Chapter 10 The Gloomy Little Darling of the 1970s

The wonder and warmth he experienced in a single day surpassed everything he had experienced in the past fifteen years.

"Is there anything you want to ask me?"

Shen Ci sat opposite Zhou Huai, her voice soft.

On the table between the two was a pot of freshly brewed hot tea, its steam rising and its aroma refreshing, gradually easing the tension in their minds.

Zhou Huai's lips moved slightly, but he ultimately did not utter a sound.

He lowered his eyes, telling himself he shouldn't ask.

She had taken him away from Zhoujia Village, promised him to continue his studies, and even given him a home, a future he dared not even dream of depicting in such detail.

A life free from worries about food and clothing, a spacious and bright house, a butler and a nanny... all of this far exceeded his deepest desires.

Having already exceeded his expectations, what right did he have to inquire about her past?

In the end, he simply shook his head without saying a word. Happiness was so rare and precious; a little was enough, and he dared not be greedy.

Shen Ci looked at his silent expression and sighed softly.

People who have suffered a lot are content with just a little bit of sweetness.

She understood that such a child was like a deep well; no matter how many stones you threw in, you might not hear an echo.

All emotions ferment silently, without a sound. To warm such a heart, one must approach it tirelessly a thousand times, rekindling the hope that was long given up, before one can earn its cautious trust.

“As your mother, I should explain this to you.” Her voice was steady, and her gaze was clear and gentle.

"I chose to leave back then because your father was quick to resort to violence and never valued other people's lives."

If I had stayed, I might not be alive today, and I would never have had the chance to come back to find you.

"Of course you can resent me and hate me in your heart, I won't argue."

But I don't regret choosing to live. Only by living can there be hope.

I owe you so much.

sorry. "

She paused for a moment, then spoke each word clearly and solemnly.

"But from now on, I will never leave you again. This is our home."

The three words "I'm sorry" were like a red-hot branding iron, unexpectedly scalding his heart.

Zhou Huai instinctively wanted to hide, to escape this overly intense apology, but every word clearly penetrated his ears and fell into his heart, scalding his grievances and loneliness of the past fifteen years.

She apologized to him.

During those days and nights when he was beaten, insulted, and treated as if he didn't exist, he would have huddled in a corner and fantasized that if his mother were still alive, she would never have let him suffer like that.

Fifteen years is too long, so long that he had long given up waiting, as if this person had never existed in the world.

Just when he had completely given up hope, she returned.

The steam from the teapot gradually thinned out, and the tea had gone from warm to almost cold.

After a long while, Zhou Huai finally raised his head, his voice somewhat low.

No need to apologize.

He paused for a moment, as if he had made up his mind.

"I don't blame you anymore."

There is a difference between "I don't blame you" and "I don't blame you anymore." The latter is a sense of relief that belongs to him alone.

"It's enough that you're alive."

Shen Ci's eyes welled up with tears, and he almost cried. He had also blamed his mother for abandoning him.

"That's great! Don't worry, from now on, with me here, I will never let anyone bully you again!"

"We'll go to school to register tomorrow. I've already found out that the school isn't far from our home, so you won't have to get up before dawn and walk for hours on mountain roads to get to class anymore."

"From now on, you can do whatever you want. If you like reading, we'll keep you studying. Mom can afford it!"

He shouldered the weight of life too early, was forced to be sensible, and thus became cold and suspicious. The absence of his mother meant that he never experienced being properly cared for.

Fortunately, she came back.

It's not too late yet.

Zhou Huai felt a little relieved. He made an excuse to escape and stood under the pavilion where he was sheltering from the rain, watching the koi carp swimming back and forth in the pond.

Happiness, please let it last a little longer, let him clearly feel that this is not a dream.

A child who isn't loved won't dare to make a fuss. Zhou Huai actually had many questions in his heart: Where had she been all these years? Was she alone now? Was she married? Did she have any new children? How long would she stay with him?

But Zhou Huai didn't ask a single question; he preferred to observe silently on his own.

On his first day in his new home, the bed was big and soft. He no longer had to curl up his long legs or worry about drafts coming in through the walls. Zhou Huai had his own big room and a study. Even the seemingly worthless things he brought from the village were carefully kept by Shen Ci, and none of them were thrown away.

Does this mean that she doesn't dislike him or his past?

Zhou Huai didn't sleep well that night.

...

"Young master, it's time to get up. Madam said she'll take you to school to register in a little while."

Aunt Fan called out, and Shen Ci's voice followed immediately.

"Don't call him that, just call him Xiao Huai. This isn't some feudal society where young masters come from."

Aunt Fan pretended to slap her own mouth and smiled ingratiatingly, "Madam is right. It's a habit that's been around for so many years and can't be changed overnight. Young Master Huai won't be angry, will he..."

He woke up to this atmosphere and these sounds—no beatings, no veiled insults, no sarcastic remarks, and no one trying to dampen his spirits. The calm made him feel somewhat uneasy.

In the Zhou family, there wasn't a single day he wasn't woken up by being scolded.

Now, as soon as he wakes up, there's a hot meal on the table: steamed buns, soy milk, fried dough sticks, wontons, and eggs, which he can choose from.

"Zhou Zheng came back a little late yesterday, so I didn't tell you. From now on, he will be our family's bodyguard, responsible for protecting our safety."

Oh, by the way, go to school after you finish eating. Our house isn't far from school, so you can ride your bicycle to school. We'll give you the bicycle we have at home.

"I've already asked Zhou Zheng to arrange the bicycles I promised to give to the village. Even if you go back to the village, you'll have done right by everyone."

While eating, Shen Ci talked to him about things. Zhou Huai mostly just listened. He hadn't gotten used to having his mother by his side yet. It was all too good, too fast, making him feel uneasy, like he was floating on clouds.

When Zhou Huai started high school, this time he didn't kneel down to anyone or bow his head to anyone. He had finally found his redemption.

On the day of registration, Shen Ci took Zhou Huai with her. Being able to continue his studies made his smile more genuine, with more youthful vitality. Shen Ci personally accompanied him, and after a day, the distance between mother and son narrowed considerably, and they became much closer.

Fifty thousand yuan is a lot, but it's still far from Shen Ci's goal. What she needs most now is a car as a means of transportation.