Ji Heyuan stared blankly at Jiang Jiang. The incoming ringtone on her phone was her favorite song. In the past, Ji Heyuan would deliberately listen to it for a few extra seconds. Now she wished it would disappear the very next second.
What difference was there between this and a death warrant?
She swore that once she got back, she would change the ringtone. What a lousy song!
Jiang Jiang was still looking at her. Ji Heyuan swallowed. "How about… you answer it?"
So strange.
Ji Heyuan stuffed the phone into Jiang Jiang's hands in one motion, as if it were a scalding hot potato.
Jiang Jiang: …
Could Ji Heyuan really be an idiot?
Ji Xu'an was very patient. The two of them had delayed for so long, yet she still had not hung up.
The moment Jiang Jiang picked up, she heard Ji Xu'an's cool voice ask, "Is Jiang Jiang with you?"
Jiang Jiang paused. "Sister, it's me."
Ji Xu'an on the other end seemed to freeze for a moment as well. When she spoke again, her voice had softened by more than a degree. "Jiang Jiang, are you in little Yuan's dorm?"
Ji Heyuan, who had been nervously eavesdropping, could not help curling her lips. Differential treatment, huh?
However, judging by her sister's tone, she was only looking for Xie Xiao and not coming to hold her accountable. Ji Heyuan finally let out a breath of relief.
Seeing Ji Heyuan constantly winking at her and pointing at her own ear, Jiang Jiang turned on the speaker.
"Sister, we're in the car, getting ready to go to the sanatorium to visit Grandma."
Ji Xu'an did not speak. Jiang Jiang sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat subtle. She gently nudged Ji Heyuan, signaling her to hurry and talk.
Ji Heyuan: "Ah?"
She had only let out a faint sound before hurriedly covering her mouth, but Ji Xu'an had already caught it.
Jiang Jiang seemed to hear the sound of typing on the other end stop for a moment. Several seconds passed before Ji Xu'an said in a low tone, "Then you two go ahead first."
Jiang Jiang made a small sound of surprise. "Sister is coming too?"
Ji Xu'an did not know what she was doing; she always answered slowly. Jiang Jiang guessed she must be busy. Otherwise, it couldn't possibly be that Ji Xu'an did not know how to answer, right?
Just as Jiang Jiang was thinking this, she heard Ji Xu'an ask, "Is it inconvenient?"
Her tone was extremely calm, but for some reason, Jiang Jiang felt that Ji Xu'an seemed a little aggrieved.
She shook her head, suppressing that thought.
"It's not inconvenient. When will Sister come? Shall we have lunch together?"
Ji Heyuan shook her head so hard it was almost leaving afterimages. Her face was full of refusal, just short of snatching the phone to tell her sister not to come.
Unfortunately, Ji Xu'an did not sense Ji Heyuan's resistance. She hummed softly. "I'll probably arrive around eleven-thirty."
Jiang Jiang glanced at her watch. It was already 10:45. "Then I'll wait for Sister."
"Mm." Ji Xu'an's tone seemed slightly lighter.
After discussing the main matter, she did not hang up immediately, but chatted casually with Jiang Jiang for a few more sentences.
Perhaps because Ji Heyuan had remained silent the whole time, Ji Xu'an asked, "What is little Yuan doing?"
Ji Heyuan jolted. "I—I'm reading!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she almost bit her tongue.
Ji Xu'an let out a cold laugh. Even through the screen, Ji Heyuan could imagine how frightening her sister's expression must be.
Jiang Jiang smoothed things over for her. "Little Yuan was just talking about Sister."
Ji Heyuan nearly went stupid upon hearing this. She widened her eyes at Jiang Jiang and frantically shook her head.
Please, Xie Xiao, spare my allowance!!
She had already lost half a year plus two months of allowance. She could not lose any more!
Several seconds passed before Ji Xu'an asked, "Talking about me? What did she say?"
Ji Heyuan seemed to hear a hint of threat in her sister's tone.
Heaven and earth as witness, although in the past whenever she mentioned Ji Xu'an she always talked about her bad side, this time she really had not said anything bad about her in front of Xie Xiao!
Ji Heyuan clasped her hands together, pleading humbly at Jiang Jiang.
Jiang Jiang smiled silently, the dimples on her face faintly appearing. "Little Yuan said Sister treats me especially well and asked whether I was moved."
Ji Xu'an did not know whether she believed Jiang Jiang's words, but when she spoke again, that invisible pressure in her tone had disappeared.
She asked Jiang Jiang, "Then were you moved?"
Jiang Jiang turned off the speaker and held the phone to her ear. "Mm, probably no one can remain unmoved under Sister's gentle care. I'm no exception."
Ji Xu'an fell silent again.
She knew that the kind of being moved Jiang Jiang spoke of was most likely not the kind she wanted.
Yet Ji Xu'an still felt unwilling. Since Jiang Jiang liked mature women such as Chu Yueqi and Fu Xiaoyin, why could she not also be listed as one of the candidates worth considering?
Ji Xu'an closed her eyes and rubbed her aching temples.
In the final analysis, it was because she was fundamentally different from those two.
The identity of "sister" gave her more opportunities to interact with Jiang Jiang, allowing Jiang Jiang to trust her without guard, yet at the same time it restricted Jiang Jiang's feelings toward her.
What she once thought was the best possible choice had now become the greatest stumbling block on her emotional path.
Ji Xu'an could not help but laugh at herself. Perhaps back then, she had never imagined that one day she would truly develop improper thoughts toward Jiang Jiang.
The repeated reminders and hints from before were still vivid. Jiang Jiang had done very well, yet she herself had slapped her own face.
Ji Xu'an took a deep breath. "There's something I want to tell you… let's talk after we meet at noon."
After saying this, she let Jiang Jiang hang up.
Jiang Jiang handed the phone back to Ji Heyuan and, as expected, received a mischievous grin.
"What did my sister just say to you? So mysterious, not even letting me hear."
Especially those last few sentences—Xie Xiao had intentionally covered the receiver, making it impossible for her to eavesdrop.
"Nothing much." Seeing Ji Heyuan did not believe her, Jiang Jiang added leisurely, "Sister just asked what you were doing."
Ji Heyuan immediately fell silent.
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Ji Heyuan rubbed her hands and did not dare look at Jiang Jiang again. Instead, she lowered the partition.
With a dark face, she asked Old Liu, "Did you report me to my sister?"
Old Liu was struck dizzy by this sudden accusation. "I didn't, Second Miss. I was driving just now. How would I have had the chance to report anything to President Ji?"
Ji Heyuan snorted heavily. "Oh really? I knew you wanted to complain to my sister. I caught you, didn't I?"
Old Liu: …
Jiang Jiang watched this scene with a smile. Ji Heyuan still had the mind to banter with Old Liu, which meant her mood had not been affected by Zheng Zhouzhou.
This meant Zheng Zhouzhou's influence on Ji Heyuan was getting smaller and smaller. Probably by the day that influence completely disappeared, there would be no more possibility between Zheng Zhouzhou and Ji Heyuan.
Although Zheng Zhouzhou seemed to have been cornered by her now, Jiang Jiang still did not dare relax. After all, Zheng Zhouzhou was the protagonist of this book. The benefactors she would encounter in her long life were far more than just Ji Heyuan.
There were always greater people beyond greater people. There would always be characters even Ji Xu'an could not handle. If such a person happened to cross paths with Zheng Zhouzhou, perhaps the current situation would immediately reverse.
Jiang Jiang thought of He Xinyao, who was still in the hospital. If she wanted to completely cut off Zheng Zhouzhou's path, it would be best to make it impossible for her to gain a foothold in the entertainment industry ever again.
Coincidentally, Zheng Zhouzhou had always wanted to guide netizens to cyberbully her. Jiang Jiang planned to use the same method against her, letting Zheng Zhouzhou also experience the taste of online harassment.
She had already paved half the road for He Xinyao. How the remaining half would be walked depended entirely on her own choice.
Jiang Jiang withdrew her smile. She lowered the car window and let the cold wind blow against her for a while. Only after her thoughts had completely calmed did she take out her phone and slowly begin typing.
The next chapter to write would be: Jiang Xiaozhi Battles the Vicious Antagonist with Wit.
—
When Madam Ji heard that Jiang Jiang and Ji Heyuan were coming, she specially took out the tea leaves she had long treasured.
Although Ji Heyuan usually appeared noisy and restless, in front of her grandmother she was fairly obedient. Holding Madam Ji's hand, she answered whatever she was asked, well-behaved to the extreme.
Jiang Jiang stared at this scene without blinking, her eyes full of astonishment. Ji Heyuan was made slightly embarrassed by her gaze and deliberately said in a rough voice, "Grandma, don't just ask me. Ask Xie Xiao too."
Madam Ji patted the back of her hand. "Jiang Jiang is much more obedient than you. I'm not worried at all."
She released Ji Heyuan's hand and turned to look at Jiang Jiang. "Has Xu'an been treating you well lately? Little Yuan hasn't bullied you, has she?"
"Everything is very good. Grandma doesn't need to worry about me." Jiang Jiang held the teapot and poured a cup of hot tea for her.
Ji Heyuan also had the fortune to taste the tea personally brewed by Jiang Jiang. Flattered, she held the teacup and took small sips. It was slightly bitter at first, then faintly sweet, the fragrance filling her lips and teeth.
Ji Heyuan's hands itched again. She forgot that she had just been worrying about her allowance being deducted by Ji Xu'an. Now she excitedly snapped two photos and sent them to Ji Xu'an.
[Ji Heyuan: Come quickly. If you're late, you won't get to drink the tea Xie Xiao personally brewed.]
After quite a while, Ji Xu'an replied.
[Ji Xu'an: Heh.]
Ji Heyuan was completely baffled by that single "Heh."
What did that mean?
Could it be that her sister looked down on the tea Xie Xiao brewed?
Ji Heyuan could not help glancing up at Jiang Jiang. Jiang Jiang did not look at her. Instead, she sat beside Madam Ji and softly asked, "Grandma, how has your health been recently? Does your chest still feel uncomfortable?"
The moment Jiang Jiang thought about how the original story said Madam Ji would pass away at the end of this year, her heart tightened uncontrollably. Panic and helplessness almost drowned her.
The story had not clearly explained the cause of Madam Ji's death. It only said she passed away suddenly, catching both Ji Heyuan and Ji Xu'an off guard.
At first, Jiang Jiang thought the old lady had some hidden illness. But after several interactions, she learned that Madam Ji underwent regular checkups, and Ji Xu'an cared deeply about her health. Whenever Madam Ji had even a minor headache or fever, Ji Xu'an would have doctors thoroughly investigate the cause.
So it was unlikely that Madam Ji had some undiscovered disease.
Jiang Jiang suspected whether Madam Ji's death had been an accident, or man-made.
If someone had done something malicious, Ji Xu'an could not possibly fail to uncover it.
What Jiang Jiang feared most was fate itself. Human schemes could be guarded against, but how could fate be changed?
Her speculation was not groundless.
In the story, for Zheng Zhouzhou to be with Ji Heyuan, there were two obstacles: one was Ji Xu'an, and the other was Madam Ji.
As long as these two did not agree, Zheng Zhouzhou would never be able to marry Ji Heyuan.
At first, Ji Xu'an was firmly opposed. But after Madam Ji passed away, Ji Xu'an gradually loosened her control over Ji Heyuan, and later even reached a state of complete indulgence.
Perhaps because Ji Heyuan was her only remaining relative in this world, no matter what Ji Heyuan wanted to do, Ji Xu'an let her do as she pleased.
That had benefited Zheng Zhouzhou.
Although Zheng Zhouzhou's plans had already been disrupted considerably by her, Jiang Jiang still feared that the power of the plot might be irreversible. If Grandma were to…
Jiang Jiang could not help shivering.
Madam Ji tightened her grip on Jiang Jiang's hand, her face full of concern. "I'm in good health. It's you—why do you seem to have lost weight again?"
Jiang Jiang pulled her wandering thoughts back and gave Madam Ji a shallow smile. "I haven't lost weight. I've even gained two pounds."
"Young girls look better with a little more flesh." As Madam Ji spoke, she suddenly turned to glance at Ji Heyuan. "Little Yuan, go find Xiao Chen and tell her to prepare more of the dishes Jiang Jiang likes."
Ji Heyuan was stunned. "How would I know what Xie Jiang Jiang likes to eat?"
Madam Ji rolled her eyes at her. "Can't you go ask Xu'an?"
So many complaints she didn't even know where to start.
Ji Heyuan really wanted to say that Jiang Jiang was sitting right here—who could know better than she herself what she liked to eat?
But under Madam Ji's stern gaze, Ji Heyuan could only stand up and walk outside. "Alright, alright, I'll go right now."
The door closed behind her. A flash of insight suddenly struck Ji Heyuan's mind—could it be that Grandma deliberately wanted to send her away?
What secret were they going to talk about that she wasn't allowed to hear?
Ji Heyuan quietly pressed her ear against the door, but she couldn't hear anything clearly.
She grew so anxious that half her body was practically plastered against the door, her posture especially strange.
Unfortunately, the room's soundproofing was too good. Ji Heyuan still couldn't hear anything. Before she could change her position, someone suddenly slapped her hard on the shoulder from behind.
Ji Heyuan was startled out of her wits, truly almost jumping up. "Who is it?!"
She turned her head and her gaze met a strikingly heroic face. The woman was more than half a head taller than her, her brows and eyes sharp and cold, carrying an upright and imposing aura.
When she spoke, her tone was also icy. "Miss, what are you doing?"
Ji Heyuan felt a bit intimidated. She felt as if she had been caught doing something bad by the police, and her momentum unconsciously weakened.
"I'm not doing anything." Ji Heyuan straightened her back, trying not to lose ground. "Who are you? Why are you meddling?"
The woman neatly took out her ID from her coat. "I am Qu Jingran, Deputy Captain of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the S City Public Security Bureau."
Ji Heyuan looked at the photo, which was identical to the woman in front of her, and couldn't help swallowing. "I—I didn't commit any crime, right?"
Qu Jingran raised her brows and glanced at the tightly shut door beside them. "Allow me to remind you, eavesdropping on others' privacy is illegal."
Ji Heyuan's face turned red from her words. What eavesdropping!
Embarrassed and angry, she snapped, "The people inside are my grandma and my sister-in-law. Is it illegal for me to listen to them talking?"
And she hadn't even heard anything!
Qu Jingran's expression remained serious. "Listening without permission, even if they are family, is not allowed."
Ji Heyuan suspected she was deliberately picking on her. "Fine, then I won't listen anymore, okay?"
She cursed her in her heart for being crazy, turned around with a dark expression, and was about to leave.
Qu Jingran turned slightly sideways to make room. When Ji Heyuan brushed past her, she faintly clicked her tongue and softly said, "Ji Heyuan, do you really not recognize me anymore?"
Ji Heyuan, whose anger had not yet subsided, instinctively wanted to curse her, but in the next second she reacted and abruptly stopped in her tracks.
"Huh?"
—
Inside the room.
After Ji Heyuan left, Madam Ji asked about the development of the relationship between Jiang Jiang and Ji Xu'an.
Jiang Jiang lowered her eyes, her face full of shyness. "Recently, Sister's attitude toward me has softened quite a bit, but I'm not sure whether she only treats me as a younger sister, or…"
Madam Ji thought for a moment. "It's alright. Grandma will help you ask."
Jiang Jiang bit her lip. "Grandma, I heard that Sister seems to have liked someone before?"
Madam Ji was startled. "Who did you hear that from?"
Jiang Jiang did not mention Fu Xiaoyin's name. She only said that she heard it when she went to Ji Xu'an's company last time.
Madam Ji pondered for a long while. "Xu'an rarely talks to me about such matters, but I think if she truly had someone she liked, she wouldn't hide it from me."
"Most likely everyone misunderstood."
After Madam Ji finished speaking, she looked at Jiang Jiang's still uneasy expression and immediately understood her meaning.
She comforted her, "Don't be afraid. In Grandma's heart, you are the most suitable person for Xu'an. Even if someone else appears in the future, Grandma will definitely only help you."
Having her thoughts spoken aloud, Jiang Jiang's cheeks flushed red. "Thank you, Grandma."
Looking at the unconcealable joy and shyness in Jiang Jiang's eyes, Madam Ji felt both happy and emotional.
She hoped Jiang Jiang would get her wish, not only for Jiang Jiang's sake, but also so that Ji Xu'an could live more easily and happily.
Jiang Jiang was simple-hearted and deeply devoted to Xu'an. If she were with Xu'an, she would definitely treat her very well.
Ji Xu'an had long been busy with work. In her eyes there was nothing but making money. She paid no attention at all to her own private matters. She needed someone to stay by her side, to fill the emptiness in her life.
Madam Ji was not lying. She truly believed Jiang Jiang was the most suitable candidate.
As the two were talking, the room door was suddenly opened from outside. Jiang Jiang thought Ji Heyuan had returned. When she turned her head, the person who walked in was Ji Xu'an.
"Sister?"
Ji Xu'an heard the surprise in Jiang Jiang's tone. She closed the door behind her. "Who did you think it was?"
Jiang Jiang lifted the teapot and poured her a cup of hot tea, explaining softly, "Little Yuan just went out. I thought she had come back."
One sentence was spoken like coquettishness, carrying unconscious ingratiation.
Ji Xu'an's tightly drawn brows relaxed. "I didn't see her."
She naturally sat down close beside Jiang Jiang, not avoiding it at all. When she reached out to take the teacup, her forearm was almost touching Jiang Jiang's arm.
Madam Ji took in this scene and couldn't help giving Jiang Jiang a meaningful glance. Jiang Jiang's face grew even redder.
Ji Xu'an took a sip of the clear tea. The fragrance that was bitter first and sweet after filled her mouth. A trace of amazement flashed through her eyes, and she praised without stinginess, "Very fragrant."
Jiang Jiang's lips curved. "If Sister likes it, I'll brew it for Sister again next time."
Ji Xu'an put down the teacup and gazed at Jiang Jiang. "I still have two tea cakes there. I'll have someone send them to the apartment another day. You can use them to brew tea."
Jiang Jiang did not understand the reason behind it. Since Ji Xu'an offered them proactively, she naturally would not refuse, and obediently responded, "Thank you, Sister."
Madam Ji clicked her tongue twice and teased with a smile, "Didn't you say you were going to keep them for collection?"
Ji Xu'an's expression did not change. "I spent money to buy them. I should at least taste them."
Jiang Jiang looked at Ji Xu'an in surprise and softly said, "If Sister wants to keep them for collection, then there's no need to waste them."
Ji Xu'an seemed to laugh very lightly. "If you like them, then it's not a waste."
Hearing this, Jiang Jiang's cheeks and earlobes were covered with intoxicating rosy clouds. She used the action of drinking tea to avoid Ji Xu'an's gaze, but she could feel that the other woman's eyes were still lingering on her face.
Jiang Jiang lowered her lashes. Even her peripheral vision was disciplined, not glancing toward Ji Xu'an in the slightest.
Ji Xu'an withdrew her gaze and blinked at Madam Ji.
Madam Ji understood tacitly and said to Jiang Jiang, "Why has little Yuan been gone for so long without coming back? Jiang Jiang, why don't you go take a look?"
Jiang Jiang guessed she had something to say to Ji Xu'an. She stood up. "Alright. Sister, accompany Grandma first. I'll be back soon."
As she turned around, the hem of her skirt inadvertently brushed across Ji Xu'an's arm. Ji Xu'an's fingertips moved slightly. She raised her eyes to look at Jiang Jiang, something faintly flickering within them.
Only after Jiang Jiang completely walked out of her sight did Ji Xu'an sit upright again and look seriously at Madam Ji.
"Grandma, I have something I want to discuss with you."
—
When Jiang Jiang found Ji Heyuan, the other woman was sitting on a bench in a daze.
"Little Yuan." Jiang Jiang walked over.
Ji Heyuan lifted her head to look at Jiang Jiang, her expression actually somewhat blank. "You're here."
Jiang Jiang examined Ji Heyuan's brows and eyes. Her gaze gradually stopped on Ji Heyuan's slightly swollen lips, where there still seemed to be faint teeth marks.
Jiang Jiang stopped in front of Ji Heyuan. "Little Yuan, why aren't you going back? What are you doing sitting here?"
She turned her head left and right, scanning the surroundings, seemingly not finding any suspicious person.
Ji Heyuan seemed entirely numb. "I'm contemplating life here."
"Oh." Jiang Jiang asked her, "Do you need me to contemplate it with you?"
Ji Heyuan wiped her face. "No need. I've already contemplated enough. Let's go back."
She was about to stand up, but Jiang Jiang pressed her shoulder first. "Wait."
"It's a bit stuffy inside. I want to sit outside and get some air. Can you sit with me for a while?"
If it had been before, Ji Heyuan would have waved her hands repeatedly and refused, but at this moment she only shifted slightly to the side, making space for Jiang Jiang.
"Sit."
Something wasn't right.
The teeth marks on Ji Heyuan's lips did not look like they were self-inflicted. Combined with her obviously distracted expression, Jiang Jiang's heart sank. Could it be that Zheng Zhouzhou had come just now?
Anyway, Ji Xu'an and Grandma wouldn't finish their conversation for a while, so Jiang Jiang placed her focus on Ji Heyuan first.
"Little Yuan." Jiang Jiang sighed.
She sat on the bench with her legs together, looking up at the white clouds floating in the sky. The sunlight was somewhat dazzling. Jiang Jiang raised her hand to block it. Her tone was also somewhat light and drifting. "Did someone bully you just now?"
Ji Heyuan reacted strongly, almost falling off the bench. "What are you talking about? Who bullied me?!"
She was clearly extremely guilty, yet still pretended to be nonchalant. "Who would dare bully me?"
Jiang Jiang looked at her quietly. Her gaze was not sharp, yet Ji Heyuan did not dare meet it.
"No one bullied me…" Ji Heyuan argued very softly.
Jiang Jiang's eyes were clear and bright. "Then were your lips bitten by a bug?"
Hearing this, Ji Heyuan hurriedly covered her mouth. "I…I bit them myself."
Even a child wouldn't believe that.
Seeing she really couldn't hide it, Ji Heyuan simply gave up. "It wasn't a bug bite. It was bitten by a dog!"
Her tone was gritted with teeth, anger overflowing in her words.
That idiot Qu Jingran!
Next time they met, she would definitely slap her hard twice!
Jiang Jiang couldn't determine whether the "dog" in her mouth referred to Zheng Zhouzhou.
She hesitated. "Miss Zheng…"
Ji Heyuan's expression froze. The hand wiping her lips also stiffened. After a long while, she unnaturally lowered her arm and said gloomily, "It was just an accident. Don't tell Zhouzhou."
Oh, so it wasn't Zheng Zhouzhou who bit her.
Jiang Jiang instantly let out a sigh of relief, then raised a smile again and comforted her, "It's alright."
"If a dog bit you, then bite back next time."
Ji Heyuan: "Huh??"
Wait a second—regardless of whether that dog was really a dog or not, wasn't Xie Jiang Jiang's sentence way too explosive?!
And if she kissed back again, wouldn't that just benefit Qu Jingran even more??
Ji Heyuan held it in for a long time before saying, "I'm not biting her. I'm going to beat her to death!"
Jiang Jiang sensed something from her tone. "The one who bit you—is it someone you know?"
Ji Heyuan was just about to deny it when a shadow suddenly fell over her head.
"Ji Heyuan."
It sounded like the howl of an evil ghost to Ji Heyuan. Hearing those three words again would give her nightmares!
Jiang Jiang looked toward the newcomer. The other woman was also staring straight at her, a faint trace of scrutiny hidden between her cold and firm brows.
Jiang Jiang's gaze moved downward and only then noticed that the other woman was holding a bag in her hand, which seemed to contain two tubes of ointment.
So she had gone to buy medicine for Ji Heyuan.
Qu Jingran held the plastic bag in one hand, and with the other hand she placed it openly on Ji Heyuan's shoulder, her expression calm and composed.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?"
—
Author's note:
When she thought it was Zheng Zhouzhou who bit her—
Jiang Jiang: No way, absolutely not!
After discovering it was someone else—
Jiang Jiang: Good, good, good. I approve of this marriage!
—
T/N: If you're enjoying this translation, feel free to check out my Patreon. If you're unable to support financially, you can still subscribe for free and receive chapters two hours earlier, along with updates and announcements. Paid tiers offer early access and daily chapters.
Thank you so much for reading!
patreon.com/Baenz