Chapter 75 Legally speaking, aren't you me...?
Chapter 75
The atmosphere on the road was somewhat silent, and Jin Ran considerately refrained from making any jokes.
Many parents believe that children's emotions come and go quickly and don't need to be taken too seriously. However, from a psychological perspective, children are also independent individuals and they also need their own private space.
Perhaps it was precisely because Jin Ran never acted superior because of her age that Jiang Xuli was able to accept her step by step with ease.
Upon arriving at their destination, Jiang Xuli's emotions indeed calmed down somewhat.
He even proactively told Jin Ran the information he had gathered: "She set up a breakfast stall at the entrance of the primary school."
Do you know the exact location?
Jiang Xuli shook her head.
Jin Ran thought to himself, no matter how calm he appeared, he was still just a fifteen-year-old boy. He was bound to feel lost when he suddenly learned that he had been abandoned by his biological mother. Even so, it was quite remarkable that he could handle so many things.
That's right, Jin Ran had already guessed that Jiang Xuli had overheard her conversation with Jiang Mingxu.
Otherwise, given the boy's personality, he would never have done something like returning to the hotel alone after failing to find her.
"Then let's ask someone."
Jin Ran looked around and saw an older woman sitting in the shade at the entrance of a small shop. She bought two bottles of mineral water first, and then started chatting with her as if they were old friends. She was pretty, kind and polite, and soon took the opportunity to ask about the elementary school.
It's quite a coincidence that there are many schools nearby, but only one primary school: "Just walk straight ahead, there are road signs to guide you."
Jin Ran smiled and thanked her. The two followed the old lady's directions and went to find the place. In the distance, they heard a roar: "You damned Wang Er, I was blind to have followed you. If it weren't for you, I would be a wealthy lady by now!"
In an instant, the parallel footsteps stopped at the same time.
The school sign reads "Dongping Primary School." Twenty meters away, in an open space, is a breakfast stall. It's an open-air place with only a plastic sheet hanging overhead to block the sun. There are tables and chairs soaked in grease, and the air is filled with the smell of food and cooking fumes.
A woman in her thirties stood in front of the stall, hands on her hips, cursing loudly at the man frying dough sticks.
One minute they're complaining about their miserable life, saying they missed out on the chance to enjoy happiness.
One minute she's scolding men for being incompetent, saying they're not even as good as her ex-husband.
One of the diners, unable to bear it any longer, said something fair: "Hey Lotus, where are you going to find a big boss looking like this?"
The woman spat and said, "Do you know who the president of Mingji Technology is? He's my ex-husband!"
Everyone burst into laughter, clearly not believing her: "If your ex-husband is a CEO, why are you selling fried dough sticks here?"
"That's right, nowadays there's property division in divorce cases."
The woman became agitated: "I'm telling the truth! We have another son! And he's an ungrateful wretch! I should have drowned him back then!"
...
On the side of the road, Jin Ran subconsciously glanced at Jiang Xuli.
The boy pursed his lips tightly, his lower lip appearing somewhat pale from the effort.
Seeing that Lin He's words were getting increasingly offensive, she frowned, wanting to step forward to argue, but Jiang Xuli held her shoulder and said, "I want to eat a grilled sausage. Can you buy me one?"
Jin Ran paused, then nodded after a moment: "Then I'll go buy some grilled sausages, how about we meet on the roadside in half an hour?"
Jiang Xuli hummed in agreement.
After Jin Ran left, he stood there for a while, then walked towards the woman who was still talking incessantly.
On the other hand, thinking that it would take some time for the mother and son to meet for the first time, Jin Ran did not go to the agreed place immediately, but wandered around the neighborhood aimlessly.
She waited until there were five minutes left before heading there, and saw the boy standing by the roadside from a great distance.
The fifteen-year-old male high school student was tall and slender, with a straight and elegant back, like a bamboo that grows taller and taller, resilient yet unbreakable, verdant yet not gaudy.
She walked over in surprise: "Finished talking?"
As she spoke, she subtly observed the person in front of her and noticed that although Jiang Xuli was disappointed, she was still relatively calm, which made her secretly relieved.
It seems that nothing serious has happened.
Jin Ran, thinking this way, ignored the fleeting sarcasm in Jiang Xuli's eyes.
Actually, he had already prepared himself mentally before he came.
Lin He had never visited him in all these years, so she probably didn't have much genuine affection for her son. Therefore, when Lin He poured out her grievances to him and finally revealed her true intentions, telling him to ask his father for money, he wasn't surprised at all.
Out of gratitude for giving birth to her, Jiang Xuli transferred the only 20,000 yuan he had to Lin He. Although Lin He scoffed and cursed at him, she accepted the money without hesitation.
He felt incredibly disappointed. He had assumed Lin He was just that kind of person, until a boy of similar age appeared. Lin He instantly changed her attitude, showing concern for the boy and even offering to use the money he gave her to buy him things.
At that moment, Jiang Xuli understood everything.
It's not that she doesn't love her child, it's just that she doesn't love him.
Jiang Xuli never asked the question, "Why did you abandon yourself?"
Because it's no longer important.
"Yes, we're done talking."
Jiang Xuli didn't linger much, his gaze falling on her empty hands: "Where's my sausage?"
Jin Ran coughed awkwardly.
She thought Jiang Xuli was deliberately trying to get rid of her, but she didn't expect that he would actually ask her to eat grilled sausage.
Seeing her expression, Jiang Xuli understood everything and said speechlessly, "Let's go buy some sausages."
"Wait a minute."
Jin Ran stopped Jiang Xuli, then turned around and jogged to the breakfast stall. Under Lin He's wary gaze, she said, "Although I don't really want to deal with you, there's something I have to tell you."
With a serious expression, she said, word by word, "Xiao Li is not an ungrateful child. He worries about his father getting hurt, he saves stray kittens, and he stands up for his vulnerable classmates. He is a filial, kind, and loyal good boy."
"He doesn't say anything because you gave him life and because he's a good child, but that doesn't mean you can slander him at will."
Lin He was stunned.
Jin Ran finished saying what she wanted to say in one breath, and the anger that had been building up inside her dissipated a little. However, she still didn't have a good impression of Lin He. Lin He suddenly realized something, and her expression turned sour: "What is your relationship with Jiang Mingxu?"
“I am his wife.”
Lin He was unaware of Jiang Mingxu's remarriage. Wang Cuihua had originally come to tell her, but the two got into a fight upon meeting, so Wang Cuihua naturally wouldn't say, "Are you Wang Cuihua's new lover?"
Upon hearing this, Jin Ran's eyes flickered slightly.
Her intuition told her there was more to the story, so she simply went along with what the other person was saying and said, "This is none of your business."
"Pah!" Sure enough, Lin He didn't notice the problem. "You and I are the same kind of people, what are you pretending to be so high and mighty for? Back when Wang Cuihua asked me to drug Jiang Mingxu, you were probably hiding in some corner!"
She was only focused on venting her emotions, clearly deeply affected by the news of Jiang Mingxu's remarriage. After all, if the man remarried, her dream of becoming a wealthy wife would be completely shattered. Her heavily made-up face was distorted with jealousy, and she didn't notice Jin Ran's shocked expression at all.
To administer the medicine.
What medicine should be given?
A most unlikely answer popped into her mind, and at the same time, Jin Ran finally understood where those feelings of unease had come from.
How must Jiang Mingxu have felt when she was slandered and framed by her closest elders?
He may have been angry and sad, but in the end, a strong sense of responsibility made him admit it. But at that time, he probably didn't expect there would be a new betrayal.
Just thinking about it makes Jin Ran feel a sharp pain in her heart and her eyes sting unbearably.
She suddenly longed to go back to his side, open her arms, and hug him.
/
The two arrived in a hurry, but they didn't have to rush back.
Passing by the same shop again, Jiang Xuli went in and bought two grilled sausages.
The older woman remembered them and had a good impression of the pretty Jin Ran. She grabbed Jin Ran's hand and asked warmly, "Young lady, you look quite young. Do you have a boyfriend? My in-laws have a nephew..."
Jiang Xuli suddenly walked over and said something shocking: "Mom, I'm leaving."
Seeing this, the shopkeeper was dumbfounded, her eyes darting between the two people with a gossipy look, unable to see anything amiss. But since they had said it, how could it be false? In the end, she could only laugh awkwardly and say, "Your son is so tall already, haha, you've maintained your youthful appearance remarkably well."
Jin Ran: "..."
What else could she do?
She could only smile and acquiesce, and only after they had walked away did she slap Jiang Xuli on the shoulder: "You did that on purpose, didn't you!"
Jiang Xuli gasped in shock. Was this woman's hand made of iron palm? "What do you mean by 'intentional'? Legally speaking, aren't you my stepmother?"
Jin Ran chuckled insincerely. A stepmother is a stepmother, but this kid would never admit it: "Then why didn't you call me that before?"
Jiang Xuli stiffened, but still stubbornly insisted, "I'm doing this for your own good. As a teacher, I should keep my personal and professional life separate. Besides, that auntie clearly wants to introduce you to someone. Ms. Jin Ran, please note that you are now a married woman."
"So, I should thank you?"
Jiang Xuli said seriously, "No need to thank me. Our school teaches us to learn from Lei Feng from a young age."
"hehe. "
Jin Ran rolled her eyes without any politeness.
Amidst the banter, the trees on both sides flashed by, like acrylic paint smeared by a thumb, leaving a trail of vibrant colors.
Looking at the vast road ahead, Jiang Xuli's initial nervousness completely subsided.
He thought to himself, "If he doesn't want to acknowledge her, so be it. He doesn't need a mother."
Thinking this, and then hearing Jin Ran complaining about the car going too fast in the back seat, I couldn't help but curl the corners of my mouth.
Twist the accelerator, and the wind speed increases again.
Jin Ran had no idea what the other person was thinking. She gripped Jiang Xuli's clothes tightly, the wind slapping her face like countless blows, suddenly reminding her of a phrase she'd seen on social media—
Every girl should experience sitting on the back of a motorcycle, holding her beloved boy, and feeling the gentle breeze on her cheeks. This is the ultimate happiness in life.
At this moment, Jin Ran felt that "influencer recommendations" were really harmful.
Just then, two fluorescent lights flashed at the intersection ahead. Jiang Xuli slammed on the brakes, and the tires screeched against the ground.
“Minors are not allowed to drive motorcycles,” the two traffic police officers stopped the vehicle. “Please show your driver’s license and ID card.”
/
In the afternoon, after visiting the elder who had helped him financially when he was young, Jiang Mingxu prepared to return to his residence.
Suddenly, I received a call from the police: "Is this Mr. Jiang? Your family member is here and you need to come and pay the fine to pick them up."
Jiang Mingxu: ?
Which family member?
"They claimed to be your wife and son."
Jiang Xuli: "..."
The CEO, whose net worth is in the hundreds of billions, showed a rare expression of surprise.
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