Host, the villain's corruption level has exploded!

Chapter 968: Memories (3)

Her funeral was hastily arranged. Her husband seemed relieved and couldn't wait to remarry, taking the mother and son home. As for Nan Gushu, she was sent to the first villa she and this man bought together, out of sight, out of mind. Apart from sending some basic necessities every week, he basically ignored her.

As he grew older, he even took the initiative to suggest that he no longer needed to go to school.

His father was happy that he had saved money and sent back some small items from Kyoto, which, of course, ended up in the trash.

Song Zhishu grew up listening to these stories.

She was arrogant and asked Xia Mingyuan why a woman would leave her original family to marry an ordinary person. This was something she couldn't understand.

Xia Mingyuan remained silent for a long time, then flicked the cigarette butt from his fingertips, his low voice sounding as if he were mourning someone: "Their family favors sons over daughters, and all the heirs are male. The girls live lives that are not fit for human beings."

That year, Song Zhishu was 16 years old. For the first time, she felt a jolt to her soul, as if she had opened a dark door with her own hands.

"She thought that if she found someone less capable than herself, an ordinary person, she could live a good life, peacefully display her talents, and raise her children well."

Song Zhishu was puzzled and asked her why a woman would think that way. She should rely on herself, make a name for herself, and make all those who looked down on her submit to her.

Her answer was Xia Mingyuan's sigh, and—

“Darling, no one taught her.”

"She herself doesn't know." Heaven gave her talent, but only talent.

Her soul must have longed to awaken more than anyone else's, but how could she awaken from her dream when she was born into such a family, watching her mother silently serve her father, never having enough to eat or wear, and never being able to go to school?

So many resentful souls jostled each other, awakening and falling were practically just passing each other by. In a certain moment, she didn't think that she could rely on herself to stand tall, but suddenly thought—if she found a man weaker than her, a man more ordinary than her, could she escape all of this, could she truly be happy?

Xia Mingyuan forbade Song Zhishu from demanding a rose that had not bloomed in the storm.

Song Zhishu fell silent. She saw the pile of bones that she had long ignored.

After several days of seclusion and reflection, Song Zhishu felt that she had learned something very important.

After that, she decided to spend time with the woman every year, but she was also a very clear-headed person. She only looked at a pitiful yet respectable woman differently. This had nothing to do with Nan Gushu. Apart from his blood relation with the woman, he had no value that made Song Zhishu treat him well.

So, with a mix of playfulness, a touch of mischievousness, and a hint of charity, Song Zhishu took Nan Gushu to high school.

She wasn't stupid; she knew that Nan Gushu was just trying to take advantage of the situation.

His mother must have left him some trump cards, but he was always troubled by the annoying surveillance from his father's family, which was like flies, and was unable to use them.

He let her play with him for a while, and she lent him some power—what a worthwhile and mutually beneficial deal!

But all things considered, he is still just a pretty face with no substance, all looks and no substance, and he didn't even finish high school.

A few days before the start of the school year, she nonchalantly and arrogantly brainwashed Nan Gushu in front of him, telling him that he must remember her as his savior, the one who led him into the gates of high school.

Nan Gushu nodded with a smile and thanked him repeatedly.

Song Zhishu hated his foolish, indifferent attitude towards everything others said. In her opinion, liking and disliking must be clearly distinguished, and she needed to clearly see his sincerity so that she could be sure she had him under her control.

However, she never found a suitable opportunity to let him know about this momentous event.

Naturally, her bringing Nan Gushu to school as a companion caused quite a stir.

After all, who is Miss Song? She's arrogant and powerful, so what kind of ability does someone have to be worthy of her attention?

To be fair, she is indeed quite good-looking.

They hadn't seen such a rare and exceptionally handsome man in a long time.

Although she is an extremely annoying person, people still flock to her to curry favor—including her study companions.

Nan Gushu hadn't seen a living person in a long time; his blood had long since darkened along with that dilapidated villa, its flow appearing exceptionally slow. He looked at these peers, not much younger than him, who always maintained that reassuring smile, standing next to Song Zhishu, fortunate enough to bask in some of the attention, helping her set out all the necessary items on the desk according to the training.

His movements were meticulous and considerate, almost pleasing to the eye. Most of the people surrounding Song Zhishu—both boys and girls—glanced at him subtly, while quite a few stared at him intently.

A man tentatively asked, "Miss Song, who is this...?"

Song Zhishu didn't look at him or Nan Gushu, and casually replied, "The new study companion."

I'll read to you.

Some people were starting to feel a little tempted. As everyone knows, Miss Song is someone who only has a short attention span. Even with such a handsome guy, she would only have a little more patience at most, and it would be only a matter of time before she gave up on him.

The boy stared intently at Nan Gushu's slightly lowered head, his eyes gleaming, and his tone betrayed a hint of covetousness: "...Miss Song has such high standards, she can even find such a gem... How about this, if Miss Song gets tired of him someday, I might be able to lend a hand... Then, everything else can be discussed."

Honestly, isn't that how everyone does it? Exchanging goods and value is an unspoken understanding, and whether the goods are people or objects doesn't matter.

Nan Gushu suddenly raised his eyes, stared at him silently for a while, then lowered his gaze again. Faced with this discussion that showed absolutely no respect, he didn't even show any unease, fear, or anger, truly like a commodity to be bought and sold.

Despite his nonchalant demeanor, Song Zhishu paused, glancing sideways at Nan Gushu. Seeing his lifeless expression, she sneered, then swiftly grabbed a pen and threw it at the boy. The heavy-duty pen was quite heavy; she aimed it at his eyes. The next moment, everyone heard a cry of pain, followed by a chilling "click" as the pen hit the ground.

Song Zhishu crossed her arms, raised her chin, and her small face was full of sarcasm and contempt as she said with disgust, "You dare to discuss things with me?"

Everyone fell silent, and suddenly they came to their senses.

This is Song Zhishu.

Even if she throws away her things, she won't allow anyone else to pick them up.