Wang Qiqi hadn't expected that after refusing to cover her uncle's gambling debts this time, her aunt would actually set her sights on the money Qiqi had set aside for Wang Rui, that spendthrift cousin. And Wang Rui herself, for the sake of money, was arguing with her parents. Should Qiqi pour more fuel on the fire?

After much thought, Wang Qiqi decided against it. It wasn't a sudden surge of affection; she knew that if she did, once the family of three reconciled, would there be any good for her? It was better to persuade them toward peace.

"Honestly, Aunt giving you two thousand is quite generous. Why do you need so much money around you anyway?" Wang Qiqi clearly sided with her aunt. "Besides, Uncle lost gambling; he has to repay the debt somehow."

"These debts used to be covered by Uncle and Aunt; my family never had to pay them," Wang Rui huffed, then suddenly remembered something.

Wang Rui looked hopefully at Wang Qiqi. "Qiqi, didn't that elder uncle compensate a lot of money? Could you perhaps..." In Wang Rui's mind, if her father's debt could be covered by Wang Qiqi's help, she could have significantly more money to spend.

Wang Qiqi shook her head. "Xiao Rui, it's not that I won't help this time, but Auntie said we shouldn't keep covering Uncle's gambling debts. And this amount is only a few thousand; Aunt already has a plan to repay it, so there’s no need for me to give money." Hmph, they take me for an idiot, playing the pity card. "Besides, you still have your Uncle and Aunt; they both work and earn wages every day they clock in. I'm different. I only have this little money, and once it’s spent, it’s gone. Xiao Rui, you wouldn't want me unable to afford my studies, would you?" What an ungrateful bunch of white-eyed wolves.

Wang Rui was stunned that the tactic which had never failed her before had utterly flopped this time. "Qiqi, didn't that elder Uncle and Auntie compensate a lot of money...?" So stingy, utterly stingy! Wang Rui thought about all the beautiful clothes Wang Qiqi could buy and all the delicious food she could eat with that money, which filled Wang Rui with jealousy toward Qiqi.

"No matter how much money there is, it won't be enough to cover Uncle's debts. Just a few rounds of Mahjong and Uncle lost this much. How could my small amount cover his repayment?" Wang Qiqi thought, Even if you cry until your eyes dry up, my heart won't ache. "I am also the younger generation. Why don't you try persuading Auntie? Furthermore, my parents used to cover the debts. Now that they are gone, as a junior with no income and still studying, I have no justification or standing to keep covering them. Besides, it's precisely because someone kept covering his debts that Uncle kept gambling this way."

Hearing Wang Qiqi's response, Wang Rui felt a surge of bitterness, inwardly cursing Qiqi as a miser. "But, Sis, didn't you know? Now my mom wants to use the money you gave me to pay off Dad's gambling debt..."

Pleading poverty wouldn't work anymore. "Xiao Rui, surely your parents haven't completely depleted their savings by now? Last time I overheard someone saying Auntie was planning to buy a small studio apartment, which means your mother still has money. She's just used to my family covering the gambling debts. Xiao Rui, you wouldn't want me to become like my parents, constantly bailing out Uncle, would you? Look, summer is coming. Once this is over, I’ll take you to the mall to buy an outfit."

Forget it. Wang Rui wasn't the type to respect her parents much anyway. The reason she was persuading her now to cover the debt wasn't because she didn't want her parents taking the ten thousand yuan meant for her; it was to force this exception now so that future exceptions would follow, and they certainly shouldn't take her for a fool.

Hearing Wang Qiqi say that, Wang Rui's mind started racing. How could that fool Qiqi know about this? Her mother planned to buy a studio apartment—saying it was for rental income—but before they even secured it, how did Wang Qiqi find out? However, she quickly recovered. "Buying a house? Where would our family get money to buy a house? Who's been gossiping and spreading such nonsense?" Oh no, if she finds out, she definitely won't give us the money. Wang Rui deeply felt the change in Wang Qiqi these past few days; she wasn't as easily fooled as before.

Wang Qiqi smiled. Whether they buy the house or not, Wang Dagui's family must have their plans. Bringing this up now was just to let them know that she, Wang Qiqi, wasn't a fool they could fleece so easily. "Whether there's a house or not, time will prove everything." Perhaps in about half a month, following the original timeline, they would have bought that property. But this time, without the compensation money, she wondered if Li Cui would still be willing to buy the apartment.

As for Li Cui, she was definitely someone who guarded every penny. If she didn't have money in hand, she wouldn't agree to buy property. Her current impulse must be because renting it out seemed profitable, and they expected a windfall; otherwise, she wouldn't part with the cash. By the time she realized the true benefit of owning property later, housing prices would have skyrocketed. Li Cui always planned to wait for the market to drop before buying. But by waiting, she never bought the house, even after Wang Qiqi was killed by those two scoundrels in her previous life.

Wang Rui looked at her sister, who seemed to have everything under control, and suddenly felt a wave of unfamiliarity. She used to think Wang Qiqi, that idiot who knew nothing about money, would be easily managed by her parents. Back then, she imagined that if she stepped in, she could immediately sort things out. Now, she realized she'd been far too naive. "Sis, you've changed so much."

Changed? Wang Qiqi closed her eyes. After experiencing so much in her past life, if she hadn't changed, she truly would be the fool. "Xiao Rui, you have both your parents, so you can't understand my feelings. But I'm different; my parents are gone, and I'm alone. If I don't learn to grow up now, what kind of life awaits me? Have you ever considered that, Xiao Rui?" Wang Qiqi didn't believe for a moment that Wang Dagui and his wife were plotting against her without Wang Rui knowing. It was likely Wang Rui was already thinking about how to snatch all the clothes from her wardrobe.

Wang Rui noticed that Wang Qiqi's eyes were piercing, especially the way she looked at her, making Wang Rui unable to meet her gaze. She turned her head slightly. "I was also quite sad when Uncle and Auntie left." She was sad, especially because before, when she lacked money or nice clothes, talking to them would result in money and pretty outfits. Would those days ever return? If her family could secure all of Qiqi's money, her life wouldn't be worse than when her elder uncle's family was around. But under the current circumstances, that seemed impossible.

"Mhm, my parents were always very good to you," Wang Qiqi thought, If you still claim they weren't good to you, you truly have no conscience. But conscience was an absolute luxury for Wang Dagui's family—the elder was like that, and the younger was even worse. They only visited the graves of the aunt and uncle who treated her so well during the first year after the funeral. She never saw Wang Rui there again. However, in this life, Wang Qiqi didn't need them to visit her parents' graves; their presence would only upset her parents.

Wang Rui nodded, then suddenly looked up. "Then, Sister Qiqi, your house is so big; you must get scared living alone, right? I'll move in with you." Wang Rui looked around the living room. Her uncle's house was bigger than theirs and much better decorated. She could show off to her friends when she invited them over. As for whose house it was, Wang Rui had long forgotten; in her mind, she was just bringing friends over to eat, drink, and make noise. Why would Qiqi object?

"Live with me?" Wang Qiqi mused, wondering if they were trying a new tactic—since they couldn't deal with her directly, they were sending the younger one first, hoping the parents could then move in later under the pretense of needing to care for the two children. It was quite a clever excuse, but alas, "Why would I be scared? This is where my parents lived when they were alive. Why should their child be afraid? But Xiao Rui, if you stay here, where will you sleep? The living room?"

The living room? Wang Rui froze. Well, the living room was nicely decorated, but did she have to set up a bed there and pack it away every morning? Or sleep on the sofa? How uncomfortable would that be? Even though her uncle's sofas were leather and very comfortable, they were too small. "Then I can sleep with you, Sis! We've shared a bed before, haven't we?"

"We have slept together, yes, but you don't know how terrible your sleeping habits are. I’m entering my final year of high school; I can't afford to lose sleep at night; that would be too exhausting." Wang Qiqi thought, If I sleep with you, I worry you might try to kill me in my sleep! Besides, your sleeping style is so domineering; I can barely handle sleeping with you once, let alone continuously. Would I even survive?

Hearing Wang Qiqi's words of disdain, Wang Rui also flared up. What was the big deal? She just wanted to share a bed with her. Did she like sleeping with Qiqi? Even though their own house wasn't beautifully decorated, she at least had her own room. Why should she have to squeeze onto one bed with Qiqi, who was constantly looking down on her as if she carried some contagious disease?

Wang Rui had been spoiled by Wang Dagui and his wife. Furthermore, whenever she and Wang Qiqi fell out in the past, Wang Dajun and his wife always scolded Wang Qiqi, telling her to yield to her younger sister, Wang Rui. This had made Wang Rui increasingly spoiled, developing the mindset that whatever she desired, she must obtain. The problem was, she hadn't grasped the current situation: Wang Dajun and his wife were gone, so why would Wang Qiqi yield to her now? Yet, she reverted to her old ways, staring at Wang Qiqi and demanding, "Tell me, are you letting me stay or not?" Hmph, she was really getting unlikable, actually refusing her request.

Hmph, an unreasonable young mistress. But you're not the young mistress of a rich family, nor are you exceptionally beautiful or wealthy. Why would you expect people to obey you? "I said I don't want to share a bed with you. This is my home, and I am fine living alone."

Wang Rui looked at Wang Qiqi's face and truly wanted to kick her a couple of times. But she quickly remembered this wasn't her house, and her elder uncle and aunt were gone. Wang Rui looked around and decided to go back and call for reinforcements. She stamped her foot, wanting to put some pressure on Wang Qiqi. "Hmph, I'm going to tell my parents! Hmph, if you push me too far, I won't show up at Uncle's funeral!" Ha, you think you still have something to ask of me? Now you want to turn hostile?

Is managed by 】More chapters can be found at the website, highly recommended ad-free full text novel reader.