35/Fracture
You Huai is really annoying. Some people sleep with others in the middle of the night, while others act as mediators to handle disputes.
In his view, the conflict between Chen Yin and Qiao Zhiwan was less about the Shenyu region and more about two kings not wanting to be together. Chen Yin was used to being a princess and couldn't stand being outshone by others. But coincidentally, Qiao Zhiwan had been mentioned together with her since they entered the school. These two were different from Chen Mian; they weren't the low-key type. They were both quite cheerful and had many friends. Since they couldn't stand on the same side, they could only be enemies.
He had just come out of the hot pot restaurant with Chen Yin. He was standing at the door, had just lit a cigarette but hadn't even put it in his mouth when his phone rang. When he saw that the caller was Qiao Zhiwan, he immediately felt a headache coming on. He answered the phone while Chen Yin went to the convenience store to buy a drink.
The person on the other end immediately asked, "What exactly is the relationship between Shen Yu and Chen Mian?"
While keeping an eye on the convenience store, You Huai replied that he didn't know either, but Qiao Zhiwan didn't believe him at all, knowing that You Huai and Shen Yu were so close they were practically inseparable.
Back when she was getting close to Shen Yu, people said she would talk to Shen Yu sooner or later, but You Huai just smiled and didn't say anything, clearly pretending not to understand.
Qiao Zhiwan sat in the living room, feeling like a clown for giving Chen Mian concert tickets during the day. She didn't care what You Huai thought anymore; she just wanted to get to the bottom of things. This back-and-forth speculation and self-deception left her physically and mentally exhausted.
The girl on the other end of the phone argued about this issue for a while. She usually seemed to have a good temper, but now she was incredibly difficult to deal with. Her tone sounded like she was about to cry. You Huai was quite annoyed. He didn't even smoke the cigarette he was holding. In the short time he looked down, his phone was snatched away. He thought a thief had broken in, but when he looked up, he saw Chen Yin frowning and looking at the caller ID.
At that time, You Huai thought it would be better if thieves came.
For the rest of the time, he sat on the road post, listening to Chen Yin arguing with someone.
The topic kept circling back to the two words "Sinking Domain".
You Huaiyan had already finished one cigarette, but the other person still hadn't finished speaking.
When the phone was finally shoved into his hand, it was still hot. Chen Yin said to him with an unhappy expression, "If you can't argue with me, just say it directly. You insisted that something happened at home and hurriedly hung up the phone, leaving everything unpacked for her."
After saying that, she scolded You Huai, "How did you get her phone number? What do you mean by this, You Huai, secretly trying to seduce her—"
You Huai interrupted her to correct him, "A covert maneuver."
Chen Yin kicked him.
However, what the two of them didn't know was that Qiao Zhiwan hung up the phone because something had happened at home.
It was 9:30 p.m. Her father was usually busy at work and came home very late, but it was strange that Ruan Yanmei hadn't come home either. Just as she was arguing with Chen Yin, there was a sudden knock on the door. She opened it and saw the aunt who lived next door and was on good terms with Ruan Yanmei. She asked her anxiously, "Little sister, has your dad come back yet?"
Qiao Zhiwan immediately hung up the phone and asked what was wrong.
The aunt said that Ruan Yanmei was beaten at the entrance of the community and was taken to the hospital.
Qiao Zhiwan was stunned. She hurriedly called her father and rushed to the hospital. When she arrived, the ward door was ajar. Just as she was about to push the door open, she heard her father ask Ruan Yanmei, "Did he find this place because of your daughter?"
Ruan Yanmei's voice was weak as she said "Mmm".
Qiao Cheng sat on the opposite sofa, remained silent for a moment, and then asked in a cold voice, "Did you give her the money?"
“She doesn’t want to.” Ruan Yanmei hesitated for a moment before saying to Qiao Cheng, “She wants to study at a university in China.”
“Yanmei, you saw what happened today. If she hadn’t suddenly appeared here, would your ex-husband have been able to find you? Do you know what people in the neighborhood will say tomorrow, what rumors will spread? What will Wanwan think if she finds out? Your daughter is just a little kid, not even an adult yet. You are her biological mother, can’t you even do this much?”
—Your ex-husband, your daughter, and you are her biological mother.
These words sounded like a line being drawn, harsh to the ear, but Ruan Yanmei had no power to refute them. She was like a dodder vine, dependent on men for a living. Before, she depended on Chen Song, and after Chen Song fell into obscurity, she depended on Qiao Cheng.
Economic power determines the right to speak. Although Qiao Cheng was happy to pamper her and act as an ordinary loving couple, the drawbacks of a second marriage appeared at this moment. The past ties that could never be severed were there, turning the "us" of the past into "you and me".
Ruan Yanmei lowered her eyes. She was also surprised to bump into Chen Song at the entrance of the community. The two entangled for a while, and she made a few sarcastic remarks. Unexpectedly, Chen Song slapped her across the face. The force was not restrained at all, and he slapped her directly to the ground. Before the security guard could react, Chen Song kicked her. The man in a rage had no rationality.
They were pulled apart, someone called the police, and someone called for an ambulance.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Qiao Cheng leaned closer and asked, "Yanmei?"
Ruan Yanmei resumed her usual submissive expression and was about to say yes.
Qiao Zhiwan's voice came from outside the ward, her voice trembling with tears, "Chen Mian is your daughter, isn't she? You knew all along, didn't you?"
confusion.
It's like someone has punctured a hole in what was originally a beautiful illusion.
The facade of calm finally crumbled.
On this night, the temperature in the home theater rose steadily, while in the hospital ward, Ruan Yanmei felt as if she had fallen into the dead of winter.
Chen Song, who had assaulted someone, was detained at the police station. Song Ai received the call but didn't pick him up for over an hour. It was nearly 11 p.m., the wind was howling, the sky was overcast, and it would rain again tomorrow.
Song Ai looked up at the sky.
At the same time, her husband brought his stepdaughter home, leaving Ruan Yanmei alone in the ward. She also drew back the curtains and looked out at the night.
Two strangers are looking at the same sky.
They were thinking about the same thing.
—If only Chen Song didn't exist in this world.
*
The next day, Chen Mian went to school exhausted. Last night, Shen Yu was like an insatiable beast, clinging to her again and again. She didn't know what time it was when they finally finished. When she woke up, she was in Shen Yu's arms. He was unusually not up earlier than her and was still asleep. He frowned when Chen Mian woke up and subconsciously reached out to pull her up, but Chen Mian slapped her arm. Shen Yu's first reaction when he woke up was to ask her, "Can you go to school?"
As a result, Chen Mian gave him the cold shoulder all morning. She ignored everyone when they got off the bus at the school gate. Shen Yu followed behind her. People kept giving them stares, but both of them had good composure and pretended not to see them. It wasn't until they reached the steps of the teaching building that Shen Yu grabbed Chen Mian's arm, put the milk he had been shaking all the way into her hand, and didn't say much. He raised his chin at her, a casual gesture that perfectly mimicked the way a spoiled brat flirts with a young girl.
Chen Mian carried the bottle of milk into the classroom. As soon as Zhao Lili saw her come in, her gossipy expression was written all over her face. Just as she was about to say something, someone called out from the classroom door, "Chen Mian, someone is looking for you."
Chen Mian turned around and saw Qiao Zhiwan standing there.
She originally thought Qiao Zhiwan had come to see her about Chen Yu, but the first thing Qiao Zhiwan said to her was, "Your mother is Ruan Yanmei, right?"
Qiao Zhiwan was calm, but looked even more exhausted than Chen Mian. It was as if she had done countless mental preparations, thoroughly reviewing the entire process of how she met Chen Mian, and finally realized that she was indeed the clown. She looked at Chen Mian's ever-clear eyes and laughed in Chen Mian's silence.
"So, you knew about this before I did, right? What else? Could it be that if we trace it back a little further, the Sinking Domain is also because of you? But Chen Mian, why can't you just tell me directly?"
"Why should I tell you?" Chen Mian suddenly asked.
She looked tired, and seeing Qiao Zhiwan's extremely hurt expression, she suddenly found it somewhat amusing.
"What obligation do I have to tell you that your stepmother is my biological mother? What obligation do I have to satisfy your curiosity, Qiao Zhiwan? Do I have an obligation to tell you these things?"
Qiao Zhiwan took a step back, her face pale. "But...but I thought—"
Chen Mian interrupted her, "Whether you think Shen Yu is being ambiguous with you, or something else, what does it have to do with me? There's a cause for every grievance, and a debtor for every debt. I suggest you go directly to Shen Yu instead of looking for me. The college entrance exam is coming up soon, and I don't have time to get involved in your romantic affairs. Besides..."
She took the concert ticket and handed it to Qiao Zhiwan, ending the conversation wearily, "Go find someone else for the concert. You don't need to be friends with me. I never intended to participate in your competition."
The school bell was about to ring. Today was the morning self-study session for Chinese. The teacher, who was carrying materials, came around the corner and saw Chen Mian and Qiao Zhiwan standing in the corridor. She was a little surprised. "Class is about to start. Why aren't you going in?"
"Teacher, I'll go in right away."
Chen Mian had nothing left to say to Qiao Zhiwan. Her mind was filled with the image of Shen Yu accompanying her to the movies last night, probably because of his nonchalant remark.
—I just thought you went to the concert with her because you liked her.
Chen Mian didn't like the concert.
Chen Mian doesn't need Qiao Zhiwan as a friend.
Chen Mian wasn't interested in how Ruan Yanmei and Chen Song fought like dogs, as long as it didn't affect him.
Before entering the classroom, she turned around and looked at Qiao Zhiwan, who was still standing there seemingly unaware of what was happening, and said to her, "Qiao Zhiwan, you come from a good family, are beautiful, lively, cheerful, and have many friends. It sounds quite enviable."
"But seeing you doing this for Shenyu, I feel like you have nothing to be envied."
"Chen Mian! What do you mean?!" Qiao Zhiwan's last shred of reason crumbled at Chen Mian's nonchalant words, and she could no longer maintain her nonchalant demeanor.
This was probably the first time Chen Mian had spoken so directly to someone other than Shen Yu.
She stood there, her skirt billowing in the wind like waves, her long, flowing hair clinging to her face.
He has a gentle and harmless appearance, but the words he utters are piercing and malicious.
"What I mean is, the way you were chasing after Shen Yu and trying to please everyone was quite ridiculous."
/
I saw some people discussing whether Chen Mian likes Shen Yu.
Well, emotions don't play a very big role in her life.
No one can bully her; there are no villainous female supporting characters here, all the bad roles are played by men.
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