Chapter 71—Part 2

She couldn’t gamble on that slim chance, because after all, it wasn’t impossible for high school sweethearts to make it to the end.

Pei Yuan could not stand by and watch them walk this path together.

So she spoke calmly, “I oppose you two, not simply because of your age, nor just because of your studies.”

“It’s because of your family.”

…

What happened next unfolded just like this—Ji Ran, who had sneaked out of her house, stumbled upon this scene.

She was so disappointed and heartbroken.

Even if Pei Yuan was doing this under the banner of ‘for her own good,’ Ji Ran could not accept it.

When she shouted the words, “I’m ashamed of you,” Pei Yuan was visibly shaken.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Ji Ran.

Clearly, she had never anticipated Ji Ran saying such words to her.

Even Ji Ran herself hadn’t expected it.

Ji Ran had been under her strict control since childhood, accustomed to following her arrangements.

Besides, Pei Yuan had always been strong-willed and decisive.

Even when Ji Qingli had not yet divorced her, he had never spoken to her like this.

Yet it was the always obedient Ji Ran who flared up at her for the sake of a young man.

Both mother and daughter were stunned by this clash, and for a moment, the entire hospital room was frozen in silence.

Finally, Pei Yuan looked at her and said slowly, “If there’s one thing I regret, it’s letting you choose your father. Look at what you’ve become in less than half a year.”

Ji Ran looked at her, her eyes filled with disappointment.

When she spoke, her voice trembled with emotion and sadness, unable to be hidden: “Have you ever thought about it? The person you said was sick might be a stranger to you, someone you don’t care about. But that’s his mother. Just the thought of her brings a warm feeling to his heart.”

“Just like you do for me.”

Mothers are different, just like Ji Ran’s feelings for Pei Yuan.

Even though Pei Yuan had so many demands, was so domineering, and arranged every aspect of her life to the point where Ji Ran felt suffocated—

Every time Pei Yuan returned from a business trip and Ji Ran was already asleep, she would wake up the next morning to find a gift placed by her bedside.

A gift Pei Yuan had quietly left in her room.

When they went shopping together, Ji Ran had caught fleeting moments of satisfaction on Pei Yuan’s face as she watched her try on clothes in the mirror.

These countless little memories made Ji Ran soften, even when Pei Yuan was overly harsh.

She always believed that Pei Yuan loved her, cared about her.

So Pei Yuan was also that warm existence in her heart, someone whose mere thought brought comfort.

But now, Pei Yuan’s actions were unacceptable to her.

At this moment, Pei Yuan seemed shaken by Ji Ran’s words, “Just like you do for me.”

The mother and daughter had never been the type to share their hearts openly.

Pei Yuan had never said “I love you” to Ji Ran, and Ji Ran had never acted overly dependent on her like other girls.

But at this moment, Pei Yuan could feel Ji Ran’s attachment and longing for her.

When Pei Yuan spoke again, her tone was no longer so sharp but carried a faint trace of explanation: “Ranran, you might not agree with my actions, but I have no regrets. You two are not suitable for each other. You don’t understand his family, his background. You’ve rushed into this headfirst. I can’t watch you make this mistake.”

“What is the right path then?”

Ji Ran looked at her, letting out a bitter laugh.

Of course, she knew what the ‘right path’ looked like in Pei Yuan’s eyes.

In her previous life, she had walked that path—step by step, without deviation.

Every step was part of Pei Yuan’s plan.

Tears welled up in Ji Ran’s eyes, a layer of shimmering moisture covering her dark pupils, on the verge of falling.

She said, “Maybe you won’t believe me, but I’ve walked that path before. The path you call ‘right.’ I studied, I worked, I shut out all distractions. But do you know what? It wasn’t happy.”

“The path you speak of isn’t happy.”

At midnight, opening her contact list, there wasn’t a single person she could talk to.

No friends, no one she loved.

She didn’t know that loving someone with all her heart could bring so much happiness.

Even something as simple as sharing a cup of milk tea felt so sweet.

Sweet enough that she never wanted to walk that so-called ‘right path’ again.

She had seen that future—a future where she was completely alone.

So now, she wanted to experience another kind of future, one with him.

She wanted to know how different this future could be.

Pei Yuan didn’t want to argue with Ji Ran in front of Shen Zhi anymore, so she decided to end it and take Ji Ran home immediately.

But Ji Ran lowered her head and looked at Shen Zhi, who had been sitting quietly on the hospital bed, watching her.

She asked, “Mom, can I talk to him for a few more minutes?”

Pei Yuan looked at Shen Zhi with a complicated expression.

Tonight, she had been angry, cold, and even remorseful.

Ji Ran’s words had indeed touched her.

As a mother, she realized she might have been too cruel to this young boy.

So, for once, Pei Yuan, who never backed down, looked at them and said softly, “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”

Pei Yuan left, the sound of her high heels gradually fading away.

Ji Ran turned to Shen Zhi.

His gaze was fixed on her, gentle and warm: “Alright, go home now. It’s too late.”

Ji Ran hadn’t expected him to say that.

She frowned slightly, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Finally, she sniffled and asked softly, “Is there anything you want to say to me?”

But realizing her question might have sounded wrong, she added, “If you’re upset, you can tell me. You can even scold me. But don’t worry, no one else can say anything about you, not even my mom.”

Shen Zhi looked up at her, silent.

But his eyes were so soft.

At that moment, he felt so fortunate that the person he loved was Ji Ran.

Shen Zhi stood up, gently opened his arms, and smiled faintly: “Ranran, come here.”

Ji Ran walked into his embrace. Shen Zhi hugged her tightly, his cheek brushing against hers as he said softly, “Ranran, I’m sad, but I’m not angry.”

At this moment, Shen Zhi thought: How lucky am I to have met her?

He whispered, “I used all my luck just to meet you.”

The girl in his arms, like a little soldier, remained his unwavering light.