Shen Tingwan showed a surprised look. “You’re inviting me to dinner?”
Sang Ning quickly explained, “Thanks for driving me home last time, and for this collaboration.”
So that was it. Shen Tingwan replied unhurriedly, “Last time was no trouble at all, and this was just work. No need for favors.”
Sang Ning kept her faint smile. She understood—it matched the response she’d anticipated. Since she hadn’t expected much, there was no disappointment.
Shen Tingwan didn’t enjoy social dinners outside of work obligations; they were exhausting. But it was rare for someone so reserved to show such “enthusiasm”…
“How about dinner another day?”
Sang Ning hadn’t expected Shen Tingwan to speak up again.
Shen Tingwan added, “I have something tonight.”
It was indeed presumptuous to invite her on the spot. Sang Ning wasn’t sure what had come over her in that moment of impulse… But suggesting another day might just be a polite refusal.
Sang Ning thought for a moment and replied with a simple “Okay,” without pressing for details. That way, neither felt awkward.
The elevator reached the first floor just then. Sang Ning gave a quick greeting and turned to leave.
Shen Tingwan watched her figure hurry out of sight.
After leaving the office building, Shen Tingwan opened her navigation and drove straight to the hospital. She needed to keep her evening promise to have dinner with her grandmother.
Jiang Yunchun had caught a cold that turned into bronchitis, and after more than a week of it not improving, she’d been hospitalized.
Rush hour traffic was inevitable, and it took Shen Tingwan nearly forty minutes to reach the hospital.
Jiang Yunchun was in a double-occupancy room. The lady in the next bed, Old Madam Chen, couldn’t understand it. “Teacher Jiang, with your family’s means, why not stay in a VIP room? I hear those are like little apartments—ever so comfortable.”
“It’s too lonely by myself. Staying here is better; I have an old friend to chat with.” Jiang Yunchun smiled as she said it.
“Haha, true enough.” Old Madam Chen’s tone was full of envy. “Your granddaughter’s coming to keep you company again today.”
“Yes.” Jiang Yunchun beamed with delight. “She’ll be here soon to have dinner with me.”
“Your granddaughter’s such a filial girl, and so beautiful too.” Old Madam Chen praised. “She must have no shortage of suitors. How is she not married yet? She really ought to start thinking about it…”
The same old topic.
Jiang Yunchun looked up and quickly cut her off. “When my granddaughter gets here, please don’t say any of that. Young people these days don’t like hearing it. What if she gets annoyed with me and stops visiting?”
“Of course not. I’m just an old fogey; you’re the one who keeps up with the youngsters.” Old Madam Chen gave a dry chuckle, eyeing how Jiang Yunchun fiddled with her game console every day—like a kid with an addiction.
Jiang Yunchun laughed too. They’d all toiled their whole lives; what was wrong with a little fun now?
Shen Tingwan hadn’t even entered yet when she heard the chatter from the room. She pushed open the door. “Grandma.”
“You’re here.” Jiang Yunchun sat propped up in bed, reading glasses perched on her nose, cradling her game console. She’d recently downloaded a new game—picking up sticks, fishing, utterly absorbed in it.
Shen Tingwan walked over. “Don’t overdo the screen time; it’ll strain your eyes.”
Jiang Yunchun set the console aside and smiled. “You’re sounding more and more like your mom every day. Nag, nag, nag, and you’re still so young.”
Shen Tingwan smiled with a furrowed brow, helpless against her. “Still coughing?”
“Much better. Don’t worry.” At her age, ailments were inevitable, but Jiang Yunchun was philosophical. She’d lived through it all, enjoyed what she could. To put it bluntly, if her time came, she’d have no regrets—just a reluctance to leave the younger generation, especially this granddaughter.
Shen Tingwan had always been close to Jiang Yunchun. With her parents busy at work, her grandmother had raised her.
Though Jiang Yunchun had been a teacher her whole life, she wasn’t strict or outdated; she was a trendy grandma who could chat with anyone young.
The nutritious meal had arrived. Shen Tingwan washed her hands, set up the small table, and kept her grandmother company while she ate.
“You’re busy with work; don’t come over all the time. I’m not bored here.” Jiang Yunchun glanced around. “You haven’t rested properly since coming back from abroad. You’ve lost weight.”
“It’s not that dramatic.” Shen Tingwan ladled a bowl of soup and passed it over. “Eating alone at home is boring anyway.”
“Then you should…” Jiang Yunchun almost said find someone to keep you company*, but held back. Young people these days were picky about romance, unlike their era, where a decent match via matchmaking sufficed.
Shen Tingwan guessed the unspoken half. Though her grandmother never pushed, she hoped Shen Tingwan wouldn’t be alone. Shen Tingwan took the initiative with a smile. “If there’s someone suitable, I will.”
Jiang Yunchun’s eyes crinkled in a smile. She added thoughtfully, “Be careful about it. My granddaughter’s too good for just anyone.”
Shen Tingwan went along with it, smiling. “Okay, I will.”
With company, Jiang Yunchun’s appetite improved. She chattered on, “Your birthday’s in a couple days. Your mom’s too busy, and I’m stuck here like this—can’t celebrate with you. This old body’s given out.”
“Don’t say that.” Shen Tingwan brushed it off lightly. “It’s fine.”
“How can it be?” Jiang Yunchun felt for her. “Only once a year—you have to celebrate.”
Shen Tingwan amended her words. “Friends are taking care of it for me. Just focus on recovering.”
Jiang Yunchun nodded. “True. Xiaoxue always has ideas; she won’t let it be dull.”
Shen Tingwan agreed. “Yeah, with Wei Xue around, it’s never boring.”
That reassured the old lady.
After dinner, Shen Tingwan chatted with Jiang Yunchun a bit longer before heading home. For convenience, she rented a flat near the office instead of staying at the family home.
That evening, she got a call from Wei Xue—exactly as expected.
Wei Xue got straight to it. “You sure you don’t want me to throw you a big birthday bash?”
Shen Tingwan answered, “Positive.”
Wei Xue pressed. “It’s rare for us all to get together.”
“Hardly rare—we just did a few days ago.” Shen Tingwan laughed. Wei Xue would party with friends every day if she could.
“I’ve already started rounding people up.” Wei Xue said. “Everyone’s asking.”
Shen Tingwan’s head throbbed at the thought. Logically, her first birthday back in the country called for a big gathering, but she was too drained lately for the hassle.
Wei Xue persisted. “Really not doing it?”
Shen Tingwan rubbed her forehead and cut to the chase. “No party. I’m staying with Grandma.”
Wei Xue finally relented. “Alright then.”
On her birthday, starting at midnight, Shen Tingwan received a steady stream of well-wishes.
She’d told her grandma she was with friends, and friends she was with her grandma. In the end, the day had no plans at all.
The quietest birthday on record. A little peace wasn’t so bad.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting golden light across the streets.
After work, Shen Tingwan drove aimlessly through Birch City, where she’d grown up. Years away meant big changes. The wandering grew tiresome, and her gaze idly caught a white business card in her bag. She picked it up for a look.
Weiming Studio.
The bottom had an address—not far.
Without much thought, she drove by, slowing down and rolling down the window. The studio lights were still on.
…
Sang Ning spent the evening quietly in the studio as dusk fell. She checked the time on her phone, her eyes drifting to the date at the top.
July 3rd.
Her gaze lingered for a moment before she set the phone down and returned to her tasks.
Yu Shuang sat at the computer doing post-production when she heard someone enter. She stood and went to greet them. “Hello.”
Seeing it was Shen Tingwan, Yu Shuang was surprised, then broke into a bright smile. “Sis!”
Shen Tingwan smiled back. “I was passing by and saw your lights on, so I stopped in.”
“Welcome!” Yu Shuang poured a glass of water. “Have a seat, Sis.”
Shen Tingwan glanced around casually. The studio was small but thoughtfully arranged, with a photo wall showcasing various works.
Only Yu Shuang was there; the other desk sat empty.
Last time had been a casual invite, so Yu Shuang was shocked that Shen Tingwan had actually come. She figured it out. “You’re here for Sang Ning, right?”
Shen Tingwan paused, not sure if it was deliberate. She’d just remembered the place and was nearby, so she’d dropped in. Hearing the question, she went with it. “She’s not here?”
“She is.” Yu Shuang said. “In the studio inside. I’ll call her for you.”
With no particular reason for coming, Shen Tingwan said, “Don’t disturb her if she’s busy.”
“No bother at all. Just go find her yourself.” Yu Shuang grinned broadly and pointed the way. “Right through here.”
Shen Tingwan peered inside. Since she was already there, it was only right to say hello.
![The Villain Is The True Beauty [Quick Transmigration]](https://i0.wp.com/dobytranslations.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/quick-tr.png?resize=151,215 "The Villain Is The True Beauty [Quick Transmigration]")
