Chapter 217: What, My Chickens Can’t Enjoy Piano Music?

The last time Jiang Ning came to this restaurant—

It was with Tao Tao, Xu Suihe, and the others, when they got caught by Liu Ju and she called for the manager.

And now, she was back again because Du Xinrui’s mother had set her up with some pretty boy.

Twice now, and nothing good had come of it.

Jiang Ning decided to officially blacklist this Western restaurant called “Grandma’s Kitchen.”

From now on, whether for good or bad, she wasn’t setting foot in this place again.

“You’re finally here.”

Tang Tu was waiting at the entrance. The moment he saw Miss Jiang walk in, he hurried over.

“That guy’s about to leave.”

“I grabbed a table nearby.”

As he spoke, he took Miss Jiang’s hand and led her into the restaurant.

“Don’t say anything yet.”

“Just sit and listen.”

Observe and wait?

Got it.

Miss Jiang nodded.

She followed Tang Tu to a table near the center of the restaurant.

A four-person table.

Separated from Du Xinrui’s group by just a partition.

As soon as she sat down—

Miss Jiang heard the nagging voice of a middle-aged woman.

“You’re already this age! Still thinking about school?”

“Enough already.”

“Look at Xiao Gao.”

“Good job, decent looks, and most importantly—he’s interested in you.”

Hearing that, Jiang Ning glanced over.

She saw a middle-aged woman with permed hair. Judging by her makeup and outfit, she must’ve been quite attractive when she was younger.

But now, with age, there was a sharpness in her features that made her seem unpleasant.

“Sorry.”

“I make my own decisions.”

The other voice was gentle and soft, but the rejection in her tone was unmistakable.

Miss Jiang followed the voice.

It had been a while.

Du Xinrui’s side profile was still as serene and elegant as ever.

Her posture and attire, still graceful and refined.

And that figure—those beautiful curves.

Not as full as Luo Shanshan’s, nor as perky as Ye Na’s.

But she had a unique allure, a quiet elegance no one else could match.

Combined with that elusive, almost ethereal beauty—

Tsk tsk.

Was this what they called an artistic aura?

“What decisions are you making, huh?”

“You’re thirty-one already.”

“Someone with his kind of qualities is hard to find, I’m telling you.”

Du’s mom was still trying to persuade her, but Du Xinrui remained calm and composed.

As for this so-called Xiao Gao—

Miss Jiang glanced over.

All she saw was a set of used utensils beside Du Xinrui’s mother.

She pretty much got the picture.

Without a word, Miss Jiang took the menu Tang Tu handed her.

But just as she was about to order—

A low, husky male voice came from the next table.

“Sorry.”

“Something came up at work. I need to head out.”

Jiang Ning looked over.

A tall young man in a suit was sitting beside Du Xinrui’s mother.

From Miss Jiang’s angle, she could clearly see the possessiveness in his narrow eyes as he looked at Du Xinrui.

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Du’s mom waved her hand with a smile, then turned to Du Xinrui and said:

“If you’re busy, go ahead.”

“We’ll get together again sometime.”

After a few pleasantries, the man left.

As soon as he was gone, Du’s mom started up again:

“Rui Rui, listen to me. Don’t be fooled by Xiao Gao’s age—he’s only thirty-two.”

“But he’s already a manager at his company.”

“Supervises over a dozen people!”

Wow.

So impressive.

Miss Jiang rolled her eyes with a scoff.

And of course, her reaction didn’t escape the twin-tailed girl sitting across from her.

She almost burst out laughing.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing, just… you’re really fun to watch.”

Fun?

Just wait till I put you in a JK uniform. Let’s see if you still think I’m fun then.

Miss Jiang couldn’t be bothered with the twin-tails.

Though she was sitting here, her attention was entirely on the table next to them.

She listened as Du’s mom went on and on about how great that guy was.

Honestly, it was a miracle Du Xinrui had such a good temper.

If it were Miss Jiang’s own mother—

Trying to pimp her out this blatantly?

She’d have bolted long ago.

Just then—

As Miss Jiang’s steak was served—

The conversation at the next table shifted to the villa under Du Xinrui’s name.

“Rui Rui.”

“What’s going on with that house of yours?”

“Why are there a bunch of kids living in it?”

“Are they tenants?”

“You’re not even in the country. Those kids could wreck the place.”

“They’re not tenants.” Du Xinrui took a sip of her coffee and smiled gently.

“I sold the house to them.”

“You sold it?!” Du’s mom’s voice shot up several octaves.

“You really sold it?!”

“Mhm.” Du Xinrui nodded calmly.

“How much did you get?” Du’s mom stared at her.

“A million.”

“And the money?”

“Tuition. Living expenses.”

“All gone?”

“Mhm.”

As Du Xinrui said this, her expression remained perfectly serene.

Like still water—calm and undisturbed.

In contrast, her mother’s eyes were wide, her face twisted in disbelief and anger.

“That was your father’s inheritance!”

“And you just sold it like that?!”

But just then—

Aunt Du seemed to have remembered something. She frowned and waved her hand.

“Wait, wait.”

“You said you sold the house.”

“But then why, just a while ago, when I checked with the Housing Management Bureau…”

“The property is still under your name?”

Du Xinrui clearly hadn’t expected her own mother to actually go to the Housing Management Bureau just to look up the house records.

For a moment, she stared at her mother in stunned silence.

“Rui Rui, since when did you learn to lie to your own mother?”

Seeing that Du Xinrui was still dazed, Aunt Du felt like she’d hit a nerve. Her gaze turned a little sorrowful.

“Rui Rui, I know I didn’t treat you well in the past.”

“But I had no choice.”

“If your deadbeat father had been in better health, would I have divorced him?”

Hearing that, Du Xinrui shook her head.

“Let’s not talk about the past.”

“Yes, let’s not dwell on the past,” Aunt Du said warmly. “From now on, let’s get along as mother and daughter.”

“Mhm, those other kids in the house—just send them back.”

“Oh, and remember to clear out the biggest room for me.”

“And the property deed…”

But just then—

A clear, teasing voice suddenly cut into their conversation.

“Auntie.”

“I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed.”

Hearing the voice, Aunt Du turned her head.

At the neighboring table sat an exceptionally pretty girl, smiling brightly at her.

“And who are you?” Aunt Du frowned.

She didn’t like the way the girl was looking at her—ambiguous, disrespectful.

But before she could say more, another girl suddenly popped up.

“Auntie, she’s the owner of that house.”

Auntie?

Aunt Du stared at the second girl for a long moment, her gaze flickering with a faint sense of familiarity.

“…Xiao Tu?”

“Wow, Auntie actually still remembers me?”

Tang Tu’s voice was laced with sarcasm, but Aunt Du acted as if she hadn’t heard it at all.

She smiled pleasantly.

“So it really is Xiao Tu.”

“I was just wondering why the girl at the next table looked so familiar.”

Tang Tu couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

She gave a dry chuckle, then stepped over the railing and sat down beside Du Xinrui.

…

A moment later.

Aunt Du stared in disbelief at the beautiful daughter sitting across from her, holding a contract labeled “Rent-to-Own Agreement.”

“You actually sold the house!?”

Du Xinrui nodded.

“The house was a gift from Dad.”

“Before he passed, he told me to sell it. I couldn’t bring myself to do it at the time.”

“But now I’ve sold it to fund my studies—it’s not going against his wishes.”

“As for you, my mother…”

“You were never mentioned in his final wishes.”

“I don’t believe you!” Aunt Du’s face flushed red as she pointed at Du Xinrui.

“That house belongs to me too!”

“Even if you sold it, I should get half the money!”

“Otherwise I’ll take you to court!”

“I’ll make sure you can’t go abroad or even attend school!”

At those words, Jiang Ning knew it was time to step in.

She pulled a contract from her bag and tossed it onto the table in front of Aunt Du.

“Sorry to disappoint you.”

“Du Xinrui has already signed a targeted training agreement with our company.”

“If you try to obstruct Teacher Du’s overseas studies under any pretense…”

“Our company reserves the right to protect our interests—and take you to court.”

The sudden move left not only Aunt Du stunned, but even Du Xinrui’s usually serene eyes showed a flicker of surprise.

Aunt Du instinctively picked up the contract.

When her eyes landed on a particular name, she blurted out in shock.

“‘Shi Ning Ji’?”

“Isn’t that a fried chicken shop!?”

The heavy skepticism in her voice was impossible to miss.

Miss Jiang’s expression darkened.

She snorted coldly.

“So what if it’s a fried chicken shop?”

“Can’t a fried chicken shop sponsor a Berklee College of Music piano student?”

“What, my chickens can’t enjoy a good piano piece?!”

…

Not long after.

They watched as Aunt Du stormed out of the restaurant, fuming.

Miss Jiang couldn’t help but high-five Tang Tu with a crisp clap.

Then—

Tang Tu gave her a thumbs-up.

“Little Jiang Ning, you’re something else.”

“Even thought of using a fake contract to bluff her.”

But to her surprise—

Miss Jiang raised an eyebrow with a bright smile.

“Who said the contract was fake?”

Huh?

Tang Tu immediately snatched the scattered contract from the table and began flipping through it, page by page.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ning turned her gaze to Du Xinrui’s face.

With a look of anticipation, she smiled and said:

“Teacher Du.”

“Would you be interested in becoming a management trainee at our ‘Shi Ning Ji’?”

At that, Du Xinrui didn’t even look at the contract.

She smiled gently.

“In ancient times, Gongming Yi played the zither for oxen.”

“Today, Du Xinrui plays piano for chickens.”

“Perhaps…”

“There’s a certain charm in that too.”

(End of Chapter)