Although she had already guessed that Ji Heyuan's question might not be simple, Jiang Jiang still hadn't expected her to be so straightforward.
What made it even harder for her to deal with was that the other three finally stopped pretending to be busy and all gathered around, surrounding Jiang Jiang in the middle. Four pairs of sparkling eyes stared straight at her.
Even in Great Zhao, where noble young ladies were required to be reserved and dignified, most women would still secretly chat about a bit of boudoir pleasure with close girl friends behind others' backs.
Jiang Jiang had experienced this before as well. It was just that at the time, she had always played the role of someone like Fu Xihe. After all, her fiancé had been the Crown Prince—ordinary people didn't have the courage to joke about the heir apparent.
In the past, she had only watched the excitement and even laughed as she teased a couple of lines. She hadn't expected that now she would become the one being "interrogated."
It was fine for young girls to chat about private topics, but as soon as Jiang Jiang thought about the other person they were teasing being Ji Xu'an, she always felt a sense of guilt.
Although she had put on enough affectionate acts in front of others to make everyone think that she and Ji Xu'an were truly in love, and privately she had also treated marrying Ji Xu'an and becoming her lawful wife as her goal, in reality, she had never thought about actually doing anything with Ji Xu'an.
It wasn't that Jiang Jiang rejected the idea. Rather, she instinctively felt that Ji Xu'an wouldn't have such desires.
For example, the very question Ji Heyuan was curious about.
Jiang Jiang couldn't imagine what expression Ji Xu'an would show when kissing someone.
Ji Xu'an would feel uncomfortable even if Jiang Jiang moved just a little closer. When she touched her head, her movements were especially gentle. All signs indicated that Ji Xu'an didn't like overly intimate physical contact with others.
Ji Xu'an probably wouldn't kiss anyone at all.
Jiang Jiang's hesitation, in Ji Heyuan's eyes, became a silent confirmation. Even her moment of thought turned into absent-minded reminiscing.
What exactly had her sister done to make Xie Jiang Jiang blush and think for so long?
"Tsk tsk, come back to your senses!" Ji Heyuan waved a hand in front of Jiang Jiang's eyes. "My sister doesn't look like the type to take the initiative. Xie Jiang Jiang!!, was it you who took the initiative to kiss her?"
Jiang Jiang quickly waved her hands, her cheeks so red they were practically steaming. "Little Yuan, you misunderstood. It's not what you think."
"Oh please, like I don't know you? What's there to be embarrassed about admitting?" Ji Heyuan felt she had already guessed the truth.
As for why she had such a guess—it was because Jiang Jiang's acting that day had been far too brilliant, making Ji Heyuan firmly believe in the conclusion that Jiang Jiang deeply loved her sister.
If it had really been her sister who took the initiative, Xie Jiang Jiang wouldn't have acted so anxious and insecure. Therefore, putting it all together, it must have been Xie Jiang Jiang who bravely took that first step.
"Couldn't tell at all, Jiang Jiang. Usually such a shy and bashful little girl, but turns out you're actually the straight-forward type."
Ji Heyuan thought about how Jiang Jiang had dared to confess to Ji Xu'an right in front of Wen Xueyun last time. The way she looked at Jiang Jiang immediately changed.
"I finally know where, ahem, she lost!"
She didn't mention Wen Xueyun's name. After all, Wen Xueyun was their teacher, and even in front of roommates it wasn't appropriate to gossip about her. But she believed Jiang Jiang understood who she was referring to.
"She lost because she was too reserved. My sister doesn't fall for that slow-boiled frog routine at all!"
Wen Xueyun had secretly loved Ji Xu'an for several years. Ji Xu'an was fully aware of her feelings, yet she remained as indifferent as possible, refusing to give her even the slightest hope.
In Ji Xu'an's eyes, Wen Xueyun was merely a university classmate she got along with fairly well.
As for Xie Jiang Jiang? She hadn't been here many days before she won her sister over.
Granted, that also had something to do with their existing engagement. But if she truly didn't like her, her sister could have treated Xie Jiang Jiang as a tool—feeding and housing her well—while never crossing the line.
From this, Ji Heyuan drew an important conclusion: when pursuing a high mountain flower, one really had to be proactive. Better yet, shamelessly charge forward directly. Who cared whether the other party agreed? Either way, you wouldn't lose out.
Ji Heyuan even felt a bit of admiration for Jiang Jiang. Although she wasn't very smart, she had accidentally hit exactly the right spot with her sister. Maybe her sister liked this kind of beautiful fool?
Seeing Ji Heyuan's words getting more and more outrageous, Jiang Jiang immediately cut her off. "Alright, little Yuan, let's not talk about this anymore."
Ji Heyuan was still unsatisfied, but Xu Zhen smoothly shifted the topic to her own first love.
When young girls gathered together, the topics they could talk about were limited. Besides, they weren't that familiar with each other yet. Gossip was the easiest way to shorten the distance between people.
Ji Heyuan listened especially seriously. The more she listened, the more her heart stirred, her love-brain flaring up again. She wished she could find someone right now and start a romance.
Ji Xu'an had managed her very strictly. Before graduating from high school, she had only been allowed to focus on studying—early romance was absolutely forbidden. Ji Heyuan had dreamed of tasting the sweetness of love.
She was just lamenting how obedient she had been in the past when she suddenly heard Jiang Jiang call her.
"Little Yuan."
Ji Heyuan snapped out of her thoughts and lazily glanced at her. "What is it?"
Jiang Jiang's eyes carried a smile. Copying Ji Heyuan's earlier gesture, she leaned closer and asked softly, "How are things between you and Miss Zheng?"
Ji Heyuan reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, jumping up at once, all her fur bristling. "Y-you, what nonsense are you talking about! Zhuozhou and I are completely innocent, okay?"
The other three immediately perked up.
"Oh? Something's going on! Hurry and tell us so we can hear it too."
Ji Heyuan's whole face flushed red. "Don't listen to Jiang Jiang's nonsense. There's nothing going on."
Jiang Jiang let out an embarrassed "oh." "I saw you and Miss Zheng being so close, so I thought you really liked her and just hadn't pierced that layer of window paper yet."
Ji Heyuan stammered, "Who said I really like her?"
But… she couldn't exactly say she didn't like her either.
Perhaps because Jiang Jiang had just shared her own romantic progress, Ji Heyuan gritted her teeth, feeling she couldn't be outdone. If Xie Jiang Jiang dared to say it, what was she afraid of?
"Actually, I do feel a little attracted to her, but I don't know if she likes me." As she said this, she deflated a little. "I feel like Zhuozhou is very thoughtful. She cares about me and gives in to me in everything. But sometimes, I feel like she doesn't really keep me in her heart at all."
Ji Heyuan couldn't quite say how much she liked Zheng Zhuozhou. Probably there was a bit of heart-fluttering, but it wasn't profound—at least she didn't have an urgent impulse to be with her.
"I feel like she really understands me. Not just the little details in daily life—even some of the small thoughts deep in my heart, she can guess them clearly."
Ji Heyuan had never met someone like Zheng Zhuozhou before—someone who understood her ideals and ambitions, and wouldn't look down on her for lacking drive.
She wasn't unaware that many people befriended her only because she was the second daughter of the Ji family.
On the surface they cared about and envied her, but behind her back they looked down on her, thinking she was just a useless waste.
After all, Ji Heyuan had an overly outstanding sister.
She had grown up under Ji Xu'an's halo, destined to be overshadowed and appear ordinary.
It wasn't that Ji Heyuan wasn't outstanding—just that compared to her sister, who was almost monstrously intelligent and could turn the tide when a great building was about to collapse, she was far more ordinary.
Growing up, the words she had heard most were: "Ji Xu'an is so impressive. I thought her younger sister would be just as smart. Why do the two sisters feel so different?"
There were countless comments like that.
Ji Heyuan didn't feel the slightest jealousy or resentment. On the contrary, she also thought her sister was amazing. If not for Ji Xu'an's hard work, Ji Heyuan would never have been able to live carefree as a wealthy young lady.
She acknowledged and admired her sister's excellence, and had never wanted to compete with Ji Xu'an for anything. Although many people had subtly mentioned in front of her that Linghai Group should also have her share, Ji Heyuan herself had never had such thoughts.
She knew she didn't have Ji Xu'an's ability. In this lifetime, she only wanted to be a little good-for-nothing supported by her sister. Anyway, her sister would never abandon her.
But she would never say such thoughts to others. She knew how they would react—probably thinking she had no ambition.
Ji Heyuan was already used to others' open praise and hidden mockery, their insincerity. So when Zheng Zhuozhou sincerely agreed with her views, Ji Heyuan felt she was truly different.
"The two of us just have this… how do I put it? I feel like she understands my soul. Do you get it?" Ji Heyuan scratched her head, feeling a bit melodramatic, but that was truly how she felt.
Jiang Jiang looked at her meaningfully. In her previous life, Ji Heyuan had practically become Zheng Zhuozhou's obsession. Zheng Zhuozhou had dreamed of getting close to her. Who knew how much effort she had spent understanding Ji Heyuan? Of course she knew her inner thoughts like the back of her hand.
"I understand." Jiang Jiang first affirmed Ji Heyuan's words. When Ji Heyuan looked at her with a face full of excitement, Jiang Jiang continued, "But now I finally understand why my sister doesn't like Miss Zheng."
"Why?" Ji Heyuan felt a bit guilty.
Jiang Jiang said, "My sister is a very rational person. She has never believed in destiny or fate."
Ji Heyuan nodded in agreement. One could tell from her sister's attitude toward Xie Jiang Jiang—she didn't believe in any heaven-ordained match.
"You think Miss Zheng understands you very well, but in my sister's eyes, perhaps all coincidences are man-made. She probably thinks that compared to a soulmate, the possibility that Miss Zheng investigated you in advance is more convincing."
Ji Heyuan immediately retorted, "How is that possible? Where would Zhuozhou get the ability to investigate me? Besides, when we first met, she was being made difficult for by investors. I was the one who helped her. If I hadn't helped her, she might really have been bullied."
"And I only went to that shop on a whim. How could Zhuozhou have known in advance that I would go there?"
Jiang Jiang smiled faintly. "You're right."
Perhaps this was the red string of fate tied by the god of destiny for them?
Jiang Jiang said as if casually, "Little Yuan, when did you tell Miss Zheng that you're the second daughter of the Ji family?"
Ji Heyuan thought for a moment. "Two days before I went back to the old residence."
Jiang Jiang smiled. "I see. Before you revealed your identity, Miss Zheng already treated you as a confidante. It seems she should be sincere toward you."
Ji Heyuan snorted twice. "Of course. Zhuozhou would never deceive me."
Jiang Jiang curled her lips slightly. "Since you like Miss Zheng, why not confess to her? She'll definitely agree."
Ji Heyuan fidgeted. "How can you be so sure she'll definitely agree? What if she rejects me?"
"I heard that in the past month or so, Miss Zheng's manager has been fighting to secure a role for her. In such a busy situation, Miss Zheng still made time to accompany you traveling everywhere. If that's not true love, what is?" Jiang Jiang's tone was especially sincere, as if she truly believed it.
Ji Heyuan, however, felt something was off. "Is that role very important to her?"
Why had Zheng Zhuozhou never mentioned it to her?
"Perhaps. You know, I don't really understand these things. But I heard there are many people competing for that role."
Ji Heyuan stared steadily at Jiang Jiang. "How do you know about these things?"
Facing her scrutiny, Jiang Jiang's expression remained calm and composed. "My sister allows me to enter her study. I saw it on her desk."
Ji Heyuan knew Ji Xu'an would definitely investigate Zheng Zhuozhou, but she hadn't expected Ji Xu'an to trust Jiang Jiang enough to even allow her into the study.
As for what Jiang Jiang had said, Ji Heyuan remained doubtful. No matter how slow she was, she could sense that Jiang Jiang seemed to be implying something.
If things were truly as Jiang Jiang said, then Zheng Zhuozhou choosing to set aside something important to accompany her—was it really just because she regarded her as a friend?
Or had she perhaps already known her identity long ago?
Ji Heyuan fell into deep thought. She frowned as she studied Jiang Jiang's face, trying to find even a trace of guilt or nervousness.
Jiang Jiang, however, seemed as if she had truly only mentioned it casually, because right afterward she spoke quite a few good words about Zheng Zhuozhou in front of Ji Heyuan. As she said these things, her eyes remained clear and bright, without the slightest trace of acting.
Ji Heyuan barely suppressed the suspicion in her heart. Perhaps Xie Jiang Jiang really thought that way. If she truly wanted to make her dislike Zheng Zhuozhou, why would she praise Zheng Zhuozhou in front of her?
After thinking it over and over, Ji Heyuan finally sent Ji Xu'an a message.
[Ji Heyuan: Sis, I heard from Xie Jiang Jiang that you allow her to enter your study?]
A moment later, Ji Xu'an replied.
[Ji Xu'an: Mm. What's wrong?]
Ji Heyuan relaxed. It seemed she had indeed overthought it.
That was true—how could Xie Jiang Jiang possibly have the brains to sow discord? If she really had that ability, when Ji Heyuan bullied her before, she would have gone to complain to Grandma long ago.
Ji Heyuan didn't dare mention Zheng Zhuozhou to her sister. She thought that since Xie Jiang Jiang could already enter her sister's study, then seeing Zheng Zhuozhou's information there was normal. On this point, Xie Jiang Jiang probably hadn't lied to her.
Besides that, Ji Heyuan couldn't find a second explanation for where Xie Jiang Jiang had learned those things about Zheng Zhuozhou.
After her suspicions were dispelled, Ji Heyuan couldn't help but start pondering Jiang Jiang's earlier words again.
She did have some feelings for Zheng Zhuozhou and didn't immediately begin doubting her, but the matter still left a faint mark in Ji Heyuan's heart.
Perhaps in her future interactions with Zheng Zhuozhou, Ji Heyuan would find a way to clarify this matter.
—
After resting briefly in the dormitory, Jiang Jiang and the others prepared to head to the plaza again to participate in the club recruitment fair.
"I heard quite a few clubs didn't have time to set up booths yesterday. All the clubs should be here today."
Fu Xihe was very excited. "Jiang Jiang, you left too early yesterday and didn't see it. Later, two more girls in Hanfu came. I heard the Hanfu Association is recruiting too."
"Hanfu Association?" Jiang Jiang recalled the clubs she had seen yesterday. It didn't seem like there had been one called the Hanfu Association.
For some reason, Fu Xihe had a feeling Jiang Jiang would be interested in this.
"Yeah, let's go take a look later."
Jiang Jiang was also a little curious. When they reached the plaza, Fu Xihe grabbed her hand and headed straight for where the Hanfu Association was located, leaving Ji Heyuan and the others behind.
After arriving, Jiang Jiang immediately understood what the Hanfu Association was about, because among the crowd she saw a young woman whose clothing and adornment were very similar to what women of Great Zhao wore in daily life.
Jiang Jiang couldn't help widening her eyes. "She is…"
Fu Xihe explained, "That senior is wearing a Wei–Jin style cross-collar ruqun. Isn't it beautiful?"
She looked Jiang Jiang up and down and said sincerely, "Jiang Jiang, I think your looks and temperament really suit Hanfu. Have you tried it before?"
Jiang Jiang's gaze seemed to drift far away. Her answer was very soft. "I have."
Seeing familiar clothing and adornment here gave Jiang Jiang a disorienting feeling, as if the two worlds were overlapping. She had thought that with the development of society, some things had long since been discarded.
"Really? I knew your temperament really suits it!" Fu Xihe herself was also a Hanfu enthusiast and had participated in several Hanfu community events before.
"Are you interested in joining the Hanfu Association?" Fu Xihe's eyes were full of expectation.
Jiang Jiang couldn't help laughing softly. "You've already joined?"
Fu Xihe nodded a little shyly. "Mm."
"But I'm not encouraging you to join just because I joined. I really do think you're suited to wearing Hanfu."
Jiang Jiang remained silent for a moment, but then she walked toward the Hanfu Association's main booth.
Only after walking closer did Jiang Jiang realize that the seniors recruiting new members were huddled together discussing something. Each of them had furrowed brows. In the center of them stood another girl wearing a chest-high ruqun. At that moment, she was somewhat clumsily fixing her hairstyle, but with little success—after fiddling with it for a long time, it was still loose.
"What do we do? Tu Wei had something come up and left campus suddenly, but none of us know how to do hairstyles."
"We can't have He Jingjing recruit alone, can we?"
Everyone looked dejected. One of them noticed Fu Xihe and waved. "Junior Fu, good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, Senior." Fu Xihe came over. "What happened?"
That person explained, "Qian Yun ran into people from the Literature Club in the cafeteria. There was a bit of a dispute, and the other side deliberately messed up her hairstyle."
"Those idiots definitely did it on purpose! They always target us. Every time we apply for an activity classroom, they fight us for it!" The girl named Qian Yun slammed the table hard, her eyes red with anger.
"Wasn't she just trying to stop me from participating in recruitment?"
After all, she couldn't very well greet junior students with her hair completely loose.
Fu Xihe felt indignant as well. "That's too much!"
"The hairstyle Tu Wei did for me today was especially beautiful. So many people complimented it this morning. Those jerks must have heard and deliberately came to pick on me at noon!" Qian Yun was furious but didn't dare cry, afraid of ruining her makeup.
Earlier, Qian Yun had tried to replicate the bun Tu Wei had styled for her. But her hands weren't as skillful as Tu Wei's. No matter what she did, it didn't look as good as it had in the morning, and it loosened easily.
After listening for quite a while, Jiang Jiang finally couldn't help speaking up. "Um, could you let me try?"
Instantly, everyone's eyes fell on her.
"Junior, are you also a Hanfu enthusiast?" He Jingjing asked from the side.
She was the other girl wearing the cross-collar ruqun.
Jiang Jiang nodded. "Mm."
It should count, right?
Afraid they wouldn't believe her, Jiang Jiang added, "This senior's outfit is lively and cute. She could wear a Flying Immortal bun. I've done it a few times before. It shouldn't fail."
As soon as she said that, Qian Yun became excited. "That's great, Junior! Could you help me?"
This junior even used professional terminology—clearly she wasn't making empty boasts.
The others stepped aside to make a path. After Jiang Jiang stood beside Qian Yun, they stared unblinkingly at Jiang Jiang's hands.
No one quite knew why they were willing to trust her. Perhaps it was because she carried an inexplicable calm and composed aura that made her seem reliable.
When Jiang Jiang had lived in the mountains before, she had always done her own hair. Later, after going to the Duke's residence, she had maids to serve her, so she no longer needed to do it herself.
So when she said she had done it a few times, strictly speaking, she was actually deceiving them. She had only watched the maids style this particular hairstyle for her.
Jiang Jiang had always learned quickly. As long as she had seen something once, she wouldn't easily forget it. When she first started, she was a bit unfamiliar, but she quickly became proficient. No one could tell this was her first time doing a Flying Immortal bun.
Her movements were swift. In no more than a few minutes, a modified Flying Immortal bun was finished. Since there weren't enough hair ties and clips, Jiang Jiang let the remaining strands fall naturally down Qian Yun's back.
"All done." Jiang Jiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, she hadn't embarrassed herself.
Qian Yun admired her new hairstyle in the mirror from left to right and couldn't help exclaiming, "Junior, you're really amazing!"
The hairstyle Jiang Jiang created far exceeded her expectations. She even felt it looked better than the one Tu Wei had done earlier.
The others were equally astonished, but before they could speak, someone beat them to it.
"Junior, are you interested in joining our Hanfu Association?" He Jingjing squeezed over and grabbed Jiang Jiang's hand. "Our association really needs technical talent like you!"
Right now, the only person in the association who could do styling was Tu Wei. But Tu Wei was already a third-year, very busy, and often not on campus.
Yesterday the president had even told her that Tu Wei seemed to be considering withdrawing from the association. If she left, they would have no members skilled in styling.
Normally they could hire professional stylists from outside. But if something sudden like today happened, they would have no solution.
"There are many benefits to joining our Hanfu Association!" He Jingjing tried to persuade Jiang Jiang.
"First, all the clothes in the association can be worn out freely for photos, including some Hanfu that are already out of print—we have those too."
"Then we regularly hold events and invite some school teachers and members of the S City Hanfu Culture Association."
"And also—"
He Jingjing spoke endlessly without pause. Seeing Jiang Jiang listening attentively, seemingly already tempted, she became even more enthusiastic—just short of pulling Jiang Jiang's hand and making her write her name on the registration form.
Listening from the side, Fu Xihe felt that this speech sounded very familiar. It seemed that yesterday, when she came to register, Senior Fu had said exactly the same thing.
An old routine.
First draw a big pie in the sky to keep people, then later decide based on performance whether to actually let them join the association.
After He Jingjing finished her entire script, Jiang Jiang had already written her class and name on the form.
She hadn't been misled by He Jingjing's words into thinking she was some indispensable talent. Jiang Jiang agreed to join the Hanfu Association because she was already relatively knowledgeable in this area. Compared to other unfamiliar clubs, she would rather choose the Hanfu Association.
She knew she wasn't as amazing as He Jingjing thought. Those words of praise were just that—praise. With only one hairstyle, at most she could be considered deft-handed.
If she wanted to gain a firm foothold in the Hanfu Association and not be looked down upon, Jiang Jiang would have to show other abilities.
However, today's experience also gave Jiang Jiang a new idea.
Ever since coming to this world, she had been thinking about what she should do in the future. She couldn't rely on Ji Xu'an to support her for a lifetime.
Photography was chosen by Xie Xiao. Jiang Jiang wasn't even sure whether she could truly master it, or whether she could make a living from it in the future.
If not, what would she do?
Jiang Jiang felt out of place in this world. The things she knew—perhaps they were long useless.
This world had newer and better substitutes. The skills she possessed had already been cast aside in the tide of history.
Jiang Jiang had always believed this.
But what happened today opened a new door for her.
Those things hadn't disappeared—they were simply things she had never had the chance to encounter in her previous life here.
Only then did Jiang Jiang realize that the skills she possessed were actually useful in this world as well.
She knew how to style several kinds of hair buns that others didn't; she could embroider—even Ji Xu'an thought her embroidery was beautiful; she had some knowledge of qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, flower arrangement, and tea preparation.
She had her own strengths. She was not useless.
Her thoughts gradually stretched farther. She thought of her past self struggling desperately, of Liu Xiaobao crying in despair and her three older sisters, and of many more vivid and unique faces.
She had thought that one day she would forget these people, just as the new knowledge she learned had quickly overwritten all her previous understandings.
But the truth was that those past scenes surfaced in her mind at all times.
Jiang Jiang suddenly really wanted to tell the people of this world, in some way, about the people and events she had once experienced.
At that moment, a small spark of hope ignited in Jiang Jiang's heart.
Although her idea was still immature, at this very moment, Jiang Jiang had already found a vague direction forward.
She truly, truly wanted to do something.
—
Author's Note:
Next chapter, President Ji continues coaxing her wife, although she only ever uses that one move.
Ji Xu'an: desperately spending money on my wife.jpg
—
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