Chapter 270

It was effortless. "Xiao Fen, wanna go eat later?" "Let me tell you, I feel so relieved after finishing my English essay! I'm definitely going to hang out with Jia Mei and A Ming all night long tonight—singing, eating, playing games, it's all here!" A bright voice rang in Xia Fen's ears, suddenly snapping her out of her daze. The surrounding noise filled her mind again. "Me too!" "But sorry, Mei Mei-chan, I have to go home tonight. I already told my mistress..." "Tch, Fen, you abandoned the organization..." The girl Mei Mei released her arm from Xia Fen's shoulder with great distress, then placed it on her heart, looking heartbroken as if Xia Fen's words had deeply wounded her. "Alright, alright, I'll definitely do it next time." Xia Fen patted her shoulder and said earnestly. After a few more words of comfort and conversation, they walked out of the crowded line of examinees together, only parting reluctantly after exiting the heavily guarded gate. Xia Fen waved her arms, a smile spreading across her face, no longer showing the bewilderment she had displayed earlier. Today was the last day of the college entrance exam, the last subject. Frankly, if anyone should feel a sense of relief, it would probably be the students far from her relaxed state, those burdened by the high-pressure, closed-off study environment of those across four provinces, waking up at 5 AM and sleeping until 11 PM every day, barely getting a few days of rest each month. But for Xia Fen, it seemed she had spent most of her three years of high school playing, with very little actual studying. So there was no need for her to feel relieved or free. Instead... she could Xia Yan and her Sister-in-law Xin Hua in their city. Thinking this, a slight smile crept onto Xia Fen's lips, a mischievous glint in her eyes, as if she had already planned something. Regarding her university choices, her parents probably wouldn't interfere too much. A little coaxing, a softened tone, and some auspicious words would likely soften their hearts and give her the final decision. Then I can go straight to Shanghu University. I can secretly watch Xia Yan's boyish side while I'm in the same school as him. I can secretly watch Sister Xin Hua's girlish side while I'm in the same school as her. And then secretly watch them on their dates... sigh, Xia Fen wiped the drool that had accidentally escaped her lips. It felt exciting and she could see so much fun. Most importantly, she could go back to the cat cafe and happily work with Xin Hua and Sister Li Xue, taking care of Hachimi. They had agreed before that if she wanted to go back, she was welcome anytime. Xia Fen would shamelessly go back. There were many people at the exam center, most of them anxiously waiting to ask their children how they did after the exam, or parents with a heavy heart who wouldn't feel at ease until they saw their children. Of course, the students were under even more pressure than the parents today. After all, all their previous student life had been for these few exams, these few papers, these two days. Xia Fen shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand, squinting as she searched for familiar figures. The excuse she'd given Mei Mei wasn't just a perfunctory remark; she genuinely had arranged to have dinner with her parents tonight. A happy family meal was much better than going out. "Over here— Xiao Fen!" Xia Fen looked into the distance and saw a very gentle-looking woman, arm in arm with a tall, middle-aged man, waving at her. The woman, seemingly afraid she hadn't seen her, had even folded her umbrella. Both her demeanor and appearance were outstanding; time seemed to have left few traces on her face. This was her mother, Yang Rong, and the man beside her was naturally her, and Xia Yan's father, Xia Zhongshan. Xia Fen waved to acknowledge her, then quickened her pace. Why did she have that strange feeling? Everything was so beautiful, so harmonious, leaving her without a single worry or trouble. Her only concern each day was what to eat for breakfast; nothing else bothered her. But this kind of life shouldn't belong to her. Or rather, it never truly belonged to her alone. Why did Xia Yan still strive so hard to live her lonely life? Why did Xia Yan have everything? Wasn't this the life Xia Yan should have lived? This was something she had seriously considered after understanding her father's philandering past. Xia Fen stole Xia Yan's life. She felt guilty for it. 208. Injustice is fairness. 3k was very happy. The entire evening's meals at home, the "graduation" gifts her parents prepared after the college entrance exam, and even the questions about which university to apply to—everything was discussed amidst laughter and joy. Dinner was a specially hired chef who cooked at their home. While not authentic old Beijing cuisine, it was a small, exquisite meal made with many precious ingredients. The gift was a promise that once she got her driver's license, she could choose any car she wanted or a house near the city of the university she wanted to attend. Having grown up at home, Xia Fen's parents naturally didn't want her to live in a university dormitory. They felt that all sorts of people were there, and even the best schools only filtered through diplomas, not necessarily a person's character or integrity. It was better to nip any potential conflicts or friction in the bud. As for which university to apply to, Xia Fen's mother, Yang Rong, thoughtfully suggested that if she wanted to see different scenery abroad, there was no need to worry. Xia Zhongshan naturally agreed, giving Xia Fen all the choices. They were only offering suggestions; ultimately, they would respect Xia Fen's choices regarding where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do. Sounds dreamy, right? Enlightened parents, a life without worries. It might sound like in Baijing, a city brimming with opportunities, most people only see the lower classes toiling for decades, barely managing to buy a small house, burdened with years of loans or debt. But in reality, wealth and a dreamlike existence are the most prevalent phenomena in this capital city. And for Xia Fen, these are simply commonplace occurrences. People often say that boys should be raised frugally, while girls should be raised lavishly. On one hand, this is to teach boys the hardships of family life, preventing them from developing extravagant spending habits and a lack of financial literacy and responsibility; on the other hand, it's to let girls know their families won't mistreat them, preventing them from selling their bodies for superficial things. But this also depends on the family. If it weren't Xia Fen, but Xia Yan growing up in this environment, he probably wouldn't have lacked any love or received any preferential treatment. But for Xia Fen, these things are irrelevant. She's always been a very easygoing person. At home, she could live a life of luxury, but even at Xia Yan's house, she could only eat noodles and Xia Yan's cooking every day, spending all her time in her room playing video games. Her guilt stemmed from the fact that Xia Yan could have lived that kind of life too, not from anything else.