The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 430 - 401: Taking Photos, Tabloid Gossip_1

Chapter 430: Chapter 401: Taking Photos, Tabloid Gossip_1

Thinking of the recent events she had witnessed, Third Grandma Qi wanted to have a talk with Bai Qiongyu.

"I’ve also heard about the trouble in your family," Third Grandma Qi said, "Shuliang has told me about what those people have done over the years. In a word, they are ungrateful wolves feeding off your kindness. Don’t be upset or sad about those insignificant people."

"Easy to say, but after all, I’ve invested my feelings into this. Getting to this point was not what I wanted," Bai Qiongyu sighed, "Yet people’s desires are endless, and their repeated ingratitude goes against my style. So I don’t want to tolerate it anymore. It might be better for them to face reality sooner rather than later."

"Indeed, raising a dog or a cat still forms a bond, let alone with people," Third Grandma Qi remarked, "Cherish those who matter, and forget about the rest. We are both over sixty now, who knows how many years we have left. Since that’s the case, why not live a more carefree life for ourselves?"

"Sister Qi is truly insightful!" Bai Qiongyu agreed, "Yes, most of my life has passed. In the remaining years, I must live even more joyfully."

The two old ladies chatted animatedly, their laughter occasionally ringing out.

"Sister Tiantian, what are you eavesdropping on?" Qi Zhengmin came up behind He Tiantian and asked in a whisper, finding Sister Tiantian sneaking around. If she wanted to listen, she could have just gone over there directly.

He Tiantian covered Qi Zhengmin’s mouth and whispered, "Keep it down; the grandmas are having a chat."

"You could just go in and listen," Qi Zhengmin grew even more puzzled. There were sofas inside to sit on; why eavesdrop from the outside?

Moreover, inside, Grandma Bai and grandma’s voices were so loud, they didn’t seem to be speaking in a way that was meant to exclude others.

"No need, I’ll just listen for a bit. I’m about to start preparing lunch," He Tiantian said, then went off to the kitchen.

After having lunch at the Qi Family home, Bai Qiongyu left.

But as soon as her car left the Qi Family’s gate, several people blocked her way – two women with a child.

Once those people confirmed it was Bai Qiongyu’s car, they dropped to their knees in front of it.

"Sister Bai, you can’t just ignore Anan and Ah Wei! After all, they’ve called you mother for so many years. You can’t be this heartless!" An elderly woman threw herself on the hood of the car and wailed loudly.

Sitting inside the car, Bai Qiongyu’s temples throbbed a few times, and her expression turned grim. It seemed the lesson had been too light.

How shameful, to bring such a scene to the Qi Family’s doorstep.

"Move aside," Xianglan leaned out of the car and urged them.

Seeing this, Xin Anan quickly pulled the child to the back window of the car and pleaded, "Mother, please retract that statement. We’ll behave from now on."

Bai Qiongyu, not wanting to linger there any longer, ordered, "Have the bodyguards pull them away."

These people would always act in the dumbest ways possible, thinking that pleading and shedding tears would earn them forgiveness, never remembering the pain their actions had once caused others!

Too selfish, and far too presumptuous!

Xianglan signaled to the bodyguards in the back, and seven or eight burly men got out of the car and pulled the three people away from the front.

"Grandma, don’t you love me anymore?" The child’s shrill voice spread throughout the area, drawing stares.

Bai Qiongyu did not show her face. Having already severed ties, there was no point in wasting energy on these self-righteous people.

"Bai Qiongyu, don’t go too far. Push us too hard, and I’ll hang myself on your front gate," Ye Weiwen threw a tantrum, her clothes ragged and her demeanor disturbed as if she was on the verge of madness, to heighten the effect.

The bodyguards cleared a path, the car started once more, leaving the people behind in disarray.

The bodyguards followed closely behind as they left, abandoning the embarrassed group of grandmother, mother, and child.

By the time the Qi Family sent someone out, Bai Qiongyu was already gone, leaving them to look at the three baffled individuals.

Ye Weiwen knew it was embarrassing, but since the photos they wanted had already been taken, there was no need to stay any longer. She left with her daughter and granddaughter, their heads hung low in defeat.

When they had gone some distance, they encountered a foreign man, who was none other than Xin Anan’s husband, Geoffrey Gladstone, holding a camera. The boy from before was Xin Anan’s son, Danton Gladstone.

"How did it go?" Xin Anan asked. "Did you get the shots?"

"My dear, we got them," Geoffrey replied. Their company was in desperate need of cash for investment, or else it would go bankrupt within a week.

What a distressing situation that was!

Without the company, he would have no decent way of life. Therefore, he was more than willing to collude with his wife to stage such a drama, forcing Bai Qiongyu into compliance.

"Good, tomorrow’s papers will expose that bitch’s despicable nature," Ye Weiwen declared. "Come on, let’s go home."

For money, these people were willing to do anything.

They had planned it out seamlessly. If Bai Qiongyu didn’t comply, they would keep on doing this, continuously publishing articles in the newspaper to tarnish her reputation.

Ye Weiwen not only took to the newspapers but also hired a lawyer to claim her ex-husband’s wealth, suing for an unfair division of property.

Whether or not she could win the lawsuit didn’t matter. The main goal was to bring Bai Qiongyu to her knees, and the proud Bai Qiongyu wouldn’t be able to withstand such shame for long.

And so, the next day, some tabloids featured large photographs alongside articles condemning the cruel stepmother.

Ye Weiwen’s submission to the newspapers included full names, but the newspapers weren’t fools. If they published as such, they would certainly receive a cease-and-desist letter from the other party. Thus, they retained the last name but changed the first name, and also pixelated the car license plate number in the photos.

This way, people could associate it with Bai Qiongyu without sparking a lawsuit.

As for the veracity of the events?

Did it matter?

Not in the least!

The newspaper wanted topics that generated buzz. As long as there was controversy and sales, that was what mattered most.

Xianglan was organizing the newly arrived newspapers in the morning and felt indignant. How could these people so shamelessly twist the truth?

When Bai Qiongyu saw the report, she didn’t speak a word, calmly eating breakfast.

"Miss, shouldn’t we sue them?" Xianglan suggested. "They’ve gone too far!"

Bai Qiongyu shook her head and chuckled lightly. "Those people are probably waiting for us to sue. It’s just a tabloid; it’s not a big deal. Those who know us understand the situation. There’s no need for us to explain to those who don’t."

"So we just let them get away with this nonsense?" Xianglan was frustrated. It was too much bullying.

"Hehe, my father used to say, ’A grasshopper after autumn won’t be able to hop for much longer,’" Bai Qiongyu stated. "The more frantic these people act, the quicker they will bring about their own downfall. They think public opinion can trouble me? What a joke! Childish!"

"Yes, they don’t think before they act," Xianglan said. "So we just let them do as they please?"

"Mhm, let them make a fuss; they’re nothing but clowns," Bai Qiongyu nodded nonchalantly, unbothered.

She had many other things to do and had no time to worry about them.

Bai Qiongyu’s indifference might have provoked some idle gossip, but it didn’t affect the family’s business at all.

******

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