NOVEL WEB
Chapter 25
But Gu Yuming was not sweet at all.
He sat coolly at the back, his mind brimming with wicked ideas to bully others.
During dismissal, the crowd surged, with the teacher shouting, "Everyone line up neatly, we'll line up before leaving, no running around..."
However, children are often most disobedient at this time, eager to go home and play with toys, and eat. But everyone rushed to leave, resulting in no one being able to exit.
Jiang Yan didn't want to be squeezed, so she walked slowly at the back. Ji Chu quietly grabbed her backpack strap, following closely behind her.
The teacher at the entrance finally cleared the way, and they could leave. As Jiang Yan walked out, she brushed past Gu Yuming, slipping a piece of candy into his pocket.
Gu Yuming paused for a moment, staring at the little princess who didn't turn back, then gave a snort.
Recently, there had been no commotion at the Gu household. Jiang Yan eavesdropped again at the corner and learned that Gu's stepmother was pregnant.
It was rather odd. That stepmother was of lowly birth and behaved crudely. Before her pregnancy, she constantly berated and beat Gu Yuming. But after conceiving, she seemed to develop some maternal instinct.
Perhaps she empathized with Gu Yuming's situation, or was thinking about her future child. In any case, she no longer beat or scolded Gu Yuming.
Gu Yuming, however, was not used to this.
He had already regarded everyone as his enemy. And now, his enemy was pregnant and no longer hostile toward him? It was simply unthinkable.
Gu Yuming deliberately caused a ruckus for two days, but received no retaliation from his stepmother. He could only glare at her still flat belly and back down.
Thus, Jiang Yan didn't see Gu Yuming for a long time.
On Qingming Festival, a light drizzle fell. Jiang Yan was taken by Old Mrs. Yu to visit her ancestors' graves. On her way back, she suddenly noticed a figure.
"Uncle, stop the car!"
Jiang Yan shouted, peering out the window. Sure enough, it was Gu Yuming.
He was holding a small bunch of white flowers, trudging through the mud with his head down.
"It's raining!" Jiang Yan called out to him.
Gu Yuming turned his head for a glance, then looked away again.
Jiang Yan called out to him a few more times. Seeing him ignoring her, she grabbed an umbrella and threw it to him.
Gu Yuming looked at her again but remained silent. However, he did pick up the umbrella.
The driver drove on.
Gu Yuming held the umbrella and walked a long way to his late mother's grave.
"Mom." Gu Yuming's voice still sounded childish.
He placed the flowers in front of the tombstone and spoke softly, but his tone was firm and cold: "Do you know what they're celebrating at the villa? They're celebrating that she's having a son."
"But you can only stay here in the rain."
"Tell me, why did you marry him? Was it because of me?"
"Promise me, don't give birth to me in the next life, okay?"
It was indeed a chilly rainy day in early spring. The young boy's skin was as pale as paper, with lips red like a ghost's. After uttering those oppressive words, he gently kissed his mother's photo on the tombstone.
He turned, picked up the umbrella, and slowly walked back.
The rain continued to pour heavily, and the graceful, smiling woman in the photo seemed to be drenched in tears.
Qingming Festival is always a gloomy occasion.
Dressed in black for the grave-sweeping, and wearing tall boots due to the rain, Jiang Yan looked extremely cool.
Ji Chu waited for her on the steps through the rain, his clear, moist eyes reflecting the water curtain. Jiang Yan was afraid he'd think of his own parents, so she talked to him as soon as she returned.
She changed clothes and invited him to eat and watch TV.
Jiang Yan rarely took such initiative, usually being the quieter one. Ji Chu blinked his round, childlike eyes, pondered for a while, and reached the answer, sweetly snuggling up to her.
The maid brought freshly steamed green mugwort dumplings, their emerald translucence and plump roundness looking adorable, with a refreshing aroma.
Jiang Yan leaned on the sofa with one hand, reaching for them. The maid casually placed one in her palm.
"Thank you."
Jiang Yan peeled off the outer layer, releasing the rich fragrance. One bite in, first the soft, chewy skin, then the savory, full-bodied filling.
Salted egg yolk with pork floss filling.
Jiang Yan glanced at Ji Chu watching TV, and saw his dumpling had red bean paste filling.
Ji Chu didn't know why she did that, already grinning with his bright eyes and cute little fangs showing.
Jiang Yan pinched his chubby cheeks, turned his head toward the TV, and continued eating her dumpling.
Outside, the rain kept falling, the cold droplets sweeping over the season. But inside the villa, it was warm and cozy with laughter.
The rain grew heavier, and despite the umbrella, Gu Yuming was drenched by the time he entered the living room, immediately earning his father's displeasure. He scolded, "Going out in the rain, look at the mess you've made of yourself!"
Gu Yuming tilted his head up, his tone lazy yet extremely mocking: "Visiting my mom's grave."
His father uttered a meaningless sound, his face reddening. The stepmother hurriedly tugged at his clothes, thinking it was his own mother after all.
The dining table was still strewn with leftovers, crab shells and fish bones scattered across the floor, somehow looking forlorn.
After Qingming Festival, when Jiang Yan saw Gu Yuming again, she noticed his attitude seemed better.
He would accept things she gave him and no longer yell at her. The only downside was that he disliked Ji Chu.
Whenever Ji Chu appeared, Gu Yuming would glare coldly with an irritated expression.
Jiang Yan became the filling between them, having to separate their squabbles during the day and console the crying, sulking Ji Chu when she got home.
Jiang Yan found it troublesome, but also saw hope.
The three of them grew up together, going through elementary and middle school.
Gu Yuming still disliked Ji Chu, and Ji Chu had developed a temper too, always showing his displeasure towards him.
But because of Jiang Yan's presence, they both took a step back.
In front of them, Jiang Yan's temper wasn't exactly great either. Of course, not just in front of them. From kindergarten to middle school to high school, everyone knew this.
Like the latest rumor, a boy from the sports class intentionally made a vulgar joke in front of their school beauty. The next second, her homework was flung out the window.
Jiang Yan raised her clear, beautiful eyes, her tone indifferent: "Want me to get you expelled?"
The boy's curse words stuck in his throat as he scurried down five floors to retrieve the homework.
Yes, this ill-tempered female supporting character Jiang Yan was crowned the school beauty due to her looks. Of course, she knew this was to set the stage for the arrival of the main female lead.
Another Qingming year, after returning from the cemetery, Gu Yuming passed by Jiang Yan and Ji Chu's villa.
This Qingming was exceptionally sunny, with bright sunshine and not a cloud in the sky.
Jiang Yan was sitting on the grass setting up a barbecue grill. Seeing Gu Yuming, she waved at him.