COMMENT LIKE AND VOTE!!

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Jiao Jiao and her mom moved to Shanghai as soon as the school year ended. They rented a small flat near Huadian Elite Academy, where Jiao Jiao would finish Year 3 as a scholarship student.

Li Qian sat quietly in the back seat of his car, watching the duo happily move boxes from the rental truck to the sidewalk.

"It's been all arranged? No mistakes, Chen Fan."

"Of course not, Young Master. To be honest, she's very smart. She would have easily won the scholarship without any influence from you." Chen Fan twisted in his seat to look back at Li Qian. With a sly quirk of his lips, he asked, "So, when are you planning on meeti..."

Li Qian glared and interrupted loudly, "Ahem, Chen Fan, we're done here. Let's go back to the office!"

Chen Fan silently scoffed as he drove the car out. Ah, boss, you've finally got your dream girl in the same city as you, living in an apartment you own, and her mom is even represented by the gallery you bought! You sure have made plans for this girl, and you won't even meet up with her?

It wasn't a hardship for Li Qian to exert his powerful influence on the people of this city. Where Li Qian entered, people clamored for his attention. Spending a small sum on a prestigious art gallery and absorbing it into the Li Group, he 'gently' encouraged the head curator to contact Jing Mei about her creations. In all actuality, the curator was a close family friend of the Li's and was immediately captured by Jing Mei's exceptional talent. Shanghai was a hotbed of wealth, and the potential market for her exquisite artworks knew no boundaries. With dollar signs flashing in his eyes, he extended an invitation for their little family to relocate to Shanghai.

At the same time, Jiao Jiao received a call from Huadian Elite Academy inviting her for the next school year. She was the top student in her province, but the beleaguered conditions of her small village would make it difficult for her to continue at the elite level necessary for entrance into a good university.

Jing Mei couldn't help but joyously clasp her daughter, delighted in the luck that had seemed to follow them since meeting Li Qian. The two packed up their tiny home, kissed their friends goodbye, and headed for Shanghai as soon as school let out.

Ding, ding! Jing Mei's phone chimed as they were unloading boxes in the sunny kitchen. "Wei? Oh yes, Mr. Kang! How are you?" She covered the bottom of the phone and mouthed - the art gallery - to answer Jiao Jiao's questioning eyes.

Jiao Jiao worked on emptying the box on the counter as her mom moved into the living room to continue the conversation. She tucked a long strand of curling hair behind her ear, and when it fell forward again, she huffed a cute sigh. Unwrapping a hair tie from around her wrist, she twisted her hair into a bun at the crown of her head.

Jiao Jiao was unwrapping the glasses when her mom came back. "Jiao Jiao, Mr. Kang wants me to stop by the art gallery to discuss the display layouts. I'll be a couple of hours; will you be okay here?"

Jiao Jiao squinted her eyes and looked up at her mom. "Yes, Mom, I'll be fine." She sighed dramatically, "Just me here alone... doing all the hard work while you go to your fancy gallery."

Her mom scoffed, and Jiao Jiao hid her smile as she carried a few glasses over to the sink. "But Mama, I'm starving, and we can't use the kitchen yet."

They both looked around at the mess that covered the floors and countertops. Jing Mei linked her arm with her daughter. "Well, my young princess, it looks like you'll have to venture out into the big city for some dinner!"

Hey! Why hadn't she thought of that? Jiao Jiao was desperate to explore her new city but still a little frightened of how different everything was. A meal would be the perfect test. In fact, she seemed to recall a noodle shop a few blocks down. That was totally doable!