As Meng Ting boarded the plane, Jiang Ren returned home to find Jiang Jixian already there.
Chairman Jiang wore a sour expression. “What was the matter with you today? Leaving without a word. If we hadn’t cleaned up the mess in time, the property launch would have been delayed.”
Jiang Ren didn’t even look up. “If Wen Man crawled out of her grave, would you still be able to hold a meeting?”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you think I mean?”
Jiang Jixian fell silent. Jiang Ren was irritated, not wanting to compare that woman to Meng Ting, but clearly, this was the most effective way to speak to Jiang Jixian.
Grandmother Jiang, unable to understand the tension between father and son, thought they were playing. She excitedly showed Jiang Jixian and Jiang Ren a necklace: “A sacred object, from the Little Guanyin Goddess.”
Jiang Ren smiled; his grandmother was still so adorable.
He asked her, “Can I have this?”
Grandmother Jiang hugged it to her chest. “No, it’s for my future granddaughter-in-law.”
“…” Then it’s for your granddaughter-in-law.
Although Jiang Ren coveted his grandmother’s possessions, he wasn’t shameless enough to trick her out of them.
After the New Year’s reunion dinner, Jiang Ren brought up the seaside villas in H City. Property prices had risen significantly, becoming an unattainable dream for many. Jiang Ren, however, felt they would continue to rise. He couldn’t explain why, but a keen business sense led him to suggest that Jiang Jixian develop more property projects.
Especially in those coastal cities where land was still cheap. Though somewhat underdeveloped, they boasted beautiful natural scenery. If they built luxury villa complexes in these areas, wealthy people would surely buy.
Those without money couldn’t afford villas anywhere.
Jiang Jixian, listening to his calm and collected explanation, began to see this young troublemaker in a new light. If they had sold the H City villa complex last year, they would have made two-thirds less profit.
Their family didn’t lack money, but they couldn’t raise future generations to be good-for-nothing either.
Previously, Jiang Ren’s wild behavior made Jiang Jixian favor Wen Rui, who helped manage company affairs. However, Wen Rui’s recent proposal lacked substance and even cost the company money. Compared to Jiang Ren’s move to H City, Jiang Jixian realized for the first time that he had underestimated his son.
“We’ll discuss the H City matter later,” Jiang Jixian said cautiously. His son’s obsession with a young girl was too extreme, bordering on losing dignity and reason. This time it was an injured leg; what would it be next? A missing arm or blindness?
Jiang Ren scoffed coldly, “I can do it myself.”
After all, he had his funds.
It was Grandmother Jiang’s money; the old lady truly doted on him.
No one in the Jiang family was poor. If Jiang Jixian didn’t agree, he could develop properties on his own.
“I’m going to H City next spring.”
Jiang Jixian laughed angrily, “You’ve got ideas, all right. With that little money of yours, I’d like to see what you’ll eat when it’s all gone.”
Jiang Ren said nothing. He immediately went to sell his luxury car. Jiang Jixian didn’t believe property prices would rise again next year, fearing they might fall like stocks after this year’s increase. So he focused on several properties in B City.
Jiang Ren, however, thought it was feasible.
“Still taking the college entrance exam?”
“Not anymore. You know I don’t have that talent.”
“I don’t care. Just don’t come back crying poor.”
In the end, this brat would still end up in a woman’s arms. He wanted to see what Jiang Ren could accomplish without a penny from the family.
After the New Year, Jiang Ren sold his luxury car and went to H City. Before leaving, remembering Meng Ting’s words, he instructed Gao Yi, “Have some people keep an eye on Wen Rui. If anything’s amiss, take photos and videos, then send them to me.”
Gao Yi felt bitter but unhesitatingly agreed.
The villa project in H City had earned him a lot. Now believing in his future boss’s capabilities, he naturally followed all instructions.
Then Jiang Ren wiped his grandmother’s mouth, “Grandmother, I’ll pay you back in two years.”
Grandmother Jiang didn’t understand but just smiled at him kindly.
His luxury car sold for several million. Jiang Ren looked at all the savings in his account and sold his mountain bike too.
Then Jiang Ren went to the bank for a loan. Coming out, he calculated the numbers he had invested.
In the biting spring cold, flowers bloomed overnight in H City.
After setting aside money for fixed asset investment, construction period loan interest, and working capital, then coordinating with Gao Yi, all the money he had left could only buy a single bunch of flowers.
So he bought just one bunch of daffodils.
The Seventh Middle School looked the same as when he left. The security guard dozed in the warm spring sun. The campus buildings weren’t new, exuding an air of ancient scholarly atmosphere.
Every time he came to this place, it left a deep impression, even more profound than what the vocational high school had left on him.
He searched through all the trash cans but couldn’t find the paper stars she had folded.
Jiang Ren waited until sunset before Meng Ting finished school.
She was wearing last year’s light blue backpack, walking out with Zhao Nuancheng, her expression animated. Whatever Zhao Nuancheng said to her made her eyes curve, glistening as if filled with all the world’s gentle light.
She wore spring clothes and her school uniform, walking in the sunset, a single ponytail – the most beautiful embodiment of youth.
As they walked towards the bus stop, Zhao Nuancheng was the first to spot Jiang Ren and was stunned.
“Ji-Jiang…”
She thought, damn, is this for real? Has the scumbag come back? Did he fail to find a prettier girl than Ting Ting and come back to harm her again?
Meng Ting didn’t know he had returned and was momentarily dazed seeing Jiang Ren.
He opened his arms, smiling, “Come here.”
His eyes held a new light she couldn’t understand.
Meng Ting walked over. He lowered his gaze, put the flowers in her hand, then took her backpack and slung it over his shoulder. Holding her other small hand, he started walking forward.
“Wait!” Zhao Nuancheng blocked him, nearly crying. She gathered her courage, “Don’t take advantage of Ting Ting’s innocence. You’re not allowed to bother her anymore. I’m telling you, Senior Huo is much more devoted and faithful than you.”
Jiang Ren’s pitch-black eyes finally looked at Zhao Nuancheng.
Zhao Nuancheng’s legs went weak. She belatedly realized that Jiang Ren’s walk just now… seemed a bit off.
Meng Ting, holding the bunch of daffodils, was caught between laughter and tears. “Nuancheng, you go ahead. Don’t be afraid, it’s fine. Jiang Ren is still my boyfriend.”
Zhao Nuancheng ran away quickly, clearly frightened by Jiang Ren’s gaze.
Meng Ting almost burst out laughing.
Jiang Ren held her hand and walked her home. Since moving, they were closer to home now – only a seventeen or eighteen-minute walk, so they didn’t need to take the bus anymore.
“Nuancheng is very nice, don’t be angry.”
“I’m not angry.” But her deliberate explanation for Zhao Nuancheng made it seem like Zhao Nuancheng was closer to her.
He squeezed her soft, fair fingers, emphasizing, “I’m not that petty.”
Meng Ting bit her lip, almost laughing out loud.
“Why didn’t you tell her I’m nice?”
She hugged the flowers, her tone soft, “Are you nice? You’re so fierce; saying that would be an obvious lie.”
“Are you trying to anger me to death?”
She finally couldn’t help but laugh, her eyes twinkling like stars. The warm sunset cast a soft glow on her porcelain-white skin.
“The list for recommended admissions is out. The school wants to recommend me to X University.”
He stopped in his tracks, looking at her.
“I didn’t go for it,” she smiled. “Is it okay if I go to B University?”
Is it okay, Jiang Ren?
In the April spring, the sunset was brilliant. He had nothing, not a penny to his name. Millions could disappear at any moment, and all he could afford to give her was a bunch of daffodils.
Jiang Ren had always known that without his illustrious family background, he was nothing.
At eighteen, he once attended a subpar vocational high school, dyed his hair silver, and had a wild, unruly personality. His looks weren’t the most striking either. Now his back was covered in burn scars, and his right leg had a lasting injury.
His answer came at this quiet dinnertime hour, as he caught his breath and trapped her between himself and a tree.
“Are you serious? Not taking the recommendation?”
The college entrance exam carried the risk of failure. Not everyone could get into their desired university. X University wasn’t inferior to B University. Moreover, at this time last year, he could have paid for all of Lu Yue’s university expenses just to shut her up. But this year, he didn’t even have enough for Ting Ting’s tuition, having invested it all in the H City seaside real estate development.
“Mm! I’ve thought about it, and B University is still better. Plus, my grades are okay, I should be able to get in.”
He took her hand and kissed her fingertips. “Wait until your sophomore year, I’ll support you.”
She giggled at the ticklish sensation.
Her eyes welled up with tears, but Meng Ting didn’t ask why not from freshman year, or say that she could support herself. She just looked at him with her big eyes, obedient and sweet.
“Okay, I’ll wait for you then.”
He could barely resist her obedient demeanor.
No man could resist it, wanting to give her everything.
His last shred of reason reminded him that it was now April, less than two months before her college entrance exam.
Zhao Nuancheng looked at him like he was a scoundrel, as did all her classmates, but he wasn’t one. He wanted to give her the best; Meng Ting deserved the best. For a long time to come, he would need to oversee things at the construction site.
He held back, then held back again. Finally, he said, “Close your eyes. Can I kiss you?”
Meng Ting felt the location was inappropriate; this was on her way home. What if someone saw? She covered her lips, “Let’s wait until after the exam.”
But he wouldn’t let her refuse. The young man lowered his head, burying his face in her slender, fair neck, and began to kiss. His hungry look made Meng Ting push him away, “Don’t go too far.” She was almost crying from embarrassment. “Someone’s coming, Jiang Ren…”
He was burning up, “Don’t mind them…”
The spring clothes were thin.
When he finally let her go, her eyes were misty with tears, and her legs felt weak.
Meng Ting didn’t know if anyone passing by had seen. Jiang Ren helped her straighten her clothes and wiped the marks on her collarbone. She was now so embarrassed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
“You scoundrel.”
His eyes were full of laughter, “Mm.”
Just one kiss like this, and he could work hard for her for a lifetime.
Jiang Ren took her hand and placed it inside his shirt.
“What are you doing!” She was furious, her cheeks about to drip blood.
He guided her fingers from his waist to his back. The young man’s muscles were firm. Meng Ting, initially wanting to withdraw her hand in embarrassment, suddenly paused.
Under her palm was a patch of skin that wasn’t smooth. She knew this kind of scar all too well; it had accompanied her for several years.
So he had burn scars too. He had worn a shirt and broken up with her while having these burns. How much pain must he have been in?
“Feel it? It’s too late to change your mind now,” he said. “I’m showing you all my flaws. Once you’ve seen them, you’re stuck with me for life.”
Her eyes grew hot, “How can you be so domineering…”
His eyes were full of mirth, “Mm, I’m both domineering and fierce. Be good, say once more that you’ll wait for me to support you.”
Then I can go out and work hard for you with all my might.