Hearing Shi Sui’s name again felt like it came from another lifetime.
Jiang Qin’s expression stiffened instantly. She blinked, tried to smile, but her lips only twitched awkwardly without forming one. Her face grew embarrassed as she said, “How… I know Xiao Man, you used to be close with Shi Sui, but you can’t…”
She knew Zhou Man and Shi Sui were close.
She also knew Qin Zheng, Ye Yu, and the others were close with Shi Sui too.
Shi Sui was a good kid, and it was normal for her to befriend them.
But her mother wasn’t.
Jiang Qin’s face turned deathly pale, and her body swayed. Zhou Man quickly grabbed her arm to keep her from falling. Jiang Qin staggered back a step and barely steadied herself.
Back then, she had wanted Jiang Ruoning to cut off all contact with Shi Sui, including anyone who knew or was friends with her.
But when she saw Jiang Ruoning with no memory of the past, acting all affectionate with Qin Zheng, she hadn’t had the heart to force it.
Later, Zhou Man had taken good care of them. While Jiang Qin was still agonizing over how to borrow more money from Qin Guilan, Zhou Man had proactively paid off their hospital bills and even helped her find a job. All her previous resolve melted away the moment she saw Zhou Man carrying bags of fruit and smiling at her.
Especially with Xiao Guai there.
Zhou Man holding the child and bags of fruit at her doorstep—forget refusing her entry; Jiang Qin couldn’t even muster a cold face.
Xiao Guai had always been sweet-talking since she was little. The moment she saw Jiang Qin, she called her “Grandma,” charming her completely. Jiang Qin could steel herself against Zhou Man and make Jiang Ruoning cut ties, but against Xiao Guai? She couldn’t. During that dark period, helping watch Xiao Guai every day had been her only source of joy.
It was all in the past now.
She had long forgotten that chapter with Shi Sui and started fresh with Jiang Ruoning.
Who would have thought she’d hear that name from Zhou Man’s mouth again? Of course, she knew Zhou Man would bring it up someday—they had been so close before. But she wasn’t ready. It was like a sharp blade piercing their peaceful facade.
Beneath it all, everything was still shattered.
Seeing such a strong reaction from her, Zhou Man looked full of apology. She had thought Jiang Qin had moved on by the time she tried introducing girls to Jiang Ruoning—at least enough not to reject Shi Sui so much. She gave Xiao Guai a look, and the little girl hugged Jiang Qin’s legs. “Grandma, what’s wrong?”
Her soft, sticky voice carried genuine concern and worry.
Jiang Qin steadied her emotions and looked down at Xiao Guai with a self-mocking smile.
She wasn’t even as good as a child at controlling her feelings.
“It’s nothing.” Jiang Qin ruffled Xiao Guai’s head and let Zhou Man help her sit on the sofa. Zhou Man bowed her head. “Auntie, I’m sorry.”
Jiang Qin’s lips trembled twice, as if she’d suddenly forgotten how to speak. After a long moment, she found her voice. “Why… why her? Why Shi Sui?”
Once Jiang Qin’s color had evened out a bit, Zhou Man went to the kitchen, poured a cup of warm water, handed it to her, and explained.
Shi Sui had approached Zhou Man after Xu Qingqing agreed to let them be together. Starting from her first year of university, Shi Sui had started making money. She’d used all her previous savings to invest in several areas—some losses, some gains, but the end result was good. Her principal had multiplied tenfold. Instead of investing more, she’d handed all that money over to Zhou Man for Jiang Ruoning’s tuition and startup funds.
Back then, Zhou Man had even teased her for overthinking it. Xu Qingqing had already agreed—why so many worries?
But later events proved Shi Sui had foresight.
After that, Shi Sui had left without a word. All their friends resented her for it, but only Zhou Man knew how desperate she must have been.
So Zhou Man had pulled strings to get Jiang Qin into the law firm too. On top of the base salary, she’d funneled the money Shi Sui had left with her to Jiang Qin bit by bit through bonuses.
There had even been some left over. Zhou Man had planned to give it all to Jiang Ruoning in one go when the right moment came, but she hadn’t found it yet.
And now Shi Sui was back.
Of course.
Zhou Man didn’t tell Jiang Qin that part. She just laid out the whole story. Jiang Qin sat there on the sofa, stunned into silence for a long time. Worried that hearing so much about Shi Sui would dredge up old memories and upset her, Zhou Man stayed glued to her side.
Until Jiang Qin shooed her away.
“Head back soon.” Jiang Qin said, “It’s getting late.”
Zhou Man hesitated. “Auntie…”
“Xiao Man, it’s been six years. What is there left to let go of? Ruoning and I are doing great now. I’m content.” As she spoke, she handed the bank card back to Zhou Man. “This money—whether it’s yours or hers, you decide. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s yours.”
Zhou Man understood and took the card, her voice low. “I’m sorry, Auntie.”
Jiang Qin shook her head. “No need. Better to have it all out in the open than muddled.”
Zhou Man sighed softly, took Xiao Guai, and left Jiang Qin’s home. As she got in the car, she texted Jiang Ruoning: [Where are you? When are you heading home?]
She was still worried about Jiang Qin.
Jiang Ruoning had just gotten off the plane when the weekend message popped up. She replied: [Half an hour from home. Anything up, Sister Xiao Man? Mom’s home.]
Zhou Man: [Yeah, just left your place. Saw you weren’t home and checked in.]
Jiang Ruoning: [You heading home now?]
Zhou Man: [Just got in the car.]
Jiang Ruoning: [Too bad, I missed Xiao Guai.]
Zhou Man sent a voice message.
A full thirty seconds of Xiao Guai’s sweet, bubbly voice: “Sis, I was just at your house! Grandma gave me so much yummy stuff, and candy, and and…”
The words tumbled out in fragments, too garbled for text conversion.
Jiang Ruoning plugged in her earbuds and listened, her cheeks blooming with a smile.
Shi Sui glanced sideways at her.
Jiang Ruoning noticed the look but kept her head down, ignoring her.
Jiang Nuan was driving. Sitting in the front, she tried to lighten the mood. “Miss Jiang, turn here?”
There was navigation, but she kept asking anyway.
Jiang Ruoning pursed her lips. “Yeah, right turn up ahead.”
Jiang Nuan said, “These roads are so tricky. Do you ever get lost coming home, Miss Jiang?”
Jiang Ruoning replied, “Nah, you get used to it.”
Jiang Nuan nodded. “True. I’ll have to come around here more.” Her pivot was awkward. “Any good food spots near your place, Miss Jiang?”
Jiang Ruoning shut it down. “Nope.”
Jiang Nuan touched her nose, then remembered something. “Isn’t there a big mall around here? Something Yue Plaza?”
“Lin Yue Plaza?” Jiang Ruoning nodded. “Yeah, there is.”
Jiang Nuan pressed. “Right, right. How far from your house?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “Not far. Just past two traffic lights.”
Jiang Nuan asked, “What’s the foot traffic like?”
Seeing her get serious, Jiang Ruoning answered earnestly. “Not as busy as downtown, but decent around here. Especially with college kids and high schoolers—it’s their go-to for shopping.”
She rattled off a bunch, her throat going dry. She rubbed it, and a bottle of mineral water appeared. Jiang Ruoning stared at the slender fingers holding it and pushed it back. In the dim car, Shi Sui felt the chill on the back of her hand.
It was cold.
It was as if she hadn’t pushed back the water, but Shi Sui’s heart.
Shi Sui twisted off the cap and chugged half the bottle in one go. Jiang Ruoning heard the gulps and wanted to stop her but only furrowed her brow.
The car drove for about twenty minutes before Jiang Ruoning spotted the gates of Jingxin Neighborhood. She signaled Jiang Nuan. “You can drop me here.”
In case Jiang Qin came out to meet her.
Even though it was nearly midnight.
Jiang Nuan glanced at Shi Sui’s expression and nodded, but asked anyway, “It’s late—sure we can’t walk you in?”
“No need.” Jiang Ruoning said, “Right here is fine. Thanks.”
Jiang Nuan gave a dry laugh. “No problem.”
Why wasn’t Shi Sui saying anything?
Before leaving, Jiang Ruoning greeted Shi Sui. “Thanks, President Shi.”
Shi Sui watched Jiang Ruoning’s hair fluttering in the wind outside the car. “No problem,” she said softly.
Jiang Ruoning didn’t hesitate. She turned and walked straight toward the neighborhood gates without looking back. Jiang Nuan blurted out, “What happened? What’s going on between you and Jiang Ruoning?!”
Something had gone down that she didn’t know about.
She’d sensed it back in Linping but hadn’t dared ask. Then on the plane, Jiang Ruoning had been seated next to Shi Sui, but she swapped with Jiang Nuan. Boss on one side, boss’s wife on the other—she was torn but figured better not offend the wife. So she sat with Shi Sui.
She’d felt so wronged and scared that she’d worn an eye mask the whole flight and hadn’t made a peep.
Getting off, the car vibe was pure low pressure.
Jiang Nuan wondered aloud, “Did you two break up?”
Shi Sui shot her an irritated glance. “We weren’t even dating. What breakup?”
Jiang Nuan said, “Not dating, and Miss Jiang was that worried about you? Flew from Shangjing to Linping the second she heard you had a fever?”
She was worried—Jiang Ruoning’s concern was obvious, and there was joy when facing Shi Sui. But she could never get past the hurdle of her mom.
Shi Sui stared out the car window. Jiang Ruoning’s figure was long gone. “Let’s go,” she told Jiang Nuan.
Jiang Nuan comforted her. “Don’t lose heart. Dating’s like that—who succeeds on the first try?”
Shi Sui smirked at her chattiness. “You’ve dated, huh?”
Dead on arrival.
Jiang Nuan suddenly lost the will to console her.
The black sedan pulled away from the neighborhood gates. Jiang Ruoning, hiding around the corner, watched it leave before heading home. At this hour, Jiang Qin was probably watching TV or about to sleep. She entered the dark house—no lights on. Jiang Ruoning flicked the switch and spotted a figure on the sofa. Her guilty conscience made her heart leap; she nearly yelped before whispering cautiously, “Mom?”
Jiang Qin turned, her dazed eyes gradually focusing. “Back.”
Hearing her normal tone, Jiang Ruoning relaxed, then frowned. “Why were you sitting in the dark?”
Jiang Qin said absently, “Forgot.”
Zhou Man and Xiao Guai had just been there, and the lights had been on. When had she turned them off? Jiang Qin couldn’t quite remember—maybe when seeing them out, intending to go to the bedroom, but she ended up zoning out on the sofa for ages.
Jiang Ruoning went to her side, looped an arm around her neck, and leaned into her embrace. “What’s up? Did my mom get dementia already?”
Jiang Qin snorted a laugh. “Go wash your hands!”
Jiang Ruoning got up obediently. Jiang Qin asked, “Zhengzheng didn’t get sick of you?”
Yesterday, she’d gone to Ye Yu’s supposedly to discuss something, but no one was around. Jiang Qin remembered school days when Jiang Ruoning would finish eating, pat her butt, say she was off to Qin Zheng’s, and not come home till late. She was used to it, so she hadn’t called last night.
Jiang Ruoning played it casual. “Nah, why would she? If she did, I’d tattle to her godmom!”
