“Aunt Wu, I’ve made up my mind. I might regret it later, but right now, my choice won’t change. I want to live without regrets, and if that day comes, I’ll bear the consequences myself.”
Living again, Wen Ying couldn’t guarantee every choice would be right. Her goal was to keep improving, building resilience to face any challenge, so regrets wouldn’t matter.
Chen Ru’s face darkened. Wen Ying reached for her hand, finding it cold.
“Mum, trust me one more time. Since last year’s high school entrance exam, have I ever failed to keep my promises? Give me a bit more time to prove myself.”
Wen Ying couldn’t use her current grades to guarantee college entrance exam success, but she could promise not to waste the next two and a half years. She wouldn’t abandon her other pursuits, but at school, she’d focus on studying.
In front of Wu Chunqin, Chen Ru couldn’t lash out, though she was visibly upset.
“It’s fine. Let her think it over. We were stubborn at her age too,” Wu Chunqin said, soothing Chen Ru and changing the subject.
They talked past nine. Wu Chunqin, seeing the time, drove the mother and daughter back to the hotel. As they parted, she gestured a phone call to Chen Ru, “Call me anytime, old friend.”
If they changed their minds before the awards, there was still room to maneuver.
But once the awards were announced, it’d be too late.
If Wen Ying didn’t see reason this year, there was always next year—she was only in her first year, with two more chances before the college entrance exam. But plans change fast. The New Concept Essay Competition used to offer direct admissions; now it was score reductions. If next year even that was gone, Wen Ying would have to accept her fate.
Back home, Wu Chunqin’s husband, Professor Shen, was still awake. Seeing her return, he stepped out of his study to stretch.
“How’d it go?” he asked.
Wu Chunqin smiled and nodded, “Pretty good. The girl’s poised and sweet when she smiles. I always said we should’ve had a daughter.”
With their son in primary school and at his naughtiest, Wu Chunqin envied others with high school daughters.
Sounds like a likable girl, Shen thought.
He mused, “Then I’ll make a call. Old Liu’s in charge of this—”
“No need,” Wu Chunqin cut him off. “I had the idea, Chen Ru had the idea, but her daughter doesn’t want it. She’s got ambition. Let her try.”
That twist surprised Shen.
Wu Chunqin had left academia, but he remained. While she raced down the business path, he didn’t.
He could help with this, but not helping was easier.
“Ambition’s good. She’s only in her first year, right? There’s still time,” he said.
Wu Chunqin nodded, and they moved on to other topics.
…
Back at the hotel, Chen Ru slammed the door.
Wen Ying followed meekly, knowing better than to provoke Manager Chen, who was a ticking bomb.
“Mum~”
Wherever Chen Ru went, Wen Ying trailed, calling her in a cloying tone.
Chen Ru took off her coat and washed her face in the bathroom, the water doing little to douse her anger. “Don’t try that with me. I told you not to act up, but you didn’t listen! Do you know what school your Aunt Wu’s husband teaches at? You… forget it, I don’t want to talk to you!”
That was one of China’s top ten universities!
If Wen Ying’s grades were like Qin Jiao’s, her words to Wu Chunqin would’ve shown ambition. But Wen Ying was far from that level. Rejecting such an opportunity to rely on her own strength for the college entrance exam—Chen Ru regretted arranging the dinner. She should’ve secured the deal first and told Wen Ying after.
Why didn’t she do that?
Chen Ru was so angry she wanted to pack and return to Chengdu.
Wen Ying clung like a leech, her usual charm failing. She pulled out her trump card, “Mum, I know you want what’s best for me. I refused Aunt Wu not just for myself but to make you proud. At your age, people compare kids, right? I don’t want you to lose face. A score reduction would be great, but if I can’t get it, I’ll earn my way. I don’t want you owing Aunt Wu a favour!”
Such a big favour—how could they repay it?
Friends or classmates, relationships thrive on mutual give-and-take.
Owing too big a debt without a chance to repay puts you at a disadvantage.
Wen Ying’s heart ached, thinking of her past life.
She went from holding Chen Ru’s arm to hugging her, burying her face in her shoulder. “If you owe Aunt Wu, she might not care, but you’ll feel burdened. We can’t repay her now, and you’ll be stressed.”
She hadn’t repaid the debts from her last life, and now owing more in this one made her ashamed.
Chen Ru tried to push off the clingy octopus, but Wen Ying held tight.
Soon, Chen Ru felt dampness on her shoulder, warm and spreading.
It hit her late—Wen Ying was crying on her shoulder.
This brat was crying?
For what?
Chen Ru wanted to cry!
Wen Ying’s tears weren’t loud wails but silent streams. If not for the dampness, Chen Ru wouldn’t have noticed.
Chen Ru was still fuming, and Wen Ying kept her face buried.
Wen Ying’s words echoed in Chen Ru’s mind.
What’s owing a favour?
Some people would kill for such a debt!
Compared to a lifetime’s trajectory, a favour was nothing.
Besides, it wasn’t Wen Ying who’d repay it.
Where did this stubborn streak come from?
When Wen Ying’s tears subsided, Chen Ru’s anger hadn’t.
“Keep acting up. Like your Aunt Wu said, you’ll regret it later.”
Look at Wen Ying’s close friends: Li Mengjiao was chasing stardom, Wang Shuang had a family business to inherit, Qin Jiao was a top student, Tang Yifeng and Geng Xiao had family plans. And Wen Ying?
Thinking of her future, Chen Ru snapped, “I won’t ask your Aunt Wu for help. Let me go.”
Wen Ying, embarrassed from crying, hid her face in the blanket.
Chen Ru didn’t comfort her, and neither spoke.
Chen Ru had compromised, but not willingly.
Wen Ying wasn’t as carefree as the night before, lying awake, unable to turn over.
She didn’t want to clash with Chen Ru. Her tears were an emotional outburst.
She’d thought her past life in Shanghai was a solo fight, with her parents offering no encouragement or support, pushing her to return home and follow their path.
Seeing Wu Chunqin today changed that.
Wu Chunqin was the first “benefactor” Wen Ying met in Shanghai in her past life.
As a lawyer, moving from assistant to independent practice, Wen Ying struggled. Big clients didn’t trust her, and assistant wages, though modest, were steady. Independent practice meant no cases, low income, and an awkward status.
Wu Chunqin was her first big client.
Winning Wu’s case gave Wen Ying a foothold in the law firm.
It eased her financial strain and earned her recognition.
Wu Chunqin wasn’t initially a firm client but became one, entrusting all her matters to Wen Ying.
Wu looked youthful, and Wen Ying called her Sister Wu, but Wu insisted on Aunt Wu.
They grew close, not just as client and lawyer but as friends across generations. Wen Ying had even visited Wu’s home.
Professor Shen, Wu’s husband, was warm and kind.
Wen Ying had thought herself lucky to meet such a benefactor.
Now she knew it wasn’t luck.
The world was small, but not that small. Such coincidences weren’t random.
Wu Chunqin didn’t seek out a rookie lawyer because Wen Ying was charming. It was because Wu was Chen Ru’s old classmate.
Cursing Wen Ying as unfilial while quietly asking an old friend to look out for her—that was exactly something Chen Ru would do.
