CHAPTER 366: CHAPTER 366: TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF

An Yin’s stumbling words only solidified An Ying’s thoughts.

Since her daughter started university, An Ying had already convinced herself that her daughter might start dating.

After all, at their age, emotions begin to stir.

Especially after having met a sunny and cheerful boy like Su Yifeng, An Ying thought it wouldn’t be a bad thing for her daughter to experience a college romance.

But reality often goes against one’s wishes.

At some point, her daughter met Bao Shaojin.

An Ying hadn’t seen him many times, but from Aunt Zhang’s mouth, she learned that the man was already thirty-two years old.

He was exactly eleven years older than her daughter.

To An Ying, this was a hurdle, not because she was old-fashioned, she just hoped her daughter’s future life would be simple and unadorned.

However, the feeling Bao Shaojin gave her was too worldly; he seemed arrogant and clearly the dominant force in life.

Her daughter had always been delicate and timid, which seemed too weak compared to the man’s fierce aura.

An Ying didn’t expose her daughter’s lie; after all, it was her child whom she had watched grow up. Whether what her daughter said was true or false, how could An Ying not discern it?

Her daughter had grown up, developed her own thoughts and privacy, and An Ying wouldn’t forcefully interfere.

However, there were some things An Ying felt obligated to mention.

An Ying’s face showed a slight unease. Then, with her uninjured hand, she picked up a teacup from the nightstand and took a small sip. "You’re still in school; you need to protect yourself well," An Ying said, setting down the teacup.

An Yin was agonizing over the previous question, even thinking that if Mrs. An kept pressing, she’d fake a headache to avoid further discussion.

While An Yin was tangled in her thoughts, she didn’t expect the other to simply tell her to protect herself.

An Yin nodded absentmindedly, her pale, flawless face full of innocence. "Don’t worry, I will."

An Ying looked at her daughter with a complex expression, knowing she hadn’t understood. She lifted her gaze, looking at her daughter’s long hair falling on her shoulders, and spoke with difficulty, "I support you wanting to date, but you’re still young, and your studies aren’t completed. It’s inappropriate if you get pregnant at this time, so when you’re together, some precautions must be..."

"Mom!" An Yin shouted, blushing and interrupting what her mother was about to say. After speaking, she jumped off the bed impatiently, standing by the bed.

Seeing her daughter so excited, An Ying didn’t expect such a reaction and softly reassured her, "I’m just worried about you."

"I, I’m not," An Yin retorted angrily, then turned and bolted out the door.

An Ying sat on the bed, stunned.

So did her daughter’s words mean she hadn’t had a relationship with that man? Were they merely spending the night together innocently?

An Ying wondered, why did she find it hard to believe?

Had that man really not taken action against her daughter?

In the bedroom, An Ying’s mind wandered. Her daughter had grown up under her protection, full of love for the world, never having experienced the harshness of life, the only regret being the lack of a father’s love from a young age.

Downstairs in the neighborhood.

An Yin walked down the street with a flushed face, the streetlights beside her already lit, making each street segment no longer pitch dark, ensuring safety for everyone walking at night.

Realizing she had left her phone on the sofa when she reached into her pocket, she stood at the corner, turned back to look toward her home, and happened to see Mrs. An’s bedroom. Her mind replayed the conversation they just had.

A sense of shame surged from the soles of her feet to her heart, lingering for a long time.

Why did Mrs. An suddenly talk to her about these things? An Yin wandered aimlessly with small steps.

A trace of confusion flickered across her delicate face.

As the New Year’s Eve approached, more people traveled the road, mostly young people visiting relatives in the community. Looking at those older people, An Yin felt both familiar and unfamiliar.

Those people finished studying and ventured out while An Yin often saw these neighbors as a child. However, as this community gradually decayed, those with better means eagerly moved away, leaving behind nostalgic elderly who refused to leave.

When she was younger, An Yin often saw a group of big kids downstairs playing basketball, soccer, ping-pong, jump rope... Various sports were endless. As she grew up and attended middle school, the community started becoming desolate.

Until now, this entire neighborhood only sees young people during the New Year holidays.

Walking beside the road, An Yin looked up at the place she had lived her whole life, feeling particular emotions.

Unconsciously, An Yin walked to the end of the street.

She stood at the roadside, looking at the newly built skyscrapers across the street. Most of the old neighborhood residents had moved there, and there’s a large commercial area over there. Her down jacket was bought from there.

Behind her, this old street was gradually declining, even her family’s bookstore was doing increasingly poor business. Perhaps in a few more years, these businesses might become even fewer.

Thinking of this, An Yin couldn’t help but feel a little melancholic.

Even the words Mrs. An had spoken earlier were unconsciously ignored.

"Hoo, hoo..."

Standing at the street corner, the cold wind whistled, blasts of cold air creeping into her neck.

Already having a stuffy nose, the chilly wind worsened it, causing her face to turn red from the effort of sniffing m|the dried mucus.

"An Yin!"

At the crosswalk appeared a fashionable Huang Yiyi, crossing the zebra stripes from the buildings across. Seeing a familiar figure daydreaming at the roadside, she couldn’t help but call out.

Upon hearing the familiar voice beside her, An Yin looked up in surprise, "Yiyi."

"What are you doing standing out here in this cold?" Huang Yiyi’s pale face bore a faint smile.

She wore a slim-fitting long skirt, topped with a chic jacket, enhancing her curvy figure, capturing attention.

Huang Yiyi, with her delicate looks akin to a classical lady, coupled with her skillful way of dressing, always stood out when she appeared.

"Just getting some fresh air," An Yin murmured.

Her tone carried a trace of wistfulness, prompting Huang Yiyi to lower her gaze and ask, "Did you have a little argument with Aunt An?"

"Not exactly an argument, it’s just..." An Yin hesitated to speak, her face red and hesitant.

Huang Yiyi smiled slightly, "If you don’t want to talk about it, don’t force yourself. It’s so cold, quickly go home."

"Mm." An Yin awkwardly turned around.

The two walked side by side towards the old community.

After just a few steps, Huang Yiyi’s phone in her pocket rang incessantly.

An Yin glanced over at her, seeing Huang Yiyi seemingly not hearing it, continuing to walk forward, and An Yin said nothing.