Strategy to Tame My Dimwitted Older Sister A - Chapter 35

Chu Nanqiao glared at Ruan Manxiang a few more times before shifting her gaze away.

Xu Qing, who had been holding her, finally let go and examined her with concern. “Sweetheart, you’ve lost weight. Have you not been eating properly at school? Tell me what you’d like to eat, and I’ll have someone prepare it for you right away.”

Some people were naturally lean no matter how much they ate, and Chu Nanqiao was one of them.

Even if she had a big appetite, as a dance major, she had to maintain a slender figure at all times, it was the most basic discipline for a dancer.

“N-no, Mommy, I already ate before coming home.”

Xu Qing was surprised.

Usually, whenever it was time to return home, Chu Nanqiao would wait to eat until she got back, even if she was starving. At most, she’d nibble on some crackers to hold herself over. For her to have eaten so early today something must be up.

Xu Qing asked, “You ate? Sweetheart, did you go alone?”

Chu Nanqiao shook her head. “I went with a friend.”

Xu Qing didn’t press further. Instead, she gently smoothed the stray hairs on Chu Nanqiao’s forehead and said softly, “Then you stay and chat with her. Mommy will go wash some fruit for you. My poor baby, you must be exhausted.”

With that, Xu Qing smiled and turned toward the kitchen.

Chu Nanqiao didn’t want to share the same space with Ruan Manxiang. She wanted to leave, but this was her home, if anyone should leave, it should be Ruan Manxiang!

“Qiaoqiao, isn’t it tiring to stand like that?” Ruan Manxiang suddenly asked, patting the spot beside her on the sofa, signaling for Chu Nanqiao to sit.

Chu Nanqiao clutched the hem of her skirt, hesitating.

Uncle Chen, noticing her discomfort, whispered, “Miss, I’m here. Just be yourself.”

Chu Nanqiao wasn’t afraid of Ruan Manxiang, she was afraid of the instinct she couldn’t defy, as if no matter how hard she struggled, she would still end up crushed underfoot.

She couldn’t hide under her parents’ wings forever, nor could she always have bodyguards by her side. What would she do if, one day, she were truly alone?

The mere thought of it made Chu Nanqiao shudder.

“Qiaoqiao, am I really that scary?” Ruan Manxiang leaned forward slightly, but her eyes held no warmth.

The more Chu Nanqiao looked at her, the more she despised her. After sitting down on the opposite sofa, she retorted defiantly, “Y-you’re not scary… just… especially… annoying!”

Rather than getting angry, Ruan Manxiang smirked. “Why is that? Because I confessed to you last time? But others have done the same, and you didn’t react this way. Why is it only me you hate?”

Chu Nanqiao cursed her inwardly.

How could Ruan Manxiang not know exactly why she was so detestable?

And yet she still had the nerve to play innocent!

Compared to her, Bai Xia might be a bit slow and not the sharpest tool in the shed, but she had always treated Chu Nanqiao with genuine kindness.

If Bai Xia hadn’t stepped in that night, Chu Nanqiao might have been marked by those alphas.

Though the whole mess had been her own fault and she would’ve had no one to blame if something had happened Bai Xia had still chosen to take her home, even giving her own coat to keep her warm…

The coat!

Chu Nanqiao suddenly remembered something and looked up. “U-Uncle Chen… that coat from that night… where did you put it? I-I need to return it… at the banquet.”

★

Uncle Chen bowed slightly. “Miss, the coat has been cleaned and carefully packed. I’ll fetch it for you right away.”

Chu Nanqiao’s mood brightened considerably, and she couldn’t help but smile.

This scene did not sit well with Ruan Manxiang. Her entire expression darkened, but in order to maintain a good impression with the Chu family, she forced herself to keep the same smile as before.

“A coat? What kind of coat could be so precious to Qiaoqiao?”

Chu Nanqiao happened to be brimming with unspoken grievances. Since Ruan Manxiang had no shame, she saw no need to spare her any face for the sake of their families’ relations.

With a smile, she said, “Ch-Ch-Uncle Chen, y-you tell her.”

Uncle Chen immediately understood Chu Nanqiao’s intention and nodded before addressing Ruan Manxiang, “Miss Ruan, here’s what happened. Last month, the young mistress had a disagreement with the master and ran away from home. She went to a bar alone, intending to drown her sorrows in alcohol. However, a group of reckless alphas tried to take advantage of her. Just when she was helpless, a righteous alpha stepped forward and rescued her, even personally escorting her home afterward.”

“It was pouring rain at the time, and the young mistress was dressed lightly. The kind-hearted alpha draped his coat over her shoulders. But because of her busy studies, the young mistress forgot about this incident until now.”

Ruan Manxiang’s hands clenched involuntarily, her expression gradually darkening. “If that’s the case, then that alpha truly is a good person. But Qiaoqiao, how can you be sure that he wasn’t one of those alphas from the bar who wanted to take advantage of you?”

Chu Nanqiao had anticipated Ruan Manxiang’s skepticism and immediately retorted, “I-I just know!”

Bai Xia was so dense, she had made her feelings so obvious, yet he hadn’t reacted at all. If Bai Xia were acquainted with those disgusting alphas at the bar, she’d sooner believe a sow could climb a tree!

Ruan Manxiang’s eye twitched slightly before she continued, “Qiaoqiao, not all bad people in this world can be recognized at first glance. Many of them are skilled at disguising themselves, appearing exactly as you’d want them to. I’m not trying to paint that alpha in a bad light, but you’re too kind and naive, Qiaoqiao. It’s easy for you to fall for their tricks.”

This was the funniest joke Chu Nanqiao had ever heard.

Bai Xia, disguising himself?

Who could be more deceptive than Ruan Manxiang herself?

To have the audacity to accuse others when she was no better, utterly shameless.

This was the first time she had encountered such a brazen alpha.

Other sycophantic alphas at least had some self-awareness, knowing they weren’t good people and not pretending otherwise. But Ruan Manxiang was a thief crying “Stop thief!”

Ugh!

Chu Nanqiao mentally spat a mouthful of disdain at Ruan Manxiang before saying, “She’s a g-good person, n-not at all like w-what you s-said. D-don’t use y-your own m-mind to m-misjudge her. I-I’ll be v-very angry!”

Ruan Manxiang raised both hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, my mistake. Don’t be angry, Qiaoqiao. Since you’re so convinced he’s a good person, I have a few questions for you.”

“W-what do y-you want to a-ask?”

“First, I want to know under normal circumstances, if a regular person temporarily lends their coat to someone else, they would naturally ask for it back afterward. So why didn’t she?”

“That’s because,”

“Second, Qiaoqiao, you just told Aunt Xu that you came back after having a meal, and you were so happy about it. I assume the friend you had dinner with was the same alpha who brought you home after her heroic act? Could the world really be so coincidental?”

If it were anyone else, Chu Nanqiao might have been suspicious long ago, the world doesn’t work with such coincidences. It all seemed deliberate. But that person was Bai Xia, that clueless alpha who was so dense that even when Chu Nanqiao’s feelings were practically written on her face, she still didn’t notice a thing. All she did was spout nonsense that made Chu Nanqiao furious, stepping on every single one of her landmines. She was absolutely infuriating!

Seeing Chu Nanqiao lower her head in silence, Ruan Manxiang thought she had found a weak point and pressed on, “See, Qiaoqiao? Even you think what I’m saying makes sense, so,”

Before she could finish, Chu Nanqiao cut her off, retorting fiercely, “I don’t think what you’re saying is right at all! Everything you’ve said is completely wrong! She’s good nothing like the scheming person you’re making her out to be. She’s, the dumbest alpha I’ve ever met!”

Ruan Manxiang froze. Just as she had suspected, Chu Nanqiao was currently dating that alpha. And judging by the situation, that alpha had completely won Chu Nanqiao’s heart at the very least, she had never seen Chu Nanqiao care so much about any alpha before, even going so far as to wash their clothes and carefully pack them to return.

Had she been too late?

No. Not yet.

As long as that alpha hadn’t married Chu Nanqiao, hadn’t marked her, then there was still a chance.

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