Nian Suian still didn't know that her son's second parent-teacher conference was about to hit. At the moment, she was busy indulging in some juicy gossip.
Yes, that's right.
Jinjiang City was just that exciting! Even an ant would have to stop for a chat before moving on.
"Brother Ah Heng, I think we shouldn't meet anymore. You're getting engaged to Sister Wen He next month, and I don't want to put you in a difficult position."
What a pair of scumbag and white lotus!
Nian Suian, sitting in front, was rolling her eyes as she listened.
Nian Suian didn't have to work now, so whenever she wanted to eat out or watch a movie, she would choose weekdays when there were fewer people around.
Today, she had deliberately come to a cinema far from home to watch this movie. Due to its niche subject matter, there were very few screenings, and the cinemas near her home weren't showing it at all.
After entering, she found that she was indeed the only person in the theater. It was a very small hall, but watching a movie alone still created quite an atmosphere. Nian Suian was quite happy about it.
However, halfway through the movie, she overheard the conversation above.
Perhaps because the cinema seats were so large that they completely concealed her form, and because it was very dark inside, the two people hadn't come forward and naturally hadn't realized there was someone else there.
But judging from the shameless tone of their conversation, they probably wouldn't care even if there were other people around. In fact, others might become part of their play.
Nian Suian's eyes were fixed on the big screen, but her ears were perked up listening to the commotion behind her.
"Qian Qian, do you really not trust me that much? I won't get engaged to her, that's just my parents' wishful thinking. I don't even like her!"
"I know you're just trying to comfort me. Sister Wen He is so great, how could you not like her? Your uncle and aunt like her so much too. You should go marry her, don't worry about me."
"Qian Qian, do I really need to give you my heart for you to believe me? Today my mom wanted me to go with her to try on wedding dresses, but I didn't go. I came to watch a movie with you instead."
"Trying on wedding dresses alone, poor Sister Wen He."
"Silly girl, what's there to pity? You're just too kind-hearted. She's trying to steal me away from you, how can you say she's pitiful? If it weren't for my family, she'd never have the chance to try on such expensive wedding dresses in her life."
What a... perfectly matched pair of scumbags.
Nian Suian's fists were clenched. Just as they were about to speak again, she deliberately coughed loudly.
They probably hadn't expected someone to be in front, and after that, Nian Suian didn't hear them speak again for the rest of the time.
When the movie ended, Nian Suian got up and walked out, not seeing the two people. They might have left early out of embarrassment.
On her way home from the cinema, Nian Suian was still feeling angry. It was a pity she didn't know the girl called "Wen He". That man had better keep his word and convince his parents not to let "Wen He" marry him.
"Another parent-teacher conference? No problem, I'll go."
Nian Suian agreed to attend the parent-teacher conference for Gu Zhijing. On Wednesday, she got up early again to wash her hair, take a shower, and put on makeup.
The reason? Maintaining her image, of course!
For this parent-teacher conference, parents and students didn't go to school together. Students were required to attend early morning self-study as usual. The parent-teacher conference would start at 10 o'clock, and parents just needed to arrive before then.
Nian Suian arrived just in time. When she got there, it was just a few minutes before the second morning class would end. She didn't wander around but stood at the bottom of the teaching building waiting for Gu Zhijing to come down after class.
By now, quite a few parents were already waiting. There were many students in a grade, and at this time, these parents were standing in small groups chatting.
"Mrs. Gu... Mrs. Gu."
Only when she realized someone was standing in front of her did Nian Suian look up. She hadn't noticed at all that "Mrs. Gu" was referring to her.
"I'm sorry, were you calling me?" Nian Suian didn't recognize the person in front of her, but she guessed it must be the parent of one of Gu Zhijing's classmates.
The other person covered her mouth and smiled, "Who else would I be calling if not you? Is there a second Mrs. Gu here?"
Nian Suian didn't know what to say for a moment, but the other person didn't mind and continued talking, "Your Zhijing must have done well in this exam, right? I heard it from my Junjun."
This wasn't the time to be modest. Since the other person said so, Nian Suian simply nodded and said with a smile, "He has improved a bit."
"That's good. Let me tell you, children at this age are so difficult to handle. Even I, as a birth mother, can't control mine! But my Junjun said your Zhijing behaves well at school, he must be an obedient child."
Nian Suian choked, thinking to herself that this person was being too familiar...
"Ring ring ring—"
"Little Mom Sis—"
Gu Zhijing's voice came almost simultaneously with the class bell, saving Nian Suian who didn't know how to respond.
"How did you come down so quickly?"
Nian Suian looked around, Gu Zhijing was almost the first one to come down.
"I was afraid you'd get impatient waiting."
Because of the parent-teacher conference, the teacher of this class had let them out before the bell rang. He had almost followed right behind the teacher out of the classroom.
Little Mom Sis was a bit different from other parents, and Gu Zhijing was worried that some parents might like to meddle or gossip too much, so he had to come down quickly to protect Little Mom Sis.
As they were talking, other students gradually came downstairs.
"Why are you only coming down now, you dawdler? Even when your mom comes, you're still so slow. Look at others, am I worse than someone else's stepmother?"
It was the voice of the person who had just been talking to Nian Suian. Gu Zhijing hadn't heard the previous conversation, but just this one sentence was enough to make him unhappy. His face, which had been smiling just now, had already become expressionless.
Why did those words sound so grating? Constantly referring to "stepmother", what's wrong with her?
"Mom, can you please stop talking?"
Gao Jun saw Gu Zhijing's gloomy face and was almost scared to death. He had heard people say that Gu Zhijing was the school bully. If he offended him, wouldn't he be done for?
"Why can't I talk? Am I saying something wrong?"
"Heh, what you're saying is quite right. You certainly did fail in raising your son."
Hearing Gu Zhijing's retort, Nian Suian smiled without saying a word. She even reached out to straighten his school uniform collar. Her Zhijing really knew how to speak!
"I'm sorry, Zhijing. My mom was just talking nonsense. She was just joking."
Gao Jun was also exasperated. His mom didn't mean any harm, it was just her mouth that offended people wherever she went.
Gu Zhijing turned his head directly, not even bothering to acknowledge him.
"Hello, Auntie Nian. Gu Zhijing, why did you run down so fast?"
"Zi Zhou, hasn't your mom arrived yet?"
Nian Suian had just looked around and hadn't seen Jiang Yun.
"Not yet, but she'll be here soon." He had just called his mom from upstairs, and she had said coming early would just mean being embarrassed for longer, then scolded him for a while.
"Let's go, we'll go up first."
"Okay."
This was the second time here, so Nian Suian was already familiar with the place.
"So where are you guys going afterwards?"
"We're not going anywhere. We have to stay here for this parent-teacher conference too."
"Huh? You guys are listening in too?"