Xiao Man

On the day of Ji Qingqing’s wedding, Xiao Man attended as well. After all, Xiao Man was Dong Weixin’s second wife, and the two families were related, so Xiao Man had to be there.

Xiao Man always acted as if she didn’t care about Ji Qingqing, treating her just like an ordinary relative. Others thought Xiao Man was just pretending, and she knew what they were thinking. Xiao Man thought that as long as she maintained her facade well, it wouldn’t be too embarrassing.

Mother Dong had a big problem with Xiao Man. This old lady was still living a long life and often made things difficult for Xiao Man. She thought that since Xiao Man was so cruel to her own daughter, she’d be even worse to her stepchildren. No matter how well Xiao Man treated her stepchildren, they didn’t appreciate it.

Yet, Xiao Man continued to be good to them because if she wasn’t, people would talk even more.

“Your biological daughter is really something. Do you regret it?” Mother Dong would always take a jab at Xiao Man whenever she saw her, “So young and already a researcher. And you? You went to college, but it was like you didn’t.”

“She achieved that through her own efforts,” Xiao Man didn’t dare to say it was inherited from her. Ji Qingqing didn’t even call her ‘mom.’

Sometimes, when Xiao Man met Ji Qingqing outside, Ji Qingqing either ignored her or called her ‘aunt.’ Xiao Man wanted to tell Ji Qingqing to keep calling her ‘mom,’ but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Especially seeing Ji Qingqing grow up so well, it was even harder for Xiao Man to approach her.

Ji Qingqing getting married and having children had nothing to do with Xiao Man.

At night, Xiao Man shared a room with Dong Weixin, who also had things to say about her.

“Look at how well others have raised their children. And you?” Dong Weixin said, “Your two children combined aren’t even as good as your biological daughter. Are you doing it on purpose?”

“No…”

“I think you just didn’t raise them well,” Dong Weixin continued, “You say you treat them like your own, but it’s all fake.”

“I…” Xiao Man wanted to explain, but Dong Weixin turned his back on her.

Xiao Man fell silent. This was how it always was between them.

Perhaps they should have divorced from the start instead of staying together.

But now, it was too late to say anything, and this marriage could only continue.

Ji Chengshan never remarried in his life. People said he cared about Xiao Man, but he didn’t care what others said. He only cared about his daughter.

Xiao Man also wanted to believe Ji Chengshan cared about her, but it was pointless. What others said was false. Ji Chengshan let people talk, and although people said he cared about Xiao Man, she couldn’t say much. It pained her, but it was her own choice.

Xiao Man resented these people and even resented Ji Qingqing, wondering why Ji Qingqing wouldn’t acknowledge her as her mother. The Ji family loved Ji Qingqing so much. If Ji Qingqing called her ‘mom,’ her life in the Dong family would have been much easier.

But Xiao Man didn’t think about how poorly she treated Ji Qingqing in the past. Ji Qingqing used to hold onto a doll Xiao Man gave her. Xiao Man saw it but pretended she didn’t.

Of course, Xiao Man didn’t think she was wrong. How could she be? She just wanted to pursue happiness. If Ji Chengshan’s status hadn’t changed, Lin Chengshan would have had to work hard for many years to succeed in his business. Xiao Man firmly believed Ji Chengshan relied on the Ji family, even though she knew he had abilities of his own. She just didn’t want to acknowledge it.

When Ji Chengshan gave that doll back to Xiao Man, it was too late for her to regret it. Her daughter had longed for maternal love, but Xiao Man found it laughable that her daughter still wanted to be close to her despite how she treated her.

Unfortunately, Ji Qingqing had grown up. She wasn’t the child she used to be, longing for maternal love.

Xiao Man and Dong Weixin never divorced in their lives, but when they grew old and Dong Weixin passed away, Xiao Man’s stepson kicked her out. She lived alone elsewhere and didn’t dare seek out Ji Qingqing. She didn’t have the right to.

When Xiao Man died alone in her place, the police notified Ji Qingqing, who still came.

Ji Qingqing handled Xiao Man’s funeral arrangements without saying much. When asked, she didn’t respond. The person was gone, so what was the point of saying anything?