Jiang Sixian pondered this for a moment, then, glancing at Jiang Yi, who had already started eating, she dismissed the thought and began her own breakfast.
Seeing Jiang Yi join them, Jiang Qionghua was in a particularly good mood. At the table, she announced to the two girls, “The weather’s beautiful today. Let’s go horseback riding!” It was the first official day of the girls living together, and Jiang Qionghua felt it necessary to organize a “family” outing.
After speaking, Jiang Qionghua turned to Jiang Sixian. “Xianxian, I promised you and your mother we’d go riding. I’ve already made the arrangements. It’s been a while since you’ve seen Dudu. You can visit her this time.”
Dudu? What’s that? Jiang Yi frowned, glancing at Jiang Sixian from the corner of her eye.
Jiang Sixian hesitated, glancing at Jiang Yi. She worried that Jiang Yi might feel slighted by Jiang Qionghua’s overt affection towards her. Having grown up with a single mother, Jiang Sixian felt she could understand Jiang Yi’s feelings to some extent.
Jiang Yi, oblivious to her subtle glance, continued eating. However, Ning Wenying, always attentive to her daughter, quickly understood Jiang Sixian’s concern. Smiling at Jiang Yi, she asked, “Xiao Yi, would you like to join us? Didn’t you mention how cool horseback riding seemed? We could all go together, and your mother can teach you. How about it?”
Jiang Yi, engrossed in her meal, looked up at Ning Wenying with an innocent expression. Horseback riding together? That meant spending more time with Jiang Sixian. That didn’t seem like a good idea.
Jiang Yi hesitated. Jiang Qionghua, however, quickly seized the opportunity. “Yes, yes, yes! We’ll bring Xiao Yi along and choose a good horse for her… and have some fun!” Since Jiang Yi moved in, Jiang Qionghua had been busy with a major project and hadn’t had time to bond with her. This seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Everyone at the table looked at Jiang Yi expectantly. At that moment, Jiang Yi suddenly felt like “the village’s only hope,” the crucial “glue” for family harmony.
After careful consideration, Jiang Yi pointed to the injuries on her face. “I… got my face beaten yesterday. It’s not really suitable for going out, is it?” Unable to find a better excuse, she reminded everyone that she was, after all, a girl who cared about her appearance. Going out with a bruised face wasn’t ideal.
Jiang Qionghua, however, dismissed her concern. “You’re still young. Bumps and bruises are normal. No one will laugh at you.”
Jiang Yi clicked her tongue. Still young? She was almost sixteen, old enough to start dating! What if she accidentally attracted unwanted attention?
Of course, that wasn’t the main issue. The main issue was that she’d just told Jiang Sixian they should keep their distance, and now they were going on a family outing? How did that make sense? Besides, she was the only one at the table who couldn’t ride. Even with someone teaching her, it would be boring. Was this really appropriate?
Truthfully, Jiang Yi really wanted to ride. It was an expensive, elegant sport, and she’d always admired it. However, compared to her facial injuries and her relationship with Jiang Sixian, horseback riding suddenly seemed less important.
Jiang Yi no longer hesitated, firmly refusing. “No, I’m not going out with a bruised face.”
Jiang Qionghua became anxious. “Hey, it’s not that serious! It’s just a scrape. Back in my day, I fought until my scalp bled, and I didn’t…”
Despite being organized and efficient at work, Jiang Qionghua had a fiery temper in her personal life. Perhaps she’d spent all her patience waiting for Ning Wenying, so she often became impatient with others.
Seeing another argument brewing between Jiang Qionghua and Jiang Yi, Ning Wenying interrupted, looking at Jiang Yi with a gentle smile. “Xiao Yi, are you sure you don’t want to go? Didn’t you mention wanting to see my Xueyun? I’ll let you ride her today.”
During Jiang Yi’s stay at the hospital with her mother, Ning Wenying had occasionally mentioned horseback riding. Jiang Yi knew she had a horse named Xueyun.
And she had to admit, the horse was magnificent. Just looking at the pictures made Jiang Yi want to reach out and pet it.
Ning Wenying’s words tempted Jiang Yi, and her resolve wavered. After a moment of internal struggle, she gritted her teeth and said, “Maybe next time. When my face heals, I’ll go with Auntie Ning.”
Jiang Sixian, sitting beside her, quietly glanced at Jiang Yi and bit her lip.
Understanding a teenage girl’s vanity, Ning Wenying said regretfully, “Alright, then you must come next time, Xiao Yi.”
Jiang Yi nodded in agreement.
Jiang Sixian, hearing this, felt a pang of sympathy for Jiang Yi. Glancing at the cut on the corner of Jiang Yi’s eye, she hesitated before speaking. “Mom, Auntie Qionghua, I won’t go today either. I’ll go with you next time. You two have fun.”
Jiang Sixian was always considerate and well-behaved, never wanting to cause trouble.
Jiang Qionghua immediately understood she was being considerate of Jiang Yi. She hesitated, about to speak, but Ning Wenying gave her a reassuring look and said to her daughter with a smile, “Alright, Xianxian, you stay home. Your Auntie Qionghua and I are going on a date.”
Jiang Sixian obediently replied, “Okay, Mom. Have fun.”
Oh no!
Alarm bells rang in Jiang Yi’s head.
At this moment, she felt the flag of her impending doom waving at her, her destined downfall looming large.
Jiang Sixian was skipping a fun horseback riding trip to stay home? Why? Could it be because of her? Consideration meant caring, caring meant liking, and liking could easily lead to love!
At this rate, wouldn’t Jiang Sixian soon develop a crush on her?!
Panic surged through Jiang Yi. She blurted out, “In that case, I’ll go too!”
Her loud voice drew everyone’s attention. Ning Wenying looked surprised. “Xiao Yi, changed your mind?”
Jiang Yi nodded frantically. “Yes, yes, yes! I want to see Xueyun. She’s so magnificent!”
Ning Wenying laughed. “Alright.” She looked at her daughter. “Xianxian, what about you? Changed your mind too?”
Jiang Sixian hesitated, glancing at Jiang Yi uncertainly.
Jiang Qionghua made the decision for her. “Since Xiao Yi is going, it wouldn’t be right to leave Xianxian home alone. We’ll stick to the original plan.”
“Everyone together, let’s have fun.”
Jiang Yi felt her nominal mother was incredibly long-winded. Suppressing her eye roll, she silently cursed:
Gan! (A type of gold found in water – an expression of exasperation)
Author’s Note:
Perhaps she’s truly her biological daughter. Just as lovesick as her mother, Qionghua. And just as self-deluded.
