Chapter 52 How could she treat someone like this if she couldn't judge their character...?
Only then did everyone notice that Tao Jiang's bag, clothes, and jewelry were all quite expensive, while Qin You was dressed plainly and simply couldn't afford her expenses.
"If you're her boyfriend, why does he say he's her boyfriend? Who got together with her first?"
The police haven't arrived yet, and everyone's questions are piling up.
“We got together when we were in college,” Zhou Xiao emphasized again. “He couldn’t have been together before me, right?”
Zhou Xiao looked at the extremely quiet Tao Jiang, a smile playing on his lips, but his eyes were unusually cold. "I am your boyfriend."
Tao Jiang lowered her eyelashes, as if she hadn't heard his voice.
“We were together before the college entrance exam,” Qin You finally spoke, staring intently at Zhou Xiao. “You are the real third party.”
"This is impossible!" Zhou Xiao clenched his fists and questioned Tao Jiang, "Is what he said true?"
"Little girl, what are you pretending for?" someone said indignantly. "They've already beaten you up like this for you, and you're still planning to hide it and keep it to yourself?"
Tao Jiang ignored these words and wouldn't say a word until the police arrived.
She needs to come up with a valid reason to explain the matter as a misunderstanding, otherwise she will completely lose the trust of Zhou Xiao and Qin You.
She absolutely cannot fall into such a situation.
"Tao Jiang, it turns out you've been lying to me all along."
Now that things have come to this, Zhou Xiao knows exactly what she's up to. "You really fooled me so badly."
Tao Jiang looked up at him, her eyes filled with sadness, seemingly even more aggrieved than him.
"Stop pretending," Zhou Xiao sneered. "Whether you and him are really together or not, even if you don't say it now, I can find out later. Don't think everyone is a fool."
Qin You watched the two arguing, a deep pain flashing in his eyes.
Only he himself knows what he sacrificed and what he lost in order to be with Tao Jiang.
He treated her so well, yet he didn't get the ending he deserved.
How could she play him like this? What right did she have to play him like this?
Yu Kui watched this farce, but instead of feeling satisfied, she found it all laughable.
No matter how hard Qin You tried, it all turned out to be nothing but a joke.
She didn't pity him; she just felt that this was the end he deserved.
She took Sun Shuya's hand and said, "Let's go."
Sun Shuya grasped her hand in return, "Let's go, let's go home."
She didn't ask Yu Kui if she was sad, nor did she say anything like "she deserved it," and took Yu Kui to the bus stop.
"From now on, you must hold your head high and walk forward with big strides. Be careful on your way back."
Yu Kui waved to her and said solemnly, "You too."
On the way back, Yu Kui recalled Qin You's disheveled appearance with blood all over his head. After thinking for a while, she called Qin's mother and told her that a classmate had seen Qin You fighting in a hot pot restaurant, so that she should be prepared.
After receiving the call, Qin's mother remained silent for a long time before saying in a very low voice, "Thank you, Kui Kui, Auntie understands."
Yu Kui hung up the phone, looked at the scenery flashing past the window, and completely put what she had just seen out of her mind.
In the following days, Qin's mother went back and forth between the company and the police station. The fight was not serious, but mediation with Zhou Xiao was needed. Qin You had started the fight, so his situation would be difficult.
Qin's mother had been wanting to see Tao Jiang, hoping she would take responsibility, but Tao Jiang refused to see her. She was too busy taking care of herself to have anything to do with Qin's mother.
"What exactly happened?" Upon seeing the injury on Qin You's face, Qin's mother immediately burst into tears. "Does your forehead hurt?"
Hearing his mother's voice, Qin You's eyes flickered, and his gaze finally focused. He looked at his mother and softly called out, "Mom..."
“Mom is here,” Qin’s mother said calmly, wiping away her tears. “Don’t be afraid. Mom will handle this matter and get you out as soon as possible.”
"I'm sorry," Qin You said, looking at the wrinkles around her mother's eyes and her unconcealed haggardness. Her numb heart was finally touched. "Mom, I was wrong."
“You haven’t done anything wrong to your mother,” Qin’s mother shook her head. “None of this is your fault. You were just deceived.”
Qin You didn't speak, but his expression was extremely pained.
Tao Jiang's betrayal was like a wake-up call for him, causing him unprecedented pain.
He didn't understand why she did this. If she really didn't like him, she could have told him and rejected his advances, but she didn't. Not only did she accept his kindness, but she also secretly had ties with Zhou Xiao and even accepted his expensive gifts.
Is it because he couldn't provide her with the life she wanted that she got it from someone else?
Qin You hadn't expected that what she had said before wasn't meant to anger him, but rather that someone could actually offer her a better life.
Qin You gave a self-deprecating laugh, but her eyes were filled with melancholy. "Mom, I was wrong. My biggest mistake was misjudging people."
For Tao Jiang's sake, his grades dropped, and he was admitted to a less-than-ideal university.
For Tao Jiang's sake, he disobeyed his mother countless times, adding to her burden.
For Tao Jiang, he abandoned a friendship of more than ten years and hurt Yu Kui with the most heartless words.
For Tao Jiang, he lost his reason, his judgment, and all his youthful impulsiveness.
He had already given up so much, so why did it still end up like this? What was the future he envisioned? Was it a joke?
"My second biggest mistake was being arrogant."
Thinking they were strong enough to handle the love they wanted, they were exposed by reality and left battered and bruised.
Thinking that one can find happiness and thus ignoring everyone along the way is utterly heinous.
"Mom, the person I've wronged the most is you." He's already in college, yet he still makes her travel back and forth. He truly deserves to die.
"Don't say such things," Qin's mother said with red eyes. "All I know is that no matter what happens, you are my son, and I will always stand by your side. I only hope that you are safe."
Qin You lowered her head, and a tear slid down from the corner of her eye.
Why did he only realize now that his mother had lived such a hard and humble life?
Three days later, Qin You came from the police station and returned home with his face covered in bruises.
It is said that the Zhou family originally intended to have their lawyers investigate the matter further, but after Zhou Xiao learned the whole story, he forcibly suppressed it.
"Why blame him? Blame Tao Jiang. Of all people to provoke, she had to pick on a hothead like him, making things very difficult for me."
"Then what are you going to do with her?" His brother Zhou Chu called him. "You'd better stay away from a woman with such a bad reputation. Your family won't approve of you being with her."
"I'm not tired of it yet," Zhou Xiao said without hiding his true feelings. "After all, I've liked it for so many years. I really can't bear to give it up all at once. Let's just keep going like this until we're completely worn out."
"How can you be so spineless?" Zhou Chu said, exasperated. "She's not some Tang Monk's flesh, yet you insist on following her around like a shadow? How shameless!"
"I'm just being a jerk," Zhou Xiao chuckled. "Otherwise, would I have made such a decision to lower the price like this?"
"But you need to know that there is no future for you and her. No matter how much you like her, it will not end up together."
“I haven’t thought about the outcome with her,” Zhou Xiao said unhurriedly. “It’s just a youthful obsession. Familiarity breeds contempt. I’m not stupid. I’ll get used to it eventually.”
The day he desensitized was the day he kicked Tao Jiang away.
Otherwise, how could we justify his compromises? His family has warned him several times, and he's under a lot of pressure.
Yu Kui saw Qin You again when she went back to her hometown with her parents for the Chinese New Year. When the three of them went downstairs, they ran into Qin You, who was out grocery shopping with Qin's mother. He was wearing a mask and a hat and looked very quiet.
After Mrs. Yu greeted Mrs. Qin, the group fell silent.
"You're leaving today?" Qin's mother changed the subject. "When will you be back?"
“She should be back before the seventh day of the Lunar New Year,” said Yu’s mother. “Her father and I have to go to work, and she has to go to school later, so we can’t stay for too long.”
"I see," Qin's mother nodded. "I made a lot of sausages at the market this year, and I'll bring some back for you."
"OK."
Yu Kui followed behind her mother, while Qin You walked at the very back. Yu Kui vaguely sensed that someone was watching her. When she turned around and met Qin You's gaze, she was stunned for a moment, nodded to Qin You, and moved to a slightly forward position to avoid his view.
The family of three quickly got into their car and left.
Qin's mother turned around and waved to her son, "Your Aunt Yu and the others came to our house for dinner before, but it's a pity you weren't home."
Qin You was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "When did Yu Kui return?"
"She's been back for about ten days," Qin's mother said. "She's doing very well at school. She's made three friends, and many people are pursuing her. She's just as popular as she was when she was a child."
Upon hearing this, Qin You lowered his eyelashes and did not reply.
"Do you still want to be friends with her?" Qin's mother hesitated for a moment, then asked him, "Seeing her like this now, do you regret it?"
"Mom, I don't regret it," Qin You said. "Once you make a decision, you have to take responsibility for it. I can't regret it."
“You’re just as stubborn as your grandfather,” Qin’s mother shook her head. “In that case, go for it and finish your university studies. Whatever you want to do in the future, as long as it’s not illegal, I’ll support you.”
"Thank you, Mom."
"What are you thanking me for?" Qin's mother shook her head, but felt very comforted.
Since that incident, Qin You's attitude towards her has changed significantly, and Qin's mother's mood has improved, making her very energetic at work every day.
She wants to earn more money so that Qin You will have more options in the future.
Although the mother and son had never discussed the topic of "Zhou Xiao," Zhou Xiao was like a thorn stuck in Qin You's heart, and Qin's mother was afraid that Qin You would be influenced and go astray.
All she wants now is for her son to be well; she doesn't want anything else.
"Mom, I think I'll take the postgraduate entrance exam after graduating from university," he said softly. "I'll study hard from now on and won't worry you anymore."
"Really?" Qin's mother was a little excited. "If you take the postgraduate entrance exam, you can also get into a university in City B. Mom believes in you."
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