Having an overly clever tutor like Xie Qian is just like that.
Last year, after the high school entrance exams, Wen Ying and Xie Qian studied together. Xie Qian had already seen through Wen Ying’s tricks for fooling Teacher Liang with made-up excuses. When she tried the same tactics on him, he saw through them effortlessly.
Wen Ying, thick-skinned as ever, wasn’t fazed. Caught out? No problem, she just kept working on her questions.
The method was fine, but she’d used the wrong formula?
To mess up a formula like that—clearly Professor Fang’s letdown was to blame!
Xie Qian glanced at Wang Shuang at the next desk. Good, Wang Shuang was too busy to gossip, struggling with a tough question, nibbling on a pen—a classic slacker move. At his age, biting his fingers would’ve been too childish.
In the past, Wang Shuang wouldn’t even attempt questions, giving up on thinking altogether.
What was the point of thinking if he still couldn’t solve them? A lack of foundational knowledge couldn’t be fixed by pondering. But now, things were different. With effort, he could figure out solutions, even if the methods or formulas weren’t always right. At least he’d mastered multiple approaches and remembered plenty of formulas—real progress.
During the lunch break, Wang Shuang raved about Aunt Liu’s cooking, as always. A morning of studying left him hungrier than a basketball game. Once his stomach was full, his brain went blank, and he suddenly remembered something. Lowering his voice, he whispered mysteriously to Wen Ying and Xie Qian, “Ever since we got back from Hunan, my dad’s been giving me weird looks. Do you think he’s plotting something?”
Before Wen Ying could respond, his thoughts spiralled wildly, his expression shifting from secretive to gritted teeth, “I’m not gonna lie, I even suspect my dad did something to betray the family. Maybe hearing about Director Duan made him feel guilty!”
Wen Ying was stunned.
No way, even Mr. Wang had fallen?
Before she could comment, Xie Qian jumped in, “If you really suspect that, I can introduce you to a private detective. But think carefully before deciding. Some things are like Pandora’s box—once opened, there’s no going back. Can you handle the consequences of investigating your dad?”
If you don’t investigate, you don’t know.
If you don’t know, you’re still a happy family.
But if you do, and something’s there, how do you face it?
Wang Shuang was spooked by Xie Qian’s scenario, mumbling, “I was just saying…”
“You can’t joke about stuff like that. Your dad’s good to you. If he heard you suspecting him without proof, he’d be hurt.”
There are too many irresponsible men out there, some doubling as deadbeat dads and husbands. Wang Shuang had a good father and didn’t appreciate it.
Xie Qian wasn’t angry; he was thinking of what Wen Ying said about teaching Wang Shuang.
This was him teaching Wang Shuang.
Xie Qian believed maturity in a young person wasn’t just about studying harder or thinking independently. Another sign of maturity was “cherishing.”
Family ties, friendships, romantic relationships.
No one owes anyone unconditional kindness.
Cherishing the kindness others show you and giving back positively—that’s maturity.
Wang Shuang felt ashamed by Xie Qian’s words.
Deep down, he trusted his dad, but their father-son banter often got out of hand, and he spoke carelessly.
Every family has its way of getting along, and in private, that’s fine. But airing baseless suspicions to friends did tarnish Wang Jun’s image.
“I was wrong!”
Wang Shuang raised his hands in surrender, and Xie Qian didn’t press further.
After Xie Qian went upstairs, Wang Shuang grabbed Wen Ying to vent, “I know I messed up, but isn’t Xie Qian a bit too harsh? He’s younger than me, so why am I so scared of him?”
Wen Ying thought seriously, “They say when a tiger roams the forest, all beasts tremble. It’s not about age. Am I right or what?”
Wang Shuang shot her a withering look.
“Your mouth’s just as brutal!”
—She and Xie Qian were a match made in heaven.
Wang Shuang’s “I get it but I’m not saying it” expression left Wen Ying speechless. She wanted to retort, but Xie Qian’s alarm for their study session went off, and both sprang from the sofa like a reflex.
There was a test scheduled by Xie Qian that afternoon!
Hurry, hurry, hurry.
Wang Shuang, with his long legs, bolted upstairs first.
Wen Ying followed, envying Li Mengjiao, who stayed in Hunan and didn’t return to Chengdu.
By the afternoon, after a day of studying, Wen Ying felt her brain was stuffed with half a pound of mush. When Zheng Zhihe called, she nearly blurted out “Senior Brother Zheng.” Her tongue hit her teeth, snapping her back to clarity, “Is there news from Han Qin?”
“Indeed. After my gentle reminder, Ms. Han Qin recalled she owes you a public apology. After friendly negotiations, we set the apology publication for May 10. Before that, the compensation she owes should arrive. Are you satisfied with this outcome?”
Per the first-instance judgment, both *Aige* magazine and Han Qin had to issue public apologies. The magazine’s apology had a designated page and layout, while Wen Ying could specify Han Qin’s.
The compensation was 80,000 yuan, split between the magazine and Han Qin.
For defaming Wen Ying, Han Qin bore greater malice, so she was personally liable for 50,000 yuan.
The magazine had published its apology and paid 30,000 yuan, but Han Qin had been playing dead, showing no movement.
For a non-appealed judgment, the court could enforce compliance, but that would take time. Somehow, Zheng Zhihe’s “friendly negotiations” convinced Han Qin to cooperate.
On the phone, Zheng Zhihe downplayed it, “It’s a small matter. Ms. Han has recognised her mistake. She’s also dealing with another lawsuit. Caught up in two unresolved cases, it’s hard for her to move on with her life.”
Right, Xiao Ni’s case should be nearing a verdict too!
The female author Liang He, who perjured herself for Han Qin, recanted in court, meaning Han Qin was set to lose that case too.
Wen Ying had a realisation.
Someone like Han Qin wouldn’t admit fault willingly. She was just backed into a corner. Fired from the magazine, without institutional support, Han Qin couldn’t keep up her defiance.
“Thank you, Lawyer Zheng.”
The bonds between people are truly strange. In this reborn life, Wen Ying might not become a lawyer, but the mentors and elders she knew from her past life in that field were reconnecting with her.
She’d start a new life but wouldn’t abandon the beauty of her old one. That’s the way to live without regrets.
The last day of the National Day holiday was Wang Shuang’s eighteenth birthday.
The Wang family held a small coming-of-age ceremony, inviting not Wang Jun’s business associates but Wang Shuang’s own friends.
Wen Ying, Xie Qian, and others were invited, except for the Qin siblings studying out of town. Wang Shuang’s friends gathered, and after Wang’s mum led them through blowing out candles and cutting the cake, Wang Jun announced his son’s birthday gift—most of his shares in Tianjiao Film and Television!
—
**Mini Skit:**
Wang “Doting Father” Jun: My boy’s doing great, I’m giving him a big gift!
Wang “Filial Son” Shuang: My dad keeps grinning at me. Is he guilty of something bad?!
