Yu Qi had already come out of the space, cleaned herself up, and headed downstairs to the restaurant. She decided to help Madam Sheng with the work there.
She felt restless while staying upstairs, especially when she knew that the busy dinner hour would arrive soon. When she reached the restaurant area, there were already several customers inside, although the place was not full yet.
Madam Sheng noticed Yu Qi the moment she appeared.
Yu Qi walked over to greet her.
With a worried expression on her face, Madam Sheng spoke to Yu Qi. "Child, why are you here? Do you want to eat something? What would you like to eat? I'm not busy right now, so I can cook something for you."
"It's okay, Boss. We can eat later. It will get busy soon. Let me help you." Yu Qi had already taken out her apron and quickly put it on.
Madam Sheng sighed helplessly. She had no choice but to give up persuading her. She knew very well that once this child made up her mind, she would not change it easily.
Soon, more customers began entering the restaurant, and Yu Qi started helping with the work.
"Yu Qi, help me carry this dish to table ten." One of the waiters called out to her.
"Sure. Let me help you." Yu Qi picked up the dishes and carried them out of the kitchen.
She already knew where table ten was located. Moving skillfully through the restaurant, she carefully dodged the customers who were walking around.
"Your dishes have arrived. Please enjoy your meal." Yu Qi placed the dishes neatly on the table.
"Yu Qi."
Yu Qi suddenly heard someone calling her name.
She looked up and saw the people sitting at the table.
It was the Wang Family.
"What are you doing here?" Madam Wang asked angrily, although she deliberately lowered her voice.
I'm working part-time here." Yu Qi replied calmly.
"I know you have a part-time job. But it is already dinner time. Why didn't you come home to prepare dinner?" Madam Wang felt extremely angry when she saw Yu Qi's calm and unchanged expression.
"Why don't you ask your beloved daughter to cook?" Yu Qi replied at a normal volume.
Some of the nearby customers began turning their heads toward them after sensing that something was happening.
"How can I ask her to cook? She is only a small girl." Madam Wang immediately retorted.
"Yeah, right. Your small girl is already sixteen years old now. The same age as me. Why do you always ask me to cook when I am also just a small girl?" Yu Qi cleverly twisted Madam Wang's words.
"Sister, what are you talking about?" Wang Fu Ya interrupted them when she noticed that many people were starting to watch them. "Don't I always help you with cooking?"
"Yeah, you always help me by just watching and sometimes ordering me to hurry up." Yu Qi rolled her eyes sarcastically.
"She wasn't ordering you," Madam Wang quickly defended her daughter. Her tone softened as if she were acting like a gentle mother explaining something to her child. "She only asked you to hurry because your brother has gastric problems. He has to eat on time."
"Then why do you always ask me to do all the housework?" Yu Qi asked sarcastically. "You only ask me to do everything. Why don't you let my siblings help me?"
She continued speaking without giving them a chance to interrupt.
"When I cooked something that wasn't tasty, you ordered me to cook it again. When I accidentally broke one of your bowls, you forced me to pick up the broken pieces one by one until my fingers were bleeding. And whenever I failed to finish the tasks you gave me, all of you beat me."
Yu Qi slowly pulled up the sleeve of her shirt, revealing her arms.
The surrounding customers gasped in shock when they saw the bruises and scars covering her arms.
They could only imagine that the rest of her body probably had even more scars.
"Tell me… why is that?" Yu Qi asked again. This time her expression remained calm, but there was a mocking smile on her face.
Madam Wang's anger finally exploded.
She shouted loudly without caring about the people around them.
"Because you are not my daughter! You are just an adopted child in my family! You should feel grateful that I brought you into my family and gave you food and education!"
"Grateful?" Yu Qi laughed coldly.
"I started cooking for your family when I was only four years old. I always helped around the house while you spent your time spoiling your children. The food I ate was always leftovers."
She continued speaking clearly so everyone around could hear.
"School? I paid for my own education with my scholarship and my part-time job."
She then glanced at Wang Fu Ya.
"Not to mention that your beloved daughter tried to scheme against me today at school. Should I tell everyone about that as well?"
Yu Qi narrowed her eyes slightly, making her expression look frightening to Wang Fu Ya.
"Don't!" Wang Fu Ya suddenly screamed.
Once again, the people around them were shocked. It seemed that what Yu Qi said was actually true.
Everyone began looking at the Wang Family with expressions of disgust, hatred, and disbelief.
"I'm cutting off all ties with your family." Yu Qi said calmly. "From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. You can take care of your family, and I will take care of myself."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
Madam Wang wanted to continue arguing, but Mr Wang, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke.
"How can you do this, Yu Qi?" Mr Wang said with a frown. "This is your family. What do you mean by cutting off ties? You can't do something like that."
"I don't want to stay with your family anymore." Yu Qi replied without any change in her expression. "I don't want to be beaten anymore."
"That's right. Just let her go and take care of your own children." One of the onlookers spoke up.
Soon, several other people began voicing their opinions as well, criticising the Wang Family.
Unable to face the accusing gazes around them, the Wang Family finally left the restaurant in shame and anger.
Only after they left did Yu Qi smile with her eyes. She had never expected that she could cut ties with that family so easily.
It felt as if Heaven itself was helping her.
This chapter is edited by Tzin99... Thank you for your help...