Chapter 142: You Are My Pride

After a few rounds lying down, the class ended. As the philosophy teacher left, he cast several meaningful glances toward the back row.

“Luo Yixia, I knew you were bad, but I didn’t expect you to be this bad,” teased the boy who had initially suggested they play games.

“I’m bad, but I still scored on skill, so what?” Luo Yixia retorted with displeasure.

“I’m wondering, how did you even get to Star Glory rank?”

Luo Yixia fell silent for a moment. It was all thanks to Song Chengyi; she always tagged along with him.

“None of your business,” she shot him a glare.

“Come on, come on, let’s continue tonight? A one-on-one match?” the boy smiled.

Luo Yixia pondered for a moment, deciding she couldn’t just swallow her pride: “You’re on. Loser calls the other ‘dad’.”

“Okay, okay, get ready to call me dad.”

“Pfft.”

Actually, Luo Yixia was sure she couldn’t beat him, but... hehe.

It was another Friday, and after getting used to having the day off every week, everyone was eager to rush home since they hadn’t had a break for three weeks due to exams and the sports meet.

She returned to the dorm early in the afternoon to pack up.

Next time, she probably wouldn’t be living at school anymore.

Song Chengyi waited outside with his car, but Luo Yixia did have quite a few things—bed linens, quilts, clothes, and other daily necessities.

While everyone helped pack, Gan Yanyan even had tears in her eyes. “Xia Xia, you have to come back to visit often even when you’re out with Song Chengyi.”

Luo Yixia rubbed her forehead. “I still have to come back to class every day.”

In the end, she didn’t pack much since she had to rest at school at noon and had nothing else to take.

Song Chengyi had expected large bags, worried his car wouldn’t fit everything, but she came out empty-handed except for a backpack.

“You didn’t pack anything?”

“I figured I’d still need to rest at school at noon and need a lot of daily supplies, so in the end, I found I couldn’t leave anything behind.” Luo Yixia was a bit troubled.

“Yeah, the apartment has everything you need. If anything’s missing, we’ll buy it later.” As he spoke, he started the car.

“My mom just sent me a voice message asking us to bring some fruit back. Let’s hit the supermarket later,” Luo Yixia said as she buckled her seatbelt.

“Okay.”

At the supermarket, Luo Yixia bought a good amount of fruit, picked two sets, and also got her dad’s favorite dragon fruit.

By dinner time, Luo Yixia still hadn’t seen her parents.

“Mom, are Dad and you still very busy lately? It’s so late, why haven’t you come back yet?” Luo Yixia went back and forth to the next room several times.

Zhou Yun’s expression was a little evasive. “Ah, your parents have been quite busy lately. They should be back soon.”

Song Chengyi pursed his lips. Did he not know how his own mother behaved?

They were definitely hiding something from them.

Watching Zhou Yun head to the kitchen, Song Chengyi followed with an excuse.

“All that’s left are two dishes. You go keep Xia Xia company.”

“Did something happen?” Song Chengyi asked.

Zhou Yun froze for a moment but quickly picked up the dishes and smiled, “What could have happened?”

Song Chengyi stepped forward and blocked Zhou Yun’s way. “Is it something about Xia Xia’s parents?”

---

Zhou Yun was slightly surprised but not entirely unprepared.

She sighed softly and lowered her voice. “Don’t tell Xia Xia. Wen Jing told me several times not to. There was some trouble with the Lao Luo company’s property project recently; they lost some money. Lao Luo is getting old and hasn’t recovered well. He was admitted to the hospital yesterday, and Wen Jing is still there now.”

“That’s such a big matter! Why didn’t you call me? Xia Xia’s not a child anymore; you can’t keep hiding things from her,” Song Chengyi said, somewhat annoyed.

Wen Jing’s idea was to wait until tomorrow to tell them, letting you rest tonight. She didn’t really agree with hiding it from the kids but considered how busy and tired they both were at school, so she agreed.

“Has the company’s issue been resolved?”

“Your dad went twice and compensated the money, but Lao Luo’s health has declined. No one knows what to do with the company now. Xia Xia is still young and doesn’t understand business.”

This was what Luo Yixia’s parents had always worried about, though they hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

Song Chengyi left the kitchen without a word.

From afar, he heard Luo Yixia on the phone.

“Mom, it’s almost six. Are you and Dad still busy? Why haven’t you come back? Are you still at the company?” She paced back and forth.

“Xia Xia, your dad and I will be back tomorrow. The company is busy, and we have to work overtime tonight. We won’t be coming home; we’ll rest at the company.”

“Have you eaten? I’ll come see you later,” Luo Yixia asked with concern.

“We’ve eaten. It’s late; don’t come. You and Chengyi should rest early. You just finished exams and were injured recently. You need to take care of yourself. Don’t make me worry about you.”

Luo Yixia didn’t know why, but her mother’s words sounded sad.

“Mom, I know. I’m old enough. I’ll definitely take care of myself.”

“Okay, I have to go. Still busy,” Wen Jing said and tried to hang up.

“All right. You and Dad rest early tonight. Deal with the company tomorrow. I’ll come see you then.”

There was a brief reply before the call ended.

Luo Yixia held her phone, still pondering. They had always been busy before, but never stayed overnight at the company. What was going on lately?

Her mom’s side was unusually quiet—probably working overtime. Although Luo Yixia had a bad feeling, she couldn’t think of anything else.

After hanging up, she turned and saw Song Chengyi quietly standing behind her, his face heavy.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you helping with the dishes? Not done yet? I’ll help,” Luo Yixia said, stepping forward.

As she passed by Song Chengyi, he grabbed her arm.

He looked at her.

“What’s wrong?” Luo Yixia felt a growing unease, a tremor in her heart she had just settled.

“Xia Xia, I think there are some things we can’t hide from you anymore,” Song Chengyi said slowly.

Zhou Yun, carrying dishes and about to come around the corner, stopped and sighed again.

Song Chengyi drove somewhat hastily. Luo Yixia’s eyes were already red as she sat restlessly in the passenger seat, full of guilt and sorrow.

“We’re almost there,” Song Chengyi said, aware of her anxiety.

“Okay, slow down and drive safely,” Luo Yixia nodded, though she was restless inside, wishing she could fly straight to the hospital room.

As soon as Song Chengyi parked, Luo Yixia dashed into the hospital.

He hurried in after her, finding her asking the nurse station for the ward number.

After getting the answer, Luo Yixia rushed into the elevator.

Song Chengyi silently stayed by her side.

---

Inside the elevator, neither spoke. Luo Yixia kept her head down.

Although she had been eager before to see her parents, she hesitated just before reaching the ward door.

If she pushed the door open, she’d see them—but she hesitated.

She didn’t even know her own father was sick. She had called her mother but hadn’t heard anything. She had been drifting through school, unaware of her parents’ hardships.

They were so tired, so pressured, yet she knew nothing and cared little.

She was a terrible daughter, never doing anything for them.

She still relied on them to care for her.

Song Chengyi stepped forward, took her hand, and knocked on the door.

Luo Yixia looked at him in shock just as a voice answered, “Who is it? Come in.”

When Wen Jing opened the door, their eyes met...

“You two... why are you here?”

Luo Yixia lost all hesitation. Her eyes, already red, burst into tears.

She just cried without a word and walked into the ward.

Luo Hongtao lay on the bed. Seeing them come in, he sat up.

“Xia Xia, why are you here? And why are you crying?”

Luo Yixia went to his bedside and looked at her father’s pale face and her mother’s tired one. She wished she could kneel and slap herself.

She held her father’s hand tightly, tears streaming down.

Song Chengyi stood quietly aside, trying not to disturb the tender moment.

After Luo Yixia calmed down and adjusted her emotions, her eyes were red as she looked at her parents.

“Mom, Dad, it’s all my fault... because I never cared about you. It’s all my fault,” she said, breaking down again.

“What fault? Your dad’s old; it’s normal for his health to decline,” Luo Hongtao reached out to stroke her hair.

“Dad, I’ve been so disobedient and unruly, causing you worry and anger since I was little. My grades aren’t good, I’ve embarrassed you... it’s all because of me,” Luo Yixia sobbed, shaking her head.

“Nonsense! How could I blame you? You’ve always been my pride. Watching you grow up made me happier than anyone. When you got into A University, I even treated the entire company several times. You are my pride; how could you embarrass me?”

“No... no,” Luo Yixia cried harder at her father’s words, gasping for breath.

“Dad... Mom... I’m sorry... so sorry...” She couldn’t speak anymore, only repeating her apologies, crying even harder.

Song Chengyi stepped forward and gently pulled Luo Yixia away. “Let me take her out to calm down.”

Luo Yixia shook her head, unwilling to leave.

“Go ahead. We’ll be ready soon. Then come back,” Wen Jing spoke quietly for the first time.

Only then did Song Chengyi lead Luo Yixia out.

Outside, Luo Yixia threw herself into his arms, crying and repeatedly apologizing.

Song Chengyi patiently patted her back, softly comforting her.

“Xia Xia, it’s okay. Don’t cry...”