Solitary Toss of Tenderness

She is like a thief coveting someone else’s treasure

The car finally drove into a suburban mansion villa. The security guard, seeing Jiang Huaixi’s car from a distance, opened the gate and nodded with a smile to greet Jiang Huaixi. After entering the gate, the car drove for several tens of meters before entering the garage. The garage had dozens of cars parked, mostly traditional black and silver-gray colors. Compared to the Jiang family’s mansion, it was surprisingly low-key.

Lu Zizheng got out of the car and followed Jiang Huaixi outside. Taking a deep breath while looking at the vast lawn in front of her, Lu Zizheng self-mockingly said, “I, this old lady Lu, have also entered the Grand View Garden for a while. If I make any unusual or rude behavior along the way, please don’t laugh at me, Miss Jiang.”

Jiang Huaixi chuckled and said, “Although I was very dissatisfied with your attitude when we went to Juzhou during college, I am a person who always takes the high road and won’t stoop to your level. I will definitely fulfill my duty and responsibility as your tour guide.”

Lu Zizheng sighed and shook her head. She said, “Why deceive yourself? If you really had such magnanimity, you wouldn’t keep remembering and mentioning this matter until now.”

Jiang Huaixi helped Lu Zizheng carry two bags and led her towards the main house. He raised an eyebrow and only then said, “That was my first time leaving Linzhou and going to another city, so naturally it left a deep impression on me.”

Jiang Huaixi’s casual remark left Lu Zizheng astonished. She had assumed that someone like Jiang Huaixi, with her background, would have been accustomed to travel and vacations from an early age, and famous domestic and international tourist attractions should have been like familiar treasures to her. Going to Juzhou with her was just a spur-of-the-moment decision, and her curiosity about Juzhou was merely based on making things difficult for herself. However, she didn’t expect that it was Jiang Huaixi’s first time traveling that year. In retrospect, the unpleasant experience and inadequate hospitality of that year made Lu Zizheng feel somewhat embarrassed.

Lu Zizheng hesitated for a moment before inviting, “Then, whenever you’re interested, shall I take you to Juzhou again?”

However, Jiang Huaixi merely glanced at her and bluntly refused, “What’s the point of visiting the same place twice?” Initially, she didn’t understand Lu Zizheng’s concerns and only wanted to get to know her better. Over the years, she gradually understood that although Juzhou was Lu Zizheng’s hometown, the memories it left her with were more painful than joyful. If the first time was an unintentional offense, why would she give herself a second chance to hurt Lu Zizheng?

Lu Zizheng was unaware of Jiang Huaixi’s complicated thoughts. Hearing her firm rejection of her kind offer, she became frustrated and muttered with a furrowed brow, “Fine, if you don’t want to go, then forget I mentioned it.” Jiang Huaixi lacked any sense of culture and sentimentality! Juzhou might not be a popular tourist city, but it was her hometown after all, and commemoration held more significance than mere entertainment.

Jiang Huaixi paused for a moment and continued, “Consider it as you owe me a trip. When it becomes convenient in the future, let’s go to Fengzhou together.” She remembered during their university days when she and Lu Zizheng worked at the campus radio station, Lu Zizheng would write scripts while she did the broadcasting. Lu Zizheng frequently wrote about the landscapes and local customs of Fengzhou, expressing her longing for the place.

Lu Zizheng was still unhappy about Jiang Huaixi’s cold refusal just now, so she replied in the same tone of rejection, “Fine, if we’re not going, what’s so interesting about that remote small town?”

Jiang Huaixi furrowed her brow and imitated in a low voice, “Oh? Okay, then let’s not go. Forget I mentioned it.”

Lu Zizheng bit her lip, feeling even more upset, and said, “Fine, if you don’t want to go, then forget it.” The sense of stubbornness was now evident, and she quickened her pace, taking a few steps to walk ahead of Jiang Huaixi.

Jiang Huaixi curved her lips and smiled silently, leisurely following behind.

Taking a turn, they stepped onto the pathway leading to the main house. From a distance, Lu Zizheng could see the grand entrance of the villa, with an elegant and noble woman standing in front of it, gazing intensely at her and Jiang Huaixi.

Jiang Huaixi introduced lightly, “That’s my mother.”

Lu Zizheng replied with an “Oh,” feeling somewhat nervous, unconsciously slowing down her pace.

Jiang Huaixi noticed and furrowed her brow, earnestly reminding her, “You’ve seen my mother, yet you deliberately walk so slowly. Well, my mother might think you lack manners.”

Lu Zizheng instantly quickened her steps.

Jiang Huaixi continued, “My mother believes that girls should be gentle and graceful when walking, with elegant and light steps. By walking so fast, my mother might not appreciate such a posture.”

Lu Zizheng immediately slowed down her steps, slowing her left foot while struggling to control her right foot, which was moving too quickly. In an instant, she was about to fall forward.

Jiang Huaixi reacted swiftly, reaching out and steadying her, a mischievous smile familiar to Lu Zizheng appearing on her face.

Lu Zizheng angrily slapped Jiang Huaixi’s hand and exclaimed, “You did that on purpose!”

Jiang Huaixi withdrew her hand in pain, inhaling a cool breath as she said, “Now my mother really saw it and she’s not pleased.”

Lu Zizheng composed herself, smiled gracefully, calmly continued walking, and coolly responded, “If she saw it, she saw it. If your mother knew what you were up to, she would probably think you deserved a scolding as well.”

Jiang Huaixi rubbed her hand back, a smile filling her eyes. Ah, it seems she’s no longer nervous or uneasy.

As the two approached the front gate and stepped onto the stairs, Mother Jiang took a few steps forward, her face beaming with a smile as she looked at Lu Zizheng and Jiang Huaixi.

Lu Zizheng lifted her head, politely smiling at Mother Jiang, discreetly sizing her up while waiting for Jiang Huaixi to introduce and greet her.

Mother Jiang appeared to be in her forties, sharing some resemblance with Jiang Huaixi in her facial features. However, her overall temperament was much more gentle and graceful, indicating that she must have been a sought-after beauty in her younger days.

Jiang Huaixi calmly called out, “Mom,” and then introduced, “Mom, this is Zizheng. Zizheng, this is my mother.”

Lu Zizheng greeted politely, “Hello, Auntie.”

As soon as the words fell, Jiang Huaixi helped by handing over the gift Lu Zizheng had bought, saying, “This is a gift Zizheng brought for everyone. She didn’t know what everyone likes, so she put some thought into selecting these gifts.”

Lu Zizheng’s face also turned slightly red as she shyly presented the bag she was holding in her hands.

Mother Jiang smiled and accepted the gifts, politely saying to Lu Zizheng, “You’ve come all this way, there’s no need to bring gifts. You’ve gone to the trouble.” She then turned to the side, making way for them to enter, and said, “Come, come, quickly come inside.”

The two of them followed her inside. While walking, Mother Jiang asked Jiang Huaixi with concern, “Have you had lunch yet?”

Jiang Huaixi said in a soft voice, “Not yet…”

Mother Jiang became somewhat displeased and furrowed her brow slightly, saying, “Don’t you know how to take care of yourself? How can you neglect your health and refuse to eat when you’re not feeling well?”

Jiang Huaixi simply listened without responding.

The three of them settled on the sofa by the window in the living room. Mother Jiang was still concerned that Jiang Huaixi hadn’t eaten lunch yet, so she softened her tone and advised, “It’s still some time until dinner. Shall I have Aunt Zhou prepare some noodles for you to satisfy your hunger?”

Jiang Huaixi coldly refused, saying, “No need to trouble yourself.”

Mother Jiang sighed and finally remembered about Lu Zhizheng. She smiled and asked, “Zhizheng, are you hungry? Would you like to have something to eat first?”

Lu Zhizheng was initially hesitant and would have declined out of politeness. However, she knew that if she agreed, Jiang Huaixi would definitely follow suit, which would please Mother Jiang. Just as she was about to accept, Jiang Huaixi rejected on her behalf, saying, “Mom, there’s no need to go through the trouble.”

Mother Jiang was at a loss, furrowing her brow and looking displeased at Jiang Huaixi.

Compared to Mother Jiang’s care and thoughtfulness, Jiang Huaixi’s indifference was evident. Lu Zhizheng felt somewhat surprised. Based on Jiang Huaixi’s attitude towards her own mother, she had assumed that Jiang Huaixi would have a harmonious and joyful relationship with her own mother at home. Mama Lu had also praised Jiang Huaixi, saying that it was a rare blessing to have such a sensible and polite daughter. Who would have thought that between Jiang Huaixi and her own mother, there seemed to be hidden waves of turmoil.

At that moment, a servant entered the living room and said to Jiang Huaixi, “Miss, Madam asks you to come to her room.”

Jiang Huaixi frowned slightly and looked at Lu Zhizheng with some concern.

Lu Zhizheng pursed her lips and smiled, assuring Jiang Huaixi to trust her. Only then did Jiang Huaixi get up and leave.

The living room was now only occupied by Mother Jiang and Lu Zhizheng. Neither of them spoke, and for a moment, the atmosphere became uncomfortably quiet. Mother Jiang was the first to break the silence, explaining her previous actions, “Auntie was just worried about Huaixi and forgot to mention that Huaixi’s father and younger brother are still at the company and haven’t returned. That’s why they didn’t come out to receive you. Zhizheng, please don’t mind.” She continued, “Huaixi had a stomachache last night, probably due to something she ate at the New Year’s gathering. She endured the pain all night and didn’t eat breakfast in the morning. She was also running around outside at noon without having a meal. Sigh, it’s really worrisome.”

Lu Zhizheng also furrowed her brow upon hearing this. Indeed, it was really worrisome. She carefully recalled and confirmed that she didn’t notice anything unusual about Jiang Huaixi during the fireworks display. Could it be something that happened after watching the fireworks? Suddenly, she remembered the empty dumplings in the photo message Jiang Huaixi sent her…

Lu Zhizheng couldn’t help but feel frustrated with Jiang Huaixi, that fool.

As she lost herself in thought, her gaze unconsciously fixated on the mulberry tree outside the window. Mother Jiang noticed her prolonged gaze and thought she was curious about the sudden appearance of a mulberry tree amidst the vast plum forest. She kindly explained, “That tree was planted by Huaixi and Huaichuan when they were little. When Huaichuan attended kindergarten, his classmates gave him two silkworms, so he brought them home to raise them with Huaixi. Since they didn’t have mulberry leaves to feed the silkworms, Huaichuan had to ask that little friend every day for some leaves, either by exchanging toys or fulfilling certain conditions. Reluctantly, Huaichuan agreed to those requests for the sake of the silkworms. Huaixi became unhappy and told Huaichuan that relying on others would make them dependent, and they should be self-reliant. So the two of them quarreled and decided to grow a mulberry tree themselves.” Jiang’s mother reminisced about the past with an expression full of love, and Lu Zhizheng observed it all, feeling even more amazed at Jiang Huaixi’s attitude towards her mother.

Mother Jiang suggested, “Would you like to go to the back and take a look? Huaixi used to study in the house behind the plum forest when she was little, until she left home.”

Lu Zhizheng naturally nodded in agreement.

They went out and circled around to the back of the living room, where the plum forest was. Amidst the hidden trees, they could see a small white house in the distance. They walked along the path paved with cobblestones and arrived in front of the small house.

Mother Jiang pointed at the window of the small house and smiled, saying, “Huaichuan used to stick to Huaixi a lot when he was little. He would finish kindergarten classes early and immediately run to find Huaixi. When Huaixi was in class, the door here would be closed, so Huaichuan would bring a chair from the living room all the way here, step on it, and lean against the window to greet Huaixi.”

Lu Zhizheng imagined that scene and felt the warmth of their affection. She smiled and said, “They had such a good relationship…”

However, Mother Jiang seemed to recall something, and the smile on her lips slowly turned somewhat bitter. She repeated softly, “Yes, they had such a good relationship back then…”

As if suddenly coming to her senses, she pointed to a small hill next to the small house and said, “Buried there is a little dog that Huaixi raised from the age of four. It died when she was ten years old. Huaixi buried it next to the place she often stayed, afraid that it would be lonely. She cried all night and kept looking out the window, refusing to sleep.”

Lu Zhizheng found it difficult to imagine such emotional moments from Jiang Huaixi’s childhood. She suddenly felt a bit regretful for not having the opportunity to be part of Jiang Huaixi’s past.

Mother Jiang continued, “At that time, I thought to myself that a girl who is so deeply affectionate may suffer in love in the future.” She paused for a moment and looked at Lu Zhizheng with meaningful eyes. “Zizheng, as parents, we don’t ask for much from our children. My expectations for Huaixi, from childhood to adulthood, are simply for her to be safe and find a kind-hearted person who understands her. If she is willing, to have one or two children in the future, to experience the joy of family and have grandchildren around her knees. Auntie’s expectations are not excessive, right?”

That one glance made Lu Zhizheng feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

Mother Jiang looked at her with a smile, her expression full of deep meaning, and her gaze piercing. She said, “Zizheng, can you fulfill Auntie’s simple wish?”

At that moment, under Mother Jiang’s gaze, Lu Zhizheng felt like a thief coveting someone else’s precious treasure, ashamed and embarrassed.

She shouldn’t have felt so ashamed and flustered. She had always maintained a friendship with Huaixi and had never crossed any boundaries. But now, at this moment, under Mother Jiang’s probing words, she realized so clearly how much she had been deceiving herself.

It was because of her inappropriate thoughts that she felt such shame and embarrassment. It was similar to the time in middle school when Zhou Fangfan’s mother pointed at her and scolded, “Take care of your own child and don’t corrupt others.” Her mother’s teeth clenched and ground together, unable to argue back.

At that time, Zhou Fangfan’s mother’s spittle sprayed onto her face and eyes, but she dared not wipe it off, enduring the sensation for a long, long time.

Just like now…