Chapter 166 : Comparison is the Culprit

Yu Feixu was clearly overwhelmed, his eyes wide as he stammered, “C-can… can… can it really be like that?”  

Fang Xiaoluo continued calmly, “Feixu, I can’t save everyone, and I’m not in a position to be a philanthropist. In this situation, my first priority has to be Haiping. His kindness cannot be exploited by others as a way to hurt him.”  

Yu Feixu opened his mouth to respond but didn’t know what to say.  

Fang Xiaoluo patted his shoulder. “You might wonder how I can be so sure Liu Niandi’s parents could target Haiping. I’m not entirely sure. But from experience, if her parents find out their daughter has friends whose families are financially better off, they might see her as a bargaining chip to demand money. And once that happens, Haiping will be dragged into their schemes.”  

“This isn’t just about kindness or sympathy, helping her and giving her money isn’t a simple, one-time act. If it starts, it’ll be hard to stop.”  

Shen Haiping had been quietly listening all along. Now, he seemed to understand everything more clearly. His mother always had his best interests at heart.  

“Thank you, Mom,” he said sincerely.  

Fang Xiaoluo smiled and held his hand. “I won’t stop you from being friends with anyone. Everyone is equal, and there’s no hierarchy between people. My main concern is always that we avoid getting hurt in the process.”  

Just then, the phone in the living room rang. Fang Xiaoluo picked it up, and on the other end was Tang Jingxian.  

“Xiaoluo, I’ve found a shop for you. It’s right across from People’s Park. Do you have time now?”  

“I do, Sister Tang,” Fang Xiaoluo replied.  

“Great! Head out, and I’ll pick you up at the bus stop.”  

Fang Xiaoluo quickly gathered her things, grabbed an umbrella, and prepared to leave.  

“Don’t run around too much. Go to the cafeteria for lunch,” she said, handing meal tickets to Shen Haifeng.  

Shen Haifeng took the meal tickets with exaggerated seriousness. “Of course! We won’t let Grandma have a chance to cook!”  

Fang Xiaoluo laughed and playfully tapped his head. “Good thing your grandma isn’t here to hear you, or she’d kick you out!”  

As soon as Fang Xiaoluo left, Yu Xiaopang turned to the others. “My mom’s home. Why don’t we bring your grandma over to my place for lunch?”  

Yu Feixu nodded. “Good idea! Saves the meal tickets too.”  

Yu Xiaopang hopped up and leaned toward Shen Jinxia. “Xiaxia, what do you want to eat?”  

Shen Jinxia thought for a moment and shrugged. “I don’t know. Anything’s fine.”  

Yu Xiaopang beamed. “Alright, let’s head back and ask my mom to make extra food.”  

—

Back at Yu Xiaopang’s house, his mother, Han Weiping, was tidying up. The rain outside had created a quiet, cozy atmosphere, and with the children gone, she was enjoying a rare moment of peace.  

That peace was short-lived. Yu Feixu and Yu Xiaopang came bursting in, muddy footprints trailing behind them.  

“Stop right there, both of you!” Han Weiping yelled. “Look at your feet, covered in mud!”  

The boys froze in their tracks.  

Yu Feixu grinned sheepishly. “Mom, we’ll clean it up later. Don’t worry.”  

Yu Xiaopang chimed in quickly, “Mom, can you make something delicious for lunch? I invited Xiaxia and her family over to eat with us.”  

Han Weiping raised an eyebrow but didn’t seem too surprised. “Alright. Is everyone coming?”  

Yu Feixu explained, “Auntie isn’t coming. She went out and won’t be back for lunch. It’s just Shen Haifeng, the other two kids, and Grandma. Not sure if Uncle will make it.”  

Yu Xiaopang added confidently, “Don’t worry about Uncle. He’ll probably just eat at the cafeteria. There’s no one at home for him anyway.”  

Yu Feixu gave his younger brother a thumbs-up. “Dad’s going to love hearing that.”  

Han Weiping looked around and asked, “What should we eat for lunch?”  

Yu Xiaopang eagerly followed her, saying, “Mom, you must make something delicious, Xiaxia is coming to eat!”  

Han Weiping glanced at the trail of muddy footprints Yu Xiaopang had left behind, put her hands on her hips, and scolded him angrily, “Mop the floor for me, and don’t even think about coming back in until you’re done!”  

Yu Xiaopang pouted but obediently started mopping the floor, carefully working from the inside out. Once finished, he stood outside the door.  

With a sharp slam, Han Weiping shut the door in his face. “Come back when it’s time for dinner!”  

Yu Xiaopang turned to his brother, Yu Feixu, and asked, “Brother, will Mom cook something delicious?”  

Yu Feixu rubbed his head. “Shouldn’t you be more worried about whether she’s still angry?”  

The two brothers quickly ran back to the Shen house.  

At the door, Yu Xiaopang shouted, “Xiaxia, can you bring me a pair of slippers? It’s too muddy outside, and I don’t want to dirty the floor!”  

Shen Jinxia hurried to fetch slippers for them.  

When Yu Feixu and Yu Xiaopang came inside after changing their shoes, Shen Jinxia noticed that Yu Xiaopang’s hair and face were wet from rain.  

Though it wasn’t raining heavily, the boys had been running back and forth without wearing raincoats or using umbrellas.  

Shen Jinxia fetched a towel and gently wiped Yu Xiaopang’s face. “Why didn’t you use an umbrella? Mom says getting wet in the rain can make you sick.”  

Yu Xiaopang’s heart swelled with warmth. ‘Xiaxia is wiping my face!’  

Meanwhile, Shen Haiping handed Yu Feixu a towel and said, “Brother Feixu, you can wipe your face yourself.”  

Yu Feixu took the towel and carelessly wiped his face. “Haiping, don’t you think people shouldn’t compare themselves to others?”  

Shen Haiping, unfazed, took out a notebook and began sketching. He drew a little chubby boy and a pretty little girl.  

Shen Haifeng interrupted by stuffing an apple into Yu Feixu’s mouth. “If you know you shouldn’t compare, then don’t. What’s the point of competing?”  

Yu Xiaopang didn’t seem to notice the conversation. He turned to Shen Jinxia with a grin and said, “Xiaxia, do you want me to fold a frog for you? I just learned a new way to make one.”  

Shen Jinxia nodded with a smile. “Sure.”  

She put the towel away and sat down to fold paper with Yu Xiaopang.  

Not long after, Zheng Lanhua returned from outside.  

Shen Haifeng quickly greeted her, saying, “Grandma, Mom went out this afternoon, so we’re going to Feixu’s house for lunch.”  

Zheng Lanhua frowned. “I’ll just cook some noodles for you. Don’t bother their family.”  

Before she could insist further, Yu Feixu ran out and reassured her. “Grandma, it’s no trouble at all! My mom already knows, and she’s fine with it!”  

Zheng Lanhua relented. “Alright, then. You kids go play. I’ll head over to help your mother.”  

—

As noon approached, the children went out to play. Before leaving, Shen Haifeng left a note on the dining table for Shen Zheng.  

When Shen Zheng returned home, the house was unusually quiet, with no one in sight.  

He spotted the note on the table, which was written in two different handwritings.  

The first line, written by Shen Haifeng, read: ‘Dad, Mom went to Jiangcheng, and we went to my uncle’s house for lunch.’  

The second line, obviously written by Yu Feixu, added: ‘Uncle, if you come back and don’t have food, just go to the cafeteria to eat something.’  

Chuckling to himself, Shen Zheng picked up the note and stepped outside. As he walked out, he ran into Yu Xinzheng, who was hurrying home.