Chapter 163 That's terrible!
After learning that the person behind the cricket incident had overheard the whole thing by the person's girlfriend, the truth came out.
The young ladies sat there awkwardly for a while before making excuses to grab their bags and leave. Before leaving, they secretly glared at Zhu Ting—she knew everything but wouldn't say anything, watching them make fools of themselves with amusement.
Shi Miao watched them leave with the cats entrusted with important tasks, silently cheering them on.
Perhaps it was because the earnest, expectant look on his face was too serious.
He was even misunderstood by Zhu Ting.
Don't take their words to heart.
Zhu Ting put down the cake fork and sighed almost imperceptibly.
"Although times have changed, some old-fashioned people still only have the idea of carrying on the family line in their minds, adhering to the outdated idea that sons should be well educated and daughters only need to be good at choosing men."
Girls who grow up being brainwashed in this way are naturally prone to falling into the dilemma of prioritizing whether a stranger of the opposite sex is suitable to be a marriage partner.
Shi Miao propped her chin on her hand and nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
She hadn't forgotten the purpose of her visit. Holding her teacup, she took a sip of the sweet milk tea and asked casually, "Old stubborn man... does Grandpa Yan count?"
Zhu Ting looked at her in surprise, "Did Jiang Yingxu say anything to you?"
Shi Miao gave a vague "hmm".
Zhu Ting curled her lips in a mocking smile, "Of course it counts, why wouldn't it?"
Zhu Ting was betrothed to Yan Zhaozhou when she was young, so her parents often sent her to stay at Yan's house for short periods of time when she was a child.
Both sets of elders wanted them to develop a relationship in advance.
But what do eight- or nine-year-old kids know? They just see it as another playmate to run around with.
Once out of sight of their elders, they ran and played together in the garden of the old house.
A game of hide-and-seek.
Zhu Ting slipped into the third-floor terrace, taking advantage of her small size to hide behind a wide, plump porcelain vase, and carefully gathered up her skirt.
She held her breath and waited for the sound of Yan Zhaozhou's footsteps.
But unexpectedly, they heard the sound of a cane tapping on the ground.
Yan Zongjing's voice was deep and reprimanding, "How old are you? Still playing childish tricks with them."
The person who was reprimanded said "I'm sorry" softly.
Zhu Ting recognized the voice as that of Shuli's brother.
Although she was young, she knew she shouldn't eavesdrop on other people's conversations.
But Grandpa Yan is scolding someone right now, and if she suddenly goes out, it will definitely embarrass Shuli.
Just as she was struggling with this, Yan Zongjing spoke coldly, "Shuli, you are the successor I have chosen. Unlike Xiaozhou, you need to be perfect enough to satisfy me. You need to know that you don't have many opportunities to make mistakes."
"Don't be like your good-for-nothing father, who spends all his time fooling around with the daughter of a poor family. He's a good-for-nothing!"
"Remember who you are."
"The rise and fall of the family rests on your shoulders."
The cane struck the ground heavily, making a chilling sound.
"I don't want to see you abandoning your studies and your status to hang out with Xiaozhou and that girl from the Zhu family again."
“…Yes, I understand, Grandpa,” Yan Shuli replied in a low voice.
Yan Zongjing stared at the boy with the piercing gaze of a hawk, his eyes fixed on him with a stern expression, until the boy's back began to tremble slightly before he looked away.
"Go to the study, your teacher is already waiting for you."
Yan Shuli agreed and bowed slightly, "Thank you for your guidance, Grandpa."
He turned around and walked steadily downstairs to the study, his figure quickly disappearing at the top of the stairs.
Yan Zongjing stood there for a while longer.
Just then, Yan Zhaozhou came up the stairs with a thud, his forehead still covered in sweat from running and playing.
Upon seeing Yan Zongjing standing by the terrace, he immediately stopped in his tracks. "Grandpa."
Yan Zongjing beckoned, and after Yan Zhaozhou came over, he raised his hand and patted his head. His tone was no longer so stern, but more affectionate, like that between grandfather and grandson.
"You're all sweaty from running... What are you playing?"
Yan Zhaozhou chuckled: "It's nothing, I was just practicing my spoken English with Zhu Ting!"
Yan Zongjing patted him on the shoulder, "Go wipe your sweat, or you'll catch a cold."
Yan Zhaozhou obediently agreed.
The two went downstairs one after the other.
After a while, Zhu Ting finally dared to move her numb legs, stumbled to her feet while holding onto the railing, and ran down quickly, avoiding people.
She never told anyone else about this.
Even today.
Looking into Shi Miao's clear, round eyes, which seemed to naturally carry a sense of warmth and comfort, one would unconsciously reveal what had been hidden in their heart for many years.
After Zhu Ting finished speaking, he raised his hand and pressed his temples.
"That old man from the Yan family, tsk, he's obsessed with the eldest grandson of the eldest son and the bloodline of the Yan family. He's more feudal than the Qing Dynasty people buried underground."
"Don't be fooled by how he used to value Yan Shuli the most, bringing him into the group and nurturing him, as if he doted on him immensely."
“If Yan Shuli hesitates for even a moment and doesn’t submit his resignation after this baby swap incident, the old man will have him removed from the group.”
Zhu Ting lazily propped her face up with her hand and said slowly, "So, those people know nothing, which is why they say it's a pity, and that Yan Shuli is too young and too impulsive."
"I felt that I should at least rely on the relationships I've had with the Yan family over the years to plan a way out for myself before leaving."
"In reality, the old man won't give him that chance."
"No amount of years of affection can compare to the importance of blood ties."
As Zhu Ting spoke, she picked up a piece of soufflé cut into small pieces with her silver fork and fed it to Shi Miao.
She puffed out her cheeks and chewed.
Zhu Ting's cold and arrogant expression relaxed slightly as she reminded him, "When you're dating Jiang Yingxu, don't get involved in his affairs with the Yan family. If anyone from the Yan family says anything unpleasant to you, turn around and slap them across the face."
"What good is a man if he can't even protect his girlfriend from his family's troubles?"
Shi Miao nodded in understanding.
That's why Zhu Ting understood the Yan family so well.
A few days after this gathering, Jiang Yingxu and his team set off abroad to participate in an international competition.
Before leaving, the two finally found a small two-bedroom apartment located between Tsinghua University and Beijing Forestry University. It only had basic renovations, and they would have to buy some furniture themselves. However, it had a large balcony with great natural light, which suited the cat's taste perfectly.
Jiang Yingxu paid the rent and spent two evenings cleaning the house inside and out with practiced ease.
They even urgently ordered a brand new double bed, which was delivered to the rented apartment.
He plans to choose more furniture and soft furnishings with Shi Miao after he returns from the competition.
[Jiang Yingxu: We're on the plane.]
He sent me a photo of the national Olympic team lining up to board the plane, and in the corner, Lai Cheng made a funny face at the camera.
[Shi Miao: I don't see my boyfriend?]
[Shi Miao: Where did you hide my boyfriend? [Angry cat emoji]]
There was a moment of silence on the other end, then a message popped up saying "typing is in progress," before falling silent again.
Then they sent over a photo.
It's clearly from his perspective.
Jiang Yingxu, dressed in black trousers, sat in a chair, tilting his head slightly to look out the porthole. His handsome features were lowered, but the corners of his lips were slightly upturned.
Shi Miao could picture him silently approaching Lai Cheng after receiving her message, handing over his phone, and asking him to take a picture for him.
She smiled, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
[Shi Miao: Yes, this is my boyfriend! [Kissing emoji]]
A human who obeys whatever you ask, truly worthy of being chosen by the King of Cats!
Shi Miao was lying on her newly bought double bed, swinging her legs and chatting with Jiang Yingxu before takeoff.
Suddenly, I heard a knocking sound on the door outside.
She thought it was her takeout that had arrived, and muttered to herself that it was so fast today. She excitedly slipped on her slippers and went to open the door.
The door opened.
Two tall, muscular bodyguards in black surrounded a man who looked to be about fifty years old and had a fairly kind face.
"Hello, Miss Shi. I am the butler of the Yan family."
The butler smiled politely, "Our master would like to meet you."
Shi Miao blinked.
Wow!
She excitedly tapped the system: "System, it looks like the check-throwing segment we love is coming soon!"
They even deliberately chose a time when Jiang Yingxu was flying abroad to participate in an international competition, and he had to hand in his phone upon arrival at the venue, meaning he wouldn't receive any messages during the competition.
That's terrible!
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