My Wife, So Fierce! - Chapter 26

What nonsense is this child spouting?

Zheng Yao looked at her helplessly: “Reading is already a challenge, and you want to recite the entire text?”

Before Shen Baiyi could respond, Zheng Yao continued earnestly, “Don’t worry. It’s fine if you don’t recognize these characters. You don’t have to be afraid I’ll scold you.”

Shen Baiyi froze for a moment, not entirely grasping Zheng Yao’s meaning, but she nodded obediently anyway. “It’s okay if Sister scolds me.”

If Sister scolded her, it must be because she had made Sister angry. In that case, being scolded was only fair.

“…”

Zheng Yao fell silent.

Did Shen Baiyi even understand what she was saying?

Rubbing her forehead, Zheng Yao got back on track. “I won’t scold you. If you don’t recognize the characters, I can teach you.”

After all, she had time now. Taking a moment to teach Shen Baiyi to read wasn’t a big deal.

Hearing this, Shen Baiyi, who had been about to deny it, abruptly stopped herself from shaking her head. She looked up in surprise. “Sister will teach me?”

“What, you don’t trust me?” Zheng Yao raised an eyebrow.

She was an outstanding graduate of A University. Though she hadn’t been the top scorer in the college entrance exams, her grades had still been among the best.

“I do trust Sister,” Shen Baiyi quickly shook her head, suppressing an inexplicable joy as her lips curved into a smile. “I’m just so happy. I didn’t expect Sister would be willing to teach me.”

Zheng Yao scoffed. Was she really this happy over something so small?

Just teaching her to recognize a few characters, and she was already acting like she was so grateful she’d throw herself at Zheng Yao in return.

Suppressing her inner sarcasm, Zheng Yao reopened the book to the previous page and began earnestly teaching her.

Though she had no experience teaching literacy, she’d spent enough years in school to know how teachers instructed their students.

She could just follow their example.

Shen Baiyi seemed genuinely clever. After just a few repetitions, she had nearly memorized all the characters.

But the more Zheng Yao taught, the more something felt off. Keeping her guard up, she subtly glanced at Shen Baiyi and, during a quiz, deliberately pointed to a character she hadn’t taught yet. “What about this one?”

“Cuì,” Shen Baiyi answered reflexively.

The moment the word left her mouth, she realized her mistake, that was a character Zheng Yao hadn’t taught her yet.

But spoken words couldn’t be taken back. All she could do was glance cautiously at Zheng Yao, hoping she hadn’t noticed.

But Zheng Yao was clearly not someone who could be easily fooled, especially since this had been a deliberate test.

She set the book down, laughing in exasperation. “Shen Baiyi, are you messing with me?”

She already knew all these characters!

“No,” Shen Baiyi shook her head so fast it made her dizzy, but she didn’t care. She hurried to explain, “I told Sister I recognized these characters.”

Zheng Yao’s expression turned icy. “Oh, so you’re saying it’s my fault?”

It was her fault.

When she had asked Shen Baiyi earlier if she recognized the characters in the book, Shen Baiyi had indeed nodded.

She had been too presumptuous.

But setting that aside, didn’t Shen Baiyi bear any responsibility at all?

After Zheng Yao misunderstood, Shen Baiyi could have explained that she did know the characters instead of letting the misunderstanding persist and turn into a joke.

So yes, Shen Baiyi was at fault!

Zheng Yao looked genuinely angry.

“It’s all my fault.” Their relationship had just started to improve, and Shen Baiyi didn’t want her sister to dislike her again. Flustered, her face turned red as she reached out to take Zheng Yao’s hand. “Sister, hit me!”

The action was so abrupt that Zheng Yao was startled and quickly withdrew her hand, instinctively retorting, “Nonsense! When have I ever hit you?!”

This was pure slander!

“What I meant was, sister can hit me.” Shen Baiyi lowered her head as she spoke. “I made sister angry. If sister hits me, you won’t be angry anymore.”

“…”

What kind of twisted thinking was this?

Zheng Yao’s face darkened. “Who taught you that? Shen Sanguang?”

But Shen Baiyi looked utterly confused. “Who is that?”

Ah, right she’d forgotten Shen Baiyi had lost her memory.

Zheng Yao said irritably, “Your father.”

Shen Baiyi had completely forgotten everything from before, so there was no way to know who had filled her head with such toxic ideas. All Zheng Yao could do now was try to correct her thinking. “Don’t ever say things like that again.”

She had originally planned to lecture her properly when the time was right, but it was clear Shen Baiyi was still influenced by those old ideas. If she didn’t intervene now, those thoughts would only take deeper root.

She had to take advantage of the fact that Shen Baiyi was still a blank slate and try to straighten out her mindset.

She expected Shen Baiyi to ask why, but instead, the girl nodded without hesitation and said decisively, “If sister doesn’t like hearing it, then I’ll never say it again.”

As if everything Zheng Yao said was absolute truth.

“…”

Zheng Yao fell silent.

How to put it?

Shen Baiyi was like a victim fresh out of a cult completely brainwashed. Those ingrained ideas were so deep that even amnesia couldn’t erase them, still influencing her words and actions from time to time. After being gaslit for so long, she had become the kind of naive girl who would help count the money after being sold.

She believed whatever anyone told her.

“Sit properly.”

She decided it was time to give Shen Baiyi a proper lesson.

“First of all, even if you make a mistake, it doesn’t mean you should be hit or scolded to realize it. Recognizing your mistakes and correcting them is what matters most, but hitting someone is wrong. Using any excuse to justify hitting someone is wrong, no exceptions.”

At this point, Zheng Yao looked at her seriously. “Someone who truly cares about you would never want to hurt you. Understand?”

So she wouldn’t foolishly believe some abusive man loved her in the future.

Zheng Yao had seen too many cases like this and couldn’t shake the feeling that Shen Baiyi was exactly the type to fall for a gaslighting abuser.

“Understood.” After a brief pause, a sudden spark of realization lit up Shen Baiyi’s face, her entire expression becoming animated. Her eyes shone brightly, though her words remained restrained. “Sister doesn’t want to hit me.”

Zheng Yao froze, not immediately grasping her meaning. When she did, a flash of anger crossed her face. “What nonsense are you spouting?!”

How dare she imply Zheng Yao liked her?!

Impossible!

She was trying to teach her out of kindness, and this was how she repaid her by slandering her like this?!

How could she possibly like Shen Baiyi?

The only reason she hadn’t kicked her out was because of the last shred of her conscience.

“Just treat it as my rambling,” Shen Baiyi said cheerfully, feeling as if she were walking on clouds. She smoothly changed the subject, “You mentioned the first point, sister. What about the second? Tell me more, I love hearing you share these things with me.”

Zheng Yao fell silent.

Shen Baiyi was eager to learn, and now was not the time to dampen the girl’s enthusiasm for life lessons.

So, for the moment, she ignored Shen Baiyi’s earlier nonsense and continued earnestly, “Secondly, don’t feel like you have to pledge yourself to someone just because they helped you with a small favor.”

No sooner had she finished than Shen Baiyi interrupted:

“That’s not right.”

So she didn’t feel compelled to pledge herself?

Good, she knew how to argue back.

Zheng Yao looked at Shen Baiyi with encouragement in her eyes.

“Sister, you’ve helped me with so much. If I tally it all up, it’s no longer small favors,” Shen Baiyi said seriously and firmly. “They’re big favors.”

“…”

This girl was hopeless.

Zheng Yao stood up, her tone cold and detached. “Go back to your studies.”

Abandon the savior complex!

Without hesitation, she retreated to her room, slamming the door behind her. Still fuming, she shook her head to clear away the chaotic thoughts, then grabbed her tablet, deciding to watch a variety show to cool off.

Wasn’t binge-watching dramas the perfect way to enjoy such a lovely day?

Why torture herself?

Once the weather improved in a couple of days, she’d kick Shen Baiyi out. Whatever happened after that was none of her business!

–

The afternoon rain grew heavier.

The constant pitter-patter was grating on her nerves. Zheng Yao scowled out the window. She used to find rainy days romantic, but ever since her trip to that backwater village last year during the monsoon season, she’d developed a particular loathing for this kind of weather.

Gloomy and oppressive, it reminded her of the muddy mountain paths and the two large portraits hanging in the Shen family’s ancestral hall.

Feeling down, she desperately needed to cuddle Bububu and vent her frustration.

She got up and headed out, only to find Shen Baiyi sitting cross-legged at the coffee table, diligently working on her assignments, and looking up at her the moment the door opened.

Zheng Yao’s gaze froze, then drifted downward, landing on the other girl’s folded legs.

Perfect. That traitorous little furball, Bububu, was curled up on Shen Baiyi’s lap, sleeping soundly and peacefully, completely undisturbed by the noise of the door opening not even lifting its head.

“Si—”

Bang!

Zheng Yao shut the door swiftly. Out of sight, out of mind.

Bububu, that ungrateful little traitor, had already defected. She was kicking it out of the organization!

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Zheng Yao hesitated for a moment before digging up a phone number she hadn’t contacted in nearly a year.

Wang Yong’s voice carried a note of surprise. “Miss Zheng? Is that really you?”

“Who else would it be? Don’t play dumb,” Zheng Yao sneered, wasting no time in laying into him. “Uncle Wang, it’s one thing if you pity Shen Baiyi, but selling out my phone number? What kind of man does that?”

Silence fell on the other end of the line.

The accusatory tone caught Wang Yong off guard. He stammered, trying to explain, “Miss Zheng, let me clarify.”

“What, are you going to claim you didn’t give her my number?” Zheng Yao raised an eyebrow. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

She had only given her number to Wang Yong. The day they parted ways last year, Shen Baiyi had asked for her contact, but Zheng Yao refused. Yet Wang Yong had handed it over anyway.

The only person around Shen Baiyi who had her contact information was Wang Yong.

“Indeed, it’s me.” Wang Yong admitted on the other end of the line, then let out a heavy sigh. “Miss Zheng, Baiyi has suffered far too much!”

Zheng Yao’s expression remained cold. “Oh? So because she’s suffered, you think I should suffer too?”

This time, Wang Yong fell silent for a long moment.

The purpose of this call wasn’t solely to reprimand him. Zheng Yao cut straight to the point: “Which city are you in right now?”

Upon learning he happened to be in Shen Baiyi’s hometown, Zheng Yao snorted coldly. “Your chance to redeem yourself has arrived.”

After giving him instructions, she finally hung up.

With the college entrance exams approaching rapidly and Shen Baiyi still recognizing characters meaning her knowledge probably hadn’t completely faded transferring her student records needed to be done as soon as possible.

This way, Shen Baiyi wouldn’t have to return at all. Her amnesia presented the perfect opportunity to sever ties with that place, preventing the Tan family from leeching off her like bloodsucking parasites.

Considering this, Zheng Yao deliberated for a moment before contacting her high school homeroom teacher.

Her teacher, Ms. Fu, had been extremely responsible yet stern so strict that students secretly called her the “Iron Maiden” back then.

After briefly explaining Shen Baiyi’s circumstances to Ms. Fu, Zheng Yao didn’t even need to play the sympathy card. Just outlining the girl’s background was enough to move the teacher.

However, the school wasn’t solely under Ms. Fu’s authority.

“I’ll look into it for you,” Ms. Fu agreed readily before adding, “But I expect they’ll want to assess the student’s academic level. She should prepare for a placement test.”

Zheng Yao nodded. “Understood. Thank you, teacher.”

A placement test was standard procedure.

No school wanted to admit students who might drag down their college admission rates, especially this close to the exams.

Ms. Fu took the matter seriously, proactively sending several test papers for Zheng Yao to print out in advance for Shen Baiyi to practice.

Coincidentally, there was a printer at home.

Zheng Yao stood up and got straight to work.

Stepping out of her room, she found the two girls sitting on the floor, both turning to look at her simultaneously with their dark, clear eyes. Crossing her arms, Zheng Yao said coolly, “There’ll be a test later. Get ready.”

Back in the day, nothing had terrified her more than Ms. Fu suddenly walking into the classroom with a stack of test papers, announcing coldly that an exam was imminent.

Now, she finally got to experience what it felt like to be Ms. Fu.

Support