novelraw Chapter 492 - 466: Following Suit
Chapter 492 - 466: Following Suit
People often say that a spoiled child will become sensible once they grow up.
But is that really true?
The body grows, but many people’s hearts never mature; my aunt is just such a person.
"You were born into a well-off family, your parents spoil you, your older brothers and sisters-in-law tolerate you, your husband, pressured by your family’s power, treats you with respect. The child in your heart has never encountered any setbacks. Without experiencing setbacks, it’s hard to grow, so your behavior, in my eyes, amounts to just two words: immature!"
"How dare you, a mere fledgling, call me immature!"
My aunt has been through a lot lately; her former elegance as a noble lady has vanished, replaced by decay and even exasperation.
"Yes, I would say you’re immature and stubborn, with a slight delusional disorder, always trying to impose your worldview on others. To achieve your goals, you’re not above taking extreme actions. If you continue down this path, you really need to see a psychologist."
Qian said this with a touch of pity, and her condescending attitude pierced my aunt’s heart deeply.
"You’re the lunatic; I am not sick! You are the ones bullying me too much!"
"Well... how should I put it, your current situation, your family can’t entirely escape the blame. They’ve given you too much, teaching you only to take from the world but neglecting to teach you how to enjoy life calmly. You’re forever in a state of insatiability, always feeling a lack of love. In reality, you’re not even happy yourself."
"Why wouldn’t I be happy! I have a family, a career, and my husband is a leader. What’s there to be unhappy about!"
"No matter what you have, you feel unhappy; your heart is always frantically seeking what it can’t have. Your typical obsessive personality means your worldview is already formed; not even God can save you, and no one can change your set ways. So I’m not here to give you a political lecture; your twisted three views cannot be saved by anyone."
"Then why are you here!" My aunt wanted nothing more than to chase Qian out with a stick.
"I am here to tell you what I plan to do about you. I am not like you. You spread rumors I had been kidnapped, then revealed Second Brother and college to the Wang Family, and now you want to pressure me into quitting school with public opinion. Did you do all this?"
When Qian spoke, her hands were in her pockets, secretly pressing the voice recorder.
"So what if it was me! I simply can’t stand you, but unfortunately you’re too lucky; I couldn’t trap you. I’m really sorry!"
"When I dislike someone, I confront them directly. I’d never lower myself to backhanded tricks; it tarnishes my status."
"You? Who do you think you are to challenge me! You’re acting as if you’re somebody!" Being belittled, my aunt felt a discomfort like a burning heart.
"I am nobody, just the woman Yu Minglang likes, his parents’ favored daughter-in-law, and someone with intelligence. When you tried to set me up, did you consider that I am no longer the struggling woman from a poor family you imagined? Messing with me means messing with the entire Yu Family. Are you sure what you’re doing won’t embarrass your brother? You only thought of me, Chen Xiaoqian, as a woman you look down on, but you didn’t consider that messing with me means you’re undermining your own family’s foundation."
"You’re no Yu Family member; I won’t acknowledge you! You’re not worthy!"
"You see, I told you you have delusional tendencies. Whether or not you acknowledge it has nothing to do with me. I am the fourth daughter-in-law of the Yu Family, matched and engaged. You’re the woman who married out; instead of living your own life, you’re always stirring up trouble in your parents’ home. Are you bored? Do you think your brother and sister-in-law agree? Don’t bother speaking; I know you’re about to say the world should conform to your laughable beliefs, but you’re not a god. You can’t control anyone but yourself, got it?"
Watching my aunt pant from Qian’s sharp words, Qian maintained her high-and-mighty attitude.
She continued speaking neither hurriedly nor slowly.
"Next, let’s talk about my plans. You love to play with reporting and public opinion, right? I intend to follow your lead, utilizing your extensive experience to further it. In the coming days, can you guess what rumors will appear in your community? You didn’t even visit your son in the hospital but ran to a hotel in Lishi to meet a young man overnight. If I add a picture of you entering the hotel and slip some cash to get your room registration, oh dear, you’ll have no defense, will you?"
"You’re spouting nonsense! I did not meet anyone! It’s just myself!"
This deluge of dirty water left my aunt startled and defenseless.
Qian never played by the book. Her tactics, though not always honorable, were undoubtedly satisfying.
"Yes, I’m talking nonsense, but who will people believe, me or you? There’s a fascinating psychological theory involved here, rumor psychology, which explains how rumors can slink past public skepticism into the psyche, overpowering common sense. That’s why many prefer to believe rumors over facts."
"No, no..." My aunt was flustered, her hands shaking.
"Let me explain. For a rumor to spread successfully, it needs to satisfy nine principles, one of which is being both unexpected and plausible. If I say you met with a man, that fits people’s fantasies about a lady’s life and makes it reasonable. I heard your husband might divorce you for undisclosed reasons. When I spread it this way, isn’t it very plausible?"
Spectators always have various guesses about the lives of people they haven’t encountered. With a bit of processing, such curiosity and envy can easily sprout wings of imagination.
"I didn’t want to move against you, because you forgot your surname is Yu, but I haven’t forgotten that I will marry Yu Minglang. I know family disputes can be resolved behind closed doors, but publicly, it’ll only disgrace ourselves. Outsiders won’t care about our grudges; they’ll only say the Yu Family is feuding. But rest assured, my actions are more high-caliber than yours. Before tarnishing your reputation, I’ll take measures to keep you and my future in-laws separate. I have to protect my in-laws’ reputation."
After expressing her thoughts, Qian smiled and stood up, showing a bright smile to the bewildered Aunt.
"Intelligence is a fine thing, but you lack it. I’ve already informed you of my future plans, fulfilling my part as a gentleman. Don’t say I didn’t warn you; goodbye."
Her white trench coat swirled gracefully through the air as Qian made her elegant exit.