First update.

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"Ah?" Tian Tian was slightly taken aback, and her face turned red in a flash. Being reminded by a child was an embarrassing thing, and her original misunderstanding was even more embarrassing!

After a brief hesitation, Tian Tian stepped forward, rested her arm on the car window, and smiled apologetically at Chuxia: "Third sister-in-law, I’m really sorry. We’ll leave right away, but can we arrange to have a meal together another day?"

"I’m leaving City A tomorrow..." Chuxia smiled at her, "I was also at fault earlier. If I had revealed my identity sooner, none of this would have happened. Let’s call it even, alright?"

"Third sister-in-law, you saying that makes me feel even more embarrassed..." Tian Tian bit her lip and looked earnestly at Chuxia, "How about this, when you come back to City A, can you have Yingying pass a message to me? I really want to treat you to a meal, okay?"

"Sure." Chuxia easily agreed, "When it’s convenient, I’ll ask Yingying to pass the message..." She pointed to her belly, "I’m due in just over two months, so it might not be possible in the short term. I hope you won’t misunderstand."

"Hearing you say that really makes me feel ashamed..." Tian Tian’s face turned bright red, "I’m... I’m really not that petty. It’s just that things have been so chaotic lately that I did something so annoying. Don’t worry, I will try my best to change..."

Chuxia felt a little overwhelmed listening to this, wondering why it felt like she was scolding a junior. She understood that the politeness was directed toward Zhou Huakang, but the drastic change in attitude was still a bit unsettling...

Zhou Huakang, who was listening from the side, couldn’t help but glance reflexively at Tian Zhuang, seeing that his gaze at Tian Tian was full of sympathy and pity... 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

In an instant, the discomfort in his heart disappeared completely. It wasn’t wrong for this girl to like him. She had explained the reasons for her previous persistence, and really, who was he to make her lower herself so much?

With that thought, Zhou Huakang stepped forward, cleared his throat, and waited for Tian Tian to turn her head before saying, "I can help you, but we’ll talk about it later. We really have to go back today."

Tian Tian, in disbelief, stared blankly at Zhou Huakang, unable to utter a word for a long time. Tian Zhuang quickly stepped forward, pulling Tian Tian aside, and smiled gratefully at Zhou Huakang: "Thank you, and we’re really sorry for earlier. My sister and I are leaving now. Let’s catch up later..."

"Thank you, third sister-in-law. Thank you, Zhou Huakang..." Recovering from her shock, Tian Tian repeatedly expressed her gratitude as she got into the car with her brother, insisting that Chuxia and the others leave first. There was no point in declining such a gesture, so Chuxia signaled Wang Zhongliang to drive.

"Sis..." After the car had traveled some distance, Tian Zhuang looked anxiously at Tian Tian, "You..."

"I’m fine..." Tian Tian hurriedly interrupted her brother, "I know he’s only willing to help because he feels sorry for me. I won’t overthink things. Whether it works out or not, I won’t do anything foolish, so don’t worry."

"Sigh!" Tian Zhuang sighed as he started the car.

"I know it’s hard to do what I said, but I will try my best to do it." Tian Tian sighed too, "I believe that life won’t always be this unfair. We’ve suffered enough already, surely it won’t last a lifetime, right?"

"Of course not. Once I get a firm footing, we’ll move out of the Tian Family..." Tian Zhuang looked seriously at his sister, "Sis, you have to trust me. No matter if the person you marry can protect you, I will do everything in my power to protect you. And no matter if your decisions are right or wrong, I will always support you."

"I know..." Tian Tian’s voice was choked with emotion, "If it weren’t for you, I might have already gone to find Mom. You must remember, Sis will do everything to protect you too, no matter what decisions you make, Sis will always be the one who unconditionally supports you."

"Sis..." Tian Zhuang laughed, "If Mom saw us like this now, she’d be really happy."

"Yeah..." Tian Tian sighed and looked apologetically at her brother, "When we were young, I always bullied you. When Mom scolded me, I thought she was biased, favoring boys over girls. Now that I think about it, I was so immature. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t upset Mom like that, and maybe she wouldn’t have left us so early."

"Sis, why are you taking all the blame on yourself again? Mom’s illness had nothing to do with you. She was angered by Grandma who always provoked her. Mom was so tolerant, yet she was driven to that point. Sigh..." Tian Zhuang sighed heavily, his expression turning somber, "One day, we’ll leave together. I might not hold a grudge over what she did to Mom, but living with her and becoming the Tian family’s successor? I could never do that."

"Zhuang Zhuang..." Tian Tian looked at her brother in surprise, "When did you start thinking like this? What about you and Su Yulei? If you quit the competition to be the Tian family successor, she surely wouldn’t be with you."

"Sis, do you really think I like her?" Tian Zhuang’s lips curled into a mocking smile, "Her grandma and our grandma are as thick as thieves. No matter what, I could never marry her!"

"Then you..."

"Yes." Tian Zhuang nodded, "Sis, you guessed right. I’m just putting on an act. Grandma loves her reputation, so I’ll let her lose face in front of her old friend.

If it weren’t for Grandma Su’s meddling, Grandma and Mom wouldn’t have had such a fallout, and Dad doesn’t care about anything. He probably doesn’t even know how Mom died.

Later, marrying Yang Limei was Grandma’s arrangement too. Sometimes I wonder, what’s really most important to Dad? If you say power, he doesn’t seem ambitious. If you say money, he doesn’t seem to care that much either.

You’d think he had a good relationship with Grandma, but they argue incessantly. Yet, he seems to be under her control.

You might think he’s not close to his own kids, but sometimes he seems to care about us, and other times he ignores us.

And it’s not just us he treats this way; it’s the same with the twins. People say the twins replaced us in Dad’s heart, but we know it isn’t true.

So, what do you think Dad values most? I’ve pondered this question for so long and still couldn’t find a satisfying answer. Sis, do you know?"

"What’s there not to know?" Tian Tian looked at her brother, exasperated, "The most important thing to Dad is himself. Why does he listen to Grandma’s arrangements?

Because he knows, if he dares defy Grandma, his easy life will be over. Do you really think he didn’t know how Grandma treated Mom?

He’s just pretending to be oblivious. Compared to standing up for Mom, choosing his own carefree life was an easy choice."

"Hehe..." Tian Zhuang chuckled softly, "Sis, I really was lost in the thick of things. Honestly, I considered this possibility, but I didn’t want to believe it."

"That’s why I really don’t suggest you leave the Tian family. Your nature is such that you’ll never think badly of others, especially your own family.

But if family encounters any misfortune, no matter how much you may have hated them before, you would be the first to rush over to help. If you leave the Tian family, and Dad has some problem in the future, you’d still rush over to handle it.

Instead of only giving and receiving nothing, why not claim what’s rightfully yours? I agree that you shouldn’t marry Su Yulei, but I don’t agree with giving up everything.

Even if you take what’s yours and help others, it’s better than abandoning it and letting that entire family benefit. Think over what I’ve said, and remember, I’ll support whatever decision you make."

"Sis..." Tian Zhuang’s eyes were filled with conflict, "I understand what you’re saying, but if we don’t leave, we’ll constantly be subject to their whims and endure their treatment.

I’m fine, as I often stay in the dormitory, and being a guy, they have to respect the family rules and can’t do much to me, but it’s different for you, Sis.

Even if we manage to avoid this situation with Chen Dajun, there will be another political marriage down the line if Zhou Huakang isn’t serious with you. What will you do then?

We’ve lived in the Tian family for so many years; you should know their personalities well. Next time, they might not handle things as gently.

I don’t want, just to avoid letting them benefit, to have your life ruined at their hands. In comparison, I still believe that having a happy life for you is most important."

"I will make sure I have a happy life..." Tian Tian looked earnestly at her brother, "Zhou Huakang already agreed to help me, but I don’t dream of actually marrying him.

But I will definitely secure my own freedom once this matter is over. Just give me time, and I can do it, trust me.

When you’ve truly secured everything that belongs to you, you’ll be able to protect me. Realistically speaking, even if you leave the Tian family with nothing, our lives won’t necessarily be happy.

Living requires all sorts of external conditions. Even if we leave and don’t fight, some people won’t believe it and won’t let us live freely.

So, you must fight with all your might, whether for Mom, for me, or for the injustices and hardships we’ve endured, you must fight!" (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)