Rebirth of the Scumbag and the Retribution of the White Lotus

Li Ting rose early in the morning, quietly left her room, and headed straight for the kitchen to prepare breakfast. She knew full well that after the previous few days' confrontation, Zhao Shufang had become resentful, even hostile, towards her. And while her stepmother outwardly supported her, she still harbored a deep preference for Zhao Shufang. Therefore, she needed to further consolidate her position and demonstrate her ability and determination.

Just as she was preparing breakfast carefully, Zhao Shufang also walked into the kitchen rubbing her sleepy eyes. Seeing Li Ting busy, she couldn't help showing a hint of surprise.

Zhao Shufang sneered and said, "Oh, you're so diligent today, who are you trying to please?"

Li Ting didn't look up, but simply responded: "I just want everyone to have a good meal. After all, the days ahead will not be easy. Besides, you know my cooking skills."

Zhao Shufang scoffed with disdain, "You're really good at putting on an act. Do you think you can get Mom's approval this way?"

This time, Li Ting raised her head and looked at Zhao Shufang with a smile: "Shufang, eating something good in the morning will help your mood. Why don't you try it?"

Zhao Shufang snorted coldly and said nothing more. She just glanced at the food on the table, and her heart was slightly shaken. Although she didn't want to admit it, she knew in her heart that Li Ting's cooking skills were indeed very good, and her attitude now seemed not as aggressive as before.

The stepmother smelled the delicious food and walked in. Looking at the breakfast on the table, a hint of surprise appeared on her face: "Li Ting, why are you here so early today?"

Li Ting smiled slightly and explained, "I just thought we could have a good meal together in the morning and talk about some work distribution issues to avoid any misunderstandings."

The stepmother nodded and sat down, her eyes a little complicated. She vaguely felt that Li Ting seemed to be silently conveying some kind of message, as if to remind her that she was not just a little girl who could be manipulated by others.

Seeing Li Ting bring up the allocation issue, Zhao Shufang said coldly, "Allocation? Didn't you make it very clear yesterday? Are you changing your mind again today?"

Li Ting replied calmly, "I haven't changed my mind. I just want to discuss the details. After all, everyone needs to do their job well. That's how we can truly do our job well."

The stepmother looked at Zhao Shufang, then at Li Ting, and whispered, "Li Ting is right. Everyone should have their own responsibilities and should not interfere with each other."

Zhao Shufang frowned and said with some dissatisfaction, "Mom, are you biased? Why should she arrange things however she wants?"

Hearing this, Li Ting looked at Zhao Shufang softly, but her tone was firm: "Shufang, I'm not trying to tell you what to do. I just hope that everyone can have a clear division of labor and help each other. If you feel it's unfair, we can continue to discuss it."

Zhao Shufang remained unconvinced: "I just think it's unfair. Why do you have the final say?"

Li Ting smiled slightly: "Shufang, this is not my decision, but for the sake of making our family more harmonious. Wouldn't it be better if we work together?"

Zhao Shufang was speechless for a moment, her face flushing slightly, but she remained silent under her stepmother's gaze. Her stepmother silently observed the situation, her heart beginning to waver. She vaguely felt that Li Ting was indeed calmer and more mature than she had imagined.

After breakfast, Li Ting returned to her room and began to sort through the documents and materials her mother had left behind, preparing for her next task. She knew Zhao Shufang and her stepmother might still interfere, but she had decided not to compromise.

At noon, Zhao Shufang suddenly knocked on the door and came in, her expression revealing some dissatisfaction: "Li Ting, do you have time? I have something to tell you."

Li Ting put down the documents in her hand, looked up at her, smiled and nodded: "Of course, just tell me what you want to say."

Zhao Shufang looked at her expression, took a deep breath, and said in a somewhat suppressed voice, "What exactly do you want? Do you want to completely control this job, or are you deliberately suppressing me?"

Li Ting remained calm and replied softly, "Shufang, I just want to do this job well. I'm not trying to suppress you, nor do I want to argue with you."

Zhao Shufang sneered disdainfully: "Stop pretending! You clearly don't want me to get involved!"

Li Ting looked at her quietly and smiled slightly: "Shufang, sometimes, competition is not a bad thing. We all have our own advantages, don't we?"

Zhao Shufang was stunned for a moment, seeming a little surprised. Although she was hostile to Li Ting, she had to admit that Li Ting's calmness and composure did put her under pressure.

After a moment of silence, Li Ting slowly spoke, "Shufang, we can actually cooperate. As long as we keep a calm mindset and don't deliberately fight, perhaps everything will go more smoothly."

A hint of hesitation flashed across Zhao Shufang's eyes, but she quickly concealed it. She was silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "I'll consider it."

In the evening, when Li Ting was about to rest, her stepmother knocked on her door and walked in with a serious expression on her face.

"Li Ting, your relationship with Shufang doesn't seem to be very good recently. Is there something I haven't done well enough?" the stepmother asked with concern.

Li Ting smiled and responded calmly: "Stepmother, you have done a good job. Shufang and I just have a difference of opinion, but I will handle this matter well."

The stepmother sighed and said, "Actually, I don't want you two to have conflicts all the time. After all, we are all family, and supporting each other is the right thing to do."

Li Ting listened and nodded gently: "I understand what you mean. I will do my best to communicate well with Shufang. But I also hope that you can give me some space so that I can truly do my job well."

After hearing this, the stepmother had a complicated expression, but she still patted her shoulder gently: "I will consider it, don't worry."

Li Ting knew in her heart that her stepmother was just observing her attitude, but she remained calm, smiling and nodding to show her understanding.