Volume One: High School Days Chapter Thirty-Seven: Liu Meng’s Parents

In the blink of an eye, the end of the year arrived, and waiting for the students was the upcoming exams. For Yusheng, of course, this was merely a formality.

“Class, the exams are scheduled for the day after tomorrow and the following day. If you want to enjoy the New Year, you’d better show some real effort,” the homeroom teacher announced from the podium, casting a glance at Yusheng, who was sprawled across his desk, seemingly asleep.

She continued, “Some students have spent the entire semester sleeping—and even started dating early. I don’t know if it’s always been like this, or if it only began after I took over the class, but if you flunk this exam, I will not let it slide.”

After the second year of high school, the classes were reorganized, and the homeroom teacher changed as well. Yusheng consistently ranked first in every monthly exam, but lately, he’d even been sleeping through the homeroom teacher’s class, stirring her displeasure.

Yusheng, lying on his desk, wasn’t actually asleep; he heard every word the teacher said and thought to himself, “Early romance? With whom? Isn’t it all just rumors? Have I ever actually dated anyone?”

He had never clarified matters between himself and Liu Meng; everyone assumed they were together, but only Ren Xiadong knew they weren’t. Living under the same roof, Ren Xiadong was well aware of their situation.

That evening, after school, Yusheng and Ren Xiadong returned home, but Liu Meng didn’t come back with them, saying she had something to do and would be late.

For the past two months, Ren Xiadong had been living a carefree life, spending every evening amidst nightlife and revelry.

“Not going out tonight?” Yusheng asked, watching Ren Xiadong slouch on the sofa.

Ren Xiadong, playing on his phone, replied, “I need a couple of days’ rest. I’ve been too exhausted lately.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be the legendary lady-killer? Didn’t you claim you never stop for a night? Why so deflated today?” Yusheng teased, glancing at Ren Xiadong sprawled across the sofa.

Ren Xiadong said nothing more, continuing to play on his phone. Ever since he’d come into money, his girlfriends were constantly changing. To put it politely, they were girlfriends; less charitably, they were “rented” with money.

Yusheng took out a bottle of beer, and hearing the sound of it opening, Ren Xiadong quickly came over, saying, “Let’s have a drink.”

And so, Ren Xiadong drank as he regaled Yusheng with tales of his exploits over the past two months.

It wasn’t until eleven o’clock at night that Liu Meng returned. Her eyes looked as though she’d been crying. She said nothing upon seeing Yusheng and Ren Xiadong in the living room, but ran straight to her room, slammed the door, locked it, and soon, her miserable sobs echoed through the apartment.

Yusheng and Ren Xiadong rushed to Liu Meng’s door, knocking and calling, “What happened? Open up, let’s talk it through together.”

“Don’t worry about me—just go away,” Liu Meng’s tearful voice came from behind the door.

Yusheng turned to Ren Xiadong, saying, “Let her cry for a while. We’ll ask her what happened when she comes out.”

The two of them settled on the living room sofa, not returning to their rooms, afraid they might not hear if anything happened to Liu Meng.

...

The clock on the wall pointed to two. Both men had fallen asleep against the sofa. At that moment, Liu Meng’s door opened. She stepped out, saw them sleeping in the living room, realized they’d stayed up out of concern for her, and quietly fetched blankets from her room, covering them before returning to her own.

The next morning, the two woke to find themselves covered with blankets and saw Liu Meng eating breakfast. Yusheng was about to ask what had happened the night before, but Liu Meng spoke first: “You two were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t wake you. I just bought breakfast downstairs—come eat.”

Liu Meng had no income; since leaving the shelter, she hadn’t a penny to her name. Yet as the only woman in the house, Yusheng gave her twenty thousand yuan a month to cover the daily expenses for the three of them.

Seeing Liu Meng back to normal, Yusheng and Ren Xiadong decided not to press her about last night.

During class that day, Yusheng noticed Liu Meng was absent-minded, lost in thought, and unable to focus. Unable to hold back, Yusheng asked, “What’s wrong? If someone bullied you, tell me—I can help.”

Liu Meng’s heart warmed at his words; her worries eased somewhat.

“I’m fine, don’t worry! I’m always the one doing the bullying—no one can bully me!” she said, raising her fist toward Yusheng.

Yusheng understood that her tough demeanor was shaped by her experiences—growing up parentless in a shelter, she must have endured plenty of bullying. To protect herself, she learned to act strong, her personality becoming bold and brash, almost like a boy.

He began to feel a deep sympathy for Liu Meng, sensing she must have a lot of grievances locked away in her heart.

He took out his phone and messaged Ren Xiadong: “I’m sure Liu Meng has something bothering her. Don’t go out tonight—let’s have a drink together, and focus the conversation on her to find out what’s really wrong.”

The next day was the year-end exam, so the school canceled evening study, letting the students rest and recover their energy for the test.

Yusheng called the Century Grand Hotel and had them deliver a tableful of rare delicacies, making use of Wang Chen’s complimentary card.

He intended to spend the evening with Liu Meng, hoping to hear her troubles.

But as they were eating, there was a knock at the door.

“Who could be visiting us?” Ren Xiadong said, rising to answer.

When the door opened, three people stood outside—two women and a man. They walked in uninvited.

“Hey, hey, hey! Who are you? I haven’t invited you in!” Ren Xiadong protested.

The newcomers ignored him, inspecting the apartment. The older woman said, “Not bad, not bad. We’ll move in tomorrow.”

Yusheng was stunned and asked, “This is my home—why do you want to move in?”

“What do you mean, your home? This is my daughter’s home!”

Yusheng and Ren Xiadong turned to look at Liu Meng.

She put down her chopsticks and said, “They’re my parents and my sister.”

Upon questioning, Yusheng learned that Liu Meng hadn’t come home yesterday because she’d gone to see them. Her parents had always known she was at the shelter, but lacking money and unwilling to pay for her schooling, they never sought her out. When she needed a household registration to attend school, the shelter contacted her family, but her parents insisted on not taking her in, only registering her for household purposes. Liu Meng had met her parents before and knew they did not want her.

Liu Meng also had a younger brother in middle school, who had recently injured his head and needed surgery. In their desperation for money, the shelter contacted Liu Meng’s parents, informing them that she’d left the shelter and bought a house. Her parents, upon hearing this, sought her out to ask for money. Liu Meng, having none, refused. Her parents demanded she sell the house for her brother’s medical expenses. In a moment of urgency, Liu Meng explained the house was in her name, but she hadn’t paid for it and couldn’t decide to sell it.

Her parents believed a house in Liu Meng’s name belonged to them, so they came today intending to move in, insisting their daughter’s house was their own.

Yusheng, after understanding the situation, addressed Liu Meng’s parents: “This is a bit much. The house may be Liu Meng’s, and you’re entitled to live here, but all these years, have you cared for her? Now, when your son needs money, you come to her—is that fair?”

“Who are you? Why are you in my home? Get out!” Liu Meng’s mother shouted angrily.

Ren Xiadong couldn’t hold back any longer. “You’re the ones who should leave. If you don’t, I’ll call the police—breaking and entering is a serious crime!”

“Hey! The house is ours, my daughter’s name is on it—if anyone’s trespassing, it’s you!”

Liu Meng, feeling her parents were too unreasonable, slammed her hand on the table and shouted, “This is my house—I decide who’s trespassing!”

When everyone fell silent, Liu Meng continued, “One is the CEO of World Animation Company, the other is the vice president. They bought the house and gave it to me because I had nowhere else to go.”

Her family was shocked—two people her age owning their own company.

Liu Meng’s father quickly said, “It’s all a misunderstanding. My wife doesn’t know how to talk.”

Her mother snapped, “You old fool, who are you calling names? Why are you always siding against your own family?”

Her father muttered angrily, “Do you want our son to get better or not?”

Her mother suddenly realized that, since they had a company, they must have money—she could ask them for help with her son’s treatment. She retreated to the side, saying no more.

Her father was about to speak, but Yusheng cut him off: “How much do you need for the treatment?”

Seeing how straightforward Yusheng was, Liu Meng’s father brightened. “It’s a hundred thousand for surgery and hospitalization. Liu Meng’s brother is lying in the hospital, waiting for money to save his life.”

Liu Meng’s sister stepped forward, saying, “I know you’re close to Liu Meng. Our parents were forced by circumstances back then. Please help my brother—he’s just a child and knows nothing of Liu Meng’s situation; he wasn’t even born yet.”

Yusheng returned to his room, opened his safe, and brought out two hundred thousand in cash, placing it on the table. Liu Meng’s family stared in shock—they’d never seen so much money.

Yusheng said, “If you’d shown your son the same care you did for Liu Meng, she wouldn’t be the person she is today. As her friends and classmates, we care for her deeply, but you only know how to take, never to give. Here’s two hundred thousand—you can take it. The house belongs to Liu Meng. If you want to move in, it’s up to her; I have no objections.”

Liu Meng said, “Take the money and leave. I don’t want to see you here. Consider it my thanks for giving me life.”

Her mother wanted to protest, but her father pulled her away, saying, “Let’s go—saving our son’s life is most important.”

Once Liu Meng’s family left, she began to cry uncontrollably. Yusheng and Ren Xiadong sat quietly beside her, waiting for her tears to subside before comforting her.

After a long while, Liu Meng’s sobs faded, though she still trembled occasionally.

Yusheng, unsure how to comfort her, finally said, “After the exams, let’s go south for the New Year. We can stay there until school starts again. I hear the air is wonderful, the environment is beautiful, and there are countless historic sites.”

Liu Meng’s eyes lit up. She’d never left Xinghai City, and the idea excited her greatly.

After some discussion, the three of them decided to spend the New Year in Chongshi, in the south.