Chapter Thirteen: Same Path, Different Fates

Since Huo Yan was unwilling to stay alone with Yu Mengpeng, he would rather go downstairs to buy drinks. Ning Shuyi was glad to avoid an extra trip, so she went ahead with Yu Mengpeng and settled into the small sofa opposite her.

Beside this elegant seat was a large window in European style; looking out, one saw a pedestrian street, with a fine view and a quiet atmosphere.

“Did you used to come here often?” Ning Shuyi started a casual conversation with Yu Mengpeng. “This is a nice spot—most people wouldn’t even know about it!”

“Yes, for a while I used to come here to read and enjoy some peace,” Yu Mengpeng sighed helplessly. “You’ve met my mother—she’s not a bad person, but her personality, her endless nagging… Spending too much time with her really drives me crazy!

She can repeat the same thing over and over, just swapping out the words. If you don’t want to do something, she’ll encourage you non-stop; but when you finally do it, she’ll pour cold water over you as much as she can! Under her watchful eye, I can’t get anything done. Sometimes she frustrates me so much I have to escape!”

“Are you still in university?” Ning Shuyi observed that since Yu Mengpeng had come here, away from her parents, she was visibly more relaxed and willing to talk. She didn’t rush to her main purpose, but continued chatting lightly. “Do you commute from home instead of living on campus?”

Yu Mengpeng quickly waved her hand. “I’m almost twenty-three, graduated last summer! If I were still in university, I wouldn’t need to come here to study and find peace!”

“Are you preparing for graduate school entrance exams?” Ning Shuyi asked.

After all, someone who graduated university more than half a year ago, who could be summoned by her mother’s phone call and still have time to sit and talk, couldn’t possibly be working full-time.

Such a simple question made Yu Mengpeng sigh again, and she began pouring out her grievances to Ning Shuyi. “Don’t even mention it! I’m secretly preparing for the exams! And I don’t always have the time—my mother often pushes me to go out and find a job!

Sister, you look like you’ve worked for a few years; you probably don’t know how hard it is for college graduates these days to find work! I send my resume out in droves, but after dozens of applications, I might not even get one call back!

I thought, my uncle owns his own company—if nothing else works, he could arrange a position for me, I could work there while keeping my options open. But my mother won’t allow it. She says my cousin never accepted my uncle’s arrangements, so how could I, as a niece, shamelessly go to his company and not be laughed at by relatives and friends!

She tells me that while I’m young, I need to strike out on my own, not expect the family to pave the way for me. If everything is too smooth, and I rely too much on the family, I’ll end up useless!”

Ning Shuyi kept quiet; it was clear Yu Mengpeng was venting, and though her mother’s words sounded reasonable enough, at this moment, as a good listener—especially if she hoped the girl would open up and provide useful information later—she couldn’t take any other stance.

“I said, fine, then I’ll be like my cousin and prepare for graduate school! My university isn’t prestigious, and finding a job is tough. If I keep running into walls everywhere, I might as well improve myself!

But then my mother wouldn’t let me! She insisted I wasn’t cut out for it, that the family didn’t have money to waste on exam prep, and I should give up that idea!”

Yu Mengpeng, it seemed, had bottled up these complaints without a chance to vent—now, finally having the opportunity, she had no expectation that Ning Shuyi would respond, and continued talking on her own.

“So you’re sneaking around behind your mother’s back?” Ning Shuyi smiled, “Planning to study quietly, surprise her with a brilliant success?”

“I hope I can surprise her!” Yu Mengpeng sighed again. “Honestly, I just refuse to accept it. I want to prove to her that I am capable—don’t underestimate me!

I’m not willing to settle for a job I don’t like, just to make ends meet and abandon my dreams!

Most importantly, I don’t want my mother meddling in my life all the time! Isn’t it ironic? My uncle never had time for my cousin, but as soon as she graduated, he wanted to interfere in her life and work arrangements!

My mother, on the other hand—she seems so democratic and enlightened when it comes to my cousin! No matter what my cousin does, my mother is the world’s best aunt, full of encouragement and praise.

But when it’s me, her own daughter, I get none of that! Just like my uncle—no wonder they’re siblings! She’s nearly twenty years younger than him, but it doesn’t stop her from being just as stubborn and domineering with her own child!

That’s why I refuse to accept it—I want to prove I’m right and she’s wrong!”

“That’s a good spirit,” Ning Shuyi agreed.

Yu Mengpeng gave a bitter smile. “It’s more than spirit—if it were just enthusiasm, my mother’s super-powered extinguisher would smother it all! To be honest with you, my cousin is three years older than me. We never studied in the same school—every stage was just off, so aside from holidays, we rarely met.

It was only when I was about to graduate, starting my internship away from school, that I began visiting my cousin often to escape my mother. My cousin’s place was my safe haven! My mother wouldn’t dare nag her, always spoke gently, so I got to enjoy a bit of good treatment by association.”

“Your mother really is a wonderful aunt!” Ning Shuyi said with feeling. “It’s obvious she genuinely cares about your cousin, and looks after her quite a lot.”

“Exactly!” Yu Mengpeng laughed. “When I was little, I was jealous—thought my mother loved my cousin, not me. I’d cry and make a fuss, only to get scolded soundly!

My mother would say my aunt passed away early, my cousin lost her mother when she was so young, and was already pitiful—a child without a mother, like a weed. And back then, my uncle spent all his money on my aunt’s medical care, and to support the family, he had to work like crazy, with no time for my cousin.

If my mother didn’t look after my cousin, she’d be even more pitiful. So she had to be good to her, to make up for my uncle and aunt, to ensure my cousin didn’t feel sad.

After hearing that, if I kept fussing, I’d be terribly selfish. Over the years, I got used to this pattern in my family—never imagined that the one who was jealous and angry as a child would grow up to be the only one who could keep my mother in check!”