Chapter 1380: The Blackened Good Girl (15)

“Lingling, everyone is discussing study methods. You should learn from your Cousin Xiao Guo too. You two go to the same school. If you run into any difficult problems, you can always ask her,” Qin Ruolan said.

“Aunt is right. If Lingling has any questions, she can come to me anytime.” Tang Guo readily agreed. She truly hadn't done anything deliberately. It had been Wu Lingling's mother who brought it up.

But Wu Lingling couldn't stand hearing those words.

“Mom, stay out of my business.”

Frowning, she slammed the remote control onto the coffee table.

The relationship between Wu Lingling and Qin Ruolan had always been somewhat strained.

Or rather, rebellious children rarely got along with their parents.

Qin Ruolan became angry. “Your Cousin Xiao Guo has such excellent grades. Everyone is learning from her, yet you're sitting over there messing with the remote control. No wonder your grades never improve.”

“Why do you care?” Wu Lingling snapped back, equally furious. “Everything is Cousin Xiao Guo this, Cousin Xiao Guo that. Mom, am I your daughter, or is Cousin Xiao Guo your daughter? Since you like her so much, why don't you just adopt her? Everything about me is bad compared to her. What's so great about studying all day? She's rigid and boring. Once she enters society, she probably won't even know how to take care of herself.”

Normally, Wu Lingling wouldn't say so much.

But today, seeing everyone gathered around Tang Guo discussing studies had made Qin Ruolan anxious.

She had always hoped Wu Lingling would surpass Tang Guo, become her pride, get into a good university, and bring her honor.

A prestigious university meant a good job, and then all her years of hardship would finally be worth it.

Yet Wu Lingling refused to listen and even talked back in public, causing Qin Ruolan to lose face.

Likewise, being scolded in front of everyone embarrassed Wu Lingling.

Mother and daughter had never gotten along well. Despite it being Tang Guo's birthday, Wu Lingling was only a third-year middle school student and knew nothing of social etiquette. The two began arguing on the spot.

Even the normally kind-hearted Mother Tang looked displeased.

Father Tang also frowned, but because Wu Lingling was Qin Ruolan's daughter and still a child, it wasn't appropriate for them, as elders, to discipline someone else's child.

Mother Tang felt disappointed.

Hadn't Lingling seemed to be growing more sensible recently?

Why had her temper become even worse?

Qin Ruolan still had enough awareness to realize that Wu Lingling's words were ruining Tang Guo's birthday.

She hurriedly scolded, “Lingling, how can you be so inconsiderate? Today is your Cousin Xiao Guo's birthday. How can you speak like that? Hurry up and apologize.”

Those words instantly lit the fuse.

“What did I do?” Wu Lingling exploded. “You're the one who's always comparing me to her. Since you love her excellent grades so much, then adopt her already! I'm the one embarrassing you, right? Then kick me out!”

All eyes turned toward her, causing her face to burn.

Admitting she was wrong in front of everyone?

Impossible.

“Lingling, stop making a scene. Today is Xiao Guo's birthday.” Suppressing the anger in her heart, Mother Tang said, “We're about to eat. Go wash your hands.”

“I wasn't the one making trouble. Mom started it.” Wu Lingling muttered, not quietly enough for anyone to miss it. “If anyone's to blame, blame my mom. She's always comparing me with Cousin. We're different. She likes studying like a robot—that's her business. I like being free and doing what I enjoy while I'm still young. I haven't bothered any of you.”