Ji Xu'an was suddenly exposed by Jiang Jiang regarding the worry hidden deep in her heart, and her expression could not help but become somewhat unnatural. Yet when she thought about how Jiang Jiang had actually covered her hand and softly coaxed her, Ji Xu'an's heart stirred again with a trace of delight.
"Mm." She responded in a low voice.
Jiang Jiang did not know how much of her words Ji Xu'an had truly taken in, but in any case, she had already clearly stated her attitude. In the future, Ji Xu'an could no longer use this matter to question her.
Jiang Jiang asked again, "Other than that, did Miss Zheng say anything else?"
Ji Xu'an seemed somewhat absent-minded. After Jiang Jiang finished speaking, she did not answer immediately. Only after several seconds did she lower her voice and say, "Yes."
Jiang Jiang was just about to ask what else Zheng Zhouzhou had said when Ji Xu'an suddenly clasped her fingers in return.
"Jiang Jiang, I want to tell you something. Don't be afraid. I will protect you." Ji Xu'an paused. "It's a bit complicated. Listen to me explain it slowly."
Jiang Jiang instinctively felt that what Ji Xu'an was about to say must be related to Zheng Zhouzhou's rebirth. She allowed Ji Xu'an to hold her hand. Her eyes contained nothing but pure confusion and puzzlement, yet in a place Ji Xu'an could not see, Jiang Jiang's back had quietly straightened and tensed.
Ji Xu'an gazed at Jiang Jiang seriously. "Do you remember what I just told you about Zheng Zhouzhou's unusual identity?"
Jiang Jiang nodded.
Ji Xu'an continued, "Actually, Country Z has always had relevant departments responsible for this kind of matter. It just so happens that I know someone at the S City Public Security Bureau, so I asked her to contact the relevant department for me."
Jiang Jiang's face remained calm, but inside, stormy waves were already surging.
She had thought that after learning Zheng Zhouzhou's identity, Ji Xu'an's first reaction would be to blacklist her. She had not expected Ji Xu'an to go even further—she had actually called the police.
Hearing Ji Xu'an mention the relevant department, Jiang Jiang's heart involuntarily tightened. Country Z truly had people specifically in charge of such matters. Then if they discovered her identity, would they also arrest her?
Just as this thought flashed through Jiang Jiang's mind, she heard Ji Xu'an say, "Originally, they planned to observe for a while longer, but somehow Zheng Zhouzhou got wind of the news. She tried to get ahead and follow Arkle to M Country."
"So in the end, they could only close the net in advance."
By the time Jiang Jiang heard this, her thoughts were already completely in chaos.
She had long planned to confess her identity to Ji Xu'an, yet at this very moment, Jiang Jiang suddenly became uncertain.
Ji Xu'an's way of handling Zheng Zhouzhou made her feel alarmed.
Although she disliked Zheng Zhouzhou very much, Jiang Jiang still could not help but feel a sense of sorrow for one who shares the same fate.
Ji Xu'an had acted so swiftly and decisively. Was it because that person was Zheng Zhouzhou, or because she had an instinctive rejection toward this kind of matter?
After a long silence, Jiang Jiang finally asked in a low voice, "So has she already been taken into custody?"
Ji Xu'an: "Mm."
She had thought that upon hearing this, Jiang Jiang would reveal a pleased expression. Yet Jiang Jiang's reaction was rather intriguing. If one had to describe it, it seemed more like worry and confusion.
Ji Xu'an fell silent as well. Her gaze remained fixed on Jiang Jiang, yet Jiang Jiang did not look at her. From beginning to end, however, their intertwined hands never separated.
No one knew how much more time passed before Ji Xu'an finally broke the silence.
"Earlier, in front of Officer Qu and Arkle, Zheng Zhouzhou said quite a few defamatory things about you. She seemed to think that you had a situation similar to hers."
Ji Xu'an did not speak too plainly, but Jiang Jiang still understood.
This was also within Jiang Jiang's expectations. After all, Zheng Zhouzhou had already guessed something long ago.
Jiang Jiang lifted her head to look at Ji Xu'an. Her gaze was not sharp; it could even be described as calm.
"Then what does Sister think?"
"I believe you." Ji Xu'an's eyes were filled with seriousness and sincerity. "I don't believe what others say. I only listen to you."
The implication was that no matter what Jiang Jiang said, Ji Xu'an would believe her.
Jiang Jiang thought that Ji Xu'an's failure to directly deny Zheng Zhouzhou's words meant that she still harbored suspicion about her identity.
She licked her lips. Her long lashes lowered again, and her voice became even softer than before. "If I were really like what Zheng Zhouzhou said, would Sister hand me over as well?"
"You are not, and I would not." Ji Xu'an gave her answer without hesitation.
Her original meaning was that Jiang Jiang was not as scheming and malicious as Zheng Zhouzhou claimed. Regardless of whether she carried secrets, at least she herself was worthy of affirmation. Ji Xu'an believed she had not misjudged her.
But Jiang Jiang misunderstood Ji Xu'an's meaning. She thought Ji Xu'an was tactfully expressing that she could not accept her unusual origin.
Jiang Jiang should have followed Ji Xu'an's words and continued, yet when she lifted her eyes and saw the concern that could not be concealed in Ji Xu'an's dark pupils, she suddenly no longer wanted to keep pretending to be confused.
She had always found it difficult to see through Ji Xu'an's thoughts. After countless guesses and doubts, Jiang Jiang had finally begun to feel somewhat tired.
She closed her eyes briefly. "Then what if I am?"
Ji Xu'an fell silent once more.
She was not foolish. From Jiang Jiang's repeated questioning, she had already sensed something.
A deathly silence spread through the back seat of the car.
Jiang Jiang lowered her head again to look at their intertwined fingers. Ji Xu'an's fingertips were warm. That warmth traveled from the place where their skin touched to her hand, making Jiang Jiang's previously cold fingertips gradually warm as well.
Ji Xu'an should care about her. But how much did she care?
Could this faint emotion support her choice to conceal the truth for her after learning everything?
In her mind, Jiang Jiang speculated about the possible reactions Ji Xu'an might have. At the same time, Ji Xu'an had finally organized her words.
"Jiang Jiang, do you truly want to be with me?" Ji Xu'an's voice was especially hoarse. "If I gave you another chance to start over, would you make a different choice?"
Jiang Jiang raised her head and met her gaze. "No."
"You said before that your feelings for me would never change." Jiang Jiang paused. Seeing that Ji Xu'an did not refute her, she continued, "So no matter how many times I start over, in the end I would still choose you."
"Because you are the person who treats me best in this world."
Ji Xu'an understood. Jiang Jiang would choose her for many kinds of reasons. It might be gratitude; it might be compromise. But it would never be because of love.
Her heart felt somewhat bitter, yet thinking that no matter what, Jiang Jiang had still chosen her, that was enough.
Ji Xu'an tightened her grip on Jiang Jiang's hand. "So regarding the question you just asked, I have the same answer."
"No matter whether you are like what Zheng Zhouzhou said or not, you will always be my wife. This will never change."
"I don't care what the truth is. I only care whether you are willing to be with me."
As long as Jiang Jiang was willing to marry her, no matter how many secrets she had, Ji Xu'an could pretend not to know.
Jiang Jiang fell silent again.
Ji Xu'an seemed to see the struggle in Jiang Jiang's heart. She softened her tone and comforted her, "If you are willing to tell me, I would be very happy to listen. If you don't want to say it, that's fine too. After all, everyone has her own secrets."
She had already spoken to this extent. From Ji Xu'an's meaning, it seemed she was willing to conceal it for her.
Jiang Jiang felt that she should also confess something at the appropriate time.
After all, what she would face next were people from the state. If Ji Xu'an was willing to cooperate and act with her, that would naturally be for the best.
If it truly did not work, Jiang Jiang would have no choice but to play the victim.
She pressed her lips together. "Actually, I am indeed not the real Xie Xiao."
These words were like a thunderclap on a clear day, leaving Ji Xu'an speechless for a long time.
It was not that she had never speculated about this possibility, but when she truly received confirmation from Jiang Jiang herself, Ji Xu'an's feelings were still complicated.
Yet no shock appeared on her face. Her tone was even gentler than before. "Jiang Jiang—is that your real name?"
"Mm."
After truly saying this matter aloud, Jiang Jiang instead felt as though a burden had been lifted.
All along, she had carefully concealed her background, striving to adapt to this unfamiliar world and trying her best not to reveal too many flaws.
It was not to the point of utter exhaustion, yet at certain moments, Jiang Jiang would still feel somewhat lonely.
Now, there was finally a third person who knew her secret.
Jiang Jiang steadied her mind and once again raised her eyes to meet Ji Xu'an's. She observed her for a while. Seeing that no displeasure appeared in Ji Xu'an's eyes, she quietly let out a breath of relief.
Then she honestly said, "Xie Jiang Jiang is my original name."
Upon hearing this, a thoughtful expression appeared on Ji Xu'an's face. Her brows gradually furrowed. "Then in that case, wouldn't the agreement we signed no longer count?"
Jiang Jiang choked.
She had thought of many possible reactions Ji Xu'an might have, but she had never imagined that after learning the truth, the first thing Ji Xu'an would think about would actually be this matter.
"The ID card I used was Xie Xiao's."
So theoretically speaking, that agreement was legally valid.
But Ji Xu'an was still dissatisfied. "But you are not Xie Xiao."
If she had not known, that would have been one thing. But now that she knew Jiang Jiang was not Xie Xiao, Ji Xu'an always felt as though she had signed the agreement with someone else.
She even thought that if one day Jiang Jiang regretted it and insisted that she was not Xie Xiao, what would she do?
"We should sign another agreement." Ji Xu'an's tone was firm.
Jiang Jiang suddenly felt that her head was beginning to ache faintly again. Why were Ji Xu'an's reactions always so hard for her to grasp?
"Aren't you going to ask me why I said I'm not Xie Xiao?"
Ji Xu'an looked at Jiang Jiang carefully. "Are you willing to tell me why?"
Her tone was so cautious, as if the moment Jiang Jiang said she was unwilling, she would not continue asking.
"Mm."
At last, the topic returned to the proper track. Jiang Jiang quietly let out a breath while organizing her words in her heart.
"Actually, I can't really explain it clearly either. When I woke up, I was already here."
"As for where the real Xie Xiao went, I don't know."
Jiang Jiang's brows knitted slightly. "I don't remember my past experiences very clearly. I'm also not very clear about Xie Xiao's matters. The memories in my mind seem as though they're covered with a layer of gauze."
"I only remember that my name is Xie Jiang Jiang."
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