She couldn't say these things to anyone else, and saying them to her father would only rub salt into his wounds.

She could only keep struggling internally.

Finally, her uncle saw through her thoughts and told her not to put too much pressure on herself, thus relieving her inner shackles.

Now that her uncle is going to study in another city, she's the one who's having the hardest time getting used to it.

"Uncle, I can't bear to part with you."

Ji Huaizhi sighed: "It's not like I'm not coming back. You can call me or video chat with me."

Ji Shu pursed her lips, looking rather pitiful.

Ji Huaijin took his daughter's hand and said, "Alright, your uncle is about to board the plane. You're acting like we'd mistreat you if he weren't home."

Ji Shu's eyes were red: "That's right."

Ji Huaijin gently tapped his daughter's head to stop her from making a fuss.

He turned and gave Ji Huaizhi a few words of advice.

Seeing the kids from my past go off to study in other places all by themselves, my heart aches: "That kid!"

Ji Shu: "Dad, look how fast Uncle is walking. It must be because you're too strict with him and he doesn't want to see you."

Ji Huaijin looked down at her: "It's clearly because you're too clingy to your uncle that he finds you annoying."

The father and daughter argued as they went home.

After graduation, Ji Huaizhi did not return to his hometown. He told them that he was working on a project with friends outside.

Although he was working on projects, he was actually out there seeing the world, wanting to see how many places a person could visit in their lifetime.

He also became fascinated with extreme sports, such as mountain climbing, bungee jumping, and diving.

Go abroad and see the customs and culture of other places.

The first person to discover that Ji Huaizhi was not in the country was Ji Huaijin.

As soon as he got off the plane, Ji Huaijin personally went to arrest him.

Ask him what happened, since he's traveled so far, if something really happens, they can't really help him.

All I can say is that he's incredibly bold.

Ji Huaizhi then confessed: "I have been very confused since graduation. Everyone is going to work day after day, getting married and having children in an orderly manner, but I don't want to do that."

"I want to pursue freedom, I want to see the world, I want to live a different way."

Ji Huaizhi's ideas were incomprehensible to many, including his mother and father.

Isn't it better to follow the established procedures? Everyone does it that way.

Why choose to be an outcast?

After talking with Ji Huaizhi, the couple felt that he had gone crazy from studying so much.

Ji Huaijin didn't know how to evaluate it. After all, he was younger than his parents and was more receptive to new things.

But he really didn't know how to express his younger brother's thoughts.

Ji's mother and father tried to change his mind, but he ran away again.

When he returned from his next trip, Ji Shu was the first to contact him.

"Uncle, take me with you. My dad's getting married soon anyway, I'll go out with you and pursue freedom." Ji Shu was young and beautiful after graduating from high school.

She probably just finished the college entrance exam and dyed her hair light brown.

“I’ll take you to find freedom. Your dad will make me completely free.” Ji Huaizhi took a sip of the milk coffee in front of him.

"Uncle~" Ji Shu said unhappily.

Ji Huaizhi smiled and said, "Aren't you happy that your dad found a partner?"

"I'm just feeling awkward." Ji Shu said hesitantly, "She's dating my junior high school homeroom teacher. I'm sure I'll feel like I'm taking classes at home every day from now on."

Ji Shu was also in Teacher Tang's class when she was in junior high school.

I remember Teacher Tang once told Ji Huaijin that his daughter looked just like Ji Huaizhi, and not just in appearance.

There are always a few mischievous students in a class, and Ji Shu was one of the more mischievous ones.

She is also her boyfriend's daughter, so Teacher Tang is bound to be strict with her.

Ji Huaizhi had known about their relationship for a long time.

Ji Shu was the only one unaware that they had planned to announce it after Ji Shu finished her college entrance exam.

Now that it's been announced, Ji Shu's unease has returned.

"Teacher Tang is also my homeroom teacher, so I feel the same way you do."

Ji Shu: "I just feel really awkward. Teacher Tang knows what I was like in class when I was in my second year of middle school. Now that she's become my stepmother, it feels... that kind of thing."

As she spoke, Ji Shu's expression became strange: "It's that kind of thing."

Ji Huaizhi nodded: "I understand. Then call your dad and tell him you oppose this marriage."

Ji Shu: "It's not that I'm against it, it's just that I feel awkward, so I said, Uncle, why don't you take me out to play?"

"It just so happens that the two of them are dating."

Ji Huaizhi shook his head: "No."

"I came back this time to congratulate them."

Ji Shu: "..."

Even at this moment, Ji Huaizhi did not forget to stab his niece in the heart.

Ji Huaijin and Teacher Tang did not have a grand wedding; they only held a simple ceremony.

However, Ji Huaijin was very well prepared in other aspects. He had prepared everything he needed to, after all, the two had been together for so many years, and Ji Huaijin had delayed getting married for so long for the sake of his daughter.

Therefore, in other aspects, Ji Huaijin did not want to wrong her.

Ji Huaizhi raised his glass to toast his elder brother and sister-in-law: "Teacher Tang, this is the last time I will call you teacher. From now on, I will call you sister-in-law."

“I’ve caused you a lot of trouble in the past. Now that you’ve called me sister-in-law, if my brother bullies you in the future, I’ll definitely help you.”

Teacher Tang was both amused and exasperated: "You still have that same mouth of yours that you used to be when you were in school."

When it was Ji Shu's turn, everyone looked over. Teacher Tang knew her well: "Little Shu, just call me Aunt Tang. I look forward to your guidance in the future."

Ji Shu was still a little awkward, and looked up at Teacher Tang and her father.

He took a deep breath and said, "Aunt Tang, Dad, I wish you a long and happy marriage, and may you prosper."

Everyone was amused by Ji Shu's appearance.

Aunt Tang patted Ji Shu on the shoulder and said softly, "I received your blessing, and I also wish you a bright future."

"Also, I haven't told your dad anything about your old school."

Ji Shu looked up and her eyes lit up.

Ji Huaijin asked in confusion, "What happened to her at school?"

"It's nothing, Dad, you guys go and offer your toasts."

Ji Huaizhi chuckled softly in Ji Shu's ear: "Were you quite rebellious in school back then?"

Ji Shu: "No. Uncle, you're the most rebellious one in our family."

After saying that, Ji Shu stood up with a wicked smile.

Although Ji's mother had a smile on her face when she came over, her eyes were filled with murderous intent: "Eat and drink well, eat and drink well."

Seeing his mother approaching, Ji Huaizhi sighed, "Mom."

"Why are you sighing on your brother's big day?" Mother Ji gently tapped his shoulder. "How long are you staying this time?"

Ji Huaizhi smiled and patted his mother's shoulders twice: "I'm not leaving for now. I still need to come back and keep you and Dad company."

"I'll deal with you later." Ji's mother felt at ease when she heard that he wasn't leaving.

This youngest son has never had a day without causing trouble since he was a child.

After saying this, Ji's mother went to greet the others and asked Ji Huaizhi to get up and greet them as well.

"When is your family going to have another wedding?" someone asked Ji Huaizhi's mother.

"We'll see when that kid brings me a daughter-in-law. His father and I are getting old, and we don't even know if we'll live to see him get married."

"You two are still young."

"Oh my god, old lady, we're not young anymore, we've all become old men and women."

Everyone was chatting and laughing in the hotel.

The photographer looked at the photos on the camera and shouted, "Let's take a family photo!"

Ji Huaijin and Teacher Tang exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.

They summoned Ji Shu and his mother.

Ji Huaijin looked around: "Where are Huaizhi and Dad?"

“Here he is.” Ji Huaizhi pushed his father out of the crowd. He had just seen his father chatting happily among his old acquaintances.

Ji's father and mother sat on the stools in front, while Ji Huaizhi and Ji Shu stood on either side of the newlyweds.

The lights flashed.

The family's ordinary yet extraordinary life must go on.

(over)