She knew her mother was concerned about her. However, her mother’s tone that reflected the lack of trust in Shanshan almost made her lose her cool and start an argument.

  “We have many unlucky people who refused to work, or who worked but failed to get what they wanted. They will become twisted and begrudge everyone else of their success.”


  They refused to acknowledge anyone’s success and their own failure.

  Some sank into the dark side of their hearts. They refused to believe in the beauty of life. All they saw was darkness.

  People like them were incorrigible. They could only get some comfort in the dark. Arguing with people like them would just taint her status. That was what Yun Xiangxiang thought.

  She was used to having haters and getting backstabbed in her past life. In this life, she faced them calmly.

  “Xiangxiang, doesn’t your mom talk to you about this?” Shanshan wanted to vent.

  “She has to take care of my brother. She has no time to browse the internet. And my dad is just clueless about it,” Yun Xiangxiang could guess why her friend was agitated.

  It had been years since Shanshan’s debut. She endured the haters’ attack during her nadir. Even the accusations last time didn’t faze her much.

  If a report like this made her uncomfortable, it must be because her family didn’t believe her either.

  Yun Xiangxiang couldn’t say that her mother trusted her completely and wouldn’t care about this.

  It would add insult to Shanshan’s injury. She would misunderstand her mother further.

  “Shanshan, what our parents say might not be what we wanted to hear. And yes, it’s frustrating sometimes. But they’re just looking out for us. Just ignore the way they talk and focus on their love for us.”


  Yun Xiangxiang had to nag a bit. She yearned for parental love in her past life, so she valued her family a lot.

  Arguments were typical in any relationship. Someone had to take a step back. Being reasonable was a gift few people had.

  Shanshan felt better after that advice. “I know what you’re saying. But I just really wanted to snap.”


  “Snapping’s normal,” Yun Xiangxiang calmed her down. “You wouldn’t get angry at anyone but your loved ones if you are wronged. Your venting and their questions all stem from the bonds between you.”


  “I know, I know. I feel better after talking to you,” Shanshan calmed down.

  Yun Xiangxiang chatted with her for a while longer before she went back to her filming. She was finally back in her home on the twenty-ninth.

  Only Little Fairy was there to greet her. Song Qian was supposed to be picking Yun Lin up at this hour.

  “Meow-meow,” no matter how long they were apart, Little Fairy would always be close to Yun Xiangxiang. She was a lot larger now.

  Her fur was getting thicker and shinier. Holding her felt comfortable. Yun Xiangxiang rubbed her face against Fairy’s. Fairy licked her back.

  Yun Xiangxiang only let her cat go when Wang Yong came over to prepare dinner. After she was done bathing and changing, Yun Lin was back.

  “You traitor,” Little Fairy, who was having fun with Yun Lin, ran toward Yun Xiangxiang when she saw her.

  “Finished your homework?” Yun Xiangxiang picked up Little Fairy.

  “Already done when I was in school,” Yun Lin answered. “You’re finally back, sister. Man, I miss you.”


  “Are the results for your mid-term exam released?” Yun Xiangxiang asked about his studies.

  “I will not shame the family,” Yun Lin was confident.

  Yun Xiangxiang was amused. She recalled Yun Lin saying that only getting number two was a humiliation.

  “Let me take a look at you,” Yun Xiangxiang beckoned Yun Lin.

  Yun Lin retreated. Yun Xiangxiang started becoming suspicious. She dragged him over and noticed claw marks on the nape of his neck.

  There were bruises near the neck, which was hidden by the uniform. “Did you get into a fight?”


  “I……”


  When he met his sister’s quiet gaze, Yun Lin quieted down.

  “Sister Qianqian,” Yun Xiangxiang called Song Qian.

  Song Qian was leaning against the railing of the staircase. She knew it couldn’t be hidden anymore. “It happened two days ago. Someone slandered you in school. He took on five of them by himself. Now the whole school knows him.”


  Song Qian omitted the severe injuries the other kids sustained in her explanation.

  They started it first. For some reason, Yun Lin managed to get all the witnesses and evidence on his side. The school punished the kids on top of them getting beaten up by Yun Lin.

  Yun Xiangxiang let Fairy go and pulled Yun Lin to her side. “Don’t fight with anyone ever again. I know you think two steps ahead of them, but they might take revenge since you dealt two blows. I can’t be there for you when that happens. What do you plan to do?”


  The kids were locals. They might not be rich, but they had a solid foundation here.

  Never fight with the locals, even if you were the president. And Yun Lin was not the president.

  “I don’t care about that. I’ll beat up whoever tries to badmouth you,” Yun Lin wouldn’t back down.

  “Then I will send you back to dad,” said Yun Xiangxiang coldly.

  Yun Lin raised his head quickly. His eyes reddened.

  Before he tried to escape, Yun Xiangxiang hugged him. No matter how much he struggled, she kept on hugging him. “I know you’re just looking out for me. But I’m worried about you too. You’re still young. Some things can’t be erased completely. There are people out there whose attacks are even worse than the kids’. But I won’t let that get to me. They don’t own me, right?”


  Yun Lin was full of tears. He shook his head silently.

  “They don’t. What they said were just rumors. You shouldn’t get back at them just because of this,” Yun Xiangxiang calmed her brother down. “I’m a public figure. We are destined to be surrounded by controversies.”


  “It just sounded so uncomfortable,” Yun Lin straightened up.

  “How many people are there in your class?”


  “Forty-five?”


  “How many spoke-ill of me?”


  “One or two of them.”


  “How many people told you they like me?”


  “A lot. Some of them are from other classes too. Even people from different grades.”


  “That’s it. I have so many fans among them. You should be happy about that. Not getting angry over a couple of kids who badmouth me,” Yun Xiangxiang clasped Yun Lin’s shoulders.

  “There are even those who disliked gold. Even gold is disliked, let alone a human like me. Not everyone loves me.”


  “They can dislike you, but they shouldn’t insult you! That’s taking it too far!”


  Not everyone had to like his sister, but she didn’t owe them anything. But they had no right to insult her!