Chapter 79: How Did I End Up Revealing My True Feelings?

Shen Chutang clutched Liu Shuhua's hand, her face full of grievance. "Mom, the reason you called me back home today was just to trick me out, so that Second Uncle's family could take over my house, wasn't it?"

"Of course! With such a nice house, I have every intention of taking it over. Didn’t we clear out the storage room at home for you? What more could you possibly want?"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Liu Shuhua slapped her hand over her lips, aghast that she had accidentally voiced her true intentions!

Not only were the bystanders stunned, even Deng Meiru was left speechless. What on earth was Liu Shuhua saying?

She hurried to explain, "It's not like that. It's just that Shen Chutang's brother has an entrance exam, and we planned to stay here for a few days—not to take over her house!"

Lu Beiqin hooked his lips in a cold smile. "Is that so? Then who was just at the door picking the lock and moving in a mountain of luggage? That hardly looks like a temporary stay to me."

"That was just her brother's study materials. Who could have guessed you'd be so heartless and move everything out? Where in the world is there a sister like Shen Chutang? Don't you agree?"

Deng Meiru looked toward Liu Shuhua, but Liu Shuhua immediately raised her voice, "Exactly! If we didn't do this, how could we get you out and make room for Second Uncle's family? Even if you come back now, don't think you'll ever set foot in here again!"

Deng Meiru hurriedly yanked Liu Shuhua's sleeve, hissing under her breath, "Are you mad? What nonsense are you spouting?"

Liu Shuhua was dazed; this wasn't what she had meant to say at all, but somehow her mouth kept running ahead of her brain.

A shadow flickered in Shen Chutang's eyes as she clung to Lu Beiqin's hand, looking pitiful. "He's my husband, Lu Beiqin—not some random man. You forced me to marry Jiang Han, but I told you, Jiang Han was already seeing other women before he even got married. I never understood why you insisted I marry him."

"If you don’t marry him, what will happen to our family business? If we don't marry you off to him, how can we curry favor with him and help our family prosper?"

At her side, Deng Meiru hastily covered her mouth, desperate to stop her from saying any more.

The crowd that had gathered to watch had at first felt some sympathy for Liu Shuhua and her party, but now they were utterly shocked by the truth.

"I thought the girl just refused to go back home, but it turns out they’re trying to force her out, make her sleep in a storeroom, and give her house to her uncle’s family. What kind of mother can say such things?"

"Exactly! You’d think, not knowing the truth, that the girl had simply eloped out of rebellion. But in fact, her own family is sacrificing her happiness for the sake of their business—utterly inhuman!"

"Who wouldn’t run away if this happened to them?"

Deng Meiru’s face was ashen as she forced a smile. "It’s not like that..."

"You gossipy busybodies don’t know a thing!" Liu Shuhua blurted out, quickly covering her own mouth. What was happening to her today?

The onlookers could no longer contain themselves and immediately closed in on the two women. With Liu Shuhua’s sharp tongue offending everyone with every word, things quickly escalated into hair-pulling and slapping.

But with just the two of them, Liu Shuhua and Deng Meiru were soon overwhelmed.

Only then did Shen Chutang calmly summon security to have them removed.

Lu Beiqin said coldly, "Next time, don't let these people in so easily."

"I'm sorry. She said she was Miss Shen's mother, so we..."

The security guard had seen her carrying so many things and assumed they were gifts for Shen Chutang. Besides, he’d been hoping to avoid trouble that day, so he let them in. He hadn’t expected that this would lead to offending a bunch of residents.

Lu Beiqin's gaze was icy. "So next time, if someone claims to be her parents, siblings—anyone—you'll just let them in without checking? Do I really need to teach you something this basic as a security officer?"

The guard’s heart leapt into his throat, and he promised repeatedly that nothing like this would ever happen again before leaving.

……

Liu Shuhua and Deng Meiru, having been thrown out, were both seething with anger.

Deng Meiru couldn't help but complain, "Sister-in-law, what was with you just now? Don’t you realize you basically confessed everything yourself with those words?"

"Bah! If it weren’t for your family’s shamelessness in trying to take over Shen Chutang’s house, would I have to suffer through this with you? Shen Xueshi failed in business and dragged our family down with him—what rotten luck!"

Deng Meiru hadn’t expected Liu Shuhua to harbor such resentment and immediately fired back, "So that's what you really think of us! But it was Mom’s idea for us to live here, not mine. If you’re upset, go take it up with her!"

Liu Shuhua felt as if ten thousand wild horses were galloping through her mind. She couldn’t understand why she kept blurting out the whole ugly truth today.

She quickly forced a smile. "That’s not what I meant. I’m just not feeling well today. Let’s go see if Xueshi managed to get our things back."

With that, Liu Shuhua fell silent, terrified she might say something else she shouldn't.