Chapter 389: Chapter 388: What Am I Living For Anymore?

After leaving the Xue family’s home, Xue Xingjun still wanted to go with Xue Yue.

"Sis, why don’t I come stay at your place for a few days? It’s unbearable at home. Mom nags me nonstop like she’s chanting sutras, and Dad pays no attention to me. I totally regret coming back. If I’d known it would be like this, I would’ve just stayed in Beijing City and spent the New Year with Big Brother and the others."

Xue Yue placated him, "You were gone for a whole year. Now that you’re back, you should spend a little more time with your mother. We’ll be leaving in a few days, so just hang in there."

With a miserable expression, Xue Xingjun looked at Xue Yue. He Lang clapped him on the shoulder and said, "Cherish the time you have together."

After Xue Yue and He Lang left, Liu Hongxing emerged from behind the door. When Xue Xingjun saw his mother, he remembered what he’d just said and smiled sheepishly. "Mom."

Liu Hongxing merely gave Xue Xingjun a silent glance before turning and heading back inside.

Xue Xingjun stood in the courtyard for a long time, mentally preparing himself before he finally went inside.

Upon entering the house, he saw his mother sitting on the edge of the heated brick bed, wiping her tears.

He took a deep breath, walked over, and sat down beside his mother.

"Mom, I was just spouting nonsense earlier. Please don’t take it to heart."

Liu Hongxing cried, "Your father doesn’t love me, and now you think I’m a nuisance too. What’s the point of me living anymore?"

Xue Xingjun sighed. "Mom, I don’t think you’re a nuisance. It’s just... you push me every single day to make money and move you to Beijing City, and it puts me under a lot of pressure. I can barely support myself as it is. You know I’m still living with Big Brother; he takes care of my room and board. My brother-in-law pays me a salary, sure, but I spend it all. I have no savings. Buying a house is completely out of the question. Do you have any idea how expensive housing is in Beijing City? Tens of thousands will only get you a regular sort of place. I’m really not capable enough."

"Now you and Dad are at each other’s throats like this. I can’t leave and not worry. I mean, look how old you both are. When you married Dad, didn’t you know he’d been married before? How could he possibly have room in his heart for only you? Besides, just look at my brother and sister. You should know what kind of person their mother was. She was so exceptional; it’s no wonder Dad can’t forget her. And it’s not just him; other people miss her too."

When Liu Hongxing heard this, she grew even angrier. "So you’re saying I’m not as outstanding as she was, and it’s my own fault my husband doesn’t love me?"

"That’s not what I meant!"

"Then what did you mean?"

Xue Xingjun felt a profound sense of helplessness.

"What I mean is, you’re not going to divorce Dad, but the way things are now... it’s sickening to watch. You’ve spent the better part of your lives like this. Even if there’s no love, there are other ties. We all know the situation with Grandma’s side of the family. Let’s not make things too ugly."

Liu Hongxing began to sob.

"I’ll start saving. Once I’ve made enough money, I’ll rent an apartment in Beijing City, and then I’ll bring you there. I’ll take care of you."

Liu Hongxing’s sobs faltered for a moment, but she didn’t say anything else.

After Xue Yue and her family got back, they saw He Yun and Liu Jian Country at their front gate.

The main gate was shut from the inside. They stood outside, shouting toward the house, "Daya, we know you’re in there! Mom and Dad haven’t seen you in a while, and everyone at home misses you. Come on out, let’s have a mother-daughter talk."

There was no response from inside.

"What do you think you’re doing?" He Lang demanded.

He Yun and Liu Jian Country turned, and upon seeing Xue Yue and He Lang returning, they both went stiff.

The couple exchanged a look. He Yun’s gaze flickered nervously as she said to He Lang, "He Lang, we came back to see Dad. We heard Daya was back as well. Jian Country and I haven’t seen her in a while. We miss her and wanted to see her, to talk."

He Lang scoffed. "What’s there to talk about? Have you forgotten what you said and the papers you signed?"

He Yun waved her hands dismissively. "No, that’s not it. We just..."

"You just saw that Daya’s healthy now, so you want her back?" Their intentions were written all over their faces; anyone could see right through them.

Liu Jian Country said, "Daya is our daughter. Are you saying we’re not allowed to see her?"

He Lang sneered. "You two... I haven’t seen you in years, and you haven’t matured one bit. I don’t want to waste any more words on you. If you came to see Dad, then go see him. Stop blocking my gate. You know what my temper is like. Don’t make me lose it."

Liu Jian Country tried to say something else, but He Yun held him back.

Xue Yue and her family went inside and closed the gate, making no move to invite them in.

Seeing this, Liu Jian Country said to He Yun with displeasure, "Why did you hold me back? Do I need someone’s permission to see my own daughter?"

He Yun retorted irritably, "My brother has always been unreasonable. If you’re not afraid of him, then go ahead. I’m really regretting things now. I never imagined Daya would recover. The last time I saw her, I barely recognized her. She’s like a completely different person."

Liu Jian Country asked doubtfully, "When do you think Daya recovered?"

He Yun sighed. "Who knows? The doctors in Beijing City must be very skilled. But now Daya doesn’t want to acknowledge us, and with my brother watching over her, there’s no way we can see her."

Having failed to get what they wanted from He Lang, the two returned to the old family home.

Mr. He saw them come back and shot them a glance, but simply continued to smoke his cigarette without saying a word.

He Yun sat down before Mr. He and said, "Dad, Daya won’t see us, and He Lang was so harsh. We’re Daya’s parents, yet we can’t even see our own child. He Lang is being completely unreasonable."

When Mr. He didn’t respond, He Yun pressed on. "Dad, could you please talk to him? Ask him to let us see Daya."

Mr. He just looked at them and said, "It’s getting late. Go home. We’re going back to Beijing City in a few days, so there’s no need for you to come again."

"Dad—"

Mr. He waved a dismissive hand. "Go home."

As they left the old family home, Liu Jian Country was seething. He didn’t wait for He Yun, just strode angrily ahead. He Yun chased after him for a few steps, but when she couldn’t keep up, she stopped trying.

Their relationship was a far cry from what it used to be. He Yun held no standing in the Liu Family. If she hadn’t given birth to a son, she probably would have been driven out long ago.

With Jinbao now in his teens, He Yun had to start planning for her son’s sake.

Meanwhile, Daya breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the commotion outside the gate die down.

Shiyi asked, "Big Sister Daya, you don’t want to see your parents?"

Daya looked at him and pursed her lips. "Not all parents love their children. I was just unlucky."

Ruanruan understood and said to Daya, "Big Sister Daya, we’re your family. We love you."

Shiyi nodded as well. "I love Big Sister Daya, too."

Daya smiled and patted his head. "Thank you. I love you both, too."

「The next day」

Yang Wenxiu came over, holding her son.

The child looked a lot like Shitou, with a strong and sturdy build.

"Is he adjusting well to being back?"

Yang Wenxiu glanced at her son. "He is. On our second day back, my mother-in-law took us to pay respects to my late father-in-law. The boy copied us and kowtowed to him several times. My mother-in-law was so happy she cried."