Teenagers in middle school should, in fact, know about matters related to sex.
But even if they know, their understanding is often half-baked.
Schools teach physiology and hygiene classes, but teachers stick to the textbook, covering male and female anatomy, secondary sexual characteristics, and how sperm and egg combine to form an embryo. As for the specifics of that process… it’s not like the classroom is handing out explicit material, so how could the textbook detail it?
In a decade or two, during the information explosion era, middle schoolers will have far more access to information, becoming much more mature than Wen Ying’s generation. At least they won’t shy away from the topic of sex.
Primary school kids will be adept at juggling multiple romantic interests, leaving single 80s and 90s kids outdone by the younger generation.
In 2005, Wen Ying, not yet seventeen, not understanding Yu Wenhao’s crude remarks was normal. If she *had* understood, she might’ve ended up in the next room being grilled by Manager Chen—teenage boys sneaking peeks at adult magazines or videos was one thing, but where would a girl pick up such knowledge?
At first, Wen Ying tried to play clueless, her mind racing, wondering if she’d overacted.
If she truly didn’t understand *anything*, her mother wouldn’t buy it!
Oh no, she’d overdone it.
Wen Ying quickly switched tactics, aiming to blush and feign partial understanding—three parts out of ten. After struggling, her neck felt stiff, but unsure if her face was red, she stomped her foot: “Uncle, how could you bring me to hear this!”
“…”
You dared to catch a cheater, but you can’t handle this?
Deng Shangwei didn’t dare say a word, feeling Chen Ru’s murderous glare.
He gave an awkward smile, “I just wanted to explain…”
Chen Ru cut him off, telling Wen Ying to wait outside.
Wen Ying, grabbing a cousin in each hand, bolted.
Deng Shangwei stayed behind, enduring Chen Ru’s wrath.
“Are these things for kids to hear? You’re in your thirties, how can you be so reckless!”
Deng Shangwei hung his head, unable to retort.
Chen Li, who’d been crying earlier, joined her sister’s side, scolding, “Bringing Deng Jie and the others is one thing—they don’t understand—but Wen Ying’s a young lady.”
Through a crack in the door, the Chen sisters’ scolding of Deng Shangwei was faintly audible.
Wen Ying stuck out her tongue, grateful for her quick thinking, or she’d be the one getting chewed out, not her uncle.
With the focus on Deng Shangwei, Manager Chen would only scold. If it was Wen Ying, her head might’ve been twisted off.
Deng Jie tugged at Wen Ying’s sleeve, “Sister Ying, why did Dad bring us here?”
Why was Dad suddenly getting scolded?
Wen Ying thought for a moment and asked if Deng Jie remembered the crazy woman at the neighbourhood entrance.
“The one who said she’d be your stepmother.”
Of course he remembered!
Deng Jie clenched his fists.
He’d recently become keen on studying, not just due to the family’s academic atmosphere but out of fear.
A classmate’s parents had divorced, and after the father remarried, the stepmother had a child, turning the classmate’s father into a “stepfather.”
If he and his brother were good, maybe Dad wouldn’t find a stepmother.
“Sister Ying, we don’t want a stepmother!” Deng Jie said, anxious and angry.
Deng Hao, recalling something, leaned into Wen Ying. The winter chill in the detention centre was no match for the boys’ fear of family upheaval.
Wen Ying crouched to their eye level.
“There won’t be a stepmother. Your dad brought us here to explain that the crazy woman was sent by bad people to hurt us. Now the bad guy admitted it himself. Let’s not misunderstand your dad anymore, okay?”
Why did Deng Shangwei bring so many people to hear Yu Wenhao confess? Because everyone present mattered to him and Chen Li.
Outsiders could misunderstand Deng Shangwei, but he couldn’t bear his family doing so.
Even Chen Ru, Chen Li’s closest kin, shouldn’t look at her sister with pity anymore.
Most importantly, Deng Shangwei didn’t want Chen Li to harbour any lingering doubts about Pan Li.
After Wen Ying explained, the brothers fell silent.
The matter still affected them.
When Deng Shangwei came out, Deng Jie repeated Wen Ying’s explanation, seeking confirmation: “Dad, Sister Ying didn’t lie, right? You won’t get us a stepmother?”
Deng Shangwei nodded firmly, “Of course it’s true!”
Deng Jie looked at Chen Li, whose eyes were still red, nodding, “The bad guy’s been driven off. We need to trust your dad more. This won’t happen again.”
Deng Jie finally looked at Chen Ru.
Auntie was strict but never lied or helped Dad deceive them.
Chen Ru glared at Deng Shangwei but knew what mattered.
“It’s true. I heard with my own ears your dad was framed.”
With everyone confirming, Deng Jie finally smiled, jumping around with Deng Hao beside Deng Shangwei.
Deng Shangwei had felt his sons’ distance lately.
He couldn’t blame them—kids were a blank slate, their attitude toward him shaped by his actions.
Now, everything was over. His career and family were clear of storm clouds.
For a moment, Deng Shangwei glimpsed an alternate life: without Wen Ying pulling him back from the brink, he’d have fallen into Yu Wenhao’s trap, committing an unforgivable mistake.
His wife and sons wouldn’t forgive him.
Even Wen Ying would despise him.
He’d be truly alone.
The thought terrified him.
He hugged his sons tightly, casting a grateful glance at Wen Ying.
Wen Ying had saved his family!
Seeing Deng Shangwei’s genuine emotion and the boys clinging to him and Chen Li like fledglings, Chen Ru held her tongue.
She’d never liked Deng Shangwei, but Chen Li and the kids needed him. His fidelity was for the best, sparing her the discomfort of seeing him.
As Wen Ying and the others left, Qin Xianming and Secretary Gao were still there.
Qin Xianming long admired Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong’s parenting philosophy. Though not wealthy, they excelled at raising kids. He was warm to Chen Ru and lavish in praising Wen Ying.
Six months ago, Chen Ru would’ve thought such praise was mere flattery.
Now, she felt Wen Ying deserved it.
Wen Ying had gotten into a provincial key school, stayed in the experimental class through the first semester, and won first prize in the New Concept competition, half-stepping into a top university. She might one day stand on the same starting line as Qin Jiao—Wen Ying needed to work hard, as did Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong, or she’d lose not on personal merit but family background.
Qin Xianming’s praise woke Chen Ru, but she was also puzzled: Wen Ying had improved greatly, but in a businessman like Qin’s mouth, it seemed exaggerated!
Or did all businessmen flatter so well?
No wonder their businesses thrived.
Chen Ru’s doubts passed quickly.
…
At the detention centre, Wen Ying’s stellar acting got her through without a scolding from Manager Chen.
Now, she eagerly awaited Zou Weijun’s series of educational books hitting the market.
They covered physiology and sex education, vital for both teens and parents. Wen Ying recalled her teenage years, cringing when intimate TV scenes aired. Even a kiss made her, Chen Ru, and Wen Dongrong awkward, prompting them to send her to do homework.
But what was the big deal? If it passed censorship, it wasn’t explicit. The issue wasn’t the show—it was sex education.
Parents shied away from the topic, while curious teens, without guidance, might experiment, leading to greater harm.
Thinking this, Wen Ying asked Xie Qian, “Auntie Zou’s been in Shanghai for days. When’s she coming back?”
Indeed, it had been days.
Even Xie Qian was curious.
With Zhong Yong in Shanghai, property paperwork shouldn’t take this long.
If she hadn’t returned, something was holding her up. Xie Qian shook his head, “I don’t know.”
Wen Ying grinned, “No harm in a few more days. Auntie Zou’s trip to Shanghai got you another 2% shares.”
Xie Qian now held 4% of Jinhu Group!
Beyond their value, each share Xie Qian gained meant less for Xie Jinghu’s illegitimate children.
If Xie Qian secured most shares before his eldest uncle lost influence, Xie Jinghu’s overseas kids would get nothing!
Seeing her excitement, Xie Qian couldn’t help but smile.
This had less to do with his mother’s Shanghai trip and more with Wen Ying’s house-gifting idea!
“Final exams are coming. Are you ready?” Xie Qian’s gratitude showed in supervising Wen Ying’s studies.
Her smile froze.
—Xie Qian should be a study monitor!
…
Zou Weijun stayed in Shanghai for a week.
Zhong Yong was initially calm but finally couldn’t resist asking what she wanted to buy.
He’d realised she didn’t want a villa. His expectations shifted to an office building—buying a whole building was excessive, but one or two floors was doable for her.
Unlike idle residential properties, office buildings generated rent, balancing investment and appreciation.
Zhong Yong underestimated the boldness of the wealthy. Zou Weijun didn’t want a villa or an office building for rent—she wanted to buy land in Shanghai for her son, Xie Qian!
