Si Wan couldn’t set her mind at ease. Though she could always manage to conceal her feelings, she was seized by a whim of occasional indulgence, and retrieving that lively girl who had a clear-cut stand on what to love and what to hate, the girl that she used to be.

“Could you please pull over?”

Although the Sis was also born in a military family, she had been brought up to respect everyone, be the person a cleaner or a driver.

Such ideology had been deeply ingrained in Si Wan’s mind, and that was why she was so intimate with Xiaoyu, who came from the bottom of the society. In fact, she had always been treating Xiaoyu as her friend.

Due to her resourcefulness, she had merely a few of such unsophisticated friends.

“Ma’am, please, just call me Ma.”

The driver was a little taken aback by the moral character and sincerity of the young madame. Through the short touch, he had felt her sincere respect.

“How long have you been with the Gong Family? I don’t remember seeing you before.”

She talked with him in a friendly and easy-going tone.

Mr. Ma couldn’t help pouting. He was a senior instructor in the army who had been following Senior Cadre Gong since the age of sixteen. At the moment he was teaching in the army as Gong Siming’s right hand.

“I have been staying overseas for more than two decades and just returned home.”

Since he had to lie, he couldn’t help cursing secretly. This brat Siming should ask me to play the role of a driver.

“If it’s okay, can I call you Uncle Ma?”

This was a perfect response. She had proved herself to be the adequate granddaughter of Senior Cadre Gong. In fact, he knew a thing or two about the ungrateful brat, Gong Siming’s deeds in the past two years. However, he felt that it was inappropriate to meddle in the young couple’s private affairs.

He couldn’t help feeling sorry for Si Wan at the sight of the sorrow in her eyes. He wished that brat could return to the fold in time.

“Sure, it will be a pleasure.”

His tone was filled with delight.

“Uncle Ma, can I drive around alone please? I’ll call a cab to take you home.”

Her tone was supplicatory and consultative rather than coercive or injunctive.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Ma’am, for it’s against master Gong command. This car is a stick-shift one, which will be uncomfortable and unsafe for you to drive. I can take you anywhere you want.”

Si Wan was only enjoined from driving on her own.

But he had watched Gong Siming growing up and knew every whim of his.

She was surprised to hear such words from Gong Siming. But judging from Uncle Ma’s expression, he was not telling a lie.

In that case, did it mean that Gong Siming had softened his feelings for her? Although he might not like her, his hatred must have been abated.

Her mood was disturbed again. That kind of mixed feeling was hard to describe. She tried hard to prevent hope from taking its root in her heart, but meanwhile, she also wished that her hope could come true.

He saw Si Wan hanging her head and twiddling her fingers.

He couldn’t help sighing. Gong Siming was such a cute boy when he was little. Though he had extraordinary wisdom and skills, the kid used to pester him for tales like other children.

Although he still looked handsome and fascinating, he was not like what he became now. His behavior had become quite arbitrary and fierce, even his smile had the power of intimidating people.

He was not only like this at work but also lacking the sentiment in life, which made Si Wan suffer to a great extent.

Suddenly an idea crossed his mind, and Mr. Ma revealed a meaningful smile.

“Ma’am, I heard that master Gong and you are childhood sweethearts!” Si Wan felt more bitter in her heart. Childhood sweethearts?

Perhaps, in the eyes of the others, Gong Siming and she had been together since childhood, and she had taken the advantage.

But she was the only one who had tasted all kinds of bitterness.

People all knew she liked Gong Siming, but Gong Siming liked to bully her since they were young. Only their childhood friends and herself knew the facts.

In the past, everything Si Wan liked was destroyed by Gong Siming without hesitation. As long as people had approached, regardless of their gender, Gong Siming would tell them embarrassing secrets of Si Wan.

What was more difficult to accept was that he used to show off in front of everyone that Si Wan liked him since childhood and make fun of her efforts.

But no matter how serious Gong Siming had hurt her, she couldn’t help falling in love with him. She even went to the most extreme lengths to marry him later.

Now she became the victim of her own deeds since childhood. No one but herself should be held accountable.

Lost in deep memories, she suddenly realized in front of Gong Siming and their romance, she was too humble and beleaguered.

“Yeah, I have known him since childhood, but we are not sweethearts. It has always been my wishful thinking.”

Her heart was bleeding when these words ran out of her mouth. No one could understand her feelings. People would be sympathetic, commiserative or regretful, but they would never fully understand.

“Ma’am.”

Si Wan suddenly laughed, which confused Mr. Ma.

“Uncle Ma, please call me Si Wan if you don’t mind. I feel a little feudal and uncomfortable with that appellation.”

Mr. Ma also replied straightforward.

“Honestly, I’m feeling uncomfortable myself, ha-ha…”

A fit of hearty laugh resounded in the car.

“Well, Si Wan, please have faith that master Gong and you are a perfect couple.”

“Anyway, thank you, Uncle Ma.”

Frowning upon the depressed look of Si Wan, Mr. Ma was seized by a whim of telling some childhood stories of Gong Siming.

Some of the things were known to Si Wan while others were heard for the first time. It was also the first time she had heard stories of a different Gong Siming from another person.

Unwittingly Mr. Ma seemed to have slackened his disguise and talked with ease.

“This kid used to pester me for stories when he was little. Whenever I told him a ghost story, he would widen his eyes, and sweat all over out of fright.”

Ha-ha… unexpectedly Gong Siming also knew how to spell ‘fear’, which was quite funny.

“But this kid was so stubborn. He refused to admit fear and made excuses out of the hot temperature.”

“So, whenever the weather turned cold, he would turn the air conditioner on to the full heat and ask me to tell him ghost stories. He thought in that way he could conceal the fact that he was scared.”

Mr. Ma suddenly lowered his voice.

“So he was certainly not a fan of looking into mirrors. He didn’t know that every time he heard a ghost story, his face would turn as pale as that of young actors in Peking Opera.”

Such an ostrich-like thing should be conducted by Gong Siming.

Let me tell you another little secret!”

In high spirits, Mr. Ma spoke in a mysterious tone.

“Do you know why Gong Siming doesn’t like looking into the mirrors?”

She remembered asking Gong Siming this question at a young age, and Gong Siming replied proudly with contempt in his eyes.

“Only the ugly ones would find consolations in mirrors. As an extremely handsome man, I regard looking into mirrors as a kind of insult to myself.”

Si Wan mimicked Gong Siming’s expression and tone.

“This kid really found himself a nice out. He doesn’t look into mirrors because of the first ghost story I told him. It was about people shouldn’t look into mirrors in the middle of the night.”

This was incredible. It turned out Gong Siming had such an unknown side.