Chaрtеr 16: Shе Аbsоlutеly Саnnоt Bе Run Ovеr by a Тrаctоr Agаin!!
Wаs shе afrаid?
Jiаng Er stаrеd аt thе tiрs оf hеr shoеs, not sауing a word.
Certаin delibеratеlу fоrgоtten memоries flashеd thrоugh hеr mind frаme bу framе.
She prоbаblу wаs аfraid.
Оtherwise, why wоuld shе hаvе sеen that pеrsоn аs a lifеline bаck then?
“I’m nоt just hеlрing Fu Тinghan.”
In the еnd, shе said this.
A whitе Porsсhе wаs рarkеd аcross the street.
Jiang Er оpеnеd thе саr doоr and got in.
As thе cаr startеd moving, Jiаng Jue, who was playing games in the back seat, didn’t even look up. “Why are you so late today?”
Jiang Er casually brushed off the question with a couple of words, staring blankly at the passing street scenes outside the window.
If Fu Tinghan was really his mother’s biological son, then the wealthy man who had kept his mother should be the current president of the Fu family, Fu Minghe.
That was why Fu Tinghan had suddenly appeared in the Fu family, and why his relationship with the Fu family was so cold.
Because before that, he was just an illegitimate child.
But—
“That doesn’t make sense,” Jiang Er muttered to herself.
Fu Tinghan’s appearance was clearly carved from the same mold as the two members of the Fu family.
Especially Mrs. Fu—the two of them were at least sixty percent similar. Anyone who saw them would think he was her biological child.
That was why no one had doubted the Fu family’s explanation in her previous life.
“What exactly doesn’t add up?”
A person couldn’t look like a stepmother with no blood relation unless… his biological mother also looked like that.
And Fu Tinghan had once said that he looked very much like his deceased mother.
That is: stepmother’s face = biological mother’s face
Wait—
She remembered hearing a piece of gossip once: when the Fu couple were young, they weren’t completely free of conflicts.
The most serious time, Mrs. Fu had directly broken up with him and left the country overnight.
It was only two years later that they got back together and then married.
And during those two blank years…
Jiang Er thought of something, her pupils trembling in shock.
“This couldn’t be the legendary…”
Replacement romance trope??
“Splash—”
A bucket of dog blood poured down from the sky, drenching Jiang Er in shock.
This speculation sounded absurd.
But based on her years of experience navigating various romance and drama platforms, it was very likely true.
Pure love?
Not a chance.
She shook her head and sighed.
“Sis, I got a pentakill!!!” Suddenly, Jiang Jue beside her let out a sharp, drawn-out scream. “Ahhhhhh pentakill!!”
Jiang Er rubbed her ears, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “If you make another sound like a pig, I’ll kick you out of the car.”
Jiang Jue looked up, indignant. “Throwing trash out of a moving car is illegal. Go ahead and try.”
“Then let’s try… Wait, what happened to your face?” Jiang Er caught sight of the bruise on his temple and reached out to push aside the hair half-covering it, frowning.
“Did you get into a fight?”
Jiang Jue raised his hand to block her, mumbling, “No, I wasn’t paying attention while walking and ran into a wall.”
“Cut the crap.” Jiang Er withdrew her hand. “Did you run into a wall here too, on the corner of your mouth? It’s even broken.”
“Ugh, just don’t worry about it.”
Jiang Jue pleaded, “I’ll go home and grab a hat to wear. I won’t eat dinner in the dining room tonight. Remember to keep it a secret from Mom and Dad.”
Jiang Er’s frown didn’t ease.
Jiang Jue had been mischievous since childhood, with a fearless streak, so getting into fights wasn’t exactly surprising.
But ever since she had witnessed him jump off a building in her previous life, she always felt uneasy inside.
Just as she was about to ask for more details, Jiang Jue waved his hand impatiently.”I already said it’s no big deal, I’m not a three-year-old, I can handle it myself.”
Jiang Er’s temper flared as well, letting out a cold laugh, “Fine, don’t come begging for my help later.”
Jiang Jue scoffed, “Whoever begs for your help is a dog.”
Jiang Er hummed twice and turned back to look out the window.
The car drove through the busiest downtown area of Fengcheng, right during the evening rush hour. The streets were packed with traffic, and colorful signs lined the roadside, shimmering with multicolored lights in the hazy dusk.
A milk tea shop came into view.
Jiang Er immediately perked up.
She straightened up eagerly and hurriedly said to the driver:
“Uncle Ding, please pull over up ahead.”
“Sure thing.”
The car came to a stop.
She opened the door, got out, and knocked on the window, saying to Jiang Jue, “Get out.”
Jiang Jue was wary, “What are you doing? I already said throwing trash while driving is illegal.”
Jiang Er smiled, “That’s why I stopped the car.”
Jiang Jue: “…”
Damn it.
He obediently got out of the car. She pointed at the milk tea shop with a banner hanging nearby and said matter-of-factly:
“They’re having an anniversary sale with 20% off. Buy me milk tea.”
Jiang Jue: “No way.”
“Aren’t you asking me to keep your secret from Mom and Dad? Shouldn’t I see some sincerity?” she said with a meaningful smile.
“What about your own allowance?” Jiang Jue clenched his fists and strode toward the milk tea shop, grumbling, “You always squeeze your own little brother’s wallet.”
Jiang Er followed leisurely behind, “My allowance has important uses, can’t touch it for now.”
“What uses?” Jiang Jue asked curiously.
“None of your business,” Jiang Er replied succinctly.
Hearing this, Jiang Jue angrily quickened his pace, leaving her behind.
By the time she reached the milk tea shop, he had already ordered for both of them and was sulking in the waiting area, playing on his phone.
“I haven’t even said what I want yet.”
Jiang Er stood on tiptoe, examining the product images on the electronic screen:
“I want a…”
“Extra-large cup of thick milk matcha coconut with boba, pudding, milk jelly, mochi, taro balls, red beans, and taro paste, 30% sugar, less ice.” Jiang Jue finished flatly.
Jiang Er gave a thumbs-up and shuffled back to sit beside him.
“Seriously, drinking it like this every time, can you even stir it properly?” Jiang Jue complained, “If you love toppings so much, why not just drink porridge?”
Jiang Er said simply, “I like it, mind your own business.”
Jiang Jue bristled, “You think I want to mind your business? If I ever buy you milk tea again, I’m a dog!”
Jiang Er ignored him, focusing on waiting for her milk tea.
This was the peak hour for customers. The staff behind the counter were swamped, making drinks one after another, the blenders humming incessantly.
The thick, sweet aroma unique to milk tea shops wafted past her nose, and Jiang Er couldn’t help but swallow.
In the past, she might have found the smell too cloying, but after being a netherworld person with nothing to eat, she felt tears welling up.
Ah, this is what it feels like to be alive.
Sniffle, the mortal world is so much better.
Milk tea, bread, hotpot, barbecue, and the whole chicken family—each one so tempting, so irresistible.
Compared to this, her past self, who only ate salad greens every day to stay slim, must have had something wrong with her head.
Jiang Er reflected deeply for two seconds and decided to cherish life from now on, never wasting a single meal.
And absolutely never getting run over by a tractor again.
Thinking about the way she died, Jiang Er felt a pang of heartache.No, what kind of decent person gets run over by a tractor??
She felt genuinely insulted.
“Number 98, your order is ready.”
Jiang Er snapped back to reality, glanced at the receipt Jiang Jue was holding, and trotted forward.
“Today is our store’s anniversary celebration, so every customer who makes a purchase will receive a small toy,” the store manager said with a smile.
“What is it?” Jiang Er asked eagerly.
“A cat keychain.” The store manager gestured toward the nearby advertisement board.
Sure enough, it depicted a small cat—a pitch-black ball with two bright yellow eyes, wearing a red bow tie, looking both adorable and well-behaved.
“It looks exactly like our Laifu,” Jiang Jue remarked, having come over at some point, sounding amazed.
Jiang Er also liked it immensely. “Can we have two?”
“Of course.” The store manager opened the box of freebies beside her.
It was empty.
“Oh, we’re out,” the store manager apologized. “I’ll have a colleague bring out a new box right away. It won’t take long.”
“Mhm, no problem.” Jiang Er lowered her head and took a big sip of her luxurious, fully-loaded matcha coconut drink, happily shaking her head.
The next moment, the store manager turned and called out:
“Fu Tinghan, go to the warehouse and bring out a box of freebies.”
Jiang Er’s smile froze at the corners of her mouth.