The Kitty Became a Cutie and Was Pampered in the 80s
Chapter 1016: Xin Family (4)

Chapter 1016: Chapter 1016: Xin Family (4)

"She probably wouldn’t dare. Doing this wouldn’t bring her any benefits," Shu Jiao shook her head and said. Naturally, she had a deep impression of that young girl. People always say children grow up following their parents’ example. That child grew up watching her mother, and as a result, she’s a bit materialistic and frivolous. But this matter shouldn’t have anything to do with her—she doesn’t have the guts to pull it off."

"I wonder how Miss Xin is doing now," Jiaojiao sighed. Maybe it was because she had once been in an accident involving water herself, but she felt genuine sympathy for Miss Xin. It seemed as though tomorrow was supposed to be her birthday banquet, and now, judging by the situation, that banquet probably couldn’t go forward.

She remembered that when Miss Xin was carried away, her face was pale, and she was unconscious.

Shu Jiao didn’t reply, merely patted Jiaojiao’s little head, her eyes full of contemplation.

A group of them returned home around noon, and at the same time, Ruan Hao also came back. He had been eating lunch with the Ruanlin Family and Old Master Shu. When they saw them return so suddenly, Ruan Jie looked visibly upset; he hurriedly put down his food and dashed over to greet them.

"What’s going on? Why do you all look so shaken?" the elder of the Ruanlin Family asked, painfully pulling Ruan Jie aside for questioning. Her gaze then shifted toward the visibly drained Jiaojiao, her concern growing even stronger.

"It’s nothing, Grandma, we just got cold for a bit," Ruan Jie replied nonchalantly. Most of the chill had passed while they were in the car. Now that he was back in the warm, cozy garden, he instantly felt rejuvenated.

Jiaojiao, on the other hand, dashed straight into the embrace of the family elder, burying her little head in her arms and whining, "Grandma, Brother was being bad—you have to scold him!"

"What happened?"

"Jiaojiao, your brother was being a hero. How can that be bad?" At this age, children tend to idolize the idea of heroics. Even if the same situation happened again in the future, Ruan Jie wouldn’t hesitate to jump in to save someone.

"What on earth happened—why are you a bit wet, Jiaojiao?" Upon touching her clothes, the elder noticed they were slightly damp, and unease began bubbling up in her heart.

Jiaojiao had a deep fear of water, so whenever there was any kind of dangerous water source around the house, they always made sure she stayed far away. But now, her clothes were soaked enough to make it clear this wasn’t just from snow.

"Auntie, here’s what happened..." Shu Jiao prepared the water for boiling, while Jiang Bin explained the day’s events to her.

As the explanation unfolded, the elder’s expression grew darker and darker. By the end, she was so enraged that she smacked Ruan Jie hard: "Are you trying to get yourself killed, child? What good is playing hero like some fool!?"

For the elderly, no amount of young girls outside could ever compare to their own family’s child, especially during winter. Ruan Jie himself was only fifteen or sixteen years old—it wasn’t his place to jump into the river to rescue someone. If anything serious had happened to him, whom would they go crying to?

"..." Ruan Jie felt utterly wronged after being smacked.

Why is it that when you see someone act heroically on TV, everyone praises them, but when *he* does it, the entire world blames him? His grandma even called him a fool!

Scratching the back of his head, though inwardly indignant, he still hung his head and gloomily promised the most authoritative elder in the family that he wouldn’t do something so reckless next time. Only then did she let him off the hook.

As soon as Shu Jiao returned, she and Shu Wen went to the kitchen to prepare hot water, along with the staff quarters. They boiled multiple kettles of water, poured them all into a bathing tub, and demanded that Ruan Jie immediately soak himself in the bathroom for a full hour before coming out.