“They thought that…… forget it. I don’t feel like repeating her words. It will upset me further.”

  According to her mother and her grandparents, she was too young and simple. She could not tell evil from the good. She had been betrayed by others, yet she still treated them like her friends.

  Shi Qing grew annoyed at the Feng family’s perception of her.

  That was not being simple and innocent. They thought that she was being stupid.

  Qiao Nan finally understood why Shi Qing was so frustrated. She seemed like a restless lion that bared its teeth, letting out guttural snarls and threatening growls.

  Shi Qing abhorred what Qiu Chenxi had done. As an outsider, Qiao Nan knew and understood Shi Qing. However, the Feng family chose to believe Qiu Chenxi’s words instead of listening to Shi Qing’s explanation. It was no wonder that she insisted on staying in school.

  Shi Qing might spurt blood out of anger if the Feng family kept nagging at her.

  “It’s alright that my grandparents believed her words. But I don’t understand why my mom behaves like them. She has seen it for herself how Qiu Chenxi bullied me during all those years in Mo Du when Qiu Chenxi and my aunt visited my grandparents, yet she believes in an outsider instead of her daughter. Qiao Nan, I am very disappointed in my mom.” Shi Qing choked back her tears.

  Qiao Nan wrinkled her eyebrows. Why did all of them come sobbing and complaining to her?

  “Don’t cry. As you have said, she is your mom, not Qiu Chenxi’s mom. I suppose she is anxious for you and cares a lot for you. One can never be too careful. What if I am really a bad person and you are deceived by me? You have been staying in Ping Cheng for the past two years. You did not spend a lot of time with your mom. Initially, the reason why you did not want to go back to the Feng family’s residence must be due to the fact that you have mixed emotions now that you are back in the capital, the place you call home. Your mom feels similar emotions as well. She wants to treat you well and wants to show it through her actions. However, you have always been independent. She does not have the chance to show her concern for you. Therefore, she sees this as a good chance to show her concern for you.”

  Shi Qing merely had a small misunderstanding with the Feng family.

  Shi Qing wiped her eyes. “My mom dislikes you. How can you be so calm? Aren’t you angry?”

  \r \r \r

  “I am glad for you that you could have what I don’t have and I hope that you can cherish it. To put it bluntly, many people dislike me. Your mom is merely one of them.”

  Shi Qing burst out in laughter. She was amused. “No matter what, I am relieved after hearing what you said today.” After talking to Qiao Nan, Shi Qing knew how she should handle Qiao Nan’s relationship with the Feng family.

  “It’s good that you are relieved. It is ten o’clock. Before we come to the capital, we have promised our dads that we will not develop the habit of staying out late into the night. You should go back to sleep.” Qiao Nan stretched herself. If not for Shi Qing, she might have already fallen asleep.

  Qiao Nan already had a lot to worry about. She had no wish to bother herself with such matters.

  When one had too many worries, one simply stopped worrying about them.

  She had too many worries and concerns that she simply gave up troubling herself with finding a solution. It was such a hot day. She might as well sleep so that she would not feel the heat anymore.

  “Alright.” Shi Qing stood up. “Aren’t there a total of four people in the dormitory? Why are you the only one here? Where are the other three girls?”

  “They must be having fun outside.”

  “Aren’t you joining them?”

  “I can’t fool around. I am attached.” Qiao Nan raised her left hand where her ring was. They were in college and their parents were not around to discipline them. Many college students would take the opportunity to indulge themselves.

  Particularly Tang Jiayun, who dressed up and encouraged her roommates, Yu Xiaoxiao and Lü Yan, to put on makeup and participate in a get-together with her. They sauntered out of the dormitory after dressing up to meet the good-looking male students from the computing faculty.

  Qiao Nan rejected Tang Jiayun’s invitation to go along with them.

  The male students from the computing faculty must be nerdy.

  Good-looking?

  Hopefully, Tang Jiayun and the two of them would not return in disappointment.

  Shi Qing pursed her lips. “You are right. If you fool around, Brother Zhai will make life difficult for me. Let’s keep a watch on each other. We shall not participate in those activities that we are not supposed to take part in. I am sleepy as well. I will take a shower and sleep.”

  “Good night.”

  “Good night.” Shi Qing yawned on her way back to her dormitory. After a shower, she placed her clothes in the basin, intending to wash them tomorrow, when her cell phone rang.

  Feng Cheng bought a new cell phone for Shi Qing this afternoon. She told Shi Peng of Shi Qing’s new cell phone number, lest Shi Peng could not reach her. “Qing Qing, it is me.”

  “Mom.”

  “Qing Qing, are you still angry?” Feng Cheng knew that her daughter had left the house in anger.

  They had been separated for so long. As her mother, she did not get to see her daughter often. Now that she finally came to the capital to study and they had more chances to see each other, she did not get to have a good chat with her daughter before she left in anger.

  Feng Cheng felt as if she was on pins and needles.

  It was unnecessary to anger her daughter because of an outsider.

  “I am no longer angry.” “Really?” Feng Cheng was surprised. She had thought that Qing Qing would stay angry for quite some time. Since a young age, Qing Qing was stubborn like Shi Peng.

  “Yes. I have thought it through. You should know Qiu Chenxi’s personality as well. Since you believe her instead of me, it only goes to show that we lack communication. I am not in a hurry to get you to change your mind. As distance tests a horse’s strength, time reveals a person’s heart. Mom, I have grown up. I am able to judge for myself. I can understand your worry and concern for me. I will be studying in the capital for four years. There are bound to be more interactions in the future. You will eventually know whether it is a misunderstanding or not. There will eventually be an answer. Mom, the school has arranged for us to go through military training. I will have to turn off the cell phone tomorrow. By then, you will not be able to reach me. Don’t let your thoughts run wild and doubt that I am angry and hence I don’t answer your call. It is the instructor who does not allow us to use the cell phone.”

  “Oh, sure. When will the military training end?” Feng Cheng was more than happy that her daughter did not throw tantrums and talked nicely to her.

  “It will take ten days to half a month. When it is over and I can turn on the phone, I will give you a call.” Shi Qing could not help but yawn. “Mom, it is late. I am exhausted after taking a long train ride. I will go to sleep first. Mom, good night. Please say good night to my grandparents.”

  “Dad, Mom, Qing Qing says her good night to you.” An honest Feng Cheng relayed Shi Qing’s words without another thought. Shi Qing and the two people on the other end of the phone rolled their eyes. They were rendered speechless by Feng Cheng’s words.

  In the end, Old Master Feng cleared his throat, raising his voice slightly. “Qing Qing, since you are tired, you should go to sleep. We will talk after your military training is over.”