Chapter 11: Not Taking Them Seriously

“What about Amin and Aman? Have they finished their exams? Do they have anyone they like?”

When people grow old, they tend to worry about the romantic affairs of the younger generation.

“No.”

Jiang Ming spoke the truth. Finishing high school had already drained all her energy; she had no time to concern herself with matters of love.

Moreover, the classmates were eager to keep their distance from her, with her shabby appearance and the malnutrition caused by poor eating habits. Naturally, the boys treated her with polite avoidance, which she quietly appreciated.

“And Aman? Does she like anyone?”

The topic shifted to Jiang Man, drawing everyone’s attention to her.

“No… no one…”

She nervously fidgeted with her chopsticks, her face flushing red as she bit her lip anxiously.

“Grandpa will keep an eye on you both from now on.”

Old Master Jiang was simply making casual conversation and didn’t press further.

After the meal, Jiang Shi took it upon himself to act as the driver.

“I’ll wait for you at the usual place at eight tomorrow morning.”

He dropped Jiang Ming and Jiang Man off outside the villa and did not follow them inside.

“Your parents are probably at home now.”

After they got out of the car, Jiang Shi reminded them, likely knowing that Jiang Cheng and Li Baizhen were waiting in the living room to give the sisters a hard time.

“It’s nothing.”

Jiang Ming waved off the concern casually. She wasn’t afraid of the couple; at worst, they would have a falling out.

But they still dared not cross her, as Jiang Cheng was not favored by the old master. She was the key to bridging the gap between them and the old master.

There were more important matters than confronting that couple at the moment.

Once Jiang Shi’s car disappeared from view, Jiang Ming stood still and said, “Jiang Man, honesty is the best policy.”

Having grown up in the Jiang family, she had learned to read between the lines. Jiang Man’s expression and small gestures today had not escaped her notice.

“What?”

Jiang Man was taken aback, staring blankly at her.

“You… you feel differently about Jiang Shi, don’t you?”

This was a statement, free of personal emotion, simply a curious question.

“I… it’s not what you think…”

Jiang Man hurried to explain, afraid that Jiang Ming would think she was as twisted as Jiang Cheng, filled with filthy thoughts.

Yet, she did not deny it outright.

“Alright, I’m just asking. No harm meant.”

Jiang Ming confirmed her suspicions but didn’t understand why Jiang Man harbored such feelings for Jiang Shi.

What Jiang Man would do with these feelings, how she would face Jiang Shi afterward, remained to be seen.

“Don’t worry, my thoughts are kept to myself and won’t interfere with your plans.”

Jiang Man knew Jiang Ming was a person of great ambitions. Since they were allies, her feelings wouldn’t disrupt the situation.

“I know. Thank you, Aman.”

With her suspicions confirmed, Jiang Ming and Jiang Man headed toward the house.

Sure enough, upon entering, Li Baizhen and Jiang Cheng were waiting in the living room, their faces full of impatience. Nearby sat Jiang Sheng, his expression dark and watching eagerly for the drama.

“Where have you two been fooling around? Not at home early in the morning—do you even consider us?”

Jiang Cheng slammed the glass in his hand onto the floor to express his anger.

Jiang Ming reacted quickly, pulling Jiang Man back a step to avoid the shards.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong? How dare you ask that! You’ve only been back a day, and you take obedient Jiang Man out to play. What exactly are you trying to do?”

Li Baizhen unleashed a torrent of scolding at Jiang Ming. “And you, Jiang Man! Didn’t I tell you yesterday that the young master of the Li family was coming today? You were supposed to dress nicely and wait at home. Why did you go out? Did you not take my words seriously? Can I still control you?”

“I…” Jiang Man instinctively wanted to explain but was stopped by Jiang Ming.

“Grandpa asked us to accompany him at the old residence. Should our parents interfere with that? Is Grandpa less important than that so-called young master of the Li family?”

Jiang Ming feigned weakness but set a trap for the two.

She couldn’t admit the old master was less important than outsiders, nor could she say that accompanying him was just an excuse to go out and fool around.

“Can’t you at least tell us when you go out? Isn’t that basic courtesy?”

This hit Jiang Ming right where she wanted.

“I… I don’t know. No one ever told me this rule in the Jiang family. No one ever cared about me…”

As she spoke, Jiang Ming broke down in tears.

The servants busy in the kitchen pretended not to hear, lowering their heads to continue their work, but their hearts ached for Jiang Ming.

A child who had been swapped at birth, tormented for eighteen years, wasn’t allowed to eat on her first day home and was harshly reprimanded by her biological parents the next day. Who wouldn’t feel pity?

“This…”

Li Baizhen was at a loss for words. After all, Jiang Ming spoke the truth. Though she herself felt no sympathy, outsiders would see their parental behavior as biased.

“Isn’t this your parents’ way of worrying about you?”

After holding back, Li Baizhen finally said this.

“You went to the old residence? Why didn’t you bring your brother along?”

Jiang Cheng paid no mind to Jiang Ming’s tears or words, focusing instead on the key point.

Thinking that both daughters had gone to the old residence while their most outstanding son was absent felt like a significant loss.

“Grandpa said not to bring him. He felt sorry for him because he hurt his foot last night.”

Whether it was pity or resentment, Jiang Cheng and Li Baizhen both understood the implications.

Jiang Sheng, the one being referenced, paid no attention. His gaze was fixed on Jiang Man, deep in thought, likely plotting some ill scheme.

“Next time you go to the old residence, bring your brother too.”

With no other complaint, Jiang Cheng dryly instructed them before sending them upstairs.

“You’re something else—why go to Jiang Man’s room in the middle of the night? What’s so special about that little vixen?”

Li Baizhen still believed Jiang Man had seduced Jiang Sheng. Otherwise, how could such an outstanding son of theirs fixate on a loser like her?

Yet she couldn’t throw Jiang Man out, at least not under their noses, so she could keep an eye on her. If Jiang Man returned to the Jiang family, who knew what Jiang Sheng might do?

Moreover, the young master of the Li family had explicitly expressed great satisfaction with Jiang Man, saying that once they spent more time together and grew closer, he would surely marry her.

She believed that by then Jiang Sheng’s infatuation would fade, freeing him to pursue the best girls in the city.

“If only we could marry her off sooner. And that Jiang Ming—get her to look at someone as well, don’t let her stay at home. Sooner or later, something serious will happen.”

Jiang Cheng always suspected Jiang Ming was far from innocent, a calculating girl. If she stayed long at home, the company might eventually come under her control.