She could only remain silent, her fists clenched so tightly at her sides that they cracked, her knuckles turned white, and her veins bulged.

She longed to rush up to him, slap his cold face, and demand to know why he was so heartless!

But she couldn't move—she dared not.

Because she knew that if she dared to take action, her mother, who was crying so hard she was almost out of breath, would completely collapse.

She couldn't let her mother suffer even the slightest bit more.

In the end, she could only bite her lower lip hard until it turned white and almost bled.

She slowly turned around, her steps heavy as if dragging a thousand-pound iron chain, and slowly made her way back to the low, dimly lit room.

Inside the room, Wang Chunhua lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes, breathing rapidly, her chest heaving violently.

Hearing footsteps, she barely opened her eyes. When she saw her daughter return, her lips moved, but she didn't have the strength to speak.

"Mom...I'm sorry."

Su Yueyue knelt on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), her voice trembling uncontrollably, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

Her eyes were red and swollen like peaches, and tears fell one after another onto the rough floor, making a soft but clear "plop" sound.

She lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, like a child who had done something wrong, taking all the blame upon herself.

Wang Chunhua felt a sudden pang of sorrow, as if she had been cut by a dull knife.

She immediately reached out and pulled her daughter into her arms, holding her tightly as if she wanted to meld her into her own flesh and blood.

"Silly child, what does this have to do with you?"

Her voice was hoarse but firm, "You didn't steal or rob, and you didn't break the law, so why should you apologize? You have a clean conscience!"

"But... but if I hadn't been so foolish and soft-hearted as to agree to let them come inside to talk... you wouldn't have had to come out, wouldn't have had to bow your head, wouldn't have had to sign that document..."

Su Yueyue choked up, unable to speak properly; every word felt like it was tearing her heart out.

"You are my lifeblood!"

Wang Chunhua's voice suddenly rose, filled with anger, and the rage in her eyes reignited.

She hugged her daughter tightly, her tone leaving no room for argument, "If anyone dares to lay a finger on you, I'll fight them to the death! You did nothing wrong, you were just too kind! I've seen everything they've done to you these past few days!"

She became more and more agitated as she spoke, her chest heaving violently. "They talk a good game, calling you 'Yueyue' and 'little sister,' but behind your back they're always using underhanded tricks, sowing discord, and framing you! They should have been taught a lesson long ago, so they'd know who's the real head of this family!"

She grew angrier the more she thought about it, and slammed her fist on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), making a dull thud.

If I had known her daughter was soft-hearted, I shouldn't have hesitated in the first place; I should have just confronted her directly!

People like Su Qianfan should be kicked out immediately, not even allowed to step over the threshold!

Anyone who dares to come asking for money, let them leave lying down!

How can we let these people take advantage of us and bite us back?

But she didn't dare say a single word of these words.

She was afraid that if she told her daughter, her daughter would feel even more guilty and suffer even more.

She would rather swallow her grievances than see her daughter shed another tear.

But she knew perfectly well that it was precisely because you were too kind and too considerate that they dared to take advantage of you.

It is precisely because you have given in time and time again that they dare to reach out time and time again.

If you hadn't been so soft-hearted, none of these people would have gotten a single dollar from our house today.

They're not after money, they're after your dignity, they're after your mother's life!

The thought of Su Qingzhi being so ungrateful made Wang Chunhua feel a tightness in her chest, as if a heavy stone was pressing on her heart, making it difficult to even breathe.

She sat on the threshold, clutching the hem of her clothes with both hands, her nails digging into her palms without her noticing the pain.

If I had known that this girl was an ingrate, cold-hearted and ungrateful wretch, I shouldn't have been soft-hearted and let her live out of pity back then.

If I had really been ruthless, I would have just thrown her into that dry ditch outside the village back then, instead of raising an enemy and wasting more than a decade of food and effort.

It's like an ungrateful dog; no matter how well you raise it, it will only bite back.

"Yueyue, don't be afraid. Mom is here. I'll fight anyone who dares to lay a finger on you!"

Wang Chunhua gritted her teeth and spoke each word clearly and firmly, as if it were squeezed out from the depths of her throat.

A fierce glint flashed in her eyes, her brows furrowed, and the muscles in her cheeks twitched slightly, as if she were ready to fight the whole world.

Her hands gripped Su Yueyue's shoulders tightly, so hard they almost left fingerprints, as if her daughter would be snatched away if she loosened her grip even slightly.

"Mom, you're the best! I love you so much!"

Su Yueyue rushed over and hugged Wang Chunhua's arm tightly, pressing her face against her mother's shoulder. Her voice was so sweet it was almost sickening, like honey-soaked syrup, dripping into one's heart.

Her eyes curved slightly, her lips turned up, and her face was full of coquettish dependence.

Her fingers gently caressed Wang Chunhua's rough hand, as if to soothe her, or as if to confirm the warmth of their kinship.

Upon hearing this, Wang Chunhua froze, as if nailed to the spot, her breath catching in her throat for a moment.

The daughter's face, the familiar look in her eyes, was exactly the same as the man she had longed for for half her life—especially her eyes, clear yet stubborn, just like his when he was young.

She was suddenly pulled back ten years by an invisible force, back to that summer night when the moonlight shone on the ridges of the fields. He held her hand, his palm burning hot, his eyes sincere, and said, word by word, "I will only love you in this life, and that will never change, even if the world ends."

At that moment, my heart suddenly felt warm, as if something had exploded in my chest, and a warm current instantly flowed throughout my body.

Her face turned red, her ears burned, her breathing became rapid, and her chest heaved, as if she had returned to the moment of her heart fluttering as a young girl.

Seeing her mother's dazed expression, Su Yueyue blinked, a little confused, and tentatively called out in a low voice, "...Mom? What's wrong?"

She tilted her head, her eyes filled with a hint of doubt, as if she were observing something.

Seeing that Wang Chunhua was still stunned and unresponsive, her mind raced for a few moments before she suddenly realized something and quickly added in a soft voice, "By the way, Mom, you've never told me about Dad. Does he love you very, very much? Is he very good to you?"

Wang Chunhua's face flushed even redder, like clouds dyed by the sunset, and even her neck turned pink.

Her eyes softened instantly, like the shimmering waters of a spring lake, filled with memories and longing.

She looked at Su Yueyue, her voice unconsciously softening, carrying a dreamlike daze: "Your father... was a wonderful person. Kind-hearted, good-tempered, and never argued with me. Although we were poor back then, wearing coarse clothes and eating rice with pickled vegetables, he never let me shed a single tear. On rainy days, he carried me across muddy puddles; when I was sick, he stayed by my bedside all night, brewing medicine and feeding me water. He always said that supporting the family wasn't a man's obligation, but his blessing, and that being able to take care of me was a blessing he had earned in his past life."

——

Su Qingzhi had just arrived home with her two mothers, and before she could even stand properly...