Chapter 2387

Chapter 2387: Chapter 2387

The seats they chose were by the window. This cafe had a nice atmosphere, with a small flower garden outside. These past few days had been sunny, the ice had melted, and many of the small saplings in the garden had sprouted new buds. Though tender, they exuded a vibrant vitality that made people feel joyful just by looking.

Xin Miao looked at the budding saplings and said to Ruan Jiaojiao, "You probably don’t know, but I used to be so jealous of you, so jealous that even when you were still a cat, I maliciously thought, if only your family could abandon you too."

At this point, she lowered her head with a self-deprecating smile and shook it slightly. "But you seem born luckier than most, despite going through hardships, you are always surrounded by people who love you—parents, brother, friends, and even a lover."

"So you surely don’t know how enviable you are, even I am jealous of you, when you saved my life, and I am so ungrateful, right?"

When Xin Miao said these words, Ruan Jiaojiao quietly listened without expressing any opinion, as if the person she described as enviable wasn’t herself.

Only when the question was posed did she finally reply, "Maybe."

Ruan Jiaojiao always knew she was happy, though she had often faced hardships in the past. But having so many people who love her in this lifetime made her aware of how fortunate she was, and she cherished it deeply.

Except—

"I know you’re jealous of me." Ruan Jiaojiao raised her eyes and looked at her.

Ruan Jiaojiao was never stupid; all her innocence and vulnerability were reserved for her family. Family was her weakness, one that threatened to shatter with even the slightest touch, and it remained so to this day.

But this did not mean she was innocent or weak in the face of outsiders.

She could still get along well with Yu Rou, even though their families had once been at odds due to Jiang Bin, even though Yu Rou seemed spoiled and capricious with a distinct air of a pampered young lady in outsiders’ eyes, even though Yu Rou’s mother wore a calculating look every time she saw her, as if wanting to take advantage, she could still be friendly with her.

Because she knew that Yu Rou had never harbored any ill intent toward her, and was sincere. She could overlook the grudges of the previous generation and truly connect with her.

In contrast, Xin Miao, despite having experienced similar situations, being of similar age, and their parents visiting each other yearly, she and her were just friends who occasionally met and chatted, never truly connecting.

Because she knew better than anyone how terrifying a woman’s jealousy could be, and she had seen this emotion in Xin Miao’s eyes more than once, most vividly when they went to Qin Yue’s school together, to help him out.

"You knew?" Xin Miao’s tone suddenly sharpened.

Ruan Jiaojiao nodded and shrugged indifferently. "Miaomiao, you’re only a year older than me, how mature could you be?"

"Why?" Xin Miao frowned at her. "Why would you still want to associate with me? Aren’t you afraid of me... after all, I know so much about you."

"But you’ve never done anything to hurt me, right?" Ruan Jiaojiao countered.

"As for other things, how can I dwell on them? You’re not the only one who knows this. Compared to you, aren’t I more worried about another person, like Feng Nianian?"

"Besides, if it really comes down to that."