Because of that small interlude just now, Fu Xiaoyin no longer deliberately tried to talk to Jiang Jiang.
Jiang Jiang silently finished the bag of chips. During that time, she fed Ji Xu'an a few more times. She deliberately chose smaller pieces. Ji Xu'an also stopped biting only half, so the situation from the beginning did not happen again.
Fu Xiaoyin observed the two of them with great interest. She had always known that Ji Xu'an's personality was very reserved, but she had not expected Jiang Jiang to be so restrained and innocent as well. It was only eating chips, yet it made the two of them feel somewhat awkward.
After finishing, Ji Xu'an handed a tissue to Jiang Jiang. Jiang Jiang forcefully wiped away the chip crumbs from her fingertips, yet she still felt there was a lingering smell on her hands.
At this time, Fu Xiaoyin handed them a wet wipe.
Ji Xu'an was sitting between the two of them and was closer to Fu Xiaoyin, so she reached out to take it. Just as she was about to pass it to Jiang Jiang, she suddenly heard Fu Xiaoyin say leisurely, "President Ji, how can you be so unthoughtful?"
"At a time like this, you should help Jiang Jiang wipe her hands. Why are you letting her do it herself?"
Fu Xiaoyin's words successfully made Ji Xu'an freeze in place. The wet wipe in her hand was neither given nor withheld.
Jiang Jiang's already flushed cheeks grew even hotter. Ji Xu'an usually took good care of her, but there was no need to care to that extent. She said softly, "It's fine. I can do it myself."
Fu Xiaoyin clicked her tongue. "Of course you can do it yourself, but President Ji also needs a chance to perform."
At this point, Fu Xiaoyin deliberately paused, her smile somewhat sly. "If it really doesn't work, I can do it on her behalf."
The moment Ji Xu'an heard this, she immediately tightened her grip on the wet wipe and reached out to lift Jiang Jiang's wrist.
Anyone with eyes could see that Fu Xiaoyin was using a provocation tactic, yet Ji Xu'an happened to fall for it. Or rather, she welcomed it. Just in time, under Fu Xiaoyin's "pressure," she satisfied her own desire to get close to Jiang Jiang.
Jiang Jiang only felt that the wrist encircled by Ji Xu'an was so soft that she could not muster any strength. Her fingertips hung loosely in the air, then were gently wrapped in the wet wipe by Ji Xu'an and carefully, meticulously wiped.
The sensation on the pads of her fingers was ticklish. Jiang Jiang unconsciously shrank her fingertips back slightly. The next second, Ji Xu'an lifted her eyes to look at her.
"Did I hurt you?"
Jiang Jiang pressed her lips together. "No."
She endured the ticklish feeling and forcibly relaxed her fingers, yet she did not dare let her gaze fall on Ji Xu'an. But after her line of sight shifted away, the pressure at her fingertips became even more distinct. Jiang Jiang even felt as if she could sense Ji Xu'an's breath falling on the back of her hand, bringing a tingling numbness.
Her face was so red that it seemed as if steam could rise from it.
Fu Xiaoyin had been staring unblinkingly at this scene. Logically speaking, Ji Xu'an was someone she had once secretly admired, and Jiang Jiang was a girl she rather appreciated. She should have felt at least somewhat uncomfortable. Yet at this moment, Fu Xiaoyin only felt that it was extremely sweet.
Jiang Jiang and Ji Xu'an's reactions were far too amusing. And their conversation just now—tsk tsk—Fu Xiaoyin was almost embarrassed to listen.
After wiping Jiang Jiang's hands, Ji Xu'an sat back down. The used wet wipe was thrown into the trash can. Ji Xu'an rubbed her own damp fingertips lightly, as if she could still feel that unusual warmth.
Her gaze always could not help but fall on Jiang Jiang. Each time it did not linger long, but it happened too frequently.
Jiang Jiang was not a plant without feeling. If someone kept staring at her, how could she not notice?
Yet whether intentionally or unintentionally, Jiang Jiang did not expose Ji Xu'an. She kept her head lowered, seriously looking at her phone, leaving Ji Xu'an only a bright and beautiful side profile.
Time gradually passed in this quiet atmosphere. After the boarding announcement was made, the few of them walked out of the waiting lounge one after another.
Fu Xiaoyin had indeed come prepared. Her seat was right beside Jiang Jiang and Ji Xu'an, separated only by an aisle.
Jiang Jiang had never flown before. In her excitement, there was inevitably some fear. Especially after the plane took off, she discovered that she actually suffered from airsickness.
At that instant of rapid heartbeat, accompanied by dizziness and nausea, Jiang Jiang frowned tightly, unaware of how pale her face had become.
Ji Xu'an, however, noticed Jiang Jiang's discomfort immediately. With a tense expression, she supported Jiang Jiang's shoulder and let her rest her head against the seat back.
Then Ji Xu'an suddenly thought of something. She took out a small orange from her bag, peeled it, and let Jiang Jiang hold it under her nose to smell.
The orange had been prepared in the waiting lounge. Because Jiang Jiang liked to eat them, Ji Xu'an had taken two extra.
Unexpectedly, it came in handy.
Ji Xu'an could not care about anything else. Recalling the techniques she had once learned for dealing with airsickness, she cupped Jiang Jiang's wrist in her hand and used skillful pressure with her fingertips to massage the Neiguan acupoint.
As she massaged, Ji Xu'an said in a low voice, "There's motion sickness medicine on the plane. I'll ask the flight attendant for a cup of warm water. Take one."
There was a hint of annoyance in Ji Xu'an's tone. She had been too careless and had not considered this in advance.
Because Jiang Jiang never got carsick, Ji Xu'an had subconsciously assumed that she would not get airsick either.
In fact, Jiang Jiang had already felt much better at this moment. Her discomfort came from being caught off guard. She had not expected the plane's ascent to be so fast, making her entire head feel dizzy.
However, after smelling the orange peel, the nausea eased considerably. Jiang Jiang shook her head and refused Ji Xu'an's suggestion. "I feel much better. I don't need medicine. I'll be fine after resting a bit."
Ji Xu'an was still frowning, her expression very serious.
Jiang Jiang simply raised her hand to press on the back of Ji Xu'an's hand and said softly, "You don't need to keep pressing, Sister."
Before Ji Xu'an could persuade her, Jiang Jiang continued, "I'm a little scared. Can you come a bit closer to me?"
Ji Xu'an carefully examined Jiang Jiang's complexion. Seeing that her cheeks were indeed no longer as pale as before, and even her lips had regained their color, she finally half relaxed. "Okay."
Their bodies gradually drew closer. In the end, half of Jiang Jiang's body leaned against Ji Xu'an. Her head rested on Ji Xu'an's shoulder. Her whole person nearly shrank completely into Ji Xu'an's embrace.
She reached out and pulled the blanket higher, wrapping herself completely, leaving only a fair little face exposed. Strands of hair brushed across her cheeks, adding a touch of laziness to her appearance.
Ji Xu'an's peripheral vision remained on Jiang Jiang's face. After staring at her for an unknown amount of time, she cautiously took out her phone and secretly took a photo of Jiang Jiang's sleeping appearance, recording this moving scene.
Ji Xu'an tapped lightly with her fingertips and saved the photo into a dedicated album. Only after finishing all this did she calmly put her phone away.
If not for the photo in her phone as evidence, judging only by the serious expression on Ji Xu'an's face, no one would have guessed what she had just done.
Fortunately, this scene had not been seen by a second person.
Ji Xu'an felt as though she were a thief secretly hoarding someone else's candy. If Jiang Jiang knew how the sister she regarded as her support coveted her in secret, she might feel as though something were stuck in her throat even recalling this scene.
She was not a good person. Knowing clearly that Jiang Jiang was completely unaware, she still blatantly made use of Jiang Jiang's trust in her to satisfy her own selfish desires.
Last night was like this. Now was also like this.
But Ji Xu'an did not care. Whether she should or should not, she had already done it this way.
Feeling the weight on her shoulder, Ji Xu'an's lips could not help but curve slightly upward.
Quietly tilting her head toward Jiang Jiang's side, Ji Xu'an closed her eyes as well and began to rest.
From S City to City B, the flight only took a little over two hours. By the time Jiang Jiang woke up, they were almost there.
She slept especially soundly. At the tip of her nose, she could constantly smell a faint grape fragrance. It was the scent of Ji Xu'an's body wash. In a daze, a thought surfaced in Jiang Jiang's mind.
The fragrance of this body wash lasted quite long.
When Jiang Jiang woke up, Ji Xu'an also happened to open her eyes. Her gaze was clear, without any trace of sleepiness.
"Do you still feel unwell?" Ji Xu'an asked softly.
Jiang Jiang shook her head. After sleeping, her limbs felt somewhat weak. Since Ji Xu'an had not pushed her away, Jiang Jiang simply allowed herself to continue leaning against her, speaking in a sticky, coquettish tone. "Sister, I want to drink water."
Ji Xu'an said, "Okay."
She asked the flight attendant for a cup of warm water.
Yet Jiang Jiang did not reach out to take it. Instead, she curved her lips at Ji Xu'an. In her almond eyes flickered tiny points of laughter. She parted her lips as if joking. "Can Sister feed me?"
Ji Xu'an did not say whether it was good or not. She held the cup of warm water in one hand. Her other hand, which had been resting on her lap, was lifted. Her palm passed behind Jiang Jiang's neck and loosely rested on her shoulder.
In this posture, Ji Xu'an encircled Jiang Jiang and lifted the rim of the thermos cup to her lips, saying gently, "Drink slowly."
Although Jiang Jiang had proposed this first, she was still slightly stunned by Ji Xu'an's series of actions.
According to her expectation, Ji Xu'an might first refuse her. Then she would have to act a little more coquettish before Ji Xu'an would agree.
But Jiang Jiang had not expected that Ji Xu'an would agree so readily, without the slightest embarrassment or hesitation.
As if she… had been hoping for it, just waiting for her to say those words.
Jiang Jiang silently parted her lips and drank the warm water fed to her in small sips.
Her lowered long lashes concealed the thoughts in her eyes. Ji Xu'an could not see her expression clearly. She only felt that Jiang Jiang's appearance at this moment was obedient to the point of making her heart almost melt.
After finishing the water, Jiang Jiang stuck out the tip of her tongue and licked her lips. Before she could ask for a tissue, Ji Xu'an naturally used the pad of her finger to wipe away the moisture at the corner of Jiang Jiang's lips.
After doing this, Ji Xu'an herself froze.
She curled her fingers, her gaze withdrawing as well. "Sorry."
Jiang Jiang shrank her neck slightly. Her lips were covered by the blanket, making her reply somewhat muffled. "It's fine. Thank you, Sister."
After that, neither of them spoke again. When the plane descended, Jiang Jiang tightly gripped Ji Xu'an's hand. Ji Xu'an followed the momentum and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, silently comforting her.
The two leaned tightly against each other. The harmony and sweetness between them was something no one could insert themselves into.
And Fu Xiaoyin was completely unaware of this.
She had slept on the plane. Only after getting off did she notice that the atmosphere between Ji Xu'an and Jiang Jiang was somewhat strange.
If she had to describe it, she felt that the brightness around her own body had become even more dazzling, changing from one hundred watts to two hundred watts.
It was not even nine o'clock after getting off the plane. Ji Xu'an handed the luggage to the others. She herself prepared to take Jiang Jiang out for a stroll and to eat something.
Seeing this, Fu Xiaoyin wanted to continue being the third wheel between them, but unfortunately Ji Xu'an did not give her the opportunity.
However, this did not stump clever Little Fu. If she was not allowed to follow openly, then she would secretly follow behind.
At night, City B was not cold and desolate. At this hour, the nightlife was just beginning.
The land was enveloped in night. Colorful neon lights flickered along both sides of the street. Jiang Jiang and Ji Xu'an walked side by side, each walking their own way, with a fist's distance between them.
Watching this scene from not far away, Fu Xiaoyin grew anxious. Did these two even know how to date?
Did they not like holding hands?
Unfortunately, the two in front did not sense her anxiety. They continued walking forward unhurriedly.
Ji Xu'an was also very familiar with City B and knew which places were interesting. She led Jiang Jiang turning left and right. Before long, they arrived at a very lively street.
The flow of people here was obviously greater than the places they had passed earlier. The coming and going pedestrians nearly filled the sidewalk. Jiang Jiang had no choice but to move closer to Ji Xu'an.
Her attention was entirely on her footing. To avoid a running child, Jiang Jiang had to turn her shoulder slightly, yet she almost bumped into another person. Just when she felt flustered and at a loss, Jiang Jiang suddenly felt a hand appear at her lower back, wrapping around her waist and pulling her slightly to the side.
It was Ji Xu'an.
"Be careful." Ji Xu'an quickly let go of her hand.
But after that, she consistently kept half a step behind Jiang Jiang, following at a protective pace so that no one else would bump into her.
When Fu Xiaoyin saw this, the thoughts that had originally fallen silent in her heart immediately stirred again.
From the looks of it, Ji Xu'an still understood quite well. Maybe she was just a little slow to react.
Forget it. Today she would be a good person to the end and give Ji Xu'an a small push.
—
Jiang Jiang bought a few takoyaki by the roadside and shared them with Ji Xu'an, you take a bite, I take a bite. After finishing them, she felt thirsty, so she drank a cup of lemonade.
The only bad thing about having a small stomach was this—she was still eyeing other foods greedily, but her stomach was already somewhat full.
Jiang Jiang secretly rubbed her belly and sighed regretfully. "Sister, let's take a walk along this road a bit more."
Ji Xu'an naturally listened to her in everything.
They hadn't walked long before they were stopped by a neatly dressed little girl.
The little girl was holding several flowers in her arms.
She had a sweet mouth. The moment she came over, she flashed a big smile at Jiang Jiang and Ji Xu'an. "Big sisters, buy a flower for your girlfriend!"
There were quite a few people selling flowers here, but someone as bold as this little girl was a first.
However, she was very cute and her smile was very sweet, so even though they had been abruptly stopped, neither Jiang Jiang nor Ji Xu'an felt disturbed.
The two exchanged a glance. The words "girlfriend" from the little girl made Ji Xu'an's thoughts stir slightly. Before her brain could react, her fingers had already opened WeChat.
"Big sister, just buy one. A red rose matches this sister very well. Your love will bloom fiery red like a rose." As she persuaded her, the little girl blinked at Ji Xu'an.
Those words went straight into Ji Xu'an's heart. Even though she clearly knew a little girl wouldn't understand what love was and that this was most likely a sales pitch taught by adults, Ji Xu'an was still willing to pay for it.
More importantly, Jiang Jiang did not refuse.
Ji Xu'an's heart began to pound rapidly. She bent down to look at the little girl at eye level. "Then I'll buy one. How much is it?"
Joy shone in the little girl's eyes. "Thank you, big sister! One red rose is 999 yuan."
As she spoke, she revealed the QR code hanging on her chest.
Ji Xu'an's movement as she scanned the code paused. Even though she had never given someone roses before, she knew that a single red rose shouldn't be worth 999 yuan.
Jiang Jiang watched curiously from the side. She had never bought flowers in this world before. Although she felt the price wasn't cheap, she didn't suspect anything.
After noticing Ji Xu'an's pause, Jiang Jiang asked softly, "What's wrong, Sister?"
Could it be that Ji Xu'an regretted it? Didn't want to give her flowers anymore?
Given their current relationship, if both of them were willing to let things continue as they were, this flower could count as a small romantic touch to deepen their feelings. But if Ji Xu'an was unwilling, Jiang Jiang didn't want to force her either.
She was just about to say forget it when she saw Ji Xu'an lift her fingertip and enter the three digits 999 on the payment interface.
Her expression didn't change at all. She showed no displeasure or unwillingness at being treated as a gullible sucker to be ripped off, and softly explained to Jiang Jiang, "It's nothing."
Jiang Jiang was a bit confused, but soon the little girl answered her doubts.
The 999 yuan Ji Xu'an was about to pay ultimately was not transferred, because before she confirmed the payment, the little girl stopped her.
"Big sister, actually I was joking with you just now. This rose only costs 9.9 yuan." The little girl stuck out her tongue, a mischievous smile on her face after her prank succeeded, yet her words were sweet enough that no one could muster even a trace of anger.
"I hope the feelings between you and your girlfriend can also be like this number—long-lasting forever!"
Ji Xu'an: …
This time Ji Xu'an was completely silent.
Jiang Jiang looked puzzled. "Only 9.9?"
So a red rose was that cheap?
Wait, just now the little girl said 999—one hundred times more—and Ji Xu'an was actually willing to pay?!
Didn't she think that price was unreasonable?
After her shock, Jiang Jiang seemed to understand something. She cleared her throat, secretly glanced at Ji Xu'an, then pretended to look away casually. The half of her face illuminated by the lights was red enough to drip blood.
Ji Xu'an remained silent throughout. After paying, she took a red rose from the little girl's hand and, under the other's kind gaze, handed the flower to Jiang Jiang.
Jiang Jiang reached out to accept it, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz. "Thank you, Sister."
Only then did Ji Xu'an part her lips and softly say, "No need to thank me."
Looking closely, one could notice a suspicious blush rising on her face as well.
The shrewd and capable President Ji had actually been tricked by a flower-selling little girl. If word got out, people would laugh at her for a lifetime.
Yet Ji Xu'an had truly been willing to pay that 999 just now, so much so that at this moment she couldn't even find a reason to defend herself. What could she say? She couldn't very well claim she liked being treated as a fat fish to be slaughtered.
Ji Xu'an's mood was complicated. She was annoyed that she had made such a foolish mistake in front of Jiang Jiang, yet she couldn't help wondering whether Jiang Jiang had already guessed her feelings.
If that was the case, would Jiang Jiang tacitly allow her step-by-step approach, or turn around and reject her from a thousand miles away?
Ji Xu'an nervously observed Jiang Jiang's changing expression. Jiang Jiang was still lowering her head to sniff the rose, seemingly unaware of how fervent Ji Xu'an's gaze upon her was.
Having completed her mission and hidden her merits and fame, the little girl had already merged into the crowd and disappeared.
Jiang Jiang lifted her head and said to Ji Xu'an with crescent-shaped eyes, "There's no scent. I thought it would be fragrant."
"Do you like fragrant roses?" Ji Xu'an heard herself answer in a steady tone, "There are many planted in the greenhouse at the old residence. I'll have someone place some in the living room and in your room every day. Is that alright?"
As she spoke, she moved to Jiang Jiang's side again, the two standing even closer than before.
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble?" Jiang Jiang looked up at Ji Xu'an.
Ji Xu'an's gaze swept over her crimson lips. Her slightly husky voice was exceptionally gentle. "It's not troublesome. If they're not cut and placed in vases, they'll only wither in the greenhouse."
She looked into Jiang Jiang's eyes. "If they can make you happy, then those flowers have truly realized their value."
Ji Xu'an's sweet talk could hardly be called subtle. Someone who once couldn't squeeze out a single word for half a day had now learned to use tender words to coax the one she liked.
Jiang Jiang's cheeks were flushed. She lowered her eyes shyly, then suddenly opened her arms and hugged Ji Xu'an. "Sister, you're so good to me."
Ji Xu'an's gaze wavered for a moment. The body in her arms was too soft; for a moment she didn't know where to place her hands, and in the end she could only loosely wrap an arm around Jiang Jiang's waist.
The two stood quietly embracing. Jiang Jiang pressed her face against Ji Xu'an's neck, her voice light and soft. "As long as it's from you, Sister, I like it."
"Besides, the flowers you had planted must all be very precious. If I didn't like them, wouldn't that be letting down your good intentions?"
At those words, Ji Xu'an's previously uncontrollable heartbeat suddenly calmed, and the brain that had been filled with pink bubbles cleared as well.
"Is that what you think?" Ji Xu'an lowered her head to look at Jiang Jiang's flushed little face in her arms and frowned deeply.
She did want Jiang Jiang to be happy, but seeing how easily Jiang Jiang was moved made Ji Xu'an worry that in the future she might also be easily coaxed and deceived by others using the same methods.
So President Ji began tearing down her own stage.
"Jiang Jiang, sometimes you need to be more rational and look past the surface of things to their essence."
For example, the roses in the greenhouse—if Jiang Jiang didn't like them, would she uproot them all?
Before Jiang Jiang came, hadn't she already spent large amounts of time and money to have people cultivate and plant them? She had done it entirely for her own pleasure; it had nothing to do with Jiang Jiang.
Giving flowers to make Jiang Jiang happy was merely going along with the situation.
So Jiang Jiang didn't need to feel responsible for the preciousness of those flowers at all.
Even if she didn't like them one bit, Ji Xu'an wouldn't think she had wasted them. After all, Ji Xu'an had planted the flowers and was the one who chose to give them. What did that have to do with Jiang Jiang?
Ji Xu'an patiently explained, "Don't shoulder all the responsibility yourself."
"If someone tells you how much she has given up for you, you only need to consider one question."
"Were those sacrifices truly made entirely for you, or were you merely incidental? Whether you existed or not, would she still have invested something into this matter?"
Jiang Jiang was stunned. Ji Xu'an was… telling her not to be moved so easily?!
Ji Xu'an seemed to think of something else and continued, "Moreover, you always have the right to refuse and to say no. Don't feel guilty because of someone else's initiative, if it wasn't something you forced."
"Then what does the price someone pays out of her own willingness have to do with you?"
So people like Sister Fu or Sister Chu should stop trying to use self-sacrificing tricks in front of Jiang Jiang!
That was their own wishful thinking. Jiang Jiang didn't need to take responsibility for their feelings at all!
Jiang Jiang: …
How should she put it? Jiang Jiang wasn't completely unmoved. After all, Ji Xu'an could have continued coaxing her, yet she still broke the reasoning down bit by bit to teach her.
At the very least, it showed that Ji Xu'an had never truly intended to deceive her by treating her as a naive, sweet fool.
But the problem was that the faint, ambiguous atmosphere that had been lingering between them just now had also been dispersed by Ji Xu'an's words.
Jiang Jiang had no choice but to withdraw from Ji Xu'an's embrace and look at her seriously. "I think I understand what you mean, Sister."
"Don't worry. I won't be so easily moved." Jiang Jiang's tone was firm.
Ji Xu'an frowned, wanting to speak but stopping herself.
Why did she feel like she had lifted a stone only to drop it on her own foot?
—
Not far away, two heads—one big, one small—were secretly watching this side.
Fu Xiaoyin stroked her chin and asked the little girl beside her, "Do you think they're confessing their feelings to each other?"
The little girl, whom Ji Xu'an had judged as not understanding anything, now also wore a profound expression. "I think so."
"I strictly said exactly what you taught me, not a single word changed. And I secretly saw just now—the big sister and her girlfriend, both their faces were very red."
Hearing this, Fu Xiaoyin was completely reassured. "Then it should be right."
She gave the little girl two hundred yuan as payment. "You're amazing!!"
The little girl was especially happy. "Sister, if there's work like this next time, remember to find me again!"
Fu Xiaoyin nodded repeatedly. "Definitely, definitely!"
After the little girl left, she secretly watched a little longer. The more she watched, the more she couldn't help muttering softly, "Why is this so strange?"
Logically speaking, the atmosphere between the two of them should be just right now. Why aren't they kissing yet?
Could it be that Ji Xu'an was too shy to kiss in public?
How could that do?
If they didn't kiss, what was she supposed to watch!
Fu Xiaoyin didn't feel in the slightest that her thoughts were perverted. At this moment she was no different from an overenthusiastic fan obsessively shipping a couple.
Judging from Ji Xu'an's performance throughout the day, there was probably still some grinding to do between the two of them. After all, she couldn't possibly let Jiang Jiang take the initiative, could she?
But Fu Xiaoyin could tell—they were interested in each other.
She decided to probe Jiang Jiang's attitude first. If Jiang Jiang was also willing, she would help them once again.
—
That night, after returning, Jiang Jiang received a message from Fu Xiaoyin.
[Sister Fu: Jiang Jiang, do you want to take another step forward with Ji Xu'an?]
—
Author's Note:
Jiang Jiang: Thanks, I've completely wilted. I no longer have those worldly desires :)
President Ji: QAQ Wife, give me another chance!
—
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