Campus Ace Girl

The old lady scolded him like this, and Jingyao from the Wang family didn’t argue back, he just accepted it. After a while, the old lady got tired of reprimanding him, feeling both angry and a bit sympathetic for this son of hers. She knew very well that this time her son was genuinely moved.

Though she had previously appreciated An Xi, that girl, how could she compare to feelings nurtured through daily companionship, the bond of having children? Lin Hua is also quite good, the only problem is her parenting philosophy clashes with the Wang family’s, but that is a minor issue, not a big deal. Over the years, Jingyao knew he should have made decisive actions, yet he still protected his wife. She turned a blind eye to it, who knew things would turn out like this with such deep feelings... The old lady was so mad, she was ready to beat him to death.

After venting her anger, the old lady asked coldly, "What are you going to do now?"

Jingyao didn’t respond, the old lady hit him again, "I’m asking you."

Jingyao smiled bitterly, "What can I do? Kneel down, admit my mistake, and wait for her to soften up."

"You’ve really grown up." The old lady laughed coldly, "I’ll see your skill this time. This time you’ve really outdone yourself. You didn’t love the previous one and didn’t do anything out of line, you half-coaxed, half-deceived Lin Hua into marriage, why can’t you treat her well?"

The son wanted to retort, the old lady continued, "Don’t tell me this is because Feng Sheng Li Sheng returned, Jingyao... You indulged in romance back then, remember when you were in Beicheng... there was no one you didn’t fancy, others could only pick up what you left behind, how come now one Feng Sheng makes you lose your composure? Where did your previous confidence go? Do you really think you’re inferior to others now?"

Jingyao’s body stiffened.

The old lady huffed coldly, "So you find self-confidence in a girl in her early twenties? Not just Lin Hua, even I, this old mom, feel anxious for you!"

"It’s my fault." Jingyao sighed lightly, "The old lady is right to admonish me."

Old Lady Wang snorted lightly, "I’m too tired to even scold you."

Actually, this son was too strong-headed. He never gave his parents the slightest trouble since childhood, yet his marriage has always been rocky... They thought that reaching middle age, he’d finally settle down, who knew he’d mess up again.

After the old lady finished speaking, she went to see Lin Hua. Jingyao stood alone by the window, smoking silently, reflecting on the old lady’s words, unable to deny that she was the one who understood him the most, her words uncovered all the darkness in his heart...

...

Lin Hua woke at night, the first thing she saw was the old lady.

The old lady’s expression was different from her usual sternness, she seemed gentle and amiable, and warmly asked as Lin Hua awoke, "Awake?"

Lin Hua lay quietly, a tear at the corner of her eye.

For a moment, she couldn’t tell what time it was, where she was, what had happened?

But about ten seconds later, she remembered the scene at the office, her heart ached. The ever-perceptive old lady, seeing her getting sad, calmly said, "Luckily no harm done! You mustn’t do this again!"

After a pause, the old lady added, "It was still that girl from last time, I’ll ask PUSA one day if you and Ms. Yin are somehow clashing, that’s why you keep running into her. I heard the girl’s only been back in the country for less than a month."

Lin Hua listened quietly, knowing the old lady only tried to enlighten her because she was aware, it was ultimately for Jingyao’s sake.

She didn’t yet know about the child, only lay there quietly, apart from the discomfort in her ribs and head, she sensed something still wasn’t right... She wanted to ask but opened her mouth without uttering a sound.

The old lady believed it wasn’t the time to tell her; her body was weak from waking, so she ordered everyone not to mention anything, taking care of her diligently in the hospital... it was the first time really, aside from cleaning up after her son, she genuinely cared! Her whole life she’d been loved by the old gentleman, never had she been treated like Lin Hua and it was her son’s doing, she needed to make amends.

Lin Hua remained quiet, didn’t ask where Jingyao went, pretended the man was gone.

No matter how she tried to ignore, Jingyao came in at 9 PM. When the door closed, their eyes met but neither spoke.

After a moment, Lin Hua closed her eyes and softly told the old lady, "I’m tired, I want to sleep for a while."

The old lady looked back and glared at her son, then kindly said, "Okay, have a rest, mom’s here with you."

Lin Hua shook her head, "You’re not well either, let the nurse watch over me."

The old lady didn’t respond, just adjusted her blanket, quietly thinking: This child had no mother now, no one at home, what Jingyao did to her was truly unjustified! Besides, what did Lin Hua do? As the saying goes, adultery takes two, just having a meal together, what does that count for? Simply Jingyao’s age makes him insecure.

After settling her daughter-in-law, the old lady rose, calmly fiddled with her jade beads, and scolded quietly, "Coming here made things worse, don’t you see how you antagonize people."

Jingyao approached, leaned in to look at Lin Hua, of course, her eyes were closed, but she could feel his presence.

Despite being unable to escape, Lin Hua didn’t want to face him now, so she pretended to be asleep.

How would Jingyao not know? He sighed lightly, patted his pants, sat down, reached out to touch her cheek: "I asked Xichen earlier, said you could have some liquid food, I had Aunt Zhang make your favorite, she’ll bring it over, you rest a bit first."

Lin Hua’s eyelashes trembled slightly, then she gently moved her face away, not wanting his touch.

Jingyao’s hand fell empty, paused for a moment.

The old lady shot a glance, "Serves you right!"

Her brother-in-law smiled bitterly, gaze on Lin Hua’s face, intense.

The old lady came over instead, softly speaking, "If you stay here, she won’t rest well, too anxious. Better you leave, I’m here."

The old lady’s manner was usually direct, addressing the gentleman, "You follow him back, teach your son properly!"

Jingyao couldn’t help but laugh.

The old lady continued, "Alright, go, seeing you vexes me."

Upon reflection, Jingyao agreed, Lin Hua would likely be angrier and rest less seeing him now, thus he left with the gentleman.

Once the two men left, Aunt Zhang brought food at the right time, the old lady sat by the bed feeding Lin Hua, persuading as she did: "I know right now you loathe Jingyao... don’t say just you, he’s intolerable even to me! But Lin Hua, despite the anger, consider this: even if he wanted to spite you, could he and that little seductress truly succeed? You know how he feels about you, it could never go that far, right? In marriage disputes, one side always suffers more. I won’t persuade you to forgive him, rather nourish yourself, regain strength to teach that unruly thing a lesson. As for that little seductress, I’ve heard... she’s been after Jingyao, up to no good, this time I’ve had Jingchuan directly send her away, she won’t bother you again."

Lin Hua had lost her taste for food, after eating for a bit, she wanted to stop.

The old lady kindly set the food down, added, "I know you’re upset, but think of Xiao Yue too."

Lin Hua lay back further, after a while mumbling, "Mom, I’m so tired."

"I know, you’ve been wronged! It might’ve been good Feng Sheng survived, but Jingyao’s jealousy complicated things, entirely his fault, yours is none. Women focusing on work during downtime is good, Jing... his life’s been too smooth, he’s too controlling, with you as the core of his world, it’s natural for him to care more. I’m aware, yet... always think of Xiao Yue, and recall your happy moments, not just these years, before you were close but didn’t marry, those early years waiting for him, I saw it... This is serious, but just letting the hard-won love slip and let that lazybones Jingyao off the hook, can you really be satisfied? Even if you want to, I don’t agree with letting him off easily. You should torment him, make him beg at your bedside daily for forgiveness."

The old lady said this with a stern face, while speaking, she herself started to laugh, though there was some bitterness in her laughter—

Poor Lin Hua, unaware still about the child, things might change once she knows.