Xue Jiao stared at him, speechless for quite a while.

The young man standing opposite her raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, “Talking to your mysterious friend on the phone again?”

Xue Jiao scratched her head awkwardly. “Yes…”

Cheng Mingze took a sip of water and said, “Jiaojiao, you can ask me and Dad for help with your problems too. We can help you as well.”

“Okay…” Xue Jiao felt somewhat embarrassed.

There were some issues she could never bring herself to discuss with Cheng Shuo and Cheng Mingze, but with Lin Zhihua, she could easily tell him anything.

She didn’t know why herself.

“Alright, go up and get some sleep,” Cheng Mingze said casually.

Xue Jiao held her phone and nodded. “Okay.”

Then she quickly went upstairs.

Cheng Mingze remained standing in the living room, his gaze fixed on one spot, motionless. Then his hand tightened, squeezing the cup he was holding.

Lin Zhihua!

So it was Lin Zhihua!

——

After leaving the living room, Xue Jiao breathed a sigh of relief. Cheng Mingze’s gaze made her feel pressured, but she had to admit—whenever she had 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.

Hearing footsteps, she immediately turned around.

“Jiaojiao…” 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, looking at Xue Jiao. “Where did you go?”

“I went downstairs for some water.” Xue Jiao pulled back the covers, lay down, then turned her head. “Let’s chat for a bit.”

Liu Jiaxue was taken aback.

Xue Jiao said, “Jiaxue, I think your parents might love you, and they might even love each other.”

Liu Jiaxue’s pupils constricted, and she instinctively objected, “That’s impossible!”

Xue Jiao laughed softly, shaking her head with resignation. “I never understood before why Dad liked Mom so much. My mom was divorced with a child, especially when that child was the old me—rebellious and troublemaking. And after my maternal grandfather passed away, our family had nothing left. I used to think my mom was this and that. But Dad was different. Although he also had a child, my brother Cheng Mingze is excellent, and he runs a large company himself. High emotional intelligence, high IQ. According to my second aunt, there were plenty of pretty young girls who were interested in my dad, one after another.”

“Then why…” Liu Jiaxue couldn’t help but ask.

Xue Jiao looked up at her and smiled softly. “There’s just no reason. My dad simply likes my mom. Sometimes I think my mom is being silly, but Dad always explains things to her with a smile, making everything clear. As long as it’s not a matter of principle, Dad rarely gets angry with Mom.”

Liu Jiaxue was slightly dazed.

Xue Jiao continued, “My mom treats my dad the same way. Although she often does silly things, she listens to my dad because she trusts him. She believes my dad would never lie to her or hurt her. Between a husband and wife, there’s a mutual liking that others don’t understand. Who can explain what feelings are?”

“My parents… they’re not affectionate at all…” Liu Jiaxue bit her lower lip and said softly.

Xue Jiao shook her head firmly. “Affection isn’t necessarily the only way for spouses to get along. Jiaxue, if your dad didn’t like your mom, why wouldn’t he leave a woman who scolds him every day? If your mom didn’t like your dad, why wouldn’t she find another man she likes to be with? Your mom certainly has that option.”

Liu Jiaxue was stunned.

“They might truly be together because they like each other. If they’re not together because of mutual liking, then it’s for their child. Jiaxue, if they don’t like each other but are together for their child, would you say they don’t love you?” Xue Jiao looked at Liu Jiaxue and asked earnestly.

Her gaze was sincere and serious, making Liu Jiaxue take in every word she said and… start thinking about it seriously.

Xue Jiao lay down and covered herself with the blanket. “Not every couple is affectionate with each other. It might be related to personality. In life, you can choose anything, you can even choose death. But the only thing you can’t choose is your birth. You were born as your mother’s child, and she has that personality. You had no choice in that.”

“I used to feel bad too. I thought my mom had a lot of issues, and even the way she loved me was wrong. She was suspicious of me, questioned me, and didn’t protect me. But she gave birth to me, raised me, and still loves me. I might not be able to return her love in this lifetime, but I will return her respect.”

Xue Jiao yawned, obviously very tired.

It was already well past her usual bedtime.

“So Jiaxue… you can… talk to your… dad… and see what he… thinks about… your mom…” Xue Jiao said as she drifted off to sleep.

Soon, soft and even breathing sounds could be heard.

Liu Jiaxue sat for a good while, gradually calming down, then turned her head to look at the peacefully sleeping Xue Jiao.

She shifted slightly and also lay down, gently resting her head against Xue Jiao’s shoulder.

She whispered, “Thank you. Good night.”

Then she quietly closed her eyes.

——

In the middle of the night, Li Sitong suddenly cried out in her sleep.

Her arms and legs were flailing as she shouted, “Jiaojiao! Let go of my Jiaojiao!!”

“Jiaojiao—”

Cheng Shuo woke up with a start and quickly embraced her—

“Sitong, Sitong, what’s wrong? Wake up! Wake up!”

Li Sitong was shaken awake by him. As soon as she opened her eyes, she cried out, “Jiaojiao! My Jiaojiao! Save Jiaojiao quickly!”

“Jiaojiao is fine. Jiaojiao is sleeping upstairs. Sitong, Sitong, calm down a bit. It was just a dream, just a dream.” Cheng Shuo held her, repeatedly emphasizing that nothing had happened, gently comforting her.

Li Sitong finally calmed down, waking from her nightmare with her face covered in tears.

She suddenly hugged Cheng Shuo and brought her wrist to her mouth, biting down hard.

Cheng Shuo was startled and quickly pulled her hand away. It already had red teeth marks on it, showing how much force she had used.

After her hand was removed, Li Sitong seemed unable to release her pent-up anxiety, gasping heavily and patting her chest, feeling suffocated.

Cheng Shuo offered his arm. Li Sitong, with reddened eyes, bit down.

She still remembered this was someone she loved and couldn’t bring herself to bite too hard. She quickly calmed down and released her teeth.

Cheng Shuo kept patting her back, comforting her.

Li Sitong closed her eyes slightly, with large tears streaming down her face.

She had dreamed she was dead!

Then, bewildered, she followed her daughter, watching those people maliciously guide Gu Xue Jiao, making her someone everyone despised.

In the dream, apart from the villains, no one in their family was happy.

She watched as Gu Xue Jiao was seduced into doing wrong things, and watched Cheng Shuo exhaust himself for her.

In the dream, she kept shouting—that’s not right, that’s not right!

But no one paid any attention to her.

Later… she saw with her own eyes Gu Xue Jiao being kidnapped in a plot by Gu Shiyun, and finally…

No matter how much she screamed, how much she called out, no one would save Jiaojiao.

Her Jiaojiao!

Why didn’t she care more for Jiaojiao? Why didn’t she love her more?

Li Sitong looked up at Cheng Shuo in tears—

“Ashuo, let’s never forgive Gu Shiyun, okay?”

——

Although they had gone to bed a bit late last night, Xue Jiao still woke up punctually at 5:50 the next morning. Normally, she would have started reviewing her lessons right away.

But today she gave a little start and quickly ran downstairs—

“Jiaxue!”

Liu Jiaxue was gone!!

Xue Jiao’s face instantly went pale.

At that moment, she thought of many possibilities that might have occurred.

So early… where would Jiaxue go?

Out for a walk?

Or…

However, when Xue Jiao ran to the living room, she heard noises coming from the kitchen.

She hurried over and saw Liu Jiaxue wearing an apron, making steamed buns.

Two pots were steaming, clearly both in use.

“Oh? Jiaojiao, you’re up?”

Liu Jiaxue smiled gently at her. With the dim kitchen light and the steam rising from the pots, the scene felt exceptionally warm.

Xue Jiao also smiled, not to mention how scared she had just been.

She simply walked over and praised her, “Jiaxue, why did you get up to cook?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d make breakfast. Your mom doesn’t cook well, right? Don’t worry, you have me now. My cooking skills are chef-level, I guarantee you’ll love it!” Liu Jiaxue’s hands skillfully shaped one steamed bun after another.

Xue Jiao was amazed. “Jiaxue, you’re too amazing! And since when do guests cook at someone else’s house…”

Liu Jiaxue paused her work and glared at Xue Jiao. “You consider me a guest?”

Xue Jiao rubbed her nose and quickly shook her head. “No, no, absolutely not!”

Only then did Liu Jiaxue proudly return her gaze to her work and say, “I’ve made two different kinds of buns. The ones with more pleats are sweet buns, and the ones with fewer pleats are meat buns. They’ve just been put in the steamer, so they’re not ready yet. If you’re hungry, you can have a bowl of rice porridge first. The porridge is almost done.”

Xue Jiao was truly amazed. She sidled up to Liu Jiaxue with her mouth wide open. “You even made two different fillings!”

Liu Jiaxue laughed softly. “Yes, I didn’t know which one you’d prefer, so I made both!”

Xue Jiao shook her head in astonishment. Her pretty little face was full of disbelief. Having just gotten out of bed, her hair was still loose, and she was wearing cute blue elf pajamas.

Liu Jiaxue couldn’t resist using her flour-covered hand to pat Xue Jiao’s face, leaving a white flour mark.

Xue Jiao’s mouth opened slightly. She reached out, dabbed a bit of flour, and smeared it on Liu Jiaxue’s face too.

“Hahaha—”

They looked at each other and burst into laughter.

“Jiaxue, these buns are so exquisite! I think they’re no different from a professional chef’s! No, they might even be better than a chef’s!” Xue Jiao’s eyes widened in amazement as she watched the buns taking shape in Liu Jiaxue’s hands one after another.

They were indeed almost identical in size, white, and delicately made.

“They’re not as good as you say…” Liu Jiaxue smiled softly, then said quietly, “I actually want to study management.”

“Hmm?” Xue Jiao was surprised.

“Then after graduation, open a small shop selling buns and other snacks, and expand my snack shops across the country.” She then found it amusing and added, “Isn’t that laughable and unambitious?”

Xue Jiao placed her hand on Liu Jiaxue’s shoulder, turned her around, and said seriously, “How is that unambitious? There are three hundred and sixty different professions, and you can excel in any of them. If you can sell your food across the country, you’ll be one of the best in your field. Jiaxue, I hope that one day I can eat your snacks in the city where I live!”

Liu Jiaxue smiled gently, the corners of her mouth turning upward.

“Yes! I’ll make sure you can eat what I make in your city! And I’ll give you a lifetime card so you can eat for free every day.”

Xue Jiao feigned shock. “You-you-you-you… you’re trying to keep me? Ah—that’s brilliant!”

Liu Jiaxue: “…”

She glared at Xue Jiao. “Stop disturbing me while I’m making buns!”

“I’ll help you!”

“You know how?” Liu Jiaxue was surprised.

“Yes!” Xue Jiao blinked. “But… they’re a bit ugly.”

In her previous life, she had experienced all sorts of hardships, so she did know how to make buns, just… not very skillfully.

Like Li Sitong, she had absolutely no… talent in cooking.

“Haha, try it!” Liu Jiaxue laughed and pushed some filling toward her.

Xue Jiao washed her hands and very seriously joined in making the buns.

Around 7:30, Xue Jiao sighed—

“What I made forms a stark contrast with yours.”

Her buns could only be called buns in the loosest sense. Next to Liu Jiaxue’s buns with their distinctive pleats… they looked even uglier.

“It’s fine, you can just eat them in the future, no need to make them.” Liu Jiaxue put one hand on Xue Jiao’s shoulder and made a grand declaration like a boss.

Xue Jiao leaned in slightly, then looked at her eagerly. “I’ll be waiting!”

The buns in the steamer were already giving off a fragrant aroma that filled the air.

Soon, people from the house began to emerge one after another.

“It smells so good, what are you making?” Cheng Shuo asked curiously.

“Hahaha, Dad, come and eat. Jiaxue made buns, they’re amazing.” Xue Jiao laughed, peeking out from the kitchen.

Cheng Shuo paused, then looked at the nervous Liu Jiaxue and gave a big smile—

“Really? That’s too wonderful! Jiaxue, you’re so capable. I thought we’d only have pitiful bread and milk for breakfast again, I didn’t expect Jiaxue to be so skilled!”

Cheng Mingze also came downstairs, smiling and saying, “I had already decided not to eat breakfast today. Liu Jiaxue, this is fantastic! You’ve immediately changed my mind.”

He gave a thumbs up. The exaggerated praise from the two men gave Liu Jiaxue some confidence.

She looked up slightly, embarrassed, and said, “You can try them…”

She turned and quickly ran back to the kitchen to scoop porridge and bring out dishes.

Xue Jiao gave Cheng Shuo and Cheng Mingze a thumbs up, and they smiled slightly.

At this moment, Li Sitong came out.

Xue Jiao looked at her and felt that Li Sitong seemed a bit off today.

Li Sitong saw her, walked over quickly, and hugged Xue Jiao—

“Jiaojiao, Mom will never let you get hurt!”

Xue Jiao was startled.

Cheng Shuo pulled Li Sitong over and smiled, “Your mom had a nightmare. Sitong, let’s go to the kitchen and help bring out the food. Let’s eat first.”

Only then did Li Sitong smile, though her smile still carried a hint of distress.

Liu Jiaxue’s cooking skills were truly impressive, definitely worthy of her dream of expanding her shops across the country.

Xue Jiao’s family ate while heaping praise on the food.

They were being almost entirely sincere.

Their family’s breakfast had always been bread slices with milk. This time, eating Chinese-style buns, side dishes, and porridge felt exceptionally delicious.

Cheng Shuo was a bit full. As the head of the household, he wiped his mouth and said, “Everyone’s on holiday today. Our family’s plan for today is to go to Happy Valley. What does everyone think?”

Li Sitong nodded, Cheng Mingze nodded, and Xue Jiao followed with a nod.

Finally, everyone’s eyes turned to Liu Jiaxue. She looked bewilderedly at Xue Jiao, meeting an encouraging gaze.

So, she gathered her courage and nodded gently. “Okay…”

“Then it’s settled. Everyone start getting ready!” Cheng Shuo stood up and said 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 trying to help her. Can’t talk now, we’re about to go out.]

[Yi Tianyu: Hey, where are you 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 phone, Yi Tianyu suddenly jumped up and quickly got ready.

“Son, what are you doing?” Yi’s mother asked groggily as she got up.

Yi Tianyu stuffed his phone and other things into his pocket and ran straight out—

“Mom, I’m going out to play!!”

His mother immediately became alert, then mumbled, “In this cold weather, where is he going to play?”

Going to Happy Valley in winter was indeed quite challenging, but they had a newly built indoor Happy Valley here. It had fewer attractions than the outdoor one, but it was safer, the temperature inside wasn’t low, and it wasn’t cold to play there.

The tickets were indeed a bit expensive, but on such a cold day, they definitely couldn’t go outside and freeze.

Just as the group had bought tickets and entered, Yi Tianyu suddenly appeared.

“Bookworm! Liu Jiaxue! What a coincidence!” His eyes were excited as he ran over.

Cheng Shuo: “…”

Li Sitong: “…”

Cheng Mingze: “…”

Liu Jiaxue: “…”

Xue Jiao: “…” What a coincidence, hehe.

Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong didn’t look too pleased, after all, this was someone who liked their daughter.

Cheng Mingze wasn’t happy either, but he suddenly smiled and said, “You’re classmate Yi Tianyu, right? You’re also at Happy Valley? Alone?”

“Yes, I just…”

“Then join us.” Cheng Mingze smiled.

Yi Tianyu hadn’t expected Cheng Mingze to invite him. His eyes lit up, and he excitedly said, “Sure, sure!”

Cheng Shuo gave Cheng Mingze a suspicious look, completely bewildered.

Cheng Mingze remained expressionless. Could he say that there was someone even more terrifying than Yi Tianyu coveting Xue Jiao? That was truly a wolf, and compared to Lin Zhihua, Yi Tianyu was at most a dog. A dog was much safer than a wolf.

And so, the group of five, with the addition of Yi Tianyu, became six.

Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong no longer dared to try the thrilling attractions, leaving only the four young people who were still willing to try almost anything.

“How about we try the Ferris wheel?” Xue Jiao looked toward Li Sitong.

Li Sitong had actually never played these kinds of games before. She felt a stirring in her heart, but also felt embarrassed about riding such things at her “advanced age.”

“Let’s go. I want to try it,” Cheng Shuo understood what was in her heart and said with a smile.

There weren’t many people, but since it was around the New Year, they still had to queue.

“Are you taking your younger siblings out to play?” A woman with children struck up a conversation with Li Sitong.

Immediately, Li Sitong raised her slightly embarrassed face, proudly pointing at Cheng Mingze and Xue Jiao: “These are my son and daughter. These two children are my daughter’s classmates.”

After Li Sitong finished speaking, the other woman was successfully stunned.

Firstly, she envied that Li Sitong still looked young and beautiful with a handsome husband, and secondly, she envied how good-looking both children were!

The woman said with extreme envy: “You’re truly so fortunate. Both your children are grown up? Are they in middle school or high school?”

Li Sitong revealed a smile. At moments like this, it was probably the most glorious and happiest time for a mother.

“My son is over eighteen, already in university. My daughter is seventeen, in her final year of high school.”

“Both in university and high school?! Which schools?” The person’s mouth widened in surprise, and the parents behind also looked over at the same time.

Li Sitong displayed an elegant yet somewhat plain smile, calmly saying—

“My son is in his first year at Tsinghua University, and my daughter is at No. 7 High School.”

Everyone: “…”

Some people really make others jealous!

By the time Li Sitong got on the Ferris wheel, she was no longer embarrassed. She walked into the Ferris wheel with her head held high, under the envious gazes of the mothers behind.

Cheng Shuo followed and sat with her.

And naturally, Xue Jiao and Liu Jiaxue held hands and got on the next one.

Yi Tianyu and Cheng Mingze exchanged a glance, both moving a step to the side at the same time.

They really despised each other.

After starting with the Ferris wheel, Li Sitong went on to ride the pirate ship, rotating flying chairs, and other not-too-scary attractions.

“Mom, why don’t we try the roller coaster?” As they were walking, Cheng Mingze suddenly asked.

Li Sitong was startled and didn’t speak.

Just when Xue Jiao thought she would refuse, Li Sitong tentatively replied: “Let’s try?”

Xue Jiao: “…”

——

After getting off the roller coaster, Li Sitong’s face turned pale. After that, she refused to ride anything else and just helped hold their clothes.

Liu Jiaxue’s gaze was fixed on a spot, unmoving.

Xue Jiao followed her line of sight and felt her heart tighten.

The free-fall tower.

“Do you want to go?” Xue Jiao turned her head.

Liu Jiaxue nodded and said softly, “I want to try it.”

Xue Jiao gritted her teeth: “Then let’s go!”

“Dad, Mom, we’re going to the free-fall tower.”

Cheng Shuo was slightly surprised: “Jiaojiao, you dare to ride this?”

Then he noticed Liu Jiaxue beside her and immediately understood.

The group walked over.

This free-fall tower was quite tall, so not many people were riding it. Cheng Mingze, Yi Tianyu, Liu Jiaxue, and Xue Jiao could go straight up once they got there.

Xue Jiao looked up once, then hugged a nearby pillar and wouldn’t let go.

“Jiaojiao?” Liu Jiaxue was slightly puzzled.

“Hahaha!!” Yi Tianyu laughed loudly. “Bookworm, are you afraid?!”

Xue Jiao: “…”

Her face paled, and she still wouldn’t go up.

Liu Jiaxue suddenly laughed.

Xue Jiao seemed capable of everything and afraid of nothing, but she actually did have fears. At least… she was afraid of the free-fall tower.

The three of them went up laughing. Li Sitong and Cheng Shuo also walked to Xue Jiao’s side with smiles.

“If you don’t want to go, then don’t. Just look at you.”

Xue Jiao released the pillar she was hugging. She had originally made up her mind to accompany Liu Jiaxue and try it, but when it came down to it, she didn’t dare go up.

The three of them stood below, looking up at the three people going up and down.

When Liu Jiaxue came down, her legs were a bit weak. Xue Jiao supported her.

Although her face was pale, her lips bore a smile—a strange yet satisfied smile.

“Jiaojiao, I really won’t commit suicide anymore. I just experienced death once, and the moment I came down, I understood that I haven’t lived enough yet.”

Xue Jiao paused slightly, then her lips revealed a smile.

After the free-fall tower, Yi Tianyu suggested going to the haunted house.

Xue Jiao started trembling again.

She used to not be afraid of ghosts, but… what about her own situation?

Xue Jiao found it hard to determine whether ghosts and spirits really existed in the world, but that didn’t stop her from being afraid to go in.

“I’m not going.”

“Haha, bookworm, why are you such a coward? You’re not brave enough for anything?” Yi Tianyu started teasing her again.

Xue Jiao glared at him.

Liu Jiaxue also said with a smile: “Jiaojiao, the haunted house is all fake. Don’t be scared.”

Xue Jiao thought that compared to the free-fall tower, this should be a bit better. So she looked at Liu Jiaxue: “If you’re not afraid, make sure to stay with me when we go in.”

“Okay.”

So Xue Jiao mustered her courage and followed the three of them in.

Just as they stepped into the entrance, Yi Tianyu saw how scared she was and his eyes gleamed with mischief.

There were quite a few people entering the haunted house at once, and as they went in, the bridge started to sway.

“Ah—” It suddenly went dark, with very dim lighting.

“Roar—” Something suddenly appeared.

“Ah—” Xue Jiao let out a scream.

Ahead was a fork in the path. Xue Jiao was too scared and, dragging who she thought was “Jiaxue,” directly turned into the narrow path on the side.

Xue Jiao was terribly frightened. Thinking she was pulling Liu Jiaxue, she directly dragged him forward along this path.

Yi Tianyu, who had just sidled up next to Xue Jiao, laughed, suppressing his laughter.

Something around them reached out to grab them.

Yi Tianyu was about to scare her some more when Xue Jiao suddenly jumped into his arms.

“Ah, ah, ah—get away—”

Yi Tianyu was stunned, his hands stiffening.

Then he noticed that what had scared Xue Jiao so badly was a “ghost,” dressed up very frighteningly, standing beside them and reaching out.

Yi Tianyu gave a wide smile, holding Xue Jiao as he slowly walked outward. When passing by the “ghost,” his left hand reached into his pocket, took out some money, and placed it in the “ghost’s” outstretched hand.

Yi Tianyu said softly: “What an adorable ghost.”

Ghost: “…”????

Xue Jiao heard Yi Tianyu’s voice and finally came to her senses. She got down, her voice trembling—

“Yi Tianyu… where’s… Jia… Jiaxue?”

“They’re not on this path. You’re really something, being so scared.”

Then he stretched out his hand, put his arm around her, and his arm moved to cover her eyes.

Unable to see anything, but with someone guiding her forward, Xue Jiao’s fear lessened somewhat.

But she was still quite frightened, her heart racing.

By the time Yi Tianyu brought Xue Jiao out, Cheng Mingze and Liu Jiaxue were already there.

Seeing him with his arm around Xue Jiao, Cheng Mingze’s face instantly turned black as ink.

Liu Jiaxue quickly stepped forward, brushed Yi Tianyu aside, and supported Xue Jiao, looking worried.

“Jiaojiao, what’s wrong? Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. We’re out now, we’re out. Everything inside is fake. We’re not scared.”

Xue Jiao took a deep breath, looked up at the person looking at her with concern, and said—

“Never going into a haunted house again!”

That feeling of being so scared her heart almost stopped—Xue Jiao never wanted to experience it again.

——

After playing two more normal attractions, it was almost lunchtime, so the group left Happy Valley.

Cheng Shuo took them for French cuisine. After the meal, Yi Tianyu reluctantly left.

Cheng Shuo drove them to the supermarket to buy everything they needed before returning home.

Today was already the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Many things needed for the New Year should already be prepared.

After parking the car and carrying their purchases, the five of them walked towards the front door, chatting and laughing.

However, when they reached the door, they suddenly stopped. There was a man sitting at their front door who, judging by his tired appearance, had obviously been sitting there for a long time.

He also saw the five people return, paused slightly, then got up awkwardly, rubbing his hands—

“Hello, I’ve come to see Jiaxue.”

“Dad—” Liu Jiaxue called out softly, her eyes immediately welling up with tears.

Xue Jiao, Cheng Shuo, and the others exchanged glances, then carried their things into the house, giving the two some space to talk.

“Jiaxue…” Liu Jun smiled.

He had just been sitting there, this always quiet father, making her both angry and concerned.

“Why did you come?” Liu Jiaxue asked.

Liu Jun rubbed his hands, and smiled again: “I came to see you. Don’t… be angry anymore…”

He paused, then said: “If you don’t want to study, then forget it. I’ll talk to your mom. Just don’t harm your own body.”

Liu Jiaxue had actually been waiting for these words for a long time, but what she always heard from her mom was—why did you score so poorly? If you can’t even study well, what else can you do!

Now hearing these words from her usually silent father, Liu Jiaxue didn’t feel relieved, she just felt like crying. Her tears flowed down as she choked up:

“Dad, do you really love me?”

This question made this quiet man who only knew how to work hard feel somewhat embarrassed. He awkwardly uttered—

“There are no parents who don’t love their children…”

“Then do you love Mom? Why don’t you divorce her even though she scolds you so much? Dad, I can’t feel that Mom loves me.” Liu Jiaxue crouched down, covered her face, and began to cry.

Is there really someone whose love is like this? This kind of love made her miserable, made her suffer, made her want to leave this world.

She buried her head in the crook of her arm and sobbed loudly.

This version of Liu Jiaxue made Liu Jun very upset. He had never been good at expressing his feelings, so he just paced back and forth beside her, at a loss for what to do.

Finally, he crouched down beside Liu Jiaxue, lit a cigarette with trembling hands, took a deep drag, and choked a little.

“Jiaxue… Dad won’t divorce your mom… She doesn’t not love… she just doesn’t know how to express it. You always see her scolding me, see her looking fierce. I know you think she’s like a tyrant.”

Liu Jiaxue slightly stopped crying, sniffled as she raised her head, and looked at Liu Jun.

“She has many flaws, but also many good qualities. Not everyone is born fierce. Your mom… has suffered too. Before you were born, I was a laborer, and your mom worked at a restaurant. We were poor then, couldn’t afford meat. For me to have some meat, your mom wouldn’t eat the work meals provided at lunchtime. She would eat cold steamed buns she brought herself, then bring the meals back, which became our dinner.” Liu Jun seemed to recall something, his eyes turning red.

“When you came along, things weren’t good. My construction site didn’t need people anymore. Your mom cursed every day. It was really difficult at that time. Your mom couldn’t get enough nutrition and had no milk to feed you. Seeing you almost starving, your mom figured out a way to sell our belongings, used all the money to buy a small cart, and then we both went out to set up a small stall. If your mom hadn’t gritted her teeth and persevered, you might not have survived.”

After Liu Jun finished, Liu Jiaxue was stunned. She had never known about these past events. No one… had ever told her.

“At that time, your mom hadn’t even completed her month of confinement after childbirth, so she developed many illnesses. We won’t have any more children. Your mom becomes very irritable during her periods, likes to hit people. I just endure it because I know she’s in pain.”

The cigarette burned down to his fingers before Liu Jun hastily extinguished it.

“Later, your mom’s temper got even worse. But what could be done? If it wasn’t for her temper and determination, how many of those years of small stalls would have turned into big restaurants like ours?”

Liu Jun looked at her and then said: “You ask if I love your mom. I don’t know. I remember her hitting and scolding me, but I also remember when my self-esteem was hurt while working as a waiter, your mom paid the chef double the salary to teach me a skill, to become a chef, to become indispensable to this restaurant.”

Liu Jun looked up at the sky slightly, and after a long while, he said: “I don’t know if I love your mom. After living together for decades, who can say clearly about love? But Jiaxue, I will never leave your mom in this lifetime, and neither will she. She scolds me, but has never thought about leaving me.”

“You say you don’t know if she loves you. She does love you, it’s just that sometimes… she is indeed irritating. I’m sorry, Jiaxue. Dad ignored your pain. I never knew you were under so much pressure, and we kept adding to it. After your Uncle Cheng talked to us, I realized I shouldn’t just focus on your material life while neglecting your emotional well-being. From now on, if your mom puts pressure on you, Dad will scold her for you.” Liu Jun patted Jiaxue’s head.

Liu Jiaxue, with tears in her eyes, broke into a smile: “Dad, do you dare?”

——

When Liu Jiaxue returned to the Cheng household, her eyes were red and swollen.

At this time, Xue Jiao was messaging Lin Zhihua, who wanted to understand the current situation.

[I think Jiaxue might go back home. She’s come in, and her father followed her in.]

Lin Zhihua quickly replied—

[Even if she goes back this time, the problem might not be solved. Even if her father protects her, parents who fight won’t give her peace of mind. Liu Jiaxue’s psychological resilience is poor, and the pressure in the second semester is too great. If Qian Yu doesn’t change, she will only add to the pressure of her parents fighting over her, on top of the original pressure. At that time, the result might be even more terrible.]

Xue Jiao frowned deeply, understanding that was indeed the case.

[Lin Zhihua: Ask her father what her mother’s attitude is now? If she hasn’t recognized her mistakes, don’t let her go back today. We need to apply more pressure.]

Xue Jiao put away her phone and walked over—

“Jiaxue, what’s…?”

Liu Jiaxue hugged her and said softly: “Jiaojiao, today I finally learned how much my mom has suffered. I’m ready to go back and… be more tolerant of her in the future.”

But Xue Jiao frowned slightly and looked at Liu Jun.

“Uncle, what’s Jiaxue’s mom’s attitude now? Does she recognize her mistake?”

Liu Jun smiled awkwardly. When he left this morning, although Qian Yu didn’t stop him, she was still in a rage.

Saying Liu Jiaxue preferred other people’s homes? Then she shouldn’t come back in the future!

With one look, Xue Jiao understood everything.

She looked at Jiaxue, frowning, and said: “I don’t agree with you going back, at least not today. Your mom may have suffered a lot in the past, and you should care for her more in the future, but not to the extent of tolerating major problems. You still have a crucial semester ahead. Jiaxue, stay here, and let’s think of another solution.”

Looking at the concerned eyes before her, Liu Jiaxue’s eyes gradually reddened.

——

Qian Yu was truly angry. She couldn’t understand how, after raising Jiaxue to this age, she could unite with outsiders to lecture her?

Was she, as a mother, wrong?

Sure, Cheng Shuo and Li Sitong indeed don’t scold Gu Xue Jiao, but that’s because she’s always been first in her class, with her pick of top universities nationwide.

What did Liu Jiaxue have? If she couldn’t get into a good university, what would she do in the future?

Her grades had dropped so much, and now she couldn’t even scold her?

What kind of reasoning was this?

Qian Yu was too angry. She turned to look at Liu Jun, who said nothing and just kept smoking, and scolded him.

“Smoke, smoke, smoke, all you do is smoke. Your daughter belongs to someone else’s family now! Let me tell you, Liu Jun, I, Qian Yu, don’t care about this daughter. If she doesn’t come back, so be it! I told you to stop smoking! Are you deaf?! Don’t you know your coughing at night? Do you want to die, smoking so much?!” Qian Yu was extremely furious.

Liu Jun put out his cigarette. He really shouldn’t smoke so much, but he was… a bit worried.

“Today is New Year’s Eve, and that dead girl Liu Jiaxue is still staying at someone else’s house! This old woman never gave birth to such a thing!”

Just as she was in full rant, her phone rang.

“Who is it?! What do you want?!”

A moment later, her face turned pale.

“Wh… what…”

“Clatter—” The phone fell to the ground.

“What’s wrong?” Liu Jun picked up the car keys and asked.

“Hospital!! Quick, to the hospital! Jiaxue! Something’s happened to Jiaxue!” Qian Yu’s face kept turning pale, clearly panicked.

Liu Jun supported her as they rushed out, stepped on the gas, and sped to the hospital.

Qian Yu, wearing high heels, had weak legs but still rushed frantically to the emergency room.

Just then, the emergency room door opened, and a doctor walked out.

“I’m sorry…”

Xue Jiao, standing nearby, suddenly rushed in, crying out loudly—

“Jiaxue!!”

Qian Yu’s legs gave way, and she completely collapsed to the ground.

After a while, she seemed to come to her senses. With a face as white as a sheet, she stumbled forward, falling onto the covered person on the hospital bed.

“Jiaxue! Jiaxue! Mom’s here, don’t scare me!”

“Jiaxue!!!” Qian Yu sobbed, nearly fainting.

“Mom was wrong!! Jiaxue! Open your eyes! Jiaxue, ahhh—”

She held the person on the bed tightly, crying convulsively.

“Jiaxue! Mom was wrong, open your eyes. Mom will change everything! Mom was worried about you… Mom… Mom was just angry…”

“Jiaxue!!! Open your eyes!! I was wrong! I was really wrong! I didn’t know I would push you to this point. It’s okay if you don’t do well in school. Mom was wrong!”

“Jiaxue—”

Xue Jiao calmly said from the side: “Auntie, you were indeed wrong. You don’t know how long it’s been since Jiaxue smiled. You don’t know how much pressure she’s under. In a grade with nearly a thousand students, there’s only one first place. Why do you have to force her to be that first? Her grades dropped, she was under pressure, she was anxious, yet you hit and scolded her. Auntie, you can’t always think that things you don’t understand are easy. I also find the final year of high school exhausting. No one finds it easy.”

Qian Yu’s whole body trembled, and she let out a heart-wrenching cry—

“Jiaxue—”