The Goddess and the Ugly Duckling

Heart to Heart

"Why are you sneaking around?" Lu Xiaobei, while sitting in her car, looked on as Xiaoya peeked behind her back three times for every step she took and turning her head from left to right, so she couldn't help but ask.

"When you're back at home you can rest, and are allowed to go online—you can even contact your junior high classmates. But when it comes to you going out, you need to tell your dad and me and we will accompany you there. Xiaoyu, you must understand that mom loves you, and I'm only doing this for your own good," her mother explained.

Lu XIaobei: "Huh?"

Mo Yichen: "Okay. Thank you."

'Mom loves you. Mom is only doing this for your own good.'

"Huh?" Xiaoya gave no answer except for wearing a smile before her face turned red.

Mo Yichen looked at Xiaoya encouragingly, seeming to validate her guess. "I actually wasn't all that surprised you and Captain got together. Captain has the exceptional potential to bend girls, even without having to drop any hints. As long as she and the girl spend enough time together, the girl will naturally start to like her. Do you know what kind of girls are the most popular amongst lesbians?"

Backing down a bit, Xiaoya instead asked, "Then can I invite a fried from high school over to hang out?"

Xiaoya opened the door of the bright red sports car, got seated and put on her seatbelt before grumbling, "Who told you to have such a flashy car? I can't even say I just took a ride from a classmate."

Curious, Xiaoya asked, "Since it's like this, why would Xiang Yi still go to Shanghai?"

Tousling Xiaoya's hair, Lu Xiaobei teased, "So rude."

Xiaoya: "..."

N/A

Xiaoya: "..."

Lu XIaobei: "Huh?"

Xiaoya then said probingly, "Captain and I..."

Tousling Xiaoya's hair, Lu Xiaobei teased, "So rude."

Xiaoya: "I actually don't mind if it's far away."

Xiaoya: "There are a few teachers at my school that my mom asked to look after me. I'm freaked out one of them might see something and go tell my mom."

Before she surfed through as much as two websites, her mother came back inside. "Xiaoyu, why didn't you call out to mom after coming in?"

Those were the two sentences Xiaoya wanted to hear least of all.

Mo Yichen: "Kind of. Only Xiang Yi who got a good kick out of it. When we got back to our room that night she was laughing so much she couldn't sit up straight."

Xiaoya turned around hearing this, her eyes fixing onto her mother's. "Mom, is your intention to put me under house arrest? I've been at Yunta High for the entire semester with only one break every month. Added together, it barely added amount to half a month. I didn't even go to visit relatives in those two weeks. All I did was stay at home. I didn't go anywhere. I can't even watch the news when I'm at Yunta High. I feel as though I lost touch with all of society. I haven't been in contact with my junior high friends for six months. Some of them even think I'm a missing person."

"Looks like there is," Mo Yichen whispered.

After pausing for a moment, Xiaoya added, "Don't be mad, okay? I'm sorry. I didn't handle my family matters well, but my mom just recently relaxed her hold on me a little and I don't want her to kick up a fuss again."

Mo Yichen: "I heard the facilities at Yunta High aren't that good, is that true?"

When Xiaoya got home, her mother was on the balcony hanging blankets. So Xiaoya went straight to the study and turned on the computer.

Xiaoya: "So it's a good thing, then."

Mo Yichen: "During winter camp. Xiang Yi and I both had a inkling."

Xiaoya opened the door of the bright red sports car, got seated and put on her seatbelt before grumbling, "Who told you to have such a flashy car? I can't even say I just took a ride from a classmate."

Xiaoya: "..."

Xiaoya then replied with a pout, "Yes, there's a few. But I don;t like any of them."

Lu Xiaobei: "I'm not. I was just wondering whether I should buy another car to come pick you up with."

Xiaoya: "There are a few teachers at my school that my mom asked to look after me. I'm freaked out one of them might see something and go tell my mom."

Xiaoya: "I actually don't mind if it's far away."

Xiaoya said nothing more. She knew Lu Xiaobei wanted to pick her up herself or for them to take the bus together so they can spend more time together.

Xiaoya was completely confused. "When did you notice it?"

'Mom loves you. Mom is only doing this for your own good.'

Xiaoya: ...

N/A

Xiaoya saw that Mo Yichen did indeed know, ad did not hide it from her. The weekend before Captain's college entrance exams."

"You guys aren't the only ones in a long distance relationship." Mo Yichen then continued, "Xiang Yi is only a student in name only at school. She doesn't show up to classes, and went to Shanghai."

Xiaoya's mother then walked up behind her, her eyes peering at the computer screen. Xiaoya's hand which was scrolling had stopped as she then asked, "Haven't you deleted all her contact info already? You also know all the passwords for all my social media accounts, so what are you worried about?"

But Mo Yichen shook her head. "In my opinion, it's the ones who are kind and take care of others."

"Huh?" Xiaoya gave no answer except for wearing a smile before her face turned red.

Xiaoya then replied with a pout, "Yes, there's a few. But I don;t like any of them."

"You don't need to go through all that trouble. Next year, my dad won't have to go on so many business trips out of town, so he'll be dropping me to and from school by then.

"Um... Back when we were at winter camp, when we all had out first nightly chat... Apart from myself, you three were all lesbians. I was the one in the minority yet I said i wanted to chase you guys out. Oh my god! You guys must've laughed your behinds off, didn't you?"

"You don't need to go through all that trouble. Next year, my dad won't have to go on so many business trips out of town, so he'll be dropping me to and from school by then.

Curious, Xiaoya asked, "Since it's like this, why would Xiang Yi still go to Shanghai?"

Lu Xiaobei: "But you're old enough for you to be able to just take the bus by yourself."

"Xiang Yi seems like... it's probably just my intuition, but even on the one time we talk to each other a week, she seems absent-minded..." Mo Yichen hesitated before continuing, "You have a lot to worry about for yourself right now, so I couldn't bring myself to tell you. Maybe it will all work out after we get to university."

"Huh?" Xiaoya gave no answer except for wearing a smile before her face turned red.

Xiaoya avoided answering this question to instead say, "I want to go out tomorrow and meet up with a few classmates."

Xiaoya said nothing more. She knew Lu Xiaobei wanted to pick her up herself or for them to take the bus together so they can spend more time together.

Xiaoya saw that Mo Yichen did indeed know, ad did not hide it from her. The weekend before Captain's college entrance exams."

N/A

But Mo Yichen shook her head. "In my opinion, it's the ones who are kind and take care of others."

Xiaoya: "Winter camp? But... back then there was nothing at all to... How did you guys know? ...why did you want to go there with Xiang Yi? Could it be that you two are also..."

Mo Yichen: "Kind of. Only Xiang Yi who got a good kick out of it. When we got back to our room that night she was laughing so much she couldn't sit up straight."

Xiaoya then thought of a reason she herself got transferred and asked, "Is Xiang Yi out?"

Xiaoya: "Aren't you two..."

She wanted it too. But the situation did not allow for such a thing to be.

She wanted it too. But the situation did not allow for such a thing to be.

Xiaoya's mother then walked up behind her, her eyes peering at the computer screen. Xiaoya's hand which was scrolling had stopped as she then asked, "Haven't you deleted all her contact info already? You also know all the passwords for all my social media accounts, so what are you worried about?"

Xiaoya's face reddened. She was a bit hesitant of whether she should tell Mo Yichen. But after lifting her head to look at the other girl's expression, Xiaoya's heart leaped. "Do you know something?"

The two were both silent. Neither said anything fr a while until Xiaoya noticed Lu Xiaobei had taken a road that was different from the usual one, leading to her pointing out, "You should take the next left, to the flyover other there."

"Why are you sneaking around?" Lu Xiaobei, while sitting in her car, looked on as Xiaoya peeked behind her back three times for every step she took and turning her head from left to right, so she couldn't help but ask.

Mo Yichen: "Xiang Yi's mom is very open-minded. She even told Xiang Yi, 'Even in marriage there can be cheating and even unexpected deaths. There is nothing in this world that is guaranteed. Whichever road someone chooses, there will always be risks. It doesn't matter if you choose to remain single, to be a childless couple, or find yourself a girlfriend. As long as it was a decision you made for yourself in earnest, I will never object.'"

N/A

Mo Yichen: "Yeah. But we don't get to contact one another much."

Lu XIaobei: "Huh?"

Xiaoya: "Sometimes I think that it be just be better for us to elope."

Xiaoya: ?

"I've only been driving for under a year." Lu Xiaobei then added, "But you don't need to worry since the distance using this underpass won't be too far out the way, but there's traffic lights."

"You guys aren't the only ones in a long distance relationship." Mo Yichen then continued, "Xiang Yi is only a student in name only at school. She doesn't show up to classes, and went to Shanghai."

When Xiaoya got home, her mother was on the balcony hanging blankets. So Xiaoya went straight to the study and turned on the computer.

Mo Yichen looked at Xiaoya encouragingly, seeming to validate her guess. "I actually wasn't all that surprised you and Captain got together. Captain has the exceptional potential to bend girls, even without having to drop any hints. As long as she and the girl spend enough time together, the girl will naturally start to like her. Do you know what kind of girls are the most popular amongst lesbians?"

"Why are you sneaking around?" Lu Xiaobei, while sitting in her car, looked on as Xiaoya peeked behind her back three times for every step she took and turning her head from left to right, so she couldn't help but ask.

N/A

Xiaoya: "I actually don't mind if it's far away."

"Looks like there is," Mo Yichen whispered.

Xiaoya: "So it's a good thing, then."

Xiaoya then said probingly, "Captain and I..."

Mo Yichen nodded and Xiaoya understood. Xiaoya then suddenly grabbed her own hair while mouthing an "Aaaaaahhhh!" Seeing this, Mo Yichen asked, "What's wrong?"

She wanted it too. But the situation did not allow for such a thing to be.

Lu XIaobei: "Huh?"

Lu Xiaobei: "I'm not. I was just wondering whether I should buy another car to come pick you up with."

Hearing this, Xiaoya then asked, "Is Xiang Yi also the kind of person who's really good at taking care of others?"

Lu XIaobei: "Huh?"

◈◇◈

Mo Yichen looked at Xiaoya encouragingly, seeming to validate her guess. "I actually wasn't all that surprised you and Captain got together. Captain has the exceptional potential to bend girls, even without having to drop any hints. As long as she and the girl spend enough time together, the girl will naturally start to like her. Do you know what kind of girls are the most popular amongst lesbians?"

Xiaoya: "Sometimes I think that it be just be better for us to elope."

"Huh?" Xiaoya gave no answer except for wearing a smile before her face turned red.

Xiaoya: "Aren't you two..."

"Why are you sneaking around?" Lu Xiaobei, while sitting in her car, looked on as Xiaoya peeked behind her back three times for every step she took and turning her head from left to right, so she couldn't help but ask.

Mo Yichen looked at Xiaoya encouragingly, seeming to validate her guess. "I actually wasn't all that surprised you and Captain got together. Captain has the exceptional potential to bend girls, even without having to drop any hints. As long as she and the girl spend enough time together, the girl will naturally start to like her. Do you know what kind of girls are the most popular amongst lesbians?"

Tousling Xiaoya's hair, Lu Xiaobei teased, "So rude."

When Mo Yichen arrived at Xiaoya's, it was Xiaoya's mother who opened the door to greet her. "You must be Xiaoyu's friend. Welcome."

Xiaoya's face reddened. She was a bit hesitant of whether she should tell Mo Yichen. But after lifting her head to look at the other girl's expression, Xiaoya's heart leaped. "Do you know something?"

When Xiaoya got home, her mother was on the balcony hanging blankets. So Xiaoya went straight to the study and turned on the computer.

Xiaoya then added: "Xiang Yi... *sigh*. Back then I was really dumb. Xiang Yi is about to take the college entrance exams, right? I remember her grades were especially unstable, and when they got really bad the difference was almost a hundred points. How are things going now?"

The two were both silent. Neither said anything fr a while until Xiaoya noticed Lu Xiaobei had taken a road that was different from the usual one, leading to her pointing out, "You should take the next left, to the flyover other there."

"So who is it you like, then?" Mo Yichen asked.

'Mom loves you. Mom is only doing this for your own good.'

Xiaoya then said probingly, "Captain and I..."

Xiaoya's jaw fell open. She never imagined there could be such an open-minded parent.

Xiaoya: "You don't need to. It's only one friend. We originally planned on going out to buy cake, but she'll just buy it and bring it over."

Before she surfed through as much as two websites, her mother came back inside. "Xiaoyu, why didn't you call out to mom after coming in?"

Mo Yichen then continued: "Xiang Yi's mom also asked about my situation at home. She told me, if luck was on my and Xiang Yi's side, and we still ate together like we did in a few years, she would recognise me as a goddaughter."

"When did you two start dating?" Mo Yichen asked.

Xiaoya opened the door of the bright red sports car, got seated and put on her seatbelt before grumbling, "Who told you to have such a flashy car? I can't even say I just took a ride from a classmate."

"When you're back at home you can rest, and are allowed to go online—you can even contact your junior high classmates. But when it comes to you going out, you need to tell your dad and me and we will accompany you there. Xiaoyu, you must understand that mom loves you, and I'm only doing this for your own good," her mother explained.

When Mo Yichen arrived at Xiaoya's, it was Xiaoya's mother who opened the door to greet her. "You must be Xiaoyu's friend. Welcome."

Xiaoya: "Mom."

Knocking on Xiaoya's door, Mo Yichen then went in. "Xiaoya."

Xiaoya turned around hearing this, her eyes fixing onto her mother's. "Mom, is your intention to put me under house arrest? I've been at Yunta High for the entire semester with only one break every month. Added together, it barely added amount to half a month. I didn't even go to visit relatives in those two weeks. All I did was stay at home. I didn't go anywhere. I can't even watch the news when I'm at Yunta High. I feel as though I lost touch with all of society. I haven't been in contact with my junior high friends for six months. Some of them even think I'm a missing person."

"When did you two start dating?" Mo Yichen asked.

Xiaoya: "Xiang Yi's mom accepted her?! That's great!"

Mo Yichen: "Okay. Thank you."

"So who is it you like, then?" Mo Yichen asked.

N/A

Xiaoya's mother then walked up behind her, her eyes peering at the computer screen. Xiaoya's hand which was scrolling had stopped as she then asked, "Haven't you deleted all her contact info already? You also know all the passwords for all my social media accounts, so what are you worried about?"

Heart to Heart

Lu Xiaobei: "But you're old enough for you to be able to just take the bus by yourself."

"That's good, then. You should play on the computer a bit and relax, okay?" Xiaoya looked on as her mother left the study, a long sigh then leaving her. How did the mother-daughter pair get to such a point.

But in response, her mother stammered out, "I'm just looking out for you."

Xiaoya then thought of a reason she herself got transferred and asked, "Is Xiang Yi out?"

Xiaoya: don't_want_to_talk.jpg

N/A

Xiaoya: "Xiang Yi's mom accepted her?! That's great!"

"Um... Back when we were at winter camp, when we all had out first nightly chat... Apart from myself, you three were all lesbians. I was the one in the minority yet I said i wanted to chase you guys out. Oh my god! You guys must've laughed your behinds off, didn't you?"

Seeing this, her mother then asked carefully, "You're not still in contact with her now, are you?"

"Apart from not having you there, it not being in Nancheng, getting in an out of there being inconvenient, it's not bad," Xiaoya replied.

"What do you think?" Mo Yichen nodded.

Xiaoya saw that Mo Yichen did indeed know, ad did not hide it from her. The weekend before Captain's college entrance exams."

Curious, Xiaoya asked, "Since it's like this, why would Xiang Yi still go to Shanghai?"

"I have no idea," Mo Yichen replied.

But in response, her mother stammered out, "I'm just looking out for you."

Xiaoya's mother then said warmly, "I believe I've heard Xiaoya talk about you before. She said you were pretty and got good grades. Anyhow, Xiaoya is in her room, so you can head straight there to find her."

Xiaoya avoided answering this question to instead say, "I want to go out tomorrow and meet up with a few classmates."

"You don't need to go through all that trouble. Next year, my dad won't have to go on so many business trips out of town, so he'll be dropping me to and from school by then.

Xiaoya's face reddened. She was a bit hesitant of whether she should tell Mo Yichen. But after lifting her head to look at the other girl's expression, Xiaoya's heart leaped. "Do you know something?"

"What do you think?" Mo Yichen nodded.

"That's good, then. You should play on the computer a bit and relax, okay?" Xiaoya looked on as her mother left the study, a long sigh then leaving her. How did the mother-daughter pair get to such a point.

Xiaoya's mother then said warmly, "I believe I've heard Xiaoya talk about you before. She said you were pretty and got good grades. Anyhow, Xiaoya is in her room, so you can head straight there to find her."

But without missing a beat her mother replied, "The highest priority for high school students should be their studies. If there's any free time it should be spent studying more."

Mo Yichen's lips curled upwards slightly at Xiaoya's exclamation, but the smile held there never reached her eyes.

But in response, her mother stammered out, "I'm just looking out for you."

"Looks like there is," Mo Yichen whispered.

"Apart from not having you there, it not being in Nancheng, getting in an out of there being inconvenient, it's not bad," Xiaoya replied.

Seeing this, her mother then asked carefully, "You're not still in contact with her now, are you?"

Xiaoya turned around hearing this, her eyes fixing onto her mother's. "Mom, is your intention to put me under house arrest? I've been at Yunta High for the entire semester with only one break every month. Added together, it barely added amount to half a month. I didn't even go to visit relatives in those two weeks. All I did was stay at home. I didn't go anywhere. I can't even watch the news when I'm at Yunta High. I feel as though I lost touch with all of society. I haven't been in contact with my junior high friends for six months. Some of them even think I'm a missing person."

Xiaoya: "Mom."

Mo Yichen: "Yeah. But we don't get to contact one another much."

Xiaoya's mother then said warmly, "I believe I've heard Xiaoya talk about you before. She said you were pretty and got good grades. Anyhow, Xiaoya is in her room, so you can head straight there to find her."

"When you're back at home you can rest, and are allowed to go online—you can even contact your junior high classmates. But when it comes to you going out, you need to tell your dad and me and we will accompany you there. Xiaoyu, you must understand that mom loves you, and I'm only doing this for your own good," her mother explained.

Lu Xiaobei: "But you're old enough for you to be able to just take the bus by yourself."

"Xiang Yi seems like... it's probably just my intuition, but even on the one time we talk to each other a week, she seems absent-minded..." Mo Yichen hesitated before continuing, "You have a lot to worry about for yourself right now, so I couldn't bring myself to tell you. Maybe it will all work out after we get to university."

Mo Yichen: "It sounds better that when you were at Nancheng. So... are there any boys chasing after you at Yunta High?"

Xiaoya: "I actually don't mind if it's far away."

Xiaoya: "You don't need to. It's only one friend. We originally planned on going out to buy cake, but she'll just buy it and bring it over."

'Mom loves you. Mom is only doing this for your own good.'

"I have no idea," Mo Yichen replied.

"Yichen! I missed you so much." Seeing Mo Yichen enter, Xiaoya hopped off her chair and gave the other girl a bear hug. "You're still sweet, soft, and pretty."

Xiaoya: "You don't need to. It's only one friend. We originally planned on going out to buy cake, but she'll just buy it and bring it over."

"I've only been driving for under a year." Lu Xiaobei then added, "But you don't need to worry since the distance using this underpass won't be too far out the way, but there's traffic lights."

"When you're back at home you can rest, and are allowed to go online—you can even contact your junior high classmates. But when it comes to you going out, you need to tell your dad and me and we will accompany you there. Xiaoyu, you must understand that mom loves you, and I'm only doing this for your own good," her mother explained.

Those were the two sentences Xiaoya wanted to hear least of all.

Xiaoya: ...

Xiaoya then thought of a reason she herself got transferred and asked, "Is Xiang Yi out?"

Xiaoya: "Winter camp? But... back then there was nothing at all to... How did you guys know? ...why did you want to go there with Xiang Yi? Could it be that you two are also..."

"Um... Back when we were at winter camp, when we all had out first nightly chat... Apart from myself, you three were all lesbians. I was the one in the minority yet I said i wanted to chase you guys out. Oh my god! You guys must've laughed your behinds off, didn't you?"

"Looks like there is," Mo Yichen whispered.

Those were the two sentences Xiaoya wanted to hear least of all.

Mo Yichen then continued: "Xiang Yi's mom also asked about my situation at home. She told me, if luck was on my and Xiang Yi's side, and we still ate together like we did in a few years, she would recognise me as a goddaughter."

Backing down a bit, Xiaoya instead asked, "Then can I invite a fried from high school over to hang out?"

Xiaoya: "Sometimes I think that it be just be better for us to elope."

Sighing lightly, Mo Yichen then replied, "You know about Xiang Yi's grades having their ups and downs too. And even though her mother is more tolerant than most in many ways, she prioritizes studying a great deal. She wants Xiang Yi to walk the Art Examination path. She doesn't care if Xiang Yi enters a professional school, a comprehensive 211 university, or a 985 university. They were all better than her current trajectory."

The two were both silent. Neither said anything fr a while until Xiaoya noticed Lu Xiaobei had taken a road that was different from the usual one, leading to her pointing out, "You should take the next left, to the flyover other there."

Xiaoya's jaw fell open. She never imagined there could be such an open-minded parent.

Xiaoya: "So it's a good thing, then."

Xiaoya's mother had no intention of interfering with Xiaoya's friendships. "Of course. How many friends are you planning on inviting over? Are they going to be eating here with us? Mom will get something ready for you guys in advance."

Mo Yichen looked at Xiaoya encouragingly, seeming to validate her guess. "I actually wasn't all that surprised you and Captain got together. Captain has the exceptional potential to bend girls, even without having to drop any hints. As long as she and the girl spend enough time together, the girl will naturally start to like her. Do you know what kind of girls are the most popular amongst lesbians?"

Xiaoya: "You don't need to. It's only one friend. We originally planned on going out to buy cake, but she'll just buy it and bring it over."

To which Mo Yichen gave her own greeting in return, "Hello, Aunty. I'm Mo Yihen. I was a classmate of Xiaoya's at her old high school."

"That's good, then. You should play on the computer a bit and relax, okay?" Xiaoya looked on as her mother left the study, a long sigh then leaving her. How did the mother-daughter pair get to such a point.

Mo Yichen: "Kind of. Only Xiang Yi who got a good kick out of it. When we got back to our room that night she was laughing so much she couldn't sit up straight."

Xiaoya: "Mom."

Xiaoya saw that Mo Yichen did indeed know, ad did not hide it from her. The weekend before Captain's college entrance exams."

When Mo Yichen arrived at Xiaoya's, it was Xiaoya's mother who opened the door to greet her. "You must be Xiaoyu's friend. Welcome."

Hearing this, Xiaoya then asked, "Is Xiang Yi also the kind of person who's really good at taking care of others?"

But Mo Yichen shook her head. "In my opinion, it's the ones who are kind and take care of others."

She wanted it too. But the situation did not allow for such a thing to be.

After pausing for a moment, Xiaoya added, "Don't be mad, okay? I'm sorry. I didn't handle my family matters well, but my mom just recently relaxed her hold on me a little and I don't want her to kick up a fuss again."

Mo Yichen then continued: "Xiang Yi's mom also asked about my situation at home. She told me, if luck was on my and Xiang Yi's side, and we still ate together like we did in a few years, she would recognise me as a goddaughter."

To which Mo Yichen gave her own greeting in return, "Hello, Aunty. I'm Mo Yihen. I was a classmate of Xiaoya's at her old high school."

But without missing a beat her mother replied, "The highest priority for high school students should be their studies. If there's any free time it should be spent studying more."

Xiaoya: "There are a few teachers at my school that my mom asked to look after me. I'm freaked out one of them might see something and go tell my mom."

Mo Yichen: "That can't be the reason. Before we knew each other, Xiang Yi had already come out to her mother as a freshman in junior high. She even took me to stay at her house for few days, and although she never told her mom about us clearly, her mom knew."

Xiaoya's mother then said warmly, "I believe I've heard Xiaoya talk about you before. She said you were pretty and got good grades. Anyhow, Xiaoya is in her room, so you can head straight there to find her."

'Mom loves you. Mom is only doing this for your own good.'

"Xiang Yi seems like... it's probably just my intuition, but even on the one time we talk to each other a week, she seems absent-minded..." Mo Yichen hesitated before continuing, "You have a lot to worry about for yourself right now, so I couldn't bring myself to tell you. Maybe it will all work out after we get to university."

Xiaoya: "Xiang Yi's mom accepted her?! That's great!"

Xiaoya: "You don't need to. It's only one friend. We originally planned on going out to buy cake, but she'll just buy it and bring it over."

Xiaoya avoided answering this question to instead say, "I want to go out tomorrow and meet up with a few classmates."

Xiaoya turned around hearing this, her eyes fixing onto her mother's. "Mom, is your intention to put me under house arrest? I've been at Yunta High for the entire semester with only one break every month. Added together, it barely added amount to half a month. I didn't even go to visit relatives in those two weeks. All I did was stay at home. I didn't go anywhere. I can't even watch the news when I'm at Yunta High. I feel as though I lost touch with all of society. I haven't been in contact with my junior high friends for six months. Some of them even think I'm a missing person."

Mo Yichen: "I heard the facilities at Yunta High aren't that good, is that true?"

Mo Yichen: "Okay. Thank you."

Xiaoya: "I think it's fine. Like, there's nothing that's unbearable. The language is an obstacle, though. I finally understand why I can't learn English well. Right now I can't understand more than half of the local dialect there. But my classmates are all really nice, so when they talk to me they use Mandarin."

N/A

Xiaoya's eyes swirled with tears as a result. "I didn't know I would either." Xiaoya also had no clue how she should tell Mo Yichen about her situation.

Xiaoya: "Mom."

Lu XIaobei: "Huh?"

Seeing this, her mother then asked carefully, "You're not still in contact with her now, are you?"

Xiaoya's eyes swirled with tears as a result. "I didn't know I would either." Xiaoya also had no clue how she should tell Mo Yichen about her situation.

Knocking on Xiaoya's door, Mo Yichen then went in. "Xiaoya."

Xiaoya opened the door of the bright red sports car, got seated and put on her seatbelt before grumbling, "Who told you to have such a flashy car? I can't even say I just took a ride from a classmate."

"Yichen! I missed you so much." Seeing Mo Yichen enter, Xiaoya hopped off her chair and gave the other girl a bear hug. "You're still sweet, soft, and pretty."

Xiaoya thought for a while then responded, "The cool kind?"

Xiaoya: "I think it's fine. Like, there's nothing that's unbearable. The language is an obstacle, though. I finally understand why I can't learn English well. Right now I can't understand more than half of the local dialect there. But my classmates are all really nice, so when they talk to me they use Mandarin."

But in response, her mother stammered out, "I'm just looking out for you."

◈◇◈

Those were the two sentences Xiaoya wanted to hear least of all.

"I have no idea," Mo Yichen replied.

Xiaoya: "I actually don't mind if it's far away."

Mo Yichen put up with Xiaoya for thirty seconds, and seeing her still latched on like an octopus, unable to stand it any longer, she pushed Xiaoya away and scolded, "Don't think you acting like this means I've forgiven you for disappearing suddenly without a word."

Xiaoya then said probingly, "Captain and I..."

Xiaoya's eyes swirled with tears as a result. "I didn't know I would either." Xiaoya also had no clue how she should tell Mo Yichen about her situation.

Mo Yichen: "It sounds better that when you were at Nancheng. So... are there any boys chasing after you at Yunta High?"

"That's good, then. You should play on the computer a bit and relax, okay?" Xiaoya looked on as her mother left the study, a long sigh then leaving her. How did the mother-daughter pair get to such a point.

"So who is it you like, then?" Mo Yichen asked.

Mo Yichen didn't ask Xiaoya the reason why she suddenly transferred schools, only passing right by her to head over to Xiaoya's desk where she rested the cake. "How's life at the new school?"

Mo Yichen didn't ask Xiaoya the reason why she suddenly transferred schools, only passing right by her to head over to Xiaoya's desk where she rested the cake. "How's life at the new school?"

When Mo Yichen arrived at Xiaoya's, it was Xiaoya's mother who opened the door to greet her. "You must be Xiaoyu's friend. Welcome."

"I have no idea," Mo Yichen replied.

"Apart from not having you there, it not being in Nancheng, getting in an out of there being inconvenient, it's not bad," Xiaoya replied.

Tousling Xiaoya's hair, Lu Xiaobei teased, "So rude."

Xiaoya: "Aren't you two..."

Those were the two sentences Xiaoya wanted to hear least of all.

Mo Yichen: "I heard the facilities at Yunta High aren't that good, is that true?"

Xiaoya: "Xiang Yi's mom accepted her?! That's great!"

Xiaoya: ?

"That's good, then. You should play on the computer a bit and relax, okay?" Xiaoya looked on as her mother left the study, a long sigh then leaving her. How did the mother-daughter pair get to such a point.

"So who is it you like, then?" Mo Yichen asked.

Mo Yichen: "Okay. Thank you."

Xiaoya: "I think it's fine. Like, there's nothing that's unbearable. The language is an obstacle, though. I finally understand why I can't learn English well. Right now I can't understand more than half of the local dialect there. But my classmates are all really nice, so when they talk to me they use Mandarin."

Mo Yichen: "Xiang Yi's mom is very open-minded. She even told Xiang Yi, 'Even in marriage there can be cheating and even unexpected deaths. There is nothing in this world that is guaranteed. Whichever road someone chooses, there will always be risks. It doesn't matter if you choose to remain single, to be a childless couple, or find yourself a girlfriend. As long as it was a decision you made for yourself in earnest, I will never object.'"

Tousling Xiaoya's hair, Lu Xiaobei teased, "So rude."

Lu Xiaobei: "But you're old enough for you to be able to just take the bus by yourself."

Mo Yichen: "It sounds better that when you were at Nancheng. So... are there any boys chasing after you at Yunta High?"

Xiaoya said nothing more. She knew Lu Xiaobei wanted to pick her up herself or for them to take the bus together so they can spend more time together.

"Huh?" Xiaoya gave no answer except for wearing a smile before her face turned red.

Xiaoya: don't_want_to_talk.jpg

"When did you two start dating?" Mo Yichen asked.

Xiaoya: "Sometimes I think that it be just be better for us to elope."

Mo Yichen: "I heard the facilities at Yunta High aren't that good, is that true?"

To which Mo Yichen gave her own greeting in return, "Hello, Aunty. I'm Mo Yihen. I was a classmate of Xiaoya's at her old high school."

"Looks like there is," Mo Yichen whispered.

The two were both silent. Neither said anything fr a while until Xiaoya noticed Lu Xiaobei had taken a road that was different from the usual one, leading to her pointing out, "You should take the next left, to the flyover other there."

After pausing for a moment, Xiaoya added, "Don't be mad, okay? I'm sorry. I didn't handle my family matters well, but my mom just recently relaxed her hold on me a little and I don't want her to kick up a fuss again."

"Yichen! I missed you so much." Seeing Mo Yichen enter, Xiaoya hopped off her chair and gave the other girl a bear hug. "You're still sweet, soft, and pretty."

Mo Yichen: "Okay. Thank you."

Xiaoya then added: "Xiang Yi... *sigh*. Back then I was really dumb. Xiang Yi is about to take the college entrance exams, right? I remember her grades were especially unstable, and when they got really bad the difference was almost a hundred points. How are things going now?"

Xiaoya then replied with a pout, "Yes, there's a few. But I don;t like any of them."

Xiaoya's mother then walked up behind her, her eyes peering at the computer screen. Xiaoya's hand which was scrolling had stopped as she then asked, "Haven't you deleted all her contact info already? You also know all the passwords for all my social media accounts, so what are you worried about?"

"So who is it you like, then?" Mo Yichen asked.

Xiaoya's face reddened. She was a bit hesitant of whether she should tell Mo Yichen. But after lifting her head to look at the other girl's expression, Xiaoya's heart leaped. "Do you know something?"

Xiaoya's face reddened. She was a bit hesitant of whether she should tell Mo Yichen. But after lifting her head to look at the other girl's expression, Xiaoya's heart leaped. "Do you know something?"

Xiaoya's eyes swirled with tears as a result. "I didn't know I would either." Xiaoya also had no clue how she should tell Mo Yichen about her situation.

After pausing for a moment, Xiaoya added, "Don't be mad, okay? I'm sorry. I didn't handle my family matters well, but my mom just recently relaxed her hold on me a little and I don't want her to kick up a fuss again."

Mo Yichen: "That can't be the reason. Before we knew each other, Xiang Yi had already come out to her mother as a freshman in junior high. She even took me to stay at her house for few days, and although she never told her mom about us clearly, her mom knew."

"What do you think?" Mo Yichen nodded.

Mo Yichen: "Okay. Thank you."

Xiaoya's jaw fell open. She never imagined there could be such an open-minded parent.

After pausing for a moment, Xiaoya added, "Don't be mad, okay? I'm sorry. I didn't handle my family matters well, but my mom just recently relaxed her hold on me a little and I don't want her to kick up a fuss again."

But Mo Yichen shook her head. "In my opinion, it's the ones who are kind and take care of others."

Lu Xiaobei: "But you're old enough for you to be able to just take the bus by yourself."

'Mom loves you. Mom is only doing this for your own good.'

"That's good, then. You should play on the computer a bit and relax, okay?" Xiaoya looked on as her mother left the study, a long sigh then leaving her. How did the mother-daughter pair get to such a point.

Xiaoya then said probingly, "Captain and I..."

Xiaoya: "So it's a good thing, then."

Mo Yichen looked at Xiaoya encouragingly, seeming to validate her guess. "I actually wasn't all that surprised you and Captain got together. Captain has the exceptional potential to bend girls, even without having to drop any hints. As long as she and the girl spend enough time together, the girl will naturally start to like her. Do you know what kind of girls are the most popular amongst lesbians?"

She wanted it too. But the situation did not allow for such a thing to be.

"When did you two start dating?" Mo Yichen asked.

Xiaoya's mother then said warmly, "I believe I've heard Xiaoya talk about you before. She said you were pretty and got good grades. Anyhow, Xiaoya is in her room, so you can head straight there to find her."

Mo Yichen put up with Xiaoya for thirty seconds, and seeing her still latched on like an octopus, unable to stand it any longer, she pushed Xiaoya away and scolded, "Don't think you acting like this means I've forgiven you for disappearing suddenly without a word."

Backing down a bit, Xiaoya instead asked, "Then can I invite a fried from high school over to hang out?"

Xiaoya saw that Mo Yichen did indeed know, ad did not hide it from her. The weekend before Captain's college entrance exams."

"What do you think?" Mo Yichen nodded.

Xiaoya: "..."

Xiaoya's jaw fell open. She never imagined there could be such an open-minded parent.

Xiaoya avoided answering this question to instead say, "I want to go out tomorrow and meet up with a few classmates."

But in response, her mother stammered out, "I'm just looking out for you."

Mo Yichen: "That was sooner than I thought. I figured you two would take another year and a half."

Xiaoya's mother had no intention of interfering with Xiaoya's friendships. "Of course. How many friends are you planning on inviting over? Are they going to be eating here with us? Mom will get something ready for you guys in advance."

Xiaoya then said excitedly: "It looks like her mom already accepted you!"

"I have no idea," Mo Yichen replied.

Xiaoya: "There are a few teachers at my school that my mom asked to look after me. I'm freaked out one of them might see something and go tell my mom."

Sighing lightly, Mo Yichen then replied, "You know about Xiang Yi's grades having their ups and downs too. And even though her mother is more tolerant than most in many ways, she prioritizes studying a great deal. She wants Xiang Yi to walk the Art Examination path. She doesn't care if Xiang Yi enters a professional school, a comprehensive 211 university, or a 985 university. They were all better than her current trajectory."

"You don't need to go through all that trouble. Next year, my dad won't have to go on so many business trips out of town, so he'll be dropping me to and from school by then.

Xiaoya: "Winter camp? But... back then there was nothing at all to... How did you guys know? ...why did you want to go there with Xiang Yi? Could it be that you two are also..."

Xiaoya was completely confused. "When did you notice it?"

Xiaoya: ?

Mo Yichen: "During winter camp. Xiang Yi and I both had a inkling."

After pausing for a moment, Xiaoya added, "Don't be mad, okay? I'm sorry. I didn't handle my family matters well, but my mom just recently relaxed her hold on me a little and I don't want her to kick up a fuss again."

Xiaoya's mother then said warmly, "I believe I've heard Xiaoya talk about you before. She said you were pretty and got good grades. Anyhow, Xiaoya is in her room, so you can head straight there to find her."

Xiaoya: ?

Hearing this, Xiaoya then asked, "Is Xiang Yi also the kind of person who's really good at taking care of others?"

Mo Yichen: "Xiang Yi's mom is very open-minded. She even told Xiang Yi, 'Even in marriage there can be cheating and even unexpected deaths. There is nothing in this world that is guaranteed. Whichever road someone chooses, there will always be risks. It doesn't matter if you choose to remain single, to be a childless couple, or find yourself a girlfriend. As long as it was a decision you made for yourself in earnest, I will never object.'"

Xiaoya: "Winter camp? But... back then there was nothing at all to... How did you guys know? ...why did you want to go there with Xiang Yi? Could it be that you two are also..."

Seeing this, her mother then asked carefully, "You're not still in contact with her now, are you?"

"You guys aren't the only ones in a long distance relationship." Mo Yichen then continued, "Xiang Yi is only a student in name only at school. She doesn't show up to classes, and went to Shanghai."

'Mom loves you. Mom is only doing this for your own good.'

Xiaoya said nothing more. She knew Lu Xiaobei wanted to pick her up herself or for them to take the bus together so they can spend more time together.

Backing down a bit, Xiaoya instead asked, "Then can I invite a fried from high school over to hang out?"

Mo Yichen looked at Xiaoya encouragingly, seeming to validate her guess. "I actually wasn't all that surprised you and Captain got together. Captain has the exceptional potential to bend girls, even without having to drop any hints. As long as she and the girl spend enough time together, the girl will naturally start to like her. Do you know what kind of girls are the most popular amongst lesbians?"

When Xiaoya got home, her mother was on the balcony hanging blankets. So Xiaoya went straight to the study and turned on the computer.

Xiaoya then added: "Xiang Yi... *sigh*. Back then I was really dumb. Xiang Yi is about to take the college entrance exams, right? I remember her grades were especially unstable, and when they got really bad the difference was almost a hundred points. How are things going now?"

But without missing a beat her mother replied, "The highest priority for high school students should be their studies. If there's any free time it should be spent studying more."

"I have no idea," Mo Yichen replied.

Curious, Xiaoya asked, "Since it's like this, why would Xiang Yi still go to Shanghai?"

Xiaoya thought for a while then responded, "The cool kind?"

Xiaoya then said excitedly: "It looks like her mom already accepted you!"

Xiaoya then added: "Xiang Yi... *sigh*. Back then I was really dumb. Xiang Yi is about to take the college entrance exams, right? I remember her grades were especially unstable, and when they got really bad the difference was almost a hundred points. How are things going now?"

Xiaoya: ...

But Mo Yichen shook her head. "In my opinion, it's the ones who are kind and take care of others."

Xiaoya: "..."

Lu Xiaobei: "I'm not. I was just wondering whether I should buy another car to come pick you up with."

◈◇◈

"Um... Back when we were at winter camp, when we all had out first nightly chat... Apart from myself, you three were all lesbians. I was the one in the minority yet I said i wanted to chase you guys out. Oh my god! You guys must've laughed your behinds off, didn't you?"

"Apart from not having you there, it not being in Nancheng, getting in an out of there being inconvenient, it's not bad," Xiaoya replied.

Hearing this, Xiaoya then asked, "Is Xiang Yi also the kind of person who's really good at taking care of others?"

"When did you two start dating?" Mo Yichen asked.

But without missing a beat her mother replied, "The highest priority for high school students should be their studies. If there's any free time it should be spent studying more."

"That's good, then. You should play on the computer a bit and relax, okay?" Xiaoya looked on as her mother left the study, a long sigh then leaving her. How did the mother-daughter pair get to such a point.

When Xiaoya got home, her mother was on the balcony hanging blankets. So Xiaoya went straight to the study and turned on the computer.

Xiaoya was completely confused. "When did you notice it?"

Mo Yichen nodded and Xiaoya understood. Xiaoya then suddenly grabbed her own hair while mouthing an "Aaaaaahhhh!" Seeing this, Mo Yichen asked, "What's wrong?"

Xiaoya turned around hearing this, her eyes fixing onto her mother's. "Mom, is your intention to put me under house arrest? I've been at Yunta High for the entire semester with only one break every month. Added together, it barely added amount to half a month. I didn't even go to visit relatives in those two weeks. All I did was stay at home. I didn't go anywhere. I can't even watch the news when I'm at Yunta High. I feel as though I lost touch with all of society. I haven't been in contact with my junior high friends for six months. Some of them even think I'm a missing person."

"Um... Back when we were at winter camp, when we all had out first nightly chat... Apart from myself, you three were all lesbians. I was the one in the minority yet I said i wanted to chase you guys out. Oh my god! You guys must've laughed your behinds off, didn't you?"

Xiaoya: "Winter camp? But... back then there was nothing at all to... How did you guys know? ...why did you want to go there with Xiang Yi? Could it be that you two are also..."

Seeing this, her mother then asked carefully, "You're not still in contact with her now, are you?"

Mo Yichen: "During winter camp. Xiang Yi and I both had a inkling."

Mo Yichen: "Kind of. Only Xiang Yi who got a good kick out of it. When we got back to our room that night she was laughing so much she couldn't sit up straight."

Xiaoya: "You don't need to. It's only one friend. We originally planned on going out to buy cake, but she'll just buy it and bring it over."

Xiaoya: "..."

Xiaoya avoided answering this question to instead say, "I want to go out tomorrow and meet up with a few classmates."

Xiaoya then added: "Xiang Yi... *sigh*. Back then I was really dumb. Xiang Yi is about to take the college entrance exams, right? I remember her grades were especially unstable, and when they got really bad the difference was almost a hundred points. How are things going now?"

Xiaoya then replied with a pout, "Yes, there's a few. But I don;t like any of them."

The two were both silent. Neither said anything fr a while until Xiaoya noticed Lu Xiaobei had taken a road that was different from the usual one, leading to her pointing out, "You should take the next left, to the flyover other there."

Mo Yichen's lips curled upwards slightly at Xiaoya's exclamation, but the smile held there never reached her eyes.

"I have no idea," Mo Yichen replied.

Those were the two sentences Xiaoya wanted to hear least of all.

Xiaoya: "Aren't you two..."

Xiaoya: "Aren't you two..."

Mo Yichen nodded and Xiaoya understood. Xiaoya then suddenly grabbed her own hair while mouthing an "Aaaaaahhhh!" Seeing this, Mo Yichen asked, "What's wrong?"

Mo Yichen: "During winter camp. Xiang Yi and I both had a inkling."

Xiaoya's face reddened. She was a bit hesitant of whether she should tell Mo Yichen. But after lifting her head to look at the other girl's expression, Xiaoya's heart leaped. "Do you know something?"

Lu XIaobei: "Huh?"

Xiaoya: "Winter camp? But... back then there was nothing at all to... How did you guys know? ...why did you want to go there with Xiang Yi? Could it be that you two are also..."

Xiaoya turned around hearing this, her eyes fixing onto her mother's. "Mom, is your intention to put me under house arrest? I've been at Yunta High for the entire semester with only one break every month. Added together, it barely added amount to half a month. I didn't even go to visit relatives in those two weeks. All I did was stay at home. I didn't go anywhere. I can't even watch the news when I'm at Yunta High. I feel as though I lost touch with all of society. I haven't been in contact with my junior high friends for six months. Some of them even think I'm a missing person."

"You guys aren't the only ones in a long distance relationship." Mo Yichen then continued, "Xiang Yi is only a student in name only at school. She doesn't show up to classes, and went to Shanghai."

When Mo Yichen arrived at Xiaoya's, it was Xiaoya's mother who opened the door to greet her. "You must be Xiaoyu's friend. Welcome."

"Yichen! I missed you so much." Seeing Mo Yichen enter, Xiaoya hopped off her chair and gave the other girl a bear hug. "You're still sweet, soft, and pretty."

Heart to Heart

Mo Yichen: "That can't be the reason. Before we knew each other, Xiang Yi had already come out to her mother as a freshman in junior high. She even took me to stay at her house for few days, and although she never told her mom about us clearly, her mom knew."

But in response, her mother stammered out, "I'm just looking out for you."

"You guys aren't the only ones in a long distance relationship." Mo Yichen then continued, "Xiang Yi is only a student in name only at school. She doesn't show up to classes, and went to Shanghai."

"Xiang Yi seems like... it's probably just my intuition, but even on the one time we talk to each other a week, she seems absent-minded..." Mo Yichen hesitated before continuing, "You have a lot to worry about for yourself right now, so I couldn't bring myself to tell you. Maybe it will all work out after we get to university."

Xiaoya then thought of a reason she herself got transferred and asked, "Is Xiang Yi out?"

But Mo Yichen shook her head. "In my opinion, it's the ones who are kind and take care of others."

Seeing this, her mother then asked carefully, "You're not still in contact with her now, are you?"

"Huh?" Xiaoya gave no answer except for wearing a smile before her face turned red.

Mo Yichen: "During winter camp. Xiang Yi and I both had a inkling."

To which Mo Yichen gave her own greeting in return, "Hello, Aunty. I'm Mo Yihen. I was a classmate of Xiaoya's at her old high school."

Mo Yichen: "That can't be the reason. Before we knew each other, Xiang Yi had already come out to her mother as a freshman in junior high. She even took me to stay at her house for few days, and although she never told her mom about us clearly, her mom knew."

"I've only been driving for under a year." Lu Xiaobei then added, "But you don't need to worry since the distance using this underpass won't be too far out the way, but there's traffic lights."

Xiaoya's jaw fell open. She never imagined there could be such an open-minded parent.

Tousling Xiaoya's hair, Lu Xiaobei teased, "So rude."

"Yichen! I missed you so much." Seeing Mo Yichen enter, Xiaoya hopped off her chair and gave the other girl a bear hug. "You're still sweet, soft, and pretty."

When Xiaoya got home, her mother was on the balcony hanging blankets. So Xiaoya went straight to the study and turned on the computer.

Xiaoya: "Xiang Yi's mom accepted her?! That's great!"

◈◇◈

Mo Yichen: "Xiang Yi's mom is very open-minded. She even told Xiang Yi, 'Even in marriage there can be cheating and even unexpected deaths. There is nothing in this world that is guaranteed. Whichever road someone chooses, there will always be risks. It doesn't matter if you choose to remain single, to be a childless couple, or find yourself a girlfriend. As long as it was a decision you made for yourself in earnest, I will never object.'"

"That's good, then. You should play on the computer a bit and relax, okay?" Xiaoya looked on as her mother left the study, a long sigh then leaving her. How did the mother-daughter pair get to such a point.

"So who is it you like, then?" Mo Yichen asked.

After pausing for a moment, Xiaoya added, "Don't be mad, okay? I'm sorry. I didn't handle my family matters well, but my mom just recently relaxed her hold on me a little and I don't want her to kick up a fuss again."

Mo Yichen: "I heard the facilities at Yunta High aren't that good, is that true?"

Xiaoya said nothing more. She knew Lu Xiaobei wanted to pick her up herself or for them to take the bus together so they can spend more time together.

"Yichen! I missed you so much." Seeing Mo Yichen enter, Xiaoya hopped off her chair and gave the other girl a bear hug. "You're still sweet, soft, and pretty."

Mo Yichen didn't ask Xiaoya the reason why she suddenly transferred schools, only passing right by her to head over to Xiaoya's desk where she rested the cake. "How's life at the new school?"

Xiaoya's jaw fell open. She never imagined there could be such an open-minded parent.

Lu XIaobei: "Huh?"

Mo Yichen then continued: "Xiang Yi's mom also asked about my situation at home. She told me, if luck was on my and Xiang Yi's side, and we still ate together like we did in a few years, she would recognise me as a goddaughter."

Mo Yichen put up with Xiaoya for thirty seconds, and seeing her still latched on like an octopus, unable to stand it any longer, she pushed Xiaoya away and scolded, "Don't think you acting like this means I've forgiven you for disappearing suddenly without a word."

Xiaoya then said excitedly: "It looks like her mom already accepted you!"

But in response, her mother stammered out, "I'm just looking out for you."

Xiaoya then said probingly, "Captain and I..."

The two were both silent. Neither said anything fr a while until Xiaoya noticed Lu Xiaobei had taken a road that was different from the usual one, leading to her pointing out, "You should take the next left, to the flyover other there."

Mo Yichen's lips curled upwards slightly at Xiaoya's exclamation, but the smile held there never reached her eyes.

"Yichen! I missed you so much." Seeing Mo Yichen enter, Xiaoya hopped off her chair and gave the other girl a bear hug. "You're still sweet, soft, and pretty."

Xiaoya: "I think it's fine. Like, there's nothing that's unbearable. The language is an obstacle, though. I finally understand why I can't learn English well. Right now I can't understand more than half of the local dialect there. But my classmates are all really nice, so when they talk to me they use Mandarin."

Mo Yichen: "Yeah. But we don't get to contact one another much."

Tousling Xiaoya's hair, Lu Xiaobei teased, "So rude."

Mo Yichen didn't ask Xiaoya the reason why she suddenly transferred schools, only passing right by her to head over to Xiaoya's desk where she rested the cake. "How's life at the new school?"

She wanted it too. But the situation did not allow for such a thing to be.

Curious, Xiaoya asked, "Since it's like this, why would Xiang Yi still go to Shanghai?"

Curious, Xiaoya asked, "Since it's like this, why would Xiang Yi still go to Shanghai?"

Backing down a bit, Xiaoya instead asked, "Then can I invite a fried from high school over to hang out?"

Sighing lightly, Mo Yichen then replied, "You know about Xiang Yi's grades having their ups and downs too. And even though her mother is more tolerant than most in many ways, she prioritizes studying a great deal. She wants Xiang Yi to walk the Art Examination path. She doesn't care if Xiang Yi enters a professional school, a comprehensive 211 university, or a 985 university. They were all better than her current trajectory."

Xiaoya's jaw fell open. She never imagined there could be such an open-minded parent.

Tousling Xiaoya's hair, Lu Xiaobei teased, "So rude."

Mo Yichen nodded and Xiaoya understood. Xiaoya then suddenly grabbed her own hair while mouthing an "Aaaaaahhhh!" Seeing this, Mo Yichen asked, "What's wrong?"

Xiaoya turned around hearing this, her eyes fixing onto her mother's. "Mom, is your intention to put me under house arrest? I've been at Yunta High for the entire semester with only one break every month. Added together, it barely added amount to half a month. I didn't even go to visit relatives in those two weeks. All I did was stay at home. I didn't go anywhere. I can't even watch the news when I'm at Yunta High. I feel as though I lost touch with all of society. I haven't been in contact with my junior high friends for six months. Some of them even think I'm a missing person."

Xiaoya: "Sometimes I think that it be just be better for us to elope."

Xiaoya: "So it's a good thing, then."

Mo Yichen nodded and Xiaoya understood. Xiaoya then suddenly grabbed her own hair while mouthing an "Aaaaaahhhh!" Seeing this, Mo Yichen asked, "What's wrong?"

Xiaoya: "So it's a good thing, then."

Xiaoya: "There are a few teachers at my school that my mom asked to look after me. I'm freaked out one of them might see something and go tell my mom."

Mo Yichen: "Yeah. But we don't get to contact one another much."

Mo Yichen: "During winter camp. Xiang Yi and I both had a inkling."

But Mo Yichen shook her head. "In my opinion, it's the ones who are kind and take care of others."

When Xiaoya got home, her mother was on the balcony hanging blankets. So Xiaoya went straight to the study and turned on the computer.

Xiaoya: ?

"So who is it you like, then?" Mo Yichen asked.

"Xiang Yi seems like... it's probably just my intuition, but even on the one time we talk to each other a week, she seems absent-minded..." Mo Yichen hesitated before continuing, "You have a lot to worry about for yourself right now, so I couldn't bring myself to tell you. Maybe it will all work out after we get to university."

Xiaoya was completely confused. "When did you notice it?"