Chapter 2

Su Mo felt somewhat better in her heart, slightly shifting her body, and politely smiled at the person while unable to resist glancing at him twice. Upon closer inspection, she found the person familiar. Su Mo couldn't help but be taken aback again, but the person calmly averted his gaze, his deep-set eyes resembling hidden reefs in an unfathomable river.

At that time, Su Mo happened to receive a call from home. Su's mother said on the phone: Last week, your father was not feeling well, so we sent the child to stay with her grandparents for a few days. Tong Ruian didn't come to see her either. Later, when we encountered him outside, Qingquan ran over to call her father, but that man appeared to be indifferent and uninterested.

Mo Weiqing immediately raised her head, staring motionlessly at the door.

Su Mo was so angry that she trembled and hung up the phone. After a while, the person called back, surprisingly apologizing to her. Tong Ruian said: I am sorry, she was just beside me.

Such fantasies made her feel extremely ashamed

Su Mo did not respond, focusing intently on mopping the floor

The next day, Su Mo went to meet the employer at a high-end residential community. The young female owner leaned against the soft and smooth leather sofa, sizing her up from head to toe. After a few trials, she signed the contract.

Su Mo is meticulous in her work, possesses good culinary skills, speaks little, and is not unpleasant to others

Until one weekend day, Mo Weiqing often went online while Su Mo prepared lunch, everything was as usual, when suddenly they heard someone outside using a key to open the door

The uncle is a kind-hearted man who manages a ready-to-wear workshop, yet he lacks the cunning traits typical of an ordinary businessman. He always wears a cheerful, benevolent expression, treating everyone with warmth—his wife and daughter, his relatives and workers, and even his clients. He is an outsider who, by chance, settled here in his early years. Living under someone else's roof has humbled him somewhat; over the decades, he has smoothed out his edges, cultivating a remarkable patience and endurance, to the point where his kindness seems almost excessive. Su Mo respects this uncle, as he shares the same qualities as her parents back in her hometown: uncompetitive, not aggressive, simply doing what is expected of him, which, along with their blood ties, brings an intangible sense of closeness.

Su Mo quickly agreed, but her aunt shot a glance at her daughter and said, "In the future, when your sister is not around, you must help with buying groceries and cooking."

Su Mo wiped her hands clean on the apron and went over to support the man's other arm. The man, with slightly tipsy eyes, glanced at her and unceremoniously leaned half of his weight onto her shoulder. Suddenly, he turned his head to sniff near her and said, "It smells like twice-cooked beef. I don't like this dish; it's too greasy. Go, get me some plain congee and vinegar-soaked garlic."

Su Mo understood Tong Ruian's meaning and had previously discussed the matter regarding their child with him, hoping he could spare some time to accompany their daughter. Tong Ruian responded quite directly at that time: "When we divorced, our family already gave you a sum of money, and public opinion is leaning in your favor. Su Mo, are your demands becoming increasingly excessive now?"

Su Mo usually does not go out much, as going out often leads to spending money. She wishes she could earn a little and save it all to send back to her parents and children. However, recently she has been more mindful and is eager to find a part-time job, so she has been going to the city more often

Occasionally, when the family goes out for a meal, they encounter an acquaintance on the way. The person asks where Su Mo is from, and the uncle jokingly replies: "This is my eldest daughter, whom you haven't met before. She has lived in my hometown since she was little, and now she has come back to take care of me in my old age"

Su Mo was momentarily at a loss whether to laugh or cry

Su Mo speculated that Mo Weiqing was the second wife of a wealthy man. The more she interacted with her, the more certain she became of this conclusion. Despite her instinctive aversion and even disgust towards mistresses and concubines due to past experiences, she was now unwilling to oppose money. Moreover, Mo Weiqing was generous in her actions and spoke directly yet courteously, which gradually made it difficult for Su Mo to continue disliking her. As a result, Su Mo began to dislike herself.

Zhong Ming fell silent immediately, and after a while, he said: "Have I not been working in the factory?"

The half-drunken man glanced at Mo Weiqing, but turned his head to mumble to his companion: "I told you not to bring me here, I knew she wouldn't have anything good to say."

Two men were blocking the entrance, one supporting the other, who was clearly drunk and staggering. Su Mo stood in front, at a loss for what to do. She turned to look at Mo Weiqing, who was sitting comfortably, smiling as she observed the two men. After a while, she gently spoke: "How could you be this drunk so early in the morning"

Su Mo suddenly remembered, and her heart seemed to race several beats faster

The man began to laugh, raised his hand to pinch her chin, and then suddenly remembered something, quickly beckoning his companions to come and sit over here

Su Mo puts in a great deal of effort when working, truly treating it as a part of her own family's business

It is just that over time, some matters gradually come to light, such as the finances and operations of the small factory, which she is absolutely not involved in and is always being guarded against. Su Mo does not think too much about it; she takes that salary, only seeking to be worthy of others' contributions. They have always helped her during her low points in life. What they are unwilling to do, she will do instead, only hoping to have work to do and not give others a reason to talk.

Zhong Ming said in a casual manner: "I am here, I am here, what is so difficult? I am not a bell, I cannot do anything but know how to study."

The man was tall and strong, and as he spoke, the smell of alcohol and warm breath sprayed against her neck. Su Mo found it quite difficult; it seemed that his words and actions carried a hint of mockery. She could not evade him, and her cheeks instantly flushed red, with beads of sweat dripping down her forehead, leaving her at a loss for how to respond.

It feels as if there are moths fluttering by my ear, desperately flapping their wings as they flee towards the light

However, my uncle and aunt were not very pleased when they found out. My aunt did not say much, but my uncle remarked, "You are at least a university graduate, how can you go do those things? It would be better to endure for a few more days. I will find an opportunity to help you get an office job at a company in the city."

Mo Weiqing particularly enjoys browsing the web and playing online games. She either wears protective clothing while sitting in front of a computer or sits on the balcony basking in the sun with an iPad in hand. Occasionally, even when it rains outside, she remains on the balcony. She seems to rarely go out and does not have many friends.

She had never seen the male owner of this house, and there were no wedding photos in Mo Weiqing's apartment, only a large black-and-white artistic photograph of herself hanging in the living room, occupying half of one wall. The woman in the photograph appeared even younger and more beautiful than she does now, with a good figure and clear eyes

It was indeed a companion of the man who helped by saying, "Don't mind him, he gets like this when he's had too much to drink"

The relationship between the two is somewhat strange; Su Mo is a reserved person, and if others show her even a hint of indifference, she will never take a step forward. Eventually, it was Mo Weiqing who could no longer bear it.

The night outside is as dark as ink, the heat wave has slightly receded, and the sound of insects is buzzing. Nanzhan City is by the sea, with almost no winter, and life flows on in this continuous summer, gradually fading in color

Su Mo suddenly woke up, hurriedly flipping over the page she was holding, her heart still anxious, feeling somewhat at a dead end. She tried to alleviate her worries, comforting herself: perhaps it would be better to just stay here, although it was far from her initial thoughts, at least it provided food and accommodation, and the salary was better than before. Occasionally, her uncle would secretly slip her some money... If she could find a part-time job on the weekends, that would be about enough... No matter what, she could not return home in such a disheveled state, nor could she let those people see her downfall, especially Tong Ruian among them. She tried to alleviate her worries, comforting herself: perhaps it would be better to just stay here, although it was far from her initial thoughts, at least it provided food and accommodation, and the salary was better than before. Occasionally, her uncle would secretly slip her some money... If she could find a part-time job on the weekends, that would be about enough... No matter what, she could not return home in such a disheveled state, nor could she let those people see her downfall, especially Tong Ruian among them.

Su Mo held the phone in a daze for quite some time, unaware of when the other party had hung up. Even now, upon hearing that name, her emotions surged, yet the face of that person grew increasingly grotesque in her memory. Occasionally, she found it difficult to shake off that grotesqueness, simply because she recalled the warmth of the years they had once shared.

Little did he know that the person had already turned and walked to the door, smiling as he said: "There's no need to be so pretentious, you don't have to be polite with me, it doesn't hinder the reunion of you two."

Mo Weiqing paid no attention and called out to Su Mo: "You go help her."

As he spoke, Su Mo was squatting on the ground, polishing someone's shoes. The tips of the shoes were splattered with vomit stains, and a sour odor assaulted her senses. In a moment of distraction, something filthy and disgusting got on her fingertips. Su Mo felt a wave of nausea, suppressing the urge to gag, and continued to wipe mechanically. Before her eyes, she saw the person's foot stepping out the door, the crisp suit pants and the shiny black leather shoes flashing by.

Mo Weiqing smiled lazily and said, "My ability to judge people has never been very good, and you know that as well as I do"

Then the door was pushed open with a bang

Su Mo couldn't help but exclaim: Are you really that afraid of her

Su Mo was startled and quickly ran out of the kitchen

Zhong Ming is only twenty-five years old, with a straightforward personality. At this moment, he cannot help but retort: "Many of our classmates have been unable to find jobs even after graduating from graduate school for over half a year. Moreover, some who work as domestic helpers or maternity nurses earn no less than white-collar workers."

The female employer, Mo Weiqing, has a cold temperament and is not particularly picky; it is just that the two of them do not speak much and each goes about their own business

Yet she could not help but fantasize, as if the last fleeting glance had occurred once more

Mo Weiqing couldn't help but inquire about her family situation when she heard her mention the child on the phone. Su Mo recounted everything in a plain manner, only avoiding the topic of her ex-husband's infidelity that led to their marriage breakdown. However, Mo Weiqing wore an expression of complete understanding and sighed softly: "All crows in the world are the same color; human nature is universally shared."

This time it went more smoothly than before. Within a few days, the service center informed me that there was a household where the female head of the family was pregnant and wanted to hire someone to clean and occasionally cook. They also mentioned that the family's financial situation was good, and that doing well would not only yield the salary on the surface.

Onlookers laughed with skepticism, and so did her aunt, along with her two cousins, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere. Su Mo felt grateful to them; at least in that moment, it seemed as if someone regarded her as a close relative, warming her heart that had been adrift.

Aside from the economic pressure, Su Mo's life in a foreign land is generally manageable

Until the sound of footsteps faded away and the engine of the car started, she had never lifted her head

The half-drunken man collapsed onto the sofa, leaning back. Mo Weiqing twisted a wet towel and pressed it against his face to help him wipe it. The man appeared to be enjoying the sensation. After a while, he opened his eyes and tilted his chin towards Su Mo, saying, "Go, wipe the shoes at the entrance." Then he turned to Mo Weiqing and added, "What kind of person did you invite? They have no sense of awareness."

On two occasions, my aunt playfully chided her in front of the workers, saying: "Look at your tireless spirit; those who don't know might think our family is exploiting you. You should take a proper break and go out for a stroll."

Mo Weiqing merely watched from the side, her lips slightly pursed, hinting at a smile, her expression ordinary. However, Su Mo faintly heard her let out a low hum, as if it had not happened.

That place is in the suburbs, not far from my uncle's. After work, I can just ride a bike directly there, which makes Su Mo feel a bit happy. She is somewhat shy and has been studying for so many years, carrying a certain degree of aloofness in her bones. Although she used to do odd jobs at school, it sounds much better to say she was a middle school teacher. If it were a few years ago, she would never have taken on such a servile job, but now, in a place where she is unfamiliar and knows no one, there is no need for too many considerations.

Aunt said: "Can you compare yourself to your sister? She is a college entrance examination candidate. If you could achieve even half of what she has, and be guaranteed admission to university without taking the exam, I would be more than willing to provide you with good food and drink every day. Just look at yourself, how many years have you been unemployed at home since graduating from high school?"

Su Mo encountered several setbacks; the field she studied is now dominated by young people. As a member of the post-marriage generation, she devoted herself entirely to her husband and children after marriage, finding considerable satisfaction in merely managing the key to the computer room at a secondary school. In terms of professional skills, she has long fallen behind.

Recalling the past, Su Mo felt disheartened. She hesitated for a moment and then entered a domestic service center on the street. Avoiding mention of her bachelor's degree, she only stated that she had experience as a nanny and in domestic services, expressing her desire to find a part-time job for the weekends.

Tong Ruian took a moment to respond: Su Mo... If you had half of her capabilities back then, we wouldn't have ended up like this