WBSGVS Chapter 142 V1

So frustrating!

But she couldn’t argue against it.

Xia Zhihao was left speechless after being scolded by Qingli. His face turned pale, then flushed with anger as he glared at her, breathing heavily, but he had no way to refute her words. He had known for a long time that the sister from this world and the one from the other world were like two extremes—

One was obedient and gentle, while the other was fierce and decisive.

That was also why he had never considered whether his sister had been reborn as well. They were simply not the same person!

Because her cold indifference was terrifying.

Yet, at the same time, her competence made him feel somewhat intimidated. He had no problem lashing out at their parents, but when it came to Qingli, he simply didn’t dare.

Qingli ignored him. Seeing that he had snapped out of his delusions, she lowered her head and gently asked, “Lele, are you hungry?”

“Yes!” Lele nodded quickly, covering her stomach and smiling sheepishly. “And I need to use the restroom!”

Qingli took her to the bathroom. When they came out, she noticed that Xia Zhihao was still silent. He had ordered takeout and then turned to Yang Qing and Xia Yong, saying, “I’ll arrange for a caretaker for you both. One should be enough. Once you recover a bit more, I’ll hire a housekeeper to handle your meals.”

Yang Qing looked disappointed. “You’re not taking us to live with you?”

“No.” Qingli shook her head. She didn’t explain, just made the decision outright.

Yang Qing pursed her lips in grievance but didn’t argue. Xia Yong, on the other hand, was more adaptable. Having a caretaker and a housekeeper was already better than what many elderly people with children could hope for. It was clear that their daughter had made a fortune.

He didn’t want to offend her.

After all, their savings were gone. They had nothing left.

So Xia Yong nodded quickly. “That’s great! A’Li, you must be busy with work. There’s no need to take us in.”

Qingli lowered her gaze and smiled slightly. In truth, she just didn’t want to burden herself.

The original host had been raised by them since infancy—this was a fact that remained unchanged in both lifetimes. In her previous life, she had been naive and repaid their kindness with her life, an act far too heavy. In this life, Qingli decided she wouldn’t repay as much.

A caretaker and a housekeeper—ensuring they had food and comfort was enough.

Everything else had already been settled in a past life.

The hospital room fell into silence. The middle-aged man who had been talkative before now watched everything quietly, not daring to say another word.

A while later, the takeout arrived.

Yang Qing and Xia Yong couldn’t eat freely due to their hospital diets. As for Xia Zhihao—he wasn’t even within Qingli’s scope of concern.

She and Lele ate first. The little girl still struggled with adult-sized chopsticks, so Qingli handed her a spoon, rolled up her sleeves, and let her eat comfortably.

Only then did Qingli start eating herself.

Yang Qing gradually accepted the situation. Seeing how much Qingli cherished the little girl, she hesitated before asking, “A’Li, is she your only daughter?”

“Yes,” Qingli nodded.

Yang Qing smiled. “She looks like you.”

“Does she?” Qingli chuckled.

Lele seemed to understand and beamed brightly at Qingli.

Seeing the two of them smiling, Yang Qing felt happy too. But before she could stop herself, she blurted out, “You’re not young anymore. In a couple of years, you’ll be forty. Back then, when I had Zhihao at an older age, you didn’t approve. Since your child is still young, why not have a son too? Your husband must be well-off, and if you don’t have a son, I’m afraid he might…”

Xia Yong had originally wanted to stop his wife from speaking, but after hearing that last part, he agreed and nodded. “These days, even third children are allowed. It’s not like before when they restricted births. Having a son is better.”

Qingli looked at them with a half-smile. “I’m not married.”

Both of them: “???”

Lele swallowed her food and looked up at them, proudly declaring, “That’s right! I don’t have a dad! I only have my mom!”

She even lifted her chin slightly, looking quite smug.

All her classmates had dads, but she didn’t mind. She had plenty of uncles who adored her! Besides, other kids’ dads sometimes hit them, but her uncles would never hit her!

Yang Qing was stunned. She turned to her husband, and sure enough, he was just as shocked. She stammered, “You… you got divorced?”

“I was never married,” Qingli replied calmly.

Yang Qing clutched her chest, feeling like she might faint. But the shock of not having a grandson was greater, so she managed to hold on. In a near breakdown, she cried, “Are you crazy?! Having a child out of wedlock—don’t you care about your reputation?”

Qingli found it amusing. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’m doing just fine. And as for my reputation… no one has anything bad to say. People envy me. I don’t have to deal with in-laws, and I don’t have to stay tied to a man.”

“But how can a single woman raise a child?” Yang Qing fumed.

Qingli chuckled. “If I can afford to support you two, along with a caretaker and a housekeeper, do you have any idea how much that costs per month?—Then raising Lele is a piece of cake.”

She paused before adding, “At least, it’s easier than your life. You were exhausted from your in-laws’ constant pressure, carrying a child at an advanced age, and still had to tolerate a husband who acted like a king at home.”

Xia Yong: “…”

Yang Qing: “……”

She stared at her daughter, so unfamiliar, yet strikingly beautiful, looking nothing like her forty-year-old self.

At forty, she had a ten-year-old daughter. Though her life wasn’t too hard, she still had to endure constant criticism from her mother-in-law for not giving birth to a son. She had to cook for her husband, and if the food wasn’t good, he would complain. If it was good, then he would expect it every day. She had to do the laundry, mop the floor.

Both she and her husband worked, yet when they got home, he got to relax on the couch, playing on his phone and watching TV.

But her daughter?

Her daughter lived freely. She hired caretakers and housekeepers for her parents, raised a three-year-old on her own, and never even got married.

A life that seemed completely unimaginable to Yang Qing was now unfolding right in front of her.

She quietly shut her mouth. Perhaps… she wasn’t in a position to judge her daughter’s life.

Xia Yong, the textbook traditionalist, initially wanted to scold her, especially since she had just mocked him.

But looking at Qingli’s expression—completely indifferent to their opinions—he suddenly found himself unable to say anything.

Even Xia Zhihao was in shock. Yet, at the same time, he wasn’t too surprised. Compared to his aging parents, he had access to more modern ideas and knew that many successful women chose a career over marriage.

Still, the realization that he was related to someone this capable made him feel a bit… ashamed?

She had achieved so much, yet after being reborn, he still hadn’t even gotten into a decent college.

Then, a sudden thought hit Xia Zhihao. Panic filled his voice as he asked, “Sis! You spent all of Mom and Dad’s money—what about my college tuition?”

Xia Yong’s expression changed as well. He had just realized this, too. He looked at Qingli, attempting to be ingratiating. “A’Li, this is a special situation. Your mom and I really can’t afford to pay for your brother. It’s just four years—it’ll be over quickly. Can’t you help him out?”

Qingli didn’t even look up as she said, “College tuition can be covered by government aid. As for living expenses, he can earn them himself.”

Xia Zhihao was dumbfounded. “How am I supposed to earn my living expenses?!”

Qingli glanced at him and gave a sincere suggestion. “You’re in decent shape—go work construction. There are still two and a half months before college starts. The pay is good, and you’ll earn enough to cover a semester’s living costs without needing a part-time job during school.”

Xia Zhihao: “…”

Qingli didn’t give Xia Zhihao a choice—only a requirement.

Either he borrowed money from her for tuition and worked part-time, just like she had, to cover his living expenses, or he didn’t go to college at all and supported himself.