YU JIAO was hiding inside a stall of a toilet. Since the restaurant they were in was pretty high-ss, the toilets were also the same. It’s clean and smelled nice. More than that, it was also very big. That’s why she didn’t feel ufortable here. In fact, she’s muchfortable herepared to the private box she was in earlier.


    Just like what she said to Luo Yan, after she met with her stepfather, she immediately ran away and hid here. Which was kind of stupid, yes. But hearing him apologized out of the blue really made him ufortable to the extreme.


    She couldn’t help but think back to what happened a few moments earlier.


    =====


    Yu Jiao got down of the car when the driver opened the door for her. She was actually quite surprised when this driver arrived at the school grounds and said to her that the madam – her mother – told him to take her to their meeting ce.


    She recognized the driver as someone from the Mo household. So, she wasn’t worried that the other was there to abduct her. Besides, she also received a timely message from her mother, telling her that she sent the driver to pick her up.


    And now, she’s standing in front of this traditional Chinese restaurant.


    "Young miss, please go ahead inside," the driver said to her amiably.


    Yu Jiao nodded with a small smile. Although her stepfather’s children were not so kind to her, the servants in the Mo household at least treated her with enough courtesy. She walked inside the restaurant. The receptionist asked her if she had any reservation and she told them her mother’s name. The receptionist checked and after confirming, she asked a waiter to lead her to the private box.


    While walking, he wondered once again why her mother suddenly asked to meet with her. It had only been four days since that emotional phone call when she couldn’t help but pour out the grievances that she had felt because of that incident with Mo Jian.


    Although they had talked about a lot of things during that conversation, they could only have simple conversation after. Her mother would call her to ask if she was alright or if anything else had happened. Once she answered, her mother would be silent. As if she didn’t know how to proceed next. And then it would end up with her mother just simply ending the conversation and telling her to rest.


    Yu Jiao understood her mother. The other probably just didn’t know what to say to her. She couldn’t guarantee that Mo Jian wouldn’t harass her again. Even if she was now the other’s stepmother, she would still be unable to control her actions. Besides, it was quite obvious that Mo Jian didn’t have any respect for her stepmother.


    The only one who could really do any difference was Yu Jiao’s stepfather – Mo Guang Li. But would he really scold his daughter for a stepdaughter he barely even knew and like? The answer to that was very much obvious. But even so, Yu Jiao still couldn’t help but feel a tad bit of disappointment.


    They soon arrived in front of the private box. The waiter opened the door for her. She said her thanks and walked inside. And she almost stepped back just as she did. Because right there, sitting beside her mother was her stepfather.


    She tried her best not to panic and continued walking inside.


    Her mother smiled when she saw her. "Jiao Jiao is here. Come, sit down."


    "Mom, Uncle," Yu Jiao greeted before sitting opposite the two.


    "I ordered all of Jiao Jiao’s favorite dishes," her mother started with an awkward smile. Yu Jiao could even see a guilty sh in her eyes.


    She just sighed inwardly and said to her mother, "Thank you, Mom. I’ll eat them well."


    She nced at the dishes on the table and most of them were indeed her favorites. She then raised her head and secretly nced at her stepfather. She observed the other’s expression. She wanted to see if he was calm or just pretending to be calm. If it was thetter then it’s highly likely that he was here with her mother to reprimand her. Maybe Mo Jian had already weaved what happened into apletely different direction.


    When her stepfather noticed her gaze, she looked away on reflex. She almost pped herself for that action. Didn’t she said that she would try to change? Then, what was that action just now? It’s like someone who was discovered doing something bad. Which she clearly didn’t. At the end, she could only attribute it to her timid nature.


    She inwardly sighed and felt disappointed in herself. Then, she clenched her fists. No, no one could immediately change just because they said they would. It would take time. For her, time was not the only thing she needed. She also had to learn to love, treasure, and respect herself more. Only then would she be able to be the best version of herself.


    So, she raised and bravely met her stepfather’s gaze.


    Mo Guang Lin was obviously a bit surprised by this. Yu Jiao understood why he would feel that way. After all, in the months that the other had been married to her mother, she had never looked him straight in the eyes.


    The other cleared his throat. "Jiao Jiao, I heard what happened between you and Jian-er. I was also informed that simr incidents had been happening between the two of you. As her father, I could only ask for your forgiveness and understanding. It’s shameful of me to request you of that and I would understand if you don’t. But for our family, I hope that you could."


    Then Mo Guang Lin bowed his head in a very respectful manner. Her mother, on the side, also looked at her with hope.


    Yu Jiao immediately felt suffocated. She so wanted to ask if this ’family’ actually included her. But the words simply got stuck in her throat. The disappointment in her heart just became bigger.


    =====


    And that’s when she excused herself and ran out of the private room, ending up here in this toilet stall.