There's Something Wrong With My Little White Flower - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Elder Sister of a Brother-Obsessed Family X University Professor

Ruan Jiyun couldn’t quite remember how she finally fell asleep.

She only remembered feeling completely limp and weak. Jiang Peifeng coaxed her, carried her into the bathroom for another shower, and then tucked her back into the air-conditioned quilt. She was so exhausted she barely had the energy to lift her eyelids before instantly falling into a deep, sweet dream.

Jiang Peifeng’s bedroom used blackout curtains. When Ruan Jiyun woke up again, the entire room was still dark, with only the faint hiss of the air conditioner. She moved restlessly and found herself lying in Jiang Peifeng’s arms.

Even in her sleep, Jiang Peifeng hadn’t forgotten to hold her. One arm was thoughtfully draped over the quilt and around her waist, preventing her from kicking the blanket off and getting cold if she moved.

In the foggy blue morning light, that beautifully contoured sleeping face was also bathed in softness. Her eyes were long, slender arcs, densely covered by lashes. Beneath her high nose, her lips were slightly thin, the cupid’s bow like a drop of cinnabar. It was those red lips that had left marks on her last night…

Ruan Jiyun’s entire face flushed. Before she could move again, the hand resting on her waist pressed her down.

“Awake? Are you hungry?” Jiang Peifeng’s voice was still a little husky with sleep, but it sounded strangely seductive to Ruan Jiyun. She was about to shake her head when she felt a kiss placed on the top of her head.

It was both cherishing and full of gentle indulgence.

So this is the satisfying feeling of being loved wholeheartedly. Ruan Jiyun paused in a daze for a few seconds. The feeling was subtle, like instantly gaining a layer of protection, yet also giving rise to a sense of responsibility.

She rubbed herself against Jiang Peifeng’s arms, secretly making a resolution.

She must grow up quickly and strive to become someone who can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her.

Once a goal is established, a person seems to gain infinite energy. Ruan Jiyun felt she hadn’t studied with such fervor even during her college entrance exams. At that time, while she was determined to attend CST, most of her imagination about the future was still vague, like viewing the world through frosted glass.

Now it was completely different.

She was currently sitting at Jiang Peifeng’s desk doing homework. The desk’s owner, being considerate, sat on the small sofa on the other side, a glass bowl on her lap, peeling pomegranates for her.

The climate in the north was dry, especially after the heating came on. It was easy to get overheated if one wasn’t careful, and Ruan Jiyun was the type to forget to drink water when focused on work. Jiang Peifeng had no choice but to bring her home to supervise her to get up and move around every hour.

“The more you plan to do scientific research in the future, the more you need a solid physical foundation. You know Professor Xin, the national treasure director at CST? The old gentleman started learning to swim at fifty. Every morning, without fail, he swims a thousand meters. Now his spirit is better than many young people.”

As Jiang Peifeng spoke, she placed the bowl of pomegranate seeds on the desk, scooping a spoonful to feed the little white flower: “How about I get you a gym membership? I’m not skimping on your food, so why don’t you gain weight?”

Ruan Jiyun bit the spoon in confusion, holding the mouthful of pomegranate seeds. Hearing the suggestion, she protested: “I don’t want to go to the gym… I’m very healthy. It’s just, it’s just that I can’t gain weight due to my metabolism…”

“Exercise is good for your health. You’re about to join the training team for the competition during the winter break. If you get sick and it affects your performance, wouldn’t that be a loss?” Jiang Peifeng patiently persuaded her. This was the little white flower’s first time participating in an international competition with the training team, and she took the competition very seriously. “At least go for a run?”

However, Ruan Jiyun had never liked exercise since she was a child. She looked pitifully at Jiang Peifeng, spitting out pomegranate seeds while mumbling indistinctly: “Don’t run…”

The light shone on the girl’s smooth, flawless face, like a layer of glossy glaze. Jiang Peifeng was moved by her soft, adorable gaze and had to surrender: “Fine, not running is okay…”

The next second, she reached out, lifted the girl’s chin, and leaned in to kiss her.

The sweetness triggered by the pomegranate juice on her tongue was tasted and re-tasted by the other person. Ruan Jiyun’s cheeks burned red. Not to be outdone, she embraced the offender’s waist, gasping as she kissed back. Young people possessed boundless enthusiasm for learning in this area. She tilted her head up, rubbing against Jiang Peifeng’s neck, starting to playfully demand attention.

“How about… we exercise at home instead…”

The plan to exercise outdoors ultimately failed to materialize that winter. A month later, Ruan Jiyun embarked on her first trip with the team, participating in the World University Supercomputer Competition with the CST training squad. The competition was held in the warm seaside city of Penang. Here, she not only won an award but was also taken by her senior classmates to enjoy plenty of seafood and local specialties.

The halo of the genius girl was finally beginning to emerge before the world.

Jiang Peifeng had always known that the little white flower was a very bright student, but Ruan Jiyun’s pace of improvement still exceeded her expectations. She completed all her undergraduate credits in just three years and, without surprise, secured a spot for graduate studies at her university.

Watching Ruan Jiyun still wrestling with her computer late at night, Jiang Peifeng couldn’t help but advise: “There’s no rush, we can take our time…”

Her first thought was about something she might have overlooked: what new reason Ruan’s father and mother had used to pressure the little white flower. This year, Ruan Jiabao finally took the college entrance exam, albeit struggling through forced studying. He ultimately lacked his sister’s talent and barely scraped the third-tier score, causing Cheng Nuoe to angrily smash a pile of things at home.

To make her son’s future look better and to save face, Ruan’s parents finally chose a Sino-foreign joint-venture university for Jiabao, where he would study domestically for two years before continuing for two years at a partner college in the UK. However, these schools were expensive, and after much deliberation, they set their sights on Ruan Jiyun again.

“All our savings have been emptied for your brother’s schooling,” Ruan’s mother made a special trip to the university to find her daughter, tearfully complaining. “You’re successful now, so you should contribute too. You’ll be responsible for Jiabao’s living expenses.”

Jiang Peifeng only found out about this later, but the little white flower seemed calm and actively told her not to be angry.

“I calculated it. The competition prizes, the lab assistant subsidies… all added up, it’s enough to pay for him,” she cautiously explained. “I’m about to start grad school. If I don’t agree to her, I’m afraid she won’t support me…”

After all, she was their daughter, and she wasn’t yet strong enough to escape this kind of moral coercion.

Jiang Peifeng affectionately stroked Ruan Jiyun’s head: “Keep your money for yourself to spend. I’ll take care of Jiabao’s living expenses. You work hard studying every day. Don’t worry about these trivial things.”

This matter was resolved without major incident. Perhaps realizing that their daughter would be able to provide even greater value in the future, Cheng Nuoe not only joyfully took the money but also enthusiastically insisted her daughter come home for a few days afterward.

“You’ve barely been home since you started university. Now Jiabao is about to start university, and both of you siblings are grown up and won’t be home for much longer. Come back for a visit.”

Ruan Jiyun actually didn’t want to return to that house. Her mother on the phone was excited. If she refused too strongly, her mother would likely get angry. With that thought, she nodded: “Then I’ll come home this weekend, but the lab is very busy here, so I can only stay for a few days.”

To accompany her to the competition during the holiday, Jiang Peifeng had been busy working overtime these past few days. Hearing Ruan Jiyun was going home, she was first stunned, then said with some difficulty: “How about next week? I can free up some time next week…”

Ruan Jiyun quickly waved her hand: “No need! I just worried you’d stay up late again working overtime, so I only told you after buying the ticket. I’ll only be back for a week, and I’ll be back soon.”

She added a little shyly: “Besides, my mother’s cooking isn’t very good… you’ll be hungry then…”

Over the past few years, Jiang Peifeng occasionally accompanied the little white flower back to Z City. Cheng Nuoe’s attitude towards this wealthy neighbor was always quite warm. However, her cooking skills were not up to par. Once, she volunteered to make crawfish, and Jiang Peifeng suffered from gastroenteritis afterward.

This made Ruan Jiyun afraid to easily let her challenge her mother’s culinary skills again.

Jiang Peifeng thought about it and felt that there really weren’t any major issues currently. At most, the little white flower would inevitably be nagged when she returned. She nodded: “Then I’ll take you to the high-speed rail station Saturday morning.”

One afternoon in August, Ruan Jiyun stood beneath her residential complex again, carrying a small suitcase.

The feeling of being home felt somewhat unfamiliar. Neighbors gathered in twos and threes in the garden to play cards and chess, greeting her enthusiastically when they saw her return.

“Xiao Ruan is back! No wonder your mother was stewing meat early this morning…”

“Good girl, I heard you got a direct acceptance for graduate school? Come to my auntie’s house for cold drinks later, and educate your little sister while you’re at it!”

Ruan Jiyun was no longer the shy girl who couldn’t even speak a complete sentence. She had grown much taller, and her long hair was tied in a bun, making her look youthful and vibrant. She graciously accepted the neighbors’ praise and smiled as she waved her hand: “Uncles and Aunties, I’m going home first. I’ll come visit later.”

When she arrived home, the one who opened the door was Ruan Jiabao, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time. Presumably having been educated by Ruan’s mother, he knew his future living expenses depended entirely on his sister’s support and, uncharacteristically, said obediently: “Sister.”

Cheng Nuoe also walked out following the sound, her face beaming: “You didn’t call ahead to let us know. It would have been much more convenient for Jiabao to pick you up at the station.”

Ruan Jiyun had never dared to imagine such treatment. Forget about Ruan Jiabao picking her up; in the past, if she said one wrong word, Cheng Nuoe’s slap would probably have come flying. She somewhat understood the meaning of Jiang Peifeng’s phrase “spending money to avert disaster,” and she pursed her lips and smiled: “It wasn’t that far.”

Cheng Nuoe was only being polite. If she had truly cared, her daughter wouldn’t have needed to call; the parents would have already noted the train schedule and itinerary. She said awkwardly: “Your father will be off work soon. We’ll have a good reunion dinner when he returns. Jiabao’s banquet for his teachers is tomorrow, you should prepare for that too.”

Even though the school was purchased with money, the banquet for teachers was still essential. There were many social obligations in a small town. Cheng Nuoe had planned to use the occasion of the banquet to recoup a good amount of cash gifts.

Even if her son’s school wasn’t outstanding, her daughter was still presentable. Although she was reluctant to let Ruan Jiyun pursue graduate school—preferring her to start working as soon as possible, as the money earned would surely be more than subsidies!

However, she hadn’t dared to mention these thoughts to Ruan’s father yet. Since her daughter started university, Cheng Nuoe had gradually felt moments of powerlessness, and the feeling was growing stronger.

She was losing her grip on her daughter’s wings as she flew towards the outside world.

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