After dinner, Ning Wenying called out to Jiang Yi. Jiang Yi, slightly puzzled, asked, “What’s up, Auntie Ning?”
Ning Wenying just smiled without answering, beckoning her over. Jiang Yi, though confused, followed.
Ning Wenying led her towards the indoor basketball court, explaining as they walked, “It’s the weekend, and I was hoping you could keep me company. Xianxian’s foot isn’t fully healed yet, your mother’s away on business, and I’m bored.”
Jiang Yi was always happy to entertain elders. She walked beside Ning Wenying, and seeing they were heading for the basketball court, asked, “Sure, but do you want me to play basketball with you?”
Despite being an Omega, Ning Wenying was quite athletic and enjoyed various sports, from ball games and horseback riding to rock climbing and even surfing. In fact, Ning Wenying had often tried these activities first, with Jiang Qionghua learning them later just to keep up.
Influenced by them, Jiang Sixian also enjoyed sports and excelled at fencing and track and field.
At home, when Jiang Yi had nothing better to do, she often played basketball, badminton, or tennis with Jiang Qionghua and Ning Wenying.
Assuming Ning Wenying wanted a one-on-one basketball game, Jiang Yi looked at the woman beside her, still dressed in a skirt, and asked curiously, “Aren’t you changing clothes today? It’ll be inconvenient to play basketball in a skirt.”
Ning Wenying smiled at her. “We’re not playing basketball today.”
Jiang Yi was confused. “Not playing basketball? Then why are we going to the court?”
Arriving at the court, Jiang Yi quickly understood Ning Wenying’s intentions.
She watched as Ning Wenying turned on the sound system, selected a waltz, and beckoned her over. “Come here.”
Jiang Yi was stunned. “You want to dance?”
Ning Wenying nodded. “Yes, I feel like dancing today. What, are you unwilling, Xiao Yi?”
Jiang Yi hesitated. “It’s not that, but I can’t dance. I’ll be terrible.”
“Dancing isn’t about rules. With music and space, you can dance as you please.” Ning Wenying reached out, pulled Jiang Yi closer, placed a hand on her waist, and said, “Come on, Xiao Yi, I’ll teach you.”
Jiang Yi couldn’t refuse. Like a child humoring her mother, she said with a sigh, “Fine, fine, since you want to dance, I’ll give it a try.”
She placed her hand on Ning Wenying’s waist and, to the rhythm of the waltz, began to follow her lead.
Ning Wenying was a far better teacher than Chen Wanzhou. Even when Jiang Yi made mistakes, she didn’t tease her, only gently encouraging her to relax.
Dancing is meant to be enjoyable. For most people, there’s no need to be overly concerned with technique. As long as it’s fun, that’s all that matters.
Soon, Jiang Yi found enjoyment in dancing and spent a rather pleasant evening.
Jiang Sixian, returning from her physical therapy session at the gym, heard the music from the indoor basketball court and walked in. Standing at the doorway, she saw Jiang Yi, a happy smile on her face, dancing in Ning Wenying’s arms.
Jiang Sixian leaned against the doorframe, watching her smile, and was reminded of her childhood, when her mother would twirl her around in the garden.
For a moment, Jiang Sixian wished she and Jiang Yi had grown up together.
Childhood sweethearts, perhaps… their story would have been even more captivating.
After that evening, Ning Wenying began teaching Jiang Yi to dance almost every night. Sometimes, she’d even say things like, “If you dance well, Xiao Yi, many people will be attracted to you,” or “You can invite someone you like to dance at a ball.”
Jiang Yi would retort, “Where are all these balls you keep talking about?”
Ning Wenying would just smile and say, “When you go to university, there will be many social events like this. You’ll see.”
No matter her reasoning, Ning Wenying always encouraged Jiang Yi to learn. With her teaching, how could Jiang Yi refuse?
After half a month of practice, Jiang Yi became quite proficient. Sometimes, messing around with the little monitor and the others, she could even casually dip Chen Wanzhou in the classroom.
Every time she did, Class B would erupt in applause.
Jiang Sixian, in the next classroom, hearing the cheers, would often purse her lips, a look of displeasure on her face.
Sometimes, she wished Jiang Yi still couldn’t dance.
Time flew by, and soon it was Christmas Day, Jiang Yi’s birthday.
That evening, Jiang Qionghua threw a grand birthday party for Jiang Yi at the largest hotel in Yun City. Prominent figures from all over the city attended, bringing their children along.
The little monitor and her friends arrived at the hotel, dressed in evening gowns and wrapped in down jackets.
Jiang Yi, wearing an off-the-shoulder gown, looking every bit the refined young lady, stood at the entrance to greet them. The moment they met, Chen Wanzhou, seeing Jiang Yi dressed so elegantly, burst out laughing.
Jiang Yi, also uncomfortable in formal wear, stood at the entrance, looking at her friends’ teasing expressions, and said sheepishly, “Alright, stop laughing! You’re all dressed up too, what’s so funny about me?”
Chen Wanzhou shrugged. “Sorry, as a refined young lady, I’m used to these occasions.”
The little monitor, wearing a light green gown, narrowed her eyes at Jiang Yi. “You have to admit, you look quite good today. If the girls at school saw you like this, you’d have even more admirers.”
Jiang Yi shuddered at the thought, feeling a wave of unease. She lifted her skirt slightly and led her friends inside. “Don’t even say that, it’s terrifying. Come on, let’s go in.”
As they walked, Jin Duolai, holding a gift box, handed it to Jiang Yi. “Happy birthday, Jiang Yi.”
“Sixteen years old, wishing you happiness and that you differentiate into the gender you desire.”
Jiang Yi turned, looked at the gift in Jin Duolai’s hands, and smiled. “Thank you.”
She usually had a carefree, playful demeanor, rarely so composed and ladylike. Seeing her smile, her friends felt a little awkward.
Especially the little monitor, who said, slightly flustered, “Alright, alright… this is from all four of us. We were going to buy individual gifts, but we felt it wouldn’t be grand enough. So we pooled our money and got you something big.”
They valued their good friend’s sixteenth birthday. Despite their usual teasing and gossip, they genuinely liked Jiang Yi.
Jiang Yi, holding the gift, asked curiously, “So grand, what is it?”
The little monitor smiled mysteriously. “You’ll find out when you open it at home. It’s definitely something good.”
Hearing her say that, Jiang Yi was skeptical. “Really? Can I open it now?”
The little monitor immediately stopped her. “It’s a gift! You can’t open it in front of us! Put it away, put it away! Open it at home.”
Faced with such strong resistance, Jiang Yi didn’t insist, putting the gift down and agreeing.
She led her friends to Jiang Qionghua and Ning Wenying, formally introducing them. Seeing the little monitor and the others greet Ning Wenying so enthusiastically, she suddenly realized they’d practically grown up with Jiang Sixian.
Watching the little monitor shower Ning Wenying with compliments, Jiang Yi couldn’t help but tease, “You guys didn’t seem that close with Jiang Sixian, why are you so eager to please her mother?”
Chen Wanzhou explained, “You wouldn’t understand. When we were in kindergarten, we all wished Auntie Ning was our mother.”
“She’s so amazing. Every time there was a parent-child activity, she and Jiang Sixian would win first place. She could even lift Jiang Sixian up high.”
The little monitor added, “She’s beautiful, speaks so gently, and never hits children. She was our ideal mother.”
Jin Duolai smiled shyly. “And she’s very protective. When Jiang Sixian was bullied as a child, she always stood up for her.”
Zhang Tiantian nodded. “Yes, I also really liked Auntie Ning. I even wanted to marry an Omega like her.”
An Omega like her? Like Jiang Sixian?
Jiang Yi glared at her. “No way!”
Zhang Tiantian looked innocent. “Why not? Can’t I even think about it? Auntie Ning is so beautiful… it’s normal to admire her.”
Jiang Yi glared at her again. “No, you can’t even think about it! Thinking about it is a crime! She’s Jiang Sixian’s mother, my aunt!”
Just as Jiang Yi finished speaking, Jiang Sixian, dressed in a delicate white gown, approached like a fairy and softly called out, “Jiang Yi.”
Jiang Yi turned to look at her.
Jiang Sixian had her hair elegantly styled, adorned with beautiful pink and white roses. With light makeup, she looked as noble and elegant as a princess.
Jiang Yi stood there, watching her approach, motionless.
Chen Wanzhou, beside her, nudged her and whispered, “Jiang Sixian looks really pretty today.”
Compared to Chen Wanzhou’s gossip, the little monitor greeted her calmly. “Xianxian…”
Jiang Sixian turned her gaze to the little monitor. The little monitor beamed at her. “You look amazing today! That dress is perfect for you, a true fairy descended from heaven!”
Jiang Yi discreetly glanced at the little monitor, thinking her green dress made her look like a peacock showing off its feathers.
Tsk, such a simple-minded Alpha.
Jiang Sixian nodded, thanking the little monitor. “Thank you, your dress looks lovely too. You look beautiful.”
She then turned her gaze to Jiang Yi, her eyes full of anticipation. “Auntie Jiang wants to introduce you to some friends and relatives. She asked me to come find you. Jiang Yi, let’s go.”
Jiang Yi gave a noncommittal “Oh” and told her friends, “I’ll go entertain the other guests. You guys have fun.”
The little monitor gave an OK sign. “Have fun.”
Jiang Yi turned, a sarcastic smile on her face. “You too, eat and drink your fill, and look around. There are plenty of pretty girls here today. Be proactive, maybe you’ll find a girlfriend!”
Wait, how did the conversation shift to finding a girlfriend?
The little monitor was baffled. She turned to Chen Wanzhou. “Did Jiang Yi just sound angry at me? Was that a hallucination? I think she was mocking me.”
Chen Wanzhou affectionately pinched the little monitor’s cheek. “Darling, your intuition is correct. She was teasing you.”
The little monitor was puzzled. “Why? I didn’t provoke her.” Then, a sudden realization dawned on her. “Damn it, I know why! Because I complimented Jiang Sixian!”
The little monitor marveled, “Wow, I didn’t expect Jiang Yi, who seems so carefree and indifferent, to be so jealous.”
Just as she finished her sigh, Jiang Yi, walking beside Jiang Sixian, sneezed.
“Achoo…” Jiang Yi shuddered, sniffing slightly.
Jiang Sixian, hearing her, turned and looked at her. “What’s wrong? Did you catch a cold? Are you feeling cold?”
Jiang Yi shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Jiang Sixian studied her carefully. “Good. If you’re cold, I’ll get you a shawl.”
Jiang Yi replied lazily, “No need, the air conditioning is on full blast. I won’t catch a cold.”
Jiang Sixian nodded. “Good.” She looked at Jiang Yi seriously. “But Jiang Yi…”
“Hm?”
Jiang Sixian paused, then said earnestly, “You look beautiful in that dress today.”
Jiang Yi froze, turning to look at Jiang Sixian, meeting her sincere gaze.
Being stared at so intently, her ears burned, and she felt flustered. Jiang Yi turned away, as if to hide her embarrassment, and raised a hand to touch her ear, saying awkwardly, “Thanks.”
Jiang Sixian smiled. “You’re welcome.”
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