Being called a beautiful big sister by a pretty little girl made Wang Miaomiao undeniably happy, no matter how strong her heart, as everyone loves beauty.
She smiled with her eyes curved, "My name is Wang Miaomiao, you can just call me Miaomiao. I’m about to go to a restaurant for dinner, and you’re very pretty too, pretty little sister."
"Dinner?" Cheng Xue’s eyes lit up, then she turned to Jiang Yan and said, "Uncle, we’re hungry. Please treat me and Sister Miaomiao to a meal."
This straightforward request was a bit too blunt, and Wang Miaomiao quickly shook her head at Jiang Yan, "I don’t need to, I’ll eat by myself."
A light flashed in Jiang Yan’s sharp eyes, but he kept his incredibly handsome face composed and said calmly, "Meeting by chance is fate, let’s go together."
After speaking, he took the lead and started walking towards the restaurant.
Cheng Xue was all smiles upon hearing this and pulled Wang Miaomiao along, "My name is Cheng Xue, you can call me Xiao Xue, Sister Miaomiao."
Wang Miaomiao was helplessly dragged away by the little girl, unable to refuse.
Jiang Yan directly requested a small private room. After the three of them sat down, he pushed the menu towards Wang Miaomiao, indicating she should order. How could Wang Miaomiao feel comfortable doing that? She shook her head and declined.
Jiang Yan laughed, "Gangzi and I have been through thick and thin together. Since you’re his sister-in-law, don’t be polite with me. We’re all family."
"Though you say so, still... the guest follows the host, you should order." Wang Miaomiao smiled politely.
Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow, his eyes flickered, but he didn’t insist.
"Sister Miaomiao, why are you eating alone? Where’s your family?" Cheng Xue, sitting next to Wang Miaomiao, curiously inquired.
Wang Miaomiao wasn’t offended; the little girl was quite charming, and she was happy to chat with her. Otherwise, the atmosphere would have been awkward without any conversation.
"I’m studying at Provincial High School. We had a break this afternoon, so I’m out to treat myself a bit." Wang Miaomiao winked at her, complaining lightly, "The cafeteria food is really awful."
Cheng Xue’s eyes lit up, and she complained empathetically, "Our school’s food is awful too. The teachers don’t allow waste, and if you can’t finish, you’d be punished with running or cleaning the toilets." Cheng Xue attends a school managed by the military area, with some militarized management.
She didn’t want to continue high school there, so she ran away.
"Ah? That’s terrible. You poor thing." Wang Miaomiao pitied her and ruffled her hair, criticizing, "That school is so inhumane, making terrible food and blaming students for not finishing it. It’s truly awful."
"Hmm..." Cheng Xue found a kindred spirit, "To avoid punishment, I have to ask them to give me less food each time, but they never listen. They’ve all been bribed by my brother, ignore my wishes, and treat me like a pig. It’s really hard for me, being punished to run every day."
The little girl said this while her eyes turned red as if she had suffered greatly.
Jiang Yan listened to her words, and his forehead vein couldn’t help but throb a few times. What nonsense about being punished for not finishing food, running is a regular training activity at school, and the little girl just wants to avoid it, making up excuses.
Wang Miaomiao believed her, glaring angrily at Jiang Yan and comforting Cheng Xue, "Sigh, it’s tough for you. What grade are you in? After graduating from middle school, transfer to a better high school and you won’t have to endure such torment."
"Sister Miaomiao, I’m already in high school. It’s the same school, just moving up; I was forced to attend. It’s so difficult." Cheng Xue sighed in distress, almost wishing to pound her chest.
"Wow, you’re in high school too? How old are you? You look much younger than me. This face, full of collagen, how do you maintain it..." Wang Miaomiao was envious and couldn’t help but touch Cheng Xue’s cheek.
"I’m fourteen, started school early." Cheng Xue said excitedly, "You’re also in high school, can I transfer to your school to be classmates with you?"
"This? It doesn’t really matter what you say to me, does it?" Wang Miaomiao glanced at Jiang Yan. She didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm, but she felt this idea might just remain an idea.
"Sigh..." Cheng Xue also looked at Jiang Yan with pleading eyes, tears threatening to fall, making her look pitiful.
But some people have hearts made of stone!
Seeing Cheng Xue pleading pitifully and the person opposite still unmoved, Wang Miaomiao thought the man was too insensitive. She thought for a moment, got up, and sat beside Jiang Yan, her words held back...
Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow, "What do you want to say?"
"What you’re doing... isn’t right." Wang Miaomiao hesitated slightly, glanced at Cheng Xue, and seeing her hopeful eyes, summoned the courage to say, "Children should be given the respect they deserve, and their wishes should be considered a little, right? Don’t always think that because you’re an elder, you have the right to make all their decisions, and they must listen to your advice. It’s not good; it stifles a child’s independence of character. Don’t always use parental authority to suppress and scare her; she should have the right to decide her own matters too..."
Jiang Yan silently watched her; clearly still young herself, yet here she was earnestly arguing for someone else she didn’t know. Jiang Yan offered her a cup of tea.
Wang Miaomiao took it naturally and drank it down in one gulp, "Thank you. Where was I?"
"You were saying she has the right to make her own decisions."
"Yes, exactly." Wang Miaomiao realized she might have been too outspoken, wondering if she had been too impulsive and caused annoyance.
Glancing at Jiang Yan, seeing no particular signs of irritation, and looking at Cheng Xue, who was gazing at her with admiration...
Wang Miaomiao felt awkward, "Come, Xiao Xue, talk properly with your uncle. He’s a reasonable adult; discuss with him earnestly..." she said, then moved back to her original seat.
"Uncle, I want to go to school with Sister Miaomiao now." Cheng Xue looked eagerly at Jiang Yan.
Wang Miaomiao thought her words were misleading and quickly corrected, "You don’t need to be with me; as long as the school is good and doesn’t have those strange rules, it will be fine."
Cheng Xue then looked at her, "Sister Miaomiao, don’t you want to be classmates with me?"
"Uh..." Wang Miaomiao gave an awkward smile, feeling like she had invited trouble for herself, "I do."
If she said no, she believed the girl across from her would surely cry.
"Sister Miaomiao wants to, uncle." Cheng Xue’s face instantly turned from about to cry to beaming with joy.
Jiang Yan looked at the two of them and saw the obvious hint of annoyance on Wang Miaomiao’s face, feeling a rare, inexplicable sense of amusement.
He didn’t think much about it, just found the little girl cute.
For his niece, he frowned in frustration, "I need to discuss this with your father."
"Yay... uncle, I knew you were the best." Cheng Xue quickly flattered him, "With uncle in charge, nothing can stand in your way."