Chapter 17: Resolving the Misunderstanding
  Wen Ning, amused, walked past the man calmly, but then paused with a glance.

  "Fang Qing? Why are you still at school at this hour?"

  Fang Qing, who had been sitting cross-legged, glancing at the back of a book, was startled by the sudden appearance of someone in front of her. She sat up straight, only then realizing it was Wen Ning.

  "Ah, why are you at school too?"

  Wen Ning, observing her expression, simply sat down beside her. "You look upset. Are you angry with your family?"

  Fang Qing moved aside, lowering her head and nodding at Wen Ning's words. "It's not me being rebellious, it's just a normal reaction from parents during their rebellious period."

  Wen Ning nodded in understanding. This kind of thing was common in their family, though he was mostly just a bystander, watching his sister and parents fight fiercely at home.

  But seeing Fang Qing's dejected look, he felt it was time to offer some encouragement. "Well, these are actually minor matters. Life is full of bumps and misunderstandings. Just explain them clearly."

  Fang Qing nodded mechanically, but remained silent. Her mother's suspicions turned her initial excitement and joy into bitterness. Why couldn't parents trust their own children? Did they believe children were supposed to be ignorant, devoid of life skills, and vulnerable to scams the moment they left the house?
  "They're just worried about you, not that they don't trust you,"

  Wen Ning's words answered Fang Qing's inner doubts. She looked up at the young man beside her, a look of astonishment on his face. "How do you know what I'm thinking?"

  Wen Ning smiled but didn't answer, simply gazing at the distant scenery for a moment. Only when Fang Qing's gaze grew unsettling did he stand up.

  "If there's a problem, it needs to be addressed head-on. Avoiding it is useless. You're like Lingzi, hiding when things get tough. That won't work."

  Finally, he flicked the pom pom on Fang Qing's hat and quickly walked away, leaving Fang Qing stunned.

  Fang Qing was still pondering his words, baffled by his childish actions, but Wen Ning's words still resonated with her. Her mother didn't trust her about this matter, and she hadn't had a chance to explain it clearly. She couldn't blame her mother for misunderstanding...

  Thinking of this, she couldn't continue reading. She closed the book, tied her hat tightly, and strode out of the school. Just as she reached the door, she saw her eldest brother pushing his bicycle towards her, so she simply went home with him.

  The Fang family held a family meeting all night. Fang Qing explained why she wanted to make money and the results of her hard work during this period. Seeing the dozens of yuan on the table, everyone's face had different expressions.

  Father Fang Decai's face was filled with guilt. "Dad is useless. I can't give you and your sister a good life. I actually let my daughter go out and do hard labor. Sigh!"

  Fang's mother was not as happy as Fang Qing imagined. She pushed the money to Fang Qing and said, "Mom misunderstood you before. It's my fault. But I still don't agree with you doing business at such a young age. Your main task now is to study hard. Your brother is not doing well, but you have to do your best. Don't lose your bright future for the sake of immediate benefits..."

  Although Fang Ming wanted to support his sister, he could only shut up after seeing the expressions of his parents. He just gave his sister a thumbs up under the table.

  Fang Qing was a little depressed, but thinking of the ugly mother-in-law, Fang Qing still gritted her teeth and insisted on her own idea. "I make money not only to improve the conditions of our family, but also for my future development. Since you don't support me, then I won't do it in the future."

  The family meeting ended in a bad mood. The next morning, Fang Qing went to school as usual, but this time her father took her to school.

  Unlike her older brother's swift ride, her father rode steadily. Father and daughter remained silent until they reached a slight incline, where he found the pedaling difficult. They simply jumped off and pushed forward.

  "Qingqing, don't blame your mother. What happened last time has left a deep scar on her. She's worried about everything you do. As a daughter, I hope you understand how we feel as parents. But Dad believes in you and supports you. My daughter is excellent in everything she does. If you truly enjoy it, go for it! But don't let it interfere with your studies..."

  Fang Qing's father spoke volumes, and her resentment gradually eased. She had always wanted her family to be happy, but now it was just her parents' lack of understanding. Why had she lost her patience?
  "Dad, yesterday... my attitude wasn't good either. Thank you for understanding, and I understand your and Mom's concerns. But don't worry, I'll protect myself. Don't treat me like a child. I'm grown up now, and you can try to rely on me..."

  Fang Decai felt a mixture of warmth and sadness as he listened to his daughter's words. His daughter had grown up and learned to care for others. He suddenly felt his eyes getting hot, and he quickly looked up at the sky, smiling with relief.

  "Okay, okay, Daddy will remember..."

  The father and daughter talked as they walked along the way. The winding path and the broad figure of the father remained in Fang Qing's heart even many years later.

  ...

  At the end of the year, the school organized students to take a physical fitness test before the big exam, and the physical education score was also to be included in the final score. Fang Qing, who had never paid much attention to sports, finally realized his shortcomings.

  The physical education teacher was waiting for Fang Qing at the finish line with a stopwatch in his hand. One lap, two laps, when all the students had finished running and everyone on the playground had left, Fang Qing was still moving slowly...

  The teacher glanced at the sun that was about to set, and was too lazy to urge Fang Qing anymore, so he simply asked a colleague to bring him a meal.

  "Teacher, I've finished running!" Fang Qing came over with a pale face. The teacher pressed the stop button very professionally and showed Fang Qing her 1500-meter running time. "Student, I think you can practice more. With diligent practice, you will soon catch up..."

  Fang Qing nodded seriously. "Teacher, how do you think I should adjust? I feel like I can't breathe when I run..."

  The teacher looked at her for a long time and finally came to a conclusion. "In your case... I suggest you see a doctor. Maybe you have an air allergy."

  After the teacher walked a long way with the lunch box, Fang Qing's brain, which had stopped working due to lack of oxygen, finally reacted, "Air allergy? Teacher, you can't be so mean..."

  But no matter what, her result was really ugly. Even the head teacher knew that she failed the physical fitness test. So she mobilized the students in the class and encouraged everyone to go to the playground to run after evening self-study, so as to motivate those students who don't like running.

  Wen Ling and Fang Qing were dragged to the playground. Many students were running here. The enthusiasm for sports instantly stimulated Fang Qing and the other two. They looked at each other and rushed to the playground like flying.

  "Classmates, come on, victory is just around the corner!"

  "Breathe, pay attention to keep breathing, yes, just like that, hey, run, run..."

  (End of this chapter)