Jin Ran was a carefree person. As those who knew her would say, if the sky fell down, she would use it as a blanket to sleep under.
So, even after experiencing something as bizarre as transmigrating into a book, she was only briefly shocked. After that, she quickly clarified her goals and began striving diligently toward them.
This carefree nature also manifested in another way: she slept soundly, never suffered from insomnia, and would be snoring within three seconds of her head hitting the pillow.
In contrast, Jiang Xuli during his teenage years did not possess such a relaxed disposition.
For as long as he could remember, his father had been an autocratic tyrant who absolutely forbade the presence of any weak creatures within his sight. Consequently, Jiang Xuli had never kept any pets.
At this moment, the two-month-old kitten squirming inside his school uniform made him feel somewhat at a loss. After hesitating for a long while, he finally frowned and patted it gently. The result was less than ideal; the kitten only meowed pitifully in response.
The sound of a door closing came from downstairs. Jiang Xuli’s movements froze abruptly. After a moment, hearing no further noise, he bent down and placed the cat in a makeshift cardboard box.
Then, he called the instigator of this situation.
Chen Xunliang on the other end answered immediately: “Bro Li, you’re home?”
During the day, the two of them had followed a lead and found the catnapper, only to discover the person was actually a vendor selling cat meat. They reported it to the police and rescued over twenty cats. Most were adult cats capable of surviving in the wild, except for one two-month-old calico kitten. It was emaciated, skin and bones, and stumbled when it walked, looking as if it wouldn’t survive much longer.
Moved by its pitiful state, Chen Xunliang had the idea of keeping it. Unfortunately, his mother was allergic to cat fur, so he could only ask his good friend for help.
Jiang Xuli gave an affirmative “Mhm” and turned the camera to show him the kitten.
At midnight, Jiang Xuli went downstairs again. Fortunately, he didn’t run into Jin Ran this time. He hurriedly bought goat milk powder, mixed it into milk, and watched the now full and satisfied kitten burrow into the cardboard box. Only then did the tension in his shoulders, which had been tight all evening, finally relax.
He woke up very early the next day, intending to seek help from the butler. Surprisingly, the butler came to him proactively.
“Young Master, rest assured. I’ll have someone buy some pet supplies later. A kitten this size can start eating a bit of cat food.”
Butler Cheng took the kitten over skillfully, scratching its chin with his fingers without asking too many questions.
Thus, the explanation Jiang Xuli had prepared remained unspoken. He nodded expressionlessly.
There was no other way. As a high school student, he still needed to go to school. Just before leaving, he glanced seemingly casually toward the second floor. The staircase landing was empty, not a single person in sight.
Jin Ran slept deeply. When she woke up, it was already past ten o’clock. Drawing back the curtains, she saw the bright sunlight outside.
Rarely feeling lazy, she lay in bed a while longer, scrolling through news and playing mobile games. Her silk white pajamas rode up, revealing a sliver of her fair, slender waist.
It wasn’t until Volunteer Teacher Wang sent her a message that she stirred: [Miss Jin, your internal referral has been approved!]
Jin Ran suddenly bounced up from the bed.
She hadn’t expected Teacher Wang to work so quickly. Schools had their own rules, and internal referrals underwent stricter review. The original host had majored in Mathematics at Normal University A, obtained a teaching certificate during her studies, and had excellent grades. The only disadvantage was a three-year gap after graduation.
Given that she now secured the internal referral, Jin Ran guessed her “wealthy family background” might have added some points. Overjoyed, she quickly asked: [When is the interview?]
Teacher Wang: [The day after tomorrow morning, a direct interview with the principal. Also, there’s a trial lecture, forty-five minutes long.]
Afraid Jin Ran might be nervous, Teacher Wang considerately added: [Don’t worry, it’s very simple. Only two department heads and the head of the mathematics teaching group will be observing.]
Jin Ran: “…”
That sounded even more nerve-wracking.
This nervousness wasn’t due to a lack of confidence in her own abilities, but rather a mix of reverence and apprehension toward the unknown. In both her lifetimes, she had been a normal school student. During university, she had even been dragged by her roommate to participate in volunteer teaching. However, giving a trial lecture in front of such senior figures was a first in her life.
But she quickly adjusted her mindset. There was a first time for everything. How would she know if it would be good or bad if she didn’t try? Moreover, she still had two days before the interview. If she prepared well in advance, perhaps she could even impress everyone on the spot.
Successfully convincing herself, Jin Ran agreed to treat Teacher Wang to a meal next time, then decisively got out of bed.
Adjacent to the bedroom was a walk-in closet, which she had toured on her first day after transmigrating. As the saying goes, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Before her downfall, the original host had been a young lady. Clothes and bags alone occupied half the space, making the relatively small collection of suits on the other side seem pitiful.
Sighing inwardly, Jin Ran selected a relatively casual dress. During this, she also saw the custom-made clothes the butler had mentioned, placed inside exquisitely packaged gift boxes.
She casually opened one.
Expecting haute couture evening wear, Jin Ran was utterly unprepared for what she saw inside. The sight of those few flimsy pieces of fabric sent her into a fit of frantic coughing.
Her face flushed bright red. Disbelieving, she looked, then looked again, confirming she wasn’t seeing things!
What the original host had custom-ordered was actually lingerie!
Moreover, it was particularly risqué, particularly fabric-saving lingerie!
Even with Jin Ran’s broad experience, she was momentarily stunned like a jammed machine, unsure how to react. Just then, someone outside inquired: “Madam, the kitchen has prepared the meal. Would you like to dine now?”
Startled, Jin Ran, in her haste, instinctively shoved the lingerie into the wardrobe.
By the time she went out, the servants had already brought the prepared breakfast to the table.
To be precise, it was brunch. But the kitchen staff didn’t find it troublesome at all. Receiving the madam’s praise even made them quite happy.
Jin Ran was also delighted. Looking at the array of Cantonese-style dishes, the flush slowly faded from her face.
Putting other matters aside, the chef hired by the Jiang family truly had excellent skills. The beef rice noodle rolls, the fish congee cooked to perfection, the shrimp dumplings wrapped in translucent wheat starch dough, the sweet and savory char siu buns… She accidentally ate her fill again.
After the meal, rubbing her slightly rounded stomach, she let out a deep sigh.
If she continued eating without restraint like this, the number on the scale would skyrocket in just a few days.
It seemed she’d have to schedule exercise into her daily routine soon.
But for today, she’d let it slide.
Jin Ran shamelessly ate another small dessert after the meal. How could she diet without being full? Besides, mental work burned calories, and right now, she needed to prepare for the interview three days later!
Action followed intention. After replenishing her energy, Jin Ran went to the study on the second floor.
This was probably Jiang Mingzuo’s domain, primarily decorated in white and grey tones. The furnishings were casual and simple. On the left side sat a wide, plush leather sofa. Three rows of bookshelves were filled with various professional books, mostly foreign language ones. The overall atmosphere exuded a sense of lazy enjoyment.
Jin Ran thought of her nominal husband whom she had never met.
He started school late but got into the best university in W City, indicating a far-from-ordinary intellect.
Of course, she wasn’t lacking either.
She had entered a prestigious 985 university with the third-highest score in her school and had consistently ranked on the first page of her alma mater’s star student list. Jin Ran calmly withdrew her gaze and turned on the computer to search for information.
In the information age, there were many relevant videos online, but their quality varied greatly. Some explanations were vague and illogical, while others missed key points and were practically worthless. She spent considerable effort sifting through them and, in three hours, drafted a lesson plan suited to herself.
Next came the simulated trial lecture.
This was the most crucial part. Jin Ran looked down at the printed A4 paper, and the first image that came to mind was the figures of the butler and others.
Imagining the butler, the chef, even the gardener sitting in a classroom, staring at her with serious expressions as she lectured…
She quickly shook her head. No, no, she’d better think of another way.
But a solution wasn’t that easy to come by.
The original host’s contact list didn’t have many friends, and she genuinely couldn’t find a suitable person for the moment.
She agonized over it for a while, finally sighed, and decided to go downstairs first to get a glass of water. From a distance, she saw the butler coming in from outside, holding the freshly cleaned cat.
The palm-sized kitten was adorable and well-behaved. It didn’t mind being petted, its tail held high, appearing exceptionally docile.
Much more obedient than rebellious teenagers.
A lightbulb went off in Jin Ran’s mind—she suddenly thought of a great idea!
Concerned about the little cat at home, Jiang Xuli headed straight back after school, along with Chen Xunliang, who insisted on seeing the cat.
Along the way, Chen Xunliang chattered nonstop, his topics jumping from school gossip to that calico cat. The noise made Jiang Xuli’s ears ache, and he unconsciously quickened his pace. Finally arriving at the villa, the two searched around but couldn’t find the calico.
“Where’s the cat?”
Jiang Xuli walked to the entrance and asked a passing servant.
The servant had been slacking off and was caught red-handed by the young master, nearly giving him a heart attack: “I-It was… taken away by Mrs. Jiang.”
Hearing this, Chen Xunliang immediately grew worried: “Taken by your stepmom? Oh no, she wouldn’t abuse the cat on purpose while you’re away, would she?”
It wasn’t unfounded for him to speculate this way. After all, similar things had been done by Brother Li’s stepmother before. Chen Xunliang was very worried that his soft, fluffy calico might meet a tragic fate.
Jiang Xuli didn’t speak, but his expression visibly darkened.
Clearly, he had considered this possibility too.
Without hesitation, he turned and strode towards the study on the second floor. Seeing this, Chen Xunliang, worried that his friend might clash with his stepmother, hurriedly followed.
Just as they reached the door, intermittent meows came from inside. To the two teenagers, these sounds were undoubtedly evidence of Jin Ran abusing the cat. Jiang Xuli’s face was dark as water. Without a second thought, he kicked the door open.
In the study, Jin Ran was passionately lecturing the cat.
“This student raised their hand. You can answer the question.”
“This student is eager to try. You’ll answer the question later.”
“Alright, you all answered incorrectly. Let the teacher explain.”
She wore a gentle smile, leaning forward slightly, her body language elegant and poised as if she truly had a group of students listening attentively before her.
Moreover, the simulated trial lecture was highly effective. Starting from a hesitant, stumbling beginning, she now spoke fluently, basically lecturing without notes. If she could maintain this, Jin Ran was confident she could stand out in the interview three days later.
Thinking this, she picked up a small dried fish, preparing to reward the great contributor, the calico cat…
BANG—
A loud crash suddenly came from behind. Immediately after, Jiang Xuli and Chen Xunliang burst in from outside: “Brother Li, she must be…”
His words cut off abruptly. The two of them stared at the scene before them, completely dumbfounded.
Contrary to their imagination, the evening sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting light into the quiet room. The woman standing before the sofa held a piece of dried fish, offering it gently to the cat lying there.
The calico cat, eyes narrowed with greed, lightly swished its tail, rustling the pages of the math textbook.
It was such a picture of tranquil peace.
Jiang Xuli and Chen Xunliang couldn’t help but exchange glances.
Uh… maybe it was mental abuse?