When the Villain Falls Madly in Love with Herself - Chapter 10

Since being adopted by Jiang Congyue, Jiang Le had never encountered another so-called Strategist.

At first, she even suspected Li Yan, who chattered around her like a noisy sparrow all day long. But she quickly realized the girl was simply a bubbly chatterbox, her thoughts so transparent they were almost embarrassing to witness.

Municipal First Primary School lived up to its reputation. Even Jiang Le took a while to adjust to their teaching methods. Unlike the monotonous curriculum of her previous special school, this place emphasized balanced development in ethics, intellect, physical education, aesthetics, and practical skills.

As a result, the charming and pretty Jiang Le was repeatedly called onstage to sing and draw.

Now, under the Vocal Music Teacher’s eager gaze, Jiang Le steeled herself and began to sing.

… ahem …

The ear-splitting cacophony was unbearable to listen to.

Amidst uproarious laughter and applause, Jiang Le stiffly walked off the stage, her face frozen in a grimace.

Li Yan nearly doubled over with laughter beside her.

Jiang Le swallowed hard and calmly nudged her. Is it really that bad?

Ahem, Li Yan choked back her laughter, trying not to hurt Jiang Le’s feelings. Actually, it’s not terrible. Just a tiny bit worse than my acting.

Jiang Le, who had clung to a sliver of hope, now felt like the sky had fallen. She gripped her pen tightly, her ears flushing crimson as she struggled to find the right words.

Fortunately, Jiang Le had far more triumphs than embarrassing moments. From delivering speeches as a model student on Mondays to winning awards in various competitions, she was always the center of attention.

Her sharp mind and quick learning were her greatest assets.

Even after graduating from elementary school, when Jiang Congyue asked about her summer plans, Jiang Le immediately chose to hire a tutor to study the next grade’s curriculum.

Tsk, so diligent, huh? Jiang Congyue chuckled, hugging the girl and giving her a kiss.

Jiang Le still wasn’t used to such physical affection, but she didn’t want to upset her, so she stiffened and endured the kiss.

The elderly woman carried a delicate, refreshing scent—like sun-dried cotton mixed with a hint of sandalwood—which wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

Jiang Congyue released her, adjusted her glasses, and grinned mischievously. Lele, summer vacation is one of life’s longest breaks. You’re really going to spend it all at your desk? Aren’t you afraid of turning into a little bookworm?

Jiang Le pursed her lips, unconsciously twisting the corner of her school uniform. Junior high courses are harder. I want to get a head start.

What she didn’t say was that she had grown accustomed to the intense pace of her special school and the excellence she maintained through relentless effort at Municipal First Primary School. Suddenly relaxing left her feeling adrift, as if her feet no longer touched solid ground.

Books and knowledge felt like solid, tangible things she could grasp.

Hmm, that makes sense, Jiang Congyue nodded, looking very agreeable. Just as Jiang Le thought she had agreed, the old woman’s tone shifted. However, balancing work and rest is even more important. Here’s the deal we can hire a tutor, but only for Mondays through Fridays. On weekends, you’ll come out with this old lady to see the world. How does that sound?

See what? Jiang Le asked warily. She didn’t want to be dragged onto another talent show stage.

Don’t worry, I won’t make you sing, Jiang Congyue said with a knowing smile, as if reading her mind. We’ll go to the beach to soak up the sun, visit the museum to see the giant dinosaur bones, or spend a few days in the countryside feeding chickens and ducks, picking fruit. Hmm… maybe even learn to swim? She counted on her fingers, her eyes sparkling like a child planning an outing.

The beach? Swimming? A museum? These words sounded foreign to Jiang Le, carrying an unknown allure mixed with a hint of unease.

But seeing Jiang Congyue’s enthusiasm, the words I’d rather just study at home circled on her tongue before she swallowed them back.

Oh… okay, she mumbled, conceding.

And so, Jiang Le’s summer vacation began in a way she never could have anticipated.

From Monday to Friday, her time belonged to books. Jiang Congyue had hired a tutor named Chen, a young female graduate student who taught math and English. Teacher Chen was gentle, patient, and explained concepts clearly.

Jiang Le learned quickly, the familiar satisfaction of mastering knowledge bringing her a sense of peace. Teacher Chen was also amazed by her focus and comprehension, often going beyond the curriculum to explore advanced topics.

Weekends, however, were reserved for Jiang Congyue’s extracurricular practice.

On their first trip to the beach, the salty, fishy sea breeze rushed at them, soft, scorching sand lay beneath their feet, and the endless, churning azure sea stretched to the horizon, capped with white foam.

Jiang Le stood barefoot at the edge of the waves, icy seawater washing over her insteps. Her entire body stiffened, afraid to move lest the next wave sweep her away.

Jiang Congyue, dressed in a floral beach dress and a wide-brimmed straw hat, resembled a playful old child. She bent over nearby, collecting seashells and sea glass washed ashore by the waves, occasionally waving at Jiang Le. Lele, come here! This seashell is beautiful!

When Li Yan heard about this, she burst into uproarious laughter over the phone. Hahahaha, Jiang Le, you’re afraid of water? I’m dying! Next time, bring a floatie, and I’ll teach you the dog paddle!

Furious after the call, Jiang Le slammed down the phone, making the rough seashell necklace on her wrist jingle loudly.

Visiting the museum to see the dinosaur skeletons, however, completely captivated her. Standing beneath the towering Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, she gazed up in awe. The cold, skeletal lines radiated an ancient majesty, as if time itself had frozen.

Even such a colossal and formidable creature couldn’t withstand the relentless passage of life?

Lost in her reverie, she didn’t even notice when Jiang Congyue quietly bought her a dinosaur-shaped popsicle.

So engrossed, huh? You like dinosaurs? How about I get you one to take home? Jiang Congyue said casually, biting into the popsicle as if discussing dinner plans.

?! Jiang Le’s eyes widened in alarm, and she frantically waved her hands and shook her head.

Only after Jiang Congyue burst into laughter did Jiang Le realize the old woman was just teasing her again.

A week later, after finishing a major course module, Jiang Congyue dragged her away for a short vacation, whisking her off to the countryside.

Compared to the bustling city, the countryside was an entirely different world.

The air carried the mingled scents of earth and fresh grass, tinged with the distinctive aroma of livestock pens.

Jiang Le, dressed in old clothes Jiang Congyue had specially prepared for her, followed cautiously behind the old woman.

When feeding the chickens, a flock of brightly colored roosters swarmed around, clucking and pecking at the feed, nearly causing her to drop the feeding pan in fright. While picking fruit, she watched Jiang Congyue nimbly climb a short ladder, while she stood below, nervously steadying it and handing up baskets.

Clumsy, yet full of novelty.

That night, lying on the wooden plank bed in the old house beside Jiang Congyue, listening to the chorus of frogs and crickets outside the window, Jiang Le realized for the first time that silence could be so noisy and full of life.

Your work must be very demanding… Jiang Le said, lying stiffly on her back, her voice low.

Jiang Congyue turned to face her, smiling warmly. Yes, it’s quite demanding.

Jiang Le’s heart tightened. Demanding, yet she still makes time every weekend to take me to all sorts of places, she murmured softly, Then why do you still…

Still what? Jiang Congyue leaned closer, as if trying to catch the words swallowed in her throat.

After a long pause, Jiang Le stammered, unable to articulate her thoughts. But the shrewd Jiang Congyue, even with her eyes closed, could guess what she wanted to say. Lele, do you think my work is tiring?

Caught off guard by the question, Jiang Le hesitated. It must be tiring…

Hmm, and do you think I’ve been happy these past few days? Jiang Congyue’s face, hidden in the shadows, was brimming with a smile.

With such a cheerful tone, Jiang Le couldn’t bring herself to say no. She nodded. You seem very happy.

And are you happy? Jiang Congyue pressed.

Jiang Le paused, unsure of her meaning, and could only answer honestly, I’m very happy.

Hearing this, Jiang Congyue wrapped her arm around Jiang Le, pulling the perpetually sensitive and suspicious child into her embrace. Exactly. We’re not just here to make one person happy. I want us both to be happy. I didn’t set aside this time just to comfort you. I’m tired too, and I need you to come out and relax with me.

Lele, it’s not just you who needs me—I need your company too.

Jiang Le nestled into her warm embrace, their breaths mingling, causing Jiang Congyue’s heart to race with a mix of emotions.

To be needed… I’m someone who’s needed.

Go to sleep now. We have to get up early tomorrow to dry the fruit. If you can’t sleep, recite the core socialist values a hundred times. Jiang Congyue, being older, had spoken her heart and was already drowsy after such a long speech.

…Fine, Jiang Le resigned herself, her earlier feeling of being moved fading. Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity, friendliness…

After only a few repetitions, Jiang Le’s voice gradually faded. By the time Jiang Congyue drowsily opened her eyes, Jiang Le was already sound asleep.

Jiang Congyue chuckled softly and pinched her nose. Still a little piglet, falling asleep faster than me.

After witnessing Jiang Le’s fear of water at the beach, Jiang Congyue resolved to prevent her from becoming too complacent—no, not complacent, but rather to help her overcome this fear.

Let’s learn to swim!

In the shallow end of the city swimming pool, Jiang Le clung desperately to the edge. Despite the gentle encouragement from the instructor and Jiang Congyue’s cheers from the side, she refused to let go and submerge her face.

Help… me…

The suffocating sensation of water flooding her nose and mouth triggered an instinctive panic. By the end of the afternoon, her only progress was daring to cling to Jiang Congyue’s waist and float briefly in the water, her face pale and anxious as she nervously picked at the scar on Jiang Congyue’s lower back.

It’s okay, our little darling is already doing great, Jiang Congyue said on the way home, wrapping a large towel around Jiang Le’s wet hair. Her voice held no trace of reproach. Let’s take it slow. Next time, we’ll try holding our breath for three seconds?

Jiang Le huddled deeper into the towel, muttering a muffled Mm-hmm.

She didn’t want to learn. This was the first time she had ever felt such aversion to learning.

Private tutoring, the beach, museums, the countryside, the swimming pool… her summer vacation had been filled with a kaleidoscope of wildly different experiences.

The certainty offered by her textbooks clashed with the overwhelming impact of the vast world Jiang Congyue had introduced her to, creating a turbulent conflict in Jiang Le’s heart.

She still diligently reviewed her seventh-grade textbooks, but on some weekends, she might spend half the day squatting in wonder, observing a plump green caterpillar munching holes in a cabbage leaf.

Sometimes, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Jiang Le would sit beside Jiang Congyue on the old rattan chair in the courtyard, munching on freshly picked, crisp cucumbers. She would steal glances at the petite old woman beside her.

Jiang Congyue sat with her eyes half-closed, her face relaxed and content. The fine wrinkles on her face seemed particularly soft in the warm light.

A strange, warm feeling, like a creeping vine, quietly wrapped itself around Jiang Le’s heart.

This feeling was different from the pride of getting top marks on an exam or the satisfaction of holding a trophy.

It was quieter, more enduring, carrying a faint scent of sun-dried cotton and sandalwood that quietly permeated her senses.

She realized that life wasn’t just about excellence and effort. It was also about sea breezes, frog calls, green caterpillars, and a little old woman who always wanted to take her out to see the world and broaden her horizons.

Jiang Le lowered her head, taking small bites of her cucumber. A barely perceptible smile curved the corners of her lips.

This little old woman really was special.

She was starting to like Jiang Congyue.

Her scattered thoughts gradually drifted away…