"Whether people outside laugh at you is your problem, not mine," Chu Ci said calmly.
Chu Yuheng glared at Chu Ci's icy face, filled with anger. "You're such a good person! Is this how you talk to your elders? You may not have learned much from that place, but you certainly picked up how to be impolite to your family, right?"
"Dad!" Chu Han exclaimed, grabbing onto Chu Yuheng's shirt. "Please don't talk about her like that."
Chu Han felt a wave of guilt wash over him. They were all responsible for Chu Ci's life.
While Chu Ci lived in poverty, she enjoyed a high-quality lifestyle.
How could Dad still blame her for this?
Although Chu Ci could be a bit heartless, she believed she wasn't in the wrong. It was Sister Yuxin who had taken her belongings without admitting to it.
Even if Sister Yuxin didn't intend to do so, they had no right to demand that Chu Ci forgive her!
Chu Yuheng paused, realising that what he had just said wasn't very kind.
Then he said to Chu Ci, "I don't care about your past, but now that you've returned to the Chu family, you are the eldest daughter. Your words and actions must align with your current status and not bring shame to the Chu family. Regarding Yuxin's situation, you need to be forgiving. Even when others make mistakes, you should show some mercy, especially when it concerns your own cousin."
Meng Qingyan quickly added, "Ah Ci, please listen. Your sister, Yuxin, only made a minor mistake. Don't hold it against her any longer. Both of you are dear to me, and I don't want to see your relationship become strained."
"Whether it's a minor mistake or not is up to the law," Chu Ci replied.
Her expression was calm, and her eyes were clear and resolute.
"Don't be so ungrateful!" Chu Yuheng exclaimed, his anger growing as he faced Chu Ci's composed demeanour.
Meng Qingyan quickly intervened, grabbing Chu Yuheng's arm. "Yuheng, please don't be angry. Ah Ci is still adjusting. Be more understanding."
Her eyes were pleading, glistening with tears.
Chu Yuheng took a deep breath, holding back his frustration. "Teach her well! Once you enter the Chu family, you must behave like a proper young lady of the Chu family!"
With that, he turned and headed upstairs to his study, refusing to face Chu Ci again.
Meng Qingyan looked at Chu Ci and said, "Ci, please listen to your father and behave. Yuxin is a good child. If you spend more time with her, you'll see that for yourself. Don't argue with her over something trivial; you're only hurting her."
"I don't think stealing is a minor issue. If you want me to get along with her, you should first teach her how to be a good person," replied Chu Ci.
Having already explained her side, Chu Ci felt it was pointless to continue. With that, she turned and went back to her room.
Meng Qingyan's mood began to darken.
Chu Ci's return had disrupted the harmony and peace of their home, leaving everyone feeling unsettled.
The warm and beautiful reunion that Meng Qingyan had hoped for with her daughter was shattered. She felt distraught.
"Mom, why did you let Chu Ci live out here?" This question had been on Chu Han's mind for a long time. After witnessing his father's attitude towards Chu Ci, Chu Han couldn't help but feel even more troubled.
In his heart, he believed that his parents were loving and that they cherished him. They were a happy family, and he thought that if he had an older sister, his father would love her just as much. However, he couldn't understand why his father treated Chu Ci like an enemy.
"Don't worry about this matter," Meng Qingyan replied, choosing not to explain further. "Your sister has been away for too long. She didn't learn anything good; instead, she picked up some messed-up habits. Now, she is not close to us. Before I returned, I was thinking about how to slowly rebuild our relationship with her, but I didn't expect that the theft incident would happen as soon as we met..."
Meng Qingyan looked very tired.
Chu Han was uncertain about what to do. In the week and a half before his parents returned, he had attempted to build a relationship with Chu Ci. However, Chu Ci had a strange temper and was difficult to get along with, making it hard for them to find common ground. He genuinely didn't know how to connect with someone who had such a weird personality.