After being rejected by the school beauty, he picked up a treasure girl

"This... I didn't bring anything with me, how can I accept your gift?"

Xue Yuanxia was just about to reach out her hand.

Yang Xiaozhi took action before her.

He stood in front of the gift, isolated Xue Yuanxia behind him, and said to Lin Xi:
"Cousin, since my mother doesn't want it, you shouldn't insist."

Hearing this, Xue Yuanxia's expression suddenly changed.

She was just being polite.

Why did this brat Yang Xiaozhi take it seriously?

Xiaoxi is a wealthy woman, so the gifts she gives cannot be cheap.

"Cousin, please take back this gift. Otherwise, my mother might not have a good New Year."

Hearing Yang Xiaozhi's persuasion, Lin Xi also showed her understanding. She smiled and gently took back the gift, saying softly:
"In that case, I will respect your wishes and put the gift away first. However, no matter when, my blessings and thoughts are full."

At this point, if Xue Yuanxia wanted the gift from Lin Xi again,
Obviously that is impossible.

She could only suffer the loss of being dumb.

Seeing every family member happily accepting the expensive gifts from Lin Xi,

Xue Yuanxia felt an indescribable sadness and complex emotions in her heart.

She couldn't stay there any longer.

He hurriedly said goodbye to his mother and left the Xue family.

The moment she stepped out of the house, Xue Yuanxia seemed to have broken free from some kind of bondage.

The emotions in my heart could no longer be suppressed, and a nameless fire quietly rose.

"What happened to Yang Xiaozhi today?"

She whispered to herself, her tone full of confusion and dissatisfaction with Yang Xiaozhi's behavior.

In her opinion, Yang Xiaozhi's behavior seemed a bit excessive. Not only did he fail to understand her subtle thoughts,
Instead, it made the situation so awkward and made her look so embarrassed in front of everyone.

This grievance and frustration were like a huge rock pressing on Xue Yuanxia's heart, and it took a long time to dissipate.

It was late at night when Yang Xiaozhi returned from Xue's house, a little drunk.
The emotions in her heart finally erupted like a volcano.

"Yang Xiaozhi, what exactly do you mean by your behavior today?"

Xue Yuanxia's voice was filled with anger and disappointment that were hard to conceal. She looked directly at her son who seemed a little confused.

Yang Xiaozhi seemed to be staggering due to the alcohol. He looked up at his mother, with a hint of confusion in his eyes:
"Mom, what are you talking about?"

Xue Yuanxia's rage intensified, she almost yelled:
"Why didn't you save some face for me when we were at the Xue family? Is there any benefit for you if you embarrass me in front of everyone?"

Hearing this, Yang Xiaozhi's eyes gradually became clear. He seemed to have anticipated this questioning, and his tone was calm but firm: "Mom, my sister-in-law is not an outsider."

Xue Yuanxia said subconsciously:
"Her last name isn't Xue, so how come she's not an outsider?"

"Xiaoxi is my cousin's fiancée, so she is part of our family. Besides, if you really want to talk about it, my last name is not Xue, so I am also an outsider."

After saying that, Yang Xiaozhi smiled self-deprecatingly.

Xue Yuanxia frowned slightly, with a hint of resistance in her tone:

"She hasn't married yet, has she? Who knows what will happen in the future? Besides, even if she is married, she is still an outsider."

Before he finished speaking, Yang Xiaozhi's eyes suddenly became sharp, and the mockery and disappointment in them made Xue Yuanxia's heart tremble. He spoke slowly, and every word was like a heavy hammer hitting Xue Yuanxia's heart:

"So, you've always looked at Afang this way."

Xue Yuanxia's expression suddenly became complicated. She tried to avoid the topic, and her tone was a little flustered:

"Xiaozhi, why did you suddenly bring up Afang? It's been a long time."

Yang Xiaozhi did not intend to give up. He took a deep breath and looked at me with a deep gaze:
"Do you know what day it is?"

Xue Yuanxia's heart tightened, her eyes flickered, and finally she answered carefully:
"Today...isn't it the day before New Year's Eve, the twenty-ninth day of the lunar year?"

Yang Xiaozhi's eyes became soft and sad, and he slowly said:
"Today should have been a day of celebration. It's the full moon day of your grandson, the child of Fang and I. But unfortunately..."

When Xue Yuanxia heard this, she was struck by lightning. She opened her mouth slightly but couldn't utter a word for a long time.

Her heart was filled with regret and self-blame, those unspoken prejudices and indifference,
At this moment, it seemed to have turned into a sharp blade, piercing her heart.

Tears welled up in Xue Yuanxia's eyes.

With trembling hands, she wanted to touch Yang Xiaozhi, but seemed afraid that the warmth of this affection would burn herself.

"Xiaozhi...I...I really don't know..."

Her voice was choked with sobs, and every word seemed to be squeezed out by heavy emotions, filled with endless regret and self-blame.

"I never thought that child would... would leave. When I was pregnant with you and your sisters, I was still working hard in the fields even when I was about to give birth. I didn't stop even when I had my period. In the end, you were all born safely... I thought..."

"That's enough, Mom!" Yang Xiaozhi interrupted her, his tone filled with pain and anger.
“That’s your past, that’s your experience, and I respect and understand that.

But you can't take it for granted that my wife and children should suffer the same hardships because of your past.

This is not karma, nor is it the cycle of fate. Every life is unique and deserves to be treated with kindness. "

He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

"Now, all this has happened and cannot be changed. But please remember that my pain and my loss are not something you can repay.

I just hope you can truly understand me from the bottom of your heart, respect me, and respect the choices and rights of every life."

After saying that, Yang Xiaozhi turned around and was about to leave, leaving Xue Yuanxia with a complex and profound back.

Xue Yuanxia stood there, tears rolling down her cheeks like pearls from a broken string.
Her body trembled slightly, and her heart was overwhelmed by deep self-blame and endless regret.

When she finally mustered up the courage to look up and try to find some comfort, she found Yang Xiaozhi walking slowly in the opposite direction of home.
That resolute back seemed to be telling of endless sorrow and disappointment.

"Xiaozhi, where are you going so late?"

Xue Yuanxia's voice was filled with anxiety and worry. She knew that today was New Year's Eve.

Every family should be reunited to celebrate the New Year, but his son chose to leave at this time.

"This New Year, you guys spend it on your own."

Yang Xiaozhi's voice was calm and resolute, but beneath this calmness, there was an unspeakable pain and determination.
"I have to go to work. There are some things I need time to deal with."

How could Xue Yuanxia not understand the meaning behind her son's words?

She knew that Yang Xiaozhi was using his own way to express his condolences for the lives that he had failed to protect in the past.
It is also a protest against myself as a mother for not being able to give enough understanding and support.

On this night that should have been a reunion, he chose to face his inner self with loneliness.

Use work to escape the unbearable pain. (End of this chapter)