Chapter 2

Jiang xiao’s grandfather used to be a war correspondent. In that era, He Guofeng was a soldier and the two had a sworn friendship on the battlefield, even making a promise to become in-laws.

However, it was just a verbal agreement. After that, He Guofeng went higher and higher up in his own career path, and Jiang xiao’s grandfather went back to his hometown, refusing to use their friendship as a way to climb up the social ladder.

However, He Guofeng spent his whole life in the military, so brotherhood was of significant importance to him. Although he had not contacted Jiang xiao’s grandfather for a long time, after hearing that he had passed away and only a single mother and child remained in this fragile family, he did not hesitate to take Jiang Xiaoand her mother into his family.

Besides, he felt a lot of guilt in his heart.

Actually, he had always thought that his old friend was living a good life. When the two were in contact in their earlier years, this old friend never revealed an appearance of a difficult life, and the two even joked about the engagement between their grandchildren. So he never doubted, and never went to find out more.

He should have thought of it earlier, Old Jiang was a stubborn person, he was always so unwilling to trouble others.

As for their previous verbal agreement, He Guofeng had never forgotten it. However, there was no reason to force this agreement to fruition in this era. Besides, Jiang Xiaowas indeed still young, so there was no need to emphasize the topic of marriage.

But he swore in his heart that he would never let this little girl suffer anymore. If she was willing to marry into the family in the future, then there was absolutely no reason why the He family would not allow it.

Jiang Xiaoindeed did not have good grades, but at the moment when Wei Pinfang praised one and put the other down, she felt inferior and embarrassed. She clasped her hands tightly, lowering her head without saying anything.

“It’s okay. If you have poor grades, you can always catch up. xiaoxiao is still young.” He Guofeng comforted her, “You can get him to tutor you in the future. His grades are okay, you can ask him whenever you don’t know something.”

Wei Pinfang: “Aiya, that won’t do. The third year of high school is a critical time. Don’t let xiaoxiao disturb him.

“It’s fine, he usually doesn’t even study at home, he’s free.”

Don’t need to study?

Then how can his results be so good?

Jiang Xiaosecretly looked up at He Xingzhi, and suddenly felt that the halo around him seemed to widen a bit more.

“Xingzhi, come and sit here.” He Guofeng pointed to the position next to Jiang xiao.

Jiang xiao’s heart tightened inexplicably, but in the next second, the person said, “I just finished playing basketball, my whole body is sweaty. I will take a shower first, you all keep talking.”

Her whole body relaxed, but she also felt a bit disappointed.

Jiang Xiaoraised her gaze and watched him go straight upstairs. The white sportswear quickly disappeared from the stairs, as if the wind had passed by, leaving no room to stop him.

Afterwards, He Xingzhi did not come back down. It was not until dinner time, when Aunt Chen, the cook at the He family went upstairs to call for him, did he come out of his room unhurriedly.

At this time, the dixiao table was full of delicacies, so sumptuous that it was almost luxurious.

At the table, there was also He Xingzhi’s parents who had just returned home.

Jiang Xiaoate her food in a well-behaved manner, but occasionally, she would secretly look at the uncle and aunty who were practically strangers to her.

Father He was very serious and looked a bit scary. On the other hand, mother He was very beautiful. The aunties that Jiang Xiaohad seen in the places where she had lived before were all in their old age and no longer full of elegance, but the woman in front of her… she should be older than her mother, but she looked really youthful and pretty.

“xiaoxiao, why aren’t you eating, eat more, you are too thin.” He Guofeng said with care.

Jiang Xiaocame back to her senses and hurriedly picked up a piece of meat: “Yes, I, I am eating!”

“Well, don’t be cautious, this will be your home in the future.”

“…Thank you, Grandpa.”

After dinner, He Guofeng asked He Xingzhi to take Jiang Xiaoand Wei Pinfang to where they would live.

Actually they lived not too far away, in a small building next to this villa. Because it was attached to the villa, there was a small corridor in the middle.

He Guofeng was quite considerate. He was afraid that Wei Pinfang and Jiang Xiaowould feel uncomfortable to be suddenly eating and living with them, so he let them live in this small independent building.

Although it was called a small building, it was not small at all. It had a living room, a kitchen, and two large rooms. After Wei Pinfang came in, she went to the kitchen and living room to look around. On the other hand, He Xingzhi took Jiang g xiao to look at the rooms.

“You will sleep here in the future. There are food and drinks in the kitchen. If you still lack anything, tell Old Gao and he will buy it for you.” He stood at the door of the room and didn’t go in, simply informing her using a business-like tone, “Your luggage will be sent to you later.”

Jiang Xiaostood cautiously beside him, and nodded when she heard the words.

“Why aren’t you going in to take a look, are you not satisfied?”

“No no.” Jiang Xiaowaved her hand quickly.

He Xingzhi lowered his gaze and he saw the little girl’s small palms dangling in front of his eyes. She was flustered and looked a bit funny.

Jiang xiao: “I’m not, unsatisfied, it’s very, very good here.”

“Okay, that’s good then.”

Jiang g xiao didn’t speak much, so it was only until now that He Xingzhi realised that she stuttered a bit when talking.

He squinted his eyes slightly, but said nothing more: “You can rest, I’ll go now.”

“He, He…”

As he turned around, the little girl called him timidly, but when he looked back at her, she blushed and couldn’t call his name.

In He Xingzhi’s whole life till now, those around him were all from noble and rich families, even those in bad circumstances, were still outstanding compared to ordinary people2.

He had never seen someone as pitiful and timid as Jiang xiao.

So until now, he was still puzzled about the fact that his grandfather kept on saying, “She is his fiancee.”

Of course, this matter wouldn’t have any effect upon him. After all, she was just a small kid, what would she understand?

He Xingzhi: “What else is there?”

“Nothing…” Jiang Xiaopursed her lips and whispered, “It’s just, thank you.”

“No need.”

Once He Xingzhi left, soon after, Old Gao brought their luggage over.

Jiang Xiaonow had her own separate room and was happily organizing her clothes, but she had so little clothes that it was pitiful. When she put her clothes in the luxurious and bright wardrobe, it looked a bit sad.

However, this did not affect Jiang xiao’s good mood.

“xiaoxiao.”

Jiang Xiaostopped and turned her head to look at Wei Pinfang who had entered her room, “Mom.”

“Your He Grandpa has found a school for you, you will attend it after settling down.”

Jiang Xiaowas taken aback for a moment, “Then, will we, will we go back home?”

“Go home?” Wei Pinfang laughed coldly, “Where is there a home for us to go back to, your father, that irresponsible person left us like this and died, where can we go back to? And how can my frail body raise anyone.”

Jiang xiao’s eyes trembled slightly: “But, this is not our home, how long will we live…”

“It will be your home in the future.” Seeing Jiang xiao’s somewhat naive appearance, Wei Pinfang said solemnly, “Your dad did us wrong, and I also did you wrong too…but xiaoxiao, now is your chance. You must seize this opportunity, study hard, and be obedient, do you understand?”

Jiang Xiaopartly understood but was also partly confused. Looking at Wei Pinfang’s haggard face, she finally agreed in a low voice.

**

He Guofeng sent a lot of things to the mother and daughter, especially for Jiang xiao. He ordered his people to buy a lot of new clothes for her. But in the next few days, Jiang Xiaonever saw He Xingzhi again. Hearing from Old Gao, he had gone to school. So Jiang Xiaooften sat alone in the small courtyard, staring at this luxurious villa in a daze.

She was very lonely, but, she was lonely wherever she went anyway.

Her mother was always bedridden because of her illness. Before, there was no one to accompany her at home, and no one wanted to play with her at school. So this current bored state she was experiencing – she was used to it.

On this day, she secretly took out the camera from the suitcase and sat on a chair in the small courtyard to fiddle with it.

This camera was her father’s favorite and the only thing he had left her. But Wei Pinfang hated the camera, so she never took it out in front of her, only taking it out secretly when she missed her father.

“Look, it’s her, that’s what Brother Tang Zheng told me, he said she’s my brother’s wife!” Suddenly, a boy’s voice echoed in front of her. It was clear and crisp, and somewhat young.

Jiang Xiao looked up and saw that several children around her age had appeared in the small courtyard.

“…………”

“What kind of wife, nonsense, she is way worse than Sister FeiHe.” A white-skinned beautiful young girl sneered contemptuously, walking towards Jiang xiao, “Hey, get up.”

“Who, are you all?”

“My name is Xue Xiaoxiao!” The little girl was thirteen or fourteen years old, about the same age as Jiang xiao, but she was a full head taller than her, “Get up and let me see.”

Jiang Xiaowas not used to facing so many people at once, she was silent, got up, turned her head and walked into the building.

“You are not allowed to leave!” Xue Xiaoxiao stopped in front of her. After stopping, she looked her up and down, “Hey, I will only say it once. Brother Xingzhi is Sister FeiHe’s. You are not allowed to be there.”

“……”

Xue Xiaoxiao glared at her, Jiang xiao’s silent appearance caused her burxiao hot blood to be splashed with a basin of ice water.

After a few seconds of silence, Jiang Xiaowanted to walk around her again. Xue Xiaoxiao’s became even more upset, so she snatched the camera that Jiang Xiaowas carefully holding in her arms, “You stop there!”

Her arms were suddenly empty, Jiang Xiaolooked back at her in surprise, “This, give it back.”

Xue Xiaoxiao saw that she was finally willing to speak, and said with a smug, “No, unless you move out.”

“I, won’t move.”

“If you don’t move, I won’t give it back!”

“You, you give it back.”

Xue Xiaoxiao retreated to stand beside the other children who were watching the commotion, and said arrogantly, “We don’t have small-town bumpkins like you here, so you should leave immediately, and I will give it back to you when you leave.”

“You, you!” Jiang xiao’s cheeks flushed, she couldn’t say anything to curse her out, so she could only rush forward to snatch it.

She was very afraid of causing conflict with others, but this was her father’s camera, and it was also her most precious posession. She could not let others take it away, no matter what.

But after all, there were so many people against her, and she was short and small, how could she snatch away the camera from Xue Xiaoxiao’s hands?

She was so anxious that she was about to cry, and someone beside them said uneasily: “Xiaoxiao, how about we give it back to her, what if she cries.”

“I didn’t mean to make things difficult for her on purpose, I just asked her to leave this place.” The words of a child who was accustomed to being spoiled at home, even if it was unreasonable, she would make it seem like it was. Xue Xiaoxiao went ‘hmph’ and said, “Who cares about her, let’s go.”

Just as she turned around, she turned back and said, “Hey Jiang xiao, let me know when you leave, and then I will return your stupid thing.”

……

The group of children slowly became further and further away, and sparse conversations could be heard.

“Hey, she looks like she’s going to cry.”

“If she cries, then let her cry, what are you afraid of?”

“Ah… what should we do if my brother finds out?”

“He Xingyao, are you a coward? Do you still want Sister PeiHe to tutor you?”

“Yes!”

“Then that’s fine. Everyone says that Brother Xingzhi doesn’t like this person, don’t you know? She’s counting on him to back her up? Isn’t she dumb.”

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