"They just got a demerit? What about the kids who bullied Xiao Yu?" Xue Yue asked.

Mrs. He said, "It was just two kids. Their parents were called in, and they both gave their kids a beating and a stern warning. What else could be done? We can’t have the school expel them. As for the teacher, she said she was afraid the parents would cause a scene, so she just wanted to smooth things over. But your father and I went to see the principal, and we’ve already had that teacher transferred to another class."

Xue Yue frowned. "Did they apologize to Xiao Yu?"

Mrs. He paused. "Oh, that never even occurred to us. But the teacher said our own child is part of the problem. Everyone thought Xiao Yu was a mute."

Xue Yue was surprised. "A mute? What happened?"

Mrs. He slapped her thigh in frustration. "It’s our own child who’s the problem! She goes to school and doesn’t talk to anyone. The teacher said that even when people talk to her, she doesn’t reply. If you speak too loudly, she just cries, tears streaming down her face. The teacher didn’t know what to do with her. Your father and I went in today, but even if we hadn’t, they were about to call us in anyway."

"They told me that if the child has a disability, it would be best to switch to a different school. Your father and I were shocked. It was only after they explained things that we found out all her classmates call her Little Mute."

Mrs. He looked crestfallen, her entire demeanor deflated.

"Yue’er, do you think Xiao Yu isn’t suited for school? But if we just let her stay at home, I’m afraid she’ll have even less contact with people, and the gap between her and other kids will just get wider."

Xue Yue said, "Xiao Yu might just not be used to it yet. Let’s wait and see. After all, school is full of people. Why don’t you ask Xiao Yu what she thinks?"

Xue Yue didn’t know what else to say. She was only the aunt; Xiao Yu’s affairs were ultimately up to Mr. and Mrs. He.

Mrs. He was still complaining. "Who in the world does this child take after? Everyone in our He family is open and straightforward. But with her, you can’t even get a peep out of her. And then there’s her irresponsible parents. The mess my second son made... he had it easy, dying just like that and leaving us with such a burden. And her mother, who knows where the hell she’s run off to, only thinking of herself, not a single thought for her own child."

Xue Yue couldn’t leave, so she had no choice but to sit and listen to Mrs. He vent for what felt like an eternity.

Before going into her room, she saw Mrs. He trying to patch up a book with flour paste again. Xue Yue glanced over. ’How is anyone supposed to use this?’

"Mom, you can’t even see the words anymore. Stop messing with it. I’ll go to the bookstore after work tomorrow. They should have it. I’ll just buy a new set."

Mrs. He waved her hand. "No need to buy one. This is good enough. It would be a waste to buy her a new one. She goes to school and doesn’t even open her mouth, so what’s the use?"

Seeing Mrs. He was about to start complaining again, Xue Yue quickly went into her room.

That evening, He Lang came home from work.

When Xue Yue saw him, she suddenly blushed.

She grumbled to herself, ’What’s there to be shy about? We already have two kids.’

But her bright red cheeks still prompted He Lang to tease her a little.

"What are you thinking about to be blushing like that?"

Xue Yue shot He Lang a look. "None of your business."

He Lang chuckled, "Heh," then came over and pinched Xue Yue’s cheek. "Of course it’s my business. It’ll be my business for the rest of our lives."

The corners of Xue Yue’s mouth turned up as she gave He Lang a playful glare.

He Lang leaned close to Xue Yue’s ear. "Trying to seduce me again? Shall we continue tonight?"

Xue Yue gave him a hard shove. "In your dreams."

This made He Lang roar with laughter.

During dinner, Mrs. He complained to He Lang all over again.

Xiao Yu sat with her head hung low, clutching her bowl, her head practically buried inside it.

Mrs. He tugged her hair. "Look at the way you’re eating. You’re not a pig. Who eats with their head in their bowl?"

Xiao Yu glanced up at them nervously before lowering her head again. This time, she kept a little more distance from her bowl, but soon, silent teardrops began to fall, one after another.

He Lang glanced over, then continued eating.

After Xiao Yu finished eating, Ruanruan pulled her outside.

Only then did He Lang say to Mrs. He, "Don’t get so worked up. You and Dad aren’t young anymore; your health is what’s important. You’ve already poured your heart and soul into raising He Ze’s child, keeping her fed and clothed, and even sending her to school. You’ve done more than enough. If the girl won’t make an effort herself, there’s nothing anyone can do. You have to let it go."

Mr. He nodded. "He’s right. We’ve done more than enough. You should stop being so angry; your health is what’s most important."

Mrs. He said, "I’m just so frustrated that she won’t live up to her potential! We don’t mistreat her. Why does she always look like she’s about to cry? And the tears... they’re like a flood, ready to burst out at any moment."

Mr. He sighed. "All right, that’s enough about the child. She can understand you. I know you mean well."

Mrs. He’s eyes widened. "What, is she going to hold a grudge against me now? Who am I doing this for? You think it’s better to just let people call her Little Mute?"

Mr. He said, "We’ve already paid this semester’s tuition. Let her finish it. If she’s still like this next semester, then she can stop going to school. She can just do some chores around the house."

Mrs. He fell silent.

In the other room, Ruanruan looked at Xiao Yu and asked, "Xiao Yu, why don’t you talk at school?"

Xiao Yu said, "I stutter when I talk to strangers. They’ll just make fun of me even more."

Ruanruan took her hand and swung it gently. "You only stutter because you’re nervous. There’s nothing to be nervous about. Everyone’s the same. You don’t know them, and they don’t know you."

Xiao Yu slowly shook her head. "I don’t dare. And I don’t like going to school. Sister Ruanruan, can I please not go to school?"

Ruanruan tilted her head and thought for a moment. "I guess you could, but you’d have to ask Grandma. But if you don’t go to school, what will you do? Xiao Yu, is there anything you like, or anything you like to do?"

Xiao Yu shook her head, then nodded. "I like to eat. I like meat the most."

Ruanruan paused for a second, then laughed.

"Xiao Yu, you’re so cute."

Xiao Yu touched her ear and looked at Ruanruan.

"I like Sister Ruanruan, too. And I like Uncle and Auntie. Sister Ruanruan, I’m so jealous of you. I wish I could be as pretty and brave as you."

Then she lowered her head and mumbled, "It would be so nice if my parents were like Uncle and Auntie."

Ruanruan said with a smile, "But you’re very pretty, too! Grandma always says that no one in the He family is ugly. It’s just that you always keep your head down, so no one can see your face."

Xiao Yu mumbled, "Really? But everyone makes fun of me."

Ruanruan nodded. "Really. We’re still just kids. My mom says it’s okay for kids to make mistakes, as long as you fix them. Don’t keep thinking about other people laughing at you. If they want to laugh, let them laugh. It’s not like we can shut them up."

Xiao Yu managed a small smile. She imagined herself becoming brave, unafraid of other people’s stares and ridicule, but it felt so, so hard.

"Sister Ruanruan, I wish I were in the same class as you."

Ruanruan said, "I don’t think that’s possible, is it? Should we go ask my mom?"