Chapter 126 Ulterior Motives

After saying that, he paused slightly, coughed twice to cover his embarrassment, and then continued to emphasize, "I'm just trying to protect the Si family's reputation, so you won't embarrass the Si family. Don't overthink it!"

Jiang Ran looked at his eagerness to explain, it was as if he had "I didn't stand up for you" written all over his face.

The explanation was too abrupt, which inexplicably warmed her heart.

Seeing Jiang Ran smiling but remaining silent, Si Zuochen felt a flash of embarrassment on his face. He frowned and couldn't help but ask, "What are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing." Jiang Ran smiled slightly. "It's just that I suddenly realized you're very considerate of the Si family's reputation when you're out and about. You have a strong sense of responsibility."

Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen's expression softened slightly. He looked up at the homeroom teacher but did not respond further.

Until the end of the parent-teacher meeting, the two did not exchange any further words, and when they left, the parents next to them looked at them with scrutiny.

Wherever she went, people would reflexively give way.

Seeing this, Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow slightly and chuckled softly, "Am I some kind of fierce demon? Is it really necessary?"

Si Youlin listened to her self-deprecating humor and pursed his lips slightly: "More or less."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Ran lowered her eyes to look at him and suddenly chuckled softly.

As soon as Jiang Ran stepped out of the school gate, she saw her conspicuous sports car parked outside the school, and a look of surprise flashed across her face.

The driver approached her, handed her the keys, and explained, "Miss Jiang, Mr. Jiang asked me to deliver these."

Miss Jiang?

Si Zuochen and Si Youlin exchanged a glance. Everyone addressed her as Mrs. Si, a rather unusual title at first glance.

But who is Mr. Jiang?

A hint of doubt appeared in their eyes.

Jiang Ran didn't care at all about how he addressed her, but secretly admired Jiang Yuechen's thoughtfulness.

He nodded and replied in a low voice, "Okay, thank you for your hard work."

The driver waved repeatedly, said goodbye, and then turned and left.

Seeing this, Si Youlin couldn't help but want to ask, but Si Zuochen stopped him with a look.

Si Youlin forcibly suppressed his curiosity and pursed his lips tightly.

Jiang Ran drove the two back to the villa. The car was quiet during the journey. Jiang Ran looked at the two in the rearview mirror and saw Si Youlin looking out the window, his eyes thoughtful.

Si Zuochen lowered his eyes slightly, his expression unreadable. As if sensing the gaze fixed on him, he suddenly looked up. Before Jiang Ran could look away, their eyes met, and they stared at each other in bewilderment.

Jiang Ran showed no sign of panic, feigning surprise as if she had just looked over, raising an eyebrow slightly, and asked, "What are you planning to eat tonight?"

Si Zuochen curled his lips and scoffed, "So you're really treating the kitchen like your home turf now?"

Jiang Ran sensed the sarcasm in his words and raised an eyebrow, asking, "What? Is it not allowed?"

"What does this have to do with me?" Si Zuochen frowned slightly, his face showing displeasure.

Si Youlin watched as the two resumed their usual bickering and arguing, sighed inwardly, and then asked, "Why is it you who's here for the parent-teacher conference today?"

Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen also looked up at Jiang Ran, his eyes filled with doubt.

Jiang Ran glanced around, then looked ahead and explained gently, "I overheard the housekeeper mention it, and since I haven't participated in your campus life yet, I took the initiative to offer my services."

"It's just that something came up at the last minute, so I was delayed for a while."

Si Zuochen frowned upon hearing this and said sarcastically, "Only now you're thinking of getting involved? Too late!"

Why didn't you do this sooner?

Listening to Si Zuochen's accusations, Jiang Ran pursed her lips and glanced at him sideways: "Don't get cocky just because you get a little praise!"

After saying that, Si Zuochen's expression froze for a moment, then he sneered, "This is your true nature. What were you pretending for just now?"

Um? ? ?

A look of confusion flashed across Jiang Ran's face. Had they gotten addicted to bickering?

Why am I being criticized even though I'm being nicer?

Seeing Si Zuochen awkwardly lower his eyes and stop talking, Jiang Ran pouted and ignored him.

After returning to the villa, Jiang Ran drove the car into the underground garage, while Si Zuochen and Si Youlin went ahead.

Jiang Ran, after exchanging sarcastic remarks with her superior Zuo Chen, lowered her eyes slightly and slowly walked towards the kitchen.

She often brews Chinese medicine, and has clearly become a regular here. The servants are not surprised; after a brief greeting, they go about their own business.

Jiang Ran stood in the kitchen, lost in thought. Cooking?

He then shook his head to himself: "No, no."

Cooking is her weakness; she always gives herself away as soon as she tries.

Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly looked at the earthenware pot next to him, his eyes lit up, and he immediately began to prepare.

————

"Knock knock knock—"

Suddenly, there was an abrupt knocking on the door.

Si Youlin, seeing no movement, asked loudly, "What is it?"

A servant's voice drifted slowly from outside: "Young Master, Madam wants you to come downstairs for dinner."

Upon hearing this, Si Youlin turned to look at Si Zuochen with a surprised expression. Si Zuochen pondered for a moment, then nodded.

After receiving approval, Si Youlin replied, "Okay, we'll go down right away."

The servant acknowledged and then turned to leave.

A hint of doubt flashed across Si Youlin's face: "She's been eating alone lately, so why did she specifically send someone to call us today?"

Si Zuochen also looked puzzled and replied softly, "Who knows? Let's go down and take a look."

Both of them were filled with doubt as they slowly walked downstairs, where they saw Jiang Ran already sitting to the side. When she saw them, she smiled and asked, "You've come down?"

Si Zuochen did not respond, but his gaze swept across the table and noticed the soup bowl on the table, though he could not tell what was inside.

Si Youlin followed closely beside him, and the two of them sat down and looked down into the bowl.

"Medicinal cuisine?" Si Zuochen frowned as he smelled the faint aroma of Chinese medicine emanating from the dish.

Jiang Ran saw the troubled look on his face, raised an eyebrow, and looked at him with a hint of amusement.

Noticing Jiang Ran's gaze, Si Zuochen pursed his lips, said nothing, and simply picked up his spoon and took a bite.

Seeing this, Si Youlin also picked up a spoon and started eating.

When Si Yanxiao came downstairs, he saw this harmonious scene. Jiang Ran smiled and looked down at Si Zuochen and Si Youlin. The atmosphere around them looked very warm.

This interaction was clearly unexpected for him; his brow furrowed slightly, and a hint of displeasure flashed across his face.

Remembering that Si Youlin had spoken well of her in front of him before, Si Yanxiao became even more determined in his heart.

They concluded that Jiang Ran had deliberately done this to try and bribe the two children to speak well of her, and that she had ulterior motives.

Just then, Lin Yu noticed Si Yanxiao standing in the stairwell, and exclaimed in surprise, "Sir?"

Hearing the sound, Jiang Ran looked up and saw that Si Yanxiao, realizing he had been discovered, turned around and prepared to leave.

But a voice called out from behind, "Wait!"

Si Yanxiao paused, turned to look at Jiang Ran, and a hint of hostility flashed across his face.

Si Zuochen and Si Youlin then called out, "Daddy."

Upon hearing this, Si Yanxiao could no longer leave directly. He could only walk towards the dining table and nod slightly to the two of them in response.

Then he looked up at Jiang Ran, his face showing displeasure.

Jiang Ran didn't care about his attitude at all. She pointed to another bowl of medicinal food on the main seat, smiled slightly, and said, "Yours is over there."

Si Yanxiao was taken aback, clearly not expecting that he would receive a share.

With a slight pursing of his lips, he walked towards his seat, looking down at the medicinal cuisine with an unreadable expression.

Just as Jiang Ran was about to speak, she saw him suddenly pick up the medicinal meal and throw it into the trash can.

This move came so suddenly that before anyone present could react, they heard Si Yanxiao's thin lips part slightly, his face showing disdain.

"Now you can bring up anything?"

He looked up at the servant beside him, his words sharp, but Jiang Ran understood the veiled meaning behind his words. Si Zuochen and Si Youlin's expressions also gradually turned ugly, and Jiang Ran glanced at them, noticing their expressions.

She smiled slightly and said reassuringly, "Let's go upstairs after we finish eating. We have some things to take care of."

Si Youlin frowned, about to speak, when Si Zuochen reached out and pulled him, his eyes filled with an ambiguous emotion as he looked at Jiang Ran.

He replied in a low voice, "Okay."

Then he turned and went upstairs with Si Youlin.

Si Yanxiao watched them go upstairs until they disappeared from sight, then scoffed coldly, "Are you protecting them?"

Jiang Ran looked up at him, remaining silent.

Si Yanxiao sneered, then said sarcastically, "It's too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost? Too bad it's already too late."

Who are you trying to impress by acting like this?

Hearing the disdain in Si Yanxiao's words, Jiang Ran's lips curled up slightly, a hint of sarcasm flashing across her face: "And what about you?"