Chapter 270 Fate Repeats Itself

"Your task now is to focus on your studies at university in Guangzhou, learn new skills, and broaden your horizons. Don't confine yourself to your small place and think that the world is only this little corner of the earth."

"Life doesn't belong to others; you have to learn to live for yourself and plan for your own future."

“Remember this, your aunt is waiting for the day when you come back in glory, wearing your university badge, and stand in front of me with a smile, saying: ‘Auntie, I did it.’”

"On that day, I will be even happier than you."

Cheng Jiaqi looked up, her eyes already red.

"Auntie... I promise I won't let you down. I promise you, I'll do everything I can to finish my studies..."

"I will not get married in the future. I'm fine living alone for the rest of my life. I won't rely on anyone else; I'll rely on myself."

"Silly child!"

Zhou Shufen's heart tightened suddenly.

She reached out and pulled Cheng Jiaqi into her arms, gently patting her back.

"Your words break my heart. You're so young, you have a long road ahead of you, how could you say such a thing?"

"but……"

"Today, your aunt has something to tell you, something I've been keeping to myself and haven't dared to say easily."

"Those words were filthy, but I can't hide them from you anymore."

“I have four sons, all of whom are my own flesh and blood, but I cut off all contact with them eight hundred years ago.”

"The eldest brother is Zhou Haiwei, honest but cowardly; the second brother is Zhou Hairong, the worst of them all, cunning and sweet-talking, always pretending to be a good person; the third brother is Zhou Hailiang, a good-for-nothing; the fourth brother is Zhou Haiqing, timid and cowardly, but he blindly follows the eldest and second brothers."

"If you ever hear the names of these four people again, especially Zhou Hairong, stay far away from them and never pay them any attention."

“These four are only interested in money, and their hearts are blacker than charcoal. They have no real skills, but they spend all day scheming to take my little bit of wealth and dream of getting it.”

“Last year, they dared to break into my store in the middle of the night when no one was there and steal things, even taking several boxes of goods from the shelves.”

"Later, someone reported them, the police arrested them, and they were detained for six months. Now they've been released, but who knows what kind of bad ideas they're up to now? Are they plotting something again?"

Cheng Jiaqi's eyes widened.

She spent more than a year with Zhou Shufen, but no one ever mentioned that she had four sons.

How could a sister-in-law who is so good and pure have such despicable children?

"Auntie..."

“I’ve remembered that. I will never have anything to do with them, and I will not see a single one of them.”

“Especially Zhou Hairong.”

Zhou Shufen stared at her.

“That person is the most wicked and the most pretentious. I’m afraid that one day he might change his name and identity, pretend to approach you, try to trick you into revealing information, and deceive you into trusting him. That’s why I’m telling you this today before anything happens.”

Cheng Jiaqi's heart skipped a beat.

Since Zhou Shufen could tell me such unsavory family matters, then she...

Shouldn't we be honest about something?

"Auntie... Actually, there's something I've never dared to tell you... I'm in a relationship."

Zhou Shufen was taken aback, her brows furrowing slightly.

"What did you say?"

Cheng Jiaqi bit her lip.

“Auntie…I…I’m so sorry. Back in May, I went back to my hometown. On the way, I was blocked at the station. A few thugs surrounded me and tried to snatch my bag…A man suddenly rushed out and chased them away for me.”

"What's that guy like? Is he reliable? What's his family background? Is he still in school?"

Zhou Shufen asked.

Cheng Jiaqi subconsciously shrank her neck.

"The person... is alright, I guess."

“He took good care of me and never took advantage of me, not even by holding my hand. He said he respected me and that we would talk about other things after I graduated.”

"His family... According to him, his mother is actually quite wealthy, but she does business outside and deliberately doesn't give him money, insisting that he earn it himself, saying it's to... train his independence."

Zhou Shufen scoffed inwardly.

She knew that Cheng Jiaqi was going to bring up that person again.

The boy named Yang Wanhe.

Cheng Jiaqi continued.

“He didn’t go to university; he said he only graduated from high school. He plans to go back and retake the college entrance exam once he’s earned enough money.”

"Jiaqi, did he show you his graduation certificate?"

Zhou Shufen sighed softly.

She turned around and took a glass from the cupboard.

The tap was running, but she didn't fill it up completely.

Zhou Shufen knew in her heart that at this age, it was easiest to be fooled by a few promises.

Just like in my past life, this child is too easy to fool.

In her previous life, Cheng Jiaqi was the same way, trusting that man completely, only to be swindled out of all her money.

The tragic ending still makes her heart clench when she thinks about it.

And now, fate is repeating itself.

This time, however, she was no longer a bystander.

"No... I haven't shown it to you."

Cheng Jiaqi lowered her head, her cheeks slightly flushed.

She suddenly realized that she had never even seen the other party's most basic identification documents.

It is illogical for someone who claims to want to retake the college entrance exam to not even be able to produce a graduation certificate.

But she had never suspected it before.

Looking back now, Yang Wanhe was strange in many ways.

That day, they were waiting for the bus at the alley entrance when she gently touched his abdomen with her elbow as she handed him water.

In that instant, Yang Wanhe trembled violently and quickly pressed his hand to his abdomen.

She asked him what was wrong, but he just smiled and said it was nothing, probably just a stomachache.

But the reaction was too violent; it didn't seem like a common stomach ailment at all, but more like an old injury.

Injuried?

If he was indeed injured, what could be the reason?

She began to recall his clothing habits.

She always wears high-necked clothes and never rolls up her sleeves, even in summer.

He sometimes unconsciously supports his lower back when he walks.

"Call him over to your house tomorrow, and I'll take a look at him. If he doesn't dare to come, he's probably hiding something."

Zhou Shufen finally turned off the tap, turned around, and looked at Cheng Jiaqi.

She knew that preaching alone was useless; young people always thought they could distinguish between truth and falsehood.

Only by letting her see and hear it with her own eyes can she truly wake up.

Zhou Shufen thought that it would be better to break it off once and for all, so that Cheng Jiaqi would learn a lesson.

She wasn't afraid of Cheng Jiaqi hating her; she was only afraid that Cheng Jiaqi would remain foolish to the end.

“Auntie, he’s the one who always comes to me. I really don’t know where he lives. I only know that his name is Yang Wanhe.”

Cheng Jiaqi looked up at her.

It wasn't that she didn't want to bring him; she just couldn't get in touch with him.

He always showed up at the agreed time for every meeting, never early or late.

She couldn't even remember his phone number.

Zhou Shufen's face was expressionless.

She had long suspected that things wouldn't be that simple.

How can someone who doesn't even have a fixed address genuinely want to build a future with a girl?

There's something wrong with this person.

"Yang Wanhe? Jiaqi, to tell you the truth, your names are really awkward together."

"What a beautiful name you have! Starlight accompanying the moon, so poetic."

She knew that Cheng Jiaqi was smart and would understand her meaning with just a little guidance.