Jun Jiuli requested leave and encountered the original host's crush on her way home.
She was plain and unremarkable, looking up at Jun Jiuli with a worried expression.
"Sanming, what's going on at your house?"
"The police suddenly showed up, I don't know anything."
The girl seemed surprised by Jun Jiuli's response, her small face etched with astonishment.
"Sanming ge, you don't trust me."
"No, you came to my doorstep just to say this?"
The girl nodded.
"Chen Ruyi, I'm asking you, what is our relationship?"
"Good friends, what's wrong with you today? Can't I just worry about you?"
"Can't you really see that I like you?"
The girl's face suddenly flushed red. She lowered her head, speechless, and nervously fidgeted with her feet.
The two were in an ambiguous stage. If Jun Jiuli confessed now, she definitely wouldn't agree.
Even though Jun Jiuli knew the answer, she still wanted to ask, to ask for the original host.
"I like you, I like you very much. Would you be willing to be with me?"
Chen Ruyi was somewhat awkward and nervous, her voice small and stuttering, "Sanming, why are you suddenly saying this? We're still young. I'm not considering this for now. In the future..."
After speaking, she shyly glanced at Jun Jiuli, then lowered her head again. The future held many unpredictable events, just like the original host going to jail in the previous life.
Chen Ruyi was not wrong to choose Siming. Before the original host's incident, he had not confirmed their relationship.
After the original host got out, she did something wrong to him. Those people from the Zhao family who made mistakes were not punished, but this innocent girl suffered.
"Chen Ruyi, I don't want to consider a future with you. I won't look for you again from now on. We're done. Remember to stay away from people surnamed Zhao in the future."
After speaking, Jun Jiuli walked into the courtyard. Chen Ruyi looked bewildered. After realizing what had happened, she covered her face and ran home.
After returning home, Chen Ruyi was sad for a while. She placed the original host in the position of a good friend with a crush, a relationship not yet romantic.
Now she had figured it out. Meeting again would only be awkward. She didn't like the original host that much either and planned to no longer go near Jun Jiuli and her family.
Zhao Daming couldn't withstand the police interrogation and broke down that afternoon, confessing everything he should have.
Wu Guihua returned home disoriented that day. She went straight to bed without eating, ignoring everyone in the house.
In the evening, Zhao Siming looked at the empty bed and felt particularly unwell.
"San ge, Big Brother will hate me, right?"
Zhao Erming rolled his eyes, "Old Four, it's a bit late to say this after you've already done it. I didn't realize you were so ruthless, reporting him directly. Big Brother will be severely punished, right?"
"Er ge, I didn't want this either, really. You were all pressuring me, but what did I do wrong? I didn't kill anyone. I've been living in fear these past few days.
I can't imagine what it will be like in prison. I really don't want to go. Do you know how much pain I'm in?"
"Then you should have at least discussed it with the family and let Big Brother go surrender directly."
"Big Brother won't go, no one will let him go. I'm fighting for my own way to survive.
If the family can't accept me because of this, then I'll accept it. My future path will depend on myself."
After saying this, Zhao Siming felt a lot better. Zhao Erming ignored him and turned to face the wall.
He resented Zhao Siming in his heart because if he had gotten into college, Wu Guihua alone couldn't have supported him.
Big Brother's honest wages would definitely be used for household expenses, making him a beneficiary. However, he also understood Zhao Siming. No one wanted to do the difficult work.
What's more, this crime shouldn't have been borne by Zhao Siming. His resentment was immeasurable, so he was very conflicted at the moment.
The next day's breakfast was made by Jun Jiuli. The Zhao family sat around the table. Wu Guihua didn't start eating, so no one dared to.
"Eat."
After they finished eating, Wu Guihua said, "Er, don't study after this semester. Find a job nearby."
Zhao Erming stubbornly said, "I won't. I want to go to college."
"Er, be obedient. Our family can't afford to send you to college. Your younger brothers and sisters are waiting to study."
"Why? Why should I sacrifice myself for them? I'll earn my own college tuition. You have no right to stop me from studying."
"Er, are you trying to force me to death? Your eldest brother is in trouble, and you are the eldest son and the pillar of this family. You can't back down!"
"They are your responsibility, not mine. If you can't afford it, then don't have so many children. I don't want to live for others. Going to college is the only way out."
Wu Guihua stood up and slapped Zhao Erming. Zhao Erming didn't dodge, and his cheek quickly swelled and reddened.
Wu Guihua looked at her hand and cried out. She never expected to hit him.
"Silly child, why didn't you dodge?"
Zhao Erming said nothing and left with his schoolbag. Wu Guihua hurried out, having a feeling that her second son would never return.
"Er Ming, come back. Mom was wrong, Mom was really wrong. Don't be like this. Mom will support your studies, no matter what. Mom was just momentarily confused, woo woo woo~"
Jun Jiuli put down her chopsticks and returned to her room. Zhao Siming called out to him.
"San ge, aren't we going to persuade Mom to come back?"
"Will persuading her help?"
Zhao Erhua slammed the table, "Zhao Sanming, I've had enough of you! Why are you so cold-blooded?"
"Yes, I am cold-blooded. Er jie, you are righteous and willing to sacrifice for this family. Now that Big Brother has ruined his future for you, you should also contribute to our family."
"What do you mean, 'for me'? Did I tell him to kill someone? Can you stop blaming everything on me?"
"You ungrateful wretch! Now that it's Er ge, next it will be you. It's useless for you to throw a tantrum. Even if they let you study, you won't be able to stay."
"What do you mean? Explain yourself. Come back. Ahhh, you're crazy! What attitude is this? I'm your Er jie."
Zhao Siming said nothing and quietly cleared the dishes. Wuming and Sanhua followed him, asking him to teach them to read.
These days, the two children didn't dare to go out. They stayed at home all the time. After doing chores, they could only entertain themselves by reading.
Zhao Daming was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Everyone in the neighborhood knew that the Zhao family had produced a murderer.
The Tang family came to their door every few days to cause trouble. Wu Guihua knelt on the ground and kowtowed to them, regretting not teaching her children well.
Wu Guihua's health was failing, so the Tang family didn't dare to touch her. It wasn't worth it for anyone in the family to go to the police station for her.
Tang classmate's mother was not polite to Zhao Erhua, hitting and scratching her face. At first, the onlookers didn't understand and felt a little sorry for the young girl.
After the Tang family's explanation, everyone around knew about the sordid affairs of Zhao Erhua and despised her actions.