It's almost midnight now, it seems we'll have to wait until tomorrow during the day. Qin Xiaoyu sighed and slumped onto the sofa.
She heard the sound of a car downstairs, jumped up, and a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart.
Someone knocked on the door, and the male student went to open it.
Qin Xiaoyu opened the office door and rushed out. Just as she reached the stairs, she saw Zhou Xing running up the stairs with a child in each arm.
The little girl was dazed, her eyes red and swollen. When she saw Qin Xiaoyu, she silently stretched out her arms.
Qin Xiaoyu hugged him and whispered, "Son, Mom was wrong, I'm sorry."
"Mom, I'll never throw a tantrum again, you can't abandon me." Hanhan sobbed.
"No, I won't abandon you. I'll never do it again. Even if you're being temperamental, Mommy still loves you." Qin Xiaoyu eagerly assured Hanhan, and the two hugged each other, wiping away tears.
"It's the middle of the night, hurry inside, the child will get cold." Startled, Master Wang took the little girl and carried her to her room. Qin Xiaoyu carried Hanhan and Zhou Xing into the office.
“I’m really going crazy. He kept crying, saying you don’t want him anymore. My parents didn’t sleep and kept trying to comfort him. We originally planned to send him back at dawn. But in the end, they couldn’t bear to see him like that, so we had to send them back.” Zhou Xing looked exhausted.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you. How did you know I was at school and not at home?"
"I noticed your light was always on," Zhou Xing replied casually, then quickly changed the subject, seemingly realizing he'd let something slip: "I feel like there's something strange about your relationship with your mother."
"We have our secrets." Qin Xiaoyu and Hanhan exchanged a glance, and Zhou Xing, noticing this, did not press the matter further.
Although Zhou Xing was reluctant, Qin Xiaoyu wanted to carry Hanhan to the dormitory, so he had no choice but to leave dejectedly.
"Mom misunderstood you today, and there may be times when I misunderstand you in the future. Don't hold a grudge against Mom, and forgive Mom," Qin Xiaoyu said, hugging Hanhan and shedding tears.
"I know, you'll always be my mom," Hanhan said in a muffled voice, burying her face in her arms.
Qin Xiaoyu suddenly saw a light beside her, as if something had left.
From this moment on, she is truly Hanhan's mother. A true mother and child must have fought; only those who cannot be separated by physical force are truly mother and child.
Qin Xiaoyu barely slept all night. She and Hanhan had resolved everything, but what about the Zhou family?
Thinking about what she had said yesterday made her want to slap herself. The Zhou couple were kind to the two children partly to pass the time when they were bored, but mostly it was because they genuinely liked them.
She said it was hurtful that people treated children like pets. Moreover, it was based on a misunderstanding; the Zhou family and Hanhan had done nothing wrong. It was just because she was emotional that she attacked others. She was so frustrated that she wanted to bang her head against the wall.
When she woke up in the morning, her face was ashen. Master Wang asked Tian Tian to take the two children to eat and called her aside.
"What exactly happened? I noticed something was off about your complexion when you came back yesterday."
"I misspoke, and I feel really sorry for the Zhou family," Qin Xiaoyu said, her eyes red.
“I don’t care how Zhou Xing treats you, but the Zhou family has been really good to Hanhan and the others. If you’re wrong, try to make amends. It’s not shameful to admit your mistake.” Master Wang’s words made a lot of sense.
Qin Xiaoyu discovered that in the 1980s, most people had very positive values.
"Understood, Master. I will handle this matter as soon as possible."
Despite saying that, Qin Xiaoyu still didn't have the courage to go to the Zhou family. The Zhou family members had very peculiar personalities, and she had previously given them face. Now that she had broken off all pretense, she feared the relationship would never be the same again.
But my master is right; I have to face my own mistakes.
Qin Xiaoyu was caught in a dilemma, remaining silent and dazed all morning. The students were all very well-behaved, afraid of upsetting her.
Qin Xiaoyu had no appetite at lunchtime. Back in her office, she stood by the window, staring blankly in the direction of the Zhou family's house.
"You're so carefree! Our house is in complete chaos, you go and turn it upside down!" Zhou Yue rushed in, dragging Qin Xiaoyu out.
"Sister Xiaoyue..."
"Where did your bravado go? Gone chickens now? Too late! Come with me!"
Without a word, Zhou Yue grabbed Qin Xiaoyu and started walking outside. Qin Xiaoyu could only grit her teeth and follow.
The atmosphere at the Zhou family home was strange. Commander Zhou was sitting on the sofa downstairs, but Zhou Xing's mother wasn't there.
"Uncle, I've come to apologize." Qin Xiaoyu mustered her courage, took a step forward, and bowed deeply.
"No need, you can leave now. Don't come to our house again, or we'll be accused of abusing you and your child! We don't need pets either," Zhou Xing's mother said sternly as she rushed out of the dining room.
"Auntie, I was really wrong," Qin Xiaoyu said, her head bowed and tears welling in her eyes.
"No, you should go. There's no need to say anything more." Zhou Xing's mother refused to accept it at all.
Seeing this, Qin Xiaoyu could only turn around and leave. Unexpectedly, Zhou Yue blocked her way from behind, using both her eyes and gestures to prevent her from leaving.
What could Qin Xiaoyu do if the other party wouldn't forgive her? She cast a pleading look at Zhou Yue, wanting to escape. She had never been humiliated like this before.
Zhou Yue had no choice but to make way for Qin Xiaoyu.
"If you leave, don't ever come back in!" Commander Zhou suddenly roared.
Qin Xiaoyu had already reached the door, but didn't dare to take a step.
What does that mean?
I apologize, but I don't accept it. You want to leave? Do you want me to stay?
"Xiaoyu! You've made my dad so angry, and you're just going to leave like this?" Zhou Yue went over, pulled Qin Xiaoyu up, and then pushed her back into the living room.
"Uncle, what I said yesterday was too much, I didn't think before I spoke..."
"Ha, people only speak their minds when they're desperate," Zhou Xing's mother sneered, adding insult to injury.
"Shut up! I didn't tell you to speak!" Commander Zhou suddenly changed his tone and scolded Zhou Xing's mother. Zhou Xing's mother pouted angrily and stomped upstairs.
Qin Xiaoyu stood frozen in place, completely at a loss for what to do next.
At that moment, the door opened, and Zhou Xing walked in carrying two children. Hanhan and Xiaomei rushed towards Commander Zhou.
Commander Zhou's face instantly lit up with a smile. He reached out and hugged Hanhan, his voice choked with emotion as he said, "You heartless little thing, you absolutely refused to stay last night." His words were full of grievance; was he being affectionate?
"Grandpa, I miss you." Hanhan hugged Commander Zhou's neck and wouldn't let go no matter what.
“You young people, disturbing the child in the middle of the night, what if he catches a cold?” Zhou Xing’s mother came downstairs again when she heard the noise, and her younger sister rushed over to her.
"Grandma will give you a bath. What's that in your hair? I don't know how you take care of the child!" Zhou Xing's mother didn't even look at Qin Xiaoyu, and walked over with her little sister in her arms, expressionless.
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