Novel Palace
24
24
From then on, nowhere felt like home for her. The Lu family was no longer her home and she didn't
even feel that she belonged to the Jiang family anymore. For nearly a decade, she had always felt like
a dandelion that drifted in the wind wherever it took her. Her whole life was a bottomless pit of
loneliness and desolation.
Did it sound ironic and ridiculous now? She was the main reason for her loneliness. She had built a
glass room and isolated herself from the world. She was stubborn and selfish to reject the love and
care of her loved ones and resentful to those who loved her dearly.
She reaped what she sowed, and she deserved every last bit of it.
"Jiang Yao, do you still blame your parents?" Lu Xingzhi parked his bicycle on the side of the road and
turned to look at the girl behind him. He sounded serious and solemn. "Your mom and dad love you
very much."
Jiang Yao nodded. "Of course not. They are right, actually. You are a good man. Marrying you is the
best thing I've ever done in my life."
She said it in an overly submissive and timid tone that was nothing like the Jiang Yao he knew
previously. Hence, he couldn't distinguish the genuine honesty and sincerity in her remark.
In other words, perhaps the pleasant remarks were nothing but her sarcastic compliment and flattery?
"It's very hot, do you want to tan yourself right now? Let's go home already!" Jiang Yao knew Lu Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
Xingzhi was skeptical over her remark. She wasn't eager to explain anything right now, but she couldn't
stand the heat, so she nudged Lu Xingzhi to hurry up and start riding again. Next, she pouted at the ice
cream in her hand and whined, "The ice cream is gone!"
"Leave it. You're not supposed to have it anyway, you haven't fully recovered." Lu Xingzhi grabbed the
ice cream from her hand and dropped it onto the side of the road. When they left the house, he had
absent-mindedly bought her the ice cream as he saw her sweating like a dog. He regretted it as soon
as he bought it but it was too late since Jiang Yao was smiling and shaking her legs like a happy girl on
the back seat of the bicycle while eating the ice cream.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the gate of the Jiang family house in Jiang Village.
At this moment, Jiang Yao's father, Jiang Mingwei, and Jiang Yao's mother, Wang Huilan, were inside
the house. As Jiang Yao and Lu Xingzhi entered the yard, her parents stared at them in disbelief and
confusion.
"Dad, Mom," Lu Xingzhi greeted them as he saw them. He looked around and asked as he didn't see
Jiang Jie and Jiang Lei, "Is it only the two of you at home? Where are the brothers?"
"Jiang Jie is always busy with his supply and marketing business, he's rarely home. Jiang Lei was
around, but he went out after lunch. I'm not sure where he's gone to." Mrs. Jiang welcomed them into
the house and poured them a glass of water. "It's so hot out there, I bet you are toasted while coming
here."
A stark contrast from the Lu family's well-to-do background, the husband and wife of the Jiang family
were modest farmers who worked on their own property. The Jiang family's house was a common
wooden house in the countryside that had just been renovated recently.
"Xingzhi, when did you come back?" Mr. Jiang was happy to see his son-in-law. Jiang Yao was the only
daughter and also the youngest in the Jiang family. Their adoration to their daughter extended to their
one and only son-in-law.
"I arrived in the morning. By the way, Jiang Yao has received a letter of admission. She has been
accepted to Nanjiang Medical School." Lu Xingzhi skipped the pleasantries and immediately told his
parents-in-law the good news as he wanted to share the excitement.
Unlike his expectations, not only did it not bring joy to Jiang Yao's parents, but Mrs. Jiang had also
nearly smashed the glass.
"Didn't we talk this through? I thought you were applying for Jindo! How do you end up in Nanjiang?"
Mr. Jiang demanded furiously. "Nanjiang Medical School is very far from your base. How did this
happen?"