I save a pathological girl with a twisted love story.

He flicked off some cigarette ash, and a spark burned a hole in the edge of the girl's skirt.

She didn't care: "Aoi Asahi, you're such a debt collector. I work so hard to earn this money, and you can never have enough to spend."

Chapter 8 The Cherry Blossom Fever That Faded in Late April

She sighed, letting the cheap cigarette burn between her fingers.

With a dazed look in her eyes, she murmured in a muffled, almost delirious voice, "If it weren't for you, this burden, I probably would have found a good man long ago."

“I’ve long been living a normal, happy life as a housewife, and I don’t have to work so hard every day and take care of you.”

She seemed to be lost in her own delusions, rambling on and on.

"If it weren't for you, even if I hadn't found a good man, I wouldn't have to work so hard. With my looks, even if I'm not that beautiful, I can still look quite good with some makeup, dressing up, and beauty treatments."

"I'm sure I'll be able to find a good job in Tokyo 2, and my life will definitely be glamorous."

"Even if I can't find a job in Second New Tokyo, even if I find a job similar to what I have now, I can save up all my money and open a small shop. It certainly won't be as tiring as it is now."

She imagined it, as if she could already see that kind of life.

Aoi remained silent, biting her lip.

"Is all of this my fault? Is it all my fault that you're suffering so much?"

She was so sad that she was almost in tears.

But Aoi gritted her teeth, her eyes red.

I tried my best to stop my tears and suppress the bitterness in my heart.

Smoke billowed, and sparks burned as the filter emitted an unpleasant odor.

It also burned Keiko's fingers, bringing her back to reality from her reverie.

"What a hassle, tsk." She said, stubbing out her cigarette on the tatami mat next to her.

Black soot had piled up into a small puddle, and a small, scorched dent had appeared on the tatami mat.

These holes are scattered all over the tatami mats, like pockmarks or dark eyeballs.

Looking at Aoi, she said, "It's all because of you, this burden. I work so hard every day, yet I still have such a difficult time, and I can't see any hope at all."

"It's all because of you."

She complained, dumping all the suffering she had endured onto her daughter.

She may know how much harm this will cause her daughter, but she doesn't care.

I've suffered enough myself, and I don't have the energy to take care of her mental well-being anymore.

She rubbed her face vigorously and struggled to sit up. She placed her hand on the low table and lit another cigarette with a snap.

He burped, exhaling a strong, foul odor of alcohol.

"How were your grades?"

Huizi, smoking a cigarette, asked the questions as usual.

"There hasn't been an exam yet."

"Oh, so how's your study going? Do you think you can become number one?" Keiko asked, looking at Aoi Asahi.

A shadow fell over Aoi's heart, and she said, "No."

"Hmph." Keiko sighed and flicked her cigarette ash. "I really don't know what you're good for. I'm working myself to the bone getting flirted with and making money for you. You've really let me down, Aoi Asahi."

She clearly didn't verbally abuse Aoi or physically assault her.

The atmosphere inside the room was so oppressive it was almost suffocating, as if an iron ball had been wrapped around my ankle and I had been thrown into the deep sea.

His lungs, meant for breathing, are filled with blood and despair, making it impossible for Asahi to breathe.

Asahima bit her lip, almost drawing blood.

"I will work hard."

Aoi Asahi said that.

“You should work harder,” Keiko said to Asahi Aoi. “Otherwise, would I let you waste my money?”

"Really."

She stood up unsteadily and took her handbag from the doorway.

He pulled out a thin stack of banknotes and counted them ten times.

He threw 100,000 yen in front of Aoi Asahi, scattering the banknotes all over the ground.

Asahi looked at the banknotes in front of her, she felt that what was being scattered was not her money, but her dignity.

Her head was throbbing and throbbing with pain.

"Take it, you debt collector."

Keiko said disdainfully, "You've been sitting here waiting for so long today just to get money, haven't you? This 100,000 yen should be enough, right?"

Aoi lowered her head, her voice weak and low: "I didn't come here for money."

"Heh." Keiko looked at Aoi's cowardly appearance with disdain: "You're not here for money? Then what are you doing sitting here?"

"They won't even pour me a glass of water, and they don't even bother to clean the house. It makes me so angry."

“You’re so useless, Aoi Asahi,” Keiko complained. “At your age, I’ve already found a boyfriend. I can even live at his house and my parents don’t have to worry about my food or drink.”

"Look at you, you're a complete burden, a debt collector. You can't do anything, you're incapable of doing anything."

Huizi complained.

But these words felt like knives stabbing into Aoi Asahi's heart.

"No, I don't want to live like you. I won't do that, I won't sell myself just for food and drink."

"No, I don't want to!"

She screamed, roared, and shrieked in her heart.

But she couldn't refute her mother's words at all.

Because she wasn't an immature child, the words "eat and drink" were easy for her to say, as if they were things readily available in life.

But it was a mountain that weighed heavily on this broken family at all times, and she saw everything her mother did.

Everything we do is just for eating and drinking.

She said, "I just wanted to ask if you have any high school students applying for jobs at your store today."

"Yes," Keiko replied casually. "A good-looking high school student came to apply for the job. His name is Xia Wuzhao or something. Although he is good-looking, his family is a complete poor family."

"Why are you asking about this?" Keiko looked at Asahi Aoi warily. "Is he related to you?"

Her face began to tremble, and she gripped Asahi's arm tightly, with such force that it was almost like using pliers.

Huizi said to her, "Let me tell you, you can just play around with guys like that. But you absolutely cannot marry them. If you're going to get married, you should find a rich man. Only then can you find happiness."

Asahi Aoi looked at Keiko, who had suddenly turned ferocious, and she was actually a little scared.

She said, "He's the one who took first place from me; he's my classmate. I have no connection with him."

"Is that so? That's good."

Keiko gradually regained her composure and said, "Then why did you ask that?"

“He’s my classmate,” Aoi Asahi repeated, then turned her head away and said, “I hope you won’t reveal that I’m your daughter.”

Her voice trembled slightly, and she was in great pain.

"But, but I absolutely don't want to embarrass myself in front of that arrogant and hateful boy, I just can't do it in front of him."

Chapter 9 Under the Moonlight Without Answers

Huizi was taken aback at first, but then sneered.

She said sarcastically, "Oh, you ingrate! You're actually looking down on me now!"

"If I weren't working, why would you be able to go to school? If I weren't working, where would your school uniform and food come from?"

"You're actually starting to despise me? If it weren't for you, this burden, would I be living such a miserable life? It's all your fault! Do you understand? It's all your fault! You've ruined my life!"

She spoke loudly, her finger trembling as she pointed at the sunflower, "It's me! I'm the one who brought you into this world. I'm the one who fed you, I'm the one who clothed you! And you're here to despise me? What did I do wrong? What have I done to wrong you!"

"Fine, fine. I've really raised an ungrateful wretch."

Even as she roared in anger, the atmosphere inside the room was so silent it was almost suffocating.

She was so angry that she was trembling uncontrollably. She grabbed the ashtray next to her and wanted to smash it on Aoi's head.

She smashed Asahi's head until it bled profusely, and a flash of light appeared before her eyes, as if she could already see the consequences.

A faint sense of pleasure welled up inside me.

But when she held the heavy ashtray above her head, she angrily put it back on the table.

He slammed his hand on the table, making a loud bang.

She glanced at Asahi Aoi and said loudly, "Asahi Aoi, you must remember this. I raised you, so you have to take care of me! When you grow up, you have to be filial to me. You have to take care of my food, drink, and allowance!"

"This is your responsibility!"

"When that time comes, let's see what you do then! Let's see what you can accomplish!"

"You're supposed to support me! Do you understand?"

She kept saying, "It's because I raised you that you have to support me, understand?"

"Why aren't you saying anything?" she shouted. "Don't you want to support me?!"

As if angered, she immediately grabbed Asahi's shoulders and shook her violently: "Hey, have you forgotten how much I've sacrificed for you? Have you forgotten how much money you've cost me?"

"Hey! Tell me now!"

Her eyes were wide open, like a madwoman who had eaten belladonna.

Her hands nearly drew blood from Asahi Aoi's shoulders as she roared like a demon, "You'll definitely take care of me in my old age, right?! Say it now! Say it now! Say you'll definitely take care of me in my old age! Say it now! Asahi Aoi! You burden, you ingrate, say it now!"

Asahi looked at her mother, who didn't seem very afraid.

Instead, a feeling of bitterness inexplicably arose.

This emotion is so inexplicable, yet so perfectly logical.

The wind outside made the window rattle and bang, as if the glass was about to shatter at any moment.

Asahi felt a sore throat and her fingers even cramped slightly.

"This is my mother. She is extremely arrogant and always thinks she deserves a good life. But she has no sense of security and is afraid of being abandoned by others."

Aoi lowered her head and said, "I'll take care of you in your old age."

As she spoke, she finally gave Keiko the answer she had always wanted to hear.

These words were like a healing balm, gradually calming down the frenzied Keiko.

She pressed the cigarette butt against the tatami mat, burning a small hole in it once again.

She was not satisfied with this answer.

Huizi said, "If only that were true. Who knows if you, this ungrateful wretch, will actually take care of me in my old age?"

"I asked you for so long before you finally agreed. Looks like you just want to keep swindling money from me. Humph! You're such a burden! Who knows if you'll even take care of me when I'm old?"

"My future, who knows if I can rely on you!"

Her incessant complaining made Aoi Asahi tremble involuntarily.

"Why? Why am I still suffering like this after I've already agreed?"

She finally couldn't hold back any longer, suddenly looked up, and shouted as if she had exploded, "What exactly do you want me to do? What exactly do you want me to do?"

"Look at you!" Keiko yelled at Asahi Aoi, "You're talking to me like this now, you're so disrespectful! How can I possibly believe what you say?"

"Then what exactly do you want me to do? What exactly do you want me to do?" Aoi cried out in despair, "Then tell me!"

"Can't you even show me any respect? Can't you talk to me properly? I'm your mother! When I ask you something, can't you just answer me calmly?"

"I am your mother! How dare you yell at your own mother!"

Keiko yelled at Aoi Asahi.