Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I unilaterally declared a severance of ties with Grandma and Dad.

I ignored them and refused to be around them.

At kindergarten, I kept to myself as well. In contrast, Yibao was very popular because of her sweet talk.

It took her no time at all to become the teacher’s pet.

But I wasn’t envious.

I believed I was unique.

I could see the Male Lead and Female Lead; I could see the Villainess Supporting Character. She couldn’t see anything.

My world was destined to be different from hers.

Besides, I didn’t care for love that had to be earned through flattery.

At home, the only person I was willing to be close to was Aunt Zhang.

She filled the role of a mother, telling me stories, comforting me, caring about my thoughts, and secretly tucking me in at night.

While I was taking my afternoon nap, she would huddle over her phone, giggling.

When I woke up, I quietly crept up behind her to see what she was looking at.

[Let’s cancel tomorrow’s engagement banquet. I won’t cause you any more trouble.]

[I didn’t say we were breaking up. You don’t have the right to leave.]

By then, I already recognized a few characters. Through a mix of reading and guessing, I managed to figure out the meaning.

In that moment, I felt as if I had found a treasure.

This was so much like the story of Mom and Dad.

“Read it to me,” I said.

Aunt Zhang jumped. “Yaya, you’re awake?”

“Read it to me,” I insisted stubbornly.

Naturally, Aunt Zhang couldn’t do that.

She tried her best to talk me out of it.

However, I went on a hunger strike in protest.

Aunt Zhang felt bad for me and whispered, “This is our secret. You can’t tell anyone, okay?”

I promised.

From then on, my bedtime stories were superficially things like “Counting Stars” or “The Girl Who Drank the Moon”…

In reality, they were “The Rise of the Sweet and Naive Girl,” “President Fu’s Sweet Little Wife”…

I listened to one book after another.

I discovered that their core themes were all similar.

The Male Lead is powerful and influential; he misunderstands the Female Lead, hurts her, and then, after a sudden realization, chases her back.

I seemed to see Mom’s future fate.

She and Dad might end up entangled like that too.

But as her daughter, I felt no hope; I only saw the immediate despair.

A few days later, Mom returned.

Her expression was dark, and her smile was forced.

Facing Grandma’s cold mockery and biting sarcasm, Mom responded with numbness, remaining silent.

Later, I learned that Dad had sabotaged Mom’s job. Every time she found a new one, he would get her fired.

To avoid involving others in her troubles, Mom had no choice but to return obediently.

As for that divorce agreement, Dad had long since tossed it into the wastepaper basket.

Mom was like a beast locked in a cage, and no one respects a beast like that.

When she saw me, Mom hugged me tightly.

“Yaya, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Mom, are you okay?”

“I’m fine too.”

Mom, you’re lying.

You’re clearly not doing well at all.

I could smell it on you-your entire being was filled with the scent of despondency.

I solemnly placed a book about a runaway wife into Mom’s hands.

I had gone to great lengths to find it. I felt that some of the methods inside might be able to help her.

Mom looked at it and couldn’t help but laugh. As she laughed, she began to cry.

“Yaya, are you worried about Mom? I’m sorry for making you worry.”

I really wanted to comfort her. No, I just want you to be happy.

However, the door opened, and Dad walked in.

His eyes immediately locked onto the book.

“Song Wanqing, you’re letting the child read this kind of book?”