Rebirth as the Richest Woman in the World
Chapter 510, If the small tree is not trimmed, then it won’t grow straight (first update)

Chapter 510: 510, If the small tree is not trimmed, then it won’t grow straight (first update)

Mu Xianxian was someone adept at adapting.

She knew what to say for every occasion.

When to yield, and when to hold her head high.

Now, with Chu Jin having the upper hand, she had to bow her head; she had to show goodwill to Chu Jin.

Hence at this moment, she reverted to her gentle and kind demeanor.

Being flexible, being able to lose gracefully, would win her the favor of others.

Time was on her side, and one day, she would repay Chu Jin for the humiliation suffered today twofold.

Indeed, when Mu Xianxian uttered these words, the look in the eyes of those around her changed again, and they all inwardly sighed, thinking that Mu Xianxian had truly grown up.

The anger in Elder Mo’s heart dissipated by more than half. But out of respect for an old friend who had passed away and seeing that Mu Xianxian was willing to correct her mistakes, she thought it right to forgive her.

Mu Xianxian was smart. She knew how to leverage people’s influence and understood how to manipulate human nature well. She was aware that under these circumstances, if Chu Jin continued to ignore her or made things difficult for her, Chu Jin would undoubtedly be criticized by everyone. After all, the underdog was always the one who received the most attention. That’s why she dared to step forward and say such words to Chu Jin.

Whether Chu Jin entertained her or made things difficult for her, it wasn’t a bad thing for Mu Xianxian herself.

After finishing her statement, Mu Xianxian looked up at Chu Jin with gentle spring light and laughter in her eyes, as if she were genuinely happy for Chu Jin’s victory in the game of chess.

It must be said that this person’s acting was truly superb.

Chu Jin also looked up at her, her smile faint, and in an extremely light tone, she uttered two words, "Thank you."

She neither showed Mu Xianxian disdain nor ignored her.

Towards Mu Xianxian, she felt not the slightest bit of fondness. As someone with a normal sense of right and wrong, no one would probably feel fondness towards such a person, would they?

Upon hearing her response, Mu Xianxian was startled, then with a slight redness to her eyes, she said, "Sister Chu, you don’t like me?" Her expression was somewhat aggrieved.

Hearing this, the looks between Chu Jin and Mu Xianxian grew more intriguing to the onlookers.

They recalled the scene of the two playing chess just moments before.

Could it be that besides their chess match, there had been some previous grievance between them? Seeing Mu Xianxian almost ready to cry, it seemed she had suffered no small injustice. However, Jin didn’t appear to be the kind of person who would bully others. So, what exactly had transpired between them?

Curiosity among the onlookers was growing. After all, Mu Xianxian was a member of the Superpower World, and her father was the second Elder there. If Mu Xianxian were wronged in the secular world, it would be difficult for them to explain upon returning to the Superpower World.

Moreover, if Mu Xianxian were bullied in the secular world, it would also reflect poorly on the reputation of the Superpower World, especially as today, Zhou Xunian was present.

"My sexual orientation is normal, why should I like you?" Chu Jin replied with a smile, the dimples on her cheeks shallow, and her eyes filled with endless ripples, captivating those who saw them.

She was only seventeen or eighteen years old, yet she exuded an elegant demeanor enriched by time. With red lips and a fair complexion, her charming grace was like that of a beauty stepping out of a painting, a delight to the eyes, instantly brightening a dreary heart.

They say beauty is difficult to capture in painting, yet she was the kind of beauty that radiated from within.

Upon hearing this, Mo Zhixuan’s usually stern brows softened considerably. This beauty was going to belong to him.

This answer was brilliant! It not only expressed that she simply didn’t like Mu Xianxian, but it also left no room for faultfinding!

Jin’s emotional intelligence was truly incomparable, the onlookers silently praised.

Mu Xianxian was stunned too, struggling to maintain her composure. This Chu Jin was really not someone to be trifled with! She could never have dreamed that Chu Jin would say such a thing. It seemed she had no choice but to keep up her act of being pitiable to the end.

Right now, this was her only advantage, and she must play it well.

With a bit more redness in her eyes, Mu Xianxian said, "Sister Chu, you know that’s not what I meant. If... if I have offended you before, please be magnanimous and forgive me this once. I apologize to you here," and with that, she bowed slightly towards Chu Jin, demonstrating sincere contrition.

"There’s no need for apologies. Since the matter is already in the past, I prefer not to dwell on it. Besides, the one you should be apologizing to isn’t me," Chu Jin said, raising her gaze to Mu Xianxian, the smile disappearing from her lips as she straightened up and seriously continued, "The one you owe an apology to, is your conscience."

It was rare for Chu Jin to be so solemn; usually, she was either nonchalant or smiling. But suddenly, her serious demeanor caused a jolt in the hearts of those around her, releasing an aura of authority that was chilling.

Chu Jin had saved Mu Xianxian for the sake of Zhou Xunian’s face. When she rescued her, she hadn’t expected any repayment, so Mu Xianxian’s biting the hand that fed her was not a betrayal of Chu Jin but of her own conscience.

"Boss?" The crowd around them instinctively swallowed their saliva, Sister Nine V5! Sister Nine looked just like Brother Nine used to!

Mu Xianxian had thought that once she spoke these words, everyone would take her side, especially since she had been so compromising! But to her surprise, they were instead casting looks of near-admiration at Chu Jin!

What a mistake! She was the one apologizing, she was the one who had been wronged, and these people weren’t seeking justice for her, but were staring at Chu Jin like idiots instead!

She was furious!

But what infuriated her most was Zhou Xunian—he wasn’t saying a word to defend her!

Mu Xianxian tried hard to regulate her breathing and said pitifully, "Sister Chu, I really know I was wrong. Please forgive me, considering my young age, can we be good sisters from now on? My mother died early, and I never had a sister, but when I saw you, you were like a sister to me."

Now, she had no choice but to exploit her mother’s death to evoke sympathy and manipulate the situation. If Chu Jin dared to refuse her, it meant she lacked compassion, and surely everyone would hate her then!

Chu Jin couldn’t stand people like Mu Xianxian who played the pity card. She had clearly done wrong and wasn’t repentant! The most contemptible thing was using a deceased person to manipulate others. Wasn’t she tired of living in a soap opera every day?

"Miss Mu, can’t you let the deceased rest in peace? They are not pawns for you to gain others’ sympathy. Also, being young is not an excuse for lacking conscience; even four-year-old Kong Rong knew how to yield the larger pears. Besides, you are 18 years old this year!"

Chu Jin’s words were reasonable and intentional, leaving no room for Mu Xianxian’s face, cutting through her façade like a sharp sword, revealing the most corrupt side of her beneath to everyone, bloody and raw.

The few who had begun to feel sympathy for Mu Xianxian immediately saw her in a new light. As Chu Jin had said, if Mu Xianxian really had a conscience, she wouldn’t have exploited the dead to garner sympathy from others.

Even the Elder Madam Mo’s gaze towards Mu Xianxian held a different hue, realizing that Mu Xianxian was not as simple, as kind-hearted, or as filial as she appeared to be.

Doctor Zhang stepped forward, shielding Mu Xianxian, and addressed Chu Jin, "Miss Chu, you’ve gone too far with your words. My sister died early, and this child is already pitiful enough. Now you’re pouring salt on her wounds. After all, Xianxian is just an 18-year-old child who hasn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony. Strictly speaking, she’s still a minor. You, poised to be the future matriarch of the Mo family, why bother arguing with a child?"

This was double-edged, suggesting on one hand that Chu Jin was petty to quarrel with a child, lacking the grace expected of a matriarch. On the other hand, he insinuated she was ruthlessly heartless, speaking evilly of an orphaned child. What made her worthy of being the Mo family’s matriarch?

Hearing this, Chu Jin slightly furrowed her brows. Clearly, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. It appeared that Mu Xianxian’s transformation into her current state wasn’t solely her own fault; as a parent, he bore a significant share of the responsibility.

Parents are a child’s first teachers! Children learn from what they see their parents do!

Chu Jin lifted her eyes slightly, her demeanor composed. She was not flustered by Physician Zhang’s words and said in a cool tone, "I have said before, being young is not an excuse for lacking conscience; having no mother is not a chip to garner sympathy! Moreover, the ancients have said, ’When a child is not taught, it’s the father’s fault.’ Although you are not Miss Mu’s father, the reason she has turned out this way today is largely your responsibility! As an elder, you should act like one! Forgive my frankness, but if a sapling is not straightened it will not grow upright. If this continues, Miss Mu is likely to become a crooked tree."

When she finished speaking, laughter erupted from the onlookers. Sister-in-law Jiu’s presence was truly formidable; her speech was well articulated. The nearby Yong Lingzi also nodded in approval, "Not bad, not bad, the young lady indeed possesses that person’s elegance!"

Physician Zhang’s face turned ashen, but, frustratingly, he had no grounds for rebuttal!

The surrounding laughter all fell into Mu Xianxian’s ears, her face turned as ugly as a palette of mismatched colors. Her hands were clenched tightly into fists within her sleeves, shaking slightly with anger. She had never suffered such humiliation in her life!

"You!" When had Physician Zhang ever been criticized like this by someone younger? He was shaking with rage and had the urge to beat Chu Jin, yet he dared not lift a hand against her.

Chu Jin’s lips curled slightly as she watched him, embodying the attitude of "I just love how you can’t stand me but can’t do anything about it."

For a moment, Physician Zhang became even more enraged!

And the crowd, none of whom seemed inclined to ease the tension for these two, because Chu Jin was right after all—they always supported justice over relationships.

The Mo family matriarch stepped forward at the right moment, smiling amiably at Physician Zhang, "I apologize, Jin is young and is always straight to the point. Just listen to her and let it go, please don’t take it to heart. However, what Jin said isn’t completely unreasonable. Children learn by following the examples of adults. We, as elders, should indeed spend more time on the younger ones so that Yunzhen can rest in peace below."

The Mo family matriarch’s words on the surface seemed to be mediating for Physician Zhang and Mu Xianxian but were also an implied criticism of Mu Xianxian’s lack of education and upbringing. Nevertheless, it was a way for she to give Physician Zhang a way out since she had spoken up. If he continued to be obstinate, he would appear unreasonable.

Therefore, Physician Zhang spoke with a feigned smile, "The elder lady is correct."

"Aunt Mo, Xianxian knows her mistake and will certainly reform from now on," Mu Xianxian followed with a deep bow, a picture of sincerity. Nobody noticed the moment she bowed, her lowered eyes harbored a venomous, ruthless glint.

The Mo family matriarch nodded, "Good, recognizing your fault is what matters. Alright, today’s banquet was meant to express gratitude for everyone’s help, there’s no need to be upset over unrelated matters. Come, come, let’s all take a seat."

She efficiently ushered the guests to take their seats and turning to Yong Lingzi, she said, "Elder Yong Lingzi, please take the seat of honor," and gestured for him to proceed.

Yong Lingzi originally intended to say he wanted to sit with Chu Jin, but glancing at Mo Zhixuan beside her, he swallowed those words and seated himself at the place of honor. Mu Xianxian followed suit, remaining in her original seat next to the Mo family matriarch. Now, ingratiating herself with the matriarch was most important. If she could win over Yong Lingzi’s favourable gaze in the process, that would be even better.

Unfortunately, throughout the banquet, the Mo family matriarch didn’t spare Mu Xianxian another look. As for Yong Lingzi, preoccupied with how to find an excuse to take Chu Jin as his disciple, he had no time to bother with an unrelated person.