Chapter 654 - 669: Jack’s Family

Jiang Xia listened attentively as Jack spoke, and Jack, in turn, earnestly shared his life experiences.

RING RING RING—

His phone rang. Jack put down the newspaper and answered it.

"Hello... Yes, I’ll take care of it right away. I’ll have it for you first thing tomorrow morning. Yes, no problem. Goodbye."

Jack hung up and picked up the newspaper from the table to continue talking to Jiang Xia.

"Jack, if you have something to do, you should go. I can look on my own. No matter what kind of job it is, I have to go check it out eventually."

"I know. I’m telling you which places you *can’t* go."

Jack didn’t leave right away. He took a red pen and began circling and marking things in the newspaper.

"It’s best to avoid any jobs in this area. The discrimination there is severe; it can be life-threatening."

"This area is a mess. It’s full of homeless people, drug addicts, and the like. Don’t go there, especially if you’re a woman."

"And here... this place might not seem discriminatory on the surface—everything looks wonderful—but the covert ostracism will leave you feeling wronged with no way to voice it."

Jack’s hand lingered on that box for a moment. Sensing something, Jiang Xia asked, "You work there?"

Jack gave a bitter smile.

"Yeah. I work there."

As Jack said this, he glanced at his wife, Vivian. When he turned back, his bitter smile had transformed into a genuine one.

"I’m doing okay. I’ve been there a long time, after all."

"Jack, I still don’t know what you do for work."

"Oh? I haven’t told you? Look at me... my memory’s shot."

Jack’s gaze scanned the page before he pointed to a box. "This is my company."

Jiang Xia looked at the newspaper. An investment firm.

"I’m just an employee. My performance is average, middle of the pack."

Jack continued reminding Jiang Xia of things to watch out for. After talking for a long while, he pulled a thick wad of green bills from his pocket and placed it on the table.

"Let’s get this straight—I’m lending this to you. You have to pay me back!"

Jiang Xia understood that Jack was saying this on purpose, so he could accept the money without feeling guilty.

"Thank you, Jack."

"Don’t mention it. We’re friends now, aren’t we? Can you drive? I forgot... even if you can, you don’t have an international driver’s license."

"I’ll find a bus route map for you in a bit. The public transit here isn’t great. How about this: we’ll all leave together tomorrow morning, and I’ll take you somewhere you can catch a bus. If we can meet up in the evening, we can arrange a place and come back together."

Jack was so thoughtful. He really was a man who seemed cold on the outside but was warm on the inside.

"We’ll leave with you, but you don’t have to worry about the rest. You’ve already helped us so much. I’m very grateful."

Jack just smiled and said nothing.

Just then, Vivian called out to the two of them, and to the children upstairs, that it was time to eat.

Their daughter Alice and son Luke came downstairs, each with a different mood. One looked completely impatient, while the other seemed both confused and anxious.

"Alice, we have guests. Please show some manners. The way you’re acting now is not how I raised you."

Alice scoffed coldly. Thankfully, she didn’t talk back, but she sat down with a sour expression, clattering her plate loudly.

"Alice! Manners!"

Jack couldn’t help but speak up. It was as if he’d flipped a switch; Alice slammed her knife and fork onto the table.

"What right do you have to tell me what to do? You’re never home. You have no right!"

Alice’s movements were fluid, as if this wasn’t the first time she’d done this. Before the knife and fork even landed, she was already standing up, her chair scraping noisily against the floor.

"Young lady, no need to be so angry."

An Ning, who was sitting nearby, simply reached out. She caught the airborne silverware in one hand and blocked the backward-moving chair with the other, preventing Alice from getting up completely.

"Alice, isn’t it? Please, sit down. Alright?"

Her words were plain and direct, with no hint of malice, but Alice didn’t dare to move.

"Your father just had a near-death experience, and the first thing he thought of was coming home to see you. Do you really think he doesn’t love you? The house you live in, the food you eat, every piece of clothing on your back—it’s all thanks to your father working a job he dislikes. You think you should be able to join a band and do what you love. Have you ever thought to ask your father what it is that *he* loves?"

After An Ning finished speaking, the entire dining room fell silent.

Tears streamed down Vivian’s face, and she turned away, not wanting anyone to see.

Jack was also overcome with emotion, but being as reserved as he was, he only cleared his throat, his voice choked with emotion, and said to Alice, "Alice, please sit down. No matter what you want to do, you should still have basic manners."

Alice didn’t say a word and quietly sat down.

An Ning placed the knife and fork she was holding onto Alice’s plate and released the chair with her other hand.

"I’m starving. Let’s eat. It smells delicious."

As if nothing had just happened, An Ning looked expectantly at the food on the table. Vivian also turned back around, picked up the large serving utensils, and began to serve everyone.

"It smells wonderful. Thank you, Vivian."

"I should be the one thanking you."

Vivian and An Ning shared a look, a silent and mutual understanding passing between them.

At the dinner table, Jiang Xia and Jack chatted from time to time. The youngest, Jason, was also very lively, and his childish chatter made everyone laugh several times.

Alice ate in silence, but at least she was no longer making any deliberate noise.

Luke was quiet the whole time. He wasn’t very old, but his brow was deeply furrowed.

"Luke, have some meat. You’ve only been eating vegetables."

Vivian speared a piece of meat and placed it on Luke’s plate. Luke thanked her mechanically and began to eat the meat, just as mechanically.

"He must have run into some difficult problem again."

Vivian told An Ning not to mind; that’s just how Luke was. Whenever it came to his studies, he had to figure things out completely.

"That’s good. He has the spirit of a scientist."

An Ning’s word of praise made Vivian very happy.

The meal ended just like that. Jiang Xia helped clear the dishes, which seemed to surprise Vivian, but she didn’t say anything.

In the beginning, Jack had been willing to do these chores with Vivian. But as his work got busier and busier, Vivian didn’t want to burden him. Gradually, all the housework fell to her, and Jack truly no longer had the time to lend a hand.

After dinner, Jack had work to do and went upstairs.

An Ning and Jiang Xia didn’t keep Vivian up chatting either. Saying they had to get up early, they also went upstairs to rest.

The next morning, An Ning witnessed what it truly meant to be in a frantic rush.

Vivian was the first one up, preparing breakfast for the two school-aged children. She also had to wake them up on time and take them to school.

Vivian also thrust a breakfast into An Ning’s and Jiang Xia’s hands. Amid the urging and chaos, they got into Jack’s car and headed for the city.