TEDWR: Chapter 26

Glossary

· Zhang Yansheng (张雁声): The elder sister, responsible and protective of her younger sister.

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

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

· Zhang Huan (张寰): Zhang Yansheng’s father, indulgent, generous, and kind-hearted.

· 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 26: Unexpected Encounter

Zhang Yansheng suddenly grabbed the elevator handrail, trying to call out to the young man—but her mouth opened and no sound came out.

What was his name? She didn’t even know his surname!

Glancing back at the elevator, she realized the cross-level lift was tall and fast. There was no way she could go against its direction.

“Sorry! Excuse me!” Zhang Yansheng shouted, tugging Heling’s hand and running upward.

“Sister?” Heling looked at her in surprise.

They ran to the end of the elevator hall. Yansheng grabbed Heling and spun her around, stepping onto the downward-moving elevator. “Sorry! Excuse me!”

Heling was bewildered but could only follow, running down.

By the time they returned to the previous floor, the tall, handsome, and coolly composed young man had vanished.

Zhang Yansheng scanned the crowd—faces and backs of passing shoppers filled the view—but that slender figure was nowhere to be found.

Heling tugged at her hand. “Sister? What’s wrong?”

A pang of regret hit Yansheng. She exhaled and said, “It’s nothing. I saw someone I know… didn’t catch up to him. Come on, let’s go have afternoon tea.”

Queen’s Cake lived up to its reputation, quickly winning over the little girl’s taste buds. But what thrilled Heling more was that Yansheng had taken her out, bought her properly fitting underwear, and treated her to afternoon tea. Such moments, just for her, had never existed in her past life.

Before, whenever Zhang Shuocheng got a new toy, he’d bring one for her too; whenever he tried a new snack, she got a taste as well.

Since Heling could remember, no one had ever created such warm, special moments solely for her. She took a bite of cake, glanced at her sister, and couldn’t help but smile.

Zhang Yansheng lightly flicked her forehead. “What are you grinning at?”

Heling laughed and dodged.

Meanwhile, Yansheng rested her chin in her hand, sipping her drink, thinking about that person.

The one she’d encountered in the elevator—the same person who had gently held her hand at the hospital, accompanying her through the last stretch of her life.

She hadn’t expected to meet him today.

Just as Heling cherished this rare afternoon tea because she’d never been truly valued at home, Yansheng, since her mother’s death, had long forgotten what genuine, unreciprocated tenderness felt like.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

And she had died.

That tenderness had become a warmth she would never forget, even in death.

With her nature, she instinctively wanted to reach out and hold onto it.

The KTV Jin Ding didn’t exist yet, but Yansheng remembered the exact date she had died.

She resolved that when the day came, she would wait at Jin Ding KTV, certain she could meet him again.

He looked slightly older now, probably already an adult. No matter—by then, she would be twenty-one, the perfect age.

In fact, it might be even better than meeting him now. At this awkward age, what could she do?

For now… better focus on studying.

After a full afternoon of shopping, delicious afternoon tea, and a fun session at the VR arcade, the sisters returned home hand in hand. Zhang Huan had just come back, admiring Liang Yingying’s new car with Liang Zheng and Shuocheng.

Although the car model was different, having been bought two years earlier than in her past life, its bold red color remained unchanged.

Once Yansheng had a license, she had immediately bought a matching red car of the same brand—just to one-up Liang Yingying.

“Wow, Mom, is this your car?” Heling asked excitedly.

Even a child could appreciate the car’s sleek lines. Shuocheng was climbing all over it inside.

Zhang Huan hadn’t seen the two sisters and asked the housekeeper. “Yanyan took Heling shopping,” the housekeeper said.

He was shocked.

His eldest daughter taking the younger daughter shopping? Even if they’d seemed close recently, this was a huge step!

Seeing them now—two beautiful daughters in matching outfits, each carrying shopping bags, Heling’s face radiating joy—he felt almost moved to tears.

This was the harmonious, happy family he had always wanted.

“Look at what you’re wearing,” Liang Yingying rolled her eyes, scolding.

Though she noticed the younger daughter being charmed by Yansheng and both wearing silly matching outfits, she had just purchased a three-million-yuan sports car and was in a great mood. She didn’t dare touch Heling.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

She shot Yansheng a smug glance.

Yansheng caught the look and released Heling’s hand.

“We’re wearing matching outfits! People kept turning to look at us, and I even heard them compliment us!” Heling muttered.

Heling didn’t realize how much Zhang Huan noticed. The warm family moment was nearly ruined by Liang Yingying. He shot her a glare.

Unfortunately, she was busy talking to Liang Zheng about the car. Zhang Huan sighed and smiled, amused at Yansheng.

“Out shopping with Heling?” he asked gently.

Yansheng didn’t hesitate to jab back. “Heling didn’t have proper underwear, so I took her to buy some.”

Heling proudly lifted her shopping bag. “And I got new clothes I like! We had afternoon tea and played VR games—it was so fun!”

The little girl’s joy was contagious.

Zhang Huan had always thought Heling was introverted and gloomy. Now, seeing her smile and hearing her excited chatter, his heart melted.

Then he glanced at his wife—sitting on the car hood, striking a pose, having her nephew take photos.

“…,” he muttered. The warm, touching scene was disrupted.

Shuocheng, hearing Heling, climbed out of the car. “I want to play VR too! I want to!”

“Next time,” Yansheng said, glancing at him. “If you behave well for the next few days, I’ll take you.”

Heling eagerly added, “The cake was amazing, really!”

Enticed by both food and fun, Shuocheng promised, “I’ll do my homework properly every day, really!”

“Good, keep it up. Next time, you can come,” Yansheng said.

Liang Yingying gleefully snapped photos, but noticed her husband, son, and daughters all centered around Yansheng, creating a cheerful, cozy scene.

She didn’t like it. Yansheng had changed—less quarrelsome, colder, more composed. Zhang Huan seemed happier with her now.

This was not the development she wanted.

“Heling, let’s see if dinner’s ready,” she called, trying to disrupt the tranquility.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Heling nodded, ready to go, when the housekeeper announced, “Dinner is ready.”

Liang Yingying grabbed Shuocheng and coaxed Zhang Huan: “Darling, time to eat.”

Yansheng watched coldly, feeling the sadness.

In her past life, fighting with Liang Yingying was essentially over Zhang Huan’s attention. Every bit given to Liang Yingying meant less for Yansheng. She instinctively tried to hold onto him, pushing him further away.

If this were a household battle, she had been the loser.

Even worse, knowing this, she would still have to continue the struggle in this life. She couldn’t stand Liang Yingying’s dominance in her home.

This was her family.

Fortunately, in this life, Yansheng no longer expected anything from Zhang Huan.

He said to Liang Yingying, “Go ahead, I’ll talk to Yanyan.”

Reluctantly, Liang Yingying glanced at Yansheng, pushed Heling along, and left with Shuocheng.

Liang Zheng took selfies with the car, calling to Zhang Huan: “Uncle, come eat!”

Zhang Huan smiled warmly. “You go ahead.”

Yansheng slowly walked inside, guessing what he wanted to say.

Sure enough, he walked beside her, lovingly asking, “Heling, is there anything you want?”

For him, being happy and comfortable meant giving money. That was his way of showing love. Yansheng had long understood this, with no expectation left.

“I want a car,” she said.

For someone used to driving, not having a car felt awkward.

“That’s not possible yet. You’re too young, no license. Wait until eighteen—your dad will buy you one for your birthday! Even better than this one, I promise,” Zhang Huan winked.

He assumed Yansheng wanted a car out of jealousy over Liang Yingying.

“Everything else, I’ll buy for you,” he smiled.

He loved spending money on his women—pure joy for him.

Yansheng shrugged. “Then I don’t want anything else. I have everything I need.”

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

True enough, she had wealth and could buy anything herself.

Since his wife passed away, Yansheng had rarely caused worry. Aside from occasional quarrels with Liang Yingying, her studies and life were fine.

Before Liang Yingying entered the household, Yansheng had been polite, quiet, and well-behaved—graceful and likable.

Later events weren’t her fault—who would be happy seeing a stepmother and half-siblings taking over?

Thinking of this, Zhang Huan felt a long-forgotten pang of guilt return to his heart.

(End of Chapter)

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