Chapter 318: Made Up
Chapter 318: Chapter 318: Made Up
Su Zhaozhao took in Jiang Manzhi’s reaction and couldn’t help but smile.
Just as she’d guessed, Jiang Manzhi couldn’t bring herself to part with it after all.
Jiang Manzhi had always loved beautiful things.
A girl who cared about her appearance would treasure things like cosmetics, skincare products, and perfume.
How could she possibly have the heart to throw this bottle of perfume away?
Seeing Jiang Manzhi’s behavior, Su Zhaozhao knew her gamble had paid off.
"If you like it, just take it. It’s not a free gift, though. You can lose a couple of rounds to me in mahjong later."
"In your dreams!" Jiang Manzhi glared at Su Zhaozhao, but she was definitely going to accept this gift.
Soon, the four of them sat down at the mahjong table and began to play.
Xie Huaizheng sat right beside Su Zhaozhao.
He even helped Su Zhaozhao shuffle and look at her tiles. Watching this, Jiang Manzhi felt a sour pang in her heart.
Even though she had long known that Xie Huaizheng didn’t like her and that the person he liked was Su Zhaozhao, her heart still ached painfully seeing him accompany Su Zhaozhao, sit by her side, and look at her with such a gentle expression.
Jiang Manzhi really couldn’t understand it. ’They’re already a couple, so they could at least be discreet about it. Did they have to flaunt their affection right in front of me like this?’
’Who was this for? Were they just trying to get a rise out of me?’
Jiang Manzhi couldn’t help but frown, her words laced with sarcasm. "So, when you two play mahjong, is it a one-player or a two-player affair?"
"Two-player," Xie Huaizheng replied faintly, acting as if he hadn’t noticed Jiang Manzhi’s passive-aggressiveness.
Jiang Manzhi was so angry her chest heaved. ’ARGH! This is too much to watch! I don’t even have the heart to play anymore.’
But since she had already sat down, it would look too strange if she left now.
In the end, Jiang Manzhi forced herself to endure it.
Zhang Jingshu also sensed Jiang Manzhi’s unhappiness and tried to soothe her. "Manzhi, don’t be like that. We’re just having a bit of fun."
This is just a game for entertainment.
"But it’s two of them playing against each of us. That’s not fair."
Xie Huaizheng tossed two chips onto the table. "Then I’ll put up double the chips. How about that?"
Their games were only for ten cents a round. They couldn’t play for high stakes, but they couldn’t play without chips either, or the game wouldn’t be fun.
With Xie Huaizheng’s suggestion, everyone else felt it was fair.
Su Zhaozhao turned to Xie Huaizheng. "You’re something else. Why don’t I just watch from the side and let you play?"
"No, it’s only fun if we play together." Xie Huaizheng looked down, his gaze on Su Zhaozhao’s beautiful face, and the corner of his lips curled up.
They passed the time like this until lunch, when Huang Jiqin reluctantly pulled Su Zhaozhao away to leave.
"Come play again next time." Huang Jiqin waved the money in her hand, very pleased.
She had won quite a few rounds today. The money wasn’t important at all; what mattered most was the feeling of winning.
Su Zhaozhao also looked at Jiang Manzhi. "Goodbye, Manzhi."
She smiled and nodded at her. Her poised and graceful manner made Jiang Manzhi feel a little embarrassed.
’What’s the point of me always acting like such a spoiled brat?’
Jiang Manzhi felt it was all so pointless. After all, even if Su Zhaozhao had never appeared, Xie Huaizheng would never have been with her.
If he had truly wanted to be with her, she wouldn’t have had to chase after him for so many years, to the point that everyone in the Northwest Military Region and their residential compound here knew she liked Xie Huaizheng.
But Xie Huaizheng remained unmoved.
Because he simply didn’t like her. No matter what she did, Xie Huaizheng still wouldn’t like her.
’So, why should I make things difficult for Su Zhaozhao?’
At this thought, Jiang Manzhi also showed Su Zhaozhao a smile. "Alright, you’re welcome to come play again next time."
Seeing the sincere smile on Jiang Manzhi’s face, Su Zhaozhao thought, ’Has she finally let it go?’
And at Jiang Manzhi’s words, sincere smiles also appeared on Zhang Jingshu’s and Huang Jiqin’s faces.
’If the children get along well, it’s a good thing for us adults, too.’
After all, Huang Jiqin and Zhang Jingshu were very good friends, and their husbands got along well, too. It would be a real shame if a conflict between the children caused the two families to see less of each other.
After leaving the Jiang Family’s home, Xie Huaizheng said to Su Zhaozhao, "You were laying it on a little thick."
Su Zhaozhao blinked, a little surprised. "Was I? I thought it was fine."
"You were. Zhaozhao, I don’t understand why you’re being so nice to her. She was so rude to you; you don’t have to be so polite back," Xie Huaizheng said, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
Hearing Xie Huaizheng’s words, Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but laugh.
"You don’t get it. I just don’t want to make things difficult for Mom." Su Zhaozhao took Huang Jiqin’s arm. "Mom and Aunt Zhang are such good friends. If we don’t get along with Aunt Zhang’s child, it will inevitably be a little awkward for them when they see each other."
After hearing Su Zhaozhao out, Xie Huaizheng felt that what she said actually made some sense.
Huang Jiqin was even more delighted, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled.
"Oh, Zhaozhao, you dear child, you’re so thoughtful. But I think you should still prioritize your own feelings, you know? Don’t worry too much about me. I really don’t want you to wrong yourself for the sake of others."
Huang Jiqin’s words warmed Su Zhaozhao’s heart. She smiled. "It’s alright, Mom. I just don’t think it’s necessary to be on such bad terms with them."
’Jiang Manzhi isn’t a bad person, just a bit willful. It’s really not that big of a deal.’
After hearing Su Zhaozhao’s words, Huang Jiqin was deeply moved.
’This girl, Zhaozhao, is just too good. She’s so endearing!’
After returning home and eating lunch, Su Zhaozhao yawned.
Waking up so early, on top of feeling unsettled yesterday, had left her a bit tired.
Xie Huaizheng noticed Su Zhaozhao’s fatigue. He reached out and stroked her head. "Zhaozhao, if you’re sleepy, you should go get some rest."
"Okay."
She took Xie Huaizheng’s hand and went upstairs to their room.
She lay down on the bed, closed her eyes, and quickly fell asleep.
But this time, she had a dream. She dreamed of a girl who looked exactly like her.
No, to be precise, it was the Su Zhaozhao from the novel world.
She was looking at her with a grateful expression, a smile on her face.
"Thank you. Thank you for bringing me happiness. If it weren’t for you, I’m afraid I would be dead by now."
"You’re... the Su Zhaozhao from the novel world?"
Su Zhaozhao looked at the other girl in surprise.
The girl nodded. "Yes. I’m sorry for suddenly pulling you into the world of this novel. My consciousness awakened, and I realized I was just cannon fodder, so my first instinct was to escape. To convince me to stay, the System promised me a happy and perfect ending, so she summoned you into the world of the novel. It’s because we have the same name, you happened to be reading this very novel, and moreover, you’re very capable. You have the ability to help me find happiness."