Chapter 100: Don’t Be Afraid I’ll Be Heartbroken

He Jingxuan was furious. “What kind of person is that? She insults us with veiled threats, and then turns around to accuse us of bullying her? Is she crazy?”

“That’s because you really pushed her to the edge!” Song Mingcheng said with a detached smile, taking his time. “Dong Yanyan rarely loses her temper, but when she does, no one can control her. I remember once she got into a fight with a street vendor selling meat skewers; the city inspectors came and confiscated all his goods. Another time, she quarreled with a sales clerk in a mall, and not long after, a big mall went bankrupt. The boldest was when she argued with the owner of a restaurant; the owner, his wife, the chef, the butcher, and the waitstaff—five people—couldn’t stand up to her. She publicly humiliated them, and in the end, they gave her the meal for free. A few days later, I passed by and saw the restaurant had closed and turned into a church, with the owner and his wife inside repenting. Since then, no one dares to mess with her, fearing divine retribution... You’d better be careful.” With that, he shrugged and returned to the classroom.

The three standing in the corridor exchanged glances.

He Jingxuan laughed bitterly at Ren Jiaxuan. “How can she be so fearless? You’re doomed for liking such a jinx. Good luck to you.”

Ren Jiaxuan shook his head with a wry smile and sighed. “She’s so mad at me, yet she accuses me of bullying her... It’s really pointless.” His eyes reddened, and he couldn’t continue.

“Stop thinking about it. Let’s go have some fun and eat something. It’s on me today!” Li Zhe clapped both of them on the shoulder and led them downstairs.

*

Song Mingcheng returned to the classroom to find Dong Yanyan listlessly playing with a pen, her head resting on the desk.

“It’s been a long time since I fought with someone. I almost forgot how it feels,” she said with a touch of melancholy.

Song Mingcheng smiled. “Didn’t it feel good this time?”

Dong Yanyan shook her head. “Not really. It just feels meaningless. He was clearly in the wrong. He insulted me and even tried to hit me. That was too much. It hurts.” She looked sad. “I know he was angry, but... I don’t want to argue with him. But besides fighting, I don’t know how else to face him...” She hesitated, then smiled bitterly. “I think He Jingxuan suits him better. Seeing how they defend each other, if they’re not truly in love, I wouldn’t believe it.”

“This isn’t some faraway place; no one here shares your language,” Song Mingcheng said impatiently.

“Just kidding. Why are you so angry? Never mind, I’m going back to sleep.” Dong Yanyan smiled, didn’t even pick up her books, and moodily returned to the dormitory.

The others in the dorm had just woken up, laughing and chatting as they folded their bedding. Dong Yanyan handed her portable music player to Tiantian, who looked it over and laughed, “Again with this? I’m really afraid this one won’t last either.”

Gu Xiaohan laughed along.

Dong Yanyan climbed up to the top bunk, pulled the curtain closed, and turned on the radio.

“Yanyan, did you eat breakfast? Do you want me to get you a serving later?” Xinran knocked on her bed from below.

Dong Yanyan smiled with a touch of gratitude. This girl had grown thoughtful; she never used to get her food for her.

“No need, I just ate outside,” she said, pulling the blanket over her head, ready to sleep, but found she couldn’t. She hadn’t expected to feel sad over him. She knew she was someone who easily depended on others emotionally, so she always held back, never daring to expect too much from him; she’d seen people flip their attitudes faster than turning a page. She had felt heartbreak and pain before, but after all that, she thought she had become strong enough to be invulnerable. Yet, one harsh word from him still caught her off guard and hurt deeply.

Where had it all gone wrong?

She fell asleep puzzled, dreaming of another fight with Lulu. She laughed wildly to Xu Cheng, “When I argue with others, I feel bad, but why do I feel so light and happy when fighting with Lulu?”

Xu Cheng looked helplessly at her while Lulu sobbed in his arms, crying, “Bad mama, I don’t want you anymore!” The pitiful little face was truly adorable.

Is it only those bound by blood who can forgive each other, forget grudges, and understand the subtlety of “fighting is love, scolding is care”?

That night, she slept deeply, dreaming of those happy moments from the past, not wanting to wake.

In the afternoon, she woke up and stretched comfortably, suddenly feeling her left ear burning in waves.

“My mom’s thinking of me again,” she said, covering her ear with a smile. “Whenever she misses me, my ear heats up.”

“Really?” Gu Xiaohan looked up from the lower bunk and smiled. “When my mom misses me, I sneeze. It’s always right.”

Li Hui snorted. “That’s all psychological.”

Dong Yanyan didn’t argue. No one else could understand the tacit understanding between family members. Though her mother was timid and weak, at times like this, she was still meticulous in her care.

Just then, the phone on the windowsill rang. Li Hui picked it up casually, said hello, then widened her eyes in surprise. She waved to Dong Yanyan, whispering, “Old Five, it’s your phone. Your mom’s calling!”

Dong Yanyan jumped down excitedly, took the receiver, and called, “Mom!”

Her mother’s familiar voice came through. “Yanyan, your voice sounds off. Are you sick?”

Dong Yanyan felt warmth in her heart and smiled. “No, I just woke up, still a bit dazed. Where are you calling from?”

“Your dad and I went to town to buy some things and stopped by the post office to call you. Why haven’t you written home for so long?” her mother asked gently.

Dong Yanyan felt guilty. Since returning home after graduation, she had rarely written letters. She only called a few times a month. After marriage, she often argued with her parents-in-law and her mother, and sometimes went months without visiting home out of spite. In their eyes, she was no longer part of the family once married, so why bother clinging on?

“Yanyan, why aren’t you saying anything? Is the signal bad?”

“Oh, no, I just overslept today and am still groggy. Isn’t the final exam coming up this month? When I get busy, I forget to write. Is everything okay at home?” Dong Yanyan asked.

“Everything’s fine. You’re busy with school, so don’t worry about home. Take care of yourself and don’t get too tired. It’s cold; dress warmly when you go out. By the way, is your money enough? Should we mail you some more?” her mother chattered on.

For the first time, Dong Yanyan didn’t find her mother’s nagging annoying. Since Lulu was born, her mother both hated and feared her, afraid of being attached to her. Back then, she was alone raising the child, never expecting her mother to help, but even a single proactive call would have been welcome. Not once did that happen. She didn’t know how lonely and bitter she felt then, like an abandoned child with no one to love or care for her.

That thought chilled her heart.

“Mom, everything’s fine here, don’t worry. I have a month before the holiday, and I have enough money. You and Dad take care of yourselves,” her voice unintentionally turned cold.

There was a pause on the other end, then, “Yanyan, your dad wants to talk to you.”

Her father’s voice came through the phone, chatting endlessly about this year’s harvest, today’s weather, the flowers at home, and the pig's trotters and potatoes he saved for her.

“It’s freezing today. I was driving the tractor with thick cotton gloves, and my hands went numb. The snow made the roads slippery; several cars slipped off the road. I helped push them up. I would have called you this morning, but your mom sprained her ankle and just came back from the clinic. It’ll be better by New Year. The village chief said they’ll string the telephone lines for the village during the New Year, so it’ll be easier to call you. You’re doing well, right?”

Her father was like that—unlike her mother, who kept things bottled up, he expressed his hardships openly, though in an understated way, inevitably letting her know.

She imagined them in the freezing weather, wearing thick coats and scarves, driving a slow tractor through over ten kilometers of icy snow, walking half an hour in the howling cold wind, their cheeks and hands covered in thick frost—all just to call their daughter far away to check if she was safe, well-fed, and warm.

Suddenly, tears streamed down her face. She knew her personality was difficult; the closer she was to someone, the harsher she was, and the less she could tolerate their flaws or neglect. She wanted to change but never could, losing control when emotions surged.

*

When the evening study bell rang, Dong Yanyan finally strolled back to the classroom with her books. Song Mingcheng glanced up and smiled faintly. “Slept the whole day again?”

“What do you mean ‘again’? I’ve been busy all week. Isn’t it fair to reward myself with a lazy day on the weekend?” Dong Yanyan teased.

“Your dad called me this afternoon. He was hinting, asking if you were sick or if your grades were bad and the teacher scolded you. He kept telling me to take good care of you—are you not calling home anymore? You’re making them worried,” Song Mingcheng scolded gently.

Dong Yanyan smiled bitterly. She didn’t know why her father trusted Song Mingcheng so much, telling him everything. No wonder he always treated her like a burden. What could she do about her dad’s big mouth?

“They called me. There’s no phone at home. Besides, even if they care so much now, what good does it do? After graduation, they’ll just abandon me, won’t they?” she said lightly.