After Shu Tinglan finished speaking, she then walked home with her mother’s arm.
Shu Ma, seeing her like this, originally wanted to properly criticize and educate her, not allowing her to speak in such an impolite manner.
But when he turned his head, he saw her eyes were red, like she was about to cry but holding it back. His heart softened, and he didn’t say anything.
Only a parent truly knows their child’s behavior and why they might have a tantrum.
Shu Tinglan felt a pang of sadness after rebuking Wen Lan. If she and her mother had been more perceptive and assertive years ago, would things have turned out differently?
“What’s wrong with you today? Did you have a fight with Xiaojian?” That was the only reason the kind mother could think of.
“There was a bit of a misunderstanding. Mom, let’s not associate with Wenlan and her mother anymore.”
“Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?” Shu Ma changed the subject, obviously not listening to what she said, just treating it as a small conflict between little girls.
Shu Tinglan had a headache. She didn’t know why she was back in her first year of high school, but since she was back, she would do her best to prevent the tragedy from happening.
She now dared not tell her mother directly about Wenlan and her father’s relationship. She didn’t know how her mother could handle it mentally right now, or whether if she could solve it herself, then let her mother remain in blissful ignorance forever.
Mom’s dinner wasn’t ready yet. The sound of the doorknob turning came from outside, her dad was home, and he was back earlier than expected.
A hint of coldness flashed in her heart. As she had expected, Wenlan had gone to her father to complain.
As expected, her father’s face wasn’t good. He walked in, put his briefcase in the cupboard by the door, and glanced at her.
She did not flinch, looking straight at him.
before he passed away <<<
After that, she couldn’t get over it for many years. She always thought, did he love this home more, or did he love Wen Jian’s home more?
Does he have even a shred of guilt about her and her mother?
At that time, because there were no answers and no way to find them, both she and her mother felt like they had been pulled into a black hole, unable to get out.
But now that she had this chance to start over, she could slowly search for answers.
Dad sat beside her, asking the same question as Mom: “Had a fight with Xiaojian?”
“What did Wenlan tell you?”
Hearing her call out Wen Lan’s name, Dad frowned and didn’t answer, waiting for her response.
She smiled and countered, “Daddy, why does Wen Jian have her mother’s surname, Wen? Why not yours? Have you ever met her father?”
Shu Tinglan spent the whole day using words to probe, watching their inner turmoil, yet they desperately tried to maintain composure, like clowns.
After finishing his question, he got up and went to the restaurant for dinner without waiting for an answer. His mother had already cooked the meal.
Shuminghai watched his daughter thoughtfully from behind. She still looked like a graceful high school student, but the sharpness in her words just now had shaken him to his core.
Eating the food made by her mother, the familiar taste from long ago flooded in, she felt a sourness in her nose again. She missed her mother so much, even if her mother was sitting right in front of her at this moment, she still missed her.
How could she have ever imagined that their happy family of three would fall apart in just three years, leaving her to endure nearly a decade of pain every single day? Who could have predicted that such a kind and loving mother would ultimately die far from home?
When she went to bed at night, she pulled her mother into bed with her. Her mother couldn’t say no, so she just took a pillow and …
Her room.
The mother and daughter were lying in bed. Shu Tinglan leaned against her mother and said, “Mom, I had a dream the other day.”
“The nightmare you spoke of?”
“Well, I had a nightmare, but also a really good dream. I dreamt that I got married and had adorable twins, a boy and a girl.”
Mom patted her lightly: “You’re still in high school. Your main task now is to study hard, don’t daydream.”
“I thought this dream was so real. Anyway, Mom, you just need to know that I’ll be very happy in the future. I already have names picked out for the twins: Shu Xiaonian and Shu Xiaohua.”
She spoke convincingly. Shu Ma, feeling amused, playfully said, “Then why do you bear the surname Shu? Or is your future husband also named Shu?”
“His surname is Zhuo, but he loves me very much, so I will decide whose surname the child takes.”
Mom tapped her forehead and commanded, “Stop reading those messy novels and study hard. Go to sleep.”
Shutinglan smiled and leaned against her mother’s back, emphasizing again: “Mom, you must remember what I said today. I will be very happy in the future, with a good job and a good family.”
“Got it, got it,” Mom mumbled in response before falling asleep.
Shu Tinglan went to school the next day and saw Wen Jian and Zhuo Yu’an walking side by side towards the campus from afar.
She quietly followed at a distance of two steps behind, wanting to hear what they were saying. Most of it was Wen Jian talking, and Zhuo Yu’an listening.
Wen Jian was introducing him to the city of Qining, from the sights to the food to the history and culture. Shu Tinglan was so engrossed that he was almost mesmerized.
Then, Zhu Yu’an seemed to notice the person behind him. He suddenly stopped and turned back to look at her, his expression warm <<<
Then Jian turned back to look at her.
She remained silent, her beautiful eyes fixed on Zhu Yu’an, ignoring Wen Jian standing beside them.
After so many years together, she knew best how to tease Zhuo Yu’an. Seeing that he appeared calm on the surface, but his ears were subtly reddening, she watched him without speaking.
Their eyes met, and the air crackled with unspoken tension. The vast playground around them faded into the background as all that mattered was the connection between them.
“Zhu Yu’an,” Wen Jian called his name, trying to find her own sense of existence.
At this moment, a figure dashed from afar straight to their front. Their fiery steps abruptly stopped before them. Shu Tinglan blurted out, “Lu Kuò.” It was great to see him.
Lu Kuo was surprised. “You know my name?” He had only just reported for duty today, so no one should know his name.
Shu Tinglan smiled and said, “Well, I know. We are in the same class. Although you’re not here, your reputation has already spread far and wide.”
Lu Kuai instantly beamed: “I just knew it would be like this.”
Looking at his confident appearance, Shu Tinglan felt both familiar and moved. It seemed like nothing had changed, which was really good.
Zuo Yu’an was walked away by Lu Kuo, with his shoulder being held.
She and Wen Jian stood there, their former bickering and arguments replaced by an uneasy silence. Though they’d always clashed, at least a semblance of peace had been maintained, particularly on Wen Jian’s part. He was adept at putting on a fa?ade.
But now, Shu Tinglan proactively ripped her face apart with the mother and daughter, so Wen Jian also stopped pretending. She glared at Shu Tinglan angrily: “You like Zhuo Yunan?”
Shutinglan: “Do you have any objections?”
Wen Jian: “Dare you fall in love too early? Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell your mother?”
Shu Tinglan: “Jealousy? Wen Jian, how can you take what’s mine, I will get it all back one by one.”
She said coldly, then turned and went after Zhuo Yu’an and Lu Kuo.
Lu Kuo did not go to his own classroom.
instead sitting in Zhuo Yu’an’s classroom. ()
Let me know if you’d like anything else translated!