Now, I want to talk to you about my sister’s situation. From what you’ve just said, I understand now—it was my sister’s mistake. However, she’s not inherently unreasonable; her actions were driven by hidden difficulties.

If my sister quits being a teacher, she’ll have to marry Chen Dajun immediately. Because of this, she was so proactive with you, as it involves a promise she made with the family.

With the deadline approaching, she’s anxious. If you can understand what it’s like to live a lifetime with someone you don’t love, you might be able to forgive her."

Slightly stunned, Zhou Huakang looked at Tian Tian: "You’re from the Tian Family?"

"Yes." Tian Tian bit her lip in response, and tears started to fall. "Don’t say you hate me; even I hate myself for being like this, but I was really forced into it.

I don’t want to spend my life with such a person. I’m sure you know what kind of person Chen Dajun is. I was driven to the brink of madness, which is why I did such detestable things.

I admit, it was senseless of me to pester you, but beyond that, I didn’t know what else to do. I truly hoped you would accept me, so I wouldn’t have to face such a situation.

At first, my idea was, if you really didn’t like me, perhaps you could act with me in a little drama until this all blows over, and then you could do as you wish.

Yet, even I didn’t realize how deep my feelings for you had become. When I saw your third sister-in-law, I felt incredibly jealous, which led to my irrational actions.

My mom always told me my personality was bad and hoped I’d change. Normally, I try to control it and am mostly unaffected by external factors, but today was truly an exception.

When my brother came with me, I genuinely regretted my actions and wanted to apologize to you, but seeing you talk intimately with your third sister-in-law changed my mind. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

What happened next, you already know. Now, I feel extremely guilty and embarrassed to face you and your family, but compared to marrying someone I know will be a disaster, I still have to grit my teeth and negotiate with you.

Could you not tell the school, so I can continue being a teacher? Don’t worry, I definitely won’t impulsively do anything to affect the students.

When I left, it was only because I was sure you wouldn’t abandon me that I dared to leave." She looked earnestly at Zhou Huakang, stressing, "I’m not intentionally saying this to make you forgive me; I truly believe in you.

Of course, no matter the reason, it was my fault. I just... I just hope you can give me this opportunity, and for the rest, my brother and I will find a solution."

"I can keep quiet, but I can’t guarantee the other teachers will."

"As long as you keep quiet, they won’t say anything..." Tian Tian hesitated before continuing, "Of course, they won’t speak because I plan to ask them soon.

But..." She shamefully lowered her head, "But could you lend me some money first? I... I truly have nothing left, and my brother doesn’t have much either."

Seeing her like this softened Zhou Huakang’s resolve.

The Tian Family is well-known in A City, famous for generations of officials, with substantial family assets. Crucially, the major disaster scarcely affected them.

In principle, a child from such a family shouldn’t be experiencing this kind of economic and worldly hardship.

But he understood Tian Tian and Tian Zhuang weren’t lying to him.

The Eldest Son of the Tian Family’s wife passed away twelve years ago. Two years later, he remarried and had a pair of twin sons. The children from the first marriage naturally became thorns and nails to the stepmother, who was extremely strict with them.

Ironically, she claimed it was to ensure the kids didn’t stray from the right path. As a result, the family elders supported her actions.

They weren’t unaware of her true intentions; they just turned a blind eye, considering the sake of the twin sons.

Everyone in the circle is aware of this, but Zhou Huakang hadn’t connected Tian Tian with the Tian Family until he heard the siblings speak. Reflecting on it, he understood they weren’t fabricating to gain sympathy deliberately.

Honestly, he’d been quite attentive to Tian Tian before, but knowing her real identity now, he felt a bit of sympathy, probably related to his lack of a sensible mother growing up.

Whenever he saw families like that of his older brother, second sister, Third Brother, and fourth sister happy together, he envied them immensely—his mom never treated him that way.

Otherwise, his sister wouldn’t have made such outrageous errors. Children lacking love indeed have a higher chance of going astray compared to those from normal families.

Although Chuxia was sitting in the car, she clearly heard the conversation. She took out the money and food coupons from her pocket and handed them to Yingying: "Take them to your Seventh Uncle."

"Alright." The little girl responded, quickly opened the car door, and handed the money to Zhou Huakang. "From my aunt." She looked at Tian Tian again, "Teacher, my aunt is about to have a baby; she shouldn’t go hungry." (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)