Hints
After Shen Wanying ordered dinner, Jiang Jin looked at the cup of mushroom soup the waiter brought and asked, “Since when do you like mushrooms?”
“Well ……” Shen Wanying hesitated, “I’ve been getting angry recently, so I’ve been using it to clear the heat it generates.”
Jiang Jin shot her a few glances and turned to Huo Cheng, “Do you like mushrooms?”
Huo Cheng: “Mm.”
“…… “Shen Wanying’s ears burned a little.
Jiang Jin looked at her meaningfully before she picked up a bowl and spoon to help her with a bowl of soup, “Then you should drink more. To help clear the heat.”
“…… Thank you, Auntie.”
When dinner was finished, Jiang Jin drove Huo Cheng home first, before driving Shen Wanying back unhurriedly. She looked at the girl sitting in the back through the rearview mirror and said to her, “Huo Cheng looks pretty good, handsome and smart, but he’s been abroad, do you know if he’s ever had a girlfriend overseas?”
Shen Wanying subconsciously avoided her gaze and stared out the window at the night scene. “What are you asking about this for?”
“It’s important to know these kinds of things; it’s not good if he’s a playboy,” Jiang Jin said, shaking her head. “But as detached as he is, it’s unlikely.”
Shen Wanying didn’t respond.
Jiang Jin continued, “Tell me frankly, do you have a crush on him?”
“…… Auntie, is it really okay for you to say this to a high school student?”
“What’s wrong with talking about this with a high school student? High school students are 17 or 18 years old. Developing feelings at this age is normal.”
Even though her niece remained silent, she kept the conversation going.
“What are you going to do in college? If you want to be together, it’s better to try to get into a college in the same city.”
At this, Shen Wanying began to ponder on this particular issue. She wanted to go to university in France because their perfume design program was outstanding, but Huo Cheng wanted to study finance, and the most suitable place was not in France.
She was quiet for a while, as if thinking, then suddenly asked Jiang Jin, “Auntie, do you know about Huo Cheng’s mother?”
Jiang Jin didn’t expect her to ask this question out of the blue and froze for a moment: “You mean Fang Ke?”
Previously, when she was looking for information about Huo Cheng, she had heard something about Fang Ke. His mother had died at a young age, so it was still a bit sad to think about.
“I know a bit, why?”
“Well …… back then his mother was involved in a car accident in Sanqin Bay. Do you know who was in charge of the case at the time?”
“How would I know that?” Jiang Jin gave her a surprised look, “What are you looking for this person for?”
“Well, I just want to ask him some details about the accident. Can you ask around for me?” Shen Wanying had considered it carefully. She and Huo Cheng were both high school students, thus having very limited human connections. It wasn’t like they could just ask any adult for help with this matter.
After thinking about it, it was her aunt who was the most suitable.
“Are you guys looking into the accident back then?” Jiang Jin asked.
Shen Wanying did not give her a direct answer. “Can you help me look into it? Don’t tell my mother and the others.”
Jiang Jin considered for a moment and nodded, “Okay, I’ll have someone ask around for me, but we may not find anything of interest.”
“Okay, thank you, Auntie.”
Jiang Jin and Jiang Yu were different. Although they were biological sisters, they were as different as night and day. Jiang Jin was unconventional in her approach to the world, an approach that was supremely unpopular with her sister. Every time they met, Jiang Yu, as her older sister, would try to instruct her.
But Jiang Jin was not Shen Wanying, and she didn’t care for Jiang Yu’s approval.
She could not convince Jiang Yu not to put too much pressure on her daughter, so she could only help her in some small ways.
Such was the case with that sweet shop. Jiang Jin knew that going on like this was not the way to go, and she was worried that one day the girl would break down under the stress she was subjected to. This time when they met, however, she found that Shen Wanying was much more relaxed than before.
Was it because of Huo Cheng?
Thinking about some of her own experiences, Jiang Jin couldn’t help but sigh. How lucky she was to have met the right person at such a young age.
Upon her arrival home, Shen Wanying greeted Jiang Yu and Shen Qian, and went back to her room to do her homework. Jiang Jin had been staying here for the past few days, and wanted to follow Shen Wanying upstairs, but Jiang Yu stopped her before she could take a step.
Jiang Jin admired Jiang Yu; it was not easy to criticise someone so persistently for so many years.
Alone in her room, Shen Wanying logged into the voice chat room she and Huo Cheng had been using.
Huo Cheng was already online. When he saw that her avatar had logged on, had asked, “You home?”
“Mm.” Shen Wanying answered while spreading out her unfinished exam paper, “How many questions have you done?”
“All…but I can do another set.”
“…… Alright.” Shen Wanying uncapped her pen and looked at the maths questions on the test paper, “By the way, I just asked my Aunt to help us inquire about the police back then, do you mind?”
Huo Cheng stared. “Your Aunt?”
“Well, she has more friends. She might know someone from the police station.” Shen Wanying said, then added, “Don’t worry, she won’t tell anyone.”
He knew that she was very close to her Aunt; Jiang Jin kept all her little secrets: “Well, thanks.”
“You’re welcome, I was afraid you’d be upset.”
“Why?”
“Uh ……”
“I know you’re trying to help me.” Huo Cheng’s voice was gentle, “I’m not upset.”
Shen Wanying’s ears reddened again. Luckily, no one could see it at the moment.
Faint sounds of an argument could be heard coming from downstairs, it looked like her mother and her sister were having a quarrel.
Huo Cheng also heard a bit of commotion and opened his mouth to ask her, “Is there something wrong on your side?”
“No, it’s my mother and my Aunt.” Shen Wanying said, “My mother has never liked my Aunt’s lifestyle, but she can’t control her, so……”
“Mm.” Huo Cheng responded softly, “By the way, I want to go and see my mother this week as I mentioned to you before ……”
“Well, I remember, let’s go there on Saturday.”
“Good.”
“You said last time that your mum likes champagne roses, right? I’ll order a bouquet at the florist tomorrow.”
Huo Cheng lips curled into a faint smile. “No, I’ll prepare them.”
“Let me do it. I can’t visit her for the first time and go empty-handed.”
The corner of Huo Cheng’s mouth curved up some more. He would let her buy the roses.
T/N: Thanks Bright Eyes for your help on yet another chapter! I’m actually so glad Wanying has someone like Jiang Jin in her corner, T_T Jiang Yu sounds like such a stressful parent to have. Honestly, after all the drama and the revelations, this is kind of a nice little respite. Surely there will be more in the coming chapters, but in the meantime, I’m just going to enjoy concerned Jiang Jin and Huo-Shen being just adorable enough that I yell a lil on the inside. Who’s ready for that next grave visit? I know I am. See you in Chapter 61!