Chapter 55: Mom, I

Shen Ci shook her head, sobbing uncontrollably. "It was my fault. I'm sorry, Mom. Can you forgive me?"

Shen Jingjing choked up. "Aci, you weren't wrong. It was Mom's fault. Mom understands if you resent me."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ci raised her hand to gently wipe the tears on her mother's cheeks and said earnestly, "Mom, I don't resent you anymore. I haven't resented you for a long time. The University of Science and Technology is very good. I am very happy and satisfied at the University of Science and Technology."

During the college entrance examination that year, Shen Ci achieved a score of over 700, which would have allowed her to apply for the astronomy department of the Aerospace University she longed for most.

Unexpectedly, the admissions office of the University of Science and Technology traveled thousands of miles with full sincerity to visit Shengang in person to recruit her, and promised a special recruitment bonus of 200,000 yuan.

At that time, 200,000 yuan was undoubtedly a solid guarantee for Shen Jingjing, who was raising three children alone and wanted all three to be admitted to university and become successful.

Two high school students, one college student, and the second daughter also wanted to participate in the art examination. The energy and money that needed to be spent for many years were really too much for Shen Jingjing to bear, and this 200,000 yuan allowed her to see hope for the future.

The Shen Ci of that year didn't understand why her mother wanted her to make sacrifices, until many years later did she understand her mother's difficulties and hardships.

People always have to experience growth to understand some truths. Her stubbornness and selfishness at the beginning brought nothing but endless pain to her loved ones.

So the current Shen Ci only felt fortunate. She was fortunate that God had given her another chance. This time, she must personally say sorry to her mother, tell her that she understood her, and tell her that she was still very happy after going to the University of Science and Technology.

Shen Jingjing looked at her daughter and nodded with relief, and then she reacted and pulled her daughter into the house. "You said you were coming back without telling Mom in advance, so Mom could prepare some things you love to eat. I'll go to the market early tomorrow morning and buy the white-cut chicken you love most."

Shen Ci burst into tears and smiled. "Wanted to give you a surprise."

With this smile, the knot between mother and daughter finally dissipated.

In the small home of less than 80 square meters, even the corners felt familiar to Shen Ci. Sitting on the sofa, she felt as if she had returned to her childhood, when she looked forward to her mother coming home from work every day to bring her sweet roasted sweet potatoes.

"Are you hungry? There are still wontons Mom wrapped in the fridge. Should I cook some for you?"

Shen Ci shook her head and patted the sofa. "I ate on the plane. Mom, sit down. I want to talk to you."

Hearing this, Shen Jingjing sat down next to her daughter. It had been a year since they last met. Her daughter seemed a bit thinner, but her complexion was very good, so she couldn't help but feel a little relieved.

"It's not a holiday, why did you come back? Did you ask for leave from school?"

"Yes." Shen Ci nodded. "Asked for leave until the National Day holiday, so I can stay at home for a few more days."

Her daughter hadn't been back for a year, so Shen Jingjing was naturally happy that she could stay at home for a few more days.

"Where is Xingxing? It's almost ten o'clock, and he hasn't come back yet?" Shen Ci only then realized that her younger brother was not at home.

"He is in evening self-study. He should be back soon at this time." After Shen Jingjing finished speaking, she sighed inadvertently.

Shen Ci keenly captured her mother's abnormality and couldn't help but look puzzled. "What's wrong, Mom? Did something go wrong with Xingxing's studies?"

From childhood to adulthood, the three siblings had never let their mother worry about their studies in the slightest, so she was a bit surprised when she saw her mother sigh silently when mentioning Xingxing.

She herself scored over 700 in the college entrance examination, and her grades were beyond doubt.

Although her younger sister was an art student, she had also been excellent in character and learning since she was a child.

Her younger brother, Shen Xing, was even better than his two excellent sisters. From elementary school to high school, he had always been the first in his grade, and he was the first in the whole city in the high school entrance examination.

It was precisely because all three children were excellent that Shen Jingjing spared no effort to send all three to university. She believed that her children would all be successful in the future.

"Xingxing, he... has recently... become obsessed with playing games."

"What?" Shen Ci was startled upon hearing this and actually bounced up directly from the sofa.

Seeing her daughter's reaction was so big, Shen Jingjing hurriedly added, "However, it didn't have much impact on his studies. He still got second place in the grade in the school-opening mock exam."

Second in the grade?

He had always been first in the grade!

And the reason Shen Ci was so excited was that in her previous life, her younger brother also ruined his life because of games. In college, he didn't hesitate to abandon his studies and turn to play some e-sports youth training competition, wanting to be a professional player.

But that was something that happened after he was admitted to a key university. She didn't expect that this time it would be advanced to the important node before his college entrance examination.

After calming down, Shen Ci sat back down, gently held her mother's hand, and said, "Mom, don't worry. I will talk to Xingxing about his matter."

Hearing this, Shen Jingjing hurriedly nodded. "He has always listened to you the most since he was a child. It will definitely work if you persuade him. He is in puberty now, and Mom is afraid that if I say something too heavy, it will be counterproductive. Maybe he will listen to you."

"You know, Mom has never hoped that you would put all your heart into your studies. Combining work and rest is quite good, but he has less than a year left before the college entrance examination. This period of time is crucial!"

"I know, Mom, don't worry. Leave this matter to me."

Waiting until after midnight, the sound of the lock core turning came from the door.

Shen Xing poked his head in sneakily. Only a desk lamp was on in the living room. Shen Ci was sitting in the shadows with a gloomy face, looking as terrifying as a ghost at midnight.

"Uh ah—"

Shen Xing was startled, but after he saw the face clearly, the shocked expression turned into excitement and joy: "Sister!"

Shen Ci, who was originally full of anger, instantly lost her temper at this moment, but she still pretended to be unhappy and scolded: "You brat, what time is it that you just came back?"

Shen Xing acted as if he hadn't heard his sister's words, rushed up, and hugged her: "Sister, you finally came back. I missed you to death!"

It had been a year since they last met, and her younger brother had grown quite a bit taller, looking like he was almost 1.8 meters tall.

Shen Ci pretended to be angry and pushed him away, asking with a cold face: "I'm asking you, why did you come back so late?"

Shen Xing pursed his lips and smiled, shrinking his neck timidly and whispering: "Went to an internet cafe to play games for a while, ah—it hurts!"

With a cry of pain, Shen Xing raised his hand to cover his head that had been knocked by his sister, shrinking his neck aggrievedly: "I was wrong, sister!"

"You still know you were wrong?" Shen Ci stared and said: "In the past, classmates pulled you to the internet cafe and you wouldn't go. Now that the college entrance examination is coming, you have become a latecomer. You are really good at picking time!"

"The pressure in the third year of high school is too great, so I went to relax. It won't delay my grades," Shen Xing said, pouting.

Shen Ci made a gesture to raise her hand, scaring Shen Xing into shrinking into a ball again, but Shen Ci couldn't bear to hit him a second time.

"Mom is asleep now, I won't disturb her. You come home on time after school tomorrow, and I will have a good talk with you." ===== CHAPTER 56 =====