36/Stubborn

Chen Mian's words were still incomplete; there was still a subtle difference between what she expressed and what she truly thought.

For example, right now.

She told Qiao Zhiwan that she found it ridiculous that Qiao Zhiwan was trying to please everyone by following Shen Yu around.

But what she really thinks is that she would never actually like someone who doesn't like her back and go to great lengths for them.

The influence of one's family of origin is reflected in many aspects.

Despite many inspirational quotes saying that we shouldn't complain about what our parents can give us, but rather focus on what we can create for ourselves through our own efforts.

But the truth is that one's family of origin is a threshold that divides different starting lines. Some people open the door and see the scenery on the mountain, taking cable cars and going out without any obstacles. The difficulties and setbacks they may encounter are probably how to climb higher peaks, or the fact that ordinary achievements cannot fill their inner needs after their happiness threshold is raised, thus leading them astray.

But for people like Chen Mian, who were born at the foot of the mountain and struggled all the way up, with no shortcuts, most of the people they came into contact with lived difficult lives. Like the couple in front of their house who got up at three in the morning to prepare ingredients for the breakfast shop, they struggled to earn a little money each month and had to pay for their parents' medical treatment and medicine. After paying for their children's school fees, they squeezed out every penny from under their fingernails to maintain their family expenses. It was as if the rope always broke at the thinnest point, and the more difficult the situation, the more difficulties they would encounter.

Therefore, Qiao Zhiwan and Chen Yin could not understand. They believed that Chen Mian, who was entangled with Shen Yu, would inevitably fall deeply in love with him. In their world, life consisted of nothing but studying and all the likes and dislikes. But with Chen Mian, her rope was fragile and could not bear the weight of other emotions. She didn't even have time to think about whether she liked him or not.

Even if you like it, so what?

It's like asking a drowning person if they like amusement parks.

The amusement park is great, but what she needs most is a rope and a shore to dock on.

Love was never a necessity for Chen Mian.

but--

"You're such a love-struck fool! What do you mean you didn't celebrate your 18th birthday with us? Do you know how much that hurts me, Shen Yu?!"

You Huai thought that Shen Yu was really a mess. He came to find Shen Yu early in the morning to talk about what they hadn't finished discussing last night, but Shen Yu just told him not to come looking for him on his eighteenth birthday, as he had his own plans.

You Huai suddenly felt like an old father being abandoned by his son. He didn't hesitate to assume the worst about Shen Yu and asked, "Do you have other friends outside?"

Before Shen Yu could even finish speaking, he blurted out, "Go get treated if you're sick."

You Huai guessed again, "It can't be that he's spending time with girls, right?"

Shen Yu looked up, his eyes conveying the message: He guessed the right answer.

"Hold."

You Huai reacted as if he had stepped on a landmine, immediately cursing out loud, and then lectured Shen Yu, "Didn't we agree not to be simps?"

Shen Yu replied nonchalantly, "I didn't lick it."

"You're not sucking up to me! Your parents aren't in the country, and I've celebrated your birthday with you every year since you turned fourteen. If you're not going to suck up to me, go find someone else to celebrate your birthday with! She doesn't even care about you!" You Huai said angrily.

These words displeased Shen Yu. He tapped his finger on the table, interrupting You Huai, and spoke to You Huai in a lazy tone with a hint of unintentional boasting.

"I'm sorry, friend, the person you like might genuinely not care about you, but Chen Mian cares about me a lot."

You Huai was silent for a moment, not wanting to point out that it was probably just your imagination, afraid of hurting Shen Yu's feelings. He carefully chose his words before asking, "Where did you get the conclusion that she cares about you?"

What a load of rubbish.

You Huai was internally raging.

On Shen Yu's birthday in his first year of high school, he stared at his phone all night, stubbornly claiming he was waiting for his parents' money transfer information. When the information finally arrived, he was still looking at his phone. After the party ended, Shen Yu refused to hitch a ride and drove straight to Shen Yu's building. Shen Yu was bored at the time, so he decided to follow him. He got out of the car behind Shen Yu and saw Shen Yu flirtatiously asking Chen Mian to give him a birthday greeting. After that, Shen Yu wasn't satisfied, so he took out some money from his pocket and handed it over. After saying something, Chen Mian kicked him, and he walked out of the alley. When he came back, he had a bag of bread in his hand and shoved it into Shen Yu's hand.

Even so, the next day Shen Yu could brag to him that he had gone to receive gifts the night before.

The birthday celebration in the second year of high school was even more outrageous. Shen Yu simply slipped away halfway through, and the whole room was filled with people celebrating his birthday. It was as if the "Happy Birthday" song was sung to thin air. You Huai didn't need to guess to know that Shen Yu had gone to find Chen Mian.

Back then, he, Shen Yu, and their childhood friend Chi Sheng, who was studying in the United States, had a group chat where they would chat about their recent situations. Chi Sheng even started a video chat in the group, taking advantage of the time difference, intending to wish someone a happy birthday. However, You Huai answered the call, and the two stared at each other blankly before Chi Sheng simply hung up.

Chi Sheng is the type of person who will not turn back even after hitting a wall, and will insist on breaking through the wall to make a way out. He kept hitting Shen Yu even when Shen Yu didn't answer. In the end, Shen Yu got annoyed and replied in the group chat, "Studying, don't fucking bother me."

Chi Sheng: ? What utter nonsense.

You Huai: You're fucking a simp.

As a result, Shen Yuzhen sent a photo. He was using his phone as a flashlight, and judging from his posture, he was squatting down. His backpack was under the test paper, and he had written half of the solution process.

Chenyu: I am truly studying.

Chi Sheng: Sometimes I really don't know why we're friends, even though I get a headache just looking at books.

You Huai recognized the background immediately; the grass even had the words "Chen Mian's house downstairs" written on it. He sent a string of ellipses and then posted on his WeChat Moments: "A true simp is always simp without even realizing it."

Shen Yu replied quickly: You Huai wrote an explanation for himself.

This person has always refused to admit that he is a simp, and instead has always mocked others for being simps.

Both of these birthday-related incidents made You Huai realize that Shen Yu would definitely become a leader in the future.

Shen Yu, probably bored, actually started arguing with You Huai, asking him, "Would Chen Yin care whether you've had breakfast or not?"

You Huai: "She'd love for me to starve to death."

Shen Yu: "Oh, I'm sorry, friend, Chen Mian cares."

You Huai: "...Why do you care?"

Shen Yu: "When she eats in the morning, she always asks me when she ate. She's quite clingy and wants me to keep her company."

You Huai: "Is it possible that it was just a polite greeting, like 'How are you?'?"

Shen Yu laughed, looking at him as if he were an idiot. "Fine, then how did Chen Yin say hello to you?"

"..."

You Huai remained silent, telling himself five hundred times that Shen Yu's birthday was coming up, to treat him kindly, that he was a pitiful left-behind child, and not to expose him.

Finally, unable to resist, he said to Shen Yu, "How about this, it's your birthday. If you can get Chen Mian to come to our event, I'll call you 'Dad' and her 'Mom,' okay?"

Shen Yu looked at him, "Does it have to be this way?"

"Chi Sheng will also call you Dad."

When You Huai said this, he genuinely believed that Chen Mian had no chance of coming.

Who knew that, as if his words had been blessed, no sooner had he said those words than someone outside called out, "Brother Chen! Sister Chen is looking for you!"

You Huai turned around even faster than Shen Yu, and saw Chen Mian standing at the back door, his gaze fixed on Shen Yu. Shen Yu, sitting in front of him, acted like a big shot, not in a hurry to go out, and gave him a look as if he were showing off.

That face, which he had grown tired of seeing, seemed to say: "Sorry, son, your mother is here to see me."

You Huai: Cao.

Shen Yu walked to the classroom door, a smile still on his face.

Without waiting for Chen Mian to speak, he glanced inside and, seeing countless eyes looking his way, immediately closed the back door.

Then he asked Chen Mian, "What's wrong?"

His tone was cheerful, his happiness undisguised.

Like a stray dog ​​wagging its tail when its owner comes home.

Then a bottle of milk was stuffed into my arms.

It was the bottle I gave her this morning; I didn't even unscrew the cap before handing it back to him.

Chen Mian didn't look anywhere, but Shen Yu sensed a hint of retaliation in her actions. She stuffed the things in and left.

Inside the classroom, You Huai pushed open the window, looking as if he'd seen a ghost. "Holy crap, you're not kidding, she actually brought you milk?"

Shen Yu held the bottle of milk, looking annoyed but stubbornly saying, "I'm talking nonsense."

The Heavenly King has arrived.

It's all because Chen Mianchao cares about Shenyu.

/

Almost there.

Whatever it is, it'll be over soon.