Chapter 157: [Passing the Imperial Examination] Ashamed to Admit
Han Yingying didn’t even dare to imagine the truth.
All she could think about was her mother working tirelessly day and night, skimping on everything, refusing to eat a single extra bite of food, all to put her through school.
She had seen her mother wake up at three-thirty in the morning to prepare breakfast, then head out at five to set up a food stall outside another middle school.
Her mother didn’t dare set up her stall near her own school, terrified that someone might recognize her, laugh at her daughter, or look down on her.
Then, after packing up the stall at eight, her mother would head to a supermarket to work as a manual laborer. After a full day of endless toil, she slept less than four hours a night.
On top of all that, she would run back every evening just to cook dinner for her.
Later, when her food cart was confiscated by city inspectors, her mother was forced to switch jobs and work in an electronics factory instead.
She worked from seven-thirty in the morning until ten at night, 365 days a year without a single day off.
And she earned a paltry three thousand yuan a month.
She didn’t want the apple her mother worked so hard for and couldn’t bear to eat; she wanted her mother to eat that apple herself.
Yet her mother always said, “Mom can’t bear to eat it. Mom got this specially for you. If you really care about Mom, then study hard. That’s the only way you won’t let Mom down.”
She felt so much pain.
She was in absolute agony.
This love was far too heavy. Her mother was always saying she was sensible, that she didn’t understand her hardship, that she didn’t study hard.
But she understood everything. It was precisely because she understood that she couldn’t take it anymore.
She didn’t want her mother to work herself to the bone, putting on flattering smiles for strangers just to earn a few dozen extra yuan to buy her eggs and milk.
She wanted her mother to sit down and eat an egg with her.
Her mother constantly said: I’m doing all of this for you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be suffering like this right now.
So, she truly didn’t want her mother to suffer so much. She wished her mother would stop hurting herself for her sake.
And so, they would argue over this exact issue.
Every argument invariably included the same exchange.
“I never asked you to suffer so much! Why can’t you be nicer to yourself? Did I force you to suffer like this?!”
“Then who am I suffering for?! Isn’t it all so you can get into a good university?! If you don’t get into university, no one will ever respect you! Sooner or later, you’ll end up discarded like me!”
And then her mother would inevitably burst into a weeping breakdown.
“Why can’t you just show me a little consideration? How can you be so unfilial?”
Her mother wept as she spoke, her frail body looking so thin a gust of wind could knock her over.
Yet that same body could shoulder a full tub of drinking water and carry it all the way up the stairs, just so her daughter could drink clean water.
Han Yingying didn’t know what to do. Her heart throbbed with intense pain, yet she didn’t dare to cry, because her mother was already crying.
She didn’t dare resent her mother, because her mother was genuinely good to her. Her mother loved her, and she loved her mother too.
She only hated herself—why couldn’t she get good grades?
She hated how much of a useless failure she was! Why was she so worthless? Why couldn’t she learn? Why? Why?!
She studied with every fiber of her being—she was really trying her absolute best!!!
So, when the results of that final mock exam came out, she truly felt she shouldn’t exist in this world anymore.
Her very existence was a crime, inflicting so much pain and pressure onto her mother.
She thought that if she died, her mother wouldn’t have to carry those crushing burdens anymore.
Her mother could eat the eggs and milk she bought for herself.
Her mother could sleep a little longer.
Her mother wouldn’t have to put on fake smiles for anyone ever again.
Yet that wasn’t what happened. After her death, she saw her mother fall into an even deeper agony, accusing her in a total breakdown.
Everyone said she was in the wrong—how could she just go and die?
She was utterly lost.
When she discovered that someone else would replace her as her mother’s daughter, she didn’t feel afraid, nor did she mind. Instead, a secret sense of joy and relief washed over her.
Especially when Bai Cha appeared.
What an outstanding, considerate, and gentle daughter she was.
She even felt that if she were the mother, having a daughter like Bai Cha would bring her absolute happiness.
But now!
Now she was being told that everything! All her pain! Her mother’s suffering! Every single bit of it!!!
Was! All! Man-made!
Someone had stolen everything from her!!!
Resentment erupted in an instant. All past agony, all negative emotions, every shred of self-harm and self-loathing transformed into raw, burning hatred in a single breath.
The aura surrounding her skyrocketed, and even her shattered face began to reconstruct itself.
Bai Cha’s hand was still clamped in her grip, the bones in her wrist letting out a strained, agonizing creak.
Bai Cha let out a gasp of pain, tears welling up in her eyes.
Han Yingying met her tear-stained, pitiful gaze and froze.
She immediately lowered her head, instinctively releasing her hold. Bai Cha pulled her hand back, her entire body trembling in pain. A dark, swollen bruise in the distinct shape of a handprint stood out with terrifying clarity on her wrist, rapidly puffing up.
The churning hatred within Han Yingying ground to a sudden halt, replaced once again by a surge of overwhelming guilt.
“Sister… I-I’m sorry…”
Bai Cha closed her eyes, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye.
Opening her eyes, she shook her head and offered a weak smile.
“You don’t need to blame yourself. I know you didn’t mean to. It’s alright—it’s my left hand anyway, so it won’t affect tomorrow’s exam.”
Hearing these words made Han Yingying feel even more ashamed.
Even at a moment like this, Bai Cha was still thinking about playing her role to make her mother happy, yet she had nearly broken her arm.
“I…”
“I’m really fine. I’m telling you all this because I hope you can pass this information along to the other students. But… it’s probably best if you find a quiet place to talk.”
When Bai Cha paused, her eyes specifically lingered on the churning ghost aura surrounding the girl.
Han Yingying felt even more appalled at her own behavior—she had almost hurt her savior.
She nodded repeatedly, agreeing to whatever Bai Cha said.
As long as it didn’t involve hurting her mother, she would do anything.
“For now, let’s just tell a few classmates from our class. By the way, did you know each other before?”
“No. Everyone came from all over the country, and we rarely talked to one another.”
Bai Cha nodded.
“Then let’s stick to telling a few classmates in our class first. As for the rest, I’ll figure out a way on my end so we can notify everyone together later. We have to get our revenge eventually, don’t we?”
Han Yingying nodded heavily, a crimson glint flashing in her eyes once more.
This time, however, she reined in her power.
A look of gratification appeared on Bai Cha’s face.
“Alright, dawn should be breaking soon. Remember to coordinate with me as usual today.”
Han Yingying nodded, but then hesitated. “Do we still need to scare Mom? Wouldn’t it be better to just tell her directly…”
“If we tell her directly and Mom exposes it in a panic, what if the other party develops murderous intent? That’s why I said you need to protect Mom.”
“I’ll definitely be investigating this matter moving forward. If the other party finds out, they certainly won’t let us off the hook.”
Han Yingying’s expression turned fierce. “He wouldn’t dare!”
She then patted her chest and declared, “Don’t worry, Sister! I’ll protect both of you.”
Bai Cha smiled softly.
“Just protect Mom.”
After all… as ashamed as she was to admit it, now that Han Yingying was certain her mother was safe, she would willingly hand over her power to her, wouldn’t she?
Going through all this trouble wasn’t just for the sake of clearing the instance.
