translated_Chapter 99

99: Jing Yueming’s Past

99: Jing Yueming’s Past

Jing Yueming sighed, “No choice, just lucky.”

“You’re not bad either,” Qiu Ci comforted him.

“I’m saying I’m lucky because I met you, and later I even took classes with you.”

“Huh?” Qiu Ci was amused, but he still wanted to ask something he was curious about: “So, your mother’s education methods for the two of you are that different?”

Was Jing Yueming treated that way initially because there was no money? But when it came to Li Yuhang, the conditions were there?

Jing Yueming was silent for a long time before speaking again, “Back then, my mother’s relationship with my biological father wasn’t good. She came from the countryside and felt very constrained there, she didn’t have time to take care of me. In junior high, I lived with my mother and Li Yuhang’s biological father for a few years. Uncle Li was pretty good, he cared a lot about his son. It’s just a pity he wasn’t my biological father.”

There must have been a reason why Zhang’s mother divorced Jing Yueming’s biological father. Jing Yueming’s biological father wasn’t a good person. Li Yuhang’s father, although he was good to Jing Yueming, it was the kind of good you show to a guest.

Qiu Ci had already guessed a rough idea, and shook his head helplessly when he truly understood, “Little Jing, I…”

Jing Yueming wrapped his arms around his waist, “Don’t just comfort me with words, kiss me and hug me.”

“Do you miss your father a lot? I don’t mean your biological father or Uncle Li, but a father in a conceptual sense.”

Jing Yueming blinked, “I don’t really understand.” It was a strange question, he thought about it, but it wasn’t longing, and it wasn’t envy.

“Well…you should read some psychology books. A lot of trauma in adulthood is actually buried in childhood, and you unconsciously try to compensate for it through your preferences. I mean, you seem to really be treating me like…a father.” Anyone older who gave Jing Yueming help would leave a good impression on him.

Jing Yueming’s mind raced, he really didn’t want to admit it, “Does that mean I won’t like you if I study psychology?”

“We’re very similar in this way. A few years ago, when I had a car accident, there were also people who wanted to use this method to get close to me. At least he succeeded at the time. If I had really fallen for him later, I would have been finished, he would have killed me.” He was referring to Qin Yishan. He knew what Qiu Ci lacked and tried to replace Qiu Shi, to replace that father figure after Qiu Shi’s death.

Unfortunately, Qiu Ci was a “thankless wretch.” He saw through Qin Yishan; every step Qin Yishan took had a purpose.

“You won’t hurt me, I know what you mean, but I can’t think of you that way.” Jing Yueming pressed his head tightly against Qiu Ci, giving himself a tight hug.

“Forget it,” Qiu Ci said. He would ask Su Yuyang and the Qin sisters to take care of Jing Yueming more in the future. This world wasn’t easy to navigate, and it was even harder for Jing Yueming.

In the future, any random man or woman could say, “I can understand you, and I can help you,” and Jing Yueming would obediently give himself to them.

The two of them embraced and fell asleep on the small, one-and-a-half-meter bed.

Jing Yueming couldn’t understand why his mother wanted to marry a man with a bad temper who even liked to hit people, and was willing to give birth to his child.

Even after doing all that, this mother was still kicked out of the house.

Even Jing Yueming was a disgrace to the so-called urban household. Even though he was already very sensible, the man who gave him his surname still didn’t like him. He couldn’t be at home, and he couldn’t not be at home. He couldn’t learn to paint, and he couldn’t be anything but successful in his studies.

This biological father was always dark and gloomy to Jing Yueming.

After more than a decade, his mother finally had enough and left the Jing family, taking Jing Yueming, who was about to enter junior high school, with her.

After remarrying, Uncle Li was caring and considerate to him, and he thought his family was complete.

The biological father in the shadows turned into the radiant Uncle Li.

In the morning, Uncle Li would give Jing Yueming his egg in the noodles, saying, “Yueming is growing, I brought him a bottle of calcium tablets.”

He cared about his studies, praising him when his grades were good and encouraging him when his grades were bad.

At fifteen, Zhang’s mother became pregnant, Li Yuhang, Uncle Li’s real child.

Uncle Li was still very good to Jing Yueming. Jing Yueming could see that, compared to a teenager, his wife’s ex-husband’s child, how could they compare in importance to a relative who shared his blood?

Zhang’s mother suggested that Jing Yueming could change his surname.

Uncle Li shook his head, considerately saying, “It’s too much trouble, and I’ve been used to it for decades, I don’t mind.”

After Li Yuhang was born, Uncle Li was even happier. He took out half of his savings and gave it to Zhang’s mother, and the other half, plus what he borrowed from relatives, and built a new house.

Uncle Li didn’t have much ability, but he gave Li Yuhang the best. Even though he didn’t smoke cigarettes that cost more than ten yuan, he bought Li Yuhang the most expensive clothes with the best materials.

His mother said time and time again, “No need, the child is growing. He won’t be able to wear them in a few days.”

Uncle Li shook his head, “The child’s skin is so tender. He has to wear well-fitting clothes, with good materials, it’s just a matter of buying a few more sets.”

Jing Yueming stuck his head out a little from the oversized sweater collar and nodded. The sweater was new and also very nice.

Uncle Li wanted to be biased, but out of consideration for Jing Yueming, he could only treat the two children equally. Every time he bought toys for Li Yuhang, he had to bring some extracurricular books for Jing Yueming, to show his fairness.

Jing Yueming suddenly felt like he was causing trouble for Uncle Li.

Just then, his biological father sent a message again. This guy hadn’t had any children for many years, and the people around him weren’t willing to be with him after learning that he remarried. He also looked down on other divorced women. Thinking of Jing Yueming, a wild child was still a child, at least he was his own flesh and blood.

His biological father was willing to take him to Beijing to study, for high school.

Uncle Li hesitated after learning about it, “Oh dear, how old is Yueming, going to Beijing alone? And that guy said he’d only provide living expenses, and who knows how much he’ll give. It’s not easy to come back from so far away.” As he spoke, he glanced at Li Yuhang’s diaper to see if it was wet. At such an old age, Li Yuhang was his only biological son, his precious treasure.

Jing Yueming looked up, “It’s okay, I’m already 16, and the schools in Beijing are better. I’ll get into a good university and repay you.”

Uncle Li sighed, “Alright.”

Jing Yueming went to Beijing alone. He was at a boarding school, and besides the tuition fees, the living expenses were just enough to get by.

The huge city of Beijing, a tourist attraction, but he didn’t even have a place to stay off-campus during the holidays.

He also went to that art studio, it was about to be transferred.

The rumored Teacher Qiu had also gone abroad.

There were no old acquaintances.

He couldn’t fit in with the new school and the new class either.

Occasionally, when he talked to his mother and Uncle Li, he only reported good news and not bad.

His mother always had endless topics to talk about with Li Yuhang, like how he could walk, how naughty he was when getting vaccinated.

Jing Yueming didn’t think he was jealous of Li Yuhang, but he just didn’t want to know about his younger brother’s affairs. He didn’t care at all, and over time, he talked to his family less and less.