[Jiang Qiche lived at school year-round. Did he not even come home during the holidays... Now, in this house, only my eldest brother and I kept each other company...]
Jiang Yuehan furrowed his brow slightly and said evenly, "You saw Jiang Qiche today?"
Although it was a question, the man's tone was certain.
The principal had already told him everything that had happened at the academy today.
Jiang Jinran nodded. "Yes, thankfully he helped me today..."
Speaking of Jiang Qiche, as one of the villains in this family of villains, his ending was naturally quite tragic as well.
At that thought, Jiang Jinran lowered her eyes, the corners of her lips dipping slightly.
[Jiang Qiche was pitiful too... Who would have thought that the school's heartthrob, riding so high now, would later be charged with dozens of crimes and spend the rest of his life in prison...]
Clatter.
Jiang Yuehan's chopsticks fell onto the dining table.
The abrupt noise instantly pulled Jiang Jinran out of her thoughts. She widened her eyes in bewilderment and asked, "Big Brother, how come you can't even hold your chopsticks steady?"
[Don't tell me he had Parkinson's at such a young age?]
Jiang Yuehan picked up his chopsticks, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
"I'm fine. Keep eating," he replied distractedly.
His sister's thoughts from just now still echoed in his mind.
Jiang Qiche...
Although his younger brothers were all busy with their own affairs now and rarely came home, Jiang Qiche had not returned in a very long time. He had not even called...
The youngest brother who had been so adorable as a child had gradually become someone unfamiliar, cold-blooded and callous, wild and defiant.
Would he even end up in prison in the future?
A deep, somber look entered Jiang Yuehan's eyes, and his fingers slowly tightened.
He thought that if that incident in their childhood had never happened...
Perhaps Jiang Qiche's temperament would not have changed so drastically.
Nor would he have drifted further and further from this family, as though severing all ties.
He and Jiang Qiche were not particularly close, but-
He did not want to see his youngest brother take a road of ruin from which there was no return, either.
The next day.
As soon as Jiang Jinran entered the classroom, she learned that Xu Yuan had been transferred elsewhere.
Teachers from other classes would temporarily take turns serving as their homeroom teacher.
She was not surprised.
Since Jiang Qiche had stepped in, Xu Yuan was bound to get a bitter taste of the consequences.
But-
She had only just sat down when the grating click of high heels rang in her ears. Then a plump hand covered in gemstone rings slammed onto her desk.
Bang.
The sound made even Jiang Jinran's eardrums sting instinctively.
She raised her eyes. A plump, wealthy woman was looking down at her, undisguised disdain in her eyes.
"You're Jiang Jinran?"
Her tone was hostile.
Jiang Jinran nodded fearlessly.
The wealthy woman scoffed, the contempt in her eyes so thick it seemed about to spill over. "I'm Huang Junran's mother. Come outside. I have something to say to you."
Huang Junran's mother?
Jiang Jinran immediately understood.
Well done, Huang Junran. Unable to win an argument against her, he had fetched his parent. How spineless!
Did that count as being a mama's boy?
Everyone in the classroom immediately perked up at the scene, each eager to watch Jiang Jinran make a fool of herself.
Although Huang Junran had suffered a humiliating setback at Jiang Jinran's hands yesterday, the Huang Family was not to be trifled with, and Huang Junran's mother was even more notorious for being domineering.
Jiang Jinran should have taken a look at her own status and standing. She had enjoyed a moment of verbal triumph yesterday, but now she would have to pay it all back!
"Have you gone mute?"
Seeing Jiang Jinran remain silent, Huang Junran's mother raised her chin in displeasure, her tone sharp and cutting. "Weren't you quite the talker yesterday? Lost your nerve now?"
Jiang Jinran rose from her seat, her expression calm. "Auntie, didn't you say we should talk outside? Let's head out first and not disturb everyone else's studies."
With that, Jiang Jinran walked out of the classroom first.
Huang Junran's mother followed close behind. Huang Junran was already waiting in the open space outside the door, watching Jiang Jinran like a proud peacock, as though he had finally held his head high and breathed out his grievances.
The others in the classroom flocked to the windows to watch-
Although they had left the classroom, it was still no different from a public execution.
Huang Junran's mother pulled her son to her side. First, she patted Huang Junran's shoulder with gentle affection, then turned to Jiang Jinran. Her gaze instantly chilled, as though she had seen something filthy and disgusting, and she said aggressively, "Jiang Jinran, I want you to apologize to my son right now. And, of course, to me as well."
"Take a good look at what you are, making up stories about someone else's family affairs in public. You're utterly ill-bred and unfit for polite company!"
"But I don't want to quibble with a child. Apologize sincerely to my son and me, and if your attitude satisfies me, I can consider letting you off."
Apologize?
Jiang Jinran frowned.
She did not think she had done anything wrong.
"These days, do you have to apologize even for telling the truth?" Jiang Jinran asked, her large eyes wide and innocent.
Huang Junran's mother instantly erupted in fury, as though she would charge forward and tear her apart at any moment. "Jiang Jinran, don't refuse to recognize what's good for you. I'm giving you a chance to repent and turn over a new leaf. If you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
Jiang Jinran folded her arms and grinned cheekily. "Oh, I'm so very scared..."
"Although you're both completely out of line, I'm magnanimous enough to let it go. After all-"
"Caring for the mentally disabled is everyone's responsibility."
With that, she made a face at Huang Junran and his mother, then ran toward the other end of the corridor without looking back.
"Stop right there, you brat! Don't run!"
Huang Junran's mother's furious voice rang through the corridor. She was just about to give chase when a group of people dressed in black suddenly appeared and blocked her way.
Then a tall, handsome man in a black suit strode over from the stairwell.
Jiang Yuehan approached with an icy expression, radiating an oppressive presence that could not be ignored.
Huang Junran and his mother instinctively turned their eyes toward this man of extraordinary bearing.
"If you have time to make nuisances of yourselves here," Jiang Yuehan said coldly, looking at the mother and son as though they were insignificant ants, "you'd be better off worrying about yourselves."
His proud, frigid gaze fell upon them, his voice chilling as though he were pronouncing a death sentence. "The weather has turned cold. It's time for the Huang Family to go bankrupt."
Huang Junran and his mother abruptly widened their eyes, unable to utter a word.
They seemed cowed by Jiang Yuehan's imposing presence and oppressive aura. Terror and horror filled their eyes, and even their bodies began to tremble uncontrollably...