TEDWR: Chapter 32

 Glossary

·Zhang Yansheng (张雁声): The female protagonist, the reborn eldest daughter.

·Zhang Huan (张寰): Zhang Yansheng's father.

·Liang Yingying (梁莹莹): Zhang Yansheng's stepmother.

·Zhang Shuocheng (张硕成): Zhang Yansheng's seven-year-old half-brother.

·Zhang Heling (张鹤翎): Zhang Yansheng's nine-year-old half-sister.

·Liang Zheng (梁征): Liang Yingying's nephew from her hometown.

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Chapter 32

The nephew Zhang Huan's message referred to was obviously his wife's nephew, Liang Zheng.

Zhang Huan stared at the message for a while, knowing something must have happened at home while he was out. Then he locked his phone and continued to listen to others with a smile.

He just recalled how, after arriving at the company at noon, the HR director had subtly told him, "Knowing Little Liang is your nephew, everyone has been taking good care of him." Coupled with what Zhang Yansheng had said, he couldn't help but feel a wry amusement inside.

In the evening, he and Liang Zheng arrived home one after the other. He, of course, came in the family's Bentley, while Liang Zheng took a taxi.

"Uncle," Liang Zheng asked as soon as he got out of the car, "where are you coming back from?"

Zhang Huan smiled slightly. "Out."

Liang Zheng was left speechless.

Actually, not long after Liang Zheng got into the taxi, he had seen Zhang Huan's car overtake his cab. But with the evening rush hour traffic, even a powerful Bentley couldn't beat the rumbling flow of vehicles. They had arrived almost simultaneously.

However, judging from the direction Zhang Huan's car came from, it was clearly from the company! He was at the company but didn't call him to go home together, which made Liang Zheng quite unhappy.

Add to that the incident this morning where Zhang Yansheng had taken the car he wanted, and he was feeling rather annoyed, wanting to question Zhang Huan if he wasn't welcome.

Fortunately, before he could speak, Liang Yingying, having heard the cars, came out to greet them.

Liang Yingying had hurried out precisely because she was afraid Liang Zheng might speak out of turn. When at home, she always boasted about how she had Zhang Huan completely enamored and obedient. The reality, however, was something only she herself truly knew.

The boasting was just to gain more face and status with her family. After all, since she married Zhang Huan, even her sister-in-law had been buttering her up, which felt great.

Having seen some of the world, Liang Yingying could tell from Liang Zheng's expression that he was unhappy. If she could see it, Zhang Huan would definitely notice even more.

But Zhang Huan remained his usual self, seemingly somewhat nonchalant, as if nothing much mattered. Yet Zhang Huan was always like this. Even when she and Zhang Yansheng argued, he wore this same peacemaker facade, smoothing things over.

Liang Yingying hurried over, smiling charmingly. "You're back. Go change, dinner will be ready soon. The kids are all home. Shuoshuo was especially well-behaved today..."

Zhang Huan quite enjoyed this kind of welcome. He very accommodatingly offered his arm to her.

Liang Yingying, holding onto Zhang Huan's arm as they walked inside, chatting about this and that, turned her head and gave Liang Zheng a meaningful look.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Liang Zheng caught his aunt's look and, swallowing his anger, followed them in.

While Zhang Huan went upstairs to change, Liang Yingying pulled Liang Zheng aside and spoke in a low voice. "What's with that look on your face! Why are you giving your uncle such an attitude!"

Liang Zheng was very displeased and complained. "Uncle was at the company this afternoon. He didn't even call me when coming home, making me take a taxi. Dozens of dollars!"

"Ugh! A little money! Look at you, so petty! The New Year and holiday money I give you is never small. Where does it all go? Isn't it enough for you?"

"That's different!"

"Alright, alright." Accustomed to her life as a wealthy wife, Liang Yingying looked down a bit on her nephew's petty concern. "How much did you spend? I'll reimburse you."

Liang Zheng felt a bit better then, but still complained. "Uncle really is something, not thinking of me."

Liang Yingying was most afraid of him holding a grudge against Zhang Huan. He was still young. Although he thought himself mature and worldly, his thoughts were actually all written on his face, clear for anyone to see. She was afraid his little grievances would be noticed by Zhang Huan and displease him.

She quickly said, "Your uncle is a big boss, handling countless matters every day. How could he have time to think about you? Don't keep thinking about riding with him. Your uncle doesn't have that much time to give you rides. He deals with millions every minute. You delay him for one minute, and you're delaying him from making money!"

"Then how am I supposed to get to and from work?" Liang Zheng asked unhappily. "It's quite far from here to the company."

Actually, a one-hour commute in a big city is normal. But Liang Zheng was from a small town where you could walk everywhere. In university, he lived in the dorm and never had to commute. So for a fresh graduate like him, commuting felt annoying and tiring.

Of course, in the adult world, what isn't tiring? Being a student was much more comfortable.

Liang Zheng also wanted to complain about Zhang Yansheng. "And that Zhang Yansheng, she went too far this morning—"

Liang Yingying immediately cut him off. "Enough, enough. I know all about what happened this morning. Your dad woke me up with a call early, and I still have a headache. Listen to me..."

"I know all about this. That brat just has that temper; no one can do anything about her. But you are not to argue with her, you hear me!" She grabbed Liang Zheng's arm, afraid he didn't understand the gravity, squeezing hard. "She is, after all, your uncle's own flesh and blood, and the eldest daughter. You have to give your uncle some face."

In reality, if Liang Zheng really got into a public argument with Zhang Yansheng, he would discover that Liang Yingying couldn't control Zhang Yansheng at all, and Liang Yingying's true status in this house and in Zhang Huan's eyes would be exposed. That's what Liang Yingying didn't want to see.

Returning home in glory was such a satisfying feeling.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

You couldn't let people discover the various unbecoming things hidden beneath that fine exterior.

"Fine, I get it. I'll do it for your and Uncle's sake," Liang Zheng grumbled.

But he asked again, "So how do I get to work? Really take the bus?"

This was what upset him the most. Taking the bus was really beneath him, but taking a taxi every day was beyond his means. He glanced sideways at Liang Yingying, actually hoping his aunt would be generous and cover his daily taxi fare.

The result was even better than he expected. His aunt said grandly, "Take what bus! Even if you can stand the embarrassment, I can't! Did you bring your driver's license? If you have it, I'll give you a car to drive." Liang Zheng was overjoyed and immediately said, "I brought it! Aunt! I want to drive your Ferrari!"

Liang Yingying almost stumbled at his words! The nerve!

Liang Yingying laughed in exasperation, poking her nephew's head. "What are you thinking? I just got that car two days ago! Just wait. Later, when Auntie buys a new car, this old Ferrari will be yours to drive!"

She put the boast out there first.

As for when there would be a new car later... well, they'd talk about that later.

If Zhang Yansheng heard this, she would have scoffed.

The problem was, Liang Zheng believed it!

"Then it's settled! It's settled!" He wished he could pinky swear with his aunt to make it absolutely certain!

Even if it was an old car, it was still a Ferrari!

Liang Zheng could already imagine driving the Ferrari back to his hometown, the envious looks from the locals and old classmates, how they would surround him with flattery!

As for that girl he had been pursuing fruitlessly, he'd make her run after his Ferrari in high heels, eating his dust!

Hmph!

At the dinner table, Zhang Yansheng noticed that Liang Zheng was not only in a very good mood, seeming to hold no grudge over the morning's events, but also had a hint of smugness in his eyes.

Zhang Yansheng found it strange at first, but then she understood.

Since Zhang Huan stopped giving Liang Zheng rides on the second day in this life, it went without saying that Liang Yingying must have given Liang Zheng a family car to drive, just like in her past life.

The corner of Zhang Yansheng's mouth twitched. She just gave a slight, disdainful smile, lowered her head, and continued eating, ignoring him.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Although Zhang Huan usually liked to play the peacemaker at home, his age, experience, and depth were still there. The various expressions of his wife and children at the table didn't escape his notice, including this kid Liang Zheng.

Comparing Liang Zheng and Zhang Yansheng, he marveled inwardly. This eldest daughter, in just these short days, seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.

She was still aloof towards people, but not the stiff, resentful coldness of before, as if the whole world owed her. Her aloofness now carried a sense of distance. If not for her young age, she had quite an air of noble detachment.

After dinner, Liang Zheng couldn't wait to give Liang Yingying meaningful looks, eager to go see "his car."

Liang Yingying smiled and said to Zhang Huan, "Honey, it's really not convenient for Little Zheng to get to work from here, and it's not good to delay your time by riding with you every day. I was thinking, how about we let him drive the BMW at home for now? What do you think?"

That BMW was the cheapest car in the household, used by the aunties for grocery shopping. Zhang Huan was indifferent about such small matters and petty cash. "Fine."

Liang Yingying smiled graciously and led Liang Zheng away to see the car with a show of dignity.

The two younger ones, full and eager to play games or watch cartoons, ran off.

Zhang Yansheng, having finished her meal slowly and deliberately, finally pushed her bowl and chopsticks away, said, "I'm done," and prepared to go upstairs.

"Yanyan, Yanyan!" Zhang Huan called out to stop her.

Zhang Yansheng turned around. Zhang Huan smiled and crooked his finger at her.

Zhang Yansheng: "..."

To be honest, she wasn't the real fifteen-year-old Zhang Yansheng. So in her memory, it had been many, many years since Zhang Huan had made such a relaxed, intimate expression or gesture towards her.

Zhang Yansheng's conditioned reflex was to recall the few tears Zhang Huan shed after she died.

Yes, just a few. By then, they had become very distant. The affection from childhood had worn away almost completely, leaving only resentment behind.

Later, he arranged a rather expensive funeral for her. The burial plot, headstone, and urn were all costly. He buried her next to her mother.

In the very end, he still just paid her off with money.

A complex feeling rose in Zhang Yansheng's heart. She asked with little emotion, "What?"

These past few days, although she remained aloof, compared to her previous tendency to make a scene, Zhang Huan already found it much better. He wasn't angry at all and said with a smile, "Come, tell Dad what happened today. Let's have a father-daughter chat."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Next to the small living room was a connected room with a whole wall of wine racks and a bar counter. Zhang Huan sometimes liked to have a drink or two here. As a little life pleasure, he also enjoyed mixing drinks.

Zhang Huan mixed a non-alcoholic cocktail for Zhang Yansheng and handed it to her. "Haven't seen Dad mix a drink in a long time, right? This is your favorite. Try it."

Zhang Yansheng was silent for a moment, then took it and had a sip. It still tasted the same as when she was a child.

When she was little, she loved watching her father mix colorful drinks or cocktails at the bar, like magic.

She would clap vigorously.

Mom would sit beside them, smiling gently.

Later, Mom left this world. He brought Liang Yingying home, and those times were gone.

(End of Chapter)

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