CHAPTER 524: CHAPTER 523: THE LAST TENDERNESS

Zhen Yu instantly refused!

"No need! I can do it myself! If you don’t buckle down and study, do you even want to think about next year,"

"Stop! Enough! I got it!" Zhen Yan raised his hand to stop his sister’s pushing and immediately promised, "After lunch, I’m heading straight back to the dorm to study! Happy now?!"

But Zhen Yu shook her head!

"Let’s settle the house buying matter first!"

Unfortunately, Mrs. Zhen, who had just walked into the bedroom, overheard this, so she chimed in, "There’s no rush to buy the house! I’m still fine living here!"

"Mom, not that house! Ah, including that house too!" Zhen Yan spoke incoherently, "The house we’re talking about is the one we’ll live in after the winter break!"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhen’s face suddenly turned quite ugly. "Aren’t you two planning to stay with Mom during the winter break?!"

Zhen Yu: "???"

Zhen Yan: "..."

The siblings exchanged glances but neither spoke.

Seeing this, Mrs. Zhen quickly tried to coax them,

"I really won’t mess around anymore! From now on, Mom will just stay at home and take care of the kids! Can’t we three, actually four of us, live like we used to? Is that okay!?"

After hearing this, Zhen Yan looked at Zhen Yu, realized she still didn’t want to speak, and had to bite the bullet himself.

"Mom! With the kids, it’s not that convenient for us to live with you! We’d disturb each other, the kid won’t sleep well, and my sister and I can’t study well! It’s simpler if we live separately. I’ll come and check on you frequently."

Mrs. Zhen hesitated and wanted to persuade them further! But she had to admit that her son’s words made sense! She couldn’t find anything to refute at the moment! Finally, she could only say, "Then buy two places close to each other! Best if they’re right across from each other! If we can’t find that, renting an additional place here is also fine!"

This time Zhen Yan didn’t object but ambiguously replied, "I’ll see what I can do!"

———

During mealtime, Mrs. Zhen and Aunt Li took turns at the table because the child was causing a commotion again! So, Zhen Yu witnessed for the first time what it meant by ’grinding someone down without compensation’...

By the time Aunt Li finished her meal and went to check on the child, Mrs. Zhen just sat down at the table.

As soon as she sat, she sighed! She picked up her bowl and chopsticks but didn’t eat, and instead, she asked Zhen Yu first, "Xiao Yu, what do you think Mom should do?!"

Zhen Yu instantly understood what her mother meant.

She paused with her chopsticks and remained silent for over a minute! Mrs. Zhen anxiously looked at her for over a minute!

Finally, under Zhen Yan’s pleading gaze, she spoke.

"Take him to Harbin for a check!"

Mrs. Zhen: "Ah?!"

Zhen Yan: "Harbin??"

"You haven’t thought about changing hospitals to get a check-up there?! After all, Harbin is the provincial capital, the medical standard there should be better than in Qi City! If that still doesn’t work, then we might have to consider going to the Capital!"

"Is that so? Mom really hadn’t thought of that! Then when the time comes..."

Listening to her, Mrs. Zhen stumbled over her words and couldn’t finish, but both Zhen Yan and Zhen Yu understood her intent!

She essentially wanted to ask who could accompany her.

This time just as Zhen Yan was about to speak, Zhen Yu beat him to it! "Zhen Yan! You have only half a year until your college entrance exam, you can’t afford to waste time! Harbin is not far!"

Zhen Yan stayed silent for a while, then finally replied, "Well then, Mom! When the kid is six months old, I’ll ask Fourth Brother and Aunt Li to accompany you!"

Actually, he just wanted to say not to bother going to Harbin! After his exams, he could simply take his mother and the child away! Directly bring them to the Capital for treatment and to settle down!

But after thinking it over, he gave up on his own idea. Because the child’s illness simply cannot afford any delays!

——

As final exams were approaching, after having lunch at Mrs. Zhen’s place, Zhen Yan left with his sister.

While walking downstairs, Zhen Yu suddenly turned back for a glance!

That glance was filled with an indescribable mix of feelings...

It was only a morning, yet her thoughts and original intentions for visiting had slightly deviated.

She had intended to completely cut off ties! But in the end, she still retained a bit of courtesy, not treating her like she did Zhen Halong...

Of course! This was also because she considered Zhen Yan being in between them! Zhen Yu didn’t want to make it too difficult for him.

Seeing the complex expression on his sister’s face, Zhen Yan gently tugged at her sleeve, and whispered to her: "Don’t worry!"

"...Mm." Zhen Yu understood what her brother meant; he was trying to reassure her about Mrs. Zhen! Implicitly, it meant he would always watch Mrs. Zhen to prevent any shenanigans.

But actually, Zhen Yu really wanted to tell her brother there was no need!

Because she had nothing to either worry or not worry about.

Although she left some leeway in her actions today, during the meal she had also made her stance very clear!

Merely greeting her was the last bit of gentleness from Zhen Yu.

She does not forgive, but she no longer blames anyone either.

In her principles, fully devoting oneself to someone is just a step away from discarding them like old shoes.

Mrs. Zhen took a wrong step, and Zhen Yu, remembering the old days, left her some dignity.

But if she were to persist further, then she would truly end up like Zhen Halong—completely obliterated in Zhen Yu’s heart.

——

The siblings stood silently downstairs for a while, then left together.

They then returned to their respective dormitories and got busy with their own things.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Zhen upstairs continued watching until her children’s figures had disappeared, only then did she leave the window.

"Are they gone?" Aunt Li asked as soon as Mrs. Zhen stopped looking downstairs.

Mrs. Zhen listlessly responded, "Mm!"

"I’m telling you! Which parent doesn’t care about blood relations with their children! As long as you sincerely apologize to her, she couldn’t really become heartless and turn her face against you!"

"...Is there a difference now from turning her face against me?" Mrs. Zhen said despondently.

Seeing this, Aunt Li sighed deeply!

"Sigh! Given what you’ve done, it’s already good enough that your daughter is willing to sit down and have a meal with you! What more do you want! Since she has told you not to find her anymore, just don’t! Isn’t it the same if you contact Zhen Yan for anything? Stop making things worse! Don’t ruin the last bit of hope as well!"

Mrs. Zhen took a deep breath as she was being lectured! After slowly exhaling, she finally responded softly: "I know! But just, sigh..."

"But it’s bothering you, right?!" Aunt Li understood Mrs. Zhen’s thoughts in a heartbeat! "Why don’t you think about how long your daughter has been upset because of you! You better be sensible! Live your life properly, and someday your child might change her mind!"

"Hopefully..."

Mrs. Zhen felt it was unlikely because Zhen Yu’s temperament was becoming more and more resolute!

Even if one day she could reconcile with her as Aunt Li said, it certainly wouldn’t be anytime soon!