Chapter 32: Like Part 1

Empowered by nightmares, Jiang Ruoning didn’t get a good night’s sleep. She had one dream after another. In the middle of the night, she got up to use the bathroom, drifting to the restroom like a wandering ghost before floating back and throwing herself onto the bed.

She couldn’t sleep.

Still couldn’t sleep.

Maybe she should message Qu Lele.

Tell her not to mention tomorrow’s dinner to Shi Sui.

But she had probably already told her by now, right?

Not necessarily.

Qu Lele didn’t have Shi Sui’s contact info.

But they’d met last time—had they exchanged numbers then?

Why had she acted so tough and full of herself?

Why! Why!

Jiang Ruoning felt like she’d shot herself in the foot. It hurt so much that she tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

The next morning, she woke up early and sat blankly on the bed. Jiang Qin got up to prepare breakfast and passed by Jiang Ruoning’s room. Seeing the door half-open and Jiang Ruoning sitting on the edge of the bed staring out the window, her face paled instantly. She walked in, her voice unsteady: “Ruoning?”

Jiang Ruoning turned her head and saw Jiang Qin coming in. It was still early, the sky not fully light yet, and the room was hazy. Jiang Ruoning sat on the bed’s edge and smiled at Jiang Qin, calling out obediently, “Mom, good morning.”

Hearing her cheerful voice steadied Jiang Qin’s racing heart. She walked over and chided her affectionately, “What are you doing sitting here so early?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Watching the sunrise.”

She pulled Jiang Qin’s hand and had her sit beside her. Because of their height difference, leaning on Jiang Qin’s shoulder required twisting awkwardly, so she simply hugged Jiang Qin’s waist instead, burying her face in her chest and sniffing. “Mom, you smell so good.”

Jiang Qin wasn’t sure if this was just her being clingy, but she smiled. “Smell good? I didn’t put on any perfume.”

“It’s Mom’s scent!” Jiang Ruoning nuzzled closer. “Mom smells the best.”

Jiang Qin blushed at her words and pushed her head. “Talking nonsense all day, no sense of propriety. Auntie Zhang is coming over today—you can’t say stuff like that anymore!”

Jiang Ruoning replied with an “oh.” “Got it, got it.” She hugged Jiang Qin and said, “Mom.”

Jiang Qin’s mood softened. “Hm?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “I love you.”

Jiang Qin’s face grew hot. She tried to stand, but Jiang Ruoning held her fast. She patted Jiang Ruoning’s hand. “I’m going to brush my teeth.”

She directed her, “Since you couldn’t sleep, get up and shell some beans for me!”

Jiang Ruoning whined playfully, “Mooom.”

Jiang Qin burst out laughing.

In the end, Jiang Ruoning sat in the living room with the lights on, sleepily shelling beans. Jiang Qin finished breakfast and sat across from her. Jiang Ruoning’s hands hurt from shelling, so she slumped over the table, chin on the surface, and said to Jiang Qin, “Mom, Zhengzheng said next time we eat out, she’ll bring Yun An along.”

Jiang Qin’s bean-shelling paused for a moment, but her expression didn’t change. Her tone remained gentle, “Sure, let her come.”

She asked, “When?”

Jiang Ruoning sneaked a glance at her face with her peripheral vision and shook her head. “She didn’t say. Waiting for Yun An to get back from her business trip.”

Jiang Qin replied unhurriedly, “Mm, tell me when she’s back.”

“You…” Jiang Ruoning bit her lower lip, her tongue brushing the corner. Jiang Qin continued, “Oh, right. Auntie Zhang and the others are coming today. Remember to change into something nice, put on light makeup—nothing too heavy or too bare. And you…”

Jiang Ruoning tugged at her lips. “Mom, why make such a big deal out of it?”

Jiang Qin turned to face her and saw Jiang Ruoning looking at her with a puzzled smile. She paused, then said, “Auntie Zhang has a daughter.”

Jiang Ruoning said, “I know, you mentioned it yesterday.”

Jiang Qin nodded. “She… she likes girls too.”

Jiang Ruoning: “Ah?”

Jiang Qin repeated, “Her daughter likes girls too.”

“Mom, what are you getting at?” Jiang Ruoning didn’t dare assume, because even suggesting Qin Zheng and Yun An join them for dinner had been her limit for testing the waters. She hadn’t expected Jiang Qin to drop a bombshell like this.

Jiang Qin closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and blurted it out. “Auntie Zhang is a nice person, so I thought you two should meet.”

Jiang Ruoning finally got it. “You want me to go on a blind date with her daughter?”

Her shock made her emphasize every word.

Jiang Qin didn’t like the phrasing “blind date,” but she couldn’t refute it.

Jiang Ruoning hadn’t slept well that night.

Neither had she.

Jiang Qin had stayed up all night, her mind racing about Jiang Ruoning.

She wasn’t sure if this decision was right or wrong.

Looking at Jiang Ruoning, Jiang Qin said, “It’s just a meal.”

Jiang Ruoning scratched her head. “Just a meal? Mom, why didn’t you tell me?”

How could Jiang Qin discuss something she herself wasn’t sure about? She stuck out her neck stubbornly. “I’m telling you now, aren’t I?”

Jiang Ruoning was speechless.

The mother and daughter ate breakfast across the dining table in silence. Afterward, Jiang Qin checked the time and urged her, “Auntie Zhang will be here soon.”

Jiang Ruoning opened her mouth but said nothing, returning to her room to change.

Was she angry?

No.

It was a huge relief that her mom had finally come around to accepting her dating girls—a cause for celebration. So why couldn’t she be happy?

Jiang Ruoning frowned, pulled a skirt from the closet, and changed into it. She sat at the vanity for a quick touch-up of powder. There was movement outside—Jiang Qin seemed to be greeting guests. Jiang Ruoning set down the cotton pad and walked out. As she looked up, she came face-to-face with the person in the living room.

They both froze.

Jiang Ruoning spoke first. “Lawyer Zou?”

Zou Nian was equally surprised. “Ruoning?”

The parents were even more baffled.

Jiang Qin asked, “You two know each other?”

Jiang Ruoning snapped back. “Uh…” She said, “This is the friend I ran into last night—the one I told you about, Xiao Man’s coworker.”

Jiang Qin smiled. “What a coincidence!”

Zhang Zhilan was confused. “What’s going on?”

Zou Nian turned to Zhang Zhilan. “Mom, we know each other.”

Zhang Zhilan said, “Really? When did you meet?”

Zou Nian replied, “Last year, at Xiao Man’s place for dinner.”

Jiang Qin said, “Xiao Man’s coworker?”

Zou Nian nodded. “Yes, Auntie.”

Jiang Qin grew even more pleased and prompted Jiang Ruoning to greet them. Jiang Ruoning braced herself, nodded at Zhang Zhilan, and called out, “Auntie Zhang.”

“Sit, sit, sit.” Jiang Qin said, “What a coincidence!”

She looked thrilled.

Jiang Ruoning bit her lip.

Zhang Zhilan was delighted too. “I never imagined your daughter knew my Niannian. This—oh—this—”

Jiang Qin sat beside her. “This is great.”

Zhang Zhilan chuckled. “It really is.”

Then she remembered the main point. “Isn’t that kid coming too?”

Jiang Qin nodded. “In a bit.”

She beckoned Zou Nian. “Make yourself at home.”

Zou Nian glanced at Jiang Ruoning.

Jiang Ruoning scratched her head.

Zou Nian asked, “Are you done with work?”

Jiang Ruoning jolted. “Not yet.”

Zou Nian said, “I’ll help you check.”

Jiang Ruoning nodded eagerly. “Okay, thanks.”

Zou Nian: “No need to be polite.”

She followed Jiang Ruoning into the room.

Jiang Qin watched their backs, her expression relaxing. She said, “Your daughter looks better in person than in photos.”

Zhang Zhilan replied, “She doesn’t photograph well.”

Jiang Qin asked, “What do you think of my daughter?”

Zhang Zhilan said, “She’s great—a cute, slender, pretty girl. If I were…”

She seemed to catch on and looked at Jiang Qin.

Jiang Qin nodded.

Zhang Zhilan understood and suddenly burst out laughing.

Jiang Qin watched her laugh and joined in.

Zhang Zhilan patted her shoulder. “You should’ve said so earlier! I worried all night, didn’t know how to tell Niannian. I had to coax her into coming for breakfast with me this morning.”

Jiang Qin said, “I was scared too.”

Zhang Zhilan nodded. “I get it.”

Jiang Ruoning leaned on the doorframe, hearing laughter outside. She gave Zou Nian a wry smile. “My mom seems to really like you.”

Zou Nian had noticed too and smiled. “My mom likes you a lot too.”

Jiang Ruoning had no idea how to handle this awkward situation.

A blind date.

With someone she’d once been ambiguous with.

She really wanted to scream.

But she couldn’t, so she just fidgeted awkwardly in front of Zou Nian. Zou Nian saw her discomfort and suggested, “Let’s play a game.”

Jiang Ruoning perked up curiously. “What game?”

Zou Nian said, “Pretend it’s our first time meeting.”

Jiang Ruoning said, “What kind of game is that? We clearly know each other.”

“Exactly, Ruoning,” Zou Nian said. “We know each other, so no need to be so awkward. Say what you want, do what you want. This is your home—you’re more tense than I am.”

Jiang Ruoning slumped her shoulders. “I just don’t get why this happened.”

“Hm…” Zou Nian reminded her gently, “It means we have fate on our side.”

Fate.

She’d used that word for Shi Sui too.

Why was she thinking about her again?

Jiang Ruoning pursed her lips and smiled at Zou Nian.

Zou Nian looked around. “This your room?”

Jiang Ruoning nodded. “Yeah.”

Seeing Zou Nian eye the bed, she hurried over, straightened the covers, then tidied the pillows on the sofa bed. Her room had been cleaned that morning and was neat. The bookshelf was behind the sofa bed, built into the wall—a whole wall of books. Zou Nian picked one at random—a fashion magazine. Jiang Ruoning said, “Probably not your kind of read.”

Zou Nian replied, “It’s fine. I flip through them in my downtime.”

Besides those, Jiang Ruoning’s shelf had old textbooks—Jiang Qin couldn’t bear to throw them away, keeping every year’s main subjects intact. Lower down were two shelves of wrinkled novels. Zou Nian bent to pull one from the middle. Jiang Ruoning said, “Mom used to worry I wouldn’t get into college. She said reading novels would ruin me.”

But back in school, she’d loved them, saving pocket money each month to buy more. After graduation and starting work, she stopped, so these were all from her hometown.

They were meant to stay there, but Jiang Qin, fearing some study materials might be mixed in, packed them all and shipped them to Shangjing.

These were the only things she’d brought from Linping to Shangjing without losing any.

When they moved into this new place, Jiang Ruoning shoved them onto the bottom shelves and rarely touched them, except to dust the edges during deep cleans. She suspected the books inside were full of dust.

Zou Nian said, “I loved reading these in school too. I even bought this one.”

Jiang Ruoning eyed the novel in her hand. “Really?”

Zou Nian nodded and said, “There’s a line in here I really like.”

Jiang Ruoning recalled the book’s content and finished it as Zou Nian quoted: “People always meet the right one…” “No matter how many times they mess up.”

Zou Nian said, “Good memory.”

Jiang Ruoning replied, “I love that line too. Back in school, I even used it as my signature.”