Jiang Jiang did not pay much attention to Ji Xu'an's gaze, because her attention was already completely focused on her phone.
She scrolled through everything but still could not find out who Zhou Zisuo's so-called "white moonlight" was. She only vaguely learned that it seemed to be related to a Weibo post Zhou Zisuo had made two years ago.
Unfortunately, that Weibo post could no longer be seen.
Jiang Jiang put down her phone. Although she had not figured out the whole story, there was at least one thing beyond doubt: Zhou Zisuo's "white moonlight" had to be Ji Xu'an.
Jiang Jiang pressed her lips together and, as if inadvertently, turned her head to glance at Ji Xu'an. Unexpectedly, Ji Xu'an was also looking at her. Their gazes collided abruptly.
Jiang Jiang froze. Ji Xu'an also seemed startled. The two of them simultaneously looked away, then secretly observed each other's reactions from the corners of their eyes.
Soon, the sound of typing resumed in the office, accompanied by the rustling of pages being turned. Sunlight streamed in from outside the window, adding a touch of color to the quiet room.
In the end, Jiang Jiang did not ask Ji Xu'an whether she knew about Zhou Zisuo's Weibo post. Ji Xu'an also did not ask Jiang Jiang why she had been focused only on her phone, paying no attention to her at all.
They each busied themselves with their own tasks, pretending as though nothing had happened.
But they did not know that this entire scene had actually fallen into the eyes of two other people.
After watching the whole show from the side, Jiang Zhenyun could not help clicking her tongue twice and whispered to the person beside her, "It's only been a short time since we last saw them. How did these two become so awkward?"
He Qiuwan reached out and smoothed the long hair at her cheek that had been tousled by the wind. "What are you thinking about now?"
Jiang Zhenyun smiled with narrowed eyes. "Relax, I definitely won't do anything bad."
"I just want to add a little surprise to their dull life."
—
At six in the afternoon, Ji Xu'an got off work on time.
After writing for several hours, Jiang Jiang finally finished the next chapter. She set the scheduled publishing time and then shut down her computer.
"What do you want to eat for dinner?" Ji Xu'an asked softly while tidying up her things.
Jiang Jiang thought for a moment. "Will there be anyone else?"
Ji Xu'an's hand paused as she picked up her car keys. She raised her eyes to look at Jiang Jiang. "Who else do you hope will be there?"
Jiang Jiang had originally wanted to say "Anyone is fine," but when the words left her mouth, they turned into, "Can't it just be the two of us?"
Ji Xu'an froze again. This time, however, she reacted quickly. Without waiting for Jiang Jiang to explain, Ji Xu'an nodded and said rapidly, "Yes."
"No one else. Just the two of us."
After saying that, Ji Xu'an turned to take the coat draped over the back of her chair. A second before she turned her head away, Jiang Jiang saw what seemed to be a slight upward curve at the corner of her lips.
Jiang Jiang bit her lip. Two blushes rose uncontrollably on her cheeks, and she felt a bit annoyed with herself.
That was clearly not what she had intended to say just now!
But judging from Ji Xu'an's reaction, she did not seem to dislike what she had said. Jiang Jiang let out a breath of relief. She rubbed her burning cheeks and tried to appear as if nothing had happened while pulling open the office door.
Ji Xu'an followed behind her. Along the way, under the gazes cast at them by others, their expressions were identically calm.
But those familiar with Ji Xu'an could still tell that the boss was in an excellent mood!
Everyone exchanged looks and revealed knowing smiles.
The elevator went straight down to the underground parking garage. Jiang Jiang was not familiar with the layout there, so as they walked, the two of them ended up side by side.
Ji Xu'an had her coat draped over one arm. The arm closer to Jiang Jiang hung naturally at her side. Taking advantage of her height, she lowered her eyes and glanced at Jiang Jiang. Seeing that Jiang Jiang's hands were clasped together in front of her, she could not help feeling a little disappointed.
Ji Xu'an's glance was subtle, and Jiang Jiang did not notice it. But the parking garage was too quiet. The slight heaviness that suddenly entered Ji Xu'an's breathing was clearly caught by Jiang Jiang.
Jiang Jiang turned her head to look at her, curiosity filling her almond-shaped eyes. "Sister, I think I just heard you sigh?"
Worried that Jiang Jiang might find her too clingy, Ji Xu'an originally intended to say, "It's nothing." But what came out instead was, "I want to hold your hand."
Not only that, but in the few seconds that Ji Xu'an stood there in a daze, she even heard herself add, in a voice tinged with grievance, "Why won't you put your hand down? Do you not want to stand close to me?"
As soon as those words were spoken, even Ji Xu'an herself was completely stunned.
She looked at Jiang Jiang in confusion, unable to recover for a long while. If one looked carefully, a trace of panic could even be seen in Ji Xu'an's eyes.
For a moment, Jiang Jiang also did not know how to react. Was Ji Xu'an… acting coquettish toward her?!
However, she recovered faster than Ji Xu'an. Since Ji Xu'an had already said so much, how could Jiang Jiang possibly refuse?
She first gently hooked Ji Xu'an's fingertips. Seeing no reaction from the other woman, she tentatively slid her fingers into the spaces between Ji Xu'an's fingers.
Ji Xu'an's mind was still surging like stormy waves, but her hands moved quickly. Almost instinctively, she tightened her grip around Jiang Jiang's fingers, not allowing her to pull away even the slightest bit.
It was just a simple act of holding hands, yet it left both of them blushing.
Jiang Jiang cleared her throat. "Sister, it's not that I didn't want to stand close to you."
"If you want to do something next time, just tell me directly. As long as it's not too excessive, I'll consider it."
Although Ji Xu'an tried her best to maintain composure, her cheeks and even her earlobes were flushed red. The warmth coming from their intertwined fingers constantly reminded her of what she had just done.
How had she…
Ji Xu'an closed her eyes with a headache.
But when she thought about how Jiang Jiang had actually fallen for that approach, the sense of embarrassment in her heart seemed to lessen somewhat.
Perhaps this was not such a bad method after all…
—
Ji Xu'an had thought that she had merely let her true feelings slip out by accident earlier, but she did not expect that it was only the beginning.
Because Jiang Jiang said she wanted to eat fish, Ji Xu'an drove her to a very famous restaurant in the city. Their boiled fish was exceptional.
Halfway there, Ji Xu'an stopped at a red light. By coincidence, a car also pulled up beside Jiang Jiang's side.
The scene before them seemed like a replay of the morning. Through the lowered car window, Ji Xu'an saw a familiar woman sitting in the driver's seat of the car next to them.
Her brows furrowed again. But before Ji Xu'an could do anything, Jiang Jiang suddenly waved at the woman across from them.
"Classmate Jiang, what a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you here."
Ji Xu'an's frown deepened. Jiang Jiang knew this woman?
Jiang Zhenyun in the other car flashed them a big smile. "It is quite a coincidence. Classmate Xie, going to dinner with your girlfriend?"
Jiang Jiang blinked. "Mm."
As soon as she finished speaking, the red light turned green. Jiang Zhenyun waved her hand. "I won't chat now. I have something to do. Let's talk next time."
Both car windows rolled up at the same time. After the cars started moving again, the smile on Jiang Jiang's face gradually faded.
She had only met Jiang Zhenyun once. Even her name had been learned later during a chat.
So how did Jiang Zhenyun know that Ji Xu'an was her girlfriend?
Even if she had heard it from someone else, she would not have recognized Ji Xu'an so quickly—unless she had already known Ji Xu'an before.
While Jiang Jiang was thinking, she suddenly heard Ji Xu'an ask, "You know her?"
Jiang Jiang nodded. "We met once at school."
She pondered the tone Ji Xu'an had used and added casually, "Sister, do you also know Classmate Jiang?"
Ji Xu'an gave a soft "Mm." Secretary Zhao had not yet finished investigating the true identities of those two people. Ji Xu'an had originally not planned to say much, so as not to cause Jiang Jiang unnecessary worry.
But for some reason, she could not control herself and said, "I met her once this morning. I don't know her, but she gives me a very familiar feeling."
The words inevitably sounded ambiguous. Before Ji Xu'an could reflect on why she had once again spoken her thoughts aloud, she observed Jiang Jiang's expression and hurried to explain, "I suspect her identity is somewhat strange. I'm worried she might be in league with Zheng Zhouzhou."
Jiang Jiang's expression sharpened. She had not expected Ji Xu'an to feel the same way.
If she alone had thought so, it might have been dismissed as an illusion. But now that both she and Ji Xu'an felt this way, it could not be a coincidence!
"Actually, I also feel that there's something very strange about her," Jiang Jiang paused. A certain speculation suddenly flashed through her mind. The next second, before her brain could catch up, her mouth had already spoken first.
"I suspect she came from the same place as I did."
Silence filled the car.
Jiang Jiang came back to her senses and could not help pressing her lips tightly together. She suspected she must be possessed.
She had not planned to tell Ji Xu'an about this at all.
Ji Xu'an stared straight ahead, her hands on the steering wheel, as if she had not noticed Jiang Jiang's regret. Her tone remained calm. "Did something happen that I don't know about?"
Jiang Jiang's heart was still filled with uncertainty. She did not notice how many turbulent emotions were being suppressed beneath Ji Xu'an's calm gaze.
Ji Xu'an had thought that Jiang Zhenyun and Zheng Zhouzhou were working together. She had not expected that the truth might be far more delightful than she had imagined.
If Jiang Zhenyun truly came from the same place as Jiang Jiang, did that mean she could learn about Jiang Jiang's past life through her?!
From Jiang Jiang's usual manners and speech, Ji Xu'an could already guess that she had most likely grown up as a noble young lady in an influential family, perhaps even one of great renown.
Was it possible, Ji Xu'an thought, that Jiang Zhenyun might even have known Jiang Jiang in the past?
At this thought, Ji Xu'an's breathing tightened. She gripped the steering wheel firmly and restrained herself again and again to avoid revealing anything in front of Jiang Jiang.
Since Jiang Jiang was unwilling to tell her personally, Ji Xu'an could only find other ways to understand the situation. And Jiang Zhenyun was a surprise sent to her by fate!
At this moment, Ji Xu'an could not wait to find out what was really going on. Perhaps she might even learn the truth about Jiang Jiang's transmigration from Jiang Zhenyun!
Even if that did not work, she could still look for the common points between the two of them. No matter what, at least Jiang Zhenyun's appearance had given Ji Xu'an a glimmer of hope!
She had never considered that Jiang Jiang might be lying.
Because at such a critical moment, when her identity could be exposed at any time, Jiang Jiang would never joke about something like this.
The only reason she would think this way was that Jiang Zhenyun had given her that feeling in some aspect.
Ji Xu'an lowered her eyes. She thought that whether Jiang Zhenyun was or was not, there could only be one answer to this question.
She had to be!
—
Author's Note:
Jiang Zhenyun: Does anyone understand how I feel? I kindly helped out, and now I've been stuck with this mess (spreads hands).
—
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