Back home, Wen Yifan put the handmade candies in a box. The topic of moving had been directly sidetracked by Sang Yan’s words earlier, and although she thought about bringing it up again, she figured there was no rush since they still had several months.

As usual, Wen Yifan helped Sang Yan clean up before returning to her room.

It seemed Sang Yan hadn’t told his family about his injury. Over the past few days, Wen Yifan had heard him on the phone with his family a few times, mostly with them trying to get him to come home for a meal.

But Sang Yan kept making excuses because of his hand injury, to the point where his parents now seemed quite displeased with him.

Sang Yan didn’t seem to mind this.

It was as if he was long accustomed to such treatment.

Wen Yifan guessed that he probably wanted to wait until the weather cooled down in a while when he could wear outerwear to cover the wound before going back. She sat on the bed and casually flipped through her phone.

When she noticed a message from Zhao Yuandong, Wen Yifan was reminded of what Sang Yan had relayed from Zheng Kejia today.

She clicked into it.

She only glanced at the latest message.

[Shuangjiang, can Mom see you once?]

Wen Yifan stared at it for a long time, clicked on her profile picture, and hovered over the delete button for a few seconds. In the end, she sighed lightly and didn’t press it, exiting instead.

Her mind wandered, thinking about a jumble of things, quickly returning to tonight.

Before entering the elevator, Sang Yan’s last words.

— “I volunteered.”

Wen Yifan blinked lightly, that little bit of bad mood instantly replaced by this man. The corners of her lips curved up as she hugged a pillow to her chest and rolled over on the bed.

–

The next day, Wen Yifan accompanied Sang Yan to the hospital to change his dressing. His wound was healing well, with the edges aligning neatly and no signs of redness or swelling. The doctor asked him to come back for a follow-up in a week to decide whether to remove the stitches.

Wen Yifan calculated the time and realized it would be on her birthday.

It was still a Saturday, but this time Wen Yifan didn’t have a day off and had to work. However, a reporter’s work hours are quite flexible, so she got up early that day, accompanied Sang Yan to the hospital to have his stitches removed, and then went to the TV station to work with peace of mind.

In the afternoon, Wen Yifan had arranged to meet with a witness.

They agreed to meet at a coffee shop near the witness’s home.

After the interview, Wen Yifan thanked the person. Once they left, she faced her computer, organized her thoughts, and began writing. Just then, she heard her phone ring. She casually picked it up and unlocked the screen.

It was a message from Sang Yan.

Sang Yan: [Where are you?]

Wen Yifan sent him her location directly.

Sang Yan: [Off work?]

Wen Yifan: [Yeah, I’ll head home after I finish writing the article.]

Sang Yan: [I’ll come pick you up.]

Wen Yifan replied with an “okay” and continued writing. After typing the last word, she checked it over and then emailed the article to her editor. She sighed in relief, packed up her things, and walked out.

Just as she left the coffee shop, Wen Yifan bumped into a woman about her height.

Wen Yifan instinctively apologized and was about to walk around her when the woman grabbed her arm.

A familiar voice reached her ears.

“…Shuangjiang?”

Wen Yifan looked up and instantly met Zhao Yuandong’s somewhat haggard face. Her expression froze, completely unexpected to run into Zhao Yuandong by chance in a city as big as Nanwu. Zhao Yuandong looked even more awkward than before: “Did you come here to meet a friend?”

Wen Yifan smiled and replied concisely, “No, work.”

“Your Uncle Zheng and I just had dinner nearby,” Compared to their last meeting, Zhao Yuandong seemed to have lost quite a bit of weight, her cheeks sunken, “He’s gone back to the office to work overtime now, and I’m taking this route home.”

Wen Yifan nodded, not knowing what to say.

Just as she was thinking of an excuse to leave, Zhao Yuandong spoke again, her words carrying a hint of pleading: “Shuangjiang, today is your birthday. Can we talk?”

The two stood awkwardly outside the shop for a moment.

Wen Yifan compromised, her voice very soft: “I have something to do in a while, so we might not be able to talk for long.”

Zhao Yuandong hurriedly said: “Mom won’t take up too much of your time.”

The nearest place they could talk was the coffee shop Wen Yifan had just left. This time she chose a seat near the glass wall inside the store, half-listening to Zhao Yuandong while absentmindedly staring at the bustling road outside.

Over the years, the communication between mother and daughter had been pitifully scarce.

Their relationship was more awkward than that of strangers.

After several sentences of small talk, Zhao Yuandong carefully broached the main topic.

“Shuangjiang, do you know about what happened with your aunt and her brother?”

Wen Yifan made a sound of acknowledgment.

“Of course, you’re in the news…” Zhao Yuandong forced a smile, “I never thought Che Xingde was that kind of person. I originally thought he was just incompetent, I didn’t expect him to do such things.”

Wen Yifan picked up the water glass in front of her and took a sip.

The table fell silent for a moment.

Zhao Yuandong’s voice trembled as if she had been holding back for a long time before mustering the courage to ask: “Shuangjiang, at that time, he didn’t… do anything to you, did he…”

Wen Yifan silently looked at her for a while before saying: “How should I answer this question?”

Zhao Yuandong was instantly too ashamed to speak.

Wen Yifan said in a flat voice: “It’s been a long time anyway.”

“I…” Zhao Yuandong’s eyes reddened, her voice becoming choked, “Mom is sorry… I paid too little attention to you back then. I thought with your uncle watching, nothing would happen. It was my fault…”

Wen Yifan listened quietly.

Zhao Yuandong turned her head to wipe away tears: “Mom doesn’t dare ask for your forgiveness, just wants to see you occasionally, is that okay?”

Seeing her guilty and pained expression, Wen Yifan didn’t answer immediately. She lowered her eyelashes, tugged at the corner of her lips, and slowly spoke: “Actually, I never felt too upset about how Uncle and his family treated me.”

“…”

“Because I felt that raising me wasn’t their obligation,” Wen Yifan’s voice was very calm, “They did not need to be good to me.”

Zhao Yuandong moved her lips.

Before she could speak, Wen Yifan pressed her lips together and said: “But you, you made me feel very hurt.”

“…”

“You made me constantly doubt myself,” Wen Yifan murmured, “Why? Why is it like this?”

Why indeed.

Compared to me, my mother loves other people’s children more.

Where exactly am I lacking?

Did I do something wrong?

Am I not good enough?

Am I not worthy of being loved at all?

“Why is it that in this world, the mother who should love me the most,” Wen Yifan stared at the woman in front of her, her eyes reddening slightly, her words becoming uncontrollably heavy, “doesn’t love me at all?”

“…” Zhao Yuandong, still crying, immediately denied it, “No, it’s because…”

Her words stopped there.

Unable to explain further.

What else could it be because of?

“I know,” Wen Yifan composed herself, her expression quickly returning to normal, “It’s okay, you have a new family. You should think more about yourself.”

“…”

“I should have understood when you sent me to Grandma’s house,” Wen Yifan found it laughable, “When you repeatedly ignored my words, repeatedly neglected me for your new family, when I begged you for help, you still chose to cover your eyes.”

Wen Yifan repeated: “I should have understood.”

Zhao Yuandong just lowered her head, as if she felt too guilty to even cry.

Wen Yifan’s thoughts drifted, and she didn’t speak anymore. Looking at the thin, haggard woman in front of her, she suddenly remembered things from many years ago.

Before getting into Nanwu No.1 High School, Wen Yifan knew that Wen Liangzhe had fallen ill, to the point of needing surgery. But at that time, Wen Liangzhe told her it was just a minor illness, and that he would be fine after some rest and recuperation.

Wen Yifan had always believed everything Wen Liangzhe said.

She also remembered that afterward, Wen Liangzhe indeed maintained his previous gentle and spirited appearance.

Wen Yifan didn’t think much of it.

After starting high school, because Wen Liangzhe’s work location moved to another city, Wen Yifan saw him much less frequently. But she often received calls from her father and had no doubts about this.

She just missed him terribly, always urging him to come home soon during their phone calls.

She didn’t notice that his voice was becoming increasingly weak.

At that time, everyone thought she was still young.

Everyone kept Wen Liangzhe’s illness a secret from her.

Wen Yifan rushed to see Wen Liangzhe for the last time. He seemed completely unable to let go, his eyes full of guilt and pain as he struggled to tell her: “Dad’s Shuangjiang must grow up well.”

“Be happy every day, just like you are now.”

“Take good care of Mom, you’re her only support now.”

Wen Yifan cried as she agreed to each request. She didn’t hear if Wen Liangzhe had said anything to Zhao Yuandong, but she could guess it was probably similar.

For Zhao Yuandong to take good care of their only daughter.

— You are her only support.

That night.

Wen Liangzhe passed away.

After that, in less than three months.

One day after school, Wen Yifan was taken by Zhao Yuandong to meet her current stepfather, Zheng Huayuan. At the time, she couldn’t accept it at all, feeling it was absurd.

Wen Yifan didn’t mind Zhao Yuandong remarrying.

But it shouldn’t have been just three months after Wen Liangzhe’s death.

Zhao Yuandong explained to her that because Wen Liangzhe had been sick for a long time, she had been suffering greatly during that period. And Zheng Huayuan had been helping her, constantly comforting her.

In the end, because of Wen Yifan’s completely unyielding attitude, Zhao Yuandong reluctantly said: “I’m pregnant.”

“…”

After a long silence.

Wen Yifan asked her: “Did you have an affair?”

Zhao Yuandong denied it tearfully.

She said their relationship only developed after Wen Liangzhe passed away. She could never do anything to betray Wen Liangzhe, she just felt very tired and thought she couldn’t go on without someone to rely on.

In the end, Wen Yifan could only compromise.

She couldn’t forcefully demand that everyone should be like her, spending so much time mourning Wen Liangzhe.

Later, Zhao Yuandong lost that child. She had an accidental fall and miscarried.

Everything just continued to develop from there.

On the last day she saw Sang Yan in Beiyu, Wen Yifan suddenly didn’t want to stay in that place anymore. She returned to Chen Xi’s home, asked her to help collect her admission notice later, and then took the high-speed train back to Nanwu.

Wen Yifan knew that after that incident came out, Zhao Yuandong had come to Beiyu.

But Wen Yifan didn’t want to see her.

After arriving in Nanwu, Wen Yifan went to the Zheng family home based on her memory. She only asked Zhao Yuandong for the money Wen Liangzhe had left her, and finally said mechanically: “I will keep in touch with you.”

Because Dad wanted me to take good care of you.

“The only request,” Wen Yifan said, “is that you can’t give my contact information to Wen Liangxian’s family.”

They treated me that way.

Even if you don’t stand on my side, you should at least consider my feelings.

Zhao Yuandong agreed.

But when Wen Yifan returned to Nanwu and visited the Zheng family home for the first time, she met Che Yanqin. Zhao Yuandong seemed to have not taken her words to heart, still considering Che Yanqin as a “benefactor” who had taken care of Wen Yifan for many years.

…

Her thoughts were interrupted by the waiter bringing drinks. Wen Yifan came back to her senses and casually asked: “What was the reason Zheng Kejia wanted me to come back to your place? Did you tell her?”

Zhao Yuandong wiped her tears with a tissue, her expression gloomy: “She…”

“…”

“Your stepfather has someone outside,” After hesitating for a while, Zhao Yuandong said with a bitter smile, “We’ve argued a few times, and he told me he won’t do it again. Kejia probably wanted you to come and keep me company.”

Hearing this, Wen Yifan paused: “Isn’t she enough to keep you company?”

Zhao Yuandong lowered her head, her tone carrying a hint of disappointment: “After all, they are biological father and daughter, but she still sides with her father…”

It was like history repeating itself.

What had happened to Wen Yifan back then was now being experienced by Zhao Yuandong.

— They were both not the ones firmly chosen.

Wen Yifan didn’t comment on this and didn’t want to interfere in Zhao Yuandong’s life. She checked the time on her phone and smiled: “For a while now, I’ve been considering how to handle our relationship. I’ve never deleted your contact information, always worried that if something happened to you, I wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t know.”

After all, unlike others, they were blood-related mother and daughter, an extremely difficult relationship to sever.

Wen Yifan said self-mockingly: “But I seem to have overthought it — after all, during those years, you never cared about me either. And I still managed to get by.”

“…”

“Because I never talked to you about it, I always felt like there was a stone pressing on my heart,” Wen Yifan said, “But after meeting you today, I will delete all contact information related to you.”

Wen Yifan’s eyes were light in color but showed no softness. Her gentle voice carried a hint of cruelty: “I hope you can pretend that your daughter was already killed by Che Xingde on that night.”

Zhao Yuandong’s face turned pale.

Through the glass, at this moment, Wen Yifan saw Sang Yan’s figure. He was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and long pants, looking around as if searching for the location. He was holding a phone, tapped the screen a couple of times, then put it to his ear.

Wen Yifan’s gaze fixed on him, and after a few seconds, her phone on the table rang as she expected.

She answered.

Sang Yan said directly: “Still writing?”

Wen Yifan shouldered her bag and honestly said: “Finished.”

“Alright.” As he said this, Sang Yan also looked over, meeting her gaze through the transparent glass. He raised his eyebrows slightly and drawled, “Not coming out yet? What are you waiting for?”

Wen Yifan said good-naturedly: “Coming right away.”

Seeming to notice someone sitting across from Wen Yifan, Sang Yan asked: “Who are you on a date with?”

Wen Yifan smiled: “I’ll tell you when I come out.”

Noticing her gaze, Zhao Yuandong also looked in Sang Yan’s direction. She suddenly understood something and asked, holding back tears: “Shuangjiang, is that your boyfriend? Can Mom meet him?”

Wen Yifan stood up, staring at her face: “You should have met him long ago.”

During those two parent-teacher meetings.

Zhao Yuandong didn’t understand her words: “What?”

Wen Yifan shook her head: “No, there’s no need.”

“…”

“Regardless, I still hope you can live well,” Wen Yifan didn’t say more, directly ending the conversation, “I will also live my life well.”

–

Walking out of the coffee shop, Wen Yifan ran and threw herself into Sang Yan’s arms.

Sang Yan habitually hugged her, steadying her body. He raised his head, still looking in Zhao Yuandong’s direction, his tone full of checking up on her: “Who were you meeting?”

Wen Yifan answered honestly: “My mother.”

“But,” Wen Yifan added, “She won’t be anymore from now on.”

“…”

During this time, when they occasionally talked about it, Sang Yan had gradually heard her mention family matters. He could roughly understand her feelings and didn’t ask further: “Mm. Let’s go home and celebrate your birthday.”

Wen Yifan was led forward by him: “Sang Yan.”

“Hmm?”

“Can I tell you my birthday wish now?”

“Tell me when we get back,” Sang Yan said, “There’s no cake here, right?”

“But isn’t having you enough?” Wen Yifan said sincerely, “A cake can’t help me fulfill my wish.”

“…”

Wen Yifan added: “I want to say it now.”

Sang Yan turned his head, quickly compromising: “Alright, go ahead.”

Wen Yifan was too embarrassed to say it directly, so she first mentioned some other things randomly before slowly getting to the point: “This year’s summer was quite long, it’s still so hot even though it’s Frost’s Descent.”

Sang Yan: “Hmm?”

Because he had reminded her earlier to make a good wish this year.

“Sang Yan, if next year’s summer is still that long–” Wen Yifan had thought of several indirect ways to express it in her mind, but fearing he wouldn’t understand, she finally decided to be more direct, “Why don’t you propose to me?”

“…”

After saying this, Wen Yifan felt a bit nervous but tried to appear calm as she asked: “Is that okay?”

Sang Yan was stunned for a good while as if he hadn’t expected her to be so blatant. He lowered his head and laughed for a long time, his shoulders shaking slightly. After a long time, he finally responded: “Okay.”

Wen Yifan relaxed mentally.

The next moment, Sang Yan spoke again: “Is that all?”

Wen Yifan nodded, then felt that since he had asked, not saying a few more would be a loss: “Can there be more?”

Sang Yan smiled: “There can be.”

“Then I also hope,” out of caution, Wen Yifan added one more, “that next year’s summer will be a bit longer.”