Chapter 298: Sisters’ Unyielding Bonds

After washing her face, Jiang Qian regained her usual cool and aloof vibe, striding in from outside the villa with confident steps and an overwhelming presence.

Fang Meng followed right behind her.

In the villa’s living room, Grandfather, Father Jiang, and Mother Jiang all turned to look, while Jiang Jingshi just sat there quietly and elegantly.

She didn’t even glance at her sister or say a word.

“I’m back,” the Second Miss said in a cool tone.

Fang Meng bowed slightly: “Grandfather, Master, Madam, and Eldest Miss, we’re back.”

Father Jiang looked up, his tone sharp: “Oh, so you decided to come back? I thought you’d stay out all night after that scene!”

Jiang Qian turned to her father: “Didn’t you tell me to come home?”

“Hmm?”

“And besides, this is my home. Why shouldn’t I come back?”

“Then what were you doing running off like that!”

“Just going shopping.”

“I swear, you’re getting more out of hand every day! You were so cute and well-behaved as a kid. Look at you now!”

Jiang Qian replied coldly, “I’m still cute.” After all, how else could she win a man?

“You!”

Father Jiang was at a loss for words. Mother Jiang shot her younger daughter a look and whispered, “Sit down, don’t argue with your dad. What time is this?”

Jiang Qian muttered, “I’m not arguing with Dad, just stating facts,” and sat on the same sofa as Jiang Jingshi.

Normally, the sisters sat with just a space between them on the sofa, but today they took opposite ends, leaving a wide gap in the middle.

Like they were oil and water.

Jiang Jingshi glanced at her sister with her peach-blossom eyes, while Jiang Qian’s straight black hair fell over her shoulders as she sat, catching her sister in her peripheral vision.

The two women shared a knowing cold huff and looked away from each other.

Mother Jiang sighed, worried her husband might explode, and spoke up first:

“Look at you two! I usually let your little squabbles slide, but today? Neither of you is acting right. The eldest isn’t minding her manners, and you’re running wild, Jiang Qian. Do you even know what you did at dinner? How could you—” She found it almost unbelievable:

“How could you declare your feelings for your sister’s man in front of everyone? Lucky no outsiders were there!”

Jiang Qian frowned: “Why is he already my sister’s man?”

Father Jiang cut in: “Why isn’t he? Didn’t you hear your sister say they’re together?”

“I already confessed by the time I heard that. I didn’t know.”

“You!” Father Jiang slammed the table, startling his wife more than his daughters—she clutched her chest.

“Are you doing this on purpose? Do you think your mother and I can’t see it? Or are we the fools here? You might be, for all I know. Yes, your sister announced her relationship with Lin Zheng Ran later than expected.”

Father Jiang insisted:

“But before dinner, she was calling him ‘Zheng Ran’ right in front of us. Your mother and I aren’t deaf! And when has she ever been so sweet to a guy? Didn’t that strike you as odd? Didn’t you wonder what was going on?”

Jiang Qian shot back: “I did wonder. I figured my sister and Lin Zheng Ran were just friends, maybe colleagues at most. And that’s all they’ll ever be.”

“You stubborn girl! Don’t you get it? You’re set to be the general manager of Jiang Group one day!”

Jiang Qian stood her ground: “What’s wrong with me? And how does that tie into being general manager? Lin Zheng Ran is my classmate, my desk mate. He’s the class monitor, I’m the deputy. We’ve known each other for over three years. Don’t I have the right to like a guy?!”

She added defiantly: “Why should my sister get to? I’m not a kid anymore!”

Grandfather, usually the stern one, stayed silent, just sipping tea with sweat beading on his forehead.

He felt like he was to blame for all this—after all, he introduced that young man to his granddaughters. Who could’ve guessed things would turn out like this?

They say sisters always want different things growing up, but why did they both fix on the same man?

Father Jiang gritted his teeth:

“I don’t even know where to start with you! I never said you couldn’t like guys or date. But why him? Your sister’s already with someone—what does that make you?”

“Call it fair competition. Like I said, they’re not married, so it’s not official. A little setback won’t stop me. Dad, you always say to face challenges head-on, right? Well, here I am.”

“You!” He wanted to say she’d picked the worst time to take his advice, but realized she always tackled everything that way. So he grumbled, “You’ve got my stubborn streak down pat!”

Mother Jiang glanced at her husband, thinking, At your age, you still call yourself stubborn?

Mother Jiang calmed him: “Alright, enough. We all know you’re a great dad, but venting won’t fix this. Let’s focus on solving it before this drags on forever.”

Father Jiang fell quiet, glaring at his two precious daughters.

“Right here in front of the family, like last time, state your positions. Jiang Jingshi, you first!”

Jiang Jingshi looked at her father: “He saved my life, and we’re together now. You and Mom can see how I feel about him. I’m his, and I won’t let go.”

Jiang Qian said: “He saved my sister’s life, and that moved me. As the younger sister, I should step in and pledge myself in her place.”

Everyone stared at Jiang Qian in confusion.

Jiang Qian went on expressionless:

“Plus, I know him well. I never thought I’d fall for anyone, but after what happened at school, I know I’m all in. Now that I like him, I’ll keep going until I win him over.”

Jiang Jingshi frowned: “Hold on! He saved my life, so if anyone’s pledging, it’s me.”

Jiang Qian turned to her sister: “Didn’t you say you’d never like a guy? I’m just granting your wish. Once I’m with Lin Zheng Ran, you’re free. Freedom forever!”

Jiang Jingshi shot back: “Freedom forever? What about you? You said the same thing before! You take the freedom if you want it so bad.”

The sisters glared at each other, then turned away with another cold huff.

Father Jiang nodded, looking at them in despair: “Fine, fine. I see how it is. So Lin Zheng Ran means more to you than the whole Jiang family and its business? You didn’t fight this hard over company shares before, but for him, you’re at each other’s throats?”

Jiang Qian looked to the right:

“If my sister wants the company shares, I can sign them over. I just want Lin Zheng Ran. With him, we can rebuild from nothing—he’s worth more than any fortune.”

Jiang Jingshi looked to the left: “Keep dreaming, Jiang Qian. I can give you the shares, but don’t even think about my man. I’m not backing down an inch.”

Father Jiang listened to their back-and-forth, questioning his life choices, and pointed at his daughters in disbelief at his wife:

“Listen to this! These are our precious daughters? Billions in shares tossed around like nothing! No one even wants them!”

Mother Jiang chuckled at her husband’s laugh and sighed: “There’s a word online—boomerang. I think it’s coming back to hit you. Lin Zheng Ran is great, but great things can burn you.”

Father Jiang had no response, just shook his head.

“Exactly. That boomerang always finds its way back.”