AD (QT) Chapter 88

Lately, Liu Qianliu had been deeply reflecting on how to be a good mother. Over the past few months, Han Ze had treated her with a lukewarm attitude. When she learned that someone liked Han Doudou, her heart felt like it was being scratched by a hundred claws. She was as anxious as an ant on a hot griddle, yet she didn’t dare act recklessly; Han Ze had strictly forbidden her from interfering in the matter of “early dating.”

She possessed a shred of self-awareness. In the past, she had been obsessed with having another child with Xiao Yu, completely neglecting Han Doudou. Since Han Doudou was raised by Han Ze, she knew she didn’t hold a candle to him in the girl’s heart.

Furthermore, Han Doudou was in her rebellious phase. While Liu Qianliu had used money to temporarily sway her and gain some acceptance, she knew that her years of indifference had left a knot in her daughter’s heart—a knot that might never fully untie. She could only try to make amends through other means.

In the past, Han Ze was willing to accommodate her. Even though she hadn’t cared for Han Doudou, he would still scold the girl if she spoke rebelliously to her mother. This gave Liu Qianliu the illusion that as long as Han Ze was there to discipline her, she didn’t have to worry about her daughter disowning her.

However, Han Ze’s recent attitude made her realize something: when he scolded Han Doudou, it was a father teaching a child to respect her mother—it wasn’t about accommodating her feelings. Everything Han Ze did was for Han Doudou’s sake. He wanted to ensure that even though they were divorced, the child wouldn’t feel the impact of a broken home.

Liu Qianliu realized that if Han Ze ever felt her presence was harmful to Han Doudou’s physical or mental health, he would stop indulging her immediately. Since Han Doudou was her only child, she had to behave. She could no longer bark orders at Han Ze as she once did.

Though Han Ze told her not to manage the dating issue, she couldn’t help herself. She decided that while she wouldn’t “investigate,” she could at least visit. It was Saturday, and there was no evening study session. She drove to the school, hoping to surprise her daughter and take her to a nice dinner.

When she arrived, students were already trickling out. She had missed the final bell. Just as she was about to call her daughter, a girl approached her.

It was Xu Yining.

“Excuse me, are you Han Doudou’s mother?” Xu Yining asked with a polite smile.

Liu Qianliu was delighted. “I am! And you are?”

“I’m Han Doudou’s desk mate, Xu Yining,” the girl replied. “I recognized you from the photo on her phone’s lock screen.”

Liu Qianliu beamed, remembering the photo they took while shopping the previous week. “Is my Doudou out yet?”

Xu Yining’s expression turned hesitant. “I… I didn’t notice.”

“Is something wrong?” Liu Qianliu pressed, her heart tightening. “You can tell me, I won’t get angry.”

Xu Yining bit her lip. “I’m only saying this because I’m Han Doudou’s friend. Her grades improved so much this time, and I don’t want to see her go down the wrong path.”

“What path?”

“Early dating,” Xu Yining whispered, looking around. “Han Doudou went out to dinner with a boy from our class.”

Liu Qianliu’s voice spiked. “What? Where?”

“She didn’t tell me,” Xu Yining said, then added pleadingly, “Auntie, please don’t tell Han Doudou I told you. I don’t want to ruin our friendship.”

“Don’t worry,” Liu Qianliu promised, quickly exchanging phone numbers with the “helpful” girl. As Xu Yining left in her family car, Liu Qianliu sighed, wishing her own daughter was as “sensible” as this friend.

She immediately called Han Doudou.

“What is it?” Han Doudou answered.

“Mom is at your school gate. Let’s go get grilled fish!”

“I’m already eating out with a classmate,” Han Doudou replied. “Next time.”

“Why don’t you bring your classmate along? I’ll treat you both,” Liu Qianliu suggested, trying to sound casual.

“Mom, why are you interfering? I’ll call you when I get home tonight.” Han Doudou hung up.

Fuming, Liu Qianliu called Han Ze. “Did you know Han Doudou is on a date right now? You said you’d handle the dating issue—is this how you handle it?”

“What are you talking about?” Han Ze asked calmly.

“I met her desk mate, Xu Yining, at the school gate! She told me Han Doudou went out with a boy.”

Han Ze actually laughed. “Han Doudou told me about this. I gave her my permission.”

“You permitted it?” Liu Qianliu shrieked.

“Han Doudou’s grades jumped significantly because that boy helped her study. It’s only right that she treats him to a meal to show her gratitude. What’s the problem?”

“The problem is he’s a boy! Aren’t you afraid of early dating?”

Han Ze replied with measured patience. “If a boy has a positive influence on her, what can we do? Forbid it and drive her away like Xiao Yu did with Xiao Locheng? If Han Doudou really had something to hide, she wouldn’t have been honest with me about the dinner. For now, we do nothing.”

“But her desk mate said this ‘momentum’ would lead to dating!” Liu Qianliu argued.

“Xu Yining?” Han Ze’s voice turned cold. “Liu Qianliu, if your ‘best friend’ went to your parents to report your secrets, what would you think of them?”

“My friends would never do that! They’d be on my side,” Liu Qianliu answered instinctively.

“Exactly,” Han Ze sneered. “So if this girl was truly Han Doudou’s friend, wouldn’t she help her hide it? By telling you, she knew she was exposing Han Doudou to parental interrogation. She clearly has an ulterior motive and wants to make life difficult for Han Doudou. You shouldn’t listen to a word that girl says.”

Liu Qianliu was stunned into silence. Han Ze was right—a true friend wouldn’t snitch. Still, she couldn’t shake her anxiety. After hanging up, she thought of Xiao Locheng’s breakup. She called Xiao Yu immediately.

“Old Xiao, call Xiao Locheng’s mother, Hu Limin. Ask her exactly how she got Xiao Locheng to break up with that boy so fast. We need her methods.”