PSMD – Chapter 141

Qiu Yang hadn’t thought about it this way before. This card was newly opened at the bank yesterday afternoon, and she paused many times while transferring money into it.

She understood now.

The mother she had missed so much would now communicate with her face-to-face. This was a scene she had fantasized about and dreamed of, but reality made her incredibly clear-headed and certain.

Clear that everything she had today was because of herself.

Certain that Qiu Yan didn’t really want to see her.

So…

What was there left to cling to?

Children’s songs always sang “A child with a mother is like a treasure,” and classmates used to add, “A child without a mother is like a weed.”

Qiu Yang felt that way back then too.

She had never felt the warmth of family affection since she was a child. She knew she yearned for it deeply, but after so many years, she had long since gotten used to this kind of life.

Therefore, even without Qiu Yan in the future, she wouldn’t feel like anything was particularly wrong.

But it must be said, before this meal began, Qiu Yang hadn’t intended to speak so harshly. She still held a faint glimmer of hope.

She thought perhaps there was a misunderstanding, not just about being sent on a business trip, but also about the more important matter of Qiu Yan not having looked for her all these years.

Now that she had seen Qiu Yan, Qiu Yang’s faint hopes turned into countless bubbles, bursting right in front of her.

There was no misunderstanding.

It was simply that Qiu Yan didn’t want to see her.

It was that simple.

Moreover, Qiu Yan’s attitude explained everything, especially the three words “I thought,” which hit Qiu Yang’s sore spot.

People always want to excuse themselves when they make mistakes, so they come up with grand-sounding reasons.

“I thought” is an excuse many use to lessen their perceived guilt.

But, but.

Is what you thought the reality?

“Yangyang.”

“I’ve been busy with my career all these years and haven’t had time to pay attention to you. Every time I called Azheng, he said you were doing very well.”

Azheng is Qiu Yang’s uncle, named Qiu Zheng.

“Then how many times did you call? Was there ever a single time you thought about saying a word, or even one character, to me?” Qiu Yang spoke word by word, no longer using polite language. “You didn’t. You just went through the motions of asking, and after getting the answer, you felt justified in continuing not to see me, pretending I didn’t exist.”

“Jie, it’s not like that. Mom is really busy.” Wen Yuan became more anxious seeing this scene. He hadn’t expected it to unfold this way.

“Okay, busy.” Qiu Yang smiled. “Well, that’s perfect. Please continue to be busy, President Qiu. As I said before, can you give me back the identity of someone without a mother? You don’t want to acknowledge me, and I don’t want to see you. Let’s both let go of each other.”

“Qiu Yang!”

“I’m your mother!”

Qiu Yan let out a low shout.

Qiu Yang stood up, picked up her bag, her eyes curved. “Living for 25 years, I never thought I’d witness a world miracle. Turns out one day I’d hear someone say they’re my mother.”

“So for the past 25 years, was your mouth sewn shut, were you mute?”

“I could just grab a random aunt off the street and call her Mom, and she’d be much better than you.”

Qiu Yang emphasized the tone: “President Qiu.”

Qiu Yang had never been this angry before. Even when Tao Sixian shamelessly showed up, she remained calm.

She also hadn’t expected the main reason for her anger to come from her own mother.

Wen Yuan couldn’t listen anymore. After all, he and Qiu Yang weren’t yet at the level of close family, so he furrowed his brow. “Jie, what you just said wasn’t very pleasant.”

“Put yourself in my shoes, how pleasant do you think you could sound?” Qiu Yang lifted her foot and walked towards the door. Just as she was about to open it, she turned back and added a reminder, “Oh, right, the bank card password is six zeros. It’s easy to remember, easier than remembering this daughter.”

After saying that, Qiu Yang no longer hesitated, took a step forward, and walked out.

The door closed with a bang, as if closing the door on her family ties as well.

Qiu Yang’s hands, hanging by her sides, clenched into fists. Her eyes felt a stinging sensation, but she didn’t intend to cry.

She suddenly remembered something.

When she was about nine or ten, one day her uncle received a call from her mother.

Her uncle wasn’t as scary as her aunt. He was weak and did everything his wife told him to.

After answering the call, he called Qiu Yang over and asked her, “Do you want to talk to your mother?”

As soon as Qiu Yang finished saying “Yes,” her uncle said with a regretful look, “Your mother hung up.”

When she was little, Qiu Yang didn’t understand why her mother hung up. When she grew up, she understood.

Probably because she didn’t want to accept that she still existed.

Well, fine.

Qiu Yang didn’t like forcing others, nor did she like forcing herself. She had already decided that living well with Shen Ningruo for this lifetime was enough.

Shen Ningruo also took the day off today because she was truly worried. Qin Yu also understood and was keeping an eye on the situation.

Qiu Yang came in Shen Ningruo’s car, but from the time she went in until she came out, only about ten minutes had passed.

It was a bit unexpected for Shen Ningruo.

She quickly got out of the car and walked to Qiu Yang’s side, but before she could speak, Qiu Yang hugged her tightly.

Qiu Yang’s breathing was heavy. Shen Ningruo had no intention of speaking, but instead gently patted Qiu Yang’s back.

She knew Qiu Yang must have taken a path most people wouldn’t choose.

Qiu Yang held Shen Ningruo for a little while to compose herself before they both got into the car.

“I went to open a bank card yesterday afternoon and transferred 250,000 into it. Today I gave the card to… President Qiu.” Qiu Yang almost said “my mom,” but stopped herself.

Shen Ningruo understood Qiu Yang and knew what this action meant. She didn’t think there was any problem and nodded. “Okay.”

“What should I do?” Qiu Yang no longer looked downcast and started smiling. “But that was the money I saved to buy a house, my nest egg for getting married. I’ve never been this generous before.”

Shen Ningruo pinched her face. “It’s okay, I have money. I’ll give you a card.”

“No, that won’t do.”

“I haven’t even used the DSLR you bought me last time.”

Shen Ningruo followed up, “Then how about we go take some photos today?”

They both understood that this was just a way to help Qiu Yang relax. Even if it wasn’t photography, it would be something else.

Qiu Yang nodded, suppressing the stinging in her eyes. “Okay.”

“I just heard that the flowers at the Realm of Micro-powder have bloomed again. Let’s go there today.”

“Alright.” Shen Ningruo held the steering wheel. “Then let’s go home first to get the DSLR and head to the Realm of Micro-powder.”

The Realm of Micro-powder has been a popular flower viewing spot in Yuncheng in recent years.

Qiu Yang hadn’t been there before, and Shen Ningruo hadn’t either due to being busy with work. The suggestion came at a perfect time.

It was early June, and many flowers were blooming in the park. Since it wasn’t the weekend, the flow of visitors wasn’t large, which was perfect, giving Qiu Yang plenty of space to take photos.

Once she entered photography mode, she had no time to think about anything else. She just wanted to capture the scene in front of her well.

When other visitors saw how serious Qiu Yang was, two or three photography enthusiasts would come over to ask questions. Shen Ningruo wasn’t idle either, acting as a photographer’s assistant, handing over water and tissues, very professionally.

The two of them were busy from the moment they entered the park until they had toured all the flower fields there, only then getting into the car for the return trip.

Qiu Yang sat in the passenger seat, looking at the pictures she had taken, one after another. She deleted the ones she wasn’t satisfied with immediately.

Shen Ningruo resumed her role as the driver. Seeing Qiu Yang immersed in the world of photography, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Not long after, Qin Yu called. Shen Ningruo answered with her Bluetooth headset.

“Hello? President Qin.”

Qin Yu sighed twice. “I failed.”

“Ah? What?”

Qin Yu said directly, “Things weren’t very pleasant between Xiao Yuan and Department Head Qiu today. He also shared some of his thoughts with me.”

“Okay, he’s actually straight.”

Shen Ningruo: “…”

Shen Ningruo: “It’s okay, Ge, the next one will be more obedient.”

“Where’s Department Head Qiu?” Qin Yu said, changing the address. “No, where’s my sister-in-law?”

Shen Ningruo’s eyelid twitched. She turned her head to look at Qiu Yang, who was resting with her eyes closed beside her, and lowered her voice. “She’s sleeping.”

“Is she okay?”

“She’s okay.” Shen Ningruo paused. “Maybe okay.”

Qin Yu sighed deeply. “Other people’s family matters, we really can’t help at all.”

Shen Ningruo looked at the wide road ahead and didn’t say anything more.

Qiu Yang hadn’t slept well last night, experienced emotional turmoil today, and then focused intensely on photography in the afternoon. She got sleepy soon after getting in the car.

Shen Ningruo slowed down the car, her fingertips tapping the steering wheel intermittently. Frankly, she admired Qiu Yang greatly.

Facing the possibility of returning family affection, yet being able to be so decisive and outstanding.

Because not everyone has the courage and perseverance to refuse this temptation.

Not just in terms of family affection, but also material wealth.

Qiu Yan built a career relying on the Wen family. Now she has businesses in Jingcheng and several other major cities. If Qiu Yang were acknowledged as her daughter, her treatment in terms of wealth would certainly not be bad.

Qiu Yang refused.

If it were her, Shen Ningruo couldn’t guarantee she would be able to do the same, especially since Qiu Yang had suffered for so many years.

Who wouldn’t want a better life?

Qiu Yang woke up before they reached the residential area. She looked at the sunset in the sky, feeling a moment of confusion.

She turned her head and looked at Shen Ningruo. “A Weibo blogger I followed before said she felt the loneliest at this time, but the premise was that she had taken a nap.”

“Waking up from a nap, the sky is getting dark, but she’s still alone. This makes her feel the threshold of loneliness is stretched to its maximum.”

“You have me.”

“You’re not alone.”

Qiu Yang grinned. “I know. From the moment I met you, I haven’t been alone.”

The two got out of the car, entered the elevator, and just as the door opened, Qiu Yang’s phone rang.

It was an unknown number.

Thinking of the previous harassment from Qiu Wenyun and Tao Sixian, Qiu Yang hesitated whether to answer.

In today’s society, changing phone cards is very convenient.

Shen Ningruo picked up Pingzi, saw Qiu Yang hadn’t moved, and asked, “Aren’t you going to answer?”

“Don’t know who it is.”

“Don’t want to answer.”

Qiu Yang pursed her lips and simply pressed reject.

It’s fine.

Just a phone call.

She changed her shoes, and her phone rang again, still the same number.

Her brows furrowed slightly, feeling even more puzzled. In the end, she chose to answer.

“Hello.” Her voice was a bit low.

“It’s me, Qu Yan.”

“Can we… still talk?”