Misunderstanding

After arriving in the city, Rong Qiao had worked odd jobs, worked at a factory, and waited tables. She had earned money, but not much.

Later, by a stroke of luck, she became a clerk at a clothing store. The owner hired her because she looked good and would make the store look good too. Rong Qiao also worked hard, and eventually became the store manager.

After that, she picked up a good deal of knowledge and skills. In recent years, she had saved up enough to open her own store and become her own boss, and only then had life gotten better and better. She had bought her apartment not long ago, either.

Plenty of people pursued her because of her striking looks, but Rong Qiao had never entertained the idea. Leaving aside the fact that she still wasn't divorced, the main reason was that her heart only had room for Wu Jin. She didn't want to think about anyone else.

Perhaps realizing that crying during the New Year wasn't good, Rong Qiao wiped away her tears, put a smile back on her face, and served Wu Jin some food.

"Is your grandmother doing well?"

Rong Qiao didn't get along with Wu Jin's grandmother, but she asked anyway.

"She's fine."

The answer was as brief as ever.

The phone in her bag vibrated once. Wu Jin paid it no mind and kept eating, hoping to finish quickly and leave.

Looking at her daughter's face, so similar to her own and yet both familiar and strange, Rong Qiao felt a thousand tiny aches prick at her heart.

Her precious girl had grown up so much.

Rong Qiao took a deep breath and put down her chopsticks. "Xiao Jin, I left back then to make money. I left a letter by the bed."

A letter.

Wu Jin's hand paused.

Of course she knew about that letter.

"Your father suddenly disappeared, and the family lost its mainstay. The people in the village weren't friendly to me, so I could only go farther away to find work."

A beautiful woman without a husband really had no way to get by in a backward village.

Everyone else said Wu Jin's father had died somewhere out there and that she had brought about her own husband's death.

"I didn't marry your father willingly. I admit I was selfish and didn't want to go back, but I never abandoned you. I kept sending money home."

"I always thought I had to get settled and make a good life before bringing you over. But before I knew it, more than ten years had passed. I've wronged you."

Wu Jin suddenly looked up and met Rong Qiao's eyes. "I took the letter to someone else to read to me. She said you didn't want me anymore."

Rong Qiao's voice rose. "Impossible!"

"There was no money, either. We didn't receive a single cent."

Rong Qiao's face darkened at once. Back then, she had been on good terms with Teacher Yuan, a rural teacher in the village. She had also left her a letter saying she would send money to her account and asking her to pass it on to the Wu family.

Good. Just wonderful. All these years, her money had gone to support someone else for nothing.

After the two of them cleared the air, Rong Qiao couldn't bear to imagine how hard her daughter's life had been.

Wu Jin's face was cold, and she too found it hard to accept for the moment. The shadow that had followed her for more than ten years—and now she was being told that every bit of it was a misunderstanding.

So she did have a mother who wanted her?

But right now, all she wanted was to leave and calm down properly.

She took out her phone and saw the message Shi Mu had sent. Without thinking about anything else, she seized the chance to leave.

Wu Jin stood up. "My friend is looking for me, so I'll go now."

Without waiting for Rong Qiao to answer from the kitchen, Wu Jin opened the door and left.

Shi Mu stood outside his apartment with the door open. The elevator chimed, and a girl stepped out wearing a black shell jacket, black cargo pants, and a pair of black ankle boots.

When he saw Wu Jin, Shi Mu couldn't help smiling.

"Over here."

A crowd of people inside craned their necks to look out and discovered that it was a girl!

Wow, something's going on!

Shi Mu brought Wu Jin inside. Only after changing into slippers did she realize that she had come to pick up the pear blossom pastries, so how had she ended up inside his home?

She had been thinking about what Rong Qiao said the whole time and had let Shi Mu lead her around by the nose.

Xiao Mingjing froze the moment she got a good look at Wu Jin's face.

Good heavens, she's just too pretty.

Watching her son naturally put the young lady's shoes away, she wore a meaningful smile.

Oh my, oh my, isn't romance here already~

Wu Jin leaned close to Shi Mu and whispered, "I came to pick something up."

Why had he brought her inside?

His younger aunt came forward with a beaming smile and took Wu Jin's hand. "You must be Xiao Mu's teammate. Oh my, aren't you a darling? What's your name? How old are you?"

Shi Mu gently moved his aunt's hand away, his eyes curving in a smile. "Her name is Wu Jin, Wu as in Mount Wu, Jin as in a profusion of flowers as splendid as brocade."

He turned his head and lowered it slightly. "This is my younger aunt."

Wu Jin nodded and followed Shi Mu's lead, politely greeting each of the relatives in the room.

His eldest aunt's eyes sparkled as she cracked melon seeds nearby, her head resting on her husband's shoulder. She couldn't help saying, "What a perfect match."

"They really are."

Xiao Mingjing cheerfully led Wu Jin to the sofa and sat her down. "Have you eaten, Xiao Jin? Have some fruit. Mom will go get it ready!"

Oh dear, I accidentally said what I was thinking...

Shi Mu smiled and shot her a pointed look. Xiao Mingjing hurriedly fled the scene of the crime, pretending to be calm.

Wu Jin hadn't heard her clearly at all, because Shi Yuan had been delighted to see her and had run over, trying and failing to shove Shi Mu aside with her butt. So she simply squatted down and started chatting with Wu Jin.

"You're Jin, right? I just came across a video of you playing. Oh my god, you're even prettier than in the video!"

"I never thought that kid Shi Mu's club would actually recruit a female player. Jin, have you considered joining the entertainment industry? Stick with your auntie and I guarantee..."

Shi Mu coughed twice, interrupting Shi Yuan's spellcasting. She could forget about fishing his little top laner into another circle.

Sensing that Wu Jin was a little uncomfortable, Shi Mu took her hand and headed for the door.

"We have something to do, so we're leaving. You all enjoy yourselves."

Xiao Mingjing handed Shi Mu the packed pear blossom pastries to carry. "Take good care of Xiao Jin while you're out."

Shi Mu's father stood beside Xiao Mingjing and took out a freshly prepared red envelope, placing it in Shi Mu's hand.

"Xiao Jin, it's your first time here, so this is a New Year's red envelope from your uncle. Happy New Year!"

He knew Wu Jin wouldn't accept it if he gave it to her, so he gave it straight to Shi Mu to pass on to her later.

When the other aunts heard, they immediately turned around and very "carefully" prepared red envelopes.

"Happy New Year, Xiao Jin!"

"Come again next time, Xiao Jin!"

"Happy New Year, Jin! Come take a photo with your auntie!"

Having finished making the rounds, Wu Jin followed Shi Mu into the elevator and left. Her delicate little face was as cool and indifferent as ever, though now she looked a little dazed.

"How about I take you out for some cake?"

Wu Jin leaned against her seat, still preoccupied and momentarily forgetting her seat belt. Shi Mu leaned over and fastened it for her.

Wu Jin came back to her senses. "Okay."

She hadn't eaten much lunch anyway.

Shi Mu stuffed the red envelopes into Wu Jin's pocket. Although she didn't want them, he put it nicely: children were supposed to accept New Year's money.

"If that bunch at home finds out I pocketed the money, your captain won't have an easy time of it this year."

Then he took a rabbit-shaped red envelope out of his bag. "This is your New Year's money from your captain."

Besides Shi Mu, Brother Qian, Wantonly, and the others had also sent Wu Jin New Year's money.

"Then I'll treat you to cake later."

Shi Mu smiled indulgently. "Okay."

The cake shop was a popular internet-famous spot lately, with plenty of young women coming to check in and take photos. Shi Mu had only heard about it from his younger aunt.

Knowing Wu Jin liked sweets, he had taken the opportunity to bring her there today.

Wu Jin diligently ate the brownie in front of her. Mm, not bad, but not as good as the ones He Zhixiao made.

He Zhixiao and her family had gone to Liangshan for the New Year and often sent Wu Jin photos of the snow-covered mountains.

The two good-looking people drew plenty of attention even though they were seated farther inside.

"That couple is such a perfect match. I believe in love again."

"They're both so beautiful. Could they be the protagonists of this world?"

"They look so familiar, but I can't remember where I've seen them."

A couple came up and cautiously asked, "Excuse me, are you Jin and Time?"

They kept their voices low, so it wouldn't be too embarrassing if they were mistaken, and they wouldn't attract too much attention if they were right.

Shi Mu smiled faintly. "That's us."

The girl immediately covered her mouth, a little excited. Oh my god! I met the real Time and Jin! I'm so lucky!

The boy was also surprised. A little embarrassed, he asked Wu Jin, "Could we take a photo with you? My girlfriend and I really like GOD."

"That's right, that's right, and I ship Ebony Meets Spring!"

Wu Jin: ◉.◉

Boyfriend: She's shipping them right in front of them...

Shi Mu curved his lips and chuckled.

Wu Jin nodded. "Sure, we can take a photo."

The two left satisfied after taking the photo, still whispering, "I told you Ebony Meets Spring was real!"