Chapter 1699: Is it a True Past, or a Lie?

"Write a self-criticism?"

"Is it just writing a self-criticism?"

The two of them were uneasy and asked again.

"Yes, what else did you expect?"

They were actually asked in return what else they expected.

They didn't expect anything else; the couple felt this punishment was too light, but they couldn't say it out loud—saying it would be foolish.

"It's fine, thank you, Director."

"If it's fine, you should head back. We'll be in touch if there's anything else." The department head clearly didn't want to chat anymore and started ushering them out.

Several people walked out of the school, and Wan'er still felt like she was in a dream.

She asked the sister beside her to pinch her to see if she was having a beautiful dream.

Could there really be such a cheap deal?

Shi Youxuan didn't hold back and pinched Wan'er's arm hard.

"Ouch!"

It hurt!

It was confirmed; it really wasn't a dream, it was real, there really was such a cheap deal.

But Wan'er still felt unsettled in her heart; she always felt the major the triplets had chosen initially wasn't good—why would a young girl study that?

They just had to study Architecture.

Architecture was simply not something for girls to study; they hadn't even done anything yet and they were already digging tunnels. If they actually achieved something... the consequences would be unimaginable.

She wanted the triplets to change majors, but her husband told her that changing majors at a university in Jiangzhou was not an easy thing.

Furthermore, one could only apply to change majors if their grades were exceptionally good.

The triplets had just skipped class for a week, so their grades couldn't be good; applying now would not only fail but also cause resentment in the department.

Such a big incident had been suppressed by the department; applying to change majors now would be inappropriate.

Her husband made sense, so Wan'er suppressed this thought, but she developed neurasthenia and suffered from insomnia.

She couldn't sleep day or night, and whenever she did fall asleep, she would have nightmares, dreaming of what happened eighteen years ago.

Within a few days, Wan'er looked very haggard.

Jian Yining saw it in his eyes and felt anxious in his heart; after he failed to persuade his wife, he called his daughters and told them to apply to change departments.

The triplets, as expected, all disagreed.

Their parents thought they had caused trouble, but in the department, they were praised for their ingenuity, novel ideas, and for having thoughts worth continuing.

From childhood to adulthood, the number of times the triplets had caused trouble was countless, and the number of times they had been criticized was also countless.

Causing trouble and getting criticized was normal; they were used to it and felt there was nothing wrong with it, that it should be this way.

However, this time was an exception.

After causing trouble this time, they had already prepared for the worst; the worst result would be expulsion.

As a result, not only were they not expelled, they didn't even receive a reprimand and were actually praised—it was too unexpected and too pleasant a surprise.

The triplets had been criticized countless times, but the number of times they had been praised could be counted on one hand. Now, not only were they praised, but the school and department leaders also gave them the green light, letting them do whatever they wanted.

Having one's ability affirmed is the greatest appreciation and praise!

Just as the triplets were preparing to show their skills and achieve something, their parents called and told them to change departments.

Naturally, they couldn't agree; they firmly disagreed.

So their father told them to come home and visit their mother.

Their mother had fallen ill, lying in bed unable to keep down even a drop of water, having lost a lot of weight, her complexion looking very haggard.

"Mom is sick like this, why haven't you sent her to the hospital?"

The triplets were extremely anxious and wanted to take their mother to the hospital immediately, but their mother stopped them: "No need, it's useless even if I go. This is a sickness of the heart, it can only be cured by heart medicine; other medicines won't work."

"What is your heart sickness?" Taotao was quick-mouthed and blurted it out, but she regretted it as soon as she said it.

There was no need to ask what their mother's heart sickness was; of course, it was about their major.

The triplets still couldn't fully understand why their mother had such a huge reaction to this matter, so the three of them swore and promised: they would definitely study hard in the future, abide by all the school's rules, and guarantee that the last incident would not happen again.

Then, it was of no use.

Their promises didn't make their mother feel any better; she struggled to turn her body away, not wanting to pay attention to them.

The triplets really couldn't understand why their mother was like this, so they pestered their father to ask for the reason; without a proper reason, they were truly unwilling to change departments.

Jian Yining pondered for a moment, then told them the whole story from many years ago, exactly as it happened.

It was when their mother was pregnant that she was kidnapped to the Underground Palace by her mother's aunt, that is, their great-aunt Ji Yingjie. At that time, they hadn't been born yet, but they were already being targeted by their great-aunt.

After that incident, their mother had no fondness for the Underground Palace at all and was left with deep psychological trauma.

Originally, he didn't want to tell them this, but who knew that by some twist of fate, they would study in the Architecture Department in college and even have the sudden whim to dig tunnels.

And the blueprints they drew also had quite the style of the Underground Palace; these things happened to strike Jin Wan'er's sore spot, and when her request for them to change departments was refused, she fell ill.

The three daughters stared at each other in blank dismay after hearing this, all stunned.

Is it true or false?

It sounded like a story, not at all like it was real.

But Mengmeng believed it a little, and she asked: "Dad, can you take us to see that place?"

Jian Yining was furious: "What is wrong with you? We are talking about your mother's heart sickness, and you want to go see the Underground Palace? Do you have any heart at all? Do you still have your mother in your heart?"

Of course she had her mother in her heart, but this story was too bizarre and too easy to arouse one's curiosity.

"Of course I have Mom in my heart, but if we don't go see it, we won't know if that place really exists, or if it's a story you made up specifically to fool us into agreeing."

Youyou and Taotao also nodded, indicating that was correct, that was exactly how it was.

The triplets are big girls now, they aren't easy to fool.

Originally, Wan'er did not agree to tell their daughters about this matter; Jian Yining went through a long internal struggle and felt that if he didn't tell them, he probably wouldn't be able to get away with it, so he spoke.

Moreover, this matter must be kept from his wife; she cannot be allowed to know!

How difficult his position was, the daughters did not know; not only did they not understand him, they even questioned the truth of his words, so he was naturally furious and incredibly angry.

"Believe it or not, if you don't believe it, then forget it."

"Get out, all of you get out! You don't need to care whether your mother lives or dies; you are all ungrateful wretches, ungrateful wretches that can never be tamed..."

Father was enraged.

Seeing that their father was truly angry, the triplets hurriedly explained: "Dad, calm down, of course we believe you, but this matter is just too bizarre. Let us consider the matter of transferring departments; after all, it is a major life event for us, right?"

This sentence was acceptable, it sounded like something a human would say, and Jian Yining agreed.

The triplets went to their mother's hospital bed again and told their mother: "You must get better soon; we will apply to transfer departments as soon as we go back. Your health is more important than anything else."

"Really?" Wan'er was half-believing and half-doubting.

The daughters had agreed too readily; when things are abnormal, there must be something strange going on.