ã€ŠForbidden To Be Temptedã€‹


 CH 1

    On a Sunday night, the downtown commercial street was brightly lit, people were coming and going, the outer walls of high-rise buildings flashed bright colors, and there was noise everywhere.

    "NOTTE" is the most eye-catching existence on the whole street. This nightclub has been open for less than three years. It is famous in Jiangcheng for its luxurious decoration and super high patron traffic. It is often visited by celebrities. It is rumored that the owner is a female star with a deep background.

    It was just after eight o''clock at this moment, and the lobby on the first floor gradually became lively.

    A flower and vine swing was hung in the center of the stage. Cheng Suran sat on the swing, holding the rope with one hand and the microphone with the other, singing a melodious tune:

    "White windmill, who do you miss, the fireflies in June are silent and lonely..."*

    *lyrics to Sara Liu''s song, Love Song Of The Wind

    The clear and gentle voice echoed in the hall.

    She was wearing a long white gauze dress, and her black and soft hair was loose and elegant. The silver mask covered the upper half of her face, only her thin lips and thin chin were exposed, and her skin was colorless under the soft light.

    Surrounded by lingering smoke, it was like a fairyland, and everyone who passed the stage couldn''t help but glance at her.

    "Sister Fairy!" someone shouted from below.

    A few young men were stirring around the stage, as if they were about to rush up at any moment.  But the stage was surrounded by more than 20 security guards, and it was not easy to go up.

    Cheng Suran frowned, her eyes hidden under the mask remained calm.

    Two months ago, she successfully applied to be the part-time singer of "NOTTE", and came to sing every Sunday at 8:00 pm, ten songs, earning 300 yuan, not including the commission for flowers sent by guests.

    Unlike other singers, she wears a mask on stage every time.

    The mask added a bit of mystery to her, plus her voice was nice and she sang well, so she accumulated high popularity in less than half a month.

    Gradually got used to this scene.

    "NOTTE" is divided into two floors. The first floor is an open area, where guests can enter as long as they can afford it. The second floor is a VIP area, where only friends of the boss and holders of 300 limited membership cards can enter.  There are special passages and elevators for leaving, and the security is strict. It''s a different world from downstairs.

    Although it is a serious entertainment venue, it is inevitable that some people who come to play have other intentions, so one must be careful.

    After singing the last song, the swing slowly descended. Cheng Suran stood up, bowed lightly amidst the voices of  "Don''t go, fairy sister" and "One more song", turned and walked off the stage.

    Four or five security guards escorted her back to the lounge.

    Manager Yang, who had been waiting beside her, followed behind her, and said with a smile, "Xiao* Cheng, please sing two more songs. Some guests came all the way to visit you." While speaking, he gestured, "Here, additional one hundred for you."

    *Xiao = Little, served as a pet name once attached before the Surname, used by someone older than the subject.

    Cheng Suran grabbed the mineral water on the table, and when she heard this, she gave his arms a heavy blow.

    One hundred yuan.

    The lure of money¡ª¡ª

    She squeezed the bottle tightly, the struggle in her eyes flashed away, she smiled and shook her head and said, "I''m sorry, Manager Yang, I have something to do tonight..."

    She sounds different when talking from when she sings, her voice is less gentle, hoarse, with the tenderness of a girl.

    After drinking water, Cheng Suran took off her mask, revealing a clear and delicate face, like the first snow, her cheeks were slightly flushed under the normal light, and there were shallow pear dimples.

    Manager Yang couldn''t help looking at her for a few more seconds, and nodded with some regret: "Okay, then you should pay attention to safety on the way back, I''ll go to work first." After speaking, he turned and left.

    Cheng Suran was reluctant, but when she thought about what she was going to do tonight, she felt that she could give it up. Maybe, if she gave up the small one, she could get the big one...

    After a short rest, she took out her mobile phone to check the time, but when she turned on the screen, she saw four or five missed calls and a few WeChat messages, all of which were voice messages from her aunt.

    Her heart tightened and her hands trembled.

    "Playing dead? Don''t want to care about your grandma?"

    "Don''t tell me you don''t have any money. Aren''t you working during the summer vacation? What about your scholarship? Take them all out. For you to eat and have something to wear for so many years, and to give you milk and medical expenses..."  The high-pitched voice of the middle-aged woman pierced her ears like needles.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips, the corners of her eyes were slightly red, and after listening to everything, she typed slowly:

    [The phone is muted and I didn''t hear it]

    [Tomorrow]

    This is the fourth reminder this month, and she can''t delay it even if she wanted to.

    She quit WeChat, opened the address book, found a number and dialed it, "Assistant Tian, ??I''m off work..."

    Half an hour later, Cheng Suran got into a black Cadillac.

    The car was lit with warm yellow light, and a woman in her early thirties with a ponytail was sitting in the back row. When she saw the girl coming up, she smiled slightly: "Miss Cheng, I want to confirm with you again, have you really considered it?"

    The overhead light shone softly on the girl''s body. She turned her face sideways, with a few strands of fluffy hair scattered on her forehead and temples.

    Without hesitation, she replied, "I did."

    Assistant Tian didn''t say anything, and turned to let the driver drive.

    The journey was very quiet, Cheng Suran sat upright with her body stretched, her hands resting on her knees, and her thin white fingers were clasped together.  The car windows were covered by curtains, and she couldn''t see outside, just like she couldn''t see her life after tonight.

    The destination is a high-end hotel named Yunjin Lihua.

    On the twenty-seventh floor, the VIP elevator opens. The lobby is empty, with a few landscape oil paintings hanging on the wall, and the lights are like fog.

    Cheng Suran had never been to this kind of place before, so she couldn''t help looking around, and followed Assistant Tian''s steps in a regular manner.

    Assistant Tian pushed open the white gold door, and there was a suite inside. She pointed to the left and diagonally forward, and said, "Miss Cheng, the bathroom is over there. Toiletries and clothes are ready. You take a shower first, and the boss will come for you later."

    "Okay..." Cheng Suran grasped the strap of her backpack tightly.

    "Remember to wash carefully, our boss likes it clean." Assistant Tian smiled, but her voice sounded like an emotionless machine, "Also, the final result depends on whether your performance today can satisfy the boss."

    Cheng Suran''s face burned instantly, her lips turned white, as if she was slapped in the face in public, humiliated and embarrassed.

    But she still responded with a light smile.

    After the person left, Cheng Suran stood alone on the spot, raised her hand to touch her face, it was a little hot.

    At that moment, she had the urge to run away.

    The boss that Assistant Tian mentioned was a female guest on the second floor of "NOTTE". When she was ordered to sing in the box at the beginning of the month, she saw her back once. Under the dim light, she had long hair, was tall, and had extremely long legs. She is said to be single.

    The boss wants her to be her lover.

    She was short of money, thought about it for half a month, and agreed.  Assistant Tian said that the boss is free today.

    Cheng Suran sighed, instead of wasting time here, it is better to think about how to satisfy the future benefactor for a while. She gave up the idea of ??running away, put down her bag, and went to the bathroom.

    There is a large round bathtub in the bathroom, and behind it, is a whole glass wall, from which you can clearly see the tall buildings and scattered lights outside. The bottles and cans on the washstand are all unknown brands, and there are changes of clothes hanging on the wooden shelf next to them.

    A pink nightgown, silk material is very smooth.

    Change into only this?

    Cheng Suran''s face became hot again, she was a little scared, and she couldn''t help guessing whether the boss had some strange hobbies, such as¡ª¡ª

    She closed her eyes and bit her lower lip.

    She didn''t dare to think about it.

    ....

    Cheng Suran took a bath three times, used scrub, bath salts, essential oils, and then applied milk-flavored body lotion, not even sparing her toes.

    She gritted her teeth and put on the clothes on the wooden rack, fastened the belt tightly, for fear that the cover would not be tight enough, then dried her hair, and walked out of the bathroom against the steam.

    The back by the window made her stop.

    A  woman stood in front of the octagonal window, her figure was tall and upright, her long black and slightly curly hair hung straight behind her shoulders, and her legs were long and straight. It was exactly the same as the back she had only seen once.

    Cheng Suran''s heart beat violently, and her fingers involuntarily clenched her nightgown tightly.

    Seemingly aware of the movement, the woman suddenly turned around, and their eyes met for an instant.

    It was a bony and stern face, with plain but sharp features, willow-like eyes long but not slender, single eyelids, the more you look at it, the more special it feels, there is a kind of deceptive power, but also a little inaccessible distance.

    Like a snake.

    She also looks familiar.

    Cheng Suran opened her mouth, but did not make a sound, her dark eyes shone slightly, and she stood there like a stone statue.

    "Cheng Suran?"

    Jiang Yu stared at the girl for a long time and called her name. Her voice is very thin, full of breath, cold for a human being.

    When Cheng Suran came back to her senses, she realized that she was staring at her in a daze, so she quickly looked away and nodded.

    But soon her eyes fell on the other person''s face again.

    Obviously afraid to look at it, but couldn''t help it.

    Jiang Yu put everything in her eyes, smiled, and hooked her fingers at her, "Come here."

    With her smile, the spring water melted the ice and made it much warmer. Cheng Suran relaxed a little and walked over obediently. It wasn''t until she stood in front of Jiang Yu that she realized that this woman was really tall, and she had to raise her eyes to look at her.

    At 1.65 meters, she only reached the other party''s middle of ear.

    The height gap brought a strong sense of oppression, Cheng Suran made half a step back, lowered her gaze, and glanced at the hotel slippers on Jiang Yu''s feet.

    From the bottom to the top, she saw slim black straight-leg trousers, a sleeveless blouse of the same color, with two buttons on the top, and most of the goose white neckline. Further up, she fell into a pair of dark eyes.

    Cheng Suran was startled, pretending to be calm and said: "Hi, boss..."

    It''s just that the aura in front of her is too strong, and her voice can''t help but lower.

    "Shh-"

    Jiang Yu interrupted softly, raised her index finger to her lips, "It''s sister*."

    *Jiejie -  elder sister (not exclusive to blood relatives) used to address females older than you, to show respect and/or closeness (family, friends, and sometimes lovers), Its counterpart is Meimei - younger sister.

    Cheng Suran was stunned.

    Elder sister...

    This title is not only too intimate, but also carries too many bad memories, it is a little hard for her to say. But tonight she must obey, just as she did with the dress..

    Jiang Yu looked down at the girl with a smile at the end of her eyes, as if admiring a fresh toy, "Want to call me Auntie*?"

    *ayi, same principle with the use of jiejie, but only when the age gap is huge enough she can pass as your real aunt, this can come up as rude because it would seem like you are calling them old. So jiejie is a safe choice.

    After all, she took half a step forward, and the two got closer.

    "No..." Cheng Suran shook her head again and again, "Sister."

    An awe-inspiring pressure descended from the top of her head. She raised her eyes, and she never felt that she was so short, like a little chicken, who could be picked up with one hand at any time and squished in the palm of her hand. Thinking about it, she couldn''t help but tense her nerves.

    "Very good."

    "..."

    "Don''t be nervous, kid," Jiang Yu stroked her hair with her hand, showing a gentle smile, "Sister doesn''t eat people."

    Cheng Suran defended in a low voice: "I''m twenty years old."

    "Oh?"

    "I''m too old to be considered a kid, right?" She wanted to say that she wasn''t a child, but she felt that this sounded rude, unlike a qualified and obedient canary*, so she used a more tactful tone.

    *canary- euphemism for pet/sugar baby

    Seeing her cautious appearance, Jiang Yu wanted to tease her even more, loosened her hair with her slender fingers, brushed her face with her fingertips, and said casually: "To me, you are a kid."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips, no longer defending herself.

    Be obedient.

    The girl lowered her eyes, her thick eyelashes fluttering under the soft light, as cute as a lamb.

    Jiang Yu''s heart suddenly felt the joy of being satisfied with her desire to control.  She leaned forward slightly, resting Cheng Suran''s chin on one hand, lifted it up, and looked at it carefully.

    Creamy cheeks, a pair of deer-like eyes that are too clean, very young, like new shoots spit out from the treetops in spring, jerky, pure, and can''t hide the thoughts between the eyebrows and eyes.

    There is a small brown mole on the corner of the lip.

    Jiang Yu gently pressed the mole with her thumb and rubbed it, her eyes fell on the girl''s shoulder.

    The pink suits her white skin very well, and the silk material is gently wrapped, the length is only a little above the knee, and the thin tie in the middle is tightly knotted, as if to cut off a person at the waist.

    "Still studying?"

    "Um."

    "Which school?"

    "Jiangcheng University of Foreign Studies."

    Little Canary lowered her eyebrows and was pleasing to the eye, Jiang Yu was very satisfied, her vision was right, this one looks very appetizing.

    She is like a snake locking its prey.

    Being stared at by her, Cheng Suran trembled and wanted to struggle, but suddenly, her back was held by a force, and got pulled forward and flung her whole body to Jiang Yu.

    Warm breath sprinkled on her ear, and she heard Jiang Yu''s low and soft voice: "Is this your first time?"

 CH 2

    Cheng Suran''s whole body stiffened, her small face and ears were burning hot, she was stunned for a long time before she understood the meaning of this sentence, and replied softly: "Yes."

    She leaned against Jiang Yu''s shoulders, with her hands hanging down, neither hugging nor retreating, her heart thumped to her throat.

    "That''s a bit difficult." Jiang Yu chuckled, as if talking to herself.

    The faint aroma of milk body wash comes out, lingering on the tip of her nose, sweet and pure. She tightened her arms, and the tip of her nose almost touched the hair on her sideburns.

    Cheng Suran was stunned.

    Didn''t she like clean girls? Could it be... She got it wrong?

    When she was distracted, the temperature in her ears gradually spread, and she trembled a bit, only to hear Jiang Yu''s teasing tone: "It''s okay, sister will teach you."

    After finishing speaking, the tie was pulled  in half at some point.

    The smooth silk cloth collapses, and the two straight bones trembled slightly under the lamp. Because of the thinness, the depression was slightly deeper, like a small puddle of soft light.

    Cheng Suran whimpered, and almost reflexively pushed Jiang Yu away, took a big step back, and clasped her hands tightly. That spot that has not had time to appear was covered more tightly.

    She looked at Jiang Yu in horror, her moist black eyes slightly widened, like a frightened deer.

    Jiang Yu also looked at her.

    Surprise, doubt, and a touch of helplessness were mixed in those eyes.

    "I..." The girl moved her lips, wanting to say that she was not ready yet, her actions were faster than her mind, and at that second, she had no time to think.

    There was an eerie silence.

    Jiang Yu stared at her for a long while, as if she understood something, she curled her lips, put one hand into the pocket of her trousers, pointed to the room on the right with the other, and said, "You''ll stay in that bedroom tonight, rest early."

    Then she took her pair of long legs and passed by Suran to the room on the left.

    ¡ª click

    The door closed.

    Cheng Suran froze in place, her mind went blank, and her fingers that were holding on to the nightgown unconsciously loosened a little. After a long time, she turned sideways, looked at the closed door, took two steps forward, and stopped again, momentarily at a loss.

    She turned down the future benefactor...

    If the other party is not satisfied, she will not want her. Things were screwed up by her.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head remorsefully, and bit her lips lightly. What is there for her to be shy about, is that kind of thing more sad than the end of the world? Isn''t it just closing your eyes and then paralyzing...

    But if she were to knock on the door now, it seemed impossible.

    The surrounding area was very quiet, the ceiling reflected gorgeous luster, covering her messy hair, pink and white face, her solitary shadow melted into a ball on the carpet.

    Then the door to the bedroom on the left opened again.

    Cheng Suran raised her head suddenly, and saw the slender figure of the woman coming out of the room, her slightly surprised eyes fell on her, she suddenly regained her courage, and walked over, "Sister¡ª¡ª"

    "Aren''t you going to sleep?" Jiang Yu felt her heart tingle slightly when she heard the voice of her sister with a weak voice, and her tone unconsciously became gentle.

    "Going to bed after 10:30 will cause wrinkles."

    Cheng Suran lowered her eyelids, wanting to say that she can do it tonight, but the words came out of her mouth, but there was only one apology: "I''m sorry just now..."

    She gripped her nightgown so hard that her knuckles turned white.

    Clearly nervous and at a loss, but desperately trying to please herself, Little Canary''s struggling appearance greatly satisfied Jiang Yu''s inner evil taste. She suddenly lowered her head and leaned into the girl''s ear and whispered: "Since you''re sorry, then tell me, how can you make amends?"

    "..."

    "Hmm?"

    Cheng Suran''s heart trembled, and she raised her eyes with difficulty.

    Of course she understood what the benefactor meant, but she overestimated herself. Even though she had thought about it for so long and had already prepared, when this day really came, she still couldn''t accept it immediately.

    The more she wanted to let go of her hand, the tighter she clenched it. Her brain seemed unable to control her hands and feet, and despair filled her heart little by little...

    Suddenly, Jiang Yu laughed, straightened up, withdrew her playful look, and said seriously: "Okay, go to sleep, we''ll talk about it tomorrow."

    "Good night." She raised her hand to stroke the girl''s hair, and went straight to the bathroom.

    Tomorrow?

    Cheng Suran turned her head in a daze.

    Is there still tomorrow?

    That night, Cheng Suran didn''t sleep very well, and woke up early the next day. She lay in bed for a while, then got up to wash.

    The bedroom has its own small toilet, which contains disposable toiletries prepared by the hotel.  She changed her clothes, looked at the avant-garde style, blushed again, and hurriedly wrapped it in a nightgown before going out.

    The living room was bright and sunny.

    There is a treadmill by the window, Jiang Yu is jogging on it, her eyes are closed, her long hair is pulled back, she wears a black sports vest, shorts of the same style, and her two slender legs are running alternately rhythmically.

    Although she is tall, she has a thin figure, excellent proportions, tight and smooth lines, and she looks very light.

    Cheng Suran stared straight at her...

    Nice body.

    She sighed, her cheeks couldn''t help getting hot, a subtle emotion surged up, like the wind, fleeting, and disappeared before it had time to catch it.

    After some time, the person on the treadmill gradually stopped, opened her eyes, and did a few stretches. When she turned around, she saw the girl standing at the door of the bedroom, looking at her with bright eyes.

    "Good morning, kid." Jiang Yu smiled lightly, picked up the towel on the treadmill, wiped her neck, put it down, and walked straight to the girl.

    Cheng Suran came back to her senses in a trance, she was already standing in front of her, lowering her eyes slightly, looking down at her.

    Those eyes looked like a prey.

    She looked at her, inexplicably nervous, "Sister... good morning."

    "Did you sleep well?" Jiang Yu reached out and stroked her hair gently, as if unconsciously, naturally.

    She just woke up, but the girl''s face was still stained with sleepiness, and there was a trace of confusion in her jet-black eyes. If she got closer, she could see that pair of slender and thick eyelashes trembling again and again, as thin as moth wings.

    Cheng Suran was flattered, nodded obediently and said, "Well, it''s very comfortable."

    Jiang Yu''s smile deepened, her fingertips passed through her hair and fell on her cheeks, moved a little bit, and pressed the little brown mole on the corner of her lips, "What do you want for breakfast?"

    "I..." Cheng Suran opened her mouth, before she could finish, Jiang Yu put down her hand, grabbed her wrist instead, and walked towards the table.

    Her palm is slightly hot, she instinctively wanted to pull away, but held back.

    There is a tablet on the table.

    Jiang Yu tapped the screen skillfully a few times, and pushed it in front of the girl, "Choose what you like, and someone will send it to you later."

    Cheng Suran glanced at her, and finally swallowed the "no need" that came to her lips, not wanting to be too coy, she just obeyed what the money owner said.  "...Okay, thank you sister."

    Jiang Yu''s eyes fell on the side of the girl''s face, with a sense of scrutiny. She had seen all kinds of people, and a young and jerky girl like Cheng Suran was almost transparent in front of her, and she could see through it with a few words.

    The kid is very cautious.

    Not very confident, no sense of security, and the family''s environment will not be good. She''s pretty good looking, with good genes.

    A completely different type from her former lovers.

    Easy to control, easy to play with.

    While waiting, Cheng Suran obediently sat on the sofa. Jiang Yu went back to the bedroom for a while, took out a thin document, and sat down opposite her, "Have you ever been in a relationship?"

    The girl''s sitting posture is very obedient, her legs are well placed, well-behaved, a pair of small feet wearing apricot sandals are on the side of the skirt, her ankles are slender,

    Cheng Suran shook her head.

    "Is there anyone you like?"

    "None."

    Jiang Yu bent her lips and handed her the document in her hand.

    Cheng Suran took it in doubt, opened it and looked at it, it was something like an agreement, it listed in black and white the terms that two people need to abide by, especially for her.

    She looked up at Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu also looked at her with a smile, but the smile only lingered on the surface and didn''t penetrate into her eyes.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head again.

    The agreement lasts for three months. During this period, she was forbidden to fall in love with anyone, to have intimate behaviors, to mention or indirectly disclose the information of the benefactor to anyone, and to be too ostentatious outside... one after another.

    At the very bottom, there is a line in bold red: Do not be tempted.

    The scarlet color was like blood, bright and glaring. Cheng Suran looked at those four words in a daze, feeling inexplicable. She raised her head again and looked into Jiang Yu''s cold and charming eyes like snakes.

    How can you be sincere in an unequal relationship?

    She is not stupid.

    "Do you agree with it?" Jiang Yu was playing with a black pen in her hand, her eyes were unfathomable.

    Cheng Suran nodded, "Yes."

    Jiang Yu reached out to her, took back the document, and used the pen to fill in capital letters in the amount column, "You will get 100,000 yuan every month."

    Cheng Suran''s breath hitched, and she bit her lips.

    One hundred thousand is simply an astronomical figure for her. She felt like meat in the market, being picked and valued for sale, being judged by buyers, humiliation and embarrassment were stabbed in her heart like a needle, and she felt sore and numb.

    But three months is 300,000 yuan. At least in the remaining two years of college, she doesn''t have to work part-time everywhere. She can concentrate on studying, prepare for studying abroad in the future, and can repay the student loans for her freshman and sophomore year.

    How nice it is to have money...

    "Sister, is this legally binding?" She pointed to the document.

    "No," Jiang Yu slowly put the cap on the pen, and casually put it aside along with the document, "Just giving the kid a sense of ceremony, as long as you behave well, sister will keep her word."

    Cheng Suran''s heart stabbed, and she lowered her eyes, her self-esteem had already been worn down, "Okay."

    But she was also relieved.

    It''s done.

    At that time, she didn''t know that one day in the future, she would deeply regret the relationship between the two of them...

 CH 3

    The two of them reached a consensus, Cheng Suran added Jiang Yu''s WeChat, and sent the bank account number as required.

    Then the waiter brought breakfast.

    Two slices of whole wheat toast, a small bowl of boiled broccoli, half an avocado, and a small cup of yogurt¡ªthe food Jiang Yu ordered looked bland and pitifully small.

    "These..." Cheng Suran couldn''t help but say, "Are you full?"

    Jiang Yu smiled, but didn''t answer.

    Cheng Suran shut up obediently, and lowered her head to eat her yam porridge.

    She got a little curious.

    Seeing that sister patron looked familiar yesterday, she wondered if they had met somewhere before. She couldn''t remember, and she didn''t dare to ask for her identity. The more restrained she was, the more she wanted to know.

    The guests on the second floor of "NOTTE" all have a certain status, which is a circle that she can''t get in touch with at all.

    Cheng Suran searched for the celebrities she knew in her mind, but she usually doesn''t follow stars or pay attention to entertainment news, she only remembers those famous old actors and actresses.

    Not a star, maybe an athlete? She''s so tall...

    She quietly looked at Jiang Yu.

    Different from traditional aesthetics, her facial features are three-dimensional, and the outline of her face is clear and bony. The more she looks at her, the more mature and elegant she looks. If you look carefully, her eyelids aren''t completely monolid, but have a little inner double eyelid.

    When not smiling, the brows and eyes are indifferent. When smiling, all the vigor and sharpness fade away, just like warm coffee in winter. Attracting people to approach, but always keeping a distance.

    It''s a face that couldn''t easily be forgotten.

    Suddenly Jiang Yu raised her gaze.

    Their eyes met.

    Cheng Suran was shocked, and hurriedly lowered her head, eating porridge to cover up her embarrassment at the moment.

    "Kid¡ª" Jiang Yu called her in a low voice.

    She raised her head subconsciously, "Huh?"

    "Nothing."

    "..."

    A light powder bloomed on the girl''s face.

    Jiang Yu pursed her lips and smiled, with a playful look in her eyes. She loved this little canary a little more. She estimated that the freshness period should be longer this time...

    After breakfast, Jiang Yu went to the bathroom to take a shower, and went back to the room to change clothes.

    Cheng Suran didn''t know whether she should go or stay, so she sat on the sofa and waited for orders. She was immersed in the embarrassment of being caught peeking at the sister patron, and was distracted when the door suddenly opened, and a woman with a ponytail came in.

    "Assistant Tian?" She stood up.

    Tian Lin nodded and smiled professionally, "Good morning, Miss Cheng." She handed over the document she was holding in her hand, "Look at this first."

    An agreement similar to the one just now.

    Cheng Suran pointed to the coffee table, "I''ve seen it."

    "Oh?"

    "Sister...uh, my sister showed it to me." She was a little awkward and used this address in front of an outsider.

    Tian Lin''s face showed surprise, and her eyes suddenly took on some deep meaning.

    She didn''t receive a call this morning, which means that her boss is satisfied with this girl. According to the old rules, she needs to come over with the documents and explain something.

    Now here is an exception, the boss personally explained.

    "Tian Lin¡ª"

    Jiang Yu came out of the bedroom.

    She wore a gray and white snakeskin-printed jumpsuit with a dull leather texture, walking past the window, the fine sunlight swept over her tall, lithe body, lining the snakeskin pattern more and more realistic and cold, like a gray and white floral boa constrictor swimming this way.

    Feeling her legs go weak, Cheng Suran shrank back unconsciously, and sat down on the sofa again.

    She is afraid of snakes.

    Jiang Yu and her assistant exchanged glances, and the latter withdrew wisely. She looked at Cheng Suran, took out a room card from her bag and gave it to her, and said softly, "You can live here and do whatever you want. I''ll contact you on WeChat if anything happens."

    "Okay..." Cheng Suran''s eyes only fell on her face, not daring to look down, "Sister, where are you going?"

    Jiang Yu stretched out her index finger and tapped the girl''s nose lightly, the corners of her lips curved slightly, bent down, red lips slowly approached her ear, and whispered a few words: "Be good, little friend."

    Cheng Suran''s heart palpitated and the tips of her ears felt slightly warmed by the low and soft voice, but she also understood the meaning of her words.

    Don''t ask what you shouldn''t.

    Outside the door, Tian Lin stood quietly by the door and waited. After a while, seeing Jiang Yu striding out, she went up to her and followed her.

    "Sister Yu, you and that girl..."

    "Um?"

    "It''s not like you to leave without strawberries."* Tian Lin jokes.

    *no hickies

    Stepping on high heels, Jiang Yu walked unhurriedly to the elevator, stretched out her hand and pressed it, and said in a calm tone, "The kid is too nervous, give her some time."

    It''s just her style.

    She never force.

    The elevator door opened, and the two entered one after another.

    Tian Lin nodded and asked, "How much will I give this time?"

    "One hundred thousand."

    Jiang Yu took out her mobile phone, sent the long string of numbers to her WeChat account, and then forwarded it to Tian Lin. The latter was stunned for a few seconds, but didn''t ask any more questions.

    In her opinion, even if the girl has outstanding looks and a beautiful singing voice, she is just an ordinary college student and cannot bring any effective resources to the boss. It is not worth the price, such a loss.

    Jiang Yu seemed to know what she was thinking, and smiled casually, "I''m more satisfied than I imagined."

    Oh, money can''t buy a happy boss.

    Tian Lin also smiled.

    ....

    After leaving the hotel, Jiang Yu went back to her apartment and asked the driver to take Tian Lin to the bank. At about half past ten, she drove to the company by herself.

    SIENA MODEL, a modeling agency established in April of this year, has not been half a year old yet, but it has already become a small-scale model company, making its debut in the industry.  It is young and extraordinary because the boss is Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu stepped into the modeling industry at the age of nineteen and went abroad alone. In the past thirteen years, she has traveled to the four major fashion weeks, won many red and blue luxury brand endorsements, and nineteen four major covers, ranking second in the MDC* list, is the only domestic model who skipped "New Supers" and directly entered the "Legend" level.

    *modelsdotcom, new supers and legend are ranking/category used on the site

    There are many models going abroad, Jiang Yu is the most dazzling one.

    Now that the peak of her career has passed, she is ready to step back and cultivate new talents.

    The company is located on an exotic street, not far from the CBD* of Jiangcheng, where every inch of land is expensive. The road in front of the gate is wide, and plain trees are planted along both sides of the street. It is not yet the season of falling leaves.

    *Central Business District

    "Sister Yu, the money has already been transferred to Miss Cheng." Tian Lin arrived before Jiang Yu and waited in the office. After she finished speaking, she handed over the tablet in her hand.

    On the screen is the business flight plan and itinerary to New York.

    "Um."

    Jiang Yu put the bag away, sat down, and slowly swiped the screen with her fingertips, "Why is it a day earlier?"

    "This time, you have a lot of time, so you don''t need to rush so much. Going one day earlier will allow you to fully rest and overcome the jet lag, so as not to affect your fitting status." Tian Lin raised her head and smiled. Although they are in a superior-subordinate relationship, they usually get along better in private. Like friends.

    She has been with Jiang Yu for eight years, and they are almost inseparable except for sleeping and going to the toilet. She is the "leader" of Jiang Yu''s many assistants all over the world, and no one knows Jiang Yu better than her.

    After listening to her, Jiang Yu pondered for a while, then nodded and said, "Okay."

    It''s fashion season again.

    The autumn and winter in the first half of this year was the last time she walked through the entire fashion week, with a total of 42 shows. In the coming spring and summer in the second half of the year, she will only go to New York, and will gradually focus on watching shows in the future, and the rest of the time will either attend brand events or manage companies in China.

    Thinking back to the past, when as soon as she opened her eyes everyday, she was already trying on clothes, styling, shooting, and catwalking. The busiest time was like rushing to the scene, either in the car or on the plane.

    The time suddenly became much empty, and she was a little unaccustomed to it.

    Originally, she planned to go home tonight, and go to the hotel to entertain the kid tomorrow night. Now the schedule has been adjusted, and she has to reconsider whether to go home or go to the hotel tonight.

    A pair of clear and bright black eyes appeared in her mind.

    A shy and flushed face, soft white earlobes, a wicker-like waist, and a small brown mole on the lip...

    At this moment, a choice has been made¡ªthe little canary she just caught is very fresh, and she likes it so much, how could she be willing to leave it behind and go back to that empty and deserted home alone.

    "And one more thing."

    "What?"

    "Arrange another driver to come over." Jiang Yu habitually opened the drawer and took out the lighter, but couldn''t find the cigarette case, and then remembered that she threw it away. because she quit smoking recently.

    She looked at the empty drawer, frowned, and continued: "I want a female driver, with more than five years of driving experience, with a calm personality and an adaptable mind."

    "Okay," Tian Lin immediately got up and rushed over, snatching the lighter between her fingers, "Do you think the driver now is not safe?"

    Jiang Yu watched helplessly as she confiscated it, and couldn''t help showing a helpless smile, shaking her head, "I want to give the little friend a separate car, and pick her up whenever."

    Tian Lin suppressed the doubts in her heart, thought for a while and said, "You have a Jaguar XJ in your garage that has been unused for a long time, and it just fits."

    "No, that''s too dangerous."

    "Ah?"

    "She''s still studying..." Jiang Yu raised her brows slightly, and tapped the table with her slender fingers, repeatedly.

    The university campus is crowded, beautiful girls especially attract attention, at present she is not sure about the kid''s situation in school, although it may not matter, it is necessary to take precautions.

    Her eyes were clear, but her tone slightly rose and fell. "Buy a new car, less than 300,000, a brand that you can often see on the road, use your name, and I''ll give it to you, once I don''t need it."

    Tian Lin suddenly realized.

    For the former lovers, the pick-up and drop-off were all managed by the boss herself. No matter how convenient it was, she never let the assistant run errands. As for the girl yesterday¡­ In short, the cost has increased a lot.

    "Go to the neighborhood near the hotel and rent a two-bedroom apartment. The closer to the hotel, the better. Keep it empty. Then go find out about her situation at school." Jiang Yu''s eyes were dark, in seemingly deep thoughts.

    Tian Lin wrote it all down, and joked with her, "Are you raising a lover or a girlfriend?"

    "Will my girlfriend need me to support her?"

    "You don''t need money to raise one, you have to raise her with your heart."

    Jiang Yu laughed silently.

    She has money, but no heart.

    After explaining everything, Tian Lin went to work. Jiang Yu answered a call that lasted for 20 minutes. After hanging up, her eyes glanced at the software icon on the phone inadvertently.

    She remembered that there were a lot of learning materials in it.

    Suitable for novices like her little friend.

    Jiang Yu stared at the icon, and suddenly had the idea to tease, clicked in, shared the link with Cheng Suran, attached a four-digit code, and then sent a voice:

    "Kid, study hard."

 CH 4

    The living room was empty, and Cheng Suran sat alone on the sofa, lost in thought.

    There is still a light scent of honeysuckle and iris on the tip of her nose, which is the smell of sister sponsor. Along with the scent, there is also the subtext implied in that sentence - be good, kid, and don''t ask what you shouldn''t ask.

    Surviving with the sponsor is the first lesson to learn.

    Questions such as name and identity are not for her to ask, she just needs to be obedient. But maybe because of the familiarity, there was always a little fantasy in her heart, which was seemingly vague.

    Cheng Suran pulled back her thoughts and looked down at her phone.

    Her part-time salary arrived last night, and the bank card balance is 10,500 yuan. She was able to save that much because of three jobs during the summer vacation, plus the remaining scholarship allowance.

    In a few days, school will start and she will be a junior. The registration fee for the professional exam she plans to take will cost more than 2,000 yuan, and she will have to eat and live. So she has been debating for a long time whether to keep part of the money for herself or transfer all of it to her aunt.

    Her Grandma is in the ICU, maybe only a few days. Even if she can make it through, she will still be half buried in the loess.* She gave everything she had to buy some time.

    *not going to recover fully

    What''s more, her relationship with her grandparents is shallow.

    But if she didn''t try her best, it would be a burden to her morals and conscience. Afterall, they were the ones who fed her.

    Cheng Suran''s heart was at war between being good or evil, and she couldn''t make a decision for a while. Her aunt had bombarded her on WeChat, the words full of complaints, pierced into her flesh and blood like a knife, stabbing the nerves in her brain.

    [I know you''re just pretending to be dead and don''t want to care about your grandma, white-eyed wolf*, we shouldn''t have taken care of you in the first place!]

    *cold-hearted person

    [Your sister has just graduated and has no job or income, so she took out the lucky money* she saved. Do you want to take a dime too? Are you even human?]

    *monetary gifts given/received during Chinese New Year, usually in red envelopes.

    [What have I done to stumble upon you and your grandma, you two dragging oil bottles*...]

    *a baggage, usually pertains to kids from previous marriage. in this context, it also applied to the grandma, she''s probably the parent of the aunt''s husband.

    After several lines in a row, it stopped abruptly.

    Cheng Suran sighed, but compromised, she slid her finger on the screen with difficulty, and she transferred 10,000 yuan into WeChat and sent it to her aunt, only keeping 500 yuan for herself as an emergency.

    Seeing the prompt that the transfer was successful, her heart ached uncontrollably, as if a piece of flesh had been gouged out.

    After waiting for a while, her aunt did not reply.

    There are still two last tutoring jobs to be held today, and it''s time to start. Cheng Suran didn''t wait any longer, got up, packed her things, and went out.

    The weather at the end of August is still hot, the sun burns the top of the head, and one will sweat a lot after walking outside for a few minutes.

    Cheng Suran walked towards the bus stop not far away, her water-green sarong lightly wrapped around her white long skirt, floating with the steps, like a fresh and elegant little jasmine.

    When she arrived at the platform, the phone rang.

    She looked up at the large display screen, walked around behind the stop sign, quietly avoided other people waiting for the bus, and then answered, "Hello? Goo..."

    "What''s the matter with you? That little money wasn''t even enough for your milk for two days. You''ve been stalling for a long time, you heartless thing!" Not even giving her the chance to finish talking.

    Cheng Suran''s eyes were red, and her free hand hanging by her side were clenched into a fist. She wanted to argue, and even yelled back, but the words came to her mouth, circled around and swallowed them again.

    She shouldn''t be impulsive.

    She took a deep breath, lowered her voice, and said, "I only have so much. I will give you all the part-time wages during the summer vacation and the scholarship I saved, and the living expenses after the start of school have not yet been settled..."

    After speaking, the aunt was silent for a few seconds.

    "Useless, I told you to find a job early, what high school..." She cursed and hung up the phone.

    Mist filled her eyes, Cheng Suran raised her head and held back the tears.

    The sky was covered by the lush branches and leaves of the trees, and it was cool and shady. The sun fell on her face through the gaps between the green leaves, and the temperature was not so scorching and much softer.

    In any case, her aunt has raised her these years, and it is very difficult for a family that is not well-to-do to add a pair of chopsticks and a bowl for her, so it is okay to be scolded a few times. She''s an adult, she can handle it.

    Cheng Suran persuaded herself for a while, the damp heat in her eyes receded, and her mood gradually calmed down.

    The phone vibrated again.

    A text message from the bank, 100,000 yuan has arrived.

    She thought she had read it wrong, rubbed her eyes, and confirmed that there were five zeros behind it, and then she realized that this was the money that the sponsor gave her...

    With a sudden leap of her heart, life was saved from a desperate situation.

    A series of cold numbers gave her a sense of security that she had never had before, as if she had reliance and a refuge. Behind her, was no longer an abyss.  Every pore of her body was stretched out, without anger or grievance.

    The bus wobbled over, Cheng Suran put away her phone, along with all her heart, and followed the others into the bus.

    Evening came, the sun went down and the sky showed a mix of orange-red and purple-blue.

    After the tutoring session was over, Cheng Suran got her last salary and went back to school. At dusk, the huge campus became empty and quiet. On the long road from the main entrance to the dormitory building, there is only the figure of the cleaning lady.

    She applied to stay in school during the summer vacation, and has been living in the dormitory for the past two months.

    In a room for four people, there is an upper bed and lower table cabinets, air-conditioning, a private bathroom, and a large balcony. Her things are very few, and they are neatly arranged on the table and sink.

    She took two sets of change of clothes, a few books, and some daily necessities, and put them in a large canvas bag, and then put in the clothes that were dried out the day before yesterday, and cleaned them up briefly.

    It was already dark when she finished. She carried her canvas bag and left the dormitory, and took a taxi at the school gate.

    The city was congested in the evening rush hour, and it took more than 40 minutes for the 10-kilometer journey. Cheng Suran regretted it. This was the first time she took a taxi extravagantly since she entered school. She never thought it would be more comfortable than taking the subway.

    After finally arriving at the hotel, she swiped her card to go upstairs, and she pushed open the platinum door¡ª¡ª

    The light was on in the living room, and the woman was sitting lazily on the sofa, with her legs crossed, holding a goblet in her hand, which was filled with a small half of a garnet-red liquid, thick like blood, making her fingers even greener. Slender and white.

    The gray and white snakeskin pattern is matte, like a sinister snake entangled motionless.

    Cheng Suran''s legs went a little weak, and she held the door with her right hand, "Sister¡ª¡ª"

    The thin voice is like a kitten meowing.

    Jiang Yu turned her face away, stared at the girl calmly, didn''t speak, and showed no expression, and took a sip of her wine slowly. It was silent for three to five minutes, ignoring the person there.

    "Where did you go?" She raised her chin and motioned for the girl to come over.

    Cheng Suran walked up to her obediently, and explained clearly: "I went to my tutoring job earlier, the last two classes is today, and then I went back to the school dormitory to pick up some things."

    "Tutor?"

    "Yes, tutoring English for junior high school students."

    There was a hint of surprise in Jiang Yu''s eyes, but she didn''t ask further. She was not interested in the specific situation of Little Canary, so she just nodded to express her satisfaction with the honesty.

    "Have you had dinner yet?"

    "Um."

    "Sit." Jiang Yu patted the seat beside her.

    "..."

    Cheng Suran put down the canvas bag and took half a step forward, a little hesitant, not daring to look down. Suddenly her wrist tightened, and before she could react, she fell onto the sofa and was embraced by the woman''s arms.

    The slightly cool snakeskin pattern clings to her arm, and the touch feels so real, she can''t help trembling, "Don''t come over¡ª"

    "Little friend," Jiang Yu''s eyes dimmed, "Have you forgotten what I said?"

    "I...I''m afraid of snakes...Sister, change your clothes." The girl begged softly, as if she was about to cry.

    Pity arouse.

    Jiang Yu''s expression froze, and she looked down at her skirt, wondering what she was talking about. Suddenly, she let go of her arm and said in an unclear tone, "Go take a bath."

    "¡­¡­okay."

    Cheng Suran didn''t care whether the sponsor was angry or not, she got up and fled back to the room with her bag.

    The bathroom was filled with a strong scent of body wash. She stood under the shower, closed her eyes, and let the warm water flow down her hair, finally relaxing her tense nerves.

    No more rejection tonight.

    Jiang Yu sat in the living room for a while, put down her glass, went back to the bedroom and put on a thin coat, beige, a very gentle color. She buttoned up all the buttons and couldn''t see the lines inside.

    Until the girl came out of the shower.

    She froze.

    "Come here." Jiang Yu smiled and waved.

    Cheng Suran looked at the beige coat on her body, and walked over slowly, "Sister."

    Jiang Yu stretched out her hand and pulled the person to sit next to her. Her arms wrapped around her wicker-like waist. The silk fabric was very thin, and she could feel the smooth lines when it clung a little.

    "If you are afraid of snakes, sister will not wear it in front of you from now on, it''s up to you." She said with a smile, raising her head close to the girl''s face.

    Her cheeks were flushed from the steam, her slender eyelashes perched neatly on her eyelids, and her whole body exuded a sweet milk fragrance, as if she was hugging a ball of fluffy cotton.

    Cheng Suran was so flattered that she couldn''t help opening her eyes wide, her lips moved and she couldn''t speak.

    There is a slight ripple in the heart.

    As long as she can remember, no one has said this to her. She doesn''t know what it feels like to be accommodated and dependent, and she seems to be even more frightened.

    "Sister, I..."

    "Hush."

    Jiang Yu pressed the little mole and interrupted, "Have you received the money?"

    A basin of cold water was poured down from the top.

    Cheng Suran nodded, suddenly felt a weightless feeling in her heart, she didn''t know whether she was floating up in the air or falling down.

    "Tell me, isn''t sister a person who keeps her word?" Jiang Yu turned to rub the little brown mole.

    "Um."

    A gentle kiss landed on her face.

    Like tiny catkins floating in the air, fluffy and light, they gently brushed her face, leaving a palpitating itch.

    Her scent, sister''s scent, were strangely mixed together.

    Cheng Suran''s hands and feet went limp.

    It turns out that being kissed by a woman feels like this, like electricity, full of warmth. Although, it''s just on the face.

    "Sister has a gift for you."

    Jiang Yu leaned forward slightly, and reached out to pick up the box on the coffee table. It was a small rectangle, wrapped in royal blue flannelette that looked like a jewelry.

    She opened it, and there is a thin silver chain inside, with a delicate small silver lock pendant in the middle, and a rhinestone in the keyhole.

    The design is novel and the shape is simple.

    "This is..." Cheng Suran thought it was a necklace, but it wasn''t long enough, and she thought it was a bracelet, but it wasn''t short enough.

    The corners of Jiang Yu''s lips curled up slightly, and she didn''t answer. She grabbed the thin left ankle with one hand, and picked up the silver chain with the other hand. With skillful movements and nimble fingers, she put it on for her.

    It is an anklet.

    Four small characters are engraved on the back of the silver lock: exclusive baby.

    These feet are slender and delicate, they look about a size 36, and the nails are also healthy pink, shining brightly under the lamp, brighter than fine sparkling rhinestones, which seems to have a kind of shyness.

    Jiang Yu held it in her hand and admired it carefully, extremely satisfied.

    She is the little canary under her control.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran struggled a bit, feeling a little uneasy.

    The lock represents handcuffing, just like her current status is just a plaything in the hands of the gold master. The simple words seemed to contain doting, but they were actually humiliating, like a slap in the face.

    But everything is voluntary.

    Jiang Yu let go, raised her head, looked at her tenderly and smiled, "Do you like this gift?"

    She swallowed the words, and said obediently: "I like it."

    There were small dimples on her cheeks, and her delicate face was bright and moving.

    Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes slightly, they fell on that lips, as if she was being grabbed, she leaned closer bit by bit. The intertwined aromas are like a fine mist, imperceptibly seeping into their breath.

    "Well--"

    Lighter than before, like a feather falling on the water.

    Cheng Suran was stiff all over.

    "Little friend..." Jiang Yu quickly let go of her, and put on the tie with a half-smile, pretending to pull it off,

    "Sister''s patience has a limit."

    _______________

    T/N:

    A little note so you won''t be confused.

    * Jiang Yu''s pet name for Cheng Suran aside from little canary, is xiao pengyou, which means child or kid, but is also literary translated to little friend, I decided to use both whenever I see fit, I think I''ll mostly use little friend during sexy time.

    **Cheng Suran''s nickname for Jiang Yu (in her mind) is Jin Zhu jie jie, meaning Gold Master Elder Sister. Gold Master means sponsor, benefactor etc. I''d be translating this as sister sponsor/benefactor or just simply sponsor.

    *** It''s not clearly stated if the Aunt is a real aunt or a step-mother. It''s not clear if the sister, aunt is talking about is Suran''s blood-related sister, or cousin, or step sis. We''ll probably going to find out soon.

    That''s all. Thanks

 CH 5

    The warmth came through the silk material and Cheng Suran trembled, in a panic she grabbed the hand, felt something wrong, and retracted like an electric shock.

    She thought in her heart that she shouldn''t refuse, but in the end, she couldn''t fully accept it.

    But the patron''s patience is limited.

    She was just a little lover who was taken care of and had no freedom. Her elder sister had already treated her very well and accommodated her very much. Yet, she refused again and again, which was a bit reckless.

    "I will work hard." Cheng Suran struggled for a long time and could only choke out this sentence, bit her lower lip after speaking, and looked at Jiang Yu.

    The clear and pure eyes are full of sincerity.

    She really works hard.

    At least tonight is better than last night.

    The girl lowered her head, her messy hair drooped down, and her sharp little chin was like toffee. Maybe if she tastes it, it will be sweet.

    The more Jiang Yu watches, the more she likes her, and her heart was itching, "Oh, how hard?"

    She wanted to tease her.

    But couldn''t bear to tease her.

    The two emotions collided, ice and fire intertwined.

    "I..." Cheng Suran opened her mouth, looked into her eyes as deep as a cold pool, and could not see the bottom, only her own face was reflected in the extremely clear black pupils.

    She lowered her head slightly, leaned close to Jiang Yu''s lips and kissed it carefully, with a little clumsy movement.

    Jiang Yu was so coaxed by her jerky appearance that her heart became hot, and she couldn''t hold back the smile in her eyes, so she could only let the kid go temporarily.

    "Hey, sing a song."

    "What does sister want to hear?"

    "On the 28th of last month, around 8:15, that French song you sang."

    Cheng Suran was startled, thought carefully and said, "Is it ''Winter Garden''?"

    "So it''s called that." Jiang Yu curled up a strand of hair with her fingertips, and brought it to the tip of her nose to sniff lightly. It was the fragrance of iris.

    Few guests will remember what songs the singer has sung, they usually forget them after singing, and the most impressive ones are kept in their minds for a day or two at most. But a month has passed, and this person can still remember the date, accurate to the minute...

    Cheng Suran felt a nervous feeling of being noticed, and a little bit of surprise, which was very light and flashed hastily.

    "Yes."

    The song was originally called "Jardin D''hiver", which translates to Winter Garden. It is a romantic and emotional song, with simple and elegant lyrics. She has long been familiar with it, and she has sung it many times when she is alone.

    She cleared her throat and sang in a low voice: "je voudrais du soleil vert..."

    It was one of those winter afternoons when the clouds were dreary and the rain was silky, and she was walking down the street in her long floral dress, stepping into a garden with faded branches and leaves, imagining it sunny

    It doesn''t have the lazy and magnetic voice of the original singer, but it has the unique freshness and gentleness of a girl, like sweet white wine.

    She wore a warm floral dress that night.

    Jiang Yu looked down at her upstairs.

    The stage is a pool of clear water, and she is a little Jasmine floating on the water, which can be picked by hand.

    "Sister?"

    The girl''s voice was close to her ears, and a plain white hand waved in front of her, "I''m done singing..."

    Jiang Yu put away her thoughts, looked at her with a smile, and her eyes showed admiration, "It sounds good. Have you learned French?"

    "Well, I''m a French major."

    Cheng Suran looked a little embarrassed, bit her lower lip lightly, her cheeks seemed to turn redder, and whispered, "Sister, do you have any favorite songs? As long as I can sing."

    The small pear dimple sank shyly, shallow and sweet.

    "Sister likes whatever you sing." Jiang Yu whispered close to her ear, with her red lips touching that earlobe.

    The arms on the back suddenly tightened, and Cheng Suran tilted her body, and had to prop up the sofa to prevent all her weight from falling on Jiang Yu. How could she stand such teasing, her heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and she didn''t know how to answer for a while.

    "I¡­¡­"

    She was about to speak, but Jiang Yu didn''t seem to care, and asked again: "Did you see the things I sent you?"

    "What?"

    "Study materials."

    Cheng Suran remembered the links and voice messages she received during the day, and the patron asked her to study hard. She clicked in and took a look. It was a list of videos with blank covers, and the titles were sorted by numbers. She didn''t know what was inside.

    It was inconvenient to watch it outside, and there was not enough traffic, so she thought about watching it when she came back at night.

    She told the truth.

    Jiang Yu said lightly: "You are disobedient."

    "I''ll go watch it now." Cheng Suran said and was about to go down.

    "No need," Jiang Yu grabbed her, pushed her aside like throwing away a toy, got up and went back to the room, and left a sentence before closing the door: "Go to sleep."

    "..."

    The patron''s temper is hazy: moody and unpredictable.

    Cheng Suran stayed for a while with her hair down, then stood up silently, and went back to her room with her canvas bag in her arms.

    She had a nightmare that night.

    Cheng Suran was awakened, opened her eyes and found that it was dawn, got up, looked down and saw that her clothes were plain, she was relieved, and couldn''t help but blush when thinking of the dream.

    Sweating and feeling uncomfortable, she went to take a shower again, packed up and went out.

    "Sister?"

    The living room was empty.

    Cheng Suran knocked on the door of Jiang Yu''s bedroom, and quietly opened it. The light inside was very bright, the bedding was spread evenly on the bed, and there was no sign of sleeping - no one was there last night.

    Thinking of Jiang Yu''s expressionless face last night, she belatedly realized that the patron might be angry.

    Cheng Suran''s heart tightened, she picked up her phone and sent Jiang Yu a WeChat message:

    [Sister, I was wrong, sorry.]

    [I will watch the video carefully, thank you sister for giving me valuable resources.]

    [Don''t be angry with me, okay?]

    Staring at the screen, she suddenly felt sad. She was used to such flattering gestures in front of her family since she was a child, so she was so proficient.  When she was young, it was because she didn''t have much choice, but it''s the same when she grew up. When will she gain her own wings and not need to be controlled by others?

    She laughed at herself and continued typing with her head down: I''ll wait for you to come back.

    Jiang Yu had breakfast at home.

    At ten o''clock last night, she asked the driver to pick her up from the hotel, took a bath, and slept comfortably until dawn. After teasing the kid enough, it''s time to bring her mind back to work.

    The phone is placed beside her and the screen turns on and off.

    She set the message not to display details, so she couldn''t see who sent it, but she had an intuition in her heart that it was the kid. Then, as if verifying, she picked up the phone to scan her face, clicked in and looked, and sure enough¡ª¡ª

    The kid apologized and acted like a baby.

    Although there are only text messages, the lines are full of flattery, coupled with the cute emoji, it seems that the bright and charming little face is right in front of her, so tender and pitiful.

    The corners of Jiang Yu''s mouth curled up as she watched, and the smile in her eyes grew stronger.

    Really obedient.

    It made her feel soft.

    But she didn''t reply first, to let the kid have have a longer memory.

    Jiang Yu put down her phone, picked up a blueberry, put it into her mouth, and chewed it carefully. She ate very slowly, eating a few items for half an hour.

    After breakfast, the nanny came to clear the table, she got up and went to the balcony, stood there for a while, overlooking as far as possible.

    This house was bought three years ago. It is located in the center of Jiangcheng City, facing the river. It is forty-two stories high and nearly 600 square meters. She lives here aside from the hotels in China.

    It is said to be her home, but in fact it is just a resting place, and it is the same everywhere.

    Just like last night, it didn''t make any difference whether she slept at home or in a hotel. After so many years, she got used to flying all over the world, living in nowhere.

    "Boss Jiang¡ª"

    The voice of her personal assistant Xiao Zhou came from behind, "Sister Tian Lin is here."

    Jiang Yu withdrew her gaze from a distance, turned around and entered the room, and gave Xiao Zhou a look, who walked away wisely.  She sat on the sofa with her long legs crossed, and raised her eyebrows at Tian Lin who was sitting across from her.

    Holding the tablet, Tian Lin couldn''t hide her joy from the corners of her eyes and brows, "It''s settled, six A-class models from Brazil and Russia will come to sign the contract next Thursday, and I''ve arranged for someone to pick them up at the airport, and we''ll be staying in a hotel near the company for the time being.  "

    "There are also a group of new recruits coming for interviews. The brokerage department has arranged for next Tuesday. I checked and found that you have no travel plans that day, so...do you want to meet them in person?"

    Jiang Yu lowered her halfway, and nodded lazily, "Yeah."

    As expected.

    Tian Lin smiled and continued to report on work. When she was almost done with her business, she put away her tablet and put on another serious face, "Sister Yu, do you still remember Zhang Nan?"

    "..."

    Her ex-ex-ex-little lover.

    Of course she remembers.

    "Why mention her suddenly?" Jiang Yu frowned imperceptibly.

    Tian Lin took out her mobile phone and tapped it a few times before leaning forward and handing it over, "She called me last night and asked if she could borrow some money from you. It seems that her family owes gambling debts and her father passed away..."

    On the screen is the call recording file, press play, and the girl''s choked up voice comes out.

    There was no wave in Jiang Yu''s eyes, like a pool of death frozen into ice. Only halfway through, she uttered a sentence coldly: "Don''t inform me that her family died, even if she died, it has nothing to do with me."

    Zhang Nan was her lover the year before last. She was a graduate student in Jiangcheng at the time. She was charming, could draw and dance, had a lively temper and a sweet mouth.  At that time Jiang Yu liked her very much and spent the most money on her, and it took two and a half months before she started to feel tired.

    When they separated, she was stalked and harassed for a while.

    Expired food.

    "Yeah." Tian Lin took it for granted, took the phone back knowingly, and turned off the recording.

    "Block her."

    "Okay."

    ....

    In the afternoon, the driver came to pick up Jiang Yu and her entourage to the airport. This time, Tian Lin didn''t go with her to New York, but took her to the business terminal. On the other side of the ocean, an assistant in charge of American affairs will pick her up at the airport.

    Along the way, Jiang Yu kept receiving messages from Cheng Suran.

    The first two are texts, and the latter become voice, and one is longer than the other.

    She connected the bluetooth earphones and listened to them one by one. The young girl''s tender voice contained grievances, and her tone was low and weak, like a bug gnawing at her heart, itching densely.

    "I really know I was wrong."

    "Sister, can you take care of me..."

    She likes to listen to her little sister acting like a baby.

    Jiang Yu''s heart was hot, and she couldn''t help but take a deep breath. Afraid that she couldn''t help but reply, she quickly switched to her main account, ignoring what she saw.

    Let it dry for a few days first.

 CH 6

    The messages sent were like a stone sinking into the sea, and there was no reply for several days. Cheng Suran was restless, as if she was carrying a heavy stone in her heart. In desperation, she had no choice but to call Tian Lin.

    "Assistant Tian, ??hello, I''m Cheng Suran, do you know if Sister... is free recently? I want to see her." Cheng Suran asked politely on the phone, as if she was facing the benefactor herself, her voice was three times softer.

    There was a brief silence for two seconds, and she spat out a few words formulaically: "The boss is very busy."

    Cheng Suran thought about it and asked, "When will I see her?"

    "I have no idea."

    "..."

    "Miss Cheng, is there anything else?"

    The assistant has the same temperament as the patron, polite, superficial, and extremely cold.

    Cheng Suran bit her lower lip, a little hesitant. She felt that she couldn''t get anything out of Assistant Tian''s mouth, but she didn''t give up. She called and tried. "Yes. Assistant Tian, ??can you gauge sister''s emotions? Is she unhappy? Did I make her angry?"

    "This is the boss''s privacy. Miss Cheng, let me remind you that you shouldn''t inquire about this." Assistant Tian''s tone was blunt.

    "I''m also very busy here, so I''ll hang up if you have nothing else to say."

    The phone was cut off.

    Cheng Suran stared blankly while holding the phone, and then suddenly realized.

    The relationship between them is sponsorship, and she, a canary, is not qualified to inquire about the mood and whereabouts of the benefactor. What she cared about was not her sister, but the possibility that her sister might get angry, terminate the contract, and lose money¡ªwhat she really cared about was money.

    Even if it ends now, the 100,000 yuan in her hand is enough to support her to finish college. She is not such a greedy person.

    Cheng Suran thought about it.

    The big rock in her heart fell to the ground, and she relaxed like a taut spring.

    In the past few days, Cheng Suran lived in the hotel, food and drink were delivered, the room was cleaned, clothes were washed, everything was taken care of in an orderly manner, and she could calm down and focus on her studies.

    After school started, she had to sign up for the DALF-C1* exam. In addition to reviewing and preparing for the exam, she was still working hard to read the study materials sent by Jiang Yu, actively understand the relevant "knowledge", and even took notes.

    *language proficiency assessment test for French, like TOEFL for English, taken by non-natives for foreign studies and/or employment.

    A door to a new world is slowly opening to her...

    Blink to Sunday again.

    Cheng Suran almost forgot about the benefactor, and the schedule was full.  After a nap, she listened to the French news for a while, and clicked on the video posted by her sister as usual.

    This one is different from the previous dozen or so, with plots and dialogues.  The two hostesses are Korean, with gentle looks and soft voices. They leaned against the balcony railing and chatted with affection in their eyes. Then they cooked, ate, and went out to play together, and their smiles were full of warmth.

    In the end, the characters gazed at each other patiently, gentle breaths and full of emotional tension.

    Cheng Suran stared at the screen intently, and gradually got into it.

    Her heart rate increased steadily with the progress.

    After a long time, after the film was over, she was still immersed in the delicate warmth, still wanting more.

    Something broke out of the bottom of her heart, and in the haze, she only felt a subtle emotion, like ants crawling on the palm of her hand. Suddenly, she thought of the benefactor and thought of those two light kisses...

    Tonight''s "NOTTE" was more lively than usual, guests in twos and threes gathered around a table, the lights were dim, men and women were happy and crazy, and there was an air of luxury and wealth everywhere.

    Cheng Suran sat on the stage swing and sang, still wearing a white skirt, but the length was only up to the knees, and a pair of slender legs were shining brightly, dyed as white as paper by the light, giving her a feeling of sickness.

    Guests kept sending her flowers and cheering for her, and an old man shouted at her drunkenly: "Sister, marry me!"

    She glanced upstairs inadvertently.

    The mirror surface of the corridor reflected the streamer, and there was only the same scene inside.

    The first floor cannot see the specific situation of the second floor, but there is a place on the second floor where you can see the whole picture of the first floor. This is something she didn''t know until she was ordered to go to the box at the beginning of last month. The mirror design is not just a decoration.

    Could it be that the benefactor is watching her from a corner on the second floor right now?

    Like that night.

    She suddenly became tense, and her heartbeat became heavy and hard.

    "I have no choice but to completely trust your touch, you..."

    At that moment, Cheng Suran almost forgot the lyrics. Fortunately, she''s been singing for a long time, and her brain formed a reflexive memory, and quickly continued: "You must love me..."

    The cheeks hidden under her mask rose hot.

    After singing the last song, Cheng Suran stood up from the swing as usual, bowed lightly, walked off the stage, and returned to the lounge under the escort of the security guards.

    The other singers were ready to take over, they exchanged greetings, then went out.

    She took off her mask and sat down, drinking water while looking at her phone, clicked on WeChat, replied to her classmates'' messages, and clicked into the chat groups one by one until all the red dots disappeared.

    Benefactor still ignores her.

    One green message after another on the screen, with text and voice, lying alone in the dialog box, unattended, looking at it, she doesn''t know why her nose went sore, grievances come to her heart along with a sense of powerlessness...

    She was momentarily devastated.

    "Xiao Cheng¡ª" Suddenly someone pushed the door open.

    Cheng Suran immediately pressed the lock screen with her thumb, raised her head pretending to be calm, and smiled at the visitor, "Manager Yang."

    "Aren''t you in a hurry to go back today?" Manager Yang smiled and pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose. He is tall and thin, and these glasses gave him a scholarly air. "A guest wants to invite you to sing in the box. Half an hour, 60,000."

    He gestured.

    Cheng Suran blurted out: "The second floor?"

    "How is that possible?" Manager Yang waved his hand, "It''s a guest in the ''Yunshan'' room on the first floor."

    Going to the box to sing makes more money. There are generous guests on the first floor who give tens of thousands of dollars. According to the rules, singers get 10%. On the second floor, there is no need to pay extra for ordering people. You just tip the singer depending on your mood, ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands. There is no commission cut for the club and a few hundred yuan will be given as a bonus.

    "..."

    She forgot.

    The VIPs on the second floor do not order people easily.

    So she happened to be the lucky one who had been ordered.

    Thinking of the benefactor who had ignored her for a whole week, Cheng Suran was a bit lost, and the frustration that she had just put down was boiling in her heart again.

    "How is it? The other party is a regular customer. He comes here often. He is very generous. He might even give you a tip when the time comes." Manager Yang persuaded her gently, the bottom of the thick wine bottle glistening.

    Sixty thousand, and his commission is also quite a lot.

    It''s just that "NOTTE" has a rule that the singer''s personal wishes must be respected and cannot be forced, so whether the money can be earned depends on the little girl''s intentions.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips, hesitant to speak.

    She remembered the time half a month ago, which was also the only scene she saw when she sang in the box downstairs. There were more than a dozen men and women, and the guests were drinking and playing games. In the dim light, some men started to pretend to be crazy with the help of alcohol, and their hands and feet were dishonest.

    In the end, she could only stare at the ceiling, pretending that she could not see or hear, and left immediately after singing.

    From then on, she never wanted to sing in the box again.

    Besides, she is not short of money now.

    With confidence in her heart, Cheng Suran suddenly felt relieved, shook her head at him and said, "I won''t go."

    "Are you  embarrassed? Or do you have special requirements? Just say it, if you need to communicate with the guests..." He didn''t give up, and wanted to persuade her again.

    "No," she interrupted softly, "Because I''m tired these days."

    "..."

    Manager Yang laughed dryly, pushed his glasses, "Well, all right."

    When the people left, Cheng Suran silently tightened the cap of the mineral water bottle, stood up, stuffed the phone and mask into her bag, and exhaled lightly.

    She refused to earn money which meant indirectly not allowing others to earn it. Thinking about it, she felt a little guilty, but after thinking about it again, the rules were like this, and it was her right to refuse, so she felt a little more comfortable.

    After packing up her things, Cheng Suran went out from the side door, and after a few steps, she remembered that she forgot to go to the toilet, so she turned back.

    The bathroom was at the other end of the hall, and she hurried past the stage, her white dress standing out in the dim light. The colorful wine, the loud and deafening music, people''s eyes are blurred, and they are indulging in joy.

    Cheng Suran came out after going to the toilet, washed her hands, looked up at her face in the mirror, and hurried out.

    "Eh--"

    A young man with a buzz cut and a floral shirt leaned against the wall, exclaimed and opened his eyes wide, "It really is fairy sister!"

    Cheng Suran paused, startled.

    The man looked her up and down, flicked the cigarette between his fingers, brought it to his mouth, took a puff, and said with a smile: "It''s a pity that such a beautiful sister wears a mask. Since I saw it, it must be fate. Let''s go drink, how about a cup? I''m inviting you."

    A strong smell of smoke mixed with alcohol rushed over, Cheng Suran frowned and took a step back, turning her head to pass him.

    "Hey, don''t go¡ª" buzz cut stopped her.

    Cheng Suran turned her head to avoid him, and gave him a sideways glance, "Get out of the way!"

    "Don''t be shy, there is enough wine, there are many beautiful ladies at our table, let''s make friends, come and come..." buzz cut grabbed her wrist.

    Cheng Suran screamed in shock, shook her arm, but buzz cut  pulled her into his arms violently, and with the other hand holding the cigarette firmly clasped her shoulder, dragging and tugging, she struggled in a panic, "Let me go! Crazy!"

    The smell of alcohol made her stomach churn and nauseated, she exhausted all her strength, kicking and screaming, but she couldn''t compete with this drunken man at all, and was dragged away step by step.

    "Security! Security! Help¡ª"

    "Hey, don''t yell, don''t yell..." buzz cut reached out to cover her mouth.

    There were two or three security guards on patrol at the front corner. When they heard the movement, they stopped and looked in their direction. The tallest one picked up his baton and pointed towards it, shouting, "What are you doing!"

    Seeing the security guard rushing over, buzz cut let go, turned around and ran, Cheng Suran lost her center of gravity in an instant, staggered and fell to the ground, her forehead hitting the raised decoration on the wall with a "dong" sound.

    A sharp dull pain followed by a brief dizziness.

    "hiss--"

    Her right elbow went numb, and she lost consciousness for a while.

    "Girl, are you alright?" Messy footsteps passed by her, and a security guard knelt down to help her.

    Cheng Suran clutched her forehead and got up, stood firm, closed her eyes for a while, and shook her head lightly, "I''m okay..." She rubbed her fingertips and touched her whole head, and she was relieved that there was no hot liquid as expected.

    After a while, she gradually regained the feeling in her right arm. She took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes.

    "That person ran away." The security guard turned his head to look, and the other two colleagues who were chasing him were walking back. In the dim light, the figure with the short hair had long since disappeared.

    Cheng Suran was still in shock, she patted her chest, as if she was trying to appease her beating heart. She opened her lips slightly and panted, "...Thank you."

    Her cheeks were flushed by the foggy light.

    Holding back her tears, she hurriedly bent down to pick up the bag that fell on the ground, turned around mechanically, and began to walk quickly.

    It''s very dark tonight.

    The moonlight is as cool as water, lightly sprinkled on the brightly lit city.  Jiang Yu stood alone in front of the octagonal window, eyes downcast, cold white light shone all over her body.

    In the morning when the plane landed in Jiangcheng, she went home directly to rest, and dealt with work in the afternoon. If Tian Lin hadn''t told her that all the formalities for the new car had been completed and the driver was in place, she would have almost forgotten that there was a little golden bird in this spacious and gorgeous suite. Canary was waiting for her.

    But right now, she''s alone.

    The breeze blew a hint of sultry dryness, Jiang Yu raised her eyes, and slowly took a sip of the sweet white in the glass. The sweetness was slightly sour, and a little bit of alcohol spread on the tip of her tongue.

    She picked up the phone, clicked on the recording file again, and heard the conversation between the child and Tian Lin.

    Starting in the evening, she listened to it over and over again, listening to the girl''s cautious tone, listening to the assistant''s cold refusal on her behalf, listening to the girl being choked and speechless, like an addiction, a little excitement stimulated the nerves, and it was extremely satisfying.

    The weak bird fluttered its wings in her hands, and no matter how hard it struggled, it couldn''t escape the cage, which greatly satisfied her desire to control.

    This is her favorite game.

    extraction, pleasures, she''ll never tire of it.

    After listening to the recording enough, Jiang Yu turned to open WeChat, switched to her alt account, clicked into the dialog box that had been silent for a long time, and typed casually: come here.

    ¡ª beep

    The platinum door behind her opened.

    Jiang Yu paused with her fingertips and turned around.

    The girl stood at the door with her shoulders slumped, her face dark and her hair a little messy. The moment her two eyes met, her dull and lifeless eyes lit up slightly, and she froze.

    She can''t tell if it''s an unexpected surprise or a sudden shock.

    "Sister¡­¡­"

    Cheng Suran yelled, her senses seemed to be dulled, she should have smiled, but when she moved her lips, she couldn''t make any expression, just staring at her like a puppet.

    The woman was leaning against the window sill, tall and straight, with long black hair hooked behind her ears, a wine red silk nightgown loosely worn, with deep eyebrows and a cold expression, still holding a goblet in her hand, with a pale golden amber color

    She seems to be very close, but also seems to be far away.

    Jiang Yu looked at her silently, with a smile on her lips, "Come here."

    Cheng Suran walked over mechanically.

    As she got closer, the swollen bulge on her forehead was fully exposed under the light, and there were large bruises on her originally fair skin, which was shocking to watch. Jiang Yu''s eyes narrowed, and she frowned and said, "What happened to your head?"

    "..."

    "Speak."

    Cheng Suran hesitated for a while, and said in a low voice, "I was looking at my phone while walking, I accidentally bumped into an electric pole." She lowered her eyes guiltily.

    "Really?"

    Jiang Yu didn''t believe it. Remembering that Sunday was the day when the kid goes to "NOTTE" to work part-time, she deliberately said, "You haven''t told me where you went so late."

    "Singing..." Cheng Suran felt more guilty, and quickly changed the subject, "Sister, I''m going to take a shower first."

    She turned and was about to run.

    "Stop."

    Jiang Yu put down the cup, walked slowly around to the girl, lightly touched her sharp chin with her fingers, and looked down condescendingly, "Little friend, you will be punished for lying."

    "No... it''s really singing."

    "Is it true that you hit an electric pole?"

    "..."

    "Hmm?" Jiang Yu''s eyes fell on the bruise, her brows furrowed again, and she circled hee fingertips, "Tell sister, did someone bully you?"

    Coaxed by the gentle voice in her ear, Cheng Suran''s heart trembled, and the tight string snapped.

    "I¡­¡­"

    Someone bullied her.

    She wanted to talk, to cry.

    Obviously she had comforted herself well on the way back, but now she collapsed because of a few words of concern.

    The corners of her eyes were red, and she hesitated to speak.

    Jiang Yu knew that she had guessed right, and an imperceptible look of anger flashed in her eyes, as if the feathers of the little bird she had carefully reared were pulled by someone, but there was a trace of expectation in her heart, wanting to see the kidl cry to her for benefits.

    "It''s okay -" she coaxed softly, and slowly moved her fingertips to the girl''s face.

    Cheng Suran''s nose was sore, and her shoulders shook even more. She clenched her fists, forced herself to calm down, and squeezed out a relaxed smile, "I''m sorry, sister, I lied... But it''s nothing, just a customer who drank too much. He wanted to pull me to drink with him, but I didn''t want to go, and then I pulled, I accidentally knocked against the wall, and it became like this..."

    An understatement.

    After speaking, there was silence.

    Jiang Yu looked at her quietly, her eyes were deep, with a sense of scrutiny.

    Her former lovers, one by one, were better at being coquettish, a little bit wronged, and acted like the sky fell in front of them. Let her coax, let her comfort, or give pocket money, or buy gifts, and they can always get some  benefit.

    She eats it up.

    To treat a lover, you only need to pamper and treat her with sugar-coated bullets, but if it is a girlfriend... Oh, this kind of cowardly act is not qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with her.

    The kid was completely beyond her expectations.

    Maybe she was playing hard to get?

    "Sister?" Cheng Suran felt uncomfortable being stared at by her, and felt uneasy, "I didn''t mean to lie."

    Jiang Yu interrupted with a smile: "Go take a bath."

    "¡­¡­Okay."

    The girl nodded obediently and went back to the room silently.

    Jiang Yu stood thoughtfully for a while, picked up the glass again, and walked to the window. A gust of hot wind slowly blew in, lifting her fine hair at the sideburns. The stars in the sky were dim, and the hustle and bustle of the city was in the distance.

    She slowly drank all the wine in the glass, picked up the mobile phone, and called the assistant, "Xiao Zhou, go to the medicine cabinet at home to find a green package of ointment, and deliver it to the hotel now."

    After hanging up, she clicked into the address book and found the number with the note "Mr. Xu".

    This is a "NOTTE" high rise.

    With one phone call, the subordinates can check the surveillance to verify whether what the kid said is true, and then find out the drunken guests.  Jiang Yu stared at the number, but didn''t press it for a long time. After thinking about it, it seemed that there was no need to go through so much trouble.

    As a benefactor, she should enjoy it, not rescue the suffering and bring justice.

    It''s enough for the kid to be coaxed by her.

    In the bathroom, the patter of water was mixed with the sound of crying.

    Cheng Suran stood under the shower with tears in her eyes, her head bowed, her body twitching slightly, a steady stream of hot water dripped down her wet hair, and flowed across her face, making it hard to tell whether it was water or tears.

    The water is clean, but the tears are dirty. The water flow will take away all the tears and flush them into the sewer, washing away her negative emotions.

    This shower took a long time.

    She didn''t turn off the water, dry her body, put on her clothes, and dry her hair until her fingers turned white and her skin was wrinkled.

    Tomorrow will be another beautiful day.

    After adjusting her emotions, Cheng Suran raised her smiling face to the mirror. She saw the two little dimples sinking sweetly, she let out a sigh of satisfaction, and left the bathroom.

    The lighting in the living room seemed to be a little brighter than before.

    "Sister--"

    The woman sitting on the sofa turned her face, Cheng Suran took the initiative to walk over and sat down next to her, "I''ve finished washing."

    The girl showed a cute smile.

    A very clean little face, pink and white like petals, the originally smooth and plump forehead is swollen and bruised, as if stung by a poisonous bee, which looked a bit funny.

    Jiang Yu looked at her softly, with a smile on her lips, then picked up the small box next to her, opened it, and poured out a thin ointment, "This is a medicine for bruises, swelling, pain and injuries. Works great, turn your head around."

    There are full English instructions on the light green box.

    "I''ll do it myself." Cheng Suran subconsciously reached out to grab it.

    "Do not move."

    Jiang Yu avoided her hand, lowered her head and unscrewed the cap, squeezed out a transparent paste about the size of a fifty-cent coin, rubbed it into her palm for a while, raised her hand, and gently and carefully covered the bruise on her forehead, pausing for a few minutes  Seconds, and then spread a little bit.

    The ointment is slightly cool, the palm is slightly warm, and the temperature melts on the wound, which relieves some pain and is very comfortable.

    Cheng Suran obediently sat still, breathing from shallow to deep.

    A faint fragrance lingered on the tip of her nose.

    It''s very familiar and smells good.

    It''s her sister''s scent.

    She turned her face sideways, and the tip of her nose inadvertently touched the smooth silk, like a tiny fluff, gently scratching her heart. Enchanting and glamorous red, as rich as blood, a bit of scenery is submerged in it.

    "Feel better?" Jiang Yu''s soft voice fell from the top of his head, but het palm did not leave.

    Cheng Suran was startled, closed her eyes and hummed.

    The pain on her forehead eased a lot, and she could feel her sister being careful and gentle. With her eyes closed, suddenly there was a sour feeling, the smoke was very painful, and even her nose was sore.

    The piece over the heart is instantly filled with tide, and the tide rises and falls.

    It was as if she was sleepwalking, and she didn''t know how long time had passed.

    "Alright."

    The temperature on her forehead suddenly disappeared, leaving only the coolness of the ointment. Cheng Suran opened her eyes suddenly, and grabbed the hand as if trying to catch a dream, but saw Jiang Yu put the medicine back into the box, got up and went to the bathroom.

    She touched her forehead.

    There is no sticky feeling as expected, just as moist as applying cream.

    It doesn''t hurt so much.

    There was a sound of water rushing, and after a while, Jiang Yu came out after washing her hands, returned to Cheng Suran and sat down, stretched out her long arms, and hugged her into her arms, "You are not allowed to sing in ''NOTTE'' again."

    The voice was very soft, but with an irresistible force.

    "...Okay." Cheng Suran didn''t resist at all, and leaned on her shoulder obediently, "Then I''ll tell the manager I''ll resign tomorrow."

    She knew why the benefactor refused to let her go.

    She doesn''t really want to go either.

    "Very good."

    Jiang Yu tilted her head slightly, leaning against her ear, and lightly touched that earlobe with her lips, wanting to touch, but not touching, which made Cheng Suran tremble and let out a sob.

    "Well, sister..."

    "Um?"

    "I don''t know your name yet." Cheng Suran carefully observed her face, maybe she was getting close, and the details of her entire face and facial features were clearly magnified.

    Familiar feelings churned in her mind.

    She just can''t remember.

    After she said it, she realized that it was too late to take it back. She forgot that she was just a canary, and she was not qualified to inquire about the name and identity of the benefactor. When she thought about it, she felt that all the tenderness just now was an illusion.

    Jiang Yu just smiled, and whispered close to her ear: "Do you want to know, kid?"

    "Will you?" Cheng Suran''s eyes brightened slightly.

    As soon as the words were finished, the lace loosened and her collar became cold. Before she could react, Jiang Yu lifted her hand and pressed the index finger and wrote on her palm stroke by stroke.

    Swiping her fingertips brings an itchy feeling.

    Jiang.

    Yu.

    Cheng Suran recited the name silently, which sounded familiar, but she was sure that she didn''t know anyone with that name.

    "Jiang...Yu..." she read aloud.

    "Um?"

    "I always feel like I''ve seen you somewhere."

 CH 7

    Deep in her memory is a vast ocean, and the familiar feeling is the giant beast hidden under the sea, vague but real.

    Cheng Suran looked at Jiang Yu and fell into a trance, her eyes were suddenly clear and sometimes blurred.

    "Oh?"

    Jiang Yu looked at her, with a careless smile on her lips, circling the girl''s palm with her slender fingers, "Where did you see me?"

    "I don''t remember." Cheng Suran lowered her head in frustration.

    A dense itching came, and her breath was stagnant, only to realize that she had been captured by a wolf, she hurriedly grabbed the woman''s wrist, raised her head, and looked at Jiang Yu as if begging for mercy.

    Jiang Yu stopped, but didn''t pull her hand away.

    They stared at each other quietly.

    When there is no expression, this face looks cold and distanced, especially the skinny face, which is full of sharpness, the long and charming eyes like willow leaves, and the eyebrows are full of power. The two blended into one, dangerous and charming.

    It''s scary, but she can''t help but get close.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t hold on for more than ten seconds, and when she was defeated, her throat moved unconsciously, and she let go of her hand silently.

    She had no reason to refuse any more.

    She has to admit that the benefactor has been very tolerant and patient with her. Maybe the sudden disappearance these days is to give her a buffer time, but she didn''t say it clearly. She watched so many short videos and learned so many things she didn''t know before, only to realize that it was not as difficult to accept as she imagined.

    She took the initiative to come forward and kissed the corner of Jiang Yu''s mouth.

    Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes slightly, and there was a smile on the place where he was kissed, "Maybe it was on TV, or on the Internet."

    "What?"

    "Where you saw me."

    Cheng Suran was taken aback, "Are you...a celebrity?"

    "Guess." Jiang Yu raised her eyebrows and chuckled, inadvertently revealing all sorts of amorous feelings, but her eyes were cold.

    The girl opened her lips slightly, half of her two small front teeth were exposed, and her puzzled look rested on her brows and eyes, and then a little wrinkled. She frowned, as if she was trying to remember.

    It doesn''t look like it''s fake.

    The kids really don''t know her.

    Case solved.

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes, and the ice melted in her pupils, revealing a rare tenderness.

    In the early years, she struggled in the modeling circle, and followed the High Fashion route, only conscientiously catwalking and shooting. Later, the commercial enthusiasm gradually increased, and she was surrounded by endorsements and advertisements.  She is not a household name in China, but when it comes to supermodels, many people first think of her name.

    The former little lovers all knew her. In many cases, enthusiasm and sweetness are just good acting skills.

    Take what you need, it doesn''t matter.

    "I don''t pay much attention to the entertainment industry, so I can''t guess it." Cheng Suran puffed her face in frustration.

    "Sister, tell me."

    Jiang Yu lazily raised her eyelids, pressed her index finger on her lips, and shook her head with a smile: "I''m not a star."

    "..."

    That made her guess for a long time.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips unconsciously, complaining coquettishly in her heart, then startled herself, and hurriedly stopped her expression.

    "When does school start?" Jiang Yu asked casually.

    Cheng Suran was stunned for a moment, she didn''t expect her to care about this, and said truthfully: "The day after tomorrow."

    Jiang Yu picked up the phone and opened WeChat, and sent her a series of numbers, "This is the phone number of the driver Xiaowen. She will be responsible for taking you anywhere in the future. You can contact her directly."

    "Driver?" Cheng Suran''s eyes widened in shock, "No need, sister, it''s very convenient for me to take the subway by myself."

    Jiang Yu slightly raised her eyes in surprise, looked her up and down, and smiled again, "Little friend¡ª" while calling out affectionately, she reached out and tapped her nose, "Are you helping sister save money?"

    Cheng Suran said in a low voice, "If it''s me, save as much as you can."

    "But sister likes to spend money for you." Jiang Yu pecked her lips.

    "..."

    Cheng Suranrealized later.

    It was because she is a canary.

    The girl lowered her face, half was covered by her drooping hair, and the light slid down like flowing water, passing through those deer eyes full of water, and her sharp chin, there was a sense of agility and purity.

    Like a piece of pure white paper, it makes people want to paint.

    Jiang Yu''s heart was hot, and her eyes gradually became a little drunk. She hugged the girl tightly, lowered her head slightly, and bit her lips forcefully.

    "Well--"

    Cheng Suran snuggled up beside Jiang Yu with her eyes closed, shaking violently, with an uncontrollable sob in her throat. She has no experience and doesn''t know how to respond at all, she only knows how to cooperate obediently

    Not long after, Jiang Yu let her go.

    "Sister?" She opened her eyes, looking a little confused.

    Jiang Yu lowered her head, stretched out her hand to tie back the loosened strap for her, tied it into a nice knot, and straightened her messy hair. She stroked the side of her face with her palm, "Hey, go to sleep."

    After speaking, she get up and leave.

    "Elder sister--"

    "Um?"

    Cheng Suran grabbed her hand, blushed and whispered, "You...don''t want to?"

    "I don''t have the hobby of bullying the sick and wounded." Jiang Yu pointed to her forehead, pulled her hand away, got up and went back to the room.

    "..."

    Jiang Yu stayed at the hotel that night, and then disappeared for a day and a night. Cheng Suran did not send her frequent messages, but quietly waited for her to call at any time, without thinking about it.

    School is about to start, and there are many things to be busy with.

    She went to "NOTTE" to notify Manager Yang she''s resigning. Although the manager regretted it, he did not force her to stay, and told her that she could go back whenever she wanted. Things went well, she went back to the dormitory, took off the sheets and quilt covers, washed and dried them, cleaned up, and deposited 6,000 yuan in the tuition card.

    The balance is more than 90,000, just looking at it makes her feel at ease.

    On the first day of school, Cheng Suran got up early, cleaned up and washed, stood in front of the mirror and applied medicine to herself.

    The ointment works really well.  According to the method mentioned by the benefactor, apply it every six hours and massage for a few minutes. After two days, the swelling on the forehead has subsided, and it has deflated a lot. There are still a few bruises, but they don''t hurt to touch.

    She doesn''t know if it''s a psychological effect, but she always feels that rubbing it herself is not as comfortable as her sister rubbing for her.

    About nine o''clock, she went downstairs.

    A brand-new white car was parked at the side entrance of the hotel, with a shiny body. The driver was an older sister who was in her early thirties and greeted her warmly.

    "Miss Cheng, do you have any hobbies? For example, put some decorations in the car?" She opened the rear door for Cheng Suran.

    Cheng Suran had never enjoyed this kind of treatment before, so she felt uncomfortable for a while, and said with a polite smile: "No, thank you."

    After she finished speaking, she got into the car.

    Today is Friday, the road is still a bit congested at this moment.  There are many high-rise buildings in the urban area, there is a long line of cars waiting for the red light at the intersection, and pedestrians are hurrying along the street. Everyone looks very busy and their expressions are numb.

    Half an hour later, she arrived at Jiangcheng University of Foreign Studies, and the car stopped at the intersection more than ten meters away from the school gate.

    Cheng Suran showed a look of surprise.

    Was this a tacit understanding?

    "Assistant Tian ordered it. She said that it would be too eye-catching, with the crowd at the gate." The driver explained with a smile, but she didn''t understand why it would be eye-catching.

    Cheng Suran''s expression froze, but soon returned to normal. She thanked her and got out of the car to go to school.

    The school gate was bathed in the morning light, and the seven gold-plated regular script characters shone brightly. Students in twos and threes walked in with their suitcases, some with their families behind them, and some alone. Today is the day for old students to register, but there are long welcome banners everywhere on the campus.

    The campus that had been quiet for the whole summer vacation is lively again.

    Although it was early autumn, the sun was still shining high. After paying the tuition, Cheng Suran absently walked towards the dormitory with a parasol, while the driver''s words kept echoing in her ears.

    Assistant Tian ordered...

    Too eye-catching?

    She thought so too.

    Assistant Tian represented Jiang Yu. It means that her sister has thought of this and is well aware of her psychology. She is taking care of her and protecting her.

    A warm current flowed silently through the bottom of her heart.

    Cheng Suran''s tightly pursed lips curved.

    She knew that the elder sister didn''t want to cause more trouble for herself. The agreement stated that it was forbidden to be too ostentatious, but now it was only implemented in place, not just for her alone. But in these days of loneliness and wandering, having someone who shares her thoughts and takes care of her trivial emotions is already an extremely luxurious comfort for her who has seen people''s expressions since she was a child.

    A little warmth is enough for her.

    Walking downstairs in the girls'' dormitory, Cheng Suran she felt that she forgot to do something, and suddenly heard the girl next to her discussing Weibo trending searches, and she suddenly remembered that a certain star had cheated.

    She forgot to search for the information of the benefactor sister!

    She  remembered this the day before yesterday, and she forgot about it in her busy schedule.

    She took out her mobile phone while walking, opened a certain site, and entered the word "Jiang Yu ''''.  The light above her head dimmed, and she entered the building door. She put the folded umbrella under her arm, swiped her campus card with one hand, and searched with the other.

    She held her breath.

    The loading bar is stuck and the page is still blank.

    "..."

    Every time she enters the dormitory hall, the network signal will fluctuate

    After waiting for a while, Cheng Suran couldn''t get it out, sighed, put the phone back in her bag, and went to press the elevator to go up to the seventh floor.

    The door of dormitory 732 was open, and her roommate Li Meiling had already arrived and was sorting things out. The ground by the door was full of messy things. Seeing Cheng Suran coming in, she glanced at her, didn''t speak, and continued to tidy up.

    Cheng Suran took it for granted, walked around the things on the ground and walked to her desk, ready to pack up and go to the library.

    "Did you see the facial cleanser on my table?" Li Meiling raised her head suddenly.

    Cheng Suran was startled, and said coldly: "No."

    There was an eerie silence.

    She turned her gaze back, took two books from the bookshelf and put them into a canvas bag. At this moment, the sound of the suitcase rolling was heard from far away in the corridor, and it stopped at the door of the dormitory, and a brisk female voice rang in her ears:

    "Hello--"

    "You''re all so early."

    It''s another roommate, Ding Yuan.

    She was wearing a camisole, denim shorts, a peaked cap, and sunglasses covering most of her face. Her caramel-colored long hair was braided into two braids, which was playful and cute.

    "Yuanyuan, you are here." Li Meiling stood up quickly, raised her smiling face, and looked at her warmly. "Why do I feel that you have turned white again?"

    "Did I? I still hate that I got tanned by the sea." Ding Yuan stuck out her tongue and took off her sunglasses.

    The two chatted for a while. Li Meiling praised Ding Yuan''s beautiful clothes for a while, and her beautifully dyed hair for a while. Ding Yuan just smiled, and took out two large bags from the suitcase while responding amiably.

    "Snacks? I brought them specially for you."

    She handed one of the bags to Li Meiling, and walked to Cheng Suran with the other bag, "Of course, here, don''t be shy, the chocolate inside is very delicious, you must try it."

    "Okay, thank you. I''ll eat in the afternoon." Cheng Suran smiled, took the bag and put it on the table.

    Then she carried the canvas bag and left the dormitory.

    ....

    It was sweltering outside, and there was a hint of dryness in the air. Cheng Suran walked through the long tree-lined path to the library, and swiped his campus card to enter.

    A cool, shady air-conditioning rushed to the face.

    The library is empty at the moment, and most of the seats are empty.  She found a seat by the window and sat down, rested for a while in silence, took out the book, and pressed the phone to check the time.

    Unlocking her phone, she was about to set the alarm clock, but the online encyclopedia was displayed on the screen.

    Jiang Yu...

    The page loaded

    Cheng Suran was stunned.

 CH 8

    The encyclopedia entry shows Jiang Yu''s name, with "International Supermodel" written at the bottom, she clicked on it, and there are a lot of written materials and dozens of photos.

    Cheng Suran took a deep breath.

    It turned out to be¡­¡­

    According to the data, Jiang Yu was born on October 31, 1987, with a height of 1.79 meters, a Scorpio, and will be 32 years old at the end of next month. Her hometown is in a county under a small city in the south. Like her, she is from a small place.

    At the age of eighteen, she participated in the model competition and won the championship in China, and won third place in the next global finals. A year later, she officially entered the modeling circle. First, she wandered alone in Paris, and then signed a contract with a modelling company.

    At the age of 23, Jiang Yu has traveled to all four major fashion weeks, walked shows for many international big names, and acted as the opening model. At the same time, her cover and endorsement achievements have blossomed, ushering in the peak of her career.

    At the age of 30, Jiang Yu ranked second in the global model rankings, becoming the only model in China to be awarded the "Legend" level, and her status became unshakable.

    The names of those luxury brands, the labels of the top fashion covers, and the dazzling letter LOGO are all like gorgeous medals, one by one hanging on the wall of Jiang Yu''s life in the past ten years.

    Now her net worth has exceeded 100 million.

    The light is dazzling.

    After reading the encyclopedia, Cheng Suran felt a pale and empty sense of unreality, as if she had never met this person before, and all the previous memories were hallucinations.

    She went to search for some videos, including catwalk shows, exclusive interviews, and news.

    Seeing Jiang Yu walking on the catwalk, one step at a time, confident and powerful, she finally remembered that the professional teacher once showed a Paris catwalk documentary in class, and this face was shot for two or three seconds. The teacher mentioned the name.

    This is the so-called "familiar face" and "familiar ear"...

    They hadn''t seen each other before that night.

    The New York Fashion Week just ended two days ago, and the time may coincide with the days when Jiang Yu disappeared. There are also videos of foreign media interviewing her on the Internet.

    Therefore, it is not "to give her buffer time".

    It''s all because she thinks too much.

    Realizing this fact, Cheng Suran felt inexplicably lost, her heart sank slowly bit by bit, her body was like a huge balloon, as the air was gradually released, it deflated and wrinkled into small pieces...

    In the afternoon, the sun was covered by dark clouds, the sky was dark, and after a while, a shower of rain fell.

    Around three o''clock, the interviewees arrived one after another.  Five women and one man, all tall, with long heads and calves, stood in a row outside the meeting room.

    Jiang Yu and several senior managers walked over while chatting.

    All eyes immediately focused on her.

    She wore a light gray pinstripe shirt and a pure white skirt, the length of which was just below the knees, and the fabric was close to the tight curves, simple and capable, yet somewhat soft and feminine.

    Even wearing flat shoes, she is the tallest in the crowd, with a pair of slender and straight legs that are particularly eye-catching, with a cold aura.

    The young girls couldn''t take their eyes off her.

    For those who dream of being models, no one does not want to be the second Jiang Yu.

    When a group of people passed by, Jiang Yu turned her head, and glanced at the faces of several people in turn. She paused for two seconds on the face of one of the girls, then moved away calmly, and entered the conference room.

    Signing a model is quite special. In addition to scouting, ordinary people in the society need to attach a full-body dynamic video when submitting their resumes. Before these children came, their resumes had been screened for two rounds. They stood out from hundreds of people and gothere.

    The order of the interview is arranged according to the first letter of the surname, one by one is called in by name, and after a brief self-introduction, take a few steps to have a look.

    Jiang Yu sat in the middle with a calm expression. There was no emotion in her deep pool-like eyes, but a cold sense of distance.

    When the fourth girl came in, her expression darkened, and she frowned subtly.

    It was the one she looked at for two seconds longer.

    "Hello teachers..."

    The girl is 21 years old, self-introduction is smooth and natural, she is generous and not stage-frightened, she never leaves Jiang Yu''s eyes, and she smiles at her after speaking: "Teacher. Jiang, I am your loyal fan. I''m finally lucky enough to see you in person."

    "Does the operation hurt?" Jiang Yu asked calmly.

    Everyone was taken aback.

    "What... what operation?"

    "Plastic surgery."

    The room was suddenly dead silent.

    The girl brushed her hair unconsciously, and said with a smile, "I haven''t had plastic surgery."

    "Your nose is fake," Jiang Yu pointed it out mercilessly, with no change in her voice, "The surgeon who performed the zygomatic arch lift for you is not skilled enough, and you should be cautious when performing major surgery on bones."

    "..."

    The smile on the girl''s face froze instantly.

    She touched her nose and face, a little embarrassed, her lips parted and closed, unable to speak.

    The agents were tacitly silent.

    The rain had stopped outside, and the drops of water on the leaves slapped against the window, one after another, like the rhythm of a heartbeat, which seemed extremely harsh in such silence.

    "We don''t need someone who can''t accept herself." Jiang Yu watched her quietly.

    "Next person."

    ....

    After the interview, only two girls were finally signed.

    Jiang Yu had a short meeting with her managers, and when she returned to the office, Tian Lin just came back from the outside, "Sister Yu, the driver Xiaowen said that Miss Cheng was sent to school at 9:30 in the morning. According to your order, the car stopped at the intersection at the corner of the school gate, the pick-up and drop-off should stop near there in the future."

    "Um."

    Jiang Yu flipped through the magazine, suddenly thought of something, raised her head, "Tell her to bring the car over now, I want to use it."

    Tian Lin looked at her in horror.

    "I''ll pick up the kid." She was willing to explain patiently only in front of Tian Lin.

    "Oh--"

    At half past seven, the sky was completely dark.

    The marked berths on the street were full of small cars, and a brand new white Camry was mixed in, which was very inconspicuous. The light from the street lamps shone into the car, and there was no one in front of it.

    Jiang Yu sat in the back row, her whole body hidden in the darkness.

    The right door was pulled open abruptly.

    A gust of hot wind came in, the girl got into the car, closed the door, and suddenly found someone beside her, and screamed: "Ah¡ª¡ª"

    "It''s me." Jiang Yu turned on the phone screen.

    A cold white light shone on her face.

    "Sister?" Cheng Suran opened her eyes wide and looked at the empty front seat, "How could you... Where''s the driver?"

    Jiang Yu pursed her lips and chuckled, locked the phone again, stretched out her arms and hugged her, "I miss my little friend."

    "Did you think of your sister, huh?" She raised her hand to caress the girl''s face.

    Cheng Suran''s heart skipped a beat, she was rather flattered, and obediently hugged her, "Yes."

    "Really?"

    "Um."

    More than just thinking about her.

    That afternoon, she searched for all kinds of information about Jiang Yu, but she isn''t half-way through the article at all. She wasted time because her mind is in turmoil. Going back to the dormitory may not be able to calm her down, it is better to go back to the hotel.

    No wonder sister suddenly asked what she was doing two hours ago...

    The girl smelled of milk, sweet and pure, Jiang Yu lowered her head slightly, buried her face in the messy hair on her sideburns, sniffing greedily with her nose, a little addicted.

    "Sister..." she called softly.

    Her heart was trembling, she didn''t know whether it was panic or shock.  Ever since she knew Jiang Yu''s identity and that her benefactor was such a dazzling and powerful person, it became difficult for her to calm down, and she couldn''t convince herself that this was just an ordinary business transaction.

    It''s like dreaming.

    "Well, what''s the matter?" Jiang Yu pinched the girl''s earlobe and couldn''t help but kiss her.

    Dimly lit, small spaces, secret thrills.

    Cheng Suran shivered for a while, her cheeks were hot, she swallowed the words that came to her mouth, she whispered: "Nothing, let''s go back."

    "Let''s go somewhere first."

    "What?"

    Jiang Yu smiled, did not answer and let go of her arm. Then, opened the door and got out of the car, and sat in the driver''s seat.

    Cheng Suran came back to her senses, and hurriedly climbed to the co-pilot and sat down.

    She can''t let sister be her driver.

    ....

    There is no moon tonight.

    Driving in the dense night, the car gradually entered the city center, the streets were brightly lit, the crowds were bustling, and the surroundings were bustling and noisy.

    The destination is Yinhua Plaza, the center of the city center, where major brand counters gather together.

    When they arrived at the basement, Jiang Yu found a place to park the car, took out her cell phone and made a call. After a while, a young woman came out from the corridor of the building obliquely ahead, wearing a uniform and tie, carrying two or three paper bags in her hand, walking quickly towards this side.

    Jiang Yu pressed the car window.

    "Ms. Jiang, it''s all here, and there are also new product samples in it. You can check it out." The woman nodded with a smile, and handed her things into the car.

    "No, thank you." Jiang Yu just glanced casually, "I''ll go now."

    "Okay, take care."

    The window went up again.

    Jiang Yu put the paper bag on Cheng Suran''s lap, smiled and pinched her face, "I bought you a gift, I''ve been busy recently, I''ll take you shopping sometime when I''m free."

    "This is..." Cheng Suran lowered her head.

    The silver paper bag, with English letters and trademarks printed on it, is a brand she doesn''t recognize, but it can be seen that it should be something like skin care products.

    It shouldn''t be cheap.

    She raised her head, hesitated for a while and said, "Sister, you don''t need to spend extra money for me, I..." She wanted to say that the one hundred thousand would be enough, but the next second she saw Jiang Yu raised her index finger and did a hush gesture.

    "Shh-"

    It was half past nine wjen the arrive back at the hotel.

    Cheng Suran obediently carried the paper bag back to her room, and when she came out again, Jiang Yu had already entered the bathroom.  Listening to the sound of dripping water, she suddenly remembered the information she had found in the afternoon, and a complicated feeling came to her heart...

    After standing in a daze for a while, she turned around and went to take a shower too.

    This time she washed very quickly.

    The milk body lotion has a long-lasting fragrance, sweet but not greasy. Standing in front of the mirror, Cheng Suran looked at the pretty and delicate face, took a deep breath, and turned to go out.

    Jiang Yu was lazily sitting on the sofa, holding a wine glass in her hand, the color of the wine was as red as the nightgown she was wearing.

    "Elder sister¡­¡­"

    Cheng Suran walked over slowly, stood in front of her, met those deep and cold black eyes, "I''m ready."

    "Um?"

    The woman raised her eyebrows.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head and pulled one end of her robe tie.

 CH 9

    The girl bit her lip, lowered her head slightly, her cheeks were a little smoky pink, her clear black eyes were slightly widened, and her two hands hanging by her side were restless, as if she was trying to restrain her embarrassment.

    She is like a precious and lovely gift hidden in pink rose paper.

    Jiang Yu''s eyes froze.

    "Sister?" Seeing that she was not moving, Cheng Suran called out cautiously, then realized something, lowered her head slightly, and shook her nightgown.

    The gift with the wrapping removed, reveals itself.

    She is very white, although she is thin, she is not dry and thin, she looks like a small lychee with its shell peeled off under the bright light.

    Jiang Yu''s throat tightened and she took a sip of his wine.

    The cool liquid is sweet with a little sourness.

    Suddenly, she stretched out her long arms, grabbed the girl''s wrist, and with a little force, she pulled her into her side, and expertly hooked her tightly.

    When she sniffed lightly, she smelled the pure milk aroma, like hugging a fluffy and warm cotton.

    She should be very comfortable to hold and sleep at night.

    "Can you drink?" Jiang Yu asked softly, as if she was not in a hurry to get to the point.

    Cheng Suran was so nervous that her heart was beating wildly, she clasped her shoulders with both hands, and answered honestly: "I drank beer once when I was a child...it''s not good."

    "Would you like to drink some red wine with sister?"

    "..."

    "It''s sweet."

    "Okay."

    Once she was told it was sweet, Cheng Suran felt less resistant, and even wanted to try it. Seeing that there was only one glass in Jiang Yu''s hand, she sensibly wanted to go down, "I''ll bring another glass."

    "No need," Jiang Yu hugged her tightly, holding the glass to her lips with the other hand, "Drink here."

    The glass contained a small amount of scarlet blood-like liquid.

    Intense, warm, enchanting.

    Like love and lust.

    Cheng Suran lowered her eyes and raised them again, looking at Jiang Yu uncertainly, "Do you... mind?"

    "I do not mind."

    "Okay."

    Cheng Suran lowered her head and smelled it. It seemed to be a faint fruity fragrance, fresh and sweet, mixed with the smell of tobacco or leather, and the smell of alcohol was slightly strong, which was a bit offensive.

    She took a sip tentatively.

    The thick sweetness hit her taste buds in an instant, and the slight sourness and astringency melted away. The smell of alcohol flooded into her nasal cavity, and she swallowed it suddenly, her throat turned cold.

    "How is it?" Jiang Yu brushed the hair from her forehead.

    Cheng Suran showed a surprised smile and nodded again and again: "It''s delicious, like a beverage"

    After speaking, she took another two sips.

    The small dimples on her cheeks became fuller.

    There is not much wine in the glass, just three or five sips. Jiang Yu watched her act like drinking water, couldn''t help laughing, reached for the big bottle, and added another half a glass for her, "Don''t drink too much, be careful you''ll get drunk¡ª"

    ...and fall into the jaws of a tiger.

    She didn''t say the second half of the sentence.

    This sweet red, it initially tasted like a beverage; sour and sweet, the more you drink it, the more you want to drink it, but its 19% alcohol, half a cup is enough to make people who are not strong enough, drunk.

    A little pre-dinner wine before enjoying the meal can not only add to the fun, but also relieve the tension of her little friend. Everything is natural and makes the "dinner" more delicious.

    A sly look flashed across Jiang Yu''s eyes, and she just looked at her quietly.

    After a while, Cheng Suran gradually felt her face was hot. Her head was a little dizzy, and her heartbeat became clearer.

    "Elder sister¡­¡­"

    "Um?"

    "I feel hot." She muttered in a low voice, subconsciously trying to grab her collar as she spoke, but raised her hand only to touch the ends of her hair.

    Jiang Yu took the glass away, put it in her ear and whispered, "You can''t drink any more, little friend."

    "Hmm." Cheng Suran tilted her head and leaned against her actively.

    Jiang Yu caressed the girl''s hot face, slowly moved his fingertips back, pressed the back of her head, lifted her chin slightly, and pressed it gently.

    The room fell silent.

    Perhaps it was the effect of alcohol, Cheng Suran felt her heart beating faster and faster, as if an electric current had surged through her, and paralyzed her brain nerves. Like a fish thirsty for water, she threw herself into the embrace of Jiang Yu''s vast ocean.

    It wasn''t until the air became thinner that it was possible to breathe again.

    "Sister--"

    She took the initiative to hug her.

    Not only the face, but her whole head is slowly burning up, it is a bit heavy, and her eyelids are also heavy. She leaned against Jiang Yu''s arms, and her moist black eyes were stained with confusion.

    "Are you really ready?" Jiang Yu rubbed the girl''s smooth hair, lowered his coaxing voice, "If not, I can continue to wait, sister is willing to give you time."

    As she spoke, she couldn''t help but kiss the little brown mole again.

    Can''t wait.

    She can''t wait.

    Cheng Suran shook her head vigorously and firmly, "I''m really ready..." She took the initiative to hug Jiang Yu and lowered her head to touch those lips.

    Inexperienced, unskilled, clumsy and raw

    But this dodder-like clinging is really tickling her heart.

    The alcohol made her movements a little sluggish, but her consciousness was clear. Cheng Suran tried her best to recall what she had learned. There were a lot of things that looked simple but were difficult to practice. She tried several times, but still couldn''t figure it out.

    Seeing her anxious and confused look, Jiang Yu''s heart softened, and there was a bit of tenderness in her eyes.

    She just remembered feeling this way for a long time.

    And the last time was when she was seriously in love with her ex-girlfriend.  Almost ten years.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran blushed and left her lips, "What should I do?"

    "Is this considered ready?" Jiang Yu raised her head and chuckled, stretched out her index finger and tapped the girl''s nose, intending to tease her.

    Cheng Suran buried her face in her hair in shame.

    Jiang Yu took a deep breath, leaned his head close to the girl''s ear, "Sister will teach you."

    The light in the bedroom was dim and the curtains were completely open. Outside, there were tall buildings and city lights, which cut off the hustle and bustle, leaving only a mountain fire.

    The desk lamp casts overlapping shadows on the wall.

    "Sister--"

    "Yes."

    Cheng Suran blushed up to her ears, Jiang Yu hugged her, and grabbed the ankle tied with a small silver lock with one hand, so thin that she couldn''t hold it.

    The dim yellow light brightened the flames in her eyes.

    The beauty of a young sister is that she is young and pure, clings to you like a newborn lamb, relies on you, trusts you, and you, like a clay figurine, can mold them to be whatever you like. You will always be in their hearts. Leaving your own mark.

    She is obsessed with this game and never tires of it.

    The night was getting dark.

    Cheng Suran curled up in Jiang Yu''s warm embrace, breathing slowly, her breathing and heartbeat returned to calm, her eyelids drooped heavily, sleepiness captured her.

    The whole world seems to have sunk into the bottom of the sea, deep and silent without any light.

    She smelled the delicate fragrance of Jiang Yu''s body, and felt fully safe. When she was about to fall asleep, she murmured: "Today... I discovered that sister is a very good model."

    The sound stopped abruptly.

    Jiang Yu waited quietly for a few seconds, and the sound of light and even breathing came from her ears. When she opened her eyes, she found that the kid had already fallen asleep.

    In the darkness, she had a smile on her brow, but her eyes were cold.

    The next day, when the sun shone on her waist, Cheng Suran woke up slowly from her sleep.

    She was extremely drunk and tired last night, and she slept so comfortably this time that she forgot the time. She lay on the bed staring at the ceiling for a while, and suddenly remembered that school had started, and hurriedly got up.

    She was the only one on the large 1.8 meter double bed.

    The place beside her was empty and cold.

    Thinking of last night, Cheng Suran blushed, lowered her head repeatedly, then raised her head again, she looked around and saw the pink nightgown at the end of the bed.

    "..."

    That night, her sister''s gentle voice was still in her ears, she kept asking and comforting, and it was everywhere, making people unable to resist. It satisfied her perfect fantasy and let her know that it''s not that no one cares about her feelings, but that she has never met that person before.

    A tiny seed falls into the soil...

    She bit her lower lip, her eyes were filled with shame, and there was a hint of sweetness in her heart.

    After sitting for a while, Cheng Suran got up and put on her nightgown, went back to her bedroom to get her mobile phone, and checked the time, it was eight minutes past ten. She was relieved to remember that classes don''t start until tomorrow.

    WeChat has several unread messages.

    While reading, she turned and went into the bathroom, stood in front of the mirror, ready to wash, when she looked up, she was startled by herself in the mirror.

    Her neckline is densely packed with marks, not deep, like mosquito bites that has been scratched.

    "!!!"

    At this time the phone vibrated.

    Jiang Yu transferred 30,000 yuan, and then sent two more text messages:

    [Reward.]

    [Good performance last night.]

 CH 10

    Just a few words, instantly washed away the sweetness in her heart. Like last night''s wine, only after the sweetness dissipated did she taste a touch of bitterness.

    Tenderness is conditional, coaxing is also conditional, and everything she indulges in has an exchange condition.  She was just a canary, a plaything.

    Cheng Suran took a deep breath, accepted the 30,000 yuan, thought for a moment, and returned a cute but not deliberately cute emoji. Just like her current mood, accepting it peacefully, not resisting, not flattering.

    Money is an iron that irons are everything.

    After waiting for a while, the benefactor didn''t reply, Cheng Suran put down her phone, looked up, and saw the scattered traces on her neck, and couldn''t help frowning.

    What to do?

    She look carefully, the color is not deep, and most of them are distributed in the lower position.  As long as the mark is not too big, it can be completely covered.

    Thinking of the origin of these marks, Cheng Suran couldn''t help but blush again.

    She heard that it would be very painful, but last night she only felt joy, the feeling of climbing a height and then falling to the top. Once she tasted it, she can never forget  Apart from her limbs, her heart was also relaxed. She remembered that she was floating and sinking in the dim and hazy space, like drowning.

    Ah.

    She covered her face and shook her head lightly.

    Don''t think about it anymore.

    After tidying up and washing, Cheng Suran changed into a round neck and short sleeves. On the bedside table was the gift from Jiang Yu last night, and the silver paper bag stood there quietly, almost forgotten.

    There are indeed skin care products in it, and the whole set costs more than 20,000 yuan.

    It is like the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, tempting her to touch and try it. Once she tastes it, the desire in her heart will be magnified, and it will be difficult to return to the past.  She wasn''t sure she could control her desire and would rather not touch it in the first place.

    People always like high-quality things, but getting used to it is a terrible thing.

    Cheng Suran thought for a while, she feels reluctant to give away such an expensive item, it was a bit difficult to return it at the counter, and it would expire if it was left unused, the best way was to resell it - anyway, the benefactor would not care whether she used it or not.

    She acted immediately, put the things on the carpet by the window with plenty of light, took a dozen photos with her mobile phone, then opened a second-hand website, edited and published it, and forwarded it to the idle trading group in the same city that she had joined for two years.

    Suddenly a phone call came in.

    It''s her  aunt.

    Cheng Suran''s face changed slightly, and suddenly she had a bad feeling, her fingers hung on the screen and did not move. After waiting for a while, the call was rejected automatically.

    Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, a second call came in a few seconds later.

    She has to pick it up even.if she doesn''t want to.

    "Hello? Auntie..." She tried to keep her voice steady.

    A middle-aged woman''s weary voice came from the phone: "Has school started yet? Your elder sister is going there next week to find a job...You stayed with her for two years, you must be familiar. Help her a little, take care of her, okay?"

    Cheng Suran was startled.

    Cousin is coming.

    "Are you still there? Why don''t you talk?"

    "I..." Cheng Suran was reluctant, "I have to attend classes and prepare for exams, so I don''t have so much time."

    "Does it take you a few hours? Are you that selfish? You think I don''t know you''re holding a grudge?

    "I''m not¡­¡­"

    "Enough. Your sister will call you then."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips, and was about to hang up the phone when she heard the woman''s voice rise a bit: "Wait¡ª"

    "Any thing else?"

    "Has your¡­ scholarship been issued?" the aunt asked after a moment of silence.

    Cheng Suran''s throat tightened, and she answered firmly almost immediately: "No."

    "Really?"

    "School has just started, and I haven''t applied yet..." She stopped talking halfway, and suddenly realized that such an answer was wrong, but it was too late to change her words, and sure enough, her aunt followed her words.

    "Then apply quickly, otherwise, uh, otherwise, what will you do with your meal?"

    The voice in the ear turned a corner abruptly.

    Cheng Suran''s high-hanging heart fell down and hit the soft cotton, feeling dull and indescribable.

    It turns out that whether she has food is also a matter worth thinking about.

    But she understands, besides her food money, it''s about the take home money. Adults are not so straightforward in speaking and doing things, or maybe they are not pushed to the limit, so they save face for each other.

    She has to be worth something for others to love her.

    "Ran Ran?"

    "I won''t be able to apply for this semester." Cheng Suran lied ruthlessly, with a weak and pitiful tone, "The grades are not enough. So I can only do odd jobs on weekends. Meals in the school cafeteria are cheap. Two vegetarian dishes with rice are only five yuan, which is barely enough."

    "Why are your grades not good enough? Did you study to waste your time, running far..." Her aunt was suddenly emotional and cursed a few words, then her voice dropped again, babbling about how grandma''s condition worsened and she had borrowed all the money and so on.

    Cheng Suran kept saying "Don''t be soft-hearted", and her lips turned white.

    The phone was hung up.

    The sun was gradually setting to the west, and the rays of the sun dyed the cirrus clouds orange.

    ¡­.

    Sitting in the car, Jiang Yu closed her eyes and meditated, a ray of sunlight came in through the gap in the curtain, and fell on her cold face, like dancing fireflies, passing by alternately, taking away the fatigue that appeared between her eyebrows.

    This morning''s interview went smoothly, but something went wrong in the afternoon''s filming, which made her a little tired.

    But only when she is busy will she not feel empty.

    Ten minutes later, when she arrived at the company, Jiang Yu entered through the side door, went upstairs, and turned the corner. A tall and thin young girl was waiting at the door of her office.

    "Sister Yu¡ª" the girl greeted her with a smile on her face, "You are back."

    A strong smell of perfume followed.

    Bai Lu, the company''s model.

    Jiang Yu glanced at her, suppressed the faint displeasure in her heart, entered her fingerprints to open the office door, and walked straight in. She put her bag on the table casually, but instead of sitting down, she stood by the window¡ªshe had sat in the car long enough.

    What was that fight you had with the client?" She cut to the chase.

    Bai Lu followed behind her, took a step forward unconsciously, and stood shoulder to shoulder with her. Hearing this, she turned around, curled her lips and said, "Who told them to pay less money, then gave me a lot to do?"

    She is one of the first batch of models signed by the company. She is a girl who is blessed by God. She is very talented. She stood out among many models in less than three months. The brands, designers, photographers and show directors who have worked with her all favor her, but she is a particularly rowdy girl.

    Two days ago, Bai Lu had a deal with a small domestic brand of women''s clothing and participated in a medium-sized fashion show. For some unknown reason, she had a few arguments with the client in the background. After returning, she stayed in the apartment and refused to take other jobs. The agent anxious.

    This afternoon she suddenly called Tian Lin and said she wanted to see Jiang Yu.

    Among all the models, she has the closest relationship with Jiang Yu.

    At present, only Jiang Yu can control her.

    "Oh, what''s wrong?" Jiang Yu looked at her.

    Bai Lu was 1.77 meters tall, two centimeters shorter than Jiang Yu, but they were visually the same height standing together.  Her appearance and style are a bit similar to Jiang Yu''s, but her brows and eyes are a little more immature, and her temperament is softer. People in the company call her "Little Fox".

    "It''s a small brand, and I was not the main model of the show, yet they made me try on so many sets of clothes..." She complained in a low voice, her eyes seemed to pass over Jiang Yu''s lips.

    Jiang Yu said, "You are not qualified to select clients now."

    "But I have accumulated a lot of films, and I have won two awards. I am considered a little famous in the circle, and it is a waste of time to accept such a small brand job, and they pay little."

    "Sister Yu, don''t you like me the most? From now on, I have to cherish my feathers.*" Bai Lu pursed her lips and smiled.

    *reputation

    Jiang Yu looked at her calmly, and said lightly: "You started talking about cherishing before the feathers grow?"

    "This shows that I am self-motivated." Bai Lu raised her eyebrows indifferently, "In the future, I will go to Paris, and then I will visit all four major universities. Sister Yu, you are my role model."

    Her fox-like peach eyes are full of ambition.

    At work, Jiang Yu likes people like Bai Lu very much. She is active, capable, and knows how to fight for herself.  She wants to cultivate her, that''s why she can ignore her little problems.

    "Calm down first." Jiang Yu patted her on the shoulder, instead of continuing to dwell on this issue, she asked instead, "Didn''t you say something happened?"

    "Yes¡­¡­"

    Bai Lu grabbed that arm, tilted slightly, and leaned against it, "I want to change my manager."

    The strong smell of perfume penetrated into her nose, a little choking, Jiang Yu couldn''t help frowning, but didn''t speak. Bai Lu thought she disagreed, so she let go of her arms and hugged her from the side, "Please, Sister Yu, you are the best."

    Her eyes were fixed on her rich and plump lips, and the slightly darker cinnabar lipstick suits her well.

    She wants to kiss it.

    "Let me think about it. You have to work normally these two days, otherwise we won''t talk about it." Jiang Yu was so uncomfortable that she took her hands off her shoulders and distanced herself a little.

    Bai Lu didn''t approach anymore, and said with a smile, "Okay, I will, then thank you sister Yu in advance."

    "Go."

    Then, the door opened and closed.

    It''s been a while since the girl left, but the office is still filled with the strong and greasy smell of perfume, which becomes more pungent and pungent, making people almost lose their sense of smell. Jiang Yu had to open the window to breathe.

    She doesn''t like strong fragrance.

    Closing her eyes and taking a few deep breaths of fresh air, she missed the sweet smell of milk on her little friend''s body.

    ....

    The last ray of sunlight disappeared into the sky as the night fell, and the street lamps lit up with cold white light one after another.

    A black car drove through the city lights, approaching the underground parking lot of Yunjin Lihua Hotel, and the speed gradually slowed down.  Jiang Yu sat in the back seat and looked out the window. Seeing the hotel approaching, thinking of the delicious little canary waiting for her, she couldn''t help but feel a sense of excitement.

    Her memories were full of last night, but she couldn''t get enough.

    As the car turned a corner, Jiang Yu was about to close the curtain when she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure...

    Kid?

    The girl came out from the hotel gate, carrying two or three silver paper bags in her hand, looked up, ran to the flowerbed downhill, said a few words to a woman with long curly hair waiting there, and handed the paper bag to her.

    "Stop." Jiang Yu said to the driver.

    The car stopped immediately.

    The woman with long curly hair took out the contents of the paper bag and looked at them carefully.

    Like checking.

    Afterwards, she picked up her phone and clicked a few times, then scanned the code of Cheng Suran''s phone, and left from another direction.

    The kid turned around and entered the hotel gate.

    Jiang Yu looked at her disappearing back, her eyes darkened.

 CH 11

    The night was dark and the car was parked quietly beside the entrance of the basement. Jiang Yu stared at the brightly lit hotel gate with a cold light in her eyes. It wasn''t until the person entered for a while that she slowly looked away.

    "Let''s go."

    She drew the curtains.

    After the driver parked the car, Jiang Yu didn''t get off immediately, but sat quietly for a few minutes.

    The silver paper bag is very familiar, it was a gift she gave to the kid yesterday. In the scene just now, if she guessed correctly, the kid should have resold the item to someone else.

    It''s obvious.

    She sneered.

    The elevator went up to the twenty-seventh floor, and when the heavy platinum door was opened, warm yellow light leaked out. The suite was very bright and empty.

    The sound of dripping water came from the bathroom of the second bedroom.

    There is a small half bowl of leftover fruit salad on the dining table, and beside it is an old laptop computer with peeling paint, and two books, one is the Chinese version of "Madame Bovary" and the other is the original French version.

    The document page is displayed on the computer, a large paragraph seems to be translated by Cheng Suran herself, and there are notes on the small notebook. The handwriting is clean and beautiful, just like the person.

    Jiang Yu turned two pages, put them down, and walked towards the second bedroom.

    The bathroom is large, with a large bathtub and a separate shower room, separated from wet and dry, and the details cannot be seen from the outside. Just listening to the sound of water splashing on the ground makes people think about it.

    "Are you ready?" Jiang Yu knocked on the door twice with a cold face, without even addressing her.

    The sound of water stopped abruptly.

    After a few seconds, the kid''s trembling voice came: "I''m almost ready, sister, let me rinse the foam."

    Scared?

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help smiling, but soon the coldness returned to her eyes. She turned sideways, looked around the room, walked to the bed and sat down.

    Not long after, the sound of water stopped again.

    There was a rustle.

    Jiang Yu got up, stepped forward and knocked on the door again, and said softly, "You are not allowed to wear nightgowns."

    It was completely quiet inside.

    One second, two seconds, three seconds... The bathroom door opened a crack, and then slowly widened.

    Cheng Suran walked out nervously, raised her eyes, and met the woman''s cold gaze impartially, her nerves tensed immediately, and raised and lowered her hands to cover herself.

    The wet hair was still dripping, and transparent drops of water slid down the ends of the hair, and a small pink face was beautiful and pleasant.

    "Take those away." Jiang Yu ordered.

    Cheng Suran''s eyelashes trembled slightly, she hesitated for a few seconds, and then slowly let go.

    Jiang Yu looked down at her, stretched out her hand to wrap the person in her arms, lowered her head slightly, and put the tip of her nose close to her ear, but she didn''t smell her favorite milk smell.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran tightly grasped the corner of his clothes with both hands, "I, I haven''t dry my hair yet."

    Jiang Yu paused, then let go of his hand, "Go get the body lotion and the hair dryer."

    "Okay."

    Cheng Suran went back to the bathroom to get something, and stood in front of Jiang Yu with her head bowed. Her cheeks were hot and red. She felt Jiang Yu''s straightforward scrutiny, but didn''t dare to lift her eyes.

    "Blow-dry your hair yourself," Jiang Yu said calmly, picked up the bottle of milk-flavored cream, squeezed a pump and melted it in the palm of her hand, "I''ll apply this."

    After speaking, she pulled her over to face her sideways.

    "..."

    Cheng Suran obediently plugged in the socket, pushed the switch, and the hair dryer buzzed.

    There was a sudden heat from behind.

    The temperature of Jiang Yu''s palm melted the cool frost, and it seemed that there was a torrent rushing wherever it went. Her hand trembled and she almost dropped the hair dryer.

    The hum drowned out a whimper.

    Jiang Yu didn''t seem to notice it, her expression was focused, as if she was caring for a finely crafted work of art, she wiped the lotion as long as the hair dryer was on.

    After finally drying her hair, Cheng Suran''s feet were so weak that she could hardly stand. Just as she put down the hair dryer, a strong arm hooked her, and then fell into the land of tenderness.

    "Are the gifts I gave you yesterday useful?" Jiang Yu brushed the hair from her ears, closed her eyes, and sniffed lightly with the tip of her nose. The sweet smell was intoxicating.

    Cheng Suran was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly became nervous, and said in a low voice, "I haven''t started using them yet."

    "Why not?"

    "..."

    Jiang Yu opened her eyes, straightened up, and looked at the girl calmly, "Can''t you use it?" She raised her hand and stroked Cheng Suran''s chin, with a slight smile on her lips, "Come on, sister will teach you."

    Cheng Suran was forced to look at her.

    Her eyes are not brown like most people''s, but are very deep and pure black, with a large proportion of pupils, which look deep and energetic, like a cold pool, which can see through people''s hearts.

    Even though she was smiling at the moment, there was a sense of coldness, like a poisonous snake locking its prey.

    "Okay..." Cheng Suran blinked, flustered, "But I left it at school, let''s use up my own first."

    Jiang Yu stared at her for a while, then suddenly loosened her jaw, nodded with a faint smile, "Okay."

    hoo--

    Cheng Suran let out a sigh of relief.

    Perhaps it was because she did "something bad", she always felt that something was wrong with her sister today, but she couldn''t tell. Those eyes, the more she looked at them, the more flustered she became. She was afraid that she would be exposed if she looked at them for another second, so she pretended to lower her face naturally.

    "Sister, why did you come back so early today?" She took the initiative to hug Jiang Yu.

    "I missed you."

    "I miss sister too."

    Jiang Yu smiled, "Really?"

    Cheng Suran nodded obediently, and was about to kiss Jiang Yu''s face, when suddenly she was pushed back by a force, and fell on the bedding unexpectedly. She exclaimed, "Sister, um¡ª"

    The force of the storm blocked her lips.

    Jiang Yu just kissed her, let go of her, stood up, glanced at her condescendingly, and said coldly, "Come here."

    Saying that, she turned around and went out...

    Cheng Suran stared blankly at the ceiling, slowed down for a while, got up, went into the bathroom, put on her nightgown, and followed in a hurry.

    The light in the master bedroom was dim, with only a small floor lamp on. The dim yellow light illuminated the slender figure of the woman in front of the window, projected on the warm coffee-colored wall, hazy, like a ghost.

    "Sister¡ª" Cheng Suran approached cautiously.

    Jiang Yu turned around, scanned her from head to toe, and frowned slightly: "Have I allowed that?"

    "..."

    Listening to her icy tone, Cheng Suran shivered, immediately grabbed off her nightgown and threw it aside, holding her breath as she looked at her.

    The air seemed to freeze.

    "Go up."

    Jiang Yu pointed to the side of the pillow.

    Seeing that the girl''s eyes seemed watery and meek, she eased her face slightly and walked to the bedside table, pulled open the drawer and took out a small box.

    As the night deepened, everything was silent.

    It was pitch black outside the window, and the lights in the bedroom were dim. The girl lay in the shadow of endless light, sobbing and muttering softly: "Sister, I''m so tired¡ª¡ª"

    Jiang Yu sat beside her, watching her quietly, without the slightest warmth in her eyes.

    There is a subtle buzzing sound in the palm of her hand.

    It was harsh in the silence.

    At this moment, over and over again, as if she wanted to vent something, she let the little friend grow from shouting tired to hoarse, without stopping. Then she also grew tired, but she didn''t want to let it go. So she changed the machine to replace herself.

    Until now.

    The girl was paralyzed beside her, motionless, her eyelids drooping heavily, and her breathing was long.

    Jiang Yu turned off the little thing.

    Looking at the tired sleeping face of the kid, she sneered, only feeling uninterested and extremely disappointed. She just got this canary a week ago, but the surging freshness was gone.

    They''re all the same.

    All the lovers she had raised over the years were all found by her according to the semblance of her ex-girlfriend, and they were all hot-tempered, lively and cheerful without exception. She would spend money for them, not so much, but she would give them presents, and they would resell what she gave, she never cared.

    Eventually, she completely got over her ex-girlfriend, and was no longer interested in girls of the same type, so that night, she saw Cheng Suran, a girl who was completely opposite to her past, at the nightclub.

    This is a choice she really made from her heart.

    She personally showed her the agreement, gave her a high price of 100,000 yuan, bought her a car with a driver, and took precautions for her.

    She didn''t perfuse her with the luxury goods that the brand sent to her as a gift.

    She thought that she could keep her fresh longer.

    What a pity--

    Boring.

    Jiang Yu stood up, turned around and wanted to leave, when she reached the door, she stopped suddenly and looked back.

    The girl was sleeping in the dim light, as white as glazed porcelain jade.

    She turned back again, lifted the other half of the quilt to cover the kid, turned the lights to the darkest, drew half of the curtains, turned up the temperature of the air conditioner, and then closed the door and left¡­

 CH 12

    Cheng Suran couldn''t sleep well and had a nightmare.

    She dreamt that she was being chased by a thick and black python, she ran wildly in the jungle. But her physical strength couldn''t keep up and when she turned around, she saw the giant python opening its bloody mouth¡ª¡ª

    Then she woke up startled.

    She opened her eyes, mind still blank for a few brief seconds, she moved her arms and legs, and a pang of soreness came from her back and she couldn''t help but let out a soft cry.

    "Cough cough¡ª"

    Her throat felt dry and her voice was hoarse

    She propped her arms up and crawled out of the bed and looked around. This was the room where her sister sleeps, but no one else is here. She''s alone again.

    Lowering her head and raising it again, Cheng Suran sat there frozen, her brain is gradually waking up, the memories of last night came rushing back...

    Was that person really her sister? Can a person change her face really fast?

    Indifferent, fierce, merciless.

    But why not? That''s just the benefactor. If she is in a bad mood, she can take her anger out at will, and she can''t have any complaints. Afterwards, she still has to please, cling, and greet her with a smile.  This is the fate of a canary.

    She comforted herself that this was a job, and there was no way she could look at the face of the leader and not be bullied. She understood the truth very early on in life

    Cheng Suran laughed at herself and climbed out of bed.

    At 8:30, the morning light outside the window was dim, and the things on the table remained as they were, but the laptop''s power was drained and automatically shut down.

    She didn''t forget that she had class at ten o''clock today, so she couldn''t be late. So, she hurriedly packed her things, drank some water, and went back to the bathroom of her room to wash up.

    Cheng Suran looks at herself in the mirror while brushing her teeth.

    Her eyes are slightly swollen and lack energy. Although there are no new marks, the old marks have not yet disappeared. Her hair is also messy and fluffy like freshly washed fried hair. She sweated a lot last night and it felt uncomfortable. Like a tattered toy.

    She suddenly stopped, and tears flowed out without warning...

    ¡­

    The second the class bell rang, Cheng Suran stepped into the classroom.

    In the professional class, the front row was almost full. She met the eyes of many students and walked to the back row and found a seat by the window, and lowered her head to flip through her book.

    She has no particularly close friends in class, and keeps a polite social distance with everyone. She is usually busy with part-time jobs and studies, hardly participates in group activities, and is used to being alone. For a long time, everyone thought she was cold and arrogant, difficult to get along with, and treated her as a "familiar stranger".

    As for roommates...

    Cheng Suran looked up at Ding Yuan and Li Meiling who were sitting in the third row.

    They''re just ordinary roommates.

    Come graduation, it would be like they''ve never met before.

    For the whole class, Cheng Suran was absent-minded. Probably because she didn''t get a good rest last night, and she cried for a long time in the morning. Her eyes were sore and dry, and felt uncomfortable after looking at the projector for a long time, and she couldn''t understand what the teacher was saying.

    She stayed just like that until the afternoon class.

    Walking out of the classroom, Cheng Suran quickened her pace, just wanting to go back to the dormitory to catch up on sleep.

    "Ranran..." Ding Yuan chased up from behind, "What''s wrong with you? You look listless, are you feeling uncomfortable?"

    Cheng Suran had to slow down, pulled herself together and squeezed out a smile: "No, it''s because I went to bed too late yesterday, I''m a little sleepy."

    Going down to the corner of the stairs, a large ray of sunlight came in from the window, shining on her innocent little face without the slightest color, but her eyes were full of bloodshot eyes, literally, like a vampire crawling out of a coffin.

    Ding Yuan nodded, suddenly remembered something, and said, "By the way, Meiling said that you haven''t returned to the dormitory these two nights..."

    "Well, I forgot to tell you that I rented a small house outside, and I only go back to the dormitory occasionally." Cheng Suran reacted quickly, and yawned while lying, making it impossible to suspect her.

    She forgot such an important thing.

    She always stays out all night, without explanation, which will inevitably arouse suspicion. Although she is a junior and the school is not strictly controlled, if someone makes irresponsible remarks in private, it will cause trouble for her.

    Their relationship in the dormitory was awkward, she didn''t know how to bring it up, but her roommate came to ask, so it gave her a step up.

    "Oh, won''t Meiling be the only one in the dormitory from now on? Hahaha¡ª" Ding Yuan turned her head with a smile.

    Ding Yuan is a local, her home is not far from the school, and she has money. She is picked up by car. She has not been in the dormitory often since her freshman year. The bunk is just a place to store things. In addition, she has a lot of friends, and she usually goes out to play outside of class, and she doesn''t know about many things that happen in the dormitory.

    Li Meiling followed behind without saying a word, and looked at Cheng Suran suspiciously.

    "..."

    The three walked out of the building, and Ding Yuan glanced at the flower garden, her tone suddenly excited: "My boyfriend is here, I''ll go first~" She trotted towards the tall and thin boy.

    Cheng Suran also walked away quickly.

    Jiang Yu disappeared from Cheng Suran''s world again.

    Like last time, she didn''t respond to messages for a few days, didn''t go to the hotel, and evaporated unilaterally. This time, Cheng Suran didn''t dare to send frequent messages to disturb her, and she didn''t ask Assistant Tian any more. She went to class every day and did her own thing.

    She made plans for herself.

    This semester, she will concentrate on preparing for the DALF-C1 exam and taking French translation classes. She has part-time experience in translation, and it will be much easier to practice.

    In the next semester, most of the students will go on exchange, but she plans to stay in China to take the CATTI English Level 2 written and interpretation exams, and go to France for an exchange year in her senior year, and then go to the school there to continue her graduate studies.

    *China Accreditation Test for Translators and Interpreters, Second-level translators (equivalent to lecturers) can apply for translation titles (intermediate titles), which means that they can basically stand alone and complete various practical translation tasks independently.

    If she can''t get a scholarship, she''ll have to pay for the tuition and living expenses herself, which would cost lot of money.

    Although the future is full of hope, the pressure is not small. Thinking of this, she became more motivated to study, putting herself into it, leaving her messy thoughts behind her...

    An autumn rain fell, the wind blew away the heat, and the temperature turned slightly cooler.

    The golden osmanthus trees planted on campus are blooming.

    There was no class in the afternoon, and Cheng Suran was sitting in the library brushing up questions, concentrating, when the phone screen suddenly lit up and received a WeChat message. She unlocked it and clicked in, and caught a glimpse of the familiar gray and black head.

    It is the benefactor

    A location pin message, followed by another: Urgent, come here.

    She froze.

    The word "sister" in the ID was reflected in her eyes, and couldn''t help but think of that stormy night, and there seemed to be a dull pain somewhere.

    An unspeakable complex feeling welled up in her heart.

    She blinked, took a deep breath, looked at the questions she hadn''t finished, didn''t dare to delay, immediately closed the book, packed up her things, and left with her bag on her back.

    The location was a company called SIENA MODEL, Cheng Suran didn''t have time to call and ask the driver to come over, so she took a taxi at the school gate and left. Along the way, she was not sure what the urgent matter was, and she was even a little anxious, thinking of the painful situation that night, she became more and more anxious.

    About half an hour later, she arrived at the company.

    After getting off the car, Cheng Suran saw Assistant Tian waiting at the door, who saw her and came up to her, "Miss Cheng, the boss has been waiting for you for a long time."

    "Excuse me, what is it?" Cheng Suran asked cautiously.

    Assistant Tian smiled mechanically: "You will know when you go up."

    She led the way, and Cheng Suran obediently followed behind, looking at her curiously.

    The company''s interior design is very simple, with a large area of ??white, gray, and camel solid colors combined with simple and neat lines, without too much decoration, sufficient light, and a wide field of vision. The overall look is bright and transparent.

    On the right side of the hall is the model card wall, which is covered with photos of models, with ever-changing shapes and styles.

    They took the elevator up to the third floor and walked through a long hallway with a white door at the end. Assistant Tian pushed the door open and entered, and said to the inside, "Sister Yu, we''re here."

    Cheng Suran stepped in nervously.

    The room is large and slightly dark. Gray and white curtains hanging down from the ceiling, several square and round giant headlamps standing tall, soft white light hitting the curtains, a camera on a tripod directly in front, and sofas, tables and chairs and computers on the diagonal sides.

    More than a dozen gazes swept over at the same time.

    Cheng Suran caught sight of Jiang Yu standing next to the computer.

    She is wearing a neatly tailored black suit and wide-leg trousers of the same color, with one hand in the pocket of the trousers. She has thick black half-curled long hair. She is tall and straight, with a rich rust red on her lips, a special cold charm.

    Those deep eyes are like boundless black holes.

    Cheng Suran met her gaze, her breath was taken, her heart beat wildly, as if there was a huge gravitational force tearing her apart.

    "Kid, come¡ª" the woman waved with a faint smile.

    The girl stepped forward obediently.

    Jiang Yu took her wrist, turned around and walked to another woman, "Qi Yan, what do you think of her? Is she suitable?"

    The other party was fiddling with the camera. Hearing the sound, she raised her head, looked up and down Cheng Suran, and then circled around her with a surprised expression on her face. She slapped her hands and said, "She fits so well! Hurry up, change clothes, and style her!

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran didn''t understand what they were talking about, and looked at the people around her suspiciously.

    Jiang Yu led her to the side corner until she stopped, stared at her with lowered eyes, and said softly, "Today, sister would like to ask you to be a model."

    "Please¡ª¡ª"

    She even said the word "please" to her.

    "But I''m not tall enough..."

    "Print models don''t need to go on the catwalk. Ask the photographer to take a few photos of you. They''ll publish them in a magazine, and then pay you, okay?" Jiang Yu raised her hand to stroke the girl''s soft hair, and her indifferent eyebrows tinged with a smile.

    As gentle as before, as if the indifference had never existed.

    Cheng Suran''s eyelashes trembled, and when she looked into those deep pool-like eyes, she couldn''t help but think of what happened that night again, her heart was stabbed, and a sour feeling surged up, full of grievances.

    Her waist seems to be sore again, her throat bitter again, and there seems to be pain there again.

    What is she counting on?

    Could it be that she like the benefactor to apologize to her?

    "Um?"

    "Okay¡­¡­"

    "Go there and wait to change," Jiang Yu turned sideways and pointed to the small room across the room and turned back, "Then the makeup artist and stylist will help you do your makeup and styling, just pose according to what they say, it''s very simple."

    "Sister will be by your side."

    Although she was smiling, it was only on the surface. Her smile didn''t catch her eyes, and her expression was no longer the kind of pampering that she used to tease with small animals. Instead, she was doing it out of habit, wearing a mask.

    The girl nodded obediently, but her heart trembled, always feeling that something had changed.

    ...

    It was the first time for Cheng Suran to take photos in the studio. She was illuminated by a few strange headlights and stared at by more than a dozen people. She was inevitably a little nervous. She thought she had screwed up, but she didn''t expect that the photographer wanted this effect¡ª¡ª

    Fresh and tender, jerky, slightly cramped, faintly revealing the taste of pure desire.

    The filming process went smoothly.

    It didn''t end until the sun was about to set.

    Jiang Yu took Cheng Suran to her office before the girl could take off her makeup and change her clothes.

    "Sister..." Sitting on the sofa, she couldn''t help but look around, "Is this your company?"

    The office style is still simple, mainly in beige and light coffee colors, embellished with lines, and the large crystal glass curtain wall is visually horizontal and vertical, with a perfect blend of cold and warm.

    "Um."

    Jiang Yu responded lightly, picked up the orange-red paper box on the desk, and gently put it in front of her, "You worked hard today, a reward for the kid."

    The box is printed with the logo of a luxury brand

    Cheng Suran was stunned.

    "The salary... is counted twice as much as the company''s standard for newcomers in print modeling." Jiang Yu sat on the single sofa next to her. Her long legs lazily hitched, and her fingers fiddling on the phone screen, then, WeChat transferred three thousand dollars.

    "Sister, can I not have this reward?"

    "Why?"

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips, looked away from the paper box, and whispered, "It''s too expensive, I don''t need it."

    As soon as the words fell, the air froze.

    The room was suddenly silent.

    "It will come in handy."

    "I..."

    Jiang Yu looked at her with a cold gaze and said carelessly, "Can''t you take it and sell it for money?"

 CH 13

    Hearing the sound, Cheng Suran froze suddenly, remembering that night.

    Did sister know?

    "..."

    After having the product posted that morning, she went to the school library and saw the message from the buyer, only after eating that evening. The other party happened to be playing in the commercial street not far from the hotel, so they made an appointment to meet at the gate at seven o''clock.

    Jiang Yu usually goes to the hotel at eight or nine o''clock, and sometimes not.

    Who knew, not long after her transaction, Jiang Yu returned to the hotel early. She was guilty and afraid, and wondered whether she would be bumped into, but she thought it was impossible for such coincidence. Later, Jiang Yu asked her if the gift was good, which made her drop her heart.

    But now¡ª

    Cheng Suran met that cold gaze, and clenched the corners of het clothes tightly, "Sister, did you...see it?"

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak, just looked at her quietly.

    Silence means yes.

    Cheng Suran''s heart turned cold for a moment.

    She finally understood why her sister didn''t look right that night. Her intuition is not wrong, nor is her sensitivity, but she always thinks that she has done a "bad thing" because of her guilty conscience, and hypnotizes herself to not to think too much, for fear of showing the truth.

    Anyone would be angry to see their gift being resold, right?

    Worse, she lied.

    But...

    The benefactor actually cares about this? Under the ruthless sponsorship between them, would she make a fuss for such a thing and remember it till now?

    A trace of subtle emotions rippling in the bottom of her heart, like boiling water bubbling.

    She looked at Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu also looked at her.

    "I''m sorry, sister..." Cheng Suran''s eyes turned sour, and her voice lowered, "I shouldn''t have resold the gift, let alone lied to you."

    "The gift from sister is very good, but for someone like me who is young, inexperienced, and has never seen the world, it is more like an addictive temptation. I dare not overestimate my self-control. I thought it would be hard to quit after using it. I can¡¯t afford it at my current ability, so I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to go back to the way I was before.¡±

    "I thought they would be a waste if it''s unused and expired. For me, it is a luxury, not a necessity, so it is not cost-effective. If I sell it, it won''t be a temptation, but a resource..."

    Cheng Suran choked up a little while talking, and blinked frequently, as if trying to control something.

    She is a canary, she can just reach out to ask her sister for money, and before the three-month deadline is up, she can earn more and enjoy more. But then what?  What about after the agreement expires?  She will be used to living a luxurious life and spending money like water, what should she do?

    She may get lost, she may get corrupted, and her purpose of choosing to be a canary becomes "pleasure" after all.

    But that was not her intention.

    In her opinion, Jiang Yu is not so much her money source but a philanthropist in disguise. She felt a little grateful to her in her heart.

    "Sister, thank you for your kindness. Don''t give me valuables in the future. This is not your obligation in the agreement. They are useless in my hands except for selling. Why bother? Why not give them to someone more worthy?" Cheng Suran smiled, and accidentally squeezed a drop of crystal from the corner of her eyes.

    She raised her hand quickly to wipe it away, tilted her head, and continued, "This is something I did wrong, I..."

    Before the words were finished, she suddenly got up and walked to the window and got behind the curtain.

    Jiang Yu remained in her original position.

    Lost in thoughts.

    The girl''s words echoed in her ears, and in a trance, she thought of herself once. The fashion circle looks so glamorous, she was dazzled when she first entered it.

    She was as old as the kid that year.

    Jiang Yu turned her face away.

    The floor-to-ceiling windows were half open, the beige curtains fluttered slightly, and the girl''s slender and thin silhouette cut a shadow in the middle, and the cool breeze brought subtle sobbing sounds, suppressed and restrained.

    If this is playing hard to get, the kid''s acting skills are too perfect, and she should introduce her to learn from her actor friends in the entertainment industry.

    A sense of guilt surfaced in her heart, but she quickly waved it away.

    She has no heart.

    She only stays true to her own feelings.

    After sitting for a while, the sobbing was still intermittent, Jiang Yu frowned, stood up, took a few tissues from the wooden box, and walked towards the window.

    The sound stopped abruptly.

    She stopped, put one hand into the pocket of her trousers, and silently looked at the figure behind the curtain.

    After a while, the curtain moved, and Cheng Suran turned around from behind. Seeing her standing there, she suddenly met her gaze and was startled.

    Her eyes are red, her nose is also red, her eyelashes washed by tears are black and bright, and her face is still covered with makeup.

    Her small face became more and more charming.

    "Sister..." a strong nasal voice.

    Jiang Yu took two steps forward, handed the tissue over, and said lightly, "The things I give you belong to you, and how you deal with them is your freedom, and has nothing to do with me."

    "But don''t let me see you next time."

    "There will be no next time." Cheng Suran wiped her nose with the tissue, shaking her head while wiping.

    Jiang Yu didn''t answer.

    "Sister, you..."

    "Um?"

    Cheng Suran''s eyes were red, he hesitated for a while before asking: "Are you angry with me?"

    "No." Jiang Yu shook her head.

    The kid is not qualified to make her angry. But the disappointment before was real. Disappointed that the kid were the same as those lovers in the past, disappointed that this novelty could not last longer, disappointed that she might still not have the habit of jumping out of the past.

    In fact, she was disappointed in herself.

    However, there seems to be an unexpected gain.

    There were fluctuations in her eyes.

    "Really?"

    "Um."

    "Then¡ª" Cheng Suran opened her mouth, wanting to ask, do you hate me? But words came to her lips, stuck for a while, and she didn''t know how to speak again.

    She found that she cared a little about Jiang Yu''s opinion of her.

    She also found herself thinking too much.

    The sister is not angry.

    That''s right, how could the benefactor be angry with her? Maybe it''s just that this incident challenged the benefactor''s... authority?  Domination?  Her desire to control? She could vaguely feel it. Whatever it is, it had nothing to do with her.

    The little bubble that boiled in her heart disappeared.

    And the water became cold.

    "Where is sister playing these days?" Cheng Suran raised a smile, and the two little dimples sank sweetly.

    She knew that Jiang Yu would not answer this question, she just wanted to cover it up casually.

    Jiang Yu looked down at her, and said two words with red lips: "Watching shows"

    "Eh?"

    "In London and Milan."

    As soon as she said those words, she saw the girl''s clear black eyes light up, like surprise, but also like admiration, very restrained, but unable to restrain it.

    "Ah, oh¡ª¡ª" Cheng Suran nodded, her eyelashes drooping, as if she couldn''t find anything to talk about, and it was a bit embarrassing to stay here with nothing to do.

    Her face puffed up slightly, and she struggled for a while and said, "Sister, I''ll go back first, I haven''t finished reviewing questions I''m going to do today..."

    "Um."

    Jiang Yu hesitated to speak, followed the girl to the door, and noticed the makeup on her face, "Can you remove your makeup?"

    Cheng Suran paused, turned around and nodded, "Yes."

    "Remove it clean, or you will get acne."

    "Okay."

    "Go."

    Then the girl disappeared outside the door.

    Jiang Yu stood still.

    The sunset slanted into the floor-to-ceiling windows, a large golden-red haze sprinkled on the curtains, the white grain turned into a gentle milk orange, pulling her tall and upright figure more and more slender.

    There was a knock on the door.

    Jiang Yu raised her eyes, thought it was the child who turned back, but it was Qi Yan who came in from behind the door.  She raised her eyebrows, and said first: "It''s time to call it a day, why don''t you go back to accompany your boss Lu?"

    This is their main photographer.

    "She doesn''t get off work until six o''clock, I''ll pick up the girl later." Qi Yan sat down on the sofa unceremoniously.

    "Is there something wrong?"

    "Um."

    "Keep it short." Jiang Yu took her hand out of her pocket and walked around the table to get her phone.

    Qi Yan pursed her lips and smiled, coughed twice, and said: "I am very satisfied with the little sister this afternoon, not only this issue, but the whole series in the future can be filmed by her. But I asked the agency just now, and they said she''s not a model here?"

    "Um."

    "Where did you find her? When will she come over again? If she is willing, we can negotiate a time..."

    Jiang Yu was reading work emails, without raising her eyes, she said casually, "She''s my little friend."

 CH 14

    "Huh?" Qi Yan was stunned.

    Jiang Yu was also taken aback for a moment before she realized it and changed her words: "She''s my little sister."

    Qi Yan was even more puzzled, and said, "When did you have a younger sister? I haven''t seen her before."

    "Are you sure you want her to continue shooting?" Jiang Yu calmly changed the subject, lifted her gaze from the screen, put down her phone, and looked sideways at Qi Yan.

    "Uh-huh."

    "I''ll talk to her when I have time."

    "Tsk¡ª¡ª" Qi Yan''s expression was subtle, and her slightly raised peach eyes slightly narrowed, "Is she really a little sister? A real sister? Or... a new girlfriend?"

    Looking at her gossiping eyes, Jiang Yu snorted lightly: "Is this important?"

    "Of course, if it''s Madame Jiang''s wife, I have to be careful not to offend her. If not, then¡ª¡ª" Qi Yan deliberately put it off.

    "What?"

    "I''d be casually bullied."

    Seeing that this person was joking, Jiang Yu ignored it. Except for Tian Lin, no one around her knew that she had countless lovers over the years. And Qi Yan, the ex-girlfriend she has let go of, has always known that she likes younger girls, and she can guess when she sees one.

    She gave Qi Yan a cold sideways look: "Gossiping at my place after work, be careful kneeling on the washboard* when you get home."

    *to kneel on a washboard, means punishment (if you are made to kneel) or repentance (if you took the initiative to kneel). read Yanyan and Lu Mama''s story if you still haven''t in There Are Always Teachers Who Want To Ask Out Parents)

    "Oh, then remember to tell your little sister that I''m going to pick up my daughter and hug my wife~" Qi Yan shrugged, stood up indifferently, and left the office, trembling.

    Jiang Yu stood where she was, eyes falling on the orange-red paper box, lost in thoughts.

    She turned and walked to the window.

    The sky is a faint watery orange, the sun quickly set, and the thin clouds are blue-gray, one after another, opening up the blue of the night.

    Jiang Yu quietly looked out of the window. There was a lot of traffic and lights, and her lonely shadow was gradually engulfed by the night.

    The kid''s eyes and nose that were red from crying came to mind.

    Reminded her how she begged for mercy that night...

    After a while, it became completely dark.

    Jiang Yu turned on the lights in the office, picked up her phone, and sent a report message to the kid for the first time:

    [Not coming over tonight ]

    The child quickly replied: [Okay, I''ll say goodnight in advance, sister.], another cute emoji.

    She ignored it.

    The next day was the weekend, and Cheng Suran was going to pick up her cousin at the High-speed rail station.

    Wearing her oldest clothes and carrying a small backpack, she asked the driver to take her to an entrance of a subway station along the line, and then took the subway to continue on. When she arrived at the South Railway Station, she received a call from her cousin and hurried to the exit that the other party said.

    Among the crowd coming and going, she immediately saw her cousin, Zhao Yihan, who was wearing knee high boots.

    She has dyed brown hair, light makeup, a thin jacket and short skirt, and is delicate from head to toe, like a little girl in a Korean drama, which is very common on the street.

    Her cousin is two years older than her. She is the only child of her aunt. Studied in a university in the provincial capital city of her hometown. She just graduated in June this year and went to Jiangcheng to look for a job. During the two years of studying in Jiangcheng, Cheng Suran never went home, so she didn''t see her aunt and cousin for two years.

    "Sister."

    "What took you so long?" Zhao Yihan frowned and muttered, looking at her while pushing the suitcase over, "I''m exhausted, take it."

    She unloaded the suitcase as she spoke and gave it to her.

    Cheng Suran habitually wanted to pick it up, but she stopped halfway took off her hand, and said flatly, "Take the suitcase yourself, I don''t have that much energy." She took the backpack and turned around.

    Zhao Yihan was stunned, showing a surprised look, and quickly followed with the suitcase, "Is there anything to drink? I''m thirsty, go and buy me a bottle of drink. I want to drink the water-soluble C100 lemon flavor."

    Cheng Suran stopped, took out an unopened bottle from her backpack, and stuffed it into her hand, "There''s only water, don''t drink it if you don''t like"

    "..."

    Zhao Yihan rolled her eyes, unscrewed the water and drank a couple of sips, it was tasteless. When she looked up, she saw Cheng Suran walking towards the subway station ahead.

    Hey, don''t you want to take a taxi? I''m exhausted from the seven-hour high-speed train ride, and I have to squeeze myself in the subway, huh?"

    "I have no money." Cheng Suran dropped the words without looking back.

    "Can I take a taxi myself?" Zhao Yihan was irritated by her attitude, stood still, took out her mobile phone to check an app, and found that it would cost one hundred yuan to take a taxi from South Railway Station to Jiangwai.

    And the subway transfer costs only five yuan in total.

    She still couldn''t click "call a car", she raised her eyes and saw Cheng Suran stopped, waiting for her by the side of the road, gritted her teeth, and followed her fate.

    There were a lot of people entering the station, Cheng Suran finally slowed down, and took Zhao Yihan to buy a ticket, pass through the turnstile with ease, and even grabbed a seat, which was naturally given to her.

    The two cousins did not speak along the way.

    About forty minutes later, they arrived at Jiangcheng University of Foreign Studies. Zhao Yihan followed Cheng Suran out, tired and hungry, and couldn''t help asking, "Where are we going to eat?"

    "Cafeteria."

    "Ah? This is my first time in Jiangcheng, won''t you treat me to some delicious food? Like special dishes? What can I eat in the cafeteria? I have been eating in college for four years."

    "I have no money."

    "..."

    Zhao Yihan stopped, and suddenly pushed the suitcase forward, "Cheng Suran, are you doing this on purpose?"

    The huge suitcase slid out and bumped into Cheng Suran. She staggered and nearly tripped. She stabilized her figure, turned her head, and looked straight into Zhao Yihan''s eyes.

    Don''t be cowardly, don''t be afraid.

    With a sullen face, she pinched her palm tightly with her fingers, and said word by word: "All the money I saved was used by aunt to treat grandma. You should know that I don''t have any money."

    "Either go to the cafeteria to get food, or you can go to a restaurant outside to eat by yourself, choose."

    "You..." Zhao Yihan''s lips trembled, and she couldn''t say a word for a long time.

    After a stalemate for a long time, her face turned blue and white, silently grabbed the handle of the suitcase, and reluctantly uttered three words: "Lead the way!"

    Cheng Suran turned around and continued walking.

    This time she walked very fast, as if trying to get rid of the person behind her.

    There was still a short distance from the school gate, Zhao Yihan gradually couldn''t keep up with her, so she took a few steps with the suitcase and took her arm, "Why are you walking so fast?"

    Cheng Suran struggled twice, trying to pull out her arm, but Zhao Yihan hugged her even tighter.

    "Let go."

    "I won''t, don''t try to get rid of me, I''m not familiar with this place."

    "..."

    She frowned and was about to speak when the phone vibrated in her pocket. Swallowing her words, she took the phone, and unlocked it.

    It''s a message from the benefactor.

    Sister: [Who is the person next to you?]

 CH 15

    Seeing the words on the screen, Cheng Suran was startled, raised her head suddenly, and looked around.

    Not far away, there was a long queue of cars in front of the intersection. Just at this time, the red light turned green, and a black Cadillac drove towards their side, across a green belt. It slowed down, but did not stop, and just passed her slowly then accelerated again.

    The rear windows were closed tightly, and only the outlines of the people inside could be vaguely glimpsed.

    A familiar number plate.

    It was the car she had been in!

    Elder sister?

    Seeing it gradually go away, Cheng Suran felt a little uneasy, and couldn''t help thinking of that night, maybe it would be the same situation, right? Her sister saw her from the car...

    "What are you looking at?" Zhao Yihan pulled her hard, "Hurry up, I''m going to starve to death."

    Cheng Suran came back to her senses, continued to walk forward with her legs mechanically, bowed her head and replied: [It''s my cousin.]

    After thinking about it, she added in detail:

    [She came to Jiangcheng to look for a job, I picked her up today.]

    "Stop playing with your phone, can you please hurry up?" Zhao Yihan urged her tightly, her voice was full of anxiety, and the hand that was holding her turned into pulling her.

    Cheng Suran had no choice but to put the phone back in her pocket.

    ....

    There are fewer dishes in the cafeteria on weekends, but there are not as many people as usual, so you can sit and eat slowly.

    Cheng Suran bought Zhao Yihan a seven-yuan menu, where she could choose two meat dishes and one vegetable dish, and swipe her meal card to eat a five-yuan meal. She hid the meal card tightly, afraid that her cousin would ask her to buy something again. People like her who are weak-willed and easy to soften their hearts are used to being manipulated since childhood.

    She couldn''t let her cousin know that she had savings, and she didn''t believe that she didn''t have any money with her.

    The meal was not very pleasant.

    After coming out of the cafeteria, full and comfortable, Zhao Yihan took out a small mirror to fix her lipstick while squinting at her younger sister, and said with a sneer, "Why are you still so stupid? You''ve been studying in college for nothing? Haven''t you learned from your classmates or roommates how to dress up? When you go out to work, you will look like a student, easy to bully."

    The two walked side by side on the wide tree-lined road. The dense branches and leaves above their heads blocked a lot of sunlight, and the surrounding area was cool and shady.

    Cheng Suran didn''t answer, and looked down at her phone frequently. Although her face was plain, her facial features were small and delicate, and she had a good bone structure, so she could be noticed at a glance even if she was mixed in the crowd.

    Not like the Cheng family at all.

    This was what her aunt once said.

    Seeing that she didn''t respond, Zhao Yihan felt that it was boring. After finishing applying her lipstick, she looked in the mirror again, and casually said: "Hey, how big is the bed in your dormitory? Is it enough for two people to sleep?"

    "Why do you ask this?" Cheng Suran was instantly alert.

    "I''ll go to your dormitory to squeeze in, so I don''t have to rent a room outside."

    "You can''t."

    There are currently only three people living in the dormitory, and one bed is vacant. In fact, as long as she obtains the consent of her roommate, it is okay for her cousin to live in for a while. But the relationship between her roommates is awkward, so it is easy to cause extra problems, and the matters she take care by herself, will be out of control, so she can''t take this risk.

    "Why not? Generally, the beds in schools are 1.2 meters, and the two of us are not fat. What''s wrong with being crowded?" Zhao Yihan said as a matter of fact.

    "It''s inconvenient."

    "Why is it inconvenient? We are all girls. Tell your roommate about it, I won''t live there forever."

    Before waiting for the reply from the benefactor, Cheng Suran was upset, irritated by the noise, and said angrily: "Can''t you rent a house?"

    Zhao Yihan was stunned by the yelling, and looked at her in disbelief, as if looking at a stranger.

    "You...what the hell! I need to pass the interview first before considering renting a house. You must be aware of this even before you graduate! And it''s not so easy to rent a satisfactory house. I also want to save money!"

    "You only think about yourself, and leave all the trouble to me."

    "Then you mean that I have to solve everything by myself and can''t ask you for help?"

    Again, that confident look.

    Cheng Suran thought about living in her aunt''s house all these years, enduring everything, going along with it, not having a temper, and no matter what her cousin did to her or asked her to do, Cheng Suran felt sad and disgusted.

    She hates her unreasonableness, her self-righteousness, and her own way of doing things.

    Because these are things she doesn''t have.

    "Why can''t you solve it by yourself?" Cheng Suran smiled, "You are two years older than me, and you are a person who needs to work. I, a student who you said has not yet graduated, came here alone. Aren''t you embarrassed?"

    She didn''t know where the courage came from. In the past, she would not dare to speak to her cousin like this.

    Zhao Yihan was enraged, and stretched out her hand to push her shoulder hard, "Don''t you just hate my mother for not paying your tuition? Why? Our family has raised you for so many years, it''s all benevolence! If it weren''t for you..."

    The voice became louder and louder, and teachers and students passing by occasionally looked sideways.

    Cheng Suran''s heart trembled slightly, and her momentum softened instantly.

    It was her aunt who raised her, and she took up the resources that should belong to her cousin, even though it was only a small part. Conscience is a cold and hard iron chain that binds her tightly.

    "I''ll ask again, will you let me live in the dormitory?" Zhao Yihan threatened in a low voice.

    Cheng Suran shook his head with difficulty: "No."

    "Okay, after two years of being out, your wings have hardened, so don''t go home for the rest of your life!" Zhao Yihan pointed at her nose and cursed, then pulled the suitcase away in frustration.

    Cheng Suran looked at her back, heaved a sigh of relief, turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

    Home?

    She has no home.

    That''s not her house, it''s someone else''s roof, someone else''s fence.

    For the past two years, she lived alone outside, studying while working part-time and owed loans. She held on and survived, only to realize that she could have strength and grow wings.  Only now her wings are not strong enough to fly by herself.

    But that day won''t be long.

    At night, the city lights up brightly.

    A small white car slowly approached the side door of the hotel and came to a stop. Cheng Suran got out of the car, thanked the driver, and took the elevator up to the twenty-seventh floor.

    Swiping the card, pushing the door, and voices came from the living room.

    She paused.

    The woman stands in front of the octagonal window, sideways, with long hair pulled low, holding a mobile phone in one hand, and the other in her trousers pocket. The sleeves are slightly rolled up, revealing a small half of her slender white wrist. The mouse gray silk shirt is unbuttoned in two holes on the top.

    It was drizzling outside the window, and the overhead light cast a warm color on her body.

    She is speaking fluent English with the person on the phone.

    Hearing the sound, Jiang Yu turned around, her eyes touched the girl standing by the door, her distant brows softened a bit, she beckoned to her, then speeded up her speech, said a few polite words, and hung up.

    "Sister," Cheng Suran obediently stood in front of her, "When did you come back?"

    "It hasn''t been long."

    With a faint smile on the corner of Jiang Yu''s lips, she stretched out her hand to brush the broken hair by the girl''s ear, "I passed by your school at noon today and saw you at the gate."

    "..."

    "Is she really your cousin?"

    "Uh-huh."

    Jiang Yu nodded lightly: "That''s good."

    Cheng Suran was startled.

    What''s that supposed to mean?  It''s good to be a cousin, so not being a cousin means it''s not good? What''s wrong with that? Why?  Would sister pay attention to such a thing? A series of thoughts were bubbling in her mind, and she didn''t know whether it was nervousness or something else, but she suddenly jumped very fast.

    Could it be¡ª

    Without waiting for her to think more wildly, Jiang Yu said again: "Follow the terms of the agreement, remember, don''t cause trouble for me."

    Calm to indifferent tone.

    Her heartbeat seemed to freeze for a second, and the rhythm slowed down instantly. Cheng Suran gave a low "Oh" and pressed her lips together.

    It turned out to be because of this...

    Cold but realistic.

    The girl''s drooping eyelashes are thick and long, like thin moth wings, resting quietly under the eyelids. Jiang Yu looked down, and gently caressed her cheek with her slender fingers, as if comforting, but also like a habitual movement, which was unpredictable.

    Suddenly, she let go of her hand, turned and walked towards the coffee table, "Come here, kid."

    Cheng Suran followed.

    There was a silver square box next to the tea table, and the ribbon was tied into a beautiful bow, which looked like a gift. She suddenly thought of the set that were sold, and the luxury logo on the orange-red carton in the office.

    "Sister, this is?"

    "Gift."

    "..."

    "Open it and have a look." Jiang Yu raised her chin.

    Cheng Suran stood there without moving. After a long time, she whispered, "Sister, as I said before, don''t give me any more valuables."

    "It''s not a valuable item, just look at it."

    "Why?"

    She bit her lower lip, and stretched out her hand to unwrap it in doubt. The ribbon twitched, and it fell apart, tearing off the outer silver gift paper, revealing the box.

    It''s a brand new laptop.

    "Sister, you¡ª" Cheng Suran withdrew her hand like being electrocuted, turned her head to look at Jiang Yu, her eyes seemed to be aggrieved, but also seemed to complain, as if saying that she lied to her.

    The little face puffed up.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help raising the corners of her lips, and explained patiently: "It''s your necessities now, it can be used for several years, and it''s not expensive when converted to an average of every day."

    "But I have a laptop."

    "It''s time to change it."

    "It still works."

    "It will affect your learning efficiency."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran lowered her head slightly, thinking of her old laptop with peeling paint. Although it was a cheap second-hand and been used for two years, it is still usable and could meet her needs.

    But¡­

    How did sister know?

    Only on that nightmarish night, she brought the computer over and put it on the table. It has been a week since today, how could her "cold and realistic" benefactor keep the matter of the little pet in mind for so long.

    She couldn''t help herself from thinking wildly.

    Why?

    Seeing the girl lost in thought, Jiang Yu stretched out her hand to press on the packing box, bent her index finger, and tapped lightly, then seemed to say to herself: "Efficiency saves time, and time is the real valuable thing. You just use it to study well and let it play a value other than exchanging it for money, okay?

    After speaking, she took the girl''s hand and pressed it under her palm.

    The warm touch spread on the back of the hand.

    Cheng Suran raised her head, met Jiang Yu''s deep gaze, and caught a glimpse of the tenderness in those eyes. At that moment, she even thought that her sister was coaxing her.

    "Huh?" Jiang Yu hooked the girl''s shoulder with the other hand, and wrapped her into his arms, "Little friend, be obedient."

    After, she kissed her face.

    "...okay." Cheng Suran closed her eyes and breathed hard, her nose was filled with the fragrance of iris from the woman''s body.

    She seemed to like the smell.

    "Hey, go take a shower."

    "Okay."

    ....

    Coming out of the shower, Cheng Suran''s cheeks were flushed, her deer eyes were moist, as if she had drunk enough water, her whole body was like a pink and white peach.

    "Come on, kid, sister has something to tell you." Jiang Yu sat on the sofa and waved to her.

    She obediently walked over and sat down on Jiang Yu''s knee.

    Facing each other.

    From this angle, she was finally able to look down on Jiang Yu, from top to bottom, carefully.  She couldn''t help holding her face with her hands, moving her fingertips along the cold and hard contour lines, and then carefully sketched the facial features.

    Eyes, nose, lips.

    The makeup is very light, the eyebrows are drawn softly, the lip color is red with a brown tone, and a pair of narrow, cold and charming eyes are full of charm.

    So lovely.

    Suddenly, Jiang Yu grabbed her mischievous hand, brought it to her lips and kissed it, and said with a smile, "Will you continue to be a print model?"

    "What?"

    "Yesterday, the photographer sister liked you very much."

    "Let me consider it."

    Cheng Suran struggled to withdraw her hand, but Jiang Yu exerted a little force, and didn''t let it go. The two went back and forth, as if they were playing. Taking advantage of the girl''s inattention, Jiang Yu flipped around and held her down.

    The light above her head was blocked, and a dark shadow enveloped her.

    A hand grasped the chin.

    Breath slowly lingering over her.

    Suddenly, the memory of that night flashed in Cheng Suran''s mind, and she trembled uncontrollably, and whimpered in her throat.

    "What''s wrong?" Jiang Yu noticed something was wrong with her and raised her head.

 CH 16

    As soon as the words fell, Cheng Suran immediately came back to her senses, choked her throat, gripped the sofa tightly with her palms down, and forced herself to calm down.

    "I''m fine." She bit her lower lip and smiled.

    In an instant, her lips turned slightly white, and soon returned to pink, like a shining cherry. Jiang Yu lowered her head and kissed, her heart was hot.

    "Okay."

    Cheng Suran closed her eyes, and couldn''t help shaking again. Her fingers dug deep into the sofa, her nails were sore, but her limbs didn''t listen.

    The memory of that night is like a movie playing in her head, frame by frame is imprinted with incomparable clarity.

    Sister is really fierce.

    She was scared.

    She thought that after so many days, the emotions had long been forgotten, but as they got closer to each other, all the shadows buried in the bottom of her heart surged out, like a beast, crazily gnawing at her.

    But she couldn''t refuse.

    The long kiss squeezed out the air, they stopped for a moment, and turned into dense raindrops falling on her eyes and nose.

    Cheng Suran trembled more and more.

    Jiang Yu stopped again.

    "Is it cold?" She brushed the hair from the girl''s sideburns, her eyes were filled with fiery tenderness, her voice unconsciously carried a hint of pity, "Shall we go back to the room?"

    Room¡­

    Dim lights, humming sounds, helpless sobbing. She thought of all kinds of things and felt afraid.

    "I, I like this place better¡ª¡ª" Cheng Suran squeezed out a smile, the two small dimples were stiffly punctured, but her hands and feet were still twitching. She didn''t know that her eyes were already red.

    Until tears flickered and sour water vapor filled the air.

    She blinked quickly.

    Jiang Yu looked down at the girl with deep eyes, not knowing what she was thinking. Suddenly, she helped her up, "Are you scared?"

    "No." Cheng Suran shook her head repeatedly.

    "Liar."

    "Really no..."

    Before she finished speaking, tears fell. She was startled, turned her face away in a hurry, and wiped them away with her hands covered by her hair.

    Sure enough, she is a lying kid.

    A trace of helplessness flashed in Jiang Yu''s eyes, and her heart became a little heavy. She thought of that night. Although it had been several days, she vaguely remembered the child''s painful whimpers.

    At that time, all she could think about was the pleasure of domination and control.

    It''s like a little bird in the palm of your hand. When she is happy, she can look at the beautiful feathers of the bird and listen to its crisp singing voice. She likes it very much. When she is unhappy, she just needs to close her palms and use force to end the life of that bird.

    She used to love seeing little canary scared.

    Now¡­

    Did she take it too far?

    There was a sudden heat on her lips, and Jiang Yu came back to her senses. At some point, the child turned around and kissed her.

    "Sister," Cheng Suran put her arms around Jiang Yu, and blew into her ear, as if trying to take the initiative, "I''m not afraid, I think the sofa is pretty good."

    It''s a pity that she has too little experience, and her clumsy appearance makes one laugh.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help curling the corners of her mouth. Her heart softened a little, patted her on the back, and said softly, "Go to sleep."

    "Eh?"

    "Be good."

    Hearing her coaxing tone, Cheng Suran''s heart softened, she straightened her back, and mustered up the courage to look at her, "Sister¡ª¡ª"

    "Um?"

    "I didn''t do it on purpose."

    "I know," Jiang Yu smiled, and wiped away the wet tears from the corners of her eyes, "Sister is also tired today, so go to bed early."

    Those eyes are too deep, like a deep pool, and only a shallow layer with warmth can be seen on the surface, and further down, there is unfathomable solid ice.

    Cheng Suran stared at it for a moment, trying to find something out of it, but it was in vain.

    She didn''t know what she was expecting either.

    Will her sister coax her?

    Will she coax her as gently and patiently as the first time?

    She is easily satisfied, whether she is afraid or wronged, no matter how many emotions there are, as long as someone coaxes her, everything will be fine.

    Even if the next time is still not a long memory, the cycle repeats.

    But how could one expect the patron to coax her? Obviously she should take the initiative to please her instead.

    She shouldn''t feel wronged either.

    Everything she endured that night was the price she deserved to pay. Whether her sister will forgive her is still unknown, but she gave her a good face, and she forgot the lesson.

    "What''s the matter, kid?" Jiang Yu scratched the girl''s nose.

    Cheng Suran shook her head and whispered, "Nothing."

    "Go."

    "¡­¡­okay."

    She withdrew from Jiang Yu''s arms without saying good night, and went back to the room silently.

    The room became silent.

    Jiang Yu sat alone on the sofa, like a sculpture, motionless, the crystal ceiling light illuminated her lonely figure, and the warm color lost its luster.

    After a long time, she raised her hand and rubbed the center of her eyebrows, then got up and left.

    The next day, Cheng Suran was scolded by her aunt on the phone.

    The white-eyed wolf, who doesn''t know what is good or bad, who doesn''t know how to be grateful... are all words that have been said countless times. From childhood to adulthood, as long as she disobeyed a little, she would scold her head and face, and sometimes she would be beaten.

    Now that she escaped, her aunt couldn''t hit her, so she could only vent her anger by swearing on the phone.

    She listened quietly, numbly, without defending or refuting, and let the other party scold to her heart''s content, then hung up the phone, got up and took a shower.

    Sunday, cloudy, gray light suffused with coldness.

    Jiang Yu is not there.

    On the table was a computer with unwrapped paper, ribbons and gift paper scattered beside it, and a flat rectangular box standing alone.

    Cheng Suran stared at it blankly, stepped forward, and put her hand on the place where Jiang Yu''s hand lingered yesterday, as if she could still feel the warmth. Jiang Yu''s words rang in her ears again.

    Being more efficient saves time, and time is a real precious commodity... study hard.

    She chews repeatedly.

    Is sister thinking of her?

    The day before yesterday, she apologized to her sister in the office. She was emotional for a while and couldn''t control herself. She said a lot about what she did and what she didn''t. After crying, she regretted it. She shouldn''t be pretentious in front of the benefactor. The benefactor doesn''t need to consider the little pet''s idea of ??what gift she wants to give, and it''s not her place to dictate.

    However, when her sister tapped the computer and told her to study hard, she didn''t care if she was thinking too much. She just felt that her sister didn''t seem to think about it. In fact, she not only listened to her hypocritical words, but also put her mind into it.

    She picked something she needs, has long-term value, and has investment attributes.

    Are small pets worthy of such care by the sponsor?

    Cheng Suran couldn''t help but think wildly again.

    Recalling all these days, there is a trace of conflicting emotions in her heart. She couldn''t fathom her sister''s temper. Sometimes she was cruel and fierce, and sometimes gentle and meticulous. All her thoughts were just her own speculations and couldn''t be counted.

    Still, she should not think too much about it.

    She put away her thoughts, opened the paper box, took out the laptop, read the manual first, then turned it on, and followed the instructions step by step.

    After setting up the program, she took a photo and sent it to Jiang Yu.

    [Sister, I''ve set it up it.]

    [Thank you.]

    After breakfast, Cheng Suran went to school with a new laptop on her back.

    In the past weekends, she had to go out to work part-time to make ends meet, and she was always exhausted.  But now, she can make arrangements freely, so she cherishes it and spends the whole day in the library.

    The cloudy evening came early, and the sky began to darken after five o''clock.

    Cheng Suran came out of the library, looking at her phone while walking.  Penguin* is very lively, there are ninety-nine messages in class groups, department groups, and various part-time groups, but there are not many people active on WeChat, and it is dead silent.

    *QQ-it''s logo is a penguin, WC''s sibling SNS app

    The message sent to Jiang Yu in the morning was still lying alone in the chat box.

    She must''ve upset sister again yesterday.

    She sighed, put her phone back into her bag, and walked towards the school gate. Within two steps, she saw a few classmates she knew coming towards her.

    Her two roommates were among them.

    "Ranran¡ª" Ding Yuan saw her first, and waved her arms to say hello, "Where are you going?"

    "I''m going¡­ to eat."

    "We''re going to eat too, let''s go together."

    A few classmates didn''t speak, and looked at her peacefully, as if it didn''t matter is she joins or not.

    Only Li Meiling frowned.

    Cheng Suran is sensible, she knows to get a clue, so she smiled lightly, shook her head and said, "No, I have to go to the bank first."

    "Oh, I see."

    "Um."

    The group went ahead.

    The cool wind was blowing a bit cold, Cheng Suran quickened her pace, and walked out of the school gate, she habitually walked towards the corner, did not see the car, and walked a little further, only to see the small white car parked by the side of the road.

    She opened the back door and got into the car.

    Behind the telephone pole, one arm quietly raised a phone...

 CH 17

    As the night drew to a close, Binjiang River banks were brightly lit.

    A white sports car cruised through the night, with lights and shadows slanting, passing through the city center all the way to the Yunjin Lihua Hotel, and drove into the basement.

    Jiang Yu sat in the car for a while before getting up.

    It was quiet outside the suite.

    She pushed the door open.

    The indoor light is dim, and the huge projector screen emits a faint cold light. A movie is playing on it, but the subtitles at the bottom are covered, and only quiet French lines are heard from the speakers.

    Cheng Suran sat on the sofa with her head down, her lips opened and closed, as if she was talking to herself: "In June 1773, the crown prince and his wife came to Paris with great momentum, and people were very happy..." She said a series of Chinese lines.

    At the same time, a group of carriages and horses passing through the street appeared on the projector screen, and a lady in a rococo dress smiled and looked at the cheering crowd on the side of the road.

    She is interpreting simultaneously.

    Jiang Yu looked at the screen, then her eyes fell on the girl again, her indifferent brows and eyes were tinged with surprise.

    In the dark space, the cold light was like a fine mist, covering the girl''s slender and light limbs. Because she was too focused, she didn''t notice her coming in.

    After about ten minutes, she picked up the remote control and pressed pause, got up and walked to the screen, removed the cardboard covering the subtitles, then turned the volume to the minimum and continued playing.

    She stares at the screen and speaks lines in French.

    Jiang Yu stood in the shadow by the door, watching and listening quietly, the cold light of the screen reflected in her dark eyes, flickering slightly.

    Another ten minutes passed.

    Cheng Suran turned off the projector, lowered her head to fiddle with the computer, and was about to turn on the light. When she turned around and saw the person by the door, and flinched in fright, "Sister...you, when did you come back?"

    She thought her sister would not come back today.

    Jiang Yu didn''t answer, and walked over with a pair of long legs, "Is the laptop easy to use?"

    "Yeah, it''s very good." Cheng Suran nodded like pounding garlic.

    Jiang Yu raised the corners of her lips, and reached out to stroke the girl''s hair, with a gentle smile on her brows and eyes. Cheng Suran quietly observed her face, she seemed to be in a good mood, her eyes touched the softness, and she lost her thoughts for a moment.

    "Sister, are you not angry with me?"

    "Why should I be?"

    "Ah, never mind then." Cheng Suran shook her head with a smile, biting her lower lip, and the two little pear dimples curved happily,

    Her eyes are big, in the shape of warm apricots, like deer, filled with watery light, and under the light, her eyelashes are like trembling cicada wings.

    Jiang Yu stared at her for a moment, as if thinking about something, suddenly, she opened her arms and wrapped the girl in her arms, lowered her head slightly, and said softly, "Sleep in the master bedroom today."

    Cheng Suran hesitated for a moment, then nodded obediently: "Okay."

    A soft kiss landed on the side of her ear.

    "Good."

    Jiang Yu went to take a shower.

    Cheng Suran''s mind drifted for a while, then bent over to pack her things. She moved the books and the laptop back to her room, then sat on the sofa, got busy with some thoughts, while waiting.

    She is actually an emotional person, a little sensitive, and even a trivial matter can touch her tears, but she never cries in front of others, she just hides and cries secretly. She thought it was humiliating to be seen crying.

    But she has already lost face in front of her sister twice.

    Absolutely shouldn''t happen tonight.

    She is not afraid.

    After a while, the sound of water in the large bathroom stopped, and then the door opened, and Jiang Yu came out wearing only her underwear.

    Her hair is loose, light and comfortable, with excellent proportions, a pair of slender and straight legs, with tight and smooth lines, and a healthy and powerful beauty.

    People with waists have short legs, and people with long legs have no waists, but she has both.

    Cheng Suran stared straight at her.

    A subtle emotion swelled in her heart... She didn''t seem to have touched her sister yet, but would her sister allow it?

    When she was distracted, Jiang Yu had already returned to her room.

    Cheng Suran hurriedly followed.

    Only the desk lamp was on in the room, and the warm yellow light was soft, sparsely falling on the big bed, like a deep sea. She suddenly remembered that night, her shoulders trembled, and her footsteps paused slightly.

    Jiang Yu leaned against the head of the bed, wearing a wine-red nightgown, with slightly curly long hair hanging down, with one leg bent, like a cold and seductive beautiful snake.

    She seemed to see through the timidity in the girl''s heart.

    "Come over."

    "Okay."

    Cheng Suran climbed up from the other side, moved to her side, and looked at her obediently.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help laughing, stretched out her hand to grab the person over, pinched the small ear with his fingertips, "What do you think about being a model?

    Cheng Suran smelled the familiar fragrance on her body, relaxed her nerves, and said softly: "It''s okay, if sister will pay me."

    "Of course," Jiang Yu rubbed her earlobe and laughed, "How much do you want?"

    "According to the standard of ordinary models would be just fine."

    "No."

    "Why?"

    Jiang Yu lowered her head and pecked the girl''s lips, and said in a doting tone: "Others are ordinary, but you are sister''s little friend."

    Cheng Suran''s heart jumped suddenly, as if being rushed into the vortex by the rapids, she felt dizzy and lost her direction.

    She murmured: "Then am I special?"

    "Yes."

    "!"

    "Tomorrow afternoon, go directly to the company after class and wait for me in the office. The door lock code is 060212, and there are snacks in the drawer of the coffee table, specially prepared for you, please don''t run around, you know?" Jiang Yu said in an overly low voice  The voice is a bit magnetic, and there is an irresistible temptation.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t help but put her arms around Jiang Yu, "Okay."

    They stared at each other in silence, the air they breathe gradually merged together, and the fragrance of iris and sweet milk fermented in the warm yellow light.

    She saw the flames burning in Jiang Yu''s eyes, and heard her heart beat faster in her chest.

    The shadows entrenched in her heart faded.

    It''s just that the thoughts are getting stronger and stronger, but there is no action.

    Cheng Suran thought she was waiting for her, so she freed her hand and pulled off the tie, winked at Jiang Yu, and said tentatively: "Sister¡ª¡ª"

    Jiang Yu grabbed her hand.

    "Let''s rest early today."

    "?"

    Cheng Suran opened her eyes wide.

    The loosened robe only shook. Jiang Yu glanced at it, pressed her thoughts, then tied it back quietly, and lowered her head and pecked lightly.

    "Um--"

    This time, she couldn''t stop.

    She seemed to be drowning, dizzy, and the silent space was filled with chaotic heartbeats.

    Repeatedly, enthusiastically and for a long time.

    "Are you afraid of me?" A soft voice suddenly came from next to her ear, Jiang Yu leaned back and remained still.

    Cheng Suran shook her head in a daze: "I''m not afraid."

    Jiang Yu''s breathing gradually became a little heavy, as if holding back something, she took a deep breath, wanted to tell her not to be afraid, but worried about scaring the kid more, so she coaxed, "Don''t be afraid, sister likes you the most."

    With Cheng Suran, the game of control she once loved couldn''t bring her joy, but only let her taste frustration.

    She doesn''t want the kid to be afraid of her, just like she is tired of the old games.

    She wants this obedient bird to play freely in her palm.

    For herself.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran was so confused that she forgot all shadows and fears.

    She took the initiative to put her arms around Jiang Yu''s shoulders.

    But Jiang Yu stopped her in time, pulled the quilt piled up next to them, wrapped them up, and lay down quietly hugging her like this, brushing the messy hair on her face with the palm of her hand, "Hey, go to sleep."

    Cheng Suran was stunned, and suddenly woke up.

    Could sister be accommodating her?

    Otherwise, now completely... She couldn''t help but think about it again.

    Why?

    "I can''t sleep." Cheng Suran boldly grabbed that hand and kissed the palm.

    Jiang Yu froze for a moment, pulled out her hand, hugged her, and patted her back lightly, "Lie down for a while and you will fall asleep."

    The embrace is very warm, surrounded by the familiar scent she likes, full of a sense of security. In her memory, she had never been hugged to sleep before, and her heart that hadn''t calmed down was beating non-stop, and the sound was extremely clear under the silence.

    The desk lamp suddenly went out.

    It went dark all around.

    Cheng Suran subconsciously hugged Jiang Yu tightly, "Sister¡ª¡ª"

    "Hmm, I''m here."

    "I like you the most, too."

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak.

 CH 18

    Cheng Suran doesn''t remember how she fell asleep. In the haze, she only felt surrounded by a reassuring warmth.

    When she woke up, Jiang Yu was gone again.

    That Monday, the class was full, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, from dawn to sunset. She changed four classrooms throughout the day.

    When the bell rang for the last class, the class committee yelled loudly before everyone left:

    "Those who want to sign up for two competitions come to my side to register--"

    "Be active! The second class next door registered seven people, and there are only three in our class. This may be the last time you participate in activities at school. You may not have time for senior year next year. Don''t leave any regrets for your college life!"

    The school holds many activities every year, with different scales. In addition to the sports meeting and New Year''s Day party, the most grand activities are the Top Ten Singer Contest and Fashion Show Contest, which are often held by the end of October, and registration preparations begin two months in advance.

    Classmates, you look at me, I look at you, laughing and joking:

    "I''ve asked around, four people in class 2 signed up for the Fashion Show, and the rest in the Top Ten singers,  the same as our class, a tie."

    "Hmm, whoever puts the tall ones in the second class doesn''t count."

    "I want to apply for the Fashion Show. But with my height, I''m afraid that the clothes will drag me away when I go on stage?"

    "Ha ha ha ha¡­"

    Everyone laughed together.

    Cheng Suran was sitting in the corner, packing her books, the world around her seemed to have nothing to do with her.

    "Ranran¡ª" Ding Yuan approached at some point, "Aren''t you going to apply for the singing competition?"

    "I remember hearing you sing in the dormitory, it was very nice."

    "...It''s just for self-entertainment, not on stage." Cheng Suran smiled lightly, with a habitual indifference in her tone.  She was preoccupied about going to her sister''s office, and after she finished speaking, she hurriedly left through the back door.

    She arrived at the company before dark.

    It was the end of working hours, and the employees in the building went out one after another. Cheng Suran passed them all the way unimpeded, attracting many probing eyes.

    She silently entered the elevator, went upstairs, and came to the door of Jiang Yu''s office.

    060212, she entered the password successfully.

    In that instant, in a flash of lightning, she thought, could this string of numbers have any special meaning? But she didn''t know Jiang Yu at all, so she had no way to guess, and could only dismiss the idea.

    There was no one in the office, the floor-to-ceiling windows were half open, and the cool wind blew the curtains slightly.

    There is a small photo frame on the table, and there is a single photo embedded in it - Jiang Yu is standing on the green lawn, holding a Corgi in her arms, with a warm and confident smile on her face, wearing the most plain and simple white tee and jeans.  A sense of sophistication.

    The time stamp on the lower right corner indicated it was eight years ago.

    Cheng Suran looked at it for a while, then turned around and walked to the sofa to sit down.

    She opened the drawer, and found there were indeed many snacks inside, her eyes lit up. Squid slices, rusks, strawberry crisps, seaweed rolls... She has never eaten any of them, and she wants to try them all.

    She seldom ate snacks since she was a child, and the only few times her cousin was willing to share them with her was a blessing.

    After she came out to study, she was forced to make a living, and even became more reluctant to spend money on it.

    But, now, can she have so much?

    So happy!

    Cheng Suran closed the drawer, got up and went to the small bathroom behind the sofa to wash her hands, and use the toilet. Just when she turned off the faucet, she heard the door slamming outside.

    She was about to move.

    Then, a sound of footsteps came in, like two people.

    "Are you getting used to the new agent?" Jiang Yu''s voice was soft and thin, and there seemed to be a smile in her tone.

    After two seconds of silence, another strange woman''s voice: "It''s all good, Sister Na is our chief broker after all, she has a lot of resources, and I am the best, a strong match." The tone was relaxed and sounded very young.

    Cheng Suran held her breath.

    Is she supposed to go out now? Sister is talking about work with someone. Would it be embarrassing to go out at this time? But not going out seems to be eavesdropping on purpose... She was a little confused, so she quietly looked out.

    It was dark, and the lights in the room were turned on.

    Jiang Yu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, with her arms crossed, body slightly sideways, with her long hair hooked behind her ears, revealing a cold and bony side profile, which looked a bit sharp.

    The other person is next to her, who is also tall but also has a cold and arrogant appearance, her eyes are especially enchanting and soft, like a fox, and seem to discharge electricity when they move between eyebrows.

    "Sister Yu, it''s really tiring to go to the auditions. When will I stop doing this..."

    "When you stop being a model." Jiang Yu interrupted softly.

    "..."

    Bai Lu blinked, tilted her head and smiled: "Shouldn''t it be when I''m like you?" After speaking, she took her arm affectionately.

    Their jet-black hair was tangled together.

    This time there is no strong perfume smell.

    Jiang Yu tilted her head, looked at her like looking at a child, and said helplessly: "Any model, no matter how good the qualifications are, no matter how famous they are, they have to go to auditions before going on the show, including me."

    In a daze, she remembered that when she first arrived in Paris, she was alone, unable to understand the language, isolated and without any resources, so she could only go to the door to find clients with films and magazines, and "sell" herself one by one.

    Being rejected, discriminated against, humiliated again and again...

    Because she has tasted that kind of bitterness and knows the importance of opportunities, she doesn''t want the people she cultivates to taste it again.

    "I know," Bai Lu stuck out her tongue, "I just want to blow rainbow farts* to you."

    *flatteries

    Jiang Yu stretched out her index finger and poked her on the forehead, "If you only eat the rice cake that your mouth can reach, you will be the one who starved to death."

    *you''ll hurt yourself because of laziness, an idiom that originated from a folktale about a man who is too lazy to eat. One day his mother was going on a long trip, so she made him a big piece of pancake, made a hole and put it around the man''s neck and told him to bow his head and take a bite when he gets hungry. Unexpectedly, when the mother came back, the lazy man was already dying of hunger. When the mother saw that the cake was still on his neck, taking a closer look, he only ate as far as his mouth could reach.

    "Yeah, I understand."

    Bai Lu''s eyes were fixed on her bright red lips, her throat moved and she tilted slightly, but at this moment, Jiang Yu''s cell phone rang, and she picked it up.

    "Um. I''m in the office. Not yet. Good."

    After talking for a few minutes, she hung up. She opened WeChat again, and the screen was tilted to one side.

    "Sister Yu¡ª"

    "Um?"

    "I''ve been obedient recently, do you want to give me some reward?" Bai Lu hugged her, and stretched her gaze to snoop.

    But she only saw the head of a little penguin.

    The screen goes off.

    Tsk.

    Jiang Yu raised her eyes, "What reward do you want?"

    "Hmm¡ª" she snorted, rubbed her ear against Jiang Yu''s hair, and said something uncertain, "Cover resource?"

    "Okay."

    "At least one of the ''Big Three'' must be single-handed." Bai Lu added.

    She refers to the three most influential fashion magazines in China, "Fashion Color", "Zero Degree" and "Most Fashionable".

    Jiang Yu became silent.

    Seeing that she didn''t speak, Bai Lu thought it was because she didn''t agree or was out of action, and she was a little anxious. The hand on her shoulder moved up unconsciously, and put it around her neck, "Sister Yu... am I your favorite little fox?"

    "Yes."

    "Do you like me?" She blinked softly.

    "Yes."

    Jiang Yu looked at her and smiled. She didn''t mind her slightly overstepping movements. Her expression became more gentle. She raised his hand to lift up the broken hair on her sideburns, and said calmly and firmly: "Be calm, don''t be impatient, the cover will be yours."

    The smile didn''t penetrate into her cold eyes.

    "Of course, Sister Yu is the best." Bai Lu was so happy that she almost went to kiss her.

    But she just tilted her head, stopping herself, and brushed her lips gently against her hair.

    From an oblique rear angle, it looked like a kiss.

    At least in Cheng Suran''s view.

    The bathroom was small and the lights were not turned on. She hid in the dark, leaning against the wall, her eyes stretched out through the gap, and fell straight to the sides of the two hugging people.

    The nerves in the whole body seemed to be stimulated, and the tingling sensation climbed up her tailbone.

    Her mind went blank.

    ¡­.

    Not long after, Bai Lu left.

    Jiang Yu was still standing in front of the window, looking at the scenery in the distance, looking down at her phone from time to time, frowning slightly, as if she was waiting for someone.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran walked out in time.

    The woman turned around and stared.

    "You were here?"

    "Um."

    Jiang Yu raised her brows slightly.

    Cheng Suran bit her lower lip and explained in a low voice: "I wanted to wash my hands before eating snacks. When I was about to go out, you came in. I didn''t hide it on purpose, nor did I mean to listen to you, to see you..."

    The voice suddenly froze.

    The picture she saw just now flashed in her mind. Her heart seemed to be stuffed into a ball of cotton soaked in water, stuffy, damp, feeling like she couldn''t breathe.

    Sister just said last night that she likes her the most...

    She puffed up her face.

    Jiang Yu looked at the girl quietly, without any emotion in her eyes, and was about to say something when a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and she raised her eyes.

    "Is Little sister here?" Qi Yan came in and her eyes fell on Cheng Suran with precision.

    She smiled.

    "Hello, little sister, my name is Qi Yan, I am the photographer here. The main reason I invited you here today is..." After a brief introduction, Qi Yan went straight to the point and made a gesture of invitation signaling Cheng Suran to sit down.

    As she spoke, she took out the contents of the file bag.

    She simply ignored Jiang Yu, the boss.

    Today is the time for the two parties to discuss the shooting of a photo book. Qi Yan introduced the concept of the whole series and the theme ideas of different periods to Cheng Suran. She spoke very fast, as if she was in a hurry to do something.

    Cheng Suran sat opposite her stiffly, a little absent-minded.

    "That''s about it, do you understand?" Qi Yan asked suddenly.

    She blinked blankly: "What?"

    "..."

    Jiang Yu, who had been ignored all this time, suddenly ordered: "Speak slowly and explain it to her again."

    She walked to Cheng Suran and sat down.

    Cheng Suran turned her head and glanced at her, only seeing her cold side profile, her brows and eyes were light and emotionless, as if she would never be able to get close.

    But just now she tucked her hair for that strange woman.

    So gentle, so natural.

    Cheng Suran''s nose became sore.

    "Well, the photobook will be a series, divided into eight issues in total, and each issue has a theme..." Qi Yan slowed down her speech and re-explained, her gossiping eyes swept back and forth between Jiang Yu and the girl. After finishing speaking, she tutted twice.

    Jiang Yu looked back at her calmly, and said in a calm tone, "What are you rushing for?"

    "Qiao Qiao is waiting for me downstairs."

    "..."

    "Anyway, she''s one of your own people so I won''t be too polite, goodbye." When Qi Yan talked about her own people, she looked at Cheng Suran for two more seconds, her eyes meant something, and there was a bright smile in her pair of peach blossom eyes.

    She got up and exited the office, closing the door intimately.

    There was silence.

    The cold white overhead light shone down, and the light and shadow were sparse, casting a cool color on the two sitting quietly.

    "Elder sister."

    Jiang Yu didn''t respond, but turned her head, her dark eyes were calm and dull.

    Cheng Suran looked at her, with lips turning white. She looked at her silently for a while, and then she mustered up the courage to ask, "Do you have any other lovers?"

 CH 19

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    As soon as these words fell, the room fell into silence again.

    Jiang Yu looked down at the girl with a dull expression, which was hard to fathom.

    There was a long silence.

    Cheng Suran then realized that she was staring at those snake cold eyes, and when she came back to her senses, she realized that she had asked such an outrageous question.

    Sister is just her benefactor...

    Do you have any other lovers? How many? Are they prettier than her or more sister-like than her? These are all private matters of the patron, and it''s not her right to ask them. She''s only been a cute little canary for a few days, and she''s starting to be ignorant again.

    Cheng Suran lowered her eyes and bit her lip.

    She was wrong.

    She hopes sister doesn''t think she''s annoying.

    Suddenly, there was a chuckle in her ear: "What did you say?"

    "I..." Cheng Suran raised her eyes, fixedly looked into Jiang Yu''s eyes, and pretended to smile meaninglessly, "That is sister''s privacy, it has nothing to do with me."

    "Don''t you really want to know?"

    "Not at all."

    Two small dimples appear.

    Jiang Yu stopped talking, just smiled lightly, and looked at her quietly, with a playful look in her eyes.

    She suddenly approached the girl''s ear, her red lips parted slightly: "Are you jealous?"

    Cheng Suran was startled.

    Jealous?

    Dim emotions welled up in her heart, as if walking through a fog, only a blur could be seen. She seemed to be hit by something, and there was a buzzing in her head.

    The girl''s eyes were dull, her small mouth was half-open, and she looked soft and cute. Jiang Yu hugged her and lowered her head to kiss those lips.

    "Um--"

    Warm and moist, like a sweet fudge.

    With her eyes closed, countless little lovers flashed through her mind, each face was blurry, only the sound of "sister" left traces in her heart, but they were just piled up, and she couldn''t tell whose voice was whose.

    Lovers should not be jealous.

    Lovers don''t deserve to be jealous.

    Lovers only need money.

    Lovers only deserve money.

    However, she really hasn''t felt this kind of emotion for a long time, and the last time was when she was seriously in love. In her heart, the wasteland that had been lifeless for a long time poured into a stream of sweet spring, which gave her stimulation and pleasure.

    She is someone who needs freshness and excitement.

    "Um sister¡ª"

    "Do not talk."

    Jiang Yu deepened the kiss.

    Fierce enthusiasm engulfed Cheng Suran, she was snuggled into Jiang Yu''s arms, firmly restrained and could not escape, her heart was shaking violently in her chest, it was unclear whether it was because of the air being squeezed out or because of inexplicable throbbing.

    The scene before her eyes suddenly flashed back...

    A rush of hot blood rushed to the top of her head, she was dizzy, her whole face was hot, and the corners of her eyes were red.

    She wanted to suppress the bitterness with the good memory of last night, but before she had time to recollect it carefully, Jiang Yu let her go, and then poured a basin of cold water down her head.

    "You violated the terms of the agreement today."

    "I won''t be lenient next time."

    Cheng Suran breathed out with slightly parted lips, leaning on the sofa like mud, the light in her eyes dimmed, "Well... I''m sorry, sister, I will pay attention to it in the future."

    She squeezed out a cute smile.

    "Good."

    "..."

    "Is there class the day after tomorrow?"

    "I have two classes in the afternoon."

    Jiang Yu caressed the girl''s fair face with one hand, hooked the girl''s back with the other hand, exerted a little force, and pulled her closer to her, "There will be a rehearsal for a fashion show the morning after tomorrow, do you want to go together?"

    Giving a slap and a sweet date.

    She is very good at it.

    Cheng Suran''s lashes trembled slightly, and she said in a daze, "I... can I?"

    "Of course." Jiang Yu lowered her head and pecked at her ear, exhaling faintly, "Sister likes you."

    There was a gentle smile in those narrow and cold eyes.

    Cheng Suran''s heart skipped a beat.

    Like a thundering cannon; gorgeous fireworks exploded in her mind, but in just a few seconds, the trajectory disappeared, and the small world returned to darkness.

    She''s just a canary.

    Just as she was about to speak, the phone rang again. Jiang Yu let go of Cheng Suran in her arms, took the phone, got up and went to the window to answer it.

    Two or three minutes later, Jiang Yu hung up the phone and returned to the sofa, the mischievous expression just now was gone, and replaced by a poker face. She said: "Go back to the hotel, I will pick you up at eight o''clock in the morning the day after tomorrow."

    "Sister, won''t you go back?"

    "Go home."

    "..."

    Hearing the word "go home", a certain corner of Cheng Suran''s heart was pricked, and there was a look of envy in her eyes. She stood up and put on her bag, "Okay, good night, sister."

    After two steps, she suddenly remembered something and turned back.

    "What''s wrong?" Jiang Yu raised her brows.

    Cheng Suran looked at the coffee table drawer, bit her lower lip, and said a little shyly: "Sister, can I take the snacks home?"

    She didn''t eat a bite.

    Seeing her greedy look, Jiang Yu couldn''t help smiling. Turning around, she walked to the cabinet and took a plastic bag, squatted down, put all the snacks in the drawer into it, and handed it to her, "If you like it, I will buy it for you every day in the future."

    "Thank you sister."

    "Go."

    The day after tomorrow is sunny.

    The rehearsal location for the big show is in Jiangcheng Art Museum, which is located along the riverside and close to the city center.  The white-painted domed marble building, twelve arched gates, each carved with different patterns, looks like an ancient castle.

    This is the landmark building of Jiangcheng.

    At 8:30, a car stopped at the side entrance of the art gallery, and Cheng Suran got off behind Jiang Yu, next to Assistant Tian and another assistant she didn''t know.

    A group of people passed through the main hall through the side door after verification.

    The main hall is the show venue, and the lighting, scenery, T stage, seats, etc. have been properly arranged. The ice-snow ocean style is dominated by blue and white tones, and the dreamy atmosphere has a great sense of design. Due to the rehearsal, there were only a few staff members who were adjusting the equipment in the hall.

    Cheng Suran had never seen such a scene before, she was a little nervous, trying to show a natural look on her face.

    Backstage, most of the models are there.

    All of them are 1.8 meters tall, with long legs and excellent proportions. Among them are well-known super-A models, and there are also newcomers who have stood out in the past two years.

    Everyone looked at Jiang Yu in unison.

    Jiang Yu greeted them casually, turned around, and went into the next room. She pointed to Cheng Suran and said to her personal assistant: "Xiao Zhou, take her to the seat."

    "Okay." Xiao Zhou nodded, "Miss Cheng, come with me."

    Cheng Suran glanced at Jiang Yu, and obediently followed Xiao Zhou to leave.

    There were more people in the main hall than before, and there were a few men and women in neat suits standing on the side of the show talking, walking backstage while talking. The big background screen displays the brand name and trademark - Yiweier.

    "!"

    Cheng Suran knew this brand since she was a child, and she had the impression that it was expensive, very expensive, and an ordinary windbreaker cost several thousand yuan. It was the kind that she wouldn''t go in if she saw a store in the mall.

    "Miss Cheng, let''s sit here." Xiao Zhou led her to the middle of the second row facing the show.

    "Oh, okay."

    The two sat down, and there were people chatting beside them, whether it was the staff or the onlookers. After listening to a few words, Cheng Suran turned around and asked quietly, "Sister Zhou, what is a ''main show model''?"

    "The first or last model to appear."

    "Then sister is the main show model today?"

    "Yes," Xiao Zhou nodded, and added, "Ms. Jiang is not accepting the lead shows of non-big brands."

    "Why?"

    "It''s a waste of time."

    "Oh."

    Cheng Suran couldn''t help thinking of the information on the encyclopedia.

    She almost forgot that her sister is such an excellent person...

    At nine o''clock, the rehearsal began.

    The models appeared one by one, wearing their daily clothes, and walking on the stage. There is no lighting rendering, no clothing modification, only music nodes, and the skill of the stage steps is clear at a glance.

    Expressionless faces flashed past Cheng Suran''s eyes.

    Jiang Yu was the last one to come out.

    She was wearing the white V-neck blouse she wore when she came here, long sleeves and half pull-ups, crab shell green high-waisted trousers, a wide dark brown belt around her waist, and ten centimeter high heels, making a stunning appearance.

    Like a high-ranking queen and a charging warrior, she has a cold expression, but there is a confident and unruly temperament in her brows and eyes, as if she is in control of all living beings, exuding a sense of sophistication casually and effortlessly.

    She stepped on the music nodes steadily, step by step, with a strong aura.

    Cheng Suran was astounded.

    Holding her breath, her heart beat faster and faster, she bit her lip and let it go, opening it slightly, until she was a little out of breath, and then slowly exhaled a deep breath.

    There is no need to set a fixed point for walking, Jiang Yu conveniently landed without stopping, turned around, and walked back.

    Cheng Suran snapped back suddenly.

    She forgot to take a photo!

    She hurriedly raised her phone, but it was too late, and only a slender and upright figure was left in the camera.

    Next, there will be the second and third rounds. Cheng Suran has a long memory, staring at the show stage intently, and took more than 30 photos in a row. In the final round, the models changed into clothes from the brand.

    She switched the camera to video mode, silently counting the models while waiting.

    Suddenly, the phone vibrated several times.

    Three penguin messages.

    Cheng Suran frowned, lowered and raised her head, looking at the show stage worriedly, lowered her head again, and clicked on the penguin.

    It was a message from her roommate Ding Yuan.

    [Ranran, look at the school forum!]

    [Someone posted about you!]

    [Link: Class 1 of the French Department, Su Ran is being raised*, click for the real hammer**¡ª¡ª]

    *being raised - being sponsored, since she has become a pet to be raised.

    **real hammer - evidence, the origin of this term is unclear, although it¡¯s possibly related to the scenario in which a judge bangs a gavel against its wooden striking base before announcing a verdict.

 CH 20

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    Cheng Suran''s  fingers froze then clicked on the link. The page jumped to the school forum. The loading was delayed for two seconds. She held her breath, her heart hanging in her throat.

    The post is displayed, the host ID is "Little Xiami", and the time of posting was past nine o''clock last night.

    First post: The old rule is not to spam, so wait for me to put the hammer down slowly.

    Second post: [photo][photo], she stayed at school during the summer vacation, and often went in and out of this nightclub, just ask anyone who has stayed in Jiangcheng for more than three months, who doesn''t know the patron traffic of this club. And a nightclub, what kind of people go to nightclubs? I don''t need to say more, see it yourself.

    Third post: [Photo], she often takes this car after the school started, don¡¯t tell me about online car-hailing, it¡¯s impossible for her to take it every day. She¡¯s not a local, it''s unlikely for a family member come to pick her up, besides, if it''s a family, she should''ve taken the passenger¡¯s seat.

    Fourth post: [Photo][Photo], here comes the important point. A few nights ago, this car drove to the small road next to Yunjin Lihua Hotel, only a few meters away from the underground parking lot, and the hotel gate is in front, tsk tsk tsk.

    Fifth post: [photo] [photo], she is in the library, her laptop is new, this brand model is more than 10,000. Can someone on a stipend afford this?

    Sixth post: By the way, she hasn''t returned to the dormitory once since the beginning of school. Combined with the photos I posted earlier, she suddenly became abnormal. You smell it, have you thought about it carefully?

    There are only a few posts, which are very harsh.

    Cheng Suran looked at those photos and words, her hands and feet were cold for a moment, and she felt a firework exploding above her head, making her whole body numb.

    The surroundings seemed to quiet down, no rhythm of music, no whispers.

    Her mind went blank for a few minutes, and the only thought that flashed through her was that she had caused trouble, and then she realized later, who is the original poster? How did she get these photos? What is she going to do?

    Sliding down, many people left messages and threads.

    [The front row sells melon seeds and peanut, and mineral water*]

    *melon - gossip, melon seed eaters/sellers - gossipers, not sure about peanut and mineral water, but they probably denote the same.

    [Wow, the one in our class who''s quite aloof, usually elusive, I didn''t expect she has this kind of melon*?]

    [Isn''t she the department flower* selected in the poll last time]

    *most beautiful in the department

    [This thread post is just for OP''s boring self-entertainment, there are few photos, and the department flower can''t be seen, just take a look]

    [Shouldn''t a luxury car pick you up if you are sponsored? This car is too shabby]

    Most of the people were eating melons to watch the excitement, and some people speculated that the original poster had a grudge against Cheng Suran.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head, her fingers scrolled faster and faster, tears rolled in her eyes, and her vision was so blurred that she couldn''t see the words on the screen clearly.  Finally, she backed out.

    As soon as her cheeks became hot, liquid slid down.

    She was pulled back to the real world in an instant, the sound of music and the conversation around her came back, she raised her hand and quickly wiped her face, lowered her head, tapped the screen of her phone randomly with her fingertips, and opened a software, pretending to be watching.

    Don''t cry, don''t cry.

    Cheng Suran held back her tears and calmed down a little. After a while, she looked up at the runway. All the models had finished the last round, including Jiang Yu.

    The catwalk was empty.

    Her eyes were dull, frozen like a sculpture.

    She didn''t know how long it took, Xiao Zhou called her: "Miss Cheng, it''s over."

    Cheng Suran''s eyes regained clarity, she answered "Okay" slowly, lowered her head, and exited the camera that was set to video mode. She stood up like a machine, following Xiao Zhou like a machine.

    The backstage was noisy, and Jiang Yu was having a good chat with the person in charge of the brand in the small booth.

    She changed back into her own clothes, facing the door sideways, with one hand in her pocket, her thick black half-curly long hair scattered casually, her tall and thin figure made the men and women in suits opposite her look a little shorter. Her aura was overwhelming.

    Cheng Suran paused, froze at the door and dared not go in.

    She got into trouble.

    The last time she was just arguing with her cousin at the school gate, she was reminded and warned. This time the matter was obviously more serious. If her sister knew about it, she would definitely dislike her for causing trouble. Then terminate the contract directly.

    This is a choice that every cold and realistic financial backer will make.

    Cheng Suran frowned, her heart seemed to be dragged down by a hand, she was unwilling to do so, she clenched her fists and developed a force to fight against it.

    She should never let sister know about this...

    Just a few photos can''t explain anything, as long as she ignores it, time will dilute all traces. After another two years, after graduation, no one will remember.

    She took a step forward.

    Assistant Tian was packing up things, and Xiao Zhou stepped forward to help, but she stood beside her like a log, absent-minded.

    At this time, Jiang Yu and the person in charge of the brand turned around and walked out talking and laughing. She glanced at Cheng Suram, froze for two seconds, and moved away quietly.

    The two passed by.

    "It''s time to go, Miss Cheng." Tian Lin followed behind to remind.

    Cheng Suran''s eyelashes trembled slightly, and she lowered her head to follow.

    The sun was shining outside, and the black Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle was parked at the side door. The group said goodbye. Jiang Yu got into the car first, followed by Cheng Suran, and Tian Lin and Xiao Zhou sat in the back row.

    The car slowly drove out of the gate of the art gallery.

    Jiang Yu closed the curtains, unscrewed the mineral water and took a sip, picked up her phone, and replied to her messages one by one. She lowered her head while typing and said to the people behind her, "Tian Lin, call Bai Lu''s manager and ask her about Bai Lu''s arrangements tomorrow afternoon."

    "Okay." Tian Lin found a number named Mina in the address book and dialed it.

    Mina is the company''s chief broker. She has worked in this industry for nearly 20 years. She is much older than Jiang Yu regardless of age or circle age. She was recruited by Jiang Yu with great effort and high price. She is currently the director of the brokerage department, in charge of all brokers.

    The conversation between them has always been concise, and the work is completed in a few sentences.

    "Sister Yu, a client will come to the company to interview models tomorrow afternoon, and Bai Lu will also go."

    "Push it off." Jiang Yu said flatly, "After the big show tomorrow, we''re going to have dinner with the brand owner. I''ll take Bai Lu to introduce her."

    Today is the rehearsal, and tomorrow is the official show. This time, Jiang Yu was invited to come as the main show model, not only for the show, but also to discuss long-term cooperation with the brand.

    Yiweier is an old brand of women''s clothing in China. It takes the mid-to-high-end market and occupies a considerable share. The selection of models for each fashion show is very strict. For new models, being able to cooperate with them is to add a beautiful touch to their careers, and the two sides complement each other.

    Bai Lu is still a newcomer now, she has just emerged and is gaining momentum, and the follow-up resources must keep up, so as not to waste her superior innate conditions due to lack of stamina.

    Jiang Yu thought so.

    "Okay." Tian Lin didn''t ask much, just followed suit.

    Jiang Yu thought about work for a while, turned her face, and saw Cheng Suran sitting motionless like a puppet, with her back straight, as if traveling in the sky, and realized that she had forgotten her existence.

    "Are you hungry?" She put her arm around the girl''s shoulder and pressed her cheek against it.

    Cheng Suran''s body froze, her lips moved, and just as she was about to say she wasn''t, she heard her stomach growling, and said shyly, "A little bit."

    While speaking, she unconsciously leaned into Jiang Yu''s arms.

    Jiang Yu smiled, hugged her, and rubbed the tip of her nose against the small earlobe, and said softly, "I''m still busy, so I''ll take you back to the hotel first, and eat by yourself. Remember to take a nap before going to class."

    Hearing this tone, Cheng Suran''s heart trembled. With every tremor, the sourness surged up.

    How could she be so careless and cause big trouble for her sister.

    "What''s wrong?" Jiang Yu scratched her nose.

    Cheng Suran squeezed her dimples out her cheeks, and she nodded nonchalantly: "Okay, sister, don''t worry, go get busy."

    It felt wrong to say it.

    How can the patron be worried about the little pet? These kind of words are not what she can say, and the meaning is not what she can guess. It seems that she used the wrong word, and it seems that she became too sensitive.

    She carefully observed Jiang Yu''s face.

    Jiang Yu only thought that she was very well-behaved, and pressed a kiss on the edge of the shallow pear dimple, but felt that it was not enough, so she pecked her lips again, as if tasting sweet and soft fruit candy.

    "Hmm."

    Cheng Suran snorted softly, and suddenly remembered that there were two people sitting in the back row, so she blushed and dodged, "Sister, there are people."

    Sitting in the back row, Tian Lin and Xiao Zhou didn''t change their expressions.

    Can''t see, can''t hear.

    The boss is always accompanied by a young lover, but she is careful in heart, at most she will tease and kiss a few words outside, but she will not do anything more outrageous. However, occasionally, Tian Lin goes to the hotel to deliver toys to Jiang Yu, and hears voices in the bathroom in the living room.

    She is used to it.

    "Why are you absent-minded?"

    "I''m not¡­"

    "Lie."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran was flustered, afraid of being seen, lowered her eyes, and said in a low voice: "Because I didn''t take your picture in the last round."

    This is not a lie, she did miss to videotape her sister because she read the post, she didn''t capture anything, and she felt regretful. But--

    She was going to secretly take pictures!

    How can she say it out loud?

    Cheng Suran tensed her nerves.

    "Are you so sad that you didn''t take a picture of me?" Jiang Yu blew in her ear, teasing her with a smile.

    Cheng Suran raised her eyes, was fascinated by the gentle smile, nodded in a daze, "Yes."

    "Why?"

    "Because..." Seeing Jiang Yu''s face slowly fade, she suddenly woke up and swallowed the words that came to her lips, "Because sister is pretty."

    She couldn''t explain why either.

    Maybe it''s because she looks good. Who doesn''t like good-looking people?

    Jiang Yu noticed her evasive look, frowned slightly, her eyes showed a sense of scrutiny, and after a long time, she hummed lightly and said, "There are many on the Internet."

    Cheng Suran didn''t dare to speak rashly, but nodded slightly.

    They became silent along the way.

    Ten minutes later, Cheng Suran arrived at the hotel, she was about to open the door and get out of the car, when she suddenly remembered the post, those photos... must be taken by someone following her.

    Outside is the hotel gate, maybe there are people staying nearby now.

    She struggled for a while, then turned to look at Jiang Yu, and said, "Sister, I want to take the elevator up from the underground parking lot, is that okay?"

    "Go to the parking lot." Jiang Yu said directly to the driver.

    The car moved again, turned around in front, and entered the underground parking lot, the old location.

    Cheng Suran was still a little worried, leaned on the window and looked outside and opened the door carefully, got out of the car, looked around cautiously, then waved to Jiang Yu, turned and entered the elevator.

    The girl''s slender figure disappeared into the elevator door.

    Jiang Yu looked in that direction thoughtfully, a trace of doubt flashed in her eyes.

    Back in the suite, Cheng Suran slumped on the sofa, as if her bones had been pulled out, softening into a ball of mud.

    She obviously didn''t do anything that consumed energy, but she felt an indescribable sense of exhaustion, welling up from the bottom of her heart, and flowing through her limbs bit by bit with anxiety.

    She breathed out with her lips half-opened.

    Her stomach growled continuously, and her hunger couldn''t be ignored. She lay down for a while, then sat up, and ordered lunch with her tablet.

    The menu page is colorful, and there are all kinds of delicacies. There is no recurring menu after eating for more than half a month. Cheng Suran scrolled her fingers on the screen, one dish after another, seeing the price of hundreds of yuan, her throat suddenly choked.

    How can she actually have the money to eat these things?

    It''s because she''s being taken care of, and all consumption is recorded in the account of the benefactor.

    The moment she saw the post, she didn''t have the anger of "being rumored" at all, because that was the truth, she was being taken care of by others, and even ordinary emotions such as anger couldn''t arise because of a guilty conscience.

    She is just afraid.

    Afraid of being exposed, afraid of being criticized, afraid of facing her own heart.

    She is a person who betrays herself, a person who is willing to "degenerate", and a person who has no shame. Not to mention that others look down on her, and she also looks down on herself. She has never enjoyed all this with peace of mind, and is suffering every moment.

    It''s just that most of the time this suffering is covered by the light brought by her sister.

    Cheng Suran clenched her lips, shook her head, randomly chose a noodle from the menu, waited for it to be delivered, and ate it hastily.

    She didn''t have the habit of taking a nap, but she still lay down on the bed like a ghost and closed her eyes. It is probably because something was on her mind, so she couldn''t fall asleep, she just closed her eyes and rested her mind for half an hour.

    In the class at 2 o''clock in the afternoon, Cheng Suran packed her backpack, called the driver and said that she doesn''t need to be driven to school and then went out to take the subway.

    She entered the classroom three minutes before the bell rang.

    Everyone''s eyes swept over in unison, and there was an indescribable awkwardness. Cheng Suran didn''t seem to notice, she calmly walked to the seat by the window and sat down, flipping through the book as usual.

    Those gazes were withdrawn one after another.

    The phone vibrated in her pocket, Cheng Suran took it out and put it under the table to read, it was Ding Yuan who sent her a message:

    [How are you?]

    She raised her head, looked around, and inadvertently bumped into a few prying eyes, who flinched back in a hurry. She saw Ding Yuan sitting in the third row, and the other party looked back at her, not sure if she really cared or just wanted to gossip.

    She can''t be guilty, and she can''t show timidity.

    Cheng Suran blinked nonchalantly, then lowered her head and replied: [Rumors stop at wise men.]

    ¡ª¡ªPeople who believe in "rumors" are idiots.

    Ding Yuan: [You may have offended someone]

    [Maybe.]

    At this time, the professor came in. Cheng Suran put away her phone, then raised her eyes, Ding Yuan smiled at her.

    She smiled back lightly.

    In the first and second year, some incidents happened in the dormitory, which was very embarrassing, and finally ended with another classmate moving out. Among the remaining three people, Ding Yuan stayed out of the matter and didn''t know the specific situation. Only she and Li Meiling maintained a superficial peace.

    The experience of these two years made her never trust anyone easily.

    Even if Ding Yuan really didn''t know, cared or gossiped, she didn''t want to say anything more. Only in this way can she protect herself.

    Suran listened absent-mindedly to this lesson.

    In the second period, when the classroom was changed, Cheng Suran walked in front with a book in her arms, and Ding Yuan caught up from behind, "Ranran, do you want to talk to the counselor? Or call the police. Malicious spreading of rumors is against the law."

    She lowered her voice and took her arms.

    Cheng Suran glanced at her sideways, and said with some reservations: "It''s okay, don''t bother with the clown."

    "But that post has gone up many pages, and people reply every minute. There are still people from other schools watching the excitement today. If it continues to develop, you don''t know what it will become. However, you must not underestimate the power of public opinion. Some people, alive, can be said to be dead, and dead can be said to be alive..."

    "And I feel that the OP must know you, even the places you often go to during the summer vacation, not only knowing, but also staying to take pictures. The most suspicious thing is, how does she know that you haven''t returned to the dormitory?"

    "If we use the method of elimination. There are two situations. First, the person asked your roommates about you, that is, me and Meiling. Second, the person is close to our dormitory."

    "I can guarantee that no one has asked me about you, and it is unlikely to ask Meiling, because if the OP ask this way, he will be exposed directly, so now there is only one possibility, living near our dormitory, who can see us, in and out."

    Ding Yuan frowned and analyzed it carefully.

    Cheng Suran listened quietly, as if she had no interest, but her heart was filled with huge waves. She has been immersed in self-blame and fear, but neglected the most important two points.

    Who is the OP?  Has she ever had an issue with her?

    She has no idea.

    "That makes sense. I''ll think about it when I go back. Thank you." Unknowingly walking to the classroom for the next class, Cheng Suran thanked her politely and distantly, without changing her expression. She withdrew her hand and wanted to sit by the window alone.

    It is not without reason that others say that she is cold and withdrawn.

    Ding Yuan hurriedly grabbed her again: "Hey, don''t sit by the window, sit beside me."

    This class is French literature. Cheng Suran thought that Ding Yuan meant to choose a good seat to facilitate listening, so she politely refused: "I prefer to be by the window."

    "Idiot¡ª¡ª" Ding Yuan whispered, "you cannot be left alone especially at this kind of time. There are people in our class in the post, waiting to see your blunder, but don''t let them see it."

    Cheng Suran looked at her, with a complicated look in her eyes, she couldn''t refute or refuse for a while, and let her drag her to the second row.  It wasn''t until the two of them sat down that she came back to her senses.

    There is a warm current rippling in her heart, this feeling seems to be the same as the one her sister gave her last time.

    But soon it dissipated again.

    She and Ding Yuan don''t have a deep friendship, but the other party is cheerful, has many friends, and is a little sweet and innocent who grew up loved by her family. She is friendly to everyone, undefended, and can tell her a few words.

    Now she is in the center of the vortex, unable to tell whether the people around her are friends or foes. Ding Yuan helped her so enthusiastically, maybe she was just trying to get some words out of her mouth, and even¡ª¡ª

    A thief shouting, "Catch the thief."

    Cheng Suran was taken aback by this thought, and drove it out of her mind, only to realize that she could be so dark...

    With a sense of guilt, she became even more upset, and she wasn''t able to listen much to the class. When the bell rang, Ding Yuan wanted to take her to have dinner with her. But she remembered that she hadn''t finished the review questions she was going to do today, so she refused. She went to the supermarket alone to buy a piece of bread and secretly brought it into the library.

    Her sister didn''t send her a message, so she probably won''t be going to the hotel tonight. She stayed in the library until ten o''clock at night, catching the last subway back.

    And when she pushed open the door of the suite¡ª

    The woman was leaning on the sofa, her long legs crossed, her posture was lazy, and her face was covered with a thick dark green mud-like mask. When she heard a sound, she opened her eyes, and looked at her quietly.

    "Where did you go wild?"

    Thin lips spat out cold words, and her eyes showed dissatisfaction with her coming back only now.

    Cheng Suran was stunned for a moment, and immediately felt mixed feelings, surprise, guilty conscience, fear... and a little bit of grievance. She bit her lower lip and whispered:

    "In the school library, there are a lot of questions today."

    The two looked at each other in silence.

    She saw a flash of remorse in those cold and charming eyes.

    "Go take a shower." Jiang Yu looked away, pointed to the master bedroom, then got up, went into the bathroom to wash her face.

    Cheng Suran understood that she was asked to go there after taking a shower.

    The bedroom was very dark, and the dim light shone on two overlapping shadows, projected on the wall. A pure scent filled the air, drowning out whispers.

    "Um--"

    "Sister likes you the most."

    Jiang Yu said what she had said to so many girls so many times, and she easily coaxed the little friend into submission. Cheng Suran''s ears were red and her heart was sore, she had already forgotten the shadow of that night.

    But she always thought of the scene she saw in the office.

    When she was in a daze, two voices echoed in her ears repeatedly, one said "sister likes you" and the other said "you are just a toy".

    Thoughts flew elsewhere.

    Seeing her absent-minded appearance, Jiang Yu was a little displeased, and said in a calm voice, "What''s the matter with you today?"

    Cheng Suran came back to her senses.

    "Huh?" Jiang Yu lowered her eyes, looked down at her condescendingly. Her eyes were sullen, "Do you want me to teach you how to write the word ''concentrate''?"

    "No..." The girl shook her head again and again.

    Those clear and black deer eyes were filled with watery light.

    Jiang Yu''s heart suddenly softened, her face softened, she lowered her head and kissed her ear, and as if she had never said anything serious, she coaxed gently: "If you don''t concentrate, sister will be angry."

    "Okay."

    The night is getting dark.

    Afterwards, Jiang Yu ignored the kid and went to the bathroom by herself.  She has a slight obsession with cleanliness and has to take two baths before and after.

    Cheng Suran lay motionless, her thoughts were in a mess.

    The way her sister changed her face repeatedly flashed in her mind, so fast and so unpredictable. Because she is just an insignificant little pet, she can change her once she gets tired. So sister will not consider her emotions, her state, or why she is distracted.

    Um.

    It''s best not to care. That way she wouldn''t know she is in trouble.

    Cheng Suran laughed at herself, turned sideways, picked up the phone and turned on the screen.

    It''s half past eleven.

    She unlocked it, slid her fingertips unconsciously, and couldn''t help but click into that post again. As Ding Yuan said, the thread is noisy, and six pages have been turned in 24 hours.

    The first two pages of replies were full of onlookers, and most people were skeptical. On the third page, some people began to discuss her appearance, personality, grades, and even clothing. As a goddess, they felt a pity on the one hand.

    At the end of the fifth page, someone made a dirty joke.

    [Not cheap at first glance]

    [In the end, the honest man wasn''t turned over. Whose family grave did the honest man dig?]

    *original expression was: honest man, who did you provoke, to have your grave dug out?/ comment was saying CSR turned out not the honest man but the gravedigger - meaning she deserves the hate (?) i''m not really that sure about the meaning.

    [Goddess of the poor, pot of the rich]

    The dirty words stung Cheng Suran''s eyes, and penetrated deeply into her heart. In an instant, the blood all over her body rushed to the top of her head, and her hands trembled uncontrollably.

    Not cheap¡­¡­

    She is indeed not cheap.

    That''s right, that''s right, that''s right at all!  She just isn''t cheap! That''s who she is!  No one wronged her.

    Tears welled up in an instant.

    The mobile phone fell on the carpet, and she heard a muffled "boom", trembling in fright, gasping for breath like drowning, arched her body, and curled herself up.

    Why is her life so difficult? Her peers are still enjoying their youth under the protection and care of their parents, but she has to crawl forward with a heavy burden alone. Even though she had already lowered herself so low, she was still pricked by her conscience and tortured by reality.

    What did she do wrong that fate continued to punish her for more than ten years?

    Her fragile self-esteem, her concealed self-esteem, was shattered at this moment.

    Cheng Suran bit her lip tightly, buried her face in the pillow, her curled up body was like a hollowed out hill, crumbling.

    After a while, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped.

    Jiang Yu went back to the bedroom in her nightgown and saw the girl lying on her side trembling in the faint light. She couldn''t help frowning, and walked over with light steps. She didn''t hear the slight and suppressed whimpering until she reached the bedside.

    "Little friend?" she called softly, reaching out to pull the quilt away.

    A small tear-stained face came into view.

    Both of them froze for a while.

    Cheng Suran panicked, wiped her face indiscriminately while pulling the quilt to wrap herself up, turned over, turned to the other side, with her back to her.

    Jiang Yu didn''t move, just sat silently.

    The time passed by every minute and every second.

    It was almost twelve o''clock, usually she would never allow herself to sleep so late, but today, the sleepiness was not strong, and her intuition told her that something must have happened.

    The kid didn''t want to be seen crying.

    She gave her time.

    After a while, Cheng Suran poked her head out cautiously, turned around, and met Jiang Yu''s gaze unexpectedly. The tears on her face had dried up, and the dimples were rippling away: "Sister, it''s time for a beauty sleep."

    "Aren''t you going to tell me?" Jiang Yu stared at her.

    Cheng Suran pretended to be stupid: "Ah? What?"

    Just as Jiang Yu was about to speak, she bumped into something at her feet. She lowered her head and picked it up. It was the kid''s mobile phone, with the back facing up, the screen was on, and it was silently playing advertisements for cheap web games in a loop.

    "Why did you drop your phone on the ground?" She was about to return it to Cheng Suran, but her fingertips accidentally touched the screen, the game advertisement page exited, and she returned to the post interface.

    The title flashed in front of her eyes.

    Jiang Yu''s expression was slightly startled, her outstretched hand retracted, and her eyes fell on the screen.

    Cheng Suran took a breath, stood up and rushed to Jiang Yu, slapping her hands to snatch it, "Give me¡ª"

    Jiang Yu stood up holding her mobile phone, and took two steps back.

    "Don''t look..." Cheng Suran burst into tears, tripped out of bed, and knelt down on the carpet with a "boom".  She didn''t care about the pain and got up to grab the phone.

    Jiang Yu held her back with one hand, while the other thumb bounced on the screen, turning the post back to the homepage. She read things very quickly, and read all the pictures and texts posted by the host in ten seconds.

    The cold white light shone on her expressionless face.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran choked up and called her, lowered her arms, desperate, "I''m sorry, I... I will deal with it myself, and I will solve it as soon as possible."

    Jiang Yu turned her face and raised her eyebrows: "How will you deal with it?"

    "I''ll just ignore it."

    "It''s useless."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran was at a loss for words for a moment.

    From morning till now, all day long, she has been a little numb. Compared with how others see her, she cares more about her sister''s attitude and choice.

    Thinking of this, she couldn''t help feeling sad again.

    They were both silent.

    Jiang Yu looked down at her, her eyes darkened, and after a while, she locked the screen and took the girl into her arms with one hand, "Don''t be afraid, it''s fine."

    Cheng Suran raised her head in shock.

    "You don''t have to do anything, continue to let the driver pick you up in the morning and evening, do whatever you want, and leave the rest to me." Jiang Yu said lightly, patting her on the back one after another.

    The night outside the window melted into those eyes, and a chill burst out from the dark pupils.

    Cheng Suran asked in a low voice: "Sister, don''t you blame me?"

    "Why should I blame you?

    "I... I got you into trouble."

    Jiang Yu chuckled lightly, lifted her chin with her slender fingers, and said in a half-blame tone, "Why do you always take the responsibility on yourself?"

    "Because¡ª" Cheng Suran hesitated to speak.

    "Um?"

    "Nothing."

    She shook her head, breathed a sigh of relief, hugged Jiang Yu back with both hands, and leaned her head on her shoulder, feeling very at ease for some reason.

    Jiang Yu didn''t ask any further questions.

    The two hugged each other, only the sound of each other''s breathing in each other''s ears.

    Jiang Yu''s attitude gave Cheng Suran a reassurance.

    She went to class as usual, completely ignoring the eyes of the people around her, and the driver sister still picked her up, as if nothing happened. After calming down so much, she understood that the more actions she made, the more guilty she would appear, and it would be true.

    It''s just that sometimes, when she think of those dirty words, she will feel sad from her heart.

    But she is not so angry anymore.

    Actually, all she really cares about is her sister''s attitude, right?  When her sister said those words, her gloomy world immediately brightened up, the boulder weighing on her heart disappeared, and her walking pace became brisk.

    She chose to be the canary in Jiang Yu''s hands, lost her self-esteem, but gained another emotion.

    A sort of¡­¡­

    Hazy and unclear emotions.

    The post continued to ferment, and more than 600 comments were built in three or four days, which once became the hottest topic in the school forum

    Jiang Yu followed the trend of public opinion and told Tian Lin about it.

    The two sat in the hotel suite and chatted over dinner.

    "These children are so childish." After reading the post, Tian Lin shook her head and put down her phone.

    Jiang Yu sipped her wine and said carelessly, "The day after tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, tomorrow the school should be closed, drive the car to her dormitory, then go up to help her change the quilt, then go back together downstairs, drive back to the house behind the hotel, remember to go to the path from the side door and the middle of the underground parking lot."

    "So that''s what that house is for, without this incident, I thought you were going to use it to raise mushrooms." Tian Lin teased with a smile.

    Jiang Yu also smiled, and said, "Prevent problems before they happen."

    Yes.

    Be very cautious.

    Tian Lin looked at Jiang Yu with a bit of bitterness in her smile.

    Her boss, her friend, Ms. Jiang always treats everything around her so cautiously and rationally, just because in this way, she can try her best to control everything in her hands so as not to lose control.

    So much so that she often appears morbid.

    To put it nicely, she is thoughtful and meticulous, but to put it badly, she is suspicious and neurotic. She didn''t want her to go on like this forever.

    "Then from now on, I will be Miss Cheng''s ''little aunt''."

    "Aunt Tian."

    "Don''t call me that."

    "Okay, Aunt Tian." Jiang Yu teased her seriously.

    Tian Lin lowered her face, and said seriously: "Don''t even think about eating Xiaolongbao." After speaking, she stretched out her chopsticks as if to pick up the only Xiaolongbao on Jiang Yu''s plate.

    This is her favorite food.

    For more than ten years, in order to maintain her figure, Jiang Yu seldom touches things high in sugar and oil, and she also listed Xiaolongbao in this range. Sometimes when she can''t resist the temptation, she will take it as a reward for her hard work.

    She eats one at most at night.

    Jiang Yu grabbed her wrist, "Sister Tian."

    Poof.

    Both of them laughed.

    After eating and talking about work, Tian Lin was about to leave when the door opened with a "beep" and Cheng Suran came in from the outside.

    Her small face looked plain and her hair was a bit messy, headphones hanging around her neck, wearing a simple and fresh coffee-colored long-sleeved shirt and jeans, and carrying a large canvas bag.

    She greeted obediently: "Sister, Assistant Tian."

    "Come here." Jiang Yu beckoned to her.

    Cheng Suran put the canvas bag aside and walked over. Since there was a third person, she felt ashamed sitting on her lap, so she moved to the side and sat down next to Jiang Yu.

    Tian Lin stood up in time, "Sister Yu, I''m leaving first."

    "Um."

    Cheng Suran: "..."

    The door closed again, and the room fell into silence.

    Jiang Yu stared at the girl for a moment, hooked her with her long arms, and wrapped her in her arms, tightly entangled like a snake on the prowl. She asked in a low voice, "How was school today?"

    Cheng Suran was startled, flattered and said: "Very good."

    She said it meekly. She just completes her study tasks every day at school, which is neither good nor bad. It''s just that something like that happened recently and she was talked about, and she felt a little bit stressed.

    "Um."

    Jiang Yu nodded and said nothing, not knowing what she was thinking.

    Cheng Suran quietly looked at her.

    Her front face is good-looking, and the profile is even better. Her nose is tall and straight, with sharp lines. Her skin is as cold as porcelain white under the light, and there is no trace of markings.

    Even without makeup, she still has an air of grandeur that makes people unable to take their eyes off it.

    She leaned over like a ghost...

    Before her lips touched that face, Jiang Yu suddenly turned her head, "Isn''t the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday starting tomorrow afternoon?"

    "Right."

    Cheng Suran stopped dangerously, with a look of embarrassment in her eyes, suddenly, as if realizing something, she looked at her suspiciously, "Sister, how do you know that we have a holiday tomorrow afternoon?"

    Someone in the forum said.  "

    "Have you read our school post?"

    "Hmm," Jiang Yu looked at her tenderly, raised her hand, and straightened out the messy hair, "I''ve been paying attention to her for the past two days."

    Cheng Suran bit her lip.

    Why?

    Her heart beat suddenly, and she didn''t know what happened, but felt a bit of indescribable joy. She curled the corner of her mouth, the small pear dimple sunken uncontrollably.

    "I discussed it with Tian Lin, tomorrow..." Jiang Yu revealed the whole plan.

    Tomorrow afternoon is the most crowded time in the dormitory. Tian Lin drove the white car into the campus as an aunt, went to her dormitory, helped her change the sheets and quilts, and brushed her face in front of her roommates and nearby classmates.

    She has already arranged to reverse the "PR".

    "It happens to be the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. It is more in line with human logic for family members to do these things at this time. Otherwise, if you do it right after the post is posted, it will be too deliberate and it will have the opposite effect." Jiang Yu patiently explained to her.

    "You are not from the local area, so a young unmarried aunt is more suitable than the roles of parents."

    Cheng Suran listened quietly, silent for a long time.

    "Kid?"

    "What''s the matter?" Jiang Yu raised her chin, "You can tell me if you have other ideas."

    The two looked at each other.

    Cheng Suran looked at Jiang Yu with complicated eyes, with mixed emotions in his heart.  She shook her head: "No. I think this is too much trouble for you, Assistant Tian..."

    She can leave her alone.

    Is the little pet worthy for such a big sister to go to war? She''s afraid it''s not just for her, but she can''t help but have some expectations.

    "This is what I should do for you." Jiang Yu said softly.

    "Why?"

    "Sister likes you."

    Author''s Note:

    Jiang?Lying Lover?Scum: Sister doesn''t like you, sister is just a sweet talker.jpg

 CH 21

    The inexperienced girl was coaxed into ecstasy, with a shy smile on her face, and her two dimples seemed to hold a bend of rippling water.

    "I like sister too." Her eyes lit up.

    Jiang Yu smiled faintly, avoiding the girl''s eyes without a trace. While rubbing her small chin with her fingertips, she changed the subject: "Have you observed your classmates these days? Is there anyone you suspect?"

    "Yes." Cheng Suran restrained her thoughts and became serious, "I think my roommate is the most suspicious, but I have no evidence yet."

    She thought that Jiang Yu wanted to know more about it, and she organized some words in her mind, how to better express her assumptions. But Jiang Yu just lowered her eyes and remained silent.

    Is she waiting for her to continue talking?

    "I..." Cheng Suran had just uttered a word when Jiang Yu interrupted her:

    "Handle this yourself."

    "?"

    "The top priority is to quell the turmoil and not let this matter continue to ferment. If there is any problem between you and your classmates, it is your own business." Jiang Yu raised her eyes, with a lazy smile on her mouth, and raised her fingers casually to brush the girl''s hair.

    Considering herself, it is best to let things be resolved quickly and within a controllable range. As for who is behind the scenes, she is not interested in any conflicts between the kid and her classmates.

    She is very busy.

    Cheng Suran stared blankly at her for a while, moved her lips, and finally managed to utter two words: "Oh, okay."

    Her heart deflated like a ball, and the delicate flowers in full bloom withered in an instant.

    She became a little lost.

    But at least her sister is willing to help her, and didn''t kick her away for being troublesome. She didn''t have to face the storm alone. She was content and couldn''t trouble her sister any more.

    A burst of warm breath slowly fell on her lips.

    Cheng Suran closed her eyes to cater. She is not proficient enough, but she is not as clumsy as the previous few times. She wrapped her arms around Jiang Yu''s neck and her heartbeat gradually accelerated.

    Just when she wanted to be more active, Jiang Yu let her go.

    "Sister?" She opened her eyes in confusion.

    Jiang Yu looked at her, with wildfire blazing in her fiery black eyes, as if she was enduring something. She patted the girl''s face, and said softly: "Tian Lin will call you tomorrow morning. Talk to her on the phone on how you''ll go through with the plan. I have to leave early so I''ll go to bed first."

    After speaking, she pushed Cheng Suran away, and got up in a hurry.

    Before Cheng Suran could speak, Jiang Yu disappeared outside the door.

    The next day, while having breakfast, Cheng Suran received a call from Tian Lin.

    The two set a specific meeting time, how to do it, how to say it... Tian Lin even prepared a script and sorted out the "plot" like a rehearsal. But they were not familiar with each other after all, Tian Lin was used to being cautious with Jiang Yu for many years, so she asked her some more questions.

    "How is your family situation? Are you on good terms with your father or mother at home?"

    Being asked this, Cheng Suran turned silent.

    "Miss Cheng?" Tian Lin called her.

    She held the spoon tightly, mechanically stirred the porridge in the bowl, and said in a low voice, "I don''t have parents, and I have always lived at my aunt''s house."

    Now it was Tian Lin''s turn to be silent.

    But it didn''t take long, Tian Lin skipped the topic, and continued to ask other questions. She didn''t know if it was an illusion, but her voice souded softer than before, and her tone was not as formulaic as before.

    Finally, when she mentioned the house near the hotel, Cheng Suran came back to her senses, "What house?"

    "After the boss signed the agreement with you, she rented an ordinary two-bedroom apartment in a neighborhood near the hotel. She said it was a precautionary measure, and now it can really come in handy."

    So, did her sister think everything through?

    The calm and steady driver sister, unobtrusive small car, a house near the hotel...thoughtful, meticulous, proper, everything, in consideration of her.

    If only, her biological parents are just like this.

    Cheng Suran softly groaned, and there was steam in her eyes.

    It was a full class in the morning.

    Different majors and different classes, some students who have no class in the afternoon can have a holiday at lunch, but Cheng Suran''s class has an intensive reading class in the afternoon, which is not until after four o''clock.

    According to the plan, she will go back to the dormitory at noon to simply pack up her things.

    After lunch, Cheng Suran came out of the cafeteria. She couldn''t hold back the temptation and bought a cup of milk tea worth 6 yuan. She drank it while walking with mixed feelings of guilt and pleasure. There were students coming and going with their suitcases everywhere along the way.

    A private car with a local number plate is parked downstairs in the girls'' dormitory.

    A well-dressed girl came out of the building door with a suitcase, looked up and ran to the car happily. The girl held out her hand.

    "Mom--"

    "Isn''t this box too light? Have you packed all the clothes you need to change into?"

    "Just a few, I washed them all at school. Hey, shall we go to that shop to eat grilled fish at night? I wasn''t able to enjoy eating them last time."

    "Greedy cat."

    ¡­.

    Cheng Suran stopped at some point, listening to their conversation, and watching them get into the car with envy in her eyes.

    It wasn''t until the car drove away that she came back to her senses and threw the empty cup in her hand into the trash can.

    She went upstairs and pushed open the half-hidden door of the dormitory.

    It was empty.

    There was a mobile phone on the table by the door, with its screen on. Cheng Suran froze for a moment and looked towards the balcony. The toilet door just made a locking sound, someone just went in.

    That is Li Meiling''s bed.

    In the past two days, she has been thinking about who the original poster of the thread was. Analyzing and analyzing. At first, she focused on her classmates, but she usually walks alone, and most of her classmates don''t know her specific situation at all.

    Then, she suspected that it was Ding Yuan, a local, who was in Jiangcheng during the summer vacation, maybe that''s why she ran into her going to a nightclub. But the two of them had no grievances or enmities, and the motives were really insufficient.

    Li Meiling, on the other hand, not only had conflicts with her, but also knew her better.

    Now she just needs to look at her phone to verify...

    The sound of flushing came from the toilet, and Cheng Suran''s mind froze, and before she had time to think about it, she grabbed the phone and sneaked out of the dormitory.

    Avoiding people''s sight, she took the stairs down to the corner of the third floor, turned to the window, picked up Li Meiling''s mobile phone and looked at it, the page was Weibo.

    She clicked on running in the background, swiped the main menu with her fingertips, turned the page, and then turned the page again, and found the Tieba* software.

    *Baidu Tieba - search engine/online community forum similar to reddit

    Her heart is beating violently in her chest, as if it would fly out of the throat in the next second.

    Click on the post bar, personal homepage¡ª¡ª

    The id is "Come over here for a while", registered five years ago, following some celebrity posts.

    Cheng Suran''s nerves relaxed, she was a little discouraged but unwilling to give up. She had read that the OP''s information was a small account that had only been registered for half a year, and this was obviously a large account.

    She clicked into "Account Management" with the intention of trying it out.

    Little Xiami*!

    *little shrimp

    Just below the main account switch!

    It really is her...

    Cheng Suran took a deep breath, but she didn''t feel very angry, as if all of this was expected, it was just a matter of time - revenge from Li Meiling.

    Some images flashed in front of her eyes like a movie.

    She is disgusted.

    After a while, Cheng Suran settled down, picked up her mobile phone, turned on the camera, took a picture of the page, and then switched to video mode, while operating Li Meiling''s mobile phone to click on the penguin, and record the video to prove that "Little Xiami" is  Li Meiling.

    Then she flipped through Li Meiling''s penguin chat history.

    Among them was a temporary conversation from a part-time job group. The records showed that Li Meiling did not go home during the summer vacation, but worked in an electronics factory in the eastern suburbs of Jiangcheng.

    Really.

    She wiped the sweat from her forehead, took a picture of the chat history, then switched Li Meiling''s phone back to the Weibo page, locked the screen and put it in her pocket, then turned and went upstairs as if nothing had happened.

    Back in the dormitory, Li Meiling was rummaging through boxes and cabinets searching for something. She saw her come in, but only glanced at her, and buried her head in the closet again.

    Cheng Suran calmly walked to her desk, put down her bag, pretended to tidy up, and took advantage of the open closet door to block her view, and quickly stuffed the mobile phone into the gap between the two beds.

    Now is not the time for a showdown.

    The dormitory door opened again, and Ding Yuan came in from outside humming a song.

    "Meiling, are you going home now?" She saw Li Meiling picking through the cabinets, thinking she was packing her luggage.

    "No..." Li Meiling raised her head, "My phone is gone, it was still on the table just now. Oh, right, can I borrow your phone to make a call?"

    Ding Yuan took out her phone and unlocked it for her.

    Not long after the call was made, there was a ringing sound from the bed. She followed the sound to find it, bent down and took out her mobile phone from the gap, "Why did it fall here..."

    Hanging up the phone and returning it to Ding Yuan, she patted the dust on her phone with a suspicious expression on her face.

    "Did someone come in just now?"

    "Me." Ding Yuan blinked, "Oh, I''m here to get the book."

    "I mean before you..." Li Meiling looked at Cheng Suran as she spoke, her eyes stayed on her for a while, but she didn''t see anything, and then retracted with suspicion.

    Ding Yuan was puzzled "Huh?"

    "Nevermind."

    Cheng Suran turned sideways to them, tidying up the safe unhurriedly, pretending not to feel the gaze. Right then, Tian Lin''s call came in.

    "Hello? Auntie..."

    "I''m packing up, there''s another class in the afternoon."

    "Okay, when you arrive, go directly to the dormitory, my room is in 732."

    She spoke a few words smoothly, then casually hung up, breathed a sigh of relief, and continued to pack her things. After tidying up her locker, she climbed onto the bed and removed the quilt cover.

    "Wow, Ranran, you''re finally going home?" Ding Yuan had already held the book in her hand, looking up at Cheng Suran.

    Even her, who doesn''t go back to the dormitory often, knows that Cheng Suran never goes home on holidays.

    But the specific reason is not clear.

    Cheng Suran was startled, and it took her a while to react, and shook her head with a light smile: "No, my aunt will come over this afternoon to help me change the quilt."

    "Hey¡ª" Ding Yuan pointed her index finger on her lips, and frowned suspiciously, "Isn''t your home in Lingzhou? It seems quite far away."

    "Yes, I''m from Lingzhou, but my aunt has been transferred to work in Jiangcheng this year, and I''ll be staying with her. I''ll move the quilt over to dry during the holidays." Cheng Suran lied without blushing.

    Ding Yuan blinked, and suddenly realized: "I thought your aunt flew over from Lingzhou and then will fly back...Oh my god, I was stupid in class, I''m sorry."

    A funny expression of "I''m so stupid, please ignore me".

    Cheng Suran was quite amused.

    At 4:10, Tian Lin drove to Jiangcheng University of Foreign Studies, registered with the gate guard, entered the campus smoothly, and stopped downstairs in the girls'' dormitory.

    There are still ten minutes before class ends.

    She came early.

    Before going out, Tian Lin changed into a "one piece" skirt according to Jiang Yu''s instructions, her hair was put down and slightly curled, she looked like a mature woman with a successful career.

    Now she is the aunt of a twenty-year-old female college student.

    After a while, the students came out one after another. Tian Lin got out of the car, leaned against the door, looked down at her watch, and looked up again, graciously welcoming others to look at her.

    She is quite tall, her off-white dress is elegant and delicate. She has a high-end temperament that has been in the fashion circle all year round. Just standing there is enough to attract people''s attention.

    Cheng Suran saw her from a distance.

    "Auntie¡ª"

    As she approached, she trotted forward happily, and the two little dimples sank sweetly, "Have you been waiting for a long time?"

    Tian Lin showed a gentle and kind smile like an old mother: "No, just a few minutes." She opened the back door and took out a silk quilt. "Let''s go up." She said, holding the girl''s shoulders.

    "Uh-huh."

    Cheng Suran subconsciously wanted to take it and carry it by herself, but soon realized something, then she lowered her hands obediently.

    The two entered the dormitory building under the watchful eyes of everyone.

    The elevators were busy, non-local students wanted to go home, and the local students wanted to go out and play. Going up and down, it had to stop on every floor for a long time. The whole building is quite lively.

    Cheng Suran naturally leaned on Tian Lin''s shoulder, and the two chatted in low voices all the way to the door of the dormitory.

    Girls from the same class who lived nearby walked behind them.

    Cheng Suran took out the key to open the door, and led Tian Lin in. There was no one in the dormitory at the moment, she pointed to her desk and said, "Put it here, have a seat first."

    "The environment of your dormitory is good." Tian Lin looked around, nodding and commenting, like a parent visiting their child''s dormitory for the first time.

    As soon as the voice fell, the half-hidden door was pushed open.

    Li Meiling and Ding Yuan came in one after the other holding books.

    Four people facing each other.

    Ding Yuan was the first to react and greeted warmly: "Hello, Auntie."

    "Hello, Auntie..." Li Meiling said, feeling uncomfortable.

    Tian Lin nodded generously and smiled at them: "Are you Ranran''s roommate? Hello."

    Ranran--

    Hearing this random nickname, Cheng Suran''s heart trembled inexplicably, her eyes gazing at Tian Lin''s gentle smile. For a moment, she couldn''t tell if it was her acting skills that were too good, or she was thinking too much.

    She took off her shoes and climbed the ladder to her bunk.

    They put the changed sheets into a bag. Cheng Suran made the bed on top, and Tian Lin responded from below. They didn''t talk much, but they cooperated very tacitly, and they were done in just a few minutes.

    "Won''t you be wearing your summer clothes? Take them home, wash them, dry them, and put them away."

    "Uh-huh."

    "Let''s stop by the supermarket later. Didn''t you say you wanted to eat lamb chops last time? Let''s buy some and cook it ourselves."

    "Um, I''m hungry now." Cheng Suran smiled at Tian Lin coquettishly.

    Tian Lin reached out and poked her on the forehead, "Little greedy cat."

    She suddenly remembered the mother and daughter she saw earlier.

    The light in her eyes dimmed.

    The sun gradually sank to the west, and the afterglow dyed the sky red.

    There are a few more private cars under the dormitory building, Cheng Suran and Tian Lin walked out of the building side by side. At a glance, the white car is not significant, but at that moment, it felt extraordinarily welcoming.

    It was as if she actually had her parents pick her up.

    Cheng Suran opened the passenger door and sat in. Tian Lin also got into the car, started slowly, and left the campus against the sunset.

    In the past, she would be very envious of her classmates who had a home to go back to, during holidays. She also wanted to feel that... the joyful feeling that she couldn''t wait to rush back before class was over. She would stand by the window upstairs and watch one car after another coming and going, watching other people pull their suitcases away gradually.

    Sometimes it''s hard to understand, can going home really make people so happy?

    But today she seemed to feel this emotion.

    Even if it''s acting, even if it''s not actually going home, it somehow makes her happy. As a result, a little greed spread to the bottom of her heart.

    It''s not bad to experience this once.

    She thought.

    "Assistant Tian..." Cheng Suran looked at the woman in the driver''s seat.

    "Um."

    "Thank you."

    "You''re welcome, I''m just doing what my boss tells me to do."

    Cheng Suran smiled wryly.

    That''s right...

    She is just a canary. In the eyes of people like Assistant Tian, ??she has no dignity and can be looked down upon. Everything is for the benefit of the benefactor. She suddenly felt that she had made a joke and was extremely embarrassed.

    The car stopped at the red light at the intersection.

    Tian Lin turned her head and saw the girl lowering her face, looking depressed, as if she had read her mind. "Miss Cheng, you did nothing wrong."

    "?"

    "What you like and what I want, the pros and cons outweigh the right and wrong. Don''t set too high a moral bottom line for yourself."

    After speaking, she gave her a relieved smile.

    After a while, the green light came on, and Tian Lin looked away and continued driving.

    Cheng Suran seemed to understand, but after a long time, she suddenly recalled that this was telling her that she did not look down on her because of "support", and there was no need to belittle herself because of it.

    A cell phone ringing interrupted her thoughts.

    Tian Lin took out a Bluetooth headset and put it on, then pressed a button on the steering wheel, "Sister Yu."

    Sister''s call!

    Cheng Suran held her breath.

    "Yeah. It''s going well. We''re on the way back." Tian Lin responded simply, and suddenly glanced at the passenger seat, "She''s okay, her mood is stable."

    "Do you want to talk to her?"

    With just a few words, as she listened, Cheng Suran couldn''t help but wonder if her sister cared about her. Before she could think about it, a bluetooth headset was handed over:

    "The boss''s call."

    She couldn''t wait to pick it up and put it on her ears, but she didn''t know what to say, and said in a low voice: "Sister¡ª¡ª

    "Hey, go back and have a good dinner, take a comfortable bath, and don''t think about anything." Jiang Yu''s gentle voice came from the earphones, probably peeking into Cheng Suran''s emotions the moment she opened her mouth.

    Cheng Suran bit her lip tightly, her nose was slightly astringent.

    "Kid?"

    "¡­¡­okay."

    "Sister is busy here, I won''t drop by tonight, go to bed early."

    "Um."

    Then the phone hung up.

    Cheng Suran reluctantly took off the earphone and put it in the palm of her hand. She seemed to have swallowed a whole fruit. She couldn''t tell what it was like, but it slowly took root inside...

 CH 22

    That night, the rumor post exploded.

    A certain melon-eating crowd uploaded a photo of Tian Lin hugging Cheng Suran with the quilt in the afternoon, and the white car was also in the photo.

    [What I saw in Building 7 in the afternoon was the car posted by the OP right? I saw this aunt getting out of the car.]

    [This is the benefactor? Then my parents are also my benefactors. What a shock! The young girl has been kept for twenty years without knowing it!]

    [I have long felt that the poster''s photos are unreliable...]

    Less than two hours after the photo came out, the post turned three pages in a row, and the wind of public opinion reversed with overwhelming momentum. A few ids managed to set the rhythm, and turned their attention to the host.

    [We''re not in the same class, are we? I really want to avoid that kind of person]

    [Enough of this, I just don''t like this. What''s wrong with going to a nightclub? Can''t it be to go to a party and drink? You look down on all nightclubs, your eyes are covered with shit, of course everything you see will be dirty!]

    Some people spontaneously spoke for Cheng Suran, and most of them could be seen as girls.

    And the boy who made lewd jokes before seemed invisible.

    When Cheng Suran got the news from Ding Yuan, she was doing translation exercises. These days, she is exhausted by gossip and has a bit of PTSD. When she sees any topic being discussed together, it seems to be about her, so she can only use learning to divert her attention.

    She struggled to read through the counter post, and found out that someone had opened a new post - crusade against "Little Shrimp".

    Title: Is Malicious Rumor So Rampant Now?

    The new OP posted the photo on the homepage, and those who spontaneously spoke for Cheng Suran followed up one after another. After careful observation, it can be found that several ids spoke sharply, and their tone don''t not sound like someone in their twenties.

    Cheng Suran scrolled down slowly, and suddenly saw a message:

    [I am Ding Yuan, Cheng Suran''s roommate. I dare to bring my name here to prove that the person in the photo is Cheng Suran''s aunt. She came to the dormitory this afternoon. She has a pretty face and a good temperament, and her financial conditions should not be bad. Ranran is a very good person. During her freshman and sophomore year, she won national scholarships. Although she usually doesn¡¯t like to talk, she is honest and kind. However, in the eyes of some dark people, being out of gregariousness is the original sin. I don¡¯t know who the original poster is. Why do you maliciously spread rumors about her? Guess it¡¯s probably because of jealousy. This kind of person is really pathetic, and she will always be a stinky rat in the gutter]

    Ding Yuan has many friends at school, so she blurted out her words and echoed them all.

    More people began to sympathize with Cheng Suran, praises followed one after another, and many school girls who silently admired her emerged.

    Cheng Suran watched silently, as if the softest part of her heart had been poked, and she felt ashamed.

    Ding Yuan stepped forward to help her speak, but not long ago she had maliciously speculated about the other party, now looking at these words, she only finds it ironic. She is not an upright and kind person at all, she is the smelly mouse in the gutter...

    Cheng Suran quit the post and sent Ding Yuan a "Thank you".

    This matter is not over yet. On one hand, the reversal of public opinion has subsided. On the other hand, she must beat the instigator behind it, otherwise similar things are likely to happen again in the next two years.

    She is not an easy persimmon.

    During the next Mid-Autumn Festival, Jiang Yu had filming work in the morning, and entered the studio with the team early in the morning.

    Today the studio was relocated, and everyone gathered for dinner at noon to celebrate. She gave everyone red envelopes and mooncake gift boxes. After the afternoon holiday, everyone went back to their homes. The originally lively studio became desolate.

    The new address was chosen by Jiang Yu personally. It covers an area of more than 900 square meters. Two independent flat floors are connected in the middle. A large area of glass curtain wall is used for decoration, so that the whole room is full of light no matter if it is cloudy or sunny.

    At this moment, everyone is gone, even the cleaning lady has gone home.

    Jiang Yu was sitting on a rocking chair in the courtyard while reading a book and basking in the sun. When she is on vacation, she likes to be alone most, and time would slip through her fingers quickly.

    The book is "The Garden of the Forking Paths" by Borges.

    The surrounding area was calm and quiet, with occasional bird calls, and one or two sparrows fluttered across the wall and landed on a short branch. The sun, falling at her feet.

    Tian Lin came for a while, stood by the French window and watched the figure without disturbing her.

    After a long time, she sighed softly and walked over lightly, "Sister Yu¡ª¡ª

    Jiang Yu turned her head.

    "D&M''s new products for this season are here." Tian Lin put the box she was holding on the table, "I took a look, and it matches your snake-print dress very well."

    She sat sideways on the edge of the table.

    Jiang Yu put down the book and raised her brow at her, "Aren''t you going home for the holidays?"

    She opened the box and inside is a necklace.

    Silver narrow eyes, emerald pupils, majestic in the cold, gemstone color shining brightly in the sun - the Eye of Horus.

    At the beginning of this year, Jiang Yu signed a two-year endorsement contract with D&M, becoming the global ambassador of this ancient top luxury jewelry brand. They send a copy of tens of millions of new products every quarter. She usually only wears it when attending events, and usually keeps it in her wardrobe at home.

    She closed the box after looking at it.

    "If I go back, won''t you be the only one?" Tian Lin smiled and put away the necklace for her.

    Jiang Yu smiled lightly and shook her head: "How old am I, that you still need to accompany me?

    "You can''t live alone every year."

    "Being alone is fine."

    Tian Lin pursed her lips and remained silent, looking at her as if she was looking at a stubborn old lady. After a while, she mentioned another matter: "The rumors about Ms. Cheng have been reversed after this night, faster than we thought."

    "Um."

    "There are a lot of people speaking up for her, and it wasn''t that bad."

    "Um."

    "So don''t you worry."

    "How am I worried?" Jiang Yu turned her face away, her eyes calm.

    Tian Lin paused and said, "Nevermind." She seemed to have mistaken what the boss was thinking, so she changed the subject, "Why didn''t you go to the hotel last night?"

    Jiang Yu picked up the book again, and said casually, "Let her take it easy."

    Tian Lin suddenly felt that she guessed right.

    "Keep watch for another two days. After the rumors are dispelled, the heat will go down.The passers-by will soon disperse, and a group of children will not be able to make a fuss."

    "Okay."

    There was another silence.

    Jiang Yu read a few pages, then suddenly raised her head: "Go home, I don''t need anyone to accompany me, you are busy with me every day, and you don''t have time to spend with your family."

    "..."

    "Do you want me to throw you out?"

    "Okay." Tian Lin stood up helplessly, "Then I''m leaving, remember to eat mooncakes, don''t be too strict on yourself, it''s the festival today."

    "Um."

    Before taking two steps, Jiang Yu called her to stop: "Wait¡ª¡ª

    Tian Lin turned around again.

    "Isn''t aunt''s waist not feeling well recently? I bought a robot vacuum cleaner and put it in the office. Take it home."

    "This¡­"

    "Be good"

    "Are you coaxing a child, Ms. Jiang?"

    "Go." Jiang Yu smiled, lowered her head and continued to read.

    Tian Lin left.

    Jiang Yu is the only one in the vast and empty courtyard. The sunlight slowly crept westward by her feet, and she read half of the book in her hand unconsciously. When she put it down again, the setting sun had already filled the sky.

    She stood up and flexed her muscles, answering messages with her mobile phone.

    There are thousands of people on her WeChat friend list, and she can not read hundreds of messages at every turn, which is also a headache. Jiang Yu first selected a few close friends to reply to, and left the rest temporarily.

    At half past five, she drove away.

    During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the urban area is extremely lively, with lanterns and festoons everywhere, large moon cake dolls are erected on the central square, and some businesses are doing events, offering free taste of creative mooncakes.

    In about ten minutes, she arrived at the basement of her complex.

    There are a total of five buildings in the complex, all of which are mansions along the river, where various "stars" live. For example, an Olympic champion lives upstairs from Jiang Yu, and the president of a listed company lives downstairs. Everyone knows each other and occasionally meets and says hello.

    Her unit is empty.

    The nanny aunt also went home for the holidays.

    Jiang Yu pressed the remote control to turn on all the lights, and walked straight into the kitchen. There was a note from the aunt on the refrigerator door, probably because she had just bought a batch of ingredients this morning, and they were still fresh.

    She has no appetite, so she cooked half a bowl of broccoli and a small piece of salmon, and ate a dinner slowly with plain water.

    The sky is completely dark.

    But both sides of the riverside are brightly lit.

    The front hall was filled with all kinds of gifts, some from friends, some from brands. Jiang Yu tidied them up, left a box of mooncakes, and stuffed the rest into the warehouse.

    The packaging of the mooncakes is a bit excessive. After peeling off the layers of the big gift box, there are only six pieces, which are filled with custard.

    She picked up one and hesitated a little.

    If she eats it, she will have to step on the elliptical machine for at least an hour tomorrow.

    Never mind.

    She''s not into sweets.

    Jiang Yu put it back, grabbed the phone, and continued to reply to WeChat messages. Tian Lin asked her if she had eaten mooncakes, and she lied without changing her face: Yes.

    Moments is very lively, everyone is posting moon cakes, reunion dinners, and various selfies.

    She...has nothing to show for it.

    Tian Lin: [The public opinion of the post is trending well.]

    Jiang Yu was slightly taken aback, thinking of her canary.

    The kid went home, right?

    Before she could reply to Tian Lin, she switched the account, and her phone vibrated for a moment, and she received a message from Cheng Suran a few hours ago.

    [Sister, Happy Mooncake Festival]

    [Cats are cute.jpg]

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help smiling.

    The kid changed her profile picture to a "good baby"* emoji. She clicked on it, and there was a photo posted in Moments. Look carefully, it was a post from this evening.

    *not sure which "good baby"  but it''s one of these <<--

    [Finished the task ahead of time!]

    In the photo are laptop and books, densely packed with letters, as if in a library.

    There is half an uneaten piece of bread looming next to it.

    She didn''t go home?

    Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes slightly, backed out, and was about to reply when a call came in - Bai Lu.

    "Hello?"

    A young girl''s charming voice came from the phone: "Sister Yu, where are you?"

    "At home, what''s the matter?"

    "I''ll go find you."

    "Is there something wrong?"

    "Isn''t it the Mid-Autumn Festival today? I just finished my work, and I''m bored and have no place to go. Can you spend the holiday with me?" Bai Lu''s side was a bit noisy, and her voice had to be raised a little.

    Jiang Yu was silent for a moment, and Su Ran''s face flashed in her mind, saying, "I''m going out now."

    "Take me with you."

    "It''s inconvenient."

    "...Okay." Bai Lu lowered her voice and said nothing more.

    After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu got up immediately, picked up a few gifts from the storeroom, packed them up together with the box of mooncakes, and went out the door. Cheng Suran spent a day in the library.

    It''s a holiday, teachers and students went home, or went playing. There are fewer people and more vacant places in the library. She has no place to go anyway, so she might as well do more exercises and read books.

    Cheng Su Ran finished the task ahead of schedule today, and it¡¯s Mid-Autumn Festival again, so she can reward herself by watching one more episode of the drama tonight.

    Yes.

    Mid-Autumn Festival¡­

    She took out her phone and unlocked it expectantly.

    It was as quiet as if the net had been disconnected.

    From morning until now, no one called her, no one sent her a message, this is normal, she has long been used to it, but...even the message sent to her sister has not been answered.

    For some reason, seeing the messages she sent lying alone in the chat box made her sadder than thinking of herself wandering outside.

    Is she really that busy?

    Even...a reply of "um" is fine.

    Cheng Suran bit her lip, then let go, endured her frustration, turned off the computer silently, stuffed things into her bag, got up and left.

    The whole city is very lively tonight.

    But the excitement has nothing to do with her.

    When she arrived at the hotel, the elevator slowly stopped on the 27th floor. Cheng Suran walked to the door, and the moment she swiped her card, she couldn''t help but think, maybe her sister is inside?

    She opened the door¡ª

    Sweeping her eyes over the sofa and the window, she imagined Jiang Yu sitting or standing in these two places, holding a goblet filled with red or white wine, as usual, looking at her and waving at her, saying: "Come here."

    But no.

    She isn''t on the sofa, not by the window, not in the entire suite.

    Cheng Suran''s heart sank, standing at the door for a long time, sighed, and walked in mechanically.

    It was very quiet in the room.

    It''s so quiet that her ears hurt.

    She put down her bag, picked up the tablet computer, held her breath as if she wanted to vent, and ordered seven or eight items of very expensive food that she hadn''t eaten yet.

    Snort--

    Ignore me and I''ll make you bleed.

    She thought angrily.

    In less than ten seconds, Cheng Suran regretted it again. Looking at the four-figure total price on the menu, she began to feel sorry for the money¡ªit was so expensive, it was enough for her one-month part-time salary.

    Her sister''s money is also money, it''s hard-earned, it''s not blown by the wind, she''s obviously not hungry, so why waste it?

    She puffed up her face and hurriedly withdrew the order.

    ¡ª beep

    The door opened.

    A slender figure of a woman stepped in.

    Cheng Suran raised her head, and her eyes lit up: "Sister?"

    "Didn''t you go home for vacation?" Jiang Yu walked slowly in front of the girl with a smile on her lips.

    She was wearing a very loose lavender suit and straight-leg trousers of the same color. The silk shirt collar inside is open up to the second button. Her long curly hair hung down her shoulders, casual and lazy.

    Cheng Suran was surprised and delighted, couldn''t look away, and was a little incoherent for a while: "I didn''t... no, I, my home is too far away."

    Jiang Yu nodded lightly, and put the things on her hand on the table, "A gift for you."

    "Happy Mooncake Day."

    "Sister, why did you come...I thought you...hey, no..." Cheng Suran''s tongue got so tied, she hated herself.

    "Of course I''m coming."

    "Why?"

    "Because--"

    Jiang Yu raised her brows, with narrow and cold eyes staring at her like snakes. Her red lips slowly moved closer to her ears, and said in a low voice, "Sister is worried about you being alone, shall we watch the moon together tonight?"

 CH 23

    At that time, Cheng Suran didn''t know that gentleness could be an illusion, and her clumsy and immature heart was hit with a bang.

    "OK¡­"

    Cheng Suran nodded, but changed her mind and said: "But sister, don''t you have to accompany your family?"

    "I want to accompany you more." Jiang Yu whispered in her ear.

    The girl bit her lip and smiled, her little dimples sank even deeper, without realizing how excited she was.

    Jiang Yu kissed her cheek fondly, then straightened up and took out the presents from the paper box. There were three gifts in total, and she put them on the table one by one.

    A black handbag, off-white dress, a set of scented candles.

    "This tote bag is Bottega Veneta''s new style this year. It is purely hand-woven and has a simple and low-key design. It is characterized by no obvious external trademarks. It looks ordinary and has a large capacity. It can hold a lot of things and meets your current needs."

    "A designer friend of mine made the dress himself, and he asked me to give it to the person I like the most." Having said that, Jiang Yu paused for a moment, and turned her gaze to her.

    "Sister likes you the most."

    Cheng Suran looked at her, heart throbbing slightly.

    Jiang Yu quickly looked away again, and continued: "This is one size fits all, I measured your size by hand and I think it fits right, you can wear it."

    "Measure by hand?"

    "Hm."

    "How can your hands..." Cheng Suran looked down at herself, and suddenly understood and blushed.

    Jiang Yu picked up the skirt and gestured twice in front of her, showing a satisfied smile: "It looks good."

    Fresh and elegant off-white, V-neck three-quarter sleeves, hand-embroidered designer initials on the left cuff. The drape and tailoring of the fabric are particularly good, no matter how hard you grab, knead and pull it, it will return to its original shape in a second.

    She put down her skirt and picked up a scented candle.

    "This is a scented wax. You can use this day and night. I chose a fig scent for you, it''s a little lighter than other scents, and has a calming effect."

    The aromatherapy box was written in English that Cheng Suran didn''t understand.

    "Do you like them all?" Jiang Yu looked at her with a smile.

    Every gift is carefully selected, fully considering her needs. It took thought and time. As far as the sponsorship

    between them is concerned, she is the one who should do this. Only a lover pleases the benefactor, but no benefactor has ever pleased a lover.

    It''s the same as sending her a laptop last time.

    Cheng Suran''s cheeks turned hot, she nodded subconsciously, then shook her head again: "Sister, don''t waste your money."

    "How is giving a gift to a kid wasting my money?"

    "But I didn''t even prepare a gift for you as well--"

    Jiang Yu lowered her head and kissed Cheng Suran''s lips, wrapped her two thin and strong arms around her waist, her warm breath spreading under the tip of her nose, then let go with just one touch, muttering: "Aren''t you the best gift ever?"

    Cheng Suran snuggled into her arms, her heart beating like a drum, and her already red cheeks became even redder.

    Is this an illusion? Sister seemed to be a different person tonight. Her eyes and smile blurred the cold and realistic relationship between them, and they got closer to each other. There was an emotion that she had never experienced, festering like ants, crawling and tickling across her palms.

    She couldn''t help but wonder, could it be that sister deliberately didn''t reply to her messages, just to surprise her?

    Once caught in the emotional vortex, it became difficult to get out. She forgot the relationship between them, forgot Jiang Yu''s previous cruelty, and she was willing to sink.

    "I''ll take you somewhere."

    "What?"

    "Follow me."

    Tonight, the hotel has an event; guessing lantern riddles and releasing river lanterns in the large garden on the east side of the inner courtyard.

    From the elevator, Jiang Yu led Cheng Suran through the hall and corridor, and stepped onto the red carpet. From a distance, she could see rows of red lanterns hanging beside the lake, and there was melodious music.

    Many people are participating in the event.

    There is a large sign at the entrance with the rules of the game written on it.

    There are no more than two people in a group, and mobile phones are not allowed in. Every time you guess a lantern riddle correctly, you can get a number card. After collecting all the number cards, you can freely exchange them for gifts. The time limit is 15 minutes.

    The prizes include pens, small speakers, tablets, projectors, etc., all of which are practical and expensive.

    Cheng Suran stared at the pen, her black eyes sparkled slightly: "I want that..."

    "Do you have confidence in yourself?" Jiang Yu asked softly.

    Cheng Suran froze.

    As if--

    She turned her head, blinked shyly, twitched for a while, and then whispered: "Not really."

    When she participated in a guessing activity before, she and her classmates formed a team of three. Everyone else guessed the last question, but she was still stuck on the fourth question. At that time, the questions were not difficult, and the prizes were all gadgets, but today the prizes are so expensive and valuable, the questions must be difficult.

    Jiang Yu encouraged: "Sister has confidence in you. Let''s go and try."

    "Mm!" Cheng Suran nodded vigorously.

    The two walked to the entrance, registered their room number, and handed their phones to the waiter.

    There is an electronic display under each lantern. Players answer questions on it. After answering correctly, the lantern will automatically spit out a number card, and then change the question, waiting for the next group of players to answer.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t wait to walk towards the first lantern. Before she took half a step, she suddenly remembered that she was holding her sister''s hand, she hesitated for a moment, and then withdrew her foot again.

    Jiang Yu let go of her hand and said, "Go."

    "What''s wrong?"

    "Let''s go together." Cheng Suran tentatively took her hand, not paying attention to the angle, and accidentally interlocked their fingers.

    Jiang Yu said yes with a smile, and calmly pulled out her finger, putting it on the back of her hand.

    Cheng Suran didn''t realize it.

    The two walked side by side to the first lantern, and there were only four words on the display: Four seasons are like spring. The parentheses at the end read "Guess the name of the place in Taiwan Province".

    "This..." Cheng Suran was stunned, "I''ve never been to Taiwan."

    Hey.

    Without a mobile phone, she cannot search.

    Sure enough, it won''t be easy for people to get the prize. She was discouraged by the first question.

    The light of the lantern shone on her face, as if she had applied rouge, her little face was flushed and slightly puffing due to confusion, which looked a bit cute.

    Jiang Yu looked at her quietly.

    Observing what the kid will do.

    After a while, still having no idea, Cheng Suran muttered dejectedly: "I can''t solve the first lantern riddle. It seems that I won''t get the prize today...I''m so stupid."

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak, reached out and tapped the on-screen keyboard, and quickly typed two words:

    Hengchun.

    The answer is correct!

    A number card dropped out from the bottom of the lantern with a "click".

    "Huh?" Cheng Suran opened her eyes wide and looked at Jiang Yu amazed. Before she could ask, Jiang Yu took the initiative to explain.

    "Let''s continue playing."

    Jiang Yu smiled faintly, patted her on the shoulder, "Next question."

    "Oh."

    The second question and the third question were to guess the object and the name of the person respectively. Jiang Yu knew it well, but kept silent, watching the kid racking her brain to no avail, and finally answered.

    The fourth, fifth...Jiang Yu answered the nine consecutive questions correctly.

    Cheng Suran felt extremely frustrated for a moment.

    Strictly speaking, the topic is not difficult, but it is difficult for her. She has never been exposed to many things, and she has seen too little, so she doesn''t know where to start.

    It was also in these short few minutes that she realized that there was such a big gap between herself and her sister.

    "Moonrise scares the mountain birds..." Jiang Yu read out the last lantern riddle softly.

    "Guess the word?"

    She looked at Cheng Suran.

    Cheng Suran came up with the answer almost instantly - cuckoo.

    This lantern riddle is too simple, is it possible? The first few questions were hit one after another, she couldn''t believe herself a little bit, she frowned, her fingers were hanging on the screen and she didn''t click on it.

    "Sister, do you know?"

    Jiang Yu shook her head.

    This time she really doesn''t know.

    Cheng Suran bit her lip, her eyebrows frowned even tighter, thinking of making a gamble, she typed the word "cuckoo" on the screen.

    Correct!

    Her mouth gaped incredulously.

    Jiang Yu gave her a thumbs up and praised in a warm voice: "Good job."

    Cheng Suran smiled.

    After collecting all the number cards, the two walked to the prize redemption table.The kid was thinking about the beautifully packaged pen, but she couldn''t see it at a glance.

    The waiter apologized and said that the pen was already exchanged by other players who cleared the level.

    "Then..." Cheng Suran was a little disappointed.

    "Why don''t you look at other prizes?"

    "All right."

    The next best thing, she chose a small speaker. The shape of the pink pig is very cute. It just so happens that she also likes to listen to music.

    Jiang Yu looked at her silently.

    After the game was over, the two did not go back to the room, but went upstairs.

    There is a leisure viewing terrace on the top floor with more than a dozen wide and comfortable sofa chairs. For tonight, it is a good place to enjoy the moon and drink wine.

    There are no clouds tonight, and a huge full moon hangs in the sky, and the silver light is as cool as water.

    Jiang Yu reclined on the sofa, looking lazily at the figure of the girl by the fence. From behind, she looked very thin, but she knew that it was very comfortable to hold her in her arms.

    Unknowingly, she narrowed her eyes slightly.

    She was giving, giving companionship, tenderness, and... patience to a girl who is "homeless" like herself.

    A canary, with a knot in her heart, couldn''t concentrate on serving her.

    The agreement is less than a month old, and she still has a strong sense of freshness. If this incident leaves a shadow on the kid and can no longer please her, then it will be a loss to her, a heavy loss.

    How can she do a losing business?

    This is all for herself.

    "Sister¡ª¡ª" the girl turned around and trotted forward, the voice interrupted her thoughts.

    "It''s really high from the top down, but it doesn''t feel like it in the room."

    She knelt down on one leg, her eyes sparkled with excitement, her black hair was blown by the wind, and passed over her eyelids, her little face was beautiful and lovely in the gloom.

    Jiang Yu smiled, didn''t speak, and stretched out her hand to wrap the girl in her arms.

    At this time, the waiter came over with a tray, put down half a glass of red wine and a glass of juice, said ''please enjoy'' and left quietly.

    "Sister, why is mine fruit juice?" Cheng Suran stared at the glass in surprise.

    Jiang Yu lazily raised her eyes and said, "Kids should drink less."

    She took a sip of her red wine.

    Cheng Suran paused, remembering that last time she drank a few sips of sweet red wine, she suddenly became dizzy, her face was hot and so was her heart. It was really embarrassing. She couldn''t help wondering if her sister was accommodating her.

    "I can have a drink with you."

    "Be obedient."

    "Fine"

    She obediently picked up the juice and took a sip.

    The surrounding lights are dim, and there are occasional whispers. Jiang Yu curled up one leg, her body curves and undulates like a snake, her cold and charming eyes are dim, like a hunter lurking in the dark and waiting for an opportunity.

    Cheng Suran raised her eyes to look at the moon, and then at her, only saw the cold outline, for a moment, couldn''t help but say: "Sister¡ª¡ª

    "Hmm?"

    "Can I ask you something?"

    "Go ahead."

    "In our school forum, there are several ids..."

    Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Yu interrupted quietly: "My people."

    "Oh."

    She guessed right.

    Cheng Suran didn''t know whether her heart was sweet or sour. It was a bit complicated. She sighed, buried her face in front of Jiang Yu, and sniffed this familiar and favorite fragrance.

    "Thank you, sister."

    "Thank you for what?"

    "For helping me."

    As soon as these words fell, the air was quiet for a few seconds, and a cool breeze blew past.

    Jiang Yu''s chuckle came beside her ear.

    "I said, these things should be done for you, and it is my duty to protect you." She lowered her head and kissed the tip of the girl''s nose, her tone calm.

    To protect the kid is to protect herself.

    She will always be true to herself.

    But to Cheng Suran''s ears, what she said was full of tenderness.

    Due to family reasons, she used to have low self-esteem and never dared to take the initiative to communicate with others. Later, when she was in college, she forced herself to take part-time jobs that required frequent communication with people, such as hotel front desk, recruiter, and voice customer service.

    Eventually, her problems improved, and she no longer had social fright outside, but she was almost beaten back to her original shape because of this posting incident.

    Fortunately, there are more good people than bad people in this world.

    She could believe in the beauty of the world again.

    "Hm."

    Cheng Suran hugged Jiang Yu, closed her eyes and savored the joy.

    A light kiss fell on her lips.

    She opened her eyes.

    Warm breath rushed over, as if scratching an itch. What was thought to be a superficial kiss, suddenly deepened, and swept her like a storm, taking away all the air.

    "Hmm--"

    Cheng Suran closed her eyes again.

    Gorgeous fireworks exploded in her mind, and a rush of excitement filled her up. Unlike the tension every time before, this time, she clearly felt the throbbing in her heart, wanting more.

    Time flies by here.

    Cheng Suran reached for Jiang Yu''s collar and accidentally loosened the third button.

    In an instant, she was pushed away.

    "Elder sister?"

    "It''s getting late, go back to sleep."

    Jiang Yu sat up without any emotion in her voice. She buttoned up and picked up the goblet and drank it in one gulp, got up and walked to the elevator.

    Cheng Suran froze in place, and it took her a while to realize, then she hurriedly followed, but missed the same elevator. When she sat down and returned to the suite, she opened the door, and there was no one inside.

    Gone again?

    She doesn''t even know why.

    ¡ª beep

    The back door opened.

    She looked up.

    Jiang Yu came in, holding a beautifully wrapped rectangular box in her hand, and handed it to her.

    It''s that pen.

 CH 24

    Huh?

    Isn''t the pen exchanged by others?

    Cheng Suran took the box and looked at Jiang Yu suspiciously.

    "This kind of prize is usually in stock. I asked the hotel to buy one." Jiang Yu stretched out her hand and brushed the slightly messy hair on her forehead.

    Cheng Suran''s heart trembled, she castigated herself but it continued throbbing.

    She let her sister spend money again.

    Jiang Yu seemed to know what she was thinking, raised her lips and smiled, and said, "The important thing is that you like it."

    "Thank you, sister." Cheng Suran didn''t want to be shy anymore, and accepted it generously.

    "Actually, it''s because I usually like to write in a notebook. When I''m tired, I just copy something for fun, and... I''m a member of the Aesthetics Association. Hahaha, this pen is super beautiful, so I fell in love with it."

    Her two sweet little dimples sank happily.

    "Then¡ª" Jiang Yu raised her eyebrows, trying to tease her, and lowered her head slightly to ears, "Member of the Aesthetics Association, do you think I look good?"

    Cheng Suran nodded seriously: "Sister is the most beautiful in my heart."

    "Why does it sound so insincere?"

    "It''s true!" The kid was anxious, "You are tall and have a good figure. You look good in anything you wear, yes, and you have a great temperament. Anyone who stands by your side will be instantly killed!"

    She was so anxious that she blew a long series of rainbow farts.*"

    *flatteries

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help laughing, raised her hand and scratched her nose, "Just kidding."

    "Do you want to eat moon cakes?"

    Cheng Suran shook her head: "I don''t eat sweets at night." After speaking, she felt that her sister was disappointed, so she added: "I want to keep it as a snack during the day."

    "Okay," Jiang Yu nodded, "Go take a shower and sleep."

    It''s half past ten.

    Cheng Suran grabbed her wrist, "Are you going to leave?"

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes, saw reluctance and hope in those eyes, and saw her own face. She was silent for a moment, then said lightly, "I won''t."

    A happy smile appeared on the girl''s face.

    The two went to take a bath separately, Cheng Suran was a little faster, she applied perfume all over her body, got into the master bedroom, and rolled on the big bed.

    Not long after, Jiang Yu came in.

    She was wearing a red silk nightgown with loose ties, and her long thick black half-curly hair hung down her shoulders, a little disheveled, and indescribably charming.

    Cheng Suran was distracted, and when she sat down, she rolled over and hugged her, "Sister..."

    "Aren''t you going to sleep?" Jiang Yu patted her hand.

    Cheng Suran didn''t speak.

    She had a bold idea¡ª¡ª

    The phone vibrated, there was a new email, Jiang Yu picked it up to read it, and let the kid hug her, lifted the quilt with the other hand, put her legs in, and sat on the head of the bed.

    Cheng Suran tentatively grabbed the tie.

    Pulling it out quietly...

    Her hand was suddenly grabbed.

    "What are you doing?" Jiang Yu''s deep voice came from beside her ear.

    Cheng Suran looked at her, hesitated to speak, and pouted her small mouth slightly, as if both wronged and unwilling.

    Jiang Yu put the phone on the bedside table, "If you don''t say anything, you''ll go to sleep."

    "I... I saw in the short video, uh, no party is always active, so..." Cheng Suran bit her lip, with a hint of shame in her eyes.

    "You can''t always take the initiative, can you?"

    Jiang Yu slyly looked at her for a moment, leaned forward, the tip of her nose brushed against her face, closed her eyes and gently spat out a few words: "Little friend learned to be bad."

    "It was you who taught me to be bad." Cheng Suran thought this was her agreement, and became proud.

    The thin strap was easily pulled away, her hands were shaking a little, she was inexplicably excited about what she was going to try for the first time, seeing that Jiang Yu was just looking at her without any reaction, she couldn''t help being bolder.

    She went to lift the neckline.

    Jiang Yu grabbed her wrist, her whole face sank, and she exerted a little strength, her deep pool-like eyes radiating coldness.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t help shaking, and murmured: "Sister..."

    "Sleep."

    "Okay."

    She nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.

    Jiang Yu let go, and Cheng Suran immediately shrank back, obediently got into the bed, she felt aggrieved for a moment, she turned over, with the back of her head facing the person behind her.

    "Good night sister." muffled voice.

    Jiang Yu turned her face to the side, staring at the girl''s black hair. After a long while, she turned off the light and lay down. She hugged Cheng Suran from behind and said softly, "Good night."

    ¡­.

    The remaining two days coincided with the opening of Paris Fashion Week, and Jiang Yu went to the show.

    The temperature rose slightly, cooler in the morning and evening, hotter at noon, even worse than in August, and the sun still made people''s scalp numb.

    Cheng Suran wore the skirt Jiang Yu gave her, to class.

    She doesn''t know what kind of fabric it is, but the tailoring fits her body very well. No matter how she changes her posture, it will not wrinkle or bulge. The texture is so good that she dare not touch it too much for fear of damaging it.

    It had a very ordinary style, without any extra lace embellishment, but on the way to the cafeteria and classroom, there were always strange girls asking.

    The little vanity of this age was greatly satisfying.

    After the three-day holiday, the popularity of rumor posts has dropped a lot. The voices praising Cheng Suran kept coming and going, which was on par with the voices attacking "Little Xiami".

    But there was one more thing left undone.

    After lunch, Cheng Suran returned to the dormitory. As she expected, only Li Meiling was there.

    She put down her backpack, took a deep breath, took out the prepared recording pen from her bag and pressed it, put it in her pocket, turned around and walked to Li Meiling''s side.

    "I have something to tell you."

    Li Meiling was scrolling through Weibo with her mobile phone in her hand, and raised her head when she heard the sound, frowning: "What for?"

    Cheng Suran took out her mobile phone, clicked a few times, called up a video, held it up to her eyes, "Look at this."

    In the video, a black mobile phone with the screen turned on appeared, and the page was Tieba¡¯s personal account, and then an index finger appeared, swiping the screen, jumping from the main menu to Penguin, and entering the profile page.

    Ten seconds quickly finished playing.

    Li Meiling opened her eyes wide and gritted her teeth: "I just said why the phone suddenly disappeared that day. So it was you who was the thief here?"

    "It doesn''t matter." Cheng Suran remained expressionless.

    "So what do you want?"

    "If you want to state objective facts, you, Li Meiling, maliciously spread rumors about me, that I was being sponsored, leading the public to abuse me online."

    The two stared at each other in silence.

    Li Meiling felt a little guilty, she looked away, and said with a sneer, "I''m spreading rumors? Is that what everyone thinks about those photos of yours? At most, it''s a misunderstanding. Besides, who knows if I really misunderstood you."

    She is a little shorter than Cheng Suran, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, with deep eye sockets, long eyelashes and a round face.

    When she first entered freshman year, there were four people in the dormitory, Cheng Suran, Li Meiling, Ding Yuan, and another roommate, Shen Zhi, who had moved out. At that time, they were not familiar with each other, and just walked together to eat and go to class.

    Cheng Suran is used to being alone, and she often has to go out to do part-time jobs, so she became alone again as time went by. Ding Yuan is a local who doesn''t often live in the dormitory and only reserves a bed, so Shen Zhi and Li Meiling have the best relationship most of the time.

    At first, the relationship in the dormitory was relatively harmonious. Li Meiling and Shen Zhi joined different departments of the student union. They were busy signing in for meetings and running errands for the teachers every day. Later, for some reason, the two began to fight openly and secretly in the student union.

    Cheng Suran leaves early and returns late, and has never noticed that the atmosphere in the dormitory is not right. One evening after class, Li Meiling took her to have dinner with her. After eating, she took her to the playground for a walk and to chat. She talked about her family''s misfortune, her difficulty in studying, and being bullied by her old friends at school.

    The old friend was naturally Shen Zhi.

    At that time, Cheng Suran was naive and simple, with a lonely heart under her cold shell. She believed in Li Meiling, and firmly believed that Shen Zhi was two-faced and did many things that she regretted.

    Li Meiling secretly squeezed Shen Zhi''s facial cleanser, poured biscuit crumbs on Shen Zhi''s bed, spit in Shen Zhi''s drink... and so on. Although she didn''t do it herself, she was also an "accomplice" who watched and did not stop Li Meiling.

    Later, she happened to participate in an event with Shen Zhi, only to find out that the other party was not the person Li Meiling said she was. She broke down, blamed herself and panicked, and apologized to Shen Zhi the next day and confessed everything.

    A "war" broke out in the dormitory.

    Later, when Shen Zhi moved out, Li Meiling hated her for defecting, and said she was not a human being inside and out.

    Making friends with her is a lie, and soliciting and taking advantage of her is true. Her sincerity is nothing but a deceit, in exchange for manipulation.

    Since then, she isolated herself from others and never trusted anyone.

    "I don''t want to argue with you about the nature of this matter. In short, the fact is that you spread rumors about me and caused me harm." Cheng Suran said word by word.

    Li Meiling''s face was full of dissatisfaction, and she pointed to her nose and said, "You secretly took pictures of my mobile phone, which is an invasion of privacy! I can sue you!"

    "Oh."

    "Do you think you understand the law?" Cheng Suran sneered, and slapped Li Meiling''s  hand away heavily.

    "Then let me tell you that spreading rumors and slander is against the law. I can call the police directly, and the police can find you along the network cable. I don''t need to show the things I took on my phone. In addition, I also want to sue you for infringing my right of reputation, so that you can eat your lawsuit, and then things will be more than what they are now, you will be more famous than me."

    "Maybe you will go to jail, and when you come out with a criminal record, life will definitely be difficult."

    She was also guilty of saying this.

    Sponsorship is a fact, and from a legal point of view, Li Meiling did not defame. She just wanted to deter the other party with this, rather than really taking this step. After all, it was difficult to guarantee that the trouble would not affect her sister.

    But if Li Meiling doesn''t cooperate, this is her last resort.

    The small room was so quiet that only the sound of each other''s breathing could be heard.

    The air instantly condensed.

    Li Meiling''s face changed slightly, she stared at her intently, her lips were pursed into a straight line. After a long time, she said bitterly: "What do you want?"

    At that moment, Cheng Suran breathed a sigh of relief.

    Thankfully it worked.

    "Take a video showing your face and post it, publicly apologize to me, and then delete the rumor post."

    "Then what if someone scolds me?"

    "You deserve it."

    "You¡ª" Li Meiling stepped forward.

    Cheng Suran resisted the thought of retreating, stood still, straightened her back, "After you post, I will follow up and say that we have reconciled privately, and let you delete the post after a while, and this matter will be over. All grievances will be written off, and the well water will not violate the river water from now on*."

    *they''ll be minding their own business

    "Either make a public apology, or see you in court, choose."

    Once the public apology is made, Li Meiling will definitely be mocked, and with a previous record, it will be difficult to target her in the future.

    Kindness with choice is kindness, kindness without choice is cowardice.

    Li Meiling frowned and hesitated for a while, "How to record a video?"

    "You write the manuscript first."

    "..."

    There was no class in the afternoon, so Cheng Suran went to the company.

    Previously, she made an appointment with the photographer for the photoshoot, twice a week, and the filming will be completed in three and a half weeks. Today was her first shoot since she officially agreed to be a print model, she didn''t have to meet Assistant Tian, ??so the journey went smoothly.

    The studio is busy, and everyone is busy preparing for work.

    When Cheng Suran came in, she immediately saw Qi Yan - the beautiful photographer sister.

    She tried her best to restrain the discomfort of being in a crowded place, greeted everyone politely, and walked straight to Qi Yan. Before approaching, the other party raised her head and saw her.

    "Little sister, come¡ª" Qi Yan smiled and waved to her.

    Cheng Suran walked over at a faster pace, and greeted obediently: "Sister Yanyan."

    Qi Yan put on light makeup today, with a thin oval face, red lips and white teeth, hair as black as ebony hung behind her, and her eyes were radiant.

    Looking at beautiful people makes her feel better.

    "Today we have a lot to shoot, and time is a bit tight. Let''s go in and have a chat first, and then you can change your clothes and put on makeup." Qi Yan pointed to the small room in the corner.

    Why?

    Want to chat first?

    Cheng Suran was puzzled, but still nodded cooperatively: "Okay."

    She followed Qi Yan into the small room.

    The place where she changed clothes during the last shooting was a combination sofa, a round table, and a water dispenser. Qi Yan pointed to the single sofa, motioned for her to sit, and then poured a glass of water and placed it in front of her.

    "Thanks."

    "You''re welcome," Qi Yan said with a smile, "How old are you this year?"

    Cheng Suran answered truthfully: "Twenty years old."

    "Junior?"

    "Mm."

    "Where is your hometown?"

    "Lingzhou..."

    "Which school do you study in? What major?"

    Cheng Suran paused, feeling vigilant: "Why do you ask this?"

    "Don''t be afraid, this is just my professional quirk. Before shooting with a new model, I will chat with her to understand the basic situation, I won''t do anything." Qi Yan explained patiently, looking at her with a hint of curiosity.

    The last time was not a formal shooting, the little sister only left her a first impression.

    Pureness, like that of a white lotus; desire like that of a rose. Extremely malleable.

    That scumbag Jiang Yu has always had a good eye.

    She is only twenty years old, still at the age of an ivory tower*. She had not experienced much in the world, and she doesn''t know people well, so she just fell into the hands of trash... Qi Yan''s eyes showed a trace of regret.

    *sheltered and separated from the realities of life

    If it wasn''t for her lack of position, she really wanted to remind this little sister - Jiang Yu is a scum.

    Run.

    Cheng Suran nodded and said softly: "Jiangcheng University of Foreign Studies, Department of French."

    Perhaps it was because of Qi Yan''s beauty, she slowly let go of her guard, and remembered that when she was in her sister''s office, the photographer seemed to have a good relationship with her sister, so she should be able to rest assured.

    At that time, she didn''t know that one day in the future, she would be so jealous of Qi Yan like crazy.

    The two chatted for about ten minutes, and Cheng Suran went to change clothes and put on makeup.

    There are seven outfits for today''s shoot.

    With the previous experience, Cheng Suran is not so nervous facing the camera this time, but, after all, she has not received professional training, so her expressive ability is slightly inferior.

    When it came to the sixth set of clothes, the door of the studio suddenly opened.

    A slender figure stepped in.

    "Jiang..." The assistant makeup artist saw her and was about to shout when Jiang Yu made a shushing gesture.

    A chair was placed in front of the curtain, and the girl sat on it with her legs curled up. The swimsuit-like skirt had too little fabric, and a large area of ??white skin was shining brightly. She seemed a little reluctant to let go and her expression was very stiff.

    It''s more like tired. Her brows and eyes show fatigue.

    "No, no, the eyes should be a little lazier."

    "It''s good to touch the left toe on the ground, don''t exert force... Hey, what''s going on? I mean don''t use force, as soon as you exert force, your calf will stretch out."

    After filming all afternoon, they got stuck on the sixth set of clothes and went back and forth more than ten times, but still couldn''t find the feeling that fit the theme. Qi Yan gradually ran out of patience, and her voice raised unconsciously.

    She walks around the camera.

    Grabbing the girl''s ankles, she poses her as if she is carving a work of art, with a passion for perfection in her eyes.

    Cheng Suran was manipulated like a puppet. Four hours of continuous shooting made her exhausted, her shoulders were sore, her neck hurt, and she couldn''t help shaking when she tiptoed on the ground.

    "That''s it, hold on, don''t move." Qi Yan stepped back in satisfaction and returned to the camera.

    Finally, it was done.

    "Next set."

    "Qi Yan¡ª"

    Jiang Yu came out of the darkness, looked at Qi Yan, and asked indifferently: "How long have you been filming?"

    Everyone was shocked.

    She stood under the light, with her arms crossed, her figure upright, her black suit casually draped over her shoulders, and the avocado green waist-tight dress inside, a very simple and elegant color, blending a bit of gentleness into the coldness.

    Cheng Suran looked at her in surprise, her eyes sparkling.

    Sister is back!

    "The filming started at one o''clock, and it took about four hours." Qi Yan had already gotten used to her elusiveness, so she lowered her head and fiddled with the camera after speaking.

    Jiang Yu glanced at the girl''s face, and ordered lightly: "That''s it for today."

    "No, it''s the last set, soon."

    The shooting progress of the whole series is not in a hurry, but Qi Yan likes to do things from beginning to end. This issue has started to be filmed, and she must finish filming it before stopping to do other things, otherwise she will feel uncomfortable all over.

    "She''s a person, not a tool." Jiang Yu said in a deep voice.

    Qi Yan stopped fiddling and turned her head with a serious face. She was just about to say that she also has her own principles, and if she wants to stay here, she has to follow her rhythm.

    But she had never seen Jiang Yu''s face so ugly.

    The words came to her lips but got swallowed.

    "All right."

    Jiang Yu turned around silently and waved at the girl.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t wait to step forward, "Sister, don''t you want to shoot?"

    "It''s time to rest." Jiang Yu restrained her expression, a faint smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and her slender fingers picked up a strand of her hair, "Are you made of iron?"

    The girl pursed her lips and smiled, her cheeks suddenly turned pink, and the two small dimples were also dyed pink.

    "Let''s go back to the office."

    "Uh-huh."

    Jiang Yu held Cheng Suran''s shoulders, turned around and took two steps, as if she remembered something, let Cheng Suran go first, and turned back by herself.

    "Qi Yan."

    "?"

    "Here, I have given you the greatest freedom, but I also hope that you can respect me and my people."

 CH 25

    Jiang Yu left the studio under the white eyes of the people behind her.

    Back in the office, the kid was sitting upright on the sofa, with her shoulders hunched, her hands placed neatly on her knees, her legs felt very tight, like a sense of restraint that she couldn''t let go of.

    The skirt is thin and see-through, and the design is quite avant-garde, as if it will disappear if she moves  casually.

    Hearing the sound, Cheng Suran turned to her, her watery black eyes sparkled: "Sister..."

    The small face was covered with makeup, it was so light that it was almost invisible, the delicate and lively eyes like water apricots were full of light, her lips were slightly parted, and the corners curled up in a slightly sweet arc.

    The immature and pure appearance, wearing this sexy and hot skirt, contrasted to the extreme, making one daydream.

    There are not only photographers in the studio, but also six or seven men and women. The kid is thin-skinned and has no professional training. Of course, she wouldn''t be comfortable being exposed to the camera like this.

    Jiang Yu''s eyes darkened slightly, a trace of regret floated in her heart, and she cursed Qi Yan secretly: Rogue!

    "Did you just come back today?"

    "No."

    Jiang Yu closed the door with her backhand, walked over calmly, took off her suit jacket and put it on Cheng Suran''s body, and gathered the front to cover her inner skirt.

    Cheng Suran watched her movements, lowering and raising her head, inexplicably feeling a strong possessive desire.

    Sister won''t be angry, will she?  She was dressed like this...Sigh, although it was necessary for filming, she forgot to change and came out. Sister definitely didn''t want her to be seen again.

    "I came back yesterday afternoon." Jiang Yu sat down and wrapped her long arms around her waist.

    Cheng Suran let out a muffled sound, and unconsciously pursed her small mouth.

    She''s been back a long time ago.

    Jiang Yu had a panoramic view of her slightly disappointed expression, like a feather sweeping across her heart, causing a burst of itching and soothing the boiling emotions just now.

    "I''ve been jet-lagged since I came back. I didn''t get up until noon today, and then I did some work. I came here when I knew you were filming at the company." Jiang Yu explained patiently, and lowered herself down to kiss her hair.

    Cheng Suran was taken aback for a moment, and suddenly realized, she lowered her eyes in embarrassment, leaning her head against her collarbone.

    As soon as she got up, she came to find her.

    "Kid, are you a fool?"

    "Huh?"

    Jiang Yu stretched out her index finger and tapped her forehead, and said with a stern tone, "Say it when you''re tired, it''s your legitimate right, and blindly patiently satisfying others will make you only be taken for granted."

    "I..." Cheng Suran hesitated to speak.

    This is a problem she was born with. She was too embarrassed to ask, too embarrassed to refuse others, so she endured it and endured it. Everything can be "it doesn''t matter".

    She hated herself like this, so she took a lot of effort to change.

    But she didn''t expect to be seen through at a glance.

    "Okay, I''ll work on it," she whispered.

    "By the way, sister, I have found the one who posted about me and it has been settled peacefully. You and Assistant Tian don''t have to worry about it anymore. Thank you."

    Jiang Yu raised her brows and asked with great interest, "How did you solve it?"

    "I told her to apologize publicly."

    "Tell me the story."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran hesitated for a moment, took out her mobile phone from her bag, clicked on a recording file and played it.

    Two girls'' voices came out, one was clear and the other was thin, the former was Cheng Suran, and the latter... was the host of the rumor-mongering post.

    Jiang Yu listened quietly.

    The recording is not long, three to five minutes.

    After playing, Cheng Suran swiped the screen with her fingertips, exited the file, put the phone aside, and turned to observe Jiang Yu''s face.

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes and remained motionless.

    Suddenly, she met the girl''s eyes, her deep brows were tinged with surprise, with a look of scrutiny, and the line of her lips curved slightly.

    She couldn''t imagine Cheng Suran''s expression when she said those words.

    In just half a month, the kid has been well-behaved and obedient in her eyes, with a beautiful face and a soft and innocent personality, like a harmless little white rabbit.

    Now she finds out she was wrong.

    Under the girl''s seemingly weak and obedient appearance, there is a heart full of power, not necessarily pure and easy to deceive, but soft and deceitful.

    It is the first time she misjudged someone. Her heart began to grow a tinge of curiosity about the kid. "Sister..." Seeing that she didn''t speak, Cheng Suran got a little nervous, and clasped her fingers together, "I just want to scare her first, and it''s best if we can resolve it peacefully. Otherwise, I am afraid that this will affect you."

    The smile on the corner of Jiang Yu''s mouth gradually widened. She stretched out her hand and gently pinched her ear, "What should I do, kid, sister likes you more and more."

    Cheng Suran opened her eyes wide.

    What?

    She stared at Jiang Yu without blinking, her slender eyelashes fluttered like a pair of cicada wings, her eyes glistened with water, and her small mouth with light pink lipstick opened slightly.

    The throbbing in her chest became more and more intense.

    Many years later, Cheng Suran recalled when she was tempted, and this scene flashed in her mind.

    Jiang Yu''s eyes, Jiang Yu''s tone.

    It''s just that she doesn''t know it yet.

    This small face was so delicate and beautiful, Jiang Yu looked down, as if admiring a vivid watercolor painting, she embraced her with one hand, lowered her head and kissed that piece of lips.

    "Hmm--"

    Cheng Suran tilted her neck slightly, and hugged her with both hands naturally.

    The heat on her lips spread little by little with the palpitations. She was not yet proficient, but just catered to her instinctively. There seemed to be lightning sparks in her soul, clamoring wildly, wanting Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu noticed something unusual, but she couldn''t think about it. She has been waiting for too long these days, and she wanted to give the kid a little buffer time, and minimize the impact of public opinion on the kid''s heart¡ªevery bad word is the truth.

    Waiting until now is enough, she can''t wait any longer.

    "Sister, this is the office..." Cheng Suran was a little flustered when she realized her intention.

    Jiang Yu ignored her, picked up the blanket on the back of the sofa to cover her legs, then hugged her and put her on her lap, then took a small box from the coffee table drawer, and smiled at her while tearing off the package.

    After watching too many learning videos, Cheng Suran immediately understood the meaning of this sitting position, and immediately blushed with embarrassment.

    But she didn''t understand why a blanket was used.

    "This skirt is high-end, I just bought it, and I don''t want to get it dirty." Seeing through her doubts, Jiang Yu explained casually.

    Cheng Suran blushed and said oh.

    ¡­.

    Afterwards, Jiang Yu threw the discarded blanket into the trash can, packed the box, and went to the studio to get back the kids clothes, "Okay, go back."

    She walked around the desk and sat down.

    Cheng Suran silently carried her clothes into the bathroom to change, and when she came out, she saw Jiang Yu talking on the phone, speaking English. She understood after listening to a few sentences, it was a work matter, and somehow she felt a little lost.

    Isn''t sister switching persona too fast?

    A few minutes ago, she hugged her and coaxed her softly, but now...She thought it would be like in the video, at least for a while. But there was nothing. She felt like a doll, and as soon as it was over, the mission was done.

    She was a little bit reluctant, and dragged on until Jiang Yu hung up the phone, and asked in a low voice, "Sister, are you going back tonight?"

    "I have work to do." Jiang Yu shook her head, "Why haven''t you left yet?"

    Cheng Suran didn''t speak, picked up her bag and left silently.

    Later that evening, a black commercial vehicle drove into the basement of the complex and stopped near the gate of the building. A tall woman with a ponytail got out of the vehicle first, looked around vigilantly, and said to the person in the car: "Tongtong, it''s safe.  "

    After speaking, she reached out for her.

    The woman sitting in the car was wearing sunglasses and a mask, and her long brown hair was slightly curly, so she couldn''t see her face clearly.  She deliberately avoided the hand stretched out in front of her, and got out of the car without saying a word.

    The parking lot was silent and empty.

    Pei Chutong strode ahead, and Ruan Mu followed behind her.

    The two entered the elevator one after the other.

    As if granted an amnesty, Pei Chutong quickly took off her sunglasses and mask, revealing a delicate and charming face. She was holding something in one hand, and raised her other hand to comb her hair. Innately arrogant.

    "I''ll hold it for you." Ruan Mu stretched out her hand.

    Pei Chutong didn''t speak, and dodge her hands aside.

    Ruan Mu withdrew her hand silently.

    On the forty-second floor, Pei Chutong took the first step out of the elevator, pressed the smart doorbell, and after a while, the door opened.

    Jiang Yu''s figure appeared in front of her eyes.

    "Coco*¡ª" She smiled and hugged Jiang Yu passionately, "I miss you so much."

    *it''s actually K¨§k¨§ which means cocoa (¿É¿É), pronunciation sound similar to coco (not kiki or kei kei or keh keh, more like kk without the vowel sound.)

    Ruan Mu''s eyes dimmed from behind.

    Jiang Yu hugged back, patted the girl on the back, and said with a smile: "Me too, you said you would come back at the beginning of the month, and now it''s the end of the month, do you really miss me or just pretend to miss me?"

    "Don''t mention it, it pissed me off enough."

    "Let''s talk about it inside."

    "Um."

    Jiang Yu took out two pairs of regular slippers, smiled at Ruan Mu, and loosely let go of Pei Chutong''s hand.

    Her so-called "work" is to entertain friends at home.

    If "connection resources" is used as the standard for friends, Jiang Yu''s friends are almost all over the world, too many to count. But despite this standard, there are only a handful of close friends around her.

    Pei Chutong was one of the few.

    She is three years younger than her and was born in a red family*. She is a genuine "three generations of red". Her grandfather''s generation was a meritorious soldier who went to the battlefield, and her father''s generation was engaged in scientific research or business. In her generation, her siblings either inherited the mantle of her father, or went abroad for further studies.

    *red family refers to the family that has made great sacrifices/contribution for the Chinese revolution and construction. They either engaged in political work, or the elders of the previous generation have participated in the Anti-Japanese War and served as officials. They are viewed highly in society.

    Only she entered showbiz.

    She has liked acting since she was a child, and  applied for the Capital Academy of Drama in the college entrance examination. In her sophomore year, she collaborated with a famous director on her debut film.

    Because of her strong family background, Pei Chutong is clean in the circle without any scandals.

    ¡ªWho will dare to touch her?

    By the first half of the year, Pei Chutong had won two Best Actress trophies, and the next one would be the veritable "Triple Gold" Movie Queen.

    The three walked from the entrance to the living room. Jiang Yu was about to sit on the single sofa, but Pei Chutong took her arm and sat her down next to each other without even looking at the person behind.

    Jiang Yu: "..."

    Ruan Mu sat on the single sofa quietly.

    "I will no longer cooperate with a traffic coffee*."

    *I''m not sure about this one, but it''s probably a character stereotype like a spoiled internet sensation or something. I could be wrong though, if anyone knows, please correct.

    "What''s wrong?" Jiang Yu withdrew her gaze from Ruan Mu, and looked at the person beside her.

    Pei Chutong sneered: "This time I went to Greece for half a month to film a scene. In the first 12 days, I couldn''t even see the shadow of the male lead but the double and I got along very happily. In the last three days, he came, and he didn''t recite a single line.  When we were acting together, his assistant held the script and read the lines beside him, and then he lip-synthesized, I... how good-tempered can I be for not hitting him?"

    "The filming of that part should have been finished a long time ago, but it has been dragged on until now, and the progress has been delayed. Although the crew burned money, my time is also precious. The schedule is not so tight because I have to give myself a vacation. Now, the filming couldn''t be finished within the original schedule, and my vacation was wasted."

    She shook her head and hugged Jiang Yu.

    That''s why she came back a month late.

    The two made an appointment to go to Paris to watch a show at the end of the month, but Jiang Yu went alone in the end.

    Jiang Yu sighed, both amused and helpless, patted her on the shoulder comfortingly, and said, "It''s okay, charge it to experience, and there will be more holidays later."

    "Mm."

    Ruan Mu looked at them and lowered her eyes.

    The nanny came over with two glasses of water, one was placed in front of Ruan Mu and the other in front of Pei Chutong.

    "Drink some water." Jiang Yu held up the cup for her.

    Pei Chutong nodded, took the cup, and was about to drink, when suddenly a hand stretched out to stop her, "It''s cold."

    "I''m going to pour hot water." Ruan Mu took the cup from her hand.

    Jiang Yu was startled, and asked suspiciously: "Tongtong, have you started drinking hot water?"

    The temperature is thirty degrees today, the entire Jiangcheng failed to enter autumn, and it is hot outside.

    "It''s not..." Pei Chutong''s expression changed, and she seemed to hesitate to speak. Suddenly, she got up and caught up with Ruan Mu, snatched back the cup, and drank all the cold water in one go.

    Ruan Mu''s expressionless face finally showed a trace of anger.

    She was the bodyguard next to Pei Chutong, half a head taller than her, with a hard-lined face, but soft features, a short ponytail tied behind her head, wearing ordinary short sleeves and black overalls, looking refreshing and heroic.

    Pei Chutong ignored her, went straight back to Jiang Yu and sat down, putting the cup away.

    Jiang Yu looked at the two of them, didn''t ask much, and changed the subject, "What''s the good thing you said on the phone?"

    "Almost forgot." Pei Chutong picked up the phone nonchalantly and called up a file, "Look at this."

    The content of the file is a variety show project.

    Probably some selected female stars forming a pair to go to the farm for a week. During the period, there will be activities such as expeditions. It is very rich and it is a big project. The sponsors are all famous companies.

    Jiang Yu watched it all over, and raised an eyebrow at her: "You want me to participate in variety shows?"

    "It''s you and me."

    "Is there a difference?"

    Pei Chutong knew that she was going to make that set of remarks again, "I''m not a star, I don''t mix in the entertainment industry and variety shows have nothing to do with me", so she persuaded her earnestly: "Student Jiang Coco, the fashion industry and the entertainment industry intertwine, and you may not be a star, but you are a celebrity, and being on variety shows can increase your popularity, which will be of great benefit to your career."

    "For us, proper marketing is the icing on the cake, it doesn''t have to be exclusive."

    Jiang Yu looked at her quietly.

    Pei Chutong looked at her, was silent for a moment, and finally couldn''t help laughing: "Okay, okay, I just want you to accompany me, okay? I''ve already reserved a spot for you."

    "Wouldn''t it be better to tell the truth in the first place?" Jiang Yu laughed out loud.

    "Oh."

    Ruan Mu sat back at some point, keeping her face down, as quiet as a lifeless sculpture.

    Hearing the laughter of the two, she raised her head and took a look.

    "The filming location is in the southwest...Lingzhou?" Jiang Yu carefully read the content of the document again, and her eyes fell on those two words.

    Pei Chutong nodded: "Well, the scenery over there is nice."

    The city name is somewhat familiar.

    Jiang Yu stared at the word "Lingzhou", the face of Cheng Suran flashed in her mind, and finally remembered that it was the kid''s hometown.

    "How about it?"

    "Let me consider it."

    At this time, the nanny aunt came over and said that dinner was ready.

    "Let''s eat first, I''m hungry." Pei Chutong took back her phone, put it down, and pulled her up.

    Just as Jiang Yu stood up, the screen of her mobile phone on the table lit up. She asked Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu to go first, and squatted down to see that it was a link message from Tian Lin.

    [Sister Yu, did Miss Cheng do this?]

    Clicking on the link is a girl''s apology video. It was played quickly for more than forty seconds.

    Jiang Yu stared at the screen with calm eyes. After a long time, she typed and replied:

    [Mm, I underestimated her.]

 CH 26

    At night, there are thousands of lights outside the window.

    There are a lot of dishes on the table, and Jiang Yu has no taboo tonight, so she can eat and drink as she likes.

    She and Pei Chutong sat face to face, Ruan Mu wanted to sit next to Pei Chutong, but before her butt touched the chair, the young miss glared at her, she went around and sat down beside Jiang Yu silently.

    Jiang Yu: "..."

    "Coco, shall we go to ''NOTTE'' after dinner? There is an event tonight." Pei Chutong withdrew her gaze and picked a piece of ribs for Jiang Yu.

    "It just so happened that I haven''t visited for a long time."

    She is the boss behind "NOTTE".

    Jiang Yu resisted the urge to wash the ribs in the water, and asked with great interest, "What event?" She took a bite after speaking.

    For a moment, the aromas overflowed on the tip of her tongue, and it attracted her taste buds. It was probably the fascination with fat engraved in human genes, and she hadn''t eaten this kind of food for a long time.

    Once self-discipline is relaxed, it is easy to indulge.

    "My studio''s newcomer sister turns 20 today. I will hold a birthday party for her. She invited a few classmates. They are all girls in their early twenties who are learning to act. They are definitely good-looking." Pei Chutong faced Jiang Yu blinked, hinting clearly.

    When Jiang Yu heard that she is twenty years old, Cheng Suran''s face unconsciously appeared in front of her eyes, the corners of her lips curled up, she shook her head and said, "No, I have a little friend."

    "Oh?" Pei Chutong was taken aback, "When did it happen?"

    "Last month."

    "You''re just sharing this with me, when you are dating for a month now."

    The smile on Jiang Yu''s face faded a little, and said, "It''s not dating, it''s... raising a little bird." After a pause, she added, "I found her in your bar."

    "Could she be my fan?" Pei Chutong suddenly realized, "Let me meet her."

    "No, she doesn''t chase stars."

    Speaking about the kid, Jiang Yu felt relieved. The girls she likes should be like this, not chasing stars or worshiping idols.

    She thinks that star chasers are childish and superficial, and those who love to gossip about the entertainment industry are even more empty-hearted, and are often the easiest to indulge in "milk music"*.

    *aka tittytainment...refers to low-cost, physical and psychological means that provides instant gratification and a numbing effect that demobilize human brains, any diversions from real life frustrations like TV dramas and other form of media entertainment, alcohol, drugs etc...like how a baby gets pacified everytime it gets breastfed.

    "Why didn''t I think of adopting it..." Pei Chutong murmured to herself.

    "For my lover, I don''t have to worry about giving and maintaining the relationship. She will take the initiative to please me, follow me, and meet my needs. No matter how bad it is, at least she won''t be angry with me. Say, how good is it?"

    After finishing speaking, she sneered and glanced at Ruan Mu from the corner of her eye.

    Ruan Mu lowered her head and ate quietly.

    Her pace unknowingly slows down.

    Pei Chutong continued calmly: "I can pick one tonight. A senior gold master* and the junior lover is nothing in the circle. I can give her resources and praise her, as long as she..."

    *a benefactor

    "I''m going to the toilet." Ruan Mu suddenly stood up, turned and left.

    The voice stopped

    Jiang Yu looked at Ruan Mu''s leaving back, turned her head to look at Pei Chutong, with deep meaning in her eyes, and finally couldn''t help asking: "You... what''s going on?"

    Pei Chutong stopped her chopsticks, "I have a showdown with her."

    "Then what?

    "She said she couldn''t disappoint my grandpa."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu frowned, not knowing what to say for a while. She is aware of the relationship between these two people, as a bystander, she has no position to express any thoughts.

    "She''s a dead piece of wood*!" Pei Chutong was suddenly agitated, and slapped the table heavily.

    *a person who is emotionally stupid/oblivious/low EQ

    Jiang Yu held that hand and comforted her softly: "Xiao Ruan may not know how to deal with emotional matters, you give her a little more time, a good meal is not afraid of being late*."

    * ºÃ·¹²»ÅÂÍí/H¨£o f¨¤n b¨´p¨¤ w¨£n: Good things in life are worth the wait.

    The last sentence made Pei Chutong laugh.

    She is the meal in her bowl.

    After a while, Ruan Mu came back, sat down to eat quietly, no different from how she left just now.

    After dinner, Pei Chutong dismissed the idea of ??going to "NOTTE" to inspect, and chatted with Jiang Yu about variety shows for a while, and when it came to the new generation Xiaohua* vying for cover resources, fans of each camp are furious. The two were chatting and laughing, while Ruan Mu was sitting aside, with her face down, neither talking nor looking at her phone, as transparent as air.

    *Little Flower: the most beautiful, school belle, in the entertainment industry it refers to the rising female stars.

    Everyone has work tomorrow, and at half past nine, Pei Chutong had to leave.

    She got into the elevator without waiting for Ruan Mu.

    Ruan Mu reacted very quickly, chasing after the door a second before it was about to close.

    When they arrived at the parking lot, Pei Chutong walked quickly, as if she was about to throw off the person behind her. However, Ruan Mu was tall and had long legs. She could take two steps in one stride, so she easily walked side by side with her.

    "Don''t follow me!" Pei Chutong stopped angrily.

    Ruan Mu said blankly, "This is my duty."

    "I can fire you."

    As soon as these words fell, there was a crack in Ruan Mu''s calm eyes. After a moment of silence, her voice lowered a bit: "As long as the old chief agrees."

    "You..." Pei Chutong frowned, "Stop pressing me with grandpa!"

    "I''m not." Ruan Mu regained her expressionless face.

    Pei Chutong stared at her intently. This face would never even smile for her, and would never have any expression other than frowning. It had never changed since she was a child.

    She suspects she has no heart.

    Her eyes gradually turned red, she turned her face away, and got into the nanny''s car.

    Ruan Mu followed.

    ¡­.

    The post fiasco finally calmed down after Li Meiling posted an apology video and was ridiculed by the crowd.  Everyone watched the excitement for many days, eating melons and eating to their hearts content. Only a few people who knew Li Meiling before were discussing, saying that her character was not good, then a few days passed.

    The atmosphere in the dormitory was more rigid than before. Cheng Suran and Li Meiling didn''t say a word. Fortunately, she just went back to the dormitory at noon to put and pick up books, and sat and rested for a while.

    Ding Yuan stopped talking to Li Meiling.

    "I really didn''t expect her to be that kind of person. Now that I think about how enthusiastic she is in front of me every day, I don''t know if she has said bad things about me to others behind my back. It''s disgusting." On the day after watching the apology video, Ding Yuan said in private when she found Cheng Suran and complained angrily.

    The two were sitting on the bleachers of the playground, and the evening wind was a little cool.

    Cheng Suran hesitated whether to tell her what happened in the dormitory during the freshman and sophomore years.

    It is a lump in her heart, speaking out means facing her own stupidity, her own darkness, it is a sharp knife cutting through her flesh and blood, it will hurt, and it will fester...

    She doesn''t seem to trust Ding Yuan that much yet.

    "Ranran, the truth is, I don''t think you are cold at all. Even if you are, cold is not a bad thing. They just don''t like you being alone. Although I like to be lively, in their eyes, I am a ''social person'', I don''t like others to use this standard to judge me, I am me, you are you, we all have our own personality, habits and lifestyles, why should we be sterotyped.

    "Don''t pay attention to other people''s remarks. Maybe they don''t have any malicious intentions, just a little nosy. You don''t know each other anyway. They don''t necessarily have contact with their classmates after graduation, let alone other people?"

    "Filter out those who don''t match you, and the rest will be people who understand you and are just like you. This is a good thing." Ding Yuan squinted her eyes and smiled, and patted Cheng Suran on the shoulder.

    Cheng Suran hummed lightly, and also smiled: "Thank you."

    Although she envied Ding Yuan for being protected by a warm haven and always being the first to see the bright side of things, she was also proud of being able to support herself in the past two years. Although this pride carries invisible scars.

    At that moment, Cheng Suran almost couldn''t help telling what happened in the dormitory.

    The lessons she has learned tell her that just because someone treats her a little bit better, she can''t just take a plunge, regardless of hollowing her heart.

    In the end, she didn''t say anything, it was all locked and rotten in her stomach.

    Before the National Day, the temperature in Jiangcheng finally cooled down. The breath of autumn came a little later, and the pace was hurried. A rain made people on the road pick up their long sleeves again.

    Cheng Suran received a call from her cousin.

    The cousin said that she has already found a job, a big company, the financial department, and rented a house.

    "Our company''s office building is in the CBD. It''s a whole building. It''s magnificent. The house is a small loft apartment. The subway station is at the door. It only takes 20 minutes to get to the company. How about it? I can do without you." Zhao Yihan said proudly on the phone.

    Cheng Suran said a word lightly: "Congratulations."

    She really congratulates her.

    In her opinion, everyone who can solve the problem of survival alone is very remarkable.

    Zhao Yihan froze for a while on the other line and suddenly asked casually: "How are you? Have you passed the exam?"

    "The exam will be in November." Cheng Suran said as she walked towards the teaching building. When she passed the complex building, she accidentally saw a clip being played on the large display screen.

    It is a video of the costume show competition held by the school in previous years.

    Huh?

    Isn''t this a modeling contest?

    Tall, long-legged, walks the catwalk...just a different name.

    "Oh, poor thing, you still have to take the exam, when I get paid I''ll treat you to a meal. Kids should be obedient, you know?" Zhao Yihan''s habit of lecturing others has committed again.

    Cheng Suran stared at the screen, hummed vaguely, and hung up the phone.

    She misses her sister.

    Her sister seems to be very busy these days, she hasn''t been to the hotel, and the interval between replying messages is also very long, the fastest reply is a few hours, and the slowest is the next day, her tone is very business-like, like a machine.

    For example, the message she sent last night is lying alone in the chat box. Her sister has ignored her until now. She doesn''t know when she started eagerly waiting for her sister''s reply, longing to see her, but once she sees her, they always have to separate, so she reluctantly let go.

    Feeling tingly, like a cat''s paw is gently scratching her heart, she mustered up the courage to call Assistant Tian, ??who became much gentler, but only said that the boss was very busy recently.

    She won''t disclose any itinerary...

    Cheng Suran withdrew her gaze, and continued to walk forward with a sense of loss. There is still a few minutes before the class starts when she arrived at the classroom, and she continued to find a seat by the window by herself

    The phone vibrated suddenly.

    She quickly lowered her head, and unlocked the screen with joy, and saw that it was Weibo notification¡ª¡ªJiang Yu.

    "!"

    Her Weibo uploaded a group of new photos.

    Jiang Yu was wearing a champagne-colored dress standing by the sea. Her jet-black, soft and long hair was flying and messy. The hollow design on the back revealed her sexy butterfly bones. There are thousands of styles.

    A total of nine blockbusters, charming and seductive with every gesture, like a goddess.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t move her eyes, sliding her fingers to save them one by one.

    A few days ago, she downloaded Weibo and registered an account. The first user she followed was Jiang Yu, and she set it as a special pass¡ªas long as her sister had news, she would receive it as soon as possible.

    At first, she named herself "Sister''s Little Friend", but later she felt that the name was too conspicuous, and if her sister found out, it would be exposed, so she changed it to "Your Little Friend".

    There are Chaohua*, fan groups, and many, many beautiful pictures and videos of her sister on Weibo.

    *Super Topic/Super Talk/Chao Hua: a feature in Weibo, similar to Twitter Community, where you can follow certain topics/celebs/hashtags of your interest.

    There are also daily photos uploaded by her sister.

    Cheng Suran then regretted that she hadn''t registered earlier. After several days of "adulterous viewing", she felt that every picture was beautiful, and she wanted to keep every picture, so there were already more than 700 pictures of Jiang Yu in her album.

    *ogling/stalking internet way

    As a supermodel, Jiang Yu looks good in everything she wears. No matter how weird the design is, or how fancy the color is, she can easily control it. She has concave shapes, has a strong camera sense, and is full of expressiveness... These glamorous moments are beautiful.  Cheng Suran usually doesn''t see her in private.

    ¡ª¡ª"Your little friend" gave "Jiang Yu V" a thumbs up.

    The class bell rang and the professor came.

    Cheng Suran took one last look, reluctantly quit Weibo, and was about to lock the screen when a WeChat message popped up.

    Sister: [In the company.]

    She replied to last night''s message

    She was startled, and took the time to type: [I finish class at 4:20, can I visit you?]

    Sister: [Yes]

    The corners of Cheng Suran''s mouth curled up sweetly as she put away her phone with peace of mind.

    The company is the second place full of Jiang Yu atmosphere besides the hotel. Cheng Suran has been here a few times, and the security guards and the front desk already recognize her, so they don''t stop her, and she doesn''t need to register. It is rumored inside that she is Ms. Jiang''s younger sister.

    Cheng Suran stood at the door of the office, her cheeks flushed with excitement, her heart beating like a drum, she raised her hand and knocked on the door lightly, and slowly pushed it away.

    The room is quiet, the light is a little dark, and the windows only open a crack.

    A cool breeze came in slowly.

    Jiang Yu is sitting on the sofa with her eyes closed, her long legs crossed, and she remains as motionless as a sculpture.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran called her in a low voice.

    Huh?

    Is she asleep?

    She closed the door behind her back and walked slowly.

    Jiang Yu tilted her head slightly, folded her arms, the neckline of the gray suit was slightly open, with white skin looming, and the two collarbones heaved and fell due to breathing. She wore light makeup on her face, her brows were painted softly, and her lips were lightly nude, which faded away the aloofness and made her look approachable.

    She''s not at all like the coquettish sirens in Weibo blockbusters.

    But even more fascinating...

    Cheng Suran looked at her, her dark eyes sparkled slightly, she couldn''t help but bend down, move closer, close her eyes, and kiss her face cautiously.

    Mm.

    So exciting!

    She backed away quickly, opened her eyes, and stared at Jiang Yu nervously. Seeing that there was no sign of her waking up, she leaned over again.

    Her waist suddenly tightened, and Cheng Suran was caught off guard and turned around, before falling into a warm embrace.

    "Well--"

    Her lips were wrapped in a strong breath, and one hand firmly pressed the back of her head, forcing her to escape. She opened her eyes suddenly, and saw Jiang Yu''s enlarged face.

    The little canary was caught by a venomous snake.

    There are no bones left.

    Soon, Jiang Yu let her go.

    "Sister..." She finally took in a little fresh air and opened her mouth.

    "You''re not asleep."

    Jiang Yu looked down at the girl, a doting smile appeared in her deep eyes, she slid her fingers across her face, and whispered, "The kid has learned to sneak attack."

    "No." Cheng Suran''s face flushed red.

    "Oh?" Jiang Yu raised her eyebrows, "If I was asleep, what are you going to do?"

    The deep voice was full of desire, and it was getting closer and closer to her ear, and she bit the small earlobe after speaking.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t help shivering, and boldly said, "Kiss you."

    "Anything else?"

    "No more."

    "Don''t you want to¡ª" Jiang Yu grabbed her hand and put it on the front of her suit.

    Cheng Suran''s eyes lit up: "Is it okay?"

    The air fell silent.

    "You can''t."

    "..."

    Then why did you even ask?

    Cheng Suran pouted.

    Jiang Yu laughed briskly. She found that teasing the kid could bring her great pleasure, so she tightened her grip on the girl''s wicker-like waist, "Miss me?"

    "Yes."

    "Sister misses you too."

    "You''re lying..." Cheng Suran snorted softly, "You haven''t been back recently, I sent you a message, and it took you a long time to reply, and you only replied with one word, is this also called missing me?"

    The girl lowered her face, twisted her hands together in an aggrieved manner, and complained like a girlfriend.

    Jiang Yu looked at her quietly, the smile in her eyes faded.

    A trace of suspicion welled up in her heart.

    Little friend?

    Cheng Suran muttered for a while, then raised her head, met her cold gaze, was stunned for a moment, and suddenly enlightened.

    "Sister... I, I don''t mean to blame you, I..."

    "Hush¡ª¡ª" Jiang Yu suddenly laughed again, and made a silent gesture, "I know, kid is the most obedient."

    Cheng Suran nodded, not daring to speak anymore.

    Jiang Yu hooked up the broken hair on her forehead and tucked behind her ear. With her palm gently stroking the top of her hair, Jiang Yu looked at her with a smile, "I''m a little tired today, but I won''t be tired if I hold you."

    "Sister likes you."

    After finishing speaking, she blinked, and the slightly raised eyes was mesmerizing.

    It''s a kind of look that owners give to pets, when playing with cats, dogs and birds.

    Cheng Suran''s tense nerves relaxed again, and her small dimple sank shallowly, forgetting everything, she put her arms around Jiang Yu''s neck, and said coquettishly, "Sister, can you give me your phone number?"

    "Why?" Jiang Yu''s eyes changed slightly, but her smile remained the same.

    "I want to call you."

    "Wechat is enough."

    "But..." Cheng Suran was a little disappointed, unwilling to give up, with grievances in her bright eyes, "You are so busy, you never receive WeChat messages, even if you do, you don''t have time to reply. I just think the phone number is more convenient. Don''t worry, I won''t harass you often, and I won''t tell anyone else your number."

    Jiang Yu remained silent.

    "Is it okay, sister?" Cheng Suran acted like a baby cheekily.

    Well.

    It was the first time she acted like a baby.

    "Little friend, do you know what sister likes most about you?" Jiang Yu asked without answering.

    The girl was stunned, and asked with a blank face: "What?"

    "I like your obedience."

    There was a strong sense of warning in Jiang Yu''s eyes, and her tone suddenly cooled down. Her slender fingers stroked her face, like countless snakes spit out red tongues.

    Cheng Suran froze, her face turned pale.

 CH 27

    This is a warning.

    There was a chill in those deep pool-like eyes, with a hint of resentment. Cheng Suran''s whole body turned stiff, her hands and feet were cold, and her lips trembled uncontrollably.

    At that moment, she remembered her identity¡ª¡ª

    A canary.

    A small pet that is not eligible to make demands on the benefactor.

    Cheng Suran''s mind buzzed, heared something shattered, and she was pulled down by an invisible hand.

    She falls into the frozen lake.

    Floating and sinking in the real world, this is where she should belong.

    It turned out that she had a dream.

    "I''m sorry..." Cheng Suran let out a whimper like a kitten''s meowing in her throat, and a sour feeling approached her eyes. She couldn''t hold it back, it was too late to avoid the person in front of her and tears just flowed down.

    "I''m sorry¡­sister... yes, I''m sorry..."

    She gasped and said sorry many times, her eyelashes wet with tears, they were black and translucent, some of them got stuck together, and her cheeks were brightly stained with tears.

    Around her eyes and the tip of the nose are all red.

    Jiang Yu didn''t know that one sentence of hers had such a devastating effect, and she was helpless for a while. A faint regret rose from the bottom of her heart, but she didn''t want to coax her immediately, so she pushed Cheng Suran aside, turned her face away, and looked at her phone.

    It happened that Tian Lin sent her a general work schedule for the next month.

    Magazines, advertisements, festivals...still busy, flying around.

    The difference is that she did not have a holiday on National Day before, but this year she can have a whole week off.

    She pondered where it would be better to take the kid to play

    The best choice should be Paris. For the kid to learn French, experiencing first-hand in a French environment is a great benefit. But the idea came too late. It''s even too late to apply for a passport and visa now.

    ....

    Jiang Yu fell into deep thought, and the sobbing beside her subconsciously stopped, then a phone call came in.

    "Hello? Okay, yes, you guys come up."

    After hearing her hang up, Cheng Suran knew that she couldn''t stay any longer. She silently wiped away her tears, stood up, and said obediently: "Sister, I''ll go first."

    Jiang Yu raised her head.

    The kid''s eyelids were closed, her nose was red, her thin lips were tightly pursed, and she looked stunned, looking pitiful after being bullied.

    A sense of familiarity welled up in the depths of Jiang Yu''s memory, and blurry images flashed across her mind, and then disappeared in an instant. She came back to her senses, before she had time to think about it, the softest part of her heart was pricked.

    "Go wash your face." She looked away.

    She can''t coax now, let the kid have a longer memory.

    Cheng Suran obediently went into the toilet.

    After pouring cold water on her face, she woke up completely. She raised her head, looked at herself in the mirror with reddish eyes, expressionless, and pulled out a sarcastic smile.

    It was her, who overstepped. Sister treated her a little well, and then she thought of some nonsense. However, it''s not too late to salvage this now.

    She walks out of the toilet and saw Jiang Yu reading a wedding dress catalog, and Cheng Suran casually glanced at it.

    "! !"

    Is sister going to get married?

    Thoughts flashed through her mind, Cheng Suran hurriedly looked away, picked up her backpack and books, "Sister, I''m leaving."

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu didn''t raise her head, "I''ll go over tonight and wash up."

    "...okay." Cheng Suran murmured.

    She walked to the door of the office, and was about to stretch out her hand to open it, when suddenly there were two sounds outside, then the door was pushed open, and Qi Yan''s figure appeared in her sight.

    Followed by another person, slightly shorter than Qi Yan, with long curly hair, cold brows, and a black tear mole at the end of her eyes.

    The two looked at each other.

    "Xiao Cheng?" Lu Zhiqiao looked the girl up and down.

    Cheng Suran exclaimed: "Boss Lu...you..."

    Qi Yan: "?"

    Jiang Yu: "?"

    The air condenses for a few seconds.

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes fell on the textbook in the girl''s hand, and she became even more puzzled: "Are you still studying?"

    "I, uh, I¡ª" Cheng Suran choked for a moment, hesitating if she should hide the textbook in her hand, or not.

    Seeing that she couldn''t hold back a word for a long time, Qi Yan, who was watching from the sidelines, was dying of anxiety, and couldn''t help but ask, "Qiao Qiao, do you know each other?"

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded: "Xiao Cheng is an employee of our company." After she finished speaking, she paused, "But she resigned at the end of last month, and she hasn''t had time to become a full-time employee yet."

    Jiang Yu & Qi Yan: "???"

    Cheng Suran lowered her head, said "I have to go first", and left in a hurry.

    The three looked at each other.

    Jiang Yu suppressed her doubts calmly, and waved at them, "Come here and talk about business."

    The two walked over, Qi Yan took a step ahead, and found that it was not convenient for three people to sit in a row, so she pointed to the single sofa and said, "You sit there, and Qiao Qiao and I will sit here."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu glanced at them both, got up and moved her position.

    Talk about business but also eat dog food*.

    *To eat dog food is to witness PDA

    Qi Yan and Lu Zhiqiao came here today to choose the wedding dress.  They have known each other for more than a year. At that time, Qi Yan was still a middle school teacher, and Lu Zhiqiao was still the marketing director of a technology company. Now one has changed careers to become a photographer, and the other has been promoted to vice president. The two are getting ready for a wedding next year.

    The wedding dresses in the mainstream market are mainly heterosexual, and there are no styles for female and female couples. Earlier, Jiang Yu and her designer friends founded a fashion brand "ETERNO", which has wedding dresses specially customized to meet the needs of female and female couples.

    The brand name means "eternity". It is based in Milan, Italy. Now it is managed by a friend, Jiang Yu is the boss, and occasionally used as a free model.

    Qi Yan took the catalog from Jiang Yu''s hand, tilted her head and leaned against Lu Zhiqiao to flip through it.

    "These are cases customized by other customers, for your reference." Jiang Yu couldn''t stand it anymore, and just wanted to finish the business quickly and ask what happened to the kid just now.

    The wife and wife are sweetly flipping through the picture album head to head.

    "I think this one looks great."

    "Yeah, it looks good."

    "This is also good, I like the design of the shoulders."

    "Yes, I like it."

    When Lu Zhiqiao said something, Qi Yan agrees.

    "Don''t you like anything?"

    "If you like it, I will like it."

    "Don''t make trouble."

    "I''m serious, my wife has the best aesthetics."

    Jiang Yu got so bored that she started playing with her mobile phone.

    Finally, the couple finished flipping through the picture album, and after summarizing their opinions, Qi Yan turned her head and said, "The style should mainly be sexy, with a touch of solemnity as a supplement, not the old-fashioned traditional wedding dresses.I don''t find anything wrong with these samples. I believe in your aesthetics.

    "Danilo will come to China next month to discuss the details." Jiang Yu mentioned the name of a designer friend.

    "Is your English okay?"

    "Nonsense."

    One of them has studied in Canada, and the other is engaged in foreign trade work. They have dealt with overseas customers all year round, there will be no language problem.

    The three of them agreed again, and the business was over.

    They exchanged glances but no one moved.

    Qi Yan wanted to relieve the embarrassment, coughed lightly, and said first, "Qiao Qiao, Jiang Yu wants to know about that little sister just now..."

    Lu Zhiqiao''s eyes flicked back and forth between Jiang Yu and Qi Yan.

    Finally, it stopped on Qi Yan''s face.

    The meaning is clearly: How do you know your ex-girlfriend''s mind so well?

    "She''s my younger sister, and Qi Yan helped her with a photoshoot." Jiang Yu was amused and helpless, and she made a timely rescue. A joke at this time could be fatal.

    Qi Yan interjected: "What sister, why are you still keeping it low? A girlfriend is a girlfriend."

    Jiang Yu: "..."

    When Lu Zhiqiao heard about her girlfriend, her tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and after thinking about it for a moment, she said, "Xiao Cheng joined the company at the end of June, and our company has business dealings with several French-speaking countries in Africa, so we recruited a group of French-speaking customer service staff. About the end of July, there was a big project that I led. And I needed two translators."

    "She can seamlessly switch between English and French simultaneous interpretation. It is really good for a freshman to reach this level. I wanted to transfer her to my side at the time, but she resigned after the project ended."

    After speaking, there was a strange silence.

    "She''s only in her third year," Jiang Yu said calmly, "Doesn''t HR check the authentic graduation certificate for your new employees?"

    "You have to ask the HR department." Lu Zhiqiao sighed.

    "I think she looked guilty just now. It is possible that she lied..." She glanced at Jiang Yu and didn''t continue.

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes, wondering what she was thinking.

    The atmosphere felt awkward again.

    Qi Yan looked left and right, and changed the topic: "Do you have any arrangements for the holiday? How about going out together? Qiao Qiao and I will sign up first."

    "Just say you want to send free dog food." Jiang Yu sneered.

    Qi Yan frowned: "You are sick."

    "Say one more word?"

    "Sick and sick."

    "I won''t go."

    "My dad''s friend built a cultural town, and I want to organize my colleagues to go to the show. Of course, I''ll pay for it, three days and two nights. You can bring your little Ranran along."

    "What did you just call her?" Jiang Yu glared at her.

    Just as Qi Yan was about to refute, Lu Zhiqiao quickly stopped her, "Okay, are you guys going to fight? Talk to each other properly."

    Both of them shut up at the same time.

    ¡­.

    It was dark and the night breeze was cool.

    Cheng Suran, who had been wandering around for a long time, returned to the hotel, plunged into the bathroom, and washed herself inside and out three times, just like the night she first met Jiang Yu. She used all the bath products available, she was so clean that even her pores smelled like milk.

    She didn''t eat dinner, her stomach and heart were empty, and today''s task of reviewing questions was only half completed.

    She can''t do anything, suddenly.

    Eating is meaningless, and reviewing is meaningless.

    When it was half past seven, Cheng Suran sat on the sofa in a daze, her mind was in a mess, her soul seemed to be out of body, and the vibrating sound of her mobile phone pulled her back.

    It was her Aunt''s phone call.

    She stared at the note in silence, then calmly picked it up: "Hello?"

    She guessed the reason for the call was money.

    "Your grandma is gone." The hoarse voice of a middle-aged woman came from the phone.

    Cheng Suran was stunned.

    Gone.

    Died.

    She stared blankly at the air, without any waves in her eyes. Without waiting for her to respond, the aunt continued: "The doctor said that brain death is as good as dead. You and your sister will come back tomorrow for the funeral."

    "Will she be buried in her hometown?" Cheng Suran asked dumbly.

    There was a moment of silence over there, and the aunt''s tone suddenly became hysterical

    : "Bury her? Does she have to get buried? Will you bury her yourself? We''ll set her on fire and throw her away, you scoundrel! What a good idea you have¡­"

    She didn''t know whether to cry or laugh, she hung up before her aunt finished her sentence.

    Cheng Suran let out a long sigh of relief.

    It''s good she died.

    There will be no excuse to ask her for money, and life will be peaceful from now on, not only for her, but also for her aunt and cousin. The suffering of the three of them is over. Very nice.

    ¡ª beep

    The door opened.

    Jiang Yu came in, carrying a light scent of duck tail. Her tall figure was dressed in a gray suit, and she had a sense of indifference and coldness.

    She always wears a suit.

    Cheng Suran immediately stood up, and obediently called her sister.

    Her eyes were dull, and her smile was more like a sticker stuck to her face. Jiang Yu stared at her for a while, and for a moment she felt remorse. Maybe she was too fierce and shouldn''t have treated the kid like that.

    Before she could speak, the girl opened her mouth first:

    "I cleaned up."

    Jiang Yu was slightly startled, with a faint smile on her lips. She sat down, stretched out her hand and pulled the girl into her lap, and hugged her into her arms, "Where do you want to go on vacation? Sister will accompany you."

    As soon as these words fell, Cheng Suran''s eyelashes trembled, and her eyes shone brightly, but soon dimmed again.

    "My family called just now. My grandma passed away and I have to go back to attend the funeral..." She obediently leaned on Jiang Yu''s shoulder.

    The drooping lashes concealed reluctance in her eyes.

    She didn''t want to go home for the funeral at all. She wants to go out with her sister.

    It''s just that she can''t ignore her conscience...

    Jiang Yu was silent for a moment and said, "Lingzhou is quite far away, I''ll buy you a plane ticket."

    "No need," Cheng Suran shook her head, "The air ticket is too expensive, and... I''m going back with my cousin."

    If that happens, she doesn''t know how to explain where the air ticket money comes from.

    Jiang Yu frowned: "Lingzhou doesn''t have a high-speed rail station. You have to take a seven-hour high-speed train from Jiangcheng to Nanyang, the provincial capital, and then take a three-hour express train. It takes almost a whole day to go back and forth, and it''s very tiring."

    "Sister, how do you know?" Cheng Suran looked at her in surprise.

    "..."

    Jiang Yu wouldn''t tell the kid that she was getting to know her hometown recently, and even remembered the local specialties clearly.

    She casually said, "Tian Lin was on a business trip there."

    "Oh."

    Cheng Suran didn''t think much about it. In her opinion, it''s not surprising that her sister knows everything, it''s just that she get very sensitive when she mentions her hometown. "It''s okay, I''m not afraid of being tired."

    "Be careful of your butt becoming deformed after sitting for a long time, sister won''t like it." Jiang Yu teased her.

    The kid pursed her lips.

    Puff.

    So cute.

    "Just kidding," Jiang Yu lowered her head and pecked her lips, "No matter what you become, sister will love you the most."

    Cheng Suran''s eyes lit up "Really?"

    "Mm."

    She leaned into Jiang Yu''s arms and smiled, and the two little pear dimples sank deeply.

    Her sister just likes her to be obedient, even though she understands that, when she hears these gentle words, she will believe them desperately and can''t help but look forward to them.

    "About how many days?" Jiang Yu comforted her with a light kiss.

    Cheng Suran thought for a while and said, "I don''t know if it''s cremation or burial. If it''s quick, it''s one day, but if it''s slow, it''s two or three days. I''ll try to come back before the 4th... By that time, do you still have time to go out and play?"

    "Yes," Jiang Yu''s voice was slightly hoarse, she hugged her and turned to her side, then lowered her head, "No hurry, sister will wait for you."

    A kiss landed on her forehead, slowly moved along her nose, and the scorching breath flowed down, she gasp, and couldn''t help but raise her head. She didn''t notice when she laid on the couch.

    In this quiet space, they breathe each other''s breath.

    ¡­.

    What Cheng Suran didn''t expect was that her cousin had originally planned to go home for the National Day, so she bought the ticket early. She didn''t know of this until late so she couldn''t buy a ticket at all and couldn''t take the railway.

    The price of a plane ticket tripled that day, leaving one ticket for each of the two flights, and it was several hundred more expensive in the afternoon than in the evening.

    Jiang Yu bought an afternoon ticket for Cheng Suran without hesitation.

    The kid wanted to save money, but she was worried to be late.

    "First swipe your ID card to get the boarding pass, then check the luggage, and then go to the security check. If you are not sure, you can ask the staff. When you arrive, follow the others. Look at the road sign arrow to get the luggage, and then send me your location, understand?" On the way to the airport, Jiang Yu personally sent Cheng Suran off.

    The child is nervous about flying for the first time, so she explained the general process and reminded her of the precautions.

    Cheng Suran listened silently and kept it in her heart.

    When she left home and came to Jiangcheng at the age of eighteen, no one said even a word of advice to her. She was lucky and did not encounter any danger.

    The truth is, she can find out these things on the Internet, but listening to people say it, feels different from checking it out by herself.

    Especially¡­

    That person has an indescribable place in her heart.

    After flying for three hours, Cheng Suran returned to her hometown Lingzhou. The airport is very small, so she just walked out. After two years, she heard the dialect of her hometown again, and felt an indescribable intimacy.

    This city is not big, surrounded by mountains and rivers, and the environment is particularly good. Unfortunately, the economic development cannot keep up, and talents are flowing out.

    Cheng Suran took a taxi to go to her aunt''s house.

    There are no elevators in small buildings in the urban area. She climbed up to the fifth floor step by step. She knocked on the door several times but no one opened it. She dialed on the phone and was answered quickly: "Auntie, I''m here. Why is there no one at home?"

    "Why are you so fast?"

    "I...couldn''t buy a train ticket, so I borrowed money to buy a plane ticket." She lied.

    There was an ''oh'' on the other line, without further questioning, and continued to say: "At the end of your grandma''s old house, there is someone in the village to help, so hurry up and come over!"

    "Ah? Isn''t she going to be cremated?"

    "I made up my mind, just bury her peacefully, so as to save me from her visiting my dreams at night."

    "Oh¡­"

    Cheng Suran hung up the phone sullenly, turned around and went downstairs.

    The old house is in Chengjia Village in the eastern suburbs. There used to be no access. After going there, you can rub two catties of dirt on your body. In recent years, a large road has been built, and it is very convenient for cars to get in and out. Today''s rural areas are generally not the same as before. Every household has built two or three storey small buildings.

    It was a busy time of farming, and harvesters could be seen everywhere in the field. Two or three people wearing straw hats and carrying hoes, chatting and working.

    The old house is at the southernmost end of the village.

    Yellow brick exterior wall, sloping roof with black tiles, a wooden fence full of hedges around the door, two small white lanterns hanging from the eaves, and chicken droppings all over the yard.

    A middle-aged woman in white was carrying a bowl of rice and sprinkled it into the chicken coop.

    "Aunt¡­¡­"

    Cheng Suran stood behind her, her heart beating fast with nervousness.

    The woman turns around.

    That face was dry and yellow, with a few obvious wrinkles, her eyes were a little numb, and her whole body revealed the vicissitudes of life.

    There were great changes after not seeing each other for two years.

    Her aunt is getting old.

    "You''re here." Cheng Xiufang glanced at her up and down, said nothing, and pointed to the back room, "Go and kowtow to your grandma."

    "¡­okay."

    Cheng Suran thought she would be scolded, but her aunt''s attitude was beyond her expectation. She silently entered the back room, and a dark coffin appeared in front of her eyes, with the lid slanted on it, and it was not sealed yet.

    White candles were lit on both sides of the small table, and the portrait of the old woman was in the middle.

    It looked like a mean face.

    The past came to her mind, either hatred or anger, she couldn''t tell what it was.. Cheng Suran knelt down expressionlessly, with her knees touching the straw mat, and reluctantly kowtowed.

    Then the phone vibrated.

    As if she had finished her task, she couldn''t wait to back out and took out her phone.

    Sister: [Are you home yet?]

    Cheng Suran was startled.

    Forgot to send the location to sister!

    She typed quickly: [Hmm.] Then send a positioning message.

    She did not receive a reply from her sister, but received a text message from the bank.

    ¡ª¡ªTwo hundred thousand yuan arrived in the account.

    Cheng Suran stared at the string of zeros, but couldn''t react for a while, and sent Jiang Yu three question marks.

    Sister: [Your pay in one lump sum.]

 CH 28

    Cheng Suran could see the five characters clearly, but couldn''t understand them. She knew it was a two-month contract fee, but she didn''t know why it was paid in one lump sum.

    A terrible thought took shape in her mind.

    Could it be...

    Sister doesn''t want her anymore?

    So she''s terminating the contract early?

    Her heart was suspended, and she typed with trembling fingers: [Why?]

    Jiang Yu didn''t reply for a long time.

    Cheng Suran felt uneasy for a moment, wishing she could grow wings and fly back immediately. She caught sight of her  grandma''s portrait out of the corner of her eye, turned her face, and gave her a hard stare.

    It''s all your fault!

    She was angry in her heart.

    "I told you to kowtow and you start playing with your phone!" Auntie''s shrill voice came over.

    Cheng Suran froze, and saw her aunt coming towards her with a broom, thinking that she was going to hit her, she subconsciously turned her body to avoid it, "I kowtowed too much already."

    But her aunt just stuffed the broom into her hand, "Go to Dongtou House to clean up! You know how to play with your mobile phone..."

    "Oh."

    She walked away with the broom.

    There are four rooms in the old house, one main room, one bedroom in the east and one bedroom in the west, and a kitchen room.

    On the east side is the house where Cheng Suran''s father lived, she also lived in her grandma''s house when she was a child. Her memories of the old house will always be the cobwebs in the corners, the walls that shed dregs every day, the carved wooden bed that creaks when turned over, and the damp musty smell that can''t go away no matter how open the windows are.

    After cleaning, there was still no activity on WeChat, Cheng Suran couldn''t help but sent another one:

    [Elder sister?]

    ¡­.

    The yard turned noisy. Her uncle* came back from shopping, followed by several uncles**from the village.

    *gufu: husband of paternal aunt.

    **shubai: it can either be your father''s brothers (but Aunt is the only sibling)/distant male relatives or any men about the age of your father (in this case the neighbors.)

    No matter who is doing big things, weddings or funerals, someone will always come to help, no need for money or gifts, only the host family provides a meal to express their gratitude. This tradition has always been upheld in the village.

    Grandpa and grandma''s family is not well-off, and now the remaining relatives are aunt, Cheng Suran, and Zhao Yihan. This time, grandma''s illness was severe, and the hospital cost a lot of money. Aunt really can''t afford more and the funeral can only be kept simple.

    The coffin was sealed and carried up the mountain to be buried tomorrow.

    Cheng Suran went out to say hello to several uncles, and then went into the stove to help her aunt cook.

    At this time the phone vibrated.

    Sister: [For your good performance.]

    Sister: [There are two months left, so it¡¯s troublesome to pay monthly.]

    Jiang Yu posted two.

    The cold words jumped into her eyes, and Cheng Suran''s heart was stabbed, as if seeing Jiang Yu on the day of signing the contract, with a cold face and a cold tone, she treated her like a commodity.

    But she was originally a little pet that her sister bought at a high price...

    Her heart was sour on one end, and she felt a sense of urgency when she saw "two months left" on the other end. She was almost tormented mad by her conflicting emotions.

    Is this some kind of test? To test whether she will take the money and run away?

    Cheng Suran comforted herself with a wry smile, bowed her head and typed: [Sister, are you not afraid that I will run away with the money?]

    This time Jiang Yu replied quickly: [You won''t.]

    Cheng Suran: [Why are you so sure?]

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak again.

    "..."

    Huh.

    After dinner, Cheng Suran asked about her cousin, and her aunt said that she had just arrived at home in the city, and it was inconvenient because it was dark, so she would come back tomorrow morning.

    She is her own daughter after all, and she is reluctant to make her suffer even for a bit.

    Although she was envious, she was also numb.

    That night, Cheng Suran and her aunt stayed in the old house to watch the night.

    In the past, there were no entertainment activities in the countryside at night. People went to bed early after eating. Things are better now, but it¡¯s not as lively as the urban area, especially in the old house.  Looking at the outline of the hills and ridges, it looks like a giant sleeping in the dark from a distance.

    The main room was brightly lit, and the black coffin was gloomy, and a bit creepy.

    Cheng Suran thought she would be afraid, but seeing her grandma''s face, she was full of anger, and her fear was not worth mentioning. She simply sat next to the portrait and recited words with her earphones inserted.

    Her aunt sat across from her, with eyes fixed on the coffin, she wondered what the woman was thinking.

    The surrounding area was so quiet that only the barking of dogs could be heard.

    "Old thing, didn''t you like having a son? Your son died very early. I was the one who took care of you when you got old and I''m the one sending you off..." The playback on her phone paused, and Cheng Suran heard her aunt talking to herself, and was inexplicably startled.

    There was resentment and unwillingness in the woman''s eyes, and she finally smiled mockingly.

    Cheng Suran looked at her secretly, and felt sad immediately. In fact, her aunt is also a pitiful person, a victim in this family. If she was her, she might not be able to do better than her back then.

    Now that the big burden of grandma is gone, and the knots that have fettered their hearts for many years can be untied, why not take this opportunity to repair their relationship?

    Unknowingly, her heart softened...

    She didn''t sleep all night, and the next day just after dawn, her uncle arrived with her cousin, and the uncles in the village also came.

    The funeral was simple and there was almost no process. Her aunt walked in front with the spirit banner*, Cheng Suran and her cousin followed behind, her uncle and the other uncles carried the coffin, and a group of scattered people went up the mountain. The pit was dug yesterday, next to Grandpa''s grave, the two were buried together.

    This is Cheng Suran''s second time participating in a rural funeral. The last time was when her father died more than ten years ago.

    She was young then.

    After the hasty burial, everyone had a meal together and packed the old house. Her aunt gave the chickens raised in the yard to several uncles, and kept one to take home.

    Cheng Suran finally returned to the place where she lived for more than ten years.

    The small building is old, more than 80 square meters, with two bedrooms and two living rooms, one for her aunt and one for her cousin, and Cheng Suran lives in a small storage room, where there is only room for a folding bed, a small table and chair, clothes  All stuffed in the bedside storage box.

    She hasn''t been back for two years, the storage room is full of her cousin''s things, and there are sundries everywhere on the table and bed.

    There is no room for her at all...

    Cheng Suran lowered her head and was silent for a while, not wanting to quarrel with her cousin who dozed off early in the morning and came back to catch up on sleep, so she moved some sundries and packed her things by herself.

    Although, there is not much left.

    A few inkless pens, a pile of used draft books, certificates from elementary school... There was an inconspicuous small box in the deepest drawer of the desk. She took it out and opened it, and there was an embroidered little white rabbit lying in it.

    Cheng Suran was slightly taken aback.

    She remembered that this rabbit was by her side when she was very young. She thought it was given to her by someone else, but she can''t remember who it was.

    T/N: let me guess¡­

    She held the little white rabbit in the palm of her hand and looked at it carefully. The rabbit''s ears were a little dirty, and there was a small tick pattern under the neck, which looked like a "J" in a poker card. Due to the age, the white thread is slightly yellowed, but it can still be seen that the people who sewed it have exquisite handwork.

    Why did she forget to bring this little thing with her when she went to Jiangcheng to study?

    Coincidentally, she is a rabbit.

    Cheng Suran put the little white rabbit into her pocket, continued to clean things up, threw away everything she didn''t need, then moved her cousin''s sundries back to their original place, turned around and went out.

    "The family paid back 10,000, and there are more than 2,000 more."

    "It''s 70,000 in total."

    "How can there be so much money, what a crime..."

    In the next room, her aunt and uncle were discussing repaying the debt, they kept moaning and sighing, Cheng Suran paused, and listened to a few words while holding her breath.

    "Do you think Ranran has 10000?"

    "That''s a fart. She should have given it."

    The voices of the two were extremely low, but the surroundings were too quiet, and even the slightest noise seemed harsh in the silence.

    Cheng Suran thought of the 10,000 yuan she had saved to live frugally, and only saved the old woman''s life for a few days. In the end, it was time to leave. She was unwilling to lose all her wealth in vain, but she was helpless.

    Although she is not short of money now and is dozens of times richer than in the past, what she gets after selling herself is different from what she earns through hard work.

    She''s thinking¡­

    ...Of simply taking out 100,000 yuan to pay off the debt to her aunt, and then the family will put down their burdens and live a good life.

    "She''s grown up now, she''s definitely going to get married, we have to get the bride dowry from her. She''s a fox like her mother, men will be rushing at the door. Her aunt''s voice came from next door.

    Her uncle was surprised and said, "She hasn''t graduated yet, what''s the rush?"

    "Marry her off early to save trouble, and she should pay me back for raising her for so many years...When her father died and no one cared, causing me trouble. If it wasn''t for that old thing who promised to leave the old house to me, let the ghost take care of her, twe!

    "Have you used up the money from the compensation for your brother''s death?"

    "Originally, the remaining 20,000 yuan was spent by the old thing in the hospital, haah, I wanted to keep it for Xiaohan*..."

    *the cousin

    Cheng Suran''s head felt cold, and froze on the spot. In an instant, the blood all over her body rushed to the top of her head, the coolness spread from her scalp, and the taste of ice and fire trembled violently in her body.

    The impression of her parents is not deep in her memory. Over the years, she has only heard some past events intermittently from other people''s mouths.

    When she was three years old, her parents divorced, and her mother left her to her father and never showed her face again.

    Her father was impatient and threw her to her grandparents'' house for half a month. The old people are not in good health, and they think she is a girl, and she will make it difficult for their son to remarry, so.they.didn''t treat her any better. It is a kindness to let her have something to eat.

    In the summer when he was seven years old, her father got drunk and got into a fight, and died of serious injuries. Within two months, her grandfather relapsed and passed away, and her grandmother no longer had the energy to take care of her.

    Who will raise her was the question.

    The assailant paid 150,000 yuan in compensation. During that period of time, she was a hot potato. She couldn''t find her mother, and no one wanted her. In the end, she was forcefully given to her aunt, with the blood money as her alimony.

    Her aunt was treated harshly at home because her grandparents preferred their son when she was young, and she always held resentment towards them in her heart, so she moved far away after getting married, out of their sight and out of their mind.

    But in the end they all compromised.

    That was all she knew.

    She always thought that her aunt took her in because she was soft-hearted and couldn''t bear to see her left unattended. Therefore, even if she has been treated coldly for more than ten years and her life is not good, she doesn''t complain too much, she tolerates everything, and understands the pain, and feels guilty.

    It''s just that she didn''t expect it to be...

    ...all about the money.

    What soft heart?!  What affection?!  What a good life?!  No one wanted her, no one welcomed her, and she was kicked out wherever she went. Cheng Suran''s eyes turned red, and she clenched her fists, trying not to let herself sob.

    Crying is useless, crying can''t solve the problem, she can''t let useless emotions take over her mind, she has to find a way, she has to escape, make sure she never comes back.

    She stepped back lightly, went back to the storage room, took a few deep breaths, and took out her mobile phone to book a ticket.

    WeChat suddenly received a message.

    Sister: [Bring some special products.]

    The boiling blood in Cheng Suran''s body instantly cooled down, and she stared blankly at these four words. After a while, she remembered to reply, and typed slowly: [Okay.]

    Her previous message "Why are you so sure?" was directly ignored.

    She was in a trance, but she couldn''t gather the energy to think about it anymore. She stayed up all night and her head hurt a little, but she didn''t want to stay for a second. After replying to the message, she quickly packed her backpack, put all her things in it, and walked to the door lightly.

    "Auntie, I''m going back to school."

    After speaking, she quickly opened the door and disappeared in a flash.

    In the afternoon, the sun was shining brightly.

    There are crowds of people on both sides of the riverside. Tourists from all over the country are vying to see the scenery. The urban area is extremely congested. Traffic police can be seen everywhere on the road to command order. The road that can usually be covered in ten minutes will take twenty minutes today.

    The car struggled through it, and finally got out of the urban area before picking up speed.

    And finally arrived at the airport.

    "Sister Yu, do you want me to go down now?" Tian Lin pulled up the handbrake and turned to look at the woman in the back seat.

    Jiang Yu was resting with her eyes closed. Hearing this, she opened her eyes, looked at her watch, and said, "It''s almost landed. I''ll go with you." She picked up her sunglasses and put them on.

    "No, I''ll pick her up, in case you are recognized, it will be troublesome."

    "I''m not a star."

    The kid comes back today. She was on vacation at home and had nothing to do. She came to pick her up. She wore a very plain white long sleeve, a pair of dark blue jeans, and flat leather shoes.

    She looks like just a sister next door.

    Tian Lin leaned over half of her body, stretched out her hand, and took off her sunglasses, "Sit here and wait."

    Jiang Yu frowned, pretending to be unhappy and said, "You want to rebel?"

    "I''m worried." Tian Lin got out of the car clutching her sunglasses.

    The car turned silent, Jiang Yu picked up the phone to unlock it, clicked into the chat box with Cheng Suran, slid her fingers up slowly, and her eyes fell on "Why are you so sure".

    After staring at it for a while, she sighed.

    She doesn''t know the specific situation of the kid''s family, but after a month of contact, she can probably tell that the family''s conditions are not good. When a loved one dies, the funeral costs a lot. It is extremely sad to have no money. Maybe she needs to support the family a little bit more...

    Two hundred thousand is just a pile of clothes to her, but it is everything to the kid.

    The money will be given, sooner or later. No matter what the kid will be doing with it, whether she is bored within the agreed period or not.

    Tsk.

    She is such a benevolent benefactor...

    After contemplating for a long time, Jiang Yu put down her phone and gently rubbed her temple with her thumb.

    After more than ten minutes, the back seat door opened, and Cheng Suran got into the car with a gift box and a plastic bag. When she saw her, she called out in a low voice: "Sister..."

    "Are you tired?" Jiang Yu put her arms around her shoulders with a smile.

    "I''m fine."

    The girl looked stunned, with a dull expression, her formerly clear black eyes lost their spirit, and the under eyes were a little swollen.

    She looked preoccupied.

    Jiang Yu felt that something was wrong, so she didn''t ask any more questions. She just thought that she was sad because her grandma passed away, and her emotions hadn''t recovered yet, so she lowered her head and kissed her on the face, "Let''s go out to play tomorrow afternoon?"

    "Okay." Cheng Suran nodded without thinking, and suddenly came back to her senses, raising her head in confusion, "Where are we going?"

    "A newly developed resort, the photographer sister invited us."

    "Oh, okay."

    She squeezed out a smile, the two little dimples were sweet and bitter, Jiang Yu was about to speak, when she suddenly thought of something, she lowered her head and flipped through the bag in her hand.

    "By the way, sister, I brought you a special product. This fruit shortcake is very delicious. I don''t know what flavor you like. I was a little rushed when I bought it, so I bought all kinds of flavors."

    "The stuffing inside it is made of real fruit, not coloring and sweetener, and it is not high in calories, so you can eat it with confidence."

    She handed Jiang Yu the plastic bag containing loose shortcakes, and then opened another gift box.

    Jiang Yu didn''t want to disappoint her, so she took a blueberry-flavored one, tore open the package, took a bite slowly, it was soft and crunchy, with a strong blueberry fruity aroma, overflowing with juice, it tasted really good.

    "This is a set of wood-carved cups. The wood is only found in our local area, and the production process is purely handmade." Cheng Suran opened the gift box to show her as if offering a treasure.

    Jiang Yu was satisfied: "Well, it''s very suitable for the office."

    "As long as my sister likes it."

    Cheng Suran tidied up her things and put them aside. Seeing that most of the shortbread in her hand was still unfinished, she couldn''t help but wonder, "Sister, is it... not delicious?"

    "No," Jiang Yu shook her head, "I eat slowly."

    "Oh."

    Cheng Suran took out a small bottle of mineral water from her bag, "This is from the flight attendant on the plane, it hasn''t been opened yet."

    While talking, she unscrewed it and handed it to her, then took out a tissue, wiped the corners of her mouth for her, and picked up her hair that was hanging down the sideburns, and tucked it behind her ears.

    Jiang Yu took the water, smiled lightly and raised her eyebrows: "Why are you so good today, kid?"

    " I¡­"

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips, her face puffed slightly, and she looked at her with resentful eyes, "I won''t run away."

 CH 29

    "I won''t run away."

    At that time, Cheng Suran didn''t know that in order to keep this promise, she personally sent herself into the boundless sea of ??suffering¡ªshe could have avoided stepping into it.

    She doesn''t run away, she speaks with integrity, and she has the spirit of the contract.

    Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes slightly, and smiled pretending not to know: "Why did you say that all of a sudden?"

    Cheng Suran was not surprised by her "forgetfulness", she looked down at her phone, first clicked on the bank card notification message, then clicked on the WeChat chat box between the two, and swiped to the relevant message.

    "Oh--"

    Jiang Yu acted as if she had just remembered, handed her a water bottle, and patted her face lightly with one hand, "Hey, don''t think too much, sister doesn''t mean that."

    Cheng Suran nodded obediently, and put away the phone.

    The car drove smoothly all the way, and the scenery outside the window slowly flashed by. Because of the holiday, there are many cars on the road, and they can''t drive fast even on the highway.

    After Jiang Yu finished eating the shortbread, she wiped her hands carefully, and drank water one after another. After drinking enough, she screwed back the lid and put it aside.  She lowered her head to look at the person in her arms, and only saw half of a slightly haggard little face with long and dense eyelashes hanging down.

    Her heart was inexplicably pierced again.

    When she made the payment yesterday, she did not hesitate to make the decision to pay in one lump sum. On the contrary, she considered various possibilities before finally choosing to trust Cheng Suran.

    Before she knew it, in her subconscious, the little friend became a trusted person.

    A very wonderful intuition.

    Her slender fingers passed through the hair, combing it slowly, her eyes were soft, "The person who left didn''t really leave. As long as you still remember her, she will always live in your heart."

    "Cry out when you''re sad."

    Hearing the sound, Cheng Suran''s eyelashes trembled.

    For a moment, she didn''t understand what this meant. She was stunned for a few seconds, and suddenly realized that her sister probably thought she was sad for her grandma''s departure, so she said that.

    So her emotions have already been exposed.

    Although... not because of her grandma.

    With a thought in her mind, Cheng Suran turned her face, and met that gentle and powerful gaze, like a spring breeze, sweeping away the dark clouds entrenched in her heart.

    At that moment, she was thinking, it would be great if her sister wasn''t the benefactor.

    She didn''t want to explain, she didn''t want to tell the truth, she didn''t want to tell her sister that she was sad because she felt lost, and she has no place to stay. She followed Jiang Yu''s words and nodded, showing a cute smile: "Yeah."

    "Sister, where is the resort you mentioned?" She changed the subject.

    Jiang Yu didn''t mention it anymore, and said calmly: "The surrounding area of ??Jiangcheng is not far away, and it takes two hours to drive."

    "Can I...can I ask a question?"

    "Speak."

    "Are sister Yanyan and Boss Lu always good friends?" Just now when Qi Yan was mentioned, Cheng Suran suddenly remembered the awkward meeting in the office that day.

    Jiang Yu smiled and shook her head, "They are a couple."

    "Ah!"

    "What''s wrong?"

    The child opened her mouth into a circle. Suddenly, her shoulders slumped, and said with a slumped face: "In this case, Boss Lu will definitely go too. It''s so embarrassing."

    Jiang Yu raised her brows and looked at her without saying a word.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips and remained silent.

    There was a long silence, and a very slight sound of friction between the car body and the air, which seemed abrupt in this silence.

    "Lu Zhiqiao said, you have worked for her company." After a long while, Jiang Yu said lightly.

    "But she doesn''t seem to know that you haven''t graduated yet."

    Cheng Suran bit her lower lip, and honestly admitted: "Yes, during the summer vacation."

    "You were still working as a tutor."

    "Mm."

    "Tutor, singer, translator. In other words, three jobs in one summer vacation?" Jiang Yu said every word in a tone that was confusing.

    Cheng Suran nodded calmly.

    No matter how proud she is to support herself, it cannot make up for the sourness and bitterness caused by covering up the reasons behind it. She can only try her best to control herself, be neither humble nor overbearing, and maintain a fragile decency.

    The atmosphere fell silent again.

    Jiang Yu stared at her thoughtfully.

    After all, Cheng Suran is still young, uncomfortable being looked at, lowered her eyes, avoided the gaze, and explained in detail: "The jobs of professional counterparts must be full-time, but I only have enough time for part-time jobs, so during the interview I said that I just graduated, and when I joined the job, I said that I kept my graduation certificate in my hometown, and showed them the copy of Xuexin.com*. There were quite a lot of people in that group. When the personnel sister saw the name of the school, she went through the formalities for me directly, and the signature was probationary contract."

    *aka China Higher Education Student Career Center/China Credentials Verification - China''s centralized student (post secondary/high school/college) database where student records, national exam results, transcripts, diplomas/certificate are stored. It''s also used to verify the authenticity of any student credentials.

    Every college student must register with Xuexin.com when enrolling in order to verify academic qualifications.

    At first, she didn''t have any hope. After all, Xinbei Technology is a big company, and the interview process will be very strict. She might not be able to get away with it. She just wanted to try her luck.

    So that''s how it went.

    The big company has good benefits, high salary, harmonious atmosphere among colleagues, and easy to get along with the leaders. If it wasn''t for the start of school in September, she would not want to resign at all.

    But from a long-term perspective, she may miss more opportunities if she is satisfied with the sweetness in front of her. She still has to continue her studies and try to go outside to see a bigger world.

    Thinking about it this way relieved her.

    After speaking, Cheng Suran mustered up the courage to look at Jiang Yu. Thinking that she minded this matter, she couldn''t help but sigh in her heart. Sure enough, excellent people play with excellent people.

    And what is she?

    Jiang Yu stared at her with a little surprise in her eyes.

    This kid...

    She thought she was a silly and sweet person who has not experienced much in the world, but she understands everything and has a very smart head. She thought she was a precocious and sensible little adult, but she is still immature, and she is transparent in front of her.

    She doesn''t know which side is real, maybe both sides, maybe neither side.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t understand her a little bit.

    If she can''t understand her, it means she can''t control her.

    "Didn''t HR see that you were a kid during the interview?" Jiang Yu smiled with interest.

    "I don''t know..." Seeing that she was not angry, Cheng Suran breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed, "Maybe I have more experience, I have been interviewed for a lot of jobs, and I have also done similar recruitment positions.  I know the trick."

    "Oh?" Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes slightly, and gently pressed her  thumb on the mole on the girl''s lip, "What kind of work?"

    Cheng Suran lowered her head in embarrassment, "Sister, why are you asking this?"

    "Kids must be obedient."

    "Okay."

    She thought for a while, stretched out her fingers one by one, and said: "After the college entrance examination, I worked as a waiter in the hotel in our hometown during the summer vacation, and then I worked as the receptionist in a small company during the winter vacation of the freshman year. Those who do not require a degree, and say good looks are enough. During the summer vacation of my freshman year, I worked for a company with our seniors, which was like a recruitment specialist. It was about hiring and calculating commissions. I might have fooled them and ranked first in performance."

    She is a little proud.

    The corners of Jiang Yu''s mouth couldn''t help but rise.

    "Then during my sophomore winter vacation, I went to take a driver''s license exam. At that time, I felt like I needed to start looking for a part-time job that matched my major. I happened to have passed through ''B2'' and ''3'', and our teacher recommended me to work as a translator at an international exhibition. This is the most meaningful part-time job I have ever done. I saw many foreigners who speak any language, and at first, I didn''t dare to speak to them, haha¨C"

    Cheng Suran laughed happily while talking, and there was a gleam in her eyes.

    Throughout the summer vacation, she worked in the company during the day from Monday to Friday, read and studied at night, tutored all day on Saturday, continued to read on Sunday morning, rested in the afternoon, and went to nightclubs to sing at night.

    The busier life is, the more it can bring her a sense of accomplishment and let her get rid of the shadow of the past.  But she is still very envious of those classmates who don''t have to work while studying.

    Tian Lin, who was driving, glanced at the central rearview mirror.

    The girl leaned on Jiang Yu''s shoulder, her lowered eyes were full of smiles, and her slightly pale cheeks had two small dimples. It was like a close cuddle between lovers.

    "Do you also have to work part-time on weekends?" Jiang Yu also smiled, and continued to ask unconsciously.

    "No," Cheng Suran shook her head, "I won''t have so much energy to go to class, I think studying is more important."

    Jiang Yu''s smile froze, and her eyes dimmed.

    She turned to look out the window.

    The car was passing a viaduct. When she first came to Jiangcheng more than ten years ago, there was no such bridge. Time flies fast and things change.

    "Yes, studying is very important." Jiang Yu said and turned back, smiled lightly, bowed her head and kissed the girl''s face.

    "Kids should study hard."

    Cheng Suran was startled, as if she felt something, raised her head, only to see a casual smile in Jiang Yu''s eyes, and heard her say: "It seems that I can''t call you kid, I should call you ''Little Youtiao*."

    *youtiao is a fried dough stick, original term is old youtiao, used to describe an experienced person (it can also mean a burnt out person), like how youtiao goes through a lot of process from kneading,beating, fermentation, and stir-frying.

    "Huh? But..."

    "Don''t like it?"

    Cheng Suran nodded and looked at her seriously: "I like it when you call me kid."

    Jiang Yu pursed her lips and smiled, gently scratched her nose, and was about to speak when the phone rang suddenly. She took her phone out of her bag and saw it was Pei Chutong.

    "Tongtong?"

    Hearing this nickname, Cheng Suran pricked up her ears.

    "Coco, are you coming to the capital?" Pei Chutong spoke lightly on the phone, sounding in a good mood. But Jiang Yu keenly sensed something was wrong, her voice seemed a little nasal.

    "You caught a cold?"

    "No."

    "Why do I hear you have a nasal sound when you speak?" Jiang Yu frowned.

    Pei Chutong smiled and said, "You heard it wrong, Jiang Coco, your ears are not working well at a young age."

    "Are you at your grandfather''s?" Jiang Yu bypassed the subject.

    Pei Chutong lowered her voice: "Mm, I accompanied him to watch the military parade yesterday, and I asked the crew for two days off."

    "You and Ruan..." Jiang Yu guessed a little bit, before she finished speaking, she heard Pei Chutong yelling at someone: "Don''t bother me, get out!"

    Then the phone hangs up instantly.

    Jiang Yu held the phone in a daze for a while, feeling a little worried, dialed it again, was hung up after a few rings, and then received a text message from Pei Chutong: [It''s okay, I''m not in a good mood, I''ll calm down, I''ll see you later to explain.]

    She breathed a sigh of relief.

    Cheng Suran watched her frown, then slowly relaxed, tense and worried for a while, relaxed and calm for a while, she couldn''t help beating a small drum in her heart.

    Tongtong? Could it be her sister''s other lover...

    ¡­.

    During the anniversary military parade yesterday, Pei Chutong asked for leave and went back to her hometown in the capital. The family accompanied his grandfather to watch the ceremony.

    Grandpa Pei was born in the 1930s. He joined the army at the age of sixteen and went to the battlefield. He was promoted from a small squad leader to a senior general. Now the old man is over 80 years old, his body is still strong, his spirit is hale and hearty, his mind is clear, and he is highly respected. He is honored as "Old Chief".

    Before the age of nine, Pei Chutong lived with his grandparents in the army compound. She was the most beloved child of the two old people among his grandchildren, so she had a deep relationship with them.

    This time, the elder uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters of the same generation, and nephews and nieces of the younger generation all came back. Four generations live under the same roof, the old man was very happy.

    As soon as he was happy, he introduced a person to Pei Chutong.

    The man was two years older than her, 1.8 meters tall, elegant and handsome, a doctor of returnees, from a high-ranking family, his grandfather and Mr. Pei were comrades-in-arms, well matched.

    "Tongtong, you guys get to know each other for a while, and then consider it if you think you are suitable. If not, just be friends. Don''t worry, grandpa will never interfere with your freedom. If you want to do business, you can do business, and if you want to fall in love, you can talk about it."  To fall in love, you only need to be frank and upright..." Mr. Pei took his granddaughter''s hand, patted it, and spoke with sincerity.

    Grandma Pei was cleaning her reading glasses beside her, and interrupted with a smile: "Isn''t this considered interference? Looking at you, you can''t wait to send Tongtong away."

    "Hey, I''m really satisfied with Xiao Xu, but it''s useless for me to be satisfied, we need Tongtong to be satisfied."

    "Yo yo yo."

    The old couple had fun.

    Pei Chutong''s heart felt a little heavy. Although there was a smile on the corner of her mouth, there was no light in her eyes. But she is an actress and knows how to play a granddaughter who makes her elders happy.

    "Grandpa, I see. Let''s have a meal with him tomorrow to get to know each other."

    "Okay, okay."

    Mr. Pei was very happy, he agreed repeatedly, then turned his head to look at Ruan Mu who was silent at the side, and waved, "There is also Xiao Mu, come here."

    Ruan Mu raised her head abruptly.

    She didn''t wear a ponytail today, and her black hair was draped shoulder-length, which softened her otherwise rigid face. She was wearing a brown leather windbreaker, looking cool and serious.

    Pei Chutong''s heart skipped a beat.

    "Old chief." Ruan Mu gave a rare smile, got up and walked over, and sat down next to the old man.

    Grandpa Pei pretended to be unhappy and said: "You child, why are you still calling me old chief? The older you get, the more stubborn you become. Those are all false names given by outsiders. We are a family."

    Ruan Mu quickly changed his words: "Grandpa."

    "Hey," Mr. Pei laughed, took her hand and overlapped with Pei Chutong, "I watched you and Tongtong grow up, eating a pot of food, sleeping in the same bed, and kissing each other."  You two sisters are still close, so grandpa won''t favor one over the other..."

    He started pulling the red thread* again.

    *pulling red string is to play cupid (probably trying to match Ruan Mu with some guy, not with Pei Chutong)

    Ruan Mu panicked, and subconsciously glanced at Pei Chutong, but Pei Chutong also looked at her, and their eyes met.

    She turned away.

    Pei Chutong frowned.

    Their hands overlapped, and the warm temperature spread from the fingertips. She could feel the thick calluses in Ruan Mu''s palms, covering the back of her hand roughly, and she could also feel the discomfort of this woman.

    Ah.

    She sneered in her heart.

    "Okay, old man," Grandma Pei said at the right time, interrupting her husband''s chatter, "I think you are too excited today, stop nagging the children, go to bed early."

    Grandpa Pei pouted like a child.

    The two breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

    The next day, Pei Chutong had a meal with the man, but when she came back, she found that Ruan Mu was having fun with her little niece, who also just came back from outside.

    So the two went back to their room and had a big fight.

    "Are you happy? Finally, you don''t have to deal with me, and you can finally see me deal with others."

    "No."

    "That means it doesn''t matter. It doesn''t matter if I really marry a man."

    "..."

    Ruan Mu lowered her face and said nothing.

    It was said to be a quarrel, but Pei Chutong was always complaining alone. Ruan Mu''s slender figure stood in front of the window, against the light, her side face was cold and hard, and only her eyelashes moved.

    Like a lifeless piece of wood.

    Pei Chutong''s eyes were red, she took a deep breath, and fell powerlessly on the sofa, turning her face to the other side, letting her tears fall.

    The family never forced her to do anything.

    Even marriage.

    Grandpa would not insist on her getting married, nor would he insist on marrying someone, let alone her parents. Although the family style of the Pei family is strict, there are not so many restrictions and requirements on the life of the children and offspring. She actually grew up in a very free environment.

    So she didn''t know why...why it was so hard.

    There was a sob in the air.

    Ruan Mu finally moved, turned her head, and saw the shoulders of the person on the sofa trembling. She couldn''t help but frown, her expressionless face fluctuated a bit.

    She took out a tissue and walked slowly to the sofa, about to wipe her tears.

    Pei Chutong waved the hand away angrily, and the tissue fell on the carpet.

    Ruan Mu went back and drew another one.

    Then she swatted it down again.

    Three times.

    "Tongtong..." Ruan Mu called her in a low voice, lowered her eyes, but she just called out, didn''t say anything, as if coaxing.

    Pei Chutong wiped her face with his hand, her voice was slightly hoarse: "What do you feel sorry for my grandpa?"

    Ruan Mu didn''t speak.

    ¡­.

    On the day of departure, the sky was clear.

    At 9:30 in the morning, two Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles parked at the entrance of the company, and everyone gathered on the first floor. Jiang Yu and Cheng Suran were the last to arrive - no one knew that they were tossing until midnight yesterday.

    There were not many people traveling this time, including them, Tian Lin and Qi Yan''s family of three, a total of twelve people, all colleagues who stayed in Jiangcheng and did not go back.

    As soon as she stepped into the hall, Jiang Yu unexpectedly saw Bai Lu''s figure.

    She was wearing light makeup, casual black long sleeves, simple jeans, and a baseball cap on her head. Her long, straight black hair hangs down to her waist, and has a unique temperament.

    "Sister Yu¡ª" Bai Lu naturally also saw her, went up to meet her, and took her arm affectionately.

    "Who is this?"

    Her eyes fell on Cheng Suran, and she took a quick look from head to toe.

    Jiang Yu said casually, "My sister."

    "Oh, hello, little sister." She squinted her eyes and smiled, and quickly turned her eyes back to Jiang Yu''s face after speaking.

    Cheng Suran didn''t even have time to respond.

    "..."

    Qi Yan was counting the number of people, when she saw them coming, she clapped her hands and said, "Everyone is here, let''s go."

    Everyone greeted Jiang Yu one after another, and even looked at Cheng Suran.

    Standing next to two models, she looked short and thin.

    A group of people walked out the door.

    There were three cars parked in a row at the door. Qi Yan took her wife and daughter into the white car in front, so as to lead the way. Jiang Yu and the others took the commercial car in the middle, and the rest of the colleagues took the last car.

    The car door opened, Tian Lin went up first, and sat in the back row, with the middle seat reserved for the boss and her little lover.

    Jiang Yu was about to go up, but Bai Lu, who had been holding her arm all the time, did not let go, pulled back slightly, and said, "Sister Yu, let''s sit in the middle, and let the younger sister go up first."

    "Little sister, can you sit in the back with Assistant Tian?" She turned to look at Cheng Suran with a friendly tone.

 CH 30

    Cheng Suran has a hard time refusing others. It is even more difficult for her if they are especially good-looking and polite. She would rather make herself uncomfortable than say no.

    But today she didn''t want to give in.

    She looked at Jiang Yu, and turned her gaze back to Bai Lu''s face, building up her courage. At that moment, Jiang Yu said, "It doesn''t matter where you sit, you will be there in two hours."

    After speaking, she had to withdraw her arm.

    Cheng Suran was overjoyed, but before the smile could bloom,her joy was abruptly extinguished.

    "We haven''t seen each other for many days, it''s good to talk on the way." Bai Lu insisted, holding her hand tightly and looking at her inquiringly.

    Jiang Yu thought for a moment, then said to Cheng Suran, "Go and sit in the back."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips tightly and did not move. She wanted to fight again, but Bai Lu took the lead again: "Little sister, go up quickly, we are about to set off."

    She can only compromise.

    She lowered her eyes, got into the car silently, and sat down next to Tian Lin in the back row.

    Tian Lin who witnessed everything: "..."

    There were exactly two seats in the middle, Bai Lu asked Jiang Yu to get into the car first, and took the seat on the left, in front of Tian Lin, and she came up later, and took the seat on the right, in front of Cheng Suran.

    Cheng Suran watched Jiang Yu sit diagonally in front of her...

    The door closed, and the car starts slowly.

    Today is the 4th, the flow of people on the street is a little less than the previous two days, and the road is not congested anymore. Three cars lined up and drove smoothly. Bai Lu chatted with Jiang Yu.

    "Qi Yan invited you here?" Jiang Yu turned her head and asked, and from the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the kid looking at her.

    Bai Lu tilted her head, thought for a while and said, "Mm, Qi Yan pulled people from department to department. It just so happens that I have nothing to do these days, so I come to have fun. I had a film to shoot today, but unfortunately, the photographer couldn''t come. Something happened, and the shoot was rescheduled some other time."

    "And..." She winked at Jiang Yu, making a fool of herself.

    "Mm?"

    "Of course I will also participate in the activities you participate in."

    Jiang Yu thought it was something, and chuckled lightly: "So you''re just clinging to me like that?"

    "Who made Sister Yu, great master, great benefactor*, and a great idol?" Bai Lu raised her slender fingers and bent three of them, her smile revealing a hint of charm.

    *term meant more like backer or supporter, not like like how it is for Ranran

    "Also, I haven''t thanked you enough for signing a contract with Yver last time."

    After the big show that day, Jiang Yu took Bai Lu to dinner with the person in charge of the brand. They had a pleasant chat and successfully signed a three-year model provider contract. The other party also liked Bai Lu and signed a two-year contract with her.

    The little fox was very happy and proud.

    Jiang Yu looked at her with a loving smile like an old mother, "You are thanking me for your hard work."

    After chatting for a few words, Bai Lu took out the photos on her phone and showed them to Jiang Yu, saying that they were her new model cards as well as some unreleased videos and animations.

    "Here, these two sets of looks are made by myself, let''s try a new style."

    "Trying too much when your personal style is unstable is easy to get confused."

    "Well, I know, it''s just for taking photos in private... By the way, this is the C family''s haute couture that you gave me, I never thought I could wear it like this, right? Hahaha."

    "These two shows are separated by half a month. Your walking skill has improved quite quickly, but your shoulders and back are not strong enough. Look at this, your neck is shaking again..."

    The two were discussing enthusiastically, the heads pressed against each other, the long straight black hair intertwined with slightly curly black hair.

    The different shampoo scents blend wonderfully with each other.

    Cheng Suran watched silently from behind, feeling very uncomfortable, and couldn''t help but think of the scene she saw in the office that day.

    ¡ª¡ªIn front of the clear floor-to-ceiling windows, the two embraced each other intimately.

    They kissed.

    Maybe she''s her sister''s lover... There''s also one called "Tongtong". It is impossible for the benefactor to have only one lover, she is just the most insignificant of many canaries.

    Cheng Suran lowered her eyes and listened quietly to their conversation, but suddenly felt something was wrong.

    Huh?

    Is this how the benefactor and her lover get along? Why does it sound more and more like a master-student relationship?

    When it comes to professional things, Cheng Suran doesn''t understand. There are a few English words that sound strange, such as "look". In their conversation, this word doesn''t seem to have its original meaning.

    As well as "sittings", "shoot", and "investment"¡ªcombined with the content of their speech, it can be guessed that they should be some jargons in the industry.

    Cheng Suran took out her mobile phone and searched curiously.

    "Look" refers to image and appearance, "sittings" refers to editors responsible for blockbuster shooting, "shoot" refers to fashion blockbusters, and "investment" refers to classic items.

    It dawned on her, and she immediately wrote down these words in her memo, which might be useful in translating documents related to the fashion industry in the future.

    While memorizing and listening to the two talk, a sudden sense of frustration arises from her heart.

    When her sister mentioned work, her tone sounded unusually excited. If she could see her sister''s face. She''s sure there must be light shining in those eyes. But she doesn''t understand these things, and she has no common topic with her sister, and the only thing they can talk about is the things around the pillow.

    Cheng Suran sighed secretly, and clicked into Jiang Yu''s Weibo.

    The latest one is still the few seaside photos. She scrolled down and continued to search, from this year to the first Weibo nine years ago, from tens of thousands of likes to dozens of likes, unknowingly she fell into trance.

    Tian Lin casually caught a glimpse, her gaze meaningful¡­

    The resort is called "Qingshan Town*", located outside the outskirts of Jiangcheng, surrounded by green mountains and accompanied by green water, hence the name.

    *qingshan means green mountain

    The town covers a very large area. At the foot of the mountain is a cultural and commercial street full of bustling tourists. On the mountain is a VIP area with hot springs, horse farms, golf courses, etc. ordinary tourists are not allowed to enter.

    Three cars parked in front of the hotel one after another.

    Clear water flows on the large glass curtain wall, and green plants are planted on the periphery. The water flows down into the soil and merges into a stream, which flows along the stone road to the waterwheel, and the cycle goes back and forth.

    A middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes came out to greet them, Qi Yan got out of the car and chatted with him, took everyone to the front desk to register, got their room cards, and handed out a brochure to each of them.

    "Okay, you guys can team up freely for the room assignment. Everyone is free to move around. You can play casually on the mountain, down the mountain and in the back lake. We will gather back here at noon on the 7th."

    Their group took the elevator one after another.

    Cheng Suran held Jiang Yu''s hand, and the moment they stepped into the elevator door side by side, Bai Lu came up behind her and grabbed Jiang Yu''s arm, forcefully pushing her out. Just as the elevator door was about to close, she wedged her shoulder on the door with an unsteady stance, and the door retreated to both sides.

    "Hey, I''m sorry, little sister, I didn''t notice you..." Bai Lu looked at her awkwardly.

    Cheng Suran clutched her shoulders, tears were about to come out from the pain, and just about to say it was okay, Jiang Yu stretched out her hand and pulled her in, the next second, the elevator doors closed again.

    "Where were you hit?" Jiang Yu frowned, lowered her head slightly, and stretched her arms to hug her.

    Cheng Suran shook her head and whispered: "It''s okay, it doesn''t hurt."

    Jiang Yu glanced at Bai Lu.

    Bai Lu shrank her neck and lowered the brim of her hat.

    When they reached the eighth floor, everyone dispersed. Jiang Yu naturally led Cheng Suran towards the room. Bai Lu followed her while looking around, holding her other arm.

    "Sister Yu, shall we stay in one room?"

    Cheng Suran''s heart sank, and she held Jiang Yu''s hand tightly.

    "I''ll stay with my sister." Jiang Yu shook her hand back, as if to comfort her, and then swiped the room card to open the door.

    Bai Lu shook her arm and acted coquettishly: "Oh, sister Yu, I only talk to you with so many people, do you have the heart to see me alone Besides, we are all busy, we finally came out and play once, you and your little sister can often see each other, since you are a family, it won''t hurt to be apart for a few days."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu stared in thought.

    Sisterhood can deceive people, but it is also an invisible shackle. She knows Bai Lu relatively well, even if she refuses to share a room, she will probably come over to share a bed with her at night. Besides, Bai Lu is a good seedling she loves and values, representing her career.

    Lovers are certainly not as important as careers.

    "Sister¡ª¡ª" Seeing her hesitating, Cheng Suran became a little anxious, but the rest of the words were interrupted before she could speak¡ªJiang Yu patted her hand and said with a smile: "Ranran, can you stay in a room with Tian Lin?  "

    Ranran?

    She looked up, her heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed with enthusiasm, "...okay."

    Somehow she agreed.

    Cheng Suran didn''t feel regret until they went back to their rooms and tidied up their things. If she could react faster and persevere, wouldn''t it be...

    It won''t work either.

    In front of her sister, she always reacts a little slower, insisting that it is disobedient in her sister''s eyes, and she dare not be disobedient. That time, she hoped that she was really a younger sister, so that she would not be obedient and be justified.

    Looking at her sad and depressed face, Tian Lin''s suspicion deepened.

    No way, right?

    Cheng Suran took out two bags of disposable four-piece bed sheets from her bag, raised her head, "Assistant Tian, ??do you want to use disposable sheets?"

    Peeking at Tian Lin who was almost caught: "..."

    Before she could speak, Cheng Suran walked over with the bag in hand, and said while unpacking it, "It''s better to use it, it''s clean and hygienic. I brought several sets with me, let me change it for you first."

    "Thank you, I''ll do it myself." Tian Lin said politely, concealing her surprise quietly, she didn''t dare to let the boss''s little lover make her bed.

    "It''s okay," the girl winked at her with two small dimples on her cheeks, "I''ll make the bed quickly."

    Tian Lin: "..."

    Cheng Suran removed the quilt and pillows, took out the disposable sheets, shook then spread them out, pulled the sides, and then put on the quilts and pillows. With quick hands and feet, the sheets were spread quickly and smoothly in two to three minutes.

    "Okay, I''ll help my sister lay one too." She went out with her bag.

    When she came to the door of the next room, Cheng Suran held her breath and knocked. The door opened quickly. At that moment, she prayed that the person who opened the door was Jiang Yu.

    Bai Lu''s figure appeared in her sight.

    "..."

    "Little sister, what''s the matter?" Bai Lu tilted her head and smiled at her, her narrow and seductive eyes were like a fox.

    Cheng Suran was a little disappointed, and raised the things in her hands, "I''m here to deliver a disposable bed sheet to my sister..."

    Bai Lu stared at her and remained silent for a while.

    "?"

    "Oh, well, give it to me."

    Bai Lu stretched out her hand, Cheng Suran was stunned for a moment, lowered her head, raised her head and hesitated, looked past her and looked into the room.

    It''s a pity that this person is too tall, and the door is blocked tightly, she can''t see anything.

    She suddenly felt depressed, why is she only 1.65 meters tall?

    "What''s wrong?" Bai Lu blinked suspiciously.

    Cheng Suran bit her lower lip, lowered her eyes, and said softly, "Thank you." She handed the bag to Bai Lu, then turned and left.

    Dinner time.

    Tian Lin sat on the swing on the balcony and flipped through the brochure, which roughly introduced the attractions in the resort, which was novel and unique. Suddenly, the door opened, and Cheng Suran came in silently. Without saying a word, she sat by the bed and fiddled with her mobile phone.

    Within a few minutes, Tian Lin received a WeChat message from Jiang Yu: [Bai Lu and I went to eat first.]

    Tsk.

    Did she send this to her intentionally?

    As a caring assistant who understands the boss well, Tian Lin immediately guessed Jiang Yu''s subtext: I can''t get away, take care of the kid for me.

    Sigh--

    She wants to laugh.

    "Miss Cheng," Tian Lin put down the brochure and stood up, "Are you hungry? I''m going to eat now. I''ll bring you what you want."

    The girl raised her head, turned sideways, and paused for a few seconds before saying, "No need, let''s go together."

    How can she ask someone to buy food for her?

    "I''ll call sister next door." Cheng Suran stood up, her eyes sparkling.

    Tian Lin said, "They already went out to eat."

    "..."

    They.

    Cheng Suran''s eyes dimmed, she nodded slightly, and squeezed out a sweet and sour smile, "Then let''s go."

    "Okay."

    There is a garden buffet restaurant next to the hotel.The environment is fresh and elegant, with rich dishes and high-quality ingredients. Guests can dine for free by telling their room number.

    There are a lot of people, tables in twos and threes, but it is not noisy. Everyone eats and talks in a low voice.

    As soon as she entered the door, Cheng Suran saw familiar figures diagonally ahead, Jiang Yu and Bai Lu, sitting by the window facing each other, one was drinking lemonade, and the other was cutting something with a knife and fork.

    "Miss Cheng?" Seeing her in a daze, Tian Lin followed her gaze.

    Cheng Suran recovered, smiled, and said, "Let''s find a seat first."

    "Mm."

    The two found a seat next to the chef''s counter and sat down, each to get their favorite food. Cheng Suran didn''t eat much in the morning, and she obviously felt a little hungry on the way, but she didn''t have any appetite at the moment, and only took a few oysters, some fried rice cakes, and a bowl of three mushroom soup.

    Tian Lin didn''t take a lot, fearing that it would be wasted if she couldn''t finish it.

    The angle of their seat can see the window, Cheng Suran eats quietly, without saying a word, and sometimes glances at Jiang Yu from a distance - her plate seems to be salmon, and there are some vegetarian dishes.

    Taking two bites, saying a few words, smiling and looking happy.

    "Xiao Ranran* -" someone called her.

    *Little Ranran

    Qi Yan led Lu Zhiqiao and walked towards her, stopped in front of her desk, and glanced back and forth between her and Tian Lin, "Why are there only two of you? Where''s Jiang Yu?"

    Tian Lin looked towards the window.

    Cheng Suran was startled, and pointed to the place by the window, "They''re over there."

    Qi Yan looked over.

    "Tsk¡ª" She said to herself with a disgusted expression on her face, "This scum leaving love everywhere."

    And that Bai Lu

    Tsk tsk tsk.

    No one in the company knew that she liked to cling to Jiang Yu. This time, if it wasn''t for the sake of getting the target headcount, she wouldn''t have included Bai Lu. She helped with her photoshoot before, and this Miss Bai was particularly all over the place, so she didn''t have a good impression.

    She really wants to tell Xiao Ranran not to waste time with the scumbag.

    Qi Yan realized that she had done something bad indirectly, sighed secretly, and put the plate next to Cheng Suran, "Xiao Ranran, do you mind our family sitting here?" After finishing speaking, she looked at Tian Lin again.

    Tian Lin expressed her willingness.

    "No, sit wherever you want." Cheng Suran shook her head repeatedly.

    Turning her gaze, she saw Lu Zhiqiao.

    "Lu¡­ Boss Lu..."

    "We are very destined." Lu Zhiqiao sat down, winked at her, and smiled like a spring breeze.

    Cheng Suran forced herself to smile, "Yes."

    "Let me introduce you to my girlfriend Lu Zhiqiao, and this is my daughter Lu Wei." Qi Yan enthusiastically introduced them one by one.

    "Xiao Ranran is my favorite print model this year."

    Lu Wei nodded obediently, "Hello, sister Xiaoran."

    The atmosphere at the table became lively, they chatted while eating, Qi Yan was very excited today for some reason, like a chatterbox, analyzing the importance of really getting to know people, and sharing her experience of helping friends get rid of scums.

    She couldn''t be stopped even if Lu Zhiqiao stuff her mouth with barbecue.

    Cheng Suran listened with amazement.

    Before she knew it, Jiang Yu''s table was empty, and when she went to look again, there were already unfamiliar faces.

    ¡­.

    After eating and walking out of the restaurant, Cheng Suran plucked up the courage to call Lu Zhiqiao to the side.

    "Boss Lu, I''m sorry. I lied to the company when I joined and I lied to you later on. I didn''t do it on purpose..." She apologized sincerely, and then told the whole story.

    Lu Zhiqiao just smiled after hearing this, the black tear mole at the end of her eyes looked gentle and pleasant.  She patted the girl on the shoulder and said: "It''s okay, Xiao Cheng, this is not a serious matter. Your ability is enough for me to ignore it. I''ll just pretend I never knew about it. After you graduate, if you still want to come work in Xinbei, you can contact me anytime.¡±

    "...Thank you Boss Lu," Cheng Suran bowed to her, with two sweet pear dimples blooming on her cheeks, "I hope you and Sister Yanyan will grow old forever."

    "You and Jiang Yu too." Lu Zhiqiao nodded with a smile.

    Her little pear dimples stiffened for a moment.

    "Qiao Qiao, are you guys done?¡ª" Qi Yan urged.

    The family of three rushed to take the hot air balloon, Cheng Suran said goodbye to them, and went upstairs with Tian Lin. When she reached the door, she turned her head to look at the next room, couldn''t help walking over, and knocked on the door.

    Once, twice, three times.

    No one opened it.

    They must be outside playing

    She thought silently, then turned and went back to her room.

    Tian Lin received another message from Jiang Yu: [Going back very late.]

    ¡ªContinue to take care of the kid.

    She pursed her lips and smiled, and replied "OK", when she looked up, she saw Cheng Suran coming in late, thought for a while, picked up the brochure and said, "Miss Cheng, shall we go sightseeing by helicopter this afternoon?"

    Cheng Suran stopped, shook her head and said, "I want to walk alone."

    As she spoke, she took out a small satchel from the big backpack, put her mobile phone and tissues in it, and carried it on her back.

    "I''ll accompany you." Tian Lin stood up.

    Cheng Suran froze, "Assistant Tian..."

    "Mm?"

    "Actually, you don''t have to take care of me for my sister. I''m already an adult, and I''m fine by myself. Besides, everyone is out to have fun. Having no burden in your heart is what makes you have fun."

    Ah this.

    The kid is very smart.

    Tian Lin remained silent.

    "I really want to be alone," Cheng Suran smiled wryly, and then gave her a relieved look, "It''s nearby, I''ll go back when I''m tired, you can go play too, come out for a while, don''t waste your vacation.  "

    Tian Lin hesitated for a moment, seeing that her eyes were stained with some deep meaning, she nodded, "Okay."

    ¡­.

    The night is getting darker and the lights are loud and bright.

    It was half past nine.

    "I''m so exhausted, I feel like my bones are about to fall apart..." The elevator door opened, and Bai Lu stumbled out with Jiang Yu on her arm, snuggling on her shoulder as if she had no bones.

    Jiang Yu slowed down her pace and straightened her back. Hearing this, she sneered and joked, "You still insisted to ride a horse when you are not physically strong. Now, you look like this. Don''t even think about going anywhere tomorrow."

    "No, I''m going to ride a hot air balloon."

    "Get someone to lift you up."

    The tall shadows of the two were elongated by the lights in the corridor.

    Arriving at the room, opening the door, Bai Lu let go of Jiang Yu, and couldn''t wait to rush to her bed, completely paralyzed on it.

    "I''ll take a shower first." Jiang Yu entered the bathroom with her pajamas in her arms.

    Bai Lu snorted.

    ¡ª¡ªtok tok tok

    There was a knock on the door.

    Before Jiang Yu could close the bathroom door, she went out again, came to the door and asked, "Who is it?"

    "Sister Yu, it''s me." It was Tian Lin''s voice.

    She opens the door.

    "What''s wrong?"

    "Is Miss Cheng with you?" Tian Lin looked into the room.

    Jiang Yu was stunned for a moment, and said, "No, Bai Lu and I just came back." After she finished speaking, she paused, "Is she not in your room?"

    Tian Lin shook her head, "She said in the afternoon that she wanted to go for a walk alone, so I went shopping in the commercial street at the foot of the mountain. When I came back just now, I found that my phone was out of battery and Ms. Cheng wasn''t there. I thought she was with you."

    "You mean she hasn''t come back yet?" Jiang Yu frowned.

    Tian Lin hummed lightly, "I''ll call her now." She turned and went back to the next door.

    Jiang Yu followed.

    The phone is now fully charged and turned on. Tian Lin quickly opened the address book, found Cheng Suran''s number, dialed it, and heard a voice prompt after a few seconds.

    "Not in the coverage area?"

 CH 31

    After leaving the hotel, Cheng Suran walked aimlessly.

    The mountains in the distance are continuous, lush and green, the sky is like a glittering clear water, and the clouds float on it like cotton wool, like an oil painting with a gentle mood.

    Walking, away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd, into a small forest.

    The surroundings were calm and quiet, as if isolated from the world, Cheng Suran closed her eyes, took a deep breath of pure and pollution-free air, and exhaled it slowly, which immediately relieved the dullness in her chest.

    There was a small gazebo in front, she stepped on a few scattered leaves and walked over, took out a tissue and wiped the dust on the stone platform, and sat down.

    Her mind is empty.

    Sitting quietly for a long time, Cheng Suran gradually thought of Jiang Yu and all kinds of things, and suddenly felt a huge sense of loneliness in her heart.

    She thought she was very independent. She went to and from class by herself, ate and walked alone, worked and earned money by herself, and solved everything by herself. But, even though she is so independent and her time is fully occupied by arrangements, her spiritual world is still barren.

    It is easy for her to rely on someone. In the past, it was a classmate or a pen pal, but now...

    It''s her benefactor.

    This is dependence, right?

    Concerned about the other person not responding to her messages, concerned about their closeness to others, and concerned that they did not choose her over other people. Just thinking about these, tears fall uncontrollably.

    She can only be unscrupulous in places where no one is around.

    She''s so hypocritical and useless.

    Wake up, that is the benefactor, the most ruthless person, the person whom you should have the least expectations. In another two months, get rid of the shadow of that person, and time will take everything away.

    Cheng Suran wiped away her tears, opened her mouth, took a deep breath, and gradually calmed down.

    The cool breeze dried her tears.

    Occasionally, there are a few crisp birdsong in the forest, the towering trees around reach into the sky, and the sunlight falls in through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows.

    After sitting for a while, Cheng Suran got up and continued to walk forward, her sight gradually widened, and a lake appeared in front of her.

    The water reflects the shadow of the sky, and the tour boat pulls long ripples.

    There is a bridge on the lake. Cheng Suran stayed in the middle for a while, continued to walk, stopped to rest when she was tired, and then continued to walk when she rested enough. She didn''t know how long she walked, and found herself to a forest again.

    The woods were thicker and overgrown with weeds, the road was barely visible, and the dead branches and leaves were covered with bird droppings.

    Cheng Suran didn''t stop until there was no way to go, and looked around.

    Where is this?

    She seems¡­lost.

    She took out her phone and opened the navigation, but the page was blank, showing a network failure.

    Looking at the upper right corner, not only is there no data traffic icon, but there is no communication signal either.

    "..."

    Cheng Suran panicked, turned around in a circle, glanced around, and felt that every tree around her looked exactly the same. She was in a daze, not knowing what to do for a while.

    It''s six o''clock.

    Fearing that she would get lost even further, she didn''t dare to wander around, and stood still in place.

    The sky gradually darkened, and the thick shadows covered the last ray of light in the evening.The woods were gloomy and eerie.

    ¨Cgulug

    Her stomach is growling.

    At this time, all the birds are returning to their nests, the forest is full of chirping birds, and it seems that the sky is going to be completely dark.  Cheng Suran forced herself to calm down, picked up a fairly sharp stone, drew a circle on the nearby tree trunk, and drew an arrow pointing backward.

    Then, turn around and walk back along the way she came.

    Every time she walks past a tree, she draws circles and arrows on the trunk, and then looks back at the previous tree she marked to make sure she has not deviated from the direction.

    Until it was completely dark.

    The whole forest fell silent.

    It was pitch black, and only the outlines of the trees could be vaguely seen. Cheng Suran slowed down, and the sweat from her palm wet the stones. After her eyes got used to the darkness, she could barely see the weeds and dead leaves under her feet.

    She looked back but couldn''t see the sign of the previous tree clearly.

    She has heard a saying before that when people''s sight is blocked and they cannot see the environment clearly, when they walk in the dark without using any auxiliary tools, they will unknowingly deviate to the left, keep leaning straight, and finally turn back to the origin.

    This is the so-called "ghost building the wall."

    She doesn''t know if there is any scientific basis, but the more Cheng Suran thought about it, the more frightened she became, and she tried her best to give herself a psychological pep talk "I''m walking in a straight line, I''m going out soon"

    She wanted to turn on the flashlight of her mobile phone, but she was afraid that something would suddenly shine in the dark light, which would scare herself half to death. While struggling, she walked forward slowly, and the scenes of the horror movies she had watched flooded into her memory.

    The night temperature in the mountains was low, and gusts of cool wind blew over. She shivered and felt cold all over, so she sat down to rest against a tree.

    No water, no food, cold and hungry.

    Cheng Suran considers herself an atheist, but human beings'' fear of the dark and the unknown is deeply embedded in her genes. She can''t resist the instinct of fear.

    "Prosperity, democracy, harmony, civilization... No, it''s reversed, civilization, harmony, freedom, hey¡­*" I forgot all about it.

    *reciting Socialist Core Values

    Sigh.

    Will she die here because she didn''t eat or drink?

    Maybe she can last three days at most, and then die, slowly decaying into a skeleton, and maybe someone will find her, maybe not. In short, the moment she close her eyes, all her troubles would be over, she came into this world in vain and leave in vain.

    She''ll never see her sister again.

    However, she still has to graduate well, go  study abroad, buy a house, and give herself a home. How can she die here if her dream has not yet come true?

    The unwillingness in her heart dispelled the fear in an instant.

    Cheng Suran stood up abruptly, turned on the flashlight of her mobile phone, gritted her teeth, carved a mark on the tree trunk, and continued walking forward.

    Just stop and go like this. She doesn''t know how long it took, but suddenly she saw dots of lights in the distance, some white and yellow, intersecting and connecting, extending to a distance.

    It is a road that looks close but is actually far away.

    At that moment, Cheng Suran saw hope and couldn''t help speeding up her pace.

    The incomplete moon rose higher and higher.

    Nine forty-five.

    The view grew wider and wider, and finally, a large lake appeared in front of her, a familiar arch bridge, and a brightly lit dock cabin. She was stunned for a moment, took a long sigh of relief, and ran over at a sprint speed of 100 meters, down the arch bridge to the other end of the lake.

    She can see scattered houses, couples walking on the slate road, and hear the noise of the crowd in the distance.

    She''s back.

    Cheng Suran leaned against the stone pillar to gasp for breath, walking for several hours without eating or drinking at night and suddenly running for several hundred meters, she felt a bit weak. Her heart was rapidly shaking in her chest, she was sweating all over, and her legs were weak.

    She slumped down on the ground.

    Her phone buzzed and vibrated, which made her realize that there was a signal.

    It''s Assistant Tian.

    When she picked up the call, the word "Tian" was stuck in her throat. Before she could speak, Jiang Yu''s anxious voice came from the other end: "Where are you?"

    "I..." Cheng Suran opened her mouth, her heart was wrenched hard, and she couldn''t help sobbing, "Sister, I''m by the lake, I..."

    "Where is the lake?" Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Yu interrupted sharply, with anger hidden in her tone.

    Cheng Suran choked again, and looked around, "At the head of the arch bridge, there is a sign next to it that says ''Qingli Lake'', and the small characters are ''East''."

    "Stay still."

    After speaking, the phone was hung up.

    She held the phone in daze.

    Not long after, a sightseeing car swayed over, with two powerful lights, eye-catching in the dark. It stopped not far away and a slender figure quickly walked towards her.

    Cheng Suran raised her head.

    Their eyes met.

    Jiang Yu stood still quietly, looking down at her condescendingly. The cold white light illuminated her face as cold as iron, with anger in her eyes.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran called softly and stood up.

    Her face was covered with sweat, her broken hair was wet and stuck to her temples, her little face was flushed, and she looked embarrassed.

    Jiang Yu sneered.

    Since she couldn''t get through the phone, she searched for people everywhere and asked her colleagues who went with them. She went to ask Qi Yan, but was mocked by Qi Yan''s strange demeanor. Then, she learned from Tian Lin about what happened that noon.

    At that moment, all worries turned into anger.

    How dare the kid get angry with her?

    A canary is nothing more than a plaything. It is not qualified to play tricks and make faces in front of her.  She raises birds for viewing and entertainment, not to make herself unhappy, let alone causing accidents.

    She can''t have that.

    This bird cannot be had.

    Jiang Yu made up her mind and was about to open hernmouth when the kid suddenly rushed over and hugged her sullenly, "Sister, I''m so stupid, I lost my way while walking alone, I don''t know where I am, my phone has no signal,  I walked the same way for a long time before I came back..."

    As she spoke, her voice choked up, and her body couldn''t help twitching.

    Jiang Yu''s face changed slightly.

    The hands that were about to push the girl away froze, suspended mid-air for a moment, then fell down and embraced her waist.

    Behind her, Tian Lin stopped and reached out to stop the staff who were about to get out of the car, "We''ll wait here."

    "Okay." The staff retracted their feet again.

    The surroundings are silent, and under the light, two shadows are cuddling tightly together. Occasionally, a couple walking by holding hands will pass by, look around curiously, and gradually go away.

    The girl in her arms sobbed softly, hugging her tighter and tighter as if she was afraid that she would run away.

    Jiang Yu subconsciously patted her back.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "Mm."

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "I am here."

    "If I died in the wilderness, I will never see you again. It''s so dangerous... so dangerous..."

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak, the anger in his heart subsided completely, and an unspeakable feeling surged up.

    At this moment, she really felt that she was needed, the most simple, primitive, emotional need, not the sense brought by flowers and applause.

    She had always longed for something that she can''t get, and she can''t give.

    The strings buried deep in her heart were plucked.

    Jiang Yu hugged the girl in her arms tightly, and kissed the hair comfortingly over and over again, "No, if you don''t come back, sister will bring someone to find you, and I won''t let you alone...in the wild."

    She can''t say that word.

    Cheng Suran buried her face in her hair and rubbed it, then seemed to realize something, leaned back her upper body, looked at her with red eyes, "I''m sorry to trouble you."

    "No." Jiang Yu lowered her eyes, avoiding hers, and raised a hand to wipe her tears.

    Her fingertips touched the tip of her nose inadvertently, and it felt cold to the touch. She touched her hand behind her back, which was also cool.

    "Is it cold?"

    Jiang Yu looked at her thin long sleeves, frowned, let go, took off her temporary coat, and put it on her body.

    This jacket is custom-made, big and loose. Jiang Yu herself wears a length just enough to cover her buttocks. But for Cheng Suran, it looked like a short one-piece dress, with the hem, halfway over her thighs, and her narrow shoulders unable to support the original shape of the clothes.

    Like a child who stole an adult''s clothes.

    puff.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help laughing.

    "Sister?" Cheng Suran looked at her blankly, "What are you laughing at?" Suddenly, her small face frowned, "Am I really ugly now..."

    "Yes."

    "Ah I--"

    "I''m lying to you," Jiang Yu scratched her nose and took her hand, "Come on, let''s go back and have something to eat before the restaurant closes."

    Cheng Suran obediently let Jiang Yu lead her, with the other hand covering her stomach.

    She almost forgot, her stomach has become numb and hungry along the way. Now that it was mentioned, she has regained consciousness, and wants to eat and drink more water.

    They boarded the sightseeing car.

    "Assistant Tian..." Cheng Suran smiled awkwardly when she saw Tian Lin, "Sorry, I got lost today, I didn''t mean to make you worry."

    As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Yu held her in her arms.

    Tian Lin suppressed her smile, glanced at her boss, shook her head and said, "It''s okay, you came back safely."

    "Mm."

    The staff started the car.

    The car slowly drove towards the hotel, with a cool wind blowing in front of her, Cheng Suran leaned quietly in Jiang Yu''s arms, her nerves were completely relaxed, a deep sense of drowsiness swept over her, her upper and lower eyelids were fighting...

    About ten minutes later, they arrived at the entrance of the hotel.

    "Sister Yu..."

    Tian Lin got out of the car first, and when she turned around, Jiang Yu made a shushing gesture to her, pointed at the person in her arms, and lowered her voice: "Fell asleep."

    "We still have to wake her up, otherwise how can we go up?" Tian Lin whispered.

    The kid was sleeping soundly, breathing smoothly, her chest rose and fell slightly, and her messy hair covered half of her face.

    Jiang Yu looked down at her for a while, and said, "I''ll carry her, help me hold her up first."

    "?!"

    "Hurry up."

    "Okay." Tian Lin stepped forward and carefully took the person from her hand.

    Jiang Yu got out of the car, turned around, and squatted down. Tian Lin lightly supported Cheng Suran on her back, wrapped her arms around her neck, raised her two feet, her hands hooked her knees respectively, and slowly stood up.

    Very heavy.

    The kid looks thin, but she is like a weight on her back. She seems to weigh at least ninety catties*.

    *54 kg/ 119lbs

    She weighs only one hundred pounds.

    Tian Lin supported Cheng Suran''s back from behind to prevent her from unconsciously losing her arms and falling down.

    She got into the elevator slowly and swiped the room card. She saw that Jiang Yu was having a little difficulty carrying her, so she helped support the kid''s butt with her other hand, trying to share some weight.

    "What are you doing?" Jiang Yu squinted.

    Tian Lin immediately withdrew her hand, turned away with a suppressed smile.

    When they got to the eighth floor, the elevator door opened, and it happened that Qi Yan was waiting outside with her daughter, and bumped into them, she looked up and down in surprise, "What''s wrong?"

    "Get out of the way." With a sullen face, Jiang Yu flew over with a glare.

    Qi Yan let them come out, took a step forward, and asked, "Is Xiao Ran all right?"

    "Just fell asleep."

    Right now Jiang Yu is not in the mood to argue with her about what she called her..

    "Oh."

    Qi Yan turned around again, and said, "You still have a conscience." She took her daughter''s hand and entered the elevator, "Come on, girl, let''s go for supper."

    "..."

    Entering the room, Jiang Yu carried Cheng Suran to the bedside, turned around, and carefully placed her flat on the bed with Tian Lin''s help. She took off her shoes and gently covered her with a blanket.

    In just a few minutes, it seemed like she ran 400 meters.

    Horseback riding is not so tiring.

    Jiang Yu sat down, panting a little, poured herself a glass of water, and drank slowly in small sips.

    It''s almost half past ten.

    "Sister Yu," Tian Lin sat down next to her, glanced at her phone, and then at her, "Do you still want to terminate the contract? The money is ready."

    Jiang Yu stared at the person on the bed, wondering what she was thinking, and her eyes were filled with chaotic and unclear emotions.

    Finally, she shook her head.

    "Not yet."

    Author''s Note:

    Jiang Scum: I don''t want you anymore!

    Kid: Hug sister, and cry. yingying*.jpg

    *cutesy crying

    Jiang Scum: (soft-hearted) Be obedient.

    Kid: plan, success! yeah.jpg

 CH 32

    Every time a lover is kicked off, Jiang Yu will give the other party a breakup fee, ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, depending on how much she likes her and how long the time she spent with her.

    The more she likes them, the longer she spends time with them, the more money she will give.

    But the reason why she separated from those lovers was without exception: because they lost the novelty. But today, she thought of terminating the contract because her authority was challenged and she felt out of control.

    She doesn''t like being led by the nose*, and the kid touched her scales**".

    *manipulated/controlled

    **rubbed her the wrong way

    Tonight, she originally planned to terminate the contract first, and treat the 200,000 advance payment as charity, and give another 100,000 breakup fee, and then immediately send her back to Jiangcheng, and continue to find another lover¡ªlooking like the kid.

    But fortunately, it was a misunderstanding.

    Jiang Yu sighed secretly, and thoughts of rejoicing flashed in her mind. She knew that she hadn''t lost this freshness, and she would be reluctant to part immediately.

    "Okay." Tian Lin replied and put away her phone.

    The ceiling light shone down in a warm yellow color, somewhat too bright, but it also added warmth to the entire room.

    Jiang Yu raised her head and her gaze fell back on the sleeping girl. She frowned slightly and stood up, turning off the large and bright light, leaving only the one on the eaves.

    The room suddenly darkened.

    Tian Lin observed her calmly, and asked casually, "Shall we change beds tonight?"

    Jiang Yu stared at the girl, hesitated for a moment, then shook her head slightly, "No, let her have a good rest."

    "Okay," Tian Lin nodded, seeing that she had no intention of leaving, she asked with a smile, "Where did you and Bai Lu go today?"

    "Horseback riding." Jiang Yu didn''t even bat an eye.

    Tian Lin also wanted to say that she should accompany the kid tomorrow, but after thinking about it, it is her boss'' personal matter after all, and she will appear too meddling by saying so. Moreover, the benefactor is not obliged to accompany the lover.

    Never mind.

    "Bai Lu is very tired today." Jiang Yu looked away, turned her head to the side, and smiled, "She over-exercised today, she will definitely feel the aftereffects tomorrow, she will have to rest."

    Tian Lin raised her eyebrows and understood her subtext.

    ¡ª¡ªShe can accompany her little lover.

    After a while, Jiang Yu stood up, "Thank you, go to bed early, good night."

    "Good night."

    Back next door, Bai Lu was too tired and asleep, and the bedside lamp was dim.

    Jiang Yu went into the bathroom to take a shower, finished her simple skin care routine, and went to bed with her mobile phone in hand. She checked her email, scroll through Weibo until eleven o''clock.

    Then, she clicks on Notes.

    There is a file that records the names, ages, heights, and weights of the lovers she has taken care of, with photos attached. She records and saves it like a stamp collection. Every time she looks at it, the emptiness and joy in her heart stimulate her.

    She found her first lover when she was twenty-seven years old, nine years younger than her, barely an adult, studying in Paris, similar in appearance and character to her ex-girlfriend.

    It was also that spring that she officially broke up with Qi Yan.

    She thought that what she liked about Qi Yan was her style, so she searched for 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 one after another, until she became more and more bored. This year, when she came back to find Qi Yan for verification, she suddenly found that she had just fallen into a rigid and fixed habit.

    After figuring it out, she completely let go, always thinking about what kind of person she really likes in her spare time from work.

    Until she saw Cheng Suran from the second floor of the nightclub that night.

    Her thirst for freshness and desire to explore came back.

    Like grabbing a life-saving rope.

    In terms of relationships, Jiang Yu thinks that she is "impotent in love", and her passion is only maintained by freshness. Whenever she delves deeper, she will get bored. But that does not prevent her from being flirtatious, showing grace everywhere and not refusing visitors. So the consequences of constantly looking for novelty are like overuse of antibiotics. In the end, she became numb.

    It won''t work.

    She scrolled her fingers to her current lover.

    Little friend¡­

    February 20, 1999, 1.65 meters tall, unknown weight, no photo.

    Jiang Yu stared at the girl''s name with a cold light in her eyes. After a long time, she moved her fingertips slightly and added something after "weight": no less than ninety catties.

    The corners of her mouth slightly curved.

    She doesn''t know what the next lover will look like. Maybe it''s because of her age, the nonstop money relationship is wearing her out. She wants to end this one and stop, but couldn''t.

    There are many people who need her, her achievements, fame, wealth, but no one needs "her".

    Late at night, half past eleven.

    Jiang Yu switched her Weibo account "JWY, a meat-eating herbivore", and sent a message: Good night.

    Early the next morning, Bai Lu lay on the bed and howled.

    "Ouch... help, it hurts..."

    Her muscles aches all over, as if she had been crushed by a steamroller, and her muscles and bones were shattered. Her arms and legs hurt when she moves, and couldn''t even get up.

    Jiang Yu''s word became a prophecy.

    She came out of the toilet after washing up, sat beside Bai Lu''s bed, and said with a helpless smile: "It looks like you''ve been lazy recently, and haven''t been to the gym for at least three weeks."

    "I was wrong, Sister Yu, I won''t dare to do it again..." Bai Lu wanted to cry but had no tears.

    "How many pounds have you gained? There is a penalty for being overweight."

    "I''m not fat."

    "Hmm," Jiang Yu nodded, "Then just rest in the room today."

    "Accompany me."

    "No, I''m going out."

    "I am coming too!"

    As she said that, Bai Lu took her hand, and stood up abruptly. Her arms and legs seemed to be pulled by force. Before she could stabilize her figure, she fell back into the quilt again.

    "Ouch¡ª"

    Jiang Yu frowned, and couldn''t help but hold her down, "Don''t be brave, have you forgotten that there is still a photoshoot on the 8th? If you don''t have a good rest, how can you go in your condition?"

    "..."

    Bai Lu kept her mouth shut.

    Yes, she has to work hard to keep Jiang Yu longer and not be snatched away by others. But in fact...as long as she doesn''t want to, no one can take her away from her.

    "If you''re hungry, you can ask for room service. Have a good rest today and have time to go out tomorrow." Jiang Yu covered her with a quilt.

    Bai Lu snorted softly, "Are you going to accompany your little sister?"

    "Yeah." Jiang Yu lowered her eyes, her expression suddenly became serious, "Yesterday she got lost by herself, and she was only found in the middle of the night. I still have lingering fears."

    "I only have this one sister."

    She closed her eyes, raised her hand and rubbed the center of her brow, with a look of regret and self-blame.

    The words are said on purpose, but the worry is not fake, but the "worry" comes from the fear of trouble. She brought out the person, she''ll be the one to take responsibility.

    Bai Lu looked at her quietly, with dissatisfaction written in her eyes, but couldn''t say anything, so she turned her face to the other side sullenly.

    "Okay," Jiang Yu opened her eyes, unable to hide her heavy expression, "You rest, I''m going out."

    "Sister Yu..."

    Bai Lu suddenly turned over again, the force was so strong that her whole body ached, she couldn''t help frowning, and struggled to grab her hand, "Then besides your sister, am I the only one who holds the most weight in your heart?"

    "Yes." Jiang Yu nodded with a smile, as if coaxing a child who wanted candy, without hesitation.

    Bai Lu finally had a satisfied smile on her face, let go of her and said, "Go, come back early."

    "Okay."

    When the door of the next room opened, Tian Lin had just washed and changed, and was about to make the bed. Looking at her boss standing at the door, she wanted to smile for some reason.

    "She''s still sleeping." She held back her smile and turned sideways to let Jiang Yu in.

    Jiang Yu''s gaze was faster than her legs, and before she could walk over, it had already swam to the bed, "Did she wake up last night?"

    "No, but she said a few words in her sleep, and I couldn''t hear them clearly." Tian Lin stopped a step away from her.

    The girl was sleeping soundly, with her cheeks pressed against the quilt, her slender and thick eyelashes like a feather fan, casting shadows under her eyes, and the corners of her lips curved slightly, like a little jasmine in the morning mist.

    Jiang Yu looked down at her peaceful sleeping face.

    Listening to the girl''s even breathing, her mind gradually returned to peace, which was a wonderful feeling.

    She unconsciously bent down, stretched out her hand, and carefully brushed away the messy hair on the girl''s face, then tucked the corner of the quilt, turned around and said, "Let her sleep a little longer, let''s go have breakfast."

    Tian Lin immediately restrained her expression of watching a good show.

    The two went to the restaurant for breakfast. Since free food is not allowed to be taken away, Jiang Yu thought about the kid in the room, so she prepared to buy one out of her own pocket and take it with her.

    "What does she like to eat?"

    Jiang Yu found herself in trouble looking at the rich variety of food.

    Tian Lin spread her hands helplessly, her eyes clearly said: You don''t even know, how would I know?

    She frowned slightly, and carefully recalled the month she spent with Cheng Suran, but unfortunately, except for those things between the beds, the rest was a blur. Even if the two had breakfast together when they first met, she couldn''t remember what the kid ate.

    If you don''t care, you will naturally not bother to pay attention, let alone remember.

    "Sister Yu, you can just buy whatever you want. If you can''t, buy some of each flavor so that Miss Cheng can choose what she wants to eat." Tian Lin saw her struggling to remember, and couldn''t help reminding her aloud, and the strange feeling in her heart became more and more intense.

    Hopefully she''s thinking too much.

    Jiang Yu seemed to have been awakened, so she didn''t insist anymore. She bought a bowl of red bean porridge, a drawer of steamed buns, eggs and fruit salad, and asked the waiter for an insulated lunch box before bringing it upstairs.

    The girl was still sleeping soundly.

    "Sister Yu, if there''s nothing else, I''ll go out to play first?" Tian Lin picked up her bag consciously, intending to let them be.

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak, but nodded.

    The door closed again.

    The sun in the east gradually climbed towards the center, and before she knew it, it was half past ten, and a large piece of pale golden light obliquely fell into the room.

    The person on the bed moved, slowly opened her eyes, was dazed for a few seconds, lifted the quilt and sat up, and saw Jiang Yu sitting on the sofa by the window with her long legs crossed, holding a book in her hand and reading.

    She was wearing a loose white thin sweater, with a letter "H" necklace hanging on her neck, her slightly curly long hair hanging down her shoulders, a ray of sunshine poured down, and her cold and stern face looked soft and beautiful.

    Cheng Suran was lost in a daze.

    As if aware of it, Jiang Yu raised her head and met her gaze in an instant.

    "Sister..." Her voice was a little hoarse, "Why are you here?" After speaking, she rubbed her eyes, thinking that she was wrong or dreaming.

    Looking around again, this is her and Assistant Tian''s room.

    "Are you awake?" Jiang Yu smiled softly, put down the book, got up and poured a glass of warm water for her.

    Cheng Suran took the water and couldn''t wait to drink it up.

    ¨Cgulug gulug

    Her stomach growled non-stop.

    She froze for a while, and then remembered that she got lost last night, and after walking all the way back, she met her sister, took a sightseeing car together, and then... opened her eyes and was in the room.

    "Are you hungry?" Jiang Yu looked at her with a smile, "I bought you breakfast, but it''s almost noon now. Do you want to eat something now, or let''s go directly to lunch later?"

    Cheng Suran''s eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded vigorously, "Eat now."

    Of course her sister bought it for her.

    "Go and wash up." Jiang Yu stood up, went to the table, touched the insulated box, opened it, the porridge and steamed buns were still a little warm, but the eggs were already cold.

    Smelling the aroma of steamed buns, she couldn''t help taking a deep breath, a little tempted, her fingertips unconsciously touched the chopsticks, and she had a strong desire to take them apart.

    "Ah, sister..." The kid''s voice came from behind.

    Jiang Yu quickly broke her thoughts, and "slapped" the insulation box again to block the smell, and turned around, "Huh?"

    Standing by the bed, Cheng Suran took off Jiang Yu''s coat that she put on last night, and laid it flat. She stared at the inner lining of the coat, frowned, and then turned to look at her pants.

    Sitting on the ground last night, the pants were stained with a lot of mud, and she slept all night wearing her sister''s clothes like this,  the inner lining was rubbed everywhere and dirty.

    She turned her head to look at Jiang Yu, and said in a low voice, "I accidentally stained your clothes."

    Jiang Yu stepped forward to pick up the clothes, looked carefully, threw them on the ground casually, and said calmly: "It''s okay, just throw it away."

    "??"

    Cheng Suran was in a hurry, and quickly bent down to pick it up, "I can wash it, it can be cleaned."

    "This one is custom-made, and the fabric can''t be washed or dry-cleaned." Jiang Yu looked at her amusedly, explained patiently, and took the clothes from her hand while talking, and threw them aside.

    What?

    And such strange clothes?

    It can''t be washed or dry cleaned. In short, is it disposable?

    "Then what if the clothes get dirty?"

    "Throw it away and buy a new one."

    Cheng Suran looked at her with a "you prodigal" look.

    puff.

    Jiang Yu suppressed a smile, stretched out her long arms, hugged her into her arms, lowered her head and kissed her on the cheek, "Hey, eat something first, let''s go out and have fun in the afternoon."

    "But..." Cheng Suran tried her best to restrain her joy, "Where''s the sister next door?"

    "She was tired from playing yesterday and wants to rest today."

    "Oh."

    The girl couldn''t restrain the corners of her mouth from rising.

    The two walked to the table and sat down. Jiang Yu opened the insulated box again, smelled the smell of steamed buns, and took out the still warm breakfast, "I don''t know what you like to eat, so I just bought some, warm your stomach first. You haven''t eaten since noon yesterday, right?"

    "As long as it''s bought by sister, I like to eat it." Cheng Suran smiled happily, showing a row of small white teeth.

    Perhaps, it is because she was invisibly left out yesterday, she felt that her sister was particularly gentle today. When she thought about it, she couldn''t help complaining about her hypocrisy yesterday, and she blamed herself for running around and getting lost.

    A gentle look and a kind smile are enough to make her forget all the bitterness

    She is really easy to please.

    The breakfast is still warm, the red bean porridge is sweet, and the steamed buns are salty, but her taste habits are the same, either all sweet or all salty, it is a bit unacceptable to mix them.

    Cheng Suran was afraid that Jiang Yu would notice something, so she calmly served the porridge, spooned it slowly, and then ate the steamed buns.

    Jiang Yu sat by and watched her eat.

    The kid also ate slowly. When chewing, her small face bulges slightly, and her thin lips will always pout a little, like a plump cherry - making her want to kiss it.

    The temptation of the steamed bun is less than one-third of those lips.

    "What do you want to do in the afternoon?" Jiang Yu took the brochure and flipped through it, handed it over, snatched the cooled egg from her hand, and threw it directly into the trash can.

    "It''s cold."

    As she spoke, she brought the fruit salad in front of her and ate it.

    Cheng Suran didn''t dare to refute, so she took out a tissue to wipe her mouth silently, flipped through two pages of the brochure, thought for a while, and said, "I want to go to the hot spring, but I haven''t done it yet."

    "Okay," Jiang Yu rubbed her head, a sly look flashed in her eyes, and she suddenly remembered something, "Wait a minute, I''ll go to the next door to get something."

    "Uh-huh."

    Jiang Yu went out like a gust of wind.

    A few minutes later, she came back empty-handed, holding a small pink box in her palm, and put it in her bag in front of Cheng Suran.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "Hm?"

    "You..." Cheng Suran stared at her bag, and her words were a little awkward, "What... what are you doing with that?"

    Jiang Yu raised her eyebrows nonchalantly, and asked knowingly, "Which one?"

    The kid blushed, "Fing¡ª"

    ..er gloves.

    Reminiscent of some scenes at night, she blushed up to her ears, and was too ashamed to say those two words completely. She turned her face away, but her chin was suddenly supported.

    "What did you say?"

    Author''s Note:

    Kid: Sister is so gentle

    Jiang Scum: Gentle to everyone.jpg

 CH 33

    The warm breath was blown into her ears, Cheng Suran couldn''t help shivering, let out a muffled sound, and her cheeks became hotter and hotter.

    A soft kiss landed on her earlobe.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    Before she could do anything, she begged for mercy in a low voice. She really couldn''t help this woman''s teasing a little bit.

    Jiang Yu was so coaxed by this "sister" that her heart softened. She stopped, suppressed the crazy thoughts in her mind, and pecked her on the lips before releasing his jaw.

    "Fine."

    "Let''s soak in private soup*."

    * private spaces in hot springs

    "No one will see."

    She reassures the girl.

    Cheng Suran''s tense nerves relaxed.

    It was still early, she went to take a shower first, came out with a hair dryer but it was snatched away by Jiang Yu. She said she wants to help her dry her hair. But how could she dare? The two of them chased each other in the room like children.

    "Hey, sister, I''ll do it myself." The child had no choice but to use her trump card.

    ¡ª¡ªIn her subconscious mind, she felt that this was¡­

    Jiang Yu really stopped, with a doting smile on her lips, and returned the hair dryer to her.

    She stood in the sunlight by the window, her long black hair fluttering disorderly.

    The light is like dipped in sweet honey.

    This person is sweeter than honey.

    Jiang Yu leaned against the edge of the table, sat halfway, turned her face to look at the girl, this little elf, and felt a seldom comfort

    Someone needs her.

    After blowing her hair, Cheng Suran changed into loose clothes, accompanied Jiang Yu to the restaurant for a meal, and ate some desserts. When she walked out of the restaurant, she finally remembered to ask Jiang Yu something.

    "Sister, what did you do yesterday?"

    "We went horseback riding."

    "Oh."

    The girl lowered her head, her thick eyelashes covering her thoughts.

    Thinking of her sister having a good time with the person next door yesterday, she felt a little uncomfortable, her heart turned sour, she couldn''t control her dark emotions, and there were... dumb thoughts stirring up.

    She raised her head, looked at Jiang Yu''s side face, and summoned up her courage to say, "I want to ride a horse too, sister, can you take me?"

    "Now?" Jiang Yu stopped.

    Cheng Suran quickly changed her words: "If it''s inconvenient, forget it."

    "Okay," Jiang Yu looked at her watch and put her arms around her shoulders, "How about we go horseback riding first and soak in the hot spring later?"

    Cheng Suran smiled happily, "Okay."

    At that moment, she was conflicted again. On one hand, she was happy because her sister promised her, and on the other hand, she blamed herself for pestering her sister to do repetitive things. But soon, the balance gradually tilted towards the happy jump.

    The two turned around, got on the sightseeing bus, and arrived at the racecourse about twenty minutes later.

    A continuous field, green grass, lush forests in the distance, connected to the sky, like an oil painting.

    Several jujube-colored* horses are taking a leisurely walk and grazing.

    *dark red/maroon or purple

    After negotiating with the staff, the two put on protective gears. Jiang Yu went to the stables to pick out an adult stallion and brought it out. It was almost as tall as Cheng Suran, with a black mane and silver tail, majestic.

    "It can even block my whole body..." Cheng Suran opened her mouth wide in astonishment, both excited and frightened.

    Jiang Yu held the rein with one hand, touched the mane with the other, and patted its neck twice, then turned to smile at the girl, "Let me demonstrate first, grasp the rein and the mane with the left hand, and put the right hand on the saddle, put your left foot on the stirrup, and¡ª¡±

    She quickly turned over and sat on the horseback.

    "Also, put your right foot into the stirrup, and nudge your calf slowly up the horse''s belly." After Jiang Yu finished speaking, the horse trotted for a certain distance, and she skillfully pulled the rein and turned it around, then came back and went down to the ground.

    Cheng Suran thought it was fresh and fun, and climbed up on the horse clumsily like her, but it was too high off the ground for a while, and she was a little scared, so she dared not move while sitting on it.

    "Don''t be afraid," Jiang Yu patted her on the back, soothing her softly, "I''ll take you around first."

    "Okay."

    She straightened her back unconsciously.

    Jiang Yu led the horse, and the horse carried Cheng Suran for a leisurely walk along the fence. After walking for a while, Cheng Suran gradually relaxed, enjoying the scenery enough, and her eyes fell on Jiang Yu involuntarily.

    She was looking straight ahead with a calm expression, her helmet pressed her black hair, her straight calves were wrapped in black leather boots, and her steps were confident and calm.

    Cheng Suran took out her mobile phone from her pocket and quietly took a photo.

    "How do you feel?" Jiang Yu raised her head suddenly, startling Cheng Suran, but luckily she had already put her phone back into her pocket, she nodded as if nothing had happened, with a hint of embarrassment in her eyes, "Well, I want my sister to take me for a ride."

    The voice is very low, a bit coquettish.

    Gently scratching the fluff that seemed to fall on her heart, Jiang Yu stared at the girl with her eyes slightly raised. She didn''t answer her, and got on the horse directly.

    Cheng Suran''s upper body leaned forward slightly.

    A pair of slender but powerful arms passed through her waist, grabbed the reins, and she fell into a soft embrace.

    Jiang Yu turned her head, put her lips next to her ear, and said softly, "Sit still."

    Her legs pinched the horse''s belly.

    The horse stretched its hooves and ran, splashing fine grass clippings, and the wind blew in her ears. Cheng Suran exclaimed, her body was thrown up and down, and she involuntarily shrank back, clinging tightly to Jiang Yu.

    Her  heartbeat is getting faster and faster with these bumps.

    The wind messed up the broken hair at her sideburns, she closed her eyes, relaxed her body, and let herself be soft in the arms of the person behind her.

    "Are you afraid?" Jiang Yu gently kissed her ear.

    Cheng Suran murmured: "...not afraid."

    "Is it fun?"

    "Uh-huh."

    It''s not important at all whether it''s fun or not, what''s important is that she "returns the game" and strives for a "balance" for her heart - what the person next door has, she also wants to have.

    Childish!

    But she''s so happy!

    She closed her eyes and smiled.

    Under the sky, among the wilderness, there are laughter and sunshine.

    When they got tired, she slowed down and let the horse walk on the green lawn. Jiang Yu was worried that the kid would get too excited like Bai Lu yesterday, so she only asked her to swing the reins for a short while and let herself control it. The two of them sat on horseback to rest.

    "By the way, sister, how can you ride a horse?"

    "I learned it before."

    "When did you learn it?"

    Cheng Suran cautiously continued to ask with a trace of anticipation to know her more, but Jiang Yu stopped talking, her heart tightened, and she realized that she had overstepped, "Well, it''s okay if you don''t want to say it..."

    She lowered her head, not daring to look at Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu was silent for a moment, and said; "About seven years ago, when I was in Paris. A British friend I knew, he taught me a lot of horsemanship from the beginning."

    "It was difficult at first. I fell more than a dozen times, and then I gradually became proficient. At that time, riding a horse was just for relaxation. I was busy with work and had no time. I went on and off several times, so I haven''t ridden for a long time."

    Her tone was relaxed, as if she was casually chatting with a friend about ordinary little things in life.

    A flower of surprise blossomed in Cheng Suran''s heart. She didn''t want to miss this opportunity, so she thought about it and asked boldly, "Then... besides riding a horse, what else do you like to do?"

    "Work."

    "Huh? Does work count as a hobby?"

    "Mm."

    "Apart from work?"

    Just as Jiang Yu was about to say something, the words froze at the edge of her mouth, she woke up, and changed the subject calmly: "The sun is going down, let''s go."

    "...okay." Cheng Suran replied sullenly, her eyes dimmed.

    The last ray of the setting sun disappeared into the sky, and the curtain of the night fell on the mountains.

    The hot spring pool is not far from the hotel, and the venue is very large. Each private bath is an independent private room with different themes and different environments.

    Jiang Yu opened a private room named "Qingzhu".

    The semi-open-air house has a circular hot spring pool in the center of the courtyard, and the walls are made of pebbles into an irregular shape. A few green bamboos are planted on one side, which is quiet and elegant.

    Two lounge chairs, a table with bathrobes, and a small changing room next to it.

    "Sister, this is..."

    "Swimsuit."

    Jiang Yu was holding two sets of bikinis, one white and one red, she handed the white set to Cheng Suran, blinking ambiguously, "Go and change."

    This is what she has prepared for the kid.

    Cheng Suran took it hesitantly, unfolded the thin strap with both hands, gestured in front of her, and couldn''t help frowning, "This... this is too little, it can''t be covered at all."

    "Really?" Jiang Yu raised her eyebrows, "What do you want to cover up?"

    "Of course it is..." Words got stuck on the edge of her mouth, looked down, suddenly realizing that she was being teased, and blushed instantly, "Sister, you did this on purpose."

    "Mm."

    "..."

    Seeing her cute appearance, Jiang Yu couldn''t help being amused, and thought badly again, and said, "Just change it here."

    Cheng Suran was stunned and looked at her in disbelief.

    "Do you want me to help you?"

    "No¡­¡­"

    "Then hurry up." Jiang Yu pretended to look down.

    Cheng Suran bit her lip aggrievedly, not daring to refute, and began to slowly change her swimsuit. Like a carefully wrapped gift, she was stripped layer by layer, and then wrapped with a ribbon full of temptation.

    Jiang Yu stared at her intently, her eyes glimmering by the light.

    Finally, she''s done changing.

    "Sister..." She blushed and raised her head, trying her best to resist the urge to protect herself, but after thinking about it, her sister had seen what she should have seen many times before, and she was a little relieved.

    Jiang Yu curved the corners of her mouth, nodded with satisfaction, pointed to the hot spring pool and said, "Go."

    There was a faint mist in the pool, and the water surface was clear and rippling. Cheng Suran walked to the edge of the stone platform, squatted down, first put one foot in, then the other, and finally most of her body was submerged in the water.

    "Hmm--"

    So comfortable.

    The warm water surrounded her, like countless pairs of comforting hands, gently massaging her from all angles to relieve her fatigue. It''s a different feeling than taking a bath at home.

    It turns out that hot springs are so comfortable!

    Like a fish returning to water, she happily slapped the water, played for a while, then remembered the person behind her, turned her head¡ª¡ª

    There is no one on the porch.

    "Elder sister?"

    Where did she go?

    She was still puzzled when the curtain of the changing room lifted, and Jiang Yu came out in a swimsuit.

    She was thin and bony, with a pair of slender and straight legs with tight lines, which made her unable to move her eyes away. The fiery red bikini was like a flame, hot and unrestrained.

    Cheng Suran stared at her blankly, her throat twitched, and there was a subtle thought in her mind just around the corner...

    Jiang Yu leaned over into the water from the other side of the pool, with the small box placed beside her, and bent her long legs.

    As soon as she raised her head, she saw the kid staring at her in a daze, and couldn''t help but chuckle, and brushed some water at her casually, with a provocative tone:

    "Kid, come here."

    Cheng Suran walked over obediently, straddled Jiang Yu''s lap, put her arms around her neck, and faced each other.

    She knew that her sister liked this sitting position best.

    The light under the eaves of the corridor shone over and evenly sprinkled on the water surface. The girl lowered her face, her skin was as crystal clear as if covered with mist, her thin lips were slightly pursed, and her deer-like eyes were too clear.

    Jiang Yu raised her head, held her chin with her fingertips, and looked at her carefully, "Is the hot spring comfortable?"

    The more she looks at her the more she likes her.

    How did she get such a baby?

    "Mm, it''s comfortable." Cheng Suran was embarrassed by her, and lowered her eyes shyly, "It feels like someone is giving you a massage. It would be great if I could take soak here every day."

    "Silly, it''s good for your health to soak just occasionally." Jiang Yu smiled and scratched her nose.

    Cheng Suran''s heart was sweetened by the sound of "silly", and her whole body seemed to be soaked in honey. She couldn''t help but feel a little flustered, "Then sister, will you still bring me here?"

    "Of course," Jiang Yu rubbed her earlobe again, "You can come here as many times as you like."

    Cheng Suran shivered, and leaned softly on her shoulder.

    Nobody remembers the contract anymore.

    The hot spring water was hot, and the pores slowly opened. Jiang Yu tightened her arms, feeling that she was holding a ball of warm cotton in her arms, and her heart felt dry.

    Lifting the girl''s flushed face, her thin lips looked like fruit waiting to be picked under the light, becoming more and more alluring.

    She couldn''t help but kiss her.

    Warm, very soft, like sweet and pleasant fudge.

    The more she tastes, the more addictive she becomes.

    Cheng Suran passively fell into the fiery tenderness, pandering and responding unconsciously, she is no longer naive and clumsy, she knows how to retreat and advance, knows how to play and stalk, and unconsciously changes from passive to active.

    At this moment, here, there are only the two of them.

    She and her sister came in first.

    No one next door.

    The back strap was loosened in a snap.

    "Be good."

    The deep voice was close to her ear, gently coaxing her into a sweet dream.

    Jiang Yu picked up the small box next to her...

    A fire under water.

    Afterwards, Cheng Suran lay in Jiang Yu''s arms, with her lips parted slightly, exhaled slowly, and called her in a weak voice: "Sister¡ª¡ª

    "Huh?" Jiang Yu took off the thing on her finger.

    "Who is the sister next door?"

    "Tell me, okay?" Cheng Suran half-raised her eyelids, looked at her pitifully and aggrieved, with eyes tinged with fascination.

    Experience has taught her that this trick is tried and tested.

    Really--

    Jiang Yu''s heart softened, she stroked her hot face, and said softly, "It''s the company''s model."

    "and you¡­"

    "Mm?"

    "Do you like her?"

 CH 34

    The hot air in the pool was dense, and the curling water mist rose up and steamed the girl''s face red, and also made her dizzy, so much so that she asked something she shouldn''t have asked.

    Just had a good time with pink bubbles* in her head.

    *describing the feeling of being in love/excited, that warm fuzzy feeling, like how bubbles appear in romantic scenes in movies/anime/manga

    She tilted her head to look at Jiang Yu, with a sweet arc on her mouth, "Sister?" After calling, she cupped Jiang Yu''s face with both hands without knowing what to do, squeezed it left and right, and suddenly giggled,  "Hahaha, you definitely don''t like her..."

    "I like her." Jiang Yu whispered two words.

    The words extinguished the girl''s smile.

    As if she was in a daze after being drunk for a while, and finally woke up, the light in Cheng Suran''s eyes dimmed, her hands slipped onto Jiang Yu''s shoulders, and lowered her head without saying a word.

    "Why?"

    A trace of suspicion flashed in Jiang Yu''s eyes, and asked with great interest, "Does the kid care?"

    Facing those deep eyes, Cheng Suran froze, realizing that she overstepped a line, and shook her head again and again: "No, I... just asked casually."

    "Why did you think of asking this?"

    "Because¡­"

    "Mm?"

    "Because you seem to have a good relationship, I''m a little curious, just a little bit." Afraid that she would make Jiang Yu angry if she said something wrong, so she explained carefully.

    Jiang Yu''s expression was indifferent, and she couldn''t see any emotion, so she asked again: "Didn''t you see her in the company?"

    "No."

    "Is it really just a little curiosity?" Jiang Yu''s tone was aggressive.

    Cheng Suran was at a loss for words, hugged her neck guiltily, and said softly: "Sister, I was wrong, I shouldn''t have asked more..."

    After speaking, she kissed the corner of her lips obediently.

    Their white arms were slightly reddish by the steam, and they were close together, with scorching heat exuding from their pores, slippery, like a sponge saturated with water.

    Seeing the kid''s confession, Jiang Yu suddenly laughed out loud, and her heart softened, "Why are you so cute?"

    "?"

    The girl looked up blankly.

    "Are you jealous?" Jiang Yu kissed her ear and whispered.

    Her ears are very sensitive, and she couldn''t stand a little teasing. Cheng Suran trembled all over, and her voice changed, "Um, not at all."

    "Be honest."

    "..."

    "Mm?" Jiang Yu quietly put her hand into the water.

    Cheng Suran screamed, "Sister..." She was trembling, almost crying, pouting her lips in grievance, "I''m jealous. But you don''t let me, you will get angry if I say it."

    "Who said I don''t let you?" Jiang Yu withdrew her hand, raised her eyebrows, and tried to tease her again.

    "You said it yourself last time..."

    "Which time?"

    "In the office, you said it violated¡ª" She remembered the meaning of those two words, her heart stabbed inexplicably, and she couldn''t speak.

    Jiang Yu pretended not to know, and blinked: "Why don''t I remember?"

    "You¡­"

    You can not remember.

    But I remember.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head and swallowed her words, the pink bubbles shattered one by one, this dream was short, she returned to reality and remembered her identity.

    A canary.

    She learned to behave.

    The night is thick, with sparse stars embedded in the sky, surrounding the incomplete moon, and tourists talking and laughing faintly from outside the bamboo wall, sometimes far away and sometimes near.

    The two didn''t speak for a long time, they hugged each other quietly.

    Jiang Yu could clearly feel the girl''s depression, her heart seemed to be touched at a certain moment, it was ticklish, but it disappeared quickly. She restrained her teasing look, and coaxed softly: "Hey, sister won''t tease you anymore, get up and rest, and I''ll go get something to eat."

    "Okay." Cheng Suran still lowered her head, although she responded, she just let go of her, moved aside, and did not go ashore.

    Jiang Yu didn''t say anything else, got up silently, picked up the towel to wipe off the water, put on a bathrobe and left the private room.

    There are self-service snacks and drinks at the service counter. She took the tray, but she didn''t know what the kid liked to eat, and she is in trouble like this morning. This time, Tian Lin''s words echoed in his ears, and it took a long time to take effect.

    She took two waffles, a plate of cider, two cups of pudding and a drink, and finally went to the bar and ordered a glass of low-alcohol fruit wine for herself.

    The night wind is cool and the moonlight is dim.

    The hot spring pool was filled with pale mist. Cheng Suran was lying on the side of the stone platform, with her small pointed chin resting on her arm, with her head slightly tilted, humming intermittently.

    "Tout ce qui me reste''...c''est juste une photo de toi..."

    The soft voice contained sadness.

    The girl was facing the door sideways, and the spring water had swallowed up most of her body, only her back was as white as goose feathers, and the warm yellow light from the eaves of the porch shone softly, her skin was as delicate as tofu raised in water.

    A long hair is scattered on the side, black and messy, and the ends are scattered and floating in the water, like a merman facing the moon light beads in myths and legends.

    In this way, she blends into the night miraculously, forming a quiet and beautiful oil painting.

    Jiang Yu pushed the door open and entered, and saw such a scene.

    Her heart skipped a beat.

    She stood at the door, looking at the girl quietly, her deep pool-like eyes sparkled, and the corners of her lips curved unconsciously.

    After a long time, the singing was over.

    "Little friend¡ª" Jiang Yu walked from the dark to the corridor and waved at the girl.

    "You can''t soak in the hot spring for too long, come up and have something to eat."

    Cheng Suran was startled, turned her face away, said okay nonchalantly, and stood up from the water.

    There were two pieces of white cloth floating on the water, they were her swimsuits, which were grabbed by Jiang Yu earlier and she couldn''t refuse. It couldn''t cover anything, so she stopped wearing it.

    Like a smooth fish, the water covering her skin slid down, leaving the whole body crystal clear.

    She wiped off the water, put on her bathrobe and came to the table, glanced at the food on the tray. She saw the waffles, her eyes lit up slightly, and obediently sat down to eat.

    "So you like to eat this." Jiang Yu looked at her with unprecedented tenderness.

    Cheng Suran bit the waffle and nodded, half of her two white front teeth were exposed, like a cute little rabbit. She swallowed, and then whispered, "Thank you sister."

    Jiang Yu was taken aback for a moment.

    How long has it been since she heard the kid say those words?

    She closed her eyes, sat down, drank the fruit wine unhurriedly, then her eyes drifted to the kid again, paused for a while, and said, "Her name is Bai Lu."

    "What?"

    "The person who make you jealous."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran''s cheeks became hot, and she turned her back shyly.

    "She is one of the first batch of models signed by the company. She is about your age. She has very good natural condition and excellent business ability. She can carry one-third of the performance of the agency alone, so I like her and plan to train her well." Jiang Yu said calmly.

    Cheng Suran was startled, and a wry smile appeared on the corner of her lips.

    The one next door is excellent in sister''s eyes, so sister likes her. Can she know from this that sister likes excellent people?

    Who doesn''t like good people?

    So does she.

    Little sour bubbles appeared in her heart again. Unknowingly, Cheng Suran finished the waffle silently, turned around, picked up the drink and took a sip.

    Suddenly she realized¡ª

    Sister is explaining to her!

    She looked at Jiang Yu, who hooked her fingers at her and patted her legs.  She understood, and immediately obediently stepped forward, sat on Jiang Yu''s lap, and put her arms around her neck naturally.

    Jiang Yu raised her head, and their eyes were met.

    Silence melted into the night.

    A little halo came over, so close that the fine hairs on the girl''s face could be seen clearly, Jiang Yu stared at her, with a trace of tenderness in her eyes, and suddenly murmured uncontrollably: "Tell me, is sister sometimes very bad?"

    "...no." Cheng Suran was stunned for a moment, not understanding why she asked this suddenly.

    Jiang Yu held the girl''s face in both hands, "Is it really no? Hurting you, bullying you, scaring you, all these much, don''t you feel bad at all?" She said with a mocking smile.

    Sometimes, she herself feels like a bad person.

    "I do not think so."

    "Why?"

    "Because you are nice to me more often than not," Cheng Suran said seriously, looking directly into her eyes.

    Jiang Yu asked, "For example?"

    As if desperately wanting to know or confirm something.

    Cheng Suran was silent for a moment, and said in a low voice: "For example, when we first met, although you could do something to me, but you didn''t force me... and later, a few times, I can feel that you are giving me time to adjust, so..."

    She paused, then jumped to other things:

    "I sold the things you gave me, and you were so angry, but you were still willing to listen to my explanation, and then you spent energy picking out gifts for me... There are many more, you let Assistant Tian help me dispel the rumors, come to accompany me on the night of Mid-Autumn Festival  I¡­¡­"

    Many, many, a look, a smile, she all clearly remembered.

    As she spoke, Cheng Suran''s heart turned slightly sour, she raised her head, looked into Jiang Yu''s deep eyes, and said word by word:

    "So in my heart, you are not bad at all."

    "You are a very good sister."

    After she finished speaking, she smiled, and the two little pear dimples sank sweetly.

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak, but looked at her with complicated eyes. After a long while, she calmed down, and the corner of her lips curled into a faint smile, "I saw someone in the post saying that you are a top student and received a national scholarship?"

    "..."

    How did it jump to this topic?

    "I''m not the only one." Cheng Suran lowered her head again, and bit her lower lip in embarrassment, "There are many powerful people in our school, I just... can memorize by rote."

    "Being one of them shows that you are already very good, silly." Jiang Yu stretched out her hand and flicked her forehead lightly.

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran blushed from the compliment.

    "At school, what else do you do besides class?" Jiang Yu kissed her flushed face, no matter how she looked at it, she liked it.

    Cheng Suran answered truthfully: "Go to the library."

    "No entertainment?"

    "Just listening to music."

    "Do you also go to the library on weekends?"

    "Almost. Sometimes I rent bicycles and ride to the park next to the school..."

    "With classmates?"

    "Myself."

    "..."

    Whatever Jiang Yu asked, Cheng Suran answered obediently. But these are not things that she should care about as a benefactor. For some reason, she seems to be a little bit out of control tonight.

    The kid is like a sweet and sour fruit candy, in her mouth. The more she taste, the more she will never forget. It is unconsciously addictive.

    In front of the kid, she can relax wholeheartedly and throw away all defenses.

    Because she is so pure and sincere...

    "Sister, what about you?" Cheng Suran leaned softly on Jiang Yu, raised her eyes, and looked at her expectantly.

    "I saw on the encyclopedia that you were a model at the age of nineteen. You were so young. At that time, you should have been working and studying at the same time, right? And you were abroad, so you must have worked harder than me... By the way, what school did you graduate from?

    As soon as these words fell, Jiang Yu''s face changed slightly, and the smile gradually disappeared from her eyes.

    "Elder sister?"

    "That''s not your place to ask."

    Author''s Note:

    The song Ranran sang is "juste une photo de toi", the translation of the lyrics in the text: All I have left is a photo of you.

 CH 35

    The air suddenly froze.

    Jiang Yu pushed the girl in her arms away with a sullen face, turned around, took a sip of the fruit wine.

    Her tip of the tongue tastes sweet, and the slight spice of alcohol irritates her nerves.

    The push was not light, Cheng Suran almost fell off the chair, but fortunately, she was quick and held onto the edge.  She stared blankly at that figure, her eyes blank, but she quickly realized¡ª¡ª

    She said the wrong thing again.

    A basin of cold water poured down from her head, and the icy feeling permeated her heart, making her wake up instantly.

    From the beginning to the present, since getting along these days, no matter how hard she tried to figure out her sister''s temper, she could only scratch the surface. She seemed to be walking on a dirt path buried with countless landmines. She is trembling, not knowing when she would step on one and be blown to pieces.

    But even so, she is unwilling to stop exploring. Somehow, she could sense that something is pulling her closer.

    Cheng Suran fixed her thoughts, calmed down, and comforted herself that it was okay.

    At least sister took the initiative to explain Bai Lu''s identity to her.  Although, she still really minds the kiss she saw in the office last time...

    She took a sip of the drink, took small bites of the remaining waffles, tasted another piece of cider, and dug out a spoonful of pudding. The sweetness filled her lips and teeth, and her mood suddenly brightened.

    The cool night wind blew across the courtyard, swaying and rustling the green bamboo leaves.

    Jiang Yu leaned on the bench, her long legs crossed, her eyelids drooped slightly, the wine glass in her hand was already empty, and she still kept his posture motionless, like a sculpture.

    A chaotic picture flashed in her mind. It was obviously a long time ago, but when she thinks about it, it still seems like it happened yesterday.

    Nineteen years old was the turning point of her fate. Yes, everyone can read encyclopedias. Everyone knows that she went to Paris alone at that age. Everyone admires her courage, praises her for going through hardships, and envies her  becoming a master of her crafts.

    But no one knows that before she reached the age of nineteen, at the age of eighteen, she crawled out of "hell" after being skinned.

    At that time, she thought that she would be admitted to her ideal university, choose a promising major, study, graduate, work step by step, and be single for the rest of her life.

    On the day of the college entrance examination, she was chained to the room with cold iron chains, crying and struggling, to no avail, her wrists were worn out, and bright red blood oozed out, but no one paid attention to her.

    While others were struggling in the examination room, she was crying in despair at home.

    Others checked their scores and filled out their wishes, while she packed her bags and ran away.

    From a small town to a big city, it was a long journey. With a high school degree and two hundred dollars secretly saved, she didn''t know where her future will be. She just wants to escape, and the farther she can escape, the better.

    There is no more then.

    It''s over.

    A nineteen-year-old is indeed very young, and it is indeed very hard to make a living in the outside world, but she has never been to college, so she can''t tell which school she graduated from.

    Does a canary have the right to intervene with her private affairs?

    Really disobedient...

    Jiang Yu closed her eyes, took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her mood gradually calmed down, she put down her glass and turned around.

    The kid is feasting.

    The waffles were finished, and there were still two ciders on the glass. She was holding the pudding and because the cup was conical and had a narrow bottom, and she had to dig hard with a spoon to get the last bit.

    Her small face was slightly bulging, and she was digging hard, like a greedy little hamster.

    Very cute.

    Jiang Yu looked at her, the corners of her mouth couldn''t help but curve up, her heart softened a little, and she regretted.

    She doesn''t know what happened tonight, she can''t control her emotions at all, sometimes high, sometimes low, hot or cold, as if countless souls are grabbing her body and fighting.

    Did she scare the kid again?

    She thought so, but as a benefactor, it is impossible for her to take the initiative to show favor to her lover, and a qualified lover must take the initiative to please the benefactor.

    Jiang Yu stared at the girl quietly.

    Seemingly feeling the gaze, Cheng Suran raised her head, caught off guard and met a pair of deep eyes, "Sister..."

    Her heart constricted suddenly, and she suddenly became tensed.

    Jiang Yu just looked at her and didn''t speak.

    The two stared at each other in silence.

    In those unfathomable eyes, something seemed to be melting, rippling with soft light.

    At that moment, Cheng Suran seemed to understand. She put down the pudding cup, wiped her mouth and hands with a towel, and walked over obediently.

    Before she could sit on her lap, Jiang Yu couldn''t wait to hug her.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "Hush."

    She made a shushing gesture and buried her face in her neck.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips.

    There are hot blood vessels under the girl''s thin skin, and with her face pressing against it, she can feel the breath of life beating inside. Jiang Yu closed her eyes, took a light breath, and for a moment, pressed the person to sit on her lap.

    "Sister, I''m sorry, don''t be angry with me." Cheng Suran hugged her softly.

    So cute.

    Jiang Yu sighed in her heart.

    She misunderstood the kid''s temper yesterday, and she felt a little bit guilty in her heart. In addition, tonight''s mood swings made her feel even more guilty. Even if she was angry, it had already dissipated. How could she be willing to vent to her favorite baby?

    It really is a little canary who can please the benefactor.

    "I''m not," Jiang Yu opened her eyes, raised her head and smiled at her, "It was sister who was wrong just now, so don''t take it to heart."

    Cheng Suran was taken aback for a moment, almost thinking that she had heard wrongly, and nodded blankly.

    Sister actually apologized to her?

    It''s not a dream.

    "You are allowed to be jealous today." Jiang Yu pecked her lips.

    Cheng Suran''s heart fluttered, she didn''t understand for a while, and asked in doubt: "What?"

    "Aren''t you jealous of Bai Lu?"

    "..."

    Do you want to drink Tian Lin''s vinegar together*?" Jiang Yu raised her eyebrows casually.

    *she''s asking if she''s jealous of Tian Lin too.

    These words sounded like sarcasm, she is a canary, and she is jealous everywhere. Jealous of anyone who has connections with the benefactor, without any self-awareness.

    "I don''t¡­"

    "Oh, so you only drank Bai Lu brand mature vinegar. Why? Could it be that her brew is more sour?"

    "Ha ha ha ha."

    Cheng Suran was amused, but also heaved a sigh of relief.

    It turned out that my sister was teasing her again.

    Smiling happily, her courage grew. She cupped Jiang Yu''s face with both hands, pinched the bridge of her nose, and pulled her lips, and muttered accusingly: "No. Because last time... I accidentally heard you talking in the office, and saw you...saw her kissing you, I thought she was your other lover..."

    Her voice sounding  smaller and smaller.

    Maybe it was because she stepped on the landmine a few times before and was afraid of being blown up. When she said this, she subconsciously observed Jiang Yu''s face.

    "She kissed me?" Jiang Yu frowned, "Why didn''t I know?"

    Cheng Suran said in a low voice, "It was when you hugged each other, then she kissed your face."

    Stop talking, stop talking, you''re going to be bombed. She wailed in her heart, and she didn''t understand why she couldn''t help but hover on the verge of death.

    Jiang Yu recalled the situation that day, she was very sure that Bai Lu didn''t touch any part of her face, besides, although she was fickle and loved to raise "birds", she only raise one bird during each agreement.

    It has nothing to do with the so-called "loyalty", but that she simply doesn''t have that much energy to raise two at the same time.

    What is going on in the kid''s head?

    She has a very picky taste.

    "Silly." Jiang Yu didn''t know whether to laugh or cry, and stretched out her hand to scratch her nose, "You must''ve seen wrong, sister is not lying, she really isn''t."

    "Oh."

    Cheng Suran knew that there was a misunderstanding, so she was so embarrassed. She blushed and lowered her head, "Sister, why aren''t you angry?"

    "Why would I be mad?"

    "I¡­"

    She wanted to say that she had violated the terms of the agreement.  However, at this moment of warmth, she couldn''t say those cold words, so she shook her head, pursed her lips and kissed Jiang Yu''s face forcefully.

    ¡ª¡ªPop chirp!

    "Nevermind, I''m the only one who can kiss sister anyway."

    "Cheng Suran."

    "Mm?"

    "You''re getting bolder." Jiang Yu pretended to be cold-faced, but within two seconds he burst out laughing.

    Cheng Suran was really frightened, puffed up and pinched her nose, left and right, it felt really good, and when she pinched, she found that her nose was tall and delicate, really beautiful.

    And, it''s not just the nose.

    Her whole face has a skinny and three-dimensional outline, chiseled and angular, and her facial features are very coordinated, which can be hidden or presented, carrying a lingering atmosphere of mountaintans and rivers.

    In the words she read on Weibo, it is "perfect premium face".

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran greedily stared at her face.

    Jiang Yu raised her eyebrows, "Huh?"

    "You are so beautiful."

    "I know."

    "..."

    Not humble at all!

    "Hey, go get that." Jiang Yu said and smiled, pointing to the small box by the hot spring pool.

    Cheng Suran: "..."

    As the night darkened, the two returned to the hotel.

    Cheng Suran hugged Jiang Yu''s arm softly, like a boneless fish, her face was flushed, and she yawned after walking two steps. She was terribly tired, but Jiang Yu was energetic.

    There was no one outside right now.

    Stepping into the hotel gate, Cheng Suran was patted on the shoulder suddenly, she woke up when she dozed off, turned her head, and saw Qi Yan walking around, "Xiao Ranran¡ª"

    "Where did you go to play?"

    Before Cheng Suran could speak, Jiang Yu cast a vigilant look, and said lightly, "We soaked in the hot spring."

    "Sister Yanyan, where are Boss Lu and Lu Wei?" Cheng Suran nodded, glanced behind her, and asked while yawning.

    Qi Yan rolled her eyes at Jiang Yu, then looked at Cheng Suran, and restored her gentle smile, "In the back, my daughter wants to eat snacks, so I went to buy them, and I''ll come back to take a shower first."

    The three walked to the elevator door and waited.

    "By the way, Xiao Ranran, have you ever went to a secret room? We went to the commercial street today. There is a large real-life escape room, I heard that it was renovated from a real murderous mansion. How about forming a team and try it out tomorrow?" Qi Yan deliberately pronounced the word "Xiao Ranran" very heavily.

    Cheng Suran blinked suspiciously: "What is a secret room?"

    Qi Yan explained it to her.

    The elevator door opened, and the people inside came out one after another. Jiang Yu walked in first with Cheng Suran in her arms, turned sideways, and blocked Qi Yan''s approach.

    Just the three of them.

    "I haven''t played it yet, it seems very interesting, then I will go tomorrow!" Cheng Suran poked her head out from Jiang Yu''s side.

    Qi Yan and her looked at each other, "Well, there are only two people left, you and Jiang Yu are just right."

    Jiang Yu frowned, her face a little ugly.

    The elevator slowly ascended.

    Cheng Suran yawned again, half-close his eyes, Qi Yan''s eyes fell on Jiang Yu, "Your girlfriend is so sleepy, don''t you want to carry her?"

    "Didn''t you all go upstairs yesterday?"

    Jiang Yu glanced at her sideways, but said nothing.

    Hearing their voices in a daze, Cheng Suran was shocked and opened her eyes, "Huh?"

    "Huh? Xiao Ranran, didn''t you know? You fell asleep last night, and Jiang Yu carried you upstairs. My daughter and I saw it at the elevator entrance." Qi Yan said with an envious expression.

    "I also want to carry Qiaoqiao once, but unfortunately I can''t. Sigh, it is good to be tall."

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran looked at Jiang Yu in shock.

    --ding

    The elevator doors opened.

    This time Qi Yan was faster and stepped out first, "Good night, Xiao Ranran."

    The two then went out.

    There was a "dong" door closing sound in the corridor, and Jiang Yu led Cheng Suran towards the room step by step, staring at Qi Yan''s room closely, with a trace of coldness in her eyes.

    At the door of the room, she let go of the girl''s hand, her face softened again, "Go to bed early, good night."

    "Elder sister¡­"

    Cheng Suran looked at her reluctantly. Her lips moved, as if she wanted to say something, but the hand that was stretched out to grab the corner of her clothes withdrew, hesitated for a moment, and smiled sweetly at her, "Good night."

    After finishing speaking, she swiped her card slowly to open the door, entered and closed the door slowly.

    Jiang Yu stood still in the same place, with her head slightly lowered, and the light cast a layer of warmth on her slender figure. After a while, she came back to her senses, turned around and walked towards Qi Yan''s room.

    Knocked on the door.

    The door opens.

    "What''s the matter?" Qi Yan stretched out half of her body.

    With a cold face, Jiang Yu didn''t answer, stretched out her hand and pushed her in, stepped into the room, and closed the door behind her back.

    Qi Yan: "?"

    "Are you finished?" Jiang Yu looked at her coldly, took half a step back, consciously keeping a distance of about one meter.

    Qi Yan also took half a step back, "What''s wrong with me? Shouldn''t I ask you this? Can''t you say something at the door?"

    She was about to take a bath when this woman barged in like this, which startled her. It would be fine if they were all straight girlsl, but they were crooked and each had a target. If it got out, it would be impossible to tell what will happen.

    Jiang Yu was too lazy to talk nonsense with her, so she took out her mobile phone, searched for a recording file, and played it for her.

    It was what Qi Yan said in the cafeteria at noon yesterday.

    ¡ª¡ªMeet people, know people, and get rid of scumbags.

    It took ten minutes in total, and about one minute into the playback, Jiang Yu pressed pause, raised her eyes, and looked at her expressionlessly.

    Qi Yan didn''t take it seriously, and sneered, "Letting an assistant spy on your girlfriend is good enough, as expected of you, it''s an old trick many years ago."

    "Does it have anything to do with you?" Jiang Yu didn''t want to explain.

    "No."

    "Then what was that for?"

    "I''m a warm-hearted person, I just can''t see my little sister being cheated by anscum." Qi Yan smiled carelessly.

    "Really?" Jiang Yu smiled instead of anger, "It seems that you are so worried about the fact that I dumped you back then, and you can''t forget it until now. Do you want to remember it for a lifetime?"

    Qi Yan didn''t fall into the trap at all, and said lazily: "It''s a good thing to stop the loss in time, of course it''s worth remembering. After all, if you haven''t seen the scum, you won''t know how good the treasure is. I have to thank you."

    ¡ª beep

    The door opened.

    Lu Zhiqiao and her daughter came in from the outside, and when they saw two people in the room, they were stunned for a moment, "You..." Then their eyes fell on Jiang Yu, and they frowned.

    "! ! !"

    "I was just talking to Qi Yan about something." Jiang Yu nodded to Lu Zhiqiao and took the initiative to explain.

    Qi Yan couldn''t help rolling her eyes again.

    Lu Zhiqiao nodded hesitantly, said nothing, and asked her daughter to take a bath in a low voice.

    "Remember, stay away from Cheng Suran during non-working hours." Jiang Yu warned Qi Yan in a deep voice, turned around, and opened the door.

    Passed by Lu Zhiqiao, the other party suddenly called her: "Jiang Yu¡ª"

    Jiang Yu paused.

    "Is it convenient to come out and talk?"

    ¡­.

    Back in the room, Tian Lin was sitting on the bed playing with her mobile phone, Cheng Suran greeted her, went to the bathroom to change into pajamas, brushed her teeth and washed her face.

    Drowsiness made her mind groggy, she hurriedly washed up, sat on the side of the bed with her backpack in her hand, and was about to reach for her mobile phone when she reached into it but encountered a cool metal object.

    She took it out and saw it was her sister''s watch.

    She took it with her!

    The silver dial is simple and elegant in design, except for a circle of small diamonds inlaid inside, there is no extra decoration.

    She has to go next door and return it to sister.

    Cheng Suran put her slippers on and got up, walked to the door, feeling a little excited for no reason, she gently opened the door to go out, and was about to turn left to the next door, but heard voices coming from the emergency exit not far away.

    A bit familiar.

    She followed the sound and walked towards the emergency exit, her slippers made no sound on the soft carpet.

    "It''s really not good to say that..."

    Huh? Boss Lu?

    Then she heard the all-too-familiar voice:

    "Since Qi Yan and I broke up long ago and let go, apart from occasional work exchanges, I don''t want to..."

    It''s sister.

 CH 36

    The corridor was quiet, and the small voice seemed abrupt, as if it was right next to her ear.

    Cheng Suran held her breath.

    The tension caused by eavesdropping stimulated her heart to beat faster...

    "In private, I don''t want her to give me any advice on my personal affairs. It''s okay until today, and there shouldn''t be any similar incidents happening again from now." Jiang Yu''s voice was low and soft, but her tone was very powerful, like a majestic leader.

    Lu Zhiqiao was neither humble nor overbearing, and nodded in agreement, "She told me about the relationship between the three of you when she went back after seeing the wedding dress. She said that she likes Xiao Cheng very much. So maybe she was just complaining yesterday. She was free to do whatever she wanted since she was a child. I''m used to it, and her personality is sometimes indifferent, which is understandable. I will talk to her when I go back, and I will pay attention, for her to know the boundaries.

    After all, it''s about helping her beloved speak.

    Both her and Jiang Yu came from grassroots backgrounds, and they have struggled to where they are today after suffering a lot. Compared with Qi Yan, who was born with a golden spoon in her mouth, her temperament is naturally more mature.

    Three months ago, they  jointly held a business event on the island, and they talked openly. They have changed from hostility to mutual appreciation and maintained a cooperative partnership.

    It''s good to get things off the table.

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu wanted to say something else. For example, the reason why Qi Yan complained was because of their unpleasant breakup. She thought she was a scumbag, and she must have mentioned her "scumbag behavior" in front of Lu Zhiqiao. In the eyes of the younger couple, she is the out-and-out "scum".

    But after thinking about it, it has been a long time since the matter has passed, after all, it is the relationship between the ex and the incumbent, so bringing up the old matter will inevitably make Lu Zhiqiao feel unhappy.

    So she swallowed the words back.

    In the eyes of her colleagues, Cheng Suran is her sister, and in the eyes of this couple, Cheng Suran is her girlfriend. Everyone just stood at different angles and saw different things, so they had different ideas.

    But the truth is in her heart.

    Only the person drinking water knows whether it''s cold or hot.

    "There is a phrase, not to be nosy, but I want to say..." Lu Zhiqiao paused, "There is a big gap between you and Xiao Cheng in all aspects, and it may be difficult emotionally, but no matter what happens in the future, enjoy the present, I hope you are happy."

    There was a faint sarcasm in Jiang Yu''s eyes, which disappeared in an instant, and she nodded with a smile, "Thank you."

    ¡­.

    The conversation reached Cheng Suran''s ears word for word.

    Break up with Qi Yan a long time ago?

    Could it be...

    A guess flashed through her mind, her heart beat violently, and she froze in place.

    No, it''s not a guess, it''s a fact. Her sister and Qi Yan have been in a relationship before-- a relationship; a pure and beautiful romantic relationship. Contrary to a dirty and shady nurturing* relationship.

    *sponsorship/sugar dating

    Cheng Suran''s heart suddenly felt sour, unspeakably uncomfortable, as if being grabbed by an invisible hand, falling and falling...

    But why?

    She was immersed in chaotic thoughts, and before she could figure out why she felt uncomfortable, footsteps came from the emergency exit. By the time she regained consciousness and wanted to run, it was already too late.

    The three looked at each other.

    Lu Zhiqiao looked at her in shock, and Jiang Yu''s eyes flashed surprise, but frowned quickly, as if annoyance and reproach.

    "Sister¡­ Boss Lu..." Cheng Suran murmured, her mind went blank.

    She''s done for.

    Lu Zhiqiao reacted quickly, glanced at Jiang Yu and said, "I''ll go back first." She quickly walked past Cheng Suran towards their room and knocked.

    The hallway turned quiet again.

    The girl stood there dumbfounded, her slender body was wrapped in loose rabbit pajamas, her little face was flushed under the light, and she stared nervously at Jiang Yu with wide eyes.

    Jiang Yu stared at her, took a step forward, slowly pulled her hand out of her trouser pocket, brushed her temple hair, and asked softly, "Why haven''t you slept yet?"

    "I..." Cheng Suran came back to her senses, and then she remembered her business. She raised the thing on her hand and handed it over, "Your watch, you left it with me."

    The silver object lay quietly in the girl''s palm.

    Her hands are very white and clean, with clear and deep palm lines, and a few thin calluses. One can tell at a glance that she used to work a lot.

    Jiang Yu glanced down and picked up her watch.

    "Sister, I didn''t eavesdrop on purpose, I don''t know anything, I..." Cheng Suran hurriedly explained, but by accident, she became the owner of three hundred taels of silver*.

    *an obvious lie, check glossary for etymology.

    Her heart hung up again.

    Jiang Yu smiled lightly, rubbed her head, and messed up her hair whether intentionally or not, "I know, good girl, go to sleep and get up early tomorrow."

    Why?

    Sister is not angry?

    She was still in a daze, her hands were held up by Jiang Yu, her body turned involuntarily, her legs moved mechanically, and she walked to the door of the room.

    Jiang Yu let go of her hand and went straight back to the next room without saying anything.

    Cheng Suran froze on the spot for a long time, then looked away, pushed the door in front of her, entered the room, locked it, and leaned against the door like a lost puppet.

    The conversation she heard just now echoed repeatedly in her ears, like a thunderbolt, exploding in the world where she was both dreaming and waking up. At that moment, she didn''t know what it was like, she just felt as if she was thrown into a huge whirlpool, the fierce current swallowed her, and the surroundings were icy cold.

    Ever since she met Jiang Yu, there was only the word "lover" in her dictionary, and her understanding of intimacy was limited to "benefactor and lover".

    The word "girlfriend" is very strange to her.

    But she knows that there is a difference between a lover and a girlfriend. The former is just a plaything, while the latter is a true love, and they cannot be compared at all. The elder sister who has been very kind and gentle to her must be a hundred times gentler and a thousand times better when she treats her girlfriend...

    She couldn''t even imagine what it is like.

    When she thinks of this difference, she can''t stop the sour bubbles in her heart, more and more, thicker, with a burning sensation of corrosion.

    She didn''t know why she is like this, she just vaguely felt that something was swelling and fermenting.

    "Miss Cheng¡ª" Tian Lin''s voice interrupted her thoughts.

    "Is there anything wrong?"

    Cheng Suran regained consciousness, looked up, saw Tian Lin looking at her suspiciously, pretended to smile calmly, and said, "It''s okay, it''s time to sleep."

    She walked to the bed, lifted the quilt, and suddenly had a thought, and looked at Tian Lin.

    "Assistant Tian..."

    "?" Tian Lin put down her phone and was about to fall asleep.

    Cheng Suran tentatively asked, "How long have you been working with my sister?"

    "Why do you ask this?" Tian Lin subconsciously wanted to answer, but her professional habits prompted her to ask one more question.

    Cheng Suran''s mind turned quickly, and she lied without blushing: "I''m a little curious. I think you and sister seem to have a tacit understanding, like best friends. It must''ve taken a long time to get to that state..."  As she spoke, her two small dimples appeared.

    Tian Lin was sweetened by her smile, and couldn''t help but smile too, and said, "More than eight years, almost nine."

    "Oh..." Cheng Suran nodded, "It''s been a long time."

    In fact, she really wants to ask Tian Lin something about her sister, such as¡­dating history.  But she also understood that not only would she not be able to ask anything, but she might also be sued by her sister and make her angry.

    She pressed down her disappointment, turned off the light, pulled the quilt to lie down, looked at the blurry ceiling in the darkness, and couldn''t help muttering: "Then you must know her very well..."

    The air was silent for a moment, and Tian Lin''s faint voice came from the other side: "That''s right."

    Very nice.

    Cheng Suran said in her heart and smiled at the ceiling. She still wanted to ask, but reason told her that she couldn''t, so she could only swallow her curiosity and unspeakable thoughts back together.

    As the night deepened, everything went silent.

    With too many thoughts and confusion, her drowsiness was driven away, Cheng Suran tossed and turned on the bed until midnight, but still couldn''t fall asleep, so she had no choice but to pick up the phone.

    Her sister¡¯s Weibo is still not updated, but the fans in Chaohua* are very active. Every day, some people share wallpapers, avatars, etc. made of her sister¡¯s photos, and some people analyze her sister¡¯s outfits, pick out the same style, and summarize her poses. It¡¯s very lively.

    *a feature in Weibo similar to Twitter Community

    Seeing so many people checking in and saying "I miss you" in Chaohua every day, she inexplicably felt a sense of pride. Her sister, who was out of reach for others, was once intimate with her.

    The cold light from the screen illuminated the smile on Cheng Suran''s face.

    She saved all the photos, then went to a certain degree*, searched for "Jiang Yu", and searched through the keywords one by one. Basically, all she could find were event news and personal information. There was no black material**, let alone love scandals.

    *another term for Baidu - China''s Google/Wikipedia.

    **controversy/scandal

    After all, she is not a traffic star*, and does not rely on packaging and marketing to make a living. She has worked diligently and down-to-earth for more than ten years, and has been keeping a low profile.

    *celebrity with huge following on social media

    After digging around for a while, finally, she saw a related post on a community forum.

    [The history of the four major national models]

    At present, there are seven highly renowned Chinese supermodels in the international community, three of whom are senior figures who have retired in the past few years. At that time, it was precisely when Jiang Yu and a group of models went abroad. Over the past decade, Jiang Yu and the other three each made remarkable achievements in their professional fields, and were known as the "Four Great Models" of the Mesozoic era.

    ¡ª¡ªJiang Yu, Sister A, Sister B, Sister C.

    Sister A was at the pinnacle when she debuted, she is the darling of the blue blood, but she played a good hand of cards. A few years ago, she left her modeling career to enter the entertainment industry, and she was lukewarm.

    Ms. B is enjoying the meal with God*, and the journey is going smoothly. After getting married to her boyfriend who has been in love with for many years, she gradually loses her interest in the modeling career and stays at home with her husband and children.

    *gifted/talented

    Miss C''s qualifications are mediocre, but she is steady. She has been active in the fashion stage. This year, she won a single title of the four major covers. Her future is promising.

    Compared with these three, Jiang Yu''s starting point can be said to be low in the dust. Others first entered the industry and went to catwalks for big names, while she was still promoting herself from house to house and worked as a free model for more than half a year. However, after more than ten years, her achievements and status have far surpassed the other three, ranking first among the "Four National Models", so it is natural for someone to study the relationship between them.

    A few years ago, Sister A and Jiang Yu were torn apart for the endorsement. Sister A connoted Jiang Yu as a "village chicken" on the Internet, but Jiang Yu ignored her. The group of people crowding out Jiang Yu gave Jiang Yu a public impression of being "unpopular". Later, Sister B and Sister C were torn apart because of the endorsement, and Sister A joined the melee and dragged Jiang Yu into the water by the way...

    The post was not long, and it took a few minutes to finish reading it. Cheng Suran was dumbfounded, and went to search the Internet for traces of these things back then.

    At first, many people scolded Jiang Yu, but as Sister A entered the entertainment circle, she continued to hype her marketing and lost her favor. Jiang Yu has been working quietly, keeping a low profile and staying down-to-earth, and the trend has gradually reversed.

    Looking at those insulting words from a long time ago, Cheng Suran felt as uncomfortable as a needle prick in her heart. She didn''t want to read it, but couldn''t help searching.

    She searched and searched like this, before she knew it, it was already two o''clock in the morning.

    ¡­.

    The next morning, after washing up, Cheng Suran couldn''t wait to knock on the door next door. This time, it was Jiang Yu who opened the door.

    She has loose hair, wearing a gray long-sleeved shirt, her face is plain and light, without any makeup, only slightly raised eyebrows, she looks more gentle, friendly and approachable.

    "Sister¡ª¡ª" Cheng Suran called softly, and rushed to hug her, "I''m ready, when will Boss Lu and the others come?"

    Taking advantage of the situation, Jiang Yu wrapped the girl into her arms and said, "Hurry up."

    As if nothing happened last night.

    "Little sister, good morning." Bai Lu came out of the toilet and saw the two hugging each other. She frowned slightly and showed an unnatural smile.

    She had already packed up her clothes and put on light makeup. She went to the table to get her bag while talking, and her walking posture was a bit crooked.

    Cheng Suran was stunned for a moment, and responded politely: "Morning."

    It seems that this one is going too.

    Thinking about it, she hugged Jiang Yu''s waist tightly, buried her face and rubbed against her neck, like a kitten, protecting her food.

    Jiang Yu noticed her little expression, felt her little movements, and understood her little thoughts, so she couldn''t help but pursed her lips and smiled, but thinking of the subsequent activities in the secret room, the smile froze in her eyes again.

    "Ranran, do you really want to play in the secret room?" She gently ran her fingertips through the girl''s hair, her voice hoarse.

    Cheng Suran''s heart trembled again and again at the call "Ranran", and she closed her eyes and snickered: "Yeah, I haven''t experienced it yet, I want to try it." After she finished speaking, she realized something, raised her head, "Sister, you don''t want to go?"

    "Not very interested," Jiang Yu shook her head with a smile, hiding her emotions calmly, "Um, you go in with them, and I''ll wait outside."

    Before Cheng Suran could speak, Bai Lu said first, "How can that be? It''s so boring if you don''t go in and play." She squeezed to Jiang Yu''s side and put a hand on her shoulder.

    "Sister, are you afraid of ghosts?" Cheng Suran ignored the hand.

    Bai Lu put another hand on her and teased with a smile: "Oh, so sister Yu is afraid of ghosts? I really can''t tell...

    "No." Jiang Yu frowned.

    Cheng Suran didn''t know where the courage came from, she turned sideways, squeezed one of Bai Lu''s hands down, and then hugged Jiang Yu and swayed around coquettishly, "Sister, please go, I want to play with you."

    "Ranran¡­¡­"

    "Okay, right?

    Once again she resorted to the killer move!

    She bit her lower lip, pouted slightly, her cheeks showing her sweet dimples, and her clear doe eyes blinked, full of anticipation.

    Jiang Yu''s breath stopped for a moment, and her heart softened again, but she still didn''t speak.

    She is hesitating.

    "Sister..." Seeing her loosen, Cheng Suran continued to act coquettishly, "Everyone else has someone to accompany. If you don''t go, I will be alone. I''m very pitiful. And it''s my first time playing, so I''m a little scared, I''ll feel much more at ease by my side."

    The kid needs her.

    Jiang Yu looked at the girl, her eyes became softer. She raised her hand to scratch her nose, and said in a coquettish tone, "Okay, I''ll go with you."

    "Sister is the best!" Cheng Suran smiled and showed a row of small white teeth, and was about to kiss her, but suddenly realized that there was someone beside her, tilted her head, and leaned dangerously next to her ear.

    Bai Lu watched from the side, her eyes getting colder.

    At 8:50, Qi Yan knocked on the doors of each room to count the number of people. Those who are willing to form a team to go to the secret room gather in the corridor, and those who are not willing are free to move around.

    There were four colleagues who were too timid to go, including Tian Lin¡ªshe didn''t know Qi Yan''s plan for today, and when she heard that Jiang Yu was going, her face changed slightly, and she pulled the woman into the room under the pretext of having something to do.

    "Sister Yu, do you really want to go with them?"

    "Mm, what''s the matter?"

    "You forgot last time..."

    "It''s okay," Jiang Yu interrupted with a smile, "It''s been several years, and there are many people this time. And... the kid is playing for the first time, and she is not familiar with other colleagues, I''m not at ease."

    Tian Lin stared at her with a serious expression, and the suspicion in her heart deepened.

    "I''ll go for you."

    "No need."

    "But you..."

    "I can''t go on like this forever, I have to push myself."

    There was a knock on the door outside. Qi Yan was shouting: "Jiang Yu, are you alright?"

    Jiang Yu patted Tian Lin on the shoulder, expressing her reassurance, turned around and opened the door, "Let''s go."

    ¡­.

    After nine o''clock, the group arrived at the small town at the foot of the mountain.

    The holiday is coming to an end, the traffic in the town is less than the previous two days, but it is still very lively, and there are still long queues in front of some shops.

    The secret room is at the end of the town. It is an independent three-storey villa. The iron door is full of rust, and the wall is half peeled off. It looks a bit old.

    There is a big sign at the door, which introduces that there was a suicide incident in this villa, and another person died. It is a veritable "haunted house".  Many tourists are afraid to go in when they see the sign, but there are still bold ones who feel excited and want to try it.

    The lobby on the first floor is dimly lit, and the environment is dark and depressing, just like being in a horror movie scene.

    There are many tourists who have made reservations and are waiting.

    "Do you feel cold after coming in? For example, the back of the neck is chilly." The colleague next to her lowered her voice.

    After saying this, the rest of the people touched their arms unconsciously, and silently tightened their grip.

    Jiang Yu frowned, squeezed the hands of the person beside her, and comforted softly: "Don''t be afraid."

    "I''m not afraid." Cheng Suran said with a smile.

    "..."

    "Don''t scare yourself," Bai Lu said suddenly, holding Jiang Yu''s arm and pulling it towards her, "Hey, have you seen that big central air conditioner? The ribbon at the air outlet is moving, just deliberately blowing some cool air to create an atmosphere."

    Everyone: "..."

    Cheng Suran glanced at Bai Lu, her eyes fell on Jiang Yu''s arm, feeling a little uncomfortable, she grabbed Jiang Yu''s hand sullenly and pulled it towards her.

    Qi Yan went to the front desk to place an order, and brought back several mini lamps the size of eggs, and distributed them to everyone, "Two people share one, and it can illuminate a small area when we go in, which is convenient for us to do tasks."

    "Sister, here you go." Cheng Suran gave one to Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu shook her head, "No, you take it."

    "Aren''t you afraid?"

    Bai Lu grabbed it with her hands, "Give it to me."

    Cheng Suran was about to say something, when she heard a few girls whispering:

    "Hey, look, is that person Jiang Yu?"

    "Which one?"

    "The tall one in the gray suit by the window."

    "Seems to be¡­"

    "Who is Jiang Yu?"

    "You don''t even know Jiang Yu? It''s that supermodel..."

    Following the sound, Cheng Suran turned her head, and saw a few young girls quietly raising their mobile phones, with their cameras facing Jiang Yu, taking pictures.

    "Sister, someone secretly took pictures of you!" She immediately stood in front of Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu raised her eyes and looked in the direction where she was blocking her. She saw a few young girls holding their mobile phones in a daze, and waved at her excitedly.

    She nodded, smiled generously, and turned slightly to expose her whole body.

    "Sister?" Cheng Suran was puzzled.

    Jiang Yu didn''t seem to care, she posed a simple pose, and after a few seconds, she turned her face back, "Let them take pictures if they like."

    She is a person who lives under the lens of the camera.

    "What if they use your photos to do bad things?" Cheng Suran worried, and it was a little hard to understand. If it was her, she would have rushed to argue with the other party and asked to delete the photos.

    "Like when some people steal other people''s photos and pretend to be them, then scam money online, and use it for face unlocking..."

    Before Jiang Yu could speak, Bai Lu burst out laughing, looking at her as if looking at a fool, "Little sister, Sister Yu is not an amateur, there are photos of her all over the Internet, who dares to use them to do bad things? You''re so funny."

    Cheng Suran was stunned before realizing it, blushing and lowering her head.

    Of course she knows.

    But at that moment just now, she just regarded her sister as an ordinary person... She doesn''t care what other people think, only what her sister thinks.

    "It''s a good thing to be vigilant." Jiang Yu gave Bai Lu a light look, and hugged the kid into her arms.

    Bai Lu: "..."

    After waiting for a while, the staff stood in front of the locker with a loudspeaker and shouted that it was their turn for group A3. Everyone first filled out the electronic disclaimer, then put their belongings into the locker, lined up at the entrance on the second floor, put on blindfolds, and slowly moved in, holding the shoulders of the one in front.

    Qi Yan was in the lead, Bai Lu was behind, Jiang Yu was in front of Bai Lu, and the kid is in front of her, and the rest were in the middle.

    The eye mask blocked her view and it was so dark that she couldn''t see anything. After entering the door, the surrounding area was obviously darkened, and she couldn''t feel the existence of light.

    Jiang Yu held her breath, and unconsciously grasped Cheng Suran''s shoulder with her fingers, and at the same time, she could feel a tightness on her own shoulder.

    "Sister, don''t be afraid." The girl suddenly turned her head and whispered to her.

    Jiang Yu froze for a moment, then smiled lowly and said, "I''m not afraid."

    Perhaps it was because she hadn''t officially entered the game yet, but this not-so-long-not-short road didn''t stimulate her memory. She slowly adjusted her breathing, mentally implying that everything was fake, and there was a wide and free space under her feet.

    The staff led the way.

    After a while, it seemed that they entered a small room, and heard the staff say that they can take off the blindfolds, everyone stopped and took off the blindfolds one after another.

    The moment Jiang Yu opened her eyes, her whole body stiffened, and her heart contracted violently.

    It was a small, dark, narrow room.

    A square table stands in the center, with white candle lights burning at the four corners. The dim light of the fire flickers and jumps in the darkness, illuminating everyone''s faces vaguely, like a ghost.

    "Mom, it''s so dark..." Lu Wei, a real underage child, hugged Lu Zhiqiao in fear.

    Lu Zhiqiao comforted softly: "Don''t be afraid."

    Jiang Yu followed the voice and looked over, her eyes lingering on the mother and daughter for a while.

    "Okay, everyone, give me the blindfold."

    The staff took back the blindfold, briefly explained the theme background and the rules of the game, and handed Qi Yan a walkie-talkie, "If you need help, press and hold to talk, and then release, you can hear the voice of our staff."

    "I wish you a happy game." After speaking, he retreated and closed the door.

    The entire small room was completely sealed.

    The air condenses.

    Jiang Yu took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and fixed her eyes on the candlelight.

    Don''t look around, don''t look, the room is bright and open, she is free, everything is known, everything is under control, nothing is hiding in the dark.

    She keeps hypnotizing herself, and that faint candlelight is her whole world.

    The lights suddenly went out.

    Everyone was startled.

    Jiang Yu stared blankly at the darkness, but before she could react, a red light flashed suddenly, and a long-haired female ghost with a blue face and fangs appeared in front of her, making a strange and sharp laugh.

    "ah--"

    There were screams one after another, and everyone huddled together in panic.

    Jiang Yu stared blankly, her voice was stuck in her throat, she couldn''t yell out, she just wanted to grab something, at this moment, the girl''s warm body rushed into her arms, as if seeking protection. She immediately hugged her desperately.

    Clinging to her weak candle, clinging to her life-saving straw.

 CH 37

    The girl''s body temperature fermented in her arms, warm and soft, with a sweet milky fragrance. She closed her eyes and sniffed greedily over and over again.

    ¨Cclatter

    Another door opened.

    "Let''s go!" Qi Yan yelled and took the lead in.

    Everyone scrambled forward, but Jiang Yu''s legs seemed to be rooted, motionless. She saw a little light behind the door, and the space opened up again, leading to the known, leading to freedom.

    As long as it''s not a completely dark and enclosed space, even a little light to see the nearby things clearly is enough, enough to tie the giant beast in her heart.

    Today is an improvement over a few years ago, and one day she will overcome it.

    "Sister, it seems that we have reached the first level. We..." Cheng Suran raised her head, looked around, and through the dim light from the door, she saw her dull and absent-minded face clearly, and her heart skipped a beat.

    Could it be...

    ¡­that her sister is really afraid of ghosts?

    But those were all fake ghosts, they just appeared and then disappeared, never getting close to them.

    She remembered that at the hotel this morning, she asked her sister if she was afraid of ghosts, and the woman immediately said no, as if she was afraid that she would be laughed at if she answered late. But unexpectedly, she became afraid when they arrive. She is obviously afraid but still doesn''t admit it, she wants to save face and loves to show off.

    Isn''t she too cute?

    Cheng Suran couldn''t help snickering, she saw another side of her sister again. Thinking that this was something that Chaohua fans couldn''t see, she became even happier, and couldn''t help but feel a little proud in her heart.

    "Shall we go in?" She resisted the urge to pinch Jiang Yu''s face.

    Everyone else went into the next room, only the two of them stood there holding each other stupidly, and Qi Yan''s voice came from behind the door: "What is the fourth cinema? ''Coming Soon''? Oh oh, and  a sign of ''Alone'' should be placed here."

    T/N: Coming Soon and Alone are Thai horror movies

    They are decrypting.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t wait to join in, and was also a little afraid of the gloomy environment with few people, so she took Jiang Yu''s hand and urged: "Let''s go, sister, if you don''t go there, they''re going to pass."

    Jiang Yu remained motionless, her arms wrapped around her tightly, like a one-piece sculpture.

    Those cold and charming eyes also lost their spirit.

    "Sister?" Cheng Suran called her carefully, with a restrained teasing look in her eyes, "Are you okay? Say something, okay? Don''t scare me..."

    She is also afraid, even more so when she is separated from the large group. Although she knows in her heart that it is a fake ghost, in a dark and unknown environment, fear is an uncontrollable instinct. But with Jiang Yu, who was so frightened that she lost her reaction, it might be a very serious situation.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    Cheng Suran looked up and saw that Jiang Yu seemed to have lost her soul, she couldn''t smile anymore, and a trace of regret arose in her heart.

    She hasn''t figured out the situation yet, just to satisfy her own selfish desires, she insisted on asking her sister to accompany her. In case something does go wrong...

    She didn''t dare to think about it, and became more and more frightened.

    Jiang Yu suddenly came back to her senses, hugged the girl''s hands tightly, and said in a low voice, "It''s okay, let''s go."

    "Sister?" Cheng Suran looked at her happily, but her nose turned sore, "Are you really all right? Then what happened to you just now, it''s a little scary."

    Jiang Yu tilted her head and smiled, and stroked the hair on the back of her head soothingly, "I just remembered something, I got too distracted."

    "Then are you still afraid of ghosts?"

    "I''m not afraid."

    She is afraid of the dark, afraid of being imprisoned.

    This made Cheng Suran doubtful.

    The first level is an "L"-shaped closed space, with a cold white dark light cast from the ceiling. Although it is gloomy, it is much better than the small room where she can''t see her fingers, at least she can see the surroundings clearly.

    Each door represents a cinema, and there is a rectangular groove inlaid on the side of the door. They need to put the corresponding horror movie posters on it according to the prompts, and only when you put them all correctly can you go to the next level.

    Jiang Yu walked slowly step by step with Cheng Suran in her arms. When she passed the second cinema, Bai Lu was holding a wooden poster and putting it into the groove. The door slid open with a "swipe", revealing a bloody zombie face, suddenly springing out.

    "Ah!!!"

    Everyone screamed and backed away, and accidentally bumped into Jiang Yu. She staggered and nearly fell, but was held up by Cheng Suran.

    The girl stood in front of her, propping one hand against the wall, forming a small space around her.

    Breathing each other''s breath, warmth flows into their blood along the air.

    She was too tall, Cheng Suran tried to hold her in her arms like she did to her, but no matter how hard the girl tried, she couldn''t hold her, instead she looked like an octopus entangled with her.

    Cheng Suran doesn''t know if it''s an illusion, but the moment she hugged Jiang Yu, it seemed that she also felt the other person''s strong desire, not physically, but mentally.

    Before she had time to capture this subtle feeling, it was soon washed away by the atmosphere of the game.

    The lights flickered, and the zombies disappeared. The wall clock on the wall automatically rotated a circle, the lights went off and on again, and the door of the largest projection hall "clicked" to open again.

    "Come on, come on." Qi Yan took the lead in greeting and entered the next room.

    Leaning her back against the cold wall, Jiang Yu took a deep breath and broke out in a cold sweat. When she recovered, she realized that she was actually being protected by the kid in the corner of the wall.

    Looking up, she met her worried eyes.

    "Sister, why don''t you quit? I think that you are not in a good state..." The girl frowned, her face puffed up slightly, and her whole body glowed with warmth under the gloomy cold light.

    Panting for breath, Jiang Yu stared at her with lowered eyes for a while, then gently pushed her away, and straightened up, "There is no reason to give up halfway."

    She walked to the next room with heavy steps, Cheng Suran chased after her to help her, but she pushed her away again. At this time, Bai Lu came out of the cinema and waved to them, "Hurry up, the movie has started."

    She grabbed Jiang Yu''s wrist and dragged her in.

    Inside is a small cinema. This level requires watching a short horror movie related to the theme. There are nine seats in total. Everyone is full in the middle row and the back row, leaving only three seats in the first row.

    "Little sister, you sit behind me, and Sister Yu and I''ll sit in front." Bai Lu pulled Jiang Yu to sit in the first row.

    She is in the middle, Jiang Yu is on the left, and there is an empty seat on the right.

    Cheng Suran didn''t listen to her, and just sat on the right seat.

    Bai Lu: "..."

    The video played for about five minutes, and the curtain emitted a weak white light that illuminated their faces, brightening their eyes, and Cheng Suran watched absent-mindedly. For some reason, she always had a bad feeling and was a little anxious.

    After the playback was over, the room fell into darkness again, and something could be vaguely felt coming in.

    Cheng Suran looked at Jiang Yu subconsciously, and shouted through the crowd: "Sister..."

    She got up and was about to go, but in the darkness, she tripped over someone''s foot and nearly fell. When she raised her head, a red light flashed, and the grimace with bony and rotten eyes facing her, screaming shrilly.

    "Ah!"

    She was so frightened that she fell down on someone''s body.

    "Ah, ouch¡ª" it was Bai Lu.

    This time the NPC haunted for a long time, and there was more than one, and the auditorium was filled with howling ghosts and wolves, screaming and screaming...

    Jiang Yu closed her eyes, her whole body was stiff, fragmentary images flashed in her mind, there was thunder, lightning, and a small broken house in the mountains and forests... The little girl was locked in the gloomy and dark wooden house alone, crying hoarsely, crying dry tears, with bugs biting her feet.

    There was the sound of cursing, the sound of wicker waving through the air, people came and left, but they didn''t take the little girl away, they just wanted to leave her in that cabin.

    "Sister..." Someone hugged her, patted her lightly, and shook her, "The ghost is gone, it''s all right, sister, let''s go to the next level."

    She smelled the familiar scent of milk.

    The projection hall returned to its dimly lit state. This time, everyone stayed around and surrounded Jiang Yu. As the leader, Qi Yan also felt something was wrong, "Hey, Jiang Yu, what''s wrong with you? Is it because you''re scared or you don''t feel well? Are you okay? How about I tell the staff..."

    "No need," Jiang Yu slowly opened her eyes, stood up, pushed Cheng Suran away, continue to the next level."

    The light was dim, and her face was a little blurry, and she couldn''t see any expression, but it was faintly ruthless. After saying this, she walked ahead and stepped into the next room.

    Cheng Suran hurriedly followed.

    Everyone exchanged looks worried and at a loss, but have no choice but to follow into the room.

    This level requires a single-player mission first. Eight cards with the same pattern on the back have been placed on the long table. Everyone draws one card. After flipping through, whoever draws a white card will be the one to do the solo mission.

    Everyone is sorted by the first letter of the last name to determine the order of drawing cards.

    "I''ll count to three, let''s play together, one, two, three!" Qi Yan''s voice fell, and she quickly turned over her own cards.

    Blue.

    Lu Zhiqiao: "I''m red."

    Lu Wei: "I''m purple."

    Cheng Suran: "Green."

    Everyone looked around, each reporting their colors, and finally their eyes fell on Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu looked at her own card, didn''t speak, and silently put it on the table, picked up the bloody dummy head and the clue paper, and turned to go to the long dark corridor.

    ¡ªshe drew white.

    "Sister!" Cheng Suran stopped her, reaching out to snatch the head, "I''ll go, I..." She wanted to say that she was not afraid, but when the words came to her lips, she subconsciously felt that she shouldn''t have said that, so she changed the sentence, "It¡¯s my first time playing this kind of game, and I want to experience doing single-player tasks.¡±

    "Follow the rules of the game." Jiang Yu saw through her thoughts at a glance, and avoided her hand.

    Her tall figure gave people a sense of oppression, and her eyes were cold and determined, without the slightest fluctuation; irresistible.

    Everyone fell silent.

    Jiang Yu walked past Cheng Suran and stepped into the dark corridor. The range of light behind her became smaller and smaller until it disappeared completely, leaving only the fluorescent colors inlaid on the walls on both sides.

    The surroundings were silent, and the impenetrable darkness surrounded her, like a giant beast in her distant memory, lurking in the dark, waiting for an opportunity to devour her.

    She can beat herself. Every few years, there will always be a little improvement, and by this year, it should be a complete victory.

    The end of the corridor is just ahead, there is a coffin there, as long as she opens it and puts the dummy head in, she can get the decryption key and complete the single-player mission.

    However¡­

    Her heartbeat is getting faster and faster, and her footsteps are getting heavier and heavier.

    In the confined and desperate space, fear and anxiety pressed on her shoulders like a mountain. Jiang Yu felt cold all over, had difficulty breathing, couldn''t control her hands and feet, and trembled more and more. The cry of the little girl played in a loop in her mind.

    Finally, she reached the coffin.

    She raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead, and suddenly her eyes went dark and she lost consciousness...

 CH 38

    The game continues.

    Although there is no decryption key, they can study the mechanism settings during the waiting time. There are several dinner plates and water bottles on the long table. There are several bloody human eyes at the bottom of each bottle, and there are several bloody human heads standing on the opposite cabinet. At a glance, they look like real dead heads.

    "Later, let''s use the key to open this cabinet. There must be props or hints inside."

    "There is also a combination lock here, I don''t know what it is for..."

    "It''s a little difficult."

    They discussed a few words. Being scared by the NPC just now and screaming and running around, consumed a lot of energy. They are a little tired now, and standing and resting while talking.

    Cheng Suran stood motionless at the door, looking at the dark corridor, the weak light could only illuminate the area within two or three steps clearly, and further away was the endless darkness like an abyss, and only dots of fluorescence could be vaguely seen.

    She watched Jiang Yu''s figure disappear into the darkness, and not even the sound of footsteps could be heard after a while.

    She didn''t know how long this corridor is, and how long it would take to come back after walking. She thought of Jiang Yu''s frightened and dull appearance just now, and her heart became more and more restless and anxious, like letting a kite out of her hand. Breaking the string and not coming back.

    She bit her lips tightly, frowned, and her nails dug into her palm unconsciously.

    Lu Zhiqiao has been looking at her since just now, and her emotions may be contagious, so she can''t help but worry, "I feel that Jiang Yu''s condition is not very good, do you want to go and take care of her?"

    "I''ll go!" Cheng Suran and Bai Lu said at the same time.

    Hearing the sound, Qi Yan turned around, waved her hands and said, "She said she would abide by the rules, so she must be prepared, after all, she is an adult. It''s okay, she should be back soon."

    As soon as the words fell, the corridor suddenly lit up, and the ceiling lights were fully turned on.

    The internal structure of the entire room was exposed in sight, and it could be seen clearly. A door opened by the wall, and two staff members without masks came out and hurried straight to the coffin.

    "What''s going on? Something went wrong?" Everyone looked at each other.

    Cheng Suran stared straight at the corridor, feeling a strong ominous feeling for a moment, and rushed over.

    "Hey, Xiao Cheng¡ª" Lu Zhiqiao called her.

    At the same time, another door in the room opened, and a staff member with a ponytail came out, glanced around nervously, and said, "Do you know the player who was doing the solo mission just now?"

    "Yes, we are together." Bai Lu said.

    The staff member pointed to the corridor, "The monitor saw that she fainted suddenly, I don''t know what happened, our colleague just passed by..."

    Before she could finish speaking, Bai Lu turned around and ran out, and the rest of the crowd changed their expressions after realizing it, and hurriedly followed.

    The entire corridor was brightly lit, and the walls were covered with horrible and weird graffiti. At the end, there was a large black coffin in the dark red light. Jiang Yu was on the ground, the clue paper fell off, and the bloody dummy head rolled aside.

    Her eyes were closed, her lips were pale, and her long, disheveled hair covered her face.

    Two staff members surrounded her, and Cheng Suran rushed over. Seeing this scene, her mind was buzzing and went blank.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    Jiang Yu had a dream.

    There were endless arguments in her dream, a man was yelling, a woman was crying, and she was shivering behind the sofa. In the dream, there were also fragmentary pictures, the woman cut her wrist with a blade, rolled on the ground, and the ground was covered with broken glass and blood.

    Sometimes it is sunny, sometimes it is raining, and the arguments are endless. Then the man disappeared, and it was only her and the woman at home.

    "Dead loser*."

    *original term used is pei qian huo, money-losing good; an old derogatory term for a girl, because the natal family has to prepare dowry when they get married, hence the name. Also because in the olden days, girls aren''t allowed to work

    "If you were a boy, would Jianyin run away with the vixen?"

    The woman looked at her with hatred in her eyes.

    She cried.

    The slaps, wooden sticks, and belts fell mercilessly, and she cried louder and louder, heart-piercing. She was in pain, pain everywhere, and finally she was locked in a small room.

    It was getting dark, and the room was also dark. She couldn''t see anything. There seemed to be monsters everywhere in the darkness. She cried for her mother, knocked on the door and the wall, but got no response, got tired from crying, and fell asleep...

    The dream is blurry.

    The sky was drizzling, and the country road was muddy and potholed, and an old-fashioned bicycle was driving staggeringly. A six-year-old girl was sitting in the back seat, holding her mother''s clothes tightly with her two little hands.

    The rain fell on her hair, eyelashes, and face, which was icy cold. It was still cold in early spring, she was only wearing thin long sleeves and a pair of corduroy pants, carrying a small school bag, shivering from the cold.

    The bicycle made a "squeak, squeak" sound, and it kept ringing, and it took a long time before it stopped in front of a bungalow.

    This is her grandmother''s house.

    She remembered that her mother was very gentle that day, and her grandmother brought out a lot of pastries and snacks for the first time. She sat on the small bench and ate.

    Grandma pulled her face and said to her: "You will live with me from now on!"

    She was afraid, and went after her mother with the small school bag on her back, but was caught by her grandmother. She refused to eat, and went to bed hungry. That night, she was woken up again by heavy rain and lightning, she wet the bed, and kept crying. Grandma was so angry that she yelled at her, and the more she scolded her, the more she cried.

    "Little turtle*, you owe me!" Grandma scolded and dragged her out the door, holding an umbrella and dragging her up the mountain.

    *bastard/son of a bitch/offspring of a woman who lost her virtue

    The rain was heavy, the lightning illuminated the sky as bright as day, and the thunder came and went, and the shadows of the trees in the mountains and forests swayed like ghosts.

    She was cold and frightened, most of her body was wet, she was trembling, she was dragged and splashed with mud, and then she came to a gloomy cabin. Grandma threw her in and locked the door...

    The dream is very clear.

    The campus after school was empty, and she was blocked by a group of boys and girls in the abandoned utility room. They scolded her, mocked her, pulled her hair, spat at her, and threw mud and dust at her.

    "Don''t you think she looks like a dirt dog hahahaha..."

    At the age of twelve, she was 1.7 meters tall, and she was as weak as a sheep in front of a group of classmates who were less than 1.6 meters tall. Everyone gave her many nicknames, such as silly big man, and big bear.

    That day she was locked in the utility room until dark, only to be discovered by a teacher who came home late.

    The dream is sometimes clear, sometimes blurry, the darkness is the beast sleeping in her heart, the devil devouring her soul, she is imprisoned in the dark abyss, so she struggles hard and escapes...

    She flung her eyes open.

    The snow-white ceiling, the glare of the lights, she squinted her eyes, her mind went blank for a few seconds, and then she realized that she had dreamed.

    "Wake up, wake up!"

    "Sister Yu..."

    "I''ll call Xiao Cheng."

    Surrounded by a group of people, Jiang Yu stared at them for a while, then looked at the ceiling, and frowned, "Where is this? Weren''t we playing a game?" After speaking, she moved to get up.

    "In the hospital," Bai Lu hurried forward, helping her to sit on the bed, "We were playing the game, but you fainted while doing the task, and scared us, and then sent you to the hospital."

    Jiang Yu recalled the scene in the secret room, closed her eyes, and gently rubbed her temples with her fingers, "Did the doctor say anything?"

    "They said, there''s nothing wrong with your body and it might be psychological." Bai Lu looked at her nervously.

    The air fell into silence.

    Jiang Yu looked a little dazed, and after a long time, she sighed softly: "Sorry, I let everyone down."

    She failed again after all.

    "No, Ms. Jiang, the game can be played anytime, your body is more important..." Several colleagues shook their heads with fear on their faces.

    They are just employees of the company, not the personal team that Jiang Yu has followed for many years, and they don''t know her temper. In their eyes, Jiang Yu is the boss first, and then a supermodel.

    Jiang Yu just smiled and said nothing.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    The thin and slender figure of the girl appeared at the door, her eyes were reddish, she looked at her gloomily, she called softly, as if she wanted to go in, but she didn''t move.

    Jiang Yu turned her gaze away, her expression moved slightly, she patted the hands of the person beside her and said, "Bai Lu, you guys go out first."

    "Why?" Bai Lu held her shoulders tightly.

    "I have something to say to my sister."

    The rest of the people were quite self-conscious and retreated voluntarily. It''s not wrong for Bai Lu to stay here. She glanced at Cheng Suran, reluctantly let go of her hand, and followed them out.

    Only the two of them are left.

    Cheng Suran stood motionless at the door, with timid eyes, Jiang Yu smiled and waved to her, "Come here, kid."

    She walked over slowly.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "Huh?" Jiang Yu stretched out her hand and hugged her into her arms, "Why are your eyes so red? Did they turn into little crying bags again?"

    Cheng Suran looked at her with a choked voice: "I''m sorry, if I hadn''t pestered you, you wouldn''t have..."

    "Hush¡ª" Jiang Yu interrupted softly, and kissed her forehead, "It''s sister who wanted to come, it has nothing to do with you, don''t think too much."

    "But you obviously don''t want to come, it''s me..." Before she finished speaking, Cheng Suran got a thump on the forehead, shut her mouth obediently, and leaned her head on Jiang Yu''s shoulder.

    Every time something bad is about to happen, she will feel uneasy, anxious and irritable. This kind of intuition is often very accurate. When she rushed over and saw Jiang Yu who had fainted on the ground, her heart went cold for a moment.

    She felt that she would never forgive herself.

    Even if her sister is fine.

    It''s all her fault.

    "Be good."

    A soothing kiss landed where it had been knocked.

    Those lips were soft, and warm, they lingered for a while before leaving.

    "If I don''t want to do it, it''s useless no matter how much anyone pesters me. If you think about it again, sister will get angry." Jiang Yu coaxed softly, brushing away the messy hair on her sideburns with fingertips, sliding down along her ears,  Gently pinching her chin.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips and was about to say something when a burst of hurried footsteps came to the door.

    "Sister Yu¡ª"

    Tian Lin rushed in anxiously.

    The two looked up at the same time.

    "You scared me to death... Are you okay? What did the doctor say? I told you not to play that. Have you forgotten the lesson from last time? How come this kind of thing..." Seeing that Jiang Yu was in good spirits, and there was nothing unusual on her face, she breathed a sigh of relief and scolded as she walked over.

    Jiang Yu frowned and coughed lightly: "Hey, kid, you go out first."

    "Ah, oh okay..." Cheng Suran was a little bit reluctant, but she still obediently withdrew and closed the door behind them.

    Everyone waited outside, and when they saw her come out, they raised their heads and took a look.

    Her eyes fell on Qi Yan.

    "Sister Yanyan..."

    "?"

    Cheng Suran walked up to Qi Yan, hesitated for a moment, and whispered, "Can you come over here? I... have something to ask you.

 CH 39

    Everyone looked at them.

    Qi Yan''s expression was slightly frozen, as if she knew what she was going to say, she turned her head and glanced at Lu Zhiqiao, then nodded to the girl, "Okay."

    The two walked to the corner of the front stairs one after the other.

    Cheng Suran turned around and faced Qi Yan, looking into those clear and sharp eyes, she dodged subconsciously, feeling timid and uncomfortable.

    This kind of uneasiness is her sensitive instinct, just like facing all the people who give her similar feelings like Qi Yan. It''s like living in a dark corner for too long, suddenly losing her cover, and staring directly at the sun, completely at a loss what to do.

    The first time she saw Qi Yan, she knew that she was the opposite of her, just like meeting her roommate Ding Yuan for the first time.

    And now she also learned about the relationship between Qi Yan and Jiang Yu...

    Cheng Suran looked at her with complicated thoughts. She was tall with a melon-shaped face and slightly raised eyes like peach petals. She is good-looking but not tacky, and the most special thing was that kind of relaxed and calm demeanor.

    Obviously a child from a happy family.

    Thinking of herself again, she couldn''t help feeling sour in her heart, and the little pride she had was gone."Sister Yanyan, I..."

    "Is it about Jiang Yu?" Qi Yan asked straight to the point.

    Cheng Suran was taken aback for a moment, then lowered her head, her heart drumming a little.

    She doesn''t seem to have the position and qualifications to meddle in other people''s affairs. She is a serious ex-girlfriend, while she is just a little lover, but she has the audacity to borrow the identity of the "current girlfriend" to deceive others, she starts to realize that she didn''t know the immensity of heaven and the earth*.

    *not to know the immensity of heaven and earth: to overestimate your own abilities; to not understand things

    If sister finds out, she will be finished.

    "It''s okay, you ask. I can tell you anything I know." Qi Yan noticed the little girl''s hesitation, which was both funny and pitiful. She unconsciously softened her voice.

    Qiao Qiao had already told her about what happened that night.

    She doesn''t care.

    Cheng Suran''s heart trembled slightly, she raised her head, and a certain nerve in her brain jumped suddenly.  She couldn''t stand the temptation, not at all.

    So she hesitated and said, "Sister, is she afraid of ghosts?"

    "She''s not." Qi Yan shook her head, "She dares to go for a walk in the cemetery alone."

    "Then is she afraid of the dark?"

    "It''s hard to tell. She can walk alone at night, but she must turn on the night light when she sleeps at night. I don''t quite understand."

    At night in the hotel, the bedside lamp is always on in the master bedroom. Before going to sleep, her sister will turn it very dim but never turn it off.  But sometimes, sister would open the curtains to let in the flashing neon lights outside, and get a piece of silence in the busy city.

    Cheng Suran thought for a while and said, "Could she be claustrophobic?

    "I don''t think so. She took the elevator, took the plane... She has been in any closed space, and there has been no problem." Qi Yan also began to recall, but it was too long, and she only remembered the general impression.

    "What about her health?"

    "She''s always been healthy. You know a model needs to keep in shape. Going to the gym is as normal as eating. Although she looks thin, she has a lot of strength. The only time I remember something went wrong was when she had to leave for a big show. The day before at noon, she started to drink only water and didn¡¯t eat at all, and she didn¡¯t drink water at all in the evening. She also said that she was afraid that the edema would affect her condition. After the big show, she went to the hospital because of hypoglycemia..."

    Qi Yan''s expression was calm, as if she was talking about a stranger''s gossip.

    Cheng Suran''s heart ached when she heard this, and she couldn''t help muttering: "Is it so hard..."

    "It''s been a hard work," Qi Yan nodded, no matter how much she hated Jiang Yu''s scumbag behavior, she couldn''t deny the hard work she put in in her career, "When I met her, she was already well-known in the modeling circle. Yes, during the rising period of her career, she is very busy. There are two seasons of fashion week, two seasons of haute couture shows, and various advertisements and magazine shootings. She works in China during the Christmas holiday abroad, and is busy abroad during the Spring Festival holiday in China. Her rest time adds up to less than forty days a year."

    As they talked, the topic that originally revolved around today''s incident gradually turned to Jiang Yu''s personal hobbies and living habits.

    "What does she like to eat?"

    "Looks like a small steamed bun."

    "What does she hate the most?"

    "Garlic? Can''t remember much."

    Jiang Yu likes to listen to old songs and pure music, including but not limited to instrumentals, and sometimes goes to live concerts, and her favorite movie is "Perfume"

    ...most of them, Qi Yan can''t remember clearly, and some of them don''t even know at all.

    For example, family.

    She only knew that Jiang Yu had a bad relationship with her family, and she never went home or called her family when she was free.

    The more she asked and listened, the more Cheng Suran envied Qi Yan, and a lot of sour bubbles popped up in her heart¡ªshe didn''t know anything. On the one hand, she was guilty and ashamed that she used her ''current girlfriend'' identity to understand the situation, but on the other hand, she couldn''t refuse such a temptation.

    But, why does she envy Qi Yan...

    Realizing this, Cheng Suran felt inexplicably uneasy. She felt that this was not a good thing, but she couldn''t figure it out.

    "Xiao Ranran, you don''t know anything about these things?" Qi Yan realized something was wrong after knowing it.

    How can there be love without knowing each other?

    Cheng Suran''s heart tightened, panicked, and she hesitated, "We...have only known each other for more than a month...so..."

    "Oh, it doesn''t matter. You will know what kind of person she is after a long time together. Rather than telling it from my mouth, you should experience it yourself. If you like someone, you will naturally want to know everything about her. Falling in love. The process of exploring each other at the beginning is also very interesting." Qi Yan was like a teacher, educating her gently and patiently.

    If you like someone¡­

    You will want to know everything about her.

    Cheng Suran repeated this sentence in her heart, and she was stunned.

    Did she fall in love with Jiang Yu?

    When this idea came up, it was immediately rejected. Impossible, she has never liked a woman before, she and her sister are just a nurturing relationship, knowing a little more is just to find out her sister''s temper, so as not to step on more land mines, so as to know how to please the benefactor, right?

    Thinking about it, Cheng Suran calmed down and breathed a sigh of relief.

    "Xiao Ranran?" Qi Yan stretched out her hand and shook it in front of her eyes.

    Cheng Suran came back to her senses, raised an unnatural smile, and said, "Sister Yanyan, I understand, thank you, but don''t say what happened today."

    "Okay, don''t worry."

    In the observation room, Tian Lin was still scolding Jiang Yu.

    "Why are you torturing yourself like this? Saying that you don''t care about the kid, then you end up getting yourself in the hospital, ridiculous right? Once, twice. Fortunately, nothing happened. What if there is a serious problem?"

    "You usually lecture me about the set of principles in my daily life, but why don''t you listen to your own advice?

    "I know you want to overcome your fear, but you have to take your time, right? The more reckless and anxious you are, the more useless work you do, and in the end you hurt yourself, and let those of us who care about you die in a hurry. You really..."

    She said a lot in one breath, her eyes were a little red, she couldn''t say anything more, and turned her face away.

    Jiang Yu lowered her head with a downcast expression, like a child who has done something wrong. After a while, she murmured: "Tian Lin..."

    "Don''t call me."

    "I failed again."

    "..."

    Tian Lin turned back again.

    Jiang Yu raised her head, and there was a hint of disappointment in her blurred eyes, then she smiled at her and said, "It''s okay, keep working hard."

    Childhood memories turned into shadows in her heart. She fought against it for more than ten years, and she was defeated repeatedly. Every time she stood up again, she felt like peeling off a layer of skin. The feeling was no less than returning to hell when she was eighteen years old.

    She can leave it alone and let it grow, but she refuses to accept it. She has been competing with herself for more than ten years, and then she gradually became addicted.

    It was as if she had found an object to vent her hostility and hatred unscrupulously¡ªherself.

    Torturing herself can bring pleasure.

    Looking at her smiling, Tian Lin suddenly felt sad and helpless, and reached out to hug her, "It''s okay to work hard, but don''t use this method again."

    "Mm."

    "I''ll find you a psychiatrist when I go back."

    "No need."

    "Do you look like you are trying to work through it?" Tian Lin frowned again.

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes and remained silent.

    "Then it''s okay to go for a full body check?"

    "I am healthy."

    "Jiang Yu¡ª"

    "Mm?"

    The two looked at each other.

    Within two seconds, Jiang Yu looked away and changed the subject: "Where is the kid? You came here before we really had time to talk. I finally managed to coax and stop her from being a crying baby again."

    After speaking, she looked towards the closed door.

    "Sister Yu..." Tian Lin looked at her with a serious expression, "Don''t you feel that you are a bit abnormal recently?"

    "How am I abnormal?"

    "The one who should be coaxed is you."

    "I don''t like being coaxed."

    Jiang Yu smiled faintly, patted Tian Lin''s hand, got up and got out of bed, "Let''s go back if there is no problem."

    She was still wearing her own clothes, as if she had just visited the hospital. Without waiting for Tian Lin to speak, she opened the door and walked out. In an instant, she met several worried eyes.

    "Sister¡ª" Cheng Suran went up to her and hugged her.

    Bai Lu who reacted a step slower: "..."

    Jiang Yu hugged the girl in her arms, smelled a sweet milky scent at the tip of her nose, and felt at ease, "Hey, can you go back to Jiangcheng with sister early?"

    "I''ll go back too." Bai Lu said ahead of Cheng Suran.

    Cheng Suran buried her face in Jiang Yu''s neck, pressed her ears against the hot temperature, and rubbed them lightly, perhaps because she had done something wrong, she didn''t dare to look directly into Jiang Yu''s eyes, for fear of being found out, and sullenly answered: "Okay."

    At two o''clock in the afternoon, Jiang Yu took the kid, Tian Lin and Bai Lu to the car for the return journey.

    This time, Cheng Suran refused to give up the middle seat, brazenly acting like a spoiled child to Jiang Yu, but Bai Lu didn''t say anything, just sat in the back silently all the way.

    Time went by faster than before.

    The setting sun dyed the sky red and golden, and as the car drove into the city, Jiang Yu opened her eyes and said to the driver, "Let''s go to Hengshi Apartment first."

    Bai Lu lived there.

    "Sister Yu, where are you going?" Bai Lu asked tentatively.

    Jiang Yu opened the curtains, squinted her eyes, and said two words lightly: "Going home."

    "Then don''t send me off, let''s go directly to your house."

    "No."

    "Last time you told me to go over for dinner."

    "Maybe some other day." Jiang Yu looked out of the window for a moment, then raised her hand to signal her to shut up.

    Bai Lu glanced at Cheng Suran, but said nothing.

    At the apartment building, Bai Lu got out of the car, turned her head three times a step and waved towards the car, and Cheng Suran who was sitting on the other side closed the curtains with a "swish" to block her figure.

    In Jiang Yu''s eyes, the girl''s childish behavior was extremely cute. With a low laugh, she stretched out her arms to hug her, wanting to hold her in her arms, and kiss those lips without any scruples.

    "Mm--"

    Cheng Suran closed her eyes and hugged her neck actively, very skillfully.

    Tian Lin, who was sitting in the back, lowered her head silently to look at her phone.

    The long and passionate kiss lasted for nearly a minute, Cheng Suran felt that she was about to suffocate, her little face flushed red, and finally, Jiang Yu let go of her.

    "Sister..." She opened her mouth slightly, her water-stained lips were shiny and flushed with blood, like a tempting fruit.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help but lowered her head again, pecked her lightly, brushed the broken hair on her cheeks with her fingers, and said softly: "I''ll take you back to the hotel first, sister won''t be there tonight, I have to go to bed early, you know?  "

    " I¡­"

    "Hmm?"

    "I want to go to your house." Cheng Suran blinked her clear black eyes and whispered.

    Jiang Yu scratched her nose with a smile, "Be good, be obedient."

    "Is it not Okay?"

    "..."

    Bai Lu''s words echoed in her ears, and Cheng Suran felt depressed and sour. Seeing that Jiang Yu didn''t speak, she mustered up her courage, softened her voice and acted coquettishly: "Sister... let me go, okay?  Let''s eat at your house..."

    She said, kissing her lips.

    The smile in Jiang Yu''s eyes froze. She stared at the girl for a moment, then suddenly pushed her away, and said coldly, "Have I been too nice to you?"

 CH 40

    The warmth in her arms suddenly disappeared, and the girl who was intoxicated in the gentleness was stunned for a moment. Seeing Jiang Yu''s cold face, as if unfamiliar, she couldn''t help shivering and shut her mouth.

    In an instant, she realized that she had stepped on a landmine again.

    "How many times is this?" Jiang Yu frowned, pinched the girl''s chin with her slender fingers, and exerted force without hesitation, "Did you ignore what I said? Or are you challenging my patience?"

    "Speak!"

    "..."

    Cheng Suran trembled all over, frightened by her cold expression, "No, I didn''t..." Her jaw was pinched so that he couldn''t move, and she couldn''t shake her head.

    The land mine exploded in her mind unexpectedly, hitting her heart more and more violently, her nerves tensed, and the circles of her eyes turned red.

    The air gradually freezes.

    Tian Lin, who was playing with her mobile phone, raised her head, looked at Cheng Suran, and then at Jiang Yu, sighing softly in her heart.

    Just based on Cheng Suran''s words, she knew that this was the most unruly lover among Jiang Yu''s lovers. Moreover, it was obviously not the first time Jiang Yu said that. Not just the second and third time.

    But it was strange, Jiang Yu was very particular to this girl from the very beginning, completely different from her previous lovers.

    She personally gave the agreement, and waited patiently for many days, specially arranged a driver, bought a new car to pick her up, and paid close attention to the rumors against Cheng Suran... and the last few days. That doesn''t include things she doesn''t know.

    She thought that it was rare for Jiang Yu to change to a new taste, and she liked this girl very much. Even if she felt a little unusual, it couldn''t explain anything, but in front of her eyes¡ª¡ª

    It seems that there is no difference from before?

    Those girls sometimes accidentally "crossed the line", Jiang Yu just had a cold face and warning eyes, most of the time they knew the rules. She hadn''t seen Jiang Yu so angry for a long time.

    Tian Lin couldn''t figure it out, and couldn''t say anything, so she lowered her head and continued to look at her phone.

    There was an eerie silence.

    Cheng Suran tilted her neck slightly, her jaw was pinched painfully by strong fingers, she couldn''t help frowning, and the corners of her red eyes were filled with water vapor. She blinked desperately, and a whimper came out of her throat: "It hurts..."

    She just remembered what Qi Yan said today, her sister looks thin but not weak at all, a few fingers hurt her so much that she shed tears.

    Jiang Yu stared at the girl with cold eyes, and the fluctuations of her breathing gradually increased, as if she was holding back something, but then, she shook her hand irritably and turned her face to the window.

    Cheng Suran was shaken so that her head tilted, her upper body tilted to the side inertially, one hand propped up the cushion, she lowered her head, and the tears that were swirling in her eyes also fell down.

    She bit her lip, not daring to make a gasp, and moved her body towards the car door.

    The loose hair hides her face and prevents anyone from looking - if there is any. She touched her face, it was very hot, it was the temperature of embarrassment, because there were third and fourth people present, it was like being slapped in the face in public.

    A sense of humiliation welled up in her heart, like a needle pierced deeply into the flesh and blood, and the sharp pain spread to all her limbs and bones...

    Canaries have no dignity.

    It was she who crossed the line.

    Sister is not to blame.

    The tears fell fiercely. She was afraid that she would provoke Jiang Yu''s anger if she made a sound, so she bit her lips tightly and did not dare to let go. She quietly wiped her face with the back of her hand, curled up, and buried her head almost on her knees.

    Like a kitten abandoned in a corner.

    The car entered the city center, and the road was a bit congested. After stopping and waiting for seven or eight red lights, they finally arrived at the hotel''s underground parking lot before dark, still at the old location.

    Cheng Suran curled up and didn''t move, Tian Lin stretched out her hand and patted her lightly, reminding her in a low voice, she finally came to her senses, glanced at Jiang Yu''s profile, "Sister, I''m going back first..."

    After speaking, she opened the door and got out of the car as if fleeing.

    Jiang Yu slowly turned her face and motioned for Tian Lin to open the curtains. She watched the girl''s thin back go away through the glass and entered the door. The ice in her eyes melted a little, and complex emotions surged.

    The anger in her heart has calmed down, and she felt remorse, but somehow she''s also very irritable.

    "Boss Jiang, do you want to go back now?" the driver asked.

    Her thoughts were interrupted, and Jiang Yu looked away, "Yeah." She closed her eyes, leaned her head against the car window, and rubbed the center of her eyebrows and temples with her hands.

    The car turned around and drove back.

    When they got to the neighborhood, it was already dark.

    Tian Lin wanted to send Jiang Yu upstairs, but was rejected. Jiang Yu just patted her on the shoulder, and said softly, "You also go back home early. There is nothing to do tomorrow. Cherish the last day of vacation."

    "Sister Yu..." Tian Lin hesitated to speak.

    "Mm?"

    "Nothing."

    Jiang Yu was silent for a moment, then said, "I will consider seeing a psychiatrist."

    "Okay."

    The two said goodnight to each other, Tian Lin got into the car, and Jiang Yu pushed the small suitcase into the elevator by herself.

    The auntie nanny and the personal assistant are at home. She said in advance that she would come back, and the auntie is preparing dinner at the moment. Although three people usually live there, because of the large area and the minimalist cool color design style, it looks empty and cold.

    It''s like going from one hotel to another.

    "Ms. Jiang, the dress is here," Xiao Zhou welcomed her into the door, took the suitcase in her hand, said while picking up the soft cloth next to her, and knelt down to wipe the wheels.

    "It arrived the day before yesterday, I didn''t take it out because I was afraid it might get dusty, and put it on the second shelf from the left in your wardrobe.

    Jiang Yu lowered her head to change her shoes, hummed, and said, "Come here with the suitcase, and prepare the bath water for me."

    Her voice was a little tired, and the tiredness between her eyebrows and eyes could not be concealed. After she finished speaking, she floated into the room with slippers on like a ghost. The master bedroom faces south and has three sections, the outermost of which is the master wardrobe.

    This wardrobe is mainly used to store the clothes she usually wears, most of which are classic basic models, which can be worn on most occasions throughout the year. There is a white gold wooden signboard hanging on the door frame, engraved with a few large characters: Coco''s capsule wardrobe.

    ¡ª¡ªthat is, a wardrobe that can be worn for at least ten years without being out of date.

    The dress was in a white cardboard box, which was big and heavy, wrapped in layers, and it was a high-end item for the latest season of a certain blue-blooded family. Next week, she will participate in the 20th anniversary ceremony of "Zero Degree", and there will be a red carpet walk, so she asked the brand to borrow this dress.

    Jiang Yu skillfully unpacked, took out the dress and changed into it, and turned around in front of the full-length mirror.

    The deep V-neck that almost reaches the navel, the upper body is semi-see-through pure black gauze, the lower part is stitched with a pure white dress, the waist is hollowed out, and a proper arc is drawn, elegant and sexy.

    Just right.

    She looked at herself in the mirror and thought about what hairstyle and accessories to wear.

    "Boss Jiang, the water is ready, do you want to take a bath now?"

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu took off her dress, packed it up again, and went into the bathroom calmly.

    The round bathtub stood by the window, and outside was the brightly lit banks of the Binjiang River. She pressed the button on the wall next to the door, and the transparent glass instantly turned into a landscape painting, with blue sky, blue sea, coconut wind and tree shadows, and the indoor and outdoor could not see each other.

    Clothes were thrown on the floor.

    Jiang Yu opened the small drawer next to it, took out a white box, took the long strip connected oval toy and held it in the palm of her hand, then stepped into the bathtub and sat down.

    The hot water gently wraps her pores, taking away the fatigue of her whole body and mind in an instant.

    She closed her eyes.

    The dense mist rose up, and her cheeks gradually became hot. She could only hear a subtle buzzing sound coming from the water, stirring up a vortex. Her whole body seemed to sink into the depths of the vortex, ups and downs.

    At that moment, the kid''s face flashed in her mind, stayed for a few seconds, and was quickly waved away again.

    Only she can bring herself happiness and peace of mind.

    ¡­.

    She have been soaking in this bath for a long time, obviously to relieve fatigue, but after soaking, she seems to be even more tired. Jiang Yu had a simple dinner and returned to her room early.

    The master bedroom is huge. On the carpet, on the window sill, on the sofa, and on the two-meter-wide bed, there are all kinds of plush dolls. Most are rabbits.

    Gray rabbit, white rabbit, lop-eared rabbit, vertical-eared rabbit, radish-eating rabbit, and hairpin-wearing rabbit.

    Because she is a rabbit.

    Rabbits occupy most of the bed, and there is only a small space in the middle where she can lie down. Jiang Yu threw herself up and was overwhelmed by the rabbits.

    A ring called out to her.

    It was Pei Chutong''s phone call.

    "As soon as I got home, your call came. Do you have a telepathy with me?" Jiang Yu teased with a smile, sat up while talking, grabbed a rabbit and hugged it in her arms.

    The eldest miss'' clear laughter came from the other line: "Yes, I sense that Jiang Coco is thinking about me now."

    "Yes, yes, I miss you and want to know what you have to say."

    "Have you considered participating in that variety show?"

    Jiang Yu almost forgot about it, but she thought about it seriously in the past few days. After thinking about it, she asked hesitantly, "Who are the other guests?"

    Pei Chutong reported the names of several people, all of whom were popular in the entertainment industry, and most of them have a huge following.

    Jiang Yu felt a little headache when she heard that, her eyes inadvertently fell on the dressing table opposite, and there was a wooden cup placed next to the mirror. She paused, and remembered that it was a special product brought back by the kid from her hometown.

    A set of three, one she keeps on her bedroom dresser, one on a living room display case, and one on her office desk.

    She kind of likes it.

    Hometown, Lingzhou...

    Jiang Yu recited the name once and fell into a trance. Pei Chutong called her several times on the phone. She came back to her senses and replied, "Okay, I''ll participate."

    "Then it''s settled. I''ll find you when I''m finished in two days."

    "Mm."

    After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yu held onto the phone for a while, and clicked into WeChat to switch the account. After loading, there was no movement at all.

    The kid didn''t send her any messages.

    There used to be at least one "good night".

    But it''s only eight o''clock.

    Jiang Yu stared at the screen, and the girl''s thin back suddenly floated in front of her eyes. She inadvertently clicked on the keyboard with her fingertips, wanting to send something, but she had nothing to say.

    What can she say?

    Urge her to go to bed early?  It''s still early. Let the kid come over? She won''t bring a lover home. Or it could be¡­

    Apologize?

    Impossible.

    She is the benefactor.

 CH 41

    The benefactor will not apologize to the lover.

    Thinking of this, Jiang Yu suddenly realized, how could she have the thought of apologizing? Did she do something wrong? The person who clearly crossed the line was the children, and she was just following and maintaining the terms of the agreement. Why should she apologize?

    Tian Lin is not wrong, she is indeed a bit abnormal recently, she even has to think about whether she should have such an idea.

    Ridiculous.

    Jiang Yu was irritated for no reason, put away the keyboard, but her eyes stayed on the kid''s profile photo.

    "Good baby", with a face like a white steamed bun, wearing a yellow round hat, carrying a small satchel, holding a pink heart with two small paws, soft and cute.

    She remembered that when she first added her, the kid''s profile picture was a tree.

    In the vast expanse of the wilderness, an oak tree stands alone in the center, with the blue sky and white clouds above the head, and the fragrant soil under the feet, which looked calm and peaceful. Later, at some point, she changed her profile picture to a little penguin, and then, now, she became a "good baby".

    The style has changed so much, is there any meaning?

    Jiang Yu pondered for a moment, and when she came back to her senses, she realized that she was thinking about meaningless things again, and became even more irritable, so she simply threw her phone aside.

    She lay down on her back, grabbed a jackrabbit and hugged it in her arms, turned over, and closed her eyes.

    Lying like this for a while, sleepiness hit her unknowingly...

    In the chaos, her body seemed to keep falling, and at a certain moment, it floated up again, the surroundings were silent, and there was a white fog in front of them, and nothing could be heard or seen.

    Another endless dream.

    She walked alone in the dark and lengthy corridor, surrounded by thick and endless darkness, oppressive, airtight, no light, no hope, she didn''t know where she came from, where she was going, and it seemed that she would never end.

    As we walked, many people appeared in front of her, including her mother, grandmother, stepfather, younger brother, teachers and classmates...

    Everyone looked at her with vicious eyes.

    "Dead loser!"

    "Little turtle!"

    "Big bear*!"

    *big coward

    Everyone rushed up to surround her, screaming and cursing one after another. She was terrified, struggling to run forward, running hard, and kept running, but she couldn''t escape no matter what.

    Help, help...

    She yelled silently as she ran.

    In a panic, she wanted to grab something, but gradually she felt a soft touch from the palm of her hand, but there was no warmth, and the girl''s beautiful and bright face appeared in front of her eyes.

    She didn''t care much, and hugged the girl tightly, muttering in her mouth: "Help me... save me..."

    Then she opened her eyes.

    A glaring light fell from the ceiling, Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes, raised her hand to block it, the back of her hand touched the fine beads of sweat on her forehead, her chest heaved violently.

    It turned out to be a dream again.

    After a while, Jiang Yu sat up, lowered her head and found that she was holding a rabbit doll in her arms, not the girl in her dream. That face disappeared when she woke up from the dream.

    She was in a trance, and a faint sense of loss welled up in her heart...

    After a while, Jiang Yu let go of the rabbit doll, took a deep breath, got out of bed and poured herself a glass of warm water, took a couple of sips, grabbed her phone and checked the time.

    It was half past twelve in the morning.

    WeChat still stays on the small interface, and "good baby" lies quietly in the message list.

    There is no "good night".

    Jiang Yu sat quietly by the bed alone, the soft light from the ceiling shrouded her lonely figure, she held her mobile phone in her hands and was lost in thought, feeling that something was missing and empty in her heart.

    After one o''clock in the morning, she felt sleepy again. She finally put down her phone, turned on the night light by the bed to dim it, grabbed a rabbit into the bed, turned off the headlight and lay down.

    In the second half of the night, she slept very restlessly.

    Drowsy and dreaming again, and then waking up, as soon as she closes her eyes, the dark corridor will rush towards her like a beast, devouring her...

    The consequence of a bad night''s sleep is waking up in the morning with no energy.

    Jiang Yu''s work schedule is very regular. She lies down at ten o''clock every night, enters a deep sleep before ten thirty, and wakes up at six thirty in the morning. Occasionally, her biological clock will not be affected if she messes up once or twice due to work needs.

    But today it failed.

    She woke up groggy, washed up in a daze, ate breakfast in a daze, and didn''t feel clearer until after ten o''clock in the morning.

    This anomaly made her a little uneasy.

    "Sister Yu, why do I feel that your complexion is not very good?" In the afternoon, Tian Lin came over worried. Seeing Jiang Yu''s listless expression, her heart sank.

    Jiang Yu was sitting on the swing eating a fruit cake. Hearing the sound, she casually said, "I slept a little late yesterday." After speaking, she took a piece of cake and handed it over, "Try this, it''s delicious."

    "..." Tian Lin looked at her suspiciously, took it, tore open the packaging bag, and took a bite.

    The crispy shell is wrapped in a rich and sweet fruity aroma.

    She took another bite.

    Jiang Yu raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Is it delicious?"

    "Mm," Tian Lin nodded seriously, "Where did you buy it?" She suddenly realized, "Eat less, high-sugar and high-oil..."

    "The kids'' hometown specialty." Jiang Yu slightly froze, as if thinking of something, she glanced at the phone beside her.

    The WeChat account is very quiet.

    The kid didn''t send her "good night" yesterday, and she didn''t send "good morning" today.

    Although she has never asked the girl to do this, the other party has always taken the initiative, but these days, she has long been used to its existence, and at this moment, it seems that something that originally belonged to her has suddenly disappeared, and she feels a little uncomfortable.

    It was hard for her not to think that the kid was just being angry.

    Tian Lin saw that she was in a trance, absent-minded, and the guesses she had pressed before came out again, and she couldn''t help but probe: "I said, you haven''t eaten these things for many years, so it was given by... the kid, ah."

    She especially bit down on the sound of the word "kid".

    Jiang Yu lowered her face, immersed in her own thoughts, as if talking to herself: "Am I being too nice to her?"

    "..."

    "Tian Lin."

    "Eh."

    "What do you think?"

    "This..." Tian Lin thought for a while and answered carefully, "If you take those girls in the past as a reference, you treat  Miss Cheng more special now. I don''t know how to define good or bad, so you still have to ask  yourself."

    "Is it special?" Jiang Yu raised his face, his eyes blank.

    She just did what a benefactor should do.

    Which one is out of bounds? As a result, she let the kid push her nose to her face* again and again, and now she dares to be angry with her.

    *push her luck.

    Tian Lin was silent.

    No matter how special it is, it is the relationship between a benefactor and the lover. Once you embark on this path, it is difficult to turn back, and you can only keep moving forward. She understood, and so did Jiang Yu.

    The afternoon sun shines into the floor-to-ceiling windows, dyeing the carpet a faint warm yellow, very soft, like sparkling champagne. The whole room has a dusty and old sense of seclusion, as if the hustle and bustle under the tall buildings has nothing to do with everything here.

    Jiang Yu half-closed her eyes, and her dark eyes were filled with unclear emotions. After a while, she turned her face away and stared at the sky outside the window, "You should pay attention recently to see if there is any suitable girl."

    "Do you want to change?" Tian Lin asked in surprise.

    "For a spare tire."

    "Okay."

    "Under the age of twenty-three, with a net height of no more than 1.68 meters, pure appearance, oval face is the best, big and bright eyes, good personality, quiet, good singing, and two foreign languages..." Jiang Yu said  As she spoke, the image of the kid appeared in her mind.

    A beautiful and delicate face with a pair of clean deer eyes. When she smiles, there are two small dimples on her face. She is very obedient and soft. The way she calls her sister makes one want to bully her.

    "There must be dimples."

    "Okay."

    Tian Lin remembered everything, and was suddenly taken aback.

    Isn''t this Miss Cheng?

    She looked at Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu tilted her head against the swing, rubbed her temple with her index finger, and closed her eyes at some point.

    On the last day of the holiday, students returned to school one after another, and the originally empty campus became lively again.

    The cafeteria in the evening was several times more crowded than usual on weekends.

    After eating, Cheng Suran came out of the cafeteria with a canvas bag on her back. It was already dark, and she checked WeChat while walking outside the school gate. She received a message from the driver sister three minutes ago and waited for her at the old place.

    After autumn, the temperature difference between day and night is large, and she wears less clothes when she goes out, and the night wind is blowing on her body at this moment, is a bit cool.

    Just as she was about to put away her phone, there was a sudden notification.

    "!"

    Cheng Suran was shocked, and quickly unlocked it again, and clicked on WeChat, but what she saw was not the gray and black profile picture she expected, but a news feed.

    She was instantly discouraged.

    All day...

    She spent the whole day in the library, and WeChat was also quiet all day.

    From last night to now, she clicked on the chat box marked as "sister" countless times, looked at the familiar gray and black profile picture, wanted to say something, but held back again and again.

    She was afraid that her sister''s anger would still linger, and she would become even angrier when she sees a message from her, and then terminate the contract in a fit of anger.

    She can''t bear such consequences.

    Certainly¡­

    There is also selfishness.

    After going back last night, she cried bitterly, her grievances clouded her mind like a dark cloud, and she didn''t want to put a hot face on a cold butt*, as if she was competing.

    *coax/compliment but be ignored/treated coldly

    She didn''t know what she was expecting either.

    Does she want sister to take the initiative to coax her?

    Impossible.

    Walking past one street lamp after another, her shadow stretched by the cold white light, she deleted the news feed, put away her mobile phone, and walked towards the school gate at a faster pace.

    After getting into the car, Cheng Suran couldn''t help but take out her phone and looked at it over and over again.

    She felt like she was gambling.

    Just wait a little longer. If sister wants to go back to the hotel tonight, she will definitely send her a message. If she hasn''t received the message before ten o''clock, she will apologize. It''s been a whole day, and the anger should have subsided right? She comforted herself in this way.

    With such thoughts in mind, Cheng Suran felt relieved.

    When she arrived at the hotel, she rushed into the bathroom in a hurry, consciously washed herself clean, then sat on the sofa with her mobile phone in her hand and waited, and waited, and waited...

    Half past ten.

    There was no movement on WeChat.

    Cheng Suran yawned, knowing that Jiang Yu would not be coming tonight, so she obediently sent a message:

    [Sister, sorry for yesterday.]

    [I promise there will be no next time.]

    [Good night.]

    After sendy, she waited for a while until the time showed exactly eleven o''clock, and then she was sure that Jiang Yu really wouldn''t talk to her, she put away her phone in frustration, got up and went back to her room to sleep.

    The night was dark, and the whole city fell into a deep sleep.

    "Help, help..."

    The person in the dream uttered ravings, she opened her eyes suddenly, and saw a dim yellow light.

    Jiang Yu woke up from the nightmare again.

    She lay on the bed, short of breath, and her chest heaved violently. After a while, she slowly sat up and turned on the light.

    The bedroom lit up instantly.

    The light was a bit dazzling, Jiang Yu turned her head, her long hair that fell down blocked the light, she curled up, panting tiredly, for a long time, she grabbed her phone to check the time.

    One o''clock.

    There are three unread messages on the screen.

    Jiang Yu''s consciousness was a little confused, and she couldn''t tell whether it was the main or a small account, so she clicked in and looked, and it was a message from the kid.

    "..."

    She stared at the screen, the girl''s face overlapping the dream.

    Kid¡­

    Surrounded by silence, she could clearly hear her own heartbeat, from fast to slow, and gradually calmed down.

    Jiang Yu wiped the cold sweat off her brow, grabbed her phone and got out of bed, casually put on a long coat, picked up her bag, and hurried out the door.

    ¡­.

    A white sports car speeds down the empty road.

    About twenty minutes later, she arrived at the hotel and went up to the twenty-seventh floor. Jiang Yu opened the platinum door, and a faint light leaked out. She walked straight to the second bedroom, and pushed the door open like a gust of wind.

    The room was dark.

    With the dim light in the living room, the outline of the arch on the bed can be vaguely seen.

    Jiang Yu was stunned for two seconds, walked over lightly, put down her bag, took off her coat, lifted the quilt and got in.

    The blanket was warm, and a sweet milky scent wafted into her nostrils. She took a deep breath, hugged the girl''s soft body, buried her face in her hair, and finally felt relieved.

    "Huh--"

    The person in her arms moved.

    Cheng Suran opened her eyes in a daze, feeling something was wrong, her mind went blank for a few seconds, and suddenly found that there was someone beside her at some point, and she became frightened out of her wits.

    "Ah!!!"

    She kicked it.

    ¡ª¡ªBoom!

    Before Jiang Yu could react, she fell off the bed heavily.

 CH 42

    There was a thick blanket on the bottom of the bed, Jiang Yu was lying on the ground, her forehead hit the corner of the bedside table unexpectedly, she let out a wailing cry, and covered her belly.

    "Hiss¡­"

    She couldn''t move for a moment.

    The room was dark she couldn''t see her fingers. Cheng Suran got up in shock, rolled out of bed, picked up the big and thick professional book at hand and threw it at it, and then heard the woman moaning in pain.

    This voice¡ª

    Elder sister?

    She froze for a moment, her mind suddenly came to her senses, she touched the wall, turned on the light, and the bedroom lit up.

    The woman was lying on her side on the ground, her slightly curled body was wrapped in a loose purple silk nightgown, her hair covering her face, feeling very embarrassed.

    "...sister?" Cheng Suran opened her eyes wide, and hurriedly stepped forward to help her.

    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry...sister, I didn''t know it was you, I thought you wouldn''t come tonight..."

    Jiang Yu was helped to sit up, her stomach felt dull pain, and her forehead also felt a sharp stabbing pain. She covered her stomach with one hand, and touched her forehead with the other hand. Her originally smooth skin felt a little uneven, with a burning pain.

    She suddenly had a bad feeling.

    "Sister... are you okay? I, where did I kick you? Stomach..." Cheng Suran pressed her hand covering her stomach, panicked for a moment.

    In the middle of the night, she was in a drowsy sleep, her mind was half awake, and the room was pitch black and she couldn''t see clearly. At that moment, she thought it was some thug who broke in, but she didn''t think much of it when she was in a hurry, she just relied on instinct. With all her strength, she kicked over.

    Whoever knew she could kick people down?

    She didn''t know that she had such great strength, so it was conceivable that her sister must have been seriously injured. Maybe she...hurt the internal organs? Like something ruptured or heavy bleeding?

    The more Cheng Suran thought about it, the more frightened she became, and her voice trembled slightly: "Sister, let''s go to the hospital..." She put both hands under Jiang Yu''s armpit, trying to lift her up, but now she lost her strength again, and felt that this person was as heavy as a weight.

    However, Jiang Yu stood up by herself, pushed her away, walked into the bathroom shakily, turned on the light urgently, and leaned in front of the mirror.

    A bloodstain as wide as a thumb appeared on her forehead.

    The pattern on the edge of the bedside table is relatively sharp, probably because when she fell off the bed just now, she hit her head and scratched the skin, leaving bloodshot spots.

    Although it is a minor injury and not serious, she had a commercial to be filmed the day after tomorrow, and she couldn''t appear in this appearance at all, which will disrupt the original work schedule. Such a delay would cost a lot of time.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran stood at the door, wanting to enter but not daring to, her heart pounding.

    Jiang Yu turned around.

    Cheng Suran caught a glimpse of the scar on her forehead, and gasped, "On your head..." She retracted her fingers and press it against her lips, "I''m going to buy medicine!"

    The girl turned and ran out.

    "Go back here."

    Jiang Yu walked over slowly, grabbed the girl''s hand, "It''s so late, where will you buy it?"

    The toilet door was narrow, and they stood facing each other. Her height of nearly 1.8 meters crushed half of Cheng Suran''s head, blocking a large area of ??light and bringing a strong sense of oppression.

    Cheng Suran took a step back, leaning her back against the door, and had to look up at her, like a chick being chased by an eagle and hiding in a corner.

    "There should be a pharmacy open..."

    "What if there''s none?"

    "..."

    The girl bit her lower lip, looked at her forehead worriedly, her eyes were confused and blamed herself.

    With her back to the light, Jiang Yu''s expression was dark and unclear. She looked at the girl quietly for a while, and felt the worry in those eyes, and her heart skipped a beat.

    Mm?

    Is the kid worried that she will blame her?

    Still¡­

    The vague thoughts flashed away, too faint to be detected, too late to catch.

    Jiang Yu put away her thoughts, let go of the girl''s hand, turned around and walked to the living room, picked up the landline and dialed the room service number. Cheng Suran followed her out and suddenly realized that she was so stupid.

    Then, someone brought the medicine.

    "Go and wash your hands." Jiang Yu looked at the girl standing dumbfounded, and went back to the bed and sat down.

    Cheng Suran came back to her senses, obediently went to the bathroom to wash her hands, took the ointment from Jiang Yu, unpacked it, and roughly read the instructions.

    She knelt on the sofa with one leg and stood on the other leg, lowered her head and squeezed out a little white paste on her fingertips, raised her hand carefully, and gently applied it to the bloodstain on Jiang Yu''s forehead.

    When they got close, the pink flesh oozed dark red blood, which was shocking.

    Cheng Suran frowned unconsciously, and her heart twitched, as if she is the one who got scratched, her forehead also felt a dull pain.

    She injured her sister.

    If she had been calmer and less flustered just now, she wouldn''t have hurt her sister. How could she be so careless... Any anger, any grievances, have long been left behind, leaving only a heartache and self-blame.

    The night is deep and silent, light and shadow are sparse, and the bedroom is filled with the sound of each other''s breathing.

    The ointment relieved some of the stinging pain in the wound. Jiang Yu looked up at the girl''s open nightgown collar, her collarbone was looming, and her neckline was white.

    Further up, there is a small pointed chin, thin pink lips, and a straight nose, and finally falls into those clear and sparkling eyes.

    Jiang Yu''s eyes were dim, and she put hee hands around her waist, and with a little force, she sat her down in her arms.

    "Sister¡ª¡ª" Cheng Suran exclaimed, stopped her hands, and her eyes touched the undisguised desire in her eyes, and she couldn''t help but blush.  "The medicine hasn''t been applied yet."

    "How much longer?"

    "Soon."

    Jiang Yu hummed, signaling to continue, Cheng Suran squeezed some ointment on her fingers, wiped it again, and then whispered: "Okay, sister, I''m going to wash my hands."

    When she came back after washing her hands, she took the initiative to sit on Jiang Yu''s lap, one hand was grabbed and pulled to cover the woman''s lower abdomen.

    "It hurts." Jiang Yu closed her eyes, brushed her lips against her ears, and said in a hoarse voice, "Rub it for sister."

    Feeling the temperature through the silk material in her palm, Cheng Suran blushed to the base of her ears in an instant, and wanted to shrink back, but felt distressed by Jiang Yu''s words, so she rubbed clumsily.

    "Let''s go to the hospital, I, I''m afraid..."

    "What are you afraid of?"

    "It would be bad if there is an internal injury."

    Jiang Yu laughed lowly and said, "If I have internal injuries, can I still stand up? Little fool."

    "But on your head..." Cheng Suran looked at the scar guiltily.

    Before she finished speaking, her body suddenly leaned back, and fell into the soft bedding unexpectedly. A large shadow was cast over her head, blocking the light.

    Jiang Yu kissed her lips.

    "Mm--"

    The scorching breath flowed between the lips, like a spark falling from dry wood, it quickly burned up.

    Cheng Suran closed her eyes, softly clasped Jiang Yu''s shoulders with both hands, and took the initiative to meet her, gradually feeling a little familiar heat.

    She seemed to hear her soul clamoring, missing crazily.

    She missed the fresh fragrance of iris on her body, missed her passionate kiss, missed her straightforward eyes when looking at her, and missed her the whole person.  Even if she is a dangerous fire, that can burn her to ashes at any time...

    The nightgown fell to the floor.

    The rest, likewise, flew away from Jiang Yu''s hands.

    "Sister..." She looked at her eagerly.

    Jiang Yu brushed away the broken hair from the girl''s cheeks, breathing heavily, but she was not in a hurry, and deliberately teased her slowly.

    The slender fingers are as light as feathers, and they pass by but do not enter, bringing a burst of itching.

    The bedroom seemed to have sunk into a dark and silent deep sea, without any light at all, Cheng Suran drooped her eyelids, dazed, clenching her teeth, trembling and throbbing, it became more and more unbearable.

    "Why didn''t you say good night yesterday?" Jiang Yu whispered in her ear.

    "You didn''t say good morning today."

    Cheng Suran tried her best to restrain her voice, and said with difficulty: "I... I was afraid that you would be angry, and I want to wait until you calm down."

    "Aren''t you just lying?"

    "¡­no."

    Jiang Yu raised her fingertips.

    Cheng Suran sobbed, and the corners of her eyes glistened with joy.

    "Be good."

    ¡­.

    When she was exhausted, Jiang Yu hugged the kid and fell asleep. There were no more nightmares that night, and she slept peacefully and soundly.

    The next morning, Cheng Suran was woken up by the seven o''clock alarm clock.

    The place next to her was empty, and the warmth had long since disappeared. She sat on the head of the bed in a daze for a while, and when she saw the ointment on the table, she was sure that last night was not a dream.

    Her sister left again.

    Clothes were scattered on the floor, along with wet wipes, tissues and used finger cots...

    Cheng Suran got out of bed with a blushing face, put on her clothes and went to wash up. Just as she stepped out of the room, she heard voices coming from the living room¡ªTian Lin came, but her sister didn''t leave.

    Holding a big paper bag in her hand, she stood in front of Jiang Yu, parted her hair and looked carefully, "What happened to your head? It wasn''t there yesterday."

    "Accidentally bumped it, it''s okay." Jiang Yu tilted her head to dodge.

    "The skin is broken and swollen like this. How could it be accidental? You..." Tian Lin was about to say something when she suddenly noticed Cheng Suran coming towards her, and her voice stopped abruptly.

    Jiang Yu followed her gaze.

    Cheng Suran stepped forward slowly, twisting her sleeves with both hands, like a child who made a mistake, "I was careless yesterday..."

    "Aren''t you going to class today?" Jiang Yu coughed lightly, her expression unnatural.

    It''s better for the embarrassing matter of being kicked out of bed by the little lover, to stay between them.

    Cheng Suran shut her mouth obediently.

    Tian Lin looked at the two of them suspiciously, feeling something was wrong.

    Early this morning, Jiang Yu asked her to bring clothes over. She was wondering why a person who was resting at home yesterday suddenly came to the hotel in the middle of the night. Thinking about what happened in the past two days, she seemed to understand something.

    "I''ll change first." Jiang Yu carried the paper bag to the master bedroom.

    The octagonal window screened in a ray of morning sunlight, and only Tian Lin and Cheng Suran were left in the huge living room. The two stood facing each other, one serious and the other anxious.

    Like a confrontation.

    One minute, two minutes, three minutes..

    "Miss Cheng, are you taking revenge?" Tian Lin took a step closer and looked at the girl solemnly.

    Cheng Suran was taken aback, "What?"

    Tian Lin''s expression was slightly cold, and she held back her anger and said, "Boss Jiang is going to shoot an advertisement tomorrow, and she has already agreed on a time with the brand. Now that it''s like this, how wil we shoot? All subsequent work plans have been disrupted. Do you know how valuable her time is? How much this will cost her?

    She didn''t know exactly what happened last night, but it must have something to do with this girl, especially since the incident happened in the car the day before yesterday, it was hard not to think of revenge.

    "I¡­"

    Cheng Suran''s eyes widened, her lips trembled, and her hands tightly clutched her sleeves, "Revenge? If you''re talking about the incident in the car... I never thought of revenge on my sister. Last night was just an accident. We..."

    "Tian Lin¡ª" Jiang Yu came out of the bedroom.

    The two turned their faces away.

    She changed into a navy blue coarse woven jacket, her long hair was draped softly over her shoulders, she had light makeup and red lips, elegant and capable, but her eyes contained reproach.

    Cheng Suran felt guilty, and didn''t dare to meet her eyes, so she lowered her head again, avoiding her gaze.

    Jiang Yu patted Tian Lin on the shoulder, and said softly, "Go to the car and wait for me first."

    "Okay." Tian Lin looked at the scar on her forehead, sighed, turned and left.

    The girl stood in front of the window with her head drooping. Her light and slender body was wrapped in a loose nightgown. Her skin was so white that it was almost transparent, like a fragile piece of paper or a stubborn grass.

    Jiang Yu was silent for a moment, and stepped forward to hug her.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "Mm?"

    "If the commercial fails to shoot, will I have to pay liquidated damages?" Cheng Suran mustered up the courage to look up and meet Jiang Yu''s eyes.

    Jiang Yu suddenly thought of teasing her again, and nodded seriously: "Um, more than 20 million."

    "..."

    More than 20 million.

    She can''t afford to pay even if she sells herself

    Cheng Suran was a little frustrated, but she still gritted her teeth and said, "I will pay."

    puff.

    Jiang Yu suppressed a smile, "How will you pay?"

    Cheng Suran said seriously: "I will work for you."

    "Really?" Jiang Yu raised her brows, "Then you will have to work for me for a lifetime."

    "..."

    The woman''s smiling eyes were extremely gentle, Cheng Suran stared at her blankly, her heart skipped a beat. She didn''t know if it was an illusion, but she could hear some romance from this sentence.

    Lifetime?

    Can she be by her sister''s side for the rest of her life?

    Thinking about it, the thoughts went deep into her mind, Cheng Suran smiled, and the two small dimples sank deeply, "Okay."

    Her eyes turned clear and her tone was sincere, as if she took it seriously.

    Jiang Yu restrained her teasing expression, reached out and scratched her nose, "Just kidding, little fool."

    "?"

    "I can shoot, no need for compensation."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran pouted.

    Jiang Yu put her arms around her waist, lowered her head and pecked her soft lips, and comforted her softly: "It''s okay, sister will take care of it, and besides, the responsibility is not yours in the first place, so don''t take it to heart. Good girl¡ª¡ª"

    Every time she gets angry with the kid, she''ll want to coax her even more afterwards, as if she sees her former self in her.

    She coaxes herself.

    "Mm, okay." Cheng Suran nodded obediently, buried her face in her neck, and rubbed it lightly, wanting to be coquettish, but she didn''t dare to be too presumptuous.

    A wonderful feeling rose from the bottom of her heart, a little sour and a little sweet.

    Still a little flustered.

    She wouldn''t really be tempted by her sister, would she?

 CH 43

    The sudden "accident" made Jiang Yu have to adjust her work plan. The commercial filming scheduled for tomorrow afternoon was postponed. Although it did not reach the level of breach of contract, she still had to pay for lost work.

    The original plan to fly to Milan on the weekend was brought forward.

    The ticket was rebooked to the next morning, Jiang Yu and Xiao Zhou went, while Tian Lin stayed to handle domestic work. She had contacted Milan''s assistant in advance, and someone would pick her up when she arrives.

    Then she personally drove the two to the airport.

    "Sister Yu, I have determined the area of ??the person you are looking for, and I will be able to find them within two days at the earliest." After waiting for the red light, Tian Lin glanced at the central rearview mirror.

    Jiang Yu, who had been holding her phone and didn''t know who she was talking about, raised her head: "Who?"

    "Spare tire."

    "..."

    Tian Lin continued on her own: "There are many qualified art schools, some of which are even better, and the high price is worth it."

    There are barbed subtexts inside and outside the words.

    Jiang Yu frowned slightly, staring at the profile picture of "Good Baby" on the screen, and said flatly, "Add two more conditions."

    "Mm?"

    "Someone who doesn''t chase stars, and doesn''t know me."

    She hates fandom girls so much, she never realized it before, but since she met the kid, it has been dug out.

    The corner of Tian Lin''s mouth twitched, and she couldn''t laugh or cry, "My sister, you can randomly combine all the conditions and pick up a few, and you can grab a lot of girls who meet the requirements, but adding them all is really too little, even if they exist, they may not be willing to..."

    "Isn''t that what the kid is?" Jiang Yu interrupted quietly.

    The air suddenly fell silent.

    Tian Lin was about to say something when the green light came on, she stepped on the brakes and shifted to "D" gear, and waited for the car to pass through the intersection before she said in a teasing tone: "You said it earlier, let me clone a Miss Cheng. "

    Xiao Zhou, who was sitting in the passenger seat, desperately held back her laughter.

    Jiang Yu was startled and lost her thoughts for a moment.

    What exactly does she want? Is it a spare tire like the kid, or...another kid? But it is impossible for two identical people to exist in this world. What she has now is unique, but her preferences have jumped from one extreme to the other.

    She adapted to a certain taste, repeatedly changed to another taste, continued to adapt, then repeat all over again.

    An endless loop until it gets old, no one can stay.

    Won''t she be tired?

    Jiang Yu raised the corners of her lips slightly, showing a sarcastic smile, and her gloomy and cold profile was reflected in the car window.

    The kid sent another message:

    [Sister, I¡¯m going to class, you should also put your phone away, it¡¯s easy to get dizzy when playing with your phone in the car, and you¡¯ll have to fly long distance later, take a good rest, recharge your batteries, work hard, I¡¯ll wait for you when you come back.]

    [By the way, stay safe and sound -3-]

    A "good baby" emoticon package.

    Jiang Yu stared at the words silently, her eyes softened.

    She replied "OK", put away her phone, and closed her eyes.

    Ten minutes later, they arrived at the airport, Jiang Yu and Xiao Zhou were pushing a big suitcase. Tian Lin was watching beside her, her brows were tightly furrowed, and there was a hint of irritability in her eyes.

    "You go in first, I''ll come right away." Jiang Yu handed the suitcase to her personal assistant, turned to Tian Lin, took her hand, and smiled.

    "What''s the matter, my sister Tian? Are you still angry with the kid?"

    Tian Lin dressed casually today, less meticulous and more intellectual and feminine. She raised an eyebrow at Jiang Yu, pointed to the hall, "Go in quickly."

    "I had a nightmare the night before, and couldn''t sleep. I drove to the hotel in the middle of the night to find my little friend..." Jiang Yu didn''t move, and explained roughly what happened the night before, replacing kicking out of bed with pushing.

    She knew what Tian Lin was thinking, and she thought it was funny and a little touching. One is her right-hand man for eight years and the other her favorite lover. She was caught in the middle, and she didn''t want the two parties to have a misunderstanding because of a trivial matter.

    Subconsciously, she felt that she should make it clear.

    Tian Lin was silent, staring at her, and suddenly covered her mouth and laughed, "Oh, that''s it."

    "So it''s not entirely her fault."

    "Mm."

    "Okay, I''m going in."

    "Sister Yu¡ª" Tian Lin called to stop her, "Are you really not angry? You have wasted so much time."

    Jiang Yu froze and thought for a moment, and said, "I''m not angry. What''s wrong?"

    "Nevermind, go in."

    The two bid farewell at the door.

    Tian Lin looked at Jiang Yu''s disappearing back, and that strange feeling reappeared.

    She remembered that about six or seven years ago, Jiang Yu and Qi Yan hadn''t broken up yet. The two got together less and often quarreled about work. One time, Qi Yan accidentally stained the skirt that Jiang Yu brought back. It happened that it was to be worn for a magazine shoot the next day. They almost got to the point of brawling.

    That was the first time she had seen couples quarreling so fiercely.

    What happened yesterday was clearly more serious than that.

    But¡­

    People change. She didn''t dare to jump to conclusions, she could only think so.

    ....

    Jiang Yu will be gone for three or four days.

    Cheng Suran has never missed someone so much. When she was in class during the day, she couldn¡¯t help looking down at her phone frequently. Before going to bed at night, she always had to scroll through Weibo for a while, wishing her eyes could be glued to WeChat all the time.

    Because--

    In addition to good morning and good night, she tried to send other things to her sister. For example, the professor had a funny blunder in class, and the cafeteria has a delicious new dish today...

    She didn''t expect a response. After all, her sister was so busy that she couldn''t always disturb her. It was just that she didn''t expect her sister to not only reply to her, but also chat with her a few more words, so she couldn''t help but hope for more and more.

    On one hand, she was worried about disturbing her sister and causing anger, but on the other hand, she couldn''t control her mind and hands.

    Even studying can''t divert her attention.

    The temperature has dropped in the past two days, and it has been raining continuously in the whole city. Pedestrians on the street have put on coats and pants, and the sky is gray from morning to night.

    Five minutes before the end of class, Cheng Suran felt her phone vibrate. Thinking it was a message from Jiang Yu, she took a peek while the teacher was not paying attention. It was not WeChat, but a Penguin message sent by the head teacher.

    Asking her to go to the office after class.

    Why?

    She was about to put away her phone when a WeChat message popped up.

    Sister: [Going back tomorrow afternoon.]

    Then she sent a screenshot of the ticket order.

    Cheng Suran was immediately elated, and couldn''t hold back, and quickly typed back: [I miss sister.]

    For a while, it was displayed that it was typing, and for a while there was no movement.

    Then the class ended.

    There was commotion in the classroom, Cheng Suran stared at the screen and slowly got up, packed up her things absently, and went to the head teacher''s office. The moment she knocked on the door, she received a kiss emoji from Jiang Yu.

    There is only one expression.

    She pushed open the door and saw the teacher in charge waving at her with a smile. She put away her phone and walked over, "Teacher Pan, what''s the matter?"

    The head teacher is very young, less than thirty years old, and looks like a little fresh meat*. He picked up a document and handed it to her, saying: "There will be a large-scale exchange exhibition at the Yalan Hotel next Friday, and we need a group of part-time translators. Your class 15 senior sister who is doing simultaneous interpretation has contacted me, as well as a few teachers majoring in Italian. She wanted to ask if there are any students who are willing to go, this is also an opportunity to exercise."

    *xiao xian rou, young, good looking guys, usually to refer to showbiz newcomers and idols, the use of the term extended to normal guys who fit the bill

    The document details the background, conditions and remuneration of the meeting.

    French and Italian each need two people. Cheng Suran took a look at the requirements of this major. The requirements are that the French must be at least DALF-C1 level, English must be above CET-6 or BEC intermediate level, be able to interpret fluently, and have a certain understanding of the fashion industry.

    The salary is 3,000 yuan a day.

    Her eyes fell on the words "fashion industry", completely ignoring the lucrative salary that made people drool.

    When she thinks of fashion, she thinks of models.

    She remembered Jiang Yu...

    Then she noticed the reward, her eyes lit up slightly. Full-time simultaneous interpreters who are new to the industry earn about seven to eight thousand a day, and they are part-time non-simultaneous interpreters who have not yet graduated. This price is indeed attractive.

    "But I haven''t taken the C1 exam yet, and I don''t know much about the fashion industry." Cheng Suran sighed regretfully.

    She really wants to go.

    English CET-6 is available, BEC intermediate is also available, and French C1 has already been registered, and the exam will start next month, which is only a little short.

    "Is it okay to have work experience? I have followed projects in large companies, and in the electronic technology industry, there is no problem with interpretation and translation. It should be between different industries..." She was a little uncertain.

    The class teacher interrupted with a smile: "Since I have already asked you to come, of course I think you can do it. Aren''t you preparing for the C1 exam? There is no one else in our class except you, so it doesn''t matter. As for the industry, go back and check it out." Just check the information and be confident."

    Cheng Suran hesitated for a while holding the document, then nodded lightly: "Okay. Then I will thank teacher first."

    "Well, take the meeting materials back to read, and add your senior''s WeChat by the way." The head teacher took out his mobile phone, put out a QR code and sent it to her.

    "Okay."

    Leaving the office, Cheng Suran was in a happy mood and couldn''t wait to share it with Jiang Yu. She typed a long paragraph and sent it, not caring about the rain on her head.

    However¡­

    She didn''t wait for a reply until very late.

    As the night deepens, the hustle and bustle subsides to silence.

    The bedroom was lit with soft lights. Cheng Suran was lying on the bed wearing only her underwear. Her long black hair scattered on her shoulders. While reading the meeting materials, she used her mobile phone to check industry related information and waited for WeChat news.

    The longer she can''t wait, the more impatient she becomes, and she can''t read a word for a long time.

    She doesn''t want to rush.

    Her sister¡¯s Weibo was updated the day before yesterday. It was a photo taken in Milan. She was wearing a simple shirt and jeans but it looked like a movie. The fans in the comment area screamed to set the wallpaper.

    Seeing so many people using the same wallpaper, Cheng Suran gave up the idea of ??changing her wallpaper, and found a sneak photo from the album¡ª¡ª

    Her sister led the horse, and the horse carried her, and the two of them walked together in the vast wilderness.

    No one else has this photo.

    This is hers alone.

    Cheng Suran''s heart was full of pride, and she couldn''t help being a little proud. She quietly set the sneak photo as the wallpaper then liked Jiang Yu''s Weibo post before sharing it.

    [Love you]

    She stared at the screen, the curved corners of her mouth collapsed bit by bit, her heart turned sore.

    A canary who is motivated by gold will not end well.

    Yes.

    She really likes her sister.

    When the thought appeared in her mind, she knew she was done.

    A WeChat video invitation pops up on the screen.

    It''s her sister.

    Cheng Suran jolted up, surprised and delighted, her heart was pounding with nervousness, she sat up quickly, grabbed her hair twice, and started the video solemnly and carefully.

    The camera froze for two seconds, and Jiang Yu''s cold and bony face appeared on the screen.

    "Elder sister--"

    She smiled happily, and the two little pear dimples opened a sweet arc.

    There was no expression on Jiang Yu''s face, she looked at her indifferently, and said in a low voice, "What did you say to Qi Yan alone in the hospital that day?"

 CH 44

    The cold question came across the screen, echoing in the silent air.

    Cheng Suran''s smile froze, and she suddenly remembered the situation in the hospital that day, feeling like being caught doing something bad, and suddenly became nervous, "You... how do you know..."

    Jiang Yu ignored her and only raised her voice: "Answer me."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu''s face was thin, with cold and hard lines. Even through the screen, it gave people a strong sense of authority, as if telling her that the consequences of lying will be serious.

    Cheng Suran bit her lower lip, her fingers clenched the bed sheet tightly, her small face turned pale with panic, "I only asked her a few questions..."

    "What questions?" Jiang Yu was aggressive.

    "Like the one I asked you before..." Cheng Suran took a deep breath, "If you were afraid of the dark and ghosts, or are you claustrophobic, how is your health, and..." She paused, a little hesitant.

    Seeing Jiang Yu frowning on the screen, she hurriedly explained honestly: "I also asked her what you like to eat, what you hate, and what you usually do, but sister Yanyan doesn''t remember many of them, and she doesn''t know some of them."

    After speaking, the air fell dead silent.

    Cheng Suran knew that she was done for, and lowered her head, mist slowly rose in her eyes.

    The cold white light above her head enveloped her, lonely and helpless, she hugged her knees with one hand, curled up, her vision was somewhat blurred.

    Turning her face away, she turned her phone to the other side, and quietly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

    Then looks up.

    It is daytime in the video, the room is well lit, the furniture in the background is obviously Italian style, and there is an oil painting hanging diagonally behind the wall.

    Jiang Yu looked at her quietly, her eyes were terribly cold.

    "Why do you ask these questions?"

    "I want to get to know you."

    "Why do you want to know me?"

    "..."

    She pressed on step by step, her black eyes were as cold as snakes, Cheng Suran felt fear instinctively, her body trembled, and she whispered: "Because I always make you angry, I think, if I know you better, wouldn''t it be okay? I felt it was my duty."

    At first she thought so, but when she realized that she was attracted to Jiang Yu, she realized that the real reason was as Qi Yan said¡ª¡ª

    When you like someone, you want to know everything about her.

    There is nothing more heartbreaking than a relationship that is clearly out of love, but has to be whitewashed with the cold reality of the relationship for fear of being seen, and then, in order to maintain this precious warmth, she has to pretend.

    The two looked at each other across the screen and were silent for a long time.

    It''s like waiting for judgment in despair.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips, her heart was beating fast, and the bed sheet she was clenching had been wrinkled out of shape.

    Then, someone suddenly spoke on the other side, and Jiang Yu turned her head, smiled at the person outside the screen, and spoke a few words in English. That smile is extremely bright, like a summer flower in full bloom.

    For a few seconds, she lost her thoughts.

    Afterwards, Jiang Yu turned back, her eyes returned to coldness, "Let''s talk about this when I go back."

    Then the video call ended

    The face on the screen disappeared instantly, Cheng Suran''s heart sank, she let go of the sheet, her body fell limply back as if her bones had been removed, and lay her back on the bed.

    Her whole being sank following her heart.

    Sinking and sinking.

    From heaven to hell.

    She thought, it''s really over this time.

    No benefactor can bear the "betrayal" of a lover, and the one involved is still an ex-girlfriend. She thought that she still had at least one and a half months to stay with her sister and leave as much good time as possible for each other. In this way, even if her final fate is to be kicked away, there will be memories to accompany her in the days to come.

    This is the first time she has fallen for someone.

    Cheng Suran''s eyes turned red, and she turned sideways by the ceiling light, curling herself up.

    From childhood to adulthood, her emotional world was blank, other people''s puberty hormones throbbed, and her puberty was focused on studying. Because she knew very early that her aunt''s house was not her home. She wanted to grow up fast, because she knew that she could only get out if she studied hard.

    After going to college, many boys liked her and pursued her, but they were all scared off by her "coldness". In fact, she is not aloof at all, she is just withdrawn, and of course, she is not too cold towards those boys.

    While refusing to make friends, while eager to have friends.

    But she never thought she would like women.

    In her eyes, the same sex is safe and trustworthy. An excellent homosexual is what she wants to be. She is more comfortable with the same sex and is more tolerant of the same sex than the opposite sex...

    All sorts of things like that..

    As a result, she had some doubts whether she liked Jiang Yu as a person, the shiny coat, or the icon.

    But these are not important now...

    She violated the terms of the agreement, and what awaited her was the end of the relationship.

    Then she''ll never see that person again.

    ¡­.

    After more than ten hours of flight, Jiang Yu slept comfortably in the first class cabin, it was already the morning of the third day in Jiangcheng. After coming out of the airport, she went directly to the company, and then went to her studio in the afternoon.

    Tian Lin said that the girl she wanted has been found.

    "She''s free tonight, do you want to meet her? Or just let it go first."

    "Meet her."

    The two left the studio across the courtyard.

    A few orange trees were planted beside the snow-white outer wall. The fruits were half green and not yellow, and it would take a month or two for them to fully ripen. The setting sun set behind them, elongating their shadows.

    Jiang Yu wore a black leather windbreaker that reached to her calves. Her tall figure was neat and tidy, and she felt a bit chilly as she walked with the  wind.

    "Okay, which hotel do you want to meet her at this time?" Tian Lin couldn''t keep up with her pace, so she could only walk faster, and opened the car door for her.

    Jiang Yu stepped into the car with one foot, stopped the other foot, her eyes dimmed, "There is no need to find another room, just take her to Yunjin Lihua directly."

    "But Miss Cheng lives there."

    "So what?"

    She turned her head and looked at Tian Lin, there was no warmth in her eyes.

    Tian Lin understood and shook her head, "It''s nothing."

    "Old time, half past eight."

    "Okay."

    ¡­.

    It was windy at night, and it was raining lightly. It was chilly outside, and the whole city was shrouded in misty water vapor.

    At eight o''clock sharp, Jiang Yu arrived at the hotel.

    The elevator went upstairs, and the door was pushed open, but it was pitch black. She froze for a moment, then turned on the light casually, the huge living room was empty and there was no one there.

    Not here?

    She was a little surprised, she frowned slightly and then relaxed, put down her bag calmly, went back to the master bedroom and took a nightgown to take a shower.

    She had been on a business trip in Milan for the past two days, and she couldn''t sleep very well at night. As long as she closes her eyes and falls asleep, that long, dark corridor will appear in her mind, swallowing her like a weird and eerie space.

    Dreaming of many people and things from the past, becoming more and more detailed and extreme.

    A few years ago, she locked herself in a secret room and tried to overcome her fears, but instead of working she made herself sleepless and very tired for a long time. It didn''t get better until it slowly faded away after a long time.

    She just doesn''t know how long it will last this time...

    Jiang Yu soaked in the bath for half an hour to relieve some fatigue, put on her nightgown, finished her simple skin care routine, and walked out of the bathroom.

    Tian Lin was already waiting in the living room with the spare tire.

    The girl is tall and thin, surnamed Tao, twenty-four years old, 1.7 meters tall, can speak English and Japanese, is a graduate student, has a pure appearance, a quiet personality, does not follow stars or social circles, and does not know Jiang Yu.

    Except for age and height, she is eligible, because it is really hard to find people who are exactly the same.

    "Sister Yu, this is..."

    "Hello, Ms. Jiang." Without waiting for Tian Lin''s introduction, the girl took the initiative to greet Jiang Yu, and smiled generously, "My name is Tao Minqi."

    Tian Lin: "..."

    Jiang Yu nodded perfunctorily, and looked at her with scrutiny.

    Good.

    The girl who is the same type as the kid looked pleasing to her eyes overall, but she didn''t have the amazing feeling when she first saw the kid

    She looks very pure, but her eyes are not so clean.

    Like a scheming one.

    "Sister Yu, I''m leaving first." Tian Lin left wisely.

    The two stood under the lamp and looked at each other quietly.

    After a while, Jiang Yu looked away, walked to the sofa and sat down, crossing her long legs, and asked casually, "Have you ever been in love?"

    "No." Xiao Tao followed and sat next to her.

    "Is there anyone you like?"

    "No."

    --Mm.

    Very good.

    Just as Jiang Yu was about to say something, there was a "beep" from the door, and then it was pushed open. She and Xiao Tao turned their heads at the same time.

    A thin figure stepped in.

    Her sight fell on them.

    Cheng Suran stood at the door, staring blankly at the two people on the sofa, not knowing what was going on for a while, her lips moved slightly, "Sister..."

    Jiang Yu ignored her, turned her gaze back calmly, raised her hand to stroke Xiao Tao''s hair, and said, "Go take a shower first, and then come to my room."

    She got up after speaking.

    Xiao Tao pointed at Cheng Suran, and asked doubtfully, "Ms Jiang, who is that?"

    "Don''t worry about her." Jiang Yu went straight back to the room without raising her eyes.

    ¡ª click

    The door closed.

    There was an awkward silence.

    Xiao Tao stood up in a daze, looked at the master bedroom, then at Cheng Suran, smiled awkwardly, turned around and went into the bathroom with her bag in hand.

    Cheng Suran froze in place.

    This is¡­

    Sister''s new lover?

    Her mind was buzzing, and she only heard a "bang" from the bottom of her heart, something collapsed and shattered to the ground.

    The sound of dripping water came from the bathroom.

    Time seemed to go back to the night at the end of August. She came to this gorgeous suite, and like the girl, she took a shower, washed herself clean, and then went to the room of the benefactor.

    No, she didn''t go to the room, she was just in the living room.

    Now it''s the turn of the other canary.

    There was a strong soreness and a dull pain in her chest. Cheng Suran took a deep breath, moved towards the closed door step by step, raised her hand, hesitated, and knocked carefully.

    One time, two times, three times¡­

    Knocked a dozen times.

    The door opened.

    A ray of light came out, Jiang Yu''s tall figure appeared behind the door, her eyes swept towards her with a blank expression, "What''s the matter?"

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran looked up, her eyes saw the indifference in her eyes, and her heart seemed to be pulled by an invisible hand, her voice trembling, "Don''t you want me?"

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak.

    Smelling the familiar quiet iris fragrance.

    Cheng Suran sniffed, water vapor slowly rose in her clear black eyes, her vision blurred for a while, then clear for a while, she stretched out her hand and grabbed Jiang Yu''s nightgown sleeve.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "Can you tell me why?"

    Jiang Yu frowned, but remained silent.

    Why?

    If she hadn''t chatted with Bai Lu and accidentally learned what happened in the hospital corridor that day, she would have been kept in the dark forever.

    She hates betrayal.

    But she can''t hate the kid...

    After a long stalemate, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped.

    As if the time has come, Cheng Suran bit her lips tightly, her red eyes showed despair, her fingers loosened Jiang Yu''s sleeve little by little, and lowered her head, "Then I will return the extra 150,000 yuan to sister..."

    Her voice was hoarse, she blinked, dropped a drop of crystal clear liquid, quickly wiped it away, raised her head and smiled.

    "I can''t take your money for nothing."

 CH 45

    Cheng Suran smirked and shed tears at the same time, her two dimples sank bitterly.

    She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, wiping away a little, but more came up, inexhaustible. Her pupils washed by water were like black pearls in tears, moist and bright under the light.

    "The agreement is for three months, and there is still one and a half months left to fulfill. Sister gave me 300,000 yuan. I should return half of it. Wait a minute, I..." She seemed to be talking to herself. After finishing speaking, she bowed her head and took her phone from the bag.

    Jiang Yu''s brows furrowed even deeper, and she said two words coldly: "No need."

    Cheng Suran seemed to have heard nothing, her fingertips tapping rapidly on the phone.

    The cold light from the screen illuminated her red eyes, her nose was also red, her lips were slightly parted, her body trembled every time she took a deep breath, and tears flowed into her mouth like this.

    Seeing her smile that was uglier than crying, Jiang Yu felt a prick in her heart, as if she had been stabbed by something.

    Anxiety gradually developed...

    -Boom!

    Jiang Yu slammed the door.

    And locked it.

    She lowered her head against the door, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.

    When she learned of Cheng Suran''s "betrayal", she was puzzled at first, not understanding what the kid wanted to know from Qi Yan, and then she got a little panicked, worried that Qi Yan would reveal the past between them and add fuel to words against her. Based on this, she felt the anger of being betrayed.

    At that moment, she thought of terminating the contract again, but quickly dismissed it. She didn''t want to end this money relationship, nor did she want to be reckless.

    She asked Cheng Suran what was going on, and after getting the answer, she was relieved to find that "betrayal" was not the "betrayal" she had imagined, which cleared up some kind of misunderstanding, which meant that she could continue to keep the kid by her side.

    But then she realized...

    She actually cared about her image in front of the kid.

    She became out of control.

    Jiang Yu hates this kind of feeling, she can''t lose control, she doesn''t allow herself to lose the initiative, when Tian Lin told her that she found a spare tire, she eagerly wanted to prove it through another girl, in front of Cheng Suran¡ª¡ª

    She will always be the benefactor.

    She can have whoever she wants.

    She will always be the benefactor.

    Only when she opened the cage with her own hands, was the bird allowed to fly away...

    The surroundings were so quiet that only the sound of her own breathing could be heard.

    Jiang Yu raised her head, opened her eyes, and gently rubbed the center of her brows with her fingertips. At this moment, the screen of the mobile phone on the bed lit up. She stepped forward, picked it up and looked at it.

    The kid transferred 50,000 yuan via WeChat.

    [Sorry, sister, the limit only allows 50,000 to be transferred and the rest will be transferred to you tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. I will go back to the school dormitory tomorrow, and I will clean up the room before leaving.]

    [Thank you.]

    No emoticons this time.

    Jiang Yu stared at the few lines of words, and frowned, as if being provoked, she felt a wave of anger burning in her body. She put the phone aside and got up to open the door.

    The living room was empty.

    The door of the second bedroom was closed, and there was the sound of water in the bathroom.

    She walked towards the second bedroom with a cold face, pushed the door open without any greeting, a ray of light came out, she raised her eyes, and all she could see was Cheng Suran''s panicked little face.

    The girl was about to take a bath, with only her panties left on her body, when she saw her barging in, she subconsciously covered herself with her hands.

    "Sister, you..."

    Jiang Yu stepped forward with a sneer, stretched out her hand to wrap her around her waist, turned around, pressed her firmly against the head of the bed, pinched her chin with her fingertips, "Little friend, do you understand what I''m saying?"

    "What... what..." Cheng Suran was frightened by her cold eyes, and was too stiff to move.

    "Did I let you go?"

    "..."

    "So eager to run?"

    "I¡­"

    "It seems that I''m really good to you, making your bones so crisp that you''ll be angry with me every day, huh? Feeling like your wings have grown hard, don''t you?" Jiang Yu''s voice was low and cold, and her fingertips pinched hard.

    There was a dull pain in the chin, Cheng Suran frowned and sobbed, struggling to shake her head, "No, I didn''t eh¡ª"

    A warm breath blocked her lips, grinding slowly, as if comforting, she stopped struggling, and couldn''t help but raise her head to meet her, but the next second, she was bitten hard.

    Cheng Suran burst into tears from the pain, and put one hand on Jiang Yu''s shoulder, trying to push her away.

    It''s a pity that she is too weak.

    Jiang Yu grabbed her hands and clasped it behind her back, knocked her down, bit her hard again, straightened up, knelt on both sides of her hip bones with her legs bent, and looked down at her condescendingly.

    "I was wrong, sister, I know I was wrong..." The girl''s eyes were full of tears, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

    Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes slightly, feeling the pleasure of dominance, looking down, inadvertently glanced at the half-curved peach tip, stretched out her hand to rub it, and pinched it again.

    "Mm--"

    Cheng Suran tensed up.

    "Do you still dare to be angry?" Jiang Yu leaned over and pressed against her ear.

    Cheng Suran gasped, moaning in her throat, "I don''t..."

    "How many more issues of the album are there?"

    "Two issues."

    "After the filming, you are not allowed to have any contact with Qi Yan!"

    "Okay¡­"

    Cheng Suran raised her head, couldn''t help trembling, her black eyes full of tears were pitiful.

    Jiang Yu avoided her gaze, stopped her hands, let go of her, and left the room without saying a word.

    After taking a shower, Xiao Tao came out of the bathroom, wearing a pink nightgown that was exactly the same as Cheng Suran''s. The silk fabric was smooth, and it shone brightly under the light.

    Maybe it''s because of her tall stature, she doesn''t look like a girl, but looks rustic because of her big frame and broad shoulders.

    It didn''t suit her.

    "Ms. Jiang¡ª" Xiao Tao smiled at her, stroked her hair, "I''ve finished washing."

    Jiang Yu looked at her, as if she was looking at a low-end version of the kid, with a different appearance and no stunning feeling at all. She suddenly lost interest.

    "Ms. Jiang?"

    "Go."

    Xiao Tao was stunned.

    Jiang Yu walked to the sofa, took out a wallet from her bag, took a few bills and handed them over, and said in a flat tone, "I don''t like ugly girls in pink."

    "..."

    Xiao Tao''s face turned blue and white with embarrassment, but she didn''t know how to refute, a little unwilling, she said,

    "Then I can change the color..."

    "Do you want me to drag you out?" Jiang Yu lazily raised her eyes.

    Xiao Tao shut her mouth, took the money as if resigned to her fate, carried the clothes she had just changed, went back to the bathroom, put them on again, and left in despair.

    The room fell silent.

    Jiang Yu stood there in a daze, the gorgeous crystal lamp cast light to cover her, coating her lonely figure with a layer of warm color. For a moment, she poured a small glass of water for herself, and walked to the window.

    The sky was dark, the moon was covered by overcast clouds, and the lights of the city outside the window were hazy in the rain and fog, like a bright ocean stretching into the distance.

    She stared outside quietly, drinking water in small sips, her eyes dark.

    She hasn''t been able to sleep well these few days on a business trip. She missed the kid, her bright and clean eyes, her warm and sweet smile, her soft voice calling her sister, and even more the appearance of her being bullied so powerless on the bed. Whenever the dark corridor appears in her mind, the girl is like the ray of light at the end, leading her out of the nightmare.

    She desperately longed to hold her to sleep.

    Although there is a shadow in her heart, she has been sleeping alone for more than ten years, and multiple people on her bed will make her feel very insecure.

    When she was with her ex, they slept in the same bed. She always waited for the other to fall asleep, then leave quietly, go to another room to rest, and then quietly return to the other in the morning. As for those little lovers, they were only in bed for temporary pleasure, and they left alone without nostalgia after it was over.

    It was the same with her and the kid at first.

    But she doesn''t know when everything changed.

    On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, she slept with the kid in her arms without any discomfort. Later, it was the night she was kicked out of bed.

    It turns out that it is so warm and comfortable to sleep with people under the same quilt all night.

    She seemed to be on an island isolated from the world, looking at the excitement of others across the boundless ocean, but she always refused to go out and did not allow anyone to come in. Finally one day, she saw Cheng Suran, she couldn''t bear the loneliness and desertion, and she felt a desire to get closer.

    But why? Why Cheng Suran...

    After drinking half a glass of water slowly, the anxiety in her heart disappeared a lot, and she calmed down.

    Jiang Yu put down her cup, turned around, glanced at the master bedroom, then at the second bedroom, thinking, the light in her eyes dimmed.

    After a while, she walked to the master bedroom.

    ¡­.

    Troubled by nightmares for several days, Jiang Yu developed a slight fear of sleeping. She turned the bedside lamp a little brighter, and at the same time opened the curtains to let the lights from the tall buildings outside shine in.

    The whole bedroom is filled with a soft haze.

    She lay down, closed her eyes, emptied her mind, and her breathing gradually became even and steady.

    She couldn''t remember the last thought before she fell into a deep sleep. When she was conscious, there was already another world in front of her, dark, oppressive, and full of despair. The same scene, the same person, was like a huge hand tearing her apart.

    On and off, half asleep and half awake.

    Sweat was dripping from her forehead, and her heart was beating violently in her chest. Jiang Yu suddenly opened her eyes, sat up, and gasped in the soft dim light of the room.

    The time is half past twelve.

    No¡­

    It still doesn''t work.

    She paused for a while, grabbed her phone, staggered out of the room, walked through the living room, and pushed open the door of the second bedroom impatiently.

    It was dark inside.

    A large piece of light poured in, and Jiang Yu vaguely saw the person on the bed move. She put down her phone and got into the warm bed without caring much.

    The moment she hugged the kid, she felt her body tremble.

    "Did I wake you up?" Jiang Yu asked softly.

    Cheng Suran was lying on her side with her eyes closed. She wanted to pretend to be asleep, but when she was hugged by someone behind her, she couldn''t control her trembling due to the fear in her heart.

    She can''t pretend anymore.

    "No..." she said quietly, "I haven''t fallen asleep yet."

    Jiang Yu remained silent.

    In the darkness, the quiet air seemed to freeze, and each other''s breathing could be clearly heard.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t help becoming nervous, and also a little confused. Didn''t sister have another lover... Oh, maybe they''re already done. From nine o''clock to now, it''s been a long time. Sister must like and be very satisfied with that girl. How many finger cots were used? Did they use the little toys?

    Thinking of this, her heart suddenly twitched, and she smiled wryly in the dark.

    She wanted to break the hands clasping around her waist.

    But she can''t.

    She can''t be angry.

    "I let her go." Jiang Yu''s deep voice came from behind.

    Cheng Suran was startled.

    Before she could ask why, the person behind said again: "She is not as good-looking as you."

    "..."

    The sweet scent of milk lingered at the tip of her nose. Jiang Yu closed her eyes and took a deep breath.The scorching breath fell on the back of the girl''s neck, and her voice lowered a little: "Do you hate sister?"

    "I don''t..." Cheng Suran murmured, the corners of her lips raised slightly.

    Hearing Jiang Yu saying she let that girl go, a gorgeous firework exploded in her mind instantly, and dense itches climbed up her tailbone, scratching her heart.

    She is actually a little happy.

    She is so cheap.

    A tear slipped from the corner of her eye and wet the pillow, she couldn''t help it, tears welled up more and more, her body twitched.

    There was a suppressed whimper in her throat.

    Jiang Yu frowned slightly, pulled the girl over with the other hand, gently pressed her lips against her eyelids, and kissed away those tears, "Don''t cry..."

    "Hmm." Cheng Suran nodded, and put her arms around Jiang Yu''s neck unconsciously.

    The tears flowed more fiercely.

    She had clearly vowed to control herself, but she still surrendered because of her sister''s few words. She really had no way to resist. From the moment she knew she was tempted, she was destined to be unable to escape...

    Tasting the salty taste on the tip of her tongue, Jiang Yu raised her head, stretched out her hand to brush away the scattered hair on the girl''s forehead, then lowered her head, and kissed her ear.

    "If you want to know anything in the future, you can ask me directly."

    "Okay."

 CH 46

    "If I ask you... will you be angry?"

    Cheng Suran closed her eyes, curled up like a kitten, sniffed the familiar fragrance on her body, felt her gentle caress, and couldn''t help but want to act like a baby before the scar on her heart healed.

    The kiss that fell densely on her ear paused for a moment, and then she heard Jiang Yu say in a tone full of tender, "No."

    The person in her arms murmured, obediently and still.

    "Ask sister, what do you want to know?" She pecked the girl''s small earlobe.

    Her lips touched the soft temperature, and along the contours, there were fine hairs, and the hot blood flowing through the thin skin, and flames ignited everywhere they went.

    Cheng Suran was kissed all over that her whole body went limp, she opened her eyes, a little dazed.

    She wants to know what kind of girl her sister likes, why such a good person as Yanyan became her ex, compared to her being inferior everywhere, is there no hope at all...

    Too many, one problem after another, are all mines buried on this road.

    So she can''t ask.

    She learned to behave.

    "Huh?" Jiang Yu lowered her head, her lips caught the soft tip of the peach.

    Cheng Suran shuddered and gave a low voice, unable to bear the stimulation for a moment, she hummed with difficulty: "Wait, I''ll ask my sister when I think about it."

    The moist peach tip slowly stood up.

    She doesn''t know if it was an illusion, but Jiang Yu felt her caution and precaution, and felt a little regretful, but soon she forgot it because of the tempting sweetness in her mouth, and left it behind.

    She is deeply infatuated with the taste of this little friend.

    The boundless night is a hotbed of desire, burning wildfire wantonly, devouring the two of them bit by bit...

    That night Jiang Yu had a good night''s sleep with Cheng Suran in her arms.

    ¡­.

    When she woke up in the morning, there was no one around her.

    Cheng Suran got up from the bed, stretched out her hand, and touched the space beside her. It was already cold, but there was still the familiar fragrance of iris in the air.

    She hugged her knees and sat on the bed, dazed.

    A little lost. When she woke up in the morning, she thought she saw her sister when she opened her eyes. Like in a dream, waking up in her sister''s arms. Her hair brushes her eyelids, and a soft kiss falls¡­ In a daze, she thought of the two faces of that person last night.  Cold and ruthless, then gentle like spring breeze water. She can''t help but feel sour and sweet at the same time, which is very contradictory.

    She is really cheap.

    But there is no way.

    Cheng Suran sighed, got out of bed and put on her slippers, she caught a glimpse of a gray bank card on the bedside table, she picked it up and looked at it, it seemed to be a credit card.

    "Jiang" is written in the signature column on the back.

    "!"

    She was startled, grabbed her phone and clicked into WeChat, and there was indeed a message from her sister.

    [Use the card at the bedside, the password is 827930, and the limit is 200,000, you can buy anything you want, you don''t have to ask me.]

    [If you don''t spend a penny, you will be spanked.]

    There is also a transfer of 30,000 yuan.

    [Pocket money.]

    The message was sent twenty minutes ago.

    Yesterday she turned over the 50,000 yuan but Jiang Yu didn''t accept it. She quietly stayed in the message and waited for it to be returned after 24 hours.

    Cheng Suran silently looked at the words, the soft bubble in her heart was ruthlessly punctured.

    She knew that the relationship between her and her sister was not pure, but her feelings were pure. The money seemed to tell her clearly that her obedience and caution were all in exchange for pleasure.

    Is this the way sister apologizes and comforts me?

    Cheng Suran''s nose turned sour, and she typed slowly to reply: [Thank you sister for your kindness]

    Before she finished typing, she accidentally sent it out, and then she typed the following words "but I don''t need it...", before sending it, Jiang Yu''s next message came over.

    Sister: [Kids must be obedient.]

    She saw through exactly what she was trying to say.

    Cheng Suran''s fingers froze. At that moment, she felt that she didn''t know what to do, so she laughed at herself, deleted the text, and accepted the transfer and credit card.

    Wake up, wash up, eat breakfast, and get ready to go to class.

    Tian Lin came in suddenly.

    She had a card, swiped open the door directly, and carried two large bags in her hands, followed by Xiao Zhou and four or five waiters, pulling a large trolley with several suitcases stacked on it.

    "Ms. Cheng, good morning." She and Cheng Suran faced each other, nodded with a smile, and then directed the others to move things into the master bedroom.

    One by one, it is very busy.

    Cheng Suran stared at them in a daze, guessing that it might be related to her sister. She wanted to go up to ask, but thought of the misunderstanding with Assistant Tian before, she was too embarrassed to ask.

    After moving the things, the waiter withdrew, Xiao Zhou stayed in the room to tidy up, Tian Lin sent a message to Jiang Yu as she walked out, she looked up and saw Cheng Suran.

    The girl''s face was full of curiosity, and the way she wanted to ask but didn''t dare to ask looked really funny.

    "Assistant Tian..."

    "These are Ms. Jiang''s things, clothes and daily necessities. Because of work needs, she plans to live here for a long time, so she asked me to bring some luggage over." Tian Lin smiled and explained to her.

    Cheng Suran murmured and repeated: "Long stay?"

    "Mm."

    "That is to say, sister will come back every night?"

    "Yes."

    Cheng Suran opened her eyes wide, and the corners of her lips couldn''t help but rise up, and the two small pear dimples opened up a pleasant and sweet arc.

    Is this an official cohabitation?

    She couldn''t hide the ecstasy in her heart at all, pink bubbles popped up all over her head.

    Tian Lin looked at her and sighed secretly.

    Another doomed tragedy.

    "Ms. Cheng, I misunderstood you last time, I''m sorry." Tian Lin pulled back her thoughts and said seriously.

    Cheng Suran also came back to her senses, was stunned for a moment, and shook her head, flattered, "It''s okay, I''m also responsible... Well, I think the injury on sister''s head is already healed, and the commercial to be shot..."

    Subconsciously, she was a little afraid of Assistant Tian, ??and she couldn''t explain why, but now the other party suddenly apologized, which made her a little helpless, even more uncomfortable than when she was with Jiang Yu at first.

    Tian Lin still smiled, and said gently: "I have discussed with the brand to adjust the time. In these two days, she has some other work, so she will be busy."

    "Oh¡­"

    ¡­.

    The "cohabitation" life is not full of pink bubbles in Cheng Suran''s imagination.

    Jiang Yu came back very late every day, sometimes at 9:30, sometimes after 10 o''clock, always looking very tired between her brows. When she came back, she took a shower, hugged Cheng Suran to sleep, and got up early the next day to leave.

    As the meeting was approaching, Cheng Suran was busy looking up information for the past two days. While learning about the industry and the background of the meeting, she was reviewing and preparing for the next month''s exam. She attended classes during the day and held books at night. She originally go to bed late, but in order to match Jiang Yu''s schedule, she had to go to bed earlier.

    Because--

    Her sister said, "It''s very comfortable to sleep with you in my arms."

    She was happy with this sentence for a long time.

    The two of them seldom communicated, and the only time they could talk was a few minutes before going to bed, and it was just a few casual conversations about daily life, and they couldn''t go deep. At first, Cheng Suran wanted to ask Jiang Yu about the fashion industry, but seeing that she was so tired every day and fell asleep, she couldn''t bear to bother her. She is easily satisfied, and feels that this is very good now, and she has learned to behave well, knowing that the benefactor will not be interested in the private affairs of the little lover.

    Gradually, she seemed to have found a balance point between her and Jiang Yu...

    Blink to Friday.

    After class in the morning, Cheng Suran and a few other students majoring in Italian got on the bus at the gate of the school and headed to Yalan Hotel.

    This hotel is one of the business cards of Jiangcheng. It is located on the east bank of the Binjiang River, across the river from the majestic TV Tower on the west bank. The bustling downtown pedestrian street is at the door. Many large-scale cultural activities and international conferences have been held there. It is said that the cheapest room for one night starts at four figures.

    It was only when they arrived at the hotel that they found out that in addition to the exchange meeting this afternoon, there was also a celebration for the 20th anniversary of a certain fashion magazine.

    The security at the scene was strict and orderly, and the long red carpet was spread to the gate, because the event hadn''t started yet, and the hall was empty. Cheng Suran and the others followed the senior sister into the meeting room upstairs of the hotel.

    RAW: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    Translation: love4baihe.blogspot com

    The whole building is a closed-loop structure. Standing on the corridor upstairs, they can see the whole lower floor, red carpet, posters, sign-in wall, and busy staff.

    The senior sister and her colleagues took everyone to the cafeteria for lunch, this meal was free, Cheng Suran took this opportunity to chat with her a few more words.

    "If some of you want to develop in the direction of simultaneous interpretation, you can start researching and preparing for translation training now, because some things require skills and have nothing to do with simply learning languages, such as note taking, shorthand characters, etc..."

    "We must seize the opportunity to go abroad for exchange in the third and fourth grades. If you have the conditions and ability, it is best to study a master''s degree and choose a major that is different from the undergraduate. If you don''t want to take this path by then, there is still room."

    "Simultaneous interpretation and consecutive interpretation are not more difficult. In terms of skills, simultaneous interpretation is difficult, and in terms of work intensity, consecutive interpretation is difficult. When you first enter the industry, you usually start with consecutive interpretations..."

    After this trip, Cheng Suran wanted to see the world, get in touch with different people, and make plans for her future. Seeing that she would graduate in two years, she inevitably felt anxious.

    She is going to study abroad.

    But she has no money, and she is not fully sure that she can get a full scholarship. Whether to continue studying or graduate to work has become a question that she must think clearly in a short time.

    After chatting over a meal, they talked about the matter at hand.

    The grand ceremony downstairs is related to the exchange meeting upstairs, and some of the attendees overlap, first downstairs and then upstairs. The grand ceremony invites all celebrities who have appeared on the cover and inside pages of the magazine since its inception, and most of the attendees are industry-related practitioners, such as designers, magazine editors, fashion buyers, etc.

    The part-time task of Cheng Suran and the others is to receive foreign guests and accompany them. They are mainly from France, Italy and the United States. Some people have no problem communicating in English, while others have difficulty. Having an interpreter by their side is double insurance.

    It was still early in the meeting, everyone had a rest after dinner, and was free to move around in the corridor.

    At two o''clock, the grand ceremony downstairs began.

    A long red carpet leads to the background wall with huge posters. Both sides are crowded with various media carrying long and short range cameras. The hostesses are standing quietly with trays. The scene is grand.

    Cheng Suran looked around curiously, and her eyes fell on the entrance.

    Will any of them look familiar to her?

    Why?

    She didn''t know the first few, so she decided to just watch the fun.

    Celebrities walked past the red carpet one after another. Ladies wore dresses of different styles, while men wore suits. All of them were radiant, and the flashing lights continued like dense stars.

    "Ahhh my brother!"

    "So handsome, so handsome, my God, I''m dying..."

    "I didn''t expect to have a part-time job to make money and see my brother up close. This kind of benefit is too good, hahahaha!"

    A girl majoring in Italian next to her exclaimed excitedly.

    Cheng Suran seems to be suffering from prosopagnosia, seeing who she doesn''t know, she lost interest for a while, and just about to turn around when she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure at the entrance from the corner of her eye...

 CH 47

    The woman was too tall, with thick black shoulder-length curly hair. The deep V-neck of the semi-sheer black gauze on the upper body was almost open to the navel, revealing the straight collarbone. With elegant and sexy lines.

    She walked slowly on the red carpet, one step at a time, exuding a confident and powerful aura all over her body, as if she was standing on the radiant runway.

    Cheng Suran held her breath, her heart beating faster and faster for no reason.

    Elder sister¡­

    Like a gust of light wind, Jiang Yu blew to the end of the red carpet, calmly took the pen handed by the hostess, signed her name on the wall unhurriedly, and then turned around.

    The flashes came on one after another, and the reporters scrambled for the best angle.

    Her chin was raised slightly, her full red lips curved lightly, she skillfully and easily sculpted different shapes to face the camera, her posture was dignified and generous, and her cold and charming eyes were calm.

    There is a natural high-level sense in her gestures, where she is, the runway will be there.

    "Wow, Jiang Yu¡ª"

    "So sassy, ??so imposing...Supermodels are different from celebrities."

    There was a commotion among the onlookers.

    Cheng Suran was holding on to the railing, staring at the figure intently, her moist black eyes were slightly shining, she quietly took out her mobile phone, and took a dozen photos in a row.

    At this time Jiang Yu turned around and walked down.

    She''s not sure if it''s an illusion, but Cheng Suran felt that her walking posture was a bit unnatural, as if her center of gravity was leaning on the right side, but upon closer inspection, there seemed to be no problem.

    Did she step on the hem of her skirt?  Or the shoes don''t fit?

    Before she could think about it, that person had disappeared from sight, and another actress she didn''t know walked over.

    Cheng Suran looked down at the photos on her phone.

    The person in the camera is graceful and dazzling, like a bright star, bright star, a high god, whom the audience looks up to. As for her, she could only watch silently in the shadows beyond the light. They were not far away from each other, but seemed to be separated by thousands of miles, and there were countless deep trenches between them.

    Age, experience, economy... nothing can match.

    Only at this time can she clearly see the gap between the two.

    She suddenly felt frustrated, as if no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t keep up with Jiang Yu''s pace, and she couldn''t even touch her shadow.

    "Huh? What''s the situation with Ren Shilu?"

    "Why does her dress look so similar to Jiang Yu''s..."

    "It''s not like it''s exactly the same."

    Hearing Jiang Yu''s name, Cheng Suran seemed to be a machine that automatically grabbed key information. After responding, she heard the sound and looked downstairs, her eyes fell on the actress who was walking in the middle of the red carpet.

    Deep V-neck, semi-transparent black gauze, snow-white long skirt, hollowed waist.

    It was exactly the same as Jiang Yu''s dress.

    Cheng Suran was dumbfounded.

    The audience was silent for a few seconds, and the media looked at each other in blank dismay. After a while, they slowly raised their cameras and started filming.

    The actress named Ren Shilu sensed something was wrong, she still maintained a decent smile, walked over to sign, turned around, her smile gradually became a little stiff.

    There were people whispering to each other, and the hostesses were taken aback for a moment.

    "She bumped her clothes* hahahaha..."

    *or zhuang shan/outfit clash, when two or more people accidentally wear the same clothes at the same time and place, usually happens during social events

    "I''m embarrassed for her no matter what, what is her team doing?"

    The onlookers covered their faces.

    There is a saying that it is not terrible to bump into clothes, but whoever looks ugly will be embarrassed. A person who can be a star will not be low in appearance, but she is short, and she can''t support the silhouette of the dress even with ten-centimeter high heels. The upper body is loose, it looks like she will disappear with a little movement. The skirt is too long and it is easily wrinkled. She looks like a little doll who secretly wore an adult''s clothes.

    Cheng Suran looked at her, as if looking at a thief who took her sister''s clothes, feeling upset, turned and went into the meeting room.

    ¡­.

    The event lasted about an hour and a half.

    The most popular person on the scene was Pei Chutong, the "Double Gold" actress. Although she had the same number of "Zero Degree" single cover as Jiang Yu, the new movie had just finished filming, and the topic was soaring. A senior with both inner talent and appearance, so she is highly sought after.

    The hidden reason is that she has a deep background, and there are few people who want to curry favor with her.

    This young lady has a rather cold temper. Apart from polite greetings and speeches on stage, she sat next to Jiang Yu the whole time, only chatting passionately with her.

    Jiang Yu didn''t really want to be in the limelight, but the limelight took the initiative to find her¡ª¡ª

    She collided with a traffic floret.

    The moment the two met was extremely embarrassing, Jiang Yu didn''t know whether there was a problem with her own team or the other party''s team, and she almost doubted the brand. But she has dealt with Blue Blood Luxury brand for many years, and she knows very well that the brand will not make such low-level mistakes, and the problem is very likely to be on the other side. Thinking of this, she calmed down.

    Everyone was discussing the matter in secret all afternoon.

    After the event, Pei Chutong stayed to greet the editor-in-chief. Jiang Yu had to attend the exchange meeting later, so she went back to the lounge to change clothes.

    To match the dress, she wore a pair of brand new high-heeled shoes today, and her heels were worn down a bit. It was a torment at the event site. As soon as she left the range of the camera, she relaxed and hung on Tian Lin.

    "Have you got a Band-Aid?"

    "No, I''ll ask the waiter for it when I go back."

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu handed the bag to Tian Lin, looked down at WeChat, replied to some messages, and then switched accounts. She has recently developed a habit of going to her alternate account to take a look if she has nothing to do, so as not to miss the kid''s messages.

    The child sent a photo, a "beautiful baby" emoticon package.

    [Sister, you are so beautiful]

    [I secretly took a few photos of you, don''t you mind?]

    She clicked on the picture to enlarge, it turned out to be the red carpet scene from an overhead angle, and the smiling person standing in front of the sign-in wall was clearly herself,

    Jiang Yu showed surprise on her face, and paused in her footsteps.

    Why is the kid here?

    She quickly typed back: [Where are you? Upstairs?]

    It took only a few seconds to send it out, but it showed that it was typing, and the kid replied quickly: [Hmm, big conference room, I am here to work part-time with my classmates.]

    Another cute meme.

    Jiang Yu''s heart was suddenly poked, tingly, and there was an urgent desire to see the kid. She continued typing: [Are you free now? I''ll ask Tian Lin to pick you up.]

    [Sister wants to see you.]

    The lounge is under strict security, and ordinary people cannot enter, but she can only go there after the exchange meeting starts.

    Kid: [Okay, but only fifteen minutes.]

    "Tian Lin, you have worked hard. Now go upstairs to the meeting room to pick up the kid. She''s over there." After entering the separate lounge, Jiang Yu sat down and couldn''t wait to take off her high heels.

    Sure enough, her left heel was a little blistered.

    Tian Lin wanted to ask for a Band-Aid, she froze for a moment, didn''t ask any more questions, nodded and said, "Okay."

    The room became quiet, Jiang Yu took a sip of water from Xiao Zhou, changed into slippers, leaned on the sofa and closed her eyes to rest, gently rubbing her temples with her index finger.

    A few minutes later, the door was pushed open.

    Jiang Yu opened her eyes.

    Seeing her, the girl couldn''t hide the smile between her brows and eyes, with small dimples on her cheeks, and trotted towards her in three steps at a time, "Sister..."

    Jiang Yu opened her arms and hugged her into her arms, and put her lips close to her ears. Only then did she remember that she was still wearing lipstick, so she could only hold back, and rubbed the tip of the girl''s nose lightly, "When did you come here?"

    "At noon." Cheng Suran replied obediently, putting her arms around her neck.

    "Are you an accompanying interpreter?"

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu closed her eyes and smiled, kneading her earlobes with her fingertips, and encouraged her in a gentle voice: "Sister knows you are very good, don''t be nervous, go for it."

    Cheng Suran blushed from the compliment, nodded shyly, and suddenly remembered something, reached into her pocket and took out a small thing, "By the way, sister, I..."

    "Sister Yu, Band-Aid." Tian Lin handed over two thin strips.

    Cheng Suran was startled, and clenched the things in her hand.

    It''s two Band-Aids.

    The three of them froze at the same time.

    Cheng Suran looked at Tian Lin, then at Jiang Yu, hesitated for a moment, lowered her head, and slowly retracted her hands.

    Suddenly, Jiang Yu grabbed her hand and said to Tian Lin: "I have this,  put that away for now."

    "Okay." Tian Lin held back a smile and stepped aside.

    Why?

    Cheng Suran raised her head and looked at Jiang Yu flattered.

    "How did you think of giving me this?" Jiang Yu just smiled, reaching out and scratching her nose.

    Cheng Su smiled bewilderedly, couldn''t hide her joy, and said in a low voice: "Just now, I saw that you walked in a strange posture when you stepped off the stage, and you didn''t step on your skirt. I guessed there may be something wrong with your feet. Then I remember there is a small dark spot on your heel, which happens to be in contact with the edge of the shoe, it must have been rubbing off many times, right?"

    Evening dresses should be paired with high heels, but sister rarely wears high heels everyday, so it is very likely that she wore a new pair today.

    RAW: https://www.jjwxc.es it''s normal for new shoes to rub your feet.

    Listening to the kid''s words, Jiang Yu''s calm eyes were full of waves, and she was a little absent-minded.

    She didn''t even pay attention to her heels herself.

    On the red carpet today, in order not to let people see the clues, and not to be caught by the media in a bad state, she endured the pain and walked the whole way. Even Tian Lin didn''t notice the abnormality.

    How did the kid find out when she was standing upstairs?

    Gradually, as she continued to think deeply, it seemed that she was about to touch the icy forbidden zone in her heart, so she stopped thinking immediately.

    It is an obligation of a lover to please the benefactor.

    "Sister, I''ll put this for you." The girl''s clear voice interrupted her thoughts.

    Jiang Yu came back to her senses.

    Cheng Suran squatted down, tore off the wrapping paper of the Band-Aid, took it out, gently grabbed Jiang Yu''s ankle with one hand, and glanced back.

    Sure enough, the small piece of darker skin was peeled away, revealing pink flesh and blood.

    She furrowed her brows deeply, and her heart ached.

    It must be very painful...

    Cheng Suran carefully tore off the second layer of paper, covered the wound with a Band-Aid, and flattened it carefully with her thumb. Her hand was shaking a little, and she touched it worriedly after putting it on.

    She squatted on the ground, her body curled up smaller and smaller, frowning for a while, and her cheeks swelled slightly for a while, like a cute little milk rabbit.

    Jiang Yu stared at her, heartbroken suddenly, and a scorching temperature melted away, her eyes softened unknowingly.

    The girl looked up.

    And their eyes collided.

    Jiang Yu curled the corners of her lips, "Are you done?"

    "Yes..." Cheng Suran nodded slowly, blushing.

    Jiang Yu pulled her up, wrapped her in her arms, held her face with her slender fingers, leaned over to kiss her, and was about to touch those seductive lips, when she suddenly remembered her lipstick.

    Damn-

    Cheng Suran looked at her nervously, leaning her upper body back slightly, as if she was about to avoid it at any time.

    There are two other people in the room.

    ¡ª¡ª case case case case

    There was a knock on the door.

    Cheng Suran was like a frightened bird in an instant, and hurriedly retreated from Jiang Yu''s arms and sat beside her.

    "Sister Yu?" Tian Lin asked Jiang Yu with her eyes.

    Jiang Yu hummed, held the girl''s hand, trying to comfort her.

    Cheng Suran was in a panic, and withdrew her hand as if shocked.

    Jiang Yu frowned.

    After being instructed, Tian Lin went to open the door, opening only half a person''s width, carefully blocking the sight of outsiders with her body.

    It was Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu.

    "Miss Pei."

    "Is Coco there?"

    "Yes, come in." Tian Lin breathed a sigh of relief.

    Pei Chutong and Tian Lin are very familiar with each other, and they don''t shy away from each other. She walked in generously, with a wind on her feet, and a smile on her face, "Coco, I have nothing to do. After you finish the meeting, go to my house tonight. Let''s eat?"

    She was wearing a cheongsam-style retro dress, her hair was pulled into pear blossoms and slightly curled, she was full of looks, her eyes were like silk, her red lips were full of classical style, and her frown and smile were full of extravagance.

    After speaking, she noticed the girl beside Jiang Yu.

    "Who is this?"

    The air was silent for two seconds.

    Jiang Yu smiled faintly, raised her hand to stroke the girl''s hair, and said casually, "My little bird."

    Cheng Suran froze and raised her head abruptly.

    "Oh¡ª¡ª" Pei Chutong suddenly realized, and nodded, "Little sister, hello."

    Cheng Suran met the woman''s gaze, and couldn''t help opening her eyes wide, "Hello..."

    She knows this one.

    The heroine of this year''s Lunar New Year movie "Azure Cloud" is called Pei...Pei what?  Huh, she can remember characters and faces, but she can''t remember names. In short, this one''s a big star alright.

    "You are from "Azure Cloud"..."

    "Hang Jin." Pei Chutong told her the name of the character she played.

    Cheng Suran nodded like a pounding garlic: "Yeah."

    Pei Chutong looked at her with interest, looked up and down, with a faint smile on her lips, "Little sister, why are you blushing?"

    The woman''s brows are graceful and majestic, with an innate aura of nobility, perhaps because of the makeup of this dress, she looks like the eldest lady of an old-fashioned official family.

    "...no." Cheng Suran was inexplicably embarrassed, and lowered her eyes uncomfortably.

    Cuter.

    Pei Chutong pursed her lips and smiled lightly, turned her head to look at Jiang Yu, and suddenly became interested in teasing, and said, "Coco, I like this little sister very much, how long have you raised her? Why don''t you give her to me?"

    As soon as these words fell, the atmosphere froze instantly.

    Ruan Mu who was silently sitting next to her frowned.

    Cheng Suran''s heart skipped a beat.

    What does that mean?

    Five pairs of eyes looked at Jiang Yu at the same time.

    Jiang Yu raised her eyebrows, took Cheng Suran''s hand without hesitation, and said with a smile, "Okay, I''ll give her to you."

 CH 48

    Everyone fell silent.

    The girl was pulled to stand up, staggered a bit, lowered her head, her soft long hair covered her side face, she looked like a bird with folded wings struggling weakly, more like pork belly sold by the catty in the vegetable market.

    Those words were like a bolt from the blue, shattering her last self-esteem.

    "That fast?" Pei Chutong looked at Jiang Yu in surprise, but she didn''t expect her to follow her own, and couldn''t figure out whether she was cooperating in a joke or meant it.

    "Are you really willing?"

    Jiang Yu sneered, and said casually: "What''s there to give up? It''s just a bird, I can just raise another one."

    Another thunderbolt.

    There was a sharp stabbing pain in her chest, Cheng Suran desperately clenched her fists, nails deeply embedded in her palm, to calm herself down.

    She is a bird, a pet.

    Pets that are generously given away by their owners at any time.

    Since she chose this relationship, she should accept this reality. However, she always loves to dream, and the boundary between dream and reality is blurred when she is dreaming. She''s becoming less and less sober. So much so that returning to reality hurts so much.

    What dignity does a canary want?

    She comforted herself with these words, making all Jiang Yu''s actions reasonable, but she was just deceiving herself. She has to lie, if there is no "beautiful" lie to calm and appease her, the pain will tear her apart.

    Pei Chutong clicked her tongue twice, and from the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Ruan Mu sitting still, raised her eyebrows, and stretched out her hand to the girl, "Okay, come on, little sister, come with me."

    Now everyone''s eyes are on Cheng Suran.

    She doesn''t know if it''s pity, sympathy, or ridicule...

    She hung her head, her cheeks were burning hot, she looked at the white and shiny hand in front of her, motionless, embarrassed and pitiful.

    Tian Lin, who was watching from the sidelines, shook her head helplessly, and sighed secretly, why did the boss become so naive, like a child, how could she bear this? She couldn''t stand it.

    "Little sister?" Pei Chutong smiled and blinked, "Don''t be cautious, she and I are old acquaintances. If you miss her in the future, I will send you back."

    "Don''t you want to go back to the old chief the day after tomorrow?" Ruan Mu, who was sitting beside her, said abruptly.

    The implication is that the person that Grandpa Pei introduced last time has to go back and make contact with her to put on a show, so she has no time to raise a lover.

    Jiang Yu coughed with a suppressed smile.

    Pei Chutong was stunned, with a hint of joy in her eyes, but she still turned her head and glared at Ruan Mu, "What does this have to do with my grandfather?"

    Ruan Mu pursed her lips and remained silent.

    "Did I let you talk?"

    "..."

    Although Pei Chutong''s mouth was as sharp as a knife, she felt great comfort in her heart. However, seeing Ruan Mu drooping her eyes and not saying a word, and thinking of the invisible and difficult gap between them, she couldn''t help feeling sour.

    She knew she still cared.

    This dead wood.

    Pei Chutong turned her face to meet Jiang Yu''s subtle gaze, and the two looked at each other and smiled. She glanced at Cheng Suran who kept her head down all the time, waved her hand and said, "Little sister can''t help being teased, it''s better not to bully her."

    "You also know it''s bullying." Jiang Yu pursed her lips and smiled, and looked sideways at Cheng Suran, only then realized that her expression was wrong.

    The girl lowered her head, her thick eyelashes concealed all her emotions, her little ears protruding from her hair were so red that they almost dripped blood, her whole body was stiff, like a cold sculpture.

    Jiang Yu pulled her into her arms calmly, stroking her face with her palms, and said softly: "Sister is joking, little fool."

    "Mm, it''s okay." Cheng Suran squeezed out a stiff smile, but it was uglier than crying.

    With outsiders around, she held back her tears, and didn''t dare to show any more emotions. She knew what was going on, understood her complexion, and obediently obeyed¡ªas long as she wanted to stay by her sister''s side.

    Seeing her aggrieved appearance, Jiang Yu''s heart suddenly softened a little, a little regretful, but now in front of other people, as the benefactor, it is impossible for her to continue coaxing the canary.

    "Sister, I''ll go to work first." Cheng Suran stood up, smiled, turned around and left as if fleeing.

    There was still a quarter of an hour before the meeting started, and foreign guests from various countries had already arrived one after another. Instead of going to the meeting room immediately, she got into the women''s toilet and locked herself in the last private room.

    Locking the door, with her back leaning against the door, she crouched down holding her head, letting the tears fall.

    It was like blood flowing from her heart. It was hot and sticky. She wiped with the back of her hand, trembling as she wiped them.

    After two minutes of venting, Cheng Suran wiped away her tears, forced herself to calm down, then opened the door as if nothing had happened, stood in front of the sink, poured cold water on her face, wiped off the water, adjusted her appearance in front of the mirror, and walked out calmly...

    ¡­.

    In the lounge, Jiang Yu and Pei Chutong chatted for a while. She was a little absent-minded, they were talking about today''s activities, but she is thinking about how to coax a person back home.

    Chatting and talking about the clothes bumping.

    Pei Chutong is in the entertainment industry, and is very sensitive to similar topics. She immediately clicked on Weibo, and after a look, there was an entry about the clothes bumping incident on the hot search.

    Although the current popularity is not high, judging from her experience, it is only a matter of time before it rises.

    "Coco, here¡ª" She handed over the phone.

    On the screen was the latest Weibo post from a marketing account. There were six pictures of the red carpet live broadcast. The first three were Jiang Yu, and the last three were traffic florets Ren Shilu. It feels completely different.

    The former is tall and thin, with a light body. Her whole body is tall and straight, while the latter suffers from being short, and has a sweet appearance, which looks a bit bloated and petty.

    The comment section is all talking about who is better looking, and if there is a comparison, it is inevitable that there will be criticism, so there is a quarrel.

    "Ren Shilu bumped herself into the muzzle of the gun, so no one else can blame her. If it were me who made such a fool of... Oh no, neither my team nor I will allow this to happen." Pei Chutong said she laughed gloatingly.

    This little flower once stepped on her in a press release, and threatened to expose her black material*, but the flag died down without even splashing, and her own dirty material was picked up a lot, and she lost her teeth and swallowed them, not daring to say anything anymore.

    *scandal

    Jiang Yu looked at it twice, and sighed helplessly: "I haven''t been on the trending search in eight hundred years, and I get a headache when I see these children making noise."

    "What I am more worried about now is that the hotter the topic, the more likely it will cause fans to fight. Most of the fans of this kind of traffic cafe are energetic and time-rich children. You will definitely suffer in terms of public opinion. So I will monitor the wind direction for you first, and suppress any comments that are not conducive to you immediately." Pei Chutong suppressed her smile and analyzed carefully.

    Jiang Yu nodded lightly.

    She doesn''t care about that. After the last season of fashion week in the spring of next year, she will bid farewell to the runway, officially "retire", and fade out of the public eye. The assets in her hands will not be squandered in this life. In the future, she will manage the company and live her own life.

    What really caught her attention was why there were identical dresses.

    "I''m very sure that there will be no problems with the brand, so someone must have copied its design, and Ren Shilu may not know about it..."

    "C''s couture can''t be borrowed by just anyone. She must know something in her heart, and it''s impossible for her to be completely ignorant."

    RAW: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    Translation: love4baihe.blogspot com

    The two analyzed and discussed a few words, and then talked about variety shows. Seven or eight minutes before the meeting started, Jiang Yu changed her clothes and flat shoes, and was about to go out.

    Pei Chutong sat on the sofa and checked Weibo, asking Ruan Mu to massage her shoulders and beat her legs. She lazily said: "Coco, I''ll wait for you here, go straight to my house after the meeting, and I''ll cook myself tonight."

    "Next time..." Jiang Yu pondered for a moment, and the kid''s distressed appearance flashed in her mind, "Your movie has just finished, so take a good rest these two days."

    "Um?"

    Pei Chutong slightly raised her brows, put down her phone, got up and went over, and whispered in her ear, "Actually, you want to go home to coax your little lover, right?"

    Jiang Yu: "..."

    Without waiting for her to speak, Ruan Mu suddenly squeezed between the two of them, lightly brushed Pei Chutong''s hair, and calmly separated them, "You have gray in your hair."

    Pei Chutong: "..."

    Jiang Yu coughed lightly, nodded, and winked at Pei Chutong, "Go back quickly, I have a meeting."

    "Don''t stand me up next time." The words were addressed to Jiang Yu, but Pei Chutong looked at Ruan Mu and knocked her hand off.

    Ruan Mu silently stepped aside.

    ¡­.

    At four o''clock, the exchange meeting began.

    Practitioners in the fashion industry from all over the world gathered together. Among them were well-known designers, editors-in-chief of fashion magazines, brand creative directors, and models like Jiang Yu. The venue was full of seats.

    Many old acquaintances meet and greet each other. Some people are fluent in English and walked down a circle to say hello.

    Jiang Yu saw Cheng Suran at a glance.

    She was wearing a black coat with white lining, her hair was tied into a low ponytail, her face was gentle, her deer eyes were bright, and she wore a work permit around her neck, with a professional and serious demeanor.

    She is surrounded by the editor-in-chief of "VF" who is known as the "Fashion Freak".

    A casual and somewhat arrogant French woman.

    The reason for her casualness is that every time she appears in the public eye, she always looks lazy and careless. She doesn''t spend any effort to clean up her traces, and she doesn''t do it deliberately. And the arrogance is because this person only speaks French no matter what the occasion, so sometimes, she needs an interpreter to accompany her.

    She was talking with someone, and every time she finished a sentence, Cheng Suran beside her would translate a sentence.

    She seems to be doing well.

    Jiang Yu originally wanted to go up to say hello, but she was worried that her sudden appearance in front of the kid would cause shock and affect her work status. After thinking for a moment, she turned and walked away.

    The meeting lasted about two hours.

    Jiang Yu sat in the second row, and the editor-in-chief sat in the first row obliquely in front, only two people separated her.

    The meeting was equipped with simultaneous interpretation. The senior sister and her colleagues sat in the simultaneous interpretation box and simultaneously translated the Chinese speech on the stage into English, while Cheng Suran sat next to the editor-in-chief, bowing her head and whispering something from time to time.

    Her expression was focused, she was completely involved in it, and her serious and easy-going look had a special taste.

    Being so close, Jiang Yu could vaguely hear her talking, her voice was low and gentle, very standard, her tone was unhurried and powerful.

    Like the night she sang "Winter Garden" to her.

    Throughout the meeting, Jiang Yu didn''t listen to much, and kept her eyes on Cheng Suran, watching her pink lips open and close, like cherries, and like jelly, inviting people to pick and taste...

    Before leaving, she sent a WeChat message:

    [The car is by the flower bed at the side door, waiting for you to go back together.]

    ¡­.

    At six o''clock in the evening, it was already dark, and the bustling urban center was brightly lit.

    A black Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle was parked by the flower bed. Jiang Yu had her eyes closed and rested her mind. Suddenly the door opened. She opened her eyes, turned her face, and met the girl''s surprised and slightly complicated eyes.

    "Come on." She raised her lips and smiled.

    Cheng Suran got into the car obediently, took off her backpack and covered it in her arms, and called her softly: "Sister."

    It was then she noticed that both assistants were absent.

    Not even the driver.

    Huh?

    A pair of hands wrapped around her waist, and before she could react, she fell into a soft embrace, and the warm breath pressed her upper lip, gently and carefully sucking it as if to comfort her.

    "Mm--"

    "Good girl."

    Jiang Yu raised her head slightly, stared at her, her deep black eyes were full of tenderness, "It''s sister who is not good today."

    After that, she bowed her head and kissed her again.

    Cheng Suran''s head buzzed, and her bones all of a sudden became limp, and the scorching wild fire lingered and danced between her lips. Following the exchanged breath, it went deep into her lungs, and her heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

    "Mm, sister..."

    "What''s wrong?"

    "You..." Cheng Suran gasped, "Are you apologizing?"

    "Mm."

    "!!"

    Jiang Yu stared at the girl for a long time, held her face in both hands, and said seriously: "I won''t joke around anymore."

 CH 49

    The two looked at each other, and they were very close. The scorching breath sprayed on Cheng Suran''s face, her eyelashes trembled, and her dark eyes showed surprise, which soon turned complicated.

    "Oh," she nodded and lowered her eyes, "it''s okay, as long as my sister is happy."

    Jiang Yu looked at her for a moment: "Really?"

    "..."

    Cheng Suran opened her mouth and wanted to speak, but she couldn''t say anything, because it was against her will. She had said too much before, and she didn''t have the strength to support herself to say this time.

    Really?

    Of course not.

    It''s just that she doesn''t have the qualifications and confidence to refuse.  But she was still very happy, and her sister took the initiative to apologize to her, although, for the benefactor, it was completely unnecessary.

    Is sister starting to care about her?

    Seeing that the girl didn''t speak, Jiang Yu secretly sighed inwardly, regretting more and more, so she kissed her forehead, "Little friend, sister likes you so much, why would she be willing to give you to someone else?"

    "Hmm..." Cheng Suran responded in a low voice, her nose sore.

    In fact, she wants to say that she is a human being and cannot be judged by the concept of "giving" or "not giving", and there is no such thing as "giving up" or "not giving up", but after all, she is just a canary raised by her sister, saying this will only make people feel ironic.

    A little over a month to go.

    She silently counted down the countdown, it was too late to cherish her eyes. She is the one who is reluctant.

    "Good -" Jiang Yu coaxed softly.

    Cheng Suran came back to her senses, swallowed all her emotions in an instant, and changed the subject while showing a worried expression: "Sister, others know...is it really okay?"

    "What?"

    "Our relationship."

    She was referring to being seen by Pei Chutong in the lounge.

    Jiang Yu came to her senses, smiled, and said, "Tongtong is my good friend, it''s fine."

    "Tongtong?"

    "Pei Chutong."

    Cheng Suran was startled, and suddenly realized.

    Tongtong? In other words, the "Tongtong" in sister''s mouth is not another little lover, but a friend? This friend was also the heroine of a movie she had seen! Ha, what a big misunderstanding.

    The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became, her little face turned blue and white with embarrassment.

    Jiang Yu stretched out her index finger and pointed at the tip of her nose, and joked, "Did you only remember the characters when watching the movie, but didn''t remember the names of the actors?"

    "Mm."

    "Hahaha¡­"

    The kid is so cute.

    It was rare to see Jiang Yu laughing so heartily, Cheng Suran was stunned and couldn''t take her eyes off her. That smile was like the bright warm sun in winter, shining on her heart and melting the fresh frost from last night.

    Suddenly, she remembered something and whispered, "Sister, is your nickname Coco?"

    The laughter stopped abruptly.

    "A nickname from a friend, why?" Jiang Yu''s expression was unnatural.

    "It''s so cute."

    "..."

    "Cocoa? Jiang Coco? Big Cocoa? Hey, I like the cocoa milk cap from the milk tea shop the most. Next time I drink it, I''ll just say ''sister milk cap''." Cheng Suran stuck out her tongue, not knowing where she got the courage to wantonly tease her. Her eyes became two crescents when she smiled.

    Jiang Yu frowned slightly, coughed lowly: "Don''t laugh."

    "Hahahahaha¡ª"

    She laughed louder.

    "..."

    Although he said so, Jiang Yu couldn''t bear to interrupt seeing the kid smiling so happily, so she looked at her silently, and couldn''t help but curl her lips.

    Those eyes were clear and bright, with the purest thing in them.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran laughed enough, put her arms around Jiang Yu''s neck, and kissed her on the lips, "Can I call you Coco?"

    Jiang Yu put on a straight face: "No."

    "Mm, oh."

    The girl lowered her eyes in frustration.

    The tender little face was red and white, like jelly, Jiang Yu held her face and kissed it, "I like to hear you call me sister."

    Cheng Suran raised her eyes and smiled shyly: "Okay, sister¡ª"

    "The kid did a great job today."

    "Huh?"

    Jiang Yu leaned close to the girl''s ear and whispered, "During the meeting, I sat diagonally behind you."

    Cheng Suran was stunned for a moment, her face flushed slightly, and the heat welled up in her ears, she hesitated and said: "Then... then you saw me, why... didn''t you tell me?"

    Today is not the first time she has served as an accompanying interpreter for foreign guests, but it is the first time she has experienced such a big scene. She was very nervous throughout the whole process and always felt that she was in a bad state. She was lucky that no one knew her. She can say goodbye as soon as she get paid, but now¡ª

    It''s like she thought that no one saw her making a fool of herself, but suddenly someone came and told her that she saw everything.

    And a person she likes.

    Her nervousness, her embarrassment, must have all been seen.

    Ah¡­

    Embarrassing.

    "Because you''re working, sister didn''t want to disturb you." Jiang Yu saw through the girl''s mind and stroked her hair soothingly.

    "I have dealt with Morgane a few times when I was in Paris before. She is notoriously eccentric, but you ensured that she communicated smoothly with others, held up her place, satisfied her, and completed it with all your heart. In sister''s eyes, your  job is very remarkable."

    Cheng Suran was a little embarrassed by the praise, her nervous heartbeat gradually slowed down, and her voice was soft: "Actually... I quite like her character, it just gives me a feeling of ''je m''en fous'', getting in touch with big guys more and broadening my horizons."

    "What kind of feeling?" Jiang Yu didn''t understand what she said.

    "Je m''en fous, which means ''who cares'' in English. This kind of character is really cool."

    "You like it?"

    "Yes."

    Jiang Yu suppressed her smile and turned her face away, her eyes dimmed like a deep pool.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "Mm?"

    She turned back again, with a faint smile on her lips, "Let''s have dinner outside tonight, shall we?"

    Cheng Suran thought she had said something wrong again, so she nodded obediently: "Okay."

    Jiang Yu picked up her phone and sent a message to Tian Lin. After a while, the two assistants and the driver got into the car. No one spoke, Cheng Suran sat silently on the side, watching the night scene outside the window.

    Quiet and well-behaved.

    Looking at the side of the girl''s face, Jiang Yu always felt that this quietness and obedience was unusual, and she couldn''t tell what it was like for a while, and felt a little bored.

    She thought the kid was angry, but she smiled so happily. She thought the kid was very happy, but the smile in her eyes was only on the surface. It can''t help but remind her of her panicked eyes and hastily withdrawn hands when somebody knocked on the lounge door this afternoon.

    Something seemed to have changed in her intuition.

    Is she being careless?

    Jiang Yu''s mind was in turmoil when her phone suddenly vibrated.

    Tongtong: [Is the little lover coaxed?]

    "..."

    Jiang Yu turned her face to the side, glanced at the girl who was still as motionless as a sculpture, with a wry smile in her eyes, and slowly typed: [The person concerned is very regretful now.]

    Tongtong: [hahaha]

    Tongtong: [Honey, I will remember your sacrifice. Mm, Wood and I went to the movies.]

    Jiang Yu: [¡­]

    ¡­.

    Cheng Suran chose the place for dinner.

    She found that she was brought by Jiang Yu to a high-end shopping mall that she would never set foot in, and no restaurants nearby were cheap, which broke her idea of ??not wanting to spend too much money, so she picked a restaurant with a good environment.

    The seat stands by the window, it is a large round candlestick, and a beautiful blue fire is burning under the table glass. It looked romantic and sentimental

    The vibe is like two people are on a date.

    "Sister, do you only eat these?" Cheng Suran took the tablet from Jiang Yu''s hand, glanced at it, and there were only two foods in the selected list.

    Boiled shrimp and corn salad, and it is also noted that no salad dressing is required.

    Jiang Yu nodded lightly: "Mm, I eat less for dinner."

    She took off her coat and put it aside. The collar of the clothes inside was slightly lower, revealing two straight and sexy collarbones. A soft light was sprinkled on it, like sparkling puddles.

    Her wrists were thin and she''s wearing a silver ladies'' watch. Her ten fingers were long and thin like spring onions, with distinct bones and flesh.

    She''s already skinny like this.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t help asking: "Sister, how much do you weigh?"

    "One hundred catties."

    "Only one hundred catties?"

    "What?" Jiang Yu smiled at her.

    Cheng Suran blushed, and said in a low voice, "I weigh ninety-six catties, and I''m only 1.65 meters. You..."

    The encyclopedia says that her sister is 1.79 meters tall. Although she has not measured it, she has seen it with her own eyes after so many days of contact. This height is matched with a weight of 100 catties. If she is as thin as she is in front of her. She might be blown away by a gust of wind.

    "You''re 1.8 meters tall, and you''re already very thin. There''s no need to control your meals so strictly. It''s okay to indulge once in a while, and you won''t gain weight immediately." She felt a little distressed.

    Jiang Yu seemed to have remembered something, her expression was a little dazed, and she said after a while, "It''s a good thing to be able to control yourself."

    "You have a story."

    "What?"

    "Tell me quickly." Cheng Suran started dancing in the minefield.

    She''s got a lot of guts!

    Jiang Yu was not annoyed at all, just smiled and shook her head, "I won''t tell you."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran snorted softly, lowered her head and continued to look at the menu.

    After choosing what she likes to eat, she was about to place an order when she inadvertently caught a glimpse of the steamed buns. She rolled her eyes, and a thought suddenly came to her mind, and she quietly ordered one.

    He he.

    It didn''t take long, and the dishes were served one after another.

    Looking at the steamed buns in front of her, Jiang Yu was stunned for a moment, and suddenly an impulse surged in her heart.

    The wooden steamer is steaming, and there are white and crystal-clear steamed buns lying in it. The stuffing is so bulging that it almost breaks the skin.

    "Wow, the soup-filled steamed buns are delicious." Cheng Suran exclaimed, and stretched out her chopsticks to pick one up and brought it to Jiang Yu''s mouth, with a sly look in her eyes.

    "Sister, don''t you like steamed buns the most? I specially ordered it for you, eat the first one."

    Jiang Yu: "..."

    The tempting scent entered her nose, Jiang Yu frowned, her throat gulped unconsciously, and she turned her face with difficulty, "I won''t eat."

    "Why?"

    "There''s a lot of oil."

    "Ah, that''s a pity." Cheng Suran shook her head pretending to be regretful, and carried the steamed bun with her chopsticks around in front of her before taking it back and bringing it to her mouth.

    She took a careful bite.

    "Ah, that''s a shame, it''s so delicious. It''s full of soup. It''s fresh and fragrant. This is the best steamed buns I''ve ever eaten."

    After finishing speaking, she slurped up the soup, sandwiched the remaining half of the meat, and stretched it out in front of Jiang Yu.  "Sister, look at the meat, it''s crystal clear, look at the skin, it''s thin and muscular, and smell it..."

    "Eat by yourself, don''t show me." Jiang Yu squeezed the fork tightly.

    Cheng Suran tried her best to hold back her laughter, blinked, and said innocently: "But good things need to be shared."

    "..."

    "Sister, don''t you really want to eat this? Smell how delicious it is. The filling is inviting you. Forcibly enduring desire is not good for your health. Life is too short to enjoy yourself in time..." As she spoke, she felt something was wrong, the mood seemed to changed color.

    "Cheng Suran."

    "Here."

    Jiang Yu lowered her face, and was about to explode, but saw the girl looking at her aggrievedly, blinking her moist eyes, annoyed and funny at the same time, she stretched out her index finger and poked her on the forehead.

    "Kid, are you doing this on purpose?"

    "How can I?"

    "Be obedient and eat by yourself."

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran withdrew her chopsticks, stopped joking, and looked at her earnestly and expectantly, "Isn''t it okay to just eat one? The oil is mainly in the soup, so I''ll just pour it out."

    "You''re disobedient again." Jiang Yu frightened her with a straight face.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head without saying a word.

    The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

    The blue flame under the table burns faintly, dyeing the transparent glass brightly, and reflecting on the girl''s tender face, it seems to be coated with a layer of light blue halo, quiet and soft.

    Jiang Yu stared at her with deep eyes, and said slowly after a long while: "It''s not about controlling, it''s about getting used to it."

    "In the first two years in Paris, I was 108 pounds. There was a pre-show interview, and the show director suddenly called me a fat pig in front of many people for no reason. Everyone looked at him, and then looked at me.  I... for a while, I lost weight to ninety catties, which can be described as skinny. I had no menstrual period for more than half a year, and my physical condition was very poor. After that, I slowly recuperated and recovered, and stabilized at one hundred to one hundred and five catties..."

    Cheng Suran was stunned at first, and then angry from the heart: "Why did he scold you? No matter if you are fat or not, he can''t insult people in public like that!"

    "Because I''m yellow."

    "..."

    To be more precise, I''m Asian and Chinese. However, this invisible reason is something I learned later." Jiang Yu''s tone was calm, as if she was telling someone else''s story.

    Cheng Suran was immediately discouraged, and her heart throbbed inexplicably.

    Oh.

    Racism.

    Having grown up so big, she has not yet gone abroad, and only learned about this aspect through books and news. She always feels that she is still far away from herself, but it really happened to the person she likes. Apart from being angry and distressed, she couldn''t do anything, couldn''t help, and even comfort came too late, and she felt deeply powerless.

    It must be very difficult for someone who is so young to go out to make a living, alone and helpless.

    Just like herself.

    Same age, same life.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "Mm?"

    "Where are your parents? Didn''t they accompany you?" Cheng Suran asked cautiously. After a while, she realized that she had stepped on a minefield and it was too late. "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to inquire..."

    "I know, little fool."

    Without the expected anger, Jiang Yu just smiled lightly, looked at her with doting eyes, but did not answer, and directly changed the subject: "The fashion circle looks glamorous, but it is actually worse than the stinking ditch.  It''s dirty, with doctrine in its mouth and business in its heart."

    "But I will always love what I do."

    Although she was smiling, she seemed to be wearing a mask. The soft light and shadow enveloped her face, but only illuminated the surface, the shallowest layer, like a grand stage play.

    Cheng Suran was both happy and sad.

    She is happy because her sister took the initiative to talk about her past with her, although it was only the tip of the iceberg. And it''s sad because the more she knows, the more she can''t understand her, and the more she understands the gap between them...

    RAW: https://www.jjwxc.

    ¡­.

    It was late back at the hotel.

    In the middle of the night, Jiang Yu stepped on the carpet with one bare foot, and knelt on the edge of the bed with the other knee. Cheng Suran squatted beside her, carefully and gently tore off the band-aid, revealing the reddish wound.

    She held a bottle of povidone-iodine disinfectant in her left hand, and dipped a cotton swab in her right hand, dabbed it gently on the wound, waited for it to dry, and then covered it with a new band-aid.

    "Sister, it''s done."

    "Go to sleep."

    Jiang Yu straightened her legs, stepped on the carpet with both feet, turned around, watched the girl pack up the medicines, turned her back to her, and quietly leaned over...

    A pair of slender but powerful arms hooked her waist.

    Cheng Suran was about to turn around, but before she could react, she was dragged down by a strong force, and fell into the soft bedding unexpectedly.

    "Mm--"

    The warm lips kissed her heavily, brutally snatching away the air that belonged to her.

    "Elder sister... don''t you... sleep?"

    "I''m not full."

    "?"

    Jiang Yu chuckled, and couldn''t wait to untie the tie of her nightgown, and whispered in her ear: "I can''t eat steamed buns, but I can eat a little friend."

 CH 50

    Overnight, the red carpet incident of clothes bumping was on the front row of hot searches.

    This epic and embarrassing scene, which has never been seen before or since, caused Weibo to explode. While eating melons and discussing who is better-looking, they dig deep into how the two identical dresses came about. The topic is very lively, with arguments, stomps, and revelations, creating chaos and confusion.

    Someone soon found out that the dress is the new high-end dress of the C House. It appeared in the high-end fashion show in July this year, and it is the only one in the world.

    This means that one of the two is wearing a replica.

    So it became more lively.

    Although Ren Shilu has become popular in the domestic entertainment industry in the past two years and has become the top among the crowd, she has no works that can be sold, nor has she won any important awards. With her status, it is impossible to borrow C House''s new season haute couture dresses.

    As for Jiang Yu, the only Chinese supermodel on the MDC TOP50 list to enter the "Legends", and the global spokesperson for C''s makeup and ready-to-wear lines, it is not difficult to borrow this season''s high-end products.

    Once analyzed, it is clear at a glance which is true and which is false.

    The whole network began to ridicule Ren Shilu overwhelmingly:

    [It¡¯s embarrassing enough to bump clothes that she doesn''t look good on, but it turned out she''s also wearing a knockoff version. Who in the entertainment industry has lost face like this, you can¡¯t find a second one in the whole world, right? Hahaha...]

    [Ren Shilu''s team''s brains are filled with cow dung? I don''t even believe that it wasn''t intentional. Could it be that the other party sent an undercover agent?]

    Facing the ridicule, Ren Shilu''s fans quickly organized, criticizing and questioning the team nonstop.

    Gradually the direction of the wind is a little bit wrong.

    At first everyone just laughed at Ren Shilu, and felt sorry for Jiang Yu by the way, but then somehow suddenly turned into humiliation and personal attacks on Ren Shilu, and vigorously promoted Jiang Yu, which was inexplicably compared due to.the incident.

    Immediately afterwards, the big verified accounts turned into "reasonable guests", thinking that Ren Shilu should not be abused so far in this matter, and Jiang Yu may not be a fuel-efficient lamp.

    Many people began to dislike Jiang Yu again, and stood up to uphold justice for Ren Shilu.

    [What for? What for? It''s just a dress, everyone knows it''s the team''s fault, why are there so many people hating to death? How many navy* did Jiang Yu buy to bring the rhythm to their end? I really can''t stand it.]

    *paid people who create ¡®heat¡¯ for a specific celebrity and control the direction of the conversation.

    [As light as chrysanthemums and immortals*, Jiang Yu has a good character design 233**]

    *describing a person''s conduct and character are as indifferent as chrysanthemums

    **lol

    [Our sister Yu is the nation''s supermodel, the fashion circle is more noble than the entertainment circle, are you also worthy of being compared with sister Yu?  Don''t ask, asking is low-key liking a model chrysanthemum (funny.jpg)]

    In this way, Jiang Yu was pushed to the forefront.

    She was in a company meeting at the time.

    There was a lot of noise on the Internet, and even the girl at the front desk of the company knew about it, but she seemed to be okay, calm and unhurried, thinking about accepting another batch of A-class models next month.

    After the meeting ended, Tian Lin reported to her the trend of public opinion.

    "The brand''s public relations department contacted me today, and they were also very angry. Their designs were plagiarized and imitated, so they are preparing to clarify. Does our studio want to send something?" The two entered the office one after another.

    Jiang Yu casually put her laptop on the table, poured herself a glass of water, and said softly, "No, there will be a good show."

    "Huh?" Tian Lin was puzzled.

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak, just laughed.

    At noon, when the wind of public opinion had not changed significantly, she received a call from Pei Chutong.

    The young miss had been monitoring the direction of the incident and had already stripped the evidence of the series of operations that Ren Shilu''s team had done to deliberately shift the conflict and back-bite people.

    "She''s a broken jar, she''s been ridiculed anyway, why don''t we just drag her into the water and earn a wave of sympathy. They should now be waiting  for you or the brand''s reaction, and then issue a statement to blame the stylist, and then organize fans to feign "heartache". In the end, she will not be affected too much personally, and this matter will pass. When someone mentions this in the future, at most they will laugh at her or feel sorry for her, but they will always step on you, regardless." Pei Chutong analyzed on the phone.

    She is very familiar with the "routine operations" in the circle.

    Jiang Yu has focused on the modeling business these years, and has always kept a low profile. Her personal team is also relatively Buddhist*, and she is not very able to deal with the situation of the domestic entertainment industry.  Yu was bullied by those "coquettish sluts", and her heart was broken.

    *apathetic/clueless to the hustle and bustle of the world other than theirs

    She was about to remove all the black material for Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu had other plans, and asked, "Can these evidences be exposed? If exposed, will it affect you and me?"

    Pei Chutong immediately understood what she meant.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    this translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    ¡­.

    A little later, Jiang Yu couldn''t hold back after all, picked up her phone, clicked on Weibo, and looked at the discussions under related topics.

    Many people criticized her.

    The old stories were dug out, detailing the "grievances" between her and several other national models, ridiculing her for having no education and background, and even spreading rumors that she had an unspeakable ambiguous relationship with her former scout, was kept by a sponsor, and relied on unspoken means to get cover deals and get endorsements.

    Speaking like they saw it.

    The number of retweets is 100, which is particularly conspicuous in the real-time search. There are more than 300 replies below, some claiming to be "road turning black", and some are fans arguing with others.

    *passerbys/spectator turning hater.

    Jiang Yu looked at the words coldly, took a screenshot, and sent it to Tian Lin casually.

    [Sue him.]

    Tian Lin replied quickly: [OK.]

    Afterwards, she habitually switched the WeChat account, and her phone vibrated. She looked at the top chat box expectantly, knowing that there would be a red dot there.

    Really--

    [Sister, I¡¯m in the library, I may be late today, please be good at home.]

    A "good baby" emoticon package.

    This kid.

    How did she learn to speak to her like that?

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help curling the corners of her mouth as she reads, her exhaustion dissipated. Suddenly, she thought of the abuse and rumors on Weibo, and felt a little lucky.

    Fortunately, the kid doesn''t use Weibo.

    Originally, Cheng Suran didn''t know how lively Weibo was. She struggled too much last night and slept too deeply. She was almost late this morning, hurried into the classroom and went straight to class without looking at her phone.

    During the break in class, the students suddenly discussed the "clothes bumping" incident. She vaguely heard Jiang Yu''s name and felt bad, so she went to Weibo to take a look.

    Only then did she learn what happened.

    She didn''t feel like going to class all day.

    Putting her mobile phone in the bag, she couldn''t help but take it out to take a look, and refresh the real-time Weibo. Cheng Suran has witnessed the change of public opinion. Seeing many people scolding Jiang Yu, she felt anxious and confused, and gradually couldn''t listen to the teacher''s lecture.

    She has never been a celebrity, and she doesn''t usually pay attention to entertainment news. She has only been on Weibo for a short span of time, and she doesn''t understand the ecological environment in it at all, much more, she can''t understand those messy terms and abbreviations.

    What "srds" "blh" "dw" "nsdd"*...

    srds- suiran danshi (although, but)

    blh-bai lin hua (white lotus)

    dw- 1. du wei (a fan of only one celeb and looks down on the others) 2. dong wo or deng wo (understand me or wait for me) 3. don''t worry 4. dark web

    nsdd- ni shou de dui (what you said is right)

    So she argued with others while she was on Baidu.

    At the beginning, Cheng Suran''s tone and words were very gentle, she just wanted to explain, speak with reason, and didn''t want to quarrel, but she didn''t say a few words before she was labeled as a "Jiangyu Brain-dead Fan" and was called by various abbreviations and animal graphics, scolded helplessly, angry and frustrated.

    No one listens to reason, no one can argue, and there is no way to stop it all.

    She felt deeply powerless.

    Due to excessive attention to Weibo, she didn''t complete the task of reviewing questions today. She could only stay in the library for a while, and didn''t eat much for dinner. She didn''t seem to feel hungry. She forced herself to go back after finishing the questions.

    The library at night is quieter than during the day, and it seems that the learning atmosphere is stronger.

    But her heart couldn''t be quiet

    The light shrouded Cheng Suran''s stiff body. There were books spread out in front of her, a pen in her hand, and a laptop beside her that was turned on. She stared at the densely packed letters on the book without moving, but she didn''t read a word. Her thoughts had already flown to Weibo.

    Does sister know about this?

    Should she tell her sister?  But in this case, sister will know that she is following her. What if she wants to check her Weibo account?

    That¡­

    She will be exposed.

    Cheng Suran picked up her phone again, clicked on Weibo, and entered her homepage.

    The brand new account is quiet and deserted, and it only follows Jiang Yu alone. The dozen or so Weibo posts are all about her thoughts of her and her own feelings. If her sister saw this, it would be over, she''ll know that she had violated the terms of the agreement.

    Forbidden to be tempted.

    @your little friend crr

    ¡ª¡ªCheng Ranran.

    The latest one is a countdown, thirty-nine days.

    She stared at the numbers for a long time, with a trace of reluctance in her black eyes, sighed, silently exited the homepage, and gave up the idea of ??telling Jiang Yu.

    It''s impossible for her sister not to know...

    The entries on the hot search page were updated, and at some point there was another popular entry named "Ren Shi Lu''s Navy", followed by the clarified entry from the brand.

    Cheng Suran clicked in one by one to look.

    At around 5 o''clock in the evening, the brand posted a Weibo, saying that the dress was a new model of this year''s autumn and winter haute couture series, and it was only lent to its global spokesperson Jiang Yu, and reasonably suspected that the other identical dress was a plagiarized copy, and they reserve the right to pursue.

    It was like a loud slap in the face.

    Immediately afterwards, a large number of screenshots and audios were released, pointing to Ren Shilu''s team manipulating public opinion behind the scenes, directing themselves, and peeling up their own skin.

    Rumor posts about Jiang Yu became popular.

    Ambiguous relationship, benefactor support, unspoken rules of superiority... true and false, people can''t tell the difference.

    Cheng Suran was completely dumbfounded.

    At half past ten, it was already late at night.

    The girl walked out of the elevator with tired steps, came to the platinum door, paused for a moment, slowly took out the room card from her bag, only heard a "beep", she pushed open the door mechanically, and stepped in.

    Under the bright and soft lights projected by the gorgeous ceiling, the woman leaned on the sofa with her hair loose, her legs crossed, and a goblet filled with scarlet liquid in her hand, with a lazy posture.

    Hearing the sound, she turned her face away, with a faint smile on her lips, "The kid is back."

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran looked at her with surprise in her eyes, "Were you waiting for me?"

    "Come over."

    Jiang Yu smiled and waved.

    Cheng Suran walked over slowly, for some reason, it seemed that they had returned to the first few days when they knew each other, strange and reserved. As soon as she got close to Jiang Yu, she was wrapped around her waist by the woman, wanting her to sit on her lap and fall into her soft embrace.

    A light kiss landed on her lips.

    "Sister said that I have to hug you to sleep." Jiang Yu looked at her tenderly.

    Cheng Suran''s heart palpitated, she lowered her eyes, the revelations on Weibo repeatedly flooded her mind, ambiguous relationships, benefactor support, unspoken rules... She knew she shouldn''t believe it, but once she had the idea, she couldn''t get rid of it.  Curiosity scratches at her heart like a cat''s paw.

    Realizing that she was depressed, Jiang Yu frowned slightly, and stroked her face with one hand, "What''s wrong? Are you unhappy?"

    "It''s nothing¡­"

    "You can tell sister."

    Cheng Suran bit her lower lip, raised her eyes with difficulty, seemed to hesitate to speak, "Sister, I¡ª"

    "Mm?"

    "I saw on Weibo... Um, someone picked up your black material, saying that you used to... that is, that... is it true or not?" She hesitated.

    Wuwu, her brain seems to have lost control of her mouth, so she just asked.

    As soon as the words fell, the air froze.

    Cheng Suran held her breath.

    Jiang Yu stared at the girl, her eyes dimmed, and the arc on her mouth slowly disappeared, seemingly disappointed, but also mocking, "What do you think?"

 CH 51

    Cheng Suran was questioned.

    Numerous words appeared in front of her eyes, various animal patterns and abbreviations, true and false, chaotic and disorderly, full of strong hostility, like a war without gunpowder smoke.  And she grew up in a peaceful place, she can''t wield a gun and a stick, she is unarmed and has only her solitary self with little power.

    In this public opinion war, she hated herself for not being able to do anything, yet she wanted to do something.

    She wanted to protect Jiang Yu.

    So, she rushed to the front line to argue with people, learned the strange ins and outs and various slang in the fan community. No matter whether they were neutral or scolding Jiang Yu, she would bite one at a time.

    Like a red-eyed beast, crawling and roaring in the sea of ??blood, even though exhausted and scarred.

    When the so-called breaking news came out, Cheng Suran''s first reaction was not to believe it, but at the same time, seeds of doubt were planted in her heart, which disintegrated her strength, made her gradually waver, lost the confidence to charge, made her start to doubt, and defeated herself.

    What if it is true?

    At that moment, she felt tired, as if her hardest bone had been pulled out, and her whole body went limp.

    She cared too much about Jiang Yu, as long as she thought of how hard Jiang Yu had worked so hard outside for so many years, and had finally achieved today''s achievements and status, but was still slandered, she felt angry and anxious, and lost her mind. But she also doesn''t understand Jiang Yu too well, a little trouble can dispel her strength, break her defense line, and then think of the shady relationship between them, worrying about gains and losses, and feeling insecure.

    After all, she was once again self-indulgent.

    "I...I don''t know..."

    Cheng Suran felt that she must be crazy, or stupid, only now did she realize what a stupid question she asked. She looked at Jiang Yu, waiting for anger in despair and sadness.

    However¨C

    Nothing happened.

    "Then do you hope it''s true?" Jiang Yu looked directly at the girl with a calm tone.

    She once thought that her injuries suffered in the first eighteen years of her life were nothing compared to the long life of freedom, and that the wounds would always be healed and she would recover.

    But now she understands that a wound will always be a wound, it won''t heal, it can only be reduced to a light pain.

    Does she really not care about the name-calling, insults and misinterpretations?

    She does.

    It''s just that she has grown up, and she will no longer cry like a child, with her emotions written all over her face.

    In the afternoon, she received a message from the kid. At that moment, she seemed to be forced to retreat by countless swords, squeezed into a corner, and when she turned around, someone gave her strength. So from the afternoon until now, she waited and waited, she never felt that several hours were so long.

    Then this came like a knife.

    She couldn''t get angry, and she didn''t have the strength to get angry. Maybe it was because she was too tired today, so she had expectations for her little lover. She is ridiculous.

    She''s just a pet.

    "I don''t know." Cheng Suran looked dazed and lowered her head.

    "I fought a lot with those people today. I quarreled for a long time. I don''t want anyone to slander you...but they are too powerful to fight. I am alone..." As she spoke, her voice became smaller and smaller.

    She took a deep breath, her eyes turned red, "Why do they..."

    Tears swirled in the sockets of her eyes, and she forced them back again, with an angry expression floating on her white and tender face.

    Jiang Yu was startled, a trace of astonishment flashed in her eyes, and suddenly remembered something, sneered, and said, "Do you think they are slandering me?"

    "Yes..."

    There was a short silence.

    They looked at each other quietly, Cheng Suran sensed something was wrong, before she could react, Jiang Yu spoke again:

    "If it''s not slander but a fact, would you still quarrel with them?"

    "Yes!" Cheng Suran replied without hesitation.

    Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes slightly, and curled her lips mockingly, "Why?"

    "Because.¡­."

    Cheng Suran choked and couldn''t answer for a moment.

    When they first met, Jiang Yu was a role model in her mind, with a god-like halo. She was curious, admired, and adored, hoping that one day she would be able to break through on her own like Jiang Yu. Make a piece of the sky.  If she had learned of this so-called "black material" at that time, she would have been very disappointed.

    But now, Jiang Yu in her eyes is a flesh-and-blood person living beside her, an ordinary person, what she sees more is not the halo or the symbol, but Jiang Yu herself.

    Because it is Jiang Yu, she likes her.

    So no matter what, Jiang Yu is Jiang Yu. The so-called "black material", true or false, has no meaning to her.

    If it is true, she will rush to fight, if it is false, she will also rush to fight.

    That is the sister she likes.

    Cheng Suran looked at Jiang Yu, her eyes were full of admiration, and the two little dimples sank in a daze, "Because...you are you."

    Jiang Yu''s face was expressionless, but her heart was suddenly poked.

    Those dark eyes are like a deep pool, a little light falls in, and ripples softly on the shallow surface, but the bottom can''t be seen, all emotions are buried in the deepest part.

    She seemed to read something from the girl''s eyes.

    It''s very familiar.

    "I am who I am?"

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu stared at her, with a sense of scrutiny in her eyes, and suddenly, she pinched her chin, and slowly pressed her red lips to her ears, "Have you fallen in love with sister?"

    Cheng Suran was shocked, thinking that she had been seen through, and suddenly became nervous, with her heart hanging high in her throat.

    "Say something."

    "No¡­"

    "Really?" Jiang Yu lowered her voice.

    "Mm, I¨C", Cheng Suran gasped, and her fingers gripped the sofa, trying to look natural.

    "I''m just fulfilling the terms of the agreement, it''s right to protect my sister, I just crossed the line, I shouldn''t ask, sorry."

    As she said it, she was shouting in her heart; It''s not like this, it''s not like that at all.

    You are the most important person in my heart, how can I allow others to slander you wantonly, I can face thousands of troops alone, I can go to the mountains of swords and fires alone, whether it''s true or false, you are the only one in my heart.

    It''s just that I have to close the door of my mouth and the windows of my eyes. I can''t say this.

    The sour and bitter taste flooded Cheng Suran''s heart...

    Jiang Yu leaned back and looked at her.

    She smiled foolishly.

    Their eyes met, as if they were invisible silk threads, entangled to one another

    She was not seen through.

    After a while, Jiang Yu withdrew her gaze and said in a calm tone: "I said before, you can ask me directly if you want to know, but I also have the right not to answer."

    "Uh-huh."

    There was another silence.

    Cheng Suran''s eyelashes trembled, held her breath, carefully kissed her on the lips, and smiled obediently: "Sister, don''t be angry, okay?"

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak, picked up the wine glass, and sipped the scarlet liquid.

    Cheng Suran didn''t dare to say anything, and obediently cuddled up.

    A strange feeling came to mind

    Is it her illusion? Her sister doesn''t seem to be angry, but more like disappointed, after expectations have failed, no, disappointment is not accurate enough, ruthless? Cold hearted? Despondent? She guessed anxiously.

    But anyway, tonight she was sure of one thing.

    She is not special in her sister''s heart.

    A canary is still a canary.

    Cheng Suran closed her eyes, letting the bitterness spread in her heart, and unconsciously hugged Jiang Yu tightly. She knew that she had saved too much luck, and she couldn''t let her be confused any longer¡ª

    If she wants to leave good memories  in the last thirty days.

    "Go take a shower." Jiang Yu pushed her away.

    "¡­okay."

    Cheng Suran obediently went back to the room.

    The rest of the wine had bottomed out, Jiang Yu was holding an empty glass, and her eyes were fixed on the girl''s thin back, which was stained with a trace of complexity, and she couldn''t tell what it was like.

    She felt empty.

    Like a carcass dug clean by moths.

    Perhaps, apart from Tian Lin and Tong Tong, there is really no one she can trust in this world.

    The aftermath of the clothes bumping incident was not over, and it continued for several days.

    After the inside story of Ren Shilu''s team''s bribery of the draft was completely exposed, the entire entertainment circle was blown up. It was originally a "routine operation" in the industry, and everyone tacitly agreed that it should not be revealed by default, otherwise it would destroy the game. The rules and the ecological environment, the instigator behind it will be kicked out.

    Within a few days, she went up to the Queen of Heaven, and down to the 18th-tier, they were calm on the surface, but everyone was panicking in private. While the self-examination team destroyed the evidence, they spread the word about who the whistleblower was.

    The people who eat melons don''t know the inside story, and the comment area is full of joy.

    The tide of public opinion has once again shifted.

    Ren Shilu and her team were ridiculed to the point of disappearing, they did not update Weibo for several days, canceled all the activities they were scheduled to attend, and disappeared from the airport photos, as if they had disappeared from the world.

    So the news that "Jiang Yu has a background*" spread.

    *having a background, means being powerful.

    Despite the heated noise outside, the Buddhist fans in Jiangyu Chaohua didn''t pay any attention to it. It was Jiangyu''s 32nd birthday at the end of the month. A few old fans discussed sending gifts to the studio. Everyone edited videos and recorded songs. They were happy and harmonious.

    Cheng Suran also remembered.

    Her sister''s birthday...

    Since that night, her sister seemed to have become indifferent to her, and the distance between them, which was not close in the first place, had grown further, as if they had returned to the beginning.

    In the past, even if Jiang Yu went back to the hotel very late, she will always hug her, kiss her, coax her, and chat with her for a while before going to sleep. Now, Jiang Yu still comes back very late, but doesn''t say a word to her. No matter how hard she tried to find a topic, all she got was "Yes" and "No", and she just hugged her to sleep.

    She doesn''t reply to WeChat either.

    She felt sad, but she didn''t dare to show it, she had to pretend to be the perfect canary.

    She didn''t know that this was the legendary cold violence.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    ¡­.

    It''s Friday, her sister''s birthday

    As usual, when she woke up in the morning, the place beside her is empty.

    On the small table was a birthday gift for Jiang Yu, a square paper box the size of a basketball, carefully wrapped with silver ribbon and thick paper, it stood there quietly, waiting to be opened.

    Cheng Suran stared at it blankly for a long time, took a photo and sent it to Jiang Yu.

    [Sister, happy birthday.]

    [I prepared a gift, guess what it is?]

    The chat box is deserted, and when she slide her fingertips up, there are only green message boxes, as if she is singing on a one-man show, while the gray and black head seems to be shadowed, and there is a dead silence.

    She''s not sure if sister will reply today. Cheng Suran hesitated for a moment, then typed a few more words and sent them:

    [Can you come back earlier tonight?]

    Will she reply?

    She thought with anticipation, washed up and tidied up, and went out to class.

    This wait is a whole day.

    From the dawn to the sunset, from the dusk to the silence of the night, lone messages lie in the chat box, just like at this moment, there is only one person in the empty suite.

    In the dead of night, half past eleven.

    Cheng Suran was sitting alone on the sofa, holding the birthday gift prepared for Jiang Yu, her eyes were dull, as stiff as a sculpture, and her light and slender body was wrapped in a loose silk nightgown, like an abandoned pet.

    The sister didn''t reply to her.

    Didn''t even come back.

    There is still half an hour left, this day is going to pass, her sister''s 32nd birthday is going to pass, but she hasn''t said happy birthday to her sister, and she hasn''t given out the gift that she has carefully prepared for more than a week .

    Where could be her sister now?

    At Home?

    It''s nice to have a birthday with the family.

    The phone on the gift box suddenly lit up.

    Cheng Suran came back to her senses suddenly, thinking it was a WeChat message, she hurriedly lowered her head, but the expected green icon did not appear on the screen, but a yellow one, Weibo¨C

    @Jiang Yu V: Thirty-two years of knowing with the world [Picture] [Picture]

    Sister updated Weibo!

    She grabbed her phone and couldn''t wait to click in, and saw this birthday Weibo with three pictures.

    The first one is in a brightly lit room, with colorful balloons hanging everywhere on the ceiling and floor, and a big birthday cake. Jiang Yu is surrounded by a dozen people, with a happy smile on her face.

    The second is a solo photo of Jiang Yu. She is sitting in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows with a half-human-high rabbit doll, leaving a silhouette.

    The third one is all kinds of gifts sent by fans, piled up on the whole long table.

    Very nice.

    Cheng Suran''s eyes turned sore, she nodded with trembling fingers, stood up, opened the door with the cardboard box in her arms, walked outside the living room, and threw it into the trash can...

 CH 52

    At midnight, the whole city fell into a deep sleep, but the nightclubs were brightly lit.

    In the box on the second floor of "NOTTE", seven or eight people chatted and frolicked with wine glasses, all of them were women, with fair skin and beautiful clothes, and the air was filled with light fragrances of different flavors.

    Today is Jiang Yu''s 32nd birthday. Pei Chutong specially organized a small private party for her. Knowing that she doesn''t like too much noise, she just called a few friends who are familiar with each other to drink, chat and play a little game.

    There was work in the morning, Jiang Yu almost forgot this day, and only remembered it after Tian Lin reminded her.

    She was so busy until noon, then returned to her studio, had dinner with her team "family" for her birthday. Then she rested at Pei Chutong''s house in the afternoon, and went to the nightclub in the evening.

    In addition to friends present, there is also a young little sister Pei Chutong specially found for Jiang Yu - she knows that Jiang Yu has had conflicts with her little lover in the past two days, and she is not in a good mood. She wanted to change her mood for this special day.

    The younger sister is only nineteen years old, a sophomore majoring in acting, young and moist, fresh and delicious, lively and easy-going, a few words can make Jiang Yu laugh out loud.

    Jiang Yu put one arm around her waist, and held a goblet in the other. The colorful and dim lights from the ceiling fell on their faces.

    "Drink less, your face is turning red."

    "I''m fine."

    Her fair and tender face was flushed like rouge, and she looked like a beautiful and bright flower. Jiang Yu looked at her with blurred eyes, as if looking at another girl through this face.

    "What should I do if I get drunk?" Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes and smiled.

    The younger sister said softly, "You won''t leave me alone."

    The two looked at each other quietly.

    The girl''s eyes were like water, shining brightly, reflecting Jiang Yu''s face. She couldn''t help but get closer, her lips slowly pressed against Jiang Yu''s face, touching the real warmth, she paused for two seconds, and then retreated.

    Jiang Yu''s heart trembled slightly, and her body froze for a moment.

    "Sister, I want to kiss you here..." She pressed her fingertips against her bright red lips and rubbed them lightly.

    Seeing that Jiang Yu didn''t respond, the girl raised her head and leaned closer, her warm breath approaching little by little, like a heart-pounding heat.

    The face of the kid flashed in Jiang Yu''s mind, and it couldn''t overlap with the girl in front of her.

    Jiang Yu pushed the girl away and closed her eyes.

    "Elder sister?"

    "I''m going to get some air."

    She put down her wine glass, got up and left the box.

    ....

    The corridor on the second floor is equipped with mirror-reflecting glass. The first floor cannot see upstairs, but the upstairs can clearly see the whole picture downstairs. At this moment, people were coming and going in the lobby on the first floor, the lights were bright, and men and women were drinking and shaking around the central stage.

    A flower and vine swing was hung on the stage, and a young female singer was sitting on it in a sea blue dress, with white smoke rising like a fairyland.

    Jiang Yu leaned against the railing, quietly watching the stage.

    She remembered the first time she saw Cheng Suran.

    Three months ago, shortly after she came back from the Island after finishing the big show, she completely let go of her ex, and her relationship fell into a blank emptiness. She doesn''t know what she likes or wants, but she is tired of being alone, so she has only two choices: fall in love or continue to find a lover.

    Falling in love is out of the question.

    A serious relationship needs time and energy to maintain. She just doesn''t have it, and she doesn''t want to have it. Anyway, no matter how much she puts in, they will eventually separate. It''s a waste of time and energy. It''s better to focus on her career.

    All that remains is to continue looking for a lover.

    But what is she looking for? Without the shadow of her ex in her mind, she lost the template for finding a lover. She couldn''t even find out her own preferences.

    Until the evening of August 4th, she saw Cheng Suran.

    The fairy mist curled up on the stage, and the girl sat on a swing, with soft and long black hair hanging loose, and a light and elegant white gauze dress, with thin pink lips and a small sharp chin exposed under the silver mask, mysterious and provoking prying eyes.

    At that time, like now, Jiang Yu stood by the corridor and looked down intently.

    Although she couldn''t see her face clearly, she had a strong intuition at that moment¡ªit was her.

    She was what she was looking for.

    Later, she ordered the person to sing on the second floor, and then asked Tian Lin to test and talk in detail. After waiting for half a month, the more she waited, the more itchy she became, and finally on the night of August 27th¡­

    On the evening of August 27th, at 9:30, 827930.

    Before she knew it, three months had passed.

    Why isn''t she tired...

    At the end of the song, the stage swing slowly descended, and the female singer left the stage.

    Jiang Yu withdrew her thoughts and looked down at her watch. Just after 12 o''clock, her 32nd birthday also passed, so she took out her mobile phone to reply to the remaining WeChat messages, and accidentally switched on to her alternate account.

    She was startled, then suddenly realized, and hurriedly cut back.

    But it was too late.

    Her  phone vibrated, and more than a dozen unread messages appeared on the screen. The red dot was eye-catching as if it was tempting. Jiang Yu stared at it and hesitated for a long time, but finally couldn''t hold back, and clicked in.

    Good morning and good night for several days in a row, and today''s¡­

    Gift.

    At this time, another message was sent, sixteen hours after the previous one.

    [Sister, I¡¯ll go to bed first, if you drink, don¡¯t drink too much, have fun, good night.]

    Jiang Yu frowned, her expression slightly condensed.

    She slowly slid her fingertips back.

    Looking at the gift in the photo, she felt a feeling of suffocation and breathlessness, as if the balance she had worked so hard to maintain in the past few days was broken, she lost control, and was a little annoyed.

    After a long while, she put away her mobile phone, and beckoned to the waiter not far away.

    "Boss Jiang, do you need anything?"

    "Cigarette."

    "Okay."

    After a while, the waiter brought cigarettes and lighter.

    Jiang Yu took out the money, hesitated the moment she pressed the lighter, but she did it anyway, a yellowish blue flame shot up and lit the long and thin cigarette.

    The spark is like dim lights in the room.

    With the filter in her mouth, she took a puff, and the faint coolness mixed with a little bitterness melted away, stimulating her nerves, and instantly relieved a lot of boredom.

    "Coco--"

    When Pei Chutong came out of the box, she saw Jiang Yu leaning against the railing. Her slender figure was shrouded in clouds and mist, and she felt a little lonely. She was startled, and leaned over lightly, "What''s the matter? Are you still in a bad mood?"

    "No." Jiang Yu glanced at her, smiled and shook her head.

    "After quitting for only half a year, you started smoking again, and you still say you''re not."

    "..."

    "Do you like that sister just now?" Pei Chutong changed the subject.

    Jiang Yu said absently, "Pretty good."

    "Leave with her if you''re satisfied. I''ll give her to you, and I''ll give you the money and resources. It''s a big birthday gift for Coco." Pei Chutong said while brushing up the broken hair on her sideburns and tucking it behind her ear.

    "No need," Jiang Yu exhaled a thin puff of smoke, "Good resources should be given to those with potential, there is no need to waste them on such things."

    Watching the changes on her face, Pei Chutong sighed silently and didn''t speak any more.

    They stood side by side under the lamp.

    Ruan Mu watched them silently from behind.

    The female singer who left the stage returned to the stage and sat on the swing. This time she sang "Sentimental" by Populus Euphratica, with a soft, gentle and affectionate voice.

    Jiang Yu looked down at her.

    "Cocoa¡­"

    "Mm?"

    "It''s just a little lover. If you are so worried, don''t you think..." Pei Chutong put her arms around her shoulders, and whispered to her ear, "Did she move your heart?"

    "Impossible." Jiang Yu''s expression was indifferent, without the slightest wave in her eyes, but she took a puff of the filter, burning most of the long and thin cigarette instantly, and the remaining ash fell down.

    Pei Chutong clicked her tongue and narrowed her eyes slightly, "Then you..."

    "It''s late, I''m a little tired, I''ll go back first." Jiang Yu interrupted her lightly, and turned around.

    Inadvertently saw Ruan Mu behind her.

    All three were taken aback.

    Jiang Yu calmly removed the hand on her shoulder, nodded at Ruan Mu, and passed her into the box.

    "What are you doing out here?" Pei Chutong lowered her face, her eyes a little unnatural.

    Half of Ruan Mu''s body was hidden in the shadows, looking at her indifferently, her cold profile softened a bit, "My duty."

    "..."

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    lease read it there. and check out other stories too

    It was already half past twelve when she got back to the hotel.

    The huge living room was empty, all the lights were on, casting the shadow of the huge ceiling on the ground, it was too bright and glaring, and there was an inexplicable sense of loneliness like people had left the building and the tea turned cold.

    Jiang Yu searched around from room to room, but couldn''t find any presents. Finally, she turned her eyes to the second bedroom with the closed door. After thinking for a moment, she gave up the idea.

    She sat on the sofa and opened WeChat.

    One message after another flashed before her eyes. From the end of August to today, the more she read them, the more depressed she felt, a gloom choked in her heart and she couldn''t get it out.

    Finally back to today, that gift photo.

    She was looking forward to it.

    But she also regrets it.

    What about present?

    If she had seen it sooner, she would have come back sooner¡­

    Jiang Yu took a deep breath, threw her phone aside, took out a cigarette case from her bag, took a cigarette, lit it urgently, and brought it to her mouth to take a puff.

    Thin smoke surrounded her, blurring her cold facial features.

    ¡ª¡ªBecause you are you.

    These words echoed repeatedly in her ears.

    For so many years, she desperately wanted to get rid of her pre-eighteen self and be reborn in a new environment, but today she finally understood that what she shed again and again was just the old skin, and she remained the same, it is her¡ª

    A humble and fragile person shivering in a small dark room on a rainy night.

    Rather than the title and aura that others bring when they introduce her.

    She is she?

    No matter what she looks like, someone will defend her without hesitation, right?

    Jiang Yu closed her eyes and leaned back.

    ¡ª¡ªBecause you are you.

    That look, tone, emotion¡­ Is the kid tempted? Violated the terms of the agreement? Should she terminate the contract immediately to prevent all this from falling out of control?

    There was a sudden sound of the door opening behind her.

    Jiang Yu opened her eyes, turned her head, and slowly stood up.

    "Sister, you''re back..." Cheng Suran stood at the door of the bedroom, not looking sleepy at all, with a joyful look on her face.

    Jiang Yu restrained her emotions, and asked lightly, "Where''s the gift?"

    As she said that, she bent down, put out the unfinished cigarette in the tray, picked up her phone, clicked on the photo, and shook it at her.

    Cheng Suran was startled, her eyes flustered suddenly, she hesitated for a while, then pointed to the door and said, "It''s outside...in the trash can."

    Jiang Yu frowned, didn''t bother to ask why it was in the trash can, and turned around like a gust of wind to go out.

    There is a small entrance hall outside the door, and there is a cylindrical trash can beside the elevator. She forgot her cleanliness for a moment, and reached into it with her bare hands. One hand was not enough, so she reached out her other hand, fortunately, there was a gift box on the top, and she picked it up and went back to the house like a gust of wind.

    Cheng Suran is still standing there.

    Seeing the familiar gift box being brought in by Jiang Yu, her heart tightened suddenly, filled with regret, and she walked over belatedly.

    Jiang Yu put the gift box on the tea table, and directly tore off the ribbon and wrapping paper with her hands, revealing the light brown paper box with a lid inside. She couldn''t wait to open it and took out the gift.

    The transparent acrylic box contains two miniatures respectively.

    One is the show catwalk, and the other is the garden swing.  Standing on the runway is her little self, and sitting on the swing is her little self.

    "This is..." Jiang Yu raised her head.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips, and said in a low voice: "The left side is your career, which is what everyone sees, and the right side is your life, away from the camera, you are also an ordinary person, it is¡­ the you I see."

    The proportions of the model are exquisite, the scene is very realistic, and some details are restored very well. It can be seen that the person who made it put a lot of thought into it.

    It felt slippery and cool to the touch, she doesn''t know what material was used.

    "Did you do it yourself?"

    Cheng Suran nodded obediently: "Yes, I used clay."

    Surprise flashed in Jiang Yu''s eyes.

    "I don''t know what you like. I feel that you definitely don''t lack clothes, bags and cosmetics. Fans have given you everything you can think of, so... I think handmade is more commemorative. I bought all the materials from the money I earned from my part-time job. Um...sister, do you still like it?"

    The girl looked at her with a cautious tone, but her eyes were full of expectation.

    Jiang Yu''s eyes softened, and she slowly raised the corners of her lips: "I like it very much."

 CH 53

    After getting the expected answer, Cheng Suran''s tense nerves finally relaxed, she let out a long breath, and her two small dimples sank deeply.  Seeing Jiang Yu smile, she smiled too, her bright black eyes were full of luster.

    But soon she realized that she had gone too far and shouldn''t show too much emotion in front of her sister, so she restrained her thoughts, her smile faded, and she said, "It''s good you like it."

    She stood quietly by the sofa, keeping a distance of two steps from Jiang Yu, with her small hands hidden by her side grabbing the nightgown.

    Jiang Yu glanced at her and said, "I''ll let Tian Lin take it home tomorrow."

    "Mm, good." Cheng Suran nodded with a smile.

    There is sourness in her smile.

    Gifts can go home with her sister, but she can''t. But she made the gift, so if she thinks about it, at least the gift is okay.

    Let the gift go home instead of her and her sister.

    Walking away, Jiang Yu had already withdrawn her eyes and focused on the model. Her slender fingers caressed the clay figurine, her movements were very light, her expression was also pleasantly surprised, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "Mm?"

    Cheng Suran looked at the woman, hesitant to speak.

    After the gift was given out, there was no business for her anymore, and she shouldn''t stay here any longer, but there were some things hidden in her heart, and she wanted to say them but couldn''t dare to say them.

    "What''s wrong?" Jiang Yu frowned slightly.

    Cheng Suran held on to her nightgown tightly. After a long time, she mustered up her courage and said, "I know, the relationship between us... is money. You pay the money and I give my body. It''s a deal. But after all, we''ve known each other for so many days. You''re not only a benefactor but a senior to me, a big sister. I have never seen you with a filter, so... under the runway, you are also an ordinary person. You have your own life, maybe what I see is not the real you, but it must be a part of you, um... Anyway, I hope you can be happy, um... No matter what happens in the future, no matter how many side you  have, no matter what you look like, I will firmly stand by your side..."

    She was too nervous, and afraid that her voice would tremble uncontrollably, so she stuttered and messed up, and in the end she didn''t know what she said.

    Confession, or consolation, explaining the meaning of making this gift?

    At that time, the public opinion on the Internet was so fierce, how could her sister not know that being submerged in criticism for a whole day, she must need her comfort and determination¡ªeven if she is a canary without emotion, for the sake of money, she should not hesitate to support the sponsor.

    She''s not a canary without feelings, but she stabbed her sister indirectly.

    She was too anxious and too stupid. In the past few days, she has gradually realized that it doesn''t matter whether she has a special place in her sister''s heart. Since they met, until now, even if they are not friends, they are strangers who can talk a few words, she shouldn''t do that.

    The gift carries her best wishes for her sister.

    Let her just be a canary in peace...

    Cheng Suran stood under the lamp and smiled, her dimples were filled with a little light, but her eyes were dim.

    Jiang Yu looked at her and remained silent for a long time.

    "Then I''m going to bed, good night sister."

    "Wait "

    Cheng Suran stopped.

    "Nevermind..." Jiang Yu''s eyes were a little evasive, she turned her face away, "Go to sleep."

    "Okay." Cheng Suran nodded obediently, and turned back to the room without any hesitation.

    The later the time, the darker the night.

    Jiang Yu stood there in a daze for a while, went to the bathroom to take a shower, came out, took a wet face towel, wiped the acrylic box carefully, and wiped the model with a dry soft cloth on the parts she touched.

    Then put on disposable gloves, clean up the trash and paper scraps, throw them away together with the gloves, and return to the model.

    This is the first time she has received a handmade gift.

    The kid is right. Those mass-produced things such as clothes, bags, and cosmetics can be bought with money. She can buy a lot. Over the years, she has collected all kinds of gifts from fans, there are even duplicates, and they can hardly be piled up in the warehouse at home.

    Birthday is an ordinary day in 365 days, but tonight she felt the specialness of this day.

    Because this gift is unique.

    The scenes and villains, down to the curly edges of her hair and the screws of the swing frame, are exquisite and lifelike everywhere. Obviously, it took a lot of time and energy to make them look like this.

    She almost missed it.

    Jiang Yu stroked her little self, and warmth flowed from the bottom of her heart, she couldn''t put it down.

    She took a photo with her mobile phone and logged into her Weibo account.

    @Meat-eating.HerbivoreJWY: You are unique [picture]

    Settings are only visible to her.

    After posting on Weibo, Jiang Yu put the model back into the transparent box, sent a message to Tian Lin, turned off the headlights, and returned to the second bedroom.

    The room was dark, with a small arched outline on the bed. She closed the door, groped into the bed in the dark, and hugged the girl from behind as usual.

    The person in her arms trembled, then her body froze and didn''t make a sound.

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak either.

    The thick darkness magnified the silence infinitely, and after a while, the sound of slightly heavy breathing came to her ears, as if covered by something and couldn''t breathe.

    She frowned, stretched out her hand, and pulled back a little of the quilt, "Aren''t you feeling suffocated?"

    "..."

    "I know you''re not asleep."

    "Mm."

    The arms around her waist tightened, and Cheng Suran couldn''t help tightening her shoulders, trying to resist the urge to turn around and hug Jiang Yu. She silently said that she was a canary three times, and her beating heart gradually calmed down.

    "Turn around." Jiang Yu ordered calmly.

    Cheng Suran was startled, and immediately turned over obediently.

    Facing each other, breathing each other''s breath, expressions blurred by darkness.

    "Why did you throw the gift into the trash can?" Jiang Yu brushed the hair off the girl''s face with a low tone.

    Cheng Suran didn''t speak.

    "Hmm?"

    "..."

    "Speak."

    "I thought you didn''t need..." she whispered aggrievedly.

    Jiang Yu was startled, and probably guessed the reason.

    She didn''t say anything, and didn''t think about it anymore, she folded her arms, buried her face in the girl''s neck, sniffing the sweet and soft milk fragrance, she couldn''t help but get a little excited.

    It''s been days since.

    She really wants to.

    Jiang Yu leaned over to kiss her lips, passed through the silk material with one hand, and pinched the tip of the peach.

    "Mm, sister¡ª" Cheng Suran struggled to avoid the kiss.

    "Be obedient."

    "No, no, not today, I...my visitor is here..."

    If the lights in the bedroom were turned on at this moment, she would definitely be able to see how red her face was.

    Does sister want to fight bloody battles?

    Jiang Yu was stunned for a moment, then immediately discouraged, she withdrew her hand.

    "Go to sleep."

    "But you can do it..." Cheng Suran''s brain became hot, and she hugged Jiang Yu, not wanting to miss this golden opportunity.

    She has been greedy for her sister for a long time.

    Jiang Yu pushed her away mercilessly, turned sideways, "Good night."

    "..."

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    It was late autumn in Jiangcheng in November, and as the temperature dropped again and again, most of the plants began to wither.

    The C1 exam was approaching, and Cheng Suran became more and more busy. She seized the last bit of time to do targeted exercises. She devoted all her energy to it. Every day, except for class and meals, she went to the library, occasionally chatting with foreign teachers, leaving early and returning late.

    The relationship with her sister has eased a lot, but there is still a clear sense of distance between them. For some reason, she always felt that her sister was hiding from her intentionally or unintentionally.

    Waking up every morning, not being able to see the person beside her, sleeping every night, hugging and saying a few words, just like this, day after day.

    Seeing the countdown number getting smaller and smaller, Cheng Suran knew that she was powerless to change anything, so she simply stopped thinking about it. As long as she liked her sister, it was enough, and liking didn''t necessarily require that person''s response. Even if it''s just a solo show, it can be fun.

    The day of the test is the weekend.

    Opening her eyes in the morning, Cheng Suran habitually touched the place next to her, it was empty and cold, she withdrew her hand as expected, got up to wash, and had breakfast.

    She sent Jiang Yu a good morning.

    She was a little hesitant. Should she tell her sister that she has an exam today? She wants to get encouragement from that person, but... well, it''s not good to disturb her sister with such trivial things, and nothing will happen without encouragement.

    Wandering, the phone vibrated.

    Sister: [Morning, good luck on your exam.]

    Cheng Suran''s eyes lit up, showing joy, her tightly pursed lips couldn''t help but rise, and she quickly replied: [Yeah, I will work hard.][Good baby.jpg]

    A few days ago, she mentioned the exam casually, but her sister just hummed twice perfunctorily, as if she didn''t take it to heart. Unexpectedly, her sister not only remembered, but also actively encouraged her. Does this mean that she has a little place in her sister''s heart¡­

    Stop.

    Cheng Suran took a deep breath, patted her face, and hurried out.

    ¡­.

    Today the company came with a few A-class models, and they were initially establishing profiles and assigning agents. Jiang Yu had a face-to-face meeting with them, and then was dragged away by Qi Yan.

    The new issue of the magazine has a new theme, and the main photographer usually selects the models, but Qi Yan''s habit is to first invite people to test film one by one. Unfortunately, all the models who fit the theme style had jobs outside, so she could only grab Jiang Yu.

    "Hurry up, I''m on a business trip in the afternoon." Jiang Yu sneered standing in front of the camera lens.

    Qi Yan made an OK gesture, looked at the film carefully, and said to herself: "Don''t rush me, you are quite suitable, why don''t you just shoot this issue? No, no, I feel that you are suitable for any style..."

    "Aren''t you talking nonsense? Boss Jiang''s level is comparable to those young models?" The stylist flattered her.

    Jiang Yu ignored it, and suddenly remembered something. Seeing that she had finished filming, she walked over quietly, "Come out, I have something to ask you."

    "?"

    Qi Yan saved the photo, turned around and followed.

    The two left the big studio and came to the corner of the corridor. She asked suspiciously, "What''s wrong?"

    "That day in the hospital, little...cough, did Ranran ask you something about me?" Jiang Yu stared at her face.

    "No."

    "I know all about it, so you don''t need to cover her up."

    "..."

    Qi Yan lowered her eyes, was silent for a moment, and suddenly smiled ironically, "Did Bai Lu tell you?"

    "Don''t talk about irrelevant things."

    "So what if she asked, I didn''t say anything bad about you, and it''s been a long time, who still rarely remembers those things about you. Fortunately, I forgot quickly, otherwise my Qiao Qiao would still eat..."

    "But what was Ranran''s expression at that time?" Jiang Yu interrupted softly.

    Qi Yan frowned, thought for a while, and said, "Nervous? Distressed? In fact, no matter who it is, if their loved one is taken to the hospital, they will definitely be anxious. She doesn''t know anything about you, so this emotion will be doubled."

    "Is her photobook finished?"

    "Mm, I''m going to have my assistant send one to you."

    "It''s okay." Jiang Yu raised her leg and was about to leave.

    "Hey--"

    Qi Yan called her to stop, sighed, and said in embarrassment: "Although I''m nosy, I still want to remind you not to get too close to Bai Lu, she''s a little crazy, my instinct tells me that that person is abnormal, but it''s up to you whether you want to listen or not."

    Jiang Yu showed no expression, just nodded and turned to leave.

    After returning to the office, she received a call from Tian Lin. The activities in the capital in the afternoon were temporarily canceled due to the weather, and her business trip plan was also forced to be canceled.

    The little assistant sent two photobook.

    The whole book is very thick, a little bigger than A4 paper, and it feels heavy in the hand.

    The cover is a single full-body photo of Cheng Suran. She is sitting on the ground wearing a very short tube top dress, with half of her waist and back bare. It''s too sexy, it looks pure and full of desire, which makes people daydream.

    Pure desire, pure desire¡­

    How dare someone surnamed Qi use this photo as the cover?

    Jiang Yu lowered her face, flipped through the pages, and looked at them one by one. Her face softened a little, and she liked it more and more. She couldn''t help stroking the girl''s face in the photo with her fingertips.

    Qi Yan''s words echoed in her ears.

    Could it be¡­

    ¡ª¡ª tok tok tok

    A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

    Before she could speak, the office door was pushed open, and a tall figure came in, "Sister Yu, I got my driver''s license."

    It''s Bai Lu.

    "Here, look, it''s brand new." Bai Lu winked at Jiang Yu, handed over a small black booklet, sat down next to her, and wrapped her arms around her waist naturally.

    Jiang Yu''s body froze slightly, she opened the booklet and looked at it, then handed it back to her, "It''s pretty fast, it''s only been over a month."

    The little fox had her hair in a bun and was dressed in casual black. She has changed from her previous enchanting and charming appearance, and looks a bit playful, but those fox-like eyes are still alluring.

    Bai Lu put her driver''s license in her pocket, and rubbed her ear affectionately, "Of course, it''s all basic. Sister Yu, I''m here to share the good news with you, and I''m going to have dinner with friends later. I''m too busy these days. I miss you very much, very much.¡±

    "Okay, okay, I know." Jiang Yu smiled and patted her head like a child.

    Bai Lu lowered her eyes, glanced at the photobook inadvertently, her expression was slightly concentrated, "This is... your sister?"

    Jiang Yu followed her gaze and looked down, calmly said: "Yes."

    While talking, she closed the photobook calmly, and stuffed it into the coffee table drawer.

    "Oh." Suspicion flashed in Bai Lu''s eyes, "She''s really beautiful."

    A subtle embarrassment.

    "Aren''t you going to an appointment? It''s already eleven o''clock." Jiang Yu reminded her with a light smile.

    Bai Lu smiled unnaturally: "I''ll go now. By the way, Sister Yu, I want to buy a car and drive around the city. I just got my driver''s license and want to practice on the road. Do you have any recommendations? Send me a WeChat message, and I¡¯ll be leaving first.''

    She stood up, glanced at the coffee table drawer, and turned to leave.

    There was only an eerie silence in the room.

    Jiang Yu opened the drawer, took out the photobook, and glanced at the office door again, thoughtful of Bai Lu''s words around her ears.

    She remembered that the kid also had a driver''s license, but she wondered if she actually been on the road.

    A college student who is alone in the field and busy with part-time jobs and studies, obviously, even if she has a license, she has no car to use for practice, so she can only learn from the "book" for the time being.

    Driving is also a life skill that must be mastered.

    Jiang Yu thought for a moment, picked up her phone, and sent a message to the kid:

    [Do you have time in the afternoon?  Bring your driver''s license to the company.]

    After a short wait, the kid returned a six-second voice message.

    "Okay, sister, I just got out of the exam, and I''m going to the subway..." The girl''s warm and soft voice came from the phone.

    Just in the last two seconds, a male voice suddenly came in from the side: "Ranran, let''s go eat? What do you want to eat..."

    The voice message ended.

 CH 54

    The sound stopped abruptly.

    Jiang Yu frowned, and was about to ask who the person next to her was, when the voice was suddenly withdrawn, and the other side showed that she was typing, and another text message was sent.

    [Hmm, I just finished the exam.]

    Guilty?

    Jiang Yu typed with a sullen face: [Is there someone next to you?]

    After a while, the kid replied: [Classmate who took the exam with me.]

    Jiang Yu sneered in her heart.

    Classmate? And a boy? Why didn''t she know that Cheng Suran had a close male classmate at school?  If it''s just an ordinary classmate, why would he just call her by nickname? Do boys call girls by nicknames so casually?

    Why cut the video message if you are not guilty.

    The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it became, as if the bird she carefully raised had flown away with others. Jiang Yu was upset, and she tapped her fingertips heavily on the screen, and issued an order: [Come here now.]

    Soon, the kid replied "Okay".

    Pretty obedient.

    Jiang Yu''s expression softened a little, she put down her phone, and continued to look through the photobook.

    Cheng Suran in the photo has a lively beauty, as if growing freely in the wild, without any trace of artificial carving. It was also after seeing these photos that Jiang Yu understood why Qi Yan fell in love with her at a glance that day.

    People who don''t know Cheng Suran and only look at these photos, will definitely think that this is a girl who grew up carefree in a warm and happy environment.

    Jiang Yu knew that the reality was the opposite.

    The kid is very sensitive, not very confident, always preoccupied, does not have the vigor and vitality of her peers, does not know how to behave in front of others, but is obedient, soft, and silly in front of her, and once she  thought she was playing hard to get.

    In fact, she is also a contradiction like her...

    Looking at it, Jiang Yu couldn''t help showing her aunt''s smile, time passed quickly, until a knock on the door brought her back to her thoughts.

    The office door opened a gap first, then slowly widened, a small head poked in cautiously, followed by half of the body, then the whole person.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "Come here." Jiang Yu beckoned to her.

    Cheng Suran observed her face carefully, put down her bag, walked obediently and sat on her lap, but just looked at her, as if waiting for some order.

    The small face is plain and neat, only lightly drawn eyebrows, and the hair is a bit messy. Although it is simple, it has delicate bones and it is comfortable to look at

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak, she held her face in her hands and kissed her.

    She bit her lip as punishment.

    "Hmm..." Cheng Suran frowned in pain, but she didn''t dare to move, and obediently endured the bite.

    She knew that her sister was upset.

    The scorching hot breath whizzed past, strong and merciless, as if it wanted to swallow her alive, her hands and feet felt a little weak, her bones were brittle, and she groaned and groaned in the woman''s arms.

    Unknowingly, she was pushed down on the sofa, and two thick clothes could not block that hand.

    The palms wrap them and the size is just right.

    Jiang Yu liked it very much.

    ¨Cgulug

    The stomach growled.

    In the middle of her excitement, Jiang Yu had to stop, slowed down for a while, and leaned into her ear: "Hungry?"

    "Mm, a little..." Cheng Suran blushed and panted.

    Jiang Yu helped her up, wrapped her in her arms, and asked casually, "How was the exam?"

    Cheng Suran was stunned for a moment, she didn''t expect that she would continue to care about this, her heart suddenly became beautiful and sweet, and the corners of her mouth curled up, "Mm, I''m sure I can pass."

    Jiang Yu stared at her quietly.

    Her kissed lips were moist and soft, slightly flushed with blood, like a tempting fruit, waiting to be picked.

    "Are there any boys chasing you at school?"

    "There used to be."

    "What about the girls?"

    "I don''t know..." Cheng Suran shook her head and pursed her lips.

    Sure enough, she guessed right, her sister was upset because a boy called her nickname during the voice message. But for some reason, she jumped up and down with joy, as if she had discovered some great secret, pointing to what she thought in her heart.

    Does my sister care about that?

    Does it mean that she has a little place in her sister''s heart¡­

    "Remember to abide by the terms of the agreement." Jiang Yu turned away her face and said in a calm tone.

    Cheng Suran froze, all her illusions were extinguished in an instant, and she nodded dully: "Okay."

    Jiang Yu handed her a photobook.

    "?"

    "The finished product, one for the company, and one for yourself."Jiang Yu lied without changing her expression.

    There was more than one picture album, but the surname Qi was quite sensible, and sent two copies, one for the children, and the other for herself, but she couldn''t tell.

    Cheng Suran looked at herself on the cover and blushed, "Sister, why did you use this..."

    "Qi Yan did that." Jiang Yu said displeased.

    "..."

    "Aren''t you hungry? Let''s go eat, what do you want?" Jiang Yu stood up and picked up her bag.

    "As long as it''s not spicy." Cheng Suran put the photobook into her bag like holding a baby.

    The two went out one after the other.

    Jiang Yu walked ahead alone, tall and long-legged, walking faster and faster. The sunlight in the corridor fell on her body, casting a thin shadow.

    Cheng Suran looked at her indifferent back, and trotted to follow, but after all, her legs were a little short and she was tired from following, so she carefully took her hand, "Sister... that boy was from our professional club before, and we did group activities together, At that time, because the group atmosphere was very good, everyone called each other by nicknames, I said they can call me Ranran, but then I quit..."

    "Why are you telling me these things?" Jiang Yu asked calmly.

    "Hmm..." Cheng Suran hesitated for a moment, and swallowed the "don''t be angry" that came to her lips, "I want to say, I will strictly abide by the agreement."

    Jiang Yu stopped talking.

    ¡­.

    After lunch outside and returning to the company, Cheng Suran saw the small white car she often rode in, but did not see the driver, Xiao Wen. She was wondering when Jiang Yu got into the driver''s seat with the key and asked her to get in the car.

    "Did you bring your driver''s license?"

    "No, it''s in the school dormitory..." She was called over ahead of time, and she hadn''t had time to go back to get it.

    Although she doesn''t know what her sister is going to do.

    Jiang Yu patted the steering wheel and asked uncertainly, "Have you been on the road?"

    "No." Cheng Suran vaguely understood.

    "Starting from today, Drive this car for 20 kilometers a day. After you get used to it, go to the parking lot and practice reverse parking ten times a day then parallel parking ten times a day, can you do it?"

    "..."

    "Speak, don''t be in a daze." Jiang Yu looked at her seriously.

    Cheng Suran''s lips moved, hesitantly asked: "Why?"

    "Driving is an essential life skill. You can actually learn it only by being on the road. The driving instructor only teaches you how to pass the test."

    "I mean... sister, you don''t have to..."

    Before she could finish speaking, she lowered her head, her fingers tightly twisted together. She couldn''t help thinking about it. This was the third time today, sometimes she really hoped that her sister wouldn''t treat her so well and give up her thoughts, so once the contract expired, she could leave happily.

    Countdown to twenty days.

    The midday sun shone through the glass, dying her thick black hair a tinge of golden brown.

    Jiang Yu watched her with complicated feelings in her heart.

    How can there be such a stupid person?

    Doesn''t want extra money, doesn''t accept expensive gifts, not just that, but she also doesn''t even have the intention to use her as a springboard. She doesn''t know whether to say that she is too stupid, or¡ª¡ª

    Swayed?

    Impossible.

    Jiang Yun felt a little annoyed, closed her eyes, rubbed her temples with her fingertips, and said quietly: "When I first arrived in Paris, I was a freelance model, literally free model, no company, no agent, no activity channel, it all depends on looking for resources by myself, I was stupid at the beginning, with limited cognitive ability, thinking that as long as I worked hard, I could always find a way.¡±

    "A year later I met my scout Bastain, a very famous designer, and he asked me to wear his clothes for a solo show. At that time, I was short-sighted and didn''t know how big an opportunity it was, I just wanted to take the generous salary he gave. It was after the big show that my name was remembered by some people in the circle. Later, he recommended me to his magazine editor friend, and then there was a company who proactively approached me... I always mentioned his name during the interview, and he didn''t mind being used by me. Break through your own cognition and jump to a higher and broader place, otherwise you will only be trapped in a small puddle forever, earning enough food and having enough clothing, and not being able to eat a few years of youthful food..."

    While talking, Jiang Yu opened her eyes.

    "There are rumors in China that I had an affair with him, but the truth is, he is gay. He passed away last spring, and I attended his funeral. It was because of luck after all."

    She laughed while talking, and turned her head to look at Cheng Suran, with a glimmer of light in her deep eyes.

    Little fool.

    Why don''t you use me?

    I''d love to be used by you.

    Cheng Suran met Jiang Yu''s gaze, her heart trembled slightly, as if a fire was burning in her chest. She grabbed her hand suddenly, and said seriously: "Sister, only those with strength can catch luck, otherwise, no matter how good and violent the luck comes, it will only be a flash in the pan."

    She remembered that sentence: Luck is an excuse for the weak, but also a humble word for the strong.

    Whether it is luck or strength, these are not important, what is important is that she found that her sister is willing to share the past with her. Although, just a little bit.

    Their eyes intertwined

    After a long silence, Jiang Yu suddenly smiled, turned her face away, with helplessness in her eyes.

    The kid doesn''t understand.

    Nevermind.

    "Since there are conditions when you are studying, we should pass the novice period as soon as possible. Now, let''s go get your driver''s license. I''ll drive and you watch." Jiang Yu withdrew her hand, picked up the key, inserted it, and turned to the first gear.

    The warmth in her palm suddenly disappeared, and Cheng Suran came back to her senses, feeling empty.

    "The key has two gears. The first gear is to turn on the power, and you can see which lights are on to indicate which equipment on the car is working. Turning to the second gear is the ignition and starting the car."

    "Sister, do you want me to call you Teacher Jiang?"

    "Whatever."

    "Hey, Teacher Jiang." She stuck out her tongue.

    Jiang Yu smiled, stepped on the brake with one foot, and said: "Look, the automatic transmission is different from the manual transmission car in the driving school. There are only two pedals, the left brake and the right accelerator. The brake is also equivalent to the clutch. Before putting down the handbrake, you must step on it."  Hold the brakes and..."

    Cheng Suran watched and listened intently.

    The car slowly drove up the main road, heading towards the school, Jiang Yu stopped talking, and stared straight ahead intently, with only a dull silence in her ears.

    Out of the corner of her eye, she could feel the kid looking at her frequently.

    She doesn''t move.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "Mm."

    "I don''t want to use you." Cheng Suran lowered her head, her tone sounded a bit sad, her small face was hidden in the shadow of her hair.

    She understood.

    It''s good to be a fool.

    Jiang Yu tightened her grip on the steering wheel.

    ¡­.

    After going to school to get her driver''s license, Jiang Yu drove the car to a sparsely populated road in the suburbs, and switched places with Cheng Suran, letting her familiarize herself with the car''s equipment first, and then run a few times back and forth.

    She is a gentle and patient teacher.

    Cheng Suran is a good student who is smart and quick to learn.

    In the afternoon, her results were good. She could speed up to 50 on the road with few people, but after entering the urban area, she still had to let Jiang Yu take over.

    Originally, she was a little guilty that her sister was so busy and took time to take her to practice, but in fact, she wished that the two of them would stick together all the time. Jiang Yu is not free to take her every day, so Tian Lin asked Xiao Wen, the driver, to urge Cheng Suran to complete the task. As long as she has time, she will personally supervise.

    During these times, she felt that she was needed.

    ¡­.

    Countdown to fifteen days.

    Checking the practice results for the last time, Jiang Yu asked Cheng Suran to go around the area where the school is located, and then go to the city center in the evening.

    The stereo was playing Jiang Yu''s favorite "Brief Encounter". Cheng Suran was in a great mood, and she hummed along while driving, and the humming reached a climax when a phone call suddenly came in and interrupted the music.

    "Zhao Yihan, who is it?" Jiang Yu read out the name of the caller ID.

    Cheng Suran slowed down and whispered, "My cousin."

    "Let''s pull over and stop, this road allows parking." Jiang Yu said calmly, a shadow of a person flashed in her mind.

    The one she saw at the gate of the kid''s school about two months ago.

    Tsk.

    Cheng Suran parked the car on the side of the road, crookedly, accepted the call and before she could speak, her cousin''s voice echoed through the bluetooth speaker in the whole car:

    "Where are you? Come out quickly, I have something to tell you."

    "..."

    "Hello?"

    "School."

    "What are you still doing at school on Saturday? Hurry up, come to No. 659 Jinyang Road, next to the Cultural and Creative Park. I have something urgent, and I can only explain in person. This will only take a few minutes." Zhao Yihan''s tone was a little rushed, she couldn''t tell if it was anxiety or anger.

    Jiang Yu frowned imperceptibly.

    Cheng Suran turned to look at her, as if asking for approval.

    She nods.

    "Okay, wait for me for a quarter of an hour." Cheng Suran hung up the phone, unfastened her seat belt and was about to get out of the car.

    Jiang Yu took her hand and said, "Drive over there."

    "Sister, you...you will go too?"

    "I''ll wait in the car."

    "..."

    It only took ten minutes to Jinyang Road Cultural and Creative Park.

    Today is a cloudy day, the thick and heavy clouds are very low, it seems that it will rain at any time. It was only five o''clock but the street lights on both sides of the street came on one after another.

    It''s not easy to park near the Creative Park, the entrance is a narrow path, a few steps to the corner, Cheng Suran handed over the car to Jiang Yu, and walked over by herself.

    Zhao Yihan stood by the gate of the Creative Park, with her back facing the corner intersection, dressed neatly from head to toe, and carrying a luxury bag, like she''s been reborn to a different person.

    Seeing Cheng Suran, she rushed up impatiently, "Do you have any money? Lend me 20,000."

    "..."

    "Didn''t hear me? Lend me some money!"

    "I have no money." Cheng Suran frowned and took a step back.

    So that was it.

    What a waste of fuel.

    Zhao Yihan smiled twice, looked her up and down, "Don''t pretend, I''ve seen your Moments*, can you afford Diptyque''s incense and still have no money?"

    *Moments/Circle of Friends: a feature in WeChat like an SNS within a messaging app and only your approved friends can see your posts.This is like how Facebook is tied up to Messenger.

    "When did I..." Cheng Suran was taken aback, took out her phone, and clicked on WeChat to check.

    Two days ago, she posted a photo of her own book and computer keyboard. Sure enough, she forgot to set the restrictions. She took a closer look, and saw she accidentally took half of the scented candle that her sister gave her.

    Is this thing expensive?

    "Hundreds of dollars each, have you made a fortune? You really know how to enjoy it, and you are still pretending. Okay, hurry up, and give me the money." Zhao Yihan patted her on the shoulder impatiently.

    Cheng Suran put away her phone and looked at her cousin coldly, "Someone gave it to me. I don''t even know how much it is, how do you know it so well? Besides, haven''t you already found a job and salary? Why do you still ask me, a poor student, for money?"

    "Why are you talking so much nonsense..."

    "I have no money."

    "Then you can borrow some for me, online loans are also available, I really need it urgently." Zhao Yihan stomped her feet on the spot.

    Cheng Suran said angrily, "Why don''t you go for an online loan yourself?"

    "I took out a loan, so I have to pay it back."

    "..."

    "Hurry up, stop talking nonsense, the debt collector will be..." Before finishing speaking, Zhao Yihan''s cell phone rang, her expression changed suddenly, and she picked it up cautiously.

    "Mm, as soon as possible...I know, hmm, yes, okay..."

    She shrank her neck, hunched her shoulders, bowed her head and bent her knees, she had long lost her usual domineering appearance. Cheng Suran was secretly surprised, as if she understood something, she didn''t know whether it was joy or sorrow.

    Hanging up the phone, Zhao Yihan regained her face and forcefully pushed her, "Hey, I''ve been pushed like this by debt collectors. Do you want to see me die without helping me? I''m just asking you to take a loan. That will only take a few minutes on your phone, I''m not asking for your life!

    "Why should I take out a loan for you?" Cheng Suran pushed back without showing any weakness.

    Zhao Yihan was stunned for a moment, shocked that she dared to fight back, immediately anxious and angry, and said loudly: "You owe our family!"

    Cheng Suran clenched her fists.

    "Why? Am I wrong?!" Zhao Yihan raised her chin.

    There were not many people walking around, and occasionally a few passed by, turning their heads and looking at them strangely.

    Cheng Suran took a deep breath, her face flushed red, and the conversation she overheard outside her aunt''s room that day rang in her ears...

    She owes nothing to anyone.

    "Zhao Yihan, listen carefully, from the age of seven to eighteen, for eleven years, I lived in your house, the food I ate, the clothes I wore, the water and electricity I used, and the tuition I paid.  It was from the compensation of my father''s death, do you understand? I don''t owe your family anything at all, please don''t morally hostage me!"

    "What compensation? What kind of bullshit are you talking about?"

    Cheng Suran sneered, approached step by step, and said word by word: "When my father got into a drunken fight with someone and was stabbed to death. That person paid him 150,000 yuan. In addition to this money, grandma promised to give the old house in the countryside to your mother. She brought me back because of these things, didn¡¯t you know? From the 150,000 to this year, there are still 20,000 left. If it wasn¡¯t for grandma¡¯s sickness and hospitalization, today, you would be able to get that money from your mother."

    She doesn''t even want to call out the word "aunt" anymore.

    "You...do you think I will believe it? I can make up a hundred stories like that!" Zhao Yihan was taken aback by her fierce look, but refused to lose her ground.

    "You can ask your mother."

    "..."

    Zhao Yihan was speechless for a while, Cheng Suran turned around and was about to leave but she quickly grabbed her, "Even if you didn''t spend my family''s money, at least my parents cared about you, right? So what if you have compensation? Did you go to sleep on the street? You might even be kidnapped! To be a human being, you have to have a conscience!"

    "Let go¡ª"

    Cheng Suran angrily shook off her hand and gritted her teeth, saying, "Conscience? What''s the use of conscience? Whoever speaks conscience should be eaten and bleed! I''ve been out for two years now, and they''re still planning to extract a bride price from me. What kind of person do you think your parents are? Bah!"

    ¨CPak!

    A loud slap hit her face.

    The whole world buzzed.

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Diagonally across the corner of the road, a brand new snow-white car just parked, lowering the glass window in half.

    From this angle, the figures of the two girls can be seen.

    Jiang Yu sat in the driver''s seat, staring at them intently.

    There seemed to be an argument, and a faint sound could be heard. Cheng Suran turned her back to this side, and suddenly, the person opposite slapped her.

    "!"

    Jiang Yu was about to open the door immediately, and put her hand on the inner handle.

    However, the next second she saw¡ª¡ª

    Cheng Suran fought back.

 CH 55

    Zhao Yihan grabbed Cheng Suran''s collar and was about to slap her. But Cheng Suran grabbed her wrist very quickly, and put her other hand on her shoulder, trying to push her away. Obviously, Zhao Yihan was enraged, and she clung to Cheng Suran with a ferocious look, she suddenly let go of her hand holding the collar, and slapped Cheng Suran on the forehead.

    Cheng Suran didn''t want to fight at first, but was stunned for two seconds by the slap, and suddenly became angry, and punched her stomach heavily with her fist.

    Two girls of similar age quickly scuffled together.

    Jiang Yu watched from a distance, dumbfounded, and withdrew her hand that was about to open the door.

    In her perception, the kid has always been well-behaved and obedient, quiet and introverted, soft-tempered, and has a pure and smart face, looks like a harmless little white rabbit, who will always be bullied and slaughtered.

    As a canary, this quality is very endearing to her. But as an equal, she always felt that something was missing.

    At this moment, Cheng Suran grabbed Zhao Yihan''s neck with one hand, and grabbed her hair with the other, threw her to the ground, kicked and beat her like a mad and violent lioness.

    Looking at the scene in front of her, Jiang Yu felt relieved, even a little happy.

    This little tigress is quite ruthless.

    She couldn''t help but curl her lips.

    But not long after Cheng Suran gradually gained the upper hand. She was too thin, with a slender frame, and she didn''t usually do much exercise when she read books. Once her explosive power was exhausted, she was somewhat defeated and Zhao Yihan pressed her to the ground and slapped her several times.

    The pedestrians passing by watched sideways, but no one stepped forward to stop them. They all thought that the original spouse was hitting the mistress, they were afraid to meddle in other people''s business.

    Jiang Yu watched them through the windshield, and couldn''t help frowning, sweating for the kid, and couldn''t sit still.

    That is her bird, and no one can touch it.

    If this continues¡­

    She was anxious and reached for the door handle and with a slight force, the door opened, and in an instant, there was a strong urge to go out.

    No--

    She can''t go out.

    Although she is not a popular celebrity and there are not many people who know her, she just experienced a storm of public opinion last month. It''s better to stay low-key for now. It''s better to be safe than sorry.

    There are no things like sunglasses and masks in the car that can be used for cover.

    Jiang Yu calmed down instantly and closed the car door, but she didn''t dare to look at the figures of the two girls in front of her again. She lay on the steering wheel and buried her face.

    After a while, she couldn''t help it, and looked up again.

    She saw Cheng Suran pulling Zhao Yihan''s hair forcefully, causing her body to lean back involuntarily, her hands lost her guard, Cheng Suran took the opportunity to throw her back on the ground, knelt down on her knees and pressed her arm, and the other hand hit her on the head.

    Zhao Yihan struggled to push her away, got up and ran away.

    Cheng Suran picked up a small stone and swung it over.

    Slightly hitting her on the back.

    The person ran away

    Jiang Yu breathed a sigh of relief, and leaned back against the back of the chair.

    As the sky darkened, the street lamps gave off a faint and cold white light, illuminating the lonely and resolute shadow of the girl.

    Cheng Suran froze on the spot, panting, her chest heaved violently, her face and hair were covered with dust and she was extremely embarrassed.

    After a while, she came back to her senses and turned to look around the corner.

    The familiar white car quietly parked diagonally across.

    She''s done for.

    Did her sister see her?

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Cheng Suran panicked a little, she quickly dusted her clothes, wiped her face, smoothed her hair randomly a few times, collected her emotions, and walked over as if nothing had happened.

    Pulling open the passenger door, she showed a cute smile a second before getting in the car, "Sister, let''s go."

    Only when she got closer that Jiang Yu could clearly see through the lights inside the car. The girl''s cheeks were red and swollen, with deep five finger marks floating on her face, and her forehead was covered with dusty mud, like a little bird whose beautiful feathers had been plucked. The bald bird, on the other hand, still pretends to be strong and smiles. She looked pitiful and funny.

    Jiang Yu''s eyes were dim, and without speaking, she took out a wet wipe from her bag and carefully wiped off the dust and sweat on her face.

    Cheng Suran''s eyelashes trembled, a little flattered, her body froze and she dared not move.

    "Does it hurt?" After wiping, Jiang Yu pressed her palm against the girl''s red and swollen cheek, feeling the scalding heat, and her heart twitched.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head, the tip of her nose turned sore, and whispered, "It doesn''t hurt."

    Lying again.

    Jiang Yu smiled helplessly, and without waiting for her to say anything, the kid spoke again: "Sister¡­have¡­ you seen everything?"

    "Mm."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran buried her head very low, and the falling hair covered her eyes, hiding her emotions.

    For a moment, she really wanted to hug Jiang Yu and cry about her grievances, because Jiang Yu is her closest and most trusted person in this city, but her reason told her that she was just a canary, no benefactor would like a lover who caused trouble. There are still fifteen days left, she better cherish them.

    She was waiting for her sister to ask what was going on, and wondered what she would think of her.

    Time passed by, and the warm yellow lights on the roof melted away the cold autumn night. All she could hear was each other''s breathing  and her own increasingly rapid heartbeat, which was unbearable.

    Jiang Yu didn''t say anything, just kept her posture still.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    Finally, Cheng Suran couldn''t help and mustered up the courage to speak, "I... am I bad?"

    "Good fight."

    "?"

    Jiang Yu held up the girl''s chin, forced her to look up, and said softly: "Whoever hits you, you hit back. It''s okay to be kind to others, but before that, you must first let others know that you are not easy to bully. Most of the time, only you can protect yourself."

    After speaking, she kissed her soft lips as if to comfort her.

    Cheng Suran stared blankly at Jiang Yu, her heart turned sour, her eyes gleaming with water, and all her defenses disintegrated in an instant, and all her worries were thrown away.

    She hugged Jiang Yu.

    Disappointed tears fell out, she was afraid that she would cry out loud, so she bit her lips tightly and gasped carefully.

    Hearing her suppressed sobs, Jiang Yu felt distressed and helpless, gently caressed her back with her palm, and coaxed softly: "Hey, cry out loud if you want to, it will feel better if you let it out."

    "I''m not crying..." Cheng Suran buried her face and rubbed against her neck, her voice choked.

    Pfft.

    Jiang Yu pursed her lips and smiled, and said along the way: "Okay, okay, you''re not crying, the kid is very strong."

    Earlier, when she was fighting, she looked fierce like a little tiger with all her claws and teeth bared, but when she turned her head, she cried her grievances in her arms, and became an obedient soft little white rabbit. The contrast was so great that her heart melted.

    She is still vaguely curious, wanting to know what happened today, but she gave up the idea in the end.

    She is the benefactor, regardless of this.

    Jiang Yu suppressed her eager curiosity.

    "I''m sorry, I made sister see a joke..." Cheng Suran raised her head and drooped her eyelids.

    Her face is red, so are her eyes and nose, her whole head is almost red, and there were still crystal drops of water on her eyelashes.

    "It''s not a joke," Jiang Yu shook her head, brushing away the messy hair on her forehead, "It''s to impress sister."

    "Ha?"

    "It turns out that rabbits can bite people when they''re anxious."

    Cheng Suran understood and smiled shyly.

    "Okay, let''s go back, your face needs to be treated." Jiang Yu kissed her forehead, reached out and pulled the seat belt to fasten it for her.

    The kid was obediently tied to the seat.

    The car turned out of the intersection and got on the main road. When passing the bus stop, Cheng Suran inadvertently saw Zhao Yihan who was waiting for the bus - she was holding up her mobile phone and didn''t know who to call, her face was full of flattery, there was a logo on her back. An incomparably eye-catching luxury brand bag only makes her look ironic.

    Cheng Suran took out her mobile phone, clicked into WeChat, found Zhao Yihan''s name in the list, and was about to block it.

    "Kid."

    "Yes?"

    At the red light ahead, Jiang Yu slowed down, turned to look at her, and said, "No matter what the reason or relationship, if someone offends you, it can only be three times, don''t just tolerate it."

    Cheng Suran was stunned for a while, surprised that they had the same thoughts, nodded repeatedly, "Mm, I think so too, I can''t be bullied by everyone."

    After finishing speaking, she blocked Zhao Yihan neatly.

    But she said in her heart: Except for sister.

    ¡­.

    After blocking Zhao Yihan, Cheng Suran once wanted to block her aunt, but considering that her household registration* was still there, she hesitated again and again, and decided to stay.

    *A household registration (hukou) record officially identifies a person as a permanent resident of an area and includes identifying information such as name, parents, spouse and date of birth. It entitles the registrant to certain benefits in that area; for example, hospitals, schools, or land-purchasing rights.

    The day when the contract expires is getting closer.

    She hoped that time would pass slowly, but God seemed to be against her. The more she wished, the faster time passed. But at this moment, a piece of news that was tantamount to "bad news" to her suddenly came¡ª¡ª

    Jiang Yu is going to record a variety show.

    The variety show is called "Becoming My World", and the location is chosen in Lingzhou, Cheng Suran''s hometown. The recording time is one week, and all the guests fly to the countryside of Lingzhou with the film crew to live a whole week of farm life.

    This means they will be separated for seven days.

    When Jiang Yu comes back, there will only be five days left until the contract expires

    It took Cheng Suran a long time to accept this fact, but she was still very sad. She didn''t want her sister to go at all, but she couldn''t stop anything. The saddest thing was that she didn''t even dare to say this to her sister¡­

    Tomorrow is Monday, and they have to leave at eight o''clock in the morning. Tonight seems to be the last farewell.

    The bath was taken very quickly. In less than twenty minutes, Jiang Yu couldn''t wait to turn off the water, wiped her whole body, put on her nightgown and went out.

    The door to the second bedroom was ajar, and the lights in the room were dim and hazy.

    The girl was lying on the bed, wearing only a see-through camisole, her long black hair spreads all over her back, making her white skin stand out, a large notebook was spread out in front of her, writing and drawing with a pen in her hand, not knowing what she was doing.

    Jiang Yu felt a little hot for some reason, she doesn''t know if it was because she just took a shower, so he walked over quietly, with most of her body pressed against the girl''s back, "What are you writing, kid?"

    Cheng Suran''s pen tip froze, her body trembled, she didn''t speak, and she didn''t lift her head.

    "..."

    Jiang Yu pressed down a little more, and rubbed her face against her ear, "It feels like you''ve been in a bad mood for the past two days, huh? Did something happen? You can tell sister."

    There is a soft and warm touch on the back, and the heartbeat can be felt even through the thin material.

    Cheng Suran''s throat slid down, her cheeks became hot, she finished the last word with difficulty, closed the notebook, and held it up, "Sister, this is for you..."

    "What?" Jiang Yu propped herself up, took it, and opened it casually.

    It is densely packed with Lingzhou''s landscapes, cultural customs, special snacks and travel guides. The handwriting is clean and beautiful, and it is also annotated with pens of different colors, which is very detailed.

    Cheng Suran sat up, turned her back to Jiang Yu, and said in a low voice while packing her pencil case: "My sister will go to my hometown for the first time. Although it is for work, if you have free time, you can walk around. The scenery over there is good. I  Hope you have fun and make good memories."

    "I sent you an electronic version in WeChat. This handwritten version is just in case the phone runs out of battery or the signal is not good..."

    There was no emotion in the calm tone.

    Jiang Yu slowly raised her head, looked away from the notebook, and looked at the girl''s slightly disappointed back.

    The pencil case has been packed.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head and repeatedly rubbed her index finger on the quilt. Suddenly, her waist was wrapped tightly, and she fell into the soft embrace behind her.

    "Don''t you want sister to go?" Jiang Yu leaned against her ear, her breath was a little hot.

    Cheng Suran''s heart was filled with soreness, but she was afraid of being seen, so she shook her head repeatedly and said, "No, no, no¡ª"

    Before she finished speaking, her chin was pinched, she turned her face sideways, Jang Yu''s soft lips covered the her lips, and a fiery breath lingered between her teeth, like soothing or sweeping, swallowing all her emotions in an instant.

    She closed her eyes, turned around slowly, wrapped her arms around Jiang Yu''s neck, and responded to the kiss skillfully and eagerly.

    And unknowingly lay down.

    The overlapping shadows of the two were projected on the wall, and the surrounding temperature gradually increased, and the silence was filled with each other''s chaotic breathing and heartbeat.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran opened her eyes as she was catching her breath, and looked at the face above her head fascinatedly, and a thought became more and more imminent.

    Jiang Yu hummed, her nasal voice raised, and she couldn''t wait to cover her lips.

    The kid is a delicacy in the world.

    She can''t get enough.

    Just as she was intoxicated, she was suddenly thrown to the side by a force. Before she could react, Cheng Suran had already pushed her up with her arms, and the entire shadow enveloped her.

    "Sister, you have worked so hard for so long, let me take over today, okay..."

    Jiang Yu just panted and didn''t speak.

    Thinking that she got tacit approval, the girl leaned down and kissed her carefully, her forehead, eyes, nose... flowing down the river, her little hands pulled away the tie bit by bit, but she kept trembling because of nervousness.

    Jiang Yu''s whole body was stiff, screaming madly in her heart; no, no, as if her hands and feet were frozen, she was unable to move.

    Until her pores come into contact with the cool air.

    She heard Cheng Suran take a deep breath, she saw Cheng Suran''s eyes became hot, she woke up instantly, turned over and clasped the girl''s hands, regaining control.

    "Don''t."

    ¡­.

    The next day, Jiang Yu got up early.

    The kid was sleeping soundly, not knowing what delicacy she was eating in her dream. She smacked her pink lips, looking very cute. She kissed her cheek, tucked the quilt up for her, and got up to wash.

    After breakfast, Tian Lin came over.

    "Sister Yu, take this." She handed over a medicine bottle.

    Jiang Yu frowned, "Melatonin?"

    "Mm, it can''t be helped this time. Ms. Cheng can''t go with you. If you''re worried about not being able to sleep well at night, just take two pills half an hour before going to bed. There are no side effects, and you won''t be dependent. It''s better than sleeping pills."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu nodded and glanced at the second bedroom with a complicated expression, "I won''t be here for a few days..."

    "Elder sister--"

    The second bedroom door suddenly opened, and Cheng Suran ran out rubbing her sleepy eyes, fell into her arms, and hugged her tightly, "I finally caught you, I caught you."

    Finally, in the morning, she caught the person who was always missing by her side.

    Jiang Yu: "..."

    Tian Lin: "..."

    "Are you leaving now?" Cheng Suran raised her face and looked at her reluctantly, her sleepy eyes glistened with water.

    Jiang Yu touched the back of the girl''s head, "Mm, it''s time to go."

    "Then¡­take off and land safely."

    "Huh?"

    "I checked and found out that taking a plane doesn''t mean having a smooth or unlucky journey, it means to have a safe flight. "The girl had a shallow dimple on her face, but the corners of her eyes were a bit red.

    Jiang Yu stared at her intently, seeing herself through those clear eyes, her heart softened a bit, there seemed to be a stuffy pain in the corner, and some reluctance.

    So regardless of the presence of a third person, she kissed her heavily on the lips, and said softly: "Okay, I will send you a WeChat message when we arrive. You can tell Tian Lin if you have anything to do in the past few days. If conditions permit, I will call you at night. How about a video?"

    "Mm, Hmm." Cheng Suran nodded vigorously.

    "Good."

    Tian Lin, who was watching from the sidelines, glanced at her watch and reminded at the right time: "Sister Yu, it''s really time to go."

    Jiang Yu didn''t speak, but slowly let go of her hand, turned and left.

    Tian Lin pushed the suitcase and followed.

    She was about to close the door, but Cheng Suran rushed over, reluctant to let her go. She just stood there and watched them enter the elevator, then when she turned around, their eyes met again.

    At the last second when the elevator door closed, Jiang Yu vaguely saw tears streaming from those eyes...

    Then her line of sight was completely cut off.

    At that moment, it seemed that her connection with this world was also cut off, and her whole heart felt empty, falling and falling with the speed of the descending elevator.

    "By the way, Sister Yu¡ª" Tian Lin spoke again.

    Jiang Yu came back to her senses, "Huh?"

    Arriving at the underground parking lot, the two walked out of the elevator one after the other, found the old location, put their luggage away, and got in the car.

    Xiao Zhou was in the car, this time she will go with her.

    "The agreement between you and Ms. Cheng will expire at the end of this month," Tian Lin handed over the tablet in her hand, looking business-like.

    "These are all girls found according to Ms. Cheng''s standards. See if you are satisfied with them first, and then I will talk to them when you come back, so that you can meet on the first of next month at the earliest."

    As soon as the words fell, Jiang Yu''s hand shook unconsciously, and the notebook fell.

    She picked up the notebook but was slow to pick up the tablet.

    (T/N: Jiang Yu was also carrying the notebook Cheng Suran gave but it wasn''t mentioned, so I got confused a bit.)

    "Tian Lin..."

    "Yes, what''s the matter?"

    Jiang Yu frowned, slowly brushed the cover of the notebook with her fingertips, and said in a heavy tone, "I want to renew the contract."

    Author''s Note:

    Woo Woo, late again TUT, red envelopes will be given out for comments in this chapter =3=

 CH 56

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    As expected, Tian Lin guessed what Jiang Yu would say. However, she didn''t expect that Jiang Yu was not sure, and used the word "think", which sounded like she was thinking about it.

    "Why?" Tian Lin asked knowingly, "You never renew the contract."

    In the past, let alone renewing the contract, it rarely even expired normally. Most of the time, the contract get terminated early, because Jiang Yu, who easily loses interest, was like a ticking time bomb. She would explode at anytime, whatever the little lover did wrong.

    Jiang Yu was speechless for a moment.

    Why?

    She has not thought about this issue. Renew the contract if she wants, and take action if she has any ideas. Why delve into the reasons?

    But if she has to find the reason¡ª¡ª

    The car slowly drove out of the basement, and a ray of sunlight came in, which was a bit dazzling. Jiang Yu turned her face away as if she couldn''t avoid it, and closed the curtains, "Because..."

    "Sleep hasn''t returned to normal yet." She needs a human sleeping pills by her side.

    Tian Lin took a deep look at her, said nothing, nodded and said, "Okay. Should I talk to Miss Cheng when you come back, or in a few days?"

    "I''ll tell her." Jiang Yu hugged the big notebook tightly in her arms.

    "Then these girls..." Tian Lin pointed to the tablet.

    Jiang Yu didn''t even look at it. She waved her hands and joked, "Pick one to keep by your side. It''s good to warm the bed."

    "I like handsome guys." Tian Lin also smiled.

    The morning rush hour is busy and the roads are congested. Jiang Yu closed her eyes and rested for a moment, only to feel bored and flustered, so she opened the curtain again to look at the scenery outside the window, but seeing the long queue of vehicles at the intersection, her heart became more and more congested, so she simply put on a Bluetooth headset and listened to music.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    ¡­

    At nine in the morning, the crew chartered a flight to Lingzhou.

    There are a total of eight guests, all of whom are women. They all have outstanding works and are popular enough to hold up the scene. The youngest is 24 years old, and the oldest is 33 years old. There is not much difference in celebrity status between them.

    According to the rules, eight people will be divided into four groups by lottery, and two groups will live in a farmhouse together.

    Pei Chutong had already greeted the film crew, and she and Jiang Yu were in the same group by default, so she and Jiang Yu were not surprised when the result was drawn.

    Like this kind of outdoor reality show, some people come to participate in it to set up hype. In front of the camera, they are independent, capable and considerate. Behind the camera, five or six assistants circle around. After editing, only what they wanted to show to the audience will be left  to the side.

    Jiang Yu and Pei Chutong brought only one assistant, Xiao Zhou and Ruan Mu respectively.

    Strictly speaking, Ruan Mu is a bodyguard, but over the years, she has done a lot of work as an assistant, and it is not a problem to have two jobs.

    After landing, everyone had lunch at the downtown hotel, put some of their luggage in the suite, and then set off to the recording location.

    The village is located by Lingbai Lake, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with a quiet environment, and is a relatively small tourist destination.  Wooden houses similar to stilted buildings are scattered in the village, and every household is planting flowers and grass. The ethnic customs are strong and very distinctive. It is like a photo of fresh literature and art.

    They rented houses from seven families, one for the guests, and three for the film crew, plus logistics, there were dozens of people.

    Jiang Yu and the others live on the far side. There is a large yard and a vegetable field in front of the house, full of fruits and vegetables, and the livestock are tied in the side fence. There are two rooms facing south and two rooms facing east on the upper floor.

    Stone roads, pressurized wells, firewood stoves...

    Rural life.

    Everything was too familiar to Jiang Yu.

    "Boss Jiang, let me make the bed?"

    "No need."

    She swiftly put on the sheets, hung up the mosquito net, and arranged the toiletries. Xiao Zhou tried to help several times, but was rejected. In just a few minutes, she cleaned up the room she will stay in.

    "Go and tidy up your room, I''ll go to the next door to have a look." Jiang Yu smiled at her, turned and went out.

    The room next door was a bit of a mess and had clearly not been tidied up.

    Pei Chutong was sitting on the chair, hugging the pillow with one hand, and carrying the pillowcase with the other. Her movements were a bit clumsy. After stuffing the pillow for a long time, it didn''t look good. It was distorted, so she had to take it out and put it on again.

    Ruan Mu really couldn''t stand it, "I''ll do it."

    "Don''t touch it!" Pei Chutong frowned and knocked off the hand she extended.

    Ruan Mu bowed her head silently.

    "Tongtong, are you okay?" Jiang Yu stood at the door and looked at them for a while, then walked in as if nothing had happened.

    The two raised their heads at the same time.

    Pei Chutong''s eyes brightened slightly, and the center of her brows stretched instantly, showing a smile, "Not yet. Coco, you came just in time. I can''t cover this pillow twice, come and help me cover it."

    Jiang Yu took the pillow and the cloth cover, sat down next to her, and within ten seconds, they were covered comfortably.

    "Where''s the bed? Let me make it for you."

    As soon as the words were finished and before Pei Chutong could answer, Ruan Mu stood up abruptly, walked to the side of the bed, bent down and pinched the corner of the quilt, and picked up the sheet with the other hand.

    "What are you doing?" Pei Chutong stood up and held her back, "There''s no need for you here, we can do it ourselves, go out first, the camera will come over soon."

    Ruan Mu stopped, clutching the corner of the quilt tightly in her palms, and didn''t move half a step.

    "Assistants are not allowed to appear on camera, this is a rule, do you understand?" Pei Chutong said patiently, her voice softened a bit.

    Ruan Mu looked up at her, then at Jiang Yu, and loosened her fingers little by little.

    Jiang Yu: "..."

    She just wanted to help.

    Jiang Yu moved her lips and was about to speak, but Ruan Mu turned around without saying a word, left the room, and sat on the sofa in the living room outside.

    "Coco, come on, I''ll take this side." Pei Chutong waved nonchalantly.

    Jiang Yu stepped forward, skillfully picked up the sheet and shook it out, spread it on the mattress, and slowly flattened it. When she looked up, she saw Pei Chutong staring at the door absent-mindedly, and couldn''t help but laugh.

    "Do you want Xiao Ruan to come in and make the bed?"

    "No."

    Pei Chutong retracted her gaze and shook her head, "She has made the bed since I was a child, but I am not paralyzed, so I can do it myself."

    "Really? Then I''m leaving."

    "Coco¡­"

    Seeing the helpless and troubled look of the young miss, Jiang Yu couldn''t help laughing, shaking off the quilt while laughing: "Childhood sweetheart, how wonderful, sweet troubles."

    "What''s wonderful about it? She has been stubborn and stupid since we were kids, especially after returning from the army. She has become a living log, and a close-minded one. I just couldn''t understand, and some days I will be mad at her." Pei Chutong''s helpless smile showed sourness, looking a little lost.

    At this time, the camera brother came up slowly with the machine on his shoulders.

    The photography team has a total of 20 camera positions, half of which are active, and the rest have substitutes, blank shots, and panoramic shots.  During these seven days, apart from sleeping and going to the toilet, they will be followed by the camera anytime whatever they do in the house or in the village.

    Private emotions that they don''t want to be seen must be kept well hidden.

    For example, their relationship.

    Jiang Yu and Pei Chutong had already "colluded" in advance, and now both of them have entered a half-acting half-real state.

    "Teacher* Pei, you''ve got it wrong."

    *used to show respect for someone more veteran than the speaker

    "Ah?"

    "Hahaha¡­"

    The two cooperated tacitly.

    Pei Chutong is a professional actor with excellent acting skills. She acted as if they were not familiar with each other at first, but after they met through the show, they had some topics to talk about, and they became friendly but not too close.

    Jiang Yu doesn''t need acting bonuses, as long as she thinks that the camera is shooting, neither filming nor acting, her polite and humble appearance will naturally appear.

    They talked and laughed around the room while making the bed.

    Ruan Mu, who was sitting on the sofa, raised her head and silently watched the door. Only half of Jiang Yu''s back can be seen from this angle.

    After a moment, she looked away again.

    ....

    Lingzhou has a relatively low latitude and a mild climate throughout the year. Even in November, it has a temperature of 25 degrees during the day and night, and large mosquitoes can still be seen flying indiscriminately.

    In the evening, the sun set on the mountain.

    The pale orange sunset gradually faded, and a large swath of purple blue was blurred in the night sky. Jiang Yu stood in front of the pressurized well, bent over, holding a heavy pressure rod to press down the water one by one.

    Although it is a reality show, They have to solve three meals a day by themselves, use local materials and play on the spot.

    Seeing the clear well water gurgling out, tiny pictures flashed in her mind¡­

    A little girl, about five or six years old, pressing the rod with all her strength, but it couldn''t be pressed, and the water only flowed out a little bit, and it didn''t reach half of the basin. At this time, grandma came out of the kitchen,  Pointing at her and yelling¡ª

    Useless little wretch, lazy and not working hard.

    She scoffed.

    There was a sudden vibration in the pocket of her pants.

    Jiang Yu froze, stopped, took out her phone to unlock it, and sure enough, there was a WeChat message.

    Kid: [Hmm, have a good time, sister.]

    This is a reply to her message that landed at noon.

    The whole afternoon, she was waiting for Cheng Suran''s reply. In the past, the kid would always reply in seconds, and it would never be more than an hour late. Today, she was made to wait for more than five hours.

    Even if she doesn''t check her phone in class, she should have time to check it between classes.

    She couldn''t help guessing, and sent a message: [What are you doing?]

    "Coco--"

    Pei Chutong came out of the stove and ran to her side, "The firewood stove is really hard to use. I can''t make a fire. Do you know how to use it?"

    At this time, the camera brother came again.

    It''s okay, I''ll do it, Teacher Pei, you pump the water and once the basin is full, bring it over and I''ll make the fire." Jiang Yu suddenly regained her composure and entered a state, while putting away her phone and walking towards the stove.

    Teacher Pei didn''t know whether to laugh or cry, but she still seriously pumped up the well.

    When she returned to the stove, the big pot was blazing hot, and rice was steaming in it. Jiang Yu squatted in front of the stove, holding the long black tongs in her hand, reaching into the stove from time to time to stir twice skillfully.

    "Fortunately, I have you, otherwise I''m afraid I won''t have anything to eat tonight."

    She took the basin to the side to wash the vegetables.

    Pei Chutong''s pupils are so big, she may not be completely out of touch with manual labor, but she seldom does housework, so her hands and feet are very slow and dexterous. Jiang Yu was the complete opposite of her. She did chores quickly and well. It was only the first day, and she took care of her almost everywhere.

    The camera is here so they can''t get too close, after a while, the camera left. Jiang Yu was in charge of cooking, Pei Chutong was sitting in front of the stove adding firewood, watching her forehead sweating, holding a tissue to wipe her thoughtfully and meticulously,  talking and laughing.

    Ruan Mu watched them like a ghost.

    ¡­.

    After dinner, there will be no more cameras, so Pei Chutong pulled Jiang Yu to go for a walk.

    "I''ll go too." Ruan Mu followed her closely.

    Pei Chutong grasped Jiang Yu''s hand tightly, and frowned, "We''re going to take a walk and talk, what are you going to do?"

    Ruan Mu said without changing her face: "My duty."

    "But I don''t need it now."

    "..."

    "Look at Xiao Zhou, who is quiet and obedient without causing trouble, can''t you learn a little?" Pei Chutong looked at her coldly.

    The three of them stood in the yard, and the lights under the eaves of the courtyard porch shone sparsely. Ruan Mu lowered her eyes, her cold face was somewhat blurred, and it was difficult to distinguish emotions for a while.

    Pei Chutong thought she had heard it, so she turned around and left while holding Jiang Yu.

    Ruan Mu followed.

    "!!!"

    Seeing that Pei Chutong was about to explode, Jiang Yu immediately smoothed things over, "Xiao Ruan, don''t worry, we won''t go very far, just walk around, you can see us from the balcony on the second floor, ten minutes, okay?"

    "Coco, don''t spoil her, sooner or later I will change someone!"

    "Okay, okay, stop talking."

    "..."

    Ruan Mu looked at the two women holding each other''s hands, silently took a step back and whispered, "Just ten minutes."

    "Who do you think you are?!" Pei Chutong raised her hand to hit her.

    Jiang Yu hurriedly pulled the woman away.

    Behind her, in the small farmyard, Ruan Mu stood quietly for a while, then turned and entered the house, went to the balcony on the second floor, and watched their figures in the night.

    Even if she''s angry, Pei Chutong didn''t intend to go far, because firstly, she was unfamiliar with the place, and secondly, it was too dark to be safe, so they just walked around the lake not far away.

    Knowing that Ruan Mu could see, she put her arms around Jiang Yu''s shoulders, and pressed her ears to her ears every time she say a word, almost kissing her.

    "We''re out for a walk and you''re still playing on your phone, who are you chatting with?"

    "Little friend." Jiang Yu didn''t lift her head, her fingertips were jumping quickly on the keyboard.

    "Tsk tsk."

    Pei Chutong accidentally saw the sentence "I miss you so much", quickly looked away, cleared her throat, and said, "I read a novel two days ago, it can be regarded as gold master literature. The rich boss kept a college student, after raising her, she fell in love, and in the end she was cheated into bankruptcy and went to jail, her reputation ruined, but the little girl took her money and flew away, it is really pitiful."

    "Silly rich people who can be cheated out of their wealth by college students only exist in novels. In reality, such people cannot become rich women."

    "Right, Coco?"

    After Jiang Yu replied to the message, she raised her head and touched her forehead with her hand, "What''s the name of the novel, can you let me read it?"

    "..."

    "Mm?"

    Pei Chutong suppressed a smile, looked left and right, and whispered, "I made it up."

    "I know." Jiang Yu flicked her forehead again.

    "Coco, I''m not joking, I''m serious, you must never fall in love with your lover." Pei Chutong grabbed her hand with a serious face.

    Jiang Yu sneered: "How could I be tempted, you really don''t understand."

    "That''s for the best." Pei Chutong nodded and sighed, "There are a lot of things in the entertainment industry, everyone takes what they want, and it''s not surprising, but there are always a few people who are not clear-headed, looking for love in money relationships, it ended badly¡­¡±

    "However, so far I haven''t seen a miserable example of a benefactor. It''s all because the lover is too young and clueless."

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes, looking a little dazed.

    The phone screen came on again.

    Kid: [Then can I start the video now?  It¡¯s okay if it''s inconvenient for sister...]

    A "well-behaved baby" who pinches her fingers nervously.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help smiling, and immediately replied: [It''s convenient, wait until I finish taking a shower.]

    "Tongtong, let''s go back."

    "So fast? It''s only been eight minutes." Pei Chutong frowned and looked at her watch.

    Jiang Yu put the phone back into her pocket, rubbed her temples, and said, "I''m tired today, I want to rest early."

    "That''s right... You''ve been busy today, it''s been hard work. Let''s go then."

    The two walked back arm in arm.

    In front of the courtyard gate, Jiang Yu looked up at the balcony on the second floor. There was no one there. Looking down, she saw Ruan Mu sitting on the stone bench in the courtyard, as if she was waiting for someone.

    Pei Chutong also saw her and stopped abruptly.

    The three looked at each other.

    "Tongtong, I''ll go up first." Jiang Yu let go of her arm, stepped into the room, and went up the stairs in three steps at a time.

    There is only one toilet in the farmer''s house, and the conditions are a bit rough, but the facilities are fairly complete, and the temperature of the hot water is sufficient. When going out, Jiang Yu can be particular or not, and she hastily took a shower in only ten minutes.

    Back in the room, under the mosquito net, she couldn''t wait to grab her phone and initiate a video call with Cheng Suran.

    A beautiful and delicate face appeared on the screen.

    The background is in the second bedroom of the suite, the lighting is soft and warm yellow, the girl''s cheeks are flushed, her eyes are full of water, her eyes are a little drunk, and her breathing is a little anxious.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    Her voice was soft and a little hoarse.

    Jiang Yu''s heart melted at her call of ''Elder sister'', with a doting smile in her eyes, and she was about to speak, when the girl on the screen sat up with her arms propped up, and the camera shook.

    She accidentally had a glimpse of the finger gloves box and small toys next to the pillow...

 CH 57

    Jiang Yu was very familiar with that pink and purple gadget, but soon the camera shook and it disappeared.

    She was shocked.

    Could it be that the kid herself...

    The thought flashed through Jiang Yu''s mind, and her heart suddenly became hot, giving rise to a hidden excitement, unable to restrain her imagination of the scene.

    "Sister?" Cheng Suran called her softly.

    Jiang Yu put away her thoughts, a sly look flashed in her eyes, and said with a smile: "The kid seems to be very tired, are you sleepy?"

    "No,no." Cheng Suran shook her head repeatedly, "I''m not sleepy, I want to chat with sister."

    Right after she finished speaking, she yawned.

    She scrambled to cover her mouth.

    Pfft.

    Jiang Yu smiled from ear to ear, and stopped when she saw the girl on the screen with a puffed up little face, sulking, "Why did you take so long to reply this afternoon?"

    "I..." Cheng Suran hesitated, "I was in class... I forgot to charge my phone."

    Jiang Yu nodded slightly.

    Again she was thinking too much.

    Somehow, she has become increasingly suspicious lately, always feeling a sense of urgency to firmly grasp something in her hand. Her desire for control has become stronger, and the more she cares about someone, the more she wants to control them¡­

    "Sister, where are you filming in Lingzhou?" Cheng Suran pretended to be calm and changed the subject.

    Jiang Yu came back to her senses again, and smiled faintly, "The village by Lingbai Lake."

    "Ah, Lingbai Lake, I know, I know, there is Lingbai Mountain next to it. When I was a child, I often went to play on the mountain by the lake. I remember that there is a very beautiful flower on the mountain. The petals gradually turn light blue and milky white.  I don¡¯t know its scientific name, but we locals call it ¡®Fairy Flower¡¯. The flowering period is very long, and it only withers when it¡¯s particularly cold in January. You can still see it this season. You can use the specimen as a bookmark. Unfortunately, it''s rare, sometimes I can¡¯t find them even after wandering in the mountains, and I haven¡¯t seen them for a long time..."

    She smiled happily, her clear eyes were full of luster, and the corners of her lips curved sweetly, like a delicate flower soaked in honey.

    Jiang Yu gazed deeply at her and smiled. "Where is your home?"

    "Over¡­ at the old town."

    "Then why do you often go to the mountains to play?"

    Cheng Suran''s smile froze, as if she was a bit embarrassed. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, "When I was a child, I lived in the countryside with my father and grandmother, not far from Lingbai Mountain¡­"

    Before the age of eight, she lived in the countryside and loved to play in the mountains with her friends. Later on, when her father passed away, she moved into her aunt''s house in the old city area. During this time, she didn''t go back for two or three years. Later, she followed her aunt back to see her grandmother during holidays. At that time, she was always scolded and in a bad mood, so she went to the lake or the mountains alone.

    These are all past events that she does not want to be known.

    "I also lived in the countryside when I was a child." Through the screen, Jiang Yu was keenly aware of her emotions and inexplicably had a subtle resonance.

    She''s not too happy bringing up the past.

    "I saw the pressurized wells in farmers'' homes today, and I feel very familiar with it. Not many of them know how to cook with wood-fired stoves. I never thought that one day I would be able to use this skill."

    "Hey, I can do it too! My cooking is super delicious!"

    "Then when will you cook for sister?"

    The girl on the screen smiled shyly and bit her lower lip, "Sister can eat whenever you want..."

    Looking at her flushed face and shy smile, Jiang Yu couldn''t help but think of the gadgets she saw just now. These words made her think about it, and a picture appeared in her mind again.

    Eat food, or eat a little friend...

    Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, they chatted for over an hour. Jiang Yu didn''t realize it until Cheng Suran couldn''t help but remind her, "Sister, it''s almost 9:30. You should rest now."

    "It''s okay, I''ll go to bed at 10 o''clock." Jiang Yu made a kissing gesture.

    "Yes, put down your phone half an hour in advance so that you can fall asleep quickly by ten o''clock. Sleep time starts from the time you enter deep sleep, silly sister."

    Cheng Suran spoke seriously, but her eyes were filled with reluctance.

    Jiang Yu wanted to tease her again and raised her brows, saying, "Oh, you really want to hang up? Don''t want to talk to sister anymore?"

    "... " She pouted her little lips.

    "Alright, okay, good girl, I''ll go to bed now."

    "Good night, sister."

    "Good night."

    "You hang up first." Cheng Suran said sullenly.

    Jiang Yu hesitated for a moment, then hung up the video.

    The girl''s face disappeared from her sight, and at that moment, her heart felt empty. She froze, sighed softly, got up and fed herself two melatonin.

    The phone vibrated again, displaying a message from the kid.

    It was an audio file.

    [Let my voice accompany sister to sleep.]

    Jiang Yu clicked in to download it, played it, and the girl''s warm and sweet voice came out of the receiver. It was a French song with a low tune, sung a cappella, with almost no noise.

    The singing flowed slowly through her heart like a warm current.

    After listening to it twice, Jiang Yu imported the file into the music player, selected the single track to repeat, and then replied to the kid:

    [Be moderate, small toys should not be used too frequently, otherwise it can easily reduce sensitivity, and then... Sister will be unhappy.]

    There was no reply.

    She must have been so ashamed and buried herself in bed.

    Jiang Yu pursed her lips and smiled, suddenly remembered something, clicked into the chat history and searched for "location", and found the location message sent to her by Cheng Suran about two months ago when she came home.

    Chengjia Village...

    The distance is 1.1 km.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    ¡­.

    The sound of water in the bathroom stopped for a while.

    Ruan Mu came out with the basin in her arms, walked to the balcony, and hung up the clothes one by one, including her own and Pei Chutong''s.

    The last sheer black lace lingerie was eye-catching.

    She picked it up from the basin with a stagnant expression but her already hot face was getting hotter and hotter. She hastily hung it up and turned back to her room.

    As soon as she pushed the door, Ruan Mu froze.

    Pei Chutong was lying on the bed in a halter dress with white arms, slender legs, and messy hair. From high to low, she could clearly see the two squeezed half-arcs, and the deep and long grooves under ther shadow.

    Like a lazy cat.

    "Aren''t you going to sleep?" Ruan Mu frowned.

    Pei Chutong brushed her hair and said casually, "I''ll sleep here with you."

    Ruan Mu lowered her eyes without speaking and silently walked over, sitting by the bed with her back to her.

    She will not refuse her request.

    Apart from¡­

    Pei Chutong got up and hugged her, "Wood¡ª"

    Ruan Mu''s mind buzzed, and her whole body turned stiff.

    A slender arm passed through her armpit and lay across her waist. The other hand caressed her face and gently exerted force, forcing her to turn her head to the side, and soft lips pressed against hers.

    "..."

    Ruan Mu was shocked, subconsciously struggled, and grabbed her two hands at the same time, but did not dare to use force.

    This was the same as before. Pei Chutong suddenly hugged her and kissed her. At that time, they were standing by the outdoor staircase at home. In an emergency response, she accidentally pushed her six steps down. Pei Chutong''s forehead was swollen and her foot was twisted and couldn''t walk for two weeks. She was so heartbroken and regretful for a long time.

    From then on, no matter what Pei Chutong did to her, she would never fight back.

    As it is now she only holds her hand.

    "A''Mu..." Knowing that she would not resist, Pei Chutong became more and more unscrupulous. Both hands easily broke free from the restraints, and one forcefully pressed her on the bed.

    The wild breath swept past, swirling between her lips, slowly probing into her teeth.

    Ruan Mu reflexively wanted to bite.

    Before the teeth fell, Pei Chutong seemed to have anticipated her reaction, and softly called out, "It hurts, you bit me."

    Ruan Mu immediately withdrew her strength and parted her lips, allowing her to indulge.

    "Um¡ª"

    The venting kiss was full of anger, unwillingness, and grievance, and seemed to swallow her up, but then slowed down and became gentle, careful, and full of love.

    Ruan Mu was so dazed by the kiss that she gradually lost her mind.

    "You obviously care, don''t you?" Pei Chutong stopped, hugged her and gasped, bursts of sourness welling up in her heart.

    "..."

    "Answer me."

    Ruan Mu closed her eyes, regained consciousness, and calmly spoke, "That''s my duty."

    "What duty?"

    "To protect you every inch of the way."

    "Does that also include not allowing me to hold hands with my friends?"

    "..."

    She just closed her eyes and said nothing.

    Pei Chutong was short of breath, holding her face in both hands, her voice trembling: "That day you only said that you couldn''t disappoint grandpa, but you didn''t deny that you liked it, you cared! Why? Why are you so timid? Why are you so cowardly?!  "

    "But the person I like can''t be cowardly!"

    "If you dare not admit it, then leave me alone!" She gritted her teeth, her eyes turning red.

    Ruan Mu frowned in pain, but kept her eyes closed and said nothing. Her face was pale under the light, like a piece of lifeless wood.

    "I hate you, Ruan Mu, I hate you, who do you think you are..." Pei Chutong couldn''t bear her escape anymore, and wept bitterly.

    Ruan Mu panicked for a moment, opened her eyes suddenly, and sat up with the person in her arms, "Tongtong..."

    She couldn''t say anything for a moment.

    She has been clumsy since she was a child, and she has never been able to coax people, and it is the same now, she only knows how to wipe people''s tears in a hurry.

    Suddenly, Pei Chutong knocked her hand off, pounced on her and held her back, kissed her lips forcefully while pulling the small round button on her pajamas.

    "No, Tongtong... "Ruan Mu grabbed her and finally showed a hint of panic on her blank face.

    Pei Chutong sneered, with tears in her eyes and her chest heaving violently: "Then resist! What happened to your ability to kick people to the point of internal bleeding? Hit me!"

    She gasped heavily, almost hysterical, and leaned over Ruan Mu''s ear, saying word by word:

    "Ruan Mu, I''m telling you, I won''t stop, unless you cripple me today. Come¡ª"

    Two years ago, when Pei Chutong attended an event, a crazy male fan rushed up to the stage to hug her.  Seeing this person rushing over, she kicked him two meters away without saying a word, and collapsed on the ground.

    The person was taken to the hospital with internal bleeding, he was rescued on time so it was not life-threatening.

    Later, the Pei family gave some money so no one dared to report it to the media, and the Pei family had no intention of blaming Ruan Mu in private, so the matter was left alone.

    Tiny round buttons snapped off one after another.

    Ruan Mu gradually gave up struggling.

    She won''t do anything, her fists will always be aimed at people other than the Pei family, and will never be used to hurt Pei Chutong.

    "If this can make you feel better..." Ruan Mu closed her eyes and murmured under her breath, taking the initiative to pull the remaining buttons herself.

    Pei Chutong stopped suddenly and looked at her coldly.

    ¨CPak!

    A loud slap.

    Ruan Mu''s face turned red in an instant, her movements in her hands also stopped and she remained silent.

    Just don''t resist.

    It was her who bullied her.

    Pei Chutong trembled all over, regretful and heartbroken for a moment. She held her face and kissed her repeatedly, "I''m sorry... A''Mu... I''m sorry

    "It''s okay, it doesn''t hurt," Ruan Mu hugged her and turned over, comforting her softly, "It''s my fault, don''t cry, Tongtong."

    Pei Chutong didn''t speak, but sobbed in her arms.

    She is tired.

    ¡­.

    Half of the seven days passed quickly.

    Starting from the second day of filming, each group of guests must complete a task every day to obtain clues. Only after collecting enough clues can they participate in the ultimate task on the last day and have the opportunity to receive a mysterious gift.

    The tasks are very diversed, such as selling vegetables in the market, picking fruits in the orchard to make food, helping farmers at home, and so on.

    On the fourth day, everyone went to Lingbai Mountain together to find today''s clues according to the "treasure map".

    All the guests are not allowed to bring assistants, except for Pei Chutong, she must be accompanied by Ruan Mu 24 hours a day, this is the only requirement of her grandfather and parents. She is very influential and everyone calls her Teacher Pei, so naturally no one has any objections.

    At two o''clock in the afternoon, the group set out for the mountain.

    Lingbai Mountain is more than 1,300 meters above sea level. From a distance, it is lush and towering, with tall and sturdy trees and dense branches. Because of the lack of development, the ecology is well preserved.

    After entering the mountain, the groups dispersed with each group followed by two cameras.

    Jiang Yu and Pei Chutong were wearing jackets and overalls, and each carried a small backpack containing water, food and simple medicines. Ruan Mu also had a SLR camera hanging around her neck.

    They were taking photos while searching for clues, and the mountain is scenic, making it easy to take high quality shots.

    "The one in the picture looks a bit like a mushroom." Pei Chutong looked at the drawing for a long time, but got stuck at the first level, still clueless.

    "Can it be... the place where mushrooms grow is the right entrance?"

    Jiang Yu was sending a message to Cheng Suran, heard the sound, leaned over to look carefully, and said: "There are no wild mushrooms on the mountain this season, it should be a kind of plant that looks like mushrooms, or props that have been placed in advance, if you see it, it means we found the first entrance."

    "Huh? When do wild mushrooms appear?"

    "Late spring and early summer."

    Pei Chutong nodded and looked around, "Go ahead and look around, pay attention to the left and right sides."

    Jiang Yu looked at her phone while walking.

    [We just entered Lingbai Mountain.]

    Kid: [Oh, sister, be careful, maybe you will be lucky enough to see fairy flowers]

    Jiang Yu: [If I see it, I will pick some and bring it back to you.]

    Kid: [Good baby.jpg]

    ¡­.

    In Jiangcheng, more than two thousand kilometers away, the sun slowly sank into the horizon.

    At 6:30, Cheng Suran returned to the hotel from school, ordered dinner, rushed into the bathroom to take a shower, came out in ten minutes, and raced against time to eat.

    She will be able to video with her sister soon.

    Since Jiang Yu left, she has been counting days with her fingers every day, feeling like she is living through the years. It seemed that the time suddenly slowed down, and it was not easy to survive until the fourth day.

    Video chatting with her sister at seven o''clock every night is the only consolation in this painful longing.

    There are still three days before Jiang Yu goes back, but this also means that there are only a few days left before the end of the contract. When the time comes, she must leave Jiang Yu''s side, and it will be difficult to see each other again in the future.

    Thinking of this, her heart hurt like being stabbed by a knife, and she couldn''t lift her spirits to do anything, and fell into the contradiction of "Hoping for her sister to come back but also not wanting her sister to come back".

    So she decided to¡ª

    Confess her love to her sister, on the day she leaves.

    She''ll have to leave anyway, instead of holding it in her heart and leaving regrets for herself, it''s better to say it out.

    It''s just that¡­

    It may be difficult for her to like someone else in the future.

    No one is Jiang Yu anymore.

    Cheng Suran sat on the bed with her mobile phone in her arms. While waiting for the video call at seven o''clock, she practiced in her mind what to say when the time comes. Before she knew it, it was past seven o''clock.

    Huh?

    Is sister busy today?

    She waited patiently for about a quarter of an hour, and couldn''t help but send a message: [Sister? Are you busy?]

    Five minutes later, with no reply, she initiated another video call invitation.

    No one answered.

    After waiting for a while, at 7:40, her message and call invitation were left unanswered. Cheng Suran was inexplicably anxious, for some reason she had a bad premonition.

    At 7:50, she really couldn''t wait, so she called Tian Lin.

    "Miss Cheng? What''s the matter?"

    The tone on the other end of the phone was a little anxious. Hearing that, Cheng Suran is remorseful and felt that she shouldn''t have disturbed her, but she still bit the bullet and asked, "Assistant Tian, can you call my sister? We have agreed to video call at seven but she is not online yet, is she busy..."

    Tian Lin paused and spoke faster, "I can''t get in touch with her either."

    "Ha?"

    "Xiao Zhou just called me, saying that Sister Yu and the others went to the mountain to do tasks in the afternoon, the other groups already came back before dark, only Sister Yu and her team haven''t returned, her phone can''t be reached... Hey, I have an incoming call, I''ll talk to you later."

    The call ended.

    Cheng Suran''s mind buzzed, and it took her a while to recover.

    Still in the mountains?

    She hurriedly looked at WeChat and flipped through the chat records. About four hours ago, her sister sent her a photo, saying that she saw the fairy flower.

    The photo shows a forest halfway up the mountain, with a small pond next to it, and a small piece of blue and white can be vaguely seen.

    She remembered that this pond was deep in Lingbai Mountain located on the side of the mountain road on the northern slope. Those unfamiliar with the terrain would think that the two places are very close to each other, but in fact they are far apart. It is easy to get lost in the woods rashly.

    Sister wouldn''t go there picking fairy flowers...

    Cheng Suran gasped, her hands and feet suddenly turned cold, her scalp numb, and a stream of hot blood surged towards the top of her head.

    She quickly searched for tickets to Lingzhou. The latest flight will take off at 10:05 tonight, and there are two tickets left.

    She didn''t have time to think about it, so she immediately bought a ticket, got up in a frenzy to change clothes, packed her things, and rushed out of the door of the suite¡­

    Author''s Note:

    The update has been relatively late lately. Don''t wait, read when you wake up in the morning. =3=

 CH 58

    The moon was covered by thick clouds, and under the night sky was a brightly lit city.

    Cheng Suran sat in a taxi bound for the airport, stiff as a sculpture, her mind buzzing like countless flies, and all her nerves were paralyzed.

    There is only Jiang Yu''s face in front of her eyes, and Jiang Yu''s voice in her ears...

    After boarding the plane, she regained consciousness and suddenly realized that she didn''t know what was going on, and she just flew over like this. How will she find Jiang Yu?

    Her chaotic brain instantly calmed down.

    Before taking off, she called Tian Lin again. This time, the other party answered very slowly. Before she could speak, she said, "Miss Cheng, don''t worry, I will keep in touch with Xiao Zhou and the others. If there is any news, I will definitely...  "

    "I''m on the plane to Lingzhou, and there are still a few minutes to take off. Could you please send me Miss Zhou''s phone number?" Cheng Suran interrupted her quietly.

    Tian Lin was so stunned that she couldn''t speak for a moment before saying, "Miss Cheng... even if you''re from Lingzhou, it''s not convenient and safe to fly over so late. Besides, it''s in the mountains, you won''t be able to help, instead, you might make things worse. Xiao Zhou and her team are already trying to figure a way out. With so many people, there won''t be any accidents. Please don''t be impulsive."

    Her tone was a little anxious as if she was teaching a disobedient brat.

    "I know," Cheng Suran said in a low voice, "but I just want to go..."

    "Even if I can''t help, I want to know her news as soon as possible. It''s about her, and I don''t want to listen to other people''s reports."

    After finishing speaking, she slowly took a breath and said calmly: "Thank you for your concern, Assistant Tian. ??I will pay attention to safety, please give me Xiao Zhou''s phone number, and I will contact her once I arrive."

    Tian Lin was silent for a moment, "Okay."

    After hanging up the phone, Cheng Suran quickly received the number from Tian Lin. She tried to dial it, but at this time the plane had already started boarding, and the voice of the flight attendant could be heard overhead. After thinking about it, she gave up the idea.

    Two thousand kilometers, three hours.

    Most of the passengers were sleeping, because it was a red-eye flight, no meals were served, the flight attendants seldom moved around, and the humming roar of the engines is the only sound in the cabin.

    Cheng Suran stared, not feeling sleepy at all, but full of regret.

    If only she saw the photo when her sister sent it, she would definitely reply in time and tell her not to go.

    But at that time she was in class...

    When she saw the message later, she thought that her sister only took a  photo, she never thought that her sister might actually take it¡ªshe knew that she was a canary, and a benefactor wouldn''t take what she said casually so seriously.

    But her sister listened to her.

    There were mixed feelings in her heart for a while, sour and bitter. It would originally be enough to make her happy for a long time, but it turned into this. If she only knew what would happen, she would rather be ignored.

    Fairy flowers are just flowers, and in her heart, they are less important than Jiang Yu.

    ¡­.

    Landing at around 1 a.m., Cheng Suran walked out of the empty and deserted airport and couldn''t help but feel a little scared as she looked at the rich night outside.

    No bus is running at the moment and the only way to go to the city center is by taxi. The small airport has a small passenger flow, and there are long queues of taxis waiting for passengers. A few people are sitting, and the drivers are leaning against the door, smoking and chatting.

    Cheng Suran first called Xiao Zhou to ask for the address, but the other party''s reaction was the same as Tian Lin''s, but she didn''t say much and gave her the name of the village.

    "Beauty, do you want to take a car?" A stocky man yelled at her.

    She put her phone in her pocket, instinctively took a half step to the side, and suddenly remembered the news of a woman who was killed in a taxi in the middle of the night, but thought that Jiang Yu was still trapped in the mountains, so she couldn''t care less.

    Walking over, she casually caught a glimpse of the car behind her, but it didn''t open the door. It seemed like there was a female driver inside.

    Cheng Suran''s eyes lit up and she walked past the man quickly and opened the door of the rear car.

    Sure enough, it was a female driver.

    "Sister, where are you going?" The aunt, who was about forty years old, had a kind face and spoke Mandarin with a local accent.

    Cheng Suran calmed down a little, and said in dialect: "Wujia Village."

    "Okay."

    Twelve kilometers away, the nightlife in the small town is not rich. Although the urban area is brightly lit, there are very few pedestrians on the road, looking empty and desolate.

    Half an hour later, they arrived at Wujia Village.

    Cheng Suran paid and got out of the car, taking out her mobile phone to make a call while walking in a hurry.

    The surroundings are quiet and dark, and the night wind is blowing on her body. There are several houses in the village with lights on, and the watchdog who was awakened by the sound of footsteps barked loudly. At the end of the straight stone path, the silhouette of Lingbai Mountain can be vaguely seen, melting into the night.

    She hung up not long after Xiao Zhou came to answer her call.

    She wasn''t able to sleep.

    Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu didn''t sleep either, they sat on the sofa wearily.

    "Can you tell me the specific situation?" Cheng Suran was guided into the house and stood in front of them with disheveled hair and an anxious expression.

    Not even caring about formalities.

    Pei Chutong looked at her with probing eyes.

    Knowing that this girl was coming, she immediately thought of the canaries in the circle, all of them had excellent acting skills, and whenever there was something wrong with the sponsor, they would show concern and their manners are decent, very professional, and comfortable. Then, the sponsor will be happy and with a wave of a hand, reward some pocket money, and their goal will be achieved.

    Is the canary in front of her the same?

    It is a weekday and she still had to go to school and then fly over overnight. It doesn''t matter whether she can help or not. The important thing is to perform well in front of the benefactor.

    A sneer appeared on the corner of Pei Chutong''s mouth, and asked softly, "What do you want to know?"

    "Just what happened on the mountain today... Wait, didn''t Assistant Tian say that none of you came back? So you..." Cheng Suran felt her contempt and a stab in her heart, but she didn''t have time to care. Now she just wanted to know everything about what happened to her sister.

    Pei Chutong stared at her for a moment, put away her emotions, and sighed: "The two of us were brought out by the local villagers after nine o''clock, but Coco..."

    "What happened to her?!" Cheng Suran rushed forward, "Didn''t you find her? How come? Shouldn''t she be with you?"

    Ruan Mu quickly grabbed her.

    Pei Chutong frowned and signaled to release her before Ruan Mu let go. She looked at Cheng Suran, the girl''s eyes were full of mist as if some kind of emotion was surging.

    "Coco was not with us."

    "..."

    In the afternoon, they searched for clues and took pictures in the mountains. They had a fun time. They found the clues after three o''clock and completed the task. But they all wanted to go sightseeing for a while, so they let the two camera crew go back first and continued to go explore the mountains.

    At about four o''clock, Jiang Yu said that she was going to pick fairy flowers, told them it was very close, and she would be back soon, so she asked them to wait where they were.

    They waited until five o''clock but no one came back.

    Jiang Yu''s phone couldn''t be reached, so Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu searched in the direction she left, but they got lost and wandered around in the almost identical forests until it was dark. Not only did they not find anyone, they also lost their way.

    The network signal is poor and unstable. They are worried about encountering wild animals in the dark, so they didn''t dare to move around. They stayed where they were and waited for dawn.

    "Fortunately, we brought food and water. After nine o''clock, we saw a few people walking and shouting with lights on. They were farmers in the village, and they came to find us..."

    By the time it was getting dark, Xiao Zhou realized that they had not returned yet. She immediately reported to the filming team; then they paid some villagers to go up the mountain to help find them.

    It took two or three hours to find and bring them back, and then look for Jiang Yu, but they didn''t find her until late at night. After eleven o''clock, the villagers returned to the village one after another, planning to go up the mountain again at dawn.

    "How can we wait for dawn? Time is life! What if she encounters any danger in the mountains at night...wild animals, or cliffs? Have you ever thought about that? She is alone..." Cheng Suran was emotionally agitated and her voice choked up and couldn''t say anything anymore.

    Pei Chutong massaged the center of her brows and lowered her head weakly.

    Ruan Mu patted her on the back lightly, looked at Cheng Suran, and said in a serious tone: "The night road in the mountain is not easy, our whole team is not familiar with this mountain, so we can''t rush to find her so we called the police. About midnight, the fire brigade arrived and they are still looking for her on the mountain. They are more professional and experienced, we just need to wait for the news tonight."

    "Wait? Do you know how big Lingbai Mountain is? If there is no exact location, you may not be able to find her for three days and three nights. With that time, I am afraid that what we''ll  find is not a person but¡ª"

    A corpse.

    Cheng Suran''s eyes turned red, and her chest heaved violently. Suddenly, she remembered something, "I know where sister might be..."

    "What do you mean?" Pei Chutong suddenly opened her eyes.

    Trembling, Cheng Suran took out her phone, clicked on the photo, and handed it to her, "Sister said that she was going to pick fairy flowers. It should be the place in the photo. From the mountain on the north slope, this location is halfway up the mountain on the north slope. The pond on the opposite side looked very close, but in fact, it is very far away. Once you enter the woods, you will have no direction. The deeper you go, the easier it is to get lost.¡±

    "How do you know?"

    "I''m a local, and I used to go to the mountains to play."

    "..."

    Pei Chutong was taken aback, her eyes became complicated. At that moment, all doubts were answered.

    Before she could speak, Cheng Suran asked again: "Did the fire brigade go up from the northern slope?"

    "Yes." Ruan Mu answered.

    "Northern slope... no, it will take a long time, and they don''t know the location... I know there is a path..." Cheng Suran murmured, turned around, and searched around the house.

    As if she was in her own home, she quickly found a flashlight and a long wooden stick that could be used as a trekking pole. She knew where these things would usually be kept.

    "Are you going up the mountain to cause trouble in the middle of the night? Don''t be like us, you will lose your way without finding Coco." Pei Chutong stood up with a serious expression and grabbed her wrist.

    Cheng Suran threw her hand away and broke free from the restraint, her eyes were surprisingly calm: "I am more familiar with this mountain than you."

    After speaking, she turned and ran downstairs.

    "Come back--"

    The night swallowed the girl''s back.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    ¡­.

    The night in the mountains is thick and silent, surrounded by darkness, a cool breeze swaying the shadows of the trees in the forest, like a ghost, and sometimes came a strange sound.

    Cheng Suran leaned on a trekking pole, with a flashlight, trudging through the trail.

    Few people walk on the path, wild grass and trees grow recklessly, covered in gravel, countless insects and ants, and abandoned traps laid by hunters in the past. It is difficult to walk during the day, much more at night. But it only takes half an hour from here to the location on the photo.

    From the northern slope halfway up to the other side, there is a wide range of dense forests in the middle, as well as deep gullies and cliffs. There are two directions in total, leading to the southern slope and the pond respectively. So there are three possibilities -

    In the pond, in the woods, or on the southern slope.

    The woods is the closest, the pond is next, and the south slope is the farthest.

    This means looking in all three directions...

    The flashlight is very strong, and it looks like a sharp sword in her hand, piercing the boundless darkness.

    Cheng Suran thought to herself that her sister must be fine as if she had been injected with chicken blood, she didn''t feel any fear at all, and after walking for about twenty minutes, her forehead and back were soaked, and she was gradually panting.

    Suddenly, her foot stepped on the air¡ª¡ª

    "Aah¡­"

    The soft mud sank, and she lost her balance in an instant. She was caught off guard and slid to the slope. The trekking pole and the flashlight in her hand rolled down together and hit the tree trunk.

    She felt a sudden sharp pain in her thigh.

    "Hiss¡­"

    Cheng Suran frowned and felt that some liquid gushed out and soaked her pants. She lowered her head, and by the light of the flashlight rolling down beside her, she saw a deep wound on her left thigh, scarlet and thick blood kept pouring out.

    She gasped and her brain went blank for a few seconds, she quickly wiped off the sand, gravel, and dirt on her hands, took off her coat, and then the long-sleeved shirt she was wearing. She stretched it to wrap around the wound and tied a tight knot.

    Putting on her coat, she ignored the pain, gritted her teeth, and got up. She retrieved the flashlight and trekking pole and continued walking with a limp...

    ¡­.

    It was 2:40 in the morning.

    The waning moon is hanging in the sky, emitting a dim light, the entire mountain forest was submerged in thick darkness, and the surroundings were extremely quiet and chilly.

    Jiang Yu leaned against a rock, curled up and shivering.

    Around her are scattered food packages, half a bottle of water left over, a small backpack, a dead mobile phone, and a transparent bag full of fairy flowers.

    Fairy flower...

    She saw it and picked it up, but lost her way.

    From evening to early morning, her phone never had a signal until it ran out of battery. For almost ten hours, she walked around in the deep mountains and old forest alone, unable to find her way back. Finally, tired, thirsty, and hungry, she gave up struggling and sat down on the spot to wait.

    Waiting for someone to come and rescue, or, waiting for the god of death to come and collect her.

    With trembling hands, Jiang Yu picked up the mineral water, unscrewed it, and took a sip, the coolness trickled down her throat, intensifying the cold and making her shiver all over.

    Her head felt heavy, and she was cold and sleepy.

    She can''t close her eyes.

    Whenever she closes her eyes, her mind is full of the little herself who was dragged into the wooden house on the mountain during the thunderstorm at night. Whenever she closes her eyes, her mind gets flooded with the image of that dark and long corridor, surrounded by countless people to abuse her helpless self.

    Then she will desperately want to grab and hold onto something.

    A girl''s face appeared before her eyes.

    Oh, her little friend, her canary.

    Suddenly, a beam of powerful light swept over¡ª¡ª

    She narrowed her eyes.

    "Elder sister?"

    "Is that you? Sister..."

    A familiar female voice came from the direction of the light source, followed by half-light and half-heavy footsteps. The left foot steps are very light and the right foot stumps heavily.

    The light got closer and closer, and the figure became clearer.

    Kid?

    Jiang Yu was stunned.

    Author''s Note:

    Jiang Scum: My wife has come to save me, TUT.

 CH 59

    It is said that people often experience hallucinations when they are on the brink of death.

    At that moment, Jiang Yu thought she was dreaming or about to die. Her brain, controlling her exhausted body, used the last ounce of energy to allow her to see the person she missed the most before her impending death.

    It turned out that the person she missed the most was Cheng Suran...

    Her little friend, her canary.

    Jiang Yu smiled calmly and peacefully.

    From this moment on, no regrets.

    "Elder sister!"

    A slightly cool hand gently touched her cheek, the sensation incredibly real. Jiang Yu was taken aback, feeling the rush of breath that came towards her. She opened her eyes wide.

    A girl stood before her, hunched over, with disheveled hair and a face smeared with dirt and dust. She was panting heavily, looking quite disheveled.

    Her clear and bright eyes were filled with joy.

    Is it really the kid?

    "Cheng..." Jiang Yu''s lips trembled as she reached out her hand, attempting to touch that face.

    Cheng Suran hurriedly grabbed her hand and pressed it against her own face, nodding vigorously. "It''s me, it''s me, sister... I''ve found you..." Tears of excitement welled up in her eyes, followed by a furrowed brow.

    "Why are your hands so cold? And you''re trembling... Come, let''s go, I''ll take you down the mountain."

    She spoke in a breathless manner, struggling to catch her breath. Her head was spinning, and she held onto Jiang Yu''s arm, attempting to pull her up but almost tripping in the process.

    Jiang Yu quickly supported her.

    Before she had a chance to ask how the girl ended up there, a faint smell of blood reached her nostrils. Illuminated by the flashlight, a glimpse of red flashed in her sight.

    She noticed a white fabric wrapped around the girl''s left thigh, with fresh blood seeping through, staining a large portion of the fabric. Her jeans were also smeared with mottled bloodstains, a distressing sight to behold.

    "What happened to your leg?" Jiang Yu gasped and frowned.

    Cheng Suran gritted her teeth, enduring the pain, and smiled, saying, "I accidentally scratched myself with something sharp, but it''s okay, sister... Let''s hurry down the mountain. I know... I know a shortcut. Come with me..."

    "Alright, alright, don''t talk," Jiang Yu said, growing increasingly worried as Cheng Suran appeared weaker.

    She quickly grabbed her backpack and packed it hastily.

    Supporting herself against a rock, Jiang Yu stood up, her shoulders burdened by the backpack. Her hands and feet were becoming numb from the cold. She looped one of Cheng Suran''s arms around her shoulder and held her waist tightly.

    "Walk... Walk this way," Cheng Suran pointed in a direction.

    "Be careful where you step, use... use the wooden stick to probe the path"

    Jiang Yu nodded and held the trekking pole in one hand, while the other hand held the flashlight. They walked cautiously, taking each step carefully as they descended the mountain.

    The night air in the mountains was chilling, and gusts of cold wind made them shiver. The entire forest was eerily silent, with only the sound of their heavy breathing filling their ears.

    The dim crescent moon moved from the east to the west.

    After walking for about ten minutes, Cheng Suran gradually began to feel physically exhausted. Her steps became weak, as if walking on cotton, and she leaned heavily against Jiang Yu. Her breathing grew heavier and more labored.

    "Kid?" Jiang Yu noticed that something was wrong and stopped in her tracks. "What''s the matter?"

    "Sister... I..." Cheng Suran struggled to catch her breath and couldn''t speak clearly. Her face is horribly pale.

    The wound on her thigh had been bleeding continuously. Although the flow wasn''t fast, Cheng Suran could feel her energy and strength slowly draining from her body. She didn''t have the energy to support herself anymore, feeling as if she was about to fall asleep.

    She knew that she might not be able to hold on much longer.

    But...

    She hadn''t brought her sister out yet.

    "I''m fine... Let''s... let''s keep going..." Cheng Suran weakly smiled and clenched her teeth.

    Jiang Yu''s heart started to panic, and her gaze fell upon Cheng Suran''s blood-soaked thigh. A sense of unease began to arise within her. Without hesitation, she turned around, crouched down, and said, "Get on my back. I''ll carry you."

    "No..." Cheng Suran protested.

    "Hurry up!"

    "..."

    Cheng Suran was startled by the stern shout and obediently climbed onto Jiang Yu''s back, wrapping her arms around her neck. In the next moment, she was lifted off the ground.

    "Stay conscious, do you hear me? Talk to me," Jiang Yu instructed, handing her the flashlight while holding onto the trekking pole and supporting Cheng Suran''s leg.

    "Okay," Cheng Suran replied softly.

    This was the second time Jiang Yu carried Cheng Suran on her back.

    The situation was much worse than the last time. Carrying over ninety pounds was no easy task, and the weight burdened Jiang Yu''s body. The mountain path became even more difficult to traverse. She worried that Cheng Suran would fall asleep, so she kept talking to her.

    "Are we going in the right direction?"

    "Mm..."

    "There seems to be a fork in the road ahead."

    "To the right... right¡­"

    After walking for a while, Jiang Yu felt sore and exhausted all over her body. Her wrists were numb to the point of losing sensation. She stopped and gasped for breath, saying, "Let''s take a rest."

    There was no response from the person on her back.

    "Kid?"

    "Ranran..."

    "Cheng Suran?!"

    Her heart sank, and she shouted the name loudly.

    Finally, the hand resting on her neck moved, and a soft sob came from behind her. "Uh... Sister, I''m so sleepy..."

    "Don''t sleep, Ranran... Don''t you dare sleep, do you hear me? Just hold on a little longer. We''re almost there... " Jiang Yu coaxed her, her voice trembling. She felt a surge of blood rushing to her head, and she dared not rest. She quickened her pace.

    Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest, as if a surge of brute strength had exploded throughout her body, making her feel weightless.

    A cool breeze brushed against her cheek, chilling her to the core and seeping into her collar.

    "Hold on, Ranran, hold on..."

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran was drifting in and out of consciousness, her eyelids heavy. Every time she felt herself slipping away, she would bite her tongue hard, jolting herself back to wake.

    She couldn''t afford to sleep. She had to hold on. She had to lead her sister out of here.

    After walking for an unknown period of time, the narrow forest path suddenly opened up, revealing a flickering of lights ahead. It seemed like people were moving, wearing bright orange clothes with fluorescent strips.

    They were firefighters!

    "We''re here!" Jiang Yu shouted loudly.

    Several beams of light flickered, and three or four firefighters approached them. "Are you Ms. Jiang?"

    "Yes, it''s me, and my friend here. She''s injured and needs to be taken to the hospital as soon as possible!"

    "What about you?"

    "I''m fine, please help her..."

    They were already close to the foot of the mountain, and not far away was a fire truck with flashing lights. The crimson glow fell upon Cheng Suran''s eyes, appearing redder than blood. It was the color of life, resembling fireworks.

    In a daze, Cheng Suran felt herself being set down by Jiang Yu and then placed on the back of an unfamiliar man. Several people surrounded them, getting closer to the red light.

    There was a cold hand that held onto her, and her ears were filled with her sister''s anxious voice:

    "Ranran, it''s alright now. We''re going to the hospital."

    She weakly managed to curl up the corners of her mouth.

    Before losing consciousness, the last thing Cheng Suran saw was a faint glimmer of moisture in those eyes...

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    The waning moon descended in the west, and a fish-belly white hue appeared on the horizon.

    The hospital room was filled with a faint medicinal smell. The girl lay on the bed, her eyes closed, her cheeks pale. A drip tube was attached to the back of her hand, making her resemble a fragile glass doll.

    Jiang Yu stood by the bedside, lost in her thoughts as she gazed at the girl.

    Images of the previous night flashed through her mind, and even until now, it felt like a dream. However, the vivid and real memories left her shaken, unable to find peace.

    When the kid fell into a deep unconsciousness, her heart turned cold. It felt as if the world had collapsed, and something she desperately wanted to hold onto had suddenly vanished.

    When they arrived at the hospital, the girl''s face was pale as a sheet of paper, but she still had vital signs and was in urgent need of a blood transfusion. Jiang Yu''s heart, which had turned cold, regained a glimmer of warmth, but it hung in her throat again.

    What blood type is Ranran? What if the hospital''s blood bank is not sufficient? Does she need the consent of a family member for the blood transfusion?

    At that moment, her mind was in complete chaos...

    Jiang Yu gently held the girl''s thin wrist.

    She hadn''t slept all night, feeling highly tensed and having a headache, but there was no trace of drowsiness. She wanted to wait for the girl to wake up, hoping to be the first person she sees when she opens her eyes.

    So she waited, waited patiently.

    She waited until the sunlight of early autumn poured into the ward.

    ¡ªtok tok tok

    A knocking sound came from the door.

    Jiang Yu turned her head and saw the ward door being pushed open. Xiao Zhou entered the room, followed by Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu, who had sunglasses and mask securely in place.

    She stood up.

    "Coco..." Pei Chutong took off her sunglasses and mask, eagerly embracing Jiang Yu. "You scared me, I''m just relieved that you''re back... back safely..."

    After speaking, she patted Jiang Yu''s back and then looked her up and down, supporting her shoulders.

    "I''m fine," Jiang Yu smiled wearily and looked at the girl lying on the hospital bed. The faint smile vanished. "But Ranran..."

    "What happened?" Pei Chutong lowered her voice.

    Jiang Yu stared at the girl''s face, sighed, and said, "Yesterday, Ranran found me. She climbed up the mountain and got a deep cut on her thigh from something. She was bleeding heavily and lost consciousness on the way to the hospital. She received a blood transfusion and had the wound stitched with 20 stitches. I don''t know when she will wake up."

    Pei Chutong furrowed her brows, her gaze growing deeper as she looked at the girl.

    It seemed that she had misunderstood something.

    "You don''t know what happened yesterday..." Pei Chutong explained in detail the events that took place from the evening until dawn.

    Jiang Yu stood there, motionless like a statue, her eyes revealing subtle emotions.

    So, it was...

    "I''ve seen many lovers putting on a show in front of their benefactors, but I have never seen anyone risking their lives like she did. I really didn''t expect it. Coco, don''t you think it''s quite obvious? This little girl likes you, she has developed genuine feelings," Pei Chutong said.

    "Impossible."

    "Other than that, there''s no other reason that can explain her actions," Pei Chutong said seriously.

    After speaking, she glanced at Ruan Mu, her gaze carrying a deep meaning.

    Ruan Mu silently lowered her head.

    "No, absolutely impossible."

    "Why?"

    Jiang Yu stared intensely at the girl on the hospital bed, her gaze gradually turning cold as she spoke, word by word, "She wouldn''t dare."

    The air around them seemed to thin out slightly.

    No one spoke.

    "Boss Jiang, the charger," Xiao Zhou, who had been unable to get a word in, broke the silence.

    They received a call from an unfamiliar landline last night, which was made by Jiang Yu. She briefly explained the situation over the phone, assuring them not to worry. The three of them had almost stayed up all night and only managed to rest for a short while around four in the morning. As soon as it was light outside, they rushed over.

    Jiang Yu took the charger and cable, connected her phone, and said as she waited for it to turn on, "You all should go back and rest. We still have a shoot today. Please inform the director that I need half a day off, and I''ll be back in the afternoon."

    "You need rest even more. Don''t exhaust yourself before the girl wakes up. I''ll talk to the production team. We can make up for a day of shooting later," Pei Chutong said, embracing Jiang Yu''s shoulder.

    Jiang Yu shook her head and replied calmly, "There''s no need to delay the progress because of me. Everyone''s time is valuable."

    "But I can see that you don''t look too well. Shouldn''t you get a check-up now?"

    "No need."

    Although she said so, her body felt weak.

    She had been exposed to cold wind on the mountain for a long time last night, and she hadn''t slept all night. Carrying a burden of over ninety kilograms, she had descended the mountain in a hurry, depleting her physical strength severely. Her head felt like it was about to split, and her throat was sore.

    Pei Chutong wanted to say something more, but Jiang Yu interrupted, urging them to leave, "Alright, I''m really fine. I know my own body. You all go back, Xiao Zhou should catch up on some sleep first and come in the afternoon."

    "..."

    The three of them looked at each other and nodded helplessly. After giving a few instructions, they left.

    The hospital room fell back into silence.

    WeChat messages piled up, indicating unread notifications. Jiang Yu''s phone kept vibrating, causing her palms to tingle. She didn''t look at the messages, keeping her gaze fixed on Cheng Suran''s face.

    The girl''s breathing was steady, but there was a slight frown on her forehead, as if she was sleeping uneasily.

    Jiang Yu reached out her hand and gently smoothed out the crease on her forehead.

    A smile involuntarily formed at the corners of her mouth.

    ¡­.

    Cheng Suran had a long dream.

    She, a little girl, was sitting on a green train. Outside the window, there were mountains, fields, rivers, and villages. The glass reflected her small figure, small face, small nose, small mouth. Was she five years old? Or six?

    People around her were chatting loudly, cracking melon seeds, eating instant noodles, and snoring...

    Why was she on a train? Weren''t green trains already phased out?

    In a hazy state, she heard the voice of a middle-aged man. He said to her, "Ranran, Daddy will take you to a fun place."

    So that person was her father.

    Her father had never spoken to her so gently in her memories. She made an effort to see his face clearly, but her line of sight remained blurry. She didn''t know why, but she felt uneasy in her heart.

    The old green train rattled and swayed for a long time until it arrived at a station called Cang County.

    Her father answered a phone call, took her hand, and they walked through the long train cars to a stranger in front of whom her father handed a black-wrapped package.

    "Ranran, this is Uncle Tang."

    "Hello, Uncle Tang."

    They chatted quietly, while Uncle Tang kept looking at her.

    "Ranran, stay with Uncle Tang here for a moment. Dad needs to use the restroom." The middle-aged man entrusted her hand to Uncle Tang.

    Her little self nodded.

    Her father''s figure disappeared into the crowd and didn''t come back even when the train was about to depart. Uncle Tang said to her, "Ranran, would you like Uncle to take you to find your dad?"

    "But Dad told us to wait here..." She was a little scared.

    The dream became blurry, and she couldn''t remember what Uncle Tang said. All she saw was her small self being pulled away, and she became frightened. She cried loudly, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

    "You child, why are you crying just because you didn''t get snacks? Come home with Dad quickly." That''s what Uncle Tang said.

    She cried and said, "Wuwuwu*, you''re not my dad..."

    *sobbing sounds

    No one believed her.

    Fear, unease, helplessness¡ªwithin her very small world, adults were all devils. Until a stranger sister appeared.

    The dream became even more blurred.

    "She''s not your daughter! A man in black clothes just handed her to you, I saw it!"

    "What nonsense are you talking about, little girl!"

    "Capture the human trafficker!"

    "Eh¡ª"

    Amidst the chaotic crowd and the clamor of voices, the little girl fell into the embrace of a woman. She saw the uniformed uncles rushing over, all dressed identically, while the unfamiliar uncle fled in panic.

    "Little one, where is your dad?"

    The voice of the sister was so gentle. Although she couldn''t see her face clearly, she could feel that she was smiling.

    "Daddy is gone..." she cried.

    At that moment, the train sounded its whistle.

    "Sister has to board the train now. Will you let these police uncles take you home? Don''t cry, here''s a little white ball for you. Let it keep you company and play with you."

    A small, white ball lay in the palm of her hand.

    She couldn''t make out what it was.

    In the blink of an eye, the unfamiliar sister vanished, and the green train departed. The little girl sat in a room filled with many police uncles, clutching the small white ball in her palm.

    That tiny white spot gradually expanded, enveloping her in a mist.

    The whole world turned into a vast expanse of whiteness.

    So white, so bright...

    Cheng Suran slowly opened her eyes, and a large amount of intense light flooded in, causing her to furrow her brows and emit a sob from her throat.

    "Ranran?"

    A voice of surprise came to her ears, and the glaring light was blocked.

    Cheng Suran widened her eyes.

    A sharply defined face with prominent features, three-dimensional facial features, deep brows and eyes¡ªvery familiar. She stared at this face for a long moment, and her brain gradually became clear.

    "Sister..."

    Her voice was hoarse as if it had been roasted by fire.

    It seemed like she was still dreaming somehow, merging this face into her dream.

    A dream?

    She couldn''t remember it suddenly.

    There was only the train, only the platform, only her sobbing loudly.

    Jiang Yu looked at the girl, took a deep breath, brushed aside the stray hair on her cheek, and a gentle smile bloomed between her brows and eyes. She softly said, "Do you want some water?"

    "Yes..." Cheng Suran nodded slowly, feeling sluggish.

    A snow-white ceiling, snow-white walls, snow-white bedding, golden sunlight streaming in through the window, and also¡ª

    IV Drips hanging high.

    She remembered.

    This is not a dream.

 CH 60

    "Wait a moment, sister will go pour water." Jiang Yu gently touched the girl''s face and got up to leave the ward.

    Cheng Suran lowered her eyes and watched her sister''s retreating figure, unconsciously merging with the blurry figure in her dream, feeling a faint sense of familiarity. Although she couldn''t remember the dream clearly, it felt like she had seen her sister in the dream.

    It is said that dreams are reflections of reality.

    She must have missed her sister too much, right? From the separation a few days ago to the nervousness last night, her thoughts were consumed by her sister. So, her brain weaved a dream for her.

    But why does she specifically remember the train, the platform, and the middle-aged man...

    A slight tingling sensation emanated from her left thigh.

    Cheng Suran furrowed her brow and moved her left hand, causing the intravenous tube to shift slightly. She then moved her right hand and quietly lifted a corner of the blanket.

    "Ranran¡ª"

    At that moment, the door to the ward opened, and Jiang Yu came in carrying two cups of water. Seeing her lifting the blanket, she quickly intervened, saying, "Don''t move!" She walked briskly over, placed the cups down, and grabbed her hand. "You have stitches on your leg, you can''t move around. Do you need to use the bathroom?"

    "It hurts..." Cheng Suran shook her head in agony and pointed to her left leg.

    Stitches.

    Just the thought of it sounded painful. She couldn''t help but recall the images she had seen online, where wounds would become grotesque and unsightly like a centipede, possibly leaving scars even after healing.

    At this moment, the anesthesia was probably wearing off. The pain grew in waves, becoming more and more intense, and tears welled up in her eyes.

    It wasn''t this painful last night.

    Jiang Yu looked at the tears swirling in her eyes, feeling a pang of heartache. She released her hand, turned around, and took out a blister pack of medicine from a small bag. She peeled off a tablet and placed it in her palm, then adjusted the bed to about a 45-degree angle.

    "This is a painkiller. Once you take it, the pain will go away soon. Be a good girl," Jiang Yu said softly, holding the medicine in one hand and the cup of water in the other.

    Cheng Suran obediently took it and eagerly swallowed the medicine with the water, finishing the remaining liquid in the cup.

    She drank slowly, her little face slightly puffed up, and her cheeks regained some color, but there was still a weary look between her eyebrows, a sign of fatigue.

    "Are you hungry? It''s almost noon. What would you like to eat? Sister will go buy it," Jiang Yu gently tucked away the stray hair by her temple, tucking it behind her ear, and took the empty cup from her hand, placing it aside.

    Cheng Suran looked up, about to speak, but then she saw Jiang Yu''s eyes were bloodshot.

    Her heart twitched suddenly.

    "I''m not hungry," she shook her head, her two little dimples forming a shallow arc. "Sister, you''re tired too. Go and rest on the next bed for a while."

    She had only recently woken up, and her wound was causing intense pain. She didn''t have the energy or appetite to eat.

    But her stomach wouldn''t listen.

    Gulug¡ª

    "..."

    Cheng Suran awkwardly covered her stomach.

    "The body is always honest," Jiang Yu chuckled as she lightly flicked her nose, stood up, and put her phone, which was fully charged, into her pocket. "Be a good girl and wait here. I''ll be back very soon."

    "Sister--"

    But the person had already left.

    Cheng Suran gazed at the door for a while, lowering her head in disappointment.

    It was fortunate that she was able to lead her sister out of that mountain. Compared to her sister''s safety and well-being, the physical discomfort she was experiencing was nothing. But now, she indirectly burdened her sister because of it. If only she had been more careful...

    No, she couldn''t do it. In such an urgent situation, she couldn''t spare any extra attention for herself.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    But this also proved that she was not mature or calm enough, wasn''t it?

    Perhaps her sister would think she was too impulsive.

    Cheng Suran felt a bit disheartened.

    The ward was empty and quiet. A ray of pale golden sunlight seeped in, casting shadows on the foot of the bed through the window.

    A small sparrow perched on the windowsill, tilting its head left and right, curiously observing.

    Then it flew away.

    The painkiller seemed to gradually take effect, and the pain from the wound was easing. Cheng Suran lifted the blanket slightly and realized she was wearing a hospital gown.

    She quietly pulled up the waistband of her pants and glanced down. Sure enough, her left leg was wrapped in thick bandages, resembling a mummy.

    Stitches meant that the wound was not superficial, and it would take at least ten days to two weeks to heal. She hadn''t attended her morning classes today, and if the teacher took attendance, she would be marked absent. She wouldn''t be able to return to school in the short term and would have to take a long leave.

    Cheng Suran looked around and saw her bag placed on the bedside table. She reached out and pulled it closer.

    Her phone had a little bit of battery left.

    She used WeChat to explain the situation to her academic advisor, informing them that she needed a two-week leave and required the department''s signature. The advisor asked her a few concerned questions and then video-called her to confirm that she was indeed in the hospital. Perhaps her situation was too unusual, as the advisor insisted on informing her parents. Helpless, she could only send Tian Lin''s phone number to the advisor.

    Then she quickly made a phone call to Tian Lin as a cover.

    After completing all of this, Jiang Yu returned with lunch.

    "Did you wait long?" She held a plastic bag in each hand, placed them down, and took out the lunchbox from one of the bags. "The hospital cafeteria was a bit crowded. I had to wait in line for a while, but the food is quite plentiful."

    "You need to eat more protein during the recovery period."

    A strong aroma of food wafted through the air.

    Cheng Suran stared at her, dazed.

    Just now, when she was requesting the leave from the academic advisor, she felt a bit regretful for missing out on the coursework. However, at that moment when she saw Jiang Yu, when she saw her sister standing there unharmed, she suddenly felt that it was all worth it. Missed classes could be made up, injured flesh could heal, but life couldn''t be rewound.

    She only had one person she liked.

    "Steamed sea bass, it''s your favorite, and..." Jiang Yu opened the lunchbox and carefully arranged the food inside. It was all dishes that kids liked to eat and were beneficial for wound healing.

    Cheng Suran snapped out of her daze and murmured, "Huh? How did you know, sister?"

    It seemed like... she had never mentioned what she liked to eat. Her sister had never asked or paid attention to it. The number of times they ate together could be counted on one hand.

    "Take a guess?" Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow playfully.

    "Um, I can''t guess."

    A soft chuckle reached her ears.

    Jiang Yu squinted her eyes and ruffled Cheng Suran''s hair gently. She spoke in a gentle tone, saying, "The detailed bill of your orders at the hotel is sent to me every week. I took a quick look and felt that your taste is relatively light, and you prefer fresh things. That''s good, unlike me. I used to love spicy food since I was young, but when I had to quit, it was painful for a long time."

    "..."

    A smile tugged at Cheng Suran''s lips, revealing a bashful expression.

    Her sister actually pays attention to these things.

    Cheng Suran rarely orders from the hotel. Most of the time, she eats at the school cafeteria for lunch and dinner, partly for convenience and partly to avoid spending Jiang Yu''s money unnecessarily. Breakfast is the only meal she eats the most each week. But can one really tell much from breakfast? Others¡­would be harder to figure out.

    Since when did Jiang Yu start paying attention? How could the benefactor care about the canary''s taste? Does that mean her sister is slightly interested in her...?

    She couldn''t help but let her mind wander.

    Observing the girl lost in thought, Jiang Yu couldn''t help but smile. With one hand holding the lunchbox and the other gripping the chopsticks, she sat down and said, "Be good, finish your meal before daydreaming."

    "?"

    Cheng Suran halted her jumbled thoughts, only to find Jiang Yu in a posture as if she was about to feed her. This immediately made her flustered. "Sister, I can eat by myself. You can ask the nurse for a small table..."

    "Why can''t I feed you?" Jiang Yu frowned.

    Cheng Suran was momentarily at a loss for words.

    She could see the exhaustion on Jiang Yu''s face, the redness in her eyes, and the way she looked disheveled yet forced herself to stay strong. Whenever she thought about how all of this was indirectly caused by her, she couldn''t bring herself to accept Jiang Yu''s care without feeling guilty.

    Furthermore, her sister is the benefactor, so it didn''t make sense for a benefactor to feed her.

    But... part of her still wanted it.

    Being young, Cheng Suran couldn''t hide her emotions, and her tangled thoughts were written all over her face. Jiang Yu couldn''t help but laugh at her, coaxing, "Ranran is a patient now, she needs to be obedient."

    Huh.

    Did her sister just call her by her nickname?

    Cheng Suran only realized that what she faintly heard last night wasn''t a dream. She pursed her lips, her cheeks turning red all the way to her ears, and nodded gently, "Okay."

    Jiang Yu scooped some fish soup onto the rice with a spoon and then offered a piece of fish meat first. Cheng Suran cautiously opened her mouth and ate the whole piece, chewing slowly with her cheeks slightly puffed up.

    She looked like a little hamster nibbling on melon seeds.

    ½­ÓÝ fed her spoonful by spoonful, and she ate bite by bite. The hospital room was calm yet warm.

    Feeling Jiang Yu''s gaze on her, Cheng Suran couldn''t help but lift her eyes and sneak a glance at her. Their eyes met, and she was struck by that gentle gaze. Her heart trembled, and a sense of happiness overflowed within her.

    At that moment, she had a delusion, as if she wasn''t Jiang Yu''s canary anymore, but rather her girlfriend.

    But she had to stay awake at all times.

    There were only a few days left until the contract expired.

    In the remaining days, which would probably be spent in the hospital, she felt a sense of regret that there were still many things she hadn''t done with her sister, and many words left unsaid. But she didn''t regret the decision she made last night.

    Having these moments was enough.

    Afraid that she couldn''t withstand her gaze and reveal her thoughts, Cheng Suran silently averted her eyes, lowered her gaze, and hastened her chewing.

    After finishing feeding her, Jiang Yu began to eat herself. She didn''t have much appetite and quickly finished her meal. She tidied up and then accompanied the young girl to rest for a while before assisting her to the restroom.

    "Sister, you should go back and rest. I can manage on my own..." Cheng Suran plugged in her phone to charge and looked at Jiang Yu, who appeared exhausted, feeling a pang of heartache.

    Jiang Yu didn''t say anything, but simply held her hand.

    "Sister..." She grew anxious.

    "I''m really fine."

    Jiang Yu raised her index finger and made a gesture of silence. Cheng Suran immediately obediently closed her mouth, but her eyes still revealed a sense of worry. As she looked at her sister, she recalled the words spoken by Pei Chutong.

    "Ranran..."

    "?"

    "Tongtong told me about what happened, but I''m a bit confused. Why?"

    "I¡­" Cheng Suran was stunned.

    She knew what she wanted to ask.

    Jiang Yu''s fingertips gently pressed into her palm, rubbing it a few times. She said, "Sister wants to hear the truth."

    Her tone was gentle and delicate, but her gaze carried a sense of probing. Her eyes, bloodshot and cold, didn''t indicate anger but rather a distant detachment.

    "Because..." Cheng Suran''s mind rang alarm bells. She knew she couldn''t tell the truth; she couldn''t risk losing the few days they had left. "I was worried that something might happen to you."

    Jiang Yu''s heart sank, but there was also a hint of unease. She couldn''t quite describe the feeling, but if her suspicions were true, the overwhelming fear of losing control overshadowed any warmth.

    She could only adhere to the instincts dictated by their relationship.

    "Really?"

    "Yes, if something happens to you, then there won''t be anyone to give me money."

    Cheng Suran pretended to look calm as she gazed at Jiang Yu, her hand clenched nervously on the edge of the bedsheet. After saying it, she realized there was a loophole in her statement. The money had already been given, and the contract was nearing its end. There was no such situation as she described.

    Moreover, how could she be so blunt in front of her benefactor?

    She was in a state of confusion.

    She didn''t know what to do.

    "No, Sister, actually, I feel that... you have been taking care of me very well. As my benefactor, you are truly kind. It''s important to repay kindness, and coincidentally, I am familiar with Lingbai Mountain. Also... this incident is somewhat related to me. If I hadn''t mentioned the fairy flower, you wouldn''t have gone to look for it and gotten lost. Um... you don''t have to worry, it''s all voluntary on my part, and it''s not that complicated..."

    As Cheng Suran spoke, her voice grew softer, and she turned her face away.

    These were the only reasons she could come up with.

    There was a brief silence.

    The midday ward was quiet, occasionally interrupted by the soft footsteps in the corridor and the sound of wheels rolling on the floor.

    Jiang Yu looked at her.

    Suddenly, she let out a sigh of relief. It''s good, just like this.

    She could continue to keep her by her side.

    Her relief masked a hint of disappointment, just as fear masked a touch of warmth.

    "Mm." Jiang Yu tightened her grip on the girl''s hand, and a smile returned to her eyes.

    Cheng Suran felt as if she had been granted a pardon and let out a bitter smile.

    "Thank you."

    "Don''t say that..."

    "Is your phone still charged? Give your parents a call." Jiang Yu smoothly changed the subject.

    "..."

    "What''s wrong?"

    Cheng Suran hesitated, and her gaze darkened.

    Jiang Yu seemed to understand something and gently rubbed her head, asking with a smile, "Is it because you don''t want them to worry?"

    "It''s not..." She looked troubled.

    Jiang Yu nodded in understanding and said, "It''s okay. You''re an adult now, and you have the right to make decisions about these matters. I respect your wishes."

    Chen Suran wanted to say something but held back. It wasn''t that she couldn''t tell Jiang Yu, but she hadn''t figured out how to say it yet. Besides, the canary''s family affairs were not something the benefactor would be interested in knowing, and speaking about it would only bring negativity and bother.

    "Mm."

    "By the way," Jiang Yu grabbed her bag and pulled out a transparent bag, "Look, is this the Fairy Flower?"

    Inside the bag were blue and white gradient petals, along with stems, leaves, and soil, all packed tightly.

    Cheng Suran nodded sullenly.

    She looked at the beautiful petals she used to like so much, but she couldn''t feel happy about it. If she hadn''t mentioned it, her sister wouldn''t have thought of going to pick them, and if she hadn''t gone to pick the flowers, she wouldn''t have gotten lost, and¡ª

    "I''ll preserve it as a specimen and make it into a bookmark for you when we go back," Jiang Yu said as she put it back in her bag like a baby.

    Cheng Suran wanted to say it wasn''t necessary, but when she saw how much Jiang Yu cherished it, she swallowed her words. After all, her sister had gone through a lot of effort to obtain it, so she should also cherish it.

    "Okay."

    ¡­.

    In the afternoon, Xiao Zhou came.

    The wound would take twelve days to heal before the stitches could be removed. Staying in the hospital was more convenient in this regard. Considering this, when Jiang Yu left, she went to buy some daily necessities and asked Xiao Zhou to bring them up, then she returned to the village alone.

    The filming continued.

    Upon learning that Jiang Yu had returned, the production team and other cast members came to visit one after another. The director suggested taking a few days off before resuming shooting, but Jiang Yu didn''t agree. She requested to stick to the normal schedule.

    She knew that the longer they delayed, the more likely it was for unexpected issues to arise.

    The director didn''t insist and had the medical team on standby while everyone continued shooting. Jiang Yu quickly took a shower, slept for two more hours, and then got up to shoot the scenes from the morning. Perhaps due to catching a chill while being out in the mountains last night, she had caught a slight cold.

    So, catching a cold became part of her daily routine as well.

    When the cameras were off, she rested, and Pei Chutong brought her tea and water. Pei Chutong even learned how to cook on a wood stove.

    During the day, Jiang Yu filmed in the village, while Xiao Zhou took care of Cheng Suran at the hospital. At night, they switched roles, with Jiang Yu going to the hospital to keep Cheng Suran company, and Xiao Zhou returning to sleep. They continued this routine until the last day of filming when the entire crew wrapped up.

    On the morning of the eighth day, when Jiang Yu returned from the hospital, Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu were packing their luggage, intending to help her with the task, but they were stopped.

    "You two should go back to Jiangcheng first and not delay the upcoming work."

    "Are you planning to stay here?"

    "Mm."

    Pei Chutong looked at her in disbelief.

    "No matter what, it was for my sake that Ranran got injured. I can''t leave her alone here," Jiang Yu smiled, her eyes filled with tenderness.

    After a moment of silence, Pei Chutong spoke up, "She said she is a local, so it''s convenient. We can have her parents come here to take care of her. You''ve been running around for the past few days, doing your best. There''s still work to be done, so you can''t cancel everything for her, right?"

    "Let''s not worry about that for now. I have my own plans."

    "Jiang Coco, you''re really..."

    "Alright, alright. I know you''re concerned about me. Don''t worry, I have everything under control." Jiang Yu hugged her and patted her back, coaxing her like a child.

    Pei Chutong snorted lightly, "You say you have everything under control, but you just have a soft spot for the person."

    "If you say so."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu didn''t take Pei Chutong''s joke to heart. After persuading them to leave, she and Xiao Zhou packed their belongings and took a taxi to the hospital. They booked a double room in a nearby hotel.

    Jiang Yu called Tian Lin and briefly discussed work matters before eagerly heading to the hospital room.

    A nurse was changing Cheng Suran''s dressing.

    Cheng Suran had been recovering well these past few days. Her complexion had improved significantly since the day she woke up, and she seemed more energetic. The wound had a faint itching sensation, but she dared not look at the ugly and centipede-like stitches whenever the dressing was changed.

    "Thank you, nurse," Cheng Suran whispered her thanks to the nurse after the dressing was changed. As she lifted her head, she saw Jiang Yu.

    "Sister!"

    Her eyes sparkled.

    The nurse pushed the trolley out, and Jiang Yu sat by the bedside, holding one of her hands and leaning in to give her a gentle kiss. "Does it still hurt today?"

    "A little bit, and it''s a bit itchy too¡­" Cheng Suran answered truthfully.

    "Itching means the wound is healing, so don''t scratch it."

    "Uh-huh."

    "Sister wants to talk to you about something."

    "What is it?"

    Jiang Yu looked at her intently for a moment, then took out her phone from her pocket and opened a document. She handed it over. "Contract renewal, would you be willing?"

    It was the electronic version of the original agreement.

    Cheng Suran carefully read through it and noticed that the duration had been changed from three months to two months. So... it meant a two-month extension.

    Today was the 25th, and there were five days left until the contract expired.

    Renewing the contract meant she would still be the canary, never able to meet her sister''s gaze, but she could continue to stay by her sister''s side without having to take the risk of confessing her feelings.

    Choosing dignity meant losing her sister, while choosing her sister meant losing her dignity.

    She was caught in a dilemma.

    "Don''t want to?" Jiang Yu asked casually, but her grip on her hand tightened involuntarily.

    "Well..." Cheng Suran raised her head, her lips quivered, "If I renew the contract, can I... not take any payment?"

    In fact, she already had the answer in her heart.

    The temptation to stay by her sister''s side was too strong.

    Seeing the girl''s cautious and careful appearance, Jiang Yu''s heart wavered, almost tempted to agree. But she quickly regained her clarity and shook her head. "No."

    "..."

    "What if we don''t renew?" Cheng Suran asked nervously.

    Jiang Yu''s hand tightened again, pausing for a couple of seconds before she turned her face away and casually said, "Then we''ll part on good terms."

    She slowly released her hand.

    Cheng Suran immediately changed her response, "I''m willing!"

    Author''s Note:

    Jiang Scum: *smirking*.jpg

    Looks like the little one is still too naive (chuckles).

    I didn''t expect this chapter to be so long, tut. Today, I''ll give out red envelopes. =3=

 CH 61

    The moment she heard her voice, Jiang Yu''s fingertips trembled, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

    She had won.

    The kid is willing.

    The corners of her mouth curled imperceptibly as she turned her face back, returning to her calm expression. She reached out her hand and gently caressed the girl''s face.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran held the hand on her face, feeling its warmth, and looked at her with intense gaze. "Can you tell me why you want to renew the contract?"

    "Because..." Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow.

    Cheng Suran held her breath.

    Although she knew she wouldn''t hear the answer she wanted, she couldn''t help but hope. There was a voice in her head shouting: "Control your gaze, or you''ll be exposed, and sister will notice."

    But she couldn''t.

    Suddenly, Jiang Yu leaned in, almost pressing her lips against hers, and whispered in a low voice, "Because Ranran satisfies me. Sister likes you the most."

    A feather-light kiss landed on the girl''s lips.

    She revealed a devilish smile, her slender, enchanting eyes captivating.

    Cheng Suran felt as if she had been electrified. Her heartbeat accelerated suddenly, and her body involuntarily leaned towards her, her lips pursed as if seeking a kiss.

    "Then, can you... call me Ranran from now on?"

    "Okay." Jiang Yu kissed her.

    The soft lips were like jelly, releasing a wave of scorching breath, swirling around her tongue. But it lasted only for a dozen seconds before they parted.

    "Sister, can I call you Coco too?" Cheng Suran looked at her with moist eyes, softly pleading.

    Jiang Yu''s gaze remained gentle, but the words that came out were icy cold. "No."

    "Um, okay."

    If she can''t, then she can''t.

    It''s fine to hear her sister call her by a nickname.

    Cheng Suran comforted herself, and a smile blossomed on her face, with two little dimples looking sweet.

    After renewing the contract, the heavy stone pressing on her chest disappeared. She no longer felt the impending sense of doom. Cheng Suran was in a relaxed state, with a good mood and appetite. Everything she ate tasted delicious, and her wounds healed quickly.

    Jiang Yu adjusted her work schedule, pushing aside unimportant matters. If there were unavoidable tasks, she would fly over, sometimes to Jiangcheng sometimes to other cities. After finishing her busy schedule, she would fly back to Lingzhou. That''s how she shuttled between the two places.

    On the day of removing the stitches, which was also the day of her discharge, Jiang Yu deliberately caught an early flight back.

    The kid sat on the chair, crossing her legs, while the nurse carefully removed the gauze. She quickly turned and hugged Jiang Yu, burying her face in Jiang Yu''s embrace, too afraid to look.

    "Don''t be scared¡ª" Jiang Yu held her tightly, comforting her softly.

    But she couldn''t help but caution the nurse, "Please be gentle, thank you."

    The nurse nodded, suppressing a smile.

    She felt a slight pulling sensation in her left leg, not as painful as she had imagined. She could endure it. Cheng Suran gradually relaxed, resting her head on Jiang Yu''s abdomen, secretly giving a kiss through the fabric.

    Jiang Yu was completely focused on observing the wound.

    As the stitches were removed, the pink scar became visible, glaring and ugly against the large expanse of fair skin. Jiang Yu furrowed her brows, as if the scar was embedded in her own heart, causing a faint ache.

    After a while, the stitches were removed, and the nurse advised, "You can take a shower and apply scar treatment three days from now. Avoid drinking alcohol and eating spicy food within the next month."

    "Can the medication completely remove the scar?" Jiang Yu asked eagerly.

    The nurse replied, "If the dermis is injured, it will leave a scar. The medication can only help fade it, but her wound has been stitched well, so the scar should be relatively small. If she doesn''t have a predisposition to scarring, she can try the medication first and consider laser scar removal later."

    "Okay, thank you," Jiang Yu''s forehead relaxed, and her expression softened slightly.

    Cheng Suran looked at Jiang Yu''s worried face, stood up, and gently reassured her, "Sister, it''s okay, I''m not afraid of having a scar at all. Besides, I don''t like wearing shorts or skirts in the summer, so it''s a good thing I won''t get tanned."

    Jiang Yu rubbed the girl''s head, smiling helplessly without saying a word.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    After being discharged from the hospital, they couldn''t leave Lingzhou temporarily. The three of them changed hotels, switching from a double room near the hospital to a suite in the city center. Xiao Zhou stayed in a separate room, while Jiang Yu and Cheng Suran shared one. Their departure flight was booked for four days later.

    Cheng Suran didn''t want to share a bed with Jiang Yu.

    She hadn''t taken a shower in over ten days and could only use a towel dampened with water to wipe herself. Her hair had only been washed twice with the help of Xiao Zhou. She felt uncomfortable all over, even disgusted with herself, and didn''t want to suffocate Jiang Yu with her presence in the same bed.

    However, Jiang Yu didn''t mind and still held her at night.

    After enduring three days, Jiang Yu still didn''t feel reassured enough to let Cheng Suran take a shower. She insisted on waiting for one more day. On the eve of their departure from Lingzhou, after the hotel staff changed the bedsheets and duvet cover, she personally helped Cheng Suran with her bath.

    "Sister, I can do it myself..." Cheng Suran covered her clothes, one hand tugging at the door, her face as red as a monkey''s butt.

    The bathroom was filled with steam, as they had let the water run for a while to raise the temperature, and the bathroom heater was on, making it cozy. Cheng Suran couldn''t wait to plunge into the embrace of the warm water, but this sister¡ª

    Jiang Yu held her and kissed her affectionately, coaxing in a gentle voice, "Tell me, which part of you hasn''t been seen by sister, hmm? Don''t be shy, Ranran, be a good girl."

    Cheng Suran wanted to bury herself in the ground at that moment.

    "Sister..."

    "You''re being disobedient."

    "Mm, I''ll listen."

    Jiang Yu smiled satisfied and let go of her hand.

    Cheng Suran blushed and gave up struggling.

    Being young was indeed wonderful, fresh and tender, full of collagen. The warm water flowed gently, like a peeled egg. When she washed her intimate areas, Jiang Yu couldn''t resist and had an encounter in the bathroom.

    Her bathrobe was soaked halfway through.

    "Mm, Sister, I knew you¡ª"

    "Hush."

    After taking a shower, Cheng Suran hastily wrapped herself in pajamas and fled to the bed. She quickly dried her hair and buried herself under the covers.

    Jiang Yu stayed in the bathroom and rinsed casually. She leisurely put on her clean robe, took out a tube of ointment from her suitcase, sat on the edge of the bed, and pulled back the bedding.

    A red head popped out, then swiftly turned away.

    "It''s time to apply the ointment," Jiang Yu doesn''t know whether to laugh or cry as she reached out to hold her.

    Cheng Suran mumbled, "I''ll do it myself."

    Who knows if this sister would play any tricks while applying the ointment?

    But she kind of liked it...

    "Be obedient," Jiang Yu brought out her secret weapon.

    Cheng Suran immediately sat up and obediently placed her leg on Jiang Yu''s knee.

    A shocking scar stood out on her snow-white skin, making one''s heart skip a beat. Jiang Yu''s smile gradually froze on her face as she carefully touched it with her fingertips, feeling the uneven texture.

    Her breathing paused, and she didn''t speak for a long time. Silently, she unscrewed the cap of the ointment, squeezed out a bit, and gently applied it to the scar.

    She had bought imported scar removal creams and scar patches, although she knew their effectiveness was limited, she still wanted to give them a try.

    "Ranran..."

    "?"

    Jiang Yu''s fingertips paused for a moment. She looked up at the girl and smiled, "I asked a few friends and also looked into several hospitals in China. If the ointment doesn''t eliminate this scar, sister will take you abroad for laser surgery, alright?"

    "If it can''t be done in China, we''ll go abroad. We''ll try various methods, in any case."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran met her gaze for a moment, seeing the guilt and tenderness filling those eyes. Suddenly, her heart felt heavy, as if it had been blocked.

    She didn''t want her sister to feel guilty because of this scar.

    She also didn''t want... her sister to be kind to her out of guilt. She wanted her sister to be genuinely... well, that was impossible.

    So, this scar should stay.

    Let it remain, reminding her at every contract expiration, when they part ways, of the stunning person she once encountered and the crazy things they did.

    Perhaps it would be the most profound memory of her life.

    "Ranran?" Jiang Yu waved her hand.

    Cheng Suran snapped out of her thoughts, smiled, and said, "Okay."

    She had to console her sister first.

    After applying the ointment, Jiang Yu put scar patches on her, and then started to pack their belongings.

    The clothes Cheng Suran wore when she arrived were dirty and had been thrown away. Over the past few days, Jiang Yu had bought several new sets of clothes. Their belongings weren''t many and were packed in her suitcase. At a glance, the two of them looked like a couple going on a trip.

    Jiang Yu turned her back to Cheng Suran, squatting in front of the suitcase. The hem of her tight vest revealed a graceful waistline.

    Cheng Suran quietly raised her phone, took a photo, and saved it in a special album on QQ, adding a caption: "Domestic and virtuous, Jiang Coco."

    Then she opened WeChat and changed Jiang Yu''s nickname to "Add a Spoonful of Coco."

    Hehe.

    "Ranran¡ª" Jiang Yu suddenly turned around.

    Cheng Suran was so shocked that she almost dropped her phone. She pretended to remain calm and put on a gentle smile. "Sister, what''s the matter?"

    "Tomorrow we''re leaving, don''t you want to go home and see your parents?" Jiang Keke, unaware of her little action, sat down and pulled her into her arms.

    "..."

    "The scar is hidden under your clothes, so Mom and Dad won''t notice. You can safely go back home."

    Cheng Suran hung her head low.

    "What''s wrong?" Thinking she had something difficult to express, Jiang Yu pondered for a moment and comfortingly patted her back. "It''s alright, if you don''t want to go, then don''t. Sister was just asking, you can go back home whenever you want."

    "Let''s go to sleep early then."

    After saying that, she kissed her forehead.

    Cheng Suran bit her lip, her long hair covering half of her face, her expression gloomy and unclear. Her fingers tightly clutched the bedsheet, as if she was struggling.

    Finally, just as Jiang Yu was about to tuck her into the covers, she gathered her courage and said, "I don''t have parents..."

    Jiang Yu froze.

    "When I was very young, they got divorced. I don''t know where my mother went, I''ve never seen her. Then I lived with my grandmother and father in the countryside. When I was seven, my father got drunk and got into a fight, and someone stabbed him to death. After that, I lived with my aunt, and then... I went to Jiangcheng to study." Cheng Suran curled up her legs, hugging her knees, her fingers picking at the bedsheet.

    "Actually, when I mentioned the old city district, it''s my aunt''s house. I feel... that can''t be considered my home, so..."

    So there''s only my hometown, but no real home of my own. Whether I go back or not, it''s all the same.

    Her voice became quieter and quieter.

    She didn''t want to talk about these things originally, but Sister asked again. She guessed that Sister must come from a happy family, right? Only those who come from a harmonious family would always think about home and worry about their parents.

    For a "rootless duckweed" like her, no matter what she encountered, the option of parents was never in her initial response.

    Things like sharing joy without worry, or not wanting to make parents concerned¡ªshe had no concept of them and couldn''t understand. Most of the time, she simply didn''t want to talk about her own matters with others and let misunderstandings prevail.

    The dim yellow bedside lamp cast a slanted light, projecting her lonely shadow on the wall.

    Jiang Yu quietly gazed at her, her lips moved. "Your cousin is your aunt''s daughter, right?"

    "Mm..."

    "So, they treat you poorly as a family."

    "..." Cheng Suran raised her head, looking at Jiang Yu in shock, her expression clearly asking, "How did you know?"

    Huh?

    She didn''t say anything, did she?

    No¡ªlast time, Sister saw her fighting with her cousin.

    "If they treated you well, why would you hesitate to go back home? Why would your cousin speak to you with a commanding tone? Why would you fight on the street?"

    "..."

    She was speechless.

    "They treat you poorly because they despise you as a burden, but they keep you around because you still have value. Until the day you''re completely worthless... no, even if you were dead, you would still hold value. So unless they die first, as long as you don''t run fast enough, they will squeeze you to death."

    Jiang Yu''s face remained calm, but her voice turned extremely cold.

    Cheng Suran''s heart was instantly and decisively pierced. Her lips trembled, a sour feeling swirling in her eyes, as if she suddenly became an exposed and pitiful creature under the sunlight.

    Ha.

    She wasn''t ugly, and she wasn''t pitiful.

    "Yeah, I''m someone who came from that kind of place, so what? I''ve already run away. I can stand on my own outside, I can live on my own. I''m doing well now, and I''ll be even better in the future."

    "Jiang Yu¡ª" Cheng Suran called out her name with teary eyes. "Don''t pity me or feel sorry for me. I don''t need it!"

    After saying that, she turned her back and quickly wiped her face.

    Tears continued to flow in silence.

    She actually cared a lot about how she appeared in front of her sister, but their relationship couldn''t accommodate her concerns. She deserved to be looked down upon, pitied, and seen as miserable...

    Jiang Yu was startled by the sudden call-out.

    The girl stood with her back straight, her shoulders trembling, refusing to yield, displaying stubbornness and determination.

    Did she misunderstand something?

    "Ranran..."

    "Don''t speak."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu slowly approached and hugged her from behind.

    As expected, the startled little bird in her arms flapped its wings, trying to struggle and escape. But Jiang Yu held her tightly, leaving her no choice but to bury her face and hide.

    "Sister didn''t mean it that way." Jiang Yu comforted her while gently stroking her hair.

    Unexpectedly, instead of calming down, the girl exploded. Cheng Suran bit Jiang Yu''s hand and burst into tears, crying loudly, "I''m not worthless! I don''t owe anyone anything! I never used their money. All that came from my father''s compensation. I''ve been earning my own money since I turned eighteen. Wuwuwu¡­"

    As she cried, she collapsed in Jiang Yu''s embrace.

    "Okay, okay, Sister was wrong. Don''t cry, be good." Jiang Yu patted her back, feeling her heart ache.

    "I don''t sympathize with you, nor do I pity you. Sister just thinks that someone who lives for themselves is amazing. Not everyone can be so clear-headed and determined. Some people are restrained by morality and conscience, lacking courage. But you''re still young, with infinite possibilities for the future. Anything that becomes a shackle should be discarded. Whoever holds you back, kick them away without hesitation, don''t hesitate, don''t look back, just keep moving forward."

    Keep moving forward, always.

    She took a deep breath, her eyes swollen, repeating this phrase in her heart.

    Over a decade ago, she had said the same thing to herself.

    To move forward, she could give up everything, including emotions. If emotions became an obstacle on her path, she would unhesitatingly cast them aside.During the most difficult period of her life, she walked the streets and looked at every person on the roadside, feeling that they were happier and more fortunate than herself. Thus, she developed a habitual mindset, always assuming that even children from poor families had some form of support.

    But just a few minutes ago, she learned that their trajectories in the first twenty years of their lives were roughly the same.

    Therefore, she could easily guess similar experiences...

    However, that was just her past life.

    Many, many people like them had lost their way on the path of escape because it was arduous. They either lost their direction or compromised and turned back, resulting in fewer and fewer people on the road.

    At this moment, she felt as if she wasn''t raising a bird but planting a tree.

    She watched the young sapling slowly grow, knowing that one day it would become a towering tree.

    "Sister... sister..." the person in her arms stopped crying and called out to her repeatedly.

    Warm lips pressed against her eyelids.

    Jiang Yu kissed away the girl''s tears and whispered softly, "Ranran, do you believe in Sister? In the future, you will become the person you most want to be."

    "I believe." Cheng Suran nodded vigorously.

    She wanted to become someone who could proudly stand by Jiang Yu''s side.

    Author''s Note:

    Jiang Scum: In the future, you will definitely become my wife.jpg

 CH 62

    After returning to Jiangcheng, Jiang Yu''s personal work didn''t suffer much, but the company''s affairs piled up like a mountain. These days, it has been Tian Lin and a few other executives who have been busy. Jiang Yu worked for three extra days to handle everything that needed to be taken care of.

    The deep autumn evening arrived early, with the sky getting dark by five o''clock, and the street lights gradually lighting up.

    "Gently, gently¡ª"

    "Is this okay?"

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu sat exhausted on the sofa, eyes closed. Tian Lin stood behind her, gently kneading her shoulders, providing more comfort with each touch. "I extended my contract with Ranran. Do you think two more months will be enough to get bored of each other?"

    "It''s hard to say." Tian Lin shook her head.

    "Why?"

    "Sister Yu, you should ask yourself what you''ll do if, after two months, you still want to extend the contract."

    Jiang Yu paused for a moment and said, "I''ll extend it again."

    "What if it''s for one year, or two years?"

    "Long-term contracts are also fine."

    Tian Lin paused in her actions, her gaze complicated. "So, are you planning to maintain the relationship solely through contracts?"

    "Otherwise?" Jiang Yu opened her eyes.

    Tian Lin sighed, the words she wanted to say lingered on her lips, hesitant and reluctant, but she couldn''t help but speak, "Sister Yu, actually, I can sense that you care more about Miss Cheng than the previous girls. You... might have some feelings for her, right? After all these years, with people coming and going, it''s rare to meet someone you like and can last. Why not have a serious relationship? With your status, you won''t lose out..."

    "Who told you I like her?" Jiang Yu frowned, interrupting.

    If it were anyone else, they would have been silenced by those words. But Tian Lin had been with her for nearly nine years, and she dared to say everything she wanted, whether it was appropriate or not. "Your own actions tell me."

    "..."

    "In these past few days, you turned down two cover shoots just to accompany Miss Cheng. Although you''ve already earned enough, and those two shoots weren''t necessary, you wouldn''t have done this before."

    In the past, when a lover fell ill, Jiang Yu would spend money to hire someone to take care of them, without personally getting involved. When visiting, she would only stay for a short while and leave without hesitation, not even for a second.

    Of course, with financial benefactors or lovers, they each took what they needed, without needing to show mercy to each other.

    But what about a girlfriend?

    She argued with her ex-girlfriend over a dress and almost got into a fight. Even she, who hadn''t been in a relationship at the time, thought it was going too far.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    That''s just how Jiang Yu was. She liked to firmly control everything in her hands. If someone got in her way, she would kick them out. If they didn''t listen, she would go to extremes, and afterwards, she would be left alone, feeling hurt.

    She understood herself better than anyone else.

    She knew that even if she were to enter a proper romantic relationship, it would quickly end. As long as her temper didn''t change, no one could tolerate it. Unfortunately, she couldn''t change herself, so she could only control herself and never truly open her heart to anyone.

    It was a bit heartbreaking to think about.

    Tian Lin sighed inwardly.

    "But this time is different. Ranran got hurt because of me. I..." Jiang Yu paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and spoke rapidly.

    "I don''t want to owe anyone any favors, to avoid future troubles."

    That makes sense.

    Tian Lin chuckled, "You even call her by her nickname."

    "She asked me to."

    "So obedient."

    "¡­"

    Jiang Yu closed her eyes, feeling somewhat irritated. She removed Tian Lin''s hand, got up, and took out a cigarette and a lighter from her bag. She lit one.

    "Why are you smoking again?" Tian Lin was stunned.

    Jiang Yu didn''t say anything and silently walked towards the balcony.

    The sky grew darker, and there was a long queue at the intersection. The distant honking of cars echoed, with the taillights shining brightly.

    A slight chill breeze blew in.

    The slender cigarette rested between her fingers, the lit end slowly burning like dim stars. She took a gentle puff, squinted her eyes, and exhaled a faint white smoke.

    She silently finished smoking the cigarette.

    Tian Lin stood behind her for a while, waiting for her to calm down before approaching. "What did Miss Cheng''s family say about her injury? Your relationship is not easy to explain..."

    "I haven''t seen her family," Jiang Yu''s voice was slightly hoarse.

    "What about her aunt?"

    "How do you know she has an aunt?" Jiang Yu furrowed her brow and turned to look at her.

    Tian Lin was stunned for a moment and said, "She told me before that she doesn''t have parents and lives with her aunt."

    Jiang Yu frowned, turned her head back, and looked at her. "You knew about her family situation all along? Why didn''t you tell me?"

    "...I thought you knew," Tian Lin smiled awkwardly.

    Jiang Yu was momentarily speechless, lowered her gaze, and then slowly turned back. "When did she tell you?"

    Tian Lin answered truthfully, "During the time when she was being rumored about, before I went to her school to perform. I asked about the situation, initially just wanting to understand more to portray the role better, but she candidly told me."

    Jiang Yu''s face was dark and inscrutable.

    During those days in Lingzhou, she mentioned her family twice, but the kid was not forthcoming both times. It was only the second time that she hesitantly told her the truth. Why?

    "Why is it easier for her assistant to be open, but not for her?" Jiang Yu felt a tightness in her chest.

    "Sister Yu, maybe it''s because Miss Cheng doesn''t feel burdened when facing me, and it just happened to come out casually. At that time, I didn''t pay much attention to it. It''s more important to accompany her in acting and handle things well." Tian Lin saw through her thoughts, chuckled helplessly, and explained while observing her expression.

    Jiang Yu instinctively asked, "Are you saying that she feels burdened when facing me?"

    Oops.

    She fell into the trap.

    Tian Lin secretly laughed in her heart and shrugged, "That''s something you''ll have to ask Miss Cheng about. But you don''t have to worry about what a lover thinks."

    Jiang Yu gazed into the distance, lost in thought.

    The silence was broken by the ringing of a cellphone.

    It was Tian Lin''s phone. She picked it up, but her smile froze and her expression turned serious. After a few brief sentences, she hung up in a hurry.

    "Sister Yu¡ª"

    "What''s wrong?" Jiang Yu turned her face quietly.

    "Just now, Xiao Xiang from the studio told me that DM has a political issue and it''s trending on Weibo. It''s quite serious..." Tian Lin opened Weibo while speaking, clicked on the trending topic, and looked at a prominently displayed red-hot hashtag.

    Jiang Yu paused for a moment, furrowing her brow with a serious expression. "What kind of political issue?"

    Tian Lin handed her the phone.

    She clicked on the relevant hashtag, and in the description, a jewelry brand called "DM" had recently released a new collection inspired by a Chinese mythological legend. However, in the official website introduction, they used a highly discriminatory term against the Chinese. Despite being alerted by people, the brand had not provided any explanation or made any changes to their wording.

    And then it exploded.

    "What kind of a mess is this? We haven''t even completed a year of the contract..." Tian Lin gasped for breath.

    In the spring of this year, Jiang Yu signed a three-year endorsement contract with this brand. Just two months ago, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the brand had sent her a "Eye of Horus" necklace. But now, this incident happened out of nowhere. When faced with a political issue like this, there was no other option but to terminate the contract.

    For a celebrity, endorsements were not their sole source of income, so terminating a contract won''t cause significant damage. However, it was different for a model. Walking the runway and doing photoshoots brought in little money compared to endorsements, which were their main long-term source of income. Terminating a contract was equivalent to a heavy blow.

    "It has nothing to do with us," Jiang Yu carefully read the news and handed the phone back to Tian Lin.

    Tian Lin: "?"

    "I signed with ''D&M,'' while this brand is ''DM.'' There''s a difference in one symbol, and even their official social media accounts are different. Take another look," Jiang Yu explained.

    "..."

    Tian Lin held the phone and looked at it again, specifically comparing the official social media accounts of the two brands.

    They were indeed different.

    "The similarity in names is quite high, and they are both jewelry brands from the same country. Perhaps there is some connection between them? It''s better to find out and clarify the situation, so you won''t be mistakenly targeted," Tian Lin didn''t relax, as her intuition told her that things were not as simple as they seemed.

    Jiang Yu''s expression remained indifferent, seemingly unconcerned about the matter. She casually said, "You handle it, I''m going back."

    Night fell, bringing a chill in the air.

    The city was congested, and it took Jiang Yu half an hour to travel from the company to the hotel. She couldn''t remember the last time she had been back to that spacious flat. Looking at the lights at the hotel entrance, she felt a deep sense of familiarity, as if she had returned to her own home.

    These past few days, she had been coming and going early in the morning and late at night. When she wake up, the kid is sound asleep, and by the time she returned, the kid was already in her dreams. The number of words they exchanged could be counted on one hand.

    Pushing open the door, the living room was brightly lit.

    The girl sat at the dining table, staring at the computer. Her hands moved swiftly across the keyboard, completely unaware of someone entering.

    A familiar scent of iris wafted into Jiang Yu''s nostrils.

    "What are you doing?" Jiang Yu placed her hand on the girl''s shoulder, glancing at the computer screen.

    Cheng Suran was startled and shook her hand, making a typo by accident. Annoyed, she looked up, but upon seeing that it was Jiang Yu, her emotions quickly subsided.

    "Sister... Why did you come in so quietly? You scared me."

    Jiang Yu was taken aback by her momentary display of anger, but after a while, she recovered and gently rubbed the girl''s head, smiling as she said, "You were too engrossed."

    "Ah, I''m catching up on homework."

    Having just taken a shower, her fair face had a rosy glow, and her soft hair scattered at the collar, accentuating her two delicate collarbones, which appeared even more radiant. In the depths, there were faint glimpses of a captivating scene.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help but bend down, her lips slowly approaching the girl''s delicate ear, pecking it lightly. "But sister missed you. Don''t you miss sister?"

    "Ah, I can''t. Tomorrow is the deadline. I''ll talk to you after I finish writing," Cheng Suran felt anxious and a bit impatient. She pushed Jiang Yu away with her hand and continued to hold the mouse, deleting the incorrect words and typing the correct ones.

    During her hospitalization for the past half month, she had fallen behind on some classes and missed a few assignments. After returning from Lingzhou, she spent three days intensely catching up, spending most of her time at the library with her laptop.

    Jiang Yu''s body stiffened slightly, and her smile froze for a moment at the corner of her lips. She bypassed the chair and sat next to the girl. "Alright, sister will accompany you."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran had just typed a few words and stopped again. She placed a hand on her shoulder and half pleaded, half coquettishly said, "Oh, sister, sitting here will distract me. How can I concentrate on writing? Why don''t you go sit on the sofa or take a bath? You can even lie on the bed. Please, please..."

    She couldn''t push Jiang Yu away. With her hands clasped together, she made a begging gesture towards her.

    Jiang Yu gazed at the girl for a long time, a hint of gray in her eyes. She put away her smile and silently got up, heading back to the bedroom.

    She took her pajamas and entered the bathroom. Normally, she would spend twenty minutes showering, but today she only took ten minutes. As she showered, she unconsciously increased her speed. However, when she finished and came out, Cheng Suran was still sitting in front of the computer, typing rapidly.

    Jiang Yu picked up a book, walked to the sofa without saying a word, and sat down, reading while waiting.

    The idle and boring time slipped through her fingers.

    Seven o''clock, eight o''clock, nine o''clock...

    Almost ten o''clock.

    The sound of typing intermittently echoed in her ears. Jiang Yu put down the book and glanced over. Cheng Suran was huddled in her chair, showing signs of fatigue.

    However, there was no sign of her stopping.

    She couldn''t rush her or ask the little girl to put her homework aside to please her. It just made her feel slightly uncomfortable. After being busy for a few days, she thought she had neglected the kid, so she specially came back early tonight. Little did she know that the girl found her presence bothersome instead.

    Clearly, she is the benefactor.

    Jiang Yu chuckled and decided to wait a little longer before going to bed. She picked up her phone and casually opened Weibo.

    Her name was trending at number three.

    "?"

    [Jiang Yu DM]

    She had a faint premonition and clicked on it. Sure enough, a marketing account mentioned her name, sarcastically implying that she wouldn''t terminate the contract with the brand.

    The top three comments were all insults directed at her.

    "Money-hungry opportunist," "traitor," "cheap slut"... The insults couldn''t be any more offensive.

    Jiang Yu scrolled down and finally saw some rational discussions among netizens, with some people clarifying that it was not the same brand. However, it seemed to have little effect as the frenzy of hate comments continued.

    Perhaps she had offended someone.

    She found it amusing.

    She closed Weibo, put down her phone, and yawned.

    "Ranran, are you done?" She stood up.

    Cheng Suran didn''t even lift her eyes and waved her hand dismissively. Jiang Yu''s face darkened slightly. Without saying a word, she turned around, went back to her room, and forcefully closed the door.

    ¡ªBang!

    Cheng Suran''s heart trembled with shock.

    The whole world fell silent.

    Stunned for a while, Cheng Suran stared at the document on the screen, with only one more sentence to go, suddenly feeling agitated.

    She hastily came up with a nonsensical ending sentence, quickly saved her work, shut down the computer, and didn''t bother tidying up the mess on the desk before returning to her room.

    The light was still on, and Jiang Yu was lying on the bed, only her head visible.

    "Sister..."

    "Are you asleep?"

    Cheng Suran slipped into the covers, turned off the light, and obediently hugged Jiang Yu, speaking softly, "I''m done writing, sister."

    Jiang Yu pushed her hand away.

 CH 63

    In the darkness, Cheng Suran was momentarily stunned, finally realizing that Jiang Yu is angry.

    Her hand, pushed aside, fell between them, separated by the thin silky fabric, closely touching Jiang Yu''s back. She remained motionless. She wondered what she had said and done tonight.

    Jiang Yu said she missed her, and she mentioned her homework. Jiang Yu wanted to accompany her, but she drove her away. She made Jiang Yu wait for hours, completely ignoring her...

    How could a canary treat its benefactor with such an attitude?

    The more Cheng Suran thought about it, the more regretful she became. Taking a shallow breath, she held onto Jiang Yu''s waist again and softly pleaded, "Sister, I didn''t mean to ignore you on purpose. The homework was urgent, and I didn''t think about it at that moment. It wasn''t what it seemed like..."

    "I was wrong, sister."

    "I''ve finished all the missing assignments, and there will be plenty of time ahead. Except for classes, you can call me anytime, okay?"

    "Don''t be angry with me."

    The person in her embrace remained still, neither moving nor speaking. Cheng Suran only felt the warm and soft touch of the skin beneath her palm. She could vaguely sense the abdominal muscles, and the closer they were, the more restless her heart became.

    Suddenly, she had the illusion that she was coaxing her girlfriend.

    Once a certain thought emerged, it would continue to run through her mind, impossible to pull back...

    Knowing Jiang Yu''s temperament, if she was truly upset about being neglected, she would have already pinned her down and "punished" her mercilessly. Cheng Suran still remembered the terrifying lesson she received on a stormy night a few months ago.

    But Jiang Yu was just lying there silently sulking.

    How adorable.

    They were like a couple quarreling with each other.

    Cheng Suran chuckled secretly, feeling both sweet and sour in her heart. She fantasized, wishing it were true. Oh no, if they were truly together, she wouldn''t let Jiang Yu get angry...

    The boundless darkness enveloped them, and silence surrounded them.

    Both of them held their own thoughts.

    Jiang Yu half-closed her eyelids, and her chaotic thoughts gradually calmed down as she listened to the clumsy and awkward comforting words of the little one. She felt like laughing and yet somewhat annoyed.

    What''s wrong with her? It was such a small, insignificant thing, but it managed to make her lose control of her emotions. It was a familiar environment, familiar person, yet something had become unfamiliar, unfathomable, and unbreakable.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    The unknown fear made her uneasy.

    It must be because the kid was disobedient. The canary should always comply unconditionally. She was the gold master, and she could throw tantrums anytime, anywhere, without any reason.

    With this thought in mind, Jiang Yu felt a little relieved and closed her eyes, enjoying the gentle consolation from the person behind her.

    "Sister, pay attention to me."

    "If you don''t pay attention to me, I''ll cry to show you."

    "Wuwuwu..."

    Cheng Suran choked back her tears, her voice trembling, but not a single tear fell. After waiting for a moment and still not getting any response from the person in her embrace, she instantly felt deflated. Her emotions sank low, and she truly felt like crying.

    "Sister..." She called out pitifully, her voice soft, like the meow of a kitten.

    Jiang Yu slowly opened her eyes, and her softest spot in her heart was poked. She held onto the hand in front of her waist and could sense the tension in the girl behind her.

    She suddenly turned over and embraced Cheng Suran, pressing her lips against hers without hesitation.

    "Mmm¡ª"

    Cheng Suran was dumbfounded.

    The warm breath wrapped around them, like a spark falling into dry kindling, instantly igniting a fierce flame. Jiang Yu held the girl''s face with one hand and firmly grasped her shoulder with the other, kissing her lips passionately.

    The kid wasn''t obedient, and she deserved to be taught a lesson.

    But this fierceness hadn''t reached its peak yet, and in an instant, it vanished without a trace. She touched the girl''s fine and soft hair, her smooth cheeks, feeling the exuberant passion flowing in her embrace, and her heart suddenly softened.

    She tenderly kissed her, sometimes like a gentle feather, sometimes like a dense drizzle. The darkness obstructed their sight, so she used her fingertips to trace every inch of her.

    Her fingertips gently glided along the contours of the girl''s features, evoking shivers time and time again.

    Cheng Suran arched her back, trembling. Her cheeks were flushed from the heat, and if there were any light, one could see a beautiful peach blossom gradually spreading.

    She was no longer the inexperienced and clumsy little bird.

    She tilted her head back, her hands clinging to Jiang Yu''s back, holding on tightly. They breathed in each other''s breath, tasted each other''s essence, gradually transitioning from being passive to taking the initiative.

    Jiang Yu leaned back, intending to retreat, but she persistently pursued, capturing her lips and eagerly pulling her back in.

    "Ranran..."

    "Don''t hide, sister, I want to kiss you," she said.

    A voice inside her heart screamed wildly, craving for Jiang Yu.

    Their soft lips played with each other, becoming incredibly sensitive in the darkness without sight. Jiang Yu couldn''t help but lose her train of thought, her eyes hazy and unaware that her grip had loosened. The air remained warm.

    Until...

    A hand came in contact.

    Jiang Yu trembled violently, letting out a stifled groan as her arms, supporting her on either side, lost their strength.

    In Cheng Suran''s mind, fireworks exploded in a dazzling display.

    She finally¡ª

    The center of her palm felt a semi-circular shape gradually hardening, pressing against the lines of her palm.

    Her face grew hot, her mind dizzy. She couldn''t help but imagine how it would look under the light and what it would ultimately become in her hand. Her eyes moistened, and tears of excitement flowed.

    Could she do this?

    "Ranran, let go..." Jiang Yu struggled to utter a few words.

    Cheng Suran was immersed in excitement, unwilling to listen. Instead of letting go, she tightened her grip, as if sinking into a sponge soaked in warm water.

    Blood rushed to her head, and she completely lost control.

    Jiang Yu, on the other hand, was about to grind her teeth to pieces. Sensing Cheng Suran''s intentions, she hurriedly reached out to grab that hand. However, the little girl seemed to anticipate her reaction and swiftly dodged to the side.

    In the next second, Jiang Yu was firmly pinned down.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran buried her face in Jiang Yu''s hair and coquettishly spoke in a soft voice, "Let me do it this time. I''ll learn everything you know, even what you don''t know. You''ve ''worked hard'' so many times, now it''s time to enjoy."

    The warm palm enveloped her once again.

    Jiang Yu bit her lip to prevent herself from making a sound.

    She disliked the feeling of being restrained, but there was also a part of her that longed for it. However, she couldn''t relax and truly enjoy. Besides herself, no one else could.

    Unpleasant memories filled her mind.

    She remembered when she was with her ex, she tried every trick to make the other half-dead, never willing to compromise once. Later, her ex got angry, and one night, she made her drink more alcohol which succeeded, but they had a big fight afterward, leading to a cold war and three whole months of not being able to let go.

    No, this couldn''t happen.

    "Don''t make me say it a second time..." Jiang Yu grabbed the girl''s hand and suddenly exerted force, pulling her down.

    Cheng Suran panicked, but her strength was too weak. Once Jiang Yu got serious, she was no match for her. After struggling for a moment, she was pinned down.

    "Be good¡ª" Jiang Yu lowered her head and kissed her.

    ¡­.

    The encounter ended in the early morning, and Cheng Suran was cleaned up badly, huddled in Jiang Yu''s arms, pouting with tears still in the corners of her eyes.

    "Will you still dare?" Jiang Yu lightly caressed the scar, teasing in her tone.

    "Young in age, but bold in spirit."

    Cheng Suran obediently admitted defeat, "I won''t dare anymore."

    But deep inside, she sneered.

    Hmph.

    Next time, she would dare again!

    Jiang Yu pecked her lips and said, "Be good, go to sleep. You have classes tomorrow." Her fingers still lingered on the scar, unconsciously stroking it as if reluctant to leave.

    Cheng Suran felt a sourness in her heart and nuzzled against Jiang Yu''s neck, whispering softly, "Sister, I want... to see you every morning when I wake up..."

    She wanted to wake up in her embrace, to open her eyes and see her, to have breakfast together and go out together.

    Can we?

    She held her breath.

    "Okay," Jiang Yu readily agreed without hesitation.

    Because¡ª

    She wanted it too.

    ¡­.

    During the days when Cheng Suran was busy catching up on classes and assignments, she completely isolated herself from the outside world. She didn''t go online and had no idea what was happening. When she finally checked her Weibo account, she almost died from anger from the marketing accounts.

    There was a political issue involving a foreign brand that somehow implicated Jiang Yu, but it turned out to be a misunderstanding. The official statement from "D&M" clarified that they had no association with "DM." It was just that the founder of the latter brand used to be a high-ranking executive in the former company but left to establish a similarly named jewelry brand, which often led to confusion.

    Strictly speaking, the two brands were unrelated.

    However, many marketing accounts were still fanning the flames, and the comment section of the related events was filled with toxic and offensive remarks aimed at Jiang Yu.

    After the previous battle of public opinion, Cheng Suran despised these mindless internet users. As she looked at the comments filled with insults, she couldn''t help but want to fire back. However, she learned from the previous lesson and knew that she was outnumbered and that engaging in arguments would be futile.

    But besides lashing out, there was nothing else she could do...

    The thought that Jiang Yu might have already seen those abusive words caused her heart to ache like a knife twisting, as if she herself was the one being scolded.

    As a public figure, every action is magnified under the spotlight, subject to scrutiny and gossip. Those people don''t care about the truth; they only want to unleash their hostility. They would rather see the truth perish than prioritize entertainment.

    Even if one has a strong mental resilience, facing an overwhelming wave of insults would still be distressing, right?

    The image of Jiang Yu''s face floated in her mind, those profound eyes that always seemed impenetrable. Beneath the gentleness or coldness, there lay hidden experiences and hardships, like wearing a mask. Behind the carefree facade, could there be a heart riddled with wounds?

    During the entire class, the teacher was speaking passionately on the podium, but Cheng Suran''s mind was elsewhere.

    Her phone was in her bag, and her hand rested on the edge of the backpack. She reached in, then pulled her hand back, forcing herself not to check Weibo, yet unable to resist the temptation.

    Her emotions were like a kite soaring in the sky, with Jiang Yu holding the other end of the string.

    ¡­.

    Today was the day to check the C1 exam results.

    After enduring until the afternoon, Cheng Suran resisted the urge to check Weibo and headed to the library with her laptop. She accessed the designated webpage and found her exam score - 92 out of 100.

    It was as she expected. She knew she would pass and her score wouldn''t be low.

    In that moment of seeing her score, the overwhelming sense of powerlessness that occupied her heart dissipated, and she finally regained her confidence and composure. She immediately thought of Jiang Yu and wanted to share this good news with her.

    [Sister, I have good news to tell you~]

    Cheng Suran teased on WeChat, but she didn''t expect Jiang Yu to reply immediately.

    Add a spoonful of Coco: [Hm?]

    She couldn''t hide her joy and quickly typed a few words: [I checked the C1 exam results today, and I passed with a score of 92~], then she added: [Out of 100 ].

    From childhood to now, her academic performance has always been at the top, praised by teachers and envied by classmates. But she never actively expected to receive praise from anyone, because she knew that she shouldn''t hold hope for anyone other than herself.

    But today, she wanted her sister''s praise.

    Cheng Suran stared at the screen, feeling her heartbeat gradually speeding up, fluttering like a secret crush.

    Jiang Yu sent a red envelope.

    [Thumbs Up.jpg]

    Huh?

    Only a red envelope and an emoji?

    Cheng Suran felt a bit disappointed. She didn''t open the red envelope, and just as she was about to say something, Jiang Yu sent another message: [Shall we go watch a movie tonight?]

    "!"

    She was stunned for a moment, and in an instant, the joy swept away the disappointment. She happily replied, "Okay."

    [Sister, where are you?]

    Add a spoonful of Coco: [I''ll be at the office soon.]

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips and chuckled, not replying further. She packed up her phone and laptop, slung her bag over her shoulder, and hurriedly left the library.

    Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the company.

    It wasn''t quitting time yet, and the building was quiet. Cheng Suran went upstairs familiarly and arrived in front of Jiang Yu''s office. She knocked on the door and then pushed it open.

    "Sister¡ª"

    The office was empty.

    Huh?

    Where is she?

    Cheng Suran glanced around and caught sight of a black bag on the sofa, the one Jiang Yu often carried. At that moment, she heard the sound of flushing coming from the restroom.

    So she''s in the restroom.

    Cheng Suran walked over stealthily and knocked on the door. Suppressing her laughter, she said, "Guess who I am? Surprise, right? You didn''t expect it, did you?"

    There was no response from inside.

    "Sister, what movie do you want to watch?" Cheng Suran thought about the movie they were planning to watch that evening and didn''t think much of it. As she spoke, she took out her phone, opened the app, and checked. "There''s ''Chang''an Road,''Unsheathed Blade'' ''The Whistleblower''..."

    "It seems like ''Unsheathed Blade'' is quite interesting based on the synopsis."

    "Oh, by the way, sister, I''ll return that red envelope. You don''t need to send it to me anymore. And about the card you gave me last time, I really can''t use it. Actually... the monthly contract fee is too much, I... I don''t want to spend so much of your money."

    Cheng Suran''s fingertips slid across the screen, feeling a bit nervous and uneasy. Finally, she mustered up the courage to say it, but she also felt like she was being a bit melodramatic.

    She became sensitive whenever money was involved.

    Does this make her the kind of person who is criticized online with the term "having it both ways"?

    There was still no response from inside.

    After a moment, the restroom door opened, and a tall figure walked out.

    Cheng Suran looked up, her expression changing abruptly.

    Bai Lu was looking at her.

 CH 64

    Their eyes met.

    Cheng Suran felt an uncomfortable tingling sensation on her scalp, suddenly realizing that the words she had just spoken had exposed her relationship with Jiang Yu. The person in front of her had heard everything.

    She had caused trouble...

    "Little sister?" Bai Lu gazed at her, a flirtatious smile curling at the corner of her eyes.

    The gaze carried a strong sense of pressure, similar to Jiang Yu, yet different. Jiang Yu''s gaze was enigmatic and cold, while this person concealed a knife behind their smiling demeanor.

    Cheng Suran felt her heart tremble, growing extremely nervous. She whispered softly, "I came to find my sister."

    "Oh¡ª" Bai Lu curved her lips. "She went downstairs to the management department just now. We returned not long ago."

    Cheng Suran bit her lip and nodded gently.

    No wonder her sister''s bag was left on the sofa...

    This was terrible. She had really caused trouble now. How was she going to explain it to her sister?

    The office door suddenly pushed open.

    Jiang Yu walked in from outside, looking at the two people in the room. She paused briefly, her gaze fixing on Cheng Suran, surprise flashing in her eyes.

    Cheng Suran anxiously gazed back at her.

    "Sister Yu¡ª" Bai Lu glanced around, then without waiting for Jiang Yu to speak, she approached with a charming smile. "The little sister came to find you. I was just using the restroom. She mistook me for you and kept calling me ''elder sister.'' How adorable."

    With that, she linked her arm with Jiang Yu''s, casting a glance at Cheng Suran.

    Cheng Suran: "..."

    "Mm, I know," Jiang Yu nodded lightly and withdrew her hand without showing any emotion. "Taking her to watch a movie later."

    "I want to watch too," Bai Lu held onto her waist again.

    Cheng Suran furrowed her brows, instinctively wanting to rush over and pull them apart, but she held back, silently clenching her fists.

    Jiang Yu seemed to be unaware of her reaction, casually pushing away Bai Lu''s hand, playfully scolding with an indulgent tone, "Don''t make trouble."

    "Then you owe me a movie," Bai Lu smiled mischievously. She knew when to stop and didn''t cling to Jiang Yu anymore.

    "Alright."

    "Let''s go then. We''ll pick up the car at the 4S dealership tomorrow. Little sister, bye-bye~"

    She turned around decisively, waving her hand at Cheng Suran.

    As the door closed, the office fell into silence. Cheng Suran stood frozen in place, her head slightly lowered, appearing absent-minded.

    She didn''t dare to look at Jiang Yu.

    "Ranran."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu walked over to the girl, embracing her shoulders and pulling her into her arms, softly saying, "Sister was originally planning to come pick you up, but didn''t expect the little friend to be so impatient." She kissed Cheng Suran''s forehead.

    There was no blame or questioning as she had anticipated.

    "Sister, I..." Cheng Suran held onto her, her voice trembling, her eyes turning red.

    Jiang Yu was taken aback. "What''s wrong?"

    Cheng Suran explained in detail what had just happened.

    "Now what should we do? If she tells someone, will it affect you..." Tears welled up in the girl''s eyes as she tightly gripped Jiang Yu''s clothes.

    Jiang Yu, dressed in a black leather coat that almost reached her ankles, wore a black turtleneck sweater underneath. Her long hair cascaded down, and she had light makeup with nude lips, exuding a sense of cold restraint.

    After listening, she fell silent for a moment and then smiled casually, saying, "It''s alright, Bai Lu won''t say anything."

    Seeing the confident and trusting look in Jiang Yu''s eyes, Cheng Suran suddenly felt a pang of sourness in her heart.

    "It''s not your fault either. It''s just a small matter, don''t blame yourself, be a good girl." Jiang Yu ruffled the girl''s hair and tidied it up for her.

    Cheng Suran murmured softly, "Do you trust her a lot..."

    "Who?" Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow.

    "Bai Lu."

    "Yes, what''s the matter?"

    Cheng Suran shook her head and forced out a bitter smile. "It''s nothing, just asking randomly. I think it''s my fault. I shouldn''t have come over without notice. Um..."

    Jiang Yu lowered her head and sealed Cheng Suran''s lips with a kiss.

    After a few seconds, she slowly let go.

    "Sister..."

    "I checked the score levels for Exam C1. It''s impressive to score above ninety. Ranran, you''re amazing. Keep up the good work," Jiang Yu praised in a warm voice, her smile resembling a cup of warm coffee on a winter day. She thought that instead of red envelopes, what the kid desired more was her approval.

    Cheng Suran''s eyes brightened with delight as she looked at Jiang Yu, her two little dimples naturally forming a sweet and charming curve.

    Sister actually took the trouble to check!

    The previous dejection and sadness disappeared in an instant, and her mood instantly brightened.

    "Mm, mm."

    When she genuinely smiled, her eyes were pure and bright, her face delicate and captivating, like a delicate flower blooming under the warm sun, exuding infectious charm.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Jiang Yu found herself somewhat lost in watching.

    Finally, there was a youthful vigor on the kid''s face that matched her age, rather than being constantly suppressed and restrained, forcing her soul into confinement, forcing herself to be sensible and mature.

    Was it simply because of her approval and encouragement?

    In a daze, she remembered her past self, who was very similar to Cheng Suran today. Fortunately, her career nourished her and helped her emerge from the gloom, but deep down, there was still a child who refused to grow up. So, what about Cheng Suran? Did she also have a little child living in her heart, wrapped in layers and not easily exposed to the light...

    "What movie do you want to watch?" Jiang Yu snapped back to reality and held the person in her arms tighter.

    Cheng Suran leaned against her while acting coquettishly. "Can we watch ''Unsheathed Blade''? It''s a suspenseful mystery film, and I quite like it."

    After speaking, she froze.

    In the past, when others asked her what she wanted to eat, drink, or watch, she wouldn''t directly answer but instead ask the other person in return. So why did she answer directly today? She should have asked Jiang Yu first what she wanted to watch...

    "No, that''s not right, Sister. What do you want to watch?"

    "I''ll watch whatever you like."

    "Um..."

    Jiang Yu took out her phone from her pocket, ready to search for movie tickets, but Cheng Suran reached out and stopped her. "The public cinema is too crowded, and there have been many discussions about you online these days. It would be troublesome if we''re recognized. Let''s go to a private cinema instead."

    She wore a worried expression, her little face wrinkling.

    "Silly girl, private cinemas don''t show newly released movies. It''s okay, I''ll wear a hat and a mask. It''s not that easy to be recognized." Jiang Yu smiled and pinched her cheek.

    Cheng Suran bit her lip, lowered her gaze, and spoke softly, "Then let''s not go."

    "?"

    "We don''t have to watch a movie, but I don''t want you to take this risk. Even if the risk is small. Those people who spread negativity online, they might be around. " She frowned tightly.

    This matter had been weighing on her heart for a long time. Since she couldn''t bear the harm for Jiang Yu, she would try to avoid potential troubles as much as possible. It was the limit of what she could do.

    It''s not about watching the movie, it''s about watching it together with her sister. Even if they just cuddle up and watch old movies on the computer, it would still be very enjoyable.

    Jiang Yu fell silent, gazing quietly at the girl, trying to read something from her face.

    But there was nothing.

    It felt like a casual concern, like a lover''s flattery to a benefactor, or even like a strategic performance. It just lacked what she wanted to see.

    She let out a sigh of relief, but also felt a bit disappointed.

    A lover is still a lover, and a lover is just a lover.

    "Then let''s go to a private cinema," Jiang Yu said softly, her smile fading slightly.

    There was a private cinema at home, more comfortable and free than the outside. At this moment, she suddenly had the impulse to bring the girl home, but considering their relationship, she dismissed the thought.

    Not bringing a lover home was her principle.

    ¡­.

    After dinner, Jiang Yu directly took Cheng Suran to "NOTTE," where there were private cinema-themed private rooms.

    The lighting in the room was a pinkish-purple hue, and the large circular water bed was soft and comfortable. There were endless snacks and fruits, and they could even soak in an essential oil bath. When they pushed open the window, they were greeted with a magnificent view of the riverside.

    The two of them chose an old suspense movie they hadn''t seen before.

    In the dim light, the atmosphere gradually became enchanting. Although it lacked the hidden excitement of a public cinema, the intimate world of the two in the small space was also romantic. For Cheng Suran, this was a great place for a date.

    She leaned against Jiang Yu''s shoulder and reached out quietly, her hand touching the warm skin, her thumb hooking slightly.

    Jiang Yu was completely absorbed in staring at the screen, seemingly unaware of the little movements of the person in her arms.

    Cheng Suran grew bolder and let her fingertips venture into Jiang Yu''s palm, gently scratching it. Seeing no reaction from Jiang Yu, she slowly separated each finger and carefully interlocked them together.

    Their ten fingers intertwined, palms pressed against each other, and the burning warmth seeped into Cheng Suran''s heart.

    So blissful.

    She rested her head on Jiang Yu''s neck, lowered her gaze, and looked at their hands clasped together. A smile unconsciously curled up at the corners of her mouth.

    Ah, so childish.

    Hehe.

    "Why aren''t you watching?" Jiang Yu suddenly lowered her head and naturally withdrew her hand, caressing the girl''s face.

    "Is it not good?"

    The warmth in her palm disappeared suddenly, and Cheng Suran was momentarily stunned. She quickly regained her senses and shook her head repeatedly, saying, "I am watching. It''s just more comfortable to watch while cuddling with Sister."

    With her hand now free, she didn''t know where to place it and felt a bit at a loss, so she could only wrap it around Jiang Yu''s waist.

    Jiang Yu smiled, her hand descending again, unconsciously grabbing the girl''s hand and rejoining their fingers, returning to its original position.

    Cheng Suran: "!!!"

    Her heart beats faster, and a warm flush rises to her cheeks as her breath catches in her throat.

    She really can''t focus on watching the movie now.

    It wasn''t until they left "NOTTE" that the chilly night breeze blew against their faces, and the warmth on Cheng Suran''s face subsided, leaving her feeling clear-headed.

    The buried thoughts in her heart began to stir once again.

    Last time, when she tried to hold Jiang Yu''s hand like she did today, she remembered clearly that Jiang Yu had avoided it. She knew then that Jiang Yu understood the meaning behind that hand-holding gesture. As a benefactor, she naturally wouldn''t indulge her.

    But today, Jiang Yu took the initiative to hold her hand, so she probably knows about her little actions as well.

    Could it be that her sister also has a little bit of affection for her?

    ¡­.

    Back at the hotel, Jiang Yu received a phone call, and her initially smiling face gradually turned cold. She told Cheng Suran to go take a shower and went into the master bedroom, holding her phone.

    At the very last moment when the door closed, Cheng Suran heard the words "fans."

    She instinctively felt that it was related to the incidents on Weibo these past two days. She took out her phone, opened Weibo, and saw that all the related topics had disappeared, and the original marketing account had deleted its posts.

    Suddenly, everything was calm.

    What''s going on?

    She felt a bit uneasy, glanced at the master bedroom, put down her phone, and hurriedly went into the bathroom to shower. After finishing, without drying her hair, she peeked into the living room.

    Jiang Yu was standing alone by the window, holding a tall glass. The rich crimson liquid accentuated her slender fingers, and the splendid ceiling lights shone upon her, casting a glow over her whole body.

    A hint of loneliness and desolation.

    Cheng Suran''s heart trembled, feeling an indescribable sense of melancholy. Ignoring the water dripping from her hair, she hastily wiped it with a towel and walked toward that person.

    "Sister..." She embraced her from behind.

    Jiang Yu seemed startled, her body trembled, and she suddenly grabbed the hand around her waist. "Hm?"

    "Are you feeling down?" Cheng Suran pressed her face against Jiang Yu''s ear.

    "Be good and go to sleep."

    "I don''t want to."

    "Can you listen to me?" Jiang Yu turned her face slightly and gently patted Cheng Suran''s hand, as if coaxing a child.

    Cheng Suran tiptoed and leaned over to kiss her lips. "I want to accompany you. I''ll stay here and won''t leave."

    Jiang Yu was taken aback and couldn''t help but laugh. "The kid knows how to please her benefactor."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran''s arms stiffened slightly, a thin layer of gray shadowing her eyes.

    Pleasing a benefactor--

    Yes, that''s how a benefactor sees it, isn''t it? But only she knows that it''s not like that. She likes Jiang Yu, her emotions fluctuate with Jiang Yu''s mood. Though she is filled with love, she can only hide it behind appeasement.

    "Is it because of what happened on Weibo?" Cheng Suran suppressed the sourness in her heart and tried to ask.

    "If sister doesn''t want to talk about it... then forget it. Just don''t chase me away."

    She hugged Jiang Yu tightly.

    Jiang Yu gazed at the lights outside the window, feeling the suppressed emotions rapidly expanding within her body, becoming unbearable. She took a sip of her drink, slowly swallowed it, and said, "Do you still remember the female celebrity who wore the same outfit as me last time?"

    "Ren..."

    Cheng Suran was momentarily at a loss for words and couldn''t recall.

    It was only at this moment that Cheng Suran realized that her sister was willing to share her emotions with her, whether they were happy or miserable, positive or negative. Did this mean that she held a small place in her sister''s heart?

    "Ren Shilu," Jiang Yu continued.

    Cheng Suran regained her focus and silently repeated the name, suddenly realizing something. She looked up in shock and asked, "Is she behind all this?"

    "Yes."

    "..."

    "The issue with the DM brand started a long time ago. The jewelry piece in question was not the final product but an early sample that was showcased internally in April this year. The potentially discriminatory language mentioned on the official website has a different meaning, although one of its interpretations is similar to actual discrimination, which people unfamiliar with the linguistic history and culture wouldn''t know."

    "It''s a minor matter that was blown out of proportion by someone with ill intentions. Coincidentally, the founder of DM used to work at ''D&M'' and, coincidentally, I signed an endorsement contract with the latter this spring. This smear campaign is like dirty water being thrown at me, forcing me to make a statement."

    Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes slightly and casually swirled the wine glass, her tone light and indifferent.

    Cheng Suran followed her train of thought and suddenly felt a chill down her spine. "So, she''s using this incident to manipulate public opinion because it''s dangerous for public figures to get involved in political issues. If it gets serious, they might even face censorship. She''s gambling, hoping that if she wins, you''ll be ruined, but if she loses, she won''t suffer any losses."

    "The kid is quite clever," Jiang Yu turned around and ruffled the girl''s head.

    "It''s okay. She lost the gamble. Tongtong helped me remove the negative articles. Look, apart from a few marketing accounts and a bunch of internet trolls, no mainstream media has spoken up about this issue. She won''t dare to come again."

    Jiang Yu''s palms were damp, and she realized that Cheng Suran''s hair was wet from washing but hadn''t been dried yet.

    Cheng Suran pouted in disappointment, her small face drooping. "But you''re still affected..."

    "Why did you come out without drying your hair? You''ll catch a cold if your scalp gets cold. Hurry up and get the hairdryer," Jiang Yu interrupted, furrowing her brow and removing her hand.

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran responded sullenly and went back to the bathroom to get the hairdryer. She brought it over and placed it next to the sofa, but before she could press the power button, Jiang Yu took it away.

    "I''ll do it."

    "..."

    The tall wine glass stood silently on the table, with a small amount of unfinished red wine resembling a mysterious and dazzling ruby under the light.

    The hairdryer hummed in her ears, and the warm air gently caressed her scalp.

    Cheng Suran held her breath, not moving a muscle.

    After a few minutes, the humming stopped, and it seemed like the whole world became quiet. Suddenly, she grabbed Jiang Yu''s wrist. "Sister..."

    "Hm?" Jiang Yu was about to get up.

    "When you told me all those things, did you believe me?" Cheng Suran looked directly into her eyes, mustering up the courage to ask, "More than you believe Bai Lu?"

    Her heart hung in her throat.

    "Are you jealous?" Jiang Yu pretended to have a cold expression.

    Cheng Suran hurriedly shook her head. "No, no, I''m not, um..."

    Jiang Yu leaned forward and kissed her lips.

    "..."

    The girl''s face turned red, and she lowered her head, realizing that Jiang Yu was just teasing her earlier and not actually angry. Her heart settled back down.

    The smile at the corner of her eyes couldn''t be hidden.

    Jiang Yu was about to say something when her phone rang again. She put down the hairdryer, stood up, and walked towards the window while answering the call. Cheng Suran followed her gaze, scanning her footsteps and perking up her ears.

    The person on the other end of the call kept talking, while Jiang Yu listened silently, occasionally responding with a few "hmm" sounds.

    She couldn''t hear any useful information.

    Cheng Suran slowly withdrew her gaze and found herself smiling foolishly.

    After a while, the call ended. She caught a glimpse of Jiang Yu walking towards her, and as she raised her head, their eyes met with a smiling gaze.

    "No more jealousy, sister believes in you." Jiang Yu pinched her soft earlobe and then picked up the hairdryer, placing it on the table.

    "I''m going to take a shower."

    "Okay." The girl nodded, her face still blushing, and she watched as Jiang Yu went back to her room to get a bathrobe and headed to the bathroom.

    Soon, the sound of water came from inside.

    Her hair ends were still a bit damp, so Cheng Suran reached up to touch them and thought about blow-drying them a little more. She stood up to get the hairdryer but accidentally noticed the nearby phone with its screen illuminated.

    She froze.

    It was her sister''s phone...

    Huh?

    A thought crossed her mind like a lightning bolt.

    The screen suddenly dimmed a bit, and without thinking, Cheng Suran reached out and tapped it. It lit up again.

    If she had touched it just two seconds later, the screen would have completely gone black and locked.

    That was close.

    Nervously glancing towards the bathroom, Cheng Suran let her fingertip slide across the screen. Trembling, she opened the dial pad, entered her own phone number...

    Suddenly, two WeChat messages popped up in succession.

    When people do something guilty, the thing they fear the most is being startled. She jumped in surprise, her hand shaking, and accidentally tapped the message notification. The page switched to the WeChat chat box.

    Bai Lu: [Picture.jpg]

    Bai Lu: [Your aunt''s late-night snack is so delicious. Today, I can only indulge in tears and run an extra three kilometers tomorrow!]

    "..."

    Cheng Suran froze, her gaze landing on the profile picture in WeChat. She realized it wasn''t the familiar gray-black background she was used to, but a picture of a bunny plush toy.

    This was...

    Her sister''s main WeChat account?

    It was so late, and Ba Lu was actually at her sister''s place, eating food cooked by the nanny?!

    Almost as if driven by an unknown force, she slid her finger and slowly scrolled the page upward. As more chat records entered her field of view, an inevitable sense of guilt arose in her heart.

    She was snooping on someone''s privacy. She was doing something illicit, something she shouldn''t be doing...

    But her fingers couldn''t stop.

    In the chat records, Bai Lu often sent photos. Sometimes it was a fitness selfie, other times it was a casual snapshot of scenery or food. The most frequently used phrase was "I miss you so much."

    And Jiang Yu responded every time.

    Cheng Suran''s mind was buzzing. Despite her heart racing, her hands and feet grew cold. Time passed second by second...

    The sound of water from the bathroom stopped.

    She suddenly snapped back to her senses, looked up in a panic, hurriedly exited the chat, and then remembered something. She returned to the chat list and selected "Mark as Unread" before exiting again.

    She entered her own phone number in the dial pad.

    One second, two seconds, three seconds...

    Her phone lit up.

    She ended the call, deleted the records, locked the screen, pretended that nothing had happened, and sat back on the sofa.

    Her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her throat.

    Cheng Suran patted her chest, lowered her head, and opened the missed calls on her own phone. She saved that string of unfamiliar numbers into her contacts...

 CH 65

    What kind of ID should she give?

    Elder sister? Coco? Or...

    Cheng Suran stared at the string of numbers, feeling that each one of them was vivid and beautiful, exuding the fragrance of iris, just like their owner¡ªrebellious, cold, and full of mystery.

    This was a number destined not to be dialed. Even if she possessed it, she could only let it lie in the cold contacts list.

    She recalled the chat history.

    Bai Lu could add Elder Sister''s official WeChat account, while she could only lie in her sister''s alternate WeChat account looking at that dull and gloomy profile picture. Every message sent by Bai Lu would receive a reply from her sister, but she would often be left hanging in the desolate chat box. Bai Lu could confidently enjoy the supper prepared by the nanny at her sister''s house, while she didn''t even know which direction the door of her sister''s house opened.

    In the vast sea of people, they were so close, appearing intimate, but in reality, they were separated by distant galaxies.

    She was like the moon in the water and the flower in the mirror, beyond her reach.

    Cheng Suran added the note "Flower in the mirror and Moon in the water*." to this phone number, then switched to Weibo¨C

    *¾µ»¨Ë®ÔÂ (j¨¬ng hu¨¡ shu¨« yu¨¨) means unreal/unreachable

    @YourLittleFriendcrr: Might as well dream of a flower in the mirror and moon in the water.

    At that moment, the bathroom door opened.

    Cheng Suran quickly closed Weibo and the contacts, nervously raising her head.

    A faint mist emerged as Jiang Yu stepped out, wearing a wine-red robe that revealed only her slender and straight legs, with her hair half-damp, exuding charm.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran''s eyes lost focus.

    Jiang Yu smiled as she towel-dried her hair, gesturing towards the bedroom. "Wait for me while I blow-dry my hair."

    That meant Cheng Suran should wait for her on the bed.

    Blushing, Cheng Suran pressed her lips together and obediently nodded.

    She slowly stood up, dragging her feet as she walked. In her peripheral vision, she saw Jiang Yu walk to the table, one hand picking up the hairdryer, the other tapping the phone screen, lighting it up.

    She held her breath and slowed her pace.

    Huh? There seem to be several green message bubbles on the screen...

    Before she could see clearly, the phone was unlocked, and Jiang Yu held it up, bringing it closer to her eyes. Suddenly, a slight frown appeared between her eyebrows.

    Cheng Suran''s heart sank instantly.

    It''s over.

    She didn''t notice, right?

    Slipping into the room, she pressed her ear against the door, secretly observing Jiang Yu''s reaction.

    Soon, Jiang Yu relaxed her frown, a faint smile curved at the corners of her mouth, and her fingers typed rapidly, as if she were chatting with someone and quite happy.

    Huh, she didn''t notice?

    Cheng Suran quietly breathed a sigh of relief, but a sour feeling bubbled up in her heart.

    Who could it be? Bai Lu? It''s possible since she was the only one who sent a message to her sister... She wondered if her sister had a displeased expression and was impatient while replying with her alternate account. It must be, she could even imagine it.

    The more Cheng Suran thought about it, the sadder she became.

    The sound of a hairdryer filled the living room as Jiang Yu replied to messages while drying her hair.

    A few minutes ago, Bai Lu sent over a dozen photos. Sometimes she would compliment how delicious the food made by the nanny was, and other times she would say that the living room was designed for taking photos, with every corner being picturesque.

    The girl looked extremely beautiful.

    Bai Lu: [When I have my own place in the future, I must hire you as my interior designer, hahaha...]

    This girl just bought a car and is also saving up to buy a house. She is tight on money and moved to a remote area in the north, a 40-minute subway ride from the city center. Tomorrow morning, she has an interview with a client near Jiang Yu''s place. To avoid being late and for convenience, she proposed staying at Jiang Yu''s house for one night.

    Jiang Yu agreed without hesitation. She instructed Xiao Zhou and the nanny to clean up the guest room and lock the entire master bedroom area that belonged to her. And go down when the person arrives.

    Bai Lu: [Sister, why don''t you live in such a beautiful house? When you''re not at home, there''s no one to chat with me. I''m so bored.]

    Jiang Yu: [I have something to do tomorrow at Tian Lin''s place.]

    Bai Lu: [What about your little sister?]

    Jiang Yu: [She went back to her own home.]"

    Bai Lu: [Oh, I thought you and your sister were real siblings.]

    Upon seeing this message, Jiang Yu furrowed her brows, sensing a subtle emotion. Was it Bai Lu''s probing or was she being too sensitive?

    As she contemplated how to reply, another message from Bai Lu popped up: [I''m going to sleep now, goodnight.]

    Jiang Yu''s expression softened: [Goodnight.]

    The WeChat conversation fell silent, and Jiang Yu stared at the screen, lost in thought...

    The humming sound continued in the living room for a while. Meanwhile, Cheng Suran felt restless and anxious in her room, her head buzzing along with the sound. She undressed herself and curled up in bed.

    The sound suddenly stopped, and footsteps could be heard from outside. Cheng Suran held her breath, listening as the footsteps went to the master bedroom, then returned and headed in her direction.

    "Ranran¡ª"

    "Yes?"

    Cheng Suran lowered her blanket, revealing her head.

    Jiang Yu sat at the edge of the bed, her gaze watery as she looked at the girl. She raised what she held in her hand and said, "Guess what this is?"

    "...I can''t guess." Cheng Suran widened her eyes and carefully observed Jiang Yu''s expression. Seeing no abnormalities, she relaxed slightly and shifted her gaze.

    It was a beautifully packaged small gift box.

    Jiang Yu smiled faintly, tore off the outer wrapping paper of the gift box, and opened the lid. She took out a stack of thin, transparent card-like items. "I had the fairy flowers I picked last time turned into specimen bookmarks. Do you like them?"

    The blue and white gradient-colored petals were sealed in plastic, connected to the verdant roots, stems, and leaves, vivid and lifelike.

    However, the colors seemed somewhat dull.

    Since the moment it was removed from the soil, it had lost its life. Before completely withering away, its most beautiful appearance was preserved.

    Cheng Suran reached out and took it, her face breaking into a joyful smile. "They''re beautiful! How did you come up with this idea? I thought you''d just press the petals between the pages of a book..."

    "They would wither if pressed in a book." Jiang Yu smiled and pinched her nose.

    Suddenly, she noticed that Cheng Suran''s arms were exposed, with no sleeves in sight. She furrowed her brows in confusion and lifted the blanket.

    A cleanly peeled little white rabbit came into view.

    "Where is your pajama? Why aren''t you wearing it?"

    "?"

    Cheng Suran was taken aback, and it took her a while to react. She whispered, "You said to wait in bed, wait until you finish blowing your hair... Ah, it''s not what I thought, right?" Her face flushed, and she hurriedly got up to put on her pajamas.

    Ah, how embarrassing.

    She climbed out of the bed, her hand still reaching for her pajamas, but before she could grab them, two hands circled around her waist, and she fell into a warm and fragrant embrace.

    "Ah, Sister..."

    "Now the kid has learned to seduce." Jiang Yu held her, her gaze intense, a mischievous smile flickering in her eyes.

    With those words, she leaned in and kissed her.

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    In the late night, a subtle fragrance filled the bedroom.

    Cheng Suran lay exhausted in Jiang Yu''s arms, exhaling and murmuring, while Jiang Yu held her. Her full lips kissed from her forehead to her chin, while her other hand rested on the scar, gently and carefully caressing it.

    Ever since that incident, whenever the two of them were intimate, Jiang Yu would instinctively touch it.

    Like a mark.

    Even though the scar was gradually fading under the effect of medication, it didn''t look as ugly when examined closely.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran''s heartache was indescribable. She held Jiang Yu''s hand and said, "It doesn''t hurt anymore, and it will continue to fade in the future. Please don''t mind it, okay?"

    In the darkness, she couldn''t see Jiang Yu''s face, but she felt that her hand stiffened for a moment, and her breath, brushing against her cheek, paused briefly.

    Jiang Yu remained silent.

    After a while, that hand finally moved away from the scar.

    Cheng Suran relaxed, finally feeling a bit drowsy. Her eyelids were half-closed, and fragmented images flashed through her mind; Jiang Yu, Bai Lu, and a profile picture of a rabbit doll¡ª

    "Does Sister like rabbits?" Cheng Suran raised the corners of her lips, as if murmuring in a dream.

    Jiang Yu was also about to sleep when she heard these words, and her consciousness instantly cleared. She looked at the person in her arms in the darkness and asked, "How did you know?"

    "Hehe," Cheng Suran chuckled foolishly, "Because I was born in the Year of the Rabbit."

    "..."

    Where did this fool come from?

    Jiang Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, pecked her lips, and was about to say that she was also born in the Year of the Rabbit when she suddenly remembered something long forgotten.

    The payment for the contract renewal!

    It had not been transferred yet, and more than half of the month had already passed.

    "Ranran, pay attention to your bank messages tomorrow. I''ll have Tian Lin transfer the money to you, settling two months'' payment at once," Jiang Yu said each word slowly and deliberately.

    As she calmed down, she realized that the clear boundary between her and the little one had become increasingly blurred in recent days.

    How could she forget something so important...

    In an instant, Jiang Yu felt a little panicked.

    Cheng Suran''s smile froze.

    Like a needle piercing the softest part of her heart, a sharp and piercing pain spread slowly. She heard the sound of her dream being torn apart, and a hand forcefully dragged her out.

    She returned to reality, and she remembered Bai Lu.

    Bai Lu''s face, Bai Lu''s words, Bai Lu''s photos...

    Her eyes were flooded with sourness.

    "I don''t want the money... Please don''t give me any more money..." Cheng Suran muttered while shaking her head.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t see her expression clearly, but she could sense the emotions, intense emotions that transcended their relationship, the emotions she least wanted to encounter.

    "Then what do you want?" she patiently asked.

    Cheng Suran became flustered, forgetting about many things, and choked out, "I want you."

    The room fell into silence, a silence that was frighteningly still.

    "Say it again? I didn''t hear clearly," Jiang Yu''s voice turned icy, and her face, hidden in the darkness, was covered with frost.

    Cheng Suran trembled and abruptly snapped back to reality, realizing what she had said.

    "No, no... I mean... I want the money that sister gives me..." She bit her lip tightly, burying her face in Jiang Yu''s hair, preventing the sound of her painful sobbing from escaping.

    A long and agonizing silence followed.

    "The money that Tian Lin transferred to you is my money," finally, a familiar voice reached her ears, somewhat softer than before.

    Cheng Suran trembled, her lips aching from how hard she bit them.

    A soothing kiss was imprinted on her temple.

    "Good..." Jiang Yu coaxed, gently patting the girl''s back.

    Cheng Suran gradually relaxed her body.

    In the tranquility, she heard her own heartbeat slowing down, felt the heat on her head gradually subsiding, and beads of sweat forming on the back of her neck, damp and clammy, as if she had survived a disaster.

    Intense nervousness was followed by double exhaustion, and drowsiness once again captivated her mind...

    Just as she was about to doze off, a low and deep female voice sounded in her ear, "I''ll be going on a business trip to Paris the day after tomorrow. Stay at home and behave, okay?"

    Cheng Suran responded drowsily with a soft "okay."

    ¡­.

    Jiang Yu was gone for three days.

    Ever since she had peeked at her chat history that night, Cheng Suran would occasionally think of Bai Lu, that face, those words, those pictures, all vividly etched in her mind.

    She even started to feel a bit disgusted with her own boasted good memory.

    Why?

    Why could Bai Lu do it, but she couldn''t?

    Why did she have to immediately hide any hint of affection out of fear of losing it...

    Looking at the additional two hundred thousand in the bank message, seeing those long zeroes that seemed endless to her, Cheng Suran knew it well.

    Because she is a canary--

    A canary that sincerely fell for the benefactor.

    Wasn''t she deserving of it?

    It was her own fault, wasn''t it?

    Around four or five in the evening, the sky gradually darkened. Cheng Suran walked aimlessly in the empty campus, not feeling hungry. She walked and walked until she reached the sports field.

    Some people were playing basketball, some were running, and others were training.

    The cold wind blew on Cheng Suran''s face, slightly chilling her. She adjusted her clothes and stepped onto the rubber track, leisurely strolling while opening WeChat.

    The last message was an emoji she sent to Jiang Yu.

    They were seven hours apart, and the messages exchanged these past few days were only "Good morning" and "Good night."

    She wondered if her sister slept well without her at night. Cheng Suran thought somewhat self-indulgently, but then she realized that she was nothing more than a warm bed companion, just a pillow to hug. She chuckled at herself.

    There were no updates in her sister''s Moments.

    In the past, she thought her sister didn''t like playing with these things, unlike herself, a "kid." Now she understood that it wasn''t that her sister didn''t post updates, but rather she only did so on her main account.

    She sighed, exhaling a faint puff of white smoke.

    Today was the winter solstice.

    Unconsciously, winter had arrived. And they met in the summer.

    Thinking about it, Cheng Suran''s finger slid across the screen and opened her contacts, finding "Flower in the mirror and Moon in the water". At that moment, she really wanted to press the call button and dial the number.

    But reason told her she couldn''t.

    Looking at that familiar number, she reluctantly withdrew her hand, her eyes welling up with a hint of sourness.

    A video call invitation suddenly popped up.

    Cheng Suran was startled, but once she saw the initiator''s name on the screen, she was both surprised and delighted. She hurriedly fumbled for her earphones.

    The ringtone kept ringing, but the headphone cord got tangled and couldn''t be untangled for a while.

    "Ah..."

    Cheng Suran stomped her foot in frustration, glanced around, and hurriedly went to a less crowded area before pressing the green button.

    Jiang Yu''s face appeared on the screen.

    She had makeup on, her eyebrows slightly raised, her eyeliner dark and intense, her red lips plump and vibrant. There was a hint of sharpness in her gaze. As soon as the video connected, she smiled and said, "Ranran, it''s the winter solstice today. Did you eat dumplings*?"

    T/N: During Dongzhi Festival or Winter Arrival/Solstice, (usually falls on December 21 or 22), eating dumplings is believed to have several meanings and purposes. Firstly, dumplings are seen as a symbol of reunion and harmony. The round shape of the dumplings resembles the shape of the winter solstice, representing unity and completeness. Eating dumplings together with family and loved ones signifies togetherness and the strengthening of familial bonds.

    Cheng Suran''s body tensed slightly, her finger that was tangled in the headphone wire paused, and her heart, which had fallen into the abyss, suddenly rose rapidly.

    Did it matter to her sister whether she ate dumplings or not...

    Why does she always give her hope when she was feeling down? Why does she give her despair when she was hoping? She suddenly felt tired, as if renewing the contract wasn''t something that brought happiness.

    But this kind of exhaustion could exchange for staying by her sister''s side.

    She was tormented by contradictions every day.

    "Ranran? What''s wrong? Is the internet connection bad? Is it lagging?" Jiang Yu frowned, her expression slightly worried.

    "Ah, no..." Cheng Suran tugged at the corner of her mouth, forcing out a bright smile. "I forgot it''s the winter solstice today. I''ll go eat dumplings later. How about you, sister? It''s morning over there, right?"

    Jiang Yu relaxed her brow and nodded with a smile. "Yes, it''s a little past nine. I''m getting ready to attend a private salon."

    The background was inside a car, very quiet. Cheng Suran didn''t know if there was anyone else with her.

    Cheng Suran stared at her absentmindedly and murmured, "When will sister come back?"

    As soon as she finished speaking, the camera suddenly turned towards the window, and then the car window rolled down, creating some noise. The screen displayed one of the local iconic buildings: the Arc de Triomphe.

    "Just passing by Charles de Gaulle Square, I''ll show you the Arc de Triomphe. How about next time, when I have time, I''ll take you there to play, okay?" A gentle voice of Jiang Yu came from the phone.

    Cheng Suran stared at the screen, her eyes becoming misty, and she replied tremblingly, "Okay."

    "We''re almost there. I won''t say more for now. I''ll let you know when I land tomorrow night." The camera turned back to Jiang Yu''s face. She seemed in a hurry. After saying that, without waiting for a response, she hung up the video call.

    The screen returned to the "Flower in the mirror and Moon in the water" contact interface.

    Cheng Suran held the phone absentmindedly, with teary eyes.

    Not knowing how long she stood there, as the sky grew darker, she raised her hand to wipe her eyes and stuffed the phone and earphones into her pocket. She turned and walked towards the direction of the cafeteria.

    ¡­.

    It was the third day and Jiang Yu flew back.

    It was a busy day. Cheng Suran received the message of Jiang Yu boarding early in the morning and was absent-minded throughout the day. Finally, in the evening on her way back to the hotel, she received the message of Jiang Yu landing.

    Walking out of the teaching building, she was like a bird released from its cage, full of excitement, bouncing to the cafeteria for dinner, and then hurriedly rushing to the hotel.

    Now she drove by herself every day, and the driver Xiao Wen sat in the passenger seat.

    The downtown area was a bit congested.

    A half-hour journey took forty minutes.

    When she arrived at the hotel, Cheng Suran handed the car over to the driver to park and eagerly took the elevator upstairs. Her heart floated as the floor numbers kept rising, stopping at the twenty-seventh floor. She quickly stepped out and swiped open the platinum-colored door.

    "Sister!"

    The room was empty.

    Where is she?

    Hasn''t she arrived yet?

    Cheng Suran scanned the room and suddenly noticed that the master bedroom, which was usually left open, had the door closed.

    Could her sister be inside?

    She put down her backpack and walked over, raising her hand to knock on the door and softly calling out, "Sister? Are you inside?"

    No one responded.

    She knocked again, but still no response.

    Cheng Suran cautiously opened the door, and the bedroom was empty. The large double bed was neatly made, but there was a pile of white A4 papers on it, which she didn''t know when had appeared.

    Huh?

    Curiously, she approached and picked them up to take a look. It was a document similar to a resume.

    The woman in the ID photo was Jiang Yu.

    Name: Jiang Yu.

    Former Name: Jiang Wanyin...

    "!!!"

    Cheng Suran took a deep breath and covered her mouth.

    Time stood still at that moment.

    After a while, there was a sound of the front door opening and closing from outside. She froze, her hands and feet stiff. Suddenly coming back to her senses, she hurriedly tried to put the documents back, but it was too late¡ª

    "Ranran?"

    Jiang Yu stood at the bedroom door, holding a suitcase, her slender figure exuding a powerful aura. "Did you just come back?"

    "..." Cheng Suran looked at her anxiously.

    Before she could speak, Jiang Yu''s gaze fell on the document in her hand. Her expression changed abruptly, she let go of the suitcase and quickly walked over, snatching it back and looking at it up close.

    Her gaze swept over the former name.

    She frowned, her breathing suddenly became rapid, and her shoulders trembled slightly.

    "Who allowed you to touch my things?!" Jiang Yu raised her head, her eyes cold as iron.

    "I..." Cheng Suran retreated in fear.

    ¡ªPak!

    Jiang Yu slapped her across the face.

    Cheng Suran''s head tilted, feeling a buzzing sound in her ears, and a fiery pain quickly spread across her left cheek.

    That fair and delicate cheek instantly turned red.

    She stood there stunned, like a wooden chicken.

    "Get out." Jiang Yu pointed to the bedroom door, her eyes turning red in an instant, her chest heaving violently.

    Cheng Suran remained stunned for a while, tears streaming down her face, and in a disheveled state, she ran out of the room...

 CH 66

    In the late 1980s, Jiang Yu was born in a small county town in the southern region.

    Her mother was the daughter of a farmer, who dropped out of junior high school and had little education, but she had some attractiveness. In her early teens, she went to work in the county town and met a man named Jiang Jianyin, who ran a small shop.

    He not only ran a small shop but was also a highly skilled chef.

    At that time, there was a popular saying: "It''s better to sell tea bags than to develop atomic bombs." This meant that during that era, a wave of entrepreneurial opportunities swept across the country. There were opportunities everywhere, as long as you dared to venture and work hard, you could earn abundant wealth. Engaging in small business ventures was more profitable than engaging in scientific research and academia.

    At that time, her father was considered a desirable catch. He was tall, had a decent appearance, and had some money. There were quite a few women who liked him.

    After her mother married him, many people around them envied her and said she had married well, that it was true love, and that their future would surely be prosperous.

    If it wasn''t true love, why would such a desirable catch choose her among many suitors? Her mother firmly believed in this.

    But during her pregnancy, her father cheated on her.

    For her mother, who had no education or experience, this was like her world collapsing. She had to find a way to fix it. She often heard people around her say, "Once he has a child, he will settle down." So she pinned all her hopes on the unborn child.

    And that''s how Jiang Yu came into this world.

    She was a girl.

    However, her mother wanted a boy to salvage their marriage and make up for her "heaven."

    She named her Jiang Wanyin, implying "reclaiming Jianyin*."

    *Íì»Ø½¨Òò (Wan Hui Jian Yin)

    It''s simple and easy to understand.

    But her father didn''t change his ways because of Jiang Yu''s birth. On the contrary, the situation became increasingly worse. The family would have major fights every three days and minor arguments every five days. Jiang Yu''s life before the age of five was spent in endless quarrels and physical abuse.

    Unable to control her father, her mother took out her anger on Jiang Yu, controlling and mistreating her. She watched the little girl being bullied without the ability to fight back, deriving a sense of pleasure that drove her mad.

    When Jiang Yu turned five, everything came to an end.

    Her parents divorced, and no one wanted her. She was abandoned with her grandmother and lived in the countryside for several years.

    Her grandmother disliked her and made her do a lot of work every day¡ªcarrying water, chopping firewood, chasing chickens, feeding ducks. If she couldn''t finish her tasks, she wasn''t allowed to eat. Whenever she misbehaved, her grandmother would drag her into a small black house in the woods. She would go hungry and thirsty for a day, but she would eventually surrender.

    It wasn''t until she turned ten that her long-lost mother suddenly returned. Her mother had remarried a local repairman and had a son. She needed someone to help take care of him and thought of her daughter, who was living in the countryside.

    Jiang Yu was brought into a reorganized family.

    She thought she had escaped the nightmare, but she had only jumped into another one.

    At her grandmother''s house, she was just doing chores. But here, in addition to the housework, she had to cater to her younger brother. She became his servant, taking care of his every need while receiving no kindness in return. She bore the brunt of the blame for everything that went wrong and endured countless scoldings and beatings.

    Her mother especially despised her name but refused to change it. She said it was to remember the heartless scoundrel and treated Jiang Yu as a shame. Additionally, because she grew taller than her peers and had a broad frame from a young age, people always said she didn''t look like a girl and that she wouldn''t be able to find a husband in the future. They disliked her and resented her.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    When she graduated from junior high school, her mother wanted her to attend a vocational school to learn a trade and start working early. However, she had already been accepted into the best high school in the county. Knowing that she had little power as an individual and that the school didn''t want to lose a promising student, she mobilized all external forces she could, including teachers and the community, and spent several days convincing her mother.

    Although she successfully attended high school, Jiang Yu didn''t have an easy time during those three years. The tuition was "borrowed" from her mother, which she had to repay in the future. She would eat plain steamed buns with leftover vegetables, and the money to buy study materials came from collecting and selling bottles. The school uniform she wore for three years always had her mother''s old clothes underneath.

    Her already fragile self-esteem was completely shattered during those three years.

    At that time, her biggest dream was to escape, to leave this suffocating place. So she gritted her teeth, held onto her stubbornness, endured and waited for graduation.

    Finally, she made it to her final year of high school. The day before the college entrance exam, everything at home was calm. Her mother even told her to do well in the exam. However, on the morning of the exam day, she was locked in her room...

    That was the abyss of her life, but also the turning point of her life.

    With a train ticket, Jiang Yu escaped from the small county town to the big city. Without education or background, she could only do odd jobs. She worked as a dish-washer in restaurants and on assembly lines in factories. Later, by a fortunate coincidence, she registered for a modeling competition with a prize of 3,000 yuan.

    She was tall and slim, with clear and distinct facial features, which happened to meet the registration requirements. Since she didn''t know what else to do, she thought she might as well give it a try.

    It was this attempt that changed her destiny.

    Before she escaped from home, she secretly took her household registration book and changed her name.

    She hoped that no matter how many storms she would face in the future, she would be safe and sound. So she chose the character "Yu" for her name, a very neutral character, also intending to break free from the gender stereotypes that had brought her pain since childhood.

    She, Jiang Yu, had only a biological sex, not a social gender. She was first and foremost a human being, and then a woman.

    If her birth was meant to please others, she would live for herself.

    For more than a decade, she ventured outside, from an unknown freelance model to an international supermodel. Her career was a beam of light that illuminated her dark and empty life, allowing her to undergo a transformation and find her true self. It had been a long time, so long that she thought she had emerged from the darkness of the past.

    But in reality, she had only temporarily forgotten.

    The old name was like a thorn in her heart, a proof of her former lowly existence, a shame that she could never erase in her lifetime.

    Rabbits are herbivores, and she was born in the Year of the Rabbit, but she wasn''t one to be docile. Every time she saw the name "Jiang Wanyin," it reminded her deeply to keep moving forward and never look back.

    ...

    Outside the window, the sky grew darker, while the lights of tall buildings shone brightly.

    Jiang Yu felt stiff and cold all over. The thin sheets of paper in her hand were creased from being tightly held. She stared at the three characters "Jiang Wan Yin" and her shoulders couldn''t stop trembling.

    A mist of tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

    This is her humiliation, her disgrace, her desperate attempt to hide her disheveled state, known only to those closest and most trusted by her. And Cheng Suran, the canary she raised, recklessly barged in like this.

    Her dignity, her barriers, shattered in an instant, revealing her true wretched self. At that moment, she suddenly felt lost, with nowhere to escape...

    Jiang Yu fell onto the bed, her vision gradually blurred, warm liquid lingering in her eyes for a while before finally falling.

    ¡ªplap

    Tears fell directly onto the three characters "Jiang Wan Yin."

    Born to please others.

    Unwanted and unloved.

    What good is the glittering and glamorous appearance when your inner world remains desolate, relying on indulgence to get through each day? You have no interest or understanding of this world and its people, so your arrogance is fragile and easily shattered.

    You possess only a lonely and aloof heart of glass.

    Jiang Yu muttered to herself in her mind.

    The sky had turned completely dark, and the dim light outside seeped into the room like entering the depths of the sea¡ªdim, still, without a sound.

    A suffocating and oppressive feeling gripped her throat.

    Trembling, Jiang Yu stood up, wiped her face, hastily folded a few papers and stuffed them into her bag. The mere thought of Cheng Suran waiting outside to witness her embarrassment made her unwilling to stay even for a second longer.

    She abandoned her suitcase, rushed out with her head down, and hastily entered the elevator as if escaping.

    The living room was empty, devoid of any presence.

    ...

    On this chilly early winter night, the cold wind pierced through, penetrating into her collar.

    The driver had gone back; she was supposed to come back tomorrow morning, but Jiang Yu just wanted to return home immediately. Unable to wait and call for someone, she flagged down a taxi right outside the hotel''s entrance.

    She traveled the entire way in a daze.

    Upon arriving home, Xiao Zhou and the nanny were having their dinner. They weren''t surprised to see her suddenly return. The nanny immediately wanted to help her get her ingredients¡ªJiang Yu usually cooked her own dinner at home, eating little and in a casual manner.

    "I''ve already eaten, you don''t need to bother," Jiang Yu walked past the dining room expressionlessly and went inside like a gust of wind.

    The master bedroom area had a three-part layout. The outermost part was the main dressing area, the middle section was the bathroom, and the deepest part contained the large bed. Outside the dressing area, there was a sliding door that, when closed, would separate the entire area and create an independent living space.

    This was the safe zone she had designed for herself.

    Jiang Yu stepped into the dressing area and pressed the button on the wall. The two large doors slowly closed, making a "click" sound as they locked, enveloping her heart within the safety barrier.

    Passing through the bathroom and entering the bedroom, she turned on the lights, closed the second door, and locked it. Finally, she was completely safe.

    Having been unoccupied for a while, the room remained clean, without a speck of dust. The bed was neatly arranged with a collection of rabbit dolls, silently watching her.

    Jiang Yu let out a long breath and slumped onto the bed.

    Like a soulless walking corpse.

    The overhead lights were a bit glaring, and she weakly closed her eyes. She reached out for the rabbit doll closest to her, hugged it to her chest, curled up her body, and eased her breath.

    It was very quiet.

    To the point of hurting her ears.

    She heard her own steady and gentle breath, felt the strong and steady beating of her heart, and her chaotic mind gradually became clear. But along with it came waves of pain, stronger than ever.

    It turned out that nothing had changed.

    The three characters of "Jiang Wan Yin" could still easily crush her.

    For over a decade, from being unable to relax in front of the camera to actively finding angles for posing, from trembling and almost stumbling on the runway to confidently striding on twelve-centimeter heels, she had always believed that she had transformed, been reborn, and had a complete inner and outer renewal.

    But she was still herself.

    She couldn''t rid herself of the stigma, couldn''t break free from it.

    Jiang Yu held the rabbit tightly in her arms. It was soft and comfortable, but it couldn''t replace the warmth that belonged to a person...

    Suddenly, it was very cold.

    She opened her eyes, released the rabbit, and absentmindedly got up, opening the door and rushing into the bathroom to turn on the hot water.

    She soaked in the hot water for a long, long time. The water in the bathtub kept draining and continuously refilling, maintaining a constant temperature. Her fingers turned pale from soaking, her skin wrinkled, and she soaked until she felt drowsy, finally feeling the warmth enveloping her body.

    Jiang Yu got out of the water, dried her body, and without wearing anything, she crawled into the bed.

    She had hurried back tonight and hadn''t brought melatonin, which was left in her luggage. Holding the rabbit, she curled up in the cold bed, using her body heat to warm it.

    She didn''t know how long she had been lying there, gradually succumbing to sleepiness...

    The dark corridor trapped her once again.

    She slept restlessly, waking up intermittently. Her heartbeat raced and slowed, and her breathing became irregular. She couldn''t remember how many times she had awakened from her dreams, squinting her eyes against the bright overhead light while the outside world remained dark.

    Only the upper half of the bed was warm, while below her knees, it was freezing cold. Jiang Yu curled up her body, got up, and wearily rubbed her temples.

    She grabbed her phone and checked the time. It was 4:30 in the early morning.

    There were unread WeChat messages on the screen.

    She clicked on them and surprisingly found that they were her alternate account, sent by Cheng Suran.

    Kid: [Transfer 50,000]

    Kid: [Sister, I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have touched your things. I know I was wrong, and I won''t argue about it, but please believe me, I didn''t have any malicious intent.]

    Then there were two voice messages.

    "Sister... When I came back this afternoon, I found that the master bedroom door was closed. I thought you were inside, so I knocked, but there was no response, so I opened the door... I saw a stack of papers on the bed, and I found it strange, so I went over to take a look... I saw your name written on it, and I wanted to put it down immediately, but then you came back..."

    "Don''t worry... I only saw the photo and your name... I really don''t know anything else... I... I know I violated the rules... I''ll return the money, and I''ll leave by myself... Wuwuwu..."

    The girl choked up, her voice filled with sobs and a heavy nasal tone. She kept gasping for breath while speaking.

    It sounded like she had been crying uncontrollably for a long, long time.

    The messages were sent an hour ago.

    After listening, Jiang Yu fell into silence. The loud sound of a slap, the girl''s choked sobs, echoed in her ears, making her feel a bit restless.

    A faint sense of regret welled up in her heart.

    Like insects gnawing.

    Was she wrong?

    No, how could the benefactor be wrong...

    Her head was pounding, and her body felt exhausted and sore. Jiang Yu closed her eyes, took a deep breath, threw her phone to the side, and settled back into the partially warm bed.

    When she woke up again, it was already bright outside.

    She was awakened by the sound of her phone ringing.

    "Sister Yu, where are you? I didn''t see you at the hotel, but your suitcase is still here..." As soon as she answered, Tian Lin''s slightly anxious voice came through her ears.

    Jiang Yu half-closed her eyelids and said wearily, "I''m at home."

    "Why did you suddenly come home?" Tian Lin''s anxiety eased slightly.

    "Just need a change of mood."

    "Oh. By the way, Miss Cheng told me that you terminated the contract. She moved back to the school today and just gave me the spare car keys."

    "What?" Jiang Yu abruptly opened her eyes. "When did I say I terminated the contract? Where is she?"

    Tian Lin paused for a moment and said, "She''s washing her face in the room."

    Jiang Yu instantly became alert. She got up from the bed and said in a deep voice, "Stop her, I''ll be right there."

 CH 67

    The faucet gushed with hot water.

    Cheng Suran bent down, standing in front of the sink, cupping her hands and gently splashing water on her face, rinsing off the cleanser foam, rubbing her eyelids, and then lifting her head.

    She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the person in the mirror.

    It was a weary face, with dull eyes and faint dark circles underneath. There were faint marks of two or three fingers on her left cheek.

    She hadn''t slept at all last night.

    Tears streamed down, making her eyes sore and painful. Her head felt heavy and muddled, and washing her face at this moment brought some relief. She looked at herself in the mirror, let out a soft sigh, and covered her left cheek with her palm.

    It doesn''t hurt anymore.

    That slap didn''t use all of Jiang Yu''s strength, but even after the whole night had passed, she could still vividly feel Jiang Yu''s emotions at that moment¡ªthere was panic, embarrassment, and fear... It was a side of Jiang Yu she had never seen before.

    But she had never thought she would be slapped.

    As she watched Jiang Yu''s expression change, although she was afraid, she held on to a glimmer of hope, thinking that her sister doted on her. Even if angry, at most, Jiang Yu would scold her or teach her a lesson by pinning her down on the bed. So when the slap came unexpectedly, she was stunned, unable to believe it.

    Perhaps over these days, her sister had shown her too much tenderness, too much love, to the point that she forgot about their relationship, forgot about her own identity, and became blinded by the affection, losing her senses.

    Her sister was a generous benefactor with a good temper, while she was a spoiled canary.

    Although she knew she was at fault, being slapped still made her feel a bit wronged. She thought that she held a different position in her sister''s heart, even if just a small one¡­

    Cheng Suran forced a bitter smile, lifting the corners of her mouth.

    This time, she truly touched a sensitive nerve. She didn''t dare to delve into it deeply. Instead of waiting for her sister to pass judgment, she decided to be obedient and leave on her own.

    She would never see her sister again.

    Her swollen eyes gradually turned red, and tears uncontrollably streamed down her face. Cheng Suran sniffed and hurriedly wiped them away, closing the tap.

    After quickly applying some cream, she walked out of the bathroom. She looked at the bed where they had both slept and couldn''t help but reach out and touch it.

    The scent on her sister''s pillow had faded.

    During the past few days of being apart, she had hugged her sister''s pillow every night, inhaling the lingering fragrance, longing and longing. Finally, she had longed for her sister''s return, but she never expected it to be a farewell...

    Cheng Suran reluctantly rubbed her face against the pillow and turned around to start packing.

    Her class is at 10 a.m., so she still have enough time. She didn''t have many belongings¡ªjust a few sets of clothes that she rotated, unchanged daily necessities, a couple of books, and a laptop. It could all fit in a small suitcase.

    Was there a more destitute canary than her?

    Her sister gave her more money, but she didn''t want it. Her sister told her to buy things, but she refused. Aside from staying in luxurious suites at five-star hotels, having a chauffeur to take her to school, and eating a few meals prepared by a private chef, her life remained the same. There was hardly any change.

    Perhaps compared to other canaries, she was indeed quite destitute. However, this kind of life was something she had never dared to imagine before. She cherished the contentment she had and, moreover, being able to be with the person she loved was happiness for her.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    But she was becoming more and more greedy, wanting her sister, wanting more...

    "Miss Cheng, are you alright?" Tian Lin''s voice came from outside.

    Footsteps approached from afar.

    Cheng Suran snapped back to reality, pushing the suitcase and walking outside. She ran into Tian Lin''s astonished gaze and paused, taking out a card from her pocket and handing it over. "I''m done packing, Assistant Tian. This is a card my sister gave me before. I haven''t used it. Could you please pass it on to her?"

    Tian Lin took the card, looked at it, and furrowed her brows. It was a platinum credit card with a minimum limit of at least two hundred thousand.

    Given to a little lover?

    Was this really the same boss who used to be so stingy and only gave out gold cards at most?

    ¡ªTsk tsk.

    Tian Lin hurriedly grabbed her. "Miss Cheng, you can''t leave."

    "?"

    "I just spoke to the boss on the phone. She said she''s on her way, so you can''t leave now."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran''s eyelashes trembled, and she pressed her lips without saying a word.

    Her sister was coming.

    Was she coming to settle the score with her?

    "You haven''t had breakfast yet. Let me take your order, and the waiter will bring it up to your room," Tian Lin said as she picked up the tablet from the table and handed it to Cheng Suran.

    Cheng Suran shook her head and whispered, "I''m not very hungry, I don''t want to eat." She pulled the suit case around and sat down the sofa.

    Tian Lin didn''t insist.

    The sunlight in the early winter morning was pale and gentle, like cold water, streaming through the octagonal window and casting a soft glow on the floor.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head and repeatedly looked at the phone''s contact list, focusing on the familiar number she had memorized so well, silently reciting each digit in her mind. Tian Lin sat at the dining table, occasionally glancing at her, her gossiping heart itching to know more.

    The two of them kept their thoughts to themselves, not uttering a word.

    Until the front door suddenly swung open...

    They both looked up simultaneously.

    Jiang Yu stood at the doorway, her face bare, her hair slightly disheveled, her expression somewhat dazed. Her gaze fell directly on Cheng Suran.

    Cheng Suran met that gaze, and her heart leaped involuntarily, feeling nervous without realizing it.

    "Tian Lin, you can leave first." Jiang Yu said calmly.

    Tian Lin silently stood up and, as she passed by Jiang Yu, handed over the car keys and credit card in her hand. "Miss Cheng gave these to me." Then, she tilted her head and whispered in Jiang Yu''s ear, "Sister Yu, don''t be too harsh, talk things out properly."

    After speaking, she slipped out and closed the door behind her.

    The air fell into silence.

    Jiang Yu silently stared at the girl, clutching her palms tightly. The sharp edges of the keys and cards caused a stinging pain. Step by step, she approached with a dignified and imposing figure.

    As she watched her slowly approach, her gaze dull, Cheng Suran felt the familiar burning pain on her face, and a sense of fear washed over her for a moment.

    She cautiously moved backward, encountering the armrest of the sofa, with no more room to retreat.

    Jiang Yu tossed the keys and cards onto the coffee table.

    ¡ªPang!

    Cheng Suran was startled by the sound, her heart pounding. She looked up at Jiang Yu, and her lips moved, "Sister..."

    "When did I say that I wanted to terminate our contract?" Jiang Yu stood before the girl, looking down at her from a higher vantage point, her voice slightly hoarse.

    "..."

    Huh?

    Wasn''t she here to settle the score?

    Cheng Suran was absent-minded, and suddenly, Jiang Yu bent down and reached out her hands. Cheng Suran instinctively dodged to the side. Jiang Yu paused for a moment, took a step forward, and embraced her.

    "I know I was wrong, Sister... Please don''t hit me..." Cheng Suran trembled in panic, but her hands honestly wrapped around Jiang Yu''s neck as she buried her face in her hair.

    Just like she had done for a long time.

    Jiang Yu didn''t say anything, only holding her quietly, gently patting her back with the palm of her hand, offering comfort, and finding solace herself.

    The panic and restlessness in both of them gradually subsided.

    The kid was her tranquilizer.

    "So now you''ve learned to act on your own without permission?"

    "..."

    "The contract is not over yet, so you''re not allowed to leave." Her voice was cold and low. One of her hands supported Cheng Suran''s bent leg, resting it on her own knee, and then she lightly patted her buttocks.

    Cheng Suran was startled and murmured, "But I have violated..."

    "Shut up."

    "..."

    She had already angered her sister so much, yet she was still able to stay. Why? She couldn''t help being sentimental.

    Jiang Yu''s gaze swept over the small suitcase next to them, her brows furrowing. She commanded, "Put everything back."

    This kid...

    She packed up so quickly like she wants to slip away.

    Just a little later, just¡ª

    Jiang Yu suddenly felt a dull pain in her chest, as if someone had grabbed it, but it quickly subsided. She grew a bit annoyed when she saw Cheng Suran standing still.

    "Can''t you hear me? Can''t wait to leave?

    "No..." Cheng Suran snapped back to reality, released her grip, and stood up sluggishly.

    Without waiting for her to fetch the suitcase, Jiang Yu was already a step ahead, saying, "If you don''t want to do it, then I''ll do it." Her slender and fair fingers tightly grasped the handle, as if they were about to crush it, and she strode towards the guest bedroom.

    The suitcase was small, just the right size to carry on a plane, and it wasn''t heavy when lifted. Clearly, there were only a few things inside.

    When it was opened, as expected...

    A computer, a few clothes, a pile of items from the supermarket shelves, two or three books.

    The kid''s entire belongings.

    Shabby.

    So shabby that it tugs at one''s heartstrings.

    Jiang Yu sat by the side of the box, lost in thought. Suddenly, she recalled the year when she ran away from home, carrying only a few belongings. But her situation was even worse than this; she didn''t have a computer, bottles and jars from the supermarket shelves, or even a small box.

    She had even stuffed her high school uniform into a cloth bag.

    Movie-like scenes flashed through her mind, frame by frame, vivid and profound. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, swallowing the bitterness back down.

    However, she was stronger than her, more determined.

    At least, Cheng Suran was a prestigious "985"* university student.

    *refers to the "Project 985," (launched on May 1998) which is an initiative launched by the Chinese government in 1998. It aims to develop a group of elite universities in China to enhance their research and academic excellence. Jiangnan University¨C Cheng Suran''s school is one of them

    Jiang Yu slowly opened her eyes, smiling as she looked at the items in the box. One by one, she took them out, neatly folding the clothes and placing them back in the wardrobe, putting the bottles and jars on the bathroom sink...

    Cheng Suran followed behind her, watching as she arranged everything, seemingly able to sense a subtle mix of emotions.

    A hint of sourness and bitterness, a touch of heaviness.

    She couldn''t help but recall yesterday evening.

    Jiang Wanyin...

    Such a beautiful former name, why did she change it? Could there be hidden, unknown stories about her sister in the contents of that resume-like document? Otherwise, why would she panic like that if it was seen?

    She had so many questions, but she also understood that she absolutely couldn''t ask them now.

    After Jiang Yu finished packing her things and placed the suitcase aside, she turned around and collided with the girl''s vacant gaze.

    The girl''s face looked weary, her eyes swollen, and there was a faint bruise on her left cheek.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran hesitantly called out to her. "I always make you angry. Actually, you don''t have to endure me. I''m disobedient..." Her throat choked up.

    She couldn''t say it.

    Those three words were scorching on her lips.

    "So, why?" she asked.

    Why did she choose to keep her, why did she endure her?

    Jiang Yu fell silent for a moment, complex emotions surfacing in her deep, dark eyes. She took a slow step forward and embraced her. In that instant, an impulse rose within her, wanting to say three words.

    ¡ªCan''t bear it.

    As long as they maintained a stable lover relationship, she couldn''t bear to let her go.

    "Because..." Jiang Yu''s lips moved.

    Cheng Suran held her breath.

    "My sleep quality hasn''t recovered yet, and you''re more effective than melatonin."

    "..."

    "Moreover, if you unilaterally terminate the contract, there''s a fivefold compensation, one million. If you can''t afford it, I don''t want to use that to pressure you," Jiang Yu said calmly, her voice devoid of any fluctuation, like an indifferent machine.

    That was the answer.

    The contract had no legal effect, so even if Cheng Suran couldn''t come up with the money and simply ran away, Jiang Yu couldn''t do anything.

    She knew she should apologize and say sorry to Ranran.

    But her pride as the benefactor wouldn''t allow it.

    "..."

    The chilling words echoed in her ears as Cheng Suran buried her face in Jiang Yu''s hair, biting her lip tightly. Her fingers dared not grasp her clothes and only trembled in mid-air.

    It felt as if she was standing on a cloud, slowly exhaling the breath trapped in her body, falling from heaven to hell.

    That''s how it was, just like this.

    Because of its sedative effect, because she couldn''t afford one million, it wasn''t for Jiang Yu. Cheng Suran consoled herself.

    The frigid air became solidified.

    The two of them embraced, feeling each other''s warmth, each other''s scent, like tightly entwined threads of a spiderweb, as time stood still in that moment.

    After a long time, Jiang Yu cupped the girl''s face and gently kissed her left cheek.

    I''m sorry.

    She said in her heart.

    ¡­.

    Outside the main gate, Tian Lin sat on a chair, waiting.

    After about half an hour, the door opened, and Jiang Yu came out from inside. Tian Lin quickly stood up and greeted her, "Sister Yu..."

    The gossip in her heart began to stir again.

    "Why didn''t you put it in a document bag yesterday? Or couldn''t you just leave it in a drawer or a cabinet? Why did you put it on the bed, afraid that Ranran wouldn''t see it?" Jiang Yu furrowed her brow, her tone serious.

    Tian Lin was taken aback.

    Yesterday afternoon, Jiang Yu instructed her on WeChat to send the old bilingual resume to the hotel. At that time, Jiang Yu was on a flight back to the country, with about forty minutes left until landing. Tian Lin calculated the time and sent it around six o''clock.

    Before leaving, she even made sure to close the door to the master bedroom.

    How could this...

    "Miss Cheng returned before you?"

    "Mm."

    "..."

    That former name...

    Tian Lin suddenly realized and immediately felt regretful. She said apologetically, "I''m sorry, Sister Yu. I will pay attention next time."

    The two of them entered the elevator, one after the other.

    Jiang Yu rubbed her temples with a headache and sighed, "Forget it."

    ¡­.

    Throughout the day, Cheng Suran was restless during her three classes.

    She couldn''t remember when it started, but her mind was filled with thoughts of Jiang Yu. Every frown, every smile, every word and sentence of hers kept disturbing Cheng Suran''s peace of mind. She was constantly plagued by doubts and worries, and attending classes felt like sleepwalking.

    However, she couldn''t control herself...

    As the sun set in the west, the sky was dyed with a faint orange color. Cheng Suran walked out of the school''s side gate, and her shadow stretched long and lonely on the ground, imbued with a sense of desolation.

    Approaching the familiar white car, she instinctively took out the key, pressed it, and the car''s headlights flashed twice, opening the door.

    The woman sitting in the driver''s seat startled her.

    "Sister? How... how did you..." Cheng Suran''s eyes widened as she stared at her in a daze.

    Jiang Yu leaned back in her seat, arms crossed, and slightly tilted her head, revealing the sharp and cold profile of her face. She smiled at the girl and said, "I came to pick you up from school."

    There was a hint of apology in her eyes.

    Like a silent apology.

 CH 68

    This was Jiang Yu''s second time coming to the school to pick up Cheng Suran.

    After a few months apart, many things seemed to have changed, subtly and unknowingly, like seeds being planted in the soil, taking root and sprouting.

    The pale golden sunset fell on Jiang Yu''s face, illuminating her eyes. At that moment, Cheng Suran saw an expression that only a child who had done something wrong would have, but it quickly disappeared, leaving one to wonder if it was just an illusion.

    Cheng Suran whispered, "I can drive back by myself."

    If that wasn''t possible, there was still the driver sister, there was no need to trouble Jiang Yu. She thought to herself.

    She was stunned.

    She had actually talked back.

    "Don''t you want sister to come and pick you up?"

    "..."

    Seeing the girl''s silence, Jiang Yu''s smile froze on her lips.

    For a moment, she lowered her eyes, appearing both disappointed and helpless. She nodded gently, not saying anything, and started to get off the car.

    "Where are you going?" Cheng Suran quickly grabbed her, looked around, and pushed her back inside.

    This was the busiest time for students entering and leaving the school. Eyes were everywhere. Jiang Yu''s tall figure was already conspicuous enough on the street, and her strong and commanding presence attracted even more attention. If she got off the car, she would surely be surrounded by onlookers.

    Jiang Yu slumped back into her seat without lifting her head. "I''ll take a taxi."

    "Why would you take a taxi when you have a car?"

    "Since you don''t want me to pick you up, I''ll just leave. You can drive back by yourself."

    Her voice was low, filled with helplessness.

    "I didn''t mean it that way..." Cheng Suran immediately felt guilty, holding onto her hand as if she had bullied her, "Think about it, I do want you to come. Just quickly sit back and don''t let anyone see you."

    She was both acting spoiled and trying to coax her, which was somewhat funny and frustrating. Cheng Suran couldn''t help but pout.

    Jiang Yu raised her head and gazed at her.

    ¡ªSo, are you still mad at sister?

    Her lips twitched, and the words surged up but were swallowed back down.

    "Come up."

    "Okay."

    Cheng Suran cautiously looked around, making sure no one was passing by before stepping aside, closing the door, and walking around to the right side. She slid into the passenger seat.

    The car slowly drove out of the vicinity of the school.

    No one spoke during the journey, and the atmosphere was strangely quiet. It remained that way until they stopped at a traffic light intersection. Jiang Yu turned to Cheng Suran, took out a silver-gray card from her bag, and handed it over.

    It was the credit card that was returned to her this morning.

    Cheng Suran opened her mouth, about to say something, but Jiang Yu interrupted her:

    "Do you remember the password for this card?"

    "82..." She couldn''t recall.

    "827930." Jiang Yu calmly completed the answer.

    "It means August 27th, 9:30 p.m., our first official meeting."

    Cheng Suran''s heart trembled, and she involuntarily clenched the card, the sharp edges digging into her palm, almost bending.

    She turned her head slowly, looking at Jiang Yu.

    The two silently locked eyes.

    At that moment, the green light lit up. The car in front had already started, and the car behind honked impatiently.

    Jiang Yu silently withdrew her gaze and focused on driving again.

    Cheng Suran turned her face towards the window, still tightly gripping the card. The sharp sensation seemed to prick her heart, immovable and impossible to ignore.

    What could such a meaning imply?

    Does her sister value her? Care about her? Have a place for her in her heart? Only these reasons could explain it, but she couldn''t feel happy about it.

    That slap not only landed on her face but also pierced her heart. She thought that a good night''s sleep would make everything better, and her sister would comfort her as she used to. But this time, she couldn''t sleep, and there was no comforting.

    From last night until now, it felt like her heart had been torn apart, empty, occasionally filled with a gust of wind that stung sourly. Sometimes it felt like the ebb and flow of the tide, leaving behind a desolate expanse of sand and silence.

    What was wrong with her?

    She didn''t sleep last night, and she had classes all day today. It should be physical exhaustion.

    With that in mind, she closed her eyes.

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    The car didn''t head towards the hotel but instead arrived at the central square of the city.

    As the sky grew darker, streetlights began to illuminate one after another. People walked by the roadside, creating a lively and noisy atmosphere. Cheng Suran opened her eyes and saw the scene outside the window, feeling momentarily stunned.

    "Sister? Where are we going?"

    "To buy something."

    Jiang Yu kept her eyes straight ahead, driving the car into the underground parking lot of a nearby shopping mall. She found a parking spot, took out a hat and a mask from her bag, and put them on. "Let''s go, let''s go inside and have a look."

    Cheng Suran thought she was going to accompany her sister for some shopping, so she obediently nodded.

    Suddenly, the card in her hand was snatched away.

    "?"

    She had a sense of impending doom.

    After getting out of the car, Jiang Yu naturally took Cheng Suran''s hand and their fingers interlocked. Cheng Suran hadn''t even had a chance to be surprised when that hand let go and returned to the normal position of holding her hand.

    "... "

    The ground beneath them was the most prosperous section of Jiangcheng, adjacent to the river. The lights were dazzling, and across the river stood towering skyscrapers. High-end restaurants and luxury stores were clustered together, emanating an atmosphere of extravagance and luxury.

    Having been in Jiangcheng for over two years, Cheng Suran had never entered any nearby stores. The bright lights were too overwhelming and would scorch her already fragile confidence.

    The moment they entered, she involuntarily moved closer to Jiang Yu, shrinking behind her. When she saw the salesperson approaching, her body tensed up.

    "Don''t be afraid," Jiang Yu whispered softly.

    Caught red-handed, Cheng Suran''s cheeks flushed slightly. She had to force herself to raise her gaze and appear more confident.

    The salesperson smiled and greeted them, their gaze fixed on Jiang Yu, as if trying to find a flaw on her face. "You are... Jiang..."

    Pfft.

    Cheng Suran quickly turned her face away, pursing her lips to suppress her laughter.

    Hahaha...

    "Just having a look around," Jiang Yu nodded lightly, smiled, and held Cheng Suran''s hand, starting to browse from the left side.

    As they strolled, Jiang Yu explained the elements of clothing and roughly discussed how to mix and match them.

    The salesperson followed from behind, maintaining a not-too-close, not-too-far distance, able to perceive their needs in a timely manner without making them feel awkward.

    Originally, Cheng Suran didn''t like shopping in physical stores. Regardless of whether the items were expensive or cheap, there was always someone following her, making her feel uncomfortable. But today, she felt okay. She didn''t know if it was because Jiang Yu kept talking and distracting her attention or if it was because walking beside her gave her a sense of security...

    Gradually, she began to relax.

    However, as they continued browsing, she felt something was off. Whenever Jiang Yu stopped and looked at a particular item of clothing, her gaze would then shift to Cheng Suran, wearing an examining expression as if contemplating something.

    It seemed like she wasn''t buying clothes for herself but rather selecting them for her.

    "This dress suits you well," Jiang Yu stopped once again, picking up an avocado green spaghetti-strap dress, gesturing in front of Cheng Suran, nodding in satisfaction.

    Cheng Suran shook her head repeatedly, lowered her voice and said, "I already have a dress of this style, please don''t spend money on it."

    "I know you have one, I''ve seen you wear it, but that one doesn''t match you."

    "... "

    "This type of dress is called a slip dress. It''s made using bias-cut techniques and looks the best. However, this technique wastes a lot of fabric and requires extensive calculations, making it costly. So, cheap slip dresses are all knockoffs. They won''t fit your body naturally, resulting in an uneven and unflattering look. It doesn''t do justice to your overall aura," Jiang Yu explained with a gentle smile and narrowed eyes.

    Cheng Suran was taken aback by her words, and by the time she regained her senses, Jiang Yu had already swiped the card to pay. She lightly touched her own face, feeling bashful as she bit her lip.

    At the second brand''s store, Jiang Yu selected two tops for Cheng Suran. At the third brand, she chose a pair of pants and a pair of shoes. Gradually, both of them were carrying three or four paper bags.

    Cheng Suran''s "ominous" premonition finally came true¡ª

    Everything was paid with that card.

    Was this a way to indirectly force her to spend money? Turning her into a "genuine" canary.

    She couldn''t help but smile bitterly.

    After putting the items in the car, the two of them held hands and went to have a meal. Sitting in a high-rise building along the riverbank, Cheng Suran looked at the sparkling lights of the tall buildings and the mesmerizing advertisements of Jiang Yu playing on the large display screens. The complexity of her feelings grew...

    She could sense her sister''s remorse and understand that this might be her way of apologizing to her.

    But she still felt like something was missing.

    What was it?

    Wasn''t she a canary after all? Isn''t this how a benefactor spoils a canary? In that moment, she suddenly understood that it wasn''t about what was missing; it was that she had never truly possessed it.

    If she were a girlfriend, she would apologize in person.

    If she were a girlfriend, there wouldn''t have been that slap.

    She was still holding a grudge, after all.

    After finishing their meal, the two of them took a leisurely stroll along the riverside path. Jiang Yu was recognized again, this time by a fan, and she happily took a photo with them. She treated fans well, treated strangers well¡ªit was a kind of equal treatment.

    Cheng Suran vaguely began to understand.

    She was actually less than a stranger...

    The hole in her heart grew a little larger. The cold night breeze from the river slowly seeped in, chilling her to the bone. She had never felt this cold before. It was as if the entire world was shrouded in darkness and coldness, and she could no longer see the sun of tomorrow.

    "Why are your hands so cold?" Jiang Yu held her hand and furrowed her brow.

    Cheng Suran gathered her thoughts, mustered a bitter smile, and blinked. "Hmm, it''s a bit cold. Let''s go back."

    Back in the underground parking lot, after getting into the car, Jiang Yu didn''t immediately drive off. Instead, she turned on the heater for a while and then took Cheng Suran''s icy hands into her own, gently warming them.

    Her palms were warm.

    "You were very brave today, Ranran."

    "?"

    The car was dark, with only dim lighting from outside. The cold light seeped in, illuminating the girl''s fair skin, as if covered with a thin layer of glaze, radiant and smooth.

    Jiang Yu gazed at her gently, her eyes filled with depth.

    "When I was your age, I would feel nervous and scared when entering a shopping mall because I had no confidence and couldn''t afford to buy anything. I was afraid of being laughed at. I wouldn''t even dare to glance inside store windows as I passed by."

    "The first time a photographer took pictures of me, they said I looked as stiff as a block of wood. I felt like countless pairs of eyes were staring at me, mocking me. At first, I cared a lot about it, but then I thought, I had nothing to begin with, so what is there to care about? And later, after many photo shoots, I gained experience and gradually found my own style and direction. I have never shown fear since."

    "Many things are like that. It''s human nature to fear the unknown. To turn the unknown into the known, you have to try multiple times. And the first attempt can never be perfect."

    "There''s a term called ''cost of trial and error.'' You see those confident people of your age who seem to have the poise and ease to do anything, and you envy them, right? But it''s not that they were born knowing everything; it''s that their cost of trial and error is low. When they try something and make a mistake, they can bear the risks and consequences without attracting ridicule and blame. That''s why they dare to do it. As they do it more, it becomes natural. And us..."

    She paused for a moment, gripping the girl''s hand tightly.

    "We are no less than them."

    "If you want to see a bigger world, you have to step out, like the stores I took you to today. They are small worlds, worlds you have never encountered before. You don''t necessarily have to possess the things inside, but you can look and know that these things exist. When you have witnessed various people and things, you won''t be easily deceived by a few words from others. You''re young, and you can try anything, then figure out what you want and what you don''t."

    Jiang Yu curved her lips, reaching out to brush away the stray hair from the girl''s temple, tucking it behind her ear.

    For some reason, the more she looked at the kid, the more familiar she felt. It was as if she saw her past self through her, or perhaps a luckier version of herself from a parallel universe.

    She understood that Ranran had ambitions.

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran looked at her in a dazed manner. "Do you like brave people?"

    "Who doesn''t like brave people?" Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow and smiled lightly.

    The light in Cheng Suran''s eyes dimmed.

    She wasn''t brave enough.

    She didn''t even have the courage to say she liked someone. She could only stay by her sister''s side as a canary looked down upon...

    A look of sorrow and bitterness appeared on her young face, a gray haze in her eyes, listless.

    Jiang Yu also sensed the heartache and took a deep breath, embracing her. Her lips moved for a while before finally whispering a few words, "I''m sorry."

    Cheng Suran suddenly froze.

    "Don''t be mad at sister, okay?"

    "I''m..."

    "Good."

    A comforting kiss landed on her left cheek.

    ¡­.

    After Christmas, the reality show that Jiang Yu participated in began airing. The first episode was lively and received unexpectedly high ratings. It skyrocketed to the third spot on Weibo''s hot search overnight, garnering a surprisingly positive response.

    Jiang Yu and Pei Chutong''s team generated the most discussion, while the gap between them and the second-ranked team was like a cliff drop. The other two teams were more or less on par.

    As the second episode aired, the reason behind the success finally surfaced. People generally felt that Jiang Yu and Pei Chutong appeared more genuine. They had seamless cooperation no matter what they did, and their everyday interactions felt natural. On the other hand, the performances of the other teams seemed slightly forced and carried obvious idol burdens. They didn''t give the same comfortable impression.

    The deeper reason was only known to the people involved:

    Jiang Yu and Pei Chutong were pre-arranged, real-life friends who had known each other for several years. They had more than just professional connections, unlike the others who only had occasional interactions and were grouped together for the show, lacking that sense of authenticity.

    And authenticity was what the reality show aimed for.

    With time, discussions within the small circle started to revolve around a CP*.

    *couple pairing/ship

    Some created fan tags, some collected beautiful pictures, and others wrote fanfiction, self-indulging in their own little corner of joy.

    Cheng Suran also came across it.

    Shortly after New Year''s Day, with two weeks remaining until the final exams and everyone studying diligently, she accidentally stumbled upon CP fan art while scrolling through Weibo. Curiosity led her into the fan Chaohua*, and she couldn''t escape.

    *Super talk/topic a feature in Weibo similar to Twitter Community, where one can follow topics of interest and share discussions with the other fans of that topic

    Those fanfictions, short or long, were filled with romance and affection. The fan art was both beautiful and matched flawlessly, depicting a perfect couple.

    She felt agitated yet couldn''t help but look. Despite knowing it was all created by fans, it still made her heartache.

    As a result, she couldn''t focus on her studies.

    In the late afternoon of that day, after class, Cheng Suran hastily went to the cafeteria for dinner and then headed to the library. Luckily, there were a few empty seats left. She sat down, took out her books and laptop, and couldn''t help but open Weibo again.

    The CP fan Chaohua ranked first on her frequently visited list, with a profile picture of Jiang Yu and Pei Chutong embracing each other intimately, looking naturally affectionate.

    She clicked into it, and the first post she saw was the latest reply on the most popular fanfiction.

    Then she checked the "latest posts," which were filled with various screenshots from the show.

    [Yuyu dotes on our Tongtong so much.]

    [That cooking scene had me squealing! Yuyu is such a perfect top kswlkswl! dog head.jpg]

    [Thousand-year old evil doer x rich and noble worldly flower, lock it up for me!]

    After a quick scroll, Cheng Suran''s grip on the mouse tightened, her face turning red. Unable to bear it any longer, she exited and clicked into Jiang Yu''s Weibo, seeking some comfort.

    Her sister updated her Weibo today with a set of nine-square grid photos.

    She was wearing a black suit, standing in the rain with slightly damp hair, exuding a film-like texture, gentle and serene.

    Cheng Suran''s eyes sparkled as she imagined having such a person sleeping beside her, feeling a hint of solace. She saved all the photos into her exclusive album and clicked into the comment section.

    The top comment was a fan''s declaration of love.

    [Ah, ah, ah, sister, I love you so much. I unilaterally declare you as my wife =3=]

    Jiang Yu replied below: I love you too. (heart.jpg)

    Cheng Suran stared at this reply, and the light in her eyes instantly extinguished. It was as if she heard a thunderous sound in her heart. At that moment, she suddenly felt foolish.

    To hear the words "I love you" from Jiang Yu''s mouth seemed so effortless and simple. It appeared that anyone had the right to stand on equal footing with Jiang Yu, except for her.

    Even though her sister slept beside her every night, even though her sister held her and affectionately called her by her nickname, and kissed her...

    She was nothing more than a stranger.

    One hour, two hours... Time slowly passed by. She didn''t read a page of her book, didn''t turn on her computer, but her phone was running out of battery.

    As soon as she entered the library, she would leave in the same way.

    Cheng Suran, carrying the black bag that Jiang Yu had given her, wandered around the campus like a walking corpse. She remembered that she needed to get a book and changed her direction towards the dormitory.

    The dorm room was lit up, and the air conditioner blew warm and dry heat. Li Meiling was taking a shower in the bathroom.

    Cheng Suran walked mechanically to her desk, pulled out a book from the shelf, and casually glanced at the embroidered little white rabbit placed beside it. She hesitated for a moment, then picked it up.

    It had been sitting here for three months without being wiped or cleaned, accumulating quite a bit of dust on its body.

    She gently blew on it, patted it, carefully examining the rabbit that was still a bit dirty, and instinctively put it in her pocket. She held the book and turned to leave.

    Her phone, which was almost out of battery, received a message from Jiang Yu:

    [Are you back? Do you want me to pick you up?]

    Cheng Suran hesitantly replied: [I''m ready to leave.]

    Add a spoonful of Coco: [Take your time driving, no rush.]

    Looking at the caring words, tears welled up in Cheng Suran''s eyes. She quickly logged out of Weibo, unloading everything...

    ¡­.

    Back at the hotel, Jiang Yu was taking a shower.

    The sound of water dripping came from the bathroom...

    Cheng Suran stood at the doorway, lost in thought as she looked in that direction for a while before turning around and slowly walking into the guest room, switching on the lights.

    She put down her bag, took out her phone and the little rabbit from her pocket, and threw them onto the bed. She took off her jacket and tossed herself onto the bed, lying flat.

    After lying down for a while, footsteps approached.

    Cheng Suran opened her eyes.

    "Ranran?" Jiang Yu, wearing a bathrobe, entered the room and saw the girl lying sprawled on the bed. She paused for a moment, then asked, "Just got back?"

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran obediently nodded and sat up, feeling a vague impulse in her heart.

    "How''s your review going?" Jiang Yu sat down, hugged her waist, and pulled her into her embrace.

    Cheng Suran was taken aback, feeling a bit guilty. "It''s going well."

    "This month is the haute couture month, and I have a few haute couture shows to attend. So, I''ll have to go on a business trip next week. Study well at home, and when you finish your exams, sister will come back." Jiang Yu affectionately ruffled the girl''s hair and kissed her lips repeatedly.

    Cheng Suran closed her eyes, her cheek pressed against Jiang Yu''s neck, feeling the warmth radiating from it. She replied in a muffled voice, "Okay..."

    Once she finished her final exams, there were only eleven days left until the second contract expired.

    No one mentioned it.

    But reality had to be faced.

    Jiang Yu fell silent, gently caressing her face with the palm of her hand. She shifted her position, getting closer, but accidentally sat on something.

    Something small and slightly hard.

    She furrowed her brows slightly, turned her head, and picked it up to take a look.

    It was a yellowed embroidered little rabbit.

    "What is this..."

    "Hm?"

    Cheng Suran raised her head in confusion, only to see Jiang Yu''s eyes widen in surprise, and her thin lips trembled. "Where did you get this?"

 CH 69

    At the end of summer when Jiang Yu was 18 years old, she changed her name and secretly carried 500 yuan that she had saved. She escaped from her suffocating home, using the excuse of going to work.

    At that time, it was the year 2005 when high-speed trains were not yet available in China. Airplanes were considered a luxurious means of transportation for the wealthy. For Jiang Yu, who was destitute, the only option to travel from a small southern county to a major city in the east was to take the slow, non-air-conditioned train.

    The hard seat tickets were much cheaper than the sleeping berth tickets, so she didn''t hesitate to choose the former. Enduring a long and swaying journey of twenty hours, she believed she could bear it and make it through.

    She felt like a caged bird, filled with curiosity and excitement about the outside world and its freedom. Despite feeling scared to be alone, her heart yearned for a life of freedom.

    The long train made a five-minute stop at the station. There were many people getting on and off the train. Jiang Yu tightly held onto her backpack and followed the crowd, walking while searching for her train carriage. It was at this moment that she noticed people in the corner.

    Two adult men and a little girl.

    The girl appeared to be around five or six years old, fair-skinned, but thin. She had two braids on her head and was dressed in a brand new floral dress, looking quite eye-catching from head to toe.

    The two men beside her had darting eyes, constantly looking around, appearing very cautious and suspicious.

    Everyone around them seemed to be in a hurry, except for them, who seemed out of place.

    Jiang Yu glanced at the little girl a few more times and found her exceptionally cute. Then she saw the man in the blue shirt handing over a package to the man in the black shirt. After receiving it, the latter patted the little girl''s shoulder and said something before walking away.

    Without thinking much, she averted her gaze and continued walking towards her designated train carriage.

    There were three minutes left before the train starts moving.

    As she found her carriage and was about to board, she suddenly heard a child crying. She turned her head and saw the man in the blue shirt pulling the little girl, his expression somewhat unnatural.

    "Why are you crying just because I didn''t buy you snacks? Hurry up and go home with father!" he scolded while looking around.

    The little girl cried and sat on the ground, saying, "Wuwuwu, you''re not my daddy..."

    The surrounding passengers entering and exiting the station glanced over, but no one stopped, thinking it was someone else''s family matter.

    The small girl, lacking the strength of an adult, was being dragged and pulled, crying heart-wrenchingly, pitiful and helpless. At that moment, Jiang Yu couldn''t help but think of herself.

    At the age of six, she had also been dragged around by her grandmother.

    Due to her young age, she didn''t have enough power to resist. The anger and humiliation of being controlled and oppressed had been deeply imprinted in her heart for years, unforgettable. That''s why she longed to grow up and have power.

    "Hey¡ª" Jiang Yu''s mind went blank as she rushed forward. "Let her go!"

    With her height of nearly 1.8 meters, slightly taller than the man, and a cold expression that warned others to stay away, she didn''t look like someone to mess with, exuding an intimidating presence.

    The man cautiously stepped back, glaring at her. "Who are you? It''s none of your business how I educate my daughter, you crazy person!"

    "She''s not your daughter! There was a man in black who handed her over to you and then ran away, I saw it!"

    "You... What nonsense are you spouting, little girl!"

    "Capture the kidnapper! Child trafficking!" Jiang Yu rushed forward and grabbed the man''s arm, shouting loudly.

    This noise attracted the attention of the patrolling train police in front, and three or four people ran towards them. The surrounding passengers also slowed down their steps. The man instantly panicked, pushing her away and turning to run. He quickly disappeared into the crowd, fleeing into the exit corridor.

    "Wuwuwu..." The little girl remained sitting on the ground.

    Jiang Yu quickly helped her up, took out a tissue, and gently wiped away her tears. With a soothing tone, she asked, "Little friend, where is your father?"

    "Daddy is gone..." the girl said, choking with sobs.

    Several train police officers rushed over, asking about the situation. Jiang Yu comforted the girl while explaining that they couldn''t catch the trafficker at the moment, but they could look for the girl''s father. He couldn''t have gone far.

    "Be good, little friend. Don''t cry, everything will be alright..." She hugged the girl''s thin body and spoke softly to soothe her.

    The small arms naturally wrapped around her neck, emitting a unique milk fragrance that only children possess.

    It was pure and comforting.

    The train police decided to check the surveillance footage to find the girl''s family. At that moment, the train sounded a long whistle, indicating that it was about to depart. Only a few scattered people remained on the platform. Jiang Yu snapped out of her daze and let go of the girl.

    "Little friend, sister needs to get on the train. You should go with the police uncles and let them help you find your daddy, okay? Here, this little bunny is for you. Let it accompany you."

    She took out the bunny she had embroidered herself from her pocket and placed it in the girl''s small palm.

    The little girl sniffled and said in a childish voice, "Thank you, sister..."

    One second before the train car door closed, Jiang Yu rushed in just in time, and the train slowly started moving. She clung to the side of the door and looked through the sealed window at the platform. The little figure held the white bundle and followed the police officers, occasionally turning her head to look back.

    Until they could no longer see each other...

    After a long and arduous journey, Jiang Yu didn''t dwell on this matter anymore. During her stay in Jiangcheng, she completely forgot about it.

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Memories flooded back, and Jiang Yu held the small white bunny in a daze, her lips trembling uncontrollably.

    She never expected to see this bunny again after over a decade.

    She thought she had forgotten it forever.

    The bunny was small, with slightly yellowed white threads on its body. Its ears were a bit dirty, and her initials "J" were embroidered below the neck with black thread, representing her because she was born in the Year of the Rabbit.

    Could that little girl be...

    Her eyelashes trembled, and she looked at Cheng Suran in disbelief.

    "Seems like someone gave it to me when I was a child..." Cheng Suran stared at the bunny, unsure.

    Jiang Yu pressed on, "Do you remember who gave it to you?"

    Cheng Suran shook her head gently, "I don''t remember." She noticed Jiang Yu''s strange expression, as if she was very interested in this bunny. "Sister, do you like it? Then I''ll give it to you."

    "Do you remember riding a train when you were about five or six years old?" Jiang Yu didn''t answer directly but responded with a question, gripping Cheng Suran''s shoulders.

    Even without a definite answer, she had a guess. The girl who nearly got sold by her own father at the hometown train station fourteen years ago might be Cheng Suran. Besides their age, this bunny was the best proof--

    There was a subtle connection between them.

    Their similar life experiences intersected at some point in the past, and now, after wandering through the sea of people and the passage of time, they unexpectedly met again, but in such a hidden way.

    As if everything was destined.

    Cheng Suran was startled, her shoulders hunched, and she lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment. She said, "I vaguely remember riding it when I was very young, but I don''t remember exactly how old I was. And I had a dream before..."

    In her dream, there was a green train, a platform, and her father. The rest of the images were blurry, but in the depths of her memory, there was always a gentle voice.

    Reality and dream seemed to blur together.

    Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind. She was stunned for a moment, raised her gaze, and stared directly at Jiang Yu, murmuring, "Sister, could it be that you gave me this bunny?"

    The two of them looked at each other in silence.

    The bedroom was quiet, with bright lights from the ceiling casting sparse shadows, enveloping their stiff bodies. In the silence, it felt like something was fermenting and then boiling.

    After a while, Jiang Yu nodded gently.

    Cheng Suran''s mouth slightly opened, only hearing the sound of her heartbeat growing more intense, unsure if it was joy or nervousness.

    On the night they officially met for the first time, she felt a sense of familiarity when she looked at this face, like a person from a distant dream, ethereal yet present. After finding out about Jiang Yu''s identity and confirming that she had seen her on television and the internet, she felt a sense of loss.

    But it wasn''t just that.

    Not only did she see Jiang Yu on TV, but a long, long time ago, they had an intersection in their lives, even though she had long lost the memory of it. But that familiar feeling was deeply etched in her soul.

    Doesn''t this mean that they have a destined connection?

    "I saw you when I was a child, right? But... I don''t remember anything. Sister, please tell me what''s going on..." Cheng Suran anxiously grabbed Jiang Yu''s hand.

    Jiang Yu''s expression darkened slightly, and she withdrew her hand as if she had been electrocuted, avoiding Cheng Suran''s gaze.

    Cheng Suran was young back then, so it was normal for her not to remember, but Jiang Yu remembered. And once that memory was revealed, it meant that they would have a deeper bond, one that couldn''t be maintained purely through monetary transactions.

    Everything would become tainted, out of control.

    In an instant, she snapped back to reality.

    No, it couldn''t happen.

    "Sister? What''s wrong? Please tell me?" Cheng Suran softly nestled in her embrace, acting coquettishly.

    Jiang Yu coughed lightly, turned her face away, and spoke in a distant tone, "I don''t remember the specifics either, but when I was eighteen, I took a train to Jiangcheng. I saw a little girl crying on the platform, so I gave her this bunny."

    "And then?"

    "And then she stopped crying, and I got on the train. I haven''t seen her since."

    "Do you remember why I was crying back then?" Cheng Suran cupped Jiang Yu''s face.

    Jiang Yu frowned and struggled for a moment, "I don''t remember."

    "Which platform did you board the train from? Did you see me on the boarding platform or when you arrived at Jiangcheng''s platform?" Cheng Suran pursued, sensing something through Jiang Yu''s evasive gaze and refusing to let go.

    "I don''t remember."

    "Sister, this is fate between us, isn''t it?"

    "Yeah, it''s quite a coincidence. Alright, go wash up and sleep." Jiang Yu pushed the girl away, without lifting her eyelids, got up, and went to the other side of the bed, lifting the blanket and crawling inside.

    She fled without a trace.

    The little bunny rolled off the bed.

    Cheng Suran bent down to pick it up, holding it in the palm of her hand. When she turned her head, she saw that Jiang Yu had already lain down, with her back facing her, only revealing half of her disheveled hair.

    Her intuition told her that her sister hadn''t told the whole truth.

    At least not everything.

    Why?

    If it was really something insignificant, why couldn''t she tell her the truth? If she didn''t care, why was she avoiding it? The person who had always been composed and calm in front of her was now acting like this, with emotions visible on her face. How could she not overthink it?

    But if Jiang Yu didn''t speak, she couldn''t force her to open her mouth.

    She hated that she couldn''t remember anything.

    It felt like she was hanging in mid-air, suspended by an invisible rope, unable to reach the sky or the ground. It felt like cat''s claws scratching at her heart, unwilling but helpless.

    In this moment, she suddenly had the urge to confess, to say everything regardless of the consequences. But courage was fleeting, and as she opened her mouth, the words retreated in cowardice.

    It was as if she was challenging her own limits.

    She could barely hold it back...

    After sitting in silence for a long time, Cheng Suran quietly put away the little bunny and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

    The sound of water dripping was like rain pouring down.

    Jiang Yu lay on the bed on her side, her mind buzzing, a congested dizziness engulfing her.

    As long as she had control over the situation, it was safe. She knew Cheng Suran wouldn''t dare, and as long as it remained unspoken, they would still have the purest monetary transaction relationship, allowing her to be at ease.

    She tightly closed her eyes, her fingers pinching the palm of her hand, pressed against her chest, and let out a long sigh.

    In a hidden corner of her heart, unknown to others, a little bit of joy and happiness quietly bloomed...

    ¡­.

    Two days before the business trip was the weekend, and the company organized a dinner party. They rented a villa in the outskirts for a party, which could be considered as the annual gathering.

    Every employee attending the party could bring one family member or friend. So everyone brought their partners if they had one, or friends if they didn''t. Excluding the models who had work outside that day, the group was lively and bustling.

    Jiang Yu brought Cheng Suran with her.

    The winter landscape was bare, with the trees stripped of their leaves, giving a somewhat desolate and barren feeling. Several small buildings were scattered throughout the villa, accommodating over a hundred people.

    Several cars arrived at the villa one after another, and everyone went to their assigned rooms.

    "Ranran, I''ll leave the things here for now. I''ll be right back," Jiang Yu pushed the luggage to the side of the wall and then left.

    Cheng Suran softly replied, "Okay," and squatted down to open her own suitcase, slowly unpacking her things.

    Before long, there was a knock on the door.

    ¡ªtok tok tok

    "?"

    She''s back so soon? And knocking?

    Cheng Suran stood up, but before she could take a step, the door was pushed open slowly, revealing a tall and slender figure that was not familiar to her.

    "Oh, only little sister is here," Bai Lu stepped into the room and closed the door behind her.

    Cheng Suran was slightly stunned, feeling a little uneasy for some reason. She forced a smile and asked, "Are you looking for sister?"

    "Sister?"

    Bai Lu raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly. She scanned the room before returning her gaze to Cheng Suran, a hint of mockery in her tone as she said, "Shouldn''t it be benefactor instead?"

 CH 70

    She indeed found out.

    Cheng Suran''s face turned slightly pale. She couldn''t determine her intentions at that moment, but she was determined not to back down. She clenched her fist and said, "So what?"

    "Huh?"

    "So what do you want to say?"

    "Oh, I don''t want to say anything. I''m just stating the facts," Bai Lu shrugged her shoulders.

    Cheng Suran gazed at her intently.

    "Why are you looking at me like that?" Bai Lu couldn''t help but chuckle at her serious expression. "Don''t worry, little sister, I won''t say anything. After all, it was a consensual matter. You can relax."

    "Since Sister Yu isn''t here, I''ll come back later."

    After saying that, she lifted her hand to cover her mouth, mimicking the action of zipping up a zipper, and turned to leave.

    "Is it because you overheard what I said in the office last time?" Cheng Suran''s voice was low, and her tightly clenched fingers slowly loosened.

    Bai Lu paused in her tracks, her hand hovering in the air near the door handle. After a moment of silence, she still kept her back turned to Cheng Suran, and a hint of disdain flickered in her lowered gaze.

    "It''s not just because of that."

    "..."

    "I''ve sensed that something was off with you two for a while now."

    "How did you figure it out?" Cheng Suran urgently asked.

    Bai Lu turned around calmly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "The way you look at Sister Yu reveals too much. I have a sister, and I know the look between sisters isn''t like that. When you like someone, no matter how much you restrain yourself, your eyes and subtle actions give you away. I''m afraid you''re the only one who thinks you''re hiding it well."

    Those narrow, sharp eyes seemed to pierce through her heart.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t avoid it. Her entire soul was laid bare under the sunlight, as if struck by a thunderbolt.

    Eyes cannot deceive.

    She could say she didn''t like Jiang Yu out loud, she could convince herself that she didn''t like her, she could control her actions, expressions, and even her attention. But she couldn''t control her own eyes.

    Perhaps many times she wasn''t even aware of it herself...

    What kind of look did she have when she looked at Jiang Yu? What emotions did she reveal? Were there others present? Did Jiang Yu herself notice? Then... Cheng Suran felt a bit flustered.

    It didn''t matter how others perceived her; she cared more about what Jiang Yu thought.

    As long as it didn''t cause trouble for her sister...

    "You''re so confused, little sister. I sympathize with you," Bai Lu shook her head with a hint of regret, not revealing anything but her meaningful gaze.

    Cheng Suran met her gaze, her breath catching, as the most fragile part of her heart was brutally struck.

    Where lies she had told herself resided, as well as her own imprisoned self-esteem.

    "You also like Jiang Yu, don''t you?" Cheng Suran sneered, her eyes slightly red. "You''re the same, liking her but not wanting her to know, yet always wanting to be close to her. So what right do you have to sympathize with me? Do I need your sympathy?"

    She resembled a small creature whose tail had been stepped on, letting out an instinctive roar.

    Sympathy, pity...

    She despised those two words.

    Bai Lu looked at her steadily, her gaze growing even more sympathetic. She sighed and said, "It''s different."

    "Oh?"

    "I have a cat at home that I really like. I sleep with it every night, but I would never consider dating it or having a deeper spiritual connection with it."

    "..."

    "Besides, do you think Sister Yu would like someone who''s always dependent on her? If it were me, I definitely wouldn''t. It''s so boring," Bai Lu shrugged, spreading her hands.

    Cheng Suran''s expression froze.

    Yes...

    Pets and humans are different.

    The friends around Jiang Yu are humans. The fans who confess their love for her on Weibo are humans. Even the strangers who recognize Jiang Yu on the street are humans. Everyone has the right to openly understand Jiang Yu. Only she, as a pet, doesn''t have that privilege.

    Remaining by Jiang Yu''s side in this position, no matter how much she fantasized, it was just her own one-sided play, forever looked down upon by the other party.

    The string that had been tightly stretched in her heart snapped.

    She woke up from her dream.

    Like a traveler carrying a thousand pounds on a long journey, she thought that as long as she kept her head down and kept moving forward, she would reach the desired destination. But she gradually found it difficult to bear this weight. She was challenging her own limits, and the thought of giving up grew stronger with each passing day.

    Her sister says she likes brave people, but she doesn''t even have the courage to stand up and face her.

    What qualifications does a coward have to stand shoulder to shoulder with sister?

    Cheng Suran chuckled self-deprecatingly, a hint of gray clouding her eyes.

    ¡­.

    In the afternoon, everyone had free time to engage in various activities. Some people strolled around nearby, others played mahjong or video games. The atmosphere in the entire villa was lively and harmonious.

    Cheng Suran used the excuse of not sleeping well last night and stayed in bed to rest. Jiang Yu didn''t force her or think much of it and joined others in various activities, playing a few rounds of board games in the game room and singing a couple of songs in the KTV. She was enjoying herself.

    For the evening indoor barbecue, Cheng Suran had been lying on the bed for a long time, adjusting her emotions. There was no reason for her not to go.

    She was afraid that she wouldn''t be able to control her emotions and would be seen through by Jiang Yu or others, so she tried her best to avoid making eye contact with Jiang Yu, pretending to be only interested in the food, pretending to be an innocent little girl who knew nothing about the world.

    Fortunately, Jiang Yu was busy chatting and laughing with others, not paying much attention to her.

    Cheng Suran felt both relieved and a little disappointed as she silently sat in a corner eating barbecue. She wanted to check her Weibo, only to realize that she had uninstalled it and had to download it again.

    Every time she looked up, her gaze followed Jiang Yu.

    She saw Jiang Yu holding a glass of water and toasting with others'' beer. She saw Jiang Yu only taking a few green leafy vegetables from the barbecue grill, not even touching the meat, let alone potatoes. She saw her smiling at everyone, being affable and kind in her words, without any pretense.

    Although she appeared approachable and could joke around with anyone, that cold aura made people dare not offend her easily.

    After finishing the barbecue, someone suggested playing "Truth or Dare."

    Everyone divided into several groups, each group with a deck of cards. They spun the bottle and rolled the dice to choose between "truth" or "dare." If they refused to do the chosen task, they had to drink a glass of beer as punishment.

    Cheng Suran dreaded playing this kind of game. She wanted to slip away, but seeing Jiang Yu looking so interested, she felt a bit reluctant and had no choice but to reluctantly join a group.

    It was her, Jiang Yu, Bai Lu, and Tian Lin, sitting together in a circle with the other members of their group, both men and women, on the carpet.

    "Here, pay attention, we''ll use these for drinking." Bai Lu picked up several large cups and placed them on the table, patting them heavily with her palm.

    The cups had measurement scales on them, holding a capacity of 300 milliliters.

    A male colleague teased, "Xiao Bai, you''re so fierce? Don''t cry later when it''s your turn to drink."

    Bai Lu sneered, "I can drink well."

    "Alright."

    Cheng Suran stared at the cup, secretly feeling anxious. Subconsciously, she leaned towards Jiang Yu, who held her hand and gave her a reassuring look, smiling faintly.

    The bottle spinning began, and everyone held their breath, waiting in anticipation, with the lingering aroma of barbecue in the air.

    In the first four rounds, the bottle landed on three male colleagues and one female colleague. The dice were rolled, with even numbers as ''truth'' and odd numbers as ''dare.'' Only one person drew a ''dare'' card and had to run to the window and shout, "I am a pig."

    Cheng Suran was silently relieved, but in the fifth round, the bottle pointed directly at her.

    ''...''

    What you fear will come to you.

    Everyone, including Jiang Yu, looked at her.

    Cheng Suran nervously picked up the dice and threw it on the table. The dice spun twice and came to a stop, showing a three.

    Hoo¡ª

    She let out a sigh of relief.

    "Oh, truth! Hurry up and draw." Bai Lu winked at her.

    Cheng Suran reached out and drew a card from the middle. When she flipped it over, her face turned red in an instant.

    "What is it?"

    She slowly turned over the card and showed it to everyone.

    Bai Lu read it out loud, "Which part of your body is the most sensitive¡­"

    Others cleared their throats, waiting for her answer.

    Jiang Yu subtly furrowed her brows.

    This question could easily be misunderstood. Cheng Suran blushed and glanced at Jiang Yu, then thought for a moment and said, "Is the armpit considered? It gets itchy when tickled, very sensitive."

    "Yes." Jiang Yu immediately took over, "Next round."

    Cheng Suran calmly placed the card back, reshuffled the deck, and caught sight of Bai Lu looking at her from the corner of her eye. She felt a bit guilty, but then she realized that she was already at the end of the road and didn''t care about being watched and mocked.

    So she confidently raised her head and met Bai Lu''s gaze.

    Bai Lu was taken aback for a moment and turned her face away.

    In this round, the bottle landed in front of Bai Lu. Without hesitation, she grabbed the dice and threw it, revealing a one. She then decisively drew a card and read it out loud:

    ¡ªWho do you think is the sexiest among us?

    "Of course, it''s our Sister Yu." Bai Lu smirked, her eyes looking at Jiang Yu with a hint of ambiguity.

    Others chimed in, applauding and cheering, Oh!¡ª

    Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow, "You have quite the sweet mouth."

    She seemed quite relaxed about it.

    Cheng Suran felt a bit uncomfortable watching Bai Lu''s unabashed gaze. There was an urge to shield Jiang Yu from it, but at that moment, the game moved on to the next round.

    It was now Tian Lin''s turn and two female colleagues, and finally, the spinning bottle pointed at Jiang Yu.

    "Wow, it''s finally your turn," Bai Lu teased.

    After playing a few rounds, Jiang Yu had grasped the essence of the game¡ªit was all about embarrassment and stepping over boundaries, an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. She was slightly concerned about what would happen if she drew a question she couldn''t answer or a daring command that crossed the line. Could she handle drinking that large glass of beer?

    It doesn''t taste good at all.

    She held the dice and threw it, silently hoping for a low number. Unfortunately, it landed on five.

    "Oh, dare!" Bai Lu joined in the commotion.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips.

    Jiang Yu didn''t hesitate. She directly picked the top card, flipped it over, and her expression momentarily froze before returning to normal.

    She turned the card toward everyone to see.

    ¡ªKiss the forehead of the opposite gender closest to you.

    Before the male colleague closest to her could react, Jiang Yu put down the card, grabbed a bottle opener, and casually said, "Let''s drink."

    "Right, right, Boss Jiang, you should drink," the male colleague chimed in, feeling awkward himself. He definitely didn''t dare to do it.

    Cheng Suran finally saw the daring command clearly.

    Her heart, which had briefly lifted, gently sank back into her stomach. She wasn''t surprised by Jiang Yu''s choice; it seemed like she understood her very well. But that large glass of beer, would it really be okay for her to drink it all?

    She vaguely remembered a time not long after they first met when Jiang Yu had fed her sweet red wine, like a beverage, unlike the usual sour and difficult-to-swallow taste of red wine. After just a couple of sips, her face turned red and she couldn''t handle the alcohol.

    She later learned that it wasn''t the usual red wine; it was sweet red wine. For her, all kinds of alcohol were the same¡ªwhether it was a large glass or a small glass, it would make her drunk. If she couldn''t drink it, then she couldn''t.

    Could Jiang Yu handle it?

    Even if she couldn''t, she had to. Cheng Suran thought to herself that her sister couldn''t really go and kiss someone else. Especially a man.

    Everyone''s gaze was fixed on Jiang Yu as she drank the full glass in one breath.

    Cheng Suran carefully observed her expression, but she didn''t notice anything unusual. The game continued, and after a couple more rounds, almost everyone had taken their turn. Then, the bottle pointed to Jiang Yu again.

    She hadn''t had many turns throughout the dozen or so rounds, only twice, but luck wasn''t on her side. She kept rolling high numbers and drawing daring commands¡ªeither embarrassing or crossing the line. The second time was "Rub the X of the same-sex person on your left and shout ''Nanny, I''m hungry!''" She refused and chose to drink instead.

    With 600 milliliters of beer in her belly, Jiang Yu, who rarely drank heavily, was starting to feel a little uncomfortable. Her hand unconsciously rested on her stomach. And for the third time she drew...

    ¡ªSquat on the chair and act like you''re constipated, then eat something and hold that pose for twenty seconds.

    Everyone exchanged suppressed laughter.

    But Cheng Suran couldn''t laugh. Compared to crossing the line, embarrassing situations were more acceptable, but she had a gut feeling that Jiang Yu would still choose to drink. She didn''t know why, but it always felt like it was because of her.

    Or perhaps she was just being presumptuous.

    As expected..." Jiang Yu put the card back and was about to pour the drink.

    Bai Lu stopped her. "Sister Yu, this command isn''t difficult. There''s no need to drink anymore. You''ve already had two large glasses. Can you handle drinking more?"

    Jiang Yu smiled faintly and said, "You have to accept the punishment if you lose the bet."

    She caught a glimpse of the kid looking at her, which only strengthened her choice.

    She could handle it. If Cheng Suran wasn''t here, maybe she would have followed the command. As Bai Lu said, it wasn''t difficult. But Cheng Suran was here¡ª

    Would the kid feel jealous or upset if she saw her having physical contact with someone else? Acting like she was constipated for twenty seconds and eating at the same time was too embarrassing. What about her image in the kid''s heart? As she thought about it, she had too many concerns and couldn''t let loose.

    She didn''t want to make the kid sad, and she didn''t want to show her ugly side...

    "Sister, I''ll drink it," Cheng Suran grabbed her wrist, and with her other hand, swiftly snatched the bottle and poured it into her empty glass in front of her.

    A female colleague looked at Bai Lu, confused. "Can someone else drink on behalf of someone in the game?"

    Without waiting for Bai Lu to speak, Cheng Suran immediately answered, "It doesn''t say we can''t, right?" After speaking, she casually glanced at Bai Lu.

    The large glass was full.

    "Ranran¡ª" Jiang Yu frowned and held her.

    Cheng Suran broke free and smiled foolishly. "Don''t worry, sister, I can handle it." Her gaze swept over Jiang Yu''s hand resting on her stomach, her determination growing stronger. She raised her head and drank.

    The cold liquid slid down her throat, carrying a bit of bitterness. It had been many years since she had tasted the flavor of beer, and this moment awakened her memories¡ªit still tasted just as bad.

    Just consider it traditional Chinese medicine.

    She hadn''t drunk traditional Chinese medicine, but she had smelled it. Just the smell alone made it difficult to swallow. Compared to that, beer was still considered delicious.

    Watching her throat gulping down the drink without stopping, Jiang Yu''s brow furrowed deeper and deeper, a trace of worry in her eyes. What kind of alcohol tolerance did the little girl have? She had long tested her limits¡ªa person who would get drunk and collapse in her arms after just a few sips of sweet red wine. How could she handle being forced to drink so much?

    She felt both angry and helpless.

    "Alright, onto the next round." Cheng Suran finished her drink, took a deep breath, put the glass heavily on the table, and wiped her mouth with a tissue. She then looked at Jiang Yu with a comforting gaze.

    Her little face revealed a sweet smile.

    Jiang Yu''s expression darkened slightly, but she didn''t say anything.

    The game continued for about half an hour. Cheng Suran took two glasses for Jiang Yu and drank another large glass herself. At first, she was fine, but after a few minutes, her face turned red, and she felt dizzy and heavy-headed, as if she were on fire.

    Her entire head turned red.

    Jiang Yu kept a close eye on her condition and had already lost interest in the game. Seeing Cheng Suran''s state, she quickly embraced her and helped her up. "Let''s stop here for today. Ranran is drunk, and I''ll take her back to rest. You guys can continue playing."

    Tian Lin immediately stood up to help.

    The girl''s face flushed, her ears and neck turning red like rouge had been applied, and she half-hung on Jiang Yu. Her watery black eyes held a hint of confusion.

    "Mm, sister, I''m okay, I''m fine..." Her slightly parted lips mumbled.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Back in the room, Jiang Yu supported her as she lay down, took off her shoes, washed her hands in the bathroom, and then sat by the bedside. "Ranran, is your stomach upset? Do you feel like vomiting?"

    The palm of her hand landed on the girl''s face, the temperature scorching.

    Cheng Suran shook her head drowsily and smiled foolishly at her, whispering, "I don''t want to vomit. I''m just a bit full..."

    The lighting was bright, a soft goose-yellow color, casting a gentle flow onto the girl''s rosy cheeks. It was serene and warm, and her gentle breathing brought comfort.

    "You drank so much, of course you''re full, silly." Jiang Yu frowned with concern, leaning down to kiss her forehead, wanting to scold her but unable to bear it.

    "Don''t do this next time."

    Cheng Suran stared at her absentmindedly, her eyelashes trembling, and a mist slowly rising in her eyes. "I want to help you. I don''t want to feel like I can''t do anything, I..."

    I wanted to stand openly by your side.

    She didn''t say it out loud.

    She didn''t know if it was the effect of the alcohol, but even though her mind was clear, her reactions had become sluggish. Bai Lu''s words echoed in her ears again, as if she had returned to the afternoon, hiding in her room, crying under the covers, overwhelmed by a sense of heartache and despair.

    It was too difficult, she couldn''t hold on. She was challenging her limits. She could endure it today, but what about tomorrow? The day after tomorrow?

    When a spring is stretched to its limit, it loses its ability to bounce back.

    "Mm." Jiang Yu nodded gently. "Sister knows."

    "But you have to take care of yourself and not hurt yourself, otherwise, I''ll be sad too."

    "Okay." Cheng Suran obediently responded, forcing out a drunken smile, the mist in her eyes gradually receding.

    Jiang Yu kissed her cheek again, brushed away her messy hair, and pulled the blanket over her. "I''ll go take a shower now. You be a good girl and sleep."

    "Uh-huh."

    Tian Lin watched them from the side and sighed.

    This is unbearable.

    ¡­.

    The night grew deep and silent, with the moon hanging high in the sky.

    Everyone was asleep.

    Jiang Yu tiptoed out of the room, closed the door behind her, and walked towards the balcony.

    Inside the small building, a few wall lamps emitted a dim and heavy light, casting a hazy glow. Jiang Yu''s hair was disheveled, and she wore a fluffy white robe, resembling a ghost walking through the darkness.

    The late-night chill was heavy, and the cold wind brushed against the balcony.

    Her insomnia made her increasingly alert.

    The sky was dotted with sparse stars, their dim light having traveled for countless years in the universe before landing on Earth. Jiang Yu looked up at them, suddenly feeling a hollow sense of loneliness in her heart.

    She averted her gaze and took a cigarette from the box. Pressing the lighter, a cluster of pale yellow and blue flames leaped up, igniting the cigarette.

    The crimson tip of the cigarette resembled the eyes of the night.

    Lost in thought, time flowed backward, and images appeared in her mind: a train station, a little girl, a rabbit. They became increasingly clear and vivid. This memory was like a quietly falling pebble, completely disrupting the tranquility of her heart.

    She could deceive Cheng Suran, but she couldn''t deceive herself. She remembered, she remembered deeply.

    Like a dormant beast within her, once awakened, it constantly caused trouble, making her anxious and burdened with an unidentifiable emotion, suffocating her chest.

    She hadn''t slept well for several nights because of this, and the calming kid''s medication had lost its effect.

    Until tonight...

    Jiang Yu realized that she actually cared about Cheng Suran''s impression of her.

    It felt as if she was riding a malfunctioning vehicle, swaying unsteadily. If she couldn''t maintain her balance, both she and the vehicle would fall, plummeting into an endless abyss.

    Was it only because of this awakened memory?

    No, she knew it wasn''t. Vaguely, another answer formed in her heart¡ªan answer she didn''t want to think about, an answer she didn''t allow herself to touch. But she wasn''t a naive, inexperienced little girl anymore...

    "Sister Yu?"

    A sudden voice came from behind.

    Jiang Yu snapped back to her senses, turned around, and saw Bai Lu walking towards her, just like her, with disheveled hair and wearing a plush pajama.

    "Why aren''t you sleeping?" she asked lightly.

    There was no trace of fatigue in Bai Lu''s eyes and brows. She didn''t seem like someone who had woken up in the middle of the night or been disturbed. She hugged Jiang Yu with a smile, "Shouldn''t I be asking you that? Staying up so late, smoking on the balcony, it seems like you''re craving a cigarette, hahaha..."

    Her thin arms wrapped around Jiang Yu''s waist, and she leaned in closely.

    However, Jiang Yu didn''t break free. She flicked the cigarette and took a gentle puff, her gaze shifting away. "I can''t sleep."

    "What about your sister? Is she okay after drinking so much?" Bai Lu rubbed her head against Jiang Yu''s hair.

    A faint puff of smoke exhaled silently, dispersing into the air.

    Jiang Yu fell silent for a moment before saying, "She''s not my sister."

    Bai Lu was slightly taken aback. She hadn''t expected Jiang Yu to be so straightforward and tell her directly. She had prepared herself to help conceal the truth. "Mm, I know. She''s your lover."

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu chuckled softly, and the cigarette ash fell from her fingertips.

    "There''s nothing to be surprised about. If I were as wealthy and influential as you, I could have ten of them." Bai Lu sneered, reaching out without hesitation. As she spoke, she took the cigarette from Jiang Yu''s fingers and brought it to her own lips, leisurely taking a puff.

    Her warm breath, mixed with the smoke, brushed against Jiang Yu''s face.

    "It tastes pretty good."

    Her voice was low and husky, her gaze filled with ambiguity.

    Jiang Yu furrowed her brow slightly and scolded softly, "Don''t make trouble."

    "Okay, goodnight," Bai Lu raised an eyebrow and chuckled playfully. She grabbed Jiang Yu''s hand, returned the half-burned cigarette, and turned to leave.

    Jiang Yu stood in place, lost in thought.

    After a while, a cold breeze blew, causing her to shiver. She extinguished the half-smoked cigarette on the iron railing and threw it into the trash can...

    ¡­.

    The next morning, after completing the lottery event, Jiang Yu distributed red envelopes to everyone on behalf of the company.

    She was flying to Europe tomorrow and needed to go back early to pack her luggage. She called Xiao Zhou in the morning and gave clear instructions. After lunch, she returned to the city with Cheng Suran and Tian Lin.

    Cheng Suran, who had been hungover, woke up after ten in the morning. She ate lunch in a daze and only regained some clarity when she boarded the car back to the city.

    She leaned weakly in Jiang Yu''s arms, a heavy stone weighing on her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.

    She hadn''t had a good sleep at all.

    She might never be okay.

    The feeling of drowning, desperately trying to grasp onto something, the more she struggled, the faster she sank.

    When they arrived at the hotel, Jiang Yu instructed the driver to take Tian Lin back and held Cheng Suran''s hand as they went upstairs, returning to their shared "nest."

    "Ranran, is your head still hurting? Go to the room and rest for a while. Sister will pack up our things. We''ll go out for a nice dinner tonight."

    "I can''t sleep. I''ll just sit here," Cheng Suran pursed her lips, mustering a weak smile, and walked over to the sofa, sitting down without saying another word.

    Jiang Yu paused, sensing that something was off with Cheng Suran''s emotions, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on it. Without pressing further, she turned and entered the master bedroom.

    In just ten minutes, she pushed the neatly packed large suitcase to the side of the door and walked out of the room. She saw Cheng Suran sitting motionless on the sofa, maintaining the same posture, like a wooden figure.

    "Ranran?"

    "Yeah."

    The girl raised her head, her eyes momentarily dazed, and in an instant, she regained clarity and flashed a smile. "Sister, what are we going to eat tonight?"

    "We''ll eat whatever you like." Jiang Yu sat down beside her, reached out her long arm, and pulled her into an embrace.

    A gentle kiss landed on her lips.

    "Should I take you to the airport tomorrow afternoon? Hm? If you have classes, forget it. Oh, no, wait, you''re in the final review period, so you shouldn''t have classes, right? Study well, take your exams well, and wait for Sister to come back." Jiang Yu spoke with a faint smile, murmuring softly. Her indulgent gaze was filled with tenderness.

    Cheng Suran gazed at her longingly, once again lost in her thoughts.

    "This time, we''ll mainly be in Paris, Milan, and New York. Is there anything you want to buy? Any gifts you want? Sister will bring them for you."

    "I don''t want gifts..."

    Upon hearing Cheng Suran''s words, Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow with a smile.

    Cheng Suran locked her gaze on Jiang Yu, biting her lip forcefully, and whispered, "I want you."

    The air instantly grew tense.

    Jiang Yu''s smile froze as she looked into the girl''s clear eyes, gradually filled with deep affection. Her expression darkened, and she became flustered.

    "Can you say that again?"

    "I said... I don''t want gifts, I don''t want money... I want you..." Cheng Suran took a breath, her eyes reddening, repeating each word slowly and deliberately.

    The heavy stone in Jiang Yu''s heart finally fell.

    She had no way out.

    And she had no strength to continue holding on.

    "Sister... I know I shouldn''t... I shouldn''t be greedy, but I can''t control myself... I''m sorry... I''m sorry..." There were so many words she wanted to say, but she couldn''t articulate any of them. All those sentimental, overflowing, childish words.

    Tears gushed out as she hugged Jiang Yu and cried uncontrollably.

    Jiang Yu''s eyes stared blankly ahead, a buzzing sound filled her mind, as if thousands of flies were buzzing and beating their wings, causing her temples to throb painfully.

    Fragmented images flashed before her eyes...

    She had lost control.

    "Cheng Suran."

    Jiang Yu took a deep breath, her trembling lips uttered cold words, "You''re becoming more and more disobedient."

    "I don''t like you like this."

    She abruptly pushed the person in her arms away.

    Caught off guard, Cheng Suran lost her balance and tumbled off the sofa, landing on the floor. With tear-streaked cheeks, she looked up at Jiang Yu in despair.

    The person''s face turned ashen, her gaze cold and sinister as she looked down on her.

    "Enough."

    "Sister..." Cheng Suran got up, reaching out to grab her clothes.

    Jiang Yu swiftly moved away, evading that hand as if avoiding a gust of wind. She walked briskly to the door, grabbed the suitcase, and left decisively.

 CH 71

    The door slammed shut with a loud "bang," causing the entire floor to tremble.

    Cheng Suran''s heart quivered in response to the tremendous sound, like a startled little beast. She stared blankly at the closed door, her mind in a state of confusion and chaos.

    This is the end...

    Does this mean terminating the contract?

    She snapped back to reality, the tightly wound string in her heart suddenly breaking, and she stumbled as she hurriedly chased after.

    The lobby was empty, and the elevator had descended to the first floor.

    Her trembling finger pressed the button as she watched the ascending floor numbers. Her heartbeat pounded like a drum, growing more urgent. As soon as the doors opened, she rushed in and pressed the button for the ground floor.

    There were only a few guests checking in or out in the lobby.

    Cheng Suran looked around in confusion, unable to find the person''s figure. She dashed out of the main entrance, which led to a fountain square with a wide view. Landscape trees were planted on both sides, forming a shaded path that led to the underground parking garage. It was winter, and the leaves had withered, leaving only bare stems and branches.

    At the end of the square, near the road, she caught sight of a tall woman standing upright, holding a suitcase as if waiting for someone.

    "Sister¡ª" Cheng Suran sprinted towards her.

    That figure stiffened for a moment.

    A black Mercedes-Benz van slowly approached and stopped in front of the woman. She eagerly opened the car door, hastily stuffed her belongings inside, and quickly got in before shutting the door.

    With only two or three steps remaining, Cheng Suran watched helplessly as the car sped away. Instinctively, she tried to chase after it, calling out, "Sister... Sister..." She ran with all her might, tears streaming down and splattering on the ground. A rush of cold air filled her throat, causing a piercing pain in her chest. The car grew farther and farther away.

    Cheng Suran stumbled and fell heavily, her knees hitting the concrete floor. More tears welled up, and as she lifted her head, her blurred vision could only see the red and yellow taillights of the car.

    That red cluster seemed to flicker.

    It was the brake light!

    If it lights up when the brakes are pressed... will it stop? Is that what her sister meant?

    Ignoring the pain in her knees, Cheng Suran got up and continued running. However, the car accelerated once again, distancing itself from her and disappearing around the corner of an intersection up ahead.

    She came to a halt, standing in place, gasping for breath.

    Her sister didn''t want her anymore.

    She never had a place in her sister''s heart like she imagined.

    From the moment those words were spoken, she should have anticipated this outcome. Reality was cruel and heartless, and even though she had prepared herself mentally, she had overestimated her own strength. She wasn''t that strong, nor that free-spirited.

    The sky was gloomy, even though it was the afternoon, it felt like dusk. The cold wind tousled her disheveled hair, seeping into the gaping hole in her heart, causing a sour and tingling pain.

    She didn''t know how long she had been standing there. Her hands and feet were growing numb from the cold, but Cheng Suran finally regained her senses. She turned around and slowly began walking back, step by step.

    The car was parked by the side of the road.

    Jiang Yu leaned her head against the window, her eyes tightly shut, gently rubbing her temple with her index finger.

    "Boss Jiang, the girl has gone back," the driver''s voice came from the front.

    Jiang Yu didn''t say anything, but her other hand, which had been clenched into a fist, relaxed, with the fingertips trembling slightly. After a while, she opened her eyes cautiously, carefully pulling back the curtain to look outside at the hotel entrance diagonally in front.

    Only occasional vehicles were coming and going.

    She let out a sigh of relief, closed the curtain, and closed her eyes again to rest.

    "Take me back to the residential area."

    "Alright."

    Silence returned in the car.

    Tian Lin sitting next to her had a complex expression, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

    The driver dropped off Jiang Yu and Cheng Suran, but not long after the car had driven away, she received an urgent call from Jiang Yu asking her to turn around. In a hurry, Tian Lin also came back with her. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, they only saw Jiang Yu waiting there alone with her suitcase. The moment the car door opened, she couldn''t wait to get in, as if someone was chasing her from behind, though not by a ghost.

    Cheng Suran was chasing from behind when she stumbled and fell.

    The driver reported that and Jiang Yu initially said to stop the car, but quickly changed her mind and continued driving. They turned at an intersection ahead, circled around to the left, and returned to the same road from behind until they caught sight of the girl''s figure.

    They just parked far away, watching from behind.

    She asked the driver to look, and Tian Lin to look, but she herself didn''t look.

    Tian Lin didn''t know exactly what had happened, but she could guess the general idea. It seemed like something she had expected. She knew that this day would come sooner or later.

    She just didn''t expect it to come so soon. She glanced at Jiang Yu.

    The person closed her eyes, slightly furrowing her brows. Exhaustion was written all over her face. Her breaths grew deeper and longer, and her chest heaved more and more.

    The scene felt familiar.

    Five or six years ago, on the day Jiang Yu broke up with her ex, she had the same expression.

    The difference was that her ex didn''t chase after her. They each left the shared residence and had no contact since then. Back then, it was Tian Lin who packed up Jiang Yu''s belongings in the house...

    When they arrived at the underground parking lot of the residential area, Jiang Yu still kept her eyes closed and didn''t move.

    "Sister Yu..." Tian Lin thought she had fallen asleep and gently tapped her shoulder. "We''ve arrived home. Wake up."

    Jiang Yu slowly opened her eyes, paused for a few seconds, her expression vacant. She locked eyes with Tian Lin for a moment, then got out of the car without saying a word.

    Tian Lin: "..."

    The bags and suitcase were still in the car. Helplessly shaking her head, Tian Lin held the bag in one hand and the suitcase in the other. She instructed the driver to wait here and followed Jiang Yu''s footsteps.

    The two of them entered the elevator together.

    Jiang Yu had a vacant look in her eyes, like a ghost. They went up the floors, swiped their faces, and as soon as they entered the home, she kicked off her shoes and walked inside barefoot.

    "Huh? Sister Yu, you''re back? I''ve packed up all the stuff..." Xiao Zhou was pushing a carry-on suitcase, about to leave, but before she could finish her sentence, Jiang Yu brushed past her. Xiao Zhou stood there in shock, then turned to look at Tian Lin.

    "Sister Lin, what''s going on?"

    Tian Lin frowned as she looked at Jiang Yu''s bare feet and gave a perfunctory smile to Xiao Zhou. "It''s nothing. She''s just not feeling well." She pushed the suitcase aside and picked up the slippers Jiang Yu wore at home. "Leave the things there for now. You can move around freely. I''ll go take a look."

    Xiao Zhou hesitated and nodded. "Okay."

    In the master bedroom area, as expected, the front door was securely locked. Two white metal doors formed a sturdy shell, guarding the space inside.

    Tian Lin sighed as she held the slippers and sat down on a nearby chair.

    Thick curtains block out the light, casting a dimness over the bedroom.

    Jiang Yu lay on the bed, her hair disheveled, her back rising and falling with each breath. The air grew increasingly heavy.

    She turned over, facing the ceiling, her gaze fixed on the non-illuminated light. After a while, she sat up again, her eyes focused on the table.

    There was a clay model placed there.

    A miniature version of her stood on the runway, sitting on a garden swing. A transparent box acted as a barrier, gently protecting her.

    [On the left is your career, the version of you that everyone sees. On the right is your life, where you''re just an ordinary person beyond the camera, the version of you that I see.]

    [Did you make it yourself?]

    [Mm, with clay.]

    [I don''t know what you like. It feels like you have everything when it comes to clothes, bags, and cosmetics. Fans have probably given you everything they could think of. So I thought making something handmade would be more meaningful.]

    [I really like it.]

    Jiang Yu gazed at the model, lost in thought. In her mind, she could see the girl''s rosy cheeks and shy, smiling eyes, and their conversation echoed in her ears.

    Since breaking up with her ex, almost six years had passed. She had gone through a series of lovers, all following the template of past acquaintances. However, Cheng Suran was the one she had chosen from the heart, and the one who had stayed by her side the longest.

    She was obedient, sensible, dependent but not clingy, and fulfilled Jiang Yu''s need to be wanted. Sometimes, she seemed silly, and her face blushed easily.

    This girl didn''t seem to have anything particularly special about her.

    Jiang Yu wanted to keep her by her side a bit longer.

    If Cheng Suran hadn''t been tempted by the subtle and obvious gestures over the past few months, the ones that were overlooked, she would now trace back and reminisce. Nerves that were once dull suddenly became sharp and attentive.

    Perhaps it was an unintentional gaze, perhaps a remark that was not taken to heart, or perhaps a subtle little action.

    She should have discovered it long ago. She was causing harm to the young girl.

    Jiang Yu sneered, reaching out her hand to touch the clay figurine, but her fingertips touched the transparent box instead. She paused for a moment and muttered to herself:

    "Ranran..."

    "Why did you have to say it? Do you think Sister is so bad? Intentionally using this method... No, you said it yourself, Sister is not bad at all."

    "You''re such a confused little fool."

    Why did she have to say it? Why did she have to find out? Why? She was still planning, after the January and February fashion seasons, to take Ranran to Paris for a trip. She was still imagining that they could maintain a simple and pure financial relationship between them.

    Everything has been shattered.

    Jiang Yu inexplicably felt angry, and a strong current surged inside her. She swept her hand and knocked things off the table.

    ¡ªCrash!

    Glass bottles and jars shattered, the scent of money filled the air. The transparent box fell to the ground, cracking open, and the clay model scattered into pieces.

    "She" fell off the runway, and the swing broke too. The small "her" was fragmented.

    Frantically, Jiang Yu picked up the broken pieces and placed them back on the table. She held the scattered fragments in her palms, trying to piece them back together, but no matter how she tried, she couldn''t restore them.

    She looked at the incomplete model, as if a piece of her heart was missing, leaving her empty.

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Night fell, and the lights gradually lit up along the Binjiang River

    Tian Lin was sitting in a chair, on the verge of falling asleep, when she heard some noise. She opened her eyes and saw that the closed door had finally opened. Jiang Yu came out from inside.

    "Sister Yu..." Tian Lin stood up, suddenly remembering the slippers, she bent down and brought them over to place them near Jiang Yu''s feet.

    Jiang Yu''s face was dark, and she stared at the slippers for a while, slowly putting them on. With a tired tone, she asked, "Why didn''t you go back?"

    Her voice is a bit hoarse.

    "Because I''m worried about you." Tian Lin looked at her.

    Jiang Yu sneered, "What trouble can I get into? I''m perfectly fine." After speaking, she lowered her eyes, avoiding that gaze as if feeling guilty. She turned around and said, "What should we have for dinner tonight? Sister can... Her throat choked, and her body stiffened. "Auntie must have bought groceries. Let''s eat at home."

    She turned her back to Tian Lin and walked towards the kitchen.

    "Do you need me to deal with it? Now, or tomorrow." Tian Lin''s eyes reflected her lonely figure, and she sighed silently, feeling a bitter ache.

    Jiang Yu stopped in her tracks, standing still for a long time. "Deal with what?"

    "Your affair with Miss Cheng."

    "Oh."

    Another silence fell between them.

    "In a few days, wait until I come back before you go," Jiang Yu waved her hand.

    Tian Lin narrowed her eyes slightly, as if she wanted to uncover something essential, she pressed on, "Why?"

    "Cutting to the chase, once it''s dealt with, you can focus on your work without any worries, isn''t that better?"

    For so many years, whether it was the end of a contract or a mid-term termination, Tian Lin had always handled the aftermath. The process was straightforward: pay the breakup fee, pack up belongings, change hotels, find the next person.

    Every time was clean and efficient. If it could be done during the day, it would never be dragged into the evening. If it could be settled today, it would never be left for tomorrow.

    Jiang Yu had adopted this working style, and she had learned a lot from being by her side.

    "Are you afraid it will affect Miss Cheng''s final exams?" Tian Lin took a couple of steps forward and stood by her side.

    Jiang Yu lowered her gaze and remained silent.

    "But this has nothing to do with you; you don''t need to worry about it."

    "Unless you like Miss Cheng," Tian Lin boldly stated, as if walking on a tightrope.

    "Would I like a pet?" Jiang Yu suddenly turned around, glaring at her with anger surging through her, "Is she even worthy? How can even you say such things?! I can do whatever I want whenever I please. It''s my own happiness that matters."

    In those deep, cold eyes, there was only ice.

    Tian Lin saw nothing but a shell harder than a metal door.

    She immediately fell silent.

    ¡­

    Throughout the entire final exam week, the campus was filled with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. Nervousness stemmed from the fear of failing or getting a low grade, while excitement came from the anticipation of finishing the exams and going on vacation, returning home.

    The exam schedules varied among different majors, and the French Department was the first to finish exams and go on vacation.

    The weather remained gloomy and chilly. After the final exam, Cheng Suran walked out of the teaching building with her bag and instinctively took out her phone, opening WeChat.

    The message list was eerily silent.

    Ah, she forgot.

    She forgot that her sister no longer wanted her, forgot that their contract had ended.

    Looking at that gray-black profile picture and the messages that had stopped seven days ago, Cheng Suran felt a bitter taste in her heart and a sourness in her nose. She didn''t dare to send any messages, afraid of seeing the red exclamation mark.

    After a while, she put away her phone and walked towards the dormitory building.

    In these past few days, Cheng Suran conscientiously moved back to the school dormitory, telling herself that it was to focus on reviewing and exam preparation. But she guessed that if she didn''t leave soon, another canary would move in.

    As these thoughts crossed her mind, Cheng Suran felt a piercing pain in her heart, unable to deceive herself into not caring...

    Her phone vibrated in her pocket.

    For a moment, Cheng Suran thought it might be Jiang Yu calling her, but she quickly realized that was impossible, and her emotions sank again.

    Could it be her aunt?

    With a bitter smile, she took out her phone and looked at the caller ID¡ªone by one.

    Assistant Tian!

    "Hello? Assistant Tian?" Cheng Suran eagerly answered, trying her best to restrain the excitement and anticipation in her voice.

    A formulaic voice came through the phone, "Miss Cheng, have you finished your exams? I''ll be at the entrance of your school in about ten minutes. Come out now."

    "What... What''s going on?"

    "There''s something."

    With that, the call ended.

    Cheng Suran paused, holding the phone in her hand, feeling stunned for a moment. Her heart pounded, and the excitement and anticipation she had felt earlier vanished into thin air.

    She changed her direction and headed towards the school gate.

    It wasn''t a long distance from the vicinity of the teaching building to the school gate, but it still took about seven to eight minutes to walk. Cheng Suran quickened her pace, almost running. From a distance, she could see a familiar black business car parked by the flowerbed.

    The car was partially concealed by the flowerbed and sculptures, inconspicuous. She ran over and lightly tapped on the window.

    The door opened.

    Tian Lin was sitting inside and nodded at her. "Miss Cheng, come in and let''s talk." Cheng Suran obediently got into the car.

    Without waiting for Cheng Suran to speak, she scanned the surroundings but didn''t see Jiang Yu. Anxiously, she asked, "Where is sister?"

    "The boss hasn''t returned to the country yet." Tian Lin lied without changing her expression.

    The light in Cheng Suran''s eyes extinguished.

    She deflated like a deflated balloon.

    "Miss Cheng, the boss asked me to give this to you." Tian Lin took out a piece of paper from her bag and handed it to her, her face displaying a professional smile.

    "What is it?"

    Cheng Suran took it and looked at it.

    It was a check with a red stamp on it.

    Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousand... She counted the string of zeros in a daze. Before she could finish counting, her gaze fell on the written amount in words.

    Twenty million yuan exactly.

    Author''s Note:

    Jiang Scum: Rich and willful.jpg.

 CH 72

    Two million.

    Cheng Suran silently recited the number, afraid of misreading it, and carefully counted the string of zeros once again, confirming that it was two million yuan.

    Her face turned pale in an instant, she looked up, and murmured, "What does this mean..." However, she already had an answer in her heart.

    Break up fee? Compensation?

    "Miss Cheng has devoted precious time and energy, accompanying the boss for such a long time. Not only has she provided emotional support, but she has also saved the boss''s life. It is only natural that she receives this reward." Tian Lin spoke the prepared words, like a perfect robot, with a hollow and formulaic smile, devoid of any emotional fluctuations.

    Beneath the smile was a hidden sigh of helplessness.

    This is too cruel.

    If it were her, being treated like this by someone she likes... No, she wouldn''t be kept as a mistress, she wouldn''t fall for a benefactor.

    When she was twenty years old, carefree and focused on her studies, she didn''t have to worry about tuition fees, and her living expenses were taken care of. Her grades were decent, and her relationship with her ex-boyfriend was harmonious. Her life was smooth sailing, completely different from Cheng Suran.

    Tian Lin felt a pang of pity for this girl.

    Although she was mentally prepared, when Cheng Suran heard the answer, she was struck like lightning, and her heart shattered into countless pieces.

    She stared blankly at Tian Lin, opened her mouth, but her throat suddenly went hoarse. Tian Lin calmly met her gaze.

    After a long pause, Cheng Suran lowered her head, biting her lip, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably. Two streams of hot, sour tears rolled down her face and fell heavily onto the check.

    She turned her head, her long hair covering her face.

    Two million.

    In addition to the six months'' contract fee and pocket money, a total of two million six hundred thousand. It''s enough to buy a small house on the outskirts of Jiangcheng, and in her hometown of Lingzhou, she could buy four large houses in total. She was an ordinary person who only knew how to measure the value of money in terms of houses.

    Money comes too easily.

    There are countless people who work themselves to death and can''t earn this amount in their entire lifetime.

    And she, just by taking off her clothes and lying down, in a mere six months, went from a poor student to a wealthy woman.

    What does she have to be unsatisfied with? What does she have to complain about? What right does she have to be upset?

    To put it bluntly, she is nothing more than¡­

    The insulting word flashed in Cheng Suran''s mind, causing a piercing pain and a painful sob in her throat.

    Tian Lin''s heart twisted.

    In the past, when facing those girls, she treated it as just part of her job, completing the task and leaving. But today, sitting here facing Cheng Suran, she had personal emotions, feeling like she was "committing a crime."

    Being a "villain" is difficult, but she had no choice but to do it.

    "Also, Miss Cheng, winter vacation is coming up. You can continue staying at the hotel until the new semester starts. The car is yours, and we''ll handle the transfer procedures tomorrow. Considering that I''ve visited your dormitory before as your aunt, we''ll continue the act until the end of the semester, and I will help you pack your things when you graduate. Apart from these, there will be no further contact between you and the boss."

    This is more uncomfortable than making her slaughter chickens and gut fish.

    "Is it Sister''s intention?" Cheng Suran wiped her face and raised her slightly reddened teary eyes. Tian Lin hesitated, "Yes."

    Taking a deep breath, Cheng Suran smiled self-deprecatingly. "Since we can''t contact each other anymore, why bother considering so much for me? Aren''t you afraid that I''ll throw a tantrum, make a scene, and cling on?"

    "No, this is just the boss''s way of doing things. She has always been lenient towards girls, especially those younger than herself. Once things are settled, she believes in parting ways amicably." Tian Lin responded quickly, knowing how to answer from the right standpoint and attitude. After all, this was business and couldn''t accommodate her personal emotions.

    Cheng Suran said word by word, "I want to meet her."

    "If you have something to say, I can convey it for you."

    "I want to speak to her in person."

    "Sorry, Miss Cheng, the boss doesn''t want to see you." Tian Lin shook her head.

    Cheng Suran''s heart trembled, and she pressed her lips tightly.

    The person in front of her represented Jiang Yu. Perhaps she could convey Jiang Yu''s literal intentions clearly, but beyond that, there were things hidden in her heart, buried in her eyes¡ªyes and no. Only by seeing Jiang Yu with her own eyes could she catch a glimpse of the truth.

    That day was too rushed, and she couldn''t calm herself down, but she had no regrets. Despite the heartbreak and sadness in these past few days, it was a level of ease she hadn''t experienced in months.

    She could finally look Jiang Yu in the eye.

    "Why doesn''t she want to see me? Is she afraid?" Cheng Suran sneered.

    The girl had a confrontational yet childish appearance, like a little beast baring its teeth and growling while still unsteady on its feet. Looking at her only evoked feelings of pity and helplessness.

    Tian Lin made an effort to maintain her smile but still shook her head. "Because there''s no need to meet anymore. The boss is very busy and likes to resolve things quickly. Miss Cheng, let me remind you that being persistent and clingy isn''t enjoyable."

    Cheng Suran clenched her teeth, her eyes becoming even redder.

    Flashes of the past few days flickered in her mind¡ªcountless tender nights, soothing kisses, whispered words by the pillow, subtle care, and the words "Sister likes you," so many of them... The scenes shattered into fragments, embedded in her bleeding heart.

    It was all over.

    "Thank you. I won''t stay at the hotel anymore, I don''t need the car, and I don''t need to play pretend. I can handle it myself."

    Cheng Suran lowered her head, crumpled the check into a ball, and tossed it lightly to Tian Lin. She opened the door, got out of the car, and floated towards the school gate like a ghost.

    ¡­.

    In the evening, a fine drizzle started falling from the sky.

    The room was dim, with no lights turned on. Jiang Yu stood alone by the French windows, gazing at the hazy rain and mist. The dim halo cast a gloomy light upon her.

    ¡ªtok tok tok

    The office door opened.

    Tian Lin poked her head in, scanned the room, and her gaze landed on the solitary figure by the window. She approached quietly, "Sister Yu."

    "She seems to be fine. I didn''t ask about the exam situation. I''ve delivered all the instructions you gave me, but she refused to accept them."

    Tian Lin hesitated for a moment, then took out a crumpled check from her bag and handed it over. "It has come to this."

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes.

    The thin paper was deeply creased, crumpled almost beyond recognition. She could imagine the anger of the person who had crushed it.

    She seemed to see that little face furrowed in a ball, flushed with anger, those clear deer-like eyes filled with tears, filled with despair and pain. And then fiercely crumpling the paper and leaving in frustration.

    "Did she say anything?" Jiang Yu''s voice was calm.

    Tian Lin answered truthfully, "Miss Cheng said she wanted to see you, she had something to say to you in person. I told her you wouldn''t see her, and she thought you were afraid. Also, she asked why, if you don''t want any more contact but you still went out of your way to help her..."

    Jiang Yu smiled.

    What a clever little fool.

    Clever enough to see through her intentions, yet foolish enough to refuse this money.

    Jiang Yu had done her research. There was a high probability that Ranran could go abroad for her major. In her senior year, she would likely participate in a one-year exchange program in France. If she wanted to pursue a career in translation in the future, she would need further education. And if she didn''t plan to work in her current field, the competition in the society was fierce, and having at least a master''s degree would provide more security. During the master''s program, she could choose a different major and acquire multiple skills for more options in the future.

    Everything required money.

    Although it was possible to study and work part-time at the same time, a person''s energy is ultimately limited. Jiang Yu wanted Ranran to fully devote herself to her studies without worrying about the cost of living. Only when a person had no worries could they be free from anxiety and have the confidence to move forward.

    Ranran was like another version of her.

    Jiang Yu had never attended university, and there was always a sense of regret in her heart. Therefore, she didn''t want Ranran to be bound by money. The little bird she had raised should spread its wings and fly to a broader sky.

    Unfortunately, that heart was too pure.

    She couldn''t face it directly, nor could she respond.

    "Truly foolish," Jiang Yu sighed, lifting the check and murmuring to herself.

    Tian Lin observed her expression, hesitated for a while, and cautiously asked, "Sister Yu, to be honest, I also want to know... why?"

    "It''s just a breakup fee," Jiang Yu replied lightly, her tone indifferent.

    Tian Lin spoke frankly, "Do you still remember Zhang Nan? You liked her so much back then, but in the end, you only gave her three hundred thousand. The difference between two million and three hundred thousand is not insignificant. You work hard to earn money, there''s no need to be so extravagant."

    "Ranran saved my life, and she has been by my side for the longest time. Isn''t that worth it?" Jiang Yu''s voice trailed off.

    "..."

    Tian Lin fell silent.

    Outside the window, the rain and mist were thick. The glass was adorned with tiny water droplets, and a chilling cold seeped in through the cracks.

    The room suddenly became cold and filled with a suffocating sense of heaviness.

    Jiang Yu straightened the check, tore it into pieces one by one, opened the window, and scattered them with a wave of her hand.

    If she doesn''t want it, then so be it.

    When they were children, Jiang Yu saved Cheng Suran at the train platform, and as they grew up, Cheng Suran saved her in the deep mountains. They didn''t owe each other anything, and she no longer needed to feel guilty for that scar.

    As these days passed and she calmed down, Jiang Yu also understood that people develop habits towards things that stay with them for a long time. She had simply grown accustomed to that girl, but time could resolve everything.

    There would be countless other girls who would leave their mark on her life in the future.

    Paper flowers fluttered down in the flowerbed, gradually becoming soaked by the rain.

    Tian Lin: "..."

    Jiang Yu turned and walked to her desk, sitting down. In front of her was the broken clay model, scattered in pieces. She frowned as she looked at the fragments.

    After landing from the flight last night, she immediately started trying to fix it. She followed repair tutorials she found online and worked on it until the late hours of the night, but she couldn''t restore it no matter what.

    With something on her mind, she couldn''t find peace, and her hands were restless.

    She wasn''t cut out for handicrafts.

    It was too difficult. She wondered how much time and effort Ranran had put into making it. Why did she have to act so impulsively?

    Haah...

    Jiang Yu furrowed her brows and let out a sigh.

    "Sister Yu, shall I throw it away for you? So you don''t have to look at it and feel bothered," Tian Lin offered, approaching and holding the base of the model.

    "Don''t touch it!" Jiang Yu lowly exclaimed, "Put it back."

    "..."

    Tian Lin placed it back in its original position.

    Jiang Yu glanced at her and said, "What frustrates me is how to repair and restore it."

    "Just find a professional to fix it. There are many local shops online," Tian Lin suggested helplessly.

    "No."

    Jiang Yu stared intently at the model, her expression distant, as if speaking to herself, "I broke it, and I want to fix it with my own hands."

    Other people''s hands are dirty.

    Tian Lin couldn''t help but ask, "Don''t you think of the person when you see an object?"

    Jiang Yu was taken aback, and the conversation from that night echoed in her ears once again. Gradually, the girl''s face came to her mind, and she felt restless. She picked up a transparent box, covered the model, and locked it in the safe.

    "..."

    Tian Lin quietly watched her, her eyes filled with a hint of pity.

    "Tomorrow, inform the front desk and security that if Cheng Suran comes to look for me, say that I''m not available. Don''t let her in. And also, inform the studio." Jiang Yu leaned back tiredly against the chair, closed her eyes, and took out her phone from her pocket.

    Tian Lin replied softly, "Okay."

    Jiang Yu opened WeChat, switched to her alternate account, and found the only contact on the list¡ªRanran.

    Delete friend.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    ¡­.

    In February, the autumn-winter fashion season kicked off, and Jiang Yu immersed herself completely in her work.

    This was her final time walking the runway, showcasing for multiple top designers. Afterward, she would officially retire, bidding farewell to her fourteen-year modeling career.

    From New York to London, from London to Milan, and then from Milan to Paris¡ªon average, two shows per day. Although the workload was slightly lighter compared to previous years, Jiang Yu remained incredibly busy, completing a total of sixty-one shows throughout February.

    Her friends in the industry knew about her plans to step back from the spotlight, and they continued to invite her to dinners and parties scheduled for two months later.

    Busy times always flew by quickly.

    In early March, it was Paris Fashion Week.

    After several consecutive days of major shows, Jiang Yu was exhausted. After completing her final show in the afternoon, she politely declined the invitations from the designer and creative director and left early with her team.

    In the evening, she attended a cocktail party. She planned to sleep the next day and then fly to Milan the day after to attend another event.

    The schedule was tightly packed.

    As long as she kept moving, staying busy, she wouldn''t have much time to think.

    Leaving the venue, Jiang Yu wrapped herself tightly in a black down jacket and walked alongside her assistant, heading towards where her car was parked. There were a few scattered reporters outside, holding cameras up to capture her:

    "Jiang Yu¡ª"

    "Look this way."

    Jiang Yu instinctively turned her head, flashed a smile, and the camera flashes flickered.

    After all these years, it had become almost reflexive.

    The area outside the venue was filled with various vehicles¡ªmost were for the media, celebrities, and brand representatives, while a few were for transporting models. Established models like her, with fame and a team, had dedicated drivers for pick-up and drop-off, while new models had to walk or take public transportation.

    This year, she had seen many new faces, full of energy and boundless potential. It couldn''t help but remind her of herself over a decade ago and that challenging period of her life.

    The sky was gloomy, drizzling with a cold wind blowing fiercely. Her breath turned into white vapor when exhaled.

    Winter in Europe is colder than in Jiangcheng.

    As she approached her car, Jiang Yu''s phone rang.

    It was Pei Chutong calling.

    She gestured for her assistant to get into the car first and walked towards the railing while answering the call, "Hello? Tongtong..."

    "No, just finished. I won''t be heading back that quickly."

    "We''ll talk about it later."

    With long strides, she leisurely descended the stairs, speaking and smiling. As she turned, her gaze casually swept past the flowerbed and stone pillar, catching a glimpse of someone crouching nearby.

    Very familiar.

 CH 73

    There was a young girl, slim and with slightly disheveled hair, squatting there, hugging her knees.

    A familiar face flashed through Jiang Yu''s mind.

    How could it be...

    "Coco? Hey? Why are you ignoring me?" Pei Chutong''s voice called out to her over the phone.

    "Oh, I have something unexpected going on here. I''ll get back to you later. Hang up for now." Jiang Yu spoke rapidly and hung up the phone, striding quickly towards the girl.

    As she approached, perhaps hearing the footsteps, the girl lifted her head.

    Their eyes met.

    "Sister..." The girl stood up suddenly, staring at her in a daze. A hint of surprise appeared in her bewildered eyes.

    Jiang Yu abruptly froze in place.

    Familiar memories flooded in, filling her previously blank mind. Those suppressed images that she had buried deep within suddenly burst into color, becoming vivid and alive. It was Ranran.

    After over a month had passed, seeing the abandoned little canary again, it was as if she had relapsed after a long period of quitting smoking. Her heart twitched unexpectedly, a slight itchiness creeping in.

    She had become thin, worn-out.

    "Why are you here?" Jiang Yu asked calmly.

    Cheng Suran''s voice was hoarse, "To find you."

    "What do you want from me?"

    "I wanted to see you..."

    It was twelve degrees outside, and the girl was only wearing a khaki turtleneck sweater. She carried a small backpack on her back, and her thin, wispy hair was tousled by the wind. Her little face and nose were flushed from the cold, and her hands clenched into fists, trembling in the chilly wind.

    She stole glances at Jiang Yu, looking restless and uneasy.

    Jiang Yu furrowed her brows slightly, saying nothing. She took off her own down jacket and draped it over the girl, then grabbed her wrist and started walking back.

    Her wrist is freezing cold.

    They arrived at the front of the car, and Jiang Yu opened the back door, saying, "Get in."

    "...¡±

    Cheng Suran glanced at her and obediently got into the car.

    Jiang Yu followed suit, closing the door. The driver and the assistant were both French, so she casually explained that Cheng Suran was her sister and instructed them to go straight home. After that, she remained silent, expressionless, staring ahead.

    The car drove leisurely on the empty streets.

    Cheng Suran curled up in her seat, head lowered, her long hair falling to cover her face, silent like an ostrich.

    She twisted her fingers, biting her dry lips, a mixture of delight and uneasiness in her heart. Finally...

    After the final exams last month, winter vacation had begun, and one by one, her classmates went back home. Normally, she wouldn''t go home, but with the existence of her "aunt," it would be suspicious if she continued to act as before. So she found a short-term rental on the internet and moved in for a month.

    When the final exam results came out, she failed one subject. Although it was a non-major course, having to take a makeup exam at the beginning of the semester was still a headache, not to mention her performance in the other courses wasn''t great either.

    She was seen as a top student by the teachers and classmates, so if her grades dropped, it would undoubtedly cause a stir, let alone failing a subject. No one said anything openly, but there were discussions behind her back. The class teacher and the counselor took turns asking about the situation on Penguin*, making her feel guilty and helpless.

    *messaging app

    This year, she didn''t apply for any scholarships, and failing one subject wasn''t a big deal, but it still weighed heavily on her heart...

    How did she end up like this?

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    After returning the check to Assistant Tian that day, she couldn''t help but send a message to Jiang Yu when she got home, but her eyes were stung by the red exclamation mark. She had so much more to say, she wanted to see Jiang Yu.

    She tried to enter the company, but the security and receptionist denied her entry. She attempted to visit the studio without an appointment, but was also turned away. When she called Assistant Tian, there was no answer, and on the second attempt, she was blocked. Finally, she looked at the contact named "Flower in the mirror and Moon in the water" in her phonebook and suppressed her longing.

    It was their last connection.

    She followed Jiang Yu''s work updates on Weibo, and the fan group posted various activity announcements. In March, Jiang Yu would primarily be in Europe, attending fashion weeks. The specific cities and shows were clearly listed.

    Confirming that Jiang Yu would be in Paris in early March, she checked the times and locations of each show, silently noting them down. With determination, she quickly obtained her passport, visa, and flew over.

    As Cheng Suran walked out of the airport, looking at the hazy gray sky and breathing in the cold air, she had a dreamlike feeling. It was hard to believe that she had actually traveled to a foreign country, a different city. She had never imagined that one day she would come thousands of miles away, not for the sake of education.

    During her four days in Paris, she wandered outside various fashion show venues, but never caught a glimpse of Jiang Yu. Disappointment hit her repeatedly, almost leading her to despair.

    Today was the last show.

    If she couldn''t see her sister, she would go back and wait at the company''s entrance. She believed that one day, she would be able to meet her.

    Luckily...

    Cheng Suran''s tightly pressed lips curved upward, forming a satisfied smile.

    Suddenly, her hand was caught and lifted. She turned her face abruptly and saw Jiang Yu gazing at her with a faint expression. "Give me your hand," Jiang Yu said calmly.

    She was momentarily stunned but obediently extended her other hand.

    Jiang Yu held both of the girl''s hands and pressed them against her chest, enclosing them in her palms.

    Jiang Yu was tall, and her hands were large with slender and agile fingers. She completely enveloped the small, cold hands, providing a warmth like a cozy fireplace.

    The warmth spread from their fingertips to Cheng Suran''s heart. She secretly glanced at Jiang Yu, her eyes welling up with emotion.

    "Don''t you want to look at the scenery outside?" Jiang Yu sensed the girl''s sidelong gaze, but she didn''t turn her head. She continued to gaze ahead with a calm expression.

    Reluctantly, Cheng Suran withdrew her gaze.

    Although it was her first time abroad, arriving in her favorite city, she had no intention of appreciating the scenery along the way. She simply stared at the tiny water droplets on the window glass, her eyes scanning like a robot, numbly passing over the moving shadows.

    The car passed through the bustling city center and gradually entered the vicinity of Parc de Sceaux in the southern suburbs. It stopped in front of a courtyard gate.

    "We''ve arrived."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran obediently followed Jiang Yu out of the car.

    A quaint and elegant mansion came into view, three stories high with warm white walls. The yard was spacious, with an empty outdoor swimming pool and a designated vegetable garden that was bare and desolate.

    This was Jiang Yu''s home in Paris.

    Jiang Yu exchanged a few words with her assistant, then took Cheng Suran''s hand and walked straight into the house. They took off their shoes inside.

    "Have a seat."

    The room was heated, extremely comfortable. Cheng Suran obediently sat on the sofa, curling herself into a ball and burying herself in the oversized down jacket.

    "Have some hot water and rest." Jiang Yu poured a cup of hot water and handed it over. She sat beside Cheng Suran, her expression still devoid of emotion, but her tone was gentle, as if afraid of frightening the girl.

    Cheng Suran hesitated for a moment. A glimmer of light appeared in her dim eyes, and she held the cup with both hands, softly saying, "Thank you, sister..."

    Her hands had warmed up along the way, but her body was still trembling slightly. As she took a sip of the hot water, warmth spread through her, and her tense nerves relaxed.

    The little canary looked disheveled.

    Watching the girl drink water in small sips, clearly nervous as she glanced at her with her peripheral vision while trying to maintain a calm demeanor, Jiang Yu felt somewhat helpless. Her cold and sharp gaze softened momentarily, and her heart softened a little as well.

    "Ranran."

    "!"

    Upon hearing her nickname, Cheng Suran stiffened, her eyes widening.

    Jiang Yu reached out and tidied up her messy hair. "Go back, don''t be like this."

    The wind had tangled her hair, and Jiang Yu patiently straightened it, her movements meticulous and gentle. Her voice was soft, like countless whispered nights, alluring and seductive, but the words she spoke were chilling.

    Cheng Suran lowered her thick lashes and looked at the clear water in the cup, stammering, "Did I trouble you?"

    "No."

    The girl remained silent.

    She had so many things she wanted to say, countless words that she had repeatedly thought about on the plane. But as soon as she saw Jiang Yu, everything slipped from her mind. Setting down the cup, she gently hugged Jiang Yu''s arm and rested her head on it. "Sister..."

    Jiang Yu''s heart warmed at being called sister, and her body felt like a giant void filled with indescribable joy.

    Time hadn''t taken away everything; instead, it had nurtured longing within her.

    She had deliberately ignored it because of busyness.

    Her hair was already sorted out, but Jiang Yu hesitated to withdraw her hand, allowing her fingertips to glide along the girl''s shoulder through her hair. She restrained the impulse to hug and kiss her, sighing, "When did you arrive?"

    "On the 1st."

    Today is the 5th of March.

    "Which hotel are you staying at?"

    Cheng Suran took out her phone and showed Jiang Yu the booking information.

    It was located in the city center, in the Petite Paris area, slightly higher in price but safe and convenient.

    Jiang Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried that Cheng Suran would choose a cheap hotel near the 93rd province, which was a notorious impoverished area in all of France, with poor environmental conditions and low security. Even during broad daylight, there was a possibility of encountering danger there.

    "How did you know where I was?"

    "..."

    "Speak." Jiang Yu raised her voice.

    Cheng Suran immediately hugged her tightly and whispered, "I saw the event announcement in your Weibo fan group. I originally wanted to go to New York to find you, but their Fashion Week started on the 8th of last month, and I didn''t have enough time to apply for a visa..."

    It was her first time going abroad, and she didn''t understand any of the procedures. She spent three days doing research online and set aside time to handle the necessary documents, only to realize that she could only make it for Paris Fashion Week.

    When she made the decision, her mind was in a feverish state, and she didn''t think much about it. She just flew over.

    Jiang Yu listened quietly, a myriad of emotions churning inside her.

    "Is this your first time abroad?"

    "Mm."

    "Aren''t you afraid of anything happening? What if you get lost? What if you get scammed? What if you encounter violent activities? You..." Jiang Yu''s tone turned serious but suddenly choked.

    You should have informed me in advance. So that I could come and pick you up.

    The words surged up and then swallowed back down.

    She remembered that she had deleted Ranran''s WeChat and Ranran didn''t have her phone number either.

    Cheng Suran was startled by Jiang Yu''s sudden change in emotions. She looked up cautiously, observing her expression, and only dared to speak after a while. "I didn''t think about all that..."

    "Besides, I made preparations. If I don''t know the way, I can use navigation. If navigation fails, I can ask people for directions. I took a daytime flight and chose a hotel in the city center. I don''t trust anyone except official sources for expenses... Sister, I''m not a child anymore, you don''t need to worry about these things."

    "Worry? Did I say I was worried?"

    "..."

    "You came to find me, and if something happened on the way, I might be responsible for it. I don''t need to mention everything," Jiang Yu was a bit annoyed, but when she looked at the exhausted face of the girl, she couldn''t bring herself to say it aloud.

    "Nevermind."

    She turned her face away in frustration.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head with a sense of grievance, tightly pursing her lips.

    The wall clock ticked away, time passing slowly. The surroundings were quiet, and their breathing seemed to synchronize, rising and falling together, almost imperceptibly.

    After a moment, Jiang Yu turned her face back and looked at the girl''s dejected appearance. Her heart softened once again, but she couldn''t quite describe the feeling.

    "You''re quite capable, kid, handling everything on your own. How should I address you?" She couldn''t bring herself to be stern and could only try to coax her, reaching out to ruffle her hair.

    Unexpectedly, Cheng Suran tilted her head to avoid it and looked at Jiang Yu earnestly. "I''m not a kid."

    Jiang Yu was taken aback. "Oh?"

    "We are equals now. You''re not my benefactor, and I''m not your lover. Don''t call me kid anymore."

    "But you used to like it when I called you kid."

    "That was in the past." Cheng Suran emphasized seriously.

    "..."

    Jiang Yu gazed at her in silence.

    A long time passed before the hand that had been suspended above her head gently landed on Cheng Suran''s face, caressing it tenderly. Jiang Yu asked in a soft voice, "Have you booked your return ticket?"

    "Mm." Cheng Suran nodded, rubbing her face against the warmth of that palm. "It''s scheduled for the day after tomorrow in the afternoon."

    "I''ll change it for you. Leave tonight."

    "?"

    The voice in her ear felt like shattering ice, falling one piece after another. Cheng Suran suddenly lifted her head and looked into those deep, unfathomable eyes, feeling her heart freeze.

    After Jiang Yu finished speaking, she took out her phone and checked the flights for tonight. However, all the direct flights within the next three days were sold out, leaving only connecting flights.

    Cheng Suran, alone and unfamiliar with the world, would be more prone to accidents with a more complicated itinerary. If anything went wrong during any part of the journey, she would regret it a hundredfold.

    "I''m not leaving," Cheng Suran shook her head.

    Jiang Yu raised her gaze and saw the girl stubbornly looking at her, which made her feel both headache and unwillingness. She couldn''t come up with a solution at that moment.

    If Tian Lin were here...

    "Cheng Suran."

    "Mm?"

    "You''re a smart girl. I shouldn''t have to explain things too clearly."

    "I know."

    Cheng Suran''s eyes turned red. The words she had been preparing for a long time circled in her mouth. After hesitating repeatedly, she finally mustered the courage to speak. "Sister, for so many years, no one has been as good to me as you. I thought I would be content, but I can''t control myself. I''ve become increasingly greedy. Originally, I just wanted to stay by your side, even as a pet, but that would mean I have to hide my emotions forever and perform in front of you... I can''t do it."

    "Fans can say they love you, strangers on the street can say they like you, but I can''t. In your eyes, everyone is a person, except me."

    "So, I want to break free from this unequal relationship and stand proudly by your side."

    "But I also know that I''m not an outstanding person. I can''t compare to you in any aspect. I''m not worthy of you." Her voice choked up as she spoke.

    Jiang Yu frowned and quickly turned her face away, interrupting Cheng Suran in a fast-paced manner. "Ranran, let''s not talk about this anymore, okay? What do you want to eat tonight? I''ll take you around the city of Paris, let you speak with the French people, experience the authentic French language environment. It will be beneficial for your language learning. And then, tomorrow we..."

    She was breathing a little heavily, her fingers tightly gripping the edge of the sofa, the joints turning white.

    Her mind buzzed.

    The girl''s words, one after another, felt like countless arrows stabbing into her heart, making it hard for her to breathe. She couldn''t bear to bring her face down, and her calm eyes cracked open.

    "Sister, am I cheap?"

    Cheng Suran laughed at herself.

    "Don''t say that!"

    Jiang Yu shouted in a low voice, turned her head, and stared at her with a cold gaze. She suddenly realized that she had overreacted and quickly restrained her emotions.

    She embraced Cheng Suran''s waist and pulled her into her arms, comforting her gently. "You''re still young, and you haven''t seen the world outside. You only think that what''s in front of you is the best. When you grow a little older and enter society, encountering various kinds of people and experiencing different things, you will realize that what suits you best is the best."

    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

    The reason why the little canary was tempted was nothing more than a sense of longing for strength. It was dependency, not love.

    She couldn''t use this dependency to confine someone by her side.

    Jiang Yu said to herself in her heart.

    Author''s Note:

    I couldn''t finish writing this chapter, oh no, TUT. I''ll put it in the next chapter, sigh...

 CH 74

    "In my heart, you''re the best." Cheng Suran shook her head, a glistening teardrop forming at the corner of her eye, which she quickly wiped away.

    "If I could, I would love to see you more often. I don''t care about anything else."

    "Is that so?" Jiang Yu sneered, locking eyes with her. "You wouldn''t mind seeing me with someone else?"

    In a moment of panic, she spoke without thinking, and instantly regretted it, but it was too late.

    Cheng Suran felt as if she had been struck by lightning. "...Sister, do you have someone else?"

    "No." Jiang Yu immediately denied, pushing her away and leaning back against the sofa, closing her eyes weakly.

    A deep sense of exhaustion washed over her.

    She messed up.

    If it were any other girls from before, she could easily dismiss them. She had encountered persistent pursuers in the past, but she never felt soft-hearted and could easily cut ties. But with Ranran, it seemed like she couldn''t bring herself to be ruthless.

    If this continues, the situation will eventually spiral out of control.

    Cheng Suran, however, felt relieved.

    But as she looked at her helpless appearance, she couldn''t help but feel a twinge of sadness. She remained silent, tightly wrapping her down jacket around her, curling up and huddling herself together.

    After a moment, Jiang Yu opened her eyes.

    The girl huddled in the corner of the sofa, the oversized down jacket wrapped around her like a blanket, completely enveloping her. Her eyes were vacant, and her nose twitched as if she were an abandoned puppy.

    Suddenly, a faint sense of guilt crept into Jiang Yu''s heart. Did she make a mistake?

    Ranran is such a simple, pure-hearted person. Should she have not gotten involved with her in the first place?

    "Stay at my place tonight."

    The girl lifted her head, her eyes suddenly brightening.

    Jiang Yu avoided her gaze and continued speaking, "I have a cocktail party tonight. Let my assistant take you out for dinner. She''s a local, so you can have a nice chat with her. Tomorrow, I''ll take you to explore downtown Paris. I have to fly to Milan the day after for a day or two, and then we''ll return together to sort things out."

    A faint smile slowly formed on Cheng Suran''s lips, but froze upon hearing the last sentence. The smile froze on her lips.

    So, she had to wait until they returned home to settle the score...

    "Okay." She responded in a low voice, with complicated emotions

    Jiang Yu stood up, pointed to the second floor, and said, "I''ll take you to see the room. After dinner, go to your hotel and bring your luggage here."

    Cheng Suran got up obediently and followed her upstairs.

    There are two rooms on the second floor, each with its own bathroom, and the living room and dressing room in the middle. There is also a large open-air balcony with bright light and a transparent view. It is very elegant and French style.

    The third floor is the master bedroom, Jiang Yu''s private territory, which cannot be pryed into.

    "Sister, do you live alone in such a big house?" Cheng Suran looked around.

    Jiang Yu hummed lightly, deliberately not looking at her.

    Cheng Suran shut up wisely.

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    After returning from the cocktail party, it was already half past eleven at night. Jiang Yu removed her makeup, took a shower, dried her hair, and poured herself a small glass of sweet red wine before heading to the terrace on the second floor.

    Not far away was Parc de Sceaux, where the shadows of trees blended with the darkness of the night. The towering spires of the castle seemed to pierce into the night sky. The surroundings were peaceful, and the air was filled with the scent of rain-soaked grass.

    The damp chill seeped into her pores, and Jiang Yu stood there for a while, slowly finishing her drink. Then she turned and went back inside.

    Out of habit, she walked towards the bedroom on the left side.

    Upon reaching the door, she paused and her thoughts wavered. She realized something and stepped back, remaining motionless in the same spot

    It was as if she was still in a hotel. She had returned very late, finished her nightly routine, and then went to the guest bedroom in the dark. She would slip into the warm and fragrant sheets, holding the soft body of the girl, and have a sweet dream.

    She forgot.

    This life ended more than a month ago.

    Habits are really scary.

    Jiang Yu concentrated, squeezed the goblet tightly, and felt the urge to go in.

    She turned around, walked to the sofa and sat down.

    The girl''s words echoed in Jiang Yu''s mind. What was destined to happen would always happen. She suddenly realized that running away was not an option. Even if she escaped to the ends of the earth, Ranran would still find her.

    Was it dependency or love? She couldn''t distinguish between the two.

    Dependency had tangible traces, while love was elusive and intangible. What was love? In the depths of her memory, someone always emphasized this word, saying they loved her. That person was her mother.

    When she was a child, her mother would scold her while saying, "I''m doing this because I love you." As she grew older, her mother would control her while saying, "I love you."

    Then she met her ex-girlfriend, Qi Yan.

    Qi Yan was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Both her family background and education were enviable. She was like a flower blooming in a greenhouse, dazzling and radiant. As for Jiang Yu herself, she was born to please others, constantly subjected to disdain, and she had to struggle to find her way out of the cracks in the bricks, hardened and cold.

    Two completely opposite individuals collided and quickly ignited intense sparks. She loved Qi Yan intensely as the sun, and Qi Yan loved her with the spirit of a wild horse.

    She tasted the flavor of love and being loved for the first time, but she also realized that she never truly understood these feelings.

    Passion is short-lived, like fireworks that suddenly ascend to the night sky and fade away in an instant. When the honeymoon phase passed and the passion waned, they entered a period of adjustment. Exhausted from constant conflicts and arguments, they ultimately couldn''t endure and didn''t make it through.

    Qi Yan often said a phrase to her: "What for?"

    Many things were deemed "not necessary" in Qi Yan''s eyes, but in her eyes, they were "necessary". They could argue fiercely over a dress, or have a cold war for several days over a meal.

    Neither of them could understand each other.

    At that time, Jiang Yu''s career was on the rise, working almost non-stop throughout the year, flying around the world, gaining fame and fortune, which provided her with a sense of security. On the other hand, her emotions made her anxious and at a loss. Perhaps to escape, or perhaps because she was too busy, she devoted herself entirely to work, neglecting Qi Yan, and they rarely communicated with each other.

    Although Qi Yan would compromise for her, there was a sense of resentment brewing within. And with each escalating argument, that resentment would be unleashed upon her.

    Then one day, Qi Yan asked her to come out.

    She disagreed.

    "Why?"

    "Nowadays society is not open-minded enough to easily accept same-sex relationships. As a public figure, if I come out, should I still continue working? It''s not as simple as you think."

    "I''m talking about coming out within the industry, not making it public to everyone. How many fashion insiders are openly gay? What about that designer? And that editor? Is there a shortage without you?"

    "Is your understanding of the fashion industry limited to Europe and America? Have you considered that it might not be the same in China? Can you simply erase cultural differences with just a few words?"

    "Then may I ask, who knows that I am your girlfriend? Have you expressed your stance to your friends around you? Even among those who are familiar with you in the industry? Huh? My dear top model Jiang?"

    "In any case, it''s a definite no. Don''t even think about it."

    "Then let''s break up!"

    "Fine."

    "Hah, you''ve been waiting for this day, haven''t you? You wanted me to be the one to bring it up, thinking it would alleviate your shameful guilt! But it''s useless, let me tell you. It was you who used emotional coldness first, you pushed me to this point. I was mistaken about you, Jiang Yu, you''re nothing but a scum! A pervert!"

    "Thanks for the compliment."

    And then they broke up.

    Between love and work, she chose the latter without hesitation.

    After a long time, Jiang Yu finally realized that she and Qi Yan were fundamentally different, with different upbringing, values, and were destined to separate.

    During the passionate phase of their relationship, she was always chasing after Qi Yan''s footsteps. Any small action or habit of her would trigger an earthquake in her heart. She often found herself in a passive and uneasy state, eventually exhausting herself mentally and emotionally.

    She didn''t like the feeling of being passive or having her emotions controlled by someone else. She wanted to be in control of her own body and heart.

    At this age, love was no longer a necessity for her. She preferred pursuing a sense of achievement in her career over indulging in love affairs. Moreover, her personality was not suited for romantic relationships. Since letting go of her obsession with her ex, she had also come to realize that she was alone in the quiet of the night. Jiang Yu felt a bit restless and got up to fetch a cigarette and lighter, lighting one up.

    The slender cigarette rested between her fingers, the spark glowing brightly, resembling crimson eyes in the darkness. She remained motionless, the dim yellow light casting cold contours on her face, like a ghost.

    "Elder sister..."

    A soft call came from behind.

    Jiang Yu was slightly startled, turning her head to see Cheng Suran standing by the bedroom door, silently gazing at her.

    The girl had long hair draped over her, enveloped in a soft and dim light. Her petite face was delicate and charming, while the silky robe hugged her slender body, outlining her graceful curves.

    Jiang Yu''s heart skipped a beat, furrowing her brow. "Why aren''t you asleep yet?"

    "I can''t sleep." Cheng Suran hesitated for a moment, then took a few steps closer and sat down beside her.

    "Does sister can''t sleep too?"

    Jiang Yu moved a little to the side unobtrusively, and said softly: "I''ll be sleeping in a while, you should go to sleep too, don''t stay up late."

    She raised her hand, took a light breath of the cigarette, and slowly exhaled the smoke.

    The faint light fell into those deep eyes, becoming increasingly unfathomable. Her face was partially obscured in the mist, displaying a hint of weariness and the unique charm of a woman at this age.

    Cheng Suran became absent-minded and instinctively embraced her.

    A fragrance of shower gel mingled with the smell of smoke, and the taste of the young girl became addictive¡ªfresh, tender, and filled with abundant moisture that silently flowed and melted in Jiang Yu''s heart.

    Suddenly, Jiang Yu felt flustered and struggled a bit, attempting to push her away. However, to her surprise, the embrace only tightened. She furrowed her brow and uttered, "Let go."

    "No, I won''t."

    "Cheng Suran!"

    She suddenly raised her voice, causing Cheng Suran to tremble. However, she stubbornly held onto her, her eyes reddening in the darkness. She whispered, "I just want to hug you..."

    "I''ll say it again, go back to bed," Jiang Yu said with patience.

    "I won''t."

    "So you''re getting disobedient again?"

    "I''m not a canary, I don''t have to listen to you."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu fell silent.

    Cheng Suran gritted her teeth and mustered up her courage, climbing onto her lap.

    But before she could settle down, she was forcefully pushed away with great strength, losing her balance and falling to the ground with a ''thud''. She looked up and met Jiang Yu''s icy gaze.

    Her heart plummeted into the abyss.

    "Goodnight."

    Jiang Yu didn''t even look at her. She stood up, holding the cigarette, and hastily went upstairs to the third floor as if fleeing.

    ¡­.

    The next day, Jiang Yu abandoned her plan to sleep in and took Cheng Suran to explore the city center of Paris.

    They visited famous landmarks, explored art exhibitions, tasted local cuisine, and experienced the local culture. Along the way, Jiang Yu shared her observations and experiences in Paris over the years, giving the young girl a preliminary understanding of the city.

    "The route from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city center passes through the 93rd department, which is also the impoverished area of Paris. It is mainly inhabited by Middle Eastern and African immigrants, and the security situation there is not good. If you come to study in this area in the future, remember to stay away from that area, both during the day and at night. And it''s not just in Paris, but in any city, avoid getting close to areas where such immigrants gather."

    "Most of the streets here are made of cobblestones and can be quite uneven. It''s best to wear flat shoes when going out for a stroll. If someone tries to offer you a bracelet or ask you to sign a paper claiming it''s for charity, it''s a scam. Don''t pay any attention to them and walk away immediately, as far as you can."

    "By the way, there are many thieves here, so keep a close eye on your belongings. With our Asian faces, some people see us as walking cash machines."

    "Hahaha..."

    Cheng Suran''s heavy mood was lightened by Jiang Yu''s words, and she burst into laughter.

    It was a calm before the storm. If possible, she wished time could stand still on this day, without any gaps, without any differences, without the impending settlement when they returned home.

    But moments of happiness are always fleeting.

    On the third day, Jiang Yu flew to Milan, leaving Cheng Suran alone in the large villa with only her assistant for company. Taking this opportunity, she went out for a stroll, considering it as a chance to explore and practice her language skills.

    When Jiang Yu returned, they embarked on their journey back home  together.

    School has already started, and Cheng Suran took a leave of absence for this trip, missing many classes and immediately needing to take makeup exams for the failed subjects.

    Jiang Yu and her had agreed to meet on the weekend.

    ...

    It was a rainy weekend.

    In early spring, the rain was abundant, and it had been raining continuously for a week. The whole city was shrouded in dampness, and the roads remained wet.

    At three o''clock in the afternoon, Cheng Suran walked out of the dormitory building, holding an umbrella, carefully avoiding the puddles and making her way towards the school gate.

    She had made an appointment with Jiang Yu to clarify things today.

    She longed for this day, her mind absent-minded even while studying in the library. After waiting so long for this day, she felt both anticipation and resistance. Although she already knew the outcome and that this moment marked their farewell, the thought of seeing that person made her unable to contain her excitement.

    She applied light makeup and changed into the new clothes Jiang Yu had bought for her at the end of last year. She was like a bird freed from its cage, eagerly flying towards the sky named Jiang Yu.

    Her happiness was so simple.

    The familiar white car was parked at the school gate. Cheng Suran hurriedly approached and opened the door, slipping into the passenger seat.

    "Sister..."

    "Did you wait for a long time?"

    "No, I just arrived." Jiang Yu sat in the driver''s seat, arms crossed, her face turned slightly to the side, giving a faint smile.

    She hadn''t put on any makeup, and her plain face showed some signs of exhaustion, her smile seeming hollow. "You look beautiful today."

    "In my heart, sister is the most beautiful." Cheng Suran smiled, squinting her eyes, revealing a row of small white teeth.

    "How about the exam?"

    "It''s pretty good, manageable."

    "Mm."

    Pleasantries were exchanged, and now it was time to get down to business.

    Jiang Yu stared at her for a moment, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes. She calmly took out her phone, opened her lovers'' memo, and handed it over.

    "Take a look at this."

    "?"

    Cheng Suran lowered her head in confusion.

    On the screen was a photo of a girl, with her name, age, height, weight, and occupation listed below, like a simple profile. She scrolled up with her thumb, and beneath each photo were numbers, one, two, three, four...

    She saw her name at the end.

    Cheng Suran, 20 years old, born on February 20, 1999, height of 165 cm, weight not less than 90 kg, no photo.

    "Sister, this is..." She looked at Jiang Yu in confusion, a sense of unease already creeping into her heart.

    But Jiang Yu turned her face away, casually saying, "The little birds I used to raise."

    "! ! "

    "You''re just one of them."

    A bucket of cold water was poured over her head, and despite Cheng Suran''s mental preparation, she was caught off guard, feeling a chilling sensation penetrating her heart, making her shiver. She stared blankly at the raindrops on the glass, her eyes misting over. Tears and raindrops fell simultaneously.

    Jiang Yu glanced at her sideways, furrowing her brow, and clenched the hem of her clothes in her hands.

    "Do you know how I broke up with Qi Yan?"

    "It was because I neglected her due to work, because I was emotionally cold towards her, because I chose my career over her. It was all my fault. I''ve had countless lovers, playing with one after another, discarding them like toys. I am scum, I am twisted."

    "I wouldn''t fall for someone I''ve kept as a pet, and you''re not the type I like. Between us, it''s just a game," Jiang Yu declared, trying to restrain her breath while forcing a radiant smile.

    She had underestimated the young girl, hidden beneath her gentle and obedient appearance was a resilient and determined heart. Despite being young and inexperienced, she possessed unwavering courage. As for herself, she resembled a despicable and shameless villain, always running away.

    Since there was no way to respond, it was better to end it here and now, to prevent further complications in the future.

    "Is that true?" Cheng Suran choked out, tears streaming from her eyes.

    The glistening liquid hung from her chin, dripping down, pitter-pattering onto her pants, leaving large damp marks.

    It was strange.

    Her heart didn''t ache at all. It wasn''t numbness, but rather, a complete lack of feeling. She knew this day would come sooner or later.

    Being able to hear it directly from her sister''s mouth is enough.

    Don''t be greedy.

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu grabbed the girl''s hand and took out a brand new check with a stamped red seal from her bag. She placed it in Cheng Suran''s palm, enclosing it with her fingers.

    It was still two million.

    "I don''t want it... What are you doing?" Cheng Suran recoiled as if she had been electrocuted, but her strength was feeble, and she couldn''t break free.

    "Be good and listen to sister first."

    Jiang Yu tightened her grip, patting Cheng Suran''s hand with her other hand, reassuringly. "You''re now in your junior year, and soon you''ll be in your senior year. Whether you choose to do an internship or take the postgraduate entrance exam, don''t be afraid to try. With financial support, it can reduce the cost of trial and error and minimize many risks, giving you enough time and energy to plan your future path."

    "In the future, study hard, work hard, and move forward courageously. Never rely your hopes on another person. Only you yourself are your most solid support."

    "Consider it as my blessing to you. Let''s not contact each other anymore, okay?"

    After speaking, Jiang Yu couldn''t help but reach out to wipe away Cheng Suran''s tears.

    Cheng Suran tightly pursed her lips, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably, and finally, she couldn''t hold back her tears any longer.

    "Sister..."

    "Be good and go," Jiang Yu smiled and got up, reaching over to open the passenger door for her.

    The cold wind mixed with raindrops blew in, chilling Cheng Suran''s face.

    It completely awakened her.

    "Alright..."

    Cheng Suran nodded, choked with emotion, and tightly held onto the check. Reluctantly, she stepped out of the car.

    Just as she closed the door, before she could open her umbrella, the car couldn''t wait any longer and started moving. It slowly drove towards the road, then accelerated, blinking away into the flow of traffic until it disappeared from sight...

    Cheng Suran stood in place, getting soaked in the rain, watching the car recede into the distance. Before long, her body was drenched, and the wet strands of hair clung to her cheeks.

    Sister...

    I''ve always known.

    You are my unforgettable thoughts, but I am your insignificant pain.

 CH 75

    Someone said, when you''re young, you shouldn''t meet someone too stunning. Cheng Suran didn''t understand that before, but shortly after her twenty-first birthday, she finally understood the meaning of this sentence.

    Perhaps she would never forget that person for the rest of her life.

    Reflecting on the past half year, it felt as long as a lifetime, starting from the end of summer, enduring through the severe winter, and finally reaching early spring. In reality, it was just a blink of an eye, as if the night she first met Jiang Yu was just yesterday.

    She was both lucky and unlucky. Lucky for Jiang Yu, but also unlucky because of Jiang Yu.

    For a long period of time, Cheng Suran was in a state of detachment from the world. She often thought that she was inherently pathological. Whenever someone treated her kindly, she would go all out to reciprocate, even to the point of putting herself in a passive position.

    At such times, all she needed to do was to separate from the other person in a timely manner, and she would quickly return to her usual state of being alone and indifferent to everything. But this time, the duration was too long, long enough for her to be deeply immersed and even if she came out, she would forever bear the mark.

    In the quiet of the night, she would often dream of Jiang Yu, with a voice that seemed distant yet close saying to her: "Ranran, sister likes you."

    When she wakes up in the morning, she will subconsciously reached out to the empty space beside her, feeling a sense of emptiness flowing into her heart. It was only in a daze that she realized that the person had disappeared from her life.

    She felt as if she was trapped under a huge transparent glass, isolated from the whole world. She could see the vibrant flowers and trees outside, full of vitality, but within her own realm, there were only flashes of lightning and desolation.

    It felt like sinking into the depths of the ocean, with no light, no sound, suffocating. And so, the week passed in a haze.

    Passing the makeup exam was a relief, the first pleasant thing since the beginning of spring. It was the only glimmer of brightness in these dark days. Cheng Suran began to regain some composure and realized that she still had her studies to attend to, and she couldn''t neglect them.

    She rented a room not far from the school dormitory and moved out, partly because of the previous conflicts with her roommates, and the awkwardness of facing them. Secondly, she considered her own state of mind, needing a quiet space.

    With some money at hand, she no longer had to worry about living expenses. She could accommodate herself and find peace, which might be beneficial for her studies. In the past, she had to endure, causing internal injuries over time.

    It was only at this moment that she truly understood the meaning of Jiang Yu''s words about "having options".

    Having money was truly wonderful.

    Isn''t this the joyful life she dreamed of, free from worries about basic necessities? The day before the check expired, Cheng Suran went to the bank and withdrew two million. She opened a special account and deposited the money, not intending to use it for the time being, but keeping it for future needs.

    She threw away the milk-scented body lotion and packed all the items Jiang Yu had given her, except for the laptop, into a large box. She sealed it with tape and placed it in the most hidden corner of the room.

    Out of sight, out of mind.

    This year, spring in Jiangcheng seemed unusually long, with the temperature slowly rising amidst one rain shower after another.

    Approaching May, Cheng Suran applied to the school for an exchange program to France in the second half of the year. At the same time, those classmates who had gone on exchange in the first semester of their junior year returned, privately sharing their experiences.

    "If you''re walking on the streets of Paris and you see a handsome guy, or if your neighbor next door happens to be a handsome guy, listen to me, don''t get too excited too soon. First, find out his sexual orientation because... there''s a 70% chance he might be gay!"

    "Hahaha---" they laughed together.

    "On a serious note, I think we should still consider taking the postgraduate entrance exam. If we just rely on our undergraduate degrees, we''ll either end up in Africa or doing foreign trade e-commerce. There aren''t many options."

    "Isn''t it unsafe for girls to go to Africa?"

    "Right, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coming to our school next month for recruitment. I''m thinking of going to join the fun and give it a try."

    "So, you want to work in the government system? My parents are civil servants, and it gets boring after a while. That place is more suitable for retirement."

    "You say that because you haven''t been beaten by society."

    "It seems like you have, haha..."

    Everyone was planning their futures, but Cheng Suran still felt a bit lost in her heart.

    Studying and taking exams at school all the time, with limited knowledge of career information from the outside world, she still couldn''t determine if studying abroad was the best choice for her future. Confusion often accompanies anxiety, but compared to her freshman and sophomore years, this anxiety was not as intense.

    In the past, she used to constantly think about what job to do after graduation, with making money being the top priority, fearing that she wouldn''t be able to establish herself in this city and provide a home for herself.

    But now...

    Perhaps there are other options? Other possibilities? There''s no need to rush for quick money and miss out on long-term development opportunities.

    Maybe it''s the sense of security that the money gave her, allowing her to calm down and plan for herself. Thinking of this, Cheng Suran couldn''t help but feel a tingling sensation in her nose.

    Sister was right.

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    With only a month left until the CATTI* English "Oral" and "Written" exams, one evening, Cheng Suran was having a meal when she suddenly received a phone call from Lu Zhiqiao.

    *China Accreditation Test for Translators and Interpreters.

    "Xiao Cheng, have you had your meal?" The woman''s voice was gentle.

    "I''m eating," Cheng Suran hadn''t recovered from her surprise yet. "Boss Lu, you have my number?"

    "Mm, you provided it last summer when you were at the company, and I''ve kept it."

    "Mm."

    She was about to ask what the matter was when Lu Zhiqiao spoke again, "On the 20th of next month, Yanyan and I are having our wedding. Do you have time to attend? If so, I''ll bring the invitation to you on the weekend."

    "... Wedding?" Cheng Suran''s hand trembled, and her chopsticks almost fell.

    "Boss Lu, you and Sister Yanyan are getting married? Can same-sex couples get certificates now?"

    Lu Zhiqiao chuckled on the other end, "That''s a beautiful idea. We''re just having a wedding. We both want to have a ceremony for each other and hope to receive the blessings of our family and friends."

    "Wow, that''s amazing! Congratulations to both of you!" Cheng Suran''s eyes sparkled with joy, and fragments of memories suddenly flashed in her mind.

    The office, Jiang Yu, a wedding album.

    She remembered seeing Jiang Yu flipping through a wedding album in the office once.

    At that time, she thought Jiang Yu was getting married to someone...

    Jiang Yu, Jiang Yu.

    It''s Jiang Yu again.

    "Will you come to our wedding?" Lu Zhiqiao''s tone was warm.

    Cheng Suran snapped back to reality and nodded repeatedly, as if Lu Zhiqiao could see her, "Yeah.. yes, I will."

    "On Saturday at 10 AM, I will come to the school to find you."

    "Ah, there''s no need, Boss Lu. I can go and pick it up myself to save you the trouble."

    "Silly child, wedding invitations are supposed to be delivered. It''s not right to let guests come and pick them up." Lu Zhiqiao laughed and called her adorable.

    Cheng Suran blushed slightly, "I see, well..."

    She hung up the phone, the smile still lingering on her lips.

    It''s wonderful.

    They''re getting married.

    Cheng Suran sighed inwardly, feeling a tinge of envy and remembering that person. [Do you know how Qi Yan and I broke up?]

    Sister Yanyan,  the ex, is getting married. So¡ª

    Will Jiang Yu be invited?

    ....

    The rain lasted for a full two months. A ray of sunlight rescued the city from the dampness, and the sky finally cleared.

    On the weekend, Jiang Yu rarely slept in. She got up after nine o''clock, drank a glass of water on an empty stomach, and didn''t eat anything. She sat in her room, working on a clay model, until the afternoon. It still wasn''t right.

    Looking at the misshapen sculpture in front of her, she sighed, stood up, stretched her lazy body, and walked to the window. She swiftly pulled back the curtains.

    The sunlight was dazzling, and the sky was cloudless.

    Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes and gazed down at the street from her window. Boats of all sizes moved along the river, while tall buildings lined the other side. The people walking below appeared tiny.

    After standing for a while, she returned to her table and continued working on the model.

    [Sister, do you still like it?]

    [I really like it.]

    Jiang Yu''s breath caught, as she picked up a component and then set it down.

    In these past two months, besides work, she had been going to various meetings and conferences. Today in one city, tomorrow in another country. It was busier than February, and time had passed long enough.

    However, the imprint of that girl in her heart had not faded, but rather became clearer.

    It was like drinking a glass of sweet wine. At first sip, it tasted sour and sweet, and she thought she could handle it. But little did she know that its impact was strong, and the more she drank, the longer it took to recover...

    ¡ªtok tok tok

    The sound of knocking interrupted her thoughts.

    "Coco..." Pei Chutong gently pushed open the door and entered.

    Jiang Yu turned her head to meet her gaze and smiled. "Why did you just come? And where is Ruan Mu? Didn''t you bring her with you?"

    "She''s in the living room. We''re having a private conversation so I didn''t let her in," Pei Chutong raised an eyebrow and sat on the small sofa next to her, crossing her legs.

    The weather was hot, and she was wearing a camisole and wide-leg silk pants. Her face was bare, and her hair lazily tied up at the back of her head.

    The young miss has been busy lately, attending various events and signing new talents. Due to lack of time, she missed the Paris Fashion Week in early March and didn''t see Jiang Coco''s last runway show. She only recently had some free time.

    Jiang Yu clicked her tongue twice. "Are you trying to provoke her?"

    "No."

    "Hmm?"

    "It''s true," Pei Chutong shook her head. "To be honest, I''m tired too. I''m not in the mood for these games anymore." Her smile faded, and she waved her hand. "Let''s not talk about that. When do you have a longer vacation? Let''s go somewhere secluded, like an island or a desert, to relax and unwind¡­"

    Jiang Yu no longer teased her and tinkered with the object in her hand while saying, "We can go now. I''ve just postponed those variety show invitations, so I have more time."

    Since the small popularity surge at the beginning of the year, there have been constant project offers in the past few months. However, Jiang Yu lacked interest and after considering for a while, she ultimately turned them down.

    "What do you have in your hand?" Pei Chutong, noticing Jiang Yu''s distraction, curiously leaned closer to take a careful look.

    "This little figurine looks like you. Oh, why is it broken?" Jiang Yu gently touched the damaged part of the figurine and spoke softly, "It was a birthday gift from Ranran last year." After a moment''s pause, she continued, "I accidentally dropped it and it broke."

    Her expression turned gloomy, as if a dark cloud hung over her, contrasting with the clear sky outside the window.

    Pei Chutong was momentarily stunned, her gaze fixed on Jiang Yu''s face, and she hesitated before asking, "Didn''t you two¡­break up?"

    Two months ago, she was laughing on the phone, saying she would find the next person soon.

    "Yeah."

    "Then why are you still keeping the things she gave you?"

    "If it''s given to me, it''s mine. How I handle it is up to my mood," Jiang Yu chuckled, her touch becoming even lighter, afraid of breaking it again.

    A brief silence followed.

    Pei Chutong stared at Jiang Yu and sighed, "It''s been two months since you broke up, and if you really don''t care as you told me on the phone... Well, forget it, you have your own considerations."

    She sat back on the sofa, propping her head with one hand, her mood inexplicably downcast.

    "We''re both difficult sisters." She muttered to herself.

    "Oh, by the way, I''ve kept an eye out for suitable girls for you. There are three of them, and we can go see them tonight."

    Jiang Yu lightly shook her head, "Not interested."

    "One of them looks a lot like your little sister, both in terms of face and body, even the voice is quite similar," Pei Chutong said tentatively.

    Jiang Yu''s eyes brightened for a moment, then dimmed again. "Let''s talk about it later."

    There was another knock on the door.

    After waiting for a while, no one entered, but the knocking was very soft. Pei Chutong thought it was Ruan Mu and felt a bit annoyed. She got up to open the door. Tian Lin was standing outside.

    "Miss Pei." She smiled and nodded at Pei Chutong, then walked straight into the room, her gaze falling on Jiang Yu, who was playing with the model.

    Wearing pajamas, with disheveled hair, she looked like she had just woken up. The bedding on the bed was in a mess, and there were dolls scattered on the floor.

    Jiang Yu looked up at the sound, "Why are you here, Sister Xiao Tian?"

    "..."

    Pei Chutong coughed lightly, "I''ll go check on the Wood." After saying that, she went out and closed the door behind her.

    Tian Lin didn''t say anything and quietly walked to the side of the bed, picking up the rabbit plush toys that had fallen onto the carpet, one by one, and arranging them neatly. Then she straightened the bedding.

    "Do you need something?" Jiang Yu looked at her.

    Tian Lin glanced at the models on the table, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Qi Yan is having her wedding on the 20th of next month. She wants to invite you and Miss Cheng. To avoid suspicion, she asked her girlfriend to deliver the invitation to Miss Cheng, and she asked me to inform you as well.

    "She probably doesn''t know that you and Miss Cheng have broken up."

    Jiang Yu lowered her gaze and remained silent.

    The clay figurine in her hand had a broken leg, lying incompletely on its base, its eyes looking at her with a hint of mockery.

    Her ex-girlfriend is getting married.

    [In my heart, you''re not bad at all.]

    [You''re a good sister.]

    Jiang Yu felt a stab of pain in her heart, and she subtly furrowed her brows, turning her face away. "I''m not going. Take a gift on my behalf and make it clear that Ranran and I have already broken up. Anything else is unrelated to me."

    She picked up a transparent box and covered the model, carefully placing it inside the cabinet.

    Tian Lin''s lips twitched, wanting to say something, but she swallowed it back. "Alright. Also, I''ve arranged for a psychiatrist. Let''s see when¡­"

    Jiang Yu interrupted, "I''m not sick, I don''t need it."

    ¡­.

    Ruan Mu sat motionless on the sofa, staring at her phone in a daze. She had been in the same sitting position for almost ten minutes.

    The screen displayed a Weibo Chaohua, with CP pictures and fanfictions of Jiang Yu and Pei Chutong.

    The niche enthusiasts indulged in their own fandom, displaying various creative works and demonstrating their strong fighting spirit. It brought them great joy. Ruan Mu didn''t know how long she had been following this hashtag, but each time she looked at it, her heart ached a little. Yet, she couldn''t resist clicking to see it again, unable to control herself.

    The fans gave Pei Chutong the attribute of "worldly fortune flower" and Jiang Yu the attribute of "thousand-year-old evil doer," clearly distinguishing between the roles of the aggressor and the receiver.

    The supermodel and the actress, a perfect match.

    Ruan Mu furrowed her brows tightly, waves of emotions stirring in her deep, abyss-like eyes, while her thin lips formed a straight line. She was so engrossed in looking at it that she didn''t notice someone approaching behind her.

    "Is it interesting?" a familiar voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

    Ruan Mu was startled, and she reflexively locked her phone screen and turned around to see Pei Chutong standing behind the sofa, her expression slightly cold.

    "Tongtong..."

    "Give me the phone," Pei Chutong reached out her hand.

    Ruan Mu hesitated for a moment, a hint of struggle flickering in her eyes, but ultimately she unlocked the phone and handed it over to her.

    She rarely refused her requests.

    Pei Chutong took the phone, glanced at it briefly, then looked up, staring directly at Ruan Mu. "How long have you been following this?"

    "For over three months," Ruan Mu''s gaze avoided her.

    "Why do you follow it?"

    "I accidentally clicked on it."

    "You''re lying!"

    "..."

    Ruan Mu lowered her head and fell silent.

    Pei Chutong stared at her, her eyes gradually turning red, and let out a cold laugh.

    She was utterly disgusted by this evasive behavior and suddenly felt exhausted and disheartened. She could no longer bear it. "I''ve had enough, Ruan Mu. I''m sure you''ve had enough too, right?"

    "Starting from tomorrow, you''re free. I have so many bodyguards, I don''t need this one. If my grandfather asks, I''ll handle it. Besides, he''s getting old and won''t interfere in the affairs of younger generations anymore. You don''t have to treat his words as if they were military orders. Let''s each go our separate ways. I let you go, and let me go too."

    Pei Chutong took a deep breath, turned around, and stepped onto the balcony.

    Underneath the high-rise buildings, the Binjiang River flowed between the two banks, shimmering with sparkling waves as boats busily shuttled across.

    The summer sun enveloped her.

    Ruan Mu tightened her fist, her upright figure trembling slightly, her face pale. After a moment, she approached Pei Chutong from behind and said, "Tongtong, actually, I..."

    "Shut up," Pei Chutong covered her ears. "I''m not trying to force you to comply. I''ve already made my decision, so you don''t need to explain anything anymore."

    "In 1998, there was a major flood in the Yangtze River Basin..."

    "I said, shut up!"

    "What else do you want to say? Do you think that after you say it, I''ll immediately change my mind? Understand your difficulties? And then continue to endure that agony, endure your avoidance, is that it? This will become your tactic for the future, to use whenever you want to make me silent, without actually wanting to solve the problem. I see through it!" She became hysterical, as if possessed, her eyes turning red as she faced her.

    Ruan Mu immediately closed her mouth and hugged her, clumsily trying to comfort her. "That''s not what I meant. Okay, I won''t say anything anymore... I..."

    "I accept whatever decision you make."

    Pei Chutong silently shed tears.

    ¡­.

    The wedding day was on "May 20th."

    The venue was a mountain villa hotel owned by the Qi family, located halfway up the mountain in the Binhai Estuary Scenic Area. It had beautiful scenery, facing the sea with a wide view. It was decorated splendidly in preparation for the upcoming wedding.

    A black car slowly drove along the winding mountain road.

    Jiang Yu and Tian Lin sat in the back seat, one dressed in formal attire with a serious expression, and the other dressed casually and absent-minded.

    Dappled tree shadows passed over their faces.

    After a short while, they arrived at the hotel entrance.

    The driver followed the instructions to park the car, and Jiang Yu looked out the window. She saw Qi Yan''s parents standing at the entrance to welcome guests, but apart from them, most of the faces were unfamiliar.

    There was no sign of the girl.

    "Sister Yu, are you really not going? We''ve come all this way," Tian Lin picked up her handbag but didn''t immediately get out of the car.

    Jiang Yu shifted her gaze away, turned her face, and smoothed out the wrinkles on Tian Lin''s dress. She smiled and said, "Sister Tian, you look beautiful today."

    "..."

    Tian Lin sighed helplessly, knowing that she couldn''t persuade her anymore. She didn''t say anything more and opened the door to get out of the car.

    Silence filled the car.

    Jiang Yu kept her eyes fixed on the hotel entrance.

    At 11:40, a taxi stopped at the door, and the backseat door opened, revealing a pair of feet wearing white high-heeled sandals stepping out.

    Her gaze moved upward, revealing slender and straight legs, a gradient-colored dress in shades of sea blue and white, long and silky black hair, and a lightly made-up face with delicate features.

    Kid...

    Jiang Yu''s heart thumped, her breath held at her throat.

    Still thin, but looking in good spirits, dressed beautifully, exuding a youthful and mature charm, it was the same Cheng Suran she knew.

    She suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

    The girl walked along the red carpet towards the hotel lobby.

    Jiang Yu raised her phone and took a slightly dark-toned photo through the glass, watching her step into the lobby until her figure disappeared through the splendid arch...

    She uploaded the photo to her private Weibo account.

    @Carnivorous Herbivore JWY: Juste une photo de toi.

    Visible only to herself.

    The photo was slightly blurry, and the girl''s figure was not very distinct, like a butterfly that could fly away at any moment. Jiang Yu suddenly remembered the tune she heard by the hot spring pool on a certain night in October last year.

    Just a photo of you remains.

    After a long while, Jiang Yu closed the Weibo app, looked up, and said to the driver, "Let''s go."

    "Won''t we wait for Assistant Tian?"

    "Pick her up later."

    "Okay."

    At exactly twelve o''clock, the ceremonial cannons roared, and the wedding began.

    The black car quietly drove out of the hotel gate...

 CH 76

    The wedding is lively and sacred.

    Two women wearing gorgeous wedding dresses, holding hands, walk down the red carpet, their faces filled with happy smiles. They make vows together, and the hall erupts in applause.

    Growing up, Cheng Suran is attending a city wedding for the first time, and it''s also her first time attending a same-sex wedding. She watches Qi Yan and Lu Zhiqiao embracing each other and feels envious, unable to help but have fantasies.

    If it were her and Jiang Yu...

    A face flashed in front of her, and Cheng Suran felt a bit dazed. Her gaze swept over to Tian Lin sitting next to her.

    They were seated at the same table, and when they saw each other, there was no awkwardness, just a nod and a smile, without much conversation. Until now, the wedding proceedings were already halfway through, and they hadn''t exchanged a word.

    In the end, Jiang Yu didn''t come.

    After all, they were ex-girlfriends. Regardless of everything, there was once love between them. It would be awkward for one to appear at the other''s wedding. Cheng Suran comforted herself with these thoughts.

    As the wedding came to an end, the two brides came over to toast. When it was Cheng Suran''s turn at the table, both of them looked at her apologetically.

    "I''m sorry, we didn''t know you and Jiang Yu had broken up."

    Cheng Suran smiled, her two dimples sinking sweetly, and she softly said, "I wish you, Sister Yanyan and Boss Lu, a happy marriage."

    "Cheers!"

    Afterwards, someone came to distribute wedding candies*.

    *Ï²ÌÇ" (x¨« t¨¢ng) refers to wedding candies or wedding favors given to guests as a symbol of sharing happiness and gratitude.

    Gradually, the wedding was coming to an end, and the banquet was almost finished. The guests started leaving one after another. Tian Lin finished the last sip of her drink, wiped her mouth, and stood up, ready to leave.

    "Assistant Tian." Cheng Suran called out to her and also stood up.

    Tian Lin''s lips curled slightly as she turned her head without showing any emotions.

    "May I ask..." Cheng Suran nervously looked at her. "Is Sister doing well?"

    Tian Lin calmly nodded. "She''s doing fine."

    Cheng Suran wanted to ask more, but the words stuck in her throat. After all, she and Jiang Yu were no longer connected. What''s the point of asking further? Persisting would only make people dislike her more.

    "Thank you." She smiled at Tian Lin.

    Tian Lin was expecting her to ask more but was left hanging. She paused for a moment but quickly regained her composure, smiled back, and turned to leave.

    Cheng Suran watched her walk away, then sat for a while, drank some juice, wiped her mouth, and prepared to leave.

    "Xiao Ranran."

    "?"

    A vibrant red approached as Qi Yan, dressed in formal attire, walked up to her. "Are you not happy today?"

    "Huh? Why do you say that?" Cheng Suran looked puzzled.

    Qi Yan looked apologetic, slightly embarrassed. "Last month, at that time, both Qiao Qiao and I didn''t know about you two... Today, you coincidentally sat with Tian Lin..."

    After sending out the invitation to Cheng Suran, she learned from Tian Lin that they had already broken up. However, the invitations had already been sent out and couldn''t be retracted, so they had to continue despite the circumstances.

    Luckily, Jiang Yu didn''t attend.

    But that person sent Tian Lin instead, who coincidentally ended up sitting next to Cheng Suran today. Xiao Ranran must feel so uncomfortable.

    Cheng Suran was taken aback and shook her head repeatedly. "No, I don''t mind that. It''s just a meal. What''s important is celebrating for you and Boss Lu. Don''t worry too much about it."

    "And, actually, I..." She wanted to tell the truth, to say that she wasn''t Jiang Yu''s girlfriend.

    She had been deceiving everyone.

    "It''s fine," Qi Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, not paying much attention. "Are you ready to leave? I''ll arrange a car to take you home."

    "No need, I can take a taxi."

    "Don''t be polite with me. Today, everyone has cars arranged for them. Let''s go, I''ll take you to the entrance. There should be an available car now."

    Cheng Suran tried to refuse in every possible way, but she ended up following Qi Yan.

    Next to the hotel entrance was an open-air parking lot. A row of neatly parked black extended limousines stood on the far left. Each car could accommodate up to nine people, displaying grandeur.

    An empty car approached slowly, parked, and several men and women got on.

    "Let''s take this one. There''s space," Qi Yan walked around to the driver''s side window and told the driver to go to Jiangcheng Foreign Language University. Then she returned to Cheng Suran''s side and lightly tapped her shoulder, whispering softly.

    "Congratulations on your new life."

    Her gaze was meaningful, as if there was more to her words.

    Cheng Suran hadn''t reacted yet when she got in the car.

    As the door closed, she looked at Qi Yan outside the window, waving goodbye. Suddenly, she understood the meaning of those words...

    ....

    At the end of September, the exchange students flew to Paris, France.

    Returning to the familiar place, the city hadn''t changed at all since half a year ago. The only difference was that this time Cheng Suran was accompanied by her classmates.

    After settling in, everyone couldn''t wait to go out and explore, visiting famous landmarks and taking photos.

    Cheng Suran, who had been here before, had less interest and silently followed behind, observing the streetscape. She walked slowly and unconsciously fell behind her classmates.

    Two women with slightly darker skin approached her, speaking English with a heavy accent. "Could you please fill this out? We are helping disabled children, for the sake of... love and ideals." They handed her a white form and a pen.

    Cheng Suran snapped back to reality and glanced at them for a moment, her gaze falling on the form.

    It was a questionnaire.

    Just as she was about to take the paper and pen, a flash crossed her mind, and she suddenly remembered Jiang Yu''s words:

    [There are often Gypsies and Romanian people on the streets, trying to put a bracelet on you or asking for your signature on a paper. They are all scams. Don''t pay attention to them¡­]

    Cheng Suran hesitated, then withdrew her outstretched hand, pushing them away and swiftly running away.

    After catching up with her classmates, Cheng Suran still had lingering fear.

    [There are many thieves here, so you should keep an eye on your belongings. Crossbody bags are safer than shoulder bags. As two Asian faces, some people see us as walking money-printing machines.]

    Cheng Suran took off her backpack and adjusted its position, wearing it in reverse.

    They continued on their way without any trouble.

    In the afternoon, they went to Parc de Scaeux, located in an affluent area. Cheng Suran looked at the well-manicured gardens around her and felt a strong sense of familiarity. If she remembered correctly, Jiang Yu''s mansion should be nearby.

    A thought crossed her mind...

    Could Jiang Yu be there?

    However, the area was too large, and they couldn''t explore the entire park in the afternoon. Without a car and specific coordinates, it was impossible to find that house.

    As the sun began to set, Cheng Suran stood in front of a castle and took a selfie. She opened WeChat and sent it to the gray-black profile picture that had been silent for a long time.

    As expected, she saw the red exclamation mark.

    She pretended that the other person received it.

    She thought to herself.

    How long will it take to completely forget about that person?

    ¡­.

    The last day of October was Jiang Yu''s thirty-third birthday.

    As usual, there were daytime celebrations at the company and studio, followed by an evening celebration with friends. The only difference was that this was her first birthday after "retiring."

    But it seemed like nothing had changed.

    She was still herself.

    The gifts sent by fans filled a large table, and a few girls in the studio were organizing and categorizing them by size: large, medium, small, and mini. The room was orderly.

    "It''s strange, why are there so many gifts from abroad this year?"

    "Because our sister Yu ''retired,'' and the contract with the Paris-based management company also expired. The business contact address has been unified to the domestic studio, so we can expect to receive many gifts every year from now on."

    "Oh, oh."

    They continued sorting and chatting, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a slender figure entering. "Sister Yu, you''re here!"

    "Welcome, our big birthday star!"

    "Happy birthday!"

    Everyone cheered.

    Jiang Yu had vibrant red lips and was wearing a coffee-colored long-sleeved shirt with a black vest over it. The top two buttons were always undone, revealing her slender neck. She paired it with a regular straight-legged jeans, looking light and capable.

    She walked to the table and scanned the room with her gaze, smiling. "Thank you all. I''ve added another year."

    A white gift box caught her attention.

    It was completely white, without any decorative patterns or labels, only a black satin ribbon wrapped around it, tied in a tassel knot. Simple and understated, it stood out among the colorful boxes.

    It precisely hit Jiang Yu''s aesthetic preferences.

    She held it in her hands, looked at it, and then used her fingertips to pull the ribbon, undoing the knot. She slowly opened the transparent inner box.

    Her heartbeat inexplicably quickened, as if something mysterious and precious was hidden inside.

    A rabbit plush toy lay quietly in the box, about the size of a basketball. The neck was embroidered with the words "Happy Birthday," and it had two front paws holding a carrot, looking silly and cute.

    Behind the rabbit, there was also a postcard with two lines of letters written in beautiful calligraphy:

    Ma robe ¨¤ fleurs sous la pluie de novembre

    Tes mains qui courent, je n''en peux plus de t''attendre

    It''s in French.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t understand and raised her gaze, asking, "Who knows where this was sent from?"

    "These are all gifts sent by overseas fans. The gifts from domestic fans have been sorted and placed on that table," a young girl pointed to the adjacent table.

    Jiang Yu furrowed her brows slightly, unsure why she had a hunch that the person who sent this gift might know her...

    She took out her phone and searched for the meaning of the two lines of letters:

    ¡ªMy floral dress sways in the November rain

    ¡ªI walk in haste, no longer willing to wait

    It was the lyrics from "Winter Garden."

    Memories rushed in, and Jiang Yu''s mind conjured up the image of a girl with a beautiful face and pure deer-like eyes. And then, a flood of buried memories resurfaced.

    Time seemed to flow back to that night when the girl sang "Winter Garden," back to the same day years ago.

    "Sister Yu, what''s wrong?" Others noticed her abnormal expression and asked with concern.

    Jiang Yu snapped back to reality, smiled, and said, "It''s nothing. I actually quite like this gift. Let''s leave it as it is." She casually put the postcard back into the box and closed it.

    As she walked out of the studio''s door, the outside was filled with bright sunshine and the fragrance of golden osmanthus.

    [Sister, do you still like it?]

    [I like it very much.]

    Jiang Yu paused in her steps.

    She still remembered it so clearly...

    She wondered.

    How long would it take to completely forget that person?

    Time flies, and years pass by. At that time, no one knew that the farewell would last for a whole five years.

    And even more unexpected was the possibility of meeting again.

    Author''s Note:

    Five years later.

    Cheng Cool tossed a list of names in front of Jiang Scum Yu: Ah, these are the sisters I''ve dated over these years (not .jpg).

 CH 77

    In the scorching midday of summer, under the blazing sun.

    A wide-body airplane landed smoothly, gliding slowly towards the jet bridge, coming to a stop.

    There was a commotion inside the cabin. The woman sitting in the rightmost seat by the window in the front row frowned slightly. She leisurely removed her eye mask and put it in her pocket, then glanced outside the window.

    Familiar scenery.

    After hours of flying, spanning across half of China, Cheng Suran had grown accustomed to it. She would close her eyes and sleep during takeoff, then open her eyes upon landing to confirm her location before her brain quickly filled up with upcoming tasks.

    Now she has arrived in Jiangcheng ¨C her hometown.

    In a moment, the cabin door opened. Cheng Suran picked up her bag and stood up, walking out of the aircraft amidst the smiling farewells from the flight attendants.

    She passed through the terminal, retrieved her luggage, and at the exit, she spotted her assistant, Xiao Meng.

    "Ms. Cheng-"

    A young girl greeted her.

    Cheng Suran, wearing pointed high-heeled shoes and loose wide-leg pants, approached with a gust of wind. Her left arm draped a suit jacket while her right hand pushed a suitcase. Her slightly curled black hair cascaded down to her waist, and she had an upright posture.

    Meeting the girl''s gaze, she slightly curved her lips and nodded.

    Xiao Meng stepped forward to receive the suitcase from her hand, and the two walked side by side towards the parking lot. Arriving at a white car, Cheng Suran got in first, while Xiao Meng skillfully placed the luggage and took the driver''s seat.

    The car slowly left the airport area.

    "How''s the progress on that short-term interpreting project from a few days ago?" Cheng Suran closed her eyes and casually asked.

    While driving, Xiao Meng replied, "It''s stuck. We haven''t been able to finalize it."

    "Oh?"

    "The client has specific requirements. Apart from phone interviews, they also want in-person interviews. The Spanish and English teams have been finalized, but the French team encountered difficulties. Most of the French interpreters had prior engagements during that time, and scheduling conflicts arose. For the few that were available, the client wasn''t satisfied, so it''s at a standstill."

    Hearing that it was her own field of expertise, Cheng Suran furrowed her brows slightly and pondered for a moment before saying, "Let''s go to the company."

    "Okay."

    Forty minutes later, they arrived at the parking lot of the office building and took the elevator to the 16th floor.

    They were greeted by a spacious and brightly lit lobby, with four young and beautiful receptionists sitting at the front desk. On the left was "Yingsheng Education," and on the right was "Yingsheng Technology," both belonging to the same company but representing different business sectors, occupying the entire floor.

    The design style was simple and neat, with warm colors extensively used, creating a visually comfortable and transparent environment.

    "Ms. Cheng, hello."

    "Ms. Cheng."

    Cheng Suran stepped out of the elevator and walked towards her office amidst the greetings. She told Xiao Meng, "Go to the Sales Department and get the client''s information for me."

    She pushed open the office door and sat down on the sofa, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples.

    Within two minutes, Xiao Meng returned with a tablet in her hands.

    "Ms. Cheng, here are the documents."

    Cheng Suran glanced at them briefly and then focused her gaze on the meeting venue.

    The client was a niche luxury brand, "ETERNO," headquartered in Milan, Italy, with its China headquarters located in Jiangcheng. The China headquarters would host a three-day business conference at the Yunjin Lihua Hotel next Wednesday, with an attendance of two to three hundred people. There would also be a banquet in the evening, requiring simultaneous interpreters in English, Italian, and French.

    Yunjin Lihua Hotel...

    Cheng Suran stared at the name, repeating it in her mind over and over again, as fragmented images flashed through her thoughts.

    An elevator, a suite, crystal chandeliers, a dimly lit room... and a woman as venomous as a snake.

    Her hands trembled involuntarily.

    "Are you cold, Ms. Cheng?" Xiao Meng asked with concern.

    Cheng Suran snapped out of her daze and regained her composure, saying, "No, it''s nothing." She took out her phone and searched for the brand name, scrolling through extensive encyclopedia entries.

    The brand information was detailed, and Cheng Suran searched through the jumble of letters, fearing to come across a familiar spelling. She looked through it three times before finally confirming that from the founder to the executives, all had foreign names. She felt relieved.

    It was just a coincidence, nothing more. She was being overly sensitive.

    "Have the sales department contact the client again and arrange another phone interview. I will personally handle it," she said, putting down her phone.

    Even though she was the boss, she followed the process.

    ....

    The client was sincere, but if they couldn''t find the most suitable interpreter, they would have to look for another option. As long as she could secure this project, it didn''t matter if she had to personally handle it. The money she earned and the money the company earned would ultimately end up in her pocket.

    The phone interview was scheduled for 2 p.m., planned for half an hour, but in reality, Cheng Suran only spoke with the other party for seven to eight minutes before confirming the time for the in-person interview.

    "Alright, let''s meet at 4 o''clock."

    After the pleasantries, Cheng Suran hung up the phone and walked to the window.

    Tall buildings lined both sides of the river, with various boats shuttling across the water and tourists flocking along the banks. The scenery had remained unchanged for many years.

    But now, everything has changed...

    On the eve of her university graduation, Cheng Suran gave up on the idea of studying abroad at her own expense and instead participated in the selection exam for translators at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She became the only successful candidate from her graduating class of French majors to join the translation department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    Then came the signing of contracts and being sent abroad for professional language training.

    She went to the Paris School of Translation and Interpreting, obtained a teaching-focused master''s degree after a year, and returned to China upon completion. She officially started her work at the translation department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    Attending international conferences and accompanying leaders on official visits became routine. In her spare time, she listened repeatedly to news from foreign media such as CNN and BBC, translating while listening. Colleagues formed teams to practice various types of exercises, with a high volume and intensity, working tirelessly from morning till night.

    Although she was just a small translator, she represented the country''s image in diplomatic settings. She couldn''t be too assertive or too timid. Over time, Cheng Suran became polished, confident, and composed.

    However, she quickly grew tired of the lifestyle.

    It felt like being trapped in an airtight box¡ªexhausting, suffocating, and mentally demanding. She felt like a bird that should be soaring in the sky or a spirited horse galloping across the plains, not sitting on a flat road with life stretching out before her. She also felt that her true home was not in the capital city but in Jiangcheng.

    So, two years later, she decided to resign and threw away this so-called "golden rice bowl" in the eyes of others.

    Freedom comes at a cost. Due to resigning before the end of her contract, which was considered a breach, Cheng Suran had to pay a penalty and was restricted from leaving the country for three years.

    From then on, she embarked on the path of freelancing.

    With an impressive background as a former diplomat and her own strong capabilities, combined with her connections within the industry, she never had to worry about finding work. For simultaneous interpretation assignments, her daily rates increased from 12,000 to 20,000 within two months.

    Taking on one conference per month was enough to sustain her and live a refined lifestyle. However, if her life were to stop at that point, resigning would have been meaningless.

    She had an obsession in her heart.

    To earn more money.

    Last year, Cheng Suran partnered with a friend she knew in the industry and established "Yingsheng". At the company''s inception, there were only eight employees, including themselves. In just one year, the business expanded from translation training to high-level interpretation services, gradually growing and covering the entire East and South China region. While diligently managing the company, she continued to take on many interpretation assignments, leaving her with a never-ending workload.

    Now, she has amassed two million of her own.

    Unknowingly five years had passed...

    A sudden ringtone abruptly interrupted her thoughts.

    It was Wen Ruoxian.

    Her good friend and business partner.

    "Hello?"

    "Ranran, have you landed? " A gentle and soft voice came through the phone. Cheng Suran smiled, as if the other person could see her. "Yes, I''m already at the company, taking care of some matters." Her smiling face reflected on the glass, lively and bright.

    "You''ve been traveling for the past few days and must be tired. Don''t worry about company matters for now. Take some time to rest, and I''ll cook something delicious for you when I come back tonight."

    "Yes, I''ll listen to the boss."

    Both of them burst into laughter over the phone.

    Cheng Suran took a short nap in her office and woke up exactly at three o''clock. She had some snacks, freshened up with a simple grooming routine, applied light makeup, and set off for the client''s company. This month alone, she had twelve simultaneous interpretation conferences, four consecutive interpretation conferences, and a translation project to finalize. Her schedule was already packed. Originally, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week were supposed to be her planned days off, but this unexpected development disrupted her plans.

    Even the heavens wanted her to work hard and earn money.

    Fifteen minutes later, the car stopped in front of the ETERNO China Headquarters building.

    Cheng Suran calmly walked into the entrance, announced her appointment at the front desk, and followed the young woman into the elevator.

    She had changed into a navy blue silk blouse, wore a simple pearl pendant around her neck, and tucked her long hair behind her ears, accentuating her refined and meticulous features. From the inside out, she exuded an aura of composure and elegance.

    As she passed by the employees along the way, they couldn''t help but cast glances at her.

    The meeting took place in a conference room. Cheng Suran arrived ten minutes early and found the room empty. With the assistant''s guidance, she took a seat and a glass of water was placed in front of her.

    "Miss Cheng, please wait for a moment."

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran nodded lightly, her gaze falling on the resume in her hand. Faint footsteps could be heard from outside.

    It didn''t sound like just one person.

    Soon after, the conference room door was pushed open, and a man wearing a suit and tie entered first. Cheng Suran lifted her gaze, and their eyes met directly.

    A very familiar fragrance filled the air.

    It seemed to come from a distant memory...

    Vetiver Iris.

    Cheng Suran''s heart skipped a beat.

    This scent came from behind the man¡ª

    A woman stepped into the conference room, with a face that exuded a cold and sharp aura. Her features were delicate, but showed a sense of sharpness. Her willow-like eyes were long and not slender, with captivating single eyelids that had a bewitching power.

    Her shoulder-length hair cascaded down, and her red lips were enchanting and full of allure.

    In an instant, their eyes met.

    Time rewound to many years ago, to a night when that face was deeply engraved in her mind.

    Just like in her memories, there was no slightest change. It was still those chilling black eyes, but there seemed to be a slight difference¡ªa deeper, more world-weary gaze than in her memories.

    A surge of heat rose to Cheng Suran''s head, and she fell into a whirlpool of memories. Vivid images surrounded her like a rushing flood, as if they were tearing her soul apart. At that moment, she couldn''t describe the sensation that engulfed her.

    Ah, Jiang Yu...

    Cheng Suran''s lips moved, wanting to call out her name, but another title surfaced in her mind.

    Sister?

    Author''s Note:

    Cheng Cool: Ah, Jiang Yu

 CH 78

    It is an unutterable title.

    It belonged to the person who had disappeared from her life for over 1,800 days, the person who had visited her dreams countless times in the late night, the person who had turned her from a blank canvas into a watercolor painting.

    And now, that person was right in front of her.

    Jiang Yu stood there in silence, her gaze fixed on Cheng Suran''s face.

    Memories surged forth. The girl who trembled in a pink robe years ago and softly called her "sister," merged hazily with this face.

    Her heart suddenly leaped, and the long-dormant feelings in the corner gradually awakened...

    An eerie silence fell inside the room.

    "Miss Jiang, this is Cheng Suran, the French simultaneous interpreter from Yingsheng," the man in the suit spoke up, breaking the silence, and then his gaze turned to Cheng Suran. "Miss Cheng, this is our boss Miss Jiang."

    Cheng Suran nodded calmly, "Miss Jiang."

    Jiang Yu didn''t react.

    "Miss Jiang?" The man in the suit called her softly, sensing the subtle atmosphere, his gaze shifting between her and Cheng Suran.

    "Do you know each other?"

    "No, we don''t," Cheng Suran replied before Jiang Yu could speak.

    Jiang Yu furrowed her brows almost imperceptibly, but she didn''t answer. She silently took a seat across from Cheng Suran.

    This business conference is fully entrusted to Jiang Yu. She must personally review and supervise everything, from the overall direction of the speeches to the minute details of venue arrangements. The participants mainly come from five countries: China, UK, France, USA, and Italy. Translation plays a vital role in the conference, with a total of three foreign languages requiring six simultaneous interpreters, two for each language.

    The schedules of interpreters from large companies are mostly booked, while those from smaller companies are mixed in terms of quality. Over the past half month, Jiang Yu has reviewed more than twenty candidates. Finally, four interpreters have been selected through Yingsheng, and they are almost complete, except for the French team.

    Today, the one said to be a former senior translator from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs turns out to be Cheng Suran, her former "canary." Jiang Yu never expected such a coincidence.

    The three of them sat down, and Jiang Yu calmed her emotions. She gazed at Cheng Suran without blinking, speaking in a professional tone, "Miss Cheng, first of all, I need to explain to you that the request for an interview is due to the unique nature of the conference. There will be dinner and banquet sessions, and we must carefully consider everyone present. I hope you understand." Originally, the interpreters were only required to have a phone interview.

    "Of course," Cheng Suran smiled lightly, showing no trace of disturbance in her eyes.

    She handed over the documents.

    Jiang Yu took them and, with a reluctant look, shifted her gaze away from Cheng Suran''s face. She slightly lowered her head and looked through the resume.

    A familiar name came to view, and the photo on the ID showed a familiar face as well. Jiang Yu''s heartstrings were gently plucked, inexplicably excited. With a hint of curiosity, she continued reading¡ªshe wanted to know what the kid had experienced all these years.

    After graduating from university, she was admitted to the Translation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was sent on a scholarship to the Paris Institute of Translation Studies. A year later, she obtained a master''s degree. During her time at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she had served as an interpreter for press conferences and meetings with the Prime Minister, accompanying leaders on visits to other countries. Later, she resigned and pursued freelance translation, establishing Yingsheng. She had extensive experience in large-scale international conferences.

    Jiang Yu''s heart was stirred, and she couldn''t regain her composure for a long time.

    One minute, two minutes, five minutes.

    "Miss Jiang, do you have any questions?" Cheng Suran spoke up, noticing her distraction.

    Jiang Yu finally snapped out of her daze, closed the file, and said, "No questions." Then she paused for a moment and added, "Miss Cheng perfectly meets our requirements."

    The man in the suit looked at her with a puzzled expression.

    Jiang Yu was about to speak, but Cheng Suran once again took the lead and explained, "I founded Yingsheng."

    Jiang Yu: "..."

    "But you didn''t mention it on the phone," the man in the suit looked shocked.

    Upon hearing that Cheng Suran had a background in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he immediately scheduled the interview, so as not to postpone it until tomorrow.

    Cheng Suran smiled faintly, "I believe that ability is more important than identity."

    The man nodded, also smiling in agreement. He asked Cheng Suran a few more questions, discussing her past work experience, and then presented her with some conference materials, asking her to read them within a minute and provide an oral summary in both English and French.

    Jiang Yu quietly watched from the side.

    From beginning to end, Cheng Suran''s face showed no expression, always calm and focused. Her brows and eyes remained as tranquil and gentle as before, but they didn''t give off a soft impression. On the contrary, she seemed like a cold plum blossoming in the night, with a resolute spirit.

    Although it was a familiar face, it seemed so unfamiliar.

    After approximately ten minutes, Jiang Yu was quite satisfied. She was about to set a time to finalize the contract when Cheng Suran said, "This is a personal collaboration between me and your company, so the pricing differs from the unified pricing we offer externally. It needs to be renegotiated and confirmed."

    The man in the suit was momentarily stunned.

    "How much is your quote, Miss Cheng?" Jiang Yu asked directly.

    Cheng Suran flipped to the last page of the document and adjusted its orientation before smoothly pushing it in front of Jiang Yu.

    The page clearly and meticulously listed the prices based on the type of event, difficulty level, number of participants, and the preparation time required for travel.

    For a full day of eight hours, the fee for simultaneous interpretation was 30,000, while consecutive interpretation was 26,000. If the duration was less than eight hours, it would still be charged as eight hours, with an additional 7,000 for each extra hour. For conferences with over 500 participants, the fees would increase proportionally, depending on the specific range of participants.

    The pricing was indeed quite high.

    Technically, she could sign the contract in the name of her company, but since she was the owner, the agency fee would ultimately go into her pocket. Besides, she was still working as a freelance translator, so it was unnecessary trouble.

    Jiang Yu stared at the quotation, a hint of satisfaction evident in her eyes.

    It felt as if the young eagle she had personally set free could finally soar freely in the sky.

    "Miss Cheng, regarding the pricing, we would like to negotiate," the man in the suit politely said.

    Cheng Suran''s lips moved, but before she could speak, Jiang Yu closed the document and pushed it back to her, decisively saying, "No need to negotiate, Miss Cheng is worth this price."

    A faint smile played at the corner of her mouth, her expression inscrutable.

    Cheng Suran was briefly taken aback.

    That gaze, that expression, and those words instantly reminded her of the time she had been taken care of, when she had been sold at a high price like pork at a market, and when she had so humbly loved someone she was destined not to have...

    That person was sitting right in front of her.

    She couldn''t tell whether it was mockery towards her or if she was simply being too sensitive and overthinking things.

    Her heart stung momentarily, a sharp and fleeting pain. Cheng Suran collected her emotions and smiled, saying, "We have reached a consensus."

    During her two years of work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the diplomatic occasions she attended were far more serious than today. Everything revolved around the country''s image and left little room for personal emotions. Over time, she learned the art of concealing her true feelings.

    She would no longer allow others to see her true emotions as she did in the past.

    After both parties reached an agreement, they double-checked the details.

    "How about signing the contract tomorrow morning at 10 o''clock? What do you think, Ms. Cheng?" Jiang Yu stared at her intently, as if trying to see through her.

    Cheng Suran nodded, "That works."

    At that moment, the mobile phone on the table vibrated, and the man in the suit apologized before excusing himself to answer the call.

    The meeting room fell silent once again.

    After discussing business matters, the two of them looked at each other without speaking, their gazes fixed on each other''s faces, intertwining silently.

    "It''s been a long time," Jiang Yu broke the silence.

    "Mm."

    "Why did you say you don''t know me?"

    "It''s not appropriate to discuss personal matters in a business setting," Cheng Suran replied politely.

    Jiang Yu looked at her deeply, her gaze piercing.

    Her long, straight black hair had been dyed chestnut brown and styled into soft curls. The floral dress had been replaced with a well-tailored navy blue shirt. Her fair skin remained delicate, and her long hair framed her graceful profile. There was an air of maturity and composure about her, and her eyebrows and eyes carried a hint of coolness.

    She seemed like a jade stone that had been polished, with all its edges smoothed out, or a painting that had been stripped of all colors, leaving only simplicity and purity.

    Everything had changed.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t equate her with the girl in her memories, nor could she recall the true appearance of the little canary.

    Like a pebble thrown into a tranquil lake, it created ripples that spread layer by layer. In this moment, she was deeply captivated by this familiar yet unfamiliar person before her, just as she had been at eighteen when she saw her at the train platform, or at thirty-two when she saw her on the nightclub stage.

    "The kid has grown up..." Jiang Yu murmured to herself, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

    Cheng Suran remained silent, not responding to her words.

    The familiar scent of iris lingered around, unchanged after all these years. She would always be reminded of the past whenever she caught a whiff of this cool and ethereal fragrance. The gentle blending of nights, the soft whispers in her ears, the warmth on her lips, the tremors deep within her soul.

    Memories carried the taste of dust.

    It had been five years, and time had finally faded the traces Jiang Yu had left in Cheng Suran''s heart. It had become so faint that she almost believed she had forgotten about this person. But upon meeting again, all those traces awakened, deeply engraved in her bones and blood.

    If she had known in advance that the client was Jiang Yu, would she still have come? Cheng Suran asked in her heart.

    Yes.

    Work is work.

    Cheng Suran realized in a daze that she hadn''t truly forgotten Jiang Yu. She had simply kept this person deep within her heart, avoiding thinking about her or touching those memories. But whenever she did touch them, it still hurt a little.

    She had made a decision to let go of the past and enjoy her own life.

    "Miss Jiang¡ª"

    The door to the meeting room opened, and the man in the suit walked over to Jiang Yu and whispered a few words. Jiang Yu nodded, and he hurriedly left.

    Her train of thought was interrupted, and Cheng Suran glanced at her watch, standing up with the documents in hand. "Miss Jiang, if there are no further questions, I''ll take my leave," she said, lifting her leg to leave.

    "Ranran!"

    Jiang Yu also stood up.

    Upon hearing this familiar nickname, Cheng Suran''s steps faltered, and her fingers holding the folder tightened. Meeting Jiang Yu''s gaze, she smiled and reminded her, "Miss Jiang, my surname is Cheng."

    Jiang Yu looked at her, words lingering on her lips before swallowing them back. She turned around and gestured, "I''ll walk you downstairs."

    Cheng Suran didn''t refuse and walked ahead.

    From the meeting room to the elevator, a short distance of just over twenty steps, the two walked side by side without exchanging a word.

    Jiang Yu suddenly felt a bit uneasy.

    The grown-up Cheng Suran is no longer her canary, and she couldn''t beckon her to come over or wave her away as before. Their identities and relationship had changed, but her memories remained in the past. There seemed to be an invisible barrier between them, familiar yet unfamiliar.

    She didn''t know how to interact with Cheng Suran anymore.

    Arriving at the elevator, the two stopped, and Cheng Suran pressed the floor button. She turned to Jiang Yu with a gentle smile, "Miss Jiang, this is where we part ways. No need to accompany me any further."

    She stood tall with a straight posture, her hands naturally clasped in front of her, dignified and composed, gentle and serene.

    Despite wearing high heels, she was still slightly shorter than Jiang Yu in flat shoes.

    But she was no longer the little chick forced into a corner by predatory birds.

    Jiang Yu stared at her for a long time, her voice barely audible, "Alright."

    Clear images floated in her mind, the girl in her memories crying and trembling, saying "I want you," and chasing after her all the way to Paris in the harsh winter... Now, the girl had grown up and stood calmly before her.

    She couldn''t tell if it was complete resignation and letting go, or if her acting skills were just too good.

    Jiang Yu shifted her gaze away from Cheng Suran''s face.

    The elevator approached their floor, and Jiang Yu stared at the slowly ascending numbers. Suddenly, she spoke up, "Have you been well these past few years?"

    ¡ªDing!

    The elevator doors opened.

    Pretending not to hear, Cheng Suran stepped into the elevator without looking back.

 CH 79

    The elevator doors slowly closed, and Cheng Suran relaxed her whole body, leaning unconsciously against the wall of the elevator.

    "Sister..."

    Muttering the title, a slight ripple of fluctuation stirred in her heart. She closed her eyes, smiled, and then opened them again, unsure if it was mockery or resignation.

    They had unexpectedly met again.

    It was like encountering a long-lost friend after years of no contact, exchanging a few casual words, uneventful. The elevator stopped on the first floor, and fresh air rushed in as the doors opened.

    Cheng Suran gathered her thoughts, straightened her posture, and returned to her previous demeanor. She confidently stepped out.

    A white Cadillac was parked outside the building, at the corner. She approached the car, opened the door, and suddenly remembered that Jiang Yu also had the same model of car.

    Jiang Yu''s was black, while hers was white.

    This car is not expensive. She didn''t even know why she chose to buy it. She''s using it as her business vehicle.

    "Miss Cheng, is something wrong?" Xiao Meng, sitting in the driver''s seat, poked her head out.

    Cheng Suran snapped back to reality and casually got into the car, saying, "Nothing, let''s go back."

    She leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes to rest, but her mind couldn''t calm down. Jiang Yu''s presence, Jiang Yu''s voice, kept swirling in her mind.

    She opened her eyes again and looked at the scenery outside the window.

    The car passed through the city, the sky, the streets, the high-rise buildings... all so familiar. She and Jiang Yu had been here before, had meals in tall buildings, bought things in office buildings, and took walks on the streets.

    Memories surged out like carbonated soda suddenly released, catching her off guard.

    "Xiao Meng."

    "Yes?"

    "Have we worked with this client before?"

    "No," the assistant replied while driving, "this is a super big client, a rare opportunity."

    For their company''s current scale, encountering a client of this caliber was extremely fortunate. They not only needed to do their best to win them over but also maintain a good relationship for future opportunities.

    Cheng Suran furrowed her brow, deep in thought about something.

    After about ten minutes, the assistant dropped Cheng Suran off at her home.

    The upscale residential area was close to the city center, not far from the company. It faced the river to the south and bordered the commercial district to the north. It was a peaceful place amidst the hustle and bustle, convenient for going anywhere.

    Cheng Suran and Wen Ruoxian were not registered residents of Jiangcheng, so they didn''t have the qualifications to buy property for now. They rented a 200-square-meter five-bedroom apartment in this area, with each person having their own bedroom and study, as well as a guest room. The monthly rent was 60,000.

    Although the house didn''t belong to her, the life inside it did. Every time she came back, she felt a sense of home, something she didn''t experience during her two years of living in the capital.

    Cheng Suran didn''t go upstairs immediately. Instead, she went to the backyard and took a stroll.

    In the long days of summer, even after 5 p.m., the sky was still bright. The sun hung diagonally in the west, warming the wind blowing towards her.

    She sat on the swing, gently swaying back and forth.

    The person who had the telephone interview with her in the afternoon should have been the man in the suit. His voice was exactly the same. It was precisely because he was a man that she became more convinced that she was being overly sensitive and overthinking things. However, reality proved that her intuition about Jiang Yu was always so accurate¡ªor rather, accurate when it came to matters concerning Jiang Yu.

    It truly felt like God''s joke.

    In the meetings she attended, two-thirds of them were related to the fashion industry, with various people coming and going. Perhaps she would eventually encounter her, but it was just a matter of probability.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t help but recall the scene from earlier.

    The sound of "Ranran" seemed as if a hand had grabbed her, trying to pull her back to the past...

    During the long period after their separation, Cheng Suran fell into a state of depressive melancholy. She would lie in the bed of her rented room every day, not wanting to eat or drink, not wanting to go out and see people. She felt extremely ugly and blamed herself, not her sister. No one would ever like her.

    But when she thought of the two million yuan and what her sister had said before they parted ways, she felt that she shouldn''t disappoint the other person. If she gave up on her own life like this, her sister would despise her even more, wouldn''t she?

    It was her fragile self-esteem that saved her life.

    Later on, she changed her Weibo account, blocked the words "Jiang Yu," and rarely logged in. She also got a new phone, and there was no longer that number she didn''t dare to dial in her contacts. In WeChat, there was no longer that profile picture that only replied with a red exclamation mark.

    She thought that if she ever saw Jiang Yu again one day, she absolutely couldn''t be the same as before. She had to be radiant and dignified. Has she achieved that now?

    But why didn''t she feel the slightest bit of joy and excitement? There was no pride or sense of accomplishment that she had imagined. It was like organizing a closet full of clothes and accidentally finding a dress she once loved but now was out of style. That kind of feeling...

    So she had this "dress" once.

    Cheng Suran took out her phone and opened Weibo, logging in to her old account. Even after all these years, she still remembered the password.

    "Your little friend crr."

    ¡ªYou are my unforgettable thoughts, I am your insignificant pain.

    ¡ªYou''re like a dream, like a fleeting illusion.

    The naive words, pure adoration. These hundreds of self-speaking records of emotions faintly touched the pain in Cheng Suran''s heart, but it was fleeting. Suddenly, she felt that her past self was particularly childish and laughable.

    That was the imprint of her youth, the proof of her young self.

    In the end, Jiang Yu was just a passerby.

    At this moment, Cheng Suran completely calmed down.

    Today''s events were sudden, and she was unprepared. Although she managed to control her emotions from showing, there was still a slight ripple in her heart. She shouldn''t have acted distant or escaped abruptly. It was too deliberate and made her appear still immersed in that period of time, unable to move on.

    "Haah..."

    She didn''t know how long she had been sitting there. The sky darkened, and the sunset gradually turned into a fiery orange. By the time the sun had completely set, the night began.

    Her phone suddenly vibrated.

    It was Wen Ruoxian.

    "Ranran, where are you? Why haven''t you come home?"

    Cheng Suran answered the call, but before she could speak, she heard Wen Ruoxian''s concerned voice. She then realized that it was already 6:30, hastily got up, and said as she walked back, "I''m downstairs now, I''ll come up."

    After hanging up the phone, Cheng Suran took the elevator to the twelfth floor and entered the password to open the door.

    The living room was lit up, and there was a bustling sound coming from the kitchen. Cheng Suran changed into slippers, set down her bag, and followed the sound into the kitchen. There, she saw Wen Ruoxian standing at the countertop, preparing to kill a giant lobster.

    It was the feeling she loved, the feeling of home.

    "Ruoxian, I''m back."

    "Why did you come back so late?" Wen Ruoxian paused with the knife in her hand and looked up.

    Cheng Suran replied somewhat guiltily, "I went to meet a client, and the traffic was a bit congested." She stared at the large lobster on the cutting board and asked, "What is this?"

    The creature had long tentacles like two antennas, a huge and sturdy head comparable to a tank, and a tail with black and white stripes. It was grayish-blue and had an imposing presence.

    It looked just like an alien creature invading the earth in disaster movies.

    "It''s a Maota Qinglong lobster. You mentioned wanting to eat lobster last time, right? This one weighs over nine kilograms. I''ll let you fully enjoy it today." Wen Ruoxian smiled and made a swift and accurate cut. The lobster''s head and body instantly separated, releasing a large amount of transparent liquid.

    "I was just saying it casually."

    "I didn''t just casually listen."

    Cheng Suran curved her lips and showed a satisfied smile. "Sister Xian is the best."

    "Don''t call me ''sister''." Wen Ruoxian corrected her.

    "Oh, Ruoxian."

    Cheng Suran stuck out her tongue and noticed that Wen Ruoxian wasn''t wearing an apron. She turned around, fetched one, and draped it over her head, pulling the two straps around to the back of her neck and tying them in a loose knot. "You always forget to wear an apron. You''ll dirty your clothes again."

    Being close to her, a faint fragrance wafted out. Wen Ruoxian sniffed, suddenly stopped, and leaned in to smell her neck. "Did you wear perfume?"

    "I didn''t." Cheng Suran sensitively evaded, "Maybe I picked up the scent while meeting the client."

    Vetiver Iris.

    Once it lingers, it''s hard to dissipate.

    Wen Ruoxian was taken aback, her eyes slightly dim, and she said with a hint of reproach, "You''ve been constantly traveling these days, only flew back this afternoon, and now you''re meeting clients. Don''t you know how to take a break?" After speaking, she continued working with the knife.

    Her voice was gentle and delicate, without any hint of blame, only full of concern and tenderness.

    "I took a nap at the office." Cheng Suran coaxed her, and seeing Chinese flowering cabbage and beef nearby, she took them over and helped with the preparation, picking the vegetable leaves.

    Wen Ruoxian stopped talking and focused on handling the lobster.

    After separating the head and body, she poured out the lobster brain, blanched it, and placed it on a plate for later use. Then she cut open both sides of the lobster tail, removed the translucent shrimp meat, and cut it into pieces, placing them into a plate. The remaining parts were minced and stored in the refrigerator for making congee.

    Her technique was skilled, clean, and swift.

    Cheng Suran enjoyed watching her cook; it was a form of enjoyment. Some people, no matter what they do, seemed like artists, pleasing to the eye and comforting.

    Their acquaintance also began with a meal.

    Wen Ruoxian is three years older than Cheng Suran. She graduated from the Foreign Language Department of a university in Jiangcheng, majoring in German. She went to the Mainz-Germersheim School of Translation and Interpreting in Germany for postgraduate studies. She had previously interned at the European Union for a period of time and later worked as a dedicated interpreter in a German automotive company.

    That year, Cheng Suran was sent to Paris for further studies. In addition to her studies, she wanted to explore and travel around Europe. She made detailed travel plans, and her first stop was Germany.

    She was staying in a short-term rental apartment in Berlin. One evening, as she was preparing to take a shower, someone knocked on her door. When she opened it, she saw Wen Ruoxian''s face, and both of them were taken aback.

    Wen Ruoxian lived next door and had discovered that her stove was broken. It would take some time to repair it, and local repair services were expensive. She also didn''t like the food outside, so she bought a lot of groceries but couldn''t cook them. She could only ask her neighbor for the use of the kitchen.

    Wen Ruoxian had deep-set eyes and a high, straight nose, resembling someone of mixed heritage. Cheng Suran couldn''t refuse a request from a beautiful girl.

    As they cooked together, they chatted and discovered that they had graduated from the same university and were not only senior and junior sisters but also in the same field. They quickly became familiar with each other.

    Later, Wen Ruoxian acted as a tour guide for Cheng Suran, taking her to visit Berlin. When they parted ways, they exchanged contact information and made plans to meet in Paris next time.

    Over the course of a year, they made use of their vacations to travel all over Europe, transforming from strangers to good friends. Even after Cheng Suran returned to China, they continued to stay in touch. Then, two years ago, Wen Ruoxian quit her job and returned to China, working as a freelance translator in the capital. This allowed them to meet frequently.

    Wen Ruoxian''s personality is gentle, steady, and composed in everything she does. She takes care of Cheng Suran and sometimes even spoils her.

    Last year, when Cheng Suran quit her job and started her business in Jiangcheng, Wen Ruoxian wholeheartedly supported her and followed her. They live together and are inseparable.

    Cheng Suran often feels fortunate to have such a sincere and caring friend. Perhaps she has finally overcome the hardships she experienced in the past...

    "What client was it this afternoon?" Wen Ruoxian asked casually after finishing with the lobster.

    Cheng Suran was taken aback, her thoughts were pulled back again, inevitably thinking of that person. Her voice became softer, "It''s the project I mentioned a couple of days ago. Today, Xiao Meng told me that the French team failed completely, so I went there in person. I contacted the other party on behalf of the company, but the contract will be signed in my personal name tomorrow morning."

    As she spoke, images of Jiang Yu''s face filled her mind, and her hands slowed down.

    She meticulously cut more than ten pieces of hollow-stemmed vegetable.

    Wen Ruoxian noticed her subtle actions, a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes, but she didn''t say anything. She calmly said, "I have nothing to do tomorrow, so I''ll pick you up and drop you off."

    "Aren''t you going to rest at home?"

    "Ranran is more important."

    Cheng Suran looked at her, a strange feeling welling up inside her, but before she could grasp it, it vanished. She could only smile and nod, "Alright, let Boss Wen be my driver."

    Wen Ruoxian reached out and playfully scratched her nose.

    Cheng Suran was stunned.

    In her memories, there was also someone who always looked at her with doting eyes, scratched her nose, pinched her ears, tousled her hair, caressed her face, and repeatedly kissed her while gently saying, "Sister likes you the most."

    She had just met this person in the afternoon.

    ¡­.

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    After returning from the company, Jiang Yu had been standing on the balcony without moving. It was already dark.

    The housekeeper came over and called her, but there was no response even after calling twice, as if she couldn''t hear.

    The city was illuminated with beautiful lights, but she stood high above, feeling only loneliness and coldness. The warm summer night breeze mixed with a sense of heat and stuffiness blew, making her feel trapped between ice and fire.

    "Sister Yu..."

    A soft call came from behind.

    Footsteps approached, getting closer and closer, and when the person arrived by her side, Jiang Yu seemed to sense something. Her eyelashes trembled, and she finally stiffly turned her face.

    Tian Lin stood behind her, looking at her with concern. "Auntie said you''ve been standing here for two hours, not eating or drinking... Is something wrong?"

    Jiang Yu remained silent.

    "Sister Yu?"

    "Don''t scare me." Tian Lin''s heart skipped a beat.

    Jiang Yu spoke softly, "I saw Ranran."

 CH 80

    Her voice seemed to drift from a distant place, hollow and ethereal. Tian Lin wasn''t sure if she misheard or if she was dreaming.

    Ranran?

    Cheng Suran?

    That name also existed in a deep, distant corner of her memory.

    Tian Lin fell silent for a moment, looking at the absent-minded Jiang Yu with a sigh. "It''s been five years."

    "Yeah, five years..." Jiang Yu murmured.

    She had thought that with enough time passing, everything could be taken away. But the impression of that girl was etched more clearly in her heart. When she didn''t deliberately think about it, it seemed like she had forgotten. But when the other person reappeared before her, she realized that she had never forgotten.

    The last time Jiang Yu saw Cheng Suran was at the entrance of the wedding hotel.

    After returning, she stored away everything related to Cheng Suran, hiding them in a corner of a small warehouse. This included the gift she received on her birthday, which she couldn''t bear to throw away. Then she threw herself into busy work.

    Her career as a model had ended, but her career as a talent agent and designer was just beginning.

    Over the past five years, SIENA MODEL had gradually grown and become a leader in the industry. They established a complete industry system, from model scouting to training and management, with the headquarters in Jiangcheng and dozens of branch offices in southern China, northern China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas. Their business expanded continuously, with nearly a thousand signed models and clients and partners spread across major fashion centers worldwide.

    Meanwhile, the brand ETERNO, which she founded with her designer friend a few years ago, was also gaining momentum. Regional headquarters were established in various countries, and she served as a shareholder and one of the designers, overseeing the Chinese market, although she didn''t directly participate in day-to-day operations most of the time.

    Every year during the four major fashion weeks, Jiang Yu watched as models walked the runway in clothes she had designed, feeling proud and fulfilled. However, no matter how busy she was during the day, in the quiet of the night, she still felt a sense of loneliness and emptiness. Work could fill her up, but there were always moments of pause. She went everywhere alone, did everything alone, without anyone to share or confide in.

    And then she started seeking lovers again, returning to the days of "keeping birds" in the past.

    This time, the template for her lovers was not Qi Yan but Cheng Suran.

    In the first two years, she had kept eight "canaries," the longest for two months and the shortest for one week. Without exception, they were young girls in their early twenties¡ªpure-looking, with clear eyes and sweet dimples. They were petite, no taller than 165 cm, obedient and quiet, and they sang beautifully, at least knowing one foreign language.

    Each person had some resemblance to Cheng Suran.

    Jiang Yu had them apply a milk-scented body lotion and wear pink silk robes. They wouldn''t meet during the day, only occasionally accompanying her on nights. The freshness came and went quickly, and with each new lover, the period of being alone grew longer and more tiresome.

    The last lover was the most reminiscent of Cheng Suran. At first, Jiang Yu didn''t realize it, but one night when they were drinking together and a bit intoxicated, in a moment of affection, she called out that nickname to the girl.

    The next day, the girl asked, "Who is Ranran?"

    So, she kicked her out.

    Because of this, Tian Lin teased her, saying, "Can''t you find a different template?"

    Since then, Jiang Yu had never kept any "birds" again. It had been three years, and she remained alone.

    The longer the time passed, the more anxious she felt. In the end, she had to admit that she had developed genuine feelings in an unequal relationship. If it had been just that, it would have been forgivable, but what tormented her heart was that she had driven away the girl in the most ruthless and hurtful way, something she was reluctant to face in every possible way.

    The sound of ship whistles echoed between the tall buildings on both sides of the strait.

    "I never thought I would see her again. You know, what are the chances of such a serendipitous encounter..." Jiang Yu stared at the distant lights, and a bright glow illuminated her eyes.

    Once at the age of eighteen, once at thirty-two, and once at thirty-eight.

    Tian Lin whispered, "You should have the answer in your heart."

    Jiang Yu fell silent.

    "Where did you see Miss Cheng?"

    "In the meeting room."

    Jiang Yu slowly recounted everything that had happened that afternoon.

    "Ranran has grown up. You don''t know how beautiful she looked sitting there. I couldn''t find a trace of her past self in her. She felt so unfamiliar, yet she was still her. Everything has changed, and nothing has changed..." She spoke as if talking to herself, her eyes flickering with a sense of gratification.

    Tian Lin asked again, "How did she treat you?"

    The smile on Jiang Yu''s lips froze, and her complexion gradually turned dim.

    After a while, she lowered her head and said, "She was polite. After all, it was a business discussion, and it''s been so many years. It''s impossible for things to be the same as before."

    It sounded more like she was consoling herself.

    "Well, that''s understandable. It''s been so long, Miss Cheng has achieved success in her career, and she must have plenty of suitors around her. Maybe she already has someone in her life and has forgotten about the past. Life is long," Tian Lin analyzed seriously, worried that Jiang Yu might recall unpleasant experiences and wanted to console her, but little did she know that her words only made her more disheartened.

    Jiang Yu furrowed her brows tightly. "You''re right..."

    She might already have someone in her life.

    Tian Lin seemed to understand what she was thinking and sighed. "She''s just an old lover. If you meet, you meet. You have your own life, and she has hers. Just focus on your cooperation and be happy. Isn''t that good?"

    Jiang Yu remained silent.

    Seeing her like this, Tian Lin had some guesses in her mind.

    Guesses that had been there for five years.

    Jiang Yu always wrapped herself up tightly, even those closest to her couldn''t fully understand her. Even though Tian Lin knew a bit about her family background and a few things about her childhood, she couldn''t truly grasp Jiang Yu''s heart.

    "If you really can''t let go, then take this opportunity..."

    "She must hate me a lot," Jiang Yu interrupted softly.

    Tian Lin placed a hand on her shoulder and comfortingly patted her. "Even if she hates you, it''s a good thing."

    "Why?"

    "When there''s hatred, there''s still concern, and there''s a glimmer of hope. If there''s no hatred, if she completely lets go, then you''ll become nothing more than familiar strangers."

    Jiang Yu fell into contemplation.

    Hot gusts of wind blew by, mixed with a sense of dryness, and the surrounding air felt stifling and scorching.

    At night, Jiang Yu couldn''t sleep.

    She lay on the large bed surrounded by rabbit dolls, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, Cheng Suran''s face appeared in her mind. She grabbed her phone from the pillow and opened a web page, searching for "Cheng Suran."

    Surprisingly, there was relevant information on the encyclopedia.

    Cheng Suran, female, former French translator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, graduated from Jiangcheng Foreign Language University... The introduction was brief, with only one work photo.

    The photo of Cheng Suran showed her dressed in a black suit, with her hair styled in a low ponytail. There were name cards and three long microphones placed in front of her. Her expression was calm, her demeanor composed, her eyes bright and spirited, radiating a vibrant aura. She was completely different from the shy and timid little canary of the past.

    Jiang Yu continued to search for some political news and watched videos of relevant international conferences, making an effort to find Cheng Suran''s presence among a group of male leaders. Finally, in a news segment, she found it¡ªCheng Suran sitting next to the leaders, her presence understated yet impossible to ignore. Jiang Yu replayed the video multiple times, deeply captivated by that figure, experiencing subtle emotions in her heart.

    Pride, contentment...

    And a slight fluttering sensation.

    She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and felt her body sink into the depths of a silent sea. The dim light from the night lamp grew distant, fading away...

    With a contract signing scheduled for 10 o''clock, Jiang Yu got out of bed before 7 o''clock. Like performing a sacred ritual, she went through her morning routine and stood in front of her walk-in closet.

    Faced with a room full of clothes, she felt helpless.

    What should she wear?

    She opened her "Coco''s Capsule Wardrobe," filled with timeless classic pieces in shades of black, white, gray, and camel, along with some uniquely designed accessories. Any combination would result in a comfortable and effortlessly sophisticated look, which she usually loved. However, today she was dissatisfied no matter how much she tried different outfits.

    How should she dress to meet Ranran?

    After half an hour of indecision, she managed to put together three outfits and went to the guest room to pull a groggy Tian Lin along.

    Due to work reasons, Tian Lin had been staying at Jiang Yu''s house recently. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she followed behind Jiang Yu and asked, "What''s wrong, Sister Yu?"

    "Help me decide which outfit to wear," Jiang Yu said, pointing at the clothes.

    Tian Lin looked at her in astonishment, then glanced at the clothes, laughing. "Aren''t you mistaken? You''re a model, you should be better at styling than me. I can''t believe you don''t know what to wear..." She said that, but still went through the wardrobe one by one, seriously contemplating.

    "Today is for signing a contract, so it shouldn''t be too flashy for a serious occasion, but it''s summer, so it shouldn''t be too dull either..."

    "Forget it, go back to sleep," Jiang Yu waved her hand.

    Tian Lin: "..."

    After Tian Lin left, Jiang Yu stood in front of the dressing mirror, looking at herself and imagining how the kid would see her.

    From 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., and then to 8:30 a.m...

    In the end, Jiang Yu chose a light gray shirt dress, paired with a thin belt. She unbuttoned the top two buttons, revealing a hint of her collarbone, and added a simple silver pendant necklace for a touch of color.

    After breakfast, she carefully applied light makeup and spent some time in front of the mirror until 9:20 a.m. before heading out.

    Today she would drive herself.

    The traffic was heavy on the road, causing a bit of congestion. Around 9:40 a.m., Jiang Yu arrived at the entrance of the building and saw a black car parked at the corner. The passenger door happened to open.

    A woman with long hair got out of the car.

    Ranran?

    Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes and drove forward slowly, stopping at a distance, observing carefully.

    Audi A6L.

    Tsk.

    Cheng Suran closed the car door and walked a few steps in six or seven-centimeter high heels. Suddenly, she stopped, turned around, and at that moment, the driver''s side door opened, and another woman got out of the car.

    From this angle, the woman''s face was not visible.

    The person had a tall figure, shoulder-length hair, and was wearing a simple apricot-colored short-sleeved shirt. She was holding a document bag and walked around the front of the car to hand it to Cheng Suran, saying something.

    Cheng Suran smiled, and two small dimples faintly appeared, exuding a sweet and gentle charm.

    The woman raised her hand and carefully tidied Cheng Suran''s hair.

    Jiang Yu gripped the steering wheel tightly.

    Soon, the two women went their separate ways. Cheng Suran walked toward the lobby on the first floor, while the other woman turned around, finally allowing Jiang Yu to see her face.

    Her eyes were deep and her eyebrows were defined. She had a high nose, with a slightly mixed-race appearance, but not the strong features often associated with it.

    She got into the car, and there was no further movement.

    [Miss Cheng has achieved success in her career, and she must have plenty of suitors around her. Maybe she already has someone in her life and has forgotten about the past...]

    Jiang Yu remembered Tian Lin''s words.

    Could it be Ranran''s partner?

    The way Ranran looked at that person with such tenderness, and the sweet smile she showed to that person, used to be reserved only for Jiang Yu. Ranran hadn''t become cold or distant, she had just given all her warmth and beauty to someone else.

    A sense of melancholy and a faint feeling of loss welled up in Jiang Yu''s heart. She sat for a while, then drove the car to the intersection ahead, made a U-turn, and entered the underground parking lot, estimating the time it would take to go upstairs.

    "Miss Jiang, Manager Cheng has already arrived. This is the contract prepared by the Legal Department."

    Yesterday''s suited man was the Manager of the Business Department who delivered the prepared contract, but he would not be involved in the signing process. This was Jiang Yu''s request.

    "Mm." Jiang Yu took the contract and flipped through it. Seeing that there were five minutes left until ten o''clock, she stood up and left her office.

    The meeting room was downstairs, with a spacious and bright reception area on the outside. Just as Jiang Yu stepped out of the elevator, she saw Cheng Suran sitting on a sofa chair, head down, engrossed in reading a document.

    Cheng Suran sat with grace, her back straight and her white blouse tied with a long necktie. Her light pink dress had a touch of gauze, giving off a gentle and capable aura. Sitting quietly, she was like a beautiful painting.

    Elegant and captivating.

    Jiang Yu hesitated to disturb and slowed her pace.

    A strand of chestnut hair slipped from Cheng Suran''s shoulder onto the paper. She tilted her neck and raised her hand to tuck it behind her ear. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a figure approaching, and when she looked up, she met Jiang Yu''s burning gaze.

    Her heartbeat momentarily paused.

    It was as if she was transported back to that night in the hotel a few years ago, when the snake-like woman turned and glanced back.

    The memory flashed by, and Cheng Suran quickly regained her composure. She calmly closed the folder, stood up, and wore a polite smile on her lips. "Miss Jiang."

    "Miss Cheng, you''re here so early." Jiang Yu stared at her face.

    "Yes, I''m used to arriving early."

    There was no trace of flaw on her face, as if she was wearing the most perfect mask. The smile didn''t reach her eyes, it was just surface-level politeness, balanced between being too warm and too indifferent.

    There was no longer the little girl who couldn''t hide her thoughts.

    Jiang Yu suddenly remembered the scene downstairs just now. She saw Cheng Suran smiling at the woman next to her, a smile she was familiar with, and couldn''t help but feel a pang of bitterness. She withdrew her gaze and turned to walk towards the meeting room. "Come in."

    In that instant when she turned around, Cheng Suran put away her smile.

    They entered the meeting room one after the other.

    There were glass bottles of mineral water on the table. Cheng Suran took a seat first. Jiang Yu glanced at the file bag in her hand and casually asked, "What were you looking at just now?"

    "The materials for the afternoon meeting."

    "There''s another meeting? Is your schedule that packed?"

    The question seemed somewhat unnecessary and disrupted the professional atmosphere between them. Cheng Suran sensibly perceived it and deliberated for a moment before choosing reason over emotion.

    "Yes, very busy, so I prefer to focus on the present matters."

    She continued to smile flawlessly.

    For small contracts like this, there was no need for a formal and serious occasion, nor did it require a grand and solemn ceremony. Both parties would read through it, confirm that there were no issues, and sign it in a matter of minutes.

    Everything was just work. That''s how Cheng Suran saw it.

    Jiang Yu nodded and didn''t say anything more. She pushed the prepared contracts over. "Take a look at these contracts."

    The scene felt familiar.

    As Cheng Suran flipped open the contract, a vivid image flashed in her mind...

    The girl sat on the sofa, obedient and reserved, with her legs placed neatly and properly. On the opposite side sat the snake-like woman, cold and piercing, her predatory gaze assessing her.

    [Sister, is this legally binding?]

    [No. Just giving the kid a sense of ceremony. As long as you behave well, sister will keep her word.]

    The red, bolded text: Do not be tempted.

    It was as sharp as blood.

    It was August 28, 2019, a sunny morning. She anxiously waited for the benefactor to sell her off like a piece of pork at the market, and then she fell in love in that unequal relationship.

    Six years had passed, and she still remembered that humble and weak version of herself, the ugly and miserable self. She remained deeply entrenched in it, even though she knew she couldn''t have it.

    But that version of herself was also charmingly foolish, with a sincere and pure heart, wasn''t she?

    She wouldn''t hate herself anymore.

    The contract was only a few pages long, and Cheng Suran quickly flipped through both copies. She raised her head and said, "No issues."

    Jiang Yu was lost in her thoughts, staring at her. Startled by Cheng Suran''s voice, she quickly handed over a pen and an ink pad.

    Pretending not to know, Cheng Suran smoothly signed her name and pressed her thumbprint.

    Jiang Yu also stamped the company seal.

    "Pleasure working with you."

    She smiled and extended her hand.

    Cheng Suran hesitated for a moment before shaking hands with her. As their palms touched, feeling the warmth and softness of her skin, Cheng Suran''s heart skipped a beat. She quickly withdrew her hand as if she had been shocked and casually said, "Pleasure working with you."

    She swiftly packed up her documents and stood up.

    "Since it''s a pleasant collaboration, how about having a meal together? My treat," Jiang Yu closed her palm, wanting to preserve the warmth that belonged to her.

    Cheng Suran politely declined, "Thank you for the offer, Miss Jiang, but I have work in the afternoon."

    With that, she turned to leave.

    "When I arrived earlier, I saw a black Audi parked at the entrance," Jiang Yu sat in her chair, watching her.

    "..."

    "Is she your girlfriend?"

    "No."

    Cheng Suran''s words rushed out, fearing that any delay would lead to misunderstandings. Suddenly, she realized that she had no obligation to answer personal questions.

    Why was she so obedient? Answering anyone''s questions without even considering it for a second.

    She glanced at Jiang Yu with a slight panic.

    Jiang Yu''s gaze grew deeper.

    "Miss Jiang, if you''ll excuse me."

    After all, she was an important client. Cheng Suran comforted herself with this thought, not wanting to stay a moment longer.

    "Ranran¡ª"

    Jiang Yu stood up and grabbed her hand, a moment of urgency causing her to pull with too much force, making Cheng Suran sway and nearly hit the corner of the table. Jiang Yu hurriedly supported her waist.

    A strange silence filled the air.

    Cheng Suran quickly regained her balance, breaking free from her grip and taking two steps back. "Is there anything else, Miss Jiang?"

    She struggled to maintain her composure as an adult.

    Jiang Yu''s lips trembled, wanting to say something, but looking at Cheng Suran''s calm face, she swallowed her words and said, "It''s nothing."

    Cheng Suran left the meeting room.

    The heavy door closed again, and the sound insulation here was excellent. All external noises were shielded, and a deafening silence surrounded Jiang Yu from all directions.

    The silence was almost painful to the ears.

    Jiang Yu slumped onto the chair, lowered her head, and looked at her own hands. She spread her fingers and then closed them, suddenly feeling somewhat fortunate.

    She asks, and she answers. She reaches out, and she avoids. She calls her by her nickname, and she wants to run away. Until today, she couldn''t be sure if Ranran had truly let go of everything. Were they only able to maintain a polite working relationship, becoming the most familiar strangers to each other?

    She would rather have Ranran hate her, scold her, accuse her, be hysterical towards her, than see Ranran expressionless or smiling at her.

    Cheng Suran''s actions showed her that she wasn''t as calm as she appeared...

    Perhaps there was still a chance for her?

    Jiang Yu took a deep breath, took out her phone, unlocked it, and habitually spent some time looking at the wallpaper. It was a photo of Ranran taken by her in the car at Qi Yan and Lu Zhiqiao''s wedding five years ago.

    Then she opened Weibo and switched to her alternate account.

    @Carnivorous Herbivore JWY: My girl is back.

    Author''s Note:

    Jiang Scum: I''m jealous, but I won''t say it. QAQ.

 CH 81

    Before walking out of the building, Cheng Suran adjusted her emotions.

    The car was waiting at the corner, and as she looked at it from afar, her chaotic heart calmed down slightly. She walked over and got into the car as if nothing had happened.

    The song "Winter Garden," which she loved, was playing from the speakers.

    "Ranran..."

    Sitting by the window, Wen Ruoxian turned her head and smiled at her, handing her phone. "I bought you a suitcase, it just arrived. You can use it for your business trip tomorrow."

    On the screen was the logistics information of an order from the official website of RIMOWA.

    Cheng Suran was stunned: "But I have a suitcase."

    "It''s been used for several years, and it''s time to get a new one. Last time you said that it was badly scratched at the airport. If the old one doesn''t go, no new one can take its place." Wen Ruoxian spoke in a gentle tone.

    Cheng Suran insisted: "It''s okay, it can be used for a while, but since you bought it, we can keep it at home as a spare." She unconsciously rubbed her fingers, her smile was weak, "Thank you Ruoxian."

    She has always been used to frugality, and she doesn''t like to spend money recklessly. She wants to save even a little bit of money, and to ensure that her income is continuous, so that she has enough sense of security.

    Wen Ruoxian''s gaze fell on her hand, his expression froze, and she was silent for a while and asked, "Did the signing of the contract go well?"

    "Huh? Cheng Suran looked puzzled.

    "You''re not in a good mood."

    "..."

    Wen Ruoxian stretched out her index finger, lightly poked her forehead, and laughed teasingly: "You can''t hide any emotions from me."

    "How?" Having been exposed, Cheng Suran was slightly embarrassed, and was curious how she could see that she was different from usual.

    "Every time you''re in a bad mood, you rub your fingers and it turns red."

    Wen Ruoxian grabbed Cheng Suran''s hand and covered the reddened skin as if cradling a treasure.

    Between her fingers, she felt the warm touch, and Cheng Suran shrank back slightly, feeling a bit uneasy. She looked into the deep and gentle eyes of the woman in front of her, and her emotions gradually calmed down. Wen Ruoxian had this kind of magic; she could effortlessly soothe all the ripples in her heart.

    "It''s nothing. It went smoothly, and I''ve already signed. I''ll be staying at that hotel for three days and two nights next Wednesday." Cheng Suran avoided discussing the reasons.

    Wen Ruoxian stared at her for a moment, and then glanced at the file bag before nodding gently, "Let''s go. Take a good nap this afternoon, and I''ll drive you there."

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran withdrew her hand.

    The car drove onto the main road, and Wen Ruoxian glanced at the shadow of the building in the rearview mirror, lost in thought...

    Ever since meeting Jiang Yu again, Cheng Suran felt as if a certain mechanism inside her had been triggered. Memories from the past occasionally startled her at first, but later on, she got used to them, accepting that both memories and reality were part of her.

    No one loved herself more than herself.

    With work becoming busy, time passed by quickly.

    In the blink of an eye, it was already Wednesday.

    In one week, Cheng Suran had almost finished reviewing the meeting materials. The client requested her to be ready at the hotel by 2 o''clock in the afternoon. She packed her luggage early and prepared a simple lunch for herself.

    Ruoxian went out of town for a meeting yesterday, so she was the only one at home.

    Working in this field meant constantly flying to different places according to the changing meeting locations.

    After finishing lunch, Cheng Suran took a short nap. Then, she put on a relatively formal black silk half-sleeved shirt and loose straight-cut trousers. To avoid appearing dull and dark, she deliberately wore a pair of pearl earrings.

    Her dressing style had been influenced a bit by Jiang Yu. It emphasized simplicity and comfort, with a focus on texture and design. In her daily life, she often dressed in "black, white, gray, beige, and camel" colors. Only when going out for fun or feeling particularly good would she try some bright colors and trendy styles.

    Ten minutes before two o''clock, Cheng Suran arrived at the entrance of Yunjin Lihua Hotel.

    After many years, the hotel''s main entrance remained unchanged, with its magnificent fountain square and two rows of lush tree-lined paths. Everything looked familiar.

    In the past few years, every time she passed by this area, she deliberately avoided looking, thinking that returning to this place would be a daunting challenge for her. But now, as she stepped into the hotel lobby, she felt surprisingly calm.

    She looked at the elevators and recalled how she had run out of here years ago, stumbling and chasing after Jiang Yu''s figure. Then, she helplessly watched her leave, chasing after her car, running and running until she couldn''t run anymore...

    How foolish.

    Cheng Suran turned her head away, and then she walked towards the front desk.

    The conference will last for three days, and the organizers arranged for the attendees to stay in hotel rooms, one person per room. Cheng Suran wasn''t the first to arrive; the foreign guests had arrived yesterday, and the male interpreter she was paired with also arrived earlier than her.

    "Please take your room card. It''s a suite on the twentieth floor, in the middle," the front desk staff said with a smile.

    A suite?

    A single person staying in a suite?

    Cheng Suran was puzzled as she took the elevator to the twentieth floor. She swiped the room card to enter and took a look around. It was indeed a two-room suite, with a living room, a bedroom, and a bathroom.

    As expected of a luxury brand, they were really generous.

    She pushed her luggage into the bedroom, organized her things, and then returned to the living room. Suddenly, she heard a knocking sound on the door.

    Opening the door, she was stunned to see the person standing outside. "Miss Jiang, is there something you need?"

    The woman stood there quietly, with one hand in her pants pocket, and her tall and straight figure exuded a cold and imposing aura. When she saw Cheng Suran, the corners of her lips curled up in a faint smile.

    "Is it convenient to go in and talk?"

    Cheng Suran stepped aside, "Yes."

    Jiang Yu stepped into the room, glanced around, and then turned to her. "Are you satisfied with the room?"

    "Mm."

    "Intensive mental work requires the utmost comfort for the body, so I arranged a suite for you, hoping you''ll be comfortable."

    "Miss Jiang, you really took the trouble," Cheng Suran politely nodded, but her intuition made her ask one more question, "Is it the same for everyone else?"

    Jiang Yu shook her head, "They are all on the eighteenth floor."

    "..."

    As expected.

    Jiang Yu continued, "I''m next door to you."

    For a moment, Cheng Suran almost asked if it was intentional, but if she said it out loud, the nature of the matter would change from business to personal. She didn''t want to talk about personal matters with Jiang Yu, nor did she want any interactions outside of work.

    "Okay," Cheng Suran held back and just nodded.

    Today, she wore all black, exuding a sense of steadiness with a touch of solemnity. However, it wasn''t dull; the pearly white and round pearls added a touch of luster to the dark color, making her even more charming.

    Jiang Yu gazed at her, seemingly able to sense what was on her mind, and slowly said, "I did arrange it on purpose."

    "I wanted to be closer to you."

    "Miss Jiang, I don''t want to discuss personal matters."

    "I want to."

    Cheng Suran''s words got stuck.

    The silence became a bit awkward.

    "Ranran..." Jiang Yu called her softly, "Do you hate me?"

    Cheng Suran was taken aback by the question, her eyes lowered, and after a long while, she finally uttered two words, "I don''t."

    How could she hate her?

    Without Jiang Yu, she probably wouldn''t have been able to smoothly start her own business and take a step forward. She had only harbored some self-hatred in the past, but it had already passed, it was all over.

    "Then you..."

    Jiang Yu wanted to say something more, but she saw Cheng Suran raise her head and point at her watch, saying, "Miss Jiang, it''s two o''clock. Don''t we need to prepare in advance?"

    "Right."

    She swallowed her words back.

    ¡­

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    The meeting started at three o''clock, and foreign guests began to enter the hall in succession. The large conference hall was filled with around two to three hundred people, and every seat was occupied.

    In the southeast corner of the hall, there were three gray interpretation booths, resembling three small houses. Each booth was about two meters apart, and inside were the interpreters corresponding to each language. They worked in pairs, allowing for smooth cooperation. The tables in the booths were equipped with the necessary devices, meeting materials, and the interpreters'' personal computers.

    Both the English and Italian interpretation teams were from Yisheng, and when they saw Cheng Suran, they were nearly astonished. As for the French interpretation team, the other male interpreter who partnered with Cheng Suran was hired by the organizers from another company, and his skills were quite good too.

    The interpretation for the three languages proceeded simultaneously, with each team taking turns every fifteen minutes, allowing the other to rest.

    Simultaneous interpretation required maintaining high levels of concentration. When her partner was translating, Cheng Suran didn''t idle either. She repeated key words repeatedly while considering various ways to rearrange sentences. When it was her turn, she felt no pressure at all.

    The small interpretation booth was like a world of its own.

    About half an hour into the meeting, Jiang Yu took the stage to speak. It happened to be Cheng Suran''s break, so she drank some water and stepped out of the interpretation booth to take a breather.

    From her vantage point, she could clearly see the whole stage.

    Jiang Yu stood tall and elegant, with a side profile that resembled a perfectly sculpted masterpiece. The corners of her eyes and eyebrows were faintly drawn, and her lips had a dark crimson color. From head to toe, she exuded a captivating aura of cold aloofness.

    She stood there, exuding a commanding aura as if looking down upon the world.

    After all these years, she seemed to have changed, and yet remained the same.

    She had become even more alluring, with a mature charm adding to her presence, like a ripe and luscious red fruit waiting to be plucked. And that face, up close, Cheng Suran remembered that her skin was still as delicate and smooth as before, with no sign of a single wrinkle near her eyes.

    Cheng Suran gazed at her intently and couldn''t help but admit that even now, she still couldn''t resist being enchanted by this beautiful woman.

    When she encountered someone so stunning in her youth, she would never forget them in this lifetime, and her heart couldn''t hold anyone else...

    The meeting lasted for two and a half hours, and the first day''s work had come to an end. However, for the interpreters, their tasks were not over yet. The dinner event followed, and they were assigned to accompany and interpret for several industry leaders.

    Cheng Suran had the privilege of being once again paired with the "fashion freak" Aunt Morgane.

    However, Aunt Morgane didn''t remember her anymore.

    Being an accompanying interpreter during a dinner was more demanding than simultaneous interpretation or consecutive interpretation. At the banquet table, the wine flowed freely, and everyone enjoyed themselves, except for the interpreters.

    As soon as the industry leaders spoke, whether the interpreters were eating or not, they had to immediately be on high alert and ready to interpret at any moment. So, after such a meal, the interpreters usually couldn''t eat their fill. Some even dared not drink water, afraid that going to the restroom might delay their work.

    Cheng Suran had only eaten a few scallops and caviar, and her stomach growled with hunger, but she couldn''t fully relax and enjoy the meal.

    After dinner came the banquet.

    The foreign guests changed into evening gowns, and Cheng Suran continued to accompany "Fashion Freak" Morgane. This kind of occasion was her first experience, and the novelty outweighed her hunger. She was so hungry that she lost her appetite...

    At nine o''clock in the evening, the banquet ended.

    Cheng Suran no longer felt hungry. After returning to her room, she couldn''t wait to take a shower, dry her hair, and then sit down to review the materials for the next day''s meeting.

    There was a knock on the door.

    "Who is it?"

    From outside came Jiang Yu''s muffled voice, "It''s me."

    Cheng Suran''s heart fluttered, hesitated for a moment, and then got up to open the door.

    A soft, warm yellow light spilled out, blending with the corridor''s illumination. Jiang Yu stood outside the door, holding two bags. Her cold and aloof demeanor showed a touch of softness.

    She was still dressed in her evening gown, a champagne-colored long dress with a deep V-neck that trailed elegantly on the floor, revealing a high slit on the side up to her thigh, both elegant and seductive.

    Cheng Suran looked at her, her heart inexplicably fluttering. "Is there something you need?"

    "I noticed you didn''t eat much for dinner, so I brought some snacks. Consider it a late-night supper," Jiang Yu raised the paper bag in her hand, gracefully passing by Cheng Suran and entering the room.

    Cheng Suran: "..."

    The hem of Jiang Yu''s dress brushed against her feet, feeling cool and silky, very comfortable.

    Jiang Yu placed the paper bag on the table and took out the food containers, one square and one round, both made of ceramic with wooden lids adorned with the hotel''s logo.

    She opened each container, revealing waffles in the square one and fruit yogurt parfait in the round one. The dishes were delicately presented, inviting to the eye.

    Cheng Suran gazed at the waffles, and her calm heart rippled ever so slightly.

    "I remember you used to like these," Jiang Yu smiled and handed over the utensils.

    That year, they went on a trip together, visited hot springs, and after some activities by the pool, they got tired and hungry. They had some snacks while resting. She would never forget how Ranran ate like a little hamster.

    [So you like these.]

    [Thank you, sister.]

    Their conversation echoed in Cheng Suran''s ears, and felt nothing but irony and amusement. Her just-washed and blow-dried hair was fluffy and messy, covering half of her face and concealing her expression.

    "Ranran?" Jiang Yu moved the tableware.

    Cheng Suran regained her focus, shook her head, and said, "I don''t feel like eating now."

    Jiang Yu was stunned, "Why?"

    "People''s preferences and tastes can change."

    "..."

    The two stared at each other.

    The air solidified like the skin on yogurt.

    After a moment of silence, Jiang Yu said softly, "Then what do you like to eat? I''ll go check the restaurant again."

    Cheng Suran was about to speak when her phone, placed nearby, rang.

    "Sorry," she whispered, picked up the phone, and glanced at it. It was Wen Ruoxian. She quickly rushed into the bedroom to answer the call.

    Before she closed the door, Jiang Yu heard a name:

    "Ruoxian..."

    Ruoxian?

    Who is it?

    Could it be a partner?

    The hotel room had excellent soundproofing; people in the bedroom couldn''t hear anything from the living room, leaving only the silence in the air. Time passed, one minute after another, as Jiang Yu stared fixedly at that door.

    She waited until it finally opened.

    Cheng Suran came out from inside, holding her phone, with a hint of unfinished smile in her eyes. Two dimples appeared on her cheeks, and when she looked up and saw Jiang Yu, the slight curve of her lips gradually flattened, and her smile faded.

    It seemed like she just remembered there was someone else in the room. Her gaze swept over the desserts on the table. "Miss Jiang, thank you for your kindness, but I won''t be eating anything tonight. It''s better to take them back."

    Jiang Yu stared at her phone for a moment, "Okay."

    She silently packed the food box, lifted the paper bag, turned around, and walked towards the door. At the moment her outstretched hand was about to touch the door, it paused.

    In a prolonged silence, she turned back around.

    "Girlfriend?"

    The light and shadow were sparse, and Cheng Suran stood under the lamp, wearing a thin nightgown. Her slender legs looked as white as paper, like a pure and elegant white lotus, only to be admired from afar.

    Gentle and beautiful.

    Jiang Yu gazed deeply at her, with an inscrutable darkness in her eyes.

    She imagined Cheng Suran treating others with tenderness, being spoiled in someone else''s embrace, and experiencing all emotions for someone else. Suddenly, she felt an indescribable feeling, feeling somewhat suffocated.

    "What?" Cheng Suran was puzzled.

    "The call."

    "No."

    Jiang Yu nodded and prepared to leave. Cheng Suran seemed to remember something and her expression changed slightly. "Miss Jiang, I hope you won''t pry into my privacy anymore. There needs to be some boundaries between people."

    "Sorry," Jiang Yu said softly, "I offended Miss Cheng."

    After saying that, she immediately left and closed the door.

    ...

    Cheng Suran stood silently in place, staring at the closed door in a daze.

    She sensed a subtle feeling of strangeness.

    Did she unintentionally show something that could be misunderstood? The call was answered in the bedroom, and to prevent eavesdropping, she kept her eyes on the bedroom door, speaking softly, and the conversation was nothing more than casual greetings.

    How did Jiang Yu jump to the conclusion that she was someone''s girlfriend?

    It was the same during the last contract signing too.

    Why...

    She seems to care a lot.

    Is it the benefactor''s desire to control or is it due to genuine affection and concern?

    Thoughts surge like tides, unstoppable in an instant. Those hidden and subtle thoughts break through the surface. Suddenly, she wonders what would happen if she were to say "yes." How would Jiang Yu react?

 CH 82

    Cheng Suran quickly dismissed the idea.

    Ruoxian is the only friend she has been able to make for so many years. She can''t involve innocent people for her own selfish desires and to verify a certain idea of ??her own. She has been alone since she was a child, and she knows that it is not easy to have friends, so she cherishes them very much.

    She prefers to believe that Jiang Yu, as a former benefactor, was accustomed to control and possession, and her way of thinking still hasn''t changed. She still sees her as her canary.

    That''s how it is.

    Thinking about this, she couldn''t help but feel a little sad, as if there was a stone stuck in her chest. Cheng Suran sighed and continued to read the information.

    ....

    Since her earliest memories, it seems she has never experienced the feeling of being full. In her childhood, she was not able to eat enough, and as she grew older, she couldn''t eat too much. This applies to her body as well as her heart. She doesn''t know what it feels like to be full, nor does she know what it feels like to be completely loved.

    Eat up, eat up.

    Jiang Yu told herself, as she opened the meal box and took a piece of waffle, putting it into her mouth.

    The rich and sweet taste alleviated the bitterness in her heart.

    No wonder so many people like eating sweet things.

    It''s really sweet.

    Just like Ranran''s smile, like two little dimples.

    After finishing the late-night snack, Jiang Yu took out her phone, opened the notes app, added a new page, titled it "She", and quickly typed a line.

    [She doesn''t like waffles anymore.]

    ....

    The next morning, the organizers led the foreign guests on a tour in Jiangcheng. At noon, there was another gathering for a meal.

    Before lunch, Jiang Yu found Cheng Suran and took her to the hotel''s buffet restaurant, asking her to eat something first and prepare her stomach before joining the foreign guests for the meal.

    Perhaps Cheng Suran had already adapted to being around Jiang Yu, as she became more composed. However, whenever she saw that face, ripples of emotion still stirred in her heart.

    She could only focus all her attention on her work.

    The afternoon meeting was longer than the previous day, and after the meeting, they had dinner. However, there was no banquet tonight, so everyone could return to their rooms earlier to rest.

    Intense mental activity consumes a lot of energy, making people tired after just one or two hours. Cheng Suran finished taking a shower, held the meeting materials, and sat on the sofa to read. Before long, she started feeling drowsy, yawning as she read.

    Today''s tasks should be done before sleeping.

    Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

    Cheng Suran jolted, suddenly becoming alert. She asked in a soft voice, "Who is it?" After realizing that her voice was too low and might not be heard from outside, she repeated in a louder tone, "Who is it?"

    "Ranran, it''s me."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran was taken aback, and her heart seemed to be lightly poked, causing a tingling sensation. She didn''t immediately get up but furrowed her brows.

    Again?

    What does this mean?

    Can''t she have a moment of peace...

    With these thoughts in her mind, Cheng Suran still put down the materials and got up, wearing her slippers as she walked over to open the door.

    Jiang Yu stood outside, holding a bag, her height almost reaching 1.8 meters, making Cheng Suran lift her gaze involuntarily. The pressure from the height difference was indeed unavoidable. She looked at Jiang Yu''s smiling face, and her heart jumped suddenly. Trying to appear composed, she quickly looked away.

    "Another late-night snack? I''m not hungry, no need to bring it," Cheng Suran declined before Jiang Yu could speak.

    However, Jiang Yu just raised the bag in her hand slightly and said, "The showerhead in my room is broken. Can I borrow your bathroom to take a shower?"

    The bag contained clean clothes and toiletries.

    She misunderstood.

    Cheng Suran blushed and felt embarrassed, not for a moment doubting the sincerity of Jiang Yu''s request. She turned around to walk back and said, "Sure, come in."

    Jiang Yu''s lips curved slightly, a hint of cunning flickering in her eyes.

    Watching Cheng Suran return to the sofa, Jiang Yu calmly stepped into the room, closed the door behind her, and carried the bag as she walked towards the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water could be heard from inside.

    The air conditioner sent out a gentle cool breeze, making the room feel cool and tranquil.

    Cheng Suran absentmindedly flipped through the documents, managing to read two pages reluctantly. Somehow, her focus couldn''t stay on the task, and her thoughts kept drifting towards the bathroom.

    Jiang Yu always came to find her, always taking special care of her, being gentle, considerate, and thoughtful. If it were her from the past, she would have easily fallen for these gestures, but after experiencing heart-wrenching pain and enduring many storms over the years, she had come to see the harsh and indifferent reality. She dared not let herself fall into it again.

    Countless times of "Sister likes you" could all be lies.

    Sweetness and romance belonged to little girls; in the adult world, there was only survival.

    She was afraid of reverting to her old self.

    However, whenever Jiang Yu appeared before her, or was nearby, she couldn''t help but pay attention. She could control her eyes, control her mouth, but she couldn''t control her heart.

    Her peaceful life was disrupted by this unexpected reunion.

    Suddenly, her phone rang again.

    It was Ruoxian.

    Looking at the name "Ruoxian" in the contacts, her chaotic emotions suddenly calmed down, disappearing. She felt a sense of relief.

    "Hello? Ruoxian..."

    Her voice traveled through the bathroom door.

    Jiang Yu was in the process of applying shower gel, and the water was running at a low volume, making the intermittent sound quite audible. She paused her actions, quietly opening the bathroom door just a little.

    "It''s okay, I''m not tired. We''ll finish the last meeting tomorrow, and it will be over."

    "Alright, alright. I promise you, next month, I''ll take a few more days off for sure."

    "Is the cake in the fridge at home finished? I specially bought it for you. Oh, and don''t forget to collect the clothes I dried before I left..."

    The tone was playful, accompanied by laughter, familiar, and natural.

    Jiang Yu furrowed her brows.

    Home? Fridge cake? Collect clothes?

    Regardless of the tone or content of their conversation, it seemed just like an affectionate old married couple who had lived together for many years. Since they weren''t girlfriends, why did their interaction feel so... She couldn''t find the right words to describe this state, as if she had touched upon her blind spot.

    Her last serious romantic relationship felt like a distant memory now.

    The call ended quickly.

    Jiang Yu also had no interest in continuing to apply the shower gel. She quickly rinsed off, wiped off the water, and put on a purple silk camisole nightgown before stepping out of the bathroom.

    Cheng Suran, sitting on the sofa, looked up.

    Their eyes met.

    The woman''s hair was disheveled, her eyes hazy, and the purple camisole was alluring and sensual. The intense allure overwhelmed Cheng Suran like the captivating and cold snake-woman from mythical legends.

    Cheng Suran momentarily lost focus but quickly regained her composure, lowering her head to continue flipping through the documents. In her hands were thick meeting materials and speeches that needed translation. Some parts were annotated in red ink, with keywords, high-frequency phrases, and core sentences densely packed on the pages, yet the paper did not appear chaotic. Cheng Suran made these preparations before each meeting.

    After the first meeting yesterday, Cheng Suran learned that Jiang Yu was one of the founders and designers of ETERNO.

    ¡ªCoco J

    When she searched for information online, she hadn''t recognized this name.

    "Are you still reading?"

    Jiang Yu walked over and sat down beside her.

    Cheng Suran turned her head and saw a cold and sharp face up close, too close that she could almost see the tiny pores. She felt a bit dizzy and hastily moved away a little.

    "Mm, Miss Jiang, you should go back and rest early."

    Her smile was still polite and distant.

    Jiang Yu chuckled, a hint of helplessness in her expression. "Don''t call me that."

    "Then how should I address you?"

    "..."

    Now, she became even more polite.

    Jiang Yu lowered her head to gauge the distance between her and Cheng Suran, enough for an adult woman to sit down. Then she looked up, gazing deeply at Cheng Suran, and with an uncertain tone, she said, "Can you call me¡­Sister in private?"

    At this moment, she would rather Cheng Suran get angry at her, cry, make a scene, or forcefully ask her to leave. Anything would be better than this calmness, a calmness that made her feel anxious and scared.

    A person who is truly emotionally dead wouldn''t display any emotions. If Cheng Suran cried, got angry, or made a scene, it meant she cared.

    Cheng Suran tightly clenched the edge of her nightgown with her right hand.

    Sister?

    This was not just a simple form of address; it represented a past that had both impurities and beauty. Since she had already moved forward, she couldn''t turn back.

    "I''m sorry, Miss Jiang, I can''t. She refused directly.

    As expected.

    Jiang Yu nodded. "That''s okay. You can call me however you feel comfortable."

    "Mm."

    "Is this how you interact with other clients?"

    "Of course."

    "Do you already know some of the clients from before?"

    "¡­Some yes, some no."

    "For the clients you already knew, is the interaction the same privately?"

    "Not... not always," Cheng Suran''s voice lowered. She couldn''t control herself and couldn''t help but be honest.

    Her face was shadowed under the soft yellow light.

    Jiang Yu silently looked at her.

    This feeling was like falling into a counter-current. Cheng Suran was the rock standing in the water, and under the chilling impact, Jiang Yu found it difficult to get closer; she had to struggle to swim forward, or else she would be pulled further away from that rock.

    After a few attempts, Jiang Yu couldn''t seem to grasp Cheng Suran''s attitude.

    Money isn''t everything after all.

    "Miss Jiang," Cheng Suran tried to change the subject, "Is Coco J'' your English name?"

    "Yes."

    "Oh."

    "I changed it in the past few years; before that, I used direct romanization," Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow and continued the conversation along the topic Cheng Suran brought up.

    "Why?"

    Cheng Suran shook her head and casually said, "I thought you were a foreigner."

    "So... are you saying that when you took on this project, you didn''t know it was related to me?"

    "..."

    Does this person have mind-reading abilities?

    Jiang Yu stared at her face and asked, "If you had known beforehand that I was the person in charge, would you still have taken on this project?"

    "I would."

    Without waiting for Jiang Yu to ask, Cheng Suran continued, "Work is work."

    The high hopes that had been hanging in Jiang Yu''s heart came crashing down.

    "Mm, you''re right."

    "Then, did you know it was me when you were looking for someone?" Cheng Suran asked back.

    Jiang Yu shook her head. "Manager Zhou was in charge of finding candidates and conducting initial phone interviews. Then, we interviewed together in person, and I made the final decision." After saying that, she winked at Cheng Suran. "If I had known it was you beforehand, I would have been even more determined to keep you."

    "Miss Jiang, I''m talking about work."

    "It''s still work, isn''t it? Don''t you believe in your own abilities?"

    "..."

    Cheng Suran was momentarily speechless. She didn''t know if Jiang Yu was trying to argue or if the phrase "keep you" was genuinely based on work considerations.

    She looked adorable when she was deflated.

    "I should go back now. You should rest early too. Goodnight." Jiang Yu stood up in a good mood, went to the bathroom to pick up her bag, and then waved to Cheng Suran before leaving through the door.

    Cheng Suran sat stiffly on the sofa, staring at the door for a while.

    The lingering fragrance of vetiver iris filled the air.

    ¡­.

    The last day''s meeting lasted only one hour.

    Some foreign guests had to fly back to their countries that day, while the rest would stay for one more night. The three-day large-scale meeting concluded successfully, and everyone took a group photo and received a souvenir.

    On the organizer''s side, people were still chatting and exchanging pleasantries. Cheng Suran hurriedly returned to her room to pack her things.

    Ruoxian said on the phone that she had just landed and they would be dining out tonight, then resting well, as she would have to fly to another city for a business trip tomorrow. The month was only halfway through, and there seemed to be no respite for her.

    After finishing packing, Cheng Suran pushed her luggage out of the room and instinctively closed the door.

    Jiang Yu was walking towards her.

    The two bumped into each other.

    "Ranran, are you leaving now?" Jiang Yu glanced at the tightly closed room door. She had made an excuse to come up, knowing Cheng Suran would be leaving, afraid she might miss her if she came later. Fortunately, she caught up.

    Cheng Suran held onto her luggage. "Mm."

    "I''ll take you back."

    "No need, my assistant will pick me up."

    Jiang Yu didn''t insist further and smiled, "We are very satisfied with this collaboration. In the future, there will be similar large-scale meetings, as well as small meetings and accompanying tasks. I hope... we can establish a long-term partnership, and the translation team will be handled by your Yisheng company, is that okay?"

    "Of course," Cheng Suran readily agreed. When it came to work, she was always decisive.

    Jiang Yu nodded with satisfaction and took out her phone. "Then let''s exchange WeChat and discuss the details later."

    Cheng Suran frowned slightly and released the handle of her luggage. She took out a business card from her bag and handed it to Jiang Yu. "Let''s skip WeChat. Here''s my business card; it has my phone number. You can contact me anytime by phone."

    "Isn''t WeChat convenient?" Jiang Yu asked tentatively.

    "No," Cheng Suran replied, meeting her gaze. Her thin lips uttered calmly, "Once I delete someone, I won''t add them again."

    Author''s Note:

    QAQ.

 CH 83

    Jiang Yu felt like being struck by lightning.

    She remembered the WeChat account that was deleted a few years ago.

    "Good baby"...

    The light in the corridor was dim, shining on Cheng Suran''s expressionless face, showing a bit of sternness, and her eyes also seemed to be cold.

    "Well, then I''ll take my leave, Miss Jiang. We can discuss further cooperation later." She pushed the suitcase and continued walking.

    Jiang Yu grabbed her wrist. "It''s another account."

    Cheng Suran stopped, turned her face sideways, and raised her eyebrows pretending not to know.

    "It was the alternate account that was deleted before, now I can add you with my main account," Jiang Yu said earnestly, but then realized her tone was too forceful and added, "Is that okay?"

    Her voice lowered, and she sounded a bit cautious.

    Cheng Suran recalled that nervous and anxious night. Jiang Yu was taking a bath, and she secretly saved her phone number, discovered her main WeChat account, and saw the intimate conversations between Bai Lu and her...

    That bittersweet feeling, she still remembered it vividly.

    "Flower in the mirror and Moon in the water" was stored in the contacts of her old phone, sealing away a piece of the past. She hadn''t opened it for two years now.

    "Miss Jiang, I mean the deleted person, not the deleted account."

    "..."

    "Goodbye."

    Cheng Suran calmly withdrew her hand, and without giving her a chance to speak, pushed the suitcase towards her step by step.

    Jiang Yu looked at her back and couldn''t speak anymore. Her heart seemed to have been hollowed out into a dry shell, and she felt sore and numb, and a gust of cold wind poured in, making her feel cold and bleak, and she couldn''t help shivering.

    After a while, she looked down at the business card.

    ¡ªJiangcheng Yisheng Technology Co., Ltd., Cheng Suran, general manager. Silver and white, simple and elegant design.

    Jiang Yu read it twice silently, opened the phone''s address book, saved the number in it, and noted "Ranran".

    Upon returning home, it was not yet dark outside.

    The nanny was preparing dinner, Jiang Yu entered the master bedroom with heavy steps, and took off her makeup and washed her face in front of the mirror.

    The person with a plain face in the mirror is herself. Although she lives a regular life, she is diligent in maintaining and exercising, and spends a lot of money on maintaining this face every year, it is still not as full of collagen as when she was in her twenties.

    But she was too weak when she was twenty, and she still prefers herself now.

    "Sister Yu-"

    Outside, Tian Lin''s voice could be heard.

    Jiang Yu gently patted her face dry, turned around, and went out. She met Tian Lin and asked, "What''s wrong?"

    "The model you were interested in last time has completed two photo books. If everything goes smoothly, the person will be here next week." Tian Lin held a delicately thick leather bag in both hands and handed it over with a solemn expression, as if performing some sacred ritual.

    Jiang Yu looked at it and said, "Just leave it at the company, there''s no need to make a special trip."

    "It''s okay," Tian Lin waved her hand, "I happen to be here to pick up the rest of the clothes. I''m moving everything over tonight."

    "The happy cohabitation life is about to begin!"

    She was beaming.

    At the beginning of the year, Tian Lin started dating a little wolf dog*, a charming guy ten years her junior. It was love at first sight. Her younger boyfriend was warm and considerate, making Tian Lin feel over the moon. After dating for half a year, they decided to move in together.

    *Chinese internet buzzword to describe a handsome, cool and domineering young man/ younger boyfriend, whom despite being the younger one in the relationship gives his partner a sense of security

    Over the past few years, Tian Lin had risen from being an executive assistant to the position of Executive Vice President at SIENA. Jiang Yu had given her some company shares. Although she no longer assisted Jiang Yu in handling day-to-day affairs, old habits die hard, and she would occasionally help out unconsciously.

    Some time ago, due to work, Tian Lin stayed here temporarily at Jiang Yu''s place, and yesterday she packed up her things one after another.

    She has never seen her so happy.

    "Congratulations, congratulations," Jiang Yu smiled with narrowed eyes. "Just don''t shower me with dog food*."

    *PDA

    "Not sure."

    "Let me help you clean up, then let''s have dinner here tonight."

    The two turned and entered the diagonally opposite guest room.

    Tian Lin waved her hand: "No, I''ll go back and cook with him."

    "Forgetting about sisters once you have a man." Jiang Yu raised the cloth bag in her hand and patted her.

    Tian Lin snickered.

    "Will I have a chance to drink your wedding wine?"

    "No. Love is love, not marriage."

    Jiang Yu froze for a moment, seeing that Tian Lin''s expression suddenly became serious, she didn''t look like she was joking, and asked, "Really?"

    "I thought about it when I was seventeen." Tian Lin shrugged, grabbed a few clothes and quickly folded them.

    "Sister Yu, you don''t know how wonderful the taste of a little wolf dog is, young and full of vigor, always full of energy, hahaha, I can''t say enough about how good it is to be young..."

    As Jiang Yu listened, Cheng Suran''s face flashed through her mind.

    Cheng Suran is twenty-six this year, and she is already thirty-eight. They had a whole generation between them, but for so long, it seemed that neither of them cared too much about each other''s age. Jiang Yu didn''t think age was a problem because there were more important things worth caring about than that.

    "Tian Lin..."

    "Mm?"

    "If a person is single, but there is always another person next to them asking about their health and looking very close, do you think they are just friends?" Jiang Yu asked while putting her folded clothes into a cloth bag.

    Tian Lin stopped and asked, "The person who is still single... are they curved or straight? Is the other person of the same gender or opposite gender?"

    "Curved. Same gender."

    "Cheng Suran?"

    "..."

    Being seen through, Jiang Yu wasn''t annoyed, she just cleared her throat lightly and said, "Yes, it''s Ranran. She has a close relationship with a woman who also lives with her, but when I asked if they were girlfriends, she said no."

    "You ask directly?" Tian Lin looked at her in shock.

    Jiang Yu looked puzzled, "Is it not allowed?"

    Tian Lin sighed and patted her shoulder, "Sister Yu, who asks someone like that directly, it''s so awkward, and besides, your current relationship with Cheng Suran..." She paused, unable to find the right words to describe it, "In any case, it''s not appropriate to ask like that."

    Jiang Yu lowered her head and stopped folding the clothes, as if talking to herself, "Indeed, it''s not quite appropriate, but I didn''t have time to think. After all, we knew each other before, not complete strangers."

    "Whether you are considered strangers or not depends on her attitude," Tian Lin reminded her.

    "You mentioned the other person earlier, very close, always caring and concerned. Since the person herself said they are not girlfriends, then they should be good friends. This kind of situation is common among straight women."

    Jiang Yu pursed her lips and remained silent.

    "Sister Yu, you have to figure it out for yourself in the end. No one else can help you." Tian Lin gave her a hug.

    Jiang Yu was about to say something when her phone rang outside.

    She put down the bag to answer the phone.

    Tian Lin continued to tidy up, and the clothes were almost folded. Jiang Yu came back, looking a bit troubled, as she rubbed her forehead with her index finger. "Bai Lu is at the airport, she''ll be here soon."

    "Why did she come back again? Wasn''t she just gone for a few days?"

    "She said she missed me and couldn''t eat or sleep well outside. The event just ended, so she can take a few days off... She''s such a character."

    Jiang Yu chuckled while shaking her head and sighing at the same time.

    Tian Lin held back the urge to roll her eyes. "You shouldn''t always indulge her. There''s no other model as willful as she is. Last time, she skipped a major fashion show for the same reason. And the time before that, when she was about to secure a jewelry and makeup endorsement deal, she insisted on wearing a competitor''s product to an event, and it ended up backfiring. If the brand hadn''t been lenient, she would have ruined her reputation outside and dragged our company''s reputation along with it."

    "It''s because you pamper her. If it were any other company, any other boss, they would have made her give up those resources and leave."

    She grew more and more angry as she spoke.

    Jiang Yu fell silent for a moment and said, "I know. I''ll have a good talk with her."

    "It''s best if she listens to you."

    "Mm."

    Over the years, Jiang Yu''s most successful achievement as a talent manager was promoting Bai Lu.

    From domestic small runway shows to international catwalks, Bai Lu, this rising star, soared rapidly in the modeling industry. In the past five years, Jiang Yu took her to Paris, using her own connections to provide resources and opportunities, enabling Bai Lu to start with a high point that many new models could only dream of.

    Bai Lu did not disappoint her expectations and became the most dazzling presence among the new generation of models.

    Just like when she first signed Bai Lu, Jiang Yu''s keen eye for talent was evident. This girl was indeed a gifted player.

    Now Bai Lu has gained considerable fame in China and is also well-received on the international stage. She has evolved from initially imitating and learning from Jiang Yu to gradually developing her own style.

    Watching the person she brought up with her own hands flourish and spread her wings, Jiang Yu felt a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

    At first, for the sake of convenience, Jiang Yu allowed Bai Lu to occasionally stay at her house.

    Bai Lu was very attentive to her, claiming it was to show gratitude. She would do this and that for Jiang Yu whenever she had the chance, and would be upset if her offers were refused.

    Her attentiveness became somewhat exaggerated.

    In the morning, Bai Lu prepared her toiletries and squeezed toothpaste for her.

    During meals, no matter how clean the table and chairs were, Bai Lu would always wipe them again for her, serve her food, and even want to feed her.

    Before going to bed, Bai Lu was reluctant to return to her own room and would linger by Jiang Yu''s door for a while, saying "good night" multiple times before leaving.

    She was considerate in every way, showing utmost care.

    Initially, Jiang Yu could still tease her a bit, thinking that it was just heartfelt gratitude and didn''t pay much attention to it. However, as time went on, the situation escalated. Since last autumn, Bai Lu''s dependence on her reached an extremely unhealthy level.

    If Jiang Yu didn''t reply to her messages promptly, Bai Lu would bombard her with voice messages or phone calls, and if she still couldn''t reach her, she would either cry on the phone or immediately fly back to find her, no matter where she was.

    As a model working overseas for a long time, the standard practice would be to be assigned to the local branch. However, Bai Lu refused to do so and would rather fly back and forth between China and Europe, refusing to permanently settle abroad.

    During her vacations, she insisted on being with Jiang Yu.

    She couldn''t stand even a hint of attention that Jiang Yu showed to other models.

    This situation gave Jiang Yu a lot of headaches.

    About half an hour after sending off Tian Lin, Bai Lu returned.

    "Sister Yu!" she called out.

    "I missed you so much! Did you miss me?"

    Bai Lu threw her suitcase aside and rushed over to hug Jiang Yu, acting all cute as she rubbed her hair. Both of them had similar heights and weights, and Jiang Yu almost got knocked down to the ground.

    "I missed you too, but please stand properly," Jiang Yu said, she didn''t know whether to laugh or cry, pushing Bai Lu''s shoulder to make her stand properly.

    The smile on the corner of Bai Lu''s mouth collapsed, and he reluctantly let go of her, his eyes resentful: "Sister Yu, you are so perfunctory, do you think I''m annoying...but I''m just happy to see you."

    Her words spoke Jiang Yu''s heart.

    It''s really annoying.

    But seeing her aggrieved and exhausted, Jiang Yu couldn''t bear it, so she had to swallow the words back, and patted her on the back to comfort her: "I don''t think you are annoying, it''s because I can''t support your weight, if I don''t get up, I will fall down."

    "Hehehe..." Bai Lu narrowed her eyes and smiled again, "That make sense."

    Her smile was bright and generous, but her eyes were filled with a gloomy look, like a ghost hiding in the dark.

    Jiang Yu felt that something was wrong with her today.

    For a moment, Jiang Yu couldn''t figure out the reason, so she didn''t dwell on it further. Today, she mainly wanted to talk to Bai Lu about work-related matters. She casually asked, "How was the awards ceremony?"

    "It was pretty good. Didn''t you see the videos and photos?" Bai Lu turned around with a cheerful smile, using her foot to kick the suitcase, walking back and forth until she finally sat down at the edge of the sofa.

    Jiang Yu followed her over. "If I remember correctly, you have another event the day after tomorrow, right? Won''t flying back and forth affect your condition?"

    Bai Lu looked up, and her smile froze on her face.

    "I thought you would ask if I''m tired."

    "..."

    "Yes, my condition matters because if I''m not in good shape, I won''t be valuable, and I won''t be able to make money. It''s only natural that you''re concerned about this." She chuckled self-deprecatingly, then lowered her head and secretly dug her nails into her palms.

    Jiang Yu was taken aback.

    This remark was something Bai Lu had said before, and initially, Jiang Yu would feel sympathetic, concerned, and even blame herself, wondering if she was pushing the person too hard or placing too much emphasis on the commercial aspects. However, after hearing it repeatedly, she began to sense a feeling of being manipulated or subjected to persuasion tactics.

    Isn''t it only natural to maintain a good condition for work?

    Is training models not about making money but charity work?

    She detested feeling "manipulated."

    "Condition can include fatigue, and I think you know that. Bai Lu, you''re an adult, so don''t always act like a child, letting your own temper dictate everything."

    "Sister Yu..."

    She thought she would come to coax her, but upon hearing this, Bai Lu was also startled, and looked at her in disbelief.

    "Oh, I know, you really despise me."

    Jiang Yu turned her face away, walked to the single sofa and sat down, crossed her legs: "Whatever you think."

    Bai Lu bit her lip, and her nails sank deeply into the flesh of her palm. She exhausted all her strength and suddenly let go, her whole body collapsed like a deflated rubber ball.

    "Did you visit Song Jiayao''s apartment last week?"

    "Yes, she was sick."

    "Do you consider her as my backup? You''ve given her so many opportunities this year, without considering whether she can handle them."

    Song Jiayao is a dark horse among the new models in the past two years, with good abilities and great potential. She is the second highest-earning model in the company after Bai Lu and is currently a key talent being nurtured. Bai Lu is quite bothered by this.

    Jiang Yu casually played with the ring on her little finger and nonchalantly replied, "Are the opportunities I''ve given you not enough?"

    Probably feeling a little guilty, Bai Lu didn''t respond to her words, but she still felt dissatisfied. She muttered softly, "I''m working hard alone overseas, while she''s having it easy in the country. You visit her as soon as she falls sick."

    "You have agents and assistants by your side, don''t you?"

    "..."

    "But not you."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu was starting to feel a little impatient, about to say something when her phone rang. She suppressed her emotions, got up, and went to the balcony to answer the call. When she hung up, she turned around and saw Bai Lu staring straight at her.

    Her gaze was cold and unfathomable.

    Jiang Yu felt a little uneasy under that intense stare and avoided the eye contact. "Rest well tonight, and you can go back tomorrow."

    "I want to sleep with you."

    "You can''t."

    "But I..."

    "If you make trouble, I''ll send you back right now."

    Bai Lu immediately fell silent.

    During dinner, Jiang Yu had little appetite and only ate some vegetables. She quickly retreated to her bedroom area.

    The room was dimly lit, and stuffed toy rabbits filled the space, creating a lively and crowded atmosphere. However, they were lifeless objects, and even the warm, soft light couldn''t dissolve the cold loneliness.

    Jiang Yu sat on the windowsill, knees bent, holding her phone, flipping through WeChat messages over and over again.

    [Once I delete someone, I won''t add them again]

    These words echoed in her ears.

    Unconsciously, the night grew late.

    Jiang Yu set aside her phone and prepared to go to bed when suddenly the doorbell rang in the outer area of her bedroom - a special bell she had set up for her assistant or housekeeper to call her.

    She walked through the bedroom, study, and wardrobe, then opened the outermost door.

    The housekeeper''s face was filled with anxiety as she stood outside. "Miss Jiang... Please go to the guest room quickly to check on Miss Bai..."

    "What''s wrong?"

    "I just brought her a pillow, and I saw her using an art knife to cut her wrist, blood flowing from her arm. Ah, it scared me to death."

    Jiang Yu rushed towards the guest room.

 CH 84

    C/T Warning: Su***de

    The room''s door is open, and a woman, wearing only a camisole, curls up on the bed. Crimson blood flows down her wrist, staining the white carpet, resembling red plum blossoms blooming amidst the first snow.

    She gasped in pain, fine beads of sweat oozed from her forehead, and tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes.

    The bloody art knife was in her other hand.

    Jiang Yu came in and saw this scene, before she had time to think, she rushed over and snatched the knife, threw it aside, grabbed the woman''s bleeding wrist, "Are you crazy?!"

    "Jiang Yu..."

    "You don''t need me anymore...I will die...because of you...all because of you..."

    Bailu called her name with tears streaming down, her voice trembling with pain, but suddenly she started laughing, eerie and insane, with a pair of alluring fox-like eyes now filled with bloodshot fierceness.

    Jiang Yu stared, her body trembling uncontrollably.

    ¡ªbecause of you.

    ¡ªall because of you.

    A mantra-like voice pierced through her, overlapping with memories from many years ago.

    When she was young, her mother attempted suicide to get her father back. It was also at night. Her mother, with disheveled hair and dressed in white, tied her up in a chair. In front of her, her mother used a knife to cut her own arms, and the fresh blood dripped onto her face, warm and smelling of blood. She cried loudly in anguish.

    [You can''t blame Mom; it''s all because of you and your heartless father. It''s because of both of you that I''m going to die.]

    Thirty years later, the image is still clear.

    How could she bear the weight of a life?

    Her body trembled more and more, her hands, her lips, uncontrollably quivering. She could clearly feel the warm and slightly sticky liquid on her fingertips, emanating a faint smell of blood.

    Horrible and disgusting touch and smell.

    She hurriedly let go of Bai Lu''s hand, lowered her head, and looked at the blood in her palm: "Ambulance. Call an ambulance..."

    The aunt who dared not come in outside the door immediately went to get her mobile phone.

    "Hahahaha-"

    Bai Lu suddenly let out a sharp and eerie laugh, tears streaming more violently. "Why call an ambulance? Just let me... die... Oh, don''t worry, I won''t die. I''m too afraid of pain; this knife can''t go deep enough..."

    "Shut up!" Jiang Yu shouted angrily.

    ....

    Bai Lu was sent to the hospital.

    The wound on Bai Lu''s wrist wasn''t too deep, but it bled quite a bit. The pain from the cut was too much for her to endure, and she couldn''t withstand it until the expected scene of arterial blood gushing out. After tending to the wound, Jiang Yu took Bai Lu back home.

    Fearing that Bai Lu might face more problems, she had no choice but to let her sleep in her own room, trying to stabilize her emotions.

    Bai Lu fell asleep in pain.

    Jiang Yu, however, suffered from insomnia.

    In just a few hours, it was like a dream, and things suddenly developed in an uncontrollable direction. The person beside her seemed to be a strange soul hidden under a familiar skin, and she didn''t know her at all.

    Bai Lu was not like this before.

    During that time, Bai Lu was enthusiastic, cheerful, and striving for progress. She was obedient and would do whatever Jiang Yu asked of her, such as giving up her fame in China to pursue a career in Paris, trying on clothes for brands for free, participating in various non-commercial shows to gain more exposure. She remained grounded, patient, and willing to work hard without being impetuous or hasty.

    She is like a toddler, and Jiang Yu is the mother she follows.

    At the time when Bai Lu had not yet developed her own style, whether it was her steps, stage presence, or camera expressions, she could only imitate Jiang Yu. That was when she resembled Jiang Yu the most, to the point where some fans affectionately called her "Little Jiang Yu."

    During that time, Jiang Yu was proud of her.

    The person she raised with her own hands like a younger sister, like a child. Watching her grow up bit by bit, the feelings are very complicated.

    Later, Bai Lu became famous and had her own style. Gradually shedding Jiang Yu''s shadow, she changed, became extreme, became difficult, and twisted like today...

    Jiang Yu suspected for a moment that she had other thoughts about her, but Bai Lu once brought her boyfriend to her with a happy face, and she quickly wiped away this ridiculous doubt.

    After much deliberation, she could only guess that maybe Bai Lu had a psychological problem.

    ....

    Around two or three in the morning, Jiang Yu finally felt a bit sleepy and drifted off to sleep. When she woke up again, it was almost noon, and the aunt nanny had pressed the doorbell three times but couldn''t wake her up.

    Beside her was an empty space; Bai Lu was gone. When she asked the aunt, she found out that Bai Lu had left early in the morning, carrying her suitcase.

    She said she was going back to her own apartment.

    On WeChat, there was a message from Bai Lu: [Sister, I will work hard, no need to worry.]

    Jiang Yu held her phone absentmindedly, contemplating her response. She sent a "hug" emoji and typed: [Take this time to rest and heal. Put work aside for now and take care of yourself.]

    Suddenly, she felt a sense of relief as if she had let go of a burden.

    Over the past few years, she had expended too much emotion and patience, and she no longer had the energy to care for or comfort Bai Lu. Yet, there was an underlying unease in her heart, as if sensing a time bomb. With this in mind, Jiang Yu called Bai Lu''s assistant to remind her to pay close attention to Bai Lu''s condition.

    Only then did she feel a temporary sense of relief.

    So far, it''s a temporary relief.

    ....

    The whole month of August passed with the sound of cicadas.

    At the end of the month, Cheng Suran finally had a two-day break. In order to accompany her, Wen Ruoxian didn''t make any prior arrangements and planned to stay at home with her. They hadn''t gone shopping together for a long time, so they agreed to go out and relax after the sun set.

    In the morning, a client suddenly came over, so Wen Ruoxian had to go to the company.

    Cheng Suran was left alone at home and slept until noon. Feeling lazy to cook, she ordered some takeout and quickly finished her meal before starting to clean her room.

    The electronic calendar showed August 27th.

    A day she could never forget.

    Cheng Suran put on an apron, placed the electronic calendar face down on the table to avoid looking at it, and then grabbed the cleaning tools.

    She and Wen Ruoxian''s bedrooms were opposite each other. Her room faced due south, had the largest area, abundant sunlight, and a small balcony. Wen Ruoxian''s room faced northwest, was slightly smaller, with less light, and only had a bay window.

    When they chose their rooms, Wen Ruoxian insisted on living in the room with the bay window and let Cheng Suran take the one with the balcony.

    So they lived like this.

    Cheng Suran brought a vacuum cleaner and cleaned the room, then took out all the small items placed inside and dusted each one clean.

    There was a tinkling sound.

    Moving to the bottom of the wardrobe, she noticed a silver metal item partially obscured by a long hanging garment. Cheng Suran stared at it for a moment, then moved it out.

    It was a safe.

    In an instant, she remembered what was inside it.

    By some inexplicable impulse, she entered the well-remembered password and opened the safe. Long-sealed items were exposed to the air, exuding the scent of time.

    A black bag, fig-scented aromatic candle, non-deforming skirt, an old laptop... and more.

    There was also a yellowed embroidered little rabbit.

    Cheng Suran held the little rabbit in her hand, staring at it in a daze. The once-colored embroidery thread was now barely recognizable. The letter "J" embroidered with black thread below the rabbit''s neck was clear¡ªthis was the initial of "Jiang Yu''s" surname.

    That face flashed in her mind.

    Narrow, cold eyes, plump and full red lips, and a captivating smile...

    Her heart suddenly throbbed, accompanied by a tingling sensation. Cheng Suran shook her head, placed the rabbit back at the bottom of the safe, and stuffed the other items back in.

    "Ranran¡ª"

    There was a sound of opening the door in the living room, and Wen Ruoxian called her, "I''m back."

    Cheng Suran collected her thoughts and walked out of the bedroom following the sound. Before she could speak, she saw Ruoxian staring at the takeaway lunch box on the table, frowning.

    "Did you have takeout for lunch?"

    "Um¡­"

    Cheng Suran glanced guilty at the lunch box that hadn''t been thrown away yet, and hurried forward to clean it up, "I was too lazy to cook, it''s... the last time, I promise!" She raised three fingers, blinked, acting like a spoiled child looking at her.

    She has a knack for being cute.

    Wen Ruoxian chuckled and shook her head, extending her index finger to lightly poke Cheng Suran''s forehead. "I forgive you."

    "But if I had come back earlier, I could have cooked for you. hai..."

    During busy workdays, ordering takeout was unavoidable, but on rest days, they had a "rule" to cook their meals themselves, as set by Wen Ruoxian. In this unfamiliar big city, they relied on and took care of each other.

    "Don''t say that," Cheng Suran hugged her arm. "You''re not my babysitter. I can take care of myself. I''m just being lazy occasionally."

    Her smile seemed somewhat superficial, only staying on the surface and not reaching her eyes.

    Wen Ruoxian noticed something was wrong and was about to say something when she caught a glimpse of the overturned electronic calendar on the table. She reached out to set it right, and the date displayed was August 27th.

    Today was August 27th...

    Since they met, Cheng Suran''s mood had never been good on this day each year. Her emotions were noticeably heavier than usual. If she had work, it was manageable, but on days with no work, she would stay home and not go out at all.

    Back when they were living separately, they often made voice or video calls in the evenings. However, on this particular day, Cheng Suran seemed disinterested and unwilling to talk. After a couple of occurrences, Wen Ruoxian noticed and couldn''t resist her curiosity, asking her about it.

    Ranran said it was the day she first met someone very important to her.

    This answer was like pouring cold water on her head.

    [Is that person still around?]

    [Not here anymore.]

    [I''m sorry...]

    [Gone from my life.]

    From then on, she knew that there was someone living in Cheng Suran''s heart, someone very important to her. There was an insurmountable difference in their orientations, an unbridgeable gap.

    It meant that in this lifetime, Cheng Suran and Wen Ruoxian could only be friends.

    Thinking about this, Wen Ruoxian''s eyes dimmed, but she still held Cheng Suran''s hand and comfortingly rubbed it. "I heard there''s a music fountain at Binjiang Square today, and there will be a band performance. Let''s go when the sun goes down, and it''s not so hot."

    "Okay," Cheng Suran nodded, "Then I''ll clean the room first."

    "Mm."

    The warmth disappeared from her palm, Wen Ruoxian watched her back in the room, took a step forward, but stopped again, clenched her fist.

    At this time, the mobile phone on the table rang.

    It''s Cheng Suran''s.

    "Ranran, someone''s calling." Wen Ruoxian glanced at the phone, a series of numbers were displayed, and she consciously looked away.

    "Coming¡­"

    Cheng Suran turned back and picked up the phone.

    The caller came from a number without a note, but she knew the string of numbers by heart.

    The phone kept ringing, but she held it without answering, her face turning slightly pale. Wen Ruoxian sensed that something was wrong and asked softly, "What''s the matter?"

    "It''s nothing, just a client," Cheng Suran pressed the green button and returned to her room.

    "?"

    "Ranran, it''s me."

    That familiar voice entered her ears.

    Cheng Suran took a deep breath, and a shallow ripple appeared in the icy lake of her heart. Even though she was mentally prepared when she saw the number, she pretended to only recognize it now. She calmly replied, "So, it''s Miss Jiang."

    There was a moment of silence on the other end before he spoke again, "When are you free? Let''s schedule a time to discuss the long-term collaboration I mentioned last time. By the way, I''d like to visit your company as well."

    Cheng Suran breathed a sigh of relief.

    It''s business.

    "At ten o''clock in the morning the day after tomorrow, the address is on my business card." She said calmly.

    Jiang Yu didn''t hesitate, and simply said, "Okay, see you the day after tomorrow." Then she hung up.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips, threw the phone beside the bed, squatted down, opened the safe and took a look at the contents, and then put it back in the closet with peace of mind.

    After receiving Cheng Suran''s business card, Jiang Yu immediately searched for her on WeChat but found nothing. She wondered if Cheng Suran had intentionally set her profile to be private or used a different account.

    Jiang Yu decided to call the number on the business card, using business matters as a perfect excuse. As the call connected, her anxious heart relaxed slightly, and they set a meeting time.

    On the appointed day, Jiang Yu woke up early again and struggled to pick out an outfit in her wardrobe. Though it was a business meeting, she couldn''t help but have some personal considerations. She didn''t want to dress too formal or too casual, feeling torn about finding the right balance.

    After two hours of picking and choosing, Jiang Yu finally settled on a silk avocado-colored long skirt with a slightly creamy green shade, perfect for the summer. The print pattern was slightly deepened in the original color, shaped like leaves, and mixed with white, neither too flashy nor too dull.

    Her accessories were a small white square bag, a delicate silver necklace and earrings without pendants, and a silver ring worn on her index finger.

    She applied a delicate makeup look and carefully styled her hair.

    Leaving home at half-past nine, the driver parked the car in front of a building in the CBD at 9:50 AM.

    There is more than one company in this building, Jiang Yu registered as a visitor at the front desk of the lobby, and took the elevator to the sixteenth floor. As the number slowly rose, her heartbeat became more and more intense.

    Others in the elevator looked sideways at her.

    On the sixteenth floor, Jiang Yu strode out with long legs, took off her sunglasses with her right hand, and faced a spacious and bright hall. Four young girls sat in a row at the front desk.

    She glanced around and stepped forward to explain her purpose.

    "Okay, Miss Jiang, please wait a moment." The lady at the front desk picked up the landline and dialed.

    After a short while, a young woman in white walked out from the right-side passage, her gaze falling on Jiang Yu. She seemed slightly surprised at first but quickly put on a professional smile. "Ms. Jiang, I apologize for the inconvenience. Our boss, Miss Cheng, had some last-minute matters to attend to, but she''ll be back soon. She asked you to rest in the office for a while."

    Jiang Yu nodded gently and walked ahead, silently observing her surroundings.

    The office area was divided into four large sections, and the layout and color choices of the desks and chairs were simple and elegant. Potted plants were scattered around, adding a touch of greenery. Walking through this area, there were a series of glass-doored offices, spacious and well-lit.

    A woman in a coffee-colored sleeveless shirt walked towards them.

    Her deep-set eyes and sharp nose gave her a mixed-race appearance, and in an instant, she awakened a familiar memory in Jiang Yu''s mind...

 CH 85

    "Hello, Miss Wen."

    Xiao Meng, who was walking by Jiang Yu''s side, greeted her.

    All three of them stopped.

    Wen Ruoxian nodded and looked at Jiang Yu, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes. "This is Jiang..."

    "This is Miss Jiang,  Miss Cheng''s client." Xiao Meng introduced to Jiang Yu, "Miss Jiang, this is our boss Miss Wen."

    Wen Ruoxian was even more surprised. In her memory, Jiang Yu was a "national supermodel," and she couldn''t imagine her having any connection to their industry. However, a realization dawned on her, and she understood.

    "Miss Jiang," Wen Ruoxian smiled and proactively extended her hand.

    That day at the building entrance, Jiang Yu saw Cheng Suran getting out of this person''s car, and in her mind, there were intimate scenes of her arranging Cheng Suran''s hair. Shaking off the daze, she calmly reached out and shook Wen Ruoxian''s hand.

    "Miss Wen."

    She let out a sigh of relief.

    It turned out they were just colleagues. Cheng Suran didn''t lie to her.

    The two had exchanged greetings, Wen Ruoxian told Xiao Meng to treat Jiang Yu well, and then went on to work.

    Before arriving at the general manager''s office, Xiao Meng pushed the door open, and Jiang Yu walked in without haste, her eyes moving around the office.

    The area is small, but the space design is very particular. Many elements make her feel familiar, such as the use of large lines, the single crystal glass curtain wall, and the full sense of geometry. The more she observed, the more it looks like her own company.

    Jiang Yu suddenly had a certain guess.

    Could it be...

    "Miss Jiang, please sit down." The assistant''s voice interrupted her thoughts.

    Jiang Yu snuffed out her thoughts, went to the sofa and sat down.

    Xiao Meng brought a cup of warm water and put it in front of her, then handed over a thin notebook, and said politely: "Miss Cheng will be back soon, you can take a look at this first to get a preliminary understanding of our company." She left after finishing speaking.

    It''s a beautifully designed brochure.

    Jiang Yu took a sip of water, opened the album, as if she was holding some rare treasure, and carefully read each page word by word.

    For her, this is not a simple brochure, but a window to understand Ranran. Every word and picture tells her how Ranran has grown in the past few years.

    After reading for a few minutes, the door of the office was pushed open, and a gust of fragrant wind blew in.

    They''re gazes met.

    Jiangg Yu unconsciously became nervous.

    Jiang Yu forgot to check herself in the mirror again. Did she smudge her lipstick when she took a sip of water earlier? Did she need to touch up her makeup? Was her outfit too bright for today''s meeting? She didn''t look like someone there for business...

    Messy thoughts swirled in her mind.

    Cheng Suran gazed at her, her black eyes slightly shining, and her heart felt a bit flustered.

    In her memory, Jiang Yu always wears solid colors, black, white, gray and beige in daily life. All kinds of suits are her favorite, and she only wears them brightly when filming or attending events. Although this person can manage any style, the impression she left on her is always cold and detached, seemingly both distant and close.

    She had never seen her wear such a skirt in front of her.

    She seems to be another person, and also seems like someone who came from the past, a brand new person, without the indifferent sense of distance in the past, familiar and strange.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t move her eyes, but her reason quickly restored her calm, she closed the door with her backhand, and smiled slightly: "Miss Jiang."

    She walked to Jiang Yu and sat down.

    Jiang Yu was still a little uncomfortable with the unfamiliar address, so she immediately woke up and nodded.

    "Did Miss Jiang come here alone?" Cheng Suran was very puzzled that she didn''t bring any assistants or related personnel from the company. It didn''t look like she was here to discuss business, but rather... a date.

    Jiang Yu nodded, "Mm, just here to inspect and see." She looked around again and praised, "The office decoration and design are well-done."

    "?"

    What does this have to do with the collaboration?

    Cheng Suran felt puzzled in her heart, but she maintained a faint smile on her face. Memories from the past started to resurface again.

    Admittingly, her taste had been greatly influenced by Jiang Yu. At the age of twenty, when she was about to step into a broader world and felt curious about everything, it was during that time that someone like Jiang Yu intruded into her life, leaving a profound impact.

    "It''s due to the guidance of an old friend."

    "Which old friend? Can you introduce me?" Jiang Yu asked tentatively.

    Cheng Suran looked directly at her, and said one word openly: "You."

    Jiang Yu didn''t expect it, she didn''t know whether it was joy or sadness for a moment, and she said after a while: "Am I considered a friend in your heart?"

    "Otherwise what else?" Cheng Suran raised the corners of her lips.

    Benefactor?

    She must have wanted to hear this kind of answer, right? She thought and smiled with a bit of sarcasm.

    Jiang Yu said with emotion: "I thought we couldn''t even be friends."

    This time it was Cheng Suran''s turn to be dazed.

    The sarcastic smile froze on her lips, and Jiang Yu looked at her, feeling puzzled. She could read a sense of shock from those eyes, and suddenly, it seemed like she had realized something.

    "Ranran?"

    Cheng Suran snapped back to reality and smiled casually, as if nothing had happened, saying, "A collaboration can also be a form of making friends."

    Jiang Yu looked at her and said, "It''s all in the past."

    "What?"

    "The former you, the former me, and the previous relationship are all gone. Now we are two completely independent and equal individuals. Only on this basis can there be cooperation and communication, right?"

    After speaking, she smiled, her eyes were gentle and sincere.

    Cheng Suran looked at her, her eyes were gradually out of focus, the face was the past for a while, and the present for a while, either overlapped or separated, making people feel like a dream.

    She understood what Jiang Yu meant.

    ¡ªshe didn''t treat her as a canary, and didn''t regard herself as a benefactor.

    Really?

    So, asking her about her so-called "girlfriend" twice wasn''t out of any desire for control. Then, why...

    Cheng Suran realized in despair that she still cared about Jiang Yu, cared about her gaze, her actions, and her words. She underestimated the influence Jiang Yu had on her - whenever this woman appeared in front of her, it would disrupt her peace of mind.

    She shouldn''t think about it anymore.

    She halted her thoughts, putting on a flawless professional smile, and stood up. "Let me show you around the company, Miss Jiang."

    "Sure."

    Jiang Yu followed suit, her gaze still fixed on Cheng Suran''s face.

    They walked out of the office one after the other.

    The company''s business was divided into two main areas: translation training and translation services. The former was managed by Wen Ruoxian, while Cheng Suran mainly oversaw the latter. The office areas for both segments were separated, each occupying half of the entire floor. The company, including both of them, had a total of 172 employees.

    Cheng Suran led Jiang Yu around the office area, introducing the main businesses, partners they had collaborated with, clients they had served, and outstanding translators.

    Although Jiang Yu has long since retired, her fame is still there, and there are many people who know her. After walking around for a while, everyone looked sideways, and the gossip group inside the employees was like boiling water.

    "These are all our excellent translators." Cheng Suran came to the display wall with a proud expression on her face.

    Jiang Yu looked at it carefully, but she didn''t see Cheng Suran''s name and photo. She turned to look at the person beside her: "You should count yourself in."

    "Isn''t it excellent to be admitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and become a high-level person? It is outstanding in the entire industry."

    Cheng Suran looked into those gentle watery eyes, and suddenly there was a rippling in her heart.

    When receiving compliments from others, she just smiled politely, but Jiang Yu''s compliments, she could feel the throbbing in her heart, it was a long-lost real joy, she almost forgot to hide her emotions.

    "Miss Jiang is too kind."

    "Ranran..." Jiang Yu suddenly lowered hernvoice and took a step closer.

    Cheng Suran became nervous immediately, and quickly glanced at the glass wall. Every move here can be seen in the office area. She thought Jiang Yu was going to do something, words rushed to her lips.

    But Jiang Yu just looked at her with burning eyes: "I''m really happy seeing you become what you wanted to be. I knew you can do it."

    Cheng Suran choked, and the softest part of her heart was hit.

    Excellence, brilliance. This has been her obsession for many years. Not sure if she wants to prove it to Jiang Yu, or to prove it to the young, weak and fledgling self in the past, but she has already achieved "excellence" and "brilliance" in the eyes of others, but she still felt that something is missing.

    She recognizes her professional ability, but never dares to call herself the "best".

    Jiang Yu''s praise dispelled the obsession in her heart.

    It doesn''t make sense anymore.

    "Thanks."

    Thinking of this, Cheng Suran smiled politely and avoided that gaze.

    After visiting the entire company, Jiang Yu followed Cheng Suran back to the office to discuss specific plans. She came this time only for inspection first, and after an agreed time, the high-level officials of both parties will meet again next time to formally sign a contract.

    Cheng Suran was aware that Jiang Yu had personal motives for choosing her company over a larger one. Otherwise, it wouldn''t make sense for Jiang Yu to opt for them. However, the project was significant, offering both lucrative earnings and the opportunity to enhance the company''s qualifications, which would be highly beneficial for future expansion.

    She accepted the meat delivered at the door.

    "Does your company also have another boss named Miss Wen?" Jiang Yu played with a pen in her hand. Cheng Suran was surprised, "Do you know her?"

    "I met her when I arrived earlier."

    Cheng Suran nodded without saying much, but she couldn''t help but wonder about Jiang Yu''s repeated inquiries about her "girlfriend." She couldn''t figure out the reason and couldn''t grasp Jiang Yu''s thoughts.

    "Can I invite you both for lunch? Is it convenient?" Jiang Yu asked eagerly, secretly plotting her plan.

    Cheng Suran pondered, "We should be the one treating clients to a meal."

    "I''m not a client now; we are partners."

    "We haven''t signed the contract yet."

    "It''s a matter of time."

    "..."

    ....

    Jiang Yu insisted on treating the two bosses to a meal, and Cheng Suran didn''t refuse anymore. She informed Wen Ruoxian and then found a local restaurant in Jiangcheng that served authentic cuisine, reserving a private room.

    Inside the private room was a round table with a comfortable sofa and a private bathroom on the side. The room was spacious enough to accommodate ten people.

    The three came in one after another, Cheng Suran went straight to the window, put down her bag, turned her head and said to Wen Ruoxian: "Ruoxian, I''m going to the bathroom, you guys order first."

    "Okay." Wen Ruoxian nodded, and sat down next to her.

    Ruoxian?

    Jiang Yu was extremely shocked in her heart, her whole body froze, and her eyes were glued to Wen Ruoxian''s face.

    At the hotel that night...

    The person she reminded to "eat the cake in the fridge" and "take in the clothes from the balcony" is her.

    Feeling her gaze, Wen Ruoxian smiled gently, about to say something, but Jiang Yu spoke first: "Are Miss Wen and Miss Cheng classmates? It seems like you have a great relationship, like best friends."

    "Not classmates, but we are indeed like close friends."

    "You''ve known each other for a long time, right?"

    "Mm, for five years."

    Jiang Yu wanted to say something else, but the waiter brought a carved porcelain kettle and two menus: "Would you like to order now?"

    "Yes," Wen Ruoxian made a gesture, "Miss Jiang, please order first."

    Jiang Yu nodded and opened the menu.

    Wen Ruoxian picked up the porcelain kettle, poured some hot water into the tableware on Cheng Suran''s seat next to her, stirred the chopsticks gently, soaked for a while, and then washed the plates, bowls, and cups one by one, with meticulous and careful movements.

    Then she started washing her own dishes.

    As soon as Jiang Yu ordered a dish, she noticed her movements, and couldn''t help feeling a subtle emotion in her heart.

    "Do you need anything else?" the waiter asked.

    Jiang Yu regained her senses, tightened her fingers pinching the paper slightly, continued to look at the menu, ordered another dessert, and handed the menu to the woman opposite: "MissbWen."

    Wen Ruoxian accepted it with a smile.

    At this moment, the bathroom door opened, and Cheng Suran came out, returned to her seat and sat down, and asked politely, "Have you ordered any food, Miss Jiang?"

    "Yeah." Jiang Yu nodded lightly.

    Cheng Suran withdrew her gaze, moved closer to Wen Ruoxian, leaned one arm on her shoulder casually, and the two looked at the menu together.

    "It''s hot, I don''t want to eat something too greasy, do they have water spinach?"

    "Mm, I ordered it, I know you like it." Wen Ruoxian smiled sideways.

    The two were very close, their hair entwined, and their faces almost touching. Cheng Suran''s lips curved slightly, and occasionally spoke in a playful tone, appearing very relaxed.

    Jiang Yu stared at them intently.

    "The garlic in the water spinach, please cut it into large pieces. My friend doesn''t eat garlic, and if it''s too small, she''ll vomit if she accidentally eats it. Also, for the fish, please make it less spicy and use fewer Sichuan peppercorns. And for this dish... please use fewer onions as she doesn''t eat them. Is there cilantro in the ingredients? If so, use it sparingly, just a few pieces will be enough..."

    Wen Ruoxian instructed the waiter carefully, her voice was gentle and her tone was calm, which made people feel at ease.

    "Ranran, is there anything else to mention?"

    "You''ve covered everything," Cheng Suran replied with a smile, her dimples showing and a glimpse of her small white teeth.

    Sensing the gaze on her, she turned her head and met Jiang Yu''s stare.

    "..."

    Her eyes were as deep as a cold pool, seemingly revealing a faint sense of loneliness, yet also appearing ambiguous, quietly gazing at her, enigmatic and unclear.

    Cheng Suran''s heart beat violently, silently avoided that gaze, and lowered her head to fiddle with the tableware.

    The atmosphere at the dinner table fell into an eerie silence.

    "Miss Cheng is the same as me; if I eat garlic, I''ll also feel sick," Jiang Yu casually remarked, concealing her emotions.

    Cheng Suran pretended to be calm and smiled, "Natural nemesis."

    "Oh, do you both avoid dishes with garlic then?" Wen Ruoxian raised an eyebrow. "Hey, Ranran, I remember you really liked garlic-roasted eggplant, right?"

    "Well, that''s not quite the same..."

    "Cough cough."

    The three chatted, from food preferences to industry knowledge, the atmosphere became lively again.

    The dishes came up one after another, Wen Ruoxian asked the waiter for two extra gloves. Seeing that Cheng Suran peeled the shrimp too slowly, she peeled a few by herself and put them in her bowl. While doing this calmly, she chatted with Jiang Yu with ease.

    You can pick up whatever you are talking about, and you will not be left alone when you are talking about anything.

    If she hadn''t seen it with her own eyes, who would believe that one of the two bosses of a company peeled the shrimp for the other with her own hands.

    Jiang Yu had no chance to intervene at all.

    Noticing that Cheng Suran''s glass was empty, she glanced at the drink on the table, and Jiang Yu was about to reach for it immediately, but Wen Ruoxian was one step ahead of her, already took the bottle and filled half a glass for Cheng Suran.

    "..."

    Jiang Yu silently withdrew her hand.

    A faint sourness filled her heart, like blocked with stones, stuffy and airless, she couldn''t describe exactly how it feels like¡­

 CH 86

    During the meal, Jiang Yu couldn''t taste the food.

    It was obvious that the three of them were eating and chatting, and the atmosphere was very relaxed and lively, driven by Wen Ruoxian, but she just felt indescribably depressed.

    She could feel Wen Ruoxian''s meticulous care for Cheng Suran, and she could also feel that Cheng Suran was at ease in front of Wen Ruoxian, while she was like an outsider from the beginning to the end.

    She has no position and is not qualified to care about Ranran.

    To Cheng Suran, Wen Ruoxian is a close friend, and she is just a former benefactor, a vicious and ruthless benefactor, and now only a business partner.

    Jiang Yu suddenly felt that she had lost something very important.

    Something is leaving her, like flowing water, disappearing from the broken glass bottle, tearing her flesh, body, nerves, and heart, leaving waves of intense pain...

    After dinner, the three chatted for a while, and set a date for the formal meeting and signing of the contract.

    "Ruoxian, go back to the company first, and I''ll see Miss Jiang off." When she was about to leave, Cheng Suran walked up to Jiang Yu.

    Wen Ruoxian nodded: "Okay, remember to take a nap when you get back to the office."

    "Uh-huh."

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips and smiled, watching her leave.

    The private room suddenly fell silent.

    "Miss Jiang..." Cheng Suran turned around and looked at Jiang Yu with a smile on her face, "Thank you for sending me business."

    Jiang Yu''s heart was full of anticipation, thinking she had some private words to say to her. However, when she heard the last sentence, that anticipation fell heavily to the ground, shattering into pieces.

    "It''s not a gift." She shook her head with a forced smile on her face.

    "You and your team won it with strength."

    Cheng Suran''s bright and clear eyes seemed to show disbelief that she would say such words. Wasn''t she supposed to be strong and high-handed? What about the attitude of a powerful benefactor? Was the person in front of her not the Jiang Yu she knew, or was it her own mindset that never changed?

    At this moment, she felt like she didn''t recognize Jiang Yu anymore.

    She seemed to have changed, but at the same time seemed not to have changed.

    "Let''s go." Jiang Yu stepped forward.

    Cheng Suran followed her, walked beside her, and entered the elevator amidst the greetings of the attendants.

    It happened that the elevator was empty, and there was only each other in the small and airtight space, which was dull and silent, and the air was filled with the clear and cold fragrance of iris.

    The familiar scent is like a catalyst, the more you smell it, the faster your heart beats...

    "Ranran."

    Jiang Yu suddenly spoke, Cheng Suran was shocked, did not respond, and waited for her to finish. "Do you live with Miss Wen?"

    "...Mm, we rent a flat together."  She hesitated to answer at firs, but for the sake of business relationship, it''s okay to tell Jiang Yu, after all, it''s not considered absolute privacy.

    Jiang Yu took a slow, deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. "Where do you rent?"

    Cheng Suran remained silent.

    This was private information.

    Jiang Yu understood and didn''t pursue the matter further.

    The elevator stopped on the first floor.

    The two went out one after another, the driver was already waiting outside the gate, Jiang Yu came to the car, did not open the door immediately, but turned to look at Cheng Suran.

    Her lips moved, she hesitated to speak, but she didn''t say anything in the end.

    "Miss Jiang..."

    Just when Jiang Yu was about to get in the car, Cheng Suran called her, she paused, and saw the other party raised her chin and looked at her skirt.

    "Your dress is beautiful."

    ....

    Throughout the afternoon, Jiang Yu was in a daze, her mind was full of the scenes from the lunchtime, she forced herself to go to the company for a short meeting, and returned home before dark.

    Bai Lu''s assistant sent a message saying that she had left for Paris.

    [Take care of her.]

    Jiang Yu replied and exited. The list was full of the latest unread messages. Bai Lu''s chat box had sunk somewhere, and it took a long time to find it after scrolling down.

    The last time she sent a message was two days ago, Bai Lu posted a selfie, she praised how beautiful it was, and then asked how her wrist injury was recovering, she didn''t respond, and then there was no further text.

    It''s been quiet until now.

    In the past, Bai Lu would tell her wherever she went, and until she was so annoyed by the series of messages that she didn''t want to reply, she also sent her a message when she went to Paris last month, but now she left quietly and asked her assistant to convey it.

    September and October are the spring and summer fashion season, the industry is extremely busy, and the models are the busiest. It is normal to go back to work at this time.

    Never mind.

    Not bothering her is just right, getting some peace and quiet.

    After dinner and taking a shower, Jiang Yu locked herself in the bedroom.

    Back in her own safe area, she could finally let go of all her defenses. She slumped on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. The light above her head was too bright, which was even more blinding than the scenes on the lunch table.

    Ranran appeared so relaxed and at ease in front of Wen Ruoxian, as if she were a different girl from the one she used to know.

    But has she really known and understood the real Cheng Suran?

    In the past, she was bound by the nurturing relationship, she was under the absolute authority of the benefactor. Ranran appeared weak and humble in front of her, and a paper contract concealed her true self, making it impossible for her to be seen.

    Now, the nurturing relationship has been terminated long ago, and she started to know and understand the real Cheng Suran, but it seemed a bit late.

    Jiang Yu sighed.

    In the past three years, she thought about taking the initiative to find Cheng Suran, but her stubborn self-esteem repeatedly made troubles, and it was difficult to accept the fact that she fell in love with her former lover. And thinking that she drove away the other party in the most ruthless way, she lost her confidence.

    The last relationship was a lesson from the past. How could a person like her fall in love?

    Originally, she had decided to remain single for the rest of her life, but her reappearance made this decision shaken.

    Then collapsed...

    Thinking about it, sleepiness gradually struck, Jiang Yu''s upper and lower eyelids were battling, and she stretched out her hand to turn off the headlight, leaving only the wall lamp, and the room suddenly fell into darkness.

    In the past two years, her sleep quality has gradually recovered, and she does not need to take melatonin to regulate it, and she will no longer have nightmares. As long as she does not go to dark and confined spaces, her situation will remain stable.

    As the night deepened, everything was silent.

    "Sister, do I look pretty?" The girl stood on the lawn in a floral skirt, twirling lightly, her sweet dimples were charming and lovely.

    Jiang Yu nodded with a smile, stepped forward to hug her, and kissed her soft lips: "Ranran is the prettiest."

    Her arms were warm and soft, and the girl''s body was scorching hot. She wrapped her arms around her neck, tiptoed slightly, and kissed her on the lips: "I like sister."

    Jiang Yu''s heart fluttered, and she was about to speak when the girl suddenly pushed her away again.

    "But sister doesn''t like me..."

    "?"

    "Sister, I''m not a canary anymore, I don''t have to listen to you anymore. You used to be afraid that I love you, but now I''ll do the same to you."

    "Ranran?"

    Jiang Yu stood there in a daze, the girl was getting further and further away from her, she stretched out her hand, but couldn''t touch her, she wanted to chase after her, but her legs seemed to be rooted, watching the girl disappear in front of her eyes...

    "Ranran!!"

    Jiang Yu opened her eyes suddenly, and the dim light shone into her eyes.

    It turned out to be a dream.

    Panting, she pushed away the soft rabbit doll in her arms, crawled to the head of the bed, and her breathing gradually calmed down.

    The night outside the window is boundless, and the tall buildings are faintly lit with lights, connecting together like a bright galaxy, covering up the bleak light of the moon.

    The dream is still clearly in front of her eyes, the girl seems to have just walked not far away, she can still see the sweet and gentle smile on her face, see the beautiful floral dress on her body, and hear her low and choked voice.

    It was as if a piece of her heart had been hollowed out, gusts of cool wind poured in, it was very sour and painful, and like a rising tide in the sea, a strong sadness surged up to fill her up...

    Tears fell without warning.

    She propped herself up to get out of bed, opened the bottom drawer of the cabinet, took out a transparent box from it, put it on the table, and turned on the light.

    The room lit up, and the incomplete model stands still in the box, the runway, the swing, and her are lifelike, and the colors are still bright¡ª¡ªthis is Ranran¡¯s birthday gift to her.

    But it can no longer be restored to its original appearance.

    In the past few years, from trying to restore it to repeated trials and failures, to finally giving up completely, she resigned to her fate and sealed it in a place where she can''t see it, so as not to think about others when she sees it.

    Jiang Yu took off the transparent box, carefully stretched out her finger, and gently touched the broken part.

    [Sister, do you still like it?]

    [I like it very much.]

    The girl''s face appeared in front of her, with clear and pure eyes and a bright and charming smile.

    She remembered bits and pieces of the past.

    Ranran would feel satisfied because she got her smile, would be happy for a long time because she stole a kiss from her, would blush with shyness when she said she liked her the most, would argue with others on Weibo to defend her, would prepare unique birthday gifts to make her happy, and would venture into the deep mountains at midnight to save her...

    In order to stay with her longer, she will bury her love in her heart.

    This is what she realized last year.

    Jiang Yu looked at the broken model, her eyes were hot, and there was a little bit of water vapor permeating up.

    In fact, she was the one who violated the agreement, she was the one who was tempted, and she was the one who couldn''t do without, but she pushed everything away with her own hands.

    She lost her...

    Jiang Yu fell down on the bed, hugged a rabbit doll casually, buried her face in the fur, and wept silently.

    Her body trembled uncontrollably and slowly curled up. Suddenly, like drowning again, her hands scratched and fumbled randomly on the quilt, and found the mobile phone next to the pillow, and tremblingly dialed Tian Lin''s number.

    The other end answered after ringing for a long time, the voice seemed to just have woken up: "Sister Yu? Why are you calling me in the middle of the night..."

    Jiang Yu couldn''t make a sound, but took a very light and restrained breath.

    Hearing the voice of a familiar person feels safe.

    "Sister Yu? Tian Lin felt something was wrong, and her voice immediately raised a level, "What''s wrong? Where are you?"

    "..."

    Jiang Yu gritted her teeth, hung up the phone, and fell back on the bed with tears streaming down her face.

    Her oppressive breath echoed in the vacuum-like room.

    After some time passed, tears dried up, and a rapid sound of footsteps came from outside. The next second, the door was pushed open, and Tian Lin rushed in.

    "Sister Yu¡ª"

    Followed by the sleepy Xiao Zhou.

    Jiang Yu shuddered and sat up, looking at Tian Lin with red and swollen eyes.

    "Go to bed first, leave it to me." Tian Lin said softly to Xiao Zhou, who nodded in a daze and went out.

    She was startled by Jiang Yu''s dull gaze, "Sister Yu..." stepped forward and hugged Jiang Yu, "What''s wrong? What happened?"

    Tian Lin was so frightened when she hung up the phone and rushed over. She was still wearing a sexy lace halter nightgown and went out in a hurry. She only wore a thin coat and her hair was messy.

    "It''s okay..." Jiang Yu looked at her apologetically, "Sorry for waking you up."

    "Why are you still talking to me like that?"

    "..."

    "Did you have a nightmare? Crying so much that your eyes are swollen."

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes and remained silent.

    "Wait for me."

    Tian Lin got up, opened the door and went out. Not long after, she came in again with a wet towel and a water glass, wiped her eyes and face, and handed her the water glass: "Drink some water."

    Jiang Yu slowly picked up the cup, drank a little of it, put it aside, and leaned against her arms as if he was limp and boneless, as if seeking comfort.

    "Tian Lin..."

    "Mm, yes."

    "I dreamt of Ranran."

    Tian Lin immediately hugged her tightly and patted her on the back comfortingly.

    Jiang Yu parted her lips, took a deep breath, held Tian Lin''s clothes tightly with her fingers, and said to herself: "I dreamed that she was wearing a beautiful floral dress and smiling at me. She asked me if she looks pretty...I said she''s the prettiest..."

    Sweet smiles, lost eyes, every frame seems to happen right in front of her eyes.

    Tian Lin listened quietly, feeling helpless and distressed.

    "Did I do something wrong?" Jiang Yu asked hoarsely.

    "Where did you go wrong?"

    "Too many¡­"

    Tian Lin''s heart twitched, and her eyes suddenly became wet like fog. She closed her eyes hastily: "You were not wrong in any way... At that time, you were the benefactor, and your situation is different from that of normal people. It is fruitless to pursue the past now, Sister Yu, stop torturing yourself."

    Jiang Yu buried her face in her hair in pain.

    The air conditioner blows out the cold wind slowly, and the warm yellow lights cast a soft halo. Time seems to stand still, leaving only silence.

    "Tian Lin..."

    "Mm."

    "I''m no longer the benefactor."

    "I know."

    "I want to be sure."

    "Go and find her."

    Jiang Yu closed her eyes, and a tear slowly rolled down her cheek.

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Soon came the day when the high-level executives of the two parties met to sign the contract. Cheng Suran had been preparing for a long time. This was the largest order the company had received since its establishment. There could be no mistakes, and she personally supervised and checked all the processes.

    She and Wen Ruoxian got up early in the morning, changed into more formal clothes, and took care of them meticulously from head to toe. They arrived at the company at nine o''clock to check all kinds of documents, conference room layout, etc.

    At ten o''clock sharp, five people from the other company arrived on time.

    Headed by Jiang Yu, three women and two men, four people from Cheng Suran''s side, besides her and Wen Ruoxian, there are also people from the translation department and the marketing department.

    Jiang Yu was completely black again today.

    A silky black half-sleeved shirt with a beautiful long knot in front of the collar, and loose black trousers, the whole person looks very serious, only the pair of emerald earrings neutralize the coldness a little.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t help but glance at her.

    After both parties took their seats, they began to discuss the cooperation. The meeting lasted for about half an hour. It''s unclear whether it was because the deal was significant or because of Jiang Yu''s presence, but Cheng Suran felt somewhat nervous and excited without any specific reason.

    Her gaze and Jiang Yu''s gaze collided with each other from time to time.

    This is a scene that Cheng Suran has never imagined before---

    She and Jiang Yu, sitting at the same table, facing each other, looking at each other at the same level.

    It was already noon after signing the contract, and the two parties went to the reserved restaurant for lunch.

    Completely business-like, without any private communication.

    At 1:30 in the afternoon, Cheng Suran and Wen Ruoxian sent Jiang Yu and the others away, and went back to the company, when they heard from the front desk that the Cleaning Aunt had picked up a watch in the meeting room.

    "What kind of watch?"

    "This."

    The young lady at the front desk handed it over.

    The silver dial has a simple design. Except for a circle of small diamonds inlaid inside, there is no extra decoration. It is a bit old and looks like it should have been used for a long time. Cheng Suran held it in her hand, looked at it carefully, and a familiar memory suddenly flashed in her mind.

    This is¡­

    "Patek Philippe, ladies'' watch, it should be one of theirs that was left behind. Let''s call and inform them," Wen Ruoxian said beside her.

    "I''ll contact them." Cheng Suran held onto the watch and quickly headed to the office without looking back.

    It was Jiang Yu''s watch.

    She had seen it back then...

    Back in the office, Cheng Suran quickly closed the door, took out her mobile phone, clicked into the address book, and scrolled down to the recently saved number, but she had already memorized it by heart. It''s not a "Flower in the mirror¡­" anymore.

    She stared at the string of numbers, hesitated for a while, and pressed down gently with her fingertips.

    "Hello? Ranran?" A familiar voice soon came from the other end.

    Low and soft, a little charming.

    Cheng Suran''s heart trembled, and she tried her best to keep her voice calm: "Miss Jiang, your watch has been left in the conference room."

    "Ah?" Jiang Yu seemed puzzled, "How do you know it''s mine?"

    Cheng Suran lowered her eyes and said in silence for a moment: "I remember you wearing it."

    The other end stopped talking.

    The air seemed to freeze over a long distance.

    After a while, Jiang Yu''s soft voice came again: "Yes, the strap of the watch is a little tight, so I took it off in the meeting room just now, and I probably forgot it when I left...Can you bring it home for me later?"

    "You shouldn''t be far away now, I''ll ask my assistant to drive there." Cheng Suran declined.

    "I''m in a hurry, and I have a meeting in the afternoon, so I don''t want to turn around, and I cherish that watch very much, so I don''t feel relieved to let others give it to me."

    "... "

    "Can I ask you to help, Ranran?"

    "It''s because we are partners." Jiang Yu threw out his trump card.

    Cheng Suran clenched the watch in her palm, with helplessness and struggle in her eyes. After a long time, she said softly, "Send me the address."

 CH 87

    "Is it okay to use WeChat to post the location?" Jiang Yu''s tone was flat, "It''s more convenient, you can navigate directly."

    However, Cheng Suran heard a hint of pleading, her fingers tightened again, and her palm was hurt by the metal object. She told herself not to think too much, "I have navigation in my car, I''ll just enter the address."

    After saying those words, there was a brief silence on the other end.

    "Okay."

    After Jiang Yu finished speaking, Cheng Suran immediately hung up the phone.

    She leaned her back against the door, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath slowly.

    Sending it to her home in person is unavoidable, but adding her on WeChat is something she can refuse.

    It''s been five years, and she still finds herself easily soft-hearted when facing Jiang Yu. In order to avoid falling into it again, she can only try her best to avoid meeting Jiang Yu. However, now that Jiang Yu is the company''s biggest business partner, it means she has to give her some face in most situations.

    Cheng Suran felt that she had dug a hole for herself.

    However, if it is good for the company''s development, might as well just jump into the pit, Jiang Yu is not a scourge.

    She thinks.

    The phone vibrated.

    Cheng Suran opened her eyes, clicked into the inbox, and there was a text message in it.

    The address is not long, it consists of only the name of a residential complex and the house number. It is the famous riverside luxury residential area in Jiangcheng, called "Green Shang Mansion," with an average price of 200,000 yuan per square meter. Even the smallest unit in this complex is over 400 square meters in size.

    It turns out that Jiang Yu''s home is here...

    She suddenly remembered the WeChat messages she secretly snooped on Jiang Yu''s phone that night. At that time, Bai Lu lived at Jiang Yu''s house and ate supper made by the aunt nanny, while she didn''t even know which way the door of Jiang Yu''s house opened.

    Today, unexpectedly, she found out in this manner.

    How ironic.

    There is another sentence after the address: I will be home at about five o''clock in the afternoon, please come over around that time, thank you very much.

    Cheng Suran didn''t reply, but raised her hand and spread out her palm.

    There was a faint red mark on her palm on the raised part of the dial.

    The first time she saw this watch was six years ago. They went on a trip during the National Day holiday, and returned to the hotel room after soaking in the hot spring that night. Jiang Yu¡¯s watch was left in her bag. She intended to return it to Jiang Yu and accidentally bumped into Jiang Yu and Lu Zhiqiao whispering in the corner of the corridor.

    It was also during that time that she found out Jiang Yu''s ex-girlfriend was Qi Yan.

    She was once insanely jealous.

    What a fool.

    She also fantasized about the "Flower in the mirror and Moon in the water" hidden in her old phone''s contact list, wondering when she could openly call that number. Now, it''s the first time, but as a business partner.

    Now they are equals.

    ...

    In the evening.

    The sun sets in the west, and the red clouds blaze like fire.

    Jiang Yu returned home before five o''clock, took a shower quickly, changed into a fresh and elegant long dress, sprayed on some more perfume, and put on the matching necklace and earrings.

    Completely refreshed from head to toe.

    On that day, Ranran complimented her on her beautiful dress. After returning home, she took out all her dresses, taking advantage of the remaining summer days. Every time she met Ranran, she would wear a different dress until autumn arrived.

    After tidying herself up, Jiang Yu went to tell the nanny to start processing the ingredients for dinner.

    "Skip the onions and cilantro in the ingredients, not too spicy... You can add garlic to the water spinach for aroma, but chop it into large pieces..."

    Auntie nodded repeatedly to reassure her.

    Jiang Yu went to tidy up the room again, placed all kinds of snacks and drinks on the coffee table, took out a pair of pure white rabbit slippers from the cabinet, and put them at the door.

    At 5:15 PM, she received a call from the security room to verify the visitor''s information.

    Afterwards, she stood guard at the door.

    At the moment the doorbell rang, Jiang Yu quickly opened the door, and the graceful and slender figure of the woman appeared before her eyes. Her heart started racing, and she held her breath.

    The security guard standing next to her nodded and then turned away.

    Their eyes met.

    Cheng Suran''s expression was indifferent, but the hand hanging by her side tightly grasped the watch. Without waiting for Jiang Yu to speak, she raised her arm, "Miss Jiang, your watch."

    "Thank you..." Jiang Yu accepted whatever the woman had brought, but then she noticed her turning to leave. "Come in and have a seat."

    Cheng Suran stopped, not intending to agree.

    "Aren''t we partners now?"

    Jiang Yu looked at her, her eyes shimmering, and casually threw out the same reason, "We''re also friends. How could I let someone stand at the doorstep and not come in?"

    That''s also true.

    Would it seem too deliberate to avoid it?

    Cheng Suran pondered, her gaze shifting past Jiang Yu as she peered into the house, her curiosity stirred with anticipation.

    Back then when she was a canary, she wanted so much to come to Jiang Yu''s house to take a look and feel the breath of life that belonged to this person. For this, she begged in every possible way, crossed the line, and was severely poured with cold water.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Now that she has become Jiang Yu''s business partner, the other party took the initiative to invite her in.

    Normal people are indeed different from canaries.

    She grew up, understood, and looked away.

    "Okay."

    With a happy expression on her face, Jiang Yu pulled her in, pointed to the rabbit slippers on the ground and said, "Wear this pair, I specially prepared them for you."

    Cheng Suran was slightly taken aback, said nothing, and put on slippers.

    They fit perfectly.

    Inadvertently, when she saw the black slippers of the same style on Jiang Yu''s feet, she froze for a moment, feeling a strange emotion in her heart.

    What does this mean?

    Couple slippers?

    "Ranran, let me show you around first." Jiang Yu took the initiative to hold her hand.

    Cheng Suran avoided it, and only nodded slightly.

    The smile on Jiang Yu''s face turned a bit dim, and she withdrew her hand as if nothing had happened, leading her around the entrance to the living room.

    The floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room occupy the entire wall, and the outside balcony is more than ten meters long, with sofas, viewing platforms, and hanging basket swings. On the left is a large round table restaurant with semi-curved floor-to-ceiling windows. There is also a small restaurant behind with a square table. Behind it is the kitchen. There is a Chinese kitchen and a western kitchen. The nanny is currently handling the ingredients.

    There are five bedrooms left, four of which are ordinary guest rooms, six toilets, and four small balconies.

    No matter which corner of the house she is in, she can have a panoramic view of the entire city center of Jiangcheng.

    Cheng Suran likes the interior design here very much.

    It''s a mansion, but it doesn''t look like a pile of money. Every piece of furniture looks ordinary, but you can find the owner''s unique personality when you look closely. For example, at this moment, she found that Jiang Yu likes to use lines, likes large areas of light, and likes transparent glass.

    It looks good wherever you stand and take pictures.

    No wonder Bai Lu praised it like that...

    Cheng Suran couldn''t help but think of the WeChat messages she secretly saw on Jiang Yu''s phone many years ago.

    Is this where she once yearned to explore deeply?

    A small pebble fell into her heart lake, causing shallow ripples, floating layer after layer on her chest, unable to calm down for a long time.

    "Does your family not live here?" Cheng Suran changed the subject.

    The house is beautiful, but it feels empty, lacking a sense of warmth. Living alone makes it more like staying in a hotel.

    Jiang Yu''s expression stiffened slightly and she said: "I have no family."

    "Where are your parents?" Cheng Suran subconsciously asked, but soon regretted it. She clearly understood the meaning of that sentence, so she shouldn''t continue to ask.

    But she really wanted to know...

    Want to know everything related to Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes and remained silent.

    "I''m sorry, I was talking too much." Cheng Suran said in a low voice.

    In that moment, she seemed to sense Jiang Yu''s entire range of emotions, like surging magma, just like what she had mentioned about her family. She wanted to hold Jiang Yu''s hand, to embrace her, and tell her that it wasn''t out of pity.

    But she held back.

    Cheng Suran, wake up.

    "It''s okay, they divorced a long time ago, and I haven''t been in contact with them for many years," Jiang Yu said casually.

    Cheng Suran was startled, and her heart was overwhelmed with emotions, but now was not the time to delve further. She gently nodded her head and changed the topic, "Did you design and decorate this house yourself?"

    Jiang Yu smiled nonchalantly, "Mm, I also consulted friends who are experts in interior design."

    "I feel like it''s a work of art."

    "Are you praising me?"

    "Thank you for your compliment, Miss Cheng."

    Upon hearing this address, Cheng Suran froze, feeling a bit uncomfortable. However, she didn''t say anything, and the smile on her lips became more professional.

    In her heart, Cheng Suran was thinking about what Jiang Yu said earlier about her parents.

    ''They divorced a long time ago, and I haven''t been in contact with them for many years¡­''

    How long has it been? Ten years? Fifteen years? Twenty years? Does that mean, for a long time, Jiang Yu hasn''t had any family by her side, always being alone?

    It''s so similar to her own situation.

    Her curiosity was raised but left unsatisfied, feeling like a gentle itch that couldn''t be relieved, just like a kitten''s paw lightly scratching, tickling and unbearable. Clearly, Jiang Yu had no intention of telling her.

    "I asked the nanny to buy your favorite dishes. How about having dinner here at my place tonight?" Jiang Yu''s lips carried a gentle smile, and she seemed to transform into a different person, as if the moment of unfamiliarity when she called her "Miss Cheng" was just an illusion.

    Cheng Suran snapped back to reality, and her gaze merged with Jiang Yu''s spring-like smile, creating ripples of shallow waves in her heart.

    However, upon careful consideration of those words, something felt off.

    "How do you know what dishes I like?"

    "When we had dinner with Miss Wen that day, I paid attention to the dishes you ordered." Jiang Yu said with a hint of melancholy in her expression.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head: "Oh."

    There''s still something not quite right.

    "Ranran?"

    "Did you prepare the dishes in advance? Do you think I would definitely agree?

    "I think it''s not uncommon to invite business partners to have a simple meal at home," Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow.

    Cheng Suran tightened her lips and looked at her in silence.

    Their gazes seemed to be connected by an invisible thread.

    After a while, Cheng Suran took out her phone, dialed a number, and quickly got connected. She turned her face away and said, "Ruoxian, I''ll be having dinner with a client outside tonight, so I won''t be going back. You can go eat by yourself."

    Client...

    Jiang Yu smiled bitterly.

    "Okay, I''ll be careful. Don''t worry, I definitely won''t drink."

    "No need, Xiao Meng will pick me up."

    With a smile in her eyes and a soft tone, as if she was concerned about a loved one on the other end of the phone, Cheng Suran spoke. Jiang Yu watched her intently, lost in thought.

    After she hung up the phone, Jiang Yu couldn''t help but ask, "Do you need to report everything, even about dinner?"

    "I don''t want her to worry," Cheng Suran replied casually.

    For the care and concern of others, all she can do is return 100% of it. No one in this world can give one-way forever. Whether it is friendship or love, any relationship is two-way, and it needs to be responded to in order to maintain it.

    Jiang Yu didn''t think about it that much, she just felt a sudden painful stab in her chest.

    "What''s behind this door?"

    Cheng Suran put away her phone, raised her chin, and pointed to the platinum double doors in front of her.  Jiang Yu hid her emotions and said, "It''s the master bedroom."

    "Oh, then..."

    Cheng Suran wanted to say that she wouldn''t look inside as the master bedroom was a private area. It seemed impolite to enter someone else''s bedroom in the first place, and the person might not be willing to show her.

    However, to her surprise, Jiang Yu extended her index finger and lightly tapped the door lock.

    "Come in and take a look."

    ---beep

    The double doors slowly opened to reveal a unique and unfamiliar world before Cheng Suran''s eyes.

    A walk-in closet greeted her, spanning over thirty square meters, with cabinets lining the walls. Bright lights illuminated the neatly organized clothes and backpacks of various types, resembling a mini clothing store.

    As she walked further, there was a semi-open study on the left, a bathroom on the right, and a small gym diagonally ahead.

    Finally, she entered the master bedroom.

    On the carpet, window sill, sofa, and the two-meter-wide bed, various types of rabbit plush toys were piled up. Some were half a meter tall, while others were palm-sized. They came in gray and white colors, with droopy or upright ears, some holding carrots, and others wearing hairpins...

    Rabbits were everywhere.

    Cheng Suran was stunned.

    What is this?

    She blinked and turned to look at Jiang Yu, suddenly feeling that she didn''t know this woman.

    "Aren''t they cute?" Jiang Yu met her gaze.

    Cheng Suran nodded slightly and suddenly remembered that Jiang Yu, just like herself, was born in the Year of the Rabbit. She couldn''t imagine that this seemingly cold and dominant woman had a room full of stuffed toy rabbits.

    What was it called again?

    A cute contrast?

    Jiang Yu didn''t seem to care about her astonishment and pointed to the large bed, saying, "Sleeping surrounded by these fluffy guys every night gives me a sense of security."

    Cheng Suran''s lips moved, and she was about to say something when she happened to notice a transparent box on the windowsill, which looked very familiar.

    She walked closer to take a look.

    Inside the box was an incomplete clay model.

    A small garden, a tiny swing, a miniature runway, small people, vivid and colorful, but with a few broken pieces scattered around, looking lonely and pitiful.

    Cheng Suran''s eyes widened.

    [On the left is your career, the part that everyone sees. On the right is your life, the part that I see.]

    [Sister, do you still like it?]

    The voice from the memories, the scenes from the past, traveled through the long river of time to reach her ears, right before her eyes, like rushing torrents, breaking down the defenses she had built at this moment.

    This was the gift she gave to Jiang Yu...

    The birthday present she picked up from the trash bin.

    Her calm eyes cracked open, a tinge of sourness mixed with a thin layer of mist surged up. Cheng Suran reached out her hand, her shoulder trembling slightly, and her fingertips trembled incessantly.

    "Ranran¡ª"

    Jiang Yu felt that something was wrong and quickly stepped forward to block the model.

    Cheng Suran pushed her away, picked up the box, and tears welled up in her eyes, falling down her cheeks.

    "You still kept it?"

    "Mm..."

    "Why?"

    She gritted her teeth, her blurry gaze locking onto Jiang Yu, sounding like an interrogation.

    Jiang Yu blinked, turned her face away, and then back again. Her gaze fell on the broken model as she whispered, "In these years when you were not around, it was my only keepsake."

    Furrows appeared on Cheng Suran''s forehead.

    Tears welled up, streaming down her face. The two transparent streaks of water seemed like a zipper, revealing the collapse beneath the calm surface.

    "I''m sorry, I accidentally broke it. I''ve been trying to repair it all these years, but I haven''t succeeded..." Jiang Yu looked at her tear-stained face, and her heart clenched.

    Cheng Suran stared at the model, not showing any response.

    "Ranran..."

    Unable to control her emotions, Jiang Yu hugged her, raising her hand to gently wipe away the tears on her face. Her fingertips slid along the cheek to the corner of her lips.

    Cheng Suran jolted, panic-stricken and struggling. "Let me go¡ª"

    She raised her arm, attempting to push Jiang Yu away with all her strength. However, her slap landed on Jiang Yu''s face, crisp and clear, neither too light nor too heavy.

    Jiang Yu froze.

    "I won''t stay for dinner, goodbye."

    Cheng Suran pushed her aside, hugged the model in her arms, and turned around and ran out as if fleeing.

 CH 88

    The setting sun dyed the entire sky red.

    Cheng Suran rushed out of the gate of the complex with the model in her arms.

    Her car was parked on the side of the road nearby. She walked unsteadily towards it, fumbling to unlock the door. Eager to get in, she tripped and fell onto the seat before lifting her foot.

    Her wrist hit the steering wheel heavily, and she winced in pain.

    "Hiss¡­"

    The broken model in the box rattled, Cheng Suran ignored the pain, closed the car door, hurriedly took off the acrylic box, and checked the model.

    Fortunately, there was no secondary damage.

    She slumped down.

    Carefully stroking the surface with her fingertips, it felt smooth and slightly cool to the touch. It''s as if time had flown back to that late night, she was holding the model, sitting alone in an empty room waiting.

    From full of expectations to giving up and throwing the gift in the trash.

    [In these years when you were not around, it was my only keepsake.]

    Her ears were buzzing, as if she had been slapped, invisible hands were tearing at her, and the tears welling up in her eyes fell down.

    Jiang Yu...

    What does this mean? Why keep the gift she gave? Treasuring it as a keepsake? Is it an attempt to deceive her again? Does she think she''s the most obedient and suitable to be a canary? If there was genuine intention at that time, why drive her away so decisively? Why...

    Cheng Suran gasped, raised her head and sobbed.

    She spent a long time to pull herself out; she put in a great effort to let go of the past. However, Jiang Yu erased it all with just one sentence, straightforwardly telling her: It was all a joke.

    She never understood that woman''s heart.

    ¡ªpata

    Tears hanging on her jawline splashed onto the model.

    Her gaze was sometimes blurred, sometimes clear, as she looked through the window and saw lights in the high-rise buildings, wondering which one was Jiang Yu''s...

    Cheng Suran realized belatedly that she still cared so much.

    The sun had completely set.

    After adjusting her mood, Cheng Suran drove home, and as soon as she entered the door, she saw Wen Ruoxian sitting at the dining table eating alone, and their eyes met.

    "Ranran?" Wen Ruoxian looked at her in surprise, "Did you finish your meal so soon?"

    "Something came up suddenly, so it''s rescheduled." Cheng Suran shook her head, a faint smile on her lips. She changed into slippers and headed towards the bedroom.

    Wen Ruoxian frowned, putting down her chopsticks and followed after her. "Ranran..."

    Cheng Suran stopped, puzzled.

    "Are you in a bad mood? What happened?" Wen Ruoxian stared at her, only to see her holding the transparent box in her arms tightly with both hands, and her eyes moved downward.

    Inside the miniature landscape model, brightly colored under the light, there was a small garden, a long "stage," and a small figure with a broken arm. On the background board were two capital letters "JY."

    "What is that?"

    "Just received a package," Cheng Suran instinctively avoided eye contact and lied, "Nothing important. You should go ahead and eat; I''ll handle this."

    After speaking, she hurried into the bedroom.

    After closing the door and locking it, she slid down with her back against the door, looking down at the model in her arms.

    In the small garden, the swing is broken, the small person has lost an arm, and the decorations on the background board are scattered and unsightly.

    At that time, she was stupid because of the black material on Weibo, which made Jiang Yu angry, and ignored her for many days. She watched everyone in the fan group discussing birthday gifts enthusiastically, and felt that she was stupid, poor and lacked dignity, and Jiang Yu would not like any gift she gives.

    But she still wanted to.

    She wanted to apologize to Jiang Yu, wanted to make Jiang Yu happy, and  wanted to carefully prepare the most unique gift for the person she liked.

    She racked her brains and finally decided to make clay handicraft. She used the money from her part-time job to buy materials, search for tutorials online, draw design drawings and write design ideas by herself. She failed three times in the process, but after two weeks of effort, she finally succeeded.

    Then, she threw it into the trash, only for Jiang Yu to pick it up with her own hands...

    This is not only a handmade gift, but also a testimony of her sincerity during that youthful time. Maybe in the future, she will never meet someone who can make her heart move like this again.

    If it''s broken, let it stay broken.

    Cheng Suran thought.

    But whenever she remembered these years, Jiang Yu had always kept it by her side, and an inexplicable feeling arose within her.

    [In these years when you were not around, it was my only keepsake.]

    Jiang Yu''s face flashed in her mind. There was tenderness in those cold and stern eyes. After many years, although she couldn''t discern whether it''s true or fake, it awakened the beautiful memory deep in her heart.

    On the night they officially met, she was afraid, but Jiang Yu didn''t force anything. Instead, she gave her a long time to adapt. When she was caught up in rumors and gossip, Jiang Yu didn''t mind the trouble and helped her settle things, even comforting her. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, she accompanied her to guess riddles and gaze at the moon, keeping in mind the prize she wanted. When she was injured, Jiang Yu busily ran back and forth, taking meticulous care of her. Upon learning about her background, she encouraged her, telling her to move forward courageously...

    Many, many things.

    In the darkest days of her life, it was Jiang Yu who brought a glimmer of light to her, and it was Jiang Yu who allowed her to experience warmth, excitement, and beauty for the first time in the world.

    A person with far richer knowledge and experience than her is willing to bend down to communicate with her, guide her, and encourage her, isn''t that a form of gentleness?

    She was nurtured voluntarily, and she violated the terms of the agreement. She never hated Jiang Yu, never complained about Jiang Yu, she only thought that Jiang Yu didn''t like her, but treated her with all kindness, she was even grateful.

    But today...

    Jiang Yu''s eyes, Jiang Yu''s expression, Jiang Yu''s words. Everything was a knife in her heart.

    Maybe Jiang Yu just misses that period of nurturing, she just can''t let go of her old canary. She''s afraid of revealing even the slightest emotional fluctuation, fearful that her vulnerability will be exploited, and even more terrified that Jiang Yu might discover that she still cares and has feelings for her.

    She couldn''t easily fall into it again.

    Tears slid down silently.

    Cheng Suran wiped her face, got up, set the model aside, and took out a bank card from the bedside table.

    There are three million in it, which is all the working capital she currently has. She has been slowly saving money these years, just hoping that if she meets Jiang Yu again one day, she can return all the money that the other party spent on her in the past .

    Only in this way can she completely cut off those memories.

    Now the money is almost saved up.

    The five-month nurturing agreement is 500,000 yuan, the intermittent pocket money during that period is 300,000 yuan, car gas, hotel meals, accommodation, gifts and other miscellaneous things, add up to about 200,000 yuan, and finally the check, two million.

    These kinds of things, just enough.

    After the money is returned, she will become a "pauper" with a zero account, but she could get rid of the past and really start from scratch.

    Thinking about it makes her feel very at ease.

    Cheng Suran stuffed the card into her bag, the phone vibrated suddenly, she took it out to see that it was a text message.

    Jiang Yu: [Ranran, I''m sorry.]

    "..."

    Cheng Suran sighed.

    At this moment, she had already calmed down. She knew that she had to face and resolve the situation; avoiding it wouldn''t help.

    Thinking it over, she replied: [Let''s talk when you''re free.]

    Jiang Yu replied instantly: [I''m available all day on the weekend.]

    Cheng Suran clicked on WeChat, found her weekly work schedule sent by her assistant, and then continued to reply: [See you on the terrace of WINK Cafe at 2 p.m. on Sunday.]

    Jiang Yu: [OK.]

    There was a knock on the door.

    "Ranran, come out and eat." Wen Ruoxian shouted outside.

    Cheng Suran put away her phone: "Coming." She unlocked the door, opened the door, met Wen Ruoxian''s worried gaze, and smiled, "Sister Xian, what delicious food did you cook?

    "You never learn." Wen Ruoxian reached out and tapped her forehead. "Don''t call me ''sister''."

    "Okay~"

    "Sit down first, I''ll help you serve the meal." Wen Ruoxian took her to the dining table, pulled the chair out for her, and turned to go to the kitchen. After a while, she came out again with a small bowl of rice and put it in front of her.

    Then she handed her the chopsticks with both hands.

    Cheng Suran was startled by this action, and blinked amusedly: "Are you treating me as the queen mother or something?"

    "Queen." Wen Ruoxian corrected softly.

    "Is there a difference?"

    "The Queen Mother relies on others, and the Queen relies on herself."

    "Our Miss Wen is getting better at talking." Cheng Suran squinted and smiled, then lowered her head to eat.

    Wen Ruoxian also smiled, but her mind seemed to be elsewhere, and a hint of obscurity clouded her deep gaze. She watched Cheng Suran eat and suddenly asked, "Did you deliver Miss Jiang''s watch today?"

    Cheng Suran paused her chopsticks for a moment and hummed softly: "Delivered."

    "Then when you said you''re having a meal with a client, was it Miss Jiang?"

    "Mm..."

    "I think Miss Jiang is a bit strange." Wen Ruoxian observed her expression. Just as she began to speak, Cheng Suran''s hand, which was gripping the chopsticks, tightened slightly, and she raised her head.

    She continued: "Why did she want you to personally deliver it to her home? Instead of the company or having a driver, or an assistant come to pick it up? Was it for the purpose of having a meal with you? But then the meal was rescheduled¡­ Mm, it''s really strange."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran was at a loss for words.

    It''s not that she didn''t know how to respond, but rather she didn''t know which choice to make. Should she be honest with Ruoxian about her past connection with Jiang Yu, or should she continue to keep it a secret?

    "Ranran..."

    Wen Ruoxian was about to say something when she caught sight of a bruise on Cheng Suran''s elbow. She furrowed her brows and asked, "How did you hurt your arm?"

    Cheng Suran looked at his elbow, and said perfunctorily, "Oh, I accidentally bumped it, it''s okay."

    "I''ll apply some medicine for you after dinner." Wen Ruoxian sighed.

    "Okay."

    Cheng Suran agreed in a muffled voice and continued eating.

    After sitting for a long time, seeing that she had almost finished eating, Wen Ruoxian got up to get the medicine box, sat on the sofa, and took out the medicines that needed to be used.

    She took another look at Cheng Suran.

    Since Ranran returned from the three-day conference last month, something has been off with her. She''s been fine at work, but at home, she often seems restless, locking herself in her room. Previously, if both of them were home in the evening, they would always go for a walk after dinner or watch a movie. However, recently, no matter how much she suggests, Ranran is unwilling to go out.

    She had asked once, and Ranran had mentioned that work was too exhausting, and whenever she had free time, she just wanted to stay at home and rest.

    Today''s incident is also quite strange... a speculation emerged in her mind.

    Could it be related to Jiang Yu?

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    The last trace of light on the horizon was swallowed by the twilight.

    Jiang Yu sat on the windowsill, gazing intently outside. The lights on both sides of the riverbank were bright, and leisure boats glided slowly on the river''s surface, their scattered lights reflecting in her eyes.

    After a while, she raised her hand, intending to wipe her face. Her fingertips touched warm skin, only then realizing that her tears had dried.

    She lowered her head and unlocked her phone.

    The text that remained in the editing box was never sent.

    [Can you return the model to me? I''ve already lost you; I don''t want to lose it as well.]

    This text message had been edited repeatedly for almost half an hour. Jiang Yu had been hesitating, to send or not to send. She looked at the two previous messages in the thread and found them glaring at her.

    Talk?

    From this simple sentence, she detected a hint of farewell, even though she had been so delighted upon receiving the text.

    Perhaps it meant discussing ending their entanglement, maybe it meant talking about maintaining only a business partnership, or perhaps it meant ending things between them. Whatever it was, none of these scenarios were what she wanted.

    It was getting dark, the lights in the room were not turned on, and the phone screen gave off a faint cold light, illuminating her pale face.

    Strong regret welled up in her heart.

    The model should have been put away earlier¡ªit represents the past, the shady money relationship, the past that Ranran is most unwilling to recall.

    She was careless.

    Jiang Yu touched her face, as if she could still feel the warmth of Ranran''s palm. It doesn''t hurt, it doesn''t hurt at all, like being bitten by a mosquito.

    She pressed her fingertips on the "delete" symbol on the keyboard.

    The text has been deleted cleanly.

    "Miss Jiang¡ª"

    The nanny stood outside the wardrobe and called out to her, "Dinner is ready."

    She raised her head in response, stepped down from the window sill, stepped on the carpet with her bare feet, and floated out like a ghost.

    There are a sumptuous five dishes and one soup on the table.

    No onions, no cilantro, no chili...these are all dishes that Ranran likes to eat.

    However, she had lost her appetite.

    "Miss Jiang, everything was prepared according to your instructions. How does it look?" The auntie looked at her with a smiling expression.

    Jiang Yu shook her head expressionlessly, "You and Xiao Zhou can have it. If you can''t finish it, throw it away."

    Author''s Note:

    Yu Baby: Regretting it now.jpg

 CH 89

    "Hiss-"

    "Does it hurt?"

    "Mm."

    "I''ll be more gentle."

    Cheng Suran leaned on the sofa, raised her arm slightly, and the large bruise on the back of her elbow was exposed to the light, and it was swollen terribly. Wen Ruoxian frowned, carefully applied the medicine on her and sighed:

    "Hey, where did you hit it, and it looks like this..."

    Cheng Suran smiled awkwardly: "I was too in a hurry to get into the car, and accidentally bumped into the steering wheel."

    She had just finished showering, her skin soft and moist, as clear and translucent as the first snow. However, this only made the bruise appear even more dreadful.

    Wen Ruoxian sighed again, applied a bit more pressure to squeeze out some ointment, and dipped her right index finger into it. She gently spread the ointment on the bruise and carefully massaged it.

    She arched her waist, her head slightly tilted and lowered, loose strands of hair falling by her temples, accentuating her delicate face.

    Cheng Suran instinctively reached out her hand, tucking those stray strands of hair behind Wen Ruoxian''s ear.

    Wen Ruoxian''s movements momentarily froze, her heart trembled involuntarily, and she pretended to continue applying the ointment calmly. A slight itch emerged on the skin behind her ear.

    Watching her focused and tender expression, Cheng Suran suddenly found it difficult to keep something from her. After hesitating for a while, she said, "Ruoxian..."

    "Mm?" Wen Ruoxian''s hand trembled slightly.

    "Actually, I knew Jiang Yu before." Cheng Suran looked at her calmly.

    "At that time, I met her when I was working part-time in my third year of junior high school. Later... she helped me a few times, and I never had any contact with her until the summer vacation of my junior year."

    "For the three-day interpreting project last month, the French team couldn''t find anyone, so I went there in person. I didn''t expect her to be the client. Later, the cooperation was very satisfactory, and she said she wanted to sign an annual contract with us, so...that''s it."

    She has reservations.

    Ruoxian is her only sincere friend, she doesn''t want to hide it completely, but the rest, she can tell her slowly in the future.

    Wen Ruoxian thought she was going to say something else, her expectations rose and then fell, and she was a little disappointed.

    What else, then...

    The strand of hair tucked behind her ear made her feel itchy.

    "Is it such a coincidence? It shows that you two are very fated," she said with a faint smile.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips, lowered her gaze, revealing a bitter smile that quickly disappeared. "Do you think... that I only managed to facilitate this collaboration because of her care and influence..."

    "Ranran," Wen Ruoxian softly interrupted.

    "With your professional strength, you don''t need the care and charity of your client. On the contrary, most of the time, it is the client who comes to you, so don''t doubt yourself. What happened to my confident Ranran?"

    She has a gentle face, a calm tone, and her words are reassuring.

    Cheng Suran smiled, as if there was warmth flowing through her heart, and she felt a steady stream of confidence and strength.

    Don''t doubt yourself.

    The one with ulterior motives is Jiang Yu. She thought.

    After applying the ointment, the two of them chatted about company matters for a while. Cheng Suran had an early morning flight for a business trip the next day, so before 9 o''clock, she carried the meeting materials and went back to her room. Tonight wasn''t too hot, so she didn''t turn on the air conditioning and instead opened the doors and windows for ventilation.

    As she kept looking, her upper and  lower eyelids started fighting¡­

    ....

    Eleven o''clock in the evening

    The study room to the north was still lit.

    On the computer screen, a page from an encyclopedia displayed Jiang Yu''s personal information. The text, accompanied by images, was quite lengthy and presented in an official manner. Searching the entire web, apart from work-related and the earlier national model battles, there was no valuable information.

    Wen Ruoxian sat at the desk, gazing at the screen in contemplation.

    Supermodel, fashion circle...

    About twelve years ago, when she was still a high school student, she had already come across Jiang Yu''s name online. Back then, there was nothing special about it, similar to how one views most celebrity artists, living their lives in parallel spaces.

    But when she saw this person at close range in reality, had contact, had an intersection, she suddenly had a strange feeling.

    Jiang Yu has an"androgynous" temperament.

    She could be soft, she could be strong, exuding charm in a dress, and displaying a heroic aura in a suit. To put it in her own words... "Ji Li Ji Qi"*

    *Lesbian Vibe/Energy

    This was probably her instinctive perception due to her orientation.

    But it was just a guess; her intuition might not be accurate.

    Many people in the fashion industry are somewhat "dual."

    Wen Ruoxian sighed, turned off the computer, opened the drawer in front of the desk, took out a large sketchbook from it, and turned to the latest page.

    The woman''s face contained a smile, with two small dimples that were soft, beautiful, and sweet. Her demeanor was gentle and calm, as if leaping off the paper.

    The entire book was filled with Ranran.

    Wen Ruoxian smiled absentmindedly, took out a pencil, and continued to add the remaining details. Three to five minutes later, the finishing touches were completed. She kissed the paper through the air, took a photo with her phone, closed the book, and carefully placed it back in the drawer.

    It was eleven minutes past eleven.

    Wen Ruoxian yawned, got up, turned off the lights and walked out of the study.

    The corridor was illuminated by dim wall lamps. She went to the restroom and was preparing to return to her room to sleep when she heard murmuring coming from the room opposite.

    Huh?

    The bedroom door wasn''t closed, and Wen Ruoxian followed the sound.

    In the darkness, she could only make out the silhouette of a person on the bed. The electric fan was gently blowing, and the slightly cool night breeze rustled the curtains through the gauze window. A strand of moonlight fell onto the windowsill.

    "Sister..."

    "Do you still like... mm"

    Cheng Suran was soundly asleep, murmuring, repeating the word "sister" over and over again.

    Wen Ruoxian stood quietly by the bed, feeling a little complicated.

    Calling her sister again.

    When they first met, they traveled around Europe together and shared a double room in a hotel. At night, she could always hear Cheng Suran talking in her sleep, muttering "sister". At first she didn''t pay attention, but every time the two of them slept in the same room, she would hear these sleep talks, and she gradually became curious.

    She knew some things about Ranran''s family.

    Her mother is gone, her father died, and she wasn''t well-received at her aunt''s place. Just as she reached adulthood, she shouldered the burden of life on her own, juggling part-time work and studying. That was everything she knew.

    She speculated that Ranran had a biological older sister.

    It was possible that she might have been gone for a long time, or something had separated them. The older sister must have treated Ranran exceptionally well, for her to be so deeply remembered even in dreams.

    At the beginning, Cheng Suran would call her "Sister Xian", and she continued for over a year. By that time, she had already become aware of Cheng Suran''s sleep-talk at night and had formed her conjectures about the older sister.

    But then, one day, she realized she had developed feelings for Ranran, and the word "sister" became incredibly awkward and forced.

    She doesn''t want to be treated like a sister.

    There''s an older sister in the front, a white moonlight* in the back, with a wide gap in between filled with differences in sexual orientation. This implies that perhaps they can only be friends. Fortunately, in the role of "friend," she excelled, occupying a significant place in Ranran''s heart.

    *often refers to first love, past crush, sometimes an deal type

    This way she is also content.

    Wen Ruoxian pursed her lips and smiled, bent down, turned down the electric fan, picked up the dropped blanket, and gently covered her stomach and knee joints.

    The fragrance of the quiet shower gel hits her nostrils.

    The woman''s red lips were close at hand, in the dim light outside the window, hazy, like an attractive fruit, which made Wen Ruoxian''s heart throb, and she couldn''t resist.

    For a moment, her brain became hot, and she bent down as if she had been swallowed...

    Only a few centimeters away from those lips, a burst of warm breath fell on her face, she suddenly woke up, straightened up, and took two steps back.

    She can''t.

    Wen Ruoxian''s heart raced, overwhelmed by guilt and a sense of wrongdoing. She hastily turned around and left...

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Sunday is cloudy.

    WINK Caf¨¦ is located along the Binjiang riverside, not far from the Green Shang Mansion. Before setting out, Jiang Yu spent two hours picking and choosing in her dressing room. She settled on a red buckle long dress, styled her hair, and applied makeup carefully.

    Despite having a premonition that this meeting might be a farewell, she still approached it with a date-like mindset, hoping to present her best self to Cheng Suran.

    At 1:50 PM, she arrived at the caf¨¦.

    Unexpectedly, Cheng Suran had arrived even earlier.

    On the second-floor terrace, several tables were spread out. Cheng Suran was sitting alone in a corner near the glass railing, her face turned to the side, focused on something.

    She was wearing a apricot-colored shirt dress, her long hair softly cascading over her shoulders. The shallow V-neck revealed a portion of her fair neck, and the subdued gray light fell on her like a serene and beautiful oil painting.

    Jiang Yu gazed at her, her eyes slightly unfocused, and with a slightly fluttering heartbeat, she walked over. Cheng Suran seemed to sense her presence and turned her head, a smile forming on her lips. "You''re here."

    She signaled to a nearby waiter.

    "What would you like to drink?"

    Jiang Yu put down her bag, took a seat across from her, and spoke with a slightly heavy tone. "The same as you." "Iced, is that okay?"

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran casually ordered two iced Americanos and two desserts. After the waiter left, she took out a prepared bank card from her bag and slid it over to Jiang Yu.

    "What''s this?"

    "Three million, I''m returning it to you."

    "..."

    "Fifty thousand for the arrangement, thirty thousand as pocket money, twenty thousand for miscellaneous expenses like fuel, meals, and accommodation, and the two million check. I''m giving back all the money you''ve given me."

    Jiang Yu remained silent, her gaze fixed on the bank card.

    "I used the two million you gave me to start a business," Cheng Suran said calmly.

    "Starting up required significant initial investment and expenses. Without that money, perhaps I wouldn''t have had the courage to make choices and decisions, and I wouldn''t have been able to smoothly proceed. So, it helped me a lot," Cheng Suran''s tone was very composed.

    Jiang Yu looked up in surprise. "I thought you would use it for studying abroad."

    "I really thought about it, but I don''t think it''s worthwhile."

    "Oh?"

    "If I spend my own money to study abroad after graduation, the great thing is that my resume will be a little bit good. When I come out to work, I have to start from a rookie and slowly accumulate experience. But the translation industry does not need a high degree to get started. Education is not the decisive factor. Higher education does not have an absolute advantage, on the contrary, many people in the circle directly enter the industry after graduating from a bachelor¡¯s degree, and they have two years more practical work experience than me, so what¡¯s the point of me studying abroad at my own expense?¡±

    "But I really want to study abroad and see the outside world, so..." Cheng Suran paused.

    "So, after considering it, I thought I should first try the Foreign Ministry exam. Even though they don''t usually accept people without self-funded study abroad experience, if I can pass the exam, I''ll be eligible for a government-sponsored study abroad opportunity. Coincidentally, our university is one of the three main choices for selection by the Translation Bureau of the Foreign Ministry. I didn''t want to miss out on this chance."

    Later she passed the exam.

    Not only did she achieve the desired academic qualification through the government-sponsored study abroad program, but it also resolved her household registration issue. Her household registration was finally moved out from her aunt''s house and registered in the capital city. Working in the Foreign Ministry proved to be highly challenging, surrounded by elite colleagues in the Translation Bureau. Her professional skills continued to improve, and she experienced numerous significant events, accumulating a wealth of experience, akin to being polished.

    After resigning, she had a higher starting point than most of her peers, becoming a gold-lettered signboard.*

    *popular and with good reputation

    She is glad she chose the right path.

    Jiang Yu listened quietly, her heart beating more and more intensely, and her joy was like gorgeous fireworks blooming in the night sky.

    Ranran is that kind of girl.

    The person she likes is just like that.

    Refusing to accept defeat, unwilling to bow to fate, having a clear life plan, knowing what she wants, and relentlessly pursuing that goal. Just like the words she once said: keep moving forward, never look back.

    "Actually... there''s another reason I chose this way. I don''t want to keep relying on your support. I want to try relying on myself. If I can''t make it on my own, then I''ll accept my fate and use that money. Because I''ve always felt that I''m not brave enough, not strong enough, not independent enough. No one would like someone like me."

    "The me back then was not good enough for you."

    Cheng Suran spoke calmly, as if the past had turned into smoke long ago and had been blown away by the wind.

    "Ranran..." Jiang Yu was stung by the words "not good enough", her lips trembled slightly, she wanted to say something, but was interrupted before she could speak.

    "Elder sister."

    Cheng Suran looked at her seriously, "Thank you."

    Jiang Yu was stunned.

    What does she call her?

    "Although I didn''t initially use that money, it gave me confidence. Without it, I might have been hesitant and uncertain about everything. Whenever I stood at a crossroads making decisions, overwhelmed by excessive concerns and anxiety, I''d think, well, there''s two million in my account, it''s a safety net for me, I can afford to lose and won''t starve. Then I wouldn''t be afraid anymore and would have the courage to keep moving forward. I also know that not everyone is as fortunate as I am to meet someone like you..."

    "This is me calling you ''sister'' on behalf of the previous Cheng Suran, thanking you for being there by my side at that time." She took a deep breath, lifted a comforting smile, her eyes slightly reddened.

    The gentle breeze tousled the stray strands of hair at their temples.

    Not far away, the melodic sound of a ship''s whistle echoed along the coast.

    Jiang Yu locked eyes with her, those same eyes still as pure and sincere as before, reflecting her face clearly. Suddenly, she smiled ¨C a smile tinged with bitterness and resignation.

    "Is that how you think?"

    "Mm."

    "But I don''t."

    Cheng Suran held her breath, sensing that she might hear the answer she wanted to explore, her back straightening instinctively.

    "The first time I saw you, it felt refreshing, like how I used to feel when I raised birds," Jiang Yu turned her face to look at the scenery beyond the glass railing.

    "But later... I don''t know when exactly or why, but you suddenly attracted me. I felt there''s a determination in you that''s similar to mine, even stronger and more vibrant. With you, I feel a sense of security, a security that''s unrelated to money or status."

    "Then later, I thought, what a wonderful girl she is. I like her. I want her to soar, to fly to even farther and broader places..."

    Her lips moved, and her profile took on a stern and sharp edge, as if she were still the ruthless and resolute benefactor from years ago.

    A faint glint appeared at the corner of her eye.

    Cheng Suran sat there like a block of wood, frozen, looking at her, with no visible reaction. Yet, in her ears and in her mind, all she could hear was "I like her." It echoed in varying lengths and tones, surrounding her in three-dimensional sound.

    The tranquil lake in her heart rippled once again, the waves expanding in concentric circles, growing more intense with each iteration until it reached a boiling point.

    [In these years when you were not around, it was my only keepsake.]

    Did she understand it the way she did? Reasons for keeping the model...

    At this moment, a waiter approached with coffee and desserts.

    "Please enjoy, both of you."

    "Thank you."

    Jiang Yu turned her face back, the light in her eyes was like an illusion.

    An invisible hand pulled Cheng Suran back to reality, she regained her composure, picked up the coffee and took a sip, the bitter and slightly sour taste instantly dissipated from the tip of her tongue, and then slipped into her throat.

    The cold bitter taste makes people sober.

    She gently put down the cup, looked at Jiang Yu and said, "No matter what your original intention is or why you did it, in the end it helped me a lot, and I still thank you."

    "You should also thank yourself." Jiang Yu endured the disappointment and said with a smile.

    She tried to read some emotions and reactions from Cheng Suran''s eyes, but she didn''t see anything. Those clear eyes seemed to be deeper than the trench.

    Cheng Suran didn''t answer, her eyes fell on the bank card, and she pushed it forward again: "The password is 827930, you must accept the money."

    Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow and tried to ask, "What if... I don''t accept?"

    "You will."

    "Hm?"

    "Only this way, can you and I completely bid farewell to the past, right?" Cheng Suran said calmly.

    Jiang Yu was surprised her thoughts had been deciphered, yet somewhat delighted that their ideas were in sync. To bid farewell to the past meant to embark on the future, a brand-new relationship, and an entirely new life. It also meant they could start anew.

    She smiled knowingly, picked up the card, and put it into her bag.

    "In the past, I was nurtured by you, that''s a fact. I won''t deny it, escape from it, or hold any grudges or blame against you," Cheng Suran breathed a sigh of relief and continued.

    "I was already an adult when I made the choice, and I knew the stakes in my heart. I was responsible for my choice. Everything depends on luck and misfortune. If you gain something, you will lose something. Nothing is perfect."

    She wanted to say "I don''t regret it," but those four words felt weak and feeble.

    She couldn''t forget the over four hundred days and nights spent in regret.

    "Ranran, we..."

    Jiang Yu had thought she saw the dawn of hope, but before she could even display her joy on her face, Cheng Suran abruptly interrupted her. The next words turned into a splash of cold reality, pouring down on her head, chilling her to the core.

    "I hope we can maintain a purely business-oriented relationship."

 CH 90

    A long sound of the ship''s whistle resounded across the sky, and the luxury cruise ship loaded with passengers slowly sailed across the water, splitting the white and fine waves.

    The patio music is over.

    "So, can we get to know each other again?" Jiang Yu asked softly.

    Purely business partnership.

    If she understands correctly, this sentence means that in the future, they should keep a proper distance from each other, and only have work-, related interaction, and no more intimate personal relationships. It sounds like she''s been driven into a corner, but the future is changing fast, and the chance to get reacquainted holds all possibilities.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips.

    The bitter taste of the coffee still lingers in her mouth, with a bit of sourness. She actually doesn''t like coffee very much. She prefers sweet things to bitter ones.

    Especially at this moment, her heart is full of bitterness, and she wants to eat sweet things even more.

    She lowered her head, took a silver spoon and dug a small piece of cake, and put it into her mouth. The sweetness of the cream melts instantly on the taste buds, rich and creamy, covering all the sourness and bitterness.

    It''s really good.

    She continued to eat the cake, spoonful by spoonful.

    Jiang Yu watched her eat methodically, seemingly without an intention to respond, and her heart suddenly became tense.

    Time passed very slowly. Finally, the cake was almost eaten and Cheng Suran put down the silver spoon, wiped hee mouth with a tissue and raised her head.

    "We can."

    She remained expressionless, her gaze calm.

    She hoped that this time she could truly let go, no longer paying excessive attention to Jiang Yu, and no longer experiencing emotional fluctuations because of her.

    Jiang Yu let out a sigh of relief, a smile appearing in her eyes. She extended her hand towards Cheng Suran, "Hello, I''m Jiang Yu, a model agent and fashion designer."

    Cheng Suran quickly exchanged a handshake: "Cheng Suran."

    "Can we exchange WeChat now?" Jiang Yu asked with eager anticipation.

    Cheng Suran''s expression momentarily froze.

    Jiang Yu understood and immediately changed the topic: "Regarding work... do you have any plans for the future?"

    "In a couple of years, when the company secures another round of funding and expands, I can move my household registration to Jiangcheng. It''s not very practical to stay in the capital all the time since I don''t live there now, and many things are inconvenient."

    "Will you settle in Jiangcheng?"

    "Yes," Cheng Suran nodded softly, "I''ve always felt that this is where I''ll spend the latter part of my life."

    A spark lit up in Jiang Yu''s usually dim eyes, and a hint of joy appeared on her eyebrows. Both their careers were centered here, and settling in the same city would make their professional interactions much easier. The more they intersected, the stronger their connection would become.

    Even God is giving her a chance to make up for her regrets.

    Suddenly, she remembered something, looked at Cheng Suran with some hesitation, and said, "That model..."

    "I''ll return it to you after I fix it." Cheng Suran quickly interrupted.

    Jiang Yu froze, a little pleasantly surprised: "I don''t remember how many times I tried it in the past few years, and I made a mess every time... Later, I was afraid that the more I repaired it, the worse it would be, so I stopped trying, and kept it well."

    "It''s your clumsiness and lack of talent." Cheng Suran retorted, her tone sharp. She turned her head, feeling a twinge in a corner of her heart.

    Feeling a dryness in her mouth, Cheng Suran picked up her cup as if to drink her coffee, but the memory of the bitter cold taste made her put it down again. She lifted her gaze to look at the scenery beyond the railing.

    Jiang Yu frowned, beckoning a waiter over. As the waiter approached, she asked, "Do you have any fruit juice?"

    "Yes, we do."

    The waiter showed her the options on a tablet.

    Jiang Yu ordered a glass of watermelon juice and another mousse cake. When the waiter left, Cheng Suran asked suspiciously, "You haven''t finished your own."

    "I ordered it for you." Jiang Yu glanced at the empty saucer in front of her, and the barely touched coffee.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head following her gaze, and suddenly fell silent.

    After a while, the fruit juice and cake were served, Cheng Suran couldn''t wait to drink a few mouthfuls of watermelon juice, it was sweet, and the coldness went straight from her throat to the bottom of her heart, she bent the corners of her mouth, and continued to eat the cake.

    Desserts really make people happy.

    Jiang Yu looked at her, the smile at the end of her eyes deepened, she took a sip of her coffee, and slowly started to eat the cake.

    "What about you?" Cheng Suran suddenly raised her eyes and asked.

    "What?"

    "How have you been working these past few years?"

    Jiang Yu''s expression was subtle. She pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "I retired, didn''t I? From being in front of the camera to working behind the scenes, my main focus now is on nurturing new talents. Clothing design is more of a hobby, and can be considered more of a side job.

    Cheng Suran made a soft sound of understanding. "I just remembered, I think I''ve bought clothes from ETERNO before. I quite liked the design and fabric."

    "Which piece?" Jiang Yu became interested. "It might be one of my creations."

    Cheng Suran picked up her phone, scrolled through her photo album, and pulled up a selfie of herself wearing a black cardigan. "This one."

    "The spring and summer series of the year before last, my second work."

    "You really designed it?"

    "I''m not lying."

    A very simple black cardigan, looking quite ordinary on the surface. Cheng Suran glanced at it in the physical store, initially not planning to buy¡ª

    Thin spring and summer short-sleeved shirts priced at over three thousand yuan, this doesn''t align with her consumption philosophy. There are many good choices for under a thousand yuan

    Until she reached out and touched it.

    The fabric is very soft, and has a cool feeling of icy silk. She thought that this kind of fabric would be limp when worn, without any structure, and would exaggerate the roundness of her shoulders. However, when she put it on, she realized that the entire garment had a straight and upright silhouette. The shoulder design resembled that of a suit jacket, and no matter how she raised her arms, it maintained that shape.

    The details are perfect, perfectly covering up the shortcomings on her shoulders.

    So she just bought it.

    Perhaps because she was too deeply influenced by Jiang Yu''s aesthetics in the past, she really likes this kind of simple, classic and detailed clothes, and she is willing to pay for the texture and design.

    "Oh." Cheng Suran replied sullenly, and lowered her head to drink watermelon juice.

    Jiang Yu smiled, "Our preferences are very similar."

    "Simplicity never goes out of style, and many people like it the same."

    Hard-spoken.

    "Ranran, if you like, I can customize one for you, something unique in the world."

    "I''ll let you know if I need it."

    "Alright."

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    At about three o''clock, Cheng Suran said she still had something to do, and left first after paying the bill. Jiang Yu sat alone on the chair, finished her own coffee, and Cheng Suran''s untouched cup of coffee.

    She picked up the bank card and looked at it.

    827930...

    August twenty-seventh, nine thirty in the evening.

    Jiang Yu recalled Cheng Suran''s confession from five years ago.

    Back then, Ranran was very brave. Despite knowing that speaking up would mean not being able to stay by her side anymore, she still chose to confess. She had never misjudged people, but it was herself... She increasingly felt unworthy of such sincerity and genuine feelings.

    After sitting quietly for a while, Jiang Yu stood up and prepared to leave. She had plans to have dinner with Pei Chutong tonight and needed to head there early. As she walked towards the stairs, she dialed a number. The call was answered after a while.

    "Tong..."

    A burst of sobbing sounded into her ears, Jiang Yu froze for a moment, before she could speak, she heard Pei Chutong choking up and said, "Coco, I can''t have dinner with you anymore, I''m in the capital now...

    "Don''t cry, what''s going on?"

    "My grandfather is gone."

    Jiang Yu''s heart skipped a beat.

    .

    Outside the ICU ward, Pei Chutong squatted on the ground, holding her knees with her hands, tears streaming from her dull eyes.

    The doctor had just declared the old man in the ward brain dead a few minutes ago.

    At the beginning of the month, her Grandpa''s old illness relapsed and was admitted to the hospital. His condition fluctuated between better and worse, but she couldn''t leave the film set. Today, the new movie wrapped up filming, and she had just returned to Jiangcheng. She intended to pack her things and rest well for the night before flying back tomorrow morning.

    She called home this morning, and her Grandma happily said that Grandpa can now breathe on his own and can sit up and chat with others. Unexpectedly, by noon, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and the doctor directly issued a critical illness notice.

    At that time, she had just walked out of Jiangcheng Airport.

    Her parents and relatives were all discussing the funeral. Grandma was lying in the general ward because she passed out from crying. Pei Chutong just sat against the wall like a puppet without a soul.

    There was a sound of hurried footsteps coming from the end of the corridor.

    "Hey, Xiao Ruan is here."

    "Xiao Ruan¡­"

    Relatives and friends noticed the newcomer, their voices echoing one after another.

    "Uncle Pei, where''s Grandpa?"

    A low, hoarse female voice, tinged with weariness. Pei Chutong''s ears perked up, and she suddenly raised her head.

    The low and hoarse female voice revealed some fatigue. Pei Chutong''s ear tips moved slightly, and she raised her head abruptly.

    The slender figure of a woman came into view, her long hair was tied low behind her head, she was wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans, her face was thin and her outline was cold and hard, she still had that serious look.

    Ah.

    She finally saw her again.

    "He was waiting for you all along, but you didn''t arrive in time. He passed away not long ago. Go take a look," Father Pei sighed heavily, pointing towards the hospital room.

    Ruan Mu rushed in, arriving at the bedside. She saw the elderly man lying peacefully, with a serene expression. His thin arms were exposed, the skin still carried a hint of color, as if he were merely sleeping.

    "Grandpa..." She choked out the words.

    Tears flowed endlessly down her cheeks as Ruan Mu stood up straight, slowly lifting her right hand to salute the body of the deceased old man.

    Then she knelt down with a "thud".

    As far as she is concerned, Grandpa Pei''s kindness is as great as a mountain. Today, she came late and failed to see the old man for the last time, leaving behind a lifetime of regrets...

    It would have been fine if she hadn''t insisted on leaving.

    After kneeling for a long time, Ruan Mu stood up shakily, wiping away her tears. At this moment, the Pei family had contacted the funeral home, and the nurse also came in. She gave the old man a reluctant look, then turned and went out.

    Pei Chutong squatted in the corner and looked at her.

    Their eyes met.

    [Starting from tomorrow, you''re free... Take care of yourself in the future.]

    [I accept whatever decision you make.]

    Memories surged forth, past moments drifting before their eyes like ripples in water, making them feel as if they were still the same as they were in their younger days. In an instant, they were transported back to their childhood.

    Ruan Mu''s lips moved: "Tongtong"

    She squats down.

    Pei Chutong just looked at her without saying a word, with tears in her swollen eyes.

    Ruan Mu tried to reach out to touch.

    But Pei Chutong''s body shrank a bit. Ruan Mu''s hand remained suspended in the air halfway, frozen in place, neither moving forward nor backward.

    After a while, she silently pulled back her hand.

    ....

    Grandpa Pei''s body was transported to the funeral parlor. After discussions, the Pei family decided to hold the farewell ceremony the day after tomorrow in the morning.

    These past two days, Ruan Mu has been staying at the Pei residence.

    The difference is, the room where she used to live with Pei Chutong since childhood has now become Pei Chutong''s own room. For now, she can only temporarily stay in a guest room. She is on the first floor, while Pei Chutong is on the second floor.

    On the first night, neither of them looked for each other.

    The two didn''t have any communication.

    During the day, Pei Chutong locked herself in the room, did not go out, did not see anyone, and did not get any water or rice, which made her parents anxious. One side has to arrange the funeral and comfort Grandma, while the other side has to worry about the daughter, they were so busy going around.

    From night to dawn, from dawn to night.

    Pei Chutong lay on the bed all day.

    Her mind was completely blank, as if her soul was lost somewhere. She doesn''t know if it was because of her grandfather''s death, or because she saw Ruan Mu. She looked up and stared at the ceiling, feeling that she can''t even breathe.

    ¡ªtok tok

    "Tongtong, can you open the door?" Ruan Mu''s voice came from outside.

    "I''m wood."

    Pei Chutong took a deep breath, her body tensed up, then relaxed. She pushed herself up with her arms, stumbled over, and opened the door.

    Ruan Mu stood outside holding a tray with a bowl of fragrant noodles on it.

    "Tongtong..."

    There was joy in her eyes.

    Pei Chutong turned sideways blankly, let her in, and slammed the door again with a "bang". The sound shook Ruan Mu''s arms.

    She walked to the table, bent down to put down the tray, and turned around mechanically: "You haven''t eaten for a day, I cooked your favorite pasta braised noodles, eat a few bites, don''t let Uncle and Auntie worry..."

    Before she could finish speaking, Pei Chutong rushed over to hug her, and suddenly burst into tears.

    "You bastard... Where the hell did you go... Only coming back now... Grandpa wanted to see you one last time... Damn bastard... I... I wanted to see you too."

    Ruan Mu''s froze.

    Her raised arm slowly came down, wrapping around her waist, while the other hand gently stroked the back of her head, providing comfort like in their childhood.

    "I''m sorry," Ruan Mu''s eyes welled up with tears, "there''s something I want to confess to you."

    Pei Chutong held her tightly.

    "Actually, I was picked up by Grandpa."

 CH 91

    In the summer of 1998, there was an unusually heavy amount of rain. The heavy rainfall began in mid-June and continued relentlessly. The water levels at various stations along the Yangtze River surpassed the warning lines repeatedly. Finally, on a certain night, the floodwaters rushed toward the coastal villages with an unstoppable force.

    At that time, Ruan Mu was eight years old.

    Their house was a bit far from the embankment, so the flooding was somewhat less intense, but the impact was still unbearable. The house was on the brink of collapse, and the family of six was scattered by the water. Little Ruan Mu struggled in the water and clung to a protruding tree. When rescue finally arrived, the entire village had turned into an ocean, and someone in a small boat saved her.

    The person who rescued her was the grandson of Grandpa Pei''s old school friend.

    According to the number of casualties after the flood, Ruan Mu''s family members were all killed. She spent the whole summer in the rescue station, and then met Grandpa Pei who went to visit his comrades.

    Upon seeing her, Old Master Pei felt a sense of destiny and grew fond of the young girl. Reminded of his beloved granddaughter at that age and sympathizing with her loss of family, he brought her back and adopted her, telling everyone that she was a distant relative''s child.

    He registered her with a household registration, provided her with food, clothing, and education, and conveniently allowing her to become playmates with the same-aged Pei Chutong.

    They went to school together, played together, ate and slept together, closer than biological sisters.

    As they grew up, Ruan Mu successfully entered a prestigious university and later joined the military. She vowed to repay Grandfather Pei and protect Pei Chutong for life.

    At the age of twenty-three, she left the military. By that time, Pei Chutong had risen to fame in the entertainment industry. During an event, she was accidentally knocked down by fans and twisted her ankle. This angered Grandfather Pei, who wanted to hire a new bodyguard for her. It was then that Ruan Mu volunteered to become Pei Chutong''s bodyguard.

    Unable to repay the kindness, she was willing to accompany her, but she hadn''t expected that she would develop different thoughts for Pei Chutong...

    The guilt made her flustered, and she tried her best to hide all her emotions and be a log, but what she didn''t expect was that Pei Chutong had the same thoughts for her.

    Ruan Mu always felt unworthy of getting involved with the granddaughter of her benefactor.

    Especially since they were both women...

    So, she desperately hid, while Pei Chutong tirelessly pursued her, like a game of hide and seek, until they completely separated five years ago.

    Ruan Mu left decisively, cutting off all contact with everyone, only sending letters, money, and gifts to Grandpa Pei every month. The old man was getting older and couldn''t manage the affairs of the younger generation, so he let it be.

    Until today.

    After finishing everything, Ruan Mu remained silent, holding her breath and waiting for the "judgment".

    "Are you finally willing to admit it..." Pei Chutong burst into tears, hitting her shoulder with a fist, "Bastard!"

    "Why were you so obedient? You left without a word, and there was no news at all. I searched everywhere for you¡­"

    Not long after Ruan Mu left, Pei Chutong calmed down and realized that there might have been something difficult for the other person to express. She regretted her impulsiveness. At first, she couldn''t bring herself to look for Ruan Mu, so she asked her family, but no one knew where Ruan Mu was. Even the address for sending things was a forwarding point, and Ruan Mu disappeared like that.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    These five years felt like an eternity, each day an excruciating torment.

    Losing Ruan Mu and then losing her beloved grandfather, all the emotions from the pain erupted today. For her, as long as Ruan Mu came back, nothing else mattered.

    "Where on earth did you go..." Pei Chutong looked at her through teary eyes, her vision blurred.

    Ruan Mu''s eyes welled up with tears as well, and she whispered, "I opened a homestay by the southern seaside. You used to say... you really liked the sea. When you grow old, you''d open a small inn by the beach, feel the sea breeze, have a little wine, and watch the sunrise and sunset..."

    Pei Chutong trembled all over, nuzzling her neck and choked out, "You''re not allowed to leave, not allowed to leave again..."

    "Mm, I won''t leave." Ruan Mu lightly patted her back. "First, have your noodles."

    "...Okay."

    Pei Chutong quietly wiped away her tears, obediently sat down, picked up the chopsticks, and took a bite of the noodles. It was still the familiar taste, the taste she liked.

    Losing an important person and gaining another important person brought her some consolation...

    ....

    The next morning, Jiang Yu arrived at the capital.

    As soon as she got out of the airport, she rushed to Pei Chutong''s grandfather''s house but encountered a traffic jam in the urban area, so she had no choice but to go directly to the funeral home.

    Over the years in China, she has received a lot of care from Pei Chutong, and her privacy has been well protected. The day before yesterday, she heard that Grandpa Pei had passed away, and she felt very bad, so she immediately turned down her work for the past two days and rushed to attend the funeral.

    When she arrived at the funeral home, Jiang Yu took out a small white flower and placed it on her hair, and went in all dressed in black.

    "Coco..." Seeing her, Pei Chutong hugged her, with a sad expression and red eyes.

    Jiang Yu''s heart was heavy, and she held onto her soothing in a soft voice. Then her gaze landed on Ruan Mu''s face and she was taken aback.

    But now wasn''t the time to talk; the ceremony was about to begin. Grandpa Pei had been highly respected in life, and his passing had also garnered respect. Many prominent figures had come to pay their respects, and the entire hall was quiet and solemn.

    The ceremony lasted for about an hour.

    In the subsequent cremation and burial process, non-family members did not participate, but Jiang Yu did not leave, sitting in the lounge and waiting.

    She waited until Grandpa Pei''s ashes were buried in the cemetery.

    Jiang Yu returned to the Pei family estate in one of their cars. After a brief chat with the elders and having lunch, she finally had some free time. Pei Chutong took her to a nearby park for a walk.

    The early autumn sun was still warm, casting dappled shadows through the trees as they leaned against a tree near an arched bridge.

    "Hai..."

    "It''s such a pity, missing out on all these years for nothing." After hearing Pei Chutong explain the whole story, Jiang Yu sighed repeatedly, suddenly reminded of her own situation.

    The exact same thing, five missed years.

    Pei Chutong gave a bitter smile. "It''s okay, there''s still time, we have a long future ahead."

    "Mm..." Jiang Yu murmured to herself, a somewhat lonely expression on her face.

    "What''s wrong, Coco?"

    Pei Chutong held her hand.

    Jiang Yu smiled and said, "The two of us are indeed sisters."

    She briefly talked about herself and Cheng Suran.

    "I envy you and Xiao Ruan," Jiang Yu said, "Even if there''s a huge misunderstanding, you can talk it out and resolve it. There''s no real barrier between you two, and you trust each other unconditionally. I guess that''s the kind of understanding that comes from being childhood friends. Now you''ve gone through hardships and come out the other side, but for me... I don''t even know when it will end¡­"

    As Pei Chutong listened, she couldn''t help but feel a pang of heartache.

    She has very little experience in love, so she can''t give Jiang Yu advice, but as an actor, she has played various types of characters in depth, so she has some insights.

    "First you need to make sure of one thing."

    "What?"

    "Does she still have you in her heart? If not, you don''t need to make any more effort. Someone who has truly lost feelings won''t have any possibility of turning back. If she does have feelings, then from now on, show your sincere attitude and do your best."

    "...."

    Jiang Yu was enlightened.

    Tian Lin also mentioned: if there''s hatred, there will be care; if you completely let go, you can only become the most familiar stranger.

    The hardest part isn''t love or hate, but she can''t determine Ranran''s thoughts. After a few interactions, sometimes she thought Ranran still cared, while other times she believed she didn''t. This constant feeling of uncertainty made her uneasy, unable to control herself.

    "What if it doesn''t work even if you try your best?"

    "At least there are no regrets."

    Pei Chutong looked at her, reminded of her late grandfather and the returning Ruan Mu, tears glistening in her eyes.

    "Mm, let''s not talk about this," Jiang Yu patted her shoulder.

    Grandpa had just passed away, and Pei Chutong wasn''t in the best mood, as they talked, she started to drift off. Jiang Yu didn''t want to drag her to talk too much about herself at this time, so the topic quickly changed. They circled around the pond, sat in the gazebo to rest, and waited until sunset to return to the compound.

    Jiang Yu stayed at Pei''s house for one night, and flew back to Jiangcheng the next afternoon.

    As she was leaving, Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu accompanied her to the airport. The two best friends chatted for a while, and Jiang Yu smiled as she turned her gaze to Ruan Mu.

    "You two must take good care of yourselves in the future. Xiao Ruan, I entrust Tongtong to your care."

    "Mm, don''t worry," Ruan Mu earnestly nodded.

    As they were about to enter the terminal, Jiang Yu waved to them. "See you in Jiangcheng sometime."

    "Bye bye, Xiao Coco."

    Watching Jiang Yu get out of the car and disappear through the entrance gates, Pei Chutong withdrew her gaze, wrapping her arms around Ruan Mu and letting out a deep sigh.

    "Let''s go home."

    "Tongtong..." Ruan Mu caught hold of those hands. "Do you blame me?"

    "I do."

    Pei Chutong leaned into her embrace, letting out a soft hum. "So, I''ll spend my whole life settling this debt with you."

    ...

    In the evening, the plane landed.

    Jiang Yu pushed her small suitcase and walked through the jet bridge, striding purposefully towards the exit. Passing by the baggage conveyor, she glanced over and suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure, causing her to halt in her tracks.

    Ranran?

    The woman stood at the outer edge of the conveyor belt, her side facing Jiang Yu. She wore a black half-sleeved cardigan that looked quite familiar, paired with a short tank top that revealed a graceful waistline.

    It looks like she was waiting for her luggage.

    Jiang Yu''s heart beats violently, and she slowly approached step by step: "Ranran.."

    Cheng Suran was taken aback, and turned her face away.

    Cheng Suran hesitated for a moment, then turned her face away.

    Their gazes met.

    "What a coincidence," Jiang Yu''s eyes lit up. "I''ve just returned from outside too."

    Cheng Suran nodded. "Mm, on a business trip."

    "I''ll wait with you."

    "No need."

    "Well, I don''t have anything else to do."

    Seeing her persistence, Cheng Suran didn''t say anything more and tacitly agreed. However, her previously relaxed body tensed slightly, and her heartbeat quickened... The baggage conveyor remained still, and they had been waiting for over ten minutes.

    "Is this dress easy to wear?" Jiang Yu''s eyes fell on her dress, and she took another step closer. Their shoulders were almost touching.

    Cheng Suran seemed to sense something, glanced at her, and didn''t move. After a moment, she answered, "Very comfortable, like walking air conditioning."

    Pfft¡ª

    So cute.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help but laugh.

    "It''s Jiang Yu..."

    "Yes, it''s her."

    "Hurry, hurry, hurry."

    Suddenly, there was a whisper from the side, Jiang Yu sensitively sensed that a camera was aimed at her, and turned her gaze, and sure enough, several young girls were holding up their mobile phones to take pictures of her.

    She smiled and nodded at them.

    "Oh, she looks really nice."

    "Be more discreet."

    Cheng Suran also noticed and felt uncomfortable with this kind of candid photography. Worried about accidentally appearing in the shot, she took a step back.

    Jiang Yu noticed her movement, turned sideways calmly, and blocked her.

    "..."

    The conveyor finally started to move.

    The first-class luggage came out first, and Jiang Yu kept a close watch on the first few suitcases, getting ready to grab hers. However, she noticed Cheng Suran standing calmly without any intention of picking up her luggage.

    Her luggage is at the back.

    After waiting for a few minutes, a cute pink suitcase came into view.

    Cheng Suran stepped forward and was about to reach out her hand, but Jiang Yu took a step faster than her, picked up the suitcase, turned around and left.

    "Hey, you--"

    Cheng Suran quickly went after it.

    "I''ll help you carry it," Jiang Yu said, gripping the handle.

    Cheng Suran paused and reached out. "No need, it''s very light. I can push it myself."

    Jiang Yu held on tightly and did not let go.

    Their hands touched.

    Cheng Suran still wanted to take the suitcase back, so she shifted her hand downwards and exerted some force. For a moment, the two of them seemed to be struggling over it.

    "Ah... that hurts..." Jiang Yu suddenly let out a soft cry, furrowing her brows.

    Cheng Suran quickly released her grip. "Ah? I''m sorry, that was--" She wanted to say that Jiang Yu could go ahead and push it, that she wouldn''t fight for it anymore. However, she suddenly realized that her hand was on the side of the handle, not actually touching Jiang Yu''s hand.

    She looked up abruptly.

    Jiang Yu was already walking ahead, pushing the suitcase.

    "..."

    Cheng Suran was annoyed and amused, and quickly took a few steps to catch up: "Why are you so childish?"

    Jiang Yu turned a deaf ear.

    The two walked out of the airport one after the other, Jiang Yu saw Xiao Zhou waiting by the door, before she had time to speak, Cheng Suran grabbed the suitcase again: "It''s time to give it to me now, I''m going back."

    "How are you getting back?" Jiang Yu reluctantly let go of the suitcase.

    "Taking a taxi."

    "What about your assistant? Why isn''t she picking you up?"

    "She''s busy."

    "What about your best friend?"

    Cheng Suran pushed the suitcase and was about to leave.

    "I''ll take you." Jiang Yu grabbed her wrist.

    Their palms pressed against each other''s skin, warmth spreading upward along Cheng Suran''s wrist. Her heart trembled, and her breath even quivered a bit, feeling pulled back by her.

    "No..."

    She wanted to say no, but just as she uttered a word, Jiang Yu moved her palm down and took her hand.

    Her legs followed uncontrollably.

    "Xiao Zhou," Jiang Yu whispered as they walked, "I have something come up suddenly. Can you take a taxi back on your own?"

    Her assistant was taken aback by her tone but nodded repeatedly. "No problem, Boss Jiang. Here''s the key."

    Jiang Yu took the key, suppressing a smile.

    On the outskirts of the parking lot, a black luxury sedan was parked, and Cheng Suran, lost in thought, approached it before realizing that Jiang Yu''s assistant was nowhere to be seen.

    "Where''s Xiao Zhou?"

    "She had something to attend to and left to take a cab," Jiang Yu lied nonchalantly, unlocking the car and putting both their suitcases in the trunk.

    "..."

    Cheng Suran looked at her suspiciously.

    Her intuition told her something was off, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on it. She reluctantly followed Jiang Yu into the car and took the passenger seat.

    "Give me the address," Jiang Yu started the car and casually activated the car''s navigation.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips and replied, "Go to the company."

    Jiang Yu turned her head in surprise. "Not going home?"

    Cheng Suran wanted to come up with an excuse, but the words welled up and got stuck in her throat. She was indeed planning to go home.

    But that way, Jiang Yu would know where she lives.

    She felt like she was being tricked.

    There was silence in the car.

    "Ranran..." Jiang Yu looked at her, seemed to understand her thoughts, and sighed.

    "You''re guarding against me."

    Her voice suddenly dropped.

    Cheng Suran furrowed her brows slightly, and seeing Jiang Yu''s face full of sadness and disappointment, she felt a wave of guilt. Considering their current partnership, such vigilance was indeed unnecessary. She had been too deliberate, too obvious.

    "Marina Bay, Phase Two," Cheng Suran mentioned the name of the community

    Jiang Yu''s eyes brightened.

    This residential area was very close to her own home, just a street corner and a road away.

    "We live very close."

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran looked out the window.

    ....

    About forty minutes later, the car stopped at the entrance of the Marina Bay Community.

    Jiang Yu remotely opened the trunk, watched Cheng Suran get out of the car, and looked up at the tall buildings in the community.

    Which unit does Ranran live in?

    "Miss Jiang, I''ll head in first, thank you." Cheng Suran pushed her suitcase to the car window, smiled at Jiang Yu, and turned to leave.

    "Wait¡ª"

    Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow and a casual smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Considering I''ve been your driver, would you like to invite me to come up and sit for a while?"

 CH 92

    For a moment, Cheng Suran was bewitched by that smile.

    Looking at this face from a close distance, the outline is deep, the facial features are cold, the brows and eyes are still sharp, and the skin is well maintained. It can''t be seen that it is approaching forty years old.

    Every frown and smile can charm one''s heart.

    Seeing her remain silent as if wavering, the smile lines at Jiang Yu''s mouth deepened, and she asked again, "Ranran, is it okay?"

    Cheng Suran snapped out of her thoughts, realizing she had nearly fallen into a trap, feeling somewhat annoyed.

    "I''m sorry, it''s not convenient."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu''s smile slightly faltered, a fleeting trace of disappointment flickering in her eyes, but it quickly returned to its natural state: "It''s okay, then I won''t disturb you."

    Cheng Suran didn''t linger any longer, turned around, and walked towards the entrance of the community.

    Jiang Yu watched her as she leaves.

    The wheels of the suitcase rolled over the ground, producing a series of friction sounds. Cheng Suran walked mechanically as if she could sense a gaze on her back, the hand gripping the handle growing tighter.

    Passing the corner, she hid behind the bushes, carefully parting the leaves to look outside.

    The car was parked there silently.

    The person in the driver''s seat looked in her direction.

    Cheng Suran took a deep breath, pulled her head back, quickened her pace, and continued walking.

    Upstairs, entering her home, she changed into slippers, tossed the suitcase aside, and hurriedly ran to the window, looking outside. From this angle, she could see the left half of the community''s entrance.

    The car hadn''t left.

    The figure in the driver''s seat had become blurry. A tiny dot, lonely and desolate.

    Cheng Suran''s emotions suddenly became mixed, her chest felt heavy as if a stone was pressing on it, making it hard to breathe.

    Stay calm, she needed to stay calm...

    It wasn''t her who asked Jiang Yu to drive her back, and who''s to say it isn''t a scheme? Jiang Yu has been trying to find out her address for a while now, and he already knows the name of the community, but not the exact details. Besides, they are partners now, and such casual favors are normal and shouldn''t be overthought.

    She said to herself in her heart.

    After a while, the car turned around on the spot and slowly drove away from the entrance of the community.

    Cheng Suran let out a long sigh of relief, walked to the dining table, poured herself a large glass of water, and drank it down. Her racing heart began to calm down as if it had been cooled.

    She couldn''t help but recall Jiang Yu''s every move just now...

    Stripped off of the benefactor''s coat she seemed childishly innocent, almost like a little kid¨C a bit unfamiliar yet endearing. Could this be her true self? Who would have thought that the seemingly strong and stern elder sister on the surface had a delicate girl''s heart in private, with her room filled with bunny dolls?

    Tsk.

    Childish devil.

    As Cheng Suran thought, she couldn''t help but start smiling.

    Ah, why was she thinking about her again? Bah bah bah¡ª

    Cheng Suran gave her face a gentle pat, banishing that person''s image from her mind, and stood up to prepare a meal.

    Just then, the living room door opened, and Wen Ruoxian entered from outside.

    "Ranran."

    The two looked at each other.

    She raised the square flat box in her hand and smiled mysteriously, "Guess what this is?"

    "Don''t make me guess, just tell me directly," Cheng Suran raised an eyebrow, "I never guess right anyway..."

    Wen Ruoxian was amused by her reaction, fetched a utility knife, slit open the outer packaging of the box, and Cheng Suran looked at it with anticipation. While she said she wouldn''t guess, her mind had already run through all sorts of possible items.

    Unexpectedly, it was a steering wheel cover.

    "Why?"

    "The steering wheel cover you''re using now is too stiff. Last time, your arm got bruised because of it. This one is soft, with an airbag between the outer fluff and the inner cushion. It can provide cushioning during strong impacts, and it''s thin enough not to affect the steering feel." Wen Ruoxian said while demonstrating.

    "I specially chose the milky coffee color, which matches the color of your car''s interior. It is beautiful and practical."

    Cheng Suran took it and touched it. It was fluffy and soft, and she couldn''t put it down. She didn''t know whether she was surprised or touched.

    The bruises on her arms had faded long ago, and her skin was as smooth as ever, and she herself forgot about it.

    "Do you like it?" Wen Ruoxian looked at her expectantly.

    Cheng Suran nodded like a pounding garlic: "I like it! I will put it on tomorrow."

    Looking at the two shallow dimples, Wen Ruoxian was a little lost, and suddenly remembered something: "By the way Ranran..."

    "Mm?"

    "This year, I''ll be going back for a visit during the Mid-Autumn Festival, so I won''t be able to accompany you." Her smile faded.

    Cheng Suran paused for a moment, then smiled and shrugged, "It''s alright, I''m not a child. Being alone at home is normal. Don''t worry."

    Before she met Wen Ruoxian, she had always spent traditional holidays alone, except for the Mid-Autumn Festival when she was twenty. After getting to know Wen Ruoxian, whenever a holiday came around, no matter how far apart they were, whether in China or abroad, Wen Ruoxian would always be there to accompany her.

    To accompany her, Ruoxian has not been home on holiday for three years.

    Ruoxian has a family.

    Unlike her...

    It''s the same everywhere.

    Hearing what she said, Wen Ruoxian felt even more sad, sighed, and lowered her head.

    "You''ve spent so many holidays with me, one more time doesn''t matter. Besides, we live together every day. As long as we want, every day can be a celebration." Cheng Suran hugged her arm, comforting her while playfully acting like a baby.

    "Don''t be unhappy, Sister Xian... Ah no, Ruoxian, little Xianxian."

    She never seemed to remember.

    Although Cheng Suran corrected herself promptly, Wen Ruoxian still heard it. She looked at Cheng Suran with gentle eyes, hiding a faint sentiment beneath, and couldn''t help but ask:

    "Ranran, do you have a real sister?"

    "I don''t."

    "Mm?"

    Wen Ruoxian was thoroughly confused, her gaze complicated as she looked at her. "You seem to really like the term ''elder sister''."

    Cheng Suran froze.

    A face quickly flashed through her mind.

    "Oh, isn''t calling someone older than you ''elder sister'' just right?" She pretended to be calm, sm iling to hide her past slip-up. Wen Ruoxian also nodded in agreement, playing along, "Yes, that''s right."

    Clearly, it wasn''t like that. She knew Ranran had a cousin who had bullied her since childhood. The term "older sister" should exclude the cousin first, and then her own older sister. So, without blood relations, it could only be another female friend.

    A bold guess formed in her mind.

    No...

    She couldn''t dwell on it too much because of her own orientation; she viewed every woman through a filter. Sometimes, overthinking leads to endless troubles.

    Continuing to inquire would only upset Ranran.

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the month.

    Time passed quickly amid busy work. Cheng Suran had been on business trips for a whole week, traveling to eight different cities in seven days. Finally, on her day off, she felt a bit more alive.

    She slept until noon, had a hasty meal, and spent the afternoon in her study, working on repairing the model.

    Things have been left in the study room for many days without being moved. The broken arm of the figurine, the broken swing in the garden, and the scattered background decorations are still the same as when they were just brought back.

    Cheng Suran looked at it and suddenly felt that even if it was repaired, it would be meaningless.

    The gift of the past, the broken gift, let it stay in the past, the defect also symbolizes breaking the past, why repair it? Repairing implies restoration, restoring the item, restoring the relationship...

    Cheng Suran was so upset that she simply stopped thinking about it and started working.

    According to the repair plan she wrote, the fallen background decorations only need to be glued on with super glue, which is very simple. The broken swing and the little figurine with the missing arm are big projects, and if they fail, they need to be redone.

    The afternoon passed like this.

    When the phone rang, Cheng Suran raised her head from the table full of materials, and when she looked at the caller ID, she was stunned.

    Jiang Yu...

    Her heart suddenly leaped, unsure if it was nervousness or something else. It had been a while since they last contacted each other, and it seemed like she had almost forgotten about this person. Yet, the moment she saw the name, all the familiar feelings surged back.

    After hesitating for a few seconds, she pressed the green button, her voice was so calm and indifferent: "Miss Jiang?"

    "Ranran, where are you? Are you busy?" A woman''s gentle voice came from the phone.

    Cheng Suran subconsciously said: "I''m resting at home, what''s the matter?"

    There was a pause for two seconds, and he said, "I have some clothes here that I want to show you."

    "What clothes?"

    "I''ve designed and made a custom collection myself, and I feel like you might like it. How about I send it over now..."

    Before she could finish speaking, Cheng Suran interrupted urgently: "No need." The voice stopped abruptly.

    The silence was like an invisible hand, pinching Cheng Suran''s throat, and she felt a sense of guilt in a trance.

    She should have hung up, but she didn''t.

    The other party didn''t hang up either.

    "If you don''t have anything else, I..."

    "Ranran."

    This time, Cheng Suran was the one interrupted.

    There was a pause on the other end, and finally, they spoke, "It''s perfectly normal for partners to exchange gifts. Would you be willing to wait until you see them in person, touch them with your own hands, and then decide if you want them or not?"

    The last sentence was soft, with a hint of a smile.

    Like a whisper in her ear.

    Cheng Suran felt a lump in her throat, hesitated for a while, and whispered, "Okay, give me a call when you''re at the door, and I''ll come down to get it."

    "Sure."

    Jiang Yu hung up first.

    Cheng Suran put down her phone and only then realized her heart was racing fast. She felt a chilling sensation all over her body. Taking a deep breath, she slumped into her chair.

    Just a glance at the doorstep would be enough.

    She consoled herself.

    ....

    Twenty minutes later, Cheng Suran hurried to the gate of the community.

    The black car stopped there quietly before she approached, the driver''s door opened, and Jiang Yu leisurely got out of the car, and smiled faintly at her.

    She suddenly regretted that she came down in her pajamas and slippers.

    "..."

    Jiang Yu circled around to the parking spot, opened the trunk, and waved at her with a smile. "Ranran, come here."

    Cheng Suran thought it would be just a few pieces of clothing, to take a quick look, but she didn''t expect to see four or five large rectangular flat boxes neatly piled inside the trunk. Each one was sealed with a beige and gold-threaded edge, securely wrapped.

    "What''s all of these?" She frowned.

    Jiang Yu reached out to support one end of the paper box, indicating to lift it up. "Just lift it up, let''s do it together."

    Cheng Suran: "..."

    "The fabrics of these clothes are quite special. If they are wrinkled or have too many creases, they will affect the overall shape and appearance, so they can only be packed in a large cardboard box. It is really inconvenient, but I promise you will like it." Jiang Yu seemed to have seen her hesitation, and she had already prepared her speech, and explained it without haste.

    Cheng Suran looked at her, then at the paper box, pursed her lips again and again, and after a while, she nodded slightly.

    "Fine¡­"

    She stepped forward and stretched out her hand, held the other end of the paper box, and worked with Jiang Yu to carefully lift it up.

    Jiang Yu freed up one hand, touched the key, and the trunk lid lowered automatically, locking the whole car. "Let''s go, you lead the way."

    The two of them walked sideways into the community, like crabs.

    Marina Bay is considered a high-end residence. Its level is only one level lower than Green Shang Mansion. The community had well-maintained greenery, with hills, water, and gardens. There were a total of seven buildings, with the tallest being 22 stories high.

    Building five, eighteenth floor, two elevators serving two households each, unit 1802.

    Jiang Yu silently memorized it.

    As soon as she entered the door, she held her breath and looked around calmly.

    The house is decorated in a very low-key, modern style, and the living room has no main lights, which makes the space look very spacious and bright¡ªshe likes this design.

    "Let''s put it on the ground first, and I''ll get you slippers."

    "Okay."

    The two of them carefully placed the paper boxes down.

    Cheng Suran opened the shoe cabinet and took out a pair of men''s slippers that were usually kept for guests. She placed them by Jiang Yu''s feet and said, "You can''t fit into the women''s slippers, so wear the men''s ones."

    She remembered that Jiang Yu wore size 42 shoes.

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu turned her face slightly, avoiding her gaze, and suppressed a smile. The slippers, neither too big nor too small, fit her feet perfectly as if they were tailor-made for her.

    "What would you like to drink? Water, fruit wine, yogurt, or herbal tea?"

    "Just plain water."

    They carried the paper box to the sofa again, Jiang Yu sat down, while Cheng Suran turned and went to the kitchen, took a clean glass and rinsed it, poured warm water, and put it in front of her.

    "Thank you." Jiang Yu said politely.

    "Do you have scissors? I''ll help you open the box, you can try it now."

    Cheng Suran went to get the scissors again.

    From the beginning to the end, she kept her eyes down without looking at her, and silently handed the scissors over.

    This day would inevitably come, but she hadn''t expected it to arrive so soon. She couldn''t forever hide her address from Jiang Yu, nor could she prevent her from being a guest. Like all clients, Jiang Yu was just one of them.

    But Jiang Yu was also so special.

    Seeing her, she would still be drawn in, her heart would race, she would care about her appearance, and she would feel nervous and uneasy...

    Jiang Yu crouched down and skillfully cut open the sealed edges. All five boxes were now open, each containing a dress, two tops, a pair of pants, and a skirt. They were covered with a layer of special thin film, making them look exquisite.

    "Try these pants first to see if the size is right." Jiang Yu removed the wrapping paper of the pants and picked them up straight.

    Cheng Suran lowered her eyes and reached out to take it.

    This is a pair of flared pants with black and white letter patterns, side slits on the calf, and a high waist. The moment her fingertips touched the fabric, she knew it was the feel she liked.

    Without hesitation, she tore off the wrapping paper of the short skirt with her bare hands and brought it into the room together with the pants.

    Jiang Yu sat on the sofa and waited.

    A few minutes later, Cheng Suran came out and had already changed back into her pajama pants, but her expression was a little weird, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.

    "How is it?" Jiang Yu looked at her with a smile.

    Cheng Suran hugged the pants and skirt, stared at her for a while, and then asked: "Why is the size just right?"

    "Are they a good fit? That''s great," Jiang Yu seemed to exhale in relief.

    "You haven''t answered my question yet."

    "Because... I designed them according to your figure."

    After speaking, without waiting for Cheng Suran to respond, Jiang Yu picked up one of the just unwrapped tops and stood up. "Try this one on."

    Raising her long arm, Jiang Yu placed both hands on Cheng Suran''s shoulders, ready to help her put it on.

    ¡ªbeep

    The living room door opened.

    Wen Ruoxian came in with her bag.

    Jiang Yu looked up.

    Author''s Note:

    Jiang.Scheming.Yu: Plan successful.jpg

 CH 93

    Two pairs of eyes collided suddenly.

    Wen Ruoxian froze for a moment, looked at Cheng Suran with soft eyes, and quickly reacted, showing a gentle smile: "Miss Jiang."

    "Miss Wen is back." Jiang Yu smiled back, but there were ripples in her heart.

    What she saw at the dining table that day is still vivid in her memory.

    "I didn''t know Miss Jiang was coming over today to visit. I should have come back earlier," Wen Ruoxian said as she changed into slippers and walked over, engaging in casual conversation. She glanced at the hand on Cheng Suran''s shoulder.

    With a smile on her face, Jiang Yu looked at her nonchalantly: "Miss Wen is too polite, I just came here to give Ranran some clothes."

    The hands on her shoulders tightened.

    Cheng Suran''s body tensed up, embarrassment evident in her eyes. She wished she could just disappear.

    She regretted it.

    She had only thought it was just a few pieces of clothing, and Jiang Yu was right ¨C this was a normal exchange. She couldn''t refuse a client''s goodwill, and she had planned to just look at the clothes at the entrance of the community. She hadn''t expected the "private custom" affair to be so grand... If she had known, she wouldn''t have agreed to let Jiang Yu come up.

    She remembered Jiang Yu asking her twice if Wen Ruoxian was her girlfriend. Now, the two of them were suddenly brought face-to-face...

    Why does she feel like she has done something wrong?

    Hold on¡ª

    Could it be that Jiang Yu did this on purpose?

    The sizes of the pants and skirt were just right, fitting her body curves perfectly. They were specially brought for her, and the luxurious fabric was not to be wrinkled or folded. Yet when she tried them on, she still folded and adjusted them, and there was no damage.

    The more Cheng Suran thought about it, the more she felt that something was wrong, but this was not the time to flirt, Ruoxian knew that she and Jiang Yu knew each other, but Jiang Yu didn''t know that she had told Ruoxian, she had to introduce each other again.

    "Oh, Ruoxian, let me formally introduce you. Miss Jiang is a friend I knew before, a top model. You should be familiar with her."

    "Miss Jiang, this is Ruoxian, you already met her so I won''t introduce her much. We''ve known each other for five years and currently live together."

    She tried her best to maintain a generous and decent smile.

    Jiang Yu was taken aback, a look of surprise flickering in her eyes. She hadn''t expected Cheng Suran to introduce her this way in front of her best friend. She had thought... that she would always be just a "business partner."

    A previously empty corner of her heart was now filled with comfort, brimming with warmth. She smiled and said, "Mm, we''re all friends."

    Wen Ruoxian nodded lightly: "Miss Jiang, have dinner here tonight."

    Jiang Yu secretly wanted that, but she glanced at Cheng Suran''s expression and said with a false tone, "No, I wouldn''t want to disturb you."

    "Since we''re all friends, there''s no such thing as being a bother. I happen to have some fresh ingredients at home. Manager Jiang, if you don''t mind, you can taste my cooking ." Ruoxian said this while giving a glance at Cheng Suran.

    Normal business, normal business...

    Cheng Suran silently repeated to herself.

    Since Ruoxian had spoken, she wouldn''t make her lose face. Cheng Suran smiled and nodded, "Yes, don''t be so polite with us."

    "Well then," Jiang Yu smiled, "Thank you for your hospitality."

    The three of them exchanged smiles.

    Wen Ruoxian patted Cheng Suran''s shoulder lightly, and said softly: "Ranran, sit with Miss Jiang first, and I''ll cook."

    After speaking, she turned and walked towards the kitchen.

    "Hey," Cheng Suran shook off Jiang Yu''s hand, took a few steps, and caught up, wrapping her arms around Wen Ruoxian''s, "You''ve been busy all day, I''ll cook dinner."

    "It''s fine."

    "I''ve been sleeping at home for most of the day, so it''s a good time to move around."

    "Tsk, pig."

    "Deal then."

    She spoke softly, shaking her arms coquettishly.

    "Ok," Wen Ruoxian sighed in a helpless yet indulgent tone, "you try on the clothes first, I''ll prepare the ingredients, and then you can take charge in the kitchen."

    "Okay."

    Two sweet pears formed on her cheeks.

    Jiang Yu watched them, her grip on the clothes tightening into a fist, the delicate fabric wrinkling and revealing small creases, much like the complex emotions swirling within her at this moment.

    After all, this place is Ranran and Wen Ruoxian''s home.

    She is just a guest.

    The softest part of her heart was stabbed, she took a deep breath, lowered her head, and carefully smoothed the crumpled clothes.

    "Jiang Yu..."

    Cheng Suran came back to her.

    Jiang Yu raised her eyes as if nothing had happened: "Huh?"

    "You just said that these clothes are designed according to my figure?"

    "Right."

    "So many clothes, can they be made in a few days? Although I don''t understand the process of making clothes, I know common sense." Cheng Suran stared at her with a serious expression.

    "..."

    "It shows that you had a plan in advance, not a spontaneous decision."

    The questioning tone struck heavily at Jiang Yu''s heart, and she was reminded of how at ease Cheng Suran had been in front of Wen Ruoxian, contrasting sharply with her current demeanor. A sense of bitterness and turmoil surged within her, making her feel even more upset.

    "Do you want to hear the truth?"

    Cheng Suran nodded, wearing an expression that seemed to say: "I knew it."

    Jiang Yu spoke slowly, "It was done two years ago. At that time, I had just started experimenting with my own designs, and many of my inspirations came from you. I always felt that if you were around, you would definitely like them."

    "I just wanted to try making a few pieces, and since I still remembered your size, I made them for myself to keep. But I never thought... that we would meet again."

    After saying that, she smiled, her eyes shining with light.

    Soon after, she realized that these words had crossed the boundary of a mere business partnership between two people. It made her appear as if she had meticulously woven a net, waiting for Cheng Suran, the prey, to take the bait¡ªone that lacked sincerity and felt disgusting.

    She couldn''t rush things now.

    Jiang Yu redirected the conversation back to the clothes: "I was worried that you might have lost or gained weight over these years, and the previous sizes might not fit anymore. I brought them over today for you to try on. If they fit well, that''s great. If not, I''ll remake all of them."

    Cheng Suran stared at her, her frown slowly loosened, but her throat was choked.

    Really...

    So reluctant to part with her, reminiscing about her for so many years, then why did she push her away in the first place? Can a person change so much in five years?

    "Ranran, try this one on too," Jiang Yu smiled and lifted the clothing in her hand.

    The sleeves, previously crumpled by her, now had distinct creases under the light. Cheng Suran noticed and reached out to smooth them, but the creases wouldn''t disappear. Finally, she fully believed Jiang Yu''s words.

    "This one can be ironed later, preferably using a steamer while hanging," Jiang Yu patiently explained.

    Cheng Suran nodded silently, put on the clothes, and then went back to the room to alternately change into pants and a short skirt.

    She stood in front of the dressing mirror, carefully observing herself.

    The hem of the short skirt reached just halfway down her thighs. In the lamplight, one could faintly see a light scar on her leg, appearing whitish and slightly different in color from the surrounding skin.

    That scar...

    Jiang Yu suddenly remembered a night in the deep mountains a few years ago.

    "I like the design of this chain, simple color, a touch of metallic element to avoid being too dull. This delicate style won''t look old-fashioned when worn..." Cheng Suran turned left and right in front of the mirror, quite satisfied. As she turned her head and looked up, she saw Jiang Yu staring at her legs.

    She paused for a moment, then realized and quickly turned away: "I actually prefer pants and long skirts."

    She hurriedly returned to the room to change into pants.

    Jiang Yu''s complexion has returned to normal. She walked up to her and looked at her in the mirror and explained in a gentle voice: "The flared trousers visually elongate the calves, making people look lighter and taller. You can wear a short vest for the upper body. Or other short clothes..."

    Then, she roughly talked about the design ideas.

    Cheng Suran tried one by one, and she explained one by one.

    Each piece of clothing had the "Y.R." initials logo discreetly placed, unique and one-of-a-kind, with no second piece in the world.

    Whether it was the style, design, fabric, or tailoring, everything was impeccably aligned with Cheng Suran''s preferences.

    Except for the skirts.

    Jiang Yu squinted and smiled: "Do you like it?"

    "Mm." Cheng Suran couldn''t tell a lie and nodded slightly.

    "It''s all for you."

    "Thanks."

    Jiang Yu was silent for a while and then said: "In the future, as long as I have inspiration, I will make clothes for you.

    "Then you will be my tailor?"

    "That''s not a bad idea."

    Cheng Suran was at a loss for words.

    Her fingertips slowly brushed the fabric of the clothes, it was soft and smooth, and she had some expectations and longings in her heart. Having something she liked so much, a unique piece in the world that money couldn''t buy, how could she not be captivated?

    But it''s a short-handed thing to do.

    After thinking about it, she usually interacts with customers in the same way. New customers have cooperated many times and become old customers, and they continue to bring new customers and expand their network of contacts.

    It''s all business.

    "I think it''s better to buy them at a discount." Cheng Suran thought of a compromise.

    Jiang Yu hesitated a little, but she didn''t force it, and nodded with a smile: "Okay."

    After trying on the clothes, Cheng Suran brought the hangers and hung them up according to Jiang Yu''s instructions. Jiang Yu cleaned up the cardboard boxes on the floor, stacked them at the door as if she was in her own home, and turned around to look around.

    She wants to tour the whole house and see Cheng Suran''s room.

    But Ranran didn''t intend to show her around.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    She didn''t mention it, she returned to the sofa and sat down, sipping warm water slowly, took out her mobile phone, and typed down the apartment number in her memo.

    [Ranran''s Address: Marina Bay Phase II, Building 5, 18th Floor, 1802. ]

    "I''ll go cook, you sit with Ruoxian."

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran went to the kitchen.

    Through the partially open transparent glass door, two figures were moving inside, occasionally accompanied by conversations and laughter...

    Jiang Yu squeezed the cup tightly and looked at them quietly.

    She doesn''t know if it''s an illusion, but no matter how she looks at Wen Ruoxian, she doesn''t look like a normal friend, with those gazes, those small movements... Whether it is between her and Tian Lin, or between her and Pei Chutong, it will never appear.

    Wen Ruoxian''s gaze upon Ranran carried a gentle warmth, tinged with tenderness and a hint of indulgence. Yet, she would unconsciously avoid Ranran''s intimate gestures, as if enduring something, restraining herself, reluctantly opposing her actions, which contrasted with her gaze.

    Jiang Yu''s heart was in turmoil.

    After a while, Wen Ruoxian came out, and Jiang Yu concealed her emotions and thoughts, exchanging a smiling glance with her. They sat diagonally across from each other, secretly sizing each other up.

    "Miss Wen, did Ranran mention me to you before?"

    "Mm, she said you knew each other before."

    "Yeah, we knew each other before, but we haven''t really kept in touch these past few years. I didn''t expect this coincidence."

    The two exchanged pleasantries and discussed work matters for a while.

    Wen Ruoxian spoke calmly, very gently, and very cautiously. Jiang Yu carefully probed about her life but didn''t manage to know much. Wen Ruoxian was reserved, and when it came to things related to the two of them, she only revealed surface-level details.

    For example, they discussed how long they had known each other and their work situations.

    There was an inexplicable sense of tension lingering between the two of them...

    ¡­.

    For dinner, Cheng Suran cooked five dishes, two meat, and three vegetables.

    She has never liked spicy food, so she specially made two spicy meat dishes. She remembered that Jiang Yu said that she liked spicy food since she was a child, and it was very painful when she had to quit, but she still eats a little occasionally.

    Jiang Yu never knew that Cheng Suran could cook, and this was the first time she was testing Cheng Suran''s cooking skills.

    Seeing the table filled with delicious dishes, the urge to take photos  welled up within her, but she resisted. This isn''t her home; this is Ranran and Wen Ruoxian''s home.

    She is just a guest.

    Thinking of this, Jiang Yu felt sour in her heart, so she could only sit down pretending to be calm.

    "I didn''t even know Ranran could cook before. This table looks very good. I''m lucky tonight." She said with a smile.

    Cheng Suran said modestly: "It''s just home-cooked dishes."

    "Miss Jiang, would you like some wine?"

    Wen Ruoxian glanced at the wine cabinet and was about to get up to get it. Jiang Yu was about to turn down the offer, but Cheng Suran reacted one step faster than her, and shook her head at Wen Ruoxian: "She drove here, it''s inconvenient."

    Jiang Yu''s heart moved slightly, and she nodded to Wen Ruoxian.

    "Oh, okay." Wen Ruoxian looked at Cheng Suran with subtle eyes.

    The atmosphere at the dining table subtly shifted as well.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t wait and eagerly picked up dishes to eat: water-boiled beef, spicy chicken wings, shredded pork with garlic sauce, hollow-heart vegetables... She enjoyed these dishes and wasn''t picky in general. The spiciness suited her taste, and after a while of not eating carbs for dinner, she found the meal increasingly delicious.

    However, she didn''t touch the Chinese yam.

    The three of them chatted while eating, Cheng Suran and Wen Ruoxian sat side by side across from Jiang Yu, eating and chatting, their eyes glanced at Jiang Yu, and their attention fell on her chopsticks, wanting to see what kind of food she was eating most frequently.

    From this, one could deduce what Jiang Yu liked to eat...

    She had always held onto this obsession.

    Seemingly aware, Jiang Yu raised her gaze and caught Cheng Suran pretending to casually avert her eyes, glancing at the dishes once, then twice. A sense of surprise swept over her, and she couldn''t help but speculate.

    Was she watching her?

    Unsure whether she wanted to say something or if she was observing her choice of dishes, Jiang Yu looked at the food on the table. Her gaze coincided with Cheng Suran''s, and their chopsticks paused for a moment. They exchanged a casual smile before Jiang Yu bravely picked up a piece of Chinese yam and put it into her mouth.

    Cheng Suran also took a piece, chewed slowly, and swallowed before suddenly asking, "Miss Jiang, is my cooking alright?"

    She looked at Jiang Yu, slightly nervous.

    This was her first time cooking for Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu felt that she understood, the corners of her lips raised, and she praised without hesitation: "I want to come here for dinner every day."

    Cheng Suran''s cheeks turned slightly red, and she was also relieved, her heart was filled with infinite warmth and satisfaction.

    She praised her.

    How could it be even more joyful than making money?

    Bah bah.

    Jiang Yu looked at the plate of yam again, hesitated for a moment, then stretched out her chopsticks to pick up a piece and ate it, and then continued to eat other dishes.

    That''s what she said.

    But she knew that it might be difficult to have this opportunity in the future.

    After eating, Wen Ruoxian brought a fruit platter, and the three of them sat on the sofa, eating fruit while resting.

    After about half an hour, Jiang Yu began to feel a bit warm and itchy. Unable to resist, she reached out to scratch and felt small raised bumps on her skin that were slightly warm to the touch. The more she scratched, the itchier it became.

    Her head also started to feel dizzy, and her stomach felt nauseated.

    "Ranran..." She furrowed her brows, clutching her stomach tightly, "Where''s the restroom?"

    "It''s over there."

    Cheng Suran pointed in a direction and suddenly noticed that Jiang Yu''s complexion was off, which startled her. "What''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

    Jiang Yu didn''t respond, she got up and headed to the restroom.

    Soon, the sound of retching could be heard from inside.

    "! ! "

    Cheng Suran and Wen Ruoxian looked at each other, stood up abruptly, and rushed into the toilet.

    "Jiang Yu!"

    They saw Jiang Yu squatting by the toilet, curled up, vomiting upside down, her arms and neck were swollen red like mosquito bites.

    Cheng Suran was scared out of her wits, and squatted down to hold her: "What''s the matter? Why is there so much..."

    A terrible thought flashed through her mind.

    Food poisoning?

    "What''s the matter?" Wen Ruoxian followed, also frightened by the scene in front of her.

    Jiang Yu was panting with difficulty, and in a daze, she grabbed Cheng Suran''s hand: "Ranran..."

    "Hey, I''m here. What''s going on? Could it be food poisoning..." Cheng Suran murmured, but her mind was already blank.

    Wen Ruoxian was still calm, and quickly made a judgment: "It shouldn''t be food poisoning, otherwise, how could the two of us be okay? There are so many red rashes, it may be an allergy..." She reached out and hooked Jiang Yu''s shoulder, "Help her up quickly, let''s go to the hospital."

    "Oh oh, alright..." Cheng Suran panicked, nodding repeatedly, and tremblingly helped Jiang Yu to stand up and leave.

    Wen Ruoxian grabbed her bag and car keys, opened the door, and the two of them supported Jiang Yu as they entered the elevator and went down to the parking lot.

    "I''m driving."

    "Okay."

    Wen Ruoxian let go, and Jiang Yu''s weight pressed heavily on Cheng Suran''s shoulder as if she had become boneless, her lips moved slightly: "Yam*... Ranran, no need to...¡± In her state of panic, Cheng Suran misheard it as "take medicine," and in a moment of anxiety and fear, she tightly wrapped her arms around Jiang Yu''s waist: "No, we must go to the hospital. Don''t be afraid... It''s okay, I''m here with you."

    *É½Ò© (shan yao) = yam,³ÔÒ© (chi yao)= take medicine

    Allergies can also be fatal.

    "It''s because I''m allergic to yam... I don''t need to go to the hospital..." Jiang Yu endured nausea in her stomach and struggled to say every word.

    Cheng Suran was stunned.

    Yam...

    Fried yam on the dinner table.

    Isn''t that Jiang Yu''s favorite dish? She clearly saw that she ate a lot, but in a blink of an eye, Cheng Suran understood.

    "You''re allergic to yams?"

    "Then why did you still eat so much? Didn''t you know that you are allergic? Did you do it on purpose? Cheng Suran was furious and raised her voice a few degrees.

    This was unacceptable.

    Knowing that she''s allergic, but still ate so much, making fun of her own life and safety.

    "I didn''t..."

    Jiang Yu leaned weakly against her, her eyes reddened, her voice feeble: "Because you cooked the dishes, I didn''t want to waste... I don''t know when I''ll get the chance to eat again."

    Cheng Suran''s anger froze in an instant.

 CH 94

    The parking lot was silent, with a low voice echoing her ears, and every word was extremely clear, piercing deeply into Cheng Suran''s heart.

    "If I did it on purpose... I wouldn''t tell you the truth..." Jiang Yu said intermittently, and slowly released the hand on her shoulder, and seek support from the wall.

    The concrete wall was very cold.

    Cheng Suran shivered from breathing: "You can just say so at any time if you want to eat my cooking, why risk your own body? Don''t you know that severe allergies can be fatal? Jiang Yu, you..."

    She was so angry that she couldn''t speak properly, and her shoulders couldn''t stop shaking.

    Jiang Yu suddenly felt very tired.

    She didn''t make any more excuses, just said in a low voice: "I''m sorry."

    A beam of bright light swept over, and the car slowly stopped beside them. Wen Ruoxian honked the horn, got out of the car, opened the rear door, and helped Cheng Suran support Jiang Yu.

    "No need to go to the hospital, I''ll be fine in a while," Jiang Yu resisted.

    Cheng Suran interrupted sternly, "Shut up!"

    Wen Ruoxian looked at her in shock.

    The roar reverberated in the empty parking lot, abrupt and ear-piercing. Cheng Suran didn''t care much and forced Jiang Yu into the car, and went up herself: "Ruoxian, let''s go."

    "Okay." Wen Ruoxian withdrew her gaze .

    The nearest hospital is only a three-minute drive from the community.

    Sitting in the back seat, Cheng Suran firmly held Jiang Yu''s hands to prevent her from scratching the rashes on her body. Although the car was driving smoothly, she was worried that Jiang Yu would not be able to withstand a little shaking, so she tried to let her lean on her.

    Her rapid heartbeat slowed down slightly.

    Jiang Yu lay limp in Cheng Suran''s arms, her skin was red, hot and itchy, her head was dizzy, her stomach was still nauseated, and her breathing unconsciously became more labored.

    Listening to her breathing, Cheng Suran vaguely remembered that thrilling night in Lingbai Mountain a few years ago.

    At that time, knowing that Jiang Yu was trapped on the mountain, she flew thousands of miles over in the middle of the night, fearing that Jiang Yu would be in danger, so she set foot on the mountain path alone, her eyes were all about Jiang Yu''s safety, and she had no extra attention for herself , Even though her thigh was injured and it bled so much, she seemed to feel no pain.

    And Jiang Yu just ran down the mountain, struggling and grasping for breath, carrying her who was more than ninety catties.

    They already have common memories of wandering on the edge of life and death. They are people who have experienced life and death together. They used to care about each other so much...

    Did it start at that time?

    Perhaps, even earlier.

    But she would rather not know.

    Over these five years, she had no idea that Jiang Yu had once liked her, cared for her, or found it difficult to move on. She believed that Jiang Yu had never harbored feelings that went beyond friendship, allowing her to convince herself to accept the reality. However, now that they had reunited, Jiang Yu had mercilessly revealed to her, painfully revealed so much what she hadn''t known before.

    Why did she have to stab her heart even though she cares about her? Why did she push her away even though she couldn''t let her go¡­

    Cheng Suran was brooding.

    These days, Jiang Yu is attentive to her in every possible way, which is very different from before. She is both afraid and curious, reminding herself not to fall into it all the time, but her heart is still throbbing for Jiang Yu.

    This kind of contradiction tortured her repeatedly, making it more and more difficult for her to be firm...

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    They went to the hospital for an emergency treatment.

    Jiang Yu''s allergic reaction was not particularly serious, but it was not mild either. The doctor prescribed some medicine and asked her to stay for observation in the emergency room for a while. Cheng Suran and Wen Ruoxian also sat down to accompany her.

    The three were silent.

    Under the bright white light, Jiang Yu closed her eyes, her exposed skin is reddened, her face, neck, and arms were shockingly red, as if she had changed her skin from head to toe.

    Cheng Suran gripped her hands tightly, keeping her eyes on her face.

    Almost forty years old, so childish, the room full of stuffed animals confirmed it without a doubt. While sighing inwardly, she extended her hand and brushed the broken hair on Jiang Yu''s forehead behind her ear.

    It''s as natural as it has been practiced many times.

    Wen Ruoxian watched silently, with some deep meaning in her eyes.

    After a long time, probably because of the medicine, the red and swollen bumps on Jiang Yu''s body gradually subsided, her skin was no longer hot, and slowly returned to normal color. She felt better, opened her eyes, and said in a hoarse voice:

    "Go back, I''ll be fine."

    Cheng Suran shook her head seriously: "No, the doctor said at least four hours of observation."

    Seeing Jiang Yu''s expression returning to normal, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief, let go of her hand, got up and poured a glass of water, "Drink some water."

    Jiang Yu took two sips, and her throat felt much more comfortable: "What I mean is, I''ll just stay here and observe by myself, you guys go back now."

    "What if something happens? How can there be no one around?"

    "I''ll ask Tian Lin to come over."

    As she said, she habitually wanted to reach for her phone, but found that her phone was not with her at all. She was rushed to the hospital, and her bag was still at Cheng Suran''s house.

    "Lend me your phone." She reached out to Cheng Suran.

    Cheng Suran stared at her, didn''t move, and her face sank: "Jiang Yu, can you be more obedient? You put yourself into the hospital, and now you''re acting brave? How many lives do you have that can be abused?"

    The more she talked, the more angry she became, and he raised her hand unconsciously.

    She really wants to slap this woman awake!

    "Ranran-" Wen Ruoxian grabbed her and pulled her into her arms, "Don''t be impulsive, talk carefully."

    Cheng Suran gritted her teeth and put down her hand, she''s infuriated to death.

    Really pissing her off.

    This Jiang Yu...

    She took a deep breath, turned her face away, and leaned weakly on Wen Ruoxian.

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes and remained silent.

    ....

    After sitting until eleven o''clock in the evening, Jiang Yu had completely returned to normal. The doctor gave some precautions and let her go. Wen Ruoxian drove the car to the entrance of the community, went up to get Jiang Yu''s bag, and prepared to send her home.

    Jiang Yu''s car was still parked at the door, she insisted that Tian Lin come over and drive her own car back, and she refused to let them see her off.

    Cheng Suran was too angry with her.

    "Are you that afraid that your car will be stolen? Can''t you ask your assistant to drive it away tomorrow morning? Are we two ghost? Will we send you to Yama Hall*? Huh? Miss Jiang? Don''t get upset. You are thirty-eight years old, not three..."

    *ÑÖÂÞµî (y¨¢nlu¨®di¨¤n) which is a place in Chinese mythology often associated with the realm of the dead and judgment after death.

    She said, then burst into laughter, laughing until her eyes were sore, without caring that Jiang Yu is her client now and using whatever unpleasant words she wanted.

    The streetlight cast a faint glimmer in her eyes.

    Jiang Yu remained silent, standing motionless, her hand resting on the door of her car, resembling a hollow and soulless puppet.

    "Forget it Ranran, let''s just listen to Miss Jiang. Wen Ruoxian advised gently. She had never seen Cheng Suran lose her temper like this before, as if she were a different person. There was a vague sense that something was amiss, like being lost in a fog, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on it.

    Cheng Suran let out a cold snort and was discouraged.

    "Fine."

    "I''ll wait here with her. Ruoxian, go upstairs and get some rest. You still have a meeting tomorrow morning."

    "..."

    Wen Ruoxian hesitated for a moment, feeling somewhat uneasy. She looked at Cheng Suran, then at Jiang Yu, and her grip on her hand tightened briefly.

    Cheng Suran gave her a reassuring smile. "Don''t worry, it''s okay."

    "Call me if you need anything" Wen Ruoxian said as she let go of her hand.

    "Okay."

    It was already dark.

    The neighborhood is still brightly lit, and the bustling nightlife has just begun in the central area of ??the city.

    A gust of cool wind blew over, stirring Jiang Yu''s hair at the temples.

    Two shadows merged under the street lamp.

    Jiang Yu stared at the lights in the distance, her dark eyes were dyed bright, as if floating with water, showing loneliness, desolation, and a little bit of sadness.

    "Didn''t you not trigger your allergies on purpose?" Cheng Suran stared at her for a long time, then whispered.

    Jiang Yu was startled, turned her face slowly, and asked without answering, "Ranran, do you believe me?"

    "..."

    "If you believe, then I didn''t. If you don''t believe, then I did. Actually, there''s no need to ask me."

    "I want you to say the accurate answer out loud."

    "I didn''t."

    "Then you just needed a few bites, was it necessary to eat so much?"

    "I ate a lot of each dish."

    "The yam the most!" Cheng Suran almost shouted those four words. She still couldn''t believe her.

    Jiang Yu stared at her silently, her eyes slightly reddening, and suddenly, she let out a self-deprecating laugh.

    At that time, she was full of anticipation waiting for the meal, looking at the table full of delicacies, she had never eaten carbs for dinner, she wished she could take it all away, and only have it for herself, because she thought that Wen Ruoxian could often eat the meals that Ranran cooked, while she may have only this one chance, she was unwilling to share it with others even a bit.

    Only yam was avoided.

    She knew that she was allergic to yam, and her whole body would itch after eating it.

    She also felt Ranran''s glances from time to time.

    Perhaps wondering why she wasn''t eating the yam, or maybe suspecting that her cooking wasn''t good enough... There were countless guesses swirling in her mind, thoughts repeating over and over. Yet, Ranran didn''t ask.

    She thought, maybe she should eat a little, but then thought, maybe she should just tell Ranran the truth.

    She also wondered if being honest would make Ranran feel guilty for not asking about her taste preferences in advance, if it would make the atmosphere at the table awkward, if it would... She had so many thoughts running through her mind.

    She was just a guest, if it wasn''t for Wen Ruoxian, how could Ranran agree to let her stay for dinner.

    She hesitated when she put down her chopsticks.

    But she ate.

    Finally, Ranran asked. At that moment, she was glad that she had eaten not showing any cracks. Her praise made Ranran happy, and she wanted to see her smile...

    Oh well.

    It was also her own fault, so there is no need to explain further.

    Talk, why aren''t you talking? Are you feeling guilty? Cheng Suran is aggressive.

    At that moment a taxi stopped at the door.

    The back seat door opened and Tian Lin got out of the car, looked around, and walked their way: "Sister Yu-¨C"

    "What''s the matter? You said you didn''t feel well on the phone?"

    She looked at Jiang Yu, and then at Cheng Suran. They hadn''t seen each other for a few years, and the girl who was once green and immature had become more sophisticated and grown, and she looked much more mature.

    For a moment, she overlooked the tense atmosphere between the two of them.

    "It''s nothing," Jiang Yu smiled and shook her head, handing her the car keys. "Let''s go back." Then she waved towards Cheng Suran, "Ranran, good night."

    Cheng Suran: "..."

    "Oh, okay," Tian Lin took the keys, nodded at Cheng Suran, and got into the driver''s seat. Jiang Yu smoothly turned around and got into the car.

    Watching the car go away slowly, after a long time, Cheng Suran came back to her senses, as if a piece of her heart had been hollowed out, feeling a sharp pain.

    She turned around and walked into the gate of the community. As she walked, her pace quickened.

    ....

    The living room was illuminated, and the sound of an electric toothbrush hummed from the bathroom. Without bothering to change her slippers, Cheng Suran hurriedly entered the kitchen, and there on the stove, she saw a plate with leftovers.

    Stir-fried yam and shredded pork in garlic sauce were plated together, with more yam left than shredded pork.

    The other three dishes were completely finished.

    Cheng Suran was taken aback.

    "Ranran."

    The sound from the bathroom stopped, Wen Ruoxian came out in her pajamas, and looked around the living room: "Has Miss Jiang gone back? Seeing the light in the kitchen, Cheng Suran was standing there in a daze, she stepped forward in doubt: "What''s wrong, Ranran?"

    She followed Cheng Suran''s gaze.

    Leftovers?

    "Ruoxian..." Cheng Suran looked up, suddenly grabbing her arm. "Which dish do you think Jiang Yu liked the most tonight? Have you noticed?"

    Wen Ruoxian was taken aback, thought carefully, and said, "Boiled beef? There are also spicy chicken wings. I only ate one. It''s too spicy. If you didn''t eat it, then Miss Jiang ate it." She pointed to the dishwasher.

    Empty dishes were cleaned.

    Boiled beef and spicy chicken wings are both meat dishes, which are quite spicy. The shredded pork in garlic sauce also had a bit of chili in it. The only non-spicy dishes are stir-fried yam and water spinach.

    She and Ranran don''t like spicy food very much, but the three dishes tonight are spicy. She guessed that Jiang Yu likes spicy food and thought Cheng Suran made it to cater to the taste of the guest, so she has no objection.

    "Impossible... I remember she ate a lot of yam..." Cheng Suran muttered to herself.

    "But we ate it too, and there are still some leftovers from the yam." Wen Ruoxian frowned, trying hard to recall the dinner, thinking about it, she always felt that something was weird.

    "Wait, neither you nor I knew about her yam allergy, but earlier at the hospital... she knew it herself?"

    She finally realized what''s been off.

    "Really? Right, we ate it too, and there''s still some left..." Cheng Suran''s voice trembled, her face turning pale. In an instant, her mind became a mess, all jumbled up like porridge.

    She usually cooks small portions, and each dish is just enough to finish. Tonight, there are three people eating, and the amount of dishes is slightly more.

    At the dinner table, she watched Jiang Yu several times, and every time she saw Jiang Yu picking up yams, if she ate yam the most, the plate should''ve been as clean as a CD.

    How can there be any left?

    "Ranran, do you suspect that she deliberately ate..."

    Wen Ruoxian hadn''t finished speaking when Cheng Suran suddenly pushed her aside, ran outside, and rushed into her room, slamming the door shut with a loud "bang."

    The whole room fell into silence.

    The clock on the living room wall ticked away, completing a full circle with a "tick-tock".

    Wen Ruoxian stared at the leftovers thoughtfully.

    From home to the hospital, and back, Cheng Suran''s nervousness was beyond her imagination. She had known Ranran for so many years, but she had never seen such a panicked expression, such a tender gaze, a mixture of helplessness and frustration. It was not at all like ordinary friends who have not been in touch for many years.

    Could it be..

    Her heart is in turmoil, and couldn''t help guessing with a filter.

    ....

    The light in the bedroom was not turned on, Cheng Suran lay on the bed sobbing, the surroundings were so quiet that her ears were ringing, her body completely melted into the darkness.

    The sheets were soon soaked with tears.

    What''s up with her?

    How did she become like this?

    How could she be so sensitive, how could she care so much about Jiang Yu''s every move, and how could she be so anxious that her memory would be confused? She was the one who doubted Jiang Yu, she was the one who misunderstood Jiang Yu, and she was the one who misconstrued Jiang Yu.

    This is Jiang Yu, that is Jiang Yu, Jiang Yu is everywhere, all because of Jiang Yu...

    All efforts, all hints, are in vain. She bid farewell to the past, but still missed the person in the past, she let go of the knot in her heart, but she did not let go of the person in her heart, she clearly decided to be a stranger to Jiang Yu for the rest of her life.

    She was like a struggling fish trapped in a whirlpool, the more she swam desperately to get away, the more she was pulled and tugged by that force.

    It would be great if Jiang Yu didn''t appear in her life.

    Cheng Suran turned her face sideways, wiped her tears, her nose was blocked and she could only breathe through her mouth, rising and falling, the pent-up frustration building up inside her body, swelling and erupting.

    Blaming herself, it was her fault. She wasn''t firm enough, always soft-hearted, compromising time and time again, allowing Jiang Yu to breach her defenses repeatedly. It was these actions that led her to this situation.

    What client? What business partners? They''re nothing like that at all.

    She can''t lie to herself any longer.

    Cheng Suran got up, opened the closet, pulled out all the clothes Jiang Yu had customized for her, found a paper bag and stuffed them indiscriminately.

    Then she turned into the study next door, picked up the unfinished model, and put on her bag. "Ranran, where are you going?" Wen Ruoxian came out of the kitchen.

    "Throwing garbage."

    Cheng Suran went out without looking back.

    ¡­.

    Late at night.

    The light was very dim, and Jiang Yu sat on the bay window in her pajamas, holding a rabbit doll in her arms, most of her body was engulfed in shadows, her eyes were dull, and she kept playing with the rabbit ears.

    Tian Lin sat on the small sofa diagonally opposite her, and sighed one after another after listening to her ins and outs.

    "You forgot about the last time you accidentally ate yam and got covered in rashes? Just be straightforward and tell her, she''ll understand. Why overthink it? You''re being too silly."

    "Ai."

    Jiang Yu lowered her head, rubbed the rabbit''s ears with her fingertips, and said softly: "I thought it would be just a rash like last time, and it would be fine after a while. They asked me to eat fruit. I wanted to stay for a few minutes longer, I didn''t expect it to be severe this time."

    "How could it not be severe? It could even be life-threatening!" Tian Lin scolded sternly.

    "..."

    "Sister Yu, it''s not worth it."

    Her words were interrupted by the ringing of a phone.

    It was from the security office.

    Jiang Yu answered the call, and the security guard informed her that a woman named Cheng Suran was visiting and they needed to verify the information. She paused for a moment, finding it somewhat unbelievable, and replied, "Yes, she''s my friend. Please bring her up."

    Her voice quivered, whether from excitement or nervousness.

    Tian Lin looked puzzled, "Who is it? Coming to see you at this hour?"

    "It''s Ranran..."

    "?!"

    Jiang Yu threw away the rabbit doll, got down from the bay window, and ran out of the bedroom barefoot. Within minutes, the doorbell rang.

    She couldn''t wait to open the door.

    Cheng Suran stood outside blankly, her lips were tightly pursed, and ice was condensed in her eyes.

    The security guard nodded and left.

    "Ranran, what are you..." Jiang Yu inexplicably had a bad premonition.

    Cheng Suran raised the bag in her hand: "Miss Jiang, thank you for your kindness, but I still don''t want the clothes." She bent down and put the bag by the door, and weighed another cardboard box, "And this is the model."

    She opened the carton and took out the contents.

    "Since we have bid farewell to our past identities, there is no need to restore the things I gave you in the past, let alone exist, so we can just dispose of them."

    After finishing speaking, Cheng Suran took off the transparent box, raised the model and smashed it hard on the ground.

    In an instant, it broke into pieces, scattered all over the place.

    Shattered into countless pieces.

    Jiang Yu''s heart shattered as well.

 CH 95

    "I misunderstood you today, I''m sorry. I hope we can reduce our private communication in the future."

    "Goodbye."

    Cheng Suran resolutely turned around and left.

    Fragments of the model were scattered on the ground, small parts rolled far away, the swings fell apart, the decorations fell off, and the limbs of the figurine were broken and changed beyond recognition.

    Jiang Yu looked at the mess on the ground as her mind buzzed.

    [The left side is your career, which is what everyone sees, and the right side is your life, which is what I see. ]

    [Sister, do you still like it?]

    [I like it very much.]

    [In these years when you were not around, it was my only keepsake.]

    Her heart fell to the ground.

    Jiang Yu squatted down slowly, stretched out her hand, picked up the scattered pieces on the ground one by one, and put them into the acrylic box. As she picked it up, her hands trembled more and more, and her shoulders trembled.

    Tears welled up in her eyes, gradually blurring her vision.

    It''s broken.

    All broken.

    She gritted her teeth and gasped, and suddenly laughed: "Fortunately... I ate a lot of food today... I really won''t be able to eat like that in the future..." She muttered as she picked them all up.

    She had picked up most of the fragments within her reach, but those farther away were beyond her grasp. So, she knelt down, crawled over, and picked them up. Even the tiny bits and pieces were gathered in the palm of her hand.

    Tian Lin stood behind, watching her, and unknowingly, her eyes turned red as well.

    How did it become like this?

    If loving someone requires you to humble yourself, then it''s meaningless to be together. "Sister Yu, stop picking."

    She couldn''t help but advise.

    Jiang Yu seemed as if she couldn''t hear, still kneeling on the ground. The ceramic tile floor was very smooth. The tiny, fragmented debris couldn''t be picked up, so she used her fingernails to scrape and grab.

    After cleaning up, she trembled as she stood up with the box in her arms. She closed the door, turned around, and just like that, she bumped into Tian Lin''s line of sight. She paused for a moment, forced out a bitter smile.

    "It''s too late today, stay at my place."

    Seeing her tearful face, Tian Lin''s heart ached: "Okay."

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes and didn''t say anything else. She walked towards the master bedroom with the box in her arms, step by step like stepping on cotton.

    Behind, Tian Lin''s tears fell.

    ....

    After running out of the community, Cheng Suran sat in the car in a daze, with wet tears hanging from the corners of her eyes on her eyelashes, she quietly looked at the shadow of the street lamp, her heart was turbulent.

    It was a gift that she spent a lot of time and energy on, it was a gift that carried her full sincerity and love, and it was a gift that should have been thrown into the trash can. Jiang Yu picked it up in front of her, and she destroyed it in front of Jiang Yu.

    But she didn''t feel at ease at all.

    What was shattered was not just the model, but also her heart. The harsh words she had said to Jiang Yu were meant for both Jiang Yu and herself. While it seemed like she was "getting back" at Jiang Yu, she was actually tormenting herself.

    The phone suddenly vibrated.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head and saw that the ID was Ruoxian, and realized that she had been out for a while, so she quickly connected: "Ruoxian...

    "Ranran, where have you been? Why are you taking so long?" The voice on the phone was a little anxious.

    "I''m here at Jiang Yu''s place, I brought her something." Cheng Suran said truthfully, "I''ve already left, I''ll be back right away."

    "Oh."

    The tone returned to calm.

    After ending the call, Cheng Suran looked up and gazed deeply at the tall building inside the gate.

    There won''t be a future anymore.

    Before entering the house, Cheng Suran tucked away all her emotions. The living room light was still on. Wen Ruoxian sat alone on the sofa in a daze, as expected. She always had to wait for her to come back before she could sleep peacefully.

    "Ruoxian¡­"

    "You''re back."

    Wen Ruoxian got up with a smile, Cheng Suran watched her walking towards her, a little nervous, afraid of revealing her emotions, so she smiled casually.

    "Mm, we chatted for a while and forgot the time."

    "Is Miss Jiang doing okay?"

    "She''s fine."

    Cheng Suran lowered her head to change her shoes.

    Wen Ruoxian gazed at her thoughtfully for a moment, nodded, and didn''t ask any further. Out of habit, she reached out and gently smoothed Cheng Suran''s hair, saying, "You''re tired too today. Get some rest early."

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran showed a cute smile: "Good night."

    Wen Ruoxian walked over to the room, calm as if nothing had happened, everything was as usual. The moment Cheng Suran closed the door, she breathed a sigh of relief, leaned against the door softly, and closed her eyes.

    She wondered how Jiang Yu was doing right now.

    Would she pick up the broken model? Or would she have the nanny clean it up along with the new clothes and throw everything away? If she did pick it up, would she attempt to piece it back together? With her clumsy hands, it might be difficult for her to restore it to its original state. If she ended up throwing everything away, would that mean her heart had been deeply wounded, and she would no longer want to have any dealings with her?

    Thinking of the latter makes her chest ache.

    Isn''t she the one who has been hurt...

    Cheng Suran opened her eyes, looked up at the ceiling light and got lost in thought for a while. She was too impulsive tonight, putting aside her emotions, Jiang Yu is currently the company''s biggest client, if she cut off the follow-up cooperation because of this, it would be a big loss.

    "Ranran."

    There was a knock on the door behind her, and Wen Ruoxian called her outside.

    Cheng Suran straightened up in a jerk: "Mm, what''s wrong?"

    "Are you okay?"

    "I''m fine."

    "Oh.¡­"

    There was silence for a while through the door, and then came a gentle voice: "I''m going to sleep. If there is anything, I''ll be there anytime."

    "Okay."

    There was no more movement outside.

    Cheng Suran collapsed on the big bed, suddenly feeling extremely relieved.

    Now she is not alone, she has a friend by her side, accompanying her, and caring for her. She should cherish the present moment, not think about messy things, and let everything take its course.

    ¡­.

    It was late at night.

    Back in the room, Jiang Yu carefully put the box on the table, rummaged through the box, and found a piece of glue, like grabbing a life-saving straw.

    She sat down, picked up the larger pieces, put together the outlines as she remembered them, applied glue to the cracks, and glued them together carefully and awkwardly.

    It doesn''t matter.

    It doesn''t matter if it''s broken.

    She can pick it up from the trash, she can put it back together.

    Even if it doesn''t look the same.

    The larger fragments were relatively easy to piece together, but the scattered tiny pieces were nearly impossible to identify, making the task as challenging as reaching the sky. Jiang Yu sat under the desk lamp, working from midnight until three in the morning, managing to piece together all the major parts with great effort.

    However, there are too many missing and damaged places, and it is impossible to see that it is a model at all.

    The light yellow light from the desk lamp softly sprinkled on the model, and also lit up Jiang Yu''s eyes. A cluster of small flames jumped in those dark pupils, the surrounding was very quiet, and her lonely shadow stretched very long.

    The light seeped through the study and the dressing room, casting a glow outside. It caught Tian Lin off guard as she got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.

    "Sister Yu..."

    The door of the master bedroom was ajar, she yawned, and walked in lightly, "Why haven''t you slept yet? It''s past three o''clock."

    Startled, Jiang Yu''s hand trembled, causing the small fragments she had glued together to fall. She hurriedly bent down to pick them up, not paying attention, and bumped her forehead against the edge of the table with a thud. Ignoring the pain, she hastily picked up the small pieces, blowing on them and holding them in her palm.

    That impact sounded quite strong.

    "I''m not sleepy yet, I''ll go to sleep after I''m done."

    Jiang Yu''s appearance startled Tian Lin, instantly shaking off any drowsiness. She quickly stepped forward and rubbed Jiang Yu''s forehead, then glanced over at the items on the table, her expression turning serious.

    "Does this even mean anything?"

    She asked.

    Jiang Yu lowered her head, wiped off the dusty glue with a paper towel, and applied a new layer.

    "So what if it''s finished? What she did today is to tell you clearly that nothing is impossible. Why bother keeping this thing and making yourself miserable? Are you willing to sacrifice your dignity and your backbone?"

    "If you have to humble yourself to love someone, then it''s meaningless to be together." Tian Lin hated iron for not being steel.

    Finally, Jiang Yu paused in her task and stared blankly at the broken pieces. Suddenly, she smiled and said, "We should hold onto some memories."

    "Besides, I don''t think this is humbling."

    "..."

    Tian Lin was speechless.

    "Okay, I''m going to sleep now, and I''ll fight tomorrow." Jiang Yu coaxed her.

    Turning off the desk lamp, the only light source was a small wall lamp, making the whole room even darker. Jiang Yu watched Tian Lin go out, went back to the bedroom, and threw herself on the bed.

    Rabbit dolls engulfed her.

    The light from the high-rise outside came in through the gaps in the curtains, projecting strange shapes on the ceiling, large and small light spots, sometimes flickering, sometimes still, confusing her eyes.

    Sleepiness gradually swept over.

    She is dreaming.

    It was the same girl, still wearing a floral skirt, standing on the lawn, smiling at her. She reached out to hug her, but couldn''t move, and could only watch her go further and further away...

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Jiang Yu didn''t sleep well that night.

    As the sun rose, her sleep was disrupted by the sound of her phone vibrating. She rubbed her groggy eyes and checked the incoming call¡ªit was from Bai Lu. The drowsiness instantly faded.

    "Hello..."

    "Sister Yu, I''m back!" Bai Lu exclaimed excitedly.

    Jiang Yu scrambled to sit up: "Where are you?"

    "Jiangcheng Airport."

    "Isn''t the fashion season over yet? You''re going to Paris next week, why are you back?"

    "I miss you, so I''m back."

    "..."

    "Sister Yu, I want to eat your spicy chicken. Can we have it for lunch today? I deliberately got off the plane preparing my stomach. Those snacks and drinks are not as good as the dishes you cook yourself."

    She acted coquettishly like a child, and seemed to have forgotten the self-harm not long ago.

    Jiang Yu had a headache, and felt suffocated, but in the end she knows a large part of the reason why Bai Lu was so willful was her indulgence. No matter how unbearable the disaster she caused, she could only swallow it in her stomach.

    "Okay, I''ll let auntie buy chicken."

    "Sister Yu loves me the most!"

    Then the phone was cut off.

    Jiang Yu sighed as she held the phone. She sat on the bed for a moment before getting up and heading downstairs. She opened the curtains to let sunlight in. On the desk in the study, the broken model stood silently.

    Only a vague outline could be discerned, hinting that it was once a model.

    A fleeting moment of pain crossed her eyes. She gingerly picked it up and placed it inside a cabinet. The original acrylic box was gone, leaving it exposed and bare.

    From now on, this will be her only keepsake.

    ....

    The aunt nanny bought a freshly processed whole chicken, and Bai Lu arrived not long after. She hadn''t put on any makeup that day, and her sharply defined face looked naturally clean. She wore plain long sleeves and jeans, a very understated outfit.

    She had sprayed a hint of perfume, something quite rare for her.

    It is the vetiver iris that Jiangyu likes and often uses.

    Jiang Yu had initially planned to ask for an explanation, but as the words reached her lips, she hesitated. Seeing Bai Lu reminded her of that night''s blood, the words she had spoken, and a suffocating feeling weighed heavily on her heart.

    "You''ve been busy these days, right? Have you been taking good care of yourself?"

    Jiang Yu smiled instead.

    Bai Lu was taken aback, a nervous look briefly flashing in her eyes before turning into a smile. "It''s okay, being busy makes life fulfilling," she said, reaching out to take Jiang Yu''s arm.

    "Let me see your wrist."

    Jiang Yu grabbed her left hand.

    The cut wound on the wrist has healed, leaving only a faint scar, which can only be seen if you look closely.

    Bai Lu didn''t speak, just stared at her face.

    "It''s not worth hurting yourself for anyone." Jiang Yu put down her hand.

    "Don''t do this kind of thing again."

    "Oh."

    Bai Lu had a strange expression on her face, she withdrew her hand: "You don''t blame me?"

    "What?"

    "I came back on my own."

    "If I blame you, will you stop being stubborn?"

    "Go rest, I''ll cook," Jiang Yu turned and walked towards the kitchen.

    Bai Lu hurriedly followed, "I''ll accompany you."

    The ingredients in the kitchen were all prepared and placed on the counter in an orderly manner. Jiang Yu put on her apron and took charge of the cooking herself. She was like a robot operating according to the established procedures, with a face full of absent-mindedness.

    "Sister Yu, I have something to tell you." Bai Lu watched her calmly.

    Jiang Yu hummed without raising her head.

    "Miss Mina has been busy with foreign models recently. She has no time to take care of me. I thought I could help her when I have the time. What do you think?"

    "You are too busy with your own work, how can you help?"

    "It''s just a simple thing, like if I meet a new model at a certain show, I could help build a bridge in the middle and bring them to our company. Then we promote them, and who knows, we might even get a few contracts from those looking to leave their current agencies."

    "You''re a model, not a talent scout."

    Mina is the company''s Chief Agent and also the Director of the Brokerage Department. She''s also Bai Lu''s agent. Over the past few years, it''s been Mina who''s been handling Bai Lu''s bookings and accompanying her on her outings. The two have a close relationship and are often seen together.

    "I just want to help you with something. It won''t affect my work. After all, we''re family. If I can help, I definitely will. Don''t let the fat water flow to others'' fields." Bai Lu smiled and hugged her arm.

    Jiang Yu once again felt the torment of being with Bai Lu.

    The scarlet blood, the resentful eyes, aroused the shadow in her heart... She didn''t know if this kind of thing would happen again, as if there was a time bomb around her.

    "Well, as long as it doesn''t affect your work, you can do whatever you want, but if you can''t handle it, don''t force yourself and leave it to Mina." She just wanted to get rid of Bai Lu quickly.

    It''s better to keep this person busy than to be pestered herself.

    hoo¡ª

    A hint of cunning flashed in Bai Lu''s eyes, and a little joy appeared on her face: "Mm don''t worry."

    Jiang Yu cooked three dishes for lunch.

    Last night, she was heartbroken and sad, and she didn''t go to sleep until after three o''clock in the morning. Her mind was still a little heavy, her appetite was poor, and she only ate half a bowl of rice.

    In the past, whenever Bai Lu was with her, her mouth would chatter like a machine gun, talking about various topics and engaging in non-stop conversations. But today, it was as if she had become a different person. She was eating while looking at her phone and didn''t say a word.

    She left immediately after eating.

    Catching a plane back to Paris.

    After Bai Lu left, Jiang Yu immediately called her assistant to inquire and give some instructions. Although she had some lingering worries, she quickly felt a sense of relief and relaxation¡ªknowing that the ticking time bomb wasn''t beside her for the moment.

    A WeChat message popped up suddenly.

    Bai Lu: [image]

    It was a screenshot of a passer-by''s Weibo post.

    In the photo, she was standing by the baggage conveyor at the airport, and Cheng Suran had half of her face shown.

    Bai Lu: [Did you find your little sister again?]

 CH 96

    It happened to be the day when she met Cheng Suran at the airport.

    Weibo caption: [Saw Jiang Yu at the airport! Ah ah! Real person, so tall, so beautiful, I didn''t bother her!]

    Jiang Yu looked at the photo, frowned, and remembered the day when a passerby held up a phone to take a picture of her. The clues matched, but how did Bai Lu find the ordinary person''s Weibo?

    Soon she understood.

    Searching for her name in real-time on Weibo will display all publicly released relevant information.

    "..."

    The words'' little sister '' hurt Jiang Yu''s eyes.

    This is synonymous with a canary.

    Before, Ranran used to be jealous of Bai Lu, but back then, Bai Lu didn''t show anything. However, over time, her possessiveness grew, until it became pathological now.

    For some reason, it made her feel a bit uneasy.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t figure it out and only thought it was a joke, so she spoke in a serious tone and said, "Now she''s a business partner with the company, not some little sister. You should call her Miss Cheng."

    Bailu: [?]

    Jiang Yu: [I will explain later. Concentrate on your work first.]

    After waiting for a while, Bai Lu did not reply again.

    Jiang Yu stared at the profile picture, lost in thought.

    Flying back for twelve hours just to have a meal she cooked. This should have been a heartwarming and touching gesture, but for her, thinking about Bai Lu''s changes over these years only brought a sense of oppression¡­

    ¡­.

    Several days of continuous drizzle.

    Friday afternoon brought a sense of excitement. Just after four o''clock, people were already packing up, looking forward to the weekend.

    The sky was gray and misty, with dark clusters of clouds, thick and low like a gaping maw swallowing the steel and concrete of the towering buildings.

    Cheng Suran sat in the office, lost in thought.

    ¡ªtok tok

    She didn''t even hear a knock on the door.

    The office door was slowly pushed open, and Wen Ruoxian walked in. As soon as she lifted her eyes, she saw Cheng Suran in this state.

    "Ranran?"

    She walked around the desk and waved her hand in front of Cheng Suran''s eyes.

    Cheng Suran snapped back to reality, turning her face and still looking a bit dazed. "Ruoxian... When did you arrive?"

    As soon as she saw the newcomer, her clarity returned, and she smiled.

    "Just now." Wen Ruoxian looked at her with concern. "Didn''t you hear me knocking?"

    "Oh... I was lost in thought."

    "What were you thinking about?"

    "Work."

    Cheng Suran stood up, stacked the documents on the desk and moved them aside, then grabbed her bag. "Let''s go to the supermarket."

    Today, Wen Ruoxian returned from a business trip, and the two of them had plans to cook hot pot at home in the evening. Cheng Suran was waiting for her to go grocery shopping together.

    Wen Ruoxian gazed at her face.

    Since that night she returned from Jiang Yu''s place, Ranran''s emotions seemed a bit off. She would often be lost in thought when at home as if burdened by something. Wen Ruoxian had wanted to ask her several times but held back. These days, she had been wondering if it had something to do with Jiang Yu.

    That night, she observed Ranran''s every reaction and left an imprint in her heart.

    The seeds of suspicion took root and sprouted.

    "Ruoxian?"

    "Mm."

    "What''s wrong?"

    Cheng Suran noticed her distraction.

    Wen Ruoxian shook her head, putting on a smile. "Nothing, let''s go."

    Being a workday, the supermarket was less crowded.

    Wen Ruoxian walked arm in arm with Cheng Suran through the chilled and frozen section, picking up a few boxes of fatty lamb, beef rolls, and some small seafood. They both disliked ingredients like hot pot balls and had tacitly bypassed that section of the freezer.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    "Get some more spinach."

    "Hey, they have fresh rose grapes."

    "Don''t we still have some leftovers at home?"

    "With you, the fruit killer, there is no need to worry about not being able to finish eating, but you should think about it, what should you do if you don¡¯t have enough?"

    "You''re so mean!"

    Cheng Suran reached out and pretended to hit Wen Ruoxian, who swiftly dodged. They started playfully teasing each other in front of the fruit section, pinching and pulling.

    "Alright, let''s stop, it''s childish."

    "Quite self-aware, huh?"

    "You...hmph."

    Watching Cheng Suran defeated, Wen Ruoxian found her adorable and got a bit lost in thought. Softness unconsciously appeared in her deep black eyes. She couldn''t help but take Cheng Suran''s hand. "Alright, alright, it''s me who''s childish."

    Cheng Suran concealed her expression and stared at her in a daze.

    "What''s wrong?" Wen Ruoxian''s heart skipped a beat, and she casually let go of Cheng Suran''s hand. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

    She pretended to naturally pick up a box of rose grapes and put it into the shopping cart.

    "Hahaha!"

    Cheng Suran burst out laughing.

    "Everyone at the company says that Miss Wen is an old cadre, very aloof and serious, meticulous even. But who would''ve known that Miss Wen is so unorthodox in private." She said while she tsk.

    Wen Ruoxian let out a sigh of relief, feeling her tense nerves relax.

    She picked up two more boxes of rose grapes. "So, do you think I should be a bit more serious, or a bit less serious?"

    "Both are fine."

    "Mm?"

    Cheng Suran''s eyes sparkled. "No matter how you are, you''re the best in my heart."

    Wen Ruoxian''s steady heartbeat skipped a few beats.

    "Ranran..."

    "We''re almost done, let''s go check out the snacks."

    Cheng Suran took her with one hand and pushed the shopping cart forward with the other. Wen Ruoxian regained consciousness and grabbed the handle of the cart, saying, "I''ll push it.''

    The overhead speaker played soft and lyrical music, and the two of them leisurely walked between the shelves, arm in arm, like a loving and sweet couple. After a busy day at work, buying groceries after work, and going home to cook, filled with warmth and fireworks.

    ¡­.

    Back at home, Cheng Suran quickly organized the ingredients, while Wen Ruoxian got the pot ready. The two of them sat around the table, dipping meat into the boiling broth, and watching a show together.

    On the projection screen, the hero and heroine and the supporting actress are reasoning together.

    This is a suspense drama that Cheng Suran likes very much recently. She will watch two episodes when she has free time. She shared it with Wen Ruoxian, and now it had gone from one person to a two-person activity.

    "Hey the male lead is really dragging his legs, isn''t he? Speechless!"

    Seeing the exciting part, Cheng Suran exclaimed in excitement.

    Just as the female lead and the supporting actress were about to reconstruct the crime scene, the male lead unexpectedly made things worse, disrupting the clues, and everything had to start over.

    She was so caught up that she nearly forgot to breathe.

    "I agree." Wen Ruoxian chimed in, giving her a meaningful glance.

    "How about the female lead teams up with her best friend instead?"

    Cheng Suran leaned to the side, gritting her teeth. "Exactly!"

    "Lily alliance is good."

    "Absolutely."

    Wen Ruoxian pursed her lips.

    The seed that had taken root and sprouted in her heart suddenly bloomed. Encouraged, she cautiously continued, "A few days ago, I think I saw some fan-made edits of their CP scenes online..."

    "Who?"

    Cheng Suran was engrossed, taking a while before turning her head to ask.

    Wen Ruoxian''s hand trembled, causing the piece of fatty lamb she had just picked up to fall back into the pot. She remained composed, skillfully retrieving the slice of meat and nonchalantly saying, "The female lead and her best friend."

    Before the sentence was even finished, Cheng Suran turned back to the screen¡ªmore exciting plot twists were unfolding. She hurriedly responded with a couple of "Mm-mm".

    Steam rose from the pot, blurring their vision. Soft light illuminated her skin, making it even more delicate and moisturized, like warm porcelain coated with a layer of glaze.

    After finishing the show and nearly finishing the hot pot, Wen Ruoxian tidied up the table while Cheng Suran tossed all the dishes and utensils into the dishwasher. Then poured a cup of flower petal tea for each of them and comfortably slouched onto the sofa.

    Wen Ruoxian finished tidying up the table and glanced towards the sofa.

    If you miss today, there won''t be another chance to explore.

    She thought.

    She walked over, took a seat, lifted the cup of flower petal tea, and took a sip. She then pulled out her phone and searched for fan-made edits of Lily CP scenes. There were plenty of these videos, and after hesitating for a few seconds, she handed the phone to Cheng Suran to watch.

    "Ranran, I found the CP edit."

    "What?"

    "The female lead and her best friend."

    Cheng Suran was momentarily taken aback, recalling their earlier conversation. Her mood became subtly complicated, but before her mind could process it fully, her hand instinctively reached out, and her gaze focused on the screen. The editing skills were impressive, frame by frame, scene by scene, and the affection between the two women was captured tenderly, almost at the level of the original show.

    She looked at it with an aunt smile.

    "Ah, it''s so sweet."

    "It''s seamless..."

    Sitting beside her, Wen Ruoxian held her breath, feeling the rhythm of her heart beating faster in her chest. She seemed to glimpse a glimmer of hope, a trace of excitement. She continued with Cheng Suran''s words, "Yeah, what do we need men for? Two girls being together is so wonderful."

    "Exactly, the male lead is just slowing things down!"

    Cheng Suran nodded repeatedly.

    "For example..." Wen Ruoxian was about to say something else when she looked up and caught sight of the company''s awards displayed on the nearby shelf. The words "for example, us" that were about to come out of her mouth were suddenly swallowed back.

    A thunderbolt woke her up, and when she opened her eyes, there was a reality gap.

    Even if Ranran didn''t reject same-sex love, it didn''t necessarily mean she could accept it as a mere spectator, without experiencing it herself. There are many people like that in real life. If Wen Ruoxian were to recklessly pierce the window paper* but the other party doesn''t reciprocate the intention, it could lead to awkwardness between them at work in the future.

    *express what one never dare to express

    From its inception until now, this career hasn''t been around for long, and it''s still so young and fragile. This is precisely the time when it requires the careful nurturing and protection of two people.

    She can''t be selfish.

    She must have lost her mind today¡­

    "Ah? What did you say?" Cheng Suran looked up after watching the video, a lingering smile in her eyes.

    Wen Ruoxian calmly shook her head. "Nothing. Are you done watching?"

    "Mm, mm."

    She handed the phone back and met that face, her expression froze, and subtle emotions burst open like fireworks.

    Inexplicable, elusive.

    Very strange.

    ¡­.

    This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival fell within the National Day holiday.

    Before the break, Cheng Suran organized a company dinner, distributed benefits to all employees, and on the last afternoon, she accompanied Wen Ruoxian to the airport. With Wen Ruoxian gone, her home was now empty.

    She indulged in sleeping in on the first day, cleaning the house on the second, reading books, and watching TV shows. On the third day, it was Mid-Autumn Festival.

    Cheng Suran received a call from her aunt.

    Just like in the past few years, her aunt warmly called her by her nickname, urging her to come home for a family reunion. Without hesitation, she declined. However, this time was different. Her aunt mentioned that her cousin was getting married, and the wedding was scheduled for the day after tomorrow.

    "Ranran, in the past, your sister had a bad temper and did some things she shouldn''t have. You shouldn''t hold grudges against her. Anyway, she''s getting married now, and you''re her sister after all. The wedding is..."

    The woman on the phone prattled on, beating around the bush and saying a lot of things.

    Cheng Suran stood on the balcony, gazing into the distance, feeling somewhat impatient with the conversation. She interrupted in a calm tone, "I won''t attend the wedding. I''ll just send her a red envelope."

    "Uh, about the red envelope..."

    "Three eights, it''s lucky."

    There was a moment of silence on the other end.

    "Ranran, after all, she''s your sister, and all these years..."

    "Doesn''t ''three eights'' sound good? Well then, make it three sixes."

    "Well, uh... marriage should be for a long time, right? The longer, the better, isn''t that the case?"

    Cheng Suran understood the implication, a cold smile playing on her lips. She pretended not to grasp the hint, saying, "Three nines are fine, I''m busy to talk here."

    She hung up the phone.

    In the distance, a lively and bustling street.

    When she had initially gone to France for an exchange, her aunt had been entirely unwilling. She hadn''t expected her aunt to be willing anyway, and fortunately, she had enough money at the time. It meant she didn''t need to ask anyone for help; if she wanted to go, she could just go.

    Later on, after graduation, her aunt asked her what job she was looking for. She intentionally or unintentionally asked her to go home and take the rural entrance examination as a teacher. She said that she could find a good man in the future, but she didn''t respond. Apart from using the household registration to handle affairs, she never contacted her family.

    She could vaguely feel that her aunt had discovered that her household registration could restrain her.

    Fortunately, she ran fast and settled directly in the capital after being admitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her aunt no longer had any chips in her hands, so she could only speak up and shout out to her conscience. Later on, she laid her cards, revealing the case of the compensation money from her father. Her aunt was left speechless, and subsequently, her attitude towards her became increasingly gentle.

    She has never gone back in these years.

    Living alone for a long time outside makes you capable of handling anything on your own; it''s as if you no longer need others around.

    She often thought that being single for the rest of her life would be just fine...

    The streets were bustling with people, but Cheng Suran had no intention of going out. As noon approached, she prepared a sumptuous lunch for herself and took a photo to send to Wen Ruoxian.

    In the afternoon, she watched a movie on the home projector.

    The advantage of learning a foreign language is that watching the original film does not require subtitles, and she can focus on the visuals and plot like watching a native language movie.

    The leisurely day passed like this, and at night, Cheng Suran was too lazy to cook. She boiled a piece of corn and finished it. She then went for a walk downstairs in the community, wandering around, suddenly feeling a bit bored.

    Colleagues and friends on WeChat were all buzzing.

    She felt increasingly lonely.

    Various advertisements popped up, causing a dizzying array of visuals. A local lifestyle account posted a message: "Mystery guessing and lantern lighting event tonight at 8:00 PM in Yuhu Park."

    The photos from the event had a vibrant atmosphere, and they seemed quite interesting. Cheng Suran, currently engulfed in solitude, felt a stirring in her heart.

    Without much contemplation, she hurriedly went upstairs to change clothes.

    The night was bustling with people out and about. The roads were slightly congested, and Cheng Suran arrived at the park right at 8:00 PM. The outer parking lot was almost full, and it took her a couple of laps to find a parking spot.

    Outside the park''s entrance, two rabbit* lanterns hung high, and at the central plaza, there was a gigantic mooncake display. The air was filled with the melodious tunes of classical music, and people were bustling to and fro. Families strolled together, children around, and an air of joy and harmony enveloped the atmosphere.

    *Jade Rabbit, also called the Moon Rabbit is the mascot of Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon/Mooncake Festival. It is a character from Chinese folklore, who lives on the moon with Chang''e, the Moon Goddess.

    Walking through the main path, there lay the lantern riddles corridor.

    The sides of the corridor were adorned with jade rabbit lanterns, emitting a soft and hazy light that shimmered in the distance. Cheng Suran slowed her pace, taking a leisurely stroll, admiring each one as she passed by.

    She remembered the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival many years ago

    [Do you have confidence in yourself?]

    [Not very much.]

    [Sister believes in you.]

    The gentle smiling face of the woman burst into her mind, and on the ground were shadows of the two holding hands.

    Scene after scene flashed before her eyes.

    She couldn''t distinguish between the past and the present.

    Unconsciously, she finished walking through the lantern riddles corridor, and ahead was Yuhu Lake. Crowds had gathered along the shore, and the lake''s surface was adorned with flickering soft lights, reflecting in the pitch-black water.

    Cheng Suran collected her thoughts, taking slow steps to the lakeside and crouching down.

    Lanterns of various sizes floated on the water, adorned with written characters, drawings, and wishes. They floated here and there, sparsely scattered, uncertain of where they were headed.

    The warm light illuminated Cheng Suran''s eyes.

    She took out her phone and took a photo, which she sent to Wen Ruoxi¨¤n: "Does it look good?

    Wen Ruoxin replied in seconds, ''Where is this?''

    Cheng Suran: [Yuhu Park, lantern display.]

    Wen Ruoxian: [It looks good, make a wish.]

    [I returned to Jiangcheng early and am currently at the airport. I will go to the park to see you later.]

    Ah?

    Well, she wouldn''t be alone.

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips and smiled, as the small pear dimples rippled in a shallow arc. As she was about to get up and buy a lantern, a large rabbit lantern drifted towards her and gently bumped against the shore.

    Huh?

    She looked around and didn''t know who had set up the lamp. The rabbit looked unique and exquisite among the many lotus flowers. Curiously, she reached out her hand and picked it up.

    The candlelight burned softly, its glow faint yet distinct, reflecting the simple sketches on the lantern.

    Two rabbits.

    A large rabbit holding the hand of a smaller one, sitting back-to-back in a thicket of grass. Their long ears drooped, and their small fluffy tails were endearing and lively.

    Beneath the illustration were two capital letters: Y and R.

 CH 97

    Who could have drawn it?

    So cute.

    Cheng Suran looked at the rabbit lantern carefully and was about to put it back into the water when she suddenly noticed that there were words on the back, so she looked carefully¡ª

    Juste une photo de toi

    "!"

    These words¡­

    She turned back to the front simple sketch and stared closely at those two letters.

    Y¡­? Yu?

    R¡­? Ran?

    Cheng Suran suddenly raised her head, stood up holding the lantern, and looked around.

    The tourists nearby were chatting and laughing, walking leisurely. It was too dark, and the street lights on the shore were limited, so it was impossible to fully see everyone''s faces. She looked around and searched for the tallest one.

    After searching around, the tall people were all men, and she didn''t see an expected shadow.

    Could it be Jiang Yu...

    Is she also here?

    Cheng Suran was confused and suddenly realized that she had overreacted, and felt a little annoyed.

    So what?

    It''s none of her business.

    She put the lantern back into the water and continued walking aimlessly.

    The lake reflected the shadow of the gazebo lights, and the trees on the shore were covered with string lanterns. There was a lantern prayer activity tonight. Many people bought string lanterns and made wishes around the trees. She also joined in the fun and bought one.

    There were many people under each tree. She walked all the way, and when she saw a lot of people, she lost interest. After walking, she finally found a tree with few people.

    The tree stood by the lake, and there was only one person under the tree. Cheng Suran quickened her pace.

    As she got closer, she saw a silhouette of a person looking familiar. Tall and thin, with long hair and shawls, wearing a silver-gray long-sleeved shirt, simple and casual jeans, with long straight legs.

    Jiang Yu?

    Even after many years, she can still recognize her at a glance.

    Cheng Suran stopped in her tracks and was about to leave.

    But just then, that person turned around.

    Their gazes met.

    "Ranran?"

    Jiang Yu looked at her in surprise.

    Cheng Suran was a little flustered, pretended to be calm, and showed a surprised expression: "Miss Jiang, what a coincidence."

    The two stared at each other in silence.

    A gust of cool wind blows over, carrying the moisture of the lake and the faint smell of green grass.

    Jiang Yu smiled and her gaze fell on her hand, "Do you want to tie a string lantern?" She pointed to a tree beside her, "There are too many people around the shorter trees up ahead, this tree has fewer people, but it''s taller. I can help you tie it."

    "Thank you, no need," Cheng Suran replied softly, glancing at the tree, "I''ll find a lower branch on my own."

    "Okay."

    Jiang Yu didn''t say anything more.

    She has already tied up her string lantern, she has nothing more to do at the moment and was about to leave, but she did not expect to meet Cheng Suran here. If she had moved a little slower, she might have been able to stay a little longer.

    Should she go or not?

    Cheng Suran walked past her and reached the tree, looking up to find a suitable branch.

    This tree grows close to the water bank, and the slightly lower branches extend long above the lake, forming an irregular semi-arc shape. As long as you grab it and press it down a little, you can tie the string lantern to it.

    She stepped on the weeds on the bank carefully, grabbed the tree trunk with one hand, stood on tiptoe, and reached for the long branch with the other hand.

    Jiang Yu took back the strides she took.

    Touching the rough bark with her fingertips, Cheng Suran stood on tiptoe again, successfully grabbed the branch, and was about to pull it down.

    "Be careful..."

    Jiang Yu looked at her worriedly. Before she could finish her sentence, she saw her hand slip against the tree trunk, as if she were losing her balance. Without hesitation, she reached out and pulled her.

    However, her own footing gave way, and with an unstable center of gravity, she tumbled into the water.

    ¡ªsplash!

    The lake''s surface splashed with large waves of water.

    Cheng Suran''s arm throbbed from being pulled, and she took a few steps back, almost falling to the ground. She saw Jiang Yu unexpectedly falling into the water, and it startled her: "Jiang Yu!"

    She rushed over to pull her out.

    Jiang Yu got up from the water by herself.

    "Cough cough... I''m... I''m fine... there are steps below."

    "??"

    Below the surface of the water along the coast are artificial concrete steps, not too deep, just below Jiang Yu''s thigh. When she fell, her butt hit the concrete steps heavily, and the splashed water covered her head and body, making her all drenched like a drowned rat.

    Cheng Suran was still in shock, and quickly stepped forward to support her: "Did you get hurt?"

    "There''s a gazebo over there, I''ll help you go there."

    Jiang Yu clutched her chest and kept coughing, and her butt felt a dull pain. Cheng Suran helped her to the gazebo, sat down, hurriedly took out a tissue from her bag, wiped her face, and handed her two more.

    "Quick, wipe yourself."

    "Thank you," Jiang Yu said with slightly labored breath, gently moving her hand aside and drying her face.

    Cheng Suran''s hand froze for a moment before slowly retracting.

    Her clothes, thoroughly soaked, clung heavily to her body, and water droplets still clung to the tips of her hair. Jiang Yu appeared quite disheveled now. For her, this seemed like a good opportunity to use the sense of guilt to draw their relationship closer.

    But she didn''t want to do that.

    "Cough...give me your string lantern..."

    ¡°?"

    Without waiting for Cheng Suran to speak, Jiang Yu took away the same string lantern from her hand, got up and walked under the tree, tiptoed slightly, and tied it to a slightly higher branch.

    She shivered as the cold wind blew on her drenched body.

    Cheng Suran stared at her in a daze, her back turned. Suddenly, she realized just how thin she was.

    She had never been this skinny before.

    Her muscles and lines seemed to have vanished, leaving only a fragile skeleton.

    "Alright."

    Jiang Yu returned to the gazebo and sat down.

    Cheng Suran was about to say something when the phone rang suddenly.

    It was Wen Ruoxian''s call.

    "Hello? Ruoxian."

    Jiang Yu froze.

    "Almost there? Oh, I''m in the park, by the lake... Mm, sure, I''ll come pick you up." Cheng Suran looked in the direction of the park gate, responded a few times, and hung up the phone.

    She turned to look at Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu also raised her gaze to meet hers.

    "I..." Cheng Suran''s lips moved, "I have to go pick someone up now. If you''re okay, please go back and change your clothes as soon as possible. Don''t catch a cold." Her voice paused, and she seemed to remember something, a hint of guilt in her eyes. "Thank you."

    Then she turned and left.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Jiang Yu looked at her receding back, her body that was soaked in cold water shivered.

    Another gust of cold wind blew over, chilling deep into her bone marrow. She hugged her arms tightly.

    A huge full moon hangs high in the night sky.

    The moonlight is reflected on the surface of the lake, the lights are flickering in the distance, and there are many tourists.

    Jiang Yu stared at the moon in the water.

    Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, and everyone in the company is on holiday. Some have gone back home, others are traveling, and even the aunt nanny has returned to her hometown. During the day, she stayed in the empty house, spending the day finishing up the remaining model.

    The glue could only piece the model together in a rough shape, and she could tell it was indeed a model¡ªcrooked, twisted, and unsightly. It was barely presentable.

    Yet, it was everything she had.

    When she came out to relax this night, she put a rabbit lantern by the Yuhu Lake and tied a wishing string lantern on the tree. She remembered the Mid-Autumn Festival night spent with Cheng Suran many years ago. They guessed lantern riddles and looked at the moon together...

    The moment she saw Cheng Suran, she thought she was hallucinating from missing her too much, and then realized that Ranran was also alone.

    They might still spend the holidays together.

    This joy didn''t last long, Wen Ruoxian shattered her fantasy - and left her behind. Definitely, without hesitation.

    She is like an abandoned dog.

    When she was young, no one wanted her, her father asked her to go to her mother, and her mother asked her to go to her paternal grandparents. They didn¡¯t want her. Her grandma thought she was cumbersome. A group of adults threw her around like a toy.

    Later, she didn''t trust anyone anymore, and she had no one to rely on except herself. In her world, only herself was the most important.

    You gain yourself, you lose yourself.

    After all, she is fit to live alone.

    Her heart throbbed uncontrollably, as if a piece was missing, the cold wind poured in, her body felt cold and so as her heart, and the chill was piercing.

    Jiang Yu shuddered and opened her bag, it was soaked inside, and her phone and documents were also wet. She took out her phone, wiped it with the remaining tissue Cheng Suran gave her, and unlocked it.

    Fortunately, it was not broken.

    WeChat messages were piling up as ellipses; many people were wishing her a happy holiday and sending her red envelopes.

    Tian Lin rambled on like an old aunt, sending dozens of messages, from afternoon until evening, all urging her to go out for a walk. Pei Chutong sent seven big red envelopes in a row, two short videos, and an unanswered voice call. Bai Lu excitedly sent her a voice message, saying that fashion week was wrapping up, and she''d be returning to the country after finishing up the photo shoots in the next couple of days.

    She replied one by one, accepted the red envelopes, and then sent them back, her cold body finally felt a little bit of warmth.

    Unknowingly, it was getting colder. Her hands bore purple blood spots under the lamplight. After replying to the messages, Jiang Yu put away her phone, glanced in the direction Cheng Suran had gone, and then stood up and left.

    ¡­.

    The timing was just right, as soon as Wen Ruoxian got off the taxi, Cheng Suran saw her and trotted over.

    ¡°Ruoxian!¡±

    "Why did you come back early? Isn''t today the Mid-Autumn Festival? Does your family have any objections?"

    Wen Ruoxian''s expression was gentle, her smile still faint as she said, "I had lunch at home and stayed there for a couple of days. I got bored, so I wanted to come back." Her gaze slightly evaded under the dim light.

    "Did you come back to keep me company?" Cheng Suran didn''t notice at all; she made a joke and playfully looped her arm around Wen Ruoxian''s.

    "Will you be burdened when I say so?"

    "No."

    "Then I did."

    "Hahaha¡­"

    Wen Ruoxian looked at her and smiled, her two small pear dimples seemed to be filled with glistening water, her mood suddenly became clear, and she breathed a sigh of relief: "Ranran, do you still want to light up a lantern*? Let''s light another one up?"

    *they''re talking about the floating lanterns, the ones you light up, some still use real flames but nowadays they use led lights and let it float on the lake with your wishes. While the string lanterns are the ones you hang or carry while strolling and the other one is the flying one

    "I do" Cheng Suran hesitated, "I haven''t lit one myself, the one I showed you was someone else''s lantern."

    She hadn''t had the chance to light a lantern before meeting Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu...

    Before her eyes flashed the woman sitting there in a state of embarrassment, soaked all over, her chest twitched abruptly, feeling a little uneasy.

    Jiang Yu fell into the water to save her, and it seemed not good for her to leave her there.

    But¡ª

    "Alright, let''s put one each." Wen Ruoxian walked with her on her arm.

    Cheng Suran came back to her senses and hurriedly followed the pace.

    The lakeside was bustling with activity as more people gathered. Numerous lanterns adorned the water''s surface, creating a dense and vibrant display of light. Cheng Suran thought of the rabbit lantern and wondered where it had floated off to.

    She had bought a rabbit lantern herself too.

    "Ruoxian, what wish did you write down?"

    "It won''t work if you say it."

    "Oh."

    Cheng Suran pretended to be upset and lowered her head to fiddle with her own lantern.

    "Okay, okay," Wen Ruoxian softly coaxed her, and handed the note over, "I''ll show you."

    ¡ªI hope Ranran will always be happy.

    A very simple wish.

    Her handwriting is elegant and powerful, and her pen is sharp.

    Cheng Suran was startled, and asked with a smile: "Why don''t you make a wish for yourself?"

    "This is my wish." Wen Ruoxian looked at her deeply, her eyes were scorched by the flames.

    Cheng Suran narrowed her eyes: "Then I''ll make a wish for you too, just one..." She tilted her head and thought for a while, then smiled slyly, "I wish Miss Wen Ruoxian get out of her singlehood as soon as possible! Hahahaha."

    Wen Ruoxian was stunned.

    "I wonder what kind of person would be worthy of our Ruoxian," Cheng Suran mused, sticking a note to her phone. She quickly wrote down her wish, muttering to herself as she did.

    Wen Ruoxian lowered her gaze, not responding.

    Two lanterns swayed and floated along the current of the water.

    After setting off the lights, Cheng Suran took Wen Ruoxian to watch the lantern riddles, bought another string lantern, and followed the original path to find the tree. There were more people in the park now, and from a distance, she saw three or four people surrounded by the tree just now, and several long string lanterns were already hanging from the branches.

    A mother with a stroller sits in the gazebo.

    Jiang Yu''s shadow had long since disappeared.

    Cheng Suran stood on the side of the stone road, looking around, surrounded by strange faces.

    "Ranran, I''m done." Wen Ruoxian patted her on the shoulder.

    "Look."

    Cheng Suran turned her head when she heard the sound, and the two long string lanterns were close together, entwined and fluttering in the wind, she nodded absent-mindedly.

    Jiang Yu should have gone home...

    With an assistant and a nanny, she should be fine.

    She doesn''t need to worry about her either.

    ¡ªbang!

    There was a loud bang, and the sky suddenly lit up.

    Cheng Suran was startled, raised her head, and the sky above her head was filled with gorgeous fireworks, she immediately put her thoughts behind her, and shook the arms of the person beside her: "Ruoxian, there''s a fireworks display!"

    "Mm." Wen Ruoxian replied with a faint smile.

    Cheng Suran furrowed her brows slightly and led her to a less crowded corner. "Ruoxian, are you feeling down? You seem a bit somber tonight."

    "Do I?"

    "We''ve known each other for so long, can I really not tell?"

    "..."

    "If it''s inconvenient, forget it."

    The smile on Wen Ruoxian''s lips faded, and a look of sadness suddenly appeared in her eyes, and she sighed: "It''s not an inconvenience, it''s just that I had a little conflict with my family, so I came back early. They... urged me to find someone."

    Cheng Suran remembered her joke just now, and covered her mouth: "I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have joked with you just now..."

    "Huh?" Wen Ruoxian raised her eyebrows and smiled, "I don''t mind voluntarily leaving my singlehood but being forced to leave is a different thing."

    She lied.

    It was not her family who urged her to find a partner, but she came out to her family.

    Wen Ruoxian''s family ran a business, making them relatively well-off. Being the only child, she grew up in comfort and freedom, developing a gentle and composed nature. She approached everything with humility and patience, believing that what truly belonged to her would always be hers.

    Her parents never asked her to abide by the rules, and never urged her to get married and have children. She has always been very open-minded, but she never thought that her "open-minded" parents could not accept her sexual orientation.

    She quarreled with her parents and returned to Jiangcheng in a hurry.

    It''s better to come out to your family early, to avoid coming out for someone in the future and burdening them with psychological pressure and double stress. This way, she took responsibility for her own choices and wouldn''t blame anyone else.

    The so-called "someone" is standing right in front of her now.

    She couldn''t say anything.

    "Do you have to get married?" Cheng Suran pouted.

    "That''s not true." Wen Ruoxian shook her head, "It''s just that it will be annoying if you talk too much. Actually..." She stopped and looked at Cheng Suran.

    "Mm?"

    "I have someone I like."

    "Who is it?" Cheng Suran''s face lit up with excitement as if seeking gossip.

    Wen Ruoxian gazed at her, her throat bobbing, and her hand hidden at her side clenched tightly. Suddenly, she averted her gaze stiffly. "She''s* not here. And... she doesn''t like me."

    *The text used Ëý which means ''she'' but Ëû for ''he'' and Ëü  for ''it'' are all read as ''ta'' so when spoken it would not give away the gender of the subject they''re talking about.

    "Ah, that''s a pity," Cheng Suran frowned.

    Wen Ruoxian was silent.

    There were several loud bangs not far away.

    A series of flames rose into the night sky, exploding fireworks of various shapes, and the night was dyed as bright as day, and the surrounding people all exclaimed in unison.

    "Ranran..." Wen Ruoxian turned around, but still couldn''t help asking her, "Do you have someone you like?"

    "!?"

    Jiang Yu''s face flashed before Cheng Suran''s eyes.

    Why Jiang Yu?

    Memories from five years ago surged, every frown and smile of that person, every word and sentence, spun fast like a revolving lantern, and she couldn''t drive them away.

    Cheng Suran became a little flustered and smiled under guise: "No. Making money is the most important thing now."

    "Makes sense."

    Wen Ruoxian nodded in agreement, but the light in her eyes dimmed.

 CH 98

    On the second day after returning home, Jiang Yu caught a cold.

    In the morning, when she got up, her whole body felt weak, her head was heavy, her feet were light, and her throat hurt. She took out a thermometer and measured her temperature. It was 37.5 degrees, a low fever.

    She is the only one in the house.

    Fortunately, there were enough ingredients and medicines, so she ate lunch briefly, made herself an ice pack to press her forehead, lay back on the bed and rested, and slept until the evening when she woke up, she went to the bathroom.

    Her fever subsided, but her head was still a little heavy.

    Jiang Yu staggered into the toilet, accidentally stepped on something slippery, lost her center of gravity in an instant, and fell to the ground.

    ¡ªthud!

    The glass by the sink fell and shattered.

    A shard of glass cut her arm.

    "Hiss."

    There was a sharp stabbing pain in her arm, while her knee was knocked hard. Jiang Yu frowned in pain and struggled to get up from the ground. The blood from the wound dripped down her white arm, scarlet and dazzling.

    She tore some toilet paper, wiped off the blood, covered the wound, and went to get the medicine box.

    Cleaning, applying medicine, and bandaging.

    Skilled and natural

    After treating the wound, Jiang Yu went back to clean up the mess, went to the bathroom, then continued to go back to the room to sleep, as if nothing had happened.

    The last few days of the holiday have been a rough one.

    On the first day back to work, Jiang Yu''s cold hadn''t fully recovered yet, but she managed to attend meetings at both companies.

    Recently, the focus of her work is on clothing design. Spring and summer fashion season is over, and their brand has achieved fruitful results this season. Before the order fair started, many buyers couldn''t wait.

    As one of the designers, she had to give a detailed presentation on the design details and concepts of their brand''s RESEE to buyers, editors, and media.

    Apart from these responsibilities, she also had personal matters.

    On the nineteenth floor of the building, there was an entire floor dedicated to Jiang Yu''s workspace. After the meeting, instead of going directly to her office, she entered the adjacent workshop. Inside, there were several human body models, and a large work table was covered with fabric scraps, design drawings, and various scattered items.

    This is her "private studio".

    A large "Y.R logo" hangs on the snow-white wall. With a light touch on the switch, the small lights wrapped around the letters lit up, and the champagne golden light shone brightly, warm and beautiful.

    Among the tall and slender mannequins, the shortest one stood out. It was only 165 cm tall, with measurements of 84, 63, and 88 respectively. It wore a long chestnut curly wig and had makeup on its face.

    A life-size "Cheng Suran" for trying on clothes.

    Jiang Yu walked to the work table and glanced at all the sketches. She prepared these for the "Y.R" series. The autumn and winter styles were customized according to Cheng Suran''s body size, and some samples had already been made.

    The rest is to be adjusted.

    She sat down, turned on the laptop, and picked up the sketches. From spring and summer series to autumn and winter series, there are a total of fifty-two sets for various occasions throughout the year.

    Suddenly, she received a call from Tian Lin.

    "Sister Yu, can you contact Mina?"

    "What''s wrong?"

    "I want to sort out last quarter''s performance here, as well as model tracking data. Other agents are in place, only Mina''s data is missing. You also know that Mina is special, and she has more autonomy than everyone else. ..." Tian Lin finished the matter in one breath.

    Jiang Yu stared at the computer screen, silently reciting measurements, carefully moving the mouse with her right hand.

    "Okay, I''ll try to contact her later."

    "Mm."

    After hanging up the phone, she casually dialed Mina, but the other party didn''t answer, and she sent a message on WeChat again, but she didn''t get a reply for a long time.

    As the chief agent, Mina is really busy.

    Jiang Yu didn''t think much, put down her phone, and continued to modify the design.

    Until the assistant knocked on the door.

    The sun was gradually setting, nearing the end of the workday.

    Her assistant brought her warm water, and she took cold medicine with it, she still has a bit of a stuffy nose.

    "It''s okay, you can go home."

    "Okay."

    Her assistant turned and left.

    There''s a big conference in the capital next Wednesday. On one side is the Paris parent company that''s about to sign a supply agreement with ETERNO. Including her, there will be a total of five executives attending. It''s a two-day trip, and besides the consecutive interpreters, each person also needs to bring an accompanying interpreter.

    With the cooperation with Yisheng, the coordination process is much simpler, and four people have been finalized so far.

    Jiang Yu called Cheng Suran.

    She waited for quite a while.

    "Hello?"

    "Ranran, it''s me." Jiang Yu deliberately lowered her voice.

    There was an obvious pause on the other end.

    Was there a reason to be so surprised? Jiang Yu also felt puzzled, and suddenly couldn''t quite explain the feeling in her heart.

    "Oh, I see. What''s the matter?" Cheng Suran asked calmly.

    "Do you have work arrangements for next Wednesday and Thursday?"

    "Tell me what it is first."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu lowered her gaze, rubbed her reddened nose with her fingertip, casually picked up a pen from the table, and clenched it in her palm. "We have a negotiation meeting in the capital next Wednesday. We need an interpreter. We''ve already arranged for four people from your company, and there''s one spot left. I wanted to ask if you''re free."

    After finishing speaking, she added another sentence: "I remember you said that your work is calculated according to your itinerary, not according to the company''s procedure, so I called you."

    Her tone was very sincere.

    Although she was discussing work seriously, she was also prepared for the possibility of being rejected.

    "Wait a minute, let me check my schedule."

    "Okay."

    There was silence for a while.

    Jiang Yu held her breath, tightly clenched the pen in her hand, and slowly rubbed her thumb on the cap.

    "I''m free." Cheng Suran said.

    "Negotiation meeting, consecutive interpretation, right? I''m quoting 26,000 a day, plus travel expenses. Are you okay with that?"

    Jiang Yu smiled through the phone: "There is also an accompanying out-of-meeting role."

    "5,000 for English and 10,000 for French, not included with consecutive interpretation."

    Cheng Suran is like a ruthless pricing machine, speaking in a completely businesslike tone.

    "No problem."

    "Okay, you can send the information to my email."

    "Don''t we need to sign a contract?"

    "In theory, it is necessary, but we have already signed a one-year contract and cooperated once. I trust you."

    Jiang Yu was startled, and smiled through the phone: "Thank you for your trust."

    "Is there anything else?"

    "None."

    After discussing work, it was time to hang up, and Jiang Yu felt a bit reluctant. She wanted to wait for Cheng Suran to hang up first. Suddenly, Cheng Suran''s voice came through her earpiece again, "Did you catch a cold?"

    "A bit," Jiang Yu was caught off guard by the question, "But it''s getting better."

    Did her voice expose it?

    She was inexplicably expectant, waiting for Cheng Suran''s next sentence.

    Unexpectedly, Cheng Suran just said "Oh" without saying anything more, and simply hung up the phone neatly.

    Jiang Yu froze.

    The pen in her hand fell to the table with a "pada".

    She sighed deeply, lowered her head, and combed her hair with her fingertips. The phone vibrated again, and a WeChat message popped up.

    Mina: [I''ll do my best.]

    Just simple four words.

    After Jiang Yu finished reading, her thoughts jumped from Cheng Suran to Bai Lu. Paris Fashion Week, the last stop of the fashion season, is over, and she hasn''t asked about Bai Lu''s situation, and the other party is not as eager to fly back as before, and she hasn''t even seen a text message.

    She couldn''t remember when she started avoiding Bai Lu.

    Proactively reaching out to each other feels like a must-do task. Thinking about it, Jiang Yu opened her phone''s address book, found the number, and before dialing it out, she did some psychological preparation for herself.

    Do good deeds and accumulate virtue.

    It''s morning in Paris. Soon, Bai Lu answered the phone: "Sister Yu, what''s the matter?"

    Her tone was flat.

    Jiang Yu was a little surprised.

    "It''s nothing, I want to ask you how you are. Have you had a good rest these days?"

    "I''m fine, I eat well, drink well, and rest well."

    "When are you coming back?"

    "It''ll be a few more days, not that soon."

    "..."

    "Sister Yu?"

    "Okay."

    "If there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up, I''m going out."

    "Mm."

    After the phone call ended, Jiang Yu felt relieved.

    ....

    It was drizzling in Paris.

    The sky was gloomy, and the light in the room was very dark. Bai Lu was sitting in front of the window with a cup of black coffee, her long legs crossed, her loose nightgown was almost falling off, and there was nothing underneath.

    "Did she call you?"

    "Mm."

    "What did you talk about?"

    The middle-aged woman speaking was Mina. She emerged from the closet, holding a handbag, and tossed it over: "Here, sponsored by the brand."

    Bai Lu glanced at it but didn''t move. She lazily took a sip of her coffee. "What else could it be? Just pretending to care. In reality, she''s annoyed to death..." She smiled with a hint of coquetry at the corner of her lips. "Ah, I can totally imagine how she breathed a sigh of relief after hanging up, thinking the mission was accomplished."

    "Of course, Song Jiayao''s position in the industry isn''t stable yet. She can''t treat you like an endless source of money. How else can she keep you hanging?" Mina casually remarked.

    "You and I, we''re both tools to her. Used to pave the way and build stepping stones for others. Once she''s done with us, she''ll toss us aside."

    Every word pierced Bai Lu''s heart like a thorn.

    She snorted coldly and turned her face to the window.

    A sly smile appeared in Mina''s eyes.

    "Okay, I have to go back to China and continue to deal with the affairs there. The plan is going well. You can take a good rest during this period and leave everything to me."

    "Mm."

    The agent left.

    Bai Lu gazed at the view outside, the gray sky, the thick fog-like low clouds, and the damp, oppressive scent in the air. She felt tightly wrapped up, a desire to tear everything apart and destroy it all simmering within her.

    She gulped down the coffee, put down the cup heavily, and stood up.

    The robe slipped onto the carpet.

    A perfect model''s figure, the dream of many women.

    Suddenly, she rushed back to the bedroom, opened the closet, and took out the photo frame hidden at the bottom - a photo of her and Jiang Yu.

    Then, she took out the photo.

    ¡ªrip

    The palm-sized photo was torn to pieces.

    "I hate you."

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Wednesday was cloudy.

    On the eve of departure, Cheng Suran packed her luggage. Just like on many business trips, there wasn''t much difference. However, she couldn''t sleep that night. Her mind was filled with the image of Jiang Yu sitting there, drenched and disheveled. The sound of her nasal voice echoed in her ears...

    She fell asleep in a daze in the early morning, and was woken up by the alarm clock at 8:30. She struggled to transition into a work mindset, feeling like she wasn''t going to work, but specifically going to meet someone.

    [Ranran, there is breakfast in the kitchen, remember to eat it.]

    Wen Ruoxian''s note was pasted on the refrigerator door.

    Cheng Suran slowly finished the porridge, eggs, and cheese toast in the insulated box, leaving nothing behind. There was still time after eating, so she put on light makeup and changed into the suit she often wears at work.

    The familiar black car was waiting at the gate of the community.

    She slows down.

    As soon as she approached, the driver got out of the car: "Miss Cheng."

    Cheng Suran nodded.

    The driver took her suitcase and opened the back seat door. She bent down slightly and got in the car. A light and pleasant scent of iris entered her nostrils.

    Jiang Yu was sitting beside her, with her face turned slightly, her long eyelashes were distinct, and the corners of her eyes and brows were faint. Her lips were a vivid shade of reddish-brown, and she wore a more formal outfit, a cool and elegant off-white color that was sophisticated yet not overpowering. She shifted her gaze away from the small table and looked at Cheng Suran, a gentle smile tugging at her lips. "Ranran, have you had breakfast?"

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran stared at her, hesitant to speak.

    "We''ll first go to the airport to meet the others. After arriving in the capital, we''ll go to the apartment for a rest. Around three o''clock, we''ll meet with the representatives from the other company. Then, we have a dinner appointment in the evening."

    "Got it."

    Jiang Yu didn''t say anything more, and her gaze fell back to the small table.

    Cheng Suran also turned away silently.

    It was very quiet along the way.

    When they arrived at the airport, they met up with other executives. After completing the check-in procedures, half an hour before the flight took off, the group entered the VIP lounge.

    During this trip, Cheng Suran was not only a consecutive interpreter, but also Jiang Yu''s accompanying interpreter, and followed her throughout the trip. There happened to be two vacant seats by the window, and the two sat down respectively, one continued to flip through the documents, the other looked at the meeting materials, and neither of them spoke.

    The tip of her nose is lingering with the faint scent of vetiver iris, gradually transitioning from the top note to a rich layering, becoming more and more captivating as it was inhaled.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t help glancing at the person beside her from the corner of her eye.

    Jiang Yu was leaning on the back of the sofa, leaning slightly, with one hand resting on her forehead, looking at the paper documents intently.

    Completely undisturbed by the outside world.

    The words that had come to her lips twisted and turned, time passing second by second...

    "Is your cold better?"

    Jiang Yu was startled, turned around, and saw Cheng Suran looking at her with a hint of worry in her eyes. After a while, she came back to her senses: "It''s better now."

    "That night...you fell into the water to help me. I shouldn''t have left you there alone. I''m sorry." Cheng Suran lowered her eyes, and when she said this, she raised her head again and looked at Jiang Yu with guilt. "Later I went back to check again, and you weren''t there anymore. Are you really all right?"

    As soon as the words fell, her heart ached.

    How can she be all right?

    She was full of thoughts about not caring about Jiang Yu anymore, not getting any more emotions for Jiang Yu, but she still couldn''t do it after all. Dreaming all night, dreaming of her embarrassed appearance, waking up in heartache, tortured by herself to the point of going insane.

    "I''m okay." Jiang Yu smiled lightly, "It''s just a little cold."

    "That''s good."

    Cheng Suran nodded slightly, not knowing what else to say for a while, so she continued to read the materials.

    The condensed and stiff air between the two was broken.

    A warm air seemed to flow slowly in the invisible space. Jiang Yu looked deeply at Cheng Suran for a long time before finally withdrawing her gaze. Countless emotions surged within her like a torrent.

    The heart soaked in cold water suddenly warmed up again, and the lost blood flowed back bit by bit, filling her empty and cold chest.

    ....

    They arrived at the capital at one o''clock in the afternoon.

    This time, Jiang Yu arranged accommodations for everyone in a holiday inn that resembled a private residence, located within the Second Ring Road. There was a picturesque little park nearby. The rooms were all suites, with two bedrooms and a living room. Cheng Suran had initially considered sharing a room with the other interpreter, but Jiang Yu suggested that they stay together.

    "It''s more convenient to communicate about work."

    Jiang Yu spoke very sincerely.

    Probably out of guilt, Cheng Suran did not refuse.

    After the group checked in, they packed their bags and took a short rest. At about 3:30, they set off to meet the representative of the parent company in Paris.

    In the past two years, Jiang Yu intends to expand her foreign model market, and signed model transfer agreements with several overseas modeling agencies. In the first half of this year, she just signed with a Russian parent company. In the latter half of the year, she was negotiating with a company headquartered in Paris, which dominated two-thirds of the European model market. They were also interested in exploring the Chinese market. This trip had two purposes: contract negotiations and exploration.

    The two sides met and talked happily.

    Naturally, there will be dinner in the evening.

    The late autumn dew was heavy, and the north was even colder than Jiangcheng. In the evening, a fine drizzle began to fall.

    At the dinner table, Cheng Suran was sitting next to Jiang Yu. She was in a hurry today and didn''t have time to eat in advance to fill her belly. She was already prepared to not move her chopsticks and strive for a successful dinner.

    Just as Cheng Suran was fully engaged in her efforts, Jiang Yu suddenly switched to speaking in French.

    "Anais, On l''aime pour sa beaut¨¦ saine et classique.."* [1]

    *Anais, we love her for her healthy and classic beauty.

    Cheng Suran was taken aback.

    Several French people at the table also visibly paused for a moment.

    Then the conversation continued.

    While the others were talking, Jiang Yu tilted her head and glanced at Cheng Suran, lowering her voice, "Don''t go hungry, have something to eat quickly."

    Then she turned back.

    Cheng Suran''s mind jolted.

    She...

    Author''s Note:

    [1] Excerpted from the internet.

 CH 99

    When did she learn it?

    After listening to a few sentences, Cheng Suran soon found out that Jiang Yu was just a half-baked guy, her French level was about the same as that of domestic third-year students in English, and her vocabulary and sentence structure were very basic.

    She was buying time for her to eat.

    This feeling was like being bitten by a tiny bug, a slight, tingling discomfort in an unseen, intangible place. Cheng Suran couldn''t afford to waste any more time and quickly focused on eating.

    On the table, Cheng Suran only ate the dishes closest to her, and did not dare to eat too much in one bite, so that her mouth would not be too full. She kept a keen ear for Jiang Yu''s words, ready to step in if needed.

    Tonight''s dinner was relatively relaxed. Most of the conversations between the two sides were about daily life. Jiang Yu was able to handle some cultural differences between China and France with ease. Occasionally, there were a lot of professional terms related to the industry, so Cheng Suran''s help was needed.

    The meal lasted over two hours, and it was the most satisfying business dinner Cheng Suran had experienced in her career.

    After seeing off several representatives, everyone also returned to the apartment by car.

    "Have you had enough for dinner?"

    As they got into the car, Jiang Yu couldn''t wait and began to ask Cheng Suran, reaching out her hand. However, she suddenly hesitated, retracting her hand before making contact.

    Cheng Suran pretended not to see and lowered her eyes and let out a "Mm".

    Jiang Yu nodded, said nothing, then turned her face to the window. After a while, she leaned back and closed her eyes.

    The noises from outside were muffled.

    The smell of vetiver and iris fades, and the coolness seems to melt into the air, sometimes there, sometimes not, elusive and hard to grasp.

    Cheng Suran quietly looked at Jiang Yu.

    She was unsure if she was just resting her eyes or fell asleep, the mottled light and shadow outside the window passed over her face, her skin seemed to be covered with a layer of smooth glaze. She drank a lot of wine tonight, and her face was a little red. Looking at her like this, she lost some unpredictable coldness.

    The light flickered on and off, her long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and the center of her brow was slightly furrowed.

    This was a rare moment of delicate vulnerability.

    Cheng Suran was fascinated by it, and the corners of her mouth curled up unconsciously.

    ....

    Back at the apartment, Jiang Yu took a shower first.

    Cheng Suran sat on the sofa, flipping through tomorrow''s meeting materials, while listening to the sound of water dripping in the bathroom, her heart was in a mess and she couldn''t concentrate at all.

    She plans to go into the bathroom after Jiang Yu comes out.

    The bathroom was filled with a pleasant fragrance, a mix of iris and another indescribable scent that was refreshing and intoxicating, inducing a sense of relaxation.

    She washed for a long time, came out of the bathroom, and the living room was empty.

    Jiang Yu stood on the balcony.

    Her silhouette was graceful, her semi-damp hair cascading down her back. She wore a loose burgundy silk robe cinched at the waist. The light from below illuminated the fabric, slightly translucent, hinting at the graceful contours beneath.

    She looks thinner than before.

    Cheng Suran looked at her silently for a while, then walked over, the closer she got, the faster her heart raced. She stopped about a meter behind her.

    "When did you learn French?"

    Jiang Yu''s figure stiffened briefly.

    She turned to face Cheng Suran, their gazes meeting.

    "Over the past two years."

    "Dealing with people in this circle, you always need to know a bit. Handling simple daily conversations is not a problem, but in terms of proficiency, I''m sure it''s not on par with you," She smiled, with a gentle look on the corners of her eyes and brows.

    This smile is still charming and captivating.

    Cheng Suran''s heart beat faster, "Didn''t you work as a model in Paris before? Why didn''t you learn at that time?

    "For me, it was enough to learn English at that time. Although I was in Paris, I had to fly around when I was busy with work. Moreover, most of the models in the company came from all over the world. English communication is the most convenient. There was no need nor time to learn French. Jiang Yu looked at her seriously.

    Ranran is right in front of her.

    She wanted to hug her so badly.

    "Oh..." Cheng Suran lowered her eyes, "Thank you today."

    "For what?"

    "For buying me time to eat."

    Jiang Yu''s gaze deepened, and she took a small step closer. "I only found out this from some industry knowledge. Today''s schedule was tight, and there was no time to eat beforehand, but I didn''t want you to go hungry."

    "You didn''t have to..."

    Cheng Suran wants to say that this is her job, and she should work hard to do things well when she is paid for it. As for whether she is hungry or not, this is her own concern. But before she finished speaking, she was interrupted by Jiang Yu''s sudden bluntness.

    "Because it''s the girl I like, it''s happened once, and there can''t be a second time."

    She looked up sharply.

    Jiang Yu pursed her lips and smiled, her eyes open and frank.

    For such a short moment, she couldn''t hear anything, couldn''t feel anything, even her heartbeat stopped, and she seemed to be suspended in a vacuum. Quickly returning to reality, her only thought was to escape.

    "Understood," Cheng Suran smiled, "Miss Jiang, go to bed early, I''ll go over the materials again." With that, she turned and walked into the living room.

    "It''s not that early yet," Jiang Yu followed behind her.

    Cheng Suran sat on the sofa, picked up tomorrow''s meeting materials, and was about to open them, when she caught a glimpse of Jiang Yu sitting down from the corner of her eye, took out the contract to be signed tomorrow, and read it seriously.

    "..."

    She didn''t answer, and concentrated on reading the information.

    The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

    As she continued to read, a faint pain started in her stomach, coming in waves that gradually turned into continuous cramps... Cheng Suran frowned, one hand clutching her stomach as her body involuntarily curled up.

    Hiss¡ª

    There was an uncontrollable gasp in her throat.

    "Ranran?"

    Jiang Yu noticed the movement, and when she turned her head, she found that her expression was not right, so she quickly put down the document and leaned over, "What''s the matter? Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

    "My stomach... hurts..." Cheng Suran gritted her teeth and said.

    Jiang Yu looked down, reached out and touched the place where her hand was covering, frowned and said, "Your stomach?"

    "Mm¡­"

    "Why do you have a sudden stomach ache? Do you often have pain?"

    She almost immediately thought that Cheng Suran had stomach problems due to busy work and irregular meals.

    "No," Cheng Suran gasped, curled up and leaned on Jiang Yu''s shoulder, "Maybe I ate too much glutinous rice and drank iced drinks at night... It should be fine for a while.

    Today''s dinner was Chinese food, and there was a dish of steamed glutinous rice balls on the table, and she ate half of it at least.

    Ice drinks were substituted for wine.

    Seeing her with sweat dripping from her forehead, Jiang Yu was so anxious that she got up and searched the room, only to realize that this is not a hotel, and there is no front desk to deliver medicine.

    "Ranran, wait for me, I''ll go out to buy some medicine." She put on her coat without saying a word, and picked up her bag.

    "No need¡­"

    Cheng Suran called out to her.

    But the person had already left.

    It was past nine in the evening, and the chill in the air was heavy, with a fine drizzle.

    A chill hit her face and Jiang Yu shivered, tightened her coat, took out her phone and searched for nearby pharmacies that were still open. The closest one was about 700 meters away, and it was difficult to get a taxi around, and the driver who picked them up had already gone back to rest, so she could only walk on two legs whether it was a long or short distance.

    Walking was too slow, so she followed the navigation and ran.

    Wisps of rain and mist cling to hair and eyelashes.

    The surroundings were cold and silent, there were almost no people on the road, and even the light from the street lamps was cold. When she arrived at the pharmacy, Jiang Yu''s damp hair became even wetter. She hurriedly bought stomach medicine and digestive aids, and hurried back.

    After retiring, she did not relax and exercise, but after all, she was nearly forty years old, and her physical fitness was not as good as when she was young. She was exhausted after running back and forth.

    Back at the apartment, there was no one in the living room.

    "Ranran?"

    A weak voice came from the master bedroom: "I''m here..."

    Jiang Yu put down her bag, poured a glass of warm water, and entered the room with the medicine. There was only one desk lamp turned on inside, and Cheng Suran lay on her side on the bed, curling herself up like a shrimp, making gasping sounds.

    "Ranran..." Jiang Yu placed the glass of water on the bedside table, took out the pills, and reached out to help her sit up. "Here''s the medicine."

    Her long arm held the person securely in her embrace, carefully delivering the pill to her lips.

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran let out a muffled hum, and leaned softly against Jiang Yu, the tips of her ears inadvertently brushed against her collarbone. She sniffed, catching the familiar scent of irises.

    She obediently swallowed the pill handed to her by Jiang Yu. Suddenly, she found herself somewhat reluctant to let go of the warmth of this embrace.

    It had been a long time.

    It had never changed.

    "Here, drink some water." Jiang Yu took the cup.

    Cheng Suran took a big gulp, washing down the pill. In that moment, she sensed Jiang Yu''s chest rising and falling somewhat rapidly, as if she could hear the "thump thump thump" of her heartbeat, clear and distinct, echoing through her bones and flesh, reaching her ears.

    "Did you run there?"

    "Mm, it''s very close."

    Jiang Yu took out a tissue and carefully wiped off the sweat on her forehead, "The pain should be gone in a while."

    "Thanks¡­"

    "Don''t say those two words to me, okay?"

    Cheng Suran didn''t answer, but her eyelids slowly drooped and closed tightly, "Don''t worry, I won''t delay my work tomorrow."

    Jiang Yu was taken aback and smiled wryly "I didn''t think that way."

    "Oh."

    With that, the bedroom fell into complete silence.

    The soft yellow light is like hazy fireflies, dotted with stars, filling all the air, and the two shadows cuddling together are projected on the snow-white wall, creating a rare tranquility. Their trembling heartbeat gradually ceased to be heard, the rise and fall of the chest grew smaller, and those hidden, boiling thoughts quieted in the serenity.

    She wanted to be held like this forever...

    After an unknown amount of time, Cheng Suran felt the pain gradually subside until it disappeared completely. Overwhelming drowsiness swept in, and her eyelids fought a battle.

    "Does it still hurt?" Jiang Yu asked nervously.

    Only long breaths answered her.

    Had she fallen asleep?

    The person in her arms slept peacefully, with a pale complexion on her cheek. Her skin appeared delicate under the gentle light, resembling a piece of translucent white jade. Her long, distinct eyelashes curved upwards, and her lips were a faint shade of pink.

    Jiang Yu restrained the urge to kiss her, turned her face away, and reluctantly laid her down, covered her with the quilt, got up and prepared to turn off the light and leave.

    "Elder sister¡­"

    Cheng Suran, who was sleeping soundly, let out a murmur.

    Jiang Yu froze.

    "Sister¡­ hmm..."

    The person on the bed was sleeping soundly, murmuring softly, her weak voice seemed to be coquettish. Her head was tilted to one side, and the dim light sprinkled on her face like running water.

    What was she calling for?

    Jiang Yu held her breath, her lips trembling uncontrollably.

    "Elder sister..."

    "Sister, please don''t go¡­"

    The woman turned her face to the side, her dark hair tangled like a mess of threads. Between the strands, her small, round earlobe peeked out. Her lips formed a subtle curve, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly at the center, as if she were having a painful dream.

    She repeated that distant yet familiar title.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Time has knocked over the seasoning box of memory, shock, joy, melancholy... It was hard to describe the exact feeling.

    Jiang Yu took a deep breath, sat down, and slowly stretched her hand towards the woman''s face, but just as her fingertips were about to touch the skin, she changed her course, letting her hand rest on the strands of hair near her temple.

    Turbulent sourness swirled in her eyes, and tears slipped silently across her face.

    Light and shadow blurred into a ball.

    "I am here."

    She wiped her face, leaned over and leaned close to Cheng Suran''s ear, "Go to sleep, I won''t leave."

    Cheng Suran hummed twice in her sleep.

    This time, Jiang Yu didn''t hold back, kissed her hair lightly and carefully, held her with the other hand, and patted her comfortingly.

    What was she dreaming of?

    Was it the rainy day when she came back from Paris a few years ago, when she gave her a check of two million and then turned away? Or... the night when she was injured in the deep mountains and old forests, where she lay on the hospital bed and whispered her name?

    Dreams were often the opposite of reality. The person who begged her not to leave in her dreams shattered her sole desire in reality, decisively departing, leaving her with only dreamlike memories.

    Jiang Yu gazed at Cheng Suran''s sleeping face and smiled. A tearful smile, once again, welled up in her eyes.

    These days, her mood was ups and downs. She can''t grasp Ranran''s thoughts. On one hand, she''s afraid of causing annoyance, and on the other, she''s afraid of losing her forever. This constant back-and-forth has left her feeling bewildered, like being tossed into a vast ocean, holding onto a single piece of driftwood and aimlessly floating, unsure of where she''s headed, with no destination or boundary in sight.

    After returning home on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, she thought for a long time, maybe Ranran really didn''t want to have anything to do with her. Seeing her would only bring pain, not happiness.

    She thought, although she is living a good life now, she has a family, a career and friends, so why bother to make trouble for the other party.

    But what about today?

    If Ranran dreams of her and calls her "sister," does it signify that there''s still a tiny place for her in Ranran''s heart?

    She''s wavering

    "Mm¡­"

    Jiang Yu wiped away her tears and smiled happily. She suddenly felt that everything was full of hope again.

    The sleep talking in her ears stopped at some point.

    Time to go.

    Jiang Yu caressed Cheng Suran''s hair with nostalgia, feeling extremely reluctant. What if Ranran dreamed of her again at night and called her? If she was here, at least she could comfort her and let Ranran sleep well... She kept persuading herself, and her thoughts became more and more intense. She glanced at the other side of the big bed.

    A bed of 1.5 meters is enough for two people to sleep.

    Jiang Yu went to the toilet lightly, turned off the headlights in the living room, returned to the room with two pillows, put the phone with the alarm clock set on the bedside, and climbed onto the bed from the other side.

    The upright pillow is placed between them as a "safety line".

    She turned off the light and lay down.

    In the darkness, the sound of breathing was close to her ear, tickling her senses like a craving for cigarettes. Her hand reached through the gap between the two pillows, and her fingertips touched warm skin.

    It was Ranran''s hand.

    Jiang Yu moved her fingers and intertwined with her.

    "Good night."

    ....

    The next morning, the alarm clock rang.

    Half asleep and half awake, Cheng Suran felt that she was wrapped in something soft and warm, like lying in a cloud, she rubbed her face in comfort, and opened her eyes in a daze.

    A magnified face appeared before her eyes.

    Elder sister?

    She gazed blankly, thinking she was still dreaming.

    In the dream, she was lying in Jiang Yu''s arms, coquettishly and full of joy, and said to her: "Sister, don''t go, I want to see you every morning when I wake up."

    Then Jiang Yu agreed with such a gentle smile.

    The alarm clock was still ringing, and the person in front of her uttered a babble, opened her eyes, and the two looked at each other for one second, two seconds, three seconds...

    Cheng Suran suddenly woke up and got up: "Why are you sleeping here with me?  "After speaking, she hurriedly looked down at herself.

    "..."

    Jiang Yu also regained her senses, rubbing her eyes and sitting up, explaining truthfully, "Last night you had stomach pain, and after taking the medicine, you fell asleep. I was worried, so I..." She left out the part about the dream, looking around, "I put two pillows in the middle of the bed, how did they disappear?"

    The pillows fell to the floor.

    Only then did Cheng Suran remember that last night she suddenly had a stomach ache, Jiang Yu ran out to buy medicine and fed her, and she only remembered feeling very sleepy, with no further recollection.

    "It must have been accidentally kicked down while sleeping," she said, looking at the pillow on the ground.

    "Ranran do you believe me?"

    "I do."

    Jiang Yu smiled, took the phone and turned off the alarm clock, looked at her stomach, "Does it still hurt?

    Cheng Suran shook her head.

    It was a dream, yet not entirely.

    How could the dream have such a real touch and warmth? It turned out that this person was right by her side.

    The face was exactly the same as in the dream, but the expression in the eyes was different, a bit less cold and distant, replaced by more warmth and familiarity. After five years, people do change.

    When she looked up at Jiang Yu before, she could only see the aloofness and sternness, the desire to dominate and control, but now she looked at Jiang Yu at the same level, and realized that there are still so many hidden corners waiting for her to explore.

    At this moment, she felt like she was getting to know Jiang Yu again.

    For the ten o''clock negotiation meeting, Jiang Yu and her party arrived on time. This time, consecutive interpretation was used. After one party finished speaking, the interpreter would translate the sentence again. The accuracy rate was higher than that of simultaneous interpretation. Cheng Suran was the leader in the meeting, and her accuracy rate was over 95%.

    The whole meeting lasted for an hour, and ended with the successful signing of the contract by both parties, and then they went to have lunch together.

    After seeing off the foreign representatives, Jiang Yu returned to the apartment to pack her luggage. At this point, Cheng Suran''s work is over, but she still has to stay in the capital for one more day, and will go to a friend''s house tonight.

    "Ranran won''t you go back with us?" Jiang Yu pushed the small box out of the room.

    "I have something else to do."

    "Other jobs?"

    "No."

    Cheng Suran sat on the sofa holding her tablet, without raising her eyes, "A colleague from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited me to dinner and to stay at her house at night."

    Jiang Yu tentatively asked, "Female colleague?"

    T/N: again the spoken ''TA'' so she had to ask

    Jiang Yu asked tentatively, "Female colleague?"

    "Mm, superior."

    "What kind of superior?"

    "The Deputy Director of the Translation and Judicial Language Division," Cheng Suran continued, then suddenly paused.

    "Why are you asking about these things?"

 CH 100

    How come it''s like checking household registration?

    Jiang Yu smiled, openly admitting, "Just curious."

    "Oh."

    Cheng Suran lowered her eyes and stared at the densely packed Spanish and Russian sentences on the tablet screen. Lately, whenever she had free time, she would look at them, much like an elementary school student learning English.

    The work was over, and they were about to part ways, not knowing when they would meet again. Thinking about this, Jiang Yu felt a bit reluctant. Suddenly, a phone ring interrupted her thoughts, and she turned around to walk to the balcony to answer the call.

    Soon, she ended the call and came back, looking at Cheng Suran with a look of anticipation.

    "Ranran, there is an event, and I would like to invite you to participate."

    "What?" Cheng Suran finally looked up.

    Jiang Yu tapped her phone a few times and handed it to her, "On the 5th of next month, ''ETERNO'' China will hold an trade fair for the new spring and summer series. Industry editors, media, buyers, as well as some VIP clients, will be invited to explore the details of the new clothing line, listen to design concepts, and even try on the pieces. Are you interested?"

    On the screen is an invitation letter.

    After the end of the two fashion seasons every year, the brand will routinely arrange this event, which is also an indispensable part of the operation process in the fashion industry. In the past, the management was at the headquarters in Milan, but starting from the beginning of this year, it''s been organized separately in various major regions.

    Cheng Suran read the invitation letter and said, "But I''m not a VIP customer."

    "It doesn''t matter, as long as you are invited, you can go. Besides, haven''t you bought ETERNO''s clothes? You''re both a customer and a partner of our company, so you can join the VIP status without any restrictions," Jiang Yu explained patiently.

    "After becoming a VIP, you can enjoy a lot of exclusive rights and services, such as private tailoring, door-to-door selection of new products of the season, one-on-one guidance from stylists, and the opportunity to watch shows at Fashion Week. You seemed to like that black cardigan you bought last time, right? Having more options is always a good thing."

    Cheng Suran was thinking about it, and as she listened, she suddenly laughed out loud: "Miss Jiang, is this a sales pitch?"

    "That''s right."

    "Since the boss is fighting in person, of course, I have to save her some face."

    Unexpectedly, she agreed so readily that Jiang Yu was a little taken aback, she was already ready to tire her lips and fight a long battle, and now it went so smoothly, but it gave her a sense of ambiguity.

    "Okay, I''ll send you the link, fill in the information and submit it directly." She said while operating her phone, her fingertips stopped suddenly.

    Cheng Suran didn''t have a social media account.

    Jiang Yu looked up and asked uncertainly, "Can I send it through text message?"

    "..."

    The two looked at each other without saying a word.

    After a while, Cheng Suran silently clicked on WeChat, called up the QR code, and handed it over: "Scan me."

    There was a trace of shock in Jiang Yu''s eyes, and the corners of her mouth were curled up again. She pretended to be calm as she nodded and scanned the QR code, which showed a successful addition with a landscape picture avatar and the name "Ran."

    "Now you can send it," Cheng Suran urged.

    "After I send it, will you delete me?"

    "¡­I won''t."

    Jiang Yu forwarded the link and casually changed her nickname to "Ranran."

    "After submitting, a barcode will be displayed, and you can enter the venue by swiping the code on the day of the event, and I will help you upgrade to VIP after the event is over."

    After speaking she stood up from her seat. "Well, I''ll leave first."

    "No need to see me off."

    Cheng Suran didn''t lift her head.

    The door was opened and closed, and the room became completely quiet, and the smell of vetiver iris in the air also faded. After doing what Jiang Yu said, Cheng Suran put down her phone and glanced at the closed door.

    She''s gone.

    The medicine Jiang Yu bought last night was still on the table.

    Staring at the scattered pill bottles, she felt a bit dazed. Almost involuntarily, she picked up her phone, searching for nearby pharmacies ¨C the closest one was at the top of the list.

    682 meters, roughly 1,400 meters round trip.

    Excluding the time to buy medicine and checkout, to run so much distance in seven or eight minutes, it must have been a full sprint, an all-out effort, a burst of speed. No wonder Jiang Yu was so out of breath last night; Cheng Suran even heard her heartbeat...

    After she became an adult, Jiang Yu was the first person who cared for her and attend to her subtle emotions. Even though she later had considerate friends like Ruoxian, they couldn''t replace the feeling Jiang Yu gave her.

    The first time is always unforgettable.

    It is a blazing flame in the ice and snow, and it is the meticulous and comprehensive comfort after being scarred.

    It''s the feeling of "so someone does care about the insignificant me."

    This feeling came back with Jiang Yu''s appearance. Although she is no longer fragile and insignificant, she still feels at ease and extremely happy about it.

    Cheng Suran''s nose felt a bit sour. She knew she had once again become soft-hearted.

    She went back to WeChat and clicked on Jiang Yu''s profile.

    It is the main account.

    With a rabbit profile picture, the nickname "JangCoCo," and very few posts in the Moments section.

    and Cheng Suran''s heart was filled with complex emotions. She let out a sigh and changed Jiang Yu''s nickname to Chinese ¡ª "½­¿É¿É" (Jiang Coco)

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Not long after returning, Jiang Yu met Mina.

    The Chief Agent, who had been busy overseas all this time, finally appeared. However, no one knew about it. Mina didn''t go to the company to report to Tian Lin first; instead, she bypassed Tian Lin and contacted Jiang Yu directly.

    At that time, Jiang Yu was comparing fabrics in her private studio in the ETERNO building.

    When she received the call from Mina, she packed up the messy things in the studio and drove to SIENAMODEL. There is still an hour before the end of working hours. Most of the models and agents work flexibly, and there are not many people in the company.

    Mina was sitting on the reception sofa outside the office, drinking hot water leisurely. Her face was bare, her hair slightly disheveled, and she wore very plain clothing. No one could tell she was a significant figure in the industry.

    But those eyes were as sharp as a knife.

    "You''re finally back, my esteemed chief agent." When she saw Mina from a distance, Jiang Yu smiled and greeted her while entering the password to open the door.

    Mina also smiled and stood up: "I''ve been waiting for you."

    The two entered the office one after another.

    Jiang Yu has been busy with ETERNO recently, and hasn''t come back for a few days, the office seems a bit empty and deserted. The assistant was working outside, so she poured water for Mina and they sat down together.

    "Thank you," Mina said politely.

    Without drinking any water, she handed Jiang Yu a tablet. On it were some data, documents, and email send records.

    "All the tracking data of the last quarter are here. The newly signed external models are affected by the contract process, so there will be delays or inaccuracies. I will make up for it after a while. As for the rest..." She provided a summarized report on her work over the past six months. Her speech was as fast as ever, and her thoughts were clear.

    Jiang Yu read and listened, with a satisfied smile on her face.

    "Did you talk to Tian Lin about this?"

    "Not yet."

    "Actually, you should have talked to her first."

    "But I''m more accustomed to talking to you." Mina remained calm.

    Jiang Yu looked at her and didn''t speak.

    Before promoting Tian Lin to the position of Executive Vice President, Mina had always reported her work directly to Jiang Yu and approached her for other matters as well. Unlike other agents who had to follow the company''s rules and regulations, Mina had the privilege of direct access to Jiang Yu, a power she gave herself.

    Later, Tian Lin became the Vice President, just when the company was developing overseas business, Mina was sent out, and Tian Lin became responsible for all affairs of the brokerage department.

    She could feel that Mina was not so pleased with Tian Lin.

    In terms of qualifications, contacts, and resources, Mina is superior to Tian Lin in everything, but in terms of comprehensive ability, Tian Lin is definitely not inferior to Mina, and she is a person who has been cultivated by her. Placing these two generals in roles that suited them best was the only way to truly unleash their potential.

    She had her own considerations.

    Seeing that she was silent, Mina smiled tactfully: "I''m usually too busy to take care of so much, so let''s do things conveniently, it''s all for the good of the company."

    Jiang Yu nodded, expressing her understanding, and said meaningfully: "For the company and for me, both you and Tian Lin are very important and indispensable."

    Mina just smiled.

    "How is Bai Lu recently?"

    "Her? Pretty good. In this fashion season alone, she walked in 58 shows, and she can''t even finish all her photoshoots. Her overseas schedule is booked until before Christmas. Personally, I think with her current fame and status, she doesn''t need to walk in so many shows just for exposure, but she has her own ideas, and I usually don''t interfere."

    "Besides work?"

    "Eating, drinking, and self-management are all good. Everything is normal."

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu didn''t dwell on it further.

    Mina observed her expression and continued: "Bai Lu is stable now, we don''t need to worry too much, but the other models in the company, I think several have great potential. For example, Song Jiayao..."

    A trace of coldness flashed in her eyes.

    "She did a good job on the cover this year." Jiang Yu didn''t realize it and continued to discuss this topic.

    The sun outside the window slowly penetrated the thick clouds.

    ....

    After adding each other on WeChat, Jiang Yu didn''t exchange a single word with Cheng Suran, and sometimes she would look at the profile picture in a daze, wanting to say something, but worried that it would arouse Ranran''s resentment. Apart from work, they have no personal affairs to talk about, and the only thing she can look forward to is the next meeting.

    In a blink of an eye, the city has entered late autumn, and the day of the trade fair is getting closer and closer.

    Today is Jiang Yu''s thirty-eighth birthday.

    From 12 o''clock, she kept receiving well-wishes from friends, including red envelopes and gifts. She was on WeChat all day long, from dawn to sunset, but never heard from Cheng Suran.

    Her brimming expectations turned into brimming disappointments.

    In the evening, Jiang Yu stood on the balcony of her home, watching the last ray of light in the sky disappear from a distance. Her mood was like the setting sun, gradually dimming from brightness to darkness.

    Her phone suddenly vibrated.

    For a moment, she thought it was Cheng Suran''s call, but when she looked down, the ID showed "Tian Lin".

    A faint sense of loss welled up in her heart.

    "Hello?"

    "Sister Yu, Ms. Ye called me today and said that she was hospitalized with a serious illness and was going to undergo an operation. She''s asking you for 500,000 yuan." Tian Lin spoke quickly as if she was reporting about work.

    Jiang Yu was startled, her attention was attracted by the "serious illness", and the corners of her mouth curled up: "What serious illness?"

    "It seems to be breast cancer. Her accent was a bit heavy, and I couldn''t hear very clearly..."

    "Cancer."

    She couldn''t conceal the hint of satisfaction in her tone.

    If it weren''t for this phone call, she might have forgotten that she still had a mother.

    There are only fragmentary images in her memory, but each frame is a sharp knife cutting her heart. The things she saw, heard, and experienced during her childhood would follow her throughout her life like a birthmark, reminding her of her inadequacy and ugliness.

    After a long silence, Tian Lin seemed to sense her emotions, and asked tentatively, "Sister Yu, do you want me to give the money?"

    "No."

    Jiang Yu said lightly.

    The last rays of the setting sun disappeared into the sky.

    "Alright, but..." Tian Lin hesitated for a moment. "From her tone, she seems very anxious. I''m worried that if she can''t get the money, she might resort to extreme measures that could be detrimental to you. For example... in terms of public opinion."

    If they stir public opinion, they must find a way to calm it down, which means that Jiang Yu has to tear open her old wounds with her own hands and expose her bloody self to the public''s view.

    That''s what she''s worried about.

    Jiang Yu also understood.

    "I''m not that vulnerable."

    "Mm..."

    "From now on, don''t answer her calls again."

    "I understand."

    After hanging up, Jiang Yu closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

    From the age of 25, she paid Ms. Ye 5,000 yuan a month, a form of alimony, a legal obligation she couldn''t escape. Only those closest to her knew how much she longed to sever ties with her biological family.

    Her so-called "family members" all know that she is now famous, rich, and influential, and want to suck her blood. There have been a lot of small troubles these years, but she suppressed them all.

    She could give alimony, but nothing more.

    Hearing such news on her birthday was bitterly ironic.

    The sky had turned completely dark.

    Jiang Yu turned back into the house, where the aunt nanny had prepared dinner. With her mood less than cheerful, she hastily ate a few bites, tidied up, and retreated to her bedroom.

    She just held the phone and waits...

    Waited until late at night.

    11:58 PM.

    Jiang Yu leaned back against the bed, so sleepy that she couldn''t keep her eyes open, she opened WeChat without giving up, staring at the motionless profile picture of the large tree. Ranran probably forgot.

    11:59 PM

    The dim light enveloped her solitary figure. The screen of her phone illuminated her dazed eyes.

    At exactly midnight.

    She really had forgotten.

    Looking at the deserted chat box, Jiang Yu smiled sadly, exited to get ready for bed, and inadvertently caught a glimpse of the red dot at the entrance of Moments, showing Ranran''s profile picture.

    Mm?

    She tapped curiously.

    My Ranran: Happy birthday to my dear little mosquito*~

    *wenzi

    Below are two photos.

    A piece of birthday cake, a photo of Cheng Suran and Wen Ruoxian, Wen Ruoxian was wearing a crown ornament on her head, and making a "heart gesture", the two of them were almost cheek to cheek, smiling happily.

    It is now November 1st.

    There is only one minute difference between 11:59 and 12:00.

 CH 101

    At midnight, the living room was brightly lit.

    The cake on the table was mostly eaten, several small wine bottles were scattered around, and the air was filled with a mingling of sweet and alcoholic scents. Wearing a paper crown on her head and holding a gift in her arms, Wen Ruoxian leaned softly against Cheng Suran''s shoulder, her cheeks slightly flushed.

    Today is her 29th birthday.

    The two of them have been very busy recently. Wen Ruoxian just came back from out of town in the morning, held meetings for several hours in the afternoon, socialized in the evening, and she even had a business trip scheduled for her birthday afternoon. By the time she goes back, her birthday had already passed. Cheng Suran decided to celebrate in advance at midnight and prepared a surprise.

    "Ranran¡­"

    "Mm~"

    "I''m so happy." Wen Ruoxian smiled with narrowed eyes.

    Cheng Suran reached out and squeezed her chin: "Don''t be happy just today but every day from now on."

    "As long as you''re here."

    She drank a lot of wine, and her head was a little red, from her neck to her cheeks, and her ears were also red. Her head was now spinning, and her dark eyes glistened with a gentle and alluring light.

    She looked at Cheng Suran quietly and curled the corners of her mouth, her eyes were focused and deep.

    Cheng Suran felt a little embarrassed by the gaze, and her rippling pear dimples were dyed crimson, and nodded slightly: "Of course, I will always be here."

    She wondered if she was imagining things, but the way Ruoxian looked at her was odd, as if there was a hidden meaning as if she wanted to say something but couldn''t find the words. In the past, Ruoxian had never given her this feeling. Their relationship had always been pure and straightforward.

    Could there be something she was keeping from her?

    "Ranran..."

    "Mm."

    "Ranran..."

    "Mm, I''m here."

    "Ranran..." Wen Ruoxian just called her softly, unable to hide the obsessive smile in her eyes, probably due to the effect of alcohol, the emotions accumulated in her chest became more and more turbulent, and there was an urge to vent.

    Will you always be here?

    Will you always be here as a friend?

    She asked silently.

    "Ruoxian?" Cheng Suran felt that something was wrong with her, "What''s the matter? Are you drunk?" Reaching out, he touched her forehead and muttered to himself, "Doesn''t seem like it... You''re not hiding something from me, are you?"

    She got it right.

    In an instant, Wen Ruoxian put away her eager thoughts, her eyes dimmed, and she seemed to be talking to herself: "No, maybe I drank a little too much..." She smiled, took off the paper crown, and changed the subject casually: "I''ll accompany you home on Saturday, I''m worried about you being alone.

    This week, Cheng Suran will go back to her hometown in Lingzhou.

    A few days ago, her aunt called her and said that the land of the ancestral grave in the village had been requisitioned, and all graves, large and small, had to be moved. She is a direct descendant of her father, and according to village rules, she had to go back to preside over the ceremony.

    Cheng Suran didn''t believe it right away but called her classmate who was still in their hometown and asked to inquire about the matter, and after confirming it was true, she set a date to go back on Friday.

    She also hired four bodyguards.

    "It''s okay, I have bodyguards with me." Cheng Suran patted her hand, reassuring her.

    The warm touch felt like an electric current, Wen Ruoxian subconsciously held her hand back, and then let it go quickly. Hearing what Cheng Suran said, she was still a little worried: "When you get to the place, call me, you don''t need to talk, I''ll just listen here."

    "That''s so troublesome, it''s unnecessary."

    "..."

    Seeing her looking down, Cheng Suran thought she had misunderstood and thought she disliked her. Skilfully using her coaxing techniques, she hugged her and acted coquettishly.

    "Don''t worry, don''t worry~"

    She embraced Wen Ruoxian tightly.

    The fragrant shower gel scent, with warm body temperature, hit her face like a piece of soft fluff, her heartbeat seemed to have stopped, and her whole body turned stiff.

    In an instant, the effects of the alcohol hit her, and she hastily pushed Cheng Suran away.

    "I understand."

    "Uh-huh."

    Cheng Suran nodded vigorously, noticing that her complexion wasn''t quite normal. Assuming it was due to drinking too much, she looked at the wall clock and said, "It''s late, Ruoxian, go to bed. I''ll take you to the airport tomorrow."

    "Okay."

    Wen Ruoxian stood up holding the gift, shaking a little. Cheng Suran quickly supported her, sent her into the room, and then went back to the living room to clean up the mess on the table.

    The clock on the wall is ticking

    After tidying up, Cheng Suran sat down, her heart was in a mess, not sleepy, somehow she kept thinking of Wen Ruoxian''s gaze just now.

    That look¡­

    It was so familiar.

    Similar to how Jiang Yu used to look at her, yet not quite the same, with an indescribable feeling.

    Jiang Yu...

    Cheng Suran silently muttered that person''s name, her already chaotic heart ached a little, she took out her mobile phone, clicked on WeChat, and entered her Moments.

    On October 31, at midnight yesterday, she posted a post that was only visible to her.

    [Happy birthday. ]

    Yesterday was Jiang Yu''s birthday. She always remembers.

    38 years old.

    The year they had just separated, she anonymously sent a gift to Jiang Yu''s studio. It was the most painful year for her. Later, she forced herself to forget, and she never sent anything again. However, every time this day approached, her mood became particularly heavy.

    She could trick herself into forgetting Jiang Yu, but she couldn''t trick herself into forgetting this day.

    After smashing the model in front of Jiang Yu, she didn''t know from what perspective and identity she could wish her "Happy Birthday". As a friend or as a business partner? But without a prepared gift, just a dry "Happy Birthday" didn''t seem quite appropriate either.

    Ironically, Ruoxian''s birthday was just one day apart from Jiang Yu''s.

    Cheng Suran sighed secretly, and scrolled her fingertips down, looking at the latest developments she posted at midnight feeling inexplicably guilty. Suddenly, she noticed that the lower left corner was bare, without the double symbol that should have been displayed.

    "! ! ! "

    It''s over.

    She forgot to set "Partially invisible".

    Jiang Yu is on her list!

    "..."

    Cheng Suran panicked.

    It has been an hour since she posted it, and she has a lot of night owls on her list. Even in the middle of the night, she quickly gained more than 80 likes. Did Jiang Yu see it too? Did she think she did it on purpose? Would she...

    Countless possibilities raised through her mind.

    No¡ª

    Jiang Yu always went to bed early and woke up early, going to bed at half past ten.

    Without delay, Cheng Suran hastily exited the post and clicked on Jiang Yu''s profile. She adjusted the privacy settings to "not visible to her," finally letting out a sigh of relief as she slumped onto the couch.

    Must have gone to bed early.

    She didn''t see, she didn''t see...

    She consoled herself.

    ¡­.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    It rained for several days in a row, and the whole city was shrouded in a damp and cold atmosphere.

    Before three o''clock in the afternoon, one car after another drove into the underground parking lot of the ETERNO building. Cheng Suran stepped into the parking lot. She didn''t bring an assistant and drove by herself.

    As a participant in the trade fair out of friendship, she intended to just go through the motions today.

    The event venue is on the twelfth floor of the building. The overall style revolves around the core design elements of this spring and summer series. The first thing that caught her eyes was an arched door adorned with the brand''s logo. The ceiling had a unique mirrored design, making the space appear open and bright. Two attendants stood by, registering guests and presenting small gifts.

    The light is warm and gentle creamy yellow, and the long table is filled with all kinds of exquisite snacks and a wide variety of drinks. Jiang Yu is standing next to a mannequin model with a cup in her hand, talking with someone.

    Cheng Suran saw her as soon as she came in.

    Jiang Yu was wearing a long black sheer mesh tube top dress, with matching high-waisted shorts underneath that exposed just a hint of her waist and most of her thighs. What made it particularly special was the upper half and the lower part below the knees, adorned with silver-gray fringe tassels, resembling a mermaid''s tail.

    This is a very well-designed dress, especially worn on Jiang Yu''s body, it is glamorous and luxurious, and it also has a bewitching aura.

    Probably sensing the gaze, Jiang Yu glanced her way.

    Cheng Suran subconsciously turned her face away.

    A waiter handed her a small gift box, and as she reached out to accept it, she caught a glimpse of a tall figure approaching.

    "Ranran."

    Jiang Yu called her with a smile, "Did you just arrive?

    Cheng Suran nodded, smiled back, and suddenly remembered the birthday wishes she had posted on Moments a few days ago, feeling a little guilty, she avoided her gaze, "Mm, go and do your work, I''ll just sit down."

    "I arranged a VIP seat for you."

    "..."

    "Let''s go."

    Jiang Yu took her hand.

    Cheng Suran couldn''t control her legs, and followed her forward, struggling slightly with the held hand.

    In the center of the venue is a meandering show platform on flat ground. Decorative light beams are placed at every turning point. There are sofas and small round tables on both sides. The names of the guests are written on the cards erected in front of the seats.

    Jiang Yu arranged for Cheng Suran to be at the front, and while guiding her to a seat, she introduced: "Later, there will be models who will come out wearing the collection, you can pay attention to see if there is a style you like, and then..." She gazed gently into her eyes.

    They were very close, and the fluffy tassels on Jiang Yu''s skirt swayed, sticking to her shoulders and arms, brushing lightly. Even though there were two layers of clothing in between, she could still feel a sensation, as if a tickle right at the tip of her heart.

    She forgot about her guilt, and couldn''t help but look at Jiang Yu.

    There was no sense of overpowering proximity, no worshipping admiration. The shift in their relationship brought about a fusion in their presence, making Cheng Suran more confident and assured. This subtle sensation made her feel comfortable. Looking at Jiang Yu, she no longer associated herself with her embarrassing self in the past.

    "The dress you''re wearing today is very pretty." She smiled lightly and praised from the bottom of her heart.

    Jiang Yu looked down at her dress and said, "It''s my new creation for this year, a limited edition for spring and summer. Do you like it? If you do, I can register it for you after the event, and you''ll be able to pick it up in about two weeks."

    "That''s not necessary, I don''t have any need for it at the moment."

    Cheng Suran tactfully refused, considering that in her life and work, rarely required evening gowns. She felt that the dress looked good mainly because Jiang Yu was wearing it, she looked stunning in anything.

    Jiang Yu remembered the night when the model was smashed.

    Together with the model, she also sent back the clothes that she customized for her, those are unique, there is no second one in the world, and they are exclusive.

    In the end, she still resists everything from her hands. She thought.

    Jiang Yu nodded slightly and said nothing more.

    ....

    The event began, and guests started taking their seats. The venue quickly filled up, and Cheng Suran observed the people around her. Everyone was dressed elegantly, with exceptional manners. The person closest to her was a middle-aged, exquisitely made-up, and dignified woman. She had a faint smile on her lips as she spoke to a young girl beside her, and there were light dimples on her cheeks.

    From her angle, Cheng Suran could only see the surname "Su" on the name tag.

    For some reason, looking at her, Cheng Suran felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

    She felt like they knew each other a long time ago.

    Previously, she didn''t believe in some kind of instant connection between two strangers. However, since she had met Jiang Yu, she had started to believe that there was something special about eye contact and magnetic attraction. Some people just felt very comfortable at first sight.

    Live models started walking out one by one, wearing the new ETERNO spring and summer collection as they passed in front of the guests.

    Cheng Suran quickly got pulled in.

    After the models walked around twice, Jiang Yu, one of the designers and the head of the region, made an opening speech, introducing the design concept and core elements of the spring and summer series. The event then split into two parts: the buyers went to another area to place orders, while the media, editors, and VIPs continued to watch the resee.

    In the past two years, Cheng Suran has cooperated in large and small conferences, 60% of which are related to the fashion industry. She had some understanding of this field, but she was always afraid of getting too emotionally involved, so she never delved deep into research or immersed herself in it.

    Originally, she just wanted to go with the flow today, but she was gradually attracted by the clothes or the people.

    "Resee" refers to carefully reviewing the new season''s offerings, feeling the fabric textures, listening to the details of the design concept, and even trying the clothes on. Because the time to see the garments on the runway is very short, getting up close and personal allows for a more comprehensive understanding of each piece.

    By the time the event was over, the sun was about to sink into the horizon.

    The golden glow of the sky shines in through the glass like spilled diluted watercolor paint.

    There was a dinner to follow, and industry professionals and some VIPs had already moved on. Cheng Suran wasn''t attending, but she waited in her seat as Jiang Yu requested. A manager surnamed "Fang" came over with a tablet to register Cheng Suran as a VIP, elevating her to the highest level.

    Only now did she know that for a luxury brand like ETERNO, the VIP threshold starts with an annual consumption of one million yuan.

    "Miss Cheng, I will be your account manager in the future. If you have any needs or comments or suggestions on the brand, you can always let me know and give me feedback..." The woman spoke softly and smiled.

    Cheng Suran smiled and nodded: "Okay, thank you."

    "Ranran¡ª"

    Jiang Yu walked towards her.

    Manager Fang got up: "Miss Jiang, it''s already done."

    "Mm, go get busy."

    "Okay."

    Cheng Suran looked up at Jiang Yu: "What do you want to give me?"

    Jiang Yu smiled, but her eyes were a little dazed, and there was still a little unclear emotion. She handed over the box she was carrying, and said softly, "A belated birthday present for Miss Wen."

 CH 102

    A pretty box covered in thick, soft cloth on the outside, beautifully designed and high-quality, with no logo, but you can feel the valuable things inside.

    But now, Cheng Suran didn''t have the time to pay attention to these things, she looked at Jiang Yu in astonishment: "How do you know Ruoxian''s birthday?"

    "Is it November 1st?" Jiang Yu asked without answering.

    Her smile became more and more gentle, but Cheng Suran vaguely felt that there was so much sourness and bitterness under such gentleness, it was so full that it was almost overflowing, she lifted her self-deceiving eyes, silently questioning her¡ª

    Have you forgotten what day was the day before?

    Cheng Suran''s heart beat violently, and she was a little flustered, but her professional habits over the years prevented her from showing it. She avoided Jiang Yu''s gaze by looking at the gift, pretended to be calm, and said, "Yes, the 1st."

    After speaking, she shook her head again.

    "Miss Jiang, you''re too kind, but... I can''t accept gifts for Ruoxian without her permission." She reverts to her polite and distant manner.

    The smile on Jiang Yu''s face froze slightly, and she looked at Cheng Suran without saying a word.

    The eyes are the windows to the soul.

    Her lips moved and then pursed as if struggling fiercely. Torn between piercing the window paper or continuing to play along with Cheng Suran''s feigned innocence, struggling to speak.

    Cheng Suran didn''t speak.

    Just when she was thinking about finding an excuse to leave, Jiang Yu withdrew her hand, smiled apologetically, and said, "I was the one who was impulsive, Miss Wen''s birthday has already passed, and giving a belated gift might not seem sincere. So... let''s wait until next year, I hope I can celebrate birthdays for all of you next year."

    No one is obligated to celebrate her birthday, especially considering she had deeply hurt the person before.

    Looking at Cheng Suran''s reaction, she could somewhat guess what was on her mind, probably that post was not meant for her to read, maybe there was some mistake, but she didn''t want to point it out today, so why should she persist to the end and embarrass others.

    "Definitely." Cheng Suran walked down the steps, she just wanted to go now.

    "If there''s nothing else, I''ll take my leave first."

    After speaking, she turned and left.

    Jiang Yu still wanted to say something, but her mouth couldn''t catch up with her feet, so she had to swallow all the words in her stomach. She was about to put things back but when she turned to the side, she caught sight of a small gift box left on the seat where Cheng Suran had been sitting. It was a souvenir for each guest.

    She picked up the box and called out toward Cheng Suran''s departing figure, "Ranran¡ª"

    The figure paused and quickened her pace.

    "Cheng Suran!"

    Jiang Yu hurriedly caught up.

    Behind her, the middle-aged woman surnamed Su suddenly lifted her head, as if frozen in place, and stared in the direction Jiang Yu was walking, unmoving, as though under a spell.

    Cheng Suran, who had been called out, finally stopped.

    "You forgot something." Jiang Yu caught up with her and handed over the gift box.

    "Thanks."

    Cheng Suran smiled.

    ....

    The underground parking lot is huge, and Cheng Suran found her car after searching around. The small metal box was like a haven. She leaned back against the seat, her lips slightly parted, like a fish out of water after being away for too long.

    There was no private information about Ruoxian online, and Jiang Yu wasn''t familiar with Ruoxian either. If she had known Ruoxian''s birthday early on and intended to give a gift, she wouldn''t have waited until after the birthday to make up for it.

    Jiang Yu must have seen the greetings she posted.

    Why give the belated gift to her? Why not give it directly to Ruoxian? Could it be a hint that she saw the post? Someone who usually sleeps early and wakes up early being online at midnight, was it a coincidence, or¡­was she waiting for something?

    The light outside shone in like a sword pointing straight at her heart, coldly questioning her.

    ¡ªHave you forgotten?

    Faced with this intangible question, chaos erupted within her. Suddenly, she sat upright, gripping the steering wheel tightly with both hands. As she raised her head, she saw her tear-stained reflection in the rearview mirror.

    Cheng Suran was stunned.

    She hadn''t forgotten, not at all. So why does she feel guilty, why is she blaming herself, why is she anxious¡­

    The harsh light was blocked out.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head slightly, but no tears came out. Jiang Yu''s eyes, Jiang Yu''s expression, Jiang Yu''s tone, one frame after another flashed like a movie, she suddenly felt a bit of revenge-like pleasure. She wanted this brief burst of emotion to engulf her, washing away any unnecessary softness.

    Jiang Yu deserved it.

    ....

    On Friday afternoon, Cheng Suran flew to her hometown in Lingzhou ahead of schedule. She took two male and two female bodyguards and found a hotel in the urban area to stay. The next day, instead of going to her aunt''s house in the old city, she informed her on the phone and took a taxi directly to the old house in the countryside.

    Returning here after many years, Cheng Suran felt nothing in her heart. The village has not changed much, most of the people living here are old people and children, and there were hardly any young faces.

    The ancestral home had been renovated, appearing completely refreshed. It now belonged to her aunt.

    Cheng Suran came early, having no keys, she could only stand outside the door and wait. She and the four bodyguards looked out of place there, attracting nearby neighbors to watch.

    About half an hour later, her aunt''s family arrived.

    "Ranran..."

    A black car pulled up, and a middle-aged woman in the passenger seat was the first to step out. She warmly and affectionately called out to Cheng Suran but then noticed the unfamiliar faces beside her. "Who are they?"

    Cheng Suran looked at her calmly, and said indifferently: "My bodyguards."

    "Oh..." Cheng Xiufang frowned, the wrinkles on her face were squeezed together, and she retracted her hand that was about to reach out, "Ranran, are you treating us like thieves? Bringing bodyguards, are we a threat to you? We''re family, this hurts too much¡­"

    They haven''t seen each other for many years, the woman has aged a lot, with a few strands of silver on her temples. In her early fifties, she appeared to be in her sixties, her face growing more gaunt and sallow.

    Her uncle behind her, on the other hand, had a round face and a spirited appearance. He looked like a typical middle-aged man who had gained some weight.

    Her cousin didn''t come.

    "When will the ceremony start?" Cheng Suran didn''t bother to talk to her and went straight to the point.

    Cheng Xiufang''s face was full of resentment but she didn''t want to say anything more, while looking at her quickly, she answered distractedly: "At noon. We''ll head to the village head''s house for lunch later."

    Cheng Suran nodded and said nothing.

    There are many rules for relocating graves in rural areas. This time, the ancestral graves of the whole village had to be moved. The amount of work involved was enormous, and each household had to take turns. In the past two days, it was Cheng Suran''s father''s and her grandmother''s turn. According to the rules, if each grave owner has descendants, the descendants will preside over the supervision, first, the direct descendants and then extended family members.

    Cheng Suran stayed there for one night. She came to the village during the day and returned to the hotel in the city at night. She didn''t talk to her aunt unless necessary.

    But her aunt wanted to talk to her very much.

    Wen Ruoxian sent a message every hour to confirm her safety. To reassure her good sister, Cheng Suran took a lot of photos and short videos and sent them over. In the evening, the two of them started a video chat for a while.

    "It''s quite warm here in the winter. Next time you have time, I''ll bring you to visit."

    "Okay."

    When she was about to sleep, Jiang Yu suddenly sent a message: [Ranran, do you know someone named Su Wenjing?]

    Mm?

    Cheng Suran: [No. What''s the matter?]

    After waiting for a while, Jiang Yu sent a voice message, saying, "We have a VIP client here who saw you at the trade fair the other day. She thought you looked a lot like a friend of hers from the past, and your names are also the same. She asked me to contact you and see if you''d be willing to meet her. So... I wanted to ask for your opinion first."

    "I don''t recall knowing anyone named Su Wenjing. But the name... feels like I''ve heard it somewhere," Cheng Suran said, carefully recollecting. She searched through her memories of all her classmates, friends from elementary school, middle school, high school, and college, and even her childhood playmates from the village.

    Memories are like a tightly wrapped silkworm chrysalis, with a faint light leaking in, and only a vague outline can be seen clearly.

    The sound of this name is easy to pronounce, and the image of a gentle and elegant woman naturally emerges in her mind. She likes the character "Su" and there is "Su" in her own name. Maybe she hasn''t heard it anywhere, but she just thinks it sounds nice.

    Jiang Yu: "Then do you want to meet her?"

    Cheng Suran: "Do you have any photos? What does she look like?"

    Two or three minutes later, Jiang Yu sent a photo.

    The woman looked to be in her early forties, with light makeup and elegant clothes, with a gentle and noble temperament between her eyebrows and eyes, she was smiling slightly, and the dimples on her cheeks were faintly visible.

    It was the "Su" lady who was sitting next to her at the trade fair. She looked very kind.

    Cheng Suran was shocked.

    Looking at the photo, she increasingly felt a sense of familiarity with the woman''s face, as if they had known each other a long time ago. Especially with the dimples on her cheeks, just like hers.

    "She''s in the medical equipment business and has a daughter. She became our VIP four years ago, spending over a million annually. I don''t have much more personal information, should I help you gather more details? After you know everything, you can decide whether you want to meet her or not." Jiang Yu sent another message, her concern was evident in her tone.

    Cheng Suran thought for a while and said, "No, it''s just a meeting. I''m free next Wednesday. Where can I meet her?"

    [I''ll tell you after she chooses the address.]

    [OK.]

    The top of the chat box still displayed "typing", but there was no message sent again until Cheng Suran turned off the light and was about to lie down, the screen turned on again.

    Jiang Yu: [Good night.]

    She didn''t reply again.

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    The next day at noon, after relocating her father and grandmother''s graves, Cheng Suran booked an afternoon flight and was planning to return to her hotel after taking a shower. However, before she could leave the ancestral home, her aunt stopped her.

    "Ranran, Auntie wants to treat you to a meal. Can you spare a little time?"

    "I have something to do."

    "Just a little time? Hey, Ranran, you''ve grown up now, so successful. You''ve suddenly forgotten about our family. You don''t even want the people who raised you anymore..." Cheng Xiufang lowered her face, wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand, and said nothing more.

    Hearing the last sentence, Cheng Suran frowned, and a slight crack appeared on her calm face. She corrected softly: "Auntie, it was money that raised me, not you. The money was compensation from my dad, not your money."

    She enunciated each word calmly, her tone chilly, exerting an invisible but chilling pressure.

    Cheng Xiufang was a little scared for some reason.

    In the past few years, it seemed Cheng Suran''s wings had grown tougher...

    "If my father hadn''t died, I wouldn''t have been a burden to you, and you wouldn''t have to compromise yourself for a measly hundred thousand yuan and an old house, right?" Cheng Suran looked at her with a cold smile.

    Being told her thoughts, Cheng Xiufang''s face turned blue and white, and her smile froze at the corner of her mouth, "You...do you think your short-lived father was some kind of a saint? He was a good-for-nothing drunkard on the streets. He would beat his wife if he didn''t live a decent life. He even wanted to sell you off as a child bride to another family! Have you forgotten, huh? He tricked you into saying you wanted to play outside just to sell you!"

    Hearing "Beat his wife", Cheng Suran''s heart trembled and she felt something vaguely bursting out of the ground, but before she could catch it, her aunt''s words came like a thunderbolt, which forcibly fell from the top of her head.

    "Sell me?"

    "That''s right," Cheng Xiufang nodded angrily, "You were only six years old at that time, a little bit older, and you were here on my lap. Your short-lived father wanted to sell you to another village because he doesn''t have the money for a second wife. He lied to you, saying you were going on a train ride to have fun. You happily went with him. Later, two policemen brought you back. They said you were almost sold. It was thanks to a little girl who saved you and even brought your short-lived dad back. Everyone in the village knows about this..."

    She spoke rapidly and gestured intensely, her face turning red with excitement.

    In Cheng Suran''s mind, a blurry memory flickered.

    Six years old, on a train.The image of a green train from her memory.

    It wasn''t a dream.

    "2005?"

    "Yeah, the Year of the Rooster."

    "Who saved me?" Cheng Suran lunged forward, grabbing the woman''s shoulders tightly.

    Cheng Xiufang was startled, struggled twice, and said in a panic: "How would I know, the police just said it was a girl..."

    "At which station was I rescued? Huh?"

    "Li... Licang, I think that''s what it''s called. It''s quite far. You had to take the old train for seven or eight stops."

    A familiar name.

    [Do you remember riding a train when you were a child, around five or six years old?]

    [I vaguely remember riding it when I was very young, but I don''t remember exactly how old I was¡­]

    [When I was eighteen, I took a train to Jiangcheng. I saw a little girl crying on the platform, so I gave her this bunny.]

    In 2005, she was six years old and Jiang Yu was eighteen years old.

    Licang County is Jiang Yu''s hometown in the encyclopedia information.

    A green leather train, a little girl.

    Could it be...

    The fuzzy memory fragments seem to be strung together, but she still can''t put together a complete picture. The fog surrounding her eyes is getting thinner and thinner, and an answer is looming to come out.

    Cheng Suran''s face gradually turned pale.

    "Ran, Auntie won''t lie to you. Just look at what kind of person your short-lived father was. He drove away his wife and wanted to sell his daughter. If he were still alive, you probably wouldn''t have had a good life. Who knows where you''ll be serving as a slave in some village now... Cheng Xiufang no longer held back, and she blurted out all the unspeakable things from the past. She wanted Cheng Suran to feel closer to her, hoping that her niece''s success would bring prosperity to their family. Her hopes were pinned on Cheng Suran.

    Before she could finish, Cheng Suran had already stopped listening. She pushed past her and hurried away.

    The four bodyguards quickly followed.

    "Hey¨C"

    "Ranran!"

    Her aunt shouted from behind.

    Cheng Suran walked faster and faster...

 CH 103

    Content Warning: Mentions of child tra****ing

    When the plane landed in Jiangcheng, the sky gradually began to darken.

    Cheng Suran paid the final payment to the bodyguards, got into the assistant''s car, and hurriedly returned home.

    As soon as she entered the door, she threw her suitcase away, kicked off her shoes, rushed into the room barefoot, opened the bedside cabinet, took out a small box hidden deep inside, and carefully opened it.

    An embroidered rabbit lay inside, its white threads slightly yellowed, ears a bit dirty, with the letter "J" embroidered on its neck with black thread, small and cute.

    This was given to her by Jiang Yu twenty years ago...

    Cheng Suran stared at the rabbit closely and held it in her palm.

    Once she asked about the origin of this rabbit, but Jiang Yu only evasively, vaguely, and perfunctorily answered her. At that time, she felt that she was not telling the truth, but as a lowly canary, she was cautious, and she didn''t dare to ask any more questions. She only regretted not remembering, leaving a lifelong sorrow.

    The only certain thing is that when she was six years old, she met Jiang Yu who was eighteen years old on the train platform.

    [The police said you almost got sold, thanks to a little girl who saved you...]

    [Year of the Rooster, Li... Licang, I think that''s what it''s called.]

    Cheng Suran took out her phone, opened the search engine, and entered "Licang County" on the keyboard with trembling fingertips.

    It is a small county in the south-central part of the country, one level lower than the prefecture-level city of Lingzhou. It has no scenery, and its food is salty and spicy. The birthplace of a celebrity: Jiang Yu

    She searched for Jiang Yu''s information again.

    The introduction on the home page does not directly write the place of birth, but there is an introduction in the detailed text below, which clearly says "born in Licang County, x City, x Province on October 31, 1987." She hadn''t noticed it the first time she read it online, but after searching and looking countless times, she slowly remembered.

    A conjecture formed in Cheng Suran''s mind...

    Could the person who saved her be Jiang Yu?

    If so, why did Jiang Yu lie to her? Why did she refuse to tell her the truth? Why dodge and brush her off? Countless conjectures exploded in her mind, and she boiled and swelled up like a bag filled with hot water.

    Taking a deep breath, Cheng Suran held the little bunny tightly.

    She is going to ask Jiang Yu.

    Right now.

    A surge of determination rushed to her head; she didn''t care about much else. She opened her phone''s contacts and dialed Jiang Yu''s number... "Ranran?"

    The call was quickly answered, and Jiang Yu''s voice sounded pleasantly surprised.

    Cheng Suran''s lips trembled, but she tried her best to restrain her voice, keeping it low: Where are you now?"

    "I just got home."

    "I have something I want to ask you. It''s not easy to explain over the phone. Wait for me, I''ll be there in about ten minutes."

    The other end froze for a moment.

    "Okay."

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    The setting sun dyed the sky a faint golden red.

    The mansion complex had strict management. Even though it was Cheng Suran''s third time being here, she still needs to register and report. After the owner confirms, she will be escorted upstairs by the security guard. Obviously the journey was not very long, but she felt that she had traveled a century.

    The moment the door opened, she held her breath.

    As if the door was a turning point of fate.

    "Ranran¡ª"

    Jiang Yu stood by the door, with unconcealable joy in her eyes, "Come in quickly."

    She had only arrived home not long ago, she hadn''t had time to change. She wore a thick, black leather windbreaker that reached her calves, and her lips were a lustrous rusty red, a bit forbidden yet full of charm.

    Looking at this face, Cheng Suran tried hard to recall the time when she was six years old, trying to connect her with the girl that her aunt said had saved her, but there was only a vast white fog in her mind, and the fragmentary images were of a green train and a man holding her hand. She couldn''t remember more.

    Seeing her in a daze, Jiang Yu stretched out her hand: "Ranran?"

    Cheng Suran evaded reflexively.

    "..."

    "It''s fine."

    Couple slippers are placed on the floor mat.

    She changed into it without making a sound and followed Jiang Yu into the house.

    "Ranran, would you like something to drink?"

    Coming to the sofa, Jiang Yu pointed to the snacks and drinks on the coffee table, including tea, warm water, fruit juice, and yogurt, which she prepared in advance since she doesn''t know which one Ranran likes best.

    Cheng Suran shook her head, sat down, and couldn''t wait to take out the little rabbit: "Do you remember this?"

    The yellowed embroidered rabbit lay in the palm of her hand.

    Jiang Yu was stunned.

    "Yesterday I went back to my hometown for something, and I heard from my aunt that when I was six years old, my father took me on a train under the pretense of going out to play, trying to sell me as a child bride. But he didn''t succeed in the end because I was lucky. A girl saved me at Licang County train station, and later the police brought me back...," Cheng Suran stared at her face, reciting the information she had gathered.

    "You admitted before that you''re the one who gave me this rabbit. In addition, I checked the Internet and found that Licang County is your hometown."

    "Jiang Yu¨C"

    "What''s the truth? Don''t lie to me anymore."

    She called out her name.

    Her gaze was full of scrutiny, not missing any subtle expressions on her face.

    Jiang Yu frowned slightly, lowered her eyes, and rubbed her fingers against the metal round buttons of her cuffs, her lips were pursed for a while and loosened for a while, not sure if she was contemplating or hesitating.

    Such a reaction made Cheng Suran more determined, and the answer in her heart was clear, but she still asked: "You were the girl who saved me back then, right?"

    "Yes."

    Jiang Yu raised her eyes, looking at the aged and faded embroidered bunny. "It was actually an accident. It was right after the college entrance exams had finished, and I..." She wanted to say she didn''t get into university, but her heart resisted. She knew she was capable of getting in, and that was a scar she could never heal in her lifetime. She couldn''t bring herself to talk about it.

    Her voice changed: "I was planning to go to Jiangcheng. When I entered the station, I saw a man holding a little girl and handing her over to another man. I didn''t pay much attention at first, but when I was about to get on the bus, I suddenly heard the little girl crying..."

    Although it has been twenty years, she still remembers it very clearly.

    The little girl was born beautiful, she was only five or six years old, and she looked like a child star on TV, in their backcountry, beauty was a rarity--she was ridiculed for being a ''big fool'' when she was a child, she had envied that little girl''s face so much back then. She had thought, how good it would be if she could look like that too.

    She was deeply impressed by the six-year-old Ranran.

    After telling the whole story, Jiang Yu blinked, and said with a relaxed smile, "I just realized that I have a face complex*, if you were a less beautiful little girl back then, I might not have noticed."

    *sucker for looks

    Cheng Suran couldn''t laugh.

    She thought that the experience of being a canary was a taint in her life, and she is lowly and unworthy because she is easily tempted. And the emotions that have repeatedly tortured her these years have become a joke now. Without Jiang Yu, she might have been sold to a bachelor''s home, like a sow giving birth to a litter of piglets. Without Jiang Yu, she wouldn''t have the confidence and capital to make long-term plans for her own life and will not achieve success in the worldly sense.

    It could be said that without Jiang Yu, there would be no her now.

    It was clear that she owed Jiang Yu even more.

    There are no life stains, no lowliness, all opportunities given to her by fate, once or twice, have completely changed her life.

    Cheng Suran felt confused, like punching into cotton.

    Just like when she was a child, she had often overthought things due to others'' inadvertent glances, believing they harbored hostility toward her. She would foolishly swear in her heart to stay far away, only to later realize she had imagined too much; the other party was actually friendly.

    She always does.

    The light on the base of the teapot on the table suddenly lit up, and it began to automatically heat up the cold tea until a little mist came out of the spout.

    The tea is warm again.

    "Then why did you lie to me? Why didn''t you want to tell me the truth?" Cheng Suran asked calmly.

    Jiang Yu turned her face away, avoiding her gaze, and looked outside the window.

    The sky showed a color of water, red and purple-blue intertwined, half like fire, half like ice, two opposite qualities, but at this moment they merged strangely.

    "Because..." There was a flash of struggle in her eyes.

    "At that time, I was the benefactor and I couldn''t accept a deeper connection between us. I only wanted our relationship to remain at the level of financial transactions, that way... I could get out at any time."

    After speaking, Jiang Yu turned back and looked directly at Cheng Suran.

    "I was escaping. I didn''t know that I was¡­"

    Already tempted.

    She didn''t say the second half of the sentence, but Cheng Suran understood from the look in her eyes. In an instant, she felt a strong pang of bitterness burning within her, tears welled up, but she held them back, the mist in her eyes turning into a faint glimmer.

    "You are right to think so. I was too young and naive at the time, thinking that without love, the sky would collapse."

    She smiled at Jiang Yu.

    Because of her youth and inexperience, she had wanted to hold onto whatever little beauty she could find. The words Jiang Yu had said to her in the car back then, now seemed like heartfelt words, not just empty phrases.

    "Then what about now..."

    Jiang Yu hesitated to speak.

    Through those eyes, Cheng Suran seemed to understand what she wanted to ask. At that moment, she sensed a familiar aura in Jiang Yu, similar to her own¨C

    No sense of security?

    But this feeling quickly vanished.

    "For me now, love isn''t everything in life. I have so many things I want to do, so many places I want to go. Life is short, and time is precious," Cheng Suran finished speaking and stood up. She tucked the little rabbit back into her pocket and walked to the balcony.

    There were magnificent fiery clouds stacked on the horizon.

    The outer walls of the high-rise buildings on the opposite bank are glowing with sunshine, and a tour boat cruising slowly on the river, with a broad view that could make one feel as though they were embracing everything.

    She couldn''t see it, but a shadow seemed to cross Jiang Yu''s eyes.

    Suddenly, the phone rang.

    It was Bai Lu.

    Seeing the caller ID, Jiang Yu felt indescribably depressed. For some reason, she always had a bad premonition. She glanced at the unresponsive person on the balcony and lowered her voice: "Hello?"

    "Sister Yu, I just arrived at Jiangcheng Airport, shall we have dinner together tonight?"

    "Sorry, I have something going on here."

    "You''re such a busy person. Tsk, then, I''ll go find Sister Mina first. Remember, you owe me a meal." Surprisingly, Bai Lu didn''t pester her.

    Jiang Yu didn''t think much, and replied "Okay."

    ....

    The service car was driving on the highway, and Bai Lu looked out the window blankly. Just after hanging up, her phone vibrated, it was a message from Mina

    [Where are you?]

    [On the highway.]

    She lazily replied and quit WeChat, and the wallpaper on her phone displayed two large, vivid red characters: "Jiang Yu." They appeared as intense as blood, stimulating her with a hint of excitement.

    This is a wallpaper she made herself.

    There are still many incomplete photos of Jiang Yu in the album, for example, a photo where half of her face is cut off, her eyes are blocked, and her hands or feet are amputated. She changes the wallpaper every day, cycling through them, never getting tired of it.

    The sun shines on her face through the window, illuminating a cold smile at the corner of her lips.

    Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of an office building in the urban area.

    "I''m going to see a friend. Just wait for me in the car," Bai Lu told her assistant. Skillfully, she put on a mask and a hat, then opened the car door. After glancing around, she swiftly exited.

    It was rush hour, people were coming and going in the building, and the elevators were running very slowly. Her height of 1.77 meters is very eye-catching in the crowd.

    "That person is so tall. She looks familiar¡­"

    "She looks like Jiang Yu."

    While waiting for the elevator, Bai Lu suddenly heard hushed whispers around her. The phrase "like Jiang Yu" struck right at her sore spot. She clenched her teeth, tightened her fist, and cursed these blind and brainless fools in her heart.

    Damn Jiang Yu!

    When she just stepped into the modeling circle, she was called "Little Jiang Yu". At that time, she still felt happy and proud, but now it is different from the past. She just wants to take off the label on her body and wash away Jiang Yu''s shadow.

    Everyone only knows Jiang Yu, and even in her brightest moments, she is always compared with Jiang Yu. Why does she hate Jiang Yu so much?

    The elevator stopped on the 12th floor, and only Bai Lu got out.

    Different from the bustle of other floors, this whole floor was empty, and the background board outside the front desk hadn''t yet put her name on it. She walked through the messy new desks and chairs, came to a small office, opened the door, and walked in.

    A middle-aged woman with short hair, wearing a leather jacket was sitting on a swivel chair. She looked up upon hearing Bai Lu''s arrival and smiled warmly. "You''re here. What do you think of this place?"

    It was Mina waiting for her.

    "It''s too messy outside, it doesn''t look like a proper company at all. Clean it up as soon as possible," Bai Lu waved her hand to fan away the dust, wrinkling her nose. She took out a tissue from her bag and carefully wiped a chair that was already clean before sitting down.

    Mina nodded leisurely: "These are trivial matters, don''t worry."

    "How is your coordination with the Russian parent company?"

    "No problem. We''ll have everything set up here in two or three days. Once it''s ready, you''ll be here, and the models coming from Russia will sign directly with us. I''ve been in touch with agents and show directors in New York and Paris. After signing, we''ll send the models over. The process will be the same."

    "This timing is not good. This year''s spring and summer are over. The next opportunity won''t come until the January Haute Couture show. Can new models go straight to the Haute Couture show? Are you confident about it?" Bai Lu''s tone turned serious, and she tapped her index finger on the table repeatedly, exuding a business-like demeanor, quite different from her glamorous and icy appearance.

    Mina smiled, her shrewd and sharp eyes could penetrate people''s hearts, but her face was calm and composed: "You are wrong, the time is just right, it will be after the end of the fashion season. Even without runway shows, there are still photo shoots. Don''t forget, many models have been discovered from a simple photograph in a magazine, aren''t you a living example of that? As long as there''s exposure, visibility leads to opportunities. Besides, these models have good potential, so there''s no need to worry."

    Bai Lu raised her brows and the corners of her mouth.

    "Sister Na, I can rest assured. After so many years, I can finally get rid of Jiang Yu, and it is most comfortable to do things for myself."

    "Yeah," Mina smiled sarcastically, "It''s better to go alone than be with the wrong person."

    This smile is only superficial.

    Thinking that she had found an ally and everything was going well, Bai Lu was in a good mood, sat around in her chair, and asked casually, "When will you resign?

    "Just waiting after we send the first batch of models to New York and Paris."

    "That will take a long time. The longer you stay, the longer you will continue to report to Tian Lin. I feel bad for you, hehe... Tell me, in terms of experience and achievements, she''s no match for you. Jiang Mop just made it obvious she''s trying to keep you in check by promoting her."

    Mina''s slightly wrinkled face sank, and when she heard the word "Jiang Mop", she laughed again: "Don''t worry, I know it myself."

    "How did you give Jiang Yu this nickname?"

    "She''s dirty, a rag." Bai Lu said contemptuously.

    "Quite fitting."

    Mina changed the subject indiscriminately, "Oh, by the way, where''s your boyfriend?"

    "We broke up a while ago," Bai Lu replied casually, then she paused and blinked, "What boyfriend? What actor? He doesn''t count as a boyfriend, I just told Jiang Mop to mess with her. It''s not a real breakup, it''s just money and goods

    "Slip of the tongue."

    Mina nodded again and again, coaxing her, like an adult trying to appease a child who is having a temper, "However, Jiang Yu is not easy to deceive, you should be careful not to go too far, she can''t find out our plans for the time being¡­"

    "I know," Bai Lu made an ''OK'' gesture, "I can act. Today, I told her I wanted to have dinner with her, and she refused. Then I said I was coming to see you, and she agreed so quickly. I could practically feel her relief through the phone..."

    As she spoke, she squeezed the decorative ring on her hand, the metal rubbed against her skin, and it turned slightly red.

    Mina observed her expression, and added fire at the right time: Someone who''s used up, is nothing more than a burden to her, right?"

    "A burden..."

    Bai Lu murmured and repeated the word, with a sarcastic smile on the corner of her lips.

    She eventually became Jiang Yu''s burden.

    A burden that one can''t avoid and doesn''t want to deal with anymore.

    It was dark outside the building.

    Bai Lu temporarily changed her mind about going home for dinner, and said to the driver as soon as she got in the car: "Take me to Green Shang Mansion, then you can go back."

    "Sister, will you go home tonight, or stay with Miss Jiang?" The assistant asked routinely.

    "I''m not going back."

    "Okay."

    The location wasn''t far from Jiang Yu''s place, about a seven to eight-minute drive. However, due to the rush hour, the city was a bit congested, and the travel time was doubled.

    Bai Lu does not need to be accompanied by security guards when she enters and exits the community, nor does she need the guard room to report to the owner. This is the convenience Jiang Yu gave her.

    She entered the elevator unimpeded by herself, went upstairs, came to the door, stretched her hand towards the door lock, and silently recited the code  that she didn''t know the meaning of.

    827930

 CH 104

    C/T Warning: Mentions of child tra****ing; implied Su¡ª

    ___

    After the sun had set, the air grew cooler. Cheng Suran stood on the balcony, allowing the breeze to blow for a while, which seemed to clear her muddled mind. Just as she was about to turn around, a hand reached out from behind and closed the window.

    "You''ll catch a cold."

    Jiang Yu said behind her.

    It sounded very close, so close that she could smell the rich fragrance of iris, and feel the warm breath falling on the tips of her hair. Cheng Suran remained silent, her body tensing up.

    Jiang Yu was also silent.

    Time seemed to move even slowly.

    The overlapping shadows of two people were reflected on the window glass, Jiang Yu was half a head taller than Cheng Suran, motionless, with her eyes lowered, not knowing whether she was looking at her or thinking about something.

    Cheng Suran remembered that Ruoxian would go back to cook tonight, and she became a little anxious after staying here for too long.

    She turned sideways slowly.

    "I''ll head back first." She said, giving Jiang Yu a quick glance.

    Jiang Yu regained her senses and took half a step back: "Go after eating."

    Cheng Suran shook her head: "Ruoxian is cooking at home today."

    As the words left her mouth, she herself felt a moment of confusion.

    That strangely familiar tone¡­

    Hearing the word "Ruoxian", Jiang Yu frowned, her long lashes fluttered, seeing that Cheng Suran was about to leave, she ran after her and grabbed her wrist.

    Cheng Suran was pulled back and found herself in Jiang Yu''s embrace.

    "What are you doing... let go..."

    "Just for a moment."

    Jiang Yu interrupted softly, tightening her arms, and nuzzled against her hair.

    Cheng Suran stood stiffly.

    "There''s a saying that delayed affection is cheaper than grass. Ranran, do you believe in this?"

    "I don''t know."

    She let Jiang Yu hug her and closed her eyes.

    It was the truth, she had no idea. What counts as affection, how long is considered late, how can one define cheap? But she knew what Jiang Yu wanted to say.

    "Then..." Jiang Yu opened her mouth, hesitated, and swallowed the word "us", "Is there still a possibility?"

    Cheng Suran gently pushed Jiang Yu away, and was about to say that she should calm down, when suddenly there were two beeps from the direction of the door, and then, she saw a slender figure walking around the entrance.

    "Sister Yu-"

    The visitor came leisurely, with a pair of charming fox eyes smiling brightly. Seeing the people in the living room, her face turned slightly stiff, and her smile froze abruptly: "Little sister?"

    It''s Bai Lu.

    "Didn''t you go to find Mina?" Jiang Yu looked at her in surprise.

    Bai Lu raised her eyebrows: "I''ve been there. So, I thought I''d drop by here for a meal, Sister Yu. You said I could come anytime and treat this place like my own. I wanted to give you a surprise." She approached as she spoke, her gaze shifting towards Cheng Suran.

    "..."

    Jiang Yu was speechless for a while.

    It was a promise she personally made, and it was also a privilege she handed over to Bai Lu. At that time, she did not expect that this would become a potential issue in the future.

    "Long time no see, little sister." Bai Lu looked Cheng Suran up and down.

    Cheng Suran frowned. She didn''t like the term "Little Sister", but she still wanted to save face, so she just nodded and turned to Jiang Yu, "Miss Jiang, I''m leaving first."

    She walked past Bai Lu.

    "How about it, Sister Yu, isn''t the old lover better? Look at the canaries you''ve raised these past few years, which one is comparable to your little sister." Bai Lu smiled at Jiang Yu casually.

    Cheng Suran froze.

    "Ah, that, I forgot, it''s Miss Cheng now."

    "Bai Lu--"

    Jiang Yu warned in a deep voice.

    "Ah? Bai Lu blinked, "Sister Yu, don''t tell me you didn''t get back together with the little sister. That''s a pity, little sister looks so promising now..."

    "Shut your mouth!"

    "..."

    Cheng Suran listened silently, logic told her that she had to leave immediately, but her legs seemed to be rooted, and she couldn''t move. These past years... canaries you''ve raised¡­

    Wait.

    These past years?

    She suddenly felt weightless, her whole body fell down, and her heart felt empty, as if a small piece had been dug out, and there was no pain, only a little soreness.

    "I''m sorry, Miss Cheng, don''t mind it. Although Sister Yu has no shortage of younger sisters, you must be the one she likes the most¡­

    Before she finished speaking, Jiang Yu slapped Bai Lu with her hands.

    ¡ªpak!

    The slap was so hard that Bai Lu''s head was tilted and she stumbled.

    A hot tingling sensation spread across her cheeks. She covered her face and stared at Jiang Yu with wide eyes. She was frightened by the cold and stern look on her face, and was speechless for a while.

    "You¡­"

    "Get out."

    Jiang Yu pointed to the door.

    The air in the room seemed to freeze, so quiet that even the sound of each other''s breathing could not be heard, the faint sound of the boat''s flute outside seemed to come from far away, a bit unreal and ethereal.

    "Telling me to leave?" Bai Lu''s eyes filled with mist, "Are the things you said and the privileges you gave me, don''t matter anymore?"

    Jiang Yu said blankly, "Don''t let me call someone to throw you out."

    "Fine"

    Bai Lu sneered with tears in her eyes, turned and left.

    ¨Cbang!

    The door slammed shut.

    Cheng Suran was shocked back to her senses, looked at Jiang Yu, and smiled awkwardly: "You could''ve let her finish speaking."

    "She''s right."

    Jiang Yu took a deep breath slowly and met her gaze.

    "I did find a lot of little lovers again. Just after we separated, life returned to the way it was before you appeared, but this time, my template for finding a lover is different from before. Let me think... There were eight each with some similarities to you, to varying degrees. But I never treated them as substitutes, just like before you, those girls who resembled Qi Yan..."

    She said it all.

    Every word felt like tearing at her own flesh.

    After listening, Cheng Suran lowered her head and looked at the couple slippers on her feet: "Actually, you don''t need to explain to me, you... didn''t do anything wrong." Her voice became smaller and smaller, and she looked up at Jiang Yu again. , "If I hadn''t been busy studying and working,and had time for dating, I would have dated too, without needing to explain to anyone. Everyone has their own life."

    Five years, of course she has time to fall in love, but her heart seems to have been injected with anesthesia, numb and unaware, women with good or bad qualities, even men, can''t make her get back the feeling of being moved.

    Because her heart has been moved before, she knows what it''s like to love someone warmly, so she couldn''t deceive herself.

    It''s better to work hard and make money than to worry about spring and autumn all day long.

    "It''s not about right or wrong, but I should explain."

    "Why?"

    "Because you''re someone I care about."

    Jiang Yu''s voice was very soft, she stared at Cheng Suran''s face, took a step forward, her wrist slightly raised, and then lowered again.

    She wanted to hold her hand.

    "From the moment I first saw you, you were special to me, but at that time I didn''t know what this special feeling meant. I only knew that pure money transactions were enough to buy companionship, and I didn''t want to be sincere. But I don''t know when it started, my feelings for you became different. I wanted to see you all the time, see you smile, hear you talk, hug you, kiss you, and do many things together. When I found myself having this kind of thinking, I was afraid that I was falling for you, scared that you would completely enter my life, scared that I''d lose control and lose my sanity... Unfortunately, it took me the past two years to figure this out. I don''t even know if there''s still time left..."

    Cheng Suran frowned, reached into her pocket and grabbed the little rabbit tightly, her palms hurt a little, and a violent storm erupted in her calm eyes.

    Is that so?

    "Ranran." Jiang Yu tried to hug her.

    Cheng Suran dodged away, avoiding her gaze, and said in a low voice: "I should go back, goodbye." After speaking, she turned around in a hurry.

    Jiang Yu stood rooted in place, watching her leave.

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Leaving the community, Cheng Suran drove aimlessly on the street, from the east to the west of the city, from the inner ring to the outer ring. She watched the sky darken little by little until it was completely dark, and went to a gas station.

    When she got home, the lights were on in the living room, and there was movement from the kitchen.

    The range hood hums, there were clinking of utensils but there is no noise through the closed transparent glass door. Wen Ruoxian was cooking inside, she was wearing an apron, her long hair was pulled back, seemingly unaware of someone entering the house.

    Cheng Suran''s mind was in a mess, and she was really not in the mood to say hello, so she went back to the bedroom sullenly.

    She closed the door and turned on the light.

    She collapsed on the big bed, reached into her pocket, and took out the round little rabbit.

    It had become dirty after many years.

    In her hazy memory, there was a green leather train, a platform, but there was no eighteen-year-old Jiang Yu. She imagined, what would an eighteen-year-old Jiang Yu be like? 1.79 meters tall, size 42 feet, a face that wasn''t adored by mainstream aesthetics...

    Before entering the world of modeling, before walking on the runway, before the flowers and applause, before the dazzling limelight of today.

    A plain, ordinary person.

    And she, a poor ordinary girl, without nice clothes and favorite toys, at an age when she barely understood anything, was about to be sold off by her own biological father.

    They met each other when they were the most ordinary and equal, and then separated, and when they met again, there was a period of unequal grayness, and then they separated again, only to meet once more, having circled around a very long way.

    The shackles on her heart suddenly disappeared, and she felt herself becoming lighter.

    Cheng Suran put the little rabbit on her chest, slowed down her breathing, and used it to feel the rhythm of her heart beat. Her body gradually relaxed...

    She didn''t care at all what her father did, she didn''t care how despicable he was, anyway, that person had already died early. She only cares about Jiang Yu and everything related to Jiang Yu, even if she doesn''t want to admit it.

    [Because you''re someone I care about.]

    [I wanted to see you smile, hear you talk, hug you, kiss you, and do many things together.]

    She could feel the warmth of liquid rolling beneath her eyelids, but no tears flowed out.

    Eight little lovers...

    The sour and swollen feeling returned to her heart, filling the empty corner.

    She understands the truth, but after all, human beings are not machines, and they cannot maintain rationality all the time. It''s been five years, and she hasn''t been able to forget about Jiang Yu. Learning all this today, she still felt a bit bothered.

    It was quite sudden.

    Bai Lu''s face flashed in her mind, she opened her eyes suddenly, and sat up straight.

    Bai Lu!

    Bai Lu had been unkind to her before, and it was those malicious ridicules that woke her up and contributed to their current situation. Bai Lu likes Jiang Yu, so it''s not surprising that she is hostile to her, she knows it.

    But what happened today?

    Was it intentional? Was there some ulterior motive? By exposing Jiang Yu''s past in front of her, did Bai Lu want to embarrass Jiang Yu or make them suspicious of each other, causing harm?

    The more Cheng Suran thought, the more peculiar it felt, yet she couldn''t figure out any clues.

    Bai Lu did a similar thing five years ago. At that time, she was young, innocent, and so in love. She couldn''t hold back her emotions after being provoked by a few words. But now, she will not be easily provoked by others, and let the evil one get her wish.

    ¡ªtok tok

    There were two knocks on the door.

    "Ranran, are you inside?"

    Ruoxian''s voice called from outside.

    Cheng Suran was startled, stuffed the little rabbit back into her pocket, and quickly stepped forward to open the door.

    Their eyes met, and both of them froze for a moment. Wen Ruoxian was still wearing an apron, her eyes showed worry, "When did you come back?"

    "Just... five or six minutes ago."

    "Is there something wrong?"

    "Nothing."

    Cheng Suran touched her nose guiltily.

    "Then why didn''t you go to the kitchen to eat? You came straight to your room. I thought you hadn''t returned yet. I was about to call you, but I noticed the shoes at the doorstep... Thankfully." Ruoxian chided playfully, shaking her head.

    Normally, if Ranran came home while she was cooking, she would go to the kitchen to eat a bite or two first.

    Today, she quietly returned to the room.

    Based on her understanding of Ranran, eight or nine points out of ten, when she acts this way, she has something on her mind. Perhaps it was related to her recent trip back home. It could be something her family said or did, but she often preferred to digest things on her own.

    She knew about Ranran''s family situation.

    Seeing her suspicious face, Cheng Suran wailed silently. Having a best friend who understood her so well was a double-edged sword. But this was something she couldn''t reveal right now; she needed to put Ruoxian''s mind at ease first.

    "No, I remembered something about work while on the road, so I was in a rush to go back and check my laptop. I just finished and was just about to come and see what delicious food you made." Cheng Suran took her arm and acted like a baby.

    Lying didn''t make her blush at all.

    Wen Ruoxian breathed a sigh of relief, nodded: "It''s all your favorite food."

    "Wow, let''s go, let''s go, I''m starving to death."

    ....

    There is no moon tonight.

    Jiang Yu sat on the bay window of the bedroom with her knees bent, holding a big rabbit plush in her arms, pinching its long rabbit ears one after another. The bedside table lamp was dimly lit, and her lonely figure was engulfed in darkness.

    The phone vibrated twice.

    There is a WeChat message.

    She couldn''t wait to pick up the phone to unlock it, click in, but there was no red dot on Ranran''s profile picture, and the person who sent the message was Bai Lu.

    [Remember to collect my body for me.]

    Below is a photo of a large basin filled with burning charcoal.

    Jiang Yu gasped, unable to type quickly enough, she switched to a voice message, her voice stern: "Bai Lu, why are you so crazy?

    Bai Lu: [Heh.]

    After a while, a slightly longer voice message came over: "I''m not crazy, I''m very fine, and I really want to laugh. I have given so much and treated you so well, but you are still guarding against me. You hit me over a canary... you just want me to die... okay, then I''ll die, to satisfy you, you''ll dream of me every night, how nice¡­"

 CH 105

    C/T Warning: Bai Lu

    Her voice was hoarse and weird, as if floating from another world far away.

    Jiang Yu felt goosebumps all over her body when she heard it, and was a little indescribably annoyed. She hates being threatened the most in her life, especially by those close to her. She cultivated Bai Lu alone. She has tolerated her countless times, but the other party only pushes her forward and challenges her patience to the limit, time and time again.

    Speaking all jumbled up, unclear logic, always hostaging her morally.

    She called Bai Lu.

    And Bai Lu quickly picked it up.

    "Have you caused enough trouble? What do you really want?" Jiang Yu restrained her anger.

    Bai Lu sneered: "Send your little lover to hell."

    "I repeat, she''s not a lover."

    "For a day, for a lifetime! Being kept is just being used, a cheap thing to be played with!" Bai Lu suddenly became emotional and yelled hysterically over the phone.

    The insulting words pierced into Jiang Yu''s eardrums, like a sharp thorn, pierced deeply in her heart, and in an instant, her whole body was full of anger rushing to the top of her head.

    But reason told her not to be impulsive.

    Now Bai Lu''s mood is unstable, and she may go to extremes if she is slightly stimulated.

    Jiang Yu''s hands were trembling, and she was forced to laugh out of anger: "What about you? What kind of thing are you? Are you noble for doing these inexplicable things? I feel cheap for you!"

    As soon as the words fell, there was a long silence.

    So long that Jiang Yu thought her phone signal might be bad.

    "Hahahaha" Bai Lu suddenly burst into a terrifying laugh.

    "Okay, you go to bed early."

    Without giving her a chance to respond, Jiang Yu hung up the phone and set the phone to silent. Then quickly sent a text message to Bai Lu''s assistant Xiao Xu: [I''m going to call you now,  answer it secretly, don''t let Bai Lu hear it.]

    Xiao Xu replied quickly: [Okay.]

    A call is made.

    "Miss Jiang, what''s the matter?" The young girl''s voice was very low.

    "Where''s Bai Lu?"

    "She went back to her room to sleep."

    "Go to the small balcony to see if the window in her room is open, and then check if the door is blocked."

    Jiang Yu''s heart was hanging, and her temples were throbbing. She is quite familiar with the layout and structure of Bai Lu''s house. The photo was probably taken while burning charcoal. Whether it was a threat or not, a quick look would reveal the truth.

    Last time it was wrist-cutting, gruesome and bloody. This time it was burning charcoal, gentle and quiet.

    As long as it doesn''t happen on her territory.

    Jiang Yu was taken aback by her cold-blooded thoughts. She never thought that one day she would react to Bai Lu to such an extent. Those ugly words should not have come from her own mouth.

    The phone was quiet for a while, then Xiao Xu''s low voice rang again: "Miss Jiang, the window is open and the door is not blocked, is there any problem?"

    "It''s okay, she''s not in a good mood, I''m afraid she will do something stupid. You work hard tonight and pay more attention to her. If anything happens, remember to call an ambulance before calling the police."

    "Mm... okay." The young girl was really frightened.

    ¡­.

    Miss Su reserved a private room and asked her about Cheng Suran''s taste preferences. Seeing these questions, Jiang Yu froze.

    She carefully recalled various fragmented scenes in her mind - waffles by the hot spring pool, steamed sea bass in the hospital room.

    The memories that surfaced first were from five years ago.

    And then...

    In the hotel restaurant, Wen Ruoxian''s instructions to the waiter.

    Jiang Yu thought about it and replied: [She has a lighter taste, likes steamed sea bass, doesn''t eat garlic, parsley and onions, and likes pudding for dessert...]

    As she typed, she couldn''t help smiling when she thought of Ranran digging out a pudding cup like a little hamster.

    After the conversation was finished, Jiang Yu copied the address and exited, preparing to send it to Cheng Suran.

    The entrance to Moments displayed Cheng Suran''s profile picture.

    She was taken aback, and clicked in. The latest news was posted by Ranran a few minutes ago - she unblocked her.

    Jiang Yu clicked into Cheng Suran''s Moments. The once icy white line now read "Visible for only three days." In the past three days, she had only posted two updates: one related to work the day before yesterday, and one just a few minutes ago saying "Craving something sweet." It was accompanied by a photo of a delicately placed cup filled with steaming tea on her office desk.

    Jiang Yu enlarged the photo and stared at it thoughtfully for a while.

    It is three o''clock in the afternoon.

    [Ranran, do you have time to have dinner together tonight?]

    Half an hour passed with no reply.

    Looking at the lonely green message box, Jiang Yu hesitated, wanting to send another message, but also worried that her frequent interruptions would make the other party bothered. After thinking for a while, she stood up, put the phone in her bag, picked up the intercom on the desk and explained a few words to her assistant, and left the office with the bag...

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Cheng Suran sat in the meeting room while listening to a report.

    Just after halfway through, the assistant Xiao Meng came in quietly, walked up to her, bowed her head and whispered: "Miss Cheng, Miss Jiang is here, and she said she needs to speak with you."

    Cheng Suran''s expression changed slightly, and soon returned to normal.

    "Ask her to wait in my office."

    "Okay."

    Xiao Meng went out in response.

    The sudden news disturbed Cheng Suran''s mind. She played with the stylus in her hand, drawing circles on the table.

    Half an hour later, the meeting concluded. Cheng Suran gave a few instructions and left, clutching her tablet. Unconsciously, she quickened her pace, returning to her office.

    The moment the door opened, a faint fragrance of iris entered her nose, calming and pleasant.

    Jiang Yu was sitting on the sofa by the window, her long legs were crossed, her face was sideways, and her outline was sharp and distinct. She was dressed in black again, and her cold white skin was like wrapped in beautiful jade.

    Cheng Suran felt her heart stop.

    "Ranran--"

    Jiang Yu turned her face and looked at her with a smile.

    Cheng Suran was called back to her soul and her eyes became clear again. She closed the door with her backhand, walked to the sofa diagonally opposite Jiang Yu and sat down: "Why are you here?"

    In an instant, she relaxed in front of her, no longer treating her as "Miss Jiang" but more like an old friend.

    Jiang Yu pursed her lips and smiled, without saying a word, reached out to open the beautifully wrapped bag on the table, took out a transparent cake box, took off the spoon, and pushed them in front of her.

    A small and attractive mousse cake.

    Cheng Suran''s throat moved, and she raised her eyes in surprise: "How did you know..."

    "I saw your Moments," Jiang Yu said softly, "I happened to be shopping at the nearby IFS*, and there was a dessert shop next to it with good reviews, so I bought it for you to try."

    *International Financial Center, upscale shopping center

    She told a little lie.

    Ripples stirred in Cheng Suran''s peaceful heart lake.

    She has been busy with work recently, flying four or five cities a week, which made her exhausted. In addition, the temperature in most parts of the country has dropped sharply. She caught a cold two days ago on a business trip. Feeling a bit under the weather and fatigued, her appetite had decreased, and she had been craving for sweets.

    Before the meeting, she made a cup of scented tea in the office, just casually feeling that it would be better with dessert. She originally wanted to order a takeaway, but she was distracted and forgot.

    "It was just a casual post."

    Indirectly turning Jiang Yu into someone who ran errands for her, Cheng Suran felt a little embarrassed.

    "Then...do you still want to eat?" Jiang Yu seemed disappointed.

    "I''ll eat."

    Cheng Suran nodded eagerly, afraid of disappointing her. She opened the transparent box, picked up a small spoon, and slowly began to eat the alluring mousse cake, savoring each bite.

    The sweet taste melted on the tip of her tongue, awakening her sleeping taste buds.

    She ate slowly, her delicate lips slightly pouting, her small face puffing up as she chewed methodically. Her eyes revealed genuine delight from within.

    Jiang Yu enjoyed watching her eat, and the curve of her smile grew deeper.

    There was no casual shopping.

    No incidental visit.

    She simply wanted to see Ranran.

    With a small piece of cake, Cheng Suran devoured it completely, leaving no trace behind. A little more would be too overwhelming, and a little less wouldn''t satisfy her. This portion was just right. After finishing the cake, she took a sip of water, wiped her mouth, and a contented expression spread across her face.

    Indeed, sweets could brighten one''s mood.

    "Is it delicious?"

    "Mm, Not Bad."

    "Are you busy recently?" Jiang Yu asked casually.

    Cheng Suran nodded: "I''ve been spinning for almost half a month."

    "So that''s why you have time to post on Moments but not to reply to messages."

    "..."

    Knowing that she meant something, Cheng Suran was startled, and smiled awkwardly: "I didn''t deliberately not reply to you, I was just suddenly interrupted by something, and then I forgot, I only remembered when you mentioned it just now."

    Jiang Yu raised her brows.

    "Do you remember Su Wenjing? Miss Su, the VIP I mentioned before, the one who wanted to meet you."

    "I remember."

    "She sent me the address today, what time is convenient for you to meet?"

    Jiang Yu lowered her head and fiddled with her phone. She didn''t show the chat record directly to Cheng Suran, but copied the address message, forwarded it, shaking her phone slightly and said, "I sent it to you."

    "How about this Friday? I have time in the afternoon," Cheng Suran replied after reading.

    "Okay, I''ll pick you up, and we''ll go together."

    "No need to trouble yourself, I can go on my own."

    After the words fell, Jiang Yu turned silent for a moment, and said carefully: "After all, she''s a VIP from our place, and I connected you two. Until we understand her true intentions, I should protect you."

    "True intentions?" Cheng Suran sneered "You make it sound like she''s out to kill me."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes and remained silent.

    For some reason, she was vaguely worried. She didn''t know that Miss Su well, but after several contacts, she always felt that the other party had other intentions. Years of self-protection had made her accustomed to being cautious around unfamiliar people, especially now when it concerned Ranran.

    The most important person in her heart.

    "Look at this address. She probably wants to meet me at a dining table. It might be a bit inconvenient for you to go..." Cheng Suran thought she didn''t understand her intentions and quickly explained, fearing she had disappointed Jiang Yu.

    She knew she cared about her, and she seemed less resistant now.

    Jiang Yu shook her head. "I understand. I won''t go inside, I''ll wait for you in the car."

    "But it''s dinner time, you will be hungry sitting in the car, are you willing to go hungry just to wait for me?"

    "Skipping one dinner won''t hurt."

    "But¡­"

    Cheng Suran grew anxious, furrowing her brows, and Jiang Yu also felt a little nervous. Leaning forward, she grabbed Cheng Suran''s hand. "Don''t reject me, okay?"

    The sudden touch made Cheng Suran''s heart tremble, and her fingers curled up subconsciously.

    She stared at Jiang Yu and pursed her lips.

    "All right."

    ....

    Friday was cloudy.

    Jiang Yu had finished her work before 2 o''clock and returned home to change her clothes. The sky darkened quickly. She parked her car at the entrance of the Marina Bay community and messaged Cheng Suran.

    [I have arrived.]

    [I''m coming down.]

    Cheng Suran replied almost instantly.

    Jiang Yu put down her phone and glanced at the sky through the windshield. The clouds are very thick, very low, gloomy, impenetrable, and suffocating.

    She doesn''t like cloudy days and feels a little heavy.

    A few minutes later, Cheng Suran came out and got into the passenger seat. She was dressed more formally, a beige suit-style woolen coat, well-tailored, warm and textured, as if she was going to meet a client.

    "This is for you."

    She handed over a paper bag.

    "What is it?"

    Jiang Yu lowered her head and took out something. It was a lunch box with a cartoon pattern printed on it. She cast a puzzled look at Cheng Suran. Cheng Suran explained, "I made some light snacks, low in calories. If you get hungry, you can have a bit."

    There are six small pies neatly arranged in the box, and each piece has been thoughtfully cut in half to reveal the colorful fillings.

    "Pumpkin, red bean, purple potato, three flavors, the crust is made of oatmeal and low-fat milk, the fillings themselves are sweet, so I didn''t add any sugar."

    The small snacks were exquisitely tempting.

    Jiang Yu looked at the pies, then raised her eyes again, staring deeply at Cheng Suran, with a somewhat moved expression: "Okay."

    The restaurant was located next to the Wetland Park, along a scenic path that was quiet with few people around. This establishment was well-known in Jiangcheng, specializing in customizing high-end dishes with premium ingredients. Many celebrities and internet personalities were regular customers here.

    Cheng Suran was led by the waiter outside the "laurel room". As the door opened, her relaxed nerves suddenly tensed up.

    There is a sense of heaviness that feels she''s about to face the waves.

    The light in the private room was slightly dim, and the woman was sitting on the side of the U-shaped sofa, her black hair was coiled up high, the pearls around her ears were white, and the gentle light yellow light shone on her delicate skin, making her ageless at all.

    Seeing Cheng Suran, she was stunned for a while, her eyes were in a trance, and she didn''t react until the person approached, and stood up. "Miss Cheng, hello, I''m Su Wenjing."

    "Hello."

    Cheng Suran nodded with a smile.

    During this moment of eye contact, much like the last encounter, a sense of familiarity arose once again. Yet, her professional instincts made her notice a subtle difference. She had a faint intuition that Miss Su had something important to say to her.

    "Please sit down."

    "Okay."

    Cheng Suran sat opposite, and Su Wenjing stared at her face for a moment, as if trying to figure out something. Although they didn''t know each other, they didn''t feel awkward at the moment. Cheng Suran also looked at her with probing eyes.

    "When I saw Miss Cheng at the trade fair that day, I thought you looked like...someone I knew before, so I asked Miss Jiang¡­"

    Before she finished speaking, there was a knock on the door, and Su Wenjing immediately fell silent.

    Customized dishes are coming up one after another.

    Seeing the steamed sea bass, Cheng Suran was stunned for a moment, and then noticed that all the dishes were light in taste, but the most common garlic was missing. She couldn''t help but sigh secretly, this Ms. Su not only suits her eyes, but also has similar taste preferences.

    "I asked Miss Jiang about your dietary preferences, and I don''t know if these suit your taste." Su Wenjing looked at her with indescribably gentle and earnest eyes, as well as a little hint of affection.

    But Cheng Suran didn''t notice this, and only caught the word "Miss Jiang" in her words.

    Jiang Yu...

    She remembers her preference?

 CH 106

    C/T Warning: Mentions of su¨C and dv

    Su Wenjing is very enthusiastic.

    Even when they were not familiar with each other, she didn''t rush to inquire about Cheng Suran''s private matters or mention which old friend Cheng Suran resembled. Instead, she invited her to taste the food while discussing the new styles she favored at the trade fair.

    On the contrary, Cheng Suran gradually became restless.

    Through professional training, even if she was curious and eager, she wouldn''t show it. She remained composed.

    From a brand to the entire fashion industry, and to the business she runs, Su Wenjing talked eloquently, but she doesn''t talk to herself alone. Cheng Suran unknowingly follows her rhythm and chats happily with her.

    Su Wenjing is in the medical equipment business. The company is large in scale. Its headquarter is located in Jiangcheng, with branches in many countries and regions around the world. It is also a leader in the import and export trade industry. She can speak English, Russian, and Japanese fluently, and she went to Singapore to study in her early years. She looks very young, but she is actually fifty years old, and there are only a few wrinkles on her face when she smiles.

    Cheng Suran observed quietly.

    Perhaps it was because of the kindness she felt at the first meeting and the comfort of chatting, she had a good impression of Su Wenjing, so she naturally let go of her guard a little, and even faintly felt that the charms between their eyebrows and eyes seemed a bit alike.

    Is it because they both have dimples?

    It was completely dark, and the garden outside the window lit up lights one after another. The dishes carefully arranged on the table were almost eaten, and the waiter brought dessert.

    "Where are you from?"

    "Lingzhou."

    As soon as these words fell, Su Wenjing''s face changed slightly.

    Cheng Suran was keenly aware and asked, "What''s wrong?"

    Su Wenjing''s eyes suddenly became complicated, and she seemed hesitant to speak: "I..." She paused, holding her bag tightly with one hand under the table, "My hometown is Lingzhou."

    "What a coincidence," Cheng Suran was quite surprised.

    "It turns out we''re from the same hometown. Maybe we''ve met there before, which is why you might feel like I resemble a friend."

    Su Wenjing looked at her, a trace of struggle flashed in her eyes, and the smile on the corner of her mouth looked a bit forced. Today, she and Cheng Suran did not meet just for dinner, but¡ª

    "We do know each other."

    She straightened her shoulders and her expression became serious, "But not as friends."

    Cheng Suran was puzzled: "What do you mean?"

    Su Wenjing took out a palm-sized photo from her bag, looked at it in her hand, and seemed to have made some decision, put it on the table, and slowly and solemnly pushed it to Cheng Suran.

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    The photo above shows a family of three. The woman is slim, with red lips and white teeth. She has the temperament of a Hong Kong-style female star. She holds a little girl with braided pigtails in her arms. She wears a plaid dress. The mother and daughter smiled brightly, and the man next to them...had his head cut off.

    This is an old photo with low resolution and the date is marked in gold font in the lower right corner.

    September 16, 2000.

    The woman looks exactly like Su Wenjing, almost a young version of her. Even though the pixels are not so clear, a small brown mole on the side of the mouth of the little girl in her arms can still be seen.

    Cheng Suran stared at the photo and suddenly had a strong intuition in her heart...

    She looked up slowly.

    "The little girl in the photo is you." Su Wenjing said softly.

    This face, in her twenties and fifties, the only difference was the innocence in her eyes and the maturity. Cheng Suran looked at her in disbelief, her lips opening and closing, "You..."

    "It''s mom."

    Su Wenjing uttered that title.

    So blunt, so unnatural, as if the person sitting in front of her was not her own daughter, but a stranger¡ªshe hadn''t seen her for many years, and she was no different from a stranger.

    The word "Mom" is the most sensitive forbidden place in Cheng Suran''s heart.

    "Are you joking..." She chuckled sarcastically, turned her face away, and emitted a hoarse, strained breath from her throat.

    Based on just one photo?

    "It''s not a joke," Su Wenjing sighed, "At the trade fair that day, I heard Miss Jiang mention your name, Cheng Suran... the name I gave my daughter. I can''t be wrong."

    "There are many people with the same name and surname. Could it be that each of them is your daughter?" Cheng Suran retorted very quickly.

    She also raised her voice unconsciously.

    Her heart trembled violently.

    Her name¡­

    "You were born in the Year of the Rabbit."

    "On the 20th of February, under the sign of Pisces."

    "You''re from Lingzhou."

    "You have a small mole on the corner of your left mouth."

    "When you were three, your parents divorced, and your mother left. You lived with your father."

    With each characteristic Su Wenjing mentioned, Cheng Suran was struck once.

    She was speechless to refute.

    In reality, she didn''t need to say all this. Just based on that old photograph, she had already believed deep down that the radiant woman before her was her biological mother whom she hadn''t seen in over twenty years. However, the news had come too suddenly,

    She had long accepted the fact that she was a stray child without a home.

    The most nostalgic and dependent age has passed.

    The two looked at each other in silence.

    Under the light, Su Wenjing looks like a bodhisattva, gentle and loving, and has an aura of saving sentient beings. The more she looked at her, the more ethereal she seemed, as if she had stepped out of a dream.

    The mother Cheng Suran saw in her dreams when she was a child was like this.

    No wonder she felt a sense of familiarity when they first met. No wonder she felt there was a resemblance between them. No wonder her name contained the character "Su"; a character she had always liked since childhood.

    Cheng Suran looked down at the photo again.

    With such an elegant posture, the woman truly was beautiful. The attire from that era, now referred to as "vintage style," made her resemble someone like Zhang something or Wang something ¨C radiant, confident, gentle, and graceful.

    Suddenly, what her aunt said to her rang in her ears: She really doesn''t look like the Cheng family at all.

    Indeed.

    She is more like her mother.

    But she also failed to fully inherit her mother''s beauty.

    In the photo, the little girl is less than two years old, and her round face is extremely cute. At that time, all the accidents had not happened, and she was so happy lying in her mother''s arms. As for the man next to them whose head was cut off¡­ she doesn''t care.

    Su Wenjing looked at her movements, her heart became heavier, and she whispered: "I''m sorry."

    Cheng Suran''s fingers stiffened and she didn''t speak.

    It''s very strange.

    She felt surprisingly calm, without losing control of her emotions, without becoming hysterical, and without accusing this woman of things like "It''s too late for apologies" or "What''s the point of coming now." During the years she lived with her aunt, she had rehearsed this scenario countless times in her mind, as if only by doing so could she vent her grievances.

    "Don''t you want to know why Cheng Guowen''s face is cut off in this photo?" When Su Wenjing mentioned her ex-husband''s name, a trace of disgust appeared in Su Wenjing''s eyes.

    Cheng Suran said lightly: "It''s been so many years since you''ve been divorced, who still wants to leave traces of their ex."

    Su Wenjing''s face darkened, and her voice became heavier. "But... no mother would willingly abandon her child." After saying this, she stared deeply at Cheng Suran.

    There is something to be said.

    Cheng Suran lowered her eyes and thought about it. She knew very little about her biological mother. The only impression she had was the contemptuous eyes, slanderous words from her father, grandma, and aunt when they mentioned her mother occasionally, and how many times she had heard from others in her childhood. She had also heard a few rumors from others when she was a child, like how her mother was spoiled and looked down on honest peasants, dressing up like a vixen to seduce men everywhere, abandoning her child with a wolfish heart, not worthy of being a mother¡ª

    She once really believed that her mother disliked the poor and loved the rich and abandoned her.

    During countless nights of feeling wronged, she would cry alone while covering her mouth. Her heart was filled with resentment, and she had felt indignant many times. Why did others have complete families while she didn''t?

    Why not find out today?

    "Do you have any reason?" Cheng Suran asked calmly.

    Wenjing inhaled, took a sip of lemonade, and said slowly: "My dear, when you get older, you can''t let your heart be too attached to a man. Feeling sorry for a man is the beginning of a nightmare¡­"

    The Su family is the earliest ten-thousand-dollar household in Lingzhou. It has gradually developed from a small business to open a factory. Su Wenjing has lived in a big villa since she was born, and she is picked up by car to and from school. Her peers can''t afford toys or ordinary snacks. At the time, she was already tired of playing with all kinds of new gadgets and imported snacks.

    The little princess who grew up rich and well protected by her parents perhaps tired of listening to too many sweet words from men in the same circle, when she met a simple and down-to-earth man by chance, which felt refreshingly different¡ª

    Cheng Guowen, the driver of the Su family.

    The man was tall and rough, with fairly handsome features, from a poor family, graduated from a technical secondary school, served as a soldier for two years, and has never had a serious job since he was discharged from the army.

    He was playful and liked to act pitifully.

    At that time, in Su Wenjing''s eyes, he was completely different from those "coquettish and cheap" men outside. Love started from novelty and flourished in pity. She felt sorry for this poor but humorous honest man. To marry him, Su Wenjing went on a hunger strike, attempted suicide, and caused a huge scene at home. She nearly severed ties with her parents.

    After more than a year of marriage, the nature of the so-called honest man was gradually exposed. Starting with his unemployment and excessive drinking, and later escalated into domestic violence. He was a soldier, so he still had some strength in him. A spoiled little princess is no match for him.

    The night in the countryside was dark and long, and she was lying on the bed, crying while hugging her two-year-old daughter. The "love" brought by novelty and pity is thus annihilated in endless physical and mental torture...

    The stiff relationship with her family eased at this time, and her parents still cared about their daughter. Su Wenjing finally got rid of this marriage and escaped from the devil''s den. To completely forget the past and start again, she let go of her three-year-old child.

    Opening up the scars of the past is so ugly, but it doesn''t hurt anymore.

    "I guess this is the price of growth."

    Su Wenjing paused after speaking, took a big gulp of lemon water, slowly swallowed, and wiped her mouth with a tissue. She then smiled and muttered to herself, "I can totally imagine how the Cheng family must have schemed behind my back, and I can guess what kind of ideas they instilled in you... it''s nothing more than, your own mother looks down on rural folks, has no shame, seduces men everywhere, and abandons her husband and child to run away with a lover..."

    Harsh words sounded as light to her as talking about the weather.

    Cheng Suran stared at her blankly, under the table, her hands resting on her knees tightly twisted together.

    That day in her hometown in Lingzhou, her aunt angrily accused her father and revealed all the old stories. In one sentence, she said, "He beat his wife away". At that time, her mind was full of the truth about Jiang Yu and the rabbit doll, and she didn''t think about other things.

    So that''s how it was...

    But what about later? In these over twenty years, was there really no news at all? If it weren''t for the chance encounter at the trade fair, would her biological mother ever have reached out to her voluntarily?

    Of course not.

    She understood.

    For Su Wenjing, she is the child of her and the person she hates most in life, the price paid for being a love fool when she was young, and the nightmare she wants to forget completely.

    Cheng Suran suddenly felt sad, a tinge of bitterness welled up in her heart, but it was fleeting, dissipating like a mosquito bite before emotions could truly stir. Her gaze turned numb as she said, "Your guess is correct."

    Su Wenjing smiled wryly.

    "When you were so young, I left your side. I haven''t fulfilled a mother''s responsibilities for so long. I suddenly appear before you today, and I know I have no right to ask for your forgiveness..."

    "Do you know that Cheng Guowen is dead?" Cheng Suran interrupted her.

    Su Wenjing was stunned.

    "I was seven years old, and he went out to drink, got drunk and got into a fight, and was accidentally stabbed to death. A few days ago, the village was building a road to relocate graves, and I went back to preside over it for him.

    Cheng Suran said lightly, picked up a small silver spoon, dug a piece of pudding, and put it into her mouth, the sweet taste spread on the tip of her tongue, just a bit but enough to neutralize the bitterness in her heart.

    "Then... you."

    Su Wenjing didn''t care about that man''s affairs, and her intuition told her that something must have happened later.

    "Later, I stayed at my aunt''s house until I was eighteen." Cheng Suran said while eating pudding. Each spoonful was larger than the previous one, hurriedly consumed as if trying to fill something up before it could be devoured.

    Seven years old has memories.

    In those few days, the house was in chaos. She was hungry for a long time and ate the eggs laid by the old hen raw. The adults were arguing in the main room, and she hid in the room and eavesdropped through the door, talking about..."Don''t want her", "Forget it", "That damned mother, I don''t know where she died".

    It seems they weren''t able to contact her biological mother.

    At that time, Cheng Suran wondered why her mother didn''t come to take her away. As she grew older, she even thought about how great it would be if her mother had taken her away. Even as an adult, she would occasionally think that if her mother had taken her away earlier, she wouldn''t have had to endure eleven years of living under someone else''s roof.

    Since the past cannot be changed, there is no need to talk about it now.

    In just a few words, Su Wenjing heard a lot of hidden information, and it took her a while to regain her composure. A hint of guilt flashed in her eyes as she said, "I didn''t know such a thing had happened. I¡­"

    Cheng Suran''s seven years old was her thirty-one years old. At that time, she had married her current husband, her career had just started to improve, and she was pregnant with her second child. Even if she knew about it, she wouldn''t take Cheng Suran to her side¡ªa very realistic choice, her heart couldn''t stand such torture.

    Having escaped from hell and reborn again, she will not allow her past mistakes to bother her.

    She sees her own daughter as a mistake.

    She is nothing but a bad person.

    "Sorry."

    "No need to apologize," Cheng Suran shook her head lightly, "As a woman, I sympathize with your experience and understand your choice. As for the rest... I don''t want to say much more. That''s all."

    "I''m not here to seek forgiveness."

 CH 107

    "Then what for?" Cheng Suran asked.

    Su Wenjing remained speechless for a moment.

    On the night when she went back that day, she suffered from insomnia and only fell asleep at dawn. She also had a long dream, dreaming that a little baby was crying in her arms. She couldn''t calm down for a long time until she woke up. In the past few days, she seriously thought about whether she should take this opportunity to find Cheng Suran, and she also thought about why.

    A sense of unwillingness, or an obsession, or, a little guilt?

    "In fact, we don''t really need to meet or recognize each other. It''s been so many years; you have your life, I have mine. We''re both doing fine separately. It''s enough. We don''t need to carry a relationship or disturb each other. That would be awkward," Cheng Suran said slowly, each word carefully chosen, unnervingly calm.

    She was like a numb messenger, without any fluctuations in her eyes. She said she was doing fine.

    Upon hearing this, Su Wenjing suddenly felt relieved, as if a weight had been lifted off her chest. She asked again, "What are you up to now? Maybe there''s something I could help with. If we''re not meant to be mother and daughter, being friends is still possible. Shall we exchange contact information?" She reached into her bag to take out a business card.

    At that moment, Cheng Suran felt tempted. She considered her career, and her company, realizing that one could never have too many connections. But to do so would mean disrupting her existing life order, and she''d have to spend a long time untangling herself from emotional sensitivities.

    She didn''t want to feel that pain again.

    "No need."

    Cheng Suran smiled, gentle and courteous: "I think it''s more appropriate for us to be strangers."

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    It was raining lightly.

    It is cold in the late autumn night, and there are large and small puddles on the ground, like countless mirrors, reflecting the cold white light from the street lamps. This place is secluded with few people, and it is like a different world from the busy and congested urban area.

    Sitting in the car, Jiang Yu ate the last pumpkin pie unhurriedly, looked down at the empty lunch box, and felt a little unfulfilled. These snacks were made by Ranran, and she had intended to eat them sparingly, but she couldn''t resist¡ª

    And just like that, she finished them all.

    She didn''t know when the next time would be.

    She wiped her mouth and hands, drank some water, covered the lunch box and put it back in the paper bag, and glanced at the restaurant door. Just in time, Cheng Suran came out.

    The waiter held an umbrella for her and escorted her all the way to the car, Jiang Yu hurriedly opened the door. A gust of cold wind rushed in, Cheng Suran got into the car, without saying a word, and fastened her seat belt on her own.

    "How did it go?" Jiang Yu asked with concern.

    Cheng Suran seemed lost in thought. She turned her face, her gaze somewhat distant. "What?"

    "That Ms. Su... Did you know her before?"

    "Oh, a fellow villager."

    She smiled lightly and turned back.

    Jiang Yu felt something was wrong with her, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on it. Just as she was about to ask, Cheng Suran urged, "Let''s go. I want to go back and rest."

    "Okay."

    She had to swallow her words.

    As the car left the restaurant''s vicinity, the rain grew heavier. Countless tiny water droplets splattered against the window, blurring the view of the street outside. The red, blue, and yellow lights mixed into a muddled mess.

    Cheng Suran leaned her head against the car window, looking at the wet street outside, one light after another passed through her eyes, but nothing remained.

    Her eyes were like empty pools of stagnant water.

    Entering the urban area during the peak evening rush hour, they encountered starts and stops due to heavy traffic.

    The green light at a crossroads was brief, and just as they were about to reach the intersection, it started blinking, turning from yellow to red. Jiang Yu had to slow down and stop in the second position, waiting for a lengthy two or three minutes.

    The rain continued to fall, the car remained stuck, and the heater blew air that made breathing difficult.

    Jiang Yu turned on the player casually.

    The music that hadn''t finished playing last time resumed, ending after about half a minute and automatically transitioning to the next song. The slow guitar intro flowed gently, profoundly, and warmly, with a familiar melody.

    "...Tuck it at the tip of your hair, hold it in my heart, accompanying you as you grow up... It''s as if I''ve never left your side..."

    A clear female voice echoed in their ears.

    Cheng Suran''s eyes welled up, her vision blurred, feeling warm liquid sliding down her cheeks.

    The turbulent emotions were rampaging in her heart, like a roaring beast, trying to crush and devour her. She took a deep breath, bit her lips tightly, and swallowed the sobs.

    Halfway through the music, the green light finally came on.

    Jiang Yu hurried through the intersection.

    There are still three kilometers away from Marina Bay. This eight-lane road is spacious. She was about to step on the accelerator to speed up, but during the gap between the music changing, the car suddenly became quiet. She heard a slight gasp beside her...

    "Ranran?"

    Cheng Suran was huddled in her seat, her head tilted, and motionless.

    The light and shadows from the street lamps illuminated her, her body trembling uncontrollably as if she was desperately holding something back.

    Jiang Yu''s heart sank and she gripped the steering wheel tightly. Parking is not allowed on this road, and there is a large shopping mall on the right at the intersection not far ahead. She slowly changed lanes and drove the car into the basement of the shopping mall.

    There were a lot of empty berths, Jiang Yu found a corner to park, got out of the car in a hurry, and went around to the other side.

    The music stopped abruptly.

    "Ranran..."

    The passenger door suddenly opened, and Cheng Suran nearly fell out. Her mind snapped back to reality, and Jiang Yu quickly reached out to catch her. "What''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

    The interior light turned on, casting a warm yellow glow that was slightly harsh on the eyes. She felt like a clown exposed under the sun, with nowhere to hide. She was flustered and panicked, like a child struggling to avoid something, turning her face away.

    Even so, Jiang Yu still saw her red eyes and tear stains on her face.

    Her bad premonition was indeed accurate.

    Jiang Yu''s heart ached, but experience told her that she couldn''t rush things right now. She didn''t press for answers. Instead, she held Cheng Suran quietly, one hand gently stroking her hair. "It''s okay, Ranran. If you''re hungry, eat; if you''re tired, sleep; if you''re feeling bad, cry. Nothing is embarrassing about it."

    "Even if you don''t trust others, you can trust me, your elder sister."

    The woman in her arms trembled even more.

    Jiang Yu hugged her even tighter and lowered her head to kiss the broken hair on her temple.

    Suddenly, Cheng Suran tilted her head and buried her face into Jiang Yu''s arms, choked up, and said, "She...she is my mother..."

    "What? Your mother?"

    "Mm."

    In an instant, Jiang Yu understood everything.

    She still remembers that a few years ago, when Ranran was injured on Lingbai Mountain to save her, she stayed in the hospital for more than half a month. She asked her why she didn''t tell her parents, and why didn''t she go back home; it turned out she also has a broken family.

    "She told me today..." Cheng Suran took a breath and said everything in one go.

    The grievances that have been held in her heart for more than ten years were like flash floods.

    She thought she had grown up and thought she wouldn''t care, but the moment she heard the lyrics, she remembered a lot. Those sadness, bitterness, and grievances have been deeply buried in her heart and never dissipated.

    It was like downing a bottle of strong wine, with a delayed impact that gradually hit harder. It was like being injected with an ineffective painkiller, where the pain multiplied and spread.

    "In the Cheng family, I am a burden, in the Su family, I am a mistake... No one wants me." Cheng Suran lay in Jiang Yu''s arms, tightly clutching her clothes with both hands, repeating the last sentence over and over again.

    No one wants her.

    In the empty and quiet parking lot, the weeping sobs were magnified, and the sharp words pierced deeply into Jiang Yu''s heart like a thorn.

    Jiang Yu''s eyes turned red.

    She is the same, no one wants her, she is a "stray child" who has been wandering mentally since she was a child. Even when she grew up, and can love herself and give herself a home, there is always a fragile child in her heart, who will feel uneasy and doubt everyone because of trivial emotional triggers.

    "Ranran¡­"

    With tears in her eyes, Jiang Yu rubbed her hair with her cheek, "It''s not like that, those people are not worthy of being by your side, they are not worthy to be remembered, they don''t deserve that privilege.

    Every word of her comforting reassurance seemed to reach deep within Cheng Suran''s heart.

    As if going back to a few years ago, the night before they returned to Jiangcheng from Lingzhou, when they talked about their family, Jiang Yu''s words were still engraved in her heart - don''t look back, keep going.

    How could there be a person in this world who understood her so well?

    "Mm, I know...I know...go forward and don''t look back." Cheng Suran gritted her teeth sorely.

    Jiang Yu closed her eyes and wept silently.

    If only she had been more cautious, more meticulous, and thoroughly investigated Su Wenjing''s background and identity. If she had, she would never have allowed the two to meet, and she wouldn''t have hurt Ranran. She bore an inescapable responsibility for tonight''s events.

    Cheng Suran''s emotions came and went quickly, and after a while, her tears dried up. She calmed down slowly, pulled away from Jiang Yu''s embrace, and looked around, only to realize that this place was a parking lot.

    "Ranran?"

    "I''m fine, come in quickly, it''s cold outside."

    She shook Jiang Yu''s hand, raised her head, and vaguely saw tears on her face by the light, "Were you... crying?"

    Jiang Yu didn''t answer, turned around and closed the passenger door, walked around to the other side, and got into the car, but she just sat with her head bowed and didn''t intend to leave.

    The temperature in the car gradually rose again.

    There was an eerie silence...

    Cheng Suran thought that her negative energy had affected her, and was about to say something, but Jiang Yu spoke before her: "I''m sorry."

    "?"

    "It''s because I wasn''t cautious enough and careless. I shouldn''t have agreed to her meeting with you. Without me, these things wouldn''t happen today." She raised her head and looked at Cheng Suran with guilt.

    If she hadn''t invited Ranran to the trade fair out of selfishness, Su Wenjing would not have seen and recognized Ranran, let alone all the following things.

    She is the culprit for all this.

    "But it''s not entirely a bad thing for me." Cheng Suran smiled at her sideways.

    "I''m actually relieved that Su Wenjing ran away. At least it proves she''s not someone who passively accepts things, she knows when to cut her losses. If she didn''t run, if she kept enduring that kind of life, I would have had a weak, indecisive, habitually helpless mother. I would have become her negativity receptacle, her garbage collector, living a lifetime in pessimism...

    That will be another form of nightmare.

    "Moreover, this meeting also made me understand that my language talent is probably inherited from her. She can speak three foreign languages, has studied abroad, and has an IQ and appearance. I''m probably a bit like her in many ways."

    "Fortunately, I''m not like my father, not like the Cheng family."

    The light illuminated her eyes.

    "You see, God still cares for me very much. I am luckier than many people. The noble person I met when I was six years old helped me indirectly when I was twenty. But at the same time, God is also fair and always makes me suffer a little bit. That''s all right, or else I might get adrift and stumble into a big mess.

    She showed a relieved smile, stretched out her hand to Jiang Yu, and spread her palm.

    "It''s not because of you, it''s fate''s choice."

    There seemed to be little flames dancing in those eyes.

    Jiang Yu looked at her, and gently held her hand, "I should thank you..."

    "Why thank me?"

    Her lips moved, but she didn''t answer.

    These words also reminded her to a large extent that she is a bit lucky compared to most people. She cannot choose her past family, but she can control her future life. The ancients said that good and bad depend on each other, God is fair, and as long as she does what she should do, everything will be arranged by itself.

    "Will she bother you?"

    "Huh?"

    "After not contacting you for over a decade, suddenly recognizing you today, I''m worried..." Jiang Yu extended her other hand, enclosing Cheng Suran''s hand in her palm.

    The warm touch flowed on their skin, like an intense electric current, Cheng Suran trembled, wanting to pull away, but at this moment, she was a little greedy for this warmth.

    "She won''t. I told her that from now on, we can only be strangers. I don''t want any contact with her, and I don''t want to be disturbed by her."

    "That''s good." Jiang Yu heaved a sigh of relief.

    Cheng Suran asked again: "Did you tell her what kind of food I like to eat?"

    Jiang Yu''s eyes had already told her the answer.

    Yes.

    "The last time you and Miss Wen invited me to dinner, I paid attention when she was ordering food at the hotel. You said you didn''t like waffles, but you didn''t say you didn''t like pudding, so..."

    Cheng Suran let out a soft "Oh" and avoided her gaze, a little turbulence arose in her heart.

    She took her hand back.

    Losing that piece of warmth, her heart felt empty.

    ....

    Jiang Yu sent Cheng Suran to the gate of the community and watched her go in. She didn''t look away until the figure disappeared around the corner.

    The rain has stopped.

    Dark low clouds obscured the moonlight.

    Jiang Yu didn''t leave immediately, but took out her mobile phone, opened WeChat, found the chat box between her and Su Wenjing, and clicked in.

    She wants to say something.

    [Miss Su, Cheng Suran has already told me about your relationship with her. As a friend who cares about her physical and mental health, I hope you will not bother her in the future.]

    She quickly typed out a whole sentence, read it carefully, and always felt that something was inappropriate.

    The relationship between her and Ranran wasn''t close enough for her to meddle in this matter. Considering her surface identity, it would be even more inappropriate to inquire...

    After thinking it over, Jiang Yu deleted this message.

 CH 108

    After returning home, Cheng Suran calmed down for a few days, devoted herself to work, and soon forgot her mother. Instead, something else stuck in her mind¡ª

    She smashed the model in front of Jiang Yu.

    Inconsistent people think that making the most extreme choices will make them resolute, but she overestimated herself. Originally just a small pimple, growing unnoticed in a corner, it later turned into a slightly painful tumor.

    After learning the truth about the bunny doll, everything changed.

    After much thought, Cheng Suran decided to create a new model, also serving as a birthday gift for Jiang Yu. She bought all the necessary materials, piled them up in a corner of the study, first conceptualized the general structure and scenes, drew a simple sketch, and then began working.

    As long as it is a day when she is not on a business trip, she will sit in the study for a while after finishing her work.

    The progress is slow but meticulous.

    This day, Cheng Suran worked overtime very late, and it was already nine o''clock when she got home. Wen Ruoxian went on a business trip, and she was the only one in the big empty house. There are new ingredients in the refrigerator, she didn''t eat dinner, so she cooked a small bowl of vegetable pasta for supper.

    After eating, she hurriedly washed up and went into the study.

    The model that is about to be completed stands on the desk, and the desk lamp shines on it, the light is soft and bright, and the small Jiang Yu figurine is surrounded by flowers, looking lifelike.

    But it appears very plain and lonely.

    It would be too ugly and insincere to just send it out as a gift naked like this. Cheng Suran sighed, regretting her initial impulse even more. After thinking for a while, she decided to add more elements to the scene.

    She dug out the rest of the material and found that the glue was missing, and she searched around before remembering that Ruoxian had borrowed the glue to fix a pendant on her keychain.

    Cheng Suran stepped into Wen Ruoxian''s study.

    And found the glue on the table.

    She stepped forward quickly, took the glue, turned around, and accidentally bumped into the stack of papers on the side of the table, and "crashed" scattered on the ground. These were documents that Wen Ruoxian had printed and discarded. She quickly squatted down to pick them up. As she was about to put them back in place, she noticed a sketchbook underneath.

    The coiled book with a large A4 paper size was randomly opened and folded in half, and the corners were crumpled a bit.

    A pencil outlines a familiar face on off-white paper...

    It was her.

    Cheng Suran blinked, unable to react for a while, and turned back two pages.

    The later pages were blank, but as she went back, each sheet was filled with sketches of her. Different poses, expressions, close-ups of features, full-body portraits¡ªstanding, sitting, lying down... the entire book was filled with her, in various forms.

    Realistic, lifelike, and detailed.

    Cheng Suran was stunned.

    Looking carefully at these works, even if she is a layman, she can feel that they were drawn by someone with a solid foundation, extensive practice behind them must not be short. She and Ruoxian have known each other for five years, but she didn''t realize it... The whole book is full of her, could it be that she is used as a model? Then why didn''t she tell her?

    A trace of subtle emotions surfaced in her heart, disturbing her thoughts. There is an indescribably strange feeling.

    Cheng Suran turned back the page of the sketchbook, arranged it together with the discarded documents, grabbed the glue, and left the study in a hurry.

    The model materials were scattered on the table, and she sat down, breathed out a sigh of relief, shook those chaotic thoughts out of her mind, and prepared to continue working. The original design in the drawing remains unchanged, and a small house with a garden is added, symbolizing "home."

    As she drew and drew, the lines in front of her eyes gradually transformed into her own face, one sketch after another, with different poses, flashing past like a movie, and her smile gradually solidified.

    Like a ball of cotton stuck in the throat, dull and irritable.

    She put down the pen and paper, looked at the table full of materials, and sighed, she just sat quietly, her mind blank, letting time go by.

    The phone vibrated suddenly.

    Ruoxian: [Ranran, are you home?]

    A simple and ordinary question of concern, Cheng Suran used to reply casually, act coquettishly, and chat a few words, but now...she can''t help but think of those sketches, her mind is filled with messy emotions and mixed flavors.

    [Yes.]

    She simply replied.

    Ruoxian: [I just finished my work and got back to the hotel. Get some rest early. Goodnight.]

    [Goodnight.]

    Cheng Suran typed slowly and sent it, Wen Ruoxian replied with an emoji, the chat between them always ends with Wen Ruoxian, several times Cheng Suran wanted to be the last one to reply, but Ruoxian refused to let it go She sent more than a dozen emoticons at once, so she had no choice but to give up.

    Getting along with Ruoxian is always reassuring and comfortable.

    But this reassurance began to make her panic.

    Those drawings...

    Should she ask Ruoxian?

    Cheng Suran stared at the emoticon pack, typed a few words uncontrollably with her fingertips, and just as she was about to send it out, she came back to her senses and deleted it all at once.

    She couldn''t make the model anymore, so she had to put the materials back into the box, turn off the lights and go back to her bedroom.

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Late at night.

    Cheng Suran lost sleep.

    Her mind was full of those sketches. Even with her eyes closed for a long time, she couldn''t find sleep. She tossed and turned in the bed, and when she opened her eyes, all she saw was an impenetrable darkness.

    The phone displayed twelve past five.

    She opened the search engine and question-and-answer app, and awkwardly entered "my best friend secretly drew a sketch of me", but scattered keywords were displayed. She changed words and sentence patterns, but still could not find any effective information.

    Has anyone encountered a similar situation?

    Unwilling to give up, Cheng Suran created a question by herself, roughly describing the whole process, and blurring the information related to privacy. Whether it''s early or late, maybe someone can answer her doubts.

    After the question was sent, Cheng Suran held the phone nervously and anxiously. These emotions did not last long. Within five minutes, three people replied to her.

    A: [There is nothing to make a fuss about. I also study art. I usually draw people around me when I am bored. I use it as practice or give it to them. They all know about it, so you don''t need to overthink it. ]

    B: [If you hadn''t mentioned that the other person is female, I would''ve thought it was a guy. Gender-swapping can be quite romantic]

    The third reply is longer.

    C: Are my ji eyes seeing ji people?* It feels like your friend has a crush on you. You said that you have known each other for several years and you have a good relationship. Why didn¡¯t she tell you that you can draw? Besides, if you two live together, there is no need to hide it. If she thinks you look good and wants to draw you, she could just tell you. Straight female friendship doesn¡¯t have so many hidden thoughts, but if it¡¯s curvy, it¡¯s really uncertain. I suggest you observe her behavior, especially around other girls. Here''s a trick: playfully hug her or give her a peck and see her reaction. Straight girls usually won''t take it seriously, but if she''s interested in you, she might get nervous or blush. Try it.]

    *ji = lesbian, is my gaydar going off?

    This paragraph was like a heavy stick, pounding hard on Cheng Suran''s heart.

    Suddenly, she remembered the day when she and Ruoxian were eating hot pot while watching a drama. At an exciting point, the two of them discussed some strange topics...

    [How about the female lead teams up with her best friend instead?]

    [Exactly!]

    [Lily Alliance is good.]

    [Absolutely.]

    [I think I saw some fan-made edits of their CP scenes online¡­]

    [Exactly, the male lead is just slowing things down!]

    The more Cheng Suran thought the more her heart trembled.

    After thinking about it, in the past few years since we met Ruoxian, the other party never mentioned men in matters other than work, and she never showed any interest in handsome guys. In watching movies, she always pays more attention to female characters and communicates more with female employees in the company...

    She''s like that too.

    Therefore, their outlook agrees with each other, and they get along very comfortably.

    She thought that was why they were good friends.

    But once there is doubt, every minute and every second in the past, every detail, will point to doubt. Seemingly normal words and actions will become abnormal... She had a guess in her mind.

    Is Ruoxian really...

    Cheng Suran deleted the question with trembling fingers, put away her phone, pulled the quilt over her head, and buried herself in the impenetrable darkness.

    The next morning, Wen Ruoxian came back.

    Cheng Suran didn''t have a personal work schedule today, but she was going to the company. She packed up her clothes, put on light makeup, walked out of the bedroom, and ran into Wen Ruoxian who just came back.

    "Ranran¨C"

    "I brought you taro cakes and put them on the tea table." Wen Ruoxian pointed to the living room with a slight smile, but her eyes showed a look of exhaustion.

    The end-of-year conference season was busy, and she had been working non-stop during this period, managing various matters within the company. Her fatigue was evident, her eyes devoid of their usual radiance.

    "Are you going to the office?"

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran''s heart was beating wildly, but she nodded calmly.

    She looked towards the living room, showing a pleasant smile, with two shallow pear dimples on her cheeks, and suddenly, she rushed to grab Wen Ruoxian''s neck, "I was just craving the taste of taro cakes yesterday, Ruoxian is the best, You''re like roundworm in my stomach*!¡±

    *you know me very well

    Wen Ruoxian was taken aback and her body stiffened.

    "Hey, by the way, do you know how to draw?" Cheng Suran asked casually, just hugging her like this, feeling the subtle changes in her body.

    It was only then that Wen Ruoxian came to her senses, and pushed her away with difficulty, "What?"

    "Just... yesterday, I was in your study looking for glue, and accidentally knocked something off the table. When I picked it up, I saw a sketchbook with drawings of me, almost like black and white photos. You''re really talented."

    Cheng Suran smiled with narrowed eyes.

    Wen Ruoxian''s heart skipped a beat, her expression changing. "Mm... I can a little." She chuckled to cover up, "It''s not as exaggerated as you''re saying."

    "A little? Still humble in front of me." Cheng Suran took her hand, strode into the study room, took out the sketchbook that was put away last night, and opened a page at random. "Look, it''s not an exaggeration to call it a photo effect. Even though I don''t understand art, I have a taste."

    Wen Ruoxian looked at her own drawings, her back breaking out cold sweat, she secretly regretted it.

    Having finished the drawing the night before, she was busy with work and had left the sketchbook lying around. Rushing for a flight the next morning, she didn''t have time to tidy up her cluttered desk. She had been absent-minded. The thought that her secret might have been discovered...

    She moved her eyes to Cheng Suran and smiled, but her heart was hanging in her throat.

    "It''s because you are good-looking that I can draw such an effect."

    "But why didn''t you tell me?" Cheng Suran observed her calmly.

    "Because... Wen Ruoxian hesitated to speak.

    There seemed to be a voice in her ear telling her: This is a good opportunity, be brave and express your heart. You may fail if you speak, but it will never be possible if you don¡¯t speak.

    The seeds that have been buried for many years began to stir.

    In the next second, she saw the discarded documents on the table and some meeting materials, and she woke up in an instant. She raised her hand and tapped Cheng Suran on the head, and said with a sneer, "It''s just a small hobby. I''m afraid that if I make ugly pictures, someone will be upset."

    It was the familiar Wen Ruoxian again, the Wen Ruoxian who loved to tease her.

    Cheng Suran suddenly felt relieved, but subconsciously, she also felt that this reason wouldn''t stand up to scrutiny. She didn''t dwell on it, and her fist landed on Wen Ruoxian''s shoulder, "Am I that petty?"

    "That''s not certain."

    "Okay, I''ll show you today, I''ll show you carefully!"

    She put down her sketchbook, and rolled up her sleeves as if to fight, Wen Ruoxian dodged away and started playing with her, to hide the chaos in her heart...

    After trying all the methods of the netizen, Cheng Suran still couldn''t determine Wen Ruoxian''s orientation. Those so-called "reactions" sometimes matched and sometimes didn''t, like a maze that trapped her in it.

    She even wanted to ask upfront...

    But if Ruoxian didn''t have that kind of thinking, doing so would embarrass each other, and their future relationship would never return to the way it was before.

    For a while, she was in a dilemma.

    Soon, the busy work at the end of the year left Cheng Suran with no time to take care of these things. She and Ruoxian could only see each other three or four nights a week, even their conversations revolved around work. Often, they were so tired that they fell asleep immediately, gradually leaving behind their thoughts.

    In her limited rest time, Cheng Suran immersed herself in creating the model. After tinkering for half a month, she finally completed a new model¡ªone that was larger than the old one. It faithfully replicated the original scene and characters, but she also added a small house and crafted a miniature Jiang Yu to place inside.

    Looking at the brand-new model, Cheng Suran was relieved a lot.

    This is a gift that contains both an apology and a thank you.

    It was her, the present Cheng Suran, thanking Jiang Yu for extending a helping hand to the six-year-old her and apologizing for impulsively breaking the model. Perhaps it also represented her truly moving forward from the past, becoming a brand-new and empowered self.

    Today was her day off, not a weekend, but she wanted to give this gift now.

    Thinking about it, she dialed the phone.

    Within three seconds of ringing, a slightly surprised voice came from the other end: "Ranran?"

    The speed was so fast that Cheng Suran wondered if Jiang Yu had set an exclusive ringtone for her number.

    "Are you..." Cheng Suran became inexplicably nervous, and paused on the edge of his mouth, "Are you free now?"

    "Yes. "

    "Oh, where are you? I have something for you."

    Without asking what that "something" was, Jiang Yu replied with a slightly faster speech, "At the brokerage company, in my office."

    "Okay, I''m on my way."

    After speaking, Cheng Suran quickly hung up the phone.

    ....

    Jiang Yu is listening to the report in the office.

    After putting down the phone, her cold face instantly softened, the corners of her lips curled up slightly, and she couldn''t hide her smile.

    Tian Lin who was standing opposite was stunned for a moment.

    "Sister Yu?"

    "Continue."

    She tapped the table with her fingertips.

    Tian Lin lowered her head and glanced at her tablet. "It''s almost ready. Take a look." She adjusted the orientation and handed it over. The achievements of all the managers for the month were there, except for Mina.

    "Why is she missing again?" Jiang Yu frowned.

    "She''s been very busy recently, we couldn''t get through two of the three phone calls, and when we do, she could only say two or three sentences, and she couldn''t be seen in the company at all."

    "Did she say what she was up to?"

    "She''s juggling both domestic and international tasks. For the international side, it''s mainly France, Russia, and Ukraine. She''s handling around seven or eight models, and her daily schedules are different."

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes in thought, glanced at the documents on the tablet, and muttered to herself: "Although she has a lot of models, they are not considered newcomers. There are many things that don''t require her to accompany them personally. Moreover, we have already cooperated with Russia. Signed a yearly contract with the parent company in France, and there is no need to go back and forth frequently to find recruits, so what is she doing?"

    "I don''t know..." Tian Lin shook her head in embarrassment.

    Although she is the vice president, as the oldest chief agent, Mina is absolutely free to act, even if her rank is lower than her, she doesn''t have to report everything to her.

    She feels helpless.

    Jiang Yu sighed, rubbed the center of her brows, and said, "Forget it, go get busy."

    "Mm."

    Tian Lin left, and the room fell into silence.

    Jiang Yu had an uneasy feeling, but she couldn''t put her finger on it. She sat on the chair like a sculpture, lost in thought. A knock at the door brought her back to reality.

    Raising her head, a splash of ginger-yellow caught her eye. Cheng Suran entered from outside, closing the door behind her and walking towards the warm sunlight.

    "Did I disturb you?"

    Even the formal title was omitted.

    That''s also good.

    She didn''t want to hear her calling "Miss Jiang".

    Jiang Yu''s eyes were bright, she looked at her softly, and shook her head slightly: "No." After that, she stood up and pointed to the sofa set by the window, "Let''s sit over there."

    She walked around the desk and took Cheng Suran''s hand.

 CH 109

    C/T Warning: violence

    Wrapped tightly in warm palms, Cheng Suran struggled inwardly but did not refuse, she followed her to the sofa and sat down.

    Jiang Yu sat beside her, and her hand didn''t let go for a while.

    It was cold outside, and Cheng Suran was wearing a ginger-yellow short woolen coat. Her face was bare and light, without any makeup, giving a very warm and gentle feeling. It blended a light mature woman''s charm with a delicate young girl''s sense.

    Jiang Yu stared at her deeply, with slight ripples in her eyes.

    "This is for you." Cheng Suran''s face was burning hot, and her steady heartbeat gradually became chaotic, and she couldn''t control it at all. She lowered her gaze and put the things in her hand on the table.

    A white carton.

    "What is it?" Jiang Yu glanced.

    Cheng Suran took out a small knife from her bag and cut open the outermost paper box, revealing the transparent acrylic box inside, and a brand new clay model appeared in front of her. She took off the transparent box and put it aside, and took a quick look at Jiang Yu:

    "A birthday gift for you."

    Jiang Yu was stunned.

    A small catwalk, a small her, a small garden, everything familiar.

    And beside it was another small house.

    "I smashed the model on impulse that day. I promised I would fix it... So, I''m sorry, I made a new one and added this house to the original scene. It represents home."

    Cheng Suran looked at the model, her voice was very low, and her fingertips tapped a little on the roof.

    After speaking, she lifted her head.

    "I hope that no matter where you are, your heart will have a harbor to rest in."

    Like a small pebble, lightly thrown into her heart lake, creating layers of fine ripples. Jiang Yu gazed into those warm and sincere eyes, momentarily forgetting to breathe.

    A phone rang suddenly.

    It was the intercom.

    "I''ll pick it up." Jiang Yu was a little annoyed, she reluctantly let go of Cheng Suran''s hand, got up, and walked to the desk. The assistant said that a man named Jiang Zhijun came again.

    "I won''t meet him."

    "But he''s been squatting for a week. Every time he sees someone, he talks nonsense about your family''s private matters. If this continues, it might not be good for your image..." The assistant''s voice grew quieter as she spoke.

    Jiang Yu''s good mood was instantly ruined, feeling a surge of anger burning within her. However, she couldn''t express it. Her fingers gripping the phone turned slightly pale, and she gritted her teeth as she said, "Bring him up."

    "Okay¡­"

    Putting down the phone, Jiang Yu put her hands on the edge of the table and lowered her head.

    "Do you have any guests coming?" Cheng Suran stood up wisely, looked at the model, and seemed reluctant, Remember to keep your things safe."

    She slowed down and passed Jiang Yu.

    "Ranran¨C"

    Jiang Yu held her back.

    Cheng Suran paused, "What''s wrong?"

    "It''s nothing..." Jiang Yu hesitated to speak and let go of her hand, "Go ahead."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran didn''t say anything more and turned to leave.

    The entire office fell into stagnant silence again.

    Jiang Yu sighed, returned to the desk, and sat down. Not long after, there was another knock, and the assistant opened the door:

    "Miss Jiang, Mr. Jiang..."

    Before she could finish speaking, a burly man squeezed in. The assistant frowned and exited and closed the door.

    Jiang Yu said with a sullen face, "If you want to fart, go ahead and do it*."

    *say what you want to say

    The man was looking around the office with curiosity plastered on his face. His thin cotton jacket and pale jeans seemed out of place in this setting. Upon hearing Jiang Yu''s voice, he turned around, his gaze landing on Jiang Yu''s face. After a few seconds of staring, he lowered his head and took out a stack of documents from his pocket, slamming them onto the table with a loud "thud."

    "The hospital prescribed it for Mom, give me money."

    Jiang Yu didn''t bother to look at it, and threw it back like waste paper, "I don''t have money."

    Dozens of receipts were scattered on the edge of the table.

    Jiang Zhijun''s anger flared up, his rice-sized eyes narrowed into inverted triangles, he pointed at Jiang Yu''s nose: "You have no money? Hey, if you have no money, pigs can climb trees! Who doesn''t know that Jiang Yu is now a big star, You can¡¯t get hundreds of thousands of dollars out? You''re just fooling me!

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on

    love4baihe.blogspot.com

    please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Walking out of the building, Cheng Suran reached into her bag to get her mobile phone but found a thin piece of paper.

    She pulled it out and looked.

    It''s the greeting card that should have been in the model box¡­

    She forgot.

    Cheng Suran patted her head, turned around, and walked back, the elevator was still on the first floor, she trotted in and pressed the floor of Jiang Yu''s office.

    ¡ªding

    She arrived.

    The elevator door opened and she went out holding the greeting card, hurried to the office door, and raised her hand to knock on the door when she heard a man''s roar from inside.

    "Are you fucking giving it or not?!!!"

    Then there was the sound of something heavy falling "bang".

    Shocked, Cheng Suran opened the door and rushed in¡­

    The office was in a mess, with books, documents, and computer screens scattered on the floor. The man''s tall and burly body was pressing down on Jiang Yu, and his thick, dark, sinewy hands grabbed her neck forcefully, yelling hysterically:

    "Are you giving it or not? If you don''t, I''ll strangle you to death!"

    "At worst, I will go to jail, as long as you die, all the money will belong to my mother, hehe."

    He burst into terrifying laughter.

    Jiang Yu was pinned to the chair, weakly struggling, her face turning deep red.

    "Jiang Yu¡ª"

    Cheng Suran exclaimed and rushed over, the man turned his head when he heard the sound, his eyes were fierce: "Who the hell are you? Get out!" He raised his leg and was about to kick her.

    Cheng Suran narrowly dodged, not knowing where she found the courage and strength, she suddenly picked up the ornaments on the cabinet next to her and smashed it hard on the man''s head, only to hear a "thud", the man lost his strength instantly, and reflexively covered his head.

    The force wrapped around her throat suddenly disappeared, and Jiang Yu coughed uncontrollably, "Cough cough...cough..."

    She bent her knees and pushed hard against the man''s crotch.

    "Ah¨C"

    The man covered his head and wailed, and sat slumped on the ground. The assistant who arrived shortly after was stunned at the door, then turned and ran out, shouting, "Security!"

    "Cough...cough cough..." Jiang Yu fell from the chair.

    "Jiang Yu!"

    Cheng Suran threw down the ornaments and rushed over to support her.

    As she glanced up, she saw the man grabbing a decorative object from the floor, glaring menacingly at Cheng Suran''s back, who was facing away from him. "Be careful..." She rushed over and shielded Cheng Suran, pushing the swivel chair with a forceful slap.

    ¡ªcrash!

    The heavy metal ornaments slammed heavily on the back of the chair.

    Cheng Suran flinched in shock and hugged Jiang Yu tightly.

    There were chaotic footsteps outside the door, and several security guards rushed in one after another, rushed at the man, subdued him in two or three strokes, and dragged him out.

    "Miss Jiang, Miss Cheng..." The little assistant looked at the two of them in horror, "Are you alright?"

    Cheng Suran was still in shock and sat up holding Jiang Yu. Jiang Yu was coughing so badly that she couldn''t speak. She shook her head while her chest heaved violently, and waved at her.

    The little assistant was confused and scared, not knowing what to do for a while.

    "It''s okay, you go out first, tell the security guard to send that man to the hospital for a checkup, if there''s any serious issue, come back and report. If he''s okay, just kick him out. I''ll take care of Miss Jiang here. Don''t worry." Cheng Suran quickly regained her composure and calmly gave instructions.

    "Okay." The little assistant nodded and left.

    "Cough cough...cough cough..."

    The sound of coughing and panting reverberated in the huge office, making Cheng Suran''s heart twitch. She unconsciously hugged Jiang Yu tightly, rubbing her cheek against the silky and soft hair.

    "It''s all right."

    She murmured reassuringly.

    Her eyes fell on Jiang Yu''s neck, red marks appeared on her fair skin, and the outlines of fingers were vaguely shown, a shocking sight to see.

    Coldness flash Cheng Suran''s Eyes

    The coughing gradually stopped, Jiang Yu leaned weakly in Cheng Suran''s arms and buried her face against her neck, her messy hair covered her face, she was embarrassed and vulnerable - and she saw everything.

    Her embarrassment, her helplessness, her unwillingness to show her scars.

    Sooner or later, such a day was bound to come.

    "Ranran..."

    "Mm, I''m here."

    "I want to drink water." Jiang Yu''s voice was hoarse, and she coughed again after speaking.

    Cheng Suran patted her on the back, "Okay, let me help you to sit on the sofa first." With both hands, she hooked her arms under her armpit, then lifted her shakily, walked around the messy floor to the sofa, took the pillow, and positioned it for her before gently pressing her to sit. "I''ll go get some water."

    She filled two glasses with warm water from the dispenser; one for Jiang Yu and one for herself.

    Jiang Yu gulped down the water, without any ripples in her eyes, she drank it all up in a short time, then she put down the glass heavily, leaned back, and closed her eyes.

    Allowing her hair to cover her face, she slowly embraced herself, curling up with her arms around her shoulders.

    Cheng Suran looked at her silently.

    Her outstretched hand that was about to touch her, was withdrawn at the moment.

    Cheng Suran''s instinct told her that at this moment, it was best to remain quiet and still. It seemed like she could sense Jiang Yu''s emotions¡ªlike the sturdiest shell had been broken, exposing the softest, most hidden aspects within: her embarrassment, her wounds.

    Occasionally, the strong will be vulnerable, and this rare vulnerability is even more pitiful. But as proud as Jiang Yu, how could it be so easy for her to let others see her defeat?

    She saw it.

    And thus, the woman put her guard up.

    Cheng Suran felt a little sad, whether it was in the past or now, she has never entered the depths of Jiang Yu''s heart. But after thinking about it, they have never had any relationship. Whether it was sadness or resentment, any emotions were ultimately insignificant.

    She turned around and looked at the model on the coffee table.

    On the second floor of the newly added house, a mini Jiang Yu which is smaller than the original little Jiang Yu stands on the balcony, smiling, but alone. When she was making this part, she originally wanted to craft a version of herself and place it next to Jiang Yu, so that it would be a home for the two of them. However, she realized that she was about to fall into the same trap again, and she gave up the thought.

    ¡ªShe wanted to stand proudly beside Jiang Yu.

    This desire was almost ingrained in her. Because back then, she was so young, like unformed clay that could be molded into any shape, bearing all impressions.

    The person who determined her shape was Jiang Yu.

    From the age of six to twenty-six, they met twice and met once again. It seemed as if they were destined to be drawn to each other, no matter how far apart they are, they will eventually return to each other.

    Cheng Suran smiled slightly and touched the head of Mini Jiang Yu.

    "Why did you come back all of a sudden?"

    A hoarse voice reached her ear.

    She blinked in surprise, turning her face to see Jiang Yu with her eyes still closed, her head slightly tilted back, as if speaking to herself. Cheng Suran then remembered the main reason she came, retrieving a card from her bag. "I forgot to give you this."

    Jiang Yu slowly opened her eyes, without looking at her, her downcast eyes fell on the greeting card.

    This is a self-made greeting card, off-white with wood tones, fresh and elegant, with a drawing of a long-eared rabbit in the middle, and beautiful and round handwriting on the side with a message:

    ¡ª¡ªI hope that no matter where you are, there is a harbor for you to rest your heart in. Happy birthday.

    Jiang Yu silently recited these words over and over again, without moving her eyes, as if she was about to lose sight of these words, mist gradually rose in her eyes, and she blinked quickly and raised her neck.

    "Thank you."

    She put down the greeting card, and took a deep breath, "Can I hug you?"

    Cheng Suran gave a soft "hmm".

    The smell of vetiver iris wafted, the warmth of two people was sealed in her warm ginger-yellow body. Heartbeats pressed against each other, and breaths intertwined. Subconsciously, Cheng Suran''s hands held Jiang Yu''s waist, feeling strange. She hadn''t hugged like this for a long, long time.

    Neither of them spoke.

    Although Cheng Suran wanted to ask who that man was.

    Time passed slowly in silence, the sun gradually moved to the west, a ray of fiery red light came in through the window, fell on Jiang Yu, and enveloped her gently, her thick black hair was dyed golden brown.

    "Ranran¡­"

    "I''m here."

    "I''m hungry."

    "Okay, let''s go eat."

    ....

    The sky darkened quickly.

    Seated in a private room at the restaurant, Jiang Yu absentmindedly gazed at the street view outside the window. There was no light in her dim eyes, only a hint of weariness¡ªa fatigue that came from pushing herself to her limits.

    She picked up the wine glass and drank the scarlet liquid in one gulp.

    Then grabbed the glass and refilled it.

    "Drink less." Cheng Suran frowned and looked at her.

    The meal was not even half-eaten, but the wine bottle was two-thirds empty. Jiang Yu ordered a lot of dishes but ate just a few mouthfuls. She didn''t speak and just looked out the window, and poured herself wine one after another.

    Her eyes were out of focus, empty and lonely, and her cheeks were gradually turning red from drinking too much. As if she didn''t hear Cheng Suran''s words, she picked up the glass and took another big gulp.

    "..."

    Cheng Suran felt bad, but she was helpless. Seeing that she almost drank the whole bottle of wine, her face became more and more red, and her ears, neck, and head were all red.

    Suddenly she laughed alone.

    "Jiang Yu..."

    "Ranran, do you know who I am?

    "You''re Jiang Yu."

    "No." Jiang Yu raised her index finger and shook it.

    "I''m Jiang Wanyin."

    Hearing this name, Cheng Suran suddenly remembered the past, with a sound of slap echoing in her ears, she felt the left side of her face seemed to ache.

    Jiang Wanyin...

    The forbidden territory she had once touched.

 CH 110

    After saying these words, Jiang Yu fell silent.

    She was used to digesting everything alone. When she occasionally felt the urge to confide, she didn''t know how to begin. Speaking out means tearing out her wounds, deepening the painful memories, and serving no purpose.

    She raised her head and drank the rest of the wine in the glass.

    Seeing that she still wanted to pour wine, Cheng Suran got up and took away the glass, "Don''t drink anymore!"

    Jiang Yu didn''t resist or speak, just hunched her body, used her elbow as a pillow, and buried her head deeply.

    Cheng Suran''s heart softened immediately, she walked around the table, bent down, and gently embraced her shoulder: "You drank too much today, and it will be bad for your health if you drink any more, stop, please?"

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu''s voice was hoarse.

    "I want to go home."

    "Okay, let''s go home now." Cheng Suran said while stroking her hair.

    Jiang Yu was drunk.

    They took Cheng Suran''s car. The restaurant wasn''t far from the Green Shang Mansion, and they arrived in about ten minutes. Jiang Yu leaned against the passenger seat, almost falling asleep. Cheng Suran helped her out of the car. Jiang Yu regained a bit of awareness, but her steps were unsteady. She leaned heavily against Cheng Suran''s shoulder, almost putting half of her weight on her.

    Cheng Suran, who is 1.65 meters tall, struggled to support her.

    Fortunately, the property management of the community was good. The male security guard couldn''t have physical contact with Jiang Yu, so he drove a small sightseeing car to take them to the entrance of the building.

    Jiang Yu muttered her name.

    "Ranran."

    "Why."

    "Xiao Ranran."

    She''s both drunk and out of her mind. Cheng Suran sighed.

    Entering the house, they met Xiao Zhou, and Cheng Suran explained a few things. Together, they supported Jiang Yu back to the master bedroom and carefully laid her down on the bed. "Could you please tell the auntie to make some hangover tea? I''ll take care of things here."

    "Okay."

    Xiao Zhou nodded and left, Cheng Suran closed the bedroom door and turned to look at the person on the bed.

    Jiang Yu lay limp on the bed, like a puddle of mud, her cheeks were as red as if they were about to bleed. Her eyes half-closed, she mumbled to herself and suddenly struggled to sit up.

    ¡ªthud!

    She fell back onto the carpet.

    Cheng Suran hurried over to help her.

    "I''ll just sit here." Jiang Yu shook her head, bent one leg to support her arms, and leaned her head on it. Cheng Suran had no choice but to follow and sat on the carpet with her.

    The whole bedroom fell silent.

    The breath mixed with the smell of alcohol grew heavier.

    Jiang Yu closed her eyes for a moment, then sat up straight. Her gaze wandered over Cheng Suran''s face, and she slightly lifted the corner of her mouth. "You look very beautiful today."

    There was infatuation in her eyes.

    Even though several years have passed, Cheng Suran still blushes for her praise, dimples appearing faintly on her cheeks. She didn''t respond but touched Jiang Yu''s hand gently. After a moment''s hesitation, she clasped it in her palm.

    "Birthdays are meaningless to me. They just remind me of how old I am. However, there are always exceptions. The most meaningful and impressive birthday to me was when I was 32.

    "That was the first time I have received such a heartfelt gift full of love."

    Jiang Yu took a deep breath, her eyes gleaming with water.

    Cheng Suran''s heart skipped a beat.

    "Ranran¡­"

    "Mm?"

    "Thank you."

    It has become a beam of light in her long and uncertain life of more than thirty years.

    Jiang Yu tilted her head and leaned on Cheng Suran''s shoulder.

    Cheng Suran''s body turned slightly stiff, and she held her hand tightly, "Thank me for what?"

    "For being by my side."

    "..."

    Only silence filled the room.

    They sat together silently, and the shadows of the lights poured down.

    Jiang Yu''s hand was warm, her face as well, her entire being radiating heat. That warmth curled up in Cheng Suran''s palm, like a ball of fire, searing her nerves and emotions. The scene from the office became increasingly vivid in her mind.

    Just a little bit.

    If she hadn''t touched the forgotten greeting card, if she hadn''t gone back to find Jiang Yu...

    Her chest ached slightly, and she couldn''t dare to imagine.

    Cheng Suran glanced at the head on her shoulder, gritted her teeth, and asked, "Who is that man this afternoon?"

    Jiang Yu frowned and slowly closed her eyes.

    No answer.

    "It''s okay if it''s inconvenient to say..." Cheng Suran was a little disappointed, but she suppressed her boiling emotions for a moment. She had already seen Jiang Yu''s embarrassment, so she couldn''t go any further. Digging deeper would only double the pain.

    Yet, she had acted impulsively.

    She patted Jiang Yu''s hand comfortingly and wanted to say that she should sleep after drinking the hangover tea, but Jiang Yu suddenly said, "He''s the son born to my biological mother and someone else."

    Cheng Suran was startled.

    After carefully chewing the euphemistic words, she realized that he was her brother, to be more precise, her half-brother from the same mother but a different father.

    "Their family members." Jiang Yu added.

    The fluttering tone, like a swaying and falling feather, like saying something insignificant. But Cheng Suran heard strangeness and alienation from it¡ª¡ª

    Their family. Jiang Yu was excluded.

    Just like she was at her aunt''s.

    Cheng Suran''s heart trembled, her intuition might touch a world she had never stepped into, she was expecting, but also a little scared. The anticipation is because she wants to explore everything that belongs to Jiang Yu too much, and the fear is because she can perceive that tearing the scar is bound to be accompanied by bloody excruciating pain.

    She can''t tear Jiang Yu''s wounds just to satiate her curiosity.

    Jiang Yu didn''t intend to continue talking.

    "Do you want to listen to a song?" Cheng Suran changed the subject, "I''ll sing for you, okay?"

    Jiang Yu still had her eyes closed, and the corners of her mouth turned up: "Okay"

    "I want to hear you sing ''Winter Garden.''"

    Cheng Suran cleared the noise and sang softly: "Je voudrais du Soleil¡­*"

    *I would like some sun¡­

    It was no longer a rainy day; the wind had stopped. Her floral dress turned into a warm wool coat. The sun emerged from behind the clouds, and the imaginary garden filled with fragrant blooms.

    The crisp girlish voice in the past has become warm and mature, like a gust of melodious wind, blowing slowly through her heart. Jiang Yu, who was gradually relaxing, felt like she was drifting into a beautiful dream.

    She dreamt she became a bird, flying very high, very far, and finally, finding a place as warm as spring, water, and grass, and settling down. This will be her hometown from now on...

    After singing a song, Cheng Suran smiled contentedly and asked, "What else do you want to hear?"

    The bedroom was eerily quiet.

    The sound of breathing rises and falls, slow and deep.

    Jiang Yu fell asleep.

    Snuggling by her side, she was soft as if she had no bones, the shadow of the lamp fell on her face, her brows were slightly wrinkled, and her thick eyelashes were clearly defined. From such a close distance, the texture of the skin could almost be seen clearly.

    Cheng Suran stared at her face, and stretched out her hand, trying to smooth the wrinkles between her brows.

    ¡ªtok tok

    There was a muffled knock on the door outside.

    The door opened, and Xiao Zhou came in with a tray in one hand, on which was a steaming bowl. Seeing the situation in the room, she froze for a moment, "Miss Cheng, the fruit tea is ready."

    "Shh¡ª"

    The hand that was about to touch Jiang Yu''s forehead withdrew and was placed near Cheng Suran''s lips. She whispered, "She''s asleep. Put it down first, then help me move her to the bed."

    "Okay."

    Xiao Zhou placed the tray on the table.

    Cheng Suran supported Jiang Yu''s head with one hand and joined forces with Xiao Zhou to carefully lift her. She was afraid of waking Jiang Yu up, so she didn''t dare to move too much, and both of them broke out in a sweat with simple movements.

    But Jiang Yu was still awakened by this action.

    She frowned, opened her eyes, and saw Cheng Suran''s face close at hand, she reached out and grabbed the corner of her clothes, her lips were wriggling, and after a long while, she softly uttered two words:

    "Don''t go..."

    "Okay," Cheng Suran held her hand without any hesitation, and patted it reassuringly, "I''m not leaving."

    Jiang Yu smiled.

    "Would you like some fruit tea to sober up?"

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran wanted to help her up, but Jiang Yu supported her body and sat up. The effect of alcohol made her dizzy. Although she was awake, her upper and lower eyelids were fighting. She was afraid that Cheng Suran would leave, so she obeyed everything she said.

    Xiao Zhou brought the tray over and exited the bedroom wisely.

    "Shall I feed you, or can you drink it yourself?"

    "I''ll do it myself."

    Jiang Yu leaned softly on Cheng Suran, took the bowl in her hand, blew on it, took a sip, and slowly finished the fruit tea.

    Seeing her dizzy and drooping eyelids, Cheng Suran didn''t intend to let her take a bath, she poured a glass of warm water for her to rinse her mouth, and helped her to lie down, "Go to sleep, I''ll be right next to you.

    Jiang Yu nodded lightly, holding her hand, still unwilling to let go, closing her eyes with infinite nostalgia...

    The whole bedroom is filled with soft light, the bed is full of rabbit dolls, starry sky lamps are hung on the wall, and a moon lamp is placed on each bedside table. Various lamps of different shapes are placed in the corners, desk cabinets, window sills, and even behind the doors. The light is without exception a gentle warm color.

    A warm and safe bedroom, in which a person can let go of all defenses.

    At this moment, Cheng Suran finally understood that this was not the childishness of a nearly forty-year-old woman, but a haven for her body and mind, a paradise for her exiled soul.

    The sound of breathing gradually became regular and deep.

    Jiang Yu fell into a deep sleep.

    Cheng Suran let go of her hand quietly, tucked up the quilt for her, and turned off the two desk lamps smoothly. After putting her to sleep, she should go, but the moment she opened the door, it seemed that an invisible force pulled her, and she looked back again.

    She promised Jiang Yu that she would not leave.

    If she leaves, when Jiang Yu wakes up the next day and can''t see her... The lonely look of that person appeared in front of her eyes, and Cheng Suran''s heart swelled slightly, with a tingling pain.

    After struggling for a long time, she decided to stay.

    The living room is brightly lit, the sweeping robot is working, the nanny has just returned from taking out the trash, and Xiao Zhou is sitting on the sofa with a laptop in her hand, busy with her own business, each busy with their own tasks in perfect harmony. None of them were Jiang Yu''s family, yet they cared for her more than family did, taking care of Jiang Yu''s life.

    Cheng Suran explained the situation to Xiao Zhou, and Xiao Zhou expressed her understanding and gratitude and wanted to arrange a guest room for her.

    ¡°There are toiletries in the room"

    "No, I''ll watch over her tonight."

    In case something happens to Jiang Yu at night, such as having nightmares or stomach discomfort, having someone by her side would allow for an immediate response.

    What happened in the afternoon really frightened Cheng Suran.

    She followed Xiao Zhou to the guest room to get clean pajamas and toiletries, took a shower in a hurry, returned to the master bedroom, and sent a message to Wen Ruoxian with her mobile phone in her hand: [Ruoxian, something happened to my friend. I''m staying with her and won''t be coming back, go to bed early, good night.]

    She received a reply very quickly.

    Ruoxian: [Okay, be safe, call me if you need help, good night.]

    Reading the message, Cheng Suran felt a warm sensation in her heart. The image of her own sketch flashed through her mind, accompanied by a touch of sadness, like a cotton stuck in her throat.

    Looking at Jiang Yu who was sleeping soundly, she shook her head and didn''t have the energy to think too much.

    After turning off several lights one after another, the huge room finally went dark. Cheng Suran set her mobile phone to vibrate mode, put it on the bedside, and quietly climbed into the quilt on the other side of the bed.

    In the darkness, the faint scent of iris lingered around her nose, mingling with the breath that carried a hint of alcohol. Under the covers, she held Jiang Yu''s hand.

    "Good night."

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582                    This translation is originally posted on her love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too

    The next day, Jiang Yu woke up with a splitting headache.

    Lying in a daze for a while, feeling the softness and warmth around her, she froze for a moment, then turned her head to look, and saw Cheng Suran lying on her side, thinking that she was dreaming.

    Ranran?

    How did they¡­

    Jiang Yu''s mind started wandering into places it shouldn''t, and she quickly sat up. Her head spun for a moment, and she instinctively placed her hand on Cheng Suran''s arm for support.

    "Mm."

    After some movement, Cheng Suran moved and slowly opened her eyes.

    Their eyes collided.

    "It''s morning?" she yawned.

    The curtains were not drawn last night, and a large swath of sunlight shone into the bedroom, and the gentle warm gold was spread on the carpet as if smeared with cream. Another sunny day.

    The wall clock shows half past eight.

    Cheng Suran rubbed her eyes and sat up, looking Jiang Yu up and down, "How do you feel? Does your headache hurt? Does your stomach feel uncomfortable?"

    Jiang Yu shook her head and found that she was still wearing outer clothes, and finally remembered what happened yesterday... The brand new model, the fierce man, and her embarrassed self made her completely drunk.

    She didn''t dare to look at Cheng Suran anymore, turned her face away, and brushed her messy hair with both hands.

    "Good," Cheng Suran seemed to understand something, and kept silent about what happened yesterday, "Then... get up and have something to eat."

    She lifted the quilt and got out of bed, picked up her phone and bag, and left the room.

    "Mm."

    Jiang Yu covered her face and rested her head on her knees, motionless. It wasn''t until the footsteps outside the room faded that she lifted her head and sighed, looking at the half-open bedroom door.

    She was embarrassed enough.

    After sitting quietly for a while, she got up to wash. Standing in front of the mirror and looking at her face, it seems that she has become haggard and sluggish overnight. Getting older really showed on her face if she didn''t pay enough attention to her lifestyle and diet.

    She changed into clean clothes and went out, but Cheng Suran was nowhere to be seen in the living room.

    Did she leave?

    Looking at the empty room, Jiang Yu suddenly felt empty, and contradictory emotions surged up. She didn''t want Cheng Suran to see her ugly face, but when she found out that that person had really left, she felt extremely tormented.

    As if abandoned by this world, a huge sense of loneliness engulfed her...

    "Jiang Yu?"

    "Why are you in a daze, let''s have breakfast." Cheng Suran came out of the dining room and saw Jiang Yu standing motionless by the sofa, looking towards the door.

    It''s no different from those wax figures in the wax museum.

    She went up to take her hand.

    Jiang Yu came back to her senses, unable to tell whether it was joy or surprise, she blurted out and asked, "You didn''t leave?"

    ¡°?"

    "What do you mean?" Cheng Suran looked at her pretending to be dissatisfied, "Last night you were shouting not to let me leave. After all, I accompanied you for so long. Is it not okay for me to have free breakfast?"

    "No, I mean..."

    "Hahahaha, I''m just kidding."

    "..."

    Jiang Yu also smiled, and let Cheng Suran lead her by the hand.

    Breakfast was made by the aunt, who knew Cheng Suran was staying there and intentionally made a little extra, with both sweet and savory flavors. The two sat down and Cheng Suran ate a steamed dumpling, chewing while keeping her gaze on Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu tied up her hair and was wearing a round-neck home casual dress. There were some faint bruises on her neck.

    She was looking down and peeling the boiled egg.

    "Remember to apply some medicine later." Cheng Suran said, looking at the bruises.

    "What?"

    "On your neck."

    "Oh..." Jiang Yu said lightly, "It''s okay, it will be fine in two days."

    Cheng Suran didn''t speak anymore and ate the porridge spoonful by spoonful.

    Silence condensed between the two, only the crisp sound of bowls and chopsticks colliding from time to time, because it was too quiet, every sound seemed loud. Every nerve is tense, and it trembles for a long time when touched.

    Jiang Yu suddenly said, "He came to ask for money."

    Cheng Suran paused.

    It soon became clear that the "he" Jiang Yu was referring to was the man from yesterday, the half-brother of the same mother.

    "Why does he want money..." Recalling the scene where Jiang Yu was being strangled, anger surged from the bottom of her heart. She wanted to ask clearly, but she immediately controlled herself and fell silent.

    Digging deep will only bring pain.

    She didn''t expose the scar, but Jiang Yu wanted to open it herself.

    Jiang Yu looked at the blueberries in the bowl, cut them in half with the edge of a spoon, and said casually: "My biological mother has cancer and needs a lot of surgery fees. He came to me for it, and I told him... that whether she''s sick or dead, it has nothing to do with me. "

    "I''m so cold-blooded, so dark, devoid of humanity and morality, full of hostility and resentment in my heart, so..." She raised her eyes and looked at Cheng Suran full of self-mockery.

    Those eyes were full of scars as if saying: This is the real me.

    A glamorous skin wrapping a cold and ruthless heart.

    Cheng Suran looked at her, shook her head, and said, "I don''t like judging others."

    "Don''t you think I''m scary?"

    "Why would I be afraid of my own kind?"

    ¡ªding

    The spoon in Jiang Yu''s hand fell into the blueberry bowl.

    "If a home is not a harbor, it is destined to be left behind, take risks on your own, and from then on, you''ll be aware of the warmth and coldness. Other people''s family members have nothing to do with us. Cheng Suran didn''t know if this was meant for herself or Jiang Yu, but when she remembered, the lessons Jiang Yu had taught her before were mostly the same.

    "Jiang Yu, you care about my opinion, just as I used to care about yours..."

    As soon as these words fell, it was like drawing a period.

    The sideward sunlight fell on Cheng Suran''s face, outlining her features clearly. Her skin seemed glazed, porcelain-white, and delicate. This face remained lively and radiant as ever.

    Jiang Yu moved her lips, picked up the cup, and drank the milk in one gulp.

    "I''m sorry for showing you a joke."

    "You have seen mine, anyway." Cheng Suran blinked, turned to look out of the window, caught a glimpse of a hint of red at the corner of her eye through the glass, and immediately turned back.

    "We''re even."

    "Right."

    .....

    After breakfast, Cheng Suran left.

    Jiang Yu also went out to the company. On the way, she called her assistant to inquire about Jiang Zhijun''s situation. The assistant said that he only suffered some flesh wounds on his head, and it was not serious. After thinking about it, she decided to call the police.

    There is no surveillance in the office, but there is one outside the door. It was clearly photographed that Jiang Zhijun entered the office not long before he was escorted out by the security guards. The assistant and the security guard were the witnesses, and the unhealed bruises on her neck and the broken computer and ornaments were the physical evidence. It didn''t take much effort for Jiang Zhijun to be detained.

    When everything was done, the sun had already set.

    The model was placed safely on the coffee table, Jiang Yu carefully picked it up and put it in a box.

    This time, she must take good care of it.

 CH 111

    In mid-December, when winter comes, one must wear a thin down jacket.

    There are 23 meetings this month, and Cheng Suran spends almost every day on airplanes, hotels, companies, and cars. By the end of the year, being able to sleep a complete night at home is a luxurious enjoyment.

    As Christmas approaches, the atmosphere on the streets is becoming increasingly intense, and major brands are holding holiday activities one after another. As soon as Cheng Suran got off the plane that day, she received a phone call from the ETERNO account manager¡ª

    Manager Fang said that a batch of limited edition new styles specially customized for VIPs had arrived at the store, and she was invited to have a look at them when she had time.

    Big brands like this often notify VIP customers in advance when new products are launched. They show them the pictures of the items first and then arrange appointments for them to come to the store to try on and choose. If they need to, they can even bring the clothes to the customers'' homes.

    Busy and tired with work, Cheng Suran initially didn''t want to go. However, when she saw the pictures sent by Manager Fang, she unexpectedly found them pleasing and had a very familiar feeling.

    It seems like every item was hitting the mark with her aesthetic points.

    Lately, she''s been under a lot of mental pressure and hasn''t gone shopping for a long time. It would be good to take some time to relax. With this thought in mind, she looked at her schedule for the upcoming days and made an appointment with Manager Fang for tomorrow afternoon.

    She also thought of Wen Ruoxian, who was busier than her. She was still out of town at the moment, so she asked on WeChat: [Ruoxian, are you free tomorrow afternoon? Let''s go out for a stroll together. ]

    It wasn''t until the evening that Wen Ruoxian replied: [I don''t have time these days. It''ll have to wait until after the New Year. We can go on a trip then. Wherever you want to go, we''ll go, and have a great time.]

    She sent three crying emoticons in a row.

    Cheng Suran looked at it and couldn''t help but smile, and then she thought about those few sketches. Her heart ached a little...

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582                    This translation is originally posted on her love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too

    The second floor of Yinhua Plaza is the main store of ETERNO in Jiangcheng.

    The next day, as soon as she entered the door, Manager Fang, who had been waiting for Cheng Suran, warmly greeted her. Other salesmen also smiled and nodded to her. Cheng Suran felt indescribably weird, she only came to the store for the second time today, and her total consumption was less than 10,000 yuan, but it seemed like some wealthy family came to visit.

    Recalling the situation of the last trade fair she quickly realized that it was because of Jiang Yu.

    "Miss Cheng, would you like something to drink?"

    Manager Fang smiled brightly, and led Cheng Suran up to the VIP exhibition hall on the third floor, holding the wine list with both hands and handing it to her.

    "Warm water, please. Thank you," Cheng Suran said as she turned her head. Her gaze swept around the lobby. The showroom was quite spacious, with a well-thought-out layout. Several mannequins were positioned on all sides. An entire wall was covered with mirrors, and she saw herself in one of them.

    The saleswoman downstairs came up with water and snacks,and put them on the side of the tea table. Cheng Suran thanked her softly, drank some warm water, and saw Manager Fang walking over with a display stand.

    Three dresses, two pairs of pants, and a long skirt.

    It seems to be a completely different style from the ready-to-wear.

    "This is our spring and summer VIP-limited new style..." Manager Fang introduced the design concept as smoothly as a radio host.

    With simple elements, excellent tailoring, and high-end color matching, Cheng Suran''s eyes were firmly glued to the clothes, and the more she looked at them, the more familiar they seemed. She didn''t even notice Manager Fang''s rehearsed tone as if she was memorizing a manuscript.

    She reached out and touched the fabric.

    The touch feels familiar.

    Jiang Yu''s face suddenly flashed in her mind...

    Cheng Suran found the label on the clothes, she opened it and looked at it, and saw only a symbol that looked like a letter along with a simple size. There was no ETERNO brand logo. If it wasn''t for the amazing fabric and tailoring, one could even say it was made in a small workshop.

    "Manager Fang, is this not the ETERNO logo?"

    The woman smiled and calmly replied, "Because it''s a special limited edition for VIP customers, the logo is different from the regular clothes."

    "I can''t be the only VIP, right? What about the others? Have they all visited?"

    "Each client''s appointment time is different."

    "I wonder who the designer is."

    Cheng Suran became a little aggressive, and Manager Fang''s eyes flashed with embarrassment, she looked around and replied: "Our chief designer is Alvaro..."

    Seeing her like this, Cheng Suran became more and more sure of her guess, or rather, her intuition.

    She didn''t intend to embarrass an account manager who was used as an accomplice, pointed to the clothes, and said with a smile: "I like these very much, Can I try them to see how they look?"

    Manager Fang secretly heaved a sigh of relief, nodded, and smiled: "Of course. The fitting room is here, please follow me." As she spoke, she was about to push the display rack.

    "Are there new ones?"

    "Sorry, Ms. Cheng, only the displayed can be tried on."

    "But I have a cleanliness issue. I can''t accept things that others have touched or tried on."

    Cheng Suran smiled like a fox, if she guessed correctly, each item on the display rack was tailor-made just for her, with only one of each piece.

    "Because it''s a VIP exclusive, there''s only one display item for each design. If you like them, we can register a reservation for you and make them according to your body measurements."

    Manager Fang responded very quickly.

    "Never mind."

    Cheng Suran waved her hand, glanced at her watch, pretended to be busy and in a hurry, pointed to the display shelf, and said, "No need to try, I want these, just pack them up."

    "This is an exhibit, didn''t you just say..."

    "I''ve changed my mind."

    ....

    Cheng Suran was escorted out of the store''s entrance.

    After bidding farewell to Manager Fang, she got into her car, took out her phone, and dialed the number she had already memorized by heart.

    "Ranran?"

    A woman''s gentle and pleasant voice came through the earpiece.

    Like a stone falling into her heart lake, it stirs up the water and sinks into the deepest corner. Cheng Suran held her breath and asked softly: "Where are you? I have something to tell you.

    "I''m here..." Jiang Yu was obviously taken aback and hesitated.

    "Manager Fang showed me the clothes just now, I like them very much, and bought them all."

    "What clothes?"

    "Designer Jiang''s tailor-made fashion for me." Cheng Suran directly exposed her, the corners of her lips raised unconsciously and saw herself smiling through the central rearview mirror, with two small dimples floating on her cheeks.

    As if the person on the other end of the phone could see it.

    Sure enough¡ª

    The air fell silent as if the call had ended.

    After a long while of silence, Jiang Yu let out a slight chuckle, and her tone became softer: "It just so happens that I''m in the ETERNO Building, on the nineteenth floor, and I''ll ask my assistant to pick you up downstairs.

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran smiled.

    ....

    On the 19th floor of the building, "Y.R" private studio.

    The large work table was full of sundries. Jiang Yu was currently engrossed in drawing, but her focus was divided at the moment. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t seem to draw a simple line properly. After several attempts, she put down the pen and picked up her phone to check the time.

    The screen still displayed the call log.

    A WeChat message arrived and it was from Manager Fang:

    [Miss Jiang, the plan was successful. Miss Cheng bought all the clothes.] Immediately following, she sent a voice message, reporting the events that had occurred over a dozen minutes ago.

    "Miss  Cheng is very perceptive. I feel like she knows something, but she didn''t expose it."

    [Mm, I see.]

    The unfinished designs on the table seemed to be mocking her. She tried her best to beat around the bush, but in the end, she was still seen through at a glance. She thought that this method could be used at least three times to make Cheng Suran wear the clothes she tailored for her. Though not completely straightforward, it was a way to fulfill her wishes.

    However, Ranran was more sensitive than she imagined.

    She was already mentally prepared to be exposed, she didn''t expect this day would come too soon, yet the expected embarrassment and bitterness didn''t come as strongly as she thought, on the contrary, she actually felt a hint of joy and subtle sweetness.

    She was keen because she was familiar. She was familiar because she kept it in her heart.

    Thinking of this, Jiang Yu looked at the drawing and smiled, picked up the pen again, added the cut line, drew a little rabbit beside it, and wrote the letter "R".

    After finishing the drawing, she got up and went to the storage room to get the sample fabric.

    The storage room was in a corner of the studio, with a thin wooden door. Inside, various materials and tools needed for clothing design were stored. It was a small room without windows, quite dark, and hadn''t been tidied up in a long time. Things were piled up in a mess.

    Jiang Yu bent down and entered the room. The light quickly dimmed, and her eyes took a moment to adjust. Not paying attention, she stepped on a cylindrical object and slipped...

    ¡ªclang!

    The wooden door was slammed shut, and with a "click", the latch locked.

    "Hiss."

    Jiang Yu supported herself against the wall, stood up, and rubbed her waist. As she opened her eyes, she found herself in pitch-black darkness where she couldn''t see her own hand in front of her face.

    Her heart twitched violently, beating faster and faster.

    It was as if a monster in a distant memory jumped out and devoured her, and the anxiety brought about by fear weighed heavily on her. Panicked, she fumbled on the wall with both hands and finally touched the handle of the wooden door, but she couldn''t pull it open.

    "Open the door... is there anyone..."

    ....

    This is the second time Cheng Suran has come to the ETERNO Building, and she is no longer a stranger to this place. She followed Jiang Yu''s assistant and took the elevator up to the 19th floor. The entire floor belonged to Jiang Yu, and it was a scene she had never seen before.

    For some reason, she couldn''t wait to see that person, so she quickened her pace.

    She thought Jiang Yu was in the office.

    The assistant led her directly to the next door, knocked on the door, and said to her with a smile, "Miss Cheng, please come in."

    Cheng Suran nodded and glanced at the platinum nameplate on the wall, which read "Y.R". Seeing these two familiar letters and symbols, she knew that her guess was correct.

    She pushed the door lightly and entered, then closed it behind.

    The big "Y.R" logo on the snow-white wall came into view, and the hanging small light bulbs were shining brightly. Five or six mannequins stood in a row. The shortest one stood out prominently, dressed in clothes; the tailor-made outfit Cheng Suran had returned to Jiang Yu several months ago.

    A large rectangular table is placed in the center, full of designs, long rulers, fabrics, and other items, and there is a design spread out on the table.

    "Jiang Yu?"

    Where is she?

    Cheng Suran glanced around, and suddenly there was a "dong dong" sound from the corner, and Jiang Yu''s trembling voice came through the wooden door: "I''m here..."

    She rushed over and flipped the lock to open the door.

    Light shone into the dark room, Jiang Yu sat weakly against the wall, shivering, sweating profusely, and breathing heavily as if struggling to catch her breath.

    "Jiang Yu!" Cheng Suran knelt and hugged her, "What''s wrong?"

    The light came in and she felt the warm body temperature. Jiang Yu seemed to have grasped at straws, hugged Cheng Suran desperately, and buried her face in her arms.

    "It''s okay...the lock suddenly broke, and I couldn''t open the door."

    She dared not look at Cheng Suran.

    Cheng Suran glanced inside, the situation seemed familiar, she remembered the escape room game a few years ago, she remembered her conversation with Qi Yan... and now, her heart ached once more.

    "Jiang Yu, do you...have claustrophobia?"

    "A little bit." Jiang Yu closed her eyes and curled up.

    "But I''m trying to get over it."

    "Not all weaknesses have to be overcome." Cheng Suran frowned and patted her on the back to comfort her, "Jiang Yu, in my heart, you''re first and foremost a person, an intricate, complex, multidimensional person. I believe that in your heart, I''m the same, right?"

    There was nothing to be ashamed about.

    This woman is just too strong-willed.

    Jiang Yu remained silent for a long time, only her breathing gradually became calmer, and suddenly, she pushed Cheng Suran away and stood up. "I''ll show you my private studio."

    Cheng Suran got up and followed her out.

    "It turns out that this is Designer Jiang''s lair. It seems there was a well-thought-out plan." She looked around again, walked to the window, and cast a look at Jiang Yu pretending to be angry.

    As she spoke, she placed the large paper bag she had brought.

    Jiang Yu''s face paled slightly, whether due to her symptoms easing or because she took her words seriously wasn''t clear. Her steps hesitated as she walked to Cheng Suran''s side. "How did you know it was my work?"

    "Because I like your style very much."

    They stood side by side, their clothes rubbed against each other inadvertently, The height difference brought a little sense of pressure, but it also brought a feeling of safety, Cheng Suran felt that she was surrounded by a solid and gentle atmosphere, at this moment, she wanted to lean against Jiang Yu''s shoulder.

    "Likes leave a strong impression and make you remember, and also..."

    Her voice trailed off, and she turned her face, her gaze fixated deeply on Jiang Yu''s face.

    "No one understands my aesthetics better than you."

    Those pair of dark eyes seem to be the deepest vortex in the center of the ocean, a long and secret passage leading to the softest part at the bottom of the heart, seemingly deep and quiet, full of thorns, but full of enthusiasm and warmth buried inside.

    Jiang Yu gazed at her, and her thoughts instantly stirred.

    Her heartbeat which had just calmed down began to roar again.

    "Sorry."

    "Sorry for what?"

    "For leading you in such a big circle."

    Her smile was a bit bitter. She wanted to hold her hand; her slender fingers hesitated by her side. In the end, she restrained herself and pulled them back. "I thought that if I gave it to you directly, you probably wouldn''t accept it. Even if you did, you might just throw it away, just like last time."

    The night the old model was broken.

    Cheng Suran lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes covered her regret, She wanted to hold Jiang Yu''s hand, but she held back, and said in a low voice, "That''s in the past."

    "Really?"

    "Mm."

    Even though she was overjoyed, Jiang Yu couldn''t help but wonder if there was another meaning to these words. She expected Cheng Suran to say something more, but there was nothing more.

    She could only continue to restrain herself.

    Restrain her emotions, restrain her mind.

    "I have a wish."

    "What is it?"

    "To be your personal designer."

    Cheng Suran froze.

    Jiang Yu turned to face her, meeting her gaze. Her deep eyes were filled with light. "Could you help me make it come true?"

 CH 112

    Cheng Suran agreed.

    Step by step, getting to know Jiang Yu''s identity is like opening a mysterious present by herself. Each layer has different surprises. This time, she has the control in her hands.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help but hug her.

    "Thanks."

    The fragrance of irises wafted into her nostrils, Cheng Suran''s breath froze, and she subconsciously stretched out her hand to wrap around Jiang Yu''s waist, but the fragrance left again. Her hands hung in the air awkwardly, and she retracted them silently.

    "Does this private studio only do Y.R series?" She changed the subject.

    "That''s right," Jiang Yu nodded with a smile, bent her fingers, and tapped on the table, "As long as I have inspiration, I will first draw a sketch, deciding which elements to add or remove..."

    She toured Cheng Suran unhurriedly, walked around the table, and finally returned to the dummy model.

    Cheng Suran noticed that the shortest model among them was exactly the same as her in height, measurements, and proportions, and there were two shallow dimples on her face.

    "Is this me?"

    "Mm, it''s custom-made to fit your body proportions."

    "What about others?"

    "Normal fitting models."

    Jiang Yu didn''t realize there was anything wrong, but Cheng Suran lowered her face and complained rather dissatisfied: "It''s understandable to make a tailor-made mannequin, but what''s the use of other dummies? Putting me in the middle of the tall ones, I look even shorter. Did you do it on purpose?"

    "I didn''t mean that..." Jiang Yu shook her head.

    She didn''t notice the minute details at first, but after Cheng Suran pointed this out, she looked at the mannequins carefully, and the 1.65-meter "Ranran" standing among many 1.75-meter models really looked very short, cute, and funny.

    She couldn''t help but burst out laughing.

    "You''re still laughing?" Cheng Suran frowned, "And you said it wasn''t on purpose!"

    As she spoke, she reached out to pinch Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu dodged and took two steps back, Cheng Suran chased after her, and the two of them played around the big table like the King of Qin walking around the pillar. After going around two or three times, Cheng Suran turned and ran backward, catching Jiang Yu off guard. She lunged and hugged her.

    "..."

    Time stood still.

    Two temperatures pressed closely together exhaled breaths carrying each other''s scents. Like a wildfire burning, it seeped into their lungs, scorching their hearts. With red lips close at hand, like a tempting ripe fruit.

    Jiang Yu fell under a spell, with wild thoughts raging in her mind, but her rationality told her not to do so.

    "Is it that good to be tall?" Cheng Suran suddenly pushed her away, turned sideways, and concealed the panic in her eyes.

    In those few short seconds just now, she couldn''t help but sense Jiang Yu''s hot and strong emotions, yet she remained oblivious to the underlying restraint and self-control. She couldn''t quite grasp it all, as if something was still knotted in her heart.

    "Move all the tall ones away."

    She said, pointing to the mannequins, she found herself an escape.

    Jiang Yu quickly calmed down as if waking up from a dream, and nodded with a smile: "Okay, I will only use the same model as you from now on." Then she leaned down a little, not forgetting to tease at the end.

    "It turns out that someone still cares so much about height..."

    "Shut up."

    Both of them laughed.

    The wall clock pointed to five o''clock, and the sky outside the window gradually turned cloudy.

    "Do you want to have dinner together tonight?" Jiang Yu said while packing up the sketches, "Do you want to eat at home or go out? Whatever you prefer, just to thank you for fulfilling my wish."

    "Let''s go to your place," Cheng Suran blurted out without thinking.

    After saying it, she felt that her words seemed a bit ambiguous, so she added, "Outside food is oily and not clean. Eating at home is safer and healthier."

    "I was thinking the same thing," Jiang Yu winked.

    Just what she wanted.

    This time, Cheng Suran took a taxi to come, and when they left, she got into Jiang Yu''s car.

    The building was about a 15-minute drive from Green Shang Mansion. Halfway there, Jiang Yu remembered to go to the brokerage company to get some documents. The traffic is clear at the moment, and it just took a few minutes to reach the entrance of SIENAMODEL.

    "I''ll go up to get something, wait for me in the car."

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran got busy replying to emails on her phone.

    After waiting for a while and not seeing Jiang Yu come out, she glanced around and spotted Jiang Yu in the first-floor reception area, talking with a few people.

    Mm?

    What''s going on?

    There seemed to be a foreigner next to her, and Jiang Yu was gesturing with both hands while talking. The noise floated over.

    Cheng Suran frowned, with a vague premonition, got out of the car, and hurried in.

    A slender foreign woman with blonde hair and blue eyes was standing at the front desk, speaking broken English intermittently, even making gestures. Jiang Yu struggled to listen to her, and after listening for a long time, she only understood that she was a model from the Russian parent company.

    The two girls at the front desk were even more confused.

    "Jiang Yu..."

    Cheng Suran thought they were arguing, walked over quickly, and subconsciously stood in front of Jiang Yu, "What''s wrong?"

    Jiang Yu hesitated, grabbed her hand, and pulled her to her side, lowering her voice, "She''s a model from Russia. Her English is really bad. It seems like it took a lot of effort to get her here... I don''t know how the agent handles things." Frustration showed in her eyes.

    "You... you... lied to us. " The blonde woman was full of anger.

    Jiang Yu: "?"

    Cheng Suran stared at her, and tried to say hello in her half-baked Russian: "Hello?"

    The blonde woman froze for a moment.

    "Um, I can speak a little Russian, you can speak slowly." Cheng Suran smiled reassuringly.

    In the next second, the woman''s eyes flushed and she started to cry: "You are a liar company...your agent tricked us into signing with another company...you don''t keep promises...you."

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582                    This translation is originally posted on  love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too

    This foreign model''s name is Agata. She''s eighteen years old and was born in Ukraine but lives in Russia. Her family is financially struggling and can''t afford to send all three children to school. She took a leave of absence two months ago because of her favorable appearance, allowing her to sign a contract with the Russian parent company. She was sent to China to work for about a year to earn enough money for her education before going back to school.

    According to the company''s arrangement, three foreign models were traveling with her, and they will fly to China with the company covering their travel expenses, and accommodation and will be picked up by SIENA''s agent after landing.

    The agent responsible for receiving them is Mina.

    Since these models are all newcomers and ignorant, unlike other B-level, A-level, or even super A-level models who have some experience, they only follow their agents. Being newcomers, they are not familiar with life in a foreign country. Having an agent who could speak fluent Russian and provide warm and professional hospitality made them feel at ease both physically and mentally.

    After landing yesterday, they stayed in a downtown hotel for one night and were taken to the "company" this morning.

    The "company" was empty and had only a few people which didn''t match the general information they knew about SIENA, but the agent said that this was part of the process, that newcomers sign an "internship contract" first. After the probationary period, they would go to the company''s headquarters.

    Her companions believed it, but Agata didn''t sign it right away. Out of caution, she contacted someone from the Russian parent company to confirm. Unexpectedly, the parent company didn''t know about it, instead, they inquired about the so-called "company" and what it was...

    Only then did she realize that she had been lied to.

    ....

    "Mina is your agent, why did you lie to us like this? My companions and many people didn''t know what was going on, they were all deceived by you, You are shameless..." Agata cried and complained, she was emotional and spoke a bit fast, and her crying voice made her words muddled.

    She didn''t realize this until she finished speaking and said it again slowly.

    Cheng Suran barely understood the ins and outs, checked several key pieces of information with her, and used a dictionary app on her phone to piece together the complete meaning.

    She relayed it to Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu''s face became more serious as she listened.

    Before they got off work, they took Agata to the office. Jiang Yu called Mina, but couldn''t get through, so she went to the brokerage company again. Most of the agents went out with the models, and only a few were in the office.

    Recently, Tian Lin reported to her that Mina could not be contacted, and it had been almost two months since the last time she met Mina.

    Mina kept saying that she was very busy and tired, and would return to the company whenever she was free.

    Yet up to now, she has not returned.

    She asked Bai Lu, but she said she didn''t know, and even complained to her aggrievedly. When she asked a few people close to Mina, they all said that they hadn''t been in touch for a long time.

    Jiang Yu finally realized the seriousness of the matter.

    "I''ve already told my colleagues and our company, and I''m going to expose you guys on Twitter..." Agata said while crying. Her older sister had to go to Ukraine to earn money by having a child because of poverty. She didn''t want to live that kind of life. She came here full of expectations but was cheated, feeling angry and helpless.

    Cheng Suran gasped: "Have children to make money?"

    Agata nodded.

    "It''s surrogacy." Jiang Yu frowned, "It''s legal in Ukraine. There''s a nickname in their country called "Europe''s womb."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran was too shocked to speak, followed by a surge of anger. She quickly comforted her: "We''re sorry, but...actually, we didn''t know about this matter. It was the agent who decided without authorization, and now we still need to investigate..."

    Apparently, Mina betrayed the company.

    Jiang Yu felt a headache.

    This situation has been going on for two or three months. If it were an ordinary agent with low qualifications, she would have found out a long time ago, but Mina has considerable privileges. She has made great contributions to the company at the beginning of its establishment. According to the principle of "do not suspect until there''s a reason", she trusted her immensely and practically gave her free rein, so much so that it allowed Mina to hide from everyone.

    She immediately contacted the Russian parent company and began investigating the matter.

    ....

    After Agata was settled, Jiang Yu led Cheng Suran back home.

    The sudden turn of events caught her off guard, leaving her a bit at a loss. Her mood plummeted, and she found herself with a poor appetite during dinner, only eating a few pieces of fish before putting down her chopsticks.

    "Are you full?" Cheng Suran asked in surprise.

    Jiang Yu nodded, pursed her lips, and smiled: "I''m going to deal with work emails."

    After that, she got up and left.

    Cheng Suran opened her mouth and wanted to call her, but her voice got stuck in her throat. Just then, her phone screen lit up, and a WeChat message popped up¡ª

    Ruoxian: [Ranran, I bought lamb chops. How about having grilled lamb chops tonight?]

    It was only then that she remembered that Ruoxian was coming back today, thoughts about Jiang Yu made her forget about it for a while. So she quickly replied: [I¡¯m eating at a friend¡¯s house, You can have it yourself, or freeze it in the refrigerator, and I¡¯ll cook it for you another day.]

    Then she sent a cute cat emoticon.

    The dialog box shows typing.

    Ruoxian: [Is it with Miss Jiang?]

    Cheng Suran was slightly surprised and replied truthfully: [Yes.]

    The other side was quiet for a long time, and five minutes later, Wen Ruoxian sent another message: [Okay, I''ll eat the lamb chops by myself, I''ll buy fresh ones when you come back, and we''ll eat together.]

    [Okay.]

    It felt a bit strange.

    Cheng Suran didn''t think much about it and put down her phone. She sighed as she watched Jiang Yu''s retreating back and then looked at the delicious dishes prepared for her on the table, suddenly losing her appetite.

    She took a few mouthfuls casually then got up to look for Jiang Yu.

    Jiang Yu was not in the master bedroom.

    With too many rooms, Cheng Suran went around and finally found her on the small balcony in the southwest. She was leaning against the railing, with a slender cigarette between her fingers. The air was filled with the smell of smoke mixed with a fruity aroma.

    Lonely and desolate.

    "Jiang Yu...Cheng Suran stood behind for a long time and couldn''t help calling her.

    The woman froze and turned around.

    Their gazes met.

    Jiang Yu was stunned for a moment, subconsciously looked at the cigarette in her hand, and quickly put it out in the ashtray. She smiled at Cheng Suran, "You finished eating so quickly?"

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran glanced at the half of the cigarettes left, and walked over slowly, "If you''re in a bad mood, just smoke if you want."

    "Not really."

    "You''re being stubborn."

    "..."

    The winter night is very cold, and it carries a little bit of cold wind. There are many tall buildings outside the window, with shining bright lights. In the distance, the sound of a tour boat''s horn echoed over the river.

    Jiang Yu closed the window.

    "Will it have a serious impact on the company?" Cheng Suran asked softly.

    "It won''t."

    "Really?"

    "It may lose a little reputation, due to the word of mouth, and some overseas markets. In the worst case, these can''t be considered serious."

    "Oh, I thought she had infiltrated the upper echelons and was about to seize power..."

    Pfft.

    Jiang Yu couldn''t help laughing and wanted to pinch her ears, but suddenly remembered something, and patted her shoulder with her outstretched hand: "It''s not that exaggerated. Although I gave her some shares, they''re not much. The actual controller of the company is still me.¡±

    "That''s good." Cheng Suran nodded in relief.

    "If you have any communication problems, I will go to the company tomorrow and send you a Russian translator. If you want to file a cross-border lawsuit, I know a lawyer friend who specializes in this area. If you need help, just let me know. If I can help, I will, and if I can''t, I have friends who might be able to assist. In short, don''t carry it alone."

    "You''re not alone anymore."

    She looked at Jiang Yu seriously.

    Jiang Yu''s expression changed, and a wave of infinite tenderness surged in her eyes. She cautiously inquired, "What do you mean?"

    "There are friends like us around."

    "..."

    The word "friend" extinguished her expectations.

    She hid her smile: "Mm, okay."

    Although she found some comfort, Jiang Yu''s heart is still heavy. The loss caused by this incident is second, and the most important thing is that she was betrayed by someone she trusted¡ªshe despised betrayal the most.

    The feeling of being stabbed in the back is not pleasant at all.

    However, this is not the first time she has experienced betrayal. She has seen too many dirty people and things in her modeling career for more than ten years. In contrast, her life after retirement has been smooth sailing. Maybe it was too smooth, but now fate is about to test her.

    When she was about to send Cheng Suran back, she received a call from Mina.

    "Miss Jiang, were you looking for me?"

    Mina''s voice was very calm.

    Jiang Yu said indifferently: "I heard that you started a company?"

    There was a moment of silence on the other line, then Mina hummed flatly and said: "To be precise, it''s not just me, but also Bai Lu.

    "Bai Lu?"

    "She''s the legal representative."

    Jiang Yu''s eyebrows furrowed, and a slight crack appeared in her calm gaze.

    Bai Lu...

 CH 113

    Hearing the name was like hallucinating.

    A conjecture flashed through her mind and Jiang Yu couldn''t believe it, but she still tried her best to maintain her calm: "So, you partnered with Bai Lu...to poach the company''s foothold?"

    "I thought Miss Jiang knew about it a long time ago."

    "What benefits can this kind of painless little action bring you?"

    "Miss Jiang, is it really painless?" Mina sneered.

    Jiang Yu also smiled, "You haven''t answered my question yet."

    "If you work for yourself, the return is 100%. If you work for others, the return maybe 80% or 1%. If it is worth it, it will be 80%. If it is not worth it, it will be 1%."

    She said a few words, which seemed vague, but Jiang Yu quickly understood.

    "You don''t accept Tian Lin."

    It wasn''t surprising at all, this was something she had been expecting for a long time.

    "Miss Jiang, it''s your turn to answer my question now," Mina said in a leisurely tone.

    Jiang Yu laughed again, put one hand into the pocket of her slacks, and said calmly: "To what extent is pain and itching; economic loss, or a heavy blow to one''s spirit? Do you understand me? If you did, you wouldn''t say such things."

    She is a person who has come from the era of nothing, with just bare hands. Even if she fell to the bottom, she could stand up again right where she was. She would never fear losing.

    The brokerage company only accounts for one-third of her assets, and the mental trauma will not break her down.

    "You are indeed admirable," Mina said. She didn''t want to push Jiang Yu to her limits, knowing Jiang Yu''s resilience was nurtured by her own blood. Being too greedy and audacious would backfire.

    For a person who has already chosen to betray, Jiang Yu didn''t bother to say anything, she pulled out her hand and brushed the hair that fell on her sleeve, "Okay, let the police tell you the rest."

    "I''m sorry, Miss Jiang, I''m abroad now, if the police need to find someone, they''ll be looking for Bai Lu," Mina said casually.

    "I know."

    "..."

    "Then you better hope you never need to go back home."

    After speaking, Jiang Yu hung up the phone.

    The air turned icy, silence as profound as death.

    Cheng Suran stood by Jiang Yu''s side, absorbing every word she had said. At the mention of Bai Lu''s name, her heart sank. Memories, past and present, flooded in, bringing a mix of emotions.

    She didn''t know what to say, she put her hand on Jiang Yu''s shoulder silently, as if to comfort her.

    "I didn''t expect Bai Lu to have a hand on this too..." Jiang Yu held that hand, and suddenly felt extremely at ease, as if she found a place to rely on and a place to stay from now on.

    She recounted the conversation truthfully.

    "Anyone can, but she can''t."

    Cheng Suran pursed her lips: "Why? Is she that important to you?"

    If before this phone call Jiang Yu was indifferent, afterward she felt as if she had been stabbed hard, a knife driven straight through her heart from behind.

    No matter how much she lost financially, it was only part of the money. She still had other assets, but the people she had cultivated with her own hands betrayed her so easily. What''s hurt is the emotion, the trust, the painstaking effort she put into rebuilding her interest in human relationships.

    She doesn''t know how long it will take to heal this wound.

    Disappointment with Bai Lu is another thing, but she never thought that she would become a white-eyed wolf, a snake that bit the farmer''s back.

    "It''s like raising a cat. You take care of her meticulously and provide the best food and shelter. From the age of two months to four or five years old, and in the end, she turns around and bites you, scratches you." Jiang Yu took a deep breath, unable to continue.

    Cheng Suran lowered her head, feeling a little uncomfortable, and suddenly thought "what are they?".

    What are she and Jiang Yu now?

    She wanted to ask, "If it were me, could I betray you too?" But considering Jiang Yu''s current emotional state and the significant matter at hand, she felt it wouldn''t be right to cause any more trouble.

    All kinds of thoughts surged in her mind like a tide, but it was only for a moment.

    Cheng Suran startled herself and snapped back to reality, recalling the past that had been buried for years. "Speaking of Bai Lu, there''s something you might not know..."

    "What is it?"

    "Do you remember a few years ago, during the company''s team-building activity at the villa? That day, we played Truth or Dare, and we drank a lot. It was also after that event that I suddenly pierced the so-called window paper?"

    Jiang Yu thought she was harboring a grudge, and answered in a low voice, "I remember."

    "Actually, after you went out that day, Bai Lu came to our room to look for you and said something to me..." Cheng Suran sighed softly, her expression grew heavier and her voice lowered every time she said the word "lover".

    Jiang Yu listened in silence, her expression gradually became serious, and turmoil was set off in her heart.

    These were things she didn''t know.

    Bai Lu actually...

    "You mean, she had a crush on me? Had feelings for me?"

    "Didn''t you notice at all?" Cheng Suran raised an eyebrow.

    Jiang Yu lowered her gaze, lost in thought.

    All along, she only regarded Bai Lu as her younger sister and apprentice, and she even had the mentality of an old mother. Bai Lu is a very talented seedling. She cultivated her carefully, not only for her benefit, but also out of love for her career, so she devoted herself wholeheartedly to her. She was much more kind and tolerant to Bai Lu than other models, and the two grew closer. In this process, Bai Lu has indeed become more and more dependent on her, from small thoughts to intense possessiveness and control, and she could sense it all.

    But she only thought it was due to Bai Lu''s personality.

    Now, it seemed there were signs all along.

    "But last year, she brought her boyfriend back to show me, and she even told me that after leaving the industry, she wants to marry a foreign guy." Jiang Yu found it hard to accept.

    Then she remembered what Bai Lu said on the phone that night.

    [Send your little lover to hell.]

    Isn''t that just jealousy?

    "Huh?" Cheng Suran was surprised. "It''s also possible she''s bisexual."

    Jiang Yu: "..."

    "Don''t you think Bai Lu was acting strange that day? Despite having hostility towards me, she ignored your warning and talked in front of me about how you''ve raised many canaries these years, exposing your past. Why? Did she want to make you look bad in front of me? Or did she want the two of us to fight over this? Was she so sure that I would mind this kind of thing? So, it''s pretty clear she did it on purpose."

    Cheng Suran spoke out her analysis.

    When she mentioned "you''ve raised many canaries these years," her voice trembled. Her heart felt like it had been stung by a bug, and a sour and bitter sensation flowed out.

    She pretended to be calm, and lowered her voice:

    "I don''t know what''s going on between you and her, the exact grievances, but it seems that she might not be simply jealous or bitter out of love... Anyway, just be more careful."

    After finishing speaking, she took a deep look at Jiang Yu, got up, and walked to the window.

    The sky grew darker, thick clouds covered the moonlight, and stars were scarce. The lights on both sides of the river were splendid, streets crisscrossing each other, people and cars appearing tiny like ants.

    Cheng Suran took a deep breath and looked at the tour boat passing through the river in the distance.

    She used to be so jealous of Bai Lu...

    Perhaps the experiences of these years had subtly influenced her. Looking back now, she felt her past behavior was childish, and she couldn''t understand her own paranoia back then. Yet, a lingering sense of dissatisfaction remained in her heart. Knowing that Jiang Yu raised many lovers during these years while she was busy with studies and work, never slowing down to enjoy life, it felt like she was always at a disadvantage.

    A thought flashed through her mind, and she quickly suppressed it.

    She couldn''t let herself get caught up in negative emotions.

    If she kept dwelling on these matters, her emotions would lead her around by the nose. In the present, she needed to take control. When she liked Jiang Yu, she could like her wholeheartedly, but if that changed, she needed to make a clean break.

    Cheng Suran quickly calmed down.

    "Actually, I didn''t expect that either." Jiang Yu lowered her eyes and spoke in a heavy tone.

    The word "canary" pierced her heart like a needle. It hurt for a while but was covered up in an instant. Now she wanted to know why Bai Lu betrayed her, so, she truthfully recounted the events between them over the years, "Bai Lu and I..."

    Memories are also traced back

    The omens were in the trivial things, and she should have noticed.

    Cheng Suran was terrified when she heard that.

    "Then you just let her make trouble like this? Let her manipulate you? Do whatever she wants? What if she asks you to do something dangerous next time? What are you thinking, Jiang Yu!" She turned around, unable to hold back her anger as she growled at Jiang Yu.

    She had only heard about these kinds of people before; she had never encountered one, never thought that a crazed devil was right by her side.

    She felt vaguely uneasy.

    Jiang Yu was stunned, silent for a moment, and took her hand: "It''s because I was too soft-hearted towards her. After all, I have worked hard to train her for so many years...but my patience has a limit, and now I almost don''t care about her."

    "The limit of your patience is really great." Cheng Suran got emotional and threw away her hand.

    "..."

    Jiang Yu grabbed her hand back again, "Are you worried about me?" While speaking, she couldn''t help approaching her and wrapped her other hand around her shoulder.

    Being exposed, Cheng Suran was a little annoyed and rolled her eyes. "I''m only worried about you because I''m so full I have nothing else to think about."

    After saying that, she earnestly analyzed the situation again.

    "Actually, Bai Lu''s motives are easy to guess. She likes you, and because it was unrequited it led to hatred... You said she is paranoid, I don''t think it''s surprising that such a person would do such a thing like this. You mustn''t be soft-hearted, to avoid future troubles for yourself."

    Jiang Yu rubbed the center of her brows, nodded, and said, "I''m reporting to the police first. I''ll figure out a way to lure Bai Lu back."

    "Also."

    "Ranran do you believe me?"

    "Of course I do."

    This time, Cheng Suran did not push Jiang Yu away.

    But Jiang Yu took the initiative to let go of her hand, pointed to the door, and said, "I... will take you back."

    The words that were about to come out, asking her to stay, were swallowed back.

    "Alright."

    Cheng Suran didn''t look back at her again.

    ....

    Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=4738582

    This translation is originally posted on  love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too

    Ten minutes later, Jiang Yu parked her car at the gate of Marina Bay.

    "Do you want to go up and sit for a while?" Cheng Suran unbuckled her seatbelt, her hand pausing as it was about to open the door. She turned to look at Jiang Yu.

    "No need," Jiang Yu shook her head lightly, "I don''t want to run into your friend."

    Cheng Suran was startled.

    "Is Ruoxian¡­difficult to get along with?"

    Jiang Yu lowered her eyes and remained silent.

    Her long eyelashes are like moth wings, trembling one after another. Cheng Suran wanted to say something, but Jiang Yu suddenly raised her head and smiled slightly: "No, Miss Wen is very nice. It''s just... after all, it''s a private place that you both share. I''m an outsider; it''s not convenient for me to disturb you all the time."

    As soon as these words fell, there was a tingling pain in her heart.

    She is really jealous of Wen Ruoxian.

    Jealous that Wen Ruoxian has been with Ranran for five years, jealous that Wen Ruoxian lives with Ranran, jealous that Wen Ruoxian knows Ranran so well...

    Cheng Suran froze.

    Why does it seem to smell sour and bitter?

    "Isn''t there still a meeting tomorrow? Go up, go to bed early, good night." Jiang Yu didn''t give her a chance to say anything more.

    Cheng Suran nodded sullenly: "Good night."

    ....

    On the 18th floor of the fifth building, unit 1802 living room is lit.

    Wen Ruoxian was collecting clothes on the balcony.

    With the window open halfway, the sound of an engine''s roar from the direction of the community entrance pierced the stillness of the night. The distinctive rumble of a sports car''s engine couldn''t go unnoticed on the tranquil night. She glanced outside, and under the streetlights, a sleek black car was parked at the entrance of the community, its body gleaming.

    A woman in light-colored clothes got out of the car and walked towards the gate.

    It''s dark and the visibility is poor, but there are many street lights in the community and the light is strong. At this distance, she could probably make out the figure''s outline. As it got closer, it looked more and more like Cheng Suran.

    She leaned on the window and looked out.

    The trees completely blocked the figure, there was another roar of the engine, and when she looked up again, the sports car at the door had disappeared.

    Is it Ranran?

    Wen Ruoxian hesitated for a moment, then looked away, sat on the sofa with the clothes she had put away, and folded them up one by one.

    ¡ªbeep

    The living room door opened.

    Then Cheng Suran came in.

    After her conjecture was verified, Wen Ruoxian raised her head and smiled at her: "You''re back."

    "Mm."

    "I left you lamb chops in the kitchen, do you want to eat some more?"

    "No, I''m full." Cheng Suran waved her hand, seemingly absent-minded, changed her shoes, and walked to her room. Wen Ruoxian''s folding of clothes paused momentarily.

    "Ranran¡ª"

    "Hmm?"

    "Did Miss Jiang send you back?"

    Cheng Suran nodded: "How did you know?"

    Wen Ruoxian pointed to the window: "I was putting away my clothes just now, and when I heard the sound of the car, I glanced out and saw someone who looked a lot like you entering... turns out it really was you." Her smile inexplicably stiffened, and the clothes she had just neatly folded became a bit disheveled in her hands.

    "Ah, I took a taxi out today. I had dinner at Jiang Yu''s place, and she just drove me back. It''s not far," Cheng Suran explained, her gaze lingering on Wen Ruoxian''s face for a moment longer.

    The strange feeling popped up again.

    Her mind was filled with thoughts of Jiang Yu and Bai Lu and the upcoming busy work schedule in the next few days. She couldn''t put her finger on her emotions at the moment.

    "I''m going to take a shower. I''m a bit tired today."

    "Mm."

    Watching her back disappear into the corner of the aisle, Wen Ruoxian sighed softly, her slender fingers tightly clutching the clothes - just like her restless heart.

    Ever since Ranran discovered the sketchbook, she circled around without any risk, she has become more cautious with their interactions every day. She locked up all the items related to Ranran in her private collection, neither daring to care too much nor deliberately avoiding them, like a balance, working hard to maintain the balance at both ends.

    But she also gradually discovered that the relationship between Ranran and Jiang Yu was much better than she imagined.

    Besides, the two of them knew each other before...

    She had always believed that she knew Cheng Suran the earliest, but she hadn''t expected someone else to know her even earlier. With this realization, even the advantage of being a "friend" seemed to slip away.

    It was as if someone was suddenly trying to take away a cherished possession.

    "Ai..."

    The investigation into the incident soon came to fruition.

    The company''s name was "SINA," differing by just one letter, and it was indeed registered under Bai Lu''s name. She held a 55% stake in the company, and the other shareholder was naturally Mina. Starting from September, Mina had been gradually poaching foreign models from their Russian parent company. She didn''t spare smaller overseas cooperating companies either. By the time Jiang Yu had signed the contract with the Paris parent company, Mina had already taken two batches of models from Paris.

    The two main cooperative companies were outraged by this, and they denounced Jiang Yu for not having the spirit of the contract, which caused them serious losses, and demanded to terminate the cooperation and pay huge liquidated damages.

    In addition, Mina also took away a large number of customer resources and transferred more than 7 million yuan overseas.

    Jiang Yu first called the police, and then called Bai Lu.

    She thought Mina might have informed Bai Lu in advance, assuming it wouldn''t be easy to lure her back. However, to her surprise, Bai Lu had no idea the situation had blown up. When Bai Lu heard that Jiang Yu had prepared a gift for her, she immediately booked a flight back to the country.

    Landing time is in the morning.

    At three o''clock in the afternoon, Jiang Yu was waiting for her in the office.

    "Sister Yu-"

    Bai Lu was still the same as before, going in and out of the office carelessly without seeing anyone else.

    She had curly hair, wore expensive fur, and everything she carried and wore was the latest season''s luxury brand that she endorsed. She took off her sunglasses and revealed a pair of sharp and foxy narrow eyes, exuding a seductive and cold allure. She had obviously forgotten about the previous embarrassing encounter.

    Jiang Yu stood in front of the window, staring at her without saying a word.

    Before Bai Lu came, she thought a lot about what to say and what questions to ask, but the moment she saw Bai Lu, her anger rushed straight to the top of her head and all those thoughts were pushed aside.

    "President Bai is back."

    Bai Lu''s smile froze, "Sister Yu, what did you say?"

    Jiang Yu walked over to her desk and handed her a tablet, "Did I say something wrong?"

    On the screen was the basic information about the new company, and Bai Lu''s name was clearly written in the legal person column.

    Bai Lu''s complexion changed suddenly, she was too guilty to raise her eyes, she stared at the screen for a long time, felt Jiang Yu''s gaze stabbing her face like a needle, and had to raise her head.

    "Sister Yu, this...has nothing to do with me¡­"

    "Oh?" Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes, "Tell me about it."

    Bai Lu quickly put the tablet back, put her arms around Jiang Yu''s arm, and said seriously: "It was Mina who asked me to help her register a company. She said it would be convenient for her to discuss projects with me. She even said that I would eventually have my studio. Although my name is stated as the legal person, I don''t know anything about it... Has she done something? Is she trying to frame me?"

    "You don''t know?" Jiang Yu raised her eyebrows.

    "You really don''t know?"

    Bai Lu shook her head again and again: "Really."

    Jiang Yu stared at her with a look of scrutiny, and suddenly, with a sneer, she shook off her hand.

 CH 114

    Bai Lu was dumbfounded.

    "You don''t know? Who was the one who was keen on becoming a manager some time ago? Are you still trying to quibble with me?" Jiang Yu grabbed her collar with one hand, and pulled her, making her unable to stand still.

    While shaking her head, Bai Lu grabbed her hand, saying, "That was Mina''s idea, she tricked me, it has nothing to do with me..."

    "That means you did it."

    "I¡­"

    Jiang Yu pushed her violently.

    Bai Lu took two steps back, her balance was unstable and she fell to the ground.

    She raised her head, looked into Jiang Yu''s cold eyes, and trembled uncontrollably. "I did it, but I was also deceived by Mina... She said doing this would help you, and I didn''t think much..."

    She finally understood that she had caused a catastrophe this time, and in a panic, she pushed everything to Mina''s head.

    A few days ago, when she received a call from Jiang Yu, she immediately informed Mina, communicating with each other and preparing in advance. Unexpectedly, the situation had already been exposed here, but Mina didn''t mention a word, and even told her that everything was fine.

    Damn Mina! How dare she trick her?

    She cursed Mina in her heart.

    "If you do it, you do it. Is there a difference between having a reason and not having a reason?" Jiang Yu sneered.

    Bai Lu choked.

    "I hate betrayal the most."

    "Why? Why does it have to be you?"

    Jiang Yu frowned, her shoulders were trembling with anger, and her eyes showed complex emotions; disappointment, anger, sarcasm... These days she kept falling into self-doubt, wondering if she had truly done wrong, if it was her fault. But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn''t understand what she had done to deserve Bai Lu''s betrayal.

    In the early stages, right after signing the contract, she rented the best apartment for Bai Lu, secured endorsement deals, started with big brands, and got magazine covers¡ªonly the top three, no less. She accompanied Bai Lu to various social events, using her connections to pave the way for her. During the time Bai Lu was in Paris, she let her stay in her own house, rented an apartment downtown, and bought her a car for her convenience, so she could have two places to stay and go out to play anytime, anywhere...

    Too many, too many to count.

    Looking at the entire company, there are thousands of models at home and abroad, and no one else can enjoy Bai Lu''s treatment.

    If she hadn''t spent a lot of thought and energy on Bai Lu, if she hadn''t invested so much in these years, maybe she wouldn''t be sad today, just like those ordinary models, coming and going without leaving a trace.

    These are just material sacrifices. Spiritually, in her heart, she truly treated Bai Lu like a younger sister, caring for her as a mother cares for her child, worrying endlessly.

    Benevolent to the utmost, and she felt she had nothing to regret.

    "I..." Bai Lu was stung by her gaze, stumbled to her feet, and laughed wildly twice.

    "Why? Isn''t it because of you? Because I care about you, I want you to look at me more! Jiang Yu, have you forgotten what you said? You said that as long as I am obedient, you would provide everything for me, but what''s the result?"

    "I listened to you so much. I worked so hard to climb up to where I am today. In the end, I''m just a money-making tool in your hands. Have you looked at me?"

    "When you need me to make money and be obedient, you''re like coaxing a kitten or puppy. Tease it, pet it, and kick it aside when you don''t need it. The money I earned for you gets used to nurture others, today for this person, tomorrow for that one, it increases every year..."

    Her voice became louder and louder, and she almost shouted at the end.

    Tears flowed from her red eyes.

    When she was most frustrated and downcast, it was Jiang Yu who stretched out her hand and gave her a hand, and she regarded her as the only person in this world who was worthy of her life and death. But obviously, Jiang Yu didn''t think so. Apart from her, she could reach out to anyone else¡ªas long as she could make money, bring benefits, and create value.

    She wasn''t Jiang Yu''s only one.

    Like a joke.

    "Jiang Yu, you must think you''ve treated me exceptionally well and have nothing to regret, right? No, you''ve deceived yourself, you''ve been moved by yourself. That''s not goodness, that''s investment. A businessman doesn''t engage in losing deals. You''ve been good to me for your own benefit, investing in me."

    "You are only for yourself." Bai Lu said these words fiercely with tears in her eyes.

    Jiang Yu watched her go crazy with cold eyes, only feeling the chill pouring from her head to the soles of her feet, her whole body was stiff, and there was no more affection in her.

    Even in the few minutes they met today felt like a waste of time.

    "Since you think that way, so be it. You''re right, I''m a businessman who doesn''t engage in losing deals. I''ll treat you like a cash cow, and kick you aside whenever I want. Now that I''ve made enough money and paved the way for new talents, I certainly won''t keep someone who''s lost their value and isn''t obedient." She paused for a moment, a scornful smile curling up at the corner of her lips. "If you want to be my dog, you better obey."

    These words were like adding a handful of salt to Bai Lu''s festering wound.

    Seeing her blood-stained face, Jiang Yu''s heart ached, but she continued to say: "Regarding this matter, do you think you can get away with throwing the blame on Mina? You two are at odds with each other, and If she really wants to help you, she will tell you that something happened, and you would not have come back here stupidly. Although she has already transferred her assets overseas, she hasn''t officially changed citizenship or resigned yet. There are still many things in China that can''t be ignored. She probably didn''t have time to handle it, so... she will come back sooner or later, and arresting her is just a matter of time."

    "Before that, I have to deal with you first."

    Bai Lu panicked, stepped forward to hold her hand, and begged in a low voice: "Sister Yu, I was really deceived by Mina, please don''t send me away... I can help you find Mina, I know where she really is, she''s still in the house in Paris where we stayed..."

    Jiang Yu frowned in disgust, and withdrew her hand: "According to the terms of the contract, if you breach it, you need to compensate us for liquidated damages at ten times the contract amount. If you don''t cooperate, we will see you in court."

    What?

    Bai Lu was stunned.

    Just pay money? She thought Jiang Yu was going to send her to jail¡­

    Jiang Yu seemed to have seen through her thoughts, slightly squinting her eyes, and said word by word, "Unless I squeeze the last drop of blood out of you, how can I solidify my reputation as an ''unscrupulous businessman''?"

    She would have to pay money, and even go to jail.

    "Sister Yu..." Bai Lu panicked completely, reaching out to grab her sleeve.

    She just renewed her contract with the company last year and signed it for five years. Because her net worth has risen, the signing fee is several times that of the previous one, about seven million a year, and ten times that of seven million.

    Although she has made a lot of money over the years, she has also developed a habit of being extravagant, and there is not much left in her account.

    70 million wasn''t something she could just earn immediately, and according to Jiang Yu''s words, she not only had to pay...

    Demanding money and making her "go in" could be considered extremely ruthless.

    "I don''t have that much money."

    She cried and knelt.

    "Your house and car, aren''t they all money? I can squeeze out a bit from them. This is just in line with the image you have of me in your mind."

    "Why do you want to kill me?"

    Jiang Yu didn''t want to talk nonsense with her anymore, so she turned around and picked up the landline by the table, and dialed the internal message: "Call the security guard up." Seeing that she was indifferent, Bai Lu gritted her teeth, and a look of resentment flashed in her eyes¡­

    ¡­

    For a whole week, Jiang Yu was extremely busy cleaning up the mess.

    After clarifying the misunderstanding and compensating for the loss, the partner finally no longer asked to terminate the contract but made stricter regulations on the future transportation process, and also gave her some face for the sake of her previous fame and status.

    The lost market, the customers taken away, the compensation paid, the internal employees involved, and the money stolen by Mina, added up, this incident directly caused the company to lose more than 20 million yuan.

    To fill this hole and avoid breaking the capital chain, Jiang Yu sold an overseas manor.

    Economic wounds can still be healed, but psychological wounds are difficult to heal.

    She lay at home for two days before barely regaining some energy.

    Ever since she could remember, Jiang Yu had a hard time trusting others, even if the other party was her biological mother or a classmate with whom she had a good relationship. When she was a child, her parents didn''t want her, so she didn''t trust them anymore. Then, her classmates bullied her, and so she didn''t trust them anymore. Later, the world of adults was full of thorns, and the glamorous circle was full of intrigues, and she didn''t want to trust anyone anymore.

    That way she didn''t have to get hurt.

    Later, she met her mentor, Tian Lin, Qi Yan, and Tongtong... She slowly opened her heart, because she knows that only sincerity can be exchanged for sincerity.

    The person she is really sorry for is Cheng Suran.

    Thinking of Ranran, Jiang Yu''s cold heart softened again. Even if everyone betrays her, Ranran wouldn''t. Just the thought of having someone like that by her side gave her a place for her heart to rest, a place where it wouldn''t wander anymore.

    In the afternoon, the sun streamed into the small balcony, and Jiang Yu embraced the clay model made by Cheng Suran, leaning leisurely on the chair to bask in the sun, drinking hot tea while waiting for WeChat messages.

    Ranran has been away on business these past few days, busy during the day, and will take the initiative to chat with her at night, asking how things are going, she has nothing to hide and explains everything.

    Counting the days, that person would be returning today.

    Tongtong: [Will you go out to relax during the Spring Festival? My Mumu opened a homestay on Hexin Island*, let¡¯s go play together for two days?]

    *Heart Island

    Jiang Yu: [And let me eat your dog food?]

    Tongtong: [Idiot, don¡¯t you know how to bring someone? For example¡­]

    Jiang Yu: [Understood.]

    Looking at the photos of the island and the homestay sent by Pei Chutong, the clear blue sea, sunny skies, and swaying coconut trees¡ªJiang Yu''s mood instantly brightened. She felt it was a good idea to go and relax. And if Ranran could come with her, that would be even better.

    At this time, she received a message from Cheng Suran.

    "My Ranran": [I''m about to board the plane, let''s talk later]

    [Okay.]

    After replying, Jiang Yu stared at the screen and thought for a moment, then swiped up with her fingertips, and clicked on the flight schedule sent by Cheng Suran last night. The trip is one and a half hours, taking off now, the landing will be about 4:20. She wants to see her.

    She wants to see her first.

    Her heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat''s paw and bitten by a small bug. Unable to bear it any longer, Jiang Yu didn''t hesitate, and she got up to change her clothes.

    ....

    About fifty minutes later, Jiang Yu drove to the airport.

    She parked the car first, took out her phone, and checked the time. It was 4:18, neither too early nor too late. She walked quickly toward the exit of the arrivals hall.

    Quite a few people were waiting for arrivals.

    Jiang Yu only wore a hat and no mask. Her height of nearly 1.8 meters made her quite conspicuous in the crowd, drawing the attention of those around her. As she got closer, she suddenly noticed a familiar figure by the railing.

    Wen Ruoxian?

    Why is she here?

    Could it be...

    Jiang Yu guessed seven or eight points, feeling a mix of emotions. She walked over with slow steps, lightly patting the person''s shoulder and greeting her with a smile:

    "Miss Wen."

    Wen Ruoxian turned her head and was stunned: "Miss Jiang?"

    "Picking someone up?"

    "Mm."

    "Ranran?"

    "How do you know?"

    "Coincidentally, me too." Jiang Yu lowered her voice, turned her eyes to the hall, and smiled slightly. Wen Ruoxian had an embarrassed expression on her face and didn''t know what to say for a while.

    The flight information was displayed on the big screen, and Cheng Suran''s flight landed five minutes earlier, showing baggage carousel No. 3. Jiang Yu looked into the distance and muttered to herself: "She should be waiting for her luggage."

    "Not really," Wen Ruoxian said with a gentle smile, "Ranran only brought a carry-on."

    Jiang Yu: "..."

    Not long after, a woman in a short white down jacket came over pushing a small pink suitcase. Jiang Yu recognized her at a glance and walked forward quickly: "Ranran¡ª"

    She reached out and took the small pink bag.

    Cheng Suran was startled, stared at her for a while, and said in surprise: "You... why are you here?"

    "Here to pick you up," Jiang Yu smiled.

    "Ah?" Cheng Suran was dumbfounded, "But..." Turning her eyes, she saw Wen Ruoxian coming to her, and pointed at her, "I asked Ruoxian to come pick me up..."

    Wen Ruoxian looked calm and gentle. She naturally placed a hand on Cheng Suran''s shoulder and said, "Let''s go, Ranran." Then she turned to Jiang Yu, smiling and nodding her head, extending her hand to take the bag. "I''ll handle this."

    Jiang Yu grabbed the handle of the suitcase and remained motionless, her eyes falling on Cheng Suran''s face.

    Wen Ruoxian was slightly taken aback and also looked at Cheng Suran.

    "..."

    Cheng Suran was caught in a dilemma.

    Originally, the assistant was supposed to come to pick her up today, but she considered attending a dinner party with Ruoxian tonight, and Ruoxian happened to be free, so they had arranged to go directly from the airport to the restaurant. It seemed convenient.

    From the beginning to the end, she never wanted to trouble Jiang Yu.

    Knowing that Jiang Yu has been dealing with the company''s mess recently, she is very busy and not in a good mood, she wants to wait for her to finish before going to her, but...

    She didn''t know what to do now.

    It seemed like neither option was feasible.

    People were coming and going at the exit, and the three of them stood still like this, attracting the attention of people around. Someone had already recognized Jiang Yu, pointing to their side and whispering.

    Jiang Yu glanced at Wen Ruoxian, and Wen Ruoxian also looked at Jiang Yu.

    Their eyes locked.

    With no intention of giving in.

    The air seemed to be filled with tasteless gunpowder smoke.

    "I''ll take a taxi myself," Cheng Suran decided not to let the situation drag on any longer. She came up with a compromise and was about to reach for her luggage.

    At this moment, Jiang Yu suddenly realized that she had made things difficult for Cheng Suran. She let go of her hand weakly, and took another look at Wen Ruoxian, "I just remembered that I have something else to take care of. I need to leave now."

    Cheng Suran: "?"

    She turned her head to look at Wen Ruoxian, just in time to see the latter heaving a sigh of relief, and a thought flashed through her mind.

    The same thought that had been lingering there, accompanied by a few sketches, became stronger with each passing moment.

    "Then I''ll go first."

    Jiang Yu smiled, her gaze lingering on Cheng Suran''s face for a moment, then turned and left.

    Exiting the lobby and crossing the road, the car park was just across the road. Jiang Yu got into her car, and watched through the window at the exit of the lobby¡ªWen Ruoxian came out pushing the small suitcase, and Cheng Suran walked side by side without exchanging words.

    Heading towards the other end of the parking lot.

    Not long after, a black A6L drove slowly across the road and onto the overpass.

    Jiang Yu looked away.

    She came here impulsively, with irrefutable reasons, thinking about her childish behavior just now, it was funny and distressing. There seems to be a thin layer of window paper between her and Ranran, and no one is piercing it.

    Their relationship has gotten closer, but that''s all there is to it. Everything stops there, stagnant.

    She wants more...

    The phone vibrated, and Jiang Yu came back to her senses.

    Ranran: [Ruoxian and I are going to a dinner party. She happened to have a day off today, so she picked me up on the way. We''re going together.]

    [I will go to your house for dinner next time.]

    Jiang Yu pursed her lips and smiled, then replied: [Okay.]

    Then she remembered something else and continued typing: [Are you free during the Spring Festival? Tongtong asked if we''d like to go to Hexin Island for a couple of days. Her partner opened a homestay there, the scenery is quite nice.]

    ....

    The car has already got off the overpass.

    Cheng Suran tilted her head against the car window, holding her phone: [I have no schedule, I will lie dead at home.] She couldn''t help chuckling at the second half of the sentence.

    Wen Ruoxian turned her head to look at her, seeing the pair of shallow dimples, couldn''t help smiling, "What are you so happy about?"

    Cheng Suran said while typing: "Jiang Yu asked me to go to Hexin Island to have a vacation during the Chinese New Year."

    [It¡¯s okay, anyway, there¡¯s nothing to do, let¡¯s relax.]

    "Oh, doesn''t she have to go home?" Wen Ruoxian asked casually.

    Cheng Suran''s fingertips froze.

    Thinking of Jiang Yu''s family situation, and thinking of the half-brother who threatened to strangle her if he didn''t get money, Cheng Suran felt a shiver down her spine. She couldn''t easily reveal this scar to others. So, she made up a lie: "She would be pressured about getting married if she goes back home, and it''s quite annoying. That''s why she usually doesn''t go back."

    Wen Ruoxian didn''t doubt her, and nodded in agreement: "It''s really annoying."

    It''s the same for her.

    Since coming out to her family, her parents have been calling her twice a day and educating her on WeChat, which only made her feel endlessly frustrated, and she didn''t want to go home or face them.

    In an instant, a thought began to take shape, struggling fiercely within her. She tightly gripped the steering wheel, pretending to be nonchalant as she said, "I also don''t want to go back this year. How about... we go on a trip together?"

    Cheng Suran was taken aback for a moment, then looked up at her.

    Turning left at the intersection ahead, Wen Ruoxian steered the steering wheel, not paying attention to the gaze from her side, but her heart hung in her throat with nervousness, beating wildly.

    Even though she was well aware that this was a risky move, she found herself unable to control it.

 CH 115

    "But I have already agreed..." Cheng Suran paused, the image of the confrontation in the hall just now flashed through her mind, and that strong sense of strangeness surged up again.

    She stared at Wen Ruoxian, and suddenly changed her words: "Ah, it''s okay, how about I tell her to take you with me?"

    Wen Ruoxian nodded lightly: "That''s fine."

    Cheng Suran looked away hesitantly, lowered her head and continued typing: [But Ruoxian will be at home alone, can I take her with me? ]

    Jiang Yu, who originally responded quickly, suddenly fell silent.

    Three minutes, five minutes...

    Half an hour passed.

    Almost at the doorstep, Jiang Yu finally sent a message: [Sure, the more the merrier.]

    Cheng Suran felt relieved.

    In the cold winter, a few snowflakes drifted in Jiangcheng. People who grew up here and had never seen snow were extremely happy, posting photos one after another.

    Mina is still hiding abroad, and Jiang Yu sued Bai Lu in court.

    All the assets in Bai Lu''s hands add up to more than 30 million. Although she is supported by a brand that she endorses, it is still a drop in the bucket compared to the sky-high liquidated damages. She almost reached the end of the road, becoming increasingly depressed, and hardly came out for activities.

    Amidst the year-end busyness, time flew by quickly.

    The group set off for Hexin Island two days before New Year''s Eve.

    Pei Chutong chartered a private jet, and at ten o''clock in the morning, five people arrived at the airport on time, a couple, two best friends, and Jiang Yu by herself.

    The weather was sunny, with a temperature of just five degrees. She stood by the passenger lift, wrapped in a thick black coat, watching Cheng Suran and Wen Ruoxian step out hand in hand from the car. Her heart couldn''t help but ache a little as she squinted her eyes.

    She took the initiative to introduce Pei Chutong and Wen Ruoxian to each other.

    After a few chats, they boarded the plane one by one. Inside the cabin was a large U-shaped sofa. Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu sat on one side, while Cheng Suran held Wen Ruoxian''s hand on the other side. Jiang Yu didn''t compete for a seat, sitting quite self-consciously in the middle, composed and at ease. Cheng Suran was a bit anxious.

    Ruoxian was someone she brought along, after all. She wasn''t familiar with Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu. If she left Ruoxian alone, it would be awkward. But Jiang Yu and Pei Chutong were old friends; they could talk about anything and wouldn''t let the atmosphere turn cold.

    This trip is not entirely for relaxation.

    She''s trying to figure something out.

    As predicted, Cheng Suran''s judgment was correct. Jiang Yu and Pei Chutong chatted energetically, while Ruan Mu remained quiet as usual, gazing at her partner with a gentle and affectionate look. They didn''t leave out Cheng Suran and Wen Ruoxian either. Everyone was used to storms in their respective industries and no one let the conversation go cold.

    Pei Chutong seemed to be particularly interested in Wen Ruoxian.

    Wen Ruoxian didn''t feel embarrassed, she was always gentle and calm, and she could answer whatever she asked.

    Jiang Yu''s gaze frequently fell on Cheng Suran.

    Halfway through the three-hour trip, Pei Chutong suddenly dragged Jiang Yu to the back bedroom, saying that she wanted to show her something.

    "What is it?"

    After closing the door, Jiang Yu asked curiously.

    Pei Chutong raised her eyebrows and smiled, "There''s nothing, I lied to you." She reached out and poked her forehead, "What''s the situation with you and Cheng Suran? Did you two reconcile? Why do I feel like she''s close with Wen Ruoxian, and you seem like a lone wolf? There isn''t anything else going on, is there?"

    Jiang Yu was asked a series of questions she didn''t know where to start.

    Pei Chutong said again: "If my lesbian eyes are right, Jiang Coco, I really worry about you..."

    Jiang Yu pressed her lips together, seeming a bit hesitant. "I also want to know what''s going on between them, so I agreed to have them come along. Without clarifying things, I won''t have peace of mind. I''ll just observe for now."

    Pei Chutong clicked her tongue twice: "As expected of you, Jiang Coco, you have so many tricks." She gave her a thumbs up, and if Mumu dared to use tricks against me, I''ll¡ª

    "What will you do, Pillow Princess*?"

    *bottom/receiver

    "You are the Pillow Princess!"

    "Sorry, I haven''t been a pillow yet."

    "Don''t speak too soon."

    Jiang Yu didn''t pay much attention.

    "Speaking of which, Coco, do you have any ideas? Mumu refuses to let me touch her no matter what I try. I''ve attempted various methods; the only thing left is to give her medicine, but that''s definitely not an option..." Pei Chutong sighed.

    "What should I do?"

    Jiang Yu was taken aback, her thoughts returning to over a decade ago, recalling the time of her first love.

    That''s how she was.

    She never let her ex-girlfriend touch her, and always took control of intimate matters, until one day, her ex-girlfriend got her drunk and things happened half-willingly, half-reluctantly... As a result, she and her ex-girlfriend had a cold war for a long time.

    "Could it be because of... psychological barrier?" Jiang Yu asked tentatively.

    "For example, having psychological trauma, being unable to accept oneself... These things could be the root causes. Since she loves you, not letting you touch her must have nothing to do with feelings. There''s likely something difficult for her to express. If you can find the source of it, even better. Just be patient and give her some time, especially if it''s related to psychological matters."

    "Absolutely do not drug her or use force."

    This statement seemed more like an attempt to console someone else, but it was also meant to reassure herself.

    Thinking of this, Jiang Yu smiled wryly.

    She always had reasons when she advised others, but every time it was for herself, she didn''t know what to do.

    Pei Chutong frowned in thought.

    A knock on the door sounded.

    Cheng Suran''s voice came from outside: "Come out and eat some fruit-"

    "Coming."

    Jiang Yu responded and patted Pei Chutong on the shoulder, "Don''t worry, take your time."

    ....

    Hexin Island is located at the southernmost tip of the mainland. On the map, it looks like two hearts next to each other. The northeast and southwest of the island extend separately, like an arrow piercing through the two hearts. This is how the island got its name.

    Surrounded by the sea, planes can only land on the mainland, and you need to take a boat to get to the island.

    Ruan Mu''s homestay is located in the center of the island.

    The decoration is rich in Southeast Asian tropical rainforest style, surrounded by large green plants, overlooking the beach coastline, as if it is a natural oxygen bar isolated from the world. Because of the good location and beautiful scenery, it is always popular during holidays, and tourists come in and out at this moment.

    Ruan Mu reserved three rooms with the best view on the top floor, two double beds and one twin bed. Their group went upstairs talking and laughing.

    "Ranran, do you want to stay in the middle room with the big bed? The view is great from here, you can see the entire beach," Jiang Yu suddenly turned around and smiled at Cheng Suran

    The rest stopped.

    Cheng Suran hadn''t expected this: "But there''s only one bed, I..." She was about to say that she and Ruoxian were staying in the adjacent twin room, a fact she had confirmed with Jiang Yu before coming.

    So she can''t understand which song this person is singing now.

    Before she could finish her sentence, Jiang Yu interjected, "You can stay in this room, and Miss Wen and I will stay in the room next door." Then she looked at Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu, "We''re all women and friends. It doesn''t matter who stays with whom."

    Pei Chutong, who was watching a play, immediately hugged Ruan Mu tightly.

    She definitely wasn''t letting go.

    When Jiang Coco gets into her performance mode, she''s even more outrageous than she is.

    "Miss Jiang," Wen Ruoxian stepped forward calmly, smiling slightly, "Me and Ranran have already agreed to share a room. Also, due to the rushed departure, our luggage is a bit disorganized, and some things are unclear whether they''re with her or with me. Making last-minute changes would be quite troublesome."

    She was gentle and courteous, with a firm demeanor.

    Jiang Yu stared at her indifferently, with a hint of probing in her eyes.

    "Oh well."

    There seemed to be a sour smell in the air.

    Cheng Suran''s expression became subtle in an instant, without saying anything, she silently took the room card from Ruan Mu, walked to the double room next door, and opened the door.

    Jiang Yu also opened the door in front of her.

    "Cough, let''s go." After watching the show, Pei Chutong suppressed a smile, and took Ruan Mu''s hand.

    The three doors closed gently at the same time.

    Wen Ruoxian followed Cheng Suran into the room, and when the surroundings became quiet, she realized that her heart was beating fast. She glanced at Cheng Suran, who was assessing the room''s environment, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

    Her uneasiness and regret grew stronger...

    What''s the point of her coming?

    She had firmly decided never to reveal her feelings, only to watch from afar, to protect from the sidelines. Why did she have to engage in such pointless struggles again? It was an impulsive and reckless move, a chaotic mess. She had thought she could handle the risk of being discovered.

    She can''t, she can''t afford it.

    "Ruoxian, which bed do you want to sleep on?" A voice beside her ear interrupted her thoughts.

    Wen Ruoxian raised her head, looked into those smiling eyes, and her still chaotic heart began to get out of control again. She collected herself and forced herself to look away from that face, "The one by the bathroom."

    It had a view of the balcony, and she wanted to leave the one by the window for Cheng Suran.

    "Okay." Cheng Suran nodded, her eyes stayed on her for a while, then she squatted down to organize her luggage.

    Having worked late into the night, there was no time to pack their bags properly. They had hurriedly grabbed things before leaving today, stuffing items into their suitcases without distinguishing whose was whose. Living together meant that daily necessities often got mixed up.

    She took out the toiletries, carefully separated them, Wen Ruoxian also sat down to tidy up, and pulled out a pair of her beach skirts from her suitcase.

    ¡ªtok tok

    There is a knock on the door.

    Wen Ruoxian acted quickly, getting up to open the door.

    "I need to talk to Ranran about something," Jiang Yu stood outside, smiling at her. After speaking, her gaze went beyond Wen Ruoxian and looked inside.

    Wen Ruoxian''s throat tightened, she smiled nonchalantly, and turned sideways: "Ranran, Miss Jiang is looking for you." Cheng Suran raised her head from her suitcase.

    "Oh."

    She hurried over.

    Jiang Yu observed Wen Ruoxian unobtrusively, and the moment she turned her head, she quickly retracted it, watching Cheng Suran who was coming towards her, she stretched out her hand, and naturally held her.

    "Come with me."

    "What''s wrong?"

    Jiang Yu wink mysteriously: "You''ll know when you come."

    She led Cheng Suran to the next door.

    Wen Ruoxian remained silent on the spot, slowly pushed and closed the door with her hands, paused for a moment, and then opened it again, She did this until she heard the sound of the door closing next door.

    ....

    "Why are you being so mysterious?"

    The room was filled with the rich scent of iris, refreshing and not overwhelming, somewhat intoxicating. This fragrance had deeply ingrained itself in Cheng Suran''s bones, like an intoxicating potion that made her lose her senses.

    For a moment, she missed the time when she lived with Jiang Yu.

    She missed embracing and sleeping together at night, seeing each other when she opened her eyes in the morning. She missed the soft whispers in her ears, and the occasional rare sweetness, although it is such a twisted relationship...

    "I prepared a gift for you." Jiang Yu led her to the table, and let go of her reluctantly.

    A well-packed cardboard box stood in the middle of the table.

    "Open it and have a look."

    Cheng Suran slowly recovered from her shock. Under Jiang Yu''s urging, she felt both curious and slightly expectant. She reached out and methodically unwrapped the packaging, as if participating in some sacred ritual.

    Feeling her heart beating faster, she couldn''t help but hold her breath.

    The neatly folded fur balls came into view.

    Cheng Suran was stunned, picked it up, spread it out, and it turned out to be a woolen scarf.

    In a warm ginger-yellow color, the stitches were somewhat rough, and the pattern was very simple. It looked like it was handmade. Upon closer inspection, there was even a light cream-colored, long-eared bunny embroidered at the end, and underneath were the familiar initials "Y.R."

    "Did you knit this yourself?" Cheng Suran looked at Jiang Yu in surprise, squinting her eyes and smiling, with the dimples on her cheeks appearing.

    The delicate and soft texture made her unable to resist rubbing it.

    "Mm" Jiang Yu looked at her tenderly, "I started knitting in winter, I thought that mass-produced ones could be bought with money, but something made with one''s own hands is truly unique." Her voice paused, and her gaze fell on the scarf as she reached out to touch it. The smile at the corner of her lips deepened. "Originally, I planned to knit a sweater, but my knitting skills are really bad, so I ended up knitting a scarf instead."

    "But it''s not a holiday or my birthday. Why did you suddenly give..."

    Cheng Suran''s words trailed off.

    Isn''t tomorrow the Lunar New Year?

    And her 27th birthday is in half a month.

    Time flies so fast, in the blink of an eye, she has grown up from immature to capable, and her elder sister...oh no, Jiang Yu has become more and more charming.

    "I was worried that I would be busy after the New Year and wouldn''t have time to celebrate your birthday. I also wanted to personally give you this gift, so I decided to do it a little earlier." Jiang Yu''s gaze was intense as she looked at Cheng Suran, and there was molten fervor in her eyes.

    She held Cheng Suran''s hand through the scarf.

    "Do you like it?"

    Cheng Suran was burned by her hot gaze, lowered her eyes to avoid it, nodded, and said: "I like it." She took the scarf and rubbed it against her cheeks, and the corners of her lips slightly raised, "I think scarves are more precious than sweaters."

    "Why do you say that?"

    "Because...the neck is the warmest, but also the most vulnerable."

    She pursed her lips and smiled, and repeatedly rubbed the little rabbit on the scarf with her fingertips as if she was still unsatisfied. After a long while, she raised her eyes and looked at Jiang Yu, "Thank you."

    This person really gave her too many surprises.

    It was as if she had unearthed a long-buried treasure, and with every inch revealed, it showed a completely different side. The Jiang Yu from a few years ago was like a simple sketch drawn on her skin, shallow and thin. Now, the Jiang Yu she knew was a living, breathing person engraved in her bones, real, rich, and filled with warmth.

    Jiang Yu smiled, wanting to hug her very much at this moment, and stretched her hand forward, as if touching a flood switch unable to control herself.

    She hugged Cheng Suran gently.

    "I regret it."

    "Regret what?"

    The scent of iris filled the air, penetrating Cheng Suran''s lungs. She felt a tingling sensation throughout her body, and the scarf in her hand almost slipped away.

    The heart palpitations once guided by hormones felt so familiar.

    Seeing that she didn''t feel disgusted, Jiang Yu''s hanging heart relaxed a little, her stiff arms relaxed, and she softly wrapped around her shoulders, turning her face to touch the hair around her ears.

    "I shouldn''t have agreed to let you bring her."

    Cheng Suran knew who "she" referred to. She blinked her eyes nervously and still asked, "Why?"

    "Do you really need to ask?"

    "Of course, I don''t know how to read minds, how can I know your thoughts?"

    Cheng Suran felt a bit dreamy, as the thrill of being in control brought such delight. So much so that she didn''t want to passively endure the ups and downs of emotions anymore. She didn''t want to experience uncertainty, being lifted up and then gently let down. She wanted to be the one who enticed, resisted, and welcomed at the same time.

    Jiang Yu was choked speechless, straightened up, and looked at her silently. Like a big aggrieved dog.

    Cheng Suran raised her eyebrows, unmoved at all, but she was happy inside. She knew that Jiang Yu wanted to save face, so today she was going to tease her a bit.

    The woman had to say it herself.

    "If there''s nothing else, I''ll go back and organize my things." Adding fuel to the fire. With that, she lowered her head and began neatly folding the scarf, placing it back into the box. She lifted the box as if she was about to leave.

    "Because I''m jealous, she''s closer to you." Jiang Yu pulled her back.

    She surrendered.

    What pride? It didn''t matter.

 CH 116

    Regret was real.

    Jiang Yu overestimated her ability to bear with everything about Cheng Suran.

    After several encounters, judging by her sensitivity to the same kind, Wen Ruoxian has a high probability of having feelings for Ranran. A person who wants to hide her sexual orientation may be able to pretend, but she will be betrayed by her eyes and small movements.

    Wen Ruoxian''s eyes looking at Ranran, her unconscious movements around Ranran, her initial reactions to situations... weren''t they all clear enough signs?

    Friendship was the best camouflage.

    And she was consumed by jealousy.

    Cheng Suran turned sideways to her, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, pretending not to understand, "Isn''t it normal for friends to be close? I''ve known Ruoxian for five years."

    Then she mockingly added, "I never realized you were so petty, jealous even of someone else''s friendship."

    "That''s right," Jiang Yu took the box and put it on the table, and wrapped her in her arms again, "I''m just petty, and my heart is as small as a sesame seed.

    She buried her face in Cheng Suran''s neck.

    The temperature beneath the thin skin was scorching hot, a rhythm of life pulsating. She took advantage of the situation and pressed her lips against Cheng Suran''s skin, giving a light and quick peck, causing Cheng Suran to shiver. "You..."

    "Now do you realize how petty I can be?"

    The gentle voice echoed in Cheng Suran''s ears, making her tremble endlessly, as if something boiled in her body, burning her up. She wanted to push Jiang Yu away, but her hands didn''t listen, and her face grew hotter and hotter.

    She also regretted it a little.

    She shouldn''t have agreed to bring Wen Ruoxian along just to confirm her own suspicions. It wasn''t fair to herself, to Wen Ruoxian, or to Jiang Yu.

    But it''s too late to regret it now.

    As she regained her senses, Cheng Suran realized she had almost fallen into a passive role. She struggled slightly and pretended to put on a cold expression. "How long are you planning to hug me like this? I haven''t finished organizing my things."

    Jiang Yu, who was lost in the gentle moment, reluctantly released Cheng Suran and took a step back. "Go then. We''ll go for a drive around the island at 4 o''clock."

    "Mm."

    Cheng Suran picked up the paper box and left.

    Watching her figure disappear behind the door, Jiang Yu couldn''t help but think of Wen Ruoxian again, her heart turning into a mess¡­

    ....

    After resting for about an hour, the hottest part of the day had passed. Led by Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu, the five of them set off for a self-driving tour around the island.

    Ruan Mu had been running the homestay for over four years and was familiar with the island''s big and small businesses. She was also friends with the owner of the car rental company. Before their arrival, she had informed the owner, who had reserved three convertible cars for her ¨C one white and two pink.

    Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu ordered pink.

    Cheng Suran also liked the pink car a lot, but each car only had two seats, and choosing who to ride with became a dilemma. She glanced at Wen Ruoxian, then at Jiang Yu. Her excitement for the trip suddenly dimmed.

    "I''ll drive the white one. The passenger seat is clear and won''t obstruct the view, making it easier to enjoy the seaside scenery," Jiang Yu decided without giving Cheng Suran much time to worry. She opened the door of the white car and got in.

    Wen Ruoxian watched from the side, feeling the guilt suddenly surging in her heart, she looked at Cheng Suran, "Ranran..."

    She wanted to say, ''Don''t worry about me'', but as the words formed on her lips, she realized she had no right to say that. She was the one who deliberately came along, and it was her presence that had created the current situation. It was she who had placed Cheng Suran in the middle, feeling unhappy.

    As the intensity of her emotions grew, Wen Ruoxian found it increasingly difficult to keep them under control.

    "What''s wrong?" Cheng Suran asked, waiting for her to continue.

    Wen Ruoxian shook her head. "I''ll drive. You can sit in the passenger seat and enjoy the view." She opened the car door as she spoke.

    "Oh, okay."

    ....

    The island is in midsummer all year round, and as the sun began to set, it wasn''t too hot or glaring. Cars of various colors are driving leisurely on the wide road around the island, one after another, like sweet macarons.

    Pei Chutong and Ruan Mu were in front, Cheng Suran and Wen Ruoxian were in the middle, and Jiang Yu was in the back.

    The wind ruffled her long soft hair.

    Through the sunglasses, she watched the backs of the two people in the car in front of her and then held up her mobile phone to take pictures. Wen Ruoxian looked sideways at her from time to time while driving¡ªor maybe she was looking at the sea view.

    The two did not communicate.

    There seemed to be an unfamiliar tension between them, a contrast to the intimacy she had once envied.

    Did something happen?

    Jiang Yu''s face was solemn, she slowed down the speed of the car a little, and she was no longer in the mood to look at the scenery.

    After going around the island for half an hour, the sun gradually set to the west. They came to the beach with fewer tourists on the island, parked the car, and walked down. The sound of waves hitting the rocks could be heard from a distance, and many seagulls were circling in the sky.

    Cheng Suran excitedly raced ahead, so delighted that she even abandoned her sandals and ran barefoot.

    "Ranran, don''t take off your shoes. The sand is really hot..." Wen Ruoxian hurriedly cautioned her.

    But it was too late.

    Cheng Suran stepped on the soft sand, and the soles of her feet instantly jumped up as if they were scorched by a red-hot iron sheet.

    "Ah, it''s hot, it''s hot¡ª"

    Wen Ruoxian picked up the sandals she had thrown by the stone, ran over in three steps at a time, pulled her into her arms, put down the shoes, "Put them on quickly."

    Cheng Suran grinned from the scald, not caring much, leaning on her with most of her body weight, shakily putting on her shoes.

    "This beach... We could bury the mutton skewers in it, take it out, and sprinkle some cumin on it to eat."

    "Hahahaha!" Pei Chutong couldn''t stop laughing.

    Jiang Yu frowned.

    "We can go to the main beach to have a barbecue in the evening. I asked the staff to bring the stove and tools there." Ruan Mu, who had been silent all this time, opened her mouth.

    Cheng Suran immediately forgot about the pain, and nodded repeatedly: "Okay!"

    After she finished putting on her sandals, Wen Ruoxian let go of her hand in time, and everyone continued to move forward. There are a few tourists scattered on the beach, men and women, wearing big underpants and swimsuits, chatting and laughing in the coastal waters.

    Walking along the beach, they reached a steep coastal cliff.

    The waves rolled in, wetting the fine sand, and crabs emerged from the sand, wielding their large claws as they scurried away quickly.

    "Wow, there are a lot of crabs here." Pei Chutong walked cautiously holding her skirt.

    Ruan Mu took her by the hand, looked down at the mud and sand under her feet, and when she saw the crabs, she kicked them away, for fear that their big, eyeless claws would hurt her. Two or three crabs were kicked and they turned over, belly up, kicking their eight legs randomly.

    Cheng Suran was amused by their funny appearance, bent down, and kindly reached out to turn them back: "I don''t know if they can be eaten, they look quite fat."

    Ruan Mu replied promptly: "Yes, these are ordinary crabs, there are many around, and no one bothers with them."

    ¡°Spicy, steamed, my mouth is watering¡­¡±

    Jiang Yu was two or three steps behind them. Seeing Cheng Suran''s eager and hungry expression, she glanced at the crabs and had an idea. The sunset gradually painted the sky orange.

    They played in the water on the beach for a while, took some photos, walked back towards the sunset, and came to the main beach with more tourists. Ruan Mu called the staff of the hotel and asked them to bring barbecue tools and ingredients.

    "Tongtong..." Jiang Yu pulled Pei Chutong aside.

    "You guys prepare the barbecue first, I''m going to the small beach now, and I''ll be back soon."

    Pei Chutong was still wearing sunglasses, afraid of being recognized. She looked puzzled upon hearing Jiang Yu''s words, "What are you going to do?"

    "Ranran wants to eat crabs, I''ll catch some." Jiang Yu said seriously.

    "..."

    Pei Chutong blinked, looked left and right, looked back at her face, and suddenly burst out laughing: "Can you catch crabs? Make sure you don''t let the crabs catch you." She clicked her tongue a couple of times and shook her head, "For the sake of pursuing someone, really..."

    "Doesn''t your Mumu do the same?" Jiang Yu chuckled.

    Pei Chutong turned to look at Ruan Mu. It happened that Ruan Mu was also looking at her, knowing that they were having a private conversation. She kept her distance and watched without approaching.

    "She''s just as stupid too."

    "Okay, I''ll go first, cover for me."

    "Be safe."

    Jiang Yu turned around and climbed onto the road, and drove away.

    It was a perfect time to watch the sunset. The beach was now crowded, and the sea shimmered with waves. The red sun was slowly descending into the meeting point of the sea and sky. Cheng Suran and Wen Ruoxian were busy taking photos with their phones, completely unaware that someone was missing.

    The barbecue grill and cooking utensils were gradually being delivered.

    "Hey, where''s Jiang Yu?"

    Cheng Suran looked around and finally realized that one person was missing.

    Ruan Mu was setting up a barbecue grill. Hearing this, she glanced at Pei Chutong. Pei Chutong showed the most exquisite acting skills in her life, and said with a blank face, "Huh?"

    "She was here just now..." Cheng Suran frowned.

    Pei Chutong continued to perform, looking around: "Yeah, she was still here just now, where is she? Where did she go..." Ruan Mu turned her face away and snickered.

    As the sky darkened and there were unfamiliar faces around, Cheng Suran glanced around, feeling a little anxious. She took out her mobile phone to call Jiang Yu, it kept ringing, but no one answered.

    "Why don''t you answer..." She bit her lower lip and stomped her feet anxiously.

    Wen Ruoxian patted her on the shoulder reassuringly: "Maybe she went to the bathroom."

    As soon as she finished speaking, Cheng Suran saw a tall person coming down from the side of the road, wearing a familiar red dress, holding a plastic bag in one hand, and one hand tucked to the side.

    "Jiang Yu!"

    She hurriedly ran over.

    Without hesitation, she rushed towards that person.

    Wen Ruoxian''s hand was pushed away, left hanging in the air.

    Not far away, Jiang Yu''s footsteps paused slightly, and the hand that was hidden at her side moved to the back.

    "Where have you been?" Cheng Suran looked her up and down.

    "...catching crabs."

    "?"

    Jiang Yu curved her lips, and a gentle smile appeared in her eyes: "Didn''t you say you want to eat crabs?" She raised the hand holding the bag, "Look, I caught nine of them. There''s only a plastic bag in the car, so I used it temporarily to hold them."

    A few big black guys were moving around in the bag, Cheng Suran was both surprised and happy and the dimples on her cheeks sunk slightly: "My God-"

    I''m not sure if it''s enough."

    "It''s enough. We have other ingredients too."

    The two walked back while talking, and came to the barbecue pit.

    Dim street lights were lit on the beach, and Ruan Mu and the others had already set up equipment, tools, and ingredients. Seeing them approaching, Miss Pei quickly entered into a performance state: "Coco, where have you been?"

    "Catching crabs. Didn''t..."

    The second half of the sentence, ''Didn''t you know?'' was choked back by the meaningful gaze.

    Wen Ruoxian watched them silently.

    "Oh, catching crabs, you didn''t even say a word. Ranran was worried about you..." Pei Chutong complained, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over her hidden hand at her side, catching a glimpse of a crimson hue.

    "What happened to your hand?"

    She grabbed Jiang Yu''s hand and brought it closer to her eyes.

    In the dim light, she could see specks of blood on her fingers, a dark red liquid trickling down her fingertip, a distressing sight.

    Jiang Yu retracted subconsciously and glanced at Cheng Suran in a panic.

    Cheng Suran''s face turned pale.

    "It''s okay," Jiang Yu tucked her hand back to her side. "I accidentally got pinched by a crab."

    Pei Chutong: "..."

    Wen Ruoxian: "..."

    "There is a clinic next to the homestay, let''s have it treated." Ruan Mu said next to her.

    Cheng Suran came back to her senses, and grabbed Jiang Yu''s hand without thinking: "I''ll take her there, you guys go eat first." Then she took the bag of crabs and set it on the ground.

    Wen Ruoxian wanted to say that she would go too, but before she could say anything, she was called by Pei Chutong:

    "Come, come, let''s deal with the crabs."

    ....

    The big sandy beach is not far from the clinic, Cheng Suran drove fast and arrived in a few minutes. There were people in the clinic who were getting IV drips and bandaging wounds... Cheng Suran held Jiang Yu''s other hand tightly, stepped in, explained the situation to the doctor, and then the nurse brought a medicine tray to disinfect Jiang Yu''s wound.

    Jiang Yu remained silent, sitting quietly on the chair. "Do you need a tetanus shot?" Cheng Suran asked nervously.

    The crab''s pincers are not clean, maybe there are parasites or something, in case of infection... She couldn''t help but start thinking wildly.

    The nurse shook her head seriously: "No need, the wound is not deep, just be careful not to get it wet."

    "Oh..."

    Her tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed.

    The nurse moved skillfully and handled it quickly. She wrapped a thin piece of gauze around Jiang Yu''s slender index finger, looking a bit funny.

    "It''s done."

    "Thanks."

    Cheng Suran stood up and scanned the QR code to pay, taking Jiang Yu''s hand without raising her gaze: "Let''s go."

    Jiang Yu''s heart sank.

 CH 117

    Walking out of the clinic, the slightly hot night wind blows head-on, and the two walked to the car without saying a word. Suddenly, Cheng Suran let go of Jiang Yu''s hand: "Why didn''t you tell me?"

    "I didn''t insist on having crabs."

    The corners of her eyes were a little red.

    Jiang Yu let out a sigh of relief, smiled, and brushed away the wind-blown hair on her forehead: "I wanted to give you a surprise."

    "It''s quite a surprise." Cheng Suran said through gritted teeth.

    This person doesn''t know how anxious she was when she couldn''t find her. It was because she had selfishly invited her friend without permission. It had caused some discomfort for Jiang Yu. She clearly knew Jiang Yu''s feelings, yet she wanted to prove something, but what exactly she was unsatisfied with and what she was fighting for remained unclear.

    Apart from making herself and Jiang Yu uncomfortable, it had no meaningful purpose.

    "Are you angry with me?" Jiang Yu took her hand and held it in her palm.

    The itchy, rough touch of the gauze against her skin is like thousands of small bugs gnawing on it, flowing from her fingertips to the bottom of her heart. At this moment, Cheng Suran let go of her obsession, she shook her head lightly: "No. You kindly caught crabs for me to eat, why should I be angry, I was just..."

    Just worried about you.

    She still couldn''t get the words out of her mouth, so she could only look at Jiang Yu like this.

    Jiang Yu seemed to understand the look in her eyes. In an instant, her thoughts became eager and restless. "As long as it''s something you say, I''ll keep it in my heart. Your wishes are mine to fulfill to the best of my ability."

    "Because...seeing you happy makes me happy too."

    She held Cheng Suran''s hand tightly.

    The surroundings were quiet, hidden in a corner behind towering trees, unnoticed by anyone. Only the warm breeze carried the voice into her ears, rippling in her heart.

    Cheng Suran snorted and turned her head away, but a slight smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

    "Actually..." Her voice trembled a little.

    "When I couldn''t find you just now, I thought we were going to miss each other again."

    As she spoke, she blinked rapidly, swallowing down the bittersweet warmth. Turning back, the deep black of her eyes still held a glistening sheen.

    Jiang Yu held her tightly. "That won''t happen."

    "Just like these past few months, every time I couldn''t find you, I thought there was no possibility between us. But when you appear in front of me, I feel at ease. This time, we won''t miss each other again..."

    Cheng Suran hummed lightly and buried her face in the crook of her neck.

    The evening wind made the leaves rustle while they hugged each other. Time seemed to stand still, as their senses automatically blocked out everything else, leaving only the sound of their deep breaths.

    ¡ªgulu

    Cheng Suran''s stomach growled.

    "..."

    Jiang Yu suppressed a smile and patted the back of the person in her arms. "Let''s go, we''ll have a barbecue. They should have already started."

    They barbecued on the beach for over two hours. Cheng Suran kept in mind that Jiang Yu had injured her hand and couldn''t handle things easily. From start to finish, she didn''t let her touch the food, instead, she prepared them and gave them to her, completely forgetting that Jiang Yu still had one uninjured hand.

    She cared for Jiang Yu but neglected herself.

    Wen Ruoxian noticed everything, didn''t say anything, and placed the grilled food in Cheng Suran''s bowl first, afraid that she might go hungry.

    Undercurrents surge in the joyful atmosphere, and everyone has secret thoughts.

    Amidst the merriment, only she couldn''t savor the food.

    ....

    It was already late at night when they got back to the homestay.

    Pei Chutong indulged once tonight, ate a lot, and drank a lot, her drunken footsteps were unsteady, while Ruan Mu supported her and quickly led her into the room.

    Only three people were left outside the room.

    "How will you take a shower? Do you need me to help..." Cheng Suran looked at Jiang Yu''s bandaged hand, but her words suddenly faltered halfway.

    Wen Ruoxian raised her head abruptly.

    The dim light under the eaves of the corridor shone over, reflecting her slightly pale face. Jiang Yu glanced at her and smiled at Cheng Suran: "It''s okay, I can do it myself, you guys go to bed early."

    Cheng Suran didn''t think too much and just nodded slightly.

    "Good night."

    Seeing Jiang Yu enter the room, she reluctantly looked away, took out the room card, swiped it to open the door to her room, and stepped ahead of Wen Ruoxian.

    She put down her bag and sat down on the sofa.

    "Ruoxian, take a shower first, I want to rest for a while." She raised her head and closed her eyes.

    "Okay."

    Wen Ruoxian glanced at her for a moment, then took off the light long-sleeved jacket she was wearing and placed it on the table. The weather on the island was hot, and she had sweated quite a bit during the afternoon. She needed to do some laundry later.

    She grabbed her pajamas and headed into the bathroom.

    Cheng Suran remained slumped on the sofa for a while, listening to the sound of water splashing onto the tiled floor like her own heartbeat. She took slow, deep breaths again and again.

    She got up and walked to the table, took out her mobile phone from her bag, replied to the WeChat messages one by one, and sent Jiang Yu another one:

    [Good night.]

    Jiang Yu replied in seconds: [Good night.]

    Followed by a cute smiley emoji.

    Satisfied, Cheng Suran put down her phone, remembering that she still had laundry to do, so she picked up the laundry basket.

    There were two pieces of clothing on the table. One was the outfit she had worn when she left Jiang City, which she had changed out of upon arrival. The other... was the thin sun-shielding outer shirt that Wen Ruoxian had been wearing. She tossed her own clothes into the basket and casually grabbed Wen Ruoxian''s jacket, glancing towards the bathroom.

    "Ruoxian¡ª" She knocked on the glass door.

    "Do you want to wash the clothes you just took off? I''ll put them in the basket with mine and wash them together later."

    Wen Ruoxian replied: "Okay."

    Cheng Suran was about to put the jacket into the basket when she suddenly remembered something. Muttering to herself, "There''s nothing in the pockets, right?" She reached into the left pocket, felt around, and found it empty. Then, she reached into the right pocket and felt a square piece of cardboard.

    She didn''t pay much attention to it, taking it out and placing it casually on the table. However, her gaze inadvertently flickered over it...

    It''s a palm-sized photo.

    A woman wearing a light green dress stood in front of an old, artistic building. Her long hair was flowing, her smile was radiant, and two faint dimples appeared on her cheeks.

    Cheng Suran was startled.

    Isn''t that her?

    During the summer two years ago, she and Ruoxian had traveled to Italy, leaving traces of their laughter everywhere they went. Ruoxian had taken many photos of her and compiled them into a commemorative album. This was just one of those photos.

    Why would this particular photo be tucked into the pocket by itself? Cheng Suran tightly held onto the photo, flipping it over, and found that there were words written on the back.

    [F¨¹r dich wein'' und schrei und lach und leb ich...] (1)

    "?"

    It seemed to be in German.

    She opened a translation app, captured the phrase, and after a few seconds, the Chinese translation appeared: ''My joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are all for you''

    Cheng Suran took a sharp breath.

    In an instant, like frames from a replaying movie, scenes flashed before her eyes. The thick sketchbook, Ruoxian''s anxious gaze, her stubborn insistence at the airport, and today''s urgent responses...

    [I have someone I like.]

    [Who?]

    [She''s not here, and...she doesn''t like me.]

    [Ah, that''s a pity.]

    With the mid-autumn night dialogue echoing in her ears, Cheng Suran''s face turned pale, as if her throat was strangled by a pair of invisible hands, she couldn''t breathe and lost all senses.

    The sound of running water stopped at some point.

    After a while, the bathroom door opened, and Wen Ruoxian came out while wiping her hair: "Ranran, I''ve finished washing, you..."

    She froze.

    Cheng Suran turned her face slowly and stiffly, meeting her gaze.

    The bath towel slipped to the floor.

    Seeing the photo clenched in Cheng Suran''s hand, Wen Ruoxian''s complexion changed abruptly. A sense of chaos filled her deep eyes. The usually gentle and composed person quickly stepped forward, taking the photo away from her and holding it tightly in her hand. "Why did you¡ª"

    Her tone seemed reproachful, but more than that, it was filled with panic.

    "Sorry¡­"

    Cheng Suran snapped back to reality, feeling a bit lost. "I didn''t mean to invade your privacy. I was just worried about finding something in the pockets when doing laundry, and I didn''t want it to get wet."

    "Oh, it''s okay, I don''t mean to blame you."

    After all, she is also a person with rich experience. Wen Ruoxian quickly regained her composure, smiled at her, turned around to get her bag, and was about to stuff the photo into it.

    "Ruoxian..." Cheng Suran called her softly.

    "Why do you carry my picture with you?"

    Wen Ruoxian smiled nonchalantly: "Because I think this shot is very beautiful."

    "But there are words on the back."

    "..."

    Cheng Suran took two steps forward: "I checked, it means ''My joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are all for you''

    "..."

    A long silence, as if the mute button had been pressed.

    The light flowed like water, gently enveloping their shadows. Wen Ruoxian stood there stiffly, her smile frozen at the corner of her lips. After a while, she explained in a low voice, "It''s a line from a song."

    "Why did you write the lyrics on the back of my photo?

    "..."

    An ambiguous lyrics.

    There was no need to ask further, Cheng Suran thought. She stared at Wen Ruoxian''s face without turning away, taking a deep breath. "Ruoxian, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, you said there was someone you liked, and that person was..."

    "It''s you."

    Wen Ruoxian slowly raised her head.

    The photo was crumpled in her hands, her gaze held an unprecedented sense of sorrow, as if she was on the verge of plummeting into an abyss in the next moment. And she, willingly, generously, was ready to go.

    Finally¡ª

    Cheng Suran was struck by lightning.

    Her conjecture was verified. Even though she was mentally prepared, she still couldn''t believe it when she heard Ruoxian say it.

    Looking back on all those years of their interactions, she realized that there had been signs all along.

    Ruoxian remembered casual remarks she had made, she would leave her family behind and travel thousands of miles to be by her side during holidays, she knew all her little habits and preferences. She always smiled when she saw her, and often blushed in front of her, and while she was usually serious and reserved at work, she never lost her temper in her presence.

    Her gaze upon her was like a blazing fire, yet she carefully avoided intimate gestures.

    When she was happy, Ruoxian was happy; when she was sad, Ruoxian was sad. Ruoxian''s joys and sorrows were like a kite, with the string in her hand.

    But she regarded all these as pure friendship.

    From childhood to adulthood, Cheng Suran had almost no close friends. She didn''t like to approach others proactively, and she didn''t like others to approach her too enthusiastically. She had never had a serious relationship but only knew the feeling of liking someone secretly, and this liking used to be a thorn in her heart.

    She had thought that friendship was like this¡ªclose friends could be like family. She didn''t even know what true love looked like; she had believed it was just the way she had been a few years ago. But now she realized how much Wen Ruoxian resembled her when she had a crush on Jiang Yu.

    Why didn''t she notice it sooner?

    What should she do? Tell Ruoxian that she has someone she likes? Will they never be friends again? How will they get along and face each other in the future? Did confessing mean losing this friend forever?

    The floor-to-ceiling windows of the balcony are open, allowing the humid night breeze to gently enter the room, swaying the curtains. The faint laughter of the late returning tourist could be heard from outside.

    "Really?" Cheng Suran asked again with a trembling voice.

    "Mm."

    A hint of despair appeared in Wen Ruoxian''s eyes, followed by a resigned calmness.

    She''s done for.

    She was going to lose Ranran.

    In the past, there had only been her by Cheng Suran''s side.

    She is the one who understands Ranran the most, she is the closest to Ranran, and she is the one who talks to Ranran all the time. Over time, she had an illusion that they have an "understanding" with each other, but they have no so-called status.

    She once thought that instead of taking the risk of piercing that layer of window paper, it would be better to maintain this state forever. They accompany each other, grow together, and grow old together.

    But Jiang Yu''s appearance completely messed her up.

    Jiang Yu knew Ranran earlier than her and was superior to her in terms of personal aura and social status. The most terrible thing was that she found that Ranran looked completely different in front of Jiang Yu.

    It was a kind of crazy infatuation and admiration, a heart-fluttering state where she seemed to be falling in love but had to restrain herself.

    She could no longer lie to herself. Anxiety forced her to lose her mind, and before she could think clearly, she recklessly got involved, making Ranran unhappy and embarrassing herself.

    "I developed many copies of the photos, and I carry it with me every day. Seeing the photo is like seeing you."

    "What about the sketches?"

    "I draw them whenever I have free time. In my heart, you look beautiful at any moment."

    "When... when did it start?"

    "I don''t know either. Maybe it started from the point when I started wanting to see you every day, from the moments we shared countless things and endless conversations, from the time I wanted to completely occupy your private moments..."

    Wen Ruoxian smiled wryly.

    The backlog of affection in her heart poured out like a flood, but she felt relaxed. The matter had come to this point, and it was futile to conceal it. The nerves that had been tense for days were overwhelmed and finally broke. Before losing everything completely, it was better to have a heartfelt conversation.

    However, every uttered word felt like digging into her own heart, it hurt so much. The two looked at each other quietly across the bed.

    Under the shadow of the lamp, that face turned gray and bloodless, like a fragile piece of paper, and the flames in those eyes had been extinguished, leaving a chaotic pool of stagnant water.

    Cheng Suran was like a puppet, her lips opening and closing, but she couldn''t say anything.

    Until Wen Ruoxian called out her intimate nickname¡ª

    "Ranran."

    "Do you like Jiang Yu?"

    Author''s Note:

    PS: (1) The lyrics on the back of the photo are from "Fur Dich "