Born in the 1980s, she was remarried and became a stepmother; a cold, rough man doted on her, pinchi

Chapter 118 We're waiting for you to come back
Countless nights, Jiang Man sat at her desk, gazing at the stars outside the window, lost in thought. Studying abroad meant saying goodbye to her familiar environment, leaving behind her family who were always by her side, and facing the unknowns of a foreign land alone.

She knew that this journey might involve countless hardships and obstacles, but her inner thirst for knowledge and pursuit of higher academic achievements burned ever brighter in her heart like a blazing flame.

After countless days and nights of deep thought, on a moonlit night, Jiang Man finally made up her mind—to go abroad.

This decision reflects her hopes for the future, but also her guilt towards her family.

She knew that this would be a major turning point in her life, and that taking this step would require immense courage.

With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Jiang Man informed her mentor of her decision. Her mentor was a highly respected senior figure in academia who had been closely following Jiang Man's development and had unwavering faith in her talent and potential.

Upon hearing Jiang Man's decision, a look of surprise and relief flashed in the mentor's eyes.

He understood that if Jiang Man could pursue advanced studies in an advanced academic environment abroad, he would thrive and shine even brighter in the academic field.

"Jiang Man, this is a rare opportunity!" the mentor said excitedly. "I have seen your academic talent and hard work. The academic resources abroad are abundant and the research atmosphere is strong, which is extremely beneficial to your growth."

Without hesitation, the mentor quickly devoted himself to applying for a spot for Jiang Man.

At that time, the competition for study abroad opportunities was extremely fierce, like thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge.

Each spot represents the dreams of numerous students, making its value self-evident. Leveraging his extensive network and high prestige accumulated over many years in academia, the mentor tirelessly worked to secure this opportunity for Jiang Man.

He first personally visited the school leaders, elaborating on Jiang Man's outstanding performance, unique insights, and enormous potential in academic research, and sincerely lobbied for a recommendation spot for Jiang Man from the school. After obtaining the school's support, the mentor immediately began preparing the recommendation letter.

He sat at his desk, put on his reading glasses, and carefully considered every word, striving to fully showcase Jiang Man's strengths and characteristics.

In the recommendation letter, the supervisor not only listed Jiang Man's outstanding contributions to the academic project, but also highly praised her academic attitude and innovative thinking. The words were sincere and full of high expectations for Jiang Man.

Meanwhile, her mentor meticulously guided Jiang Man in preparing various application materials. From the description of her academic interests in her personal statement to the planning of her future research direction in her research proposal, every detail was carefully crafted. The mentor patiently explained the key points of the application to Jiang Man, helping her to organize her thoughts and make her application materials more persuasive.

With the full support of her mentor, Jiang Man's application process went smoothly, and she finally obtained a place to study abroad.

When Jiang Man told her lovely children, Shi An and Shi Ning, about her plans to study abroad, the room, which had been filled with laughter, instantly fell silent.

Shi An and Shi Ning stared wide-eyed, their eyes filled with terror and reluctance, as if they had heard the most horrible thing in the world.

Shi An was stunned for a moment, then tightly grasped Jiang Man's hand, her eyes quickly reddening, and said in a tearful voice, "Mom, why are you leaving? We can't bear to part with you."

As he spoke, glistening tears rolled down his cheeks.

Shi Ning also burst into tears, repeatedly crying, "Mommy, don't go, Mommy, don't go."

Her small body trembled, her face flushed from crying. Looking at the two young children, Jiang Man felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if pierced by a sharp arrow. Her heart ached, and her eyes welled up with tears.

She slowly knelt down, hugged the two children tightly, and gently comforted them, "My darlings, Mommy is just going to study for a while. When Mommy comes back, I will tell you lots and lots of interesting stories and bring you lots of gifts."

She gently stroked the children's heads, trying to soothe their wounded little hearts with a warm embrace and gentle words.

However, the children's crying did not stop.

Shi An buried her face in Jiang Man's arms and sobbed, "But Mom, we want you to stay with us forever."

Shi Ning chimed in, "Mom, I don't want you to leave. I'll miss you."

Their tears flowed incessantly, soaking Jiang Man's clothes and deeply piercing her heart.

All afternoon, Shi An and Shi Ning clung tightly to Jiang Man, refusing to leave her side. Jiang Man played with them in the living room, taking out their favorite toys and trying to cheer them up.

She told the children bedtime stories, imitating various interesting sounds, hoping to calm them down.

However, whenever Jiang Man mentioned going abroad, the children's tears would flow like a burst dam.

As night fell and the city lights came on, Qin Yishen finished his day's work and hurried home.

As soon as he entered, he saw the children's red and swollen eyes and immediately understood what had happened.

He gently walked to Jiang Man's side, patted her shoulder tenderly, his eyes full of understanding and support. Although he was also reluctant to see Jiang Man leave, he knew that this was an important step for Jiang Man in pursuing her dreams, and he could not let his own feelings hinder her progress.

To make this night more warm and less sorrowful, Qin Yishen decided to cook a sumptuous dinner himself as a farewell gift for Jiang Man. He went into the kitchen, skillfully tied on an apron, turned on the stove, and began to busy himself. The kitchen was filled with the clatter of pots and pans, and the aroma of food gradually filled the air.

Qin Yishen carefully prepared several dishes that Jiang Man and the children loved. His braised pork was a tempting reddish-brown color, with each piece having a perfect balance of lean and fat. It was stewed in the pot to perfection, melting in the mouth and exuding a rich aroma.

The stir-fried vegetables are made with fresh, seasonal produce, vibrant green and cooked simply to retain their original flavor, resulting in a refreshing and delicious dish. There's also the children's favorite sweet and sour pork ribs, carefully cut into even pieces and coated in a golden sugar glaze. The sweet and sour flavor is so enticing that just the aroma is enough to make your mouth water.

When the table was laden with food, the family sat together. Warm yellow light shone on everyone's faces, creating a cozy yet slightly melancholic atmosphere.

Qin Yishen raised his glass, looking tenderly at Jiang Man, and said, "Man'er, although we are all reluctant to part with you, we know this has always been your dream. We support you and hope you have a smooth journey abroad and return safely."

His voice trembled slightly, and tears welled in his eyes. Jiang Man, her eyes also glistening with tears, looked at Qin Yishen and the children with emotion, and nodded, saying, "Don't worry, I will definitely study hard and come back to reunite with you as soon as possible. I will think of you every day."

Shi An and Shi Ning also raised their juice cups sensibly and said in their childish voices, "Mommy, we'll wait for you to come back."