You Jingqiu heard her husband’s response and knew his stance. With Xu Zeqing backing her, You Jingqiu immediately felt emboldened.

In order to protect her daughter’s reputation, she began to accuse Xu Xingguang without restraint. You Jingqiu said, "What theft are you talking about, Xu Xingguang? You better stop spouting nonsense! Just because you have this type of necklace, it doesn’t mean our Ming Yue can’t have a similar one."

"Moreover, when you became a vegetable, and your mom died due to drunk driving, your dad found it all unlucky and burned those things along with your mom’s belongings."

You Jingqiu believed her explanation was flawless.

Xu Xingguang, however, found it amusing and looked up to ask Xu Zeqing, "Dad thought my stuff was unlucky, so he burned it together with my mom’s belongings, then why did he leave this nightgown behind? How come he didn’t burn my mom’s treasured brand-name bags?"

How could Xu Zeqing answer that?

Xu Zeqing simply chose to remain silent.

"You Mingyue." Xu Xingguang turned, gazing at You Mingyue’s pale, palm-sized face, and said, "I admit, in my father’s heart, I am indeed like that pile of useless items locked in the storage room, without value or presence."

"But you must understand." Suddenly, Xu Xingguang reached out, pinching You Mingyue’s chin tightly with her thumb and index finger, forcing You Mingyue to look her in the eye.

Her gaze was sharper than a blade, colder than the snow-capped mountains.

Xu Xingguang told You Mingyue word by word, "Even if I become a worthless person in Xu Zeqing’s eyes, I will still be someone you can never surpass in your lifetime."

"You can occupy my room, steal my jewelry, and wear my nightgowns. But that does not mean you can take over my life."

"Similarly." Xu Xingguang looked up at You Jingqiu, and in the most gentle tone, said the most damaging words, "Just because you sleep in my mother’s bed, carry her bags, and use her man, doesn’t mean you can become the real Mrs. Xu."

"You are nothing more than an opportunistic thief, and one day, everything you stole will have to be returned without exception!"

After speaking, Xu Xingguang forcefully tore the dark blue gemstone necklace from You Mingyue’s neck, leaving a red mark on You Mingyue’s delicate nape due to the violent pull.

Xu Xingguang cast a mocking glance at Xu Zeqing and You Jingqiu, then went upstairs with her necklace.

You Jingqiu hadn’t recovered from the intimidation of Xu Xingguang’s words, and forgot to stop her.

It wasn’t until Xu Xingguang went upstairs that the dazed You Jingqiu regained her senses and began to cry uncontrollably.

You Jingqiu supported the unsteady You Mingyue, discovering that the right side of You Mingyue’s temple was bruised by Xu Xingguang’s kick, making You Jingqiu feel as if knives were twisting in her heart, and her tears flowed more freely.

You Jingqiu couldn’t help but vent to Xu Zeqing, complaining, "Even if Ming Yue wore her necklace by mistake and put on her clothes mistakenly, Xu Xingguang shouldn’t have kicked our Ming Yue!"

"Ming Yue was beaten so badly by her, yet you can’t bring yourself to touch that bastard! Blood relations really do make a difference!"

"Don’t talk nonsense!" Xu Zeqing couldn’t bear those words.

What does it mean that blood relations make a difference?

Ming Yue and Jiaoyang, they are both his children, so there’s no issue of favoritism being in question.

"Ming Yue, tell me, what exactly happened between you two just now?" Xu Zeqing only saw Xu Xingguang pushing You Mingyue when he went upstairs.

But why were the two, whose relationship was already fragile, pulling at each other in the hallway? There must be more to the story.

How could You Mingyue possibly tell the truth?

Leaning on You Jingqiu, she explained half-truthfully, "Just now, after practicing the piano, I wanted to rest for a while, so I took my water cup downstairs to fetch some water. There I encountered Xu Xingguang, who was about to come upstairs. She probably recognized the clothes I was wearing were hers, and made sarcastic comments about me. I told her that the stuff in her room had long been packed and tossed into the storage room by Uncle Xu."

"Perhaps those words annoyed her, so she kicked me."

You Mingyue’s explanation was reasonable and matched the details revealed in Xu Xingguang’s earlier words, so Xu Zeqing believed it.

"Ridiculous!"

Xu Zeqing intended to go upstairs to confront Xu Xingguang, but You Mingyue feared Xu Xingguang would disclose the entire incident, revealing her true nature to Xu Zeqing.

You Mingyue quickly grabbed Xu Zeqing’s clothes, weakly saying, "Uncle Xu, I feel dizzy, unable to stand..."

"I’ll take you to the hospital for a checkup right away. We must ensure she didn’t kick you into some serious trouble." Ming Yue was, after all, set to marry into the Chu Family; if her head got kicked out of order, it’d be a problem.

Xu Xingguang stood on the rooftop, watching Xu Zeqing and You Jingqiu accompany You Mingyue to the hospital for a checkup.

Even though Xu Zeqing knew well that You Mingyue had taken her belongings, he still stood beside You Mingyue unconditionally and without limits.

Heh.

Truly a man driven by interests.

*

Xu Xingguang’s kick was hard enough to cause You Mingyue a mild concussion, necessitating a two-day hospital stay for observation and rest.

Once You Mingyue was settled, You Jingqiu immediately informed Chu Zimu of the situation.

Upon receiving the news, Chu Zimu immediately rushed to the hospital after his work and a poker game with friends.

Arriving at the hospital and seeing You Mingyue’s right cheek swollen like a zongzi, Chu Zimu was stunned and then anger flared in his eyes.

Xu Xingguang was really despicable!

Chu Zimu, filled with distress, quickly embraced You Mingyue to comfort her.

During the close embrace, Chu Zimu noticed the fine red scar on the back of You Mingyue’s neck, seemingly caused by something thin and hard, causing it to bleed.

Realizing this was also by Xu Xingguang’s doing, Chu Zimu was incensed and felt the urge to kill Xu Xingguang. "Ming Yue, what did Xu Xingguang use to strangle your neck? A wire?"

Beyond that, he couldn’t think of anything else.

Silently shedding tears, You Mingyue remained mute.

Seeing this, You Jingqiu immediately embellished things beside her, saying, "Our Ming Yue mistakenly wore the necklace Xu Xingguang left in the room, and when Xu Xingguang saw it, she kicked Ming Yue."

Pointing at You Ming Yue’s neck injury, You Jingqiu wiped her tears and choked up, "The scar was made when Xu Xingguang forcibly pulled down the necklace."

"Really? Just because of this, she kicked you into this state?" Chu Zimu found it hard to believe.

He knew that after moving into the Xu Family, You Mingyue had always been staying in Xu Xingguang’s former room. If not all of Xu Xingguang’s things were moved away, it wouldn’t be surprising for Ming Yue to mistakenly wear her necklace.

But to harm Ming Yue over such a trivial matter was excessively cruel and heartless.

At that moment, Chu Zimu was genuinely grateful he hadn’t ended up with Xu Xingguang.

She was truly a woman with a heart like a viper and a scorpion.

Carefully placing You Mingyue back on the bed, Chu Zimu wanted to get to the bottom of the matter, so he softly asked You Mingyue, "Ming Yue, tell me, is the truth really as Aunt You said? Did Xu Xingguang really treat you this way just because you accidentally wore her necklace?" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

If that truly was the case, then he would definitely retaliate against Xu Xingguang, ensuring that Yujiang City’s once-glamorous young writer becomes a stray dog!