Becoming a Scum A in an Old-School Melodramatic Novel - Chapter 23

Shen Tian glanced at Jiang Xi, then obediently hugged the cat plushie tightly in her arms. She looked at it with her big eyes while gently stroking its fur with one small hand, softly saying, “Don’t be scared, Mommy and Mom will come pick Tian Tian up soon. The kitty has to be just as well-behaved as Tian Tian~”

Jiang Xi was utterly charmed by Shen Tian’s cuteness and hugged her, coaxing gently, “Tian Tian is amazing! The kitty needs to learn from Tian Tian.”

After all, Shen Tian wasn’t that familiar with Jiang Xi yet. When she heard Jiang Xi praise her, her little face flushed a little, and she shyly glanced at Jiang Xi and said, “Thank you, Auntie.”

“No need to thank me, Tian Tian is such a good girl.”

Shen Tian was tiny and, unlike some rowdy kids, she didn’t cause trouble. She sat quietly in Jiang Xi’s arms playing with the cat plushie, and Jiang Xi couldn’t stop smiling.

Just then, Jiang Xi’s father had also just returned home from the company. As soon as he entered, he saw a well-behaved little girl sitting in his daughter’s lap.

“Xiao Xi, who’s this little one? So cute!” Jiang Chengye, in his fifties, had absolutely no resistance to adorable children. Unfortunately, his son was just like him — a workaholic — with not even a romantic partner, let alone any kids.

“Dad, you’re back. This is my good friend’s child — her name’s Shen Tian, and she’s super well-behaved. Kids are just too cute,” Jiang Xi said with a smile.

Jiang Chengye sat down on a nearby sofa and smiled at Shen Tian.

Shen Tian heard Jiang Xi calling her. She looked at Jiang Xi, then at the man Jiang Xi had called “Dad.” With her big, sparkling eyes, Shen Tian shyly called out in her soft baby voice, “Hello, Grandpa~” After speaking, she nervously stroked the plush cat in her arms.

That adorable little display made Jiang Chengye break into a wide smile. He laughed and asked, “Tian Tian, how old are you? Are you in kindergarten yet?”

Shen Tian pointed to the little bun on her head and said, “Mhm, Tian Tian is three and a half years old. I’m already in kindergarten.”

“So good, Tian Tian. Today you can play at Grandpa’s house. If there’s anything you like, Grandpa will have someone go buy it for you.”

Shen Tian shook her little head and said, “No need. Mom said I mustn’t ask others for things. Tian Tian is a good girl and listens to Mom~”

Jiang Chengye was even more amused by her words. It wasn’t that he hadn’t seen kids before — many were children of business partners or subordinates, and often their words were guided by adults with an agenda, trying to make the kids say nice things to him. That just felt meaningless.

But this child in front of him really seemed like a pure, adorable little girl. Everything she said was genuinely cute. He suddenly felt like teasing her a little more, “It’s okay, Tian Tian. Your mommy said not to ask other people for things, but Grandpa isn’t ‘other people.’”

“But… but… but…” Shen Tian tilted her little head and thought for a long time, but couldn’t come up with a good argument. She blinked her big eyes and looked innocently at Jiang Xi.

Jiang Xi smiled and said to her father, “Dad, don’t tease Tian Tian anymore.”

“Haha, alright, I won’t tease Tian Tian. Come on, see what Tian Tian wants to eat?”

Just then, Aunt Yu had already brought out the snacks, fruit, and juice. The table in front of Shen Tian was completely filled.

Shen Tian looked at the table full of delicious treats with a bit of hesitation. She wasn’t sure — were they really all for her?

Hugging the cat plushie tighter, she tilted her head up to look at Jiang Xi and asked, “Are all these for Tian Tian? But Mom said I shouldn’t eat too much — if I eat too much, my tummy will get too full~ Auntie and Grandpa too, if you eat too much, you won’t be good anymore~” Shen Tian said this in her little baby voice, seriously trying to educate the two of them.

Jiang Xi and Jiang Chengye were thoroughly amused. After nearly a month of stress and work, Jiang Chengye came home to meet this little bundle of joy, instantly lifting his spirits. He coaxed her cheerfully, “Alright, Grandpa and Auntie will be good and won’t eat too much, okay? Tian Tian, take a look and pick what you’d like to eat.”

Shen Tian looked around, then smiled shyly and pointed to a small dessert in front of her. “Tian Tian will just have this. Auntie, please put me down. Tian Tian can eat by herself.”

“Alright, then let’s start with this.” Jiang Xi set Shen Tian beside her and helped her sit properly, placing the coconut jelly in front of her.

“Okay, thank you, Auntie~” Shen Tian said sweetly, giving Jiang Xi a bright smile. Then she picked up a small spoon and scooped a bit of the jelly into her mouth. The moment it touched her tongue, her eyes lit up. She shook the little bun on her head and said to Jiang Xi, “Auntie, this is yummy!”

“If you like it, eat more! Try some of the other little treats too,” Jiang Xi said as she brought over a plate of peach blossom pastries and broke one open for her.

“Mhm, okay Auntie.” Shen Tian scooted forward, held the plate with her tiny hands, and took a bite of the peach pastry. She immediately gave a thumbs-up. “This is really good too! Grandpa and Auntie, you should eat some too — let’s eat together!”

“Okay, Grandpa will eat too and keep Tian Tian company.” With that, Jiang Chengye picked up a few pastries for himself as well.

Meanwhile, after Shen Xian got in the car, she confirmed Jiang Xi’s address and headed over to pick up Shen Tian. After ending the call, the taxi ride was silent. Shen Xian simply assumed that Lin Qinghan was upset because of the situation with Jiang Fang and Lin Zhixin, and didn’t bother to explain her relationship with Jiang Xi.

About twenty minutes later, Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan arrived at the villa complex where Jiang Xi’s home was located. Jiang Xi had already arranged for the family’s bodyguards to wait outside. Before long, the bodyguards led the two into the Jiang family villa.

Lin Qinghan glanced around at the surroundings. Seeing a flicker in Shen Xian’s eyes, she followed her into the villa.

The first thing Shen Xian saw upon entering was Shen Tian sitting on the sofa, happily chatting and eating with Jiang Xi and the others. As soon as Shen Tian saw Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan, her eyes lit up, and she immediately stood up. “Mommy, Mom! Tian Tian was good and played nicely with Auntie and Grandpa.”

“Good, I knew Tian Tian was the best.” Shen Xian first comforted the little one, then turned to Jiang Chengye and said politely, “Sorry to trouble you, Uncle.”

“It’s no trouble at all. Since you’re Xiao Xi’s friends, come by more often in the future — bring Tian Tian along too. She’s such a cute child.” Jiang Chengye smiled as he spoke. Because he found Shen Tian adorable, even his impression of Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan had improved quite a bit.

While they were talking, Shen Tian had already toddled over with her short little legs. She gave Shen Xian a hug before throwing herself into Lin Qinghan’s arms.

“Xiao Xi, thank you for today. I’ll treat you to a meal another day. Uncle, Xiao Xi, we’ll be leaving now.”

“Sis, won’t you stay for dinner?” Jiang Xi asked with a smile. She really liked Shen Tian and wanted to spend more time with the little one.

“Not today. We’ll come by another time when we’re free.” Shen Xian declined politely, thinking about how Lin Qinghan’s mother and brother had just been detained — there was no way she’d be in the mood for anything else right now.

“Alright then, I’ll have the driver take you. It’s still quite a distance from here to the gate.”

Shen Xian didn’t refuse Jiang Xi’s kindness. “Thanks, then. Tian Tian, say goodbye to Auntie and Grandpa.”

Being carried by Lin Qinghan, Shen Tian beamed brightly. “Goodbye, Grandpa! Goodbye, Auntie! Tian Tian will come see you again next time~”

“Alright, Grandpa will be waiting. I’ll prepare lots of yummy food for you.”

“Yay! Then Tian Tian is leaving now. Grandpa, Auntie, goodbye~” Shen Tian said in her sweet, childish voice, waving her short little arms at the two of them.

The family of three got into the car Jiang Xi had arranged. Shen Xian and Lin Qinghan sat on either side, with Shen Tian in the middle. Children don’t worry about much — Shen Tian chirped away, excitedly telling them how brave she had been earlier, how she behaved well even without Mommy and Mom around.

Only when she looked at her daughter did Lin Qinghan’s expression soften a little.

At dinner that evening, Lin Qinghan barely ate a few bites before setting down her chopsticks. Shen Tian, her cheeks puffed out from eating, looked up in concern and asked, “Mom, why aren’t you eating? If you don’t eat, you’ll be hungry later.”

Lin Qinghan forced a smile at Shen Tian. “Mom’s not hungry. You eat, Tian Tian.”

Shen Tian blinked her big eyes and nodded obediently.

After dinner, Shen Tian was already sleepy from a full day of play. Normally, Lin Qinghan would put her to bed, but for some reason, Shen Tian insisted on Shen Xian tonight.

“Tian Tian wants Mommy to tuck me in today~ Mommy, hug!” she said, instantly latching onto Shen Xian’s leg like a little koala, acting all cutesy.

How could Shen Xian say no? She immediately picked her up and said to Lin Qinghan, who was sitting on the sofa staring blankly into space, “Qinghan, I’ll put Tian Tian to bed tonight. You can take a break and rest a little.”

Lin Qinghan looked at Shen Xian and nodded slightly, but her gaze was empty, lifeless.

Shen Xian let out a quiet sigh. She always felt that Lin Qinghan’s life shouldn’t be like this. She was only 28, but her eyes had already lost their light. As her friend, what could she do to help her? Shen Xian was deep in thought as she carried the little one back to the bedroom.

As soon as she placed her on the bed, the little one wrapped her arms mysteriously around Shen Xian’s neck and whispered, “Mommy, Mom seems sad… What should we do? Can you go cheer Mom up? Mengmeng said her mommy always cheers her mom up when she’s sad — it really works!”

Shen Xian understood that the little one was worried about Lin Qinghan. But the situation between her and Lin Qinghan was complicated — something that couldn’t be explained in just a few words. You could even say that the original version of Shen Xian had a big part in how Lin Qinghan turned out this way. How could simply comforting her make things better? Still, these weren’t things she could say to a child.

So Shen Xian responded warmly, “Okay, Mommy will go cheer Mom up in a bit. You don’t have to worry, alright? Let’s get some sleep first.”

Shen Tian nodded, then lay down obediently and pulled her little blanket over herself. Her bright eyes looked up at Shen Xian and said, “Okay, Tian Tian will be good. Mommy has to cheer Mom up too!”

“Alright.” Shen Xian lay down on her side, gently patting the little one’s belly to help her fall asleep.

Maybe it was because she had played all day, but Shen Tian soon couldn’t keep her eyes open. She fell asleep, lips pursed softly.

Once Shen Xian was sure she was asleep, she carefully got out of bed, slowly turned the doorknob, and quietly walked out of the room.

In the living room, Lin Qinghan was still sitting in the distance, her gaze unfocused, lost in thought.