Chapter 39
Don’t fall again.
Jiang Siyi repeated this warning to herself.
She turned her head away, pulled her hair back, stood up, and created some distance between herself and Shen Shiwu before speaking. “Thanks for the meal, I’ll be going now.”
“Okay, remember to pack your things.”
“…”
Jiang Siyi felt a pang of reluctance. Before leaving, she looked back, wanting to argue a little more. But Shen Shiwu had picked up the lop-eared rabbit and was pointing at Jiang Siyi, saying to the rabbit, “Older sister will play with you from now on.”
“Aren’t you happy?”
Hearing the word “older sister,” Jiang Siyi froze, not even bothering to close the door properly as she stepped outside.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t been called “older sister” in the past four years.
For example, by Yu Wen.
Yu Wen was a few months younger than her and often called her “older sister” affectionately. But Jiang Siyi had never felt anything, only thinking that she was polite.
But just now, her heart had fluttered, and she wanted to hear it again… Stop it, cut your losses!
Jiang Siyi patted her head, trying to clear her mind.
Back home, she stared at the ceiling, feeling a mix of emotions at the thought of moving back to that villa. In the end, she could only sigh.
Fine, I’ll move.
After all, she was good at running away, she could always sneak out again.
As she was packing, Shen Shiwu stood at her doorstep like a ghost, refusing to leave. Jiang Siyi glanced at the security footage every time she put something into her suitcase, her eyes almost rolling back in her head.
Shen Shiwu wasn’t holding the rabbit this time, but standing alone at the door.
Jiang Siyi chuckled inwardly at her lonely figure and closed her laptop.
Let you taste loneliness too.
After folding all her clothes, Jiang Siyi sat down to rest for a while, then checked the security footage again. With just a glance, her lips twitched.
Shen Shiwu, a dignified CEO, was holding the rabbit’s paws and waving them at the camera.
She waved tirelessly as long as Jiang Siyi watched.
Jiang Siyi, holding her laptop, watched their little act, then couldn’t help but smile.
Going downstairs and opening the door, Shen Shiwu’s body was still facing the camera. Jiang Siyi clicked her tongue, feigning impatience. “Stop waving.”
“I’m saying hello to you.”
“…I’ll close the door if you wave again.”
This was Shen Shiwu’s first time stepping into this courtyard house.
It was identical to hers, just with more plants and flowers.
“Just sit there and don’t move. I’m almost done packing, I just need to check again.” Jiang Siyi pointed at the sofa, telling her to behave.
Shen Shiwu chuckled. “So fierce?”
Jiang Siyi glanced back at her, stood on the stairs for a moment, then retorted, “Is this the first day you’ve met me?”
Then she continued upstairs.
Two minutes later, she looked at Shen Shiwu, who was standing beside her, and fell silent.
“Didn’t I tell you to stay downstairs?”
“My legs have a mind of their own, I couldn’t help it.”
Shen Shiwu’s ability to lie had improved considerably, even surpassing the eighteen-year-old Jiang Siyi.
“Then don’t just stand there, you’re so tall, go stand in the corner.” Jiang Siyi grumbled, pushing her to the side.
Shen Shiwu didn’t mind being moved, but she started talking again. “I have everything you need at my place, you don’t have to bring so many things. Pajamas, underwear…”
“Shut up.” Jiang Siyi took a coat from her closet and threw it at her.
The woman caught it easily and held it up. “If you insist on bringing clothes, don’t forget your autumn and winter clothes.”
Jiang Siyi could see through her little scheme.
She scoffed and closed her suitcase. “I’m not bringing any.”
Maybe she would run away before summer even ended.
Autumn and winter clothes, as if.
Shen Shiwu nodded thoughtfully. “Fine, we can always buy more later.”
She seemed to be planning everything.
Jiang Siyi listened, her mind filled with memories.
After a long while, she thought sadly—Shen Shiwu, you weren’t honest before. So no matter how much you try now, things can’t go back to the way they were.
Just before getting into the car, Jiang Siyi suddenly went back inside and brought out a rosewood box. She handed it to Shen Shiwu. “I forgot to return this.”
It was the jade bangle Shen Yun had given her.
Shen Shiwu quickly looked away and leaned over to fasten Jiang Siyi’s seatbelt. They were very close, and Jiang Siyi instinctively held her breath.
She repeated, “This is yours.”
Shen Shiwu didn’t move away immediately.
She glanced at the box and said softly, “Keep it. If you don’t like it, you can sell it.”
Jiang Siyi felt the box burning in her hand.
She fidgeted with her fingers. “I don’t have anything to do with your family anymore, I don’t feel comfortable keeping this.”
“Uncomfortable?”
“We still have Auntie Jiang’s inheritance, remember?”
Jiang Siyi actually had many questions about the inheritance, like why part of it was left to the Shen family.
Just as she was about to ask, Shen Shiwu opened the car door and took the rabbit out of its cage.
A warm, fluffy creature was suddenly placed in her arms.
Jiang Siyi was speechless.
“Alright,” Shen Shiwu looked at the two rabbits, her expression cheerful, “let’s go home.”
The ride was quiet.
Except for the rabbit constantly nibbling on Jiang Siyi’s hair.
She wanted to scold it, but she didn’t know its name, so she asked Shen Shiwu, who was driving, “Hey, what’s its name?”
Shen Shiwu, of course, wouldn’t tell her directly. “Guess.”
Jiang Siyi shielded her hair, gritting her teeth. “Just tell me.”
The woman glanced at her. “Eleven.”
Jiang Siyi’s body stiffened.
She didn’t want to overthink it, but the pronunciation was very similar to her own name (Siyi – four one).
She was silent for a moment, then chuckled dryly. “Nice name.”
Then she pointed at Eleven’s nose. “Stop nibbling and go to sleep.”
She still couldn’t bring herself to say the name out loud; it felt like she was scolding herself.
Time flew by, and as the scenery outside the window became familiar, Jiang Siyi’s heart skipped a beat.
The neighborhood hadn’t changed much.
The streetlights were still standing tall, the camphor trees still lush and green. The occasional breeze rustled the leaves, creating a soft, whispering sound.
The car slowly came to a stop.
Shen Shiwu, noticing the girl’s dazed expression, patiently remained silent. Only when Jiang Siyi blinked did she softly ask, “Ready to get out?”
The implication was clear.
If she didn’t want to move yet, she could stay in the car, and Shen Shiwu would wait, no matter how long it took.
Jiang Siyi shifted in her seat. “Let’s go.”
When her feet touched the ground, she almost stumbled.
Looking at the villa, she carefully examined her surroundings, noticing the subtle changes.
Like the small garden, partially hidden by the villa.
And the small pond, with several fish swimming in it.
Jiang Siyi looked at it, puzzled, and turned to Shen Shiwu. “Are you turning this place into a botanical garden?”
Shen Shiwu nodded, playing along. “Yes, so I’ve invited you here for an inspection. As for the duration…”
She smiled. “Probably forever.”
Jiang Siyi suddenly felt like a lamb walking into a tiger’s den.
She was led forward, her arm around Shen Shiwu’s, each step on the familiar ground feeling different from before.
She pursed her lips, unable to decipher her emotions.
Entering the house, Jiang Siyi saw a huge fish tank in the center of the living room. Before she could say anything, Shen Shiwu spoke first. “Life is boring, I’m keeping some pets to kill time.”
Is that so?
So, taking care of her back then was also to kill time?
Jiang Siyi’s eyes darkened, like withered grass.
Shen Shiwu had so many fish and a garden full of plants, partly to kill time, but also to distract herself.
When Jiang Siyi left without a word, leaving only a simple breakup message, the suddenness of it had deeply hurt her.
She had looked for Jiang Siyi.
With her resources, finding someone was easy, and she had done so.
But when she received the photos from her assistant, she had stood by the window, watching the pouring rain for a long time—Jiang Siyi wasn’t alone abroad.
In the photos, she was walking in a library with a girl who seemed to be around her age. Shoulder to shoulder, smiling, chatting happily.
As if she was living a carefree life without her, not a trace of sadness.
So, Shen Shiwu had forced herself to let go.
She had focused on other things, becoming a workaholic, and whenever she had free time, she would tend to her fish and plants at home.
And raise a lop-eared rabbit.
Snapping back to reality,
Eleven, back in familiar territory, sniffed around and hopped off to the back garden. There was no gate, and it was almost completely enclosed, very safe, but Jiang Siyi still asked, worried, “You’re just letting it run free?”
“If it wants to run, I can’t stop it.”
Shen Shiwu’s words always carried a deeper meaning.
Jiang Siyi was still thinking about her words about “killing time,” so she didn’t say anything else and followed the rabbit into the back garden.
The garden wasn’t small, but compared to the large villa, it still seemed quite compact.
Various flowers bloomed everywhere, their fragrance layering in the air. Jiang Siyi stepped into the garden, her eyes following Eleven as she observed her surroundings.
Hundreds of potted plants bloomed vibrantly, their branches and leaves neatly trimmed, the excess soil wiped clean.
It was clear that they were meticulously cared for.
“Eleven?” This was Jiang Siyi’s first time calling the rabbit’s name. She bent down, looking for the fluffy creature, but couldn’t find it.
She felt a pang of anxiety and called out again, her voice slightly raised.
“Eleven? Where are you?”
Just as she frowned, about to go find Shen Shiwu and check the security footage, she bumped into a warm embrace from behind.
Jiang Siyi felt a hand on her waist.
Her heart raced, but she pretended to be calm. “Your rabbit is missing, we have to find it.”
Shen Shiwu’s tone was meaningful. “I’ve already found it.”
Jiang Siyi didn’t understand immediately and asked, “You found it? Where is it?”
The woman’s smile made her ears burn.
Shen Shiwu leaned her head against Jiang Siyi’s neck, nuzzling gently, their hair intertwined, before finally speaking. “In my arms.”
Not far away, a certain lop-eared rabbit, lured by food, was eating happily.
It munched on the treats, then, seeing its owner looking at it, quickly hopped away.
“Who’s ‘your rabbit’?” Jiang Siyi gritted her teeth, trying to pull away.
Shen Shiwu patted her head, her tone soothing, but her words were still teasing.
“Mm, feisty rabbit.”
Leave a Reply