Xia Xiaolan was considering the depth of her classroom friendship with Ji Jiangyuan.
Meanwhile, the bond between Xia Ziyue and Wang Jianhua through their “shared hardships” was undoubtedly complete. Combined with her selfless devotion to Wang Jianhua, even Wang Guangping seemed to approve of their relationship now. How could Xia Ziyue not be overjoyed by the success she had worked so hard to achieve for over a year?
The only flaw in her happiness was discovering that Xia Xiaolan was also doing well, which made Xia Ziyue uncomfortable.
She was busy finding new accommodation for her parents – Zhang Cui and Xia Changzheng had moved three times in their three months in Beijing. Xia Ziyue gritted her teeth, determined to quickly buy her own house.
She was also busy speaking ill of Xia Xiaolan to Wang Jianhua.
Originally planning to investigate Xia Xiaolan through Wang Jianhua’s connections, she hadn’t expected him to confront Xia Xiaolan directly. Though Xia Ziyue was extremely reluctant about their private interaction, she couldn’t show her unease when Wang Jianhua went to find her in anger.
Fortunately, Wang Jianhua returned even angrier than before.
When Xia Ziyue asked, Wang Jianhua was frustrated:
“I never expected Xia Xiaolan would become… so disappointing. You were right, Ziyue, she’s changed dramatically!”
This was the second time Wang Jianhua had been humiliated by Xia Xiaolan.
The first time was at Baixi Temple when she demanded repayment.
The second time was at Huaqing’s gate, where Xia Xiaolan was laughing with a male student, and though she left, that student stayed to mock him.
Wang Jianhua was particularly sensitive about his pride. Ji Jiangyuan first hid his Huaqing badge, then deliberately wore it – it was intentional! Ji Jiangyuan thought Wang Jianhua was mentally unstable and wanted to investigate him, while Wang Jianhua felt equally indignant. Ji Jiangyuan was well-known at Huaqing University, known as someone who had returned from America – information Wang Jianhua could easily obtain.
So this was how Xia Xiaolan got money to buy houses.
Overseas Chinese returning from America must be wealthy.
Wang Guangping had spent eight years on the farm, receiving only 30,000 in back pay. That wasn’t even half enough to buy the courtyard house. Moreover, the back pay was used for debts and social connections – though Wang Jianhua now had the status of a “high-ranking cadre’s son,” it was just an empty title.
Returned overseas Chinese were much wealthier than Wang Jianhua. While his future in-laws faced eviction, this returnee could casually provide money for Xia Xiaolan to buy that courtyard – US dollars were something!
Wang Jianhua’s thoughts turned dark, convinced that Xia Xiaolan must be intimately involved with Ji Jiangyuan for him to spend so much money.
This lit a fire in Wang Jianhua’s heart.
Xia Ziyue was pleased, hoping Xia Xiaolan’s image would worsen in Wang Jianhua’s eyes. Of course, she was also uncomfortable that Xia Xiaolan had not only found a Huaqing University boyfriend, but one who had returned from America.
Xia Ziyue suppressed her discomfort.
Money wasn’t as good as power, and someone from abroad couldn’t compare to Wang Jianhua’s future potential.
She quickly consoled herself, then softly comforted Wang Jianhua: “Didn’t Uncle say he’d help you transfer schools next year? Beijing University isn’t inferior to Huaqing – what do you think?”
Transferring to Huaqing was impossible – Xia Ziyue couldn’t risk more opportunities for contact with Xia Xiaolan.
Wang Jianhua had previously claimed indecision, but he and Wang Guangping had discussed transferring to Huaqing. After being humiliated, he became even more determined. When Ji Jiangyuan displayed his school badge, it felt like a painful slap to Wang Jianhua’s face.
How could he regain his lost face if he didn’t go to Huaqing?
Surely the gentle and gracious Ziyue would understand and support his decision.
“Ziyue, I want to go to Huaqing – it better suits my plans!”
Better suit his plans?
Xia Ziyue clenched her teeth – she could support Wang Jianhua, but not if it meant giving him chances to get entangled with Xia Xiaolan again!
While Xia Ziyue was feeling irritated, a teacher from the tutoring class asked her what to do about He Jia’s unexplained absence this week.
Among all the tutoring students, He Jia stood out in Xia Ziyue’s memory because her mother was so difficult. It had been hard enough collecting He Jia’s tuition, but her mother had insisted on a receipt.
Hearing about He Jia’s absence made Xia Ziyue even more impatient:
“She’s old enough to take care of herself! If she doesn’t come and falls behind, we’ll have something to say when her mother complains next time!”
Xia Ziyue was truly fed up with He Jia’s mother, who was constantly critical yet insisted on sending her daughter to tutoring.
The tutoring teachers were all college students, and though they privately grumbled about Xia Ziyue’s poor attitude, their inexperience meant they didn’t consider one weekend’s absence particularly significant.
At least they’d informed Xia Ziyue – they’d done their duty to the tutoring student!
He Jia definitely couldn’t attend tutoring now.
In fact, she had been confined at home for two days, with the entire He household shrouded in dark clouds – following Xia Xiaolan’s advice, Gu Siyan had informed He Jia’s mother about her pregnancy.
He Jia’s mother showed no gratitude to Gu Siyan, instead harshly criticizing her.
She said Gu Siyan was too young to understand the gravity of such accusations – how could she say such things about her young daughter?
No matter how Gu Siyan explained, He Jia’s mother wouldn’t believe her. If Gu Siyan hadn’t been so young, He Jia’s mother would have scratched her face. Even so, she was furious enough to tell Aunt Zhou to properly discipline Gu Siyan.
Gu Siyan had been thoroughly rebuffed.
But she didn’t regret it – Xia Xiaolan had said helping a good friend sometimes meant enduring a little hardship.
Aunt Zhou was bewildered, “Did you bully He Jia? Are you two fighting?”
Gu Siyan shook her head, remaining silent no matter what her mother asked.
Telling He Jia’s mother was necessary – once discussed at home, wouldn’t everyone know about He Jia’s situation?
He Jia’s mother initially didn’t believe it at all. Thinking He Jia was tired from studying for ninth grade, she bought fish to nourish her brain.
As soon as the braised fish was served, He Jia covered her mouth and ran to the bathroom.
“He Jia, your stomach hasn’t been feeling-“
He Jia’s mother’s words cut off abruptly.
Stomach problems?
He Jia’s reaction did seem like a pregnancy!
Perhaps Gu Siyan wasn’t making things up… but how could He Jia be pregnant at such a young age? He Jia’s mother was so angry she couldn’t hold her chopsticks steady. She rushed into the bathroom and dragged He Jia out. Already under psychological pressure since discovering her pregnancy, He Jia couldn’t maintain composure under her mother’s interrogation.
He Jia’s parents couldn’t accept it at all.
How could their daughter be pregnant at such a young age?
He Jia’s father maintained more composure, asking He Jia to explain everything clearly.
He Jia spoke of her “first love” at the tutoring class, crying as she spoke, sobbing that she never thought she would get pregnant.
He Jia’s mother felt dizzy but zeroed in on the key point: two students from the same tutoring class developed a relationship right under the teachers’ noses without anyone noticing.
If they had just mentioned something, if the family had known, He Jia wouldn’t have dared to be intimate with a boy!
“Old He, this tutoring class… our Jiajia was ruined by this tutoring class…”