A street urchin turned academic genius, starting by saving the blind school beauty.

Chapter 88 Xu's Mother's Request

"Ono, you're here?"

Xu Ziqing's mother stood on the stairs with a smile on her face.

Lu Zhaoye's vision went black. He never expected that their reunion would be in this way.

I wonder if Xu's mother saw him holding Xu Ziqing's hand. I hope Vadashi isn't going to send me to jail.

But your smile really makes it look like you're sending me off to enjoy a life of luxury.

"Auntie, I have to go back first."

Lu Zhaoye wanted to escape, so he quickly spoke up.

But Xu's mother had no intention of letting him go. Wearing a pink short-sleeved pajama top, she came down the stairs, glanced at her beloved daughter, and then continued to speak to Lu Zhaoye with a smirk.

"Ono, don't rush off, Auntie... there's something I'd like to discuss with you..."

Lu Zhaoye stood there, stunned. He suddenly saw a glimmer of hope in Xu's mother's eyes.

He blinked, and finally nodded.

As Xu Ziqing listened to their conversation, she suddenly felt a little nervous. This feeling of the unknown was what made her most panicked.

However, she didn't dare to make a sound. Her eyes were lowered slightly, and her hands unconsciously gripped the hem of her school uniform. Even the white cane beside her, which had been warmed up, felt a little cold.

Until Lu Zhaoye placed a hand on her arm.

Xu's mother led the way, with the two of them following behind, and together they entered Xu Ziqing's home.

Lu Zhaoye still remembered that when he came last time, Xu's mother was very wary of him, and Xu Ziqing was also afraid of him.

Unexpectedly, just over ten days later, he had become Xu Ziqing's good older brother and even entered Xu Ziqing's home.

After entering the room, Lu Zhaoye changed into a pair of men's slippers, which should belong to Xu Ziqing's father.

The house wasn't big, only about 70 or 80 square meters, but it was very clean and tidy. The things on the coffee table were arranged neatly, and there was a pleasant smell in the air.

Xu's mother first asked the two to sit down at the coffee table, then brought out two bowls of pre-cooked egg noodles from the kitchen.

"Xiao Ye, we don't have a proper dining table at home, so please make do," Xu's mother said with a slightly embarrassed expression. "Hurry up and eat the noodles; I cooked them especially for you."

"Oh, what's the big deal? When I was little, I used to squat outside and eat with my bowl in my hand."

Lu Zhaoye smiled and picked up the noodles to eat.

Xu's mother smiled but did not speak at the dinner table, her eyes scanning back and forth between Lu Zhaoye and her daughter.

After Lu Zhaoye finished eating, Xu Ziqing still had more than half of her food left.

Seeing this, Xu's mother glanced at the time before slowly beginning to speak.

"Xiao Ye, Director Zhang called me today. I heard Qingqing is also going to participate in the competition?"

Lu Zhaoye and Xu Ziqing were both taken aback by what they heard. Xu Ziqing put down her chopsticks first and said...

"Mom, this has nothing to do with...Lu Zhaoye."

Xu's mother smiled, then looked at Lu Zhaoye with a hint of reproach, ignoring her daughter.

"Don't be afraid. Actually, I don't oppose this. In fact, I support it. Qingqing has never left this small village since she lost her sight."

"It's a good thing she's willing to go out."

Xu's mother's voice was slightly choked with emotion.

Lu Zhaoye remained silent, his smile gradually fading.

"Auntie, is there anything I can help you with?"

Xu's mother nodded and continued,

"This Sunday, I'd like to ask you to take Qingqing to Nanjing. Her father has contacted a specialist there to see if it's possible to..."

Before she could finish speaking, Xu Ziqing said coldly,

"I'm not going."

Upon hearing this, Xu's mother lowered her eyes, her eyes slightly red, but she still looked at Lu Zhaoye with hope.

"Xiao Ye, don't laugh at me, but in the past two years, Qingqing has hardly communicated with anyone. You are the first man she has ever met."

"I saw Qingqing crying downstairs that night," Xu's mother continued, her voice becoming increasingly choked with emotion.

Lu Zhaoye was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect that Xu Ziqing had been seen crying in his arms that day. However, now that Xu's mother had brought it up, she probably didn't intend to hold it against him.

"This is the second time I've seen her cry since she cried on the windowsill when she tried to commit suicide."

"It seems she trusts you a lot, otherwise someone as strong-willed as her wouldn't have cried."

At this point, Xu Ziqing stopped talking and continued eating her noodles, tears streaming down her cheeks and splashing into the soup.

It just tastes bitter.

Lu Zhaoye thought for a moment, then finally smiled and spoke.

"Auntie, perhaps you should have talked to me secretly without Xu Ziqing's knowledge."

In fact, given Lu Zhaoye's life experience, he had already guessed that Xu's mother had deliberately said that in front of Xu Ziqing, so he had to take the initiative to point it out.

"There's no need for that. Although Qingqing has no eyes, her heart is as clear as a mirror. If she trusts you, I'm willing to trust you too."

"Besides, what's the point of keeping it a secret? We'll find out sooner or later anyway," Xu's mother said helplessly.

Even so, Lu Zhaoye was still somewhat puzzled.

"Auntie, why don't you take her yourself? That way your family can be together again."

Xu's mother gave an awkward smile, her eyes darting around, and she explained,

"If I take her with me, she definitely won't want to go."

Lu Zhaoye noticed the change in Xu's mother's tone and eyes, and guessed that there was probably more to the story.

However, he didn't intend to point it out, since every adult has their own hidden troubles.

"All right."

However, Xu Ziqing, who was standing to the side, wiped away her tears, shook her head, and choked out,

"Mom, I don't want to go. I don't want to get my eyes treated."

Seeing her daughter like this, Xu's mother felt her heart clench.

Seeing this, Lu Zhaoye didn't waste any words, simply uttering a few words.

"I'll come pick you up then, don't be late."

"?" Xu's mother stood there, stunned, not understanding.

Xu Ziqing stood there, stunned, and didn't say anything. She suddenly remembered her older brother's fierce appearance.

More importantly, Xu Ziqing was worried that if she didn't agree, her older brother might disappear from her world forever.

In just a moment, Xu Ziqing imagined a whole lot of things.

However, Lu Zhaoye was already preparing to go home; it was getting too late, and Luo Xiao was urging him to leave.

"Xu Ziqing, did you hear that? It's Sunday," Lu Zhaoye reminded her again.

This time, Xu Ziqing didn't refuse; she just ate her noodles with a pitiful expression and nodded.

Xu's mother was somewhat shocked. She had originally thought that Lu Zhaoye would try to persuade her daughter, but she didn't expect that it would be settled in just a few words.

What about all the efforts she had made over the past year? Xu's mother shook her head. She hadn't believed Li Na when she called to say that her daughter seemed to be in a relationship.

But now, she has no choice but to believe it.

However, in Xu's mother's view, this was actually a good thing.

She used to live with guilt over her daughter, but now she has a boy who can be by her side.

She can finally rest easy if she leaves.