Chapter 27

The letter of understanding issued by Shu Lingchen indeed played a significant discretionary role.

Translation: "The letter of understanding issued by Shu Lingchen indeed played a significant discretionary role."

The letter of understanding issued by Shu Lingchen indeed played a significant discretionary role.

Chu's mother was detained for several days, paid a large fine, and then was released.

Translation: "Chumu was detained for several days, paid a large fine, and then was released."

That fine almost drained her savings, and she felt the pain acutely.

Translation: "That fine nearly emptied her savings, and she felt the pain acutely."

"Chu Auntie, the wardrobe has been fixed."

Translation: '"Chu Auntie, the wardrobe is fixed."'

Shu Lingchen came out of the bedroom carrying a toolbox, and Chu's mother handed him a cup of water, saying: "You've worked hard, Xiao Chen."

Translation: "Shu Lingchen came out of the bedroom carrying a toolbox, and Chumu handed him a cup of water: 'Xiao Chen, you've worked hard.'"

"Thank you, Chu Auntie." Shu Lingchen received the cup with both hands.

Translation: '"Thank you, Chu Auntie." Shu Lingchen took the cup with both hands.'

Chu's mother again spoke guiltily: "Xiao Chen, what happened the past couple of days was my fault; I apologize to you again—I was out of my mind then..."

Translation: "Chumu again spoke with a guilty tone: 'Xiao Chen, what happened the past couple days was my fault; I apologize to you again—I was just bewildered… I.'"

"Chu Auntie."

Translation: '"Chu Auntie."'

Shu Lingchen said: "You have taken such good care of me since I was little; without you, I don't know how long I would have been abused in the orphanage, nor where that couple would have abandoned me."

Translation: "Shu Lingchen said: 'You've taken such good care of me since I was little; without you, I don't know how long I would have been mistreated in the orphanage, nor where that couple would have abandoned me.'"

"So how could I blame you over a small matter?"

Translation: '"So how could I blame you over a small matter?"'

Upon hearing Shu Lingchen say that, Chu's mother immediately felt relieved and exchanged a glance with Chu Lian beside her.

Translation: "Upon hearing Shu Lingchen say that, Chumu immediately felt relieved and exchanged a glance with Chu Lian beside her."

A hint of mockery flashed in both of their eyes.

Translation: "A hint of mockery flashed in each other's eyes."

It seemed as if they were both saying, "This silly kid is really easy to please."

Translation: "As if they were both saying, 'This silly kid is really easy to appease.'"

Chu Lian smiled warmly: "Mom, I told you—A Chen is a very grateful person."

Translation: "Chu Lian smiled gently: 'Mom, I told you—A Chen is a grateful person.'"

"Yes, yes, yes."

Translation: '"Yes, yes, yes."'

Chu's mother kept agreeing, picking up on Chu Lian's eye cue, she looked at Shu Lingchen as he drank water, and after he finished, she seemingly inadvertently asked:

Translation: "Chumu kept agreeing, picking up on Chu Lian's eye signal, she looked at Shu Lingchen who was drinking water, waited for him to finish, and then, as if intentionally or unintentionally, asked:"

"By the way, Xiao Chen, has your insurance fund gone up any these past few days?"

Translation: '"By the way, Xiao Chen, has your insurance fund gone up these past few days?"'

Shu Lingchen paused, then replied: "It can't go up anymore."

Translation: "Shu Lingchen paused, then replied: 'It can't go up anymore.'"

"Why?"

Translation: '"Why?"'

Shu Lingchen said: "I received a notice that the insurance fund has declared bankruptcy, been delisted, and will no longer generate any returns."

Translation: "Shu Lingchen said: 'I received a notice that the insurance fund declared bankruptcy, has been delisted, and will no longer yield any returns.'"

"How could this happen?!"

Translation: '"How could this happen?!"'

Shu Lingchen shook his head: "I'm puzzled too."

Translation: "Shu Lingchen shook his head: 'I'm puzzled too.'"

The last shred of hope vanished, and Chu Lian's face turned slightly pale.

Translation: "The last shred of hope vanished, and Chu Lian's face turned faintly pale."

With the fund gone, she can no longer get money from Shu Lingchen—how can she possibly keep up her rich‑girl act now?!

Translation: "With the fund gone, she can no longer get money from Shu Lingchen—how can she maintain her Eldest Young Lady persona now!"

Chu's mother's complexion wasn't looking any better either.

Translation: "And Chumu's complexion wasn't looking any better."

Before, Shu Lingchen earned fifty thousand a month; after spending over five thousand on the "special medicine," he still gave her a substantial amount of living expenses.

Translation: "Before, Shu Lingchen had a monthly income of fifty thousand; after subtracting the five thousand plus for the 'special-effect medicine,' he would still give her a considerable amount of living expenses."

She lived a life of comfort and ease.

Translation: "Her life was practically dripping with comfort."

Now that the fund is gone, she'll be left to drink the northwest wind!

Translation: "Now that the fund is gone, she'll have to drink northwest wind!"

That simply won't do!

Translation: "That simply won't do!"

"Xiao Chen, you did a part‑time job collecting payments for people not long ago, didn't you? It was quite lucrative—you could keep doing it."

Translation: '"Xiao Chen, you did a part‑job not long ago collecting payments for people, didn't you? It was quite lucrative—you could keep doing it."'

Chu's mother said, her eyes gleaming.

Translation: "Chumu's eyes gleamed with determination."

"Look, your only source of income is gone now; you need to plan for your future livelihood."

Translation: '"Look at you now—your sole source of income is gone; you need to plan for your future livelihood."'

Chu's mother had a clear plan in mind.

Translation: "Chumu had a clear plan in mind."

Have Shu Lingchen continue doing debt collection; once he earns money, she'll find an excuse to take it from him and spend it herself, since Shu Lingchen is easy to persuade.

Translation: "Have Shu Lingchen continue doing debt collection; once he earns money, she'll find an excuse to take it from him and spend it herself, anyway Shu Lingchen is easy to placate."

However——

Translation: "However——"

"Chu Auntie, debt collection is dangerous; I won't do it again."

Translation: '"Chu Auntie, debt collection is dangerous; I won't do it anymore."'

Shu Lingchen hasn't forgotten how he almost had his fingers cut off by Brother Qiang with a knife.

Translation: "Shu Lingchen still hadn't forgotten how he almost had his fingers cut off by a knife from Strong Brother."

If it weren't for his mother, he would be disabled now.

Translation: "If it weren't for his mother, he would be disabled now."

Accustomed to Shu Lingchen's blind obedience, hearing his refusal, Chu's mother frowned and said: "It's just collecting money for others—how dangerous could it be? As long as you make money, that's fine."

Translation: "Accustomed to Shu Lingchen's mindless obedience, hearing his refusal, Chumu frowned and said: 'Isn't it just collecting money for others? How dangerous could it be? As long as you make money, isn't that fine?'"

Seeing Shu Lingchen still unmoved,

Translation: "Seeing Shu Lingchen still unmoved,"

Chu's mother grew a bit anxious, shifted her gaze, sat down on the sofa, and began to earnestly advise Shu Lingchen:

Translation: "Chumu grew a bit anxious, her eyes shifted, she sat down on the sofa, and began to earnestly advise Shu Lingchen:"

"Xiao Chen, actually I have high hopes for you; Chu Lian's father passed away early, so it's just us mother and daughter relying on each other. If I were to pass away, Chu Lian would surely need you to take care of me."

Translation: '"Xiao Chen, actually I have high hopes for you; Xiao Lian's father passed away early, so it's just us mother and daughter relying on each other—if I were to pass away, Xiao Lian would surely need you to help me take care of her."'

Upon hearing that, Shu Lingchen's eyes lit up as he looked at Chu Lian, and he immediately patted his chest, promising: "Chu Auntie, I will definitely take good care of Chu Chu!"

Translation: "Upon hearing that, Shu Lingchen's eyes lit up as he looked at Chu Lian, then immediately patted his chest and promised: 'Chu Auntie, I will surely take good care of Chu Chu!'"

Chu's mother, however, sighed on her face.

Translation: "Chumu's face, however, showed a sigh of resignation."

"But I'm not at ease—Auntie—you're still so young and now have no steady income; I worry that if Chu Lian follows you, she'll suffer."

Translation: '"But I'm not at ease, you're still so young and have no steady income; I fear Xiao Lian would suffer if she followed you."'

"As a young man, you need to step up and shoulder the responsibility—you need to earn money, otherwise how will you support Chu Lian in the future? You must show Auntie your sincerity; only then can she feel comfortable entrusting Chu Lian to you."

Translation: '"As a young man, you need to take the initiative to shoulder the burden, you need to earn money—otherwise how will you support Xiao Lian in the future? You must let me see your sincerity; only then can I feel assured entrusting Xiao Lian to you."'

"…"

Translation: "…"

All the way out of the Chu household, Shu Lingchen kept pondering Chu's mother's words.

Translation: "All the way out of the Chu household, Shu Lingchen kept pondering Chumu's words."

Chu Lian voluntarily offered to see Shu Lingchen downstairs.

Translation: "Chu Lian voluntarily offered to see Shu Lingchen downstairs."

"A Chen."

Translation: '"A Chen."'

"Huh?"

Translation: '"Hmm?"'

"Did you understand what Mom just said?"

Translation: '"Did you understand what Mom just said?"'

Shu Lingchen: "Chu Auntie said she wants to see my sincerity."

Translation: "Shu Lingchen: 'Chu Auntie said she wants to see my sincerity.'"

Chu Lian curled the corner of her mouth, lifted her head, and asked softly: "A Chen, if there were an opportunity right now that could quickly let Mom see your sincerity, you wouldn't not do it, would you?"

Translation: "Chu Lian curled the corner of her mouth, lifted her head, and asked softly: 'A Chen, if there were an opportunity right now that could quickly let Mom see your sincerity, you wouldn't not do it, would you?'"

Shu Lingchen curious: "What opportunity?"

Translation: "Shu Lingchen curious: 'What opportunity?'"

Chu Lian lowered her gaze slightly, bit her lip, and said: "A Chen, I can actually feel that our classmate Shu Shu harbors hostility toward me."

Translation: "Chu Lian lowered her eyes slightly, bit her lip, and said: 'A Chen, actually I can sense that our classmate Shu Shu harbors hostility toward me.'"

The topic shifted too quickly, and Shu Lingchen didn't react in time: "Huh?"

Translation: "The topic shifted too fast; Shu Lingchen didn't react in time: 'Huh?'"

That day at the police station, Shu Shu spoke to me rather rudely; actually, I understand why she would act that way.

Translation: "That day at the police station, Shu Shu spoke to me rudely; actually, I understand why she would act that way."

Chu Lian recalled the discussion they had at the milk tea shop.

Translation: "Chu Lian recalled the discussion they had at the milk tea shop."

Chu Lian had read some romance novels; in the plots, girls like to boss boys around, nothing more than because they like them.

So she was also sure, saying: "Ah Chen, classmate Shu Shu likes you."

Chu Lian thought that after Shu Lingchen heard this, he would immediately distance himself, nervously and clumsily expressing loyalty to himself, indicating that besides her, he wouldn't be interested in any other girl.

Result.

"Really? You figured it out?" Shu Lingchen first felt a bit surprised, then pouted, his voice sounding somewhat aggrieved: "She definitely doesn't like me."

If his mother liked him, she wouldn't call him by his full name, and she'd look down on him as a turkey chick.

Obviously, when he was little, she always held his hand, showing off his cuteness to everyone, saying he was the most well-behaved kid in the world.

Now she looks eager to throw him into the trash station.

As it turns out, maternal love can disappear.

Shu Lingchen: "Chu Chu, you must be mistaken."

Chu Lian was stunned by Shu Lingchen's unexpected reaction for a few seconds, then shook her head and said: "Ah Chen, I didn't make a mistake; it's just because classmate Shu Shu likes you, but everyone knows you like me, so she holds hostility toward me."

She appeared understanding: "I can understand her jealousy."

"Jealousy?"

Shu Lingchen scratched his head.

How could that be.

When he was little, his mother was happy to have little girls come play with him, giving them toys and pretty little clothes.

She even aspired to cultivate herself into a fashionable mother-in-law who could be super good friends with her daughter-in-law.

"Ah Chen, what I want to say is, Shu Shu, is an opportunity for Mom to quickly see your sincerity."

Chu Lian looked at Shu Lingchen, bit her lip, and spoke.

"Ah Chen, if Shu Shu confesses to you, you don't have to outright reject her—"