It was only eight in the evening, and most people in the building had already gone to bed.
Han Jiaojiao knew there was no television or radio at home.
She hadn’t held out much hope, but she never expected that after half past eight, even the electricity would be cut off.
Two desk lamps were lit in the living room for Han Fang to do his homework, while the rest of the house was dim.
Shen Junshan sat in the living room, sharpening pencils while supervising Han Fang’s studies.
Afraid of the dark and bored, Han Jiaojiao didn’t dare stay alone in her room, so she quietly sat nearby, leaning over.
It was late spring turning into early summer, but as night fell in the county town, the chill crept in and it was still quite cold.
Wrapped in Shen Junshan’s jacket, she watched him quietly.
Shen Junshan actually had a great physique—broad, thick shoulders and well-defined biceps.
He was the lean, refined type, and he looked good.
His collarbones were nice, his waist was nice too—like a runway model, with clothes on he looked filled out, and without them he looked lean.
“Pretty good-looking.”
Han Jiaojiao grinned at him foolishly, and Shen Junshan blushed under her gaze.
Fortunately, the lighting was dim, so no one noticed.
Han Fang grumbled, “Why does Sis keep staring at Brother-in-law today? Does Brother-in-law have flowers growing on his face?”
“You’ve got time to worry about me? Look at your third mixed-operation problem.”
“You wouldn’t understand it anyway.”
“I wouldn’t? Your carrying digit is wrong right here. And what’s this—three times seven is twenty-seven? Is that how your math teacher taught you?”
Han Fang looked closely and realized he really had made a mistake. He quickly erased it and rewrote the problem.
Han Jiaojiao said, “The next problem about calculating the length of a fence is actually just finding the trapezoid’s perimeter and then subtracting that 5-meter number. The problem statement planted a trap for you, setting the premise in stone. Serves you right for not reading the question.”
Han Fang corrected each mistake as she pointed them out.
Han Jiaojiao glanced over the homework and nodded. “Alright, no mistakes now. Have your brother-in-law sign it and turn it in tomorrow.”
“Sis…” Han Fang blinked his round eyes curiously. “How do you know how to do this? You spotted my mistakes with just one glance. How are you so smart?”
“Huh?”
Han Jiaojiao looked up and met Shen Junshan’s gaze.
His deep eyes held a hint of a smile, as if he had seen through something but deliberately said nothing, just teasing her for fun.
Han Jiaojiao’s heart skipped a beat. She thought: Oh no…
Her reflexive homework correction just now had completely forgotten her persona as a little simpleton!
Han Jiaojiao pursed her lips, rolled up the homework book, and tapped it against Han Fang’s forehead.
“I’ve never eaten pork, but I’ve seen a pig run. These are the same problems every day—I’ve heard them so many times my ears have calluses. A-Fang, you really should reflect on yourself.”
“Reflect on what?”
“Even an idiot like me can do them, and you still make mistakes. Don’t you think you should reflect?”
“That’s true, hehe. I’ll get them all right next time and bring back a perfect score for you.”
Han Fang scratched his head and switched to a Chinese textbook to start reciting.
Han Jiaojiao secretly studied Shen Junshan, afraid he might dig deeper into what just happened, not daring to miss any expression on his face.
She tentatively tested again, “Honey, do you think it’s too late for me to go back to school now?”
“Which school?”
“What else could it be? At my age, I’d go to the county high school. Around sophomore or junior year, I guess. In a year or two, I could take the college entrance exam.”
Han Jiaojiao was quite confident in her academic level.
As long as she could get into high school and secure the qualification for the college entrance exam, she would at least rank in the top three in the county, if not first.
Once she successfully entered university, her days ahead would be much easier.
“Honey, is it still too late to transfer in now?”
“Jiaojiao, I’ve told you many times…”
“You can support me!”
Han Jiaojiao pouted and cut him off: “But I need to find something to do too. Everyone says I’m stupid, but even a stupid person wants to study. Knowing how to read isn’t a crime—why can others learn and I can’t?”
“You…”
“What ‘you’?! You could help me go to school but won’t, which means you think I’m stupid just like everyone else, afraid I’ll embarrass you out there. I get it, I understand it all!”
After saying this, tears welled up in Han Jiaojiao’s eyes.
On one hand, she had just transmigrated here, and the grievances in her heart had nowhere to vent, so she seized this opportunity.
On the other hand, she wanted to see how Shen Junshan would react when she threw a tantrum.
If he turned out to be a scumbag, she would need to make other plans as soon as possible.
Shen Junshan put down what he was doing and said seriously, “Jiaojiao, you’re not stupid. You’re just more innocent than the average person.”
Huh?
Han Jiaojiao was completely baffled.
Shen Junshan looked at her gravely: “Stop putting yourself down like that. In my eyes, you’re kind and smart. As for school… let’s talk about it later.”
Han Jiaojiao’s little face flushed bright red.
This loyal-dog confession really caught her off guard.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, followed by a woman’s voice: “Brother Junshan, are you home? It’s me, open the door.”
Shen Junshan furrowed his brows slightly and got up to open the door with some impatience.
Chen Xiaoying kept batting her eyes at Shen Junshan the moment she saw him, and Han Jiaojiao, sitting inside the room, felt like she was being electrocuted by the sparks.
Beside her was a young girl whom Han Jiaojiao didn’t recognize.
Before Chen Xiaoying could speak, Shen Junshan said coldly, “It’s this late, is something the matter?”
“Nothing important, it’s just that this afternoon I had a little conflict with Jiaojiao. After thinking it over, I realized it really was my fault. Since I’m off work now, I wanted to come by and apologize to her.”
Chen Xiaoying pulled two tickets out of her pocket and handed them to him: “I got two movie tickets. Consider them a peace offering for Jiaojiao. Brother Junshan, make sure you take Jiaojiao to see it.”
“These tickets are hard to come by—you can’t even buy them with money. You two should really thank Xiaoying properly.”
“Xiaohui, stop it. They’re just two movie tickets, not worth much.”
“What do you mean not worth much? Scalpers are selling them for seven yuan each!” Xiaohui craned her neck to peek inside and sneered, “Don’t waste the tickets either—let someone else go. It’s pointless for you anyway, since you can’t understand it. It’s all in English!”
Han Jiaojiao watched the two of them playing off each other from inside, feeling utterly disgusted.
They knew full well that she and Shen Junshan had been at odds before—how could they possibly go to a movie together?
Claiming to come and apologize, they were really here to ask Shen Junshan to a movie.
And they even brought someone along to speak through, all that fake sweetness—how annoying.
Han Jiaojiao walked over to Shen Junshan with a charming smile, snatched the tickets, and laughed: “Since you’re here to apologize, I’ll take the tickets. My husband and I will enjoy the international blockbuster properly.”
Chen Xiaoying’s face changed instantly, and she said awkwardly, “You’re going to watch it with Brother Junshan?”
Han Jiaojiao sneered: “Who else would I watch it with, you? Are you saying you don’t want me to go?”
“How could that be? I’d love for you to go. It’s just that…”
She looked at Shen Junshan timidly, hoping he would understand what she meant.
Han Jiaojiao stepped between the two, smiling. “Just what? Didn’t expect me to come, or didn’t expect Junshan not to go with you?”
Chen Xiaoying, blocked outside the door, frowned and said, “I’m just here to apologize. You don’t have to be so hostile toward me, do you?”
Oh, oh, oh, the green tea bitch is trying to shift the blame again.
Han Jiaojiao wasn’t buying it.