“Mom, why are you here?”
After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Wanrou still stepped forward and asked.
Gong Lixin did not answer. Behind her sunglasses, her sharp eyes were fixed on Fang Yan, carefully sizing him up from head to toe.
Her intuition had always been strong. This had to be the boy who walked her daughter home last night.
As for Wang Ziyu, who was also a boy, she completely ignored him.
Although Wang Ziyu was tall, his features were far too delicate. If not for his eye-catching short hair and the prominent Adam’s apple at his throat, it would have been easy to mistake him for a pretty little girl.
No matter how rebellious her daughter might be, she could not imagine her having anything to do with a boy who looked that beautiful and feminine.
“Aunt, hello.”
Fang Yan greeted her with a gentle smile.
“Mm.”
Gong Lixin nodded faintly. After she removed her sunglasses, Fang Yan finally saw her clearly. No wonder she was Jiang Wanrou’s mother.
The resemblance between them was striking, as if carved from the same mold.
Jiang Wanrou’s temperament leaned toward cool softness, calm and restrained. Her mother, however, carried an air of pride that seemed to look down on others.
Gong Lixin continued observing the boy in front of her.
He appeared to be about the same age as her daughter. Tall, bright, and handsome, with a faint, ever-present gentle smile on his face.
He gave off a very comfortable impression. As far as appearance went, Gong Lixin found nothing to fault.
“You’re Fang Yan?”
“Yes.”
Fang Yan nodded politely.
He did not know why Jiang Wanrou’s mother knew his name, but if she wanted to find out, there were countless ways to do so.
Jiang Wanrou’s brows furrowed slightly. She had never told her mother Fang Yan’s name, so how did she know?
There was only one answer.
Gong Lixin had investigated Fang Yan.
The moment that thought formed, Jiang Wanrou felt suffocated.
The word “mom” felt more and more unfamiliar to her.
“Aunt, are you here to take Jiang Wanrou home?” Fang Yan asked with a smile.
Gong Lixin glanced at him without leaving a trace.
Good boy. Starting with a preemptive strike.
If she admitted she was here to take Jiang Wanrou home, wouldn’t that indirectly mean she had been tracking her daughter’s whereabouts?
“Alright, Aunt, we’re going to walk around a bit more, so we’ll head off first.”
Fang Yan waved at her politely with a cheerful smile.
After he took two steps, Wang Ziyu and Chen Ruru, both overwhelmed by Gong Lixin’s imposing presence, did not dare to say a word. Seeing Fang Yan leave, they hurried to follow.
“Mom, I’ll go back a bit later,” Jiang Wanrou said softly.
She quickened her pace and caught up with Fang Yan in just a few steps.
Gong Lixin’s face turned ashen as she watched Fang Yan walk away.
This kid did not seem easy to deal with.
No wonder her usually obedient daughter had suddenly become rebellious.
“Wanwan,” Gong Lixin called out, frowning.
“What is it?” Jiang Wanrou turned around, puzzled.
“Nothing. Come back early.”
“Okay, thank you, Mom.”
Jiang Wanrou smiled lightly. She had not expected her normally strict mother to suddenly become so gentle.
For a moment, she thought her mother had truly changed, and a smile bloomed from deep within her.
It was a beautiful, sweet smile.
Gong Lixin froze slightly. It had been a long time since she had seen such a smile on Jiang Wanrou’s face.
The last time had been in elementary school, when Jiang Wanrou ranked first in her class and she had bought her a teddy bear as a reward.
Even now, she could still remember that sweet, adorable smile.
Gong Lixin fell silent.
…
After they moved far away from Gong Lixin, Chen Ruru and Wang Ziyu finally dared to breathe properly again.
“That scared me to death. Wanwan’s mom has such a strong aura. When she was standing there just now, I didn’t even dare say a word,” Chen Ruru said, still shaken, patting her completely flat chest.
“Yeah, Yan, I really admire you. You even had the courage to take the initiative to talk to Jiang Wanrou’s mom,” Wang Ziyu added.
Fang Yan glanced at Jiang Wanrou. Because of her classmates’ reaction to her mother, she seemed a little unhappy.
Even if she did not like her own mother, she was still her mother.
Fang Yan smiled and changed the topic.
“Is she really that scary? It was just a few sentences. Besides, it’s not like this is the first time I’ve seen Jiang Wanrou’s mom. What’s there to be afraid of?”
Hearing that, Chen Ruru and Wang Ziyu immediately shifted their fear into curiosity.
They were far more interested in when Fang Yan had ever met Jiang Wanrou’s mother.
Jiang Wanrou’s slightly furrowed brows relaxed a little, and she gave Fang Yan a subtle nod.
However, she did not seem to know how to thank someone. Her face, capable of toppling cities, remained calm and distant, cool and restrained.
Fang Yan smiled at her and continued, “Although Jiang Wanrou’s mom may be seeing me for the first time, I see her almost every year at the end-of-year company banquet.”
“Explain quickly. What’s going on? Then why did Jiang Wanrou’s mom look like she didn’t recognize you at all?” Chen Ruru asked eagerly.
Fang Yan clapped his hands and laughed. “That’s because Jiang Wanrou’s mom is my dad’s boss. Every year when their company holds its annual meeting, I go along to grab some free food.”
“When she goes on stage to say a few words, I naturally get familiar with her face.”
“As for why she doesn’t recognize me, that’s normal. There are so many people at those annual meetings. How could she possibly remember every single one?”
With that explanation, Chen Ruru and Wang Ziyu understood.
So Fang Yan and Jiang Wanrou had that kind of connection.
Chen Ruru suddenly lifted her head and stared at Fang Yan in shock.
“Fang Yan, you’re really aiming high.”
“Wanwan’s parents are your dad’s superiors, and you still dared to confess to her? Are you trying to climb the social ladder and become a phoenix on a branch?”
“…” Fang Yan took two steps back and looked down at the petite girl. “Aren’t you overthinking this? When I confessed to Jiang Wanrou, is it possible it wasn’t because of her family background?”
“That makes sense.” Chen Ruru nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve watched so many TV dramas. Whenever the male and female leads have a big gap in wealth like you two, it’s always because of love that they confess.”
“It’s obvious you truly love Wanwan.”
“…” Fang Yan could not be bothered to explain. “If you say so.”
He had already decided that when he got back, he would scold Gao Shijie and Wang Ziyu thoroughly. They had completely ruined his image.
Now everyone thought he was Jiang Wanrou’s devoted pursuer, loving only her and no one else.
Jiang Wanrou’s cool face finally showed a slight change in expression.
She looked at the boy who had just encouraged her to lie with calm eyes tinged with a faint smile.
He seemed to want to explain himself to others.
But in the end, he chose to give up.