Free Web NovelChapter 173: Chapter 173: Chen Fengjiao’s Favoritism
The moment Lin Sui’er spoke, everyone in the room reacted differently.
"Sui’er. What did you say!"
Lin Shan snapped, finding it hard to believe those words had come from his second daughter. He knew Sui’er could be a bit spoiled and willful, but he’d always chalked it up to her being young, competing for affection, and going through a rebellious phase. That was why she sometimes targeted Gu’er. He thought that with a little time and adjustment, things would smooth over. But what Sui’er said today wasn’t just targeted—it was vicious. This, he had never expected.
Chen Fengjiao also stared at Sui’er in shock, clearly in disbelief. Although she had her own frustrations with Gu’er, she couldn’t let her daughter be humiliated in front of guests.
Li Zhi’s eyes narrowed. ’For Sui’er to speak about Gu’er like that, it must be because the adults in the family are too lenient,’ he thought. ’It seems Gu’er really isn’t as favored as Sui’er in the Lin family.’ ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Anger flashed in Liu Yuan’s eyes. ’This girl is so young, yet her words are so harsh and venomous. Gu’er is her own sister. How could she say something like that about her?’
Lin Zheng didn’t fully understand, but he could tell that what his second sister had said wasn’t good. He frowned. ’How could Sui’er be like this? What did Big Sister do that’s so embarrassing?’
Gu’er’s face was livid as she stared coldly at Lin Sui’er. She remained silent, wanting to see how her parents would react. If they did nothing, she would handle it herself. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
"I... I’m not wrong! She went out drinking with some guy, and then she brought him back to our house! We don’t even know this man! What gives her the right to bring him home? She’s the one in the wrong!"
Lin Sui’er was frightened by Lin Shan’s authoritative glare, but she refused to back down.
"This is your older sister’s home. She’s an adult and has the right to make friends. She can make her own decisions in her own house, and she can bring home any friend she likes. Even we, as her parents, wouldn’t interfere, so what right do you have to butt in? Is that any way to talk about your own sister? Liu Yuan is your sister’s friend. He is a guest here, and you insulted him. Now, you will apologize. Apologize to your sister and to Liu Yuan."
Lin Shan stood up, his eyes flashing with anger. ’This younger daughter has to be disciplined,’ he thought. ’I’ve truly been too neglectful of her upbringing.’
Terrified by her father’s expression, Lin Sui’er turned to her mother, her eyes pleading and pitiful. She wanted her mother to help her.
A pang of pain shot through Chen Fengjiao’s heart as she saw the look in her daughter’s eyes. ’What she said was a little harsh, but Gu’er wasn’t blameless either,’ she thought. ’And this Liu Yuan isn’t some big shot. We can just smooth things over with him later. But my husband is being so severe, forcing Sui’er to apologize. Isn’t that just humiliating her? If Sui’er apologizes, the whole Lin family will lose face.’
’But if I stop Sui’er from apologizing...’ She glanced at her elder daughter, whose expression was ice-cold. ’If I help Sui’er, won’t Gu’er resent me? I don’t want her to resent me. I want my older daughter to feel close to me, but... this one is just not as affectionate as Sui’er.’
"Lin Sui’er, have you forgotten everything you’ve learned in school? If you have any sense of decency, you will apologize right now!"
Lin Shan’s voice grew louder, the anger in his eyes blazing even hotter.
Li Zhi considered trying to smooth things over, but one look at everyone’s expressions and he decided to keep his mouth shut.
Liu Yuan hadn’t expected his first visit to the Lin family to erupt into open warfare. He glanced at Gu’er’s face and also remained silent.
Gu’er simply watched.
"Mom! Mom! Dad doesn’t like me! Ever since Gu’er came, he can’t stand the sight of me! Mom, am I even your real daughter anymore? Now that you have her, you don’t want me, is that it? Then why did you even give birth to me?! I only said one little thing, and she’s the one who was wrong, but now everyone is ganging up on me! I won’t apologize! I did nothing wrong! I’m not wrong!"
As she spoke, Lin Sui’er tugged on Chen Fengjiao’s arm, her face tear-streaked and pitiful. She knew her mother doted on her the most. As long as she cried, her mother would definitely help her. She couldn’t back down. If she did, she would never win against Lin Gu’er. She wouldn’t be able to hold her head high in front of her ever again. She would lose her favored position. And she would not let that happen!
Seeing her daughter like this, Chen Fengjiao’s heart ached terribly. ’I’ve raised this girl in the palm of my hand her whole life. She just said a couple of unpleasant things, is this reaction really necessary? Look at how they’ve cornered my poor girl.’
"Alright, alright, you did nothing wrong. You’re not wrong. Don’t cry, please don’t cry. If you don’t want to apologize, then don’t. Gu’er is your big sister; she’s older than you. Don’t worry, she won’t be angry with you."
Chen Fengjiao soothed her daughter, her heart aching.
A flicker of helplessness crossed Lin Shan’s eyes, but it was quickly consumed by anger. ’It’s always like this,’ he thought, exasperated. ’The moment the girl cries or throws a fit, she immediately shields her. Doesn’t she understand? You can protect her at home, but what about when she’s out in the world? Who’s going to protect her then? This is only going to ruin her.’
Gu’er watched Chen Fengjiao, disappointment flashing in her eyes. ’So, a few tears from Lin Sui’er erases everything she said?’ she thought bitterly. ’I’m her daughter, too. Even if she’s biased, how can she be so blatant? Is it really true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease?’
"Feng Jiao, stop spoiling her," Lin Shan said, his voice hard. "It doesn’t matter that Gu’er is the older sister. Sui’er was in the wrong, and she has to apologize. She can’t just cry her way out of it."
"Mom, Mom, look at Dad! He hasn’t liked me since Gu’er came back! He only has eyes for her now! Mom, are you abandoning me too? Don’t you want me anymore? If you don’t care about me, what am I supposed to do? Are you trying to kick me out of the house? Fine! I’ll just go be a stray then, since nobody here cares about me anyway!"
Lin Sui’er wailed pitifully, like an abandoned kitten. She wasn’t brilliant, but she wasn’t stupid, either. She knew her mother’s weak spot. She knew that as long as she carried on like this, her mom would never abandon her. ’As for Lin Gu’er,’ she thought, ’even if Mom has a place in her heart for her, it can’t compare to me. I won’t let Lin Gu’er steal my mother away. I need Mom to stay by my side, to love only me, to dote only on me.’
At the sight of Lin Sui’er’s tears, Chen Fengjiao’s heart ached even more. ’My poor daughter,’ she thought. ’How can I let her be wronged like this?’
"Alright, alright, what’s all this fuss about? Look how you’ve frightened the child! And we have guests! You’re making a scene. Come on, Sui’er is still young, she misspoke. Gu’er, you’re the older sister; you won’t hold it against her. Liu Yuan, since it’s your first time visiting, please stay for dinner. Our Sui’er is just very direct and speaks without thinking; please don’t mind her. And Li Zhi, my apologies for this embarrassing display. Let’s just drop the whole matter, shall we?"
Chen Fengjiao’s speech was a comprehensive attempt to manage the situation. First, she admonished Lin Shan, implying he was being too harsh on his own daughter for an outsider’s sake. Next, she directed her words at Gu’er, reminding her that as the elder sister, she should be more forgiving. Then she addressed Liu Yuan, her message clear: as a guest, he should know to take a hint. The invitation to dinner was her way of saving face, and with it, the matter should be considered closed. Her final remark was for Li Zhi, a plea for him not to see them as a joke and perhaps even to help smooth things over.
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