Chapter 10

I was beaten to the brink of unconsciousness, yet I stubbornly insisted I knew nothing.

“What’s going on here? Stop it right now!”

The police, drawn by the sounds of the fight, arrested the loan shark. The thug, still acting arrogant, sneered, “Debts must be repaid-it’s only right and proper! Her father owes money, so she has to pay it back!”

Officer Tang sternly warned them, “Right and proper? Let me tell you, debts incurred from gambling are illegal debts. The law does not support creditors in recovering such debts. Your illegal debt collection activities are a serious violation of the law. If I catch you harassing An Rui again, it won’t just be seven days of detention!”

I had gambled correctly. While I sobbed outwardly, I felt a wave of relief wash over me inside.

Officer Tang was indeed a man of integrity. My efforts over the past few days to take this route on purpose had not been in vain.

Officer Tang swept his gaze over my bare-bones rental room. When his eyes landed on my math Olympiad trophy, my breath caught in my throat.

The trophy had a corner chipped off-damaged by a skull.

It’s fine, I kept telling myself. It’s been a month since my father disappeared. For gamblers, abandoning their families, going missing, or even dying is all too common. Even if they tested it, nothing would come of it.

In the end, he merely patted me on the shoulder sympathetically.

“My daughter is in the same class as you. She’s mentioned you before. An Rui, you must never give up on your education. You and your father are independent civil entities. You are not obligated to pay off his gambling debts. If they come to harass you again, call me directly.”

With the help of my teacher, I continued living at school. The loan shark never bothered me again.

I successfully made it through the college entrance exams. On the day I left, I asked Granny Zhang a question.

“Why… why are you willing to help me like this?”

“What’s there to be willing or not willing about? I just want to,” the old woman said, her voice quiet as she turned her gaze to the wall. Following her line of sight, I saw two memorial tablets enshrined there-her daughter’s.

It was only then that I remembered a piece of gossip.

Granny Zhang had lived a hard life. She lost her husband early on, and after years of struggling to raise her daughter, tragedy struck. Her daughter, eight months pregnant, had been abused by her husband and jumped to her death.

Not long after, the man mysteriously disappeared as well.

Perhaps her son-in-law hadn’t fled to escape justice. Perhaps he was right here.

How wonderful, I thought as I wiped down the braising pot.

This way, my father wouldn’t be lonely.