Divorced at fifty, I embarked on my path to success.

Zhou Xia moved her feet slowly; her legs were a little stiff from standing in the cold wind for so long.

Looking back at the detention center courtyard, she could understand her mother's heart. As long as her mother was alive, she would bear all the suffering for her.

But she cannot be truly happy because of this.

Every day her mother was here was like a heavy stone piling up higher and higher in her heart, until it became a mountain that weighed down her soul.

She could never escape it in her entire life.

It was past noon. Zhou Xia had only eaten two steamed buns and drunk a bowl of soy milk in the morning. Now she was hungry and cold, but her heart was full and she didn't want to eat anything.

Fearing that Mei Yusheng would worry, she turned up her collar and hailed a taxi.

As expected, Mei Yusheng called on the way. Zhou Xia didn't say that she had come to see her mother, but only said that she had something to do and would be back soon.

Back home, Zhou Xia heard laughter and chatter even before she entered the door. She relaxed her facial muscles, gave a suitable smile, and pushed open the door.

A wave of heat hit us; the temperature inside was so high that everyone was wearing light loungewear and smiling broadly.

Xie Mingqi, Chen Qianqian, and Cheng Peng were all there. Youyou was snuggling up to He Qingmin watching cartoons on a tablet. Qin Chu and Mei Yusheng seemed to be talking about something and looked over when they heard the noise.

To Zhou Xia's surprise, Qin Zhan also came. He was wearing a light-colored tracksuit, which was completely different from his suit and tie. He no longer had the aloofness he had shown, and he looked like a friendly older brother next door.

Mei Zichen and Su Wei walked out of the restaurant hand in hand, looking at each other with sweet smiles.

Zhou Xia went out today wearing a long black down jacket, which brought a chill with it. It was like a still life in a cool color suddenly appearing in a warm color picture, which seemed abrupt and out of place.

Chen Qianqian was the first to run over, grab Zhou Xia's hand, and exclaimed, "Xiaxia, your hands are frozen solid! Come in and warm them up."

"Xiaxia, are you hungry? I saved some food for you, I'll heat it up for you." Mei Yusheng looked at Zhou Xia with concern, then turned to go to the kitchen.

“Aunt Mei, I’m not hungry,” Zhou Xia said casually. “I’ve already had lunch.”

She can't eat anything right now. Thinking of her mother all alone in the detention center, she feels a bit self-destructive, as if any bit of joy would be a betrayal and disrespect to her mother.

Mei Yusheng looked at her suspiciously: "Why do you look so pale? Are you freezing? Go and warm yourself by the fireplace in the study."

Chen Qianqian warmly took her hand: "Come on, I'll go with you. I haven't seen Aunt Mei's study yet, I can find some books to read."

Zhou Xia coldly withdrew her hand: "I'm not cold!"

Chen Qianqian's smile froze for a moment, and Zhou Xia immediately realized that her attitude was too stiff, so she hurriedly forced a smile and said, "I'm just a little tired and want to go back to my room to rest."

"Okay, okay! Go ahead." Chen Qianqian smiled innocently and thoughtfully escorted Zhou Xia to the top of the stairs, watching her go up before turning back.

Mei Yusheng frowned and pondered. It was clear that Zhou Xia seemed to have something on her mind. It was all her fault for being so busy these past two days. She should have taken her to see Ji Meiyun first.

"You heartless girl, you have no sense at all!" Xie Mingqi poked Chen Qianqian's forehead with her finger and gave her a reproachful look.

Chen Qianqian pouted unconvinced.

Mei Yusheng casually asked Xie Mingqi, "Why didn't you bring Lao Chen along?"

Xie Mingqi paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "He's too ashamed to show his face."

"No, it's my mom who won't let my dad out!" Chen Qianqian grabbed Mei Yusheng's arm, glanced at Xie Mingqi, and said provocatively, "You're practically raising my dad like a pet pig, he's obviously gained weight lately!"

Xie Mingqi's eyes flickered, and she glared at Chen Qianqian: "He never goes out, he just eats and sleeps, sleeps and eats, how can he not get fat?"

Mei Yusheng was still thinking about Zhou Xia and Ji Meiyun, and didn't pay attention.

Cheng Peng walked over and put his arm around Chen Qianqian's shoulder: "I'll go with you to Aunt Mei's study. I also want to find a book to read."

Chen Qianqian immediately became happy, and the two of them ran up to the second floor.

"That silly girl Qianqian is actually quite lucky. Luckily, Cheng Peng doesn't look down on her!" Xie Mingqi walked to Mei Yusheng's side, watching the two figures running upstairs, lost in thought.

Turning her gaze to the way Mei Zichen and Su Wei were all lovey-dovey, she pouted sourly and muttered, "I never thought Zichen would be so lucky with women. How did Su Wei fall for him? I'm so not happy about it!"

Mei Yusheng rolled her eyes at her: "What does it matter whether you admit it or not! What's wrong with my brother? A man is in his prime at forty, you know that!"

"Tch, just a foxtail grass!" Xie Mingqi said disdainfully. "I'm almost fifty, and the foxtail grass is already withered!"

Mei Zichen and Su Wei wanted to go to the movies and asked Mei Yusheng if she wanted to go.

Mei Yusheng refused. She didn't want to be a third wheel, and besides, she had a lot of things to do at home, so she didn't have the time.

Qin Chu's eyes lit up as she looked at Mei Yusheng expectantly: "Sister, let's go see it together. I haven't been to the cinema in years."

"Go, you all go ahead. I'll stay home and look after Youyou." He Qingmin chuckled and waved to urge them on. "Youyou has caught a bit of a chill these past few days, so don't take him to crowded places. Be careful he doesn't catch the flu."

As He Qingmin spoke, she stroked Youyou's soft hair and asked, "Youyou, would you like to stay home with Grandma? We'll take a nap together later."

Youyou nodded obediently: "Okay, I'll stay with Grandma."

Mei Yusheng couldn't remember how many years it had been since she last went to the movies, but seeing Qin Chu's bright eyes, she was also somewhat moved.

Qin Zhan smiled slightly: "You guys go ahead, I'll stay at home."

"Okay, let me change my clothes." Mei Yusheng hurriedly returned to her room, put on an oatmeal-colored long down jacket, dark gray wool wide-leg pants, and chunky-heeled cotton boots.

When they came out, they saw that Qin Chu was already dressed up and had even thoughtfully given Mei Yusheng a simple gold tote bag.

Su Wei glanced at them meaningfully and exchanged a look with Mei Zichen.

Mei Yusheng kissed Youyou's little face and coaxed, "Youyou, be good. Auntie will bring you candied hawthorns when she comes back. What kind do you want?"

Youyou tilted her little head and thought for a moment, then said in a clear voice, "Strawberry, persimmon, um~ and hawthorn!"

The red fruit he was referring to was hawthorn. Mei Yusheng chuckled and said, "Okay, I'll buy them all for you."

Cheng Peng and Chen Qianqian each held a book in their hands, telling Mei Yusheng that they would return it after they finished reading it. They were also ready to set off.

Xie Mingqi, who had already gotten dressed, glanced at them, slumped onto the sofa dejectedly, waved her hand, and said weakly, "I'm not going. I'll just stay home with Youyou and Aunt He to keep them company, so I won't get in their way."

Mei Yusheng glanced at her and said, "Forget about going. Just take good care of the house. You should keep an eye on Youyou and Xiaxia."

Xie Mingqi rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction and muttered, "You're treating me like Juanjuan!"

Everyone laughed and went out together. The six of them, in three cars, headed towards the cinema in a grand procession.

At home, Zhou Xia wasn't sleepy at all. She closed the door, shutting out the noise from outside.

But the room was too quiet. Sitting blankly in the chair, recalling my reaction after entering the room, I suddenly felt that I had been very rude.

The people here are all very kind to her. It's clear that Chen Qianqian genuinely wants to be friends with her, but she rejects her because of Chen Qianqian's happiness.

I was so ungrateful and willful. I shouldn't have been so harsh just now. Did Chen Qianqian get upset?

What will Aunt Meryl Streep think of her? Will she dislike her anymore?

Zhou Xia felt uneasy, so she stood up, opened a door, and listened to the sounds outside.

But it was quiet outside; it seemed like everyone had left.

what happened?

She wanted to go and see, and as soon as she opened the door, she suddenly saw Youyou standing in the doorway, her clear and bright eyes blinking as she looked at her.