Wang Miaomiao was telling the truth; the injury on her face was indeed the most serious.
Jiang Yan didn’t believe it at all, though. He knew Wang Miaomiao’s capabilities and was convinced that his little girl had suffered greatly. Those thugs deserved to die.
"Hmm, next time you encounter such a situation, don’t try to be a hero," Jiang Yan said flatly. He then turned to Cheng Xue, his tone becoming stern, "Especially you—impulsive, reckless, foolishly brave..."
"Uncle..." Cheng Xue scrunched up her face, protesting pitifully, "I wasn’t, I was being brave and fearless for a just cause!"
"Hmph... you got yourself all injured over such a small thing, and you still have the nerve to talk," Jiang Yan reprimanded sternly, "From now on, be more mindful, and stop doing things beyond your capability."
Jiang Yan’s tone was too harsh, and Cheng Xue, sensing this, didn’t dare talk back and meekly conceded, "I know."
She said she knew, but in her heart, she was not convinced.
Wang Miaomiao found it a bit awkward listening to this; she felt like he was indirectly referring to her.
In the front seat, Jiang Huilan wished she could curl her whole body into a ball so her little uncle wouldn’t notice her, but unfortunately...
"And you, Huilan," Jiang Yan’s voice boomed in her ears, startling her, "Yes, I’m here."
Jiang Yan observed her tense posture and panicked expression, looking obediently ready for reprimand. He couldn’t help but sigh; this child was really too timid.
"You are an adult now; you should have your own judgment in doing things. Don’t just follow advice from unreliable people all day long," Jiang Yan said, making Cheng Xue and Wang Miaomiao feel like they were the unreliable people he was referring to.
"Sigh, think more when you encounter things," Jiang Yan then turned to praise Wang Miaomiao, "Miaomiao, you did well before, contacting the armed forces and decisively calling for help knowing someone was secretly colluding. Very good. In the future, you two should listen to Miaomiao’s opinions more. However... you were a bit reckless afterward; it would have been better to get more people to help."
In fact, Jiang Yan was still pleased with Wang Miaomiao’s performance this time, but the injury she sustained at the end still made him classify her as unreliable.
But among these three, she was the most capable and mature, just needed more tempering.
The car drove steadily and soon reached the camp.
The main reason Jiang Yan came over this time was to see how they were adapting; now that he had seen and said what needed to be said, he wasn’t going in. "Xiao Xue, Huilan, you two go in first. Miaomiao, stay for a moment; I still have something to discuss with you."
Cheng Xue’s eyes lit up, looking at her little uncle with a face full of an ambiguous smile as she bounced away with the confused Jiang Huilan.
Jiang Huilan was perplexed, not understanding the looks exchanged among them.
"Xiao Xue, you..." She didn’t even know what to ask.
"Hmm? What’s up?" Cheng Xue absentmindedly replied, glancing back from time to time to see how Jiang Yan and Wang Miaomiao were doing.
Seeing the two standing there, one tall and one short, talking, she thought they looked quite matched.
Jiang Huilan, noticing her constant backward glances, asked curiously, "Why do you keep looking at Uncle and Miaomiao..."
"Don’t you think they look great together?" Cheng Xue blurted out, suddenly realizing what she said and hurriedly covering her mouth. She scolded herself for being so careless and letting out her inner thoughts.
Jiang Huilan was obviously shocked by her words, "What, what did you say? What do you mean?"
Cheng Xue was annoyed, but since she had already slipped, she decided to just spill it all, "It’s exactly what you think. My little uncle, your little uncle, likes Sister Miaomiao. In the future, she’s going to be my little aunt and your aunt. Got it?"
She had long forgotten Jiang Yan’s warning not to talk recklessly in front of Wang Miaomiao. Besides, she wasn’t telling Wang Miaomiao, Sister Hui Lan was her confidante, she could say it.
However, she still reminded, "Don’t let it slip. Sister Miaomiao doesn’t know that little uncle likes her yet."
Jiang Huilan, in a daze, clearly didn’t hear her reminder, only dwelling on her own thoughts.
Wang Miaomiao becoming her aunt? An aunt younger than her. Oh my god... she might need some time to digest this.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yan took out an envelope and handed it to Wang Miaomiao.
"What’s this?" Wang Miaomiao curiously opened it, her eyes lighting up with surprise, "Money?" She eagerly counted it; a total of three hundred and sixty bucks—a windfall for her.
Seeing her so visibly elated, Jiang Yan felt exceptionally pleased as well. It was worth all his efforts for her, even the favors he owed others, "Your art book has been published by the army’s publishing house, and this is your reward money. Chief Editor Liu said that you should keep sending him four books a month; the address is in the envelope."
"Brother Jiang, thank you." Wang Miaomiao knew he had been very good to her; her heart was filled with gratitude and a bit of unease.
When someone is good to you, you have to show appreciation, but she really didn’t have the means to do anything for him yet.
"No need to be so formal; there’s nothing to thank. It’s because you have talent and draw well," Jiang Yan downplayed her gratitude and asked with concern, "As long as you’re alright. Your injuries, do they hurt much... sigh..."
Wang Miaomiao, hearing him ask about her injuries again, felt too tired to argue. Since denying it yielded no result, she might as well not argue. He only believed what he saw and heard.
So Wang Miaomiao didn’t rebut, just smiled and said, "It doesn’t hurt anymore, almost all healed."
"Well, that’s good." Jiang Yan nodded, noticing that her smile tugged at her injury, making her expression stiff for a moment, yet she still said she was fine—sigh... he couldn’t do anything about her.
Checking the time, it was about time for him to leave. He had sneaked out time from his busy schedule today and couldn’t stay long; there were still a heap of matters awaiting him.
Moreover, now there was one more thing: this case, he intended to oversee personally. Those who hit him would be taught a lesson. Otherwise... was he just to let it pass?
Before leaving, he couldn’t resist rubbing her head gently. The sensation was smooth and addictive, "Be good in the army. As for that thug who hit you, don’t worry, I’ll take care of it for you. I have to leave now; you go on inside."
Wang Miaomiao felt her mind blanking, her cheeks reddening, her eyes dazed. Being rubbed on the head... was that okay...
Upon hearing him tell her to go inside, she suddenly felt a sense of relief and replied in a stupor, "Oh, oh..."
Jiang Yan watched her leave before getting into the car himself, saying to Xiao Liu, "Let’s go..."
It wasn’t until Jiang Yan’s car started driving away that Wang Miaomiao realized and turned around, watching the direction the car disappeared in for a long while.