After school, Yuan Tingshen wanted to take Yuan Miao with him, but Yuan Miao, sensing his intention, immediately ran and hopped onto the back seat of Li Qing’s electric scooter.
Yuan Tingshen’s eyelid twitched.
He scolded, “Slow down!”
Li Qing was also startled.
She turned her head and glared at Yuan Miao. “Do you want to sprain your ankle again?!”
Yuan Miao quickly shook his head in apology.
“I forgot.”
“……”
Li Qing huffed and looked away.
She glanced at Yuan Tingshen, who was still standing there, and without saying a word, simply started the electric scooter and rode off.
Yuan Tingshen stood in place, watching helplessly as they disappeared into the distance.
After a moment, he let out a bitter laugh.
…His future son and the girl he secretly liked got along so well—it seemed like he was the only one trapped in this situation.
……
Li Qing took Yuan Miao home.
Chen Ruohua had prepared a lavish dinner to celebrate their move to the new home and Yuan Miao starting school.
She had specially made her signature sweet and sour spare ribs.
Yuan Miao devoured three bowls of rice in one go.
Li Qing couldn’t bear to watch and tapped his head. “…Eat less, or you’ll get indigestion.”
“…Ow.”
Yuan Miao reluctantly swallowed the last piece of spare rib.
Chen Ruohua couldn’t help but laugh.
She shook her head. “It’s fine. Miao Miao is at an age where he’s growing. Eating well is a blessing.”
“Hehe, Aunt Chen is right!”
Li Qing had nothing to say.
Since Yuan Miao appeared, she had come to understand the phrase “grandparents’ favoritism” more and more deeply.
Chen Ruohua gazed at them with gentle indulgence. “Winter is coming soon. I bought some yarn, and after I finish this batch of stuffed toys, I’ll knit scarves for you.”
“Yay, thank you, Aunt Chen!”
Yuan Miao cheered enthusiastically.
Li Qing’s eyes held a hint of disapproval. “Mom, you’re going to the hospital next week. Don’t overwork yourself.”
“I know.”
Chen Ruohua nodded.
After dinner, Li Qing took Yuan Miao out under the pretense of taking a walk to aid digestion, but in reality, she was planning to drop him off at Zhao Wenyi’s place.
“I’m going to deliver food later. You stay at the bar, and I’ll pick you up after work.”
“Okay~”
Since Yuan Miao would be going to school with her from now on, Li Qing had quit her part-time job at the convenience store.
After all, she could earn a decent amount from tutoring and food delivery now, and the parents she worked for were even willing to introduce her to other clients.
When they arrived at Ninth Street, the bar was preparing to open for the night.
Luo Zhengyu asked Yuan Miao with a smile how his first day of school went.
Yuan Miao calmly pointed at himself and asked Luo Zhengyu what he saw.
“You.”
Luo Zhengyu looked puzzled.
Yuan Miao nodded solemnly. “Exactly. Just me, no knowledge.”
Luo Zhengyu was stunned for a moment before bursting into loud laughter.
“Hahahahaha…”
Li Qing felt her hands itching with frustration.
All the extra tutoring she had squeezed in for him today had been for nothing!
“What does that mean? Is Yuan Miao not doing well in school?”
Zhao Wenyi looked at Li Qing with a serious expression.
Seeing that Li Qing didn’t deny it, his heart sank.
“Xiao Li is very smart. Could it be your father…”
Zhao Wenyi’s probing, suspicious gaze fell on Yuan Miao.
Yuan Miao was startled by his look.
He straightened up and urgently defended his father. “My dad is definitely not an uneducated delinquent!”
Hearing this, Zhao Wenyi’s expression didn’t soften much.
Zeng Huai shook his head. “You’re watching too closely—it actually makes it easier for others to take advantage.”
He was hinting to Zhao Wenyi that Li Qing was no obedient girl; her rebellious behavior was plentiful.
“I’m just afraid Xiao Li might get deceived.”
Zhao Wenyi cleared his throat lightly.
Luo Zhengyu, never one to shy away from stirring the pot, curled his lips in a teasing smirk.
“So you’re a case of positives making a negative? Reverse inheritance, huh.”
“Uncle Luo, I’m smart too, you know!”
Yuan Miao pouted in dissatisfaction. “It’s just that studying is so boring and tedious—I really can’t sit still…”
After handing Yuan Miao over to them, Li Qing prepared to go deliver takeout. Zhao Wenyi had arranged to visit their new home on Saturday to celebrate their move.
“There’s one more thing.”
“Yesterday, Li Jianhui was lurking around Ninth Street a couple of times, probably thinking you were there.”
“Mm, I know.”
Li Qing let out a scornful laugh.
…
A few days later, when Li Qing and Yuan Miao returned from school, they found Chen Ruohua wasn’t home, and her phone was unreachable.
Yuan Miao tried to guess, “Did Grandma go grocery shopping?”
Li Qing shook her head.
She called Grandma Xu and learned her mother wasn’t there either, her brow furrowing in concern.
“Mom, look at this.”
Yuan Miao pulled up the living room surveillance footage.
Chen Ruohua had left home with a grave expression after receiving a phone call.
“Could it be…”
Grandpa?
Yuan Miao and Li Qing exchanged a glance. Knowing Li Qing disliked hearing those two words, she simply didn’t finish the sentence.
But Li Qing understood.
She had considered that possibility too.
Yet she had specifically reminded her mother to block all of Li Jianhui’s contact methods and, above all, not to meet him alone.
“Let’s go check.”
As Li Qing grabbed the electric scooter keys to head out, she heard the smart lock click open.
Chen Ruohua appeared at the doorway carrying two bags, looking surprised at them. “You’re back so early today?”
Li Qing paused in her steps.
She let out a sigh of relief and explained, “…The teachers all had a meeting during the last class, so we got let out early.”
“Then you two do your homework for a bit—Mom will start cooking.”
Chen Ruohua said this and made to enter the kitchen.
Li Qing stopped her.
“Mom.”
“Where did you just go?”
“…”
Chen Ruohua’s expression stiffened slightly.
Yuan Miao sensed something amiss and quietly made herself less noticeable.
Chen Ruohua forced a smile.
She set the bags on the dining table, then pulled Li Qing to sit on the sofa, patting the back of her hand.
“The police called Mom this afternoon.”
“The police?”
Li Qing frowned.
Chen Ruohua nodded, her expression calm yet numb. “Yes, your father filed a report. First, he claimed there was a thief in the house, then later reported that his wife and child were missing…”
“He really has no shame.”
Li Qing sneered coldly.
Chen Ruohua didn’t refute it.
She recalled Li Jianhui’s shameless, truth-twisting face at the police station and felt a wave of nausea.
He had even brazenly scolded her, saying Li Qing was about to take the college entrance exams and that she should think more about her daughter.
Chen Ruohua knew all too well—Li Jianhui was using their daughter to threaten her.
Her mother’s silence worried Li Qing.
She clasped her mother’s hand in return and said earnestly, “Mom, I’ll clarify things with the police. I won’t let him bother you again.”
“Mom already spoke to the police.”
Chen Ruohua shook her head.
She couldn’t always let her daughter shoulder everything.
Chen Ruohua knew very well that she didn’t have much time left to live, so Li Jianhui absolutely must not become a stain on Li Qing’s future life.
She took a deep breath and suddenly spoke: “Qingqing, Mom has decided to divorce your father.”
“!!!”
Li Qing was startled.
Beside her, Yuan Miao also widened her eyes in shock.