Chapter 15

Father and Mother Jiang arrived home on Friday afternoon, and Jiang Muti came back to find them there.

Although she had the original owner’s memories, Jiang Muti wouldn’t draw conclusions about the people around her just based on those memories, because the original owner’s personality was solitary and not very perceptive. Most of the time, Jiang Muti didn’t rely solely on those memories to judge others.

After all, the original owner thought of her strict and sharp elder brother, who often intervened in everything, as a person hard to deal with, while Jiang Muti found him easy to please.

But when it came to her parents, Jiang Muti and the original owner’s opinions aligned. They both saw them as parents who were distant and lacked warmth and affection for their children.

The roles of the Jiang parents were that of strict father and strict mother.

When they returned home, instead of first inquiring about how their children had been after being away for weeks, they walked in like bosses entering a conference room and asked Jiang Yunjuan to report on his recent work.

But if we talk about their strict standards, they only applied them to Jiang Yunjun, while with Jiang Muti, it felt more like they simply let her be.

Otherwise, given their authoritarian personalities, they wouldn’t have allowed their daughter to stay overweight for so long.

This was probably why the original owner never felt a sense of belonging at home and placed so much importance on relationships outside of the family.

At least their strict standards for their eldest son were evident, but when it came to her, they had become indifferent.

It made one wonder who the real adopted child was.

However, Jiang Muti wasn’t bothered by this. In her past life, she had parents who deeply loved her and were irreplaceable, so she didn’t dwell on it.

In any case, she planned to nurture her new family life, but she didn’t feel the need to force it.

So when Father and Mother Jiang returned home and saw their daughter had lost a lot of weight, was attentive enough to pour them tea and peel fruits for them, and quietly listened while they discussed work with her elder brother—without rushing back to her room as usual—they were quite surprised.

Father Jiang took a sip of tea and, in a rare moment, asked his daughter, “Muti, what have you been up to lately? How are your grades?”

Jiang Muti smiled and said, “I’ve been dieting recently. I feel much lighter, and I can concentrate better on my studies. My class ranking improved a little in the mid-term exams.”

Jiang Yunjuan, helpless, added, “Why be modest in front of Mom and Dad? From outside the top 100 to within the top 10 in the grade, that’s no small achievement.”

“My reward has already been given to you,” he said. “Now that Mom and Dad are here, go ahead and ask them for yours.”

Father and Mother Jiang were indeed pleased. Father Jiang, usually serious and stern, smiled and said, “That’s better! It’s great for young people to be lively. How can you stay cooped up in a room all day like a ghost?”

This was the kind of comment that could kill the conversation, but fortunately, Mother Jiang noticed it.

She quickly said, “Don’t mind your dad, that’s just how he is. If things go wrong, he’ll talk, and if things go well, he’ll still talk. There’s never a good word from him.”

“Come on, Muti, what do you want? Mom will buy it for you.”

Jiang Muti didn’t hold back and asked for quite a few things from her parents. The family then enjoyed dinner together.

In the original owner’s memory, during family meals, it was always the three adults talking about work, and whenever her parents remembered her, she’d get scolded. It was rare to have such a warm and cheerful atmosphere.

But even though Jiang Muti was good at lightening the mood, she still felt tired by the end of the meal.

She wasn’t sure if it was because she subconsciously compared her parents to those from her past life, but no matter how good the atmosphere, it still didn’t seem to close the gap between parents and children. Of course, this could also be because of the original owner’s ingrained way of interacting with them.

In any case, it didn’t have the warmth and care that she felt when interacting with Jiang Yunjuan, where you could genuinely sense the heartfelt affection and care.

After dinner, the family had some tea, and the siblings then prepared to head upstairs to rest.

As they stepped into the hallway leading to the bedrooms, Jiang Muti suddenly threw herself onto her brother’s back, feeling emotionally exhausted and not wanting to move another step.

Jiang Yunjuan’s expression softened a little. He grabbed her arm and effortlessly lifted her up, heading to his room.

Jiang Muti had lost some weight recently, so she was now about the size of an average adult man. With Jiang Yunjuan’s build, carrying her a short distance wasn’t difficult at all.

He placed the still chubby Jiang Muti on the bed and smiled. “Why aren’t you going to find Mom and Dad now that they’re back? Instead, you’re clinging to me more than ever?”

Jiang Muti replied teasingly, “Would I forget my brother just because I have parents? I’m not that kind of person.”

She then rolled over, and as an obsessive-compulsive, Jiang Yunjuan’s room was immaculately tidy and orderly.

Jiang Muti didn’t usually like to come into his room because she always felt guilty if she accidentally messed something up. But now, she didn’t feel that way.

Casually, she opened the small drawer by the bed and found a small photo frame inside.

She took it out and realized it was a family photo of the three of them.

Although the photo was old, it had been well preserved, and the people in it were clearly visible.

The woman in the photo was a graceful, gentle beauty, while the man resembled Father Jiang quite a bit, and the child in the middle was clearly her brother.

However—

Jiang Muti compared the photo with Jiang Yunjuan beside her and couldn’t help but chuckle.

She then straightened her voice and said, “Mr. Jiang Yunjuan, I’d like to interview you. What has time done to you?”

It wasn’t that she was being playful, it was just that the little boy in the photo looked so lively and mischievous, his playful energy seemed like it could leap right off the page. When compared to the serious and reserved figure he was now, it was quite amusing.

Jiang Yunjuan rubbed her head, took the photo back, and placed it back in the drawer, seemingly unwilling to continue the topic.

He softly said, “It’s late, go to bed. We have to attend a banquet tomorrow.”

Jiang Muti had never seen him like this, neither in the original owner’s memories nor during the time she had spent with him.

Jiang Yunjuan always appeared calm and composed, as though he had everything under control. This uncharacteristic gentleness, which didn’t seem to have any sharp edges but also held a hint of tenderness—whether it was real or just an illusion—was something Jiang Muti had never encountered before.

It took her a while after returning to her room before she realized what had happened, and she immediately wanted to slap herself.

How stupid could she be? His parents passed away when he was young, and someone like him, who had a clear memory from an early age, hadn’t received enough warmth from the elders in his new family.

So his biological parents would forever be a cherished, painful memory in his heart, one that deepened over time and became harder to let go of.

How foolish was she to casually bring up his childhood as a joke?

Jiang Muti twisted and turned in frustration on the bed for a long while before finally dozing off, waking up early the next day.

Normally, she wouldn’t have cared about such trivial matters for this long, nor would she have felt guilty about it.

But when it came to Jiang Yunjuan, who was so devoted to pampering his sister, she just couldn’t brush it off that easily.

Thinking he liked being looked after, she went to the kitchen to make breakfast herself.

Jiang Muti wasn’t very skilled in cooking, but the original owner was quite good at it. With the memories of the original owner, she didn’t suddenly become a master chef, but she could more or less get the hang of things.

She made some simple fried bacon and eggs, a salad with the fresh vegetables that had just arrived in the morning, and brewed two cups of coffee—nothing too difficult.

Of course, she could only have one cup of black coffee. Her breakfast consisted of two egg whites, some fruit, and a few nuts.

When comparing the two breakfasts, it was clear who had the more awkward meal.

But there was something even more awkward—she had forgotten to make breakfast for her parents. No, she had even forgotten that her parents were home.

Fortunately, Old Yun was perceptive and brought the breakfast in as soon as the master and mistress sat down. No one mentioned that the breakfast already being eaten by the young master and young miss was made by her.

Mother Jiang even asked Jiang Yunjuan, “Ah Xuan, why are you having such a simple breakfast today?”

Jiang Yunjuan smiled, not answering directly, but clearly appreciating his sister’s gesture: “It’s enough, very generous already.”

He then looked at his sister, who was staring at the breakfast on the table, biting her egg whites with a look of despair.

Today’s breakfast was a Cantonese style, with a wide variety of delicate and exquisite dishes. Each portion was small and served in little steamers, making them very tempting.

Jiang Yunjuan, with a mischievous mind, almost wanted to tease his sister with the food, but since their parents were present, it wasn’t convenient to do so.

After breakfast, those who needed to work left for their respective jobs. Only Jiang Muti stayed at home, preparing for the evening banquet. Her parents and older brother would go directly from the company to the event, so Jiang Muti had to manage everything alone.

There was a stylist at home, so she didn’t have to worry about what to wear. But with her vanity, she wasn’t interested in showing up at such an event without making a stunning appearance. She even felt a bit embarrassed by it.

She wasn’t in the mood to socialize and talk to people, so she figured she’d be bored alone. She asked Yun Duo to accompany her, even though Yun Duo couldn’t eat anything. At least there would be someone to talk to.

Yun Duo wasn’t keen on going, but who was a match for Jiang Muti’s persuasive skills? With just a few words, she was convinced. She realized that Jiang Muti had just recently cut ties with all her “friends” and was probably feeling lonely. If she didn’t go, who else would?

So the stylist also did Yun Duo’s makeup. Unfortunately, there was no gown in the house that Yun Duo could wear. After all, Jiang Muti’s figure—

But fortunately, Old Yun had bought her a gown earlier, intending to hold a birthday party for both kids on their eighteenth birthday. It was perfect for this occasion.

When they arrived at the banquet, Jiang Muti realized that the host family was actually the Zhou family.

It was his elder sister’s engagement ceremony, and all the high-society figures from the city had come. The event was very grand.

After meeting up with his family, Jiang Muti was introduced to the host family. As soon as Zhou Lu saw her, he immediately put on a sour face. However, given the occasion, even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare to pick a fight.

Father and Mother Jiang, on the other hand, were having a pleasant conversation with Zhou Lu’s parents, even joking about how both their children went to the same school.

They had no idea that the two had been at odds at school.

Jiang Muti noticed that Li Xi was also present, obviously brought by Zhou Lu. But when it came to greeting guests, the two were not together.

This was certain. If they stood together, people would start asking whether the Zhou family’s second young master was about to get engaged and which family’s young lady was involved.

Li Xi came from a normal family. In the original story, due to the class difference, there was significant opposition from both her parents and the outside world. For now, she could only appear as a classmate.

After handling the formalities, Jiang Muti saw her parents engaged in socializing, and her older brother was invited away by his peers, so she and Yun Duo decided to wander off on their own.

However, they first needed to complete the important task at hand. The banquet was filled with celebrities from politics, business, and entertainment, and they even spotted several top domestic celebrities.

Jiang Muti quickly found her target: a top domestic music producer who was known for being high-profile, even in public.

After chatting with him for a while, she subtly revealed her identity. The producer, recognizing her as the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, was patient with her.

When she handed him the demo tape along with photos and personal information on her phone, he promised he would listen to it carefully and get back to her with his personal opinion.

Jiang Muti liked this kind of well-connected person because, with someone like him, her inherent resource advantages could be fully maximized.

After taking care of this matter, Jiang Muti let out a sigh of relief. The next test was for Qiao Yuqi’s talent, which was a matter of fate. At least, it wasn’t something she had to worry about anymore.

She pulled Yun Duo over, planning to find a place to sit and chat quietly.

However, just as they were about to settle, Li Xi, who had been a little distance away from them, noticed the CD Jiang Muti had handed over. Her face immediately changed. The signature on the disc was unmistakably that of Qiao Yuqi’s work, which she had seen before.

As Li Xi was about to approach and ask what was going on, two girls stepped forward and came up to Jiang Muti and Yun Duo.

The two girls were both exquisitely dressed and looked like twins.

Jiang Muti didn’t recognize them, but they certainly didn’t seem unfamiliar with her.

One of the girls spoke up, “If I’m not mistaken, you just self-recommended to the music producer, right? Oh~ Jiang Muti, it’s been a few years. No matter how much your confidence has soared, don’t really think there’s no threshold in the music industry, right?”

The other girl covered her mouth and laughed, saying, “Her singing’s not that great either. Don’t you remember how she was laughed at and cried when she sang on stage in elementary school?”

Jiang Muti then realized it was probably some old grudge. She sneered, about to mock them in return.

But then she suddenly remembered that Yun Duo was right beside her. This was the first test she’d encountered after deciding to always do bad things together with her.

Thinking that Yun Duo was a little slow with words, how to fix that? Just tear into them, practice, don’t be afraid to lose, and after a few tries, she’d get the hang of it.

She turned to Yun Duo and said, “What did I say last night? You go first!”

Yun Duo paused for two seconds, seeming a little hesitant. But once she remembered the strange provocation from the other girls, she quickly shrugged off the hesitation and lost any psychological burden.

So, she nodded and, with a long stride, went over, grabbing both girls by the hair with one hand each. She yanked hard, causing the girls, who had been holding themselves with grace, to cry out in pain, and their carefully styled hair became a mess.

Jiang Muti was a little dazed, asking, “Why, why did you start with violence?”

Yun Duo, looking confused, answered, “You said it. When you curse them, I help by pulling their hair. I’ve got them, now you can curse!”