"I was initially concerned about which school would be best for you, but it seems there's no need to worry now. However, there's still more than a month before school starts, so it would be good for you and your mom to go shopping and buy some clothes and supplies," Aiden Jiang thought as he spoke, "Your birthday is on August 23rd, and throwing a birthday party could be a good opportunity for you to meet friends your age. What do you think?"
Aiden Jiang asked in a tone that clearly showed he was accommodating and respecting her.
"Whatever you decide is fine," Mia Ginger felt a faint warmth rising in her heart, "I have no objections."
"Then let's settle it for now. Tomorrow, you can go shopping for clothes with your mom," Aiden Jiang pondered slightly, then looked up to meet her eyes, and said seriously, "The Jackson family just called, and the meaning was that you and Koa need to get to know each other better, but you also know..."
Aiden Jiang paused slightly, "Koa is a doctor, and he's usually devoted to his work, which makes him inevitably busy. Old Master Jackson's intention is for you to stay with him every weekend at Cloudy Capital to build your relationship."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zuri Ginger's hand, which was resting on her leg, couldn't help but clench.
Marianne Jackson said that Old Master Jackson liked Mia Ginger a lot, and it turned out to be true—he liked her so much that he was progressive enough to let them cohabit before marriage?
She is so beautiful. Even though Zuri didn't want to admit it, she still felt that Mia's looks were attractive to men. A single man and woman living together, it's hard to guarantee that nothing would happen.
Once they have a relationship, the marriage would be as good as set in stone.
Why should...
A girl like her, with no upbringing and no taste, can't play piano, arrange flowers, cook, paint, or dance—not even able to use a knife and fork, and her English is poor!
What can she do with Koa Jackson?
Zuri Ginger was deeply depressed by these thoughts when she heard Aiden Jiang ask, "What do you think?"
"Isn't this too fast?" After a moment of silence, Charlotte Chester spoke, frowning, "They've hardly said a few words to each other, and now they have to cohabit?"
Charlotte looked at Aiden Jiang, "Is Old Master Jackson suggesting trial marriage?"
"Probably just wants to create opportunities for the two to meet," Aiden Jiang reminded her, "Koa isn't young anymore, and his character speaks for itself, so it's viable."
"But this?" Charlotte couldn't help but glance at Zuri, feeling very troubled.
The latter couldn't endure her gaze, suddenly stood up with a smile, and said softly, "Dad, Mom, I'm not feeling well. I'll go back to my room to rest for a bit."
"I'm not feeling well either." Bob Ginger followed suit and stood up, sounding depressed.
As the two left, Aiden Jiang also felt somewhat frustrated. He handed the notice on the coffee table to Mia Ginger and said warmly, "Think it over yourself. Once you agree, it's expected that you'll get married eventually. There's no rush; it's not too late to give an answer in a few days."
As he spoke, he stood up, looking at Mia Ginger with a slightly regretful gaze.
Mia Ginger tightened her grip on the notice, "Dad, I'm willing."
"Ha," Charlotte Chester seemed incredulous when she glanced at her, and said directly to Aiden Jiang, "In a few days, I'll invite a teacher to teach her table manners. Koa grew up abroad, so his habits should be more Westernized."
Thinking about what happened at the table today, Charlotte still held some resentment and felt that living together with Koa Jackson might bring countless jokes.
Feeling restless, she headed straight upstairs.
Aiden Jiang looked down at Mia Ginger, "No matter what is said, you and he indeed have differences in various aspects right now; your mom actually has her reasons, don't take it to heart."
"Mm." Mia Ginger nodded expressionlessly.
"You used to cry a lot as a child," Aiden Jiang suddenly smiled, "Whenever you wanted something, you'd cry until you got it."
Mia Ginger looked up at him.
"A crying child gets candy," Aiden Jiang's large palm ruffled her hair, "Mia, being too rigid can break you, especially as a girl, you need to know how to show vulnerability, understand?"
"Dad," Mia Ginger smiled at him, "But kind people get bullied."
Aiden Jiang's expression froze, thinking about the life she had led over the years, and after a moment, he said nothing more, just sighed and urged her to go upstairs and rest.
...
Mia Ginger didn't sleep well that night.
She dreamed of Koa Jackson.
It started ten years ago when that woman ran afoul of the hoodlums in the alley and couldn't earn any money for days. She was so hungry that she tiptoed to reach for the outermost shelf of the shop at the corner of the street.
The scholarly boy in a white shirt suddenly appeared beside her, took her by the wrist, and led her away.
In the sunlight, his eyes were gentle, and his fingers holding the money were pale and slender. He leaned down and said warmly, "Good kids don't steal."
Under his tolerant and compassionate gaze, she felt immense shame.
The dream suddenly shifted to today at the Jackson family, where he scrutinized her face and suddenly said, "I recognized you, the little kid who stole."
As he said this, his expression was earnest and cold, and Mia Ginger suddenly woke up.
It was July, and she stared dazedly at the moonlight, silver and water-like.
Koa Jackson was the warmest redemption in her memory—she always remembered him, and in many moments of hardship, just when she wanted to give in to despair, she'd think of him.
The village in town was a mix of everything, with ropes randomly strung up in the alleys, covered with men's and women's colorful clothing hanging out to dry.
Yet she always remembered his blindingly white shirt in the sunlight.
She wanted to escape such a chaotic life.
With all sorts of thoughts racing through her mind, she couldn't fall back asleep. When she went downstairs in the morning, she felt dazed, facing the elegantly dressed Charlotte Chester and Zuri Ginger in the dining room.
Zuri Ginger wore an off-white, single-shoulder, knee-length dress. The soft chiffon outlined her graceful figure as she sat composedly in the chair, drinking milk with a confident elegance.
"Up in a daze in the morning," Charlotte Chester remarked after glancing at the black short sleeves on her, "Hurry and eat breakfast. We'll take you shopping afterward."
This mother of hers always had the knack of showing love and dislike in a single sentence.
Mia Ginger looked up and exchanged glances with Zuri Ginger.
Zuri Ginger smiled charmingly, yet before she could speak, the "ring-ring-ring" of the phone suddenly came from the living room.
The maid answered it, said a few words, and then called out in this direction, "Second Miss, it's for you."
Mia Ginger was taken aback.
Charlotte Chester and Zuri Ginger exchanged a glance, as the maid's cautious voice drew closer, "It's a young man named Louis Cox. Should you take it?"