Chapter 44 - Chapter 44 What Is Your Relationship With Her?

Lu Jingyuan had to catch an early flight, so Ruan Xingchen didn't see his car when she went downstairs that morning. Dragging herself to class, she slumped over her desk and said listlessly to Lu Xiaobai beside her, "Xiaobai, no milk today." "My uncle's on a business trip, right?" Lu Xiaobai handed her a warm steamed bun. "It's just for a while. He's not gone forever. Why are you acting like your soul left your body?" "You jerk!" Ruan Xingchen took a huge bite, devouring half the bun in one go. She rolled her eyes and mumbled indistinctly, "You're the one whose soul left your body." "Yeah, yeah, whatever." Lu Xiaobai brushed it off and dropped the subject. Days passed. As the college entrance exam drew near, the atmosphere in the classroom grew heavier. Even Ruan Xingchen tensed up, too busy cramming with everyone else to think about Lu Jingyuan. The college entrance exam was like going to war—either fall in defeat or return in glory. Ruan Xingchen very much wanted to come back alive. Because Lu Jingyuan had promised: if she got into University C, he would take her on a trip. When exam venues were assigned, Ruan Xingchen and Lu Xiaobai ended up in different centers. But the afternoon before the exam, they ate out together, then Lu Xiaobai went back to Wutong Apartments with her, planning to head to their respective venues the next morning. Fang Xinxin was already there when they arrived. Hearing the door open, she glanced toward the entrance. When she saw Lu Xiaobai behind Ruan Xingchen, she frowned unhappily. "Didn't we agree not to bring people over?" Lu Xiaobai glanced at her coldly. "Maybe you should figure out who this apartment belongs to first." Fang Xinxin choked, gritted her teeth, and stormed back to her room. A loud slam shook the whole place. Lu Xiaobai stared in disbelief. She'd never seen a freeloader act this entitled. Ruan Xingchen might let it slide, but she wouldn't. She was about to go confront Fang Xinxin when Ruan Xingchen quickly held her back. "Don't get mad, Xiaobai. Just ignore her." Lu Xiaobai clicked her tongue and said loudly on purpose, "In my opinion, you've got a brain of pork. Letting any random poor relative move in—and look how grateful she is! Daring to throw a fit on your own turf." "Summer break is almost here anyway." "You think she'll just leave?" "If she doesn't, I'll call the cops." Inside her room, Fang Xinxin listened to their unfiltered conversation and seethed, wanting to blow the whole place up. She hated being called poor more than anything! And she hated it even more when people openly said she planned to mooch off them forever. So what if she was planning to stay? Ruan Xingchen got to live in such a nice place—why couldn't she? Damn, damn, damn! Why didn't they just drop dead?! That night, after Lu Xiaobai showered and walked into the bedroom, she found Ruan Xingchen staring blankly at a dress. "What are you zoning out for?" "I was just thinking," Ruan Xingchen sighed, lifting the dress and staring miserably at the back, "when did the zipper break? The pull tab is even gone." She hadn't noticed when she washed it, but when she pulled it out for the exam the next day, she saw the damage. "Who cares? Just get Jiang Heng or my uncle to buy you a new one." Lu Xiaobai shrugged. "Speaking of that cheap cousin of yours—has she been touching your shower gel and stuff too? Knew she was shameless, but not this shameless." Fang Xinxin had been using her things for ages; Ruan Xingchen was used to it. "Let her. I'll replace everything once she's gone." The next morning, Ruan Xingchen and Lu Xiaobai left the apartment at dawn and took the subway to their separate exam halls. The exam lasted two days. By the end of the last subject, Ruan Xingchen felt completely drained. Walking out of the hall, she was about to call Lu Xiaobai when a familiar figure approached. The man wore a tailored suit, striking in looks and bearing, standing out easily in the crowd. He strode over, looked down at her gently, and said, "Finished?" Ruan Xingchen froze. "Why are you here?" "Heard exams end today." Jiang Heng naturally slipped an arm around her and led her toward his car. "Hard work, little scholar. Let's go get a big meal." "But—" Before she could finish, her phone rang. It was Lu Xiaobai. She said briefly that she was also out, and a driver from the Lu mansion had come to pick her up. Since Lu Xiaobai was heading home, Ruan Xingchen gave up on meeting her. Exhausted and starving, she didn't refuse Jiang Heng's invitation. Coming from a prominent family, Jiang Heng had refined tastes. Every place he took her was upscale. After ordering and waiting for food, Jiang Heng asked softly, "Xingchen, where do you plan to apply?" "University C," Ruan Xingchen answered honestly. Jiang Heng paused, then chuckled quietly. "I remember you love the violin. Planning to major in music?" "Thinking about it." Ruan Xingchen pouted. "But I might not even get in." She hadn't studied seriously in years; this was all last-minute cramming. She knew full well that when Lu Jingyuan made her memorize stacks of papers in two months, it wasn't so she'd understand the problems—it was just to luck out with similar or identical questions and scrape up some points. Jiang Heng's eyes flickered. "Don't worry. You'll get in." Ruan Xingchen tilted her head and smiled. "I think so too." Soon, the food arrived. After the meal, Jiang Heng didn't rush to send her back. He took her shopping, bought her piles of snacks, then drove her to Wutong Apartments. As he let her out, his gentle face showed reluctance. "Xingchen, if you're bored during summer break, call me anytime." Ruan Xingchen blinked. "Aren't you afraid Ruan Shuqing will be upset?" Jiang Heng stepped in front of her and ruffled her hair. "We broke up." Broke up? Ruan Xingchen frowned. Ruan Shuqing had just said they'd gotten back together not long ago. Now Jiang Heng said they'd split. Who was telling the truth? Jiang Heng smiled faintly, leaned down, hesitated slightly, then pressed a light kiss to her forehead. "Go on up. Get some rest." Ruan Xingchen covered her forehead and nodded dazedly. Jiang Heng watched her enter the building, then turned to his car. A girl around seventeen or eighteen ran over, looking innocently at him. "Oh—are you Cousin's fiancé?" Jiang Heng had seen all kinds of women. He could tell at a glance she was putting on an act. He almost ignored her, but the word "cousin" made him pause. He smiled politely. "And you are…?" "I'm Ruan Xingchen's cousin." Fang Xinxin blushed at his gentle manner. "My name is Fang Xinxin." "Hello." Jiang Heng kept smiling, but it didn't reach his eyes. Fang Xinxin looked down, a flash of coldness crossing her face before she lifted her head, looking troubled. "I… I didn't want to say anything, but since I ran into you… I can't just let Cousin make a mistake, so…" Jiang Heng smiled patiently and waited for her to continue. "Here's the thing." Fang Xinxin sighed. "A while back, Cousin had a part-time job at someone's place. Later I found out it was a single man… and…" She glanced at Jiang Heng quickly, then gritted her teeth. "And Cousin and that man… they seem pretty close." Sometimes, hints were enough. Jiang Heng's expression didn't change. "I see. Thank you." "Please don't tell Cousin I said this." "Naturally." "Thanks." Fang Xinxin smiled what she thought was a sweet smile. "It's late. I should head up." Jiang Heng frowned slightly. "You live here too?" "For now." Fang Xinxin explained. "I'm staying with Cousin." Jiang Heng nodded slightly and said nothing more. As Fang Xinxin walked into the building, he turned back to his car, got in, and closed the door. His gentle smile vanished instantly. He sat quietly for a moment, then pulled out his phone and made a call. As soon as it connected, Ruan Shuqing's excited voice came through. "Brother Jiang! Are you not mad at me anymore?" Jiang Heng's face was blank. "Do you know someone named Fang Xinxin?" "Fang Xinxin? A girl?" Ruan Shuqing immediately sounded annoyed. "Who does she think she is! Why are you asking about her all of a sudden? What's your relationship with her? Tell me!" Jiang Heng's eyes flickered. "Ran into her by chance. She says she's Ruan Xingchen's cousin and is staying at her apartment." "What?!" Ruan Shuqing exploded. "Does Ruan Xingchen think my dad's a charity? He gave her a place to live, and she's letting random relatives move in! I'm telling Dad! Hmph!" Afraid he might stop her, she hung up before he could speak again. Jiang Heng lowered his phone and curled his lip silently. He started the car and disappeared into the night.