Living Only For Myself: Make Those Who Hate Me Regret It-Chapter 38 - 37: How to Leave This Suffocating Home?

Chapter 38: Chapter 37: How to Leave This Suffocating Home?

’What an act.’

Xu Su forced a smile and said stiffly, "If that’s all, I’m heading back to my room."

"Wait, we have something to talk to you about." Xu Weiping patted the sofa. "Sit down. Let’s have a family chat."

Chen Shulan, who had been clearing the dishes, stopped. She pulled Xu Su down onto the sofa, and the couple sat on either side of their daughter, flanking her.

This was the first time Xu Weiping and his wife had taken a good, long look at their daughter.

The loose, black-and-white autumn uniform from City No.1 High School, paired with matching trousers, was the most ordinary of student outfits, yet she wore it with a serene and refined air.

She was completely covered up, with only her delicate wrists visible where the elastic cuffs cinched. The girl’s hands were fair and slender, folded properly in her lap as she sat with impeccable posture.

The hair she’d had cut short for military training had grown to her shoulders and was simply tied back with a hair tie. To keep them from distracting her studies, her bangs were also dutifully held back with a thin black hairpin, revealing the girl’s delicate and lovely face.

The gloomy weather and poor lighting left the living room somewhat dim. As Chen Shulan gazed at her daughter’s profile in the faint light from the window, she found herself momentarily stunned.

She had always known her daughter was pretty, but she hadn’t realized that, seemingly overnight, she had blossomed like this.

’No wonder...’

Xu Weiping was the first to snap out of his reverie over his grown-up daughter. His tone was mild as he began, "Susu, tell Dad, do you know any of the younger relatives of the old factory director?"

Xu Su blinked. ’So they don’t know about Zhou Mochen yet.’

"I don’t."

Of course, Xu Su had no intention of telling her parents about Zhou Mochen’s interest in her. If she did, they would surely start treating her like a valuable commodity.

Chen Shulan didn’t believe her. "The old factory director specifically sought out your father for a chat," she said. "He praised how well we’ve raised our daughter, said the apartment we have now is too small for a family of four, and so he’s giving us one of the company’s subsidized apartments. If he doesn’t know you, why would he specifically praise how well you were raised?"

"And based on that one sentence, you assume I know one of the director’s younger relatives?" Xu Su looked at Xu Weiping. "I’ve only been to the factory a few times to deliver meals. Since school started, I’ve been at school. I don’t even know many of the textile factory employees, let alone the director’s family."

"Is it possible you met at school?" Xu Weiping seemed to have already worked out a theory. "A few years ago, I heard the old director has a grandson. Could he be at your school? By the way, our director’s last name is Zheng. Do you know any classmates with that name?"

"No." Xu Su shook her head.

’Their speculation was so ridiculous it left her speechless. She wondered what kind of face Zhou Mochen would make if he found out her parents thought he was his own maternal grandfather’s grandson.’

Xu Weiping’s brow furrowed, as if he couldn’t quite figure it out.

Based on his judgment, the director’s tone had clearly suggested that one of the director’s own descendants was extremely fond of his daughter.

After mulling it over for a while without finding an answer, Xu Weiping decided he couldn’t be bothered to think about it anymore. In any case, what mattered was that his family’s name was on the list for the apartment.

He turned to look at the daughter who had grown up in his mother-in-law’s home, and a great sense of comfort welled up inside him.

’See, his life hadn’t been a complete failure. At the very least, he had a well-behaved, sensible daughter who was a good student and also exceptionally beautiful.’

"Is your meal allowance enough?" Xu Weiping, apparently determined to start mending his relationship with his daughter that very day, adopted the air of a loving father. "How about I give you fifty yuan a week for spending money, starting next week?"

Chen Shulan had no objection to her husband’s decision and even added, "The weather is getting colder. You shouldn’t wear that thin uniform jacket anymore. What color do you like? Mom will take you to buy a couple of thick, padded jackets. I’ve seen several of the young women at our factory wearing some very fashionable things."

Xu Weiping made the decision on the spot. "Right. Take Susu to buy a few outfits tonight. Don’t buy from the street stalls on the pedestrian mall—go to a real store and get something of better quality."

The couple seemed to be competing with each other to put on a show of making amends.

This whole scene was enough to give Xu Su goosebumps...

She stood up. "Dad, Mom, I have to memorize vocabulary words tonight, and I still have two worksheets to finish. I don’t have time to go shopping."

"Alright, alright, we know you’re a diligent student. You just stay home and study; Mom will go buy them for you," Chen Shulan said with a beaming smile. "A size medium should work, right? Do you have any favorite colors?"

"..." Xu Su paused for a few seconds, fighting back the urge to say something nasty. "Anything is fine," she replied. "Just get whatever you think looks good."

With that, she walked into the room Chen Shulan had cleaned up for her.

Looking at the neat bed and thinking about her parents’ surreal transformation, Xu Su closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

’This was all it took—one simple gesture from Zhou Mochen, made through his grandfather—to make those two act like completely different people.’

’If Zhou Mochen were to ever appear in person and her parents learned of his family background, Xu Su had no doubt they would pack her up and ship her off to him.’

’What should I do?!’

’How can I escape this suffocating home?’

Xu Su opened her eyes, her resolve solidifying. She had to win the scholarship this semester. Next semester, she absolutely had to live on campus!

~~

That evening, while Xu Su was in her room working through practice problems, there was a sudden knock on the door. Immediately after, Chen Shulan burst in excitedly, carrying several large shopping bags.

"Quick, try these on! I bought you two whole outfits, from the underwear out. See if they fit."

She had really splurged this time. From base layers to sweaters, jackets, pants, and even underwear and bras, Chen Shulan had bought two sets of everything.

Xu Su only tried on the two jackets. One was a mid-length, pale yellow coat, and the other was a short black one. Both were thickly padded and fit her perfectly.

As for the other clothes, Xu Su just held them up to her body to check the sizing. After confirming they fit, Chen Shulan ripped off the tags and took all the close-fitting garments, aside from the two jackets and sweaters, out to be washed.

Before leaving, she took out another fifty yuan and gave it to her. "Next week’s allowance. Buy whatever you want to eat at school." She was the very picture of a loving mother.

In truth, Xu Su couldn’t understand her parents. All it took was a single, casual remark from their old superior to send them spinning off into baseless speculation.

They had decided it was because of her that they’d gotten the new apartment, and they made no effort to hide this assumption, changing their attitude toward her in the blink of an eye.

The change was so abrupt, so lacking in any transition. Were they afraid Xu Su wouldn’t be able to see through their "kindness" and spot their ulterior motives?

Or did they simply think she was a three-year-old child, incapable of thinking or judging right from wrong?

She decided not to dwell on things she couldn’t figure out.

After sleeping on the sofa for over three months, Xu Su slept very soundly that night, finally able to toss and turn freely in a real bed.

Her internal clock woke her. After getting dressed and stepping out of her room, she saw it was already six o’clock.

She hurriedly brushed her teeth and washed her face, then rushed all the way to school, stepping into the classroom just in the nick of time.