Jiangg Ning placed the bookmark between the pages and gently closed the book. The plane had come to a stop, and the cabin doors opened. Passengers began to file down the aisle, carrying their personal belongings as they hurried toward their destinations.

She pulled open the window shade. Outside, the night was as deep and black as ink. A lone light cast the shadow of the aircraft’s wing.

’I’m almost home.’

Jiangg Ning grabbed her bag from the side, flicked her hair back, and followed the last of the crowd down the aisle. A driver was waiting for her outside the airport. He hadn’t called to rush her, but he had already sent several messages.

Tomorrow, she had to go to the university to fill out applications and submit her documents. First, she needed to go home and find the various certificates from her graduation. The process was a hassle, but Jiangg Ning hadn’t told Jiangg Ruxue she was coming back.

’She’d probably be shocked to see me.’

Jiangg Ning had kept it a secret on purpose. She pulled her suitcase through the brightly lit terminal, her slender legs carrying her forward. The resentment in her heart had yet to subside; in fact, the closer she got to home, the more intensely it burned.

...

The small riverside villa was brilliantly lit. Its heavy main gate was ajar. The red lanterns hung for the New Year hadn’t been taken down yet, and they cast a hazy red glow. Four lights in total, two inside and two out, illuminated the lavish doorframe.

When Jiangg Ning and Jiangg Yao had left, the flower bushes by the courtyard entrance were just beginning to sprout. In the blink of an eye, they had grown lush and green.

As she stepped into the exquisite little villa, she startled the housekeeper who was cleaning the courtyard. At first glance, the housekeeper thought Jiangg Ruxue had returned, but a closer look revealed the height was wrong. Not until she walked out of the shadows...

"Oh my, Eldest Miss, you’re back!" the housekeeper exclaimed, thrilled.

"I came back to take care of a few things," Jiangg Ning replied with a warm smile.

The housekeeper hurriedly took the luggage from her hands. The two of them entered the living room together. Jiangg Ning sat down on the sofa, but after looking left and right, she couldn’t see Jiangg Ruxue anywhere. The coffee table was neat and tidy, untouched.

Usually, the first thing Jiangg Ruxue did upon returning was sit here and drink tea before going upstairs to do yoga, wash up, and rest.

"Is my mom not home?"

"The Ma’am is very busy. She’s still at a social function. She instructed us to make some soup for her when she gets back. Eldest Miss, would you like some to warm you up?"

"No, thank you. I’ll just have some tea. I have other things to do."

Jiangg Ning poured the scalding tea into a cup and took out her phone. She sent a message to Jiangg Yao, letting her know she was home. After a brief hesitation, she called Chen Yuan, waiting with a mix of anticipation and nervousness for him to answer.

The moment the call connected, Jiangg Ning subconsciously sat up a little straighter. Her voice grew softer, and she even sounded a bit reserved as she spoke. The way she clutched that small bit of happiness left the housekeeper watching her with confusion.

"Okay, that’s it then. Bye..." After hanging up, the smile on Jiangg Ning’s face still hadn’t faded. She looked down at her phone screen, pressing her lips together to hold back her grin.

A voice called down from upstairs. The housekeeper asked if her clothes needed washing. Jiangg Ning said not yet, then picked up her cup, took a sip of tea, and went upstairs.

「Nearly twelve o’clock.」

Reeking of alcohol, Jiangg Ruxue returned from her social function. She walked into the living room, bag in hand, swaying unsteadily. Her high heels made sharp, disorderly CLACKS on the floor. Her makeup was heavy, and though she was petite, she exuded a powerful aura with every move.

As soon as the housekeeper heard the high heels, she immediately came out from a side room. She ran over to set out a pair of slippers for her and helped her take off her coat.

"Is the soup ready? Ladle me a bowl—Urp~ My stomach feels awful."

"It’s been ready for a while. Please sit and rest for a bit, Ma’am. I’ll go to the kitchen and get it for you now."

"Mm, go on."

With drowsy, drunken eyes, Jiangg Ruxue made her way to the coffee table and flopped back onto the sofa. She squinted at the ceiling, her eyes lifeless at first. But a few seconds later, she seemed to realize something. She sat up and stared intently.

She looked at the tea set, which had clearly been used. Picking up a cup, she sniffed the aroma of the green tea and took a small sip.

"Ningning is back?" Jiangg Ruxue asked with a frown.

"Yes, she also came back tonight, about an hour ago. She’s gone upstairs to rest now."

"Why would she come back without telling me? She has less and less respect for the rules." Jiangg Ruxue snorted coldly and drained the tea in her cup. Despite her harsh words, her feet were already moving. She shot up and ran upstairs—STOMP STOMP STOMP.

The light in Jiangg Ning’s room was still on. After a knock at the door, Jiangg Ruxue barged right in. The two of them locked eyes.

Jiangg Ning was in the middle of rummaging through boxes and drawers. The documents she needed were spread all over her bed, covering half the sheet.

"Ningning, you’re back. Are you hungry? Mom can bring you a bowl of that freshly made soup." As she spoke, Jiangg Ruxue sat down on the bed, her eyes fixed on the documents laid out. "You didn’t even tell your mom you were coming. I could have sent someone to pick you up."

"I don’t need a ride," Jiangg Ning said without looking up. "It’s easy to find a driver. Besides, I didn’t know if you’d be home. I figured you might be out busy."

"I have been extremely busy. What are you looking for?"

"Certificates."

"What certificates?"

"My degree certificate, and other documents from when I was studying abroad."

"Is something going on?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I’m planning to pursue a degree in finance. I’m going to the university tomorrow."

"Why the sudden interest in finance?" Jiangg Ruxue’s fox-like eyes narrowed as she scooted closer to her. "You already have a degree, why go through the trouble of getting another one? Even if you quit your job, there are plenty of other suitable positions. A girl like you shouldn’t be out there fighting with men over profits. Teaching is such a nice job."

As she moved closer, the overwhelming smell of alcohol washed over Jiangg Ning. She wrinkled her delicate nose, gathered up some documents, and stuffed them into a drawer in a deliberate act of avoidance.

"I want to study it, so I will. I’m interested. You wouldn’t let me before, so now that I’m grown up, I want to make it up to myself."

"Mom is just looking out for you..."

"Well, thank you so much for that," Jiangg Ning said, turning back to give her a smile. Their gazes clashed, neither willing to back down. The atmosphere in the bedroom instantly grew cold. "You should go rest. I’m still busy."

"You’ve only just come back after so long. I want to stay here and talk with you." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Oh."

In such a tense and confrontational atmosphere, Jiangg Ruxue could no longer maintain her facade of a loving mother. Her smile vanished instantly. "I won’t object to you wanting a finance degree," she said coolly. "After all, like you said, you’re grown up and can make your own choices. But since you’re back, you need to settle your marriage arrangements as soon as possible. I can give you a sum of money to let you test how deep the waters are in that industry."

"I’m not going on any blind dates," Jiangg Ning refused flatly.

"Ningning?" Her mother sounded uncomprehending. "How old are you now? I’m not trying to rush you, but a woman’s best years are right now. Once you pass them, your body’s condition will start to decline. Can’t you just get married early, set a good example for Yaoyao, and put my mind at ease?"

"Fine, I’ll get married," Jiangg Ning said softly, turning her head. The words made Jiangg Ruxue raise an eyebrow, but Jiangg Ning’s tone immediately shifted. "In a few years. I’ve already discussed it with my boyfriend."

"Huh? What boyfriend?"

The sudden confession left Jiangg Ruxue a little stunned, and she frowned as she asked.

"Didn’t you know? Qin Ting should have told you. I have a boyfriend. There’s no need to pretend you’re just hearing about this."

From the moment she returned, Jiangg Ning had no intention of playing nice with her mother. Laying the matter of Chen Yuan out in the open meant that Jiangg Ning was done holding back.

Jiangg Ning wasn’t afraid of her; she had only maintained a basic level of civility for her sister’s sake.

"That kind of thing... it’s just for fun. It can’t be taken seriously," Jiangg Ruxue said dismissively. "I’m aware you found some boy from the sticks. Just break up with him. It won’t affect the matchmaking."

"Don’t kid me," Jiangg Ning almost snorted with laughter. "You might like to play around, but I don’t."