History rolls forward, a vast cycle, and it's also fine to be alone...

The Tang residence.

"Mom, I'm back."

Clack, clack, clack. The crisp sound of high heels echoed from outside the Tang family courtyard, growing clearer. Tang Yuyao's voice drifted in; she had returned from buying yarn.

Clatter.

"Hiss... oh my... bang!" Just as she reached the doorway, Tang Yuyao tripped over her own threshold and nearly fell. Furious, she turned around and kicked the threshold.

Quite petty of her. Even though kicking it only hurt herself, she just had to get her revenge, otherwise she wouldn't be able to swallow her anger!

"Daughter, why are you kicking the door? Doesn't it hurt?" Tang's Mother's cheerful voice rang out.

"This stupid door just tripped me." As she spoke, Tang Yuyao gave the threshold two more solid kicks.

Tang's Mother: "..."

They were so alike. She had the exact same temper when she was little. If she bumped into something, she had to hit it back, even if it was a rock. She was incredibly stubborn. This made things a bit tricky.

Tang Yuyao pouted, delivered one final kick, and finally let the door that tripped her off the hook. Holding the yarn she had just bought, she walked over to her mother.

"Mom, your yarn." Tang Yuyao walked up to Tang's Mother and handed over the yarn.

Tang's Mother: "..."

Why did those words sound a bit off?

Whatever, it must be an illusion, right?

Tang's Mother cheerfully took the yarn and pulled her rocking chair closer. "Daughter, help Mom bring those things over too."

"Mom, what did Fourth Brother say to you just now?" Tang Yuyao hadn't forgotten what happened before she left the house. Those two were clearly hiding something from her.

Tang Yuyao brought over the other shoemaking materials, found a small stool for herself, and sat down next to her mother.

"No rush, daughter. You give it a try too, and Mom will tell you slowly." Tang's Mother smiled, handing a whole set of knitting tools to her daughter before grabbing another set for herself.

"Oh." Tang Yuyao was anxious to hear about what just happened, but she obediently took the knitting tools from her mother and started mimicking her movements to knit.

"Mom, your ducks are getting better and better after all these years." Tang Yuyao glanced at the "duck" her mother was knitting and couldn't help but praise her.

Tang's Mother: "..."

"Daughter, is it possible that Mom isn't knitting a duck?" Tang's Mother fell slightly silent before gently reminding her daughter.

"Oh, oh, this big goose is really beautiful!" Tang Yuyao nodded, immediately changing her words.

Tang's Mother: "..."

Silently, Tang's Mother put down the two "ducks" in her hands, absolutely refusing to mention that they were actually mandarin ducks. Ducks it is, then. Someday, someone would understand her!

Hmph, a whole family, and not a single one with a good eye.

Tang's Mother put down her "ducks" and started making shoes—shoes for Old Master Tang. She slowly opened her mouth to talk about what had happened earlier.

"It's not like you don't know your brother. His personality is different from your eldest brother and the others. This chubby boy is sometimes a bit silly. It wasn't a big deal, but he made it seem all mysterious."

Tang Yuyao raised a delicate eyebrow.

Not a big deal?

Then what exactly was it? Mom, stop keeping me in suspense, I want to hear it even more now.

"Your brother said he just saw Xiao Ye. His name is Ye Cheng, right?" Tang's Mother blinked, looking at her daughter whose thoughts had drifted a bit far away.

"Ah... oh, yes." Tang Yuyao's eyes dodged slightly, feeling a bit guilty. Especially when she heard her mother call him "Xiao Ye," her heartbeat couldn't help but speed up.

This was her first time doing something deceptive like this, so she lacked experience... Deep breaths, it was normal to feel dizzy and flustered.

Tang Yuyao kept comforting herself in her heart, trying her best to act normal so that no flaws could be seen.

"Your brother said Xiao Ye looks a bit dishonest, like a scumbag." Tang's Mother didn't hesitate to directly backstab her good son, relaying some of his exact words to her daughter.

The things the mother and son discussed earlier couldn't be told too directly to others, especially this one in their family, otherwise things could easily go wrong. They had to take it step by step.

"That damn fatty, saying one thing to people's faces and another behind their backs!" Tang Yuyao gritted her teeth.

She remembered back at the hospital, a certain damn fatty hadn't said that. He had said things like "strikingly handsome" and whatnot, but then turned around and gossiped about her!

Although she was angry, the guilt in Tang Yuyao's heart took up a larger portion. After all... looking like a scumbag was a fact. Not only did he look like one, but the things he did were like one too.

Tang Yuyao worked at the university, after all, and she wasn't blind. She had seen all those posts and things said on the school's confession wall.

The matters regarding Dongfang Zhixia and Shen Qinghan, as well as some of Ye Cheng's gossip.

Tang Yuyao had seen it all. Before, she found it quite amusing, thinking that young people nowadays were quite energetic. Grown adults doing all these polls and taking sides all day long.

Making it look like celebrities hyping up couples, quite lively.

But as she laughed, Tang Yuyao couldn't laugh anymore. Especially the night before, when Tang Yuyao's face was green with panic, and she went back to look at those posts and comments.

The more she looked, the more uncomfortable she felt. There was an indescribable anger and indignation in her heart. What was all this? A bunch of brats at the age for studying should just go study properly.

Messing around with these things all day, do they even understand it?

A waste of time...

She was different; she had already finished her studies!

She...

She refused to accept this!

"Hey, daughter, don't talk about your brother like that. Even though your brother is a bit chubby, he still looks quite cute. Besides, how sad would he be if he heard you say that?" Tang's Mother said.

This was truly the biological mother filter. It was hard to imagine that a man in his forties could still be described with an adjective like "cute."

At this age, anyone who heard such an adjective would be annoyed, thinking they were being belittled or mocked. But if the person saying it was their own mom, then it was fine.

Yes, Mom, well said. I also think I'm very cute. Say more, it sounds nice, I love hearing it!

Tang Yuyao pouted. "What's there to be sad about? Besides, it's not like he's here right now."

Tang's Mother blinked, thinking about it and realizing that it made sense. "Hmm, true. That chubby boy isn't here right now, so go ahead and talk, Yaoyao. But you can't say this to his face, otherwise your brother will be sad."

"Your brother means well. After all, daughter, you are still young, you haven't been in a relationship, and you don't know how to judge people. Your brother has been struggling in society for so many years, so he has some experience of his own. It doesn't hurt to listen."

Tang Yuyao: "..."

These few words made Tang Yuyao break out into a sweat. They were a bit too accurate.

Ye Cheng's current entangled behavior undoubtedly made him a scumbag. Even Tang Yuyao had used a burner account to fiercely criticize Ye Cheng's scumbag behavior on the confession wall.

Indecisive, entangled guys were the most annoying!

But if one thought about it carefully, they would find that the reason for Tang Yuyao's anger had a hidden twist, coming from a very tricky angle. Yes, being entangled was annoying, but what Tang Yuyao hated even more was Ye Cheng's attitude of being entangled with others while maintaining clear, strict boundaries with her.

Damn it, I'm a beauty no matter how you look at it, couldn't you at least have some wicked thoughts?

Even sneaking a touch or two would have been fine! Who are you being so well-behaved for?

We were both drunk at the time, completely out of our minds, okay? If you sneaked a touch or two, I wouldn't have even noticed. Even if I did, you could have just played dumb, you could have...

Fuck!

Thinking back to what happened at the hotel, Tang Yuyao's blood pressure soared. If she was previously feeling awkward, now she was just frustrated at his lack of initiative and feeling completely indignant.

It made it seem like she had absolutely no charm at all!

Since he was someone who got entangled with women, why was he so well-behaved when it came to her? Was she really inferior to those two little girls?

Entangled, always entangled. Just hearing these words now almost triggered Tang Yuyao. Why was he entangled with everyone else but so clear-cut with her? Was it because she was older?

She didn't want it to be this way either, she also...

The more Tang Yuyao thought about it, the more negative her mood became. Tang's Mother, sitting beside her, seemed to notice her daughter's mood, put down what she was holding, and patted her back.

Of course, this is your brother's opinion, not mine. Your brother is a businessman after all; he always thinks of the worst-case scenario in everything.

I suspect that chubby boy is just jealous that Xiao Ye is better looking than him, hahaha...

With just a few words, she pulled Tang Yuyao out of her vortex of negativity. This was the wisdom of the older generation.

Although your brother isn't optimistic, it doesn't mean I'm not. The meaning Tang's Mother conveyed was very simple, and her attitude was very clear.

That fatty is just petty. I'm not calling him brother anymore, Tang Yuyao muttered softly.

Yes, that chubby boy is indeed petty. I will teach him a lesson later! Tang's Mother continued, a kind and doting smile on her face.

In a daze, Tang's Mother's thoughts drifted back to many years ago.

...

Girl, I know you are waiting for him, but the world is chaotic right now. How many years has it been since we last heard from him? It's not even certain if he's still alive. A few years ago you said you didn't want to get married so early, and I didn't force you, but now you're almost...

Yeah, I'm older now. If no one wants me, then so be it. I'm a grown woman, it's not like I can't support myself. What era is this anyway? Arranged marriages are no longer popular.

Sigh... You girl, you never listen to me. That boy from the neighboring village is a grounded person. He's educated and has common topics to talk about with you. If you marry him, you won't have to work for the rest of your life...

Besides, daughter, so many years have passed. What if he has someone else out there, or has started a family? Even if you find him then, what can you do? Your whole life will be ruined. Daughter, people's hearts change, you...

Being alone is fine too. I'm going to sleep, let's stop talking. I still have to work tomorrow. Being a lady from a wealthy family is a thing of the past. Nowadays, it's popular to be down-to-earth. Women hold up half the sky. Mom, your way of thinking is too narrow-minded...

In the end, the mother and daughter couldn't come up with a solution. When dawn broke, just like any other day, everything went on as usual.

Time passed. Spring left and winter came, and the wheat was harvested time and time again. Even after passing the optimal age for marriage, people still came to propose, but without exception, they were all rejected.

There were some very unpleasant words in the village, some gossip and rumors, but it didn't matter...

Let them talk.

Stubbornness was something passed down through the generations. Bloodline is a very magical thing. With bloodline as the bond, the concept of family was formed, binding people together into a unified community of interests.

Some things, if you aren't born with them, there is a high probability you won't have them later. They can only be passed down through blood...

...

Tang's Mother's stubbornness and waiting eventually bore fruit. In a sense, she was a gambler.

When it came to Tang Yuyao, the gambler became even crazier!

Daughter, does it have to be Xiao Ye? Tang's Mother suddenly changed the subject, her tone becoming inexplicable.

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a long silence. The courtyard was exceptionally quiet, and the only sound that could be heard was the rustling of the wind blowing through the trees...

What do you mean does it have to be someone? What era is this? I'm not a child anymore. If it doesn't work out, I'll just replace him. For now, I'm just making do, he's passable, Tang Yuyao spoke with feigned ease.

She looked like she was bragging without thinking, but her subconsciously clenched, curled-up hands ultimately betrayed her true state of mind at that moment, which was not as calm and casual as it appeared on the surface.

Besides, being alone is quite nice too... Tang Yuyao turned her head to the side and muttered softly, as if talking to herself.

Tang's Mother: ???