Chapter 359: The Exposed Lie

The narrow, old staircase was exceptionally clean and tidy.

“Oh my!”

“It’s Ruan Ruan, isn’t it!”

“You’re back for the holiday!”

Jiang Ruan had just reached the third floor when a door happened to open. An old woman was inside, holding a string of firecrackers. It looked like she was about to go downstairs to set them off before dinner. She froze for a moment when she saw Jiang Ruan, then her face lit up with pleasant surprise.

“Aunt Huang, I’m back.”

“Happy New Year. Have you been well these past two years?”

Jiang Ruan was no stranger to the old woman before her. Her family lived right above this woman; they had been neighbors for decades, and the woman had watched her grow up.

“Couldn’t be better.”

The old woman looked Jiang Ruan up and down, unable to stop nodding. “A big city like Yanjing really does a person good. Ruan Ruan, you look more beautiful and elegant than ever.”

When Jiang Ruan heard the old woman mention Yanjing, a flicker of light flashed in the depths of her eyes.

“It’s wonderful!”

“Ruan Ruan has been promising since she was little!”

“Not like that brat of mine. He never studied hard when he was little, so now he’s stuck working sales in Beichun, bowing and scraping to people all day for an unstable income.”

The old woman sighed twice with emotion, then, noticing Jiang Ruan’s travel-worn appearance, she belatedly said, “Ruan Ruan, you just got back, didn’t you? You should hurry upstairs and get home. Drop by Aunt Huang’s place whenever you’re free.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll head up, then.”

“I wish you a happy New Year and good health.”

Jiang Ruan wished the old woman a happy New Year once more, then stepped aside to let her pass and head downstairs. Only then did she continue up the stairs toward home.

As the old woman descended the stairs, she could be heard muttering things like, “So promising,” and, “Old Jiang is truly blessed.”

Once the old woman had disappeared down the stairwell, the smile on Jiang Ruan’s face gradually vanished, and she couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.

‘One lie just needs more lies to cover it up.’

For years, she had relied on lies to answer her parents’ loving questions. And her parents, who were always so proud of her, naturally never hesitated to share her updates with neighbors, relatives, and friends.

Over time, the lie had swelled like a bubble.

But at least…

Jiang Ruan slipped her hand into her coat pocket, her fingers finding her work ID in its leather holder. A sense of calm washed over her instantly.

Back at her front door, she took out her key and opened it.

The rich aroma of a home-cooked meal immediately wafted out to greet her.

“Dad, Mom…”

“Grandpa, Grandma…”

“I’m home!”

Jiang Ruan stepped through the door and called out into the apartment.

“Ruan Ruan’s back!”

Jiang Ruan’s mother, Liu Ting, was the first to answer, hurrying out from the kitchen.

“Mom!”

The sight of her mother made Jiang Ruan’s nose tingle, on the verge of tears.

To have a daughter as stunningly beautiful as Jiang Ruan, her mother must have been a great beauty in her youth. But under the dual strain of time and life, wrinkles had still formed at the corners of her eyes.

“As long as you’re back!”

“Nothing else matters!”

Liu Ting gripped Jiang Ruan’s hands tightly, her own eyes a little red-rimmed.

Soon after, Jiang Ruan’s father, Jiang Dong, came over.

His brow was deeply furrowed, a cigarette pinched between his fingers. He gazed at his poised, beautiful daughter, looking as though he wanted to say something but couldn’t. In the end, his words dissolved into a soft sigh. “Go wash your hands. Let’s get ready to eat.”

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing her father’s expression, Jiang Ruan’s Dai Mei brows furrowed slightly as she asked.

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing.”

“Let’s eat first, let’s just eat first.”

Liu Ting put an arm around Jiang Ruan, guiding her further into the room. For some reason, her expression was inexplicably flustered.

Jiang Ruan followed her mother out of the entryway to find the living room full of people. Her paternal grandparents sat in the center of the sofa, flanked by her second aunt’s family and her third uncle’s family.

Because Jiang Ruan’s father, Jiang Dong, was the eldest son of the Jiang Family, he had brought Jiang Ruan’s grandparents over from the county town to live with them ever since she went to university. From then on, both her second aunt’s family and her third uncle’s family would come to their house to celebrate the New Year together.

Jiang Ruan’s second aunt and third uncle each also had only one child.

Her second aunt had a daughter, Jiang Ruan’s cousin, named Zhou Ruoyu. She was only a few months younger than Jiang Ruan and had also graduated last year.

Her third uncle had a son, Jiang Ruan’s cousin, named Jiang Xinjie. He was 17 this year and a junior in high school.

Jiang Ruan’s gaze swept over them—all familiar relatives.

Except for one person, who was a complete stranger to her.

He sat next to her cousin, Zhou Ruoyu, wearing a clean white shirt and silver-rimmed glasses. He had a scholarly air about him, and his right hand was intertwined with her cousin’s.

As Jiang Ruan’s gaze fell on them, both he and her cousin looked away, their expressions tinged with an awkwardness they couldn’t hide. When Jiang Ruan’s eyes swept over her aunt and uncle, and her third uncle and aunt, she noticed they all wore more or less the same look.

It was supposed to be the joyous New Year’s Eve holiday, yet a bizarre atmosphere hung over the living room. Recalling the emotions her parents had tried so hard to hide when they first saw her, Jiang Ruan’s pretty Dai Mei brows furrowed completely.

“What on earth happened here?”

Jiang Ruan spoke slowly, her gaze finally returning to her mother’s face.

“Ruan Ruan, it’s nothing.”

Liu Ting was instantly flustered. “Just wash your hands first, and we can eat, alright?”

“Yes, yes, let’s eat first!”

“Ruan Ruan must be hungry. Your third aunt made a special effort to cook your childhood favorite—sweet and sour pork ribs!”