How Pitiable Are the Hearts of Parents Everywhere

The next day, during morning reading class, Lin Xia yawned again, wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes. Ren Jie poked her in the back with the tip of her pen.

Lin Xia quickly leaned her back against Ren Jie's desk, and Ren Jie's voice sounded in her ear, "Did you go thieving last night? You look so drained today."

"You’re the one who went thieving. I was working on problems until midnight. Here, look at what I accomplished." Lin Xia tossed a math exercise book to Ren Jie.

Ren Jie flipped through it casually and exclaimed, "You actually did more than half of it! Goodness! Did you preview all these topics?"

"Of course. Otherwise, how do you think I managed?" Lin Xia retorted.

Truthfully, she was quite frustrated. Math had always been her weak spot, and to keep it from dragging her down in high school, she was determined to lay a solid foundation now. After all, once the liberal arts and sciences were separated, math became the key to scoring high in the liberal arts.

"You really are something! Oh, by the way, did you watch yesterday’s episode? The two finally got married—it was so romantic..." Ren Jie sighed dreamily.

Lin Xia frowned, pouring cold water over Ren Jie’s excitement. "‘The House of Gold’ claims to be the modern version of ‘Dream of the Red Chamber.’ It's a tragedy at its core—you do know that, right?"

A marriage of mismatched backgrounds is inevitably a tragedy.

Years ago, she too had been moved by Jin Yanxi falling for the Cinderella-like Leng Qingqiu, but when she revisited the story later, all that remained was deep regret.

Perhaps Jin Yanxi loved no one but himself. Or maybe, when he pursued Leng Qingqiu, he only loved the idea of love, not the person herself.

The ancient saying, “A great mismatch,” never lied!

The drama beautified Jin Yanxi, making it seem as if, in the end, he loved only Leng Qingqiu. Yet in Zhang Henshui’s original novel, Jin Yanxi ultimately betrayed Leng Qingqiu.

When love faded, he abandoned even concern for her life or death.

It was chilling.

But after all, the author believed in love, which is why he created the tragic characters Xiao Lian and Liu Chunjiang—one died, the other became a monk.

How strikingly similar to ‘Dream of the Red Chamber.’ Lin Xia sighed, telling Ren Jie, "I like Qingqiu, but I admire the love between Liu Chunjiang and Xiao Lian more. Jin Yanxi is far too immature, destined to let Qingqiu down. Qingqiu, blinded by love, was fated to endure betrayal and the breakup of her family, suffering bitterly all her life."

Ren Jie disagreed, pursing her lips. "But that's what love is—once Qingqiu made her choice, she had to press forward, no matter what. Even if the ending wasn’t perfect, she’d have no regrets looking back."

Lin Xia frowned. "But they weren’t suited. One loves socializing, lively gatherings; the other prefers quiet, peaceful reading. Knowing their union would lead to tragedy, why even begin?"

"If you say that, then there would be no love in the world. Love should be reckless, love is youth, is the moth flying into the flame, is Romeo and Juliet, is Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai..."

"But love isn’t everything in life. I don’t believe in the love you describe," Lin Xia countered. "True love isn’t grand declarations, but should withstand the passage of ordinary years."

Someone snickered—it was Ren Jie’s desk mate, Chen Na.

Ren Jie immediately sought backup. "So, do you agree with me, or with Lin Xia?"

After hearing Chen Na’s answer, Lin Xia suddenly saw her in a new light.

She was quite an unusual girl; how had Lin Xia overlooked her all this time?

"I don’t agree with either of you," Chen Na said quietly. "If it’s as Ren Jie says, love is too frightening; but if it’s as Lin Xia says, it’s too bleak. The endless routine day after day could truly drive someone mad. I like a peaceful life with a touch of excitement, but that excitement needs limits—not too much, not beyond what I can handle."

Lin Xia and Ren Jie exchanged glances for a moment before Lin Xia genuinely sighed. "Turns out I’ve had a sage in my midst all along and didn’t even know it. I really am a frog at the bottom of the well."

Chen Na pushed her glasses up her nose. "When love ends, there’s still a beautiful life ahead. Girls, your love debate should pause—there’s an English quiz coming."

"Ah—" Ren Jie collapsed onto the desk, singing her familiar lament, "Oh, cursed exams! Heaven, take me away!"

Lin Xia curled her lips. "Good people die young; troublemakers live a thousand years. After my assessment, you’re a troublemaker—and quite a big one."

With that, Lin Xia turned away, leaving Ren Jie making faces at her desk.

At that moment, Chen Na added fuel to the fire. "Oh, Ren Jie."

"What?"

"She called you a troublemaker."

"..."

"You two... you two! You’re in cahoots, birds of a feather, wicked to the core, two peas in a pod!" Ren Jie fumed.

"Oh, and ‘birds of a feather flock together, suspicious looks abound.’ Your Chinese really is poor," Chen Na remarked coolly.

"Birds of a feather flock together?" Ren Jie’s attention shifted as expected. "What does that mean?"

Chen Na flipped through the dictionary and handed it to Ren Jie. "Can’t even remember the words for insults. Here, have a look."

Birds of a feather flock together—an idiom meaning people with similar interests or faults join together. From Song dynasty Qian Yi’s ‘New Book from the Southern Region’: In the second year of Qianfu, Cui Hang released Cui Xie. Commentators said master and disciples were alike, birds of a feather flock together.

"Oh heavens, I don’t want to sit here anymore. There’s a wolf in front, a tiger beside—how is anyone supposed to survive?" Ren Jie complained.

Chen Na glanced at her and uttered two words coolly, "Quiz time."

Ren Jie immediately quieted down, quickly closed the dictionary, took out her English book, and began to review.

Lin Xia curled her lips—this was youth.

When she returned home, she heard her mother’s vibrant voice, "Is that Xia Xia home?"

"Yes, Mom, I’m back." Lin Xia played with A Mao at her feet as she walked inside.

In the dining room, she saw her mother coming out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron, excitement written on her face. "I ran into your teacher Yang’s wife at the market today. She said you got the highest score in the math quiz!"

Lin Xia picked up a cup and drank water, saying casually, "Yes, I tied with another classmate—we both got full marks."

"Hey, Lin Jia Gui, you still have the nerve to watch your national affairs." Hearing Lin Xia’s words, her mother shouted at her father, who was watching the news, "Did you hear that? Your daughter made you proud—she got the top score in her class. The Yang family must have some luck coming their way!"

Seeing her parents’ joy, Lin Xia felt a pang in her heart and quickly turned away. "Mom, I’m going upstairs to read. Call me for dinner."

"Okay, tonight I’m making your favorite stir-fried beef tripe to reward you."

Lin Xia headed upstairs, calling back, "Thanks, Mom!"

And then, tears streamed down her face.

Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad. Thank you for never despising your disappointing daughter in these past thirty years.

When the whole world betrayed me, only you stood behind me, never uttering a harsh word.

Even when your daughter brought you shame.

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