novelI've Never Held Anything Against You, But Now You're in Over Your Head!
| ← Ch.402 | Ch.404 → |
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"Its fine." Liu Ronghua spotted Shen Zhijing's expression and said immediately, "I'm here with some friends. I thought I'd stop by and say hi. Go on ahead girls, don't mind me."
Shen Zhijing pulled a long face and remained quiet. Liu Ronghua looked at her expression and said, "I'll go back to them."
She smiled at Chang Jingqiu after saying that and returned to her seat, continuing the chat with her friends.
Chang Jingqiu glanced briefly at Liu Ronghua and retracted her gaze seamlessly. She continued smiling and talking, as if the incident with Liu Ronghua did not happen at all.
Slowly but surely, Shen Zhijing went back to normal.
After a while, she placed her cup down and said, "I'm going to the restroom for a bit."
Soon after she left her seat, Liu Ronghua received a text: [I'm waiting for you at the restroom. Come here now. ]
Chang Jingqiu noticed that Liu Ronghua got up and went to the toilet, so the former excused herself from her seat on the pretense that she was going to take a call.
Xia Zishan had no idea what was there about Shen Zhijing that Chang Jingqiu wanted to take advantage of, but she knew that Chang Jingqiu came because of Shen Zhijing. Xia Zishan thus went along with Chang Jingqiu. On the other hand, Chen Pinyan knew nothing at all, and thus did not suspect anything.
Once Liu Ronghua entered the restroom, Shen Zhijing locked the door.
With no one else inside, Shen Zhijing said unhesitatingly, "If you see me outside next time, just pretend not to know me. Don't come up to me and acknowledge me."
"..." Liu Ronghua put on a pitiful expression, angering Shen Zhijng even more.
Shen Zhijng was so exasperated that she wanted to give Liu Ronghua a slap. Annoyed, she said, "Don't give me that pitiful look. I'm not a man. I won't have any pity on you. Besides, you're already so old. Would men even take pity on you? Isn't it disgusting for such an old lady to act all pitiful like a young woman?"
Liu Ronghua stared at Shen Zhijng dolefully and sadly, "Zhijing, why must you say something like this? For better or worse, we're still family, and I..."
"Who are you calling family, huh? Don't disgust me, " Shen Zhijing cut her off unhappily."Oh yes, you don't have any family now, because Ruan Danchen's not even your own daughter. She doesn't even acknowledge you now. I just don't understand why you're still clinging on to our Shen family? Qi Chenglin gave you a lot of money, right? With that money, you can live by your own outside and be comfortably well-off. You'll still be like a rich woman. Why must you suffer the mistreatment of the Shen family? My dad doesn't like you, and I hate you even more. What are you planning exactly?"
Shen Zhijng regarded Liu Ronghua as a brainless woman who just had to tell everyone that Ruan Danchen was not her own daughter. If she kept her mouth shut, she would still be useful and could still take advantage of Ruan Danchen. With the truth revealed, Ruan Danchen did not even acknowledge her as her mother. Liu Ronghua's usefulness was all but gone.
Moreover, if Shen Zhijing were in Liu Ronghua's shoes, she would have long deserted the Shen family and seized the opportunity to mend relationships with Ruan Danchen. Sucking up to Ruan Danchen was the normal, proper thing to do. She could have endless riches if she could be on good terms with Ruan Danchen and had Qi Chenglin as a son-in-law.
Even if Ruan Danchen was not her own child, Ruan Danchen might—at the very least—feel some form of gratitude for being raised by Liu Ronghua. If Liu Ronghua were to acknowledge all those mistakes in front of Ruan Danchen and get the latter's forgiveness, Ruan Danchen might just be filial to her as if she was Ruan Danchen's own mother.
Shen Zhijing wondered what Liu Ronghua's brain was filled with, as the women was adamant on clinging to the Shen family, repulsing Shen Zhijing daily.
"Zhijing, how could you say such a thing?" Liu Ronghua was beginning to feel unhappy and looked disappointedly at Shen Zhijng."I did so much for you, for the Shen family. I don't want you to like me that much, but you should at least treat be courteously. Isn't it good if we lived peacefully together! All those years ago, on your behalf, I was even willing to let Ruan Danchen..."
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Shen Zhijng expression changed in an instant, cutting off Liu Ronghua's 1 [1] words at once."You're not allowed to bring up whatever that happened in the past. None of that happened during that time. If you dare to bring it up again, I'll make sure you're completely exiled from the Shen family! Forget about everything that happened in the past! Also, don't talk to me about all that as if I should be grateful for your help. You agreed to it because it's a condition that we brought up. It's a like-for-like exchange and we each got what we wanted, so we're even!"
Liu Ronghua's lips were trembling, and so was her lower jaw. She may be cutting a sorry figure, but her words were thus, "Now that you've mentioned all that, I guess I don't need to keep wishing for you to treat me slightly better. You asked me why I'm still clinging to the Shen family?"
Tears were puddling at the rim of her eyes, and it seemed as though it would flow out at any given time. Her lips began twitching and trembling.
"Because I've given you so much, and yet none of you have ever been grateful to me. You use me when you need me, and then treat me like your servant, telling me to do this or do that, as if that's the proper thing to do. If I can't do it then I'm useless, or I'm stupid. It's like I owe you all the world, and no matter what I did for you, you'll never say a word of thanks to us. You never even show me a warm expression, let alone a smile. Why should I continue to be treated like your bull or your horse?
"You're correct, Ruan Danchen isn't my daughter, and I made sure to say that to the Qi family because I don't want any of you to continue using me. I know that no matter what I do for all of you, none of you will treat me even the slightest bit better. Why should I keep letting you reap benefits from me then? As long as Ruan Danchen knows that she isn't related to me, she wouldn't even care about me after what you did to her by using me. If you don't treat me well, why should I treat you well? Let's see what you can do without Ruan Danchen's relationship with me!"
Liu Ronghua pursed her lips and snickered."You asked me why I'm still purposely hanging on to the Shen family? It's because I want to do exactly that. I know you don't look kindly on me and feel disgusted to see me, so I want to make sure I show myself in front of you and disgust you to death. Now that I have money, there's nothing for me to be afraid of if you cut me off and remove my means of survival. I live in the Shen Residence, but I don't need you to show me your good side. The more you despise me, the happier I'll be! Even if I don't get my status, just staying in the Shen family is good enough, at least I don't need to spend money to buy a house."
"You..." Shen Zhijng did not think that Liu Ronghua would sink into such a crazed despair. The woman was completed undaunted—like a dead pig that did not fear scalding water—and in that split second, Shen Zhijing found herself unable to deal with the situation at hand.
"Shen Zhijng." Liu Ronghua smiled coldly."You don't need to think about chasing me out. I know that you treat me as if I'm an idiot, but I don't think you're that smart either. There's no need for you to think about chasing me out of the Shen family. If you really dare to do that, or let's put it this this way, if you still dare to treat me rudely, I'll reveal everything that happened in the past!"
"I don't care how Ruan Danchen might end up, but I thought about it before. She has already given Qi Chenglin a son, and I heard that they've already gotten a marriage certificate. Even if news gets out, divorce is unlikely even if Ruan Danchen's reputation gets tarnished and everyone starts to say things about the Qi family. They won't divorce, not unless Qi Chenglin really get disappointed in her.
"You, on the other hand, are nearly thirty, but still no one wants you. If everything about your past was exposed, you'll be done for, and it'll be even more impossible for you to find a good husband. You're not happy with those whose status is lower than you, but anyone who has a higher status than you doesn't want you. I think you'll be spending your entire life in solitude and ending up worse than me, " Liu Ronghua chided. The pitiful look on her face was no longer present at all.
"If you want to maintain your reputation, then you'd best be treating me nicer, don't order me around!" Liu Ronghua sniggered."I've never held anything against you, but now you're in over your head!"
Shen Zhijing was trembling in anger, but she was in such stupor that she could not even say out a single word. Even the 'You' that she uttered earlier could not escape from her mouth.
At the door, Chang Jingqiu heard everything and left quietly. She wanted to hurry back to her seat before Shen Zhijing came out.
She looked down, wondering about the things that she had just heard.
'What did Liu Ronghua mean when she said all that?
'What was the secret thing happened in the past?'
She did not expect that Qi Youxuan was really Ruan Danchen's child, but from Liu Ronghua's words, the couple's relationship was not as simple as breaking up and then getting back together.
The incident that Liu Ronghua referred to involved the Shen family, Shen Zhijing, Liu Ronghua, and Ruan Danchen.
'What was their connection?'
Chang Jingqiu was in such deep thought that she did not notice Shen Zhijing's presence.
Shen Zhijing even reeked of tobacco. Liu Ronghua was the first to leave the restroom, leaving Shen Zhijng alone there. She smoked a cigarette to vent out the anger that Liu Ronghua had incited.
"Jingqiu, Jingqiu, " Chen Pinyan called out a couple of times, finally snapping Chang Jingqiu out of it.
"What's wrong? What are you thinking about?" Chen Pinyan asked.
Chang Jingqiu smiled immediately and replied, "Nothing, I'm fine."
...
After the four of them finished their meal, Shen Zhijing had no mood for karaoke after Liu Ronghua's appearance. The remaining three decided not to carry on, and each of them left respectively.
All four of them drove there, so they each left on their own.
Chang Jingqiu was in no rush to go home. She sat inside her car and waited at the entrance. Then, she saw Liu Ronghua coming out with the friends, and after those friends waved their goodbyes, Liu Ronghua stood by the road with the intention of calling a cab.
Due to the fiasco with the Qi family during the new year, Shen Jialiang no longer spared her any honor, leading her to feel a pain in her heart. The more pain she felt, the more unjust she regarded everything to be, and the more wronged she felt. Although she had accumulated some resentment toward the Shen family, that resentment grew slowly, to the point where she truly hated the family.
Liu Ronghua no longer cared about whether she continued having a happy life. As long as the Shen family had it worse than her, she would feel slightly better.
If she could not live happily, she was going to do her best and wreck the hell out of Shen Jialiang and Shen Zhijing.
Ever since the last day of the lunar new year, when Liu Ronghua came back from the Qi family and the truth about her relationship with Ruan Danchen was revealed, Shen Jialiang felt that Liu Ronghua's usefulness had diminished significantly. Perhaps there might be another opportunity to use her, but no one knew if that kind of opportunity would ever arise.
In order to punish Liu Ronghua's stupidity, Shen Jialiang took away the keys for the car that was provided for her to get around. In addition, her pocket money was cut in half.
Liu Ronghua stood by the side of the road, letting the cold wind blow on her. As she thought of what happened that night, Shen Jialiang might not even give her the pocket money that he halved.
Never mind, then.
Liu Ronghua thought about how she did not care that much for Shen Jialiang's money. Qi Chenglin gave her more than enough, and she did not need Shen Jialiang's money at all. Annoying the father-daughter duo was good enough.
Nevertheless, cabs were hard to come by at that time. Most of them had passengers, and even those that were empty chose not to accept passengers as they were rushing to get off the job.
"Auntie, where are you heading? I can send you." Chang Jingqiu drove to Liu Ronghua and lowered the windows.
Liu Ronghua was stunned, but she soon smiled and said, "It'll be too troublesome. You're too kind."
"It's alright. You can't get a cab around this time. It's a cold day too, and you might be left to stand out here for a long time." Chang Jingqiu opened the door to the front passenger seat immediately."Come on up. I know the road to the Shen family home. It's not that far away."
Liu Ronghua nodded and went in, bringing the gush of cold wind with her.
After closing the door, she said while putting on her seatbelt, "Thank you. Oh yes, I don't know your..."
"My name is Chang Jingqiu. Just call me Xiao Chang or Jingqiu, whatever you like, " Chang Jingqiu said with a smile before driving off.
"Hehe, Jingqiu, thank you for today, " Liu Ronghua smiled and thanked.
"It's not that big a deal. If I bump into someone I know, I won't just let her stay out in the cold, " Chang Jingqiu remarked.
"Sigh, I'm so lucky to meet you here tonight, if not..." Liu Ronghua shook her head and smiled bitterly."Oh right, are you friends with Zhijing?"
Knowing that Liu Ronghua had a bad relationship with Shen Zhijing, Chang Jingqiu said, "We met for the first time tonight. An ex-classmate of mine from high school knew her. We agreed to come and have dinner together, and my friend asked Miss Shen out too."
"I see." Liu Ronghua remained silent after saying that, and she began silently cooking up a plot.
Silence filled the car for quite some time, before Liu Ronghua finally spoke up, albeit awkwardly, "Would you feel weird about Zhijing's attitude toward me?"
Chang Jingqiu paused and said, "Not really. Although Miss Shen didn't talk about your relationship, but her attitude, I think I can understand why. This is the first time I met her, but I can see that she's a very proud person."
Chang Jingiqu said nothing further after making those remarks.
"She... doesn't like me, and doesn't look kindly on me, " Liu Ronghua said softly."I was shocked that you'd send me so willingly. I thought you were her friend and that you'd stand on her side."
Chang Jingqiu smiled."That's a private matter between the both of you. It's not right for a third party like me to side on anyone. I can understand her thoughts and yours as well, so I don't think anyone's at fault here. The interaction has to come from yourself. I have no right to judge on things that happen at your home."
"Sigh, if only Zhijng thinks like you. Jingqiu, I never expected you to be so rational, " Liu Ronghua said gratefully.
Chang Jingqiu smiled."Auntie, don't say that."
As the car was getting closer to Shen Residence, Liu Ronghua told her to stop about a couple of hundred meters away.
Liu Ronghua explained, "If you stop at the door and Zhijng sees you, I'm worried it might affect the relationship between both of you."
Chang Jingqiu nodded and left it at that. She merely took out her name card and handed it over to Liu Ronghua, "Auntie, this is my name card. You can see my contact information there. If there's anything you need me to help, just call me. Don't worry."
"Thank you." Liu Ronghua seemed to be very happy when she took the name card, but still, she sighed, "Speaking of which, I've lived here with Zhijing for nearly eight years, and I've known her far earlier than that. Still, the way she treats me could never compare to you, a girl whom I've just met."
"Auntie, don't say that. I feel like Miss Shen will one day come around, " Chang Jingqiu consoled.
"Hehe, " Liu Ronghua chuckled. Eight years passed and Shen Zhijing still did not to come around. How much longer did she need? "I'm not thinking of all that anymore. So sorry to have bothered you tonight. It's late and I had you take a detour just to send me."
"No worries. It's dark, so be careful, " Chang Jingqiu advised.
Liu Ronghua smiled and said not another word, save for a couple more thanks. She then got off the car.
Utilizing what little illumination from the streetlights, she glanced at Chang Jingqiu's name card while walking, and a cold little twitch appeared on the corner of her lip.
...
In recent days, Ruan Danchen had been living a rather peaceful life. She went to work and got off work with Qi Chenglin, as husband-and-wife, while an adorable little Qi Youxuan awaited her when she came home. Once a week, they would gather at the manor, and from time to time she would even have a girls' day with Song Yu and Qi Chengyue.
Footnotes:
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