"You're always going on about it, aren't you tired of it?" Luo Jianguo's face was dark and sullen, his brows furrowed in frustration.
Zhu Shulan, feeling stifled, said nothing and stood there in silence, looking dejected.
Luo Qianqian forced a smile to lighten the mood. "Dad, are you hungry? Let me make you a bowl of noodles."
"Mm." Luo Jianguo grunted in response. He had been out for eight job interviews today and hadn't eaten anything, so his stomach growled in protest.
Zhu Shulan felt wronged, clenched her teeth, stomped her foot, and stormed back to her room in a huff.
As the family's savings dwindled, Zhu Shulan, who was usually extravagant and had no concept of money, was beginning to feel the pressure. She had never worked and had no understanding of the harsh realities of society.
Sitting in the living room out of boredom, she turned on the TV, but her mind was elsewhere, lost in thought.
Luo Qianqian poured a cup of tea and handed it to her, concerned. "Mom, don't be sad. Dad is already working very hard to find a job."
Zhu Shulan glanced at her and managed a faint smile. "You're still the most obedient one. Mom didn't dote on you in vain."
But when Zhu Shulan thought of Luo Wei, she was filled with hatred, cursing her as an ungrateful wretch.
"Luo Wei must be laughing at us now. I regret adopting her. If it weren't for her, our family wouldn't be in this mess." Zhu Shulan said bitterly.
Luo Qianqian patted her shoulder in comfort. "Mom, what she did was too much... it's my fault as the older sister for not setting a good example."
"This isn't your fault. If she were half as good as you, I wouldn't be so troubled."
"Mom, I'm sorry..."
"Silly child." Zhu Shulan took a sip of the tea from the table, her expression sorrowful.
Luo Qianqian's phone beeped with a text message. She furrowed her brows, picked up her phone, and checked her messages.
[Luo Qianqian, I'm giving you three days. If you don't pay back the money you owe, don't blame me for being ruthless. I can handle three years in prison; don't push me!]
Luo Qianqian's pupils suddenly contracted in fear. She knew these thugs meant what they said and that she couldn't afford to provoke them. She needed to come up with the money quickly.
She turned off her phone and looked at her mother. "Mom, the tuition for that... beauty school I mentioned earlier is due again." She lowered her head, her voice humble, making her seem pitiful.
Hearing this, Zhu Shulan put down her teacup and sighed. "How much do you need this time?" This time, Zhu Shulan didn't get angry. She thought that if her daughter could learn some skills and earn money, she would be able to support her in the future. She felt she should support her fully, even if it meant selling everything they had.
"One hundred thousand." Luo Qianqian's voice dropped even lower as she cautiously observed her mother's reaction.
"One hundred thousand?" Zhu Shulan was stunned. A hundred thousand was a lot for their family now. She remembered how she used to buy a bag for a hundred thousand without batting an eye.
But things were different now. They didn't even have a hundred thousand in savings. The money had long been used to pay off the household staff, and they hadn't been frugal before, so everything had been squandered.
"Mom, this will be the last time. After this, there won't be any more fees. I swear." Luo Qianqian said, making a gesture of swearing.
Zhu Shulan was heartbroken. "I... we don't even have a hundred thousand at home right now. How can I give it to you..." Luo Qianqian widened her eyes in disbelief. "How could we not even have a hundred thousand?"
She thought of what would happen in three days if she didn't pay back the money—those thugs would surely assault her and then kill her. The consequences were too terrible to imagine.
She shouldn't have gambled. Now that she owed so much money, how could she ever repay it?
"My dear, our family is in dire straits. Your father can't find a job either. Mo Huai has ordered all the companies in Beijing not to hire your father. We're at a dead end."
"What did you say? Dad can't find a job because of Mo Huai's interference?" Luo Qianqian's face twisted with anger, her nails digging into her palms. A trace of venom flashed in her eyes as she cursed inwardly. Why did Luo Wei deserve to be with someone as outstanding as Mo Huai? How was she inferior to Luo Wei? She used to be one of the top socialites in Beijing, and now she was in this miserable state, all because of Luo Wei.
Luo Qianqian secretly vowed to get revenge.
Zhu Shulan shook her head helplessly. "What else did you think? I plan to start looking for a job myself in a few days."
Zhu Shulan had been born into a wealthy family and had been pampered all her life. Her father was a soldier, and her brother was a businessman, making their family well-known in Beijing.
Luo Qianqian sneered inwardly but still showed concern outwardly. "Mom, work is tiring and not suitable for you. You've never worked before; you won't be able to adapt."
But Zhu Shulan refused to give in, encouraging herself. "Don't underestimate your mother. I can endure hardship."
Luo Qianqian was getting impatient. How much could she earn from a job? She needed money fast.
"Mom, why don't you ask Uncle if he can help our family out?" Luo Qianqian suggested, her tone earnest.
"Are you crazy?" Zhu Shulan raised her voice in refusal. She had cut ties with her family long ago when she married Luo Jianguo.
Back then, everyone in the Zhu family had opposed her marriage to Luo Jianguo, saying he was not a good man, that he seemed devious and unfaithful.
But Zhu Shulan, in pursuit of so-called true love, had eloped with Luo Jianguo. Her father was so angry that he had her captured and brought back, but Zhu Shulan had boldly protested. From that moment on, her father, Zhu Leiting, severed their father-daughter relationship.
After running away from home, Zhu Shulan quickly married Luo Jianguo. More than twenty years had passed since then, and they had never been in contact.
Now, lowering herself to beg her family for help would be a slap in the face for her.
Luo Qianqian continued to coax her, "Mom, you've been away for more than twenty years. Don't you miss home? Besides, you're Uncle's own sister. Would he really just stand by and watch us suffer?"
Zhu Shulan remained silent.
Luo Qianqian pressed on, her tone firm. "The Zhu family has a high reputation in Beijing. Money is nothing to them, but it could save us from this misery. Don't you think so, Mom?"
After a long pause, Zhu Shulan finally spoke, her voice faint. "I still think it's inappropriate. Let me think about it."
A spark of determination ignited in Luo Qianqian's eyes. She bit her lip. "Mom, don't think about it anymore. Do we have any other options? Can you bear to see me suffer? What about my beauty school tuition?" As she spoke, she began to sob, lowering her head and pretending to wipe her tears with a tissue.
"Sigh." Zhu Shulan sighed. "My precious daughter, it's all my fault for being useless." She patted Luo Qianqian's shoulder, comforting her.
"Mom, please go talk to Uncle, okay?" Luo Qianqian pleaded.
After a moment, Zhu Shulan reluctantly agreed. "Alright."
Hearing this, Luo Qianqian stopped crying and smiled smugly. "Mom, really?"
"Mm." Zhu Shulan nodded firmly.
Overjoyed, Luo Qianqian hugged Zhu Shulan tightly. "Mom, you're the best! I love you so much."
"Silly child, if I don't treat you well, who will? You're my precious daughter." Zhu Shulan smiled, her eyes full of affection.
—---
T/N: She’s delulu
Read ahead to Chapter 100 here
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