Chapter 24: Supporting a Useless Brother? Not Happening!
For Bai Ruyue, who had just fallen in love for the first time, it hadn’t even occurred to her that she could actually clear up a misunderstanding by talking about it.
“Don’t the female leads in TV dramas never ask these things?” she asked, puzzled. Besides, they’d only just gotten together—wouldn’t it seem clingy and not independent at all?
Lin Zhifeng felt like her hairline was about to recede from the sheer stress. She wanted to grab Bai Ruyue by the shoulders and shout, ‘You’re a novel’s female lead! Why are you copying TV drama characters?!’
She reined in her frustration and stayed in wise mentor mode.
“Every situation is different. If you don’t ask, how would you know whether he didn’t reply because something happened? If Bai Jiaojiao sees you upset and stirs the pot a bit, will your just-budding relationship survive a few misunderstandings?”
Bai Ruyue had a sudden moment of clarity. Her situation did seem pretty different from those dramas. “I get it now. I’ll call him right away and ask to meet after work.”
Seeing how quickly she acted, Lin Zhifeng finally felt like her advice hadn’t gone to waste. At least Bai Ruyue wasn’t turning brain-dead from falling in love like in the original storyline.
Keeping a good relationship with her would be beneficial—but if she really couldn’t be helped, well, then that long, drawn-out romance arc could just wait for the original owner to wake up and go bald over it.
After Bai Ruyue left, still feeling overly stuffed, the two girls decided to take a walk. When they reached the mall, they happened to run into Aunt Bao, who was out shopping with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
“Zhaodi, Laidi, out shopping?” Aunt Bao greeted them, her eyes involuntarily showing a trace of concern. Judging by how carefree the girls looked, they probably still had no idea their family was scheming behind their backs.
“Yes, Auntie Bao,” Lin Zhifeng replied, a bit puzzled. There was no way Auntie Bao could’ve known about Xie Guibao’s disappearance—so what was with that expression?
Auntie Bao waved her daughter-in-law and granddaughter ahead, then pulled Lin Zhifeng and Laidi aside and whispered, “Your grandma went back to the village today. You girls didn’t know?”
Lin Zhifeng shook her head to show she hadn’t known. Several guesses flashed through her mind, and she quickly figured it out. Those three bloodsuckers were getting desperate, grasping at any straw they could. They probably wanted to sell off Laidi too and had gone back to the village to find a matchmaker.
What a bunch of idiots. There’s a reason matchmakers are called matchmakers—because they talk! If they can talk, they might as well write a book. And if they can write a book, you think they can keep their mouths shut?
Auntie Bao didn’t know what to say. If she minded her own business, she’d be watching two girls walk into a trap. But if she got involved, she’d definitely end up in a mess herself. After some inner struggle, she just shook her head with an awkward smile and walked off.
Lin Zhifeng hadn’t been counting on Auntie Bao to warn them anyway. These kinds of things couldn’t be left to others—everything needed to stay under her own control.
“Laidi, let’s run away from home.”
Xie Laidi: ???
Lin Zhifeng didn’t hide the truth this time. She gave Laidi a trimmed-down version of what Xie Yaozu was planning—to sell them. As she spoke, Laidi’s face gradually turned pale, her lips trembled uncontrollably, and tears silently spilled from her eyes.
Lin Zhifeng had no real connection to the Xie family. Aside from the occasional burst of anger, she didn’t care about them at all. But Laidi was their biological daughter. No matter how distant the relationship, hearing something like that was still hard to bear.
When someone couldn’t truly relate to your pain, their comfort meant nothing.
So instead, Lin Zhifeng gently patted her on the head and spoke in a steady, empowering voice:
“This is not going to happen. And after getting through this, things will only get better for us from here on out.”
Xie Laidi was trembling all over when, all of a sudden, several monosyllabic words burst from her lips—sounding unmistakably like “I hate them.” The sudden sound startled even herself.
Lin Zhifeng was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed. If Laidi could make sounds, it meant her muteness could be cured!
“Laidi, try again!”
“Wuh… ah…”
Xie Laidi was so excited she forgot her anger, clutching Lin Zhifeng’s hand and letting out a series of garbled but audible sounds.
“That’s amazing!” Lin Zhifeng was practically flying with joy. She had previously found a mystical pill for curing muteness in the system shop and had secretly given it to Laidi while she was asleep, but until now, there’d been no sign of improvement.
Thinking back, perhaps Laidi’s condition wasn’t just physical—it was psychological as well.
As long as there was hope, there were ways to make things better.
“Come on, let’s find somewhere to lay low and figure the rest out later.”
Lin Zhifeng pulled her out of the mall, scanning the streets until she spotted a silver sedan deliberately parked in plain sight.
Once they got in the car, Lin Zhifeng didn’t hesitate.
“Could you help us find a place to stay? Just until the 28th.”
Scarface didn’t ask for details. He simply nodded and immediately drove them to a residential complex on the outskirts of town. He led them to the innermost building, took out a set of keys and an access card, and handed them over.
“This was the house Chairman Zhao planned to give to the Wang family. It doesn’t seem like it’ll be needed anymore. You two can stay as long as you want.”
Scarface didn’t follow them upstairs. He left a business card and quietly drove away.
This low-rise complex was extremely pricey—far above the average county rate. Its environment and facilities were impeccable.
Lin Zhifeng and Xie Laidi reached the top floor of the seventh story and unlocked the left-hand door, revealing a two-story duplex with a rooftop garden. Lin Zhifeng couldn’t help but feel a bit smug.
The Wang family was greedy and foolish. They tried to act superior in front of Zhao Jiaoyue, and as a result, not only did they lose the house they could have gotten, but they also missed out on any compensation.
The house was fully furnished with all the appliances. There was a computer, tablet, treadmill—everything they could possibly need. The two girls explored the place with fresh curiosity and unanimously agreed: running away from home and coming here had been the perfect decision.
—
That night, Xie Yaozu dragged his weary feet back home. The moment he pushed open the door, he heard his mother cursing and grumbling. His heart sank—nothing good ever followed that tone.
“Can’t find Zhao Xiao? Then what about Guibao? The pitiful dowry from the Yang family won’t be enough to get my precious grandson back! And you—still think you’re some kind of rich young lady? Can’t even get your hands on the money. Useless, the lot of you!”
Xie Yaozu slumped down on the couch, his face expressionless as he turned his head and asked, “Ma, anyone in the village looking for a wife?”
“Uh… n-no,” Li Amei choked, then launched into a string of complaints about the two matchmakers. Her whining gave Xie Yaozu a pounding headache.
“What’s the point of all that? Tomorrow, go get the money back from the Yang family first. Where’s Zhaodi?”
His question finally made Li Amei and Wang Tingmei realize—the two girls hadn’t come home.
“Those two little brats have been gone all day. How long does it take to get an ID card?”
Li Amei glanced at the clock. It was already 9:10 PM—they should have been back long ago.
Xie Yaozu panicked instantly. If they couldn’t find them, how were they supposed to get the money tomorrow?
“Well, what are you waiting for? Go look for them!”
The three of them rushed out in a frenzy, but they had no idea where the girls usually hung out. They glared at each other in frustration and had no choice but to split up and search the streets aimlessly.
By 11:30 that night, the three of them returned home empty-handed, their faces more ashen than the peeling walls.
“Yaozu, what do we do? If we can’t find her, we won’t get the Yang family’s money… Wuwuwu, my dear Guibao…”
Wang Tingmei was beside herself with frustration. She wanted nothing more than to str*ngle her two daughters—but deep down, she feared that if they were dead, they wouldn’t be able to fetch a price. She had never wished harder for them to just show up right now.
Xie Yaozu sat holding his head in silence for a while. Then, suddenly, he looked up, eyes fierce, and growled:
“The engagement is already set. As soon as we find her, we’ll send her straight to the Yang family. Go dig out her birth certificate. First thing tomorrow, I’m taking it over and getting at least half the bride price in advance!”
<< _ >>
