Chapter 17

Ying Nian and Ying Zhaoguo almost always argue whenever they meet; the Ying family is long used to this. However, it was the first time Jiang Jiashu stepped in. Given that Ying Zhaoguo has always been particularly fond of this grandson, it’s no wonder he was so angry.

Ying Zhaoguo was so furious that he couldn’t even speak properly: “You… you…!”

Jiang Jiashu was determined to side with Ying Nian, defying his grandfather for the first time. He lowered his eyes and said, “Grandpa, we have things to do. We’ll leave now.”

With that, he grabbed Ying Nian’s sleeve, and the two of them left together.

They hailed a taxi and went to the food street near Seventh High School. Neither Jiang Jiashu nor Ying Nian had eaten much at the dinner table, so feeling a bit hungry, they ate all their way from one end of the street to the other.

After finding a spot with a decent view to enjoy the breeze, and leaned against the railing, Ying Nian asked, “Aren’t you afraid of being scolded by Grandpa?”

Jiang Jiashu answered while eating skewers, “If you don’t rebel when you’re young, you’ll only be left with regrets in old age!”

It was the first time he looked at the conflict between Ying Nian and Ying Zhaoguo from an objective perspective, and also the first time he experienced his grandfather’s tyranny up close.

Good grief! That cane strike—his back still hurts even now. He couldn’t imagine what would have happened if it had landed on Ying Nian, a girl. His grandfather was way too harsh!

As they ate and chatted, Jiang Jiashu asked, “Are you free the day after tomorrow? Let’s hang out together.”

She answered without hesitation, “No, I’m not free.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Going to watch a competition.”

Jiang Jiashu almost jumped up. “You’re going to watch again? I thought you’d stop after watching one or two matches. You didn’t go to every single one, did you?”

Ying Nian said, “Yes, I did.”

“…” Jiang Jiashu’s face was filled with an indescribable expression.

It seemed she was genuinely interested in that player named Yu? Jiang Jiashu immediately felt uncomfortable. With such a sunny, cheerful, and handsome older brother right in front of her, how could her taste in boys not be influenced at all?

Since he was a completely different type from Yu Linran, Jiang Jiashu suddenly felt a sense of frustration, like an older brother who wasn’t being acknowledged.

But then, on second thought, that Yu guy wasn’t the same type as Ying Nian’s real brother either, and that thought made him feel a lot better.

Jiang Jiashu knew that sometimes Ying Nian could be as stubborn as a mule. You had to go along with her and not go against her, so he switched to talking about things she was interested in.

“How’s your game going? What rank are you? Gold?”

“Not yet.”

“Heh.” Jiang Jiashu teased, “So lame. I offered to teach you, but you didn’t want it.”

Having received tips from professional players, Ying Nian wasn’t one to back down. “I just don’t play much, okay? Ever heard of striving for excellence? I might be better than you!”

“Wanna compete?”

“Let’s compete!”

Jiang Jiashu handed Ying Nian a napkin to wipe her hands and said, “Alright, let’s go to my place. I need to grab my power bank first; my phone’s about to die. There’s a really nice internet café near my house. After we’re done playing, I’ll take you home.”

Ying Nian had no objections.

They took a taxi to Jiang Jiashu’s house. After paying, the two got out and walked towards his home. Halfway there, Jiang Jiashu received a phone call, and his expression became slightly tense.

Ying Nian asked curiously, “What’s up?”

“Nothing. It’s just… my mom called. She and my dad are already home, and they’re making me a late-night snack.”

Ying Nian thought for a moment and said, “If it’s inconvenient, maybe I shouldn’t go.”

Jiang Jiashu hesitated briefly before making a decision. “Oh, come on! We’re already at the doorstep, let’s go!” As they walked, he couldn’t help but remind her, “If my mom says anything unpleasant, please don’t argue with her, okay? Cut me some slack, I swear I’ll be the first to cover her mouth!”

Ying Nian smiled, giving him some face. “Alright then.”

The two of them entered the house together.

“Mom—”

While changing his shoes, Jiang Jiashu handed Ying Nian a pair of slippers. It’s pink and very cute.

Ying Nian’s aunt heard the commotion and came out from the kitchen. “You’re back? You…” She paused after seeing the two people standing at the entrance. She was wearing an apron, and the room was filled with the aroma of food. “…Oh, it’s Ying Nian.”

Ying Nian nodded. “Hello, Aunt.”

“I just came back to grab something. We’ll be heading out in a bit!” Jiang Jiashu said.

“Heading out? Where to?”

“Nowhere special, just going out to have some fun. We’ll be back early.”

“I made some late-night snacks for you.”

“I’ll eat when I get back!”

“Eat when you get back? It’ll be cold by then.”

“Well…”

Seeing Jiang Jiashu in a dilemma, Ying Nian said, “Why don’t you eat first, and then we can go out? I’ll wait.”

Jiang Jiashu looked at her, then at his mom, and could only nod.

Ying Nian sat properly on the living room sofa while Jiang Jiashu went upstairs to get his things. Her uncle was probably in the study, as he wasn’t on the first floor and didn’t show up. Ying Nian didn’t want to disturb him either. After finishing her conversation with them, her aunt returned to the kitchen.

Before long, Jiang Jiashu came downstairs and sat down at the dining table.

On the table was a bowl of plain noodles, steaming hot. Just as he was about to dig in, Ying Nian’s aunt came out of the kitchen, holding a white porcelain bowl.

She placed the bowl on the table and called out, “Ying Nian, come eat!”

Ying Nian, caught off guard by being called, was stunned for a moment but complied. As she approached, she saw that the white porcelain bowl was filled to the brim with small wontons, with bright green scallions floating on the surface of the broth, looking especially appetizing.

She sat down, still slightly dazed. A spoon was placed next to the bowl, and her aunt brought over a dish of soy sauce, setting it in front of her. “I remember you don’t like eating noodles. Your mom mentioned you like shrimp, and it just so happens that we had a bag of shrimp wontons from the last time… You don’t like vinegar but prefer soy sauce, right? Add it to your taste…”

Jiang Jiashu noticed she hadn’t moved for a while and quietly asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”

Ying Nian pressed her lips together.

It was true—she didn’t like noodles, but she loved shrimp, dumplings, and wontons. She didn’t care for the taste of vinegar and preferred adding soy sauce to flavor soups, and she liked scallions as well.

Everything Jiang Jiashu’s aunt had made were things she liked.

Her aunt must have heard it from her mother, but Ying Nian hadn’t expected her to remember.

After a moment of silence, Ying Nian looked up and spoke, “Aunt—”

Upon hearing her name, her aunt turned around.

She spoke gently, “Last time during the holiday, when I argued with Grandpa, I didn’t mean to scold Brother Jiashu. I was just upset, and Brother Jiashu happened to be nearby… I’m sorry. Please don’t be angry with me, you and Uncle.”

Her aunt stood at the kitchen doorway, clearly taken aback.

Jiang Jiashu almost choked, shocked not only by Ying Nian calling him “Brother Jiashu,” but also by her unexpectedly soft attitude.

Ying Nian had argued with Grandpa Ying for so many years; when had she ever backed down or lowered her head? How many in the Ying family had ever heard her say “I’m sorry”?

This was truly a first.

“…It’s okay.” her aunt let out a long sigh and smiled. “I didn’t scold Jiashu because of you. I just hope he can learn from your strengths and strive like you do. I’m just worried he won’t live up to expectations. I know it hasn’t been easy for you and your mom…”

Before Ying Nian could say anything, her aunt added, “Alright, eat while it’s hot. You two are going out to have fun, so go early and come back early. It’s not safe if it gets too late.”

With that, she went back into the kitchen to wash the pots.

Ying Nian picked up the spoon and started eating the wontons.

Jiang Jiashu slurped a big mouthful of noodles. “So, how is it? My mom’s cooking is pretty good, right?”

Ying Nian shot him a sideways glance. “It’s good, but you didn’t cook it, so what are you so proud of?”

Jiang Jiashu kept smiling shamelessly, while Ying Nian ignored him and quietly continued eating.

The wonton skin was chewy, and the shrimp filling was deliciously fresh.

With each bite, the many wrinkles in her heart seemed to be gently smoothed out by the warmth.

…

Ying Nian and Xiaoxiao couldn’t book rooms at the same hotel because Xiaoxiao had to add some work at the last minute and wasn’t sure if she could make it. It wasn’t until the day before the competition that she hurriedly sorted everything out, almost rendering her tickets useless.

With many tourists traveling during the summer break, by the time Xiaoxiao tried to book a room, the hotel where Ying Nian was staying was already full.

Not being able to stay at the same hotel didn’t dampen their enthusiasm for watching the competition. As usual, Ying Nian and Xiaoxiao settled in separately before meeting up and then reuniting with their friends from the group. After confirming that all the light boards had been received, Ying Nian fulfilled her previous promise and treated everyone to a delicious meal.

On the night of the competition, the group was full of energy, cheering for SF from the audience seats. Their light boards were exquisitely crafted, and before SF’s players took the stage, they all glanced towards the audience. Yi Shen even happily waved in their direction.

It was a thrilling match that ended with SF’s victory. Ying Nian was completely satisfied; if it weren’t so late, she would have wanted to continue celebrating with her group friends.

A few people suggested going for a late-night snack, and Xiaoxiao agreed enthusiastically, but Ying Nian politely declined.

“Niannian, you’re not coming?”

“No, you guys go ahead. I’m going back to get a good night’s sleep!”

Although Xiaoxiao wanted to drag her along, she saw that Ying Nian wasn’t very interested and didn’t push further.

Ying Nian took a taxi back to her hotel. She lay on the bed for two minutes, just about to get up and wash up, when suddenly, with a “snap,” all the lights in the room went out, plunging it into darkness.

“…Huh?”

Ying Nian used her phone’s flashlight to illuminate the way and fiddled with the switches, but no matter how many times she pressed the buttons, the lights wouldn’t come on. With no other option, she called the hotel staff.

The manager sent someone to check, and after inspecting the room, they found that there was a problem with the room’s electrical system.

Ying Nian asked, “Can it be fixed tonight?”

“I’m afraid not…”

Ying Nian felt a headache coming on. “Then please change my room.”

“I’m sorry, but our hotel is fully booked,” the manager said repeatedly, bowing with sincere apologies.

“So what should I do? Please provide a solution.”

The manager pondered for a moment and said, “Please wait a moment!” He spoke into his walkie-talkie to the front desk and then asked Ying Nian to wait a little longer.

A few of them stood at the doorway like that, with the dimly lit room and the brightly lit hallway creating a stark contrast.

Three minutes later, after receiving a response from the front desk, the manager finally smiled and came over to discuss with Ying Nian, “Our hotel is fully booked, but our other branch still has available rooms. If you’re willing, we can arrange a car to take you there and upgrade you to a more luxurious room. How does that sound?”

Ying Nian didn’t like to take advantage of others and said, “A room of the same type will do. If there isn’t one, I can pay the difference.”

The manager thanked her profusely and quickly replied, “No, no, there’s no need for that. This is our hotel’s responsibility, and we should bear the cost for any inconvenience caused to your stay.”

After exchanging a few casual remarks, Ying Nian packed her few belongings into her bag and set off with the hotel staff.

The hotel driver drove Ying Nian to another hotel, and it was a thirty-minute ride to the destination. The staff at both locations had already communicated, so when Ying Nian arrived, she was promptly greeted, checked in, and escorted upstairs.

Her room was on the seventh floor, room 706. Ying Nian swiped her room card to open the door, turned on the power, and after confirming that the room was well-equipped, she let the staff go about their business.

She carried her bag inside, and set her things down, but when she glanced at her bag, she noticed the plush toy that was usually attached to the zipper was missing. She let out a small “huh,” turned around to look for it, and when she opened the door, she saw the toy lying in the hallway. She breathed a sigh of relief.

She picked up the plush toy, and stood up when suddenly she heard a voice from above—

“Ying Nian…?”

Ying Nian looked up and, coincidentally, saw two people approaching: one was Yi Shen, and the other was SF’s coach.

She was surprised, “You guys…”

Yi Shen asked, “Are you staying here too?”

She nodded, “I was originally at another hotel, but the lights in my room broke, and since there were no other rooms available, the hotel manager moved me to this branch.”

“What a coincidence!” Yi Shen said with a cheerful smile.

Ying Nian also felt the coincidence. “Yeah.”

The coach, with a gentle smile, chimed in, “Did you come to watch the match?”

“Yeah.” She paused, then quickly added, “You guys played really well today!”

Both the coach and Yi Shen modestly thanked her.

After some small talk, Ying Nian asked, “Are you guys heading out? I won’t keep you then.” She stepped aside to make way.

Yi Shen seemed like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn’t. He just waved at her and left with the coach.

Ying Nian returned to her room with the plush toy, lay down on the bed, feeling both fortunate and a bit regretful.

She felt fortunate that Yu Linran was also staying at this hotel, but regretted that she hadn’t seen him.

After playing on her phone for a while on the bed, Ying Nian, with a slight sense of contentment, got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up. She carefully washed up for ten minutes, taking care of her pearly white teeth and delicate face, when suddenly the doorbell rang.

She quickly dried the water off her face and hurried to the door. She looked through the peephole, and saw Yi Shen standing outside.

Ying Nian quickly opened the door. “Is there something you need?”

Yi Shen smiled and said, “Our team is having a gathering at the restaurant downstairs. Do you want to join us?”