Picked Up the Female Lead When She Was Young (GL) - Chapter 26

Clearly, Xia Wanshuang’s serious explanation was just funny to Jiang Wan.

Jiang Wan laughed for a good while before stopping, then picked up her phone to contact the person named Zhuo Tong again.

“Shuangshuang, your idea is too strange. I’m going to talk to the mother of the girl you saved again. It’s safer if Langlang is registered under my name.”

Xia Wanshuang knew her reason wouldn’t convince Jiang Wan, but she couldn’t come up with another one on the spot.

The thought that Zhuo Tong’s family was well-off only spun in her mind for a second. She decided not to use it as a reason, as it sounded too materialistic, didn’t fit her image, and wasn’t her actual motivation.

It seemed no one believed the truth nowadays.

Xia Wanshuang didn’t have time to stop her and could only watch as Jiang Wan called Zhuo Tong.

To Xia Wanshuang’s surprise, Zhuo Tong didn’t agree.

“If we don’t repay this kindness, my family will feel terrible. Plus, An’an is still scared and won’t sleep. She told me she wants to see the sister who saved her again. I was just about to call you,” Zhuo Tong’s voice came clearly over the phone. “Please don’t worry. We’re not bad people. You can check our identities. My husband works for a government agency. Getting the little girl’s hukou (household registration) and enrolling her in school is truly a small matter for us. Please rest assured.”

Jiang Wan talked with Zhuo Tong for a while and was silent after hanging up.

During that single phone call, she thought of many things: what she could provide for these two children, and what this opportunity could give them.

It was obvious that Zhuo Tong’s family was in a much better financial position than hers and could certainly provide well for Langlang.

To be honest, Jiang Wan wanted to take care of Xia Wanshuang out of sympathy and because of the care she’d received from Xia Wanshuang’s parents. She had gritted her teeth, believing she could manage to take care of Zhou Qinglang, too.

Xia Wanshuang’s decision, while making her feel heavy-hearted, also came as a sort of relief.

“Your Auntie Zhuo Tong is coming to pick you up later. She said An’an wants to see you. I’ll go with you.” Jiang Wan was still uneasy and needed to see things with her own eyes.

“Okay.”

It was getting late. Hearing Xia Wanshuang was going out, Zhou Qinglang looked at her wistfully, wanting to go along.

“Langlang, go to my house and watch TV with Brother Tianhang. Shuangshuang and I will be out for a bit. Don’t watch too late, and make sure to go to bed on time.” Jiang Wan said. Zhou Qinglang’s expression immediately darkened.

“Mhm! I’ll take good care of my sister.” Zhao Tianhang spoke up, waving at Zhou Qinglang.

Zhou Qinglang looked at Xia Wanshuang. Only after her sister nodded did she reluctantly walk over.

••••

Xia Wanshuang and Jiang Wan went to Zhuo Tong’s house. Lin An’an was lying in bed. When she saw Xia Wanshuang, her eyes lit up.

“Sister!” Lin An’an gripped Xia Wanshuang’s hand, feeling safe.

“Shuangshuang, you stay here and keep An’an company for a bit. I’ll bring the porridge for her to eat.”

“Okay.”

Lin An’an hadn’t eaten dinner. She refused to eat or smile. Zhuo Tong had called a doctor, who said it was likely due to shock. Zhuo Tong had coaxed Lin An’an to sleep, but the girl woke up crying after a few minutes, asking for her sister.

“Did An’an just wake up?” Xia Wanshuang gently stroked the little girl’s hair. Lin An’an looked about five, with cute baby fat and red-rimmed eyes.

“When I close my eyes, the car monster tries to eat An’an. An’an is scared.” Lin An’an pouted, describing her dream.

“Don’t be scared. The monster has been chased away by your sister.”

“Mhm!” Lin An’an huddled under the quilt, holding Xia Wanshuang’s hand, and weakly acknowledged her words.

Zhuo Tong brought in warm porridge and tried to feed Lin An’an, but Lin An’an insisted on Xia Wanshuang feeding her.

“Auntie, let me do it.”

“Thank you.” Zhuo Tong handed over the bowl, watching Lin An’an obediently open her mouth to eat. Her eyes were teary.

“Auntie Jiang, let’s talk in the living room.”

“Okay.”

Zhuo Tong gave Jiang Wan a glass of water and began to talk about the day’s events. She recounted her difficult journey of conception and childbirth. Being women and mothers, Jiang Wan could empathize.

“My husband said he would arrange for the TV station to do an interview in a couple of days, as this is an act of valor. Such reporting would definitely boost her school application, be recorded in her file, and they’ll get a bonus, even if it’s small. My husband and I also intend to offer Shuangshuang a monetary thank-you.”

“An interview…” Jiang Wan seemed hesitant.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“You know that Shuangshuang’s father has passed away and her mother is missing, right?”

“Her mother is missing?” Zhuo Tong was surprised. She had assumed both parents were gone. However, she quickly understood Jiang Wan’s implication.

“So her guardian is…?”

“Nominally, it’s still her mother.”

“I thought it was you. But shouldn’t there be a guardian in this situation?”

“If it’s not reported or well-known, the police won’t actively intervene. Shuangshuang has no other relatives. I suggested this to her, but Shuangshuang wants to wait for her mother to return.”

“So, it’s better not to do the interview?”

“Yes. I think reporters will definitely dig deeper. You should discuss this with Shuangshuang and see if she’s willing.”

“Mhm, okay.”

Zhuo Tong watched Xia Wanshuang and knew she was a child with strong opinions. Her reaction during the danger and her calmness afterward were beyond that of an average child.

Xia Wanshuang fed Lin An’an the porridge and then coaxed the little girl to sleep before leaving the room.

When Zhuo Tong mentioned the interview, Xia Wanshuang hesitated.

Just as Jiang Wan had said, Xia Wanshuang was worried that if reporters found out her situation, it would force the guardianship issue.

However, she quickly had a change of heart. Why not?

Just as she had planned for Zhou Qinglang, she could get registered with the Jiang family’s hukou now and move it out when she was an adult.

This wouldn’t affect her future plan, because there was no way she and Zhao Tianhang would develop a relationship. With the brother-sister relationship in place, Zhao Tianhang was unlikely to fall for her.

If she did this, the 100,000 yuan in her bank card could finally be withdrawn.

“Auntie Zhuo, if there is a chance for an interview, I’m willing to do it.”

“Huh?” Jiang Wan was startled. This wasn’t what she had expected.

“Alright. It’ll probably be tomorrow or the day after. Don’t be nervous. Leave your number with me, and I’ll notify you in advance.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Wan had questions but didn’t ask them immediately. Only when they were in the car outside Zhuo Tong’s house did she voice her confusion.

“Shuangshuang, why did you agree?”

“Well… I suddenly realized a few things.” Teacher Xia was making things up again.

“I want to wait for my mother to come back, but I also want to make our life better now. Langlang will be starting school soon, and I need the money in the card.”

“Alright, if that’s how you feel, that’s fine. We’ll go take care of the paperwork tomorrow. But next time, please don’t do anything so dangerous.” Jiang Wan thought for a long moment and couldn’t help but say it.

Listening to Zhuo Tong’s description, the scene must have been so perilous. What if Xia Wanshuang hadn’t successfully rolled under the car with the child? That would have been two lives lost. Just listening to it made Jiang Wan hold her breath.

“I don’t know what happened either. I just rushed forward.” In that instant, Xia Wanshuang didn’t think; she instinctively charged and chose the best way to avoid the crash.

“Oh, Shuangshuang. You’re sensible, but you also make me worry even more.”

The night breeze was gentle, the dim lights accentuated the darkness, and the leaves rustled softly. Jiang Wan’s gentle rambling added a soft touch to the evening.

••••

When Xia Wanshuang got home, Zhou Qinglang was still awake.

She heard the sound and sat up in bed, wanting to run out to greet her, but then stopped, pouting.

Sister was gone for so long! So long that they had finished their cartoon, and Zhao Tianhang had been urging her to bathe and sleep.

She couldn’t sleep in bed. Every time she closed her eyes, she would replay the scene from the daytime, terrified that the car would have sped past and her sister would have been taken from her.

She knew her sister did a good thing, and she knew her sister was a kind and brave person, but she just couldn’t shake the feeling. She was angry and sad.

Why did she have to risk her life for a stranger? What would she do if something happened to her?

Xia Wanshuang entered the bedroom and saw Zhou Qinglang feigning sleep. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she probably thought she was hiding it well.

She chuckled, moved closer to Zhou Qinglang, and laughed again as she saw the little girl’s eyelashes flutter even faster. She deliberately stared at her.

Zhou Qinglang held her breath, pretending to be fast asleep, her heart pounding in her throat. She only relaxed after she felt Xia Wanshuang’s presence move away slightly. She then secretly opened her eyes just a crack, only to meet Xia Wanshuang’s gaze, immediately closing them again, realizing how obvious her actions were.

“Why are you still awake so late? Did I wake you up coming back?”

“I can’t sleep without Sister next to me.” Zhou Qinglang said, blushing. She realized how much her words sounded like a spoiled child’s plea.

“Then I’ll sleep with you after I take a bath.”

My girl is too cute when she pouts!

“Mhm!” Zhou Qinglang nodded hard, watching Xia Wanshuang leave and waiting for her return.

Xia Wanshuang finished her fragrant bath, soaked her clothes, and then returned to the bedroom to sleep.

Zhou Qinglang’s arm was draped over her waist, holding her tightly.

Xia Wanshuang didn’t push her away, letting Zhou Qinglang hold her. She knew that after witnessing the day’s events, the child must be feeling awful.

Zhou Qinglang clung to Xia Wanshuang, inhaling her scent, and drowsiness gradually overtook her.

She had a good night’s sleep.

••••

Jiang Wan was a person who valued efficiency. She knocked on the door in the morning, asking Xia Wanshuang to gather all her documents and come out with her.

Zhuo Tong also began working on Zhou Qinglang’s hukou and came to pick her up.

Xia Wanshuang and Jiang Wan ran around all day, first going to the police station for certificates, and then handling various procedures. Thanks to Zhuo Tong and Lin Zhuo’s connections, they received the green light all the way. The people handling their case had been alerted and processed things quickly.

Jiang Wan had to sigh at how useful connections could be. If they had done it alone, it would have taken at least two or three days to complete all the procedures.

After Xia Wanshuang’s matter was settled, Zhou Qinglang’s was also confirmed. Zhuo Tong brought Zhou Qinglang back, along with some relevant documents and a copy of Zhou Qinglang’s hukou page.

From then on, Zhou Qinglang officially existed.

With all the paperwork settled, Xia Wanshuang went to the bank. Her excited heart and trembling hands conveyed joy. She looked at the 100,000 yuan she could finally withdraw, her eyes welling up with tears. It was a long-awaited and hard-earned moment.

[System]: Finally! QAQ

It was too difficult. Truly too difficult.

With the hukou and bank card issues resolved, Xia Wanshuang felt a great weight lift off her shoulders.

Zhuo Tong called Xia Wanshuang to tell her that the reporter was coming for the interview when Xia Wanshuang was selling ice jelly at the entrance of No. 3 Middle School.

Unable to rush home, Xia Wanshuang asked Zhuo Tong to inform the reporter of her location, simultaneously scoring some free advertising for her ice jelly.

The reporter was from the social and livelihood section of the news. After hearing Xia Wanshuang’s account, they were deeply moved. After eating a bowl of Xia Wanshuang’s ice jelly, they praised the snack profusely.

The reporter interviewed Xia Wanshuang, then went to interview others in the community. They happened to ask Grandpa Zhang, who wasn’t afraid of the camera and praised her endlessly while fanning himself. The reviews from others were also very positive.

The reporter also went to the Experimental Primary School and interviewed Xia Wanshuang’s homeroom teacher. The teacher was quite shocked by Xia Wanshuang’s courageous actions and felt honored, praising Xia Wanshuang as a good student, obedient, and excellent in both character and studies.

With plenty of material, the reporter returned and passionately wrote the article.

The article was titled: The Third-Grader Hero Who Stepped Up in a Life-and-Death Moment. It mentioned her father’s death and mother’s disappearance, but emphasized that she was not discouraged, bravely shouldering the burden of life, and was an excellent student, positive and cheerful. At the end of the article, the reporter also highlighted how delicious Xia Wanshuang’s ice jelly was.

The photo published was a blurry surveillance image of the critical moment.

When the newspaper came out, the response was enthusiastic.

Not only that, but Xia Wanshuang was also interviewed by the local TV station as a representative of positive community actions, stirring up discussion among the citizens of Tongli City.

Some students at No. 3 Middle School saw the report or the news when they got home and testified that the ice jelly was indeed delicious and the little girl was genuinely adorable.

Xia Wanshuang’s business improved even more. Some people traveled halfway across the city just to see Xia Wanshuang and have a bowl of ice jelly.

Xia Wanshuang was naturally pleased with the situation and happily worked like a busy little bee every day.

She smiled happily while counting her earnings at night.

With the money from the bank card, her principal, the money she had earned, the bonus she received, and the generous gift from the Zhuo Tong couple, they no longer had to worry about their livelihood. Her business at No. 3 Middle School was excellent and stable.

Xu Cheng and her friends called her handmade ice jelly “Little Sister Ice Jelly,” and they came to eat a bowl every day after school.

“Shuangshuang, dinner time.”

Xia Wanshuang had just finished counting her money when Zhao Tianhang knocked on the door. He had been visiting very frequently lately. Now that he knew Xia Wanshuang was his legal younger sister, he called her “Shuangshuang” constantly, which made Zhou Qinglang roll her eyes and glare at him more and more often.

Xia Wanshuang happily took Zhou Qinglang to dinner. After eating, she slipped 300 yuan into Jiang Wan’s pocket.

“Shuangshuang, what are you doing?” Jiang Wan was washing dishes and looked confused.

“Aunt Jiang, it’s time to pay the utility bills, right? I want you to help me pay for them and the internet. I’ll give you the money first.”

“Why are you being so polite with me?” Jiang Wan didn’t even ask why Xia Wanshuang was paying for the internet, knowing the girl definitely had her own plans.

“Aunt Jiang, I have money now and I’m earning money, so it’s nothing. I’ll pay you monthly from now on. Aunt Jiang is the best.” Xia Wanshuang hugged Jiang Wan and acted cute, preventing her from refusing.

“How much electricity and water do you use in a month? It doesn’t cost 300 yuan. Take 200 back.”

“But there’s also the food…” Xia Wanshuang was cut off by a glare from Jiang Wan.

Xia Wanshuang didn’t take the money back, a triumphant smile on her face, and darted out of the kitchen.

Jiang Wan laughed and shook her head, continuing to wash dishes with soapy hands.

••••

In the living room, two children were watching cartoons, but Xia Wanshuang was calculating the feasibility of buying an apartment.

She had already inquired about a new property development. A 103-square-meter apartment would cost just over 150,000 yuan if paid in full. She was short about 40,000 yuan.

She could borrow the money and put the house under Aunt Jiang’s name. Xia Wanshuang had thought everything through. She really wanted to buy this apartment.

Xia Wanshuang knew exactly what house prices would be like in the future—they would skyrocket. The property would definitely appreciate in value.

It was a shame that so much of this parallel world was unfamiliar. Tongli City was not the same location as the one in Xia Wanshuang’s memory, otherwise, she would have bought a property guaranteed to increase in price or be scheduled for demolition.

Xia Wanshuang discussed the matter with Jiang Wan, who also thought it was feasible.

“I still have a few tens of thousands of yuan. That should be enough with yours. I’ll go check it out tomorrow, and when the sales open, we’ll go look at it together.”

“Great. Auntie, this money will be a loan from you, and I’ll pay you back in installments with interest.”

Jiang Wan nodded, unconsciously treating the young girl as an adult.

“You don’t need to worry about interest. You can take your time paying it back.”

Xia Wanshuang nodded, not explaining further. She was definitely going to pay the interest.

The decision to buy the apartment was settled, but there was no need to rush the actual purchase. The development hadn’t opened for sale yet, and they would have enough time to look at the apartments once sales began.

The sales were scheduled for the summer vacation, which was still half a month away.

Xia Wanshuang was running low on ice jelly ingredients, and Grandpa Zhang brought her another bag. This time, Xia Wanshuang tried to pay him, but Grandpa Zhang absolutely refused to accept the money. His manner of refusal was like an elder giving a hongbao (red envelope) during the New Year, almost like a Tai Chi routine.

In the end, Grandpa Zhang left with the money, but he gave Xia Wanshuang a significant discount when she went to buy fruit.

Xia Wanshuang’s life remained a four-point routine: home, school, the fruit store, and the entrance of No. 3 Middle School.

Since the act of valor, Xia Wanshuang had been forced to give a speech under the national flag, was featured on the honor roll, and her homeroom teacher even wanted to move her seat to the front row to receive the most attention and care from the teacher.

Xia Wanshuang politely declined, feeling comfortable in her original seat. Lin Qiushui had also stopped playing tricks and was extremely obedient in her presence.

Although she didn’t sit in the front row, Xia Wanshuang remained under the teacher’s attentive gaze. The downside of all this attention was that she could no longer sleep peacefully in class.

Xia Wanshuang’s ice jelly had become famous due to the publicity, and she sold out every day. Everything was proceeding harmoniously.

Xia Wanshuang’s daily routine was very regular: wake up, go to class, make ice jelly at noon, take a nap, go to class, and sell ice jelly in the afternoon.

Before going to sleep, Xia Wanshuang would teach Zhou Qinglang to read and write for a while, and then they would go to bed at a set time to ensure the child’s body got enough rest.

After Jiang Wan paid for the internet, the computer at home became Xia Wanshuang’s new favorite thing.

She extended her bedtime to browse the web and read online novels, not to indulge, but to look for development opportunities.

Writing stories was not difficult for Xia Wanshuang. She just needed to research what people liked now. She didn’t read many online novels, spending most of her time on traditional literature or history books.

After browsing several websites consecutively, Xia Wanshuang was shocked by the plotlines she found. What she thought would be innocent campus romance turned out to be full of young men and women entangled in love, accompanied by melodramatic elements like assault, abortion, breakups, and amnesia, yet they were incredibly popular.

There were also stories about a CEO’s pampered wife running away with the baby, a genius baby and a sweet mother, and transmigration stories about a useless third daughter or the first concubine’s daughter. There were even plots of forced love, cruel substitutes, and heart/kidney/uterus removal. Xia Wanshuang felt her spirit was elevated both inwardly and outwardly.

Xia Wanshuang thought long and hard and decided to write a modern romance.

Although Teacher Xia had zero dating experience, she thought a lot. After reading all the melodrama, she seriously summarized a series of plot outlines and grasped the readers’ preferences.

Thus, Xia Wanshuang added a side hustle to selling ice jelly.

With her seasoned writing style and control over character development and pacing, she quickly gained attention on the website and caught the eye of an editor.

Upon receiving the contract invitation, Xia Wanshuang immediately sought out Jiang Wan.

What could she do? Teacher Xia was only a third grader, after all.

Jiang Wan was truly shocked by Xia Wanshuang’s talent. She sometimes read novels to relax, so she had some understanding of the field. After reviewing the contract, she went to read Xia Wanshuang’s novel.

“Shuangshuang, do you have any drafts saved? When are you updating today?” Jiang Wan almost shook Xia Wanshuang, urging her to update.

“I’m almost done with this chapter. I’ll update as soon as I finish writing.” Xia Wanshuang had been “rehabilitating” her writing skills recently. Her typing speed wasn’t fast, so her updates were slow. Xia Wanshuang had previously learned the piano and had a very fast hand speed, but this child’s hand hadn’t been trained, so it was much slower.

“Then Auntie will help you with the contract first. Keep up the good work!”

Jiang Wan was motivated and energized every day by Xia Wanshuang’s hard work.

After the contract was signed, Xia Wanshuang’s novel was promoted on the website and quickly reached the paywalled chapters. Xia Wanshuang ended the free chapters on a huge cliffhanger, leaving readers craving more, and the comment section was filled with lamentations.

Due to differing tastes, no novel can have 100% positive reviews. There will always be negative comments, and there’s a peculiar type of reader who curses while reading. Xia Wanshuang’s novel had sweet and sad moments, with many twists, so the comment section was often active with angry comments.

Xia Wanshuang didn’t mind, but Jiang Wan couldn’t sit still.

She became a dedicated fan in the comment section, always rushing to the forefront to defend Xia Wanshuang. She also became the administrator of the fan group, reading every single chapter. Not only that, but Jiang Wan also comforted Xia Wanshuang in person, telling her not to take the words of those online to heart.

Furthermore, Jiang Wan dragged Zhuo Tong into the reading hole, and a “rich reader” appeared in Xia Wanshuang’s comment section.

••••

Half a month quickly passed. Xia Wanshuang finished her final exams, unsurprisingly scored perfect marks, and went home with her summer homework and report card.

The benefit of the holiday was not having to go to school every day. Xia Wanshuang made ice jelly and then focused on writing, entering a state of frequent updates.

She was currently writing a major twist where the hero and heroine had a huge misunderstanding, and all their underlying conflicts exploded. This was a crucial point in the entire story, and Xia Wanshuang wrote it with intensity.

During dinner, Jiang Wan couldn’t help but ask what happened next. Xia Wanshuang was about to tell her, but Jiang Wan shook her head.

“Wait, don’t tell me yet. I want to read it myself.”

“…Okay.”

Then Xia Wanshuang started the angst.

Jiang Wan was furious, so angry that she made Xia Wanshuang a plate of bitter melon, stating she needed to cool down.

Zhuo Tong even called Xia Wanshuang and cried, saying she was a cruel elementary school student.

Xia Wanshuang soared freely in the world of sad stories. After finishing the day’s updates and closing her computer, she noticed Zhou Qinglang writing in the living room.

“Langlang, what are you writing?” Xia Wanshuang curiously leaned in and saw it was her summer homework.

“Sister, you’ve been so busy lately. I saw you didn’t have time to do your homework, so I helped you write it.” Zhou Qinglang had already finished learning the third-grade curriculum, so writing the third-grade summer homework was easy for her.

“Langlang, you can understand it?” Xia Wanshuang was shocked.

Zhou Qinglang nodded and handed the homework to Xia Wanshuang. Xia Wanshuang flipped through it and found almost all the answers were correct.

“Our Langlang is a prodigy!”

“I’m not as good as Sister. Sister is the best. I understand everything Sister teaches me.” Zhou Qinglang blushed. While Xia Wanshuang was writing, she was always reading books and practicing problems, determined not to fall too far behind her sister.

[System]: She’s the female lead, a super smart one!

“Then Langlang can just skip a grade and be my classmate.” Xia Wanshuang joked.

But Zhou Qinglang took it seriously.

When school started in September, Zhou Qinglang told the teacher she could be in the fourth grade. The teachers were very surprised but gave her the corresponding test papers. Zhou Qinglang passed with perfect scores and was placed in Xia Wanshuang’s class.

Xia Wanshuang was a little confused, and Jiang Wan and Zhao Tianhang were also very surprised.

However, Jiang Wan quickly accepted that Zhou Qinglang was a little genius. This was perfectly timed with her and Xia Wanshuang picking an apartment and paying the deposit, so to celebrate the double good news, Jiang Wan cooked a huge feast.

After becoming classmates, Zhou Qinglang became Xia Wanshuang’s absolute shadow, entering and leaving school with her, never separating for a moment.

The first essay assigned by the Chinese teacher at the beginning of the school year was for the students to write about their parents. Everyone did, except for one person.

Zhou Qinglang opened her composition book and formally wrote four characters in the title: “My Sister.”

“My sister is the best sister in the world. In my eyes, she is kinder than an angel, more beautiful than a fairy, braver than a hero, and more noble than a princess…”

The Chinese teacher read out every word, clutching her forehead as she finished the entire essay of endless praise.

“Student Zhou Qinglang, isn’t your writing a bit exaggerated? You don’t have to just praise your sister. You can also write about small, everyday interactions with her.” The teacher looked at the young girl in front of her, her voice gentle. She knew the girl had skipped a grade. While she might be good at math and English, her language skills might be weaker.

“But Teacher, if I were to write about my interactions with my sister, this composition book wouldn’t be enough. My sister is the best person in the world.” Zhou Qinglang’s expression was serious. Thanks to Xia Wanshuang and Jiang Wan’s care, the girl was no longer the sickly, malnourished child they had found. Her face was fair and tender, and her dark eyes held a depth beyond her years.

The Chinese teacher’s eye twitched. She naturally knew who Zhou Qinglang’s sister was, and how much Zhou Qinglang depended on Xia Wanshuang. She waved her hand, giving up on further conversation.

However, this essay seemed to be just the beginning. The Chinese teacher found that in every composition she graded for Zhou Qinglang, regardless of the topic, Zhou Qinglang managed to tie it back to her sister, following up with more reasoned and compelling praise.

Xia Wanshuang knew about this, of course, but didn’t find the dependency unusual. After all, she had brought Zhou Qinglang home and given the child a warm family. It was perfectly normal for her girl to depend on her like this.

The System felt something was off, but couldn’t quite pinpoint what.

••••

Before the New Year, Xia Wanshuang finished her novel and received news from the editor about its publication.

[Editor Zhu Xue]: Er You, don’t worry. Our copyright editors are very professional and will definitely fight for your maximum benefit.

[Er You]: Okay, thank you so much, great editor~

[Editor Zhu Xue]: What direction are you planning for your new book?

[Er You]: I haven’t decided yet.

[Editor Zhu Xue]: I think you should write something like ancient court struggles or domestic intrigue. Those are popular, have a stable audience, and are easy to publish and adapt for film/TV.

Xia Wanshuang thought about it. There seemed to be many such TV shows, but while Xia Wanshuang was good at political maneuvering, she wasn’t very skilled at the petty power struggles between women.

[Er You]: Okay, I’ll think about it seriously. I might need to look through some history books. Once the setting is finalized, I’ll send it to you.

[Editor Zhu Xue]: Wonderful!

Zhu Xue, at the other end of the computer, recalled the ID card copy she had seen when the contract was submitted: a very gentle and intellectual woman. She could also sense from their conversations that Er You was a very mild-mannered person. Zhu Xue curved her lips and typed a smiley face on the screen.

The fourth-grade student at the other end of the computer didn’t know the editor’s thoughts. She started reading palace intrigue novels and researched related TV series, preparing to improve herself again.

Half a month later, she sent her character designs and outline to the editor, who responded with three exclamation points.

Jiang Wan and Zhuo Tong officially upgraded to fan club leaders, enthusiastically recommending Xia Wanshuang’s book. They happily congratulated her on the publication in the comment section and immediately jumped into the new novel’s massive hole.

Compared to the first melodramatic modern novel, the second book had a more grand world view and a larger framework. The heroine started out pure-hearted, was repeatedly betrayed, and then underwent a dark transformation, playing the fool to catch the tiger, which readers found immensely satisfying. The story had sweet, sad, and tumultuous moments.

Just when everyone thought the ending would be the heroine and the emperor putting aside their differences and reconciling, the heroine directly poisoned the emperor, put her own child on the throne, and became the Empress Dowager Regent, ruling from behind a screen.

Zhuo Tong called again, stating that Xia Wanshuang was truly one ruthless elementary school student.

Jiang Wan cooked braised pig’s trotters the day after the novel ended, declaring that men were all big pigs’ feet, and the idiot emperor was better off dead.

The rapid development of online literature brought opportunities to many, and Xia Wanshuang jumped on this fast track. As the editor predicted, this type of novel sold very well.

She became a Gold Medal Author on the website. The first book was published, and the second was published and optioned for film/TV adaptation, making her a representative of authors who became famous with one book.

By the time the copyright fees came in, Xia Wanshuang was an impending fifth-grader. A year had passed quickly. Xia Wanshuang was no longer short on money and stopped selling ice jelly.

Making ice jelly was not difficult, and many vendors had imitated her during the time she sold it, making the snack popular in Tongli. Xia Wanshuang stopped selling in the autumn.

Although copyright prices weren’t as high as they would be later, they were still substantial. After selling the film/TV adaptation rights, Xia Wanshuang received 460,000 yuan after taxes.

Xia Wanshuang paid off Jiang Wan’s loan with interest and renovated the apartment under Jiang Wan’s name. She then rented out the apartment they were currently living in.

Xia Wanshuang had initially wanted to rent out the apartment in the new development, but the area around the new complex hadn’t been fully developed, and transport wasn’t convenient. Renters preferred the older, more convenient apartment, even if the rent was cheaper.

Jiang Wan and Zhao Tianhang were quite reluctant when Xia Wanshuang moved out of the residential area.

“You’ll be entering junior high soon, so don’t focus too much on writing. You need to balance it with your studies, alright?” Jiang Wan rambled, helping Xia Wanshuang pack and making Zhao Tianhang do the heavy lifting.

“Langlang, you keep an eye on your sister, too. Don’t let her stay up too late.”

Zhou Qinglang had just walked out of the door. Hearing this, she nodded.

“Don’t worry, Aunt Jiang. I’ll watch Sister closely.” Zhou Qinglang’s voice was low and slightly husky. Her eyes were clear. She took the bag from Xia Wanshuang’s hand and slung it over her own shoulder.

Xia Wanshuang looked at Zhou Qinglang, speechless. She couldn’t offer any words of care in return.

Because her girl was now TALLER than her!

This made no sense! It was so unscientific!

Zhou Qinglang had grown incredibly tall over the past few years. Despite being three years younger than Xia Wanshuang, she was now taller than her.

In comparison, Xia Wanshuang felt like the little sister.

••••

Time marched on, and the leaves turned green and then yellow.

Xia Wanshuang, Zhou Qinglang, Zhao Tianhang, and Lin Qiushui all entered No. 3 Middle School together, humorously referred to as the “face” of the new intake.

Xia Wanshuang, of course, was an excellent student with a gentle demeanor. Her long, black hair and “first love” face, especially when holding a book, captivated the boys, and she received many love letters upon entering the school.

Zhao Tianhang was the clean, warm “white shirt boy,” nicknamed “Prince Charming” by the girls. He was the top student, a true gentleman.

In contrast, Zhou Qinglang and Lin Qiushui had a more fearsome reputation.

Lin Qiushui’s family was wealthy, and he was a habitually rebellious campus bully. He looked arrogant. He became famous at No. 3 Middle School when someone mocked his name for sounding like a girl’s. He beat the person up, and when the disciplinary dean brought him before the school to speak under the flag, he tossed out the line, “I’m a man!” and walked off, sparking campus-wide gossip.

Zhou Qinglang’s fame came from her unapproachability and her harsh rejection of admirers. She was tall, with a cold, sharp gaze—a “cool girl.” Some boys confessed their feelings to her soon after school started. Zhou Qinglang, who was on the basketball court at the time, raised an eyebrow.

With the basketball spinning on her fingertip, she told the boy that she would consider him if he could beat her in a game. The boy was excited but was utterly destroyed by Zhou Qinglang. Zhou Qinglang then picked up the ball and walked away.

After that, she became unattainable for the boys of No. 3 Middle School.

What further cemented Zhou Qinglang’s reputation was her fierce protection of Xia Wanshuang. Everyone at No. 3 Middle School knew Zhou Qinglang was a “Sister Protector.”

The autumn wind was brisk. During P.E. class, the basketball court was surrounded by people.

“Shuangshuang, hurry and look! The Class 4 P.E. class is on, and Langlang is dragging the boy who’s been bothering you lately onto the court to crush him!” Lin Qiushui rushed over to gossip. Xia Wanshuang, who was having self-study, paused her writing and followed Lin Qiushui out.

A large crowd had gathered around the basketball court. Zhou Qinglang stood in the center, looking at the panting boy with a dismissive and undisguised look of contempt.

“Someone like you, you think you can pursue my sister? Are you worthy?” Zhou Qinglang had a strong dislike for this boy. He kept telling her sister how much he liked her, and he kept pestering her even after being rejected three or four times. Zhou Qinglang had finally lost her patience.

The boy’s face flushed with humiliation.

“I advise you to know your place. Someone’s rejected you again and again, so stop harassing her. If there’s a next time, it won’t be a basketball going into the hoop; it will be your head.” Zhou Qinglang’s eyes were icy as she slowly dropped the threat.

“Langlang!” Xia Wanshuang was stuck outside the crowd. She finally managed to squeeze through and heard the entire threat.

“Sister, why are you here? Isn’t your class having self-study?” Zhou Qinglang’s entire demeanor changed, like a harmless big cat retracting its claws. She threw the basketball to the nosy Lin Qiushui and played the obedient girl in front of Xia Wanshuang.

“To watch you scare people.” Xia Wanshuang didn’t understand why the once-soft and obedient Langlang had become so intimidating as she grew older.

“I was just having a friendly conversation with him.” Zhou Qinglang pulled Xia Wanshuang out of the basketball court, leaning against her limply and whining.

“Don’t do this again next time. You’ll get criticized by the teacher.” Xia Wanshuang didn’t take these little kids’ confessions seriously. She reached up and smoothed down Zhou Qinglang’s hair, which had been messed up from playing basketball.

Zhou Qinglang murmured an acknowledgment, hiding the irritability in her eyes.

She was becoming increasingly agitated. She felt annoyed, extremely annoyed. She was annoyed by the love letters people sent her sister, annoyed by the confessions, and even the admiring glances people gave Xia Wanshuang set her heart on fire.

Zhao Tianhang said she was in the terminal stage of being a sister complex, beyond saving.

They had grown up together. Zhao Tianhang knew their situation clearly and understood that Zhou Qinglang’s dependence on Xia Wanshuang was understandable, but sometimes even he was shocked by her possessiveness.

That afternoon, Zhou Qinglang’s and Zhao Tianhang’s classes ended exactly on time. The teacher in Xia Wanshuang’s and Lin Qiushui’s class was still keeping them late.

“I heard about your big move this afternoon.” Zhao Tianhang waited for Xia Wanshuang with Zhou Qinglang. They planned to eat dinner together.

Zhou Qinglang didn’t react to his comment and just stared at the door of Xia Wanshuang’s classroom.

“What kind of person do you think is good enough for your sister?” Zhao Tianhang asked curiously. That phrase, “You’re not worthy,” had already spread throughout the entire grade.

Zhou Qinglang thought about it seriously this time. The more she thought, the tighter her brows furrowed.

“No one.”

“Huh?”

Xia Wanshuang left class and saw her hero and heroine talking in low voices, which brought her the usual feeling of comfort.

Look how well the plot is progressing.

From a distance, they looked like a perfect match.