Confirmation

"Well?"

The atmosphere was tense, much to the rest of the family's dismay. The clanging of chopsticks on ceramic remained.

Jiang Shen sat straight, raised her head and said carefully, "Then grandfather, what should I say?"

The table shook as Grandfather Jiang banged his fist against the table.

"Brat! How dare you!"

"Dear!"

Grandmother Jiang pat his back comfortingly. She looked at Jiang Shen, who remained silent.

"Don't mind your grandfather, Shen. He's just agitated by the food. Nanny Cho, can you whip up a bowl of congee?"

Nanny Cho bowed lightly and left the room. Grandfather Jiang pointed at Jiang Shen with his trembling hand and yelled, "If it wasn't because of your younger sister, I would've already kicked you out of the household with your mother!"

His words struck a chord in her as Jiang Shen clenched her fist. Ever since her mother left the household, Grandfather Jiang always made it a point to compare her to her mother. He no longer called her intimately and no longer looked at her with warm eyes.

It was as if his vision had been warped due to the incident. Jiang Shen clenched her fists underneath the table. Suppressing the urge to lash out, she breathed deeply and calmly replied, "I'm sorry."

Grandfather Jiang harrumphed and continued to eat. The rest of the family eyed her with pity and sympathy. Her two younger cousins and sister, didn't understand the commotion and only curiously looked at their grandfather and jiejie.

As if the mood had been spoiled, no one no longer had any appetite to eat, ending dinner early. Jiang Shen was just happy to escape from being in the same room as them.

In her bedroom, the blinds were down and there were no lights. There were barely any furniture and the only thing that made it her own were the medals that hung up on the wall.

The incident that happened at dinner wasn't the first time. Since two years ago, when she reached Year One, her grandfather hadn't been initiating any conversation that they used to have.

He longer taught her about literature and etiquette, nor did he proceed to tell her all the little stories she used to listen to when she was younger.

Sometimes she had caught her grandfather with all the younger children listening to him telling tales about the past. It used to strike sadness and disappointment in her, now it turned to indifference.

"Are you okay?"

Jiang Mei knocked on her door and leaned on the frame, her gaze containing worry.

"I'm fine. This isn't the first time this has happened. I'm used to it. At least now he doesn't hit me."

Jiang Shen folded her clothes and put them away in her dressed.

Jiang Mei sighed. She felt pity for her oldest niece. Even if she defended her, it would've made things worse, prompting her to stay quiet during dinner. It was fortunate that things didn't escalate.

"Why are you here, Aunt?"

Jiang Shen just wanted to sleep everything off. Not having the energy to do anything, she felt her mood becoming worse.

"I just..."

Jiang Mei looked at her niece who looked cold and indifferent, not at all the usual happy go lucky she portrayed.

"Wanted to make sure you were feeling alright."

Jiang Shen sensed her worries but didn't bother to tell her. It wasn't like she was actually going to do something about it. A few words of comfort weren't going to solve the issue. She turned off the lights and covered herself with a comforter.

"Don't worry, Aunt. I'll be back to normal tomorrow. It's only Monday, don't stress yourself out. Goodnight."

"Alright, sleep tight."

Jiang Mei left her room, still fraught with worry.

...

"Do you guys want to hangout after school?"

Shi Fen and the others ate under the shade of the oak tree during lunch break. All of them had packed their own lunches and happily conversed while eating.

After sleeping off her problems, Jiang Shen woke up feeling a little down, which is why she stayed quiet while the others talked. Cao Wei noticed this and said, "Shen? Are you okay?"

Jiang Shen looked up from her lunch and smiled.

"I'm fine. My stomach hurt last night so I slept it off."

"That's good. I was wondering why you were so quiet."

Cao Wei playfully hit her shoulder.

"By the way, I heard you're classmates with that famous transferee? What's he like?"

Kang Shu rolled her eyes at the sight of Cao Wei with all ears gazing at Jiang Shen expectantly. Her penchant for gossip was a habit she couldn't kick.

"Don't ask something you already know the answer to."

Jiang Shen then remembered their interactions yesterday.

"I think he's nice. All the rumors about him so far are true."

"Oh?" Cao Wei smirked. "Then, is the rumor true?"

"What rumor?"

"That he took you home yesterday! It's hot gossip going around the student forum. A lot of boys and girls are envious."

"Eh?"

Jiang Shen felt that the students minded other's businesses way too much. A simple walk home was enough to spark a rumor.

"It's true but—"

"I knew it!" Cao Wei snapped her fingers together. "See, I won the bet. Pay up, guys!"

Shi Fen, Cheng Muyi, and Ju Sheng all took out a hundred yuan from their wallets and begrudgingly handed it to Cao Wei, whose eyes sparkled with delight.

"Jackpot!"

"Ah, Shen! Why did you have to tell the truth? Now I have to go home everyday with Muyi," Ju Sheng pouted.

Cheng Muyi frowned and said, "But we always go home together?"

"That's because I can't hang out with Jiang Shen at all! Her family is so strict she always has to get permission first. It's not like we're going to a party."

Jiang Shen caressed her head comfortingly.

"There, there. Don't worry, starting now i'll hang out with you guys more often."

"Does that include me?"

A clear voice spoke from behind, prompting all of them to turn around to look at the approaching figure in surprise.