Chapter 008: Emotional Roller Coaster

Standing at the back door of the flower and bird market, Jiang Nan, who had just finished reading a manuscript under the newly lit street lamp, finally reacted after several subtle reminders from Yang Yi that left her both amused and exasperated

Are you going to find a publisher today? Remembering the unmistakable fatigue on Yang Yi's face during their recent encounter, Jiang Nan suddenly felt a stir in her heart

Dad, take a look at this draft! Knowing that Yang Yi is not good at speaking up in such matters, Jiang Nan kindly helped her classmate out: "Aren't you a top student from the History Department of Z University? Come and see if this meets your standards."

However, it is truly inappropriate for outsiders to intervene in such matters, and he can only turn a blind eye to them

The boy's expression was one that Jiang Nan had seen about half a month ago—during that conference, the echoes of which still linger.

Without waiting for Jiang Jianmo to respond, Jiang Nan, leaning on the sofa and holding the manuscript, cast a seemingly elegant yet teasing glance at Yang Yiyi—has the great writer not felt hungry after a whole day of travel? Quite in good health, I see

It seems that I have delayed others from returning home In such a situation, it is still the first time for Miss Jiang Nan, who has always presented herself to others with a demeanor of grace and understanding

Perhaps I can help you come up with some solutions. Jiang Nan's words gave Yang Yi a sense of a turning point, as the fatigue of the day and the mental exhaustion seemed to vanish in an instant

Jiang Nan's words left Jiang Jianmo feeling extremely embarrassed, prompting him to slightly turn to the side. To outsiders, it merely appeared as the modesty of a municipal party secretary, which was not particularly damaging.

Jiang Jianmo nodded slightly, neither affirming nor denying. The slight surprise on his face disappeared upon hearing the answer. He maintained his usual expression, as calm as water, but regarded Yang Yi with a bit more respect. This boy did not exhibit the frivolousness typical of young men, which was indeed rare, yet it also made Jiang Jianmo feel a twinge of unease—youthful yet composed, having such a boy approach his daughter, he could not tell whether it was good or bad.

Thus, she looked up, and the young man across stood in the dark blue twilight, his features blurred. The fragrance of night-blooming jasmine and honeysuckle wafted over, causing Jiang Nan's heart to flutter slightly, rendering her momentarily distracted, before she quickly regained her usual gentleness and tranquility, as if her emotions had never been stirred.

Although Yang Yi was not well acquainted with Jiang Nan's family situation, upon seeing the table full of dishes and the fleeting look of fatigue in Jiang Jianmo's eyes, the perceptive Yang Yi, whose intellect far surpassed that of an average teenager, keenly sensed the subtleties of the foremost family in Yuezhou

"The creation of the game has made my uncle laugh!" Yang Yi had long since cast aside his earlier moment of excitement, and instead found himself reflecting on his own lack of experience—having known that he held a pearl in his hand, he was still overly concerned about it gathering dust, which was rather excessive worry. Thus, when Jiang Jianmo looked over, Yang Yi returned to a state of calmness, free from desires, with a clean and clear smile, and courteous demeanor.

Since they had invited him into the house, it was only proper to observe some surface etiquette. Moreover, Jiang Jianmo was a local official in charge, so he casually poured a cup of new tea for Yang Yi. Before he could even begin to exchange pleasantries, Yang Yi spoke up first: "Thank you, Uncle. You all go ahead and eat, don't mind me."

Yang Yili politely nodded and smiled, neither shrinking back nor trying to please, and confidently entered the room. This attitude was somewhat unexpected for the Secretary. Generally, the boys of similar age that Jiang Jianmo encountered were either infatuated with his daughter or intimidated by his long-standing position of power, and they all showed great respect upon meeting him. He did not expect to see an exception today.

Then turning to Yang Yi: "This young student is ... ... "

Because he was merely taking a casual glance, Jiang Jianmo's gaze was somewhat indifferent, resembling the notion of skimming through a text. However, as he continued to look, this scholar-turned-Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee let out a soft "Oh," expressing some surprise, and his posture gradually became more upright. Jiang Nan, familiar with this stance, understood very well that this was a sign that her father was beginning to take things seriously

Jiang Nan remained noncommittal, as if she had not heard anything. If Yang Yi were to leave like this now, she would indeed feel as if her heart were being scratched by a cat—she was right at the exciting part of the manuscript, and it was addictive, making it hard to stop.

However, through these more than three months of understanding, he never expected that the once well-behaved and sensible girl would transform into a young woman with two extreme personalities. Although Jiang Nan's manner of interacting with others remained as generous and polite as it was in her childhood, it was not until Jiang Jianmo accidentally discovered a pile of beer cans that his daughter had not had time to clean under her bed, along with the rebellious glint that occasionally flashed in her eyes, that he would often find himself reflecting on whether he had overlooked something.

Since Jiang Jianmo discovered the wonders of these characters, he has been reading them with great care. After finishing 5 or 6 sheets of paper, he surprisingly spent over a quarter of an hour. When he came across an exciting part, he instinctively reached for his teacup, only to realize that he hadn't eaten, so there was no tea. However, this did not interrupt his enthusiasm for the book; instead, he continued to immerse himself in the reading, completely unaware that his daughter had already prepared tea leaves and brought them to him.

It was not until his cervical spine ailment flared up again that the secretary suddenly became aware, having been engrossed in reading. He then took the time to stretch his neck and noticed the teacup in his hand, which had been emptied completely.

I will show it to you when I have time, it's too late, I'm afraid my mother..." Yang Yi smiled

Oh? The daughter can't even take the time to eat, and she's captivated by this thing? She even recommends it to herself? Jiang Jianmo, driven by a sudden curiosity, smiled and nodded at Yang, then sat down beside Jiang Nan and took the first few sheets of manuscript that his young lady had finished reading.

Although it was just a brief compliment, Yang Yi detected a hint of unspoken doubt within it; it was doubt, not mere surprise

My classmate, Yang Yi, saw that his father still had a scrutinizing gaze, showing no intention of letting anyone in. Jiang Nan smiled gracefully at the old man and the young man standing at the door, embodying the demeanor of a true lady of high society: "You two can chat while I go get some water"

Jiang Jianmo looked at the table full of dishes with some helplessness; his daughter Jiang Nan had not been home since the high school entrance examination, yet he still had to prepare her meals.

Perhaps the writing style of this book is somewhat ahead of its time, and no one is willing to accept it Yang Yi shook his head and smiled with a hint of helplessness

Since embarking on a political career at his mother's arrangement, Jiang Jianmo and his daughter have spent little time together, until recently when he was transferred from a neighboring province to govern his hometown.

"You all are not eating, and I don't have an appetite at the moment either!" Jiang Jianmo forced a cheerful smile, feeling utterly helpless towards his daughter. He decided to abandon the thought of having a meal and a heart-to-heart with his precious daughter, and instead turned to Yang Yi: "Nana, you brought your classmates back, is it..."

"Who wrote this draft?" Jiang Jian did not answer but instead asked a question in return, yet his gaze instinctively turned towards Yang Yi. It seemed that this boy was indeed the one, but to possess such a broad knowledge base at such a young age, along with writing skills that would make many professional writers feel inferior, was truly hard to believe

However, today when the doorbell rang, Jiang Jianmo felt a surge of joy as he went to open the door, only to find that standing outside, besides his daughter, was a boy who seemed to be of the same age as her

Indeed, as Jiang Nan mentioned, Jiang Jianmo himself is also an outstanding student from the History Department of Z University. University students of their era were truly elite, with no dilution of merit. He has engaged in academia for many years and later entered politics under his mother's influence, which has naturally broadened his horizons and insights. However, it is surprising to see that an article that could be described as innovative and exceptionally brilliant comes from such a young man in the prime of his youth, which has left Secretary Jiang, who usually keeps his emotions in check, somewhat astonished

As Jiang Nan was engrossed in reading the subsequent text, she suddenly heard the words, and her pupils constricted sharply. In contrast, Yang Yi showed no sign of disappointment; instead, he leisurely picked up his teacup and took a sip of the untouched tea.

Seeing his daughter with a beaming expression, Jiang Jianmo immediately felt a sense of loss and displeasure, much like any father who has had his daughter taken away. However, he did not show any of these feelings on his face, instead adopting the authoritative demeanor of a parental figure: "You’re back? Hurry up and eat!"

This was already the friendliest reaction Yang Yi had ever seen. The boy dared to bet that if it were any other girl, she would likely have directly asked something like, "Is this really your writing?" However, upon reflection, he suddenly recalled that seemingly indifferent Su Wan.

"How is this draft?" Jiang Nan obediently refilled her father's teacup, presenting a picture of a virtuous and filial daughter, which made Yang Yi seriously doubt his previous conclusions about the conflict between the Jiang father and daughter. This gentle and obedient demeanor seemed too far removed from the lonely shadow of her smoking self.

Then she sweetly smiled at her father and said, "I have eaten outside, Dad, you go ahead and eat."

This attitude also inspired and excited Yang Yi somewhat. Although he is indeed a second-generation individual, he possesses experiences and a positive mindset that far exceed those of his peers. However, this is the first time in both his past and present lives that he has seen the dawn of success, which made even someone as strong-willed as him feel a bit thrilled.

However, the more he thought this way, the more guilty Jiang's father felt, which made him increasingly cautious. His sudden strict discipline only served to alienate both his daughter and himself even further. Therefore, all he could do now was to insist on waiting for Jiang Nan to come home before having his meals every day

"That murmuring brings you here, what is it you want?" At this moment, Jiang Jianmo had roughly understood the intention of the young man who had come to visit. However, he still chose to sidestep the main issue and deflected the conversation: "You are quite a remarkable child, with a broad knowledge base and have put effort into your writing! However... this book, it seems to be rather vulgar!"

It seemed as if he was asking his daughter, yet his eyes were actually fixed on Yang Yi. When Jiang Nan said she wasn't going to eat, the boy's gaze lingered on the dining table for a moment, then swept past his own face, clearly having noticed something but choosing not to speak of it. This level of attentiveness and mature mindset gave Jiang Jianmo a strange feeling, akin to being in an office facing his own secretary—except without that sense of deference.