I told my mom and brother exactly what happened.
My mom slammed a steaming dish on the table. “Miss Wang, what right do you have to tell my daughter what to do at work?”
Yiran immediately looked pitiful. “Sorry, Mom, it’s my fault. You’re always fair to your children. If big sister can do something, so can Zhihao.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Was she trying to accuse my mom of favoritism?
Hilarious. My mom was the former general manager, who worked her way up from a lowly clerk and built the company herself. She only cared about ability, not background.
Even I got scolded if I messed up.
My mom said sternly, “In our house, whoever is capable takes charge. If Zhihao wants a higher position, he can start from the bottom like his sister did.”
Yiran hadn’t expected this, and her eyes turned red. “Sorry, Mom, big sister is doing a great job. I never meant to say she should hand the company over to Zhihao now.”
My mom snorted. “Did you not understand me? The company still belongs to me and Mr. Lin. Neither you nor Zhihao has any say.”
“And don’t call me ‘Mom’ before you’re married. I can’t accept that.”
Yiran whimpered and clung to Zhihao’s arm. “Is it because my family isn’t well-off that you and big sister look down on me?”
My mom and I both glared.
Times have changed. You can’t win an argument by playing the victim.
Especially not with my mom, who grew up in poverty in a remote village. She had four older sisters and a younger brother, and had to fight to go to high school instead of being married off to an old man. She ran away, worked odd jobs, and studied at night.
Seeing my mom’s face darken, Zhihao tried to defend Yiran. “Mom, Sis, Yiran just doesn’t understand how the company works. There’s no need to be so harsh!”
We were the ones being harsh?
At that time my dad came in from the garden, carrying a pot of orchids.
“Why is everyone standing around? Let’s eat.”
Yiran’s tears dried up instantly. She rushed to help my dad with the orchids, beaming. “Uncle, these flowers are beautiful! You’re amazing.”
I smirked.
So she could lift a heavy flowerpot for my dad, but earlier she was too delicate to help with the food?
My mom didn’t indulge her. “No need to stay for dinner. Zhihao, take Miss Wang home.”
Yiran started crying again, clinging to Zhihao. “If you don’t want me here, I’ll leave. I don’t want to make things awkward.”
My mom snorted. “Stop with the sarcasm. Otherwise, I’ll think we’re haunted. It’s unlucky to see you here during the holidays!”
Zhihao hugged Yiran and shouted at my mom, “How can you say that to her?”
I shot him a cold look. “You’d talk to Mom like that?”
He ignored me, turning to my dad. “Dad, are you just going to stand there while Mom says such awful things to Yiran?”
My dad’s face turned serious. “If your mom tells someone to leave, she has her reasons. Miss Wang, please go.”
Zhihao was shocked. “Dad, aren’t you even going to ask what happened?”
“What’s there to ask? If your mom says so, she must be right.”
My mom recounted everything Yiran had said.
My dad hugged my mom. “How dare you insult my wife!”
I rolled my eyes. Dad always sided with Mom.
I was used to it. My parents were soulmates, and I was just an accident. Zhihao wasn’t even an accident—he was raised by me.
Now he’d brought home a girl like this. Was he under some kind of spell? Or just plain foolish?
No amount of education could make up for his lack of sense.
Yiran kept crying, “Don’t fight because of me. I’ll leave so you don’t have to choose.”
“No!” Zhihao grabbed her hand. “If this family doesn’t welcome you, I don’t want it either!”
Yiran looked panicked, not touched. If Zhihao really left, her dream of being the general manager’s wife would be over.
She tugged his sleeve, but he didn’t notice.
“You’re all so biased toward big sister. Am I really your son?”
My parents’ faces darkened.
“The only thing left for a son like you is to be reborn,” my mom said coldly. “If you want to leave, go.”
My dad added, “If you don’t break up with her, don’t come back.”
I opened the door. “Go on, then.”
“Yiran, let’s go!”
They left, and I shut the door.
Chapter 02
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