Zhou Lanfang held her waist and complained, "My back pain flares up from time to time, you know that, don’t you? How could I possibly carry both kids to school? And with no thugs bothering Mianmian, it’s better for her just to walk. A young girl should get more exercise as she grows."
Expecting her to take them to school?
In the next life, maybe!
Shen Mianmian scoffed. Wasn’t her short stature due to malnutrition? Dıscover more novels at 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝕟𝕖𝕥
He knew about his wife’s back pain, but how could he bring himself to ask his daughter to walk to school?
The school was a thirty to forty minute walk from here.
Seeing his difficulty, Shen Mianmian took the opportunity to say, "Dad, I can hitch a ride with a classmate."
After all, she never counted on Zhou Lanfang to give her a lift.
Shen Jianhua was not keen on Shen Mianmian getting too close to male classmates, but he couldn’t really make his daughter walk miles back and forth, could he?
"Mianmian, once Dad has made some money, I’ll buy you a new bicycle," he said.
Shen Mianmian didn’t take his promise to heart.
She was about to finish the ninth grade in just over two months; would she even need a bicycle then?
Shen Jianhua then turned to Zhou Siyu, instructing, "Siyu, don’t rush off after school. Wait for your aunt to pick you up. And don’t be afraid of those small-time hooligans in the neighborhood. I’ve left your aunt the phone number for that place. If anything happens, call me."
As the only man in the house, he was the pillar of the family. Regardless of his abilities, he couldn’t let anyone bully them.
Zhou Siyu nodded obediently, "Uncle Dad, you also need to take care of yourself over there. Dress warmly and don’t get sick."
"Don’t worry about me, I’ll take care of myself over there."
Watching Siyu’s considerate expression and comparing it to his daughter’s indifference, Shen Jianhua sighed to himself. No wonder his wife favored Siyu; she was indeed more endearing.
Though he thought this, his face revealed none of it.
On the contrary, he showed even more concern for Shen Mianmian than before.
"Mianmian, study hard at school. When you said you scored first in three subjects, I thought I heard wrong. It wasn’t until I asked your mother back at home that I learned it was true. Dad is really proud of you," he said.
Shen Mianmian’s eyes brightened, "Dad, are you really happy for me?"
Shen Jianhua smiled, "Of course, you’re my daughter. How could I not be happy when you score first in three subjects? It’s just that I’m not very good at expressing my emotions."
Shen Mianmian pursed her lips, feeling a sudden twinge in her nose and her eyes reddened, "I thought you didn’t want me to do well on the tests."
"How could that be?" Shen Jianhua gently patted her hair. "Dad spends money on your schooling in the hopes that you will achieve something. Study hard, and as long as you’re capable, I will support your education, even if I have to pawn everything I have."
Seeing his daughter’s reddening eyes, Shen Jianhua felt a pang of pain in his heart. No matter his past decisions or what he would do in the future, this moment, these words, came sincerely from his heart.
Seeing Shen Jianhua’s heartfelt gaze, Shen Mianmian herself started to feel uncertain.
Had she misunderstood Shen Jianhua before? If she excelled in her studies, would he really support her going to college?
She composed herself, "Dad, don’t worry, I will study hard."
Just this once, if he didn’t lie to her, she would believe that in his heart, she was still his daughter.