Chapter 20: Congratulations on your release from prison! This bottle of 84 disinfectant is a gift for you.

Clap, clap, clap, clap!!

A group of people started clapping along for no reason.

No, wait a minute?

What on earth?

"Released from prison?"

"Who was released from prison?"

"Didn't that little girl just say? Mao Wenjie was released from prison."

"What did he do?"

"No, she's talking nonsense. Ling Yue, shut up!" Mao's Mother rushed out to stop her.

She wasn't looking where she was going and bumped right into a passing burly man.

The burly man flexed his biceps, and Mao's Mother, wearing high-heeled boots, slid thirty centimeters away. She was about to fall flat on her face, but luckily grabbed the wall nearby just in time.

"Who is it? Are you blind!" Mao's Mother cried out in pain. When she pulled her hand back, she saw her meticulously manicured nails were filled with mud! She immediately screamed and shook her hand frantically.

For a moment, her concern for her nails even outweighed Ling Yue's sudden appearance in the neighborhood.

This interruption gave Ling Yue time to face the onlookers. Like a great melon farmer who had grown a 100-pound giant watermelon, she faced the crowd with pride and composure as if being interviewed by reporters. "Uncles and aunts, it's nothing major."

"It's just that Mao Wenjie was caught soliciting prostitutes outside and was locked in the detention center for 15 days."

"I came here today specifically to congratulate Mr. Mao Wenjie. Happy release from prison!!"

Bang, bang, bang!

Ling Yue pulled the confetti popper she had just bought at the supermarket.

Colorful sequins drifted down onto Mao's Mother and Mao Wenjie, making the spectacle complete!

The expressions of the two changed unpredictably, turning red and purple like the colorful sequins.

The onlookers were stunned.

"Is it true?"

"Soliciting prostitutes? What does that mean?" an old lady asked, confused.

A woman nearby started explaining, "It means paying for women."

"Looking for hookers?"

"Yes."

"Oh my~~ tsk tsk." The old lady's disdainful gaze immediately locked onto Mao Wenjie. For the sake of gossip, her eyes, which had been cloudy for half a lifetime, became unusually clear for a moment.

[resentment value: 39%]

[resentment value: 45%]

[resentment value: 67%]

Mao Wenjie's anger flared up.

If Ling Yue hadn't called the police, he wouldn't have been taken to the station.

That detention center was simply not a place for humans.

Someone even asked if he was for sale?

Damn it!

Like hell I'm for sale!

It was all Ling Yue's fault that he had to suffer these insults!

Mao Wenjie lowered his head, his fists clenched tight.

Ling Yue couldn't see his eyes, but she knew he must hate her to the core right now.

"Hahaha... Yueyue, this joke isn't funny at all!"

After the initial panic, Mao's Mother knew clearly she couldn't let Ling Yue solidify the fact that her son had been in the detention center.

Even if she didn't care about her face, the Mao family still needed to live in this neighborhood.

This woman loved her son like life itself and had always been respectful to her; she must be making trouble today because she was still angry with her son.

She had to stabilize her.

With a roll of her eyes, Mao's Mother's face turned from cloudy to sunny.

"You child, you just love to cause trouble. Did Xiaojie make you angry again?"

"He's just straightforward. If there's something to say, let's go home and talk about it properly."

"I treat you as well as my own daughter. If you have any grievances, just tell me, and I promise to teach Xiaojie a good lesson for you! Once you and Xiaojie get married, we'll be one family. Ruining Xiaojie's reputation like this isn't good for you either, right?"

Ling Yue stepped aside, avoiding Mao's Mother's outstretched hand.

"Auntie, if your son had the guts to do it, why doesn't he have the guts to admit it?"

Ling Yue took out a white plastic bottle from the bag. "Mao Wenjie has solicited eight people in half a year. Who knows how dirty he is? I wouldn't dare visit your home!"

"Even though I've broken up with your son, I still have a conscience."

"Here, I'm giving you this bottle of 84 Disinfectant for free."

"Take it home and disinfect everything properly!"

"Especially the elevators, buttons, handrails, and such. Who knows how toxic it might be?"

"These uncles and aunts are your neighbors; they probably wouldn't say anything, but since I'm here, I'll speak for them."

Ling Yue said these cutting words with a smile.

Mao's Mother could only be pleasant to Ling Yue as long as Ling Yue was sensible and obedient.

As soon as Ling Yue talked back, her face immediately changed.

"As a young girl, I wanted to save you some face, but now it seems unnecessary! I know you hate my son for breaking up with you, but look at yourself—not particularly good-looking, and your family background is even more terrifying, having to send money home every month to support your younger brother."

"Which family would want a daughter-in-law like you? Why should marrying you mean supporting your entire family?"

"Dating isn't the same as marriage; breaking up is normal. Why can everyone else break up peacefully while you're so resentful that you're spreading rumors in public!"

For a moment, skeptical and suspicious gazes fell on Ling Yue.

Ling Yue sighed lightly. "Auntie, I didn't expect you to look so grand on the outside but be such a liar in reality."

"Like mother, like son. No wonder your son can't control that useless thing of his."

She unhurriedly produced a video. "Uncles and aunts, this is a recording I made on the way to the police station. Take a look at how loudly Mao Wenjie was howling when he was caught."

The day Mao Wenjie was caught, since it happened at Ling Yue's rented apartment, she had to go and give a statement as well.

At that time, only one police car came, so they had no choice but to ride together to the police station.

Mao Wenjie was restless the whole way. First, he said Ling Yue slandered him, then he said the woman ran into his room herself, then he said Ling Yue conspired with the woman to frame him, and so on. In the end, everything was debunked, and he simply gave up and promised the police officers he would never solicit prostitutes again.

Just after the video played the part where Mao Wenjie made his vow, Ling Yue paused it.

"Auntie, honesty is a traditional virtue of the Chinese people. How come you didn't inherit it? You aren't a spy sent from a neighboring country, are you?" Her smile was bright, but it felt extremely mocking to Mao's Mother.

"You, this video is faked! You're violating portrait rights! I can sue you!" Mao's Mother's eyes turned red.

Ling Yue covered her mouth in mock horror. "Ah, I didn't distribute it, I didn't profit from it, and I didn't post it online. I just accidentally recorded your son's face and voice while taking a selfie. If you're going to sue me for that, we might as well just cancel the video recording function on phones altogether."

"Besides, everyone standing here is my uncle or aunt, my relatives. What does it matter to you if I show my relatives a funny little video?"

The suspicious and scrutinizing gazes instantly shifted back to Mao's Mother.

Mao's Mother's face turned pale in an instant.

Mao Wenjie, the main character of the incident, remained huddled behind his mother, not daring to show his face.

If not for the continuously rising resentment value, Ling Yue would have almost forgotten his existence.

Unable to win the argument, Mao's Mother wanted to pull her son away and escape.

At this moment.

A deep male voice rang out: "Your son was messing around. Who knows if he has any diseases? When is your family going to do a thorough disinfection of the neighborhood?"

Only when their own interests are touched...

...do people unite against an outsider.

The crowd that was just watching the drama suddenly realized the situation and swarmed forward to block Mao's Mother's path.

"Zhang Lichun, it's not that we neighbors aren't tolerant, but there are small children at home. What if your son has a disease and touches something in the public area, and infects the kids?"

Mao's Mother thought, 'What a bunch of ignorant illiterates!'

"Even if there's a disease, it's not something you can catch just by casual touching!" Mao's Mother couldn't help but roar out.

When had she ever been blocked on the street and questioned with such an attitude?!

"Mao Wenjie just got out; has he already finished his check-up? What were the results?" Ling Yue asked what the people were thinking.

How could there be time for a check-up?

Her son had suffered so much; of course, he needed to go home and rest first!

Truly an uneducated country person, a shrew who only knows how to bark like a mad dog.

[resentment value: 93%]

[resentment value: 100%]

[resentment value: 103%]

[resentment value: 116%]

A woman nearby said angrily, "No, Zhang Lichun, what are you getting so worked up about?"

"If you could manage your son properly, would this have happened today?"

"I don't care. My granddaughter's health is weak to begin with. You must do a comprehensive disinfection of the neighborhood, or I'll complain to the property management!"

"We're all neighbors, don't make it so ugly."

"You're a bachelor, so of course you don't care, but I have children in my house!"

"Exactly."

"I support a comprehensive disinfection!"

Those who disliked Zhang Lichun's usual behavior took this opportunity to attack her.

Mao's Mother was surrounded. She, who was usually so eloquent, couldn't explain a single word now.

She broke out in a sweat despite the cold weather.

As Mao's Mother was forced into a corner, the space left for Mao Wenjie became smaller.

Seeing his mother's endurance, the crowd's accusations, and Ling Yue's triumphant, mocking smile after her success, Mao Wenjie could no longer hold back.

He pushed through the crowd and lunged at Ling Yue!