After Becoming the Abused Heroine in a Campus Story - Chapter 22: Are We Living in the Qing Dynasty Now?

Chapter 22: Are We Living in the Qing Dynasty Now?

Zhou Yining completely failed to understand the mindset of such people. She didn’t hold back and directly retorted, “I changed a lot, so it’s puppy love? Can’t it be that I wanted to improve myself? Besides, I only spent thirty yuan to get a haircut. Your son spent seventy or eighty yuan on his haircut, so why didn’t you say he’s in puppy love? I’ve never seen such a double-standard person like you. What’s wrong? Are we living in the Qing Dynasty now? Don’t girls have the right to care about their appearance?”

After Zhou Yining shouted like this, Zhao Xiuna also recalled that her daughter no longer seemed as obedient and easy to bully as before. Her eyes turned red, and she spoke as if she cared for Zhou Yining, saying, “Caring about appearance is fine. I just worried that someone led you astray. Girls should respect and love themselves more.”

Hearing this, Zhou Yining’s anger grew even bigger. She stood upright and didn’t fear false accusations. Besides, it was a baseless matter, yet Zhao Xiuna managed to pin the blame on her. Zhou Yining felt exasperated.

Originally, she thought Zhao Xiuna at least cared a little about the original owner in this family. But now, as an outsider, she felt heartbroken for the original owner. In this family, she didn’t even count as a marginal person.

“Where did I lack self-respect or self-love? Did you see me dating any boy? Or did you see me getting close to any boy?”

“But, but you never cared so much about your appearance before,” Zhao Xiuna said, her confidence weakening.

“Is caring about my appearance something wrong? If I dressed sloppily, you’d think I’m normal? What kind of mentality do you have? As a mother, you don’t hope for your daughter’s good. Instead, you casually spread rumors and slander your daughter about puppy love. I’ve never seen a mother like you.” Zhou Yining shook her head and stepped back twice.

Her words seemed to hit Zhao Xiuna’s sore spot. Zhao Xiuna stared at Zhou Yining fiercely and shouted, “I worked so hard to manage this family. Isn’t it all for you? You came back late, and I still waited for you. How could you say that about me?”

Zhou Yining glanced at her calmly and said, “First, you didn’t manage this family just for me alone. Second, just because you waited for me to come home, you can’t randomly throw dirty water on me and say I’m in puppy love. That’s not something a normal mother should do.”

At that moment, the master bedroom’s door slammed open. Zhou Yuanfei stormed out of the bedroom angrily.

“Is there no end to this? I’m already exhausted from working at the company. It’s the middle of the night, and you’re still making a fuss. Zhou Yining, what the hell do you want, you beast?” Zhou Yuanfei’s voice boomed louder, as if he wanted to shake the roof off.

“What did I do? I just got a haircut at noon. She started accusing me of puppy love the moment I walked in. I don’t know where she got that idea. Is that my fault too?” Zhou Yining asked back.

At that time, Zhou Jiaming, hearing the commotion, came out of his room in pajamas.

He glanced at Zhou Yining and sneered, “In my opinion, Mom’s right. When the girls in our class start paying attention to their appearance, it’s mostly puppy love.”

Then he looked at Zhou Yining again and said, “Zhou Yining, aren’t you disgusting? You’re only in second year of high school, and you’re already messing around with guys. Don’t end up pregnant with some bastard and disgrace the whole family…”

With a crisp “slap,” the living room fell silent. Zhou Jiaming stared at Zhou Yining in disbelief.

“Zhou Yining, you dare hit me? I’ll fight you!” Zhou Jiaming said, his eyes red, and rushed toward Zhou Yining.

Zhou Jiaming seemed furious and didn’t hold back his strength while charging. Zhou Yining dodged, and Zhou Jiaming crashed straight into the wall, clutching his arm and gasping in pain.

Seeing his precious son bullied, Zhou Yuanfei nearly exploded with anger. He grabbed Zhou Yining and yanked her aside, shouting, “Get the hell out!”

Zhou Yining’s strength naturally couldn’t match an adult man’s. She fell to the ground after being yanked, but Zhou Yuanfei and Zhao Xiuna didn’t care about her at all.

The two flanked Zhou Jiaming, one on each side, saying, “Jiaming, are you okay? Don’t scare Mom. Does it hurt? Do we need to go to the hospital?”

“Mom, it hurts so bad. Zhou Yining did it on purpose. She deliberately bullied me,” Zhou Jiaming said, wiping away a couple of tears, acting like he was the victim.

“Yining, how could you hit your little brother?” Zhao Xiuna cried out in distress, blaming Zhou Yining entirely without considering why Zhou Jiaming got hit.

“He spread rumors about me first. Why can’t I hit him? He said I’m messing around with boys and pregnant with a bastard without any proof. Why? Just because I spent thirty yuan on a haircut? Your whole family is unreasonable.” Zhou Yining rubbed her wrist and shook her head.

Seeing her like this, Zhou Yuanfei grew even angrier and said, “Zhou Yining, I gave you too much face. Watch me beat you to death today!”

Just as he prepared to grab Zhou Yining, someone knocked on the door of Apartment 501.

Zhou Yuanfei took a few deep breaths and cursed, “You wait there. Watch me beat you to death later.”

Then he stormed toward the door and asked impatiently, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, the police. Someone reported your family for disturbing the peace. Please open the door,” a female police officer said from outside.

Hearing the police, Zhou Yuanfei’s arrogance instantly deflated. He glared at Zhou Yining fiercely, gritted his teeth, and opened the door.

“Officer, I was just disciplining my child. It’s no big deal. You can go back,” Zhou Yuanfei said, forcing a smile.

The lead female officer glanced at him and said calmly, “We need to understand the situation and take a statement, so we need to come in. Please cooperate with our work.”

“Well, then come in,” Zhou Yuanfei said reluctantly, stepping aside to let the two officers enter.

He followed behind and shouted at Zhou Yining, “Zhou Yining, have you no shame? Get the hell up!”

Zhou Yining stayed in the same position without moving, just staring at Zhou Yuanfei steadily.

Zhou Yuanfei’s head nearly exploded with anger. If the police weren’t there, he would’ve gone over and slapped Zhou Yining a few times.

He gave Zhao Xiuna a look, and Zhao Xiuna hurriedly continued comforting her son.

Seeing the police, Zhou Jiaming got excited and said, “Zhou Yining just hit me. Officers, look, my face is still red.”

But the female officer ignored Zhou Jiaming and quickly walked to Zhou Yining’s side, helping her up and asking, “Are you okay?”

“It’s not a big problem. Thank you,” Zhou Yining said calmly, which infuriated Zhou Yuanfei even more.

“You beast, you didn’t get up yourself and let the police officer help you. Have you no shame?” Zhou Yuanfei’s anger still hadn’t subsided. He just wanted to beat Zhou Yining to vent his frustration.

The female officer frowned slightly and said, “Speak properly. Don’t insult people.”

“She’s my daughter. Can’t I say a few words about her?” Zhou Yuanfei asked back.

“Even if she’s your daughter, you can’t. The law states everyone has the right to personal dignity and cannot be violated. Please watch your words,” the female officer said. Though she looked young, her words carried authority. Zhou Yuanfei’s chest heaved a few times, and he fell silent.

But as if remembering something, he quickly said to Zhao Xiuna, “Hurry and tell the police how Zhou Yining bullied our son.”

“Yes, yes,” Zhao Xiuna said. It was her first time dealing with the police, so she felt a bit scared. But her son had indeed been slapped, and his face was still red. She felt heartbroken.