Ji Xu'an's car was parked not far away.
When they reached the car door, Ji Xu'an finally released her right hand that had been tightly interlocked with Jiang Jiang's fingers. She opened the car door for Jiang Jiang, watched her sit down, then bent over to fasten the seat belt for her.
This series of attentive service made Ji Heyuan click her tongue in amazement. Deliberately pinching her voice, she said, "Sister, I can't open the car door either."
Ji Xu'an did not respond to her at all. She was still fastening the seat belt unhurriedly.
The lights inside the car were not on. Only a nearby streetlamp cast a circle of soft glow, barely illuminating this small space.
In the dim environment, Ji Xu'an supported herself with one hand on the seatback. She was half-bent at the waist. Her long hair fell naturally down her shoulder. The side of her face was only a fist's distance away from Jiang Jiang's cheek. Her light breathing was close at hand.
Jiang Jiang quietly held her breath. Both of her hands uneasily clutched at the hem of her clothes. She even forgot to blink. Her eyes were fixed straight on Ji Xu'an's thick eyelashes, not daring to move downward even a fraction.
Darkness bred desire. Even though both Jiang Jiang and Ji Xu'an were restrained and had not even met each other's gaze for more than a moment, there was still an inexplicable restlessness and ambiguity flowing around them. No one knew whose heart had begun to pound violently, the sound loud enough to make it impossible to ignore.
Along with the silent stillness, Ji Xu'an's hand on the seatback tightened slightly. The faint bluish veins on the back of her hand appeared and disappeared, as if suppressing something.
Jiang Jiang remained silent and breathless, allowing Ji Xu'an to half-enclose her within the seat. The other woman's scent completely wrapped around her. If Ji Xu'an wished, she could easily suppress all of Jiang Jiang's struggles.
Neither of them spoke. Ji Xu'an had clearly already fastened the seat belt, yet she did not withdraw.
A vague thought surfaced in her mind. She felt that at this moment she should say something.
But before Ji Xu'an could figure out what exactly she should say, the subtle atmosphere was broken by a sentence from Ji Heyuan.
"What are you two doing?" Ji Heyuan leaned over in confusion. "Still not done fastening it?"
If she did not know that her sister was not that kind of person, Ji Heyuan would have suspected that the two of them had secretly kissed behind her back.
Jiang Jiang's face flushed bright red. She licked her lips uncomfortably and said in a low voice, "Sister, I can do it myself."
Ji Xu'an took a deep breath, straightened up, and closed the passenger door. Her presence suddenly withdrew. Jiang Jiang could not help lifting her eyes to look over. Through the half-open window, their gazes intertwined once again.
This time, the eye contact lasted only a few seconds. Then they tacitly looked away at the same time. No matter how Ji Heyuan guessed, neither of them mentioned what had just happened.
Ji Heyuan looked at Ji Xu'an, then leaned forward to glance at Jiang Jiang, muttering softly, "So strange."
Ji Xu'an opened the car door for her. Her tone was indifferent. "Are you getting in or not?"
Ji Heyuan grinned and bent down into the car. "Getting in, getting in. Don't think you two can leave me behind."
After both of them were seated, Ji Xu'an returned to the driver's seat. She silently started the engine, one hand on the steering wheel, eyes lowered, not knowing what she was thinking.
Jiang Jiang released the wrinkled hem she had been gripping and turned her face toward the window. She slightly closed her eyes. Her long hair was blown by the night wind, fluttering and flying. The heat on her cheeks, along with that faint trace of fluttering affection, dissipated together into the wind.
Ji Heyuan, who was always rather careless, did not notice anything unusual. She only felt that the two of them were unusually quiet. But since Ji Xu'an and Jiang Jiang did not talk much in the first place, she did not think much of it.
"Sis, you didn't see it just now. That woman was really arrogant!" Ji Heyuan was complaining about He Xinyao.
Thinking of He Xinyao's sharp expression, she could not help rolling her eyes. "I don't know what kind of deep grudge she has with Xie Xiao, insisting that Xie Xiao wanted to harm her."
Ji Xu'an came back to her senses and glanced at Jiang Jiang, who was looking down silently. She always felt that Jiang Jiang must know something, but since Jiang Jiang clearly did not intend to tell her, Ji Xu'an considerately did not ask further.
Anyway, as early as when she learned that Jiang Jiang had asked Old Liu to inquire about He Xinyao, Ji Xu'an had already arranged for Secretary Zhao to investigate the matter.
When He Xinyao saw her just now, there had clearly been a flash of panic and shock in her expression. All of this showed that she had long known who Ji Xu'an was.
Ji Xu'an suspected that He Xinyao's target was not Jiang Jiang, but herself, or perhaps Linghai Group. Jiang Jiang had merely suffered in her stead.
Surname He…
Ji Xu'an tapped the steering wheel casually with her fingertips. Among her past competitors, there did not seem to be anyone surnamed He. But she could not rule out the possibility that He Xinyao was someone's relative. After all, she could not possibly know the entire ancestral history of every person.
Little Yuan had mentioned the voice recorder earlier. Ji Xu'an was certain that the contents inside must be unfavorable to Jiang Jiang or to the Ji family. Otherwise, He Xinyao would not have been so nervous.
Jiang Jiang had been able to ask Old Liu to investigate He Xinyao's past. That meant she had already been wary of her. In that case, whether the voice recorder had truly captured anything valuable remained questionable.
While Ji Xu'an was sorting through her thoughts, Jiang Jiang, sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly looked up at her. "Sister, so you sent me a message. I didn't see it at all."
On Jiang Jiang's lit-up phone screen, the message Ji Xu'an had sent half an hour earlier was clearly displayed. She had asked whether Jiang Jiang was finished.
At that time, Jiang Jiang had been confronting He Xinyao, so she naturally could not reply.
"Mm." Ji Xu'an nodded slightly.
It was precisely because Jiang Jiang had not replied that she had called Ji Heyuan afterward.
Hearing this, Ji Heyuan could not help interrupting, "Sis, you didn't run a red light on your way here, did you?"
Ji Xu'an pressed her lips together. "No."
Ji Heyuan nudged Jiang Jiang's shoulder and said mysteriously, "Xie Xiao, let me tell you. When my sister heard you had a conflict with someone, she was so nervous. I was afraid she'd call dozens of bodyguards to come fight."
Jiang Jiang could not help laughing. She already had the image in her mind.
When it came to setting her sister up, Ji Heyuan truly spared no effort.
Ji Xu'an said nothing. Ji Heyuan even grinned and slapped the back of her seat. "Sis, good thing you didn't do that. Otherwise tomorrow you'd definitely make the headlines."
Ji Xu'an did not turn her head. "Do you think everyone is as stupid as you?"
"Tch." Ji Heyuan snorted lightly, thinking that this was only because Xie Xiao was here. Otherwise, she would not be so polite.
Although Ji Xu'an denied running a red light, Ji Heyuan swore that her sister had definitely been driving faster than usual.
The moment she heard that her wife might be in trouble, she had been more anxious than anyone, even forgetting her own biological sister completely.
Ji Heyuan felt her emotions were complicated. After spending this period of time together, she believed she had fully accepted Jiang Jiang's identity. Even if Jiang Jiang were truly to marry Ji Xu'an in the future, Ji Heyuan would no longer feel that previous jealousy.
But at the same time, she had to face a cruel fact. Perhaps after having a wife, her sister would no longer dote on her and indulge her unconditionally as before.
It was not quite that. Rather, Ji Xu'an would no longer put her in first place.
Ji Heyuan could not help letting out a heavy sigh. Fortunately, this sister-in-law Jiang Jiang treated her quite well. She could even influence her sister's decisions.
Thinking of this, Ji Heyuan suddenly was not emotional at all. As long as she served Xie Jiang Jiang well and let Jiang Jiang say a few more good words about her in front of her sister, was she still afraid her allowance would not return?
Ji Heyuan felt as if she had opened the door to a new world. Jiang Jiang could clearly sense that the way Ji Heyuan looked at her had grown much more fervent. She could not help becoming vigilant, suspecting that Ji Heyuan was plotting something again.
If Jiang Jiang could sense it, Ji Xu'an naturally was not unaware either.
It was one thing in the car. After getting out, Ji Heyuan still stuck to Jiang Jiang. Even after entering the elevator, she kept talking to her nonstop.
Reason told Ji Xu'an that Ji Heyuan was her biological sister. They were family. She should not mind this.
But the fact was, Ji Xu'an endured and endured, yet still could not hold back. She spoke up to interrupt Ji Heyuan's chatter.
"Jiang Jiang is tired. If there's anything to say, wait until tomorrow."
Jiang Jiang smiled at her good-naturedly. Only then did Ji Heyuan notice the faint weariness in Jiang Jiang's eyes. She reluctantly fell silent. "Alright."
When they returned to the apartment, it was almost eleven o'clock.
Before Ji Xu'an could speak, Ji Heyuan yawned and went into her own room. When closing the door, she waved at the two of them. "Good night."
She left just like that, leaving Jiang Jiang and Ji Xu'an looking at each other.
A few seconds later, Jiang Jiang was the first to break the silence. "Sister, let's go back to the room too."
Ji Xu'an paused for two seconds before responding with a soft "Mm."
She knew Jiang Jiang did not mean anything else. But when she had heard that sentence just now, the first thought that had surfaced in her mind was that she and Jiang Jiang truly seemed like a loving young couple.
That word "go back" was difficult not to misunderstand.
Yet Jiang Jiang truly seemed to have said it casually. Ji Xu'an watched her figure walking into the bedroom. Her eyes were much deeper than usual.
In this apartment at Xingyue Bay, both the master bedroom and the second bedroom had independent bathrooms. Jiang Jiang still had class tomorrow, so Ji Xu'an let her wash up first, while she returned to her room to get a set of pajamas.
While she was packing her things, Ji Heyuan leaned against the doorframe with a mischievous smile, winking at her. "Take it easy, you two. If Xie Jiang Jiang can't get up tomorrow morning, I won't help her ask for leave."
Ji Xu'an frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Ji Heyuan was not afraid of her at all. She shrugged. "I'm just kindly reminding you. I don't mean anything else."
Ji Xu'an kept a straight face and said nothing.
When she returned to Jiang Jiang's room again, Jiang Jiang had not finished washing up yet. The faint sound of water came from the bathroom. Ji Xu'an's expression immediately became a little unnatural.
It seemed she had been influenced by Ji Heyuan's earlier words. Her mind kept producing things it should not.
Ji Xu'an put down the pajamas and sat on the sofa, intending to read for a while, yet she could not calm her heart no matter what.
The scene before getting into the car surfaced in her mind again.
At that time, she and Jiang Jiang had been so close. Both of their bodies had been tense. But Jiang Jiang's tension had been pure nervousness and shyness. She herself, however, had been stirred by the springlike warmth at the corner of Jiang Jiang's eyes.
Jiang Jiang believed that Ji Xu'an was serious and upright, that she trusted her unconditionally. But only Ji Xu'an herself knew where her gaze had truly been fixed at that time.
If little Yuan had not interrupted, what would she have said to Jiang Jiang then?
Ji Xu'an could not help lowering her eyes to look at her own palm. When her fingers had been tightly interlocked with Jiang Jiang's, her heartbeat had clearly been fast and urgent. Her expression and movements could be restrained. Only her heartbeat could not lie.
Ji Xu'an fell into confusion. In the past twenty-six years, she had never experienced such complicated feelings.
She had grown accustomed to caring for and protecting Ji Heyuan, so she had subconsciously believed that what she felt for Jiang Jiang was the same. But when facing little Yuan, her composure and calm had never required desperate suppression and disguise.
Ji Xu'an had to consider one question. Had her feelings for Jiang Jiang truly gone beyond familial affection?
—
When Jiang Jiang came out of the bathroom, Ji Xu'an was leaning by the window, letting the wind blow over her. She supported herself with her elbow against the windowsill. Her gaze stretched far into the distance, as if she were trapped in deep thought.
Jiang Jiang walked toward her, calling softly as she approached, "Sister."
Ji Xu'an did not move her body. She only tilted her head slightly, presenting her profile to Jiang Jiang.
As Jiang Jiang drew closer, the floral scent of her body wash, mixed with damp moisture, swept straight toward Ji Xu'an, causing her to lose focus for a brief second.
In that one or two seconds, Jiang Jiang had already pressed the back of her hand against Ji Xu'an's forearm.
"So cold." Jiang Jiang muttered. "Aren't you afraid of catching a chill?"
Ji Xu'an quietly gazed at her brows and eyes still tinged with moisture. She obediently closed the window. "Alright. I won't stand in the wind."
Jiang Jiang revealed a faint smile. The tips of her hair were still dripping water. Droplets fell onto the pajama top at her chest, spreading into damp patches.
Jiang Jiang seemed completely unaware. "Sister, go take a shower too."
Ji Xu'an's gaze swept over that patch of dampness, then she shifted her eyes behind Jiang Jiang. "No rush. I'll dry your hair first."
A clear delight appeared in Jiang Jiang's eyes. She turned and ran lightly toward the bathroom. "Then I'll get the hair dryer."
Ji Xu'an curved her lips slightly. It was rare to see such a lively side of Jiang Jiang.
She thought that Jiang Jiang would feel happy because of her closeness. At least that proved that Jiang Jiang held her in her heart.
But immediately, Ji Xu'an's smile faded again. She herself was confused and distracted because she could not sort out her feelings for Jiang Jiang. Yet Jiang Jiang seemed to truly treat her only as an older sister. Her closeness and shyness did not seem to carry any romantic intent.
Ji Xu'an's heart sank heavily.
When Jiang Jiang came out with the hair dryer, Ji Xu'an was still standing beside the sofa. Her emotions tonight seemed somewhat off. Jiang Jiang instinctively felt that at this time she should give Ji Xu'an a little more stimulation. Perhaps then Ji Xu'an would understand what she wanted.
But she was not too impatient. At least while Ji Xu'an was drying her hair, Jiang Jiang did not make any small moves.
Ji Xu'an stroked Jiang Jiang's long hair. Only after the strands beneath her hand were completely dry did she turn off the hair dryer. "Done."
She was just about to turn and put the hair dryer away when Jiang Jiang, who had been sitting obediently and letting her do as she pleased, suddenly raised her arms and wrapped them around Ji Xu'an's waist. She even took the initiative to press her cheek against Ji Xu'an's abdomen.
Ji Xu'an fell silent instantly. She stood in place without moving, like a quiet sculpture. Even her breathing became light. Only the fingers hanging at her side curled and relaxed, revealing the unrest in her heart.
Jiang Jiang rubbed against her again and again, messing up Ji Xu'an's neat white shirt. Through the thin fabric, she could clearly feel Ji Xu'an's warmth and strength. The other woman's lower abdomen was taut. She was probably still unaccustomed to this.
But she had not pushed her away.
Jiang Jiang slowly tightened her arms. Her voice was soft and sticky, as if embarrassed. "Sister, I really like you so much."
Hearing this, Ji Xu'an's heart thudded violently. She suddenly lowered her head to look at Jiang Jiang. But Jiang Jiang had buried her entire face against her. The long hair that Ji Xu'an herself had dried blocked Jiang Jiang's profile. Ji Xu'an could only see the top of her head.
Her fingertips twitched. She wanted very much to brush aside the obstructing strands of hair. But in the end, she restrained herself.
Jiang Jiang seemed completely unaware of Ji Xu'an's inner turmoil. She held Ji Xu'an's waist and continued speaking softly, acting spoiled.
"When you appeared tonight, I was really touched and really happy."
A trace of sweetness seemed to enter Jiang Jiang's voice. "He Xinyao has many family members who love her, so she has the confidence to argue with others. She is very happy. But I'm not envious of her."
"Because I also have a sister protecting me. Sister is better than all of them combined."
At this point, Jiang Jiang could not help tilting her head up, looking at Ji Xu'an with watery almond-shaped eyes in infatuation. "Sister, will you always protect me like this?"
She looked so pitiful and humble. Ji Xu'an almost did not hesitate before making a solemn promise. "I will."
After saying it, she instead felt much lighter inside. She added seriously, "No matter what happens, I will protect you. I won't let you suffer any grievances."
Jiang Jiang confirmed uneasily, "Then what if I do something wrong? Will sister think I'm a bad child and not want me anymore?"
Ji Xu'an raised her hand and gently stroked the corner of Jiang Jiang's eye, wiping away that bit of moisture with her fingertip. After wiping away the tear, her hand did not leave immediately. Instead, she cupped Jiang Jiang's small face and comforted her in a gentle tone.
"If you really do something wrong, then it's my fault. It means I didn't fulfill my duty in guiding you."
So she would never abandon Jiang Jiang because of that.
If she had not taught her well, then she would continue teaching. She would give Jiang Jiang the chance to correct herself.
From Ji Xu'an's eyes, Jiang Jiang saw seriousness and determination. That was enough to make her believe that Ji Xu'an was not lying.
Perhaps Ji Xu'an's tolerance toward her was far greater than she had imagined.
Jiang Jiang clung to Ji Xu'an lovingly, sweet words spilling out as if they cost nothing. "I will always listen to sister."
Ji Xu'an's hand pressed against the back of her head. Her thin lips curved almost imperceptibly. She lowered her gaze to look at Jiang Jiang. Her eyes were especially gentle and moving.
"I know. Jiang Jiang has always been very well-behaved."
Jiang Jiang thought to herself that although Ji Xu'an appeared cold and difficult to approach, once someone entered her heart, she was actually far easier to win over than expected.
She secretly considered her next plan, not noticing beneath Ji Xu'an's gentle brows and eyes the intense obsession and darkness that could not be dissolved.
—
At bedtime, Jiang Jiang took the initiative to cross that invisible boundary line.
"Sister, I'm a little cold. Can I hold you while we sleep?"
She was certain Ji Xu'an would not refuse.
As expected, Ji Xu'an said nothing. She only lifted her side of the blanket slightly. Jiang Jiang immediately moved closer.
The close-fitting pajamas were too thin. Jiang Jiang's soft body pressed tightly against Ji Xu'an's arm. Even the curve at her chest was squeezed slightly out of shape.
Ji Xu'an tried her best to relax her body. Compared to Jiang Jiang's posture full of dependence, her own sleeping posture was so proper it could have been written into a textbook.
One tried her best to move closer. The other remained unmoved, as if everything were merely Jiang Jiang's one-sided wish.
But without Ji Xu'an's tacit permission, how could Jiang Jiang have so easily invaded her territory?
Jiang Jiang wrapped her arms around Ji Xu'an's arm. Her sweet fragrance drifted straight into Ji Xu'an's nose.
"Good night, sister." Jiang Jiang whispered.
Ji Xu'an did not speak. Jiang Jiang did not mind. She closed her eyes. Her consciousness quickly sank into sleep.
She slept very soundly. When Jiang Jiang woke up, she only felt that her limbs were warm all over.
Only after opening her eyes did she realize that the arm she had originally been holding was no longer there. In its place was an arm wrapped around her waist.
Ji Xu'an had not yet woken. Perhaps after she fell asleep, Ji Xu'an had unconsciously pulled her into an embrace.
Jiang Jiang carefully shifted slightly to the side. The moment she moved, Ji Xu'an's hand slid downward a little, about to slip off her body.
But before Jiang Jiang could continue retreating, the hand loosely resting on her waist suddenly tightened again, pulling her back into her embrace.
Caught off guard, Jiang Jiang's nose bumped into Ji Xu'an's chest. The warm sensation made her blush completely this time. It was not an act.
"Sister?" Jiang Jiang called in a muffled voice.
As soon as she spoke, her lips accidentally brushed against Ji Xu'an's skin again, like a deliberate kiss.
Jiang Jiang quickly closed her mouth.
After such a commotion, Ji Xu'an was thoroughly awake.
Jiang Jiang was still locked in her embrace, obediently allowing herself to be bullied. Ji Xu'an could even feel that the palm pressed against Jiang Jiang's lower back was not touching pajama fabric, but something more delicate and resilient.
She withdrew her hand as if electrocuted. Her just-awakened voice carried a trace of hoarseness. "Sorry. I was half-asleep."
Jiang Jiang sat up. The blush on her cheeks had already completely faded. She seemed not to take the accident to heart at all. "It's alright. Did sister sleep well last night?"
Ji Xu'an also sat up. "Mm."
Jiang Jiang rubbed her cheeks. "I slept very well too."
She let out a soft sigh. There seemed to be a hint of disappointment in her tone. "If only little Yuan could always live here."
The implication in that sentence was too strong. Ji Xu'an could not pretend she did not understand.
She looked at Jiang Jiang's guilty, wandering gaze. A smile finally appeared on her face.
"There's no need for her to always live here."
Jiang Jiang looked at her in confusion, making a soft sound through her nose. "Hm?"
Ji Xu'an did not answer. She lifted the blanket and got out of bed. She first turned her back to Jiang Jiang and tidied the loosened collar of her clothes, then turned to face Jiang Jiang. In her dark eyes seemed to be endless meaning.
"As long as you want."
Jiang Jiang watched her leave. Even after the door opened and closed and Ji Xu'an's figure completely disappeared from the room, she was still pondering what Ji Xu'an had meant by that sentence.
As long as she wanted, Ji Xu'an would sleep with her?
—
That night Jiang Jiang was wrapped in sweetness and affection. But in the hospital, He Xinyao's mood was completely the opposite.
Because she discovered that the contents of the voice recorder were indeed missing.
There were sounds at the beginning and the end. Even the quarrel with everyone after she fell down the stairs had been recorded clearly. Only the middle part, when she had been arguing with Xie Xiao, had the recorder inexplicably turned off.
He Xinyao was so furious that she smashed the thing in her hand onto the ground.
This must have been done by Xie Xiao!
—
Author's Note:
After He Xinyao goes offline, Zheng Zhouzhou should be next soon. The scene you all want to see where President Ji gets struck down will definitely happen.
—
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