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Twenty-Second Period (2)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
The final exams were approaching, with just a month left. After the exams, it’ll be winter break.
Good news arrived as well. Her dad got promoted a few days ago, his salary doubling.
Because of this, her mom resigned from her employer’s residence, planning to find work near home and pick-up odd jobs.
During lunch that afternoon, her mom said, “That Xiao Jiang upstairs is working as a tutor over break and can make two thousand a month. Your grades aren’t worse than hers, so when time comes, also go find a tutoring job.”
But Xiao Jiang was already in college. She doesn’t have the pressure of the college entrance exam. That’s why, she has the time to tutor others.
But she was about to enter her third year.
Jiang Huihui clenched the chopsticks and hesitantly said, “I want to use the winter break to review my studies at home.”
“Review what? What use is there reviewing that much? In any case, you’ll have to learn it all over again once school starts.” Her mom refused to listen to any argument, “You listen to me on this matter!”
Jiang Huihui lowered her head and didn’t say more.
The place where they lived was an old residential complex. There was no elevator, the environment poor, and located in an urban village. There have been people moving away one after another in the recent years.
Even their neighbor on the same floor also moved to another city last year.
That unit has already been vacant for a very long time.
This morning, on her way to school, Jiang Huihui saw movers moving furniture inside.
She blanked, clearly unable to imagine that while everyone was trying to flee this place, someone actually wanted to move into this dark, gloomy place.
When returning from school at night, she saw a few neighbor aunties cracking melon seeds and chatting downstairs, “Heard that it was directly buying that entire unit, not even renting, tsk tsk. When they came to sign the contract this morning, I’d caught a glance, crazy handsome! That height, almost twice as tall as your family’s boy.”
“What use is there being handsome? Can being handsome put food on the table?” Hearing her son getting insulted, that woman indignantly replied.
The other party laughed, “They’re not only handsome and young, they’re also rich, so what do you think?”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Seeing Jiang Huihui return, the women who were chatting greeted her, “Huihui, how come you’re back so late today?”
Jiang Huihui was obedient and polite. After greeting them one by one, she finally answered their question, “I have a lot of homework, so I stayed a bit longer at school.”
She was very well-liked around here. Not only was she pretty and obedient, her grades were also good. Quite a few who have sons at home often joke with her mom, saying that they want to reserve Jiang Huihui as their future daughter-in-law.
Her mom would disdainfully smile, “Our Huihui is going to marry a rich businessman. This lousy place, let whoever’s willing to stay, stay.”
On the surface, they all flattered her, but on the inside, they’ve long mocked her to death.
Her temper was notoriously bad around here. Her young son took after her in personality. Only this eldest daughter was particularly obedient.
After greeting them, Jiang Huihui went upstairs. The people across from them must have already finished moving in.
The door wasn’t shut all the way. She inadvertently glanced inside. The furniture inside appeared to be very expensive, completely out of place in this old building.
Unknown as to why, Jiang Huihui suddenly thought of that phrase her mom always carried by her mouth.
—–Toilets made of gold.
Although a bit crude, using it here was very fitting.
Just looking at these furniture, it was obvious that the owner didn’t lack money.
Then why come to live here, to experience the hardships of commoners?
Jiang Huihui although was curious, she was merely just curious. She won’t overly concern herself with other people’s business.
She took out her key and opened the door. As soon as she went in, she just saw her doll in Jiang Man’s arms, getting scribbled on.
She slightly frowned, going over to snatch it back, “Why are you touching my stuff?”
When her mom heard, she scolded her, “It’s just a useless toy. He’s your younger brother, be nice to him.”
Every time, it was always these words.
Jiang Huihui pursed her lips, feeling a bit wronged, “But this is mine.”
Her mom rolled her eyes at her, “Is this just how you act as the older sister? A stupid doll is even worth you getting angry over?”
It simply wasn’t just that one straw that broke the camel’s back.
Every time Jiang Man does something wrong, her mom would always use this kind of soft approach, never punishing him.
This time, it was also the same. Jiang Man secretly made a face at her.
Actually, this already wasn’t the first time. Over the years, similar incidents have occurred don’t know how many times already.
Every time, it was always Jiang Huihui lowering her head. Her meek and submissive personality was precisely developed through these countless instances of giving in.
But recently, it seems something was changing at a visibly noticeable pace.
She suddenly recalled Zhou Yanli’s words. If you constantly given in, others will just think that you’re easy to bully.
She mustered up her courage, talking back to her mom for the first time, “Even if it’s just a stupid doll, it’s still mine. Without my permission, no one can touch it!”
Perhaps angered by her talking back, her mom roared at her in disbelief, “Jiang Huihui, what are you saying?!”
The soundproofing in this building was poor. This shout of hers practically could be heard throughout the entire building.
Even Jiang Man got startled, standing there, not daring to move.
Jiang Huihui tightly bit her lower lip. It was already bleeding.
But she still didn’t lower her head. She was like a mud doll, who after getting baked in the sun, was finally no longer soft.
The quarrel on one floor drew the attention of the entire building.
Everyone all opened their windows and stuck out their heads, hoping to hear more details.
Her mom noticed and cursed out the window, “The hell you all looking at, never seen someone lecturing their child before? What, you don’t have children at home? A bunch of childless bastards!”
Jiang Huihui’s eyes were red and swollen, but she still fought back her tears.
She opened the door and walked out without a word.
She truly didn’t want to stay here any longer. She was already at her limit. That stretched cord in her mind was about to snap at any moment.
Her mom was angrily cursing behind her, telling her that if she leaves, then don’t ever come back again, even ruthlessly slamming the door shut.
As soon as Jiang Huihui stepped out, she just saw Zhou Jinwei standing outside the door.
He clearly came over after hearing the commotion. When he saw the blood on her lips, his eyes darkened.
“Does it hurt?”
These three simple words nevertheless made Jiang Huihui instantly break down in tears. She just repeatedly nodded her head, unable to say a single word.
Zhou Jinwei glanced at the tightly shut door across from them, his eyes growing dark.
He had her taken into his arms and helped wipe her tears, gently and softly coaxing her, “Don’t worry. Go inside, apply some medicine and a warm compress, and it’ll stop hurting.”
“F$#%!” From the room behind them, someone angrily stormed out, cursing and swearing. The bubbles on his head still haven’t gotten rinsed out, and he just had a bath towel casually wrapped around his waist, “How come I heard Jiang Huihui’s name just now? Don’t tell me grandma is f#$%ing at it again…..”
Halfway through crying and seeing this scene before her, Jiang Huihui momentarily forgot her sadness. She froze there on the spot.
Recalling what she saw during the day and what she heard from the aunties downstairs earlier, she never expected that the ones moving in were them, “How come you……..moved here?”
Zhou Yanli had the bath towel tightened around his waist, his face filled with rage, “If I hadn’t moved here, how would I know that you’re getting yelled at again. F$%#, even if it’s grandma, I’d beat her all the same.”
As he said this, he headed towards the other door.
Zhou Jinwei slightly frowned, reaching out to stop him, “Put on your clothes.”
These four simple words just made Zhou Yanli stop in his tracks.
He glanced down at himself. This appearance of his right now was indeed a bit unsightly.
He was halfway through his shower, the shampoo still in his hair. He’d randomly grabbed a bath towel to put around his waist and just came out like that.
Zhou Yanli’s body was well-built. Perhaps because of exercising and working out regularly, his muscles were well-defined, especially his deltoids and biceps.
His shoulders were broad and straight, the lines gradually tapering down to a narrow waist.
And clearly defined eight-pack abs.
He also knew that it wasn’t very appropriate, not retorting Zhou Jinwei for once, “Almost forgot.”
He returned to the bathroom to rinse out the bubbles in his hair, then randomly put on a hoodie and drawstring sweatpants before coming out again.
The classic case of looking slim in clothes, but muscular underneath. When not wearing anything, he had a untamed vigor, but after putting on clothes, he reverted back to being a youthful high school boy.
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