Can’t Trash-Talk You to Death, So I’ll Kiss You to Death - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

The Heiress cried bitterly, her sobs echoing through the room. As the youngest artist present, she drew the sympathy of many mothers who rushed over to comfort her, telling her not to be sad.

Wu Heyue patted her back, first offering gentle comfort before saying, “Oh, Duoduo, your sister isn’t what you think she is. She was just hoping you’d wait a moment; she was going to come over and apologize to you soon.”

“I always thought my sister was the best sister in the world,” the Heiress choked out between gasps for air. “But she’s not what I imagined at all… I’m so heartbroken.”

Wu Heyue paused, and then she too burst into tears. Her tears fell like pearls from a broken string. “I know, it’s you who has been wronged. It hasn’t been easy for the two of us… it’s just that I met your father a little late… and so we have to carry this reputation for a lifetime. It’s Mommy’s fault.”

Yun Duoduo finally understood. What “Shi Qingzi fan”? What “chatting about music”? It was all a scripted act. They were using this variety show to whitewash their history, framing themselves as the “struggling” victims rather than the mistress and illegitimate daughter who destroyed a family. It was incredibly calculating.

Duoduo could already envision the final edit: soft filters, sentimental background music, and a successful “redemption” arc for the pair.

She glanced at Li Qinglian. Although her mother remained calm and seemingly unfazed, no woman could easily accept a mistress crying about how “hard” her life was right in her face. After having her husband and her assets stolen, she now had to watch this performance where the true victims were painted as the villains.

You want to apologize? You want to act? Fine.

Duoduo grabbed a wine bottle and marched over. Ji Zhen, seeing the look on her face and fearing she was about to smash it over someone’s head, quickly reached out to stop her. Duoduo shook her head, signaling she wouldn’t be impulsive.

She stood before Wu Heyue, popped the cap, and said with reddened eyes: “I regret it so much. I regret voting ‘yes’ when my parents divorced, forcing you and the Heiress to carry the labels of mistress and illegitimate child. It’s all my fault. I should have held my mom back and never let her divorce my dad. That way, you two wouldn’t have suffered, wouldn’t be sad, and wouldn’t be scolded. I’m sorry!”

Then, she tilted her head back and downed half the bottle in one go. Wiping her mouth, she continued: “Also, back during the finals of that singing competition, I should have withdrawn immediately. That way, I wouldn’t have competed against the Heiress who was parachuted in at the last minute. She wouldn’t have fainted before singing a single note, and she wouldn’t be ‘unable to sing’ ever again!”

With that, she finished the bottle. Duoduo took a deep breath and looked at the silent Li Qinglian. “Mom, I’m drunk. My head is spinning. Let’s go back.”

“Okay,” Li Qinglian replied. She hadn’t said much, but everyone could feel her sorrow. A woman who lost her husband and gave up a life of luxury for her child, only to watch a mistress turn the tables and bully her daughter—her quiet strength spoke volumes.

As the mother and daughter walked away hand-in-hand, Mother Ji couldn’t help but sigh. “A mother’s heart is truly something else. Duoduo’s mom has had a hard time raising her alone all these years. Duoduo is a good kid.”

Mother Ji spoke from experience, having raised Ji Zhen alone after his father passed away early. The other mothers stopped offering comfort to Wu Heyue. Duoduo’s sarcasm had hit home; they realized how twisted the situation actually was.

…

After walking a distance, Duoduo turned to the director following them. “You guys go eat. Stop filming for now; it’s too much negative energy.”

The director had enough footage and was considerate of their feelings. “Alright. Let us know if you need anything.”

Duoduo squeezed Li Qinglian’s hand tightly. “Mom, don’t take what they said to heart.”

“I’m fine. It’s been twenty years since the divorce; I don’t care about that. I’m just worried they’ll hold a grudge against you,” Li Qinglian said.

“Let them. People aren’t stupid. They’ll see who’s right and who’s wrong.”

Back at their house, Duoduo felt the buzz from the alcohol and sat down. Li Qinglian went to make some rice water to help her sober up. Duoduo checked her phone; several people had messaged her.

Ji Zhen wrote: “I know you were wronged, but this is a variety show. Who knows how they’ll edit the sequence of the argument?”

Duoduo realized she might have been too impulsive. If Wu Heyue paid the crew to edit her sarcasm before the Heiress’s tears, she would be crucified online. She replied: “Thanks, Brother Ji. I was too impulsive.”

Ji Zhen replied quickly: “It’s fine. Just endure it if you can next time, or just avoid her. I’m on your side.”

She was moved. Meeting someone like Ji Zhen who was willing to take her side on the first day was rare.

Even Shi Qingzi messaged her: “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect things to turn out like that.” “It’s fine, I’m okay now. Make sure you eat enough,” she replied. She didn’t blame him; he was new to this too.

Finally, she scrolled to Huai Jian’s avatar. There was no reply to her earlier messages. “Sister, what are you doing?” “Sister, have you eaten?” “Sister, look at this emoji, isn’t it cute (⁠｡⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠｡⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠♡!”

Finally, a reply came: “Cute.”

Duoduo’s mood instantly soared. She replied: “No matter how cute the emoji is, it’s not as cute as you! Heehee!”

She threw out a “cheesy pick-up line,” expecting the other woman to be flustered. Instead, Huai Jian replied: “The emoji is only cute because you’re the one using it.”

“Oh my god!” Duoduo’s breath hitched. “Mom! Mom, look at this!”

Li Qinglian placed the rice water and some fresh scallion pancakes on the table. “What? Did your ‘Sister Anna’ reply again?”

“Mom, you know me too well! Yes! My lady replied! I’m so happy!” Duoduo sat at the table. “She said I’m cute! Mom, tell me the truth, am I cute?”

Li Qinglian handed her chopsticks. “She already said it, what do you need me for?”

“I want you to say it too!” Duoduo snapped a photo of the simple meal and sent it to Huai Jian. “Look, Sister! Doesn’t it look delicious? My mom made it~”

The photo of the plain rice water and pancakes—taken without any filters—looked ordinary, but to Huai Jian, who had just returned home from a long day of work, it radiated warmth. When her housekeeper asked what she wanted for dinner, she said, “Rice water and scallion pancakes, please.”

While the housekeeper went to the kitchen in surprise, Huai Jian messaged Duoduo: “Was the filming not going well today?”

Surprised that Huai Jian sensed her mood, Duoduo typed: “To be honest, not well at all.”

“What happened?” Huai Jian asked, leaning her head on her hand.

Duoduo rarely showed weakness, but she couldn’t help but vent to Huai Jian. “You know I have a half-sister, right? She’s on the show too. She spent the whole time crying for the cameras, saying I bullied her. I… I couldn’t control myself.”

Even across the distance, Huai Jian could practically see the girl pouting. She smiled softly and typed: “How did you lose control? Did you fight?”

“Sort of. I used sarcasm on them. They’re mistresses acting like they own the place. Everything they have is just my mom’s leftovers!” Duoduo hit send and then immediately panicked. What if she thinks I’m mean? She hovered over the “unsend” button for two minutes, agonizing.

Meanwhile, Huai Jian had opened her laptop. She didn’t know much about the Yun family and decided to do a quick investigation.

Duoduo sent more messages, her tone nervous: “Sister, are you still there?” “Did you go to eat?” “Actually… I don’t usually say bad things about people.”

A few minutes later, Huai Jian picked up her phone and felt a playful urge to tease the girl. “What are you usually like then?”

Not knowing Huai Jian’s tone, Duoduo asked: “Should I be honest?” “Yes.”

Duoduo took a big bite of a pancake and typed furiously: “I am a super gentle, super cute, super considerate, super humorous, super interesting, and super, SUPER kind of girl!”

Huai Jian laughed softly. The exhaustion of the day vanished. Duoduo really did have a magical way of making her feel better. “So you’re that good?”

Duoduo felt a bit shy but replied cheekily: “Exactly! Does Sister want to buy one and take her home?”

Huai Jian almost typed “Yes.” She caught herself just in time and cleared the text. She changed the subject: “What happened with the sarcasm?”

Duoduo felt more confident now. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. If you want to know, I’ll tell you next time we go to the movies. It’s a wild story!”

“Deal,” Huai Jian replied.

“Sister, I’m going to wash the dishes! Stay right there, don’t go away! I have more exciting stories to tell you when I get back!”

Huai Jian smiled again, finding herself looking forward to it. Duoduo was like an interesting book; every page held a new surprise.

When the housekeeper brought her meal, Huai Jian noted it looked much more professional than the photo Duoduo sent, but it tasted good. “Make this again tomorrow morning,” she said. Then she added, “I’ll wash the dishes myself. You can rest.”

The housekeeper was stunned. President Huai was usually cold and distant. “But President Huai… we have a dishwasher.”

Huai Jian paused, her smile never fading. “It’s fine. Go ahead, I’ll take care of it.”