“Of course I can’t break it, and neither can you! But three cobblers with their hats together equal Zhuge Liang—so long as our family stays united, we’ll always find a way!” Liu E said through gritted teeth.

At this critical juncture, Liu Fan was gone, Qin Xin wouldn’t return, Ming Shuo remained elusive, and Mom had once again lost her wits. Her daughter couldn’t be dragged into this mess, so the only ally she could think of was Wang Zhi.

If Wang Zhi were to leave at a time like this, she felt she simply wouldn’t be able to hold on any longer.

Yet Wang Zhi had made up her mind and would not budge no matter what. She too bit her lip and said, “A way? Easy for you to say. Your daughter is far away and safe; but what about my daughter, Liu Piaopiao? She’s still so young—she hasn’t even done anything yet, and already she’s being caught up in all this!”

“We’ll protect her!” Liu E insisted, still unwilling to let Wang Zhi go.

But Wang Zhi was resolute: “What kind of protection are you talking about? Even Qin Xin, who’s so shrewd, couldn’t be protected—what chance do the two of us have? Frankly, you’d better hurry up and leave too! If you go early, there’s still a chance you might end up well off. Just don’t wait until you want to leave but can’t anymore!”

“Wang Zhi!”

“Enough. My mind is made up—you can’t stop me.”

Wang Zhi didn’t want to argue with Liu E any longer. With those words, she turned around and walked straight out without looking back, taking with her gold and silver jewelry and still sobbing Liu Piaopiao, heading straight for the gate of the Liu family estate.

From beginning to end, Wang Zhi showed no intention of saying goodbye to Liu grandmother.

Just like the words she’d used to answer her daughter: she wasn’t worthy!

“Mom, will we ever come back? Will we ever return here? Grandma’s here, and my teachers and classmates are all here too—I don’t want to leave.”

Liu Piaopiao pressed her face against the car window, her red-rimmed eyes brimming with reluctance toward this home and this city.

Wang Zhi immediately pulled the child into her arms and comforted her, kissing her forehead. “We will, Piaopiao—don’t be sad. But right now, we have to leave!”

“Why?”

Liu Piaopiao asked, puzzled.

This wasn’t the first time she’d asked her mother that question.

Yet her mother always evaded the issue; after asking so many times, she still hadn’t given a proper answer. So, with extraordinary patience, Liu Piaopiao asked again.

Wang Zhi could only hold the child tighter, kissing her forehead over and over, her blurry eyes fixed on the villa growing farther and farther away—the place she’d once thought would bring her happiness for the rest of her life—and sighed, “Mom doesn’t really know either, but she can feel that this place is no longer safe.”

She didn’t want to tell her daughter about the awful things involving her father, Liu Fan, nor did she mention his other child.

It wasn’t because she loved Liu Fan too much.

Rather, she simply didn’t want to speak ill of her child’s father in front of her only daughter, lest it leave her with psychological scars.

As for what kind of person her father really is, when the child grows up and understands things, she’ll eventually find the answer herself.

“Mom?”

Liu Piaopiao tilted her head up to look at her mother, her eyes filled with confusion.

Wang Zhi tugged at the corner of her mouth, ruffled her daughter’s hair, and smiled gently. “Piaopiao, please don’t blame Mom for being heartless. It’s not that Mom doesn’t want to see you off on your father’s final journey—it’s just that Mom is truly afraid!”

Liu Piaopiao remained silent.

Wang Zhi went on: “Mom only has you, my precious little girl. Mom can’t bear to see anything happen to you, so please forgive Mom, Piaopiao. The debt Mom owes you today, one day or another, will surely be repaid.”

End of Chapter 164: Counterattack 90