Chapter 61: Come and Snatch the Bride (4)
Jiang Zhiyan slept well, waking up at seven the next morning. Xie Liaoyi was still asleep. Although awake, she didn’t want to get up. She casually browsed a couple of platforms, read some boring new novels, and then clicked on the game forum.
[Is Maple Leaf crazy? Playing from seven in the morning until three in the morning, my god, if there were more people online, she’d probably keep going.]
[1L: It seems Old Six tried to ambush her sister again yesterday. After being ambushed by Maple Leaf, Old Six logged off directly. As expected of Old Six, completely shameless.]
[2L: So she couldn’t catch Old Six and took it out on us? Haven’t Old Six’s two cronies been online recently? If they log in, someone should send their location to Maple Leaf.]
[6L: How long will Maple Leaf keep this up? I hope she continues for a bit longer. Yesterday, her bound Medical Cultivator couldn’t keep up, so I became the lucky one, hehe, gained a lot of points.]
[9L: 6th floor, how can you be sure you won’t be on the opposite team next time?]
[29L: Old Six is a menace, can someone ambush him? So annoying, I ran into him in the secret realm last time, he stole my stuff. He relies on his high cultivation and acts lawlessly, encountering him really ruins the game experience.]
[32L: I agree, can’t everyone unite? Let’s take down Old Six. Every time I enter a secret realm, I’m worried I’ll run into him, he’s a real cancer.]
[78L: As a Demonic Cultivator, I’m not even as vicious as Old Six.]
[79L: Your body may follow the evil path, but your heart is righteous, you’re a good person.]
…
Jiang Zhiyan scrolled through the posts. Towards the end, some people were already trying to organize an “Anti-Old Six Alliance.” She could clearly sense that someone was deliberately stirring things up.
“Was it you?” Jiang Zhiyan asked.
“Host, you could even tell that?” The System was shocked.
“It’s too obvious.” Jiang Zhiyan rested her chin on her hand. “What’s your cultivation level now?”
“I’m at Nascent Soul now, I think I’ll reach Spirit Severing next month.” The System snorted. “Host, your progress is too slow, you should be more competitive even when playing games.”
“Your speed…” Jiang Zhiyan pondered for a few seconds. “How much money did you spend?”
“Ah, well, not much, just a few points.”
“Heh.”
“Oh come on, Host, isn’t this all to prevent you from being ambushed again, to give you a pleasant gaming environment so you can focus on your date! It’s inconvenient for you to vent your anger now, so once I reach Spirit Severing, I’ll help you get revenge!” The System rubbed its metaphorical hands together, extremely excited.
“Thank you.” Jiang Zhiyan yawned, sat up, and went to the walk-in closet, her gaze landing on the red dress. “This one is nice.”
“Indeed nice, so are you going to show off your tail feathers again?” The System said.
Jiang Zhiyan ignored it, spending an hour getting ready. This time, she even styled her hair. It wasn’t overly elaborate, but definitely not perfunctory.
She looked at herself in the mirror, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly. Xie Liaoyi would definitely like it; after all, this person only appeared serious on the surface.
She took a few pictures on the balcony and then went down to the garden to take a few more, asking the System to edit them, and posted a grid of nine pictures.
Not long after she posted, Jiang Ciqiu came out and stood on the balcony. Jiang Zhiyan, sitting on the swing, looked up at her.
“You’re up so early?” Jiang Ciqiu asked.
“Mm, woke up early.” Jiang Zhiyan kneaded her neck. “You can go back to sleep, it’s still early.”
“I can’t sleep anymore.” Jiang Ciqiu had only slept for a few hours. She looked at the red dress Jiang Zhiyan was wearing. “Are you in a good mood?”
“Mm, my sister gave me her work schedule, I’m going to see her on Monday,” Jiang Zhiyan said.
Jiang Ciqiu paused, then asked: “Sister?”
“The one from yesterday,” Jiang Zhiyan said.
Jiang Ciqiu frowned, saying with slight disapproval: “It’s not safe to meet online strangers.”
“I’m going to the hospital where she works to meet her, so it’s not unsafe. She works at a formal Grade-A Tertiary Hospital and has already given me her personal information.” Jiang Zhiyan said. “You don’t have to worry.”
“Mm…” Jiang Ciqiu responded. “Then I’ll go wash up.”
“I’m going to have breakfast too, hurry up.”
Jiang Ciqiu looked at the red dress on Jiang Zhiyan, then at the photos on her phone.
They were going to meet so soon.
She looked down; Jiang Zhiyan had already gone inside.
Jiang’s mother liked taking the two of them shopping. The original owner would always politely decline, then buy a bunch of things to take home. That’s why Jiang Zhiyan’s walk-in closet was twice the size of Jiang Ciqiu’s, filled to the brim.
Jiang’s mother drove herself, while Jiang Zhiyan and Jiang Ciqiu sat in the back. Jiang’s mother was also in a good mood, humming a tune.
“Jiang Zhiyan is going to meet an online friend on Monday,” Jiang Ciqiu suddenly said.
“Ah?” Jiang’s mother’s humming immediately stopped. “Meet an online friend?”
Jiang Zhiyan glanced at Jiang Ciqiu, who looked back at her frankly.
“Should we bring a bodyguard?” Jiang’s mother wasn’t going to stop her; after all, the children were grown up, she couldn’t just object to their decisions.
“No need, I’m going to the Third City Hospital to bring her lunch. She eats boxed lunches at the hospital every day, they don’t look very tasty.” Jiang Zhiyan said, glancing at Jiang Ciqiu with dissatisfaction. “Sister is making a big fuss.”
“Third City Hospital? Oh, is it a girl or a boy? A doctor?”
“A girl, in cardiothoracic surgery, she’s already an attending physician.” Jiang Zhiyan said with a hint of pride. “Very impressive, she skipped grades in elementary, junior high, and high school, so she’s still quite young.”
“That is impressive.” Jiang’s mother said. “Then go ahead, nothing will happen at the Third City Hospital. But you should still let the adults know. Why not let Qiuqiu go with you?”
“Let’s not… it would be too awkward, the two of them aren’t familiar with each other, and I’ll be back after delivering the lunch, no need to trouble sister.” Jiang Zhiyan immediately said.
Jiang Ciqiu glanced at her mother with dissatisfaction and sighed inwardly. She should have guessed; the family would never stop Jiang Zhiyan from doing what she wanted. Jiang Zhiyan always got what she wanted.
Jiang Zhiyan glanced at Jiang Ciqiu again, then looked away.
Jiang Ciqiu rubbed her temples: “I’m just worried about you.”
“I’m the same age as you, you’re only a few months older.” Jiang Zhiyan kindly reminded her.
“Oh, don’t argue about this. Qiuqiu, didn’t you also meet an online friend before?” Jiang’s mother said.
“That’s because they were from the school next door, we met at the school library,” Jiang Ciqiu explained.
“What’s the difference? You met at school, I’m meeting her at her workplace. The Third City Hospital is also very close to our school!” Jiang Zhiyan looked at Jiang Ciqiu expressionlessly. “Anyway, I’m definitely going, so stop talking. We’re out shopping today, don’t upset Mom.”
Jiang Ciqiu held back her frustration and kept quiet, her mind filled with the look that woman gave her last night, calm but provocative.
She looked at Jiang Zhiyan, who was looking out the window, refusing to interact with her.
Their already strained relationship seemed to have become even more strained.
Jiang Ciqiu didn’t have any malicious intent, she just instinctively felt that the woman was dangerous, even though she hadn’t done anything, her job was so respectable.
Jiang’s mother started humming again, not taking the two daughters’ bickering to heart. When they arrived at the mall, she pushed the two together.
“Alright, stop being awkward, it’s not a big deal, you’re both grown-ups now.” Jiang’s mother patted their heads. “I’ll buy you ice cream, go and have fun shopping.”
“I really want to tell her that your combined age is much greater than hers,” the System said.
“Shut up.” Jiang Zhiyan looked up at Jiang Ciqiu. “She’s really awkward.”
“Indeed,” the System agreed. “Is there something wrong with this fragment?”
“I don’t know, she seems rather childish.” Jiang Zhiyan thought of something and laughed.
Jiang Ciqiu, still holding back her frustration, looked over at Jiang Zhiyan’s laughter, but the other party had already stopped laughing and wasn’t looking at her, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
“What should we buy? I ordered a few bags a few days ago, mm, I’ve already asked my assistant to pick them up…” Jiang’s mother glanced at the two. “Are you two marching in step?”
“No.” Jiang Zhiyan said, elegantly flicking her hair. “I don’t know what sister is thinking, after all, I don’t understand her.”
Jiang Ciqiu looked at Jiang Zhiyan expressionlessly. She felt like Jiang Zhiyan was deliberately trying to annoy her.
“No, I was just thinking about something, I feel like I haven’t finished my homework.”
“You’re in university, and I still have to remind you to do your homework?” Jiang’s mother said curiously.
Jiang Ciqiu: …
She felt like she shouldn’t have come.
Jiang Zhiyan took out her phone and checked. Seeing the like on her Moments post, she knew Xie Liaoyi was awake. This time, she had even left a comment.
[Xie Liaoyi: You look really good in red.]
[Jiang Zhiyan: You too!]
[Xie Liaoyi: I don’t look the same as I do in the game.]
[Jiang Zhiyan: You look good either way.]
The corners of Jiang Zhiyan’s mouth turned up.
Jiang Ciqiu looked at Jiang Zhiyan. She knew Jiang Zhiyan was chatting with that “sister,” but those who didn’t know would probably think she was chatting with her girlfriend. What were they talking about that made her smile so… dreamily? She had never seen such an expression on Jiang Zhiyan’s face before.
Jiang Ciqiu looked away and started browsing clothes, not wanting to continue watching.
She was a little unhappy, but she didn’t know why.
Did she really have Stockholm Syndrome? Otherwise, it was hard to imagine what she was doing now.
She glanced at Jiang Zhiyan again; the other party was taking a selfie in the mirror. She guessed she was probably sending a solo picture to that woman.
[Jiang Ciqiu: You guys were wrong, I think Jiang Zhiyan is actually quite innocent.]
[Lin Qian: ?]
[Jiang Ciqiu: She’s actually going to meet an online stranger.]
[Lin Qian: Weren’t we online strangers before??]
[Jiang Ciqiu: That’s different, they’ve only known each other for a few days.] And she and Lin Qian wouldn’t be smiling like that while messaging.
Jiang Ciqiu thought back to the day Jiang Zhiyan said she liked girls.
So who was this girl? That Liaoyi?
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