Rebirth: I Am Not the Movie Queen This Time-Chapter 42 Sending a Pen

She glimpsed the plastic bag in Jiang Kechu’s hand, filled with various colors of pickled vegetables, and could not help but curl her lip disdainfully. Not only had he eaten his fill, but he was also taking a bag with him when leaving.

Jiang Kechu cleared his throat, fixed his expression, and said seriously, "Wan Chu’er, your father was an outstanding soldier. As his heir, you should carry on his legacy and emulate his fine character."

Great. She knew all too well that Jiang Kechu would give her a lecture. It seemed that her conversation with Zhuo Yao had been overheard by him.

Wan Chu’er let out a forced chuckle, nonchalantly nodded, and replied, "Thank you for the guidance, Uncle Jiang. I understand."

She did not want to get entangled with Jiang Kechu, so she just went along with him. If she had retorted, Jiang Kechu would definitely have seized the opportunity to give her a stern talking to, as if he were reprimanding one of his own subordinates.

Seeing that Wan Chu’er’s attitude was acceptable, Jiang Kechu couldn’t say much else. He nodded, thought for a moment, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen which he handed to Wan Chu’er.

Wan Chu’er instinctively took a step back, eyeing the pen with suspicion.

Jiang Kechu kept a stern face and said, "I’m giving you this pen in the hope that you will study hard and get into a good university, to comfort the spirit of your father in heaven."

In the 90s, it was popular to give pens and notebooks as gifts, but Wan Chu’er was not accustomed to accepting things from others, especially from someone like Jiang Kechu, who she intended to distance herself from.

Wan Chu’er lowered her eyelids, speaking indifferently, "There’s no need, Uncle Jiang. I will study hard." After saying that, she turned to leave.

What does he mean? Why would he just assume that she wasn’t studying properly?

And besides, whether she studies diligently or gets into a good university, what does it have to do with Jiang Kechu?

Jiang Kechu frowned, finding Wan Chu’er to be a truly stubborn child. He quickly took two steps forward and, in a flash, stuffed the pen into Wan Chu’er’s backpack. He then said solemnly, "Be obedient and study hard. This pen represents not just me, but also the wishes of all the soldiers who served under your father."

Having said that, he strode away.

Wan Chu’er watched Jiang Kechu’s self-righteous retreating figure, clenched her teeth, glared, and helplessly waved her fist at him.

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Kechu was out of sight. Wan Chu’er, feeling discontent, unzipped her backpack, took out the pen which had ’Hero’ engraved on it.

She had seen this pen in her previous life; Jiang Kechu often used it when writing. His sister, Jiang Xiaoxiao, had once asked for this pen, but he had never given it to her.

The pen felt scorchingly hot in Wan Chu’er’s hand. With a flick of her wrist, she threw the pen away.

I don’t want your pen!

"Ouch, who’s throwing things?" A boy in front held his head and turned around. Seeing Wan Chu’er’s raised hand, he knew she was the culprit. He looked down, found the "weapon"—the pen—and picked it up.

Wan Chu’er gritted her teeth—her aim was too good; a casual throw had hit a handsome boy, judging by the school uniform, he must attend the same school as her.

Since she was in the wrong, Wan Chu’er didn’t show any temper. She hurriedly mustered a smile of apology and approached.

She spoke up first, "Classmate, I’m sorry, I accidentally threw the pen and it hit your head. I’m really sorry. If you need to go to the hospital for a check-up, I can go with you, and I can cover the medical expenses."

Having committed a mistake, she knew her attitude had to be humble. Since she was so cooperative, it was highly likely the other person wouldn’t make a big deal of it, Wan Chu’er thought to herself.

Sure enough, the boy, upon seeing Wan Chu’er’s sincerity, felt embarrassed for making a fuss over a mere bump on the head, given that he was a grown man. Besides, there was no need to go to any hospital, and she was a pretty girl after all.

The boy blushed a bit and said, "Just be more careful in the future not to throw things around. Luckily, I wasn’t hurt, but it could have been serious if it hit someone else."

After saying that, he handed the pen back to Wan Chu’er.

Unexpectedly, this young boy was kind-hearted. A few nice words and he didn’t hold a grudge. Instead, he even advised Wan Chu’er. Indeed, he was a green, young teenager.

So Wan Chu’er had to take back the pen she’d thrown and continued to show her tears of gratitude as she thanked him.

The boy glanced at Wan Chu’er once more, then hurriedly turned and left.

Wan Chu’er watched the boy’s slightly flustered back, turning her eyes this way and that. Was the kid frightened by her beauty? Did he have a crush on her the moment he laid eyes on her? She had certainly seen his face flush red as a monkey’s butt.

It was all the pen’s fault, all Jiang Chu’s fault.

Right now, Wan Chu’er didn’t want any trouble. She just wanted to study hard, help Bai Zhixi with the pickles business, get into a good university, and live happily with Bai Zhixi.

She could only stuff the pen into her backpack again. Looking at the time, she realized it was getting late and hurried towards school.

During the evening self-study session, Wan Chu’er tried her best to block out all distractions and immersed herself in her studies.

Her deskmate glanced up several times to see Wan Chu’er caressing a pen, finding it quite strange. Wan Chu’er didn’t use that pen for writing; she just kept touching it as if it were very precious.

When Wan Chu’er got home in the evening, she placed a set of keys in front of Bai Zhixi.

Bai Zhixi looked at the keys and asked curiously, "Where did these keys come from?"

Wan Chu’er smiled and recounted returning the one thousand yuan to Liu Li and renting a small courtyard.

Bai Zhixi took a while to snap out of her daze. She looked at the keys, then again at her still somewhat immature sixteen-year-old daughter.

She hadn’t expected Chuchu to get the one thousand yuan back, nor had she expected her daughter to be so bold as to rent a courtyard without consulting her.

Seeing Bai Zhixi in shock and unable to recover, Wan Chu’er reflected for a moment. Had she gone too far?

She organized her words and said to Bai Zhixi, "Mom, I didn’t mean to decide without discussing with you, nor did I spend the money frivolously. Look, as we make more and more pickles, this place is too small, especially since it’s upstairs. It’s inconvenient to carry things up and down. Although money has been spent, we will earn it back..."

Bai Zhixi, seeing her daughter trying so carefully to appease her, felt an exceptionally sour heartache. She lifted her hand to hold her daughter’s and stopped her explanation, yet tears uncontrollably began to flow.

Seeing Bai Zhixi cry, Wan Chu’er panicked and hurriedly admitted her fault, "Mom, I was wrong. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. Sorry, please don’t cry..."

Her mother’s tears made Wan Chu’er’s tough heart ache as if scorched.

Bai Zhixi wiped away her tears and said, "Mom doesn’t blame you. I feel like I’ve let you down. You’re still a high school student, and yet you have to take care of everything. I’m so incapable. You’re consoling me instead. You did very well. Mom doesn’t blame you. It’s just that I feel so touched that I couldn’t help crying."

Wan Chu’er breathed a sigh of relief and gently wiped away Bai Zhixi’s tears, saying, "Mom, as long as you’re healthy and by my side, that’s better than anything else."

Bai Zhixi murmured, "Yes, we mother and daughter both need to be well." She clutched her daughter’s hand tightly, feeling that the distance between her and her daughter had never been so close before.