Jiang Mansion
During lunch, the old lady thoroughly scolded Jiang Chengsi, saying he used to be a bright young man, but later beca unruly, straying further down the wrong path.
As she spoke, she mumbled under her breath, "This child has lost weight lately. I wonder if he’s been eating well outside."
Tang Wan just listened and smiled, knowing it’s all out of concern for her fourth brother.
Earlier that morning, the old lady had gone to see the crooked-neck tree and, reminiscing about Jiang Jinsang’s mischievous deeds as a child, began talking about Jiang Chengsi. He used to be a cheerful and sunny boy, but his nature changed, becoming prickly and defiant after his elder brother’s passing.
The old lady worried he still harbors shadows in his heart and might end up alone for the rest of his life. She hoped soone would be there for him.
"I’m afraid he’ll fear marriage, fear family, and when I’m gone, he’ll still be alone. Even if I pass, I won’t rest easy."
Now that Tang Wan was expecting a child, these words resonated with her even more.
After the al, the old lady continued to grumble about his troublesoness until Shen Shuci arrived, halting her complaints.
After Shen Shuci beca pregnant, she stopped working and planned to read and study during her pregnancy to enrich herself. She went to a bookstore and bought a bunch of books, all for her postgraduate entrance exams. Unfortunately, since her high school and university education was overseas, there was a significant disparity in the curriculum and textbooks, making her head spin when reading.
Today, she had just co from the bookstore and dropped by the Jiang Family on the way.
"It’s just after one, what ti did you leave?" Tang Wan smiled at her.
"I left right after lunch."
"Why didn’t you take a break?"
"My stomach is always uncomfortable, it’s painful to lie down." Shen Shuci had a challenging pregnancy. During the sickness phase, it was a relentless ordeal that never let up. "Recently, You Shenming’s father went to visit my parents."
"Who?" Having not heard the na in a long while, Tang Wan couldn’t react imdiately. "His dad went to visit Grandpa?"
"It was a few days ago. I went to see them in the morning, and when I saw the expensive nutritional products tossed in a corner, I asked a few more questions."
"What was the purpose of the visit?"
"To apologize for what happened before, and with the year-end approaching, to bring them so gifts."
"During the ti Grandpa was hospitalized, he never showed up." Tang Wan had no good feelings for that family at all.
Rembering that he was from the Si Family’s in-law side, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of disparity.
After Shen Shuci left, Tang Wan spoke a few more words with Jiang Jinsang, "What do you think the You Family is up to? Suddenly going to visit Grandpa and Grandma."
"Don’t worry, nothing will co of it. Even if the You Family has intentions, they have to consider the Huo Family and won’t be foolish enough to crash into a wall."
"It just feels so sudden." Tang Wan hadn’t heard about the family for too long, "They’re just relying on the fact that their sister married well, using the guise of power."
"In fact, the relationship between the You and Si families isn’t as good as outsiders think. It’s said that You Hongxian used to work under Mr. Si and then went independent twenty years ago and founded his own company."
"To outsiders, it seems like he was capable and could stand on his own. Last ti, I heard from Dad that You’s company wasn’t doing well, especially after You Shenming’s incident caused their stock to plumt. The Si Family didn’t step in."
"Following the You Family for benefits without risks, probably earning more than starting his own company. You Hongxian wouldn’t be foolish enough to think he could succeed on his own; perhaps Mr. Si couldn’t tolerate him anymore at that ti."
"It’s just that one is in Beijing, the other often out of town, they don’t et often, and without business or financial entanglents, the surface relationship seems fine."
Tang Wan didn’t like the You Family and was not interested in their affairs.
Jiang Jinsang rembered the subtle gestures of the Si Family couple from the last visit to the You Family and smiled slightly.
"After You Shenming was arrested, the You Family indeed wasn’t what it used to be, but recently he’s beco quite the popular figure in Beijing, visiting Grandpa perhaps to avoid criticism."
"Popular figure?" Tang Wan laughed.
"The Si Family is back in Beijing; they keep a low profile and don’t entertain guests. Those who want to curry favor will certainly go through the You Family."
Tang Wan sneered, "So, they’re still leaning on the power of the Si Family."
"If he behaves, it’s fine. If not..." Jiang Jinsang chuckled in a muffled voice.
"The Si Family can’t accommodate him either."
"That’s their family’s business, nothing to do with us." At this mont, Tang Wan was entirely focused on her child. She listened to matters unrelated to her but didn’t take them to heart.
"How do you know it has nothing to do with us?" Jiang Jinsang teased.
"What does it have to do with us? Last ti Xiaowai’s full moon celebration, the Si Family sent many gifts. At most, next ti they have a banquet, we’ll return the favor. What else is there?"
Jiang Jinsang smiled silently, making Tang Wan want to hit him.
Why did he always smile so aningfully, as if hiding sothing she didn’t know?
She turned around to check if her son was awake, only to find Shen Shuci had left her book behind—a heap of postgraduate entrance exam materials. "When did she beco so forgetful? I’ll give her a call."
"No need to call. I’ll deliver them to her when I have ti." Jiang Jinsang had heard the Huo Family had brewed quite a bit of green plum wine and always wanted to get a few jars. He picked up one of the books inside and flipped through it casually.
"Postgraduate English Reading Comprehension Past Papers"
Postgraduate English, just these? Jiang Jinsang flipped through a few pages; it didn’t seem too difficult to him.
As it turned out, Shen Shuci returned ho, just in ti to et guests, and forgot about buying books.
A pile of postgraduate materials ended up being viewed by Jiang Jinsang, and in the end, Shen Shuci didn’t pass the exam, while Jiang Jinsang, who casually enrolled in a school, actually got in...
This led to a series of subsequent events that significantly impacted Jiang Xiaowai’s future.
**
anwhile, on Jiang Chengsi’s side, after noticing a change in his state of mind, he didn’t often talk with the person across from him during als. She thought Jiang Chengsi was in a bad mood, so she gradually spoke less too.
"Fourth Master, if you’re not in the mood today, we can postpone the driving lesson," she suggested, noticing Jiang Chengsi’s odd expression and lack of interest in teaching her to drive.
"No need to postpone!" Jiang Chengsi quickly dismissed the suggestion.
Their eyes t, and the atmosphere felt a bit strange.
After the al, they drove to Jiang Chengsi’s ho garage. Among a bunch of heavy motorcycles, the modified car stood out prominently because its body was lower than the others.
"Try riding that one, just as I taught you last ti," Jiang Chengsi pointed to the vehicle.
"I’ve never seen this car before; is it new?" She touched the car, its exterior matte black, exuding a low-key yet flamboyant aura.
"Yes," Jiang Chengsi nodded.
She climbed onto the car, its body slightly lower, allowing her feet to touch the ground. The grip on the handlebars and the overall feel were excellent.
"Wait here a mont; I’ll get sothing from inside." Seeing her fitting well on the bike, Jiang Chengsi turned back toward the house. She stayed on the bike, getting a feel for it, not paying attention to what Jiang Chengsi was doing. So when he returned with a helt and gloves, she was taken aback.
"This is..."
"It’s yours, newly bought. Try it on."
"Thank you." She took the helt in both hands, unable to articulate the complex emotions in her heart.
"Don’t know how to put it on?" Jiang Chengsi noticed her lack of action, looking down at her with lowered eyebrows. This was a helt specifically for motorcycling; soone not into biking might never have touched one.
Before she could respond, the helt was taken back by Jiang Chengsi. "You’ll need to tie your hair a bit lower, or it will get pressed."
"Okay." She reached up to undo the ponytail, letting her hair flow down, smooth and shiny, before tying it into a low ponytail.
Jiang Chengsi watched her intently, his fingers itching on the helt, feeling the urge to touch her hair.
With her hair tied up, she remained on the bike, looking up at him. Just as her eyes slightly lifted, the helt was placed on her head. It fit well, covering all her facial features except for a pair of bright black eyes.
For soone unaccustod to wearing helts, it felt a bit uncomfortable. She blinked at Jiang Chengsi, looking particularly cute.
It made him smile, as he slightly bent to et her gaze. "Is it too tight or too loose?"
Jiang Family’s Fourth Master...
For the first ti, serving soone.
The helt felt a bit suffocating; as he leaned closer, his breath seed to sneak through a crack, making her face steadily warm up.
"It’s okay."
"Try on the gloves too. You should know how to ride a bicycle or an electric bike, right? Riding a motorcycle isn’t much different. Later, you can try riding it outside."
"Okay."
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