Back to 1984: Let's Work Hard Together to Raise The Kids!-Chapter 226: Consolation

Zhang Jingxuan paused for a moment and spoke nonchalantly, "I heard Lingxue address her as Xinyue; I’m not clear on her surname. This person is quite strange. She doesn’t live on campus; she rents an apartment in Lingxue’s building, so they’re neighbors. Logically, renting there means she comes from a pretty good family, but I’ve heard that girl works to support her studies and takes on part-time jobs.

Obviously, her living expenses are not enough to sustain such a lifestyle. I suspect she moved there to get closer to Lingxue, with ill intentions."

Although Xue’s mother felt angry listening, she couldn’t believe her carefully raised daughter would be such a foolish idiot. She suppressed her anger and asked, "Jingxuan, how do you know her friend is doing part-time jobs?"

Zhang Jingxuan was stunned for a moment, then politely explained, "Auntie, Lingxue has been gradually distancing herself from me lately. When I went to the apartment to find her, I didn’t see her several times. I asked her neighbor about Lingxue’s recent situation, and that’s how I found out.

It’s partly my fault, I should have investigated sooner if I’d known her friend might have a problem and warned Lingxue. Now, Lingxue is very unhappy with me. She gives me attitude after just a few words and doesn’t listen to what I say, so I had no choice but to ask you for help."

"Okay, I understand. Jingxuan, you’re a few years older than Lingxue and more mature. She’s been spoiled since childhood, and her temper is indeed bad. I’ll give her a call and talk to her properly later. Sorry for troubling you for another year. We’ve already discussed with your parents that we’ll arrange for the two of you to marry next September. Once she’s married, she’ll settle down. For now, please bear with her a little longer. We’re quite busy at the moment, so we won’t be visiting."

Xue’s mother’s laid-back attitude displeased Zhang Jingxuan greatly, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he cooperatively agreed and made assurances.

Xue’s mother felt satisfied, only then did she hang up the phone.

Once Zhang Jingxuan heard the dial tone, his expression darkened, and the intense fury in his gloomy eyes was overwhelming. Despite his anger driving him to want to kill someone, he forcibly restrained himself, only crushing the pen in his hand.

In the evening, just as Xue Lingxue was preparing to sleep, she received a call from Xue’s mother.

Before she could speak, Xue’s mother angrily scolded her, "Xue Lingxue, are you trying to ruin yourself? I already told you to get along well with Jingxuan. You two are meant to spend a lifetime together. Why are you letting unrelated people damage your relationship? Is your brain full of crap? Can’t understand something so simple."

Xue Lingxue’s mouth gradually tightened, she took a deep breath and clenched her fists tightly, "Mom, is it Zhang again talking bad about me to you?"

"What do you mean Zhang! His name is Zhang Jingxuan! Let me tell you, after graduation next year, return to the country immediately. The wedding is scheduled in September. If you dare cause trouble, watch me peel your skin! You’re becoming more and more unreasonable! Listen, Jingxuan doesn’t like your friend, so don’t hang around with that girl anymore, do you hear me..."

"Bang", Xue Lingxue directly hung up the phone.

Soon after the phone rang again, she was so annoyed that she simply unplugged the cord, enjoying the peace and quiet.

After venting her feelings, Xue Lingxue only felt a deep sadness, and lay on the sofa sobbing.

What can relieve sorrow, only red wine.

So Chen Xinyue found that Xue Lingxue, whom she had worked hard to uplift, had fallen again, even drinking excessively for several days, appearing defeated and lifeless.

Under her questioning, Xue Lingxue finally revealed the family forcing her to marry issue.

"Zhang Jingxuan is just a scumbag piece of trash, only knows how to snitch, snitch, snitch, and snitch some more. I really don’t understand what my parents are thinking, they only have one daughter, yet for the sake of family business they want me to marry such a bastard, ahh ahh ahh..."

Furious, Xue Lingxue kicked over the wine bottles on the ground, becoming highly hysterical.

Chen Xinyue watched with fear, instinctively picking up the nearby phone to contact Chen Ruiyu.

At this time, Chen Ruiyu was still asleep, it was Qu Zhiyang who answered the call.

"Hello, who’s this?"

Chen Xinyue’s anxious voice came through, "I’m looking for Chen Ruiyu, I’m Chen Xinyue."

Upon hearing the name, Qu Zhiyang instantly became clear-headed, his voice rising several notches, "Xinyue, your brother is still sleeping, I’ll go wake him up."

The frantic Chen Xinyue finally calmed down upon hearing "Chen Ruiyu".

Chen Xinyue clutched her pounding heart, feeling relieved to breathe again.

"Yaya, what happened? Why are you calling at this hour?" Chen Ruiyu’s steady voice came over.

Xue Lingxue’s expression was somewhat dazed.

Looking at her, Chen Xinyue spoke word by word, "Brother, it was...it was Lingxue having an issue, she’s in pain now, I don’t know how to comfort her, I’m afraid something might happen to her, so that’s why I called you. How...how should I comfort her?"

"Lingxue is having an issue?" Qu Zhiyang beside Chen Ruiyu was evidently quite surprised.

Chen Xinyue explained through clenched teeth, "Lingxue’s mom wants her to marry someone she doesn’t like. I’ve seen that guy a few times, he seems unpleasant, every time he comes over, he drives Lingxue into emotional distress, and then acts as if nothing happened, returning to do it again next time, continuing to infuriate Lingxue.

I can’t understand the other person’s motives, he seems to have gained Lingxue’s parents’ trust, nothing Lingxue says gets through to them, instead they blame Lingxue for being immature.

Tonight, she finally exploded, what should I do?"

Chen Ruiyu and Qu Zhiyang exchanged glances, their expressions unusually solemn.

Chen Ruiyu contemplated, "Alright, could you give the phone to Lingxue, we’ll talk to her, the school will be on a short break soon, we’ll come over then."

Chen Xinyue was secretly delighted, but said, "Won’t that be inconvenient?"

"No, our time is pretty flexible," Qu Zhiyang’s voice was loud and urgent.

Chen Xinyue quickly passed the receiver to Xue Lingxue.

Sobbing sounds transmitted over.

Qu Zhiyang’s voice turned serious, "Lingxue, you’ve always been a smart person, no matter how unfavorable your current situation is, you shouldn’t lower your head and give up. Remember, your starting point is what many spend a lifetime striving for.

The Lingxue I know is strong and rational, pull yourself together."

Chen Ruiyu gently continued, "Remember the time the four of us ate burgers and drank cola in the park years ago? I believe you’re still that optimistic, cheerful girl who worked hard to save up for a burger and cola, bright like the sun and full of vitality."

Xue Lingxue’s silent tears fell, dampening the receiver.

Seeing her like this, Chen Xinyue quickly took the receiver back, exchanged a few more words, arranged a time, and hung up.

The room fell into a long silence.

The two girls just held each other through the night.

After two days of adjustment, Xue Lingxue returned to normal, perhaps because she looked forward to Chen Ruiyu and others coming to Britain, her spirit visibly restored.

When Zhang Jingxuan appeared at the apartment again, seeing the radiant and diligent studying Xue Lingxue, his expression was somewhat unpleasant.