Chapter 18: That Must Be Because She Likes You

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5310224
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

When the car turned the corner, Ji Lianxing seemed to hear a thunderous shout of "bastard."  

She looked at Jiang Shu, trying to figure out from her expression if she had heard it too.  

Jiang Shu curved her lips into a smile and nodded slightly. "I heard it. Li Xiangyan is only the most manly when he's cursing me."  

"Will he be mad?"  

"He probably will, but he'll forget by tomorrow. Don't worry, his house is very close. It's good for him to go home early and get some sleep."  

Jiang Shu understood Li Xiangyan's temperament well. His emotions came and went quickly, and he never held grudges.

"So this is the surprise you prepared for him?" Ji Lianxing realized that Jiang Shu seemed to genuinely enjoy teasing people, and this trait was evident in her interactions with both her and Li Xiangyan.  

"Kind of." Jiang Shu turned the steering wheel, made a turn, and drove in the direction of home. After some thought, she added, "Or maybe not. To be precise, it's because he stood me up before, so I paid him back."  

"Oh~" Ji Lianxing nodded, half understanding and half confused.  

"Do you think I'm petty?" Jiang Shu glanced at her and asked with a smile.  

Ji Lianxing shook her head. "I think it depends on the situation. I don't know why he stood you up before."  

"Li Xiangyan stood me up because of my brother." When Jiang Shu mentioned her brother, her tone was calm, revealing no particular emotion. But after that one sentence, she said nothing more.

She didn’t seem inclined to elaborate, so Ji Lianxing wisely chose not to press further.  

With the topic coming to an end, the atmosphere in the car turned quiet.  

Ji Lianxing glanced out the window. The trees along the roadside were draped with string lights, stretching one after another, forming a glowing line as brilliant as a starry sky. The starlight flickered frame by frame before her eyes.  

The street in the city center was still bustling. People who had finished shopping carried large and small bags, ready to head home.  

The car passed by a milk tea shop, its name inspired by a particularly famous movie. She had heard Yu Meng mention the other day that this new shop's milk tea was delicious and worth trying if she had the chance.  

"Do you want milk tea?" Jiang Shu asked her.

The car had already passed the shop, and Ji Lianxing was a bit surprised by Jiang Shu’s attentiveness. She wondered if Jiang Shu often observed her. Otherwise, how could she always seem to know what was on her mind?  

"Not today, maybe next time. I’m a bit full. But my friend said the milk tea there is quite good."  

Jiang Shu nodded. "Alright, next time then."  

The car drove a bit further and eventually stopped at a red light. Groups of pedestrians crossed the street, and occasionally, someone would glance at Jiang Shu’s car. It was then that Ji Lianxing realized people seemed to have a natural curiosity about luxury cars.  

So, were they curious about the car itself, the owner inside, or perhaps both?  

She watched the people outside the window looking at the car. It felt familiar, like something she had experienced before. Back then, she was one of the people looking at the car. Now, she was the one sitting inside it.

But the attention brought by such luxury did not give Ji Lianxing any sense of satisfaction; instead, it felt rather hollow.  

"Little Hedgehog, can I ask you a question?"  

"Mm?" Ji Lianxing turned her head, her gaze meeting Jiang Shu’s.  

"Do you like performing as a resident singer at the bar?"  

Hearing this question, Ji Lianxing was momentarily stunned. 

Does she like it?

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5310224
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

What a strange feeling, so unfamiliar and distant. Apart from her mother, it had been a long time since anyone had asked her what she liked.

Since Ji Lianxing became an adult, life had never asked her what she liked. Every major decision in her life was reduced to a simple choice of doing or not doing.  

She didn’t like finance, but she resolutely chose to apply to N University’s finance department for the sake of earning money. She didn’t like big cities, but she stayed in City A to secure higher pay and better opportunities. She didn’t like sharing an apartment with others, because even taking a shower required waiting in line, but to save money, she still rented a three-bedroom unit.  

So, she didn’t like performing as a resident singer either. If she had the choice, she would much rather sing for someone she loved than force a smile in front of a group of flamboyant strangers.  

Ji Lianxing didn’t respond and stared blankly at the rearview mirror.

Her silence had already given Jiang Shu the answer.  

"If you don’t like it, then stop," Jiang Shu said.  

The red light turned green. Jiang Shu pressed the accelerator, and the car slowly moved down the street.  

Ji Lianxing remained silent—not because she didn’t want to answer Jiang Shu’s question, but because she didn’t know how to. It felt as if her throat was blocked by a stopper, and she couldn’t utter a single word.  

"Little Hedgehog, our experiences are different, and so are our financial situations. My advice may not be entirely applicable to you. But—"  

When she reached the word "but," Jiang Shu deliberately glanced at Ji Lianxing.  

It was a thin and delicate profile. Ji Lianxing’s fingers rested against her temple, perfectly shielding her eyes.

It was precisely this motion that made Jiang Shu sense a faint sadness. This melancholy clung to Ji Lianxing’s face, her hair, and her fingers. She seemed to be wrapped in a thick cocoon, motionless and silent.  

Jiang Shu still decided to continue speaking.  

"But, how many years does a person have in their youth? Don’t waste your time on things you don’t like. If there’s a chance to do what you love, seize it decisively. Don’t hold back, especially not because of money."  

Jiang Shu’s words were clear yet gentle.  

Ji Lianxing seemed to understand her meaning but wasn’t entirely sure.  

"President Jiang, thank you. I understand."

"If you truly understand what I mean, then accept my help. I can lend you a hundred thousand. Don’t refuse just yet—this is a loan, so you’ll need to repay it. It’s not charity. Since you don’t like being a resident singer, quit. Use the time spent on it to do what you enjoy."  

So that was what she meant.  

Ji Lianxing felt the stopper in her throat clogging even more, almost choking her. Why? Why was Jiang Shu helping her like this?  

Was it because they were lovers? Did lovers need to be this generous?  

"President Jiang, I don’t need you to support me financially anymore."  

But Jiang Shu shook her head. "You still don’t understand what I mean. Money can be earned—you have great potential. In five or ten years, you’ll be earning a hundred thousand a month. Money can live for a hundred years, but a person only gets to be twenty-four once. I’ve already said it: if there’s a chance, don’t be overly restrained by money. Besides, a hundred thousand is nothing to me."

Jiang Shu's voice was clear and strong, combined with her penetrating gaze, which always felt sharp enough to pierce the soul.  

Ji Lianxing was completely stunned, frozen for a long time, before she finally asked, "Why are you being so kind to me?"  

The car had already reached the entrance of the community, and Jiang Shu parked it by the roadside. She turned on the small orange light inside the car. The light illuminated Ji Lianxing's face, casting a layer of dark orange sheen on her smooth skin. Her deep brown pupils carried a gentle glow, and her eyes were filled with confusion.  

Jiang Shu leaned forward and reached over to unbuckle Ji Lianxing's seatbelt.  

The two were very close, their breaths tangled together, as if about to spark a flame.

"Why? This question is very simple, so I will only answer it once." Jiang Shu leaned in actively, her nose brushing against the tip of Ji Lianxing's ear. "Little hedgehog, remember this: if someone is willing to spend money on you, spend time on you, and think about you, that must be because she likes you."

Author's Note:

Thank you all for your kind messages~ I love you~