Chapter 69: Come and Snatch the Bride (12)
Early Friday morning, Jiang Zhiyan ran into Jiang Ciqiu in the dining room. The latter was in a strangely excited state, though what exactly she was excited about was unknown. However, upon seeing Jiang Zhiyan, she tried to appear calm.
The two sat facing each other, exchanged glances, and didn’t interact further.
“Suddenly being so reserved, I’m not used to it,” Jiang Zhiyan said.
“I’ve always been reserved.” Jiang Ciqiu paused. “It’s only online that I’m a little more unrestrained.”
Jiang Ciqiu gestured with her hand: “Only this much.”
“Did you suddenly feel embarrassed after sleeping?” Jiang Zhiyan glanced at her.
Jiang Ciqiu: …
“You don’t have to be so blunt.” Jiang Ciqiu covered her mouth and coughed softly. “I’m finished eating, going to school, take your time.”
Jiang Zhiyan watched Jiang Ciqiu’s retreating figure and smiled.
[Jiang Zhiyan: If I could, I’d really like to see what you were like as a child.]
[Xie Liaoyi: Nothing much to see, boring and uninteresting.]
Jiang Zhiyan wiped her mouth and left with her bag.
Because she had said she was going home in advance, Jiang’s mother drove directly to the school gate after work.
Jiang Zhiyan came out earlier than Jiang Ciqiu, but she didn’t get in the car. She waited near the gate, and only went over after Jiang Ciqiu arrived.
“Why didn’t you get in the car? It’s so hot outside.” Jiang Ciqiu was startled by Jiang Zhiyan, who suddenly appeared beside her. “Are you scared?”
“What does this have to do with being scared? I’m just too lazy to deal with them.” Jiang Zhiyan put her phone in her pocket. “Let’s go.”
The topic of conversation that night was breaking off the engagement, so Jiang’s mother wasn’t in the best mood. However, she was emotionally stable and didn’t say anything in the car, only asking what the two of them wanted to eat for dinner.
“I’m fine with anything, I’ll have whatever sister wants,” Jiang Zhiyan said, looking at Jiang Ciqiu.
“I’m fine with anything too, I’ll eat whatever is made at home, I’m not picky,” Jiang Ciqiu immediately added.
“It seems like there might be more than one unpleasant piece of news tonight?” Jiang’s mother asked. Having lived for so many years and worked in the upper management of a company for so long, she still had some perceptiveness.
“If you’re not old-fashioned, it’s actually pleasant good news,” Jiang Zhiyan said, leaning forward. Jiang Ciqiu looked at her expressionlessly.
Jiang’s mother chuckled: “So if I’m unhappy, I’m old-fashioned?”
“Yes,” Jiang Zhiyan nodded.
Jiang’s mother looked in the rearview mirror: “It’s rare to see you like this.”
“You have to have the right attitude when discussing serious matters,” Jiang Zhiyan continued.
Jiang’s mother, who still saw Jiang Zhiyan as a child, couldn’t help but laugh hearing this.
The Jiang family had prepared a table full of dishes again. Based on the principle that they might not be able to eat if they were discussing serious matters, they didn’t talk about those two things during dinner, only after they finished eating and sat down in the living room.
“Why do you want to break off the engagement?” Jiang’s father asked directly.
“Because he’s a scumbag, I already told him, I only see him as an older brother, but he keeps pestering me. I also told him it’s not good for sister, but he still pesters me, he doesn’t believe that I really don’t like him, I have proof.” Jiang Zhiyan took out her laptop and projected the evidence she had prepared.
“Does he usually talk to you like that, so disgusting?” Jiang Ciqiu’s jaw dropped in shock.
“I’ve always treated him as an older brother, who knew he had impure thoughts.”
Jiang’s parents also looked at the projection in shock, clearly not expecting Jiang Zhiyan to be so well-prepared.
“I was too naive… I’ve always wanted an older brother.” Jiang Zhiyan bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes. “But I don’t think someone like him is suitable to marry sister.”
The marriage between the Jiang and Liang families was a significant matter. Before coming, Jiang’s father and mother had made two decisions. The first was to persuade Jiang Ciqiu. They were very aware of the ambiguous relationship between Jiang Zhiyan and Liang Yan, but the two hadn’t crossed the line. A business marriage didn’t require much affection. The second was to discuss with the Liang family the possibility of transferring the engagement to Jiang Zhiyan.
They preferred the first option, because the Jiang family business would ultimately be inherited by Jiang Ciqiu. If Jiang Zhiyan and Liang Yan were together, it might threaten Jiang Ciqiu’s position. They doted on Jiang Zhiyan, but in matters like this, they were very clear about the distinction between family and outsiders. However, now, with Jiang Zhiyan’s series of moves, they were suddenly at a loss for words.
“A business marriage doesn’t actually require affection,” Jiang’s father said. “You’re not young anymore, you should be more sensible.”
“But Liang Yan disgusts me.” Jiang Ciqiu frowned. “You want me to marry him? If it’s just for show, I don’t mind, but you’ll definitely force me to have children. I hate him, he disgusts me, what’s the difference between that and being raped?”
“Jiang Ciqiu!” Jiang’s father interrupted her angrily. “Feelings can be cultivated over time.”
“I see him as a beautifully packaged pile of shit right now, how can I cultivate feelings with shit? If he can act like this while we’re engaged, and after Jiang Zhiyan clearly rejected him, then he can do even more outrageous things after we get married.” Jiang Ciqiu frowned at the two of them. “You believe an outsider whose character is clearly questionable, but you don’t believe I can manage the company on my own?”
“We didn’t mean that,” Jiang’s mother said somewhat helplessly.
“Everything we do is for you,” Jiang’s father said sternly. “Watch your tone when speaking to your parents! Have we ever mistreated you in all these years?”
“Then I don’t need it.” Jiang Ciqiu looked away. “I’ve made myself very clear, everything you’re doing now makes me feel like… you only see me as a bargaining chip, you don’t care about what I think at all.”
“Actually, does it even matter if the engagement is broken off? Won’t it be automatically void once she’s taken back by the richest man?” The System asked.
“Yes, but isn’t she too attached to this world?” Jiang Zhiyan said.
“You’re so cruel.”
“If you don’t resolve this, I’ll go to Liang Yan myself,” Jiang Ciqiu said. “It might get even uglier then.”
“Can’t you think about anything other than yourself when you do things?” Jiang’s father was extremely agitated.
“Then can you ask for my opinion before you do things? My marriage, my future, I can’t even decide these things myself?” Jiang Ciqiu’s emotions also flared up.
Jiang Zhiyan pulled Jiang Ciqiu, who was about to stand up, back down: “If the engagement isn’t broken off now, it will be even more difficult to divorce after we get married.”
“Zhiyan, don’t join in on your sister’s nonsense,” Jiang’s father said.
“I was the one who brought this up.” Jiang Zhiyan looked at him, his expression turning even uglier. “Also, I’m in a relationship, with a girl.”
Jiang’s father clutched his chest, gasping for air. Jiang’s mother looked at Jiang Zhiyan in disbelief.
Jiang Ciqiu also looked at her with some exasperation: “You really know how to pick your moments.” However, she knew that Jiang Zhiyan was just trying to divert the anger directed at her.
“What did you say?” Jiang’s father asked.
“I said, I have a girlfriend.” Jiang Zhiyan spread her hands. “So I’m really not interested in Liang Yan, I just simply want more family.”
“Do you know how many people will gossip about this?” Jiang’s mother tried to calm herself down.
“Why should I care about their gossip? We’re not breaking up, so don’t bother trying to persuade me.” Jiang Zhiyan’s tone was calm, just a simple notification.
“Did you two plan to anger us to death today?” Jiang’s father slammed the table.
“I burned incense, my parents didn’t appear in my dreams to scold me, so they approve,” Jiang Zhiyan said. “So, everyone just needs to give us their blessing.”
“Are you saying we can’t control you anymore?” Jiang’s father retorted.
“If that’s how you interpret it, there’s nothing I can do.” Jiang Zhiyan said apologetically. “I think I have the right to decide who I spend the rest of my life with.”
“You two really are… your wings have hardened.” Jiang’s father clenched his fists. “I hope you understand, everything you have now, we gave it to you!”
Half an hour later, Jiang Zhiyan and Jiang Ciqiu were sitting on the sofa in Xie Liaoyi’s apartment.
“So you were kicked out?” Xie Liaoyi asked, arms crossed, looking at Jiang Zhiyan. “You said you’d take care of me.”
“It’s fine, let Jiang Ciqiu take care of us,” Jiang Zhiyan patted Xie Liaoyi’s arm.
Jiang Ciqiu: ?
“Are you kidding me?” Jiang Ciqiu’s eyes widened. “I’m just an ordinary university student in her early twenties.”
“Actually, you’re not the Jiang family’s biological daughter, you’re the daughter of the richest man,” Jiang Zhiyan said.
Jiang Ciqiu: ???
Jiang Ciqiu’s eyes widened, looking at Jiang Zhiyan in disbelief: “Then it seems like it doesn’t matter if I break off the engagement? The engagement is with the Jiang family, and I’m not part of the Jiang family.”
Jiang Zhiyan looked at Xie Liaoyi, who shrugged.
“What are you doing?” Jiang Ciqiu didn’t understand, looking at the two blankly.
“Aren’t you sad?” Jiang Zhiyan looked at her. “About leaving the family you’ve lived with for so long?”
“I have to leave this world eventually.” Jiang Ciqiu didn’t directly answer the question. “And… this family is very different from what I imagined.”
“This family was never a safe haven for you, your good days will start after you’re retrieved,” Jiang Zhiyan said. “If there are any problems now, it’s just damage control… although they haven’t done anything yet, it would feel bad to completely break ties with them.”
Jiang Ciqiu looked at Jiang Zhiyan: “How do you know everything? Are you still hiding something?”
“Didn’t I tell you? This is a novel, and you’re the protagonist.”
Jiang Ciqiu froze for a moment, then a look of realization dawned on her face: “No wonder.”
Jiang Zhiyan didn’t quite understand.
“What?”
“No wonder I often feel like I’m too perfect to be an ordinary person,” Jiang Ciqiu exclaimed.
Jiang Zhiyan hesitated, then nodded in agreement: “Mm, yes, you’re the protagonist wherever you go.”
“I suddenly realized something.” Jiang Zhiyan looked at Xie Liaoyi, who was about to speak, and stopped her just in time.
This person definitely wasn’t about to say anything nice. When these two talked to each other, they were antagonistic, but when they joined forces to find fault with her, they were like a single person.
“You two look exactly alike now, why not take a paternity test together?” Jiang Zhiyan said.
“As long as they don’t compare your DNA, it’ll be fine, but even if they do, I can tamper with the results,” Jiang Zhiyan said.
“Then how do we explain it? They only lost one child, and we’re so many years apart in age…” Jiang Ciqiu didn’t understand.
“No need to explain, if the results show you’re their child, they’ll take you back, after all, they’re not short of money,” Jiang Zhiyan said, sitting cross-legged on the sofa.
Jiang Ciqiu was stunned for two seconds, then nodded: “Then what? How do we contact them? It would be difficult to meet them directly, even though I have connections.”
“Just wait, you’re the female lead, they’ll come find you,” Jiang Zhiyan yawned. “It should be soon, just live your life normally, and don’t act suspiciously when you’re out and about.”
“How could I possibly act suspiciously! Where are we sleeping tonight?” Jiang Ciqiu asked, looking at Jiang Zhiyan, then at Xie Liaoyi.
“I’ll sleep on the sofa, you two can take the bed,” Jiang Zhiyan rubbed her eyes.
Neither of them objected.
“Your apartment is really too small,” Jiang Ciqiu sighed.
“It’s a studio apartment,” Xie Liaoyi reminded her. “The rent for this place isn’t cheap.”
Jiang Ciqiu stood up: “I hope we won’t be scared by each other when we wake up tomorrow morning.”
“I won’t do anything like that, but I can’t say the same for you.” Xie Liaoyi ruffled Jiang Zhiyan’s hair. “I’ll go find you a blanket.”
“Mm,” Jiang Zhiyan nodded. “I also need a pillow.”
“Okay.” Xie Liaoyi lowered her head and kissed her forehead.
Jiang Ciqiu put her hands on her hips: “I think I’ll go to a hotel.”
“Do you have any secret savings?” Jiang Zhiyan asked.
“Don’t you?” Jiang Ciqiu retorted.
“I do,” Jiang Zhiyan nodded.
“Then why are you two staying at my place?” Xie Liaoyi asked, frowning.
“I’m your girlfriend,” Jiang Zhiyan said loudly. “Isn’t it normal to sleep at my girlfriend’s place! My heart has been deeply wounded today!”
“I’m you, and it’s perfectly normal for you to take in your younger, homeless self,” Jiang Ciqiu nodded.
“Younger self.” Xie Liaoyi twitched the corner of her mouth. “Go to sleep, you childish people.”
“Speaking of which, who’s older, us or Jiang Zhiyan?” Jiang Ciqiu followed behind Xie Liaoyi.
“She’s older than us,” Xie Liaoyi said.
Jiang Ciqiu looked back at Jiang Zhiyan: “But she looks like a childish crybaby, I thought she was at least half your age.”
Jiang Zhiyan was already lying on the sofa, too lazy to pay attention to her.
“But she’s a good actress,” Jiang Ciqiu continued. She had been stunned when Jiang Zhiyan shed tears in the living room earlier.
“Does she really look like that? And do we really look like this?”
“We’re similar, but her real appearance is a bit more aggressive,” Xie Liaoyi said. “She toned it down a bit this time because of her persona.”
Jiang Ciqiu looked back at Jiang Zhiyan, thinking for a few seconds: “I really want to see it.”
Jiang Zhiyan heard the door close, the two of them hadn’t stopped muttering, she stared at the ceiling and yawned.
“Do you want to hear what they’re saying about you?” The System asked.
“No, it must be about how much they like me.” Jiang Zhiyan closed her eyes peacefully.
“Confidence is indeed a good thing.”
Jiang Zhiyan smiled: “Don’t talk to me, I’m going to sleep, you’ve been playing this trick for so long, aren’t you tired of it?”
“It’s free this time.”
“I don’t want it even if it’s free, I wouldn’t do something as boring as eavesdropping.”
“You’ve done much more boring things than this,” the System commented.
…
Xie Liaoyi always thought she wasn’t very talkative, but she felt like she might have misjudged herself. Jiang Ciqiu was really talkative.
“What are you thinking about?” Jiang Ciqiu, noticing Xie Liaoyi hadn’t spoken for a long time, couldn’t help but ask.
“I’m wondering, was I this talkative before?” Xie Liaoyi closed her eyes.
“Just say I’m annoying, you don’t have to be so subtle, go to sleep!” Jiang Ciqiu pulled the blanket. “It’s Saturday tomorrow, do you have work?”
“No, and you’re pulling my blanket, I gave you one, share it.” Xie Liaoyi tugged her blanket back forcefully.
“I’m so sorry, Old Xie,” Jiang Ciqiu said in a syrupy voice. “I didn’t mean to.”
“You’re welcome, Young Xie.”
“Heh.”
…
The three people in the studio apartment quickly fell asleep, but the two people in the Jiang family were still in the living room, hadn’t left yet.
“The older they get, the less obedient they become,” Jiang’s father sighed. “The path is already paved, why don’t they want to walk on it?”
“Zhiyan has also changed a lot, I don’t know who influenced whom,” Jiang’s mother took a sip of water, her expression melancholic. “How are we going to explain this to the Liang family?”
“We won’t tell them for now, the collaboration is at a crucial stage.” Jiang’s father sneered. “Flowers raised in a greenhouse don’t know how harsh the outside world is, stop giving them money, and don’t let them live in that apartment anymore. I want to see how stubborn they can be, we’ve been too good to them.”
“Did you find out anything about Zhiyan’s girlfriend?” Jiang’s father asked. “Who is she?”
“It should be that female doctor she met online,” Jiang’s mother looked down at her phone. “I had someone investigate, her name is Xie Liaoyi…”
“A lowly doctor?” Jiang’s father said with some disdain.
“I asked around, she’s a doctor they’re focusing on training, I didn’t really understand the information they sent, but she can already perform many high-difficulty surgeries.” Jiang’s mother rubbed her temples. “The hospital values her very much, it’s not easy to deal with her, and they’re not willing to help us do anything.”
“Forget it, don’t cause trouble for her, she’s not our enemy,” Jiang’s mother said. “This is enough.”
“We absolutely cannot compromise this time, don’t be soft-hearted. If there’s a first time, there will be a second, and their demands will only get higher. Just listen to what they said today!”
Jiang’s mother held her cup and looked away: “If they really don’t want to, don’t force them.”
“You’re always so soft-hearted!”
…
Jiang Zhiyan was woken up by Jiang Ciqiu’s scream, which pierced through the door and directly into her brain.
Her body moved faster than her mind. By the time she started thinking, she had already pushed open the door: “What happened?”
“It’s nothing, I scared her,” Xie Liaoyi said, also seeming to have a headache. “My ears hurt.”
“I just woke up, I haven’t fully come to my senses yet.” Jiang Ciqiu was a little embarrassed and hid her face under the blanket.
Jiang Zhiyan, seeing Jiang Ciqiu’s actions, twitched the corner of her mouth: “That habit of hiding under the blanket when something happens, you’ve really kept it for a long time.”
Jiang Ciqiu suddenly didn’t know whether to stay under the blanket or come out. She felt someone put another blanket on her, and after a while, another one, a total of three blankets.
“Are you two childish or what?” Jiang Ciqiu emerged, looking at the blankets on her.
“Maintaining a childlike heart is the secret to staying young.” Jiang Zhiyan snapped her fingers. “I’m going to wash up, you two tidy up.”
For the next few days, Jiang Zhiyan and Jiang Ciqiu stayed at Xie Liaoyi’s place. The three of them took turns sleeping on the sofa. Later, after Jiang Ciqiu saw Jiang Zhiyan and Xie Liaoyi huddled together sleeping on the sofa, she decided to permanently take the sofa.
“It’s better than opening the door and seeing you two squeezed together.” Jiang Ciqiu pointed at the two. “Be more mindful.”
Later, she discovered that it wasn’t good to let Jiang Zhiyan and Xie Liaoyi sleep in the room either.
Jiang Ciqiu felt the empathy growing stronger. She usually didn’t feel much, but at times like this, the feeling was very clear. She could even feel the temperature of Jiang Zhiyan’s fingers and the path they traced.
She really didn’t understand, why did Jiang Zhiyan and Xie Liaoyi have so much energy? Weren’t they tired? And there were so many things they could do, why did they have to do that, and so frequently?
Jiang Ciqiu curled up under the blanket, biting her lip, and finally couldn’t help but walk to the door and knock.
“What is it?”
It was Jiang Zhiyan who spoke, her voice seemingly laced with amusement. Xie Liaoyi didn’t make a sound, and she didn’t know what state she was in, but it probably wasn’t much better than her own.
Thinking about what Jiang Zhiyan was doing just now, Jiang Ciqiu cursed her as a pervert in her mind, what was going on in this person’s head all day?
“Keep it down! I’m trying to sleep!” Jiang Ciqiu tried to make her voice sound normal.
“But we’re… not making any noise,” Jiang Zhiyan sounded confused.
“Then keep your movements down.” Jiang Ciqiu went back to the sofa and lay down. After three seconds, she closed her eyes in despair, wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, took a deep breath, and gritted her teeth.
Jiang Zhiyan, holding Xie Liaoyi, suddenly stopped moving.
Xie Liaoyi opened her eyes blearily, her voice a little hoarse: “What’s wrong?”
“It seems like Jiang Ciqiu has a strong desire to separate.” Jiang Zhiyan looked at the background data, the System was muted, so she had to check some things herself.
“Huh?” Xie Liaoyi’s mind cleared up a bit, but it was still difficult for her to think straight. “Why?”
“She just came over and told us to keep it down,” Jiang Zhiyan looked at Xie Liaoyi.
Xie Liaoyi’s eyes widened slightly: “It can’t be…”
“Maybe.”
Xie Liaoyi buried her face in Jiang Zhiyan’s arms: “So she knew what we were doing all along?”
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