Ji Heyuan thought of how she had kept feeling a chill down her spine over the past two days and couldn't help but edge closer to Ji Xu'an.
Her sister was so fierce—surely even a female ghost would be too frightened to come near her, right?
The strange atmosphere between Jiang Jiang and Ji Xu'an vanished completely because of Ji Heyuan's movement. Ji Xu'an seemed to let out a silent sigh of relief, then frowned as she looked at Ji Heyuan.
"Do you still remember what you promised me?"
Ji Heyuan went blank. "W-What?"
Ji Xu'an said nothing. She merely looked at Ji Heyuan with a cold gaze, and Ji Heyuan suddenly understood.
She clenched her teeth and, under Ji Xu'an's deathly stare, had no choice but to lower her head.
"Xie Xiao, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have yelled at you, and I definitely shouldn't have wronged you. I hope you can be magnanimous and forgive my momentary impulsiveness." Ji Heyuan almost finished the entire sentence with her eyes closed.
Apologizing to someone she disliked felt worse than killing her, but her sister had already deducted two months of her allowance. If Ji Heyuan refused to compromise again, she could forget about getting a single cent from Ji Xu'an for at least half a year.
Even so, though she chose to compromise, Ji Heyuan still refused to apologize honestly. She just had to play a little trick to disgust Xie Xiao.
She was practically an expert at moral coercion. If Jiang Jiang didn't forgive her, she would immediately be labeled petty and unforgiving.
What choice did Jiang Jiang have? Of course she chose to forgive her.
She bit her lip and said gently to Ji Heyuan, "little Yuan, I won't hold it against you. But in the future, you mustn't be this impulsive again. If you run into someone with a worse temper, you'll suffer."
Damn it!
Ji Heyuan instantly felt as though she had swallowed a fly. Whether Xie Xiao felt disgusted or not, she herself certainly did.
What she couldn't stand most was Xie Xiao using that elder-like tone when speaking to her. Yet her sister even felt that Xie Xiao made perfect sense and followed up with a warning: "If I find out again that you're bullying others by relying on power, it won't just be two months. You can forget about any allowance next year."
Ji Heyuan was about to feel wronged to death. She replied weakly, "Oh."
Jiang Jiang said nothing. Compared to Ji Heyuan's indignation, she seemed like a soft, temperless punching bag, her face practically stamped with honesty and easy-to-bully.
Seeing this, Ji Xu'an couldn't say much more.
She had the driver send Jiang Jiang and Ji Heyuan back to the old residence. After both of them got into the car, Ji Xu'an said to Jiang Jiang, "Someone will pick you up this afternoon. Pack the things you want to take with you."
Jiang Jiang immediately thought of what Ji Xu'an had mentioned about having Secretary Zhao help her with the procedures for staying off-campus part-time.
She lifted a smile. "Alright, thank you, President Ji."
The distant and official reply made Ji Xu'an feel as though she were speaking to an employee at her company. Her mind suddenly cleared, and a possibility she had never considered before surfaced in her thoughts.
Could it be that Xie Xiao was treating her as her boss?
Ji Xu'an remained silent, but Ji Heyuan squeezed over and stared at them in shock. "Wait a second, Xie Xiao, why are you calling my sister President Ji??"
Hadn't she just been calling her Sister Xu'an so intimately?
Ji Heyuan was first confused, then, after who knew what kind of wild imagination took hold of her, her gaze turned subtle.
"Could this be some special fetish between you two?"
Ji Xu'an's brows knitted tightly. "What nonsense are you thinking?"
Her expression was far too serious and proper, and Ji Heyuan didn't dare push it further. She quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth, signaling that she absolutely would not speak out of turn again.
Her mouth was shut, but her eyes darted back and forth between Ji Xu'an and Jiang Jiang, clearly showing that the speculation in her mind had not stopped at all.
Jiang Jiang was so amused she nearly laughed out loud. It was rare to see Ji Xu'an rendered speechless.
Explain? But Jiang Jiang really did address her that way.
Yet if she didn't explain, Ji Heyuan would only assume she was tacitly admitting it.
In the end, it was Jiang Jiang who spoke. "Little Yuan, you're overthinking it. I wanted to call her that. It has nothing to do with President Ji."
Though she seemed to be speaking up for Ji Xu'an, there was an unmistakable air of covering things up, which only made it sound more suspicious.
Ji Xu'an felt a headache coming on but didn't show it. Her expression remained calm as she glanced at Ji Heyuan. "At such a young age and already learning nonsense—someone must have led you astray."
This time, Ji Heyuan truly didn't dare say another word. She was afraid Ji Xu'an would blame everything on Zheng Zhouzhou.
Ji Heyuan chose to retreat, and Ji Xu'an offered no further explanation. She didn't even look at Jiang Jiang again, only telling the driver in front, "Take them back."
The car started, and soon Ji Xu'an's figure was out of sight.
Perhaps remembering Ji Xu'an's warning, Ji Heyuan didn't stir up trouble along the way. However, every so often she would cast a probing look at Jiang Jiang, clearly thinking about something.
Jiang Jiang ignored her. After returning peacefully to the old residence, she went straight to her room and gathered everything she intended to take.
She didn't have many personal belongings. The black backpack she had brought at the beginning was enough to fit them all. She packed some additional clothes; as for the rest, she didn't plan to take them.
When Zhao Zitang came to pick her up in the afternoon and saw that she had only one backpack and one small suitcase, he was rather surprised.
"Are all your things here?"
Jiang Jiang nodded. "Sorry to trouble you, Secretary Zhao."
She knew Zhao Zitang was Ji Xu'an's confidante and must have plenty of matters to handle daily. She hadn't expected Ji Xu'an to send him to pick her up.
Secretary Zhao smiled. "Not troublesome at all. On the contrary, I owe you an apology, Miss Xie."
Jiang Jiang looked at him in confusion.
Zhao Zitang explained, "I was the one who had someone buy the phone you're using. President Ji didn't know that I only saved my own number in it. I handled that poorly and caused you to misunderstand."
Jiang Jiang quickly waved her hands. "I didn't blame you, and I'm not angry. I understand. After all, at that time President Ji and I weren't familiar with each other. It was only right for you to be cautious."
As for Zhao Zitang, he had even come specially to explain this matter clearly to her. Could it be that Ji Xu'an had said something to her?
Zhao Zitang secretly let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Xie Xiao hadn't blamed him. He had tried to flatter her superior but ended up patting the horse's leg instead.
He had thought that, given how much President Ji had disliked Xie Xiao, she wouldn't want too much contact with her.
Zhao Zitang examined Jiang Jiang's fair, faintly rosy face and suddenly felt that President Ji might truly end up falling for her.
Just look at Ji Xu'an's attitude toward Xie Xiao.
In only a few days, the tone Ji Xu'an used when mentioning Xie Xiao had changed from icy disgust at the beginning to calm neutrality now.
Even if it wasn't liking yet, Zhao Zitang was certain that Ji Xu'an no longer disliked Xie Xiao as much as she had at first.
The young woman in front of her looked quite obedient and didn't seem particularly scheming. Could it be that President Ji liked this kind of well-behaved and compliant type?
Jiang Jiang could sense that Zhao Zitang's attitude toward her was somewhat different from before. Though the change was subtle, it undeniably existed—it wasn't her imagination.
Since Zhao Zitang was Ji Xu'an's confidante, her change could only have been influenced by Ji Xu'an. Judging from this, Ji Xu'an's impression of her should be fairly good.
They arrived at the apartment building in silence. Zhao Zitang swiped a card to access the elevator. Jiang Jiang couldn't understand how it worked, but it felt impressive. She watched Zhao Zitang's movements closely, her gaze lingering on the elevator card for quite a while.
This thing looked a lot like the bank card she used to store money.
Seeing her curiosity, Zhao Zitang handed her the elevator card. "Miss Xie, you need to swipe the card to use the elevator. I'll tell you the door password in a moment, and you may also need to register your fingerprint."
Jiang Jiang looked at her with sparkling eyes, full of trust. "I'll listen to you."
Zhao Zitang's heart softened. Thinking that Jiang Jiang had only just turned eighteen and was still a young girl, she couldn't help but become even more patient.
Jiang Jiang showed not the slightest impatience and listened with utmost seriousness. Her clear apricot eyes remained fixed on Zhao Zitang, giving him the illusion that she was Jiang Jiang's sole support.
She must be very popular with teachers at school, Zhao Zitang thought.
He seemed to understand now why President Ji's attitude had changed.
After all, a young woman with such an obedient personality, delicate and beautiful looks, and a soft, sweet voice—it was truly hard to dislike her.
Zhao Zitang practically treated Jiang Jiang like a child while teaching her, which suited Jiang Jiang perfectly. She even drew inferences and asked additional questions.
For example, if she wanted to go out to buy groceries, which direction should she go?
Zhao Zitang pondered. "Do you want to cook for yourself?"
Jiang Jiang suddenly fell silent. Under Zhao Zitang's gaze, two blushes gradually spread across her cheeks. She stammered, "Will President Ji… come here tonight?"
Zhao Zitang didn't know how to answer. He shouldn't meddle in such matters, but looking at Jiang Jiang's shy expression, at those beautiful eyes that, even when slightly lowered, could not conceal the anticipation and nervousness within them, Zhao Zitang suddenly couldn't bear to disappoint her.
"She probably will." At worst, he could remind President Ji.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiang's eyes instantly lit up with brilliant light. "I want to buy groceries and cook myself."
Zhao Zitang smiled. "There's no need to go to so much trouble. Just make a list of the ingredients you want, and I'll have someone deliver them."
Jiang Jiang found paper and pen and wrote down everything she wanted.
Zhao Zitang was first surprised by her beautiful handwriting. Then he noticed that most of the ingredients Jiang Jiang requested were dishes Ji Xu'an liked.
He couldn't help sighing inwardly. It seemed that Miss Xie truly cared about President Ji. If President Ji didn't resist, then he, for his part, wouldn't be unable to lend Xie Xiao a hand.
Zhao Zitang left with the grocery list. Jiang Jiang moved her belongings into the bedroom. This room was about the same size as the one in the old residence, except this one had two large floor-to-ceiling windows. Jiang Jiang fell in love with the bedroom at first sight.
She didn't even have time to organize her things. She took several quick steps to stand before the windows, narrowing her eyes as she gazed into the distance.
Traffic flowed endlessly; towering buildings stood quietly in the heart of the city. Under the gentle caress of the autumn breeze, Jiang Jiang felt a special aura sweeping in from the distant horizon.
It was the tranquility and freedom she longed for.
—
Zhao Zitang returned to the company to report. Ji Xu'an was just dismissing her assistant to make her a cup of coffee. Seeing Zhao Zitang enter the office, Ji Xu'an rubbed her aching temple.
"She's moved over?"
"Yes." Zhao Zitang nodded. "Miss Xie doesn't have many belongings. She said she could organize them herself, so I came back first."
Ji Xu'an's eyes remained on the proposal in her hands as she asked without looking up, "Does she need anything else?"
Zhao Zitang hesitated. "President Ji, are you going to Xinghe Bay tonight?"
Ji Xu'an's hand paused mid-turn of the page. She lifted her gaze to Zhao Zitang. "What are you trying to say?"
Zhao Zitang's heart tightened. "Miss Xie asked me for some ingredients. She wants… to cook a meal for you."
Ji Xu'an remained silent for a long time. She stared quietly at Zhao Zitang until cold sweat nearly broke out on his back, then lowered her eyes and said indifferently, "You can go out first."
She didn't say whether she would go or not.
Zhao Zitang thought this wasn't his fault—he had done his best, even speaking up for Xie Xiao under the pressure of being suspected by President Ji. She could only hope Miss Xie would get her wish in the end.
At the thought of Miss Xie preparing a table full of dishes, waiting alone from daylight until nightfall, yet never seeing the person she wanted to see, Zhao Zitang couldn't help feeling heartache for her.
With how much Miss Xie liked President Ji, she would probably be very sad.
She might even cry the whole night.
Alas, but President Ji was just this cold and heartless.
—
Inside the office.
Ji Xu'an looked at the grocery list Zhao Zitang had left behind, her brows unconsciously knitting together.
She had only eaten with Xie Xiao a few times, and each time the dishes had been different. How did Xie Xiao know which foods she liked?
Grandmother must have told her, after all, Grandmother liked her very much.
Housekeeper Lin liked her too, and even Secretary Zhao was speaking up for her.
Thinking of Xie Xiao's attitude toward her—at times intimate, at times distant—Ji Xu'an herself did not realize that in her usually calm, rippleless eyes, there now appeared a trace of interest and inquiry.
Her fingertips lightly tapped twice on the grocery list as she pondered the question.
Should she go back?
Last time, it was because Xie Xiao said she had something to discuss that Ji Xu'an agreed. But this time, she knew Xie Xiao had nothing serious—she simply wanted to treat her to a meal.
Was Xie Xiao worth her wasting her own time to make a special trip?
—
Author's Note:
Jiang Jiang strategy for pursuing her wife: First win over everyone around her who has a say, and make them all become her assists.
Grandma Ji ✔️
Housekeeper Lin ✔️
Secretary Zhao ✔️
Ji Heyuan: ?? So I'm not important at all, huh?
—
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