Chapter 129: Chapter 129

Song Mei was there just to watch the commotion. Ye Ling had scored first in the entire city, and even Zhao Guodong, who usually performed worse, had gotten in. With the summer vacation here, only a few from the infantry unit went to the army to gain some experience. If it were usual times, Song Mei would have insisted on going, but now that she didn’t even make it to high school, she knew it wasn’t the time to show off.

From Song Mei’s perspective, after Ye Ling’s outstanding performance, she became popular in the compound. She also seemed to get closer to Zhao Guodong. Seeing Zhao Guodong angrily storm out of the Ye Family’s house today, how could she not be curious?

When Bai Hehua opened the door, before she could ask who it was, Song Mei pushed her aside and strode in boldly. After scanning the room, she turned to Bai Hehua and asked, "Where is Ye Qian?"

The Ye Family had a niece visiting; everyone in the compound knew. While Song Mei questioned, she was sizing up Bai Hehua with disdain in her eyes. No matter how pretty she was, so what? She was still someone from the countryside. Her eyes fell on Bai Hehua’s hand twisting her clothes, clearly showing her lack of exposure.

"Aunt took my little sister out." Bai Hehua replied, having just been pushed and knocked against the shoe rack, becoming even more frightened.

Back in the village, kids around Bai Hehua’s age often bullied her. Poor and timid, and unloved by her parents, she only ever got bullied without resisting.

Song Mei exchanged a glance with Jiang Yan, "Why was Zhao Guodong angry when he left just now?"

Bai Hehua looked up, appearing utterly confused.

Song Mei glared at her for a long time before adding, "The boy who just left?"

So, it turned out he was called Zhao Guodong.

Song Mei nodded, waiting for Bai Hehua’s answer.

But before they got a response from Bai Hehua, the door to the East Room opened. Ye Ling glared coldly at Song Mei, "I don’t know which leader sent you to question me at my house. You act so imposing, like you’re interrogating a criminal in someone else’s home. Who gave you such nerve?"

"Ye Ling, what do you mean by this?" Seeing Ye Ling startled Song Mei, but she jumped up to save face.

"What do I mean? I want to ask you what you mean." Ye Ling leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, full of ridicule. "If you want to gossip like some old wife, go wherever you like, but I think you’ve come to the wrong place. You’ve chased me home for it. Do you think our Ye Family is easy to bully? With that kind of attitude, I think you’ve just been hit too little."

"Such big words, so what if I haven’t been hit enough? Dare to touch me, I dare you?" Song Mei wasn’t feeling guilty at all. "If you hadn’t done it, why fear people talking? Doing shady things, pulling someone into your house and pretending, how shameless, huh, look at you, trying to seduce a guy from such a young age."

"Say that one more time?" Ye Ling narrowed her eyes.

Jiang Yan thought Song Mei had gone too far and tugged at her, "Let’s go."

But how could Song Mei leave at that point? She raised her chin at Ye Ling, "So what if I said it? I say you’re shameless, seducing men and bringing them home."

Before Song Mei finished her last sentence, Ye Ling’s palm had already slapped her face. One slap wasn’t satisfying enough; a second slap followed immediately. Jiang Yan was stunned at the sight, and Bai Hehua was already scared to tears, standing there saying ’stop fighting’ over and over, but no one paid attention to her.

Song Mei had never been hit before. After realizing it, she lunged at Ye Ling, but Ye Ling immediately raised her leg and kicked Song Mei in the stomach. Song Mei staggered back a few steps. If Jiang Yan hadn’t caught her, she would have knocked over the table behind her.

"Ye Ling, I’m not done with you today." Song Mei, being repeatedly hit, was almost driven mad.

Ye Ling stood still, her face unred, breath steady, not looking like someone who’d just fought. "With that mouth of yours, try coming closer, and I swear I’ll tear it off? A little girl like you, constantly talking about seducing men, who told you that? Have you seen it happen before? I think you’ve done it yourself, that’s why you say it about others. Otherwise, who could say such things? Huh, I think it’s you who is shameless."

"Ye Ling, you’ve hit her, yet you’re still being unreasonable. Isn’t that too much?" Jiang Yan looked back at her.

Ye Ling glared fiercely, "Who do you think you are? If you have any sense, shut your mouth, or get out. Don’t be like some people who don’t appreciate kindness."

"You..." Jiang Yan bit her lip, pulling Song Mei, "Let’s go, I refuse to believe there’s no place where we can reason."

Song Mei, afraid of Ye Ling, didn’t dare rush forward again. Crying, she went out with Jiang Yan, but not forgetting to hiss, "Ye Ling, you’ll pay for this."

"Go ahead, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here waiting for you." Confidence will get you anywhere, and Ye Ling was truly unafraid of her.

Once the house quieted down, Ye Ling looked at Bai Hehua, "Since you are part of our family now, you represent the face of the Ye Family. Don’t let people bully you and act like a dog, letting them hit you. Weren’t you always unwilling? If you’re unhappy, why not resist? Not everyone will pity you because of how you act."

In her past life, Ye Ling had married Shen Bin, much older than her. She remembered how Bai Hehua had mocked her, even expressing her jealousy of Ye Ling’s family and parents, saying she would have lived better if she were in her place.

After finishing her words, Ye Ling turned around and went inside. Bai Hehua stood there dumbfounded, forgetting to cry, her eyes full of disbelief. She couldn’t understand how Ye Ling had seen through her thoughts. When Bai Xue came back with Ye Qian’s newly cut bob at around seven in the evening, they found Bai Hehua alone in the living room, her eyes red.

"Hehua, what’s wrong?" Bai Xue glanced at the East Room; only two were home. Knowing this, it was easy to infer what happened, so she called out loudly, "Ye Ling, come out here."

Ye Qian sat across from Bai Hehua, her new student-style bangs falling over her forehead, quietly observing Bai Hehua. But upon hearing her aunt’s call, Bai Hehua stood up in fear.

"Aunt, it’s not about Big Sister. Please don’t blame her." The more Bai Hehua explained, the more Bai Xue felt she was right, and her anger grew.

Ye Ling didn’t come out, but Song Mei’s mother, Wang Danhong, soon showed up with Song Mei and Jiang Yan and her mother. Bai Xue was quite surprised to see them suddenly, quickly inviting them to sit in the living room and bringing them water. Seeing the usual smiles replaced by cold expressions, especially with Song Mei’s swollen face, left Bai Xue puzzled, not knowing what had happened.