Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  “Y-you have ruined our lives!”

  Qiao Zijin, who had never been slapped by Qiao Dongliang, covered the left side of her face that was slapped. She pursed her lips and cried silently.

  “No, I haven’t ruined your lives. At least, you still have the rest of your life to find a man who will be able to improve your life.” Qiao Dongliang continued in a low and sullen voice. “We have been separated for more than half a year. In another year or so, we can get divorced. By that time, you can find a father that Zijin wants and a man that is up to your standards. Both of you are one worse than the other. Both of you are full of lies. I can’t tell which are the truths and which are lies. Since both of you are so capable, you can think of a way by yourself. In the future, don’t come to me for help.”

  At the thought of how Qiao Zijin refused to admit her mistake despite the many times that he asked her, Qiao Dongliang was devastated. He felt as if he had fallen into the icy river in December. He felt cold to the bone.

  Not only had the elder daughter looked down on him, but she was also not truthful to him.

  To err is human. It was alright to make mistakes as long as one was willing to change.

  As long as Zijin was truthful to him and told him the truth, even if he had to kneel down and beg, he would find ways to get Zijin’s principal to give her another chance and not to expel her because of what happened today.

  It was indeed wrong for students to cheat, but he had never heard of students being expelled as a result of that.

  To put it bluntly, the reasons why things became out of control was that everything happened all at once and that the principal from The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China was disgraced in front of the principal from Ping Cheng High School.

  As long as the principal and teacher were persuaded by reason and moved by emotion, what happened today would not end up like this and there would be a chance to turn around the situation.

  However, Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin had not thought of this, and even if Qiao Dongliang knew this, he was too disheartened to do anything more.

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  It was only until today that Qiao Dongliang realized it was wrong of them to spend all their savings to send Qiao Zijin to study at The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China. She did not cherish the chance to study. Instead, she learned to cheat and scheme against her sister.

  Maybe it would be a better option for the elder daughter to leave The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China to study at another school.

  “Dad, there’s no need for you to crack wise. You don’t need me anymore since you have Qiao Nan who is good in her studies. You pretended to be nice to me in the past. Alright, so you don’t want me anymore, and only want Qiao Nan? It’s fine with me! I don’t want you anymore. Dad, let’s wait and see! One day, I will prove to you that I am better than Qiao Nan and you will regret your decisions!”

  Qiao Zijin yelled and ran off.

  She never expected her father to add salt to the injury during her most difficult times.

  She hated Qiao Nan, her father, and her mother.

  It turned out that her mother had made a fuss at Ping Cheng High School and had left a bad impression on the principal. However, her mother refused to admit it and lied to her when she asked her about it.

  Because of this, she had been in an unfavorable position ever since she stepped into Ping Cheng High School.

  Qiao Nan was better in the studies than her, thus her father sided with Qiao Nan.

  People said that parents’ love was the greatest love in the world. It was all lies. Her parents were not truly good to her. They only thought about themselves. She had no need for this kind of parents!

  “Zijin, Zijin, wait for me!” Ding Jiayi intended to lose her temper at Qiao Zijin to make Qiao Dongliang feel sorry for his daughter and promise to solve the problem for her. She was at a loss when Qiao Zijin ran off by herself, and could only chase after her right away.

  It was already eight o’clock at night and the sky was dark. Ding Jiayi was worried about Zijin’s safety. She could not let her go off by herself in the middle of the night.

  She could not care about Qiao Dongliang and ran off after Qiao Zijin.

  After Qiao Zijin and Ding Jiayi left, Qiao Dongliang stood at the same spot for about half an hour. As time passed, he could not help but squat down and cry.

  This time, he was really disheartened and had given up on Qiao Zijin. All this while, everyone in the family was clear about who he sided with and pampered on more.

  Just like what Old Yang said, Zijin was an ingrate. He did not want to use such harsh words on his elder daughter, but whatever she did and said left him in utter despair.

  He did not understand why the elder daughter would become like this.

  Luckily, it was late at night and there was nobody on the street. Otherwise, it would look bad on him to cry on the street.

  Qiao Dongliang had no idea how long he had been crying. By the time he stopped crying, his legs were numb. He wiped the tears on his face. In his life, the one time that he cried was when his parents passed away. He did not expect that the next time he cried would be in such a situation. It was too ironic.

  Qiao Dongliang went back home and sat dazedly on the bed for a long time until two o’clock in the middle of the night.

  It was deep in the night and the air was still. Qiao Dongliang’s sigh of sorrow could be heard in the night.

  Qiao Dongliang’s body felt cold to the touch. He took off his shoes and plopped down on the bed, covering himself with the blanket and going to sleep.

  It was already the next day noontime when he came back to his senses.

  Qiao Nan who was at school had no time to worry about Qiao Dongliang. The next morning, she found an excuse and went to Teacher Liu’s office. “Teacher Liu, I have something to ask you.”

  “What is it?” Teacher Liu looked at Qiao Nan patiently.

  “Last time, when my mother created a fuss at the school and the matter was resolved quickly, did Brother Zhai have anything to do with it?” Qiao Nan asked carefully and tentatively.

  “It turns out that you do know Zhai Sheng and is quite close to him.” Teacher Liu smiled and said, “Our family is related to his family. He was the one who offered help last time. It was thanks to him for sending someone with the information about your family that the principal believed you and resolved the matter. Otherwise, the principal might have believed your mother’s words and mistaken you for an ill-natured child. Qiao Nan, the most important thing right now is to study hard and put other things aside. Your father is someone who listens to reason. He will handle your family’s affairs well. Everything will be alright.”

  Zhai Sheng would be there to help her when she was in serious trouble, and Qiao Dongliang would be able to help her with the family’s affairs.

  God might have closed a door, but it opened two more windows for her.

  At the thought of Zhai Sheng’s identity, Teacher Liu curled the corners of his lips. If one viewed Zhai Sheng as a ‘window’, then he must be those French windows that were so much bigger than the door!