Chapter 34
Rainy days foreshadowed our reunion.
***
Four years could indeed change many things.
The early summer morning still feels cold. This was Jiang Siyi’s first thought after waking up. Then, ignoring her inner turmoil, she quietly slipped out of the familiar villa.
In the wealthy district, ride-hailing services were always quick.
Jiang Siyi didn’t have to wait long before getting into a car.
The driver was a woman, her accent suggesting she was from northern China. She started chatting enthusiastically. “It’s been raining a lot in Qinan recently, the temperature is low. Aren’t you cold, young lady, wearing only a shirt?”
The young lady’s face was flushed, as if she had done something wrong.
But she still replied stiffly, “I was in a hurry, I just grabbed something to wear.”
The driver responded with an “Oh” and focused on the road. Jiang Siyi fidgeted with the corner of her shirt, then, feeling the heat in her cheeks, quickly let go.
She took out her phone and, with a blank expression, sent a message to her long-time friend Xu Yuan—”What do I do if I slept with my ex-girlfriend on the first day back?”
Xu Yuan had been doing well back in her hometown, becoming an HR director at a young age. She adjusted the blinds in her office, then clicked her tongue. “I was wondering why you weren’t replying to my messages. Turns out you’ve rekindled your old flame with your ex-wife’s older sister.”
Jiang Siyi’s mind was in turmoil, and she clicked on the voice message without thinking, putting it on speakerphone, almost jumping out of the car at those words.
The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror and said considerately, “It’s okay, I didn’t hear anything. Continue your conversation.”
“…”
It’s human nature to be nosy, but isn’t this a bit too obvious?
Jiang Siyi tapped the screen harder.
She thought for a long time, deleting and rewriting her message several times, until the other person was about to send a question mark, before finally sending it—”Don’t worry, I’m not getting back together with her.”
A classic case of protesting too much.
Xu Yuan thought her stubbornness had reached a new level. After a long silence, she sent an eye-roll emoji.
The apartment she had bought two years ago wasn’t far from the city center, but the light rain continued, the roads were wet, and the traffic was heavy. It took half an hour for Jiang Siyi to get home.
She collapsed onto the sofa the moment she entered, sprawling out. Then, thinking of a certain someone, she curled up like a cat—
Shen Shiwu.
How had she changed so much?
If four years ago, she had been a smiling tiger, now… she was a raging lion.
The memories of last night flooded back, mixed with the intoxicating alcohol, Shen Shiwu’s scent still lingering in the air.
Jiang Siyi was silent for a moment, then lifted her oversized shirt and examined the marks on her body. Her lips trembled slightly.
Well, that was terrifying.
Having overexerted herself last night, she glanced at the time—only past seven—and went upstairs to sleep. She was woken up by a phone call—”I’m sleeping, make it quick.”
“You’re really not coming back?”
Jiang Siyi’s drowsiness vanished.
Lin Yusheng chuckled. “You promised to have dinner with the people from the film company, and you just up and left for China.”
“Seriously, what’s so special about your first love that you’re so hung up on her?”
Jiang Siyi lazily rolled over, then asked, “Who told you I came back for her?”
“…”
“Fine, do whatever you want, it’s not like I can control you.” Lin Yusheng, exasperated, hung up after a tirade.
Glancing at the lock screen, she realized it was already two in the afternoon.
Jiang Siyi’s sleep schedule was always erratic. She dozed off for a while longer, then, feeling hungry, she got up, changed her clothes, and went out to find something to eat.
The light rain continued, the air damp and refreshing.
Jiang Siyi was very satisfied with her apartment. Standing at her doorstep, she watched the rain falling on the eaves for a while before slowly walking out.
A fifteen-minute walk brought her to the city center.
Four years had passed, but Qinan hadn’t changed much. The shopping mall in the west of the city was still bustling. Jiang Siyi held her umbrella and strolled leisurely, eventually stopping in front of the claw machine arcade.
As if drawn by some unknown force, the now twenty-something-year-old stepped into the familiar place once more.
This place was perfect for reminiscing. After all these years, not only was the interior unchanged, but even the playlist was the same.
Jiang Siyi exchanged for a hundred tokens.
Holding the basket filled with tokens, she wandered around the arcade. Her striking appearance attracted the attention of many children.
Don’t look, my skills aren’t even as good as yours.
Jiang Siyi tried to shake off the little tails, but failed.
“Here, two tokens each, go play.” Rather than lose face, she preferred to lose a few yuan.
As expected, the children were delighted, thanking her repeatedly before running off.
Jiang Siyi sighed in relief, ready for her solo claw machine battle.
The basket gradually became lighter, and seeing that she only had a few tokens left, she sighed and muttered to herself, “It seems I’m still not good at this.”
Just as she was about to choose another machine to waste her remaining tokens on, she turned around and bumped into a tall figure.
The arcade was well-lit, and the person’s shadow stretched across the floor, a dark silhouette.
Jiang Siyi almost dropped her basket.
“Not playing anymore?”
It wasn’t exactly a case of things changing drastically. The arcade was still here, and so was the person. But Jiang Siyi still felt something was different.
She slowly looked up.
Shen Shiwu was putting a handful of tokens into her basket. Suddenly feeling the weight in her hand, before Jiang Siyi could speak, she heard Shen Shiwu say, “Continue playing.”
She knew what was different now.
Shen Shiwu was no longer gentle, but cold and distant, without a trace of warmth.
Jiang Siyi lowered her eyelashes and said in a low voice, “I don’t want to play anymore.”
“I have something to do, so I’ll be going…”
Before she could finish, Shen Shiwu took a step closer, her teeth gritted, as if facing a sworn enemy. “Running away again?”
“After all these years, aren’t you tired of running?”
Jiang Siyi tried to dodge, but Shen Shiwu pressed her knees against the machine, trapping her.
Fortunately, no one was around.
Jiang Siyi looked at the person she had longed for, so close, yet she couldn’t speak.
Shen Shiwu, on the other hand, seemed to have been holding back for a long time, finally able to vent her frustrations. “Breaking up without any warning, then suddenly coming back. Jiang Siyi, what are you trying to do?”
“…Qinan isn’t your territory, I can come and go as I please. Why shouldn’t I?”
Jiang Siyi’s rebellious spirit hadn’t completely disappeared.
Shen Shiwu suddenly chuckled.
“Because I raised you.”
Although the time Shen Shiwu had taken care of her wasn’t long.
She had the right to say those words—during her coming-of-age, Shen Shiwu had taught her more than just academics.
For example, that there was no shame in buying underwear.
And how to navigate the world, how to love someone.
And those things in bed…
So, the words “raised you,” coming from her lips, weren’t too arrogant.
Remembering the past, Jiang Siyi couldn’t help but tremble.
Her teeth chattered, cold sweat forming on her forehead. She abruptly pushed Shen Shiwu away and ran, her legs weak.
The game tokens scattered across the floor, glinting under the lights.
The commotion attracted the attention of an employee.
Shen Shiwu’s expression turned cold.
She casually tossed the basket onto a machine, squatted down calmly, and started picking up the tokens, one by one, her movements meticulous.
After refilling the basket, Shen Shiwu apologized softly to the employee, then walked over to a group of children and offered them the tokens.
Just like she had done with Jiang Siyi many years ago. “Here you go.”
“These are for you.”
Children’s happiness was simple.
As she turned to leave, Shen Shiwu overheard one of the children say, “We’re so lucky today! Two older sisters gave us tokens.”
“They’re so rich. I wish I could grow up quickly…”
Just before leaving, Shen Shiwu paused. She looked towards the corner and saw Jiang Siyi’s umbrella leaning against a machine.
Without thinking, she went over and picked it up.
The rain was still falling.
The shopping mall had a large open area, and Jiang Siyi could only walk along the covered walkway, but she still felt a chill.
The traffic was heavy, and hailing a cab would probably take a while. She looked at the rain, thinking she probably wouldn’t die if she ran home, just catch a fever at most. So, after calming down slightly, she was about to make a run for it—
When her collar was gently tugged.
Click.
The sound of an umbrella opening.
Shen Shiwu handed her the umbrella, didn’t say anything else, and turned to walk in the opposite direction.
The faint scent of cedar lingered in the air.
Jiang Siyi gripped the umbrella handle, hesitated for a few seconds, then stepped into the rain.
The streets were crowded, and the umbrella obstructed her view. She didn’t notice the Mercedes-Benz quietly following her.
Shen Shiwu sat in the car, slowly turning the steering wheel.
She rested her head on one hand, seemingly relaxed, but her gaze was fixed on the figure ahead.
Four years had passed, and the girl seemed to have grown taller. Not only that, but her style had also changed.
The girl who used to love floral dresses had now traded them for elegant long skirts.
So, it wasn’t just her who had changed.
Shen Shiwu followed Jiang Siyi as she turned onto another street. It was closer to the residential area, and there were fewer cars and pedestrians, so she slowed down, observing the changes in the girl.
Only after Jiang Siyi entered her apartment building did the car stop.
Raindrops pattered against the windshield.
Shen Shiwu looked at the traditional Chinese courtyard house in the distance, then lowered her eyes after a long while. She sighed and finally accepted the fact.
Jiang Siyi had truly grown up.
—But what did it matter?
Her phone rang. Shen Shiwu answered, and her assistant’s voice came through. “Boss, the information you requested has been sent to your email.”
“Also, Miss Jiang’s most recent trip was a book signing in Beicheng.”
After hanging up, a faint smile appeared on Shen Shiwu’s lips.
She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, her mood seemingly lifted.
—Since Jiang Siyi dared to come back, she would make sure it was a trip she would never forget.
Confinement, control.
She wanted her to stay by her side forever, until death do them part.
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