Chapter 020: So Jiang Junwen Can Be Gentle

Shen Qingli didn’t return to the Jiang family’s old residence in Dongshan until around 11:30 p.m.

Madam Jiang valued her skincare and wellness routines and usually went to bed by this time.

Shen Qingli planned to leave for school by 7:00 a.m. the next day—early enough that Madam Jiang wouldn’t come looking for her.

Her strategy now was to avoid confrontation as much as possible until she could move into the school dormitory in a few days.

The taxi couldn’t enter the villa community, so it stopped at the entrance. The rain had stopped, and the air was damp, filled with the scent of wet grass and foliage.

Shen Qingli stepped out of the car and then leaned back in to wave at Pei Songjiang, who was still sitting inside. “Senior, thank you so much for everything today.”

She felt bad—Senior Pei was just too nice.

And she was so awkward with words, she didn’t know how to properly express her gratitude.

Pei Songjiang gave her a little wave. In the dim night, her eyes looked like stars scattered in the dark sky—bright and clear.

He said softly, “See you tomorrow, Shen Qingli.”

Shen Qingli obediently waved from the roadside. “See you tomorrow, Senior.”

The car disappeared into the night.

She stood there for a moment before turning toward the Jiang family’s gates.

Most of the lights in the residence were off, only the garden lamps by the entrance remained lit.

As she walked through the villa’s front gate, she was suddenly startled by a dark figure standing by the entrance.

She tensed and turned—only to see Jiang Junwen leaning against a tree near the gate, cigarette in hand, eyes fixed sharply on her.

Shen Qingli: “…”

She relaxed slightly but frowned. “What are you doing standing here?”

Jiang Junwen flicked his cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his foot. Then, still wearing a dark expression, he strode over to her and asked coldly, “Didn’t I tell you to be back by eight? Why are you this late?”

Shen Qingli looked at him like he was ridiculous. Lately, Jiang Junwen had been acting very strangely toward her.

Then again, in her previous life, he hadn’t liked her much either. His tone had always been curt.

Thinking of this, she gave him a strange look. “Are you mentally ill? This is my private life. I don’t owe you an explanation.”

Jiang Junwen’s face darkened further. He sneered, “Right, you don’t owe me anything. But you’ll report my whereabouts to Gao Xuanzhen, won’t you?”

Shen Qingli’s face hardened. “I didn’t.”

She frowned. “You agreed to the photo, remember? I didn’t tell Madam Jiang anything else.”

Typical. The high-and-mighty young master of the Jiang family only heard what he wanted and never considered anyone else’s perspective.

She quickened her pace, not wanting to walk alongside him. But after a few steps, she turned back and held out her hand. “Phone.”

She looked annoyed, eyes filled with impatience.

That look made Jiang Junwen uncomfortable.

He took the phone out but didn’t immediately hand it to her. Instead, he frowned and asked, “Whose hat are you wearing?”

Shen Qingli was startled and reflexively touched her head.

Only then did she realize—she was still wearing Pei Songjiang’s cap!

Because of the rain, he had told her to keep it on, and she had completely forgotten.

She took off the cap and glanced at it—a black baseball cap embroidered with English letters. It was clearly a men’s style, with a wide brim and structured design.

Holding the cap in her hand, Shen Qingli’s tone was indifferent. “None of your business, Jiang Junwen. We’re not that close. You ask too many questions.”

Then she glared at him. “Hurry up. My phone!”

She stepped forward angrily and snatched the phone from his hand, then quickly walked away.

Jiang Junwen’s expression grew worse.

Because all he could think about was the boy on the bus who had sat with Shen Qingli.

He mocked, “Is it from some ‘kind’ senior? A hat worth thousands, just handed over like that? He must really care about you.”

Shen Qingli paused, surprised.
Thousands? For a hat?

Then she remembered the neon jade succulent Pei had given her earlier… That probably wasn’t cheap either…

Shen Qingli: “…”

Jiang Junwen looked at her and sneered. “So this is why you stopped riding with me—because you’ve latched onto someone richer? Found a better target to cozy up to?”

Shen Qingli rolled her eyes. “Think what you want. If mocking me makes you feel better, I’ll consider it my good deed for the day.”

Jiang Junwen: “…”

He stared at the side of her face. “Shen Qingli, you… you’ve changed.”

She had always been soft-spoken. When had she become like this?

Like a cactus, covered in thorns.

Jiang Junwen was in a foul mood.

He had fought with Madam Jiang again tonight—this time worse than ever.

Because he had brought Luo Shuyao home.

In the end, he had stormed out of the house, only to find that Shen Qingli hadn’t come back either.

He’d ignored Luo Shuyao, who was resting in his room, and grabbed the phone to call around, asking classmates if they had seen Shen Qingli.

No one knew anything.

So he waited at the gate.

Of course, he wouldn’t admit he was waiting for her.
He couldn’t possibly care about her.

And yet… he had no idea why he was doing all this either.

They both returned to the Jiang residence—Shen Qingli ahead of him.

She suddenly spotted Luo Shuyao standing in the garden, wearing something thin, as if waiting for someone.

Shen Qingli paused in surprise.

Jiang Junwen… actually brought Luo Shuyao home?

Luo Shuyao looked just as surprised to see Shen Qingli—though her eyes immediately filled with alertness and wariness.

She ran over to Jiang Junwen with red-rimmed eyes and said pitifully, “Ah Wen, where did you go? I… I was so scared.”

Seeing her so upset, Jiang Junwen’s heart softened. He stroked her hair and asked gently, “What happened? Why aren’t you asleep? What are you afraid of?”

Hearing this, Shen Qingli laughed coldly to herself.
So Jiang Junwen could be gentle.

Just not to her. Only to Luo Shuyao.

Luo Shuyao whispered, “I heard you and your mom fighting… I even heard her say she wants me gone… You were gone so long, I was really scared, being here all alone…”

Truthfully, she had been scared.

Afraid she’d be thrown out of the Jiang house in the middle of the night.

She and Jiang Junwen weren’t even officially together yet. Without the Jiang family’s support, what would become of the Luo family?

She hadn’t expected Madam Jiang to dislike her this much.

After all, Madam Jiang had treated her decently when she was little.