Days slipped by.

Yumo’s driving skills improved steadily, and his bond with Tanglingxue deepened. They even began sharing stories about their families.

Yumo’s background was no mystery to Ling Xue, but this was his first time hearing about hers.

"Daughter of a mistress. Hated by the legal wife. Your dad doesn’t dislike you, but he’s never really cared… Yeah, I can picture how awkward that must be."

"Right? I don’t care, but… it’s still annoying. When rich wives catch their husbands cheating, some swallow their pride for money, reputation, or ‘love.’ Others divorce immediately without caring about assets. And some…" She paused. "They’ll scream it from the rooftops. Seize the narrative, maximize their gains, and publicly vent while keeping their rich husband tied down."

"She’s the third type?"

"Yeah. But… honestly? She’s not wrong."

"She’s the victim. But targeting *you*? The real culprit’s your dad."

"Oh, she tears into him too. Both my trash dad and I get shredded. Plus, I’ve got this perfect half-brother. She loves comparing me to him."

"That’s messed up."

"I’m a delinquent with bad grades. He’s a star student at a top university. No contest."

"I see…"

Yumo pedaled a few more laps. Since his PTSD eased, his riding had skyrocketed—he looked like a pro now.

…But only *just*.

Racing against A-Jin? Still impossible.

*(Guess I’ll have to pull out the big guns…)*

"Yumo, about your race with A-Jin—" Ling Xue started, then her phone rang. Her face froze the moment she saw the caller ID.

"…Yeah, Dad? Mhm… mhm… *What?* Again? Ugh… Fine! I got it! Stop repeating yourself! Tch!" She hung up, fuming.

"Your dad?"

"New Year’s Eve dinner tomorrow. He’s ‘inviting’ me."

"The legal wife’ll be there too?"

"Yep."

"What’s he thinking…"

"He stubbornly believes that after all these years, if his wife and his mistress’s daughter ‘make peace,’ he won’t get caught in the crossfire anymore. Ridiculous."

"…No offense, but your dad’s a successful businessman, right? That’s his brilliant strategy?"

"His success is pure luck. Zero skill."

"Seriously?"

"Fun fact: His first fortune came from a lottery win. In 2008, he accidentally dumped everything into real estate. Then, two years later, he got drunk and bought a mountain of Bitcoin."

"What a cheat-code protagonist!?"

Such an absurdly charmed life… That man probably never faced real hardship. No wonder he can’t handle his messy love life despite being ‘successful.’

"Anyway," Ling Xue cut in, "driving lessons are canceled tomorrow. You rest too."

"But you—"

"Don’t worry about me. I’m not that fragile."

"Tch. Conceited woman."

They bantered lightly before parting ways.

Ling Xue’s expression stayed calm.

But Yumo saw the embarrassment and frustration flickering in her eyes.

*(…Damn it. I can’t just stand by.)*

——————————

——————————

"What? Yumo, you’re not coming home either!?" Chen Xiang gasped. "Your dad just said he had last-minute overtime. Now you too? It’s New Year’s Eve!"

*[I didn’t say I wouldn’t come. Just late. Sorry… If you’re hungry, eat without me. Save me some leftovers.]*

Yumo hung up, leaving Chen Xiang staring at the feast she’d spent all afternoon preparing. Her shoulders slumped.

"They’re both not coming?"

"Yeah…"

"How could they…"

Yuxin’s mood plummeted too.

Chen Xiang had genuinely wanted Yumo to taste her cooking. Even Yuxin had helped, hoping to make up for past friction. Four hours of mother-daughter effort… wasted.

And Yumo’s tone—he didn’t seem to care about family reunion dinners at all.

*(Is it my fault? All my fault…)*

*(Brother must be so upset… My ‘keep distance’ plan backfired… How do I fix this…?)*

Trapped in regret, the two sank into gloom.

As for the father and son—forget Yutianqiao for now. What was Yumo up to?

——————————

——————————

Inside a luxury private room at a Haiking restaurant—

Tang Shuhan, Ling Xue’s father, sat stiffly. The lavish dishes tasted like ash.

Ling Xue hadn’t touched her food either. She stared blankly at her fork, twisting it in her fingers.

Across the table—

"So you’re barely scraping by in class~? That’s not good. Planning to drop out after high school and find a job?"

Lu Yiping’s voice dripped with exaggerated concern as she "sharply critiqued" Ling Xue’s grades. Each barb came wrapped in fake maternal advice, sharper than the last.

Worse—Ling Xue had expected only her trash dad, the legal wife, the perfect half-brother, and herself. But Lu Yiping had brought her whole extended family—"sisters," "brothers"—all invited under the guise of "family reunion." Even Tang Shuhan couldn’t protest.

*(Unbelievable. Dad’s a disaster. Mom’s a disaster. And Dad’s wife? Also a disaster… I get her motive, but New Year’s Eve? Seriously?)*

Ling Xue seethed internally. But rage changed nothing. Lu Yiping knew Tang Shuhan would never dare divorce her. She didn’t care about "keeping family shame private." She’d prepared for years—if this lucky-rich bastard ever filed for divorce, she’d walk away with a fortune in alimony. And her useless father had zero counterplay… Pathetic.

Her dad deserved his misery. But as the mistress’s daughter? She was just collateral damage. She hadn’t chosen this birth.

"Ling Xue, if you struggle with schoolwork, ask my Xiao Qiu!" Lu Yiping patted the young man beside her. Handsome, with a quiet scholar’s aura, he offered a strained smile.

This was Tang Qiu—Ling Xue’s half-brother. A chemistry prodigy at Jiaodan University. Top of his class. Award-winning researcher. Already scouted by a famous professor for grad school.

"By the way," Lu Yiping beamed, "Xiao Qiu published another amazing paper last month! Even his advisor praised him!"

"Ahaha… Mom, you’re exaggerating. It’s not that—"

"Nonsense! Talent should shine!"

"Uh… sure."

Under his mother’s spotlight, Tang Qiu’s laugh turned hollow.

"Xiao Qiu, you must remind your sister how vital studying is."

"Alright… I will."

"Oh! Ling Xue," Lu Yiping suddenly pivoted, "what are you up to this winter break?"

"Me? Just… normal stuff." Ling Xue kept her eyes on her plate.

"Finished your homework?"

"Working on it."

"Not hanging out with bad influences, I hope?"

"No."

"Auntie worries about you. At your age, you must choose friends wisely. One wrong step, and your father will be heartbroken."

"…What makes you say that? What do you know about my friends?"

"Not much. But…" Lu Yiping placed her phone face-up on the table. "I saw you on Douyin the other day."

"Huh?—Wait, *what*?"

The screen lit up. Everyone leaned in.

*[ARE YOU CRAZY!?!]*

The video showed Tanglingxue sprinting through downtown Haiking’s pedestrian street. She clutched a man’s clothes to her chest, chasing a naked guy splashing through a fountain—in front of a crowd of onlookers.

"HUH!?!?!?!"