CHAPTER 350: CHAPTER 203: SHARING HARDSHIPS

Liu Xing pondered for a full five minutes before looking up at Ye’er: "Alright, I’ll tell you everything, but I must emphasize, although my father is not a good man, he is a good father to me, and I love him!"

"I understand!" Ye’er looked at Liu Xing earnestly: "I really do understand."

"You must be curious about when I learned my martial arts skills," said Liu Xing as he leaned into a more comfortable position. "Ye’er, please sit down too. This is not something that can be explained in a few words."

Ye’er obediently sat next to Liu Xing: "Okay, you speak, I’ll listen."

"When I was five years old, my dad hired the well-known Master Liu Zhenbang from Island City to teach me martial arts. He also instructed me not to tell anyone and never to reveal that I knew martial arts. He said that one day, I would understand that he was doing it for my good.

My mom knew all about the things my dad and brother did. Her kindness made it impossible for her to accept what they were doing, but she couldn’t persuade them to stop. As a result, she poured all her affection into me. In front of others, she pretended to be very affectionate with my father, but when alone, they were hardly warmer than strangers.

In fact, whenever your family came to visit, I felt particularly happy and envious. The relationship between Uncle Luo and Aunt Nie was clearly different from my parents.

As I grew up, I unintentionally learned about some of my father and brother’s actions. The lofty image of my father in my heart collapsed, and I was so upset that I fell ill.

After seeing I was troubled, my mother coaxed the truth out of me, then repeatedly advised me to only remember the good side of my father and brother and to ignore the other side. I followed my mother’s advice and indeed felt better. Ha..., isn’t it a very self-deceiving way of coping?"

Ye’er comforted Liu Xing by patting his back: "Family is not something one can choose. It’s hard for anyone... to find a perfect solution."

Liu Xing continued: "This approach allowed me to restore my relationship with my dad and brother as before, but I knew very well it was all superficial.

Subconsciously, I was extremely uneasy, waking up from nightmares countless times. Eventually, one day, the nightmare turned into reality. Perhaps the repeated dreams prepared me psychologically, so when the change happened, I accepted it calmly, and so did my mother.

Indifference, sneers, coldness, sympathy, pity... with proper mental preparation, all of this was not too hard to accept.

If it were just like that, my mother and I would have lived a quiet and stable life. She would continue to work as usual, and I would keep going to school as usual. However, everything changed after I went to visit my father.

While the caregiver wasn’t looking, he passed me a letter and hinted that I should destroy it after reading. The letter instructed that my mother must divorce him promptly and transfer me to another school, to break all ties with our former life. He didn’t explain the specific reason.

After telling my mom, she didn’t do as my father suggested. Later, when I went to visit my brother, he somehow convinced the guards to leave us alone. He said he couldn’t bear to spend his life in there and urged me to work hard to save him.

He wasn’t entirely sure about dad’s situation, but said that dad had connections above him. However, they couldn’t help because the evidence against dad was too solid, so there’s no hope for dad, but there was still hope for him.

That visit didn’t get into specifics. When I went home and told my mother, she immediately resigned, divorced my dad, transferred my school, and moved us to an old alley where no one knew us.

My mom told me that she had suspected that dad had connections above him all along, but since she never got involved in dad’s affairs and he never talked about it, she didn’t want me to be used as a tool by them. She only wished for me to live a safe and peaceful life. As for my brother, he’d strayed too far, and it was not within my power to save him.

I followed my mom’s arrangements, took leave from my new school, and studied at home, all to avoid being found.

It’s not that we never thought about leaving Island City, but with me about to progress in my education and our assets being frozen, leaving was not an easy task. Initially, my plan was to apply to QH or BD universities. With my grades, I had an 80% chance of getting into these two institutions.

But bizarrely, my application got changed, and I received an acceptance letter from GF University. Mom turned pale when she saw it, realizing that someone with such power was monitoring everything we did.

And the crucial problem is, we have no idea who this person is. Mom asked me to visit dad to try and get some information from him. So I told the news about GF University’s acceptance letter to my dad as if it were a joke. He just said one sentence, ’Xing’er, go register.’ When I asked him for details, he didn’t say another word.

So, here I am, reporting for registration. But who changed my application and what their intentions are, my mom and I have no idea. After much analysis, we figure the likelihood of it being aimed at the Luo family is the highest since, to those in the know, we should hate the Luo family.

Perhaps the other party wants to use you as leverage against Uncle Luo at a critical moment. Of course, this is all speculation by me and my mom, and it might not be true at all. Maybe it was my dad using the last of his influence to get me here. But it’s always good to be prepared for the worst, right?"

Ye’er remained silent for a long while, then patted Liu Xing: "You have a good mother, and no matter what else, Uncle Liu is beyond reproach when it comes to you."

"Yes, only my brother..." Liu Xing chuckled bitterly, "Only my brother can’t accept it. He said that what happened to him and dad today is because they trusted Uncle Luo too much. He told me to make sure to win you over and then abandon you, to take revenge on Uncle Luo.

How would he know, their actions are as clear as day to me, and mom also said that if Uncle Luo hadn’t been so upright, he would have been dragged into their scheming long ago. Mom and I don’t hate Uncle Luo, so why would we heed my brother’s instigation?

I’m telling you this to be truly honest with you so that someday, if someone with an agenda spreads these rumors, it won’t lead to unnecessary misunderstandings."

As Liu Xing spoke, Luo Ye listened intently, staring into his eyes. Trust is one thing, but confirmation is a must. Hearing him say this, she couldn’t help but smile, "Friends should be open with each other. Alright, 15 minutes have passed. Let’s talk while we walk." Standing up, she helped Liu Xing to his feet, "Try walking, does your foot still hurt?"

Liu Xing took a few tentative steps, "Zhan Hao’s medical skills are indeed impressive. There’s a slight sensation, but it doesn’t hurt anymore. Ye’er, with your condition, if you speed up now you might still make it. Don’t worry about me, hurry up and run."

Luo Ye pondered briefly, "Liu Xing, listen to me, just make yourself stronger. In critical moments, being able to protect yourself is always better than being at others’ mercy.

If their goal is really as Aunt Nie said, they could only threaten you with your brother’s life and death, right? And there’s also the matter of manipulating the military selections. Would you comply with them for these reasons?"

"I wouldn’t for the selections, but if it were about my brother, I would consult Uncle Luo!" Liu Xing couldn’t help but force a bitter smile, "After all, he’s my brother. I just hope that the law will give him a fair sentence. If someone wants to use this, it seems that all I can do is to ask Uncle Luo for help."

"That’s right, run with me." Luo Ye pulled Liu Xing and they started climbing the mountain. Tears shimmered in her eyes. Liu Xing spoke calmly, she listened calmly, but how could their hearts truly be at peace?

Liu Xing once again had to endure the tearing of his wounds, while she was touched by Nie Cui and Liu Xing’s words. Although Liu Zhengxing’s downfall was deserved, how many people could perceive the situation as clearly as them, like mother and son?

After reaching the shaded path, Liu Xing’s expression grew determined, "Ye’er, I’m listening to you. I’ll strive to fight alongside you. When the enemy comes, I’ll stand my ground; when the flood comes, I’ll block it!"

"Good!" Their fists bumped together, their agile figures proceeding side by side.

They did manage to overtake quite a few people along the way, but by the time they reached the identification tags, they had not encountered any of their acquaintances.

On their way back, a fine misty rain began to fall, gradually intensifying. By the time they reached the mountain path, Liu Xing slipped and his previously injured spot began to hurt again. He gritted his teeth but decided not to tell Luo Ye.

Noticing his slowing pace, Luo Ye looked at him curiously, "Is your stamina running out?"

Liu Xing quickly nodded, "Ye’er, you run ahead, this is my limit for now."

"I see your complexion is off, has your foot injury recurred?" Luo Ye reached out to check on him, "Let me see."

"No need, I’m okay, you go ahead." Liu Xing waved her off as he staggered backward.

"Be careful!"

...

Ten minutes later, Luo Ye reappeared on the mountain path supporting Liu Xing. This damned luck, he was already unsteady on his feet, slipping on the rainy path, falling halfway down the slope. This time, he wasn’t as lucky as before; his face was scratched by branches, his ankle had swollen like a loaf of bread— temporarily crippled.

With the rain pouring down like this, how could Luo Ye leave him alone on the slope? Setting off a flare signal would mean completely giving up on this selection. A soldier cannot admit defeat so easily.

"Ye’er, when I first saw you, you were only five years old, wearing a small apple green tulle dress, your shiny black hair tied in a ponytail, hopping around playfully, and you... were shyly hiding behind Brother Luo Feng.

Brother Luo Feng also seemed shy back then, and I thought I would protect Ye’er, be your brother. But in the end, I’ve always broken my promise. Now, it’s you who have to protect me, it’s really shameful!" Liu Xing’s face streaked with tears mixed with rainwater as he muttered about the past.

The weight of Liu Xing was almost entirely on Luo Ye, and no matter how fit she trained to be, she couldn’t change her petite stature. At that moment, she was panting heavily, "Yes... Yes, back then I was indeed timid, just going... to your house, seeing Grandpa Liu’s glaring eyes would make me cry..."

Suddenly, Luo Ye’s foot slipped, and they both fell together onto the muddy path. If it hadn’t been that they were at a wider section of the mountain road, they might have rolled down the hill once again.

Nuan’s second update arrives, a special thanks to ’Yunuo’, ’ㄗ"膽尐傀╱’, ’Green Leaves in Clear Water’ for the rewards, and a special thanks to Pink for Nuan and to all the genuine subscribers, love you guys. (To be continued. If you wish to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com where there are more Chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)