57. Su Yan’s Original Family
After leaving the western restaurant, Jiang Zhi didn’t rush back to the coffee shop but first rode her bike to drop Qian Qian off at home.
She still did not plan to take Qian Qian to the coffee shop.
Who knows when that person would come to the coffee shop to buy coffee? If Qian Qian happened to run into him and shouted “Dad” in front of Sister Jiang, that scene…
So, the underground father-daughter relationship is openly serialized!
There was also something that troubled her quite a bit, and that was on the way home, Qian Qian kept complaining that she hadn’t played enough with Lele.
Jiang Zhi had to comfort her: next time for sure.
As for whether there would really be a next time, Jiang Zhi evaluated that if there was indeed a next time, it would be the combination of Su Yan and Qian Qian.
She really didn’t want to see Xu You anymore.
Not that she hated him, but it was that kind of lingering awkwardness—two almost strangers, one confessing suddenly, the other rejecting him on the spot, and the next meeting, would they have to pretend nothing happened?
Just thinking about it was awfully awkward, okay.
After all, what did Xu You like about her?
Did he like her being a mom with a husband?
Or did he like her saying in front of the entire crew that he was gay, which made him lose face?
It just didn’t make sense.
“Lalalalalala~”
Suddenly, cheerful humming came from the back seat. After her mom’s assurance, the little girl started giggling again.
Seeing this scene, a surge of unnamed anger rose in Jiang Zhi’s heart.
You’re happy and laughing, but I’m in a position to start an entangling relationship with a big star.
“I have good news for you.”
Jiang Zhi also smiled: “Dad has been super busy recently, so we won’t be able to see him for a while. Are you happy?”
“Eh😟? Eh eh☹️? Eh eh eh eh eh😫!”
Su Ziqian stopped giggling.
————
When they returned to the coffee shop, most of the customers had already left, and the shop was quite empty.
Sister Jiang was sitting alone at her dedicated little game table, typing on her laptop, not sure what she was tinkering with.
“Sister Jiang, what are you busy with?” Jiang Zhi quietly walked up behind her and suddenly spoke.
“Damn!”
Jiang Ruyan jumped, almost spilling her coffee. Once she saw who it was, she patted her chest and exhaled.
“You scared me to death, you know?”
She glared at Jiang Zhi but quickly turned back to her screen: “I’m trying to grab tickets, don’t bother me!”
“Grab tickets?” Jiang Zhi was even more confused.
“Tickets for the match, tomorrow is my main team’s game day, and I want to see it live.”
Tomorrow…
Isn’t she supposed to open the shop tomorrow?
Jiang Zhi opened her mouth to ask, “What about the shop?” but seeing Sister Jiang’s determined demeanor, the answer must have been very clear, so she closed her mouth again.
She changed the question.
“So I’m watching the shop alone tomorrow?”
“Whatever, it’s fine.”
Jiang Ruyan answered quite casually. She had always been so laid-back as a shop manager: “If you don’t come, that’s fine; I’ll give you a day off.”
Look at that! Where can you find such an easy-going boss?!
But it’s probably better to leave it alone.
After all, she didn’t have much to do tomorrow; if she came, she could get a day’s pay, who would say no to free money?
Even though Jiang Zhi’s future with her newly released successful book seemed bright, money was definitely better to have more.
Before the summer vacation ended, she still wanted to save up a bit more.
Jiang Zhi went to the front desk to make herself a cup of lemon tea, and when she came back, she found Sister Jiang still glued to her computer.
She couldn’t help but curiously ask: “Sister Jiang, is your main team the one with Su… the God of L?”
“Of course.”
Jiang Ruyan stretched and the sunlight outlined her graceful figure: “Don’t mention it, sister, the God of L is my dad, okay? Wherever the God of L is, that team is my main team!”
Is it really that exaggerated…
Considering her relationship with Su Yan, Jiang Ruyan’s words made Jiang Zhi’s feelings a bit complicated.
“You really like him, huh?”
“If you knew his story, you would like him too.” Jiang Ruyan said firmly.
Jiang Zhi took a sip of lemon water, chewing on some lemon pulp she purposely left: “Like what?”
“For example, he has achieved amazing results in world competitions all by himself.”
“For example, after winning the championship, in front of all the audience, he told a player who insulted our region, ‘You dog barking like a horse.’ Watching the live broadcast at that time was simply exhilarating.”
“And another example is that whatever team he goes to, that team has a winning appearance.”
Jiang Ruyan recounted with relish but suddenly lowered her voice: “And also… also… um…”
“It’s that his original family was quite poor, right?”
“Eh?”
Jiang Zhi’s action of biting the straw stopped.
“The God of L comes from a single-parent family. When he was very young, his dad abandoned him and his mom.”
Jiang Ruyan spoke with a tone full of compassion.
“To help his mom ease the burden, the God of L started working outside from a young age, and later he felt that school was delaying his ability to earn money, so he simply dropped out and came to Zaoc City to play professionally…”
Jiang Zhi thought for a moment: “So he didn’t finish high school?”
“Isn’t that the main point?”
Jiang Ruyan looked at her with a disappointed expression: “The main point is how strong he is! He came to Zaoc City to fight alone for his mom. Now you understand why so many people like him, right?”
“Got it, got it.”
Jiang Zhi raised her hand in surrender: “I’m just trying to lighten the mood. It feels like Sister Jiang was about to cry if you kept going.”
Su Yan…
Did he really have such a background?
Jiang Zhi thought of Su Yan. In her impression, that guy always had a look that made you want to punch him, always nonchalantly carefree, exuding a lazy air.
So his quick acceptance of Qian Qian and taking on the responsibilities of a father also had to do with his experiences growing up?
Jiang Zhi didn’t know.
She was just guessing.
As a sort-of victim of a similar family background, Jiang Zhi inexplicably felt a sense of resonance.
Compassion for the same suffering?
Or some unspoken mutual understanding?
“Wait.”
Jiang Zhi suddenly caught the key point: “I was just about to ask, how did you fans find out about such private matters?”
“He mentioned it himself in an interview.”
Jiang Ruyan blinked, answering matter-of-factly.
Jiang Zhi: …
Uh…
She really couldn’t picture that scene.
Would Su Yan, with a serious look, face the camera and say, “When I was very young, my mom…”?
Is it real or not?
Is this the same person she knew, who was always goofing around and laughing so much that he made her want to punch him?
“Ah!!!”
A sudden scream interrupted Jiang Zhi’s thoughts.
She looked up in confusion and saw Jiang Ruyan furiously pounding the keyboard. When she turned her head, she had already pouted, her eyes red as she complained: “What should I do, Xiaozhi… I couldn’t get the tickets, boohoo…”
“Then just buy from a scalper.”
Jiang Zhi thought to herself, you, a rich young lady, still worry about not being able to buy what you want?
“But the scalper tickets are so expensive!”
Jiang Ruyan fell back, starting to roll on the ground and sulk: “I don’t care, I don’t care! I just want to see the match!”
“……”
Jiang Zhi sighed wearily.
So terrifying, that’s why she couldn’t understand the psychology of those who idolize stars…
She didn’t know if it was an illusion, but it felt like the longer she knew Sister Jiang, the rarer that woman, who had made her blush in the beginning, became.
How old is this person?
She continued to suggest: “Why not ask Brother Gu?”
As soon as she said this, Jiang Ruyan instantly went quiet, narrowing her eyes and glaring at her dangerously.
“…Forget I said anything.”
Looking at Jiang Ruyan, who was crying and making a fuss again, Jiang Zhi shook her head helplessly, holding her lemon water and retreating to a corner silently. She glanced back at Jiang Ruyan, who was still rolling around, and quietly took out her phone.
Since Sister Jiang treated her so well, she had no reason not to help her.
Zhi: Are you there?
Su Yan didn’t reply.
But Jiang Zhi had a feeling that Su Yan should be there; he was just too lazy to text her back asking what she wanted.
Zhi: Do you have a match tomorrow?
Zhi: Can you get me a ticket?
Yan: You want to go?
See! See! See!
This lazy bum!
Zhi: I’m not going, it’s for a friend.
Yan: Oh.
Oh? Don’t just say “oh”!
Can’t you at least give a definite answer? Jiang Zhi bit her lip, just about to type and ask further, when Su Yan’s reply came again.
He sent her a QR code.
Yan: Let your friend scan this tomorrow.
Zhi: ???
Zhi: Thank you!
Look at this efficiency, my brother Su is amazing!
Having gotten what she wanted, Jiang Zhi happily returned to Jiang Ruyan’s side. She cleared her throat and then held out the QR code from her phone in front of Jiang Ruyan.
“Don’t scream, Sister Jiang, guess what this is!”
Jiang Ruyan: 😟
Jiang Ruyan: 🤨
Jiang Ruyan: 😳
Jiang Ruyan: 🤩
“Wow! Xiaozhi! How did you do it!”
When Jiang Ruyan inquired, Jiang Zhi just smiled lightly and pulled out that classic, unbeatably classic line, skillfully hiding Su Yan’s contribution: “Haha, I have a friend.”
“You’re the best! You must get a raise!”
“Ah? That’s not necessary…”
Willing to give employees a raise but not willing to spend money buying tickets from scalpers? Wow.
Jiang Ruyan, this person…
After forwarding the QR code to Jiang Ruyan, Jiang Zhi was just about to return to the front desk to receive customers when she heard an exclamation from behind: “Huh?”
“Why is it a double ticket?”
“Ah, that’s even better! Xiaozhi, your friend is really amazing! Let’s go watch the match together tomorrow!”
Jiang Zhi: ?
