Jiang Cheng left with a smile, while Zhao Na, in charge of registrations, could still hear her own intense heartbeat.
She stared at Jiang Cheng's back, always feeling like something was about to happen at the evening school.
Jiang Cheng walked out of the office, as if nothing had happened, and greeted Uncle Wang at the gate.
"Uncle Wang, I'll start classes tomorrow."
"That's great, your family has come to pick you up."
Family?
Jiang Cheng looked in the direction Uncle Wang pointed, and gave a gentle, resigned smile.
Grandma Shen stood in the middle, with Shen Yue and Shen Xing on either side.
The three of them wore the same awkward smile, and upon seeing Jiang Cheng, instinctively wanted to turn around, but felt too conspicuous, hesitating there.
"Grandma Shen, are you all out for a stroll?"
Jiang Cheng had found a way out.
"Yes, yes, just taking a walk after dinner."
Grandma Shen responded quickly, while Shen Xing secretly curled his lips, wondering who at home was so anxious, always watching the door.
But, since Sister Jiang Cheng moved into their home, as the man of the house, he should indeed take some responsibility.
Jiang Cheng walked over and naturally took Shen Yue's hand, saying, "Just in time, let's go back together."
"Okay, okay, okay!"
Grandma Shen responded eagerly, feeling a bit out of place doing this for the first time. Luckily, the sky had darkened, and no one could see.
She didn't know why, maybe out of pity, or sharing similar circumstances. In any case, after Jiang Cheng left, as the sky darkened, she started to worry.
In the end, she simply took the two children out, and as they walked, they ended up at the evening school gate.
Jiang Cheng turned on the flashlight, and a beam of yellow light lit up the path for the four of them.
The sound of footsteps was particularly clear in the quiet night.
Jiang Cheng swung the flashlight behind Shen Yue, making her shadow grow long and short, alternately wide and narrow.
Shen Yue exclaimed in amazement, her voice a bit higher, shouting, "Sister Jiang Cheng, do it again! Do it again!"
"Sister is amazing!"
On the side, Shen Xing watched, his heart itching, but he didn't speak up.
Though talkative normally, at times he could be quite silent.
Like now, even if he wanted to play, Shen Xing wouldn't say it.
It wastes electricity!
Batteries are expensive!
Better to save money to write letters to big brother.
"Shen Xing, do you know why the shadow changes like this?"
Jiang Cheng stood behind Shen Xing, changing the positions of the flashlight to alter Shen Xing's shadow.
"Hahaha! Brother is so fat!"
Shen Yue laughed, pointing at Shen Xing's shadow, and her innocent laughter infected everyone.
Initially pained over the battery, Shen Xing, upon hearing Jiang Cheng's question, thought seriously and said, "Because the distance Sister is holding it at is different."
Jiang Cheng affirmed Shen Xing's observation: "You're very attentive, it's indeed related to the position and distance of the flashlight."
"The relationship between shadows and light is an optical phenomenon. The shape, size, and position of a shadow will change with the distance of the light, the position of the object blocking it, and the different sides of the illuminated object..."
As Jiang Cheng explained, the flashlight in her hand changed positions multiple times, helping Shen Xing to understand more deeply.
The once silent journey back was now filled with laughter and cheer.
Back at home, Shen Xing was still savoring the experience, while Shen Yue was purely joyful—knowledge was just the wind blowing past her ears, gone without a trace.
Shen Xing and Shen Yue washed up and went to sleep, sharing a room with Grandma Shen.
In the position of the living room, Grandma Shen had not spoken all the way, her heart filled with a mix of complexity and joy.
"Jiang Cheng… thank you."
Jiang Cheng immediately supported Grandma Shen, saying, "I should be the one thanking you. If you hadn't taken me in, I'd be sleeping on the streets."
"No way, you're a capable person."
"No wonder they say an elder in the family is a treasure, your insight is spot on!"
Jiang Cheng's thick-skinned self-praise made Grandma Shen chuckle; they exchanged smiles and went back to their rooms to rest.
Back in her room, Jiang Cheng ensured the windows and curtains were secure, nestled onto her bed, and took out a tablet and a mini fan from her space, beginning her studies.
She was fluent in five languages but wasn't satisfied.
In her previous life, Jiang Cheng also studied other languages but never reached a level of proficiency that allowed for fluent translation, only daily communication.
But given the chance to live a lifetime again, she intended to max out her skill points.
Luckily, she had prepared study materials in the car, and the car's space could also charge her tablet.
While Jiang Cheng was deep into her immersive learning, next door, Shen Xing was also thinking of getting up early the next day to write a letter to his big brother.
Big brother had said all of the family's business, big or small, should be shared, no worries about too many letters.
Far away in some remote area, Shen Que sneezed multiple times, clutching the newly received envelope while thinking: Who would've thought a well-behaved little brother could be so costly in terms of stamps.
Having made plans, Shen Xing closed his eyes and went to sleep, reviewing the knowledge points Jiang Cheng had taught him in his mind.
On the other side of the curtain, Shen Yue had already drifted into dreamland early.
The next morning, Jiang Cheng woke up without needing an alarm.
In the yard, the rooster from who knows which family kept crowing non-stop, much louder than an alarm.
It wasn't just the alarm, but the noises from every household invisibly composed a symphony of life.
Getting up, Jiang Cheng didn't go out immediately but stood in an open space, practicing a simplified version of Wuqinxi.
She wasn't skilled in martial arts, just doing it to stay healthy.
Jiang Cheng's reason for exercising was: If I get sick, it would delay national affairs greatly.
To be fair, when you elevate things to a higher level, working becomes more motivating.
With a slight sheen of sweat, the morning exercise was over.
Jiang Cheng checked everything again, ensuring nothing from the space was left outside before pulling back the curtains.
"That's impressive, she just got back and already has a job lined up, and in the machinery factory, the biggest factory here!"
"What job is it?"
"In the security department, starts working today."
Outside the window, Lin's mother, wanting to flaunt but pretending not to be smug, made Jiang Cheng purse her lips.
Looks like Lin Chengyuan had sorted out his employment.
It was the job mentioned in the book, the security department of the machinery factory.
The book stated that a month after Lin Chengyuan's employment, his superior died heroically, allowing Lin Chengyuan to capitalize on the opportunity and get promoted.
This promotion was considered the beginning of Lin Chengyuan's smooth-sailing life.
Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow and muttered to herself, "Can't let the heart of a heroic spirit go cold, it's better to stay alive."
There's still a month, no hurry.
Jiang Cheng exited her bedroom and headed to where Grandma Shen was busily preparing breakfast.
"Grandma Shen, can I help you with anything?"
Busy yet orderly, Grandma Shen got flustered by the interruption.
"Stay away from me."
Cooking, Grandma Shen blurted out, only realizing her tone wasn't good afterwards.
But all she saw was Jiang Cheng stepping back three big steps without a care.
"As you command, I guarantee the task completion!"
Grandma Shen's cooking paused, while Shen Yue giggled behind her hand.
She found Sister Jiang Cheng's way of speaking so interesting, always making her want to laugh.
But thinking of her little gap-tooth, she didn't dare to laugh out loud.
Such a sweet burden!
"Jiang Cheng, you liar! How dare you trick my sister-in-law into a job, come out!"