Liang Junsheng gasped "ah ah" twice. He had not yet recovered from that intense pain. Faced with Jiang Jiang's questioning, even if he wanted to refute her, he seemed powerless to do so.
"Liang Junsheng, you say you don't believe that evil is repaid with evil, then why is it that when the two of us fell from upstairs at the same time, you alone were seriously injured, while I was completely unharmed?"
The more Liang Junsheng suspected that she had been playing tricks, the more Jiang Jiang deliberately and openly brought up this matter. In modern society there is no such thing as lightness skill; who could possibly imagine that Jiang Jiang, a weak woman with no strength to even truss a chicken, would actually possess such ability?
Even if Jiang Jiang truly admitted that she knew lightness skill, perhaps everyone would just think she was joking.
Jiang Jiang's words struck directly at Liang Junsheng's sore spot. Although Liang Junsheng had been speaking ill of Jiang Jiang in front of the police, in truth he himself could not figure it out no matter how much he thought about it.
Where had Xie Xiao gotten the confidence to be certain that she would definitely be fine?
Could it be that retribution really existed in this world?
Cold sweat poured down Liang Junsheng's back. A man who had always disbelieved in ghosts and gods could not help but begin doubting life itself. Could it be that ghosts truly existed in this world?
Had those cats come to seek revenge on him?
In an instant, countless speculations surged through Liang Junsheng's mind. He even had an absurd thought—could it be that Xie Xiao had been possessed by a cat demon?
Otherwise, there was truly no way to explain why Xie Xiao had dared to jump off the building together with him.
The raging anger burning in his chest was extinguished in an instant. Liang Junsheng recalled again that uncontrollable feeling during the fall. He could not help widening his eyes to look at Jiang Jiang not far away.
He saw Jiang Jiang holding onto the wheelchair, leaning against Ji Xu'an as she silently shed tears. Her shoulders were lightly embraced by Ji Xu'an. Her whole person was like a frightened rabbit, shrinking into Ji Xu'an's arms, aggrieved and pitiful.
Because of Jiang Jiang's accusations, everyone at this moment was glaring angrily at Liang Junsheng. In a place where no one noticed, Jiang Jiang cast a sideways glance at him. Using the motion of wiping her tears as cover, she very slightly curved the corners of her lips.
That trace of triumphant smile was clearly reflected in Liang Junsheng's eyes. His expression instantly changed, fear and shock intertwining in his gaze!
The scene before him seemed to overlap with the most terrifying image in Liang Junsheng's memory. The last time she had smiled at him in that same strange way, and afterwards she had knocked him down from the building—then this time?
What did she want to do now?
Liang Junsheng was frantic. Seeing that no one else had noticed Jiang Jiang's abnormality, he struggled to raise his hand, trembling as he pointed toward her.
"She… she…" She isn't human at all!
It felt as though a large clump of cotton were lodged in Liang Junsheng's throat. Seeing the fleeting cold smile and mockery in Jiang Jiang's eyes, he could not force the rest of the words out.
He was only an ordinary person—could he really fight against a demon?!
Since Xie Xiao dared to deliberately provoke him in front of everyone, she must have left herself a backup plan. The angrier he became, the more he would be playing into Xie Xiao's hands.
Liang Junsheng was completely afraid of Jiang Jiang now. In his eyes, she was no longer an ordinary person. She was a scheming, sinister, and cunning demon!
Just by observing the changes in Liang Junsheng's expression before and after, Jiang Jiang roughly guessed what he was thinking.
She sneered inwardly. While slowly wiping the tears beneath her eyes, she continued as if nothing had happened, "Liang Junsheng, whether you believe it or not, someone like you will sooner or later suffer heavenly punishment. The things you said in front of the police—do you dare to touch your conscience and firmly say that you didn't lie?"
Liang Junsheng had already been frightened out of his wits by Jiang Jiang. Listening to her questioning, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that her words carried deeper meaning.
Xie Xiao already knew that he had spoken ill of her in front of the police!
What would she do?
Would she strike again to teach him a lesson and throw him from the hospital rooftop?
Liang Junsheng trembled violently. Although he had once thought he might as well have died from the fall, in essence he was actually very afraid of death.
And when people face unknown fear, they always exhaust themselves guessing and imagining, and in the end most likely scare themselves out of their own wits.
Liang Junsheng was in exactly that stage now.
Jiang Jiang had used only a few sentences to frighten him until his hair stood on end.
Seeing Liang Junsheng's pale face and ghost-stricken expression, Ji Xu'an reached out and patted Jiang Jiang's shoulder. "Let's go."
She had already agreed to let Jiang Jiang meet Liang Junsheng once. After this, Ji Xu'an did not intend to let the two of them meet again. She did not want Liang Junsheng to ruin Jiang Jiang's good mood.
Jiang Jiang sniffed and nodded lightly, then Ji Xu'an pushed her out of the hospital room.
With Liang Junsheng's guilty and timid reaction just now, no one would believe his words anymore or shift suspicion onto Jiang Jiang.
From that day on, Jiang Jiang did not see Liang Junsheng again. But very soon she learned from Ji Xu'an that Liang Junsheng had already confessed his crimes in front of the police, and personally admitted that what he had previously said was nonsense.
All of this had been planned by him alone. It had nothing to do with anyone else. Xie Xiao had not known about his plan.
If nothing unexpected happened, Liang Junsheng was destined for prison. However, because he was still severely injured and unable to move, he could not yet be taken into custody. He could only remain in the hospital for now, under twenty-four-hour police surveillance.
Neither Jiang Jiang nor Ji Xu'an had any objection to this result. Ji Xu'an only urged the police to issue an official report as soon as possible.
So at exactly nine o'clock the next morning, the S City police posted an official case report on their official account regarding the widely discussed case of a man and woman falling from a building.
In the report, the police explained the entire sequence of events in detail. They deliberately concealed Jiang Jiang's identity information; even her surname was a pseudonym. As for Liang Junsheng, however, they gave a clear introduction.
Although because of certain past incidents some people still raised doubts, the majority were inclined to believe the facts released by the police.
Not long after this report was published, numerous influential online accounts reposted it. Almost every related news comment section was filled with curses. At a glance, it was all condemnation and abuse directed at Liang Junsheng.
Abusing cats, kidnapping, rape.
None of these were things people could tolerate.
Even when occasionally someone spoke up for Liang Junsheng, arguing that he had become like this because he had suffered domestic violence in childhood, such comments were quickly scolded by others until they were deleted.
No matter what Liang Junsheng had experienced before, it was not a reason for him to harm innocent cats and a classmate.
Ironically, not long after Liang Junsheng's true face was exposed, a reporter interviewed one of his former classmates. In front of the camera, the other party's expression was both pained and incredulous.
"I truly never imagined he would be this kind of person. Sigh, no matter how difficult things are, you can't walk the path of crime."
"It's hard for children from poor families to rise to prominence. Getting into a prestigious university isn't easy. What he has now is already something many people can't obtain even if they beg for it. Why couldn't he just be steady and earn money with his own hands?"
Jiang Jiang also saw this interview video. She remembered that in the story, Liang Junsheng had once grandly and self-righteously accused "Xie Xiao" in the same way. Now these "regrets" had fallen upon him instead. How could that not count as retribution?
As for why Liang Junsheng had admitted everything so quickly, Jiang Jiang had also asked Ji Xu'an. At that time, Ji Xu'an had merely let out a light snort.
"A guilty conscience."
Thus Jiang Jiang understood that Ji Xu'an must have done something. She could even guess from which angle Ji Xu'an had acted—it was probably related to those innocent cats who had died tragically.
—
That night.
Liang Junsheng was once again trapped in a nightmare.
At first, the scenes in the dream were normal. He was walking aimlessly on the street. After walking for who knew how long, Liang Junsheng suddenly heard a very faint meowing sound.
Based on past experience, he quickly judged that it was a newborn kitten.
Even in the dream, Liang Junsheng could feel his heartbeat suddenly grow intense.
He was excited.
Holding his breath, Liang Junsheng followed the sound of the meowing.
It was an alley so long it seemed endless. At first he could still hear cars passing and pedestrians talking. Later, behind him gradually became silent. Liang Junsheng could only hear his own footsteps echoing in the alley.
He suddenly turned his head to look. The road behind him had been swallowed by an overwhelming thick fog. He stared in horror, only to realize that he seemed to be trapped inside a square cage.
Where was this?!
Instinctively, Liang Junsheng tried to run. He felt a powerful sense of crisis, as though if he could not escape this cage quickly, something very terrible would happen next.
But unfortunately, no matter how he ran, the dense fog blocked his way completely. Exhausted, Liang Junsheng finally collapsed to the ground, gasping heavily.
He was tired and hungry. His throat was so dry it felt like it was smoking. Liang Junsheng seemed to realize he was dreaming, yet everything felt so real.
The burning hunger in his stomach was driving him mad.
After an unknown amount of time, Liang Junsheng almost thought he would faint from hunger. Just as he was about to fall into complete despair, he suddenly felt a gentle hand lifting his head. Immediately after, a warm, moist sensation touched his lips.
Instinctively, Liang Junsheng opened his mouth wide, gulping down whatever flowed inside. A rich, milky liquid slid down his throat, quickly filling the emptiness in his stomach.
Liang Junsheng finally felt alive again.
He tried hard to see clearly who the owner of that large hand was, but before his eyes there was only endless darkness. Forced to give up, he did not know what it was, but he could sense that the hand meant him no harm.
After that, Liang Junsheng lived a monotonous life day after day. Every day he desperately tried to escape the black fog, but each time he failed. He also tried to communicate with the owner of the large hand, but the other party never responded.
He knew nothing about that large hand. The only thing he could be certain of was that it would appear when he felt hungry and provide him with delicious food.
As time passed, Liang Junsheng seemed to forget he was dreaming. He truly regarded himself as someone living inside the thick fog.
Perhaps because being alone was too lonely, accompanied only by silent darkness, Liang Junsheng began to look forward to the arrival of that large hand.
Although it never responded to him, it cared for him so gently and satisfied all his needs. Gradually, Liang Junsheng developed dependence on it.
He began to eat the food eagerly, even saying soft, flattering words to please it. Though it never spoke, Liang Junsheng could feel that it liked him.
He did not know how long such days continued. Liang Junsheng had forgotten the passage of time. He began to like contact with that large hand more and more. In his mind even arose a wonderful thought—if he could live with it forever, that seemed not bad at all.
However, very soon, his beautiful dream was personally crushed to pieces by the very large hand he loved most.
In truth, Liang Junsheng did not remember whether there had been any warning signs. It should have been an ordinary day. Not long after he ate the food it gave him, he felt his stomach begin to ache. Slowly, the pain grew more and more intense. It felt as though a knife were twisting inside his body.
Liang Junsheng collapsed to the ground, convulsing nonstop.
His eyes widened as he stared incredulously at the black fog in the void. His lips trembled as he questioned with difficulty, "Why… why?"
Hadn't they been getting along well?
Why treat him like this?
It did not answer.
The pain was so intense that Liang Junsheng's consciousness was nearly blurred. He seemed to see a pair of icy eyes appear in the darkness. They looked down at him from above. No matter how he questioned or begged, it said nothing.
Liang Junsheng began crawling on the ground with both hands. He wanted to escape. It was no longer the it he knew. Now it was a devil!
But before he could crawl far, he heard the sound of a sharp blade cutting through the air. Panicked and confused, he looked behind him, only to see that the large hand he had once depended on was holding a huge knife and swinging it fiercely toward him!
Liang Junsheng did not even have time to dodge. He watched with his own eyes as his feet were struck by the sharp blade. Like slicing through a soft block of tofu, his two feet separated from his body in the blink of an eye.
Bright red blood sprayed out. Only then did Liang Junsheng belatedly feel the piercing pain. He screamed madly, dragging his bleeding stumps as he crawled painfully across the ground, leaving a winding trail of blood.
But it did not spare him. The slaughtering blade followed him like a shadow, little by little cutting away his legs—first his calves, then his thighs…
By the end, Liang Junsheng even felt that almost his entire lower body was gone.
The pain and excessive blood loss made his mind muddled. His vision darkened in waves. The thick smell of blood filled his nose. Liang Junsheng knew he was about to die.
He suddenly felt deeply wronged. His mind was completely occupied by hatred and pain.
Why why why!
Why treat him like this!!
Didn't it love him? Why kill him with its own hands!!
Liang Junsheng screamed these questions in his mind, because he could no longer speak.
Just as he thought the final blow was about to fall upon him, that large hand suddenly stopped. The black fog before his eyes gradually dispersed.
Was this a final flash before death?
Or had he truly received redemption?
Using all his strength, Liang Junsheng lifted his head. In front of him slowly appeared a mirror, its surface rippling like water.
Amid the distorted scene, Liang Junsheng finally saw what he looked like now.
He was naked. His entire body was covered in orange fur. That coat should have been soft and glossy, yet now it was soaked with blood, messy and disordered.
It was as if lightning struck Liang Junsheng's head. At that moment, he finally remembered—he had become it.
The first orange cat he had tortured and killed.
The scene before him began to collapse. In the final moment of his vision, Liang Junsheng vaguely saw a pair of cat eyes brimming with tears.
So when it died back then, among the water pooled all over the ground, there had not only been its blood, but also its tears.
—
"Ahhh—!!"
The shrill scream tore through the air and woke the caregiver keeping watch in the hospital room.
He got up and walked toward Liang Junsheng. "Mr. Liang, what's wrong?"
Liang Junsheng frantically retreated, as though he had seen a ghost. "Don't come over! Don't come over!!"
The caregiver stopped. "Mr. Liang, do you need any help?"
But Liang Junsheng still had not escaped that nightmare. He had been frightened silly, repeatedly muttering, "Don't come looking for me! I was wrong! Don't come over!"
The caregiver secretly rolled his eyes. If you don't do guilty things, you won't fear ghosts knocking at your door.
Liang Junsheng had done too many bad deeds, that was why he was always having nightmares.
Since Liang Junsheng did not want his help, the caregiver lay back down with peace of mind. President Ji had already instructed that as long as the man did not die, he could toss about however he liked.
Weren't the bodyguards outside showing no reaction?
He did not believe they had not heard Liang Junsheng's screams.
In fact, not only had the bodyguards heard them, even the two nurses on duty not far away had heard clearly. But there were instructions from above telling them not to meddle. The two nurses could only pretend they had heard nothing.
Ignoring it was one thing, but that did not stop them from secretly discussing it.
"I heard from little Liu that there seems to be a problem here." The speaker pointed at her own head.
The other replied, "It seems that whether day or night, as long as he falls asleep, he has nightmares."
"Isn't that so." The first person lowered her voice. "I heard that he keeps saying he can hear cats meowing."
"At first it's the miserable screams of different kittens, intermittent, and in the end it always ends with a loud bang of something heavy hitting the ground."
"But only he can hear it. Everyone else says there's no such thing."
The other person shuddered. "This is pretty creepy. Do you think it could really be…"
The one who had spoken first shook her head, revealing a meaningful expression. Then she leaned close to the other person's ear and said in a very soft voice, "Yesterday I saw a group of people go in. The dean personally accompanied them. The one walking beside him looked very much like that psychologist who's quite famous overseas…"
Hearing this, the other person couldn't help but reveal a shocked expression. "Then wouldn't that mean…"
"Shh." Her companion cut off what she hadn't finished saying. "Whether it's really a vengeful ghost or something man-made, it's none of our business. We're just two little nurses. When you go out, don't talk nonsense, and don't tell anyone I told you."
"I still don't want to lose this job."
That person quickly covered her mouth and nodded frantically. She understood. No matter what the truth was, it wasn't something she could interfere in.
However, although more of the truth had not been exposed, the matter of Liang Junsheng having nightmares every day still spread. Unfortunately, everyone only applauded; not a single person sympathized with him.
Fortunately, Liang Junsheng was currently staying in the hospital, and for the time being no one could get close to him. The funeral wreaths sent by those angry netizens also couldn't be delivered into the hospital. Otherwise, Liang Junsheng would have been even more miserable.
—
Jiang Jiang no longer paid attention to news related to Liang Junsheng. On the morning of the third day after she woke up, she was discharged from the hospital. Ji Heyuan and Fu Xihe and the others all came to the hospital to pick her up, and Ji Heyuan even suggested that everyone celebrate together.
"You survived a great disaster, which means there'll be blessings afterward. It's just right to get rid of some bad luck," Ji Heyuan said solemnly.
Jiang Jiang felt it wasn't necessary, but seeing the expectant looks in everyone's eyes, she could only turn the same look toward Ji Xu'an.
Everyone was waiting for Ji Xu'an's attitude.
Ji Xu'an felt as if she were a kindergarten teacher, while the others were a group of mischievous little radishes. (Kids)
However, she also thought it made some sense, so in the end she agreed to Ji Heyuan's proposal.
At first, they had planned to go to a restaurant to eat. But for some reason, something went wrong in Ji Heyuan's brain, and she suddenly thought that she had never been to Jiang Jiang and Ji Xu'an's "home of love."
"Xingyue Bay isn't too far from here. Let's buy some snacks and groceries and go over. We can sit and eat slowly while chatting."
Ji Xu'an's expression was indifferent. "Buy groceries? Are you going to cook?"
Ji Heyuan choked. "I'd like to, but I don't know how!"
Ji Xu'an didn't know how either. Jiang Jiang's cooking was quite good, but the problem was that she was today's main character and still a patient. They couldn't possibly make her cook, right?
Ji Heyuan racked her brains and finally came up with a good idea.
"Well, Secretary Zhao must have a way! Besides, as long as we pay enough, are we afraid we won't find someone who can cook?"
Ji Xu'an sneered. "You're paying?"
Yesterday, when Ji Heyuan went to the hospital, she had accidentally witnessed Jiang Jiang acting coquettishly toward Ji Xu'an. That scene left a deep impression on her, to the point that she had learned the trick.
"Please, my good sister, let me go! Let me go!" She grabbed Ji Xu'an's arm.
Ji Xu'an felt her head start to throb.
Jiang Jiang was well-behaved in appearance, and her voice was soft and sweet. When she acted coquettishly, she did it with ease, enough to melt one's heart.
Ji Heyuan wasn't bad-looking either, but her personality had always been carefree and mischievous. When she acted coquettishly, Ji Xu'an simply couldn't bear to look.
This was probably the difference between a rabbit acting cute and a water buffalo pretending to be obedient?
Ji Xu'an closed her eyes briefly. From the corner of her eye, she saw Jiang Jiang smiling brightly at them. Clearly, she didn't object to the matter; she was even looking forward to it. Ji Xu'an could only compromise.
"Let's go."
Because Jiang Jiang still had an injury on her foot, they ultimately didn't go grocery shopping. Ji Xu'an directly called Secretary Zhao and told him to arrange everything.
Afterward, Ji Xu'an called another driver and told him to drive Fu Xihe and the others to Xingyue Bay.
It was Ji Heyuan's first time coming to her sister and sister-in-law's home. She was unexpectedly a bit restrained. After entering, she looked around, appearing both nervous and curious.
Seeing this, Xu Zhen couldn't help but quietly ask, "little Yuan, what are you looking at?"
Ji Heyuan raised a finger to her lips. "Shh, keep your voice down. Don't let my sister hear."
Xu Zhen: ?
Ji Heyuan explained in an extremely soft voice, "I'm afraid I'll see something I shouldn't."
How embarrassing that would be!
It was better if she hadn't said anything. Once she did, even Xu Zhen felt a little unnatural.
Although when adults are in a relationship, some things are indeed hard to avoid, in everyone's mind Ji Xu'an was like an elder—an extremely strict one at that.
It was really hard not to be afraid.
Xu Zhen tugged at Ji Heyuan's sleeve. "If you're afraid, then stop looking."
Ji Heyuan clicked her tongue. "You don't understand."
She was both embarrassed and excited. After all, there weren't many chances to tease her sister.
Unfortunately, no matter how much Ji Heyuan inspected, the house was spotless. There wasn't a single thing that shouldn't be there.
Ji Heyuan felt a bit discouraged but still wasn't willing to give up.
She thought, could it be in the bedroom?
With Ji Heyuan's slightly flushed little face and eager expression, not only Jiang Jiang but even Ji Xu'an saw through her unhealthy thoughts.
Jiang Jiang blushed faintly and secretly glanced at Ji Xu'an. Then she cleared her throat and pretended to be calm as she said to Ji Xu'an, "Sister, I'll go back to my room to change clothes first."
Ji Xu'an nodded. "Go ahead."
Jiang Jiang walked into her room with her crutch. Ji Heyuan's gaze followed her figure, silently taking note of it.
As soon as Jiang Jiang left, the atmosphere in the living room instantly turned cold.
Ji Heyuan told the others to wait for her, then ran to the kitchen to find Ji Xu'an.
Leaning against the doorframe, she began making idle conversation. "Sis, Jiang Jiang isn't convenient. Why don't you go in and help her?"
Very good. The first sentence went straight to the point.
Ji Xu'an was making tea for the guests. Without turning her head, she said, "You're very concerned about our affairs?"
"Ahem." Ji Heyuan rubbed her hands awkwardly. "I'm just concerned about the progress of your relationship. Besides, I'm not the only one who cares. Grandma definitely wants to know too."
Ji Xu'an ignored her. Grandma had already agreed to let her and Jiang Jiang cancel their engagement. How could she possibly be secretly matchmaking them again?
Ji Xu'an felt that Ji Heyuan was lying to her.
But this time, she had truly wronged Ji Heyuan. Old Madam Ji had indeed asked Ji Heyuan about this matter. It was just that at the time she had repeatedly instructed Ji Heyuan not to tell Ji Xu'an.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Ji Heyuan also remembered her promise to Grandma, so she awkwardly tried to change the subject.
Her method of changing the subject was too stiff. Ji Xu'an heard the guilt in Ji Heyuan's tone, but instead it made her even more certain of her own assumption.
Thus, without Ji Xu'an even knowing it, she had already missed an opportunity to perceive the truth.
With her back to Ji Heyuan, washing teacups, Ji Xu'an said calmly, "Our matters don't require your concern."
"How could they not!" Ji Heyuan grew anxious. She still wanted to gossip. "I'm your biological younger sister. Shouldn't I care about you?"
Ji Xu'an let out a short laugh. "Thanks, but there's really no need."
Ji Heyuan was speechless. "Are you really this cold? Just now I saw Jiang Jiang go into a room that didn't seem like the master bedroom. You two aren't still sleeping separately, are you?"
Ji Heyuan had only said it casually. In fact, she hadn't seen clearly whether Jiang Jiang had gone into the master bedroom or the guest room. Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Ji Xu'an tacitly accepted her statement.
"Really?" Ji Heyuan was shocked. "You two shouldn't be like that. Why are you still sleeping separately?"
Ji Xu'an sensed something was wrong. From Ji Heyuan's tone, it sounded as though her sleeping separately from Jiang Jiang was extremely unreasonable.
She shook the water droplets off her hands and turned slightly sideways toward Ji Heyuan, glancing at her from the corner of her eye. "Why shouldn't we?"
What gave Ji Heyuan the illusion that she and Jiang Jiang should be sleeping in the same bed?
Ji Xu'an reflected for a moment. Recently, there had been no actions between her and Jiang Jiang that exceeded sisterly affection. So where did Ji Heyuan see that their relationship was very good?
Ji Xu'an instinctively felt that there was something she didn't know.
Fortunately, Ji Heyuan quickly gave her the answer.
"You're still asking me!" Ji Heyuan ground her teeth. She felt that Ji Xu'an was deliberately covering it up, so she blurted out, "You and Jiang Jiang have already slept together anyway, so what are you avoiding suspicion for!"
"Isn't that just taking off your pants to fart—completely unnecessary."
Ji Xu'an's gaze froze instantly, because she understood that the "slept together" in Ji Heyuan's mouth did not mean simply sharing a bed, but something deeper—more intimate behavior between lovers.
Ji Xu'an's expression turned very faint. Her dark eyes fixed steadily on Ji Heyuan, filled with invisible pressure.
"Who told you that Jiang Jiang and I have already slept together?"
Ji Heyuan didn't understand, but instinctively sensed danger. She helplessly met Ji Xu'an's gaze.
"Well… Jiang Jiang said it."
"Was she lying to me?"
That couldn't be possible. Would Jiang Jiang really dare to spread such rumors about her sister outside?
—
After changing her clothes, Jiang Jiang opened the door and limped toward the living room.
As soon as she arrived, she keenly sensed something was wrong.
There were five people in the living room.
Among them, Ji Heyuan was looking at her with a complicated gaze full of confusion and shock. Ji Xu'an was sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed. She cast a light glance toward Jiang Jiang, the emotions in her eyes unfathomable.
The other three were obediently holding teacups, drinking tea without understanding anything, completely unaware of the undercurrent surging in the room.
Jiang Jiang understood. The problem lay with Ji Heyuan.
Most likely, Ji Heyuan had said something to Ji Xu'an.
And what she said was definitely related to herself.
Jiang Jiang quickly recalled what she had said in front of Ji Heyuan and soon guessed the reason.
No wonder Ji Xu'an's attitude was so abnormal. She had probably already learned that she had deliberately misled Ji Heyuan.
Jiang Jiang steadied herself. Pretending not to know, she first called out, "Sister," and then sat down on the sofa.
The seat Jiang Jiang chose was also subtle. Next to her was Ji Heyuan, while Ji Xu'an sat in a single armchair. The two of them flanked Jiang Jiang on either side.
Ji Heyuan very much wanted to say something to Jiang Jiang, but Ji Xu'an was sitting right there. Under her sister's death glare, Ji Heyuan moved her lips but ultimately didn't dare make a sound. She took out her phone from her pocket and secretly sent Jiang Jiang a message on WeChat.
After sending it, she didn't hear the familiar notification sound, and Jiang Jiang showed no intention of taking out her phone to look. Ji Heyuan grew anxious and nudged Jiang Jiang's arm with her elbow.
Jiang Jiang: ?
Jiang Jiang looked at Ji Heyuan with a face full of confusion. "What's wrong, little Yuan?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone's gaze fell on Ji Heyuan. Ji Heyuan instantly felt enormous pressure.
She coughed softly, not daring to look at her sister's expression at all. "Nothing."
"Well, where's your phone?"
Jiang Jiang was momentarily stunned, then realized. "It was in my pocket just now. I probably left it in the room when I changed clothes."
She asked Ji Heyuan, "What's wrong? Do you have something you want to tell me?"
Ji Heyuan felt like her head was about to explode. This was what it meant to fear nothing when one didn't know!
Jiang Jiang had no idea what she was enduring at this moment.
"It's nothing important, hahaha." Ji Heyuan's smile was extremely stiff, almost as if the words "I'm fake smiling" were written on her face.
Perhaps Ji Xu'an also couldn't bear to watch anymore. She stood up, her gaze falling on Jiang Jiang. "Are there any fruits at home? I'll wash some."
Jiang Jiang quickly stood up as well. "There are still apples and grapes in the fridge, but they were bought a few days ago. I'm not sure if they're still good."
She followed Ji Xu'an into the kitchen. Yan Ke seemed about to say something, but Ji Heyuan grabbed her wrist.
She shook her head at Yan Ke, signaling her not to interfere.
This was between her sister and Jiang Jiang. Outsiders couldn't say much.
Ji Xu'an found the apples and grapes Jiang Jiang had mentioned in the refrigerator. Fortunately, they were still fresh and hadn't gone bad. She selected some of each and placed them on a plate.
Jiang Jiang stood nearby, leaning against the counter. Looking at Ji Xu'an's cold and beautiful profile, she softly asked, "Sister, do you have something you want to say to me?"
Ji Xu'an didn't lift her head. Her long, thick eyelashes were half-lowered, her expression particularly indifferent. "Why would you say that?"
"When I came out just now, little Yuan's expression when she looked at me was very strange, and…" Jiang Jiang bit her lip, grievance unconsciously showing on her face. "Your attitude toward me isn't as close as it was before."
Ji Xu'an let out a heavy breath. Jiang Jiang had just been discharged from the hospital; it really wasn't suitable to agitate her again. But Ji Xu'an still felt uncomfortable in her heart.
She lifted her eyelids to look at Jiang Jiang. The scrutiny in her eyes was obvious. "I don't reject being close to you, but it can only be intimacy between sisters. There's a line between us that can never be crossed. Do you understand?"
Jiang Jiang froze. She looked at Ji Xu'an helplessly. "Did… did I do something wrong that made you uncomfortable?"
Ji Xu'an looked at her deeply. The unease and confusion on Jiang Jiang's face were so real that even she couldn't detect the slightest flaw. Yet she truly couldn't understand why Jiang Jiang had said such things in front of little Yuan.
"Then do you think you did anything wrong?" Ji Xu'an decided to give her a chance to confess on her own.
Jiang Jiang twisted the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands and cautiously probed, "Was I not well-behaved in my sleep last night? Or should I not have invited little Yuan and the others to the house today?"
Ji Xu'an remained silent.
Jiang Jiang understood. She had guessed wrong.
She lowered her head. Tears swirled in her eyes but stubbornly refused to fall. "Can Sister give me a hint?"
"I really can't figure it out. Just now everything was fine. Why did your attitude suddenly become cold?"
Her voice trembled with a faint sob.
It made Ji Xu'an feel as though she had truly done something wrong.
She simply put down the apple in her hand, turned to face Jiang Jiang directly, and her expression became serious as well.
"Jiang Jiang, then tell me."
Ji Xu'an paused. "Why did you tell Xiao Yuan that I kissed and hugged you…"
"And that we already slept together?"
—
Author's note:
Jiang Jiang: She's slandering me!!
Ji Heyuan: Fine, fine, so I'm the only one who got hurt, right?
—
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