The afternoon in the mountains felt a bit suffocating. The sky was filled with blue clouds, hinting at the possible near rain.Upon arriving in her hometown, Ye QiuXue purchased a warm cotton-padded coat for her grandmother. Despite the scorching summer heat, she couldn't forget the memory of her grandmother's worn-out jacket from the previous winter, which had finally succumbed to a sizable hole.

Even though her grandmother said the jacket could be mended, Ye QiuXue could still sense how her grandmother had endured the cold during the winter.

There were only two of them in the family.

As for her parents?

Her father and mother had long been divorced and now had their own families.

She would never forget that afternoon when they both brought their own children into that old brick house and told her,

"You are old enough to care for yourself now; your younger siblings are still small and need us."

She did not cry or express any resentment. However, her grandmother became so angry that she grabbed a broom and attempted to chase them away, telling them to leave and never return!

She understood that her grandmother was the person who loved her more than anyone in the world, so she needed to protect her!

Every morning, her grandmother would rise before the sun, diligently gathering fresh vegetables and hurrying to the town market.

During market days, it was always bustling with activity, allowing her to make more sales than usual.

And whenever she returned in the evening, she would make it a point to purchase a few snacks from town for her.

Those days were challenging but also the most joyful moments of her life.

That year, with excellent grades, she got accepted to a top high school in the city, and her grandmother wanted to withdraw her pension to pay for her education.

Luckily, the old village head was aware of the situation and generously funded her education.

That day, she saw her grandmother nearly fall to her knees in gratitude to the old village head, a few years younger than her grandmother.

She sobbed in solitude by the wall, but her resolve to demonstrate to those who had abandoned her that she could protect her grandmother grew even stronger-!

High school life wasn't much different from middle school, but it had its changes.

Due to her exceptional academic performance and charismatic demeanor, she swiftly got chosen to lead the student council. At first, she found it a bit of a hassle, but she eventually agreed when she learned that this role would make it easier to get a scholarship.

However, once she assumed the position, she quickly discovered that it was anything but simple. She had her hands full of troublemakers in the school.

And among them, the most troublesome was Han HuMing!

He not only slept during her patrols, but he also openly confessed his feelings to a girl, causing a stir throughout the school.

When she attempted to discipline him, he told her to mind her own business and not interfere.

Naturally, Ye QiuXue became enraged and decided to stand against Han HuMing!

But those days didn't last long.

She was surprised to see Han HuMing's complete transformation after his true identity came to light. HuMing gave up on chasing after that girl and even quit dozing off during class.

It felt as if a mischievous monkey had abruptly stopped, which was a little unsettling.

However, she was pleased to see this change because he was heading in the right direction.

Later on, his biological parents came and caused a scene, and she witnessed him being pushed out by his own mother.

She was outraged; in some ways, Han HuMing's parents were worse than hers!

However, what was most surprising was Han HuMing's open-minded perspective on the situation. Despite his calm demeanor, she sensed him concealing his true feelings about the situation.

It was because of this that she decided to help him!

Although it was tiring, witnessing Han HuMing's change filled her with a gratifying sense of achievement.

But lately, it appeared that she was growing more close to him. Ye Qiuxue had dozed off with her head nestled against his, only to wake up and find his gentle grip around her waist.

That guy always had a smile, making his emotions difficult to discern.

But Ye Qiuxue could tell one thing: he disliked Han ShuYi.

'Well, if he doesn't like him, so be it. I have no connection with Han ShuYi either anyway.'

Ye Qiuxue sat at the table, her eyes fixed on the window as a gentle rain enveloped the world outside, casting a hazy veil over the scenery.

The gentle patter of rain against the window created a soothing ambiance while the room exuded tranquillity.

Her grandmother appeared to have hurried back from town, and Ye QiuXue quickly helped her handle the things.

As raindrops slid down her grandmother's plastic raincoat, Ye QiuXue couldn't help but say,

"Grandma, I told you I could come with you. I could have helped you pick up some items on the way back."

"Oh, Isn't my granddaughter such an admirable student? Besides, it's rare for you to come back, and you're leaving tomorrow. How could I let you do such things?"

When her grandmother smiled, her wrinkles gathered in a way that wasn't in a definition of appealing, but to Ye QiuXue, it was the most heartwarming smile.

She helped her grandmother to the side table, carefully took out the cooked dishes from the pot, and said,

"Come on, let's eat."

"Alright, alright."

During their meal, her grandmother asked about her time at school.

Ye QiuXue naturally glossed over the less pleasant parts, and as she dined, she continuously put food into her grandmother's bowl.

"Grandma, I just won a few awards in some competitions and received some prize money from the school. I'll transfer it to you so you don't have to work this hard."

"Keep the money for yourself. Besides, you will need money when you go on dates, you know."

Hearing those words, Ye QiuXue nearly choked on her food.

She clearly understood that her grandmother's idea of a "date" was not simply two friends going out together.

"Grandma, I'm still a student."

"Don't worry, your grandmother isn't so strict. I'd be happy for you if you find someone you like."

"I really don't..."

"Ok!"

"... Grandma, where did you learn this English from?"

"The neighbor's second child. How's my pronunciation?"

Her grandmother beamed with a wide grin, revealing her pearly whites, causing Ye QiuXue to let out a gentle chuckle.

Her grandmother was doing well, and she herself was steadily growing. Life was now truly beautiful.

Ye QiuXue hoped that her life would continue advancing the way it is now.

......

After washing up, Ye QiuXue settled onto the worn wooden bed.

Outside, the rain persisted, gracefully draping the leaves with a soothing rustling melody.

She recalled her grandmother's words from earlier.

"If you find someone you like?"

She silently repeated the phrase, and suddenly, a specific figure appeared vividly in her mind.

She jumped out of the bed, shielding her head and vigorously shaking it.

"How can it possibly be him?!"

Her beautiful face appeared incredibly sorrowful.

"Ugh, so annoying!"

The young girl lay back in bed, her heart racing with thoughts. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ n0vᴇl(ꜰ)ire.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

However, unbeknownst to her, her grandmother happened to pass by after going to the bathroom and overheard everything.

She smiled gently.

If she could, she really wanted to meet the person troubling her granddaughter.