Chapter 483: Chapter 167: An 80s Drama Queen Forced to Become a Top Student (Part 2)

"So, what’s the deal? You two are dressed quite nicely. Is your family short on food? Or clothes?"

"Can’t you treat all children the same? Do you have to play favorites?"

"If this girl weren’t so tough, who knows what you would have worn her down into."

"If you don’t want to raise her, just say so. Don’t give me that nonsense about how ’this child is no trouble, she can do laundry and cook, she eats little and isn’t picky about clothes, so she won’t be a burden.’"

"Shouldn’t you be raising the child of your lifesaver? Since you want the vanity that comes with it, don’t act like it’s such a hardship! If you’re not willing to raise her, plenty of good families would be happy to take her in!"

"In any case, I adore this child."

As she spoke, the old woman took Sheng Leyun’s hand, stroking it tenderly. Then she pinched her cheek. The rough, scratchy texture made the old woman even angrier. "And you call yourself a mother? You’re dressed so nicely, your face and hands as smooth and supple as a young girl’s."

"Now look at this fatherless little girl. God knows what hard labor she’s doing at home to get such thick calluses at her age..."

She didn’t just say it—she grabbed Sheng Leyun and shoved her in front of the crowd.

The onlookers’ hearts ached for the girl, and they began to hurl accusations. "Is that really her biological mother?"

"Her father didn’t get her a new mother without her knowing, did he?"

"How can young people be so heartless these days? Her husband was risking life and limb out there while she was at home, living it up and tormenting her own child. The moment her husband sacrificed his life, she turns around and latches onto another man..."

Ren Xingchen’s head spun. She’d never been put on trial by public opinion like this before. The furious wave of condemnation from all sides was more than she could bear.

"I haven’t... I’m not..." she argued feebly.

Xiao Xuezhen’s lips were pursed into a thin line, the veins bulging on the hand gripping his luggage.

He forced a smile and said, "Everyone, please don’t worry. Now that I’m bringing her into my home, I’ll be sure to take good care of her. I’m a veteran myself. I would never shirk such a duty and responsibility."

"What’s more, our neighbors are all people we know well—comrades I’ve known for over a decade. They’ll be able to keep an eye on us at all times."

"Thank you all for your concern for the child. She’s still young. This sudden change in environment, on top of learning she has a new stepfather... it’s a lot for her to handle."

"I’m confident that once we’re home, when she sees how sincerely we all welcome and accept her, she’ll quickly settle into her new life and grow up to be as outstanding as her father was."

"Alright, everyone, please disperse," he said, then looked gently at Sheng Leyun. "Yunyun, the train is about to depart. Shall we go?"

"Whatever is on your mind, we can talk about it on the train, alright?"

’A nine-year-old girl, one who’s never even been to school and has been cooped up at home—how cunning could she possibly be? All they had to do was get through the present moment, and they could figure out a new plan later.’

Ren Xingchen lowered her gaze, her eyes filled with resentment and fury. As she caught a glimpse of the people bustling around them, the faintest of smiles touched her lips.

Sheng Leyun glanced at Xiao Xuezhen and Ren Xingchen, then clutched the corner of the old woman’s coat in fear.

"Good child, Grandma happens to be going to the Capital City too. Let’s get on the train together," the old woman said with a smile.

Sheng Leyun nodded, clinging to the old woman’s coat as she cast a timid glance at Xiao Xuezhen and Ren Xingchen.

"We couldn’t possibly trouble you like this," Xiao Xuezhen said, his brow furrowed. He was growing impatient with the old woman’s meddling, but he kept his smile fixed.

"It’s nothing. We’re all going to the Capital City, so we’re headed the same way," the old woman said with a wave of her hand. She looked to the sturdy man beside her. "Li, show them our tickets. We don’t want them thinking we’re child traffickers."

The man pulled two sleeper tickets from his pocket, then held out his other hand. "Comrade, your tickets? Let’s exchange information. That way, we can make sure to get the child back to you before our stop."

Xiao Xuezhen took a slow, deep breath, pulled out his tickets, and said with a smile, "We’re also in a sleeper car. Just two sets of bunks away."

While the waiting room had been a chaos of people heading in every direction, nearly half the passengers in this sleeper car were bound for the Capital City.

There were two reasons for this. First, the train’s final destination was the Capital City, and seats were allocated for each stop along the way. Second, sleeper tickets were typically bought by those who were not only traveling long distances, but also held a certain status. Naturally, the largest portion of these travelers were headed to the Capital City.

Upon boarding the train, Xiao Xuezhen, for once, didn’t attend to Ren Xingchen first. Instead, he prepared snacks and a water cup for Sheng Leyun, even slipping two yuan into her hand with a smile.

"Yunyun, play here for a bit. Try not to be too much trouble for Grandma and Uncle."

"If we stop at a station and you see something you’d like to eat out the window, you can buy it for yourself."

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