Loving You Dearly

an you tell me why? Our Zhen Zhen is so beautiful, it's a pity to wear a mask,” she said with a smile.
This time Xu Qian didn't look like a teacher but like a close friend having a heart-to-heart talk with her.

“…
I have a cold.”

Xu Qian blinked, indicating that she understood and didn't want to delve into it.
She instructed, “When your cough is better, just take it off.
It's such a hot day.
What would you do if you get sick from being smothered?”

“Today, Auntie heard at school that you were wrongly accused of cheating, is that right?”

Ning Zhen looked at Xu Qian.
She used the word 'wrongly accused'.
Xu Qian chose to believe her unconditionally.

“Aunt Xu, I didn't cheat.
I went out, and when I came back, the note was on the back of my admission ticket.” Ning Zhen knew that someone had slipped the note during this short period.
But the current Third High School, famous for its teaching quality, was yet to undergo a major renovation.
There were still old fans in the classrooms, and there were no full monitoring equipment and electronic blackboards yet.

Her words were no proof.

Xu Qian said solemnly, “This problem is really serious.
I don't know who it is to have such a wicked heart at a young age.
Auntie believes you.
You have never fallen off the top five of your grade in the No.
1 High School exam.
You are very outstanding.”

 It was cleverness and excellence that stemmed from her bones.

Even if she wasn't Ning Zhen's biological mother, she couldn't help but love her.

“Auntie will check it out for you.” Xu Qian paused, “However, this matter might not have a result.
Zhen Zhen, one's mouth can't be controlled, so don't be sad when you hear anything bad.
Just have a clear conscience.
If your body is upright, you don't need to worry about your shadows being crooked¹. Your next grades will prove everything.”

“Thank you, Aunt Xu.
I am not afraid.” She really wasn't afraid.
All the sadness and grievances were only for a moment.
She has to learn not to be weak and slowly strengthen her heart to protect herself.

“Okay.
Have a nice break tomorrow weekend to relax.
Auntie will go first.” Xu Qian smiled warmly and helped her close the door.

Ning Zhen picked up the beautiful skirt on the bed.
Her eyes were a little hot.

For the first time, she felt that stepmother wasn't a terrible word.
Xu Qian and her mom were different, but in many places, they were alike.

Ning Zhen folded her skirt and dug out her old notebook.

After hesitating for a while, she knocked on Tang Zhuo's door.

The boy pulled the door open.
His hair was a mess, and his earphones were hanging around his neck.
He looked at her silently.

“Tang Zhuo, this is for you.”

On the cover of the lake-green notebook, two small characters were written gracefully – “Physics”.

1.
身正不怕影子斜: It's a Chinese proverb that means, “as long as you didn’t do anything bad, you don't need to worry about slanderous accusations.”