Chapter 50

Chapter 50

The students' basketball game sparked an idea in Jin Ran: a competition could replace the planned performances.

The parent visitation day aimed to deepen Wencheng High School's appeal to potential investors—affluent business leaders and wealthy parents focused on their children's education.

While facilities and faculty were important, student morale was equally crucial. A vibrant sports class could perfectly substitute the principal's "student performances."

It required no rehearsal and felt authentic to parents. The competitive spirit and youthful energy were far more engaging than a scripted show. Even Jin Ran felt a surge of excitement. Perhaps these seasoned parents, witnessing such a scene, might be inspired to fund an indoor sports arena on the spot.

Jin Ran dared to dream big.

However, this wasn't something she could achieve alone.

During a long break, Jin Ran found Jiang Xuli, who was about to nap, and called him into the hallway: "Jiang, I need your help with something."

In the past, Jiang Xuli would have flat-out refused. But now, seeing Jin Ran's smiling eyes, he found himself unable to say no.

He could only muster a small act of rebellion: "You... tell me what it is first."

"It's nothing too difficult," Jin Ran said with a gentle smile. "Could you help me find some students who are good at basketball? I want to organize a game in a few days when the parents visit."

Jiang Xuli considered this. He often played basketball with other students, but if it were for a performance, they might not agree.

Jin Ran then pulled a box of cookies from behind her back, her voice laced with temptation: "Chef Wang's new Oreo cookies are delicious. I saved a box just for you—even your dad didn't get any."

Jiang Xuli: "..."

For a moment, the young man's expression became complex.

He wanted to say he wasn't a child and didn't particularly love snacks.

But perhaps never having been coaxed like a child before, that subtle feeling of being specially treated made him hesitate.

Finally, he took the box, slipping his other hand into his pocket, his expression cool: "I can only ask them for you. I can't guarantee they'll participate."

"Yes, just asking is enough!"

That was Jin Ran's only goal. Success would be a bonus; failure wouldn't matter. She wasn't staking everything on this.

When Jiang Xuli returned to the classroom, Chen Xunliang, drawn by the scent, saw the familiar cookie box and immediately understood: "Teacher Jin gave you snacks again?"

Jiang Xuli neither confirmed nor denied.

"She asked me to help her with something."

Usually, when playing basketball, they acted together. Jiang Xuli was quiet, so Chen Xunliang handled the talking. After hearing Jin Ran's request, Chen Xunliang immediately thumped his chest: "No problem. I'll help you find people."

"But..." His eyes darted to the cookie box. "Since I'm helping, shouldn't I get a share of those cookies?"

Jiang Xuli: "..."

Even with his limited social graces, he knew a favor required compensation. He opened the box and took out two cookies... then gave one to Chen Xunliang.

"Here."

Chen Xunliang's eyes widened in disbelief.

"That's it?" he gasped.

There were clearly over a dozen cookies in the box!

Jiang Xuli shot him a look and reached for the lone cookie: "I'll find someone else."

"Hey, no, no, no!" Chen Xunliang quickly popped the cookie into his mouth, muttering that Brother Li was getting stingy. But soon, he forgot his complaints, captivated by the taste.

The cookies melted in his mouth, rich and aromatic, a blend of cocoa and cream so delicious it made him want to bite his tongue off. Rumor had it Jin Ran had guided the Jiang family's chef in making them—they truly were tasty.

Hoping for more free snacks, Chen Xunliang worked diligently, quickly gathering a group of regular players.

Within a few days, a six-person basketball team was formed. Jin Ran didn't arrange professional training, only asking them to show up on visitation day to support the event.

The students eagerly promised, assuring her it would be no problem.

Friday arrived in a blink.

As the break approached, Wencheng High School teachers grew busy. As a substitute teacher for only Class 3 of Grade 10, Jin Ran had a lighter workload. After her last morning class, she grabbed her bag and left school early.

On her way out, she ran into Wei Ya at the gate, who was there to deliver something to her younger brother.

This was their first meeting since their last encounter. Wei Ya was simply dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, her face fresh without makeup, possessing a natural beauty like a lotus blooming in clear water. "Miss Jin," she greeted first.

"What brings you to school?" Jin Ran was surprised.

"I came to bring clothes for my brother. His teacher said his clothes got wet."

Hearing this, Jin Ran instinctively frowned. Seeing her expression, Wei Ya knew she had misunderstood and quickly explained: "This time, it was his own carelessness. He saw fish in the pond and reached for them, didn't watch his step, and slipped into the water."

Autism often presented with rigid behaviors, extreme fixation on specific things, and intense focus.

Wei Ya's parents had passed away, and as the elder sister, she had cared for her brother since childhood, managing everything from daily life to rehabilitation therapy without a single complaint. Even when the family struggled financially, she persevered.

Honestly, most people couldn't have shown the same patience and dedication year after year.

Wei Ya never considered it a burden. She was excited to share some news and looked at Jin Ran gratefully: "Miss Jin, today I passed the audition for Director Chen Duo's TV drama and got the role of the third lead."

In fact, she had just come from Director Chen Duo's office.

The audition was held in a residential building. Wei Ya hadn't held much hope initially because the place was packed with popular actresses, rising stars, and pretty influencers, while she was just the most ordinary among them.

But the opportunity was rare, and Wei Ya didn't want to give up. All she could do was perform to the best of her ability, not for the outcome, but to know she had tried her best. Unexpectedly, Director Chen Duo was impressed and confirmed her on the spot alongside another young actress.

A signed contract meant that if the other party tried to back out, they would have to pay breach of contract compensation. For Wei Ya, this was a solid guarantee, come what may.

Jin Ran was delighted: "This is your first costume drama, right? Congratulations!"

Wei Ya's face glowed, clearly equally happy: "Thank you." She bowed sincerely.

"Oh, don't be like that," Jin Ran said, stepping back. "This is all your own doing. Your acting moved the director, which is why he chose you."

No, Wei Ya thought to herself.

If it weren't for CEO Jiang's connection, a busy person like Director Chen wouldn't have had time to interview an unknown actress like her. And she could tell that CEO Jiang helped her because of Jin Ran.

Filled with immense gratitude, she nervously asked: "Miss Jin, do you have time? If possible, I'd like to treat you to a meal."

"Sure."

Faced with the original story's female lead's invitation, Jin Ran readily agreed.

She had planned to go to driving school, but a few hours more or less wouldn't make much difference to her current skills.

The two went to a newly opened large shopping mall nearby.

They found an affordable and tasty clay pot noodle shop on Dianping. Wei Ya initially felt a bit embarrassed, thinking it was too cheap, but Jin Ran said: "I've been really craving this lately! Since no one's here to nag me, I'm going to really indulge!"

Wei Ya was surprised: "Does Mr. Jiang not allow you to eat this?"

Jin Ran: "Not really, but he prefers going to various fancy restaurants."

Then he would order a large table of dishes from different cuisines, savoring each bite slowly. By the time others were taking their third bite, he would still be savoring his first.

But Jin Ran's stomach was more accustomed to the greasy, salty street food: "He also doesn't let me eat ice. It drives me crazy."

Hearing this, Wei Ya covered her mouth and laughed: "President Jiang must really care about you."

Jin Ran's face flushed slightly: "I think he just hates seeing people enjoy simple pleasures."

Even as she said this, she knew in her heart that Jiang Mingsuo had developed this habit after her last painful period. Her ears turned red: "Let's not talk about him. Let's go eat."

Three clay pot dishes and a dessert—sugar-glazed cherry tomatoes—cost only 120 yuan. As they chatted and ate, they finished everything without realizing it, their stomachs completely full. Jin Ran suggested they take a stroll around the mall.

"Yeah, the weather is getting hotter. I plan to buy my brother some new clothes."

Hearing this, Jin Ran felt a sudden urge, remembering she still owed Jiang Mingsuo a birthday gift.

Although he had never brought it up, she had received two million in spending money from him. It would be quite rude not to prepare a decent gift in return.

"Then I'll go with you."

/

That day, luxury brand stores welcomed two beautiful female customers.

Gold-level consultants had long honed their sharp eyes. These two stood out in both their demeanor and attire, especially the slightly shorter one. If she wasn't mistaken, the floral maxi dress she was wearing was Brunello Cucinelli's latest summer release—it wasn't even in the flagship store next door yet.

That alone wasn't a big deal; even the most expensive dress would only cost tens of thousands. But the bag she carried was a discontinued diamond-clasp crocodile skin bag worth millions!

Without hesitation, the consultant warmly approached them.

"Ladies, what can I help you find today?"

Jin Ran cleared her throat: "We'll just look around on our own. We'll let you know if we need anything."

Many people disliked being followed while shopping. The consultant understood perfectly, so she positioned herself at a polite distance—close enough to respond promptly if needed but far enough not to intrude.

After the consultant stepped away, Jin Ran carefully flipped over the clothing tag.

Eighty thousand.

"So expensive," she exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock.

Wei Ya nodded in complete agreement.

She only earned a thousand yuan per scene, and even that was subject to her agency taking a cut. Though she wanted to buy better clothes for her brother, she couldn't afford it. Before coming here, they had visited the underground mall and bought two sets of clothing for a few hundred yuan, averaging fifty to sixty yuan per piece.

Jin Ran simply couldn't imagine Jiang Mingsuo wearing clothes that cost a few dozen bucks. For a man of his status, clothing wasn't just about quality—it was also about maintaining his image.

If people saw Jiang Mingsuo wearing cheap street vendor clothes, business partners would probably think that Mingji Technology was facing financial difficulties.

So, even though it pained her wallet, she dragged Wei Ya to the high-end luxury stores on the second and third floors.

Neither had experience selecting gifts for adult men, but they had good taste. Considering that Jiang Mingsuo mostly wore shirts, Jin Ran specifically picked a polo shirt in a conservative color made of wool-silk blend.

The design was mature and dignified, classic and elegant. Plus, the fabric was breathable for summer.

Since she was buying one piece anyway, she might as well buy two. She picked out a more youthful-looking tee for Jiang Xuli. After all, as his stepmother, she received four times his spending money—she felt a little guilty.

Consider it a thank-you for helping her organize the basketball team.

After their shopping spree, the gold-level consultant assisting them was beaming, swiftly wrapping up the clothes with such speed that Jin Ran didn't have a chance to change her mind.

Not that she had any intention of changing her mind.

While waiting, Jin Ran couldn't resist pulling out her phone. She quietly tapped on his profile pic, muttering under her breath: "You have no idea how good I am to you!"

She had never bought such expensive clothes for herself!

Just as she was tapping, a red notification dot suddenly appeared on the profile picture.

Jin Ran was so startled she nearly threw her phone. After a moment, she realized she hadn't mis-tapped. Jiang Mingsuo: [Not at school?]

Does this man have eyes everywhere?

Jin Ran sighed in relief, her heart still racing, and typed a reply: [Yeah, ran into Wei Ya. We went out shopping together.]

Jiang Mingsuo: [The new mall in the west? I happen to be nearby. Which floor are you on?]

Jin Ran paused. Was he planning to come over?

Then she remembered she wasn't sure if the clothes she bought would fit. Although the consultant said they could be returned, it'd save her the hassle if he could try them on in person.

So, she told him their location.

The consultant very politely escorted them to the VIP rest area, offering tea and dessert cakes. The service was so excellent it put them in a good mood. Jin Ran took a few bites of the cake and thought—since she bought gifts for both men at home, it wasn't fair that she didn't get anything.

She decisively put down her tea and dragged Wei Ya to look at women's clothing.

The moment they stepped into the women's section, a deliberately raised female voice sounded behind them: "Wei Ya?"

Turning around, they saw a woman wearing sunglasses and a mask indoors, feigning surprise as she covered her mouth: "Oh, it really is you."

Lowering her voice as if concerned, she said: "Did you come to the wrong place? The clothes here aren't cheap. Last time I saw a dress I liked, it was five figures... Oh right, I remember you've never bought clothes costing more than a hundred yuan. You should leave quickly before anyone notices."

Her words were fake concern dripping with sarcasm.

Wei Ya's expression remained completely unchanged.

Her family was poor, but she had never felt inferior because of it. She believed in dignity in poverty and virtue in wealth: "No need for your concern."

Jin Ran was trying to figure out which cannon fodder character from the novel this foolish woman was when, failing to attack Wei Ya, the woman turned her attention to Jin Ran and scoffed.

"Oh, this bag looks familiar. But I remember this series was discontinued long ago. There are fewer than twenty in the country... It couldn't be from some 'sketchy source,' could it?"

Jin Ran: "?"

This bag was delivered by Special Assistant Wang on Jiang Mingsuo's orders—it couldn't possibly be a counterfeit, right?