Chapter 625: Chapter 623: Kindhearted Father 2
The commissioner once yearned for her father’s affection, hoping to receive his praise and attention.
She was an obedient child, but faced with her father’s preference for the children from the orphanage, she couldn’t help feeling jealous. Toward them, she never showed a kind face. In truth, Zhuo Qiaoqing could only maintain appearances with those children, but her emotions were not well hidden, unable to pretend nothing had happened. Her polite yet indifferent demeanor made those children not very fond of Zhuo Qiaoqing either.
Many times, Zhuo Qiaoqing couldn’t help but quarrel with Ran Zhengfeng, every time it was related to Ran Zhengfeng’s relentless funding of the orphanage.
The children of the orphanage were very perceptive, sensitive to people’s emotions, knowing long ago that this Aunt Qiaoqing didn’t like them and didn’t want to support them, even opposed to Uncle Ran helping them. But Uncle Ran was kind-hearted, having grown up in an orphanage himself, and he wouldn’t leave them to fend for themselves.
They had no parents and were growing older; some had disabilities and diseases, so no one would adopt them. Faced with an Uncle Ran who was especially kind to them, of course, they clung tightly to him.
Naturally, they were hostile toward Zhuo Qiaoqing and her daughter, who seemed to want to take Uncle Ran away from them.
Children’s likes and dislikes are always so straightforward, not just looking at the surface, but from their view, Zhuo Qiaoqing and the commissioner were unmistakably bad people. The ones wanting to take their Uncle Ran away, making him unhappy, not understanding him.
They weren’t fit to be Uncle Ran’s family.
So later, when the commissioner had trouble because of her father’s neglect, going astray, Zhuo Qiaoqing went mad, and unable to bear it anymore, the mother and daughter truly became devious people. Many years later, the children from the orphanage grew up, always remembering Ran Zhengfeng’s goodness, taking care of him in his old age, and similarly, some remembered his downtrodden ex-wife and wayward daughter, feeling that their situation was nothing but karma.
The commissioner’s wish was simple: study well, be filial to this mother Zhuo Qiaoqing, and take Zhuo Qiaoqing far away from Ran Zhengfeng.
"Not anymore in the future," Ah Chen said seriously, "In the future, what Mom gives me, I won’t let him take it away."
For so many years, Zhuo Qiaoqing had been enduring, largely because of her initial choices and promises.
In reality, people can regret and if marriage doesn’t work, they can divorce, so why go down a wrong path forever? Regret isn’t something unforgivable.
It’s just that Zhuo Qiaoqing’s escape wasn’t that simple; she was a free person, and Ran Zhengfeng couldn’t really restrain her. For a dozen years, what restrained her was herself, as she weaved a cage and locked herself inside.
Ah Chen wasn’t in a hurry because Zhuo Qiaoqing’s chance for liberation was about to come. She didn’t plan to change much about this matter, besides, she also needed to take revenge for the commissioner, so she might as well wait for that event to happen.
"Good to know, have you finished your homework?" Zhuo Qiaoqing showed a smile, looking extremely gentle; actually, she was often gentle, only twisting unconsciously when Ran Zhengfeng prioritized outsiders over this family.
No one would think it was a seemingly kind person who drove Zhuo Qiaoqing down the path of madness.
"Mom is going to cook." Zhuo Qiaoqing went to the kitchen.
Ah Chen returned to her room, staring at the ten or so test papers on the desk in silence. So much homework over the weekend? Honestly, she rarely transformed into a high school student, though she had before, just not often or recently.
Actually, not doing it wouldn’t impact her exams in maintaining the commissioner’s standards!
Ultimately, she picked up the pen and started to write anyway; after all, she’d taken on the task, and the commissioner’s wish was to study well, get into a good school, and not fall like before. Back then, she barely scraped into a mediocre university under Zhuo Qiaoqing’s pressure. Although she had fallen, she still couldn’t stand to see her mother sad at night. As a labeled bad child, deep in her heart, there was a pure place which was her mother. The more it was so, the more she hated Ran Zhengfeng and those who took his attention away, wishing they would all die.
Countless sleepless nights followed, and when Zhuo Qiaoqing passed away sorrowfully, she completely lost her mind.
But whenever she wanted to do something, she lacked the strength, instead resembling a clown jumping around for others’ amusement.
By the time Zhuo Qiaoqing had finished making the meals, Ah Chen had already completed five test papers; at her speed, it was naturally quick. She even considered the commissioner’s level, deliberately not finishing everything correctly to avoid drawing special attention from teachers.
Ran Zhengfeng was a math teacher, and Zhuo Qiaoqing was a physics teacher; both of their teaching skills were adequate. They both taught seniors three, coincidentally teaching Ah Chen’s class. Her current class was Senior One, an honors class, with the commissioner’s grades ranking in the top ten, oscillating between fourth to tenth place. That was pretty good.
Currently in senior year, if she gradually improved, achieving better results later would be quite normal. She didn’t plan to stand out excessively, merely analyzing what scores the commissioner could achieve, after all, she was fulfilling someone else’s wish.
As for herself, she could score whatever she wanted; the type of problems at this level couldn’t possibly challenge her.
But that would have no meaning.
"Let’s eat, there’s no need to wait for your dad, he probably won’t be back for dinner tonight." Zhuo Qiaoqing had grown accustomed to this; she used to wait countless times for Ran Zhengfeng, only realizing later that whenever he went to the orphanage, he was unlikely to return for meals. Even calling to ask always led to the same results.
He always smiled so mildly, telling them to eat, not to wait for him to return, as the kids wanted him to stay for a meal, how could he refuse them?
Repeatedly, if she was not happy, it seemed she was being too petty.
Zhuo Qiaoqing tightly gripped the chopsticks, lost in her thoughts.
"Mom, help me with some problems later?" Ah Chen’s voice broke Zhuo Qiaoqing out of her daydreams.
Her face was full of tenderness, "Alright, eat quickly, and I’ll give you some special tutoring later."
"Do it a few more times, maybe I’ll become the best in class at physics." Ah Chen laughed.
Zhuo Qiaoqing, however, said, "Why not aim a bit higher and become the best in the entire grade?"
In reality, she was joking. Although her daughter’s grades were good, she wasn’t among the top tier, especially in subjects like physics and mathematics; without talent, she just didn’t have it. Even with many extra lessons, the ultimate results were limited. But of course, a slightly smarter person making an effort could still manage to be at the level of the honors students.
"Everything has to come step by step," Ah Chen said.
Zhuo Qiaoqing rubbed her head, "Mom was joking, just do your best, that’s the best outcome, no need to push yourself too hard."
Ran Zhengfeng returned very late at night; Zhuo Qiaoqing was in a good mood and didn’t ask about the orphanage matters.
Unexpectedly, after returning, Ran Zhengfeng didn’t wash up to sleep but sat in the living room smoking, making the entire place smoky.
Zhuo Qiaoqing thought she might come out to ask him what was wrong, but tonight, she didn’t want to argue with Ran Zhengfeng, so she drifted off to sleep.
Ran Zhengfeng, after sitting for half the night, went back to the room seeing Zhuo Qiaoqing asleep, and could only wash up and go to bed himself.
We’ll discuss that matter tomorrow with Qiaoqing.
