Chapter 24: Ruined the Reunion

Qiao Family Study Room Qiao Yuxian stood in front of the desk, looking at her father, who was trying to suppress his anger. She clearly felt her heart suddenly grow cold, and the chill slowly spread throughout her body. For a long while, her lips moved but no words came out. "Yu Xian, all these years, I have indeed not been a qualified father. But I have never treated you harshly in life," Qiao Yu said, then took a deep breath, asking, "Did something happen?" Qiao Yuxian’s eyes flickered slightly. "If something happened, you can talk to the family. Why do this?" Qiao Yu said, suppressing his voice, "You’re a girl, and you don’t cherish yourself, creating such a reputation. How will you get married in the future?" Qiao Yuxian lowered her gaze and swallowed lightly. "From today, you’ll stay at home and sever ties with those outside," Qiao Yu said, "I’ll handle the suspension issue." "No need." Qiao Yuxian finally spoke, her voice hoarse as soon as she opened her mouth. "No need? No need for what? What are you going to do? Who do you want to solve this for you?" Qiao Yu said angrily. "This is my own matter, no need for you to worry." Qiao Yuxian’s eyes turned red, she took a light breath and looked at Qiao Yu, "Dad, I didn’t do what the forum said." Qiao Yu frowned. Qiao Yuxian looked at him, then softly chuckled: "See. From the beginning, you asked me to explain. You already believed what those posts said. Now that I’m explaining to you, saying I didn’t do those things, you still don’t believe me." "If you didn’t do it, why did the school suspend you?" Qiao Yu regarded Qiao Yuxian’s words as justifications, "And why did you get out of those two men’s cars? You’re so grown-up, don’t you know to keep a distance from men? And Jiang Shouzhuo, the posts are even saying you’re fighting with your sister over a man!" Qiao Yuxian’s eyelashes trembled, her heart contracting with every beat, hot blood flowing through her, yet she felt only cold. Her throat felt like it had been pierced by thorns, painfully unbearable. "Starting today, you’re not allowed to go out without my permission." Qiao Yu said sternly. Qiao Yuxian glanced at him, turned around, and walked out. "Stop there." Qiao Yu shouted. Qiao Yuxian completely ignored him and walked out the door. When Qiao Yu came out, Qiao Yuxian had already reached the staircase. "Qiao Yuxian!" Qiao Shuning and Qiao Lechu were sitting downstairs chatting, and they all looked up at the sound. Qiao Zhiang was startled, his small body trembling, nervously looking upstairs. Chen Hui also came out of the kitchen, looking at them, she asked, "What happened?" Qiao Yuxian stopped, paused for a moment, then turned to look at him: "I said, I will handle my affairs myself." "How are you going to solve it?" Qiao Yu said angrily. "That’s not something you need to worry about." Qiao Yuxian’s face was pale, her eyes red-rimmed, her voice indifferent, "Whether I solve it myself or find some man to solve it, it’s not your concern." "Qiao Yuxian, don’t you have any shame!" Qiao Yu was provoked by her words, "Your grandparents have spoiled you rotten, you..." "Don’t mention my grandparents." Qiao Yuxian interrupted him urgently, her expression suddenly turned cold as she glared at him. Qiao Shuning watched from downstairs, a smile flashed in her eyes. Qiao Lechu stood downstairs, not daring to move or speak. Chen Hui quickly went up the stairs from the other side, walked to Qiao Yu’s side, gave him a tug, and whispered, "What are you doing, talking to the child like that." Qiao Yu didn’t move, looking at Qiao Yuxian. Qiao Yuxian also looked at him, speaking coldly: "My grandparents taught me very well. I am very satisfied with myself. If you are dissatisfied, there’s nothing to be done, after all, you couldn’t personally teach me." Qiao Yu’s chest heaved violently, her words left him stunned. All the anger was stifled in his chest because of this one sentence. Without saying anything more, Qiao Yuxian turned and went downstairs. When she reached the bottom, she walked towards Qiao Shuning and stopped in front of her. Qiao Shuning was feeling pleased with having disrupted their reunion today. But meeting Qiao Yuxian’s eyes, her heart sank, and she instinctively took a step back. Although Qiao Yuxian was cold and indifferent, her eyes were like a knife, piercing someone’s heart directly. Qiao Shuning became fearful, saying, "What are you doing?" Qiao Yuxian saw her reflection in the cabinet, removed her earrings directly. The earrings had straight pins, and with force, the back caught and dropped off, and the earrings were pulled out. "Sis..." Qiao Lechu saw blood oozing from her right ear, softly called out to her. Qiao Yu watched her take off her earrings from upstairs, his heart suddenly tightened. Qiao Yuxian casually threw her earrings onto the coffee table, then raised her hand and slapped Qiao Shuning. The crisp sound of the slap echoed, and everyone in the Qiao Family was stunned. Qiao Yuxian moved into the Qiao Family during her freshman year, although not close, she had always been gentle and polite, never uttering a harsh word, let alone striking someone. Qiao Shuning staggered a bit from the slap, covering one side of her face, looking at Qiao Yuxian in disbelief: "You hit me!" Qiao Yuxian raised her brows, her cold eyes, tinged with red, had a hint of defiance, "I felt like hitting you because I’m in a bad mood. What about it?" "You!" Qiao Shuning raised her hand, wanting to hit back. Qiao Yuxian calmly caught her wrist and suddenly exerted force, Qiao Shuning winced in pain, her features twisting: "Let me go." Qiao Yuxian pulled her close. Their distance suddenly closed, and upon seeing Qiao Yuxian’s cold eyes, Qiao Shuning was frightened, her legs growing weak: "You, you..." "Qiao Shuning, if you’re tired of living, I can help you along." Qiao Yuxian whispered something only audible to the two of them. Her voice was extremely soft, like a knife, slicing up a person piece by piece. Qiao Shuning’s legs really went weak, and if her wrist wasn’t held, she might have fallen to the ground. At that moment, she felt that Qiao Yuxian was not bluffing but really capable of ending her life. "Do you think no one knows about the little tricks you’re playing behind my back?" Qiao Yuxian added a bit more force to her grip. Qiao Shuning looked at her in fear, the fear in her heart overshadowing the pain in her hand. Qiao Yuxian remained expressionless, speaking softly: "By tomorrow, pack your things and get back to Yue City." After saying this, she let go of her and left the Qiao Family without looking back. Qiao Shuning fell to the floor, scraping her hand slightly on the floor. After Qiao Yuxian left, the entire Qiao Family fell into a dead silence. No one spoke, no one moved, everyone was frightened by Qiao Yuxian’s demeanor just now. After a while, Qiao Shuning stood up, holding her hand, and said, "Uncle, see how she is. I told you about the forum posts for her good, not wanting her to continue on this path. And she even hit me." Listening to her words, Qiao Lechu stared at her wide-eyed. This person... knew today was her father’s birthday and still chose to mention these things. Qiao Zhiang had crouched down, trying to minimize his presence. Qiao Yu looked downstairs, but his gaze didn’t land anywhere in particular, and he said nothing. Qiao Shuning, with tears streaming, cried: "She even threatened me. Even if she’s indifferent, doesn’t the Qiao Family care? The whole Qiao Family’s reputation is tarnished, people will think that no daughter from the Qiao Family is good." "Stop talking nonsense." Qiao Lechu glanced at Qiao Yu and said, "My sister wouldn’t do such things." Qiao Shuning, with a red and swollen face, looked at her, exclaiming: "Do you think those photos are fake? Someone specifically verified them, there was no sign of tampering." "Those were definitely taken by my sister’s friends." Qiao Lechu retorted. "What kind of friend drops her off at school early in the morning?" Qiao Shuning said, "And opened the car door for her so attentively. A different one every day." "You shut up, you’re spouting nonsense." Qiao Lechu took a step forward, "It’s people like you spreading rumors that make the forum more chaotic." Chen Hui, upstairs, called out severely: "Lechu." Qiao Lechu glanced up at Chen Hui, reluctantly closed her mouth and said nothing more. Qiao Yu watched the doorway, stood outside for a while, also said nothing, and went straight back into the study.