My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 98

Chapter 98: Are We Adults Now?

“There’s no fixed dynamic between us. Most of the time, it’s Xiao Luo who takes the initiative, but if she has a need, or if I want to, then I take the initiative.”

Despite feeling embarrassed, Jiang Xue still honestly answered her sister’s question. “As for the degree… uh, it also varies, depending on the mood and atmosphere. If the atmosphere is particularly good, then…”

Seeing her hesitation, Jiang Mei simply said, “Okay, I understand. Then tell me about your perceived progress in the relationship.”

“Mutual affection, but we’ve just started dating,” Jiang Xue replied without much hesitation this time. “We’re currently in the lovey-dovey, happy phase, wanting to try everything… except for that! But I still feel like I don’t know Xiao Luo well enough.”

“In what ways?”

“You sound like an examiner,” Xiao Linghan commented in her mind. “I didn’t expect you to be so concerned about your younger sisters’ relationship.”

Jiang Mei knew she was just teasing. If it were her, she would be even more concerned about her younger sister’s future and ask even more detailed questions. She didn’t reply, just looked at Jiang Xue after asking.

Jiang Xue carefully chose her words and said uncertainly, “I rarely see her hidden side.”

Like her boldness in their relationship, and her stubbornness in unexpected areas.

She gave Jiang Mei a few examples for both aspects, then added, after some thought, “And I’ve barely seen her get angry.”

Actually, she had heard Xiao Luo say “a little angry” just a few days ago.

It was when she had seriously considered and then rejected Xiao Luo’s request to “live together during university.” Although Xiao Luo had said she was angry, her reaction hadn’t been strong.

It hadn’t been “anger,” but more like “sadness” or “disappointment,” expressing that her wish hadn’t been fulfilled.

And the anger Jiang Xue was referring to was the kind of outburst that made you lose your composure.

Everyone had moments of losing control, and driven by extreme sadness or anger, unexpected things might happen.

“This is related to personal boundaries and habits,” Jiang Mei said. “Some people explode easily, some people only explode at strangers, and some people only unleash their anger on those closest to them. This takes time, even years of living together might not reveal everything.”

“If you’re truly worried, just apologize as soon as you notice something’s wrong with her mood. Your attitude is important. Appease her first, try to calm both of you down, and then find the root of the conflict and resolve it.”

“Such rational advice,” Xiao Linghan commented. “It sounds simple, but putting it into practice might not be so easy.”

“This is just my experience,” Jiang Mei added to Jiang Xue. “You can use it as a reference when you’re unsure what to do, but don’t follow it blindly.”

Then she asked Xiao Linghan, “Do you want to say anything to A-Xue or Xiao Luo?”

“I do, but it’s more like ‘general life advice,’ they might not need it,” Xiao Linghan said, but still continued seriously, “Please tell them: remember to ask yourselves what you need, what you want, and what you mind, instead of always trying to please the other person.”

“Can I interpret this as ‘love yourself before trying to please others’?” Jiang Mei asked.

“Something like that. Otherwise, you’ll become the other person’s puppet, agreeing with everything they say, losing your own judgment and ‘spark’,” Xiao Linghan said, using the new vocabulary she had learned in this world. “Constantly accommodating the other person isn’t love, but a favor. Instead of ‘affection,’ what they feel is probably ‘guilt.'”

Even though she didn’t think her younger sister would be like this, Jiang Mei still relayed Xiao Linghan’s words verbatim.

Jiang Xue, however, felt a pang of guilt. Thinking back on her actions during this time, she realized that she did tend to accommodate Xiao Luo… but she also enjoyed it?

Xiao Luo’s happiness was her happiness, and she loved seeing Xiao Luo’s satisfied expression after her wishes were fulfilled.

She obediently agreed on the surface, but planned to explore this on her own. She didn’t always do everything Xiao Luo wanted. Hadn’t she just rejected her request a while ago? It depended on the nature of the matter, she couldn’t blindly follow the elders’ advice.

Having made up her mind, after returning to Xiao Luohan’s side, Jiang Xue only summarized the key points she cared about. As for Princess Zhemei’s advice, she only relayed half of it for now.

After all, saying it verbatim would sound a bit harsh, and something similar had already happened when Xiao Luo first arrived.

Judging by Xiao Luo’s reaction, she didn’t want to be “lectured” by her elder sister so early on, so she would wait until she truly noticed such tendencies in Xiao Luo before reminding her.

“You have to think more about yourself,” she said to Xiao Luohan. “Even if the things you want or the goals you want to achieve require a lot of money, as long as you believe it’s beneficial for you, we’ll support you.”

Without deliberately emphasizing prefixes like “legal” or “we can accept,” she believed Xiao Luo would make her own judgment before speaking.

Xiao Luohan, who was playing a melody on the guqin, stopped and, after careful consideration, voiced the wish she had been pondering for many days: “I want to take the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage Special Enrollment’ exam, with the help of Mei-jiejie, Grandma Xie, Dr. Qi, and Teacher Sui.”

“I want to go to university as soon as possible. We don’t have to go to the same university, or even the same city, but I don’t want to be too many years behind you academically.”

People at different stages of life would discuss different topics, even with those closest to them.

She hoped that when Jiang Xue was in university, she could also discuss student-related topics with her; and after Jiang Xue graduated and started working, she could also have a job and discuss work-related matters with her.

If their starting points were too different, she could only clumsily chase after Jiang Xue in this way.

As long as they had common topics to discuss, their relationship would remain connected, not drifting apart due to vastly different experiences.

“Okay, no problem,” Jiang Xue said, not noticing Xiao Luohan’s true intentions, only respecting her wishes as always. “By the way, we’re also inviting many acquaintances to our birthday party tomorrow. You’ve seen the list. If you don’t mind, I can introduce you to them?”

For wealthy and well-connected families like theirs, every banquet was essentially a social networking opportunity.

Jiang Xue vaguely remembered that during her older sister’s coming-of-age party, someone had successfully made a connection and started a business partnership.

But she wasn’t sure about Xiao Luo’s attitude. After all, this birthday party was Xiao Luo’s first in this world, and she didn’t know how Xiao Luo would feel about “pure celebration mixed with social networking.”

“I don’t mind,” Xiao Luohan readily agreed, then added, perhaps sensing Jiang Xue’s worry, “The royal family and noble families also often use these events to strengthen connections. Since it’s useful, we shouldn’t let the opportunity slip away.”

The two agreed and, since it was still early, even took out the guest list and started choosing people, noting down those whose identities they weren’t sure about to ask Jiang Mei later.

Jiang Mei hadn’t expected the two little girls to start studying social networking on their own initiative and couldn’t help but smile wryly.

But this was a good thing. They would eventually have to face these things, and early exposure could help them avoid some detours.

She not only expressed her support but also shared the information she knew with her two younger sisters.

“This Teacher Huang has some connections with Dr. Qi’s family. Their ancestors took one character each from ‘Qi Huang Zhi Shu’ (medical skills of Qi Bo and Huang Di) as their surnames. You can mention Dr. Qi’s name when talking to her, but don’t mention Teacher Sui.”

“Ms. Silin is Ms. Wei’s university classmate and often organizes exhibitions related to traditional Chinese culture in this country. Didn’t you buy a lot of lacquer fans? Choose a few more for her, and I’ll add some handmade crafts.”

“Ms. Ning… if I remember correctly, she even held you when you were born. She’s Ms. Jiang’s best friend and has been doing business abroad for the past few years. She just came back recently and is planning a joint project with Ms. Jiang. But you just need to greet her. She’s very perceptive. A simple greeting is enough, don’t try to make small talk.”

“…”

They continued working on the list until dinner. Jiang Mei specifically mentioned it after everyone had finished eating—the Jiang family, whose work revolved around business, didn’t discuss business at the dinner table.

But in Ms. Jiang and Ms. Wei’s eyes, the “greeting” part of the birthday party was just the girls’ first attempt at social networking. If they really let the children handle everything on their own, they would be failing as parents.

“It’s just a first attempt, don’t be too nervous. Just relax and treat it like a game,” Ms. Jiang instructed the two, then changed the subject. “You’re going to the amusement park tomorrow, right? Have fun, buy whatever you want. It’s your birthday, you’re in charge.”

Then she transferred some “activity funds” to both of them.

But perhaps because they were preoccupied, or perhaps they were too excited about their upcoming eighteenth birthday, neither of them slept well that night.

Even if they briefly lost consciousness, they would inexplicably wake up within an hour.

Jiang Xue thought she was the only one like this, but around midnight, Xiao Luohan, unable to sleep, rolled over and hugged her, along with her quilt.

“After midnight, are we considered adults?” she asked. “Is the birthday party just a formality?”

“Yes, you’re an adult after midnight,” Jiang Xue looked at the time on her phone. “Just a few minutes left.”

“Then… do you want to do something to tire yourself out?” Xiao Luohan asked tentatively. “I’m a little worried about not being able to sleep all night and affecting tomorrow’s activities.”

Jiang Xue: …

She felt that Xiao Luo probably just wanted to do something since they were becoming adults, but she had no proof.

This suggestion put her in a difficult position.

On one hand, she wasn’t ready to try that so soon; on the other hand, Xiao Luo’s words weren’t unreasonable. After expending enough physical energy, sleepiness would naturally come. Back in middle school, during puberty and under the pressure of entrance exams, she had only been able to sleep well thanks to jogging after evening self-study.

…Wait, she knew what to do!

It was a terrible idea, but it should help them fall asleep.

Under Xiao Luohan’s expectant gaze, Jiang Xue took her phone, opened the video app, and searched for yoga tutorials.