Chapter 30: We Still Have to Face the World

Qin Hongfei wore the same bewildered expression, but unlike Qin Fei, hers was feigned. She made a show of pondering the situation.

Turning back to her aunt, she asked, “Grandma, where did you hear this from? Wanwan, was it you, or did Auntie tell you? Yes, I’ve done many foolish things before and let you all down, but you can’t just pin this kind of blame on us at random. We still have to face the world!”

Seeing how worked up she was, Grandma Qin couldn’t help but reconsider. She too felt that, though the children of the main branch were reckless, they wouldn’t go quite this far.

At that moment, Qin Yun from the second branch reminded her, “Hongfei, Auntie said it after she came back.”

Grandma Qin glared at Qin Yun, but as a grown woman with a bold heart, Qin Yun pressed on, “Auntie said that after you and Qin Fei arrived, you stole the role from Wanwan’s friend! She also said you tried to seduce the director… Such shameless behavior, and she even claimed there were relatives to testify.”

The relative, most likely, was the one who’d gone with them.

Qin Fei was so agitated she nearly jumped up in protest.

Qin Hongfei dabbed at non-existent tears at the corner of her eyes, and after a moment’s silence, began, “Grandma, did you believe Auntie just like that? Did you even ask Wanwan? Is that what Wanwan said as well?”

Grandma Qin fell silent. She had indeed asked Qin Wanwan, and Qin Wanwan’s story matched her mother’s.

With the truth confirmed, Qin Hongfei couldn’t hold back any longer; she let out a cold laugh. “Grandma, even if you say I’m disrespectful to elders today, some things must be made clear. No wonder Mother despises the fifth branch so much! So this is how they handle things! My sister and I haven’t even spoken a word here about what Wanwan did, yet they’re the first to turn the tables and accuse us.”

“My sister was supposed to play a bit part—that’s all. But then the rival actress wanted that role as well. She was a friend of Wanwan’s, and Wanwan spilled the beans about our family owing loan sharks! I suppose she wanted to smear my sister so she’d lose the part…”

“But that girl took it a step further. Her boyfriend works for the loan sharks, so she called them over. Afraid my sister wouldn’t show up, she got Wanwan to lure her out…”

“My sister felt the debt was our family’s problem and didn’t want to implicate Qin Wanwan, so she went out to face it herself. She was beaten, lost the part, and that role went to Duoduo, the friend my sister knew, who snatched it away. Afterwards, my sister and I uncovered the truth…”

“Their own circle of friends admitted it was all a setup—a trap aimed squarely at my sister!”

“Of course…” Qin Hongfei lifted her head resolutely. “My sister was foolish, fell into the trap, and lost the part. That’s a lesson she has to learn; there’s no one else to blame. But Grandma, did we ever come here and say a single word against Qin Wanwan about this? Wanwan knew perfectly well those loan sharks and that girl were working together to ensnare my sister. As a member of the Qin family, she didn’t stand by her own, but instead helped outsiders. That’s fine—our branch has never been popular. If she was mad at us, kicking us while we’re down is only natural.”

“I won’t spout nonsense about family unity. The truth is, we never got along and would love nothing more than to see each other ruined!”

Grandma Qin’s eyelids twitched. She truly didn’t hold back.

Qin Hongfei proved even more forthright than expected. “If we bear grudges in private, then settle them in private—my sister, foolish as she is, understands at least that much. After the loan sharks came looking for Wanwan, afraid she’d get dragged into it, she ran out and got herself beaten instead. But Wanwan, having helped ruin my sister, gained nothing for herself—the benefits all went to outsiders: Duoduo, that so-called friend, and others. In the end, wasn’t this just a case of hurting your own to help your enemies? Isn’t that the height of stupidity?”