Chapter 73 The CEO and the female celebrity are a perfect match!
"Jiang Sui, who's coming to your parent-teacher meeting tonight?"
"My dad." Jiang Sui glanced at Jiang Deyu. "What's with that expression? Don't you want to see my dad?"
"No way," Jiang Deyu quickly waved his hand. "I thought that busy CEOs like Uncle Jiang would send their secretaries to parent-teacher meetings."
Stereotypes.
"You watch too many TV dramas."
Jiang Sui and Xia Fan spoke at the same time.
Jiang Deyu looked around, slowly leaned closer to Jiang Sui, and asked her in a very low voice, "Your dad came this time, so will it be your mom's turn to come next time?"
"ah?"
"Could you ask your mom to sign my autograph? I've only ever seen celebrities on TV."
Jiang Deyu had initially guessed that Jiang Sui's parents were divorced, but after meeting Jiang Yunzhao, he no longer believed it.
Jiang Sui's mother must have some special status, making it inconvenient for her to appear in public casually.
"Jiang Sui, is your mother a female celebrity?"
On the high-speed train from Jiangda back to Xunning, Jiang Deyu suddenly asked a question.
"..."
He naturally took Jiang Sui's silence as an affirmative answer.
"Just like in the TV shows, the CEO and the female celebrity are a perfect match!"
"Jiang Deyu, did you secretly read the class monitor's novel?"
"I didn't, I didn't, don't talk nonsense." Jiang Deyu immediately denied it three times.
—
Jiang Sui was surprised that Jiang Deyu actually took it seriously, so she quickly clarified, "My mother is not a celebrity."
"no?"
"No, that's not true."
"Could he be a researcher working on some classified project?"
Looking at Jiang Deyu's wildly imaginative ideas, Jiang Sui was completely baffled. "Well, we'll have a chance to meet again eventually."
Actually, you see each other every day.
Jiang Sui silently added in her mind.
"All right."
It's strange, though. She looks a lot like Su Yinian and lives in her house, so why doesn't anyone think that way?
Jiang Sui's thoughts wandered aimlessly.
What are you thinking about?
When Ji Jingyu returned from the office, she saw Jiang Sui resting her chin on one hand and casually drawing circles on the test paper with the other, almost filling in all the blank answer spaces.
Jiang Sui lazily tilted her head to look at him, her fair face bathed in the bright colors of the classroom, like a beautiful kitten that had just woken up.
She never kept any secrets from Ji Jingyu; she would tell him everything she was thinking.
"It's probably because it's dark under the lamp."
When Jiang Sui first arrived in Xunning, she claimed to be a relative of Su Yinian and said she would stay at her house for a while.
People naturally assumed they were just relatives and didn't think much of it.
"That seems to make sense."
"Um."
But even after Ji Jingyu sat back down, Jiang Sui's gaze remained fixed on him.
Unlike usual, it wasn't just about simple appreciation; it was more about exploration.
Which question can't you answer?
“No.” Jiang Sui shook her head. “I just feel that you’ve become a little strange since you came back from Jiangcheng.”
Ji Jingyu's heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained unchanged. "Really?"
"have."
Jiang Sui answered very affirmatively.
Her gaze never left Ji Jingyu's face; she looked intently and seriously, trying to find a flaw in his expression to prove her guess.
Ji Jingyu quietly let her examine it, and after a while, she gently reminded her, "This test paper is due in the next class. If you don't finish it now, you'll really be late."
"There are priorities. You are a hundred times more important than handing in the exam paper."
Jiang Sui's words made Ji Jingyu momentarily lose his composure. He smiled slightly and said, "Go do your homework. I'm really fine."
"That's a lie."
Jiang Sui muttered to herself as she looked away from Ji Jingyu, but her attention was not on the test questions at all.
What exactly went wrong?
They were almost inseparable during their trip to Wuhan, only separating for a few hours in the morning.
But Ji Jingyu was unfamiliar with Jiangcheng, so what could possibly happen in just a few hours?
At that time, Xia Fan was kidnapped by Gu Ci, and only Jiang Deyu stayed by Ji Jingyu's side.
If it were Jiang Deyu, it would be easier to handle.
Jiang Deyu, who was grinning foolishly, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine when he met Jiang Sui's scrutinizing gaze.
He suddenly looked down and poked Tong Xia's arm hard, "Quick, help me see if Jiang Sui is looking at me?"
Tong Xia was busy drawing auxiliary lines when Jiang Deyu's sudden movement almost caused her to draw them onto her desk.
His shout of "Jiang Deyu" was filled with murderous intent.
The person involved, however, was completely unaware of their mistake, wondering, "Is Jiang Sui still watching me?"
"You think you're Brother Ji? Jiang Sui doesn't even want to look at you."
Jiang Deyu glanced at her furtively and found that Jiang Sui was indeed not looking at him, as if the eye contact just now was just his illusion.
But Jiang Deyu's heart was still hanging in mid-air, with no place to settle down.
That look in his eyes always made him feel like Jiang Sui knew something.
He promised Brother Ji that he would keep it a secret.
What if Jiang Sui really comes to ask him?
Jiang Sui is so smart, he really has no confidence that he can fool her.
The thought of this possibility made Jiang Deyu restless.
As soon as Qin Lin entered through the back door, he saw Jiang Deyu with his buttocks twisted to the left and right, which infuriated him.
"What's wrong? Did fleas bite you on the stool?" Qin Lin rolled up the exercise book in his hand and slapped it on his shoulder. "Everyone is studying hard, but you're the only one who can't sit up straight. Sit up straight!"
Jiang Deyu was startled and patted his chest with lingering fear after seeing who it was. Even so, he still couldn't resist making sarcastic remarks: "You say you are a respected and virtuous dean of students, it is really not worthy of your status to use back channels."
"You brat," Qin Lin pointed his index finger at him several times, "you'll be in trouble at the parent-teacher conference tonight."
"No, please don't give me such special treatment, otherwise people will misunderstand and think my dad secretly gave you a gift."
This made all the classmates laugh.
Qin Lin was amused and said, "Come on, I'll give you 'special treatment' right now. Take your test paper and stand at the back!"
—
At 6:30 p.m., Jiang Yunzhao appeared in the classroom of Senior Three (2) class on time.
Grandma Ji arrived earlier than him and was already sitting in Ji Jingyu's seat.
Before leaving school, Ji Jingyu tidied up his and Jiang Sui's desks thoroughly.
At first glance, the two desks next to each other have completely different styles.
Ji Jingyu's desk was clean and tidy, with no extra items besides the necessary study materials.
Jiang Sui's desk was filled with all sorts of brightly colored and quirky stationery items. However, because these little things were arranged neatly, they did not look messy at all. Instead, they made this little corner lively and interesting.
There was a soft, plush cushion on the stool, and a storage bag containing her small blanket hung on the wall opposite the desk.
Jiang Sui is intolerant of both heat and cold, and since the weather turned cool, she has been using more and more thermal clothing every day.
Fortunately, with Ji Jingyu, the master of organization, there's no need for Jiang Sui to be "busy searching for treasures" every day.
"Hello, Aunt Ji." Jiang Yunzhao walked up to Ji Lanwan and greeted her quietly.
"You must be Sui Sui's father."
Although it was the first time Ji Lanwan had met Jiang Yunzhao, she guessed his identity at a glance.
Compared to her mother, Jiang Sui looks more like her father.
"Yes, it's me." Jiang Yunzhao smiled. "Thank you for taking care of Sui Sui during this time."
Jiang Sui often mentioned Grandma Ji across the street to him, saying that her dumplings were delicious, her noodles were delicious... and even the sachets she made smelled wonderful and were especially good at repelling mosquitoes.
"Sui Sui said that the beef noodles you cook are the best in the world."
After being asked about it so many times, even Jiang Yunzhao began to wonder what the world's best beef noodles actually tasted like.
“Sui Sui’s evaluation is too high.” Ji Lanwan’s eyes were kind and gentle, as if she was recalling some interesting past events. “She loved to eat this when she was a child. Every time I asked her what she wanted to eat, she would say she wanted beef noodles.”
At that time, Ji Jingyu was Jiang Sui's only good friend in Xunning. In addition, the kitten she had taken in was being raised at his house, so Jiang Sui often came to Ji's house to play during those days.
"Grandma Ji, I'm here."
Ji Lanwan liked this pretty and lively little girl very much, and she would prepare delicious food for her every time Jiang Sui came over.
What does Sui Sui want to eat?
The answer is always the same: "I want to eat beef noodles."
"Still eating beef noodles?" Ji Lanwan teased her. "Don't you ever get tired of eating them every year?"
While feeding the kitten goat milk powder, Ji Jingyu casually remarked, "My grandma can cook a lot of delicious food, and her dumplings are also very tasty."
“Of course I’ll never get tired of it.” Little Jiang Sui shook her head firmly. “Grandma Ji, I still want to eat beef noodles.”
"Okay, okay." Ji Lanwan patted her little head. "Then let's have beef noodles. When Sui Sui gets tired of it, Grandma will make you something else."
"Mm." Jiang Sui nodded emphatically.
At that time, they all thought Jiang Sui would stay by Su Yinian's side and stay in Xunning for a long time...
—
Jiang Yunzhao's expression grew increasingly strange. "You just said when I was a child. Who was a child?"
"Of course it's Sui Sui."
Jiang Yunzhao and Ji Lanwan exchanged a glance, both reading a hint of difference in each other's eyes.
"What do you mean by that? Have you met Sui Sui before?"
Ji Lanwan was confused by Jiang Yunzhao's words.
She didn't understand why the other person kept asking the same question that everyone already knew, but she still answered his question seriously: "Yes, when Sui Sui was eight years old."
Faced with the sudden appearance of the child, Su Yinian explained that the child's father had encountered some problems, so he sent the child to her for her to take care of.
Eight years old?
Nine years ago!
Jiang Yunzhao's pupils suddenly contracted.
He remembers what happened that year better than anyone else.
After being forced to separate from Su Yinian, Jiang Yunzhao would not have been able to hold on if Jiang Sui hadn't been by his side.
For a long time, Jiang Yunzhao and Jiang Sui were under house arrest by Jiang Zhenkai.
Although he had no worries about food and clothing, Jiang Yunzhao had no freedom at all. He couldn't even leave the villa, let alone take the child to find Su Yinian.
After his broken right leg healed, Jiang Yunzhao went to find Jiang Zhenkai.
No one knows what the father and son talked about in the study. All that is known is that the next day, Jiang Yunzhao officially joined the Jiang Group and gradually began to get involved in the group's affairs.
Everyone thought that the eldest son of the Jiang family had "returned to the right path," and that Su Yinian's appearance was just an insignificant ripple in his long life, not even worthy of being remembered.
The wind blows, and everything returns to normal.
But Jiang Zhenkai's probing, or rather, his attempts to tame Jiang Yunzhao, never ceased.
When Jiang Sui was eight years old, Jiang Zhenkai proposed that Jiang Yunzhao marry into the Fang family.
Jiang Zhenkai may not really like the Fang family, and he knows that Jiang Yunzhao doesn't like Fang Yanya, but Jiang Yunzhao has to marry Fang Yanya.
Because she was the wife he chose for him.
As long as Jiang Yunzhao still wants the Jiang family name, he must obediently listen to him.
To prevent Jiang Yunzhao from going against his word, Jiang Zhenkai deliberately took Jiang Sui away, ostensibly to help take care of her for a while, so as not to distract the groom and cause any problems at the wedding.
"Give me back Sui Sui!"
Upon learning that the child had been taken away, Jiang Yunzhao rushed into Jiang Zhenkai's office.
Seeing the panicked Jiang Yunzhao, Jiang Zhenkai calmly told the subordinate who was reporting to leave first, and then pointed to the chair opposite him, "Sit."
Jiang Yunzhao braced his hands on the desk, the bloodshot veins in his eyes clearly visible. "I've already agreed to marry Fang Yanya, so why are you taking Suisui away? Suisui has never been away from me for a single day since she was born. You took her away on your own initiative; she'll be scared!"
"Sui Sui is my granddaughter. She's with me. What do you have to worry about?"
Jiang Yunzhao's tightly furrowed brows did not relax; he did not trust Jiang Zhenkai. "Give me back the child."
Jiang Zhenkai scoffed, "Even if I don't give the child back to you, what can you do about it?"
This wasn't the first time Jiang Yunzhao had heard such words, and he had paid a heavy price for it.
It constantly reminded Jiang Yunzhao that there was a huge gap in strength between him and Jiang Zhenkai, and that he had no ability to challenge the other party.
Jiang Yunzhao rubbed his face vigorously and took a deep breath. Under these circumstances, he had no choice but to compromise. "I will marry Fang Yanya, but after the wedding, you must return Suisui to me."
Jiang Zhenkai looked at the dejected Jiang Yunzhao with a half-smile, "You're not in a position to bargain with me yet, but if you perform to my satisfaction, I might consider it."
After the wedding, Jiang Yunzhao did see Jiang Sui, but only in a hospital bed.
The nanny said that the child missed his father so much that he secretly ran away from her and got into a car accident on the way.
Whether out of guilt or satisfaction with Jiang Yunzhao's performance, Jiang Zhenkai allowed Jiang Yunzhao to take Jiang Sui away.
Since then, Jiang Yunzhao has become increasingly protective of Jiang Sui, and except for certain occasions where he must appear, he almost never allows Jiang Sui to come into contact with Jiang Zhenkai.
—
Ji Lanwan gently nudged Jiang Yunzhao, "Sui Sui's dad, what's wrong?"
Jiang Yunzhao suddenly came to his senses, his expression as if he had just woken up from a dream, and a layer of cold sweat suddenly spread across his back.
He covered his eyes with his hand as if he were collapsing, and slowly shook his head, saying, "I'm fine."
Jiang Sui had actually been to Xunning a long time ago, so why was he completely unaware of it?
Jiang Yunzhao wanted to ask more questions, but was interrupted by the homeroom teacher, Sun Hao, who said, "Dear parents, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this parent-teacher meeting..."
"After the parent-teacher meeting, could I take a little of your time?"
“Of course.” Ji Lanwan nodded.
Jiang Yunzhao's expression was not good; his intuition told Ji Lanwan that what happened back then was not so simple.
—
"Aunt Ji, want to ride back in my car?" The speaker was Jiang Deyu's father.
"No need, Sui Sui's dad will take me home. He wants to ask me how to make beef noodles."
Jiang Deyu's father's gaze lingered on Jiang Yunzhao for a moment, then he smiled and waved to him as a greeting.
"Alright, I'll head back now. If I stay any longer, that brat will start pretending to be asleep again."
After each parent-teacher meeting, the Jiang family's home was as lively as if it were Chinese New Year.
Chickens flew and dogs barked, ghosts howled and wolves howled—it was a lively and bustling scene.
On the bus.
"Do you know that Sui Sui's mother is..."
Jiang Yunzhao's mind was still a bit confused, and he asked almost anything that came to mind.
It was nothing like the strategic planning he displayed in the business world.
If the person opposite him were his competitor, he would have been utterly defeated long ago.
Ji Lanwan replied calmly and gently, "I know."
Su Yinian has no relatives; she grew up in an orphanage.
Not long after she gave birth to Jiang Sui, she was taken to Xunning by Jiang Zhenkai's men.
After Ji Jingyu was born, in order to increase income, Ji Lanwan rented out a single room in her home. Because the rental conditions were strict, the rent was not high.
By chance, Su Yinian became Ji Lanwan's tenant.
Ji He had just given birth not long ago, so Ji Lanwan quickly noticed the abnormality in Su Yinian's body.
In the days that followed, she cared for Su Yinian like a daughter, comforting her, encouraging her, and helping her adapt to life in Xunning.
Therefore, after having a certain economic foundation, Su Yinian bought the house opposite the Ji family without hesitation and continued to be Ji Lanwan's neighbor.
Ji Lanwan recounted Su Yinian's seventeen years in Xunning in extremely simple words.
But Jiang Yunzhao knew very well that without Ji Lanwan, he and Jiang Sui would probably never have had the chance to meet Su Yinian as she is now.
"Xiao Su really loves Sui Sui. I have seen her secretly wiping away tears countless times because she misses her child."
Ji Jingyu and Jiang Sui are about the same age.
So every time Su Yinian saw Ji Jingyu, watched him cry, watched him laugh, watched him roll over, walk, grow teeth, and talk... it was an unspeakable pain.
She clearly has children, but she can only speculate about whether Jiang Sui can crawl, sit up, grow her first baby tooth, or call out "Mama" by observing other people's children's growth...
There is a locked room in Su Yinian's house, which is filled with the little girl's belongings.
From baby cribs, onesies, and baby toys for infants to princess beds, princess dresses, and dolls of all sizes that teenage girls might like... everything is available.
She was prepared to never see her child again, but she couldn't resist the instinct of maternal love and desperately filled the room, which might never see its owner again.
Whenever she misses her child, Su Yinian stays inside for a long time.
"On the day Sui Sui arrived in Xunning, I realized that Xiao Su could smile so happily. Unfortunately, a few days later, Sui Sui was taken away again."
Ji Lanwan wasn't a talkative person, but she had too many doubts in her heart. "Since you sent Sui Sui over in the first place, why did you go back on your word and make Xiao Su Bai happy?"
Jiang Yunzhao listened quietly, his eyes red-rimmed, his voice barely audible, "I didn't."
Author's Note: Xiao Ji: Baby, I made the sachet [Let me see]
The information about sachets can be found in Chapter 26 [Heart].
Even the slippers and blankets that 17-year-old Sui Sui wear are prepared by her mother; the so-called tutoring for students is just an excuse.
Mommy loves our little princess so much!
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