Chapter 20: The Ungrateful Little One
“I just felt there were many things that didn’t make sense, so I guessed,” Jiang Rang said, then quickly added, “But I won’t tell anyone else.”
Xu Si responded with a “mm” and then said, “I know.”
Class 17 was in an uproar over this incident for half a class period. Qin Lu received many messages that night, all cursing Liu Xingfa for being a scumbag, telling her to get well soon and leave the hospital, and not to feel hopeless because of that jerk. The students from Class 7 were all waiting for her return.
“Whoa, look, look! There’s a beautiful girl at the door!” “Wow, she’s really pretty!” “Wonder who she’s looking for?” “Well, definitely not you.” “Of course I know she’s not looking for me, you idiot!”
The girl at the door wore a black and white dress. She had fox-like eyes that tilted slightly upward and striking features. Though she looked somewhat aloof, when she smiled, there was something captivating about her. She knocked gently on the door and asked politely, “Teacher, hello, may I speak with Jiang Rang?”
Li Qiuhong glanced at the girl outside and called out, “Jiang Rang, someone’s here for you.”
Hearing her name and the familiar voice, Jiang Rang looked up toward the door and met Jiang Zhixu’s smiling gaze. She stood up and walked out.
“Man, beautiful people really do hang out with beautiful people. Jiang’s friend is gorgeous too,” Yang Shikun couldn’t help but comment.
Hao Ming: “There are exceptions though.” “What do you mean?” Hao Ming smiled, “Well, like Si-ge is so handsome, but you…” “You bastard, Hao Datou, just wait until class ends – I’ll smash your dog head in!”
Yang Shikun glanced at Li Qiuhong at the podium, wishing he could kick Hao Ming out right now.
Hao Ming teased, “What, you think you’re more handsome than Si-ge?”
Yang Shikun looked back at Xu Si. The boy’s bangs softened his sharp features, and the wounds on his face from a few days ago had scabbed over, giving him a somewhat roguish air.
“You’re talking nonsense, of course Si-ge is the most handsome.”
On the rooftop.
Jiang Zhixu embraced Jiang Rang fully: “Did you miss me, little one?”
She was around 173cm tall, slightly taller than Jiang Rang.
“I missed you,” Jiang Rang smiled, her almond eyes curving with undisguised joy. Then she couldn’t help but ask curiously, “But A-Xu, why did you suddenly come to A City?”
“Well, a certain ungrateful little one moved to A City and only told me after completing the transfer paperwork. Besides, didn’t I say earlier that I’d come see you when I had time?”
Jiang Rang giggled “hehe.”
Jiang Zhixu pinched her cheek, then frowned and said, “Why have you gotten thinner again? Have you not been eating properly?”
Jiang Rang shook her head: “No, I’ve been eating well.”
But her body was getting worse, and sometimes she would throw up after eating. She looked at Jiang Zhixu: “Aren’t you very busy over there? Why don’t you stay at my place for a few days before leaving?”
Jiang Zhixu smiled and said, “I’m not leaving.”
Jiang Rang was momentarily stunned. “Huh?”
“I said I’m not leaving. I’m staying here. You’re here, so I’m here too.”
Her Qiao Qiao didn’t have much time left to live. Even if only for these last few days, she wanted to stay by her side.
Ten years ago…
Shortly after Jiang Zhixu’s mother passed away, her father’s gambling addiction quickly depleted their family’s wealth and left them in considerable debt. Afraid of creditors finding them, her father moved with Jiang Zhixu to live in the house left by her grandmother.
Her father loved drinking and gambling. He would either return home completely drunk or take out his frustrations on Jiang Zhixu after losing money at the gambling house. One day, drunk, he smashed many things and locked little Jiang Zhixu outside.
The hallway lights were dim. Jiang Zhixu sat by the door, hungry and scared. She would always remember that day – as she sat there, suddenly a little girl in a white dress stopped in front of her and offered her milk: “Are you the new neighbor? Here’s some milk for you.”
Jiang Zhixu remembered she hadn’t even responded, but the girl sat down beside her and said, “I really like this milk. It’s really tasty. Won’t you try it?”
The milk was strawberry flavored and still warm. For many days afterward, Jiang Zhixu remembered that little girl in the white dress and her sweet smile. That little girl had burst into her life and stayed for many years.
Sometimes when Jiang Ping got drunk, he would hit Jiang Zhixu. From a very young age, she wanted to escape from him and this home. Her only hope was to grow up quickly, until she met Jiang Rang.
Later she discovered that Jiang Rang wasn’t so fortunate either. Her parents were rarely home, leaving her entirely in the care of a household servant.
When Jiang Zhixu graduated from middle school, Jiang Rang was still in her second year. Jiang Zhixu told her, “I’m not continuing school.”
At that time, Jiang Rang took out all her saved New Year’s money, several tens of thousands of yuan, and told her, “I have money, you should continue through high school.”
Jiang Zhixu rubbed her head and smiled, “I’m not good at studying, I’m not cut out for it. My little one must study hard, okay?”
Initially, Jiang Zhixu worked as a waitress at a restaurant. Every weekend, Jiang Rang would come to the restaurant to keep her company. While Jiang Zhixu worked, Jiang Rang would sit with her little backpack doing homework, looking incredibly well-behaved. Occasionally she would look up at her and flash a smile.
One night when Jiang Zhixu hadn’t finished her shift, a drunk customer grabbed her arm, trying to take advantage of her. Jiang Rang, who had been doing homework nearby, jumped up immediately, using her homework to swat away the man’s hand. With a cold expression, she said, “Sir, this is a restaurant for dining, not a place for you to act wild. If you want to fool around, don’t come to a dining establishment.”
As the man tried to speak, the manager came out from inside and asked, “What’s going on? What happened?”
Jiang Rang spoke clearly and firmly: “Sister, this man is drunk and harassing your employee. This is a proper dining establishment – isn’t he being a bit too much?”
Hearing this, the manager’s expression became serious: “Sir, if you continue like this, I’ll have to call the police.”
She knew about Jiang Zhixu’s family situation and felt very sorry for the girl. The man, seeing the situation, couldn’t say anything more. He wasn’t really drunk – he was clearly just using it as an excuse to behave badly.
Jiang Rang usually seemed mild-mannered, but when it came to matters concerning Jiang Zhixu, she cared more than anyone.
On their way back, Jiang Zhixu held Jiang Rang’s hand, her eyes curved in a smile: “My Qiao Qiao was so brave today.”
Jiang Rang smiled at her and then said, “A-Xu, I ranked in the top three in my class this time.”
“Who’s such a good girl? Oh, it’s my little Qiao Qiao.” Jiang Zhixu cupped her face and gave it a gentle squeeze, then said, “When you go to university later, I’ll work in whatever city you study in.”
“Okay.”
The cicadas were chirping loudly, and the summer night breeze carried warmth. The streetlights stretched their shadows long and far.
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