"Mom—pleeease—"

"Not happening!"

"Dad—look at Mom—"

"Uh... Look, I’m totally cool with you hanging out with girls. But traveling *that* far for days? Yeah... I’ve gotta side with your mom on this."

"You guys—I’m practically an adult! Nothing’s gonna happen. And college? I’ll be living alone anyway!"

Li Mo wasn’t just upset about her parents’ refusal—she was utterly dejected.

She was nearly twenty, legally an adult, and had *never* traveled solo. If she were a boy? They’d probably shove cash in her hand and yell, "Scram! Give us peace!"

But no—they wanted her glued to the couch until semester started.

Her Gaokao score? Decent. English? Pure luck ace. 550 points—barely ten over first-tier cutoff. Still not enough for tier-one uni, so she landed at a solid second-tier school in the provincial capital. Family was thrilled.

Honestly, given her old study habits, even *that* felt like a miracle.

She’d hoped *this* might loosen their grip.

Joke’s on her. Even Tsinghua or Peking University wouldn’t change their minds.

"You’re such a delicate girl—run into trouble out there, you couldn’t even flee!"

*Delicate?*

After all, she’d been high school’s junior tough cookie—fought every troublemaker in her grade, tangled with upperclassmen too. Since when was she "delicate"?

"I’m not delicate! See these muscles? Beastly strong!"

She defiantly flexed her withered biceps. Ms. Wang said nothing—just pinched hard.

"Yowch!"

"‘Beastly.’"

"I’m going for *fun*, not fights! Pleeease, pleeease, pleeease let me go!"

Stung, Li Mo switched tactics: plopped on the sofa and rolled dramatically.

"Your mom worries for your safety. Don’t be willful."

Useless.

"Unsafe?! I’m flat as a board—who’d even *look* at me?!"

*Smack!*

"Yelp!"

The words barely left her mouth before Mom’s angry slap landed squarely on her butt. Dad didn’t flinch. *Zero self-awareness*—exactly why they wouldn’t let her go.

"Go reflect in your room!"

When Mom was truly angry? Silence. The girl who’d just thrown a full tantrum instantly straightened up, pouting lips trembling with dejection, and shuffled away, door clicking shut.

"This kid’ll be the death of me... Ugh, dizzy."

Only after Li Mo vanished did Mom slump onto the sofa, drained. Felt like she’d fought a war.

"Easy now. Mo Mo’s at that age—wants independence."

They’d never known stable homes young. They knew solo life’s grit.

But Li Mo? Spoiled since childhood. Especially after becoming a girl. Dad doted shamelessly. Ms. Wang sometimes wondered—if she weren’t their daughter, would she call him a "younger-girl enthusiast"?

"I’m not *against* it! I offered to go *with* her. Suggested Tang Zhe. You both bristled. Three girls alone? I can’t relax."

"Same here."

Truth was, they wouldn’t be this strict... if creeps hadn’t targeted her days after returning to school. Only daughter. No second chances.

"But her stubborn streak... how long will she sulk?"

"Fine. Let her go. I’ll tail her quietly."

"What kind of creep are *you*?" Mom smacked Dad’s head. "Movie fantasy? Even if our girl’s a bit dense, she’d spot you shadowing her in *hours*."

"Then what?" Dad’s chest ached watching Li Mo’s dejection. Why was compromise so hard?

"...Fine. I’ll call my side."

Resigned, Ms. Wang pulled out her phone.

...

...

"I can’t go..."

"Parents said no?"

"Mm."

Back in her room, Li Mo vented in the QQ group. Everyone else had clearance—just her.

Worst part? Mom suggested *Tang Zhe* for "peace of mind."

As if! Since *that* night, zero contact. He and Shen Yi’s crew used to pester her—now blocked. To his credit, he hadn’t shown up IRL.

Two more months. Stay quiet. Thankfully, neighbors didn’t know. Tang Zhe wouldn’t tell his mom about the rejected confession... but if Tang Yunmeng found out? With *her* loudmouth energy? Disaster.

"Totally get it! Let’s pick somewhere closer?"

"Mo Mo, visit campus? It’s nearby—just one or two days. Parents might agree."

Guilt pricked Li Mo. Ruining everyone’s plans...

*Let them go. I’ll be a forever-homebody. Surf the net all holiday.*

"Forget it, you gu—"

Her text cut off mid-sentence by a call.

*Wang Ziheng? That brat?*

Vanished without a word months ago. Radio silence. *Now* he calls?

"Hello." (Flat.)

"Sis, planning a trip?"

"...Huh?"

*How does he even know?!*