Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Qiao Nian knew that he was stubborn, so she didn’t waste her breath on him. She said concisely, “I can find out even if you don’t tell me. It’ll just take some time. Also, if you don’t tell me, I’ll tell Aunt Chen about you getting beaten up inside. She doesn’t know, right?”

Chen Yuan suddenly looked up at her with his swollen eyes. He gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. “Don’t, don’t say it.”

Qiao Nian looked at him calmly with raised eyebrows. “If you don’t want me to tell your mother, then tell me who did it.”

Chen Yuan looked into her eyes for a few seconds and then said dejectedly, “Sister Nian, can’t you just ignore this matter? I’m already in this state. I don’t want to implicate you.”

“Even if you implicate me, it’s my business.”

She had owed Aunt Chen too much in the past. If she hadn’t protected her at the Qiao Residence, Aunt Chen wouldn’t have been chased out by Shen Qiongzhi and lost her job. Uncle Chen and Chen Yuan had also taken good care of her back then. No matter what, she had never thought that they had implicated her.

Humans lived to protect the things and people they wanted to protect. Likewise, she also had people she wanted to protect.

Unable to change her mind, Chen Yuan said in a sorry tone, “Previously, my mom and Uncle Qiao came to visit me. After they left, a group of young men came again. They gave me a bank card and said that there was 100,000 yuan in it, asking me to acknowledge this matter. I didn’t agree, so they hit me. Later on… they even took out my mom’s photo and told me that if I didn’t cooperate, they would look for my mom. I… signed it.”

He felt terrible after saying that. He had studied before and knew the crime of being caught by the police with contraband in his possession. He wouldn’t go to jail, but he would definitely have to go to juvenile detention for a period of time. He would also leave relevant records on his files. No university would want a student with such records. It was impossible for him to go to university in the future.

Chen Yuan lowered his head, not wanting Qiao Nian to see the uncomfortable expression on his face. He said in a low voice, “So, Sister Nian, don’t worry about me. It doesn’t matter, and it won’t change anything. I’m… fine. It’s just that I’m not going to university. Like you said, as long as one is capable, academic qualifications are not the only way out. At most, I’ll go and learn some skills. I can still support my parents in the future.”

Qiao Nian pursed her lips and restrained the emotions in her eyes. “I told you before, too. University is not the only way out, but it’s a stepping stone for society. If you can attend university, you have to try your best.”

“I know.” It was as if he had used all his strength to say these words. He bent his back and almost buried his head in the chair, not daring to look into Qiao Nian’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Sister Nian. I’ve disappointed you…”

In the end, he couldn’t withstand the other party’s threat. He wasn’t afraid of being beaten, but he was really afraid that those people would touch his family.

The fact that those people could beat someone up at the police station showed how strong their background was. His parents were just ordinary people, and he was locked in here. Compared to his parents’ safety, there wasn’t much to consider. He had already made his choice.

He wasn’t afraid of being beaten, but he didn’t dare to risk his parents!

Chen Yuan clenched his fists tightly. He felt incredibly bitter and indignant. Society was like this. The weak were prey to the strong. Previously, he had taken a shortcut to survive in society to grow up faster. But now, he understood that there were some gaps that ordinary people couldn’t cross even if they risked their lives. For example, social class…

Some people could just raise their fingers and make them cry.

Qiao Nian looked at his miserable expression and pursed her lips. Her restrained gaze seemed to hide a fierce beast that was about to pounce.

“Ha.”

She sneered and said calmly, “Alright, I understand..”