Chapter 75
There was a saying, “A good deed should be done to the very end, just like escorting Buddha all the way to the West.”
Conversely, if one was going to steal something, one should be thorough.
Jiang Siyi, having already committed the crime, decided to go all the way.
So, before leaving, she snuck upstairs, packed the rabbit’s hutch and all its belongings, and took them with her. A clean sweep, leaving nothing behind.
That’s what you get for being mean to me.
She sneered inwardly.
Let you taste the pain of having your child stolen.
Inside the car, Jiang Siyi hugged the rabbit contentedly, the warmth of its body comforting.
Auntie Wang, her accomplice, looked at her through the rearview mirror, her eyes crinkling with amusement, like an adult watching children play.
“Auntie Wang, if Shen Shiwu asks you…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll plead ignorance.”
Jiang Siyi leaned back in her seat, feeling relaxed. The night was dark, the moon shining brightly, and after a long and tiring day, she was exhausted.
Perhaps it was the lingering memories from the past, but lying in the back seat, her eyes slowly closed. She drifted off to sleep.
***
Jiang Siyi stared at the unfamiliar, yet familiar, ceiling, her mind blank.
She wondered silently,
Why was she sleeping in Shen Shiwu’s house?
The birds outside were already chirping.
She reached for her phone to check the time, then realized—ah, her phone had been stolen.
She ruffled her hair and got out of bed to wash up.
The house was quiet, the housekeeper seemingly not there yet, and Jiang Siyi cautiously made her way downstairs, as if afraid of disturbing something.
Seeing that the living room was empty, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as she was about to quietly leave, someone tapped her head.
Shen Shiwu’s voice came from behind. “Breakfast is ready.”
I stole your rabbit, and you’re still feeding me?
Jiang Siyi thought, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Then her stomach rumbled loudly.
After a moment of awkward silence, she turned and walked towards the dining table.
Seeing that none of the dishes had garlic or scallions, Jiang Siyi knew Shen Shiwu had made them.
Because she didn’t like those, and the housekeeper sometimes accidentally added them for flavor.
“Your head could be in your bowl, you know,” Shen Shiwu said casually during the meal.
Jiang Siyi straightened up.
She really wanted to ask—Why am I in your house?
But having committed the crime, she didn’t dare to ask.
Shen Shiwu, seeing her hesitant expression, smiled faintly.
“Something you want to say?”
It’s over, she’s going to settle the score.
Unable to avoid it, Jiang Siyi mumbled, “I’m sorry.”
“And?”
“I shouldn’t have stolen your rabbit.”
Seeing that Shen Shiwu didn’t react, Jiang Siyi continued her self-reflection, until she almost bored herself to sleep, and Shen Shiwu finally spoke. “A three-thousand-word essay, explaining your actions, due tonight.”
Jiang Siyi’s body stiffened.
After a moment, she said pitifully, “Can I write one thousand less?”
“Sure.”
She hadn’t expected Shen Shiwu to be so agreeable and was about to look up, relieved, when Shen Shiwu continued, “Then as you wish, four thousand words.”
“…”
Do you even know how to add and subtract?
After her unsuccessful protest, Jiang Siyi angrily left the dining room. But just as she stepped outside, she turned back.
“Shen Shiwu,” she said seriously.
The woman looked up at her, waiting for her to continue.
“How am I supposed to live without my phone?”
“Just live.”
Jiang Siyi almost threw a tantrum at her doorstep.
Finally, Shen Shiwu looked away from her computer and, with the last shred of her conscience, called her assistant.
It would take a while for the assistant to arrive, and seeing Jiang Siyi’s dejected expression, Shen Shiwu said, “Come in and sit down.”
Jiang Siyi, her plan working, immediately cheered up. She rushed inside and collapsed onto the sofa.
Shen Shiwu looked at her, wanting to say something, but held back.
The sofa was soft and comfortable, and Jiang Siyi rolled around on it, thinking she should get one for herself too.
Shen Shiwu, seeing her thoughtful expression, chuckled. “What, planning on stealing my sofa now?”
“…”
Shut up.
Twenty minutes later, the assistant arrived.
And Jiang Siyi finally got her new phone.
She sat cross-legged, feeling slightly embarrassed that this was the second phone Shen Shiwu had bought her, and after logging into WeChat, she transferred the money to Shen Shiwu.
Shen Shiwu, hearing the notification, ignored it and continued working.
Since she hadn’t been kicked out, Jiang Siyi discreetly lay down on the sofa again, trying to become invisible.
But she couldn’t sit still for long.
“Shen Shiwu,” she sat up and tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes, “so you were the one who brought me home last night and carried me upstairs?”
“No, you came here on your own.”
Look at her, lying so smoothly just to avoid responsibility.
“So, I was sleepwalking?”
Shen Shiwu finally looked up at her. “You were resurrected from the dead.”
Anger is bad for your health.
Jiang Siyi took a deep breath, turning her back to Shen Shiwu. After calming down, she turned around and said, “I have another out-of-town trip next week.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Can’t you at least ask me where I’m going!?” she said, her teeth gritted slightly.
Shen Shiwu slowly nodded. “Where?”
“…Chang’an, to film a TV show, for about three days,” Jiang Siyi wagged her finger at her, “don’t miss me too much.”
Shen Shiwu’s expression remained unchanged, and she said calmly, “I wouldn’t miss my ex-girlfriend for no reason.”
Her cold attitude annoyed Jiang Siyi, and she stood up abruptly, throwing a pillow at Shen Shiwu. “I’m leaving, goodbye.”
The door slammed shut.
Shen Shiwu looked down at the pillow, not annoyed, but simply placed it aside. A few moments later, her phone rang—
“Ms. Shen, we found the phone, should we send someone to deliver it?”
“Yes, please.”
“Okay, Ms. Jiang’s address is…”
“Just send it to my house.”
After hanging up, Shen Shiwu sent Jiang Siyi a voice message.
Her voice was calm and collected, without a trace of guilt. “I just heard that your phone probably can’t be recovered.”
Jiang Siyi’s reply came quickly, a barrage of crying rabbit emojis and voice messages. Shen Shiwu listened to them, her lips curving into a faint smile, all of them filled with wails and lamentations.
She refunded the money Jiang Siyi had transferred earlier,
Then she ignored her and focused on her work.
***
Autumn arrived, the wind picking up.
When Jiang Siyi landed in Chang’an, thanks to the strict confidentiality, there were no reporters or fans at the airport. Xu Yuan was there to pick her up.
After catching up, Xu Yuan, who had to rush to work, said goodbye. Jiang Siyi took out her phone, preparing to call a cab to the hotel.
Lin Yusheng hadn’t come this time, saying, “It’s only three days, you can fend for… I mean, take care of yourself.”
“And remember, don’t fight with the other guests. Just finish filming, get your money, and leave.”
Jiang Siyi considered herself quite easygoing.
As long as no one bothered her, she wouldn’t even bother opening her mouth.
After resting at the hotel for a while, it was already two in the afternoon, only half an hour left before she had to be at the filming location. She quickly got ready and left.
Poems for Humanity was a slice-of-life variety show, with several writers living together in a guesthouse. Three days of the week were spent working in the fields, and four days were spent traveling.
It sounded relaxing, but it was mostly for show. After filming, everyone would go back to their hotels, hardly anyone actually staying at the guesthouse.
Jiang Siyi arrived at the filming location, and the producer came out to greet her, leading her inside.
“You just have to talk to the camera, if you don’t want to show your face, you can wear a mask.”
Jiang Siyi had indeed avoided showing her face in the past, but after winning the international award, she couldn’t hide anymore.
“Okay, then I’ll wear a mask.” She still wasn’t used to it.
Filming hadn’t started yet, and everyone was taking a break. Jiang Siyi, looking around, couldn’t help but think—the editors must have a hard time.
“Ms. Jiang is here?” Someone called out, and the other guests, who had been playing on their phones, looked up, their gazes fixed on her.
“Yes, Ms. Jiang will be our special guest for the next three days,” the producer said, then thoughtfully brought over a chair. “Ms. Jiang, please have a seat.”
As the most popular author with international influence, Jiang Siyi was used to being treated with special attention.
She thanked him and sat down.
During their conversation, Jiang Siyi was slightly surprised—apparently, even variety shows had scripts.
After touching up her makeup and briefly getting to know the other guests, it was time for her to act.
Filming began.
“Oh my god, our special guest this time is actually Ms. Jiang!” The line was delivered by Tang Wen, an essayist, her tone natural and appropriate.
It was Jiang Siyi’s first time acting, and being in an unfamiliar environment, she almost burst out laughing.
She suppressed her smile and said, “Hello, everyone.”
After the introductions, Jiang Siyi was invited to tour the guesthouse.
The exterior was made of white walls and grey bricks, and the interior was decorated in a traditional Jiangnan style, the first thing she saw being a carved, red-lacquered wooden table.
“This is where we usually eat,” Tang Wen explained, pointing at the paintings and photos on the wall.
Not having slept well on the plane, listening to the monotonous introduction, Jiang Siyi almost fell asleep. She discreetly pinched herself to stay awake.
Forty minutes later, after touring the three-story guesthouse, the segment was finally over. This was all they had to film today, so it was considered the end of the workday.
The guests immediately dropped their act and started leaving. Jiang Siyi, her eyes still heavy with sleep, thought it was all a bit too rushed.
Just as she was about to leave the guesthouse, she heard voices approaching.
Thinking it was the crew packing up the equipment, Jiang Siyi stepped aside. As they passed by, she glanced at them and saw the producer and director talking to a woman.
The woman was tall, wearing a black trench coat, her hair slightly curled.
Jiang Siyi would recognize that figure anywhere.
The doorsill was high, and she had to lift her leg to step over it. Distracted and surprised, she didn’t pay attention to where she was going.
Oh no.
Faceplant.
Jiang Siyi screamed inwardly. Just as she was about to brace for impact, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, preventing the disaster. The familiar scent of cedarwood surrounded her, and she suddenly felt safe.
“Ms. Jiang, are you okay?” the producer asked, seeing the two of them embracing.
Not okay.
Because her heart was about to jump out of her chest.
Jiang Siyi looked at Shen Shiwu in disbelief, wanting to ask why she was here, if she had come for her.
But Shen Shiwu spoke first. “Excuse me,” she said, addressing the producer,
“You broke the doorsill of my guesthouse, you have to pay for the damages.”
“…”
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