"You are a freshman."

"Mmm."

Mu Rui rubbed his face. It really hurt! He followed that little boy to the school clinic, but the several people behind them were stopped by Cheng Jin. There was only a small path here.

Those few people were unwilling to let only this kid in front of them face disciplinary action from the school. Filled with anger, they charged towards him, but Cheng Jin didn't back down. He merely dodged their attacks and, in a swift motion, grabbed hold of one of their furious and burly arms.

The people outside heard the commotion and hurriedly came over. Upon seeing the scene, they reproached loudly, "What are you all doing?!"

Cheng Jin released his grip on the man's hand, stood up, and his expression remained calm.

The three of them smirked in a disreputable manner. The leader patted off the dirt on his body, a glint of cunningness flashed in his eyes. He spoke casually, "The students from your school really have no manners. They actually dared to stop us from leaving."

One of the staff members from the Academic Affairs Office, who was a teacher, glanced at Cheng Jin and asked, "Is what he said true?"

Cheng Jins silk had no trace of nervousness as she glanced up at the teacher. "They bully the students at the school, and I didn't stop them. Doesn't the discerning teacher know?"

The teacher was choked by his words, his face turning pale and uncertain. Having lost face, he sternly said, "Regardless, fighting is unacceptable. Come with me."

The three individuals were clearly reveling in the misfortune of others. They let out a whistle and shouted in a manner reminiscent of howling ghosts, "Take good care of the students in your school, or else it will tarnish the reputation of the school, haha."

When Murui returned to the dormitory, Xu Wen had already fallen asleep. He went to the bathroom and applied some medicine on his face, making the redness and swelling less noticeable, but still discernible.

The next day.

A notice board was posted with a large notice criticizing in red paper. Anyone who had a curious mind and had eyes couldn't help but want to take a look while going up the stairs in the teaching building.

Mu Rui also went to take a look and his expression changed subtly. It was a warning disciplinary action against Cheng Jin.

Lu Qing stood in front, and when she turned around, she directly bumped into Mu Rui face to face. She quickly lowered her head and walked away. Mu Rui could tell that her expression was not good, perhaps because of this, not maybe, but for sure! Mu Rui smiled bitterly; even though they had already separated, he still couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

Mu Rui only knew that this warning and punishment might be erased in the future because of Cheng Jin's outstanding performance. Unlike himself, his studies were average and his grades were also average. If he were to become a diligent top student through punishment, it would be better to just end his life.

However, Murui did not know that with this black mark, Cheng Jin would not be eligible for any scholarships. Without the work-study program, this meant that he would have an even harder life.

Very bitter.

On top of the teaching building, the gloomy clouds drift across the sky.

Midterm exams were approaching, and Cheng Jin leaned against the wall on the rooftop, gazing at the vast sky. He felt a bit absent-minded and wondered, would fate really favor someone like him who constantly rushed around?

It felt as if I was inside a closed box, rejecting sunlight and temptations, solely focused on striving for progress. Why is it so difficult? Despite working so hard, there are still so many unexpected setbacks.

Reality, sometimes it really makes people feel nauseated, truly cruel.

The mobile phone happened to ring, and Cheng Jin glanced at it. It was an unfamiliar number.

"Hello."

"Xiao Jin, it's me, Auntie."

"Oh, Auntie, is there something you need?" Cheng Jin's heart skipped a beat as she responded in a soft voice. Every time Auntie called, it was usually about living expenses or her mother.

Your mother has been hospitalized in the city. Why don't you come and visit her when you have some free time?

Cheng Jin's hand slipped, and he almost dropped his phone to the ground. His tone was hurried as he asked, "How is my mom's health?"

"The doctor in town said that there is not much time left. In order to let your mother live for a few more days, she was transferred to the hospital in the city. You also know that the living standards in the city cannot be compared to our small town. Look at what your father left for you when he passed away…"

"I understand."

Cheng Jin furrowed her brows slightly and interrupted her words. It was all about money, just because her father had left a sum of money when he passed away. The relatives on her mother's side never felt satisfied unless they took the money. After learning which hospital her mother was in, Cheng Jin hung up the phone.

When he was twelve years old, his father divorced his mother. Their marriage was arranged by their parents. How could his father, a person with ambitions to explore the world, be trapped in a small village? Since he was a child, he could already speak fluent English, buy himself high-tech electronic games, and teach himself calligraphy with ink and paper...

Looking back now, how could someone like my father, an intellectual, ever settle for a rough countryside woman? In the end, he chose to leave and go far away.

While walking, perhaps the two people from a distant land had already been forgotten.

Now, even if we were to meet again, we would probably have forgotten what each other looks like. However, I still can't bring myself to hate you.

Just especially wanting, especially wanting to see that person known as "Daddy," is it because he has left such good childhood memories in one's heart?

Mu Rui listened to the lecture absent-mindedly. He always felt that he was being too harsh, making Cheng Jin bear the blame alone. At the same time, he thought that Cheng Jin would be able to live in a separate dormitory, which must make him stand out from everyone else. He shouldn't lack this bit of reputation, and it seemed like the teachers in the school paid a lot of attention to him.

The only downside is that I can't go to work with him anymore. It's so dark and lonely being alone.

In the evenings, Cheng Jin's part-time jobs were always scheduled back-to-back, leaving her with only scraps of time during the day to visit her mother. Her mother's face had turned pale and her body had become extremely thin. For these years, there had been no man in the family, leaving her alone to rely on farming to support herself and raise a child, making it increasingly difficult to sustain.

Cheng Jin still remembers when her father was alive, she, too, was young. However, now that she is only in her forties, a few strands of white hair have appeared at her temples.

"Mum." Cheng Jin put the fruits he brought to the side and took out a small knife to peel them slowly.

The woman on the bed heard the sound and looked up at him, seeming somewhat surprised. "Xiao Jin, why are you here? Don't you have classes today?" Her voice was soft, but it seemed like she had put in a lot of effort to speak.