Chapter 9: The Two Fools Stir Up Trouble Again!

Inside the room, the oblivious mother and daughter continued their self-destructive tirade.

Shen Xinluo, aggrieved, said, “Mom, I just can’t swallow this humiliation every time I think of the way everyone looks at me!”

Wu Liping’s voice remained calm as ever. “When have I ever let my daughter suffer? I will deal with Bai Lu for you. But Shen Xinluo, I have to warn you—Bai Lu is still our family’s golden goose. If you want her gone, you’re asking to cut off the source of income for your father and me. Do you understand the consequences?”

“Mom, I’m sorry. I—I was just so jealous… I promise I’ll listen to you from now on!”

“Good girl.”

“Mom, how are you going to help me deal with Bai Lu?”

“In the coming year, I’ll make sure Bai Lu doesn’t have a moment to breathe. She’ll be worked to the bone in worthless productions, earning money for our family. As for you… I’ll handpick the best scripts for my daughter, pairing you with top actors and acclaimed directors. With your father’s connections at the television station, that won’t be a problem.”

“Mom, if Bai Lu keeps taking terrible roles like that, won’t it ruin her reputation? If people stop casting her, how will we make money?”

“Silly girl, by accepting any trash role, Bai Lu will only make you shine brighter by comparison! I’ve already paved the way for you. Work hard, and soon you’ll replace Bai Lu as the nation’s sweetheart. For that, I’d do anything.”

Overjoyed, Shen Xinluo threw her arms around her mother. “Mom! Mom! I love you!”

Wu Liping pinched her daughter’s cheek with a smile, just as the door to the hospital room was violently kicked open.

Both mother and daughter turned their heads and saw Bai Lu struggling to hold back an enraged nurse.

The nurse must have been the one who kicked open the door, dragging in a red-faced Bai Lu.

Wu Liping’s lips curled with disdain, a flash of malice in her eyes.

How unlucky—caught eavesdropping by that wretched orphan and a meddling outsider.

Who knows how much they overheard?

Deceiving that orphan would be easy, but dealing with a meddling stranger wouldn’t be.

“You monsters! Do you even deserve to be called a mother? You’re not even human! It’s one thing for your family to treat Bai Lu as a money-making machine—that’s your business. You had the sense to pick her out for adoption, that’s your skill. But to abuse her like this? This isn’t just abuse—this is murder! Murder!”

Bai Lu was nearly frantic trying to restrain the nurse, cursing inwardly at the mess.

She’d seen stupidity before, but never anything like the Shen women’s brand of idiocy.

Not only did they stick their necks out for the axe, they had ruined everything she’d been working toward!

With the nurse making such a scene, the truth about how the Shen family nearly smothered, starved, and abused her could hardly stay hidden. Once exposed, everyone would see the Shen family’s true face.

She had only three months left before she turned eighteen. Once the court stripped the Shens of their guardianship, she would be free of them. But then she’d lose her chance to make the Shens pay for their sins, to have them destroyed by the consequences of their own actions.

How could she get her revenge then?

How could she take revenge on Shen Xinluo?

How could she drag this whole family into hell?

The nurse, about Wu Liping’s age and a mother herself, grew more furious the more she thought about what she’d just heard. Her voice rose, her words grew sharper and more vicious.

Seeing that she couldn’t contain the situation, Bai Lu let go of the nurse and, in a fit of feigned indignation, wiped away a tear. “Mom, Sister, you’ve gone too far! I’m going to tell Dad!”

The nurse blinked in disbelief.

Had this girl forgotten how her adoptive father had tried to smother her with a pillow more than a dozen times? And yet she still wanted to complain to that scum?

The nurse was so stunned, she forgot what she’d meant to say.

Shen Xinluo almost laughed aloud.

After all this, Bai Lu still wanted to run to Dad with her grievances. Had she forgotten that Dad wasn’t her father, but Shen Xinluo’s?

Wu Liping’s eyes lit up, seeing clear proof of just how much Bai Lu craved their family’s affection.

“Xiao Lu, calm down. Listen to me—let me explain—”

“I won’t listen!” Bai Lu covered her ears, shaking her head violently. “No matter what you say, I’m going to tell Dad!”

“What are you going to tell me?” came Shen Yanghong’s voice from the doorway.

Bai Lu shrank back in fright, recalling the times Shen Yanghong had disciplined her with a pillow, and took a step away in fear.

He glanced at his wife and daughter, both visibly flustered and panicked, then at the furious nurse. He quickly pieced it all together.

Forcing himself to sound gentle, he beckoned Bai Lu over. “Come here. Tell Dad what’s wrong.”

Bai Lu dashed over at once; the nurse couldn’t catch her.

This foolish girl, so desperate for false affection! It was enough to drive anyone mad.

Bai Lu bit her lip, her voice small and aggrieved. “Dad, since Mom doesn’t love me, and Sister thinks I’m in her way, I’ll leave. I’ll go far away, so I won’t bother them anymore. Dad, I won’t act anymore. I won’t be a star. Let Sister take all the roles—give her everything… That way, Sister will be happy, Mom will be happy, and then… then I’ll be happy too…”

But I’ll be damned if I’m happy!

Shen Yanghong was shaking with rage.

These two stupid women had caused trouble again!

And this time, they’d been caught red-handed by an outsider!

Not only did they fail to properly tend the family’s golden goose, they were about to kill it for soup!

Did they want to cut off his income, force him into debt, and get his arms and legs hacked off by loan sharks before they’d be satisfied?

Having just received a call from the loan sharks, Shen Yanghong’s eyes were bloodshot with fury.

He glared maliciously at Wu Liping and Shen Xinluo, rolling up his sleeves.

Whoever dared lay a hand on his golden goose, he’d take their life!

Bai Lu pretended to wipe away tears, lowering her head with a pitiful, “Sob sob sob!”

She silently cheered: Fight! Start fighting! Now!

Smack—smack—

Two crisp slaps.

Shen Yanghong really did it, giving both his wife and daughter a slap each.

Shen Xinluo clutched her cheek, staring at her father in disbelief, her face twisted with shock.

Wu Liping, on the other hand, simply wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth in silence. She neither cried nor protested, and calmly held Shen Xinluo back, stopping her from saying a word in her fury.

Bai Lu sighed inwardly.

When she was first adopted by the Shen family, Shen Xinluo had genuinely treated her well, though it didn’t last long.

With a witch like Wu Liping as a mother, it was impossible to raise a decent daughter. And since Bai Lu had outshone her at every turn, it took less than two years for Shen Xinluo’s jealousy to drive her mad.

Last lifetime, Bai Lu had seen through all of Shen Xinluo’s schemes, but never exposed her, remembering that at least, Shen Xinluo had once shown her real kindness.

She used to think that if she ceded some resources, business, and status to Shen Xinluo, maybe she could get her sister back. So she turned a blind eye to Shen Xinluo’s behavior.

That gave Shen Xinluo the chance to ruin her reputation beyond redemption.

No excuses—it was her own stupidity.

So, Shen Xinluo, Wu Liping, both of you—go to hell!