Chapter 68: Let Li Qing Xue and Ye Liang Chen Share a Seat
“Liang Chen, dinner’s ready.”
Ye Mother pushed open the door to the room, only to be greeted by the pitch-black darkness illuminated faintly by the glow of a phone screen. The eerie light cast a sinister glow on Ye Liang Chen’s face, instantly making her jump back in fright. She quickly turned on the light.
And promptly wished she hadn’t.
The room lit up, revealing Ye Liang Chen’s face with an expression that could be described as… well, you decide. Melancholy? Ancient? Or perhaps just downright sneaky and evil?
His eyes were bloodshot and fixated on the phone screen with obsessive intensity.
He was sniffling—yes, sniffling—without even bothering to wipe his nose. Instead, he just sucked it back into his face. But as soon as he did, his nose started dripping again. Classic.
That’s not the worst—what really caught her eye was the faint layer of sorrow swirling around him like invisible smoke.
“Liang Chen, what’s wrong?” Ye Mother frowned, rushing over to her son, who was still dumbly staring at his phone.
She snatched the phone from him and looked at his social media posts.
Posts like “I’m so lonely, cold, and empty…”
“Since I can’t keep her, might as well give her freedom…”
“The knight has fallen back, and this is for good…”
Seeing those posts, Ye Mother already knew exactly what was bugging her son. After all, they had all been through this age once upon a time.
“Mom, I feel so sad inside,” Liang Chen said with a bitter smile, then pointed to his chest. “It’s really hurting here.”
No matter how old he got, in front of Ye Father and Ye Mother, he was still a big kid. That’s the bond—no age restriction applies.
“Silly kid, is it because of Qing Xue?” Ye Mother asked gently.
Long ago, Liang Chen had confided that he liked a girl in class. He’d talk about how cute she was, how adorable her smile. But as he grew older, he stopped mentioning her. His parents understood—he was growing up, hiding his little secret, and they chose not to ask.
But today, seeing his miserable state and hearing he’s hurting, it’s obvious what the problem is.
“My dear son is so awesome. Li Qing Xue doesn’t like you? That’s her problem. My precious boy is the best, the cutest, the most handsome in the world.”
“We’ve always told you—be confident, be bolder. If you like someone, chase her! Be brave, Liang Chen. Tough times? No worries, Daddy and Mommy got your back.”
Hearing his parents’ words, Liang Chen’s mood instantly brightened.
His body was actually a 28-year-old soul, so his resilience was pretty much above his peers. Plus, his mom’s confidence was the secret weapon—he nodded vigorously.
“Yeah, yeah! I got it, Mom! I’ll prove her wrong!”
“Because I am strong and brave Liang Chen, never afraid of hardship or difficulties.”
Seeing his spirits lift, Ye Mother chuckled gently. “Alright, go eat. After dinner, get a good sleep. Tomorrow I’ll give you some money, and you can go out and relax.”
“Okay, thank you, Mom.”
As Liang Chen left the room, Ye Mother’s smile suddenly disappeared. She pulled out her phone and dialed the homeroom teacher’s number.
“Yes, it’s me. I want to ask how you manage your class?”
“Right now, it’s a critical period for senior high—someone’s dating in class, and it’s affecting my kid’s mood. And you, as the teacher, don’t seem to notice? If my son doesn’t do well because of this, can you take responsibility?”
“What do you mean, stay calm? Let me tell you, if you don’t do something, I’ll come cause a scene at school.”
“I want Li Qing Xue to sit with my son. They’ve known each other nine years. They’re practically bonded. Li Qing Xue can even help him with homework…”
“Can you really be such a lousy homeroom teacher? Honestly…”
She hung up, then stepped out of the room. Looking at Liang Chen happily munching away, she smiled indulgently—her son was the best kid in the whole world.
Anyone who didn’t like her son? Probably scoundrels.
She initially thought Li Qing Xue was well-behaved. Now? Hmph, better not come knocking on her door. She’d need to set her straight.
“Someone who dares reject my precious boy? Dream on!”
“Unless she’s dating my son, who else is she chasing after?”
“Mom, what are you saying? Come eat dinner now,” Liang Chen called out, noticing her daze.
No matter past or present, Liang Chen relied heavily on his unconditionally loving mother. She was his rock.
“Coming, coming. My big boy now cares about Mama.”
The whole family sat together, enjoying a somewhat hearty dinner.
…
Meanwhile, across the table, Li Qing Xue’s family had just sat down too.
Suddenly, the phone sitting in the living room rang.
Li Qing Xue’s family was fairly well-off. A good example for their daughter—they practiced what they preached about education.
No phones at the dinner table, no playing on phones—mealtime was sacred.
As the ringtone sounded, Ye Mother rose and went to answer in the living room.
But once she heard the voice on the line, her refined brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes flicked to Qing Xue.
Qing Xue, waiting patiently for dinner, looked curious—who could be calling at this hour? Her gaze met her mother’s.
“Who is it, Mom? Who’s calling?”
“Your homeroom teacher.”
Upon hearing that, Qing Xue’s eyes showed confusion. “The homeroom teacher? Why’s he calling?”
“He says you’re dating in class. That it’s affecting your classmates,” her mother replied seriously. Suddenly, the table fell quiet.
A table full of delicious food—meant to celebrate Qing Xue’s top grade in the exam—turned silent because of those words.
Even her father’s expression darkened. As a proud father’s girl, he was furious—he couldn’t stand the thought of anyone trying to snag his beautiful girl. That kind of talk irritated him.
“Dating? Who’s making trouble?”
Her parents knew Qing Xue better than anyone. Growing up, she had little habits—like lowering her gaze when she lied, avoiding eye contact, showing guilt. But right now? She wasn’t avoiding, she looked annoyed and even angry at her mom.
That alone told Ye Mother all she needed. She gently brushed Qing Xue’s long black hair back and looked at her with trust.
“Mom believes you. So—tell me—are you dating a boy at school? Does it affect your classmates?”
