At Xin Xing Preschool.
Mei Lin looked at Qin Rong with concern. "Are you really sure about this?"
Qin Rong nodded confidently. "Yes. Xiao Jie is at the right age to start school, and I can finally focus on finishing my college classes. Just one more year, and I'll graduate."
Mei Lin, her close friend, nodded but hesitated. "I get that, but didn't you mention wanting to pursue acting? Aren't you worried Jun Xianming might find you?"
Qin Rong's expression faltered as she pursed her lips, the weight of the question settling in.
Seeing her reaction, Mei Lin quickly apologized. "I'm sorry for bringing that up, but you're back in the Capital now, and Jun Xianming isn't just anyone. If you start working on TV, it's only a matter of time before he realizes you're here."
Qin Rong sighed, the conflict evident in her eyes. "I know this isn't the safest choice, but Mei Lin, I can't give up on my dreams because of him. I want to give Xiao Jie a better life. Without a degree, I can't find stable work, not to mention it's an art degree," she scoffed. "Besides, it's been two years. I doubt Jun Xianming even cares about me anymore."
Mei Lin moved closer, flicking Qin Rong's forehead gently. "Are you kidding? You have his child. Do you really think he won't come after you when he finds out?"
Qin Rong grimaced, rubbing her forehead. "Do you flick your students' foreheads too?"
Mei Lin shook her head quickly. "Of course not! Their parents would sue me before I even got home."
Qin Rong chuckled softly. "Yeah, I'd sue you too if you did that to Xiao Jie."
Mei Lin grabbed her arm, pulling her toward one of the tables under the trees. "You're not taking this seriously, are you?"
Qin Rong sighed deeply as she ran her hands through her black, wavy hair. "I am. The last thing I want is for Xiao Jie to be taken away from me. He's all I have left since Auntie Xi passed away. This wasn't a whim, Mei Lin. I've been thinking about it for months."
She hesitated before continuing, "I wouldn't have come back to the Capital if I could give Xiao Jie a good life elsewhere—I even considered giving him to Jun Xianm—" She stopped herself, unable to finish the thought. "I just want what's best for him, you know?"
Mei Lin nodded, her expression softening. "I may not have a child of my own, but I understand, honey."
Qin Rong smiled faintly. "I thought once I graduated, I could get a stable job here and maybe try some auditions. If I land any gigs, at least it'll help with the bills. I still have some savings from Auntie Xi. And," her voice softened as she blinked away tears, "thank you. Once I've saved enough, I'll pay you back for Xiao Jie's half tuition."
Mei Lin, who taught at Xin Xing Preschool, had suggested the school to Qin Rong when she returned to the Capital. The tuition was steep, but Mei Lin had offered to cover half, knowing how much Qin Rong wanted the best for her son.
"If you run off without paying, believe me, I'll track you down," Mei Lin joked, knowing Qin Rong's aversion to owing others.
"I'm sorry I couldn't make you Xiao Jie's godmother," Qin Rong apologized, recalling how she had left the Capital just days after giving birth, telling no one.
"It's okay. I've saved enough from all the gifts I missed out on."
"Now that you mention it, you should've just paid his whole tuition as a gift," Qin Rong teased with a snort.
"Then you'd owe me a million yuan for breaking our trio's rule: first to have a child pays the others," Mei Lin shot back with a laugh.
Qin Rong laughed too. "Okay, fine, we're even."
Mei Lin's tone grew serious again. "But really, are you sure about pursuing acting? What if Jun Xianming sees Xiao Jie?"
Qin Rong rolled her eyes. "It's not like Xiao Jie will be on TV."
Mei Lin sighed, her concern lingering. "I'm just nervous for you. After everything that happened, I don't know what Jun Xianming would do if he found out about Xiao Jie."
Qin Rong's gaze dropped as she spoke quietly. "Then I won't let it come to that."
The last thing she wanted was for Jun Xianming to find out about Xiao Jie—their son.
But as long as she stayed under the radar and Jun Xianming has no interest in her, she believed everything would be fine.
After all, Xiao Jie was practically her mirror image. Unless someone put the two of them side by side, no one would guess the truth that the two were father and son. She just had to be careful, make sure their worlds never collided.
But fate has a way of mocking her.
Qin Rong never anticipated that while she was trying to keep them apart, it would be the twins themselves who would find each other on their own.