Chapter 879: A Million Times for You (241)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“If you’d like, I’ll return the custody of Bao’er to you.”
Jin Qingyue was speechless. “You… you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Didn’t you say that Bao’er is a member of the Shi family? You went through such painstaking efforts just to snatch her custody away from me back then. I already gave it to you and yet you’re doing this now. Shi Shaochuan, I’m not in the mood to be embroiled in this mess with you. Take the child back.”
“Jin Qingyue, are you trying to abandon her now? You did give me the rights to her custody, but that doesn’t mean she’s no longer your child. Are you washing your hands of her just because you’re married now? You’re not even going to allow her to stay with you for a few days? Are you even fit to be a mother?”
“I’m just afraid that she’ll try and harm me again. So, from now on, I’ll visit her from time to time but don’t let her stay with me ever again,” Jin Qingyue said bluntly.
“Dream on. I heard that your brother’s and Long Tianze’s children have been enrolled in the boot camp. Arrange for Bao’er to be sent there too,” said Shi Shaochuan, who could not stand to see Jin Qingyue happy.
“Bao’er is not going to be able to take the hardship.”
Shi Shaochuan retorted, “Why do you have such little faith in your own daughter? If other children can endure it, why can’t she? I think it’s time she undergoes some proper training. Otherwise, I don’t know what’s going to become of her.”
Noticing how impatient he sounded, Jin Qingyan sneered, “You’ve only taken care of her for a short while and yet you’re already so sick of her. I really thought you would shower her with your greatest paternal love. Turns out that’s all you could give her. Have you ever asked for her opinion? Is she willing to attend the boot camp?”
“Does she seem like she’s willing to go? Just send her there forcefully.”
“…”
Shi Shaochuan continued, “Jin Qingyue, I’ve thought about it carefully. Bao’er can’t go on like this. It’s time she learns to be like other children.”
“Cut the crap. You’re just hoping to send her to the boot camp so that you can have your freedom again, aren’t you?”
“I admit, that’s one of the reasons, but not completely.”
“Fine, I’ll talk to my brother about it and tell him to arrange a spot for her. Try sending her to the boot camp in the afternoon,” Jin Qingyue conceded, thinking to herself that it would be beneficial for Shi Bao’er to pick up some self-defense skills.
“Alright.”
After lunch, Ling Ciye accompanied Jin Qingyue to meet Shi Bao’er and Shi Shaochuan, after which they set off to the martial arts academy in two separate cars.
Shi Bao’er was unaware of the details, for Shi Shaochuan had only explained it to her briefly.
She was frightened the moment she saw the sweaty children running across the field while panting heavily, under the command of the instructors.
She expressed her unwillingness to begin training there.
However, her objection was to no avail because Jin Qingyue wanted her to undergo some training while Shi Shaochuan wanted to break free from her.
Chen Xu and Jin Shan were the head instructors of the boot camp. The former was stern and austere while the latter was much more gentle and mild-mannered.
They were the perfect combination of Yin and Yang.
Chen Xu started off by teaching Shi Bao’er the basics since she was a beginner.
However, Shi Bao’er was extremely impatient and was yelling at Chen Xu loudly inside the training room. Standing outside the window, Jin Qingyue, Shi Shaochuan, and Ling Ciye had witnessed the entire scene and could not help but feel a little embarrassed.
She was probably the only one amongst all the children who had the audacity to holler at Chen Xu.
Chen Xu kept a straight face and told her sternly that she would not be allowed to have dinner unless she masters the techniques taught today.
Shi Bao’er looked at her parents who were standing outside the window and bellowed at the top of her lungs, “You guys just want me to suffer! Are you happy watching me get tortured!?!”
Jin Qingyue walked away immediately upon hearing her words.
Shi Shaochuan followed suit.
“Your parents have already left. I’m telling you, don’t you dare throw a tantrum and yell at me. Otherwise, I’ll show you what a punishment is,” said Chen Xu, who was impartial to all the children, regardless of who their parents were.
Since she no longer had a backer, Shi Bao’er finally gave in reluctantly.
Once the children were done with their run outside, Chen Xu introduced her to the rest of them, “This is your new campmate, Shi Bao’er.”
“Isn’t her name Jin Bao’er?” Long Xiaoxi asked.
“I’ve had my name changed long ago! I’m taking my daddy’s last name now!” Shi Bao’er exclaimed loudly.
Long Xiaoxi sneered at her with her tongue out and retorted, “I don’t care whose last name you’re taking. It doesn’t matter to me, even if it’s your neighbour’s.”
“You…”
Chen Xu ignored their conversation and introduced the children to Shi Bao’er.
When it was Jin Rongyan’s turn, Shi Bao’er gibed, “Since when did my uncle have another child? He even has such a similar name to my uncle.”
Jin Yiheng rebuked, “There are plenty of things you don’t know about. Must we tell you about them one by one?”
The instructors discovered that Shi Bao’er did not get along well with her cousin and the other children, all of whom could not stand the sight of her at all.
After the instructors left, Shi Bao’er glowered at Jin Yiheng menacingly and said, “I’m the oldest here. Shouldn’t you be calling me ‘Sister’?”
“What’s the big deal about being the oldest? I refuse to call you ‘Sister’.”
“…”
Wen Yuechan approached them while smiling and said, “That’s enough, Yiheng. At the end of the day, you’re still relatives. Is there a need to be so hostile toward each other?”
She then reached her hand out to Shi Bao’er and introduced herself, “Hello, Bao’er, I’m Wen Yuechan.”
Shi Bao’er looked at her and shook her hand perfunctorily.
—
An Xiaoning took a nap on the couch in the afternoon. The warm weather made her feel sleepier than usual.
She initially felt that the temperature was just right. However, the first thing she felt was a sudden chilliness the moment she slipped into her dream. The next thing she felt was immense pain.
Ever since she acquired her new skills, she had been highly tolerant to the cold.
Hence, she knew immediately that she was having yet another dream.
It had been a while since she dreamed about her previous lifetime.
This time, she was trapped in a pitch-dark room during the dream and felt a sharp pain in her back that spread all the way to her legs.
She lay on the hard and stuffed bed and would feel an excruciating pain every time she made the slightest movement, which caused her to break out in a cold sweat.
Her lips were dry and cracked.
She was parched and yearned to quench her thirst.
The sky seemed to be turning bright soon, and she had no idea at all where she was.
She forced herself to bear with the discomfort. An Xiaoning wanted to wake herself up from the dream. However, it was beyond her control.
She was clearly feeling so lucid to the point that she began to suspect whether it was real life and not just a dream.
However, her inner consciousness repeatedly told her that this was a dream of her previous lifetime.
Once daybreak arrived, she extended a hand to touch her back, only to discover that it was badly wounded.
Oh goodness, why am I covered in wounds?
Who was the one who had hit me?
She scanned her surroundings and discovered that the room was not exactly shabby, although the furniture was incredibly simple and basic.
Upon hearing footsteps approaching, An Xiaoning closed her eyes halfway and peeked at the door to see that two girls were entering the room, both of whom appeared rather youthful.
The two girls stared at her, after which one of them remarked derisively in contempt, “Look how badly she was beaten up. She doesn’t have self-awareness at all. She forgets who and what her status is, even though she’s nothing but a pretty face. Little does she know, so many other girls here are much more beautiful than her. Who does she think she is?”