Chapter Eleven: Pushing Su Zhihan to the Limit

This time, she only earned two cups of milk tea from going out, and Su Zhihan was very dissatisfied.

So afterward, she slyly blackmailed Ji Han a little.

Having suffered this loss today, Lin Pingting certainly would not let it go easily.

Once home, she blew up in a rage, smashing everything in her room that could be broken.

“Su Zhihan! Why does she seem even more detestable than before? Doesn’t she like Ji Han?”

“She must know she can’t be with Ji Han, so she can’t stand to see me doing well. How vicious can a woman be!”

Lin Pingting’s face twisted with anger. At home, she no longer needed to hide her true nature. The servants dared not approach her when she was furious.

Her parents knew she had been upset outside, but instead of comforting her, they scolded her for being useless.

Lin’s mother entered her room, looking disdainfully at the mess. “Look at what you’ve done! You’re the eldest daughter of the Lin family, and such a small matter has you this worked up? Have all the lessons you’ve learned gone to waste?”

Lin Pingting sat on the edge of the bed, too angry to retort.

The servants quickly tidied the room; judging by their practiced efficiency, this was hardly the first time.

Crossing her arms, Lin’s mother said coldly, “Instead of wasting time being angry here, you should be trying to win over Mrs. Ji. Once she likes you, that Song Miaoke isn’t worth a second thought.”

“The Ji family would never let that insignificant girl with no background into their home. If you can’t even outdo that little nobody, you might as well follow your aunt’s example—pack up and marry off early!”

Hearing the suggestion to marry early, Lin Pingting’s face drained of color.

“No! Mom, I will never lose to Song Miaoke. I will marry Ji Han. I will be the future Mrs. Ji!”

She dared not even imagine the life her aunt was leading now.

It wasn’t a life at all; it was as if her aunt had been sold off by the Lin family—sold cheaply, at that.

Though both were married off, there was a world of difference between who they married.

Some people couldn’t even be called human; her aunt’s husband was one of them.

He was over twenty years older than her aunt. When the Lin family faced a crisis, that man helped them through it.

Her aunt was only six years older than her. When she was sixteen, her aunt was just twenty-two. She watched helplessly as her parents married her aunt off to that old man.

Later, the Lin family received a sum of money that resolved the crisis.

Wasn’t that just selling her aunt off?

Even with the Lin family’s current prosperity, her aunt’s life had not improved. That man continued to beat and curse her.

Whenever her aunt returned home, her parents treated her with disdain, as if associating with her would lower their status.

Yet they were the ones who sold her aunt, trading her for their current wealth—and now they scorned her.

She would never become a second aunt.

Trembling, Lin Pingting washed off her smeared makeup and reapplied a delicate layer. “I am the eldest daughter of the Lin family. I will never lose!”

She was still the glamorous eldest daughter of the Lin family; she would never be a failure!

Lin’s mother looked at her daughter coldly, showing no sympathy.

In this family, you had to prove your worth; otherwise, you were destined to be cast aside.

Meanwhile, the Ji household was bustling. Ji Han had purchased the surveillance footage from the coffee shop and showed it directly to Mrs. Ji.

Seeing the arrogant and domineering Lin Pingting on the screen, Mrs. Ji frowned in disgust.

“Who is this? She looks so much like Pingting.”

Ji Han: “That’s the Lin Pingting you like. Surprised?”

“She pretends to be gentle and virtuous in front of you, but this is how she acts outside. Su Zhihan was almost bullied by her today.”

Ji Han knew his mother disliked Song Miaoke, so he didn’t mention her name.

Besides, his mother had seen Song Miaoke only a few times; in the footage, only her back was visible, so there was no risk of recognition.

Su Zhihan was supposed to mediate, but Ji Han had other plans. Using her as a pawn was better than nothing.

See? The moment he mentioned Su Zhihan being bullied, his mother’s expression changed immediately.

Seeing this tactic worked, Ji Han pressed on: “Su Zhihan was out with a friend who isn’t part of our social circle, and Lin Pingting mocked her.”

Mrs. Ji: “Is that Lin family girl crazy? What did Su Zhihan do to her? What’s wrong with having an ordinary friend? Are ordinary people not people?”

Hearing his mother’s words, Ji Han raised an eyebrow unconsciously.

Indeed, ordinary people are people too. He hoped his mother would truly realize this and stop caring so much about social status.

Mrs. Ji grew angrier as she watched Lin Pingting’s arrogant expression on the video.

Though the audio was unclear, Lin Pingting’s haughty demeanor was captured perfectly.

Later, Su Zhihan fought back, and Lin Pingting’s expression shifted from arrogance to restrained fury.

Mrs. Ji watched and said, “I’m sure Su Zhihan was cursing her out just now. Look how furious she is; Su Zhihan’s insults must have been spectacular!”

“Truly my goddaughter—such a fiery temper, just like me!”

Hearing the words “goddaughter,” Ji Han almost choked on his saliva.

“Ahem, Mom! Since when did she become your goddaughter? How come I don’t know about this?”

Mrs. Ji shrugged innocently: “I claimed her myself, but she doesn’t know yet.”

Ji Han: “Mom, you can’t just claim someone as a goddaughter unilaterally; both sides have to agree.”

Although he was certain Su Zhihan would agree—after all, she already had her eyes on his position.

Mrs. Ji sighed irritably: “Alright, alright, I get it. You’re so annoying. How’s your little girlfriend lately? Are you still together?”

Ji Han closed his eyes and took a deep breath: “Yes, Mom, things are great. She will definitely be my wife. We won’t break up.”

“Look at the woman you want as your daughter-in-law. Compared to Lin Pingting, Miaoke is practically an angel. Except for her family background, she’s perfect!”

Mrs. Ji felt a pang of jealousy hearing that. “Tsk tsk tsk, perfect? That little brat doesn’t look perfect to me.”

Ji Han retorted, “That’s called reserved!”

“And Miaoke gets along very well with Su Zhihan. You treat Su Zhihan as your goddaughter, right? If Miaoke becomes the daughter-in-law, there’ll be no more sister-in-law conflicts.”

He glanced at Lin Pingting in the video and continued, “If you make her your daughter-in-law, I bet she’d fight with Su Zhihan nine times a day. You might even lose your goddaughter.”

Mrs. Ji seemed somewhat convinced, but she needed to think it over carefully.

Regardless, Lin Pingting’s plan was ruined.

Ji Han had truly exploited Su Zhihan’s usefulness to the fullest.

Even he hadn’t expected Su Zhihan to be so effective with his mother.

At home, soaking in a red wine bath, Su Zhihan sneezed several times in a row.

“Who’s that little nobody muttering about me!”