Chapter 154: Chapter 147: She Said Xiao Meng Can’t Bear the Burden 1
She had no choice.
If she waited until her child grew up and reached that age, she estimated she wouldn’t have the heart to continue studying.
It’s just... not even having a bachelor’s degree would make her feel a bit regretful.
"What does Shixiu say?"
Su’s mother asked.
"Uh..."
Su Xiaomeng pinched the sheet, "He... didn’t say anything."
Su’s mother fell silent for a moment.
Su Xiaomeng was worried her mother might think poorly of Yin Shixiu, so she hurriedly said, "Uncle is also very distressed, but..."
"But what?"
Su Xiaomeng thought for a while and recounted what happened that day, not telling the entire story.
She only told her mother that she was dragged out to play, the child got sick, and her in-laws were a bit upset.
She thought a few words would suffice to gloss over the situation.
But Su’s mother was experienced, mentally pieced together the temperament of the Yin Family elders with Su Xiaomeng’s personality, and made an educated guess on what had happened.
"Do you feel it’s a pity?"
Su’s mother asked her.
Su Xiaomeng thought for a moment, "Actually, I’m not very fond of the current major, and university isn’t much; even if I continue studying, it’d just be going to classes every day, and then..."
"But I think it’s a real pity."
Su Xiaomeng felt a firm but gentle jab in her heart.
She bit her lip.
On the other side, Su’s mother took a deep breath and said, "Did the Yin Family mother scold you?"
Su Xiaomeng felt a pang of sorrow in her nose, wanting to say no but couldn’t speak.
"Did you choose to drop out because you felt you couldn’t balance the child and school?"
"...Yes."
"You know, actually I didn’t finish university. I married your dad, gave birth to you, and later considered going back to study. But with you growing up, I couldn’t free myself up, so I gave up."
"Though now I don’t lack that piece of diploma, for me it’s a regret, a pity. Of course, there are gains and losses in this world, at least I took good care of you, right?"
"...Yes!"
"It’s easy to say it like this, but if I had a choice, I would also hope to finish university. What about you?"
Su Xiaomeng felt a little shaky, nodded with a nasal tone, "...Yes."
"Alright then, don’t be sad, it’s late, go to sleep."
"...Mom, you sleep early too."
After hanging up the phone, Su Xiaomeng stared at her phone, her eyes red, feeling a bit uncomfortable inside.
Attending university or not, right there, is just a simple choice, but placed in one’s life... it becomes a turning point that can change the trajectory of life.
The bedroom door was slightly ajar. Yin Shixiu had been listening outside; he couldn’t hear Su’s mother’s voice clearly over the phone, but he could vaguely guess what was discussed from Su Xiaomeng’s responses.
He pushed the door open and entered the bedroom.
Su Xiaomeng hurriedly wiped away the tears clinging to her lashes.
Yin Shixiu walked over without saying anything and gently placed the entwined little ones into the crib.
Su Xiaomeng blinked and looked at him, "You washed..."
Before she finished speaking, she saw Yin Shixiu crawl onto the bed—not lying down, but with his arms supporting above her head, trapping her beneath him.
"What are you doing..."
"Cried?"
Su Xiaomeng hastily sniffed, "Uh... Mom called earlier; I kind of miss her..."
"Again, you’re lying to me."
Yin Shixiu lowered his head and kissed her damp eyes, flipped her over to hold her entirely, letting her lie on top of him, "Really want to drop out?"
Su Xiaomeng pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, just as she was about to speak, Yin Shixiu interrupted, "You need to be honest."
"Meng Meng, tell me the truth."
Su Xiaomeng’s nose tingled, "Of course, I don’t want to... but what can I do?"
The little one suddenly felt aggrieved.
She wasn’t that fond of studying, but after finally getting into A University, she couldn’t finish it, and that felt awful.
Moreover...
"In the future, my mother-in-law will definitely bring up my education... but now there’s no choice; uncle, marrying you is so hard!"
The little one started complaining.
Yin Shixiu ruffled her hair, "Have you ever thought that if your parents accepted us, it wouldn’t be this difficult."
"Though my parents are older now, when the child grows a few months older, they’ll take care of them better than us."
If possible, of course, taking care of the child yourself is best, but Meng Meng’s situation is rather special. If she stops studying because of the baby, it seems unreasonable.
Saying this, Su Xiaomeng’s head fell "plop" against Yin Shixiu’s chest, very despairingly, "But... I messed it up..."
"My mom, if she compromises once, will compromise a second time; she’s not someone unreasonable. That day, she was just angry."
"...I know."
Su Xiaomeng turned her face sideways, held his hand tightly, and murmured with entwined fingers.
"Uncle, really not continuing studies, it’s really actually nothing..."
Though it would be a bit of a regret, in exchange, her two precious ones would be healthier and happier.
Su Xiaomeng said this, but her tone conveyed more helplessness.
Yin Shixiu turned over again, still pressing her beneath him, with his forehead touching hers, bumping her charming nose.
"Give me some time, Meng Meng."
"W-what time?"
"Dropping out isn’t necessary, I’ll think of something about the baby issue..."
It’s he who put her in this dilemma, so it’s his obligation to find a solution.
Su Xiaomeng looked at him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pouted, "Tch... what do you mean you’ll find a way? I know you don’t have a clue."
"Why do you have such little faith in me?"
Yin Shixiu felt quite defeated.
Su Xiaomeng suddenly smiled, "Uncle, I like you."
"Why are you suddenly confessing so earnestly?"
"I just like you."
I like you even if you can’t find a way to the best of your wits, you still try your best to give me a sense of security, making me rely on you.
He lowered his head to nibble her chubby cheek, kissed it twice, and then softly said, "That day when Mom hit you, do you hold a grudge against her?"
"Hmm..." Su Xiaomeng’s eyes rolled for a bit, and then she said forcefully, "Yes! I resent it!"
Yin Shixiu lowered his head and bit her cheek again, gave it a firm kiss, "Still holding a grudge?"
"...Yes!"
Su Xiaomeng kept nodding, yet her smile seemed to be losing its hold.
Finally, Su Xiaomeng laughed lowly, hugging his neck, "Uncle, thank goodness Huang Huang was fine that day. If something had happened to him, let alone a slap, even if it beat me to death, I wouldn’t have complained..."
"She hit me, and it hurt. But not hitting me would cause more pain."
He kissed her forehead.
"Let’s just let that day go, alright?"
Su Xiaomeng would feel pained and scared whenever she thought about it.
Yin Shixiu looked down at Su Xiaomeng, his mother said Su Xiaomeng couldn’t bear the burden of the entire Yin Family, but from Yin Shixiu’s perspective, not necessarily.
Su Xiaomeng thought for a bit then mumbled, "I won’t blame Mom, but... Uncle, when I got hit, shouldn’t you have stopped it?"
Yin Shixiu raised an eyebrow, hearing this she shouldn’t have said...
His eyes narrowed, "Stop it?"
"Shouldn’t you have tried to stop them..."
"But at the time, I kind of wanted to hit you too..."
Upon hearing this, Su Xiaomeng shivered, "What?"
"You went out drinking with a guy, that Bai Shun... hmm!"
Before he could finish, Su Xiaomeng proactively offered her little mouth.
Forget it, don’t dwell on it anymore.
If this keeps going, it will blow up tonight.
Yin Shixiu saw her guilty little look, sighed in his heart, and also let out a breath.
Why didn’t he stop it?
There were many reasons...
At the time, Zhou Mengqin was furious, and he wasn’t much better off.
Besides, that slap came too suddenly, it really caught him off guard, by the time he realized, it had already landed.
Even if it was wrong for Mother to raise her hand, it was an extremely rare occurrence for Mother. If she hadn’t been driven by anger, she wouldn’t have lost her grace and resorted to action.
At that moment, if he had stood up to protect Su Xiaomeng, the matter might have never been resolved.
But despite all the reasons, he couldn’t explain them one by one to Su Xiaomeng.
Because no matter how much he explained, he ultimately still let her get hit.
The established fact cannot be changed.
His guilt and heartache could only remain in his heart.
"Hmm..."
Meng poked the absent-minded Yin Shixiu, blinked those big eyes, and indicated...
"Can you be more attentive... otherwise, I’ll just go to sleep... hmm!"
What do you love about Su Xiaomeng?
Too much.
From appearance to inner qualities, from flaws to strengths.
Her cuteness, her kindness, her simplicity and... her little wisdom.
Regarding the "withdrawal" issue that almost stumped both Yin Shixiu and Su Xiaomeng.
After Su’s mother came to Beijing, it was easily resolved.
Yin Shixiu received a call from Su’s mother, and upon learning she had arrived in Beijing, he was truly taken aback.
Immediately drove over to pick her up personally.
After arriving at the airport and picking her up, he found out Su’s mother hadn’t even told Su Xiaomeng and had already come.
Su’s mother dragged a large suitcase, stuffed it into the trunk, Yin Shixiu opened the car door for her.
Su’s mother gave him a glance before getting in.
This atmosphere made Yin Shixiu feel rather uneasy.
"Mom, have you had lunch?"
"I ate on the plane."
"...With you coming to Beijing, Dad..."
"You better call him tonight and console him."
Yin Shixiu cleared his throat, all he could do was silently sympathize with his father-in-law.
"Shixiu."
Su’s mother looked out the window and suddenly called out to him formally.
"Hmm?"
"Why do I have a feeling... that over time, Xiao Meng will feel wronged?"
"Mom..."
"I don’t mean to blame you."
Su’s mother hurriedly said, "I just have this kind of feeling."
Su’s mother didn’t have any intention of questioning Yin Shixiu, ever since Su Xiaomeng and Yin Shixiu got married, she knew Xiao Meng would certainly feel wronged.
Not to mention marrying into a wealthy family, even in ordinary families, more or less, she would feel some grievances.
While Su Xiaomeng was not present, Su Ma had mentioned this to him, as a reminder:
When Xiao Meng is wronged, as her mother, she won’t always be in the dark.
Yin Shixiu is a smart man.
But he’s still a big boss, and she is, after all, just a rural woman.
Some things are best left subtle, it’s not hard on either party, nor does it put anyone in an awkward position.