The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 80

Ten days after the District Nine assessments, Blue Pivot’s official website announced the results.

Cen Xiao had secured first place and would be joining the District Nine’s Ghost Eye unit. His report date was scheduled for a week after A University’s semester began, with Han Jiang set to host a welcoming banquet for all successful candidates.

When news reached the Cen family, Cen Qing read the results and exhaled a long sigh, the worry etched on his face finally easing.

After all, he was his biological son. Though they hadn’t spent much quality time together over the years, it was impossible to say he didn’t care about him.

No matter how much resistance Cen Xiao encountered, whatever he wanted to do ultimately required his backing as part of District Three.

If Cen Xiao failed, his own position would be at risk. At least for now, Cen Xiao had proven he had the capability to take a gamble.

However, Xiao Muran couldn’t feel any joy.

The more she despised the scheming and struggles for power, the deeper her family seemed to be mired in them.

But Cen Xiao wasn’t wrong—her frustration stemmed from her own helplessness, her inability to aid those she wanted to help or protect those she wished to shield.

Her breathing grew uneven as she anxiously looked toward Cen Qing. “Can you… keep him safe?”

When it came to matters concerning Cen Xiao, this was the one topic where she could still have a normal conversation with Cen Qing.

Cen Qing fell silent for a moment before forcing a bitter smile. “What kind of person do you think I am? Cen Xiao is my son—do you really think I’d abandon him?”

Xiao Muran turned her head slightly, gripping the staircase railing tightly as she took a deep breath. “What he wants to do is…”

Cen Qing cut her off. “Believe it or not, I never harmed Li Qingli. I never thought of taking revenge on the Li family because of you. Don’t underestimate me.”

Xiao Muran lowered her gaze and sighed softly. “What difference does it make if I believe you or not? It’s not like I have the right to seek justice for him.”

Her jet-black hair framed her sorrowful, pitiful eyes.

Even with the passing years, she remained impeccably well-maintained, exuding a fragile innocence that evoked tenderness in others.

Back then, she had appeared gentle, obedient, and well-educated.

At first glance, Cen Qing had found her agreeable. So when presented with her photo by the matchmaker, he casually pointed at it and said, “Meeting her for a blind date seems fine.”

He didn’t know that Xiao Muran already had a boyfriend at the time.

Both the Cen and Xiao families were well-established, influential families, and by all accounts, the pair were an excellent match.

The matchmaker was overjoyed, and the parents on both sides were equally thrilled.

Although Xiao Muran was deeply in love with her new boyfriend, her family was not satisfied with him. He was an orphan with modest means.

It was acceptable to date him for fun, but marriage? Out of the question.

When this logic was explained to her, the usually compliant Xiao Muran adamantly refused.

In her heart, her boyfriend was nearly perfect—unparalleled in her eyes.

The Xiao family knew outright opposition would only provoke rebellion. They took advantage of the early stages of the relationship, when secrets and insecurities still lingered, to fabricate text messages, smear his name, and accuse him of moral failings.

Xiao Muran, raised in a sheltered environment, trusted her doting family implicitly.

Caught between her adoring parents and a boyfriend she had only recently started dating, she chose her parents.

Believing the allegations about him, she broke up with him in anger. Despite her good manners, she left as much dignity as possible intact, avoiding any confrontation over the evidence and cutting off all contact instead.

Under her family’s arrangement, she began seeing Cen Qing.

She couldn’t say whether she loved him or not, but she no longer encountered anyone who stirred her heart. Besides, everyone around her envied their relationship, calling it a perfect match that didn’t cause their families a shred of worry.

If everyone envied it, it must be good, right?

After about two years of dating, she married Cen Qing.

It was during her pregnancy with Cen Xiao that she learned her ex-boyfriend had returned to the country—with a wife.

By then, her ex-boyfriend was a rising star in research, quickly promoted to associate professor at A University. He had a harmonious family and a blissful life.

At that time, Xiao Muran still believed everything had worked out for the best. They had all made the right choices.

Even though he had supposedly deceived her, she didn’t hate or resent him. She never even spoke ill of him to anyone, still admiring his brilliance in academia.

Until a month before her due date, while staying at a private maternity hospital.

Cen Qing was swamped with preparations for a promotion, so Xiao’s parents accompanied her.

One lazy day, they chatted idly, the television on in the background, air conditioning blowing softly.

While nibbling on an apple peeled by the nanny, her mother brought up the past in a joking tone.

“I think Cen Qing will soon become chairman of District Three for Blue Pivot. He’s really hardworking—your friends are all so envious of you.”

“We were so perceptive to choose Cen Qing for you.”

“Good thing we used some tricks to separate you from that boyfriend of yours. Otherwise, would you have had the comfort and happiness you have today?”

“You’ll understand once the baby is born—parents always have their children’s best interests at heart.”

…..

To them, it all seemed so logical, so reasonable, that they laughed heartily, expecting Xiao Muran to join in their mirth.

It was at that moment that her entire worldview collapsed.

That very night, her water broke. Struggling to breathe, she was rushed into surgery. Seven hours later, she gave birth to a premature Cen Xiao, narrowly surviving the ordeal.

From then on, her health deteriorated drastically. She rarely smiled and paid little attention to her son. During her recovery at a postpartum care center, she began receiving treatment for depression.

Everyone thought it was normal postpartum depression.

But she knew it wasn’t. She regretted wronging someone who had been truly good to her.

Cen Qing said, “I didn’t know what your parents did. If I had, I wouldn’t have chosen your photo.”

Xiao Muran’s pain stemmed from her inability to resent anyone.

Her parents had cherished and nurtured her for over twenty years. Cen Qing had been completely unaware.

To outsiders, her grief and despair seemed unreasonable. After all, she was married with a child. What did the truth of the past matter anymore?

She had heard that her ex-boyfriend later had an adorable son, and he and his wife lived harmoniously and lovingly together.

This brought Xiao Muran a sliver of solace.

Yet, she still felt pain. She believed her suffering was deserved—that it was her own fault for being deceived and failing to trust.

Even seventeen years later, when Li Qingli was ruined again due to slander, his family falling apart, she could still do nothing.

Xiao’s father and mother once more cautioned her: “This matter runs deep. Don’t say anything impulsively that you shouldn’t. Remember, you represent the Xiao and Cen families. Even if you don’t care for yourself, you must think of Cen Xiao. You’re not a child anymore—you’re a mother.”

So, once again, she complied.

As long as everyone else was content, her life would continue to be a performance to please others.

Cen Qing was aware that Xiao Muran was once again trapped in self-torment.

But as her husband, he was, ironically, the least qualified to offer her comfort. After all, it was a classic case of “Though I did not kill Boren, Boren died because of me.”

All he could do was change the subject. “Why isn’t Cen Xiao back yet? He knows the results for District Nine are out today.”

Xiao Muran replied softly, “He hasn’t been home for days. I think he’s dating.”

Cen Qing frowned sharply in alertness. “Dating? With whom? A high school classmate? Why haven’t I heard about this?”

At such a young and critical age, how could he have the mind for romantic entanglements?

Xiao Muran tilted her head slightly, gazing at the grand crystal chandelier in the atrium. She spoke faintly, “I don’t know, nor do I care. Whoever he loves is fine. Whether it’s a penniless beggar or an orphan without parents, as long as he likes them.”

***

Li Rong, sitting in the passenger seat, was about to sip his coffee when he suddenly coughed violently.

The coffee in his cup sloshed around, nearly spilling on the expensive seat cushions in the car.

Cen Xiao glanced at him and reminded him, “Drink slower.”

Li Rong looked a bit aggrieved and muttered softly, “I wasn’t even drinking yet. I just suddenly felt like sneezing.”

Cen Xiao freed one hand to tousle his soft hair and asked, “Did you catch a chill while sleeping?”

Li Rong thought for a moment. These days, he fell asleep incredibly quickly each night.

In his past life, he’d always suffered from a bit of insomnia, waking at the slightest sound.

But now, lying beside Cen Xiao, he found himself sleeping more soundly than ever.

With conviction, Li Rong retorted, “Then did you cover me properly with the blanket?”

Their routine was for Li Rong to shower and sleep first after their activities, followed by Cen Xiao.

Although Cen Xiao clearly expended far more energy each night, Li Rong couldn’t help it—he hadn’t started exercising in this life yet, leaving his body embarrassingly weak.

Cen Xiao replied, “I did.”

Li Rong continued, “Do I kick off the blanket at night?”

Cen Xiao answered, “No, I hold you.”