Cheng Lingran sighed after watching Jiang Xiu busy himself in moving the luggage inside, "Little Xiu, you're still the same as before, a good lad."
Cheng Lingsu was left dumbstruck after hearing this. My good sister, do you know what you're saying? He's the devil. He's the reason our family has gone bankrupt, and here you are praising him.
"You must not act bossy and get along with Little Xiu from now on."
Hearing her earnest words, Cheng Lingsu looked at her as if she were looking at a crazy person.
However, Cheng Lingran's thoughts were on a totally another wavelength. Thank god that father didn't remove the engagement between Lingsu and Little Xiu. Otherwise, they would have lost faith in us, and we would have been left with nothing.
Cheng Lingsu really wanted to expose Jiang Xiu's true identity in front of her big sister, but Jiang Xiu's previous warning made her stomach her anger. She could only agree helplessly.
"Okay."
"Little Xiu, drink some water!"
As it was blistering hot due to the summer, Cheng Lingran had gone to buy a bottle of cold mineral water for Jiang Xiu.
"Mhm."
The girl before him had just reached the age of 20. Although she hadn't matured to that lovely form of the previous timeline, she still exuded a youthly breath with her bright, glistening black eyes.
Jiang Xiu didn't know what kind of change would occur in her future life due to him destroying the Cheng family.
He took out a necklace and handed it over to her.
The necklace consisted of a small pearl inside which a faint golden light kept flickering. This was the River Swallowing Toad's inner core. Only a little energy remained inside it after he had devoured most in the past few days. He used a secret skill to place a spell array inside which would activate in case Cheng Lingran was in danger.
"A gift for you!"
"For me?"
To Cheng Lingran, Jiang Xiu was just like a little brother, so she felt it a bit unexpected that he had given her a gift. She received it from him. The necklace felt ice-cold yet also very soothing, "What is this?"
"An amulet!"
Cheng Lingran's eyes seemed to smile. She wouldn't have taken the gift if it was a precious thing but she would consider it as his kind intentions and accept it if it was an amulet. After she put it on, spiritual energy poured out from the pearl, cleansing the energies within the house. Her surroundings cooled down as if a gale had passed through.
"So magical."
"It's quite useful, the pearl matches with the horoscope. Also, you cannot remove it or else it will stop working. You have to keep wearing it even while bathing and sleeping."
"Aaah?"
Cheng Lingran's eyes turned wide open, "It's fine in the summer since it's so cold but won't I freeze if I have to wear it during the winter too?"
Jiang Xiu had never seen such a girly Cheng Lingran who was innocent and unaffected. She was completely different from the Cheng Lingran in his memories. In the previous timeline, Cheng Lingran was a woman shrouded in pain and never smiled. Even if she did smile, it was a fake one. She was tormented by Jiang Xiu every day, yet she refused to leave him and go away.
"It's warm in the winter and cold in the summer…"
"Just like a jade, huh." She caressed it once before letting go of it. "Have you filled out the aspiration form yet? You're the topper so they will give free reign to you."
"I haven't decided yet."
"Susu is planning to choose the Imperial University so why don't you pick it as well? Then you both can attend together…"
The Imperial University and the National University were the best educational establishments in the country and were of the same grade. Most people choose one of these two.
"I'll think it over."
A wailing sound arrived from outside at this moment, "Hanlin!"
Cheng Hanlin had arrived. After seeing the worn-out condition of the house, he had a lifeless look in his eyes as he let Sun Xiaohong cry bitterly on him, "Do you plan to let us mother and daughters life our life here?"
Jiang Xiu sneered in his mind, Did you think you'll live in a grand villa or something?
This Deity has spared your life since you gave birth to a good daughter who paid for your sins.
Buddha once said that the previous generation's karma is paid by the later generations. If it weren't for Cheng Lingran paying for their sins in the previous timeline, Jiang Xiu would have exterminated the entire Cheng family thoroughly.
"We don't even have enough money to hire a decent house?"
"We do have a little money, but that's for our daughter's tuition fee." Sun Xiaohong grabbed her expensive purse tightly, afraid that the money inside would fly away. Fortunately, she had a little cash which she had hidden. If it were in the bank or had she used it to buy share certificates, they would have been frozen by the bank.
"Why don't you borrow a little from your friends? Tell them you'll return it later after you make some money."
Cheng Hanlin shook his head, "They aren't picking up their phone."
Such was the hypocrisy of the world.
"Though we husband and wife can suffer hardships, we can't make our children suffer." Cheng Hanlin loved his daughters very much and never shouted on them. "Ranran, buy a train ticket and return to the Imperial Capital. Try crashing at your friend's home or in the dorm."
With such a small house, even if Cheng Lingran wished to stay behind, she would only burden her home. Let alone, she had already planned it well. She would look for an internship after returning to the Imperial Capital. There were still two months left before she graduated so she could struggle for these two months using the wages.
"Mhm!"
"Susu… can you go live with Little Xiu?"
Cheng Hanlin felt that though the Jiang family wasn't that prosperous, they wouldn't have a problem to settle the portion of food for another person. After all, Cheng Lingsu was their future daughter-in-law, and he knew that Lin Yueling would treat his daughter fairly.
Cheng Lingsu looked at Jiang Xiu with astonishment, fear flashing through her gaze. Telling her to go live with him was akin to delivering a lamb to the tiger's cave. She got flustered, "Dad…"
"Do you have classmates who are willing to let you crash at their home then? If not, you have to go live with Little Xiu. Or are you telling me that you want to squeeze in here with mom and dad?"
Cheng Lingsu had tried to call her former best friends, Ouyang Qian and Li Dan after the incident, but the two of them said that they weren't in town. However, Cheng Lingsu had seen them both walking on the street later on.
"Alright, it's done then."
"Hurry up now. You won't be able to buy a train ticket if you're late…"
`"I'll accompany you there!"
Jiang Xiu and Cheng Lingsu helped to carry Cheng Lingran's luggage. She could've bought the things she lacked in the Imperial Capital before, but she had to take them with her now.
As the train station was still quite far, Jiang Xiu stopped a taxi when he saw it. However, Cheng Lingran didn't want to ride in it. "Let's go in the public transportation. We can't waste money like before."
"Let me pay for it!"
Jiang Xiu stated expertly. Alongside, Cheng Lingsu muttered to herself. Damn filthy rich people.
"Driver, to the airport!"
Cheng Lingran corrected him, "To Quhuo Railway Station."
"Where to in the end?" The driver was confused.
"Airport! It takes more than 20 hours from Jiang City to the Imperial Capital by train. I'm afraid you'll be exhausted. Let me buy the flight ticket. Money must be spent at times."
The little sister also agreed, "Yes, Sis. Let him pay for it." She cursed in her mind again. Damn filthy rich people.
"Okay!"
It wasn't that Cheng Lingran wanted to journey comfortably. It's just that there were many dangerous characters on the train. Kidnapping cases have also happened often there, and she was a girl in the prime of her youth, so she felt a bit unpeaceful to travel alone, thus agreed to it.
After reaching the airport, Jiang Xiu went to the ticket office, "To the Imperial Capital, 1st Class Cabin!"
1st class cabin?
Damn filthy rich people.
Cheng Lingran waved her hands, feeling flustered, "There's no need for that. The Economy Class is fine."
"This De… I said first class, so it'll be first class."
"There's really no need for that, Little Xiu…"
The ticket seller rolled her eyes, "You don't need to argue. There are no flights scheduled to the Imperial Capital today. The soonest one is set for tomorrow… 10:00 AM."
"What?"
There's so much luggage. We even spent money to ride the taxi, and you're saying there's no flight scheduled?
Cheng Lingran said, "Wouldn't that mean I'll have to stay here tonight?"
"I'll go call a friend," replied Jiang Xiu.
The ticket seller interjected, "It's useless no matter who you call. It's not like there are no tickets but rather no flights. There is only one flight to the Imperial Capital every day, which is at 10:00 AM."
Jiang Xiu didn't bother with him and went to the side then called Wang Xintong, "Arrange a plane for me, from Jiang City to the Imperial Capital. Don't arrange a helicopter, but rather make it a commercial plane."
"Mr. Jiang, we've already prepared a plane especially for you at Jiang City. It's ready at all times. I believe it can take off within half-an-hour."
This girl was keener than her father and more perceptive.
Jiang Xiu returned back after ending the call, "Alright, the flight should take off in half-an-hour. It'll arrive in the Imperial Capital in 8 hours."
"Who are you kidding? Didn't I say there's no flight scheduled?"
"Even private planes won't do?" replied Jiang Xiu.
The ticket seller, Cheng Lingran, and Cheng Lingsu were all left speechless.
Damn filthy rich people.