"Where did you go today?" As soon as Cheng Zhili got home, she was bombarded with questions from her mother, Yu Peiyan.
She nervously and helplessly clutched the hem of her clothes, her eyes lowered: "Mom, I'm just going shopping with my friends. I finished my studies and tutoring before I went."
"Looking at the screen, is this how your mother usually teaches you to look down at people?" Yu Peiyan's tone was calm, but Cheng Zhili felt suffocated.
"It's not that Mom doesn't want you to play, but as the eldest daughter of the Cheng family, you must always remember your status. Is this the time for you to play?"
"Mom, I was wrong."
"Don't only admit your mistakes every time your mother scolds you. Before you do anything, you should consider the consequences first. You should think carefully about whether this is something that you, the eldest daughter of the Cheng family, should do, understand?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Who is that friend you're talking about? Does Mom know him?"
"We met at a competition, and we both won first prize," Cheng Zhili answered nervously, downplaying the issue, afraid that her mother would make her break off her friendship with Wenwen.
"What does her family do?" Yu Peiyan knew exactly what her daughter was thinking and asked the key question directly.
"They run chain restaurants."
Yu Peiyan frowned. She knew most of the major catering companies in City C, but her daughter was only familiar with two of them. If it was one of those two, her daughter wouldn't have avoided mentioning it. So it could only mean that the other party was at most a small vendor whose family only ran two or three small shops.
Then her expression sharpened: "Zhili, I've told you before not to waste time with unnecessary people. This is the last time. I want you to focus on your studies. I don't want to hear about something like this happening again, understand?"
Cheng Zhili became anxious: "But Mom, Wenwen is really my good friend, she's not an unnecessary person."
Yu Peiyan stared coldly at her: "After I come back, I don't want her name in your phone contacts. If you insist on doing so, I will have to confiscate your phone. I don't want to be a disrespectful mother. Can you understand me?"
Cheng Zhili took a deep breath. It was alright; she had already memorized Wenwen's phone number and could contact her secretly. So she obediently agreed, "Okay, Mom."
"Yes, that's my good daughter. I'll check again when we get back." Yu Peiyan's expression softened. "Alright, go review your lessons before going to sleep. Staying up late is bad for your skin. After you've finished reviewing your lessons, take a picture of me so I can see your progress."
"Yes, Mom."
Cheng Zhili returned to her room like a zombie, then numbly opened her textbook, but her mind was filled with images of her time with Wenwen and Wenwen's mother that day.
She slumped dejectedly at the table, thinking that if only her mother were as gentle as Wenwen's mother, but her mother only cared about her studies and didn't care about her mental state or whether she was happy or not.
But it must be tough for her mother too, having to maintain the Cheng family's prestige at all times. So she cheered herself up and studied hard.
After putting her daughter to sleep, Song Xia was struggling with what birthday gifts to prepare for her two children. Something too expensive wouldn't do, as she was afraid it would put the children on a psychological burden, but something too insignificant would also leave her feeling uneasy.
"Xiaoling, do you have any suggestions?"
"Xiaxia, you can exchange energy for Cleansing Stones! Wearing Cleansing Stones can purify your mind and soul and soothe your emotions."
Song Xia's eyes lit up. This was indeed a great gift, and it would be perfect for Zhili.
Qingling stone looks no different from ordinary jade, and can be made into bracelets or pendants.
"Then let's exchange for two Qingling Stones, and I'll carve it myself."
"Okay, Xiaxia."
Both Qingling stones were the size of quail eggs. She carved auspicious cloud patterns along the lines of the stones, and the next day she took them to be polished and drilled. She also provided a red cord and a jewelry box. The size was just right, suitable for wearing around the neck or on the wrist.
"Look, do you like it?" After finishing, Song Xia showed it to Wenwen, who accepted it with delight.
"Mom, was this made to order?"
"Mom carved them by hand, one for you and one for Zhili."
Wenwen was a little jealous: "It's only the first time you've met Zhili, and you're already being so nice to her, Mom?"
"Didn't you say she's your best friend, and her mother is very strict with her? This is a token of your mother's affection."
"Okay, I knew Mom was doing this for my sake." Wenwen grinned foolishly.
Song Xia rubbed her head. Keeping a secret in her heart was really hard. Wenwen had always enjoyed her unique love. If she found out the truth in the future, would she be able to accept it?
“Although that child is richer than you, I think she is more pitiful than you.”
“Indeed.” Wenwen nodded. “Money is enough. Without love, what’s the use of having more money? I feel like her mother has put too many shackles on her. Why does she have to pay for the resources she enjoys at home? This doesn’t feel like a family; it’s more like a company.”
Song Xia nodded; Wenwen saw things very clearly.
To put it nicely, the Cheng family is raising their daughter; to put it bluntly, aren't they just decorating a seedling so they can harvest it when it grows up?
She seemed to understand why Zhili and Wenwen clashed in her previous life. The Cheng family must have wanted both children, and in order to maximize their interests, they constantly used one side to provoke the other, putting their interests on opposite sides.
It's conceivable that Zhili, growing up in an environment like the Cheng family, would gradually be tamed.
She would think, "I've sacrificed so much since I was little, why should I be deprived of everything?" Because she lacked a sense of security, she wanted to hold onto everything in front of her, so she vehemently rejected everything.
Furthermore, with Wenwen's continued provocations and harm after her transformation into a villain, the Cheng family's constant interference, and her fiancé's wavering, it was inevitable that Zhili and Wenwen would stand on opposite sides.
But that won't happen in this lifetime. At the very least, she believes that Wenwen will never turn evil. Wenwen has enough love in her heart, so she doesn't care about anything from the Cheng family.
And Zhili...
Song Xia sighed. If there was a chance, she hoped that Zhili could come back to her side in the future. The Cheng family was too suffocating, and she didn't want Zhili to be bound by the so-called kindness of the Cheng family.
Fortunately, she had already met Zhili beforehand and had the opportunity to leave a good impression on Zhili, and could also subtly influence Zhili. Normal family relationships are nothing like those in the Cheng family.
She still needs to work harder. Her current assets are nothing to the Cheng family. They could easily crush her and shut down her shops in no time.
She needs to be strong enough that whatever kind of life her two children want to live in the future, they will be completely unaffected by the Cheng family.
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