After the Divorce, My Wife and I Were Both Reborn

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Adorning Leaves Return to Yanwan

"So you two already knew each other."

"Yes."

Ji Wanqiu nodded with a chuckle. "My older daughter, Yanwan, is his classmate. During the last power outage, we had Xiao Xia to thank for bringing Yanwan home. Not only that, but a few days ago, when Xiao Man was bitten on the hand by a dog on the street, it was also Xiao Xia who stepped in and helped take her to the hospital."

Hearing this, Xia Shanshan glanced at Jiang Xia out of the corner of her eye.

’This kid really knows how to seize an opportunity. With just two incidents, he’s completely maxed out his future mother-in-law’s affection for him.’

"You don’t have to be so formal. It’s only natural for classmates to help each other."

While the two mothers exchanged pleasantries, Jiang Xia quietly took out his phone and sent a text to his "wife."

Jiang Xia: "Babe, I ran into our mom at the market."

Lin Yanwan: "Aren’t you with Mom right now?"

Jiang Xia: "I mean your mom. The two of them are chatting right now."

Lin Yanwan: "You didn’t call her by the wrong name again, did you?"

Jiang Xia: "Don’t worry, I called her ’Auntie’."

Lin Yanwan relaxed when she saw that message. If Jiang Xia had messed up the address term again, she wouldn’t have known how to explain it to her mom later.

"Teacher Xia, how has Xiao Man been doing in school recently?"

"Xiao Man? She’s doing great. Her handwriting is neat, she completes all her homework very well, and she actively participates in class. A lot of the teachers are very fond of her," Xia Shanshan replied with a smile.

"Aunt Ji, to be honest, Xiao Man scored a perfect 100 on her Chinese language test. Among all the children, her handwriting was the neatest," Jiang Xia suddenly interjected.

"Really?" A delighted expression appeared on Ji Wanqiu’s face, and she turned to Xia Shanshan for confirmation.

Although she always knew Xiao Man was a sensible child, what parent doesn’t love hearing their child praised?

"It’s true. Jiang Xia was the one who helped grade the tests. Xiao Man is an outstanding child in every respect."

Xia Shanshan felt a bit helpless. ’This kid sounds like he’s trying to take credit in front of his mother-in-law.’

"Then that must be because Teacher Xia is a good teacher." Ji Wanqiu was grinning from ear to ear, deciding to go home and cook something delicious to reward the two sisters.

She suddenly thought that if her daughter really was dating Jiang Xia, it would actually be quite a good thing.

For one, the young man had good character and was handsome, and she knew his family background inside and out. She wouldn’t have to worry about opening a blind box later, with Yanwan bringing home a son-in-law she couldn’t stand.

For another, if the two of them were together, it would mean becoming in-laws with Teacher Xia. She would surely be even more dedicated and responsible when it came to Xiao Man’s studies, and they wouldn’t have to worry about her being bullied at school.

’It’s a case of the older sister using her own happiness to pave a broader path in life for her younger sister.’

Next, the two mothers entered a round of mutual flattery, and the topic gradually shifted from Lin Xiaoman to Jiang Xia and Lin Yanwan.

"So, Xiao Xia is an art student?" Ji Wanqiu was slightly surprised.

Xia Shanshan nodded. "Yes, he’s been interested in drawing since he was little. As parents, if your child has a hobby, you have to nurture it, so we signed him up for a training class. We didn’t expect him to improve so quickly."

"I see. My Yanwan has studied music since she was young, but unlike Xiao Xia, who is pursuing art as a career, she just treats it as a hobby."

"That’s because Yanwan’s grades are so good. I heard she’s first in her grade. Not like my boy here, whose rank you can’t even see."

"You’re too modest, Teacher Xia. The academic scores aren’t as important for art students. As long as they pass the art exam and their academic score is above the second-tier university threshold, they can get into a decent university. It’s much simpler than it is for traditional exam candidates."

"Who knows, maybe these two kids will end up as schoolmates in the future."

The two experienced mothers shared a knowing smile, having more or less guessed what was on their children’s minds.

Listening on the side, Jiang Xia broke into a cold sweat. If events unfolded as they did in his past life, he and Lin Yanwan wouldn’t be schoolmates after the college entrance exams, but they would be close enough.

"Oh, it’s almost five! I have to hurry back and make dinner for the kids. Teacher Xia, I won’t keep you any longer."

Ji Wanqiu looked at Jiang Xia with a smile. "Xiao Xia, come over and hang out whenever you have time. That child, Xiao Man, talks about you to me every day."

He gave a perfunctory nod. "I will, Auntie. Take care, Auntie."

Xia Shanshan remained silent. ’Ji Wanqiu probably doesn’t know that this silly boy has likely already been over to their house behind his parents’ backs. The only question is whether he did anything out of line.’

Watching Ji Wanqiu walk away, she turned to the vendor and asked, "Sir, how much are these ribs and pork belly?" freёwebnoѵel.com

◇

Back home, Xia Shanshan took the groceries she had just bought straight to the kitchen and started making dinner.

"Mom, I’m going to use the computer."

"Let me be clear, no playing games," Xia Shanshan’s warning voice came from the kitchen.

’Since she’d already tacitly approved of his relationship, she couldn’t let him play games that would affect his studies.’

"I know, I know. I’ve already quit gaming."

"Go on then. Dinner will still be a while."

Jiang Xia went into the study, turned on the computer, plugged in a USB drive, and continued uploading the scanned line art for coloring. Once he entered a state of focus, his work efficiency was astonishingly high.

For simple line art like for Cat and Mouse, he could finish a drawing in just a few minutes. In an hour, he could color more than ten of them.

The scent of braised pork ribs gradually wafted from the kitchen. Jiang Xia took a deep breath, swallowing involuntarily.

Just then, his phone buzzed.

Lin Yanwan: "I’ve finished recording the Hungarian Rhapsody. Want to hear it?"

Jiang Xia: "Sure, send it to me on QQ."

After sending that, he froze for a second. He realized he didn’t even have her as a friend on QQ. He immediately sent another message:

"I’ll add you."

He hadn’t logged into QQ in a long time. The moment he was online, he was bombarded with junk messages from Wang Ming, asking him to go to an internet cafe. The notification sound for new messages chimed incessantly.

He decisively clicked "Ignore All," and the world instantly fell silent.

But before he could search for her, the classic "cough" notification sound played from his speakers.

[I am "The Moon Waxes and Wanes," please add me as a friend.]

Seeing this familiar screen name, Jiang Xia couldn’t help but smile. In an era full of edgy, stylized screen names, such a refreshing ID was like a breath of fresh air.

He glanced at Wang Ming’s screen name, [xX_1AmPr0ud_Xx]. It was a total eyesore.

He immediately clicked "Accept" and habitually checked her profile. Her signature read, "When in doubt, ask the spring breeze."

Meanwhile, his own screen name was [Qingfeng Fuyue], and his signature was "Lingering leaves return in the evening mist."

It was as if many things were fated from the very beginning.

Snapping back to reality, Jiang Xia stubbornly changed his "wife’s" contact name to "Lin Baobao."

[Lin Baobao]: I’ve sent you the piece. Have a listen and see if it’s suitable.

...

(From here on, their respective career arcs will progress slowly. For today, this is the only Chapter. I need to properly sort out the follow-up.)