Reborn in the 80s: My Whole Family Secretly Hears My Thoughts and Goes Wild with Success! - Chapter 95

“Zhi Xin, don’t worry. I’ll definitely back you up as a witness.”

Hearing Lu Shuangshuang’s words, Kang Zhixin turned to Shen Zhiqiu with a smug, taunting look. “Shen Zhiqiu, did you hear that? Sister Shuangshuang will testify for me.”

“You’d better apologize to me right now. I’m generous enough to let it slide, but if this gets reported to the team leader, you’ll be in deep trouble!”

Shen Zhiqiu found the whole thing utterly ridiculous—so much so that she actually laughed out loud. “Kang Zhixin, suit yourself. Report me to whoever you want! I’m not afraid of anyone you complain to!”

“But I suggest you know when to stop. Don’t let your impulsiveness blow this out of proportion. Who knows? By the end of it, I might be just fine, while you end up the rat everyone wants to chase away.”

“You’re the rat, Shen Zhiqiu!”

Kang Zhixin jabbed a furious finger at her. “Just you wait!”

“Fine, I’ll wait. But you’d better hurry. Don’t drag this out so long that I finish my maternity leave before you even report me.”

Shen Zhiqiu reached out and ruffled Kang Zhixin’s hair. “Oh, Zhixin, if that happens, I’d be so very disappointed in you.”

Kang Zhixin jerked her head away, glaring daggers at Shen Zhiqiu—if looks could kill, Shen Zhiqiu would’ve dropped dead on the spot.

She hated Shen Zhiqiu’s condescending attitude more than anything.

Back when she first joined the cultural troupe, she’d tried to befriend Shen Zhiqiu, hoping to get on her good side as a senior member. But Shen Zhiqiu had ignored her completely.

That was when the hatred began.

“Getting ahead by sheer luck! Just because she married into the Yue family, she thinks she’s a phoenix now? A sparrow will always be a sparrow—it’ll never become a phoenix!”

Kang Zhixin gnashed her teeth at Shen Zhiqiu’s retreating figure, then immediately turned to flatter Lu Shuangshuang. “Not like you, Sister Shuangshuang. You’re the real phoenix.”

Lu Shuangshuang preened at the compliment. Even though Shen Zhiqiu had technically cleared her name in the past, she still looked down on her.

Some nobody from a lowly family, yet she always managed to outshine her!

Flouncing around with that fox-like face, seducing men left and right, climbing the ladder by clinging to them—how shameless!

“Sister Shuangshuang, what about my birthday gift?” Kang Zhixin hadn’t forgotten.

Lu Shuangshuang deliberately raised her voice. “Just tell me what you want. I’ll get it for you.”

Not far away, Shen Zhiqiu and Meng Fang overheard every word.

Meng Fang shook her head slightly. “That Lu Shuangshuang… After what happened last time, it seems she hasn’t learned a thing. What a waste of her aunt’s efforts.”

Shen Zhiqiu assessed Lu Shuangshuang objectively. “She’s not inherently bad—just spoiled rotten by her family. She doesn’t understand how dangerous people can be. She thinks anyone who flatters her is sincere.”

“I used to be like that too.”

Seeing her past self in Lu Shuangshuang, Shen Zhiqiu realized just how foolish it looked from the outside—and how much it must’ve hurt those who truly cared about her.

She wasn’t the meddling type, yet she’d laid things out plainly. But in truth, she wasn’t speaking to Lu Shuangshuang.

She was speaking to her past self.

Meng Fang looked at Shen Zhiqiu. “To be honest, you used to be difficult and clueless. But the person you are now? You’re wonderful. Truly wonderful.”

Shen Zhiqiu looped her arm through Meng Fang’s, her eyes warm yet resolute. “I think so too.”

After learning that the bag she’d wanted had been bought by Shen Zhiqiu, Kang Zhixin lost all interest in shopping. Fuming, she stormed home.

In the study, Kang Zhengqing and Kang Zhishou were deep in discussion when Kang Zhixin barged in, slamming the door behind her.

“Dad! Big brother!” She pouted, oozing grievance.

“Little Four, what’s wrong? Who upset you?” Kang Zhengqing asked.

Kang Zhixin shot a sidelong glance at Kang Zhishou, who pointed at himself, baffled. “Me? What did I do? When did I do it?”

“Big brother, do you remember your time in the security brigade? Today, someone said they met a person who served with you back then. They told me to ask you—do you still remember the counter-revolutionaries you took down?”

Both Kang Zhengqing and Kang Zhishou instantly paled. Kang Zhishou’s hands trembled uncontrollably. “Did… did they say anything else?”

“N-no, that was all.”

Kang Zhixin was unnerved by her brother’s reaction. “Big brother, what’s wrong?”

“Your brother’s fine. Go to your room.”

Kang Zhengqing snapped at her. “And never bring up your brother’s time in the security brigade again. Understood?”

“Understood.”

Back in her room, Kang Zhixin flopped onto her bed, muttering to herself.

“Dad and big brother acted so weird. Something must’ve happened back then. But what?”

“They’d never let me report this to the team leader. But I already threatened Shen Zhiqiu. If I don’t follow through, she’ll definitely laugh at me and spread rumors. I’ll become the laughingstock of the whole troupe!”

She shook her head violently. “No, no, no!”

“If that happens, how can I stay in the troupe? Even that idiot Lu Shuangshuang would think I’m an embarrassment and ditch me.”

“Big sister promised to introduce me to sons of military officials if I behaved well.”

“If I could marry a general’s son like she did, Shen Zhiqiu wouldn’t dare look down on me anymore!”

“Look at her, living the high life just because she married into the Yue family. A fifteen-yuan bag? She buys it without blinking!”

“Once I marry a general’s son, I’ll ride in cars every day, buy piles of pretty clothes and bags, and all kinds of makeup. I’ll dress up so beautifully—I’ll definitely outshine Shen Zhiqiu. Maybe the team leader will even make me the lead dancer!”

The more she fantasized, the happier she became, pushing thoughts of her father and brother aside. Now, all she cared about was humiliating Shen Zhiqiu.

The next day, as soon as Kang Zhixin arrived at work, she dragged Lu Shuangshuang straight to Wu Qingyun’s office.

“Reporting, Team Leader! I want to file a complaint against Shen Zhiqiu!” she announced loudly.

Wu Qingyun frowned, baffled. “Complain about Shen Zhiqiu? She’s on maternity leave—she’s not even here. What are you reporting her for? What did she do wrong?”

“Team Leader, yesterday, Sister Shuangshuang and I ran into Shen Zhiqiu at the night market. She insulted my brother and threatened to turn me into a rat everyone would chase away!” Kang Zhixin burst into tears.

Wu Qingyun rubbed her temples. This was beyond absurd—she almost laughed in exasperation. “Kang Zhixin, this is a cultural troupe, not a kindergarten. If you and Shen Zhiqiu had an argument outside, handle it yourselves. You’re bringing this petty nonsense to me?!”