Cui habitually stood on the balcony, watching the route her daughter took home, timing it so she could have dinner ready the moment she saw the familiar figure appear. As she spotted the silhouette, she started to turn back to the kitchen, but something immediately felt off. There was a boy with her, and the proximity between her daughter and the boy, coupled with the expression on her daughter's face, made Li Cui’s stomach drop. Could this girl be in a puppy love situation?

“Da Gui, Da Gui, come take a look,” Li Cui leaned out and called into the house, wanting Wang Da Gui to confirm if it was indeed their daughter, Wang Rui. Though Li Cui was almost certain, she secretly hoped she was mistaken. Wang Da Gui was deeply absorbed in a newspaper, wrestling internally over whether or not to chase his losses today. He answered Li Cui with clear annoyance.

“What is it? You see Xiao Rui is back, so start making dinner. I’m starving.” He’d only managed a bowl of plain noodles at lunch, entirely devoid of any meat, and his stomach had been rumbling for ages. “Eat, eat, all you think about is eating!

Come here and see if that’s our daughter.” Li Cui snapped, irritated that at a moment like this, all he cared about was food. Wang Da Gui could only set down his paper, shaking his head as he ambled over to the balcony. “What is it? What am I looking at?” Li Cui pulled him, pointing toward the figures below.

“Is that our daughter? And is that a boy next to her? Do you recognize him?” Although Wang Da Gui gambled, he held high hopes for Wang Rui. His grand plan was that if his daughter married into a wealthy family, his own future would be set.

Her pleasing appearance and smooth talk, he believed, would make achieving this goal relatively easy. But to think she was already involved with some boy while still in school—how could this not infuriate Wang Da Gui? “Honestly! A student should be focused on her studies, not all this nonsense.” He grumbled as he followed his wife’s pointed gaze.

“It really is her.” Wang Da Gui stared for a long moment before confirming, not because he couldn't recognize his own daughter, but because he needed time to be sure. “But who is that boy with her?” “How would I know? I wouldn’t call you if I did!” Li Cui thought, If I knew, I wouldn’t be worried. She figured any boy her daughter allowed her to meet or know had a ninety-nine percent chance of leading nowhere.

“Looks like we’ll have a serious talk with her later.” Li Cui inwardly fretted. No wonder the teacher had recently mentioned her daughter’s grades were slipping. If this continued, it would be disastrous. Li Cui had decided that no matter what, her daughter must finish high school and go to university.

That way, she could get a good job, or better yet, marry a well-off man she met in college. In any case, the absolute rule was: no dating before high school graduation, regardless of how promising the boy seemed. How old were these boys anyway? Did they understand responsibility?

The burden of supporting a family? He might end up just like the man standing beside her now. Li Cui felt a surge of bitterness. Back then, she had been charmed by Wang Da Gui’s wit and how he knew how to make her laugh, often bringing her small snacks.

Meanwhile, the other man—the one she’d eventually married Da Gui over—just followed her around stupidly. At the time, she felt he didn't treat her well, and her parents agreed that his family background was poor, with too many siblings. Wang Da Gui, in contrast, had a decent job and only an older brother and sister, both doing well. And so, she married Wang Da Gui.

But looking back now, the man she’d dismissed was apparently doing quite well—an engineer, reportedly earning a monthly salary of ten thousand yuan because another company was trying to poach him. What did that even mean? Li Cui was consumed by resentment; how much better off would she be now? At least she could be the one making decisions, buying what she wanted, instead of agonizing over small amounts of money or waiting for outings with her sister-in-law to buy something nice.

The more Li Cui thought about it, the more certain she became. “Absolutely not. We must educate Xiao Rui properly. How can she be getting a boyfriend so early?

Doesn’t she know marriage is a woman’s second birth?” Surely this girl hasn't been tricked by that boy. Wang Rui had no idea her parents were observing her and Gao Kai’s every move from the balcony. She was simply astonished by how much knowledge Gao Kai possessed, especially when he mentioned that every summer, his parents took him traveling, both domestically and abroad. Wang Rui’s eyes lit up completely.

If her initial goal in flirting with someone was revenge—to hurt Wang Qiqi—she was now utterly resolved to win Gao Kai over. He was handsome, tall, academically brilliant, came from a good family, and was even witty. Wang Rui increasingly felt he was the Prince Charming described in Aunt Qiong Yao’s novels—no, wait. Even her princes couldn't compare to Gao Kai; he was far superior to any so-called fairy-tale hero.

Wang Rui was thoroughly captivated by the image Gao Kai had so deliberately crafted. The more she thought of how wonderful he was, the closer she walked to him, slowing her pace, and when he said something amusing, she would gently touch his arm or lightly pat him. Gao Kai hadn't expected this girl, Wang Rui, to be so much easier to fool than Wang Qiqi. But he quickly rationalized it.

He knew why Wang Rui liked him—it was simply because he seemed wealthy. Wang Qiqi’s family certainly wasn't lacking money; if it weren't for his sharp tongue and good grades, which allowed him to engage her on many topics, Qiqi wouldn't have paid him any mind. Still, Gao Kai felt he truly needed to thank Wang Qiqi right now; without her, he wouldn't have read so many books, and thus wouldn't know so much—otherwise, how could he have left this silly girl so stunned? “Alright, Wang Rui, I’ll walk you this far.” Although Gao Kai didn't know exactly where Wang Rui lived, he remembered that when he brought Wang Qiqi and her home last time, this was the spot where she separated from Qiqi.

And even though they’d had a wonderful conversation today, he needed to maintain a proper distance; that was the best way to keep her fascinated with him, wasn't it? Wang Rui hadn't realized that the walk, which usually felt quite long, was over so quickly today. She desperately wanted to walk a little further, but checking the time, she knew it was getting late, and her parents would start nagging. “Gao Kai, thank you.

I was very happy today that you walked back with me.” As much as Wang Rui tried to be bold, she was still a girl. After saying that, she covered her face and ran toward her building. She entirely missed the knowing, victorious smile that flickered across Gao Kai’s face—otherwise, she might not have fallen so deeply later on. Humming a tune, Wang Rui reached for her key to open the door, only to find it already unlocked.

“Mom, Dad, I’m back! I’m starving, can we eat now?” Li Cui looked at her daughter’s beaming face, finding the smile increasingly offensive. “You still know how to come home? I thought you weren't coming back at all?” Wang Rui hadn't expected to be caught by her parents.

She shot a look of appeal toward Wang Da Gui, only to find him wearing an equally disapproving expression. “He’s just a regular friend. Why can’t I have an opposite-sex friend?” “That’s fine, but is he just a regular friend?” Li Cui grew angry when she saw her daughter still trying to play dumb. “Look at you!

I don't even know what to say. Look at Wang Qiqi—that girl is so quiet and does so well in school. I don’t ask for much, just for you to be as responsible as that little brat Qiqi, finish high school, and get into university. Then I can finally rest easy.” “Mom, why do you think I need to go to high school and university?

And Mom, do you really think Wang Qiqi is such a good kid?” Wang Rui suddenly felt that if she laid everything out for them, they would agree. She knew exactly what their ambitions were, but if they knew Gao Kai’s background and how she had met him, they would be thrilled. Li Cui found the second part of her daughter’s question very strange. “Even though I always called Wang Qiqi a bookworm, she’s genuinely honest, rarely goes out, and when she does, it’s to discuss schoolwork with classmates.

As for you going to university, it’s so you can get a good job later and marry into a decent family, which would put my mind at ease.” Wang Rui was unsurprised by Li Cui’s answer. “Mom, you’d be really shocked if I told you that boy just now is Qiqi’s boyfriend.” Wang Rui revealed the secret. Just as she expected, not only did her mother’s jaw drop, but old man Wang Da Gui’s did too. “I’m not lying to you.

I only met Gao Kai when Wang Qiqi took me out before. Although they never said it directly, I think they have feelings for each other.” Li Cui and Wang Da Gui hadn’t even considered how to lecture Wang Qiqi yet; they might even seize the chance to take over supervising her, especially since she was in her second year of high school and heading into her senior year. Big Brother and Sister-in-law’s only demand for Qiqi was getting into university, and she could definitely use that requirement to keep Qiqi in line. “Mom and Dad, you’re not thinking of interfering with Qiqi, are you?” If Wang Rui didn’t have feelings for Gao Kai herself, she would absolutely agree with that plan.

But the problem was, Wang Rui now saw things differently, and that seemed much better than confronting Wang Qiqi. Besides, Wang Rui doubted that the current Wang Qiqi would easily let her parents have their way, given her temperament. “And Wang Qiqi hasn’t even admitted their relationship. If you go lecture her, do you think she’ll confess?” “Not confess?” Li Cui thought, We have a witness now, what are we afraid of?

“Don’t we have that boy? We can just call him over.” Wang Da Gui nodded beside her, agreeing with his wife. [This is a section recommended by a novel reading platform to remove advertisements and read the full text.]