TEDWR: Chapter 25

Glossary

· Zhang Yansheng (张雁声): The elder sister, responsible and caring, thoughtful toward her younger sister.

· Zhang Heling (张鹤翎): The younger sister, curious, lively, and innocent.

· Liang Yingying (梁莹莹): Zhang Yansheng’s stepmother, flashy and self-centered.

· Zhang Huan (张寰): Zhang Yansheng’s father, generous but easily swayed by family.

· Zhang Shuocheng (张硕成): Zhang Yansheng’s younger brother, playful and impressionable.

· Liang Zheng (梁征): Liang Yingying’s brother, casual and teasing.

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Chapter 25: Afternoon Outing

“Well…” Zhang Yansheng thought for a moment before speaking to her sister. “Sometimes it… feels a little swollen. If someone accidentally touches it, it can really hurt.”

“Yes! Yes!” Zhang Heling’s eyes lit up with recognition. “It really hurts!”

So she had started developing… Yansheng remembered being around fourth grade herself, feeling the same way.

She gently tugged at her sister’s collar, glancing at her. “Wait—aren’t you wearing a bra? From now on, you should wear one properly.”

“What’s a bra?” Zhang Heling asked innocently.

Yansheng frowned. “Your mom didn’t get you one? A girl’s bra… to protect your chest.”

The little girl’s tiny hands mimicked two buns over her chest. “This… thing?” she asked, eyes wide. She had seen her mother’s flashy bras before, and it had frightened her.

Yansheng couldn’t help but chuckle at her sister’s panicked expression.

She remembered being that age herself, feeling embarrassed and uneasy about her developing chest. Fortunately, her mother had noticed and explained gently that a girl’s growth was a beautiful thing.

Her mother, who rarely went out by then, had bought her several girls’ bras, personally choosing the most comfortable ones. In those remaining days, she had taken Yansheng’s hand and patiently explained everything a young girl needed to know.

When her mother passed away, Yansheng had taken care of it herself—gradually moving from simple children’s underwear to proper adolescent bras. When her first period came, she handled it calmly, relying on herself. Two days later, Aunt Luo realized she was using pads and made her a nourishing soup, a mix of worry and joy.

“Sister?” Zhang Heling waved a small hand in front of Yansheng’s face.

Yansheng snapped back to the present. “Go tell your mom you’re developing. She should get you some proper bras.”

“I already told her. She said not to bother her,” Heling said, rubbing her chest.

Yansheng shook her head silently. Liang Yingying had come to K City as a young model and quickly won her father’s attention, flaunting herself. Did she care about nurturing a family or guiding a child? Never. Her life motto was to live lavishly and marry wealthy. She considered herself a winner.

Yansheng remained silent for a moment before asking, “I’m going shopping this afternoon. Want to come?”

Heling’s eyes widened in excitement. “Me?”

“Yes,” Yansheng said. “We’ll get some clothes.”

“Yay! I’m coming!” Heling bounced around with glee.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

“Stop bouncing, stand still,” Yansheng scolded lightly, tapping her sister’s forehead. “Finish your homework first. And keep an eye on Zhang Shuocheng’s homework too.”

“Okay! I’ll watch him!” the little girl promised. Yansheng finally felt satisfied.

Lunch with Liang Zheng wasn’t particularly enjoyable, but Yansheng sat at the head of the table, with Heling and Shuocheng on either side, keeping her away from Liang Zheng.

When Liang Zheng arrived, he noticed the seating and raised an eyebrow. “Yanyan, why are you sitting there?”

Yansheng looked up from her phone. “What’s wrong with this spot?”

He gestured. “Don’t you know? On a long table, this is the main seat—where my uncle should sit.”

“No problem,” Yansheng said firmly. “When my dad’s not here, I sit here.” She held his gaze, confident and slightly intimidating.

Liang Zheng cleared his throat awkwardly and turned to Shuocheng. “Where’s your mom?”

“She hasn’t gotten up,” Shuocheng replied with a sidelong glance.

Heling glanced at the clock. “She should be up by now.”

Just then, Liang Yingying appeared, yawning. Since Zhang Huan had scolded her the other day, she no longer ran around in a nightgown. Today she wore a proper dress—less revealing, leaving the very sexy outfits behind.

“Why are you just getting up, little aunt?” Liang Zheng asked, teasing.

“Mind your own business,” she replied casually, flashing a hint of her usual arrogance. “I get up at this time every day. Jealous?”

“Life of a rich housewife, huh,” he muttered.

The aunt served breakfast, and Liang Yingying’s mood brightened. “My car arrived today. Want to come pick it up with me?”

Liang Zheng’s eyes lit up. “You bought a car? What kind?”

“Ferrari. A supercar!” She grinned proudly. His impressed “wow” made her beam.

Heling piped up. “Mom, you bought a car?”

Yansheng raised an eyebrow. She knew Liang Yingying’s relationship with her own family wasn’t warm—more like using them for money. Yet she loved showing off her status.

Yansheng was a little surprised at how early Liang Yingying had bought a car—she remembered it should have been two years later. Previously, she loved being chauffeured and carried shopping bags.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

“Let’s go! I’m coming!” Liang Zheng exclaimed eagerly.

After breakfast, Liang Yingying left with Liang Zheng in her car. Yansheng took Heling and hailed a ride. For the first time in either life, the two sisters were heading out shopping together. Yansheng found it slightly novel.

“Sister, where are we going?” Heling asked, bouncing with excitement.

“To Riley Plaza.”

“Where’s that?”

“On Deguang Road.”

“Where’s Deguang Road?”

Yansheng finally lost patience. “So many questions! Can’t you just be quiet for a minute?”

“I won’t ask anymore,” Heling said, sticking out her tongue. Then, unable to resist, she added, “I’ve always wanted to go shopping, but no one ever took me.”

Yansheng was silent for a moment. “Your mom never takes you, does she?”

Heling shook her head firmly. “Never.”

Her mother only bought things when she went shopping herself, never letting Heling choose. Yansheng looked out the window at the passing streets. “Riley Plaza has lots of young brands. There are good restaurants, too. We can grab afternoon tea… and maybe there’s a VR arcade if you want to play.”

Heling’s eyes sparkled. Having a sister like this… felt amazing.

At Riley Plaza, Yansheng took Heling to a bra shop. The brand was familiar to Yansheng from her own adolescence, offering comfortable adolescent and children’s bras. The friendly staff quickly put Hering at ease, measured her, and helped her choose a proper, comfortable fit.

Yansheng bought a bunch for her, including cute underwear, then led her through several more stores.

When Yansheng tried on clothes, Heling looked at her and said softly, “I want clothes like that too.”

Yansheng checked the mirror. She was trying on a black fitted T-shirt and denim shorts. “You like this style?”

“I don’t like the dresses my mom buys,” Heling said. “They’re so stiff. You can’t move freely.”

Liang Yingying liked dressing her daughter like a doll for family events. But pretty dresses weren’t always comfortable. Heling, naturally lively, needed clothes that let her move.

Yansheng let out a small amused hum. “I think this brand has…” Sure enough, they had children’s clothes, including mini versions of adult styles for matching outfits.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The staff couldn’t help but comment, “You’re sisters, right? Wearing these together is just too cute!”

Yansheng considered refusing to let them walk out in new clothes right away. But Hering’s bright eyes and hopeful gaze made refusal impossible.

When they left, the sisters wore matching black T-shirts and shorts—older sister cool and elegant, younger sister sweet and adorable. Their hands held shopping bags, evidence of a day spent ‘buying, buying, buying.’ Heling happily grabbed her sister’s hand.

Passersby couldn’t help but smile.

“Shopping is this fun?” Heling said. “Now I understand why Mom is always out shopping!”

Yansheng twitched the corner of her mouth. Of course shopping was fun. Those years she’d been left to herself, money given by Zhang Huan, life seemed indulgent but empty. True joy had come from buying things. Thankfully, she had money.

“Let’s call it a day,” Yansheng said, holding Heling’s hand as they headed for the elevator. “There’s a cake shop upstairs.”

“Really? Is it good?” Heling’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“You don’t even know Queen’s Cake?” Yansheng said. “It’s easily the best afternoon tea in K City.”

Heling shook her head.

“Never mind, you little country bumpkin. Stick with me, and you’ll learn,” Heling said with a grin.

“This escalator is so long and tall, sister!” Heling exclaimed.

“It’s a cross-level escalator. Didn’t you notice it skips a floor in the middle?” Yansheng explained.

“Ohhh!”

Yansheng shook her head and sighed. Poor little bumpkin—no one ever took her out. Fine, she’d make up for it. A faint smile tugged at her lips.

On one side, the escalator went up; right next to it, another went down. Yansheng looked up and saw someone on the downward side—a young man, phone in hand, who just happened to glance up.

People naturally notice beauty.

The young man’s gaze fell on the two girls ascending. The older girl looked up just as he did. His features were sharp and striking, with a cool, noble aura that seemed slightly off for his age—but somehow captivating.

He couldn’t help but glance at her again.

Their eyes met for a brief moment. He smiled faintly at her as they passed, a pure human reaction to beauty.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

One went up, the other down. Slightly younger than she remembered, but… people barely change in their twenties.

Yansheng froze.

It was him.

(End of Chapter)

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