The Abused Heroine Stops Pretending [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 87.2

By around nine o’clock, everyone began to head home to watch the Spring Festival Gala and stay up for the New Year’s countdown.

As the house quieted down, Tang Jing picked up a notebook, wrote something inside, and handed it to Xiaoyu.

By now, Xiaoyu had learned many characters. To help her practice, Tang Jing often communicated with her through writing.

Tang Jing wrote: Did something happen earlier when we were setting off fireworks?

Chi Yu took the pen and wrote beneath Tang Jing’s words: *I thought of my parents. In the village, people still referred to their parents as “father and mother.”

Tang Jing knew about Chi Yu’s parents. The thought of such a young girl losing both her parents, and later her grandmother, leaving her all alone, weighed heavily on her heart.

Every New Year, while other families gathered in joyous reunion, she had been by herself.

Tang Jing still felt a pang of sorrow whenever she remembered visiting Chi Yu’s home in her current identity seeing the little girl sitting on the doorstep, hugging her knees, her expression so desolate.

“It’s alright. From now on, you have me and Grandma. We’ll spend every New Year together,” Tang Jing said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Chi Yu let out a soft “Mm,” resting her head on her shoulder.

Granny Qin couldn’t stay up late and went to bed early, but before sleeping, she gave them both red envelopes. “Wishing you both good health in the new year.”

Tang Jing also took out red envelopes, giving one each to Granny and Xiao Yu. “Wishing Granny and Xiao Yu health and happiness in the new year.”

Chi Yu held two red envelopes in her hands, feeling a little at a loss.

Noticing her hesitation, Tang Jing smiled and gently tapped her nose. “Our Xiao Yu doesn’t need to rush to give red envelopes. You can give them when you start earning money in the future.”

Chi Yu nodded.

On the first day of the new year, every household came to pay New Year’s visits. Tang Jing had bought a lot of candies, waiting for Er Niu and the others to come by so she could hand them out.

All morning, everyone was hopping from house to house to offer New Year’s greetings. When passing by Gu Sihuan’s home, they happened to hear Uncle Gu mention that his daughter Sisi would be returning that afternoon.

Tang Jing’s smile faltered for a moment before she nodded. “Then I’ll come by later to play with her.”

Chi Yu, gripping the hem of her clothes, didn’t miss the change in Nan Jiejie’s expression.

After leaving the Gu household, Tang Jing comfortingly squeezed her hand. “It’s nothing.”

In the afternoon, Gu Sihuan made a grand return, dressed in a stylish wool coat and carrying New Year’s goods, followed by a bespectacled, refined-looking man. He was someone she had met at the factory five years older than her and the workshop supervisor.

After she started working at the electronics factory, the man had begun pursuing her, and before long, she had fallen for him.

For the New Year, she wanted to bring him home in a show of pride, to flaunt him in front of her parents and the whole village, so she coaxed him into coming back with her.

“Dad! Mom!” Gu Sihuan called out from a distance.

The villagers turned to look, at first not recognizing her. It wasn’t until she got closer that they dared to confirm it was her.

After all, since moving to the big city, Gu Sihuan had learned how to dress up. Her clothes were fashionable, her face was made up, and she looked just like a celebrity on TV.

“Sisi’s back! You’ve grown so beautiful Auntie almost didn’t recognize you.”

“Happy New Year, Third Aunt.” Gu Sihuan pulled candies from her pocket and handed them to her.

Third Aunt accepted them with a chuckle. “Good, good.” As she spoke, her gaze drifted to the man behind Gu Sihuan, and she hesitantly asked, “And this is…?”

Though it was obvious to everyone what the man’s relationship with Gu Sihuan was, she still asked.

Gu Sihuan linked arms with her boyfriend, beaming with joy. “This is my boyfriend, Zhao Wenhao. We work at the same factory. He’s our workshop supervisor.”

“Ah, a workshop supervisor! That’s practically an official position!”

The aunts and uncles were astonished. After all, being a leader in any workplace, big or small, meant holding a position of authority. They hadn’t expected Sisi to go out and come back with an official as her boyfriend.

Seeing their reactions, Gu Sihuan’s vanity was satisfied. She tugged at Zhao Wenhao’s arm. “Wen-ge, let’s go. I’ll introduce you to my parents.”

Zhao Wenhao smiled and nodded. “Alright.” Before leaving, he politely acknowledged the aunts and uncles with a slight bow.

“Sisi’s boyfriend is quite well-mannered.”

“And so handsome just like those refined scholars in the operas.”

“Sisi’s really something, landing such a good boyfriend.”

“Remember when people used to say Nan Shu liked Sisi? Look at her now, she’s got a boyfriend. That pervert was never in the picture.”

“Oh dear, why bring that up all of a sudden? Don’t let anyone hear.”

As Tang Jing approached with Chi Yu, she overheard her uncle and aunt chatting and asked curiously, “Auntie, what are you talking about?”

“Ah, it’s Nanshu!” The uncle and aunt, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of the very subject of their conversation, quickly changed the topic. “Nanshu, Sisi just came back. Don’t you want to go see her? It’s been half a year since you last met. Oh my, you wouldn’t believe how much she’s changed, she even brought a boyfriend with her.”

Aunt Liu beside her nudged her elbow, signaling her not to stir up unnecessary trouble.

Aunt Liu smiled and said, “Nanshu, we’ve got things to do at home, so we’ll be off now.”

“Alright,” Tang Jing nodded.

Truth be told, she had already spotted Gu Sihuan from a distance, though the other girl hadn’t noticed her.

“Want to go see her together?” Tang Jing asked.

Chi Yu nodded and took her hand.

The two walked toward Gu Sihuan’s house, passing other villagers along the way who had also heard about Gu Sihuan’s return with a boyfriend in tow and were eager to take a look.

The group chatted and laughed as they approached the courtyard gate, where they could already hear Aunt Gu’s delighted laughter.

This made a few aunties who had always disliked her purse their lips and mutter under their breaths, “Look at how smug she is.”

“Uncle, Auntie, happy New Year! Come on in, everyone, have a seat.” Gu Sihuan quickly noticed the crowd outside her courtyard and hurried out to greet them. Then she spotted Tang Jing and the little mute beside her.

Half a year had passed, and she had changed a lot, but Tang Jing and the little mute had changed even more, especially the little mute.

Back when she left, the girl had been skinny and scrawny, but now her face had filled out, her skin had grown fairer, and those big, round eyes were particularly striking. Gu Sihuan felt a pang of jealousy, but then she remembered how successful she was now both in career and love and her pride returned. “Nanshu, Xiao… Yu, you came too! Come on in and sit.”

Her boyfriend was here now, so she couldn’t keep calling her “little mute.”

“I heard from Auntie that you were back, so I brought Xiaoyu to see you,” Tang Jing said, glancing at the man standing not far behind Gu Sihuan. With his glasses, he looked refined and scholarly, no one would guess he was a scumbag who played with girls’ hearts.

But then again, Gu Sihuan wasn’t much better herself. If the two of them stayed together, they’d be a perfect match.

Gu Sihuan naturally noticed Tang Jing’s gaze and felt a flicker of awkwardness, but she quickly recovered and introduced him eagerly. “This is my boyfriend, Zhao Wenhao. We met at the factory.”

Tang Jing noticed that when Zhao Wenhao looked over, there was something off about his expression especially when his eyes landed on Xiaoyu. His gaze was downright disgusting. Without drawing attention, Tang Jing subtly stepped in front of Chi Yu.

No one else noticed the move, but Gu Sihuan did. She didn’t think much of it, though, assuming Tang Jing was just being paranoid as if her Wen-ge would ever be interested in someone like Xiaoyu. As if that little mute was even worthy. The thought nearly made her roll her eyes.

With so many people around, she kept up her cheerful hospitality and didn’t let her pettiness show.

“Nanshu, bring Xiaoyu in and sit for a while,” Gu Sihuan said warmly.

“No need.” Just moments ago, the system had notified her that the main quest had reached 50% completion, which meant she no longer needed to keep up this charade with Gu Sihuan. “We have other matters to attend to, so we’ll be leaving now.”

Gu Sihuan was a bit displeased, feeling that she wasn’t being given face, and couldn’t help but resort to the petty tantrums she used to throw with her. “Qin Nanshu, it’s only been half a year since we last saw each other, and you’re already this distant with me? If another half year passes, will you stop acknowledging me as a friend altogether?”

Tang Jing stopped in her tracks, turned around, and said, “If that’s really what you think, then sure, why not?”

After all, in the original story, after the other girl was dumped by a scumbag, she came back pregnant, was forced by her family to marry someone she didn’t want to, and in the end, not only did she take her own life, but she also framed Tang Jing in the process.

Tang Jing said, “Gu Sihuan, I’ve always treated you well. I just hope that from now on, we go our separate ways.” I won’t cling to you anymore, and you shouldn’t try to pin anything on me either.

The original owner had one good trait, she stopped associating with Gu Sihuan after learning she had a boyfriend and never reproached her for breaking the promise, they made under the tree all those years ago.

After all, people grow up, and childhood vows are often left behind in the river of time, only to be occasionally dredged up for a moment of wistful reflection.

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