Rebirth of the Villainous Female Boss
Chapter 1532 - 1504 Have You Ever Thought About This?

Chapter 1532: Chapter 1504 Have You Ever Thought About This?

Following that episode, Kiara’s mother’s face remained grim, and Arlong too looked worried, while Kiara herself seemed unfazed by the whole ordeal.

It was only when they were almost home that Kiara finally spoke up.

"I’m not angry, so what are the two of you fussing about?"

"Sis, did you hear that?"

"You were shouting so loudly, even a deaf person would’ve heard. But yelling doesn’t solve anything, just like you can never wake someone who’s pretending to be asleep. Once people decide what they think of you, these rumors and slander just won’t stop."

"It just makes me so mad! I feel like kicking something! What’s wrong with them, envying others for making money instead of trying to earn it themselves? Always gossiping about whoever’s doing well—I just don’t get it, ugh!"

Kiara’s mother’s anger had been building up for a long time.

Her daughter was simply too outstanding, and this wasn’t the first time she had been the subject of gossip.

This time it was because she won a yacht as a prize, and some ignorant people insisted on saying she was kept by the Big Boss, with the more extravagant rumors suggesting she was supported by a leader—the stories were wildly fantastical.

Going a bit further back, when Kiara had just become a student of Yuzo Joel and won a prize, she was also spoken about in an ugly way. They said she had found a ’godfather’ who was promoting her.

Even earlier, when Kiara changed her car and drove to visit her mum, the neighbors asked Kiara’s mother what she did for a living. When she replied that her daughter was a student, the gossip started anew, claiming Kiara had an inappropriate relationship with the Big Boss—there were all sorts of stories.

It wasn’t just the neighbors who spread such talk; even some folks they knew from before joined in, especially those from their old neighborhood before it was demolished. After the demolition, people went their separate ways, and whenever they chanced upon each other, they’d discuss their current situations and, at times, gather to dissect who was doing well.

"I used to think there was a genuine, simple relationship with our neighbors after all these years, but it turns out these guys know only how to flatter the mighty and despise the downtrodden. When times were tough, they looked down on us, and when we were doing well, they spread rumors. I explained over and over, but they just wouldn’t listen. The more it spreads, the more absurd it gets! It makes my blood boil!"

Kiara’s mother grew furious as she recalled the history of how her daughter had been maligned behind her back over the years.

In the beginning, when Kiara appeared on TV to help solve problems, everyone envied her for having such a good daughter. But as Kiara got more successful and her business grew, the gap between her and the people around her widened, and the nature of the gossip changed.

"There’s no need to be upset about it. We’re not from the same world as them, and it’s hard for them to imagine how I can make so much money. People are always extreme in their reactions to things they can’t comprehend—it’s not surprising." Kiara, as someone who had been the subject of many rumors, was not only unbothered but also tried to console her own family.

"Those people can’t even imagine how much a psychologist can earn all their lives. They still measure my sister with the same standards as a hospital. If they can’t compare, they just let their mouths run wild. In the eyes of some, rich people drinking water is showing off, and even breathing is a sin! We could do nothing and they’d still find a mountain of things to say against my sister! I can’t understand why they won’t believe something that anyone with a bit of sense could figure out." Arlong became angry whenever he thought of the things those people said.

What those two had just said was indeed vile, the kind of talk that should never be heard, which was no wonder why Arlong was so angry.

"Exactly! Even if your sister had incredible abilities, she couldn’t possibly seduce so many judges from different contests, could she? And besides, your sister has won many times—why do they always say she has a backstage? Can Our Home’s backstage reach Overseas?"

Kiara’s mother, a housewife, knew these rumors were baseless, but still, some people believed them.

Kiara made money, and they said she had backstage support.

When Kiara won an award, they claimed it was orchestrated by her connections.

Every time Kiara won an award, they said it was her connections operating behind the scenes.

Talking as if they had seen it all, some even specified how much "bribe" Kiara paid the judges, and others rumored she was a leader’s mistress. They even described her styling with utmost certainty, as if they had been standing by and watching when she was conducting affairs.

You produce results, and they say they’re bought.

You drive a luxury car and get a bonus, and people say that’s bought too. In short, they insist Kiara’s money is dirty and that she has a problematic personal life.

The reason being, if a woman is both beautiful and wealthy, in many people’s eyes, her money must be tainted. No matter how much you argue, they’re convinced without a shred of evidence.

"The most infuriating rumor I’ve heard was when that Trent Unos from our street accused you behind your back, saying he saw you, Kiara, entertaining all kinds of men at our home before it was demolished. Emma! If Uncle Liao Walker hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve taken a bucket of gasoline and fought him to the end." Kiara’s mother didn’t know where these people got their long tongues from, spreading rumors that even concocted "evidence"!

"Haha! That’s hilarious!" Kiara was amused by this "evidence."

Kiara’s mother became even more incensed, and she pointed at Kiara’s forehead, "You silly girl, how can you be so heartless? They are slandering you like this, and you still manage to laugh?"

"I’m laughing at that Trent Unos you mentioned. He’s suffering from post-stroke sequelae and can barely walk; how does he even have the time to meddle in other people’s affairs? Haha, he saw it with his own eyes... pfft, peering over our wall from his wheelchair?"

Kiara’s mother grew angrier, "Those people deserve to rot their tongues, serves him right to have a stroke! Sick and still can’t keep their mouth shut!"

"Hey, Mum, it’s okay to scold him, but you can’t discriminate against other patients, right? Getting sick isn’t a result of misdeeds; there’s no such thing as karmic retribution. Whether a person is bad has nothing to do with illness."

Kiara didn’t forget to correct her mother’s misconceptions.

"Sis, why do they always talk about you?" Arlong cautiously asked his sister, seeing she wasn’t upset.

"It’s not just me. Have you noticed, throughout history, which famous person hasn’t been talked about? Fame brings envy, and only the mediocre are spared. Anyone with a bit of notoriety has various rumors and gossip passed down. Can you tell which is true and which is false? Especially for women, once they become famous, an array of negative news surrounding them is inevitable because human nature harbors both schadenfreude and jealousy, feelings everyone possesses. When jealousy and schadenfreude combine, they create fertile ground for rumors to thrive."

Kiara took the opportunity to educate both her brother and mother because negative news about her would only increase, not decrease. Rather than letting her family get upset every time, better to give them a heads-up.

"Rumors arise largely because humans naturally enjoy hearing scandals about those they envy. Have you ever heard someone say, ’Despite his wealth, he may not be happy, or the lady who buys designer bags might go home to domestic abuse and have to raise her husband’s mistress’s child’? Or ’Even though he’s powerful, wealth doesn’t last three generations, and the sons of the rich and powerful are all extravagant’?"

Huh... Not only had she heard such sentiments, but Kiara’s mother also realized she sometimes thought the same way.