Arriving at the Software Avenue Central Residence at the agreed time, Jiang Shuting's studio apartment was a mess. It was the first time Jiang Shuting had ever been to her place. She saw instant noodles, drinks, and snack bags scattered everywhere on the table, and clothes piled haphazardly on the sofa and bed.
There was nowhere to put the fruit I brought.
"Do you never clean?" Jiang Shuya turned around and looked around, saying bluntly, "How can Chen Lin tolerate such a mess?"
She knew that her younger sister had never liked doing these things since she was little and never contributed anything to housework. She was surprised that her younger sister was still like this now that she was so old, and she couldn't stand it.
“He usually does the cleaning, but he’s been working overtime at his company lately and doesn’t have time to come over, so this is how it is. Don’t be upset, I’ll call a part-time cleaner to come over.” Jiang Shuting picked up her phone to make a call, but Jiang Shuya stopped her.
"You take care of Tangtang for a while, I'll take care of it." Seeing her younger sister carry Tangtang to the balcony, find a large garbage bag, and start cleaning, washing, mopping, wiping the table, folding the quilt, and tidying up the clothes, until all the dirty clothes were put into the washing machine, Chen Lin pushed open the door and came in, looking travel-worn, carrying a large black bag. Opening the bag, a black digital camera with a flash came into view.
Chen Lin took two photos of Jiang Shuting and Tangtang to demonstrate, and then taught her how to adjust the flash mode and zoom mode. He also explained the other functions. The overall operation was very simple, and Jiang Shuting was able to use it after trying it twice. However, she still needed to practice her photography skills. Fortunately, the requirements for photos of genuine designer clothing were not very high; as long as the picture was clear, it was fine.
After tidying up Shuting's room, the group went downstairs to a restaurant for dinner. They ordered some northern specialties, some of which were spicy. Jiang Shuya wasn't very hungry, so she ate two pan-fried buns she had brought, asked for a glass of water, and fed Tangtang some rice cereal. Meanwhile, Chen Lin kept putting food on Shuting's plate, watching her eat with a doting expression. Jiang Shuya smiled without saying a word. Tangtang, sitting in her lap, saw her aunt eating so heartily that saliva was bubbling from her mouth. She licked her tongue and made babbling noises, which made everyone laugh.
"Sister, I'm thinking of quitting my job," Jiang Shuting suddenly blurted out, without stopping the food she was picking up with her chopsticks.
"Oh, so what are your plans next?" Jiang Shuya chuckled inwardly when she saw Chen Lin's furrowed brows.
“This job isn’t what I like. I want to start my own business. I’ve only done the initial planning so far. The project I’m currently working on isn’t finished yet. I’ll hand it over when it’s finished. It will take about three months, and then I can do what I like. Didn’t you want to do personal shopping? I’ll teach you how to open an online store. You can come whenever you have time. You have zero computer skills. If you don’t know these things, how will you open an online store?”
Jiang Shuya knew that once her sister made up her mind, she would do it anyway, so she didn't object. However, Chen Lin, who was sitting next to her, noticed that Jiang Shuya didn't immediately object, and his expression changed slightly. He patiently tried to persuade her: "Shuting, are you really going to start your own business and not work anymore? I don't have high expectations for you. I just hope we can stay stable, which includes your job. You've worked so hard to get this promotion opportunity. Are you really going to give it up so easily? All the years you've spent studying your major will be wasted. You'd better think it through before making a decision."
At this point, Jiang Shuting became visibly impatient: "Does my major and my ideal job only come about through working? Why are you making demands of me, or is it your family making demands of me? If I can't even do what I want to do, is there any point in us being together? Do you think you can look down on me just because you've made outstanding contributions at work? The era of big data is just the beginning; there will be even more groundbreaking algorithms to come. It seems like I also contributed to the breakthrough in Yiyun Big Data's research and development."
After Jiang Shuting finished speaking, she stopped looking at him and continued eating, acting as if it were none of her business.
Jiang Shuya stared at her blankly, then glanced at Chen Lin. He adjusted his glasses, pursed his lips, and remained silent.
Jiang Shuya always thought that Chen Lin fell in love with Shuting at first sight and devoted everything to her, which naturally included appreciation, recognition, and affirmation. The beautiful years only last a few years. Shuting's appearance was not particularly outstanding, and she never dressed herself up seriously, but she was very much to Chen Lin's eye. She had poor self-care ability, did not like to tidy up, had little social interaction, and had zero emotional gaps. She was focused on her academic studies, calculations and simulations, and did not communicate much with her family, but she never lied.
After hearing what she had said, she understood that even after Shuting ran away from home, Chen Lin was unwilling to file for divorce. They might have genuinely loved each other, used each other, but inevitably hurt each other as well. After finishing the meal, Jiang Shuya quickly paid the bill. As they parted, Chen Lin looked reluctantly at the camera bag. Jiang Shuya noticed his reluctance and smiled, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of it and return it to you within a month. I'll buy a new one myself later."
"No need to return it, it's yours." Jiang Shuting
"Huh! What did you say!" Jiang Shuya asked. "This is mine. It was a company reward for me during the mid-year celebration. I thought it was a bit too big, so I gave it to him."
Jiang Shuting said without a care
Jiang Shuya opened her mouth but didn't continue. She knew that when her sister said she would give it to her, she wasn't just saying it. Usually, she was taciturn and sparing with her words. She never showed any regret for what she said or did. But how could she really accept such a valuable gift? She thought that she would return it immediately after using it. She knew that the person standing next to her was not a very generous person, and she had never thought of taking advantage of her own sister. Naturally, she couldn't let a rift appear between them.
Jiang Shuya hung the camera on her body, secured Tangtang behind her, and said goodbye to Shuting. Tangtang followed suit with a happy expression, and Shuting also showed a childlike smile. As the car drove off, the smiles grew farther and farther away.
After getting home and washing up in the evening, Jiang Shuya was surprised to see Huang Minghao back. In the few days since he returned, he had rarely been home at night, living a life of reversed day and night. Wasn't he out playing cards and drinking with that group of people all night long? Seeing her looking at him curiously, he ignored her, took a towel and went into the bathroom. A moment later, he came out shirtless, drying his wet hair as he said, "We've sold out of grapes. Can you help Third Aunt sell some? She has a lot of grapes, and she's a proper relative of ours. Don't get confused about who's closer."
"You're back now, aren't you? Since we're relatives, you should put in more effort. What kind of skill is it to just sit at the table and agree?" Jiang Shuya said indignantly.
Huang Minghao threw down the towel, his face contorted with rage, and shoved Jiang Shuya, saying, "What did you say? Say it again."
This action almost knocked Tangtang down as well.
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