Chapter 97: Chapter 97

Ye Ling naturally wouldn’t stand there shamelessly listening to her harsh words. Hearing the suggestion to leave, she turned around and went inside, shutting the door behind her.

In the living room, Bai Xue said a few more words before heading back to the West Room, seeing her daughter sitting up. She went over to stop her. "You’re having a fever, stay under the big blanket and sweat it out to bring the fever down."

As she fed her daughter a sip of water and put the cup away, she turned back and saw her daughter hadn’t lain down yet, so she went to help, "Lie down. Mom remembers what you said; I’ll try not to mention your sister, but did you hear what she said? What kind of words were those?"

Only then did Ye Qian lie down, "Mom, it’s all my fault. If I hadn’t gotten sick, none of this would have happened. Sister is right, don’t let her come over, otherwise, if she catches it and it affects her exams, what then?"

"You soft-hearted child." Bai Xue sighed, wondering why the elder daughter couldn’t be .

"It’s my own incompetence. These days, Zhao Guodong and the others don’t need tutoring from Sister, so I thought maybe she could tutor me too, but then I fell ill. What if I pass it to Sister? Better just forget it; even with her tutoring, I might not do well on the exam." Ye Qian mocked herself but then comforted her mother, "Mom, Sister is about to have exams too. I’m in this state, so maybe you could make something nice for her to eat, to let her replenish her energy."

"You’re sick now; how can I fuss over those things? And it’s not favoritism; have you seen her energy level? She doesn’t need any extra help, so don’t worry about it." Bai Xue was unwilling to mention the elder daughter, "Your dad has been at the company for so long without coming home. I don’t know when he’ll be done, but I reckon in a few days he’ll be back in time for your middle school exam."

Ye Qian was full of disappointment, "Dad won’t be happy seeing me . I haven’t even reviewed; I’m definitely going to fail the middle school exams."

"Qianqian, did you keep in mind what Mom mentioned the other day? Maybe we shouldn’t take the exam this time. Repeat a year; nobody’s going to laugh at you for repeating because of health reasons." Bai Xue advised earnestly.

Ye Qian understood this, but every time she thought of Ye Ling potentially surpassing her, she felt uncomfortable. "Mom, how about I take more medicine and let Sister tutor me? The exam is the day after tomorrow, and if I don’t at least try, I won’t be at peace."

"She herself doesn’t even know if she can pass, so what’s the use of her tutoring you?" Bai Xue didn’t trust her elder daughter at all, "And the exam’s the day after tomorrow; studying now won’t help. Don’t stress yourself; focus on getting better."

"Mom, do you also not believe I can pass? No wonder Sister mocks me." Ye Qian turned over, facing away from her mother, and began to cry softly.

Bai Xue, seeing her daughter upset again, quickly apologized, "You see, Mom didn’t mean it that way. If you want tutoring, I’ll talk to her."

Reluctant to acknowledge that daughter, Bai Xue hardly ever said ’your sister’ or ’that daughter,’ often referring to her as ’her’ or ’that girl,’ showing how little she favored that daughter.

Only then did Ye Qian turn around with tears on her face, "Mom, if Sister doesn’t want to, don’t force her."

"She’s willing to tutor others but not her own sister? I want to see how she’s unwilling." Bai Xue snapped, and with a flare of anger, she headed towards the East Room.

Ye Qian sat up and wiped the remaining tears off her face. She wouldn’t let Ye Ling’s exam be delayed, nor let her be too content. Although Ye Ling minimized encounters with them since coming to the Ye Family, in Ye Qian’s eyes, this was Ye Ling looking down on them from a high ground. Where was she so noble, and how long could she maintain that height?

Inside the East Room, Ye Ling was lying on the bed. Hearing a forceful push at the door, she looked up from her book to see her mother storming in. Without any haste, Ye Ling calmly sat up and looked at her, not speaking a word.

Bai Xue disliked this demeanor of her elder daughter, "You’re about to take your middle school exam, and you’ve got some time off these days. Tutor Ye Qian a bit."

Ye Ling didn’t move, "Mom, there are only two days left before the exam. Tutoring now wouldn’t make a difference, not to mention Ye Qian is sick. If she gets exhausted, whose fault would it be, mine or yours? Ye Qian is your precious, I can’t bear that responsibility."

"Just say you don’t want to and stop making excuses. Ye Ling, you spend your day tutoring outsiders, but won’t tutor your own sister? How selfish can you get? Are you so jealous of Ye Qian? Is she that much better and more talented than you, and you just can’t stand it so you don’t want her to pass high school? Dare you say that’s not what you’re thinking?" Bai Xue didn’t feel her words were cutting and pointed a finger straight at her daughter’s face, nearly poking her face.

"Mom, your favoritism is your matter, but I can’t accept your words. What do you mean I don’t want her to pass high school? Is whether she passes up to my desire? Today, you’re picking on me at every turn, using the middle school exam as an excuse. Are you worried I’m going to pass and Ye Qian won’t, so you pamper Ye Qian to stop me from passing? Let me make it clear; if anyone stops me from taking the exam, I’ll fight them to the end. This life of mine seems worthless in your eyes, already trashed, so why not boldly live it just once." The hatred in Ye Ling’s eyes wasn’t feigned, making Bai Xue somewhat apprehensive.

With a sudden reaction, Bai Xue took several big steps forward and slapped her elder daughter’s face. Ye Ling wasn’t just going to sit there and get hit. She dodged to the side, but not completely in time, and the slap landed from her ear to her face. The sharp pain made Ye Ling’s face contort.

"Threatening with death again? I’ll beat you to death today, better than letting you this beast threaten me." Bai Xue, once she started, vented her fury, hitting and pinching the elder daughter on the bed vigorously, while Ye Ling only managed to block her face, resulting in bruises and swelling.

With fury trapped in her chest, Ye Ling used all her strength to push away her mother, who was attacking her. Barefoot, she ran out, with Bai Xue chasing and cursing behind. In the West Room, Ye Qian listened eagerly but suddenly heard the commotion outside. Mocking Ye Ling hadn’t dealt with it just as she thought, Ye Qian didn’t anticipate hearing Ye Ling’s hysterical cries echoing even in the room.

"She’s going to beat me to death; everyone come and see! My own mother won’t let me take the middle school exam and is beating me to death. Everyone bear witness; if I can’t take the exam, I won’t live. Let her beat me to death today."

Mother already heartless, Ye Ling saw no point in saving her any face, figuring it already didn’t matter that she wasn’t liked—it was going down together.

It was almost noon; as people came out to buy groceries and cook, the Ye Family living near the courtyard entrance stirred them all. Bai Xue chased out and saw her eldest daughter, hair disheveled, sitting on the ground crying and yelling, feeling a chill sweep over her whole body. (To be continued. If you work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)