Ruan Jilao whispered, "Promise me three things—nothing you can't do. I haven't thought of the specifics yet."
Jin Qi looked at the frail woman before him, who seemed like he could crush her with one hand, and finally relented, "Fine."
"Brother-in-law, add me on WeChat?"
A faint smile appeared on Jin Qi's unpredictable, gloomy face, his voice tinged with shrewdness, "Alright, two more things to go."
Ruan Jilao was momentarily stunned, then teased, "Quite the temper. You used to call me 'good girl' before."
A surge of guilt washed over Jin Qi, his temples throbbing, "Shut up."
After using a system item to reduce the swelling on her lips, Ruan Jilao returned to the rented apartment, carrying large and small bags.
By then, Qiu Chaoshi had already emerged from the bedroom and was sitting comfortably on the sofa, snacking.
She was wearing pajamas and, since she didn't need to see anyone, looked extremely unkempt, lazily sporting a pair of black-framed glasses.
Qiu Chaoshi smiled and quickly stood up, "You helped me bring back the gifts he sent? Thanks for the hard work, Jilao."
She slipped on her slippers, yawned, and took the luxury shopping bags.
Seeing her so relaxed, Ruan Jilao added fuel to the fire, speaking slowly, "I just met your online friend."
Boom—
Qiu Chaoshi froze instantly, her mind blank, her body suddenly feeling as if ice picks were piercing her bones, sharp and painful.
No matter how you looked at it, the beauty before her was far more attractive than she was. Moreover…
Moreover, Ruan Jilao was the image Jin Qi had seen online in her photos.
Because she had used Ruan Jilao's photos.
Panic set in, and she asked distractedly, "H-how did you explain it? He doesn’t know I’m not you, does he? How could it be such a coincidence…"
Listening to Qiu Chaoshi's flustered words, Ruan Jilao hugged her reassuringly, "You’re my roommate, of course I helped you. I said I’m your twin sister, so we look exactly alike. Remember not to slip up when you message him later."
Qiu Chaoshi let out a confused "Huh?" but, while surprised, she instantly breathed a sigh of relief. Ruan Jilao had always been sharper than her. She never expected the situation to take such a turn and actually work out.
She wrapped her arms around Ruan Jilao's slender waist, "Thank you, I’ll explain it clearly. But how do I tell him later that I don’t actually look like this…"
Qiu Chaoshi felt a headache coming on. Once the crisis was resolved, a new one emerged…
"Didn’t you say before that you and he were just online soulmates and didn’t plan to meet?" Ruan Jilao's gaze seemed to pierce straight into her heart, making it impossible for her to lie.
Qiu Chaoshi smiled bitterly, "I thought that would be enough, but it’s hard not to develop feelings after a man does so much for you, right? And he doesn’t seem like someone driven by desire. I thought maybe in the future he could accept just having a spiritual connection."
Ruan Jilao nodded in agreement, "Yeah, he really is a good person."
He didn’t even try to kill her after being tricked.
Late at night, Jin Qi clutched his phone, staring at his messages.
The newly added Ruan Jilao hadn’t sent any flirtatious messages, as if she had no interest in him at all.
Jin Qi’s heart felt as if it were being plucked like a string, restless and unsettled.
Why was this?
Why did he still find her somewhat adorable?
Maybe she was just purely having fun?
Thinking of her soft pink lips…
Jin Qi broke into a cold sweat at his own thoughts. Absolutely not…
Just then, his online friend sent him a late-night photo of herself in a nightgown.
Jin Qi took a deep breath. The white silk nightgown trimmed with ostrich feathers outlined the beauty's figure, and because it was sent for him to see, it was even bolder.
That face was identical to the one in the daytime, and even the curves of her figure were just as maddening to a man.
Instantly, his heart burned with desire. Having tasted the tenderness of a woman's lips for the first time that afternoon, he now found himself even more aroused by the photo.
"I've actually fallen into her trap."
His thoughts uncontrollably drifted back to…
The woman crying, acting spoiled and shameless, looking at him pitifully…
Realizing what he was thinking, Jin Qi's face burned with shame.
He couldn't keep thinking like this.
He had always prided himself on being a gentleman.
Someone like him should ultimately find a soulmate, no matter what.
He shouldn't be deceived by someone as vulgar as Ruan Jilao.
The person he would spend his life with didn't need to match his social status; they just had to be good-looking and have an education and knowledge that could keep up with his.
Qiu Chaoshi was exactly that kind of person.
He couldn't let others sway his thoughts.
Jin Qi's chaotic mind cleared up considerably. He replied to his online friend's messages, not taking the photo of her figure too seriously. After offering a light compliment, he continued discussing the philosophical ideas they both enjoyed.
Just as Qiu Chaoshi was about to sleep, Jin Qi casually asked: "I met a girl today who looks a lot like you."
Qiu Chaoshi: "That's my younger sister. Pretty, right?"
Jin Qi couldn't bring himself to say she wasn't pretty, as that face was indeed one of the traits that attracted him.
"She's very beautiful. What's her name?"
He was somewhat curious.
But only a little. After all, he needed to know the name of the woman who had tricked him!
The two sisters were worlds apart—one refined and sensible, the other bold and mischievous.
He should be more understanding. He shouldn't hold it against her…
But was what that troublemaker did really right?
Jin Qi gritted his teeth…
He still couldn't forgive her!
He felt like giving her a good scolding.
At the very least…
Make her cry.
He thought the woman would be pleased by his words, but instead, Qiu Chaoshi fell silent for a long time. The typing indicator lingered for a full minute before she finally replied: "Sorry. I'm so tired, I need to sleep."
Once again, Jin Qi felt doused in cold water. She never discussed the future with him, let alone matters of the heart.
Could it be that she had another man in real life, and that's why…
Jin Qi felt insecure inside. Realizing he was overthinking, he frowned.
He no longer understood what Qiu Chaoshi was thinking. He was captivated by her mystery but also tormented by the fact that his online friend had always been elusive.
He looked at the photo on his phone.
Opening it, that radiant, strikingly beautiful face filled the entire screen.
After meeting Qiu Chaoshi, Jin Qi admitted he was a worldly man. He was initially drawn to her intellect, but his affection grew rapidly after seeing her appearance.
He had once lavished praise on her beauty and figure.
But later, he sensed that she seemed uncomfortable with such compliments.
So he stopped mentioning it in front of her.
Perhaps it wasn't that she couldn't accept such blatant praise.
Maybe she preferred subtlety…
All his restless desires were suppressed in front of his online friend, with nowhere to go.
And yet, the photo was so tantalizing…
Jin Qi sighed, unsure of what to do.
He took several cold showers.
He didn't fall asleep until the early hours of the morning.
"Can you see clearly who I am?"
No matter how blurry that figure was, he could always recognize who this mischievous woman was. Who else could it be but that prank-loving beauty?
It certainly couldn't be his online friend…
"I see clearly, I really want to love you to death… I know it's a dream. Please…"
The beauty's eyes were seductive, and she bit her lip slightly, looking pitiful: "Then take the initiative and kiss my lips."
Jin Qi leaned down and kissed her tender lips.
The beauty smiled,
"So obedient."
…