My Villainous Persona Collapses as My Family Reads My Mind - chapter 15

The sudden appearance of Meng Mother caught both Meng Zhiyi and Shen Que off guard.

It was Shen Matriarch who cast a meaningful glance at Song Wei, then restrained her smile, reaching out to pull Meng Zhiyi behind her protectively.

“Madam Meng, even if you want to discipline your child, you should choose the right occasion.”

Shen Matriarch’s attitude toward Meng Mother was completely different from how she had treated Meng Zhiyi just a moment before.

“Exactly. You just told me to kneel. Wake up, the Qing Dynasty has long fallen, you know?”

[If you want me to kneel, you have to be worthy of it.]

[Do you really think you’re the Empress?]

Meng Zhiyi naturally wouldn’t let go of such a good opportunity to stir up resentment. She poked her head out from behind Shen Matriarch and spoke up.

Shen Que pinched the bridge of his nose, really wishing Meng Zhiyi would quiet down a bit.

“Still talking back!” Meng Mother was at the peak of her anger at this moment.

It was all because she had received a text from a stranger, containing photos of Meng Zhiyi and an unknown man at the hospital, along with a write-up from some unscrupulous online media.

The photos had been edited, as if the sender didn’t dare offend the man of unknown identity, so his face was blurred. Only Meng Zhiyi was shown in sharp, high-definition detail.

The Meng Family’s influence was not as great as the Shen Family’s. When Meng Zhiyi and Shen Que got engaged, everyone in the Meng Family knew they were marrying up.

Now, Meng Zhiyi had already ruined both her own and the Meng Family’s reputation. Meng Mother had always been extremely cautious, afraid that one wrong move would offend the Shen Family and bring disaster upon them.

Upon learning that Meng Zhiyi had caused such a huge scandal, Meng Mother couldn’t sit still and immediately came to the Shen Family to apologize in person.

That’s why, the moment she saw Meng Zhiyi, she couldn’t contain her anger and scolded her harshly.

In the past, no matter how unreasonable Meng Zhiyi was, she would at least restrain herself a little in front of her elder.

But now, not only did she refuse to admit her mistake, she even retorted with sarcastic remarks.

Meng Mother glared at Meng Zhiyi, thinking she would give her a proper lesson once they got home.

Then she softened her attitude, politely addressing Shen Matriarch.

“Shen Matriarch, it’s my fault as a mother for not teaching my daughter properly, which led her to do such shameful things.”

“Please rest assured, the Meng Family is not a shameless household. After all the outrageous things Meng Zhiyi has done, we really have no face to cling to the Shen Family any longer.”

“As for the engagement between the Meng Family and the Shen Family, Matriarch, please take charge and annul it. Xiao Que is a wonderful child-he deserves someone better.”

After speaking, Meng Mother stepped forward, reaching out to grab Meng Zhiyi.

Unexpectedly, not only did Shen Matriarch show no sign of anger, she even blocked Meng Mother’s hand.

With a cold face and clear displeasure, she said, “You come in and start talking endlessly, but from beginning to end, you haven’t asked Yiyi what actually happened. Is this how Madam Meng acts as a mother?”

Meng Mother was rendered speechless, her gaze shifting back and forth between Meng Zhiyi and Shen Matriarch.

She opened her mouth, stammering, “Matriarch, don’t you know what she did?”

“Then why don’t you tell me-what exactly did Yiyi do that made you come all the way here and, without distinguishing right from wrong, demand that she kneel?”

As she spoke, Shen Matriarch held Meng Zhiyi’s hand tightly.

“Yiyi, don’t be afraid. With Grandma here today, Grandma will stand up for you.”

Shen Matriarch’s voice was so firm, as if it left a deep mark on her heart.

Meng Zhiyi was slightly stunned, looking at the hand holding hers, a wave of warmth rising from deep within.

It seemed that, whether in the past or now, no one had ever chosen her so steadfastly as this elderly woman.

In this moment, Shen Matriarch felt more like family to Meng Zhiyi than Meng Mother, who was related to her by blood.

Shen Que stood to the side, originally expecting to hear something from Meng Zhiyi’s inner thoughts.

But strangely, Meng Zhiyi had become very quiet.

She obediently let Shen Matriarch lead her to the living room, where everyone took their seats.

“Go ahead, let me hear what this is all about.” Shen Matriarch had Meng Zhiyi sit beside her, and there was even a bowl of chilled sweet dumplings on the table in front of her.

Shen Matriarch, as if no one else was present, urged Meng Zhiyi to eat, the affection in her eyes impossible to hide.
Song Wei watched with a hint of jealousy.

She had been fostered in the Shen Family for over a decade, but never once had the Shen Matriarch treated her like this.

“Grandma, about Sister Zhiyi…” Song Wei stopped halfway, putting on a troubled expression.

She pretended to be worried, glancing at Shen Que-who had been silent from start to finish-and bit her lip, saying, “Although I believe Sister Zhiyi isn’t that kind of person, this matter still has a considerable impact on the Shen Family.”

“If you have something to say, just say it. Stop beating around the bush,” the Shen Matriarch said impatiently.

Meng Zhiyi was happily enjoying her bowl of iced glutinous rice balls, her round eyes watching them as if none of this concerned her at all.

[Exactly, just say outright that I’m pregnant with some random man’s child, and was caught late at night at the hospital getting an abortion.]

[I mean, honestly, the media already wrote your script for you-how can you not use it properly?]

Among those present, Shen Que and Meng Mother, who could hear Meng Zhiyi’s inner voice, almost lost their composure.

Meng Mother was especially on edge, her eyes locked fiercely onto Meng Zhiyi.

[Whether I can successfully complete the mission this time depends on whether Song Wei can deliver.]

[Come on, you have to do your best! I’ve sacrificed my own reputation to put on this show with you. Don’t let me down.]

[Otherwise, if it gets found out that the person in the photo is my Eldest Brother, it’ll all be for nothing!]

“Sister Zhiyi was photographed last night at the hospital with a man. Online rumors say… say she went there for an abortion.”

Two voices fell in unison, and Meng Mother suddenly gasped sharply.

“Cough, cough, cough…” She started coughing uncontrollably.

Shen Que quickly signaled a servant to pour water, politely handed her a tissue, and said, “Meng Mother, please don’t get too worked up.”

Meng Mother coughed for a while, caught her breath, and stared at Meng Zhiyi in disbelief.

The man in the photo was their family’s Eldest Brother?

At this moment, Meng Mother directly ignored the rest of what Song Wei was saying.

She hurriedly took out her phone, opened the photo sent by a stranger, and checked the edited figure in the image again and again.

On the other side, the Shen Matriarch listened to Song Wei’s words expressionlessly, showing no reaction at all.

Seeing that no one responded, Song Wei began to feel that what she had just said sounded like she was tattling, so she quickly pulled out her phone.

“This is the screenshot evidence I saved this morning. Grandma, please take a look.”

She handed her phone over as she spoke.

The Shen Matriarch took the phone, squinted at the photo, and then-

Meng Zhiyi shot a sidelong glance, just waiting for the Shen Matriarch to blow up, only to hear her say, “Who took this photo? Their skills are lacking-they made Yiyi look short.”

“???”

Meng Zhiyi was stunned.

[Wait a minute, Grandma, aren’t you missing the point here?]

Meng Mother and Shen Que both remained silent and unmoved.

Only Song Wei seemed to be losing her mind.

Why was everything going completely differently from what she had expected?

“Xiao Que, make a note of who posted this on Weibo, and every person who spread rumors in the comments-file a lawsuit against each one.” With that, the Shen Matriarch handed the phone to Shen Que.

“Huh?” Meng Zhiyi was dumbfounded.

[Help! Just what kind of magic potion did the original host give the Shen Matriarch?! She trusts her so unconditionally?!]

[I can’t let this chance slip by!]

[Giao! Turns out you really can’t count on anyone but yourself!]

“Ahem, um, I…” Meng Zhiyi cleared her throat, put down her glass bowl, but hadn’t put down her spoon yet when Shen Que interrupted her.

“The person in the photo is Elder Brother Meng. This matter also concerns the Meng Family’s reputation. Should we inform him?” Shen Que cut Meng Zhiyi off and asked.

Meng Mother gritted her teeth and said, “Of course! Absolutely! How dare they slander us? We must sue until those people go to jail!”

Meng Zhiyi looked up at the ceiling, speechless.

[I’m dying inside…]

[How did Shen Que know that the person in the photo is my Eldest Brother?!]