When Jiang Jiang heard those words, she was slightly stunned. Before she could react, Xie Xiao on the other side of the mirror was already about to explode.
Listen to that! Just listen!
Is that something a human would say?!
Didn't she herself know whether she had given her number or not? How dare she turn the tables like that!
Xie Xiao ground her teeth viciously and kept mouthing words at Jiang Jiang.
Scold—her!
Jiang Jiang smiled at her soundlessly. She did not feel angry; after all, Ji Xu'an's temperament had always been like this.
Perhaps because Jiang Jiang remained silent for too long, Ji Xu'an on the other end called out again in confusion.
"Xie Xiao?"
Jiang Jiang responded with a soft sound. Her tone was cautious, as soft and gentle as ever, yet upon closer listening, one could detect a faint trace of grievance.
"But I don't know what your number is."
She paused, her voice growing even softer. "In the phone you gave me, there was only Secretary Zhao's number."
This time it was Ji Xu'an who froze. Only then did she recall that she had merely given a simple instruction at the time, leaving the details to Secretary Zhao.
Perhaps because her earlier dislike toward Xie Xiao had been too obvious, Secretary Zhao had perceived her attitude and, in order to avoid irritating her, had left only his own contact information in the phone.
That way, if Xie Xiao wished to contact her, she would have to go through Secretary Zhao, who could conveniently block her and prevent her from wasting Ji Xu'an's time with trivial matters.
It had to be said that Secretary Zhao's handling of the matter was indeed considerate, but he had surely not anticipated that one day this very action would place Ji Xu'an in such an awkward position.
Silence fell over both ends of the call.
Ji Xu'an thought that this truly could not be blamed on Xie Xiao. Yet at the same time, she could not help thinking that they had met several times over the past few days, and Xie Xiao had actually endured without ever bringing up the matter.
Was it because she knew that sooner or later Ji Xu'an would contact her first?
Or was it that Xie Xiao simply did not care much about it at all?
Ji Xu'an seemed to experience for the first time the feeling of having been self-indulgent. Thinking of how she had repeatedly warned Xie Xiao not to harbor ulterior motives, and how she had even suspected in the back garden yesterday that Xie Xiao had been deliberately flirting with her—
And yet? Perhaps the other woman had not had such intentions at all.
At that thought, Ji Xu'an could not help raising a hand to rub her brow. Her lips moved as if to say something, but the words reached her mouth and were swallowed back down.
In the end, she simply skipped over the topic and brought up the main purpose of her call. "I've already heard from Uncle Chen about what happened at the hospital today. Little Yuan was being immature. I apologize to you on her behalf."
"When she recovers, I will have her apologize to you in person."
From beginning to end, Jiang Jiang's emotions remained remarkably calm. A faint smile lingered on her face throughout. In Xie Xiao's view, this was the composure and satisfaction of someone whose expectations had been perfectly fulfilled.
Jiang Jiang had guessed correctly—Ji Xu'an had indeed taken the initiative to apologize to her.
After Ji Xu'an finished speaking, Jiang Jiang first fell silent for a few seconds, then slowly said, "Although she scolded me in front of so many people, I did feel a little wronged. But I also know that little Yuan only lashed out because she was feeling unwell. I can understand her."
Her tone was soft and gentle, carrying a strange persuasiveness that made it difficult to doubt the sincerity of her words.
If Xie Xiao had claimed she was not angry at all, Ji Xu'an might have suspected that she was speaking against her true feelings. Yet because she openly admitted her grievance, Ji Xu'an instead believed that she was speaking from the heart.
Ji Heyuan's temperament truly needed to be properly disciplined; otherwise, sooner or later she would suffer a major setback.
Ji Xu'an was already contemplating how to temper Ji Heyuan's character afterward. As for Ji Heyuan's accusations against Xie Xiao, Ji Xu'an regarded them merely as displaced anger.
Ji Heyuan had claimed that her fall might have been related to Xie Xiao, but Ji Xu'an had carefully reviewed the surveillance footage of the old residence and questioned the others who had been present at the time. Xie Xiao indeed had no opportunity to commit any wrongdoing.
She had been sleeping in her room, and the place where Ji Heyuan fell was dozens of meters away. It was impossible for Xie Xiao to have tripped her from a distance.
"Don't take what little Yuan said to heart. This matter has nothing to do with you. If she bullies you again in the future…"
Ji Xu'an paused, not continuing.
Jiang Jiang knew what she wanted to hear. She bit her lip and asked tentatively, half hesitant, "If I tell you, will you stand up for me?"
Ji Xu'an idly twirled the pen in her hand, her expression indifferent. "You may not know this, but I have always upheld reason over family."
So, if Jiang Jiang had not lied to her, she would support her.
Jiang Jiang's breathing seemed to grow slightly hurried. Ji Xu'an lowered her gaze, listening to the faint sound of the other woman's breath over the phone, and found that her own faint irritability had instead calmed.
Jiang Jiang seemed to let out a sigh of relief, unable to conceal the joy in her voice. "Then I'll tell you in the future. Don't worry, I won't trouble Grandmother with these matters."
That was precisely what Ji Xu'an had wanted to hear.
Everything she had said had ultimately been a warning not to complain to Old Madam Ji.
Jiang Jiang saw it clearly. The unease and delight in her voice were all an act.
In fact, if Xie Xiao had not been watching Jiang Jiang closely the entire time and known that her expression had never once changed, she too might have been deceived.
After all, Jiang Jiang's series of reactions appeared exactly like those of an eighteen-year-old girl who, though somewhat clever, was overall still innocent.
Even Ji Xu'an had been deceived by her.
Of course, this was partly because Ji Xu'an had not invested much thought in Jiang Jiang to begin with.
Ji Xu'an was too confident. She believed she could always keep Jiang Jiang firmly within her grasp, and thus did not care much about what Jiang Jiang's true personality might actually be.
"Mm, let's leave it at that for now. There's still work at the company." Ji Xu'an lazily spun her pen, satisfied with Jiang Jiang's tact. "I won't be returning to the old residence recently. If you need anything, contact Butler Chen or Secretary Zhao."
Her voice paused slightly, and she suddenly added, "This is my private number."
"I'll remember it firmly," Jiang Jiang replied obediently at once.
So next time, she would recognize it immediately.
Ji Xu'an seemed to make a faint sound of acknowledgment. It was so soft that Jiang Jiang was not sure whether she had imagined it. The next second she heard a beep—Ji Xu'an had hung up.
Only after confirming the call had ended did Xie Xiao chuckle. "Jiang Jiang, what did Ji Xu'an mean by that last sentence? Was she hinting for you to message her first?"
Tsk tsk tsk, acting all aloof, yet still completely handled by my Jiang-jie.
Jiang Jiang looked at the string of numbers on the screen, a barely perceptible smile lifting her lips. "Perhaps."
"Not perhaps—definitely! Otherwise why would she emphasize that it's her private number?" Xie Xiao looked ready to plant her hands on her hips in triumph. "Ignore her. Let her stew. Make her anxious."
"Mm." Jiang Jiang had originally planned the same.
She was not as optimistic as Xie Xiao. Ji Xu'an's remark might simply have been an attempt to smooth over the awkwardness, without any deeper meaning.
But whether there was or not did not matter. After all, Ji Xu'an herself had said that if she needed anything, she should contact Secretary Zhao and Butler Chen.
Jiang Jiang was a very obedient person. She would firmly remember every word Ji Xu'an said and execute it strictly.
After all, Ji Xu'an liked those who were well-behaved and sensible.
Thinking this without much concern, Jiang Jiang picked up the handkerchief she had just finished embroidering and held it under the sunlight to admire it.
Xie Xiao felt somewhat worried. "If she's not coming back, when will you give it to her?"
Jiang Jiang's almond-shaped eyes curved. "There will be an opportunity."
She gently stroked the magnolia embroidered on the handkerchief with her fingertips. "I'll say it's… to thank her for being willing to stand up for me? That reason should persuade her to accept my gift."
After all, if she told the truth—that it was a token of gratitude for Ji Xu'an buying her a phone—Ji Xu'an would certainly not believe it.
Perhaps Jiang Jiang also harbored a trace of testing intent.
—
Author's Note:
Jiang Jiang: Holds grudges. (Stares—)
President Ji: QAQ Baby, I was wrong.
(A diligent author quietly appears) (Sneaks toward the stove) (Vigorously adds firewood) Let the crematorium arc burn even more fiercely!
—
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