Chapter 368 - 366: A Grown Child is Beyond a Mother’s Control

Chapter 368: Chapter 366: A Grown Child is Beyond a Mother’s Control

Long after Luo Hongyi left, Gu Nuan Nuan remained on her bed, staring blankly into space. She only snapped out of her daze when she noticed Cao Cao, who had appeared at some point to float before her, watching her with silent worry. She simply said, "Time to sleep." Then, she flopped back onto the bed, pulled the covers over herself, closed her eyes, and promptly fell asleep.

The next day, Gu Nuan Nuan didn’t mention Luo Hongyi again. Acting as if nothing had happened, she went with her uncle to school to take an exam to skip a grade.

The exam went smoothly. So, just as her former classmates were starting eighth grade, she tested into the city’s best high school. She then skipped her first year of high school, passing another exam to jump straight into the second year. After studying for just the first semester of her second year, she skipped directly to her third and final year, leaving her teachers astonished and her classmates filled with envy. In the subsequent college entrance exams, she even claimed the title of the province’s top scorer.

Gu Nuan Nuan chose to major in pharmacy in college. However, despite being the top scorer, she didn’t pick one of the renowned universities in Beijing, which had the best pharmacy programs. Instead, she insisted on attending an obscure university right here in the city, one completely unknown throughout the Alliance. 𝚏𝗋ℯⅇ

Zhang Minzhen was the first to disapprove of Gu Nuan Nuan’s choice. But her repeated attempts at persuasion were futile. She suddenly realized her daughter was grown up and had a mind of her own; once she set her mind to something, not even her own mother could easily change it, a thought that filled her with melancholy. But melancholy or not, the Zhang Minzhen of today was not one to give up easily. Especially not on a decision as important as which university Gu Nuan Nuan attended. She seized every opportunity to lecture her daughter, constantly trying to make her change her mind.

She found another opportunity that day. "Why, Nuannuan? Is it just because it’s close? It’s not that far to fly back and forth to study in Beijing. If you wanted to, you could still come home once a month."

"It’s not just about it being close." Gu Nuan Nuan looked at her mother with a sigh, patiently explaining yet again. "There’s another advantage to staying in the city for university—freedom. Uncle already spoke with the school. As long as I can guarantee my grades won’t slip by the finals, I’m free to attend classes or not as I please. That would be absolutely impossible if I went to a university in Beijing. Besides, I won’t need my degree to find a job later, so which university I graduate from really doesn’t matter."

"That’s not the point. Who said the only reason you go to a good school is to find a job? Do you think a first-rate university and a third-rate one leave the same impression on people? Let’s not even talk about anything else. What about when you go on arranged dates in the future? How impressive will it sound when you say you graduated from a famous university in Beijing? If you say you just graduated from a regular university in our city, anyone whose school is even a tiny bit better will feel like they’ve got one up on you. You were the province’s top scorer, for heaven’s sake! Are you telling me you’d be okay with that?"

Zhang Minzhen pleaded earnestly, "This is one of your bargaining chips for earning your place with your future in-laws! It might not be the most important one, but since you have it, why just throw it away? Going to a good school in Beijing and having the freedom you want aren’t mutually exclusive. At worst, we can contact the school and offer to donate a library or an academic building, right? With a donation and your grades, do you think they’ll still refuse to be flexible? You think they’ll just dig in their heels?" She persisted, refusing to give up. "I can cover the cost myself. I can afford it; it’s no pressure at all. It’s for your own good, and it’s a charitable donation, so your father certainly wouldn’t object."

"Mom, this has nothing to do with face, arranged dates, bargaining chips, or donating academic buildings. The bottom line is simple: I don’t want to go to Beijing. I don’t want to be too far from home. You should stop trying to squander the family fortune over some empty reputation. The Zhang Group already donates more than enough to charity each year; you don’t need to gild the lily. Otherwise, I’m genuinely worried you won’t leave enough for Song Heng’s ’bride fund.’ What will we do if you’re the reason he can’t find a wife someday?" Gu Nuan Nuan added, feigning concern.

Song Heng was her little brother, now just over a year old. With his chubby, robust little face, he was absolutely adorable. He was the treasured darling of the entire Zhang family. It wasn’t just that he was the youngest; more importantly, though he was still just toddling about, he had already learned to be considerate of others.

For example, no matter who sat with him to watch TV, he was usually satisfied after only half an hour of his favorite cartoons. Then, he would take the initiative to press the remote into the other person’s hand so they could change the channel. How could anyone not love such a thoughtful little boy, already showing the makings of a true gentleman?

The thought of her little son made Zhang Minzhen’s heart swell with sweetness, and her expression softened instantly. But she wasn’t about to fall for Gu Nuan Nuan’s diversion. "Don’t you try to change the subject," she insisted. "Even if I squandered every last penny, we wouldn’t have to worry about your brother’s bride fund. The Zhang Group pays dividends every year. As long as I have my shares, it’s a goose that lays golden eggs; we’ll never have to worry about money. Hmph. And even if I did spend it all, can’t Song Heng earn his own bride fund when he’s older?"

"Sigh..."

’It’s impossible to get through to her.’ They had already gone over these same points more than once recently, but neither could convince the other. It was incredibly frustrating. ’Why is Mom being so unreasonable?’ Looking at Zhang Minzhen, Gu Nuan Nuan felt like crying but had no tears left. She was on the verge of losing her mind. She fell silent, pressing her lips together as she stared stubbornly at her mother. Not to be outdone, Zhang Minzhen glared right back at Gu Nuan Nuan, her own gaze just as firm.

And so, mother and daughter remained locked in a staring contest, neither willing to concede.

"Honestly, look at you. The child is grown and has her own thoughts now. Why must you be like this?" Wen Xiu said as she entered, breaking the stalemate between them.

"How can you say that? You’re all the ones who spoil her! And my older brother, too. Whatever she wants, whatever she says, he just goes along with it. She could be going to a much better school, a school in Beijing that other people would kill to get into, but no! All for some ridiculous reason... Look at her now, so stubborn and unwilling to listen to advice. You’ve all spoiled her into this! What has she become? She used to be so good and obedient when she was a child..." Hearing Wen Xiu’s words, Zhang Minzhen felt deeply wronged, and her eyes instantly turned red.

"When a child grows up, they’re no longer under their mother’s thumb. It happens to every child. You need to have more faith in Nuannuan. You know better than anyone that she isn’t like other kids. She’s been smart and had a mind of her own since she was small. She’s not the type to be flighty or act on a whim, is she? Whatever she chooses to do, she must have her own reasons for it."