Shocking! The Broke Campus Heartthrob Is My Child’s Father - Chapter 15
After Lu Yicheng and Lu Siyan left, Jiang Ruoqiao got busy.
She had some understanding of Jiang Yan. If this mystery girl wasn’t his biological sister, a cousin or a niece, she had to be someone very close to him. Otherwise, given his personality, he would never have brought her into a game with his friends, much less introduced her as his “little sister”. And in this digital age, if they were that intimate, the girl was bound to have left traces on Jiang Yan’s social media.
There’s a saying that rings true – when a woman sets her mind to it, she can be as astute as Sherlock Holmes.
Truth be told, Jiang Ruoqiao wasn’t all that concerned about the alleged “cheating”. Because when infidelity occurs, there’s only one outcome – a breakup.
By the same token, a man who cheats isn’t worth the trouble of a graceful exit.
What she needed to ascertain now was the exact nature of the relationship between Jiang Yan and this so-called “sister”. Only then could she plan her next steps.
“It’s Stars, Not the Moon.”
She didn’t play video games and had no intention of downloading one just to hunt down this person.
Jiang Yan’s WeChat Moments were a dead end too, since she wasn’t privy to his private friend list.
So she pivoted to Weibo.
Jiang Yan’s Weibo was practically a ghost account.
Few followers, barely any posts—mostly just reposts of hers. Completely inactive.
But she persevered, meticulously scrolling to the very bottom, combing through every comment and repost until finally uncovering a suspicious clue under a post from two years prior.
A “like” from a user named “It’s a star”.
Although Weibo lacked visitor tracking, Jiang Ruoqiao was ever cautious. She promptly switched to her alternate account before probing further.
“It’s a star” belonged to a young female student. Not a massive following, but an avid sharer of her daily life.
After sifting through her entire feed, Jiang Ruoqiao gleaned three vital pieces of intel:
First, this girl was well-off, likely an heiress from an affluent family.
Second, several of her posts were geotagged at Noble Mansion, the very same upscale villa complex where Jiang Yan resided.
Quite the coincidence..
Third, the girl was currently on the island.
In recent days, she had been posting at a higher frequency, with multiple check-ins at a particular area of the island.
Could it really be just a coincidence?
Even more telling, two days ago, while savoring coconut chicken, she had snapped a photo of the dinner table. A hand had inadvertently crept into the frame.
Jiang Ruoqiao recognized it in a heartbeat.
It was Jiang Yan’s hand.
Another post from late last year showcased an array of fireworks photos. Among the nine images, one captured the back profile of a man.
Once again, it was Jiang Yan.
It appeared this girl was indeed the “sister” Jiang Yan had brought into the game.
If Lu Yicheng had omitted anything earlier, it was most likely the fact that this “sister” was also on the island.
Jiang Ruoqiao left no stone unturned, scouring not just posts but comments and reposts too.
Nearly two hours later, she had gathered that the girl’s name was Kexing, freshly eighteen this year. She had originally planned to study abroad, but her family had concerns, so she remained in the country and had recently received an admission letter from a university in Beijing.
Kexing possessed an emotional depth characteristic of young girls. Some of her late-night posts carried hints of melancholy and sweetness.
Jiang Ruoqiao could discern at a glance – this girl’s heart was spoken for.
And instinct told her the object of Kexing’s affections was most likely Jiang Yan.
Youthful infatuation is like pure poetry, all the more so when unrequited. Even the jaded Jiang Ruoqiao couldn’t help but sigh at the raw intensity of it all. So aching, so bittersweet.
They made a picturesque match.
Their family backgrounds were similar—after all, they lived in the same villa district. This trip was likely arranged by their parents. If they could spend time together so naturally, their families must be well-matched.
Kexing’s feed boasted both polished selfies and candid shots. While not a striking beauty per se, she radiated a demure charm, pure yet refined.
One could easily envision them side by side – Jiang Yan tall and dashing, Kexing gentle and demure.
It would be a picturesque sight.
To say Jiang Ruoqiao felt no sting would be a lie.
But the pang was fleeting.
What good would wallowing do?
Would it change reality? Could she trade sorrow for anything of substance?
Aside from casting herself as fragile and pitiful, what purpose would it serve?
Jiang Ruoqiao was no novice to romance, having weathered two or three relationships. She had genuinely liked her boyfriends—including Jiang Yan.
If she were merely seeking a suitable match, going through the motions of courtship would be a joyless affair. While not yet entertaining thoughts of marriage, she still aimed to revel in the thrills of young love.
But to call her feelings for Jiang Yan deep would be a stretch.
Her best friend had once said, “If you truly love someone, breaking up wouldn’t be this easy.”
Every great romance that meets its end does so in shattering agony.
Some people feel numb at first, even relieved. But in time, the memories bleed back in unrelenting waves.
But for Jiang Ruoqiao? That never happened.
Those who have truly loved and lost often vow to never again cross paths.
Her best friend was convinced Jiang Ruoqiao had never known love.
Jiang Ruoqiao didn’t believe it. She called it maturity.
Must passion consume one in raging flames? Must heartbreak equate to sleepless anguish?
Why willingly submit to such torment?
She was fine the way she was.
While Jiang Ruoqiao was planning how to initiate the breakup, at the island resort, Jiang Yan was taking a sunset walk with his mother.
It was rare for them to have such a relaxing moment together. The island was breathtaking—warm orange hues blanketed the land, waves gently crashed against the shore, and the shadows of coconut trees swayed under the golden sky. The air was tranquil, the sands pristine.
Now in her forties, Jiang Yan’s mother had her long hair neatly tied back. She wore an elegant green dress. Though time had etched its mark, her bearing was stately, her composure unrivaled.
As they reached a particular spot, she stopped and pointed toward a resort in the distance. Her eyes were filled with nostalgia.
“Many years ago, your father brought me here to relax. He said he wanted to build a resort on that piece of land.”
The smile slipped from Jiang Yan’s face.
He refused to even glance in its direction.
He had endured his share of life’s cruelties through the years.
His tenth year had marked a turning point.
Before then, he had been the cherished heir of Jiang Wenyuan, an empire builder who rose from nothing. Life had been perfect—a thriving business, a loving family, and a bright future ahead.
But tides change swiftly in the cutthroat world of business.
Jiang Wenyuan lacked deep-rooted connections, and when disaster struck, he was powerless to stop it.
His death in an accident sealed the family’s fate.
The Jiang Corporation crumbled to dust, with bankruptcy fast on its heels.
At ten, Jiang Yan lost not just his home—but the father he had once admired.
He had no desire to reminisce about the past, nor did he want to hear about his father’s former glory.
They should both accept their current situation.
His mother heaved a sigh.
“I rarely dream of him anymore. But, Ah Yan, don’t forget—your father loved you deeply. Don’t blame him. If he had a choice, he would have given anything to watch you grow up.”
“Enough.” Jiang Yan cut her off.
“Mom, if you’re unhappy, why don’t you quit your job?”
After the Jiang family’s downfall, Mrs. Jiang didn’t give up. She still had her son. At that time, an old friend needed an assistant and called to ask if she was interested.
During their school days, Mrs. Jiang had always been the most outstanding one. Now she had to work as an assistant for a friend who had never been her equal. Mrs. Jiang hesitated for a long time but eventually accepted. She wanted to stay in this social circle – working as Madam Lin’s assistant allowed her to access information unavailable to ordinary people. She could maintain her social sensitivity, and besides, Madam Lin offered a very generous salary that could provide her son with a better life.
Madam Lin allowed her to live in the Lin family villa, where she had her own suite, and her son could live there too.
She didn’t want her son to leave this circle.
She didn’t want her son to become just another face in the crowd.
So, she helped her son integrate into the Lin family, observing how the Lin family’s heirs spoke and conducted themselves. She didn’t spend a penny of her monthly salary on herself, instead buying her son understated luxury brand clothing. Whenever she went shopping for Madam Lin, she would take her son along, letting him see what it meant to spend money lavishly. She needed this job because only here could her son still appear to outsiders who didn’t know better as the privileged heir of the Jiang family.
However, she would never let her son know these thoughts.
To her son and others, she was simply a devoted mother doing everything for her child.
“Quit?” Mrs. Jiang shook her head with a smile. “I’ve been with the Lin family for ten years; I’m used to it. Besides, where would we live if I quit? Don’t worry, Jiang Yan, I won’t become your burden. I’ll do my best to save money for you, to support you in establishing your own family and career.”
Jiang Yan didn’t know what to say.
His mother had a point – she had been with the Lin family for ten years and was accustomed to that life. If she quit and they had to rent a place, she might not adapt well.
Mrs. Jiang wanted to mention Lin Kexing, but she swallowed her words.
It wasn’t time yet.
She hoped her son would follow in his father’s footsteps and restore their former glory.
She knew better than anyone that her son was talented and capable. If her son was like a blade, then currently, he was an unsharpened one.
He still needed a whetstone.