Chapter 174: Despised by Humans and Ghosts
Sheng Yueyue’s piercing shriek sent everyone scrambling backward, further convincing them she was a demon.
Seeing their reactions, Sheng Yueyue finally fainted from rage...
Gu Jiaojiao took a silver needle from her bag, used it to wake Sheng Yueyue, and whispered a warning in her ear.
"Sheng Yueyue, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your head down and behave from now on. Otherwise, you can spend the rest of your life in a psychiatric hospital."
Sheng Yueyue jolted at Gu Jiaojiao’s words. Naturally, she had no intention of reflecting on her own actions.
But she also knew she had lost the upper hand.
Her dad no longer favored her, her older brother wasn’t coming back anytime soon, and her mom’s affection alone wasn’t enough to make a difference.
He Aijun wouldn’t be back anytime soon either. Her only support was Song Zijin, and if Song Dan mistook her for a demon, the consequences would be unthinkable.
After all, having lived a previous life, Sheng Yueyue wasn’t a complete idiot. She had just been too full of herself before.
She thought that because she had experienced the future and seen the wider world, she could bully others without consequence.
But reality was different from what she’d imagined. Today, she had been soundly beaten by Dong Qiming. This was a grudge she would not forget.
"SOB, SOB... Jiaojiao... what’s wrong with me? I’ve been so muddle-headed lately, I don’t know what’s been happening."
A sudden wail rang out, and then Sheng Yueyue was looking at everyone in terror and confusion.
Her voice was thick and nasal, tinged with a sob. "Ah! Where am I?"
The crowd watched Sheng Yueyue with a mixture of fear and curiosity. Gu Jiaojiao, for her part, leisurely watched the performance without calling her out.
The moment Sheng Yueyue saw Song Dan, her eyes flew wide, her face twisting into an expression of extreme pain and shock.
There was even a hint of despair in her look. Then, Sheng Yueyue lowered her head, wiping away tears as she asked, "Dandan, what on earth happened?"
When Song Dan remained silent, Sheng Yueyue pressed on. "It’s me, your sister-in-law! Please, tell me what happened. Why was I lying on the ground?"
Song Dan’s expression was grim and her lips were deathly pale. Her eyes were filled with deep confusion and bewilderment.
She stared at Sheng Yueyue without blinking. After a long moment, she finally murmured, "Sister-in-law? Are you... back to normal?"
Sheng Yueyue choked. ’When was I ever not normal!’
’All I wanted was to win over everyone around me, and they really think I’m a lunatic?!’
’That bitch Gu Jiaojiao is actually a little useful. This time, she inadvertently gave me a wake-up call.’
’In a few years, when Song Zijin reaches the pinnacle of power in Qing City, I’ll deal with that hateful bitch.’
As Sheng Yueyue imagined trampling Gu Jiaojiao underfoot in the future, what she believed to be a brilliant smile spread across her face.
"That’s right, I’m your proper sister-in-law. Dandan, hurry and tell me what happened."
"Dandan, why does everyone look so scared of me? Did I do something wrong?"
Sheng Yueyue asked a string of confused questions, the smile on her face growing ever more radiant.
But she had no idea how disgusting her bruised and swollen face looked when she smiled.
No one dared to guess what lay hidden behind that smile.
Only she knew how panicked she truly felt inside.
She stared pleadingly at Song Dan, desperate for her forgiveness and acceptance.
Song Dan watched her for a long moment before finally speaking. "You were possessed by a demon. Are you all right now?"
"What?"
"SOB, SOB... Dandan, how could you say that about your sister-in-law? When did I ever offend you?
"Do you not want me to marry your big brother? I’m not shameless... if you don’t like me... I can..."
Sheng Yueyue wept softly, tears clinging to her lashes. She once again looked like the delicate, pitiable girl everyone had once known.
Several of the boys glared fiercely at Song Dan, as if her failure to immediately forgive Sheng Yueyue would be a mortal sin.
Flustered, Song Dan said, "Sister-in-law, it’s all Gu Jiaojiao’s fault! She’s the one who said you were..."
"Dandan, how could you say such a thing about my little sister? Jiaojiao is my parents’ adopted daughter, which makes her my adopted little sister."
Gu Jiaojiao: ...
’Damn! This Sheng Yueyue is way too good at acting! What a drama queen. I’ve got to hand it to her!’
’But I can’t just get rid of her. Mrs. Sheng would actually go insane, and the Sheng Family would probably fall apart.’
’Besides, not every wrong can be righted. Sheng Yueyue might be incredibly selfish and universally despised, but what she’s done isn’t a capital offense.’
’Some things are just out of your hands. Rather than trying to explain the inexplicable, it’s better to just let it go with a smile.’
’What one person finds ugly, another will find beautiful. For example, Song Zijin likes Sheng Yueyue.’
’Then let those two selfish people love and fight and tear each other apart!’
’What you find beautiful, others will dislike. To each their own. It’s these different tastes that allow the world to be harmonious.’
’It’s true for things, and it’s true for people. Couples who last a long time always have their reasons for being a match, even if outsiders don’t understand.’
"Sheng Yueyue, I’m not your adopted sister anymore. Your father already took out a newspaper announcement severing ties with me. Don’t you remember?"
Gu Jiaojiao played along with Sheng Yueyue’s act, giving her an out and hoping she would behave herself for a while.
’Anyway, my family and I are moving to the Imperial City after the summer vacation. It’s not a bad thing to just leave her here to be Song Zijin’s problem.’
"Ah... I really didn’t know... Little sister, why would Father..."
Gu Jiaojiao cut off Sheng Yueyue’s melodramatic speech in disgust. "Song Dan, why don’t you hurry up and help your sister-in-law to the infirmary?"
"Oh, right... Qianqian, quick, give me a hand! Let’s take my sister-in-law to the doctor." Song Dan immediately grabbed Song Qianqian.
Everyone watched Sheng Yueyue’s delicate retreating figure. They all looked at each other, feeling as if everything that had just happened was a dream.
Dong Qiming stared down at his fists. ’Just a moment ago, Sheng Yueyue nearly brained me with that stool!’
’Stay away from Sheng Yueyue from now on. Cherish your life.’
The other students looked at Gu Jiaojiao in a new light. They had a mix of complicated feelings; the person they had tried so hard to ostracize was this magnanimous.
Su Shuochi took Grandpa Gu and the others to see their courtyard. Grandpa Gu and Mr. Gu were very satisfied with their rooms.
He Shen Yi and Xia Qiuming, however, were in the medical room, poking and prodding at everything. One moment they were examining the equipment.
The next, they were picking up surgical tools, inspecting every nook and cranny with an air of great professionalism.
A long while passed, but the two divine doctors showed no sign of stopping what they were doing.
"So? Are there any problems?" Mr. Sheng asked quietly, afraid to disturb them.
Xia Qiuming nodded, then shook his head. "There are no major issues. After all, the level of modern technology is far beyond what we could have imagined.
"There are some illnesses that are beyond our control, but that doesn’t mean they are entirely incurable...
"With this kind of equipment, many illnesses will be treatable from now on."