Chasing You Like a Tenacious Falcon

Zuo Zichen wore earplugs all the way home, missing out on all the key points of the conversation.

Coincidentally, the entire family was present this Friday.

Zuo Zhiyu, Xu Zhiyi, Hou Qiaoling, Zuo Zhaoyuan, Zhang Liufang, and the 10-year-old illegitimate child Zuo Yunxuan were all seated at the Zuo family dining table!

Even the baby boy, still nursing, sat in a high chair nearby.

When Quan Zhisui stepped into the dining room, she was greeted by this bizarre yet oddly harmonious scene.

Zuo Zhaoyuan and Zhang Liufang were fussing over their grandson, while Xu Zhiyi and Hou Qiaoling sat on either side of Zuo Zhiyu.

The table was full, leaving no seats for Quan Zhisui and Zuo Zichen.

Zuo Zichen frowned but didn’t react immediately.

Quan Zhisui, however, gave Zuo Zhiyu a once-over before suddenly speaking up, “Dad, my mom…”

*Bang!*

Zuo Zhiyu slammed his chopsticks down. “Your mom?!”

Quan Zhisui smiled faintly at his intense reaction. “Oh, I meant Aunt Xu. She signed my boarding school application. She’s also a guardian, isn’t she?”

Xu Zhiyi snorted. She couldn’t understand why such a trivial matter warranted Zuo Zhiyu’s outburst.

Wouldn’t it be better for Quan Zhisui, who was so troublesome, to live at school?

Zuo Zhiyu’s expression darkened, his gaze towards Quan Zhisui now tinged with resentment.

Quan Zhisui added, “Thankfully, I’m staying at school. Otherwise, all this noise at home would disrupt my studies.”

Zuo Zhiyu slammed the table. “You’re a girl. What’s the point of studying so hard? You’ll just end up getting married anyway.”

Zhang Liufang chimed in, “It doesn’t matter if girls study or not. Too much education makes them too strong-willed. It’s better if you don’t go to university.”

*Just like your mother! So annoying!*

Hou Qiaoling glanced at them with amusement, then locked eyes with Quan Zhisui. “So, this is the eldest daughter from the first marriage? Hmm, quite impressive.”

Zuo Zhaoyuan frowned disapprovingly. “She’s just a country girl! We just brought her back. She hasn’t been taught anything yet.”

Hou Qiaoling propped her chin on her hand, smiling. “Still better than you lot with no vision.”

The Zuo family members’ faces twisted in anger.

Quan Zhisui glanced at her but said nothing.

Zuo Zichen, meanwhile, lowered his head, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. This new aunt was a force to be reckoned with, her words sharp and biting.

“Enough!” Zuo Zhiyu, the head of the family, declared. “You two high schoolers, go eat in the side dining room. There are too many people here. No need to crowd the table.”

Zuo Zichen felt a pang of frustration, but when he looked up, Quan Zhisui had already turned and headed to the side dining room, clearly uninterested in staying at the main table.

Zuo Zichen quickly followed, whispering in awe, “Wow, sis! You didn’t flip the table today!”

Quan Zhisui had no intention of causing a scene and drawing attention. With Xu Zhiyi and Hou Qiaoling locked in their power struggle, Zuo Zhiyu caught in the middle, and the elders playing peacemakers, the chaos was perfect.

The more chaotic the Zuo family became, the safer Quan Zhisui felt.

Eating in the side dining room was surprisingly peaceful. Ma Xinwei, who hadn’t seen Quan Zhisui in a month, served up a feast, the quality no less than what was served in the main dining room.

During the meal, Gu Lan approached and asked, “Miss, did you bring your laundry back from school?”

Quan Zhisui replied, “I used the washer and dryer. I did it myself.”

“Oh…” Gu Lan didn’t know what else to say.

Since Quan Zhisui started boarding at school, the Zuo family drama had been constant, but it lacked the intensity it had when she was around.

After dinner, Zuo Zichen followed Quan Zhisui upstairs, both of them steering clear of the adults’ affairs.

At the stairwell, they ran into Zuo Yunxuan.

The 10-year-old boy was holding a drone, seemingly about to go out and play.

Seeing them, Zuo Yunxuan greeted, “Hello, brother and sister.”

Quan Zhisui glanced at him but ignored him, continuing up the stairs.

Zuo Zichen nodded, about to follow when…

The little boy tugged at his sleeve and asked with a smile, “Brother Zichen, does sister not like me?”

Zuo Zichen: “…”

*No! You’re too young to get involved in this mess!*

Quan Zhisui turned her head and said, “No, I hate you.”

Zuo Zichen: “…”

*Damn! Sis! My own sister! You’re ruthless!*

Zuo ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‍Yunxuan clutched his drone, his face falling. “Why? Aren’t we family?”

Quan Zhisui waved her hand dismissively. “Zuo Zichen, don’t let him near my room.”

“Got it, got it,” Zuo Zichen quickly agreed, steering Zuo Yunxuan back down the stairs.

Zuo Yunxuan looked up innocently. “Brother, what should I be careful about living in the Zuo family? Is not upsetting sister the top priority?”

He had already overheard some of the adults’ arguments and knew that this eldest daughter was fierce.

His mother had also warned him to be cautious around Quan Zhisui.

Zuo Zichen didn’t know how to respond, so he simply said, “Just focus on your studies.”

Zuo Yunxuan smiled. “Brother, play with me and the drone!”

Zuo Zichen sighed. “Alright, let’s play for a bit.”

With so many of his father’s illegitimate children around, he had grown numb to it all. No resistance, no feelings—just indifference.

…

Back in her room, Quan Zhisui went online to research her mother’s past.

Just as Fang Yue had said, the name Quan Feng was well-known in Liangxi Town!

So famous that even after more than a decade, she could still find plenty of information—her university life, her roommates, her friends, and the grandeur of her wedding day.

There were even old photos.

Quan Zhisui resembled her mother, but their auras were different.

Her mother was like a blooming flower, or a gust of wind—her name fittingly capturing how she swept through the wealthy circles of Liangxi Town.

She was so popular!

Countless men had pursued Quan Feng back then!

Quan Zhisui looked up the names of these men and discovered that none of them were good—all of them were scoundrels!

So, her mother hadn’t been blind. She had simply been surrounded by bad options and chose the most handsome one, the campus heartthrob.

Well, at least Zuo Zhiyu had been good-looking in his youth, even if his eyes betrayed his ill intentions.

Quan Zhisui stared at the photo, her heart heavy.

Then…

*Thud!*

Something hit the window of her sitting room, accompanied by the sound of spinning propellers.

She put down her phone and looked over.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Three more hits followed. It was the drone, now repeatedly slamming into her window.

The drone seemed to have a camera attached.

Quan Zhisui rested her chin on her hand, calmly observing the situation.

Would the window shatter?

It didn’t, but a scream from Zuo Zichen echoed from the courtyard below.

“Ah!! My eye!! Ah!!!”

Quan Zhisui closed her eyes and frowned.

Tonight, the Zuo household was in chaos.

Zuo Zichen had been struck in the face by the drone, cutting his eyelid and cheek. Blood streamed down his face.

By the time Quan Zhisui came downstairs, the courtyard was crowded.

Zuo Zhiyu, Xu Zhiyi, and the two elders were in a panic, surrounding Zuo Zichen.

The elders, seemingly unaware of basic first aid, were frantically wiping Zuo Zichen’s wounds with their hands.

Meanwhile, Zuo Yunxuan hid fearfully in Hou Qiaoling’s arms, a broken drone lying at his feet.