r18novel Chapter 76 He didn't bully his sister... right?
Chapter 76 He didn't bully his sister... right?
Song Che and Xia Li squeezed into the kitchen, making the space feel cramped. Zhang Shushu, after being persuaded by her son several times, had no choice but to return to the sofa in the living room to wait.
The kitchen sliding door wasn't closed properly, and faint noises and whispers drifted out intermittently.
"Xia Li, you've never made this soup before, let me do it." It was Song Che's voice, lowered, with a hint of negotiation.
"No." Xia Li's answer was short and clear, "I'll do it this time."
"Next time, I'll let you make the pork ribs. The main problem is I didn't buy any today..."
"Just this once."
As Zhang Shushu listened, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a smile.
Her gaze fell on Tao Xiang at the table next to her. The little girl was lying there, her hands supporting her cheeks, her rosy cheeks making her heart melt.
She moved closer and noticed a small, thin-looking quilt folded beside Tao Xiang.
"This quilt is...?"
"It's the one Momoka used to sleep under!" Momoka replied immediately, her tone carrying a hint of boastfulness. "It's so warm."
"Warm?" Zhang Shushu asked, somewhat puzzled. She reached out and touched it; it was indeed fluffy and soft. But she didn't think anything of it, only frowning. "Song Che wouldn't just let you sleep here and use this as a cover, would he?"
"Okay, I'll sleep here tonight." Tao Xiang nodded, then added, "But I can only sleep here at night, because Song Che-gege has to study during the day."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Shushu's heart immediately clenched.
In the dead of winter, why would you let such a little girl sleep on the sofa covered with a small blanket?
This child!
Tao Xiang seemed to suddenly realize something and quickly waved her hands, "Auntie, I'm not cold. Really, not at all, it's not Song Che's fault!"
"Does he... bully you usually?" Zhang Shushu asked in a soft voice.
"I haven't bullied you anymore..." Momoka blinked and answered honestly.
She was just stating the facts; after all, when she first arrived, she was kicked and sent flying quite a distance.
"So he just made you sleep here all this time?" Zhang Shushu's brows furrowed even more.
"No, not really." Momoka pointed with her little finger to something on the floor in the corner of the sofa. "I can sleep there too."
Zhang Shushu looked in that direction—it was a small-looking…cat's nest?
Black.
"Did Song Che buy this for you?" Her voice was dry.
"Yes!" Momoka nodded. "Last time he asked me what color I liked, and I said black, so he bought it."
Zhang Shushu's heart skipped a beat.
Song Che... why does he seem to be... abusing children at home?
This thought made her sit up straight.
She steadied herself and changed the subject, asking, "So... what does your sister usually do at home? Does Song Che... bully her?"
"My sister was beaten so badly at first—" Tao Xiang blurted out, then covered her mouth, realizing that the sister her aunt was talking about was Xia Li, not Tao Yao. Her eyes widened. "Ah, no, no, I was just talking nonsense. My sister was never bullied."
Zhang Shushu's heart sank instantly.
Tao Xiang hurriedly tried to cover up, "My older sister... Sister Xia Li, she sleeps in that bedroom, she doesn't have to sleep on the sofa like me. She usually cooks with my brother... She mainly does the housework because my brother has to study."
After she finished speaking, she felt that there was nothing wrong with her statement and nodded.
She always sticks to the facts.
Zhang Shushu's brows were almost knotted together.
...Going out to work means I really can't discipline my child. Is this child going astray?
She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound calm: "Taoxiang, tell Auntie the truth, does Song Che usually... verbally abuse your sister? Or... physically assault her?"
"Brother... um, sometimes he calls sister 'idiot'." Momoka tried hard to recall, "I... I don't think I've ever hit sister."
"Sweetie, don't be afraid, speak up." Zhang Shushu held her little hand, her tone firm. "If Song Che bullies you, Auntie will definitely stand up for you. He really... never hit you?"
"No... I don't think so..." Momoka tilted her head, searching her memory carefully. Hitting her older sister?
It seems... only Sister Taoyao has ever been bullied.
To Zhang Shushu, that hesitant "No, I don't think so" was tantamount to confirmation.
No, I'm not sure.
Uncertainty means that something is possible.
How could this child treat a girl like that!
Are you going to resort to violence?
Zhang Shushu felt a surge of anger rising within her.
She's always been a very clear-cut person; right is right, and wrong is wrong.
She had to find out the truth about this.
She stood up and walked towards the kitchen.
As soon as I reached the sliding door, before I could even open it, the voices inside came through clearly.
It was Xia Li's calm voice tinged with a hint of confusion: "Why did you try to strangle me again? I just wanted to make soup for Auntie, I didn't do anything wrong."
This was followed by Song Che's helpless reply: "You idiot..."
Song Che's original intention was to have Xia Li stew some good soup, but he decided to leave it for today. If the soup wasn't stewed well today, he would lose the bonus points. Not to mention that Xia Li was an unregistered resident, had no money, no place to live, had silver hair, had a arrogant expression, had never been to school, and even hit people on the head... and a whole host of other problems.
Every mother needs to get used to it for a while.
Zhang Shushu stood frozen at the doorway, her hand hovering in mid-air.
He actually wanted to strangle someone?
She was about to push the door open when she suddenly stopped.
No, we can't just listen to one side of the story. We need to observe this further. If Song Che really went too far, she has to intervene and give the girl an explanation.
But right now...
She glanced at the small sofa and cat bed with a heavy look in her eyes.
It's already wrong to let such a young child sleep here with a small blanket!
She took a few deep breaths, suppressed her turbulent emotions, and calmly retreated to sit down on the sofa, though her expression was much more somber than before.
About ten minutes later, the sky outside the window was completely dark, and the lights of the buildings across the street were twinkling on.
The kitchen sliding door opened, and Xia Li came out first, steadily carrying a large bowl of steaming soup. She placed the soup in the middle of the table, then turned back to get more bowls and chopsticks.
Song Che followed her out and naturally pulled out a chair to sit down—his intention was to let Xia Li show her diligence in front of his mother, not to actually order her around.
He and Xia Li usually do these things together.
Xia Li set out the bowls and chopsticks, only to find that one pair was missing.
She looked up at Song Che, her eyes questioning.
(Give the chopsticks to your mom first; she'll feel even more sorry for you because she sees how considerate you are.)
Song Che's mental notification sounded.
Xia Li understood, picked up the chopsticks, and obediently handed them to Zhang Shushu: "Auntie, these are your chopsticks."
Then she took an empty bowl and stood quietly by the table.
Zhang Shushu witnessed all of this.
This includes Xia Li's subconscious glance at Song Che, as well as that subtle pause and submissiveness.
This child... must have been threatened!
Zhang Shushu's scales tipped a little more in one direction.
She felt sorry for the girl, but now, she wanted to "love" her son even more.
Zhang Shushu felt that she needed to talk to Xia Li alone first.
Then Song Che was convicted.
Even if he is your own son, you can't indulge him in this.
She always sticks to the facts.
Tao Xiang, who was standing to the side, vaguely sensed that something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
The little thought that she wanted to "use her aunt to teach her brother a lesson and vent her sister's anger" had just popped into her mind when it was suppressed by the fear that "her brother might let Bruce bite me afterwards."
Finally, all her complicated thoughts turned into appetite—she picked up a spoon and scooped up a large mouthful of rice, stuffing it into her mouth.
Let's eat first and talk about it later.
Zhang Shushu didn't immediately bring it up; she continued to observe.
Xia Li kept drinking soup, and then, seeing Song Che's expression, she served soup to Xia Li and Jianguo. This child... does Song Che have some kind of leverage over her?
Song Jianguo didn't pay attention to such details. After simply praising Xia Li's good looks, he finished his meal and went to tease Bruce.
Bruce had just finished licking his fur while he was eating when Song Jianguo arrived again.
It was about to cry.