Let’s Go Out

When dawn had broke and the temperature dipped, Jiang Shen woke up dazedly and did her morning routine. Even when school was out, she made sure to follow her routine as strictly as possible.

Nanny Yue had already prepared breakfast in the main hall when Jiang Shen arrived dressed in casual clothes. Her Second Aunt was reading a cookbook while eating while her Father browsed busily on his phone.

"Good morning," Jiang Shen greeted, her tone absent of joy.

"Morning."

"Good morning."

As she sat down and dug in her own bowl, she glanced at the two people and couldn't help but inwardly frown. Now that her grandparents were not around, they began to revert back to multitasking while eating their meals.

Even the nannies can't persuade them to stop multitasking. Table etiquette was disregarded once the authoritative figure disappeared.

When the three of them had finished their meals, Jiang Shen followed her Second Aunt to the northeast wing where she lived with her Father. The place was a little more modern with the absence of traditional antiques and furniture, replaced with minimalist decor.

"What are you going to be baking today?"

Jiang Shen asked as they made their way to the small kitchen.

Jiang Mei was a pastry chef that had her own bakery in the city. She took a break from work and handed it all to her partner while she accompanied Jiang Shen in the Jiang Estate. After all, it wasn't a good thing to leave a teenager alone is such a huge estate.

"Cream rolls. They're your favorite, right?"

Jiang Mei guessed as she pulled out ingredients she needed from the pantry.

Jiang Shen looked surprised but didn't show it on her face.

"How'd you know?"

"I caught you stocking up on cream rolls when we were doing the grocery with Nanny Su."

"Wait, really?"

Her face reddened in embarrassment. Jiang Shen thought she hid it really well and even buried it underneath the groceries.

"You were pretty obvious. Sneaking around and snatching stuff. If it wasn't because we're family I would've thought you were stealing."

Jiang Mei laughed. A little nimble thief snatching up all the cream rolls they had on sale and burying it in the cart. It was a funny sight. She remembered the employees eyeing her until she paid for them.

"Please stop."

Jiang Shen covered her face and drank a glass of water to calm herself down.

"Okay okay, I will."

Jiang Mei then set down the ingredients on the wooden countertop and began measuring them.

"Do you want to help?"

Jiang Shen seated herself on a barstool and replied, "No. I'd rather not make a mess of the kitchen."

She was not talented in baking and often made a mess by spilling the ingredients and falls short of mixing the batch. As her aunt had previously said, she was much more suited to decorating.

"Good point. Then, i'll call you when I finish them."

Jiang Mei spoke and shooed her away from the kitchen. It would take a while for the cream rolls to finish since Jiang Mei always loved to add her own unique flavors and design.

Jiang Shen left the kitchen and headed to her favorite spot. But as she approached it, someone was busy playing her ukulele.

When she spotted the figure and walked closer, it was her dumb friend that registered for the summer course yesterday.

"Ah! Jiang Shen, don't mind me i'm just playing your ukulele. By the way, this is a good one. If I hadn't lost mine we could've played a duet."

"Shi Fen. What're you doing here and who let you in?"

Jiang Shen sat down on the stone table and frowned.

"Who else would let me in the house?"

Jiang Shen sighed.

"Nanny Yue is too nice. She could've just let you wait in the hall."

Shi Fen plucked the strings of the ukulele and leaned on the tree.

"Why would you let me wait in the hall?"

"Because you're a guest and that's where you're supposed to wait."

Shi Fen pouted, which did not look cute in Jiang Shen's eyes. At all.

"Best friends have the privilege not to wait."

"Since when? I've never heard that."

Jiang Shen rolled her eyes. Sometimes Shi Fen acted too brazenly in someone else's house. If it wasn't for the fact that they were friends, Jiang Shen would've already kicked him to the curb.

"Of course you haven't. I just made it up right now."

"Why are you even here? Aren't you supposed to be going to school?"

Summer courses had classes for five hours per day every day. Except for the weekends, Shi Fen shouldn't have time to laze around in the estate.

"Already trying to push me away? How cruel."

Shi Fen jokingly clutched his chest as if heartbroken by her words.

"If I wanted to push you away you'd be outside by now."

Jiang Shen had practiced a little bit of martial arts from her grandfather and hence, had a good foundation for combat.

Of course, she wouldn't use them unless someone tries to take advantage of her, which fortunately hasn't happened yet.

"And this is why we're friends."

Shi Fen set down the ukulele and laid down on the grass. He savored the softness of the ground and the light breeze while looking at the swaying leaves of the old willow tree.

Jiang Shen stood up and walked over to him.

"So tell me why you're here."

Shi Fen glanced at Jiang Shen, who was looking more and more mature in the last few years they've been friends.

"Have I ever told you that you look more like a woman now?"

Jiang Shen frowned and playfully kicked his side then stomped on his stomach. Although she didn't dress and act as feminine as her family had hoped for, they had never held it against her. It was only recently that she developed a sense of fashion.

"Wait wait wait! You're gonna get my clothes dirty."

"You should've thought of it before you insulted my looks."

"Okay okay."

Shi Fen sat up and grabbed her foot that was about to land on his precious jewels.

"I'm sorry. You just looked prettier, okay?"

Jiang Shen nodded.

"Good that you know. Now answer my question."

"You're no fun."

Shi Fen wiped the dirt away with a handkerchief and stood up, his height almost equal to hers.

"Let's go out!"

"To where?"

Jiang Shen initially had no plans to go out. She wanted to work on her ukulele in piece.

"I heard a new café opened up in sixth avenue next to the theater. Now let's go," Shi Fen grabbed her shoulders and began to push her.

"Calm down. I'll come with you. I just have to tell my father and second aunt. Grab my knapsack from the low table and meet me outside."

When she received permission and told the nannies, Jiang Shen was greeted with Shi Fen on a bike just outside their gate.

"Grab your bike and let's go!"