Luo Feng entered Luo Zhenggang's study, and Luo Ye couldn't help but sneak over, her ear pressed against the door. Thankfully, Luo Zhenggang wasn't loudly scolding Luo Feng and seemed to be speaking earnestly to him. Interspersed with Luo Feng's replies, although Luo Ye couldn't make out the content of their conversation, overall the feeling seemed positive. Luo Ye let out a sigh of relief and quietly moved back to the living room.
Wen Xin couldn't help but chuckle affectionately at her daughter's cautious manner: "Ye'er, your dad is right. Your changes are good ones. You really are Mom's good girl!"
"I was afraid Dad would scold me for eavesdropping!" After assuming her position, Luo Ye gently breathed a sigh of relief: "Mom, I'm going to help at the recreation center tomorrow to earn some food money for the dog in advance!"
"Ye'er..." Wen Xin turned down the heat on the simmering soup and walked over to her daughter: "Don't be mad at your dad. He just wants you to become more responsible."
"I understand!" Luo Ye had been secretly delighted about Luo Zhenggang's suggestion. How could she be mad at him?
She had been pondering over how to make a reasonable request to her mom to allow her to go to the recreation center, but now Luo Zhenggang had effortlessly solved the dilemma for her.
Wen Xin gently combed Luo Ye's hair back from her forehead and pulled her daughter to sit down: "Ye'er, you're upset with Mom for not understanding why you're keeping your hair so scruffy. Actually, Mom didn't interfere because she feels that, with Ye'er's looks, it's safer to keep them hidden. Do you understand what Mom means?"
Luo Ye hugged Wen Xin's arm, laughing: "Mom, I was just talking out of anger that day. Don't take it to heart. I understand what you mean, and I feel the same way!"
Wen Xin nodded, smiling: "It's good that Ye'er understands, but Mom has given it some more thought and feels like she was worrying over nothing. These days, security is good, and if conditions allow, which girl doesn't dress up beautifully? How about cutting your hair tomorrow, okay?"
"Mom, there's no rush, let's wait a little longer. Mom..." Luo Ye pulled Wen Xin to sit on the sofa: "I'll also tell Mom the real reason why I've been keeping my hair this way. Remember when I was in junior high with a ponytail, fresh and lively?"
To change Mom's overly tender nature, she had to confide some of her hardships to her.
Wen Xin glanced at Luo Ye disapprovingly: "How could I not remember? Every stage of my daughter's life is etched in my mind."
"Okay, I wronged Mom, sorry!" Luo Ye hugged Wen Xin's arm, indulging in memories: "Once in junior high, everyone felt like they had grown from children into adults, and each one dressed up prettily. I may have been timid, but a girl's innate desire for beauty is universal. Mom and Dad's good genes blessed me with good looks, and my studies were also strong, naturally attracting a lot of attention from boys. This included the sports class monitor, Zhu Jiangyu..." Seeing the worry on Wen Xin's face, Luo Ye quickly explained: "Mom, don't worry, Ye'er didn't have the bravery for puppy love back then. I didn't understand those things!
Our class representative, Pan Yan, also liked Zhu Jiangyu. Or rather, the tall and handsome Zhu Jiangyu was regarded as Prince Charming by all the girls in the class. At the age of fourteen or fifteen, we might seem like ignorant children to adults, but we ourselves feel grown enough to take on everything. Students began to pass little notes around to express their feelings.
I also received a note from Zhu Jiangyu, Mom. Even though I was young and didn't quite understand, receiving his note was still very exciting. Unfortunately, my deskmate saw it, and later on, Pan Yan, whose father was the principal and also favored for her good grades, found out. Once Pan Yan knew Zhu Jiangyu had written to me, she encouraged the class to ostracize me.
During that time, I was indeed isolated, without a single person to talk to. My already timid nature turned even more introverted.
Pan Yan didn't let up. She left notes for Zhu Jiangyu, which went unanswered, so one day after school she brought several girls and cornered me in the classroom.
They called me a vixen, said I had my mother's seductive phoenix eyes, always enchanting people, and threatened to disfigure me if I dared show my face again to lure men.
At that time, I was extremely scared. I wanted to tell my parents, but I swallowed my words every time I was about to speak. From then on, I let my hair down to cover half of my face so no one could see my eyes. I stopped dressing up, and every day was filled with terror, which naturally led to my academics plummeting.
When it came time for high school, I was determined to apply to Second High just to leave that school and get away from Pan Yan. But I didn't expect that Pan Yan's cousin, Pan Fang, because her home was near Second High, also chose to apply there, becoming my classmate.
After getting into high school, Pan Yan used her dad's connections to be assigned to the same class as Zhu Jiangyu. However, Zhu Jiangyu was always lukewarm towards her, so she blamed everything on me.
In reality, Zhu Jiangyu and I hardly even spoke a few words, especially after I changed my look, his glance towards me was obviously one of disappointment.
Why would a golden boy like him like a girl who's both bad at studies and sloppy looking? Maybe Pan Yan had just gotten into the habit of bullying me?
Mom, I'm not changing my appearance right now not because I'm afraid of her, but because I don't think I have the ability to protect myself yet. I'll train myself for a while longer, and after summer break, I'll give you back a beautiful and refreshed daughter, how about that?"
Ye'er..." Wen Xin hugged Luo Ye tightly, choking back tears: "It's all my fault, I never knew my daughter suffered so much. I always thought that children's squabbles and arguments were no big deal, I never expected kids nowadays to be so malicious!"
"Mom, don't cry, see, I've made it through, haven't I? It'll get better in the future!" Luo Ye comforted Wen Xin, her simple and kind-hearted mother, how could she express this?
Wen Xin suddenly looked at Luo Ye worriedly: "Ye'er, from what you're saying, if you dress up pretty, Pan Yan will rally people to deal with you, right?"
"Mom, not necessarily. I'm just being cautious. There's this saying, 'What you can't get is always the most attractive.' Maybe that's how Pan Yan feels about Zhu Jiangyu.
She's been chasing him for so many years, and Zhu Jiang never showed much interest in her; the key point is that besides the note he once wrote to me, Zhu Jiang has never shown any interest in other girls.
So, all these years, your daughter has been Pan Yan's obsession. What if she finds out I've become pretty, becomes suspicious, and brings her cousins to confront me?
With my current ability to fight off several people at once, it seems impossible. That's why I first need to become stronger, then I can change my appearance.
Whether I'm pretty or not is secondary; the key is to have a good spirit. Let everyone in our compound also know that the son and daughter of Mayor Luo are no weaklings!"
Here's the first update from Nuan. Starting today, Nuan will update twice daily, adding one more update for every 300 points. Guys, support Nuan Bar.