Chapter 22: What a fool, Jiang Shushu

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

Jiang Xiaotan felt a little scared when she heard the words "Come here."  

Usually, if Jiang Shu called her by her full name, it meant there was some emotion behind it.  

Jiang Shu was usually good to her, but when she was strict, she was really scary. Under the pressure of authority, Jiang Xiaotan let go of Ji Lianxing's hand and walked toward Jiang Shu.  

"Little hedgehog, get ready and come down to eat later." Jiang Shu's tone was calm, without any special emotion.  

After saying that, she took Jiang Xiaotan away.  

As soon as they stepped out of the room, Jiang Shu let go of Jiang Xiaotan's hand.  

"Shushu..."  

"Call me Auntie."

"Auntie." Jiang Xiaotan sneaked a glance at Jiang Shu and mumbled.  

"From now on, don't say those things to that sister. Did you hear me?" Jiang Shu's tone wasn't harsh. She wouldn't actually be harsh to Jiang Xiaotan, but she was more serious than usual.  

Jiang Xiaotan didn't understand the subtle emotions between adults and was a little confused. "Don't say what? That she's pretty?"  

"No." Jiang Shu felt a bit irritated, but not at Jiang Xiaotan—at herself. "Next time, don't tell that sister that she's prettier than the other sisters." 

"Oh..." Jiang Xiaotan seemed to be thinking. She looked up at Jiang Shu and said again, "But she really is prettier than the other sisters!"  

Jiang Shu felt that it was pointless to explain to a child, so she kept it simple. "Don't mention 'other sisters' again. Be good and listen to Auntie."  

Jiang Xiaotan didn't nod. Her bright eyes looked at Jiang Shu as she continued speaking with a child's logic. "But there really are other sisters."

Her voice was very soft, but it was enough for Jiang Shu to hear.  

Jiang Xiaotan wasn’t wrong. There really were other sisters—more than one, in fact—but that was all in the past. She would never have two lovers at the same time.  

A child’s world was simple. They didn’t hold back on what should or shouldn’t be said and only focused on the facts. Especially a child like Xiaotan, who had been too well protected, and had no idea how to read the room.  

Jiang Shu could only sigh silently. Kids spoke without filter—she couldn’t blame her. Besides, Jiang Xiaotan was telling the truth.  

"Xiaotan, this sister is different," Jiang Shu said from another angle.  

"How is she different?" Jiang Xiaotan was extremely curious.  

Jiang Shu was silent for two seconds, then gave up. What was the point of explaining logic and reasoning to a child?  

"Never mind. Let’s go eat."

Jiang Xiaotan didn’t understand why, but she could feel Jiang Shu’s emotions. It seemed like she was a little unhappy.  

Breakfast was quite hearty. Jiang Shu warmed up some milk for Jiang Xiaotan, made her a steamed egg, and prepared fruit cereal.  

These dishes were enough to fill Jiang Xiaotan up without making her gain weight easily.  

Ji Lianxing soon came downstairs as well. When she saw the three people sitting at the dining table, her gaze first met Li Xiangyan’s.  

"Little Brother Li." Ji Lianxing greeted him first.  

Li Xiangyan smiled and nodded. "Mm, good morning."  

Jiang Shu pulled out the chair beside her. "Come on, let’s eat."  

Her tone was clearly much gentler when speaking to Ji Lianxing. Hearing it, Li Xiangyan got goosebumps all over. He thought to himself—was there a time that Jiang Shu was actually this gentle?  

Breakfast went on as usual. Maybe it was because everyone was pretty easygoing, Ji Lianxing didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.

Jiang Xiaotan and Ji Lianxing were both eating seriously, listening to Li Xiangyan and Jiang Shu chat as they ate.  

Li Xiangyan started talking about work.  

"The time for next week is set. Zhang Mingyue said he’s free on Tuesday at 7 p.m., Oasis Hotel, same place as always."  

"Okay." Jiang Shu picked up her cup and took a sip of coffee. Her ears were listening to Li Xiangyan, but her eyes were on Ji Lianxing.  

Ji Lianxing ate carefully and slowly, chewing patiently, as if she wouldn’t waste a single grain of food. She looked refined, her lips opening and closing as she chewed. Her light pink lips had a soft sheen, making Jiang Shu feel the urge to kiss her.  

Gulp. Jiang Shu swallowed the small sip of coffee in her mouth.

Li Xiangyan continued, "Zhang Mingyue wasn’t satisfied with the company he worked with last year. He cut ties halfway through. This guy is a bit picky. When you talk to him, be more detailed and precise."  

"Mm." Jiang Shu looked away, pulled out a napkin, and handed it to Jiang Xiaotan to wipe her mouth. Then she responded to Li Xiangyan, "I remember Zhang Mingyue well. By the way, is his personal life still as messy as ever?"  

"Probably. His wife doesn’t care about him anyway. As far as I know, he’s always hanging around bars and staying out all night." Li Xiangyan seemed to recall something. "This guy… how should I put it… just keep it to business. No need to get too close personally."  

Jiang Shu nodded in agreement. "Never planned to."  

After finishing her meal, Jiang Xiaotan said she wanted to go to the amusement park today.  

Jiang Shu looked at Ji Lianxing, silently asking for her opinion.  

"President Jiang, I can’t. I have an appointment this afternoon."

"It’s fine, go do your business."  

Ji Lianxing had her own life. Jiang Shu couldn’t interfere too much, she thought.  

So after breakfast, Ji Lianxing packed up her things and left. She really had something to do today.  

Yu Meng was still working overtime on the weekend and was busy during the day. Her younger brother came to visit her, so she asked Ji Lianxing for help, letting her take him around for a bit.  

Ji Lianxing agreed without hesitation. Yu Meng had helped her so much—it was only natural for friends to look out for each other.  

Leaving Jiang Shu’s house, Ji Lianxing first returned to Song Homes 3rd Courtyard to change into a different outfit and put on light makeup. Then, she headed straight to the station.  

She waited for nearly half an hour before Yu Meng’s younger brother finally came out of the station.  

His name was Yu Bin. He had just started university this year and was studying in B City next door. He was a sports major.  

Years of training made him look especially tall and muscular, his body packed with solid muscle. His skin was tanned, giving off the vibe of a sporty, sunny-type guy.  

The moment he saw Ji Lianxing, Yu Bin waved at her from a distance, flashing a bright smile with his white teeth.  

"Sister Xing!"  

That’s what he had always called her, even back when Ji Lianxing was in high school.  

"Tsk, you’ve grown taller."

"A little bit."  

Yu Bin stood at 1.85 meters tall, a whole head taller than Ji Lianxing. His voice had also matured.  

"My sister gets off work at six, right?"  

"Yeah. Want me to take you around?"  

"Ah, I already said there's no need." Yu Bin glanced at Ji Lianxing, thinking she was really enthusiastic. Then he changed his tone, "But I guess it’s fine for us to walk around. I’ve never been to A City before. Sister Xing, you show me around."  

Ji Lianxing patted his bicep and smiled. "How’s it going with your girlfriend lately?"  

Yu Bin squinted his eyes and grinned. "Same as before, haha."  

Yu Bin is a good guy. At least, that’s what Ji Lianxing had always thought. Maybe it was because of his upbringing—he knew how to respect girls. Because of that, Ji Lianxing had always treated him like a younger brother.

The two hadn't seen each other for over half a year, but there was no sense of distance. They chatted about whatever came to mind, talking about the past and their plans for the future.  

Ji Lianxing took him to the city center for a stroll. It was just the usual streets that locals had long grown tired of, but for an outsider visiting for the first time, everything still felt fresh.  

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

Yu Bin spotted a milk tea shop and asked Ji Lianxing if she wanted a drink. Ji Lianxing took one look—it was the same shop she and Jiang Shu had passed by last night but didn’t stop at.  

"Sure. What are you getting? My treat."  

Yu Bin had already pulled out his phone to scan the QR code. "No, no, Sister Xing, let me treat you. I can at least afford a cup of milk tea."  

He ordered a drink for himself, and Ji Lianxing ordered one too. The two sat inside the shop, waiting.  

"Sister Xing, are you used to living here? My sister said you're renting a place with someone now."

"It’s alright, I’m busy with work, so I don’t spend much time at home."  

"Oh, what about your brother’s money issue?"  

Yu Bin knew about it. Ji Siyu had long been infamous. Everyone lived in the same small county, so they more or less knew the situation.  

"It’s paid off." Ji Lianxing lowered her head and said nothing more.  

Yu Bin was a little surprised but suddenly seemed to realize something. He didn’t press further and instead looked toward the counter. "I’ll go check if the milk tea is ready."  

Ji Lianxing’s mind was a mess, and she thought of Jiang Shu again. Just now, Yu Bin’s question had made that feeling of shame resurface.  

People… really are troublesome.

In no time, Yu Bin walked over with two cups of milk tea.  

"Sister Xing, which one do you want? Full sugar or half sugar?"  

"That’s big of a cup… uh, I’ll take the half-sugar one."  

"Alright." Yu Bin handed the milk tea to Ji Lianxing along with the straw, but just as she was about to take it, his hand slipped. Before she could grab it, he had already let go, and with a splat, the hot milk tea fell to the ground.  

The spilled milk tea splashed onto both of their pant legs.  

"Dammit! My hand slipped! Sister Xing, I will wipe it for you!" Yu Bin pulled out a tissue and was about to bend down to wipe Ji Lianxing’s pants.  

"It is fine, it is fine." Ji Lianxing reached out to stop him. Letting Yu Bin wipe her pants would indeed be a bit inappropriate. "Let’s clean up the spilled milk tea first."

So the two squatted down to pick up the milk tea. Yu Bin still felt a little guilty and handed the rest of the tissues to Ji Lianxing. "Sister Xing, wipe it quickly. I said I'd treat you to milk tea, but now your pants are the one drinking it."  

"Alright, alright, you wipe too." Ji Lianxing took a tissue and handed it to Yu Bin so he could wipe his shoes.  

They squatted on the ground, close to each other. Up close, there was no physical contact, but from a distance, it looked somewhat intimate. 

Across the street.  

Jiang Shu was holding Jiang Xiaotan’s hand while waiting for the red light.  

"Shushu, where's the milk tea shop you mentioned? Didn't you say we'd get there in ten seconds? I already counted ten sets of ten seconds!"

"Count another ten." Jiang Shu sounded perfunctory, clearly distracted.  

She kept staring at the milk tea shop across the street, watching Ji Lianxing and that boy wipe their shoes and pant legs. Then, they laughed and chatted as they threw away the spilled milk tea before continuing their stroll.  

Ji Lianxing looked really happy, and so did the boy. He was tall, with above-average looks. If he were a boyfriend, he’d be the kind to give someone a sense of security.  

The red light turned green.  

"Shushu, time to cross the street."  

"Okay."  

Jiang Shu led Jiang Xiaotan across the crosswalk, her mind in complete chaos.

Was she too confident?  

That day when she told Ji Lianxing she wanted to be lovers, she had assumed Ji Lianxing was single, so she hadn't asked too much.  

She had completely forgotten the possibility—what if Ji Lianxing had a boyfriend? Or even if she didn’t, what if she liked someone?  

Recalling Ji Lianxing’s hesitation back then, Jiang Shu started to speculate—had she refused because she was already in a relationship?  

Looking at the boy’s appearance and demeanor, Jiang Shu felt he was definitely straight.  

And once she confirmed that possibility, an unbearable stuffiness settled in her chest. It was a feeling like drinking a whole bottle of vinegar—her entire body felt uncomfortable, sour, and restless.  

Ji Lianxing didn't go shopping with her, but instead spent time with that boy. The bright smile on her face was such a stark contrast.  

Jiang Shu’s possessiveness surged uncontrollably. In her memory, Ji Lianxing had only smiled at her once or twice, and even then, they were just shallow smiles.  

Thinking of this, Jiang Shu felt even more suffocated.

"Shushu, is it this one?" Jiang Xiaotan's voice rang out again.  

"Mm, you can only have something from the yogurt series."  

"Okay~" Jiang Xiaotan looked at the price menu and started ordering. She still couldn’t read, so she relied on pictures and even asked the staff for recommendations.  

While Jiang Xiaotan was ordering, Jiang Shu took out her phone and sent Ji Lianxing a message:  

[What are you doing?]  

Staring at the chat window for a few seconds, Jiang Shu actually used a feature she had never touched before—she tapped on Ji Lianxing's profile.  

The chat displayed: ‘I patted 'Little Hedgehog'.  

She stared at the screen for a while. There was no "typing..." notification from the other side.  

Alright, no reply.

Jiang Shu stuffed her phone into her pocket, then took it out again two seconds later, glancing at the screen. She regretted using the "pat" feature.  

"Shushu, can I have this one?" Jiang Xiaotan pointed at a classic milk drink. It had low sugar content, and all the ingredients in the store were freshly opened.  

"You can." She scanned the code to pay. Jiang Xiaotan stood beside her, eyes glued to her milk tea.  

Meanwhile, Jiang Shu stood silently, her mood growing increasingly restless. She had never felt this way before, and she was deeply troubled by this uncontrollable possessiveness.  

By the time Jiang Shu checked her phone for the fifth time, Ji Lianxing finally replied.  

It was a voice call. Jiang Shu didn’t even think—she answered instantly.  

"Hello, President Jiang?"  

"Mm."  

"I’m out shopping."  

"Oh."  

"Did you need something?"  

"No."

Ji Lianxing paused for a moment. "Oh, so it was nothing. I saw you used the 'pat' feature, so I thought something urgent happened."  

"No, nothing urgent. That pat was probably a mistake." Jiang Shu's tone was completely steady. On the other end of the call, Ji Lianxing couldn't detect anything unusual, so she didn't overthink it.  

"Oh." Ji Lianxing didn't know what to say, but she didn't really want to hang up either. She stayed silent, waiting for Jiang Shu to speak.  

"Who are you shopping with?" Jiang Shu couldn't hold back and asked.  

Ji Lianxing glanced at Yu Bin beside her. It only took half a second for her to reply, "A friend."  

Damn it. That was not the answer Jiang Shu wanted. But Ji Lianxing had perfectly avoided the response she was hoping for. Was it really so hard to just tell her if it was a guy or a girl? If she said it was a guy, Jiang Shu would keep pressing.  

But the word "friend" completely blocked her from asking further. Proud by nature, Jiang Shu wouldn't allow herself to pry anymore. So, she changed the topic. "What are your plans tonight?"  

"Live singing." Ji Lianxing thought, what else could she be doing besides that? It felt like a pointless question, but since it was Jiang Shu asking, even nonsense sounded good.  

"Oh~ Should I pick you up tonight?"  

Ji Lianxing glanced at Yu Bin again, then turned away, putting some distance between them to prevent him from hearing the conversation.  

"No need, President Jiang. After singing, I’m going to have dinner with my friend. I’ll be home around midnight."

Jiang Shu remained silent.  

At this moment, Jiang Xiaotan's milk tea was ready. She inserted the straw, then held it up to Jiang Shu's lips, whispering, "Shushu, you drink first."  

Jiang Shu held her phone in one hand, her face expressionless as she took a sip. As the milk tea slid down her throat, she said to Ji Lianxing, "Alright, have fun. I’m taking Xiaotan to the amusement park."  

Her tone was still indifferent, so much so that Ji Lianxing didn't notice anything unusual.  

"Mm, okay, President Jiang~"  

Jiang Shu quickly hung up, not even bothering with a closing remark.  

Only then did Ji Lianxing feel a slight sense that something was off. Was Jiang Shu angry? But thinking about it carefully, she hadn’t provoked her. There was no reason for her to be upset. She was probably just overthinking it.  

Yu Bin leaned in and asked, "Sister Xing, are you dating?"  

"Huh?" Ji Lianxing shook her head vigorously. "No, no, no."

"I saw you grinning from ear to ear just now~ And what were you saying to him that you wouldn't let me hear?"  

Ji Lianxing put her phone in her pocket and answered with one word: "Secret."  

The whole afternoon went by fast. They didn't really shop for much—just had some street snacks, wandered around the streets twice, and before they knew it, it was already 5:30 PM.  

Yu Meng got off work at 6 PM on weekends. She also worked in the CBD* and had mentioned she could leave ten minutes early today. So, Ji Lianxing and Yu Bin strolled leisurely toward her office.  

*Central Business District 

"Sister Xing, my sister's not bad-looking. Why doesn't she date?"  

"Your sister? She’s got no worldly desires."  

Talking about Yu Meng, Ji Lianxing felt she was the most easygoing person when it came to relationships. That woman always said she only loved money, not humans—so ruthless.  

"No worldly desires? But I remember my sister had a first love."  

"You better not bring up her first love in front of her. She'll definitely get mad."  

Yu Bin suddenly realized, "Ah, no wonder my sister doesn’t date. Turns out her first love was a scumbag~"

Ji Lianxing didn’t respond. When it came to Yu Meng’s first love, maybe only she knew the truth.  

Everyone thought she had dated a guy, but in reality, Yu Meng’s first love was a woman eight years older than her.  

Yu Bin wanted to keep asking, but Ji Lianxing shot down every single one of his questions.  

At 5:55 PM, Yu Meng rushed out of the financial building, carrying her bag in a hurry. The siblings met up, and Ji Lianxing's task was complete.  

"I’ve got to head over there now. My set’s at seven," Ji Lianxing said.  

Yu Meng nodded. "Then I’ll see you at ten. Let’s grab some late-night snacks."  

"No problem~"

****

Weekend gigs had become a routine for Ji Lianxing. She could make around 500 yuan a night, and if she got big tips, she could earn even more.  

Tonight, she wore smoky eye makeup and carried her electric guitar, arriving on time at the center of Pilot Bar’s stage.  

After the tipping incident last time, plus her naturally captivating voice, more people had come to listen to her sing tonight.  

"Good evening, everyone. I’m Bella. Do you still remember me?" Ji Lianxing’s voice was deep and alluring.  

"Yes!!!" Her number one fan, a guy, was already screaming. "Bella, I love you!!!"  

Ji Lianxing didn’t look at him. She lowered her gaze and plucked the first chord on her guitar. She never talked much—she usually just started singing.  

"The first song tonight is called 'Yesterday’s Moon Was Full'.* This is for all of you. Hope you like it."  

*links to Spotify, a song by Amber Kuo in 2021 - a Taiwanese singer

As she sang the first line, she looked up toward the second floor.  

At this time yesterday, Jiang Shu had been sitting right there.  

Honestly, seeing her there last night had made Ji Lianxing really happy. If only that 50,000-yuan tip hadn’t happened. Even without the money, she would have still sung for her.

Yesterday, Jiang Shu was there, so yesterday’s moon was indeed full.  

"Last night, the full moon shone, its light spilling in, drawing admiration. Thoughts linger, words conceal, the moon speaks, inviting gazes to meet."  

Ji Lianxing was fully immersed in the song. Her voice was both romantic and sultry, painting a vivid picture in the minds of those listening.  

The number one fan standing below was completely mesmerized, his eyes filled with so much love that it was almost nauseating to those around him.  

But Ji Lianxing never looked at him, not even once. She just focused on singing. She appreciated the support, but that was all—it was impossible for her to develop any deeper connection with these people.  

As soon as she finished the song, fireworks lit up behind her again—twenty in total—sent by Mr. Zhang from VIP Booth 03.  

Receiving such massive tips two nights in a row, Ji Lianxing was completely stunned.  

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang."

Everyone turned to look at Booth 03 on the second floor. A man wearing sunglasses raised a hand and gave a thumbs-up, shouting across the room, “Nice singing!”  

“Thank you.” Ji Lianxing didn’t know what else to say besides that.  

Zhang Mingyue sent another five fireworks and asked if she could sing one more song for him.  

A customer had a request, so she couldn’t refuse. Besides, the bar’s rule was clear—just one firework was enough to get a song.  

“No problem, Mr. Zhang. What song would you like to hear?”  

“Sing that last one again!” Zhang Mingyue clearly wasn’t interested in her singing but rather in the thrill of spending money to command people.  

“Alright, another round of “Yesterday’s Moon Was Full” for Mr. Zhang.”  

Zhang Mingyue was at ease, enjoying himself.  

It was his first time at Pilot Bar. As for why he came, it was because he’d heard there were lots of young people here. Sure enough, young people were different in every way, especially in looks—way more satisfying than he’d imagined.  

Vice President Wang, who was sitting with him, was also watching with great interest. Both of their eyes were on Ji Lianxing. 

"Vice President Wang, what do you think of this woman?"  

"I think she's good. President Zhang, do you like her?"  

"I do, but I don’t know if she’d be willing."  

"She looks like a college student," Vice President Wang said. His eyes met Zhang Mingyue's, and both of them smiled.

In this world, where there's light, there's darkness; where there's purity, there's filth. Clean things have dirt mixed in, and even kind people can have a glimmer of evil.  

Let alone someone like Zhang Mingyue. He had his eyes on Ji Lianxing and was wondering what price it would take to get her—if she was the kind of person he imagined.  

This wasn’t his first time looking for college students, so he was quite experienced.  

"Xiao Wang, go ask the owner for her contact info later. Get me a card."  

The "card" was actually a business card. He'd done this in other bars before. If an owner wanted a card, some prey would willingly come to them—as long as the money was enough.  

Zhang Mingyue's gaze fell on Ji Lianxing again.

Mist swirled around her as she sat there. Her beautiful and sultry voice wrapped around the microphone, fully exuding her laziness and coldness. Her indifferent eyes had no focus as if she loved no one and didn't want to look at anyone, proud like an untamed white cat.  

"We must get her contact info," Zhang Mingyue said to the Vice President.  

After a whole night of singing, Ji Lianxing was exhausted. She packed up her things in the backstage, ready to leave.  

Even though her earnings had doubled tonight, she didn't feel the joy she had imagined. The more people throwing money at her, the more attention she got. From the simple goal of just making some money, too much attention was actually a bad thing.  

She just wanted to finish the last three months, take the money, and leave. She didn't want anything unexpected to happen midway.  

"Bella, Brother Luo wants you to come over." The manager specifically came to tell Ji Lianxing.  

Brother Luo was the bar manager and the one who paid her. She sang eight times a month, and her salary was settled monthly. It just so happened that today was payday.

"Okay." Ji Lianxing turned and walked toward Brother Luo's lounge. After taking two steps, she felt something was off. Normally, salaries were directly transferred via WeChat, without any face-to-face meetings. She had no idea why he was calling her to the lounge.  

Yu Meng and Yu Bin were already waiting outside the bar. Ji Lianxing stayed cautious and sent a message to Yu Meng, telling her to come find her if she didn’t come out in ten minutes.  

Brother Luo’s lounge was at the very back of the bar. As Ji Lianxing walked down the hallway, the dim lighting surrounded her. The smell of smoke and alcohol filled the air, making her uncomfortable.  

When she entered, Brother Luo and a few men were smoking and chatting about something.  

"Hey, Xiao Ji." Brother Luo waved at her.  

With so many men present, she instinctively stayed at the doorway as a form of self-protection. She didn’t move and simply asked, "Brother Luo, what do you need?"  

"Come in, come in. You guys step out for a bit, I need to talk to her."  

The men got up and left. Only then did Ji Lianxing walk over to Brother Luo.

She didn’t know Brother Luo very well, but she had a rough idea of his personality. He was straightforward and blunt, but whether he was truly that way, she wasn’t sure. After all, some people were quite fake.  

"It’s like this." Brother Luo took a drag of his cigarette and flicked the ash. "Someone just asked me for your contact information. I haven’t given it to them yet."  

So that was the reason. As for who it was, Ji Lianxing already had a guess.  

"Don’t give it, Brother Luo."  

Brother Luo looked up at Ji Lianxing. He had a deep impression of this girl. When she applied for the job half a year ago, she was polite and modest, carrying an artistic vibe that made her seem completely unsuitable for being a bar singer. But when she auditioned, it was like she became a different person, so he hired her. During her time singing here, there had never been any issues, and she had even helped bring in a lot of business for Pilot.  

After a moment, he stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray with a harsh sizzle and pushed a business card toward Ji Lianxing. "The guy asked me if you were a student. I said no. He said he’d offer a hundred thousand a month and wanted you to think about it. I’m just passing the message."

Ji Lianxing saw the name "Zhang Mingyue" on the business card, and suddenly, a conversation from breakfast flashed through her mind. Li Xiangyan and Jiang Shu had mentioned a client—wasn't his name the same?  

"No, no." She shook her head and pushed the card back. "Brother Luo, I just want to sing. I have a partner."  

Brother Luo smiled, a hint of appreciation in his eyes. "That’s good, Xiao Ji. Do what you want to do. Some money is best left untouched."  

"Mm-hmm." Ji Lianxing forced a smile. "Brother Luo, is there anything else?"  

"No, you can go." Brother Luo pulled another cigarette from the pack, lit it, and took a deep drag. As if suddenly remembering something, he called out to her, "Oh, right, I’ll transfer your salary tonight. Your tips have been pretty good lately. Good job!"  

"Thanks, Brother Luo."  

Ji Lianxing turned and left. She didn’t want to stay in the lounge for another second—it was just too suffocating.

When she came out of the bar, Ji Lianxing was covered in the smell of smoke. Yu Meng and Yu Bin were standing at the door eating oden.  

"Eh? You're out? What happened today?" Yu Meng handed her a bamboo skewer.  

Ji Lianxing picked up a kelp roll, took a bite, and said, "The manager called me for a talk."  

"What did he say?"  

Ji Lianxing glanced at Yu Bin, then at Yu Meng. "Someone tipped me tonight and then asked for my contact info."  

Yu Bin immediately interrupted, "No way! Sister Xing, you definitely can't give it. I'm a man, I understand men the most. This guy's got bad intentions."  

"Don't worry, I didn't give it." Ji Lianxing tossed the skewer into the paper bin and changed the topic. "What should we eat tonight?"  

"Same place as usual."  

The three of them crossed the street, heading toward the backstreet, where there was a night market.  

As soon as they crossed the road, Ji Lianxing caught a whiff of a fragrance. The smell was a bit special.

She glanced to the side and saw a familiar figure standing at the street corner.  

Ji Lianxing froze for a moment, locking eyes with her.  

"President Jiang, you—" She almost blurted out, ‘What are you doing here?’

She was wearing a black coat, hands tucked into her pockets. Her figure was tall and upright. Her long hair draped over her shoulders, partially covering her sharply defined jawline.  

When their eyes met, Jiang Shu's gaze was visibly cold, like ice picks piercing straight at Ji Lianxing.  

Ji Lianxing felt chills all over, goosebumps rising on her skin. She actually had the unsettling feeling of being caught doing something wrong.

"You’re not going home?" Ji Lianxing didn’t know why she asked that. It just slipped out without thinking.  

"Mm."  

"Have you eaten?"  

Jiang Shu didn’t say anything, just shook her head.  

Yu Bin looked completely dumbfounded, wondering: Who’s this beauty? And why’s she so cold?

Meanwhile, Yu Meng grinned and said to Jiang Shu, "President Jiang, you haven’t eaten? Why not eat with us?"  

Ji Lianxing snapped back to her senses and chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, President Jiang, join us for dinner!"  

She ran over and tried to pull Jiang Shu along, but she wouldn’t budge at all. Like a statue, she had no intention of moving.

Ji Lianxing: "President Jiang?"  

Jiang Shu glanced at her. "I’m not going."  

"Then where will you go when I leave?"  

"Get some fresh air."  

Ji Lianxing was surprised. "Here? It’s so noisy and messy. You’re getting fresh air here?"  

Jiang Shu stayed silent, her gaze landing on Yu Bin instead of Ji Lianxing.  

Yu Bin felt a hostile glare piercing through him like he was being cut into a thousand pieces. What’s with this woman? Why’s she so fierce?

"You really won’t go?" Ji Lianxing asked again. 

"Not going."  

"That place is amazing! Even better than the takoyaki we had last time." Ji Lianxing tried tempting her again.  

Jiang Shu’s throat moved slightly, but she didn’t say anything.

"Alright, if you’re not saying anything, that means you agree." Ji Lianxing tugged at her coat again, signaling her to move.  

This time, she was no longer a statue—Jiang Shu finally took a step forward.  

Ji Lianxing sneaked a glance at her. Is she a kid? Does she need coaxing?

The four of them walked side by side—Yu Meng and Ji Lianxing in the middle, with Jiang Shu and Yu Bin on either side.  

Seeing that Yu Bin wasn’t standing next to Ji Lianxing, Jiang Shu’s mood inexplicably improved.  

At night, this street became even livelier.  

The crowd surged, making the entire street feel like a bowl of thick, sticky porridge.

The sizzling squid on the iron griddle released a rich, oily aroma. A few men sitting under a makeshift tent were bragging loudly while tossing peanuts into their mouths.  

A street thug walked toward them, spat on the ground with a hawking sound, and kept going.  

This was the real scene of the night market near the bar—noisy, messy, a little filthy, yet mouthwateringly fragrant.  

To Jiang Shu, she seemed almost too clean in this environment. For a moment, she even felt like she did not belong here.  

She looked at Ji Lianxing. The white fluorescent lights cast a bright glow on her face. The smile at the corner of her lips blended into the bustling, smoky night, like a brilliant firework blooming in the dark and chaotic sky.  

Maybe it was the novelty of this night market atmosphere, but Jiang Shu felt every cell in her body come alive. As she gazed at Ji Lianxing’s profile, her heartbeat unexpectedly quickened.  

At this time Ji Lianxing turned her head and her eyes met Jiang Shu's. When their eyes met, there was a crackling sound, as if they were electrocuted.

Ji Lianxing avoided her gaze and asked, "President Jiang, can you eat crayfish?"  

"I can."  

So Yu Meng led them into a late-night food stall that specialized in crayfish.  

"Boss, one order of spicy and one order of five-spice crayfish!" Yu Meng waved at the boss and added, "Extra spicy for the spicy one!"  

"Got it! Extra spicy, coming right up!" The boss heated oil in the pan and started stir-frying.  

After finding a square table and sitting down, Ji Lianxing said, "President Jiang, let me introduce you. This is my best friend Yu Meng, and this is her younger brother Yu Bin, which basically makes him my younger brother too~"  

Hearing "younger brother," Jiang Shu deliberately glanced at Yu Bin, the coldness in her eyes fading slightly.  

She reached out, took the initiative to shake hands with Yu Meng, and smiled, "Hello, I am Jiang Shu."  

"Eh, hello, President Jiang." Yu Meng smiled. "No wonder."  

Jiang Shu was puzzled. "Hm?"  

"No wonder Xiao Ji keeps saying you're pretty."

!!!! Ji Lianxing frantically signaled to Yu Meng with her eyes, but Yu Meng ignored it and continued, "President Jiang, Xiao Ji has praised you several times."  

Jiang Shu raised her eyebrows when she heard this, and the corners of her lips couldn't help but lift. "Really? That's quite unexpected."  

Ji Lianxing froze. Sister Meng, can you not bring this up? It's so embarrassing!  

Jiang Shu lifted her hand, shifted her gaze to Ji Lianxing, and patted her head. "You're pretty too."

Opposite them, Yu Bin seemed to have seen something unbelievable. His gaze darted back and forth between Jiang Shu and Ji Lianxing. Was it the kind of relationship he was thinking of? Could it be that Sister Xing was into girls? Looking at the way Sister Xing stared at Jiang Shu—100% into girls!!!  

The boss quickly served the crayfish—one spicy extra hot, one five-spice flavored. Yu Meng and Yu Bin started peeling the shrimp.  

"President Jiang, what flavor do you like?"  

"What flavor do you like?" Jiang Shu asked back.  

"Spicy."  

"Alright, then I'll eat spicy." Jiang Shu looked at the bright red chili-covered crayfish, feeling a little nervous. She could handle spice, but if it was too spicy, her face would turn red—several times redder than normal.  

Ji Lianxing peeled a crayfish for her and placed it in her bowl. "Eat, President Jiang."

"Okay." Jiang Shu picked up a crayfish. It smelled good. She estimated that if she chewed it twice before swallowing, it should be fine.  

As soon as it entered her mouth, she found that the chili fragrance was strong, and the crayfish meat was quite tender. It was flavorful to chew and did not feel too spicy and was within an acceptable level.  

Ji Lianxing secretly felt a little happy. She found that Jiang Shu looked really cute while eating crayfish. Her chewing was adorable, like someone who did not eat it often but wanted to try it. Then, after trying, she found it delicious. Her expression was slightly rich, but Jiang Shu herself did not seem to notice.  

"President Jiang, eat more~"  

Another peeled crayfish appeared in Jiang Shu's bowl.  

"Okay, you eat too."  

The second crayfish entered her mouth. Jiang Shu chewed a bit faster than last time and swallowed it quickly. The salty and savory taste lingered in her mouth. The next second, she felt a strong burning sensation.

Jiang Shu's expression froze.  

Too! Spicy!  

This chili was toxic—it wasn't spicy at first, but the aftereffect was overwhelming.  

Jiang Shu's face turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye. A deep crimson spread across her cheeks, making it seem like she was about to catch fire.  

Ji Lianxing immediately stopped what she was doing. "Ah! President Jiang, you can't handle spicy food?!!!"  

"I can, but my face gets red when I eat it." Jiang Shu coughed, choked by the lingering heat of the chili.  

Ji Lianxing quickly handed her own tea. "Take a sip! Take a sip! You should've said so earlier!"  

What a fool, Jiang Shushu.

Jiang Shu took the tea and started drinking. She sipped first—no relief. Then another sip—still no good. So, she downed it in one gulp.  

Ji Lianxing poured her another cup, and she drank again. Like this, she drank three cups in a row before the spiciness in her mouth slightly faded.  

The heat was gone, but her face was still bright red. Paired with her furrowed brows, she looked like she was about to catch fire. Ji Lianxing was about to melt from how cute she was, but she kept a straight face, afraid Jiang Shu might feel embarrassed.  

"President Jiang, feeling better?"  

"Mm."  

"Eat the five-spice ones. These aren’t spicy."  

"Alright." Jiang Shu glanced at Ji Lianxing. "Then you peel for me, and I'll peel for you."  

Ji Lianxing laughed. "How’s that any different from peeling for yourself?"  

"It’s different."  

Yu Meng and Yu Bin both frowned at the same time—stabbed right in the heart by this shameless display of affection.

Author’s Note:

[Finally entering V! Let's do a giveaway. In the comments of the next few chapters, I will randomly pick 20 cuties who subscribed, each receiving 200 jinjiang coins. The draw will be held in two days.]