This news reached Jiang Nanshu when,
Lu Qingyan had already left.
It was said he went to further his studies and might not return for two years.
Looking at her WeChat conversation with Lu Qingyan,
he had deleted her, and neither of them had re-added the other as a friend.
In her moment of hesitation, her phone "dinged" with a notification.
It was a new friend request.
Jiang Nanshu added him the next second.
The other party was typing.
Jiang Nanshu waited for almost three minutes.
Then he sent a message.
Lu Qingyan: "I’ve gone abroad, and that compensation you mentioned, let’s turn it into a condition that you can meet."
Jiang Nanshu thought it over carefully, that’s fine, just one condition.
Jiang Nanshu: "Think it through and tell me, have a smooth journey."
Lu Qingyan didn’t reply to her again.
Jiang Nanshu stared at the chat window, also accepting the fact that she might not be able to return.
Lu Qingyan’s fondness for her ultimately stopped at 70%, without moving in the slightest.
It seemed was it for her and Lu Qingyan; he couldn’t get past the emotional barrier in his heart, and because she had hurt him before, guilt arose in her, preventing her from facing him like she used to.
Was there love between them?
Jiang Nanshu watched the Snow Rose on the windowsill, slowly melting under the sun’s rays.
There had been a love, abnormal, filled with use, an unhealthy love.
Life returned to normal.
Jiang Nanshu crammed for a while and barely scraped by with passing grades.
She found it agonizingly difficult; broadcast journalism was really tough.
This major was not like other departments that relied on rote memorization.
Meanwhile, Xu Xi appeared to be much more serious.
Because her dream was to become a radio host.
On the day of the winter break, Jiang Nanshu bought tickets to go back to Qianzhou with Xu Xi, which was Xu Xi’s hometown.
Xu Xi said her hometown had beautiful mountains and water, the locals were warm, and everything was nice.
This wasn’t Xu Xi’s first time taking a friend home.
But it was the longest stay she had hosted.
Jiang Nanshu felt envious.
Xu Xi had such a good nature, able to make so many friends.
Even though Xu Xi assured her that she loved only her, Jiang Nanshu just chuckled without saying anything.
This woman really knew how to PUA.
But she had eaten enough of these cakes and was already immune.
Xu Xi took her to taste all the specialities of Qianzhou, but Jiang Nanshu’s favorite was still the local lamb noodle soup, a bowl in the dead of winter could keep her warm for a long time.
Xu Xi’s family was very warm and kind.
In front of them, Xu Xi was carefree, even like a child.
Jiang Nanshu felt envious again.
She didn’t have such warm memories.
No, that’s not right, there were some.
Her foster family had treated her very well.
Jiang Nanshu planned to go back to accompany Mrs. Ji after this trip; she was going to have surgery.
She hadn’t yet decided when to return to Beijing.
Yang Jiashu, Yan Yidan, and Jiang Yunchuan all came.
They said it was for a vacation.
But they didn’t stay at Xu Xi’s place; instead, they booked a hotel for a week and were staying there.
The group first gathered at a hotpot restaurant.
It had been a while since Jiang Nanshu saw Yan Yidan.
Her hair had grown a lot, previously a bob at ear length, it had reached near her shoulders.
"What has Sister Yan been busy with these days?" Jiang Nanshu asked as she looked at her.
Yan Yidan smiled, revealing her pearly white teeth, "I’ve been busy dealing with a few scumbags, so I wasn’t around during the time you broke off your engagement. How about it? Have you moved on?"
As Yan Yidan finished speaking, the whole place went quiet.
Even Xu Xi didn’t dare to breathe too loudly.
Nobody dared bring up Jiang Nanshu’s broken engagement during this time.
Jiang Yunchuan was making faces at her.
Yan Yidan pretended not to see it, "Oh, I heard that the useless guy even fled the country?"
Jiang Yunchuan couldn’t hold back and tugged at her clothes.
Yan Yidan swatted his hand away, "What are you doing? Having a seizure?"
Jiang Yunchuan: "..."
Grinding his teeth, he said, "Can you please watch what you say depending on the situation!"
He spoke up for Lu Qingyan, "What do you mean fled? Brother Yan just went abroad for further studies, he’s not staying away forever!"
Yan Yidan curled her lip, after getting familiar with them she couldn’t be bothered to keep up her gentle facade, which was only for strangers anyway.
She beckoned Jiang Nanshu over with a radiant smile, "Men are just for fun, everywhere you look there’s another one. But sisters who can hold you in their heart are few—without a man, you still have me, think it over."
Jiang Yunchuan: "???"
Jiang Nanshu blinked, "Ah?"
Jiang Yunchuan quickly covered Yan Yidan’s mouth, "What nonsense are you spouting? My sister’s orientation is normal."
Jiang Nanshu then fell into contemplation, "Actually, it could be abnormal."
Jiang Nanshu burst into laughter, "Haha, just kidding, don’t be so tense."
Xu Xi was teased into laughing, "Jiangjiang, you can even make jokes, scared us to death."
Yan Yidan raised an eyebrow, pushing Jiang Yunchuan away, "See? Without men, Nannan seems so much brighter."
She shook her head, "Men only slow down our speed to draw swords."
The group had a lively meal together.
It was only then that Jiang Nanshu learned, during this time Yan Yidan had been dealing with the Ke Family, inheriting the company shares Mr. Yan left her after his death, and now she also had significant say as a shareholder in the Yan Family Company.
The Jiang Family was lucky, nothing surfaced.
Thanks to Jiang Yisen not doing any despicable acts.
Because of Song Shizhao, the Song Family’s company was sealed, with illegal assets nearly one billion seized.
The Song Family went bankrupt overnight, and Old Sir Song was rushed to the hospital with a sudden heart attack. Even after being saved, he could only lie in bed, his life hanging by medicinal support.
Bao Yan Company faced crisis due to Yan Yidan’s manipulation behind the scenes, the Yan Mountain that was meant to be a ploy against Jiang Yisen was bought by his unthinking cousin, and now the land was found to have substances unsuitable for habitation, needing scientific research and effectively rendered useless for construction.
Cheng Rui, who was in cahoots with Bao Yan, was also in hot water.
Bao Yan, fearful of police discovery of his grey industries, pushed Cheng Rui to the forefront as a scapegoat. Now Cheng Rui faced not only the danger of prison but also his company was in a precarious state.
And only Cheng An, crippled and incompetent, was holding on temporarily.
Bankruptcy was just a few steps away.
These were Yan Yidan’s issues, though, as she sought revenge on the Ke Family.
At most, Jiang Nanshu could offer her some strategies and plans.
Together, they climbed mountains, went to the snow resort in Qianzhou to ski, took many photos documenting life, joined the bustling market crowds, and watched the lively dragon dances of the upcoming New Year.
Jiang Nanshu stayed with Xu Xi for almost half a month.
Before leaving, she gave gifts to every family member.
Xu Xi’s mother clung to her hand, stuffing freshly steamed buns into her embrace, her crow’s feet showing as she smiled, "Take the gifts with you. My XiXi told me you’re her friend and you’ve helped her at school, we don’t need your gifts. Next time, feel free to visit for as long as you like. These buns I just made are still warm. Eat them while they’re hot on your way."