Hearing Li Aiguo’s words, Su Qing understood that the police likely had no leads yet. She nodded. "I wonder when they’ll find her."

"It won’t be that fast," Li Xiaodong said. "Cousin, how about I show you around tomorrow? This is your first time in Jia City, isn’t it? I’m telling you, there are so many fun places here. I promise you’ll love it."

Su Qing’s response was flat. "I’m not in the mood. I just want to find my mother as soon as possible. I don’t even know where she is."

Li Xiaodong pouted. "Worrying won’t do any good. We still have to wait for news from the police."

Su Qing shot him a cold glance. "It’s not your mother who’s missing, so of course you’re not in a hurry."

Hearing this, Zhao Li’e’s expression soured.

Li Xiaojuan snapped angrily, "Su Qing, how can you talk like that? If our family hadn’t been taking care of your mother all these years, she would’ve died long ago!"

The moment the words left Li Xiaojuan’s mouth, Su Qing shot to her feet, strode over to her, and slapped her hard across the face. "Curse my mother one more time. I dare you."

’Remembering the vision from her time regression—Li Wan’s face covered in scars, her eyes vacant—Su Qing was certain the Li family hadn’t treated her mother well at all. She refused to believe Li Wan had inflicted those scars on herself.’

"You—you hit me!" Li Xiaojuan couldn’t believe it. Su Qing hadn’t even hesitated; she’d just lashed out. Holding her stinging cheek, she stared at Su Qing in disbelief.

Su Qing said icily, "If you hadn’t forced my mother to come back all those years ago, she never would have become like this, and I wouldn’t have been abandoned."

Before any of the Li family could respond, Su Qing continued, "And don’t give me that story about Grandma being gravely ill. I’ve seen her. Her health is fine. Other than the leg injury that makes walking difficult, there’s nothing wrong with her."

Seeing her daughter get slapped, Zhao Li’e’s heart twisted with pain. She immediately pulled Li Xiaojuan into a hug and said resentfully to Su Qing, "Su Qing, no matter what, Xiao Juan is your older cousin. How could you, the younger one, hit your own sister like that? That’s not right."

"Oh, I’m so sorry," Su Qing said flatly. "I haven’t had a mother to look after me since I was ten. In all these years, I’ve learned one simple rule: if someone bullies me, I hit back. My own satisfaction is what matters most."

"You!" Zhao Li’e was infuriated by Su Qing’s words. Just as she was about to lash out, Li Aiguo quickly interjected, "Alright, that’s enough from everyone. Stop this nonsense, right now."

Li Aiguo then turned to Zhao Li’e and Li Xiaojuan. "Qingqing is worried about her mother, so she’s not in a good mood. You two need to be more understanding."

The truth was, the memory of Su Qing’s fighting skills had left a deep impression on Li Aiguo—so deep it had become a kind of trauma. He was terrified that if neither side backed down and the argument escalated, Su Qing would end up beating his wife and daughter as well.

But clearly, Zhao Li’e and Li Xiaojuan didn’t appreciate Li Aiguo’s desperate attempt to keep the peace. Li Xiaojuan said angrily, "Dad, she hit me! Didn’t you see that?" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

’Li Aiguo glanced at his daughter. Of course he’d seen it. The problem was, he couldn’t even beat Su Qing himself, let alone his daughter, who was as weak as a kitten.’

Zhao Li’e was also fuming. "Aiguo, I know Qingqing is your niece, but Xiao Juan is the one who just got hit!"

Su Qing let out a dry laugh. "If you’re unhappy, feel free to try and hit me back. I’ll be waiting."

Li Xiaojuan glared at Su Qing, then turned to Li Xiaodong. "Brother, help me teach this damn brat a lesson."

’Li Xiaodong was torn. On the one hand, his sister had been hit. On the other, he was really attracted to Su Qing. If he actually fought her, would it ruin his chances with her later?’

’But seeing the hostile looks from his mother and sister, Li Xiaodong decided to side with his family. As for Su Qing... well, he could just put in a little more effort to win her over later. Girls were easy, after all. A little patience, a little sweet-talking, and this whole thing would blow over.’

’For now, he’d just hold Su Qing down and let his mom and sister get their anger out. And while he was at it, he could... An inexplicable thrill shot through Li Xiaodong at the thought.’

With that thought, Li Xiaodong stood up and said to Su Qing, "Cousin, it was wrong for you to hit your older cousin. Even if she said something she shouldn’t have, you can’t just get violent. How about this? Let’s just put this behind us so we can all get along. How does that sound?"

As he spoke, Li Xiaodong moved forward to grab Su Qing’s arm.

Seeing this, Li Aiguo shouted, "Xiaodong, don’t!"

But Li Aiguo was too late. Su Qing grabbed Li Xiaodong’s outstretched hand, and with a swift shoulder throw, slammed him onto the floor.

"AARGH—" An intense pain shot through Li Xiaodong’s entire back, and he couldn’t stop a cry from escaping his lips.

"AH!" Seeing her son slammed to the floor by Su Qing, Zhao Li’e’s eyes instantly turned red with anguish. She dropped her gentle aunt act, rushed forward to help Li Xiaodong up, and shrieked at Su Qing, "Su Qing, you wretched girl! That’s your cousin! How dare you attack your own cousin! Have you no manners? You really are just a wild brat from the countryside! No one to watch you, no one to teach you—all you know is violence and making trouble!"

Su Qing’s eyes narrowed as she sneered. "You’re right, I had no one to teach me. When I was ten, my mother was ruined by your family. So who was supposed to teach me?"

Su Qing’s words made Li Aiguo’s heart leap into his throat. He quickly said, "Qingqing, what are you talking about? How can you say we ruined your mother? All these years..."

’With Li Wan gone from the Li residence, Su Qing couldn’t be bothered to feign politeness with them anymore. Her priority was to find Li Wan, cure her, and learn what truly happened all those years ago. She didn’t believe a single word of Li Aiguo’s story about Li Wan becoming mentally impaired after hitting her head during a robbery.’

"Uncle, your face just changed. Did I hit a nerve?" Su Qing asked with a cold laugh.

Li Aiguo took a deep breath. "What are you talking about? Your mother is my sister. Why would I ever harm her?"

"That’s something only you would know," Su Qing said coldly. "And speaking of which, I’m your niece, aren’t I? So why did you have someone drug me back then, just to keep me from leaving with my mom? Why make me so sick? What kind of threat could a ten-year-old child possibly be to you, that you’d resort to such a cruel tactic?"

’Su Qing’s words made Li Aiguo’s heart hammer in his chest. He had been so secretive about it back then that even Li Wan had never found out. Frankly, if Li Wan hadn’t been so guarded against the Li family, refusing to let him near Su Qing, and if they hadn’t needed to hide the child’s existence from the neighbors, the most surefire plan would have been to take Su Qing with them and sell her on the road.’

Too bad...