Chapter 23: I Like You

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

This should be the most interesting meal Jiang Shu had eaten recently.  

She found that Ji Lianxing’s friend was very talkative, and that younger brother who was mistaken for an enemy was quite funny too, so the whole meal felt pretty good.  

After the meal, they paid the bill, and everyone got ready to go home.  

“Let’s meet again next week.” Yu Meng waved at Ji Lianxing and Jiang Shu.  

“Bye, Sister Xing!” Yu Bin followed and said goodbye.  

After parting, Jiang Shu and Ji Lianxing strolled on the street.

"I did not drive today. Should we walk home?"  

"Sure, no problem." Even though Ji Lianxing was a little tired, being with Jiang Shu made her automatically ignore the exhaustion.  

They walked slowly along the street, leaving the night market behind and gradually moving away from the noise.  

By the wide road, the streetlights stretched their shadows long. Sometimes the shadows overlapped, sometimes they separated. The cool night breeze blew, carrying away the rich fragrance in their hair, intertwining their scents together.  

Ji Lianxing deliberately slowed her pace and asked the person beside her, "Why were you at the bar entrance tonight?"  

"I was taking a walk, getting some fresh air." Jiang Shu's tone was calm and indifferent, not even blinking as she lied.

Jiang Shu had actually driven. She planned to take Jiang Xiaotan home that night but couldn’t stop worrying about Ji Lianxing, so she turned back. She gave her car to Li Xiangyan and asked him to take Xiaotan home for her, so in reality, she’d been standing at the bar entrance for half an hour.  

"Oh~" Ji Lianxing answered absentmindedly, thinking about this response. She said she was getting some fresh air, which didn’t sound like a problem, but considering everything, it didn’t quite make sense. The bar entrance was so noisy—Jiang Shu probably wouldn’t like it.  

Thinking it over, Ji Lianxing felt there was only one possibility—Jiang Shu was waiting for her.  

But since Jiang Shu wouldn’t admit it, Ji Lianxing had no reason to keep asking. Otherwise, it’d feel too narcissistic.

"By the way, President Jiang." Ji Lianxing took out her phone, opened the chat screen, and transferred 25,000 yuan to Jiang Shu on the spot. "I just got paid today. This is the money you tipped me last time."  

"It’s yours."  

But Ji Lianxing shook her head. "I don’t think so." She looked at Jiang Shu, her eyes firm, but her tone was gentle. "President Jiang, if you want to hear a song, I can sing for you. It’s free."

Hearing Ji Lianxing’s words and seeing her expression, Jiang Shu vaguely understood what she meant. She also realized why Ji Lianxing hadn’t been truly happy when she received the tip that day.  

Jiang Shu noticed that sometimes she seemed to think money could solve everything. Money was just a tool—it could fulfill many wishes.  

But if she completely tied a tool to emotions, it’d be like adding sugar to pickled vegetables, ruining the original taste. Neither would work as they should, and instead, it’d become dull and flavorless.  

"President Jiang, take the transfer." Ji Lianxing was worried, so she repeated it again.

"You’re really stubborn~" Jiang Shu had no choice. She took out her phone and accepted the transfer. She knew that if she didn’t, Ji Lianxing would overthink it.  

"It’s not that I’m stubborn. It’s a matter of principle." After saying this, Ji Lianxing suddenly realized something. She lowered her head and fell silent.  

A matter of principle… It seemed like she no longer had the right to say that in front of Jiang Shu. From the moment she agreed to be her lover, Jiang Shu probably never saw her as someone with principles.  

But in the next second, Jiang Shu’s voice sounded right beside her ear:  

"You’re right. You do have principles. I should accept the money."

Jiang Shu caught the panic in Ji Lianxing’s eyes. Sometimes, looking at things from different angles led to different perspectives. She didn’t mind spending money on a lover, but it seemed like Ji Lianxing did.  

Ji Lianxing gave a bitter smile. "It feels like I don’t really have any principles."  

"I think you do." Jiang Shu smiled and comforted her. She could tell that Ji Lianxing wasn’t like those other girls who only cared about her money.  

Not that there was anything wrong with that—it was just a transactional relationship. But with Ji Lianxing, Jiang Shu often felt something different. She couldn’t quite put it into words, but that feeling was there.  

The two of them continued walking down the street.  

Just then, a raindrop fell onto the back of Jiang Shu’s hand. She looked up at the sky. Thick clouds had quickly spread overhead, as if they were about to wring out a bucket of water at any moment.  

"Looks like it’s going to pour."  

"Let’s take a cab home."

As soon as the words left her mouth, the rain poured down in dense sheets. Pedestrians rushed in panic, and the few taxis on the street were already snatched up. By the time Ji Lianxing and Jiang Shu realized it, they were a step too late.  

"There’s a bus stop across the street. Should we take cover there?" Ji Lianxing’s voice was almost drowned out by the heavy rain.  

Jiang Shu unbuttoned her coat, lifted one side, and draped it over Ji Lianxing’s head.  

Ji Lianxing was still processing what happened. "Huh?"  

Jiang Shu pulled her into her arms and wrapped her tightly. "Let’s go."  

The rain trapped the entire city. It poured so hard that a thin white mist rose from the ground.

Ji Lianxing hid in Jiang Shu’s embrace. The coat separated her from the torrential rain, creating a small, dark space filled with warmth and fragrance.  

Her ear pressed against Jiang Shu’s chest—it was soft, and she could hear the steady rhythm of her heartbeat.  

"Whoosh—"  

A car sped past, splashing up a wave of water.  

Jiang Shu held Ji Lianxing tightly, covering her ear with one hand to shield her from being frightened in the slightest.

Ji Lianxing looked up at her. Half her vision was blocked by the coat, but she could still barely make out half of Jiang Shu’s face. The gloomy sky served only as a backdrop, while a few raindrops clung to Jiang Shu’s delicate cheek, tracing a slow path down her jawline.  

Her heartbeat sped up—Jiang Shu was completely pulling at her heartstrings.

A goddess in the rain.  

A few words popped into Ji Lianxing’s mind.  

Even though crossing the street only took a dozen seconds, Jiang Shu was already completely drenched.  

Ji Lianxing stepped out of her embrace—only the hem of her pants was wet.  

"President Jiang..." Ji Lianxing looked at her, dripping wet from head to toe, and felt a deep ache in her heart. She took out a tissue and gently wiped Jiang Shu’s face. "Why didn’t you cover yourself too?"  

"It’s fine, I am fine."

"You are a little too good to me, President Jiang."  

Ji Lianxing held the tissue, wiping Jiang Shu’s face, then carefully drying her hair. Observing her up close, her face was flawless. Getting too close made Ji Lianxing’s heart race uncontrollably. When she looked into Jiang Shu’s eyes, they did not seem like endless depths. Instead, she saw her own reflection in them.  

"This counts as being good to you?"  

"Yeah." Ji Lianxing didn't stop what she was doing, her voice a little choked.  

Maybe it had just been too long since someone took care of her. She had always looked after herself, cared for herself. Jiang Shu's actions hit her right in the heart.  

"If both of us got wet, it'd be a waste. Better for just one person to get soaked—cost-saving." Jiang Shu took the tissue from her hand and wiped at her clothes.  

Cost-saving? No, that was not it. If necessary, Ji Lianxing felt that she'd rather be the one standing in the rain.  

Just then, the last bus of the night pulled up not far away.  

"Be good, let's take the bus home."

There were only a few scattered passengers on the last bus. The two of them chose seats in the back.  

The heavy rain came and went quickly. Soon, it turned into a drizzle. Dense raindrops fell against the glass, sliding down in thin streams. The world outside the window looked hazy. Streetlights overlapped, their glow diffused by the raindrops, turning into rings of shimmering light reflected on the glass.  

She must be cold, right?  

Ji Lianxing thought to herself. Since Jiang Shu had shielded her from the rain, could she do something for her in return? After hesitating for a moment, she reached out and placed her hand on the back of Jiang Shu’s hand.  

It was cold.  

"Your hands are freezing."  

Ji Lianxing wrapped Jiang Shu’s hand in her palms. "I’ll make you some ginger tea when we get home. Otherwise, you’ll definitely catch a cold."

Jiang Shu's lips curved into a smile. The little hedgehog knew how to care for others now.  

"I probably won't. I'm pretty healthy."  

"This has nothing to do with being healthy, President Jiang."  

"Alright~ I'll listen to you."  

They stayed like this in brief silence.  

Warmth spread through their palms. Jiang Shu felt a comforting warmth in her heart. She thought Ji Lianxing was a good girl. This "goodness" wasn't just about her appearance—it was in the little details of how she treated people. She seemed sincere.  

Even if she was shy, her sincerity still showed. Jiang Shu had lived in a world full of pretense for too long. Meeting someone like this brought her a quiet sense of joy.  

"Little hedgehog, let me ask you something."  

"Mm?"  

"Do you have someone you like?"

Even though the milk tea incident during the day was just a misunderstanding, Jiang Shu still felt it was best to clarify things with Ji Lianxing. She didn’t want her to have someone else while they were lovers.  

"Why are you suddenly asking this?" Ji Lianxing held her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly.  

"I just want to know."  

Saying no would be the safest answer, but that would be a lie. Ji Lianxing wasn’t good at lying.  

"I do."

Jiang Shu's heart clenched for a moment.  

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

So she had someone she liked. As expected, her guess was right. Even though it made her a little uncomfortable, it was actually normal. People had feelings. She and Ji Lianxing hadn’t known each other for long. Jiang Shu knew nothing about who she had met in the past.  

"Mm." Jiang Shu withdrew her hand. "This answer doesn’t surprise me. But even if you do, while you're with me, you can't see him, can't talk to him, can't have any physical contact. In short, just pretend this person doesn't exist."  

Ji Lianxing looked up, staring at Jiang Shu. Listening to her list of "can'ts," she suddenly wanted to laugh—but she didn’t dare to.

Before meeting Jiang Shu, Ji Lianxing never imagined she was someone with such strong possessiveness and control.  

If it were anyone else, she would have only wanted to escape. But this was Jiang Shu—the person she liked. So amidst her helplessness, there was actually a strange, subtle feeling.  

Love was truly bizarre. Being needed in this way—why did it bring an odd sense of comfort?  

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Jiang Shu asked. "And I feel like you're holding back a laugh."  

"I'm not." Ji Lianxing swallowed her amusement and said seriously, "I heard you. I will definitely keep my distance from 'him.'"

Ji Lianxing had clearly agreed, yet Jiang Shu still did not feel that sense of joy.  

She was actually a little curious—what kind of person was Ji Lianxing’s type?  

Curiosity led to impatience, and impatience made her want to ask questions.  

"From your tone just now, it sounds like you haven't confessed yet?"  

"Mm~" Ji Lianxing sneaked a glance at Jiang Shu.  

"Why not confess? If you like someone, just say it."  

Jiang Shu turned to look out the window. She wondered—what was she even saying?  

If the little hedgehog really confessed and the other person accepted, then—  

No, wait. Once their contract expired, Ji Lianxing would be free to be with whoever she wanted. 

So why was she feeling so uncomfortable about it?  

Whatever. She could like whoever she wanted.

"Why does liking someone mean you have to confess?"  

Jiang Shu did not quite understand. "If I like someone, I will just tell her directly."  

"How would you confess?"  

"I would just tell her."  

"I like you." Ji Lianxing pressed her lips together, continuing to observe Jiang Shu's expression.  

Her courage was still lacking, so she added, "Like this?"  

"Mm, maybe, but I think it sounds a little stiff."  

"I like you." Ji Lianxing repeated. "How about this?"  

"Still missing some emotion."

Ji Lianxing took a deep breath and said for the third time, "I like you."  

As soon as she spoke, her heart pounded wildly. She told herself that this might be her only chance. Even though the other person would not understand the true meaning, saying it out loud was still better than keeping it buried forever.  

"I really like you."  

Jiang Shu nodded. "Mm, this way feels pretty good."  

She looked at Ji Lianxing and noticed a faint blush on her face. There was a glimmer in her eyes, as if carrying a hint of anticipation.  

"If the other person sees you blushing like this, then looks into your eyes, I think he will be affected by your emotions."

As if remembering something, Jiang Shu added, "Of course, your tone should be slower. Just now, your voice was shaking."  

Ji Lianxing lowered her head and looked at her hands. Because she had just been twisting her fingers together, her knuckles were slightly red.  

She let out a silent sigh.  

"Mm, got it."

Author's Note:

If this chapter gets more than 200 comments, there will be a double update tomorrow.  

(I’m so bold, I actually dared to ask for 200 comments, damn~.)