CHAPTER 146: 145: INVOLVED (FOURTH UPDATE)

Wang Danhong put down her chopsticks and called Zhao Guodong over.

Zhao Guodong wouldn’t listen to her and just sat there motionless.

Bai Xue tried to persuade, "Forget it, let the kid say whatever he wants, he’s not talking about us anyway."

"Of course, it’s about Song Mei. If I really didn’t catch onto this roundabout talk, would I let a child bully me until I eat dirt?" Wang Danhong sneered, "You surely haven’t forgotten what happened when Ye Ling hit Song Mei at your place the other day, right? Maybe that kid heard something and misunderstood Song Mei, that’s why he said what he did just now. I can tolerate other things, but the way he keeps calling himself ’old man’, who is he old man to?"

As she spoke, Wang Danhong got angrier, "I don’t know who stirred things up from behind the scenes, but if I find out, I’ll tear her apart."

After saying this, she glared savagely at Ye Ling’s back.

Zhao Guodong disagreed and stood up directly, "If you have a problem, come at me. I think you’re the one using roundabout talk. I’m insulting you directly, and yes, I’m talking about your Song Mei. What can your ’old man’ do about it? Always gossiping, if I hear her talk about me again, see if I don’t thrash her?"

"Try hitting me now, I dare you," Wang Danhong said, bringing out her authoritative air from work.

Who is Zhao Guodong? On hearing her challenge, he immediately jumped up.

The old man from the noodle shop’s kitchen also heard the commotion and came out, pulling on Zhao Guodong while trying to persuade Wang Danhong, "Why are you, an adult, having a spat with a kid? It’s just a couple of words, each say a little less, and it’ll be over."

Wang Danhong, being a grown-up, felt embarrassed in front of the old man and could only suppress her resentment, planning to have a talk with the Zhao Family back at the compound in the afternoon.

Bai Xue also tried to persuade, "Let it go, let it go."

She held onto Wang Danhong’s hand, simultaneously scolding Zhao Guodong, "You, when elders say something to you, you just get angry. They say it for your own good, now sit back down."

It was the tone of an elder speaking to a junior.

Ye Ling smirked sarcastically, knowing how to play her part, yet even though she herself wasn’t a good elder, she still had the audacity to lecture others.

Song Mei glared at Zhao Guodong but didn’t dare to say a word.

Ye Qian stood up anxiously and persuaded, "Guodong, stop it. Aunt Wang is doing it for your own good. It’s indeed impolite to speak like this."

"How I speak is my own business; whether others like it or not is none of my concern. Besides, if you’re not guilty, why fear the knock of ghosts? If you did it, then people have the right to talk about it. If you don’t want people talking, then don’t do such things in the first place," Zhao Guodong retorted.

Ye Qian felt embarrassed, and seeing Wang Danhong wanting to retaliate, she got an idea when she saw Ye Ling, "Sister, why don’t you persuade Guodong? I know he listens to you the most. We all live in the same courtyard; it’s not good for things to escalate. If you truly want what’s best for Guodong, think about him—this will ultimately be bad for him."

Listening to these words, they set Wang Danhong against Zhao Guodong, making Wang Danhong believe it was Ye Ling stirring things up, while to Zhao Guodong, it seemed like Ye Ling was using him to go against the Song Family mother and daughter. Yet, on the surface, Ye Qian appeared thoughtful and sensible, leaving no fault to be found.

Ye Ling, who had previously distanced herself from the matter, was unexpectedly dragged into it. While she didn’t want to get involved, Ye Qian’s instigation made her feel like she had to say something to not let Ye Qian have her way.

After Ye Qian finished speaking, Ye Ling turned around and said, "Ye Qian, you’re wrong here. What do you mean by saying Zhao Guodong listens to me? I don’t know at what point he ever listened to me. Zhao Guodong has parents, I’m nobody to him, why should he listen to me? Why don’t you explain this? I’d like to know when he listened to me."

Facing the glares from Song Mei and Wang Danhong, it was clear they believed Ye Qian’s words and thought she was the troublemaker. Ye Ling didn’t care but still felt uncomfortable, thinking she only came out to have a meal, yet got embroiled in so much trouble, what rotten luck.

Bai Xue opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing her eldest daughter’s gaze, she held back. Ye Ling already had her eyes on Ye Qian, "Here I am, just trying to eat my meal, and didn’t know sitting here could involve me in this mess. In the future, stop dragging me into these things."

With the meal not even served, Ye Ling couldn’t eat anymore, she got up to leave, Wang Ping called out twice, seeing Ye Ling had already left the room, she glared at Ye Qian, "What’s wrong with you? How could you put the blame on Ye Ling? She sat here talking with Lining the entire time and hasn’t even talked to Dongzi once. Are you implying that Ye Ling instigated Dongzi to curse?"

Sometimes, the simpler people are, the clearer they catch on to things.

Ye Qian’s face turned pale, "I... I didn’t mean it that way. I just thought since you are always together, sister would definitely listen to what you say, I didn’t say sister instigated Guodong to act up."

Saying this, Ye Qian’s eyes reddened, looking aggrievedly at her mother, "Mom, I really didn’t mean it that way."

Bai Xue tenderly held her daughter in her arms, "Wang Ping, how could you talk like this? My Ye Qian was only trying to do what’s best for everyone, how did it become her fault in your ears? Truly treating good intentions like they’re worth nothing."

While lowering her head to comfort the daughter in her arms, "From now on, we won’t get involved, lest good intentions lead to bad outcomes."

Ye Qian looked pitifully at Zhao Guodong, then buried herself in her mother’s arms crying. Things escalated as they did, fortunately, there were only a few of them eating in the room, so not many got a laugh at their expense.

The anger on Zhao Guodong’s face subsided after hearing from Wang Ping, looking at Ye Qian in disbelief. But when Ye Qian gave him a pitiful look, his suspicions also faded away, he just glared at Bai Xue, "I didn’t mean it that way."

Then he turned to Song Mei, "You better not provoke me in the future."

Only then did he sit back down, thinking about Ye Ling who stormed off, Zhao Guodong didn’t know why but felt uncomfortable. Then, Zhang Lining, as if nothing happened, asked the noodle shop owner to pack Ye Ling’s noodles to take away, saying he’d return the bowl later.

The old man knew a few people, so he agreed.

While Zhao Guodong buried himself in his meal, Wang Ping lost her appetite, glancing occasionally at Ye Qian and the others, until they finished eating and left, without hearing another word from them. Seeing them leave, Wang Ping finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Once outside the door, Wang Danhong angrily said, "Truly no manners, each and every one."

It wasn’t clear if she was cursing Wang Ping or Ye Ling, Bai Xue’s face turned embarrassingly red. Wang Danhong’s daughter pulled at her, reminding her, she blandly explained, "Bai Xue, I was talking about Wang Ping, don’t take it to heart, Ye Qian meant well and got misunderstood."

Bai Xue noticed she wasn’t as friendly as before and realized probably more offense had been taken, reluctantly agreeing without saying too much more, inwardly resenting her eldest daughter’s lack of sense, feeling that even though nothing happened in the first place, so much trouble was stirred up causing her younger daughter to be upset. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)