Lian Yanbin thought that made sense and put the vague feeling that something was wrong out of his mind. Wu Jin linked her arm through his and walked ahead, chattering like a little bird that had flown out of its cage.
Lian Yanbin carried two shopping bags, which contained the new clothes Lian Shuguo had decided to buy Wu Jin for the New Year. Wu Xiuzhen was also laden with bags. Seen from behind, the family of four looked wonderfully harmonious.
Sometimes, even if you did not go looking for trouble, trouble insisted on finding you. Jiang Chan had been shopping quite happily. She was someone who could both earn money and spend it, and after this outing, her shopping cart was filled to the brim.
Wu Jin had originally been in an excellent mood, but the moment she saw Jiang Chan paying at the mall checkout, her smile vanished completely.
Naturally, she recognized Jiang Chan. Day by day, Jiang Chan had changed from an inconspicuous, drab, dark, skinny girl into the bright, pretty young woman she was now. Wu Jin could not describe how she felt.
No matter how much she wanted to shut Jiang Chan out of her mind, Jiang Chan’s presence still surrounded her every day. Her grades, her talents, and everything else were like a dark cloud hanging over Wu Jin’s head, following her everywhere.
She clung to Lian Yanbin’s arm. “Brother, I just remembered there’s something I haven’t bought. Shall we go back and look?”
Catching up with his armfuls of bags, Lian Shuguo smiled. “You little scatterbrain. What else haven’t you bought? Let your brother go with you. Your mom and I don’t have the energy. We’ll wait here for you.”
Wu Jin instinctively raised her voice. “No, let’s all go together! I still want Mom to help me choose!”
In her urgency, she spoke loudly enough to draw other people’s attention, Jiang Chan included. Jiang Chan happened to be waiting in line to pay. Hearing a shrill female voice, she instinctively turned and looked straight at Wu Jin.
At the sight of Wu Jin’s panicked eyes, Jiang Chan suddenly lost interest. The good mood she had been in vanished. Her gaze passed over Lian Shuguo, Wu Xiuzhen, and Lian Yanbin before she turned back to wait for the checkout.
Lian Yanbin saw Jiang Chan too. The longer he looked at her profile, the more familiar she seemed. He tugged at Lian Shuguo. “Dad, who’s that girl? She looks really familiar.”
Wu Jin’s face turned deathly pale, and she unknowingly let go of Lian Yanbin’s arm. Lian Shuguo frowned and followed his gaze, catching sight of Jiang Chan’s back.
He did not see her face and said distractedly, “Who could recognize someone just from their back? Let’s hurry up and go. There’s still plenty to do at home.”
Lian Yanbin could only keep his question to himself. He put an arm around Wu Jin. “All right, how old are you now? What do you want to buy? I’ll go with you! I just received my internship pay this year.”
Watching Jiang Chan finish paying and leave, Wu Jin bit her lip. “Then thank you, Brother. Just give me a red envelope.”
She buried her suspicions deep in her heart. Where had Lian Qiao gotten so much money? She had just seen a whole cartful of things. Mom and Dad had not given her any money.
Where had all her money come from? Or had Lian Qiao gone out and done something improper? At this thought, Wu Jin’s heart pounded with excitement, a secret delight mixed with pleasure at another’s misfortune.
When Lian Shuguo’s family of four walked out of the mall, Jiang Chan happened to be getting into a taxi with her many bags. The taxi sped off, leaving them with exhaust fumes in their faces.
Lian Yanbin was still muttering, “The more I think about it, the more familiar she seems. Who on earth is she?”
Lian Shuguo grew impatient. “Why do you care who she is? However familiar she looks, could she compare with your sister? Let’s buy more food today to celebrate Ah Jin’s excellent final examination results.”
The excellent Wu Jin…
What was excellent about her? Without Jiang Chan setting such a brilliant example, her ninetieth place in the year would indeed have been quite good. But compared with Jiang Chan’s first place, her ranking had fallen into the dust.
Of course, Wu Jin would not mention any of this to Lian Shuguo. By now, Lian Qiao’s name had practically become taboo at home. Lian Shuguo and Wu Xiuzhen would not allow anyone to mention her at all.
Ever since they had gone to the school and been publicly humiliated by Jiang Chan, Lian Shuguo and Wu Xiuzhen had never mentioned Lian Qiao’s name at home again. They neither asked nor cared about her school life.
It was as though this person no longer existed in the family. Though they were supposed to be her closest relatives, they had unanimously put her out of their minds. Of course, they also intended to force Lian Qiao to come back by ignoring her.
In their minds, Lian Qiao was a young girl without any particular skill. Even with help from classmates and teachers, she could stay away from home for a month or so at most. When that time came, wouldn’t controlling her be as easy as turning over a hand?
Jiang Chan could guess what they were thinking. Naturally, she would not eagerly deliver herself to their door to be mistreated. In this world, who truly could not live without someone else?
The only person she could ever rely on was herself. Away from the Lian family, she felt incomparably relaxed.
Now she was sitting in Old Tang’s living room. The principal’s wife brought her a cup of tea and gently chided her. “I felt a connection with you the moment I saw you. You’re welcome to come, but don’t bring anything next time.”
Old Tang crossed his legs. “Mom, why are you saving this girl money? Old Jiang said she’s earned hundreds of thousands over winter vacation. She ought to spend a little. Ow! Who hit me?”
“Your father!” The principal stood behind the sofa with a rolled-up newspaper in his hand. “Lian Qiao is preparing for university. She needs to save that money for her university tuition.”
“Grandpa Principal, don’t worry. Since I dare to spend it, I’ll certainly be able to earn it back. Besides, Mr. Tang has looked after me a great deal. Without his introduction, how could I have earned so much?”
Her words immediately made Old Tang beam. He stood up. “My prized pupil really does care about me. Dad, I’m a grown man. Could you leave me a little dignity in front of my student?”
Jiang Chan took the gifts out of her bag. “This scarf is for Grandma, and this tea is for Grandpa Principal. As for you, Mr. Tang, why don’t you try it on? If it doesn’t fit, I’ll exchange it.”
Jiang Chan’s gifts pleased every member of Old Tang’s family. Old Tang even changed into the wool coat on the spot and did not take it off all evening, thoroughly pleased with himself.
The principal’s wife looked kind and gentle as she took Jiang Chan’s hand. “Qiaoqiao, now that you’re here, stay with us. The guest room has been cleaned from top to bottom. Make yourself at home.”
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