The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Sui’er looked at Gu’er. ’When Gu’er was my age, she was already earning her own money. She never relied on anyone. No wonder she looks down on me, and no wonder other people do, too. I really can’t compare to Gu’er.’

"I get it. After the New Year, I’ll talk to Dad first. Once he agrees, I’ll figure out the rest. If you still won’t let me go by then, Sis, I’ll just find a different job."

Lin Sui’er calmed down. She felt that what Gu’er said made sense. She wasn’t a kid anymore; she needed a goal. She couldn’t let people really look down on her.

Gu’er looked at her, sensing that Lin Sui’er wasn’t lying. ’Good. This kid isn’t a complete idiot when she actually decides to listen. As long as she can think it through, it means she’s not a lost cause.’

"I won’t tell Dad about this. But the New Year is almost here, so Dad will definitely be back. You can have a good talk with him and seriously explain your thoughts. Dad isn’t an unreasonable person. He doesn’t expect us to be wildly successful. As long as we’re all doing well and living stable lives, he’s content. Also, I think if you can, you should at least get your graduation certificate. It’s only another half a year. Otherwise, you’ll have been in school for so many years without even getting a diploma to show for it. That would be embarrassing to admit. But that’s just my personal opinion. It’s up to you whether you listen or not."

After saying this, Gu’er knew their conversation was more or less over. She had said what needed to be said, and even some things that maybe shouldn’t have been. Lin Sui’er hadn’t been stubborn to the very end. It seemed she had taken her words to heart. ’But whether she’ll fall back into her old ways later, that’s up to her.’

Lin Sui’er mulled over Gu’er’s words. ’If Dad found out what I’ve done, he’d never let me off easy. Even if Mom helped me and Dad didn’t hit me, he would still be so disappointed in me. And if I then told him I was quitting school, Dad would...’

’Gu’er has a point. I’ve been studying for so many years. I can’t get into a university, so I should at least get my high school diploma. Otherwise, it’s just too pathetic. Dad would be even more disappointed. I won’t say anything for now. I’ve already been in school for this long; what’s another six months?’

Lin Sui’er nodded at Gu’er, indicating her agreement.

"All right, you should get some sleep. I’m leaving."

Gu’er stood up as she finished speaking.

Lin Sui’er looked at her, wanting to speak. She opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.

"Lin Sui’er, you’d better remember this. I’m only cleaning up your mess this one time. There won’t be a next time. So from now on, whatever you do, think about the consequences first. Also, when you wake up, dye that hair of yours back to its normal color. If I come back next time and it’s still like this, I’ll drag you out and have it shaved bald."

Gu’er said this over her shoulder as she reached the door.

"You’re not my mom, stop being so nosy. You should get a buzz cut!"

Lin Sui’er grumbled, but then immediately added, "Don’t worry, I’ll definitely dye it back."

Seeing Lin Sui’er agree, Gu’er’s face twitched. ’Right, I’m not her mom.’ But she really had been lecturing Lin Sui’er as if she were a clueless child.

Gu’er reached for the door handle.

"Thanks... Sis."

Lin Sui’er’s voice, thanking her, came from behind. It wasn’t loud, but Gu’er heard it.

Gu’er’s hand paused. ’This girl actually thanked me. How rare.’

The corners of Gu’er’s mouth turned up unconsciously, but she didn’t say anything or look back. She just pulled the door open.

"How did it go? How is she? Sui’er, how is Sui’er?"

The moment she heard the door, Chen Fengjiao shot up from her seat and ran over.

Gu’er’s expression was neutral, so Chen Fengjiao couldn’t read anything. When Gu’er didn’t answer immediately, she panicked, pushed the door open, and went inside, calling out Sui’er’s name repeatedly.

’It’s as if she didn’t beg me to come talk to Sui’er. As if I’d done something to her precious daughter.’

Gu’er shook her head.

"Are you okay?"

Sun Jiaming and Li Zhi walked up to her, and Sun Jiaming asked with concern.

"I’m fine."

Gu’er looked at Sun Jiaming, her expression softening. ’This is the most important person in my life.’

"Should we leave now or sit for a bit?"

Sun Jiaming asked. He also felt his mother-in-law was being incredibly biased. ’You were the one who came to our house begging Gu’er to handle this. Now that she’s here, you act as if Gu’er did something terrible to Sui’er. If you were so worried, you shouldn’t have asked her to come in the first place! For her own mother to act like this, isn’t it just breaking Gu’er’s heart? Sigh, with a mother-in-law like this, I’ll just have to treat Gu’er twice as well.’

"Let’s sit for a bit."

Gu’er was worried Chen Fengjiao might have something else to say to her.

She sat down, and before she could move, Sun Jiaming had already poured her a glass of warm water.

"You must be thirsty after talking for so long. Have some water."

Sun Jiaming looked at Gu’er gently.

Gu’er drank it down in big gulps. She was indeed thirsty. The water was just the right temperature, not too hot and not too cold, and it felt good to drink.

Li Zhi watched them with a hint of envy in his eyes. Sun Jiaming truly doted on Gu’er. ’If it were me,’ he thought, ’I definitely wouldn’t be as thoughtful and attentive as Sun Jiaming.’

"So what exactly happened?"

Li Zhi asked Gu’er. He and Sun Jiaming still didn’t know what was going on, only that it had something to do with Lin Sui’er.

Gu’er looked at Li Zhi, considering how to explain.

"If it’s inconvenient to say, then don’t."

Li Zhi thought she was in a difficult position.

"It’s not that. It’s like this: A few punks from school keep bothering Sui’er. She went out with them a few times, but now she doesn’t want to anymore. She’s afraid they won’t let her off the hook. She said another girl refused to go out with them and got beaten up, so she’s terrified and feels like she has to go along. My mom saw that Sui’er had dyed her hair and was hanging out with those people, so she thought she was turning into a delinquent. Mom can’t control her, so she asked me to come talk some sense into her. You both know Sui’er and I don’t get along, so we had a fight first. I slapped her and gave her a good scolding. After that, she settled down and told me what was really going on."

Gu’er had told about eighty percent of the truth. She left out what happened between Sui’er and that gangster, Da Lei Zi. Sui’er had a crush on Li Zhi, and even if Li Zhi didn’t like her back, Gu’er didn’t want him to look down on Sui’er. She had to save her sister some face.

"Where are these punks from? What are their names? Tell me, I’ll go take care of them. The nerve of them, bullying my little sister! Don’t worry, leave this to me. I guarantee I’ll make them behave. If they dare to bother Sui’er again, I’ll break their legs."

Li Zhi had thought it was something serious. Turns out it was just a few punks. ’Dealing with a few punks is a piece of cake.’ He had plenty of ways to make them submit.

"Okay, then I’ll leave this matter to you."

Gu’er nodded and told him the punks’ names and where to find them, all of which she had asked Lin Sui’er. She felt relieved leaving it to Li Zhi. He knew how to fight, and between him and Dingzi, they were more than enough to handle those guys. Besides, Li Zhi knew people at the police station. Even without using Mr. Li’s connections, he could get those guys thrown in jail. After Li Zhi was through with them, they would absolutely never dare to bother Sui’er again.

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Thank you to Lan Niao Fei and MidnightBlues3355 for the monthly tickets, and thank you all for your support.