Using Marriage as Bait : Extra 11
Extra 11
He had never imagined that anyone would choose him, especially a girl so well-liked by others. The little boy stood frozen for quite a while until he felt a warm sensation in his hand. Looking down, he saw her holding his hand.
“If you don't object, I'll take that as your agreement,” she said.
And so, with mixed emotions, she led him away. Despite his mind being filled with questions, he didn't miss the surprised and bewildered expressions on the faces of the other kids as they passed by. It seemed that they even found it unbelievable that someone would choose him.
The chosen dance partners gathered in another area, boys in one row and girls in another. The rule was that the chosen pairs must hold hands, so their hands remained clasped together.
Jiang Zhouming glanced at the little girl beside him. He had so many questions he wanted to ask, but he was a quiet child, used to silence. The silence made him appear less pitiful.
Everyone disliked him, so he had resolved to be someone they would find detestable. When she had helped him last time, he hadn’t even managed a ‘thank you.’
Why had she chosen him now? Didn’t she find him repugnant?
And surely, she must have heard the others calling him names, right?
They said he was the son of a rapist, tainted, filthy. Nobody wanted to play with him, treating him like a plague to be avoided. Yet this girl had chosen him as her dance partner.
Xiao Wantang, of course, noticed that her new dance partner had been staring at her. She thought to herself, ‘Poor boy, he must really want to talk to me, but he’s mute.’
Feeling compassion for her classmate with this ‘disability,’ she told him earnestly, “Don't worry. Even though you're mute, I won't discriminate against you. If there's anything you want to say to me, you can use gestures. I might not understand everything, but I'll try my best!”
Jiang Zhouming: “......”
Expressionless, Jiang Zhouming stared at her. “Who told you I’m mute?”
Xiao Tangtang’s eyes widened in astonishment. In her understanding, this boy had always been mute. Hearing him speak now was like witnessing an alien.
“You... you can talk?”
“En.”
“Then why didn’t you speak before?”
“Didn’t feel like it.”
“......”
Xiao Tangtang blinked her big eyes in confusion, staring at her dance partner.
As the kindergarten day wound down, dismissal was delayed slightly because of the dance partner selection. By the time they were done, the elementary school next door had already let out. Lu Chengang happened to pass by and, noticing that the kindergarten kids were still inside, figured his little sister was still there. So, he waited at the gate.
Once the dance partners were paired and dismissal was announced, Xiao Tangtang and her friend Zhang Minmin held hands and walked back to the classroom to grab their backpacks before heading out. From afar, they spotted Lu Chengmao waiting at the gate.
The two little girls ran as fast as their short legs could carry them. But Xiao Tangtang fell a step behind, and as she watched Minmin dash into her brother's arms, she froze, wide-eyed.
Would her brother hug Minmin first again? He had promised to hug her first!
Before the two of them hugged each other, Xiao Tangtang was already aggrieved.
Before anyone could hug him, Lu Chengmao preemptively placed his hands on Minmin’s shoulders, stopping her in her tracks. Gently pushing her aside, he said, “Wait a moment.” Then he opened his arms and called to his little sister, “Come here. You first.”
The almost-tearful Xiao Tangtang instantly perked up. She sprinted to her brother, arms wide, and jumped into his embrace.
“Brother! Brother!” she called softly.
“Are you satisfied now that I hugged you first?”
“Yes, yes, yes! Tangtang is very satisfied!”
Lu Chengmao chuckled quietly at her response.
After the siblings hugged, Minmin timidly asked, “Brother Chengmao, can I have a hug too?”
Lu Chengmao glanced at his sister, and Minmin followed his gaze. She asked Tangtang hesitantly, “Tangtang, may I hug your brother?”
Since her brother had already hugged her first, Tangtang generously replied, “Go ahead.”
“Thank you, Tangtang!” Minmin happily gave her beloved brother Chengmao a quick hug.
Because Lin Xiyu was delayed with errands that evening, she arrived later than usual. By the time she got there, Minmin had already been picked up by her mom. The siblings stood hand in hand, waiting at the gate.
The chilly autumn wind swept through the deserted school entrance. Though the siblings’ figures looked a bit lonely, the way they stood closely together, hand in hand, exuded warmth.
Lin Xiyu hurried out of the car toward them. Xiao Tangtang ran to her mother and leaped into her arms. Lin Xiyu picked her up and pulled her son in for a hug as well.
“Sorry, sorry. Mommy was busy for too long today.”
Xiao Tangtang quickly forgave her. “It’s okay!”
“Are you hungry?”
“Not really. I brought some cookies you made and shared them with brother.”
Lin Xiyu pinched her little cheek. “Good girl.”
Once they were in the car, Lin Xiyu asked, “How long did you wait?”
“Not long,” Xiao Tangtang replied. “We finished late because we were picking dance partners.”
Recalling the National Day performance the kindergarten had mentioned earlier, Lin Xiyu asked curiously, “Did you pick your partner?”
“Yes,” the little girl said proudly. Then, leaning close to her mom’s ear, she whispered, “It’s that boy everyone says has a dad who’s a rapist.”
“What? Why did you pick him, Tangtang?”
Xiao Tangtang answered honestly, “Because he looks handsome.”
Lin Xiyu burst out laughing and poked her daughter’s cheek. “So young, and you already care about looks? Such a little fangirl!”
Xiao Tangtang giggled, covering her face in embarrassment.
That evening, after Lu Junting returned home, Lin Xiyu shared Xiao Tangtang’s choice of dance partner with him. The rumors about the boy's father piqued her curiosity, and she asked him to investigate.
Lu Junting frowned. “He’s the son of a rapist?”
“We don’t know for sure yet. I just thought you could look into it.”
After a brief silence, he asked, “Do you know the boy’s name?”
“I think Tangtang said it’s Jiang Zhouming.”
“Alright, I’ll check.”
Soon, the boy's family background arrived in Lu Junting’s email. As he read through the details, his expression darkened. Pulling out a cigarette he hadn’t touched in years, he lit it and took a deep drag.
The children who attended that kindergarten were all from wealthy or influential families, with their households ranking highly in Ancheng. Jiang Zhouming’s father was the head of the Jiang family business, which specialized in energy and was a notable entity in the city.
Initially, his father’s career was flourishing, the family business was growing stronger under his leadership, and his position within the company was becoming increasingly secure. With a promising future and abundant resources, it seemed he was just a step away from reaching even greater heights. However, at this critical juncture, the head of Jiang Group suddenly turned himself into the authorities, confessing to having raped a woman years ago. That woman was now his wife.
His wife had been forcefully taken by the head of Jiang Group.
Upon reading this information, Lu Junting had mixed feelings. It reminded him of a time when he, too, had considered using coercion. Back then, he had purchased a villa abroad and even forged her death certificate—all his plans were just one step away from fruition.
But in the end, he abandoned that idea.
Looking back, he felt a twinge of fear. If he had truly gone through with it, would his children now be labeled as the offspring of a rapist, and would he be stuck with a woman who would never love him?
Thankfully, he had stopped himself, or the happy life he now cherished wouldn’t have been possible.
The following morning, Lu Junting shared the findings with Lin Xiyu. She was stunned to learn that Jiang Zhouming’s father was indeed a rapist—and the victim was his own mother.
Faced with this, Lin Xiyu had to contemplate her position. She wasn’t magnanimous or saintly enough to completely overlook the sins of the parents. Even though a parent’s crimes shouldn’t automatically implicate their children, as a mother—especially the mother of a daughter—she instinctively felt protective. If asked whether she wanted her daughter to be friends with the child of a rapist, her answer would be a firm no.
Rape is one of the gravest violations and insults to women. While she wouldn’t let her daughter demean others, she also didn’t want her to associate with the family of such a criminal.
Before taking her kids to school, Lin Xiyu had a talk with Xiao Tangtang.
“Tangtang, are you rehearsing with your new dance partner today?”
Xiao Tangtang nodded.
“Are you happy about it?”
“Yes, I’m happy.”
Lin Xiyu hesitated for a moment before gently probing, “Have you thought about choosing a different partner?”
Tangtang looked confused. “Why?”
Lin Xiyu: “......”
Lin Xiyu was momentarily at a loss for words. In a child’s pure and simple world, things weren’t so complicated. Lin Xiyu struggled to find a way to explain her concerns.
“I just wanted to ask. If you want to switch partners, we can let the teacher know.”
Xiao Tangtang shook her head. “I don’t want to switch.”
“Okay.” Lin Xiyu stroked her daughter’s head. “Then we won’t switch.”
Lin Xiyu knew she had a selfish side, wanting to shield her daughter from harm. But children have their own ideas, and if Xiao Tangtang didn’t want to change, so be it. The sins of the father didn’t define the child. Parents like her just needed to keep a closer eye on things.
With the kindergarten rehearsing for a dance performance, classes were on hold for a few days. Jiang Zhouming sat on the steps of the playground, staring blankly at the ground. The other children played noisily nearby, but he didn’t join in. Unsurprisingly, no one invited him to play, either.
Though his gaze seemed fixed on the ground, he occasionally glanced toward the entrance, until a familiar short and chubby figure appeared. Jiang Zhouming abruptly stood up, hesitating over whether to greet his new dance partner.
Before he could decide, someone else had already stepped in front of Lu Wantang.
It was Liang Yuan—the boy who often led others in bullying him.
Xiao Tangtang looked at the boy blocking her path. She recognized him as the one who had pushed her last time, though she couldn’t recall his name.
“What do you want?” she asked irritably.
Liang Yuan clearly remembered her, even if she didn’t remember him. “Lu Wantang, do you want to pick me as your dance partner?”
“No.” Tangtang rejected him outright.
“Why not?” Liang Yuan looked displeased at being turned down.
Tangtang pointed toward Jiang Zhouming. “I already have a partner.”
Liang Yuan quickly grabbed her wrist, pulling her hand down. “Don’t choose him. Don’t you know his dad is a rapist?”
Jiang Zhouming was close enough to hear the words clearly. His small fists clenched tightly, his teeth grinding audibly, but he didn’t step forward.
Xiao Tangtang frowned in anger. “Don’t talk nonsense. My mom says people who spread lies will get sores on their mouths. You’d better watch out.”
She ignored him after that, walking over to Jiang Zhouming and grabbing his hand, holding it up deliberately for Liang Yuan to see. “I’m choosing him as my partner.”
As the little girl took his hand, Jiang Zhouming’s tightly clenched fist instinctively relaxed. He stared blankly at her, his expression freezing momentarily.
Liang Yuan, feeling humiliated, tried to save face by shouting, “Lu Wantang, I can’t believe you’re friends with the son of a rapist!”
“It’s none of your business!”
Perhaps fearing Lu Wantang’s older brother, Liang Yuan didn’t press further. Muttering under his breath, he ran off. After he left, Jiang Zhouming glanced at the hand she was still holding. She hadn’t let go.
“You should pick another partner,” Jiang Zhouming said softly.
“No!”
Still fuming, Xiao Tangtang stubbornly refused.
“Everyone is laughing at you,” he pointed out.
“I don’t care!”
Jiang Zhouming couldn’t understand her insistence on choosing him. Finally, he gave in to his curiosity. “Why did you pick me?”
Xiao Tangtang’s anger quickly subsided. She motioned for him to come closer. “Come here, I’ll tell you quietly.”
This aloof, introverted boy obediently leaned down. The little girl tiptoed, cupped her hands around his ear, and whispered, “Because you’re the best-looking. No one else is as good-looking as you. I like good-looking people.”
Jiang Zhouming: “…”
Her soft, sugary voice seemed to drill right into his ear. Jiang Zhouming straightened up slowly and murmured, “Oh.”
Then he turned his head to the side, but the tips of his ears were turning an unmistakable shade of red.
The author has something to say:
Tangtang is quite the little face-con, isn’t she?
----------
If you like my translation, please support me by buying me a coffee:
0 comments: