Even if she was foolish, she knew that Xue Jiao couldn’t stay with Li Shu’s son Hong Yi!

With Hong Yi’s delinquent character, what if instead of him improving, Xue Jiao ended up being corrupted?

After all, Xue Jiao used to be…

What if Hong Yi led Xue Jiao back to her former “bad girl” ways?

Li Shu, shrewd as she was, immediately understood what Li Si Tong was thinking from her expression. Looking at her, she said: “Si Tong, I think this idea is really good! Even someone like Yi Da Fa knows to place his son next to Xue Jiao—your daughter must truly be capable of being a good influence!”

Li Si Tong smiled weakly: “Xue Jiao doesn’t understand these things. She only knows how to bury herself in books, studying rigidly. She doesn’t know how to teach others!”

Li Shu stopped playing mahjong, putting aside the tile she had just drawn. She walked over and gently held Li Si Tong’s hand, saying softly—

“Sister is better at teaching children than I am. How do you usually communicate with your children? When I talk to Hong Yi, he gives me a dirty look and ignores me. His father can beat him, but there’s something wrong with this child, right? It’s not something that can be solved just by constant beating, right?”

“Yes, we shouldn’t beat children frequently.” Li Si Tong’s voice was bitter. It was because she had hit Xue Jiao that the child still wasn’t close to her at all!

Although Xue Jiao seemed to get along with her now, she could feel the other’s distance and indifference.

“Tell me your secret—how do you teach children?” Li Shu said, her eyes reddening, “I truly have no options left! I’ve tried everything!”

Li Si Tong felt uncomfortable looking at the woman before her. Her appearance was exactly like hers in the past.

Helpless, bewildered, doubtful, suffering…

“Sister Li, I don’t know. Xue Jiao just became a different person after making a bet with Ming Jiao!” She paused, then added, “Her Uncle Cheng said to trust children, to praise them, not to criticize them endlessly!”

Li Shu was slightly taken aback, then said: “So that’s it… his father is always scolding him, and I only know how to criticize him…”

Her expression was confused and helpless. Li Si Tong felt like she was seeing her past self when she had been just as helpless looking at the mess that was Xue Jiao.

She couldn’t help patting her: “Change your attitude, talk more with your child.”

Li Shu suddenly looked up: “No! Hong Yi is beyond reasoning now. His father can’t control his temper, and I can’t stop myself from nagging him! Si Tong, I’m suffering.”

“I understand, I was the same way before.” Li Si Tong’s eyes welled up.

“Yes, yes, you understand me. When children don’t listen, I watch over him every day, but I still can’t control him!”

Wasn’t that right? Wasn’t Xue Jiao the same before?

She had scolded her, hit her, reasoned with her, and each time only pushed the person further away!

Li Si Tong was increasingly moved.

Li Shu clutched her hand, pleading: “Si Tong, I know you’re worried that if Xue Jiao stays at my home, I won’t be able to control Hong Yi. Then let me send Hong Yi to stay at your house for a while!”

“Huh?” Li Si Tong was stunned.

Li Shu still gripped her hand tightly, with tears in her eyes: “Xue Jiao needs to study hard. If you’re worried, I’ll send the child over during winter break. Your family has two such excellent children, and you and Cheng Shuo are such good parents! You can accompany Xue Jiao every day, and Hong Yi absolutely won’t corrupt her or Cheng Ming Ze!”

Li Si Tong was still hesitant, feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

“Si Tong, consider it a plea from your older sister. If you’re worried about imposing, he can just stay for a few days during winter break. If you’re unhappy, one phone call and I’ll come to get Hong Yi immediately! Just treat it as a relative’s child staying over for a few days!”

Li Shu made convincing arguments, and Li Si Tong opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.

Mrs. Chang sighed: “Every family has its difficulties. Si Tong, just take Hong Yi home with you. You’ll be watching him at home every day, nothing will happen. If Hong Yi doesn’t behave at your house, you can send him back.”

“That’s right, Sister-in-law, you wouldn’t refuse to help Sister Li, would you? I remember your house is quite large—can’t you accommodate one more child?” Liu Ya Zhen said with a smile, her tone meaningful.

Li Si Tong opened her mouth, probably moved by Li Shu’s helplessness which was so similar to her past, and said: “All right then.”

——

“I disagree!” Li Si Tong hadn’t expected that after she explained everything that happened today, the first to disagree would be Cheng Shuo.

Xue Jiao, on the other hand, frowned and remained silent.

“I disagree too.” Cheng Ming Ze also stated his position, and his attitude seriously.

Li Si Tong opened her mouth, somewhat puzzled: “It’s just for a few days during winter break. The housekeeper and I will be home every day. Nothing will happen, right? He won’t corrupt the children, will he?”

“How foolish!”

Rarely, Cheng Shuo was somewhat angry with Li Si Tong.

“What?” Li Si Tong looked bewildered.

“Just because you think nothing will happen at home doesn’t mean nothing will happen?!” Cheng Shuo’s face reddened with anger. “They’re about the same age, Bai Hong Yi is already an adult, and Xue Jiao excels in every way. That Bai Hong Yi isn’t a good person! He won’t learn anything!”

“I’ll be watching at home every day, I won’t let Xue Jiao leave my sight…” Li Si Tong continued, still confused, unable to understand why letting Bai Hong Yi stay was meeting such strong opposition.

“It’s not the thief stealing that worries me, it’s the thief coveting.” Cheng Ming Ze suddenly said with a frown, looking at Li Si Tong with disapproval.

“Exactly! You let Bai Hong Yi stay here, and what if someone like him influences Xue Jiao? Or what if he starts having designs on our Jiao Jiao? You can watch for one winter break, but can you watch for a lifetime?!” Cheng Shuo adjusted his tie.

Cheng Ming Ze also nodded: “I know Bai Hong Yi. Someone like him isn’t compatible with Xue Jiao. They shouldn’t know each other.”

“But… I’ve already agreed…” Li Si Tong suddenly felt afraid after hearing their analysis, and regret flashed in her eyes.

“Why didn’t you think more about this today? Why did you agree so casually? We have one child about to take the college entrance exam and one beautiful daughter—how could you agree to let such a troublemaker stay with us?!” Cheng Shuo deflated somewhat.

Li Si Tong looked aggrieved, her voice lowering: “Li Shu kept begging me. Seeing her helplessness and suffering, almost identical to mine back then, I couldn’t resist and softened my heart. Their family truly doesn’t know how to teach children…”

“That doesn’t mean our family needs to teach them.” Cheng Ming Ze said quietly. “Our situation is complicated, and the next two years are crucial.”

He absolutely would not agree to have that kind of seemingly worthless man stay in his home and approach his sweet, adorable… sister.

Xue Jiao hadn’t spoken throughout, as the two men had already rejected the idea and explained the key issues to Li Si Tong.

Honestly, her stepfather… truly acted like a father.

And her brother… today also acted very much like a brother…

“Then how do I refuse her now? I’ve already agreed…” Li Si Tong understood the inconvenience and regretted her hasty agreement, but what troubled her more was how to refuse.

“Just say the children have classes during winter break, so it’s not convenient for Hong Yi to stay, and he won’t learn much anyway.” Cheng Shuo frowned and suggested.

“Won’t it offend Li Shu? You still have to work with Mr. Bai, don’t you?” Li Si Tong looked worried. Mr. Bai was currently Cheng Shuo’s client, and if this wasn’t handled well, it would cause trouble for Cheng Shuo.

Cheng Shuo sighed: “It’s no trouble. Business is business, private matters shouldn’t affect business.”

His words were meant to reassure everyone, but they also reflected his true thoughts. One should cherish one’s daughter—no matter how important business was, could it be more important than his daughter?

Xue Jiao seemed to understand his thinking, and her heart softened somewhat.

She opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but Cheng Shuo raised his hand to stop her, giving her a slight smile.

“Alright, let’s leave it at that for today. You two go to sleep now. Your mother and I will resolve this matter tomorrow.”

Xue Jiao said nothing more, as Cheng Shuo’s tone indicated he had made his decision.

——

“Husband, what should we do? If I say the children have extra classes, she’ll know it’s an excuse. And what if they want to send Bai Hong Yi to the same classes?” Li Si Tong looked conflicted.

Cheng Shuo pulled back the covers and sat on the bed, sighing—

“I never intended for you to say that. Given the situation with their only son, Li Shu has fixated on Jiao Jiao this time.”

“What?” Li Si Tong’s expression immediately changed, looking scared.

“So you can only be direct. Say that Xue Jiao is young and beautiful, Ming Ze will take the college entrance exam next year, and our family cannot accommodate others right now.” Cheng Shuo lay down.

“Huh? Wouldn’t that directly offend them?!”

“We can only offend them, otherwise we can’t eliminate future troubles.” Cheng Shuo paused, then added, “What kind of mischief is Second Brother’s wife always stirring up!”

Li Si Tong also silently resented: “She definitely can’t stand seeing me and Jiao Jiao getting along!”

Cheng Shuo and Li Si Tong didn’t sleep well that night, and Xue Jiao also had trouble falling asleep.

She took out her phone, then hesitated.

She felt she was becoming too dependent on Lin Zhi Hua as if she turned to him whenever she had any trouble…

That person’s thinking was exceptionally outstanding, his mindset seemingly broad and magnanimous, as if nothing in this world could trouble him.

Xue Jiao felt she shouldn’t ask him about everything, so she put down her phone.

At that moment, as if through telepathy, her phone vibrated slightly—

[Lin Zhi Hua: Goodnight.jpg]

Xue Jiao looked at the screen for a long, long time before replying—

[Goodnight.]

Instantly, a message came back—

[What’s wrong? Have you encountered something troubling?]

Xue Jiao’s eyes widened in disbelief—

[How did you know?!]

The reply came immediately—

[You were on the editing screen too long, yet only replied with two words.]

Xue Jiao was slightly taken aback, and couldn’t help but say—

[I have something troubling me, but I don’t know if I should ask you…]

Lin Zhi Hua, on the other end of the phone, frowned slightly. It seemed he still wasn’t good enough…

To the extent that Xue Jiao would feel she shouldn’t ask him when she had difficulties…

[Lin Zhi Hua: What gave you the impression that you can’t ask me when you have problems?]

Xue Jiao was startled again, then smiled.

Perhaps that was true—he had always been friendly to her, helping answer all her questions, even helping her create outlines.

It might be hard to believe, but in this world, the person she trusted most wasn’t her birth parents or her caring stepfather, but rather the person on the other end of the phone…

Her fingers tapped as she explained everything that had happened that evening.

[What should I do? My mom has already agreed, and I feel that if we truly refuse now, going back on a promise, we might offend them, and Uncle Cheng might suffer significant losses.]

Although Cheng Shuo hadn’t said so, she could see something from Li Si Tong’s worried expression.

He didn’t mind, but Xue Jiao did.

She would feel guilty if her stepfather sacrificed his interests for her sake.

Lin Zhi Hua’s mind had never disappointed her, and after a moment, he replied.