Jiang Jiang admitted that there was a bit of deliberate intent on her part. After all, Zhou Zisuo had come to provoke her.
Thinking of this, Jiang Jiang could not help but avert her gaze. She lowered her head and looked at her toes, kicking a small pebble by her foot a little farther away.
When she raised her head again, Ji Xu'an was already standing in front of her.
But to Jiang Jiang's surprise, Ji Xu'an did not immediately ask about Liu Xiaobao's identity. Instead, she reached out and touched the side of Jiang Jiang's face, the concern in her tone impossible to hide. "Are you cold?"
Jiang Jiang folded her hands in front of her and obediently let Ji Xu'an touch her face. She blinked. "Not cold."
Ji Xu'an withdrew her hand. "Are you hungry, baby?"
She said it very naturally, but Jiang Jiang still felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Although this was not the first time she had heard Ji Xu'an call her that, no matter how many times she experienced it, as long as it was in public, Jiang Jiang would still feel embarrassed.
However, she was not shy for long. When Ji Xu'an reached out to hold her hand, Jiang Jiang even took the initiative to slip her fingers into the gaps between Ji Xu'an's fingers.
"A little, I guess."
Ji Xu'an froze for a second. After reacting, she looked somewhat flattered.
Ever since the two of them had laid everything out in the open, in their daily interactions it had almost always been Ji Xu'an who took the initiative to get closer to Jiang Jiang. Jiang Jiang would not refuse, but her attitude had never been particularly enthusiastic.
Such proactive intimacy was truly rare.
The subtle trace of jealousy in Ji Xu'an's heart vanished without a trace because of that action, replaced instead by joy and anticipation.
She pressed her lips together and said softly, "Then let's go eat first."
Seeing that she did not seem to have any intention of asking about Liu Xiaobao's identity, Jiang Jiang's mood also became somewhat complicated. She let out an "Mm" and did not say anything more.
The two walked hand in hand toward the car. Jiang Jiang lagged half a step behind Ji Xu'an. She stared at Ji Xu'an's profile for a while, forcibly suppressing the slight discomfort in her heart, and then began to ponder Liu Xiaobao's purpose.
Although Jiang Zhenyun was unwilling to reveal more to her, Jiang Jiang had still inferred part of the truth from her answers.
Before this, whether in Jiang Jiang's or Xie Xiao's dreams, the two of them had the same identities. As stumbling blocks on the protagonist's road to love, their endings were destined to be miserable and desolate.
As for Ji Xu'an and Princess Huaining, they were merely one of the protagonist's supports.
It was not that Jiang Jiang had never doubted the authenticity of those two stories. But as many things were fulfilled one by one, the suspicion in her heart had gradually faded.
Yet earlier, Jiang Zhenyun had said that she and Ji Xu'an were the protagonists of the story, and people like Xie Wanwan were merely obstacles arranged by fate for them.
This was completely different from Jiang Jiang's previous understanding.
If what Jiang Zhenyun said was true, then did Zheng Zhouzhou also count as one of the "obstacles"?
But why would Zheng Zhouzhou be reborn?
A thoughtful expression appeared on Jiang Jiang's face.
If not for the exchange of identities between her and Xie Xiao, Xie Xiao might truly not have been a match for the reborn Zheng Zhouzhou. Things might very well have unfolded as seen in the dream, with Xie Xiao ultimately being forced to jump off a building to prove her innocence.
Jiang Jiang thought that perhaps there was more than one so-called mastermind behind the scenes.
Someone wanted to harm them, so that person arranged Zheng Zhouzhou's rebirth. Then, after Zheng Zhouzhou failed, that person sent Xie Wanwan.
At the same time, there existed another person who wanted to help them. That was why Jiang Jiang had come to this world and had learned the direction of the "original plot" through dreams.
From the current situation, it was obvious that the person who wanted to harm them had already panicked, because Jiang Jiang had not fallen into the mire of online abuse and insults as that person had expected.
But Zheng Zhouzhou was already ruined and temporarily unable to do anything more to Jiang Jiang. So that person, having no other choice, chose Zhou Zisuo?
If that was the case, it would also explain why in the "original work," Zhou Zisuo's presence had always been low. Because she had not even been needed to step onto the stage.
The more Jiang Jiang thought, the deeper she went. If it was really like this, what other tricks would that person use to deal with her?
Besides Xie Wanwan, were there others?
As she thought, Jiang Jiang could not help but lift her eyes to glance at Ji Xu'an again.
Why was the one being targeted always her, and not Ji Xu'an?
Could it be that before her soul had split, that former version of her had been far inferior in status and position compared to "Ji Xu'an," so the mastermind did not dare to act against "Ji Xu'an"??
Or was it that the person who wanted to harm her simply disliked her, but did not harbor much malice toward Ji Xu'an?
Jiang Jiang's thoughts gradually drifted farther away. She did not notice that while she was lost in thought, Ji Xu'an had also been secretly observing her reaction.
Ever since encountering that person just now, Jiang Jiang had been absentminded. Even when Ji Xu'an stood right in front of her, her gaze had not lingered on Ji Xu'an for long.
What was she thinking about?
Ji Xu'an realized that she seemed increasingly unable to tolerate the feeling of being ignored by Jiang Jiang. She stared unblinkingly at Jiang Jiang's face, yet Jiang Jiang never looked at her.
Ji Xu'an withdrew her gaze in disappointment.
When they reached the car, Ji Xu'an stepped forward to open the passenger door for Jiang Jiang. As Jiang Jiang bent down to sit inside, she subconsciously said, "Thank you."
For some reason, those two words made Ji Xu'an feel inexplicably displeased.
She pressed her lips together, walked around to the other side, and got in as well. When she turned her head, she found Jiang Jiang fastening her own seatbelt.
Ji Xu'an tightened her fingers and leaned closer to Jiang Jiang, her voice very soft. "I'll do it."
The distance between them suddenly shortened. Jiang Jiang once again smelled the perfume on Ji Xu'an. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly. In the corner of her vision was Ji Xu'an's tightly pressed lips.
Ji Xu'an was unhappy.
Jiang Jiang finally sensed the low pressure radiating from her. Realizing it belatedly, Ji Xu'an had seemed to have remained silent just now.
Jiang Jiang probably knew why, but she did not ask. Instead, she turned her head to look out the window.
After fastening Jiang Jiang's seatbelt, Ji Xu'an did not immediately sit back. Maintaining that posture, she stared at Jiang Jiang for a while. Before Jiang Jiang could ask what she wanted to do, Ji Xu'an suddenly raised her hand and wrapped it around Jiang Jiang's body.
"Baby." Ji Xu'an slowly rested her head on Jiang Jiang's shoulder. This position made her voice sound slightly muffled, as if it also concealed a trace of unease and caution.
"Are you still angry with me?"
"Mm?"
Jiang Jiang was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Why would you think that?"
That answer did not reassure Ji Xu'an.
She tightened her arms and held Jiang Jiang in her embrace, lowering her voice. "You were very cold to me tonight."
Jiang Jiang lowered her eyes to look at the person holding her. "Ji Xu'an, are you acting spoiled?"
Ji Xu'an did not say whether she was or not. She never looked at Jiang Jiang, as if worried that once she saw Jiang Jiang's face, some words would become impossible to say.
"I don't like it when you say thank you to me. It makes our relationship seem very distant." Ji Xu'an spoke to herself.
She seemed to have said something similar before.
Jiang Jiang did not refute her. As soon as Ji Xu'an finished speaking, she simply said, "Sorry. I'll remember not to do it again."
"I'm not blaming you." Ji Xu'an shook her head. "I'm afraid."
"Jiang Jiang, I'm afraid you'll distance yourself from me. That you'll ignore me."
She closed her eyes. "Any tiny reaction from you, I'll replay over and over in my mind."
"I always worry that somewhere I haven't done well enough and that you'll be dissatisfied."
"I…"
Ji Xu'an paused. She seemed not to know how to describe her feelings. The arm that had been tightly holding Jiang Jiang also slowly fell.
Jiang Jiang was silent for a long time before responding with a soft nasal sound. "Mm."
After a pause, she asked, "So what are you trying to say?"
Ji Xu'an's heartbeat suddenly sped up. She rubbed her fingertips together, as if lingering on the warmth that still belonged to Jiang Jiang.
"The person you added tonight…"
"That Liu Xiaobao."
"Who is she?"
—
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