After what happened last night, He Xinyao sent a message to Zheng Zhouzhou. But until the next morning, He Xinyao still had not received a reply from Zheng Zhouzhou.
Of course, He Xinyao would not think that Zheng Zhouzhou was deliberately ignoring her. She thought that maybe Zhouzhou had gone to bed very early.
In fact, even if Zheng Zhouzhou had replied, He Xinyao would not have known what to say. She had messed everything up. Zhouzhou would definitely think she was useless.
But she had never expected something like this to happen either. No matter how much she thought about it, He Xinyao could not understand. She did not know when exactly Xie Xiao had taken the voice recorder. Could it have been when she suddenly grabbed her?
It was possible. After all, the lighting around the bench had been rather dim, and the situation at the time had been extremely tense. Even if Xie Xiao had made some small movement, she might not have noticed it immediately.
He Xinyao touched the bandaged wound on her face, and a trace of lingering fear flashed across her expression.
The doctor had said that if the wound on her face had been any deeper, it might have left a scar.
Thinking of the blood-covered girl Xie Xiao had mentioned, He Xinyao could not help but shiver. She had had nightmares the entire night, and in her dreams, it was all the scene of that person falling from the rooftop.
Rationality told He Xinyao that many people had known about that incident back then. Xie Xiao was very likely deliberately trying to scare her. But Xie Xiao was truly too eerie. He Xinyao could not help thinking about her again and again. Could it be that she had really seen something?
Otherwise, how could it be explained that clearly there had been no one behind her at that time, yet there was a bruise on her calf as if it had been struck?
What on earth had kicked her?
He Xinyao could not help taking out her phone again and sending all her guesses to Zheng Zhouzhou.
[Yaoyao Who Loves Porridge: Zhouzhou, you must be careful. What if Xie Xiao also uses some evil sorcery to deal with you? These filthy methods are really impossible to guard against.]
Zheng Zhouzhou still did not reply.
He Xinyao's face was full of worry. She only hoped that Zheng Zhouzhou would see her message sooner.
But in fact, Zheng Zhouzhou had already seen it.
Irritated, she put down her phone and tapped into her chat with Ji Heyuan. The last message was still the "Okay" she had sent. After that, Ji Heyuan had never replied to her again.
Zheng Zhouzhou knew that Ji Heyuan was angry. At a time like this, she should be coaxing her. But recently there had been too many troubling matters. Zheng Zhouzhou felt uneasy, as if something had already slipped out of control.
It seemed that ever since Liang Junsheng had been exposed, she had been completely suppressed by Xie Xiao. The Ji family path was simply impossible to walk.
Originally, Zheng Zhouzhou had been glad that she had not offended Xie Xiao too thoroughly. Ji Xu'an most likely would not waste energy dealing with her. Even without the Ji family, relying on the memories in her mind, she could still board someone else's ship.
But whether it was that her luck had turned bad recently, or someone was truly targeting her behind the scenes, Zheng Zhouzhou only felt that she had been terribly unlucky.
First there was Chen Tang. In her previous life, Zheng Zhouzhou had seen the news. This time she had deliberately arrived at the hotpot restaurant one step earlier to save her. Originally, Chen Tang had been quite grateful to her and had even promised to introduce her to audition for a well-known director. Zheng Zhouzhou had been looking forward to it. Who would have thought that after they parted that day, there was never any follow-up?
When she went to ask Chen Tang, the other woman's attitude was somewhat strange. She even probed her openly and covertly, seeming to suspect that there was some hidden truth behind the incident.
Zheng Zhouzhou was furious, yet she could not explain how she had suddenly gone to that hotpot restaurant. She could only insist on denying it. In any case, Chen Tang had no evidence proving that the matter was related to her.
But in doing so, Chen Tang's path also seemed to be cut off.
Zheng Zhouzhou could not expose the matter either. She was now just an unknown minor star, while Chen Tang was a highly famous producer in the industry. The other woman's connections far exceeded hers. She could easily blacklist her.
Zheng Zhouzhou simply did not dare offend Chen Tang.
Looking back on everything she had experienced since her rebirth, Zheng Zhouzhou suddenly felt somewhat lost.
At the very beginning, when she had just been reborn, she had been high-spirited, eager to change her life. She had also done very well, capturing Ji Heyuan's heart from the start.
At that time, although Ji Xu'an had not liked her much either, she had not placed her attention on such a small figure as her.
As long as she was patient enough, Ji Heyuan would sooner or later truly fall in love with her. If Ji Heyuan sincerely wanted to be with her, what could Ji Xu'an do even if she disagreed?
Even if Ji Heyuan was just a second young lady with no real authority, she still had Linghai Group behind her. As long as she was willing to lower herself and plead in front of Ji Xu'an for her, would Ji Xu'an really refuse to give her resources?
Her plans had clearly all been good. When exactly had things started going astray?
It had started from the moment Xie Xiao appeared.
In her memory, Xie Xiao had merely been a brainless, silly sweet girl. Yet after several encounters, Zheng Zhouzhou had suffered no small losses at Xie Xiao's hands. Now, looking at the message He Xinyao had sent, that thought she had long cast aside resurfaced again.
Was the current Xie Xiao really still the Xie Xiao from her memory?
—
That morning, it was still Ji Xu'an who drove Jiang Jiang and Ji Heyuan to school.
Jiang Jiang felt that the way Ji Heyuan looked at her was strange. It was not as warm as last night, yet it was not distant either. It was a kind of eerie numbness born of shock.
Could it be that Zheng Zhouzhou had said something to Ji Heyuan?
Jiang Jiang began testing her. "Little Yuan, did you sleep well last night?"
Ji Xu'an was driving. After hearing Jiang Jiang's words, she also glanced at Ji Heyuan through the rearview mirror.
Jiang Jiang had only asked casually, but Ji Heyuan reacted as if someone had exposed her little secret. The whole person bristled. "W-What do you mean? Of course I slept very well last night!"
That meant she had not slept well.
Could it be that after seeing He Xinyao's miserable state last night, she had nightmares?
"I slept super soundly last night. I didn't even have a single dream!" When Ji Heyuan said this, she did not dare look at Ji Xu'an at all, afraid her sister would see through her thoughts.
Heaven knew how much Ji Heyuan was questioning her life at this moment.
She had dreamed the entire night. At first it had been normal, just some chaotic fragments. But later, for some reason, Zheng Zhouzhou suddenly appeared in her dream.
In the dream, Zheng Zhouzhou looked at her with red eyes and questioned her about why she had fallen in love with someone else.
Ji Heyuan had found it very strange. When had she ever fallen in love with someone else? Although she did not like Zheng Zhouzhou as much as before, that was only because Zheng Zhouzhou's actions had disappointed her.
From beginning to end, this was a matter between her and Zheng Zhouzhou. What did it have to do with anyone else?
Ji Heyuan had thought so and asked so. But Zheng Zhouzhou pointed at her and sternly demanded, "Then what is your relationship with the woman behind you? Why are you protecting her like this?"
What woman behind her?
Ji Heyuan turned around in confusion, only to meet a pair of eyes so familiar that she was stunned.
Ji Heyuan's eyes widened in horror.
"Xie—Xie—Xie Jiang Jiang?!"
The Xie Jiang Jiang in the dream gave her a very strange feeling. Although it was still the same face, Ji Heyuan felt that the other woman's expressions and movements were not the Xie Jiang Jiang she was familiar with.
When the person in the dream tugged at her sleeve and called her A Yuan (The prefix "A" is an informal diminutive placed before a Chinese name to express affection, closeness, and familiarity among friends and family.) in an intimate tone, Ji Heyuan became even more certain that this was not Xie Jiang Jiang.
She must have gone mad. When had Xie Jiang Jiang ever spoken to her in such a tone?
But Ji Heyuan still could not understand why she would dream of a girl who looked exactly like Xie Jiang Jiang, and why Zheng Zhouzhou had been so certain that she liked this person.
Even in the dream, Ji Heyuan had tried her best to distance herself from that girl. But she simply could not explain it clearly. In her ears, on one side were Zheng Zhouzhou's angry and sorrowful accusations, and on the other side was the voice of the replica Xie Jiang Jiang calling her A Yuan. Ji Heyuan felt like her head was about to explode.
In the end, she had been jolted awake by that nightmare-like scene. When she suddenly sat up in bed, she had even been muttering "Stop calling, stop calling."
It took her a long time to completely come back to her senses. Even so, Ji Heyuan still did not dare look into Ji Xu'an's or Jiang Jiang's eyes. She was afraid she would reveal a flaw.
If she told anyone about something like this, probably no one would believe it. It was truly too fantastical.
Ji Heyuan had even wanted to make a post on an emotional forum.
What is it like to dream that you and your sister-in-law become a couple?
Ji Heyuan: Thanks for the invite. I'm really scared.
It was precisely because of that bizarre dream last night that Ji Heyuan not only did not dare face Jiang Jiang, she did not even plan to reply to Zheng Zhouzhou's message.
It must be because Zheng Zhouzhou always mentioned Jiang Jiang in front of her, so subconsciously she felt the two of them did not get along. That was why she had such an outrageous dream.
It was definitely not because she had any thoughts about Xie Jiang Jiang!
Ji Heyuan muttered to herself inwardly, but on her face she still had to force a stiff smile. She deliberately changed the topic. "How did you two sleep last night?"
Jiang Jiang immediately fell silent. She secretly glanced at Ji Xu'an. The hands resting on her lap unconsciously shrank and lightly gripped the hem of her clothes.
Ji Xu'an caught this scene from the corner of her eye. The fingertips resting on the steering wheel moved slightly. She pressed her lips together and did not speak.
The latter half of the journey passed in silence. After the car stopped steadily, Ji Heyuan jolted and quickly got out of the car.
"Well, um." Ji Heyuan rubbed her palms together. "Sis, you're not in a rush to go to work anyway. How about you take Xie Jiang Jiang to the classroom?"
She truly did not have the courage to support Jiang Jiang right now. Ji Heyuan needed enough time to forget that dream.
Fortunately, Ji Xu'an did not ask anything. She wrapped an arm around Jiang Jiang's shoulder and almost half-carried her into the classroom.
Jiang Jiang relaxed and leaned against Ji Xu'an. Their hands were tightly clasped together. Their warmth intertwined. Even their heartbeats seemed to vibrate at the same frequency.
Jiang Jiang's classmates had seen Ji Heyuan before, but this was the first time they had seen Ji Xu'an. The mature elite aura around Ji Xu'an made everyone somewhat afraid to speak to her. Yet every gaze lingered on her more or less for a moment.
After sending Jiang Jiang to the classroom, Ji Xu'an did not leave immediately. Instead, she took Jiang Jiang's cup to fill it with water.
When she stood in front of the water dispenser, someone beside her suddenly called her name.
"Xu'an."
Ji Xu'an recognized the voice. She turned and nodded at Wen Xueyun. "Good morning."
Wen Xueyun looked at the familiar thermos cup in her hand, and the smile at the corner of her lips inevitably faded a little. "Sending your girlfriend to class?"
"Mm." Ji Xu'an filled it halfway with hot water, then added some cold water. The temperature was just right.
Wen Xueyun could not imagine that Ji Xu'an would also do such small things for someone. The Ji Xu'an she had known had always been cold and distant. She seemed able to exchange a few words with anyone, yet had no particularly close friends, keeping a certain distance from everyone.
Wen Xueyun believed that if it were not because both Ji Heyuan and Jiang Jiang had enrolled in S University, and she happened to work at S University, Ji Xu'an might not even have thought of her.
At this point, she had more or less given up on Ji Xu'an. But seeing someone obtain what she had longed for, Wen Xueyun still felt a bit of bitterness.
She quietly watched the scene. The Ji Xu'an before her seemed no different from the Ji Xu'an in her memory, still so cool and distant. Yet Wen Xueyun knew that something had changed.
When Ji Xu'an thought of someone, her gaze was far gentler than before.
She sincerely sighed. "Xu'an, although I still feel some regret, seeing that you've found someone you truly like, I'm still happy for you."
Ji Xu'an knew what regret Wen Xueyun meant, but she did not ask further. She was more interested in the latter half of her sentence.
"You think I… like Jiang Jiang very much?" Ji Xu'an hesitated.
Wen Xueyun frowned in confusion. "Hm?"
What kind of question was that?
Could it be that Ji Xu'an actually did not like Jiang Jiang?
Wen Xueyun did not believe it. Ji Xu'an's kindness toward Jiang Jiang was definitely not an act.
"When it comes to feelings, how can an outsider truly know? You should already have the answer in your heart, shouldn't you?" Wen Xueyun had not expected that one day she would help the person she liked and her love rival get closer.
Ji Xu'an's expression was very serious, as if she were sincerely asking for advice. "Do you think the way I like Jiang Jiang is the kind of liking one has for a future partner?"
Wen Xueyun's mood was especially complicated, a feeling of bitterness mixed with a trace of amusement. "If you didn't like her, with your personality, would you do things like this?"
She lifted her chin, signaling Ji Xu'an to look at the thermos cup in her own hand.
Ji Xu'an tightened her fingers around the thermos cup. Her voice was very soft. It was unclear whether she was replying to Wen Xueyun or simply speaking to herself.
"So that's how it is?"
While she was still lost and unable to sort out her thoughts, had others already seen her feelings for Jiang Jiang more clearly than she had?
Wen Xueyun sighed. She asked Ji Xu'an, "Little Yuan is also in class next door. Did you fill water for her?"
Ji Xu'an paused.
Wen Xueyun spread her hands. "See? Little Yuan is still your biological younger sister, yet you aren't this meticulous with her."
Ji Xu'an seemed thoughtful. She nodded slightly to Wen Xueyun and said sincerely, "Thank you. I understand now. Take your time getting water. I'll head back first."
Wen Xueyun paused. "I'll go with you."
She had already finished filling her water just now. Ji Xu'an had not noticed at all.
The two of them walked toward the classroom one after the other. Just as they reached the door, they saw that at some point another person had appeared beside Jiang Jiang.
Because they were sitting in the first row, their conversation could be clearly heard.
The young girl propped her chin up and curiously asked Jiang Jiang, "Who was that person who brought you just now? Is she your sister?"
Jiang Jiang did not notice that Ji Xu'an was standing at the door. She curved her lips into a shy smile.
"No, she is my fiancée."
—
Author's Note:
President Ji: My wife acknowledged my status!
—
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