Chapter 111

Chapter 111

A cryptic remark left Tang Qingqing stunned for a second before she quickly understood the implication of Tang Zhenzhen's words.

According to the original story, someone at the factory was dissatisfied with Tang Jianguo's punishment and planned to take revenge on the female protagonist. The male lead happened to pass by and saved her, turning it into a classic hero-saving-the-beauty scenario.

It was precisely because of this incident that the two eventually came together.

Now, the plot had changed. Tang Zhenzhen and Mu Weidong had settled their engagement earlier, and Tang Zhenzhen no longer needed to work at the Art Troupe. Therefore, there was no chance for her to be alone during commutes, making it impossible for the assailant to target her. Instead, they might target Tang Qingqing.

Tang Qingqing currently had no male lead to save her. Thus, Tang Zhenzhen felt that warning her was enough to make up for any perceived debt, even though she didn't feel she owed anything, as everything was achieved through her own efforts.

Seeing Tang Zhenzhen's condescending pity, Tang Qingqing couldn't help but find it amusing that such a simple statement could make her act so superior.

"Why?"

Hearing this, Tang Zhenzhen's sense of superiority grew even stronger.

"As for why, you don't need to know. Just do as I say. Otherwise, if something happens, it will be your own fault."

Tang Qingqing laughed. "Are you referring to someone retaliating against punishment by striking back?"

Tang Zhenzhen's expression froze, her eyes widening. "How... how did you know... you're also..."

"Is that strange? Don't forget, I have connections in the Public Security Bureau."

Tang Zhenzhen's heart, which had been in suspense, suddenly relaxed.

She didn't want Tang Qingqing to be another time traveler; she used to hate stories where everyone was a time traveler.

Still, she felt somewhat displeased that her foresight wasn't unique.

"Well, I've said what I needed to say."

Just as Tang Zhenzhen was about to turn and leave, Tang Qingqing spoke again:

"There's one thing I'm curious about."

"What?"

"Why are you so obsessed with taking things from others? Do you really think that what you take will become yours?"

Tang Zhenzhen's pupils dilated, unable to hide her shock. "What do you mean by that?"

Tang Qingqing's smile deepened, but her eyes were filled with mockery.

"I truly despise you."

Tang Zhenzhen's heart tightened, but she quickly smiled, raising her chin.

"I don't care who you are; I am the winner now! Just seethe with envy."

"Are you sure it's me who lost, or is it just that I didn't want it?"

Tang Zhenzhen's smile faltered, thinking of Tang Qingqing's deliberate avoidance, but she retorted:

"Hmph, losers always say that."

"If believing that makes you feel better, then go ahead."

Tang Qingqing shrugged indifferently.

This attitude infuriated Tang Zhenzhen, making her feel that all her hard-earned gains were worthless!

"Tang Qingqing, stop pretending. You can't fool me; I know how jealous you are! Hmph, let me tell you, I am Tang Zhenzhen, and everything Tang Zhenzhen has, I will have. And you, you are nothing! You lost to me back then, and you'll lose now and forever!"

"You schemed to steal someone else's life, but you forgot that no one can completely replace another."

Tang Zhenzhen didn't believe her nonsense. She clearly had the female protagonist's life and would be as happy as the character in the book.

While Tang Qingqing struggled in the countryside, she enjoyed good food and comfort in the city. Although the conditions here were harsher than her previous life, she was still pampered, an experience she never had before.

Despite minor details, she still had everything the protagonist had.

Tang Qingqing's return was unexpected, but Tang Zhenzhen was convinced it wouldn't change much.

Feeling increasingly confident about her future, Tang Zhenzhen believed the story had just begun, and she would have the life she dreamed of.

She almost let Tang Qingqing distract her!

"I generously forgive your impotent rage. It seems you realize what you've lost. I hope you won't focus too much on me in the future; jealousy will destroy you."

Tang Zhenzhen prepared to turn and leave triumphantly when she saw Tang Jidong and Tang Jixue standing at the stairs, their expressions frozen.

She cursed inwardly, realizing she hadn't noticed anyone coming upstairs!

No wonder Tang Qingqing, usually quiet, suddenly lashed out; she must have been waiting for this moment!

Tang Zhenzhen still clung to a sliver of hope, having kept her voice low and maintained some distance, hoping they hadn't heard anything... right?

But reality struck.

Tang Jidong looked at her in disbelief. "Zhenzhen, how... how could you?"

Tang Zhenzhen was at a loss, lowering her voice. "Second Brother, Third Brother, when did you arrive?"

Tang Jixue's face darkened. "We heard everything, both what we should and shouldn't. Tang Zhenzhen, do you have any explanation? Is this how you treat Qingqing behind her back? Did you know all along that you were switched?"

Tang Zhenzhen hurriedly defended herself. "I didn't! Third Brother, you've changed; you never thought like this before!"

Tang Zhenzhen didn't want to lose her status and favor in this family. She had fought for so many years, pretending for so long, and she didn't want to lose it all just for Tang Qingqing to have everything.

After she settled things with the male lead, she became too complacent and forgot to be cautious! This wouldn't have happened if it were any other time.

Tang Zhenzhen was filled with regret. If she had read such a plot in a book before, she would have cursed the author, but now that it happened to her, she truly understood what it meant to be overconfident.

Tang Zhenzhen held back tears, trying to salvage her image, but saw that Tang Jidong, whom she trusted the most, turned his eyes away, making her heart sink.

Tang Jixue sneered, looking at Tang Qingqing with concern: "Qingqing, did you know all along? That's why you never liked her from the start?"

Tang Qingqing remained silent, implicitly agreeing.

Tang Jixue felt even more sorrowful and didn't ask Tang Qingqing why she didn't reveal the truth.

If it were before, he would have asked. But after experiencing so much, he knew better than anyone else that even if Tang Qingqing had spoken up, who would have believed her?

Tang Qingqing was his biological sister and their parents' daughter, but they had only spent a month together, while Tang Zhenzhen had been with them for over ten years. Even if they didn't want to admit it, there was a bias in their feelings.

Often, they weren't even aware of it themselves.

How could Tang Qingqing feel secure entering such a family? How could she prove that Tang Zhenzhen knew everything?

After all, they were barely four years old back then; how could they have such deep scheming to hide their true identities?

If not for hearing it firsthand, it would have been impossible to believe.

Tang Zhenzhen stomped her foot, tears streaming down her face: "Third Brother, how can you think like this about me! Am I really such a person in your eyes? It's all her fault, she deliberately provoked me into saying nonsense. She's jealous of my wonderful husband, so she framed me! Second Brother, Third Brother, you must believe me!"

Tang Jixue rolled his eyes: "Come on, do you really think Qingqing cares? If she did, would she avoid him? You treat him like a treasure, afraid you won't be able to marry him. Do you really think your tricks are clever? Qingqing doesn't even care."

Mu Weidong is excellent, but even the most excellent people aren't desired by everyone.

Tang Jixue could be friends with him, but having someone like him as his brother-in-law, especially for Tang Qingqing, seemed far from ideal.

Even someone as outstanding as Zhai Hongyi, who has no first love or children, needs careful consideration.

Tang Zhenzhen's face turned black with anger: "I won't allow you to speak ill of Weidong! Second Brother, look at Third Brother, what kind of words are these!"

Tang Jidong looked at her deeply: "Zhenzhen, during the performance, did you already know something and deliberately have me take Qingqing away?"

Before, Tang Jidong found it strange when Tang Zhenzhen suddenly called him during the National Day holiday, asking him to take Tang Qingqing out.

Although she claimed to care about Tang Qingqing and wanted her to adapt faster to the city, Tang Jidong wasn't naive and sensed something odd.

But since he had always pampered his younger sister, he didn't think much of it and rationalized her behavior.

However, after a series of events, Tang Jidong began to reconsider things.

"Second Brother, even you doubt me?" Tang Zhenzhen looked at him incredulously, her pale face pitiful, her voice trembling with tears.

At this moment, Su Rong walked over, curious: "What's going on? Are you fighting? As older brothers, shouldn't you be more considerate of your sister?"

Tang Jixue pouted: "Mom, at least investigate before jumping to conclusions."

"What could possibly be happening..."

"Mom! They're all bullying me! Waaah—" Tang Zhenzhen rushed over and sobbed into Su Rong's arms.

She knew well that Su Rong couldn't resist someone's plea for sympathy.

The three Tang brothers each had their own personalities and weren't used to being coddled. In the story, one reason they doted on the female lead was because she was affectionate and good at seeking sympathy.

Tang Qingqing and Su Rong weren't as close as in the original story because Tang Qingqing had become stubborn and distant.

Sure enough, seeing Tang Zhenzhen like this, Su Rong softened her heart.

"No matter what happened, apologize to Zhenzhen! Sweetheart, don't cry, Mom is here, no one can bully you."

Tang Jixue: "Mom..."

"Don't call me Mom, apologize quickly!"

Tang Qingqing watched this scene, sneered, and closed the door.

The sound of the door closing drew Su Rong's attention, and she realized Tang Qingqing was present.

"Qingqing is here too?"

Tang Jixue: "Mom, does what you're saying make sense? You only see Tang Zhenzhen's distress, what about Qingqing? She's your biological daughter."

Su Rong, initially feeling guilty, became displeased upon hearing this: "Third, I've told you many times not to say such things. It makes Zhenzhen sad."

Tang Zhenzhen cried without saying a word, yet it spoke volumes.

"Mom, do you ever think about how Qingqing feels?"

Su Rong's expression stiffened slightly.

Tang Jixue looked at Tang Zhenzhen, who had always used her charm to gain everyone's sympathy and favor, satisfying her every whim.

Now, thinking back, it seemed particularly ironic.

While Tang Zhenzhen easily obtained what she wanted, Tang Qingqing struggled in the countryside.

She took everything from Tang Qingqing and proudly announced her victory.

Even if she was unaware at first, her subsequent boasting mirrored the selfishness and ugliness of her biological parents.

Tang Jixue said solemnly, "Mom, come down. I have something to tell you and Dad."

Su Rong had never seen her youngest son so serious before. She felt that the once mischievous little boy had now grown up into a responsible man.

Tang Zhenzhen immediately panicked, her voice rising. "Third Brother, what do you want to do! Are you only happy if you see me die? Why have you become like this?"

She rushed to Tang Jidong, grabbing his arm and crying, "Second Brother, say something. Could you also think of me like that? Don't you remember who was there for you during those dark times? Am I really so despicable in your hearts that a few angry words make me the villain? Do you even consider me your real sister?!"

Su Rong was confused, not understanding what had happened, but she could sense that it wasn't just a minor quarrel.

No matter how much they usually argued, they never spoke so harshly, especially since Tang Jidong had never used such harsh words with Tang Zhenzhen.

"What's going on? What happened?"

Tang Jixue did not explain but looked at Tang Jidong instead.

Tang Jidong looked at Tang Zhenzhen, seeing her tearful eyes. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away her tears.

"Zhenzhen, Second Brother believes you are a good girl. There must be a reason for what you said earlier; you didn't mean it."

"Second Brother, I knew you understand me best."

Tang Zhenzhen broke into a smile, but Tang Jidong's next words froze her smile.

"So let's go explain everything to everyone, okay? No matter what happens, we won't blame you."