Chapter 106

Chapter 106

Tang Qingqing ascended the stairs with a calm face, leaving everyone staring in shock.

Everyone present was stunned, never expecting Tang Qingqing to take action.

Although Tang Qingqing usually kept her distance from everyone and had spoken harshly to Tang Zhenzhen before, she had never physically intervened.

The seriousness in her eyes this time made everyone realize that Tang Qingqing's disdain for Tang Zhenzhen wasn't just talk; they could never be sisters.

Tang Zhenzhen collapsed on the floor, still feeling the numbing pain in her hand, unable to lift her arm, tears streaming down her face.

Her soft sobs drew everyone's attention. Su Rong hurried over and helped her up.

"Zhenzhen, are you okay?"

While showing concern, she didn't forget to glare at Tang Jixue:

"What were you doing just now? You didn't even try to stop it."

Tang Jixue felt wronged. Who knew Tang Zhenzhen would act out, and he never expected Tang Qingqing to have such skills.

Seeing Tang Zhenzhen's pale face, he didn't argue but said:

"Zhenzhen, stay away from Qingqing in the future. She said she doesn't like you getting close, so don't touch her things."

Hearing this, Tang Zhenzhen felt both angry and aggrieved:

"Third Brother, why are you blaming me? I just wanted to build a good relationship and make amends. Is that wrong?"

"I'm not blaming you, just asking you to keep your distance..."

"Third Brother, you're too biased!" Tang Zhenzhen felt even more hurt. "We're family. I just wanted her to feel included so our parents wouldn't be upset. I didn't do anything wrong, just trying to help her carry something, and she twisted my arm like this. How is it my fault?"

Su Rong was also displeased: "Third, shut up."

Tang Jixue pursed his lips and remained silent.

He saw clearly that Tang Zhenzhen only offered to help out of curiosity about what was in the bag.

Why didn't she offer help normally?

But everyone was sympathizing with Tang Zhenzhen, showering her with concern. If not for the minor bruise, they might have rushed her to the hospital. He knew no one would believe him anyway.

Tang Jixue looked at the scene, then towards the stairs, sighed lightly, and went upstairs.

Tang Jixue knocked on Tang Qingqing's door, "Qingqing, it's me. Can I come in?"

Tang Qingqing's voice came from inside: "Come in."

Tang Jixue entered and saw Tang Qingqing fiddling with something at the table.

Upon closer inspection, he saw her placing a cassette into a tiny tape player, his eyes widening.

"Is this a new Japanese Walkman?"

Tang Qingqing nodded: "Third Brother, you know about it?"

"Of course! Qingqing, can I take a look?"

Tang Qingqing handed it to him generously. Tang Jixue played with it, fascinated. He had heard about it but hadn't seen one in person.

"Did Brother Yi bring this for you? And these cassettes too?"

Tang Jixue glanced at the pile of cassettes on the table, picking one up and seeing English written on them.

"Yes, things spread quickly from the south. Brother Yi had someone bring them back."

"I must go see!"

Tang Qingqing supported this: "It's good to broaden your horizons."

Tang Jixue was doing well, and things were looking better, but compared to his future achievements, there was still a gap.

Tang Qingqing couldn't judge which path was better since happiness and fulfillment aren't always tied to money, especially for someone like Tang Jixue who isn't short of it.

Thus, she wouldn't force him back onto his previous path. Instead, she supported him in exploring more options to discover what he truly wants.

Ultimately, it's Tang Jixue's own decision, and others can't make it for him, even if they've seen a promising future. The path of life must be walked by oneself.

After a while, Tang Jixue returned the Walkman to Tang Qingqing, hesitating as if wanting to say something.

Tang Qingqing looked at him: "What do you want to tell me?"

Tang Jixue rubbed his nose: "Well, everyone has lived with Zhenzhen for years and has developed feelings. Many habits are ingrained, so don't take it to heart."

Tang Qingqing plugged in the headphones and handed them to Tang Jixue: "Third Brother, do you want to listen to some English songs? They're really good."

Tang Jixue took the headphones, turned them on, and listened to the music.

The different style of music was fresh and exciting, making Tang Jixue start moving along. After finishing one song, his eyes lit up, forgetting what he wanted to say.

"What kind of music is this? It's so energetic! I've never heard anything like it before!"

Tang Qingqing smiled: "Brother Yi said it's called rock music."

"Rock music? What is rock?"

Tang Qingqing gave a rough explanation. She had heard about it from Zhai Hongyi, but since she wasn't particularly interested in the type of music as long as it sounded good, her explanation wasn't very detailed.

"I'll look it up myself! Qingqing, can I borrow this cassette tape? I want to make a copy. I really love this kind of music; it's so addictive."

Tang Qingqing smiled. "Just take it and listen. The copy won't be as good as the original. If I want to listen to it, I'll get it back from you."

Tang Jixue was overjoyed. "Qingqing, you're truly my dear sister!"

Tang Jixue kissed the cassette tape and was about to rush out when Tang Qingqing stopped him.

"This kind of music can be quite noisy. Don't disturb the neighbors late at night!"

Tang Jixue acknowledged her words and then ran off.

He didn't return to his room but instead went straight to share the cassette with his buddies.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to tell Tang Qingqing, "About what happened earlier, you were right. She deserved it. I'm just saying this, not because you gave me the cassette."

Tang Qingqing laughed. Before coming here, she had prepared herself for the worst. To enjoy the benefits here, she had to bear the negative effects that came with them.

No matter how this family treated her, she wouldn't be affected too much.

But having someone care for her felt different. After all, she wasn't an emotionless piece of wood.

Downstairs, Tang Zhenzhen felt terrible. She didn't know what Tang Qingqing did, but her arm kept tingling and aching, which was extremely uncomfortable.

To make matters worse, everyone in the family was consoling her, yet no one mentioned seeking justice or punishing Tang Qingqing.

Tang Jixue was even more outrageous. After going upstairs, he happily ran out, seemingly having received some benefit.

In the past, such things would never have happened. She was the family's darling and would never suffer any grievances.

Now, when they pampered her, they still had to consider Tang Qingqing's feelings, fearing that being nice to her might upset Tang Qingqing.

Tang Zhenzhen felt that everyone in this family was becoming increasingly heartless.

Once they had other options, their attention towards her was no longer undivided.

She needed to leave this home quickly. Since Tang Qingqing arrived, it was no longer her domain.

Only by being with the male lead could she receive undivided love and become the only one in others' eyes.

Su Rong shared the same thoughts as Tang Zhenzhen. She had hoped that over time, the relationship between the two sisters would improve.

Both were good children. Although Tang Qingqing was stubborn, she had a kind heart. Tang Zhenzhen, who had been raised by her side, was always obedient and sensible.

Unexpectedly, Tang Qingqing's temper was so strong that no amount of Tang Zhenzhen's efforts to please her made any difference. Su Rong had given up on that hope.

At night, Su Rong mentioned this to Tang Jianguo.

"I think Qingqing's resentment won't dissipate. She and Zhenzhen cannot be sisters."

Tang Jianguo, who usually didn't care about such family matters, listened attentively this time.

"If they can't be sisters, then so be it. Qingqing's hostility towards Zhenzhen is too great. It's not appropriate for us to interfere."

Tang Jianguo had no idea what to do with his daughter Tang Qingqing. With other children, he could simply show a stern face, and they would be afraid.

Tang Qingqing was different. She wasn't afraid and always seemed ready to run away. Even when angry, Tang Jianguo couldn't do much.

Especially since Tang Qingqing's job often involved dealing with gruesome crime scenes, which she had adapted to. He knew deep down that his daughter was not like ordinary girls.

She was extremely brave and had her own ideas.

Su Rong: "We live under the same roof. We see each other every day. This situation can't continue."

"What do you suggest? Should we let Zhenzhen live in the Art Troupe or rent a place for Qingqing outside?"

"There's no need for such trouble. They're almost eighteen and can start looking for partners. Qingqing is still studying, but Zhenzhen should start now."

Tang Jianguo realized this and felt many emotions.

"Then you arrange it. Zhenzhen is more delicate, so we need to find her a mature and caring partner."

After thinking it through, Su Rong acted quickly, searching for suitable matches for Tang Zhenzhen. She also asked Tang Jianguo to keep an eye on other factory leaders' children.

Tang Zhenzhen wasn't surprised by this outcome. She had read about it in a book, which led to her meeting the male lead again.

However, the book briefly described the bizarre encounters during matchmaking, while actually experiencing them was another matter.

To increase dramatic tension, the author included various types of bizarre suitors, each appearing briefly in the story with a few lines of dialogue and subsequent entanglements.

For Tang Zhenzhen, personally experiencing these encounters was a different story. She had to participate fully, interacting with those awful men for extended periods, feeling like sitting on pins and needles, enduring days like years.

The most unbearable part was that some of these clueless men kept pursuing her.

Seeing the ugly man downstairs with flowers and music declaring his love, Tang Zhenzhen was so angry that veins popped on her forehead.

There was nothing romantic about it. The man looked terrible, making the scene unbearable.

Being pursued used to make Tang Zhenzhen feel charming. Now, she realized it often brought embarrassment, especially when the pursuer was unattractive and the setting was hideous. Being pursued by such a person lowered her standards.

The people in the Art Troupe laughed and pointed at Tang Zhenzhen.

"Tang Zhenzhen, this guy is so romantic. You should go down and accept him! Look at all the effort he put into this."

"Yes, she put so much effort into it; you should at least show up."

Tang Zhenzhen looked terrible and said nothing.

Even though that person was taken away, he still pestered Tang Zhenzhen for several days until Tang Jixue beat him up, which stopped him from appearing again.

Tang Zhenzhen was exhausted from the ordeal. Although Su Rong apologized and said many nice things, what good did it do?

The next match was even more bizarre. Tang Zhenzhen realized that Su Rong's description of doting on her daughter was completely different from reality. Any caring parent wouldn't set her up with such terrible matches, would they?

She lived in the real world and couldn't skip through unpleasant parts like reading a novel. She had to keep going despite everything.

If she rejected them outright, she might miss meeting the male lead, and all her previous efforts would be in vain.

Tang Qingqing saw Tang Zhenzhen come back every day looking angry and worn out, with no energy left to bother her. Tang Zhenzhen appeared much more haggard.

Tang Qingqing didn't know where Su Rong found these oddballs. It was astounding, and one might think Su Rong had a grudge against Tang Zhenzhen.

Although these men came from decent backgrounds, they were too strange. Their few good qualities couldn't make up for their flaws.

Tang Jixue once privately complained to Tang Qingqing, "You should just find your own love. Mom's matches are too unreliable! It's like picking men out of a garbage bin. Do you remember yesterday's guy? He looked great, but what was his problem?"

Tang Qingqing shook her head. Tang Zhenzhen hadn't shared details about her dates, and the book didn't provide much information either, only briefly mentioning a few matches and saying there were many others, none satisfactory.

Yesterday's match was a researcher at Pharmaceutical Factory No. 3, a university graduate, handsome, but a bit older—already twenty-seven. He claimed he had been focused on his career, which is why he hadn't dated.

He was an only child, and his relatives were either in the pharmaceutical industry or doctors.

On paper, his background seemed fine.

Though he was nearly ten years older than Tang Zhenzhen, that wasn't a big deal nowadays. Some people preferred older partners who knew how to care for others.

What could be wrong with someone like this, making Tang Jixue share his frustration?

Tang Jixue slapped his thigh, "This guy is something else. His parents divorced early due to special circumstances, and he was raised by his mother. I guess he's too close to her."

"What do you mean?"

"Can you believe it? At his age, he still sleeps in the same bed as his mother and constantly says 'My mom says!'"

Tang Qingqing widened her eyes, "Maybe their house is small, so they have no choice?"

Housing was limited, and many people lived in small spaces.

In rural areas, it wasn't uncommon for families to share a single room.

"If that were the case, we wouldn't mention it. His father's family used to be wealthy; they owned an entire street. Now they have a large ancestral home, a five-compound mansion, all theirs. Do you think they'd lack space?"

Tang Qingqing immediately felt disgusted.

"That's too inappropriate."

"Exactly. Zhenzhen isn't bad, right? But that mother criticized her relentlessly. If you heard it, you'd get angry too. Who does she think her son is? Ridiculous."

After saying this, Tang Jixue subconsciously looked at Tang Qingqing.

Tang Qingqing wasn't upset by this comment, knowing it was true.

Tang Zhenzhen was beautiful, a star performer in the Art Troupe, and the daughter of the factory director. Her heart condition was invisible at first, so her conditions weren't bad.

"How did such a match even happen?"

"I don't know. If I were there, I would have beaten that guy up."

Tang Qingqing couldn't understand, feeling relieved she didn't have to go through this.

She noticed that many things that angered her in the book didn't affect her as much in reality. Instead, minor details bothered her more.

But seeing Tang Zhenzhen's face dark as a pot bottom every day made Tang Qingqing want to laugh.

Indeed, when things don't happen to you, you can watch the drama easily. Hearing about those bizarre matches, Tang Qingqing couldn't help but say, "There are all kinds of birds in a big forest."

Frequent dating and Tang Zhenzhen's dissatisfaction led people to think she was being too picky.

Everyone has flaws; no one is perfect. Yet she had many demands.

Many believed Tang Zhenzhen was too selective and looked down on others, leading to her being overly critical.

"If she keeps being picky, she'll end up with the leftovers!"

"As a woman, her prime years are short. If she's too picky now, she won't be wanted later, ruining her life."

The negative comments described in the book arrived as expected. The book mentioned they caused significant harm to the protagonist, summarizing it as "the protagonist couldn't bear it."

In reality, it wasn't just a sentence; she had to endure constant negativity.

Tang Qingqing didn't actively seek out information about Tang Zhenzhen, but because of their relationship, many deliberately avoided mentioning it to her. Even so, Tang Qingqing heard negative comments about Tang Zhenzhen.

Su Rong had arranged matches with decent backgrounds and competent individuals, some with good reputations outside.

These men had supporters. When rejected, some said hurtful things, which quickly spread.

Despite so many interested in her, she rejected them all, upsetting some who then said nasty things.

Tang Zhenzhen always viewed the world as if she were a time traveler, believing she controlled it. She didn't take many things seriously, treating others like NPCs.

But now she realized that she wasn't as calm as she had imagined.

It was like being cyberbullied online; although turning off the computer means you can't see anything, how many people can truly ignore it all? Especially when it affects real life.

Tang Zhenzhen once again felt that this was a real world, her real life.

From the moment she entered this world, she was no longer the person who could casually mock any character in a novel or even berate the author to their face.

Su Rong was also extremely frustrated: "When I was investigating, everyone seemed fine and normal. How come they turned out to be one less reliable than the next?"

At first, Su Rong self-reflected, but after a few times, she couldn't help but talk to Tang Zhenzhen.

"Zhenzhen, you can't be so picky about finding a partner. You have to try interacting with them to see if you're compatible. Some of them seemed pretty good to me; you're just overthinking things. Don't always put on such a stern face during blind dates; it's not good."

Tang Zhenzhen was exasperated, "Mom, they aren't normal people. How can you blame me for overthinking!"

Su Rong was also upset. She had offended so many people because of Tang Zhenzhen, yet she still had to speak softly to her child, afraid of upsetting her.

"How about we wait a while then?"

Tang Zhenzhen immediately deflated; waiting would mean losing the male lead.

"Mom, I'm not blaming you. I know you've worked hard. It's my fault."

Tang Zhenzhen was about to cry again, and Su Rong's frustration dissipated.

Although Tang Zhenzhen constantly complained and sometimes vented to her friends, she still went on blind dates diligently, hoping to get through this part quickly so she could be with the male lead and prove those who mocked her wrong.

She understood the logic: first suffer, then triumph. To reach the first climax, she had to endure this dark period. But experiencing it herself, the pain was several times worse than the irritation she felt while reading.

Tang Zhenzhen's face was sullen every day, looking at everyone as if they were her enemies, filled with resentment, and her usually beautiful features lost their liveliness.

Tang Qingqing watched this unfold leisurely each day, grateful she had avoided this fate.

If marriage was this troublesome, she might as well stay single forever.

How many sins must she have committed in her past life to encounter so many oddballs at once?

Seeing Tang Zhenzhen almost unable to bear it, she started cursing people herself, completely disregarding the image she had painstakingly built. Finally, the plot reached its critical point—Tang Zhenzhen was about to accidentally go on a blind date with the male lead.

That day, Tang Qingqing deliberately stayed home because the voice appeared again. To avoid any mishaps, she stayed inside listening to music.

The voice was too loud, making it impossible for her to concentrate on reading, so she simply let her mind wander.

Unexpectedly, even this didn't help her escape.

People from the Public Security Bureau arrived, led by Shi Pengfei himself.

He stood at the gate of the courtyard and shouted, "Tang Qingqing, Comrade Tang, the situation is urgent. Please come with me to the scene!"

Tang Qingqing opened the window and stuck her head out, "What happened?"

"I'll explain on the way. It's an emergency!"

Without worrying about the plot gods, Tang Qingqing prepared to leave, but when she tried to exit, she found her room door wouldn't open.