In the end, after much resistance and insistence that she didn’t want to go to the hospital, Jiang Yi finally got Jiang Qionghua to take her and Ning Wenying back home in the car.
On the way back, Jiang Qionghua seemed to receive a call from the Song family about the incident. During the conversation, the Song family’s attempt to appease was evident, but Jiang Qionghua wasn’t buying it, her attitude essentially, “Don’t give me that bullshit. My family will compensate for your daughter’s injuries, but you better be prepared to do the same for my daughter.”
Regardless of the reason, Jiang Qionghua stood up for Jiang Yi. Having never had a powerful figure to rely on, Jiang Yi felt quite pleased, like she’d finally found a sturdy thigh to cling to.
After hanging up on the Song family, Jiang Qionghua’s expression was stormy. She looked at Jiang Yi sitting across from her and said, suppressing her anger, “Next time that Song brat says anything to you, you hit her! Hit her hard!”
Beside them, Ning Wenying was speechless. “Qionghua, is that how you teach a child?”
Jiang Yi also found Jiang Qionghua’s words ridiculous and readily agreed. “Exactly! Who teaches their kid to fight? Besides, plenty of people talk behind my back. Do you expect me to fight them all? As long as they don’t bother me directly, I’ll ignore them. Is it really necessary to resort to violence at every turn?”
Jiang Qionghua, a former delinquent herself, was momentarily silenced by her nominal daughter’s rebuke. Then, recalling Jiang Yi’s words about the many people who gossiped about her, she felt a pang of sympathy.
It was true. Children raised by single mothers often faced gossip and rumors. Just like Jiang Sixian when she was younger… but Jiang Sixian had been protected, while Jiang Yi hadn’t.
Thinking of this, Jiang Qionghua sighed and glanced at Jiang Sixian.
Jiang Yi found the topic depressing and, afraid Jiang Qionghua would continue, potentially bringing up her supposedly “pitiful” childhood, she propped her chin on her hand, leaned against the car window, and casually asked, “So, what’s for dinner? Didn’t you say it would be a cozy meal? Are you cooking tonight? Or…”
Jiang Yi looked at Ning Wenying and asked with a smile, “Auntie Ning, are you cooking?”
Both Jiang Qionghua and Ning Wenying were good cooks. Back when Jiang Yi was staying with her mother in the hospital, she’d eaten their cooking a few times and enjoyed it. Their style was completely different from Grandma Xu Lan’s.
Ning Wenying smiled at her. “We spent all day unpacking. There wasn’t time to cook. Maybe next time.”
Jiang Yi looked disappointed. “Oh well. I’ll look forward to it! You promised me a feast, Auntie Ning!”
Ning Wenying responded gently, “Yes, I promised. I’ll make it for you.”
After speaking, Jiang Yi subconsciously glanced at Jiang Sixian. As expected, she saw the girl clutching her backpack, nervously fiddling with the fabric of her skirt.
Aha! Clearly jealous that her mother was so nice to another child! With time, this would surely build resentment!
Jiang Yi felt this was something she could do more often.
Before she could continue her subtle torment of Jiang Sixian, Jiang Qionghua spoke up, a hint of jealousy in her voice. “A feast… Wenying-jie, you’ve never made me a feast…”
Ning Wenying looked at her, somewhat exasperated. “Why are you competing with a child?” With both “children” present, Jiang Qionghua truly had no shame.
Jiang Qionghua continued to whine, “This isn’t competing! I was here first! You’ve never cooked for me, but you’ve cooked for Xianxian…”
Ning Wenying sighed. “Xianxian is my precious baby. You’re not.”
Jiang Qionghua thought, I could be too, but as the mother of a sixteen-year-old, she couldn’t act spoiled. She cleared her throat, trying to hide her desire to act cute.
Jiang Yi rolled her eyes, thinking, pathetic.
Soon, they arrived home. As they got out of the car, Jiang Qionghua stepped forward and gestured dramatically. “Welcome, Miss Ning Wenying and Miss Jiang Sixian, to our humble abode. I hope you enjoy your stay.”
Ning Wenying laughed and lightly slapped the back of Jiang Qionghua’s hand. “Silly.”
Standing behind them, Jiang Yi couldn’t help but roll her eyes at their flirting.
Ugh, why was this middle-aged couple’s love even more sickeningly sweet than a young couple’s?
Jiang Yi, backpack in hand, walked up the steps, brushing past Jiang Sixian.
At that moment, Jiang Qionghua reached out to Jiang Sixian and said sincerely, “Xianxian, welcome to my home. You know, Auntie Qionghua has always hoped you and your mother would move in with me.”
“Of course, living together won’t change my relationship with your mother. But I hope you’ll feel like you’re home.”
Jiang Qionghua glanced at Jiang Yi walking ahead, then smiled. “I hope both you and Xiao Yi will feel the warmth of home here.”
Suddenly addressed, Jiang Yi turned around and looked at Jiang Qionghua in surprise. Jiang Qionghua smiled back, her eyes filled with a tenderness Jiang Yi had never seen before.
Jiang Yi shifted uncomfortably, her gaze wandering before settling on Jiang Sixian.
Jiang Sixian stood at the bottom of the steps, looking up at Jiang Yi, her gaze fixed.
At that moment, a phrase flashed through Jiang Yi’s mind: “Even though her mother chose someone who had always cared for her like family, she still felt apprehensive about the new environment and relationships. But that day, when she saw the hand extended towards her, heard the words ‘welcome home,’ a warmth welled up inside her for some reason.”
“This warmth was the beginning of a tragic romance.”
Jiang Yi shuddered, instantly dismissing the thought. She turned to Jiang Qionghua and said, “You’re so dramatic! Let’s just go inside and eat!”
Jiang Qionghua’s carefully crafted warm atmosphere was shattered by Jiang Yi’s words. She gritted her teeth, fuming. “Why do I have such an unfeeling child! Xianxian is so much more lovable! I’m so annoyed!”
Turning to Jiang Sixian, Jiang Qionghua said, “Xianxian, come in. Grandma Xu Lan made lots of delicious food. Eat more, or that little rascal will finish it all.”
Jiang Qionghua then walked inside with Ning Wenying.
Jiang Sixian softly acknowledged her words and, standing at the bottom of the steps, looked up at the Jiang family home, took a deep breath, and walked inside.
She wasn’t very good at handling displays of affection from anyone other than her mother. Jiang Yi, just now, had actually rescued her from an awkward situation.
