Chapter 1208: Actually, I Am Not Happy

Walking up to Xu Xiaoxiao, Chi Rong smiled faintly: "Sorry, to call you out at this hour."

"It's no trouble, I don't have anything going on anyway, but Madam... why is your complexion so poor?"

Chi Rong lowered her eyes, downplaying the matter: "It's nothing, just that my illness has been acting up these past two days."

Because Xu Xiaoxiao had received pointers from the old professor, she was now unsure what Chi Rong meant by her illness acting up.

So she tentatively asked: "Is your blood pressure unstable, or... is your mood unstable?"

Chi Rong did not overthink it.

She said with some embarrassment: "Aren't the two the same thing? It's the unstable mood that makes the blood pressure unstable."

Xu Xiaoxiao nodded and did not continue to ask.

She only suggested: "Let's go sit in my apartment for a while; the housekeeper just came to clean yesterday, and the place is very tidy."

Hearing Xu Xiaoxiao's words, Chi Rong smiled: "I get the feeling Miss Xu doesn't like doing housework."

"Mm, I dislike it very much. Xin... a friend of mine is also always nagging in my ear about it."

Xu Xiaoxiao felt this topic was somewhat dangerous, so she led the way, taking Chi Rong to her apartment.

Because it had just been tidied, the small apartment was clean and neat.

It even exuded a sense of living.

Xu Xiaoxiao invited Chi Rong to sit down, then went to the refrigerator to take out some juice and poured a glass for Chi Rong.

Leaning over to place the cup beside Chi Rong's hand, Xu Xiaoxiao sat opposite her.

Then she said: "Is the chat with your children not going smoothly?"

Chi Rong was stunned, then smiled helplessly: "Are you a prophet?"

"I just remembered what you said that day, and seeing your dim, lusterless complexion right now, I made a guess."

Chi Rong's smile gradually turned bitter.

Then she sighed: "You guessed right. I feel that I

am a failure, and have no qualifications to be a role model for my children."

"Why must you be a role model?"

Xu Xiaoxiao's counter-question left Chi Rong not knowing what to say for a moment.

After a moment of silence, she said: "Parents are a child's first teachers; their words and actions have a profound influence on them."

"But no one is a saint; it's impossible not to make mistakes, and there's no need to attribute all the problems children encounter to yourself."

"……But one should always try to do one's best, right?"

"Haven't you tried your best?"

Not tried her best?

How could that be.

Chi Rong had given the most for this family!

But...

Under Xu Xiaoxiao's step-by-step guidance, Chi Rong instead felt lost.

Her tone of voice was no longer as firm as it had been just moments ago: "Although I have tried very hard, it's just... the results are not good."

"It's normal for things not to develop as you expected; otherwise, you would be a prophet."

Xu Xiaoxiao's words, half-earnest and half-joking, made Chi Rong curl the corners of her lips.

Immediately, she felt a crack appear in the heart that had been wrapped in pessimism.

And Xu Xiaoxiao's warm smile injected strength into her inner self.

Xu Xiaoxiao could see Chi Rong's relaxation.

This made her relax a little as well.

She then said: "The children have already grown up and have their own judgment; you don't need to be so tightly wound."

"Yes, they have all grown up... they no longer need me to give my all to maintain harmony."

Chi Rong's words seemed to have a deeper meaning.

Xu Xiaoxiao listened carefully but did not press for more, only reminding Chi Rong to drink some juice.

Chi Rong picked up the cup and took a sip.

She immediately frowned.

Seeing this, Xu Xiaoxiao asked hurriedly: "Do you not like

this flavor?"

Chi Rong shook her head and explained: "It's just a bit cold."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiaoxiao realized that the juice had been taken directly from the refrigerator.

Chi Rong's constitution was rather frail and not suited for drinking cold juice.

Yet Xu Xiaoxiao had not only failed to warn her, but had even proactively placed it by Chi Rong's hand...

This was truly a blunder.

With a look of self-reproach, Xu Xiaoxiao said hurriedly: "Sorry, it was my lack of consideration."

Chi Rong shook her head with a smile.

She said: "No need to apologize. Actually, when I was young, I also liked drinking cold things. It's only now that I'm older and have to pay attention to my health that I've changed this habit."

Chi Rong smiled warmly.

But Xu Xiaoxiao saw a forced smile on her face.

Thinking back to what the old professor had said to Xu Xiaoxiao...

Xu Xiaoxiao looked straight into Chi Rong's smiling eyes and said: "Compared to your physical condition, I am more worried about your psychological condition."

A gentle sentence, yet it made Chi Rong's smile freeze on her face.

Then, she looked at Xu Xiaoxiao cautiously: "May I ask... is there a problem?"

Xu Xiaoxiao quickly said: "No problem, I just feel you are suppressing yourself too much. If you could come to chat with me more often, it would relieve quite a bit."

Chi Rong certainly hoped to chat with Xu Xiaoxiao.

It's just...

She sighed lightly: "That would be too much trouble for you. You young people have such rich lives, how would you have the time to always chat with an old woman like me?"

"Not at all, I am very happy chatting with you," Xu Xiaoxiao said, then added, "I also hope you are truly happy."

Chi Rong was certainly happy.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to keep smiling all this time.

But...

Under the gaze of Xu Xiaoxiao's gentle eyes, Chi Rong suddenly felt... her own mouth could no longer hold up the smile.

satisfied.

Her eyes were flustered.

Finally, Chi Rong completely lost her disguise and murmured listlessly: "Actually, I am not happy at all."

"Yes, I can feel it."

Xu Xiaoxiao's single word of validation made Chi Rong suddenly shed tears!

Her defenses were also shattered!

Still sitting there, she seemed to be talking to herself: "So many years have passed, and I still cannot forget what happened back then! I always tell the children to cherish their marriages, but my own marriage... is riddled with holes!"

Xu Xiaoxiao knew she was finally about to uncover the secrets of the Qin Family!

But seeing Chi Rong's painful appearance...

Xu Xiaoxiao felt a bit reluctant to hear the cruel truth.

But these secrets had been hidden in Chi Rong's heart for over a decade.

Once she began to pour them out, there was no possibility of stopping:

"I loved my husband very much back then, and after having a son, I felt I was the happiest woman alive. But the appearance of a woman shattered my beautiful dream!"

"Then who was this woman..."

"She was my husband's mistress! Ha, the man who swore to love me for a lifetime was actually keeping a woman on the side!! He even wanted to divorce me for that woman!!!"

Mentioning that past, Chi Rong's breathing became rapid.

Her head began to feel dizzy again.

She then picked up the fruit juice and drank it all.

Seeing her like this, Xu Xiaoxiao could not help but show concern on her face.

But the icy fruit juice actually helped Chi Rong calm down a little.

Her head also felt a bit better.

Yet her desire to pour out her heart became even stronger:

"I begged my husband bitterly, hoping he would consider the children and not abandon this home. But he wouldn't listen and still wanted to leave with that woman!"

Xu Xiaoxiao could feel Chi Rong's voice trembling, so she gently

reached out and held Chi Rong's cold hand.