Chapter 008: Self-Righteousness

Chapter 008: Self-Righteousness

The conversations among the older generation are always lengthy, and the topics repeat themselves. Especially in the staff building, where most are teachers, the discussions tend to focus on education.

Granny Li usually just listens and rarely offers opinions. However, Li Pushu listens with great interest and even chimes in, matching the speaker's emotions perfectly. No wonder both the old and young adore her.

"Look at me, my memory's failing with age. The toothbrush and towel at home are no longer usable. Go buy a new set from the convenience store by the gate, or we won't have them for the evening."

Granny Li was still mumbling about this when she went grocery shopping in the morning, but she forgot about it as soon as she turned around.

The last time Li Pushu came back was during the Spring Festival. Even if the items were stored well, they couldn't be used anymore.

It's been so long; they must have bred bacteria. Being thrifty doesn't mean being stingy like this, and it won't cost much anyway.

Li Pushu nodded, stood up, and said, "Alright, is there anything else we need at home? I'll get it all in one go."

Granny Li said, "We don't need anything else. Just buy your own toiletries."

"I'll go too. It's rare for me to come back, and I want to stay a few days with my grandparents." Meng Ci stood up, smiling gently like the well-behaved, exemplary student he was.

Both had good looks, and when standing together, they were particularly striking—exactly the kind of match that all the elders would consider perfect.

Grandma Meng smiled and said, "Go together. You're young people, and staying with us old folks would be boring. Since you're back, enjoy yourselves. A-Ci, you're older than Pushu, so take good care of your little sister."

"I know, Grandma." Meng Ci nodded, walking a few steps behind Li Pushu, polite and gentlemanly.

After the two had left one after the other, the topic shifted to them. Many joked that if they were to become in-laws in the future, it would be a wonderful blessing.

"A-Ci has good judgment. Old Meng and I also think Little Pushu is wonderful in every way. But young people's affairs should be left to them to handle." Grandma Meng said with a smile.

Despite the praise for her grandson in her words, she didn't think much of Li Pushu. An orphan with no parents to support her—even with Teacher Li, it wouldn't be enough. In the future, buying a car or a house would all depend on the Meng family and A-Ci.

Moreover, she was too beautiful—her face too flashy and alluring. Women who are too beautiful tend to rely on their looks and act spoiled, with too many thoughts; they are not suitable to marry as virtuous wives.

Grandma Meng didn't yet know that Li Pushu already had a boyfriend. Those who knew wouldn't keep bringing it up—that would be too gossipy and rude.

Hearing this, the people who had been joking shut their mouths. They glanced at Granny Li, inwardly disapproving of the Meng couple's attitude. Maybe their daughter's previous incident had made them lose face, and now they wanted to regain it through their grandson, showing off in various ways.

Grandpa Meng was playing chess with the other men. Although he didn't continue the conversation, having been married for a lifetime, their thoughts were certainly the same—just one spoke while the other acted.

"A-Ci has a good education, a good job, and a handsome appearance. How could he lack a girlfriend outside? You don't need to worry. A-Ci will soon bring a granddaughter-in-law home for you to see." Granny Li wasn't annoyed. She smiled at Grandma Meng as she said this, then looked at everyone. "In a couple of days, my Pushu's boyfriend will come over. You're all sharp-eyed. Help me see if he's a reliable young man."

There were fewer people at noon, but now everyone had gathered. Hearing Granny Li's good news, they were surprised. After offering congratulations, they began to ask where Little Pushu's boyfriend was from, what he did, and what he looked like.

Grandma Meng was immediately pushed out of the conversation. Feeling irritated, she thought, 'She had a boyfriend but didn't mention it, and now she's going out with A-Ci. Truly a restless nature.'

"That child has already bought a house and a car in Jiangdong, all under Pushu's name. He runs a tech company now, with a good income—enough for the two young people to live on." Granny Li's subtle show-off directly hit Grandma Meng's sore spot, thwarting her attempt to belittle my Pushu.

"Not at all. This child has no parents, but he has a smart mind. He was a college classmate of Pushu and built everything on his own. Earlier, Pushu sent me a photo. Look, here's their picture together." Granny Li fumbled with her phone, found the photo Li Pushu had sent—a picture of them standing side by side, a handsome man and a beautiful woman. The man was even more handsome than Meng Ci.

Grandma Meng took a look. He wasn't the greasy-haired, big-eared type she had imagined, and she was immediately furious.

She was unhappy, but Granny Li was happy. "This child is really good. On holidays, he always has Little Pushu send me red packets, and he sends gifts too. He's very considerate."

"He has honest eyes and an upright posture. Oh my, look at this photo. His eyes are glued to Little Pushu when taking the picture. No mistake, Teacher Li, you should prepare for the wedding feast!"

Ye Sui hadn't even arrived yet, but he had already received unanimous praise from the elderly in the community, considered half a community son-in-law.

Seeing that Grandma Meng was so angry she couldn't find a single word to criticize after several attempts, Granny Li felt relieved. Hmph, if she looked down on Little Pushu, then she in turn looked down on Meng Ci as her grandson-in-law—his eyes were dishonest.

Li Pushu had no idea about Granny Li's victory after she left. She and Meng Ci had left one after the other, keeping their distance. Her unwillingness to talk was clear on her face.

But this guy pretended not to notice, acting as if they were close, showing off his knowledge, and the topics he brought up were about the orphanage or probing whether she had any special belongings. His intentions were obvious, alright!

Damn! She really couldn't stand this asshole! Li Pushu was not a good-tempered person; she only acted nice in front of the elderly at home. But that didn't mean she had to act nice in front of an asshole—that would be self-abuse.

"Meng Ci, right? You seem quite arrogant. Who gave you the confidence to think that just by coming up to me with a fake warm attitude, I would get dizzy, see hearts in my eyes, and become a fangirl who tells you everything? Ridiculous. If you can't afford a mirror, I'll kindly buy one for you to take a good look at yourself."

Li Pushu stopped, crossed her arms, and looked Meng Ci up and down with a critical and disdainful gaze, finding nothing pleasing. She said coldly, "Put away that scheming face of yours. Don't mess with me, and don't even think about messing with Granny Li. A little politeness from me and you actually think I'm a pushover, getting all puffed up."

Finally, she had lashed out. Seeing the shock on Meng Ci's face, which turned sullen a moment later, she felt much better. Some people need to be scolded head-on, otherwise they think they're a hot potato that everyone wants.

Li Pushu turned to leave, but Meng Ci's words stopped her in her tracks. He was indeed a bit annoyed by her words, but the next second he let out a light chuckle, showing even more interest, and dropped the pretense of being refined.

"Li Pushu, do you want to know who your biological parents are and why they heartlessly abandoned you?"

Meng Ci stepped closer, bent down, and whispered in her ear, "You're right, I am very interested in you. Surprisingly, your temper is as flamboyant as your appearance. That pleases me immensely. You don't look like an orphan at all. What gives you, an orphan, the confidence to have such an arrogant temper?"

Indeed, Li Pushu's beauty was unique in the world, flawless—a masterpiece carefully crafted by the Creator. When he saw her, he was stunned into a daze. Such a beauty would make any man want to possess her.

But what troubled him more was that Li Pushu's appearance was fifty percent similar to Su Mingyue's mother, yet Su Mingyue bore no resemblance to her mother at all.

Meng Ci was a man who dared to think and act. He had a very absurd yet plausible guess, because not only her appearance but also her demeanor and temper were in line with hers. In contrast, Su Mingyue was left with nothing but malice.

"So what if I'm an orphan? In your eyes, all orphans should be timid, inferior, with heads bowed and backs bent. Such people are at the bottom of society. They shouldn't have a temper, they can't be themselves, they can only obey and please."

Li Pushu laughed and stepped back a few paces, maintaining distance. She looked up at Meng Ci and said, "Haven't you noticed that the one who is inferior and timid is actually yourself? So what if you have parents and family? You don't acknowledge them, and you're even ashamed and humiliated to have parents who bring you a cloak of disgrace."

Meng Ci's smile gradually faded as he stared fixedly at Li Pushu. His dark eyes were cold, carrying the truth that had been exposed—a truth he dared not admit.

"You want to play with such people, to seduce others into becoming that kind of personality, so you can discard your own other side and become someone high and mighty, flashy and spotless. Meng Ci, you're quite disgusting."

Li Pushu had always looked down on such people—those who thought themselves clever and believed they could manipulate others.

"As for the biological parents you mentioned. The moment they abandoned me, I became an orphan, and I will always be one. I will not feel inferior about being an orphan."

Li Pushu couldn't be bothered to talk to him anymore—it was a complete waste of breath and life. She went into the convenience store, made her purchases, and left.

Meng Ci had a narrow-minded idea, thinking that orphans always want to find their parents and that the truth of being abandoned can be used as leverage. Unfortunately, he encountered Li Pushu.

She didn't care at all. Who cares if it was truly lost or falsely lost? Being abandoned is an ironclad fact that no one can change. Those who abandon me shall be abandoned forever.

Did she look like someone who would degrade herself? Was her head filled with nothing but shit, so that everything she said stank to high heaven?

Meng Ci watched her graceful retreating figure, was silent for a moment, then smiled, interest flickering in his eyes.

He liked women with personality. A fool like Su Mingyue was barely worth a second glance, but he could still use Su Mingyue's stupidity to achieve more with less effort.

But the prerequisite was that he needed to confirm whether Su Mingyue and Li Pushu had switched identities. As long as he confirmed that Li Pushu was the real eldest Miss Su, Su Mingyue would surely use every malicious means to consolidate her position.

At that time...

Meng Ci curved his lips. He wasn't in a hurry. He bought a few things casually as a cover and returned leisurely.