Therefore, when the Lunar New Year was around the corner, Shi Qing told Shi Peng clearly that she wanted to go back to Ping Cheng. Apart from Ping Cheng, she did not want to go anywhere else.

  It was fine that they did not cherish her. But she would not be cajoled by the elders like a three-year-old child.

  Shi Peng listened to no one but his daughter. Since Shi Qing had said so, and he disagreed with how the Feng family behaved as well, he went back to Ping Cheng with her.

  Qiao Nan was glad that her companion was here in Ping Cheng. She was even more thrilled that she had other places to stay at now. “Shi Qing, I will sleep at your place tonight—no, I will stay with you until school reopens and I leave Ping Cheng.”

  “Sure, that’s good, but why?” Initially, Shi Qing intended to stay at the Qiao family’s residence. Since she would have Qiao Nan to accompany her no matter what, Shi Qing would not refuse Qiao Nan’s request to stay at her house. “Didn’t you say previously that you want to spend more time with your dad?”

  This was the reason why Shi Qing thought of staying at the Qiao family’s residence.

  Unlike Qiao Nan, she did not have a boyfriend, let alone a husband. She had more than enough time for her father. It was her father who was busier than her.

  Since she had a lot of time on her hands, she would naturally be more accommodating to Qiao Nan’s situation.

  “Yesterday was the day before the Lunar New Year’s eve. I spent the night at the Zhai family’s residence. Ding Jiayi brought Qiao Zijin to have dinner here and they spent the night here.” Qiao Nan felt vexed at the mention of this.

  “Uncle Qiao must be crazy!” Shi Qing could not help but scream. “He must be unwell and muddleheaded. They had a divorce. Why would they have a meal together and spend the day before the Lunar New Year’s eve together?”

  Qiao Nan was very upset as well. “My dad can do whatever he wants to do. I don’t care and there is nothing that I can do about it.” Luckily, she was about to get married. There was no need for her to deal with all these messy affairs.

  “My dad must be thinking that since I am about to be married to Brother Zhai, he has fulfilled his responsibility as a father. But he still has to care for Qiao Zijin. Therefore, he wants to fulfill his responsibility as a father to Qiao Zijin.”

  \r \r \r

  “.……” Shi Qing sneered. “I don’t understand. By the way, this house……”

  “Don’t worry. My dad is clueless.”

  “Then, how dare he do that!” Shi Qing widened her eyes in shock. “Your dad knows that Principal Meng dislikes your mom. Now, he is staying at the house that Principal Meng lends to him. How dare he allow the person that Principal Meng dislikes the most to stay for the night? He is too daring!”

  Did Uncle Qiao treat the house as his own?

  “I don’t know. Perhaps he has been staying here for a long time. He doesn’t need to pay any rent and the house is as comfortable as his own house. Over time, he forgets that this is not his own house.” Qiao Nan curled the corners of her lips. She could not be bothered to express any opinions regarding her father’s behavior.

  “Let’s wait and see!” Qiao Nan could tolerate her father’s behavior, but Shi Qing would not. She needed to remind him of reality. “Uncle Qiao.”

  “Hey.” Qiao Dongliang was not in the mood to go out for a walk. He cooped himself in the room, lost in his thoughts. He came out at Shi Qing’s voice. “Qing Qing, you are back. Are you hungry? Shall I get you some bread?”

  Shi Qing rushed to interrupt Qiao Dongliang. “Uncle Qiao, I heard that yesterday two people stayed for the night at this house.”

  Qiao Dongliang did not answer, but his expression said it all.

  Shi Qing smiled at the look on his face. “Uncle Qiao, don’t tell me that you think that Qiao Nan is ratting on you? Qiao Nan is your daughter. She has to be considerate of your feelings. I am an outsider, and I am used to being harsh and blunt. Uncle Qiao, you must not take issue with me.”

  “Ping Cheng High School has always been the second-best high school in Ping Cheng. The school has a good reputation in Ping Cheng. Three years ago, something happened at Ping Cheng High School and it almost tarnished their reputation. Uncle Qiao, did you forget about that?”

  Qiao Dongliang frowned, looking flustered.

  Shi Qing smiled. “It seems that Uncle Qiao has forgotten about it. Since Uncle Qiao doesn’t remember, let me give you a gentle reminder. Since then, there is a strict rule that the guards at Ping Cheng High School follow strictly, and that is to never allow your ex-wife into the school. Principal Meng feels that Qiao Nan is a talent and he hopes that she can study hard. Therefore, he wanted to provide a good learning environment for Qiao Nan and allow her to stay in this house. Now, Qiao Nan is in university. President Meng did not ask to take back the house. However, this house still belongs to Ping Cheng High School.”

  Uncle Qiao stayed in other people’s house and invited the person that the owner of the house disliked the most into the house. Uncle Qiao’s behavior was baffling.

  Shi Qing was being very straightforward.

  Shi Qing was, in fact, hinting that Qiao Dongliang was being shameless. Qiao Dongliang turned green at her words. He was at a loss for words.

  “Uncle Qiao, now that Qiao Nan is in university and no longer studies at Ping Cheng High School, what about this small quad?” Since it was not suitable for Qiao Nan to bring up this topic, Shi Qing would do it for her.

  Qiao Nan helped her make up her mind and sent her to the PLA National Defence University as soon as possible. She was returning the favor.

  “Or rather, Uncle Qiao, do you have any plans? How long do you intend to stay at this house? Wouldn’t it be too embarrassing if you wait until Principal Meng sends someone to ask you to leave?”

  Shi Qing was fearless in making these remarks.

  Everyone who knew that the house actually belonged to Qiao Nan had the tacit understanding to keep it a secret until now.

  Shi Qing believed that if that day arrived, Principal Meng would cooperate with them instead of telling the truth.

  Shi Qing and Qiao Nan were provincial top students in the college entrance examination. Ping Cheng High School was able to hold its head high and become one of the key high schools in the province because of their outstanding performances. Ping Cheng High School would be elated to see them.

  Principal Meng would know what to do.

  “I-I will think about it.” Like what Qiao Nan had said, he had a peaceful life in the past three years. In particular, since Ding Jiayi left Ping Cheng with Qiao Zijin in order for her to continue her high school in another school, everything was going well at home. Qiao Dongliang seemed to have forgotten about the scandals and troubles that Ding Jiayi had caused back then.

  Three and a half years were very long.

  They did not need to pay rent and the house had a much better living environment than his house in the quad. He had a much more comfortable life here as compared to when he was still staying at the Qiao family’s residence in the quad.

  As a result, Qiao Dongliang became muddleheaded. He had the impression that he was the owner of the house that he stayed in right now.

  Shi Qing’s reminder came as a harsh blow to Qiao Dongliang. He faltered and almost fell.

  This house did not belong to them, and Nan Nan had graduated from Ping Cheng High School.