"Alright, summer vacation starts tomorrow! I wish everyone a happy summer vacation," the homeroom teacher exclaimed happily, clapping his hands.

"Hooray!"

"The beach!"

"Bikini and ice cream!"

Some of the boys couldn't contain their excitement and stood up, shouting.

"Quiet... you bunch of beings who think with your lower body," a girl scolded disgustedly.

"Hmph, vulgar!"

Many other girls also made faces of disgust and muttered.

"Jie..." Zhiye, who was sitting next to me, smiled and called out.

"What's up?"

"Jie... tomorrow is the start of summer vacation, do you have any plans?"

"Plans?" I rested my chin on my hand, looking at the scorching sun outside the window, radiating intense heat. I suddenly felt deflated like a balloon.

"I just want to spend summer vacation in a cool place," I said. One should not confront the scorching sun, but keep a respectful distance.

"...Have you considered going to the beach or something?" Zhiye casually said, putting one hand into the desk drawer.

"Not interested... too crowded at the beach," I replied.

"Oh, really?" Zhiye withdrew the hand from the desk drawer, forcing a smile.

"Do you want to go to the beach, Zhiye?"

"No...no... I just want to be with Jie. Even if we just stay at home, enjoying air conditioning and eating shaved ice and watermelon, it's fine," Zhiye said. Their words felt insincere, but I couldn't figure out what they were thinking. I could only respond according to my own thoughts.

"That's a good choice..."

"Then let's spend the summer like this," Zhiye agreed.

"Is it really okay? Zhiye wants to spend the entire summer with me like this?" Spending the summer in complete laziness didn't feel too good, but the scorching heat outside didn't give me any motivation to go out either. However, sometimes we shouldn't only think about ourselves but also consider others.

"No problem... I just want to be with Jie during summer vacation," Zhiye's face slowly turned red, obviously feeling shy.

"Maybe Su Yuqian has some plans..." I suddenly blurted out. I apologize to Zhiye. Although Zhiye's mother and Su Yuqian have agreed to make a decision when I go to college, I still can't accept it.

"...Let's ask later," Zhiye's expression became momentarily blank, but quickly returned to that gentle expression.

"Well then... see you after summer vacation," the homeroom teacher said, and the class meeting was over, signaling the start of summer vacation.

Although it was hot and made people feel lethargic, the thought of summer vacation still made people very happy. I really wanted to shout at the sky, "Summer vacation is here!"

Everyone left the school one after another, bidding each other farewell. I walked with Su Yuqian and Zhiye.

"Yuqian... any plans for summer vacation?"

"Plans? Why do you ask?"

"After all, it's summer vacation, there must be some way to spend it, right?"

"Some way? Youjie will probably just sleep in with her belly exposed. It's quite lazy," Su Yuqian replied.

"What? Why do I have a feeling of being a stuffed belly lying on the floor?" I retorted.

"Seems like you've experienced it personally... Youjie... you can't do that," Su Yuqian said.

Su Yuqian stood with her hands on her hips and said in a teacher-like tone,

"I wouldn't do that," I retorted loudly.

"Don't make those weird noises like a dying duck, it's really annoying..." Su Yuqian had a disgusted expression on her face.

"Uh..." I was speechless.

"I have to accompany my mom to visit my grandmother,"

"Visit your grandmother?"

"Yeah...she's abroad so we have to take a plane...and since it's once a year, we are planning to spend the whole summer there,"

"What!?"

"Why are you freaking out!?"

"Spending the entire summer abroad..."

"Yeah...is there a problem?" Su Yuqian stared at me without blinking.

"No problem...be careful on the road,"

Would she agree if I asked her to stay? But I can't ask now, and besides it's once a year so I can't refuse...but going abroad is not practical for me, so...there's nothing I can do,

"It's just that it's not very convenient to stay in touch when abroad...roaming charges and stuff in our own country are insanely expensive..."

Su Yuqian muttered in distress.

"What's wrong?"

"Take care of yourself..."

Su Yuqian said these words and it moved me for a long time.

"Zhiye, have a good summer too. Don't be too indulgent, or you'll become more and more useless."

My moved feelings instantly shattered like broken glass.

"Well...take care and come back early."

At the fork in the road, I said goodbye to Su Yuqian, and Zhiye, who is currently staying at my house, naturally went home with me.

Summer vacation? It doesn't feel like a joyous occasion,

When I arrived at the door of my house and opened it, I was greeted by my mother and Feiya,

Feiya was wearing a cute one-piece swimsuit, and my mother was wearing a sexy bikini with a straw hat,

My father was also wearing a flower shirt and shorts. What does this mean? Is there a summer carnival party going on at home?

"What's going on with you guys..."

"Youjie...how does my swimsuit look, Mom?"

My mother asked me to evaluate her swimsuit when she saw me.

"It looks good..."

"I knew it...my taste is really good. And what about Feiya's..."

My mother pushed Feiya out of the changing room like she was pushing a little girl hiding in there. Feiya blushes with a shy smile.

To be honest, Feiya's swimsuit has a childish style, very cute, like a little princess,

"It looks very nice..." I naturally didn't give a low rating.

"Um...uh...Feiya...is shy...why does Mommy make Feiya wear swimsuit...it's weird..."

"It's for our trip to Hawaii, Feiya hasn't been to Hawaii yet,"

My mother said with a smile,

"Um..." Feiya nodded, and I was surprised: "Mom, did you say it's for the preparations to go to Hawaii?"

"Yes...what's wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong...it's just...it's too sudden," even though I'm used to strange things, it's still annoying to feel excluded,

"Because we made the decision today, you know,"

"And you bought the swimsuits today too?"

"Yeah...my mom is very efficient, right?"

"Yeah...efficient to the point of suffocation," I looked at her with a hint of disdain, "So, did you book the plane tickets too?"

"Yeah... Can Youjie really predict the future? Impressive,"

"Impressive my foot..." I cursed silently in my heart,

"We have an early flight tomorrow morning... Oh, by the way, I'll trouble you and Zhiye to take care of the house. Here's the money we'll need for this summer, although it's not a lot, so please spend it wisely," Mother added,

As expected, I was being excluded,

"What's wrong, Youjie?" Mother asked, puzzled when she saw my lack of reaction,

Anyway, I didn't care to go. I reached for the envelope with money, but Mother quickly pulled back and handed it to Zhiye instead. "Let Zhiye manage it... Youjie will definitely waste it," she said,

"Is it okay?" Zhiye asked softly, looking at the envelope in his hand,

"Of course... Zhiye is now also considered the head of this household. He has the authority to use and manage it. During the time we're away, I leave my foolish son in your care, but don't spoil him and certainly don't offer your body to him," Mother said,

"What do you mean? Am I some kind of controlled monster?" I retorted,

"I will keep that in mind... Mother, have fun on your trip,"

"Alright... I'm relieved to hear that... It's worrying to be away from home, fearing that Youjie might starve or fall ill. This child just doesn't know how to take care of himself, can't even cook, and has poor physical strength. He will scream and shout at the slightest discomfort..." Mother complained,

"That's like playing with my life!" I shouted at Mother,

"What's the matter? Do you want Mom's love? Come... Mom will love you well," Mother grabbed my throat from behind and I felt something about to separate from my body,

I quickly tapped her arm to squeeze out a dry throaty voice, "I'm... I'm going to die,"

"Oh... I was too rough. I'm sorry, Youjie..." Mother said,

This woman is definitely not my real mother... Definitely not...

"Mom is your biological mother. I can show you your birth certificate, or we can even do a DNA test if you find it unconvincing," Mother said confidently, leaving me no options. Besides, I couldn't actually go with her to do a DNA test, even though she loves using deadly tactics and is not gentle at all, but I don't dislike her either,

"...Let's just believe it for now, but please don't torture your own son like this," I said,

"Mom will pay attention, but you also have to behave... If you had listened to Mom earlier and realized your situation, you wouldn't be in this state, never even having held a girl's hand, let alone kissing," Mother sighed,

"Who said that?" I protested,

"Really? Have you done anything with Su Yuqian? That's rare...," Why does Mother's tone sound so skeptical,

"Why doesn't Mother believe it?" I asked,

"It's not Mom who's saying it, but I just feel like you and Su Yuqian aren't a good match. Zhiye is your perfect match... Why fight against your own unworthy fate?"

"Madam Mother..." Zhiye blushed as she listened,

"What's wrong with trying to fight against the predetermined fate and change this situation? I strongly suspect that I am an outsider in this family,"

I have already felt a certain lack of respect,

"Of course, Mother still respects your choice, and the most important thing is your happiness. As long as you think it's right, and are willing to put effort into it, Mother has nothing more to say. But Mother just wants you to be with the right person, and not blame everything after getting married,"

"...I won't regret my own decisions,"

"Then Mother has nothing more to say. Have a happy summer vacation too,"

"I will..."

"Don't have any objections, okay? We didn't take you to Hawaii this time because your Aunt Gawautsuku is also going, but Zhiye, because of a special reason... In any case, Youjie can't go. Mother will take you next time, so...don't be angry,"

Madam Mother explained,

"I'm not angry...I never planned on going either,"

"I heard that Hawaii is beautiful, and there's hula dancing..."

"Stop talking..."

"Youjie really wants to go, right...Forgive me, ..." Madam Mother looked guilty,

"I already said I don't want to go!"

This is the beginning of a scorching summer, with my furious cry, but it didn't stop the onslaught of the summer days.