Chapter 59: Four Invitation Letters

Just as Zhou Qingying had predicted, the joy of the class holiday was diluted by the holiday-plus version homework assigned by the teachers of each subject.

Jiang Cheng weighed the stack of test papers that could be bound into a collected volume.

Even if she started writing as soon as she got home, it seemed she could only guarantee finishing them before returning to school.

“As for this homework, everyone arrange it according to your own situation. For some questions, you can check the answers yourselves, and I won’t require you to write the essays.”

After finishing some holiday matters, Teacher Ma added.

The class fell silent at first, then Wang Yu’s slightly rough voice burst out.

“Long live Sister Ma!”

“Long live Sister Ma!!” His buddies followed, and soon it turned into a carnival for the whole class.

“Alright, alright, quiet down. If you attract the dean of students, this homework will have to be increased.”

This was indeed effective; the students instantly fell silent.

“After you return, you can already consider yourselves quasi-third-year examinees. When school resumes in mid-August, the first round of review will start soon. There’ll be a monthly exam right after the new term begins. I’m giving you a heads-up here…”

“Teacher Ma, we haven’t even taken the final exams yet.”

“Shouldn’t you have been preparing for the final exams long ago? Don’t think you can do well with last-minute cramming. If you had that level, I wouldn’t need to nag here.”

“By this time next year, I won’t be able to control what you want to do anymore.” 

Teacher Ma smiled, her words carrying a touch of sentiment. 

“Alright, I still have to put up with you for another year. Pay attention to safety when going home, and honestly finish all the homework. I assigned less in hopes you’d allocate more time to your weak subjects.”

“We know~”

The dismissal bell rang. 

People in the class began packing their bags, and soon the corridor was jammed pack.

Jiang Cheng wasn’t in a hurry to leave; instead, she chose to study by herself for a while.

Mom had messaged saying she’d be home late, so Jiang Cheng figured she might as well get some homework done at school.

“Chengcheng, we’re heading out first?”

After seeing the crowd in the corridor thin out, Chen Ting slung on her bag and pulled Zhou Qingying toward the exit.

“Bye.” Jiang Cheng waved at them, watching their backs disappear through the back door.

She studied alone for about an hour before packing up and heading downstairs out of the school gate. 

Mom’s call came just in time.

“Xiaocheng, are you leaving school now?”

“Mmm, the bus is almost here.”

“Okay, Mom’s on the way back too.” Jiang Xiaoyue calculated the time. 

“When you get home, start cooking the rice first.”

“Got it.”

Jiang Cheng boarded the bus, swiped her card, and found an empty seat.

【You there?】

Her butt hadn’t even warmed the seat when Wang Ziyue’s WeChat message came in.

【Yes】

Jiang Cheng sent an obedient.jpg, then thought better and withdrew it.

But Wang Ziyue had already seen it and sent the exact same one back.

【Sister, your hand speed is so fast…】

Jiang Cheng was speechless. Wang Ziyue’s side showed “typing,” but no new message came for a long time.

After a short while, Jiang Cheng received a photo.

Wang Ziyue’s slender fingers were pressing on four gilded invitation letters.

【What’s this?】

【Sister’s hand】

【I meant the ones below】

【Oh, those are tickets to the Haiyan Theater Troupe’s play. I reserved the best seats for you all】

【Ah?】

【The troupe Ma Lijun is in】

【Oh oh oh! Thank you, Sister!】

【What’s there to thank for】

Wang Ziyue sent another photo—her hand holding a glass cup.

【This cup is really pretty】

【Thanks…】

【Sigh, Jiang Jiang…】

【Hm?】

【Nothing】

【Oh…】

The conversation paused there. With no new messages from Wang Ziyue, she seemed to have gotten busy with work.

Jiang Cheng locked her screen and quietly looked out the bus window. 

The sky outside was still bright.

The first thing she did upon getting home was wash and cook the rice. 

Not long after finishing, Mom returned, carrying a bag of prepared food.

“Let’s keep it simple today. Mom’s taking a lazy day.”

“Should I stir-fry some greens?”

“Then leave it to our little Chef Xiaocheng.”

Jiang Cheng went into the kitchen. From the corner of her eye, she saw Mom turn and thump her shoulder.

She turned on the stove and deftly blanched some lettuce in oyster sauce.

After serving the rice, she went to the living room to call Mom. 

Jiang Xiaoyue was staring at her phone. Seeing her daughter approach, she smiled at her.

“Ready?”

“Mmm, let’s eat.”

The mother and daughter sat at the table. 

Jiang Xiaoyue ate while asking about Jiang Cheng’s holiday plans.

“Doing homework~ Sigh, Mom, I feel like I’m going to be chained to the desk.”

“After all, you’re about to be a quasi-examinee. It’s good to focus a bit.”

Jiang Xiaoyue said with implied meaning.

“Mmm… I’ll fight the exams to the end.” 

Jiang Cheng picked up a piece of braised meat for Mom.

After eating, Jiang Cheng went to wash the dishes while Jiang Xiaoyue sat on the sofa replying to messages.

Soon after, her daughter suddenly came over and, without a word, took away her phone.

“Staring at it so long—aren’t your shoulders sore?” 

Jiang Cheng half-knelt on the sofa, hands pressing Mom’s shoulders.

She kneaded Jiang Xiaoyue’s swollen neck and shoulders with just the right pressure.

As one gets older, sitting for long does make one tired.

Jiang Xiaoyue simply closed her eyes and enjoyed her daughter’s thoughtful service.

As the massage continued, she leaned on her daughter’s shoulder and fell asleep.

Jiang Cheng went back to her room to fetch a blanket and covered Mom with it. 

She turned up the air conditioning, switched off the living room lights, and sat on the other end of the sofa.

【By the way, you’re on holiday these next few days, right?】

【Want to meet Ma Lijun? I can help arrange it】

【Where’d you go?】

【Just gave Mom a shoulder massage. She’s asleep now】

【…】

【What do you think? Want to meet?】

【I’ll ask Mom in a bit】

【Okay, good girl】

Wang Ziyue sent that obedient.jpg again.

PTV

Jiang Cheng scratched her cheek and decided not to reply. 

On the other end, Wang Ziyue knew not to tease too much and switched back to serious matters.

【And about those performance invitations—you, your friends, and your mom can all come together】

Jiang Cheng hadn’t expected all four to be for her.

【What about you?】 She asked instinctively.

【Are you worried Sister can’t get in? This play is partially sponsored by our company】

President Wang’s influence was everywhere.

Jiang Cheng remembered Chen Ting once mocking the overbearing CEO in a novel. 

Only now did she feel it was quite realistic.

“Xiaocheng?”

Jiang Xiaoyue sat up from the sofa. Still drowsy, she looked toward her daughter. 

The light from the phone illuminated her chin.

“Mmm, Mom, you’re awake.” 

Jiang Cheng put down her phone. 

Jiang Xiaoyue yawned. 

She had only slept for about ten minutes and now felt even more tired.

“Mom’s going to take a shower first. No good—I need to sleep early today. Getting old…”

“Nonsense. Mom, you’re clearly still young.”

“Alright, Mom’s still young. From now on when we go out, we’ll call each other sisters.”

“Ah…” 

Jiang Cheng was stunned. 

She stared blankly at Mom. 

Jiang Xiaoyue blinked, the deep meaning in her eyes making Jiang Cheng a bit uncomfortable.

“You go to bed early too. Don’t stay up late.”

“Got it.” 

Jiang Cheng picked up the hair tie from the table and tied up her scattered hair. 

She sniffed her collar—there was a smoky cooking smell.

After turning off the living room lights, she went back to her room to get her pajamas.

Inadvertently, she forgot about a certain Ms. Wang who was still waiting for her reply.

【Why’d you disappear again???】

Wang Ziyue was a bit frantic. 

She was both amused and annoyed by Jiang Cheng’s habit of vanishing. 

Her fingers brushed over the invitation letters.

She tapped on the artistic font on the cover and muttered to herself: “Maybe I should deliver them in person?”