The empty house was left with only Jiang Yuxin inside. She felt so numb that she didn’t even know how to cry anymore. For the first time, she had the urge to run away. If there was no basketball, what was the point of studying hard? She had no idea what her mother meant by saying she would understand when she grew up, and she didn’t really want to know either.
Opening her schoolbag, Jiang Yuxin pulled out her composition book. An envelope slipped out along with the book and fluttered to the floor. Puzzled, Jiang Yuxin picked it up and looked at it, only then remembering that it had been placed in her bag by Chen Mingliang, the new transfer student.
“Dear Jiang Yuxin, you play basketball incredibly well. We all love watching you play. Keep it up—you’re our idol! —Group Three, Class Five-Four.”
Although Chen Mingliang was a transfer student, he didn’t have any trouble fitting in. In fact, because of his cheerful and outgoing personality, the teacher had made him the leader of Group Three.
Seeing the letter, Jiang Yuxin couldn’t help but chuckle, clutching it tightly in her hand. That’s right—she still had friends. She couldn’t let them down.
After thinking it over, Jiang Yuxin decided to call Ding Yawen and tell her everything that had happened that day.
Ding Yawen was swamped with work due to her job transfer, but Jiang Yuxin was her goddaughter, so of course she cared. Just as she was getting off work, she answered the call and started walking home.
“Your mom actually canceled your basketball lessons and won’t let you stay on the school team? Yuxin, don’t worry. Your mom is just angry right now. Once she cools down in a few days, she’ll naturally let you resume.”
Jiang Yuxin quickly replied, “Godmother, that’s impossible. She’s always disliked me playing basketball and thinks it interferes with my studies. But godmother, my grades slipping really isn’t because of basketball. I’m just always tired from lack of sleep, and there’s too much homework—from school, cram school, and even extra assignments from Mom. It’s all repetitive, and she still makes me do it over and over again.”
Ding Yawen frowned. This couldn’t go on. The last time she met Lu Jiaping, she had noticed that Lu Jiaping was completely fixated on the middle school entrance exams. But putting so much pressure on a child wasn’t right.
“Didn’t you explain the reason to your mom?”
“If I tell her, she’ll just think I’m wasting time playing basketball…” Jiang Yuxin’s voice sounded aggrieved.
Ding Yawen sighed deeply. “Alright, I’m free the day after tomorrow. I’ll arrange to meet your mom.”
The day after tomorrow was Sunday, and Lu Jiaping usually didn’t go out. However, Ding Yawen called Jiang Cheng, briefly explained the situation, and asked if he could spare a day to take care of their child.
Jiang Cheng was more than happy to have someone help talk some sense into Lu Jiaping and agreed without hesitation. “Not just the day after tomorrow—tomorrow works too, or even both days. Yawen, if you have time, why not take Jiaping on a trip to the outskirts of Shanghai? You have no idea how Jiaping is now… I’m really fed up with her.”
“Hold on, Jiang Cheng!” Ding Yawen cut him off bluntly. “Jianhui and I aren’t even married yet. Don’t pass your negativity onto me and ruin whatever little hope I have left for marriage.”
Jiang Cheng let out a bitter laugh. He wanted to say he didn’t even know what the point of marriage was anymore, but after a moment’s thought, he held back.
“Anyway, please help talk some sense into Jiaping. No matter what, we’ll treat you and your husband to a meal sometime.”
After resolving the matter, Ding Yawen let out a long sigh and stood by the flower bed in the residential complex, lost in thought. Truly, middle age had arrived. Jiaping and Jiang Cheng’s love story, which had blossomed from campus to the wedding altar, had once been the envy of so many. Yet, the trivialities of married life had still caught them off guard.
If it were her, could she handle things better than Jiaping?
She should have confidence in herself. No matter how difficult the work or how overwhelming the news, Ding Yawen always found a way. Dealing with two little ones shouldn’t be any different. Besides, Jianhui wasn’t as chauvinistic as Jiang Cheng. Jianhui would understand and support her.
Ding Yawen adjusted her mood and headed upstairs to go home. Jianhui was still at work and wouldn’t be off duty yet, so he probably wasn’t home today. Alone… she suddenly craved the noodles Jianhui made. Maybe she could try making them herself.
As soon as she opened the door, the aroma of food wafted over her. Surprised, Ding Yawen walked inside. Pork trotter soup was simmering in the electric clay pot, and vegetables and meat were neatly chopped on the cutting board. Jianhui had come home.
Ding Yawen’s eyes curved into a smile. Sometimes Jianhui swapped shifts with colleagues, so his schedule could change. She checked the study and saw the computer was on—it was indeed Jianhui.
But he wasn’t home, probably out buying something.
Ding Yawen put down her bag and was about to take a shower when her phone rang. She went out and realized it was Jianhui’s phone. He must have forgotten to take it with him when he went out.
The phone was charging on the sofa, and the sound of WeChat notifications kept chiming.
Ding Yawen knew Huang Jianhui’s phone password, but she was busy and trusted him, so she never made a habit of checking his privacy. Hearing the constant notifications, she worried it might be something important and quickly picked up the phone to check. All the messages were from Jianhui’s mother.
But the content of the chat left Ding Yawen utterly stunned.
“You’re already thirty-four and still not married, still not having children. How long are you going to indulge her like this?”
“A girl who doesn’t think about marriage and children, always out in public—what kind of life is that! If she doesn’t want to get married, why is she wasting your time?”
“Why aren’t you replying, Jianhui? Your parents only have you, their son. We’re doing this for your own good! I don’t care what she thinks. If she won’t marry you, I’ll find someone who will.”
“First, she said after thirty, now she says after thirty-five. Jianhui, is she saying this because she can’t have children?”
Ding Yawen’s eyes widened in disbelief. She had always thought her future mother-in-law was a kind person. Whenever she had time, she would bring over loads of local specialties, knowing Yawen was busy with work, and even prepared semi-finished dishes that could be heated up and eaten right away.
She had always believed her future mother-in-law comforted her in person, telling her not to worry about household matters and to focus on her work and live her life well.
But she never imagined the person on the phone could be so completely different from the one she knew in reality.
Ding Yawen’s hands trembled. Just then, a video call rang through. She desperately wanted to answer it and have a fierce argument with the person on the other end.
But Huang Jianhui returned. He walked in humming a tune, carrying a bottle of light soy sauce, and immediately spotted Ding Yawen standing by the sofa, holding his phone.
Without even taking off his shoes, Huang Jianhui threw the soy sauce onto the coffee table and rushed to Ding Yawen’s side, trying to snatch the phone back.
Ding Yawen coldly placed the phone behind her back and looked at him. “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
Huang Jianhui licked his lips. “Yawen, give me back my phone.”
The two of them remained locked in a stalemate, the shrill ringtone still blaring. Ding Yawen’s heart sank bit by bit. She picked up her phone and slammed it heavily onto the floor.
“Are you crazy?”