Chapter 10

Chapter 10

After Zhou Ming was formally detained, Zhou’s Mother came to see me once.

She didn’t come inside. She stood downstairs from my studio.

I had started taking freelance design jobs again, and had rented a tiny office.

When Zhou’s Mother saw me, the first thing she said was still the same old line.

“Lin Zhi, do you really have to go this far?”

I slipped my access card into my pocket.

“Your son is suspected of forging signatures, administering harmful substances, and financial fraud. I am not the one taking things too far.”

Her face went pale and ashen.

“He’s still young.”

“My child was even younger.”

That shut her up.

After a while, her tone suddenly softened.

“I admit I treated you badly before. But Xiao Yue really does love you. During this time, for your sake, he even turned his back on his family.”

I looked at her.

“Auntie, do you still think Zhou Yue abandoned the Zhou Family because of me?”

She frowned.

I said, “He did it to pull himself out of your mess.”

“It has nothing to do with me.”

Zhou’s Mother’s lips trembled.

She probably wasn’t used to me speaking to her like this.

In the past, whenever I was in front of her, I always tried to be polite.

When she said the soup was too salty, I made it again.

When she said my work was unstable, I smiled and explained.

When she said I had no upbringing, I endured it and didn’t talk back.

Back then, I thought that if I just put up with it, Zhou Yue would notice.

Only later did I understand that patience didn’t necessarily earn you appreciation. Sometimes, it only made people think you were easy to bully.

Zhou’s Mother was about to say something else.

A car pulled up by the roadside.

Zhou Yue got out.

When he saw his mother, his steps paused for a moment.

Zhou’s Mother immediately turned to him.

“Xiao Yue, you came at the right time. Tell her Zhou Ming can’t go to prison. If he ends up with a criminal record, his whole life will be ruined.”

Zhou Yue walked to my side, but he didn’t step in front of me.

He only asked me, “Do you need me to handle this?”

I said, “No.”

He nodded and stood beside me, waiting.

Zhou’s Mother looked at him in disbelief.

“I’m your mother.”

Zhou Yue said, “That’s why I won’t report you for covering for him.”

Zhou’s Mother froze.

“But Zhou Ming’s case cannot be withdrawn.”

“And the evidence that you had someone forge Lin Zhi’s signature for Nanting Guarantee has already been obtained by the police.”

His voice was very steady.

“Mom, don’t come looking for her again.”

Tears fell from Zhou’s Mother’s eyes.

“You’re abandoning your own mother for her?”

Zhou Yue looked at her and was silent for a long time.

“Mom, I used to be too afraid of hearing you say that.”

He spoke in a low voice.

“That’s why I let her suffer so many grievances.”

“I won’t let that happen again.”

Zhou’s Mother left in tears.

I stood where I was, and suddenly felt as if my shoulders had become very light.

Not because Zhou Yue had spoken up for me.

But because just now, I had finally stopped smoothing things over for anyone else.