{Wouldn’t you like to come over for a hug? 1}

Qian Xu’s eyes drooped.

But beneath the surface, tumultuous waves churned, with a few rolling waves seeming like they could engulf everything at any moment.

Qian Xu was wondering, was this a true reflection of two or three years later, or was it because her deep-seated lack of confidence had taken over?

She always suspected that as a stepmother, she could never catch up with someone’s biological mother, no matter what. And the recent situation was completely different from before. Since Shen Qi got the first round of funding from the angel investor in Silicon Valley, she knew he wouldn’t stay in Ohio for long.

But the illusion was still too cruel –

Why did she have to become a tool to stimulate Cheng Shuangyi? It wasn’t shameful for the siblings to seek their mother’s love, but it was shameful for them to hope to use her. And it seemed highly likely that she would believe it and genuinely prepare to participate in the variety show with them.

In the end, was she just a disposable pawn?

Once Cheng Shuangyi relented and agreed to participate in the show, would she have to leave crawling?

Was she supposed to feel honored because Cheng Shuangyi, by nature noble, was reluctantly using her? Did Qian Xu have to feel grateful for that?

What had she done wrong? Over these years, while pursuing her graduate studies, she had been caring for Shen Qiyue and Shen Qinan with all her heart. She always believed that emotions between people were universal.

Shen Qiyue was just a little girl with a strong personality, and Shen Qinan sometimes lacked decisiveness.

She hadn’t expected much in return for her efforts, but at the very least, they shouldn’t take everything for granted, let alone use her softness to fulfill their selfish desires.

The teenager next to her was running rampant, almost causing Qian Xu to lose her place in the queue.

Coming back to reality from her reverie, she found herself back in the endless line. Her first concern was still whether Shen Qiyue and Shen Qinan outside had been waiting too long.

All these years of effort had become a habit.

It was just an ominous illusion of the future, a single image was not enough to shatter her long-held beliefs. Qian Xu couldn’t connect all of this to reality. She muttered to herself, “Just a confusing dream.”

The African American lady in front had stopped praying and suddenly said, “Dreams talk.”

Qian Xu furrowed her brow.

She still believed it was all just a coincidence.

Even from the rational perspective of economics, Qian Xu had no reason to let go at this moment. Leaving aside all these years of silent dedication, she had just barely survived the most agonizing times. Logically, she should be accompanying Shen Qi to enjoy a life of abundance –

And he had always promised that.

Qian Xu glanced back at Shen Qiyue and Shen Qinan. The siblings seemed to have reconciled. But she didn’t notice that the intense caring love she once had for them had slowly diminished, and the nerves that were once tense with fear of them getting hurt outside had gradually relaxed.

She didn’t want to think much of it, but she couldn’t completely erase that scene from her mind.

On the way back, Shen Qiyue complained about the terrible weather, intermittently expressing anger at a piece of bird poop on her boots; while Shen Qinian was sulking because he hadn’t been able to enjoy himself, picking up a twig from somewhere and randomly hitting the snow on the car roof.

No one sensed that Qian Shu’s spirits were not as high as when they arrived.

They had become accustomed to ignoring Qian Xu’s feelings.

In the past, Qian Xu would usually suppress her own emotions and instead care for the little annoyances of the two children, whether it was helping Shen Qiyue clean the dirt off her shoes or accompanying Shen Qinian in his reckless play.

But today she chose to turn a deaf ear.

Her silence continued until they reached the doorstep, and the reason they noticed was that Shen Qiyue wanted Qian Xu to carry her inside, but Qian Xu didn’t agree.

Under a Gothic-style iron lamp, Shen Qiyue insisted persistently, her voice somewhat hesitant, “Just carry me upstairs, it’s only a few steps anyway.”

Indeed, it was just a few steps.

Qian Xu still didn’t agree, but instead found the key to the door, just turning back to instruct them, “Follow me.”

Qian Shu’s uncharacteristic attitude annoyed Shen Qiyue, and even more so, it made her feel embarrassed.

She chose to ignore Qian Xu because of this. She climbed the stairs resolutely, determined to close the door and not talk to anyone.

Before this, Qian Xu had never refused any of her requests. Sometimes she would wonder if she would have been more confident to refuse if she were their real mother.

She was just an ordinary person and sometimes felt very tired because of these matters.

If Shen Qiyue’s heart was really pure, then why couldn’t she understand her exhaustion?

Shen Qiyue left, but Shen Qinian remained standing there, as if he wanted to express a few words of concern, but probably because of the habits of boys, he was awkward and couldn’t say anything.

“Go upstairs, I need to deal with the roast chicken here.”

Qian Xu’s attitude didn’t change, she brushed off Shen Qinian, and the little boy chose to not say anything.

At the entrance of the white spiral staircase, Shen Qinian suddenly turned his head and asked, “Is Dad not coming back today?”

“I don’t know,” she said in a deep voice.