After Dumping the Female Lead, It's My Turn to Cry - Chapter 27.2

Though Qing Ling was indeed born into a family with a long history, her childhood was marked by rigorous training, and her meals mostly consisted of nutritional supplements she had scarcely tasted the ordinary home-cooked meals of common families. At that time, Sheng Yusheng still had some dealings with the Qing family, but her free-spirited nature made the Qings look down upon her past behavior. She, however, paid it no mind, as their relationship was merely one of superficial courtesy.

It was during that period that she noticed Qing Ling sitting quietly on a nearby armchair.

Even as a child, Qing Ling’s features were strikingly delicate. Dressed in an intricate court gown that Sheng Yusheng found exhausting just to look at, her hands were elegantly positioned.

In short, her demeanor unmistakably identified her as a member of the Qing family.

Her eyelashes were long, but her pupils were pitch-black, and there was nothing pitiable about her, she resembled a somewhat rigid puppet.

Sheng Yusheng had never been fond of such children, but for the sake of politeness, she offered the crispy candy from the coffee table. “Little one, would you like some?”

She had fully expected to be politely declined.

To her surprise, however, Qing Ling accepted it with both hands, thanked her softly, and then began to chew slowly and silently.

Sheng Yusheng found it amusing and, partly to provoke the Qing family, deliberately took Qing Ling out to sea for fishing, fully aware of how strictly the Qings guarded their future heir.

It was meant to be an ordinary, brief outing. When Sheng Yusheng brought her back, the Qing family even thanked her politely, and for once, she felt a twinge of guilt, wondering if she had misjudged them too harshly.

But she had never anticipated what would follow.

That incident served as a catalyst. Sheng Yusheng and the Qing family had always been at odds, disapproving of each other’s principles, and they gradually grew apart. She never imagined their next meeting would be under such circumstances.

Toward Qing Ling, Sheng Yusheng felt a sense of guilt, but she hadn’t expected the girl to harbor no resentment at all.

No sooner had she been seated than a younger member of the Qing family, also clad in mourning attire, approached with a grave expression, whispered something in her ear, and showed her a photograph captured by a surveillance camera.

Immediately after, Sheng Yusheng witnessed an expression on Qing Ling’s face that she had never seen before.

It was such a rare sight that Sheng Yusheng nearly forgot to drink the clear tea in his hand. Only when a scalding drop splashed onto the back of his hand did he snap back to reality. Setting the cup down on the table, he narrowed his eyes with keen interest.

How should he put it?

It was truly fascinating so much so that even an Alpha like him, who rarely concerned himself with others’ lives, developed an intense curiosity about that photograph.

Fortunately, most of the tedious matters had been dealt with the day before. After giving a few instructions to those around her, Qing Ling stepped outside, her sorrowful expression vanishing instantly. She casually tossed the mourning clothes she had removed into a trash can, crossed the street in a few strides, and knocked expressionlessly on a surface.

Under the pavilion, a girl had curled up tightly like an ostrich, leaving only a fluffy tail visible outside.

Startled by the three unhurried knocks on the table, the “ostrich” trembled three times, looking utterly pitiful in the bleak autumn wind. Yet Qing Ling lacked the necessary compassion and, devoid of humanitarian concern, grabbed the rabbit tail and yanked it upward.

It turned out not to be a rabbit tail, but Ruan Yubai, who was carrying a cream-colored shoulder bag.

Under the bright sunlight, Ruan Yubai, abruptly dragged out of the darkness, rubbed her eyes in discomfort. When she saw who it was, her mouth fell open in a cute, round shape of surprise.

Wasn’t the female lead supposed to be handling family matters? Why was she here?

Before she could voice her question, she noticed Qing Ling lowering her head calmly, the scent of freesia mingling with the familiar fragrance of shampoo wafting over. “Miss Ruan, what are you doing here?”

That was exactly what she wanted to ask!

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. Seeing the target nearly turn around, Ruan Yubai, in a moment of urgency, pulled the female lead under the pavilion.

Only when she met Qing Ling’s deep, dark eyes did Ruan Yubai scratch her head awkwardly: Why did this feel so damn familiar?

Why was she once again in such an awkward situation with the female lead!

But now wasn’t the time to discuss that. Thinking the young lady must be more resourceful than her, Ruan Yubai quickly summarized her parents’ emotional crisis in a few words. Then, subtly pointing a slender finger forward, she whispered, “See that? A scumbag woman and a despicable man. Let my dad stay single and fabulous!”

Qing Ling followed her gaze and asked, “You mean the man in the black suit?”

“Yes.”

Apparently not expecting such a resolute answer, Qing Ling fell silent for a moment before asking, “Are you sure there’s no misunderstanding?”

“Absolutely!” Ruan Yubai, oblivious to Qing Ling’s slightly off expression, insisted firmly. Then, with heartfelt distress, she added, “I initially wondered if my mom was deceiving some innocent young man, but guess what I overheard here? That male white lotus kept saying ‘your husband’ and repeatedly mentioned my dad’s name. Are Alphas these days really this domineering? It’s like green tea reincarnated as tyrannical green tea!”

“Of course, even though the law doesn’t recognize it, I respect their Alpha-Alpha relationship. But no matter how epic their love story is, shouldn’t they get a divorce from my dad first? Isn’t this just a blatant disregard for the basic rules of commitment?”

“My dad is still at home, foolishly dancing with wild abandon, and even bought a green hat to put on his head. Tell me, has my mom been fair to us? Leaving us, a lonely daughter and a foolish father, while she goes out seeking pleasure, even disrespecting other people’s graves. Wuwuwu, my family has truly collapsed!”

Remembering something else, Ruan Yubai grew even more sorrowful: “Not only that, but my dad even saved my favorite O-Bubble Fruit Milk for her. I only got to drink half a bottle! Ms. Ruan has no conscience! What a scumbag woman!”

Though the timing wasn’t appropriate, Qing Ling couldn’t help but ask: “Why was there only half a bottle left?”

Mentioning this made Ruan Yubai even sadder. She counted on her fingers: “One bottle for Mom, one for you; one bottle for Dad, one for you; one for Hei Pi, one for you; one for me, one for you.”

Then she added gloomily: “Of course, my bottle ended up half spilled because I was too engrossed in examining the photos.”

Qing Ling: …

“You drink it, no need to save any for me,” Qing Ling said, both amused and exasperated. “I don’t like that kind of thing.”

Ruan Yubai blinked, then blinked again, looking utterly puzzled: “But you drank it yesterday morning. If you don’t like it, were you forcing yourself to drink it?”

Qing Ling froze.

Ruan Yubai continued, still confused: “If you like something, accept it; if you hate it, reject it. Isn’t that simple?”

Her skin was delicate and fair, and even with a bit of dust accidentally smudged on it, she still carried an air of innocent naivety. The fine particles drifting down settled partly in the shaded areas untouched by light and partly brushed past her soft, sweet features before silently disappearing into unseen minute crevices.

In that moment, Qing Ling’s world smelled faintly of a sweet, slightly dirty peach.

However, this subtle atmosphere was quickly shattered by Ruan Yubai’s words: “Even if you really don’t like it, you should give it a try. These are the last few bottles. After the divorce, Dad and I won’t be able to afford this O-Bubble Fruit Milk anymore.”

Ruan Yubai was filled with grief and indignation: “A househusband has no rights, Qing Ling. Remember, even if you marry Nan Zhu Di in the future, you must never give up control over the finances. That way, even if you can’t get a divorce due to some disgusting, melodramatic reasons, you can still afford to keep a young lover on the side. Got it?”

“Why would I marry him?”

Ruan Yubai mused in a tone she thought was meaningful but others found baffling: “Don’t be tsundere. I get it. If you tell the truth, maybe I won’t be your love rival in the future.”

In Ruan Yubai’s view, the script of a melodramatic novel was something like fate. She herself might not escape the bloody end of a cannon-fodder female supporting character, so how could she have the confidence to persuade the female lead to break free from the novel’s plot?

The female lead and male lead ending up together seemed as natural as the laws of heaven.

Sometimes, tormented by self-doubt, Ruan Yubai couldn’t help but wonder: if she had never read that novel and just followed the original storyline, would she be suffering as much as she is now?

But then she found it strange given her personality, she didn’t seem like someone who would act out the plot of that melodramatic novel no matter what.

Could it be that love really transforms people into completely unrecognizable creatures?

Ruan Yubai pondered as she gazed at the beautiful woman in the novel, the one the female supporting character loved but could never have. Her hair was silky smooth, her skin flawless, and even without any expression, she was breathtakingly stunning. When she smiled faintly, her beauty became even more astonishing, enough to bewitch the heart.

Even she…

Ruan Yubai shuddered, unable to believe the terrifying thought that had just crossed her mind. She tapped the rough ceramic stone beside her, producing a crisp clang.

Such a sound naturally did not escape the notice of the two people conversing across from her. Before Ruan Yubai’s mother could intervene, a man in a black suit strode over. His features were sharp and profound, strikingly handsome, yet carrying a hint of indifference. “Who is it?” he asked.

This was a situation she had caused herself, and she had to take responsibility for it. Fortunately, the photos were almost all taken by now.

At this thought, Ruan Yubai stuffed the camera into Qing Ling’s hands, cast one last reluctant glance at it, and prepared to rise with righteous indignation, ready to unleash a furious tirade.

But before she could even shift her sore and weary legs, a cool hand grasped hers. In the next moment, she saw the female lead stand up gracefully, showing no trace of the embarrassment one might expect from someone caught in such a situation.

Qing Ling’s peripheral gaze subtly caught the man’s hand forming a blade-like shape, the tip of which had already ignited with a faint, venomous flame.

She offered a polite smile, as if completely unaware of his momentarily frozen posture, and spoke calmly, “Father, were you looking for me?”

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