When the Villain Falls Madly in Love with Me - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: A Special Weekend

Since being adopted by Jiang Congyue, Jiang Le had not encountered any so-called “Strategists” again.

Initially, she even suspected Li Yan, who chattered around her all day like a noisy sparrow.

But she soon realized that this girl was purely a bubbly chatterbox; her thoughts were so simple it was painful to look at.

City No. 1 Elementary School truly lived up to its reputation. It took Jiang Le quite a while to adapt to their teaching model.

However, unlike the monotonous, single-subject curriculum of the special school, this school emphasized the balanced development of morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor.

Consequently, the pretty and likable Jiang Le was called upon countless times to sing or draw on stage.

Now, under the eager anticipation of the music teacher, Jiang Le braced herself and sang out loud.

“…”

The sound was jarring, unbearable to hear.

Amidst the burst of laughter and applause, Jiang Le walked stiffly off the stage, her face expressionless.

Li Yan, seated next to her, was practically doubled over with laughter.

Jiang Le cleared her throat, composedly nudging her, “Was it that bad?”

“Cough, cough,” to avoid completely discouraging Jiang Le, Li Yan stopped laughing and said seriously: “Actually, it was okay, just a tiny bit worse than my acting.”

The originally hopeful Jiang Le felt as if the sky had fallen. She tightly gripped her pen, looking as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t, her ear tips turning crimson.

Fortunately, brilliant scenes outnumbered the embarrassing ones. From speaking on stage as an outstanding student on Mondays to winning various competitions, Jiang Le was always the center of attention.

Being smart and a fast learner was her greatest source of confidence.

Even when Jiang Congyue asked her what she wanted to do for the summer after elementary school graduation, Jiang Le unhesitatingly chose to hire a tutor to study the next stage of the curriculum.

“Tsk tsk, so hardworking?” Jiang Congyue happily hugged and kissed the child.

Jiang Le was still not used to being so intimate with others, but she didn’t want to make her unhappy, so she could only remain rigid while she was being kissed.

The little old lady smelled of an elegant and fresh scent, like sun-dried cotton mixed with a hint of sandalwood—it wasn’t too unpleasant.

Jiang Congyue released her, adjusted her glasses, her eyes carrying a teasing smile, “Lele, summer vacation is one of the longest breaks in life. Are you planning to spend all of it at your desk? Aren’t you afraid of turning into a little bookworm?”

Jiang Le pursed her lips, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of her school uniform: “The junior high courses are harder. I want to study ahead a bit.”

What she didn’t say was that, having been accustomed to the intense rhythm of the special school and the “excellence” she maintained through effort at City No. 1 Elementary, abruptly relaxing gave her a sense of groundlessness and emptiness.

Books and knowledge were tangible things she could hold onto.

“Hmm, makes sense.” Jiang Congyue nodded, appearing to agree. Just as Jiang Le thought she had consented, the old lady changed the subject, “However, combining work and rest is more important. So, we can hire a tutor, but only for Monday through Friday. On weekends, you have to go out with this old lady and see the world. How does that sound?”

“See what?” Jiang Le asked cautiously. She definitely didn’t want to be dragged onto another talent show stage.

“Don’t worry, I won’t make you sing.” Jiang Congyue seemed to read her mind, smiling sweetly. “I’ll take you to the beach to sunbathe, see the big dinosaur bones in the museum, or stay in the countryside for a few days, feed chickens and ducks, and pick fruit. Hmm… maybe even learn to swim?” She counted on her fingers, her eyes sparkling like a child planning an outing.

The beach? Swimming? The museum? These words were somewhat unfamiliar to Jiang Le, carrying an unknown allure mixed with a hint of unease.

But seeing Jiang Congyue’s excited look, the phrase “I’d rather stay home and study” circled on her tongue and was ultimately swallowed.

“Oh… okay,” she answered softly, a compromise.

Thus, Jiang Le’s summer vacation began in a way she had never anticipated.

Monday to Friday belonged to books. The tutor Jiang Congyue hired was a young female graduate student named Chen, who taught math and English. She was gentle and patient, and her explanations were clear.

Jiang Le learned quickly. The familiar satisfaction of mastering knowledge made her feel secure.

Teacher Chen was also surprised by her concentration and comprehension, often teaching extra enrichment content.

Weekends, on the other hand, belonged to Jiang Congyue’s “extracurricular practice.”

The first time at the beach, the salty sea breeze hit her face, the fine sand under her feet was soft and hot, and the endless, rolling blue sea with white foam stretched out in the distance.

Jiang Le stood barefoot at the edge of the waves. The icy seawater washed over her feet. She was completely stiff, daring not to move, terrified of being swept away by the next wave.

Jiang Congyue, wearing a floral sundress and a wide-brimmed straw hat, was like an old prankster, bending down not far away to pick up shells and sea glass washed ashore by the waves, occasionally waving at her: “Lele, come over here! This shell is pretty!”

When Li Yan found out, she laughed up a storm over the phone: “Hahahaha, Jiang Le, you’re actually afraid of water? That’s hilarious! Next time, bring a swimming ring, and Big Sister will teach you the doggy paddle!”

Hearing that, Jiang Le was so angry she hung up the phone directly, making the rough seashell necklace in her hand clang loudly.

Going to the museum to see the dinosaur skeleton was something Jiang Le found fascinating. She stood looking up at the huge Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton. The cold bone lines exuded an ancient majesty, and time seemed to freeze.

Even such a mighty animal cannot resist the passage of life?

She was so engrossed she didn’t even notice when Jiang Congyue quietly bought her a dinosaur-shaped popsicle.

“So engrossed? Do you like dinosaurs? How about I buy one for you to take home?” Jiang Congyue said nonchalantly while licking her popsicle, as if merely discussing what to eat for dinner.

“?!” Jiang Le’s eyes widened in horror. She quickly waved her hands and shook her head.

Only after Jiang Congyue burst into laughter did she suddenly realize that the little old lady was being mischievous again, just teasing her.

Another week passed, and after a major segment of the curriculum was completed, Jiang Congyue pulled her along for a short vacation, heading to the countryside.

The countryside was a completely different world compared to the bustling city.

The air carried a mixed scent of earth and grass, mingled with the unique smell of the animal pens.

Jiang Le wore the old clothes Jiang Congyue had specifically prepared and cautiously followed the old lady.

When feeding the chickens, a flock of colorful roosters surrounded them, clucking and fighting for food, scaring her so much she nearly threw the food basin away. When picking fruit, watching Jiang Congyue nimbly climb the short ladder, she could only nervously hold the ladder below and hand her the basket.

Clumsy, yet full of novelty.

Lying on the wooden bed of the old house with Jiang Congyue at night, listening to the continuous croaking of frogs and chirping of crickets outside the window, Jiang Le felt for the first time that silence could be so noisy and full of life.

“Your job is very busy, right…” Jiang Le lay straight on her back and asked in a low voice.

Jiang Congyue turned sideways, looking at her with a smile, “Yes, it’s very busy.”

Jiang Le’s heart tightened. Busy, yet she took time every weekend to take me to all sorts of places. She mumbled softly, “Then you still…”

“Still what?” Jiang Congyue leaned in, trying to hear what was muffled in her throat.

After a moment, Jiang Le stammered and couldn’t speak, but the astute Jiang Congyue could guess what she wanted to say even with her eyes closed. “Lele, do you think my work is tiring?”

Caught by the question, Jiang Le was somewhat at a loss, “It should be tiring…”

“Mhm, then do you think I’ve been happy these past few days?” Jiang Congyue’s face, hidden in the shadows, was full of smiles.

Given such a cheerful tone, Jiang Le couldn’t bring herself to say “unhappy,” so she nodded and said: “You look very happy.”

“Are you happy then?” Jiang Congyue continued to ask.

Jiang Le paused, not quite understanding what she meant, and could only answer honestly, “I am very happy.”

Receiving this answer, Jiang Congyue wrapped her arm around her, hugging the usually sensitive and suspicious child close. “That’s right, when we go out to play, it’s not just to please one person; I want us both to be happy. I didn’t specifically set aside time to humor you, but I’m also very tired, and I need you to accompany me out to relax.”

“Lele, not only do you need me, but I also need your companionship.”

Jiang Le sank into her warm embrace, their breaths intermingling, causing her to hold her breath, a mix of emotions swirling in her heart.

To be needed. She was also a person who was needed.

“Sleep now. We have to wake up early tomorrow to dry the fruit. If you can’t sleep, recite the 100 times the core socialist values.” Jiang Congyue was an older person after all. After speaking such a long, heartfelt passage, she was already extremely sleepy.

“…” The slightly moved Jiang Le could only resign herself, “Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, the rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity, and friendship…”

After reciting only a few times, Jiang Le’s voice gradually faded. By the time Jiang Congyue managed to lift her tired eyelids, she had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Jiang Congyue chuckled and gently pinched her nose, “Still a little pig, falling asleep faster than I do.”

–

Due to Jiang Le’s fear of water at the beach earlier, Jiang Congyue was determined not to let her become too complacent—oh no, not to let her extend this fear.

“We’re going to learn how to swim!”

In the shallow end of the city swimming pool, Jiang Le desperately clung to the edge. No matter how much the gentle coach encouraged her, or how much Jiang Congyue cheered her on from the side, she refused to let go and put her head underwater.

“Save… me…”

The suffocating sensation of water covering her mouth and nose caused her primal fear. An entire afternoon passed, and her only progress was daring to wrap her arms around Jiang Congyue’s waist and float for a while. Her face was pale with anxiety as she picked at the scar on the small of Jiang Congyue’s back.

“It’s okay, my darling, you were very brave.” On the way home, Jiang Congyue wrapped her damp hair with a large towel, her tone devoid of any blame. “Take it slow. Next time, how about we try holding our breath for three seconds?”

Jiang Le mumbled a muffled “Mhm” inside the towel.

She didn’t want to learn. This was the first time she had felt an aversion to learning.

Tutors, the beach, the museum, the countryside, the swimming pool… this summer was filled with all sorts of dramatically different experiences.

The certainty brought by books and the impact of the wide world Jiang Congyue introduced her to collided and intertwined in Jiang Le’s heart.

She still diligently previewed the seventh-grade textbooks, but on a certain weekend, she also squatted for half a day in amazement, having discovered a plump green worm chewing holes in a vegetable leaf.

Occasionally, as the sun set, sitting on the old wicker chair in the countryside courtyard with Jiang Congyue, munching on a freshly picked, sweet cucumber, Jiang Le would secretly glance at the little old lady beside her.

Jiang Congyue squinted her eyes, her face showing a relaxed and contented expression. The fine wrinkles looked especially soft in the warm light.

A strange, warm feeling, like a vine, quietly wrapped around Jiang Le’s heart.

This feeling was different from the joy of being praised for getting first place in an exam, and different from the pride of receiving a trophy.

It was quieter, more enduring, carrying a scent mixed with sun-dried cotton and sandalwood, subtly seeping in.

Turns out, life, besides excellence and hard work, also had sea breezes, frog croaks, green worms, and a little old lady who always wanted to drag her out to see the world and gain experience.

Jiang Le lowered her head, taking small bites of the cucumber, the corners of her mouth curling up ever so slightly.

This little old lady is indeed very special.

She was starting to like Jiang Congyue.

Her scattered thoughts slowly drifted away…

…

Jiang Congyue: 31