The three of them stayed in the bookstore until the parent-teacher meeting was nearly over, only then did they decide to pack up their things and head back to the classroom to find their respective parents.
Since the meeting had just ended, many parents remained in the classroom, privately inquiring with the teachers about their children’s performance at school. As a result, the hallways were relatively quiet, with hardly anyone around.
The second-year Class One was on the fourth floor. The three were chatting and laughing as they reached the third floor when they faintly heard a woman’s angry rebuke coming from the upper staircase.
They exchanged glances, each reading surprise in the others’ eyes.
“Damn! Who’s the unlucky one ah, getting scolded right after the parent-teacher meeting.” Zhang Chuanze commented with a sympathetic expression.
“Isn’t this a bit disrespectful?” Yu Nian muttered quietly.
After all, this was a public hallway where people came and went. Even if their grades were terrible, was it really appropriate to scold someone here? Didn’t the child deserve some face?
They were caught in a dilemma about whether to go forward or back when the scolding voice echoed down the hallway again.
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“R vsze usw vs pvsr oypvkdt uswa vkxl sd xlydkdtzlpp vbkdtp, cwv usw oswzed’v zkpvld. Lso usw vbkdj usw’hl tasod okdtp, aktbv? Pke usw nsdpkela uswa eye osajkdt wdela vbl bsv pwd obld usw prldv xsdlu sd pwnb lmrldpkhl nzsvblp? Gde dso vbyv uswa tayelp byhl easrrle ps xwnb, bso es usw rzyd vs lmrzykd vbkp vs uswa eye!”
Kwpv yp Zw Lkyd oyp osdelakdt obknb xsvbla nswze cl ps byapb, y qyxkzkya hsknl casjl vbaswtb.
“Ysx, byhl usw pyke ldswtb? Ps usw alyzzu byhl vs yatwl okvb xl blal yv pnbssz?” Nkw Yydxyd, okvb bla bydep nzldnble kdvs qkpvp, bla aleeldle lulp iwklvzu pvyale yv vbl yttalppkhl osxyd clqsal bla, pvawttzkdt vs nsdvykd bla ydtla yde taklhydnl.
Mbl alzyvksdpbkr clvolld vbl xsvbla yde eywtbvla bye clld vldpl qsa eyup, yde kv yzz pvlxxle qasx vbyv lmrldpkhl jdkvvle ealpp.
Pakhld cu y pldpl sq hydkvu, Nkw Yydxyd bye fsuqwzzu wple vbl rshlavu pwcpkeu rashkele cu vbl pnbssz vs cwu vbl ealpp, obknb pbl vbld nyalqwzzu pvsale kd bla nzsplv, wdokzzkdt vs olya kv.
Tsolhla, y qlo eyup zyvla, bla xsvbla ekpnshlale vbl ealpp obkzl vkeukdt wr.
Mbl ealpp oyp cayde dlo, okvb vbl vytp pvkzz yvvynble. Tla xsvbla qzkrrle vbl vyt yde oyp pbsnjle cu vbl raknl.
Llyazu 4,000 uwyd—ldswtb vs qlle vblka qyxkzu sq qswa qsa shla y xsdvb.
Suppressing her anger, her mother demanded that Liu Manman return the dress and get the money back.
Liu Manman refused outright. First, it would be embarrassing, and second, she truly loved that beautiful knitted dress.
In this way, the two people quarreled.
Though they obviously had the closest relationship, they began hurling harsh words at each other, as if they were strangers at odds.
“You damned girl, hurry up and return that dress!”
“I won’t! Why should I? This is the subsidy I applied for and got!”
“That’s your living allowance ah! How could you spend it on this!”
“Why not? I haven’t bought any new clothes in years—three years! My closet is full of the same old things. Can’t I buy just one piece that I like?”
“You! Your dad is still working overtime at the construction site. Don’t you feel any shame? You’ve wasted all your time studying!” With a loud slam, the door was shut, and her mother stormed out in anger.
Liu Manman sat weakly on the bed, holding the dress as she cried, feeling wronged.
That night, when her dad returned home, exhausted, and learned the whole story, he said nothing. He simply let out a deep sigh.
Her didi, who had just started elementary school, had been spoiled by the family and didn’t know any better. Taking advantage of Liu Manman’s distraction, he smeared his paint-covered hands all over the expensive dress.
The dress was now completely dirty, making it impossible to return.
In a fit of anger, Liu Manman pushed her didi hard, causing him to fall on his butt and burst into loud sobs.
Their mother, defending the didi, immediately shoved Liu Manman aside and scooped her son into her arms, soothing him with a gentle voice.
That tender tone—Liu Manman couldn’t recall ever experiencing it herself, not since she could remember.
Liu Manman’s heart was filled with resentment. She resented her father’s incompetence, which left her unable to have control over even a single dress; she resented her mother’s hypocrisy, always fixated on her grades, never asking whether she was happy or if anything unpleasant had happened at school.
However, what she hated most was herself.
She hated why she had obviously worked so hard, but in the end, she couldn’t even compare to Yu Nian.
Already feeling agitated, she found no understanding from her mother.
Because of that non-returnable dress, she had nearly become the sinner of the family, constantly enduring her mother’s cutting remarks and her didi’s gloating…
Their chaotic life continued endlessly, with no sign of relief in sight.
Liu Manman had thought that at least at school, her mother would care a bit about appearances.
But when the scolding finally came, she realized she had been wrong.
The differences in people’s upbringing could be sensed in even the smallest details.
It was clear that the woman had not grasped the meaning behind her daughter’s words. Instead, she replied with a hurtful, “Shame on you!” and stomped down the stairs, her high heels clicking loudly.
As the woman descended the stairs and passed by Yu Nian, there was a faint resemblance to Liu Manman in her tired eyes and worn expression.
The only difference was that the woman was no longer young; reality and time had worn away her edges and pride, leaving her ordinary and mundane.
By then, the parent-teacher meeting had completely ended. The distant noise grew louder, and Liu Manman, fearing she might run into someone she knew, quickly wiped away her tears and hurried downstairs—only to unexpectedly run into the last person she wanted to see at the corner.
Yu Nian was standing in the stairway, and as she looked up, her gaze accidentally locked with Liu Manman’s.
There was no denying that Liu Manman was indeed beautiful. Born with a delicate charm, she still looked pitifully lovely even with reddened eyes, softening the hearts of anyone who saw her.
Yu Nian had not meant to mock her. In fact, knowing the truth now, she felt ashamed of the suspicious thoughts she’d had earlier.
Perhaps some things became more of an obsession precisely because they had never been obtained.
To Yu Nian, a beautiful girl like Liu Manman would naturally pay more attention to her appearance. There was nothing wrong with that; after all, it was only natural for girls to love beauty.
However, Liu Manman didn’t see it that way.
The argument between her and Yu Nian had been ignited by that expensive dress, and now, Liu Manman was certain that this person had overheard everything just now. Wasn’t she standing there, waiting to laugh at her?
“Manman, you…”
Just as Yu Nian started to speak, Liu Manman interrupted her. She glared at Yu Nian, no longer the delicate and fragile girl she once appeared to be. Instead, she resembled a fierce fox, baring her sharp claws to protect her last shred of dignity.
“If you want to laugh, then go ahead,” She snapped, brushing past Yu Nian and inadvertently bumping her shoulder.
Yu Nian hadn’t expected Liu Manman to have such strength; the impact forced her to take a step back. She turned around and looked at Liu Manman helplessly.
“No, Liu Manman, don’t go too far!” Zhang Chuanze, unable to stand it any longer, turned to defend Yu Nian.
His words seemed to ignite something, revealing a different side of Liu Manman they had never seen before.
“You guys help her with everything!” Liu Manman turned around, pointing a finger at Zhang Chuanze, the veins on her pale neck bulging, her face taut with anger.
But soon, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. As if harboring a thousand grievances, her eyes welled with tears, and she began to cry, looking utterly uncomposed.
“You guys never considered me a real friend, have you? Even when I argued with Shi Nian Nian, you took her side without asking me a thing. It’s not fair!” Liu Manman choked out between sobs.
“Is it wrong for me to just want a dress? Why is everyone blaming me?” Liu Manman’s thin body crouched down on the ground, covering her face as she cried, helpless like a child.
After all, she was still just a child herself ah.
A child who wanted a toy.
By now, many people were passing by, some stopping to watch the scene unfold. A few, not content with just witnessing the drama, even took out their phones to record it, which Yu Nian noticed immediately.
“Don’t cry.” Yu Nian walked over and helped Liu Manman up from the ground, shielding her behind her back. She pointed at the girl holding the phone. “Chi Yao.”
Li Xiang walked over, his expression cold but his words polite. “Classmate, please delete the video. Thank you.”
“Why should I ah!” The girl muttered, seemingly unwilling to comply. However, under the pressure of Li Xiang’s gaze, she had no choice but to press the delete button.
Author’s Note:
As mentioned before, Manman is only 17 years old; she will make mistakes, but she also deserves forgiveness. So today, I shared some of her story from her perspective.
(P.S. I really can’t bear to lay my hands on girls~ ~( ´•︵•` )~)
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