Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Jiang Nanshu is Sharp-Tongued but Soft-Hearted Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Jiang Nanshu is Sharp-Tongued but Soft-Hearted Jiang Nanshu heard his crying, but her footsteps did not stop.
The next second, someone grabbed her arm.
Ji Ze’s voice choked up, “Tha-that’s not what I meant to say, I-I don’t know why I did that, I… I didn’t start it, it was because he insulted you, I couldn’t help but hit him, the same thing happened in the alley last time, they insulted you, how could they insult you, no matter how bad you treat me, how awful… I wouldn’t allow them to insult you, I… I’m really terrible.”
His voice broke off intermittently, desperately trying to explain clearly.
Just moments ago, he was like a fierce wolf cub, and the next second, like an injured puppy.
Jiang Nanshu barely sighed.
In the original book, even if the original character spreads rumors and harms Ji Ze, her brother, he would still beat up those who spoke ill of her behind her back.
Despite him no longer harboring hopes for affection from the original character, he wouldn’t allow others to tarnish her image.
Now, he was still hoping for affection from his foster sister.
In the book later on, because of the foster mother’s severe illness and the original character’s indifferent watching and malicious cursing, the foster mother was so angry that she became bedridden and couldn’t even walk.
She told the Jiang Family about the miserable state of her adoptive parents, hoping to be acknowledged; she only recognized the affection of the Jiang Family, little did she know, her cold and heartless attitude completely chilled her adoptive parents, and from then on, they lost interest in her.
And the Jiang Family only saw the original character as a joke, let alone had any affection for her.
In the end, she was kicked out of the house, and when she sought help from her adoptive parents, she learned that the adoptive mother had died a month after her departure. At that time, Ji Ze saw her as a stranger.
Even when the original character hypocritically wanted to worship at their grave seeking protection from her adoptive parents, Ji Ze drove her away, fearing she would tarnish the reincarnation of his mother.
Jiang Nanshu turned around and saw Ji Ze’s tears falling rapidly, his body trembling slightly, gripping her hand tightly, as if afraid she would really walk away.
This fifteen-year-old boy, just needed her help twice, and then no longer resisted her.
Or perhaps, he had been waiting for her?
Thus, for her help, he found a way to step down himself.
He hung his head low, afraid that Jiang Nanshu would really walk away.
Beijing is neither too large nor too small, but finding someone requires courage.
He really wanted to bring Jiang Nanshu home for a visit, his parents looked a decade older, they wouldn’t say it, but Ji Ze knew they were afraid their rural background would embarrass Jiang Nanshu, so for three years, they dared not come to Beijing or even mention Jiang Nanshu’s name, just staying in the countryside living their lives, with Jiang Leyi occasionally visiting for an hour or two before leaving.
Jiang Leyi was his biological sister, but their whole family had given all their love to Jiang Nanshu.
His mother even fell ill because she worried about Jiang Nanshu’s wellbeing in Beijing.
The next moment, a hand ruffled his soft black hair.
Ji Ze stiffened all over, his head buried lower, his vision blurring more and more.
He heard it, the sound of tears shattering on the ground.
And it felt… like overlap.
“Why are you embarrassed about caring for me? Afraid I’ll laugh at you?” Jiang Nanshu said, her voice tinged with a bit of mockery.
Ji Ze’s ears reddened, he stuttered, “No… I just… I just want to repay the favor of your past protection, that’s why I fought, don’t overthink it.”
“Alright then, I’m leaving,” Jiang Nanshu said, sounding helpless. She couldn’t do much about Ji Ze’s stubborn nature.
Ji Ze panicked and followed her, “Where are you going?”
“Back to school.” Jiang Nanshu looked at him curiously, “Do you want to come to Jing University? Wait until your grades are good enough to qualify for Jing University, your grades aren’t at the bottom now, are they?”
Ji Ze felt a bit embarrassed; Mingde Middle School was full of top students, he just barely made it in, and being the previous year’s top student meant nothing here; his grades were only ranked two hundredth in the whole year, in the midrange.
With those grades, not to mention getting into Jing University, even getting into a better university would be difficult.
“I’ll work hard.”
“Oh.” Jiang Nanshu didn’t seem very concerned.
“Well, you keep working hard then, goodbye.”
The roadside camphor trees layered upon each other, casting shadows on the road.
Jiang Nanshu glanced at the milk tea shop; Fang Minghe had long disappeared. She stood in the shade, hailed a Didi, and waited by the roadside.
Ji Ze wanted to approach but was fearful, the warmth of Jiang Nanshu’s touch still lingered.
He hadn’t felt Jiang Nanshu’s gentle touch in a long time.
He was conflicted in his heart, wanting to get closer but afraid of being ruthlessly rejected like last time.
Ji Ze moved his feet slowly, approaching her, his still youthful face tensed up.
Because of his nervousness, he wrinkled the hem of his short-sleeve school uniform.
Finally, he mustered the courage to say, “Can I come to see you?”
The halo of the sun fell on Jiang Nanshu’s body. Being noon, it was a sleepy time, and she yawned, “What do you want with me? Your elder sister is Jiang Leyi; you can go to Beijing Media School to find her.”
Ji Ze’s fingers dug into his palm as he stubbornly looked at her, “But I want to see you. After all… you are also my sister.”
Just then, the car arrived.
Jiang Nanshu pulled open the car door, “Whatever you want—it’s your legs, not mine. If I tell you not to come, will you really not come?”
Ji Ze was still confused after Jiang Nanshu left.
So what did Jiang Nanshu mean?
If he went to Jing University to find her, would she feel embarrassed and scold him again?
Ji Ze felt torn.
From behind came loud noises, “Damn, Brother Ze, who the fuck hit you while I was away! Tell me their name, and the brothers will make sure they leave Mingde horizontally today.”
“…”
Ji Ze turned around; it was the rowdy guys.
They had cornered him in an alley last time and beaten him up, but Jiang Nanshu had shown up and beat them instead.
The next day, with a swollen head, they waited at his classroom door… bizarrely pledging allegiance to him as their boss.
Even though he was reluctant to hang out with these hoodlums,
the rowdy guy said, “To the victor belong the spoils,” since Jiang Nanshu won, they willingly accepted Ji Ze as their boss.
Ji Ze expressionless, “No need, my sister already drove him away.”
The rowdy guy immediately got starry-eyed, somewhat embarrassed as he twisted his hands, “Was Sister Nan there too? Brother Ze, when will you introduce us to Sister Nan? We really want to hang out with her and learn a thing or two.”
Ji Ze, “… Sorry, my sister doesn’t mess with societal junk.”
“Please, Brother Ze, you’re the only one who can talk for us with her. We were blind before and misunderstood her. She’s not a nobody, she’s actually a hidden boss.”
“I don’t have any say, don’t come to me.”
The rowdy guy didn’t believe it, “How’s that possible! If she didn’t care, she would have just walked away. Why help you and then leave me beaten up like that, ugh, it still hurts thinking about it. When are you guys going to fix your relationship? It’s very important to me!”
Ji Ze, “…”
Did Jiang Nanshu care about him?
Ji Ze was also uncertain, having broken off contact with Jiang Nanshu for three years, during which it seemed she completely forgot about them.
But just these two times reignited a light in his heart—perhaps Jiang Nanshu was still the sister with a tough exterior but a soft heart as before.
…
Jiang Nanshu had just reached the Jing University gate by two o’clock.
Class was in half an hour, and her naptime was gone.
She walked through the school gates.
She saw two groups waiting for her.
On one side were the cold-faced Mr. and Mrs. Jiang, and on the other side were the furiously angry Cheng family couple.