Chapter 74: You’re Still Playing Dumb
Jiang Tianzong acted swiftly and decisively. Yesterday, he had already arranged for people to make invitations for the family reunion banquet and send them to prominent families in the upper class of S City.
This morning, he even gave him a task to arrange a little dress for Nan Yuanman to wear to the banquet tomorrow, so she wouldn’t continue wearing those tattered shoes and embarrass herself.
Jiang Lixuan pursed his lips, tightening his grip slightly on Nan Yuanman’s wrist, and said to her, “Of course, not just the little dress. Tell Uncle whatever you like, and Uncle will buy it all for you.”
Nan Yuanman had lived to five years old without ever going to a mall.
Back in the countryside, there were no conditions for it. Even if there was a chance to enter the city, she would help Grandpa handle the coffin shop’s business together.
Occasionally, Old Master Nan would take her to the supermarket to buy some snacks that children like to eat. As for clothes, as long as there was something to wear, it was fine.
Now hearing Jiang Lixuan say this, Nan Yuanman was quite interested. She happily went to the mall with him.
After arriving at the mall, Nan Yuanman realized that the people who came weren’t just her and Jiang Lixuan, but also the mother and daughter she disliked, Jiang Yueyao and her daughter.
Jiang Xinxin was also very unhappy to see Nan Yuanman. When she saw Jiang Lixuan holding her hand without even glancing at her, she became even more displeased and let out a loud hum toward her.
Jiang Lixuan was stunned for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly. “Why are you here too?”
Jiang Yueyao’s smile on her face faltered slightly. She masked the displeasure in her eyes toward Jiang Lixuan and said indifferently, “Little Brother, Dad said you’re a grown man and probably don’t know what little girls like, so he asked me to bring Xin Xin over to help Yuanman pick some out.”
As she spoke, she seemed to have completely forgotten all the previous unpleasantness with Nan Yuanman. She squatted in front of her and asked her especially gently, “Yuanman, what kind of little dress do you like? Auntie will help you choose.”
Jiang Xinxin pouted, unhappily grabbing Jiang Yueyao’s skirt hem, and glared hostilely at Nan Yuanman. “No! Mom, you have to pick for me first!”
Jiang Lixuan’s brows furrowed slightly. He took Nan Yuanman’s hand and walked in first. “You pick for Xin Xin first. I’ll take Yuanman inside to browse.”
Nan Yuanman trotted after him with her short legs pattering away. Before she had taken two steps, Jiang Xinxin panicked and ran up, spreading her arms to block in front of Jiang Lixuan.
Jiang Lixuan: “?”
His expression darkened slightly. “Jiang Xinxin, what are you doing?”
“Uncle.” Jiang Xinxin was startled by his expression and shrank her neck slightly, but she still stubbornly didn’t move away. Looking at him, she said, “You pick for me too.”
Before Jiang Lixuan could refuse, Jiang Xinxin hurriedly said, “You used to pick all of Xin Xin’s little dresses, Uncle. Have you gotten a new sister and don’t want Xin Xin anymore?”
Jiang Xinxin had been feeling very aggrieved these past few days. The uncle who used to love playing with her and teasing her the most was ignoring her and being very cold to her.
In contrast, he was growing more attentive to Nan Yuanman day by day, which made Jiang Xinxin very anxious. Now she couldn’t help but say it out loud.
Jiang Yueyao also sighed, looking at Jiang Lixuan with slight sadness. “Little Brother, if you’re still upset about that morning, Xin Xin and I can apologize to Yuanman again.”
“Xin Xin is still young and sensitive. Don’t be cold to her; she’ll be heartbroken. I…” Jiang Yueyao’s eyes reddened slightly. She blinked lightly and said softly, “I’ll be too.”
Jiang Xinxin’s heart felt sour. She couldn’t help but step forward and hold Nan Yuanman’s hand, speaking in a choked voice, “Sister Yuanman, I was wrong about what happened before. I shouldn’t have treated you like that. I’m sorry. Can you not steal my uncle and give him back to me?”
“Consider it me begging you.”
The mother and daughter performed their act, quickly attracting the nearby salespeople. They pretended to be very busy but actually pricked up their ears to listen to the gossip.
Upon hearing the words Jiang Xinxin said with a choked voice, the salespeople’s gazes toward Nan Yuanman took on a few hints of oddity.
Jiang Lixuan also felt a bit unsettled inside.
No matter what, Jiang Xinxin was someone he had watched grow up. He couldn’t bring himself to be too cold to her, but…
He also couldn’t treat her with the same wholehearted care as before.
Looking at Jiang Xinxin with red eyes and a pitiful look, Jiang Lixuan’s heart softened. Just as he was about to speak, Nan Yuanman’s steamed bun face was full of confusion. “When did I ever steal your uncle?”
“My mom is Jiang Lixuan’s biological sister. I’m his niece. He was my uncle to begin with. There’s no need to fight you over him.”
Jiang Xinxin’s about-to-cry expression froze slightly, and Jiang Yueyao’s expression on her face stiffened for a moment.
Jiang Lixuan quickly came back to his senses. Recalling what Jiang Xinxin and Jiang Yueyao had just said, he increasingly felt something was off. He looked at Jiang Xinxin with a serious expression. “Xin Xin, who told you that Yuanman stole your uncle?”
Jiang Xinxin’s gaze instinctively drifted toward Jiang Yueyao for an instant. She opened her mouth but didn’t dare make a sound.
Jiang Lixuan: “Listen well. You and Yuanman are both Uncle’s nieces. There’s no such thing as stealing.”
Jiang Xinxin was scared by him and shrank her neck, saying aggrievedly in a small voice, “I know…”
Jiang Lixuan glanced at Jiang Yueyao. Jiang Yueyao couldn’t help but clench her fist tightly, her sharp fingertips digging into her palm. She took a light breath and said, “How about this, Little Brother? Let Xin Xin take Yuanman to look around. They’re both girls, and Xin Xin should know better what kind of dress Yuanman would like.”
“It’ll also give the two little girls a chance to ease their relationship.”
Jiang Lixuan thought it made some sense. He lowered his head to look at Nan Yuanman and asked her opinion. “Yuanman, what do you think?”
Nan Yuanman didn’t mind either way. “Whatever.” Even without Jiang Xinxin accompanying her, she could browse by herself.
“What about Xin Xin?”
Having been scolded twice in a row by Jiang Lixuan, Jiang Xinxin didn’t dare show hostility toward Nan Yuanman anymore. She forced out a sweet smile. “Sure, I’ll help Sister Yuanman pick nicely.”
Jiang Lixuan felt relieved inside. He let go of Nan Yuanman’s hand and gently pushed her back. “Go on.”
Nan Yuanman glanced at Jiang Xinxin but didn’t proactively talk to her. She ran inside with small steps pattering away. Jiang Xinxin pouted, gave her a longing look, and then reluctantly followed.
Once the two children left, Jiang Yueyao couldn’t hold back anymore. She stepped forward, her soft, slightly cool fingertips grasping Jiang Lixuan’s hand, and said aggrievedly, “Little Brother, why have you been so cold to me lately? Did I do something wrong?”
“If Yao Yao did something wrong, tell me, okay? I’ll change…”
Jiang Lixuan’s body stiffened. He coldly withdrew his hand from Jiang Yueyao’s grasp and asked her in a complicated tone with a cold voice, “You really don’t know what you did?”
Jiang Yueyao looked innocent. “I don’t know.”
She had been spoiled too much by the Jiang family members over these years, and with Jiang Lixuan always indulging her every whim before, she was confident she had hidden her tail well. So she never imagined Jiang Lixuan would take the initiative to investigate her.
Looking at Jiang Yueyao’s innocent expression, Jiang Lixuan suddenly felt a chill and anger rise in his heart. He could no longer control himself and stared at her intently, lowering his voice. “You’re still playing dumb now!”
“Jiang Yueyao, do you really not know how my tendon was severed back then?”
