Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Tang Qianmiao had taken a call and now found herself in the housing zone opposite the school’s main entrance. She followed the path in and came to the third unit 302, and knocked on the door.
The door opened with a creak. Behind it was a girl about her age.
The girl did not fully open the door. She had an odd expression on her face. “You’re here.”
“I’m looking for Teacher,” Tang Qianmiao informed.
“Xiao Cai, is that Qianmiao?” A woman wearing an apron appeared.
With that, Lin Xiaocai had no choice but to open the door to let Tang Qianmiao in.
Tang Qianmiao walked straight in without paying the girl any further attention. She walked up to the woman and said, “Teacher, happy birthday.”
Liao Yan took her hand and led her to a seat. “Let me have a good look at you. Well, well, still as pretty as ever. It looks like the prettiest girl in our affiliated school is about to change.”
The entire time, Lin Xiaocai sat on the arm of the sofa with a strange expression. She twitched her mouth at the scene and seemed very displeased.
Taking out a box, Tang Qianmiao held it out. “Teacher, a gift for you.”
“I’m happy enough that you can come. There’s no need to bring a gift.” Liao Yan took the girl’s hand with misty eyes. She looked rather emotional.
She was the teacher-in-charge of Tang Qianmiao’s class during the second year of high school. Later on, she was transferred to the affiliated school.
Tang Qianmiao had been living in the temple all alongーshe knew about this and pitied the child. Hence, she had often taken Tang Qianmiao to her own home for short stays and treated the girl like her own daughter.
It had been almost a year since she had been transferred and she missed Tang Qianmiao terribly. The moment she heard that the girl was also transferring to the same school, she was elated.
“Teacher, you can open it to take a look. I hope you like it.”
Liao Yan laughed and nodded, then proceeded to open the gift. A pair of brilliant, glittering pearl earrings came into view.
Liao Yan’s smile vanished.
As an antique lover, she could immediately tell what this was.
“Aren’t these… the auspicious eastern sea pearl earrings that were being auctioned off recently? Qianmiao, how did you…”
Lin Xiaocai interrupted, “Mom, did you really think these are the real McCoy? One look and you can tell that they are good quality imitations. I heard that the real pair was auctioned off for 300 million. How could Tang Qianmiao afford them?”
Liao Yan frowned when she heard these words. “Xiaocai, what nonsense are you speaking. Go to the kitchen and see if the soup is done cooking.”
Having been admonished, Lin Xiaocai pouted and went to the kitchen.
Liao Yan treated this as an imitation object and did not pursue the matter, concerned that it may hurt Tang Qianmiao’s feelings.
“You are too considerate, child. After we’ve had something to eat, I’ll take you outside for a walk. You haven’t been here long so I assume you’re still not familiar with the area.”
As she had some personal business to attend to, Tang Qianmiao politely declined.
It was apparent that Liao Yan was reluctant to let her go. She saw the girl to the door and walked back into the house only after the girl had disappeared into the distance.
Just as she returned, Lin Xiaocai said, “Mom, I remember Tang Qianmiao had awful results in school. How on earth did she get into the affiliated school?”
She herself had worked so hard, getting into the school was a matter of course. But Tang Qianmiao on the other hand was not a conscientious person. So how did she gain entry?
Liao Yan looked at her daughter with a dissatisfied expression. “Look at you. What do you want me to say? You’re so grown-up, but spare no thought for other people’s feelings. Don’t you ever speak that way again in front of Qianmiao.”
“What’s wrong with how I spoke? You’re always on her side! Am I not your real daughter? Huh!”
Liao Yan sighed as her daughter flounced out of the room in a huff.
——-
Upon walking out of the little housing zone, Tang Qianmiao got into the car. Before she had made the trip to deliver the present, Black Chicken had called her to say that an issue came up with the company’s supplier.
Soon enough, the car arrived in a private villa on the outskirts of Beijing. The fountain outside the gate created a faint rainbow under the scorching sun.
Tang Qianmiao walked into the restaurant and ordered some food before she started eating at a leisurely pace. Standing by the side was a middle-aged man. He was the company’s Project Manager and was giving her a verbal report.