After leaving the Feng family, Ye Linchen did not return to the Ye family.
That home was like a cage to her, so cold and devoid of any warmth.
Ye Linchen felt disgusted at the thought of Meng Xueyun's sharp and mean face.
Rather than going back to listen to her insults, I'd rather find a quiet place to read a book and have some peace and quiet.
Ye Linchen walked along the road in the residential area towards the garden at the entrance of the dormitory area.
The steel plant dormitory area has excellent landscaping, with several gardens built, and this garden is the largest.
In the center is a uniquely designed fountain.
Beside the fountain, a long corridor winds its way through the landscape, connected by two quaint little pavilions.
The garden is covered with lush green lawns and planted with green trees and fragrant flowers.
The garden is furnished with a variety of stone tables and benches, providing a convenient place for people to rest and read.
Although it rained yesterday, the sun is shining brightly today, and it feels warm and cozy on my skin.
Sitting in the sunshine and reading a book is a nice experience.
Moreover, the garden is located next to the road in the dormitory area, and people entering and leaving the community will pass by it.
If people saw that she was homeless and could only study in the garden, they would not only think that she loved learning, but would also think of other things.
Ye Linchen laughed.
As for what she might associate with it, that's none of her business!
Upon arriving at the small garden, Ye Linchen found it to be much more lively than he had imagined.
Parents were playing with their children in the garden, several young couples were playing badminton on the path, and groups of middle-aged women were leisurely strolling around with yarn in their hands, chatting about everyday matters.
Ye Linchen scanned the empty stone tables and benches along the garden path and finally chose a stone table closest to the path.
She took out a tissue and carefully wiped the stone table clean before placing Feng Linlin's notebook on it, finding her math notes, and starting to read.
She looked particularly focused, her eyes following the words on her notebook, occasionally pointing to the words with her finger, her lips moving slightly as she muttered something to herself.
This earnest act of studying immediately attracted the attention of those around him.
A young mother holding her child pointed at Ye Linchen and said to her companion, "Look at this little girl, how hard she studies. There aren't many children as diligent as her these days."
The companion nodded: "Yeah, I'd be so grateful if my son could work half as hard as her."
Two middle-aged women happened to be passing by and, hearing their discussion, immediately came over.
The gray-haired woman lowered her voice and said, "This child is so pitiful. Her mother favors her niece and abandoned her in her rural hometown for more than ten years. She only came back yesterday. Guess what? Nobody went to the station to pick her up. They were all hiding at home eating mutton! She had to find her way here by asking around."
"That's right, after she came back, her mother beat and scolded her, and even kicked her out of the house. There was a big handprint on her face!" the middle-aged woman in the black cotton coat next to her chimed in.
The young mother holding her child opened her mouth in surprise.
"Oh my god, are there really mothers like this? I'm a mother myself, and I want to give my child the very best. I can't imagine how a mother could be so heartless! Could this child not be her biological child?"
The gray-haired woman kept knitting, glanced at Ye Linchen, and shook her head.
"Probably not, the child looks a lot like her father."
"I bet this child is her father's, and the niece is her mother's!" the young mother guessed.
The woman in the black cotton coat suddenly realized, "Yes, yes, that makes sense! Who treats their niece better than their own daughter? Unless..."
She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, and looked around mysteriously.
Another group of middle-aged women came over and joined the discussion.
"I know her mother, surnamed Meng. She's very shrewd. Even though she doesn't work a day and just stays at home all day, she has a tight grip on the family finances. The men have to hand over their entire monthly salary; they don't keep a single penny. I guess she doesn't like her because she's a daughter."
The woman in the black cotton coat disagreed and insisted on her own opinion.
"Her mother's niece isn't her daughter? That doesn't make sense; there must be something wrong."
Another woman had her own opinion: "I think it's because her mother is too attached to her own family! You don't know, some daughters-in-law are so attached to their own families that they practically want to move their entire in-laws' family there!"
As the discussion deepened, more and more people joined in, each contributing their own thoughts, and the group split into two camps.
On the one hand, they firmly believe that Meng Zihan is Meng Xueyun's biological daughter, and Ye Linchen is Ye Zhenghua's daughter from his previous marriage.
Although Ye Zhenghua and Meng Xueyun are getting married for the first time and have never been married before, who would care?
On the other hand, they felt that Meng Xueyun was only concerned about her family, and since Ye Linchen hadn't raised her, there was no affection between them.
Both sides have their own version of events, and neither can convince the other.
The garden suddenly became lively.
Some passersby who were unaware of the facts also stopped out of curiosity to inquire about the ins and outs of the matter and to express their own opinions.
The once peaceful garden was turned into a hotbed of gossip because of Ye Linchen's appearance.
Various speculations and rumors also spread as a result.
The more they talked, the more excited they became, and the more outrageous their claims became.
But one point was agreed upon.
This child has a hard life, having been stuck with a heartless mother!
However, seeing how ambitious she is and how diligently she studies, she's sure to have a bright future.
Just then, Gu Yifei and his cousin Gu Jingran also passed by the garden.
Gu Jingran glanced around and spotted Ye Linchen.
He turned to Gu Yifei and asked, "Isn't that the little girl who ran away from home last night? She's quite diligent in her studies."
Gu Yifei looked in the direction he was pointing and said, "Yes, it's her!"
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