Dinner

"Yang Mu? What's up?"

Jiang Shen said while she put away the lock of her bike in the basket.

Yang Mu felt hesitant to reply. Should he say that he wanted to go home with her because he found out that they lived in the same direction? Or should he invite her to hangout?

Jiang Shen looked at him curiously, her eyebrows raised as she waited for him to speak.

'Forget it. I'm sure she wouldn't mind.'

In the end, he calmed himself down and said, "Want to go home together?"

Jiang Shen looked pleasantly surprised.

"You live in the east?"

The east side of the city was where the residential area was sparse and only a few known households lived there. The Jiang family only managed to live in such an exquisite area because of their ancestors.

"I do."

She looked down on her bike and frowned. How were they going to go home? Should he ride on her bike?

"Oh, I have my own bike. You don't need to worry," Yang Mu said as he fetched his bike from another rack.

Jiang Shen nodded. She felt that Yang Mu was nice and friendly and so did not reject his invitation, much to the surprise of others.

As they left together, it prompted several other students to gossip among themselves, a common sight. When the next day comes, there was going to be another rumor in the student forum.

"Where do you live, exactly?"

Jiang Shen asked as they slowly pedaled their bikes on the side of the road.

The commute to and from school took her ten minutes by bike, twenty by bus, thirty by walk. Because she was not physically fit, she preferred to take the bus or walk.

"I live near the abandoned Ping Manor. Do you know the Othello Lane?"

The two of them enjoyed the breeze as they pedaled, being careful of any incoming cars in the front and behind.

"I do."

Othello Lane housed most of the residential area and it's land was expensive. Jiang Shen then thought that the rumor that he came from an affluent family was true.

"We moved in one of the houses recently," Yang Mu said as he carefully made sure to protect her bike.

"Then, where are you guys from?"

Strangely enough, she felt curious about his background.

"I lived in Korea for six years before we moved back here. My grandfather had turned eighty and my parents decided to move back to take care of them," Yang Mu answered honestly.

If it were any other person he would've doubt the motive behind asking questions but for her, he answered honestly. He was still curious about why she looked familiar.

"Oh, I hope your grandfather gets well," Jiang Shen's voice softened. The road was quiet since it was still working hours, much to Yang Mu's relief.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The rest of the journey, Yang Mu and Jiang Shen got to know each other as he insisted on escorting her home. When he finally left, Jiang Shen turned quiet and solemn before locking her bike and entering the house.

When she reached the main hall, which also doubled as a living room, her grandparents were seated on the sofa. Nanny Cho, who was in charge of taking care of them, stood to the side respectively.

"Where have you been?"

Her grandfather exuded an imposing aura as he asked sternly.

"School."

"How was your first day?"

Her grandmother asked softly, a contrast to her grandfather's inflexible tone.

"It was okay."

No matter how much she felt uncomfortable talking to her grandparents, she still needed to maintain basic filial piety.

But the answer didn't seem to satisfy Grandfather Jiang as he spoke again, "Why are your replies so curt? Do you not like us asking questions?"

Although the tone was calm, his sharp eyes locked on her, making her break out in a sweat. Her clenched fists practically made her veins bulge out as she calmed herself.

"No, grandfather. I'm just tired from classes today," she calmly replied.

Her grandmother had a worried look on her face but remained silent. Neither of them wanted to agitate the old man further.

Grandfather Jiang let out a sigh and waved her away. Jiang Shen happily obliged and went to the east wing to change out of her uniform.

When dinner came and the whole family had gathered, Jiang Shen remained silent and continued to mind her own business.

Her uncle's job had gone well recently as he was promoted, earning the respect and admiration of the rest of the family. Her father was also doing very well in his job as he earned a substantial salary rise.

"I heard from the management that there's going to be a vacant position for marketing manager?" Jiang An, her father, inquired.

Jiang Chongan, her uncle, nodded and said, "My supervisor had already recommended me to the position. I'm only waiting for the other person to retire so that I can take over."

"That's good," Jiang Feng praised.

As a person who previously held an important position in a large scale company, Grandfather Jiang was proud of his second son that rose so quickly. Grandmother Jiang also nodded. "We're very lucky to have you."

"Chongan, why don't we accompany NaNa to her upcoming piano recital? I heard her teacher praising her recently," Tong Rou, a beautiful woman in her early thirties, suggested as she continued to cut small portions for the children.

Jiang Chongan nodded as well. "It's been a long time since we gathered as a family."

Jiang Shen continued to listen to all the gossip without a single word, until her grandfather noticed it and spoke, "Jiang Shen, why are you so quiet?"

The table turned silent as Jiang Shen's heart turned cold. Out of all his grandchildren, the only one who wasn't called in an endearingly manner by a nickname was her.

It was a pity that her mother named her. If not, she reckoned that the Jiang family would've changed it into Yuxun.