Chapter 13
Xia Wanshuang hadn’t reacted much to Jiang Wan’s question, but inside her head, the system had already turned into a screaming rubber chicken.
[System]: Shuangshuang! OOC alert! Has she figured it out?! You’ve revealed way too much!
[Xia Wanshuang]: Relax. This is nothing.
She could easily explain herself away. After all, something like a soul transmigrating into another body was far too absurd. Even if she told Auntie Jiang the truth, there was no guarantee she’d believe it.
And what did the system mean by revealed too much? She’d only squeezed some fruit juice and made a simple bowl of ice jelly. She hadn’t even begun to show everything she knew.
“Auntie, I’ve known how to do this for a long time. My grandma used to make it for me. I watched her make it so many times that I remembered the process. When I went shopping for fruit today, I happened to find the ingredients, so I thought I’d give it a try. I didn’t expect it to actually work.”
She smiled brightly.
“I wanted to make some for you and Brother Tianhang too.”
The expression on her face was exactly that of a child seeking praise. Her eyes were clear and sparkling, without the slightest trace of shadow or concealment. They curved into crescents as she smiled.
Jiang Wan paused.
The suspicion in her heart gradually faded.
She had lived here for six years. When she first moved in with her son, Xia Wanshuang had still been very young. Back then, the neighboring couple had helped her immensely, and Jiang Wan had always remembered that kindness. In a way, she had half-raised Xia Wanshuang ever since.
Though she had never met Xia Wanshuang’s grandmother, she knew that during holidays and school breaks, the girl was always sent to stay with her in the countryside. But a year before Xia Wanshuang’s father passed away, her grandmother had died as well. Jiang Wan still remembered comforting the child after hearing the news.
So when Xia Wanshuang mentioned her grandmother, not only did Jiang Wan’s doubts disappear, her heart ached even more for the girl.
“Then Shuangshuang worked hard for this.” Jiang Wan smiled gently. “I think it’s delicious. I’ve never had it before.”
“They don’t eat it like this here?”
Xia Wanshuang asked, suddenly feeling that her business prospects had just expanded.
“At least I’ve never seen it prepared this way.”
The local version was called liangfen. Technically, it was almost the same thing as the ice jelly Xia Wanshuang had made. The difference was that locals usually served it in cups with white sugar mixed in, drinking it through a straw instead of eating it from bowls with fruit toppings.
“Then Auntie, do you think I could make money selling it like this? I even asked around and found out where to buy those little serving bowls.”
Jiang Wan couldn’t help laughing.
“What goes on inside that little head of yours? How do you always have so many ideas?”
“Auntie Jiang, did you forget? My dad was a businessman.”
“But you’re still a child. Business is something grown-ups do. Your job is to stay home and study.”
“But I read a story in a book. There was a little boy in America who started out delivering newspapers. He earned money little by little and eventually became a very successful businessman. I think I can work hard and earn money step by step too.”
Jiang Wan froze for a moment.
She didn’t understand why Xia Wanshuang had suddenly become so determined to make money.
“Shuangshuang, didn’t I tell you already? The money in that bank card will be withdrawn and given to you. You can’t spend it recklessly, but there’s no need for you to earn money right now. You’re still too young.”
Their age difference created an unavoidable gap in understanding.
But Xia Wanshuang wasn’t discouraged. She simply smiled.
She knew Jiang Wan wasn’t stubborn. On the contrary, she was remarkably reasonable. Even when dealing with children, she was willing to listen to what they had to say.
“Auntie, I’ve grown up.”
Her voice was soft but firm.
“I promise I won’t neglect my studies. I just think there should be more meaningful things I can do outside of school. I know there’s money in the card, but I don’t think it’s enough.”
The smile on her face faded slightly.
“Ever since Mom disappeared, you’ve been the one taking care of me. But I can’t let you keep taking care of me forever.”
Determination shone in her eyes.
The look on her face made Jiang Wan’s heart tighten.
She felt an overwhelming tenderness toward the girl, yet she couldn’t bring herself to promise that she would look after Xia Wanshuang for the rest of her life.
“I just don’t want you to work too hard.”
“I don’t want Auntie to work too hard either.”
“Shuangshuang…”
Jiang Wan set down her bowl and gently ruffled the girl’s hair.
“You really have grown up.”
After a moment, she sighed.
“All right. Auntie supports your decision. I’ll help whenever I can. But if I find out you’re exhausting yourself or neglecting your studies, I’ll stop you immediately. Understand?”
“Understood!”
“But remember this.”
Jiang Wan’s expression grew serious.
“If you want to change your fate, build a better future, and live a better life someday, studying is still the simplest and fairest path.”
She wasn’t sure how much the children truly understood.
Still, whether they understood now or not, she hoped those words would stay with them.
Throughout the conversation, Zhao Tianhang and Zhou Qinglang had sat quietly nearby, listening.
Tianhang only half understood, but he felt his mother must be right.
Qinglang understood a little more.
And in her heart, she thought that Sister Shuangshuang was amazing.
“You two should go do your homework,” Jiang Wan said as she stood up. “I’ll start cooking. Once dinner’s ready, I’ll take Shuangshuang to buy those things she needs.”
She still remembered the serving bowls Xia Wanshuang wanted.
For a first purchase like this, there was no way she was letting a child handle it alone. The girl might get cheated without even realizing it.
“Okay.”
Zhao Tianhang pulled out his homework notebook, then looked at Xia Wanshuang.
“Shuangshuang, go get your homework. Let’s do it together. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask me.”
His grades were excellent. He always scored full marks, so naturally he believed he could teach anything his little sister didn’t know.
“No need, Brother. I’ve already finished it.”
“Huh?”
He blinked.
“Let me see it. You didn’t just scribble random answers, did you?”
Putting on his older-brother airs, he crossed his arms and looked unusually stern.
Normally, Shuangshuang took forever to finish her homework.
How had she finished so quickly today?
“Of course I didn’t.”
“My sister is amazing, okay?”
The moment someone questioned Xia Wanshuang, Zhou Qinglang immediately spoke up, displeasure evident in her voice.
She flatly rejected Zhao Tianhang’s accusation.
“Then go get it and let me check.”
“I will.”
Xia Wanshuang nodded.
“Langlang, wait here for me.”
“Mm.”
Qinglang nodded obediently.
Then she secretly shot Zhao Tianhang a glare.
Unfortunately, Xia Wanshuang didn’t catch it.
She went home, gathered her homework, and brought it back, spreading it out on Zhao Tianhang’s desk.
The two classes were progressing through roughly the same material. Tianhang opened his own workbook and compared their answers one by one.
To his surprise, every answer was correct.
Even her handwriting had improved significantly.
“Shuangshuang, you didn’t get a single question wrong! And your handwriting looks way better too.”
Xia Wanshuang had already tried her best to make her writing look childish and messy.
Unfortunately, years of adult handwriting habits still showed through. Compared to most elementary school students, her penmanship was excellent.
“Really?”
Teacher Xia—who had spent the entire day reciting ancient poems and texts—forced an innocent smile.
“I understood everything the teacher taught today.”
By the time dinner ended, the sky hadn’t completely darkened yet.
Golden evening light stretched long shadows across the ground.
“I’m taking Shuangshuang out for a bit,” Jiang Wan said. “Tianhang, make sure you look after your little sister.”
“Okay!”
He waved enthusiastically.
“Langlang, let’s watch cartoons together!”
The television clicked on.
As the front door closed behind Jiang Wan and Xia Wanshuang, only the sounds of Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf remained in the living room.
Zhao Tianhang stared attentively at the screen.
But Zhou Qinglang sat quietly on the sofa, looking distinctly uninterested.
The cartoon failed to hold her attention.
Truthfully, she didn’t really want to stay here.
She liked that kind and gentle auntie.
But compared to staying in this house, she’d rather be next door.
“Langlang, don’t you like this show?” Tianhang asked when he noticed her distraction. “What do you want to watch? I can change the channel.”
He waved the remote control generously.
He actually quite liked this new little sister.
She didn’t seem very eager to talk to people, which only made him want to tease conversation out of her even more.
“I like it.”
In order to avoid speaking further, Qinglang stared expressionlessly at Big Big Wolf and nodded.
“Oh right, I still don’t know where you’re from. How old are you? And how did you meet Shuangshuang?”
Why does this person talk so much?
Qinglang felt a flicker of impatience.
“I don’t even know your full name yet,” Tianhang continued. “I’m Zhao Tianhang. Tian as in sky, Hang as in aviation. What about you?”
Thinking of Jiang Wan and Xia Wanshuang, Qinglang reluctantly answered.
“Zhou Qinglang.”
Her voice was stiff and flat.
Meanwhile, Xia Wanshuang was riding on the back of Jiang Wan’s electric scooter, heading out to buy supplies.
[System]: The male lead and female lead are alone together now! Our entire storyline has completely gone off the rails! QAQ
Even though it had admitted that its host’s logic made sense, watching the plot collapse in real time still left the system heartbroken.
[Xia Wanshuang]: Relax. Isn’t a childhood-sweetheart romance adorable too?
Xia Wanshuang thought to herself that the two little kids at home were probably getting along wonderfully right about now.
