Xue Jiao looked at him and remained silent for a long while.
The boy standing opposite her raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "Were you on the phone with your mysterious friend again?"
Xue Jiao scratched her head awkwardly. "Yeah..."
Cheng Mingze took a sip of water and said, "Jiao Jiao, you can actually ask me or Dad for help if you have any problems. We can help you too."
"Okay..." Xue Jiao replied, somewhat embarrassed.
There were some issues she just couldn't bring herself to discuss with Cheng Shuo or Cheng Mingze, yet she could effortlessly share everything with Lin Zhihua.
She didn't quite understand why herself.
"Alright, go upstairs and get some rest," Cheng Mingze said lightly.
Xue Jiao nodded, clutching her phone. "Okay."
Then she hurried upstairs.
Cheng Mingze remained standing in the living room, his gaze fixed on one spot, motionless. His grip tightened around the cup in his hand.
Lin Zhihua!
So it was Lin Zhihua!
——
After leaving the living room, Xue Jiao let out a sigh of relief. Cheng Mingze's gaze had made her feel pressured, but she had to admit—whenever she faced difficulties or problems, the first person she thought of was still Lin Zhihua.
Xue Jiao pushed open the door and saw Liu Jiaxue sitting on the bed, looking around in confusion.
Only when she heard footsteps did Liu Jiaxue quickly turn her head.
"Jiao Jiao..." Her voice carried a hint of lingering fear.
Xue Jiao smiled gently and approached her. "Jiaxue, why are you awake?"
Liu Jiaxue shook her head and looked at Xue Jiao. "Where did you go?"
"I went downstairs for some water." Xue Jiao lifted the blanket and lay down, then turned her head slightly. "Let's talk for a bit."
Liu Jiaxue was taken aback.
Xue Jiao said, "Jiaxue, I think your parents might actually love you. They might even love each other."
Liu Jiaxue's pupils contracted, and she instinctively retorted, "That's impossible!"
Xue Jiao chuckled and shook her head helplessly. "I never understood before why Dad liked Mom so much. She was divorced with a child—especially a child like the old me, rebellious and always causing trouble. And after my grandfather passed, there was nothing left in the family. I used to think Mom was lacking in every way. But Dad was different. Even though he also had a child, my brother Cheng Mingze is outstanding, and Dad himself runs a big company. High emotional intelligence, high IQ—as my second aunt would say, there are plenty of beautiful young girls lining up for him."
"Then why..." Liu Jiaxue couldn't help but ask.
Xue Jiao looked up at her and smiled. "There's no why. Dad just loves Mom. Sometimes I think Mom acts foolishly, but Dad always patiently explains things to her. As long as it's not a matter of principle, Dad rarely scolds her."
Liu Jiaxue seemed lost in thought.
Xue Jiao continued, "Mom is the same with Dad. Even though she often acts foolishly, she listens to him because she trusts him. She believes Dad would never lie to her or hurt her. Between a couple, there's a kind of mutual affection that outsiders can't understand. Who can really explain feelings?"
"My parents... aren't tender at all..." Liu Jiaxue bit her lower lip and whispered.Xue Jiao shook her head and said firmly, "Not every couple needs to be affectionate to get along. Jiaxue, if your dad didn’t like your mom, why wouldn’t he leave the woman who scolds him every day? If your mom didn’t like your dad, why wouldn’t she find another man she actually likes? Your mom has the means to do so."
Liu Jiaxue froze.
"They might truly be together because they like each other. And if they aren’t, then it’s probably for the sake of their child. Jiaxue, if they aren’t together out of love but for their child, then tell me—does that mean they don’t love you?" Xue Jiao looked at Liu Jiaxue earnestly as she posed the question.
Her gaze was sincere and serious, making Liu Jiaxue take in every word she said—and actually think about it.
Xue Jiao lay down and pulled the blanket over herself. "Not every couple is affectionate. Maybe it’s just their personalities. In life, you can choose anything—even death. But you can’t choose your birth. You were born as your mother’s child, and she’s just this kind of person. You have no choice."
"I used to feel miserable too. I thought my mom had so many problems—even the way she loved me was wrong. She doubted me, questioned me, never stood up for me. But she gave birth to me, raised me, and loved me. I might not return her love in this lifetime, but I will always give her respect."
Xue Jiao yawned, clearly exhausted.
It was already way past her usual bedtime.
"So, Jiaxue… you could… talk to… your dad… and see… what he… thinks of… your mom…" Xue Jiao murmured before drifting off to sleep.
Soon, soft, even breathing filled the room.
Liu Jiaxue sat still for a long while, gradually calming down before turning her head to look at Xue Jiao, who was now peacefully asleep.
She shifted slightly and lay down as well, gently resting her head against Xue Jiao’s shoulder.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Goodnight."
Then, she quietly closed her eyes.
——
In the middle of the night, Li Sitong suddenly began crying in her sleep.
Her arms and legs flailed as she shouted, "Jiao Jiao! Let go of my Jiao Jiao!!"
"Jiao Jiao—!"
Cheng Shuo jolted awake and quickly pulled her into his arms.
"Sitong, Sitong, what’s wrong? Wake up! Wake up!"
Li Sitong was shaken awake, her eyes flying open as she screamed, "Jiao Jiao! My Jiao Jiao! Save Jiao Jiao!"
"Jiao Jiao is fine, Jiao Jiao is sleeping upstairs. Sitong, Sitong, snap out of it. It was just a dream, just a dream." Cheng Shuo held her tightly, repeatedly reassuring her that nothing had happened, his voice gentle and soothing.
Li Sitong finally calmed down, waking fully from the nightmare, her face streaked with tears.
Suddenly, she clung to Cheng Shuo, bringing her wrist to her mouth and biting down hard.
Startled, Cheng Shuo quickly pulled her hand away—it was already marked with deep red teeth imprints, proof of how hard she had bitten.
Once her hand was free, Li Sitong seemed unable to release the suffocating tension inside her. She gasped heavily, her hand clutching her chest as if struggling to breathe.
Cheng Shuo offered his own arm instead. Li Sitong’s eyes were red as she bit down.
But she remembered this was someone she loved and couldn’t bring herself to bite too hard. Soon, she relaxed and let go.
Cheng Shuo kept patting her back, comforting her.
Li Sitong closed her eyes slightly, tears rolling down her cheeks in large drops.
She had dreamed of her own death!Then, in a daze, she followed her daughter, watching as those people maliciously led Gu Xue Jiao astray, turning her into someone everyone despised.
In the dream, apart from the villains, no one in their family was happy.
She saw Gu Xue Jiao being lured into making mistakes, saw Cheng Shuo exhausted from trying to help her.
In the dream, she screamed—It’s not like this, it’s not like this!
But no one paid her any attention.
Later… she witnessed with her own eyes how Gu Shiyun orchestrated Xue Jiao’s kidnapping, and in the end…
No matter how much she shouted or screamed, no one came to save Jiao Jiao.
Her Jiao Jiao!
Why hadn’t she cared more for Jiao Jiao? Why hadn’t she loved her more?
Li Sitong looked up at Cheng Shuo through her tears—
“A-Shuo, let’s never let Gu Shiyun off, okay?”
—
She had slept a little late last night, but this morning, Xue Jiao still woke up promptly at 5:50. Normally, she would have started memorizing right after getting up.
But today, she jolted slightly and hurried downstairs—
“Jiaxue!”
Liu Jiaxue was gone!!
Xue Jiao’s face instantly paled.
At that moment, countless possibilities flashed through her mind.
So early… where could Jiaxue have gone?
Out for a walk?
Or…
However, when Xue Jiao reached the living room, she heard noises coming from the kitchen.
She hurried over and saw Liu Jiaxue wearing an apron, busy making steamed buns.
Two pots were steaming, clearly both in use.
“Huh? Jiao Jiao, you’re up already.”
Liu Jiaxue gave her a gentle smile, the dim kitchen light and the rising steam from the pots making the scene feel exceptionally warm.
Xue Jiao also smiled, not mentioning how terrified she had been just moments ago.
She simply walked over and praised, “Jiaxue, why did you get up to cook?”
“I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d make breakfast. Isn’t your mom’s cooking not great? Don’t worry, with me here, you’ll be in good hands—my skills are chef-level, guaranteed to make you love it!” Liu Jiaxue deftly shaped one bun after another.
Xue Jiao was stunned. “Jiaxue, you’re amazing! And since when do guests cook in someone else’s home…”
Liu Jiaxue paused and glared at Xue Jiao. “You think of me as a guest?”
Xue Jiao rubbed her nose and quickly shook her head. “No, no, absolutely not!”
Only then did Liu Jiaxue huff and look away. “I made two kinds of buns—the ones with more pleats are sweet, and the ones with fewer are meat. They just went into the steamer, so they’re not ready yet. If you’re hungry, you can have some plain congee first. It’s almost done.”
Xue Jiao was truly astonished. She sidled up to Liu Jiaxue, mouth agape. “You even made two fillings?!”
Liu Jiaxue chuckled. “Yep! Didn’t know which one you’d prefer, so I made a bit of both!”
Xue Jiao shook her head in disbelief, her pretty face full of shock. Just out of bed, her hair was still loose, and she was wearing an adorable blue fairy outfit.
Unable to resist, Liu Jiaxue playfully patted Xue Jiao’s cheek with her flour-covered hand, leaving a white mark.
Xue Jiao’s mouth fell open slightly. She reached out, dipped her finger in flour, and smudged it on Liu Jiaxue’s face in return.
“Hahaha—”
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter."Jiaxue, these buns of yours are so exquisite! I really can't tell the difference from a professional chef's work. No, they might even taste better!" Xue Jiao widened her eyes in amazement, staring at the perfectly shaped buns in Liu Jiaxue's hands.
Each one was nearly identical in size—small, white, and delicately crafted.
"They're not as good as you say..." Liu Jiaxue chuckled softly before adding quietly, "Actually, I want to study management."
"Huh?" Xue Jiao blinked in surprise.
"After graduation, I'd like to open a snack shop selling buns and other treats, then expand it across the country." She suddenly found her own words amusing and added with a self-deprecating smile, "Does that sound ridiculous? Like I have no ambition?"
Xue Jiao placed a hand on her shoulder, turning her around to meet her earnest gaze. "How is that not ambitious? Every profession produces its masters. If you can spread your food across the nation, you'll become one of the masters in this field. Jiaxue, I hope one day I can enjoy your snacks in my own city too!"
Liu Jiaxue's lips curled into a gentle smile.
"Yes! I'll definitely make sure you can taste my creations in your city! I'll even give you a lifetime membership card—free food every day."
Xue Jiao feigned shock: "Y-you... you're trying to keep me?! Ah—that's absolutely brilliant!"
Liu Jiaxue: "..."
She shot Xue Jiao a glare. "Stop distracting me from making buns!"
"Let me help!"
"You know how?" Liu Jiaxue asked, surprised.
"Of course!" Xue Jiao blinked. "They'll just be... a bit ugly."
Having endured hardships in her past life, she had learned to make buns—though her skills were far from refined.
Like Li Sitong, she possessed zero... culinary talent.
"Ha! Give it a try!" Liu Jiaxue laughed, nudging the filling toward her.
After washing her hands, Xue Jiao joined her in earnest bun-making.
By 7:30, Xue Jiao sighed—
"Mine and yours form such a stark contrast."
Her buns could barely pass as buns, looking especially crude beside Liu Jiaxue's meticulously pleated creations.
"Don't worry, you can just eat them later—no need to make them." Liu Jiaxue draped an arm over Xue Jiao's shoulder, declaring with mock grandeur.
Xue Jiao leaned in slightly and said eagerly, "Then I'll be waiting!"
The aroma of steaming buns soon filled the air, wafting through the house.
One by one, the household began stirring.
"Something smells amazing! What's cooking?" Cheng Shuo asked curiously.
"Dad, come quick! Breakfast is ready—Jiaxue made these incredible buns!" Xue Jiao called out from the kitchen with a grin.
Cheng Shuo paused, then glanced at the bashful Liu Jiaxue before breaking into a wide smile—
"Really? That's fantastic! Jiaxue, you're amazing. I thought we'd be stuck with sad bread and milk again this morning. Never expected such talent!"
Cheng Mingze descended the stairs and chimed in cheerfully, "I'd already decided to skip breakfast today, but Liu Jiaxue, you've completely changed my mind." He gave her a thumbs-up.
The men's exaggerated praise bolstered Liu Jiaxue's confidence slightly. She lifted her head shyly. "You should try them..."
Then she hurried back to the kitchen to ladle out porridge and dishes.Xue Jiao gave Cheng Shuo and Cheng Mingze a thumbs-up, and the two smiled faintly.
At that moment, Li Sitong walked out.
Xue Jiao looked at her and felt something was off about Li Sitong today.
When the other woman saw her, she quickly approached and pulled Xue Jiao into a tight hug—
"Jiao Jiao, Mom will never let you get hurt!"
Xue Jiao froze.
Cheng Shuo pulled Li Sitong back and chuckled. "Your mom had a nightmare. Sitong, let's go help set the dishes in the kitchen first. We’ll eat soon."
Only then did Li Sitong smile, though her expression still carried a trace of distress.
Liu Jiaxue's cooking skills were truly impressive, absolutely worthy of her dream to expand her restaurant chain across the country.
Xue Jiao’s family ate while showering her with praise.
Most of their compliments were genuine.
Their usual breakfast consisted of toast and milk, so this time, eating Chinese-style steamed buns, side dishes, and porridge felt exceptionally delicious.
Cheng Shuo ate until he was stuffed. As the head of the household, he wiped his mouth and announced, "Since everyone’s on break today, our family’s plan is to go to Happy Valley. What does everyone think?"
Li Sitong nodded, Cheng Mingze nodded, and Xue Jiao followed suit.
Finally, all eyes turned to Liu Jiaxue, who looked at Xue Jiao in confusion and met her encouraging gaze.
So, she mustered her courage and nodded softly. "Okay..."
"Then it's settled! Everyone, start packing up!" Cheng Shuo stood up with a smile.
Just as they were about to leave, Yi Tianyu sent her a message—
[Yi Tianyu: How’s it going?]
Xue Jiao replied—
[Not bad. We’re working through it. Can’t talk now—we’re heading out.]
[Yi Tianyu: Hey, where are you guys going?]
Xue Jiao replied—
[Happy Valley.]
Then she closed her phone and walked side by side with Liu Jiaxue, following behind Cheng Shuo and the others.
On the other end of the call, Yi Tianyu suddenly jumped up and rushed to get ready.
"Son, what are you doing?" Yi's Mother asked groggily, rubbing her eyes.
Yi Tianyu stuffed his phone into his pocket and dashed out—
"Mom, I’m going out to have fun!"
Yi's Mother instantly woke up and muttered, "Where could he possibly go in this freezing weather?"
Going to Happy Valley in winter was indeed **, but there was a newly built indoor Happy Valley in their area. Though it had fewer attractions than the outdoor one, the safety measures were better, and the temperature inside was warm enough to keep them comfortable.
Admission was a bit pricey, but there was no way they’d freeze outside in this cold.
Just as the group bought their tickets and entered, Yi Tianyu suddenly popped up.
"Bookworm! Liu Jiaxue! What a coincidence!" His eyes sparkled with excitement as he ran over.
Cheng Shuo: "..."
Li Sitong: "..."
Cheng Mingze: "..."
Liu Jiaxue: "..."
Xue Jiao: "..." Soooo coincidental, huh? Heh.
Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong’s expressions darkened—after all, this was the boy who had a crush on their daughter.
Cheng Mingze wasn’t happy either, but he suddenly smiled and said, "Oh, Yi Tianyu, right? You came to Happy Valley too? Alone?"
"Yeah, I just—"
"Then why don’t you join us?" Cheng Mingze offered with a smile.
Yi Tianyu hadn’t expected Cheng Mingze to invite him. His eyes lit up, and he eagerly agreed, "Sure, sure!"
Cheng Shuo gave Cheng Mingze a suspicious look, utterly baffled.Cheng Mingze remained expressionless. Could he say that there was someone even more terrifying than Yi Tianyu eyeing Xue Jiao? That was a real wolf. Compared to Lin Zhihua, Yi Tianyu was nothing more than a dog at best—and dogs were far safer than wolves.
Thus, the group of five added Yi Tianyu, making it six.
Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong no longer dared to try thrilling rides, leaving only the four younger ones who were still willing to attempt anything.
"How about we try the Ferris wheel?" Xue Jiao looked at Li Sitong.
Li Sitong had never actually ridden these kinds of rides before. Her heart stirred with curiosity, but she felt somewhat embarrassed at her "advanced age" to be indulging in such things.
"Let's go. I want to try it," Cheng Shuo said with a smile, seeing right through her hesitation.
The line wasn’t too long, but given it was the New Year holiday, there was still a wait.
"Are you bringing your younger siblings out to play?" A woman with a child struck up a conversation with Li Sitong.
At once, Li Sitong’s slightly embarrassed expression lifted, replaced by pride as she pointed at Cheng Mingze and Xue Jiao. "This is my son and daughter. These two are my daughter’s classmates."
Her words left the other woman utterly stunned.
First, out of envy—Li Sitong looked so young and beautiful, with a handsome husband. Second, because the two children were exceptionally good-looking!
"You’re so lucky! Both kids are already grown? Are they in middle school or high school?" the woman gushed.
Li Sitong smiled. Moments like these were undoubtedly a mother’s proudest and happiest.
"My son is over eighteen, in university. My daughter is seventeen, in her last year of high school."
"Already in university and high school?! Which schools?" The woman’s jaw dropped, and the parents behind her turned to look as well.
Li Sitong wore a reserved yet faintly indifferent smile as she replied calmly—
"My son is a freshman at Tsinghua. My daughter attends No. 7 High."
Everyone: "..."
Some people were truly enviable!
By the time Li Sitong boarded the Ferris wheel, her earlier embarrassment had vanished. Under the envious gazes of the mothers behind her, she held her head high as she stepped into the cabin.
Cheng Shuo followed and sat beside her.
Naturally, Xue Jiao and Liu Jiaxue held hands and boarded the next one.
Yi Tianyu and Cheng Mingze exchanged a glance, then simultaneously took a step sideways.
Such mutual disdain.
The Ferris wheel broke the ice, and Li Sitong went on to try the pirate ship, spinning swings, and other less terrifying rides.
"Mom, how about trying the roller coaster?" Cheng Mingze suddenly asked as they walked.
Li Sitong startled but didn’t refuse.
Just as Xue Jiao thought she would decline, her mother tentatively replied, "Shall we try?"
Xue Jiao: "..."
—
After the roller coaster, Li Sitong’s face was pale, and she refused to try anything else, opting to hold their belongings instead.
Liu Jiaxue’s gaze fixed on one spot, unmoving.
Xue Jiao followed her line of sight and felt her chest tighten.
The drop tower.
"You want to go?" Xue Jiao turned to her.
Liu Jiaxue nodded softly. "I want to try it."
Xue Jiao gritted her teeth. "Then let’s go!"
"Dad, Mom, we’re heading to the drop tower."
Cheng Shuo looked surprised. "Jiao Jiao, you dare to ride that?"
Then he noticed Liu Jiaxue beside her and understood.
The group walked over.The drop tower was a bit high, so there weren't many people playing. Cheng Mingze, Yi Tianyu, Liu Jiaxue, and Xue Jiao could go straight up together.
Xue Jiao looked up at it, then clung to the nearby pillar, refusing to let go.
"Jiao Jiao?" Liu Jiaxue asked, slightly puzzled.
"Hahaha!!" Yi Tianyu burst out laughing. "Bookworm, are you scared?!"
Xue Jiao: "..."
Her face paled, but she still wouldn't go up.
Liu Jiaxue suddenly smiled.
Xue Jiao seemed like she could do anything and wasn't afraid of anything, but she still had her fears—at the very least... she was afraid of drop towers.
The three of them went up laughing, while Li Sitong and Cheng Shuo also walked over to Xue Jiao with smiles.
"It's fine if you don't want to go. Look at you."
Xue Jiao let go of the pillar she had been clinging to. She had originally resolved to accompany Liu Jiaxue in trying the ride, but when it came down to it, she still didn't dare to go up.
The three of them stood below, looking up at the trio going up and down.
When Liu Jiaxue came down, her legs were a bit weak, and Xue Jiao supported her.
Though her face was pale, there was a smile on her lips—a strange yet satisfied one.
"Jiao Jiao, I really won't commit suicide anymore. I just experienced death once already. The moment I came down, I realized I haven't lived enough yet."
Xue Jiao froze for a moment, then a smile slowly appeared on her lips.
After the drop tower ride, Yi Tianyu suggested going to the haunted house.
Xue Jiao shuddered again.
She hadn't been afraid of ghosts before, but... given her own circumstances...
Xue Jiao could no longer be sure whether ghosts and deities existed in the world, but that didn't stop her from being too scared to enter.
"No."
"Haha, bookworm, why are you so timid? You don't dare to do anything!" Yi Tianyu teased her again.
Xue Jiao glared at him.
Liu Jiaxue also smiled and said, "Jiao Jiao, haunted houses are all fake. There's nothing to be afraid of."
Xue Jiao thought about it—compared to the drop tower, this had to be slightly better. So she looked at Liu Jiaxue and said, "If you're not scared, you have to stay with me the whole time, okay?"
"Okay."
With that, Xue Jiao mustered her courage and followed the other three inside.
As soon as she stepped through the entrance, Yi Tianyu noticed her frightened expression and his eyes gleamed mischievously.
There were quite a few people in the haunted house, and as they entered, the bridge began to sway.
"Ah—" Everything went dark, the lighting dim.
"Raaah—" Something suddenly jumped out.
"Ahhh—" Xue Jiao screamed.
A fork in the path appeared ahead. Terrified, Xue Jiao grabbed "Jiaxue" and immediately turned onto the narrow side path.
Too frightened to think straight, Xue Jiao thought she was pulling Liu Jiaxue and dragged "her" along as she ran forward.
Yi Tianyu, who had just sidled up next to Xue Jiao, grinned, suppressing his laughter.
Something reached out to grab them from the darkness.
Yi Tianyu was about to scare her again when Xue Jiao suddenly leaped onto him.
"Ahhh—go away—!"
Yi Tianyu froze, his arms stiffening.
Then he noticed the "ghost" that had frightened Xue Jion so badly—a terrifyingly costumed figure standing nearby, reaching out toward them.
Yi Tianyu grinned and picked Xue Jiao up, carrying her slowly toward the exit. As they passed the "ghost," he slipped his left hand into his pocket, pulled out some bills, and slapped them into the ghost's outstretched hand.
"What a cute ghost," Yi Tianyu murmured.
The ghost: "......" ????
Hearing Yi Tianyu's voice, Xue Jiao finally snapped out of it. She slid down from his arms, her voice trembling.
"Yi Tianyu... where's... Jiaxue?"
"They're not on this path. Seriously, you're such a scaredy-cat," he said, amusement in his voice.
Then he reached out, wrapping an arm around her, his hand covering her eyes.
Unable to see anything but guided forward by someone, Xue Jiao's fear lessened slightly.
But she was still badly shaken, her heart racing.
By the time Yi Tianyu led Xue Jiao out, Cheng Mingze and Liu Jiaxue were already waiting.
Seeing him holding Xue Jiao, Cheng Mingze's face darkened instantly.
Liu Jiaxue hurried over, pushing Yi Tianyu aside to support Xue Jiao, her face full of concern.
"Jiao Jiao, what happened? Don't be scared, it's over now. Everything inside was fake. There's nothing to be afraid of."Xue Jiao took a deep breath, looked up at the concerned faces around her, and declared—
“Never going into a haunted house again!”
That heart-stopping terror was something Xue Jiao never wanted to experience again.
——
After trying two more normal rides, it was nearly lunchtime, and the group left Happy Valley.
Cheng Shuo took them to a French restaurant for lunch. After the meal, Yi Tianyu reluctantly said goodbye.
Cheng Shuo then drove them to the supermarket to stock up on supplies before heading home.
It was already the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, and many things needed for the New Year had to be prepared.
After parking the car and carrying their purchases, the five of them chatted and laughed as they walked toward the front door.
But they suddenly stopped in their tracks when they reached the entrance. A man was sitting at their doorstep, looking exhausted—clearly, he had been waiting for a long time.
He spotted the returning group, froze for a moment, then awkwardly stood up, rubbing his hands together—
“Hello… I came to see Jiaxue.”
“Dad—” Liu Jiaxue called out softly, her eyes instantly welling up with tears again.
Xue Jiao and Cheng Shuo exchanged glances before carrying the bags inside, giving the two some space to talk.
“Jiaxue…” Liu Jun smiled weakly.
He had been sitting there all this time—this perpetually silent father of hers made her both angry and heartbroken.
“Why are you here?” Liu Jiaxue asked.
Liu Jun rubbed his hands together and smiled again. “I came to see you… Don’t be angry anymore…”
He paused, then added, “If you don’t want to study, then forget it. I’ll talk to your mom. Just… don’t hurt yourself.”
Liu Jiaxue had been waiting for these words for so long, but all she ever got from her mother was—How could you score so poorly? If you can’t even study properly, what else can you do?
Now that these words finally came from her usually reticent father, Liu Jiaxue didn’t feel relief—she just wanted to cry. Tears streamed down her face as she choked out,
“Dad… do you and Mom really love me?”
The question made the man—who had always kept his head down and worked hard—uncomfortable. Awkwardly, he muttered,
“No parent doesn’t love their child…”
“Then do you love Mom? Why don’t you divorce her even though she yells at you all the time? Dad… I don’t feel like Mom loves me.” Liu Jiaxue crouched down, covering her face as she sobbed.
Was this really how love was supposed to be? This kind of love made her miserable, made her suffer, made her wish she could disappear from this world.
She buried her face in her arms and wailed.
Liu Jun was at a loss. He had never been good at expressing his emotions, so he just paced helplessly beside her.
Finally, he crouched down next to her, trembling as he lit a cigarette. He took a deep drag, coughing slightly from the smoke.
“Jiaxue… I won’t divorce your mom… She does love you… She just doesn’t know how to show it. You always see her scolding me, always see her acting so fierce. I know… to you, she seems like a tyrant.”
Liu Jiaxue’s sobs quieted slightly. Sniffling, she raised her head to look at Liu Jun."She has many flaws, but also many good qualities. Not everyone is born fierce and aggressive. Your mother... has suffered too. Before you were born, I worked as a laborer, and your mother worked in a restaurant. We were so poor back then that we couldn’t afford meat. To make sure I could eat some, your mother wouldn’t touch her work lunch at noon. She’d eat the cold buns she brought from home and save the meal to bring back for our dinner." Liu Jun seemed to recall something, his eyes turning red.
"Things were tough when you came along. My construction site had no more work, and your mother was always yelling. Times were really hard then. Your mother wasn’t getting enough nutrition, so she couldn’t breastfeed you. When you were nearly starving, your mother sold whatever we had to buy a small cart, and we set up a street stall together. If not for her grit, I don’t know if you’d have survived."
After Liu Jun finished speaking, Liu Jiaxue froze. She had never known about this past—no one had ever told her.
"Back then, your mother hadn’t even finished her postpartum recovery, so she developed chronic illnesses. We couldn’t have any more children after that. Every month during her period, her temper would flare, and she’d hit me. I endured it because I knew she was in pain."
The cigarette burned his fingers before he hastily stubbed it out.
"Later, her temper grew even worse, but there was no helping it. If not for her fierceness and determination, how could we have turned a street stall into a big restaurant when so many others failed?"
Liu Jun looked at her and said, "You asked if I love your mother. I don’t know. I remember her hitting and scolding me, but I also remember when I felt humiliated as a waiter, she paid a chef double to teach me a skill—to become a chef, someone indispensable to the restaurant."
Liu Jun raised his head slightly, gazing at the sky for a long while before speaking again. "I don’t know if I love your mother. After decades together, who can say what love even means? But Jiaxue, I’ll never leave your mother in this lifetime, and neither will she. She yells at me, but she’s never thought of leaving."
"You said you don’t know if she loves you. She does. It’s just that sometimes... she really makes people angry. I’m sorry, Jiaxue. I ignored your pain. I never realized how much pressure you were under, and we kept adding to it. After Uncle Cheng talked to us, I understood—I shouldn’t just focus on your material needs and neglect your emotional ones. If your mother pressures you again, I’ll stand up for you." Liu Jun patted Jiaxue’s head.
Tears welled in Liu Jiaxue’s eyes as she laughed through them. "Dad, would you dare?"
——
When Liu Jiaxue returned to the Cheng household, her eyes were red and swollen.
Meanwhile, Xue Jiao was exchanging messages with Lin Zhihua, who was checking in on the situation.
[I think Jiaxue might go back. She came in, and her father followed.]
Lin Zhihua replied quickly—
[Even if she goes back this time, it might not solve the problem. Her father might protect her, but the parents she’s fighting with won’t let her feel at ease. Liu Jiaxue’s mental resilience is weak, and the pressure next semester will be even greater. If Qian Yu doesn’t change, she’ll only add the stress of her parents arguing over her on top of everything else. The outcome then could be even worse.]Xue Jiao frowned tightly, realizing that this was indeed the case.
[Lin Zhihua: Ask her father what her mother's current attitude is. If she hasn’t recognized her mistake, don’t let her go back today. Add some more pressure.]
Xue Jiao put away her phone and walked over—
“Jiaxue, you…”
Liu Jiaxue hugged her and whispered, “Jiao Jiao, I only learned today how much my mom has suffered. I’m going back now, and in the future… I’ll try to be more accommodating to her.”
But Xue Jiao frowned slightly and looked at Liu Jun.
“Uncle, what’s Jiaxue’s mom’s attitude now? Does she realize her mistake?”
Liu Jun smiled awkwardly. When he left in the morning, Qian Yu hadn’t stopped him, but she was still throwing a tantrum.
She had said, “Doesn’t Jiaxue like someone else’s family? Then she shouldn’t come back!”
Xue Jiao understood immediately.
She turned to Jiaxue and said with a frown, “I don’t agree with you going back—at least not today. Your mom has suffered a lot in the past, and you should cherish her more in the future, but that doesn’t mean tolerating her major flaws. You still have the most crucial semester ahead. Jiaxue, stay here. Let’s think of another way.”
Jiaxue looked into the concerned eyes before her, and her own gradually reddened.
——
Qian Yu was truly furious. She couldn’t understand how Jiaxue, whom she had raised all these years, could team up with outsiders to lecture her.
Was she, as a mother, wrong?
Sure, Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong never scolded Gu Xue Jiao, but that was because Xue Jiao was already top of her class, with prestigious universities nationwide at her fingertips.
What did Liu Jiaxue have? If she couldn’t get into a good university, what would she do in the future?
Her grades had slipped so badly—wasn’t she allowed to scold her?
What kind of logic was that?
Qian Yu was so angry that she turned to Liu Jun, who was silently smoking, and lashed out at him.
“Smoke, smoke, smoke—that’s all you do! Your daughter belongs to someone else now! Listen, Liu Jun, I, Qian Yu, don’t need this daughter. If she doesn’t want to come back, fine! I told you to stop smoking! Are you deaf?! Don’t you hear yourself coughing at night? Do you want to die smoking so much?!” Qian Yu was seething.
Liu Jun stubbed out his cigarette. He really shouldn’t have smoked so much—he was just… worried.
“It’s New Year’s Eve, and that ungrateful girl Liu Jiaxue is still staying at someone else’s house! I never gave birth to such a thing!”
Just as she was ranting, her phone rang.
“Who is it?! What do you want?!”
A moment later, her face turned deathly pale.
“Wh… what…”
Thud— Her phone fell to the ground.
“What’s wrong?” Liu Jun grabbed the car keys and asked.
“The hospital!! Quick, to the hospital! Jiaxue! Something’s happened to Jiaxue!” Qian Yu’s face was ghostly white, clearly panicked.
Liu Jun helped her out the door, and they sped to the hospital in the car.
Qian Yu, wearing high heels and her legs weak with fear, stumbled frantically to the emergency room.
Just then, the emergency room doors opened, and a doctor stepped out.
“I’m sorry…”
Xue Jiao, standing nearby, suddenly rushed in, crying out—
“Jiaxue!!”
Qian Yu’s legs gave way, and she collapsed to the floor.
After a long moment, as if snapping back to reality, her face horrifyingly pale, she staggered forward and threw herself onto the covered figure on the hospital bed.
“Jiaxue! Jiaxue! Mom’s here, don’t scare me like this!”
“Jiaxue!!!” Qian Yu wailed, nearly fainting.
“Mom was wrong!! Jiaxue! Open your eyes! Jiaxue, please—!!”
She clung tightly to the person on the bed, sobbing uncontrollably."Jiaxue! Mom was wrong, open your eyes, I'll change everything! I was so worried about you... I... I was just angry..."
"Jiaxue!!! Open your eyes!! I was wrong! I was truly wrong! I didn't know I would push you to this point, it's okay if your grades aren't good, Mom was wrong!"
"Jiaxue—"
Xue Jiao said calmly beside her, "Auntie, you were indeed wrong. You didn't know how long it had been since Jiaxue last smiled, you didn't know how much pressure she was under. There are nearly a thousand students in a grade, and only one can be first—why did you have to push her to be that one? Her grades slipped, she was under immense pressure, she was anxious, yet you still hit and scolded her. Auntie, you can't always assume that what you don't understand must be easy. I also find senior year exhausting—no one thinks it's easy."
Qian Yu trembled violently and let out a heart-wrenching cry—
"Jiaxue—"
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