A knock sounded at the door. Her best friend saw who it was through the peephole. She really didn't want to deal with her, but she was afraid of disturbing the neighbors.
She opened the door, stopping the visitor at the threshold without letting her in.
Zhao Zhenzhen didn't notice her unusually cold demeanor and tried to walk inside with a smile.
"Qiqi, I missed you so much. I've been lying in the hospital for so long, my bones feel like they're falling apart."
Qiqi gave a cold hum and remained silent.
Zhao Zhenzhen noticed her off mood and waved her hand in front of her eyes.
"Qiqi, what's wrong? Did work make you stupid? It's me, Zhenzhen! Wuwuwu, you have no idea how much I've missed you.
My empress, hurry and let me in! I want to eat your braised pork ribs. You really need to nourish me well.
And that scumbag Xie Jiucheng, he actually wants to break up with me..."
"Enough. I don't want to hear about your matters anymore. Zhao Zhenzhen, I don't want to be friends with you anymore. Go back. You're not welcome here."
Zhao Zhenzhen's mouth froze in its mid-sentence posture. She was stunned. Seeing Qiqi about to close the door, she immediately pressed her hand against it.
"Qiqi, what is going on? Why are you suddenly like this? Is Xie Jiucheng like this too?
What happened while I was unconscious? Can you tell me? We've been friends for so many years, how can we just drift apart like this?"
"Zhao Zhenzhen, I considered you a friend. What do you consider me? To satisfy your curiosity, I was willing to bring my boyfriend along to climb mountains and explore with you.
I accompanied and comforted you during your difficult times. And you? At a critical moment, you just wanted to push me out. I can't afford a friend like you."
"Qiqi, who is trying to sow discord between us? Qiqi, you must not be incited by others.
You are my best friend. How could I do anything to betray you? This must be a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding? I heard you say it with my own ears. You want to push me to be a ghost's wife. Why? Just because I'm your best friend and I'm prettier than you?
Zhao Zhenzhen, meeting you and considering you my friend was the most disgusting thing I've ever done in my life.
Don't appear before me again. Otherwise, I might not be able to control my temper next time."
With that, she forcefully pushed the door shut. Zhao Zhenzhen, dumbfounded and distraught, squatted by the door.
How did Qiqi know about those thoughts in her mind while she was unconscious? Did she accidentally say them out loud?
How much did she say, and how many people heard it? The thought sent a chill down Zhao Zhenzhen's spine.
In an instant, she lost both her love and her friendship, things that had seemed so secure just moments ago.
She wiped away her tears and knocked again, "Qiqi, it's all a misunderstanding, it's all fake. Don't you still believe in my character?"
Just then, an aunt from another apartment came out. "What's all the fuss about so early in the morning? Keep it down."
"I'm so sorry, I'll be quiet."
The aunt closed her door after speaking. Zhao Zhenzhen knocked a few more times, but seeing that Qiqi was determined not to pay her any mind, she left dejectedly.
She wanted to find Jun Jiuli, but she didn't know the location of the house the Xie family had given her. She could only go to Xie Qiuer's school to wait.
Upon seeing Jun Jiuli picking up Qi Qi, she stormed forward.
"Xu Ying, what have I done to you? Why are you trying to harm me? Because of you, my life is in chaos right now."
The surrounding parents all looked over.
"Are you crazy? How did I harm you? Speak clearly."
"You... you're unscrupulous for money! I almost died in the hospital because of you!"
The crowd erupted in murmurs, watching Jun Jiuli with a sense of schadenfreude.
At the same time, they wondered which child's parent Jun Jiuli was, and decided to tell their own children to stay away from her child.
"Young lady, you are spreading rumors and slandering me. You are severely damaging my reputation. I am calling the police now. Let's discuss this at the police station."
Saying this, she took out her phone and dialed 110. Zhao Zhenzhen was so shocked by this move.
"How... how could you do this?"
"Why shouldn't I? I am defending my own rights. Am I supposed to let you slander me with just your words?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. What's wrong with this young lady? I don't think that parent even knows her."
"Exactly, exactly. A swindler who stops at nothing for money, why would she dare to call the police?"
"Young lady, why don't you tell us what happened? How did she harm you for money?"
Zhao Zhenzhen stammered for a long time, unable to speak. Due to her profession, she knew how to speak in a way that would make Jun Jiuli the target of public scorn.
She also knew that she couldn't say anything superstitious in public, or she might lose her job because of it.
"I can't say. Anyway, she's not a good person."
"Hmph, boring. Anyone with eyes can see what's going on."
The crowd dispersed. Because Jun Jiuli had called the police, Zhao Zhenzhen didn't dare to run away and could only wait there resentfully.
Within two minutes of picking up Qi Qi, the police car arrived. Zhao Zhenzhen was lectured by the officers and didn't suffer any real harm.
After Jun Jiuli accepted her apology, she took Qi Qi to the market to buy groceries. At home, Jun Jiuli cooked in the kitchen while Qi Qi did her homework in the living room.
The atmosphere was pleasant. After dinner and tidying up, they sat on the sofa to rest, watching cartoons with Qi Qi.
"Mom, why was that auntie bullying you today? Mom didn't do anything wrong, did she?"
"That auntie has a problem with her head. There are people like that who bully others without the victim doing anything wrong.
So, in the future, if you are wronged and cannot resolve it yourself, you must call the police. Uncle police will help us solve the problem."
"Wow, Uncle Police is so amazing. Is he more amazing than Mom?"
"Yes, more amazing than Mom. Mom only needs to protect you, Qi Qi, while Uncle Police needs to protect all citizens.
When someone is being bullied, they will step forward. Wherever they are needed, they will rush there."
"Wow, then Qi Qi wants to be an Uncle Police when she grows up, okay?"
"Yes, being a police officer requires more effort than an ordinary person. It's very, very hard work. Can Qi Qi stick with it?"
A conflicted expression flashed across Qi Qi's small face. Her little legs were so short, she couldn't run fast, and her punches didn't hurt. What should she do?
Jun Jiuli stroked her head. "Qi Qi, you're still young. Don't worry about it. You can start by exercising well now, build a good foundation, and then you can do anything you want."
"Mhm, mhm. Qi Qi wants to eat more and grow taller, so she can be a big hero and protect many, many people in the future."
Zhao Zhenzhen returned home, looking exhausted, deeply regretting her impulsive actions of the day. She really had been lying down for too long; her brain had regressed.