Back to 1984: Let's Work Hard Together to Raise The Kids!-Chapter 225: Disgusting Tattling

This is the Western equivalent of the Spring Festival. Everyone is busy preparing for the holiday, and there are Christmas trees everywhere on the streets, squares, and shops, as if a fairy tale has come to life.

Following local customs, Chen Xinyue and Xue Lingxue were decorating their apartment together and preparing a sumptuous dinner.

"For such an important British holiday, aren’t you going to invite your fiancé to celebrate with you?" Chen Xinyue asked, testing the waters.

Xue Lingxue looked as if she’d seen a ghost, "Xinyue, are you out of your mind! If that guy doesn’t come, we should set off firecrackers in celebration, and you actually want to invite him here! Are you crazy or am I?"

Chen Xinyue shrugged, "I was just asking, hasn’t he spent it with you any year? How do you usually celebrate?"

Xue Lingxue looked indifferent, "How else would I celebrate? We’re not Christians, and Christmas isn’t popular back home. This holiday is the same as any other day. We usually do our own thing without contact. It’s only because you’re here this year that I’m in the mood for celebrating."

Chen Xinyue thought that Zhang Jingxuan was probably celebrating with Annie and the kids at this moment. If she revealed the truth and took Xue Lingxue to confront him, they’d likely catch him in the act.

But they’re abroad, and that’s a wealthy district. If it escalates, they’d be the ones at a disadvantage.

Also, there’s John... She’s been gleaning information about Annie’s family from him, and he’s spilled everything, considering her a friend. If John found out the truth, it might hurt him.

For various reasons, Chen Xinyue held back her urge to blurt it out and tested the waters instead, "Lingxue, if Zhang Jingxuan betrayed you, would you still marry him?"

Xue Lingxue raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Why say that? I have no feelings for him. If he really gets involved with another woman behind my back, it’s understandable. At worst, it’ll cause a scene, our marriage will be called off, and my parents will arrange someone else for me. No matter what, I’ll still end up living according to their wishes. His betrayal or not, it makes no difference to me."

"So open-minded!" Chen Xinyue was speechless, picked up a slice of roasted turkey, chewed a couple of times, and her face twisted instantly, "My God, this thing tastes... Britain’s development of cuisine is surely not even one-tenth of Hua Country’s..."

After complaining, she set down her fork, bewildered, "Is there really no way for your parents to respect your wishes?"

Xue Lingxue nodded vigorously, "They’re developing in An City. This circle isn’t too big or too small, and everyone’s seeking matches of equal social standing for arranged marriages. If not Zhang Jingxuan, then Zhao Jingxuan, Wang Jingxuan. It won’t be someone I’m fond of anyway.

Since everyone’s just getting by for the sake of benefits, why does it matter who you end up with?"

"So if a scandal breaks out, can you still switch to another arranged marriage like nothing happened?" Chen Xinyue asked curiously.

Seeing her interest, Xue Lingxue became serious, "If that happens, definitely not. Big families care most about reputation and image. For example, my aunt, I’ve heard she was quite rebellious when she was younger. After graduating from college, she refused the job arranged by the family and also rejected an arranged marriage. Later, the family elders pressured her.

They gave her a choice between work and marriage, and she couldn’t give up her career, so she had to compromise on marriage. Everything was set for the engagement banquet, but then her fiancé had an affair and she caught him in the act. My aunt has a fiery temper and caused a huge scene at the hotel, stripping the mistress in public.

Not satisfied, she even broke a bottle on her fiancé’s head, sending him to the hospital, then told the family after she did all that.

The elders found out when it had already spread. They scolded her for not being sensible and impulsive and said that things couldn’t be resolved that way. But my aunt was stubborn, refusing to budge, stating that she couldn’t tolerate such things and would act even more fiercely if it happened again.

The fiancé’s parents saw that their future daughter-in-law wasn’t one to mess with, and knowing their son’s despicable nature that wouldn’t change, worried that he’d get beaten to death, they immediately brought generous gifts to apologize, humbled themselves, and called off the engagement.

Since they were at fault and were sincere in their apology, the girl’s side couldn’t really refuse, and that’s how the engagement ended.

After all, it wasn’t my aunt’s fault. The family elders planned to find her another arranged match, but when they spread the word, no one dared to act on it. Over time, they realized my aunt’s ’formidable reputation,’ and no one dared to take her, so they had to give up on the marriage plans."

My aunt later found someone herself, from an ordinary family, but he’s very good to her, devoted. The family worried my aunt would end up without a match and had to agree to the marriage.

Her son is now in elementary school."

Talking about her aunt, Xue Lingxue was full of admiration, revealing how much she aspired to be like her.

Chen Xinyue listened silently, keeping all this in mind. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

They spent this Christmas happily together, without worries.

In the following month, Zhang Jingxuan seemed to have vanished, never setting foot in their apartment.

The school term opened in no time, and they returned to their regular routine.

Chen Xinyue found Zhang Jingxuan quite interesting; visiting Xue Lingxue like clockwork every ten days, he’d nitpick and criticize her, always bringing up her parents to make Xue Lingxue mad and helpless.

Chen Xinyue observed coldly, feeling that Zhang Jingxuan had ill intentions, trying to mentally break Xue Lingxue, but she didn’t have any evidence.

So, on days Zhang Jingxuan might appear, she would come up with all sorts of excuses to keep Xue Lingxue at school.

Conveniently, she still had her dormitory at school, and could let Xue Lingxue squeeze in with her.

After many times, Zhang Jingxuan got upset and blatantly said to Xue Lingxue in front of Chen Xinyue, "You’re not a child anymore and should understand what useless social interactions are. Some people that serve no purpose shouldn’t be kept around, so you don’t get brainwashed and end up clueless about your own situation."

Xue Lingxue got angry, grabbed a broom, and aimed at Zhang Jingxuan, "Bite me! Don’t think everyone is as shallow as you, you psycho! I warn you, my apartment isn’t welcoming to you. Come once, and I’ll hit you once!"

Zhang Jingxuan was in disarray, turning back to call Xue’s mother to complain, "Auntie, ever since Lingxue’s friend came to study in Britain, she’s been all about her friend and really cold to me. She keeps avoiding me lately and picks fights. I suspect her friend is stirring up trouble between us. You know how busy I am with work, so I can’t always be by her side. I hope you can talk to Lingxue and tell her not to hang out with that friend anymore."

Xue’s mother frowned at these words, "Do you know what Lingxue’s friend’s name is?"