C10 Lies

With a trembling heart, Jiang Nuan steadied herself, then, with a look of resignation, pressed the answer button. "Dad... what's up so early?" As soon as the call connected, her voice turned as sweet as honey. Jee Cheng'an, driving nearby, couldn't help but glance over at the sugary tone.

"..." On the other end of the line, there was a deathly silence, not a sound to be heard.

But Jiang Nuan felt a cold sweat break out on her back. Her dad's silence always sent chills down her spine.

"What were you up to last night? Why didn't you answer your phone?" As expected, after the silence, her dad's deep, stern voice came through.

Even though Jiang Nuan was prepared for this, she couldn't help but shiver slightly.

"Yesterday, I..." Back in school, Jiang Nuan often used Lee Xiao as an excuse when she sneaked out to have fun. But now, she just couldn't bring herself to say she stayed at Lee Xiao's place.

"You did what yesterday?" Her dad let out a cold chuckle and questioned her.

"One of my students got hurt during class yesterday, and I rushed him to the hospital. I forgot my phone and just found it at the dojo," Jiang Nuan lied smoothly, without missing a beat.

Hearing her lie so confidently, even with a touch of righteous indignation, Jee Cheng'an couldn't help but laugh. Quite amusing, indeed.

Hearing his laughter, Jiang Nuan shot a sharp look in his direction, then heard her dad's voice soften on the other end of the line: "It's your birthday this weekend. Let me know what you'd like to eat."

Jiang Nuan was taken aback by his words.

Since her mom passed away, Jiang Nuan had chosen to live at a boarding school. From that point on, she hadn't shared a proper meal with her dad. Even when he remarried, she only stayed home for a couple of days before returning to school.

Her stepmom wasn't particularly kind or unkind, but at home, she always felt like an outsider. After graduating, she moved out to live on her own, relying mostly on takeout or instant noodles. On the rare occasions she visited home, it was always in a rush, and she had long forgotten the taste of a home-cooked meal.

"Dad..." Jiang Nuan's voice was slightly nasal and trembling as she spoke again, "There's no need to cook. We can just grab something simple."

"What's wrong?" Her dad noticed something was off in her voice. "Is someone at school giving you trouble?"

Hearing this, Jiang Nuan couldn't hold back any longer, and tears started streaming down her face.

Beside her, Jee Cheng'an noticed her distress, frequently glancing over and slowing down the car.

Jiang Nuan covered the phone's microphone with her hand, looked up with tear-filled eyes, took a deep breath, and then, with a cheerful tone, said into the phone, "Dad, you forget I'm tough enough to take on ten people. No one would dare mess with me."

"Why are you crying?" Dad's voice had a serious tone.

Whether it was because the car was too quiet or because Nuan's phone wasn't the best, Jee Cheng'an heard every word Dad said.

"I'm not crying. I just didn't sleep well last night, so I'm a bit tired. I'll text you what I want to eat later, Dad," Nuan said, ready to hang up.

"Nuan!" Mom's voice came through the phone. "Remember to bring Zhao Yan with you when you come back. You two have been together long enough; it's time to make things official. Otherwise, people might get the wrong idea and think you're just his fling!"

Hearing this, Nuan's expression instantly darkened.