A Young Woman's Heart

"Xiaoyao, make sure you hold your umbrella tight in the rain. Don't let Wanyan get wet. I saw her shoulders are already a little wet." Her father had only taken two steps when he turned back and instructed, "Did you hear me?"

"I know—" Mo Xueyao nodded helplessly and tilted the umbrella slightly toward Li Wanyan.

……

(two)

In the classroom, Mr. Cha Li and Mr. Xue were arranging for the parents to take their seats.

"Mo Xueyao's seat is here." Mr. Xue led Mo Wenli to a window seat.

This place is quite far from where Li Wanyan, also known as Pan Jiexiang, is currently sitting.

Beside him was a woman he didn't know very well.

That was Hua Yinyin's mother.

"You are Mo Xueyao's father?"

"Yes."

"Your Xiaoyao's grades are really good. Sigh, my Yinyin is far behind."

"Haha... Your Yinyin and my Xiaoyao get along quite well, why don't you let Xiaoyao take care of her?"

"That would be great, and you must keep a close eye on her. She always avoids doing things she doesn't like and only does what she likes."

“That’s just how people are, haha.” Mo Wenli laughed with a bit of pride. “Actually, I haven’t really managed my Xiaoyao much. She learned everything on her own. Oh, maybe Wanyan will help her a little sometimes.”

"It's better to have two children; they can supervise and encourage each other."

"That's not necessarily true. It might just end up ruining everything," Mo Wenli said with a smile and a shake of his head.

As time went by, the parents finally entered the classroom one after another.

Old Chen originally came with Mo Wenli, but the store was too busy and they arrived late, so he sat in Chen Cheng's seat.

He muttered to himself, "That brat, he always does so badly on his tests, and he failed math again..."

Mo Zhuyou and Mo Xiaoxiao's seats were empty; they were standing outside the classroom, chatting leisurely with other students.

Surprisingly, Zuo Ziya was the one who came to Huang Yuxi's seat.

Her beautiful purple hair was quite eye-catching in the classroom.

Some parents who didn't know the situation were even wondering whose mother this was, since she looked so young...

"Huh, isn't it Xiaoxi's brother who came this time?" Mo Xueyao and Li Wanyan walked up, shaking their wet umbrellas and glancing into the classroom.

"Yes, I think she's his brother's fiancée?"

"Your fiancée can attend the parent-teacher meeting too..."

"Because his brother drives long-distance trucks." Mo Zhuyou had been in the classroom the whole time and overheard some of the casual conversations between the parents and teachers.

"Wow—his brother actually managed to find such a beautiful girl..." Mo Xueyao still remembered Huang Yuxi's brother. He had wheat-colored skin and looked quite energetic, but he was definitely not handsome, and as for being rich, that was even more impossible.

So, it can only be her personal charm that attracted her, right?

……

(three)

"Alright, parents, please be quiet for a moment. This is our last parent-teacher meeting for the senior year. As you all know, the college entrance exam is in July, and it's already the end of April, not far away. There are many crucial things we need to consider, the most important being filling out college applications. This time, I will give you a more detailed introduction to the schools I recommend for your children, divided into four categories. The first, of course, is the best universities, and then..."

Ye Wen stood on the podium, explaining continuously, occasionally turning around to write and draw on the blackboard. Mo Xueyao and the other students who remained at school leaned against the wall and listened quietly.

"Firstly, regarding the first option, actually, not many students in our class can get in; only Mo Xueyao, Li Wanyan, and Mr. Xue are eligible. The parents of these three children can consider top universities in the country like Zhejiang University. Peking University and Tsinghua University are also possible, but the competition is fierce..."

"Little Yaoyao, Wen is praising you."

"Tch, making a fuss over nothing." Mo Xueyao looked completely unfazed.

"Some people also praised me."

"Hey, Xiaoxue, what's all the fuss about..." Hua Yinyin rolled her eyes.

These results actually represent the expected results for the future. Following Ye Wen's words, the parents began to analyze and think about which school to send their children to and what major to study.

—Many times, the choices are not actually in the hands of the children.

Although the college application forms are nominally filled out by the children themselves, parents will definitely have some requirements. If the children ignore their parents' requirements and write according to their own wishes, it will inevitably lead to a long period of family conflict.

In addition, there are explanations about school trips.

After all, this trip will take them away from the city for a month, and parents will be somewhat worried. They also feel that with the college entrance examination just around the corner, such a 'trip' is meaningless, and they would rather spend that time learning more knowledge.

This requires Ye Wen to patiently explain to the parents why the school made this arrangement.

"Many children are actually capable of studying well at school, but they inevitably bring their emotions from home to school. Sometimes, some parents, due to their own circumstances, cannot communicate well with their children, which makes it difficult for them to immerse themselves in a positive learning environment. Therefore, this month-long school trip for Yukong High School, besides allowing the children to relax during the May Day holiday at the beginning, was mainly to create this kind of collective atmosphere and to ensure that the children's emotions are not affected by family troubles outside of their studies..."

Although she patiently explained to each student, some parents still said they didn't need their children to go on any school trips.

Fortunately, Yukong High School did have a backup plan: students who did not participate in the school trip would be grouped into two classes for regular classes.

However... often the families that parents oppose are the ones with the most problems, and the ones that most need to give their children a relaxing space to breathe and study properly in a quiet place away from home.

So Ye Wen tried her best to persuade these parents to let their children participate, but there was nothing she could do for those who really didn't want to.

Even though Yukong High School doesn't charge any fees for this school trip, we can't force them to do it.

"Dear parents, if you are willing to participate in the school trip, please take out the notification form on your desk, sign it, and then hand it to me now."

Mo Wenli was at his peak at this time, with many parents of students taking the initiative to ask him what his considerations were.

After all, everyone felt that there must be a reason why he was able to raise such a high-achieving daughter, and that following him would be fine.

So Mo Wenli waved his hand and was the first to write his name on the notification form.

"Of course I'll participate. There's no need to push too hard. Everyone is the same. Do you like being forced by your boss to work at 120% every day? It's also necessary to relax. Besides, going to the mountains has a good atmosphere and is quiet, so you can focus on learning."

"Then I'll let my daughter go too."

"Hmm...then let my son go too."

People tend to follow the crowd. When most parents handed in their notices, even the most stubborn parents began to hesitate.

……

Chapter Twenty-Three: Smearing

(One)

Sunday, June 28, 2002.

Around eight o'clock, the sun slowly peeked out from behind the clouds, gently casting its golden rays across the vast land.

Across the road, yellow sand filled the sky.

It was a construction site, and the constant sound of metal being struck could be heard coming from inside.

On this side of the road is a newly built residential complex.

The sounds of construction work could also be heard from inside.

Every now and then you can see workers with white paint on their clothes coming and going.

Zhang Yumeng nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, wearing the school uniform of Yukong High School, and walked cautiously inside.

The security guard at the entrance did not stop her; he merely glanced at her before looking down at his newspaper again.

She walked on until she reached the end of the residential area.

There is a residential building here that is significantly taller than the others, and it is also the only building in the entire community with an elevator.

Stepping into the dusty elevator, she pressed the number sixteen.

The elevator slowly ascended, the numbers on the dial ticking away without stopping until it reached the sixteenth floor, when it finally made a 'ding' sound and the doors automatically and slowly opened to the sides.

Zhang Yumeng seemed a little dazed. She hurriedly stepped out just as the elevator doors were about to close again. The elevator doors, which had just closed a little, were pushed open again with a 'bang'.

The corridor wasn't very long, but it had bright, clean windows at both ends, letting in golden sunlight.

She stopped in front of a door and gently pressed the doorbell.

"Ding dong..."

The doorbell rang for what seemed like an eternity, and the wait grew longer with each extended ring.

Just as Zhang Yumeng clenched her clothes, looking even more uneasy, the door was finally pushed open, and a young woman with slightly curly short hair smiled and said, "You're here?"

"Um……"

This is a new home, still empty, with only some essential furniture.

The sixteenth floor, in this era, felt like being on a cloud.

Not far away, beyond the clear floor-to-ceiling windows, is a construction site underway, and further still, rows of new buildings stand tall.

The city seems to be under construction and developing everywhere, as if it has an endless, vigorous vitality that will never stop or ever quiet down.

Zhang Yumeng's gaze was irresistibly drawn to the world outside the window. Standing in this spacious and bright home, the slum-like urban village suddenly seemed distant to her.

"So you really did come in your school uniform?" the woman asked with a smile, gently patting her head.

She had a slightly round oval face and a voluptuous figure; her body, covered by her clothes, exuded a very feminine sensuality.

Although she doesn't have the standard figure for television screens, she is still a great beauty, exuding a charming and sweet aura like a ripe peach at all times.

"Um……"

"You're so cute! You're too thin right now. I'll have someone bring you some good food later. You'll look better if you gain a little weight."

"it is good……"

Did you come by bus?

"Ah."

"Next time, just take a taxi. I'll pay you." The woman brought her face close to Zhang Yumeng's neck, took a deep breath, and said, "Hmm, you came all clean, right?"

"Um...that..."

"What's wrong? Come here, let your older sister hug you first." Without waiting for a reply, she hugged Zhang Yumeng tightly, making the latter almost unable to breathe.