Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

"Kindness is not just about doing good deeds, it also requires wisdom and strength as support, which is actually a luxury trait. Eventually, I came to think that merely abstaining from bad deeds and adhering to the basic standards of morality and law already makes one a decent person," she covered her mouth with her hand, her body trembling.

"As a girl, especially a good-looking one, you'll receive a lot of special treatment when you're young, which can easily create an illusion that the world is supposed to work this way and that it is only natural for everyone to be 'good' to you," she said.

"But beauty inevitably fades with time, and as the special treatment slowly disappears, you might find yourself no different from those aunts you looked down upon before. If you still clamor for the love and favors you received in your youth, you will become despised and unattractive," she said.

"Such a decline is torturous, it breeds resentment and dissatisfaction, or self-pity and self-loathing," she said.

"I've taught many children and seen too many similar cases. Sometimes I sigh, wondering how that lovely girl from the past ended up like this," she said.

"Hexia, you're a smart child; you might already be aware of some of what I'm saying, but always keep it in mind. When faced with temptation and choices, always stay extra calm. Don't be easily misled by others' sweet talk, and don't count on getting lucky, thinking that just doing it once won't matter," said Grandma He, leaning on her pillow, looking into the distance, seemingly lost in sighs and regrets.

"You might wonder where He Cheng and his sister's parents have gone. He Cheng's father, my second son, became trapped in gambling, and step by step, he was manipulated, not only squandering the family's money but also racking up debts everywhere, making life unbearable for his siblings. Their work and lives were disrupted," she said.

"Later, his brother and sister, my other two children, had to move to other cities, and they suffered a lot in the process, resulting in their getting married quite late. And I, in my younger days, was keen to save his life, not wanting him to get hurt or spend his life in prison. I used the family's savings to cover many debts, which eventually led to my youngest daughter, Xia Li, being unable to afford university," she said.

"Because of this, Xia Li's relationship with me, her mother, has grown cold, and she hasn't visited me in 20 years," Grandma He shook her head.

"In the end, he still left us, dying in an underground death race, his body blown to bits, and not even ashes returned," she said.

"Originally, I had also sold this house, but it was my eldest son who returned and bought it back for me, providing me with a place to live. Yet he also said it was the last time, and since then, visits have grown scarce; now, he only comes to see me about once a year," she said.

"Afterward, I took He Cheng and his sister under my care, slowly raising them. Thankfully, they both grew up well, without inheriting their father's traits, which has eased my mind," she said.

"Gradually, my teaching improved quite a bit, and I gained some recognition in the residential area, earning a bit of respect. As time passed, people gradually forgot the events of 20 years ago," she said.

"But such incidents are not forgotten by oneself." Grandma He searched around, pulled open the drawer of the bedside table, and found an old photograph.

In this era of ubiquitous electronic devices, photographs are somewhat a rarity.

The photo, though old and somewhat faded, was well preserved. In it, Grandma He, in her youth, around the age of 30, is half-crouching at the bottom of a surfing slide in an amusement park with three different-sized children in front of her. The eldest was about 7 or 8 years old, the youngest just learning to walk, and the middle one holding a toy, smiling happily.

"Look, wasn't he adorable as a child..." Grandma He caressed the child in the photo, her cloudy eyes brimming with nostalgia and reluctance.

"If only I had educated him properly back then," she said.

Hexia looked at the photo, and it was as if she could hear the distant sounds of play, the noise of the amusement park, the children chasing, and the child holding the toy spaceman chanting, 'Fly, fly, I'm going to be a Federal Driver when I grow up, a big star and a hero~'

The silhouettes of time swiftly vanished, and as Hexia blinked, the photo returned to its simple and ordinary state, nothing out of the ordinary.

"I've taken note, Grandma," Hexia nodded slowly.

"That's good, just be mindful. Actually, I'm afraid talking about these things will upset you; it's quite a downer, but I can't help it, sigh..."

"Okay, go have something to eat now. Tomorrow is your day off, right? Make the most of the rare holiday, go out and have fun instead of just staying at home."

"I understand," Hexia said as she helped adjust Grandma He's blankets and poured her some water before leaving the room.