Wen Ying covered the phone and stepped aside.
“What’s going on? Explain it clearly. Why is Xu Mei’s female classmate still in Rongcheng? High school has started, doesn’t she need to return to her university in Shanghai?”
Xu Mei wasn’t returning to school because she was competing in the Super Girl Rongcheng finals.
Naturally, Qin Yi couldn’t leave his girlfriend and return to Shanghai alone.
But for Xu Mei’s female classmate to stay in Rongcheng until today, Wen Ying couldn’t make sense of it.
It was understandable for Qin Yi to support Xu Mei, but whether Qin Jiao supported her was Qin Jiao’s choice. Wen Ying wasn’t sure if the classmate was meddling or if it was Xu Mei’s own intention.
Regardless of whose idea it was, they were overstepping. Xu Mei was only a girlfriend, not yet married to Qin Yi. If this was how things were now, would there be any room for Qin Jiao in the Qin family if Xu Mei became part of it? If Xu Mei’s heart was this narrow, Wen Ying was almost certain the Qin parents would never approve of her joining their family. The reasoning was clear to Wen Ying, but the classmate’s words to Qin Jiao still angered her.
Qin Jiao sounded unsure. “She’s probably staying until after the finals tonight.”
Wen Ying firmly told Qin Jiao, “I think you’re in the right.”
Qin Jiao instantly let go of her minor dilemma and told Wen Ying that she, Wang Shuang, and others had prepared cheering light boards and glow sticks for the evening.
“Are you coming to the TV station tonight?” Qin Jiao asked.
“Of course, and I’m bringing someone along.”
Qin Jiao didn’t think much of it. After the earlier rounds aired, Li Mengjiao had gained “fans” in Rongcheng, so it was normal for Wen Ying to bring someone to the finals.
Wen Ying hung up and told Chen Ru she was going to watch Li Mengjiao’s competition that evening.
“I’ll be with Qin Jiao. After the match, her family’s car will drop me home. Is that okay, Mom?”
With Wen Dongrong present, even if it wasn’t okay, it had to be.
Most of Wen Ying and Chen Ru’s belongings had been moved to the rented apartment. Without Chen Li to cover for her, lying would eventually be exposed, so Wen Ying opted for honesty.
On Chen Li’s side, Deng Jie and Deng Hao had returned from summer camp. Chen Li’s younger sister was staying with the brothers in another neighborhood, and Chen Li wanted to hurry up and renovate the new house in Wen Ying’s neighborhood to move in. Everyone had their own tasks. After helping Wen Ying register, Chen Li and Deng Shangwei left space for Wen Ying’s family of three.
As long as it wasn’t a fundamental issue, what marital conflict couldn’t be resolved? Chen Li hoped Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong would talk things out.
“Sis, talk it over with your husband. Don’t fight over outsiders.”
Wen Dongrong stayed silent and followed them to Chen Ru’s rented place. Without Chen Li and Deng Shangwei’s banter, the atmosphere among the Wen family of three was tense.
Chen Ru asked Wen Ying what time she was leaving. Wen Ying said three in the afternoon. Chen Ru waved her off. “Go early, don’t keep your friends waiting.”
Her mom’s thoughtfulness was clearly a way to get her out of the house. Wen Ying nodded obediently.
“Okay, I’ll be home early.”
Wen Ying slung her backpack over her shoulder and went downstairs. Once Chen Ru closed the door, Wen Ying tiptoed back up, pressing her ear to the door. As expected, an argument had started.
With no outsiders present, Wen Dongrong didn’t hold back.
“Have you had enough? Shu Guobing’s been detained, and you still think I’m siding with my sister’s family over you and Wen Ying?”
Chen Ru sneered. “Say that with a hand on your conscience. If Shu Guobing hadn’t reported you and threatened your career, would you have acted against him? Wen, you’re not siding with us, you’re siding with yourself. You’re selfish! Let me put it bluntly: let’s see if I’m right. Shu Guobing won’t be locked up for long. Once your sister and niece make a fuss, you’ll soften.”
“You’re utterly unreasonable!” Wen Dongrong snapped.
He stormed over, flung open the door to leave, and caught Wen Ying red-handed. He glanced at her. “What are you sneaking around here to hear?”
Without waiting for her reply, Wen Dongrong strode downstairs.
Chen Ru was left alone in the rented apartment, sitting on the sofa, tears streaming down her face.
Twenty years of devotion to the Wen family, and all she got was “utterly unreasonable”?
After years of marriage, she knew Wen Dongrong, and he knew her. Chen Ru couldn’t believe he didn’t know what she wanted to hear, yet he refused to say it.
Wen Ying lingered at the door for a moment before choosing to walk in.
Chen Ru turned her face away. “Why haven’t you left?”
Despite her quick movement, Wen Ying caught the redness in Chen Ru’s eyes.
In Wen Ying’s memory, Chen Ru was always domineering in front of her, never yielding.
Other mothers, missing their kids who lived far away, might cry, throw tantrums, or feign illness to bring them home. Not Chen Ru, she’d scold Wen Ying outright. Wen Ying, who responded better to softness than harshness, would end up arguing with her over the phone after a few words.
In her past life, after Chen Li and Deng Shangwei divorced, Chen Li often cried. Wen Ying saw it so much it became unremarkable.
Chen Ru crying? Wen Ying only recalled two instances: when her maternal grandparents passed away.
Now, Wen Ying no longer felt schadenfreude or hoped her parents’ fights would escalate. When Chen Ru asked why she hadn’t left, Wen Ying stood by the sofa. “Mom, is Dad always like this?”
Outsiders thought Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong were a model couple, with no gossip about the Wen family.
Their so-called model marriage now seemed more like Chen Ru’s unilateral concessions.
If Chen Ru yielded, there’d be no fights.
Now that she refused to back down, Wen Dongrong was too accustomed to their decades-long dynamic.
Chen Ru wiped her face. “Why are you asking about this? Adult matters, you should pretend you didn’t see anything. You…”
Whatever came after “you,” Chen Ru forgot to say.
Because Wen Ying suddenly rushed over and hugged her.
In the Wen household, the family of three rarely expressed affection physically. Wen Ying’s hug left Chen Ru at a loss, her body stiffening.
“Mom, whether you and Dad stay together or not, I support you. I’m on your side!”
After saying this, Wen Ying let go, a bit embarrassed, and bolted downstairs.
Chen Ru sat alone on the sofa, stunned for a long while before coming to her senses.
“You support me? You’re just a teenage girl, what good is your support?”
But was it really useless?
Chen Ru couldn’t describe her feelings. People said daughters were like warm jackets, but she’d never felt it deeply.
For years, Chen Ru had found Wen Ying mediocre, falling short of her expectations. Her strict discipline ensured Wen Ying kept her distance.
Wen Ying would link arms with Chen Li while shopping or act coy with her, but never with Chen Ru.
Chen Ru wouldn’t admit she was jealous of Wen Ying’s closeness with Chen Li.
What good was being so chummy with your kid? Without authority, you couldn’t control them!
Wen Ying’s sudden hug dispelled much of Chen Ru’s earlier helplessness.
Her sacrifices for the family weren’t just for Wen Dongrong to judge, Wen Ying’s opinion mattered too.
At the very least, Wen Ying acknowledged her, saying she’d stand by her side!
This Wen Ying might not quite be a warm jacket, but she was certainly no ungrateful wolf.
