Chapter 28: A Thorn Planted in the Heart

Wu Ya couldn’t hold it in anymore. She shouted in exasperation:

“When did I ever say you were worse than Xuefei?! Lin Xiaodou, stop putting words in my mouth!”

Even if that was what she truly thought, she had never said it aloud.

Now that her innermost thoughts were exposed in public, it felt like hugging a furnace in the height of summer—hot and suffocating!

Lin Xiaodou said, “See! My birth mother is yelling at me! She’s yelling at me for the sake of a fake!”

Wu Ya: ……

Breathe! Breathe!

She was practically about to hyperventilate from rage.

If there had been an ambulance nearby, she might’ve collapsed straight into it.

As for Lin Xuefei, it was even worse.

The word “fake” pierced her heart like a knife.

She was about to lose her mind from anger, but she managed to force it down.

“If I had known my birth mother hated me this much, I wouldn’t have come back!

I should’ve just died of starvation out there as an orphan, wuwuwu…”

Lin Xiaodou covered her face and wailed loudly.

Her cries were mournful and pitiful—truly heartbreaking.

Anyone who heard it would be moved to tears.

The onlookers were instantly swept up in emotion and began to speak up for her.

“Ai, this girl is so pitiful, I’m tearing up just listening to her.”

“So tragic. Her identity was stolen for over a decade, and now that she’s back, no one loves her.”

“Exactly. Look at the shabby clothes she’s wearing, then look at what the foster daughter’s got on—it’s like night and day.”

“Young lady, don’t cry. Big sis here will take you shopping! It’s just a dress—we’ve got money!”

“Yeah! If one’s not enough, I’ll buy you another. I just got paid yesterday, I’ve got plenty!”

“Girl, if your birth mother can’t accept you, come stay with Auntie. I’ll make you shepherd’s purse dumplings!”

“My house is full of boys—we could use a little girl. Come home with Grandma and be my granddaughter!”

Everyone chimed in one after another, all righteously outraged.

Looking at this crowd of kind-hearted strangers, Lin Xiaodou felt genuinely grateful.

She gave them a deep bow and said:

“Thank you all for your concern. Thank you!”

Seeing how polite she was, the onlookers couldn’t help but sigh:

“She’s such a good kid. So what if there’s a scar on her face? And the mother still dislikes her?”

“Exactly. Never seen a heartless mom like that—what an eye-opener today.”

“Isn’t she the wife of the deputy director of Beijing First Hospital? A head nurse too? With that kind of character, can she really do her job properly?”

“I happen to know their hospital director. Tomorrow, I’ll go have a good talk with him about this!”

Wu Ya had been trying to play dead and lay low, but when she heard that, she immediately jumped up.

“No need to trouble anyone! This child was just throwing a tantrum and talking nonsense. I’ve worried you all.

Don’t worry, I’ll treat her well. Whatever she wants to buy, I’ll let her buy it—I promise!”

She couldn’t let this affect her husband’s career. Otherwise, he’d definitely blame her.

“Really, Mom?”

Lin Xiaodou had been waiting for those words.

Under the scrutiny of all those judgmental stares,

Wu Ya gritted her teeth and replied, “Yes, really.”

Lin Xiaodou broke into a smile through her tears.

“Great! You said it, so don’t start nagging me later on!”

Wu Ya immediately felt like she’d been tricked. Her face turned dark.

Lin Xiaodou was smug: “Hah! You think you can outplay me?”

Only after Wu Ya’s promise did the onlookers finally leave, satisfied.

As soon as they were gone, Lin Xiaodou completely dropped her pitiful act and cheerfully said:

“Miss, didn’t you say several new styles came in today? Get me one of each in my size!”

The sales clerk was utterly stunned.

Damn! She really had to say it—damn!

This girl changed faces faster than flipping a book.

Just now she had been sobbing, snot and tears everywhere.

Now she was grinning so wide her molars showed.

That wave of her hand while shopping—so assertive, so bold!

The sales clerk snuck a glance at Wu Ya.

Seeing that she said nothing, the salesgirl nodded and smiled, “Alright, please wait a moment.”

What a brilliant move.

Even the salesgirl had to inwardly admire it.

At first, she looked down on Lin Xiaodou for being a bumpkin, but now she couldn’t help but respect her.

She even thought she could learn a thing or two.

Her own mother died early, and her father remarried soon after. Her stepmother had two faces—pretending to be a loving mother in public but being cruel behind closed doors.

Life at home was far from easy.

If it weren’t for her grandfather backing her, her stepsister would’ve taken her job as a salesgirl long ago.

Next time her stepmother tried to trip her up using this kind of thing, she’d cry publicly too—let’s see who’s more afraid!

Thinking this, the salesgirl’s mood immediately lifted.

She brought out four or five sets of new summer clothes from the cabinet and kindly reminded her, “Comrade, we have a fitting room here. Want to try them on first, just in case they don’t fit?”

“Sure!” Lin Xiaodou said cheerfully and headed off to try on the clothes.

Once she was gone, Wu Ya turned to the salesgirl and said coldly:

“Put back two sets later and say there’s nothing in her size. Got it?”

Can’t she tell I’m not in the mood?

The salesgirl acted like she didn’t hear, continuing to fold clothes without looking up.

She was just here to sell clothes, not to take orders like that.

Seeing her attitude, Wu Ya’s face stiffened.

“I’m talking to you!”

“Mom…” Lin Xuefei walked over and tried to calm her down:

“Forget it. It’s just a few outfits. No need to cause another scene.”

A reminder of what just happened.

Wu Ya immediately quieted down.

She didn’t dare yell anymore and could only clench her teeth until they clicked.

All the clothes Lin Xiaodou tried on looked pretty good.

Three dresses—one mint-green sundress, one floral maxi, and one blue-and-white plaid.

Two sets of short-sleeved tops and long pants, plus a jacket. The quality and style were great, though they fit a bit loosely.

The original body was very thin—170 cm tall but weighed only a bit over 80 pounds.

After several days of gorging in her space, Lin Xiaodou had gained a few pounds, almost reaching 90 now.

Still not enough. She aimed to reach at least 100 pounds.

Lin Xiaodou didn’t like being too skinny—without some meat, she couldn’t unleash her divine strength.

Just these few outfits cost nearly 150 yuan.

That’s equivalent to a regular worker’s five months of wages!

Wu Ya paid unwillingly, her heart aching with every yuan.

Once she paid, she was ready to leave the department store.

But Lin Xiaodou stopped her. “Mom, I’m not done shopping yet!”

Wu Ya’s brows shot up, ready to refuse on the spot.

Lin Xiaodou said, “Or should I let out another wail?”

Wu Ya’s face darkened. “Buy! I’ll buy it for you!”

“Great!”

Lin Xiaodou launched into a shopping spree through the department store.

Clothes down, time for shoes.

Leather shoes, sandals, cloth shoes—two pairs of each.

After shoes, it was time for accessories. Every shiny hair clip? She wanted them all!

Crossbody bags, handbags, skincare, lipstick—if she saw it, she wanted it!

Then a wristwatch, radio, and bicycle—all the most expensive ones!

Plus a bunch of daily necessities, odds and ends.

By the end of the trip, she had spent over 1,500 yuan and several ration coupons!

Wu Ya felt like her soul was bleeding as she paid.

If she’d known this girl was such a pain, she would’ve never brought her out—no matter what.

If not for Xuefei, she’d have never even acknowledged this brat.

She wouldn’t have had to suffer such humiliation today.

Just remembering how everyone condemned her in the store, and how Xuefei hadn’t spoken up for her…

A thorn lodged deep in Wu Ya’s heart.