Chapter 43

Huo Zhenzhen took off her mask and without saying anything, Xiao A, who had a tacit understanding, refilled her glass with water and handed it to her. Huo Zhenzhen smiled and drank the water, then handed the cup back to Xiao A and said to Jiang Ci, “Just wait, sis will take you to eat something delicious after I’m done.”

She put her mask back on, lowered her head, and continued to color the remaining part of the customer’s leg tattoo.

Jiang Ci took a while to react and muttered an “Oh,” before walking unsteadily to the small sofa for visitors, feeling drowsy.

After Huo Zhenzhen finished her work and washed her hands, she noticed that Jiang Ci had fallen asleep with her coat covering her. She went up and touched Jiang Ci’s forehead.

“What’s wrong? Is Sister Ah-Ci sick?” Xiao A asked in a low voice, approaching them.

Huo Zhenzhen tried to measure her temperature again and was uncertain: “She doesn’t seem to have a fever?”

Xiao A said, “When she came in earlier, I noticed that her condition wasn’t too good, and her complexion was very bad.”

Huo Zhenzhen took Jiang Ci’s temperature again and Jiang Ci opened her eyes in a daze: “Zhenzhen?”

Huo Zhenzhen asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

Jiang Ci replied, “I didn’t sleep well last night and had two performances in the afternoon, so I’m a little tired.”

Huo Zhenzhen said, “Then get up when you wake up, let’s go out for a meal.”

Jiang Ci nodded and took some time to recover, putting on a coat. Huo Zhenzhen finished packing up and affectionately held Jiang Ci’s arm, leading her downstairs.

Jiang Ci looked back at Xiao A and said, “Xiao A and us–“

Xiao A smiled brightly and said, “You guys go ahead, I’ll stay here and take care of the shop.”

Huo Zhenzhen pulled Jiang Ci out the door and said, “Xiao A has good insight, don’t let his kindness go to waste.”

Jiang Ci asked, “Huh?”

Huo Zhenzhen replied, “What ‘huh’? If you’re not sick, then you must have something on your mind, and he purposely didn’t come along so you could talk to me about it.”

Jiang Ci didn’t deny it and said, “Oh.”

Huo Zhenzhen mimicked her and said, “Oh.”

The two didn’t go far and went to a nearby porridge shop. Huo Zhenzhen thought the porridge wasn’t flavorful enough and ordered a bunch of skewers from the neighboring barbecue shop.

“Come here,” she said.

She drank beer and ate barbecue with Jiang Ci, but she didn’t push her to talk.

The neon lights were on, and the small restaurant was bustling with noise, but their table was quiet. Jiang Ci’s phone rang first, but she took it out and turned off the sound, and didn’t answer it even when the screen went dark.

Huo Zhenzhen stretched her neck and asked in confusion, “Wen Nian? Why didn’t you answer?”

Jiang Ci put down her phone and said, “…I don’t know what to say if I answer.”

“Are you two having a conflict?” Huo Zhenzhen took a sip of beer. “Speaking of Wen Nian, I went to that party last night and found out that it was a celebration party for her to be single again, organized by her friend. But she disappeared soon after, and we had to look for her.”

Jiang Ci’s spoon hit the bowl, and she looked up, “She came to find me last night.”

Huo Zhenzhen was puzzled, “What did she want with you? Didn’t you say you weren’t going and that you were going to see your mother with Lu Xingxue?”

“She…” Jiang Ci pursed her lips, speaking slowly and struggling to find the right words, “She took me to the Yushui Nanyuan. She bought the apartment where I used to live before.”

Huo Zhenzhen became more and more uneasy as she looked at Jiang Ci’s absent-minded expression. “She bought the apartment where you used to live? What does she mean by that?”

Jiang Ci lowered her gaze. “Didn’t you already guess it?”

Huo Zhenzhen took a deep breath. “…Fuck!”

She leaned in and lowered her voice. “Is it what I’m thinking?”

Jiang Ci recounted to Huo Zhenzhen the important points of what Wen Nian had said to her last night. Huo Zhenzhen’s mouth hung open the entire time, her face full of “holy shit.”

“No wonder you didn’t go home today and came to me instead, burdened with so much on your mind. Left hand Wen Nian, right hand Lu Xingxue…no wait, I see now that you seemed to have completely let go of Wen Nian before. But as soon as she turned around, you wavered?”

“I don’t know.” Jiang Ci said. “I’m sure I like Lu Xingxue, but as for Wen Nian…I can’t explain what I’m feeling for her right now. I just…it hurts so much. I can’t catch my breath when I think about the past.”

“After all, she’s the person you loved for so many years. If I were you, I’d bury my head in the sand for at least a month. Wouldn’t that make me go crazy?”

Although Huo Zhenzhen’s words were exaggerated, Jiang Ci was indeed avoiding reality.

The porridge in the clay pot was steaming, and through the layer of steam, Jiang Ci’s expression was somewhat blurred. Huo Zhenzhen pushed the empty bowl aside and hesitated before speaking. “I, um, I’ll say a few things. If they make sense, listen. If they don’t, just forget it.”

Jiang Ci perked up and looked at Huo Zhenzhen. “Yeah, I’m listening.”

“Hmm. Wen Nian…even at a young age, she was willing to give you up for power. That shows how scheming she is. When you think about her methods, it’s pretty scary, right? Marriage, pregnancy, abortion, divorce…once this whole process is completed, she’s already an influential figure in the Four Seasons. She’s standing firm now, but who knows if she’ll give you up again for some other reason? No one can guarantee that, right? And feelings can change. You’re not the same person you were before, and neither is she. Being together doesn’t necessarily mean happiness. It’s possible that it’s just an obsession.”

Huo Zhenzhen took a few sips of beer to moisten her throat before continuing, “Looking at it from the outside, Lu Xingxue seems like the perfect marriage partner, but you have this knot in your heart towards Wen Nian. What you can’t have will always seem better. Who knows, this knot may cause friction between you and Lu Xingxue, and over time, you may become resentful towards each other. Besides, you two are in a contractual marriage, and your feelings haven’t been discussed openly. What if, and I’m saying ‘what if’, what if she doesn’t have any feelings for you in that way and plans to divorce you after the contract period is over?”

Jiang Ci shook her head, “This isn’t a multiple-choice question. You don’t need to analyze and compare them like that. Whether or not Lu Xingxue likes me is not a factor in my decision-making.”

“You’re right,” Huo Zhenzhen snapped her fingers. “The key isn’t about who likes you, but about who you like, or who you’re happier with now. Who gives you a sense of a stable home? Make a decision and stick with it. Don’t regret it.”

The phone on the table lit up again. This time, Huo Zhenzhen didn’t look at it. Jiang Ci glanced at the screen and picked it up without hesitation.

“Lu Xingxue,” she addressed the person on the other end of the phone.

Huo Zhenzhen had just taken a bite of grilled meat, and it got stuck in her throat, causing her to cough loudly.

Jiang Ci turned slightly and spoke into the phone, “I’m having dinner with Zhenzhen… Grandpa came over? No, no, I’ll head back now.”

After a brief exchange, Jiang Ci hung up the phone. Huo Zhenzhen wiped away the tears from her coughing fit and said, “Haven’t you already made a decision? You didn’t answer Wen Nian’s call, but you answered Lu Xingxue’s so quickly.”

Jiang Ci explained, “Lu Xingxue had an allergic reaction at noon today, and I’m worried about her.”

Huo Zhenzhen: “…”

Huo Zhenzhen sighed heavily, “I used to envy the female leads in idol dramas who were loved by everyone. But now that I see you like this, I no longer envy them. Only one-on-one relationships are truly fulfilling.”

Jiang Ci said, “Let your significant other accompany you for dinner. I’ll leave first. Lu Xingxue’s grandfather has arrived.”

Huo Zhenzhen said, “I don’t think I need to discuss working with Wen Nian anymore.”

Jiang Ci frowned and said, “Why do you think that? It’s not necessary. If it’s a good fit, things will go well.”

“Do you think I’m stupid? Regardless of whether I have the ability or not, the premise for her giving me work is because of you. I don’t want that to be a factor in your judgment, even if it’s just a little bit of an influence. – I need to be neutral!” Huo Zhenzhen smiled and waved at Jiang Ci, “Let’s go, let’s go. Remember to take care of my best friend who is allergic to everything because of you.”

Jiang Ci hurried home. Auntie Zhuang was busy in the kitchen, and Lu Xingxue brought the chessboard to the living room to play with her grandfather.

“Ah-Ci’s off work.” Grandpa Lu beckoned and kindly said, “Come help grandpa take a look at the chessboard, how should we move?”

Jiang Ci went over and sat next to Grandpa Lu. Lu Xingxue wore a turtleneck sweater, with only her face and hands exposed, and the rest of her skin covered by clothes. Her face was still red. She looked at Jiang Ci, and she felt remorse and guilt rising in her heart, avoiding her gaze subconsciously.

“Grandpa,” Jiang Ci sat down next to Grandpa Lu, “I don’t understand how to play Go.”

“Even a beginner like you can still play chess.” Grandpa Lu took off his glasses and placed them on the chessboard. He said to Lu Xingxue, “Let’s not play anymore. We don’t have any outside help, and you don’t want to give up a single piece.”

Lu Xingxue lowered her eyes and smiled.

Grandpa Lu picked up his cane and remembered something, “Oh? Xiao Bai, that thing… the skincare product, you didn’t give it to Jiang Ci to use, right? Stop using it right away.”

Jiang Ci didn’t quite understand what he meant by “skincare product.”

Lu Xingxue spoke up, her voice still hoarse, “She’s not using it. And for cases like mine where it doesn’t work, it’s probably just an exception.”

Grandpa Lu disagreed, “Don’t take it lightly, allergies can be a big deal.”

Lu Xingxue said, “I know, I won’t use that brand anymore.”

Grandpa Lu slammed his cane on the floor and said, “Now that we’re all here, let’s eat.”

Jiang Ci understood. There was no way Grandpa Lu wouldn’t ask about Lu Xingxue’s current state. And Lu Xingxue didn’t reveal the truth to Grandpa Lu.

Grandpa Lu walked slowly to the dining room, while Jiang Ci and Lu Xingxue packed up the chessboard together. Jiang Ci picked up the white pieces, while Lu Xingxue picked up the black ones. Their fingers touched on the chessboard, Jiang Ci pulled her hand back, and Lu Xingxue lowered her head and said, “… I don’t know why grandpa suddenly came over. He said he was visiting a friend and stopped by to see us on the way back.”

Her hoarse voice tortured Jiang Ci’s nerves. Jiang Ci asked, “Why did you lie?”

Lu Xingxue put her finger to her lips and pointed at Grandpa Lu’s back, indicating that Jiang Ci shouldn’t mention it anymore, so as not to let him hear.

Jiang Ci turned her head, feeling a little sour in her heart. How could she not know the reason why Lu Xingxue lied? Lu Xingxue had kept her clean, not letting Grandpa Lu know, ultimately considering her feelings.

Grandpa treasures his only granddaughter so much that even if he didn’t express it directly, he would still have some thoughts in his heart if he knew the truth.

At the dining table, both Jiang Ci and Lu Xingxue were lost in thought and had no appetite for the delicious dishes on the table.

Lu Grandpa looked at this and then at that, “Xiao Bai, have you prepared everything for the company’s annual meeting?”

“It’s almost done,” Lu Xingxue said as she served him some food.

“In the past, I haven’t seen Ah-Ci attend the annual meeting. If she has time this year, she can go and have some fun,” Lu Grandpa stopped Lu Xingxue, “you and Ah-Ci should eat more.”

Lu Xingxue put the food back on her own plate, hesitated for a moment, and then gave a spoonful to Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci couldn’t stand her cautious look and asked her, “When is the annual meeting?”

“On the 20th,” Lu Xingxue replied lightly.

“Okay, I’ll go,” Jiang Ci smiled at Lu Grandpa and added another spoonful of food to Lu Xingxue in front of him.

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