Ch 43: After My Mother Returned to the Rich Family

For several days, Ren Qingqing hadn’t stirred up any trouble, leaving Ruan Cha in high spirits. She even took the time to study the mysterious white virtual panel further. To Ruan Cha, the panel resembled a question bank directly connected to the system.

After successfully defending the “gate,” the panel underwent noticeable changes.

Aside from the three buttons at the top—Total Points, Library Entry, and System Store Entry—the central area occasionally refreshed with new tasks. These tasks mostly leaned toward arts and experimental fields, likely influenced by Xu Nan’s strength in biology and chemistry lab experiments. As a result, most tasks offered were related to physics experiments.

Ruan Cha muttered under her breath, “Truly shameless.”

“Huh? What did you say, Cha Cha?” Xu Nan, who was observing peanut cotyledons under a microscope, hadn’t caught her words and looked up curiously.

Ruan Cha glanced at the unsuspecting Xu Nan, pressed her lips together, and shook her head. “Just thinking about a particularly nasty villain from a TV drama. Couldn’t help cursing.”

The ‘Ruan Cha’ in the book had been just as oblivious as Xu Nan—having her beauty and intelligence points drained away without her knowledge, eventually meeting an inexplicably tragic end.

Ruan Cha added another tally to her daily mental curses against the dog-like system and Ren Qingqing.

After answering, Ruan Cha quickly shifted the topic. “Nan Nan, are you free next Saturday? My grandpa’s hosting a banquet in the evening, and he asked me to invite some close friends.”

“I’m free,” Xu Nan replied in her usual soft and gentle tone, her voice so sweet it could melt hearts. “Plus, Friday’s the parent-teacher conference. My mom took two days off from the research institute, so we can go together.”

Xu Nan understood the banquet’s significance and thought it was a good opportunity to introduce her first close friend to her mother.

“Great, I’ll wait for you then!”

Ruan Cha then smoothly segued into her agenda for using Xu Nan’s lab today. “Nan Nan, it’s great that the lab is well-equipped for chemistry and biology, but we need to develop evenly. I’ve asked my grandpa to get some physics experiment equipment for us. Next time, could we have someone bring it over? It’ll only take up one table.”

She made a circular gesture the size of a table with her hands. “Just one table, I promise.”

Xu Nan blushed, sensing that Ruan Cha was being considerate of her. She nodded shyly. “Of course. I’m not great at physics anyway, and with the equipment here, it’ll be easier for me to ask you for help.”

Hearing that, Ruan Cha beamed and gave Xu Nan a quick hug. “Alright, let’s work hard together and aim to tie for first place in the finals!”

As for the arts-related tasks, she’d have to find another time to drag Xu Nan along for those lessons.

Xu Nan wanted to say that aiming for first place felt too ambitious for her. However, seeing Ruan Cha’s earnest and trusting gaze, she couldn’t bring herself to dampen her friend’s enthusiasm and simply nodded in agreement.

It seemed like she’d have to start diversifying her focus and not spend most of her time on chemistry and biology experiments. She didn’t want to disappoint Cha Cha.

That entire afternoon, Ruan Cha guided Xu Nan through experiments with clear purpose.

The two were naturally bright, and after completing three or four experiments, the system’s question bank had already escalated the difficulty of the remaining biology- and chemistry-related tasks.

As they were leaving the lab, Ruan Cha saw how Xu Nan had fully mastered the experiments and exhaled deeply in relief. Feeling a sudden impulse, she messaged Fu Chen about their productive afternoon of learning.

[Ruan Cha]: Fu Chen, I think I finally understand your noble spirit of inspiring the entire class to embrace learning. Truly admirable.

Fu Chen, having just finished an evening social event with his father, read the notifications that popped up on his phone. His lips quirked up in a smile but quickly pressed back into a neutral line.

He’d never intended to lead the class into diligent study. If he had any ambitions at all, they revolved solely around Ruan Cha.

But that wasn’t something he could explain—or even admit to her.

After a long pause, Fu Chen typed a reply.

[Fu Chen]: Does your study group have room for one more?

Ruan Cha, walking home as she read the message: “……”

For a moment, Ruan Cha felt a sudden pang of guilt, like she had done something wrong.

It felt like she had used Fu Chen to secure first place in the grade, and then, without a second thought, metaphorically kicked him to the curb.

She reread Fu Chen’s message carefully, over and over, trying to detect any hint of annoyance, but found nothing. Finally, she replied, “We’re short-handed, especially without someone like you, a true academic god.”

With Fu Chen, who excelled across all subjects, joining the group, Xu Nan would undoubtedly master her subjects even faster and better! That would leave Ruan Cha free to enjoy some much-needed time as a carefree slacker.

Holding her phone, Ruan Cha smiled blissfully, dreaming of her ideal lazy days. Truly, the life of a salted fish was too perfect to resist.

The driver glanced up and caught sight of Ruan Cha’s beaming face in the rearview mirror, her phone in hand, and his heart sank.

It’s over, it’s over. Cha Cha’s been influenced by Cunjin and is starting to fall into early puppy love!

Unaware of the driver’s inner turmoil, Ruan Cha clenched her fist in delight when she received Fu Chen’s reply. He agreed to join the group! Her dream of being a slacker was closer than ever!

The driver: …

Confirmed. It’s exactly like when Liang Cunjin was in middle school.

This can’t go on. He resolved to report this to Old Master Liang as soon as they got home. They needed to figure out which brat was distracting Cha Cha from her studies!

That afternoon had been exceptionally productive, leaving Ruan Cha in an excellent mood. She hopped out of the car, school bag slung over her shoulder, her steps light and carefree. But the moment she stepped into the house, she immediately noticed the heavy atmosphere in the living room.

Sneaking a glance at Grandpa Liang’s stern face, she ran to her parents, gently poking Wei Jiao’s shoulder and whispering, “Mom, what’s wrong? Did something happen with Grandpa’s company?”

“No, the company’s fine,” Wei Jiao replied. Even her usually carefree demeanor was subdued, and she lightly pinched Ruan Cha’s cheek. “Cha Cha, your face is precious, remember that.”

They had already gone over everything before Ruan Cha got home and were barely managing to keep their tempers in check.

Hearing that the company was fine, Ruan Cha felt a slight sense of relief. Ever since learning about her family’s future in the book, she had been on edge, worried that events from the story would unfold in real life. If the company ever truly faced trouble, no one in her family had the management skills to turn things around.

The best she could do would be to tidy up a clean courtyard in their small town and let everyone stay there.

But then she recalled the second part of her mother’s comment. Quickly waving her hands, she reassured her, “Don’t worry! That moisturizer Mengyu gave me—I didn’t even recognize the brand, so I never used it. I was planning to use it as hand cream.”

Her words broke the tense silence in the living room like a pin popping a balloon.

Grandpa Liang’s brows shot up, and he banged his cane on the floor several times in anger, his face flushed with fury. “Not even for your hands! Cha Cha, toss it out immediately! Don’t let it sit around and annoy me. Your second aunt—what a disgrace! Pushing junk skincare products for clout on a variety show and then sending Mengyu to give it to you. Such malicious intentions!”

Ruan Cha froze at Grandpa Liang’s outburst, suddenly remembering a comment from the show’s livestream. Someone mentioned that the moisturizer Mengyu had given her had caused severe skin issues for some customers. At the time, she had been relieved she hadn’t used it and hadn’t thought much more about it.

Looking over at Liang Cunjin, she could tell by his icy, frosty demeanor that he had already uncovered something.

A few minutes later, under the embellished explanations from her parents, Ruan Cha pieced together the full story.

Liang Qianling had deliberately arranged for Song Mengyu to showcase a skincare product with a history of causing skin issues during the Dear Life variety show. The intent was to quietly advertise the product and suppress past negative news.

Although the formula had been updated, none of the previous batches were recalled or publicly addressed. Over time, more people fell victim, and the issue began to escalate.

Currently, the news was spreading, though it hadn’t reached the trending topics yet. However, it was clear the Song family wouldn’t be able to contain it much longer.

Once the scandal exploded, it would inevitably implicate Liang Cunjin.

Fortunately, on the night of the show’s premiere, Liang Cunjin had already looked into the matter and swiftly acted. By the next day, he ensured the product’s logo was blurred out on the show and even inserted a disclaimer to warn viewers against using random skincare products.

Liang Cunjin initially thought he had resolved the issue. What he didn’t anticipate was that the Song family continued selling the problematic products. Nor did he expect the matter to reach Grandpa Liang’s ears once it blew up.

After explaining everything, Ruan Zhengfei gently tapped Ruan Tea on the head, speaking earnestly: “Cha Cha, your grandpa didn’t want you to hear about this. He thought it was too complex and that adults should handle it.”

“But your mom and I disagreed. Our family of three has always discussed everything openly, solving problems together without keeping secrets. That’s how it’s always been, and how it always will be, right?”

It didn’t take much for Ruan Cha to catch her father’s underlying meaning—he likely wanted to ask why she had been so diligent with her studies recently. But there were things she couldn’t explain, even if she wanted to.

She smiled and curved her lips, pretending not to understand.

Father and Mother Ruan: “…”

Our daughter has learned to play dumb.

Tang Hua, typically mild-mannered, couldn’t suppress her anger now that Liang Qianling had schemed against her son. “Dad, Zongqi, I just don’t get it. Qianling grew up in the Liang family. I can understand her supporting her husband’s family, but why does she keep undermining her own family to do so?”

“Did Qianling not think about how this would ruin Cunjin’s reputation? If the Liang family is accused of deceiving the public, won’t it impact the company?”

It was the first time Grandpa Liang had seen his daughter-in-law so upset, and even he looked a bit flustered. “It’s true that Qianling was a bit spoiled growing up, but we thought it was just a small flaw. Who would’ve thought that after marrying that scoundrel from the Song family, she’d grow more unreasonable? Every time she comes home, she stirs up trouble, as if she wants to offer the entire Liang family to the Song family on a silver platter.”

He finished speaking and clutched at his chest, clearly agitated.

Sitting between her parents, Ruan Cha frowned at Grandpa Liang’s words. “Grandpa, yesterday I was reading a book about a brilliant hypnotist…”

She briefly explained the book’s premise before adding, “Do you think there’s any chance Second Aunt was hypnotized by someone from the Song family? Maybe deep down, she sees the Song family as her true family and us as outsiders. Otherwise, how could she be so heartless as to harm her own family?”

Of course, there were people who would harm their maternal family to benefit their in-laws. But Ruan Cha couldn’t help but recall that mysterious figure, Yu Zheng, from the book.

In the story, Yu Zheng was introduced to Liang Qianling, and the Liang family’s investigation confirmed that he held significant authority in the field of psychology.

Since Liang Qianling had connections to Yu Zheng, wasn’t it possible her guess might be correct?

Her words plunged the room into a heavy silence.

After all, no one had considered hypnosis as a factor. But then again—was hypnosis really that powerful?