64: He worried that the thorns of the real world would hurt the flowers he had carefully watered.
“During the four years we were apart, he wrote you many letters, but he didn’t dare to send them. That’s just how my brother is, you know, he’s so proud.”
Shang Zhi slammed the notebook shut.
"Aren't you going to take a look?" Pei Wang asked, looking puzzled.
"I have something to do, I'll stop watching now."
"Alright, I've given you the thing anyway. Whether you look at it or not is up to you." Pei Wang left the notebook and said goodbye to Shang Zhi. Shang Zhi stuffed the notebook into the bottom of the wardrobe.
Now that she had decided to say goodbye, she didn't want to look at anything that might make her hesitate.
The day Shang Zhi returned to school, she resolved to give herself a fresh start. For the past few months, she had been doing what she was supposed to do; now, it was time to do what she wanted to do.
But now it has dealt her a heavy blow.
Shang Zhi had practiced dancing since she was a child, and the basic skills and movements she remembered were engraved in her mind. Small jumps, big jumps, whipping, chest turns, handstands, horizontal splits, and vertical splits were all within her grasp. Some movements used to seem as simple as breathing to her.
This time, however, she didn't know if it was because she hadn't practiced for too long or because of her previous ankle injury, but in any case, she felt uncomfortable everywhere, and her body had a kind of uncontrollable stiffness. The sudden discomfort made Shang Zhi very frustrated, and she continued practicing alone in the practice room after class.
"Azhi, why aren't you leaving?" Yu Qing also came to find her after class, bringing her a piece of chocolate, but Shang Zhi shook her head and pushed it away.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know what's wrong with me, I'm the only one in the class who can't do the movements." Shang Zhi felt wronged and tears streamed down her face. Yu Qing was worried and reached out to wipe her tears.
In a corner not far from the classroom, a pair of narrowed eyes watched the two's movements.
"It's okay, Zhi, don't rush, take your time. I'll practice with you, we can definitely do it. Don't put too much pressure on yourself." Yu Qing placed the chocolate in Shang Zhi's hand.
"Eat something. Kung Fu isn't something you can master in a day. Don't push yourself too hard. What you need right now is rest. Don't be nervous."
Shang Zhi was a little dazed. She thought that if it were Pei Yanxiu at this moment, he would definitely not say such a thing to her.
He would hire the best teacher to help her correct her problems, then stand beside her with a stick, watching her intently. He would tell her to grit her teeth, to persevere, and to endure it. He would mercilessly discipline her when she did something wrong, and he would make her continue even after being punished.
Now that she has finally escaped his clutches, she should be grateful. She no longer needs to endure his strict discipline and relentless pressure, but Shang Zhi doesn't seem to be happy at all.
She felt like she must have lost her mind, that he had really turned her into an M.
Pei Yanxiu felt bad watching Shang Zhi from the corner. He knew her well. His Xixi was always arrogant and spoiled. She didn't have any outstanding abilities, but she couldn't stand the taste of failure. She was competitive, so he had always done his best to help her grow and teach her step by step. He felt that he had put in almost as much effort as raising a child.
Now that she's all grown up and just ran away, he's worried that no one will ever be there to support her again.
He also worried that the thorns in the real world would hurt the flowers he had carefully watered.
She was so good to him, he couldn't bear to see her hurt even in the slightest.
Aside from spanking, that was his way of teaching her love.
If she regrets it, if she comes back, he will immediately forget everything that happened and get their lives back on track.
[Xixi, how's school? If you're having any trouble adjusting, feel free to come to me.] Shang Zhi saw the text message Pei Yanxiu sent her after she got home.
"It's okay, I'm fine." She actually wanted to talk to him, but she felt it wasn't right to bother him so soon after they broke up. Besides, she would eventually have to learn to be on her own.
【Don't be stubborn.】 This reply made Shang Zhi roll her eyes. She knew it; this old man's deadbeat attitude would never change!
Shang Zhi took a shower, laid out a mat on the floor, and prepared to practice her kung fu for a while before going to sleep. She found some of the movements very difficult and almost gave up.
She remembered how, when she didn't do well on a test at school, he would pull her aside and analyze the problem step by step, forcing her to complete the plan he had set for her. Even when she was tired, he wouldn't let her rest, but made her stand and listen.
She remembered that when she applied to university, he was there to help her with one problem after another, things she hadn't even considered herself, and he helped her sort them out little by little.
She remembered that summer when she hadn't done any homework. As the start of school approached, she hugged his leg and begged him to help her with her homework. Although he scolded her with a cold face, he eventually agreed to help her.
"You'll be starting school in two days. I can help you this time so you won't get criticized by the teacher."
"Come find me when school starts. I need you to explain why this happened. If you don't have a convincing reason, go get the ruler yourself." Shang Zhi agreed after weighing the options. He helped her finish her homework, and she got through the start of the school year safely.
The start of the school year was over, but things weren't so easy for him. Shang Zhi immediately forgot his words, and in the following days when Pei Yanxiu asked her what she was doing, she always said she was busy and didn't have time.
When she said she didn't have time again, she was eating a smoothie with her classmates on the street. When she looked up, he appeared in front of her, smiling meaningfully at her.
"Didn't you say you didn't have time?"
"Uncle Pei, don't be angry. I've been really busy these past few days. My grandma went to senior citizen university and I had to pick her up from school. I didn't mean to ignore you."
"Like this."
He smiled as he watched her finish the shaved ice, then took her hand and led her home. The moment the door closed, his face darkened, and when the ruler was placed in front of Shang Zhi, her body tensed reflexively.
"Uncle Pei, I really have to go now. If I stay any longer, I won't make it home from school in time for my grandma." Shang Zhi looked up at him; he didn't seem to like the joke she had told.
This person has absolutely no sense of humor.
"Turn around."
Concise and to-the-point instructions are often the most unsettling, implying that the person is in a bad mood and there is no room for negotiation or compromise.
Shang Zhi's breath hitched, and she gently pinched his sleeve with her fingers.
"This is something we agreed on before, Xixi. You did something wrong, so you have to pay the price. You also have to keep your promises. There's no escaping it."
“If you keep making jokes here, I’ll only think you’re insincere and don’t seem to be admitting your mistakes.”
Charm didn't work at this moment. Shang Zhi felt as if the ruler from that day was possessed by a ghost, and no matter which direction she ran in, it could always find her exact location.
In the end, he firmly held him down and thoroughly dealt with him.
Afterwards, he held her in his arms and told her how to better manage and plan her time, breaking down complicated tasks into smaller ones and completing them each day without procrastination.
After that, she made it a habit to make plans before doing anything.
Over the years, he has truly taught her many things.
She almost fell because of a misstep, which brought Shang Zhi back to her senses.
Shang Zhi's phone rang. She picked it up and saw that the new dance drama was scheduled for next month and the auditions would begin that month.
There are less than twenty days left.
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