Chapter 19
Xiang Wan had just arrived home and, not wanting to keep her guests waiting too long, simply changed into a formal outfit before going downstairs.
Wang Yidong had already informed her of the guest's identity, so she knew who was coming, but she was still somewhat surprised when she saw the person.
It wasn't anything else, but rather that the other person's attire was too formal.
The man who arrived had white hair and was leaning on a cane, but he was still wearing a suit. Although the suit was a casual style, it still looked a bit too formal on Mr. Shen.
The old master of the Shen family, Shen Feiyang's grandfather, was also the previous president of Mingshang Foods.
Since stepping down, he has rarely appeared in public. Even when he does attend an occasion, he always wears casual clothes.
Now, a younger person has taken the initiative to visit her, even wearing a suit that he hasn't worn in a long time. It doesn't seem like an elder visiting, but rather like someone who has come to visit on business.
The Xiang family and the Shen family have no business dealings. Old Master Shen's visit must be about Shen Feiyang.
I just didn't expect that only half a day after the incident, the Shen family would receive the news so quickly. Now that Old Master Shen has come to visit, they will only receive the news even faster.
But what did he come to see her for?
Xiang Wan was still considering how to start the conversation when Old Master Shen, who had his back to her, spoke up.
"Miss Xiang's geese?"
She paused for a moment upon hearing this, then looked at the evil little eyes flapping their wings incessantly in the distance, her face darkening.
That damn stupid goose who can't tell the occasion!
"I brought the geese raised in the countryside home to raise as a matter of fate."
Perhaps having overheard her 'slander' from afar, the goose clucked: "Quack—quack—quack-quack—"
"..."
Xiang Wan: I can't take it anymore.
If it weren't for Chen Yan's sake, she would have already given this stupid goose a good beating.
But with Old Master Shen still around, she couldn't make a scene, so she gave Wang Yidong a look, signaling her to quickly take that ungrateful goose away.
Wang Yidong understood immediately and turned to walk towards the direction of the green-haired man.
Once the distractions were gone, the two sat down on the sofa and began to talk.
Tea sets had already been set out in the courtyard, and Xiang Wan respectfully poured a cup of tea for Old Master Shen. Although he was wearing a suit, which implicitly elevated her status by a generation, she still observed the proper etiquette when pouring the tea.
"Mr. Shen, please have some tea." Old Master Shen's eyes showed increasing satisfaction.
The two chatted for a while until he called his men up. Seeing them carrying a long row of gift boxes, Xiang Wan became even more certain that he had come for Shen Feiyang.
“Miss Xiang, the Shen family will remember your standing up for my Youning. This is a token of our appreciation.”
Youning is Shen Feiyang's childhood name, which probably means that she is safe and sound.
The old master brought all sorts of food. It wasn't that the Shen family couldn't afford expensive gifts, but the Xiang family not only had plenty, but it would also tarnish the friendship between the two children, so all the food was exquisite.
However, they couldn't lose face for the Shen family, so all the food they brought was rare to find on the market.
The Shen family originally made their fortune in the pastry business, and some of their pastries were even unfamiliar to Xiang Wan.
Looking at the long row of pastry gift boxes on display, Xiang Wan's lips twitched inwardly: 'Old Master Shen really... put a lot of thought into this.'
Wang Yidong, standing behind him, was nearly speechless at the sheer number of pastries. He only managed to hold back his glances because he didn't want to embarrass the young lady, but he couldn't help but look at the pastries in front of him a few more times.
"Mr. Shen, there's no need to go to such trouble."
Grandpa Shen was actually a little nervous. Concern made him lose his composure, because he was worried that his granddaughter wouldn't be able to fit into Bei Yi's circle. In fact, he had secretly done background research on the people his granddaughter had been in contact with.
But most of them had ulterior motives, and after a while, Shen Feiyang stopped making friends with them.
Although Grandpa Shen didn't say it out loud, he was extremely worried. He was worried that Shen Feiyang would be bullied and that she would be lonely.
Until Xiang Wan appeared.
He had heard the name Xiang Wan when Shen Feiyang came home and said he wanted to transfer to Class 1.
The only daughter of the Xiang family. Even though the old master was enjoying his retirement at home, he had heard of her name. Although both the Shen and Xiang families were prestigious families, if it came down to seniority, the Shen family was still a step behind the Xiang family.
Old Master Shen had originally considered whether his family should try again to reach the Xiang family's level.
But less than two weeks later, he heard the name again, this time on behalf of his granddaughter.
Then Xiang Wan changed the subject: "But I will still accept these gifts. Please give my regards to Uncle Shen and Aunt Shen."
Upon hearing this, Shen Feiyang's grandfather beamed with joy, laughing like a child, completely unlike his former image as a business tycoon. He even warmly invited her to visit the Shen family.
"I will definitely pay a visit to the Shen family another day."
…
After Xiang Wan saw Grandpa Shen to the door, Chen Yan also got home from school. The two had dinner together, and then she went upstairs to take a shower.
I had just finished blow-drying my hair when I received a video call from my parents.
Because of their busy work schedules and the time difference, they rarely make video calls.
Looking at her parents on the screen, Xiang Wan couldn't help but tease them, "How come you two busy people have time to call me?"
The couple initially felt guilty for not having time to spend with their daughter, but seeing her joking around with them eased their guilt somewhat.
"Once we're done with this busy period, we'll come back to Beiyi before the New Year to spend the holiday with you."
Xiang Wan took a sip of the milk that Wang Yidong had just brought over, her eyes filled with a sly look that seemed to see through her without saying a word.
Her two career-minded parents have ambitions that don't stop there, and they will definitely be unable to come back to celebrate the Lunar New Year with her due to work commitments.
But she didn't blame them, because she was the same kind of person in her previous life.
The three chatted for a while longer through the screen, then hung up when a subordinate came to report to their parents.
After hanging up the video call, Xiang Wan slumped into a recliner, her expression somewhat blank. She had had a lot going on today, and her feelings were complicated.
She didn't realize it was almost midnight until she glanced at the alarm clock. She took the milk to Chen Yan's room and, seeing the light was still on, knocked and went in.
"Xiaoyan, are you asleep?"
The door was opened quickly, and Xiang Wan came in to find Chen Yan doing practice problems.
"Still studying so late?"
"The diagnostic test is coming up soon."
"But you can't let that interfere with your sleep; your health is the most important thing."
"Okay, sister."
As Xiang Wan handed him the milk and watched him tilt his head back to drink it, she wondered if Chen Yan hadn't met his mother-in-law, would he have had an even harder life than Shen Feiyang?
Shen Feiyang finally got to see her family. What did Chen Yanyou get in his previous life?
Or is it that only suffering awaits him?
Xiang Wan found herself feeling a sense of lingering fear as she thought about these things. If she hadn't impulsively brought him back in this life, how would Chen Yan have survived alone without his mother-in-law?
She had never felt this way about Zhou Chengze in her previous life, but she began to feel pity for Chen Yan.
The bonds between people may stem from these seemingly insignificant emotions. Her pity for Chen Yan marked the true beginning of their connection.
Thinking about this, Xiang Wan found that she didn't feel any aversion, but only a sense of novelty.
After finishing his milk, Chen Yan noticed Xiang Wan was still looking at him and asked with a puzzled expression, "What's wrong, sister?"
"It's nothing. Goodnight, kid."
Goodnight, sister.
After she left, Chen Yan put the exercise paper that he had deliberately spread out earlier into his desk and turned off the light.
He wasn't actually doing practice problems; he was just pretending to because he didn't want her to think he was waiting for her.
In fact, Chen Yan was waiting for her.
In the two years since Xiang Wan came to live with the Xiang family, they have gone from strangers to friends. Every night, Xiang Wan would bring milk and knock on his door.
He didn't like drinking milk, but he was incredibly attached to the feeling of her watching him drink it.
He had never felt at home. Even when he lived with his mother-in-law in Lijia Village, he always had a fear that they would be driven away by the villagers at any time.
But every night, the glass of milk that Xiang Wan brought him made him feel homesick.
This may not be his home, but he can rest here for a while.
If he could, he would prefer it to last as long as possible, but the more he lingered, the more he feared the day the truth would be revealed…
*
Two more weeks passed, and soon it was time for the opening ceremony of the sports meet.
Around the time of the Qingming Festival in early spring, the weather outside is neither too cold nor too hot, which is just right for holding a sports meet.
There were no events in the morning sports meet; after the opening ceremony, the classes entered the field in order. Xiang Wan didn't hold up a sign; instead, she chose to sit in the stands as a spectator.
The stands were divided according to grade and class. The third grade (A) class was on the south side, while Chen Yanzai's sixth grade class was on the far north side.
Xiang Wan did not sit in her own class, but went to Chen Yanzai's sixth grade (A) class.
"Xiao Yan".
When Chen Yan saw Xiang Wan come to find him, there was surprise and delight in his eyes.
Because he dressed as a woman, he wasn't very close to the boys and girls in his class, and his excessive aloofness made him seem like an outsider.
But he didn't care about any of that; the only thing he found a little troublesome was going to the toilet.
He rarely drank water at school because he didn't want to go to the girls' restroom.
When absolutely necessary, he would not go to the school toilet, but would walk a few more steps to the public toilet across the street.
Although Xiang Wan has publicly acknowledged that he is the 'younger sister' adopted by the Xiang family, Chen Yan never proactively refers to Xiang Wan as his older sister in class.
He was overjoyed to see Xiang Wan come to find him, but he kept his composure: "Sister, what brings you here?"
"Come to see you."
Each class had students holding up signs on the playground, so there were quite a few empty seats in the stands for each class. The seat next to Chen Yan happened to be empty, so she sat down there.
"Sister, why weren't you the one holding up the sign?"
Upon hearing this, Xiang Wan glanced at the playground below the stage. In the junior high school class, Gu An'an stood at the front, holding up a sign for Junior High School Class (A).
As a girl who was pampered by her family, she was naturally dazzling in a formal dress.
Xiang Wan merely glanced at her indifferently, her eyes showing no sign of liking or disliking.
When she first said she didn't want to hold up the sign, the class monitor came over and asked for her opinion. When Xiang Wan learned that Gu An'an wanted to hold up the sign, she didn't object, so she was able to hold up the sign.
Xiang Wan is naturally indifferent to emotions and doesn't have much like or dislike towards people or things. The reason she acted arrogantly towards Gu An'an before was because she wanted to bully others.
The Shen family contacted the Gu family afterward, and Gu An'an was also confined to her home for a month. Since she had received the appropriate punishment, Xiang Wan naturally would no longer target her.
She was about to answer why she hadn't raised the sign when she heard a voice appear out of nowhere behind her.
"Because she's coming to watch our match." As she spoke, Jiang Zhuochun took out two cups of milk tea from behind her and handed them to Chen Yan. "Hello, little sister, this is a gift."
“I am your sister’s friend, my name is Jiang Zhuochun.”
After saying that, he winked at Chen Yan.
"..."
"..."
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