He had been under extreme mental strain for far too long today.
His thoughts were in utter chaos, restless and uneasy.
Especially today—he had come even closer to her.
Close enough that even now, he was still savoring the taste of her.
Standing by the window, Jiang Yuan stared at that rose for a long time until his breathing slowed and his body temperature gradually cooled.
The sedative effect of the new medication seemed to be better.
When his consciousness drifted into haze, he returned to bed, and for the first time, he did not draw the curtains.
Not drawing them always brought an intense sense of instability.
But now, the window outside faced her window.
Perhaps…
Perhaps what?
His awareness had already blurred.
His fingertips clenched the handkerchief she had once used, and in a dazed state, he curled up, pressing it against his lips.
Yan Sui had just gotten up and gone downstairs when she noticed Lin Jian and He Wan were already preparing to leave.
“Good morning, Father. Auntie.”
She greeted them obediently with a sweet smile.
Lin Jian seemed fairly satisfied with her attitude and nodded.
“We’re going to the airport to pick up Lin Ran, then to the hospital to pick up Lin Qi. You go to school on your own.”
At the mention of Lin Ran, He Wan’s gloomy mood visibly improved, and she even smiled.
“Yan Sui, when you see Ranran at school later, don’t feel too inferior. You’re not as outstanding as her, but as long as you behave, the Lin family will still have a place for you. Understand?”
Yan Sui blinked and watched the couple leave.
Lin Ran?
She knew her.
She had memories from when she was only one or two years old.
Back then, she had seen Lin Ran once.
Outside her mother’s hospital room, the young He Wan held one-year-old Lin Ran and stared straight at her through the window.
Lin Ran was a little older than Yan Sui.
After her mother died, He Wan married into the Lin family with three-year-old Lin Ran and two-year-old Lin Qi, claiming they were children from a previous marriage.
And Lin Jian had treated those two children as if they were his own, doting on them endlessly.
The girl let out a soft breath.
On the dining table, there was no breakfast prepared for her.
The housekeeper was already cleaning the kitchen. Seeing her come in, she waved her off impatiently like a beggar.
“There’s nothing here for you to eat.”
Yan Sui acted as if she didn’t understand the hostility and asked seriously,
“Then where can I eat? I’m hungry.”
The middle-aged woman finally looked at her, scanning her up and down.
“Can’t you find it yourself?”
“Oh.”
The girl responded pitifully and turned to search the fridge.
The woman, Wang Li, grew even more irritated.
“Don’t spill the bird’s nest Madam prepared.”
The words had barely fallen when the girl wrapped her sleeve around her fingers and took out a bowl of stewed bird’s nest.
She drank it down in gulps.
Cold and smooth. Not bad.
Wang Li’s eyes widened. She snatched the bowl away, but it was already empty.
Just as she was about to explode, she saw the girl also widen her eyes.
Yan Sui stepped back several paces, positioning herself where the surveillance camera could clearly see her.
She tilted her head.
“Auntie, why did you drink it all?”
Wang Li: ?
She couldn’t even process what she was saying.
Yan Sui stepped back further, looking concerned.
“How could you do that? Go quickly and make another bowl. If Madam finds out, it’ll be bad.”
Wang Li stared at her in disbelief.
“You’re insane. You’re the one who drank it just now!”
The girl looked wronged.
“How could I possibly drink something so expensive? Auntie, you can’t slander me like this!”
“You’re too much. You’re used to taking advantage of things, and now you’re trying to blame me again. If you keep this up, I’ll tell my father!”
Wang Li was stunned.
“You—fine! I’m calling Madam right now! Crazy girl!”
She picked up her phone, but suddenly her eye twitched.
The girl had quietly pulled out a table knife.
A flash of cold light passed right in front of her eyes.
The blade was so close it almost grazed her eyeball and cut off a strand of her hair.
Wang Li’s hand trembled and the phone fell to the ground.
She looked at the girl in terror.
Yan Sui looked innocent.
“If you don’t admit it, I’ll kill you.”
“There are only your fingerprints on the bowl, yet you’re lying with your eyes open. I really want to cut out your tongue and dig out your eyes.”
Wang Li froze.
Wang Li’s scalp went numb.
Wang Li’s mind went blank.
In the midst of fear and shock, she suddenly realized—there really were only her fingerprints on the bowl.
Yan Sui sniffled.
“You’re not talking anymore. Have you finally found your conscience and decided not to frame me?”
“Then I’ll go to school.”
She put down the knife, slung her bag over her shoulder, and left as if nothing had happened.
At the doorway, she turned back and smiled sweetly.
The sunlight behind her cast her delicate features into a strange, dark contrast—beautiful yet eerie.
Leaving Wang Li standing frozen in place, heart pounding and back soaked in cold sweat.
After a long moment, she finally came to her senses, her expression extremely ugly.
“That girl is insane…”
As soon as she left the house, Yan Sui couldn’t help but laugh.
That was fun.
How interesting.
But soon, she stopped smiling.
She suddenly realized she had no driver, and her bank card had been frozen—she had no money at all.
Not even enough for a taxi.
Was she supposed to walk?
Luckily, she only had a group meeting today, not any major classes.
She had only recently transferred in, so no one would notice if she didn’t show up.
The girl stood by the roadside, slowly walking forward with her backpack.
Her phone buzzed.
A news notification popped up again.
“Investigation Update: Alley Murder Case Seeking Public Clues”
In an era where most murder cases are solved within 48 hours, this one still had no leads?
She browsed it with interest.
It seemed the method was quite sophisticated.
Or perhaps the investigation was being obstructed.
Suddenly, the sound of an engine approached.
A black Rolls-Royce pulled up beside her and stopped.
The windows were tinted black, making it impossible to see inside.
She tilted her head.
The front window slowly lowered.
The driver spoke in a robotic tone.
“Miss Yan, if you are heading to Griffin Academy, we can give you a ride.”
She recognized him—the bodyguard who had been beside Mr. Jiang at the banquet.
Delighted, she thanked him and got in.
Only then did she notice there was someone else in the back seat.
A man in a black suit sat on the other side, legs crossed.
He did not look up even when she entered.
His eyelashes, like raven feathers, trembled slightly, casting a shadow over his eyes.
His profile was even more striking than his front view.
She paused, looking at him a little longer than intended.
So this was the infamous “Mr. Jiang” everyone spoke of.
She smiled sweetly.
“Thank you, Mr. Jiang.”
A fresh, woody scent filled the car—especially strong when she spoke toward him.
He frowned slightly at her approach.
His lips, already pressed together, tightened further.
Yan Sui blinked.
She had figured it out.
Mr. Jiang was a super extreme introvert.
But he was still kind enough to give her a ride.
He was surprisingly nice.