WBSGVS Chapter 166 V1

Qingli was busy—too busy to waste her time dealing with her ex-husband.

Busy with what?

Disciplining her younger brother.

A few minutes before Shen Yanjun’s call came through, Huo Qingyu—who had also snuck home from work, walked through the door and immediately launched into a sarcastic jab when he saw Qingli:
“Well, well, giving up your spot voluntarily? I thought you’d cling to the title of ‘Mrs. Shen’ for life!”

“Huo Qingyu!” Feng Ying barked in warning.

But the more she scolded, the more smug Huo Qingyu became. At twenty-four—the same age as Qingli—he still acted like a bratty teenager.

He resented how their parents favored his sister and couldn’t stand seeing her upset while they bent over backwards to protect her.

Whatever rebellious streak he had left was now fully activated by Feng Ying’s tone.

He flopped onto the couch, crossed his legs, and scoffed, “I’m just saying, Qingli. Shen Yanjun and Xu Yin have been together since they were young. You came in after the fact. Maybe it’s time you stop interfering with true love and just let them be.”

Even as he spoke, there was bitterness in his heart.

He’d met Xu Yin abroad and had been interested in her, thinking about pursuing something. But just after graduating, he’d been called back to take over the family business, missing nearly two whole years.

And now, his sister, one who was only a few minutes older, got to live the cushy life of a housewife, doing nothing? Why?

When he finally got another shot, he arranged for Xu Yin to work in a position that matched her field, thinking proximity would give him a chance. But in the blink of an eye, she was “true love” with his brother-in-law.

He wasn’t over it yet. His crush had faded, sure, but not disappeared. So his tone grew sharper and more biting.

That snide voice of his made Feng Ying want to slap someone. How could this stupid kid say something so heartless when his sister was already in pain?

But before she could raise her hand, Qingli—usually no match for her brother’s quick tongue—approached, pillow in hand.

“What are you doing?” Huo Qingyu sensed danger and leaned back with his hands up, wary.

Through the original Qingli’s memories, she knew this guy was an idiot. If he hadn’t dragged Xu Yin into their lives, if he hadn’t invited the wolf in, Qingli’s reputation wouldn’t have crumbled so easily, and she might’ve been able to save her career in time.

So her attitude toward Huo Qingyu was anything but warm. There was a chill in her voice as she said, “Teaching you a lesson.”

“The hell?!” Huo Qingyu was about to blow up. “Qingli, Mom and Dad already spoil you enough! I can’t even say a word without you flipping out? Wha—ah!”

Before he could finish, the pillow landed on his head with a thud. Clean. Precise. No mercy.

Even Feng Ying, who was used to smacking her son, winced a little.

That hit was not gentle.

Pillow or not, it still hurt like hell.

“You think I can’t beat you just because you’re taller?” Qingyu shouted, clutching his spinning head as he shot to his feet, trying to intimidate her with his height.

But the moment he stood up, Qingli swung the pillow low and struck the back of his knees.

He collapsed back onto the couch, and before he could react, she delivered a rapid barrage of smacks to his face—bam, bam, bam—leaving him dizzy and reeling.

Qingli’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp:
“I thought you had at least some moral compass! I confessed to Shen Yanjun after he broke up with Xu Yin. But when Xu Yin and he were together, I was still married to him! And you—you’re siding with her?”

“So what?” Huo Qingyu’s face twisted, suddenly unsure of himself. He felt guilty, but the pain made him stubborn. “They’re soulmates! You were just the—ouch, ouch, OUCH!”

He howled in pain as a pale hand pinched his ear hard, twisting it in a circle.

The earlier pillow hits had left him dazed. This? This burned.

Qingli didn’t hold back. She knew Huo Qingyu wasn’t aware of their past life, but that didn’t mean she’d let him off the hook. Her voice was ice:
“Keep talking! Why’d you shut up?”

Tears welled up in his eyes. In twenty-four years, aside from a few childhood beatings, he’d never been hit like this. His large hand made several feeble gestures toward pushing her off, but he couldn’t bring himself to hurt her. No matter how upset he was, all he could do was whimper, “Okay, okay, I get it…”

Who was this person? Had his sister been possessed?

He muttered under his breath as Qingli finally let go. His ear throbbed red and hot, and the pain made him scrunch up his face.

Qingli finally looked a bit more pleased and warned him, “Next time, think before you speak. Don’t let me catch you running your mouth again.”

Huo Qingyu pouted, but under her glare, he reluctantly nodded. “Fine.”

Qingli gave a satisfied little smirk and turned to Feng Ying. “Mom, I’m going back to my room to rest. Call me when it’s time for dinner.”

“Okay, okay.” Feng Ying nodded quickly, a wide smile on her face.

To her surprise, Qingli hadn’t spent the day crying over Shen Yanjun like they feared. Instead, she was… sparring with her brother? They hadn’t been this close since they were ten. Sometimes she wondered if they were even twins.

“Mom!” Huo Qingyu complained, watching Feng Ying grin without a trace of sympathy. “She twisted my ear! Look at it! And you’re smiling?!”

Feng Ying blinked and quickly tried to soothe him, “Your sister’s in a bad mood. Be a gentleman, okay? Just let her have this one…”

That again?!

Why was it always “you’re a guy, let her win”?

He was just about to argue when Qingli, already halfway up the stairs, turned and came stomping back down. He flinched instinctively—was she coming to hit him again?

It wasn’t cowardice—his ear hurt like hell!

But she just said, “Mom, you and Dad need to pay attention. I don’t need Huo Qingyu to let me win. We’re both human, this is our first time living life—we shouldn’t excuse everything just because he’s a boy. That’s not fair.”

“Huh?” Feng Ying froze, instinctively looking at her son, about to explain.

“Mom!” Qingli said again, firm.