Chapter 97 You are not my daughter, and neither is she...
Chapter 97
Jiang Mingxu gave her a deep look, and after being urged repeatedly, he finally stepped into the hot spring and walked behind Jin Ran.
His large, warm palms gently covered her bony, rounded shoulders. His fingertips brushed against her skin, sending a slight shiver through her. Jin Ran closed her eyes comfortably and continued to command like a queen: "A little to the left."
"Move a little further to the right."
"You're a little weak, didn't you eat enough...?"
"Oh yes, this is the place... Ah!" Suddenly, she exclaimed in surprise. It turned out that Jiang Mingxu's hand had slid to her waist at some point, and his fingertips were gently scratching her a few times.
"Feel sorry."
Even so, he didn't move his hand away.
"Jiang Mingxu!"
Jin Ran immediately lost her composure, laughing out loud while trying to dodge the ticklish hand. But no matter how she twisted and dodged, the hand always managed to pinpoint her most ticklish spot. As a result, her joy turned to sorrow, and she accidentally slipped and fell backward.
As the warm water splashed up, a pair of strong arms caught her steadily.
Jin Ran naturally wrapped her arms around Jiang Mingxu's neck. Strangely, she didn't panic at all during that moment of weightlessness, as if she already knew that with him there, she would never get hurt.
Warm spring water rippled around them. She sat on his lap, so close she could count the water droplets clinging to her eyelashes. Their breaths mingled, their intimacy blurring the lines between them.
But that's all there is to it.
Jin Ran didn't seem to remember where she was. She didn't have a habit of being intimate outdoors. She placed her hand on his chest and gave him a slight push. Jiang Mingxu immediately let go of her hand, and the two tacitly distanced themselves before sitting back down in the spring.
It was at this moment that Jin Ran heard her phone ringing.
Upon picking it up, I discovered that all the messages were from the same person.
Jiang Xuli: [We've arrived]
Jiang Xuli: [The accommodation is okay [pictures][pictures], but the cafeteria is a bit mediocre.]
Jiang Xuli: [Where is he?]
Jiang Xuli: [Are you really worried? Well, actually the cafeteria is alright, you can even order takeout.]
Jin Ran: "..."
A tiny bit of guilt rose in my heart.
Can she say that she hasn't had time to worry yet?
Silently put down the phone, pretending not to have seen it.
Jiang Mingxu didn't hold back in mocking this ostrich-like behavior. Jin Ran, however, felt he also bore some responsibility. It was a crucial time for the second year of high school, and she had to ensure the healthy development of her students' minds and bodies. So, after returning home, the diligent Jin Ran took the initiative to work overtime and gave a parent a lesson in moral education.
You can't argue, you can't get distracted, or you'll get a slap on the palm if you don't understand.
After a while, they turned off the lights. When Jiang Mingxu went to work the next day, there was a half-circle of teeth marks on the pad of his thumb.
Leaving aside the fact that Assistant Wang accidentally glimpsed the drastically changed expression, Jin Ran later used the new card she "earned" from Jiang Mingxu to buy Jiang Xuli a lot of food and supplies online.
The students in the national training team came from all over the country and were strangers to each other before. Jiang Xuli was aloof but not stingy. He did not hoard the snacks he received. Moreover, Jin Ran specifically sent him a message to tell him to share them with his classmates. After sharing the snacks several times, he became the most popular person in the team.
When sensible high school students eat something delicious, they don't hesitate to give enthusiastic feedback: "Did your family buy this for you?"
Jiang Xuli slightly raised her chin: "My mom bought it."
Upon hearing this, the students all showed envious expressions: "Wow, your mom is so good to you."
"My mom just tells me to eat less and do more homework."
"Haha, look at your physique, your mom was right!"
Amidst the cheers and laughter of the crowd, Jiang Xuli curled the corners of her lips into a smile.
She was indeed very good to him.
Therefore, he also needs to work hard to contribute to her "teaching achievements".
/
The best kind of relationship in the world isn't about wanting to be together all the time, but about being able to become a better version of yourself even when you're not together.
When we are lost, we guide each other; when we fail, we encourage each other; when we succeed, we celebrate together.
You can do whatever you want, and he is deeply engaged in his career. Distance is not an obstacle. Thinking of each other in our spare time only makes us feel more at ease and warm, and fills us with energy every day.
After completing her final exams in the first semester of her second year of high school, Jin Ran dutifully finished her last shift, then switched roles and began to fully enjoy her vacation.
She took her driver's license test during the previous holiday, and she didn't stay idle during this holiday either, enrolling in an adult art class.
This was also Jin Ran's childhood dream. Her family was relatively well-off, but her parents believed that hobbies would affect her studies. So, in an era when it was important to enroll children in art classes, Jin Ran did not attend any extracurricular classes.
She may not necessarily like painting, but the feeling of falling behind others is not good. Now that she has become an adult who can make her own decisions, she has decided to take good care of herself again.
Jiang Mingxu supported all her decisions, and even replied very seriously when Jin Ran sent him "elementary school student drawings".
For example, a short appreciation comment of one or two hundred words.
Jin Ran felt that she was able to graduate from the art class smoothly thanks in large part to Jiang Mingxu's elaborate praise.
She has a partner who always showers her with compliments, and she feels embarrassed to give up on him.
On the day before the Lunar New Year, Jiang Xuli finally returned from the training camp.
The national training lasts for three weeks, with a theory exam in the morning and grading and explanation sessions in the afternoon, making for a very busy schedule.
Because Jiang Xuli is a junior in high school this year and does not meet the requirements for direct admission, he only signed an informal agreement with Tsinghua and Peking Universities on the last day to secure his admission qualification. His major will be confirmed in his senior year of high school.
The authority of Peking University's mathematics department is beyond doubt, but due to the limitations of the recommended majors, Jiang Xuli considered it carefully and still chose Tsinghua University. He is very interested in the future of artificial intelligence.
Previously, Jin Ran expressed shock and surprise at the food delivery robot in the hotel. The clumsy little guy spun around and almost spilled the juice, but she smiled and took more than a dozen photos of the robot.
At that time, Jiang Xuli felt that perhaps she could do even better.
Three weeks of intensive training left us mentally exhausted, but it also marked the end of an effort.
This time, he took the initiative to choose his own future.
Dumplings in the north, rice cakes in the south. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the family servants were on holiday, so Jin Ran and Jiang Mingxu made a meal of handmade dumplings to welcome Jiang Xuli back.
Years later, Jiang Xuli could no longer remember the saltiness of the dumplings, but he always recalled the steaming white mist when the dumplings were served, so hot and so warm, dispelling the chill that had gripped him when he returned from outside.
As the year draws to a close, families begin preparing for the New Year.
In previous years, Butler Cheng was usually in charge of the Jiang family's affairs, but this year Butler Cheng took a long vacation early, so they had to do it themselves. As this was the first New Year she experienced after transmigrating into the book, Jin Ran took it very seriously and made a long list in advance.
Jiang Mingxu and Jiang Xuli also added things online one after another. Jiang Xuli, in particular, was very responsible, as it was her first time participating in such a major family decision. She even went online to look up what she needed for the New Year.
Jin Ran stared at the list of couplets and dumpling skin dye powder, wondering what the hell it was. But I am an enlightened parent and teacher, so I choose to respect it.
A family of three chose a day before the Lunar New Year to go on a shopping spree at the supermarket.
There are many families like theirs. Walking among them, you are enveloped in the warmth of everyday life. They are focused on their tasks and do not realize that they have become the focus of attention.
Jin Ran goes without saying; Director Chen took a liking to her based on just a blurry screenshot from a live stream. Her classic beauty couldn't be hidden even when she was wearing the simplest down jacket.
Jiang Mingxu and his son Jiang Xuli were equally eye-catching, both being tall. The older one was as upright as a pine tree, wearing a black turtleneck sweater that accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, exuding the composure of a mature man. The younger one was energetic and youthful, like a campus heartthrob from a school drama.
Moreover, the two men stood guard on either side of the woman, carrying heavy items and pushing the cart, while the woman was responsible for tasting and comparing prices. Throughout the entire process, the father and son's eyes followed her, and the tenderness in their eyes could not be hidden.
...
In front of the shelf, a gentle family of three is arguing about which Spring Festival couplets to buy.
Jiang Xuli said that dragon decorations are a must for the Year of the Dragon, but Jin Ran wanted koi fish decorations because they symbolize abundance year after year.
In the end, Jiang Mingxu decided to buy both. Anyway, there aren't many villas around here, and there are plenty of rooms. He could just put a sticker on each door.
The two people who were arguing just seconds before immediately huddled together happily, discussing which poster to put in which room...
At the villa entrance, Jin Dezhu was lying in a sorry state, waiting for his prey. When he saw a familiar car approaching, he rushed to the front of it before it had even come to a complete stop.
The sudden interception startled all three people in the car. Jiang Xuli reacted the fastest; upon seeing who it was, he immediately opened the door and got out to shoo them away. Ever since the incident with Jian Er, the boy had become exceptionally sensitive to any unexpected situations.
Jin Ran, however, could not let Jiang Xuli stand up for her.
No matter how awful the original owner's parents were, in the eyes of outsiders, they were all Jiang Xuli's elders. She got out of the car and pulled the person back, her gaze sweeping over the obviously aged Jin Dezhu in front of her, and she couldn't help but frown.
Jiang Mingxu had told her that Jin Dezhu had become addicted to gambling, which was why he conspired with Jian Er to frame her. Later, Jian Er went to prison, and Jin Dezhu's financial support was cut off by Old Master Jian. Now that the other party had come looking for her, her intuition told her that it was not a good thing.
Jin Ran wanted to refuse, but she knew that Jin Dezhu would not leave easily.
In just a short while, quite a few people had already looked over, so Jiang Mingxu took the initiative to speak up: "Let's go inside first and talk about it."
Jin Ran pursed her lips and finally nodded almost imperceptibly.
The group walked silently through the gate of the residential area. The winter north wind swirled the withered grass from the flower beds at their feet, adding to the desolation. As soon as they entered the living room, Jiang Xuli strode past everyone and sat down directly opposite Jin Dezhu. His gaze was fierce, and he stared at the other man without blinking.
She even waved her hand considerately, saying, "Don't worry about me, you guys chat."
Jin Ran: "..."
She felt somewhat helpless, but she knew in her heart that the boy was doing it for her sake. She turned to look at Jiang Mingxu, who expressionlessly pulled her up from the sofa and led her upstairs: "Go put up the couplets."
Jiang Xuli was tall, but still not as tall as his father, let alone as strong. He dragged her for over ten meters before finally breaking free, then immediately growled in a low voice, "What are you doing? What if you leave her alone to be bullied?!"
Jiang Mingxu looked at him quietly: "The living room has a security system installed, nothing will happen."
“Then I’ll stay and give her my advice!” he said indignantly. “Her father is obviously a scoundrel. Don’t believe me. I have experience in this area.”
Jiang Mingxu: "..."
"Besides, aren't you her husband? She tells you to leave, so you just leave? Aren't you worried at all?"
The son pokes at the father, and every poke hits the mark. Jiang Mingxu's silence spread through the corridor.
He could guess that Jin Ran wanted to handle it herself. Children can only see the surface and don't know that this matter involves more than two people and that the entanglement could easily make things complicated if not handled carefully.
But as the saying goes, he chose to respect her, but he couldn't help but worry about her deep down.
Taking advantage of his father's distraction, Jiang Xuli darted down the stairs and hid in the shadow of the antique cabinet in the living room to eavesdrop.
Then, the first thing I heard was Kim Deok-joo say: "You are not my daughter."
/
It's obvious to anyone with eyes that Kim Deok-joo's mental state is very abnormal.
Burdened by gambling debts, Mr. Jin declared he would no longer care about him, but now he is constantly being harassed and threatened at his door by loan sharks.
At first, he tried to collaborate with Jian Er to scheme against Jin Ran, hoping to force her to submit and take the money. However, to his surprise, Jin Ran not only saw through their plan but also directly put Jian Er in jail. If it were all Jin Ran's idea, that would be one thing, but Old Master Jin's words clearly implied that Jiang Mingxu was also behind this.
Kim Deok-joo was utterly terrified.
He knew Jiang Mingxu's methods better than anyone else; the three abandoned members of the Jin family were bloody proof of it. Now, he himself had been targeted by the other party. Thinking of this, Jin Dezhu lived in constant fear, and every time he closed his eyes, he saw Jiang Mingxu's revenge.
The immense mental pressure made him feel disoriented, and he unknowingly walked to Shuoguo Bay.
Jin Ran met a pair of bloodshot eyes, and her heart sank.
A cornered dog will jump over a wall, and a rabbit will bite when cornered. Although all of this was Kim Deok-joo's own fault, people driven to the brink are capable of anything.
She glanced in a certain direction without making a sound.
At the same time, Kim Deok-joo, oblivious to her actions, said in a hoarse voice, "I know you're not my daughter."
After he finished speaking, he stared intently at the woman in front of him, as if trying to find some flaw. However, Jin Ran's expression remained unchanged, and she calmly asked, "Why do you say that? Didn't you personally push me into this arranged marriage?"
Jin Dezhu smiled, and just when Jin Ran thought he was going to make trouble again, he unexpectedly said something shocking: "Because she is not my daughter either. My daughter was hit by a car and died a long time ago!"
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