After Becoming the Abused Heroine in a Campus Story - Chapter 8: You’ve Got Your Precious Son Anyway…

Chapter 8: You’ve Got Your Precious Son Anyway…

The original’s private space was just this tiny—a single bed squeezed next to a desk.

Zhou Yining sighed, feeling pity for the original living in this environment. She’d only been in this world a day, but it was clear the original had no status at home, just a marginalized figure groomed to be a brother-supporting doormat.

She tidied the narrow bed and lay down, her mind racing. Taking out her phone, she searched online for publishers’ contact info and magazine submission guidelines. She couldn’t stay broke—it felt too powerless.

But she was still in school with no time for a part-time job. The best way was to earn her first money through her old trade.

The original’s family had a computer, but it was in Zhou Jiaming’s room, so she couldn’t use it. She’d have to go to an internet café.

With this in mind, Zhou Yining saved all the submission addresses she found, then closed her eyes.

At 5:30 a.m., her alarm rang. She groggily got up, heading to wash up. In the living room, Zhou Yuanfei sat at the table, waiting for breakfast.

Zhou Yining glanced at him and moved to wash up, but Zhou Yuanfei exploded. “You don’t see me? Why didn’t you greet me? Getting older and no manners. Your high school’s a waste.”

Zhou Yining shot him a cold look. “Who’s going nuts this early? What, got chewed out outside and don’t dare fight back, so you come home to feel important?”

“Zhou Yining, that’s how you talk to your dad? I raised you for nothing!” Zhou Yuanfei blew up, slamming the table.

Zhou Jiaming, hearing the noise, came out of his room. Seeing Zhou Yuanfei yelling at Zhou Yining, he joined in, stirring the pot. “Dad, she’s been off since yesterday. She never liked meat before, but she stole my meatball and fought with Mom. She’s just asking for a beating.”

Zhou Yuanfei’s anger flared more. “You’re rebelling! Stealing your brother’s stuff? Zhou Yining, I’ve done my duty raising you to 18. Don’t think you can compare to your brother.”

Zhou Yining laughed in disbelief. She’d just passed by, and now two mad dogs were barking at her.

She took out her phone, started recording, slipped it back into her pocket, and said, “What? Only your son’s your child in this house? Your daughter’s not?”

“Hmph, having a daughter like you is no different from having none. You used to be okay, not talking back. Now I’ve raised an enemy.”

He took a deep breath, continuing to rant. “And your brother’s grades are better. Your mom and I will rely on him for our retirement. Can I count on you?”

Zhou Yining looked at him coldly. “You can’t count on me. You’ve got your precious son anyway.”

“You’re rebelling!” Zhou Yuanfei, stunned that Zhou Yining kept talking back, felt humiliated and slammed the table again.

Zhao Xiuna came out with hot fried dough sticks, quickly intervening. “Alright, enough. Say less. Yining’s almost in her third year—she’s stressed. Dad, don’t argue with her.”

She turned to Zhou Yining. “And you, how can you talk to your dad like that? He works hard out there for you. How can you say you won’t care for him later?”

Zhou Yining laughed again. “For me? I think he’s working for his precious son.”

“Rebelling, rebelling! Zhou Yining, with that attitude, I’ll only pay for your high school. After that, you’re on your own. If you get into college, I won’t pay your tuition.”

Zhou Yining sneered. “So that’s your game? Fine, after I get into college, I won’t come back. You don’t have to pay for my tuition. And don’t expect me to support you later—you’ve got your precious son.”

Ignoring Zhao Xiuna’s pleading looks, Zhou Yining headed to the bathroom.

Zhou Yuanfei, furious, moved to grab her, but Zhao Xiuna stopped him. “Enough, enough. Why so angry this early? Stop fighting and eat.”

“It’s her fault! Fine, you all heard her. She said after high school, we don’t need to care for her. Let’s see how she survives then.” Zhou Yuanfei kept fuming.

“Yeah, let’s not care for her,” Zhou Jiaming chimed in.

Zhao Xiuna glared at her son, then went to the kitchen to bring out tofu soup for Zhou Yuanfei and Zhou Jiaming.

She thought for a moment and went to the bathroom.

Zhou Yining had just washed her face, wiping her wet bangs with a towel, when Zhao Xiuna came in. “Something up?”

Zhao Xiuna secretly pulled twenty yuan from her pocket and slipped it into Zhou Yining’s uniform pocket.

She whispered, “Your dad’s company is cutting jobs, and his bonus is down. He’s stressed, not targeting you. Buy some breakfast on the way to school, and don’t fight with him, okay?”

Zhou Yining didn’t respond but nodded. The twenty yuan could cover breakfast and leave some for the internet café. She planned to stay out late tonight to write and submit something.

Seeing her silence, Zhao Xiuna sighed and left.

Zhou Yining got ready, returned to her single bed, grabbed her bag, and left.

Zhou Yuanfei cursed. “Outrageous. She doesn’t respect me now—think she’ll be any use later?”

“Yeah, she should just marry early and bring in some dowry money for the family,” Zhou Jiaming added.

“Hmph, I think so too,” Zhou Yuanfei agreed.

“Enough. It’s just angry talk. No need for marriage nonsense,” Zhao Xiuna laughed, trying to brush it off.

“Why not? Back home, girls her age are married. I’ve raised her extra years. When she marries, we should get at least 200,000 in dowry.”

“Exactly, Dad, you’re so right,” Zhou Jiaming echoed.

Zhou Yining, unaware, carried her nearly empty schoolbag and headed out of the complex.

It wasn’t even 6 a.m., but breakfast stalls were already out. She chose a relatively clean shop near school and sat down.

She ordered a fried dough stick and a bowl of tofu pudding for five yuan.

Adding chives and chili to the tofu, she ate with the dough stick.

Freshly fried dough and silky tofu pudding lifted her mood.

As she ate, Jiang Xianzhi passed by in a car. She always ate breakfast at home, but seeing Zhou Yining relish her food at the stall, she got curious. Was street food that good?

Checking the time and seeing she had a while before class, Jiang Xianzhi had the driver pull over.

Zhou Yining, nearly done with her dough stick, heard someone call her. She turned and saw Jiang Xianzhi.

“You’re here? Had breakfast? Want to eat together?” Zhou Yining asked warmly, since she needed Jiang Xianzhi’s help with the confession wall.

Jiang Xianzhi eyed the greasy oil pot, shaking her head. Her mom said street stalls sold junk food. How could Zhou Yining eat so eagerly?

“I ate already.” Jiang Xianzhi regretted getting out, feeling out of place at the stall.

Zhou Yining wiped a stool next to her with a tissue and smiled. “Sit for a bit. Wait for me—I’ll finish soon. We can talk about the confession wall.”

Seeing Zhou Yining had cleaned the stool, Jiang Xianzhi didn’t want to seem rude. The rich girl sat reluctantly, her eyes curiously studying Zhou Yining’s bowl.

Zhou Yining ate heartily. Jiang Xianzhi smacked her lips, growing more curious but too proud to say so.

Minutes later, Zhou Yining finished, paid, and walked to school with Jiang Xianzhi.

“By the way, I’ve got people looking into the confession wall. Should have news today. I’ll message you on WeChat.”

“Great, thanks.” Zhou Yining relaxed a bit. The original’s life was a mess, and she needed to handle it step by step.

“No need to be thankful. By the way, you always eat at street stalls?”

“No, I fought with my family and couldn’t eat at home, so I ate out. This place’s tofu pudding is pretty good, though.” Zhou Yining smiled. Good thing she wasn’t the original—she’d be heartbroken by her dad and brother’s words.

The original character must have endured so much verbal abuse. Zhou Yining needed to escape this boy-crazy family and gather enough evidence to prove they mistreated their daughter, or it’d be trouble later.