Chapter 30: Encounter Part 2

Jiang Qin introduced, “Quick, call her Auntie Zhang.”

“Auntie—Zhang?” Jiang Ruoning remembered. “You’re the Auntie Zhang who took such good care of Mom on the trip?”

Zhang Zhilan waved it off. “No such thing—we looked out for each other. Your mom took great care of me too.”

Jiang Ruoning glanced around and whispered to Jiang Qin, “Why didn’t you tell me Auntie Zhang lived here?”

She could have at least bought something—it was rude to show up empty-handed.

Jiang Qin said, “It’s fine. Tomorrow, I’ll invite Auntie Zhang over for dinner.”

Jiang Ruoning nodded. “Sounds good. I’m off tomorrow anyway.”

Jiang Qin smiled. “I know. Auntie Zhang’s daughter is off too, so I thought I’d invite them both over.”

Jiang Ruoning had no objections.

Zhang Zhilan eyed Jiang Ruoning. “No wonder you’re a model—so tall.”

Hearing the praise, Jiang Qin laughed. “I think it’s all that milk we gave her as a kid. She doesn’t take after me or her dad.”

Jiang Ruoning grinned. “I’m a mutant.”

Jiang Qin huffed. “Nonsense!”

Zhang Zhilan watched Jiang Ruoning lean playfully on Jiang Qin and smiled too.

She’d heard Jiang Qin sing her praises all along the way, but seeing her in person was better. The girl seemed guileless, beautiful, with a respectable job and a good personality. How was she still single?

Zhang Zhilan pulled Jiang Qin aside and whispered, “I’ve taken a look. Your girl has great qualities and shouldn’t lack suitors. Don’t be too anxious—maybe the right one just hasn’t come along yet.”

Jiang Qin looked at her, hesitating to speak, her lips twitching for a moment before she said, “Yeah, you’re right.”

She didn’t know what fate really meant, either.

Perhaps… tomorrow…

Jiang Qin gritted her teeth. “Come over for lunch tomorrow. I’ll cook myself.”

Zhang Zhilan said, “No need, you’re always so hospitable…”

Jiang Qin grabbed her hand. “That child will be there tomorrow too.”

Zhang Zhilan froze for a second before reacting. “Oh, right, right. Okay then, let’s eat at a restaurant nearby tomorrow.”

She was afraid that hosting at home might make the child feel undervalued.

Jiang Qin shook her head. “No need to go out. It’s more comfortable at home.”

Zhang Zhilan nodded. “That’s true.”

She probed further. “What does that child do for work? How old is she? Do you have a photo? I don’t even know what she likes.”

Seeing Zhang Zhilan’s earnest expression warmed Jiang Qin’s heart. She teased deliberately, “You’ll find out tomorrow.”

Zhang Zhilan wanted to ask more. “But—”

Jiang Qin said, “Don’t worry. If it works out, great. If not, no big deal. You all have to come over for dinner anyway.”

Zhang Zhilan sighed helplessly. “Fine.” She teased Jiang Qin back. “Why are you being so mysterious about it?”

Jiang Qin chuckled.

Jiang Ruoning stood by patiently, waiting as Jiang Qin and Zhang Zhilan chatted endlessly about whatever family matters. She didn’t mind at all if her mom had more friends—besides, Auntie Zhang seemed like a nice person.

Once Jiang Qin finished talking, she walked over to Jiang Ruoning’s side. Jiang Ruoning watched Zhang Zhilan’s departing figure and said, “Auntie Zhang’s heading back?”

“Mm-hm.” Jiang Qin pointed to a building in the Jingxin Neighborhood. “She lives right there.”

Jiang Ruoning glanced at the building—it looked familiar, but she couldn’t place it—and nodded.

Jiang Qin asked her, “Heading home first?”

Jiang Ruoning asked, “Do you have more to do?”

Jiang Qin said, “I’m going to buy some groceries. Auntie Zhang’s coming over for dinner tomorrow.”

Jiang Ruoning hefted her bag. “I’ll go with you.”

Jiang Qin eyed her sweat-drenched hair and clothes, knowing how much she hated being dirty, and urged her, “Go home first. I can handle it alone—it’s just across the street. You don’t trust me?”

Jiang Ruoning really didn’t feel right about it. “But…”

Jiang Qin cut her off. “Enough. When you’re away on business trips, your mom does just fine. Go home and take a shower.”

Jiang Ruoning pouted. “Fine, I’ll head back first.”

Jiang Qin nodded, smiling as she smoothed her long hair. “Go on.”

Jiang Ruoning walked off with her bag, turning back at the neighborhood entrance to wave and smile at Jiang Qin. Jiang Qin turned and headed to the supermarket across the street—an underground one, fairly large. They usually shopped there. At this time of evening, everyone was out for walks after dinner, so it was crowded. Jiang Qin squeezed through the throng, head down as she examined the produce.

Not far behind her stood Shi Sui.

Shi Sui had told Zhao Miaomiao to pull over after the next traffic light, claiming she had something to do. For some inexplicable reason, she walked back to the Jingxin Neighborhood. From afar, she spotted Jiang Ruoning and Jiang Qin standing together, facing another woman about Jiang Qin’s age. The two were chatting and laughing.

Jiang Qin’s expression was so gentle.

Shi Sui remembered how Jiang Qin had smiled at her just like that back then.

After she and Jiang Ruoning had gone public.

Xu Qingqing had discovered them just before summer break. She’d made a huge fuss, from Shangjing all the way to Linping. Eventually, somehow, she’d come around and said she approved of them being together. Shi Sui had truly believed it then.

Mom approves.

Then, over the summer break, she accompanied Jiang Ruoning home—to face another storm.

But Jiang Qin had been surprisingly calm. She sat at the table and said to them, “You haven’t eaten yet, right? Whatever it is, we’ll talk after dinner.”

Jiang Ruoning watched her cautiously, then glanced at Jiang Qin very softly. “Mom…”

Jiang Qin went to the kitchen and fetched two pairs of chopsticks, handing them to her and Jiang Ruoning. “Eat.”

Neither knew what Jiang Qin was thinking. They ate that meal trembling in fear. The usually playful and cheeky Jiang Ruoning didn’t dare make a sound, just sneaking glances at Jiang Qin and her with her eyes. After the meal, Jiang Qin stood to clear the dishes. Shi Sui quickly rose. “Auntie, let me do it.”

Jiang Qin looked at her, her gaze profound, as if peering right through her. Shi Sui remembered locking eyes with Jiang Qin without flinching. Afterward, Jiang Ruoning said Shi Sui was so brave to face her mom’s wrath head-on, but Shi Sui felt there was more than anger in Jiang Qin’s eyes then.

There was scrutiny.

Scrutiny over whether she could make Jiang Ruoning happy.

She had no reason to back down.

Jiang Qin seemed satisfied. As she lowered her head, she handed over the bowls and chopsticks. “Then you wash them.”

Jiang Ruoning started to follow, but Jiang Qin said, “You come to the living room with me.”

Jiang Ruoning cringed, looking at her pleadingly. Shi Sui signaled for Jiang Ruoning to stay with her mom. After washing the dishes, she saw cut fruit on the coffee table and an empty spot on the sofa next to Jiang Ruoning.

Jiang Ruoning looked up at her with a grin and patted the seat beside her.

Shi Sui sat down.

Jiang Qin stood and said she was going to collect the laundry on the balcony.

Jiang Ruoning immediately wrapped around her like an octopus, all clingy. “Woo woo… Mom’s not mad. She even said she knew about us all along.”

Shi Sui had been surprised. “How did your mom know?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “She guessed.”

Shi Sui was stunned. “Guessed?”

Jiang Ruoning explained, “Every time I came back and called you, she knew.”

Shi Sui asked, “Then…”

Jiang Ruoning took her hand and whispered in her ear, “One time I was doing homework and wrote your name all over my scratch paper. Mom saw it.”

So the storm they’d braced for never came.

Coming out had gone so smoothly it felt like a dream.

As Jiang Qin left, she had even smiled at her.

Just like the smile she gave Jiang Ruoning moments ago.

Shi Sui snapped back to reality.

Jiang Qin carefully selected a bunch of groceries, ending up with two full bags at checkout. Shi Sui desperately wanted to rush over, pay for her, carry the bags, walk beside her, and ask how she’d been lately.

But she couldn’t.

Not only couldn’t she—she hid when Jiang Qin turned around, ducking behind a shelf for a distant glimpse.

Jiang Qin paid and lugged the bags back.

It looked strenuous.

Shi Sui clenched her fists, fighting the urge to approach several times. Like a creep, she could only trail secretly behind Jiang Qin—from the supermarket to the neighborhood entrance. Jiang Qin entered the complex.

Jiang Ruoning emerged from the bathroom after her shower, towel-drying her wet hair as she heard the door. Peeking out, she was surprised to see Jiang Qin. “Mom, you’re back so quick?”

Jiang Qin smiled. “Mm. I knew what I wanted, bought it straight away. No time wasted.”

That was quick.

She’d only just finished showering. Jiang Ruoning helped put the groceries in the kitchen and tidy up. Jiang Qin urged her to blow-dry her hair. Jiang Ruoning obediently headed to the bathroom but paused at her phone’s vibration. She glanced at the screen: a WeChat friend request from an unknown number.

Jiang Ruoning frowned and ignored it, turning off her phone to head back. But as she blow-dried, she grew restless and returned to the living room with her phone. Another request popped up—from the same person, now with a note: [Jiang Nuan].

Not Shi Sui.

Jiang Ruoning bit her lip, finger hovering over the screen. Jiang Qin finished in the kitchen and came out, seeing her standing by the sofa. Curious, she walked over. “What’re you looking at?”

Jiang Ruoning’s hand jerked, and she accepted the request.

She turned to Jiang Qin. “Nothing. Just a message from a coworker.” She feigned casualness.

Jiang Qin didn’t press.

But Jiang Ruoning felt guilty and retreated to the bathroom with her phone, sitting on the toilet. She hung the blow dryer on the wall, aimed it at her hair without checking the distance. Her scalp burned. “Hiss!” She shut it off and saw that Jiang Nuan had just sent a cute emoticon of a grinning kitten.

Hard to stay mad at a smiling cat.

Helpless, Jiang Ruoning replied with an emoticon.

Jiang Nuan: [Is this Miss Jiang?]

Jiang Ruoning: [Yes, it’s me.]

Jiang Nuan: [I’m President Shi’s assistant, Jiang Nuan. For any work issues from now on, feel free to contact me.]

Shouldn’t this be said to Wu Jie? Why tell me?

Still, Jiang Ruoning replied politely: [Got it, thanks, Assistant Jiang.]

Jiang Nuan: [No problem. Here’s President Shi’s contact—I’ll send it over. She has some work matters to discuss with you. Please add her.]

So sanctimonious!

Jiang Nuan didn’t know who she was.

Did Shi Sui not know either?

Using Jiang Nuan as a go-between—what was she playing at?

Jiang Ruoning wasn’t happy.

Not happy at all!

She didn’t add Shi Sui, pretending not to see it, but replied to Jiang Nuan: [Okay.]

Jiang Nuan was diligent, messaging two minutes later: [Miss Jiang, have you added her?]

Jiang Ruoning: …

She took a deep breath. Another deep breath.

Finally, she pulled Shi Sui’s account from the blacklist, typed furiously in anger—deleting and rewriting—before she could send, Shi Sui messaged first: [I’m downstairs at your place. Convenient to meet?]