It's All Because of Me (Taking a Leave for One Update)

Evening self-study ended.

Wang Qin's legs felt like lead, yet every step felt like stepping on cotton, soft and powerless.

Her mind was a mushy paste. Zhou Nianqian's disgusting face and every word he had said buzzed in her head like flies, lingering stubbornly.

Zhou Nianqian's relentless pressure left her at a loss for what to do.

She had been in a daze all day.

She didn't even notice that she had already arrived downstairs at her apartment building.

As she looked up, a familiar silhouette caught her eye.

It was her dad.

The dim yellow light from the streetlamp slanted down, cutting his figure into halves of light and shadow.

He was hunched over, leaning against the mottled wall, a speck of crimson flickering between his fingers.

As the wind blew, cigarette ash fluttered down.

Wang Qin stopped in her tracks.

She walked over and, by the light, clearly saw the mess at his feet.

The ground was littered with cigarette butts.

How long had he been smoking? A whole pack? Or more?

Dad...

The voice squeezed from her throat carried a hoarseness and tremble that she herself didn't notice.

Father Wang suddenly snapped back to reality, as if pulled out from deep water, his eyes still a bit unfocused.

Hmm? School is out? Is it already this late?

He hurriedly pressed the cigarette in his hand against the wall, crushed it out, tossed it at his feet, and stomped on it a couple of times.

Immediately after, he began to frantically pat his clothes, his movements clumsy and eager, as if doing so could scatter the stale smell of tobacco that had seeped into his bones.

It was purely in vain.

Let us go, let us head home. Your mom must be getting anxious. Father Wang forced a smile, trying to make himself look no different from usual.

But Wang Qin didn't move.

Her feet were like nails, firmly wedged into the concrete ground.

She looked up, staring unblinkingly at her father's face, which was carved with the marks of time and sorrow.

Dad, her voice was very light, yet exceptionally clear. How about... I just agree to his demands.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Wang Qin herself was stunned for a moment.

It turned out that the lines she had rehearsed countless times in her heart were so easy to say, yet so incredibly difficult.

She began to justify herself, as if trying to persuade the man in front of her whose hair had turned white from worrying about her.

It is just for these next two years, right? Our family can catch a breath, and you and Mom won't have to be so tired. If others hate me, let them hate me. Anyway, once I get into college and move to another city, who will even know who I am?

Right, they would part ways, and that would be the end of it.

She had been using these words to numb herself all day.

But conscience was a stubborn and abrasive thing; it simply couldn't be crushed or swallowed down.

But now, looking at the tangled bloodshot veins in her father's eyes, and the pile of cigarette butts on the ground that witnessed his silent torment.

Wang Qin felt that the hard, abrasive stone in her heart was about to be worn smooth.

She could be the bad guy, she could betray her friend, she could let Jiang Yunlu down.

But how could she watch her parents be crushed?

In this life, one always has to pick a side.

If she only had to sacrifice herself, that would be fine.

But on the other side of this choice was her parents' lifeblood and sweat from half a lifetime.

She couldn't afford to lose.

Wang Qin took a deep breath. The smell of tobacco mixed with the chill of the night air choked her lungs until they ached.

She was almost ready to nod, almost ready to voice that decision.

Just then, the phone in her pocket rang.

She numbly took out her phone.

The screen lit up, reflecting her devastated face.

The three characters on the caller ID were like three red-hot steel needles, piercing viciously into her pupils.

Jiang Yunlu.

Are you here to judge me in advance? Wang Qin murmured.

Her fingertip hovered over the screen for a long time, but eventually swiped toward the green answer button in resignation.

Hello, Yunlu, what is wrong?

Qin, are you home yet? The voice on the other end was as gentle as ever, even carrying a hint of concern.

This concern only made the string in Wang Qin's heart pull even tighter.

Just arrived downstairs. What is it, did you leave something at school? She tried hard to make her voice sound normal, but the trailing end still leaked an imperceptible tremble.

No, I just found out that Zhou Nianqian made a move against you.

One crisp, straightforward sentence instantly shattered all of Wang Qin's disguises.

She froze entirely.

A rush of heat surged into her eyes without warning, and a wad of scalding cotton seemed to block her throat. When she opened her mouth again, only broken sobs came out.

Yun... Yunlu...

That uncontrollable crying was like a sharp knife, stabbing into Jiang Yunlu's heart through the receiver.

She could clearly feel just how much fear and grievance Wang Qin was carrying on those frail shoulders.

There, there, do not cry.

Jiang Yunlu's voice grew urgent, yet it still carried a reassuring strength. Listen, no matter what Zhou Nianqian has done to your family, even if the sky falls, I will hold it up for you. So, do not be afraid.

Instead of stopping her tears, these words were like opening a floodgate.

Wang Qin cried even harder, overwhelmed with immense guilt.

I am sorry, Yunlu. I am so sorry.

Silly!

Jiang Yunlu grew anxious on her end as well. You did not do anything wrong, why are you apologizing? This whole thing started because of me. I am the one who dragged you into this. I should be the one apologizing!

Hearing the heart-wrenching sobs through the phone, Jiang Yunlu knew that verbal comfort was no longer enough.

Send me your address. I am coming over right now.

Not allowing Wang Qin to refuse, the call hung up.

Less than half an hour later, a Bentley glided silently into the residential complex and parked downstairs from Wang Qin's home.

Jiang Chengshan drove the car himself.

At a time like this, he felt that only by showing up personally could he give Wang Qin and her family enough a sense of security.

As soon as the door opened, the two girls hugged each other tightly. Wang Qin buried her face in the crook of Jiang Yunlu's neck. The fear and despair she had accumulated all day finally found an outlet, and she wailed loudly.

Jiang Chengshan looked at Wang Qin's parents, who were standing off to the side at a loss. He gave a slight nod and took the initiative to step forward and greet them politely.

Then, he cut straight to the chase.

No matter what Zhou Nianqian does, we can cover you. Since he bought out your workplace, you can come work at our family's company.

Jiang Chengshan took a business card out of his pocket and handed it over.

This is my assistant's number. Have him arrange a job for you tomorrow. You can take your pick from any of the subsidiaries under my group. No matter how long Zhou Nianqian's reach is, he cannot stretch his hand into my bowl.

Wang Qin's parents were stunned. Looking at the gold-embossed business card, they didn't dare reach out to take it for a moment.

Jiang Chengshan didn't mind at all. He placed the business card on the table, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather.

Your salary and benefits will be doubled from what you previously had. Consider it my apology on behalf of Yunlu for the scare you have suffered.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the still-sobbing Wang Qin, and added another sentence.

Also, do not worry about the issue with Zhou Nianqian. We will handle things on that end and will not let him continue to disrupt your lives.