Chapter Thirty-Two: Seems Familiar

Jiang’s mother immediately released her, cupped her daughter’s face, and planted a kiss on her cheek.

She removed her sunglasses, revealing a face nearly identical to her daughter’s. “My darling, even if you clung to me your whole life, I’d never grow tired of you.”

Jiang Yunzhu couldn’t help but laugh.

This was her mother—known to the world as the iron-willed Chen Li.

After playfully squeezing her daughter’s cheeks, Chen Li handed all the luggage to the refined and scholarly middle-aged man standing nearby. “Old Jiang, your precious girl is home at last. Today, don’t even think about going back to work to earn money for her. I’ll take our darling out for some fun—just leave everything to me.”

Jiang Zhenxiong gazed at his wife and daughter, his eyes brimming with affection. “Alright, I’ll go make money for our daughter. You two enjoy yourselves—don’t worry about me.”

“You’re the best, darling.” Chen Li blew him a kiss, then eagerly took her daughter by the hand and hurried toward the exit.

Jiang Yunzhu remained quiet, listening as Chen Li recounted amusing stories about her father.

Before long, Chen Li’s voice softened—her daughter had fallen asleep.

Noticing the faint shadows beneath Yunzhu’s eyes, Chen Li’s heart ached with maternal tenderness. She whispered instructions to the driver: “Miss is asleep—drive slowly and don’t disturb her rest.”

Unable to resist, she snapped a few photos to send to the family group chat. Glancing again at her slumbering daughter, Chen Li’s eyes grew even more tender.

The mere thought that her beloved child would now remain by her side forever made this all seem like a dream.

Night fell.

Hearing commotion downstairs, Jiang Yunzhu finally descended, catching sight of servants busily moving things under Chen Li’s watchful direction.

She approached her mother, curiosity shining in her eyes. “Mom, what are you up to?”

“You’re awake!” Chen Li instantly enveloped her daughter in a hug, pulling her along to inspect the banquet setup. “My darling is home—of course I have to announce it to the whole world. See if there’s anything you’d like to change. If so, your father and I will take care of it.”

“There’s no need. It’s all perfect,” Jiang Yunzhu replied.

Suddenly, a thought struck her. She looked at Chen Li in alarm. “Is all this for me?”

Seeing her daughter’s discomfort at the idea of a party, Chen Li was puzzled. “Yunzhu, you always loved lively gatherings before. Why…”

She sensed her daughter’s unease, almost as if she feared the party.

Afraid her mother might notice something amiss, Jiang Yunzhu shook her head quickly. “Of course I like it. I just don’t want you to go to so much trouble. It’s enough for our family to have a simple meal together.”

“That won’t do!” Chen Li put her hands on her hips, her eyes growing moist.

She gritted her teeth. “That wretched Shen Ruizhang coaxed you away for so many years. You clung to your uncle more than to us. Now that you’re finally back, how can I not show off to everyone?”

Especially in the past—every time she called, Yunzhu couldn’t stop mentioning Shen Ruizhang. Chen Li had bottled up that frustration for years.

Suddenly, Chen Li grew suspicious. “You’ve come to M Country for your graduate studies—was Shen Ruizhang really willing to let you go?”

At the mention of him, the smile on Jiang Yunzhu’s face turned awkward.

Now that she was no longer in the picture, Shen Ruizhang was probably happily together with Zhou Qingfei.

She forced a calm smile. “Uncle is dating someone now. I didn’t want to be a third wheel. Besides, I want to enrich myself, and he’s very supportive.”

Chen Li snorted. “At least he has a conscience.”

She gave her daughter a once-over. “Did you call your uncle to let him know you arrived safely?”

Guiltily, Jiang Yunzhu avoided her mother’s gaze. “I already did.”

Though it had been a long time since they’d seen each other, a mother always knows her own child—Chen Li could tell her daughter was lying.

Could something have happened between Yunzhu and Shen Ruizhang that she didn’t know about?

“Yunzhu,” Jiang Zhenxiong came over, eyeing her with concern. “Did you have a falling out with your uncle? He doesn’t seem to know you’re here.”

Jiang Yunzhu’s heart skipped a beat. “I…”

Sensing something was wrong, both parents focused their attention on her.

Suddenly, Chen Li smiled and shot her husband a reproachful look. “Ruizhang has a girlfriend now, and our Yunzhu is a young woman. If his girlfriend got the wrong idea, what would people think?”

Jiang Zhenxiong nodded. “True. Let’s not disturb his romance. When they get married, we’ll throw him a grand celebration.”

Seeing her husband placated, Chen Li waved him away to tend to his own affairs and turned her serious gaze to her daughter.

“Yunzhu.”

Jiang Yunzhu tensed.

She forced a smile. “I just remembered I have some work to finish. I’ll go upstairs now.”

She turned to leave, but Chen Li grabbed her arm and led her firmly to the conservatory.

Realizing her mother had seen through her, Jiang Yunzhu bowed her head, bracing for interrogation.

“Did you have a fight?”

“No.”

Chen Li let out a soft scoff.

She flicked her daughter’s forehead, exasperated. “I gave birth to you—how could I not know? Did Shen Ruizhang bully you?”

“No,” she replied so quickly it was almost too fast.

Chen Li narrowed her eyes, her shrewdness making Yunzhu shiver, as if she’d been utterly seen through.

“Mom.” She looped her arm through her mother’s, feigning sweetness. “I just didn’t want to be a third wheel.”

Seeing her daughter so determined to keep her silence, Chen Li’s eyes reddened further.

She hugged her daughter tightly, patting her back with gentle affection. “It’s alright. From now on, you can do whatever you wish at home—no more worries.”

“Thank you, Mom,” Jiang Yunzhu whispered, eyes closed, luxuriating in her mother’s unconditional love.

As for Shen Ruizhang—

From the moment she left, their connection was completely severed.

The next evening, the banquet formally began.

Jiang Yunzhu was prepared and escorted by Chen Li herself.

She soon noticed the room was filled with outstanding young men.

Startled, she glanced at her mother, who was busily socializing with other ladies.

Was this… a matchmaking event?

Seeing Chen Li engrossed in conversation, Jiang Yunzhu quietly slipped away to a corner for some peace.

As she lingered alone, the entire hall suddenly turned their attention to the entrance.

“How odd—didn’t Master Shen always skip these banquets? Why is he here tonight?”

Master Shen?

Curious, Jiang Yunzhu looked toward the doorway.

The moment she lifted her head, her gaze met a pair of eyes that made her heart skip.

That man’s face was so strikingly handsome he could easily rival the brightest stars in show business.

Jiang Yunzhu was momentarily stunned, then frowned—she felt as if she’d seen him somewhere before.

“My goodness, Master Shen is looking this way! Has he finally noticed my beauty?”

“In your dreams—he’s clearly looking behind you.”

The two turned, and their eyes met Jiang Yunzhu’s.

Jiang Yunzhu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Was Master Shen really looking at her?

Before she could react, the man was already walking in her direction.