Chapter 97: 095 Boss Ying dominated Zhong Zhiwan with just one hand【1 more】

Although Zhong Zhiwan did not raise her head or speak, she had been paying attention to Ying Zijin all along,

and when Lady Zhong went to find Ying Zijin, Zhiwan saw it too.

She naturally knew that Lady Zhong was there to back her up and to warn Ying Zijin.

After all, Ying Zijin was just a foster daughter whose status couldn’t compare with hers.

But Zhong Zhiwan had not anticipated that Ying Zijin would not only remain unfazed by Lady Zhong’s threat but also turn the tables on her.

Far from intervening, Zhong Zhiwan found herself bereft of the ability to think, her mind blank and her ears buzzing.

All she could hear was the roar of Wei Hou’s uncontrollable rage in the recording.

“—This piece of calligraphy, you gave it to me, it means you stole it, you can’t escape!”

“—You made me stamp my seal on that calligraphy.”

And heard herself say,

“—Just because I told you to, you did it? Master Wei Hou, by slandering me like this, are you prepared to offend the Zhong family?”

“—My grandpa dotes on my cousin. Do you think he’ll listen to your explanation when he sees you? Will he believe me or you?”

Standing at the stairwell corner, Zhong Zhiwan felt cold in her hands and feet.

Her face drained of all color, the intense shame and embarrassment nearly bringing her to tears.

Lady Zhong was both shocked and furious as she abruptly turned to look at the girl, “What are you doing? Hand over your phone!”

Ying Zijin’s fingers clenched, and the phone naturally fell into the palm of her hand, “Lady Zhong, out of respect for my grandfather, I did not publicize this matter.”

She tilted her head slightly, her subdued voice carrying a chill, “It does not mean you can provoke me.”

Lady Zhong’s face darkened.

When people grow old, their greatest wish is to have their descendants around them to enjoy their twilight years.

Old Master Zhong was no exception.

Zhong Zhiwan was, after all, raised by his side, and how could over a decade of life with his granddaughter not have created affection?

Although Old Master Zhong had scolded Zhong Zhiwan last time, he was quite concerned about her health afterward and even specially summoned a doctor to see her.

Lady Zhong was very clear on Old Master Zhong’s temperament.

The old master has always believed in rewards and punishments, and any wrongdoing, even by his own son, would not escape punishment.

“Zhong Zhiwan!” Old Master Zhong was truly enraged now, more out of disbelief, “Was it you who stole your cousin’s painting and gave it to Wei Hou?!”

“Grandpa…” Zhong Zhiwan’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice hazy with emotion, “Grandpa, I just, I only…”

It was nothing more than a touch of jealousy.

She had no other malicious intent.

“Shut up!” Old Master Zhong’s chest heaved violently, clearly very angry, “Go to the attic right now and reflect on your actions! Don’t come out until you realize your mistake!”

At this, Zhong Zhiwan’s tears truly began to flow, and she looked up in astonishment, “Grandpa?”

“Housekeeper!” Old Master Zhong roared without looking, “Send the young miss up to the attic.”

Without a chance to argue, Zhong Zhiwan was “escorted” away by the housekeeper.

“And you!” Old Master Zhong then turned his head, “Don’t think I can’t see those little maneuvers you do behind the scenes. You have the time, so properly discipline Wanwan. Look at what’s become of her lately!”

Lady Zhong’s face stiffened, a mix of embarrassment and discomfort, her face feeling a burning pain.

Gone was her previous high-and-mighty attitude as she lowered her head, “It’s my fault, Old Master. Lately, I have indeed been negligent in disciplining Wanwan.”

“I don’t want to hear such polite but useless words,” Old Master Zhong’s anger had yet to subside, “To teach is a mother’s duty, apologize to Zijin!”

Lady Zhong’s expression changed once more.

In all her years married into the Zhong family, when had she ever been forced to apologize?

And to a foster daughter of lowly status, no less.

Lady Zhong clenched her teeth, her apology whisper-thin, with no face to remain there any longer, she hurriedly ascended the stairs.

“Zijin, your grandpa feels ashamed,” Old Master Zhong took a deep breath, “Your grandpa truly did not expect Wanwan to do such a thing. It’s a reflection of my poor teaching.”

“It’s not your fault.” Ying Zijin’s eyes softened, and she picked up a cup, “Grandpa, drink some water.”

After Old Master Zhong finished drinking, he forgot what he had been about to say.

“Grandpa, I’ll go back to my dad’s place now,” Ying Zijin nodded slightly, “I’ll come to see you whenever I can.”

It was thanks to Zhong Zhiwan that Old Master Zhong had vented all the pent-up frustrations in his body.

With her Pill’s adjustments, Old Master Zhong’s health was completely restored.

“Alright, alright,” Old Master Zhong immediately lost his temper and smiled contentedly, “Zijin, your dad…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, changing the subject, “If you need anything, remember to tell your grandpa.”

After Ying Zijin left, Old Master Zhong had another glass of water and muttered to himself.

Strange indeed.

He felt much lighter after letting out that torrent of anger from his body.

Old Master Zhong scratched his head, unable to come up with a reasonable explanation, and leisurely went to water the flowers.

**

On the attic,

Zhong Zhiwan had been kneeling for an hour already.

She rubbed her tears fiercely, feeling utterly wronged.

Wasn’t everything fine in the end?

Besides, Ying Zijin had stepped on Wei Hou to gain the appreciation of Sheng Qingtang.

“`

Another half-hour passed, and Lady Zhong came up to deliver some hot milk to Zhong Zhiwan.

She placed the cup on the table, raised her hand, and slapped Zhong Zhiwan across the face, her voice cold, “Do you realize where you went wrong?”

Zhong Zhiwan covered her face, tears streaming down even more fiercely, “I shouldn’t have been deluded.”

“Smack!”

As soon as she finished speaking, her face was met with another slap.

“You’re wrong again.” Lady Zhong shook her head, very disappointed, “Your mistake was not covering your tracks cleanly, leaving all evidence erased, and even letting the call recording be taken away.”

“You also erred in being jealous of a foster daughter, stooping to take action yourself.”

Zhong Zhiwan stared in a daze.

“Zhiwan, you’re the young lady whom I’ve carefully groomed, how can you be inferior to a foster daughter?” Lady Zhong half knelt down, sighing, “Your grandfather is right, you need to reflect on this thoroughly.”

“Your rivals are the socialites of the Imperial Capital, not that foster daughter.”

“She’s not worth your serious attention, understand?”

Zhong Zhiwan pursed her lips, “Mom, but about Grandpa…”

“Your grandpa is old and muddled now, he’s been bewitched.” Lady Zhong fought down her anger, “But you’ve been raised under his eye, he won’t truly punish you. Kneel a little longer, I will plead for you.”

Zhong Zhiwan responded in a muffled voice.

“One more thing.” Lady Zhong stood up, “Your aunt doesn’t want that foster daughter to offend the young master of the Mu family, so she’s arranged for him to stay with us, starting next month.”

“You know what the Imperial Capital’s Mu Family stands for, Zhiwan, your mother doesn’t need to say more, does she?”

Zhong Zhiwan wiped her tears, “I understand.”

Lady Zhong then left, content.

**

It wasn’t long before the students in class 19 also learned about what Zhong Zhiwan had done.

They unanimously agreed that on some dark and windy night, they should stuff her into a sack and let Jiang Ran bash her head in.

“Daddy Ying, you’re just letting Zhong Zhiwan off like that?” Xiu Yu frowned, “If it were up to me, I’d broadcast that recording on the school forum, let everyone see what kind of face she really has.”

So much for goddess!

A bunch of boys blinded by dog eyes.

“No need.” Ying Zijin lowered her head, still accepting bounty tasks on the NOK forum, “Just ignore it.”

Whatever became of Zhong Zhiwan, she didn’t care.

As for the Zhong Family, she cared only for Old Master Zhong.

“Tsk.” Xiu Yu turned his head, “Jiang Ran, how about this—go and scold Zhong Zhiwan, shatter her delusions of grandeur.”

Jiang Ran’s face darkened, “Are you crazy?”

Did he have time for such trivialities?

Xiu Yu shrugged, “Daddy Ying, where are we eating today?”

After completing the last D-rank mission, Ying Zijin looked up, “Cafeteria.”

Hearing this word, Jiang Ran, who was about to leave school, halted in his tracks.

The little brother who bumped into his back almost cried in pain, “Brother Ran, why did you stop walking?”

Jiang Ran scowled, following after Xiu Yu, “Not going out. To the cafeteria.”

The Verdant cafeteria offered the eight major cuisines of Hua Country, as well as Western food.

Prices were cheap, and the food tasted good, so students generally dined in the cafeteria, even those from the four major noble families.

But not Jiang Ran.

When Zhong Zhiwan saw Jiang Ran entering, she hesitated for a moment, her back instinctively straightening further.

But upon seeing Ying Zijin, she frowned.

“Zhiwan, the things you see when you live long enough.” The girl beside her expressed in surprise, “Jiang Ran actually came to the cafeteria to eat. But since Ying Zijin is here too, it’s not so strange.”

Everyone knew that since Ying Zijin had joined class 19.

Verdant’s top dogs in both the boys and girls camps were following her lead.

Zhong Zhiwan’s fingernails dug into the palm of her hand, she smiled lightly, “Her? She just likes to cozy up to men.”

The girl beside her was taken aback.

“First, she cozied up to Teacher Ying’s fiancé, then she clung to Fu Yunshen.” Zhong Zhiwan spoke nonchalantly, “Now, she’s also setting her sights on Jiang Ran.”

The girl hadn’t expected that, and upon hearing it, immediately felt a wave of revulsion, “That is quite problematic.”

“That’s not even the worst of it.” Zhong Zhiwan put down her chopsticks, “You don’t know, just a while ago, she…”

She couldn’t finish what she was saying.

Because Zhong Zhiwan noticed Ying Zijin glance in her direction.

Raising her head, she wiped her lips with a napkin, looking composed.

At such a distance, she couldn’t hear what they were saying.

Even if she did, with so many people in the cafeteria, what could Ying Zijin do?

Zhong Zhiwan threw away the napkin, ready to leave the cafeteria.

But before she could stand up.

The girl’s slender fingers twirled, and the chopsticks in her hand suddenly flew out.

“Smack!”

And just like that, they stabbed fiercely into the table in front of Zhong Zhiwan.

“`