Chapter 6: A Tsinghua Professor is Just a "Teacher" in a Single, Casual Word

Qiao Chen’s grip on He Yujuan’s arm tightened involuntarily. Her eyes flickered as she looked in the direction Qiao Nian had just left, and she murmured in a low voice, "Grandma, did you hear what that person just said? He seemed to say that Sister’s biological grandfather is in that private room..."

But wasn't Qiao Nian’s family just country folk from the mountains?

How could they afford a private room at the Water Pavilion?

The entire Qiao family thought of this, and their expressions turned sour. However, with outsiders present, it wasn't the right time to discuss such things. They had to swallow their confusion and follow the waiter to the room they had booked for the time being.

*

Inside the private room.

Ye Wangchuan pushed the door open. Several people were sitting inside, all looking toward the door.

Qiao Nian followed him in.

The old man sitting in a wheelchair at the head of the table immediately turned red-eyed and signaled for someone to push him over. With trembling hands, he grabbed Qiao Nian’s hand. Before he could even speak, his eyes were already wet. "Are you Nian Nian? Good child, good child... After all these years, Grandpa has finally found you! I was so afraid I would pass away before finding you. If I hadn't found you, how could I face your mother in the afterlife..."

Qiao Nian looked at his gray hair. The emotions on the old man’s face did not seem fake; those sharp, spirited eyes were now brimming with tears, showing just how agitated he was. Even the hand holding hers was trembling... She had never felt this way before, her own heart rising and falling along with the old man who held her hand and rambled on.

Elder Jiang was, after all, a man who had weathered great storms. Though he lost control of his emotions for a moment, he gradually regained his composure, though his eyes remained red, revealing how much he had wept. Still holding Qiao Nian’s hand, he began to introduce the people in the room to her one by one.

"Nian Nian, this is your father, Jiang Zongjin. He teaches now."

Ye Wangchuan raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the wall as he watched the old man make the introductions.

A professor at Qing University, and the old man introduced him with a lighthearted "he teaches."

Qiao Nian saw the man in the Zhongshan suit, his eyes slightly red, his hands clenched into fists as if he were trying his best to suppress his emotions.

Her concept of a "father" was very vague, but the old man seemed to want her to call him that. She pursed her lips, her clear eyes looking at the middle-aged man as she called out, "Dad."

"Yes!" The middle-aged man’s eyes turned red instantly, and he quickly turned his head away, afraid of showing too much emotion.

Elder Jiang let out a long sigh of relief and gently introduced the other members of the family.

"That is your second uncle, your second aunt, and your sister, Xianrou. Your second uncle does business, and Xianrou is about your age. You’ve already met her brother, Jiang Li."

Qiao Nian looked over and saw a girl about her age standing next to a man and a woman. The girl and her mother both had indifferent expressions; it was clear they were only nodding to give the old man face, offering a reluctant greeting. The man seemed fine and greeted her with a friendly demeanor.

"Second Uncle, Second Aunt," Qiao Nian said in a calm, measured tone.

Elder Jiang’s face was full of joy. He didn't expect Qiao Nian to integrate into the family immediately; he was satisfied enough that she wasn't resistant!

He immediately pulled Qiao Nian’s hand and said, "Are you hungry? You haven't had lunch yet, right? Come, let’s eat first. Zongjin, tell the waiter to serve the food."

"Alright."

At the dining table, the family was harmonious, and the old man kept piling food onto her plate.

He asked about some things from her past.

As long as he asked, Qiao Nian answered every question. Although her answers were brief, she at least didn't brush him off.

(End of chapter)