Volume One, Chapter Five: See You at the Civil Affairs Bureau

Jiang Ning didn’t have time to reply to Lu Cheng’s message, nor did she check the other unread messages on WeChat, when a call came through. As soon as she answered, Cao Huixian’s sharp voice blared from the receiver, making her ears ring.

“Why haven’t you replied to Chenghong’s message? So much for being a teacher—such poor manners.”

Jiang Ning waved down a taxi, got in, took a deep breath, and explained patiently, “I was busy and didn’t see it.”

Cao Huixian scoffed, “The whole country’s on holiday—what could you possibly be busy with? Let me tell you, except for Chenghong, we won’t accept anyone else. You’d better end things with that Han fellow right away. I don’t care if he just got back from abroad or outer space—don’t expect us to accept him as a son-in-law.”

Jiang Ning was caught off guard by Cao Huixian’s sudden mention of Han Fang, and her breath faltered for a moment. She lowered her head, her expression growing dim. “We broke up.”

Cao Huixian sounded skeptical. “Broke up?”

After all that stubbornness, now she says it’s over just like that?

Jiang Ning replied with a muffled “Mm,” offering no further explanation.

The Jiang family had never approved of Han Fang. Given Cao Huixian’s temperament, if she found out Han Fang had cheated on Jiang Ning, she wouldn’t offer comfort—she’d only twist the knife.

Serves you right for not listening to me. Now you know. You should have heeded your elders.

Not that Cao Huixian cared. “Good, you should’ve broken up long ago. Anyway, Chenghong wants to take you to a movie tonight. Dress nicely—don’t embarrass the Jiang family.”

The Jiangs ran a building materials business and had set their sights on Du Chenghong, a wealthy second generation from a real estate family, aiming to expand their market through marriage—calling it a powerful alliance.

At the time, Jiang Ning was still dating Han Fang and refused to budge on the issue, until Cao Huixian caused a scene at her school and she was forced to agree to a lunch with Du Chenghong.

The meeting barely lasted an hour.

Du Chenghong was tall and well-groomed, with gold-rimmed glasses and refined manners. After she bluntly turned him down, he didn’t persist, but he couldn’t go three sentences without bragging about his wealth. They had nothing in common.

Jiang Ning instinctively wanted to refuse, but then thought—after all this, what was there left to be picky about?

She’d give it a try. Who knew, maybe it would work out.

“Understood,” she said.

Cao Huixian’s tone softened. “That’s more like it. Take time to dress up. You’re the Jiang family’s daughter, after all—don’t end up like those girls from small families, unable to take their proper seat. Girls should be a bit more open.”

Jiang Ning took a deep breath and stayed silent.

Yes, she wasn’t really the Jiang family’s daughter—just their adopted child.

She and Jiang Hui, the Jiang’s biological daughter, were born on the same day, in the same hospital room.

Her birth mother died from postpartum hemorrhage, and she was abandoned in the ward. Her grandparents, moved by her pitiful cries, fed her with a bottle of formula they bought.

Grandfather said that when he first held her, she was tiny and soft, crying loud with eyes shut tight. The moment the bottle touched her lips, she latched on and nursed herself to sleep, needing no coaxing.

The hospital called the police, but they couldn’t find any family and planned to send her to an orphanage. Out of pity—and perhaps a sense of fate—Grandfather arranged for his son to adopt her, and they told the world they’d had twins.

As a child, she didn’t understand why her sister Jiang Hui grew up pampered in the Jiang family villa, while she lived with her grandparents in the garden community, seeing her parents only during holidays.

Not that the garden community was bad. A decade ago, it was a wealthy neighborhood, with excellent amenities and services.

Nor were her grandparents unkind; quite the opposite. They poured all their time and energy into her, caring for her meticulously, tutoring her studies, taking her out for experiences, giving her all the love and attention they could.

But grandparents and parents are not the same.

Jiang Ning had always believed she and Jiang Hui were siblings separated by fate.

One cherished, one abandoned.

Grandfather claimed he kept her for his own enjoyment of family happiness, but Jiang Ning knew her parents simply didn’t like her.

She didn’t know the reason, but it wasn’t unusual—not every child is loved by their parents.

Many share her fate, and she never wallowed in self-pity. She just couldn’t help but long for what she lacked, and felt lost when she couldn’t attain it.

On her tenth birthday, she asked Grandfather for a wish, voiced her doubts, and finally learned the truth.

It took a long time to move from heartbreak to acceptance—painful, but in the end, she accepted it.

Perhaps it was better this way—no more clinging to what was never hers.

A couple of years ago, her grandparents passed away in succession. Since then, Jiang Ning felt she had no real family left; her adoptive parents were no closer to her than the old neighbors in the garden community.

But, to be fair, it was the Jiang family who gave her an identity. She remembered this kindness, and except for matters of personal principle, she tried to meet their expectations.

Even when Jiang Hui wanted to submit her artwork to a competition, she let Jiang Hui sign her own name with a heavy heart.

To the Jiangs, though, her presence was more that of a debtor than a daughter.

If she weren’t blessed with good looks and a strong academic background—if she didn’t hold some utility for them—they’d probably never remember there was still someone living in the old house.

When Jiang Ning stayed silent, Cao Huixian’s tone turned sour again, and with an eye roll, she snapped, “Hurry up and message him back!” before hanging up.

Jiang Ning opened WeChat and replied to Du Chenghong. They agreed to have dinner before the movie.

The movie started at eight; Du Chenghong arrived at her community by five to pick her up.

In the car, Jiang Ning received another message from Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng: I have no problem with your conditions. So… see you at the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow morning?

Jiang Ning was pondering how to decline, but before she could decide, the car stopped at the restaurant. Du Chenghong, ever the gentleman, opened the passenger door for her, and she put her phone away.

Apart from Du Chenghong’s remark after paying the bill—“Not even a thousand yuan, this place is too cheap”—the dinner went smoothly.

What she didn’t expect was that, for all his mild-mannered appearance, Du Chenghong turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The moment they entered the dark cinema, he changed completely; before the opening credits had finished, his hands were all over her.

Most people retreat in the light; he, like a reptile, revealed his true nature in the dark.

All the frustration pent up in Jiang Ning’s heart exploded in that instant. She grabbed his hand and bit down with all her might.

In the dim theater, Du Chenghong’s face twisted in pain as he howled. Jiang Ning let go and fled, tossing over her shoulder, “Better get a rabies shot—I was just bitten by a dog yesterday!”

She dashed out of the cinema, hair flying, red dress swirling, wind roaring in her ears—reckless and free!

Jiang Ning didn’t stop until she was breathless.

Exhilarating!

It felt far better to be a biting dog than a repressed human being.

While she was basking in relief, Du Chenghong complained to Cao Huixian, who, unable to reach Jiang Ning by phone, bombarded her with over a dozen scathing voice messages, demanding she apologize.

In the end, she even sent an address: Holiday Hotel, Room 1308.

Anyone could guess what kind of “apology” was expected at a hotel.

This wasn’t just sending a lamb into a tiger’s den—it was asking the lamb to wash itself and climb willingly into the tiger’s belly.

She wouldn’t go. Let whoever wants to do it, do it.

If Han Fang’s betrayal had shattered Jiang Ning’s faith in love, Cao Huixian’s actions had fully awakened the rebellion in her bones.

She found Brother Three-Inch in her WeChat contacts: All right. Nine o’clock tomorrow morning. See you at the Civil Affairs Bureau.