Because she had eaten breakfast late, Jiang Xizhi finished her lunch around one in the afternoon.
Just as she wiped her mouth, a servant brought over her ringing phone and handed it to her before discreetly stepping away.
It was a video call from Ji Han Zhuo.
She knew the man wanted her to constantly adapt to his presence, to let him invade her life even while he was away on business.
The screen revealed an exceptionally handsome face, flawless like carved jade, with a cool, pale complexion and perfect facial contours. His sword-like brows were slightly raised, and his deep, phoenix eyes were slightly lowered, relaxing only when he saw Jiang Xizhi on the screen. He then casually tugged at the dark tie around his neck—a simple gesture that could inspire endless fantasies.
In terms of looks alone, his appearance was impeccable, top-tier even in the entertainment industry. Regardless of his wealth, with just a wave of his hand, countless beauties would flock to him. What she couldn’t understand was why he had taken a liking to her.
She wasn’t bad-looking, but not to the extent that he would bring her home after just one meeting.
On the topic of appearance, Jiang Xizhi was being modest. “Not bad” hardly did justice to her beauty, after all, the title of Department Beauty in the English Department wasn’t unfounded.
The man was seated in a black leather chair, with a large projection screen behind him, likely having just finished a meeting.
His voice was deep and pleasant: “Have you eaten?”
Jiang Xizhi nodded, subtly tapping the phone screen to enlarge her own image as the main display.
She didn’t really want to see him.
After responding, she remained silent, waiting for him to speak first. After all, in the beginning, she had been timid and cautious around him.
“What did you eat?” the man’s voice came through the screen again.
“Sauerkraut fish, braised chicken, vinegar-glazed shredded potatoes, and seaweed egg drop soup, all made by Chen Yi,” Jiang Xizhi answered honestly.
Someone as old-fashioned as Ji Han Zhuo probably wouldn’t catch the insinuation in her words.
After Jiang Xizhi answered, Ji Han Zhuo didn’t ask any more questions. Instead, he stared at her with a deep gaze, as if waiting for something.
Jiang Xizhi blinked her watery eyes, deliberately putting on an innocent, clueless expression as she looked at him.
Having been with him for so long in her past life, she naturally knew what the man wanted her to do, but she just didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.
In the end, it was Ji Han Zhuo who gave in. He sighed and asked, “Hmm, I’m out here working hard to earn money. Aren’t you going to show some concern for me?”
Jiang Xizhi immediately feigned a look of realization, pursing her glossy lips apologetically as she cautiously asked, “You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”
She thought that after leaving Ji Han Zhuo, she could try her luck in the entertainment industry—her acting skills were probably good enough for a minor role.
Ji Han Zhuo replied softly, “I haven’t eaten.”
His eyes were lowered, and his voice was faint, almost pitiful.
Not wanting to let his performance go to waste, Jiang Xizhi looked at him with concern and continued, “Then you should go eat soon, or it won’t be good for your stomach.”
Only then did Ji Han Zhuo seem somewhat satisfied. He lifted his eyelids slightly and said, “Alright, I’ll listen to you. Wait for me at home—I have a surprise for you.”
Jiang Xizhi nodded casually and replied, “I’ll wait for you obediently.”
The so-called surprises he mentioned were nothing more than jewelry and accessories. In his mind, he believed that young girls like her, who hadn’t yet entered society, loved shiny trinkets the most.
In her past life, it had been exactly like this. She had a gentle temperament and rarely got angry. On the rare occasions when she did, it was because Ji Han Zhuo’s energy was too overwhelming, leaving her unable to get out of bed. Afterward, he would buy piles of newly released clothes and bags to appease her, but the next time, he would still indulge his own desires without a hint of remorse.
But what he didn’t know was that she wasn’t particularly fond of those things. Having seen them so often, they no longer held any appeal for her.
The reason she chose to forgive him was simply because every time she saw those heaps of jewelry, she would be reminded of his immense wealth and overwhelming power. She feared that if she disobeyed, he would turn the same ruthless methods he used on others against her. She was afraid.
But in this life, she could no longer afford to be afraid. She had to try a new path. Without trying, how would she know the outcome? She didn’t want to remain his caged canary anymore.
After placating Ji Han Zhuo, Jiang Xizhi went to the living room to watch TV for a while before heading upstairs for her afternoon nap.
This was her usual routine. Every day, Chen Yi would report her activities to Ji Han Zhuo—what she ate, what she did, and where she went at specific times. Every detail would be meticulously listed and sent to Ji Han Zhuo’s private phone.
So today, she had to stick to her usual routine to avoid arousing the suspicion of that despicable man.
By the time she woke from her nap, it was already 3:30 in the afternoon. Opening her eyes, she found the bedroom pitch black, thanks to the excellent sun-blocking curtains.
She disliked bright light when sleeping, and after Ji Han Zhuo found out, he replaced the original sheer curtains with dark, sun-blocking ones.
Pulling open the curtains of the floor-to-ceiling window, Jiang Xizhi frowned. It had been sunny and clear at noon, but now the sky had turned gloomy and overcast, looking as if it was about to rain.
But no matter the weather, it wouldn’t change her plans. She had been confined for nearly a month, during which Ji Han Zhuo rarely went to the office, preferring to handle company matters at home. She knew it was to keep an eye on her.
This business trip was only because it concerned the company’s development plan for the next quarter, forcing him to leave. This opportunity was rare and precious, and she had to seize it. Otherwise, who knew when his next trip would be?
By the time dinner was over, the sky had darkened, and a light drizzle had begun to fall outside. Jiang Xizhi stood by the window and glanced toward the backyard, confirming that no guards were stationed there before turning and heading to Ji Han Zhuo’s study.
Ever since Ji Han Zhuo left on his business trip, she had been observing the guards’ shifts. Combined with memories from her past life, she was certain that the small gate in the backyard was unguarded at night—the perfect choice for her escape.
After leaving Ji Han Zhuo’s study, she walked to the kitchen door and called out to Chen Yi, who was still busy, “Chen Yi, I’m going to the greenhouse to check on my flowers. Once you’re done, you should rest early. No need to wait for me.”
“Alright, remember to take an umbrella so you don’t get wet.”
Chen Yi wouldn’t suspect a thing. Half a month ago, Jiang Xizhi had mentioned she was bored and wanted to plant purple eggplant flowers, asking Chen Yi for seeds. She said her family had grown them before and she wanted to plant a pot here again.
She also asked Chen Yi not to tell Ji Han Zhuo, saying she would show him the flowers once they bloomed, wanting to give him a surprise.
Chen Yi naturally wouldn’t refuse and immediately went to the flower and bird market to buy her purple eggplant flower seeds.
Jiang Xizhi planted the seeds in the greenhouse in the backyard garden, tending to them every day.
Jiang Xizhi didn’t take an umbrella, instead putting on a black raincoat and resolutely heading to the backyard garden.
The sky was pitch black, with a light drizzle accompanied by a gentle breeze. The fine rain fell on the woman hurrying along, scattering on her curled eyelashes and obstructing her vision. She lifted her fair, delicate hand to wipe away the rain and continued forward.
The estate was vast, and the distance from the main building to the back door of the garden was quite far, taking about ten minutes to walk.
Jiang Xizhi had walked this path countless times over the past half month, so familiar with it she couldn’t be more so. When she reached the greenhouse door, she passed it directly and instead headed toward the small gate of the backyard garden, stopping at the entrance.
At the moment she gripped the doorknob, she appeared calm, but her slightly trembling hand hanging by her side betrayed the tension in her heart.
Having lived two lifetimes, this was her first time escaping. She told herself that as long as she stepped through this door, she would be free and could escape the tragic fate of her previous life.
Thinking this, Jiang Xizhi exerted force with her hand, and with a click, the door opened. Jiang Xizhi was somewhat surprised—it wasn’t locked. It seemed the thin iron wire she had prepared wouldn’t be of any use. To pick the lock, she had dismantled an accessory from a designer bag and spent two days watching online tutorials on lock-picking. All that effort had been in vain.
Never mind, no time to dwell on it. Leaving was what mattered most.