For two people whose statuses and ages were worlds apart to appear at the same banquet, even exchanging a few words was quite an accomplishment.
Jiangg Ning didn’t see the need to overstep her bounds and chat more with the business tycoon. She made a casual excuse and retreated from the terrace. He had deliberately stepped away from the banquet to find a quiet place to rest, which meant he didn’t want to be disturbed. Even a fool would understand that, let alone someone with Jiangg Ning’s high emotional intelligence.
Since the task her mommy had given her was complete, leaving on her own initiative would leave a good, tactful impression.
Jiangg Ning returned to the banquet hall, sat back down, and rested her chin on her hand as she waited for the party to end. She just needed to say goodbye to her grandma, and then she could leave.
However, their brief, casual conversation had inexplicably given Jiangg Ning a warm feeling toward this man from her uncle’s generation. This was especially true when Jiang Zhengfeng was praised with the two words "good father," causing the polite mask to instantly fall away, revealing a genuine smile.
It was actually very real.
Jiangg Ning felt a wave of emotion and, resting her chin on her hand, became lost in thought.
As a philosophy teacher, she had read countless books deconstructing the concept of "man" and always spoke with eloquent confidence when lecturing her students. But at this moment, she was thinking that as people aged and their circumstances changed, their roles in society constantly shifted. It seemed like no one could be consistently excellent at everything.
When someone was a student, they might be an excellent student. Growing up, they might be a sensible son.
But when he became an employee to a boss, a husband to a wife, or a friend to a mother... ’No, scratch that. It should be a daughter to a mother.’
’It’s impossible to be perfect in every role.’
Jiang Zhengfeng was a top-tier, outstanding entrepreneur, yet he agonized over his inability to be a good father.
Jiangg Ning thought to herself, ’What about me?’
’To Mommy, I’m probably a good, obedient daughter. To Yaoyao, I’m a good older sister. My students also really like me as a teacher. It’s just... the one role I never did well was being a girlfriend.’
She had only ever been one person’s girlfriend, and unfortunately, she had left a bad impression. She should probably add the word "unqualified" before "girlfriend."
Jiangg Ning lowered her gaze, her lips pressed into a tight line.
’There will be no more chances to make amends.’
...
「Three in the afternoon.」
The banquet finally ended. Jiangg Ning said her goodbyes to all her friends and relatives, then practically rushed home without a moment’s rest to grab her luggage and head straight for the airport.
She really wanted to get back to Lanjing as soon as possible.
’My sister must miss me like crazy!’
The road to the airport was straight and wide. As the car drove from downtown Mingzhu City to the suburbs, the trees lining the road flew backward in a blur. The scenery outside the window flashed by, the end of the road merging with the horizon.
The suburbs weren’t congested. The driver stomped on the gas, and with a WHOOSH, the car ran over the withered leaves on the road.
Jiangg Ning sat in the back seat, humming along with the music from the car’s speakers. She checked the bag to her left, which was filled with pastries from Qianren Square.
Jiangg Ning had bought these specially for Jiangg Yao. Her sister had a sweet tooth.
She imagined getting home and placing this huge bag of pastries in front of her little glutton. Jiangg Yao’s eyes would surely light up, and she’d hug her, cooing, "You’re the best, Sis! I love you the most!" before eagerly opening the bag and stuffing a pastry into her mouth with a blissful expression.
The corners of Jiangg Ning’s lips curved into a smile at the thought.
Her own spirits lifted.
Compared to the house in Mingzhu City where they had lived for so many years, both sisters felt the small rented apartment in Lanjing was much warmer.
They were approaching the airport.
Jiangg Ning leisurely played with the hair at her forehead, twirling it around her finger. But then, the phone in her pocket unexpectedly rang.
"BUZZ—"
"BUZZ—"
She pulled her phone from her pocket and saw the call was from her "little glutton."
"Hello? Starting to rush me already?"
Jiangg Ning teased as soon as she answered the call.
But Jiangg Yao’s next words left her completely stunned.
"Sis, are you coming back this afternoon?"
"Yeah, didn’t I tell you last night? Four o’clock flight. I’m already on my way to the airport."
"But..."
"What’s wrong? But what?"
"But, it’s pouring over here! A super heavy downpour!"
Just from Jiangg Yao’s voice, she could picture her expression as she said it: eyebrows slightly furrowed, looking out the window with a scared face.
"What the hell is with this sudden downpour?"
The weather in Mingzhu City was beautiful and sunny, without even a strong breeze. Jiangg Ning hadn’t once considered the possibility of rain in Lanjing. Wasn’t it early winter now?
Downpours seemed like a summer phenomenon.
"It really is. I’ll let you hear it—WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH."
Jiangg Yao’s voice grew distant, and then the pitter-patter of an incredibly dense rainfall came through the receiver. Listening to the sound, it was as if a vast, white curtain of rain had already appeared before her eyes.
"Let me check. Hold on."
Jiangg Ning hung up and started searching for the weather in Lanjing on her phone.
"Lanjing City Meteorological Observatory has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain. Heavy rainfall is expected from 17:40 to 23:30, with torrential rain in localized areas. Some regions may experience intense precipitation exceeding 50 millimeters. Sleet is expected in areas including Qinan, Qingjiang, and Gangling..."
She read it over carefully. It was a message from last night!
In other words, the rain in Lanjing had started last night and was still going.
Jiangg Ning felt like slapping herself!
She hadn’t paid any attention to the situation in Lanjing. Her sister must have been scared to death during such a downpour at night! And here she was, sleeping soundly, not even calling, just sending a few messages.
Jiangg Ning quickly dialed her sister back.
"Hey, Yaoyao, you’re at home now, right? Why didn’t you tell me it was raining so hard last night? You were all alone and so scared, I could have stayed on the phone with you... It’s all my fault."
"Sob... I thought you were sleeping."
"So how did you fall asleep all by yourself?"
"I... I called my friend. She took a taxi over, so I wasn’t too scared. But Sis, the rain today is even heavier than last night. Will your flight be delayed?"
Jiangg Yao asked tentatively.
"I don’t know. I’m almost at the airport. I’ll ask the staff and call you back."
"Okay, you have to remember to tell me, Sis."
"Don’t worry!"
...
"What?! The flight’s delayed? I have to wait until six at the very least?! It might not even fly today?!"
When Jiangg Ning arrived at the airport and asked a staff member, that was the answer she received.
The staff member looked extremely apologetic and said in a low voice, "Ma’am, we can’t help it. We received a notification last night that a cold air mass from the south is moving east and merging with extreme weather along the coast, causing a drastic change in atmospheric pressure. The runways at several airports have been closed. It’s impossible to fly. This is for the passengers’ safety."
"What’s the probability of flights resuming tonight?"
"I can’t give you a definite answer on that. We recommend you rebook your flight for free."
"..."
Jiangg Ning was completely stunned. While she was still dazed, a woman from behind her hurriedly squeezed past, nearly knocking her over.
"Can we fly today or not! I have something urgent!" the woman roared.
...
"What!? The flight’s delayed? It might not be able to fly at all?" Jiangg Yao did her best to suppress her delight. She bit her lip and pinched her thigh so hard her voice trembled.
"Yaoyao, don’t be scared... I’ll figure something out. I’ll definitely come be with you today," Jiangg Ning said hurriedly, her heart aching for her sister.
"No, no, no, safety is the most important thing, Sis... My friend is still at our place. If it comes to it, I’ll have her stay with me."
「Lanjing City.」
Heavy rain lashed the streets. There were no pedestrians, only vehicles rushing past, splashing up ripples in the water.
A car was parked on the side of the road.
Inside the car, Jiangg Yao handed her phone to Wan in the passenger seat and shot her a meaningful look.
Wan, with a solemn expression, swallowed hard and took the phone from Jiangg Yao.
"Hello, Ning. I’m Yaoyao’s friend... Yes, yes, I’ll stay with her tonight."
Over at the airport, Jiangg Ning’s tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed a little.
If her sister had no one with her, she would have worried herself to death!
The kind of worry that would keep her up all night.
"Thank you so much... I don’t think I’ll be able to make it back today."
"You don’t have to be so polite, Ning. Yaoyao and I are planning to play games tonight anyway. It’s really not safe for you to come back, and she’s worried too."
"Okay, you two can do whatever you want. There’s lots of food in the fridge, help yourselves. Treat it like your own home. I’ll treat you to a meal to thank you when I get back."
"I get it. You’re just as gentle as Yaoyao described, Sister. I’m so envious of people who have a sister like you."
Wan chatted for a few more sentences and, surprisingly, got happier the more she talked.
She had been tasked with putting on an act, and seeing this made Jiangg Yao, who was sitting beside her, anxious. She quickly shot her a glare. ’Talking too much makes it easy to slip up!’
Jiangg Yao snatched the phone back.
"Mhm, mhm... I know, Sis. I miss you so much, sob sob sob~ I’ll wait for you to come back. I’m hanging up now," Jiangg Yao said, feigning tears.
After finally hanging up, she let out a long sigh of relief.
She had been sitting tensely in the driver’s seat, but after the call ended, Jiangg Yao started pounding the steering wheel. To say she was bursting with joy would be an understatement.
Even the heavens were helping her!
"Do you have to be? This happy?" Wan looked at her excited state, completely baffled.
"You don’t get it."
"Uh... I don’t know why, but I feel like Ning is so gentle. I feel a little bad for helping you lie to her."
"Stop! I’m taking you home. Look at you, my sister says a few nice words and you turn to mush."
"You’re taking me home already? Not going to treat me to a meal or something? You’re treating me like a condom, using me and then throwing me away."
"Look at you. Our Wan is the bestest, bestest, bestest, best! I’ll treat you to a meal another day. You’ve been a huge help!"
Jiangg Yao started the engine. The windshield wipers swished back and forth. Her mood was like that of a student who, upon waking up for school, suddenly receives notice that it’s a holiday.
This whole thing had started last night...