Start as a top student after transmigrating.

Chen Dong had a relatively easy week ahead.

Every day at noon and after school, we would go to Han Ning'er's house. The entire study group worked hard, and Liu Yumo and Jiang Lina improved every day.

With Jing Shanshan joining the team, Chen Dong no longer needs to tutor; he only occasionally solves difficult problems or works out some unusual questions with Jing Shanshan.

The rest of the time he would do practice problems on his own to conquer the science subjects.

Soon, Saturday arrived.

He received an unexpected phone call right after school at noon. It was from Wu Jie, asking if they would be going to Han Ning'er's place that evening, as she wanted to go early to cook a meal.

Chen Dong was naturally willing to cooperate.

When he went to Han Ning'er's house at noon, he made a point of checking what vegetables were in the refrigerator and then told Wu Jie about it.

"Aunt Wu is coming over tonight."

Back at school, after getting into the car, Chen Dong revealed the news on his way to the classroom.

"Where are you coming? To our school?" Liu Yumo blurted out.

"Idiot, Sister Han isn't at our school, she must be at Sister Han's rented apartment." Jiang Lina rolled her eyes at Liu Yumo, how could someone be so stupid.

"Is Uncle Han coming over?" Liu Yumo, unusually, didn't argue with Jiang Lina but asked about serious matters.

"There's something I've wanted to ask you for a while now: do Sister Han and her mother not get along well?" Jiang Lina didn't deliberately try to provoke Liu Yumo, but hesitated for a moment before asking the question she had wanted to ask for a long time.

When Wu Jie suddenly arrived at Han Ning'er's house earlier, she could tell that Han Ning'er didn't like her mother very much, and the two didn't have a good relationship.

Moreover, at Han Ning'er's house last Saturday, the mother and daughter didn't communicate at all, feeling more distant than strangers. She had wanted to ask for a long time, but was afraid it would be inappropriate.

"Aunt Wu is very busy with work and doesn't have much time to spend with Ning'er, so you could say she basically missed out on Ning'er's growth," Chen Dong explained simply.

"I see."

Jiang Lina understood that maternal love is very important. The lack of maternal love from childhood has a great impact on one's growth. She could understand why Sister Han was dissatisfied with Aunt Wu.

It's already quite good if it's just dissatisfaction and estrangement; it's already difficult enough if it hasn't distorted into hatred.

"So, are we trying to ease the tension between Sister Han and her daughter?" Jiang Lina was clever and guessed what was going on.

Or perhaps she had often thought about how to ease the tension between her parents, although it ultimately didn't work, but she could understand that feeling.

"Yes, I can see that Ning'er doesn't hate Aunt Wu, nor does she dislike her. In fact, she longs for Aunt Wu's love. It's just that their way of getting along is problematic, which is why we need to help them," Chen Dong said.

"No problem, Dong-ge, you tell me how to do it," Jiang Lina said.

Chen Dong smiled slightly. Actually, there wasn't much they could do. After all, the one who tied the knot must untie it. This was something only Wu Jie and Han Ning'er could handle.

All they can do is try to create opportunities and try to guide them when the chance comes.

……

Time flew by and it was afternoon school over. Chen Dong and his friends rode their electric scooters toward No. 1 Middle School.

As usual, Han Ning'er and Jing Shanshan were already waiting downstairs, carrying some fruits and vegetables, just waiting for them to arrive.

This time it shouldn't be necessary, as Wu Jie had already prepared everything. But Chen Dong couldn't say anything, so he stepped forward and picked up the things.

The group chatted and laughed as they went upstairs. As soon as they opened the door, they saw the living room light was on and heard the sound of the range hood coming from the kitchen. Han Ning'er was stunned.

"Sister Han, your house hasn't been burgled, has it?" Jing Shanshan asked in surprise.

She used this nickname because everyone in the class, including Liu Yumo, called her that; only Chen Dong called her Ning'er.

"You're back?"

Hearing the noise, Wu Jie came out of the kitchen. Wearing an apron, she looked like a stay-at-home mom, with a gentle smile. "Come in and rest for a while, the food will be ready soon."

"Aunt Wu."

Hello, Auntie.

Chen Dong and the others greeted them with smiles, and Jing Shanshan, realizing what they meant, sweetly called out in return.

"Why are you here?" Han Ning'er asked indifferently.

"I came over to check on things since I wasn't busy today. Take a rest, dinner will be served soon," Wu Jie said with a smile, then greeted Chen Dong and the others.

Before Han Ning'er could say anything more, Jiang Lina quickly pulled her towards the sofa. "Sister Han, it seems like that show we watched last week has a new episode. Let's check if it's updated."

Although Ye Wanwan was not good with words, she added, "I want to see it too."

It was rare for this nerdy girl to be interested in something unexpected like studying, so Han Ning'er naturally wouldn't spoil the mood and went to the sofa to turn on the TV. Jing Shanshan wanted to bring up studying again, but for now, she followed the mainstream.

"Mozi, go wash some fruit, I'll go check on the kitchen."

Chen Dong then instructed Liu Yumo to go to the kitchen.

Actually, there wasn't much going on in the kitchen. Wu Jie probably arrived early and had already prepared a pork rib and radish soup, as well as several side dishes, making it a very lavish meal.

The atmosphere at the table was even more awkward than last time. Han Ning'er didn't say anything, and Wu Jie didn't know what to say either. Chen Dong and the others tried their best to find topics to keep the conversation from getting too awkward.

"You guys play first, I have something to do so I'll be leaving now." After cleaning up the kitchen after the meal, Wu Jie didn't want to stay and create any awkwardness, so she chose to leave the space to the children.

Moreover, she doesn't ask for much. She doesn't expect her daughter to fully accept her. She's content as long as they can see each other from time to time and sit down for a meal together.

"I send you."

Han Ning'er suddenly stood up.

Wu Jie was suddenly dazed. Her daughter was actually seeing her off. She couldn't even remember the last time her daughter had seen her off when she left the house.

My daughter was probably only three or five years old at that time.

She can't remember anymore.

"You don't want to?"

"No, no, then... let's go."

After putting on her coat and saying goodbye to Chen Dong and the others, Wu Jie went out first.

Watching the mother and daughter leave, Chen Dong and the others exchanged glances, seemingly with a bad feeling.

"I'll go take a look."

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Dong followed him downstairs.

Downstairs, Wu Jie and Han Ning'er walked one after the other without saying a word. Wu Jie wanted to speak but seemed hesitant, as her daughter's behavior was unusual and made her very nervous.

I even felt a little uneasy.

Once they reached the outside of the residential compound, Wu Jie finally couldn't help but speak up, "I'll leave you here. You can go home now; it's cold outside, so be careful not to catch a cold."

Han Ning'er was unmoved by her concern. She glanced at the street and said, "Where's your car? Have your driver bring it over."

Wu Jie forced a smile and said, "Xiao Li got off work, so I told her to go home and rest. I drove here myself tonight, and I parked across the street."

"Then let's talk in your car." Han Ning'er's expression was indifferent, and her tone remained calm throughout. "With so many people coming and going, I'm afraid you'll feel awkward later."

Wu Jie's heart trembled slightly as she looked at her daughter's indifferent expression, as if she were looking at a stranger. The unease in her heart grew stronger.

"Ning'er, you..." Wu Jie's voice trembled slightly.

"Let's talk in the car." Han Ning'er walked straight ahead, and Wu Jie took a deep breath, hesitated for two seconds, and followed.

The mother and daughter got into the car and remained silent. It seemed that the warmth they had shared during their two weeks together had vanished completely, and they had returned to their usual state.

Strangers and coldness, a rebellious confrontation.