In addition to what had just happened, Jiang Ruoxun had imagined many possible exchanges between Xu Youzhi and Wang Qiuhua.
She imagined Wang Qiuhua telling Xu Youzhi to stay away from her, and her obedient daughter agreeing. Or perhaps Xu Youzhi refused to believe it, but arrived to see her full of hesitation. Or maybe Xu Youzhi hadn’t listened at all, forcing Wang Qiuhua to resort to a tantrum to make her daughter yield.
After thinking it through, she realized she had been both wrong and right.
Ultimately, it was a possibility she had both hoped for and feared to hope for.
Jiang Ruoxun hadn’t expected Xu Youzhi to have her first fierce argument with her mother for her sake, let alone cry so piteously from the grievance.
Outside the window, dusk fell, painting the sky with a vibrant sunset.
Xu Youzhi leaned into Jiang Ruoxun’s arms, her red-tipped nose stinging with sorrow. She wasn’t crying because of the fight itself, but because of her mother’s indiscriminate slander.
Sister is so good; she’s definitely not like the rumors.
“Actually, I was quite puzzled. At first, you didn’t look like you knew about that scandal at all.” Back then, she had been like a warm, enthusiastic little puppy.
“I couldn’t exactly roll my eyes at you, Sister. That would be very rude,” Xu Youzhi sobbed, nuzzling further into her like a kitten. She wondered if this was her chance to be a bit more forward.
The actress’s scent was so intoxicating that she craved it like a source of comfort.
Jiang Ruoxun had long noticed the “little dog” in her arms becoming bolder with their physical contact. She tapped her own forehead with an index finger. “What are you doing? You’re acting just like that Corgi.”
Xu Youzhi licked her lips, the gloom in her heart instantly vanishing.
She was right—she couldn’t distance herself from Jiang Ruoxun just because of her mother’s prejudice. She had her own judgment and plans.
“Do you want to know about my so-called ‘black material’?” Jiang Ruoxun planned to tell her, wanting to prevent any future trouble.
But Xu Youzhi shook her head, remaining nestled in her arms. “I believe in you, Sister. I don’t need any explanation.”
Jiang Ruoxun froze slightly. A sudden warmth flowed through her, filling the lonely walls of her heart.
“You really don’t want to hear it?”
Xu Youzhi nodded. “I don’t.”
Jiang Ruoxun curled her lips into a smile. In truth, she was too lazy to explain anyway. Xu Youzhi’s refusal brought her a wave of genuine joy.
“Oh, it looks like it’s getting late. I wonder if the dog café has closed,” Xu Youzhi said regretfully.
Jiang Ruoxun gently stroked her hair, comforting her: “It’s okay. We’ll have plenty of time to go in the future.”
Xu Youzhi gave a sweet “Mhm.” Watching her, Jiang Ruoxun felt a strange twinge of guilt.
That night, Xu Youzhi didn’t plan on going home.
Firstly, she was afraid that seeing her mother would trigger another scolding; secondly, she wanted to talk more with Jiang Ruoxun. She felt that the older woman had even more on her mind than she did.
Jiang Ruoxun took the lychees out of the refrigerator.
When the box opened, a dozen large, deep-red lychees lay perfectly intact, covered in a light mist from the cold air.
Not a single one had been eaten. Xu Youzhi looked at her in confusion.
Jiang Ruoxun said, “I’m sorry. When you asked if I ate the lychees earlier, I lied and said I didn’t because I was afraid of the calories, even though I had already eaten barbecue…”
At this, she specifically watched Xu Youzhi’s expression.
Xu Youzhi was looking at her seriously, her clear eyes as innocent as a lost fawn. There was no hint of annoyance.
“At least they didn’t go bad.” Jiang Ruoxun bit her lip, then picked one up and peeled it.
She placed the translucent, crystal-like fruit in her mouth and chewed.
As the lychee flesh broke, the sweet juice immediately filled her mouth. Having not eaten lychees for a long time, Jiang Ruoxun savored the juice with appreciation. It was so sweet and fragrant—just like the girl in front of her.
Jiang Ruoxun reached for another, but Xu Youzhi pressed her hand down.
“Eating fruit this sweet at night makes it easier to gain weight,” she said.
Jiang Ruoxun lowered her eyes and murmured, “Zhizhi doesn’t blame me, right?”
“Of course not,” Xu Youzhi said with a smile. “You’re an actress, Sister, so naturally you have to manage your figure. Besides, some people just don’t like lychees.”
Jiang Ruoxun breathed a sigh of relief and laughed softly. “Lychees are very delicious.”
Xu Youzhi smiled back. She realized that although Jiang Ruoxun was eight years older, she possessed a vibrant vitality. Her lively eyes were exceptionally pure, like a forest spirit who had never encountered the world.
How could such a woman be someone else’s “mistress”?
Noticing a bit of glistening juice at the corner of the actress’s lips, Xu Youzhi stood up to wipe it away.
But halfway through, Jiang Ruoxun lifted her eyes, which were unexpectedly watery and bright.
They were sweeter and more flawless than the lychee juice. Reflected in them was Xu Youzhi’s own pale, clean face.
Xu Youzhi’s heart fluttered at the sight, her hand trembling slightly.
She turned her head, wanting to pull away, but her hand was held firmly by Jiang Ruoxun.
“Zhizhi,” the person before her called out, her voice like the soft meow of a cat.
“Your hands are a bit cold.”
Xu Youzhi hummed in response. “I tend to be sensitive to the cold. Even in summer, my hands and feet are cool.”
“Then you…” Her phoenix eyes seemed to be dusted with rouge at the corners, or perhaps a flush rising from shyness. “Do you think my hands are cold?”
“A little, maybe.” Xu Youzhi felt them carefully, touching the distinct joints, the delicate skin, and the slightly cool fingertips. “But your hands are very soft, Sister… and they feel smooth.”
“Anything else?” Jiang Ruoxun tilted her head and smiled.
“And they’re very fragrant.” A pink flush rose to Xu Youzhi’s cheeks.
Jiang Ruoxun asked curiously, “You can even smell that?”
Xu Youzhi nodded. “Sister, you are fragrant everywhere.”
Late at night, Jiang Ruoxun glanced at the sleeping Xu Youzhi beside her. The girl’s peaceful sleeping face was excessively well-behaved.
She slipped away to the living room and called Xu Ling.
“What? Are you starting to find the kid boring?” Xu Ling teased.
“She’s more interesting than I imagined.” Jiang Ruoxun poured herself a glass of red wine. Whenever she had insomnia, she needed a glass to soothe her emotions.
“Oh? She’s so obedient and simple; she’s probably an old-fashioned type. How could she be interesting?” Xu Ling was puzzled.
“The interest lies in how simple she is. Success is only interesting after a difficult conquest.” Jiang Ruoxun drank the wine. Her red lips, stained by the liquid, looked even more delicious—like a blood-sucking demon of the night, full of anticipation for her coveted target.
Xu Ling hung up. After that time at the barbecue restaurant, she clearly felt that Xu Youzhi only saw Jiang Ruoxun as an older sister.
Jiang Ruoxun’s continued “conquest” would only make her fall deeper herself.
On Monday afternoon, Xu Youzhi had no classes. She and Jiang Ruoxun had agreed to go to the dog café.
Before that, Jiang Ruoxun went to the office.
Ye Qinghuan, the boss of Kaixin, had specifically returned from France to handle the matter.
Wearing a white suit with her legs crossed, Ye Qinghuan looked leisurely and offered Jiang Ruoxun a lady’s cigarette.
Jiang Ruoxun shook her head.
Ye Qinghuan: “Don’t like them anymore?”
Jiang Ruoxun: “I don’t want to smoke right now.” She was going to see Xu Youzhi later; she couldn’t let her smell it.
“I investigated. Lang Qingyan is backed by Nan Family Film and Television,” Ye Qinghuan said.
Jiang Ruoxun seemed to have suspected this; she wasn’t surprised.
the Nan family had many industries, including film and television.
When Nan Tingyin entered the Jiang family, Jiang Ruoxun was only ten years old. She saw Nan Tingyin bring two children with her.
Nan Tingyin harbored immense hostility toward her.
Jiang Ruoxun felt that whenever she saw the woman’s gaze, it was as if she were falling into an abyss, with dozens of hands trying to tear her apart. The fear kept her awake at night, terrified that the woman was staring at her door, waiting to rush in with a sharp knife.
“It’s better if this child goes to boarding school,” Nan Tingyin had said in front of Jiang Ruoxun during dinner.
How could such a cold person ever let her live comfortably?
It was also Nan Tingyin’s interference. She felt that Jiang Ruoxun, as a famous actress, had gained too much fame and fortune. Out of jealousy, she wanted to humble her.
Xu Ling tutted. “Your stepmother is truly ruthless.”
Ye Qinghuan: “And her father too, he doesn’t care about anything.”
Noticing Xu Ling’s strange expression, Ye Qinghuan froze. “Why are you looking at me?”
Jiang Ruoxun smiled. “She just doesn’t want me to have a good life.” Though she was smiling, a trace of ruthlessness appeared in her eyes.
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything for you,” Ye Qinghuan promised.
Xu Ling scoffed. “Just remember when you first became a manager!” The first celebrity Ye Qinghuan managed was banned three months after debut, a fact Xu Ling had teased her about for a long time.
As they walked out with Jiang Ruoxun, Xu Ling didn’t see the wall in front of her. Just as she was about to crash into it, Ye Qinghuan suddenly grabbed her.
Ye Qinghuan said coldly, “Be careful. If you break such a straight nose, it won’t do.”
Xu Ling’s face flushed. So greasy.
Ye Qinghuan asked, “Ruoxun, where are you going?”
“Out to play.” Jiang Ruoxun waved her hand.
Ye Qinghuan wondered, “Isn’t she in a bad mood? She still has the heart to play?”
Xu Ling also found it hard to understand. “She’s been in a pretty good state these last few days. I don’t know who she’s going to play with.” Surely it couldn’t be that little girl Xu Youzhi.
Leaving the company, Jiang Ruoxun arrived at the dog café where Xu Youzhi used to work part-time. It was a workday, so there weren’t many people inside.
She caught sight of Xu Youzhi’s silhouette. Just as the girl was taking out her phone, Jiang Ruoxun appeared behind her. She covered Xu Youzhi’s eyes and smiled. “Guess who?”
“Oh?” Jiang Ruoxun also laughed. “Is it my little dog?”
Xu Youzhi thought she was referring to the dogs in the café. “I’m not a dog.”
Jiang Ruoxun smiled without a word.
The shop manager was very familiar with Xu Youzhi. While chatting, she noticed the woman in sunglasses behind her. She felt like she recognized her from somewhere but couldn’t quite place it. She was simply intimidated by the woman’s aura and didn’t dare strike up a conversation.
There were many breeds of dogs in the café.
“Sister, what kind of dog do you like?” Xu Youzhi was squatting down to pet a dog. As she spoke to Jiang Ruoxun and tilted her head up, her movements were exactly like the puppy’s—fair and tender.
Jiang Ruoxun leaned over to look at her and smiled. “I like Saint Bernards.”
Xu Youzhi hummed, not yet realizing why Jiang Ruoxun liked them.
In fact, it was simply because they are the clingiest of dogs.
A Corgi sat down and let Xu Youzhi pet it, happily sticking its tongue out.
“Then what kind of dog does Zhizhi like?” Jiang Ruoxun asked.
“I like German Shepherds.”
“Hmm?”
“Because they are loyal.”
A phone rang. Jiang Ruoxun checked it—it was an unknown number. She hung up immediately.
Unexpectedly, it rang again.
“Who is this?” Jiang Ruoxun walked to the door and answered.
“Sister Xun, are you not going to welcome me?” came a gentle male voice.