Chapter 40: Returning to School Early

Shi Zhiyu leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window.

“Mom, it’s only 9:30 p.m. in Jiangcheng. You’re probably watching those brainless short dramas again. There’s no way you’re sleeping. Stop pretending to be tired.”

Qiao Yaxin was exposed on the spot and snorted lightly.

“Why are you calling home in the middle of the night again? Trying to ask about Shu Shu again?”

There was a two-second silence on the other end.

Then Shi Zhiyu spoke seriously.

“I want to ask you and Dad—what exactly happened to Shu Shu’s family?”

Qiao Yaxin exchanged a glance with Shi Hengjun.

They had guessed correctly.

“What happened to Shu Shu’s family? What’s going on?”

Shi Zhiyu’s voice grew heavy.

“She went back to Yuncheng for the May Day holiday. She’d only been home three days before someone bullied her.”

“Have Dad send someone to investigate and find out what’s happening.”

Qiao Yaxin immediately sat up straight.

“What’s going on? Who bullied our precious little girl?”

“I only know her family was in debt. Did the creditors come to force them to repay it? Were they even trying to force Shu Shu to repay the debt with her body?!”

It had to be said—Qiao Yaxin hadn’t wasted all that time watching short dramas.

She always managed to guess correctly.

Shi Zhiyu pressed his fingers against his temple and spoke in a deeper tone.

“Mom, something this serious happened. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

Qiao Yaxin rubbed her nose and stubbornly argued back.

“Hmph. Why should I tell you? In the end, isn’t it because you weren’t paying enough attention?”

“If you cared enough about her, you’d have returned to China sooner and stayed by her side. Then she wouldn’t have suffered these grievances.”

Shi Zhiyu felt a slight headache coming on.

His mother’s words left him speechless.

“Tsk… Put Dad on the phone.”

Qiao Yaxin snorted unhappily and muttered under her breath.

Her son had a girl he liked now, and he was already嫌弃ing his own mother.

Reluctantly, she handed the phone to her husband.

“Here. Your son wants to talk to you.”

The real reason Qiao Yaxin hadn’t told him was simple.

She had arranged for Tang Shu to complete the mission of winning over her son.

That was her way of giving money to Tang Shu’s family reasonably.

Because if they directly offered money—

Tao Qingrou would definitely refuse.

After all, the Tao family was a wealthy and influential family themselves.

They weren’t lacking that little bit of money.

And since Tao Qingrou hadn’t asked the Tao family for help, it clearly meant she didn’t want them simply handing over money.

Sigh…

Yuncheng Airport

Tang Shu had originally bought a high-speed rail ticket back to Jiangcheng.

She had planned to change the ticket, but because it was still a holiday period, she couldn’t.

She had secretly hoped to stay home and accompany her parents for two more days.

Only to discover that her mother had already asked Tao Hongyi to book her a flight departing immediately.

Not giving her the slightest chance to stay.

Standing in front of the security checkpoint, she looked at her parents, whom she had spent every day with.

Her nose stung.

It had only been a short time, yet she could clearly see the strands of white hair that had appeared at her father’s temples.

The fine lines around her mother’s eyes had also deepened.

Clutching her ID card tightly, Tang Shu couldn’t bear to move forward.

“Dad, Mom, after I leave, you have to properly deal with everything left at home.”

“If anything happens, call me immediately. Don’t keep everything bottled up yourselves.”

“You’ve tolerated Uncle’s family for years. You’ve kept giving in because of family ties and pride.”

“There’s really no need to keep wronging yourselves.”

“If they come causing trouble again, don’t be soft-hearted and don’t worry about saving face.”

“Just reject them firmly.”

Looking at her daughter, who kept worrying about them and repeatedly reminding them of things, Tao Qingrou’s eyes grew moist.

The little girl who had once always needed their protection had already grown up.

Now she was the one constantly worrying about them.

Beside them, Tang Songhai stepped forward and gently patted his daughter’s shoulder.

“Daughter, go without worries.”

“You don’t need to think about home day and night.”

“This time, your father absolutely won’t let you down.”

There was a ball of anger burning in his heart.

For years, he had been bound by filial piety and brotherly affection.

He had constantly yielded to his elder brother’s family.

But this time—

They had touched his bottom line.

They had actually plotted to marry his precious daughter off to a divorced middle-aged man with two children to repay a debt.

On this matter, he wouldn’t retreat even half a step.

Tang Shu looked into her father’s determined eyes and nodded gently.

“Dad, I believe you.”

“I’ll be waiting for good news in Jiangcheng.”

“Move there soon so we can be together again.”

“Okay.”

Tang Songhai responded before turning to Tao Hongyi.

“It’s about time. You two should go through security.”

Tao Qingrou then looked toward Tao Hongyi apologetically.

“Xiao Yi, thank you for running around with Shu Shu this whole trip.”

“Our family has been dealing with one messy issue after another, and you’ve had to witness all this family drama. I’m really sorry.”

“I’ll have to trouble you to look after Shu Shu on the way back.”

Tao Hongyi remained calm and gentle.

“Little Aunt, you’re being too polite.”

“It’s only natural for me to take care of Shu Shu.”

“You and Uncle can stay home and handle things peacefully.”

“I’ll definitely get Shu Shu back to her university safely.”

“You don’t need to worry.”

After saying their farewells, Tang Shu took one final long look at her parents.

Only then did she turn around and follow Tao Hongyi into the security checkpoint.

Halfway through the passageway, she couldn’t help stopping.

She turned back suddenly.

Tao Qingrou and Tang Songhai were still standing exactly where they had been, watching the direction she had left without moving.

Please let everything be resolved smoothly.

Jiangcheng University

Dragging her suitcase behind her, Tang Shu had just arrived at her dormitory.

“Mom, I’ve arrived safely.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Yes, I’ll eat on time and take good care of myself.”

“Mhm, I know. If anything happens, call me immediately. Bye.”

After ending the call, she unpacked her things.

Then she took out her phone and opened her pinned chat.

Shu Shu Has Candy: 【Brother, I’ve arrived safely at school~】

It was only one in the afternoon, and nobody else was in the dorm yet.

Tang Shu took out her tablet, opened her drawing software, and continued working on her comic.

The readership numbers on the backend steadily climbed.

Bookmarks and comments continued increasing.

Looking at the constantly rising statistics, the corners of her lips lifted higher and higher.

She was delighted.

In the blink of an eye, it was already four in the afternoon.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

Tang Shu removed her earphones and picked up the phone.

The caller ID showed Aunt Qiao.

Confusion flashed through her mind.

Why was Qiao Yaxin suddenly calling her?

She answered.

“Hello, Aunt Qiao.”

Qiao Yaxin’s warm and enthusiastic voice came through the receiver.

“Shu Shu, Xiao Yu told me you returned to Jiangcheng today. Have you reached school yet?”

“Mhm, I’m here.”

“Then come visit our house when you have time.”

“I’ve been experimenting with several new dishes recently. Perfect timing—you can come taste them for me.”

Tang Shu felt a little awkward.

“Ah? Auntie, wouldn’t that be troubling you too much?”

Qiao Yaxin deliberately softened her tone and acted spoiled.

“It’s just the two of us at home. It’s terribly quiet.”

“I simply want a young girl to chat with.”

“You’re still on vacation, and you’ll just be sitting alone in your dorm anyway.”

“Come keep this lonely old woman company, okay?”

Tang Shu couldn’t help laughing.

“Okay. I’ll come over in a little while.”

“That’s a good girl.”

“I’ll send a driver to pick you up. He should arrive downstairs at your dorm in about half an hour.”

“Thank you for the trouble, Aunt Qiao. Thank you, Auntie.”

Shi Family Villa

Shi Hengjun sat on the sofa.

Looking at the obvious happiness hidden in his wife’s eyes, he deliberately sighed in grievance.

“So I don’t count as a person now?”

“I’ve been keeping you company all day, yet you still say the house feels lonely.”

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