62: Did my dad hit you?

Qin Ya sat cross-legged on the sofa and lowered her voice, saying, "My mom, she looks cold and serious, right? Actually, it's all a front. She's quite fragile; that persona she puts on outside is all an act."

Yu Heng smiled upon hearing this and looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Then isn't she just like you?"

"Huh?" Qin Ya was waiting for Yu Heng to ask more, but she hadn't expected such a remark.

"I'm not faking it!" Her voice rose. "I'm not fragile at all!"

"Did your mom say why she went to see your dad today?" Yu Heng asked.

Qin Ya curled her lip. "No, she didn't even tell me what she was doing!"

"Then how did you know?" Yu Heng couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"I saw a message on her phone. She messaged my dad saying they'd meet in the city today."

"And then? What for?"

"How should I know?" Qin Ya pursed her lips. "Maybe she just wanted to have it out with him?"

"Tsk," Yu Heng closed his eyes speechlessly. "Go play somewhere else!"

Just then, Ning Yutong came out of the guest room carrying a paper bag with clothes.

"I'm all packed," she said softly, smiling at the two on the sofa. "Yu Heng, Qin Ya, I'm heading back to the dorm now."

Yu Heng nodded. "Okay, be safe on the road. See you at the dorm entrance tonight."

"Okay," Ning Yutong replied, changed her shoes, opened the door, and left.

Only Yu Heng and Qin Ya were left in the living room, staring at each other.

A moment later, the doorbell rang again.

Yu Heng got up to open the door.

Looking through the peephole, he saw Qin Lu standing outside.

Qin Lu had gone to the city today to see Qin Ya's father. She had originally intended to have a proper talk with him for the sake of the child and the family.

But the moment she opened the door and saw that girl in the house, she forgot all the words she had prepared, leaving only anger.

Was Lin Liyan really not afraid of her just letting everything go to ruin?

The two of them were university classmates and got married immediately after graduation.

She stayed at the university as a teacher after graduation, while Lin Liyan went to teach at the high school next to the university.

Back then, Qin Lu's family was well-off. They owned a small mine and had assets worth several million.

Lin Liyan had married into her family because Qin Lu was an only child.

They had Qin Ya not long after marriage, and life was very happy and fulfilling until Qin Ya started junior high.

In Qin Ya's first year of junior high, the mine's profits declined, and the factory eventually closed.

Qin Lu's father planned to switch to the catering industry, but he spread himself too thin and, combined with a lack of experience, lost two to three million.

This didn't exactly make them poor, but they were certainly not as well-off as before.

Without the help of the elderly couple, they could still get by on their own salaries.

However, Lin Liyan's personality began to change.

He started talking about wanting "status" in the house at every turn.

Saying things like "the past is the past, and now is now."

Last year, he even got involved with one of his own students.

When Qin Lu discovered it, she really wanted to go to his school and make a scene.

But at that time, Qin Ya was about to take her exams. With her excellent grades, she was definitely going to attend the high school where Lin Liyan taught.

If she made a scene, how could the child stay at that school in the future?

Besides, that girl was, after all, just someone who had recently become an adult and was about to take the college entrance exam.

If things really blew up, it would affect her for a lifetime.

It was the man's fault; she shouldn't have to pay such a high price.

So, she endured it.

But Lin Liyan seemed to have counted on exactly that.

He began to act without restraint, frequently staying out all night.

She grew tired after a period of quarreling, and it even delayed Qin Ya's studies.

Regret was useless, so she simply brought Qin Ya here.

Now that girl was already a freshman at their university, which was near the high school. Returning this time, she discovered the two were actually living together?

Yu Heng pulled open the door.

He saw Qin Lu standing outside.

Qin Lu was wearing a long trench coat today, with the belt tied loosely.

Underneath was a bodycon skirt.

She was still wearing stockings, a very sheer black pair.

She also wore a pair of ankle boots with thin heels about five centimeters high.

That girl Qin Ya hadn't been lying.

This outfit was indeed very beautiful.

But the problem was...

Her current appearance and state seemed a bit off.

The collar of her trench coat was skewed to one side, and although her hair was still up, a few stray strands were stuck to her temples and the side of her neck.

The makeup on her face... her eyeliner was already a bit smudged.

Her lipstick was still there, but the color had faded significantly.

Moreover, her eyes were a bit red.

Yu Heng's eyelid twitched.

What the hell... what happened?

"Counselor," he stepped aside to make way. "Come in and sit?"

Qin Lu shook her head, her voice a bit raspy. "I won't come in. I'm here to pick up Qin Ya."

"Qin Ya is in the living room," Yu Heng didn't move. "Come in and wait; it's cold outside."

Qin Lu finally looked up at him, her eyes carrying an indescribable weariness.

"Fine..."

She changed her shoes and walked in. Without taking off her trench coat, she placed her bag on the shoe cabinet by the door.

Qin Ya had been slumped on the sofa playing with her phone. Hearing the noise, she looked up and was stunned for a moment when she saw Qin Lu.

"Mom?" She sat up straight. "What's wrong with your eyes?"

Qin Lu raised her hand to rub her temples. "It's nothing. I'm just a bit tired."

"Did you have a fight with my dad?" Qin Ya asked directly.

Qin Lu paused for a moment but didn't answer, walking over to sit on the sofa.

Yu Heng went to the kitchen to pour a glass of warm water and placed it on the coffee table in front of her.

"Thank you," Qin Lu said softly, picking up the glass and taking a sip.

Yu Heng sat down on the armchair diagonally across from her, his gaze naturally sweeping over her.

The hem of her trench coat was stained with a bit of dust, which was quite noticeable on the fabric.

Her stockings... there seemed to be a tiny snag just above the knee?

One wouldn't notice it without looking closely.

But Yu Heng had good eyesight.

His gaze shifted to her feet.

The heels of those ankle boots were quite clean, but there was an inconspicuous scratch on the side of the shoe, as if it had rubbed against something.

"How was the city today?" Yu Heng asked casually. "Was the traffic bad?"

Qin Lu's hand tightened around the glass. "It was okay. No traffic."

"That's good." Yu Heng smiled. "Qin Ya even said you were dressed very beautifully. I didn't believe her, but seeing you now, it's true."

Hearing this, Qin Lu subconsciously raised her hand to tidy her hair.

This movement made Yu Heng notice her wrist.

There was a very faint red mark there.

"Mom?" Qin Ya leaned in, frowning. "Did my dad hit you?"

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Qin Lu's voice rose. "That's not the case."

"Then your..."

"I just didn't sleep well." Qin Lu turned her face away. "Go pack your things; it's time for us to go."

Qin Ya curled her lip but still got up and walked upstairs.

Only the two of them were left in the living room.

Yu Heng didn't speak, just looked at Qin Lu.

Qin Lu felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze and put the glass back on the coffee table.

The stockings on her legs tightened slightly, making the snag even more obvious.

"Counselor," Yu Heng suddenly spoke, "if there's anything on your mind, you can talk to me."

Qin Lu looked up at him, her gaze complex. "Talk to you about what?"

"Anything," Yu Heng leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "My lips are sealed, and I am your student, after all. It's only right for me to help ease your worries."

His tone was quite sincere.

Qin Lu was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.

The smile was very faint, carrying a hint of self-deprecation.

"Student..." she repeated, shaking her head. "Yu Heng, you're still too young. There are some things you don't understand."

"I don't need to understand," Yu Heng pursed his lips. "I'm just here to listen."