15

"Daddy, Daddy!" Gao Yuanyuan suddenly jumped up from the sofa and ran toward Gao Jianjun, crying out, "My foot hurts so much!"

When Gao Jianjun saw his precious daughter rushing toward him, his face lit up with joy. But as soon as he heard her words, his gaze instinctively dropped to her foot and saw that the top of it was swollen and red. The ointment on her skin shimmered under the light, making the injury look even worse.

"What happened?" Gao Jianjun asked, distressed, as he gently supported her small frame and glanced over at Song Yahan, who stood to the side, unsure what to do.

"Shu Ran got first place in the math exam today—I was happy at first. But someone told me she only got first because she stole the test in advance. Of course I couldn't accept such a slander, but I didn't want to argue either. So I came home to ask her what really happened," Gao Yuanyuan quickly explained. She cast a timid glance at Song Yahan, hesitating a bit before continuing, "I just said one sentence, and then Shu Ran, she…"

She trailed off.

Gao Jianjun looked at her swollen foot and immediately pieced things together. His gaze turned toward Shu Ran, who stood a short distance away, looking completely unfazed—as if she had done nothing wrong. That attitude made his anger flare to the top.

"Is what Yuanyuan said true?" he growled in a low voice.

"I don't know what she's talking about," Shu Ran answered calmly, her tone as light as a breeze, as if none of it had anything to do with her.

Her detached response stunned everyone in the room. In the past, just a glance from Gao Jianjun would leave her trembling with fear. And now she was not only holding eye contact but talking back?

Gao Yuanyuan was startled by her change in demeanor, but when she saw the veins bulging on her father's forehead, she couldn't help but press her lips together in a smug little smile—she was ready to enjoy the show.

Song Yahan stood silently by, unable to say anything, but her eyes were full of worry as she looked at Shu Ran.

"You got a perfect score on the math test?" Gao Jianjun asked.

"Yes."

"Did you steal the exam?"

"No."

"Then why are there such rumors?"

"I don't know."

The mechanical back-and-forth made Gao Jianjun's temples throb. He had always found this "freeloader" an eyesore, and now she was even more unbearable.

"Could this all be a misunderstanding?" Song Yahan finally interjected, seeing the two locked in silence. "Ranran would never do something like that."

"Auntie, you shouldn't cover for her just because she's your daughter," Gao Yuanyuan said with her arms crossed, her tone righteous and gloating. "What she did is technically theft, which is a crime. She may be young now, but if she doesn't learn the right values, who knows what she'll become? As her older sister, I can't stand by and watch her go astray!"

Song Yahan was speechless. She knew it was a false accusation, but she had no proof to defend Shu Ran. Her trust alone felt flimsy in the face of this father-daughter pair.

Her words sounded so righteous, but looking at Gao Jianjun's face, Shu Ran figured that was exactly what he was thinking too. She couldn't help letting out a small, scornful laugh.

"What are you laughing at?" Gao Yuanyuan's expression twisted slightly, her voice now cold.

"Why shouldn't I laugh?" Shu Ran stood up straight and looked calmly at the pair before her. "Dear sister, you've always been clever. I didn't expect you to believe such baseless rumors. You let others' nonsense come between us. I'm really disappointed in you."

Gao Yuanyuan clenched her fists tightly, eyes wide. Was this really the same Shu Ran she had bullied for years? Something about her had changed lately, though she couldn't quite say what.

Shu Ran observed her every reaction, the smile on her lips widening. She knew this so-called stepsister had hated her from the beginning and had always refused to be associated with her. Yet in front of Gao Jianjun, she loved to pretend they were close. Since she liked to play pretend so much, Shu Ran decided to help her act it out even more thoroughly.

"Ranran, what really happened?" Song Yahan asked gently.

"I didn't steal the exam," Shu Ran replied.

"There's no smoke without fire. If you didn't do it, why is everyone at school saying so?" Gao Yuanyuan jumped on the opportunity, unwilling to let it slip away. She had tried for years to kick this mother and daughter out of the house, but with no success. So now, at the very least, she wasn't going to let them live peacefully here. "Dad, after school today, the teacher even made Shu Ran stay behind. If it wasn't true, isn't that a little too much of a coincidence?"

Gao Jianjun nodded, then asked in a stern voice, "Shu Ran, tell me the truth. What's going on?"

"If I really stole the exam, the teacher would have called you, or asked for a parent to come in, or the school would have given me a demerit. Uncle, Mom, have either of you gotten a call from the teacher?" Shu Ran asked.

The two were silent.

"Since you haven't, that proves I didn't steal anything. As for the rumors—can't I just chalk that up to jealousy?"

"You're saying I'm jealous of you?!" Gao Yuanyuan yelled, pointing a trembling finger at her.

"Dear sister, did I say you?" Shu Ran smirked. "Or are you saying you secretly hope I fail every test?"

"I… I never said that." Gao Yuanyuan's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "I just thought it was a little strange."

"So it's because you think it's strange that you believe brainless rumors?"

"You—" Gao Yuanyuan's face turned pale from anger, biting her lower lip hard, unsure what to say. She had never imagined the once-timid Shu Ran could be so sharp-tongued.

Gao Jianjun, seeing his beloved daughter wronged and looking at Shu Ran's unkempt appearance, thinking of all the past slights, couldn't hold back anymore. He raised his hand and swung it toward her face.

Song Yahan rushed forward to stop him—but someone else moved faster.

Smack—

A crisp slap echoed through the silent room. Everyone froze.

Gao Jianjun realized he hadn't hit Shu Ran, but Gao Yuanyuan. She clutched her face in disbelief, staring at him. Song Yahan was just as stunned.

The corners of Shu Ran's mouth lifted ever so slightly.

"Sister, I know I said the wrong thing. Don't defend me anymore. Uncle, don't be mad…" she said in a soft, gentle voice that floated into the ears of the three.

Gao Yuanyuan finally realized that Shu Ran had pulled her over just before the slap—no one had noticed that subtle move. And now, with those words, she had no way to protest or explain.

She glared at Shu Ran fiercely, then limped back to her room. Gao Jianjun quickly followed to comfort her.

Shu Ran turned just as Song Yahan opened her mouth, cutting her off.

"Mom, I'm really tired. I'm going to bed now."

Song Yahan let out a silent sigh and nodded. As she watched Shu Ran close her door, her lips pressed into a tight line.

Was it just her imagination, or… had her daughter truly begun to change?