The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly
Chapter 29 - 029 It’s another scammer (Part 8)

Chapter 29: Chapter 029 It’s another scammer (Part 8)

"You... you really want to go back to the countryside? To leave things as they are with Zixuan?"

Upon hearing Tiantian’s words, even Feng Mingjie, who was angry with Tiantian because of Seo Xiulan, was somewhat moved.

Ah, after all, she was the child she had raised herself.

From the size of a small cat, after more than a decade of hard work and effort, she had grown into a graceful young woman; only Feng Mingjie, her mother, knew the hardships.

Her gaze complex, she looked at Tiantian and asked softly.

"Mom, I... I can’t bear to leave you and dad, nor can I bear to leave my brother and sister, but I... but I am originally a child of the He Family!"

"I’ve taken Zixuan’s place, stolen the parental love that didn’t belong to me, I... I..."

As Tiantian spoke, tears started streaming down her face. Her choked voice was filled with self-reproach, guilt, and a profound reluctance to part with her "parents."

Zhou Chuanguo and Feng Mingjie exchanged glances, and from each other’s eyes, a slight thought arose: perhaps, should we keep Tiantian as well?

It’s true that Seo Xiulan was no good, but Tiantian was innocent.

Moreover, from Tiantian’s words just now, it was clear that her nature was not bad and she also remembered the teachings of her foster parents.

The most important thing was that the child had been raised until sixteen or seventeen, already at the age of marriage.

Not to mention she was pretty and could marry into a good family, there was also the dowry at the time of the marriage—

Feng Mingjie was initially somewhat resentful, but the thought of the dowry made her reluctant.

Why should she? She raised Tiantian to be beautiful and delicate, just like planting a fruit tree, about to bear fruit, yet allowing Seo Xiulan to benefit from it?

At this moment, Feng Mingjie truly despised Seo Xiulan and was hardly inclined to let Seo Xiulan claim any of her glory!

It would be best to snatch both children over, leaving Seo Xiulan with nothing.

The more Feng Mingjie thought about it, the more excited she became.

"Ah, Tiantian, mom doesn’t want to let you go either!" Now with a plan in mind, Feng Mingjie’s demeanor changed from gloomy and angry to the gentle motherly figure once again.

"Mom!" In terms of acting, Tiantian was definitely not lacking.

She flung herself into Feng Mingjie’s arms, embracing her and sobbing loudly.

Feng Mingjie’s body stiffened noticeably.

Although she had held Tiantian for more than a decade—and knew her scent very well—

But, now that the truth was known, Feng Mingjie already felt a barrier in her heart.

Tiantian clearly sensed Feng Mingjie’s anomaly; she secretly said to Student Xiao D, "My foster mother’s acting skills are not up to par, huh."

Student Xiao D: "I think you’re becoming more and more like a villain yourselves!"

It wasn’t meant maliciously, but merely stating the truth.

But then, Tiantian showed Student Xiao D through her actions what a true villain was.

Still a villain with the scent of a Lotus Flower.

"Tiantian, in this case, don’t be in a hurry to return to He Family Village just yet. Let us elders handle this matter!"

Seeing the mother and daughter warmly embracing, Zhou Chuanguo believed even more in his own idea.

He softened his tone, gently saying, "You stay at home first. Let the elders handle it and then you can obediently follow soon!"

"Really?" Tiantian poked her head out from Feng Mingjie’s embrace, her tear-stained face full of surprise.

However, soon, the joy in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by shame, "No, I... I can’t do this!"

Zhou Chuanguo’s expression shifted slightly, "Why can’t you?"

Could it be that Tiantian felt closer to her real parents?

Although he found it unlikely, Zhou Chuanguo had to be cautious.

Alas, it couldn’t be helped, in Hua Country, blood ties are as significant as heaven.

"Not genetically related, one must prevent ’raising unfamiliarity’."

"Mom, Dad, this is unfair to Zixuan!"

He Tiantian reluctantly extricated herself from Feng Mingjie’s embrace, she sniffed her nose, "Zixuan was originally from Zhou Family, yet she had to stay in the countryside and suffer because of my real mother!"

"And I am the Fake Lady who took over her nest! I have occupied everything that belongs to Zixuan. Zixuan might hate me."

"If Mom and Dad didn’t know the truth, Zixuan wouldn’t care too much. But if you clearly know I’m not your daughter, yet still keep me at home, Zixuan would be hurt once she finds out. She might even misunderstand, thinking Mom and Dad don’t love her, don’t value her!"

"Dad, I’ve done things I owe Zixuan an apology for. Even though I’ve come to realize my error in time, it doesn’t erase the harm I once caused her!"

"Mom, Dad, for you, for Zixuan, I—I should go back to He Family."

He Tiantian burst into tears again when she said "go back to He Family."

Her sobbing little face, her evident reluctance combined with the necessity to leave, just filled Zhou Chuanguo and Feng Mingjie’s hearts with sorrow.

"... You make some sense!" Feng Mingjie nodded, no longer harboring any anger toward He Tiantian.

She even felt a sense of pride: Look how great I am, even a vile offspring born from someone like Seo Xiulan, I managed to educate into a righteous, remorseful child.

"Let’s do this then, this afternoon we’ll take you back to He Family Village. We’ll get everything sorted out thoroughly!"

Zhou Chuanguo made the final decision.

But, plans can’t always keep up with changes!

After the family of three finished their lunch, preparing to take the department’s shuttle to He Family Village, someone showed up at their door.

"Zixuan?" Upon opening the door, Feng Mingjie exclaimed in surprise.

Although Seo Xiulan seldom brought He Zixuan to Zhou Family, she did bring her once or twice a year.

Feng Mingjie always compared herself to Seo Xiulan. She also paid extra attention to the child born on the exact same day as her daughter.

Every time she saw He Zixuan’s sun-roughened face, her ill-fitting, patched-up clothes, and her envious gaze whenever she saw milk powder, Big White Rabbit, and other good things...Feng Mingjie felt a strong sense of superiority.

Back then, Feng Mingjie proudly thought: Child, it’s unfortunate, but that’s the downside of being born into the wrong family. Who told you to have such bad luck to be born from Seo Xiulan, that wretched girl?

But now—

Feng Mingjie furiously cursed Seo Xiulan in her mind again and looked at He Zixuan with a mixture of heartache and guilt.

"Mom!"

He Zixuan, to be precise, Zhou Zixuan, stood at the door and directly called out "Mom."

"Zixuan? You, you—" already know?

Feng Mingjie was both shocked and delighted, quickly pulling Zhou Zixuan into the house and closing the door behind them.

"... That night, I secretly overheard my mom, oh no, Seo Xiulan, she quietly told He Dazhuang, ’The admission letter has been obtained, it’ll be delivered to Tiantian in the afternoon’... That’s when I knew, I’m not really my mom’s child, Tiantian and I were switched by Seo Xiulan!"

Zhou Zixuan seemed to explain logically.

But Zhou Chuanguo, who hurried over after hearing the news, caught on to another crucial point, "You’ve known for four days that you’re not from He Family? Seo Xiulan secretly intercepted your college admission letter, planning to let Tiantian impersonate you?"

Zhou Zixuan didn’t understand why Zhou Chuanguo asked this, but she obediently nodded.

Because she had thought it through, besides this, she couldn’t think of any other excuse.

Especially since without a significant issue, Seo Xiulan wouldn’t randomly mention to her husband something from the past about switching children.

"So, you knew Tiantian went to Provincial City with your admission letter, but didn’t try to stop her before?"

Zhou Chuanguo confirmed again, but he already guessed why Zhou Zixuan had done this: She wanted Tiantian to create a fait accompli, catch her red-handed, publicly expose her, and then ensure Tiantian could never recover.

If Zhou Chuanguo were Zhou Zixuan, he probably would have done the same.

But he wasn’t, he was Zhou Chuanguo, a person who had just become a department head, whose position wasn’t very stable yet.

He considered more the implications if the impersonation were to be exposed, how Zhou Chuanguo might get dragged into the scandal!