Chapter 99: You’re Lying

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: You’re Lying

"Old Gao, you’re back?" Mrs. Gao turned at the sound of the door and saw her husband, Mr. Gao, changing his shoes. His aide, Hu Jun, placed a briefcase on the shoe cabinet.

"Mm. Your sister is here? Have you had dinner?"

Mr. Gao asked casually.

He wasn’t actually worried; he knew his wife wouldn’t mistreat her younger sister. The two of them had always been close.

"We’ve eaten. We went to the state-owned restaurant. Old Gao, you’re back just in time. I need to talk to you. About our daughter’s situation—you should have listened to Ah Liu."

"You see? You had Xiao Hu politely go and invite her, but what was the result? She showed you no respect at all and refused to come. She even questioned your character! How utterly thoughtless."

"No wonder our Qiangqiang doesn’t get along with her at the institute. Do you really think she’s completely blameless in all this?"

Mr. Gao paused, still fiddling with his shoes and without looking up. "If she doesn’t want to come, then let it be. It was never a big deal anyway."

"A small matter? Brother-in-law, you can’t just brush it off like that," Zhong Liu cut in, deeply dissatisfied with his response. "Qiangqiang’s job is on the line, and you still think it’s a small matter?"

She said this while patting Gao Qiang’s hand reassuringly. "Brother-in-law, nothing even happened to that woman, right? But it’s Qiangqiang’s job that’s in jeopardy."

"You don’t want people talking, do you? Imagine the gossip: ’Qiangqiang worked so hard to get a position at the research institute, only to be kicked out before she even finished her probation.’ How utterly humiliating would that be?"

"Well... Old Gao, Ah Liu is right," Mrs. Gao chimed in, frowning. "We can’t afford that kind of embarrassment."

"I’ve already called Dean Xu to ask about it. He told me that as long as Qiangqiang doesn’t do anything foolish again, she can return. If she works hard for another six months, she’ll pass her probation just fine." It wasn’t as if Mr. Gao knew nothing.

He had already investigated the matter, which is why he knew his daughter was the one in the wrong.

"Qiangqiang, you were wrong this time." Mr. Gao walked over and sat on the sofa. "Admitting your mistakes and learning from them is what’s important. I expect you to own up to what you did and change your ways."

Gao Qiang hugged his arm, wheedling, "Dad, how can you side with an outsider over me?"

"Side with an outsider?" Mr. Gao retorted, displeased. "I spoke with Dean Xu. I know exactly what you did."

With her mother and aunt there to back her up, Gao Qiang was no longer afraid of the truth coming out. She just pouted. "It’s not like I actually hurt her. And it’s her fault, anyway! She was deliberately isolating me at the institute. Because of her, even the researchers who used to be so helpful stopped giving me any guidance."

"So, the injustice I suffered doesn’t count for anything?"

Hearing this, Zhong Liu’s heart ached. She pulled Gao Qiang into a hug and said, "Brother-in-law, listen to her! That woman is so devious. She uses these subtle little tricks so outsiders don’t notice, but our Qiangqiang is the one who ends up suffering."

Mr. Gao, who of course doted on his daughter, frowned slightly. "So, what are you proposing we do?"

"We need to launch a proper investigation and make Su Wan apologize to Qiangqiang, of course."

At those words, Gao Qiang’s expression froze. She tugged on Zhong Liu’s arm, pretending to be magnanimous. "Auntie, it’s fine. It’s such a minor issue. Asking the leadership to reinvestigate would just leave another bad impression on them."

"Let’s just drop it. I don’t want to make a big deal out of it."

Zhong Liu shook her head. "No, Qiangqiang. You’re only being bullied because you’re too kind."

"Brother-in-law, you have Dean Xu’s phone number, right? Call him again and tell him what you want. With your rank as a commander, surely he won’t dare to just fob you off."

Gao Qiang became even more frantic, tugging at Zhong Liu to get her to stop.

Her strange behavior immediately aroused Mr. Gao’s suspicion, and his face darkened. "Gao Qiang!"

"Sir!" Gao Qiang yelped, startled, instinctively snapping to attention.

"Tell me the truth. You’ve been lying, haven’t you!"

Looking guilty, Gao Qiang blinked and took an involuntary step back. "...No. Dad, how can you not believe me?"

But seeing her reaction, Mr. Gao—who was no fool—knew instantly she was lying.

"Hmph! So you *were* the one who went looking for trouble. And you still had the gall to come home and play the victim."

"Zhong He! And you, Sister-in-law! Neither of you is to interfere. She must learn a lesson from this! That woman is pregnant! Is that someone you can just go and shove? A single slip-up could have cost two lives! Have you lost your mind? Who taught you to be so malicious?!"

Tears streamed down Gao Qiang’s face as her father berated her, and she stared at him in fear.

Mrs. Gao started to intervene, but her husband silenced her with a single glare.

She sighed helplessly and said nothing more, only patting Gao Qiang’s hand. "Oh, Qiangqiang, it’s good to admit when you’re wrong. Lying is a bad habit, so don’t do it again."

Filled with resentment, Gao Qiang lowered her head and wept.

Zhong Liu pulled Gao Qiang into an embrace. "Sister, Brother-in-law, why are you being so harsh? Qiangqiang is our own flesh and blood. Even if she made a mistake, it’s our place as her family to discipline her. What does it have to do with outsiders?"

"SOB... Auntie, you’re the only one who’s nice to me," Gao Qiang wailed, hugging her aunt’s arm and crying crocodile tears.

"Sister-in-law, stop defending her," Mr. Gao said angrily. "If she makes a mistake and refuses to change, who knows what kind of bigger mess she’ll create down the line."

"Brother-in-law, why are you making such a big deal out of nothing?"

"I’m just worried about Qiangqiang."

"You can spare me your pity! I’ll discipline my own daughter!" Mr. Gao snapped, his brow furrowed in anger.

Startled by his tone, Zhong Liu’s face fell. Her eyes widened in disbelief and began to well up with tears. A moment later, she threw herself into her sister’s arms. "Sister, did you hear him? How could he talk to me like that?"

"And who am I even doing all this for?"

In the past, whenever Zhong Liu started to cry, both Mr. and Mrs. Gao would immediately rush to console her.

This time, however, Mr. Gao merely frowned. He stood up abruptly and ordered, "Gao Qiang, get upstairs. Go to the study and write a formal apology."

"Not even God himself could get you out of this today."

Frightened and feeling deeply wronged, Gao Qiang trudged upstairs.

"I won’t keep you, Sister-in-law. You should head home, it’s late." Mr. Gao was effectively showing her the door.

Zhong Liu’s tears stopped, replaced by a wave of embarrassment. Not even her own sister was asking her to stay. In fact, after glancing at Mr. Gao’s stony expression, Mrs. Gao had stood up, offering to walk her to the door.

Zhong Liu had her pride. With a dismissive wave of her hand, she stood.

"Sister, you’re unbelievable! I’m washing my hands of your family’s problems."

With a dramatic flick of her sleeves, she left.

"Ah Liu..." Mrs. Gao called out anxiously. Zhong Liu didn’t stop, but she walked slowly, clearly waiting for her sister to run after her and beg her to stay.

But Mrs. Gao only watched her leave, hesitated for a moment, and then stayed put.

After walking a short distance without hearing any footsteps behind her, Zhong Liu heard the sound of the door closing. She spun around, shocked to see that not only had no one come after her, but the front door was now firmly shut.

Livid, Zhong Liu stomped her foot and left, fuming with resentment.

「Inside the house.」

Mrs. Gao approached her husband. "Old Gao, please don’t be angry. After a lecture like that from you, I’m sure Qiangqiang won’t make the same mistake again."