Butler Feng turned on the speakerphone to let the other party know that Mr. Feng would return home as soon as possible.
Then everyone in the house, including all the maids in the room and Liang Rongrong, who was coming downstairs, heard Feng's Father's shrew-like outburst.
The eldest aunt's shrew-like image was indeed deeply ingrained in people's minds. Although she usually dressed like a gentle and elegant lady, when it came to arguments, she rarely met her match.
In her previous life, when Shi Li had just arrived, she thought the eldest aunt was that kind of graceful and refined lady.
When Shi Li's cousin was getting married in that life, the eldest aunt had a fierce argument with the in-laws, and the scene was breathtaking.
The eldest aunt was indeed a well-known shrew in their social circle, but being gossiped about behind one's back was different from being insulted to one's face.
Shi Li couldn't pretend she hadn't heard when an elder was being insulted in front of her.
"What does Uncle Feng mean by that? There are only two guests here, me and my aunt. Is he calling us shrews?"
Butler Feng thought to himself, "You should know very well who he's calling a shrew." But outwardly, he tried to smooth things over, "Miss Shi, you must have misheard. Our master didn't say 'shrew' just now."
Liang Rongrong also played along with the butler, "I can testify that Dad didn't say 'shrew.'"
So now they were trying to pull that old trick of calling a deer a horse, Shi Li thought. Since she was in someone else's house and they outnumbered her, she didn't say anything more.
"I'm still so young, yet my ears are already failing me. I can't even hear words clearly anymore."
The eldest aunt chimed in, "You're not the only one with hearing problems. To mistake what Mr. Feng said for 'shrew,' and even think they don't welcome us here."
Shi Li was secretly amused. They definitely weren't welcome.
"You shouldn't think that way. Aunt Feng has always been close to you. How could she not welcome you here?"
"It seems both of us are having ear problems. We should find time to go to the hospital for a thorough check-up. Ears are such important organs, after all."
"Aunt, why don't you take me to the hospital when you have time? My parents aren't home, so I can only rely on you."
Shi Li's eldest aunt pulled her close, "My poor niece, your parents are away on business, leaving you all alone at home. If anyone bullies you, only your aunt can stand up for you."
Seeing the pair shift from sarcasm to a sob story, Butler Feng quickly interjected, "Mrs. Shi, our master is already on his way. Any misunderstandings can be cleared up when he returns."
This was the first time Shi Li had entered the Feng Family home in both her lives. In her previous life, Shi Li had avoided Feng Yunhe like the plague, so she'd never voluntarily visit the Feng house.
As Shi Li was secretly surveying the layout of the Feng family's villa, she caught sight of a furtive figure at the corner of the second-floor corridor. This figure seemed somewhat familiar.
As for why it was familiar, why this figure seemed familiar to her...
For girls, their best friend's boyfriend is often the person they dislike the most in this world, without exception.
Liang Rongrong followed Shi Li's gaze upstairs.
She explained, "That's our classmate. He came over to help me with physics tutoring."
Shi Li remembered that she had once mocked Liang Rongrong for being poor at physics.
But had Liang Rongrong and Qiao Shan been this close in her previous life?
Feng's Father, worried that Liang Rongrong might be bullied by the Shi family shrew, kept urging the driver to go faster on the way home.
After getting out of the car, he strode forward.
When Shi Li heard the maid at the door call out "Sir," she knew Feng Yunhe's father had returned.
Shi Li had a very poor impression of Feng Yunhe's father, considering him a terrible man.
Without consulting his wife, he had brought his former flame's daughter home, concealing her identity and claiming she was the orphaned child of a friend.
Shi Li despised such men.
That was the child of the woman he loved most in his life. Even though she wasn't his own flesh and blood, he treated Liang Rongrong even better than his own son.
Upon entering, Feng's Father anxiously asked, "Is Rongrong alright?"
Shi Li smiled and spoke up, "Uncle Feng, we're all law-abiding citizens. Why would you think your adopted daughter might be bullied when we're here?"
Feng's Father thought to himself, "Of course, because your eldest aunt is a shrew."
Feng's Mother and Shi Li's eldest aunt were close friends. Back when Feng's Father was dating Feng's Mother, he would often go see his former flame. At that time, Shi Li's eldest aunt frequently berated Feng's Father to his face.
Feng's Father's love for Feng's Mother was extremely limited. Even though he was in the wrong, he was unwilling to let his girlfriend's best friend scold him.
He wanted to curse back, but he lacked the talent for it.
Every time, he would be verbally thrashed by Shi Li's eldest aunt, left without any comeback. He could only return to his dorm at night, bite his pillow, and make voodoo dolls, as well as badmouth Shi Li's eldest aunt to Feng's Mother.
Regardless of what Feng's Father was thinking, he couldn't say these things in front of a younger generation like Shi Li. It would affect his image.
Feng's Father laughed it off, saying, "Our Rongrong has a rather soft personality, so I was worried she might be bullied."
Shi Li's eldest aunt let out a long "Oh," and said, "So it wasn't because you were worried we might bully her."
"How could that be? We've known each other for over twenty years. Don't you think I trust your character?"
Shi Li's eldest aunt retorted, "My shrew-like character?"
At this point, Feng's Father didn't know that his call with the butler had been on speakerphone. He thought to himself that at least the shrew had some self-awareness.
Feng's Father continued to laugh it off, "Now you're just being modest. You should have more confidence in your own character."
Shi Li's eldest aunt had no intention of further engaging with this old scoundrel. She said, "Let's not waste time on useless talk. I came to discuss something important with you."
"Go ahead."
"Our Shi Li encountered a group of young hooligans on her way home from school yesterday. The leader of those thugs warned my Shi Li not to bully your Liang Rongrong anymore."
"I brought Shi Li here today to ask if these young troublemakers were hired by your family."
Just as Shi Li's eldest aunt finished speaking, there was a loud thud from upstairs, as if something heavy had fallen.
Everyone looked up towards the sound.
No one was there.
Shi Li guessed that the sound might have something to do with Qiao Shan.
Faced with Shi Li's eldest aunt's accusation, Feng's Father was concerned about a different issue, "Shi Li has been bullying our Rongrong?"
