"Yes, that’s what he said when he called me today," Chu Feng’s mother said with a smile.
Everyone could see that Chu Feng’s mother was happy—a joy that came from the bottom of her heart.
"Your Chu Feng is really something, finding a wife to bring home. There are plenty of bachelors in their late twenties in our village now." A group of women chattered at the village entrance, all talking at once, creating a ruckus that sounded almost like an argument.
As the crowd was engrossed in their heated conversation, a car slowly drove up to the village entrance and stopped.
A man and a woman got out. The man was dressed head-to-toe in brand names, as was the woman, who was fashionably dressed and heavily made-up.
"Well, isn’t that your Chu Hai? He must have struck it rich, buying a car and all. That car can’t be cheap, right? And that girl is quite a looker." The women all turned to look, then started gossiping again.
"It really is my Chu Hai, he’s back." A stout woman quickly stood up and hurried over, beaming.
The man who got out was from the same generation as Chu Feng. He stomped his feet as soon as he exited the car, brushed the dust off his clothes, and even wiped his slightly dusty shoes with his hand.
Every gesture seemed calculated to show off his designer clothes.
Just then, Chu Hai’s mother came up to greet them.
"Ah Hai, is this...?" Chu Hai’s mother asked, her voice filled with excitement.
"You live in such a remote backwater? There isn’t even a paved road. Every step is just mud. I just spent over three thousand on these shoes. Are they even wearable now?" the flashy woman said, frowning with disgust the moment she got out of the car.
Chu Hai’s expression turned ugly. He awkwardly introduced her, "Tingting, this is my mom."
"I know. I’m not deaf," Tingting said without even giving Chu Hai’s mother a proper look.
Chu Hai’s mother didn’t say anything, just hurried to help them with their luggage.
"Be careful. Don’t get my mink coat dirty. I spent tens of thousands on this," the flashy woman said with a cold expression.
Chu Hai’s mother gave an awkward smile and had no choice but to take a few steps back.
"Mom, what do you think of my girlfriend? She’s a looker, right?" Chu Hai asked his mother smugly.
"Yes, yes, Mom is very satisfied," Chu Hai’s mother said happily as she carried their luggage.
"By the way, who else from the village is back?" Chu Hai asked his mother.
"I heard from Chu Feng’s mom that he’s coming back today, and he’s bringing a girlfriend, too," Chu Hai’s mother replied.
"Oh, Chu Feng? I heard he’s in sales in Beihai, making three to five thousand a month. That much money isn’t even enough for one of my usual meals. He can find a girlfriend with that?" Upon hearing this, Chu Hai’s face immediately twisted into a sneer.
Hearing this, Chu Feng’s mother felt an indescribable bitterness.
"Alright, that’s enough talk. Let’s go home. I’ve made food for you," Chu Hai’s mother said hastily.
But the flashy woman sneered, "I really don’t get what’s so great about this godforsaken place that’s worth coming back to."
After Chu Hai and his family left, Chu Feng’s mother departed as well. Then, the women at the village entrance started gossiping again.
"That girlfriend Chu Hai found really has high standards. Her nose is stuck so high in the air."
"Exactly. So what if he made a little money? What’s there to be so smug about?"
"Do you guys think Chu Feng really makes that little? He’d be better off raising chickens and ducks in the village."
The women at the village entrance chattered on, each adding their own two cents.
On the highway, Chu Feng drove leisurely. Su Miaoke, sitting beside him, glanced at him and asked, "Let’s take a break at the next service area, okay? You’ve been driving for so long."
"I’m not tired. We’ll be off the highway in less than two hours," Chu Feng said. He didn’t know why he felt so energetic.
It just felt like his Essence, Qi, and Spirit were much stronger than before. He was full of vigor.
As the two were chatting, his phone rang.
"It’s my little brother, Chu Hao. Can you get that for me?" Chu Feng said to Su Miaoke after glancing at his phone.
Su Miaoke took the phone and answered the call.
"Bro, where are you? When are you coming to pick me up?" Chu Hao’s voice came from the other end of the line.
"Soon, soon. I’ll be at your school in two hours at the most," Chu Feng said.
"Hey there, your brother’s driving right now, so he can’t really talk. We’ll call you when we get there," Su Miaoke said into the phone.
On the other end, Chu Hao was momentarily stunned. "You are...?"
"I’m your sister-in-law! Your brother and I will come pick you up from school soon. We can chat when we meet!" Su Miaoke said cheerfully.
"Huh? My brother found me a sister-in-law? Okay, okay! I’ll wait for you at school then." Chu Hao hung up after saying that.
"So, do you think your little brother will be shocked when he sees what a beautiful sister-in-law you found for him?" Su Miaoke asked playfully.
"Definitely. That kid will probably be dumbstruck," Chu Feng said with a nod.
But then he glanced at Su Miaoke again and said, "What do you even see in me? I’m a broke nobody. No car, no house, no diploma."
Su Miaoke reached out with her slender hand and gave Chu Feng’s thigh a hard pinch. "Isn’t it because I’m blind?"
"Ow! I’m being serious here, I’m not kidding," Chu Feng yelped in pain.
"Hmph. You think you can sleep with me and not take responsibility? Now that you have, you’re mine!" Su Miaoke huffed, turning her head to the side.
Chu Feng glanced at her and sighed. "Don’t worry. I’ll definitely take responsibility for you."
Although Chu Feng couldn’t clearly remember what happened that night, their relationship was now an established fact.
Su Miaoke stared blankly out the car window, lost in thought.
’That one night completely changed my destiny.’
’It was as if a giant hand had descended from the heavens and pulled me out of the darkness.’
’At first, I felt some resistance to everything that had happened, but after all this time, I’m suddenly realizing... this state doesn’t feel so bad.’
’It’s letting me experience a feeling I’ve never had before: warmth, security, comfort, relaxation...’
「At the entrance of Zhongnan City Vocational College.」
A young man in a grayish-brown down jacket stood by the side of the road with a suitcase, waiting.
Suddenly, a few young men walked over from a short distance away. They all had brightly colored hair—red, blue, white, and green.
"Well, well, isn’t it Chu Hao? Getting ready to go home, are we? The boys and I haven’t eaten yet. If you leave, how are we supposed to eat?" the leader, Huang Mao, sneered.
"Chen Long!" Upon seeing Huang Mao, Chu Hao’s face changed, and his expression grew visibly tense.