Dinner was a lavish affair, and Jiang Yi, enjoying the delicious food, was in a particularly good mood.
Jiang Sixian, as one of the targets of Jiang Qionghua’s goodwill, received especially enthusiastic treatment. At the table, Jiang Qionghua constantly repeated, “I remember Xianxian likes this,” and proceeded to pile food onto Jiang Sixian’s plate.
Jiang Yi, watching the mountain of food accumulating beside Jiang Sixian, couldn’t help but look at her with amusement. Perhaps her amusement was too obvious, because Jiang Sixian turned her head and glanced at her.
Jiang Yi immediately schooled her expression, resuming her meal as if nothing had happened.
Jiang Sixian watched her for a long moment, hesitating before quietly asking, “Do you want some?”
Jiang Yi hadn’t quite heard her over the dining sounds and momentarily froze. Jiang Sixian then pointed at the food Jiang Qionghua had piled onto her plate and politely inquired again, “Do you want some?”
Understanding her meaning, Jiang Yi quickly shook her head, firmly stating, “No, I don’t!”
Her refusal seemed quite resolute, so Jiang Sixian didn’t ask again, silently working on the mountain of food before her.
Jiang Sixian’s appetite wasn’t large, and she was soon full, each subsequent bite becoming a struggle.
Noticing her predicament, Jiang Yi felt a pang of sympathy. Being the target of such enthusiastic “affection” seemed like a burden. Taking pity on her, she interrupted the overly “kind” Jiang Qionghua. “Stop piling food on her plate! It’s already a mountain! She’ll burst!”
Jiang Yi’s outburst drew everyone’s attention.
Especially Jiang Sixian, who turned to look at her with surprise.
Jiang Qionghua finally noticed the overflowing plate before Jiang Sixian and said sheepishly, “I didn’t realize. Xianxian, if you’re full, don’t force yourself. It’s important to eat in moderation, especially at night.”
Seeing her cheap mother’s fawning behavior, Jiang Yi clicked her tongue, suddenly filled with disdain. How could adults be so simple, so naive, so utterly one-track-minded when it came to pleasing children?
Though her disdain wasn’t overtly expressed, the perceptive Jiang Qionghua still noticed it. Looking at Jiang Sixian’s full plate, then at Jiang Yi diligently eating, she belatedly realized her neglect.
Jiang Qionghua’s “old mother” heart felt a twinge of guilt. She quickly placed a piece of ginger duck on Jiang Yi’s plate, offering it like a precious treasure. “Here, here, Xianxian can’t eat much, you eat more.”
Jiang Yi thought if she truly cared about this nominal mother of hers, she’d be angered to death sooner or later. What did she mean, “Xianxian can’t eat much, you eat more?” Was she supposed to eat Jiang Sixian’s leftovers?
Jiang Yi pulled her bowl back, saying warily, “Don’t come near me, I can serve myself.”
Jiang Qionghua persisted. “Come on, this is delicious.”
Jiang Yi remained resistant, and the two engaged in a brief tussle at the dinner table, bickering like kindergarteners.
Ning Wenying, watching their “seemingly contentious yet deeply affectionate” exchange, couldn’t help but laugh. Even Jiang Sixian glanced at her mother with a faint smile.
From this perspective, the relationship between Jiang Qionghua and Jiang Yi wasn’t so bad after all. At least, they could still bicker, couldn’t they?
After dinner, Jiang Qionghua instructed Jiang Yi to take Jiang Sixian upstairs. “Xianxian will be staying with you on the third floor. Her room is right next to yours. Show her around.”
Jiang Yi was about to say that she, having only been there for half a month, wasn’t that familiar with the house either. But before she could speak, Ning Wenying, with a “please and thank you” expression, turned to Jiang Yi and said, “Please show Xianxian around the house, Xiao Yi. Thank you.”
Who could refuse the request of a beautiful woman? Certainly not Jiang Yi. She resigned herself to her fate and led Jiang Sixian upstairs.
Too lazy to walk, she took the elevator. They remained silent throughout the ride. Reaching the third floor, Jiang Yi led Jiang Sixian to the room next to hers, pointing at the door and declaring, “Here we are.”
Jiang Sixian looked at the nameplate bearing her name, clutching her backpack as she thanked Jiang Yi.
The bedrooms in the Jiang family villa were equipped with electronic keypads. Jiang Yi entered the default code, pushed the door open, and explained, “The default code is four zeros. You can reset the password for your room.”
As she spoke, she stepped inside, then, noticing the unpacked luggage scattered around, said awkwardly, “You can unpack. I’ll leave you to it.”
She scratched her head and headed for the door.
Jiang Sixian looked at her, hesitating before calling out, “Jiang Yi…”
Jiang Yi turned, looking at her questioningly. Jiang Sixian, backpack in hand, stood stiffly in the room and asked, “Can we…get along?”
Jiang Yi took a step back, standing in the doorway as she warily replied, “Not necessary. As long as we don’t clash, it’s fine.” After all, living under the same roof, could they truly hate each other?
However, Jiang Yi didn’t want to get close to Jiang Sixian either. Clearing her throat, she continued, “We’re not really close, just regular classmates. And at school, let’s try not to interact. After all, you’re…someone who attracts a lot of attention, and I don’t like that.”
Jiang Yi thought her performance was excellent. She decided to make her stance clear. “Also…at home, let’s try not to invade each other’s space. You’re an Omega, and I…don’t really like your scent.”
Perfect. Jiang Yi was sure this statement would land her on any girl’s blacklist. After all, what Omega would like someone who openly declared a dislike for their pheromones?
After speaking, she carefully looked up at Jiang Sixian’s face. Jiang Sixian bit her lip, her expression cooling. Clearly, she didn’t appreciate Jiang Yi’s words.
Jiang Yi breathed a sigh of relief. Playing the villain was hard work. Leaning against the doorframe, she lifted her chin and said haughtily, “So, do you understand?”
Jiang Sixian nodded. “I understand.”
Jiang Yi didn’t dislike her identity, just her. The perceptive Jiang Sixian had already realized this.
To minimize friction under the same roof, Jiang Sixian made her own promise. “I’ll keep my distance.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yi was overjoyed, though she maintained a haughty expression. “That would be best!”
With that, she turned and walked towards her own room. Jiang Sixian watched her retreating figure, her brow slightly furrowed. Didn’t like her scent? Did she mean her pheromones? They weren’t that bad, were they?
