Jiang Yichu was wearing a red polka dot waist-cinching dress today.

Her mother had asked her to wear this dress and said, “You’re not as fair as Rou Rou, so don’t wear a cheongsam.”

 

Favoritism is still favoritism, but she had to say all those grandiose things. Jiang Yichu couldn’t help but smile inside.

 

However, she didn’t actually want to wear a cheongsam.

 

It’s tight and uncomfortable, and she can’t even eat properly in it!

 

While they waited, Jiang Yichu and her mother adjusted their collars, quietly chatting, their faces full of contentment as if they were about to get what they wanted.

 

The clock on the wall ticked to the last segment, and Captain Liang and Mrs. Liang entered, hand in hand.

 

“As soon as I heard the car outside, I knew it was you. Sure enough.”

 

Jiang’s mother responded with practiced elegance.

 

If Jiang Yichu hadn’t seen her mother’s mood swing in private, she would’ve thought that Jiang’s mother was naturally warm-hearted, rather than ingratiating.

 

Mrs. Liang was still dressed in the same outfit from the other day.

 

“You’ve been waiting long?”

 

“Just arrived. Rou Rou’s been busy with overtime at the publishing house, so we were afraid of being late. Rou Rou, pour some tea for Aunt Liang.”

 

Jiang Sirou nodded and got up.

 

Her tea-pouring posture was so perfect, the curve of her wrist as though it had been practiced countless times. It was flawless.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Mrs. Liang gently raised her eyelids, her gaze briefly scanning Jiang Sirou in her cheongsam.

 

“Even though Rou Rou has overtime, she still looks so refined. Mrs. Jiang has really raised her daughter well, unlike my tomboy of a daughter, always playing with knives and guns, no manners at all.”

 

Jiang’s mother’s eyes twinkled with pride. “Yes, Rou Rou has always been steady and composed.”

 

What an idiot.

 

Jiang Zhiyuan nudged Jiang’s mother’s arm under the table, signaling her to stop.

 

When people in power talk, you need to listen carefully.

 

What Mrs. Liang said about her daughter being a “tomboy” was modesty, but when Jiang’s mother praised her own daughter for being “refined,” it was clearly showing off!

 

After a few pleasantries, the waiter came to take their orders.

 

Since it was the Liang family who had suggested calling off the engagement, the menu was naturally up to Jiang’s mother to decide.

 

The dishes were all fairly standard.

 

Jiang’s mother wasn’t focused on the meal, so she casually asked for a few signature dishes to be served.

 

“Let’s add a Xixi Meatballs.”

 

Before the waiter left, Mrs. Liang added one more dish.

 

A canceled engagement and west happy Wanzi was mentioned? Jiang’s mother couldn’t figure out the Liang family’s intentions, her expression faltering for a moment.

 

The meal was not about the food for Jiang Sirou’s mother and daughter.

 

When everyone had nearly finished eating, Mrs. Liang finally spoke up. “Let’s talk about the engagement cancellation, shall we?”

 

“Sure.”

 

Finally, the main topic had arrived. Jiang’s mother set down her chopsticks and took out her copy of the marriage contract.

 

The Liang family had returned theirs the day before, but Jiang’s family’s copy had not yet been handed over.

 

Jiang’s family’s contract was kept in very good condition.

 

Jiang’s mother took it out, but didn’t immediately hand it over. She fiddled with it, flipping it in her hands.

 

“It’s such a pity.”

 

“Liang Heng is so handsome, I really liked him.”

 

“Look, we had already prepared everything for the wedding, and in the end, we have this mess.”

 

“It’s really disappointing to both of our old fathers. It’s also our Rou Rou who doesn’t have the fortune to call you ‘mother-in-law’.”

 

She took out the marriage contract but didn’t give it right away, then said these somewhat aggrieved words.

 

Mrs. Liang could see through Jiang’s mother’s little schemes immediately.

 

She glanced at Jiang Siro and nodded. “Yes, it’s really a pity for Siro.”

 

“The engagement cancellation was proposed by our family. Old Liang said that while the wedding cannot go ahead, the relationship between the two families should not be broken.”

 

Mrs. Liang continued, “Before coming here, I discussed with Old Liang. If there’s compensation to be given, it must be to the Jiang family.”

 

“Don’t say ‘compensation,’ it sounds so formal.”

 

Jiang’s mother shook her head, feeling a sense of satisfaction. She mentally tuned out the part of Mrs. Liang’s statement that had said the compensation was for the Jiang family.

 

“The children’s matters depend on fate. As parents, we can’t really interfere too much.”

 

Jiang’s mother added, “But Old Liang is right. The relationship between the two families cannot be severed.”

 

“Not to hide anything, Rou Rou mentions how much she admires you every day. She looks up to you more than even me, her own mother. If we really stop contacting, I’m afraid Rou Rou will fall ill from longing.”

 

“Mom…”

 

Jiang Siro lowered her gaze and, at the right moment, took over her mother’s narrative.

 

She looked at Mrs. Liang with admiration in her eyes. “I have the utmost respect for Aunt Liang.”

 

“Aunt Liang, we still have several of your interviews published in our publishing house.”

 

Mrs. Liang turned to look at her.

 

Jiang Siro continued, “The ‘Red Bloom of Youth’ from the military district performance two years ago, and ‘Afterglow’ last year, I loved both! I’ve even practiced them a few times.”

 

Both dances had won a lot of awards.

 

Mrs. Liang glanced at Jiang Siro. “You learned to dance?”

 

“I did.” Jiang Sirou nodded.

 

“My mom really values the cultivation of my hobbies. So, I learned singing and dancing when I was young.”

 

Jiang’s mother beamed proudly. “Girls, you have to train them well.”

 

“That’s great.” Mrs. Liang nodded, her assessment neutral. “Girls who learn dance are resilient, especially those with solid foundation, it’s rare.”

 

“Exactly.” Jiang Siro agreed, nodding. “Girls who can dance mostly went to the art troupe, it’s hard to find a friend who can dance too.”

 

She whispered, “If it weren’t for that little incident, I’d have wanted to join the art troupe too.”

 

Jiang’s family had a bad background.

 

During the earlier political crackdown, she didn’t even have the qualification to apply.

 

Jiang’s mother joined the conversation with a guilty tone, sighing. “It was all those years with the policy problems.”

 

“Later, when the investigation was clear, the art troupe stopped recruiting, so it was missed.”

 

“Rou Rou had no choice but to join the publishing house later.”

 

Mother and daughter spoke in harmony.

 

Mrs. Liang understood what they meant, but she didn’t engage in the conversation.

Can it be the same?

Jiang’s mother’s smile froze.

 

Mrs. Liang shifted her gaze and asked, “What about Chuchu?”

 

“We’ve been talking for so long, but we haven’t heard Chuchu say anything.”

 

Jiang Yichu, who had been concentrating on her meal with her head down, was suddenly brought into the conversation. She froze for a moment.

 

She swallowed the meatball in her mouth, thinking for a few seconds.

 

“You’re asking about… my hobbies?”

 

Mrs. Liang nodded.

 

Jiang Yichu blinked, unable to answer immediately.

 

She had grown up in an orphanage.

 

The orphanage didn’t cultivate the children’s hobbies; as long as they were fed and clothed, that was considered happiness.

 

To earn a scholarship, she had to be first in every exam.

 

It was even more so after she was selected by Beijing Medical University’s youth program at fifteen.

 

Other than studying, she didn’t have time for anything else.

 

Jiang Yichu pressed her lips together. “Does liking studying count?”

 

Hearing this answer, Jiang Sirou couldn’t help but laugh.

 

Someone who hadn’t even finished elementary school could lie through their teeth so smoothly without even blushing.

 

She chuckled softly, “Aunt Liang, don’t listen to my sister’s nonsense. She…”

 

Mrs. Liang didn’t even spare a glance at Jiang Sirou.

 

“Of course, liking studying counts! A girl should have ambition.”

 

Jiang Sirou was interrupted coldly, and her expression darkened.

 

Mrs. Liang seemed to not notice and continued asking Jiang Yichu.

 

“Since Chuchu likes studying, how about coming to our art troupe and learning to be a scriptwriter?”

 

There was no forewarning.

 

Mrs. Liang just casually handed over the position that Jiang Siro and her mother had been eyeing for a long time and placed it in Jiang Yichu’s hands.

 

Jiang’s mother’s expression changed dramatically, and she hurriedly said, “Jiang Yichu can’t do that!”

 

The refusal was blunt, and Mrs. Liang didn’t say anything, just looking at her.

 

“Why can’t she? Is it because you’re worried our art troupe’s teachers are unprofessional and can’t teach well?”

 

“No,” Jiang’s mother, in a daze, could only respond instinctively.

 

“It’s just… girls shouldn’t learn things like scriptwriting, it’s not something they’d use later on.”

 

Mrs. Liang smiled. “Didn’t you just say that girls should be well cultivated?”

 

“I didn’t mean that.”

 

Jiang’s mother, in a panic to keep the opportunity for Jiang Sirou, started to get her words mixed up.

 

“I mean, Chuchu is a shy child and learns things slowly. I’m worried it would be too tiring for you to teach her. Rou Rou is smart, it’s better if she learns it instead.”

 

Mrs. Liang lowered her gaze, noncommittal.

 

She turned to Jiang Yichu, “What does Chuchu think?”

 

Jiang’s mother also looked over, her face darkening, her eyes narrowing.

 

“Sorry,” Jiang Yichu shook her head.

 

The refusal wasn’t because of her mother’s pressure.

 

It was because she genuinely didn’t like it.

 

They say medicine is a field with a high professional barrier, and many doctors don’t switch careers because there’s no other path.

 

But Jiang Yichu wasn’t like that.

 

She truly loved it, had a passion for this work.

 

The sense of achievement after every successful surgery, the immersion and focus during those moments when she races against time to save someone.

 

Even if she couldn’t hold a scalpel again, she still wanted to pursue something related to medicine.

 

Mrs. Liang pursed her lips, clearly disappointed.

 

“Well, then.”

 

“It’s really a pity.”

 

Jiang’s mother also sighed in relief, her expression softening slightly.

 

“You see, I told you, Chuchu wouldn’t like it, so it’s better for Rou Rou to…”

 

“Since that’s the case, why not just make her my goddaughter? How about it?”

 

Mrs. Liang’s words were like throwing a giant grenade into the private room!

 

“What?!”

 

The three members of the Jiang family screamed at the same time.