I Am Already A Queen

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Threaten To Leave The House

Realising Qiao Meixia had forgotten that the elevator was locked without her personal keycard, Qiao Meixia grabbed her access fob, stepped into the lift, and descended to the building’s main lobby.

When the smooth silver elevator doors slid open on the ground floor, the delivery rider raised his head. He watched as a slender girl dressed entirely in an understated black hoodie and dark trousers stepped out, walking toward him with cool, measured steps.

”Are you the person who placed the order?” The rider asked, verifying her presence.

”Hmm...” Qiao Meixia nodded.

”Could you please display the order confirmation page on your app for verification?” The rider requested politely.

He made it a strict personal habit to double-check order receipts on high-value residential deliveries to prevent handing food over to the wrong tenant.

Qiao Meixia pulled out her phone, swiped to the active order screen, and presented it to him. The rider scanned the account username and order details. Upon verifying that everything matched perfectly, he handed the thermal bag over to her.

”Thank you.” Qiao Meixia murmured softly.

”Enjoy your meal.” The rider nodded before turning on his heel and exiting through the glass sliding doors.

Qiao Meixia retrieved her food, turned around, and began walking back toward the private elevator bank. Absorbed in her own thoughts, she paid no attention to the dark, quiet corner of the lobby, unaware that a pair of sharp, hidden eyes had been silently tracking her every move from the shadows.

Reaching her floor, she stepped back into her penthouse, placed the food boxes onto the dining counter, and unceremoniously began devouring her meal. Even though she had consumed an impressive array of high-end desserts with her classmates just two hours prior, her intense metabolism meant she was already genuinely hungry again. This meal would serve as her proper dinner for the evening.

She had intentionally chosen to eat here rather than return to the Jiang Estate for dinner, especially given that Jiang Suhan was currently out of town. He had flown out to Subei City on corporate business and would not be returning for several days.

To Qiao Meixia, sitting alone in her peaceful penthouse was infinitely preferable to sitting at a formal dining table surrounded by hostile relatives who held nothing but disdain for her presence. After finishing every last bite of her food, Qiao Meixia packed away the trash, wiped down the counter, and casually gathered her belongings to head back to the Jiang Family Residence.

After navigating through the city traffic for a short distance, Qiao Meixia’s sharp peripheral vision caught sight of a sleek black sedan trailing her superbike. At first, she dismissed it as a mere coincidence. However, when she pulled over at a roadside convenience store and went inside, the suspicious vehicle followed suit, parking just a few meters away in the dark lot. Yet, no one ever stepped out of the vehicle. It was only when Qiao Meixia mounted her superbike once more and fired up the engine that the sedan’s headlights flickered, quietly resuming its pursuit.

Qiao Meixia put on a complete facade of obliviousness, accelerating smoothly into the main lane. She had no intention of letting the occupants inside the car realise that she had already detected their tailing presence. Keeping her speed steady, she navigated the remaining distance back to the Jiang Family Residence. Since the gated estate enforced strict private security clearance, the persistent pursuers had no choice but to cut off their chase and pull over at the main boulevard.

Once inside the estate’s private garage, Qiao Meixia killed the engine, dismounted, and casually reached under the front headlight assembly. With a subtle flick of her fingers, she unlatched a miniature, high-definition pinhole camera she had custom-fitted to the body frame earlier. The covert device had recorded the entirety of her journey. She intended to dissect the footage immediately to uncover who was covertly tracking her movements.

”Qiao Meixia! Where on earth have you been?! Why can’t you just return home at a decent hour like a proper daughter?!” Feng Lan’s harsh, piercing voice boomed across the foyer the very second Qiao Meixia crossed the threshold of the main house.

Qiao Meixia’s eyes twitched imperceptibly at the ear-splitting shrieks. It was not because she felt the slightest bit intimidated, but simply because the senseless screaming was thoroughly irritating.

”Qiao Meixia! Did you hear what I just said?!” Feng Lan demanded, her face contorting with rage as she saw the girl completely bypass her.

”You carry the Jiang Family surname now! Can’t you behave like a proper, well-bred young lady?!” Feng Lan stepped forward aggressively, blocking Qiao Meixia’s path. ”Why are you returning home so late into the evening? What disgraceful activities are you indulging in after school?!”

Qiao Meixia came to a halt, her pitch-black eyes fixing on Feng Lan with an icy, unbothered calm.

”Since you find my presence so unbearable, I can easily pack my things and leave this estate permanently.” Qiao Meixia stated flatly. ”We can sever ties right here and refrain from acknowledging each other ever again.”

Feng Lan froze on the spot, completely stunned by the cold, matter-of-fact threat.

At that exact moment, the front double doors opened, and Jiang Lukang walked inside after an exhausting day at the corporate office. Hearing Qiao Meixia’s sharp declaration, his expression darkened instantly, and he rushed over to the grand foyer.

”What nonsensical talk is this?!” Jiang Lukang barked, turning to face his daughter. ”You are a blood descendant of the Jiang Family!”

”Your wife clearly thinks otherwise.” Qiao Meixia stated casually, her voice smooth and devoid of emotional warmth. ”Since she harbours so much disdain for my existence, I suggest it is best for everyone if I move out.”

”FENG LAN!” Jiang Lukang snapped, turning his furious gaze toward his wife.

Feng Lan flinched violently at the sheer thunder in her husband’s voice. It was the first time in their entire marriage that Jiang Lukang had ever yelled at her so harshly, and it was all because of this ungrateful girl.

”Meixia is your biological daughter!” Jiang Lukang scolded, his voice tight with frustration. ”Why can’t you show a single shred of maternal patience toward her?!”

”I... I was just...” Feng Lan stammered, completely at a loss for words under her husband’s intense glare.

”That’s enough! I don’t want to hear another word of your nagging!” Jiang Lukang dismissed her with an impatient wave of his hand. He then turned back to Qiao Meixia, softening his tone. ”Meixia, you don’t need to leave. This estate is your home. Just ignore your mother’s foolishness.”

Qiao Meixia spared Feng Lan a single, indifferent glance before giving a light nod. Without another word, she glided past the couple and headed up the marble staircase.

As she reached the second-floor landing, she crossed paths with Jiang Yanna, who had clearly been eavesdropping on the explosive confrontation from the shadows. Qiao Meixia did not even bother to slow her pace, casually brushing past her down the corridor toward her bedroom.

Jiang Yanna clenched her teeth until her jaw ached. Today had been an absolute disaster. She had been publicly humiliated in front of dozens of top-tier students at school, and she was terrified of the relentless mockery she would face if her classmates pressed her about the incident tomorrow. The plan should have executed flawlessly, yet Su Weiwei ruined it by pushing another girl.

Taking a long, deep breath to quell her mounting resentment, Jiang Yanna’s eyes narrowed into dark slits. She would simply construct a far more lethal scheme next time, one that would permanently drag Qiao Meixia’s reputation straight through the mud.

...

Downstairs, Feng Lan followed Jiang Lukang into their master suite, her face flushed with resentment.

”Lukang... how could you raise your voice at me in front of the others today?” Feng Lan complained bitterly the moment the door closed.

”And how could I not?!” Jiang Lukang countered sternly. ”What were you thinking, provoking that girl out of nowhere? She was ready to walk out the door and cut ties!”

”I just can’t stand her arrogant attitude!” Feng Lan argued defensively. ”Look at her! Staying out late into the night without offering a single word of explanation! Who knows what disgraceful crowds she is mixing with out there?!”

Jiang Lukang let out an exhausted sigh, rubbing his temples.

”If you want her to obey, you must speak to her with proper tact. Screaming at her like a wild shrew will yield nothing. From what I have observed, she reacts aggressively to hostile provocation. If you approach her gently, she might actually listen to reason.” Jiang Lukang advised.

”Fine...” Feng Lan muttered reluctantly, backing down under her husband’s stern logic. ”I will try...”

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