She was wrong, she was truly wrong.

When Cheng Suo spoke with her, she vaguely knew that she might have been wrong.

But Liu Jiaxue’s refusal to come home rekindled her anger, burning through her, and she hadn’t considered her own mistakes at all.

Acting purely on instinctive rage, she hadn’t thought about the words she said or the things she did.

She also never imagined that she would drive Jiaxue to… suicide.

Actual suicide.

Her Jiaxue was gone, her only daughter, her lifelong emotional pillar.

At this moment, Qian Yu finally realized just how wrong she had been.

But her Jiaxue, her child, had been driven away by her.

“I was wrong, I was truly wrong, please come back, Jiaxue! Mom won’t pressure you anymore! Mom will change… Mom will change everything…”

Qian Yu wailed loudly. At this moment, she even thought she might as well follow her daughter and be done with it.

She would go to the underworld to confess, to tell her daughter she was sorry.

She shouldn’t have pressured her!

“Mom, will you change?” A crying female voice came from under the blanket Qian Yu was holding.

The voice was hoarse, somewhat pained, and somewhat sad.

Qian Yu was startled, then lifted the blanket, facing a crying but very much alive face.

Then she looked around and found that everyone wasn’t surprised, even Liu Jun knew about this.

Qian Yu was stunned for a moment, then raised her hand toward Liu Jiaxue.

“You little—”

Liu Jiaxue closed her eyes. Was she going to hit her again?

As Qian Yu was about to swing down, she redirected her hand, hitting the bed beside them, then tightly embraced Liu Jiaxue and sobbed loudly—

“You scared me to death!!! Wah—”

Liu Jiaxue also reached out her arms, gently hugging her.

If not for Xue Jiao, she probably would have died that day, and even in death, she wouldn’t have known that her parents loved her.

Even if their expressions were wrong, even if their behaviors hurt her in many ways.

But they truly did love her.

On New Year’s Eve, Liu Jiaxue went home with Qian Yu.

Qian Yu had probably been scared terribly, continuously holding Liu Jiaxue tightly, refusing to let go.

When leaving, Liu Jiaxue and Liu Jun both thanked the Cheng family, but Qian Yu never spoke a word.

These people had scared her with such a perverse idea, frightening her so badly, that she still harbored resentment.

Of course, Xue Jiao and Cheng Suo didn’t need her thanks.

They only hoped that Liu Jiaxue would live well.

They also hoped Qian Yu would learn from this lesson, that children are independent beings with independent thoughts. They might be their parents’ closest people, but they aren’t their parents’ subordinates.

Respecting your children is more important than anything else you can give them.

But too many parents don’t understand this principle.

“Jiaojiao, finally breathing easier, right?” Cheng Suo smiled at Xue Jiao.

Xue Jiao nodded firmly, then said, “These past few days have also been hard on Dad, Mom, and brother.”

And thanks to Lin Zhihua… though this trick was harsh, it was most effective.

People only truly understand many things they couldn’t comprehend before when they lose something.

Cheng Suo rubbed her head, “What’s there to thank between family?”

After a moment, Cheng Suo smiled again and said, “You just breathed a sigh of relief, but now I have to tell you some news.”

“What?” Xue Jiao was stunned.

“Today is New Year’s Eve, we need to go to Grandpa and Grandma’s for dinner.”

Xue Jiao: “…”

They really won’t let her catch a break!

At five in the afternoon, as they rode together to the old house, Li Sitong looked at Xue Jiao, whose spirits weren’t very high, and sighed softly.

“Jiaojiao.”

“Hmm?” Xue Jiao was puzzled.

“Your Second Uncle’s family…” Li Sitong started, looking toward Cheng Suo.

Cheng Suo nodded and sighed, “Tell Jiaojiao, there’s nothing that can’t be said.”

Xue Jiao looked confused. What was… going on?

Li Sitong turned back to look at Xue Jiao and Cheng Mingze.

“Your Second Aunt and Cheng Mingjiao are in a very bad situation. After Mingjiao changed schools, people still discovered her abnormal mental state. Your Second Aunt tried everything to keep Mingjiao in that school rather than sending her to a mental hospital. But the news spread throughout the school. Mingjiao is often ridiculed and feared, and her condition is getting worse. Your grandparents don’t like the mother and daughter anymore either, and your Second Uncle… doesn’t like going home anymore. Last time I saw your Second Aunt, she had become so thin she was almost unrecognizable…”

Li Sitong was somewhat emotional, while Xue Jiao widened her eyes in surprise.

She hadn’t expected that there would be so much going on.

Xue Jiao had been busy studying all year and hadn’t inquired about Cheng Mingjiao’s situation, nor had she cared.

Yet unexpectedly…

Xue Jiao felt somewhat emotional.

However detailed someone else’s account might be, it was nothing compared to Xue Jiao’s surprise when she stepped into the Cheng family’s door.

Liu Yazhen sat on the sofa holding Cheng Mingjiao, both very quiet. Second Uncle and Cheng Mingyu were keeping the two elders company.

The mother and daughter sat quietly in the corner. No one spoke to them, and they didn’t initiate conversation either.

Liu Yazhen tightly held Mingjiao’s hand. Their demeanor was drastically different from previous years…

Even Xue Jiao, who made Cheng Mingjiao jealous to the point of insanity, didn’t cause much of a reaction from the two.

They still sat in the corner with numb expressions. Liu Yazhen tightly grasped Cheng Mingjiao’s hand, while Mingjiao stared blankly in one direction.

Both had become frighteningly thin. Cheng Mingjiao looked nothing like her previously vivacious self. Her face was so gaunt that her cheeks sank inward, extremely pale. Though her clothes were neat, her eyes were dull.

Liu Yazhen was the same, looking at least ten years older than when Xue Jiao last saw her. Her eye sockets were sunken, the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes distinct, her face yellowed beneath its paleness.

Most importantly, the aura of despair that emanated from the two just sitting there.

These two had… truly suffered too much this past year.

“Oh, eldest son is back!” Bai Xiumei smiled in greeting.

She immediately pulled Cheng Mingze closer, “Mingze, Grandma’s good grandson, come here and let Grandma see you!”

She still didn’t like Xue Jiao, and now, she didn’t even like her own granddaughter Cheng Mingjiao anymore.

But toward this most outstanding grandson, Cheng Mingze, Bai Xiumei smiled lovingly.

Even the old man smiled kindly.

“Dad, Mom.” Cheng Suo and Li Sitong greeted them.

“Grandpa, Grandma.” Cheng Mingze and Xue Jiao also followed with greetings.

Although Old Man Cheng and Bai Xiumei didn’t like Xue Jiao, their attitude was still acceptable, not showing their dislike.

Perhaps it was Cheng Mingze calling Li Sitong “Mom” that gave Old Man Cheng and Bai Xiumei a shock, then they became a bit warmer toward Li Sitong and Xue Jiao.

“Good, good, good!”

Unlike before when Li Sitong and Xue Jiao were the ignored ones, now Liu Yazhen and Cheng Mingjiao were the ones being ignored.

Li Sitong had mentioned in the car that Liu Yazhen had been too troublesome in the first half of the year, causing both elders to despise them.

During the first half of the year, they still felt very sorry for Cheng Mingjiao and helped find many doctors, but Mingjiao would always throw tantrums, and Liu Yazhen adamantly refused to send her to a mental hospital for treatment.

Cheng Kai became annoyed. Whenever Mingjiao acted up, Liu Yazhen would come begging the two elders.

Once, twice, slowly, the two elders also became extremely tired of this mother-and-daughter pair.

Now the two didn’t cause trouble anymore, but clearly Old Man Cheng and Bai Xiumei still didn’t like them.

Xue Jiao remained silent, only mentally reciting her books. After all, her task here was just to calmly finish a meal, then she could leave.

After dinner, the extended Cheng family sat together, keeping the old man and Bai Xiumei company.

After all… they weren’t getting any younger.

Both Cheng Suo and Cheng Kai appeared very filial, pulling Cheng Mingze and Cheng Mingyu to the front to talk.

Xue Jiao sat to the side, no one paying her any attention.

And the other granddaughter, Cheng Mingjiao, had long since disappeared.

She had been sitting for quite some time, so she stood up to go to the bathroom.

The first-floor bathroom was toward the back, requiring passing through the small garden.

Coming out of the bathroom, Xue Jiao looked up and paused, slightly confused as she saw someone sitting on the railing of the second-floor balcony.

Xue Jiao’s heart skipped a beat.

Looking carefully, she discovered it was Cheng Mingjiao.

She was just sitting on the railing, who knows what she was doing.

Probably because of Liu Jiaxue’s incident, Xue Jiao was somewhat sensitive, but she didn’t go upstairs herself.

Quickly walking to the living room, she said to Cheng Kai and the others, “I think I saw Cheng Mingjiao on the second-floor railing, could she be…”

“Don’t worry, her mind isn’t right, she’s crazy, and often sits on the railing.” Cheng Kai replied with a grim face.

Mingjiao had done this too many times. Previously at school, she would occasionally do something like this, and then teachers would call her parents in.

Cheng Kai found it extremely embarrassing and somewhat concerning.

He wanted to send Mingjiao for treatment, but Liu Yazhen refused.

Cheng Kai had no choice, and his relationship with Liu Yazhen deteriorated further.

His attitude toward Mingjiao’s behavior also changed from initial concern to current indifference.

To the extent that now, during the biggest holiday, hearing about it only made him feel somewhat impatient.

“Kai, what’s to be done about that child?” Old Man Cheng frowned, “Things can’t go on like this.”

Cheng Kai said, “She’s my daughter, I can’t give up on her no matter what. After the New Year, regardless of Liu Yazhen’s attitude, I will take the child for treatment!”

Xue Jiao saw that he didn’t care about Mingjiao sitting on the railing, and she frowned as she sat back down.

After a while, she still felt uneasy.

This was her first time seeing this situation, and precisely because Mingjiao’s mental state wasn’t normal, there was more reason for concern!

What if she jumped off while standing up there?

She frowned slightly. Although Mingjiao was very annoying, Xue Jiao still couldn’t watch her possibly die.

Her conscience wouldn’t allow it.

Whether in her previous life or this one, Mingjiao was just overly jealous, and what she did wasn’t something utterly reprehensible.

Mingjiao didn’t have a good end in her previous life either. After Gu Shiyun entered the Cheng family, Mingjiao often made things difficult for her.

With her intelligence, how could she outmaneuver Gu Shiyun?

In her previous life, Mingjiao didn’t go mad, but she became someone everyone despised and finally went abroad with an unknown fate of life or death.

In this world there are so many people who aren’t good enough, but Xue Jiao always remembered those who had once casually helped her.

At that time, she told herself to be an upright person, to stay true to her heart.

Mingjiao was wrong, and she didn’t like her.

But she couldn’t watch her die either.

So, Xue Jiao stood up and quickly went upstairs.

Mingjiao was sitting on the balcony railing, not speaking, just sitting there blankly.

As Xue Jiao approached, she said softly, “Cheng Mingjiao, what are you doing sitting there? It’s dangerous, come down quickly.”

Mingjiao didn’t speak, her gaze fixed straight on one spot.

Xue Jiao was somewhat curious and followed her line of sight, but there was only darkness there, nothing to see.

“What are you looking at?” Xue Jiao wondered.

“No. 7 Middle School.”

Xue Jiao was stunned. She thought Mingjiao wouldn’t answer her, but unexpectedly she did…

“No. 7 Middle School is on holiday, there’s no one inside. Do you want to go back to study?” Xue Jiao asked curiously.

Mingjiao didn’t speak again. Xue Jiao pulled over a chair and placed it behind the railing.

“Sit here and look.”

Mingjiao still didn’t speak.

Xue Jiao sighed, thinking to herself: I’m only helping you this once, to satisfy my conscience.

So she reached out, supporting Mingjiao.

The other party was now so thin, she thought she should be able to lift her.

The moment her hand touched Mingjiao, she realized the other was wearing something very, very thin!

Not wearing a down jacket indoors was fine, but on such a cold balcony, wearing so thinly, she would definitely catch a cold when she went back!

“You must really hate me.” Mingjiao spoke again.

Xue Jiao was somewhat surprised, her hand pausing, then she shook her head, “I don’t hate you.”

Mingjiao finally turned her head to look at Xue Jiao, her eyes somewhat frightening, “You’re lying to me!”

Xue Jiao smiled, “Cheng Mingjiao, you really think too highly of yourself. I truly don’t hate you. For the past year I barely remembered you existed, and before that too, if you weren’t in my face annoying me, I wouldn’t have thought of you at all. I’m so busy every day, I have so many interesting things and people, why would I remember you? And then dislike you? Wouldn’t that be a waste of time?”

Xue Jiao was speaking the truth. Over the past year, she had almost forgotten about Mingjiao.

Her studies were so busy, she was working hard for the college entrance exam and her dreams, and she had friends like Lin Zhihua, Yi Tianyu, and Liu Jiaxue, a good father like Cheng Suo, and now a mother and brother who were good to her. Where would she find time to keep Mingjiao in mind?

In our busy lives, your place in others’ hearts is really not as important as you think.

But Gu Shiyun… she would find it hard to forget.

She would avenge Gu Xuejiao. Gu Shiyun was someone she couldn’t forget.

After hearing her words, anger suddenly flared in Mingjiao’s eyes.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you? I’ll push you down!”

Xue Jiao frowned, “Hmm?”

Mingjiao suddenly curled her lips into a strange smile, her whole face looking a bit frightening, but her eyes were still full of despair and pain. She looked at Xue Jiao and raised her voice—

“I’m mentally ill! I won’t go to prison if I kill someone!!”

“But you’re not mentally ill.” Xue Jiao looked at her very seriously.

Mingjiao was stunned, the weird smile freezing on her face.

Xue Jiao looked at her, enunciating each word, “The Cheng family not only has no history of hereditary diseases, but I think the Cheng family genes are actually quite excellent. Your mother’s genes might be slightly inferior, but there’s no history of hereditary diseases either. You and Cheng Mingze look quite similar, showing that you’ve inherited more of the superior genes. Although your mother’s intelligence level makes you not very smart, it’s definitely not related to mental illness.”

Xue Jiao patted her shoulder, “Saying you went mad from jealousy of me, I think at most it’s just depression.”

Suddenly, Xue Jiao’s eyes showed slight disdain, “With the same genes, my brother is so smart and capable, while you’re like this. It shows your mom’s genes are truly a bit terrible.”

Mingjiao stood stiffly on the railing. Seeing her posture like she might fall at any moment, Xue Jiao simply used force and pulled her down.

She was too light, and Xue Jiao showed no mercy, causing Mingjiao to immediately half-fall to the ground.

Mingjiao didn’t move, just stiffly staring at one spot.

“They all say I’m mad…”

“They say you’re mad and you just accept it? I’m saying you’re stupid.” Xue Jiao rolled her eyes.

Then she crouched down, looking at her—

“Cheng Mingjiao, there’s nothing wrong with you, you just have some psychological issues. Why are you jealous of me? Because I’m better than you? But long ago you were better than me, and I was jealous of you, but I didn’t end up like you. I know you’re suffering now, people despise you, look down on you, avoid you. Everything you’re going through now, Gu Xuejiao experienced before.”

Mingjiao raised her head in confusion, looking at her.

Xue Jiao continued, “But now I’ve become better, and people only remember the current me. This world is so big, who has that much time to focus on others? If you stop focusing on others and focus well on yourself, others won’t always be focusing on you either. There are gossips, there are busybodies. But their studies and lives are so busy, they won’t focus on you every day, and even if they do, what can they do to you? Now you’re suffering from rumors and cold violence, but in a few years, people might not even remember you.”

Xue Jiao stood up, preparing to leave.

“Cheng Mingjiao, you’ve given up on yourself, so apart from your mother who suffers with you, who cares about you?”

She had only come to pull her down, saying so much was unexpected.

Now that she’d finished speaking, and the person didn’t look suicidal, Xue Jiao turned and left, preparing to go downstairs.

“Gu Xuejiao.” Behind her, Mingjiao called out.

Xue Jiao turned back, puzzled and surprised, “What else?”

Mingjiao suddenly cried, tears streaming down, then she wiped them hard and said—

“Gu Xuejiao, my mom’s genes… are pretty good too.”

Xue Jiao: “…” Is that all you have to say?

Mingjiao smiled again, still crying, with a very unattractive expression—snot and tears everywhere, yet still trying hard to smile, looking quite ugly.

Xue Jiao: “…You’d better not smile.”

Mingjiao stiffened slightly, “Gu Xuejiao, I still don’t like you.”

Xue Jiao smiled brilliantly, blinking her eyes, “What a coincidence, I don’t like you either.”

After speaking, Xue Jiao strode away, leaving Mingjiao alone on the balcony.

When she reached the bedroom, there was a woman kneeling on the floor, covering her face and crying silently.

It was Liu Yazhen.

Xue Jiao walked around her and left directly.

“Gu Xuejiao… thank you…” Liu Yazhen’s voice was hoarse.

She had never believed Mingjiao was mentally ill, just a bit depressed, so she absolutely refused to let Mingjiao receive mental illness treatment or enter a mental hospital.

But no matter what she did, no matter how she emphasized to Mingjiao that she wasn’t mentally ill, there were no results.

No one believed her, and Mingjiao didn’t believe it either.

Finally, the one who could enlighten Mingjiao turned out to be the person she was most jealous of, hated the most, and who was also the “source of her illness”—Gu Xuejiao.

Xue Jiao’s footsteps only paused for a moment before she continued walking away.

As she went downstairs, Cheng Suo, Cheng Mingze, and the Cheng family patriarch all looked up at her for a moment before continuing their conversation.

Xue Jiao glanced at Cheng Kai, who was talking to the patriarch without concern for anything else, and silently thought—

Finally understood why Mingjiao and Mingze are so different.

It turns out the intelligence diverged starting from Cheng Suo and Cheng Kai.

Xue Jiao: …

Her mother’s judgment was indeed good. Fortunately, she had a smart father and brother.

It was around eight in the evening when everyone prepared to leave.

Bai Xiumei tried repeatedly to make them stay, but they all needed to return to their own homes.

At this time, Liu Yazhen also came downstairs with Cheng Mingjiao. They had been upstairs all evening. The Cheng family was used to it, and Xue Jiao knew they must have been talking.

Now both had swollen, red eyes, looking like they had been crying, but no one paid attention.

“Say goodbye to Grandpa and Grandma.”

Cheng Mingze: “Goodbye, Grandpa and Grandma!”

Xue Jiao: “Goodbye, Grandpa and Grandma.”

Cheng Mingyu: “Goodbye, Grandpa and Grandma!”

After a moment, a soft but normal-sounding voice followed—

“Grandpa and Grandma… goodbye…”

Instantly, everyone froze.

It was Cheng Mingjiao.

Bai Xiumei had doted on her for so many years after all. She tossed aside her cane and rushed forward several steps to embrace Mingjiao—

“Grandma’s Jiaojiao, you’re finally better!!”

Cheng Suo and Cheng Mingze exchanged a glance, not interrupting, but instead led Xue Jiao and Li Sitong away.

This was the time to let their extended family talk, and Li Sitong and Xue Jiao had no interest in joining the commotion.

After getting in the car, Cheng Suo drove.

He looked at Xue Jiao through the rearview mirror and asked, “Jiaojiao, did Mingjiao get better because of you? Did you go upstairs to find her?”

Xue Jiao shook her head, “I don’t know how she got better, I just went up and said a few words to her.”

“What did you say?” Li Sitong pressed.

Xue Jiao nodded and recounted the whole process.

Cheng Suo’s lips curved into a smile, his eyes slightly reddened.

“Dad’s Jiaojiao, good, good, well done!”

Not everyone can stay true to their heart while maintaining their innocence.

Cheng Suo was truly, truly grateful that heaven had given him such a wonderful daughter. In this lifetime, he would forever protect his lovely daughter.

Xue Jiao felt somewhat embarrassed.

Cheng Mingze sat next to Xue Jiao, reached out his hand, and pushed her down.

Then he ruffled her hair, filled with joy and happiness, feeling like he never wanted to stop, not letting go.

“Brother! Brother! Have mercy! Give my hair some dignity!!”

“Hahaha—”

After returning to the Cheng house, Cheng Suo opened a bottle of champagne, and Li Sitong turned on the television.

“Come on, watch TV, then at midnight we’ll go to the riverside to set off fireworks,” Cheng Suo said with a smile, his mood clearly exceptionally good.

“Dad! You bought fireworks?” Xue Jiao was stunned.

Cheng Mingze revealed a smile, “I bought them, they’re in the utility room.”

Xue Jiao immediately ran over to look, then was shocked—

“Brother!! Why did you buy so many?! Where did you get the money?!”

After Cheng Mingze started college, apart from the several hundred thousand yuan in startup funds from Cheng Suo, he hadn’t been given any more living expenses.

And his startup funds seemed to have been invested in some project. Last time she heard Cheng Suo joking about it, Cheng Mingze had become a pauper.

These fireworks filling half the room must have cost quite a bit!

Xue Jiao joked, “Brother, did you sell a kidney?”

Cheng Mingze glared at her, “Bonus from helping my professor with a project.”

“You even get bonuses! Brother! Red envelope! Red envelope!!”

“In your dreams.” Cheng Mingze glanced at her with a smile.

Xue Jiao grimaced and shook her head vigorously, “Eew~”

With an expression that clearly said “you cheapskate.”

The Spring Festival Gala was like a symbol of the New Year. Li Sitong set up a small hot pot on an electric stove nearby.

The vigil would last a long time, and they could eat some hot pot if they got hungry.

In the southwestern regions, on New Year’s Eve, people often sit around a stove eating hot pot while watching the Spring Festival Gala.

With the emergence of all kinds of dazzling entertainment programs, the Spring Festival Gala had long lost its appeal. But although people criticized the Gala as unwatchable year after year, they still watched it year after year, especially when with parents.

What we’re keeping vigil over isn’t the Gala, but the reunion, the warmth of the whole family watching programs together.

Tonight’s skits were still praising this and that, tonight’s crosstalk was still educating about this and that, tonight’s singing performances still featured popular stars singing festive songs.

But Xue Jiao and Li Sitong all watched attentively, occasionally chatting.

When the clock struck twelve, everyone stood up.

“Let’s go, let’s set off the fireworks.”

“Brother, it’s all your fault for buying so many, we can’t carry them all!”

“Then put them back, we’ll set them off next year.”

“…”

“Mingze, stop teasing your sister, carry more yourself. Why did you give your sister so many to hold!”

“Did you hear that? Did you hear? Dad said you’re abusing me!”

…

All the fireworks were arranged in a row. At the stroke of midnight, Cheng Mingze lit two, and Cheng Suo lit another two on the other side.

Xue Jiao was also quite bold, standing between them and lighting one, then running away with a smile.

Just as she ran away, her phone rang, and she answered.

“Hello—” Her voice was very loud. The fireworks were booming on this end, and she unconsciously raised her voice.

On the other end, Lin Zhihua chuckled softly. He naturally heard the commotion on her end.

Lin’s parents still hadn’t let them return to China, so naturally he was spending this New Year alone again.

After eating a bowl of dumplings, he continued working. At midnight, his longing intensified, so he made the call.

Hearing the festivity on the other end, hearing her laughter, it was as if he too became part of the celebration.

“Jiaojiao.”

Xue Jiao heard the familiar voice and remembered last year’s scene when she was alone, and Lin Zhihua came with fireworks.

“Lin Zhihua!! Happy New Year!”

Lin Zhihua’s smile appeared, “Happy New Year.”

“I’m setting off fireworks!!” The explosions of the fireworks were very loud, and Xue Jiao shouted.

Lin Zhihua chuckled, shaking his head, “I can hear.”

Xue Jiao’s heart moved, thinking of Lin Zhihua’s family.

“Are you alone?”

“Mm.”

Immediately, the call was disconnected.

Lin Zhihua’s heart tightened, and he froze.

Soon, the phone rang again, this time a video call.

Lin Zhihua’s smile widened, and he answered—

“Hello.”

A cute and beautiful face appeared on the screen, her mouth open as she shouted—

“Hello!! Can you hear me?!”

Lin Zhihua smiled so much his eyes curved, and he nodded.

Actually, she could have spoken softly and he would still hear, but the noise was too loud on her end, so she couldn’t hear her own voice and assumed he couldn’t hear either.

But… she was truly adorable.

“I’ll show you the fireworks! Celebrate New Year with us! Happy New Year!” Xue Jiao quickly flipped the camera to point at the sky.

Lin Zhihua watched the fireworks blooming in the sky and leaned his head against the floor-to-ceiling window.

Although they were now in different cities, they were watching the same fireworks, talking together.

It was as if they had really spent a lively New Year together. Lin Zhihua’s smile wouldn’t fade.

How wonderful, how wonderful.

Xue Jiao only hung up after all the fireworks were set off. Yawning, they finished listening to the memorable melody and each went back to their rooms to wash up and sleep.

The next morning, Xue Jiao found a red envelope under her pillow.

It was quite thick, with writing on it: Dad wishes Jiaojiao a lifetime of happiness.

She smiled, rubbed her eyes, and reached out again, finding another one.

This one was slightly thinner than the first, with writing: To Mom’s precious, wishing you eternal health and happiness.

Xue Jiao smiled even more brightly, reached out again, and sure enough, found another one.

“My brother’s not bad at all!”

But this thickness…

And it was labeled: Under my sister’s strong demand, brother reluctantly gives one.

Xue Jiao: ???

She quickly opened it, finding only a little pig figure and one cent inside.

Xue Jiao: ???!!!

Humiliation! Absolute humiliation!!

Xue Jiao was furious. She got up and, still in her pajamas, rushed to the room across the hall.

The door to the opposite room was tightly closed, with a red envelope stuck on it. Xue Jiao was stunned.

It read: Jiaojiao, please don’t knock, it’s the New Year, let me sleep a bit.

Xue Jiao took it down, and on the back was written: Afraid sister will knock, sending another big red envelope! Wishing sister a happy New Year! Always be a happy little treasure!

This one was considerably thick. Xue Jiao smiled.

She wasn’t really counting on how much money was in the red envelopes. Cheng Suo gave her plenty of pocket money, and every first semester there was school scholarship money. Last time she got a large sum for ranking first in the mock exam, and even previously for the math competition.

Therefore, she actually had quite a lot in her small treasure chest.

But New Year’s red envelopes had a completely different nature, so Xue Jiao was very happy.

She looked at the closed door and waved her fist, “Considering you gave such a thick red envelope, I’ll let you off today! Hmph!”

Then she returned to her room, and after washing up, continued studying.

Being in the final year of high school, she truly couldn’t slack off for a single day.

In the morning, after Cheng Mingze got up, he knocked on Xue Jiao’s door with a smile.

“What is it?” Xue Jiao was somewhat surprised.

Cheng Mingze smiled, showing two rows of teeth, “Thank you, sister, for the mercy of not waking me up. Though the money in the red envelope is little, it’s still your brother’s sincere thought.”

After saying this, he quickly left.

Xue Jiao was stunned. Little? It was so thick.

She felt that this “mischievous” Cheng Mingze definitely wouldn’t be so simple!

So Xue Jiao hurriedly returned to her desk, took out the red envelope, and opened it—

“Cheng Mingze!! You’re too evil!!!”

Downstairs, Cheng Suo, who was reading the newspaper, was startled and looked at Cheng Mingze, “How did you bully your sister again?”

Cheng Mingze shrugged and said with a smile, “Gave her a red envelope with one cent.”

Cheng Suo: “…”

“…You really went through the trouble of going to the bank to exchange for one-cent coins.”

Cheng Mingze smiled, “Of course.”

Cheng Suo: “…”

On the fifth day of the lunar new year, Xue Jiao went back to school with her backpack, amid Li Sitong’s complaints.

In the final semester of high school, it was already good to get a few days off for the New Year. Hoping for a longer holiday was simply impossible.

Almost every classmate she met greeted her with Happy New Year.

Xue Jiao scratched her head. The second mock exam questions had been difficult, but Xue Jiao and Chu Sheng both scored above 700, tying for first place again.

When the grade report reached the parents’ hands, it was accompanied by a grade ranking list.

The third-ranked student had scored just over 680, showing how formidable the two first-place scores were.

Xue Jiao guessed that because of these scores, many students’ New Year’s money would be reduced…

She was really… not embarrassed at all, haha.

When Xue Jiao arrived at the classroom, many people had already come, especially the boarding students who had arrived yesterday afternoon.

Liu Jiaxue was there too.

Xue Jiao’s eyes brightened, and she hurried over.

“Jiaxue!”

Liu Jiaxue turned around suddenly, stood up, and hugged Xue Jiao with a smile.

“Jiaojiao, I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” Xue Jiao responded with a smile.

Then she went inside to her own seat.

While taking out her books, she chatted with Liu Jiaxue.

“Jiaxue, how was your New Year?”

Liu Jiaxue smiled and nodded, somewhat bashfully.

“It was good…”

After a moment, she said with some emotion, “My mom has changed a lot, trying to control her temper. During the New Year, when I got up, I made them a meal, and my mom cried… I just realized that when I show her warmth, her temper disappears instantly.”

Xue Jiao nodded in agreement, “That’s true. Your mom has a bad temper, and you and your dad don’t like to talk, so she only gets more and more irritable. If you care for her, it might really improve her temper.”

“Yes, and my dad too. My dad actually cares a lot about my mom, but he never says it. On New Year’s Eve, I got my dad to tell my mom he loves her, and my mom blushed all evening, hahaha…” Liu Jiaxue started laughing.

Xue Jiao looked at her and also started laughing.

Life would still have friction, and a person’s fixed character is hard to change, sometimes even reverting to old patterns.

But as long as there’s hope, without despair, there’s still courage to go on.

Jiaxue’s life now had hope, so Xue Jiao was no longer worried about whether she might still become desperate and make mistakes.

“Hahaha, that’s great.” Xue Jiao laughed.

“Oh, right!” Liu Jiaxue’s eyes suddenly brightened, and she took out a box from her bag.

“What’s this…” Xue Jiao was puzzled.

“Open it and see.”

Xue Jiao glanced at Liu Jiaxue and slowly reached out to open it.

Inside were cute snowflake-shaped cookies, a full box of them in several colors.

“This is…”

Liu Jiaxue looked at her with bright eyes, “These are little cookies I made myself. Both our names have ‘snow’ in them, showing we have a connection with snowflakes! The green ones are matcha flavor, the yellow ones are original flavor, the white ones are milk flavor, the black ones are chocolate, and the purple ones are purple sweet potato…”

Xue Jiao picked up an original-flavored one and tasted it, then nodded amid Liu Jiaxue’s nervous expression—

“It’s delicious.”

Liu Jiaxue’s smile was radiant.

At this moment, a hand reached from behind and took a piece.

“Not bad.”

Yi Tianyu still had his backpack on, having clearly just arrived.

Xue Jiao: “…”

Liu Jiaxue glared at him fiercely, then moved closer to Xue Jiao, “Put them away quickly. If you get hungry during class breaks, you can eat some. If you like them, I’ll make more for you next time.”

Xue Jiao nodded, showing a happy smile.

“Thank you, Jiaxue.”

“We don’t need such formalities between us. Without you, I wouldn’t even be here.” Liu Jiaxue said seriously, then gently hugged Xue Jiao.

Yi Tianyu behind them widened his eyes in disbelief.

Although you two are girls, do you have to… have to hug like that all the time?

After the second mock exam, which marked the beginning of the second semester of the final year, the atmosphere in the entire senior grade became even more tense.

The front of the classroom displayed how many days remained until the college entrance exam, and the back of the classroom had a banner: “Pure heart, pluck laurel from the moon palace; Devoted heart, inscribe name on the golden list.”

Teachers walked faster, busy reviewing one knowledge point after another.

Few students smiled anymore, the atmosphere extremely oppressive.

“Gu Xuejiao, come out for a moment.” Yin Fang called from the doorway.

Xue Jiao was stunned, not understanding what was happening. Puzzled, she walked out and followed her to the office.

At this time, Chu Sheng was at the adjacent desk in front of Teacher Li Ping, the two of them apparently having talked for a long time.

“Teacher Yin, what’s the matter?” Xue Jiao asked, confused.

Chu Sheng looked over from the side and smiled at Xue Jiao.

Xue Jiao returned a smile.

“It’s like this, the list for guaranteed admission can be filled out now, and you qualify. But since you have a first-prize award in the math competition, going through the math competition route would be easier. Think about which school you want to apply to. The teacher’s suggestion is to choose either Tsinghua or Peking University, as they are the top schools domestically. Of course, you should also ask your family’s opinion on this, there’s no rush to decide.” After Yin Fang finished speaking, Xue Jiao was stunned.

Guaranteed admission…

Yin Fang thought for a moment and took out a form.

“We’ve heard rumors this year that several good universities have reduced their quotas, and Beijing has already guaranteed admission for many students, so we need to be careful when selecting schools for guaranteed admission. After you all have registered, we’ll look at the quota issue again.”

“Okay.” Xue Jiao took the paper.

Yin Fang glanced at Li Ping and Chu Sheng opposite them, but didn’t say anything more.

She nodded to Xue Jiao, only indicating for her to return to the classroom, “You go back to the classroom and study first.”

Just then, Chu Sheng had also finished his conversation with Li Ping, so the two returned to the classroom together.

“Which major do you want to apply for?” Xue Jiao asked Chu Sheng.

She remembered he wanted to study physics, but he hadn’t won any important physics-related awards, so she wasn’t sure how likely his guaranteed admission would be.

“I’m not planning on guaranteed admission.” After Chu Sheng said this, Xue Jiao was obviously stunned.

“What did you say?”

“I’m not planning on guaranteed admission.” Chu Sheng said firmly, then looked at Xue Jiao, “The physics major doesn’t necessarily need me, but our grades are definitely good enough for the university we want to attend, and I don’t think I’ll fail the college entrance exam. Plus, once guaranteed admission is confirmed, the study state might unconsciously relax. And I still want to compete with you for first place in the college entrance exam, so I’ll pass.”

Xue Jiao smiled and gave a thumbs up.

“I was actually thinking the same thing. If I can’t go to the major I want, I’ll take the exam myself.”

The two exchanged smiles, then each returned to the classroom, resuming their intense review.

In the evening, Xue Jiao returned home.

“Jiaojiao, you’re back.” Li Sitong brought milk, fruit, and bread to the table.

It was already past ten in the evening, and these were the midnight snacks prepared for her.

Cheng Suo also came out from the bedroom, “Jiaojiao, hurry and eat, then go to sleep. Don’t read books in your room. High school is important, but health is more important.”

Xue Jiao nodded, showing a smile.

She sat at the table eating, took a bite of bread, and suddenly remembered something.

Xue Jiao took out a paper from her backpack and looked at the two of them.

Her clean face appeared docile and cute under the light, her expression serious and earnest—

“Do you think I should apply to Tsinghua or Peking University?”