The Goddess and the Ugly Duckling - Chapter 25

Before the College Entrance Exams

Xiaoya took out the keys from her back pack, carefully opening the door, poking her head inside, she noticed the shoes on the shoe rack, compared to how they were before she left was…

Silent oppression, it was enough to break the psychological defence of a guilty person, and XIaoya now sobbed out, “I-I… didn’t want to go to school.”

iana: when her mother said she thought Xiaoya skipped school because she found a lover~… (⊙_⊙;) That woman’s instinct is scary accurate.

Xiaoya pulled out her keys, and shoved them in her pocket, having no clue what to do with her hands and feet as she spoke, “Mom.”

“So you’ve come back?” The cold voice of a woman found its way to Xiaoya’s ear.

Just now, Xiaoya was suddenly agitated just now, but despite it being deliberate, those tears of hers were very much real. There had been many times in her former semester she had left her house and thought about not going to school. She wanted to spend day after day sitting on a park bench, or aimlessly walking around the city again and again…

Her mother then said, “It’s true he was wrong in how he handled that matter, but after your first year you will most likely never end up in his class again.”

“He’s just putting on an act.” Xiaoya said in retort.

Xiaoya pulled out her keys, and shoved them in her pocket, having no clue what to do with her hands and feet as she spoke, “Mom.”

Before the College Entrance Exams

Opening the door, her mother stood outside it while her father sat on the living room sofa, the situation seeming as though it wasn’t entirely bad. So, retreating a few steps, Xiaoya allowed her mother to enter.

Lu Xiaobei: Yes, my dear wife, I did as you decreed!

Lu Xiaobei: Did you make it home?

Lu Xiaobei: Did you make it home?

Xiaoya’s mother was standing in the entryway, her gaze icy as it was locked onto Xiaoya. “Where were you?”

“He’s just putting on an act.” Xiaoya said in retort.

(a) I went to school

Xiaoya crouched herself on the floor, burying her face within her arms. Please, please don’t find out about me and Lu Xiaobei. Xiaoya would rather have her own blood spilt and never wished for the person she loved to suffer any kind of hurt.

Xiaoya pulled out her keys, and shoved them in her pocket, having no clue what to do with her hands and feet as she spoke, “Mom.”

Lu Xiaobei: Yes, my dear wife, I did as you decreed!

(b) Because I felt sick, I went to the hospital on my own.

Xiaoya covered her face, choking with sobs as she spoke, “You guys have no idea what I go through at school! Mr. Nan set up a spy in the class to report every little thing back to him, and everyone thinks it’s me—they all talk behind my back…”

Lu Xiaobei: Why aren’t you calling me by my name?

She just thought that her mother knew her too well, she she definitely wouldn’t be able to resist the woman’s interrogation.

“So you’ve come back?” The cold voice of a woman found its way to Xiaoya’s ear.

Xiaoya: No, not yet.

But she replied, “No, I’m not hungry.”

“He’s just putting on an act.” Xiaoya said in retort.

(c) I was out having fun.

Xiaoya lowered her head, nodding. “Okay. Saying it out loud would be better.”

Those three answers lingered inside Xiaoya’s mind, all of them fighting against the other. If Xiaoya wanted her conscience to be at ease, she would’ve just told the truth from the get go. But… she and Lu Xiaobei had only just confessed they felt the same way, and she didn’t really dare say more.

Thinking of her budding love, of her mother finding out, all Xiaoya felt was guilty and afraid. She couldn’t say anything and before she knew it, giant blobs of tears started leaving her eyes.

Unlike usual, her mother didn’t didn’t try to persuade her into coming out to eat. Instead she left the room, closing the door behind her, giving her daughter some space.

N/A

With her back against the door, Xiaoya sat there quietly. Sniffing her nose, she could only wonder, Mom didn’t find out about Lu Xiaobei, did she?

iana: when her mother said she thought Xiaoya skipped school because she found a lover~… (⊙_⊙;) That woman’s instinct is scary accurate.

Her mother then said, “It’s true he was wrong in how he handled that matter, but after your first year you will most likely never end up in his class again.”

She won’t know about it, right? When Lu Xiaobei came over last time, she didn’t find any clues, right?

She just thought that her mother knew her too well, she she definitely wouldn’t be able to resist the woman’s interrogation.

Lu Xiaobei: Why aren’t you calling me by my name?

Xiaoya: No, not yet.

Leaning back on the door, she heard her father’s return, followed by the sounds of him and her mother talking. She pressed her ear against the door, wanting to know what they were saying, but her efforts were of no use.

Thinking of her budding love, of her mother finding out, all Xiaoya felt was guilty and afraid. She couldn’t say anything and before she knew it, giant blobs of tears started leaving her eyes.

Apart from Lu Xiaobei, this was her biggest secret, and the mark it left couldn’t be removed from her heart.

Xiaoya’s mother stood there, silently, she had no words.

iana: when her mother said she thought Xiaoya skipped school because she found a lover~… (⊙_⊙;) That woman’s instinct is scary accurate.

Xiaoya cried out loudly. It was her biggest source of unhappiness, her root cause of her depression an pain. “Nobody trusts me, nobody hangs out with me, they don’t even talk to me! Every day at that school was pure misery! And you guys… you guys sent gifts to Mr. Nan when I hate him so much.”

“So you’ve come back?” The cold voice of a woman found its way to Xiaoya’s ear.

Lu Xiaobei: Did you make it home?

Xiaoya: Yeah, I’m home.

She won’t know about it, right? When Lu Xiaobei came over last time, she didn’t find any clues, right?

That there was no one who loved her.

Or is this only her probing me because she knows I skipped class?

Xiaoya: Yeah, I’m home.

Her phone vibrated inside her pocket. Once Xiaoya unlocked the screen, she saw Lu Xiaobei had sent her a message.

Xiaoya’s mother let out a sigh, but Xiaoya didn’t see it. She had shut her eyes tightly, the deeper pain she felt being hidden.

Lu Xiaobei: Why aren’t you calling me by my name?

Xiaoya’s mom: “Go to your room.”

Lu Xiaobei: Why aren’t you calling me by my name?

“You know, today when Mr. Nan called and said you asked for for sick leave, he was very concerned about you.” Her mother added.

Silent oppression, it was enough to break the psychological defence of a guilty person, and XIaoya now sobbed out, “I-I… didn’t want to go to school.”

Xiaoya’s thumb resting on the screen paused, ‘Lu Xiaobei has her college entrance exams tomorrow.’

Xiaoya covered her face, choking with sobs as she spoke, “You guys have no idea what I go through at school! Mr. Nan set up a spy in the class to report every little thing back to him, and everyone thinks it’s me—they all talk behind my back…”

Those three answers lingered inside Xiaoya’s mind, all of them fighting against the other. If Xiaoya wanted her conscience to be at ease, she would’ve just told the truth from the get go. But… she and Lu Xiaobei had only just confessed they felt the same way, and she didn’t really dare say more.

Thinking of her budding love, of her mother finding out, all Xiaoya felt was guilty and afraid. She couldn’t say anything and before she knew it, giant blobs of tears started leaving her eyes.

But she replied, “No, I’m not hungry.”

Xiaoya pulled out her keys, and shoved them in her pocket, having no clue what to do with her hands and feet as she spoke, “Mom.”

“Your dad and I talked about what’s going on with you. We think that since you only have one month left in your first high school year you can just endure it until the end. When you get placed in your second year classes, you’ll meet new classmates and can make new friends.” Her mother’s voice was very gentle while she spoke, with her then adding, “When you’re a student, you’ll encounter many different things, including being misunderstood by your classmates. Your older cousin that you like so much also went through something like this when she was in middle school. But, just know, that no matter what happens, your dad and I both love you.”

She won’t know about it, right? When Lu Xiaobei came over last time, she didn’t find any clues, right?

(b) Because I felt sick, I went to the hospital on my own.

Xiaoya cried out loudly. It was her biggest source of unhappiness, her root cause of her depression an pain. “Nobody trusts me, nobody hangs out with me, they don’t even talk to me! Every day at that school was pure misery! And you guys… you guys sent gifts to Mr. Nan when I hate him so much.”

Xiaoya was well aware she had escaped a disaster, but for some reason, her heart still felt a bit uneasy.

Xiaoya crouched herself on the floor, burying her face within her arms. Please, please don’t find out about me and Lu Xiaobei. Xiaoya would rather have her own blood spilt and never wished for the person she loved to suffer any kind of hurt.

Leaning back on the door, she heard her father’s return, followed by the sounds of him and her mother talking. She pressed her ear against the door, wanting to know what they were saying, but her efforts were of no use.

Xiaoya changed her shoes, then quickly made her way to her room, shutting the door.

(b) Because I felt sick, I went to the hospital on my own.

Xiaoya’s mom: “Go to your room.”

Unlike usual, her mother didn’t didn’t try to persuade her into coming out to eat. Instead she left the room, closing the door behind her, giving her daughter some space.

Xiaoya changed her shoes, then quickly made her way to her room, shutting the door.

Lu Xiaobei: Did you make it home?

With her back against the door, Xiaoya sat there quietly. Sniffing her nose, she could only wonder, Mom didn’t find out about Lu Xiaobei, did she?

Xiaoya’s mother stood there, silently, she had no words.

Lu Xiaobei: Yes, my dear wife, I did as you decreed!

N/A

Xiaoya covered her face, choking with sobs as she spoke, “You guys have no idea what I go through at school! Mr. Nan set up a spy in the class to report every little thing back to him, and everyone thinks it’s me—they all talk behind my back…”

But she replied, “No, I’m not hungry.”

Just now, Xiaoya was suddenly agitated just now, but despite it being deliberate, those tears of hers were very much real. There had been many times in her former semester she had left her house and thought about not going to school. She wanted to spend day after day sitting on a park bench, or aimlessly walking around the city again and again…

Her mother then said, “It’s true he was wrong in how he handled that matter, but after your first year you will most likely never end up in his class again.”

Just now, Xiaoya was suddenly agitated just now, but despite it being deliberate, those tears of hers were very much real. There had been many times in her former semester she had left her house and thought about not going to school. She wanted to spend day after day sitting on a park bench, or aimlessly walking around the city again and again…

Her mother then asked, “Do you want to come out and eat”

“When you first came back, I was pretty mad, you know? I thought you dating or something and skipped school for that. So, for that, I’m sorry.” Her mother’s voice sounded very apologetic. “I told your father that as you get older, in the future, there’ll be times where we’ll think you’re making a mistake, but there’s nothing we can do. So if there is anything you’d like to say, you can tell us. Your dad and I will always be on your side.”

“Your dad and I talked about what’s going on with you. We think that since you only have one month left in your first high school year you can just endure it until the end. When you get placed in your second year classes, you’ll meet new classmates and can make new friends.” Her mother’s voice was very gentle while she spoke, with her then adding, “When you’re a student, you’ll encounter many different things, including being misunderstood by your classmates. Your older cousin that you like so much also went through something like this when she was in middle school. But, just know, that no matter what happens, your dad and I both love you.”

Xiaoya’s mother was standing in the entryway, her gaze icy as it was locked onto Xiaoya. “Where were you?”

With her back against the door, Xiaoya sat there quietly. Sniffing her nose, she could only wonder, Mom didn’t find out about Lu Xiaobei, did she?

But, she was simply too accustomed to following the rules, and had very little courage to attempt anything different.

Lu Xiaobei: Did your mom and dad come back home yet?

Xiaoya took out the keys from her back pack, carefully opening the door, poking her head inside, she noticed the shoes on the shoe rack, compared to how they were before she left was…

Xiaoya crouched herself on the floor, burying her face within her arms. Please, please don’t find out about me and Lu Xiaobei. Xiaoya would rather have her own blood spilt and never wished for the person she loved to suffer any kind of hurt.

(b) Because I felt sick, I went to the hospital on my own.

iana: when her mother said she thought Xiaoya skipped school because she found a lover~… (⊙_⊙;) That woman’s instinct is scary accurate.

But, she was simply too accustomed to following the rules, and had very little courage to attempt anything different.

Lu Xiaobei: Did your mom and dad come back home yet?

Apart from Lu Xiaobei, this was her biggest secret, and the mark it left couldn’t be removed from her heart.

Xiaoya took out the keys from her back pack, carefully opening the door, poking her head inside, she noticed the shoes on the shoe rack, compared to how they were before she left was…

Even now, despite Mo Yichen being in the class with her, and Lu Xiaobei being at school. Both of them always by her side as her best friend and her lover, she would still often times find herself waking up in the middle of the night, after dreaming she was again left all alone.

She won’t know about it, right? When Lu Xiaobei came over last time, she didn’t find any clues, right?

That there was no one who loved her.

“Your dad and I talked about what’s going on with you. We think that since you only have one month left in your first high school year you can just endure it until the end. When you get placed in your second year classes, you’ll meet new classmates and can make new friends.” Her mother’s voice was very gentle while she spoke, with her then adding, “When you’re a student, you’ll encounter many different things, including being misunderstood by your classmates. Your older cousin that you like so much also went through something like this when she was in middle school. But, just know, that no matter what happens, your dad and I both love you.”

But she replied, “No, I’m not hungry.”

Unlike usual, her mother didn’t didn’t try to persuade her into coming out to eat. Instead she left the room, closing the door behind her, giving her daughter some space.

“When you first came back, I was pretty mad, you know? I thought you dating or something and skipped school for that. So, for that, I’m sorry.” Her mother’s voice sounded very apologetic. “I told your father that as you get older, in the future, there’ll be times where we’ll think you’re making a mistake, but there’s nothing we can do. So if there is anything you’d like to say, you can tell us. Your dad and I will always be on your side.”

“Your dad and I talked about what’s going on with you. We think that since you only have one month left in your first high school year you can just endure it until the end. When you get placed in your second year classes, you’ll meet new classmates and can make new friends.” Her mother’s voice was very gentle while she spoke, with her then adding, “When you’re a student, you’ll encounter many different things, including being misunderstood by your classmates. Your older cousin that you like so much also went through something like this when she was in middle school. But, just know, that no matter what happens, your dad and I both love you.”

Thinking of her budding love, of her mother finding out, all Xiaoya felt was guilty and afraid. She couldn’t say anything and before she knew it, giant blobs of tears started leaving her eyes.

Xiaoya: Yeah, I’m home.

Her phone vibrated inside her pocket. Once Xiaoya unlocked the screen, she saw Lu Xiaobei had sent her a message.

Xiaoya cried out loudly. It was her biggest source of unhappiness, her root cause of her depression an pain. “Nobody trusts me, nobody hangs out with me, they don’t even talk to me! Every day at that school was pure misery! And you guys… you guys sent gifts to Mr. Nan when I hate him so much.”

She just thought that her mother knew her too well, she she definitely wouldn’t be able to resist the woman’s interrogation.

Lu Xiaobei: You ran around a lot today so you’ll be tired. Go to sleep early, alright?

Lu Xiaobei: Did you make it home?

Xiaoya sputtered out a laugh while at the same time her tears fell on the screen. She was so incredibly happy in that moment, so incredibly scared.

Xiaoya: Yeah, I’m home.

Her phone vibrated inside her pocket. Once Xiaoya unlocked the screen, she saw Lu Xiaobei had sent her a message.

iana: when her mother said she thought Xiaoya skipped school because she found a lover~… (⊙_⊙;) That woman’s instinct is scary accurate.

“Your dad and I talked about what’s going on with you. We think that since you only have one month left in your first high school year you can just endure it until the end. When you get placed in your second year classes, you’ll meet new classmates and can make new friends.” Her mother’s voice was very gentle while she spoke, with her then adding, “When you’re a student, you’ll encounter many different things, including being misunderstood by your classmates. Your older cousin that you like so much also went through something like this when she was in middle school. But, just know, that no matter what happens, your dad and I both love you.”

Lu Xiaobei: Did your mom and dad come back home yet?

N/A

That there was no one who loved her.

With her back against the door, Xiaoya sat there quietly. Sniffing her nose, she could only wonder, Mom didn’t find out about Lu Xiaobei, did she?

Thinking of her budding love, of her mother finding out, all Xiaoya felt was guilty and afraid. She couldn’t say anything and before she knew it, giant blobs of tears started leaving her eyes.

Xiaoya crouched herself on the floor, burying her face within her arms. Please, please don’t find out about me and Lu Xiaobei. Xiaoya would rather have her own blood spilt and never wished for the person she loved to suffer any kind of hurt.

Xiaoya’s thumb resting on the screen paused, ‘Lu Xiaobei has her college entrance exams tomorrow.’

Xiaoya: Alright. Did you brush up on the questions, Captain?

Xiaoya covered her face, choking with sobs as she spoke, “You guys have no idea what I go through at school! Mr. Nan set up a spy in the class to report every little thing back to him, and everyone thinks it’s me—they all talk behind my back…”

Lu Xiaobei: Did you make it home?

Xiaoya: No, not yet.

Xiaoya changed her shoes, then quickly made her way to her room, shutting the door.

Lu Xiaobei: You ran around a lot today so you’ll be tired. Go to sleep early, alright?

Or is this only her probing me because she knows I skipped class?

Xiaoya: Yeah, I’m home.

Just now, Xiaoya was suddenly agitated just now, but despite it being deliberate, those tears of hers were very much real. There had been many times in her former semester she had left her house and thought about not going to school. She wanted to spend day after day sitting on a park bench, or aimlessly walking around the city again and again…

Xiaoya’s mother was standing in the entryway, her gaze icy as it was locked onto Xiaoya. “Where were you?”

But, she was simply too accustomed to following the rules, and had very little courage to attempt anything different.

Opening the door, her mother stood outside it while her father sat on the living room sofa, the situation seeming as though it wasn’t entirely bad. So, retreating a few steps, Xiaoya allowed her mother to enter.

(c) I was out having fun.

Xiaoya: Alright. Did you brush up on the questions, Captain?

Xiaoya’s mom: “Go to your room.”

Lu Xiaobei: Why aren’t you calling me by my name?

Her mother then asked, “Do you want to come out and eat”

Xiaoya: Hey, I asked if you did any revisions!

It was already past the time for dinner, but no one had come to call her out.

Lu Xiaobei: Did your mom and dad come back home yet?

Opening the door, her mother stood outside it while her father sat on the living room sofa, the situation seeming as though it wasn’t entirely bad. So, retreating a few steps, Xiaoya allowed her mother to enter.

Lu Xiaobei: Yes, my dear wife, I did as you decreed!

Xiaoya’s mother let out a sigh, but Xiaoya didn’t see it. She had shut her eyes tightly, the deeper pain she felt being hidden.

Xiaoya sputtered out a laugh while at the same time her tears fell on the screen. She was so incredibly happy in that moment, so incredibly scared.

With her back against the door, Xiaoya sat there quietly. Sniffing her nose, she could only wonder, Mom didn’t find out about Lu Xiaobei, did she?

Xiaoya’s mother stood there, silently, she had no words.

That there was no one who loved her.

Leaning back on the door, she heard her father’s return, followed by the sounds of him and her mother talking. She pressed her ear against the door, wanting to know what they were saying, but her efforts were of no use.

(b) Because I felt sick, I went to the hospital on my own.

Unlike usual, her mother didn’t didn’t try to persuade her into coming out to eat. Instead she left the room, closing the door behind her, giving her daughter some space.

“You know, today when Mr. Nan called and said you asked for for sick leave, he was very concerned about you.” Her mother added.

It was already past the time for dinner, but no one had come to call her out.

“So you’ve come back?” The cold voice of a woman found its way to Xiaoya’s ear.

But, she was simply too accustomed to following the rules, and had very little courage to attempt anything different.

She just thought that her mother knew her too well, she she definitely wouldn’t be able to resist the woman’s interrogation.

Xiaoya’s mother was standing in the entryway, her gaze icy as it was locked onto Xiaoya. “Where were you?”

Then there arrived a knock on the door, it was light, seeming as though it was one tapping on her own heart.

Xiaoya covered her face, choking with sobs as she spoke, “You guys have no idea what I go through at school! Mr. Nan set up a spy in the class to report every little thing back to him, and everyone thinks it’s me—they all talk behind my back…”

“You know, today when Mr. Nan called and said you asked for for sick leave, he was very concerned about you.” Her mother added.

Then there arrived a knock on the door, it was light, seeming as though it was one tapping on her own heart.

Opening the door, her mother stood outside it while her father sat on the living room sofa, the situation seeming as though it wasn’t entirely bad. So, retreating a few steps, Xiaoya allowed her mother to enter.

Xiaoya pulled out her keys, and shoved them in her pocket, having no clue what to do with her hands and feet as she spoke, “Mom.”

But, she was simply too accustomed to following the rules, and had very little courage to attempt anything different.

Her mother then asked, “Do you want to come out and eat”

With her back against the door, Xiaoya sat there quietly. Sniffing her nose, she could only wonder, Mom didn’t find out about Lu Xiaobei, did she?

Even now, despite Mo Yichen being in the class with her, and Lu Xiaobei being at school. Both of them always by her side as her best friend and her lover, she would still often times find herself waking up in the middle of the night, after dreaming she was again left all alone.

Just now, Xiaoya was suddenly agitated just now, but despite it being deliberate, those tears of hers were very much real. There had been many times in her former semester she had left her house and thought about not going to school. She wanted to spend day after day sitting on a park bench, or aimlessly walking around the city again and again…

Opening the door, her mother stood outside it while her father sat on the living room sofa, the situation seeming as though it wasn’t entirely bad. So, retreating a few steps, Xiaoya allowed her mother to enter.

Lu Xiaobei: You ran around a lot today so you’ll be tired. Go to sleep early, alright?

Xiaoya moved to a corner of her room, she knew her current state didn’t appear all that great, but she didn’t care enough to sort herself out.

(a) I went to school

Then there arrived a knock on the door, it was light, seeming as though it was one tapping on her own heart.

But, she was simply too accustomed to following the rules, and had very little courage to attempt anything different.

Xiaoya took out the keys from her back pack, carefully opening the door, poking her head inside, she noticed the shoes on the shoe rack, compared to how they were before she left was…

Her mother then said, “It’s true he was wrong in how he handled that matter, but after your first year you will most likely never end up in his class again.”

“Your dad and I talked about what’s going on with you. We think that since you only have one month left in your first high school year you can just endure it until the end. When you get placed in your second year classes, you’ll meet new classmates and can make new friends.” Her mother’s voice was very gentle while she spoke, with her then adding, “When you’re a student, you’ll encounter many different things, including being misunderstood by your classmates. Your older cousin that you like so much also went through something like this when she was in middle school. But, just know, that no matter what happens, your dad and I both love you.”

Then there arrived a knock on the door, it was light, seeming as though it was one tapping on her own heart.

iana: when her mother said she thought Xiaoya skipped school because she found a lover~… (⊙_⊙;) That woman’s instinct is scary accurate.

Xiaoya: Hey, I asked if you did any revisions!

Those three answers lingered inside Xiaoya’s mind, all of them fighting against the other. If Xiaoya wanted her conscience to be at ease, she would’ve just told the truth from the get go. But… she and Lu Xiaobei had only just confessed they felt the same way, and she didn’t really dare say more.

She won’t know about it, right? When Lu Xiaobei came over last time, she didn’t find any clues, right?

“You know, today when Mr. Nan called and said you asked for for sick leave, he was very concerned about you.” Her mother added.

Xiaoya: No, not yet.

“He’s just putting on an act.” Xiaoya said in retort.

Even now, despite Mo Yichen being in the class with her, and Lu Xiaobei being at school. Both of them always by her side as her best friend and her lover, she would still often times find herself waking up in the middle of the night, after dreaming she was again left all alone.

Xiaoya sputtered out a laugh while at the same time her tears fell on the screen. She was so incredibly happy in that moment, so incredibly scared.

Xiaoya: Yeah, I’m home.

Her mother then said, “It’s true he was wrong in how he handled that matter, but after your first year you will most likely never end up in his class again.”

But, she was simply too accustomed to following the rules, and had very little courage to attempt anything different.

Unlike usual, her mother didn’t didn’t try to persuade her into coming out to eat. Instead she left the room, closing the door behind her, giving her daughter some space.

Apart from Lu Xiaobei, this was her biggest secret, and the mark it left couldn’t be removed from her heart.

“When you first came back, I was pretty mad, you know? I thought you dating or something and skipped school for that. So, for that, I’m sorry.” Her mother’s voice sounded very apologetic. “I told your father that as you get older, in the future, there’ll be times where we’ll think you’re making a mistake, but there’s nothing we can do. So if there is anything you’d like to say, you can tell us. Your dad and I will always be on your side.”

Lu Xiaobei: Yes, my dear wife, I did as you decreed!

Xiaoya: Alright. Did you brush up on the questions, Captain?

“Your dad and I talked about what’s going on with you. We think that since you only have one month left in your first high school year you can just endure it until the end. When you get placed in your second year classes, you’ll meet new classmates and can make new friends.” Her mother’s voice was very gentle while she spoke, with her then adding, “When you’re a student, you’ll encounter many different things, including being misunderstood by your classmates. Your older cousin that you like so much also went through something like this when she was in middle school. But, just know, that no matter what happens, your dad and I both love you.”

Thinking of her budding love, of her mother finding out, all Xiaoya felt was guilty and afraid. She couldn’t say anything and before she knew it, giant blobs of tears started leaving her eyes.

Leaning back on the door, she heard her father’s return, followed by the sounds of him and her mother talking. She pressed her ear against the door, wanting to know what they were saying, but her efforts were of no use.

Xiaoya took out the keys from her back pack, carefully opening the door, poking her head inside, she noticed the shoes on the shoe rack, compared to how they were before she left was…

“You know, today when Mr. Nan called and said you asked for for sick leave, he was very concerned about you.” Her mother added.

Xiaoya lowered her head, nodding. “Okay. Saying it out loud would be better.”

“When you first came back, I was pretty mad, you know? I thought you dating or something and skipped school for that. So, for that, I’m sorry.” Her mother’s voice sounded very apologetic. “I told your father that as you get older, in the future, there’ll be times where we’ll think you’re making a mistake, but there’s nothing we can do. So if there is anything you’d like to say, you can tell us. Your dad and I will always be on your side.”

Apart from Lu Xiaobei, this was her biggest secret, and the mark it left couldn’t be removed from her heart.

Even now, despite Mo Yichen being in the class with her, and Lu Xiaobei being at school. Both of them always by her side as her best friend and her lover, she would still often times find herself waking up in the middle of the night, after dreaming she was again left all alone.

Xiaoya’s mother let out a sigh, but Xiaoya didn’t see it. She had shut her eyes tightly, the deeper pain she felt being hidden.

Xiaoya’s mother was standing in the entryway, her gaze icy as it was locked onto Xiaoya. “Where were you?”

Xiaoya changed her shoes, then quickly made her way to her room, shutting the door.

Her mother then asked, “Do you want to come out and eat”

iana: when her mother said she thought Xiaoya skipped school because she found a lover~… (⊙_⊙;) That woman’s instinct is scary accurate.

Xiaoya: No, not yet.

Her mother then asked, “Do you want to come out and eat”

But she replied, “No, I’m not hungry.”

Xiaoya lowered her head, nodding. “Okay. Saying it out loud would be better.”

She just thought that her mother knew her too well, she she definitely wouldn’t be able to resist the woman’s interrogation.

But she replied, “No, I’m not hungry.”

Xiaoya moved to a corner of her room, she knew her current state didn’t appear all that great, but she didn’t care enough to sort herself out.

Xiaoya pulled out her keys, and shoved them in her pocket, having no clue what to do with her hands and feet as she spoke, “Mom.”

Xiaoya lowered her head, nodding. “Okay. Saying it out loud would be better.”

Unlike usual, her mother didn’t didn’t try to persuade her into coming out to eat. Instead she left the room, closing the door behind her, giving her daughter some space.

Xiaoya: Hey, I asked if you did any revisions!

Apart from Lu Xiaobei, this was her biggest secret, and the mark it left couldn’t be removed from her heart.

Just now, Xiaoya was suddenly agitated just now, but despite it being deliberate, those tears of hers were very much real. There had been many times in her former semester she had left her house and thought about not going to school. She wanted to spend day after day sitting on a park bench, or aimlessly walking around the city again and again…

Apart from Lu Xiaobei, this was her biggest secret, and the mark it left couldn’t be removed from her heart.

(b) Because I felt sick, I went to the hospital on my own.

Xiaoya was well aware she had escaped a disaster, but for some reason, her heart still felt a bit uneasy.

Xiaoya pulled out her keys, and shoved them in her pocket, having no clue what to do with her hands and feet as she spoke, “Mom.”

Xiaoya’s mother stood there, silently, she had no words.

Before the College Entrance Exams

Lu Xiaobei: You ran around a lot today so you’ll be tired. Go to sleep early, alright?

Lu Xiaobei: You ran around a lot today so you’ll be tired. Go to sleep early, alright?