Chapter 7
In the following days, Jiang Siyi didn’t cause any trouble, but she was often lost in thought.
Especially during meals, worrying Xu Yuan so much that she thought Jiang Siyi had developed early-onset dementia.
“Are you okay?” She waved her hand in front of Jiang Siyi’s face.
“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine.” The girl snapped back to reality.
It was Thursday, and the weekend was fast approaching. Xu Yuan seemed to be contemplating something, hesitating to speak.
“What’s up?” This time, it was Jiang Siyi’s turn to ask.
“Well…”
“Since the college entrance exams are coming up, my mom signed me up for one-on-one tutoring. I might have to switch to day school.”
Although Xu Yuan was also a slacker, her mother had never given up on her.
Jiang Siyi responded with a dismissive “So? I thought it was something serious. Just do it then.”
As a high school student, struggling through annoying math problems and sneaking cheat sheets for vocabulary tests were manageable hardships.
But a good friend suddenly taking leave or switching to day school felt like the end of the world.
Despite appearing nonchalant, Jiang Siyi was actually a little worried.
Xu Yuan visibly relaxed and then said, “How about I ask those juniors to have dinner with you from now on?”
“And come back to the dorm with you!”
Jiang Siyi picked up her tray and left, her back radiating an air of indifference.
The last class on Friday was their homeroom teacher’s. She was fiddling with something in the office and arrived a little late.
The classroom was noisy, then instantly fell silent as the sound of high heels approached.
“Oh, why did you all stop talking?” Fu Jing held a stack of white paper, tore it into squares, and asked the class representative to distribute them. “With such good acting skills, our class should just debut as a group.”
The students wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, their faces contorting.
“I know you’re all excited about going home soon, but it’s class time. Pay attention.” Fu Jing tapped her phone against the podium and then announced something that made the entire class groan.
“As senior students about to take the college entrance exam, the school has decided to hold a parent-teacher meeting.”
The classroom instantly erupted in wails and restless chatter.
“Come on, it’s not like you haven’t had one before. Haven’t you gotten used to it yet?” Fu Jing, unaffected, continued, “Same rules as always, write a letter to your parents, fold it, and hand it in.”
No. 1 High School had a tradition: before every parent-teacher meeting, students had to write a heartfelt letter.
This rule made many students, unwilling to open up, cringe.
“Stop whining, it’s not like I’m asking you to sing praises to your parents. Be grateful.” Fu Jing patrolled the classroom in her high heels, punishing anyone who spoke by making them write an extra letter.
Jiang Siyi had never participated in parent-teacher meetings. For the past two years, she had either skipped school or climbed over the wall to go out and play.
But this year seemed a little different.
Holding the white paper, she picked up a pen for the first time.
“Has everyone handed them in? Then I’ll assign homework.” Fu Jing looked around the classroom, about to continue, when a student asked, “Sister Bao, when is the parent-teacher meeting?”
“Not yet confirmed. This one was added by the school specifically, so we might have two.”
That settled it. The students instantly descended into despair.
Only Jiang Siyi twirled her pen, seemingly in a good mood.
The bell finally rang, much to everyone’s relief.
Jiang Siyi, her backpack almost empty, walked so fast that even Xu Yuan couldn’t keep up.
Under the scorching sun, the school gate was jammed with people and cars. She squeezed through the crowd, muttering, “Shen Shiwu… where is she?”
As she stood on tiptoe, looking around, someone tugged on her backpack.
“This student, are you lost?”
A familiar voice rang out. Jiang Siyi turned around, suppressing her excitement, and saw the woman wearing a light green dress, more eye-catching than a jade bracelet.
Fanning herself, she mumbled, “It’s so hot today… where’s your car? Let’s go home quickly.”
“Is it that hot? Your face is so red.” Shen Shiwu was puzzled.
Jiang Siyi took out her water bottle from her backpack, took a large gulp, and unconsciously walked even faster than the person beside her.
“The car is here. Are you trying to run away with someone else?” Shen Shiwu pulled her back and lightly tapped her head.
“…I didn’t see it clearly.” The girl stubbornly insisted.
The car’s air conditioning was on, offering instant relief. Jiang Siyi wiped the sweat from her forehead with a tissue and saw a cup of bubble tea appear before her.
“Actually, drinking too much of this isn’t healthy, so next time, you can only have it occasionally.” Shen Shiwu had even inserted the straw; Jiang Siyi only needed to open her mouth to drink.
The girl softly thanked her and took several large gulps.
“And some small cakes.” The woman handed her another bag. “I didn’t know what you liked, so I bought a little of everything. If you can’t finish them, put them in the fridge when we get home.”
Jiang Siyi chewed on the tapioca pearls, deep in thought. “You should buy less next time.”
“Why? Don’t you like them?”
“No, it’s like you’re feeding a pig.”
Shen Shiwu chuckled, her hands on the steering wheel. “Then should I call you ‘Piggy’ from now on?”
“…No.”
Jiang Siyi, her arms full of food, thought, You’re the pig.
After dropping her off, Shen Shiwu didn’t get out of the car. “Sorry, I have a meeting. I might be home a little late today.”
Jiang Siyi nodded. “It’s okay, go ahead.”
“The housekeeper will come over to cook dinner. I’ll send you her WeChat. Tell her what you want to eat.”
After the woman left, Jiang Siyi, alone at home with her phone, didn’t feel bored, as she hadn’t touched any electronic devices for a week.
As she was watching videos, her phone rang.
She answered, and the person on the other end asked, “Hello, did you lose an electric scooter the other day? We found it. When can you come pick it up?”
Jiang Siyi immediately sat up straight. “Now!”
***
Getting off the bus, she hurried to the police station, startling the people inside. The policewoman from before recognized her. “It’s at the entrance. Check if anything is missing.”
She was practically penniless. The only thing she had on her scooter was a helmet.
After confirming the helmet was still there, Jiang Siyi was relieved and asked, “Where’s the person who stole my scooter?”
“Five days detention. He’s in jail.”
She nodded, thanked the policewoman, and rode off on her beloved scooter.
After all this time, Jiang Siyi had thought she wouldn’t get it back. She was in a good mood, humming a tune as she rode home.
It was almost six o’clock, and the barbecue stalls were already set up along the street. Jiang Siyi’s mouth watered. After a few seconds of internal debate, she stopped.
After ordering, she sat on a plastic stool, waiting. The stall owner was a warm, chatty Northeastern lady.
“Kids these days have it tough with their studies.” She looked at the girl still in her school uniform. “You just got out of school, right?”
No.
I just got out of the police station.
It had been a long time since Jiang Siyi sat by the roadside like this, enjoying the breeze. She felt relaxed, and her words came out without thinking. “No, I just got out of the station.”
“Which station?”
“The police station.”
The lady paused, thinking Jiang Siyi had some unspeakable secret.
“My scooter was stolen, and I just got it back.” Jiang Siyi, realizing her mistake, quickly added, afraid of scaring the lady away.
“Oh, I see. You shouldn’t speak in half-sentences, young lady. I thought something had happened to you.” She wiped the sweat from her forehead, fanning the smoke. “Haven’t had dinner yet? The lamb skewers will be ready soon.”
Dinner.
Dinner…
Jiang Siyi took out her phone and saw several missed calls.
Hiss, after being alone for so long, it’s really not easy getting used to someone caring.
She called back, and the other end picked up quickly, asking, “Where are you?”
The urgency in the woman’s voice made her freeze for a few seconds. “I’m having barbecue outside…”
A moment of silence.
Just as Jiang Siyi thought the volcano was about to erupt, the other person seemed to sigh. “Is anyone with you? Send me your location.”
“No, I’m alone.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a sharp voice called out, “Jiang Siyi!”
The voice was too familiar, and the girl whose name had been called twitched.
Looking up, she saw Xu Yuan and the group of juniors rushing towards her.
Smelling the aroma, Xu Yuan felt hungry too and shouted to the stall owner, “Auntie, give me ten lamb skewers, fish tofu, meatballs…”
The juniors followed suit, placing their orders.
“Auntie, no spice for me!”
“She doesn’t want spice, but I do! Extra spicy!”
The scene was chaotic, and Jiang Siyi wanted to die.
She clutched her phone, hearing the person on the other end take a deep breath, then ask again, “How many people?”
This is so unfair!
Little Jiang felt wronged. She glanced at the situation and answered truthfully, “It was just me a moment ago, but now…”
She counted. “One, two, three, four…”
“Including me, six.”
Another brief silence.
Jiang Siyi touched her nose, about to explain, when the call was abruptly ended.
Oh no, is she really angry?
She opened WeChat and saw the message asking for her location, so she obediently sent it.
Soon, the barbecue arrived. Only two people at the table looked out of sorts: Jiang Siyi and the round-faced girl.
“Why aren’t you eating? No appetite?” Xu Yuan, after chatting with the Northeastern lady for a while, had picked up her accent.
“I’m eating.” Jiang Siyi took a large bite of meat.
Fifteen minutes later, a Mercedes-Benz slowly stopped across the street.
“That car is so cool.” The oblivious Xu Yuan commented. “Looks expensive.”
Jiang Siyi thought, Just shut up.
“Why does it look so familiar?” She squinted as she ate, feeling something was off.
“Oh, isn’t that your sister?”
Seeing the woman walking towards them, Jiang Siyi stopped eating, stood up, and was about to leave.
Xu Yuan grabbed her. “Leaving already? You haven’t finished what you ordered!”
Just as she was about to wink and signal for Xu Yuan to let go, Shen Shiwu’s voice rang out, her expression as usual, even with a hint of a smile. “Sit down and continue eating.”
The rebellious Jiang Siyi immediately sat back down.
After a few seconds, she felt a little embarrassed. Why did I listen to her? She asked directly, “Why are you here?”
“My little kid ran away, so I came out to catch her. Any problem?”
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