opinion. Experience told her that the moment she spoke up, a shouting match was guaranteed, and she had no interest in futile arguments.

Yue Mei solicitously poured a cup of tea and handed it to Zhong Suzhi. “Mom, don’t be angry. Xiao Xiong didn’t mean anything by it. He just wanted you to be there to help give some advice when he buys the car. He didn’t mean for you to pay.”

Zhong Suzhi refused to drink the tea. “What does an old woman like me know about cars? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. Your whole family, from the oldest to the youngest, is cut from the same cloth—constantly eyeing my retirement savings.”

“Mom, that’s a bit harsh. Xiao Xiong buying a car is just like you buying one. When you need to go out, he can drive you. Think how convenient that would be.” Yue Mei gave a fawning smile, analyzing the pros and cons as she saw them.

Zhong Suzhi wasn’t buying it. She shook her head, gripped the armrest of her chair, stood up, and left without another word to Yue Mei.

Yue Mei’s fawning smile froze. She turned to look at Mu Cheng and asked coldly, “How many days did you take off? When are you going back to school?”

Mu Cheng gave a brief reply: “A week.”

“Taking off that long? Are you planning to drop out?” Yue Mei poured the tea into the kitchen sink. “The moment you come back, you egg your grandmother on to get a hospital check-up. I wonder what your angle is. Did you hear the family was planning to buy Xiao Xiong a car and get jealous? Did you rush back just to throw a wrench in the gears?”

“Think whatever you want. I’m tired and going to bed.” Mu Cheng pouted and stood up from the sofa to head to her room.

Yue Mei frowned at her. “I’ve noticed lately that whenever I talk to you, you’re either silent or heading to your room. What, are you that unwilling to speak to me?”

Mu Cheng pushed open her bedroom door and replied calmly, “If you want to buy a car for Brother, then buy it. I won’t sabotage it, and I’m not jealous. Grandma’s check-up is done anyway. I’m heading back to school tomorrow.”

Yue Mei’s eyes darted around with a shrewd light. “Your grandmother has always pampered you most. Go talk to her. Don’t tell her to pay the full amount, but at the very least, she should contribute half as a gesture.”

As expected, it always came back to this. Mu Cheng shook her head with a cold laugh. “Mom, if you can afford the car, buy it yourself. If you can’t, then don’t. A car isn’t a necessity. Don’t constantly eye Grandma’s money every time you’re short on cash.”

Yue Mei narrowed her eyes and huffed. “Of course you don’t want me eyeing it. From where I’m standing, the one eyeing that money most is you. If your grandmother passes away one day, that money…”

Mu Cheng spun around abruptly, cutting her off. “Mom!”

“What ‘Mom’? Have you ever actually considered me your mother in your heart?” Yue Mei mocked.

Mu Cheng took a deep breath to suppress her internal rage, trying her best to remain calm. “You’re right. I haven’t considered you a mother, even if the word comes out of my mouth. I’ve never seen you as a mother because you’ve never seen me as a daughter.”

Yue Mei let out a cold sneer. “Raising a dog is more useful than you. At least a dog doesn’t cost this much money. You’re a girl—what use is all that schooling? In the end, you’ll still have to find a man to marry and stay home to serve a husband and raise kids.”

“What is that junk you’re studying at school anyway? Language and Literature? Can you not write or speak? Is studying that stuff useful? I think you don’t want to study at all; you just want to find a ‘Golden Turtle’ (wealthy husband) in the big city. When you’re out there flirting and hooking up, don’t you dare use the name Mu. Our Mu family can’t afford to lose face like that.”

“Do you think I want the name Mu? I feel like being born into a family like yours with the name Mu is the greatest shame of my life.” Mu Cheng’s hands were clenched into fists at her sides as she spoke through gritted teeth. “I’ve never understood why you have such hatred for women. Aren’t you a woman too? Or is your malice specifically targeted at me? Was I really born from you? Am I your biological child?”

When Mu Cheng asked this, there was actually a glimmer of hope in her eyes—hope that she wasn’t biological.

Mu Cheng gave a bitter laugh. “Sometimes I think it would be better if I were a foundling, or the child of your enemy, and you kept me around just to torture me. At least then I’d feel some relief.”

Yue Mei’s eye twitched. She stepped forward and—slap—delivered a blow to her face.

Mu Cheng’s head was knocked to the side. “It’s been like this since I was little. If I don’t answer you, you call me mute. If I do talk to you, you’re guaranteed to slap me. Can’t you be a bit original? Next time skip the slap; a couple of kicks would be a nice change of pace.”

Yue Mei’s face was grim. Mu Cheng didn’t seem to care; she walked leisurely into her room and closed the door behind her.

She was calm and unhurried, as if she were used to it.

Once the door was shut, Mu Cheng leaned her back against it. Her leisurely air vanished instantly, and she hung her head, her mood sinking into the depths.

She really hated coming home.

The next morning, Mu Cheng said her goodbyes to Zhong Suzhi to head back to school.

Zhong Suzhi stuffed a large bag of snacks she had prepared into Mu Cheng’s hands. “Take these to school. You can’t finish them alone, so share them with your roommates. Get along well with your classmates. And that roommate who treated you to meals—remember to pay her back for the food, okay?”

As Zhong Suzhi nagged on, Mu Cheng nodded with a smile. “I know. Just go back inside now.”

Yue Mei glanced at the two at the door, her eyes landing on the snack bag. She could tell the snacks inside were expensive brands and grumbled, “A small bag of those crackers costs over a hundred yuan. Mom, really, you didn’t even think to leave some of the good stuff for Xiao Xiong.”

Her complaining wasn’t loud, but it was just enough for the two at the door to hear.

Mu Cheng pulled the crackers out. “Grandma, let’s leave these for—”

Zhong Suzhi shoved them back in and deliberately raised her voice. “Leave them for who? Is a bag of crackers worth passing back and forth? Honestly, some people just have to try and claim every little advantage. These were bought for you, so you eat them. If you can’t finish them, don’t you have roommates? Share them with them.”

Yue Mei’s face turned shades of green and white at the indirect scolding.

Mu Cheng smiled and nodded. “Understood. Grandma, don’t walk me any further.”

Zhong Suzhi stopped. “Call Grandma when you arrive.”

“I will. Go back in.” Mu Cheng walked backward, waving her hand as she went.

Her grandmother scolded her, “Stop acting crazy and walk properly!”

After boarding the high-speed train, Mu Cheng opened the snack bag and rummaged through it. She wanted to find something to eat, but discovered a bank card hidden inside.

Under the card was a note that read: “Take this card. When your allowance isn’t enough, withdraw some to spend. Buy some makeup and some nice clothes. Look at those clothes you wear—tattered and worn out. People would think you’ve come back from scavenging for trash.”

At this, Mu Cheng looked down at her outfit: jeans, white sneakers, and a cute panda-patterned jacket. Clean and fresh—it wasn’t that exaggerated.

Mu Cheng shook her head with a smile and continued reading: “If I keep this money, your parents’ lot will probably steal it one day. They don’t have good intentions and eye it all day long. Don’t mistreat yourself; buy whatever you want. Just work hard on your studies. Grandma isn’t short on money. It’s okay to be a bit spendthrift; don’t always think about saving…”

Clutching the note and looking at the rectangular card, Mu Cheng’s eyes grew red.

She hated coming home, but she also loved it. It was a contradiction. The home contained the person she hated most, but also the person she loved most.

Mu Cheng often wondered what she would be like without her grandmother. Perhaps she would have dropped out before middle school was even over. Perhaps she would have been forced to work in a factory to supplement the household income. Perhaps she would have been arranged to marry some subpar man, spending her life wasting away under the shadow of this family, eventually turning into someone like Yue Mei.

Every time she thought of this, Mu Cheng felt a lingering fear. Thus, she rarely complained; she was mostly grateful. Grateful that Zhong Suzhi had given her a complete childhood within a broken home.

Back at school, Xiao Xiaoli “looted” the large bag of snacks—there was no stopping her.

Mu Cheng managed to snatch the remaining portion away and handed it to Zhong Yingzhi. “Here. Don’t let this foodie eat it all. You have one too.”

She hadn’t looked closely when she grabbed it, but after handing it over, she realized it was chocolate. Moreover, the packaging featured a romantic quote: I love you—do you know this secret?

Zhong Yingzhi looked at the chocolate, then at Mu Cheng. Her expression shifted, her thoughts unreadable.

Mu Cheng was incredibly embarrassed and quickly tried to take it back. “Wait, no, let me swap it. What do you want to eat? I brought a lot—local specialties from my hometown. They might not look great, but they taste good. You’ve probably never had them, so give them a try.”

Mu Cheng was about to turn around and rummage for something else, but to her surprise, the other woman took the chocolate first.

After taking it, she didn’t eat it; she just placed it on the side of her desk.

Xiao Xiaoli, munching on potato chips, leaned over to Mu Cheng and said, “She accepted your confession chocolate! Good omen. There’s hope—keep it up.”

Mu Cheng snatched the chips from her hand. “If you say one more word of nonsense, you’re not eating.”

Xiao Xiaoli giggled, nodded obediently, took her chips back, and continued eating.

Mu Cheng looked at the chocolate sitting on the desk. Her lip twitched in silence as she thought to herself: She won’t misunderstand again, will she?

Zhong Yingzhi noticed her gaze and looked over. “Is something wrong?”

Mu Cheng shook her head. “Nothing, nothing.”

The chip-eater leaned in again. “Don’t push too hard. Chasing someone requires a step-by-step approach. Staring at her like that will scare her away.”

Mu Cheng grabbed her collar. “Xiao Xiaoli, have I mentioned that I’ve actually wanted to pummel you several times?”