Chapter 58: What Goes Around Comes Around

A cold voice slowly drifted down from the upper floor.

Duoduo looked in the direction of the voice and saw Xie Fangyun standing beneath the stairs. She called out pitifully, "Grandma..."

"Duoduo, don't be afraid. Grandma is here!"

Xie Fangyun picked up the ugly doll and hurried to Duoduo's side.

Upon seeing her, Director Zhou awkwardly called out, "Mom."

"The Sweet Home instance has already ended; you don't need to address me like that. You aren't used to saying it, and it feels awkward for me to hear it."

Xie Fangyun glanced at her, then turned her gaze to Yue.

They were both just children, yet Duoduo was cute and obedient, while the child before her was full of schemes.

Being stared at like that by an entity made Yue feel somewhat uneasy.

She pressed her lips together and met Xie Fangyun's gaze with displeasure.

"I am talking to Duoduo!"

Catching the underlying meaning in Yue's words—that she should not meddle—Xie Fangyun cast a sidelong glance at her and let out a cold snort.

"I answered the question you posed to Duoduo! Don't assume that just because Duoduo is young and naive, you can bully her as you please. And as for you..."

Xie Fangyun turned to look at Director Zhou.

"Since you chose her, keep a proper eye on her. If I discover her coming to bully Duoduo again, don't blame me for being unpolite!"

Xie Fangyun frowned slightly, a complex emotion stirring in her heart.

Back in Sweet Home, this "daughter" had been diligent and filial, a quite decent child.

Unfortunately, this child had poor judgment.

Between Duoduo and this calculating child, she had chosen the latter.

No matter the choice, it was a matter of personal fortune.

For the sake of their past acquaintance, she would spare them today.

Should there be a next time, however, she would show no mercy whatsoever!

"I'm sorry. Such an incident will not happen again."

Director Zhou apologized to Duoduo and Xie Fangyun, then pulled Yue aside.

Xie Fangyun withdrew her gaze and handed the ugly doll back to Duoduo.

"Duoduo, how about Grandma takes you to find Grandpa to play?"

"Okay!"

Duoduo's emotions came and went quickly.

Clutching the ugly doll, she nodded excitedly.

Seeing her smile, Xie Fangyun's expression softened considerably.

Holding Duoduo's hand, she walked slowly down the stairs.

Yue was unwilling to let Duoduo leave just like that, but everyone favored Duoduo, leaving her truly isolated and powerless.

Watching the old woman and the child depart, Yue's eyes rolled as a plan suddenly formed in her mind.

She was not the only one suffering from hunger.

Now that Ling Yun was gone, there would surely be someone bold enough to take a desperate gamble just to get a bite of food.

However, with Director Zhou by her side, she would certainly try to stop her, so she had to get rid of her first!

Yue's eyes rolled again, and she abruptly clutched her stomach, sitting down on the stairs.

She raised her head and looked piteously at Director Zhou.

"Director Mom, I'm too hungry to walk. Can I stay here and wait for you?"

"Alright, then stay here and wait for me!"

Because of what had just happened, Director Zhou felt deeply disappointed in Yue.

Had it been earlier, she would never have felt at ease leaving Yue behind alone.

But now...

She felt she knew far too little about Yue.

Once they left this place, it would be best to part ways with Yue!

Dropping those words, Director Zhou continued down the stairs.

Not long after she left, Yue stood up as well.

...

"Grandma, thank you!"

Holding Xie Fangyun's hand, Duoduo raised her little face to look up at her.

Older Sister Yue had suddenly become so terrifying just now.

Fortunately, Grandma came; Grandma rescued her from Older Sister Yue's hands!

Grandma was so amazing. When would she herself become as amazing as Grandma?

"You're welcome. Grandma likes Duoduo, so protecting Duoduo is only right!"

Xie Fangyun the corners of her mouth curved upward as she gracefully accepted Duoduo's thanks.

They hadn't walked far before they spotted Xu Hetang.

From afar, Duoduo called out "Grandpa!" and ran forward on her short little legs.

"Oh my, my little ancestor is here!"

Seeing her, Xu Hetang smiled from ear to ear, his eyes crinkling.

He slowly squatted down and opened his arms to welcome Duoduo's flying tackle.

However, Duoduo's momentum was greater than he had imagined.

Staggering from the impact, he and Duoduo tumbled to the ground together.

Being an entity, he felt no pain.

Seeing the little one crawling all over his embrace with hands and feet, yet unable to get back up.

"Look at the two of you, grandfather and granddaughter!"

Xie Fangyun shook her head with a smile and picked Duoduo up.

"Thank you, Grandma!"

Duoduo turned to look at her in gratitude, then turned her head toward Xu Hetang.

Seeing that Xu Hetang had not gotten up yet, she extended her little hand toward him.

"Grandpa, I'll pull you up."

"Alright!"

Xu Hetang did not refuse Duoduo's kind gesture just because she was small and couldn't possibly pull him up.

With a beaming smile, he grasped Duoduo's hand and hoisted himself up from the ground.

"Thank you, Duoduo."

"You're welcome, Grandpa!"

Duoduo waved her little hand and giggled foolishly.

She was so happy she could help Grandpa!

"Did Duoduo fall and hurt herself?" Xu Hetang asked worriedly, looking her over.

It was because he hadn't squatted steadily that Duoduo had tumbled down with him.

Duoduo shook her head and looked at Xu Hetang with concern.

"Does Grandpa hurt?"

"Grandpa doesn't hurt."

Xu Hetang's eyes curved into crescents as he affectionately patted Duoduo's little head.

Having a granddaughter was truly wonderful; when he fell, someone cared about him.

"Alright, the two of you stop showing each other so much concern right in front of me, making me feel like a transparent person!"

Watching the two of them, Xie Fangyun felt a twinge of jealousy.

She suddenly understood how General Ling had felt when looking at her earlier.

Karma truly comes around full circle!

"Duoduo, there's a theatrical performance on the cruise ship. Would you like to go see it?" Xie Fangyun suddenly suggested.

Duoduo tilted her head and looked at her. "Grandma, what is a theatrical performance?"

"It's like acting in a play."

Xie Fangyun didn't quite know how to explain it so Duoduo could understand.

As she struggled to think of an explanation, she heard Duoduo's voice drift softly into her ears.

"Then will Grandpa and Grandma go too?"

"We will!" Xie Fangyun nodded without hesitation. "If Duoduo goes, we'll all go together!"

With that, she exchanged a knowing glance with Xu Hetang.

Xu Hetang looked slightly troubled. "But I still have to keep watch here; I can't slip away just like that!"

"Do you really take yourself for a staff member?" Xie Fangyun glared at him.

Xu Hetang gave himself a slap on the forehead, reacting belatedly.

He had been a waiter for too long in his youth, and his old occupational habit had kicked in!

"Alright, let's all go watch the play together!"

Every word of the three people's conversation reached the man's ears without omission.

The man frowned and let out a cold snort.

"We're stuck in the bottom hold without even a bite to eat. That little brat actually gets to go watch a play!"

Yet the current situation did not match what that girl Yue had described.

The entity from last night was absent, but this little brat was accompanied by two old fogies.

One of them was an entity, and the other was likely one as well.

What on earth was the background of this little brat, and why was she on such close terms with entities?