Amnesia Trap (GL) - Chapter 19
In fact, Ji Qingfan had done this sort of thing often in the past.
Sheng Zhi had so many things that many were casually given away during conversations before she even used them. She couldn’t even keep track of everything she owned.
Once, when she was still living at the Sheng house, Sheng Zhi had caught her red-handed picking up a discarded nightgown of hers and hugging it.
The moment she was caught face-to-face, Ji Qingfan panicked. She didn’t know how to explain it, but Sheng Zhi didn’t say anything, seemingly not having seen her.
Ji Qingfan held the nightgown and felt uneasy all night, but nothing happened the next day—or rather, none of the terrible things she had imagined happened.
That day, she received many new, beautiful clothes.
Ji Qingfan instantly realized what Sheng Zhi had misunderstood.
The proud young lady had consciously protected another girl’s self-esteem that night, but she was unfortunately unaware that what she was nurturing were constantly growing covetous thoughts.
All of Sheng Zhi’s kindness would become the nourishment for that desire.
Ji Qingfan had seen too many sides of Sheng Zhi.
She found her especially beautiful when she was angry. Those captivating eyes were like they were tempered by fire, as if they would pull her down into the depths with her.
It reminded Ji Qingfan of the brief flare of fire when Sheng Zhi lit a cigarette.
She didn’t like smoking, but Sheng Zhi did.
The way she lowered her eyes to light a cigarette was too charming.
Wisps of white smoke, a face as gorgeous as a rose, and the cigarette butt she had touched always bore a faint, light-red lipstick stain.
During her time as the student council president, Ji Qingfan had caught Sheng Zhi smoking more than once.
In those moments, she would coldly snatch the cigarette from between Sheng Zhi’s fingers, forbidding her to smoke, only to put the unlit end of the cigarette between her own lips after they left. All her escalating fantasies were concealed within the quickly dissipating smoke she exhaled.
But while the smoke dispersed, her desire lingered and was hard to extinguish.
Ji Qingfan took out the lipstick from the bag, looked down at it, lost in thought.
Sheng Zhi knew perfectly well that Ji Qingfan didn’t genuinely like her bag, but that didn’t stop her from twisting the facts and exaggerating things. Just as her giving Ji Qingfan her used lipstick was also intentional.
She was desperately eager to see Ji Qingfan get angry because of her.
But to her disappointment, Ji Qingfan merely caressed the lipstick and didn’t show any anger.
Not only was she not angry, but she even curved those affectionate eyes at Sheng Zhi: “Thank you, Zhi Zhi. I think I’ll like this color.”
—If a person is too good at acting, it can be quite terrifying.
That was exactly how Sheng Zhi felt looking at Ji Qingfan’s expression at that moment.
She couldn’t find a trace of disgust on Ji Qingfan’s face or in her eyes. It looked as though she was genuinely delighted, as if Sheng Zhi had given her a wonderful gift.
“Is that so… Then you’re truly a pervert,” Sheng Zhi hissed, giving a very uncomplimentary critique.
Ji Qingfan didn’t seem to hear, or perhaps chose not to, as she made no attempt to refute the statement.
Sheng Zhi watched Ji Qingfan continuously stroke the tube of the lipstick, feeling a strange chill run down her spine. She rubbed her arm and rolled her eyes: “Didn’t you say you were taking me to buy clothes? Are you addicted to touching it? Why aren’t we leaving?”
Her mouth was always merciless: “If you like it, I can send you a few more later.”
Ji Qingfan seemed surprised by her words and looked at her: “Really?”
Sheng Zhi was taken aback, thinking she was being sarcastic: “Crazy.”
She had to admit, however, that no one stopped them as Ji Qingfan led her out.
On their way out, they heard so many greetings of “Hello, President Ji” that Sheng Zhi couldn’t help but mimic their tone after getting into the car: “—It seems President Ji has a lot of prestige at the company.”
Ji Qingfan just smiled without a word. While buckling Sheng Zhi’s seatbelt, she abruptly touched her neck.
Sheng Zhi jumped with a start: “What are you doing?!”
“Nothing, just wanted to say that these kind of overly exaggerated accessories aren’t allowed either.”
Her finger pointed suggestively.
Sheng Zhi realized Ji Qingfan was talking about the pink diamond necklace she was wearing.
“This is exaggerated?” she retorted, sounding incredulous.
Ji Qingfan hummed, repeating good-naturedly: “Yes. Not allowed.”
Sheng Zhi observed Ji Qingfan and noted that her accessories were indeed very subtle.
At least, more subtle than hers.
“Then it’s fine as long as I don’t show it, right?” Sheng Zhi casually tucked the necklace inside her clothes, secretly thinking that she would dye her hair pink tomorrow.
Sheng Zhi had a lot of clothes, but very few formal or business outfits.
Ji Qingfan selected several items for her. Sheng Zhi was uninterested in this style of clothing and seemed lethargic.
She naturally had a strong presence, and combined with her listless, expressionless demeanor, wearing these clothes made her look both beautiful and striking.
Ji Qingfan smiled and complimented her: “Our Zhi Zhi looks so lovely. Try this one on too.”
Sheng Zhi glanced at it: “They all look pretty much the same. I’m not trying on any more.”
Hearing her say this, Ji Qingfan handed the clothes to the attendant, indicating that she would buy all the remaining ones.
She sighed with a hint of regret: “Although I still wanted to watch, Zhi Zhi will be wearing these clothes in front of me sooner or later as my assistant…”
Ji Qingfan paused for a second before continuing in a soft voice, speaking sweet words: “Thinking about it that way, it’s like opening a surprise blind box.”
Sheng Zhi couldn’t stand her using that tone to say those things. It felt as if even the most serious topic could be tinged with an ambiguous feeling when spoken by Ji Qingfan.
She was about to speak, but her peripheral vision caught something, and her words took an abrupt turn.
Sheng Zhi looked at a dimly lit shop nearby. A mischievous idea formed in her mind, and she pretended to be oblivious as she pulled Ji Qingfan towards it: “Let’s go look there too. The style of that shop looks pretty good.”
Ji Qingfan didn’t object to anything she said. If she wanted to go, they went.
As soon as she walked in, Sheng Zhi knew she hadn’t been mistaken.
Sure enough, it was a shop specializing in lingerie and sensual clothing.
Soft female singing played in the store. The clothing designs were very daring, and it was self-checkout.
Combined with the dim, warm lighting, everything felt incredibly blush-inducing and heart-pounding.
Sheng Zhi looked around, then turned to Ji Qingfan, hoping to catch a strained expression on her face.
However, in the few seconds she turned back, she saw Ji Qingfan had already picked up a pair of fox ears and put them on.
“Do I look good, Zhi Zhi?”
She was facing the mirror, tidying her hair. Sensing Sheng Zhi’s gaze, she turned her head and smiled lightly at her.
“By the way, how does a fox call?”
Sheng Zhi had intended to tease Ji Qingfan and see her embarrassed, but she found herself being teased instead.
A faint pink flush crept up her pale neck. She looked away and said against her true feelings: “No, you don’t. Why ask me? How would I know what a fox sounds like?”
She stopped looking at Ji Qingfan, but she could still hear her voice.
Sheng Zhi heard her say gently: “You’re still as contradictory as before, clearly liking it a lot in your heart.”
Ji Qingfan walked over and wrapped her arm around Sheng Zhi’s shoulder, leaning down to gently rub the fluffy tip of the fox ear against Sheng Zhi’s ear.
She rubbed and pressed close, getting near her earlobe, and then quickly gave a light lick. Hidden by her hair, it looked as if she was just whispering secrets to her.
“It’s alright, if Zhi Zhi wants to know what a fox sounds like…” Her breath was hot, like setting a fire, “I can call for Zhi Zhi to hear.”
Sheng Zhi’s earlobe tingled. She instinctively grabbed the hand on her shoulder and wanted to pull her away, but then she thought a too-strong reaction would only make her look like she was trying to hide something, so she forced herself to restrain it, saying in a low voice: “Ji Qingfan, we’re still outside. Can you please behave?”
“But didn’t Zhi Zhi bring me in here?” Ji Qingfan’s tone sounded even surprised: “I thought Zhi Zhi wanted to see me wear something.”
As she spoke, she seemed to discover something and pressed the back of her hand to Sheng Zhi’s cheek: “It’s so hot. Is Zhi Zhi blushing?”
“You’re the one who’s blushing.” Sheng Zhi avoided her hand, grabbed several items of clothing hanging nearby without looking, and threw them into Ji Qingfan’s arms: “Buy a few more. Hurry up and put them on. I think these clothes really suit your temperament.”
Her words carried a hidden meaning, but Ji Qingfan acted as if she couldn’t detect the sarcasm, carefully looking through each item.
“Zhi Zhi, you’re so impatient. Two of the sizes you grabbed are wrong…” Ji Qingfan held the clothes and exchanged the unsuitable sizes for the correct ones: “So you like this style? I’ll remember that. I’ll wear every single one for you to see.”
Sheng Zhi didn’t even know what she had grabbed. Listening to Ji Qingfan’s voice, she regretted pulling her in—
This was entirely different from what she had imagined would happen.
The lighting inside the store was too dim just now. Sheng Zhi hadn’t even looked when she picked them up, and it was only at the self-checkout that she realized how revealing these clothes were.
They were so revealing that Sheng Zhi didn’t dare look again after one glance. Treating the bag like a hot potato, she immediately threw it to Ji Qingfan, out of sight, out of mind.
Ji Qingfan caught the “hot potato” and reached out her other hand to take Sheng Zhi’s: “Zhi Zhi, we’ve bought all the clothes now. Let’s go eat. I know a newly opened restaurant that you’d really like…”
However, just as their skin touched, Sheng Zhi’s phone rang.
She looked at the caller ID. It was Xia Xiyan, another friend she often hung out with, a “like-minded” rich second-generation who often organized parties.
Sheng Zhi pulled her hand away and answered the phone.
Ji Qingfan looked at her empty palm and Sheng Zhi, who had walked a few steps ahead. She paused and froze.
“What is it?” Sheng Zhi frowned when she heard the noise coming from the other end of the phone and walked a few more steps forward.
“Miss Sheng, what are you doing? Are you coming or not?”
Someone else seemed to be sitting next to Xia Xiyan.
The noise on that end was too loud. Sheng Zhi held the phone slightly away: “I’m not going. I’m having a meal and then going to work this afternoon.”
As if she hadn’t expected to hear such a thing, Xia Xiyan’s volume increased uncontrollably due to shock: “Work?! Did I hear that right? No way, why are you going to work? What happened? Did your family stop your credit cards? Even so, that wouldn’t make you go to work, would it? Do you still have a place to sleep? Maybe you can stay at my place first…”
Sheng Zhi listened to her rambling increasingly unbelievable nonsense and interrupted impatiently: “Get lost. My family didn’t stop my cards, but they ordered me to work at our company.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, that’s interesting,” Xia Xiyan realized the situation and her voice trembled with laughter: “So, you won’t be able to freely have fun with us anymore?”
“Come on, you’re boiling over like a kettle! I’m not going to work properly.”
“Do you have time after work tonight? If you’re not working overtime, come out and have dinner with us. If you are, then never mind.”
“Overtime my butt! Wish me well, will you?” Sheng Zhi joked back: “Fine, remember to send me the address for dinner.”
“Absolutely!”
Xia Xiyan sent the address immediately after hanging up. It was only after Sheng Zhi hung up the phone that she remembered she had left Ji Qingfan standing aside.
It seemed a little too quiet.
Usually, there would be all sorts of little movements.
…Did she leave because she waited too long for her to finish the call?
But before Sheng Zhi could look up to search, she heard Ji Qingfan’s voice right next to her ear.
“Zhi Zhi, is someone else inviting you to dinner?”
Ji Qingfan held the wrist of the hand that was holding the phone. Her voice was very soft as she asked, but various emotions surged in her eyes.
For a moment, she seemed to regress to the past, to the times when Sheng Zhi had ignored her.
However, all those out-of-control emotions instantly transformed into a pitiful, fragile loneliness the moment Sheng Zhi looked at her.
She met Sheng Zhi’s gaze and forced a beautiful, vulnerable smile.
“…It’s nothing. I just wanted to ask if Zhi Zhi won’t be able to have lunch with me anymore.”
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