Tangled Thoughts

"I knew you'd say that, but—"

"Will you let me finish?"

Ding Yuqing swallowed hard. "...Go on."

"Whether I divorce him or not, I'm already like this. But Miaomiao is different." Ding Xueyang glanced at Miaomiao in her arms. "If she stays with Pingchuan, Miaomiao won't get proper care. If she stays with me... what would I use to support her? Even the kindergarten she attends now assessed every child's family situation and income level before admission, let alone when she starts elementary school this time next year—"

"What if Miaomiao went to a public elementary school?" Ding Yuqing asked.

"If she can clearly have a better environment, why should I ruin that for her?"

"We don't have to rush," Ding Yuqing said softly. "You could go back to school and finish your PhD first—"

"Even if I went back right now and graduated smoothly two years later, what use would that be?" Ding Xueyang's voice was calm. "There are plenty of PhDs in their twenties out there who can't find jobs, let alone a middle-aged person like me who's never truly left the ivory tower—and who has a child to care for besides... Yuqing, I'm not young anymore."

"There'll always be a way. You could contact your former classmates, friends, see if any of them would be willing to—"

"Not everything can start over. Once you miss your chance, you miss it. When has the road back ever been easy?" Ding Xueyang said quietly. "If I divorce him, I'll never find another man like Shi Pingchuan. But he can find a new wife and start a new family anytime... Then he'll have new children too, and even less of what should have belonged to Miaomiao will remain."

Xu Ruyi listened in silence beside them, her eyes slowly widening.

Ding