Chapter 24: A Pearl Can Never Be Obscured by Dust

For the next half month, Jiang Ming and Jiang Man focused on driving practice, with Xie Yan and Jiang Shi acting as their instructors.

Besides driving, Jiang Ming immersed herself in studying, voraciously absorbing knowledge from textbooks covering everything from finance to economic law. Whenever she encountered difficulties, she would seek help from Jiang Shi or consult Xie Yan via her phone.

Jiang Man, meanwhile, prepared for a talent show. She had decided that retaking the college entrance exam was beyond her endurance—she lacked the courage to endure another grueling year—but she was determined never to abandon her path in performance.

Compared to other routes, a talent show was the best way to debut. Although the old patriarch had said she could rely on family support whenever difficulties arose, she was unwilling to enter the entertainment industry through family connections.

Fortunately, a highly popular talent show was about to begin filming, and Jiang Man submitted her application. Once her resume passed the initial screening, she would be eligible to attend the auditions.

She confided this only to Jiang Ming, who was naturally supportive.

“When you make it onto the island, I’ll vote for you and support you every day without fail—I won’t even read my books,” Jiang Ming promised.

“That won’t do. I have to study and vote at the same time. I’ll need you, President Jiang, to keep looking out for me,” Jiang Man replied with a smile.

Jiang Man understood Jiang Ming’s ambitions well and wholeheartedly approved. She knew she wasn’t cut out for leadership, but it was clear Jiang Ming was a natural-born leader.

A precious pearl could never be dulled.

A few days later, Jiang Man’s resume passed the selection. She only needed to attend the in-person auditions. Upon success, she would enter the island to train alongside 300 other girls. Ultimately, the nine most outstanding would be chosen based on popularity and skill.

By then, Jiang Man’s driving skills were nearly ready. After passing her test, she could go straight to the island.

Jiang Shi was the second person to learn about Jiang Man’s participation in the talent show. One day, while they were testing the car along a mountainside road, he suddenly asked about her future plans.

Not wanting to keep secrets, especially since their time together was likely to grow scarce, she told him she had passed the auditions and would soon begin closed training.

There would be a break during which she could report to school, complete military training, and then return to the island for further preparation.

“Are you sure you want to take this path?” Jiang Shi asked, puzzled but respectful. Everyone had their own aspirations, but with the Jiang family as her backing, why was Jiang Man choosing the toughest route?

“Yes. It’s been my dream all along,” she said firmly.

She longed to portray various lives—lives completely different from her own.

“Then I wish you success all across the land,” Jiang Shi said sincerely.

On the day they obtained their driver’s licenses, Jiang Shi and Xie Yan accompanied them to the testing center.

On the way back, Jiang Ming rode in Xie Yan’s car, clutching a pile of questions she intended to ask him all at once, while Jiang Shi rode with Jiang Man.

“I think I saw that case in a book once. Why don’t you come to my place, and I’ll find it for you?” Xie Yan offered.

He also lived with the old master in the ancestral home, and lately, the old man had been constantly mentioning Jiang Ming, hoping Xie Yan would invite her over as a guest.

Not knowing what excuse to give, Xie Yan feigned forgetfulness and said he’d have to look it up again.

Fortunately, Jiang Ming didn’t suspect anything; after all, the merger case was complex, involving several lawsuits, so it made sense if Xie Yan didn’t recall all the details.

“Alright. Will that be inconvenient?” Jiang Ming asked.

Given her background and the fact that she usually wore secondhand clothes discarded by Jiang Yaozu, she had few friends willing to spend time with her. This was the first time she would visit a friend’s home.

“No, it’s fine. Grandfather has been asking about you these days,” Xie Yan said, then realized he had revealed too much. Luckily, Jiang Ming was still focused on the case and didn’t notice what he had said.

The old master’s frequent mention of Jiang Ming began the day relatives from the Jiang family came to the ancestral home.

Believing a woman was about to harm Jiang Ming, he instinctively reached out to protect her.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Ming was unaware of this, but Xie Yan’s grandfather caught the gesture and, after returning from the Jiang household, kept asking Xie Yan if he had feelings for Jiang Ming, urging him to pursue her boldly if he did.

Xie Yan didn’t know what to say. To deny any affection would be a lie; she had made a deep impression on him from the very first glance.

Yet he wasn’t sure what kind of feeling it was—was it sympathy from that rainy night, or genuine attraction?

He never believed in love at first sight, yet with Jiang Ming, his heart stirred instantly.

Meanwhile, in the other car, Jiang Shi sensed something was wrong from the moment he started driving. He felt as though someone was tailing them.

It was the midday rush hour, with many vehicles on the road. He couldn’t tell which car behind was following them, so he kept his speed steady, hoping to shake off any tail.

Soon, he spotted a black car without license plates persistently trailing them.

Fortunately, the road up the mountain ahead had light traffic, and he was familiar with its layout. Even if the black car intended harm, he had ways to handle it.

Sure enough, the black car followed them up the mountain.

As Jiang Shi pondered how to lose the tail, another unmarked black car suddenly appeared head-on.

“Watch out!” Jiang Shi yanked the steering wheel to the right. The oncoming car crashed into the side of his vehicle.

Jiang Man noticed the oncoming vehicle too. Instinctively, she threw herself in front of Jiang Shi, trying to shield him from the danger.

Thankfully, Jiang Shi reacted swiftly. The crashing vehicle hit only the rear door; the front remained intact, though the airbags in both front seats deployed.

“Man!” Jiang Shi exclaimed.

He hadn’t expected Jiang Man to place herself between him and the danger. The force of the airbags struck her side hard, yet her hands remained tightly wrapped around him.

Though her body was only half his size, she risked herself to shield him from harm.

“Are you… okay?” Jiang Man struggled to open her eyes. After confirming Jiang Shi was unharmed, she allowed her eyes to close and fainted.

Jiang Shi cradled her with one hand and called Han Qi at the hospital with the other. “Get to the ancestral home’s residence within half an hour.”

Because the old master’s health was deteriorating, a whole building on the property had been converted into a family hospital, equipped with all manner of medicines and apparatus. However, the doctors there specialized only in the old master’s care, so this wasn’t the ideal place to treat Jiang Man.

Han Qi, the elder brother of Han Yue, was the city hospital’s top surgeon and the person Jiang Shi trusted most.

He no longer paid attention to the hit-and-run car or the tailing vehicle, letting them escape. After all, the mountain was well-monitored by cameras; tracking them wouldn’t be a problem.

Jiang Shi then called the housekeeper. “Uncle Ye, send someone to pick us up. We had a car accident halfway up the mountain. Jiang Man has fainted. Don’t tell the old master yet.”

If Jiang Man hadn’t leapt forward to protect him, he would probably be the one unconscious now.

But why? Why would Jiang Man risk her own safety to shield him? In just a couple of days, she was to begin closed training on the island—the very thing she had longed for and persisted in pursuing. So why protect him?

Jiang Shi couldn’t understand and dared not contemplate that possibility.