It's just The Sims, how did it become my ideal love story?

Chapter 13: The Most Beautiful Blushing Touch of a Young Girl
"I'm so sorry, I didn't discipline my son well, and I apologize to you as well."

"It's alright, just keep an eye on it. After all, extorting money from students every day like this only emboldens them. If they do something else later, their whole lives will be ruined. Let it go this time, but if they do it again..."

"I know, I know, I promise it won't happen again. If he dares to let me know he's messing around outside again, I'll break his legs!"

Zhang Xun, who was covered in filth, trembled slightly upon hearing those words in the corner.

Does his gaze conceal resentment towards me? I don't know; he doesn't even dare to look at me now.

The effect is obvious, but there has been no notification yet that the simulation has ended.

After saying goodbye to Zhang's father, Gu Huai led Cai Yan away from the dirty alley, helping to push the white scooter.

How did you know Zhang Xun's father was here?

Having narrowly escaped death, Cai Yan put her hands back into the pockets of her school uniform jacket and looked at Gu Huai curiously.

The boy, staring straight ahead, shook his head. "I just heard it from someone. I'm not really sure. I'm just trying my luck."

This is thanks to the preparations made before entering this simulation.

He contacted many people and pleaded with them in the most sincere way. Finally, he learned from a classmate who grew up in the same place as Zhang Xun that his father worked as a repairman in the area.

The place is a bit hard to find, and mobile phone maps these days aren't very accurate; you can't find such a small place at all.

He only got this luck because he carefully asked about the surrounding landmarks. Fortunately, his father hadn't finished get off work yet, and fortunately, his father was that kind of person, though it's not hard to understand.

Most of these hooligans are influenced to some extent by their family background. It's just that reality is a bit simpler and more brutal than Gu Huai imagined.

Cai Yan scoffed, "I don't believe anyone would have such luck, but if you're not going to tell me, then so be it."

Gu Huai smiled and turned to look at her. "I'd like to ask you, what made you decide to help me?"

Because this was Cai Yan at this age, not the real Cai Yan, Gu Huai felt very little pressure; it was like looking at a junior. So his smile was natural.

In Cai Yan's eyes, such a smile paired with such a question, and such direct eye contact, made her feel somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she turned her head to look at the roadside.

"Who helped you? I just happened to be playing around nearby."

"You don't ride a scooter to and from school, you must borrow one, right?"

"Mind your own business, aren't you smug?" Cai Yan, her lie exposed and enraged, nudged Gu Huai in the ribs with her elbow.

It didn't actually hurt, and Gu Huai was too lazy to pretend to satisfy the other person's competitive spirit.

"What am I so proud of?"

"Because of your provocation, I still fell for it and couldn't help but prove that I'm not the kind of arrogant person you described, so I came to help you."

Gu Huai shook his head, looking at the girl whose cheeks and ears were slightly flushed.

"It wasn't a provocation; I genuinely felt that way."

"you!"

"But now I must sincerely thank you, otherwise I might have been beaten up before I even met his father, and I wouldn't be able to speak to you with such dignity now."

"."

The fist clenched in mid-air slowly loosened.

"Snapped."

But she still slapped Gu Huai's arm, as if that was the only way to feel a little better.

The girl next to him muttered, "You're really weird. You know you'll annoy girls if you talk like that, right?"

Gu Huai nodded, "I know, but so what if I'm disliked? It's not like I can be liked just because I'm not disliked."

"Don't talk nonsense, who would like you!"

Her subconscious rebuttal was also a way of distancing herself from the situation, claiming that she was simply helping out of kindness and that there was absolutely no romantic relationship involved.
"Indeed, no one will like me."

"."

She looked at him and saw him sigh softly, then say to her with an indifferent smile.

"Don't worry, I won't misunderstand your good intentions because of your help this time. I know you're just kind and willing to help me, not because you like me. I also won't go around telling everyone about this."

Why did this person say all that?
What should I say?
That was indeed what I wanted to say, but I didn't want the other person to misunderstand.

After all, that's the tricky thing about guys this age—a little joking or helping out can easily lead to misunderstandings about a girl's feelings. She genuinely didn't mean it that way; after all, she'd probably consider herself a sucker for good looks, right? Besides, this guy is so easy to dislike.
But he really seems different from the Gu Huai I usually see.

Think about him on this day.

He has moments of madness but not weakness, and his final decision at this moment is so calm and decisive that he is completely unlike the timid, inconspicuous, and unremarkable Gu Huai.

Was it something I overlooked before? Or did he suddenly have a breakthrough?

The problem was a bit complicated, and she couldn't figure it out for the time being; she didn't even dare to think about it too deeply. After all, being so curious about a boy was something that had never happened to her before.

She quickly adjusted.

"You know that's good. Speaking of which, Zhang Xun's father is pretty scary."

"Yeah, but that's normal."

"Is this normal? Everyone says you shouldn't wash your dirty linen in public. Even if Zhang Xun did something wrong, his father is really ruthless. How can he punish his son so harshly in front of others?"

This was something Cai Yan clearly didn't understand. Gu Huai might not have understood it in the past either, but as he grew up, he came to understand many things.

Gu Huai, pushing the scooter, took a deep breath, suppressing the discomfort in his chest, and said, "To put it simply, Zhang Xun's family isn't complete, as you've heard. His father supports him alone and also has to provide for them, so he lacks the discipline to properly raise him."

“I can think of those.”

"Hear me out."

This girl, who wasn't exactly known for her good temper, surprisingly didn't interrupt or argue at this moment. It was as if those four simple words from the other party had a convincing magic. She opened her eyes wide and looked at Gu Huai.

And so, the young man, who seemed more composed and stable than usual, but also a little dejected, began to speak.

“He may know that he has not disciplined his son well, but when the truth is presented to him, when someone proves with facts that he cannot discipline his son, he will use such violent and brutal methods to deal with Zhang Xun. In essence, he is trying to prove to us and his neighbors that he has disciplined his son well. The harder he beats him, the more it seems to prove that he is more attentive. This way, he can cover up the fact that he is not a good father.”

Cai Yan frowned.

"How can hitting a child prove that they are well-mannered? How can hitting a child be considered education?"

"That's how the older generation was. Many children in Jicheng grew up like that. It's the minority who weren't beaten."

Have you ever been hit by your parents?

Cai Yan suddenly asked.

Gu Huai answered without hesitation, "Yes. But that's not the most important thing."

"By the way, you said the reason for being nearby is like this, but is there also a reason for being far away?"

"It's a family education problem that has existed throughout Chinese history. Too much care means a lack of material conditions, and satisfying material conditions means a lack of care and companionship for children. Ultimately, you can't have both. There are too few harmonious family relationships and too little education for children."

The sheer number of unfamiliar words and the reasons behind them made Cai Yan scratch her head in disbelief.

"You make it sound so complicated, Gu Huai. How come you're so good at lecturing? You sound like a little old man."

Gu Huai was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening.

Indeed, this is her way of speaking realistically. In Cai Yan's current eyes, she is just a high school sophomore, so speaking like this does seem strange.

He thought for a moment and came up with an excuse for himself.

"You know I don't have many friends and I don't usually interact with people, so I tend to overthink and ponder things on my own."

Nausea.

I'm almost thirty, and I still talk like this.

"I see. Indeed, you're the kind of person who easily finds no friends."

Gu Huai chuckled self-deprecatingly and prepared to push the cart forward again.

But at that moment, I heard the other person suddenly say something.

"However, if you're thick-skinned enough, you can come and talk to me anytime."

Gu Huai looked at Cai Yan strangely, whose eyes were not on him, but on the horizon where flames were burning and the corner where the sunset was blooming.

Why do you need to be shameless?

Cai Yan took her hand out of her pocket and then casually flicked her sleeve.

"Of course it's because I'm very beautiful and outstanding, and I'm afraid you wouldn't have the guts."

"Oh, thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Ok."

"I said you're welcome."

"I said okay, I understand."

"Hey?"

The girl suddenly looked at the boy with some annoyance.

Gu Huai looked at the other person strangely, "What's wrong?"

Cai Yan said irritably, "I rushed here today to help you, and I'm willing to be your friend, and all you say is 'okay'? Don't you have anything else to say?"

Gu Huai thought for a moment, then took out his phone.

Cai Yan thought the other party had finally figured things out and wanted to add her contact information, so she took out her new mobile phone.

But then Gu Huai said...

"We think we're going to be late."

"Huh? Eh?! Eh?!"

"Get in the car, I'm here to rescue you now."

Gu Huai straddled the scooter, the setting sun casting a red glow on his jet-black hair.

The expression on his face when he looked at Cai Yan was so serious it was childish, so childish it was laughable.

It was so funny that it made my cheeks flush.

……

(End of this chapter)