Chapter 44: Taking Oneself Over Seriously (1)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Never in Zhao Shuncheng’s wildest dream had he expected his eldest daughter, who had always been submissive and obedient to him to suddenly become so bold, and dared to speak to him like this before the public. He immediately burst out in anger. He shouted angrily at Zhao Youlin as he pointed at her, “Y-You… You want to rebel against me, huh?! How dare you talk back to your father like this?! I’m going to teach you a lesson today!”
Li Hongyu immediately snapped out of a daze the moment she realized Zhao Shuncheng was going to act on his words. She shifted her gaze and swiftly reacted by striding one step ahead to block his already raised-up hand, saying, “Shuncheng, calm down! You can’t just strike a kid like that when she doesn’t know what’s going on. Youlin, admit your faults and offer your apology to him at once!”
Unfortunately, Zhao Youlin did not bother about her at all. She stood aside and watched the bizarre couple jostling with each other coldly. When she heard Li Hongyu call her out, she sneered, “Why are you stopping him? It’s our own business, after all. My father wants to discipline his daughter, and who are you to stop him? Stepmother, have you been taking yourself over seriously?”
Li Hongyu froze. She looked at Zhao Youlin as if looking at a monster. Zhao Shuncheng was equally stunned and his anger died down in the shock. He stared at the high and mighty young lady dumbfoundedly.
Zhao Youlin cracked a laugh as if she still had not had enough of them. She turned to face Zhao Shuncheng who was about to strike her and spat out, “You want to strike me, huh?! Fine, just go ahead. This is as long as you want tomorrow’s headline to be about the head of the Zhao family teaming up with the stepmother to strike his own daughter on the street as a result of their fury and disgrace upon the divorce between her daughter and Young Master of the Mu family. If so, go ahead and beat me up to death!”
“Y-You…” Zhao Shuncheng was so mad that he nearly went crazy. His face turned red. However, he dared not lay his finger on Zhao Youlin because of what she said. Therefore, he shook angrily in place.
Zhao Youlin was right. He could not simply strike her. Apart from the reason she had just spoken. The other reason was if such a scandal were to break out at that moment, he would certainly have a hard time in the Zhao family. In the end, he could not reach his ultimate goal, and would only make things worse.
At that moment, Li Hongyu returned to her senses from her previous humiliation. One had to be amazed by her superior acting skill. Within a split second, she regained her composure as a dignified, elegant lady with a gentle smile, the same demeanor she had just as she got out of the car in the beginning. No one could identify any hints of anger from her expression despite the fact that she had just been insulted a while ago.
When she saw the enraged Zhao Shuncheng, she recovered in just in time, “Shuncheng, don’t be mad. She still has a child with her.”
Just then, Li Hongyu reminded him about Joy, who had been hiding behind Zhao Youlin and had never made a sound.
He was a little startled. His fearsome look faded within the blink of an eye. He put on a smile, hoping that it made him look friendly. He came closer to Joy. He reached out, wanting to caress his head and said, “So, you must be Joy. I’m your grandfather. Good boy, call me Grandpa.”
Joy clung to Zhao Youlin’s thigh closely. Not only was he not as obedient as Zhao Shuncheng had expected and would call him grandpa, instead, Joy was also so scared to the point that he had hid behind Zhao Youlin when he stretched out his hand. All that was left was his pair of big, round eyes, staring timidly at Zhao Shuncheng. They were filled with wariness.
‘Ugh… ugh… ugh… This perverted grandpa looks creepy. He’s just like the big bad wolf who abducted the little girl in the story that Mommy told me last night. He’s so scary… Mommy, save me and chase that big bad wolf away!’