No reconciliation, no forgiveness! Mr. Pei leaves with nothing.

Xiaoyu: "No, this is just the deposit. If it were all of it, how much would it be? It would be enough to cover several years' tuition and living expenses at Imperial University! My God, I didn't know that jewelry restoration was such a lucrative profession. Qingran... I really envy you. You must study hard. I'll be relying on you to support me in the future."

Xue Ruyao said irritably, "I really don't know what kind of luck Jiang Hua had. She must have a sugar daddy behind her, otherwise how could she have such a good thing? Not to mention, this major has already stopped recruiting."

"You think Jiang Hua, who has been on leave from school for two years and hasn't attended classes at all, managed to get such a high-priced order?"

"If no one was pulling strings behind the scenes, I don't believe she really has any ability."

Xiaoyu also found it suspicious and said, "Yeah, I'm quite skeptical too. Besides, this is much more lucrative than being a jewelry designer. After I graduate, I don't know if I can get into a company like Jiang's. I wish I could get an internship there."

Xue Ruyao clung to Song Qingran's arm and said coquettishly, "Qingran, when the time comes, you have to help me. When I become successful, you can't forget me."

“Ayao, I’m an intern too, and it’s not certain whether I’ll be promoted to a full-time position. Besides, as long as you participate in more competitions and win more awards, you can put them on your resume after graduation. If you’re good enough, the Jiang Group will definitely hire you.” Song Qingran didn’t want to think about Jiang Hua anymore. “Alright, Ayao, I’m going back to the classroom now. I still have to prepare for the exam later.”

"Qingran, don't go!"

Back in the classroom, Song Qingran sat in the first row at the front. She took out her phone and checked the time. They had arrived quite early; there weren't many people in the classroom yet.

However, she inexplicably clicked on a contact labeled 'Z' and saw their chat history, which was from three months ago.

We rarely send messages anymore; we usually communicate by phone.

Song Qingran clicked on his profile picture, and found that he had changed it to a black image at some point.

"Qingran, what are you daydreaming about?"

Song Qingran was startled, but after regaining her composure, she shook her head and said, "It's nothing."

"I'm just thinking about the exam." The elective course in jewelry restoration is more difficult than all other elective courses. There's so much material to memorize, and they rarely get to experience real jewelry restoration.

Even if there's only one case study video, you need to see more to truly understand it.

After returning from Wuchuan, Song Qingran entered another busy period. She missed her professional course exams and had to retake them. Her study schedule was almost completely full.

She didn't have much time to think about these unnecessary issues.

She had sworn before that as long as she found Mr. Pei, she would not waste her time on these personal feelings.

Now that he's back, that's enough.

Beijing People's Hospital.

Zhou Yan, having finally found some time, took her mother to the hospital for a physical examination. Apart from mental health issues, there were almost no other major problems.

Zhou's mother suddenly remembered and said, "Xiaoyan, do you know where they sell thousand-layer plum blossom cake? Qingran said she wanted to eat it last time, and I thought since I'm out right now, I'll buy some for her."

Zhou Yan helped her mother up and told her, "It will probably take another two hours to get here, there are a lot of people. Mom, why don't we go back first, and I'll have my assistant buy it and then give it to her."

Zhou's mother said, "How can this be? It's a rare opportunity to come out. I promised to buy it for Qingran, and I can't go back on my word. Besides, I haven't been out for a stroll in a long time."

"I'll buy some things for Qingran to take back. Oh, and... could you come with me to the market later to buy some needles and thread? I saw that one of her clothes was torn last time, and I forgot to mend it for her."

"Mom, why are you being so nice to an outsider? I'm getting jealous." Ever since arriving at the hospital, Zhou's mother has been asking about Song Qingran's condition, as if Song Qingran were her biological daughter. She felt very uncomfortable.

Zhou's mother said, "She is your sister, we are family. Let me tell you, Qingran is Axu, and Axu is Qingran, they are the same person."

"She is my precious Ah-Xu."

Zhou Yan felt a pang of sorrow. "Mom, Song Qingran is not A-Xu. A-Xu is dead! After A-Xu died, most of her organs were given to Qingran. They don't look alike. She can't possibly be A-Xu. We have no blood relation. We saw the blood test last time."

"Nonsense, you're talking nonsense!" Zhou's mother suddenly went berserk, raising her hand to slap Zhou Yan. Her eyes turned sharp and ferocious, and even her tone of voice changed, as if she were an enemy. "Qingran is clearly Axu. My precious Axu is not dead at all. She just got lost before. In the photos, she looks exactly like Axu. How could she be dead?"

"Ah-Xu won't die!"

Zhou Yan covered her face, her eyes instantly reddening at the sight of her mother still defending Song Qingran. Feeling a numbing pain on her face, the emotions she had suppressed for years finally erupted. "A-Xu, A-Xu! From childhood to adulthood, you've always known A-Xu as your precious daughter, but what about me! Mom... I'm your own daughter too, why can't you feel sorry for me!"

"Why are you like Pei Zhan, with Zhou Xu being the only person in your heart and eyes!"

"My heart is made of flesh too, it hurts too... Mom!" Zhou Yan's eyes were brimming with tears, which fell the next second.

But when he saw Zhou's mother, he started having another episode, acting like a madman, constantly muttering her name.

The name Zhou Xu was like a switch for Zhou's mother's mind. Even Song Qingran could stir up Zhou's mother's emotions. Only in front of Song Qingran would Zhou's mother, who was having an episode, become calm and clear-headed.

For so many years, they have all carried hatred on their shoulders, and everyone... has been revolving around a person who is already dead.

Even though Zhou Xu is dead, she still exists, permeating every corner of their world and invading their lives.

Zhou Yan felt that she was being tormented by Zhou Xu and hatred, to the point of almost going crazy, and becoming someone she no longer recognized.

It's all the Jiang family's fault, Jiang Hua's fault.

If it weren't for them, this tragedy wouldn't have happened.

It won't drive Mom crazy!

Pei Zhan received a call from the mental hospital and rushed there from his company.

Zuo Xiangnan said, "President Pei, this is a meeting with the senior management of the Huo Group headquarters. You cannot leave."

Regardless of the consequences, Pei Zhan declared in front of all the shareholders and directors of the Jiang Group, "You will chair this meeting and report back to me afterward."

Zuo Xiangnan, "President Pei...you really can't leave!"