"Mom, this is sister." Looking at mother's eyes shining like looking at a gold nugget, Qiao Yi, who understood mother's character, had complex feelings.
"Sister? Where did such a beautiful sister come from?" Li Lilian was puzzled, and looked at Qiao Ying carefully.
Could it be a relative? Impossible, those female cousins are all ugly. Her son doesn't have such a beautiful cousin or maternal cousin.
Could it be a distant relative?
Qiao Yi didn't tell his family that Qiao Ying was coming back today. Otherwise, Li Lilian would have gone to the airport with him.
"This is the elder sister." Qiao Yi said helplessly and reluctantly.
"El...der..." Li Lilian was stunned.
After reacting, she shouted: "Qiao Ying ah?"
She immediately turned around to look at Qiao Ying, who had already entered the courtyard. Her expression changed instantly, and she ran over happily.
"Oh my mother's darling daughter, you lost weight and became so beautiful, I said, my Li Lilian's daughter can't be bad."
"As expected of my darling daughter, with this little face, I dare say those young ladies from rich families are not half as beautiful as you." Li Lilian ran to Qiao Ying, rubbed her hands and looked carefully. Her face was about to crack from smiling.
"When you were a child and not fat, I knew you would be prettier than your younger sister. I was right after all."
"Tsk tsk tsk, with your little face, and tender skin that oozes water, plus graduating from a famous school, finding a rich husband in the Capital City will be easy after graduation." Thinking that Qiao Ying would marry into a wealthy family, and they would rise to heaven, Li Lilian was so happy she couldn't find north.
She thought, if she had known the elder daughter would become so beautiful after losing weight, and was also capable, she would have treated her better before.
Qiao Yi put the luggage in Qiao Ying's room, came out and heard his mother say this. He frowned and said angrily: "Mom what are you talking about?"
Li Lilian was overjoyed, and saw Qiao Ying's unpleasant expression. She quickly slapped her own mouth, "Look at mother's mouth, I just don't know how to speak."
When Qiao's father, who came home for lunch, saw Qiao Ying, he didn't dare recognize her. He pulled his wife aside and asked in a low voice to confirm.
Li Lilian said proudly with a smug face, "This is my darling daughter."
Qiao's father was greatly shocked, and then was pleasantly surprised and kept praising Qiao Ying for becoming so pretty after losing weight.
"Xiao Ying, thanks to you, Principal Zhang arranged an easy job with not low salary for dad. I don't go to construction sites anymore." Qiao's father gently pulled his not cheap suit.
Hearing this, Qiao Ying glanced at Qiao's father while eating, and nodded without saying anything.
Qiao's father knew this daughter was capable, so he didn't force it.
"Alright, just pay attention to safety."
"The school gave a house. I was thinking of moving the whole family to the Capital City to also take care of you and Lingling. But your brother will be in his last year of high school soon, transferring schools will definitely be hard for him to adapt. Let's move after your brother finishes the exam next year." Li Lilian said endlessly.
Qiao Ying felt annoyed listening to this. She was about to put down her bowl when Li Lilian suddenly said, "Daughter, there's something I want to discuss with you."
"Principal Zhang said he would give you a house. What's going on with preparing the house? Whose name are you going to put it under?" Li Lilian asked ingratiatingly.
If she wasn't afraid Principal Zhang would recognize her and expose Qiao Lingling's cheating, Li Lilian would have rushed out to discuss location and owner's name when she first heard Principal Zhang say he would give a house.
Qiao Ying looked at her.
"Mom thinks the house is expensive, you kids can't make the decision. It has to be under an adult's name. The school also said they would give Lingling a house. We'll put that one under mom's name. I think we should just put this one under mom's name too. We're all one family, isn't it the same whether it's under your name or mom's? What do you think?"
"Since it's the same, why should it be under your name?" Qiao Ying's expression was indifferent.
Li Lilian's smile froze. Recalling Qiao Ying's terrible temper from before, then looking at Qiao Ying's valuable face now.
She carefully weighed, and said gently, "Mom is worried there might be some problems in the future that you kids can't handle. Then let's not put it under mom's name. Let's put it under your brother's."
Qiao Yi: "I don't want sister's house."
Li Lilian glared at Qiao Yi, "What do you kids understand?"
She spoke gently to Qiao Ying again, "Look how close you are with your brother. Plus, you're a girl and will get married in the future. You definitely can't bring such a nice house into your in-laws'. It will become your in-laws' then, and our family will have lost big."
"It's different if it's under your brother's name. Your brother will get married in the future. Nowadays girls want this and that before marrying. Social pressure is so great. No one will marry without a house. Just look at this neighborhood, so many in their 30s still bachelors.
"Leaving this house for your brother, if you suffer any grievances at your in-laws', your brother's home can be your shelter. Xiao Yi having this house can also allow him to stand firm in the Capital City. Then you'll have confidence at your in-laws'. Don't you think this makes sense?"
"Principal Zhang said the house is his personal gift for Xiao Ying. Let Xiao Ying decide herself. Isn't Lingling's under your name? And you still have quite some bonus money. You can buy Xiao Yi a house then." Qiao's father said.
"I can earn money and buy it myself." Qiao Yi genuinely disliked his mother's calculating, exploitative expression.
Li Lilian glared fiercely at her husband, "What do you understand? Lingling's house is for our retirement. Can we buy a nice house with the little money we have? Is your son even going to marry a wife?"
"Xiao Ying, mom really has no choice. When you become a mother with a son, you'll understand mom's pains."
Qiao Ying nodded, "Do you have Principal Zhang's number?"
Li Lilian was overjoyed.
Qiao Yi: "Sis—"
Li Lilian glared at her son again. She quickly said, "Mom doesn't have it here. Lingling must have it. I'll ask Lingling right away."
Li Lilian was elated. She took out her phone to call Qiao Lingling.
"No need." Qiao Ying took out her own phone.
Qin Hanyue resting in the hotel was very surprised to see the incoming call, and picked up somewhat expectantly.
"Principal Zhang's number, thanks."
Qin Hanyue was stunned for a moment, then exited the call screen, found Zhang Chengyong's number, and reported it to Qiao Ying.
After reporting, he still wanted to say something, but the call hung up.
Qin Hanyue held his phone in silence for a while.
Qiao Ying promptly dialed Principal Zhang's number right after.
"Principal Zhang, it's me, Qiao Ying."
"Qiao student." Zhang Chengyong happily said when he received Qiao Ying's call, "Oh my, you taking the initiative to call this old man, how rare."
"Want to discuss the house matter with Principal Zhang."
"Found a good location? Where? I'll go take a look right away." Zhang Chengyong said grandly.
"Downtown is best." Li Lilian whispered to Qiao Ying.
Qiao Ying: "Location and size don't matter. Just put the house under my name. I'll send you my card number later. Deposit the scholarship money into that card."
"You little b-- girl."
Li Lilian was used to cursing. She almost cursed out loud.
Receiving an icy cold glance from Qiao Ying, she shivered inside. Her expression changed quickly as she whispered urgently, "Xiao Ying, didn't we just agree to put it under your brother's name?"
Hearing his elder sister's words, Qiao Yi picked up his bowl and continued eating.
He was worried over nothing. Elder sister was no longer the previous elder sister. How could she possibly still eat this loss?
Principal Zhang: "Of course it should be under your name."
Principal Zhang then asked if she had arrived in the Capital City. He said to visit his home if she did. They chatted briefly before Qiao Ying hung up.
Not giving Li Lilian a chance to speak, Qiao Ying put down her phone and directly said to her, "Feng Teng gave you a lot of money right? Hand it over."
Li Lilian feigned ignorance, "...Wh-what money?"
Qiao Ying: "Want me to call Feng Teng over to get it from you personally?"
