Jiang Jiang's expression showed visible fluster. "Sister, you don't need to apologize to me. I didn't mean to blame you."
"You bought me so many beautiful clothes and pieces of jewelry. I'm really very happy."
Jiang Jiang spoke in a very soft voice. She seemed a little embarrassed. After finishing, she couldn't help lightly pressing her lips together, her gaze flickering away shyly.
Even through the screen, Ji Xu'an could see a blush spreading from Jiang Jiang's neck all the way to her ears, dyeing her small earlobes a vivid, almost dripping red.
She was always easily shy. The inadvertent tremble of her eyelashes and that hesitant, half-spoken expression would always give people the illusion of a young girl harboring secret feelings.
But Ji Xu'an knew that Jiang Jiang had no other thoughts toward her, because Jiang Jiang behaved the same way in front of Ji Heyuan.
Ji Heyuan had complained more than once in front of Ji Xu'an that even the smallest thing could make Jiang Jiang blush furiously; her skin was truly thin.
This kind of Jiang Jiang radiated a soft, gentle aura from head to toe, as if she could be bullied.
For some reason, Ji Xu'an suddenly recalled the scene before she left—Jiang Jiang lying on her knees, and how she had gently stroked the other woman's head with her fingers to comfort her.
At that time, Jiang Jiang had also looked at her with moist, glistening eyes. Surprise and anticipation intertwined on her face. That conflicted emotion resembled someone who deeply longed for closeness, yet didn't dare voice it because of her own shy nature.
Ji Xu'an's heart softened even more.
A few clothes and pieces of jewelry were enough to move her like this. It was enough to show that Jiang Jiang's first dozen or so years of life hadn't been very good.
In fact, from their first meeting until now, Jiang Jiang had never once taken the initiative to ask her for anything. Instead, it was Ji Xu'an who inexplicably wanted to treat Jiang Jiang a little better.
She thought perhaps it was because Jiang Jiang also called her "Sister," so she wanted to cherish her the way she cherished little Yuan.
They were both pitiful children. Little Yuan still had her grandmother and her sister, but Jiang Jiang had nothing left.
"There aren't many ready-made pieces of this type of clothing and jewelry. Most require a production period. Wear these first. Later, I'll have Secretary Zhao send more over."
Ji Xu'an paused before adding, "If you have any specific requests, you can also tell Secretary Zhao. He will communicate with the merchants."
Jiang Jiang nodded vigorously. "Thank you, Sister!"
Ji Xu'an seemed to let out a soft laugh. Jiang Jiang didn't hear it clearly, but she distinctly saw that slight upward curve at the corner of Ji Xu'an's lips.
"You don't have to keep saying thank you," Ji Xu'an said. "You call me Sister. It's only right that I take care of your food, clothing, housing, and transportation."
Besides, these matters hadn't cost her much effort—just sending a message.
Jiang Jiang's face grew even redder. The blush drifted to the corners of her eyes, tinting them with a faint intoxicated haze.
She seemed a little tired and simply sat down on the stool in the walk-in closet. With two quick kicks, she shook off her shoes, wrapped her arms around her knees, and looked brightly at Ji Xu'an on the screen.
"Sister, you're so good to me. I don't even know how to repay you." Jiang Jiang rested her chin on her arms, tilting her head as she looked at her.
Ji Xu'an's expression remained calm, but her gaze held a different kind of gentleness. "Take good care of yourself and live happily every day. That's enough for me."
It was the same expectation she had for Ji Heyuan. Ji Xu'an was probably accustomed to caring and giving; she had never thought about getting anything from Jiang Jiang.
"I'm very happy. Little Yuan introduced me to her roommates. They're all very nice people." Jiang Jiang was probably a bit muddled from alcohol; even her eyes were slightly unfocused. Though her face was turned toward Ji Xu'an, her gaze didn't quite focus.
Only then did Ji Xu'an notice something was off. "Did you drink at dinner?"
Her expression cooled.
Jiang Jiang raised her pinky finger to indicate a tiny amount. "I only drank a little."
There was even a hint of grievance in her tone, as if unconsciously acting coquettish toward Ji Xu'an. "Little Yuan wouldn't let me drink."
But Ji Xu'an didn't indulge her. Her expression grew more serious. "Little Yuan did the right thing. You're alone at home, and you're tipsy…"
Jiang Jiang bit her lower lip. Though she was being scolded, there was not a trace of sadness or resentment on her face. On the contrary, she even looked delighted. She stared straight at Ji Xu'an. "Sister…"
"Are you worried about me?"
Ji Xu'an fell silent.
In the past, whenever this happened, Jiang Jiang would thoughtfully change the subject instead of pressing for an answer.
But this time, she didn't let Ji Xu'an off so easily. She kept meeting her gaze with hopeful eyes, stubbornly wanting a clear response.
Ji Xu'an sighed softly. "Shouldn't I be?"
Regardless of what her feelings toward Jiang Jiang were, she had been the one to bring her to Xingyue Bay, and she was the one who had left Jiang Jiang alone at home.
If something had happened to Jiang Jiang, Ji Xu'an might never have found peace for the rest of her life.
Jiang Jiang didn't reply. She just covered her mouth and laughed, her round almond-shaped eyes curving into crescents, as if she had found some precious treasure.
Looking at her like this, Ji Xu'an felt as though someone had lightly brushed her heart. A strange helplessness rose within her.
What could she possibly argue about with someone who had been drinking?
Originally, Ji Xu'an had made this video call simply to explain things clearly so Jiang Jiang wouldn't worry. In her estimation, it would take no more than two minutes.
Yet unexpectedly, they had already been talking for over five minutes, and Jiang Jiang still seemed to have more to say, looking hesitant.
Ji Xu'an thought about it and decided not to hang up.
Since time had already been delayed, a little longer wouldn't matter. With that thought, Ji Xu'an gestured to the people not far away, signaling them to continue without her.
Fortunately, she hadn't come alone this time. There were two other project managers who could handle things in her absence.
Jiang Jiang noticed her gesture. "Sister, are you still busy?"
On Jiang Jiang's side, it was already dark. Behind Ji Xu'an, however, it was bright daylight.
"Mm." Ji Xu'an returned to her usual cool composure, as if that fleeting smile earlier had just been Jiang Jiang's imagination.
"Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
Jiang Jiang didn't feel disappointed by Ji Xu'an's shifting demeanor. This was the Ji Xu'an she was familiar with. The gentler version earlier had felt almost unfamiliar.
Ji Xu'an wasn't someone with intense emotional fluctuations. Most of the time, she was calm and restrained. Jiang Jiang never believed the emotions Ji Xu'an showed on her face; she judged her true thoughts through her actions.
Even if Ji Xu'an looked cold now, she hadn't hung up, had she?
That meant she didn't dislike her acting cute or clinging to her.
Wen Xueyun had once said Ji Xu'an only had eyes for work. Yet now, she would temporarily set work aside for her.
Jiang Jiang believed that in the past, only Grandma Ji and Ji Heyuan had received this treatment. Now she, too, had become someone for whom Ji Xu'an would make an exception.
Her smile grew even brighter.
"I have many things I want to tell you, Sister. But you're busy, and I don't want to disturb your work." Jiang Jiang leaned her cheek close to the screen—so close that Ji Xu'an could clearly see the shimmer in her eyes.
"When you come back, I'll tell you, okay?"
Her voice was soft and light, as if she were whispering sweetly beside Ji Xu'an's ear. Even her faint inhalations and lilting tone were clear, carrying an indescribable tenderness.
Ji Heyuan had been mischievous since childhood and rarely acted cute. Ji Xu'an had long grown used to cleaning up her messes.
This was the first time she experienced being gently cared for by such a soft little girl—especially Jiang Jiang's posture of wholehearted reliance on her, which greatly satisfied Ji Xu'an's strong desire for control.
Ji Xu'an was moved inside but showed nothing on her face. She nodded slightly. "Okay."
Reluctance surfaced in Jiang Jiang's eyes. She hugged her knees tighter. "Then after you finish your work, remember to come back early."
Looking at Jiang Jiang's small figure on the screen, Ji Xu'an felt she seemed thinner again. Had she not been eating properly?
Recalling Jiang Jiang's fondness for snacks, Ji Xu'an sighed almost imperceptibly. "Alright."
"Then you hang up first, Sister. I won't disturb you anymore," Jiang Jiang said softly.
"Mm."
Ji Xu'an lifted her hand to end the video call. Just a second before her fingertip pressed the button, she suddenly heard Jiang Jiang quickly say:
"Sister, I miss you so much."
The moment the words fell, the call had already ended.
Jiang Jiang's round eyes disappeared from the screen. Ji Xu'an turned off her phone. In the darkness, she saw the lingering trace of astonishment in her own eyes.
What Jiang Jiang had just said was that she missed her?
—
After finishing the call with Ji Xu'an, Jiang Jiang took out the White Jade Linglong Mirror as usual and reported today's progress to Xie Xiao.
"She bought all of this for you on her own initiative?!" Xie Xiao exclaimed.
Recently, she had broadened her horizons. Seeing these beautiful clothes and jewelry, she didn't feel much shock anymore. What surprised her was the word "initiative."
"Mm." Jiang Jiang explained, "When she came back yesterday afternoon, I wasn't in a good mood. She probably wanted to cheer me up."
Cheer you up? Xie Xiao was even more shocked, alright?!
"Wait, what happened? Ji Xu'an actually took the initiative to cheer you up?!" Xie Xiao's eyes widened.
Although Xie Xiao had listened in yesterday, Jiang Jiang hadn't aimed the mirror at the sofa for fear that Ji Xu'an would notice it. So she heard the voices but didn't see the scene.
If she had known Ji Xu'an had even touched Jiang Jiang's head, she probably wouldn't be this shocked.
"Mm…" Jiang Jiang pondered. "Maybe she thinks I'm pitiful."
After all, pitying the weak was human instinct.
The stronger and more dominant someone was, the more they tended to soften toward gentle, harmless things. Accustomed to being admired and flattered, they weren't stingy with their kindness and compassion toward those weaker than themselves.
And just that tiny bit of thoughtfulness was enough to make someone feel overwhelmingly flattered.
At least, when Xie Xiao heard this, she couldn't imagine the usually indifferent and aloof Ji Xu'an trying to cheer Jiang Jiang up.
"So Ji Xu'an really likes this kind of delicate, innocent beauty," Xie Xiao sighed.
Like a dodder vine that could only cling to her to survive—unable to live independently without her.
Perhaps this was also an expression of Ji Xu'an's inner desire for control.
After sighing, Xie Xiao felt happy for Jiang Jiang. "No matter why she's treating you well, as long as she's not rejecting you like before, that's enough."
Jiang Jiang nodded. Looking at Xie Xiao's face in the mirror—almost identical to her own—her gaze darkened slightly.
"Oh, by the way, Xie Xiao," Jiang Jiang said casually, "I have evening classes these next few days. I might not have time to contact you. If I don't call for you, don't worry. It'll be fine after a few days."
Xie Xiao waved her hand. "That's nothing. Evening classes are tiring enough—just rest early when you get home. Everything's fine here. You don't need to worry about me."
She didn't doubt Jiang Jiang's words in the slightest.
After all, Xie Xiao could never have imagined that one day, Jiang Jiang would deceive her.
It was already late. Jiang Jiang put away the White Jade Linglong Mirror again. Instead of going to the bathroom to wash up, she walked to the window and lowered her gaze to the steady stream of traffic in the distance.
Her slender, soft hand pressed against the glass. Feeling the breeze drifting in from outside, Jiang Jiang slowly closed her eyes.
The house was quiet, filled only with her light breathing. Standing by the window, her long hair fluttered in the gentle wind.
Under the dim yellow light, a trace of a cold smile slipped from Jiang Jiang's lips.
—
There were no classes the next morning, so Jiang Jiang first went to the nursing home to have breakfast with Grandma Ji.
"You're busy with classes. You don't have to come keep me company so often," Grandma Ji said, placing a soup dumpling into her bowl.
Jiang Jiang picked it up and took a bite. The wrapper was thin and the filling plentiful; the juice soaked slightly into the skin, and her mouth filled with rich meat flavor.
Tasting something delicious, Jiang Jiang couldn't help narrowing her eyes.
After swallowing, she replied, "I don't have class this morning, and I haven't seen you for several days, Grandma."
"I know you miss me, but your studies come first." Grandma Ji smiled kindly. "Xu'an went on a business trip. You're alone at home. Are you afraid?"
Jiang Jiang pressed her lips shyly and smiled. "A little. But Sister Xu'an said she'll only be gone for four days. She'll be back soon."
Grandma Ji immediately sensed something different. "You and Xu'an…"
When Jiang Jiang mentioned Ji Xu'an, her tone carried a sweetness and happiness that was completely different from when she had previously begged Grandma Ji to help her.
Jiang Jiang's cheeks flushed. Even the fingers holding her chopsticks tightened unconsciously. "I don't know. But Sister Xu'an doesn't seem to dislike me as much as before."
She mustered the courage to share their recent interactions. "Yesterday, Sister Xu'an even touched my head."
Grandma Ji's smile nearly split her face. "Good, good, good. As long as you two are getting along well, I'm relieved."
"If Xu'an hadn't truly let go of her reservations, she wouldn't have treated you like that."
If Ji Xu'an still disliked Jiang Jiang, let alone touching her head—she wouldn't even give her a pleasant expression.
Jiang Jiang frowned slightly in distress. "But Sister Xu'an really seems to treat me only as a younger sister."
"Take it slow. Grandma will help you." Grandma Ji made the final decision. "Next time you come with Xu'an, let Grandma take a good look."
Jiang Jiang smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Grandma!"
After breakfast, Jiang Jiang excused herself, saying she had other matters, and said goodbye.
She had the driver take her to the entrance of S University, then walked to the artificial lake on campus. Sitting on a bench, she let the breeze calm her mood completely before taking out her phone and making a call.
"Hello, who is this?" A gentle male voice answered.
"Liang Junsheng, it's me. I'm Xie Xiao." Jiang Jiang lowered her eyelashes.
"Oh, it's you." Liang Junsheng seemed to relax, his tone becoming lighter. "How did you get my number?"
"The staff at the hot pot restaurant last night told me." Jiang Jiang's expression was indifferent, but her voice was gentle, mixed with a hint of hesitation and embarrassment.
If one didn't see her expression, anyone would think she was an innocent girl without a scheming bone in her body.
"No wonder." Liang Junsheng chuckled. "What do you need me for?"
"Thank you for paying for us last night. It must have cost you a lot." Jiang Jiang's voice grew even softer, low and shy, like a bashful murmur.
The curve of Liang Junsheng's lips widened, his eyes full of the excitement of watching prey gradually step into a trap he had set.
Although last night's bill had truly been expensive and had pained him for quite a while, as the saying goes, you can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. In any case, he would make Xie Xiao repay all that money in the end.
He could already imagine Xie Xiao's expression—surely shy yet expectant. She must be curious why he had paid for her, perhaps even guessing whether he liked her.
Liked her?
The answer to this question is yes.
After all, a prey as perfect as Xie Xiao is truly hard to come by, and besides, she is completely defenseless toward him.
"There's no need for thanks between us, right?" Liang Junsheng deliberately paused for a few seconds. Seeing that the girl on the other end didn't speak, he continued, "After all, we're old classmates. And as for how I feel about you…"
He didn't say the rest, leaving it entirely to Xie Xiao's imagination.
Jiang Jiang looked at the ripples spreading across the surface of the lake and could guess what Liang Junsheng was thinking at that moment.
An innocent girl untouched by the world—just a few ambiguous sweet words, plus a little feigned misery and weakness, would be enough to win her favor and trust.
Jiang Jiang let out a silent scoff, her tone carrying a certain hint. "There was my roommate with me yesterday after all. I felt a bit embarrassed. How about this—next time, I'll treat you to a meal too."
Hooked.
Liang Junsheng felt his heart pounding wildly with excitement. "Alright. I'll listen to you."
Just as he finished speaking, a familiar ringtone sounded from the other end of the call. Liang Junsheng suddenly stood up and lowered his voice, suppressing his breathing. "Xie Xiao, do you have class this morning?"
He had already asked around—Xie Xiao had no classes this morning. Yet she had come to school early. Could it be that she came specifically to see him?
The words from the receiver quickly confirmed his guess.
Xie Xiao's voice was sweet, laced with threads of probing intent, clearly entering Liang Junsheng's ears.
"I'm by the artificial lake at the school gate. Are… are you coming over?"
Liang Junsheng laughed.
"I'm coming. If you're waiting for me, I'll definitely come!"
—
Jiang Jiang put away her phone and sat on the bench, admiring the black swans playing in the water for a while. The pond was also filled with many koi. Unfortunately, she hadn't brought any fish food, otherwise she could have fed them.
Liang Junsheng arrived quickly. He had probably run all the way over. When he reached Jiang Jiang, he was still slightly out of breath.
"Why are you running so urgently?" Jiang Jiang glanced at him before shifting her gaze back to the koi.
Liang Junsheng instinctively felt that her attitude was a bit off. But after thinking about it, he figured Xie Xiao was just too timid, so she didn't dare look at him.
He still remembered that back in middle school, she had never been comfortable interacting with boys. After so many years, she hadn't changed—still so introverted and shy.
"I was afraid you'd get tired of waiting. What if you got impatient and left?"
As he spoke, he sat down beside her. He deliberately moved a little closer, but before his arm could touch her, Jiang Jiang quickly shifted a considerable distance away.
Liang Junsheng's smile froze on his face.
Before he could question her, Jiang Jiang explained first, "It wouldn't look good if other people saw. And I'm not used to being too close to others."
The slight suspicion in Liang Junsheng's heart immediately vanished. Jiang Jiang's avoidance was instead interpreted by him as shyness and timidity.
She said she didn't like being close to others, yet yesterday when Xie Xiao was playing around with her friends, she hadn't dodged so hurriedly like she did now.
So she was just embarrassed to be close to him?
Liang Junsheng smiled in understanding. "I was being presumptuous."
Jiang Jiang fell silent again. With no other choice, Liang Junsheng took the initiative. "When did you return to school last night? You didn't miss curfew, did you?"
Jiang Jiang still didn't look at him. Instead of answering, she asked, "Did you?"
This question hit exactly what Liang Junsheng wanted. He looked relieved. "Almost. I got in during the last two minutes."
Jiang Jiang followed up, "You didn't go do something bad, did you? Why did you come back so late?"
Liang Junsheng almost lost control of his expression. Shouldn't she be asking what he went to do? Why did Xie Xiao immediately ask if he had gone to do something bad?
The question caught him off guard. For a moment, he nearly forgot what he was supposed to say next.
"What bad thing could I possibly do?" Liang Junsheng forced a bitter smile. "On my way back to school after dinner last night, I found a stray kitten."
Seeing that Jiang Jiang seemed interested, he continued, "It was very small, probably just born not long ago. It was lying in the greenery by the roadside, its cries especially weak."
"At first I didn't want to bother. The school doesn't allow pets, and kittens need constant care—I don't have the time." Liang Junsheng sighed. "But it cried so pitifully. If I hadn't saved it, it definitely wouldn't have survived."
"I see," Jiang Jiang said.
Then she asked, "So you took it to the vet?"
Liang Junsheng subtly twitched his lips. "It was too late. The veterinary was probably already closed, so I could only take it home first."
He waited for Xie Xiao to ask how he had a place outside campus. He had even already thought about how to guide her into going to see the cat. Instead, Jiang Jiang pressed on, "How do you know the veterinary was closed? You didn't verify it."
Liang Junsheng: …
If the confusion and curiosity on Jiang Jiang's face hadn't seemed so natural, he would have suspected she was doing it on purpose.
"I guessed. I'm not very familiar with S City. I don't know where the veterinarians are. And I was too flustered at the time."
"Oh," Jiang Jiang replied.
"Then why didn't you check with your phone?"
She looked puzzled. "Don't you know how to use a phone?"
Liang Junsheng felt like he was facing someone deliberately argumentative. He had already said he was flustered, yet Xie Xiao still insisted on questioning him thoroughly.
"I didn't think that much at the time. It was too cold outside. I just wanted to find the kitten a place to rest first." There was a faint edge of gritted teeth in his tone.
Jiang Jiang stopped there. "I see. Liang Junsheng, you're really such a good person."
Liang Junsheng felt that this sentence somehow sounded like sarcasm.
"That kitten was truly pitiful. I think anyone in that situation would find it hard to just stand by." He pretended to be modest.
Jiang Jiang nodded. "That's true."
Liang Junsheng felt that the tension from just those few short exchanges was even stronger than when he had almost been discovered secretly abusing cats in the past.
"So, Xie Xiao, you didn't miss curfew last night, right?" He finally forced the topic back.
Jiang Jiang idly played with the little pom-pom on her clothes and answered casually, "I don't live in the school dorms. How could I miss curfew?"
Liang Junsheng revealed a perfectly timed look of surprise. "You don't live on campus?"
"That's nice. I didn't want to live in the dorms either, so I never terminated the lease on my off-campus place." His tone carried some regret. "It's just that S University makes it hard to apply for off-campus housing. Xie Xiao, how did you manage it?"
Jiang Jiang blinked. "Is it hard? I don't know. My older sister handled it for me. She said it was pretty simple."
That unintentional boastful innocence in her voice made Liang Junsheng so jealous he could barely breathe.
Something extremely difficult for him was effortlessly solved by someone else. How could he not feel jealous?
He suppressed his emotions again and again before asking, "You have an older sister? Your uncle's daughter?"
Jiang Jiang shook her head. "No. She's the daughter of my grandmother's friend."
Realization dawned on Liang Junsheng. "You must be very close to her."
Jiang Jiang lowered her head. "Mm. We're pretty close."
Liang Junsheng nearly sneered. What sister? More like a sponsor.
If Xie Xiao's grandmother truly knew some wealthy friend, why had no one ever mentioned it before?
He continued probing. "Are you living with that sister now?"
"Mm." At this, Jiang Jiang couldn't help showing a disappointed expression. "But she's on a business trip recently. I'm alone at home. I get a little scared at night."
Compared to her dejection, Liang Junsheng was inwardly ecstatic. It was as if even heaven was helping him.
He had been worried that with Xie Xiao's sponsor around, it would be hard to lure her out. Who would have thought the person just happened to be on a business trip? Wasn't this the perfect opportunity?
"Career-focused people are rarely home. But with you there, she probably won't bear to stay away too long, right?" he probed.
Jiang Jiang smiled again. "Mm. She said she'll be gone for four days this time. Even if she has more business trips later, she probably won't be away this long again."
Liang Junsheng pondered. In that case, he needed to speed things up. It would be best to settle everything before Xie Xiao's sponsor returned.
Perhaps not wanting to discuss it further, Jiang Jiang looked at him. "By the way, do you have a photo of the cat you picked up last night? Can I see it?"
She pressed her lips together in a small smile. "I actually like cats too, but the place I live doesn't allow pets."
"Wait a moment. I'll find it."
Liang Junsheng took out his phone and opened his gallery.
Jiang Jiang noticed that he deliberately tilted the screen slightly toward himself, making it impossible for her to clearly see what was on it.
Was it because there were too many things on his phone that couldn't be seen by others, afraid they'd be exposed too early?
Jiang Jiang pretended not to notice. Her almond-shaped eyes were filled with nothing but pure curiosity.
Liang Junsheng had long prepared the photo. It had to be said that he truly had skill when it came to photography. Logically speaking, a kitten that had just become a stray shortly after being born would have messy, dirty fur. Yet in Liang Junsheng's photo, all one could see was the cat's cuteness.
The disheveled fur didn't make it look dirty; instead, it made it appear even more pitiful.
Jiang Jiang showed a look of distress. "It looks so small. It can probably only drink milk right now."
Jiang Jiang had seen someone else's cat before—a very plump one, its fur sleek and glossy, like a snowball in one's arms, every movement radiating the noble elegance of being raised in luxury.
But this one was thin and tiny, its wet eyes staring uneasily at the camera, so weak it didn't even have the strength to lift its paw.
"Right. It can't eat cat food yet." Liang Junsheng was very experienced with raising cats, though not because he loved them—or rather, his kind of love was very different from that of ordinary people.
He liked seeking out stray cats, preferably those newly born. He would take them home and carefully raise them on formula.
Watching a cat that had originally been extremely wary slowly lower its guard and begin to approach him would give Liang Junsheng a peculiar thrill. He liked destroying their trust with his own hands at the moment they were closest to him.
Seeing the bewildered and disbelieving look in their eyes at the instant they were hurt made his heartbeat quicken.
After all, he was the one who saved their lives. Ending them personally afterward didn't count as betraying them, did it?
If not for him, they might have died in some corner long ago. He had even given them a period of happiness.
Because of those twisted and perverse thoughts in his heart, the gentle and affectionate look in Liang Junsheng's eyes at this moment wasn't an act.
Unfortunately, Jiang Jiang already knew that the person before her was a demon wearing human skin. His love was lethal.
The more Liang Junsheng showed his affection for the cat, the colder Jiang Jiang's gaze became.
Fortunately, this cat had not yet fallen victim to Liang Junsheng.
Jiang Jiang spoke meaningfully, "It's really well-behaved. It would be nice if I could see it in person."
"It's at the apartment I rent. If you trust me, you can come with me to see it. I've been going back often recently to feed it anyway."
Liang Junsheng finished his proposal first, leaving Xie Xiao no room to use safety as a reason to refuse.
By voicing the potential concern himself, it made his suggestion seem more convincing.
Jiang Jiang hesitated. "Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"
"It's fine. The place I rent isn't far from S University. If you feel unsafe, you can bring your roommate."
With him putting it that way, Jiang Jiang could only smile and shake her head. "That won't be necessary. It's not that I don't trust you."
"I just need to tell my sister first, so she doesn't worry."
Liang Junsheng tried hard to suppress his racing heart so that Xie Xiao wouldn't notice anything unusual. He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. This fool really believed him!
"It's okay. I understand. After all, it's not very safe for a girl to go alone to a boy's home." Liang Junsheng smiled good-naturedly. "How about we add each other as friends first? You can message me when you're free."
He handed the initiative to Jiang Jiang.
This time, Jiang Jiang didn't refuse. The two of them successfully added each other.
Liang Junsheng understood the principle of not going too far. Xie Xiao was already tempted; at this moment, he couldn't appear too eager. The more indifferent he seemed, the more it would show he had no ill intentions.
He had to let Xie Xiao keep thinking about it. Only then would she take the initiative to come to him.
After parting with Liang Junsheng, Jiang Jiang went to Ji Heyuan's dormitory, only to be told by Fu Xihe and the others that Ji Heyuan had already left campus.
"It seems one of her friends is sick. When Ji Heyuan left, her expression looked terrible, like she was really worried about her friend," Yan Ke said.
Jiang Jiang pondered for a moment. "I see. Then forget it. I didn't have anything important to ask her anyway."
She didn't ask them whether they knew who Ji Heyuan's sick friend was, because she already knew.
This part was also described in detail in the story.
In the world before Zheng Zhouzhou was reborn, there had also been a plot where Liang Junsheng attempted to kidnap "Xie Xiao." But at that time, Ji Heyuan was always sticking to "Xie Xiao," so Liang Junsheng couldn't find an opportunity. Later, before he could even act, Ji Heyuan discovered his plan.
The matter caused quite a stir. S University had produced a deranged cat abuser who had even tried to target a female student from the same school. After the incident was exposed, Liang Junsheng was almost universally condemned online.
Zheng Zhouzhou had also seen the news. At the time, she had felt regret—why hadn't Liang Junsheng succeeded?
So after being reborn, Zheng Zhouzhou remembered this incident and deliberately called Ji Heyuan away during these days to create an opportunity for Liang Junsheng.
Because she knew the details, she had been able to secretly buy all the photos and videos Liang Junsheng took and use them to completely ruin "Xie Xiao."
This time, however, it would be impossible for her to kill Jiang Jiang using the same method.
Jiang Jiang would make her understand what it meant to try to steal a chicken only to lose the rice.
—
Liang Junsheng didn't have to wait long. That very afternoon, he received a message from Jiang Jiang.
[Xie Xiao: Do you have class tonight?]
Liang Junsheng suppressed the excitement in his heart and replied that he did not.
Soon, another message popped up.
[Xie Xiao: Me neither.]
[Xie Xiao: Can I come to your place to see the cat?]
Liang Junsheng clenched his fist, the smile on his face growing increasingly strange.
[Liang Junsheng: Of course you can.]
—
Author's Note:
Liang Junsheng will be dealt with in the next chapter.
After Jiang Jiang works hard to defeat the monster, she obtains:
Pitiful kitty +1
Anxious President Ji +1
Guilty little bird +1
—
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