Volume One, Chapter 94: Do You Truly Miss Me? Hmm

Early morning.

From the kitchen came the crisp rhythm of a knife chopping. Pan Lanzhi had gotten up early to prepare dumpling filling and start making dumplings. Senior high students usually rose at dawn; at half past six, Jiang Ru stepped out of her room, heard the sounds from the kitchen, and ran in. Seeing her mother busy with dumplings, she looked curious. “Mom, are you off today? Why not sleep a bit more? Why are you making dumplings so early?”

Normally at this hour, her mother would have already left for work.

Pan Lanzhi beamed. “I switched shifts with someone today. Your brother came home last night.”

“My brother’s back?” Jiang Ru was stunned for a moment, then immediately darted toward Jiang Yu’s room.

“Hey, don’t wake him—he got in late!” Pan Lanzhi caught Jiang Ru by the collar. “Eat your breakfast and go to school. You can see your brother at lunch!”

Jiang Ru looked displeased. She’d hoped to wake her brother with a grand flourish, but it seemed that plan was foiled. All she could do was eat her dumplings and head off to school.

It was nearly ten when Jiang Yu slowly opened his eyes, waking from an exceptionally restful sleep. He got up to find his mother bustling around the room.

“Mom.”

Hearing her son’s voice, Pan Lanzhi smiled. “Awake? Go wash up, I’ll cook you some dumplings!”

At the table, Jiang Yu bit into a dumpling. Its savory aroma masked any trace of meatiness; he followed it with a bite of raw garlic.

“Mom, where’s Dad?”

“Gone to work.”

“Why don’t you and Dad just retire? I can support the family now. You don’t have to worry about Ru’s tuition either.”

“We’re not even fifty yet—what’s the rush? I know you care about us, but we’re still up to the task!” Pan Lanzhi watched her son wolf down dumplings, her smile gentle.

“Slow down, or you’ll burn yourself!”

Jiang Yu took a sip of dumpling soup, washing everything down perfectly. As his hunger eased, his mind began to work. Suddenly, he remembered something and darted back to his room.

“Mom, here.”

Pan Lanzhi was tidying up the dishes and didn’t turn around. “What is it?”

“A bank card.”

At those words, Pan Lanzhi looked over. “This is…”

Jiang Yu smiled. “There’s one million in it—what I’ve earned from work these past weeks.”

“O-one million?” Pan Lanzhi was stunned. “Son, you only graduated two months ago. Be honest with me, you haven’t done anything illegal, have you?”

To Pan Lanzhi, a million was a sum she and Jiang Anfu could never hope to earn in a lifetime. In this fourth-tier city, you could buy two homes outright and still have money left over.

So much money, earned in just two months since graduation—how could she not be scared?

Jiang Yu gave a wry smile. “It’s from being on a show. Nothing illegal.”

“As long as it’s legal.” Pan Lanzhi patted her chest, still reeling from the shock of her son making a million in such a short time. She noticed the empty dumpling platter. “Want me to make you some more?”

“I’m full.” Jiang Yu took her hand and placed the bank card in it. “Don’t worry, Mom, every cent is clean. You and Dad can use it however you want!”

“Son, you should save it for yourself—for when you get married. I have enough.”

“What about Ru?”

“Raising Ru is your father’s and my responsibility, not yours. If you can take care of yourself, that’s all I could hope for.”

Jiang Yu scratched his head. After all his efforts, his mother still wouldn’t take it. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. “Mom, hasn’t Dad always wanted a car? How about I use the money to buy him a million-yuan car?”

At that, Pan Lanzhi refused outright.

“What for? Isn’t that electric bike in the yard a car? A million for a car? He’s just an old boar—what would he do with that kind of luxury?”

“Then, how about a new house?”

“We’re living just fine here. Why buy another? You should keep it—houses in Jiangxia are expensive!”

“If you won’t take it, then I’ll just go out and spend it! Either a car for Dad or a new house!”

Seeing her son so insistent, Pan Lanzhi had no choice but to accept the card. “Alright, I’ll hold onto it—save it for when you get married.”

Jiang Yu didn’t press further; as long as his mother accepted it, he was satisfied.

“Speaking of marriage, have you found someone yet? I remember you dated a girl named Zhao Yiyi—you even brought her home. How are things now?”

“We broke up. She left with a rich man.” Jiang Yu replied casually between bites of dumplings.

As he spoke, he recalled that his predecessor had indeed brought Zhao Yiyi home once, causing quite a stir among the relatives. But after that visit, Zhao Yiyi’s attitude changed. It didn’t matter anymore.

Pan Lanzhi paused, then sighed. “It’s alright. My son’s so outstanding now—it’s her loss. So, is there anyone else you like?”

Jiang Yu just smiled, not answering.

Just then, his WeChat began to buzz incessantly.

He checked his phone.

Su Muyu had added him to a small group of four.

In a spacious penthouse apartment, Su Muyu struggled on the bed. “You’re all bullies!”

Pressed against her was a sultry, elegant woman. “Girls, are we all in?”

“We’re in! We’re in!” Fang Shanshan and Tong Yuan excitedly fiddled with Su Muyu’s phone.

At last, freed from their grasp, Su Muyu regained her dignity. But now, the other three had lost all interest in her—their attention was wholly on Jiang Yu.

“Hello! You’re the famous Jiang Yu! We’re Su Muyu’s childhood best friends!”

Jiang Yu was a bit surprised as he read the messages. He stood. “Mom, I’ll be in my room for a bit.”

“Alright, go ahead,” Pan Lanzhi nodded.

Back in his room, Jiang Yu frowned, eyeing the group chat. Su Muyu’s best friends—judging by their backgrounds, they were all well-off heiresses. Why had Su Muyu pulled him into this wealthy girls’ group?

Out of courtesy, he replied, “Hello.”

Disheveled, Su Muyu scrambled up from the bed and snatched her phone, on the verge of tears as she watched her three best friends teasing Jiang Yu.

“Superstar, Xiaoyu said you’ve gone home. When are you coming back to Jiangxia? Our Xiao Yu misses you—she says she can’t wait to stick close to you!”

Seeing that message, Su Muyu was mortified. “You lunatics! What nonsense are you spouting?”

Jiang Yu, reading that line, found himself at a loss for words.

“You’ve stolen our best friend’s heart—aren’t you going to treat us to a meal?”

Jiang Yu replied, a little embarrassed, “I’m still at home, but I’ll treat you all when I’m back in a few days!”

Suddenly, a message popped up: “The group owner has disbanded this chat.”

Seeing this, Jiang Yu couldn’t help but laugh. Su Muyu finally took action!

Meanwhile, the three wild women shouted, “Xiaoyu, how could you disband the group before I added him on WeChat?”

But Su Muyu had already fled.

Safe at last, she glanced at her phone and sent a message.

“I’ve disbanded the group. Ignore them—they’re all crazy.”

“Is what they said true? Do you miss me?” On impulse, Jiang Yu sent a blunt message.

Su Muyu’s heart trembled as she read it, but she didn’t reply. She simply set her phone aside.

And yet, as she did so, for reasons she couldn’t explain, she softly murmured,

“Mm.”