The boys called out only remembered they had things to do and could only regretfully shake their heads.
"I actually do have time." Song Xingyu wore his baseball cap backwards, "I'll go help."
Jiang Zhe remained noncommittal, while Xia Enci and Xiao Meng hurried to follow her, with Song Xingyu quickly catching up.
The girls in class one lowered their heads and whispered amongst themselves as they saw Xiao Meng approach.
"Xiao Meng still has the nerve to come back?"
"She doesn't think she can return to class one, does she?"
"Good riddance, her nightly screaming nightmares were seriously affecting our studies!"
Xiao Meng's face turned a slight red as she cast her eyes downward.
The next second, they saw that following Xiao Meng were the famous King Kong Barbie and school tyrant from the unnamed class, and their discussion came to an abrupt halt.
Jiang Zhe keenly picked up on the last sentence they said.
Song Xingyu went to fetch Xiao Meng's luggage and nearly broke his arm lifting it, "Why is this so heavy?"
Xiao Meng was embarrassed, "I have quite a few books."
"Move aside, let me do it." Xia Enci's loli voice was cute and clever as she casually picked up the luggage and strode out.
A smile couldn't help but show on Xiao Meng's ever-unsmiling face.
After packing up, it was also time for school to end, and they all went to the cafeteria together.
Jiang Fanyue was just walking out of the classroom with her backpack on when she saw Jiang Zhe being celebrated like a star by several people following her.
She said nothing, and even her eyes were cold and expressionless, but the people around her talked and chatted among themselves, always keeping her at the center.
Seeing Xia Enci among those circling Jiang Zhe, Jiang Fanyue felt a twinge of fear.
She had already learned that Xia Enci was her cousin, and if Xia Enci called her "cousin" on the spot, wouldn't that be...
At the thought, she hurriedly ran outside.
The classmates who came out with her were surprised, "Fanyue, why are you running so fast?"
Jiang Fanyue stopped only after she was out of Xia Enci's sight, "It's all right, someone from my family came to pick me up."
"You're so lucky, picked up and driven every day. A precious lady of the Jiang Family, heir to wealth, the apple of your family's eye, with good grades and beauty, it's as if heaven created you as their own daughter."
Hearing these words, Jiang Fanyue couldn't manage a smile and quickly said goodbye to her classmates before getting into the car that had come for her.
Her mother Liang Jinlan and brother Jiang Yunxuan were sitting in the back row.
Her mother's and brother's presence calmed Jiang Fanyue's restless heart.
"Why are you out of breath?" asked Liang Jinlan with a smile.
"I saw you, I wanted to see you sooner."
"Naughty child. By the way, I just glimpsed Jiang Zhe; what is she doing at your school? She's not there to cause you trouble, is she?"
At the mention of Jiang Zhe's name, Jiang Yunxuan immediately perked up, "Is it sister? Can I see sister now?"
"Your sister is right here!" Liang Jinlan said with exasperation.
"Yunxuan, be good, sister will buy you something tasty later," said Jiang Fanyue in a very gentle voice.
"Oh," Jiang Yunxuan looked down, disappointed.
Liang Jinlan said with emphasis, "Fanyue, your potential is boundless. Even if Jiang Zhe wants to influence you, it's not possible. You need to be resolute too, and spend more time practicing the piano to prepare for the upcoming competition. If you can successfully become Master Yue's disciple, we won't have to worry about anything. The difficulties the family is facing now are nothing."
"What difficulties has the family encountered?" Jiang Fanyue's heart skipped a beat, and she gripped her fingers tightly.
Liang Jinlan hesitated, "It's nothing, just focus on your own matters."
Seeing her mother's furrowed brows, Jiang Fanyue didn't dare to ask further.
The Jiang Family's clothing business had always been doing well, especially in the last decade or so, which had seen booming success.
Jiang Fanyue couldn't imagine what the problem could be.
Yet Liang Jinlan was worried. A while ago, a well-known designer J, who had been collaborating with the Jiang Family, suddenly announced his withdrawal.
J was a renowned international brand master Liang Jinlan had contacted by chance over a decade ago, who expressed willingness to work with the Jiang Family.
Initially, Liang Jinlan was unsure about J's capabilities, especially since J refused to meet in person, so she didn't trust him too easily.
Surprisingly, J generously provided some design drafts to the Jiang Family, authorizing them to use them for free, with the agreement to collaborate further if the results were good. With a try-and-see approach, Liang Jinlan used the designs.
Then, the Jiang Family's previously stable clothing business suddenly skyrocketed.
Liang Jinlan hurriedly reconnected with J, politely begging for cooperation.
Even though they had not met in over a decade, J continued to provide the Jiang Family with a steady stream of designs.
This was a major reason why the Jiang Family had been able to firmly establish itself as a wealthy household in Jincheng.
Liang Jinlan thought the good days would keep on coming. Even without J, wouldn't the strength of the brand they had built be enough? Who couldn't the world do without?
Yet in less than half a month, issues began to surface within the company.
J's designs would tide them over for a while, but the loss of J's persistent guidance left other designers of the Jiang Family like ships without anchors; their work was either unviewable or filled with flaws.
Even some more skilled designers, once learning of J's departure, either made a fuss about leaving or demanded promotions and raises.
Accustomed to the good life, Liang Jinlan was naturally overwhelmed when confronted with such vexing issues.
However, with Jiang Fanyue around, as long as she successfully became Master Yue's disciple, and once the Jiang Family pried open the gates of Beijing, none of this would matter.
After returning home, a worried Liang Jinlan asked her assistant to check why Jiang Zhe showed up at Fanyue's school.
Jiang Zhe's attendance at First Middle School wasn't exactly a well-kept secret.
The assistant quickly replied, "That Jiang Yaowang, he's exhausted his savings... he sent Jiang Zhe to First Middle School."
"What a waste of resources." Liang Jinlan shook her head, but then thought if Jiang Zhe really got involved with the Gu Family somehow, the expense would be worthwhile.
Calculations, it seemed, were what commoners were best at.
"I also heard that Jiang Yaowang sent some food to the second young miss at the school. But the second young miss didn't accept it."
A fretful Liang Jinlan responded, "Next time, take good care of Fanyue. Don't let their family get close!"
The assistant nodded.
"And remember, Fanyue isn't some 'second young miss.' In the Jiang Family, there's only one precious daughter!"
...
That night, when Jiang Zhe returned to her dormitory, new messages appeared on her phone.
"J, can we negotiate our collaboration again? I know you've never mentioned any demands before, but from now on, you can ask for whatever you want, and the Jiang Family will accommodate you."