After the Divorce, My Wife and I Were Both Reborn

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Mother-in-law Meets Daughter-in-law

"What are you doing here picking someone up instead of staying at school?" Xia Shanshan asked, giving him a cool glance.

"Mom, we just finished our monthly exams today, so school let out early. I’m here to help a classmate pick up her little sister," Jiang Xia said, bracing himself.

"Who are you picking up?"

"Her."

Jiang Xia pointed at Lin Xiaoman and secretly shot her a look, hoping his little sister-in-law would understand his painstaking effort.

"Mom, you go ahead and get back to what you were doing. I’ll just take Xiao Man and go." With that, he grabbed his little sister-in-law and started to leave, giving his mom no time to react.

"You wait right there." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Xia Shanshan immediately stopped him. Jiang Xia’s body stiffened. He took a deep breath, turned around, and forced a smile for his mother.

"Mom, you’re going to ask about the monthly exams, right? You can rest completely assured, I definitely didn’t do poorly. If there’s nothing else, I’ll head home to study."

"We’ll talk about that later." Xia Shanshan adopted her homeroom teacher persona. "Right now, my question is: who gave you permission to pick up my student?"

"Er... I’m picking her up for a classmate."

"Tell her to come herself."

"She’s stuck in traffic. She can’t make it."

"Then Xiao Man and I will wait for her here."

Jiang Xia started to panic. ’It’s not about whether I can pick her up or not, it’s that your daughter-in-law doesn’t dare to meet you right now!’ But of course, he couldn’t say that out loud.

"Mom, why don’t you get back to work? I’ll stay here and wait with Xiao Man. Don’t worry, I’ll complete the mission."

"I know you’re in a hurry, but don’t you be. If something happens, won’t I, your mother, still be the one responsible?"

"Mom, why don’t you trust your own son?"

"How can I trust you? Are you Xiao Man’s biological brother?"

’I’m her biological brother-in-law!’

Of course, he would never dare to say that out loud.

Xia Shanshan took Lin Xiaoman’s hand, pointed at the bad example that was Jiang Xia, and said gently, "Did you see that, Xiao Man? In the future, don’t trust anyone who tells you to go with them, unless they’re family. You can’t be sure they’re not a bad person."

Jiang Xia: "??"

’When did I become a bad person?’

"Teacher Xia, Brother Jiang Xia isn’t a bad person. Xiao Man just won’t go with him, okay?" Lin Xiaoman said with a pout.

"Good girl, Xiao Man. I know," she said, patting Xiao Man’s head.

"Mom..." Jiang Xia still wouldn’t give up.

Xia Shanshan shot him a glare. "What ’Mom’? That’s enough. Stop bothering me and get lost. Is your homework done? All you do all day is wander around."

"Sister!" Lin Xiaoman suddenly shouted toward a tree.

He froze. ’Could Lin Yanwan be coming out?’ His gaze followed the direction of her shout, but he didn’t see anyone.

"Xiao Man, where’s your sister?" Xia Shanshan secretly glanced at her son’s nervous expression. ’I’d like to see for myself just what this girl named Lin Yanwan looks like,’ she thought.

"She was hiding behind that tree! I just saw her!"

Lin Xiaoman pointed, then happily trotted over and immediately spotted her sister holding an adorable dog plushie.

"Sister, I found you! Were you playing hide-and-seek with me?"

Lin Yanwan, thinking Jiang Xia had brought her sister out, smiled faintly and handed over the Shiba Inu plushie in her hands. "Your Brother Jiang Xia bought this doggy for you. Do you like it?"

"It’s so cute!"

Lin Xiaoman turned and shouted, "Teacher Xia, I found my sister!"

Her breath caught. She turned her head just in time to see Xia Shanshan walking over, and her entire body instantly went rigid.

Xia Shanshan found her expression a bit strange. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her nose twitched slightly, and she bit her lip tightly, looking as if she might burst into tears at any second.

Seeing her struggle to suppress her emotions, Jiang Xia couldn’t help but cover his face.

’The first meeting between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. If my wife can’t stop herself from calling her ’Mom,’ my good days are truly over.’

"You... you’re Lin Xiaoman’s sister, right?" Xia Shanshan asked hesitantly.

Lin Yanwan turned her back, gave two almost inaudible sniffs, and forced back the overwhelming emotions before turning around again to reply softly, "Yes... Auntie, I am."

Jiang Xia let out a huge sigh of relief and secretly gave her a thumbs-up.

’Hearing this form of address, Xia Shanshan frowned slightly. Shouldn’t she be calling me Teacher Xia under normal circumstances?’

’If I subconsciously feel that this form of address is fine, then the problem obviously lies with Jiang Xia. It’s perfectly normal for my son’s girlfriend to call me ’Auntie’.’

"As a guardian, I hope you’ll come to pick up your sister earlier next time. Don’t let a child wait too long. It can make their little hearts feel let down," she said seriously.

"Yes, I understand, Auntie. I’ll be here earlier next time." Lin Yanwan blushed, a little embarrassed. ’Yes, this is all Jiang Xia’s fault,’ she thought.

Xia Shanshan smiled. "Then you should take Xiao Man home. Be careful on the way. And by the way, Xiao Man is a very well-behaved, good child."

Lin Xiaoman shyly covered her face and hid behind her sister. "Teacher Xia, even if you praise me like that, I won’t be happy!"

Xia Shanshan couldn’t help but laugh. "Is that so? It seems I’ve been giving you too little homework, Xiao Man."

"Ah! It’s not too little, it’s not too little at all! Please don’t, Teacher Xia!" Lin Xiaoman wailed.

Lin Yanwan glanced at Jiang Xia hesitantly, then suddenly took a step forward and gathered her courage. "Auntie, I... can I give you a hug?"

Xia Shanshan was stunned. ’What is this all about now?’

"You’re so kind and approachable, you remind me of an elder who was very good to me when I was little. But I haven’t seen her in a very, very long time, and I miss her a lot," she said softly.

"Well..."

Xia Shanshan hesitated for a moment. The reason was acceptable enough, it just felt strange to hug her son’s girlfriend.

"If it can bring your heart a little comfort in place of that elder, then of course," she said, opening her arms.

Lin Yanwan took a deep breath and threw her arms around her. The yearning accumulated from her past life was finally released at this moment.

She closed her eyes, peacefully savoring the moment of tranquility, her heart filled with immense satisfaction.

Jiang Xia watched from the side, dumbfounded. ’My wife’s move was an absolute masterstroke. Coming up with an excuse like that just to make up for the longing from her past life?’

’Truly worthy of being number one in liberal arts.’

’If I had a mind as quick as hers that night, I wouldn’t have been so awkward in front of her mom.’

Xia Shanshan wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she thought she heard a very faint... "Mom"?

’No way.’

’Are girls these days all this forward? Shouldn’t you at least wait until you’re married?’

’Then again, she already called Old Jiang ’Dad,’ so calling me ’Mom’ now doesn’t seem that out of place.’

Just as her mind was racing with wild thoughts, Lin Yanwan slowly loosened her arms and stepped out of her embrace.

"Auntie, thank you. I feel much better now," she said, letting out a long breath.

"It’s nothing, it’s nothing. I’m glad I could help," Xia Shanshan said with a smile. "It’s getting late, so you two sisters should head home. Be careful on the way."

"Okay! Goodbye, Auntie."

"Goodbye, Teacher Xia."

"Goodbye, Xiao Man."

"Goodbye, Mom." Jiang Xia saw his chance and immediately seized it.

Xia Shanshan’s brows shot up.

"Wait a minute! Who said you could leave? Get back here!"