Chapter 4

    The Bully

    "You were crying last night, but not anymore it seems?

    Made up with your boyfriend?" said Li Zhu with a voice feigning concern, yet her eyes gleamed with malice.

    Before this, Li Yin thought that Li Zhu was merely angry and jealous, hence she interfered with Li Yin and Donglu, aiming to hurt her big sister. But upon future events where Li Zhu snatched her husband, Li Yin reevaluated Li Zhu's actions today and realized Li Zhu had always liked Donglu from the start.

    This is gonna be fun…

    Li Yin smiled slightly, looking directly into the eyes of the woman beside her. Li Zhu, her younger sister, never had a hint of respect in her eyes for Li Yin; her words always carried an air of superiority. Such demeanor clearly aimed to provoke Li Yin into an argument, leading to their stepmother punishing her, with their father remaining indifferent, making Li Yin's stay in the house even more difficult.

    But what can a childish plan of a girl this age do?

    Li Yin wouldn't jump into her sister’s trap and start a conflict. If Li Zhu wanted to be crazy, she'd have to do it on her own. Plus, Li Yin already had a plan.

    "Li Zhu... you know me so well."

    She planned to drive her opponent crazy herself.

    "Of course, I'm worried about you to death," claimed Li Zhu as she sat beside Li Yin.

    "When I saw you crying yesterday, I called Donglu right away to see what happened."

    Right...

    Seeing her sister argue with her boyfriend, boy, was she quick to intervene.

    It was no surprise when Li Yin was working hard, before she realized it, she found her husband having an affair with her own sister.

    Li Yin leaned her chin on her hand, a smile forming on her face, secretly despising Li Zhu but outwardly appreciating her sister's concern.

    "Thanks for your concern."

    "It's nothing," said Li Zhu as she blushed. "If you’re still mad at Donglu, I can call him up and talk to him for you."

    "Since you're so concerned about me, let me make your worry go away then," said Li Yin as she picked up her phone. "Let's call Donglu. Maybe we can go out, just the two of us, without anyone bothering us."

    Li Yin didn't hesitate to dial her boyfriend right away.

    Li Yin thought about breaking up with Donglu, but it seemed too easy. Being a person who held great grudges, Donglu and Li Zhu made her life miserable for decades, even until her last moments, nothing got better. So, if she couldn't let her anger out, she wouldn’t be happy.

    So, she decided to have a bit of fun at their expense.

    After all, she now held the upper hand.

    Waiting only a few seconds, Donglu cheerfully answered the phone, delighted that Li Yin had called. She flirted, putting on an act of a loving girlfriend, speaking sweetly as if she was the little bunny of a handsome prince, all the while watching Li Zhu's expression twist more and more.

    Li Zhu clenched her fists tightly, irritated that her half-sister still hadn't broken up with Donglu. Despite numerous suitors over the years, Li Zhu never chose anyone because each time she saw her half-sister's boyfriend, she couldn't help but grow envious of her.

    Donglu was a man with an impressive profile: academically successful, well-mannered, from a wealthy family, and so handsome he could have been a model. No man could compare in the slightest!

    Observing her half-sister interacting with him in such a manner always stirred a burning annoyance in her heart, driving her to the brink of snatching Li Yin's phone and throwing it away.

    Meanwhile, on the phone with her boyfriend, "There’s a new restaurant that’s just opened and you want to take me there?". Li Yin pretended to be surprised in a cutesy manner typical of a girl flirting with her partner. “That sounds great. Come pick me up soon”

    After ending the call, Li Yin turned to her sister, "Looks like you don't have to worry anymore. Donglu and I are more than great now. You saw it all, didn't you? We'll even go out soon."

    "Good for you," Li Zhu responded in a dry tone. "It's nice for you to go out. I’ll be more at ease here."

    Li Yin chuckled lightly, recalling how they often fought in the past. Li Zhu seemed to know exactly how to push her buttons by suggesting she didn't belong, which was why she likely brought up not wanting Li Yin in the house, hoping to provoke a reaction. But Li Yin knew better than to fall for such a shallow ploy.

    "It's not strange, Li Zhu, for you to feel uncomfortable with me around that you want me to go out," Li Yin observed, noting Li Zhu's furrowed brows. "Why is that?"

    Li Yin continued after sipping her water, "Because you are nothing like me. Being around me must feel horrible for you, having to constantly feel inferior. Look...you can't even find a boyfriend as good as mine. No wonder you're so obsessed with my relationship. You must want it very badly."

    "Li Yin!" Li Zhu's fists tightened, but she tried to calm down, "Watch your mouth or it might be harder for you to live here"

    "That's okay, I understand," Li Yin replied nonchalantly.

    "Understand what?"

    "Are you sure you want me to repeat that, or should I elaborate further?"

    Li Zhu gritted her teeth, "No, thank you!"

    Watching her sister's frustrated demeanor, Li Yin offered a saccharinely sweet smile, inwardly enjoying provoking her further. "Then I’d better go get ready. I'm heading out for dinner with Donglu. My handsome prince is coming to pick me up. The princess must be prepared."

    With those taunting words, Li Yin left the dining room for her own room. Just before leaving, she noticed Li Zhu's eyes filled with displeasure.

    In the past, she never had such an argument with Li Zhu. She would always try to suppress everything as she feared that if she fought with her stepsister, her stepmother would come after her. And when her father found out, it would only reinforce her feeling of his neglect. So, she focused solely on earning money to leave the Wang Mansion.

    But today, trying something new felt surprisingly fun.

    Li Yin walked to her wardrobe, got dressed appropriately, and applied a bit of makeup. Soon after, she received a message from Donglu saying, ‘I’m here, waiting downstairs.’ She then went downstairs to find Li Zhu chatting with Donglu in the living room.

    Quick to take my place, aren't you?

    Li Yin eyed her stepsister's tactics before approaching them. Donglu, seeing her, smiled broadly, instantly forgetting Li Zhu.

    "Yin Yin," he greeted her.

    "What kind of nickname is that? Gives me the creeps."

    "I just wanted to act like a typical teenage couple for once. Plus, I wanted to make you happy. After all, you're not mad at me anymore," Donglu said with a broad smile, reaching out to hold both of Li Yin's hands in a tender gesture.

    In his eyes, there was only Li Yin.

    And that made Li Zhu clench her fists again.

    "Shall we go?" said Li Yin as she turned to Li Zhu who seemed to struggle to contain her irritation, "I'll be leaving then. You can enjoy the house to yourself...at ease."

    With that, Li Yin linked arms with Donglu and walked out, leaving her stepsister behind.

    Listening to Li Yin's words, Li Zhu clenched her teeth. She tried to hold back a number of insults she wanted to hurl. Normally, Li Yin wasn't this difficult to handle.

    But why did she seem so mischievous today?!

    After they left, Li Zhu got up and threw a pillow to the floor in frustration, finally letting out the anger she'd been bottling up.

    "Just you wait! I'll make it so you can't stay here at all, Li Yin!"