SWMSO – Chapter 6

Ning Wenying held her daughter, briefly explaining the situation.

Afterwards, she swayed Jiang Sixian gently and explored the issue with her: “Do you think Xiao Yi is a little concerned about your Auntie Qionghua? Is that why she’s probing about marriage?”

Hearing this, Jiang Sixian suddenly understood why Jiang Yi’s attitude had changed so drastically after learning her identity. It was highly likely, as her mother speculated, that Jiang Yi worried about having to share her mother’s attention after a marriage.

After all, who would want another child competing for their mother’s affection?

Jiang Sixian nodded. “Probably. Because Auntie Qionghua is her mother.” She paused, then emphasized, “Her only remaining family.”

Hearing this, Ning Wenying stroked Jiang Sixian’s head and chuckled softly. “So that’s it… That’s actually quite good. I was worried Xiao Yi wouldn’t like your Auntie Qionghua. This isn’t bad at all.”

After all, Jiang Qionghua was Jiang Yi’s only remaining family in this world. If Jiang Yi couldn’t accept Jiang Qionghua, it would be difficult for both of them.

Jiang Sixian nodded, but other considerations filled her mind. If they moved in, should she clarify her stance with Jiang Yi? Explain that she had no intention of vying for Jiang Qionghua’s affection, nor did she wish to become Jiang Qionghua’s daughter. Her mother’s relationship with Jiang Qionghua was their business, not hers.

There shouldn’t be any reason for “dislike” between them. At least, if they were to live under the same roof, they shouldn’t let their relationship deteriorate.

Meanwhile, the instigator of this whole situation, Jiang Yi, never imagined her simple question would trigger such profound introspection in others. Heaven knew, she didn’t care about Jiang Qionghua’s “maternal love” and didn’t mind if Jiang Qionghua and Ning Wenying built a new family.

She just wanted to save her own life.

For the next few days, Jiang Yi kept a low profile, avoiding Jiang Sixian whenever possible, striving to remain a stranger in her eyes.

However, given their families’ connection, encounters were inevitable.

That Friday at lunch, Jiang Yi was eating in the school cafeteria when she received a call from Jiang Qionghua.

Amidst the cafeteria’s cacophony, Jiang Qionghua’s rambling voice came through the phone: “Auntie Ning’s things have all been moved over. We’re at home organizing everything now.”

Jiang Yi thought to herself: You’re a busy CEO, yet you’re so free now? With your girlfriend here, forget overtime—you don’t even want to go to work.

Jiang Yi gave a noncommittal “Oh,” and Jiang Qionghua continued, “Auntie Ning and I discussed it and decided that since today is the first time the four of us are meeting…”

Jiang Yi silently countered: No, it’s the first time I’m officially meeting the three of you.

“…it would be better to have dinner at home, more intimate. So tonight, you and Xianxian should come straight home.”

“Oh, and wait for Xianxian. You two can come back together in Sister Xiao Qin’s car, alright?”

That final “alright?” fully demonstrated Jiang Qionghua’s cautious “fatherly” demeanor. It was truly a case of “speak of the devil.” Jiang Yi, already dreading seeing Jiang Sixian, hesitantly agreed.

After a pause, she said to Jiang Qionghua in a flat tone, “You should call Jiang Sixian and tell her yourself. It’s more formal, shows your sincerity.”

Jiang Qionghua readily agreed.

Jiang Yi, a bit exasperated by her “fatherly” fussing, quickly ended the call. “If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up. My chicken cutlet’s getting cold.”

“Alright, eat slowly, bye-bye.”

“Bye.” Jiang Yi replied and promptly hung up.

After the call, Jiang Yi poked at her chicken cutlet. The thought of having dinner with Jiang Sixian that evening ruined her appetite.

Was it her imagination, or did her now-cold chicken cutlet suddenly taste less appealing?

Jiang Qionghua was such a troublesome parent! Coming up with terrible ideas just to improve the relationship between the two “children”! And Jiang Yi couldn’t even refuse. It was utterly suffocating.

As the saying goes: When it rains, it pours. When one unpleasant thing happens, more are sure to follow.

As Jiang Yi stewed over the impending dinner with Jiang Sixian, an unwelcome guest appeared.

A voice drifted down from above: “Well, well, if it isn’t our righteous transfer student! Eating alone again? Still haven’t made any friends?”

That tone, that description—how infuriating.

Jiang Yi looked up at the newcomer.

It was the tall girl she’d cornered in the restroom a few days ago. She stood there, tray in hand, flanked by two or three others, sneering at Jiang Yi.

The scene was familiar—straight out of a bullying scene in a TV drama.

Since kindergarten, Jiang Yi hadn’t cared about these petty tactics. Especially after learning Sanda, no one dared provoke her. Now, having transferred schools, she encountered this brave “chuunibyou,” and found it rather novel.

She glanced at the tall girl, then returned to her meal.

The tall girl was clearly the leader of this little clique. She must have been alone the other day, hence the lack of backup.

Seeing Jiang Yi ignore her, the little leader grew annoyed. Recalling the restroom incident, her resentment deepened.

She carried her tray to Jiang Yi’s table and snorted. “That’s all you’re eating? Not enough, is it? As your host, I should take better care of you…”

“Consider this a gift from me.”

With that, she flicked her wrist, and the remaining soup and scraps from her tray splashed onto Jiang Yi’s chicken cutlet.

The sudden deluge splattered Jiang Yi’s face. She quickly leaned back, pulling her own tray away just in time to avoid further damage.

Was she in elementary school? Why were these bullying tactics so childish? Didn’t they know not to waste food?

Still hungry, Jiang Yi looked up, furious.

Meeting her icy glare, the little leader instinctively flinched. But remembering her numerical advantage, she straightened up, puffed out her chest, and said haughtily, “What? Did I say something wrong? I know your kind—a motherless bastard, living a hard life!”

She’d done her research. Jiang Yi was a bastard, not someone she couldn’t afford to offend at this school. Plus, Jiang Yi seemed “isolated.” The little leader had observed her for days, noticing no close friendships, which emboldened her to retaliate.

Jiang Yi’s face darkened.

The little leader, oblivious to the impending danger, looked around the bustling cafeteria and deliberately raised her voice, “Am I wrong?! Didn’t your mother die after giving birth to you out of wedlock? Aren’t you a motherless bastard?”

Her loud voice attracted attention. Curious glances from other students landed on them.

Standing in the corner, Jiang Yi took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and glared at the clueless “little leader,” trying to control her anger.

But the little leader, as if determined to inflict maximum pain, continued loudly, “Aren’t you a bastard?! You are a bastard!”

Alright, that’s it. No more holding back.

Jiang Yi clenched her fists, stood up, and with a swift kick, using only thirty percent of her strength, slammed her foot into the little leader’s knee.

The impact sent the little leader tumbling to the ground.

Her tray clattered across the floor, and she landed with a thud, clutching her knee in shock. “You dare hit me?!”

Jiang Yi thought the line was superfluous. Rolling up her sleeves, she declared, “I’m not just going to hit you, I’m going to beat you so badly your own mother won’t recognize you!”

“Humans are born from humans, animals are born from animals.”

Jiang Yi leaned down, grabbed the girl’s collar, and yanked her up. “Tell me, how did your mother manage to birth such a foul-mouthed little animal like you?”

With that, Jiang Yi drove her knee into the girl’s chest.

The blow doubled the little leader over in pain. She gritted her teeth and yelled at her followers, “Get her! Teach her a lesson!” Only then did her cronies react, swarming Jiang Yi.

The brawl attracted the attention of the entire cafeteria.

Jiang Sixian, having just finished lunch on the second floor, was descending the stairs with Tang Qing when she heard someone shout, “Fight! Someone’s fighting! Go quick, or you’ll miss it!”

Jiang Sixian and Tang Qing exchanged glances. “A-Qing, you go find a teacher. I’ll check it out.”

Tang Qing nodded and headed towards the faculty offices.

Jiang Sixian turned and followed the crowd. Pushing through the onlookers, she reached the center of the commotion just as Jiang Yi, pinning a sturdy girl beneath her, raised her hand to strike. Jiang Sixian froze.

She placed a hand on her chest and involuntarily called out, “Jiang Yi!”

Jiang Yi turned, glared at her with reddened eyes, then looked back and swung at the girl on the floor.

Slap! Jiang Sixian’s pupils constricted.

Author’s Note:

Hitting people is wrong. Very wrong.

Though satisfying, it’s wrong.

Jiang Sixian: Shook.