Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  “You wanted me to admit that I was a thief. You insisted on it. How is that being good to me? Tell me. I am all ears. Mom, if you treated me as your daughter, why did you mistake someone else who was in the same dress as me for your daughter? Mom, do you recognize your daughter from the dress she wears?”

  “I was mistaken about you having stolen from the Zhai family. That was why I was upset and I mistook someone else for you.” Ding Jiayi lied blatantly. “As for…… I was afraid that you would do the wrong things. I just wanted you to know that as long as you admitted your mistake, you could still turn over a new leaf. I was worried that the Zhai family would cover up for you since you were still young. We must let you know of your mistakes so that you will not commit them again!”

  Ding Jiayi sounded as if she was right, as if she had not maligned Nan Nan. “Nan Nan, this is a very serious matter. Only people who are genuine to you will be strict with you. You can tell who your family is and who the outsider is from this incident. If you do something wrong, outsiders will not stop you and you will sink even further. Contrariwise, your family will do everything they can to help you correct your mistake. It’s not good for the family if others know that someone in the family is a thief. But despite all this, we want to make it known so that you will learn from your mistakes!”

  “Mom, you are unbelievable.” Qiao Nan pressed her hands against the back of her neck and looked upward, lest she was too angry that her blood pressure shot up.

  Qiao Nan finally understood why she had led such a miserable life in her previous life.

  Both Qiao Zijin and Ding Jiayi were very good at brainwashing others.

  After listening to what her mother said, she almost believed it to be true and started to doubt that she had been wrong—that in fact, her mother was a good mother who wanted the best for her daughter, but she was being narrow-minded instead and did not understand her mother’s good intentions.

  This was her second life, and yet she was almost fooled by her mother’s words again. Given her foolish personality in the previous lifetime, if she was not fooled by Qiao Zijin, she would definitely be brainwashed by her mother such that she could not tell right from wrong.

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  Apart from her mother, nobody could have made such unreasonable behavior sound as if it was justified and for valid reasons. She definitely had the ‘talent’!

  “What do you mean by that? Are you scolding me?” Ding Jiayi did not understand what Qiao Nan meant. She took it that Qiao Nan was scolding her.

  She might not be entirely right, but Qiao Nan had more or less meant that way.

  When she said that Ding Jiayi was ‘unbelievable’, she had indeed meant it in a sarcastic manner.

  Qiao Nan sat motionless in the chair. “Mom, you are definitely older and wiser than me. I don’t wish to say anything now.” Her mother was good with her words. No one was her match.

  They were not having a debate, and she did not care for sophistry. She found it pointless to argue with her mother. Anyway, what was important was that both she and her father knew the truth.

  Qiao Nan always remembered the miserable life she had led in her previous life and how she had died in the end.

  She was angered to death by her mother!

  If this was how her mother loved her, cared for her, and protected her, then she did not need this kind of torturous love. Her mother could give all these love to Qiao Zijin!

  “Why have you gone silent? Do you admit that what I said is the truth? If you truly understand, you should know what to do when your dad is back.” Ding Jiayi wanted Qiao Nan to repent and become meek and submissive as she used to be in the past. She wanted Qiao Nan to obey her words, not having a mind of her own.

  Of course, Qiao Nan had to report everything that happened to her and everyone she had met with to Ding Jiayi!

  Ding Jiayi was jealous at the thought that Zhai Hua and Qiao Nan had such good relationship that Zhai Hua was willing to hand over the keys to her back door to Qiao Nan, and allowed Qiao Nan to do her revision in her house for more than a year.

  If she knew that Qiao Nan was acquainted with Zhai Hua, she would have tried to be close to Zhai Hua as well. If she had befriended Zhai Hua, it would mean that Qiao family are friends with Zhai family.

  With such a strong backing from Zhai family, she did not need to be mindful of the Lee family and Zhu family anymore.

  By that time, she would not need to please the Lee family and the Zhu family. It would be the other way round.

  It was a pity that Qiao Nan had wasted such a great opportunity.

  If not for Qiao Dongliang, Ding Jiayi would have given Qiao Nan a beating to make sure that she learned from her mistakes.

  Qiao Nan leaned back on the chair and remained silent.

  “Did you hear what I said?” Since Ding Jiayi could not raise her hands against Qiao Nan, she could only give her a push. Qiao Nan sat motionless on the chair, refusing to say a word. Seeing that she could not get a response from Qiao Nan, Ding Jiayi pursed her lips and said, “If you remain silent, I will take it that you understand what I said. Remember, you have to keep your promise. Don’t let me down. Otherwise, I won’t help you next time. I will be like those outsiders who indulge your every whim and watch from the side as you make mistakes. I will give up on you as well. Nan Nan, you must not force me to give up on you.”

  The market was not far from the house that Qiao Dongliang rented. He was back in ten minutes’ time. Qiao Dongliang came back and asked, “Has the fish been cooked?”

  “Not yet.” Ding Jiayi jumped up from the stool. “I had a chat with Nan Nan just now. I will clean the fish now. Have you bought the chilies?” At the sight of the red chilies in Qiao Dongliang’s hands, Ding Jiayi could not help but feel that her throat was on fire, her stomach upset.

  “Nan Nan, your dad is so good to you. He knows that you like spicy food and has bought so many chilies for you. Do you have anything to say to him?” Ding Jiayi blinked at Qiao Nan, wanting her to stand on her side.

  Qiao Nan looked to the side, completely avoiding Ding Jiayi’s eyes.

  “Nan Nan, what’s wrong with you? Why are you so listless? Tell me, did anyone bully you when I was away?” Qiao Dongliang directed his anger toward Ding Jiayi. They were left alone while Qiao Dongliang went to get chilies. She was the only one who could have bullied Qiao Nan!

  “Old Qiao, I am innocent. I care about Nan Nan and wanted to have a chat with her. I just wanted to know how she’s doing at school recently. Why would I bully Nan Nan? Is that right, Nan Nan?”