As soon as Cheng Shuo and the others left, Bai Xiumei looked at Cheng Mingjiao, whose eyes were slightly reddened, and finally said—
"Mingjiao and Gu Xue Jiao... truly clash..."
Old Master Cheng also remained silent, his gaze fixed on the resentful face of Cheng Mingjiao as he sighed softly, filled with melancholy and pain.
"Second Brother, find someone to examine Mingjiao. Once she stabilizes, transfer her to another school next semester. Don’t let her go to No. 7 High anymore."
If Mingjiao stayed in the same school as Xue Jiao in her current state, things would only get worse.
From now on... let them stay far apart...
"Ah." Cheng Kai responded with reddened eyes, gently holding the terrified Cheng Mingyu.
What a mess this was!
——
After stepping out of the Cheng family home, Cheng Shuo and the others remained silent. Once they got into the car, Cheng Shuo didn’t start the engine immediately.
He sighed softly and turned around. "Jiao Jiao, don’t blame yourself. This isn’t your fault. The ones truly responsible are Second Brother and his wife. Second Brother was too busy with his startup to care for his children. Liu Yazhen... also neglected them, only indulging them blindly. Mingjiao turning out like this isn’t your fault—you’re just more outstanding than her."
After speaking, Cheng Shuo stared straight at Xue Jiao, afraid she might take all the psychological burden upon herself.
She was still just a child. There was no reason for her to suffer such undeserved blame.
Xue Jiao bit her lower lip lightly.
Not every stepfather could be as rational as Cheng Shuo. Compared to the once-misbehaving Gu Xue Jiao, Cheng Mingjiao had grown up under his watch. The difference in closeness wasn’t just talk.
Hadn’t the old lady just lost her temper and asked them to leave? All because she feared Xue Jiao would provoke Mingjiao.
Even Old Master Cheng had acted the same way, staying silent.
For Cheng Shuo to rise above all this and judge things objectively...
Xue Jiao’s eyes grew slightly moist.
Cheng Mingze reached out and gently patted her head. "Jiao Jiao, you’re outstanding. Keep being outstanding."
Others’ jealousy and envy have nothing to do with you. Just keep walking your own path.
Li Sitong also nodded. While Mingjiao’s state was pitiable, constantly wishing death upon her daughter was unacceptable.
Just because her daughter had become outstanding, she deserved to die?
She did want to maintain her place in the Cheng family and was willing to yield to Mingjiao—but that didn’t mean her daughter had to die.
Back when her daughter had been immature, she hadn’t gone around wishing death upon Mingjiao just because Mingjiao was outstanding, had she?
Xue Jiao nodded with tears in her eyes. Every family had its problems, but there were also moments of warmth that touched the heart.
She lifted her chin slightly.
I earned my excellence through hard work. There’s no reason to step aside for the weak.
——
Back at home, the family of four quickly prepared a lavish New Year’s Eve feast. The celebration had to go on with warmth and joy.
Perhaps because of the day’s events, Cheng Shuo, worried about everyone’s mood, unusually opened a bottle of red wine and poured a full glass each for Cheng Mingze and Xue Jiao.
"Come, come! Today is the last day of the year. A lot has happened, but things are only getting better! Let me start by reporting on my work—Pengcheng has flourished this year. In the new year, I’ll work even harder, take on more projects, expand the business, and make our company thrive. I’ll ensure your lives keep improving. Happy New Year!" Cheng Shuo raised his glass and downed it in one go.He smiled brightly, his eyes filled with anticipation and confidence for the future.
Li Sitong pursed her lips in a smile and said, "Congratulations to the father of our children! Dad has worked hard to provide a prosperous life for our family. You've done well!"
"Well done!" Cheng Mingze and Xue Jiao echoed in unison.
Xue Jiao's eyes grew slightly moist. In the original story, the Cheng family's life had been in complete disarray at this point, with Cheng Shuo spending all his energy cleaning up after Gu Xue Jiao's messes. Unlike this lifetime, where he had the energy to strive and work hard for his career, glowing with vitality.
"Now it's Mom's turn," Cheng Shuo said with a smile, looking at Li Sitong.
Li Sitong's face flushed slightly. She took a sip of wine before speaking, "I haven't worked hard enough this year, and there have been some issues in raising the two children, especially... Jiao Jiao. But I'm learning to cook for you all and trying to understand the children better. Hmm... In the new year, I'll work even harder to understand their thoughts and improve my shortcomings..."
As she spoke, she downed the rest of her wine in one gulp, then smiled bitterly.
Jiao Jiao probably... still resented her, didn't she? She could still sense that Xue Jiao treated her and Cheng Shuo no differently in daily life.
But one was a stepfather, while the other was her biological mother who had raised her since childhood. To treat her mother with such distance...
Because in her heart, her mother was no different from a stepfather with no blood ties.
"That's right. Mom still has some minor flaws, but she's making progress. Jiao Jiao, give your mother a chance. Whether you forgive her or not depends on her performance in the new year!" Cheng Shuo said cheerfully, then looked at Xue Jiao seriously.
Xue Jiao lowered her head in slight embarrassment. So... they all knew about her distance from Li Sitong...
But forgiveness wasn't a simple matter... Li Sitong hadn't yet given her reason to truly trust again. It was hard to extend a hand that had once been hurt.
Seeing Xue Jiao remain silent, Li Sitong drank another full glass of wine with a bitter expression.
Cheng Mingze glanced at the two of them and quickly said with a smile, "Let me report on my studies this past year. My grades haven't changed—I've maintained first place. I made it to the final round of the math competition and have already turned down the early admission offer from C University. But in the new year, I'll strive for better early admission opportunities or achieve excellent results in the college entrance exam!"
After speaking, Cheng Mingze downed his red wine in one go.
"Excellent!" Cheng Shuo led the applause. "Brother has done very well this year. In the new year, you'll be taking the college entrance exam. I hope you maintain your performance and achieve outstanding results!"
He then turned to Jiao Jiao. "Next, it's time for our most improved sister this year to share her achievements!"
Xue Jiao's face reddened, her actions mirroring Li Sitong's earlier demeanor by about seventy percent. Combined with their somewhat similar appearances, blood ties... were truly a mysterious thing.
"I... I achieved first place in my grade this year and made it to the final round of the math competition. I was immature before, but that won't happen again. In the new year, I'll work even harder to maintain my top position and keep improving!"
"Wonderful!" Cheng Shuo led the applause again. "This year's best family member is our little sister! Here's your reward!"
As he spoke, Cheng Shuo took out two bankbooks. He handed the first one to Xue Jiao. "Jiao Jiao, this is from your mother and me as a reward. Mingze has one too, but his is half of yours. When you both get into your ideal universities, I'll prepare startup funds for you. You need to learn how to manage your own finances."Xue Jiao reached out to take it but didn't open it.
In her past life, she had never experienced what it felt like to have family. Although there were various issues in this lifetime, at this moment, Xue Jiao finally understood the heartwarming feeling of kinship.
It was probably that feeling—where the vast world was yours to explore, yet there was always a direction behind you offering support and advice. There might be conflicts, but ultimately, it was warm.
Having family meant having someone to back you up.
The man before her wasn't her biological father, but he might as well have been. And this mother of hers, flawed and having made many mistakes, yet still loved her... Because of them, she could study and strive without worries.
"Thank you, Mom. Thank you... Dad," Xue Jiao said slowly.
Cheng Shuo froze, as if he couldn't believe what he'd just heard. He turned to Li Sitong, his voice trembling and hoarse. "Jiao Jiao... called me Dad?"
"Yes..." Li Sitong's eyes reddened slightly as she nodded vigorously. "Jiao Jiao called you Dad!"
"Yes, yes! My good girl!" Cheng Shuo's eyes turned completely red. He hurriedly rubbed them, hoping the tears hadn't fallen yet.
Then, the three of them turned to look at Cheng Mingze.
Cheng Mingze: "..."
Under Li Sitong's expectant gaze, he finally opened his mouth after a long pause. "Thank you... Mom."
"Yes, yes! Wuwuwu..." Li Sitong burst into tears in response.
Li Sitong and Cheng Shuo hugged each other, wiping away tears, while Xue Jiao and Cheng Mingze exchanged a glance and smiled.
Fine, let them have their moment of joy.
Though... this guy (girl) in front of her would probably always be her brother (sister) now.
Sigh.
——
Li Sitong was so overjoyed that she drank too much and got drunk, ending up carried back to her room by Cheng Shuo.
"Jiao Jiao, your mom's drunk. How about the three of us stay up to welcome the New Year?" Cheng Shuo said with a smile.
Xue Jiao touched her forehead and said softly, "Dad, I think I might be a little drunk too."
"Ah? Then you should go rest right away!" The moment he heard the word "Dad," Cheng Shuo immediately became dizzy with happiness and grinned.
Xue Jiao nodded and went upstairs.
Sure enough, half an hour after she closed her door, the sound of a car starting came from downstairs.
Xue Jiao didn't turn on the light and quietly walked over to pull back the curtains for a look.
She knew Cheng Shuo and Cheng Mingze were going to Cheng Kai's place. After all, that was their cousin and niece. Old Master Cheng wouldn't be having a good New Year's Eve tonight, and Cheng Shuo and Cheng Mingze couldn't just ignore it.
They had probably planned to accompany them for the New Year's countdown first, wait until they were asleep, and then go to the Cheng family.
With Li Sitong asleep and Xue Jiao "drunk," they could leave earlier.
Xue Jiao chuckled softly.
She wasn't upset at all. If Cheng Shuo weren't a man of loyalty and affection, he wouldn't have treated her, his stepdaughter, with such sincerity.
Xue Jiao flopped onto her bed and blinked.
It was almost eleven now. Should she just sleep, or... do some problems and stay up to welcome the New Year before sleeping?
Fine, she'd do a few problems.
She got up, turned on the light, and took out some paper. About an hour later, her phone buzzed.
Xue Jiao opened it—a WeChat message from Lin Zhihua:
[You're at home? Staying up for the New Year?]
Her fingers tapped out a reply:
[Yep, at home. Planning to do some problems while staying up.]
On the other end of the call, Lin Zhihua looked up and saw the lit window—only Xue Jiao's window was still bright.He had seen Cheng Shuo and the others drive out earlier. Tonight, it seemed she would be alone to see in the New Year.
At this thought, Lin Zhihua felt a pang of heartache.
Slowly, he typed out a message:
[I heard there will be fireworks at Yuying Mountain City tonight.]
Xue Jiao froze—wasn't Yuying Mountain City the very residential area she lived in?!
[Really?!]
[Lin Zhihua: Really. Isn't there a river behind your place? They'll set them off there at midnight.]
It was 11:58 now.
Almost instinctively, Xue Jiao ran upstairs to the rear balcony on the top floor, scanning the surroundings.
Midnight arrived, but Xue Jiao was met with silence.
[There's nothing?]
A few minutes later, her phone vibrated—
[Lin Zhihua: Look down.]
Baffled, Xue Jiao peered over the balcony railing.
"Boom—" Sparks erupted.
Five large characters unfurled across the ground: "Happy New Year, Jiao."
Xue Jiao covered her mouth, eyes wide.
After a while, the lights on the ground faded, but Xue Jiao remained with her hand over her mouth, heart pounding.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"—by the riverside, fireworks shot into the sky one after another, exploding in brilliant bursts.
The dazzling light illuminated the entire world. Unable to resist, Xue Jiao looked down and saw a figure standing below. Noticing her gaze, he waved at her.
Xue Jiao couldn't help but smile, lifting her head to watch the spectacular blossoms blooming across the night sky, breathtakingly beautiful.
[You—why are you setting off fireworks here...]
Lin Zhihua replied quickly—
[Spending New Year's alone today. Bought some fireworks to enjoy by myself, but then I remembered you're also on the mountain. Perfect timing—keep me company for the New Year. Now I'm not alone anymore.]
Xue Jiao's heart skipped a beat, a strange feeling welling up inside her.
After a moment, she replied—
[You're not spending it alone anymore. Happy New Year!]
Putting away her phone, she continued watching the dazzling display.
Not far below, Lin Zhihua turned to look at her.
Yes, you won't be alone either.
As Xue Jiao watched the fireworks, she felt their beauty touch her soul, making her forget everything else.
Lin Zhihua watched Xue Jiao, thinking that even after spending an exhausting hour rushing around to buy fireworks, it was all worth it.
He had never imagined that one day he'd waste time on New Year's Eve, knocking on doors and paying exorbitant prices for fireworks. Every action he'd ever taken had been carefully calculated—was it worth the time? Was it a waste?
But today, he had done something utterly impractical to make someone smile, and seeing her happy, he found himself grinning like a fool.
Always mature beyond his years, today he had finally felt like a carefree youth.
With only an hour to prepare, Lin Zhihua had managed to buy only a limited number of fireworks, which ran out after half an hour.
He looked up at Xue Jiao.
She, too, glanced down at him.
With the fireworks gone, the light dimmed, leaving only the streetlamps to outline their silhouettes, their expressions hidden.
For two minutes, they simply gazed at each other before Lin Zhihua waved.
Xue Jiao slowly raised her hand and waved back.
Down below, Lin Zhihua had so much he wanted to say, but in the end, he only mouthed a few silent words.
Xue Jiao faintly sensed he was speaking and pulled out her phone—
[What did you say?]
Lin Zhihua replied—
[Gu Xue Jiao, keep going. Study hard and achieve your dreams.]
Xue Jiao smiled and typed back—
[Okay.]
Lin Zhihua, you too—keep going.
They exchanged one last glance before Lin Zhihua turned and walked away, his figure soon disappearing from sight.After a while longer, when the smell of fireworks in the air had dissipated, Xue Jiao slowly made her way downstairs.
This year, Xue Jiao was in her second year of high school. On the last day of the year and the first day of the new year, many unexpected things happened.
Some were unhappy, some were joyful—she experienced them all.
Xue Jiao gained a new father and spent the New Year with her best friend—or rather, her mentor.
She was very happy.
——
Cheng Shuo and the others didn’t return until dawn and only managed to catch a brief nap.
After lunch, Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong took Cheng Mingze and Gu Xue Jiao to the Ice and Snow Park for a full day of fun.
As soon as they entered the park, Li Sitong bought Xue Jiao a red, childish pom-pom hat.
But she happily wore it and followed them inside.
On New Year's Day, the crowds were enormous. They admired the ice sculptures before venturing into the winter wonderland.
"Gu Xue Jiao, hurry up!" Cheng Mingze called from ahead, gliding on his ice skates.
Xue Jiao inched forward cautiously, her eyes fixed straight ahead, not daring to move recklessly, only advancing bit by bit.
Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong sat on a bench in the distance, watching. Li Sitong chuckled—
"Who knew Jiao Jiao would be so timid!"
Cheng Shuo smiled, his eyes crinkling.
Cheng Mingze skated another lap and came up behind Gu Xue Jiao, reaching out to grab her hand—
"Ah—" Xue Jiao shrieked without a shred of dignity as Cheng Mingze pulled her forward, sending them speeding across the ice.
Cheng Mingze held her firmly with one hand while using the other to steady her, ensuring her safety.
Only after they had skated quite a distance did Xue Jiao straighten up and regain her balance. She then turned and charged toward Cheng Mingze, who had already skated away.
"Cheng Mingze, you’re dead meat!!!"
"Come on, then! Hahaha!"
Cheng Shuo sat back down. The moment Cheng Mingze had reached out, he had instinctively stood up, terrified. Only after seeing that both kids were fine did he relax.
"This Mingze—he’s becoming more and more playful!"
Li Sitong covered her mouth, laughing. "Isn’t it good that the siblings get along so well?"
"That’s true." Cheng Shuo sighed. "When I think about how they used to be…"
"Ah, let’s not bring that up."
Cheng Shuo nodded and stood, calling out:
"Jiao Jiao! Mingze! Do you want to go skiing?"
The two, who had been playfully bickering, instantly looked up and shouted in unison: "Yes!!"
Then they glared at each other.
——
On New Year's Day, even though Cheng Shuo and Cheng Mingze had just returned from visiting Cheng Mingjiao, they didn’t mention her at all.
Instead, the family of four spent the entire day out enjoying themselves.
On the second day of the new year, after Xue Jiao finished reciting her textbooks and solving a math problem in the morning, she and a reluctant Cheng Mingze were taken by Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong to visit relatives and friends.
Meanwhile, at the Lin residence.
"The old man is throwing a tantrum again…" Father Lin said with a conflicted expression as he hung up the phone.
Mother Lin sat on the sofa, sighing helplessly. "Honestly, the old man is too much. Introducing a match during the New Year—he’s driven Zhihua away."
"That’s no ordinary match!" Father Lin retorted. "She’s a psychologist too. Zhihua has psychological issues—having a psychologist girlfriend might just help. Who knows? Your wish for a grandchild might come true sooner than you think!"
Mother Lin glared back. "As if you don’t want a grandchild! And why are you glaring at me? If you’ve got the nerve, glare at the old man or go glare at Zhihua! Honestly."Father Lin clutched his forehead. "Lin Zhihua, really! Where is she running off to during the New Year? It's just a girl—if she doesn’t want to meet her, then don’t. Why run away…"
At that moment, Chen Yan entered with several men.
"What are you doing? What’s the meaning of this?" Father Lin stood up.
"The boss has instructed us to arrange immigration accommodations for the two of you as soon as possible. Here are a few livable locations I’ve selected. Please choose the one you prefer the most."
As Chen Yan finished speaking, the four men behind him each unfolded a map.
"The first is in the United States—a manor with convenient transportation, the closest estate to Chinatown. The boss has already purchased it."
Ignoring their stunned expressions, Chen Yan pointed to the second sheet of paper.
"The second is a seaside villa in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia—scenic and beautiful."
Then, he gestured to the third.
"This one is located in the Maldives—"
"No!" Father Lin cut him off, furious. "What kind of nonsense is this?! Sending us abroad?!"
Chen Yan remained expressionless. "The boss said you were already given a chance. If you continue interfering with Master Lin’s affairs, you will be asked to relocate overseas."
Mother Lin took two steps back, shocked. "Zhihua… How could Zhihua possibly send us abroad?"
"That’s what the boss said." Chen Yan bowed slightly, his tone still devoid of emotion.
"No! Tell Zhihua to come here! I don’t believe it!" Mother Lin began denying reality.
Chen Yan lowered his head respectfully. "The boss has already purchased all four properties. Please make your decision soon."
"And what if I refuse to move?" Father Lin smashed a teacup from the coffee table onto the floor.
"Then I will have no choice but to enforce your relocation."
Father Lin raised his hand, pointing at Chen Yan in outrage. "Chen Yan! I was the one who hired you into this company!"
Chen Yan said nothing, his bowed head making him seem like a robot.
It was true—he had joined the company during Father Lin’s era, thinking it had promise, only to discover its internal decay soon after.
Sure enough, the Lin Corporation soon teetered on the brink of collapse.
Back then, Chen Yan had been torn between jumping ship or waiting out his contract.
During that time, his mother fell ill, and his pockets were emptier than his face.
It was then that Lin Zhihua returned to the country.
She had said to him: "From now on, you work for me. You answer only to me, available 24/7, no days off."
Looking at the young but stern-faced Lin Zhihua, Chen Yan had instinctively wanted to refuse—until he heard the annual salary she offered and swallowed his words.
From that moment on, he had only one boss: Lin Zhihua.
And in truth, he hadn’t backed the wrong horse. The Lin Corporation had become an industry legend.
The boss worked tirelessly, fighting for the company on the front lines. As for those dragging her down from behind, Chen Yan felt not an ounce of sympathy.
Father Lin’s words fell on deaf ears, stirring no emotion in him.
In reality, the boss hadn’t intended for them to stay abroad forever. Her exact words were: "Send them away for half a year to reflect. After that, they’d better stay out of my business."
But Chen Yan had only mentioned moving abroad, omitting the part about returning in six months—letting the couple pale in fear.
Seeing Chen Yan remain unmoved, Father Lin suddenly clutched his chest, gasping for breath.
He tilted his head slightly, giving Mother Lin a meaningful glance.Mother Lin suddenly realized and rushed over with an anxious expression: "Old Lin! Don't be angry, what if you get sick from rage! Rest assured, Zhihua cares about you as her father. She wouldn't force us to move out without considering your health. Old Lin!"
Mother Lin wailed without shedding tears, glancing at Chen Yan between each cry.
Chen Yan still expressionlessly clapped his hands, and a doctor in a white coat carrying a medical kit walked in.
"Rest assured, both of you. I've brought the boss's personal physician."
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