Cutting Ties

“Officer, now that I’ve said everything, are we free to go?” Zhou Yining asked.

Ji Ying nodded.

“Of course, it’s your right.”

“Wait, you can’t leave yet.

You can go, but we need to check the suitcase.

Who knows if you’ve stolen anything from the house?” Zhou Yuanfei continued, looking for trouble.

Zhou Yining was so angry she laughed.

She said, “Perfect. From the moment I opened the door, I had my friend record a video.

Of course, you can open my suitcase and check it, but not you.

The officers can check it; it’s all my personal belongings.”

After Zhou Yining finished, Jiang Xizhi handed her phone to Ji Ying.

There was an entire recording on it.

After watching it, Ji Ying felt there was no problem; Zhou Yuanfei was just deliberately making things difficult for Zhou Yining.

“I don’t see any problems with the video,” Ji Ying said.

Zhou Yuanfei wouldn’t let it go.

“Officer Ji, you can’t be so biased towards Zhou Yining, can you?

You still have to open the suitcase and check it.”

Ji Ying looked at Zhou Yining.

Zhou Yining nodded and opened the suitcase.

She spread all the contents out for everyone to see.

“See, it’s just a few changes of clothes, my textbooks, and nothing else.”

Ji Ying turned her gaze to Zhou Yuanfei.

“Mr. Zhou, are you satisfied now?”

“Wait, you can’t take that computer.

It was bought with my hard-earned money!” Zhou Yuanfei spotted the laptop bag with sharp eyes.

Zhou Yining sneered and said, “Zhou Yuanfei, you are truly shameless.

This laptop was bought with the 6,000 yuan compensation that Tian Xue’s father gave me.

It’s all recorded on my phone.

You have the nerve to say you bought it for me?

Have you ever given me any money?”

“You, I raised you for so long, how could I have never given you money?

Besides, just because you say you bought it, does that make it true?”

Zhou Yining took out her phone.

“Officers, please take a look. This is the 6,000 yuan Tian Xue’s father gave me that day.

I deposited it all into my card.

This is the purchase record for the computer afterward.

It has absolutely nothing to do with Zhou Yuanfei.”

“Okay, no problem. You can take your personal belongings,” Ji Ying nodded.

Zhou Yining packed up all the items she had laid out in the suitcase.

She looked coldly at Zhou Yuanfei.

“Zhou Yuanfei, I was planning to let it go, but since you want to be so petty, then you can wait to receive a lawyer’s letter in a few days.

Parents have an obligation to raise their minor children. I’m not 18 yet.

If I sue you, you’ll have to pay me child support every month.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Zhou Yuanfei said, enraged.

Zhou Yining sneered at him.

“What wouldn’t I dare to do? Citizens can use legal means to protect their legitimate rights.”

With that, Zhou Yining looked at the people behind her.

“Let’s go.”

Zhou Yining pulled her suitcase and walked forward.

This time, Zhou Yuanfei didn’t dare to stop her, but he still stubbornly said, “Don’t come back once you’re gone, Zhou Yining.
Once you step out of this door, I won’t care about you anymore.”

“You never cared before,” Zhou Yining said, pulling her suitcase and leaving.

Jiang Xizhi and Chen Yitong followed her out.

Ji Ying and the other three police officers were the last to leave.

Zhao Xiuna still seemed unwilling to give up.

She looked at Ji Ying and asked, “Officer, she’s my daughter. Is there really nothing we can do?”

Ji Ying shook her head.

“Every citizen is free. Even though we’re police officers, we can’t restrict someone’s freedom without permission.

That’s all. We’ll be leaving now.”

After saying that, Ji Ying left with her two colleagues.

After everyone else had left, Zhou Yuanfei slammed the door shut.

He cursed, “Get lost and don’t come back.

Even if Zhou Yining kneels down and begs me, I won’t acknowledge her as my daughter.”

“That’s right, she’s an ingrate who can’t be raised right!” Zhou Jiaming finally dared to say a few harsh words.
Half of his face was still swollen.

In the living room, only Zhao Xiuna was still crying.

Zhou Yuanfei impatiently cursed, “Crying, crying, all you do all day is cry. You only cause trouble.

Fine, Zhou Yining can live or die, it has nothing to do with us. I’m going to work.”

With that, Zhou Yuanfei slammed the door and left.

Zhao Xiuna seemed to have thought of something.

She reached out and wiped away her tears, then took out her phone and called Tian Xue.

The call was quickly answered.

“Auntie, is something the matter?” Tian Xue’s voice was normal.

“Tian Xue, why did you have to hurt me like this?

My daughter has cut ties with us.

Why did you have to hurt me?”

Tian Xue laughed.

“Auntie, you’re joking.

I was just chatting with you casually.

Who told you not to ask Zhou Yining and just believe me directly?

Hahaha, in the end, it’s because you’re stupid.”

“Tian Xue, how old are you? How can you be so vicious?” Zhao Xiuna questioned loudly.

“Vicious? Do you know that I should be in my third year of high school too?

Because of your daughter, I dropped out of school.

Zhou Yining deserved it, and you deserved it too.

I’m telling you, I won’t have a good life, then none of you will either!” After saying that, she hung up the phone.

Zhao Xiuna sat stiffly on the sofa, full of regret.

When Zhou Jiaming saw that she hadn’t started cooking, he said, “Mom, I’m hungry.”

In her current state, she didn’t even have the strength to speak.

She nodded lightly at Zhou Jiaming, not saying a word.

After Zhou Yining went outside, Jiang Xizhi said, “Zhou Zhou, you can just stay at my house. It works out perfectly”

Before Zhou Yining could speak, Chen Yitong interrupted,

“You should stay at my place. Jiang Xizhi still has her family, it might not be convenient for you to stay long-term. I live alone, so you can keep me company.”

Zhou Yining shook her head.

“Thank you, Teacher, but I’ll stay at Zhizhi’s place for a few days.

Once the prize money from the essay contest comes in, I’ll rent a place on my own.

You don’t have to worry too much about me.”

“That’s right, Teacher Chen.

Zhou Zhou and I are good friends.

She even stayed at my place for a few days during the holidays.

My family is also very familiar with her.

You can rest assured that I’ll take good care of her,” Jiang Xizhi quickly added.

“Are you really not coming back with me?” Chen Yitong asked Zhou Yining.

Zhou Yining nodded.

“Yeah, you’ve already troubled yourself enough. I’ll just stay with Zhizhi for a few days.”

“Okay, call me if you need anything. But it’s already this late.

Let’s go eat first. My treat, and neither of you can argue,” Chen Yitong said with a smile.

“Okay, thank you, Teacher,” Zhou Yining said, smiling.

Zhou Yining and the others got into Jiang Xizhi’s car.

Chen Yitong gave the driver an address and told him to drive there.

With all this commotion, it was already one-thirty.

They had to quickly grab something to eat and get to school.

As for Zhou Yining’s luggage, they could just leave it in the trunk of the car for now.

Chen Yitong called the restaurant from the car and asked them to prepare the food in advance so they could start serving as soon as they arrived.

A little over ten minutes later, Zhou Yining and the others got out of the car.

Chen Yitong had chosen a mid-range restaurant near the school.

The restaurant was newly opened and the food was very good.

The three of them went to a private room on the second floor.

As soon as they sat down, the waiters began to serve the dishes one after another.

Chen Yitong looked at them with a smile.

“Eat up.

It’s something to celebrate that Yining was able to escape from that kind of home.

If we didn’t have class this afternoon, I would have ordered a bottle of red wine to celebrate.”

Zhou Yining couldn’t help but laugh.

“It really is something to celebrate.”

“Mhm, mhm,” Jiang Xizhi nodded.

After thinking for a moment, she added, “Zhou Zhou, were you serious about asking them for child support?

If you are, I can have my sister arrange a lawyer.”

Although Jiang Xizhi hated Zhou Yining’s parents and brother, they were still Zhou Yining’s family.

She still had to ask for Zhou Yining’s opinion.

Zhou Yining nodded.

“I’m serious.

That family likes to bully the weak. If you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile.

So I need to let them know that I’m not someone to be trifled with.”

“That’s right!” Jiang Xizhi couldn’t help but applaud.

“Then I’ll have my sister arrange a lawyer when we get back tonight.”

Chen Yitong looked at Zhou Yining’s expression, still feeling a little worried.

She was such a young child, not even an adult yet.

She had experienced school bullying, been betrayed by a good friend, and finally, been hurt by her own family, forcing her to leave home.

“Yining, are you really okay?

Why don’t we skip school this afternoon and I’ll take you to see a psychologist to help you process your emotions?

I’m afraid you’re holding on too tight and might break down,” Chen Yitong said after thinking about it.

“Yeah, Zhou Zhou, why don’t you go to the hospital to relax?” Jiang Xizhi also looked at Zhou Yining with concern.

Zhou Yining smiled and shook her head.

“I’m really fine.

You have no idea how relaxed I am now.

Leaving that family immediately improved my mood.

I’m really fine, don’t worry about me.”

“Okay then,” Chen Yitong said, giving in.

After they finished eating, they rushed back to school.

When Zhou Yining entered the classroom that afternoon, the class was quiet for a moment.

Many people’s eyes fell on Zhou Yining.

Everyone was curious about what had happened at noon, but no one dared to ask since it was Zhou Yining’s private matter.

In the end, Yu Yang came over and asked in a low voice, “Zhou-jie, are you okay?”

Zhou Yining shook her head.

“I’m fine, it’s all resolved.”

“Oh, oh, that’s good, it’s good that it’s resolved.”

Seeing that she didn’t want to talk about it much, Yu Yang didn’t ask any further and just told everyone that things were resolved.

When it was almost time to leave school in the evening, Jiang Xizhi sent Zhou Yining a message saying that she was waiting for her at the entrance of the teaching building.

Zhou Yining quickly went downstairs and saw Jiang Xizhi at a glance.

Jiang Xizhi waved to her.

“Zhou Zhou, over here.”

“Yeah, I see you.” Zhou Yining smiled at her and ran to Jiang Xizhi’s side.

The two of them walked out of the school together.

Zhang Ye followed them from behind without them realizing it.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally said, “So, Tian Xue was the one who sent the love letter?”

Zhou Yining nodded.

“Yeah, I’m not crazy, I definitely wouldn’t have posted those things online.

But this matter did cause you some trouble, so I apologize to you again. This will never happen again, and I don’t like you anymore, so you can rest assured.”

Zhang Ye opened his mouth, but couldn’t say anything for a long time.

He used to think it was disgusting to be liked by a girl like Zhou Yining, but why did he feel a little reluctant now?

She really didn’t like him anymore?

After Zhou Yining apologized, she saw that Zhang Ye didn’t say anything.

She ignored him, grabbed Jiang Xizhi, and quickly left.

Jiang Xizhi was overjoyed to hear Zhou Yining explicitly say that she didn’t like Zhang Ye anymore.

She even skipped while walking.