Chapter 3 Crazy Critiques of a Beauty

Clutching her head, racked with pain, Tang Chuxia opened her eyes blankly. Her gaze swept across the room, which was no longer the room from yesterday but the original owner's bedroom. The cotton-padded clothes she had been wearing had been taken off.

Feeling her body, apart from feeling sticky, there was no other discomfort.

Tang Chuxia cursed under her breath, remembering what had happened last night.

She had thought she would have a romantic encounter with Gu Beihuai, overturning the rosy waves and journeying to Wushan for an indescribable night. But who would have thought that after she said, "Are you up to it or not?" Gu Beihuai had knocked her out with a chop of his hand.

Before closing her eyes, she only heard the man's icy laughter.

Before she had time to figure out how she had returned, she heard a knock on the door.

"Xiaxia, are you awake?"

A gentle voice sounded. Tang Chuxia knew it was the original owner's mother. She responded, and the door was pushed open; Madam Tang entered holding a cotton-padded coat.

"Are you still feeling unwell?"

Madam Tang sat on the edge of the bed and raised her hand to touch Tang Chuxia's forehead. Her temperature wasn't high, and only then did she let out a sigh of relief.

Thinking about last night, Madam Tang was scared out of her wits.

Originally, it had snowed yesterday, and since Tang Chuxia was physically weak, they were reluctant to let her go out and catch a cold. But Tang Chuxia insisted on going to see a movie because Hu Mingcheng had asked her, so Tang Wanqiu went with her. Who would have thought that the younger daughter would return alone, saying the elder daughter had thrown a tantrum and not come back together.

Just when the family was about to go out and search for her, Gu Beihuai arrived, carrying Tang Chuxia into the house.

At that time, Tang Chuxia's forehead was burning hot, her cotton-padded coat soaked through, and she was unconscious, frightening the whole family.

Fortunately, Gu Beihuai told them that the daughter had fallen into an icy hole by accident, getting her coat wet and frightening her, and he had even gone to the health clinic to get medicine to reduce her fever and brought it over.

The Tang Family was busy taking care of Tang Chuxia, and no one noticed that when Gu Beihuai laid her down, he pinched the acupoint on her neck.

Hearing from Madam Tang how she had been brought back, Tang Chuxia was speechless.

She had not expected Gu Beihuai to restrain himself. She might not know about the changes in Gu Beihuai's body, but she knew her own. The effects were so potent that even her usually strong-willed self only wanted to engage in unspeakable acts with him.

At this point in time, the Tang Family hadn't lost hope in her yet; her brothers were still protective of her, and Tang Wanqiu outwardly took care of her, it was just that she had lied.

Sitting at the dining table, Madam Tang placed a bowl of minced meat porridge in front of her. "Xiaxia, you can't run off alone in a huff again. If it weren't for the Gu Family boy, what would have happened if you got into trouble?"

Tang Chuxia obediently nodded her head, "Mom, I didn't run off alone because I was upset. Hu Mingcheng said he needed to make things clear with me, and my sister also said I should go with him to get it clear. I just left first because I was too angry."

She looked at Tang Wanqiu, who was sitting opposite her: "Why did sister say I ran off because I was upset?"

Tang Wanqiu's face slightly changed, looking somewhat unnaturally she spoke, "Brother Mingcheng told me that!"

After she finished speaking, she noticed Madam Tang's face was not looking good, and Father Tang, who stood at the head of the table and had not spoken, also looked displeased. Even her younger brother, who had come out yawning, had a cold expression.

Tang Jianbing pulled out a chair and sat down: "What exactly did Hu Mingcheng tell you?"

He had worked late the previous day, and had only found out about Tang Chuxia's fever when he came home early this morning.

Tang Chuxia didn't want to hear how Tang Wanqiu would explain, but said directly, "Mom and Dad, Hu Mingcheng said he doesn't like me and won't marry me. I told him to come here personally to call off the engagement, so you can be prepared."

In the book, the original owner was afraid to speak out, always trying to keep Hu Mingcheng from leaving, and eventually made so many mistakes that her family gave up on her and registered her to join the educated youth in the countryside.

When it was Tang Chuxia's turn, she certainly wouldn't humble herself for a man unworthy of her effort, nor would she allow Hu Mingcheng to continue his relationship with Tang Wanqiu.

Consider it a bit of retribution on behalf of the original host.

After hearing this, both Father Tang and Madam Tang were enraged. The marriage between Tang Chuxia and Hu Mingcheng had been arranged by the elders of both families. Back in the day, Old Sir Tang had saved the life of Hu Mingcheng's grandfather, who obstinately insisted on setting up the arranged marriage.

In modern society, such matters shouldn't be of concern, yet Old Master Hu held firm, pressuring Hu Mingcheng to acknowledge the engagement to Tang Chuxia.

Now that Hu Mingcheng had the audacity to disdain their daughter, any parents would feel indignant.

Tang Jianbing was the most infuriated of all. He was only a year older than Tang Chuxia, and the siblings had grown up together, sharing a deep bond. Additionally, with Tang Chuxia's frail health, Tang Jianbing had often looked after her.

"I'm going to kill that bastard!"

Tang Jianbing suddenly stood up, ready to storm out, but Father Tang stopped him, "Come back!"

Madam Tang also grabbed her son's hand, "Don't be rash. When he comes to break off the engagement, then you can make your move!" she looked at Tang Chuxia, "Xiaxia, there are plenty of good men out there. Mom will find you another!"

Tang Chuxia nodded, "We should act quickly. My sister has taken my place in the cultural troupe. Now I can't get married, nor can I work. What do you expect me to do, go to the countryside?"

After she finished speaking, Tang Wanqiu's face turned red, "Sister, you're still angry, aren't you? I didn't mean to take your place in the cultural troupe."

Tang Chuxia did not respond; whether it was intentional or not, the woman knew best in her heart.

The place in the cultural troupe had initially been secured by their grandmother for her, but since Tang Wanqiu had come back jobless, their father had decided to send Tang Wanqiu to report for duty instead.

Because of this matter, the grandmother had scolded her fiercely. Given her health situation, without a placement, she could only marry or go to the countryside.

Father Tang looked displeased, "Are you blaming your father?"

On normal days, Father Tang was reasonably caring toward Tang Chuxia, but guilty about not having his younger daughter by his side. It was merely a job. Whom else to give it to if not her? He was just angry about Tang Chuxia's pettiness.

Tang Chuxia nodded, "If that's the case, are you just going to find someone to marry me off or just send me to the countryside?"

She looked at Father Tang with eyes that clearly expressed her dissatisfaction.

"The Hu Family hasn't come to cancel the engagement, have they? I'll make Hu Mingcheng marry you!" Father Tang, too, was provoked to anger, yet he was aware that Tang Chuxia couldn't be sent to the countryside.

Tang Chuxia laughed, her gaze falling on Tang Wanqiu's unmistakably pale face.

Hu Mingcheng marry her?

Who would Tang Wanqiu be sweet and intimate with then?

Surely after getting married, her brother-in-law and her little aunt wouldn't start some repulsive affair?

Tang Wanqiu noticed Tang Chuxia's stare, feeling extremely uneasy.

But Tang Chuxia wasn't the original host; she was inherently wild. She enjoyed watching love stories marked by tortuous romance even more. The notion that she was a mere cannon fodder female supporting character—how naively youthful of the author. Cannon fodder didn't have nearly as much fun as a villainous supporting character.

Under Tang Wanqiu's anxious gaze, Tang Chuxia said to Father Tang, "Hu Mingcheng isn't wanting to marry me, but my dear sister!"

Ignoring Tang Wanqiu's wavering stance, in a voice sweet yet laced with malice, she teased,

"Little sister, behind the cinema in the alley last night—did Hu Mingcheng make you feel comfortable with his kisses?"