Deceased Mother's Inheritance - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: The Dream Continued to Sink.

The three of them ate breakfast together. The atmosphere was calm, yet there was always a sense of strangeness. Meng Zhengyue’s neck was a little sore from sleeping, and she was moving it around. Yun Zhixue held a cup and drank milk. Yun Jing ate a steamed dumpling and glanced at her.

Meng Zhengyue didn’t really agree with her going to school because the environment was not good. The teachers would look for her, and the students would talk, which would put pressure on her.

Yun Jing was very strict about her grades. She said, “There’s no lab at home.”

Yun Zhixue attended an international school for her elementary and middle school education. Yun Jing had originally planned for her to take the international route. However, Yun Zhixue’s performance in music and art was mediocre, but she won gold medals in physics and chemistry competitions and was directly admitted into the national top talent pool for basic subjects.

Her participation in the college entrance exam was part of a special program, and she would later undergo a multi-dimensional evaluation that included both theoretical and experimental components. Yun Jing valued true knowledge over a gilded resume, so she had no plans to send Yun Zhixue abroad for the time being.

According to Yun Jing’s plan, after college, Yun Zhixue would receive a dual-track education of “theoretical depth + research intensity.” She could take graduate-level courses in her second year and enter a top-tier lab, and after graduation, she would go directly into the company’s core research and development department.

Yun Jing was never compromising when it came to her academic requirements. She was strict to the point of being harsh.

Yun Zhixue was sitting on the stairs, tying her shoelaces. “Mom, can I come back at night? I don’t want to stay at school at night.”

Meng Zhengyue looked at her first. “There’s no one at home. I’ll have to stay at the studio from now on, and your mom is at the company. Is it okay for you to live alone?”

“Aren’t you two together?”

Meng Zhengyue was afraid the little girl would have a psychological burden, so she didn’t want to tell her that something had happened at the studio. “Don’t worry, we’ll make time to be together.”

Yun Zhixue’s face almost twisted.

Yun Jing glanced at her wrist and saw the red string. “Who gave you that? Are you in a relationship?”

That sharp look made Yun Zhixue’s breathing stop. She couldn’t tell if she was intimidated by her mother’s authority or if she was startled by the word “relationship.” Her eyes darted to Meng Zhengyue in panic.

Meng Zhengyue said, “I gave it to her. It’s to give the kid a name with the gods so that the gods will protect her wherever she goes.”

“You believe in that?”

Meng Zhengyue shook her head. She was the one who believed in fate the least.

Both the adult and the child in the house were looking at her. Meng Zhengyue told the truth. “I don’t know. I was a little sad at the time, so I wanted to do something. I got it for her. If you think I’ve crossed a line, then just consider me idle.”

Yun Zhixue again hid her hand behind her back, obviously not willing to take it off.

Yun Jing didn’t ask any more questions. She was quite satisfied with Meng Zhengyue’s “idleness.” Meng Zhengyue was born to be charming, and she wasn’t very sincere, but the gentleness about her was captivating.

Meng Zhengyue smiled at her and said, “From now on, you’re the child protected by the gods. The gods will take care of you for a lifetime.”

Yun Zhixue paused.

Meng Zhengyue remembered what she said that day, and she had taken it to heart…

Yun Zhixue got in the car. Meng Zhengyue was also about to leave. She walked over and pinched her cheek. “Don’t work too hard. Eat well, and remember to take your calcium and vitamins every day.”

“Mm, thank you…” Sister? Mommy?

It was so hard to say.

Meng Zhengyue lowered her voice. “Do you still not want to go to school?”

This time, Yun Zhixue didn’t pretend to be tough. She mumbled a “mm.”

Meng Zhengyue said softly, “Your mom, that old-fashioned person, is annoying. I’ll come see you when I have time. I’ll tell you in advance if I’m coming.”

Yun Zhixue listened to the first part and said “okay” loudly.

At school, the girl named Chi from the next class came to find her every day. Chi Ruishou seemed to have decided that Meng Zhengyue was her stepmom and always主动 invited her to eat with her and talked to her about the relationship between a stepdaughter and her stepmom.

The next day was the mock test.

Yun Zhixue had been glued to her phone lately, but Meng Zhengyue hadn’t messaged her. She was also thinking about Meng Zhengyue during the test. She tried very hard to focus on her writing, but there wasn’t enough time. After the test, she immediately knew the result.

She had made a mistake.

The test papers were graded with a machine. The next day, her scores came out. She had dropped one spot, which was unprecedented. She became anxious and couldn’t accept it. She had to pinch herself hard to come back to her senses.

The teachers didn’t dare to look for her. Lately, her family had been putting pressure on the school, taking the surveillance footage, and the homeroom teacher was suspended. Those who had led the bullying were taken to the police station to give statements. Most of them would have it recorded in their files. Even the student who had bumped into her in the cafeteria was found and was required to write a letter of apology. She heard that her mommy had paid someone to analyze the video, not letting go of a single frame.

They only dared to discuss it at home. Yun Zhixue’s biological mother didn’t care about her, but her stepmom was truly protecting her like a precious gem.

Yun Zhixue was deeply affected by the test paper and became more and more gloomy.

Chi Ruishou was worried about her. She came to the classroom to find her and saw her designing a physical lock. She said, “Are you designing a lock for a prison? Why can’t you get in or out?” She didn’t get a response and asked again, “Are you missing your stepmom?”

Yun Zhixue still wanted to correct the word “stepmom.” She busily put away her draft paper.

Chi Ruishou: “Sometimes I miss my stepmom too. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Kids like us who grew up without a mom are very likely to become dependent on their stepmoms.” Chi Ruishou acted as if she had a lot of experience. “No matter how much you try to control it, it’s just a waste of effort.”

Yun Zhixue’s lips moved. “I didn’t.”

Chi Ruishou said, “Do you want me to message her and tell her you’re not in a good state and ask her to come see you? Do you主动 message her? Do you call her?”

“…My goodness. If you don’t call her, are you going to communicate with her through telepathy?”

In the evening, Yun Zhixue didn’t go for dinner. She was holding her phone, tapping on the screen.

The room was still the same as that day—the sofa looked like someone had slept on it, but the pillow had been moved to the bed. Yun Zhixue tidied the room a little, folded the wrinkled nightgown, and hid it in the thin blanket. She put her test papers and the trophies from her previous competitions on the table.

Half an hour later.

The call was connected, and she heard her familiar voice.

“Hello, this is the center of the universe. Which little kid is this?”

Yun Zhixue’s nose felt a little sore.

Meng Zhengyue wanted to tease her. “Did you dial the wrong number? You’re not talking. I’m hanging up?”

Soon, she heard a muffled sob.

“Honey?”

Meng Zhengyue stopped teasing her and her voice softened. “What’s wrong? Were you bullied?”

Meng Zhengyue was quite surprised to receive her call. This kid was usually quiet. You had to take the initiative for her to take one step.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Yun Zhixue was like a parched plant finally getting rain. She couldn’t help but choke up.

Her voice was trembling, and the second sentence came very slowly. “After school on Friday, will you… will you come… will you pick me up after school on Friday?”

Meng Zhengyue’s fingertip picked up the calendar next to her. It was only Wednesday today. She said, “Then don’t cry.”

“Okay.”

Half a minute later, Meng Zhengyue’s tone was a little commanding. “Turn on the video.”

Yun Zhixue didn’t know how to do it. She hung up and immediately called back.

The little girl’s eyes were red, and her eyelashes were wet. Meng Zhengyue thought, “What a crybaby.” She felt a pang of pity and asked patiently what was wrong.

Yun Zhixue was too embarrassed to say she missed her. Her eyes were fixed on Meng Zhengyue, who was sitting at the desk. She whispered, “I’m scared.”

Meng Zhengyue was really busy at the moment, but she put down her work and looked into Yun Zhixue’s eyes, coaxing her not to cry. “I’m here.”

Yun Zhixue stopped crying. When Meng Zhengyue was busy with work, she would occasionally check on her. “Honey, did you eat well? Did you sleep well?”

“No, no, I didn’t. I also failed my test.”

But… for some reason, as Yun Zhixue sat up straight and listened to her questions, she couldn’t help but close her legs. It was strange. It felt a little comfortable, but also… not so comfortable.

“I’m sorry.”

She thought to herself, “I miss you a little.”

Meng Zhengyue looked at her on the video. Her fingers pointed at the area under her eyes, reminding her, “Honey, wipe your tears.”

Yun Zhixue obediently wiped away the tears under her eyes.

Meng Zhengyue said softly, “I’ll order some food for you. Is there anything you want to eat?”

Yun Zhixue thought for a long time. “I want to drink milk.”

Meng Zhengyue had bought her milk last time. After thinking, she ordered a yogurt bowl for her and also found a private kitchen restaurant to order her a proper meal.

The food arrived quickly. Meng Zhengyue watched her cheeks puff up as she ate. A tear, which she had just wiped away, rolled down again. Her fingers felt itchy. She really wanted to pinch the little girl’s face. “If you’re not good again, I’m going to get angry.”

At this moment, Yun Zhixue didn’t dare to look at the video.

She was afraid of being punished, yet she wanted to be punished.

After eating, she cleaned up the table and continued to do her test papers. The phone call was never disconnected. She pretended to check her work, waiting for Meng Zhengyue.

Meng Zhengyue’s sharp eyes noticed. The little girl was in a sensitive period and needed someone to be with her. She didn’t expose her. “Go to sleep. I’ll stay with you while you sleep.”

Yun Zhixue took her phone to bed. She carefully got under the thin blanket and secretly put the nightgown between her legs. The faint scent of gardenia seemed to fill her nostrils. It was like hugging Meng Zhengyue. Meng Zhengyue on the other side didn’t notice anything. She then reached out and hugged the clothes tightly.

Meng Zhengyue didn’t hang up the video call.

Yun Zhixue on the other side of the screen was already asleep. Her breathing was even, but her brows were slightly furrowed. Meng Zhengyue watched her quietly for a while, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the edge of the cup.

—She was dreaming.

In the dream, Yun Zhixue was hugging Meng Zhengyue. She didn’t know where she bit her, but she was thirstily swallowing. This time, there was something else in the dream, but the dream became chaotic. She suddenly ran to ask Yun Jing, “Mom, what should I do next?”

Yun Jing told her, “Get lost!”

She put her finger in her mouth and sucked it gently, trying to relieve her thirst.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her body was hot.

She opened her eyes hazily. Meng Zhengyue was still working. Her profile was beautiful. Her red lips were pursed, and her slender fingers were typing on the keyboard, making a rhythmic light sound. She murmured with heavy sleepiness, “Mommy… finger…”

Meng Zhengyue was startled. She thought her typing had woken her up. She looked at her tenderly, and her voice involuntarily softened. “Okay, I’ll be gentler.”

The dream continued to sink.

She was hot and hugged Meng Zhengyue, asking her mommy what to do. Right in front of Yun Jing, Meng Zhengyue put her finger into her mouth—