I Am Already A Queen

Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Buy 10 Cakes

”See, Yanna? Your eldest brother still keeps you in his thoughts.” Feng Lan praised hastily.

Jiang Yanna forced a delicate, grateful smile onto her face.

”Thank you so much, Eldest Brother.” Jiang Yanna said softly.

Jiang Suhan gave a simple, stoic nod in reply, completely missing the dark, turbulent emotion swirling deep within Jiang Yanna’s eyes. After barely a few minutes, he set his cup down and stood up from his chair.

”Are you finished already?” Feng Lan looked up in surprise.

”Hmm... I have an early executive board meeting to conduct this morning.” Jiang Suhan stated, dabbing his mouth with a napkin before striding out of the room.

Jiang Yanna watched his retreating silhouette until he disappeared down the hallway, her fake smile slowly vanishing from her face. Even though Jiang Suhan had verbally promised to buy her a gift, she could not stop her mind from bitterly fixating on the heavy designer box and luxury bags he had personally carried home for Qiao Meixia yesterday. She could not help but obsessively wonder what kind of afterthought gift he would toss her way, and more importantly, whether it would pale in comparison to what he had showered on Qiao Meixia.

Her mind instinctively flashed back to the exquisite diamond-and-emerald necklace he had gifted Qiao Meixia just two days prior.

”Yanna... eat your breakfast, sweetheart. You are going to be late for your classes.” Feng Lan gently coaxed, snapping her daughter out of her daze.

”Mmm...” Jiang Yanna murmured, picking up her fork and picking idly at her food.

”What is bothering you so much, dear?” Feng Lan asked, clearly picking up on her daughter’s lingering distress.

”Mom... do you genuinely believe Eldest Brother likes Sister Meixia so much more than me now?” Jiang Yanna asked softly, lowering her head in a picture of utter heartbreak.

”Why on earth would you harbour such ridiculous thoughts?” Feng Lan frowned, her heart aching for her daughter.

”Because he constantly buys her luxurious things! He even went out of his way to personally select a formal evening gown for her to wear at the acknowledgement banquet.” Jiang Yanna bit her lower lip, letting her voice quiver slightly before adding fuel to the fire. ”And... do you know what else, Mom? Yesterday, he took her out on a full shopping spree alongside Fenfang and Boqin.”

”What?! They actually went out shopping together?!” Feng Lan’s face darkened instantly with extreme displeasure.

”There is absolutely no need for you to ever compare yourself to someone like her.” Jiang Chinan interjected disdainfully. ”Fenfang and Boqin are just brainless fools who don’t know any better, mixing around with an uncultured country bumpkin!”

”But still...” Jiang Yanna whispered pitifully, playing the victim perfectly.

”You are my precious daughter! You have always been the absolute darling loved by everyone in this household.” Feng Lan declared fiercely, reaching across the table to grasp her daughter’s hands tightly.

”That’s exactly right, Sister Yanna! I will never, ever acknowledge a girl like her as my real sister, regardless of whatever biological blood she shares with this family.” Jiang Chinan added firmly, trying his best to reassure her.

Jiang Yanna remained quietly submissive, keeping her head lowered. Feng Lan squeezed her hands with immense affection.

”Yanna, listen to me. Do not worry yourself for a single moment. No matter what changes outside, you will always be my true, cherished daughter.” Feng Lan promised softly.

”Mmm... I understand, Mom,” Jiang Yanna nodded gently.

Yet, deep beneath her docile exterior, a bitter storm was brewing. She was consumed by a desperate, burning curiosity to figure out what black magic Qiao Meixia had used to turn everyone’s loyalty so drastically in such a short time. The girl had only just stepped back into the Jiang household, yet Old Master Jiang and Old Madam Jiang already doted on her like a priceless treasure. Jiang Suhan was becoming increasingly protective and attentive toward her by the day, and even Jiang Fenfang and Jiang Boqin were eagerly throwing themselves into her orbit.

Jiang Yanna’s hands clenched into tight, white-knuckled fists beneath the table. She refused to sit idly by and watch her status within the prestigious Jiang Family crumble away. She had reigned supreme as the family’s beloved, spoiled princess for nearly two decades. There was no way she would ever allow an unrefined outsider like Qiao Meixia to strip away everything she possessed!

A cold, malicious sneer flickered briefly across her face. She would use the upcoming family acknowledgement banquet to prove to high society once and for all the vast, unbridgeable gulf between them.

One was an elegant, flawlessly refined socialite raised in luxury by the prestigious Jiang Family, while the other was merely a dirty, ignorant brat dragged out of the rural countryside. Very soon, the entire world would clearly see who the true, irreplaceable pearl of the Jiang Family really was.

”Sister Yanna, we should head out for school now.” Jiang Chinan called out, standing up from his seat.

”Mmm... let’s go.” Jiang Yanna replied sweetly, rising gracefully from the table with her head held high.

...

Qiao Meixia arrived at the school campus, where the security guards no longer attempted to stop her at the gates. She maneuvered her superbike into the parking lot and parked it neatly. Right at that moment, her stomach let out a quiet growl, reminding her that she had not eaten. Deciding to grab a quick bite, she headed toward the vending machines. Spotting one fully stocked with sweet treats and baked goods, she walked over without the slightest hesitation.

A faint smile touched her lips as she scanned the digital menu displayed on the machine, pleasantly surprised to find it entirely full. Just as she was about to scan the barcode to process her payment, a voice called out, asking her to hold on. She turned around to see a man and a woman hurrying toward her.

”Excuse me, student! Are you planning to buy cakes from this vending machine?” The woman asked, pausing to catch her breath.

Qiao Meixia gave a simple nod.

”Ah, I see! Usually, we come at this exact time every morning to clear out yesterday’s remaining stock and replace them with freshly baked ones. I did not expect anyone to be here buying treats so early.” The woman explained with a warm smile.

”It is my first time.” Qiao Meixia stated casually.

”Ah, that explains it! In that case, which cakes would you like? You can choose directly from the new batch here.” The woman offered kindly.

Beside her, the man unlocked the vending machine cabinet and began carefully removing yesterday’s unsold baked goods.

Qiao Meixia leaned in to inspect the fresh options packed neatly in their boxes. There was a wide, mouth-watering variety. She began pointing to one piece after another, selecting continuously until she had amassed a total of ten individual cakes.

”You are so sweet, buying all these cakes to share with your friends! Is someone in your class celebrating a birthday today? If so, I can give you a special discount.” The woman offered cheerfully.

”They are all for me.” Qiao Meixia replied flatly.

”Huh? All ten of them?” The woman gasped, her eyes widening in surprise.

Qiao Meixia simply nodded in response.

The woman stared at Qiao Meixia with a mixture of shock and utter disbelief, glancing between the mountain of pastries and the young girl’s slender frame.

”Student... are you truly going to finish all of these cakes by yourself?” The woman asked once more, just to double-check.

”Hmm...” Qiao Meixia nodded again, entirely unfazed.

”Alright then!” The woman chuckled softly, her friendly smile returning. ”You can pay me directly right here.”

She pulled out her smartphone and displayed her payment QR code. Qiao Meixia scanned it instantly, completing the transfer without delay. The woman then packed all ten cakes neatly into a sturdy paper box.

”Here you go! You can keep the box.” The woman said, handing it over to Qiao Meixia.

”Thank you.” Qiao Meixia acknowledged with a polite nod.

Carrying her heavy box of treats, she walked over to a nearby stone bench under the morning sun. Opening the lid, she pulled out the first piece of cake and took a bite right away. As the rich flavor spread across her palate, her usually stoic expression visibly relaxed into pure satisfaction. It was genuinely delicious.

A few paces away, the woman and her husband continued their routine at the vending machine, pulling out yesterday’s leftovers. There was still a sizable stack remaining.

”What are you going to do with all those cakes?” Qiao Meixia asked, her eyes lingering curiously on the leftover pile as she enjoyed the sweet.

***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko***