After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Turned on Easy Mode - Chapter 31

Zhao Qingzi opened the door, and sure enough, it was Zhao Cuo standing outside. Her face was expressionless; she wouldn’t even bother putting on her usual mask of gentleness in front of this man.

Her voice was cold. “What business does Father have with me?”

Her indifference darkened Zhao Cuo’s already sour expression. He gave a sharp snort, pushed past her, and strode inside. His gaze swept the room, searching—yet finding no one.

Under the bed, Wu You could only see the black boots pacing back and forth. Her heart tensed. When those boots stopped at the bedside, she instinctively shrank farther back.

Zhao Qingzi understood exactly what he was doing. Clearly, he’d sensed something. But rather than panic, irritation filled her.

Her tone frosted over. “What is Father’s meaning by this?”

The bite in her voice made Zhao Cuo pause, but being questioned left him feeling slighted. His reply came laced with anger. “Is this how you speak to your father?”

Listening from beneath the bed, Wu You’s heart thudded. She peeked out just enough to see him standing with his back to her, looming before Zhao Qingzi’s wheelchair.

Zhao Qingzi found it almost laughable. A sneer curved her lips.

She looked so much like her late mother when she smiled that Zhao Cuo froze for an instant, lost in memory.

Then Zhao Qingzi spoke softly, but each word was a blade. “A man who sires but does not raise—how does that make you worthy of being called ‘Father’? You know well that when I use that word for you, it is unwillingly. Why humiliate yourself by forcing it?”

This was nothing like her usual tender demeanor. Her words cut without mercy.

Wu You, hidden beneath the bed, felt her chest tighten. Rage laced every syllable. This was the third time she’d sensed such raw emotion from Zhao Qingzi. In the novel, she remembered, Zhao Qingzi was a master at hiding—waiting in the dark to strike only when her enemy was careless. For her to lash out openly like this, the hatred must run bone-deep.

Zhao Cuo’s breath grew ragged. With a violent sweep, he sent the teacup crashing to the floor, shards scattering.

Wu You flinched. Panic drove her halfway out, but Zhao Qingzi shot her a quick look and a subtle shake of the head.

Wu You froze, worry etched between her brows. Zhao Qingzi only smiled faintly, signaling that she was fine. Reluctantly, Wu You slid back under the bed, though she kept her eyes fixed on every movement outside.

Leaning heavily on the table, Zhao Cuo muttered through clenched teeth, “You resent me!”

“You’re mistaken,” Zhao Qingzi replied coolly. “I don’t resent you. I simply think you pathetic—and foolish.”

“You—! Outrageous! Unfilial!”

“I’ve been ‘unfilial’ for a long time,” she shot back. “Father, you’re the one who insists on coming here for humiliation.”

“You mean to say I deserve this?”

“I said no such thing. Don’t twist my words.”

The poisonous back-and-forth made Wu You ache inside. She thought of her own fathers—past and present—and the difference cut her sharply.

Zhao Cuo’s rage boiled over. Their shouting drew servants outside, too afraid to enter. Zhao Qingzi, however, sat straight-backed in her chair, her smile mocking.

Footsteps approached. A servant announced, “Young Master.”

Relief washed through Wu You. Zhao Qingshu was here. With his protectiveness, Zhao Qingzi would not be harmed. Still, Wu You hated being a useless bystander under the bed.

When Zhao Qingshu entered, he saw broken porcelain and his sister facing off against their father. He sighed. To everyone else, Qingzi was gentle; only before their father did she bare her thorns.

He stepped between them and bowed. “Father, please forgive my sister’s thoughtlessness.”

But Zhao Cuo only grew more incensed. Seeing his son shielding her was like betrayal. He slammed the table. “What is this? Are you two ganging up against me?”

“We are not,” Zhao Qingshu replied calmly.

Yet his blank face only fueled Zhao Cuo’s fury. He barked bitter laughter. “So it’s true. All these years, you’ve both blamed me for Li Mingyue. I tell you, it was she who owed me!”

Wu You’s heart twisted. Twelve years gone, and still he clung to that grievance.

At that, Zhao Qingshu’s composure cracked. “Mother has been gone twelve years. Why dwell on the past?”

Smack! The sound split the air.

Wu You’s head whipped out from under the bed. Zhao Qingshu’s hand pressed his reddened cheek. He looked stunned.

Zhao Qingzi’s grip on her chair trembled, fury shaking through her.

Wu You, though, breathed a tiny sigh of relief—it wasn’t Zhao Qingzi who had been struck.

Her rage spilling over, Zhao Qingzi snapped, “Mother owed you? Did you lose an arm, a leg? Do you lack family, food, rank? Your marquisate title—who was it thanks to? What do you lack, except gratitude? No—you’re only ashamed. You wear victimhood like armor, pretending the world owes you!”

Each word stabbed home. Zhao Cuo’s face twisted. He forgot she was his daughter.

He barked a laugh. “Truly Li Mingyue’s child—just as perverse. Drawing women to you, savage and shameless, just like her.”

Zhao Qingzi sneered back. “Better that, than to be unloved like you.”

That broke him. He raised his hand, fury aimed at her face. Zhao Qingshu lurched to shield her—

But before the blow could land, Zhao Cuo crumpled sideways to the floor.

Behind him stood Wu You, her hand still poised from the strike that had knocked him unconscious.

For a long moment, silence. Zhao Qingshu stared, stunned.

Wu You rubbed her nose sheepishly. “Good afternoon, Young Master Zhao. Heh… surprise?”

Zhao Qingshu crouched to check his father’s pulse and winced. He’d be out for quite a while. How much force did she use?

Still, he ordered servants to carry Zhao Cuo away.

When he turned back, he found Wu You fussing over his sister, scanning her face and arms for injuries. Zhao Qingzi’s smile glowed, content despite the chaos.

A pang shot through Zhao Qingshu’s heart—sour yet relieved. Perhaps I can entrust her to this girl after all.

Zhao Qingzi caught Wu You’s fidgeting hands and murmured, uneasy, “A-You, just now, I—”

Wu You cut her off gently. “I know. It’s alright. Did he hurt you?”

Her gaze brimmed with worry, sweeping away the shadows in Zhao Qingzi’s heart. She smiled. “I’m fine. Only my brother was struck.”

Wu You winced with guilt. “If I hadn’t come today, none of this would’ve happened…”

“You needn’t blame yourself. This is simply how we’ve always been.”

But Wu You couldn’t feel at ease. She pulled her into a hug.

“Ahem.” Zhao Qingshu’s cough rang out like thunder.

Wu You jerked as if shocked, leaping back, face red. Forgot he was here…

Zhao Qingshu glanced at them, then turned away, sighing. Without another word, he left, closing the door behind him.

From outside came his dry voice: “Carry on. I’ll go. But Wu You—you’d better not bully my sister!”

As his footsteps faded, Wu You’s head spun. Does that mean… approval?

Seeing her dazed expression, Zhao Qingzi reached out to tap her forehead with a finger. Her laugh was soft. “Silly girl.”

Wu You touched the spot, grinning foolishly. Today truly felt like a good day.