Lin Xiaoxiao shot Zhou Xiaohong a sidelong glance, slowing her steps but not stopping. "Talk about what? I don't think we have anything to talk about."

Zhou Xiaohong had to quicken her pace to keep up. "I didn't think things through before. I never imagined Zhou Xiaoming was capable of something like this."

Lin Xiaoxiao had no interest in comforting her. She was known for her sharp temper and made no effort to hide her dislike for people she couldn't stand—let alone someone as foolish and stubborn as Zhou Xiaohong.

Seeing that Lin Xiaoxiao was ignoring her, Zhou Xiaohong pressed on awkwardly, "He really wasn't like this before. When we were kids, we got along well. Our parents were always busy with work, so it was him and Second Brother who looked after Xiaoling and me."

Back then, they were only about ten years old. Life wasn't easy, but whenever there was something good to eat, her two brothers always gave the best portions to her and Xiaoling.

Even a single piece of candy would be carefully split in half with a kitchen knife so she and Xiaoling could share.

When Xiaoling was sick and fussy at night, Second Brother would carry her around the courtyard until she fell asleep.

He'd even sneak roasted chicken from the cafeteria to share with them. Because Xiaoling was frail and cried easily, he always gave her both drumsticks and gave Zhou Xiaohong the wings.

He'd also braid their hair, unraveling red wool sweaters to make hair ribbons that made all the other kids envious.

Zhou Xiaohong suddenly paused, lost in thought. It was Second Brother who had done more—Big Brother was all talk. He'd often eat treats outside before coming home so he wouldn't have to share.

Because Second Brother paid more attention to Xiaoling, she'd grown jealous and deliberately sided with Big Brother, often picking fights with Second Brother.

But looking back, Second Brother had always treated her and Xiaoling equally. It was just that Xiaoling's poor health meant she needed a little extra care.

Whenever she and Xiaoling fought, Second Brother would ask her to be the bigger person.Zhou Xiaohong suddenly stopped walking and burst into tears.

Lin Xiaoxiao was baffled. She hadn't even said anything—why was this girl crying? "If you want to cry, go do it at home. Crying on the street—have you no shame?"

Zhou Xiaohong sniffled. "I've been so childish. I thought Second Brother only liked Xiaoling, that he only cared about her... I even resented him for it."

She continued crying, recounting memories between sobs.

Lin Xiaoxiao grew angrier with every word. "And you have the nerve to be a teacher? You'd ruin your students. You can't even tell right from wrong. What is wrong with you?"

Having said her piece, she ignored Zhou Xiaohong and headed off to get food.

When she returned with the lunchboxes, Zhou Xiaohong was gone. Lin Xiaoxiao didn't ask about her and went to call Li Yunlan for dinner.

Li Yunlan's mood had improved slightly, though her eyes were still swollen from crying. The sight of Zhou Huai'an brought fresh tears to her eyes.

Lin Xiaoxiao handed her a steamed bun. "At least we found out in time. He didn't get a chance to hurt anyone else. Huai'an already has people watching for Zhou Xiaoming. Sooner or later, he'll be caught, and Xiaocheng will be avenged."

Li Yunlan had no appetite and set the bun down. "I just... I can't understand it. Our family never wronged him. He and Xiaocheng grew up together—how could he do something like that?"

Lin Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, was hungry. She took a bite of her bun. "Not everyone is born good. Some people are just rotten from the start. It's not your fault. The real monsters are Wang Fenglan and her family—vicious, heartless people. They'll get what's coming to them."

Li Yunlan nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes. They deserve to pay."

But she felt helpless. As much as she wanted to make Wang Fenglan suffer, she didn't know how.

Lin Xiaoxiao spoke calmly, laying out a plan. "Sue them. What they did is human trafficking. Everyone hates traffickers. The whole Zhou Village can testify how poorly they treated Huai'an. That's abuse!"

She grew more passionate, her voice rising. "We have to sue them. Put Wang Fenglan and her husband behind bars. Make sure their family never gets ahead for three generations."

Li Yunlan thought it was a brilliant idea. "Xiaoxiao, that's a wonderful plan. Let's sue them."

Lin Xiaoxiao added fuel to the fire. "Didn't Dad used to work in that county? He must still have connections there. Let's use some influence to pressure them!"

Zhou Huai'an glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao. This girl never forgot a grudge. Not only did she refuse to be wronged, she always fought back immediately.

But that was good—no one would ever take advantage of her.

Lin Xiaoxiao's words comforted Li Yunlan. Together, they vented their anger, cursing Wang Fenglan's family and denouncing Zhou Xiaoming as a monster.

It helped Li Yunlan release some of the pent-up frustration in her heart. Without realizing it, she ended up eating half a steamed bun.

She even learned some new insults from Lin Xiaoxiao—like how raising Zhou Xiaoming was worse than raising a placenta, or how Wang Fenglan's family were like maggots, wasting food while alive and polluting the air when dead...

Zhou Huai'an watched the two of them rant with growing satisfaction, especially Lin Xiaoxiao.

Her face was flushed with anger, her eyes sharp with emotion—it made her look vibrant and alive.

Her way of comforting people was unique, but it worked. After all that venting, Li Yunlan's spirits were noticeably lifted.

By evening, Zhou Xiaohong still hadn't returned. Since Li Yunlan didn't ask, Lin Xiaoxiao didn't bring her up. It would be better if Zhou Xiaohong went back to Beijing anyway—one less person to cause trouble.

When it was fully dark, Zhou Xiaoling rushed in. The moment she saw Li Yunlan was safe, she threw her arms around her. "Mom! Thank goodness you're alright! I was so scared! That bastard Zhou Xiaoming—how could he do something so evil after everything our family did for him?"

Li Yunlan was surprised. "What are you doing here?"

After greeting Zhou Huai'an and Lin Xiaoxiao, Zhou Xiaoling explained anxiously, "My sister called me. I asked for time off and came as soon as I could. There was a logistics truck heading into the city this afternoon, so I hitched a ride."

Li Yunlan frowned. "Your sister, really..."

Zhou Xiaoling couldn't stop talking. "Zhou Xiaoming is the worst! When we catch him, he deserves to be torn apart!"

Li Yunlan pulled her younger daughter down. "Calm down and sit for a bit. Your big brother will handle this. Don't go getting involved and making things messy."

She knew Zhou Xiaoling's personality—passionate, impulsive, and sometimes reckless.

Zhou Xiaoling nodded. "Don't worry, I won't cause any trouble for Big Brother."

Then she suddenly gasped and turned to Zhou Huai'an. "My sister said she's going to find Zhou Xiaoming. She knows where he is."

Lin Xiaoxiao's mind raced. Has Zhou Xiaohong completely lost her mind? How was this helping? This was only making things worse!