Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

Chapter 1753 Ode to Joy + First Half of Life 17

Qu Xinxin's good mood was completely ruined by that stack of photos. She couldn't even eat in peace. Fortunately, Ms. Qian was just putting on an act in front of Qu Xinxin and didn't really intend for Qu Xinxin to choose someone from those photos for a blind date.

But Qu Xinxin knew that once something started, it was hard to stop. So she gave her parents a perfect excuse: "Go out and tell them that I have grown into a standard artsy young woman. I haven't even looked at any photos, and I've already started to resist blind dates. So I've rejected everyone and decided to go on a trip instead of staying at home."

Old Qu also felt that those people had gone too far. Of course, everyone would want a good cabbage, but what could he do when his own cabbage happened to be the best one? So after Qu Xinxin resorted to running away from home, he immediately decided to resolve the matter for her.

Ms. Qian was very worried that her marriage with her husband would affect her two children's views on marriage. After Mr. Qu left, she pulled Qu Xiaoxiao and Qu Xinxin aside and started to have a heart-to-heart talk with them.

Ms. Qian first apologized to Qu Xiaoxiao: "Xiaoxiao, I have indeed been an incompetent mother all these years. It was my fault, especially back then when your father... had someone else outside. I shouldn't have let you get involved in those sordid things between us adults!"

Qu Xiaoxiao knew what Ms. Qian was going to say. Her nose tingled, and her eyes immediately reddened. "Mom—"

Qu Xinxin said directly, "Relationships are complicated, and I understand your thoughts, Mom. When the old man was playing tricks at the beginning, you were the victim. Whatever you want to do is right. My sister and I just feel sorry for you."

Ms. Qian embraced her two daughters on either side of her, and tears streamed down her face as she carried them on her back. Qu Xiaoxiao, who was already feeling sorry for Ms. Qian, also started crying.

Qu Xinxin reluctantly appeased her mother and her adopted sister, while Ms. Qian had already made her plans. It was only at this moment that she revealed the truth to the Qu Xinxin and Qu Xiaoxiao sisters: "Your father and I were truly in love when we got together, so even though your grandmother caused such a scene back in our hometown, I endured it for many years out of respect for your father."

"But later, I discovered that your father's ex-wife was actually trying to use Qu Lianjie to scheme against the business that my father and I had built up together. And before I knew it, she had managed to slip through my fingers and become a maidservant to your grandmother..."

Ms. Qian spoke of Qu Lianjie's biological mother without any contempt or hatred, only that she felt that Qu Lianjie's mother lacked vision and methods. "Although Qu Lianjie's biological mother tried her best to take advantage of your grandmother's preference for sons over daughters and attempted to transfer all of our family's assets to Qu Lianjie's name, so that she could benefit from it as well, her plan was not comprehensive enough."

"First of all, your grandmother doesn't only have Qu Lianjie as her grandson. Your father has an older brother and a younger brother back in your hometown. You two might as well guess which son your grandmother likes the most and which grandson she likes the most."

When Ms. Qian spoke of Grandma Qu, she couldn't help but show some disdain and contempt. Qu Xiaoxiao was unaware that so many things had happened in her hometown, and she was stunned for a moment.

Qu Xinxin, however, was different. She had investigated some of Ms. Qian's methods, such as bribing people to sow discord between the two brothers back in their hometown, and also causing trouble between the sisters-in-law. Her main goal was to make sure that Grandma Qu didn't have a good reputation in their hometown, so she made sure that Grandma Qu never had a peaceful day!

Noticing the differences between her two daughters, Ms. Qian affectionately stroked their temples and said helplessly, "You two sisters, sometimes I really wish your minds could be more balanced. One of you seems clever and worldly-wise, but in reality, you often only have superficial intelligence; anyone with a little shrewdness can see right through you."

"The other one truly embodies the saying 'great wisdom appears as foolishness,' but he's a bit too cold-hearted. If you didn't know better, you'd think, Xin Xin, you were cultivating immortality, just waiting for your blood relatives to die so you could sever all ties with the mortal world and ascend to heaven!"

Qu Xiaoxiao was the first to throw a tantrum: "Mom, am I really that bad?! What are you saying—"

Over the years, Ms. Qian has treated her children equally, and in fact, she actually favors her eldest daughter, Qu Xiaoxiao, a little more. This is because she has seen since childhood that her youngest daughter, Qu Xinxin, is very precocious and perceptive. When she noticed that her older sister, Qu Xiaoxiao, was a little distant from her, she took the opportunity to distance herself from her own sister, maintaining the relationship between the two sisters at a level that is slightly better than that of friends.

After failing to guide her two daughters to be closer in those years, she dared not force it anymore, which is why she earned Qu Xinxin's respect and love.

Ms. Qian quickly steered the conversation back on track, continuing, "It seems your father and I can't go on like this..."

“If he can entrust the family business to you two sisters without worry, I don’t really mind how much money or property he gives to Qu Lianjie. After all, no matter how annoying Qu Lianjie is, he is still your father’s biological son. I just can’t tolerate my hard work over the years being given to outsiders other than you two sisters!”

Qu Xinxin directly expressed her support: "Mom, I support you. Just do whatever you want to do."

But Qu Xiaoxiao still hesitated, "Mom, do you and Dad really have to go through that..."

Qu Xinxin knew that Qu Xiaoxiao was making things difficult for Ms. Qian, so she didn't show it on the surface, but she had already decided in her heart that if Qu Xiaoxiao really used family as an excuse to make things difficult for Ms. Qian between her parents, she would only stay further away from Qu Xiaoxiao.

Ms. Qian understood Qu Xinxin's thoughts very well. Looking at Qu Xiaoxiao's troubled expression, she felt a chill in her heart, but she was even more saddened by the fact that the rift between the two sisters could no longer be eliminated and that a falling out between the sisters was imminent.

Seeing this, Ms. Qian suddenly felt that being like her own youngest daughter wasn't so bad. Being more rational could indeed save a lot of trouble. Besides, society is different now, and her daughter would definitely not have to compromise to protect anything in the future.

After the meeting, Qu Xinxin packed her bags and headed straight to New Zealand the next day.

The earth is not small, and even in the hottest part of summer, there are always places to cool off. Qu Xinxin was so happy that she forgot all about home. Qu Xiaoxiao's first time as a producer was about to have its results tested, and the release date for her first idol drama was about to be confirmed!

Qu Xiaoxiao used connections to get a job at the new company and became Qu Xinxin's employee. But she felt that the entertainment industry was her true home. Even though she knew that Qu Xinxin's company would have nothing to do with her in the future, she was still very happy.