Chapter 64: Really Heartless
Jiang Qiao’s face remained calm, showing no obvious emotion, though something stirred in her eyes.
“She used my toothbrush and cup right after arriving, even though we’d prepared new ones for her. At night she eavesdropped at my door. In the morning when she saw me with a new cup, she accused me of looking down on her and said many other things. Today I went to the bookstore, and when I came back, I found she’d gone through my things and read my notes, thinking they were from a boy. She called me shameless.”
Xu Si: “…”
After a moment of silence, he said incredulously, “How can there be such an elderly person? What did your parents say?”
He understood that the situation must be worse than what Jiang Qiao described – otherwise, such a well-behaved child wouldn’t run away from home.
“I don’t know. They usually take my side because they feel guilty.”
“Guilty?”
“I was basically raised by the housekeeper. My parents were never home, and when they were, they just fought. Auntie Liu feels more like family to me.”
Hearing this, Xu Si said, “Seems everyone has their troubles, though you can’t see them on the surface.”
Jiang Qiao suddenly remembered seeing the youth looking lonely while leaning against the railing, and his question to her. She asked him, “What about you? Why did you move out to live alone?”
She quickly added, “If that’s too personal, you don’t have to answer.”
Xu Si just smiled, his tone casual: “It’s not too personal. When I was seven, my father went bankrupt. My mother abandoned us both. When I asked her not to leave, she said she didn’t want the burden. But now she’s back, saying she missed me. Isn’t that laughable?”
Jiang Qiao nodded seriously: “If you don’t want to forgive her, then don’t.”
“But I might be a bit luckier than you. My father never cared about me, but there was once someone who loved me dearly. Though she’s gone now too.”
He saw Jiang Qiao extend her hand to him, opening it to reveal another candy.
Xu Si laughed at her gesture: “That’s all in the past, little traditionalist. I don’t care about these things anymore.”
…
They talked by the river for a long time. Xu Si checked the time – it was almost midnight. He looked at Jiang Qiao: “Time to go home, little traditionalist.”
Jiang Qiao softly replied: “Okay.”
The riverside wind was chilly. Xu Si reminded her: “Zip up your jacket.”
Jiang Qiao obediently lowered her head and zipped up the oversized jacket that was longer than her dress.
Xu Si couldn’t help but smile seeing her in his jacket: “Let’s go.”
Another obedient “okay” came from behind.
The streets were brightly lit on both sides. They passed a street with food stalls, still bustling with activity.
Xu Si stopped the bike and turned to ask her: “I forgot to ask, did you have dinner?”
Jiang Qiao nodded: “I did.”
A few minutes later, Jiang Qiao got back on the motorcycle holding a cup of wine-fermented rice balls.
Xu Si drove her to her building. He returned her small metal box: “Can you get in?”
“I have keys.”
“Alright, send me a message when you get inside.”
Jiang Qiao walked a few steps, then turned back. She took off his jacket and handed it to him: “Thank you for taking me for a ride today, and for listening to me talk so much.”
Xu Si couldn’t help smiling again: “Go on up.”
Jiang Qiao waved: “Bye.”
Yuan Yuan poked its head out and meowed at Jiang Qiao. She reached out to pat its head, saying softly: “Bye to you too.”
…
Jiang Qiao opened the door and saw several people sitting on the sofa.
“See? Nothing happened. She’s back, isn’t she?” Cui Shumei said sarcastically, noticing what Jiang Qiao was holding. “She doesn’t look heartbroken at all, even bought herself a drink.”
Jiang Zhien looked at her: “Enough, Mom, stop talking.”
Tian Ling looked at Jiang Qiao: “Where did you go, Qiao Qiao? It’s dangerous for a girl to be out alone. Your father and I were very worried, you know?”
“Just went for a walk.”
“A girl running away from home late at night, your wings have really hardened, haven’t they? Is this your well-behaved child? Is this how you raised her? If I were raising her, I’d beat her until she wouldn’t dare run around anymore.”
Jiang Zhien finally couldn’t take it anymore: “Mom, can you stop? You know perfectly well why Qiao Qiao ran away today. What’s the point of saying all this? If you don’t like Qiao Qiao, just go see your grandson tomorrow.”
“How did Tian Ling find someone like you, helping a junior scold an elder? Am I still your mother? Do you know anything about respecting the elderly? What’s wrong with me scolding her for running out late at night? Is your daughter such a precious egg that you can’t bear her being scolded?”
Seeing the three about to argue again, Jiang Qiao remained calm: “I’m going back to my room.”
She didn’t wait to see if they heard her and turned to leave.
Just then, Auntie Liu came in from outside. She looked at Jiang Qiao: “You’re back, Qiao Qiao.”
Jiang Qiao turned to look at Auntie Liu, whose hair was disheveled, made a sound of acknowledgment, then said to her: “I just went for a walk. Go rest now.”
She went to her room and locked the door.
The wine-fermented rice balls were still warm, and Jiang Qiao drank most of it.
Xu Si, holding Yuan Yuan, wondered: “Do you think she got in? She hasn’t messaged to say she’s home.”
Just then, his phone buzzed. It was China Unicom. As he was about to put his phone away, it buzzed again.
This time it was Jiang Qiao.
[Jiang Qiao]: I’m inside. [Xu Si]: Good.
Thinking he was on his way, Jiang Qiao drew back the curtains and looked down. Sure enough, she saw the youth in his black jacket, holding a black cat that almost blended into the night.
…
Jiang Qiao looked through Auntie Liu’s messages – there were many, and many missed calls. They all said they were worried about her, but only Auntie Liu went looking for her. They didn’t even make a single call.
…
Xu Si got home after midnight. He turned on the lights, put the helmet on the table, and let Yuan Yuan out of the bag.
He saw Jiang Qiao’s message.
[Little Traditionalist]: Home yet? [Xu Si]: Yes.
She really was heartless, almost forgetting about him after getting home. Xu Si opened her contact name and changed it to “Little Heartless One.”
Seeing Jiang Qiao’s “good night” message, Xu Si smiled lightly. At least she had some conscience.
…
“Qiao Qiao, your grandmother is leaving today. Will you see her off?”
“…”
Cui Shumei snorted coldly: “I don’t want her to see me off anyway.”
Jiang Qiao remained silent.
Tian Ling felt awkward: “Fine, I’ll see you off then, Mom.”
Jiang Qiao watched the three leave, then returned to her room.
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