Chapter 24

Li Sitong's entire body trembled, her mind buzzing as if someone were banging a drum in her head. Her lips quivered, but she couldn't find the words to say.

Apologize again?

She had already said it so many times.

What else could she say?

She shook slightly, unable to utter a single word.

Xuejiao took a deep breath. "Mom, you should go back. I need to study now."

With that, she turned and left. Her gaze landed on Yi Tianyu, who was peeking from the classroom window.

Their eyes met midair.

Yi Tianyu looked as though he had just been caught doing something wrong. He quickly turned his head and ducked out of sight.

Xuejiao hesitated for a moment before continuing forward, leaving Li Sitong standing there, frozen.

The classroom was chaotic, even in an experimental class. Conversations buzzed about grades, seating changes, and the parents' meeting that had just concluded. Teachers had yet to return, and the students' energy filled the air.

Xuejiao quietly returned to her seat, pulled out her physics book, and started studying.

In her last life, electromagnetic physics had been a significant weakness. She struggled with problems in this area, and her error rate for related questions had been abysmally high. This time, she resolved to learn it thoroughly and close the gaps in her understanding.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed Yi Tianyu glancing her way repeatedly. After some time, he pulled a small packet of soda biscuits from his desk drawer.

He stared at the biscuits for a moment, frowning. "Is this all I've got?" he muttered to himself.

He searched his drawer again, confirming there was nothing else, and then carefully placed the biscuits on his desk. Pushing them across to Xuejiao with his fingers, he asked casually, "Hey, idiot, want some?"

Xuejiao looked at the biscuits, slightly startled. She raised her eyes to meet his. "No, thank you. You can have them."

Yi Tianyu nudged the biscuits closer. "If you're feeling down, eat something. It'll help."

He watched her expectantly, his gaze unwavering.

Feeling awkward under his persistent stare, Xuejiao eventually picked up the packet. After a long pause, she opened it and began eating slowly.

"Well? Feeling better now?" Yi Tianyu asked eagerly.

Xuejiao remained silent.

"No?" His expression faltered.

Then, in an exaggerated tone, he added, "Listen, some adults just don't understand us. You don't need to argue with them. Especially menopausal women—they're unpredictable! You're great as you are! My dad even said he wanted to adopt you as his daughter the first time he saw you!"

Xuejiao glanced at him but didn't respond.

Yi Tianyu's movements became stiff. Awkwardly scratching his head, he muttered, "I mean it... really..."

Still, Xuejiao didn't say a word.

"Hey... are you so upset you can't even talk?" His tone softened, his concern evident. He leaned on the desk, his large frame towering over her, his eyes full of worry.

Finally, Xuejiao opened her mouth. Her voice was hoarse. "The biscuits... too dry. I couldn't talk."

Yi Tianyu froze, momentarily at a loss.

Yi Tianyu held Xuejiao's small pink cup carefully as he returned with water. He set it on her desk and said, "Is this tiny cup all you've got? It barely holds anything!"

Used to drinking large amounts of water after playing basketball, he couldn't understand how anyone could manage with such a small cup.

Xuejiao rolled her eyes. "Thanks, but this cup is fine for me."

Standing up, she added, "I said I'd get the water myself. You insisted on taking the cup, and now I have to stand up just to let you back in. Next time, I'll get my own water and save us both the trouble."

Yi Tianyu glared at her. "You don't even appreciate the good deed I just did for you! If it weren't for the fact that you're upset with your mom, I wouldn't have bothered!"

At the mention of "mom," Xuejiao's mood visibly dimmed.

Yi Tianyu winced, mentally kicking himself for bringing it up. Why couldn't he keep his mouth shut?

After a moment, Xuejiao seemed to shake off her sadness. Her eyes brightened slightly. "Yi Tianyu, take out your exam paper."

"Huh?" He blinked in confusion but eventually pulled out his paper.

Xuejiao unfolded it, pen in hand. "You shouldn't have gotten this question wrong. I went over this before the exam. It's from the examples in Unit 2. Look here..."

"Wait!" Yi Tianyu interrupted, raising his voice. "Are you seriously about to tutor me?"

Xuejiao nodded earnestly, her brow furrowed. "Yi Tianyu, I'm about to go over my own paper soon. Focus, okay?"

Yi Tianyu sighed inwardly. "Fine," he thought, suppressing his irritation. "She's in a bad mood. Let her do what she wants."

Leaning closer, he started listening to her explanation seriously.

As Xuejiao patiently explained the problem, Cheng Mingjiao walked into the classroom. She passed Xuejiao's desk and caught sight of her leaning toward Yi Tianyu, their heads close together.

Seeing Yi Tianyu listening attentively to Xuejiao's "lecture" made Cheng Mingjiao fume with irritation.

"Humph!" she scoffed, loud enough for both of them to hear.

Xuejiao paused, glancing up briefly but saying nothing.

Yi Tianyu, however, turned and glared at Cheng Mingjiao. "What are you, a pig? What are you grunting for?"

"You... you..." Cheng Mingjiao stammered, her face flushing red with embarrassment.

"Are you stuttering now, too?"

"Yi Tianyu!" she shouted, furious.

"I know my name sounds good, but I'd rather you not say it. You might pollute it," Yi Tianyu retorted with a smirk.

Cheng Mingjiao stomped her foot angrily and flopped into her seat, huffing.

Yi Tianyu ignored her and turned back to Xuejiao. His tone softened as he said, "Go on."

Meanwhile, Li Sitong left the school in a daze. As she approached the school gates, Cheng Shuo caught her in his arms.

"Sitong, what's wrong?"

She looked up at him, tears brimming in her eyes. "Ah Shuo... was I wrong? Did I let Jiaojiao down?"

"What happened?" Cheng Shuo asked, concern etched on his face.

Li Sitong recounted her conversation with Xuejiao, her voice trembling. Then, looking at Cheng Shuo with desperate hope, she asked, "She was just saying those things out of anger, right?"

Cheng Shuo was silent for a moment before gently guiding her to the car. Once they were seated, he said, "Sitong, Jiaojiao is a good child. She's working so hard to make you proud."

Li Sitong's mind flashed to the memory of Xuejiao crouching in front of her, eyes shining with determination, saying, "I will make you proud." But then, she remembered Xuejiao's recent words: "You always let me down."

Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, "I was wrong. I was wrong..."

Cheng Shuo held Li Sitong close, gently patting her back. "In the past, Jiaojiao was rebellious. She often opposed what you said, and her behavior upset you deeply. At that time, your strictness seemed justified, and I thought it was understandable given the circumstances. But Sitong, the Jiaojiao we see today isn't the same child she used to be. She's grown sensible, considerate, and she works hard."

He paused, watching Li Sitong's tearful face before continuing. "The problem now is that even though she's changed, your approach hasn't. You still don't trust her. Whenever something happens, you instinctively assume it's Jiaojiao's fault. Before, she may have made mistakes, but now, your mistrust only saddens her. It hurts her to be doubted by her closest family."

Li Sitong sobbed quietly, tears streaming down her face. Deep down, she knew Cheng Shuo was right. She didn't trust Jiaojiao, and that lack of faith had been devastating.

"You care about Jiaojiao, but sometimes, those we care about the most are the ones we neglect. You feel secure in her presence, so you let your guard down and lash out, thinking she'll always stay by your side. But Sitong, Jiaojiao won't be with you forever. She's growing up. Soon, she'll go to university, find a job, get married, and build her own family. What if she grows so distant you hardly see her again?"

Hearing this, Li Sitong froze in fear. The thought of Jiaojiao leaving her life sent chills down her spine. Memories of her failed first marriage and her father's passing flooded her mind. She clutched Cheng Shuo's arm tightly.

Cheng Shuo softened his tone. "Sitong, Jiaojiao is her own person. She has her own thoughts and feelings. When you hurt her, it leaves a deeper mark than you can imagine. Because she cares about you, she's hurt the most by your mistrust. You're her mother, the person she wants to rely on, but you've let her down too many times."

Li Sitong's heart felt as though it was being crushed. She thought of the times she had scolded Jiaojiao unfairly, the distrust, the slaps... The memories made her chest tighten with guilt.

"I was wrong! I was wrong!" Li Sitong cried out, burying her face in her hands.

Later that evening, Xuejiao finished her self-study session and left the classroom. As she stepped outside, she spotted two figures standing under the streetlamp: Cheng Mingze and Gu Shiyun.

The pair appeared to be talking, Cheng Mingze towering over Gu Shiyun's petite frame. The girl laughed softly, her smile delicate and graceful.

Xuejiao paused, unsure whether to approach them or walk to Cheng Shuo's car alone.

As if sensing her hesitation, Cheng Mingze looked up and waved. "Come here."

Resigned, Xuejiao approached. Gu Shiyun's smile faltered briefly but quickly returned, now tinged with shyness.

"Jiaojiao..." Gu Shiyun greeted softly, her tone almost affectionate.

Xuejiao frowned. "Don't call me that. I've already told you not to."

Gu Shiyun bit her lip, her expression pitifully aggrieved.

Cheng Mingze glanced at both girls, his face unreadable. "Let's go," he said simply.

Xuejiao followed him without a word. Gu Shiyun trailed behind, maintaining a perfect distance that felt neither too close nor too distant.

At the school gate, Gu Shiyun stopped and smiled brightly. "Brother Mingze, goodbye. And goodbye, Jiaojiao."

Xuejiao frowned. "I said, don't call me that."

Gu Shiyun's face filled with fleeting disappointment before she turned and left.

As they walked toward Cheng Shuo's car, Cheng Mingze asked, "Do you dislike her that much?"

Xuejiao glanced at him warily. "Why do you ask?"

Her tone carried suspicion, as if she expected him to defend Gu Shiyun.

Cheng Mingze sighed. "Never mind."

He opened the car door for her, and Xuejiao climbed in without another word. Cheng Shuo greeted them with a smile as he ended a phone call.

"Good job today, both of you!" Cheng Shuo said. "Your mom has prepared something special for dinner to celebrate your results."

"Celebrate?" Xuejiao repeated, startled.

When they arrived home, Li Sitong greeted them with uncharacteristic warmth. "Jiaojiao, Mingze! Come in quickly. I made all your favorites to celebrate!"

She reached out to take Xuejiao's bag, but Xuejiao stiffened slightly and stepped back. Noticing this, Li Sitong's smile faltered, but she quickly recovered.

At the dining table, Li Sitong presented a spread of handmade desserts and a beautifully decorated cake. Cheng Mingze, who wasn't fond of sweets, looked at the table with a mix of confusion and dread.

"Come, sit!" Li Sitong urged, cutting slices of cake for everyone.

Raising a glass of champagne, she beamed. "Let's celebrate! Congratulations to both Mingze and Jiaojiao for being first in their respective grades!"

Cheng Shuo chuckled and added, "You've both made us proud. Here's to your continued success!"

Cheng Mingze forced a smile as he reluctantly ate a slice of cake. The sweetness made him wince, and he quickly excused himself after finishing his portion.

Xuejiao, too, politely ate her cake and quietly left the table.

Li Sitong watched them go, her expression troubled. "Ah Shuo... Jiaojiao hasn't forgiven me, has she?"

Cheng Shuo placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Give her time. Her heart may feel frozen now, but you're her mother. With sincerity and patience, you can win her back."

Li Sitong nodded, but her resolve wavered. "I won't hurt her again. I swear I won't!"

Later that night, Xuejiao lay in bed, her mind restless. She picked up her phone and noticed a message.

Lin Zhihua: "Congratulations on being first."

Xuejiao smiled faintly and replied: "You seem to know everything."

The response came quickly.

Lin Zhihua: "Of course. I also know you're in a bad mood."

Her eyes widened. "How do you know?"

Lin Zhihua: "Because when you're happy, you go to bed on time. When you're upset, you check your phone."

Xuejiao stared at the screen, stunned. She replied: "You're right... as always."

After a pause, Lin Zhihua sent another message.

Lin Zhihua: "Let me share something with you."

A link followed. Curious, Xuejiao clicked on it and was greeted with information about the National Mathematics League for High School Students.

Her heart raced as she skimmed through the details. She had always wanted to participate in competitions like this but never had the chance.

Before she could process her excitement, another message arrived.

Lin Zhihua: "Instead of dwelling on negative emotions, why not channel your energy into something meaningful? You've already proven yourself in exams. Try something new."

Her hands trembled slightly as she typed: "Thank you, Lin Zhihua. I needed this."

The reply was immediate.

Lin Zhihua: "I'll help if you need guidance. I've been through it."

"You've participated?" she asked.

Lin Zhihua: "Yes, in my first year of high school. I won gold in math and chemistry and a grand prize in physics."

Xuejiao's jaw dropped. "You're amazing!"

Lin Zhihua: "Not bad."

Her admiration soared. "Is there anything you can't do?"

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