CHAPTER 262: CHAPTER 262: GUILT (SECOND UPDATE)

"Mom, no." Tang Yue replied quickly.

Although the relationship between mother and daughter was very close in this life, Tang Yue still felt a bit embarrassed when this topic was brought up.

"Xiao Yue, I’m not joking about this," Zhang Hualian said earnestly as she gripped Tang Yue’s hand. "If I find out, I would indeed be heartless enough to break your legs."

Tang Yue looked up to meet Zhang Hualian’s serious gaze, and she suddenly remembered her previous life. At that time, because she was with Wu Xinming and didn’t get into college, she was about to get married. Zhang Hualian didn’t want her to marry into the Wu Family, so she lied to Zhang Hualian, claiming that she was already Wu Xinming’s woman.

Although she hadn’t been with Wu Xinming yet, back then, she was like a mad person. The more Zhang Hualian objected, the more it spurred her rebellious heart.

Zhang Hualian had a huge reaction when she heard about it at that time.

The two of them were like enemies, furiously confronting each other, with Zhang Hualian’s disappointed gaze and her words accusing her of not respecting herself.

Tang Yue got angry and retorted to Zhang Hualian.

She still remembered what she said to this day.

"Mom, you have the guts to scold me, but why don’t you talk about yourself? If you hadn’t been disrespectful, how could you have had me?"

This statement was met with a slap from Zhang Hualian. If Zhang Hualian did not love her, how could she have given birth to her?

Besides, Zhang Hualian had faced many disdainful glances from others for her sake before she married Tang Zhengde.

Tang Yue angrily left, and only later did she learn that because of this incident, Zhang Hualian had fallen ill for half a month and almost didn’t make it. Tang Yue knew she was wrong deep down, but was too stubborn and embarrassed to apologize.

Thinking of this, Tang Yue wished she could slap herself.

Tang Yue’s eyes gradually reddened, and she lowered her head, choking up: "I’m sorry."

"Silly girl." Seeing her red eyes, Zhang Hualian thought she had spoken too harshly and said softly, "Xiao Yue, Mom is doing this for your own good, there’s no need to apologize. I like Mo Siyu, too, and I think the Mo Family is not bad either. It’s just that, Mom..."

Zhang Hualian paused, then said, "Mom is afraid that you will be at a disadvantage."

"Mom." Tang Yue opened her arms and threw herself into Zhang Hualian’s arms. She felt that she hadn’t been good enough to her mother. From now on, she must not anger her or make her sad.

In her room, there were only the two of them, mother and daughter, a rare moment of peace and warmth.

Zhang Hualian rarely saw her daughter act so coquettishly, and she sighed, "Our Xiao Yue has grown into a young lady, old enough to be in a relationship now, and Mom is getting old too."

Zhang Hualian gently patted Tang Yue’s back, remembering how small and tender she used to be. Now, she had grown so tall and graceful.

"Mom is not old at all, you’re very beautiful," Tang Yue looked up and surveyed Zhang Hualian, saying, "Mom, you don’t realize how much Dad cherishes you. Besides, even among those near your age, you are more beautiful than they are."

Zhang Hualian was amused by Tang Yue’s flattery and laughed, "You’re always so sweet-talking."

"Mom." Tang Yue hesitated, then said, "It was hard on you when you gave birth to me."

Zhang Hualian’s smile paused as she looked at Tang Yue sentimentally, seeing her careful not to hurt her feelings, which touched her heart deeply. She sighed, "It’s all in the past."

"Mom, in this life, I will definitely be filial to you, and in the next life, I still want to be your daughter," Tang Yue said thick-skinned, now speaking out the words she used to find unspeakable.

"Okay." Zhang Hualian thought for a bit before asking, "Xiao Yue, do you want to know who your biological father is?"

When Zhang Hualian brought up this topic, her voice unconsciously softened, she involuntarily held her breath, her gaze upon Tang Yue anxious and guilty.

"I don’t want to." Tang Yue shook her head without hesitation: "Mom, it doesn’t matter who that person is, I already have a dad, and besides, if he didn’t want my mom, then he surely wouldn’t care about having me as a daughter, right?"

Whether it was in a past life or this one, her biological father had never appeared. So there was no need for him to show up in the future either.

"Xiao Yue." Zhang Hualian’s eyes instantly reddened, waves of guilt surfacing in her tearful gaze.

"Mom, I’m serious, I really think things are good as they are now. Many biological fathers aren’t as good as Mr. Tang," Tang Yue earnestly said. She used to feel discontented with Mr. Tang, but when she really thought about it, Mr. Tang had never ignored her for not being his biological child, nor looked down on her for being a girl. On the contrary, he always taught Tang Jun to give in to her.

And it was because of this that the old Tang Jun always felt that Mr. Tang treated her even better than him. That’s why he was unhappy with her and looked at her unfavorably.

Zhang Hualian hugged Tang Yue tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks. With such a sensible daughter, she felt deeply content; the hardships she previously endured now seemed insignificant.

After this heartfelt mother-daughter talk, their bond grew even stronger.

Zhang Hualian inquired about Tang Yue’s current situation with Mo Siyu, and Tang Yue shared what she was supposed to, skipping over any details of intimacy.

"Xiao Yue, he really gave you his salary card?" Zhang Hualian looked at Tang Yue, seemingly in disbelief.

Tang Yue nodded.

Zhang Hualian sighed: "When I saw him last time, I thought he was quite good, but I didn’t expect him to take a liking to you. However, before you get married, you must not use his money. If you need money, just ask me."

"I know, Mom," Tang Yue responded cheerfully.

Zhang Hualian repeatedly reminded her of many things, mainly to focus on studying for her senior year in high school. After the college entrance exams and entering university, they could talk about these matters.

After Tang Yue’s repeated assurances, Zhang Hualian was finally at ease.

*

Zhang Family.

Just as Zhang Qiang returned to town, Liu Cuixong had sold several pieces of clothing, making a nice sum of money, and her eyes were gleefully smiling. The sight of Zhang Qiang’s return immediately turned her expression somber as she said, "Qiangzi, how did you get so tanned and thin? Didn’t your aunt and uncle provide you with enough to eat?"

Liu Cuixong looked at her son with heartache. Although she was happy with his improved academic performance, the sight of him being so lean and dark-complexioned upset her.

"Mom, I’ve been eating well, but these days we’ve..." Zhang Qiang, afraid to mention the training and car racing in Jing City, anticipating that Liu Cuixong wouldn’t believe him, decided to keep it from her. He said, "It’s because we’ve been training with Uncle Zhu that I’ve lost weight and gotten tanned. And Mom, I’m much stronger now."

Zhang Qiang boasted, and though he had become leaner and darker, his spirits were exceptionally high.

Liu Cuixong didn’t believe him, "Then why are you so thin?"

"Mom, I’m at the age where I’m growing. Unless I sit still all day after eating, how could I possibly get fat?" Zhang Qiang glanced at her. During this time spent with Tang Jun and others, especially upon seeing the atmosphere between his aunt and Tang Jun, which was much better than his own, Zhang Qiang felt envious.