After Becoming the Abused Heroine in a Campus Story - Chapter 5: This Family Loves Their Boy Too Much…

Chapter 5: This Family Loves Their Boy Too Much…

Zhou Yining’s smile grew wider. “Why should I take care of him? He’s not my son. Even if he were, he’s over 18 and should handle himself. Still not weaned at this age? So embarrassing.”

Zhao Xiuna didn’t expect her usually obedient daughter to talk back. To stop the siblings from fighting, she quickly said, “Alright, alright, both of you, say less. Yining, go wash your hands. It’s time to eat.”

Zhou Yining glanced coldly at Zhou Jiaming and went to the bathroom to wash her hands.

Zhou Jiaming finished a game and, seeing Zhou Yining gone, started badmouthing her. “Mom, look at her. She’s on drugs or something, fighting with me the moment she gets home.”

“Enough. You say less too. Your sister’s almost in her third year. It’s normal for her to be stressed.” Zhao Xiuna tried to smooth things over.

“Stressed? Her grade ranking is beyond 900, bottom of the class. What stress? Mom, you and Dad will have to rely on me later. Look at Zhou Yining—does she seem like she’ll get a good job?” Zhou Jiaming rambled on, badmouthing Zhou Yining while sucking up to Zhao Xiuna.

“Alright, I know my Jiaming is the best. Don’t fight with your sister.” Zhao Xiuna smiled gently at her son.

Zhou Yining rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. This family loved their boy too damn much.

Seeing Zhou Yining come out, Zhao Xiuna quickly called, “Come sit. I made your favorite stewed dish today.”

Zhou Yining was hungry. Meals had to be eaten one bite at a time, and problems had to be solved one by one.

She sat down, looking at the food on the table. A large basin held stewed cabbage and vermicelli, topped with two big meatballs. There was also a plate of stir-fried potato strips and one of vinegar cabbage.

Zhou Jiaming didn’t hold back, grabbing one meatball right away. Zhou Yining picked up her chopsticks to take the other.

Zhou Jiaming wasn’t having it. “What are you doing? Both meatballs are mine.”

Zhou Yining laughed in disbelief. “Why? Got your name on them? I’m eating it.”

With that, she took the last meatball from the stew and bit into it.

Zhou Jiaming nearly exploded. He pointed at her. “You—that’s mine! Zhou Yining, you’re crazy.”

He turned to Zhao Xiuna. “Mom, didn’t you say both meatballs were mine?”

Zhao Xiuna looked at Zhou Yining helplessly. “Yining, don’t you usually dislike meat? I made potato strips for you. Don’t you love potatoes?”

Zhou Yining almost laughed in anger. “Who doesn’t like meat? Am I crazy? We’re not so poor we’re begging on the streets, are we? If everyone likes meatballs, make more. Why does he get both just because he’s a guy? What era is this, still playing the boys-over-girls game?”

“No, it’s not that. You used to say you didn’t like meat and let your brother have it. I thought you really didn’t.” Zhao Xiuna’s face flushed, her gaze dodging Zhou Yining’s.

Zhou Yining was speechless. “Didn’t like it? I was forced not to like it.”

Seeing Zhou Yining so bold today, Zhou Jiaming got mad too. “Zhou Yining, you sick or what? If you’ve got a problem, come at me. Don’t yell at Mom.”

Zhou Yining sneered at him. “Why would I come at you? A mama’s boy like you—think you’ll amount to anything?”

“Enough, stop fighting. Eat your food. I’ll make sure there’s enough for both of you next time. Yining, give Mom a break, stop arguing.” Zhao Xiuna’s eyes reddened, as if she’d cry if Zhou Yining didn’t agree.

Zhou Yining found Zhao Xiuna ridiculous. She neglected her daughter but acted like she was the one wronged.

Zhou Yining said nothing more and ate quietly. She wasn’t the original, with no attachment to this family, so she wouldn’t get hurt easily.

But thinking of the original Zhou Yining living in this house made her feel suffocated. The original was truly pitiful.

After eating, Zhao Xiuna urged Zhou Jiaming and Zhou Yining to rest. Zhou Yining finally took a good look at the house.

The original’s home was about 65 square meters, with only two bedrooms. One, with a balcony, was for Zhao Xiuna and her husband. The other was Zhou Jiaming’s.

Zhou Yining’s face darkened. With such a small place, where was the original’s room?

She walked around the living room, turned off her phone’s recording, and saved the clip. It might come in handy later.

Heading toward the kitchen, Zhou Yining froze at the corner.

Where a small dining area should’ve been, there was a single bed next to a desk.

In front was the greasy kitchen, to the left was Zhou Jiaming’s bedroom—no door, no window, completely open.

Zhou Yining’s lips curved into a smirk. She’d never seen parents like this. In her previous life, she grew up in an orphanage with no family, but this house felt far worse than the orphanage.

The original was almost 18, and a near-adult girl had no room of her own? Zhou Yining could hardly believe it.

Seeing her standing there, Zhao Xiuna, noticing Zhou Yining’s odd behavior today, softly comforted, “Why are you standing there? Rest, or it’ll be time for school again.”

Zhou Yining took a deep breath, nodded faintly, ignored Zhao Xiuna, and climbed onto the single bed.

Lying there, she felt the original’s struggle. Just a moment on this bed was oppressive—how much worse for the original, living here 17 years, swallowing all that grievance? As someone who wrote empowering female-lead stories, Zhou Yining couldn’t stand it!

Right now, she wanted to blow this place up. Nobody better mess with her—she was so mad she’d bite any dog that passed by.

But it was her first day in this world. She decided to hold off, figure out the original’s situation first.

She’d sort out these shitty issues one by one. The justice the original never got? She’d get it.

With that, Zhou Yining fell asleep.

The lunch break was short. Forty minutes later, her alarm rang. She got up, washed her face, applied some moisturizer, and left with her crossbody bag, the diary inside.

She’d planned to keep the diary at home, but with no private room, it wasn’t safe. She had to carry it, though it was inconvenient.

Zhou Yining walked to school, leaving early and taking her time, looking around.

Near the school gate, she wanted to buy a milk tea but checked her pockets—cleaner than her face. Her phone’s payment apps were empty too.

Of course. With the family so boy-crazy, all the money probably went to that loser Zhou Jiaming. Why would they give the original pocket money?

As Zhou Yining headed to school, Tian Xue called from behind, “Zhou Yining, why didn’t you wait at the intersection?”

Zhou Yining paused, then explained, “I forgot. Plus, we take different routes to school. Waiting’s a waste of time.”

Tian Xue looked at her. “True, you’re right. Let’s walk together after school, but go separately in the morning.”

“Yeah, sounds good.” Zhou Yining actually wanted to walk alone after school too. Girls this age still needed buddies for everything, even bathroom trips, but at 28 in her past life, Zhou Yining wasn’t that kind of girl anymore.

“What’s with you today? You’re acting weird. I’ll treat you to milk tea.” Tian Xue pulled Zhou Yining to the milk tea shop by the school.

Zhou Yining had wanted one earlier. It was hot, and an iced milk tea sounded perfect. She figured she’d accept and owe Tian Xue a favor.

Tian Xue dragged her into the shop, asking, “What do you want? Pick anything, my treat.”

“Mint milk tea, five sugar.” Zhou Yining glanced at the menu—8 yuan, not bad.

“Cool, I’ll get peach.” Tian Xue paid cheerfully, then chatted with Zhou Yining in the shop.

Thinking of the morning, she asked, “Did you get tutoring for English and math?”

Zhou Yining shook her head. “How could I? You probably know my family’s situation.”

She didn’t spell it out, but guessed Tian Xue, as the original’s friend, knew her family well.

Sure enough, Tian Xue nodded. “Yeah, with your brother, your family probably can’t afford tutoring. So how were you so good this morning? And you dared to talk back to Teacher Cao.”

“No idea, it just clicked. And I wasn’t talking back—he looked down on me and accused me first.”

“Hey, we’re best friends. Can’t you tell me how you suddenly got it?” Tian Xue’s dull eyes lit up, as if pinning real hope on Zhou Yining.

Zhou Yining couldn’t say she’d switched souls, but didn’t want Tian Xue guessing. “Honestly, there’s no shortcut to studying. You’ve got to learn bit by bit, or your grades won’t improve.”

Tian Xue pouted. “So you just don’t want to tell me.”