Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Family Gathering
Ji Ze kept nodding repeatedly, eyes brimming with sincerity, “Thank you, Brother Hui, you are like my second parents. One day, I will introduce you to my mom and dad; they’ll be grateful to you too.”
Brother Hui choked up and showed an awkward but polite smile, “That’s really not necessary.”
And just like that, he somewhat inexplicably took on Ji Ze as his younger brother.
The two walked out of the abandoned factory, and Brother Hui paused, casting a glance at Ji Ze, “I still feel like this isn’t right…”
Ji Ze’s eyes were filled with innocence, “What’s wrong, Brother Hui? Did you leave something inside? I’ll go get it for you.”
He was about to turn back when Brother Hui grabbed him, placing a hand on his shoulder, “No need, you go back to school for your classes. I might not have much of a conscience, but I can’t let you skip school. Then come and work on the weekends, try to pay back the money quickly. Our boss is a young lady; she may not be old, but she’s not light-handed either, so watch out.”
It was Yan Yidan’s voice that Ji Ze heard.
He was a bit curious about this behind-the-scenes boss, Brother Hui.
A young woman who could make her business so big was indeed a talent.
…
After school in the afternoon.
Jiang Nanshu and Jiang Yunchuan went home together.
Because today, to celebrate Jiang Nanshu coming home, Mrs. Jiang had prepared a gathering, and even the usually busy Jiang Yisen would have to come back for dinner.
As soon as Jiang Nanshu pushed open the door, she was enveloped in a fragrant, soft embrace.
Jiang Leyi’s voice was full of excitement, “Nannan, welcome home!”
Jiang Nanshu’s eyes gleamed with a smile, “Thank you, sister.”
[Whimper, whimper, sissy cuddle, how could I have been so awful to you before, I deserve to die, I love you, sister.]
While Jiang Leyi’s expression remained normal, Jiang Yunchuan was somewhat surprised.
When had their relationship gotten so good?
Mrs. Jiang, coming out of the kitchen, was slightly stunned at the sight.
It used to be a scene she most wished to see.
The fact that Jiang Leyi and Jiang Nanshu could coexist peacefully, something she had hoped for years, had suddenly come true, yet, she felt weirdly uneasy.
Now, even if Jiang Leyi had anything on her mind, she wouldn’t tell her, not even the reconciliation with Jiang Nanshu.
She felt a bit heartbroken.
It was as if the daughter she raised had grown distant from her.
Mrs. Jiang put on a fitting smile, “Nannan, you’re back. Your dad and your eldest brother will also be home soon. Why don’t you sit on the couch and watch some TV while I prepare dinner?”
Jiang Nanshu glanced at her and lightly responded, “Mmhmm.”
Settling back into her favorite couch, she fluidly reached beneath the coffee table and pulled out a pack of chips.
This was the little kindness of the housemaid.
She would only let her have one pack a week, saying that junk food isn’t good if eaten in excess and that she should control herself. But since she knew Jiang Nanshu craved them, she would leave one small pack whenever she came home.
Jiang Yunchuan pulled Jiang Leyi aside and whispered, “Could you still hear her inner voice just now?”
Jiang Leyi looked puzzled and shook her head, “No, what did she say?”
Jiang Yunchuan repeated, “She said she likes you, her sister.”
Jiang Leyi’s excitement was visibly surging, “Really? Did she really say that? You’re not lying to me, are you?”
Jiang Yunchan couldn’t bear to look at her direct excitement, “Why would I lie to you? It’s just that she likes you; why are you so excited?”
“You don’t understand! You don’t know how awful it felt when she disliked me. I longed for three years, hoping she’d stop disliking me. If she didn’t want my company, I wouldn’t come home. If she felt my presence was annoying, I’d keep out of her sight to prevent her from disliking me more. I often thought, if we were blood-related sisters, maybe she wouldn’t have treated me this way.”
Jiang Nanshu was sensitive about her rural background.
And wasn’t Jiang Leyi equally sensitive about her false “rich girl” identity?
The better her family treated her, the more distressed she felt.
She felt she didn’t deserve Jiang Nanshu.
But rejecting the kindness of her family felt like a disservice to the Jiang parents who had raised her, and to her brothers, who had doted on her.
Not wanting to hurt Jiang Nanshu, nor wanting to make her family sad, her only option was to strike out in the entertainment industry at eighteen and try not to come home. After all, she had a place to stay outside, could make some money doing commercials, and there was no need to spend the money the Jiang Family gave her; life just went on like that.
Jiang Yunchuan’s lips parted slightly, wanting to say something, but found himself speechless.
It was only now that he truly realized, these were Jiang Leyi’s genuine thoughts.
She had pretended to also dislike Jiang Nanshu to avoid making her own situation more awkward, to cover up her own embarrassment.
“Ah, it’s probably for the best,” he mused, “but I find it a bit strange, why can’t you hear her inner voice anymore?”
At first, Jiang Leyi was like them and could hear it too.
Jiang Leyi’s lips pressed together slightly as she glanced at Jiang Nanshu sprawled on the sofa watching cartoons.
She sighed softly, then smiled gently, “Maybe it’s because I don’t want to listen anymore. It’s enough.”
“So this ability, it’ll disappear eventually…” Jiang Yunchuan murmured.
“Fifth Brother, to tell you the truth, it’s already enough. To keep it up any longer would be very impolite.”
Wasn’t Jiang Yunchuan aware?
Eavesdropping on someone else’s inner voice without their knowledge was indeed a very impolite thing to do.
Still, learning that this ability could one day vanish made him feel a certain sadness.
It was the unknown that caused anxiety.
Both were lost in thought.
Outside the door, Jiang Yisen’s voice could be heard.
“Come on, no need to be so formal, just come in. I used to eat at your place all the time, didn’t I? Come on in, my sister is here too, aren’t you here to discuss the commercial with her?”
The two of them turned their heads and saw Jiang Yisen pulling a stone-faced Fang Minghe inside.
His handsome face was etched with resistance, yet Jiang Yisen was oblivious.
What better opportunity to foster their cooperation?
Inviting Fang Minghe for a meal at his house was a quick way to bridge the gap between them!
As soon as Fang Minghe entered the doorway, he saw Jiang Nanshu.
And there were Jiang Yisen’s brother and another sister.
Not long after, Jiang Hemian’s voice followed.
“Second Brother, how was my driving just now? I’ve been practicing that drift for a little while.”
“Hey hey hey, Second Brother, don’t walk away so fast, we’re about to eat.”
Jiang Jingcheng marched in with a cold face, heading straight for the washroom on the first floor.
Soon, the sound of vomiting filled the air.
Everyone in the living room fell into a quietude, exchanging looks of consternation.
Jiang Yunchuan shot Jiang Hemian a meaningful look, his expression one of horror, “What did you do? What have you done to Second Brother?”
Jiang Hemian looked somewhat embarrassed, “Didn’t Second Brother just get a new car? He asked me to drive it to test out the feel, maybe the speed was too fast… he got carsick?”
Jiang Yunchuan: “…”
He gave Jiang Hemian a thumbs up, “Impressive. Tonight, when you go to bed, I suggest you sleep with one eye open and one eye closed. I’m afraid he might come at you with a scalpel.”
Jiang Hemian slightly raised his eyebrows, pondering the feasibility of Jiang Yunchuan’s words, and gave a sensible answer, “I think you’re right. I’ll just lock my door tonight.”
“Wow, you all are here?”
Just as Jiang Hemian’s voice faded, Jiang Zhouye’s voice came from outside.
He wore sunglasses atop his head, giving off a cool vibe.
Seeing Jiang Yisen, he smiled and greeted cheerily, “Big brother, long time no see.”
Fang Minghe looked at all the members of the Jiang Family gathered in the room.
His face turned steely as he looked at Jiang Yisen, “What kind of gathering is this? How come all of your family members are here?”
Jiang Yisen touched his nose, feeling a tad guilty, “Family gathering…”