Chapter 81: Sending You Away

"Xiao Yang, is Xiaoqing really alright now?" Zou Yalan looked at Yang Meng anxiously.

Yang Meng took off his helmet and nodded, "She's fine this time. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to come out. As for what happens in the future, that depends on you. Don't mind my bluntness, but instead of worrying whether your child is successful or not, you should ask yourselves if you're qualified parents."

Li Muzhi snorted coldly at her words, but Zou Yalan quickly tugged at his arm.

Yang Meng smiled, "Mr. Li, don't snort at me. Maybe you're a good teacher, but you're absolutely not a good father. For Xiaoqing to end up in this situation, you bear at least half the responsibility."

Li Muzhi couldn't hold back, "What gives you the right to lecture me? You're not a father."

Yang Meng replied, "But I've been a child. If I had a father like you, I would've acted even worse than Xiaoqing. Always pushing responsibility away when something happens—no matter as a person or a father, that's a failure."

Just then, the small iron door of the detention center opened, and Li Xiaoqing walked out. Seeing Li Muzhi and Zou Yalan, she turned her head away. When she saw Yang Meng, her face brightened, and she walked over and lowered her head, not daring to look at him directly.

Yang Meng ruffled her hair, "Not bad, you didn't get a haircut."

Li Xiaoqing blushed, "Yang, honestly, I almost got one. At first, it was criminal detention. If you hadn't acted quickly and changed it to administrative detention, I definitely would've lost my hair."

Li Muzhi snorted from the side, "Can't you see your parents standing here? Do you not know about respect?"

Li Xiaoqing replied, "People should be grateful. It's thanks to Yang that I could leave here! Shouldn't I thank him first? Yang never lectures me about respect, but he's the one who truly helped me when things went wrong!"

Li Muzhi retorted angrily, "You make him sound so great, but wasn't it just about the money?"

Li Xiaoqing dismissed him, "You gave money, but did you get anything done? Just because you're incompetent, you can't stand others being capable?"

"You..." Li Muzhi was at a loss for words and said angrily, "I regret saving you now! I should've let you stay inside for a few years!"

Li Xiaoqing shot back, "No problem, I'm right outside the detention center—you can have me sent back!"

Zou Yalan hurried to mediate, "Getting out is better than anything. Enough, let's talk at home!"

Li Xiaoqing, however, spoke up, "Ms. Zou, don't play the good guy! You're only doing this to silence others and show you're a good stepmother. I'd rather sleep on the street than go back to that home."

The atmosphere among the family was tense. Yang Meng watched for a while, then cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

Seeing everyone look at him, Yang Meng said, "Mr. Li, let's be clear. What do you mean by 'handling things with money'? You went and offered Zhang Qiang a hundred thousand to settle privately, but he never took it. Then you gave the money to me to give to him, and it has nothing to do with me. You're a teacher—you should know your words aren't precise and easily misunderstood."

Li Xiaoqing snorted, "That's just who he is! No ability, but thinks he's the best. I don't know where his confidence comes from!"

"Enough!" Yang Meng interrupted, "No matter what, he's your father! Even if you have issues with him, you shouldn't speak about him like this in front of outsiders!"

Li Xiaoqing murmured an acknowledgment and fell silent.

Yang Meng took his riding bag, pulled out a paper envelope, and placed it on the car hood. "Besides, Mr. Zhang didn't take a single cent. All the money is here. You can take it back, Mr. Li."

Li Muzhi stared at Yang Meng in disbelief.

Zou Yalan was delighted. She went over, opened the envelope, and beamed, "Ah, Brother Yang, you're really capable."

Li Xiaoqing glanced at Zou Yalan, "So you came here to show off without spending a dime. I used to feel indebted, thinking about how to repay you the hundred thousand, but now there's no need. I can finally focus on living my own life. Yang, even though Mr. Zhang didn't take the money, I know I owe you, and I'll pay you back."

"You..." Li Muzhi started to argue, but Zou Yalan quickly pulled him back.

Li Xiaoqing smiled at Zou Yalan, "That's more like it—wanting to be the good person but not wanting me to disrupt your life. Keep your husband in check, it's better for all of us."

Yang Meng lit a cigarette and said, "Li Xiaoqing, can you be quiet for a moment?"

"Okay," Li Xiaoqing obediently stepped aside.

Yang Meng asked, "You're definitely not going home, are you?"

Li Xiaoqing glanced at Li Muzhi and nodded.

Yang Meng raised two fingers, "You have two choices now. First, fend for yourself. Let your life slip away and become a tragedy—maybe you'll be a regular at the police station in the future. Who knows..."

Li Xiaoqing lowered her head at his words—besides dancing, what else could she do? Without further studies, she's stuck in nightclubs, but that world is small. What she did this time ruined her reputation; no club would dare hire someone who betrayed them. Her days in that circle were over.

Seeing her silent, Yang Meng raised his second finger, "There's another way: go back to school."

"Huh?" Li Xiaoqing was stunned, "Back to school?"

Yang Meng nodded, "That's right. Have you heard the saying, 'arts and academics are inseparable'? Long Teng has a good network and knows the principal of Northern Capital Performing Arts School, who used to be a star of the national song and dance troupe. The teachers there are top-notch, and among their graduates are one Best Actor and three Best Actresses. As Long Teng says, connections matter. After graduation, at worst you can join a professional troupe, and if things go well, you might enter the entertainment industry. Tuition is expensive—arts schools charge a lot—but don't worry, even if you owe Long Teng a hundred thousand, you can pay him back after you start working. No interest. The choice is yours."

Li Xiaoqing was stunned, "Yang..."

She hadn't expected Yang Meng to find such a good path for her. Anyone would know which to choose, but she was overwhelmed with guilt. Looking at Yang Meng, she didn't know what to say.

She recalled her actions, and all she could think of was shame.

Yang Meng waved his hand, "Alright, stop daydreaming. Here, this is Long Teng's card. Go find him at Dragon Rhythm; he'll arrange everything. I've paved the road for you—how you walk it is up to you. And don't say I didn't warn you: you'll find even more temptations over there, so don't do anything you'll regret."

Li Xiaoqing took the card and nodded vigorously, "Yang, I know there's no medicine for regret in the world, but I really regret it now."

Yang Meng smiled, "It's not mistakes that matter, but failing to learn from them. 'Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.' Just don't let down those who care about you."

"You... what gives you the right to plan my daughter's life?" Li Muzhi suddenly grew anxious.

Yang Meng slapped his forehead, "You're absolutely right, Mr. Li. Do you have any suggestions? Tell me, I'll listen."

Li Muzhi fell silent for a long time before finally saying, "I have no objections."

"Huh?" Yang Meng had expected to argue if Li Muzhi protested, but he said nothing?

Li Muzhi saw Yang Meng's confusion, sighed deeply, and seemed to age several years in an instant.

"Actually, Xiaoqing wasn't wrong. I'm not much of a father," Li Muzhi said bitterly. "When she was young, Xiaoqing was always top of her class, beautiful and a great dancer. She deserved a broader future. Her mother and I failed to help her and held her back. This opportunity is rare—she shouldn't miss it."

Li Xiaoqing snorted from the side, "Finally, something sensible!"

Surprisingly, Li Muzhi didn't get angry, but turned to Yang Meng, "You mentioned a hundred thousand, right? Take it—I'll pay her tuition." With that, he handed the envelope to Yang Meng.

Li Xiaoqing protested, "I don't want your tuition! I'll earn the money and pay it back myself!"

Yang Meng glanced at her, took the envelope from Li Muzhi and put it in his backpack, "I'll keep it. Xiaoqing, stop fussing. Even if Mr. Li has made all the mistakes in the world, he's still your father. If he hadn't sought me out, do you think I could've helped you? What he gave me isn't just money, but the bond between you. I have no right to interfere in your family; how your relationship develops is up to you. If you think you shouldn't owe him, then study and work hard to pay him back. And you're close with Long Teng, right? His money doesn't fall from the sky—why would he lend you a hundred thousand for nothing?"

Li Xiaoqing fell silent.

Zou Yalan, seeing the mood sour, quickly stepped forward, "Xiaoqing, let's go. You've just come out from such a place, let's find somewhere to wash up and I've got a meal waiting for you at home. You must've suffered these days."

Her words only prompted Li Xiaoqing to walk straight to Yang Meng, "Yang, please take me to Mr. Long. I don't want to stay here for another minute. I'm going to the capital!"

Yang Meng glanced at Li Muzhi, who nodded. Yang Meng tossed his helmet to Li Xiaoqing, "Let's go."