My Aunt!?

Qing Mian was about to enter her room when Qin walked out from the study dressed in an apricot coloured dress. Looking every bit like a cultured and sophisticated person, she smiled gently at Qing Mian and waved her over.

When they reached the dinning hall, she then passed a small and exquisite-looking bowl over to her and said in a soft voice, "Mianmian, are you hungry? This soup is fresh out of the pot. I have added honey and milk inside. Have some."

Her attitude made Qing Mian feel warm as she received the food and took a mouthful. It was a little fishy, but the milky scent and honey resulted in a sweet aftertaste.

She was planning to finish it when a bellow erupted from the staircase. "Eat, eat, eat! All you know is to eat! Didn't you see how much Qinqin is crying?"

Qin was startled as she tensed up. She then said to Ding Xian, "Hey, she's a child. It's normal for there to be things that upset her. I'll accompany you to appease Qinqin..."

She circled past Qing Mian after saying this and was just about to go upstairs. However, Ding Xian suddenly stopped and swept her gaze past Qing Mian with hostility. When she spotted the bowl in the latter's hands, her eyes widened as she roared, "Who gave her the soup? That is specially made for Qinqin!"

Qin hurriedly explained, " I know. Qinqin's is still being kept warm in the pot. I made two portions today and will give the other portion to Qinqin soon..."

Qing Qin had a portion of the special soup every day and this was her habit.

Since both were daughters of the Qing family, Qin felt that it was Qing Mian's right to have one portion every day too. Yet what she did not expect was Ding Xian's following rampage. "Qinqin has this soup every day because she studies so diligently every day and needs proper nourishment. With Qing Mian's pea brain, giving her some is simply wasteful! And she's not even our Qing family's real daughter! You will not make it for her again!"

Qin was totally dumbstruck.

To the Qing family, this special soup was a very average expense. They would even let the servants at home have some when they had leftovers.

Still, she never expected in her entire life that this Ding Xian would be this stingy toward Qing Mian!

Qing Mian eyed the so-called special soup in her hands. She never craved any of such things in her life. After all, at the orphanage, all she asked for was to have a full tummy.

She put the bowl down on the dining table and moved to go upstairs.

At this moment, Ding Xian blocked her path again. "Also, tell me, did you bully Qinqin and make her cry?"

Qin flailed her arms. "How can that be? Mianmian is—"

Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a hum. She turned to look at Qing Mian together with Ding Xian.

Qing Mian decidedly abandoned her plan to go upstairs. Her eyes, which always seemed shrouded in mist, turned to Ding Xian. "Looks like I really did."

With a vicious look, Ding Xian berated, "I knew it was you! You bitch! Tell me, what the hell did you do to Qinqin?! Why is she crying?!"

 The girl paused for three seconds. "Perhaps it's because... I got better grades than she did?"

"...What?", Ding Xian was stunned. She even suspected her hearing of being faulty... Her grades are better than Qinqin's? That's not possible!

Qing Mian flung the bag she was carrying to the front, retrieved the final grade report, and passed it to Ding Xian.

Ding Xian instinctively reached for it. On it were the results of every subject.

Mathematics: 150 marks.

Science Aggregate: 290 marks.

English: 140 marks.

Literature: 130 marks.

 Ding Xian who frequently flaunted Qing Qin's results to everyone else, naturally knew what these grades meant. She stared at the "dimwit and dumb" girl in disbelief.

Qing Mian gently and hooked the dining chair over with her foot. The chair rocked a little and stopped before her. She then pressed down on Qin's shoulders, asking her to sit down before she turned to Ding Xian. "Now, it's time for your apology."

Apology...

Ding Xian instantly recalled the girl's words from yesterday:

"No need...

"If my results are better than Qing Qin's, you just have to apologize to my mother."

Ding Xian's face turned red with anger as her entire body trembled.

Apologize to this useless lady? Especially in front of the servants? Impossible!

Ding Xian frowned and suddenly clutched her stomach. "Aiyo, aiyo..."

Beside her, Qing Ziqi instantly got her hint and moved forward. "Mum, is your ulcer acting up again? 

"Yes..."

Xue Xi: "..."

"Where?", Qing Ziqi asked.

" Here", Ding Xian pointed at the right side of her stomach.

"Mum! That's...."

"Enough with the pretense. Apologize!", Qing Mian said angrily.

 She balled up her fists, feeling a severe sense of shame looming over her. She could only look at Qin in a disgruntled manner, saying, "I should not have hit you for that day's events."

Qin was surprised when she saw Ding Xian apologizing.

She was helpless and didn't know what to say.

Still, she could not back down now. She had conceded in every way she could in the past only because she did not want to make things difficult for everybody. However, now, she had Qing Mian, and so she had to protect her.

...

The next morning, when Xue Xi woke up, Ye Li came over happily and knocked on the door. 

" Good morning Mianmian"

"Morning mother"

"You don't have to be polite. You can call me mum or mummy"

"Okay mum"

"You were really cool last night", Qin said with her thumbs up.

"How did dad get married to her?"

"She is his brother's wife"

"Huh?"

"Yes, your uncle is always busy that's why they stay at our house"

"Ohhh"

"So, Qing Qin is my cousin?"

"Yes"

"That's better"

"Mianmian, I am joining the crew next week"

"Huh? Can I go with you"

"I am not sure. I'll talk to your dad about it"

"Okay"

"Continue reading. I'll call you when it's time for breakfast"

"Okay mum", Qing Mian said with a smile