Jiang Jiang froze for a moment.
Ji Xu'an, however, had a stomach full of anger. She had restrained herself in front of Grandma, and only after walking out of the sanatorium did she mercilessly tear off Xie Xiao's mask.
She believed she had already been considerate enough—she hadn't embarrassed Xie Xiao in front of Grandma.
"Did you treat everything I said last night as if I were farting?"
Ji Xu'an didn't even give Jiang Jiang a chance to explain. She stared coldly at the unease on Jiang Jiang's face, thinking that even at a time like this, she was still acting.
"This is the last time I warn you, Xie Xiao."
Ji Xu'an's tone was colder and more impatient than ever before. "Stop playing tricks in front of Grandma. No matter how much you try to curry favor with her, whether you can stay in the Ji family is up to me alone. Do you understand?"
She was quite a bit taller than Jiang Jiang. When she lowered her eyes to look at her, there was an unmistakable, condescending disdain.
"Don't think…" Ji Xu'an said, suddenly leaning closer, forcing Jiang Jiang to lift her neck to meet her gaze, "…that pleasing Grandma can influence my decision."
Her presence was too imposing. Jiang Jiang stumbled back two steps in panic, her back pressing tightly against the wall, eyes wide as she looked at Ji Xu'an with anxious unease.
At that moment, the figure before her seemed to overlap with that lofty Princess Huaining. Jiang Jiang even suspected that Ji Xu'an's next move would be to draw a sword and finish her off.
Subconsciously, she held her breath. Her hands, hanging at her sides, clenched tightly into the fabric of her long dress. She didn't even realize when her eyes had reddened again.
Ji Xu'an let out a sneer. With that little courage, she still dared to scheme in front of her.
She straightened up and moved a little farther away from Jiang Jiang. "The Ji family doesn't lack a mouth to feed you—provided that you truly behave."
"Stay put and behave yourself. Otherwise, you can go sleep on the streets," Ji Xu'an threatened.
Jiang Jiang nodded vigorously. Her thoughts, which had been stunned into stillness by Ji Xu'an's sudden attack, finally started turning again.
"I'm sorry, older sister Xu'an, I didn't mean to cry in front of Grandma just now." Jiang Jiang bit her lip, forcing herself to calm down. "I wasn't trying to drive a wedge between you and Grandma. You're Grandma's own granddaughter. The bond between you isn't something I could influence."
So it really was because of her earlier loss of composure that Ji Xu'an had misunderstood her intentions.
"Don't perform that green-tea (Chinese girls and others who pretend to be sweet and innocent but are dishonest) act in front of me. I'm not blind," Ji Xu'an said unmoved. "What you think doesn't matter. I only look at the results."
Jiang Jiang knew Ji Xu'an wouldn't listen to her explanations. After several conversations, she had already understood Ji Xu'an's personality well enough. Compared to empty promises, Ji Xu'an believed more in actual actions.
"I understand. I won't make the same mistake again," Jiang Jiang said softly.
Making a mistake like today's once was already fatal. If she had controlled her emotions in front of Old Madam Ji, she wouldn't have provoked even more dissatisfaction from Ji Xu'an.
Ji Xu'an already disliked her. She must hate her even more now.
It was unclear whether Ji Xu'an believed her. She curved her lips into a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I hope you truly remember it this time."
Jiang Jiang was obedient to the extreme, as if whatever Ji Xu'an said was law.
Ji Xu'an suspected she was just brushing her off, but it didn't matter. Jiang Jiang wouldn't be able to stir up any major waves anyway.
She didn't say more and lifted her foot to walk toward the car parked at the entrance. After two steps, she suddenly stopped.
Jiang Jiang had been thinking about how to change Ji Xu'an's impression of her. Seeing her stop, she could only stop as well.
What now? She had acted obedient enough just now, hadn't she?
Back at the Duke's residence, whenever she put on an obedient front, her parents would stop lecturing her.
Had the trick that had always worked before suddenly lost its effect with Ji Xu'an?
Jiang Jiang blinked her almond-shaped eyes. Ji Xu'an turned her head to glance at her, a faint crease between her brows, her tone indifferent. "Other than in front of Grandma, don't call me 'sister.'"
"I don't have a hobby of randomly acknowledging younger sisters."
Jiang Jiang: "…Oh."
She's so fierce.
Jiang Jiang recalled how the young woman in the sanatorium had addressed Ji Xu'an and cautiously tried, "Then… should I call you… President Ji?"
Ji Xu'an withdrew her gaze. "Whatever."
She bent down and got into the car, leaving Jiang Jiang with only her cold side profile.
Jiang Jiang followed into the car. She sat in the corner, far from Ji Xu'an, lowering her eyes to stare blankly at her hands.
Ji Xu'an didn't speak either. She crossed her long legs, leaned back against the seat, propped her head with her left hand, and closed her eyes to rest.
Jiang Jiang stole a glance at her from the corner of her eye. That bold idea surfaced again in her mind.
Perhaps marrying Ji Xu'an really was the best way to break the deadlock.
Why had Zheng Zhouzhou in the story been so wary of her?
Because she feared that Ji Heyuan would fall for her, and so she schemed to force her to death.
But just as Xie Xiao had said, as long as she married Ji Xu'an, she would become Ji Heyuan's sister-in-law. No matter how reckless Ji Heyuan was, she wouldn't possibly fall for her own sister-in-law.
In that case, Zheng Zhouzhou should be reassured, right?
Or… she could marry someone else. As long as she became a married woman, she would no longer pose a threat to Zheng Zhouzhou.
But then Jiang Jiang had to consider another problem. This engagement had been arranged by Xie Xiao's grandmother before her passing. Unless both sides formally agreed to cancel it, she could only ever belong to Ji Xu'an.
She couldn't carry the title of Ji Xu'an's fiancée while entangling herself with someone else. Moreover, if the person she chose lacked the Ji family's power and influence, Zheng Zhouzhou would still have reasons to harm her.
After thinking it over and over, Jiang Jiang could only set her sights on Ji Xu'an.
The troubling part was that Ji Xu'an rejected her too strongly. Jiang Jiang couldn't even find a reason to curry favor with her.
She wasn't stupid. When Ji Xu'an said she would marry her, it was obviously just to scare her. Right now, Ji Xu'an probably wished she could immediately throw her out of the Ji family's gates.
Jiang Jiang closed her eyes briefly and silently made up her mind.
She had never expected Ji Xu'an to fall in love with her—that wasn't realistic. As long as Ji Xu'an was willing to marry her, that would be enough.
She would be a sensible principal wife, putting Ji Xu'an first in everything, serving her as if she were her superior.
So… how could she persuade Ji Xu'an to agree to marry her?
Jiang Jiang looked at Ji Xu'an's reflection in the car window and sank into deep thought.
——
Ji Xu'an first sent Jiang Jiang back to the old residence, then had the driver turn around and head to the company.
On the way, she received a video call from Ji Heyuan. Ji Xu'an raised the partition in the car before answering.
"What is it?"
Ji Heyuan choked for a second. "Can't I call you if there's nothing wrong?"
Seeing Ji Xu'an's expressionless face on the screen, Ji Heyuan swallowed the playful remarks she had been about to make.
"Sis, I heard you've already brought Xie Xiao back to the old residence. Is it true?"
"Mm." Ji Xu'an nodded.
"I… No way?!" Ji Heyuan nearly blurted out a curse. She stared wide-eyed at Ji Xu'an. "You're really going to marry her?"
Ji Xu'an said nothing.
Seeing her reaction, Ji Heyuan wished she could grab Ji Xu'an by the shoulders and shake her awake.
"My dear sister, have you been put under a spell by Xie Xiao?"
"On what grounds? She's just an orphan with both parents dead—"
Before she could finish, Ji Xu'an cut her off. "Ji Heyuan."
She frowned. "Did I teach you to speak ill of others behind their backs?"
Although she didn't like Xie Xiao either, what she disliked were her little tricks. As for family background—that wasn't something Xie Xiao could choose.
Ji Heyuan shouldn't use that to belittle her.
Besides… What right did Ji Heyuan have to say that about Xie Xiao? Weren't they the same?
The moment the words left her mouth, Ji Heyuan regretted them. That sentence hadn't just attacked Xie Xiao—it had also torn open the wound between her and Ji Xu'an.
Under Ji Xu'an's displeased gaze, Ji Heyuan shut her mouth sullenly. But soon she snorted again, muttering under her breath, "Anyway, she's not worthy of you. I don't accept her as my sister-in-law."
Ji Xu'an rubbed her brow and didn't explain, only warned her coldly, "I have my own arrangements regarding this matter. Don't let me find out you're bullying her behind my back."
She only wanted to get through these six months peacefully. As long as Xie Xiao behaved, Ji Xu'an wouldn't deliberately target her.
Likewise, she wouldn't allow Ji Heyuan to do so either.
Ji Heyuan heard the protection in Ji Xu'an's tone toward Xie Xiao. She was furious and deliberately said in a mocking voice, "How would I dare? She's my future little sister-in-law. Maybe I'll even have to watch her expressions and act accordingly."
Her tone was thick with sourness, along with a trace of barely perceptible panic and fear.
The sister who once had only her and Grandma in her heart seemed as though she was about to belong to someone else.
"Little Yuan." Ji Xu'an sighed helplessly. "Once you've had enough fun, come back. Grandma talks about you every day."
Ji Heyuan rubbed the tip of her nose. "I've already booked a plane ticket."
After hearing that Xie Xiao had moved into the old residence, she had immediately booked the ticket. Calling Ji Xu'an was just to test her attitude toward Xie Xiao.
Who would have thought her wise and mighty sister had truly been bewitched by that scheming woman!
To avoid arousing suspicion, Ji Heyuan added casually, "Anyway, school's starting in a few days. I might as well go back and pack."
Ji Xu'an was noncommittal. "Do as you see fit."
After hanging up, Ji Heyuan silently swore that she would keep a strict watch for her sister. She wanted to see just what was so good about that Xie Xiao that her sister would defend her at every turn.
At this moment, Jiang Jiang was in the villa preparing a gift for Ji Xu'an.
Without her knowing, the original plot had already begun to change.
In the novel, because there was no engagement, Ji Heyuan's attitude toward "Xie Xiao" had been curiosity and sympathy. Because of their similar backgrounds, she had even felt an almost imperceptible pity for "Xie Xiao."
So she had quickly accepted "Xie Xiao."
But now, Ji Heyuan's feelings toward Jiang Jiang were filled only with vigilance and rejection.
She was very afraid that Jiang Jiang would take her sister away.
——
Jiang Jiang was curled up in her room, having a video call with Xie Xiao.
The White Jade Exquisite Mirror was placed neatly on the desk. Jiang Jiang sat before it, holding her phone close to the mirror's surface, painstakingly learning how to use WeChat.
"Tap the option at the bottom. No, no, not that one—the other one." Xie Xiao leaned closer to the mirror, so anxious she looked as if she might crawl out of it.
Jiang Jiang listened attentively. Half guessing and half understanding, she barely grasped the meaning of those terms.
Fortunately, her memory was excellent. Even if she didn't understand something, as long as Xie Xiao had taught it once, she would remember what to do.
However, she hadn't learned pinyin yet, so she could only type by handwriting, which was rather slow.
"You can use my old WeChat account if you want. It doesn't matter. There's no one on the contact list worth keeping in touch with anyway," Xie Xiao said indifferently.
But that was Xie Xiao's privacy. After considering it carefully, Jiang Jiang decided not to use it.
"Then register a new account."
With Xie Xiao's help, Jiang Jiang registered a new account. The two then got stuck at the step of choosing a username.
"Uh… how about 'Jiang Jiang Doesn't Eat Ginger'?"
"Huh?" Jiang Jiang felt the name sounded a bit strange.
Xie Xiao said solemnly, "This kind of format is really popular. It matches your name perfectly. Trust me—you can't go wrong!"
Half-believing, Jiang Jiang filled in those five characters. For the profile picture, she took a photo of herself. Xie Xiao looked as if she wanted to say something but ultimately didn't.
Jiang Jiang liked this profile picture very much because, when Xie Xiao had just taught her to use the phone, her favorite function had been the camera.
After filling in all the information, the WeChat account was successfully created. Jiang Jiang set down her phone and pattered over to the wardrobe, taking out the slip of paper Chu Yueqi had given her from her black backpack.
With a delighted expression, she returned to the desk. Xie Xiao took a closer look and felt that the slip of paper seemed somewhat familiar.
"This is…"
Jiang Jiang continued for her, "This is from Sister Chu. Her… phone number?"
That's what it was called, right?
Alarm bells immediately went off in Xie Xiao's mind. "You're really going to add her? Jiang Jiang, you're so naïve—don't get tricked by bad people."
Jiang Jiang blinked, warmth rising in her heart. She explained, "I promised her. I can't go back on my word."
Xie Xiao understood that reasoning. She pouted. "Fine. Add her if you want. I'm just reminding you to be more cautious."
That Chu Yueqi claiming she wanted to be friends with Jiang Jiang—bah, not a bit believable.
Looking at Jiang Jiang's round cheeks, Xie Xiao felt, for the first time, the mindset of an old mother. She truly was worried Jiang Jiang would be bullied.
As Jiang Jiang slowly typed in Chu Yueqi's phone number, she reassured her, "Don't worry, Xiao Xiao. I'm not that easy to deceive."
With that youthful-looking face of hers saying such words, there was really no credibility at all.
After sending the friend request, Jiang Jiang thought for a moment and asked, "Should I add Ji Xu'an as well?"
She hadn't told Xie Xiao in detail what had happened at the hospital today. Given Xie Xiao's temperament, if she knew Ji Xu'an had said those things again, she would definitely be furious.
Jiang Jiang had only mentioned her plan to curry favor with Ji Xu'an.
Xie Xiao nodded vigorously. "Of course! If you add her, you can send her good morning and good night messages every day."
Wouldn't that make Ji Xu'an completely smitten?
"But do you have her phone number?"
Jiang Jiang wasn't entirely sure. "I think so. She told me there's a number saved in the phone that can reach her."
Xie Xiao snorted twice. "At least she has a bit of—"
Before she could finish, it was as if her voice had suddenly been muted.
Both people inside and outside the mirror fell silent.
Because in the phone Ji Xu'an had given Jiang Jiang, there was only one number saved. The two large words "Secretary Zhao" hung alone in the contact list.
So, Ji Xu'an had never intended to give Jiang Jiang her own contact information at all.
—
Author's Note:
President Ji's boomerang of chasing her wife:
After falling in love, Ji Xu'an: "Wife, let's cuddle. Wife, let me kiss you."
An unmoved Jiang Jiang: "That's enough. Stop pretending. This is the last time I warn you—stay away from me :)"
#My fists aren't made of dough#
—
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