I Am Responsible for My Own Life

Bai Yuyou walked to the first floor and then trotted to the door.

"Beep." After the door opened, the middle-aged woman standing outside made the girl pause for a moment. She then said softly, "Hello."

The person outside was, of course, Aunt Xian. She was wearing a white business dress, simple yet elegant. She took off her sunglasses, her eyes filled with joy upon seeing Bai Yuyou. "Good girl."

Bai Yuyou, however, wasn't sure what to say. Her feelings towards Aunt Xian were naturally very complex, even resistant. But this resistance stemmed from Aunt Xian's intention to forcibly take her away from Ye Shuang's side.

If Aunt Xian gave up on that plan, Bai Yuyou would still be willing to communicate with her.

"I bought a lot of fruit and snacks, take a look... I originally wanted to buy a better gift, but Shuang said bringing food would be fine." Aunt Xian was holding quite a few things. Seeing this, Bai Yuyou reached out to take them. "Let me carry them."

"Thank you."

At this moment, Ye Shuang and Tang Keke also came downstairs.

"Auntie, hello," Tang Keke greeted, though she seemed a bit reserved. After all, Keke was usually lively only around close people and a little socially anxious around outsiders.

"Aunt Xian," Ye Shuang also greeted. It was actually he who had invited her over.

In the end, Aunt Xian had agreed to Ye Shuang's suggestion, planning to stay in Haizhu City for a while. Coincidentally, Ye Shuang was moving, so he rented the apartment to her. Initially, Ye Shuang didn't intend to charge, but Aunt Xian still transferred fifty thousand yuan, planning to stay for half a year.

Although Ye Shuang had considered letting Aunt Xian stay with them since there were plenty of rooms, upon further thought, Bai Yuyou was still too clingy towards him, even burrowing into his embrace at the slightest chance and insisting on sleeping together with her pillow at night.

If Aunt Xian saw this, Ye Shuang was afraid she might say something or criticize the behavior as inappropriate, ultimately causing Bai Yuyou to resent her.

Ye Shuang's approach to Bai Yuyou had always been to gradually correct her behavior and help her become a little more independent step by step.

Just like the matter of sleeping in separate beds, it was about slowly acclimating the child to accept it, like boiling a frog in warm water.

But Aunt Xian, after all, didn't understand Bai Yuyou well. So after careful consideration, Ye Shuang still chose not to have her live with them. After all, people from different age groups have a generation gap, and conflicts arising from differing values are often irreconcilable. Only by maintaining reasonable boundaries can relationships be better.

To give a simple example: when a child goes away for school and doesn't come home for a long time, parents miss them and ask when they'll return. But once the child stays home for a while, parents start complaining about why they're always at home.

As the saying goes, when away studying, they're doted on with constant concern; when home on holiday, they're disliked by everyone, even the dog.

"The house is very beautiful. How much did it cost?" Aunt Xian also looked around at the decoration. Of course, she personally preferred more lavish decor, even having a wall cabinet filled with luxury goods, so she didn't have much feeling for this minimalist, fresh style. But to start a conversation, she still complimented it.

"Over nine hundred." Ye Shuang wasn't sure of the exact price either, so he gave a rough figure and then asked Aunt Xian, "Aunt Xian, please have a seat first. I'll prepare lunch in a bit."

"Okay, good." Aunt Xian also sat on the sofa. She noticed Bai Yuyou chatting with Tang Keke, seemingly discussing something interesting. Even though the girl's expression didn't change much, Aunt Xian could still sense she was in a good mood.

Aunt Xian watched silently, suddenly thinking that perhaps Ye Shuang was right.

Compared to the first time she met Bai Yuyou, when the other could barely speak, she now seemed much more mature.

But what mother wouldn't want to keep her child by her side?

As Aunt Xian thought, for some reason, she suddenly remembered Alice.

Since learning that Alice was her husband's illegitimate child, Aunt Xian could no longer treat her normally. Alice could be a stranger's unwanted child, or even the child of an acquaintance, but she absolutely could not be her husband's illegitimate child.

The thought that Alice was the child her husband had with another woman, the thought that she was raising her rival's child, the thought of the invisible stigma she bore—all these filled Aunt Xian's heart with endless discomfort.

So much so that now, she avoided Alice.

"Water." A voice from beside her interrupted Aunt Xian's thoughts. She turned and found Bai Yuyou handing her a glass of water.

"Okay, good girl." Aunt Xian smiled and took the glass. She was just about to pull Bai Yuyou into more conversation when Bai Yuyou got up and went straight over to Ye Shuang.

Aunt Xian felt a bit regretful, but thinking that she would be staying here for a while, she wasn't too disheartened.

Well, a mother like her... couldn't even protect her own child.

Made her suffer so much.

"Sigh..." Just as Aunt Xian sighed inwardly, she noticed a plate appearing beside her again.

She looked up, startled, and saw Bai Yuyou had walked back, holding a plate of cut fruit.

"Eat fruit," Bai Yuyou said.

"Ah, oh..." Aunt Xian stared blankly at the girl. Bai Yuyou also sat down, picked up a piece of apple, and put it in her mouth.

Then two pieces, three pieces, four pieces...

Like a little hamster, she cleared the plate in no time.

Seeing the fruit was almost gone, Bai Yuyou, still chewing, seemed to realize something. She slightly raised her eyes to look at Aunt Xian. "Sorry, I ate a bit too much."

"Eating more is good," Aunt Xian immediately said with a beaming smile, not knowing why watching Bai Yuyou eat gave her an indescribable sense of happiness.

Like observing a little animal.

"The fruit is delicious. Thank you," Bai Yuyou said.

Hearing this, Aunt Xian felt something stir in her heart for some reason. "Good girl, can I give you a hug?"

Bai Yuyou, however, leaned back slightly.

Aunt Xian's hand froze, then she awkwardly withdrew it. "It's okay, it's okay, I was just saying."

"If you won't take me away, then yes," Bai Yuyou spoke up at this moment.

"Isn't it good to come back to your mother's side?" Aunt Xian asked.

"I am an adult," Bai Yuyou said seriously. "I... have my own choices. Ye Shuang said that an adult can make decisions for their own life and take responsibility for their own life."

"This is my own decision."

Aunt Xian listened, stunned, feeling a bit dazed.

Right... she's no longer a child, nor is she as young as Alice.

For Bai Yuyou to say such mature words, it seemed Ye Shuang really had raised her well.

When she needed someone the most, someone else was already there, shielding her from the wind and rain.

Aunt Xian reached out and pulled Bai Yuyou into an embrace, whispering,

"I'm sorry, good girl. It's my fault. You're right... this is your decision. Mom was too selfish."

"In the future, I won't talk about taking you back to the Hong Kong area anymore."

Hearing this, Bai Yuyou's hands also rose slightly and gently hugged her back.

In the kitchen, Ye Shuang and Keke peeked out, secretly watching. They then looked at each other and ducked back in.