Even though her mother has passed away, in her and your memories, she will forever remain young and beautiful. This is another form of ’living,’ and you will inevitably remember only the good side, without any more arguments or conflicts. As long as she’s not forgotten, it’s also a form of possession, a way to cherish."

Zheng Tian was initially a bit surprised, then he pondered deeply. What Li Yan said was not without reason. Looking back now, everything about A-Yu in his memory was good and beautiful, with no flaws. If she were still alive, she would have started to show signs of aging, moving towards menopause, and there would inevitably be quarrels in life. But in the seven or eight years she’s lived in his heart, she has become increasingly perfect, like a goddess.

Perhaps... it’s not just about remorse and sadness; viewed from another angle, it’s a form of beauty.

"She suffered from psychological trauma; the shock back then wasn’t as severe as imagined. Over the years, she’s become accustomed to it. It’s her mother’s death that’s the crux of her problem. A heart problem requires a heart remedy; getting her to change her perspective could yield a different result."

"You’re right! A single insightful remark from you is worth more than ten years of study!"

Zheng Tian stood up solemnly and bowed to Li Yan!

Li Yan was a bit surprised, seeing how seriously he took it, and after a moment of serious thought, he continued, "I’m not an expert, but I can look at the problem from a young person’s perspective and by putting myself in another’s shoes. Naturally, it also includes her showing more of her true feelings in front of me. So, if you and the old man want to continue guiding her, I do have a suggestion."

"Please, go ahead!" Zheng Tian was a bit excited, already considering Li Yan’s words as a miracle cure. It could not only treat his daughter’s mental problems but also untangle his own emotional knots.

"Didn’t you just say that you’d rather see her express anger like an ordinary teenage girl than show no emotions? Then you all need to start trying a different attitude towards her!"

"What kind of attitude?" Zheng Tian was listening attentively.

"A less perfect attitude."

"What?!" Zheng Tian suspected he misheard. How could he not give her the best; how could he possibly give her less? After a moment’s pause, he hesitated, "Are you suggesting... intentionally provoking her to anger? I’m not trying to make her angry; I’m just drawing a comparison, wanting her to live like other girls. Besides, given her current disposition, no matter how we provoke her, she won’t easily get angry."

"Who said to provoke her?" Li Yan replied, slightly annoyed, "I said have a less perfect attitude! After the incident, naturally, you and the old man treated her like a princess, eager to give her the best to heal her wounds and make her happy. Your wife and your son, seeing her as this tragedy-stricken daughter without a mother, would have shown no resentment, out of sympathy and your sake, they would accommodate her.

What’s the outcome? The home you brought her back to is your home, not her home. Even if everyone treats her well, she would feel unnatural, unable to fit in, like an outsider, or even as if she’s living off others. And your excessive kindness only deepens the divide. She’s a person, a girl, a girl who already lacks maternal love and family warmth. What she truly needs is not excessive protection or the respect shown to a guest, but other forms of compensation!"

These words, as if he had witnessed it himself, made Zheng Tian admire him and nod frequently, although he was somewhat confused about the specifics. "What form exactly?"

"Naturalness!"

"Naturalness?"

"Exactly, if you want her to react naturally like other teenage girls, you should adopt the same natural attitude as other parents towards their children. Scold when necessary, criticize when necessary, and avoid blind praise or pampering. As for your wife, given her role, it’s better to be a bit reserved; she might come off as a stepmother otherwise. Your son, being the brother, can act more naturally, as along as there’s no discrimination or damaging her self-esteem, treat her like a typical brother would treat a younger sister, without unnecessary sensitivity or cautiousness, otherwise, she’ll find it fake, like acting."

"I understand! To make her feel ordinary, we first need to behave like a normal family. Excessive special treatment only makes her feel marginalized and isolated!" Zheng Tian chuckled wryly, realizing that for seven or eight years, he’d been heading in the wrong direction, providing the best of everything yet inadvertently leaving her at a loss.

"When a chicken is held up like a ’crane among chickens’ by other chickens, it can no longer blend into the flock. Over time, it tries to fly away from the flock and join the cranes. But it’s not a crane and might not be able to leave the flock; it might not find the crane flock even if it leaves. Even if it does, it also can’t integrate into the crane flock. Ultimately, it’ll end up lost and without a support network. The best outcome is like Nian Yufei now, tending towards self-isolation, and the worst is indulgence and using alcohol to numb itself!"

The severe consequences Li Yan mentioned sent a shiver down Zheng Tian’s spine. Though he had seen many such people, he definitely didn’t want his daughter to be one among them. But this metaphor also made him sweat a little. "Uh... Brother Li Yan, your metaphor is quite interesting, but could you not compare our family to a flock of chickens?"

Li Yan was also a bit embarrassed, thinking to himself: Your daughter calls me Brother Li Yan, and you call me Old Brother Li Yan...