Chapter 47: If You Actually Fall For Her, You're A Complete Idiot

Zhang Mingyue's sports car made a few revving sounds and quickly sped away, leaving Ji Lianxing standing there, completely dumbfounded.

How did he know?

Several young men outside the bar started arguing; they seemed to be drunk.

At this time her phone vibrated. It was a message from Jiang Shu.

[Come across the street, to the convenience store.]

Ji Lianxing looked up, her gaze passing through the shop window. Jiang Shu was sitting inside. So she must have seen Zhang Mingyue just now.

Away from the noisy crowd, Ji Lianxing waded through the noisy crowd and crossed the street. When she reached the zebra crossing and came to the store door, Jiang Shu came out of the store. Ji Lianxing held the umbrella over Jiang Shu.

"President Jiang, let me explain..." Ji Lianxing was a little nervous.

Jiang Shu put one hand in her coat pocket and took the umbrella with the other. Her expression and speech speed were very normal. “No rush. Speak slowly. As long as it is reasonable, I will believe you.”

Ji Lianxing breathed a sigh of relief. A gust of cold air entered her nostrils, making her feel icy cold all over. She had been really frightened just now, but thankfully Jiang Shu had given her a chance to explain.

“One month ago, Zhang Mingyue already started tipping me.” Ji Lianxing looked at Jiang Shu. Because she was anxious, her voice shook a little. “But I didn’t tell you. Because I was afraid you would get angry.”

"Oh~ why do you think I'll be angry?"

Ji Lianxing lowered her head. Her eyes fell on the tip of Jiang Shu’s shoes.

“Because he asked me to be his lover...”

“What did you say then?”

“I said I already have a partner...” Ji Lianxing’s voice became smaller and smaller, but Jiang Shu heard every word.

Jiang Shu looked down at Ji Lianxing, noticed her reddened ear tips, and chuckled, "Oh~ a partner, who?"

"That's not important! That's the reason I rejected him!" Ji Lianxing thought to herself, since her singing is already over and there wouldn't be any more tips, she could be frank. So she continued, "Because he often tips me, it's actually quite a lot of money. At first, I was afraid you'd be angry if you found out, mainly because I was afraid you'd come and start tipping too, and then wouldn't we be the ones losing out..."

Jiang Shu noticed she used the word “we”. It meant in Ji Lianxing’s mind, they were already on the same side. Zhang Mingyue was an outsider.

"Mm, and then?" Jiang Shu raised her brows and smiled. She wanted to know more, to know how Ji Lianxing handled things after encountering such a situation.

“Then I just didn’t tell you. Every week I still sang my songs, and he tipped his money.”

“Did you take the tip money?” Jiang Shu suddenly asked.

Ji Lianxing paused for a moment, then honestly confessed, "I took it. He wanted to give me a tip and asked me to sing. Why wouldn't I take it?"

Jiang Shu laughed and nodded. "Quite clever."

That's true. For someone like Zhang Mingyue who spends money like water, if he wants to spend money, no one can hold his wallet shut.

Ji Lianxing wanted to continue, but Jiang Shu interrupted her: "No need to say anything more, I understand, I believe you."

"Really?” Ji Lianxing was still not sure.

"Ten minutes ago, I actually had some doubts, so I came to ask you why. Now that you've told me, how could I not believe you? Should I believe someone else instead?”

The stone in Ji Lianxing’s heart finally dropped.

Jiang Shu saw her pale face and felt a little pang in her heart. She looked scared. She didn't know what Zhang Mingyue said to her just now. It was likely some teasing words.

"Let's talk in the car, Little Hedgehog." She pulled Ji Lianxing into her arms and walked towards the car. Ji Lianxing nestled in her arms and felt less cold.

The two got into the car, and Ji Lianxing took off her coat, but she didn't take off the scarf around her neck.

"President Jiang."

"Mm?"

"I'm sorry, I should have told you sooner."

“You have your own ideas.” Jiang Shu reached out and took Ji Lianxing’s hand in her palm. The hand was cold to the touch. “I understand you, but remember to protect yourself. Zhang Mingyue is not a good person.”

"I understand." Ji Lianxing squeezed her hand back, and the two intertwined their fingers.

“Good thing you will not sing at the bar anymore. I didn't want you to do it before. I was always a little worried, afraid you would meet bad things.”

Ji Lianxing nodded, "I understand, I won't sing there  anymore."

Jiang Shu breathed a sigh of relief. Things hadn't gone in a bad direction. For a few seconds, she even thought there was something between Zhang Mingyue and Ji Lianxing, but it was only a few seconds.

Adults do not deal with things by guessing. Ten thousand guesses are not as good as one face to face question. Before things are certain, Jiang Shu does not jump to conclusions, and she doesn't want to think badly of Ji Lianxing.

"Alright, don't worry about it. I'm going to introduce you to a friend today." Jiang Shu started the engine, and at the same time, her phone vibrated. In just a few minutes, Lan Yue had sent her nearly ten messages.

"Friend?"

“Yes. My childhood friend. To be exact, the childhood friend of Li Xiangyan and me. Because of work she went away for half a year. Now she is finally back.”

It was almost midnight. Ji Lianxing thought to herself, anyone who could arrange to meet at this time must hold a high position in Jiang Shu's heart.

“Her name is Lan Yue,” Jiang Shu added.

Upon hearing the name Lan Yue, Ji Lianxing felt a mix of emotions.

She actually knew this person; she was the girl who was closest to Jiang Shu during college. They often went to class together, and because they were always together, there were even rumors of a lesbian relationship between them. It turned out that this person was Jiang Shu's childhood friend.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Shu noticed her expression.

Ji Lianxing shook her head, "Nothing."

Because it was late, they met for a late-night snack at a barbecue shop. When they arrived, Li Xiangyan was also there. The woman beside him must be Lan Yue.

So many years have passed, but she is still as alluring as ever. Compared to her university days, she has matured considerably. With her almond-shaped eyes and upturned corners, she exudes a captivating charm. She is above average in appearance and a true beauty.

When Lan Yue saw Jiang Shu, a warm smile spread across her face, and she gave Jiang Shu a big hug as soon as they met.

Jiang Shu hugged her back naturally. But it was only a short hug before they let go.

Jiang Shu turned around, pulled Ji Lianxing to her side, and introduced her: "Xiao Yue, this is Xiao Ji."

"I know." Lan Yue nodded and only looked at Ji Lianxing once. Then she held Jiang Shu’s hand. “Come come, I missed you. Sit here.”

Ji Lianxing was taken aback, she thought there would at least be a greeting and introduction.

Jiang Shu noticed this detail, took Ji Lianxing's hand, and whispered, "It's okay, that's just her personality."

Ji Lianxing nodded and said nothing more.

The four sat down at the table. Li Xiangyan had already ordered the food and handed the menu to the owner five minutes earlier.

The food on the grill made sizzling sounds. Lan Yue suddenly remembered something and shouted to the boss, “Boss, no fish mint on the tofu.”

She turned and said to Jiang Shu, “Because you don't like it~”

Jiang Shu nodded and smiled. “You always remember.”

Lan Yue beamed, "Of course! What don't I remember about you?"

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

It seemed like a normal conversation, something that close friends would do. But something felt off, and Ji Lianxing couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Why did you decide to come back early? Shouldn't it be next month?"

"I missed you." Lan Yue leaned against Jiang Shu and hugged her with a smile. Jiang Shu didn't move away, as if this was their normal way of getting along.

Ji Lianxing lowered her head and pretended to take out her phone to look at it. She hoped that she was overthinking it. Good friends are just good friends.

Li Xiangyan noticed Ji Lianxing's unusual behavior and took the initiative to talk to her:

"Would you like something to drink?"

Ji Lianxing looked up and met Li Xiangyan's gaze. "Anything is fine"

"Cola?"

"Yes, that's fine."

While Jiang Shu talked with Lan Yue, she looked at Ji Lianxing from time to time. When she saw her chatting with Li Xiangyan, she felt relieved.

Soon the owner brought out the grilled barbecue, sprinkled with cilantro and chopped green onions.

"Hey, Little Hedgehog doesn't eat cilantro."

"It's okay, I can eat it."

"I'll take it off for you."

Lan Yue interjected, "She said she's fine, so don't worry about it~ This cilantro is quite delicious."

Perhaps it was a woman's intuition, but Ji Lianxing vaguely felt that Lan Yue harbored a little hostility toward her. However, she had no proof. It isn't good to judge someone at the first meeting.

"It's alright, President Jiang, I can do it myself." Ji Lianxing was never pretentious about these things. She didn’t like cilantro, but she could just take it off herself.

Lan Yue took a skewer of beef and held it to Jiang Shu's mouth. Jiang Shu didn't open her mouth but took it from her hand. "Why are you suddenly being so enthusiastic? You're even feeding me?"

"It's not like I haven't fed you before," Lan Yue said, withdrawing her hand, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, and pulling her chair closer to Jiang Shu. "It's my birthday next week, how about we go out?"

Jiang Shu nodded, "Okay."

"How about we, Xiangyan, and my sister go see the snow?"

Jiang Shu looked at Ji Lianxing and saw her quietly eating skewers silently.

Jiang Shu changed her words. “Mm. I don’t know if I can make time. Maybe I will have work.”

“You agreed just now.” Lan Yue frowned. “When did you ever miss my birthday?”

Li Xiangyan coughed lightly and reminded him, "Our Jiang Shushu is dating now, so she'll definitely need to bring her girlfriend along."

Lan Yue turned her head and said directly, even with the person present. “This isn’t dating, is it?”

Li Xiangyan shrugged. “Pretend I said anything. My mouth talks too much.”

Ji Lianxing sighed in her heart. So troublesome. She didn't like talks with veiled meanings.

She put down her skewer. “You guys chat. I will go to the restroom.” She stood up, wanting some air.

Jiang Shu stood up without thinking, "Let's go together."

Ji Lianxing shook her head decisively, "No need, I'll go myself."

Lan Yue pulled Jiang Shu’s arm, meaning there was no need to follow someone to the restroom.

Ji Lianxing didn't linger at all and decisively headed towards the restroom. She was a reasonable person. Feelings between people connect. It was obvious Lan Yue doesn't like her. Even a fool could see it.

Besides, Lan Yue's gaze just now... was far too obvious.

After Ji Lianxing left, Jiang Shu sat down, somewhat displeased.

"Xiao Yue, what's wrong with you today?"

“What's wrong with me?”

"You're being too hostile towards her."

“Am I not always like this with the girls you bring?”

That was true. In Jiang Shu’s memory, Lan Yue never liked any girl she brought.

“Don’t treat her like that.”

Lan Yue disagreed, "I didn't do anything wrong, why are you being so fussy? She doesn’t eat cilantro, and someone needs to go to the restroom with her. Can’t even say a word?”

Li Xiangyan couldn't stand it anymore and retorted, "I'm saying you're being a bit too aggressive. It's fine if she doesn't eat cilantro, and who accompanied her to the toilet? A ghost, of course."

Lan Yue slammed down her cup, spilling tea all over the table. This time, the atmosphere was truly tensed: "How did you become like this? I came all this way back and you're siding with outsiders and then scolding me, is that it?"

Li Xiangyan's mouth twisted in anger, "This is outrageous! How can you drag me into this and say I've changed? I'm just stating the facts!"

Great, these two are arguing again. They really do argue as soon as they meet; they can't stand not arguing.

“Alright alright. Stop it. Eat quickly. Then go home and find your mothers. You two are really annoying.”

Jiang Shu was also annoyed. Lan Yue was indeed her good friend, but sometimes she had her own stance, so it was wrong to side with either of them. Wouldn't it be better to be peaceful and harmonious? Why did she have to stir up trouble?

"Jiang Shu, get this straight, if you're keeping a lover and actually fall for her, you're a complete idiot."

Li Xiangyan, also an impatient person, retorted immediately: “Lan Yue, you went to the Pacific once and now you manage too much. Mind your own business.”

"Li Xiangyan, what exactly are you—"

"Stop!" Jiang Shu interrupted the two of them, put the skewers in her hand on the plate, and glanced at Lan Yue. She had something to say, but it wasn't appropriate to argue with her on her first day home. "I'm leaving now, you two can continue arguing."

Author’s Note:

Sorry for the wait, I was busy at work today and didn't get home until after 7 pm.