Chapter 2359 - Breaking In (3)

Ding Jiayi used to keep these sheets in Qiao Nan's small room during summer. Qiao Zijin simply couldn't accept the fact that her room had become the storeroom. The stacked sheets made her feel hot just by looking at them.

Qiao Zijin scoffed as she realized that her mother was treating her like how she treated Qiao Nan in the past. What happened to Qiao Zijin being the favorite child? Bullsh*t!

"Eh?" Ding Jiayi got back from shopping, only to find that the lock had changed. Although she could still fit the key, it wouldn't open.

Before Ding Jiayi figured out what was going on, the door was opened from within. Qiao Zijin was all smiles. "Mom, it must be tiresome buying groceries by yourself. I've poured you a cup of tea, so come in and have some rest."

Ding Jiayi was taken aback. A brief smile appeared on her cheeks before her expression went sullen. "Why are you here? Didn't you find yourself a place to stay?" Since the day that Qiao Zijin left, Ding Jiayi had had a month of peace.

On the first few days, Ding Jiayi didn't know if she was relieved or heartbroken. However, it only took two weeks for her to get used to the days without Qiao Dongliang and Qiao Zijin by her side.

Qiao Zijin's sudden appearance had made her rather uncomfortable. "How did you get in here?"

"How else?" Qiao Zijin sounded gentler than usual, but the look in her eyes was still unscrupulous. "Mom, I've heard about the family's situation. I got into the house the same way you did. It was a smart method, so I learned it from you."

Tsk, it seemed like her mother wasn't the only one enraged. Her father moved out without a word as well. She wasn't sure about the situation before, but she was certain that her father had not shown up a single time in the past month.

Qiao Dongliang was determined to stay away from Ding Jiayi, and that was what caused her to not contact Qiao Zijin for so long. Although Ding Jiayi always spoke highly of herself, Qiao Zijin knew that her mother was nervous about Qiao Dongliang leaving.

Qiao Zijin knew that Qiao Dongliang was the reason that Ding Jiayi held a firm stand against her for the past month.

Qiao Zijin hadn't forgotten about what she had done in the capital city, so she was ready that Ding Jiayi would be mad at her for a while when she got back to Ping Cheng. That's why Qiao Zijin had nothing to say when she changed the lock.

"You…" Ding Jiayi was furious. "This is my house. Get out!" Qiao Zijin's actions made Qiao Nan cut ties with her, and Qiao Dongliang had moved out of the house. She didn't even know where Qiao Dongliang had been living. The sole reason that she ended up like this was thanks to Qiao Zijin.

If someone asked Ding Jiayi who she hated the most, her answer had changed from Qiao Nan to Qiao Zijin. Sure, there was a brief moment of happiness when she met her daughter again, but it was immediately washed away by her wrongdoings.

"Mom, what do you mean?" Qiao Zijin went through so much trouble to get back into the house, and there was no way she would see herself out that easily. Most importantly, she didn't want to spend money renting a place. "Mom, come on in. Let's put the groceries down and have a talk after."

Qiao Zijin dragged Ding Jiayi into the room and closed the door behind her. "Mom, I see that you bought fish. How about braised fish for dinner? I'd love that. Mom, this is your home, and it's also mine. This is the place that I grew up in. Where else would I be? It's hard to earn a living nowadays, and everything is becoming more expensive. It's better if we spend less, right?"

Of course, if Ding Jiayi really didn't want to see her, she could provide her a free place to stay. That was the only way she would consider moving out.

Ding Jiayi could feel her hands trembling in rage. "Do you know how old you are? Do you know how old your dad and I are? You are already over forty, and we don't need you to look after us. All you have to do is to take care of yourself. No one your age would still be staying with his or her parents! Be it getting married or renting a place, I don't care. Just take care of yourself."

That was what Ding Jiayi was like.

When she favored Qiao Zijin, she wanted to give her everything good. Now that Qiao Zijin was no longer close to her, she wouldn't allow her to live in her house or spend her money.

This was how she treated Qiao Nan in the past, and she's doing the same thing to Qiao Zijin.

Unfortunately, Qiao Zijin was not as filial and easygoing as Qiao Nan. If she did what Ding Jiayi asked for, she wouldn't be Qiao Zijin.

Qiao Zijin giggled. "Quit joking around, Mom. If I'm married, I would be living with my in-laws. The problem is that I have divorced, so I don't see anything wrong with living with you. I have always taken care of myself, and have you forgotten about the money that I sent you and Dad? I've paid for my living, food, and other expenses. Mom, are you eating off my allowance as well?"

Qiao Zijin wasn't shameless enough to talk about the house.

The Qiao's residence was sold for Qiao Zijin's college fees, and it took Qiao Nan years of salary to buy it back.

"Your money? How much have you earned from your 'job'?"