“Didn’t I tell you the password?”
Jiang Yu stood behind the door, beside her was a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses with a gentle smile.
“I forgot.”
Jiang Nanshu replied, then smiled at the middle-aged man and greeted, “Uncle Lu.”
Actually, she hadn’t forgotten, but this was her second time visiting this home, and she couldn’t bring herself to open the door like she would at her own house.
“After coming a few more times, you’ll remember.”
Lu Mingkun stepped forward and took her suitcase.
He looked at her gently, “Come on in, you must be hungry.
I’ve made a lot of the dishes you love.”
“I can smell the sweet and sour spare ribs.”
Jiang Nanshu followed him in and changed her shoes.
The delicious aroma made her stomach rumble, “I’m so hungry.”
Jiang Yu urged her to wash her hands.
Jiang Nanshu quickly washed her hands and sat back at the dining table.
She glanced at the table full of food, picked up her chopsticks, and casually asked, “Should I leave some for my brother?”
The way she said “my brother” was so natural that both Jiang Yu and Lu Mingkun looked at her at the same time.
Jiang Nanshu’s expression was completely relaxed.
After working for a few years, she had gradually developed the skill of saying what was needed in any situation, with thicker skin than when she was in school.
“No need to worry about him, let’s eat.”
Lu Mingkun was clearly happy.
He had some dissatisfaction with his son, who had promised to pick up Jiang Nanshu but didn’t show up.
He had agreed to have a family meal but didn’t make it back in time.
Jiang Yu said, “It’s already the end of the year.
You should find a job after the New Year.”
“Your mom says you haven’t taken a break these past few years.
Take this chance to rest for two months, and you can spend some time with her.”
Lu Mingkun picked up some ribs and added with a smile, “The job isn’t urgent.
Finding a job is like finding a partner. You have to choose carefully.”
When Jiang Nanshu heard the word “partner,” she quickly replied, “I’ve already sent out a round of resumes before coming back.
I have a few interviews lined up, and if things go well, I’ll settle down soon.”
Originally, she had planned to look for a job after the New Year, but if she really took two months off, Jiang Yu and Lu Mingkun would probably arrange numerous blind dates for her.
Jiang Yu immediately saw through her thoughts and frowned helplessly.
After dinner, Jiang Nanshu pushed her suitcase into the room.
Just as she opened the suitcase, Cheng Jiajia’s call came in.
Jiang Nanshu sat on the bed and answered, “Done with work?”
“Yeah, I’m exhausted.
I was about to head home.
Are you coming to find me later?”
“I’ll come later.
I’m talking with my mom for a bit.”
Jiang Nanshu had planned to meet Cheng Jiajia tomorrow, but after encountering Song Ye today, she felt that if she didn’t chat with Cheng Jiajia, she might have trouble sleeping.
Cheng Jiajia: “Okay, I’ll be waiting at home.”
Just as she hung up, the slightly ajar door was pushed open.
Jiang Yu walked in and, evidently, had overheard her conversation.
“You’re going out later?”
“I’m going to meet Jiajia.
It’s been a long time since we saw each other.”
Jiang Nanshu took out a few coats from her suitcase and hung them in the wardrobe.
She noticed Jiang Yu was about to open another suitcase and hurriedly stopped her, “That one doesn’t need to be opened.
I’ll sort it out when I move.”
This house was a large duplex.
The downstairs had an open kitchen, living room, and a guest room.
Upstairs had four rooms, and the top floor had a small garden.
Before returning, Jiang Nanshu had already agreed that she would stay in the downstairs room.
Jiang Yu had long prepared the room and even replaced all the furniture at Lu Mingkun’s insistence.
Jiang Yu glanced at her, “Aren’t you staying at home?”
“I’ll stay outside so I don’t disturb your newlywed life.”
Jiang Nanshu winked at her.
“You’re both in your fifties, what are you talking about…”
Jiang Yu was slightly embarrassed by her daughter’s words.
She was the head of the gynecology department, and Lu Mingkun was a cardiovascular expert.
They had been divorced for many years, but they had known each other for a long time and had gotten together only after careful consideration.
“You living alone downstairs gives you some independence.
Stay for a few months, and when our other house is renovated, you can move in, so you won’t have to rent.”
The old neighborhood where they used to live was demolished a few years ago.
They were compensated with a small three-bedroom apartment, which was handed over at the end of last year.
Jiang Yu had always said that the house was for Jiang Nanshu.
When she returned, she could decorate and settle in.
“I’m used to living alone.
It’s uncomfortable living with you two.”
If Jiang Yu were still alone, she definitely wouldn’t rent a house.
Now that she had a new stepfather, even if they weren’t living on the same floor, it still felt awkward.
It would be fine for a few days or a weekend, but long-term, it would be difficult.
Jiang Nanshu had always been headstrong, ever since high school when she chose marketing despite being told to study medicine.
When it was time to return to Jiangcheng for work, she insisted on spending a few years outside.
Once she made up her mind, it was hard to persuade her.
Seeing that she was determined, Jiang Yu could only compromise.
“Alright, once you’ve settled on a job, we’ll find a place nearby.
It’ll be more convenient for work.”
“You’re so slow.”
At 10:30 p.m., Cheng Jiajia opened the door and complained to Jiang Nanshu outside.
Jiang Nanshu was changing her shoes while handing her a bag of beer.
“I had to wait for my mom to sleep before coming.
I was delayed buying beer downstairs.”
Cheng Jiajia’s house wasn’t big, and the location wasn’t great.
The down payment was covered by her family, and she was repaying the loan herself.
On the small coffee table, there were a few plates of barbecue takeout she had ordered.
There was also a laptop beside it, with a document open.
“You ordered so much?”
Jiang Nanshu had eaten a hearty dinner.
“I’m full, but you go ahead.”
“I’ll eat.”
Cheng Jiajia sat cross-legged on the carpet, setting up the beer.
She first took a photo and posted it to her social media before opening a can and raising an eyebrow at Jiang Nanshu: Hurry up and explain.
“I already sent you a message, didn’t I? He said he owed Lu Youchuan a favor, and Lu Youchuan needed his help, so he went.”
Jiang Nanshu sat beside her, opened a can of beer, and took a sip.
Actually, she didn’t like beer, but Cheng Jiajia did.
On this cold winter night, instead of going to a bar to spend a fortune on cocktails, she preferred ordering a bunch of takeout and a bag of beer, relaxing at home while watching variety shows and chatting.
Cheng Jiajia nudged her shoulder: “It’s been so many years.
How do you feel seeing him again?”
Jiang Nanshu laughed helplessly: “Awkward.”
“No spark at all?”
“If I said there was no feeling, you definitely wouldn’t believe me.”
Jiang Nanshu didn’t believe it herself.
She took another sip of beer.
“I was mainly shocked.
I didn’t expect to run into him as soon as I landed.
I wasn’t prepared at all.”
Cheng Jiajia imagined the scene and got goosebumps.
As their classmate and Jiang Nanshu’s good friend, she had always thought Song Ye liked her too.
But when Jiang Nanshu confessed, he rejected her so decisively.
“Are you still having trouble moving on?”
“…”
Jiang Nanshu grabbed a pillow and hugged it, staring at the barbecue silently for a few seconds before speaking: “No.”
She paused and added, “Even if he came back, we won’t meet often.
We’re both in our late twenties now. I’ve let go.”
Cheng Jiajia looked at her with doubt, holding a skewer of barbecue: “You better have.”
“Use your computer.”
“Feel free to.”
Jiang Nanshu pulled the laptop in front of her, saved the file, and opened a recruitment website.
Cheng Jiajia leaned over to look, stunned: “No way! You just finished your handover last week, and now you’re already planning to find a job?”
Jiang Nanshu had worked in a game company as an operations manager.
After several years of hard work, she had recently been promoted to operations director before deciding to quit.
After resigning, a few companies assumed she wanted to change jobs and contacted her.
However, they were all companies from Deep City, so she still needed to send resumes to find a job in Jiangcheng.
“Just looking for now.
If I find something suitable, I’ll start soon.”
Cheng Jiajia couldn’t understand: “You’re addicted to work! There are only two months left until the New Year.
Wouldn’t it be better to look for a job after the holiday?”
She scrolled the mouse while looking at the computer screen: “If I stay at home, my mom will definitely arrange blind dates for me.
The schedule is packed until the New Year, one a week, so that’s ten dates in total.”
“…Got it.”
Cheng Jiajia immediately understood.
She ate some barbecue, watching as Jiang Nanshu clicked on the page for a company.
“Ji Fan Technology.
Are you thinking about applying there?”
Jiang Nanshu stared at the screen.
“Mm, didn’t you mention their new project launch last year?”
A few years ago, Ji Fan made a quick profit from a few skin-swapped card games, but at the same time, the company’s reputation wasn’t very good.