How Could She Not Be Sad?

Lu Chi and Su Yunian walked to the classroom door.

Their biology teacher, Chen Qincui, was already standing at the lectern, opening her book to go over the questions.

The two announced themselves, entered the classroom, and returned to their seats.

Lu Chi had no interest in listening to the lesson and stared blankly at the blackboard.

In his previous life, he had squeezed onto the single-plank bridge of the college entrance exam, fighting his way through thousands of troops and horses.

He had never expected to transmigrate and have to go through the college entrance exam all over again. Although the original owner of his body had been a top student, he did not want to make that journey again.

The only reason he was still sitting obediently in this classroom was to put on a show for the Lu family.

Once the college entrance exam was over and he went to university, his days would be happy.

Compared with Lu Chi, who was just drifting through his days, Su Yunian was genuinely working hard at her studies.

Otherwise, she could not have ranked first in Class 2 of their senior year and consistently stayed in the top three in the entire school.

"On this chemistry test, our classmate Su Yunian got full marks. Now, Su Yunian, please stand up and share your study methods with everyone."

Chen Qincui praised Su Yunian from the lectern, her face alight.

Su Yunian lightly pinched the strands of hair she had just yanked from Zhao Feifei, then stood up with a composed expression.

She said coldly, "My study method is very simple. Do more questions and practice more."

Chen Qincui asked Su Yunian, "Yunian, is there anything else you'd like to share?"

Su Yunian shook her head. "No."

"All right. Thank you, Yunian. You may sit down."

At long last, evening self-study ended.

Su Yunian returned home.

When she opened the door, she found the entire house pitch-black.

In the darkness, a tiny ember flickered on the sofa.

So lonely, so helpless.

The air was thick with the smell of women's cigarettes.

Accompanied by the quiet sobs of her mother, Xie Qing.

Su Yunian's heart ached a little, and she tentatively called into the darkness, "Mom!"

"Oh!" Xie Qin hurriedly put out the cigarette in her hand and rose from the sofa. "Yunian, you're home!"

"Yes, I'm home, Mom! Close your eyes. I'm about to turn on the light."

"Okay, go ahead!"

Su Yunian reached back and pressed the switch on the wall.

With a soft click, the whole room lit up.

Xie Qing had already wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and explained in a slight fluster, "Yunian, don't overthink it. I was just so bored earlier, that's why I was smoking alone. I'm not actually sad. Really, I'm not sad at all."

Seeing her mother so clearly sad and haggard, yet still pretending to be strong in front of her, Su Yunian felt as though her heart were bleeding.

So much time had passed since they discovered her father's affair, and her mother had always acted so carefree and indifferent in front of her.

She should have known long ago that her mother was sad.

How could she not be sad?

The man she had loved and trusted for so many years had turned out to be an utterly hypocritical, ruthless devil.

Anyone would be sad.

Su Yunian walked over and gently hugged Xie Qing. "It's okay, Mom. If you're sad, just cry. I'm all grown up now. I can understand these feelings."

Xie Qing tilted her head up at a forty-five-degree angle, letting the tears about to spill from her eyes flow back.

Sounding somewhat relieved, she said, "Sitting alone in the dark earlier, thinking back over everything in the past, I really did feel down for a minute. But I'm fine now. I don't feel like crying anymore. I still have to go to work at the company tomorrow.

"I have to look beautiful when I go, so everyone in the company knows that the chairman's wife isn't some yellow-faced hag, but a very, very beautiful and fashionable woman."

Su Yunian nodded. "Yes, Mom, you have to go looking gorgeous. You can't let anyone look down on you."

Xie Qing smiled. "Exactly. I can't let anyone look down on me, and I can't let those little vixens at the company outshine me, much less that bitch Zhao Min."

As though worried Su Yunian would still be uneasy, Xie Qing added:

"Sweetheart, really, don't worry about me. Just focus on your studies. There's still a fierce battle ahead, and I know that. When I go to work at the company tomorrow, I'll find a way to get the company's detailed financial records.

"We can't let that scumbag and that bitch secretly transfer our family's assets and hollow out our company. The company doesn't belong to your father alone. I poured my heart and soul into it back then, too.

"If I hadn't chosen to come home to support my husband and raise my child, I'd definitely be a highly educated career woman now!"

Seeing her mother like this, Su Yunian's heart ached for her.

She hugged her tightly and said:

"Mom, you returned to the family for my sake. Thank you for everything you've done."

Xie Qing shook her head. "It wasn't a hardship. For my precious girl, anything I do is worth it."

"Oh, right, Mom, I went to see Zhao Feifei today. I was originally planning to give her the pearl bracelet Dad gave me,

"and pretend to get along with her. That way, I could find out where Zhao Min and Zhao Jinxuan are living now and find a way to get Zhao Jinxuan's hair for a DNA test.

"But I never expected to see Zhao Feifei wearing the exact same pearl bracelet as mine. That means Dad bought them bracelets too. My dad really is such a scumbag, such a lowlife!"

"Ah." Xie Qing shook her head. "I've lived fifty years, and this is the first time I've seen someone so completely for who they really are."

"Mom, you still have me..."

Tears streamed down Su Yunian's face.

Lu Chi and Lu Jiyang arrived home one after the other. Their second sister, Lu Qingru, and the rest of the family were already waiting in the living room.

Lu Yuanqing called to his two sons, "Chi'er, Jiyang, come over here. Your second sister wants to talk to you about this Saturday's music competition."

The two put down their schoolbags and walked over to the sofa.

Lu Qingru was sitting on the sofa with two documents in her hands.

Although she disliked Lu Chi, she could hardly scold him in front of their parents.

She merely said to Lu Chi with a stern face, "Lu Chi, this is a national youth competition. Are you sure you want to enter? Don't get onstage and embarrass me by singing completely out of tune!"

When Lu Chi said nothing, Lu Qingru snapped again:

"Think it through. Do you want to enter or not? If you don't, there's still time to back out. Once your name is officially submitted, you won't have a choice!"

Lu Yuanqing and Pan Feng both glanced at Lu Chi, and Pan Feng asked gently:

"Chi'er, do you want to enter? If you do, go ahead. It's all right. We'll have your second sister coach you before the competition. Even if you don't sing well, it doesn't matter. Just go and build up your courage."

"That's right, Chi'er. Don't be afraid. I'll go cheer you on."

Lu Chi nodded.

"Dad, Mom, I've never been very brave, and I've never been on any kind of stage, so I want to enter and broaden my horizons."

Lu Yuanqing and Pan Feng nodded with gratification.

Whether Chi'er sang well or not, there was nothing wrong with going to build up his courage.

Lu Qingru rolled her eyes and silently scoffed, Hah! Never been very brave? How come you were so bold when you were cursing me out at noon? What an act!

"Jiyang, little brother." When Lu Qingru turned to Lu Jiyang, she immediately put on a gentle, smiling face. "Here's the program for the music competition. Take it and have a look. Prepare seriously. Your second sister has faith in you!"

Lu Qingru then shoved the other copy of the program into Lu Chi's hands and said, "You're the one who insisted on entering, so don't expect me to coach you. I can't coach you!"