Having been in Shanghai for less than eighteen hours, Zhuo Xia has already experienced a life she had never experienced in eighteen years, allowing her to perceive the real world.

The luxurious mansion on the Bund, the high-end school, the extravagant lifestyle of the two rich heiresses, their lavish purchases of all sorts of luxury goods... everything shocked her. At that moment, she wanted to go home, missed her parents, and thought about repeating a year of high school.

Although Shanghai is a wonderful city, I am a complete outsider to it.

Chu Yi put his arm around his childhood friend's shoulder and patted him gently: "It's not easy to come to Shanghai, let's play for a few days first, and then we'll go home together in a few days."

Zhuo Xia pouted and said, "I don't have any money, you treat me."

"No problem," Chu Yi said, patting his chest.

"whee... ..."

The three sisters linked arms and headed home, the moonlight casting long shadows on them.

Under the moonlight, all was utterly still.

Zhuo Xia gazed out the window, her eyes sparkling with the prosperity of the international metropolis, its golden splendor and dazzling lights.

... ...

Over the next few days, Chu Yi and Zhou Qiong took Zhuo Xia sightseeing, visiting famous attractions and popular spots in Shanghai.

After their trip, the three sisters took a plane back to Chengdu, their hometown.

Back in the small town, Zhuo Xia's parents and Chu Yi's parents were waiting for the three of them. As soon as Zhuo Xia saw her mother, Liu Jia, her eyes reddened, and she hugged her mother's waist, crying, "Mom~~~"

Liu Jia was initially filled with resentment, but seeing her daughter's aggrieved look, her resentment vanished completely, and she comforted her daughter, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

"I'm sorry to have worried you."

"fine."

"I want to study hard, get into a good university, find a good job in the future, and repay you both."

Zhuo Xia's parents were filled with relief; after their trip to Shanghai, their daughter seemed like a completely different person.

Zhuo Xia was like a frog in a well, unaware of how vast the sky was. But after witnessing the lives of her peers, she deeply realized the gap between people.

Those peers not only have privileged family backgrounds, but they are also hardworking and not like the spoiled and dissolute characters in teen idol dramas.

The best way to narrow the gap between yourself and those people is to learn.

"Yiyi, this is for you." Zhuo Xia handed the handbag and necklace she had received to Chu Yi.

Chu Yi shook his head: "They gave it to you."

"I don't have that kind of influence. They're only doing this because of you, I don't want it." Zhuo Xia understood that she and the two young ladies were not related, so there was a reason why they gave her such expensive gifts. She stuffed the two items into Chu Yi's arms.

“I can’t afford something this expensive. I’m afraid I’ll get kidnapped one day. Besides, it’s not my own stuff, so I won’t use it properly. Sooner or later, I’ll buy it with my own abilities.”

Chu Yi tilted her head and looked at her childhood friend. The change in her friend made her very happy. Without saying much, she accepted the two items, and then Zhuo Xia and her family left.

"Qiongqiong, you're absolutely amazing!" Chu Yi said, linking arms with Zhou Qiong, her voice filled with admiration.

At this moment, she understood why Zhou Qiong had taken Zhuo Xia and those two classmates shopping. Only by seeing the real world and witnessing its prosperity could she understand the meaning of learning.

What happened that day will always inspire Zhuo Xia to live her life to the fullest.

"I was just giving it a try," Zhou Qiong said with a smile.

"Let's go home," Qian Liyan said.

Zhou Qiong pursed her lips: "Auntie, I want to go back to my own home for a visit."

Qian Liyan wanted to persuade the girl in front of her, but Chu Yi tugged at her mother's sleeve, and the former shut up. The latter brushed Zhou Qiong's hair behind her ear and said softly, "Alright then, Qiongqiong, you should also see your grandparents and show them that you are doing well and have not suffered any grievances. Also, please pray to your grandparents for me and bless me to get into a good university."

As he spoke, Chu Yi's face lit up with a bright smile, and Zhou Qiong nodded.

Seeing Zhou Qiong leave, Chu Yi sighed softly.

Her home was not Zhou Qiong's home. Zhou Qiong would suffer there, so it was better for her to go with her best friend.

When Chu Yi returned home, all the members of the Chu family had already arrived: Chu's father, Chu's mother, grandparents, and maternal grandparents.

"Oh, little sister's back!" Chu's mother was overjoyed to see Chu Yi and looked her up and down. "Hmm... you're getting prettier and prettier, and you have more and more poise."

"The same goes for stepmothers."

"That's right!"

The family gathered together for a meal.

"How did you do on the exam?" Chu Feng asked.

Chu Yi rolled his eyes: "Dad, it's all over now, so don't ask such a discouraging question. You'll know when the results come out in a few days."

“That’s right, that’s right.” Qian Liyan agreed with her daughter.

"By the way, how are your brother and sister-in-law doing? Are they getting along well? Have they had any conflicts?... ..." Chu's mother craned her neck and asked curiously.

Chu Yi's expression shifted, contorted, as she thought of the sweet and affectionate scene between the two, and the cake Zhong Tingyue had made for them before she left.

Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

This is a real headache.

... ...

Zhou Qiong's home is in the countryside, in a dilapidated house. It was her grandparents' house and holds all her childhood memories.

It had been uninhabited for over a year, and without any repairs, it had fallen into disrepair from the wind and sun.

She walked around the dilapidated house, opened the door, stared blankly at the empty, dusty room, sighed, and closed the door.

"Oh, who are you? How can you open this house? Ah, isn't this Zhou Qiong? It's been so long since I've seen you." She had just turned around when she bumped into the old lady next door, who was looking at her in surprise. "Where have you been? You've grown so much. You're so different from before. You look like a rich young lady from a TV series."

Today, Zhou Qiong wore a light and soft dress with delicate embroidery on the hem, exuding a youthful charm. Her long, smooth hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, and her fair skin, like delicate porcelain, was tinged with a faint blush, making her look both healthy and full of vitality.

Although Zhou Qiong remained simple and elegant, she had at least lived in a school in Shanghai for a year, surrounded by wealthy young men and women, which instilled in her an air of elegance.

You might not notice it in Shanghai, but in a small town or even a rural town, the person becomes exceptionally different, even shining like a star in the night sky.