Jiang Jiang had barely reacted before Xie Xiao exploded first.
"Fine, fine, so she's that arrogant, huh? Sentence her to life without a wife immediately!"
Jiang Jiang: "Huh?"
Xie Xiao angrily slapped the table hard, only to hear the worried voice of a maid from outside the door the next second: "Miss?"
Xie Xiao quickly replied, "It's nothing, don't mind me."
Sigh, this was the one bad thing about life in ancient times—being watched all day long, making it inconvenient to do anything.
Even talking with Jiang Jiang, she had to hide like a thief.
Jiang Jiang couldn't help laughing out loud. She could feel that Xie Xiao's condition had improved a lot over the past two days; the other woman was clearly adapting more and more to life in the other world.
That was a good thing.
Seeing her smile, Xie Xiao ground her teeth. "You little brat, I'm standing up for you, and you're laughing at me instead."
Jiang Jiang hurriedly begged for mercy. "I was wrong."
Xie Xiao wasn't truly angry. She sighed gloomily. "So what do we do now? Ji Xu'an didn't even give you a phone number."
"Then I can only wait for her to come back." It wasn't appropriate for Jiang Jiang to go to Ji Xu'an's workplace to look for her; she could only wait at home.
"By the way, Xiao Xiao, I'm planning to give Ji Xu'an a gift. What do you think I should give her?" Jiang Jiang was distressed. She couldn't afford anything too expensive, and if she made something herself, embroidery was about the only thing she knew how to do.
Xie Xiao certainly didn't want to benefit that arrogant, loveless narcissist Ji Xu'an. "Just embroider her a handkerchief."
She had seen Jiang Jiang's embroidery in her boudoir; it was truly beautiful, the butterflies stitched so vividly they looked alive.
"Is that appropriate?" Jiang Jiang wasn't sure whether Ji Xu'an would like it.
Xie Xiao analyzed it for her. "Ji Xu'an has definitely never received such a special gift before. What reason would she have not to like it?"
Being able to receive a gift personally made by her future wife—Ji Xu'an should be satisfied already. What more does she want?
Of course, Xie Xiao only thought that last sentence to herself and didn't say it out loud.
Jiang Jiang decided to trust Xie Xiao.
The two discussed what pattern to embroider on the handkerchief for a while longer. Just as Jiang Jiang was about to end the call, the phone lying on the desk suddenly lit up.
Xie Xiao casually glanced at it, and her gaze suddenly froze.
"Wait!" She swallowed. "Bring the phone screen closer and let me see what today's date is."
Jiang Jiang didn't understand why, but obediently held the screen closer.
Xie Xiao's eyes widened. She stared blankly for quite a while before looking at Jiang Jiang with a hesitant expression, as if unsure whether she should speak.
A trace of unease suddenly streaked through Jiang Jiang's heart. "What's wrong, Xie Xiao?"
Xie Xiao placed the back of her hand against her lips and coughed softly. "Today is August twenty-fifth, hahaha, what a nice day."
Her laughter was too awkward. Jiang Jiang tightened her grip on the phone and asked cautiously, "Is August twenty-fifth some special day?"
Xie Xiao's gaze drifted. "Not especially special, it's just… if I tell you that in a few days you'll have to report to university, will you be scared?"
Jiang Jiang: "Huh??"
——
After getting off work, Ji Xu'an did not return to the old residence. Instead, she drove to a very famous private cuisine restaurant in the city.
Today Wen Xueyun was hosting, treating several university classmates they hadn't seen in a long time. Ji Xu'an arrived last and was punished with three drinks.
She had a good alcohol tolerance. After a few glasses, her expression didn't change at all.
Wen Xueyun sat beside her and thoughtfully poured her a cup of honey water. Ji Xu'an thanked her and took a sip.
Wen Xueyun's eyes shone brightly as she looked at her. Ji Xu'an toyed with her wine glass, her gaze not resting on Wen Xueyun.
The group chatted leisurely. Somehow, the topic shifted to Ji Xu'an.
"Xu'an, you're not that young anymore. Aren't you going to consider finding someone?"
"Xueyun too. Are you two competing to see who can stay single longer?"
"Look at Zhou Yao—everyone said she'd be the last to get into a relationship. Who would've thought she's already had her second child now?"
Several pairs of eyes stared unblinkingly at Ji Xu'an, especially the one beside her, filled with an indescribable anticipation.
Ji Xu'an curved her lips in a smile. "Xueyun and I aren't the same."
She set down her wine glass, lightly tapping the table with her fingertip. "I already have someone at home."
Her words were ambiguous, leaving it up to others how to interpret them.
Clearly, everyone assumed she meant she already had a girlfriend.
"What??"
"Since when?"
"Wait, a man or a woman? Wow, you've hidden that well."
Wen Xueyun's face turned pale as she stared at Ji Xu'an in disbelief, looking deeply struck.
Ji Xu'an answered casually, "A girl. The granddaughter of my grandmother's good friend."
"Why didn't you bring her to dinner? Let us meet her."
Ji Xu'an seemed to recall something and replied offhandedly, "She's timid. Next time."
She acted like a mouse seeing a cat whenever she saw her. With that little courage, she still dared to scheme against her.
The people around them joked and teased. Only Wen Xueyun was pierced by the faint intimacy hidden in Ji Xu'an's tone, unable even to force a perfunctory smile.
She had thought Ji Xu'an's eyes held only work. Though she had liked her for so long, she had kept it bottled up, not daring to confess.
She had intended to use this gathering to test Ji Xu'an's attitude toward her. Who could have expected Ji Xu'an to already be in a relationship?!
Even after the dinner ended, Wen Xueyun remained distracted.
Earlier, Ji Xu'an had taken off her jacket because she felt warm and hadn't put it back on immediately after leaving the private room. The thin trench coat hung over her forearm, her slender waist outlined by her white shirt, her legs long and straight in high heels. Even in the dim lighting, she still radiated an irresistible charm.
Wen Xueyun gazed greedily at Ji Xu'an's brows and eyes, desperately wanting to reach out and brush away the strand of hair blown to her lips.
Ji Xu'an stopped walking and turned to look at Wen Xueyun. Her carefully styled long hair fell naturally in front of her, covering her fair collarbone.
"Little Yuan applied to S University, majoring in photography. She might end up in your class. I'd like to ask you to take extra care of her," Ji Xu'an said, her gaze steady and unflinching.
Wen Xueyun forced a slight smile. "I know. Even if you hadn't said so, I would have."
Ji Xu'an let out a breath. "Thank you. I'll treat you to a meal another day."
There would naturally be more thanks to follow, but that was understood between them and didn't need to be spoken.
Having finished what she came for, Ji Xu'an prepared to leave. This had been her only purpose in attending the dinner.
But Wen Xueyun was unwilling to let it go. She dug her nails hard into her palm and couldn't help asking, "Your… girlfriend—what kind of person is she?"
What kind of girl could move someone like Ji Xu'an, who was accustomed to keeping others at arm's length?
At those words, Jiang Jiang's black-and-white almond eyes immediately surfaced in Ji Xu'an's mind, along with the soft curve of her lips lifting gently when she smiled.
Setting aside personal feelings, Xie Xiao indeed had a face that could soften hearts.
Ji Xu'an was not someone who judged by appearances, but strangely, every time she met Xie Xiao's round eyes, she felt an odd tremor in her heart.
It wasn't that she liked Xie Xiao that much. Ji Xu'an attributed it to the fact that Xie Xiao happened to align with her aesthetic preferences, which was why she tolerated her a little more.
If it had been anyone else knowingly defying her, Ji Xu'an would have long since had them thrown far away.
Only Xie Xiao—after angering her—was still being well-fed and properly kept.
Thinking of Jiang Jiang, Ji Xu'an didn't deliberately lie to Wen Xueyun. "She's a very well-behaved-looking young girl."
As for her personality—not so obedient.
Although Jiang Jiang agreed quickly every time she was warned, she never actually followed through.
Wen Xueyun nearly bit her lip until it bled. She was truly unwilling to accept this. "From the way you describe her, she sounds quite young?"
"Mm." Ji Xu'an confirmed her guess. "About the same age as little Yuan."
Ji Xu'an actually liked that kind of little girl who had just graduated high school and understood nothing!
Wen Xueyun clenched her palm tightly. "I see…"
Ji Xu'an didn't want to continue this topic. She waved to Wen Xueyun and got into the car, telling the driver to head back to the old residence.
It was only around nine at night when she got home. The housekeeper, knowing she had gone out for socializing, had already prepared hangover soup.
Ji Xu'an picked up the bowl and took two sips, noticing that today's hangover soup tasted different from before—there was no bitterness, only a faint sweetness.
The housekeeper smiled. "Miss Xiao Xiao made it."
The rim of the bowl lingered at her lips for two extra seconds. Ji Xu'an glanced at the housekeeper. "You seem to like her quite a bit."
The housekeeper had worked for the Ji family since before Ji Xu'an was born. He listened to Old Madam Ji. Since the old lady liked Jiang Jiang, he naturally felt more goodwill toward her as well.
"Eldest Miss, don't you like Miss Xiao Xiao?"
Ji Xu'an raised her brows and did not answer.
Because if she said even half a sentence criticizing Xie Xiao, at most half an hour later, Grandma would call to question her.
"Actually, Miss Xie Xiao cares about you very much." The housekeeper truthfully told her about Jiang Jiang preparing a gift.
Jiang Jiang hadn't intended to let Ji Xu'an know in advance. But she didn't understand this world well enough and had no idea where to buy silk thread for embroidering a handkerchief.
Xie Xiao had only visited S City twice and was equally helpless.
Jiang Jiang had considered asking Chu Yueqi for help, but remembering her overly enthusiastic personality, she gave up the idea. She didn't want to owe Chu Yueqi a favor.
The only person she could turn to was the housekeeper.
She had thought about hiding it, but after only asking two questions, the housekeeper had already seen through her intentions.
The rest needed no elaboration. The housekeeper readily agreed and gave her no chance to refuse.
He brought it up intending to change Ji Xu'an's view of Jiang Jiang.
But after listening, Ji Xu'an merely clicked her tongue dismissively. "Uncle Chen, how did you end up going along with her nonsense too?"
Uncle Chen's smile didn't change. "How could this be nonsense?"
Ji Xu'an fell silent. She didn't want to waste energy on such trivial matters. After finishing the hangover soup, she turned and went upstairs.
As she passed Jiang Jiang's room, she faintly heard voices. She stopped and raised her hand to knock twice on the door.
Inside, Jiang Jiang, deeply immersed in a romance drama and unable to extricate herself, was startled. Feeling guilty like a thief, she hurriedly hid the White Jade Exquisite Mirror in her arms.
Xie Xiao, who had been watching from the other side, was also startled. "What's wrong?"
Jiang Jiang answered in a tiny whisper, "Someone knocked."
Xie Xiao analyzed, "It's either the housekeeper or Ji Xu'an. More likely Ji Xu'an."
Because if the housekeeper wanted to contact Jiang Jiang, he would use the villa's landline.
Jiang Jiang tightened her grip on the handle. "Then… should we hang up first?"
Xie Xiao's eyes rolled. "No. Hide the mirror somewhere inconspicuous. I want to see what Ji Xu'an looks like."
Jiang Jiang hesitated. "What if we're discovered?"
"I just won't make a sound." Xie Xiao was very curious whether the Ji Xu'an who made Jiang Jiang so wary truly had three heads and six arms.
Jiang Jiang had no choice but to hide the White Jade Exquisite Mirror on the desk. Afraid Ji Xu'an would grow impatient, she hurried to open the door.
Ji Xu'an had not left. Through the half-open door, she heard the television.
Amid tense background music, a brazen line rang clearly in her ears.
"I'll give you three seconds to apologize to my shoes!"
The corner of Ji Xu'an's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. Looking at Jiang Jiang's face full of confusion, she truly couldn't understand how the other woman liked watching this kind of idol drama.
Jiang Jiang didn't know she was being silently judged. She poked her head out from behind the door. When her eyes met Ji Xu'an's unreadable face, her heart tightened. "President Ji, are you looking for me?"
The faint sweetness of the hangover soup still lingered in Ji Xu'an's mouth. Her mood was not bad at the moment. Facing Jiang Jiang, her expression was unusually calm.
"I originally wanted to ask why you were doing unnecessary things again. But now I understand—failing to remember what I say isn't entirely your fault."
It might also be that Xie Xiao's brain truly wasn't very bright, which was why she repeatedly failed to behave.
Jiang Jiang puffed up slightly in anger. Did she think she couldn't tell? Ji Xu'an was clearly calling her stupid in a roundabout way!
"I didn't do anything unnecessary."
She had barely left the room. When had she had the chance to disobey Ji Xu'an's orders?
Ji Xu'an wasn't very angry. Looking at the soft flesh puffed on Jiang Jiang's cheeks and the indignant little look in her eyes, she inexplicably found it somewhat amusing.
"Then perhaps I misremembered. So it turns out I hired you to be a cook."
Jiang Jiang, after being mocked sarcastically, immediately understood what Ji Xu'an meant.
She was still somewhat afraid of Ji Xu'an. But perhaps because Ji Xu'an at this moment did not appear overly domineering—and because Xie Xiao was watching nearby—Jiang Jiang didn't want to lose face. So she gathered her courage to explain, "Because Uncle Chen said you went drinking, I helped cook the hangover soup."
Ji Xu'an gave a light snort, her gaze condescending. "No need. There are others to handle such matters. If you just behave yourself, that would already be helping me greatly."
Jiang Jiang couldn't help pulling the door open wider, exposing half her body to Ji Xu'an's view.
She believed her expression was very serious. But from Ji Xu'an's perspective, Jiang Jiang looked like an unwilling-to-admit-defeat little puppy, baring her teeth at her, yet because she was too small and weak, even her threats resembled acting cute.
Jiang Jiang was almost about to put her hands on her hips as she questioned softly, "You said you would marry me. Was that just a lie to coax me?"
Ji Xu'an naturally would not admit it. Even though both of them understood the truth, she still shook her head. "Of course not."
Jiang Jiang immediately revealed a victorious smile, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. "Since I will sooner or later become your wife, then washing my hands and preparing soup for my wife is the most normal thing."
"This is a symbol of harmony between us. It isn't unnecessary."
In the teachings Jiang Jiang had received in the past, even the most dignified and reserved principal wife would lower herself and step into the kitchen in order to please her wife.
She was merely doing what a qualified principal wife ought to do.
For a moment, Ji Xu'an found herself unable to refute her. Indeed, if they were truly lovers, Jiang Jiang caring about her would be entirely reasonable.
But the question was—were they?
—
Author's Note:
Jiang Jiang: Family, who understands this? There's finally a day when I've left Ji Xu'an speechless! (Hands on hips)
President Ji: As long as my wife is happy :)
—
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