Chapter 3
In the first semester of her third year of junior high school, the war in Xu Nianlei's family finally broke out in full force and quickly came to an end.
Xu Jianguo had racked up huge gambling debts, and his creditors came knocking on his door, throwing paint at him. Wang Xiuqin's patience reached its limit, and she hysterically started fighting with him. This time, it wasn't just an argument, but a life-or-death brawl. Xu Nianlei tried to break up the fight, but her father shoved her to the ground, causing her forehead to hit the corner of the table, instantly raising a large bump.
Finally, the police arrived.
In the chaos, Wang Xiuqin pointed at Xu Jianguo and said to the police in a hoarse voice, "He gambles! He beats the children! I can't live like this anymore! Divorce! We have to get a divorce!"
The divorce proceedings were completed quickly. Wang Xiuqin fought with her last breath to win custody of Xu Nianlei and the small house filled with painful memories.
The day Xu Jianguo moved out, he was drunk and pointed at Wang Xiuqin and Xu Nianlei, cursing, "You two good-for-nothings! You wait, I'll be back sooner or later! You won't have a good life!"
The door slammed shut with a loud bang, the sound echoing through the empty room.
The world suddenly fell silent.
Xu Nianlei covered her still throbbing forehead and looked at her mother, who seemed to have aged ten years in an instant. She felt no relief, only boundless confusion and fear.
Wang Xiuqin slumped to the ground amidst the chaos, not crying, but staring blankly out the window. After a long while, she turned her head, her gaze falling on Xu Nianlei. Her eyes held a complex expression that frightened Xu Nianlei—resentment, exhaustion, and a chilling, desperate hope that sent shivers down her spine.
“Nianlei,” Wang Xiuqin’s voice was hoarse, like sandpaper being rubbed, “now, your mother only has you.”
Xu Nianlei couldn't help but shiver.
Life after the divorce didn't get better; it just brought pain in a different way.
Wang Xiuqin vented all her resentment over her failed marriage on Xu Nianlei. She quit her hard but low-paying factory job, started doing odd jobs, and pinned all her hopes for the future on her daughter's education.
"Xu Nianlei! Have you finished your homework? What are you dawdling about!"
"How come you only got 85 on this test? Old Li's daughter from the next building got 98! Are you trying to drive me crazy?"
"How much have I sacrificed for you? Huh? I divorced your deadbeat father just so you could be this useless?"
Control was everywhere. Students had to be home on time after school; being even ten minutes late would result in a raging storm. They were forbidden from associating with classmates who didn't do well academically. Watching TV was strictly prohibited. All their free time was filled with practice problems that Wang Xiuqin had somehow acquired.
The woman who used to only yell at her husband now projects all her negative emotions precisely onto her daughter. Xu Nianlei lives like a prisoner, every expression and every movement under her mother's surveillance and judgment.
She became even more silent, like a frightened mouse, tiptoeing around the house, trying to minimize her presence. Only in the dead of night, when she was buried under the covers, did she dare to secretly shed a few tears.
Sometimes she would think of the boy named Lu Baiyan, and his blue jacket. What was his world like, that quiet boy who seemed to live in a transparent dome?
There will probably never be any heart-wrenching arguments or endless scolding.
Meanwhile, Lu Baiyan's life continued as usual, progressing smoothly along its established path.
Zhao Mei's demands on him also increased accordingly.
"Baiyan, junior high school is a crucial stage, and we cannot slack off in the slightest."
“Starting with your class, the competition for the high school entrance exam will be even fiercer. The best high schools in the city are your goal.”
"Don't get distracted by things that aren't related to studying."
His schedule was even more packed. In addition to schoolwork, there were math olympiad classes, English enrichment classes, and introductory physics classes. His leisure activities were strictly limited to one hour of Go or calligraphy practice every Sunday afternoon.
Lu Zhenhua sometimes felt that his wife was pushing him too hard, and privately advised, "It's okay to let the child relax a little; childhood only happens once."
Zhao Mei always retorted, "A doting mother spoils her son! What will happen in the future if we relax now? Baiyan is a talented child, and we can't hold him back. If he works a little harder now, his future will be brighter."
Lu Baiyan listened to his parents' discussion without interrupting. He had grown accustomed to this intense academic life and even felt that it wasn't so bad. At least everything was clear and structured; he knew what he should do each day and what level of performance would earn his mother's approval.
He stood out even more at school, yet remained even more silent. Girls would whisper about him, saying he was handsome, academically gifted, and from a wealthy family—like a male protagonist in a novel. But no one dared to approach him easily; his aloof demeanor and the scrutinizing gaze of his mother when she occasionally visited the school formed an invisible barrier.
He is a benchmark, a role model, and also a lonely, perfect work wrapped in expectations.
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