Chapter 85.3

Ji Xiaoting saw that Ning Xiu remained silent and asked, “Are you afraid she’ll come back?”

After a while, Ning Xiu nodded. Tian Mai understood this well. Ever since the old lady left, Tian Mai had been sleeping in the same room with Ning Xiu and Ning Qian. Every night, Ning Xiu would wake up in fear, repeating the same words: “Grandma, don’t hit me.”

Each time, Tian Mai felt a surge of anger towards the old woman.

Ji Xiaoting said, “Teacher Ji can assure you she won’t come back. She has disappeared from your world and will never appear in front of you again. Wherever you go, you won’t see her. Instead, you will see vast horizons and new things you’ve never seen before. You’ll meet many people who like you and will help you discover and experience new things. Are you looking forward to that?”

Ning Xiu slowly raised her head, looking at Ji Xiaoting. For the first time, her previously dull and fearful eyes showed a spark of light.

She didn’t speak, but everyone present could see the change. Tian Mai, closest to her, felt it the most. She squeezed Ning Xiu’s hand excitedly and looked gratefully at Ji Xiaoting. Ji Xiaoting continued, “Who do you trust the most?”

This time, Ning Xiu didn’t hesitate: “My mother.”

Ji Xiaoting said, “Then let your mother tell you if your grandmother will come back.”

Tian Mai immediately followed Ji Xiaoting’s lead, looked into Ning Xiu’s eyes, and said firmly, “I promise you, your grandmother will never appear in front of us again. You’ll never see her. Don’t be afraid. It’s just Qian’er, your father, and me at home now. She will never be here again.”

Ji Xiaoting asked, “Your name is Ning Xiu, right?”

Ning Xiu looked at Ji Xiaoting, then lowered her head and nodded slightly.

Ji Xiaoting smiled, “Your name is beautiful. Ning Xiu—magnificent mountains and rivers. Would you like to use your hands to draw these magnificent mountains and rivers that you’ve never seen?”

Returning to the topic of drawing, Ning Xiu lifted her head. “I… I would.”

Ji Xiaoting smiled, “Would you like to stay with the teacher? I’ll take you to see magnificent mountains and rivers and help you experience the beauty and changes of the world, allowing you to create the most perfect works. I can promise you that with me, you’ll never see your grandmother again.”

Ning Xiu looked at the island scene on the drawing board. After a long while, she slowly nodded.

Tian Mai sighed in relief, and so did Jiang Nian. She looked at Ji Xiaoting with newfound respect, realizing that she might be more than just a painter.

With Ning Xiu’s situation resolved, Ji Xiaoting explained she would stay in the city for half a month, taking care of Ning Xiu during this time. Given Ning Xiu’s age and current situation, it wasn’t suitable for her to travel extensively. For now, she would focus on learning. Every two months, Ji Xiaoting would return to the city for ten days, spending this time with Ning Xiu until she was older and ready for more.

When Ji Xiaoting took Ning Xiu away, the girl resisted slightly, but Tian Mai knew she couldn’t protect her daughter forever. Ji Xiaoting’s dormitory was nearby. After seeing them off, Jiang Nian asked about Ji Xiaoting’s background.

From Ge Mei, she learned that Ji Xiaoting had divorced and lost her child during pregnancy. Since then, she has remained single. Now in her forties, Jiang Nian felt Ji Xiaoting might become a crucial mentor in Ning Xiu’s life.

Tian Mai visited Ning Xiu’s dormitory, where she shared a room with Ji Xiaoting. Ji Xiaoting instructed Tian Mai to bring Ning Xiu’s clothes and toiletries the next day. When they returned home, it was just in time for lunch, which Lu Yu had prepared.

Jiang Nian happily ran to Lu Yu, hugged his neck, and told him about Ning Xiu.

Seeing her bright smile, Lu Yu kissed her fluttering eyes. “Are you hungry?”

Jiang Nian nodded, “Yes, I’m hungry.”

Lu Yu had prepared stir-fried dishes and steamed rice. Jiang Nian, unusually, finished a whole bowl. After washing the dishes, Lu Yu went to shower while Jiang Nian thought about her embroidery designs. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned to find Lu Yu had squatted behind her, embracing her from behind and handing her an envelope.

Jiang Nian opened it to find money inside.

Surprised, she counted the notes, both large and small bills, totaling fifteen hundred yuan.

She was stunned, “Why so much?”

Lu Yu explained, “It’s the leftover money from our wedding and my salary from the past few months.”

Jiang Nian realized this was almost a year’s salary. She had never asked how much their wedding had cost, but she knew the watch Lu Yu bought her was worth several hundred, not to mention the bicycle, sewing machine, and the wedding banquet. The fact that he could still save fifteen hundred yuan indicated his half-year salary and allowances had been substantial.

Jiang Nian also knew that this money was earned with his life on the line.

Lu Yu never mentioned a word about what he had gone through in that half year, but the scars on his body couldn’t be erased. She knew he must have suffered a lot.

Jiang Nian turned around and threw herself into Lu Yu’s arms, hugging his lean and strong waist tightly. Her voice carried a hint of coquettishness. “Lu Yu, promise me, when you go on missions, you must protect yourself, okay? The mission is important, but you are more important to me. I don’t want anything to happen to you. I want us to always be together. I can’t bear to see you hurt.”

This was the first time Jiang Nian had opened up to Lu Yu, the first time she told him that she couldn’t bear to see him hurt.

Lu Yu’s heart felt warm, and he held Jiang Nian tightly, kissing her neck. He was silent for a long time before he slowly said one word, “Okay.”

Jiang Nian held onto Lu Yu for a long time until she heard the sound of Fang Xia and Fang Guo going to school next door, which brought her back to reality. She lifted her head from his embrace, looked at Lu Yu’s chiseled profile, and smiled mischievously, “Do you have any hidden stash of money?”

Lu Yu laughed, “I saved some. In a few days, I’ll take you back to see Zhang Xiao, and we’ll have a table set up to invite Captain Tang and the others to our wedding banquet.”

Jiang Nian’s eyes curved with her smile, “I guessed it right.”

Lu Yu said, “I submitted a leave application today, asking for seven days off. We’ll leave in seven days. I called Zhu Jun, and Zhang Xiao is about to give birth.”

Jiang Nian hadn’t expected that Lu Yu had arranged everything, leaving her nothing to worry about.

“The day after tomorrow, on Sunday, Gu Shizhou and Chen Yao are coming over for lunch. Chen Yao has something he wants to discuss with you.”

Jiang Nian was taken aback. “What does he want to talk to me about?”

Lu Yu smiled, “You’ll find out then.”

Jiang Nian’s curiosity was piqued. She knew she couldn’t get a word out of Lu Yu for now.

The next morning, Jiang Nian went to the city with Tian Mai to bring Ning Xiu some clothes and toiletries. When Ning Xiu saw Tian Mai, she held onto her hand and wouldn’t let go. It was Ji Xiaoting who came over and gently asked, “Did you see your grandma last night when you were sleeping with me?”

Ning Xiu shook her head slightly, and Ji Xiaoting smiled, “So, why are you afraid? You’ll sleep with me again tonight, and I promise you won’t see her.”

Tian Mai stayed with Ning Xiu for a while. This time, she also discussed tuition fees with Ji Xiaoting. Ji Xiaoting accepted five yuan, which covered half a month’s tuition and living expenses. She told Tian Mai to come over once every four days to spend some time with Ning Xiu so the child would know she hadn’t been abandoned by her mother.

On the way back, Tian Mai bought a bag of apples and insisted on giving them to Jiang Nian, repeatedly thanking her. In her heart, Jiang Nian was her daughter Xiu’er’s benefactor. Without Jiang Nian leading the way, how would she and Old Ning have known about Xiu’er’s talent for painting?

Jiang Nian had no choice but to accept the apples.

In the blink of an eye, it was Sunday. Lu Yu still got up before dawn, made breakfast, and waited for Jiang Nian to wake up naturally. He held her and kissed her for a while, helped her get dressed, and after she washed up, they had breakfast together. Then they began preparing lunch for Gu Shizhou and the others who were coming at noon.

They didn’t need to buy vegetables because they had their own plot. They just needed to get some meat from the food station.

The two of them went to the food station. The distance from there to the food station was quite far. Lu Yu took out his bicycle, scooped Jiang Nian onto the back seat with one arm, and rode towards the food station. Jiang Nian thought about how she almost fell the last time He Yue took her, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

Lu Yu felt the slight tremor of her chest against him. He squeezed Jiang Nian’s fingers and asked, “What’s so funny?”

Jiang Nian told Lu Yu about how she almost fell the last time He Yue took her on the bike. Her legs dangled in the air, but despite the slight movement, Lu Yu rode steadily, unaffected. After hearing her story, Lu Yu accurately grasped the key point: “Gu Shizhou caught you?”

Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment before realizing what Lu Yu meant. Before she could fully process it, he added, “He held your waist?”

Jiang Nian: …

She bit her lip, and Lu Yu squeezed her fingers again, this time with a bit more force, causing a slight pain, “Jiang Nian, answer me.”

Jiang Nian wished she could slap herself.

Why did she bring this up for no reason? It was asking for trouble.

Lu Yu’s hand slid over her fingertips, grasping her wrist, his thumb resting on her pulse. He said, “Your heart is racing.”

Jiang Nian: …

Lu Yu continued, “I already know the answer.”

Jiang Nian: …