Chapter 29

The truth was, Assistant Yuan and Secretary Dong were also a little abnormal themselves.

Shen Yanqing looked at the two of them silently for a few seconds and asked sincerely, “It’s almost the end of the year. Will you consider changing jobs next year?”

“On account of our past friendship, I don’t mind making some introductions.”

Assistant Yuan and Secretary Dong both went quiet. Thanks but no thanks.

——

It took Nan Ge two days to finish the exams for the two subjects that gave her the biggest headache. The rest of the subjects were basically easy.

Seeing her change her clothes and go out at night, Su Hui knew what she was going to do. “Why are you so diligent? Aren’t you going to rest for a couple of days?”

After putting on her coat, Nan Ge elbowed the cabinet door shut as she said, “I’ve been studying like crazy for the past few days. I don’t mind going out to take a breath of fresh air.”

She could take a walk on the way to the restaurant. Coincidentally, the snow on the road had almost melted.

“Alright. Be careful then.”

Half an hour later, Nan Ge had just returned to the restaurant after delivering the order when she received a call from her mother.

Putting down the order in her hand, Nan Ge waved her phone at the manager. “I’m going to the back to take a call.”

The manager waved her off.

There were a lot of takeaway orders tonight. It was a busy time.

“Hello, Mom.” Nan Ge found a quiet place to answer the phone.

“Youyou, I heard from your brother that you’re not going home for the holidays?”

Nan Ge exclaimed, “How can I not go home?”

Nan Ge did not know what Nan Zhe had told their mother and did not want to lie to her, so she said, “I just want to go back a few days later.”

“What’s wrong? Is there anything else you need to do? I haven’t seen you in a long time. I was planning to pick you up.”

“Erm… Big Bro opened a restaurant over here, right? I… I’m helping out after the exam. I won’t be that late.”

“How long will that take? Are you going to be back for New Year’s Eve?”

Nan Ge scratched the wall and explained in a low voice, “I will come back on New Year’s Eve, but it might be a little late.”

“I have to stay in town to watch a concert on New Year’s Eve, and it might end late…”

On the other end of the line, her mother took a deep breath and then returned to normal. “It’s perfectly fine. You should relax after the exam.”

“You’re all grown up and know how to help your brother. You’re such a good kid. Don’t work too hard, understand?”

“Yes, yes, I know.”

After a pause, Nan Ge heard the manager calling her. She quickly said into the phone, “Mom, I’ll talk to you later. I have to take a shower.”

“Okay. Go ahead then. Don’t stay up late. Rest early.”

Nan Ge answered randomly.

——

At the same time, at the Nan residence located in Jiang City.

“What did she say?” Mr. Nan asked with concern when he saw her put down her phone.

“She said that she’s staying there to help Zhe manage the restaurant after the exam…”

“She has to go to a concert on New Year’s Eve, so she’ll be a little late.”

“On New Year’s Eve?” Mr. Nan’s expression changed. “What is this girl thinking?”

“Can’t she prioritize? What if she can’t make it back in time?”

“That’s enough,” Mrs. Nan retorted. “If she can’t make it back in time, so be it.”

“It’s not the Spring Festival. It’s no big deal if she can’t get back in time for a meal. Is there a need to go so far?”

“It’s not like you don’t know how Dad and Mom treat Youyou. If they knew that she went to a concert and deliberately didn’t go home, Dad and Mom would definitely be angry.”

“Heh, I doubt it.”

At the mention of this, Mrs. Nan could not help but sneer.

“If you say that she is staying in Huai City to help Zhe, your parents probably can’t wait for her to never come back!”

“What are you talking about?”

Mrs. Nan rolled her eyes and leaned back, too lazy to argue with him.

Mr. Nan opened his mouth but did not say a word for a long time. He turned around and took a big sip of tea, trying to extinguish the fire.

“I’ll give her a call later. She can watch the concert anytime. It’s not easy for the family to reunite at the end of the year…”

“Don’t you dare!” Mrs. Nan stood up immediately. “If you dare to force Youyou to come back, I’ll flip the table on New Year’s Eve!”

Mr. Nan, “…”

“She’s just a child who doesn’t know any better. You’re an adult. Shouldn’t you know better?”

“Who’s messing around?” Mrs. Nan crossed her arms. Her exquisitely made-up face looked furious. “How many years has it been? How much has Youyou suffered at your parents’ hands?”

“Don’t you know better? Even if she doesn’t come back in time, let’s see if anyone dares to say anything about it?”

The Nan family’s status in Jiang City was not ordinary, and the situation was a little special.

The two elders of the Nan family were a little old fashioned and favored boys over girls. Back then, after Nan Zhe was born, the two elders were extremely happy and directly brought their grandson to take care of him personally.

Later, when Nan Ge was born, it was the complete opposite of Nan Zhe’s treatment.

The two elders had been hoping to have another grandson, but in the end, only a granddaughter popped out.

They did not like Nan Ge’s gender to begin with. When Nan Ge was young, whether it was when she learned to speak, crawl or walk, she was a little later than other children her age. When she first started school, she was also a little slower than other children and her results were not particularly good.

Hence, the two elders disliked Nan Ge even more and always had problems with her.

When Nan Ge was young, her parents were very busy.

Nan Ge was sent to stay at her grandfather’s house with Nan Zhe. However, Nan Ge was not only reprimanded by the two elders from time to time but she also almost got lost once.

Later, when she found out about this, she brought Nan Zhe and Nan Ge back home and hired a few more maids to take care of them.

Fortunately, Nan Zhe had not been led astray by the two elders. Although he was young, he had taken good care of his sister.

She thought that when Nan Ge grew up, the two elders would be less prejudiced.

The truth was that she had harbored too much hope.

Nan Ge also had two cousins who were about the same age as her. Every time the family had a reunion dinner during the New Year, Nan Ge would always be the one left out by the two elders.

The only time she was mentioned was when she was compared to her other cousins. Of course, she was still the one who was inferior.

There was one time that left a deep impression on her. Nan Ge’s grades in junior high school were considered average, but she suddenly studied hard in high school. In her second year of high school, she ranked third in the city in the general examination.

Her parents were very happy and called everyone over for dinner.

After the two elders handed over their red packets at the dinner, Nan Ge was also very happy.

In the end, she heard the two elders say, “You have to continue working hard. You’re only third this time. Your brother was first back then.”

Another comparison.

Influenced by this incident, Nan Ge’s grades plummeted. Her parents were often called to the school by the teacher to talk.

Even when the college entrance examination was a semester away, Nan Ge still could not study. Her parents did not dare to give Nan Ge too much pressure.

In the end, Nan Zhe flew back from abroad in time and bought an apartment near the high school. He sent Nan Ge to and from school every day and tutored her daily.

Nan Zhe forcefully pulled his sister’s results back from the edge of the cliff.