Chapter 27

As expected, Qiao Mu looked at him. Her eyes were sparkling as she said, “Uncle, I have classes on Monday, and I won’t be able to leave campus. If it’s possible, can you give me the money now? Just give me a cheque. I don’t mind the trouble. I can go to the bank to cash in the money.”

Li Yan’s expression immediately became cold.

She was really crazy about money, was she not? She never talked about anything other than money. Was she really living such a horrible life?

He recalled the way Yu Tingyun and Qiao Ya treated her when she was at the Qiao family’s mansion. Even though the two women did not make things too obvious as he was around, he could sense their aversion for her.

The Qiao family’s first young mistress drove an expensive car every day, and everything she owed, from the things she ate to the things she wore, were pricey. Her outfit every day cost at least a few hundred thousand RMB. However, the Qiao family’s second youngest mistress had to resort to taking the public bus every day, and she was doing everything she could just for 300,000 RMB!

It was no rocket science that her life in the Qiao family was not good. But never had he expected that she was living such a horrible life.

The temperature in the car dropped. Li Yan fixed his eyes on the road ahead as he said, “Since you don’t have time, forget about the money, then.”

Qiao Mu waved forcefully and shook her head like a madwoman. “No. I’ll just miss my classes, okay?”

She did not understand his logic. He would be giving her the money, anyway. So what was the difference between giving it to her today and giving it to her tomorrow? Why was he so adamant about her heading to his company?

It was silent once again in the car. Qiao Mu asked out of curiosity, “Uncle, why is the age difference between you and Aunt Yun so big?”

“My mum is a lot younger compared to Yu Tingyun’s mother. She’s only around Yu Tingyun’s age.”

Qiao Mu nodded in understanding. The fact that Li Yan was referring to Yu Tingyun by her name was further proof to Qiao Mu’s speculation. “Are things not going well between you and Aunt Yun?”

Li Yan arched an eyebrow. He could see that the young woman’s eyes were sparkling when she asked this question. He smiled. “Why, is that what you’re hoping for?”

“No!” Qiao Mu chuckled. “I was just thinking that if things aren’t going well between the two of you, you wouldn’t take her side and bully me together with her. We might be on the same team!”

Li Yan let out a soft laugh. “So, are you trying to ruin things between me and my cousin sister?”

“It’s just a passing remark. I’m just kidding, okay?” Qiao Mu fixed her gaze on the man before her. He looked even more handsome when he was laughing. Compared to the way he usually just flashed half-smiles, he looked absolutely stunning right now!

Li Yan asked, “Do they bully you a lot?”

“I wouldn’t exactly put it that way. Aunt Yun doesn’t really treat me that badly. She’s just cold towards me when my dad’s not around, and I’m used to it. Qiao Ya is a spoiled young woman, but it doesn’t really bother me either. I’ve never seen myself as the Qiao family’s young mistress, anyway, and I don’t expect to be treated like one.”

Qiao Mu spoke about it in such a nonchalant manner that it was as if she did not care about the things that were happening to her at all.

But it was because all of those began when she was young. Adults definitely would not be able to stay calm if they were treated that way. Qiao Mu had to accept this as a fact of life ever since she was five. Before she was eight, at least she had him. But what happened after that?

No wonder she had developed such a cunning personality. In fact, she was as innocent as a blank piece of paper when she was young.

Actually, this was not really true either.

Li Yan tightened his grip on the steering wheel, and he pursed his thin lips. The emotions on his face could not be deciphered.

After a while, he said flatly, “If I’m not mistaken, you said an hour ago that your stepmother is abusing you, and that she’s very cruel toward you.”

Qiao Mu froze, and she let out a dry chuckle. “I was just…”

‘I was just trying to appear pitiful!’

Her cell phone started ringing all of a sudden. Qiao Mu’s expression changed when she saw the caller display, and she rejected the call right away.

Right after that, her cell phone started ringing again. She rejected the call again and set her phone to silent mode.