Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

She could endure anything Guo Dongmei said about the Hua family, but when Zhao Jinghai was mentioned, Zhao Nuanyue lost her composure.

However, Zhao Nuanyue didn’t want Guo Dongmei to notice, so she kept walking forward.

Seeing how upset his sister was, Little Red Carp swallowed his anger, turned to Guo Dongmei, and said, ”Ugly hag!”

Guo Dongmei froze, then swore, ”An unwanted little beast dares to curse at me? I’m going to snatch you up.”

When Zhao Nuanyue heard Guo Dongmei trading insults with a child—with Little Red Carp—she spun around. ”Guo Dongmei, this is Jincheng City, not some place your Guo Family can run roughshod over. I put up with your aggressive attitude, but why are you picking on a child?”

”Didn’t you hear him curse at me?” Seeing Zhao Nuanyue finally engage, Guo Dongmei said smugly, ”He has no manners, just like you. Stealing other people’s men at such a young age!”

”He called you an ugly hag, and that makes you one?” Zhao Nuanyue scoffed. ”You’re a grown woman. Why are you bickering with a child? Besides, you know exactly what went on between you and Hua Yusen. Don’t just point out others’ mistakes while ignoring your own shameless behavior.”

”That’s the pot calling the kettle black,” Little Red Carp chimed in. ”You’re a bad woman!”

”You!” As she spoke, Guo Dongmei lunged to strike Little Red Carp, closing the distance in just a few steps.

Zhao Nuanyue shot out her hand, catching Guo Dongmei’s arm mid-swing. With a sharp push, she sent Guo Dongmei stumbling back several steps.

”Didn’t your parents teach you it’s wrong to hit people?” Zhao Nuanyue retorted. ”You have no upbringing!”

Guo Dongmei was no match for Zhao Nuanyue in strength; she couldn’t possibly win a fight. On top of that, she had come alone today, driving her own car instead of bringing a bodyguard or chauffeur. It seemed making Zhao Nuanyue suffer was going to be difficult.

”Don’t get cocky, Zhao Nuanyue,” Guo Dongmei said coldly. ”This is Jincheng City, not some backwater like Nianqiao Village where you can do as you please.”

Zhao Nuanyue laughed instead of getting angry. ”Are you talking about yourself?” she scoffed. ”I’m just an ordinary person. This is the Yan Country, a new era. A wicked woman like you—do you really think you can call all the shots?”

”This is my turf, and I’m in charge,” Guo Dongmei sneered. ”A country bumpkin like you is no match for me. The man you’re with is someone I cast aside, someone you could never have gotten on your own. Don’t you feel pathetic?”

’Heh, there are plenty of pathetic people in the world, and you, Guo Dongmei, are one of them.’

”Pathetic? That’s a laugh. I live my life with a clear conscience. What’s pathetic about that?” Zhao Nuanyue shot back. ”You think you’re so high and mighty, Guo Dongmei? Well, I’m not the same person I used to be. Why don’t you try laying a hand on me or my brother? We’ll see who comes to put you in your place.”

”Are you talking about Gu Qingyu?” Guo Dongmei sneered. ’He’s just a grasshopper in late autumn—he won’t be hopping for much longer. Once Gu Qingyu falls, we’ll see how long Zhao Nuanyue can keep up this arrogant act!’

Seeing Guo Dongmei’s reaction to the name Gu Qingyu, Zhao Nuanyue also smiled.

”Heh. Guess,” Zhao Nuanyue said, not revealing the name. After all, Elder Gu had returned to his post, but the official announcement claimed his health was poor. As an insider, Zhao Nuanyue certainly couldn’t reveal that to Guo Dongmei.

’Let Guo Dongmei be smug. This time, the Guo Family is going down anyway.’

”You... you bitch,” Guo Dongmei cursed. She had wanted to humiliate Zhao Nuanyue, but in the end, she was the one being ridiculed.

Zhao Nuanyue wasn’t angry. A half-smile played on her lips, and she paid no mind to Guo Dongmei’s insults.

’In her past life, she had indeed done many shameful things, but most were out of desperation. When she was called a bitch back then, she never refuted it, because she really had done many bad things. In this life, Zhao Nuanyue’s slate was clean. She hadn’t done anything wrong and had a clear conscience, so Guo Dongmei’s insults didn’t bother her at all.’

”Heh, I always heard that young ladies from distinguished families were elegant and dignified.” Zhao Nuanyue clicked her tongue and shook her head. ”After meeting you, I see that’s not the case. Every other word out of your mouth is a curse or a threat, you even raise a hand to a small child. You’re worse than a country shrew.”

That remark was far more cutting than calling Guo Dongmei a ”bitch.”

”You’re the country shrew!” Guo Dongmei retorted, her face twisting in anger. She was relentless. ”I come from a prestigious family, and you’re a peasant with mud on your legs. How can you even compare to me?”

”My, my, how strange,” Zhao Nuanyue said with a cold laugh. ”So this is what a woman from a prestigious family is like? I’ve really learned something today. If spewing vulgarities and behaving with such poor conduct is the standard for high society, then the bar is set pitifully low. I may be the daughter of an ordinary family, but at least I was taught to be polite, to respect my elders and care for children, and to have a sense of decency.”

Seeing how sharp-tongued Zhao Nuanyue was, Guo Dongmei realized she couldn’t win this war of words today. ’After all, Zhao Nuanyue has no shame; she’s like mud. Even if I wanted to crush her under my heel, I’d be afraid of dirtying my shoes.’

”Fine, Zhao Nuanyue, you’re tough. I hope you can keep it up,” Guo Dongmei said, suppressing her rage. ”I won’t stoop to your level; it’s beneath me. Just you wait, Zhao Nuanyue. We’ll see.”

’Guo Dongmei was filled with pride. Even her cast-offs were things Zhao Nuanyue could only dream of obtaining.’

Guo Dongmei huffily got into her car and drove away.

Seeing her leave, Zhao Nuanyue breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t have the power to contend with Guo Dongmei right now.

But Zhao Nuanyue believed she wouldn’t be this weak forever. She would grow stronger, bit by bit, until she became someone Guo Dongmei could only look up to in awe.

Just then, a loud CRASH suddenly echoed.

Zhao Nuanyue looked toward the sound and was shocked to see Guo Dongmei’s car had crashed into a wall on the side of the road.

’Heavens, what happened?’ Zhao Nuanyue was stunned. ’Don’t tell me Guo Dongmei was so furious she lost control of the steering wheel?’

However, Zhao Nuanyue quickly dismissed that idea. If Guo Dongmei had so little composure, she never would have made it to her current, thriving position.

Before Zhao Nuanyue could go check on the situation, Little Red Carp’s chubby body began to wobble, and he nearly fell off the bicycle.

”Little Red Carp!” Zhao Nuanyue quickly steadied him and held him in her arms. ”Little Red Carp, what’s wrong?”

”Go home... to Qingya Lake,” Little Red Carp said, and then fainted.

Zhao Nuanyue’s face turned pale with fright. Forgetting everything else, she placed Little Red Carp directly on the bicycle’s crossbar. Holding him steady with one hand and gripping the handlebar with the other, she pedaled furiously toward their home by Qingya Lake.

When they got home, Zhao Nuanyue placed Little Red Carp on the bed.

”Little Red Carp? Little Red Carp?” Zhao Nuanyue had never seen him like this before. His usually rosy face was now pale, his eyes shut tight. He looked like he was unconscious.

Little Red Carp still didn’t respond.