You Must Be Good 102

Chapter 102

This one word “Mommy” was truly a long-lost one for Xu Keqing.

When she was very young, Chu Xinrou had loved to chase after her, calling out “Mommy” in a milky voice. At that time, Chu Xinrou was particularly beautiful, the kind of beautiful with a milky scent all over her body, fair skin, and big eyes. She would be surrounded by people when she was taken out.

Chu Xinrou had been very clingy to her. She had been pushed away by her time and time again, but she would still hug her leg again and again.

Xu Keqing had hardened her heart and had refused to look at her. Only once had she taken the initiative to hug Chu Xinrou.

That was when she was three years old. Little Xinrou had had a high fever. The doctor had given her medicine and a shot. She had gotten a little better, but the fever had not subsided.

Those few days happened to be the anniversary of his late wife’s death. Chu Yunji had always felt uneasy in his heart. He had left the group’s affairs and had stayed at home to accompany his eldest daughter.

He was there, so Xu Keqing had had no choice but to put on the disguise of a “loving mother” and had taken care of Chu Xinrou without taking off her clothes.

Chu Xinrou’s little face was pale from the fever, and her lips were chapped. She had been in a daze, sleeping in fits and starts. But as long as she opened her eyes and saw Xu Keqing, she would show her a sweet smile, her hot little hand tightly clutching her sleeve.

Xu Keqing had pressed her lips together and had wanted to pull her hand back. But Chu Yunji was drinking tea on the side, so she had let her be.

On the fourth morning, the fever had finally subsided. The days of illness had made that little face a size smaller, and her eyes had lost their usual luster. Xu Keqing was just about to test her forehead temperature when she had suddenly felt a warmth around her neck. Little Xinrou had actually wrapped her arms around her and had said with a voice as faint as a thread but full of joy, “Mommy, I’ve been so happy these past few days.”

At that moment, her heart had seemed to have been gently bumped by something soft.

Xu Keqing had been frozen in little Xinrou’s embrace, her breathing even stopped. The child’s hot cheek had rubbed against her skin, like a little milk cat seeking warmth.

She had felt that a certain hard barrier in her heart was loosening. She couldn’t help but gently hug the little milk ball. But when her peripheral vision had caught Chu Yunji’s gaze, that just-sprouted softness had quickly frozen into ice.

…

Chu Xinrou’s eyes were filled with sorrow. She walked slowly towards Xu Keqing, and just as she had done countless times as a child, she bent down to be at her eye level. “I will get you out.” Her long eyelashes trembled slightly. “After you get out, live a good life.”

Xu Keqing’s lips were pressed into a tight line, a look of disbelief in her eyes.

She knew this daughter all too well—if she wasn’t completely sure, Chu Xinrou would never make a promise so easily.

“You hate the Chu family and want everyone in the Chu family to be in pain,” Chu Xinrou’s voice was almost inaudible. “I don’t know about Daddy… but for me, you have indeed done it.” Her red-rimmed eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Xu Keqing, her voice broken. “Mommy, I’m really… in a lot of pain.”

She, who had never shown weakness, had told Xu Keqing her innermost negative emotions.

This way, Xu Keqing would feel better, right?

Xu Keqing looked at Chu Xinrou, at the tears sliding down her cheeks, as if they were falling into her own heart.

How many sleepless nights had Xu Keqing spent, picturing the painful and tearful faces of the Chu family in her mind? That was the motivation that had kept her going.

The grown-up Chu Xinrou was a completely different person from her childhood self, always maintaining a calm and indifferent expression. No matter how she had made things difficult for her, or how harsh Chu Yunji had been, it had been hard to stir up too much of a ripple on that face.

And now, this always-composed daughter had completely broken down in front of her.

Xu Keqing, whose “great revenge had been avenged,” told herself that at this moment, she should feel happy.

But she didn’t.

–

In the end, Xu Keqing had gained her freedom.

The price was that Chu Xinrou had handed over all her shares in the Chu family. She had looked at Chu Yunji with empty and numb eyes. “Daddy, is this what you wanted?”

Chu Yunji had stared at her in disbelief, unable to understand how someone could give up such immense wealth.

Just like that day, Chu Fengyi’s reaction after watching the surveillance footage had been beyond his expectations. There was no imagined hysteria. She had just let the hot tears slide down and had turned to question Chu Yunji, “What exactly do you want me to do by showing me this?”

Did he want her to hate her sister, to hate her mother?

Chu Yunji’s expression was indifferent. “Since you chose to sit in that position back then, you should have expected today.”

Chu Fengyi’s eyes were red, but she still stared at him and sneered. “Is that so? Should I have expected it?”

Tears had flowed out uncontrollably. She had bitten her lower lip hard and had finally murmured after a long while, “Daddy, do you know? The happiest time of my life will forever be before I was eight.”

At that time, the sky was blue, and life was colorful and vibrant. Her sister had treated her with affection and gentleness.

What she had sought was never wealth and glory, but just a happy family together. Even if it was simple food, she would have been content.

Chu Yunji’s face was ashen. “You say such things because you haven’t tasted the bitterness of poverty.”

He had started from scratch.

He knew what it was like to be poor, and how painful it was to be controlled by others.

Chu Fengyi had stared at him for a long time and had finally said softly, “I really regret being your daughter in this life, being born into the Chu family.”

…

In the end, Chu Yunji still couldn’t believe that they would give up everything like this.

His thunderous methods had indeed taken back all the real power, but he had also lost his two daughters forever.

When he had returned to the board of directors, he had been greeted by the meaningful gazes of all the directors. Chu Yunji had sat in the main seat and had looked around, only then realizing that every single person present was a confidant that Chu Xinrou had carefully selected for her younger sister.

She was his daughter after all.

A complex smile had appeared on Chu Yunji’s lips. It was pride, and also a deep helplessness.

Back then, when she had said she wanted to get rid of Xu Keqing’s influence, Chu Xinrou had taken the opportunity to remove his most capable confidants as well.

While he was feigning illness and suppressing his opponents, how could Chu Xinrou not have her eyes on him?

Chu Yunji had even thought that from the very beginning, Chu Xinrou had known everything and had just been seeking a complete break.

Just like the shares she had handed over this time, Chu Xinrou had directly transferred them to the Second Miss’s name, not even leaving him a single hair.

The day Xu Keqing was released, she was picked up by Chu Fengyi.

The Second Miss had driven the car herself. On the way, neither mother nor daughter had spoken.

The scenery outside the car window had gradually changed from reinforced concrete to suburban scenery. The bruises on Xu Keqing’s face were particularly glaring in the sun.

Just as they were about to arrive, Chu Fengyi had suddenly spoken. “My sister has transferred all her shares to me.”

Chu Fengyi had suddenly spoken, her voice as calm as if she were discussing the weather today. Her fingers had lightly tapped the steering wheel, her gaze always fixed on the road ahead.

They both knew what this meant. The current Chu Fengyi was no longer the Second Miss who could be manipulated by others.

Xu Keqing had looked at the fleeting tree shadows outside the window, her swollen eyes slightly narrowed. In the rearview mirror, Chu Fengyi had finally turned her gaze to her.

“Mommy,” the Second Miss’s voice was very soft, but it carried an undeniable power. “Are you satisfied now?”

Her tone, her aura, was finally no longer that of the profligate who loved to eat, drink, and play. She had the look of a high and mighty CEO.

Years of planning had finally come to fruition, but Xu Keqing’s chest was as if being pressed by a stone, so heavy she could barely breathe.

Chu Fengyi had stared into her eyes, her voice cold and ruthless. “My sister is sick and has been hospitalized.”

Xu Keqing had abruptly sat up straight, a trace of panic in her swollen eyes.

Chu Fengyi had slowly turned her head, her gaze as sharp as a blade. “Don’t go and disturb her again. Never again.”

Chu Fengyi’s dark eyes were filled with an undeniable pressure. Xu Keqing had stared at her in a daze, a sense of déjà vu stirring her heart.

Her daughter had also finally become a cold-blooded and ruthless person like Chu Yunji.

The Second Miss couldn’t not be cold-blooded.

Since she was a child, it had always been her sister who had protected her. Now, if she continued to be so indulgent, she would lose her sister forever.

Chu Xinrou’s illness was mostly from her heart.

She had been lying in the hospital bed, in a daze for a long time. The first thing she had done when she had gotten up was to reply to Xiaoxiao’s message.

Her condition was very bad, but she had been hiding it from Xiaoxiao.

She was afraid that Xiaoxiao would see her like this.

Once upon a time, she had always appeared by Xiaoxiao’s side as a protector and guardian. But now, with a body full of scars, what ability did she have to embrace Xiaoxiao again?

Xiaoxiao’s life had just begun to bloom, and her soul was already full of a thousand holes.

She had been in the hospital for three days. In the meantime, Chu Fengyi had come to see her whenever she had time, but Chu Xinrou had refused to see her.

The past events were all mixed together. She didn’t know how to face her sister.

She knew the truth was not like this, but she was still affected by those words.

Chu Xinrou couldn’t help but think, if it weren’t for her, her biological mother wouldn’t have died, and Chu Yunji and she would have continued to be as loving as a divine couple.

If it weren’t for her, even if Xu Keqing had been deceived and had married into the family, if she hadn’t seen her, she wouldn’t have known she had been deceived and wouldn’t have felt resentment and grievance.

If it weren’t for her, her sister wouldn’t have been disabled and in pain for the rest of her life.

If it weren’t for her, everything would have been fine…

Chu Fengyi’s heart was filled with a mix of heartache and sadness. There was no way. She could only personally go and find her sister’s former psychologist, Lara.

Lara had received help from the Second Miss when she was studying abroad in the United States. She was an excellent psychologist, and most importantly, she had been very familiar with Chu Xinrou. In the years she had been away from home, the two of them had kept in touch.

They had met in Chu Xinrou’s suburban villa.

When Lara had seen Chu Xinrou, her heart had turned slightly cold.

Chu Xinrou’s complexion and state were too bad. She had sat opposite her, looking haggard, had looked up at her, and had asked, “Did Fengyi ask you to come?”

Her soul seemed to have been sucked out.

Lara had nodded. “I also wanted to come and see you myself.” She had been silent for a moment and had asked Chu Xinrou, “Xinrou, have you been well these past few years?”

Have you been well?

The air had frozen.

Chu Xinrou was like a pool of stagnant water, silent to whatever was asked.

Lara had no other choice but to use hypnotherapy to see what was in her heart.

As the cross began to swing regularly, Chu Xinrou’s gaze gradually became unfocused. She felt as if she were falling into a dark, deep sea, and fragments of her memory were like schools of glowing fish, rushing towards her from all directions.

She had seen herself become small.

Lying in bed, watching Xu Keqing walk towards her, she had happily held out her hands and had murmured, “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!”

One “Mommy” after another, a longing from the bottom of her heart.

But her mother had just glanced at her and had left, her heart even full of black resentment. What are you calling for? I’m not your real mother.

A school of gray fish had then pulled her apart.

Darkness had rushed in like a tide. Chu Xinrou had seen herself shrunk in the shadow of the bed crevice, her arms tightly wrapped around her trembling sister. Outside the door, the sound of porcelain shattering and a sharp argument had been endless.

She had clearly been terrified, but she had used both her hands to cover her sister’s ears with all her might. The Second Miss in her arms had looked around with her big, terrified eyes. Chu Xinrou had held her tightly and had whispered, “Don’t be afraid… don’t be afraid, Fengyi. Your sister is here.”

But the next second, she had seen her sister’s body suddenly covered in wet blood. Chu Xinrou had almost screamed. She had looked down and had seen Fengyi pointing at her empty pant leg, looking at her. “Jiejie, I’m scared. I’m so scared…”

The school of fish had torn her apart again.

She had watched herself stand up bit by bit, grow into an adult, and behind her were countless black shadows, pointing at her.

“Her, for the sake of the family’s interests, she left her little sister behind. Her leg was crushed.”

“Is her heart so cruel?”

“Hey, isn’t that what rich families are like? For the sake of profit, they’ll do anything.”

“Doesn’t her conscience bother her?”

…

In the third-person perspective, Chu Xinrou had seen herself crying. She had been walking and crying. Just as she had been about to raise her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, a sharp voice had come from behind.

“Don’t cry. You are the eldest daughter of the Chu family. You will inherit everything from me in the future. How can you be so fragile?!”

“Fengyi is already disabled. It’s useless for you to be sad. You can only make yourself stronger!”

“Only the strong have the ability to protect the people they want to protect!”

…

Lara’s fingertips had trembled slightly. Chu Xinrou, on the wicker chair, was curled up in pain, tears soaking her collar, her whole being like a lonely boat in a storm.

She had never seen Chu Xinrou like this and knew that she had to end the hypnosis as soon as possible.

“Now I’ll start the countdown. When I count down to the last second, you will wake up.”

“Xinrou, listen to me! 3—2—1!”

…

It was useless.

Chu Xinrou couldn’t wake up at all. She was crying her heart out, so much so that she couldn’t control herself. She had even stumbled to her feet and, following her memory, had gone to find that deep, dark cliff from back then.

Jump.

Jump, and everything will be over.

Wasn’t her life like this?

It wasn’t worth it.

Lara was so scared that sweat broke out on her. She knew that if she didn’t end it, Chu Xinrou might hurt herself.

At this critical moment, she had thought of what Chu Fengyi had said before. It was a reminder the Second Miss had given her before they had entered.

Lara had composed herself and had whispered in Chu Xinrou’s ear, “Alright, Xinrou, you continue to walk forward. There’s a door in front. Open that door.”

Chu Xinrou had watched her tear-streaked self get up and go to push the door.

“Behind the door is the person you want to see the most.”

She had pushed open the door.

A beam of light had pierced through all the darkness. Qiao Xiaoxiao was standing in the center of the halo, the ends of her hair dotted with starlight. She had turned around, her smile clearer than the morning dew. “Jiejie, come.”

She had held out her hand, palm up, and had given Chu Xinrou the hope of life.

Tears had slid down silently, leaving transparent marks on Chu Xinrou’s pale face. All her pretense of strength had crumbled at this moment. She had been as aggrieved as a child. “Xiaoxiao… I… it hurts so much.”