Chapter 12
Hearing the term of address, Shen Shiwu’s eyes flickered.
Seeing the girl practically burning with embarrassment, she had wanted to enjoy the scene a little longer. However, the teacher on the podium asked everyone to be seated, so she reluctantly stood up.
Jiang Siyi’s seat was by the window. Although the curtains were drawn, Shen Shiwu could still imagine the girl staring out the window, lost in thought.
Thinking this, a smile played on her lips.
This was Jiang Siyi’s first parent-teacher meeting. Listening to Fu Jing’s formal speech, she couldn’t help but think—
I’d rather climb over the wall and buy spicy hotpot!
“Alright, students, you may leave now.”
Jiang Siyi, completely unfamiliar with the procedures of a parent-teacher meeting, was still confused until Xu Yuan came over and pulled her away. She then remembered to say goodbye to Shen Shiwu.
“So parent-teacher meetings are this boring?”
“What did you expect? Not only boring, but it’s also disastrous when you get home.”
Outside, it was drizzling. Most students chose to lean against the railing and wait, but these two were sneaking around.
It was almost eleven o’clock. Xu Yuan asked, “Are you hungry?”
Jiang Siyi was silent for a few seconds. “Yes.”
“Let’s go?”
Exchanging glances, they grabbed an umbrella and dashed towards the cafeteria.
Because of the senior year parent-teacher meeting, the cafeteria remained open.
“I’m soaked! Why is it raining so heavily?” A large part of Xu Yuan’s clothes were wet, while Jiang Siyi was slightly better off, only a few strands of her hair damp.
“Who told you to run so fast, like a starving ghost?”
As they walked inside, Xu Yuan held up her index finger, defending her actions. “At our pace, by the time the other grades start school, we won’t even get to eat, we’ll be crushed by the crowd.”
“So?”
“So we have to practice!”
Jiang Siyi gave her a thumbs-up. “Okay, I won’t watch the sports meet without you.”
“…”
Since they were sneaking out, they ate quickly, as if someone was counting down beside them.
However, when they came out of the cafeteria, they found Fu Jing angrily looking for someone.
“Quick, duck! Sister Bao!”
Jiang Siyi almost fell to her knees as she was pulled down.
“Where are they?”
“Right in front of you.” Xu Yuan, seeing three umbrellas lined up, felt her heart sink. “We’re doomed. On her left is my mom, and on her right is your sister.”
Hearing that Shen Shiwu was among them, Jiang Siyi really wanted to die.
She said decisively, “There’s a staircase in Cafeteria Two that leads directly to the convenience store. We’ll take a detour back to the classroom. If anyone asks, we’ll say we had diarrhea and went to the bathroom.”
As expected of teammates who had been together for two years, before she could finish speaking, Xu Yuan was already pulling her away.
Not far away, Shen Shiwu watched Jiang Siyi flee like a rabbit, her worried expression softening considerably.
She deliberately pointed in the opposite direction. “Let’s check the gymnasium. Maybe they’re hiding there.”
The two, having just made it to the first floor of the classroom building, felt like they had just survived a battle royale.
Xu Yuan leaned against the wall, catching her breath. “I almost threw up my lunch.”
Jiang Siyi brought over the trash can from the classroom next door. “Here.”
“…”
Parent-teacher meetings were usually over quickly. Back in the classroom, most of the parents had left, with only a few still discussing things with the teachers.
Jiang Siyi scanned the room, making sure Shen Shiwu wasn’t there before stepping inside.
Just as she and Xu Yuan were comparing their alibis, the sound of high heels clicking approached.
It wasn’t just Shen Shiwu who wore high heels; Fu Jing often did too.
But strangely, Jiang Siyi could always tell if it was her.
Being taken care of by her had seemingly given her a special ability.
As expected, the familiar female voice called out, “Jiang Siyi.”
It had been a long time since Shen Shiwu had called her full name. Hearing this, Jiang Siyi slowly stood up and turned around. “Yes?”
“Older sister is leaving. Aren’t you going to see me off?”
She didn’t even ask where she had been.
Jiang Siyi finally dared to look up at her. “Of course, I’ll see you off.”
As they walked down the stairs, seeing no one around, Shen Shiwu asked, “Did you have enough for lunch?”
Huh?
Jiang Siyi abruptly turned her head. “You… you saw us?”
“Your hide-and-seek skills need some work.”
The girl responded with an “Oh,” unusually not arguing back.
Practice, huh? Next time, I’ll hide so well you won’t be able to find me.
“But it’s best to tell me next time, okay?” Reaching the first floor, Shen Shiwu looked at her. “Otherwise, I’ll worry.”
She knew the girl had been wild for so many years, not used to reporting her actions, not even bothering to say a word.
But that was before.
Jiang Siyi unconsciously fidgeted with her fingers and slowly nodded.
“Understood.”
The rain suddenly intensified.
She watched as the woman’s figure disappeared into the rain under the umbrella, her ears still echoing with the last words she had said before leaving:
“Our Xiao Si is the most obedient.”
She couldn’t help but lean against the wall and peek outside, watching the woman walk further and further away, a sudden emptiness in her heart.
Only when half her head and shoulder were soaked by the rain did she snap back to reality and slowly went upstairs.
After the parent-teacher meeting, school officially started. Occasionally, passing by the new students’ military training, Xu Yuan would pull her over to watch for a while.
“Hey, that junior is so cute.”
“She looks a bit like Yang Yi.”
Jiang Siyi finally remembered that Yang Yi was the round-faced girl and asked, puzzled, “Why are they starting school early, just like the seniors?”
“They’re top students. There’s a new advanced class this year, and they have to start school in August.” Xu Yuan sighed. “So tragic.”
Hearing the words “top student,” Jiang Siyi’s mind was filled with one thought—
When will Shen Shiwu call her that?
“Daydreaming again? Oh, don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind?”
Jiang Siyi rolled her eyes and said slowly, “I don’t do puppy love.”
Xu Yuan didn’t understand why, after breaking so many school rules, Jiang Siyi was so adamant about following this one, so she asked.
Jiang Siyi, hearing the question, inexplicably pictured Shen Shiwu confiscating the love letter.
After a moment, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Because someone won’t allow it.”
“Who? Sister Bao?”
“Sister Bao my foot.”
The girl nudged her with her elbow. “My sister.”
Xu Yuan gasped. “But at the parent-teacher meeting, your sister seemed very gentle. She didn’t even scold you.”
“Unlike me, I got a good scolding from my mom.”
Actually, Jiang Siyi herself found it strange.
She had been rebellious for so many years. Logically, a gentle woman like Shen Shiwu shouldn’t be able to control her.
But the reality was quite the opposite.
In the end, Jiang Siyi decided to make something up.
She scoffed. “You have no idea. She’s terrifying at home, like a demon.”
Xu Yuan was surprised. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Oh my god, I couldn’t tell at all.”
Jiang Siyi waved her hand, lying without a change in expression. “Even the gentlest people have their breaking points. You just haven’t seen it.”
Xu Yuan’s expression turned serious, and she patted Jiang Siyi’s shoulder. “Hang in there. I hope you can survive.”
***
Although it was autumn, the heat hadn’t dissipated.
The osmanthus trees at school were starting to bloom. Jiang Siyi knew this because she observed them during every PE class.
These days, PE was the only class she slacked off in. For all other classes, she would sit with her chin propped up, listening attentively.
She had scored a 56 on the last math quiz, and Fu Jing had praised her for her progress, even rewarding her with a lollipop.
She gave the lollipop to Shen Shiwu when she got home.
And of course, she received more praise.
Time flew by, and the mid-term exams were approaching. The weather finally cooled down, at least it wasn’t scorching hot anymore.
“It’s finally cooler!” Xu Yuan stretched in the hallway, feeling refreshed. Glancing to the side, she saw Jiang Siyi poring over her worksheets.
Good heavens, was her friend possessed?
The day before the mid-term exams, Fu Jing called Jiang Siyi to her office and even pulled out a chair for her to sit.
“I’ve noticed you’ve been doing well recently. Have you finally decided to study hard?”
In the past, whenever she was called to the office, it was usually because she had done something wrong. Experiencing the “good student” perspective for the first time, Jiang Siyi sniffed, still not quite used to it.
“Mm.”
Actually, she just wanted to impress Shen Shiwu.
Fu Jing was clearly pleased. She nodded and took out a chocolate bar from her drawer.
That evening, the chocolate bar appeared on the dining table.
Shen Shiwu watched as the girl poked it with her finger, then pushed it towards her. As soon as she looked up, the girl quickly lowered her head and continued eating, as if she hadn’t done anything.
“Another chocolate from an admirer?”
Jiang Siyi almost choked on her food.
“Sister Bao gave it to me.”
“Giving it to older sister again?”
The girl’s cheeks puffed out like a hamster’s as she ate, looking adorable.
Hearing the question, she almost buried her face in her bowl.
“I don’t like sweets.”
“Then how did you finish the little cakes I bought last time so quickly?”
Jiang Siyi finally looked up, her gaze fixed on the chocolate bar.
The hamster seemed to be getting angry.
As expected, she snatched the chocolate, muttering, “Eat it or don’t.”
Although angry, the hamster’s appetite wasn’t affected, and she continued eating, her ears turning red.
Shen Shiwu passed by her while getting more rice, and patted her head, trying to appease her.
She repeated the process when she came back.
Jiang Siyi hummed softly, putting the chocolate in her pocket, thinking she would eat it later if she got hungry.
Then she saw the other woman stand up again and pat her head.
“…”
Enough! Am I a dog?
When Shen Shiwu returned to the table, Jiang Siyi deliberately peeked into her bowl.
Heh, only taking a mouthful each time. Are you trying to digest your food by walking around?
Perhaps sensing the girl’s resentful gaze, Shen Shiwu put down her bowl, rested her chin on her hand, and extended her other hand—
“Older sister likes sweets.”
Tsk.
You didn’t take it when I offered it to you, and now, after asking all those weird questions and making me blush, you want it back.
Jiang Siyi sneered inwardly.
“No.”
The other woman actually retracted her hand.
Heh.
But the next second, Shen Shiwu tilted her head and looked at her, asking, “Does Xiao Si dislike older sister now?”
“?”
Keep pretending.
Feeling the woman’s intense gaze, Jiang Siyi finally closed her eyes and extended her hand.
“Here, take it!”
Shen Shiwu chuckled softly, took the chocolate, unwrapped it, broke off a piece, and ate it slowly.
“Why do other children write a whole page when they write to their parents,” she suddenly asked, “but Xiao Si only writes one sentence?”
Thinking of the letter she had written for the parent-teacher meeting, Jiang Siyi choked, then stammered, “Concise and comprehensive, what do you know?”
She warned the other woman inwardly—
Don’t you dare read it out loud.
Otherwise…
She would really die of embarrassment.
Shen Shiwu responded with an “Ah,” then slowly took out a piece of paper from her pocket.
“Thank you for taking care of me. Although you’re using my mother’s inheritance, I will definitely repay you in the future.”
Shen Shiwu could even imagine the girl’s expression as she wrote those words—
Serious, determined, and a little stubborn.
The woman’s smile deepened.
So cute.
Jiang Siyi felt like she was about to combust.
She swallowed the last of her food, put down her chopsticks, and tried to sneak upstairs.
Just as she was about to make her escape, Shen Shiwu stood up and blocked her path.
“…”
Seeing the woman approaching, Jiang Siyi could only retreat.
Her back hit a chair, and she almost fell.
Fortunately, Shen Shiwu caught her arm.
“I don’t need you to repay me.” The woman leaned down and tapped her forehead.
“I just want you to be happy every day.”
Leave a Reply