After the Divorce, My Wife and I Were Both Reborn

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Friends

"The problem isn’t her, it’s you. How do you see him?" Ji Wanqiu said lightly, glancing at the rearview mirror.

Lin Yanwan snapped out of the memories of her past life. She gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and sighed softly at the night scenery outside the window.

"A friend."

’He can only be a friend,’ she told herself silently.

"Honestly, I think Xiao Jiang is a pretty good kid. Xiao Man likes him too. Instead of you finding some other boy to date later on, I’d be perfectly happy to have him as my son-in-law. Yanwan, are you sure you won’t reconsider?" Ji Wanqiu’s tone was teasing.

"Mom, please stop. It’s impossible between us." Lin Yanwan shook her head. Their happiest days had already ended in the previous timeline. The two of them... there was no going back.

Hearing this, Ji Wanqiu was finally convinced that her daughter wasn’t in a relationship—at the very least, not at a critical time like this, right before the college entrance exams.

"You’re the one who said it, I didn’t force you~" she said with a grin.

Having cleared up her daughter’s personal matters, Ji Wanqiu finally breathed a sigh of relief. The car gradually picked up speed, and soon, they pulled into the parking lot of their residential complex.

"Mom, I’ll carry Xiao Man. Here, take this."

Ji Wanqiu froze for a moment. Her daughter had slapped something into her hand. Opening her palm, she saw it was the five hundred yuan she had just tried to give Jiang Xia.

"How did..."

"He didn’t take it."

After saying this, Lin Yanwan went to the passenger seat, unbuckled her sister’s seatbelt, and carried her out of the car on her back.

The little one was fast asleep, smacking her lips and mumbling words no one could make out.

"Big Brother, Big Sister, please don’t separate, okay..."

Lin Yanwan’s expression darkened.

◇

Candles flickered in the living room where Xia Shanshan and Jiang Wende sat silently on the sofa. They kept glancing at the wall clock. Normally, their son would have been home long ago.

"Should I drive out and look for him?" Jiang Wende suddenly asked.

"Let’s wait a little longer. Xiaxia is a grown-up now. Even if he ran into some trouble on the way home, he can take care of himself." Despite her words, the worry on Xia Shanshan’s face was impossible to hide.

"But it’s so late, and there’s a power outage. Where could he have gone?"

Just as he finished speaking, the sound of the front door opening broke the silence.

The couple looked at each other, a silent weight lifting from both their hearts at the same time.

"Mom, I’m home."

Jiang Xia changed his shoes at the entrance. Seeing his parents still waiting for him by candlelight, he felt a warmth spread through his chest.

"Dad, Mom, sorry for making you worry."

Xia Shanshan stood up and looked at him. "Are you hungry? Should Mom cook you a bowl of noodles?"

Thinking about how he’d have to stay up late drawing, Jiang Xia nodded. "Thanks, Mom. Just a small bowl, though. I can’t eat too much."

Xia Shanshan smiled and walked into the kitchen.

"Going back to your room to study during a power outage?" Jiang Wende frowned, noticing the schoolbag on his back.

"Yeah, for a little while."

"Just skip it for tonight with the power out. It’s not a huge rush. Get some rest and build up your energy so you can focus better in class tomorrow."

"Dad, I know. You should get some rest too."

His parents never once asked him why he was home so late, a clear sign of the trust they had in their son.

"Mm."

Jiang Wende nodded, stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and went back to his room.

Sitting down at his desk by candlelight, Jiang Xia propped his chin on his hand. He couldn’t help but chuckle as he thought back on the events of the evening.

’My mother-in-law is still the same as ever. I wonder who her future son-in-law will be? Speaking of which, I hope my actions tonight didn’t give her the wrong idea about our relationship.’

He took a deep breath, pushed the extraneous thoughts aside for the moment, and took out his unfinished storyboard manuscript to continue drawing.

This was only the first day. He had set a goal for himself: finish all the key animation for the first episode in one week, then use another week for post-production coloring and editing.

In any case, the final quality of the first episode was crucial to his future plans.

Before long, Xia Shanshan knocked on his bedroom door.

"Xiaxia, the noodles are ready."

A few seconds later, Jiang Xia walked out of his room. The rich aroma filling the air made his mouth water.

"Mom, you go on back to your room and rest. I’ll wash the bowl myself later."

"It’s fine. You eat first. See if it’s good." Xia Shanshan sat down beside him. At this moment, she wasn’t an elementary school teacher, but a mother worried about her child.

"If my mom made it, it has to be delicious." Jiang Xia said, taking a bite of the fried egg and then a big mouthful of noodles, instantly satisfied.

They say a child with a mother is a treasure, while a child without one is like a weed. He had only truly understood this saying after losing his mother in his previous life.

As he ate, his eyes began to feel a little moist.

"After school tonight, I walked a classmate home who was afraid of walking alone at night. That’s why I was a bit late and made you and Dad worry," he said suddenly.

Xia Shanshan paused for a moment, then smiled. "You don’t have to explain these things to us. You’re grown up now and know how to handle things. But walking a classmate home—that was a very nice thing to do."

She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but it seemed her son had suddenly matured a lot in the past two days.

"It’s all because Mom taught me well since I was little." Jiang Xia immediately laid on the flattery.

The corner of Xia Shanshan’s mouth twitched into a smile. "I don’t remember putting any sugar in the seasoning. Why is your mouth so sweet, like it’s been coated in honey?"

"Hehehe, it’s the truth! They say a parent is a child’s first teacher. And it just so happens my parent is you, and my teacher is also you."

"Stop with the sweet talk and hurry up and eat, so I can wash the bowl."

Xia Shanshan shot him a look, then propped her chin on her hand and asked, "A girl?"

Jiang Xia hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly. He subconsciously wanted his mom to meet his daughter-in-law from his past life, but after a second thought, he decided against it. ’There’s no need for that.’

Since he had already decided to no longer have anything to do with her, it was best for their two families not to disturb each other.

If they maintained their current distance, even the deepest feelings would eventually fade. He and Lin Yanwan would both have new lives, sooner or later.

"Don’t tell me you’re already dating someone." Xia Shanshan stared at him, her expression turning serious.

"Of course not. Just a normal friend."

Jiang Xia felt helpless. He didn’t know if it was an occupational hazard, but Xia Shanshan had always been incredibly strict about him dating before he was older.

According to her, students should focus on their studies. Getting into relationships would not only harm yourself but the other person as well. freewebnøvel.coɱ

A drop in grades would be one thing, but what if they ended up at different universities? Then they’d have to endure the pain of a long-distance relationship every day. His girlfriend might even end up with someone else. The potential losses far outweighed the gains.

"That had better be the case. Once you get to college, I won’t care how many girlfriends you have, but for now, you must study hard for me! Seize this prime opportunity to fight for your future, only then..."

"...will you have done justice to your youth. I can recite it by heart."

Jiang Xia finished with a grin. While she was still stunned, he scarfed down the rest of his noodles in a few quick bites, dropped the bowl, and bolted.

"Mom, I’m done! Going back to my room to study some more. You get some rest!"

The moment the door closed, he added confidently, "Mom, don’t you worry. I’ll definitely get into a top university for you in the college entrance exams."

Xia Shanshan snapped back to her senses. Staring at the closed door, she couldn’t help but break into an amused, helpless smile.

’This child...’

’He’s really grown up.’