Chapter 126

: The Depressed Show Host
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Shi Rong, Jiang Qianxue’s mother, knocked on the door.
Xiao Xue, I am coming now.

Walking into the room, she noticed that Xiao Xue was staring the ceiling, lying on her bed, wearing her pajamas.

Xiao Xue, there’s fresh-baked cake and black tea, would you like some?
Mother handed the plate over in front of Xiao Xue.
Xiao Xue suddenly came back from her deep thoughts, getting up from her bed embarrassedly.

Yes, yes, I would like to have some!
she responded.
Shi Rong was a full-time house wife, and very good at baking cake. Plus, she used only the top baking materials, so her baked goodies were much better than those from the bakeries. When Jiang Tianda’s old friends and former subordinates came to their house for parties, they all loved her baking. There were not a lot of people who tried her baking, but a few housewives from her community even requested to become her students — There was a saying that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach.
While Xiao Xue was enjoying so much cake and tea, Shi Rong thought something was wrong and looked at her daughter.

What happened? Is there something on my face?
Xiao Xue tried to use her elbow to rub at her face.
Mother was hesitant, then said after a few seconds,
Xiao Xue, why haven’t you been out these days?

Xiao Xue gave a cute laugh.
I was blamed so much when I was out all the time before. Now when I stay home more, you start to ask me why. Should I split myself into two?

The lighter side of Xiao Xue’s personality was showing, Mother felt more uneasy—if someone suddenly changed their personality, something must have happened to her, most likely not a good thing.
Xiao Xue had been less happy since she had come back from Mt. Hidden Fog. Initially, Shi Rong thought she was too tired from the trip and she would get back to normal after a few days of rest. But a few days passed, and Xiao Xue was still in the status of not eating nor drinking, and seemed very confused all day long.

Xiao Xue, please tell mommy honestly. Did someone mistreat you?
Shi Rong asked softly, holding her hands.

No! Not at all! Who would dare to treat me badly?
Xiao Xue answered right away without hesitation. She didn’t seem to be lying — Shi Rong knew her daughter pretty well, and Xiao Xue was not the type of person who could pretend nothing happened if she had been mistreated.
Shi Rong knew that Xiao Xue was doing live shows online. Sometimes she would turn on the computer and check on her. But since she didn’t know much about computers and online stuff, she didn’t register for an account, only viewing the website as a visitor. After checking the website a few times, she felt that the live show was safe for Xiao Xue; plus, thousands of people were watching her every step of the way. If something happened to her, there would be someone reporting it to the police. So she felt pretty at ease about it.
It must be true that Xiao Xue said that she was not mistreated. But why was she feeling so unhappy?
Shi Rong’s heart was broken when she saw how depressed Xiao Xue was. She knew that she spoiled her so much. But what could she do? Xiao Xue was her precious pearl. She would feel hurt even if Xiao Xue got a scrape on her skin.

Mom, your cakes always taste so good. But the pumpkin cake I had at Hidden Fog Tea House a few days ago tasted yummy too. You should give it a try next time,
she said softly. She finished her cake, putting the tea cup back to the tray, and sucked her finger.

Sure.
Shi Rong gave an uneasy grin.
But I don’t know how to get there. You should take me next time.

Xiao Xue hesitated, nodding slowly.

Yes, something must have happened on the Mt. Hidden Fog trip.
Shi Rong thought to herself,
If that was her usual Xiao Xue, she would have said ‘yes’ right away.

But why? Xiao Xue had a good impression of Hidden Fog Tea house, otherwise she would not recommend her mother to go, but at the same time she didn’t want to accompany her mother to go back. Was there someone she didn’t want to see in that Tea House?
The Persian cat came through the door and jumped on Xiao Xue’s bed.

Snow Ball! Come, Snow Ball!
Xiao Xue waived at the cat.
Snow Ball quietly snuggled into her hug.

Did Snow Ball grow a little?
Xiao Xue held it up, trying to weigh her.

It always will grow.
Shi Rong had another meaning when saying this.

Yes.
Xiao Xue held her cat tightly in her arms, gently stroking its long hair.

It is good to be a cat,
she said.
It just needs to be a cat.

Shi Rong was shocked, not knowing what exactly she meant.
After a while, she tried to ask cautiously,
Xiao Xue, did your dad blame you for anything?

Xiao Xue shook her head.
No, he didn’t.


Did he ask you to go on a blind date again?

Xiao Xue grinned,
I think that my dad was busy apologizing to the guy, Mr. Lu, who I didn’t meet for the blind date. I don’t think that he has the time to set up another one.

Shi Rong realized that she couldn’t get the answers she wanted so she decided to ask some straight-forward questions.

Xiao Xue, are you worried about anything? Please feel free to talk to mommy about your worries and concerns. We could talk about everything before.

Xiao Xue lowered her head, hiding her face in the cat’s long hair.
After she sat up, she went back to the original worry-free Xiao Xue.

Nothing happened! I just feel a little bit tired; I need a few days of rest!
she responded with a nice smile.

I am going to take Snow Ball for a walk,
she said to her mom, holding the cat and getting off the bed.
Shi Rong sighed, without saying anything.
Hearing the noises Xiao Xue made while she went downstairs, there was a thought that suddenly came to Shi Rong’s mind, of which she didn’t want to think about deeper: Was she in love?
Thinking of that, Shi Rong became even more uneasy.
Who was the guy? Tall or short? Fat or thin? Family background? What kind of occupation? Healthy or not? What did his parents do for a living? Any criminal background? What was his educational background?…
Her daughter was too innocent. She was always worried that her daughter would be tricked by someone. Nowadays, so many people would get married just for money. That was why she and Jiang Tianda would try to find a good match for Xiao Xue until they found one.
Even if that one was not a bad guy and both he and Xiao Xue fell in love with each other, would Xiao Xue’s father agree? Jiang Tianda had set a very high standard for his future son-in-law. If he thought that one didn’t fit Xiao Xue, would he force them to separate?
Shi Rong was upset, wanting to know that man’s name and his background right away.
But then, she felt that something was right.
If they were dating, they should be chatting or talking over the phone often, and Xiao Xue should check her phone frequently—but instead, she didn’t touch her phone nor her computer.
Was this a one-sided love?
No, Shi Rong did not want to believe this could be a possibility. In this world, Xiao Xue was better than any man, none being worth a one-side love.