Chapter 34: Chapter 34 The Little Antagonist (2)_1 Chapter 34: Chapter 34 The Little Antagonist (2)_1 Ruan Jiaojiao felt even more awkward now, because there was no water left in the cup. Holding the cup that was bigger than her own face, she didn’t know what to do for a few seconds before she struggled down from the chair and walked to the well at the edge of the courtyard to scoop some water from the bucket. But looking into the bucket, there was no water inside either.
“Haha,” Ruan Jiaojiao laughed awkwardly, “There’s no water left. If you want to drink, you can draw it yourself, can’t you?” She paused before adding, “Never mind, I’ll ask Nanny to draw it for you.” The little antagonist was even smaller than herself—that kid might fall headfirst into the well if he tried to draw water.
Having said this, she held the cup and was about to go to the kitchen to call for Mrs. Ruanlin, but as she stepped up the stairs, she heard Xiu Xi’s lowered voice behind her: “Last time, I saw it.”
“What?” Ruan Jiaojiao turned back.
“Last time, bird, chicken,” Xiu Xi was sparing with words, but the few simple ones were enough to make Ruan Jiaojiao’s heart pound with fear, while on the other hand, she comforted herself thinking she might be overthinking, that he didn’t imply anything else. She turned around, laughing and playing it off, “Haha, really? We must be very lucky, right?”
“This time, the same,” Xiu Xi said again, his tone sharp and clearly not in the mood to joke with Ruan Jiaojiao.
This time, Ruan Jiaojiao thoroughly understood.
Xiu Xi, true to being a little deviant, a villain capable of wreaking havoc—he guessed some unthinkable things just from these three instances!
However, Ruan Jiaojiao would never admit to it, no matter what. If she did, she feared she might be burned to death as a monster.
Nevertheless, it appeared Xiu Xi had no intention of continuing the conversation. After speaking, he fell silent, his gaze occasionally lingering on her, but it seemed it wasn’t her he was looking at, rather it was as if he was looking through her at someone else?
Ruan Jiaojiao couldn’t quite figure out that feeling.
All she felt was her heart pounding in Xiu Xi’s presence, as if someone had peeled away her outer skin and seen her inner soul.
She started to feel uneasy.
Twisting her little head, she mentioned going to see her brother and left for the inner room, where she went to find Ruan Hao.
It wasn’t until lunchtime that she came out with Ruan Hao, and the little antagonist was no longer in the courtyard. Mrs. Ruanlin said he had eaten some quail meat and then left.
“That child is also good, just a pity he has such a stepmother,” Mrs. Ruanlin lamented as she placed the half-eaten quail meat on the table that Xiu Xi had insistently left behind.
Ruan Jiaojiao glanced at the quail meat and thought of Xiu Xi’s words, choosing not to engage in conversation.
Ruan Hao and Ruan Jianguo talked for a bit, and the family began to eat. After the meal, Ruan Hao remembered how Ruan Jiaojiao had been staring blankly at his books in his room earlier, and said to Ruan Jianguo, “Dad, let’s send little sister to school in September.”
The children of the Ruan Family usually started schooling early, especially in Ruan Jianguo’s household, because Shu Jiao was a teacher. When she was still at home, Ruan Jiaojiao started schooling at the age of three. Perhaps she had forgotten some of it by now, but he planned to give her additional lessons during the summer vacation. He believed she could start first grade in September, and if not, attending a preparatory class for a year would be fine, too.
Ruan Jianguo was planning to go up north to find Shu Jiao later in the year, and it would be ideal if Ruan Jiaojiao went to school; it would also save him from worrying about her at home. He nodded and agreed to the idea.
Mrs. Ruanlin, hearing this, smiled and said, “Our Jiaojiao is going to school; that’s really impressive.”
Ruan Jiaojiao felt a bit embarrassed, thinking that Mrs. Ruanlin could really praise her for anything, even going to school.