Chapter 47 The Wizard of Oz "Punish me severely..."
"Xiao Cen is here? Come over here quickly."
The one who responded to Shen Cen was Jiang Shiyu's mother. Jiang's mother had an excellent temperament, and there was no sign of the years on her face. She looked a lot like the Hong Kong-style beauties that Shen Cen often saw in TV dramas when he was a child.
Shen Cen's first reaction was that Jiang Shiyu and Jiang Wanqi's outstanding appearance was all because they inherited it from their mother.
In comparison, Jiang's father appeared authoritative without being angry. From the moment the two entered until now, his face had remained tense, and his eyes were so calm that it was impossible to discern his current emotions. When he heard Chen Cen call him, he only coughed twice and did not give much of a response.
Shen Cen and Jiang Shiyu sat down next to Jiang's mother. Jiang Shiyu held her hand the whole time, as if giving her a reassurance. She was not as nervous as before, but she was still not very relaxed.
Jiang's mother noticed Shen Cen's restraint. "Xiao Cen, you and Shi Yu are married now, so just treat this place as your own home."
"Thank you, Mom." Shen Cen gave a quiet and gentle smile, turned around and picked up the gift she had bought with Jiang Shiyu before they came.
"Mom, Dad, this is a gift that Shi Yu and I prepared for you. I don't know if it will meet your expectations."
Jiang's mother wore a ruby necklace, exquisite and elegant. Jiang's father wore a watch, which was also quite expensive.
Jiang's mother had seen all kinds of expensive jewelry, but this one was different. It was a gift from her daughter-in-law, and she couldn't stop smiling: "Mom likes it. Xiao Cen is so thoughtful."
Jiang's father didn't pick up the box on the table; he just glanced at it and coughed several times, instantly making the atmosphere a bit tense.
Jiang Shiyu, who had been sitting next to him, said coldly, "If you're sick, call a doctor. It's not good to keep coughing like this."
"You..." Jiang's father was so angry that he couldn't catch his breath and coughed twice, but this time it wasn't intentional.
Jiang Shiyu added fuel to the fire: "It seems quite serious. Should I call the family doctor to take a look? As people get older, they need to pay more attention to their health."
Jiang's father's face turned red with anger, and he was about to explode. Shen Cen silently tugged at Jiang Shiyu's sleeve, signaling with his eyes that he was fine and not to argue with Jiang's father. However, it was clear that Jiang Shiyu had no intention of letting the matter rest.
Fortunately, dinner was served quickly, and Jiang's mother took the opportunity to smooth things over, thus putting an end to the commotion.
The dishes were all prepared by Jiang's mother at her own request, and they were especially plentiful, showing that she valued this meeting very much.
"Last time Wanqi told me, 'Xiao Cen, you're a teacher at Peking University,'" Jiang's mother asked.
Shen Cen nodded obediently: "Yes, I studied at Peking University before, and after graduation I stayed on as a lecturer. I've only been working here for a year."
Jiang's mother nodded approvingly, "That's right, Shi Yu also graduated from Peking University. Speaking of which, you two are alumni. Xiao Cen, do you know about this?"
"Mom, she..."
Before Jiang Shiyu could finish speaking, he heard Shen Cen reply, "I know."
A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He turned his head to look at Chen Cen, only to see the woman answering earnestly, not at all like she was just trying to appease Jiang Ma.
Did Shen Cen know that he was also from Peking University?
"To be honest, Shi Yu's decision to apply to Peking University was also unexpected. He was in an international class in high school and originally planned to go abroad to find us, but in his second year of high school..."
Mr. Jiang interrupted Mrs. Jiang and tapped the table: "You should be quiet when you're eating."
Every time the topic of Jiang Shiyu's sudden change of heart and decision to take the college entrance examination as scheduled comes up, Jiang's father gets furious. Although it turned out that Jiang Shiyu's choice was correct and he achieved great success, Jiang's father still harbors resentment because Jiang Shiyu did not follow the path he had given him.
Jiang's mother rolled her eyes at Jiang's father, "If you think we're too noisy, then go back to your study and eat by yourself."
Jiang's father was speechless after being choked.
Jiang's mother ignored Jiang's father and continued chatting with Jiang Shiyu and Shen Cen. During the conversation, she mentioned Jiang Wanqi's agreement to the arranged marriage.
"It's with the second young master of the Qi family. But this is strange. Your father called her about the marriage proposal before, and she threw a huge tantrum. But a few days later, she called back and said that she agreed to the marriage."
Shen Cen was also taken aback. Back on Xingwan Island, she had personally heard Jiang Wanqi strongly resist the arranged marriage and her attitude was very firm. How could she suddenly agree to the marriage? Didn't she like Fu Cheng?
She exchanged a puzzled look with Jiang Shiyu, but the man curled the corners of his lips and whispered in her ear, "Jiang Wanqi is faking it, trying to anger Fu Cheng."
"You two are whispering behind Mom's back."
Jiang Ma's eyes curved into a smile, and her words sounded like she was scolding the two of them, but she was actually just joking.
Seeing that no one at the table wanted to talk to him, Jiang's father felt a little embarrassed. He put down his bowl, got up with a gloomy expression, and prepared to go back to his study. Before leaving, he said to Jiang Shiyu, "Come to my study after you finish eating."
"Oh—" Jiang Shiyu deliberately dragged out the last syllable, looking reluctant.
After dinner, Jiang's mother pulled Shen Cen aside to talk on the sofa, while Jiang Shiyu went to the study to find Jiang's father.
After Jiang Shiyu walked away, Jiang's mother spoke to Shen Cen, "Xiao Cen, are you the girl Shiyu liked in high school? I'm quite pleased that you two ended up together."
Who was Jiang Shiyu's crush in high school?
Shen Cen's mind went blank for a moment, and she was a little dazed. She tried her best to calm herself down, but her voice still trembled slightly: "Mom, I... I didn't mean it."
She didn't even know which high school Jiang Shiyu went to, and the two of them had never met. How could she possibly be the girl Jiang Shiyu liked?
Now it was Jiang's mother's turn to be puzzled, "Isn't that right? Xiao Cen, did you go to Jingjia Affiliated High School?"
"Yes, is Shi Yu also from Jingjia High School?" Shen Cen blinked. Jiang Shi Yu was also from Jingjia High School?
However, at the dinner table just now, Jiang's mother mentioned that Jiang Shiyu was in the international department, which was far away from their regular high school. In the eyes of the regular high school students, the students in the international department all came from wealthy and influential families, and they were from two different social classes. Moreover, most of the students in the international department did not look down on the students in the regular high school, so they did not have any interaction with each other at all. Whether participating in activities or attending classes, they were completely separate.
So the girl Jiang Shiyu likes should be from the international department, right?
Her eyes narrowed, a strange pang of sadness welling up inside her. She knew it wasn't a big deal even if Jiang Shiyu had had crushes before; after all, they were teenagers, and it was normal to have crushes.
only……
The thought that Jiang Shiyu had cared for another girl as much as he did now, that his heart and eyes were filled with her, and that he might have even told that girl "I like you" and thought about spending his life with her, made Shen Cen feel as if a thread was being pulled in her heart, causing a bitter, aching pain.
“Shi Yu is from the High School Affiliated to Peking University. Hey, I see you’re a year younger than Shi Yu, Xiao Cen. Shi Yu even confessed his feelings to you after your college entrance exams.” Jiang’s mother was increasingly puzzled.
Although she was abroad at the time, she had been looking after Jiang Shiyu and naturally discovered that he liked a high school girl.
Later, Jiang Shiyu told them that he didn't plan to come to the United States and wanted to take the entrance exam for Peking University. She also asked him privately if it was related to this girl, and Jiang Shiyu did not deny it.
She also knew that Jiang Shiyu planned to confess his feelings to that girl after she finished her college entrance exams, but she didn't know why he didn't succeed. However, Jiang Shiyu had also told her that he would never like anyone else in his life except that girl. If he couldn't be with her, he would rather stay single for the rest of his life.
As time went by, she was about to forget about the matter, until last year when Jiang's father wanted Jiang Shiyu to marry into the family, Jiang Shiyu immediately refused.
Jiang Shiyu found her: "Mom, do you remember what I told you a few years ago?"
Jiang's mother suddenly remembered and exclaimed in shock, "You don't... still like that girl?"
"yes."
This was an unspoken secret between the mother and son. She kept her promise and didn't tell Jiang's father, but she also found a way to help Jiang Shiyu turn down the marriage.
Then in May of this year, she heard Jiang Shiyu say that he was married, and she naturally guessed that it was that girl, because Jiang Shiyu would never be with anyone else.
However, judging from Shen Cen's reaction now, he clearly doesn't know about this matter, and it even seems that he didn't know Jiang Shiyu at all in high school.
She was momentarily confused about the situation. Fearing that her words might affect her two children, Jiang's mother quickly said, "Xiao Cen, um, maybe Mom misremembered."
"Mom, it's okay. It's normal for Shi Yu to have a girl he likes in high school."
Even as he said this, Chen Cen still felt as if a stone was about to fall and shake inside his heart...
-
Meanwhile, in Jiang's father's study.
Jiang Shiyu pushed the door open and entered, speaking without any politeness: "What is it, Chairman Jiang?"
Jiang's father took a sip of tea, trying his best not to get angry because of Jiang Shiyu's sarcastic remarks.
"I offered you marriage before, with so many rich heiresses to choose from, including several who have liked you since childhood, but you refused! Now, you suddenly find a woman to marry. Don't try to fool me with the same excuses you gave your grandmother. I've checked, and you two had no connection whatsoever. I really don't know what's wrong with those rich heiresses that you'd just marry anyone to deliberately annoy me?"
Jiang Shiyu frowned, his eyes hardening with icy coldness. He said coldly, "What makes Xiao Cen inferior to those young ladies you've set your sights on?"
In his heart, no one was qualified to compare with Shen Cen. Shen Cen was priceless to him, the best girl in the world.
"Marrying her was not a casual choice."
“Dad,” Jiang Shiyu rarely called him “Dad” so solemnly, “Let me tell you this: without Xiao Cen, I, Jiang Shiyu, would not have reached this position today.”
Without Shen Cen, he wouldn't have persisted in his dream of playing games.
If he hadn't reunited with Shen Cen in high school, he might have continued living a muddled life. But it was that chance encounter on the first day of his second year of high school, and after the first monthly exam for the first year of the regular high school, when he learned that Shen Cen would be giving a speech at the flag-raising platform as the top student in the grade, that made him sneak off to the playground and hear Shen Cen's speech entitled "Dreams." He felt as if the energetic and dream-filled version of himself had come back to life.
...
He couldn't help himself and told Jiang's father everything. After listening, Jiang's father remained silent for a long time before finally nodding and saying, "I understand."
However, after returning home, Jiang Shiyu noticed that Shen Cen seemed a bit off. He assumed it was because Jiang's father's attitude at the Jiang family home earlier that day had upset Shen Cen, even though Jiang's father had clearly softened his tone by the time they left, and even told them to be careful on the road.
He hugged Shen Cen and coaxed her, "I'm sorry, my dad's attitude was really bad today, and it made our little Cen suffer."
"I'm fine."
"You said you were fine, but your lips are so pouty you could hang a bottle of soy sauce on them." Jiang Shiyu said, about to kiss her, but Shen Cen dodged away.
Jiang Shiyu realized that Shen Cen didn't seem to be angry because of Jiang's father's attitude; it seemed that he had done something to upset her.
He forcefully pulled Shen Cen closer, lifting her onto his lap until they were face to face. He held Shen Cen tightly around the lower back. Shen Cen struggled a few times to no avail, then buried her face in Jiang Shiyu's neck and bit him fiercely in protest.
No matter how hard she bit, the force was never great. To Jiang Shiyu, it felt like a tiny ant had pecked at him; there was only a tingling sensation, no pain.
"Alright," he patted Shen Cen's back patiently, as if coaxing a child, "Xiao Cen, tell me what I did that made you unhappy, and you can punish me severely."
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