Chapter 10: Merely an Orphan Without Parents
“Who are you? Why are you holding Ah Shi’s phone?”
Su Baozhu on the other end of the line was surprised that a woman had answered her call. Knowing Jiang Shi’s temperament, there was no way he would be so close to another woman.
“I’m Ah Shi’s girlfriend. Is there something you need?”
Jiang Man repeated what she had just said.
Her tone sounded normal, but only she knew how irregular her heartbeat was at that moment.
What she had just said was downright audacious. Luckily, the old man wasn’t around; if he had heard it, he would have been furious.
“Girlfriend? How come I never heard of Ah Shi having a girlfriend? You’re not just pretending to fool me, are you?”
Su Baozhu’s question stumped Jiang Man, leaving her momentarily speechless. She looked at Jiang Shi for help.
Jiang Shi stood up and sat beside Jiang Man, reaching for the phone in her hand. “Miss Su, do you expect me to report to you every time I’m in a relationship?”
His tone was displeased but flawless, “My girlfriend is already upset. Miss Su, it’s best if you don’t contact me anymore. You deserve someone better. I’m simply not good enough for you.”
He handled the situation deftly, without overly hurting Su Baozhu’s pride.
“You! But Grandpa Jiang clearly said you don’t have a girlfriend. How can that be…”
Su Baozhu still held onto hope, wishing Jiang Shi was just deceiving her.
But his next words completely shattered her hope. “Do you think I would tell the old man if I were in a relationship?”
Indeed, if there was a significant difference in family backgrounds, Jiang Shi certainly wouldn’t tell the old man. If he did, the old man might force them to break up.
“You! I’m going to tell Grandpa Jiang and have him order you to break up!”
“How much do you think I like you? You’re just an orphan without parents. It’s only because of your somewhat attractive face that you caught this lady’s eye. Without the Jiang family, who would look twice at you?”
Su Baozhu’s angry voice came through the phone. Usually pampered by her family, the young lady blurted out whatever came to mind when faced with Jiang Shi’s blunt rejection.
These brutally honest words didn’t faze Jiang Shi at all. What she said was the truth, though he spared no mercy in delivering it.
But Jiang Man couldn’t bear it. She snatched the phone from Jiang Shi’s hand and, controlling her voice with great effort, said, “Even without the Jiang family, Jiang Shi is the favored son of heaven—talented and knowledgeable. You’re still out of your league. Don’t think everyone has to worship your stinky feet, Miss Su!”
After speaking, Jiang Man angrily hung up, smoothly blocking and deleting the number.
---
Only after returning the phone to Jiang Shi did she realize what she had just done.
“Um… Uncle… I just got too angry…”
The more she spoke, the softer her voice became, and her head slowly lowered.
Someone beside her laughed, “I never expected quiet little Ah Man to have this side. It’s really too…”
Jiang Shi thought for a moment, hesitating on how to describe Jiang Man’s recent behavior. “Adorable. As expected of my good niece—knowing how to defend her uncle.”
His large hand gently patted Jiang Man’s head.
He wasn’t lying about feeling touched; this was the first time since his parents passed away that someone had stood up for him like this.
Though she was family, it still stirred something deep inside him.
“Uncle is good to us—it’s only natural.”
The hand on her head stayed just a few seconds, yet it made Jiang Man’s heart race wildly.
Jiang Shi took her words as mere politeness. He rarely interacted with Jiang Cheng’s family and couldn’t say he was particularly good to them.
“I’m going to see Grandpa.”
Jiang Man stood and headed toward the study, afraid that if she stayed alone with Jiang Shi any longer, she would slip up. Finding an excuse, she quickly left.
Jiang Shi in the living room was puzzled, unsure why Jiang Man had suddenly left. Did she find his earlier behavior offensive? Or was she upset because he didn’t respond?
Meanwhile, in the study, the old man, flanked by Jiang Ming and Xie Yan, was in high spirits, proudly showing off his calligraphy.
“Grandpa’s writing is graceful yet full of character. If I hadn’t seen the creation process today, I would have thought it was the work of some ancient master.”
Jiang Ming didn’t understand calligraphy but knew how to flatter, especially elderly people.
For Old Master Jiang, a seasoned businessman, it was hard to tell sincerity from flattery, but hearing such praise from his granddaughter felt different.
“Well said. If our old man isn’t diligent in practice, he’ll fall far behind you.”
Xie Yan was a sycophant too. He often pleased Old Master Xie and naturally spoke comfortably in front of Old Master Jiang.
“You’re just trying to make me happy.”
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When Jiang Man entered, the three were about to leave the study for the living room.
“Ah Man, what were you and Uncle talking about outside?”
The old man was chatting with Xie Yan when Jiang Ming quietly approached Jiang Man and whispered the question.
She had caught a glimpse of the scene in the living room—two sitting close, Jiang Man’s face flushed as she held the phone, saying something unknown, while Jiang Shi looked slightly stunned and motionless.
“Uncle asked me to answer a call for him.”
Jiang Man didn’t want to lie but also didn’t want to reveal what had happened, so she gave a half-truth to Jiang Ming.
“I see,” Jiang Ming didn’t press further since it was a private matter. “I’m so hungry. Let’s hurry over.”
In the dining room, servants were already bringing dishes to the table. Old Master Jiang was supported by Jiang Shi and Xie Yan as they moved to sit.
Jiang Man was relieved Jiang Ming hadn’t asked more, or she would have revealed everything, thus “betraying” Jiang Shi.
“How have you been getting along with Xiao Su lately?”
During the meal, Old Master Jiang asked the question he cared most about. The young lady was delicate and hoped to balance out Jiang Shi’s steady temperament.
Jiang Man immediately tensed up, wondering if Su Baozhu had called Grandpa to complain. How would Jiang Shi explain the girlfriend situation?
“I made it clear to her today that we aren’t compatible. I had Ah Man pretend to be my girlfriend.”
He calmly recounted the earlier scene in the living room, unfazed by the possibility of being scolded by the old man.
“You child,” Old Master Jiang had anticipated this outcome but didn’t expect this rascal to deceive the girl, “Well, it’s just not meant to be.”
“You only made Ah Man suffer, having her play along with your act.”
Suddenly called out, Jiang Man’s hand trembled. “No… it’s fine. I’m happy to help Uncle.”
Her voice softened again, and she dared not meet the old man’s gaze or look at Jiang Shi sitting opposite.
Jiang Ming witnessed the whole transformation from awkward to relaxed and formed a rough guess in his mind—Jiang Man was really bold.