Jiang Nanshu stared in disbelief.
“What?”
666.
They really couldn’t find anyone else to pin this on, so they forcefully dragged her out?
Bao Yan narrowed his eyes, “I heard everything, your conversation with her, heard every single word.”
Jiang Nanshu was too lazy to pretend with him, “Did I say anything wrong? Bao Yan, you’re naturally a selfish person. You’re ambitious, and you want your loved one by your side. But you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Haven’t you ever heard that? Your selfishness extends to your love. I really feel sorry for Xu Xingwan. The man she fell in love with is such crap, so disgusting, yet she still intends to treat you well. If it wasn’t for you, she might already be living a different life. You are the last straw that broke her.”
“You’re talking nonsense! Lying! It can’t be… it can’t be me, how could it possibly be me!”
Bao Yan was now clearly driven mad.
Jiang Nanshu pulled Xu Xi away.
Before Xu Xi left, she spat at him, “Serves you right!”
“Be careful when you go out in the future, Jiangjiang. I’m afraid he’ll go crazy and hurt you.”
Jiang Nanshu wasn’t afraid of Bao Yan, but she still feared he might send someone to block her path. She could take on one person, but that didn’t mean her combat power was high enough to fight off a group.
She nodded, “Okay, I will be careful.”
Neither of them were in the mood for fun anymore, so they decided to go shopping with Yan Yidan next time.
After sending Xu Xi home, Jiang Nanshu thought for a bit and then decided to drive to Jing University.
It was now noon, lunchtime for the students.
Following her memory, Jiang Nanshu found the canteen she once loved the most, ordered three or four dishes, and sat down at a table to eat slowly by herself.
Until a dinner plate was heavily set down across from her.
Jiang Nanshu looked up and squinted with a smile, “Ji Ze, you came.”
After five years, the little brother who used to be half a head shorter than her had grown to nearly six feet tall.
A tall young man with a buzz cut and handsome chiseled features, he sat down, ignored Jiang Nanshu, and just buried his head eating non-stop.
“Hey, kid, you don’t recognize your sister after such a short time? Don’t be too forgetful, huh.” Jiang Nanshu teased.
Ji Ze buried his head even lower, still not speaking.
Seeing that he only shoveled rice and neglected the dishes, Jiang Nanshu picked up her chopsticks and served him some braised pork ribs, “Try this, it’s a signature dish of Jing University’s first canteen, tastes great.”
Ji Ze moved the dish she had given him aside without a glance.
Alright, alright, this kid has grown up and become defiant.
This year Ji Ze was a senior. According to Yan Yidan, he had skipped a grade in high school and got into Jing University.
He was the biggest dark horse in the Beijing college entrance exams that year, with top scores that got him directly admitted into Jing University.
Ji Ze’s grades weren’t bad before, but he was ordinary among the sea of geniuses. It was a mystery what happened that made his grades surge dramatically.
Jiang Nanshu propped her chin, watching him without getting angry at his actions, but smiling instead, “Xiaoze, how long do you plan to keep eating your tears with your rice?”
Ji Ze’s hand, which was eating, paused for a moment. His shoulders trembled slightly, his grip on the chopsticks tightened, and he slowly lifted his head to look at her.
The six-foot-tall young man clenched his teeth to prevent himself from crying out, but tears still swirled in his eyes, a pitiful red at the corners.
“Why cry? I didn’t hit you this time, nor did I scold you, and besides, mom will say I made you cry again.”
Jiang Nanshu used to love making her little brother cry when she was young. Ji Ze was plump and white back then, resembling a dumpling shedding tears; she found it amusing.
Every time she made her brother cry, she’d be chastised by Mrs. Ji, but she’d still dare to do it the next time.
As they grew, Jiang Nanshu would occasionally still make her brother cry, but more often, she was making those who bullied him cry.
She’d raise her fists, swing them proudly a couple of times, and say arrogantly, “Crying, why? If someone hits you, come to me. I’ll have your back. I’m really good at fighting.”
Ji Ze’s admiration for her started back then.
Because he had a sister who loved to tease him, who would laugh out loud at his embarrassment but was incredibly protective.
In his little world, as long as he had his sister, he wasn’t afraid of anything. Because she would chase away the bullies, holding his little hand, and take him home every day.
Ji Ze rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, his vision blurred, “Jiang Nanshu, why are you so annoying? How could I have such a detestable sister? I hate you so much…”
She had no idea.
He knew that she had tried to commit suicide by jumping into the sea, and he almost lost his mind.
He didn’t understand why his sister would be so irrational; she was just fine the day before, reminding him to study hard and take good care of their mother’s health. And in the blink of an eye, she was gone.
He wanted to find her, but how could he, powerless and without any influence?
He didn’t even have the right to see her body.
Because her fiancé had hidden her away.
Back then, Ji Ze swore that he must succeed to never feel as helpless as he did when he couldn’t find his sister.
Jiang Nanshu was momentarily stunned, having somewhat anticipated Ji Ze’s response.
That’s why she had been afraid to hurry back to the Ji Family.
And too afraid to face Mrs. Ji, so after much thought, she decided to seek out Ji Ze first.
But judging by this, she had hurt him significantly.
Jiang Nanshu smiled helplessly, “I’m sorry, okay? There was a special reason I had to do it then. I’m back now, aren’t I? Don’t be mad. I’m counting on you to take me home to see mom and dad.”
Ji Ze just looked at her quietly. It was so rare for him to hear Jiang Nanshu apologize.
She never made mistakes since they were kids.
So their parents were at ease, and she took good care of him too.
Suddenly, Ji Ze felt a sense of release.
He hated that Jiang Nanshu didn’t think about them when she jumped into the sea, but he was also relieved she was still alive.
Ji Ze wiped away his tears, “I’m glad you’re back. Otherwise, I would never have forgiven you in my life.” He paused, then added, “Mom and Dad wouldn’t have forgiven you either!”
“Well, when I go back, you’ll have to speak for me, to win their forgiveness, you know?” Jiang Nanshu added another piece of braised pork rib to his plate, “Here, this is your reward.”
This time Ji Ze didn’t refuse but just pursed his lips, “Let’s see how you do.”
Jiang Nanshu just watched him and smiled.
As time went by since her return, some blurry memories from the past became clearer, so clear that she remembered living with the Ji Family for fifteen years, even recalling her efforts to find herbs for Father Ji’s leg treatment until she encountered a piece of bad luck that changed her personality after fainting, and she recognized the Jiang Family as her kin.
Her once happy and wholesome family was thus torn apart.
Jiang Nanshu had always known that a “transcender” had taken over her body, but her feelings for the Ji Family people came from the deepest parts of her heart, even she herself found it inexplicable.
It was only now, as the sealed memories slowly unlocked, that she realized these were the family members she loved the most.