Chapter 45

After hearing the man’s answer, the saleswoman led the middle-aged couple toward a model farther away.

“What are you looking at?” Song Rao asked, her coat draped over one arm.

Jiang Yi withdrew her complicated gaze.

“Nothing. Let’s keep looking.”

The saleswoman continued introducing other developments and floor plans.

After spending the entire morning looking around, they found several they liked, but they still needed to inspect the actual properties.

That afternoon, they followed the agent to visit the residential developments in person. By the end of the day, they had formed a clearer judgment.

When they returned to the sales hall, Song Rao said her phone had run out of battery and asked to borrow Jiang Yi’s to call a student.

She wanted the student to cancel her lecture that afternoon. If it could not be canceled, the student could deliver it in her place.

“You had a lecture this afternoon?” Jiang Yi asked in confusion. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? If you had, we wouldn’t have gone to view properties this afternoon.”

Song Rao accepted the phone and answered gently, “I forgot. I only just remembered.”

She unlocked the screen and opened the contacts list.

Then she raised her eyes and glanced at Jiang Yi, who was speaking with the saleswoman.

Pressing her lips together, Song Rao silently scrolled through the call history.

Shen Siyun’s warning that day had struck her heart like a heavy hammer.

She had said that if Song Rao told too many lies, one day she might truly become the child who cried wolf.

One month earlier, Shen Siyun had indeed called Song Rao using Jiang Yi’s phone. She had asked whether Song Rao wanted to personally collect the intoxicated Jiang Yi.

Song Rao had not originally intended to frame Shen Siyun.

But the moment she received Jiang Yi’s call the next morning, Jiang Yi’s sobbing had made one thing unmistakably clear:

Shen Siyun could not give Jiang Yi a sense of security.

She would only hurt her again and again.

Later, Song Rao had accepted the consequences when Shen Siyun withdrew her research funding. After all, that was a conflict between her and Shen Siyun.

However, she had to admit that changing her story that morning had also left behind a hidden danger.

Shen Siyun had been right.

What if Jiang Yi discovered the truth one day and learned that her closest friend had deceived her?

Their friendship of more than ten years might never be the same again.

Song Rao lowered her gaze without a ripple of emotion.

The call log was reflected in her silver-framed glasses.

She found the call from one month earlier, tapped it, and deleted it without hesitation.

Then she called her student, gave a few brief instructions, and ended the call.

“Jiang Yi, here.”

Song Rao returned the phone.

Then she asked the saleswoman gently, “Can we purchase today? How soon can the paperwork be completed?”

“Song Rao, aren’t you being too hasty?” Jiang Yi asked. “Shouldn’t we observe for another couple of days?”

She thought everything was moving far too quickly.

They were buying the properties outright on the very first day. How could ​unauthorized copy​such a major decision seem so casual to Song Rao?

Wasn’t she a professor?

Where was her supposed composure?

“Besides, our parents haven’t even seen them yet. We don’t know whether they’ll like them.”

Jiang Yi continued trying to persuade her with a frown.

Song Rao placed both hands on her shoulders, reassuring her.

“How can a surprise be a surprise if the people receiving it already know?

“Let’s buy the two units we just viewed—one above the other. They’re close to Fuan Residential Complex and also close to my university. We can buy them directly.”

Jiang Yi still thought they should consider it carefully.

Buying two homes at once was a major decision. If they overlooked anything, it would be too late to regret it afterward.

But Song Rao directly took their identification cards and household-registration booklets and followed the saleswoman to complete the procedures.

When she returned, she handed Jiang Yi the two property deeds.

Seeing that Jiang Yi still looked unhappy, Song Rao laughed and comforted her.

“All right, all right. The money has already been paid, and we have the deeds.

“One for you and one for me.

“We’ll spend the next couple of days arranging everything and buying furniture and appliances. Then we’ll surprise our parents and have them move in afterward.”

Jiang Yi flipped through the property deeds.

The more she looked, the more it felt like a dream.

The speed from buying the homes to moving in was almost faster than a rocket.

Over the next two days, Jiang Yi took leave from work to help her parents move.

After finally clearing out the old apartment, Father and Mother Jiang suddenly became sentimental.

They said it was, after all, the place where their daughter had grown up. Leaving it so suddenly made them reluctant.

Jiang Yi patiently explained that they were not abandoning it forever.

They could return whenever they wanted.

“Oh, you’re moving?”

Aunt Zhang saw the movers carrying item after item downstairs and hurried up to find out which family was leaving.

When she arrived, she discovered it was Jiang Yi’s family.

“Where are you moving, Sister Jiang?”

Cracking sunflower seeds, Aunt Zhang stood in the doorway and kept peering inside.

Mother Jiang gave the name of the residential development.

Aunt Zhang became so shocked that she stopped eating her seeds, her eyes filled with envy.

She narrowed them.

“That place is extremely expensive. Did you pay in full or take out a mortgage? It must be a mortgage.”

Mother Jiang folded her arms and looked at her proudly.

“We paid in full. And we didn’t buy only one.

“Song Rao’s parents and we each have a unit, one above the other.

“My daughter is fortunate. She met the right person. Thank goodness she married a professor.

“Professor Song’s experiment succeeded, and now countless people are competing for her patents.

“You know Zhuorui Pharmaceutical, don’t you? The one with that famous advertisement everyone knows.

“Even their president met her personally and wants her to join one of the world’s leading medical teams.

“Isn’t that right, Jiang Yi?”

Jiang Yi was packing.

Hearing the heavily competitive undertone between them, she felt exhausted.

Together, the two women were nearly a hundred years old, yet they had been openly and secretly competing for more than a decade.

They might not be tired, but Jiang Yi was.

“Mom, come help.”

“Ask your father. I’m busy.”

One glance from Mother Jiang immediately transformed Father Jiang into a model worker.

Jiang Yi: “…”

Aunt Zhang knew Mother Jiang was mocking her for once thinking Jiang Yi was unworthy of her son.

Her face twisted with anger.

But Mother Jiang had not finished stabbing at the wound.

“Aunt Zhang, I heard your son was dismissed. Where is he working now? Does he still earn fifty thousand a month?

“If he hasn’t met a suitable young woman yet, I can introduce someone to him. I’m free anyway.”

“There’s no need to trouble Sister Jiang.”

Seeing she could not gain the upper hand, Aunt Zhang swiftly changed the subject.

“You bought brand-new furniture and appliances for the new place, right?”

Mother Jiang nodded proudly.

“Of course. The refrigerator and range hood are all smart appliances.

“Even the kitchen is semi-open. You can see the Min River directly from the living room.

“I repeatedly told them we didn’t [stolen content]need such an expensive home. Any place slightly better than this would have been enough.

“But my daughter and Song Rao refused to listen.

“They were afraid we two elderly people would become lonely, so they deliberately chose somewhere close to a public square.

“We can go downstairs and dance when we’re bored. It’ll exercise our bodies and relieve the loneliness.”

“…Sister Jiang is truly blessed to have such a good daughter.”

The more Aunt Zhang listened, the more sour her tone became.

She walked over to an old white refrigerator.

The years had left traces of sticky-note marks across its surface.

Aunt Zhang stroked it, her eyes nearly glued to the appliance.

“Sister Jiang, since you’re moving to a new home, these appliances are probably broken or consume too much electricity.

“They’re embarrassing to keep and only waste power. Why don’t I help you dispose of them?”

If she carried even one home, she would profit.

That was what Aunt Zhang thought.

“Hey, hey, hey! I still need this refrigerator.”

It was Mother Jiang’s first time seeing anyone so shameless, and she hurried to stop her.

Aunt Zhang was displeased.

“Why keep this pile of scrap metal?

“You’re moving away to enjoy a better life. You’ll throw these old things away sooner or later.

“I’m simply helping you clear out the rubbish in advance so you don’t have to move it.”

“What rubbish? I’m leaving these appliances for the tenant.”

Aunt Zhang looked incredulous.

“You’re renting this apartment out?”

Mother Jiang put on a sentimental expression.

“Yes. After all, this is where my daughter grew up. I truly can’t bear to sell it.

“But leaving it empty would be wasteful, so we might as well rent it out [bailiantales.com]and earn a few thousand yuan each month to supplement our household expenses.”

Aunt Zhang folded her arms irritably.

“Sister Jiang certainly knows how to live well.”

She turned away sourly.

Before leaving, she still had to deliver one final jab.

“Old Li next door already has a grandchild. You two have been married for so long. Surely it isn’t because you can’t manage IVF?”

Mother Jiang’s anger flared again.

She slammed the door shut and rushed furiously toward Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi was still helping Father Jiang organize some miscellaneous items.

Father Jiang shook his head and joked, “Your mother really knows how to create drama for herself. It’s a waste that the National Theatre hasn’t invited her to perform.”

Jiang Yi laughed.

“That’s just how she is. She and Aunt Zhang have been fighting for more than ten years.”

Once they moved away, Mother Jiang probably would not find ​stolen content​another Aunt Zhang to quarrel with every day.

“Jiang Yi, when are you and Song Rao planning to have a child?”

Mother Jiang arrived before them.

Her anger vanished as she spoke earnestly.

“After your father and I move, we’ll have nothing to do. Give us a granddaughter to raise.”

Jiang Yi’s hand stiffened.

“Mom, why are you asking this? We don’t plan to have a child for now.”

“Then when do you plan to?”

Mother Jiang insisted on receiving a date so she could prepare.

Jiang Yi’s head began to ache.

“Mom, come help. It’ll be dark soon.”

Mother Jiang glanced outside and temporarily let her go.

She crouched and helped them pack.

When they were nearly finished, someone suddenly knocked on the door again.

Jiang Yi was closest, so she stood and opened it.

Outside stood a woman who should not have appeared there.

“What are you doing here?”

Holding the door handle, Jiang Yi used the excuse that the apartment was messy from packing and did not let her inside.

Shen Siyun stared closely at Jiang Yi’s beautiful face.

Her long fingers held two gold-stamped invitations, which she handed over.

“My mother asked me to deliver these to you.

“I went to Fuan Residential Complex, but no one was home. I thought you might be at your parents’ place.”

“Are you moving?”

Shen Siyun lowered her gaze.

“Where are you moving to?”

Jiang Yi accepted the two invitations but did not tell her.

“President Shen worked hard to come all this way. It’s getting late, so you should return soon.”

Shen Siyun pressed her lips together.

“Should I pick you up next Sunday?”

Jiang Yi’s dark eyes turned toward her.

“I haven’t decided whether I’m going.”

“Oh, Siyun is here. Come inside and sit.”

Mother Jiang noticed that Jiang Yi had been standing in the doorway for a long time and came over to see who it was.

When she saw her little grandaunt—the president of Jiayu—she immediately pulled Jiang Yi aside with one hand and dragged Shen Siyun inside with the other.

Then she poured her a glass of water.

Looking at the mess covering the floor, Mother Jiang felt slightly embarrassed.

“Sorry. It’s a little chaotic here today. Don’t mind it.”

Shen Siyun smiled and said she did not.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, she asked, “Auntie, where are you moving?”

Mother Jiang could never keep anything secret, especially something she took pride in.

“Yes, yes. Song Rao bought us a home in Leguang.

“Her parents and we live on floors directly above and below one another. She asked us to move there.

“We’re going to rent this place out.

“Siyun, if you come visit us in the future, go directly to Leguang.”

“Leguang is a good area.”

Shen Siyun took a sip of water and looked toward Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi had no interest in speaking to her and turned back to packing.

As though she had endless topics to discuss, Mother Jiang pulled over a stool and began chatting with Shen Siyun.

“Siyun, I’ve always felt that my daughter is fortunate and has met benefactors.

“First she met Song Rao, then she met a distinguished company president like you.

“Now that Song Rao’s experiment has succeeded, she’s earned a great deal of money and has a bright future.

“Even if my daughter stopped working, she wouldn’t need to fear starving while following her…”

Mother Jiang hurriedly corrected herself.

“Of course, I’m not saying she lacks the ability to survive. My daughter is still extremely capable.”

Then she slowly revealed her concern.

“But tell me—Song Rao suddenly bought two units so that her parents and we four elderly people could live so close together.

“She must mean something else by it, don’t you think?”

Shen Siyun could not understand what she meant.

Her red lips parted.

“Auntie, what do you mean?”

Seeing that the other woman had failed to understand, Mother Jiang explained directly.

“I think Song Rao must want a child and is hinting to my daughter.

“Look, both families were living perfectly well where we were. Yet as soon as Song Rao became wealthy, she bought two homes, one directly above the other.

“I heard her father is a doctor too. Isn’t that even better? If the child gets sick, he can examine her directly. It’ll be fast and save money.”

Mother Jiang failed to notice Shen Siyun’s expression growing darker.

She took her slender hand and spoke worriedly.

“But my daughter is still acting reserved.

“From what I know about her, if she truly loves someone, she would certainly be willing to carry that person’s child.

“I was thinking that perhaps they simply haven’t found a suitable doctor for IVF.

“Siyun, you’re the president of Jiayu and have many connections. Could you please introduce a doctor to my daughter?”

The moment she finished speaking, Mother Jiang felt the long, delicate hand she was holding suddenly slip free.

Then she saw the woman before her shoot to her feet.