Chapter 182 New Neighbors

With Professor Meng picking her up and dropping her off for several days in a row, the men around Jiang Ruzhen gradually quieted down.

Jiang Ruzhen refused Meng Qi's offer and resumed her solitary ways.

She's been quite relaxed lately, and her mind has gradually become more peaceful.

Besides attending two or three classes each day, I would go to my parents' house for dinner.

Look at Dad raising fish, growing flowers, tidying up the little garden, helping Mom cook, and cracking jokes.

Such a wonderful day was something she could only dream of in her past life.

"Mom, shall we make braised fish tonight? I'm craving it!"

"Okay, whatever my little daughter wants to eat, Mom will make it for you."

Tian Rong responded indulgently, while Jiang Ruzhen stood happily beside her father watching him prune the potted plants. "Dad, are you guys not too busy with your projects lately?"

Jiang Nian'an glanced at Jiang Ruzhen with amusement, "No matter how busy I am, you finally have some free time these days, so I have to take leave to come back and keep you company!"

"Dad—"

Jiang Ruzhen happily hugged Jiang Nian'an's arm and shook it, then leaned on his shoulder affectionately.

She felt as if she had returned to her youth, to the time before she got married.

When she was a mother, she needed an impenetrable wall to protect her children from the wind and rain.

But as a daughter, she only needs to act cute every day to get her parents' wholehearted love and pampering.

She cherishes the time she spends with her parents so much that she's almost reluctant to leave.

"Rat-a-tat-tat..."

The sound of truck exhaust fumes came from outside, followed by the noise of a lot of people arguing.

"Mom, what's going on outside?"

Jiang Ruzhen and Jiang Nian'an came out curiously. They arrived at the door of the outer room and looked out with Tian Rong.

"It seems to be a new neighbor who moved in next door," Tian Rong muttered uncertainly.

"What about the original family who moved in?" Jiang Ruzhen asked curiously.

This is the staff housing of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Generally, the houses allocated here are where the whole family will live until they are old.

Why would they move away?

"I don't know. A couple of days ago, his old lady suddenly started talking about how she'd struck it rich and that the whole family was going to move out for three months."

The house was rented to a distant relative.

Distant relatives?

Is it possible to do it this way?

Jiang Ruzhen didn't pay attention and took her parents back to continue their own little life.

The next morning, Jiang Ruzhen ate and drank her fill of breakfast prepared by her mother before heading out.

Snowflakes were falling outside, and a thick layer of snow had accumulated on the ground, making a crunching sound when you stepped on it.

She tightened her scarf, lowered her head, and took a few steps forward, only to see a pair of leather boots blocking her way.

Looking up, she saw Meng Qi, dressed in a dark brown cashmere coat and wearing a checkered cashmere scarf, standing in the snow with a gentle smile.

Jiang Ruzhen was somewhat dazed, and through him she seemed to see that person standing in the snow, with countless fireworks burning above his head.

He just smiled at her like that.

Jiang Ruzhen's vision was a little blurry; it was the end of another year.

It's almost Chinese New Year, and it's snowing again.

Lu Mingzheng, where are you suffering?

Why haven't you come back to give her an explanation?

You probably don't know that there's a man who's gentler, more considerate, and better at taking care of people than you.

He pursued her relentlessly, with genuine sincerity.

If you don't come back, she'll change her mind.

"What's wrong with you?" Meng Qi didn't expect that when Jiang Ruzhen saw him, she didn't show any surprise or joy, but instead had tears in her eyes.

He nervously raised his hand to wipe her tears, but Jiang Ruzhen took two steps back.

"The snow is so reflective, what are you doing here?"

Meng Qi was initially very confident, thinking his approach was romantic, but now he's a little uncertain.

She said cautiously, "I moved next door to your parents' house. I just went out for a walk to get familiar with the area. I happened to run into you when I came back."

happen?

What a coincidence!

"So you were the new neighbor who moved in yesterday!" Jiang Ruzhen lowered her head and blinked, forcing back all the tears that were about to fall.

"Hmm, I hope I didn't cause you any trouble?" Meng Qi asked.

“No, it’s your freedom to live wherever you want,” Jiang Ruzhen replied.

Meng Qi's passionate heart gradually cooled down. He knew that Jiang Ruzhen had someone in her heart and that it was not a good idea to pursue her.

He came up with this idea after listening to the opinions of some of his cronies, thinking that being in a good position would give him an advantage.

It seems that it didn't have any effect.

Are you going to school? We happen to be going the same way.

Meng Qi spoke again cautiously, and Jiang Ruzhen nodded, her face showing no particular emotion.

The two walked side by side, with the figures of two elderly people standing in front of the window behind them.

"Old woman, who is that man?" Jiang Nian'an squinted and stared intently.

"Is he one of my daughter's suitors? But why does he look so familiar?" Tian Rong frowned in thought.

After a while, she suddenly clapped her hands.

"Ah, I know. He's our new neighbor across the hall. He's the one who takes the trash out for me this morning when I go out to take it out."

I knew this young man was so polite; it turns out he had ulterior motives!

Tian Rong grinned so wide his eyes disappeared as he poked Jiang Nian'an in the lower back with his elbow.

"Hey, old man. This young man looks really good. I chatted with him for a bit this morning. He said he's a TV announcer and also a part-time professor at the Capital University. His surname is Meng and his name is Meng Qi."

A highly educated man, seemingly gentle and good-tempered—a perfect match for our daughter!

Jiang Nian'an nodded, then suddenly remembered Xiao Lu from before.

"Don't try to matchmake people up. What about Xiao Lu? What if our daughter doesn't like this professor but likes that Xiao Lu?"

"What Xiao Lu? What Da Lu? Whoever can bring happiness to my daughter, I'll acknowledge as my son-in-law. That Xiao Lu is a nice guy, but I only see him twice a year, he's a very busy man."

I think Professor Meng is quite good; he has a good profession, is steady, and is considerate. Comparing the two, Tian Rong has a very good impression of Professor Meng.

"Our daughter is a woman of her own mind. Don't make things worse and annoy her," Jiang Nian'an warned, seeing his wife's eager expression.

"How could that be? I'm just trying to create more opportunities for the two of them to spend time together. If it doesn't work out, am I going to force my daughter to do something against her will?"

Tian Rong rolled her eyes at the old man. Did he think she was his stepmother?

If her daughter disagrees, she can't force her.

However, finding a partner requires spending a lot of time together; only after spending a lot of time together can you determine if you are compatible.

You can't just meet twice a year, what kind of relationship is that?

Along the way, Jiang Ruzhen and Meng Qi chatted idly, but Jiang Ruzhen didn't even know what she was saying; her mind was already elsewhere.

When they reached the classroom door, Meng Qi smiled at her and turned to leave.

Jiang Ruzhen felt a little guilty. After all, it was a surprise that someone had carefully prepared, but she felt neither surprised nor happy.

Their attitude was so perfunctory; it really hurt the feelings of a good person.

But she had no choice. No matter how much she used to boast, she wanted to take all the young heartthrobs and hunks after becoming a rich woman.

In reality, however, her heart is too small; it can only hold one person.