Chapter 26

The wedding was held beside Tuli Yun Lake.

The water was clear and emerald green, a gentle breeze rippling across its surface. Along the shore, broad-leafed ginkgo trees had turned yellow beneath the sky, spreading a sea of gold.

The wedding venue had been decorated with balloons and archways woven from flower garlands. Rows of benches stood before the large stage.

Second Great-Aunt was dressed with exceptional grandeur that day. Her wedding gown drew every eye, and her face shone with a radiant, blissful smile.

Jiang Yi applauded with everyone else, staring absentmindedly at the happy newlyweds onstage.

A month earlier, she had looked much the same.

She had worn a white veil, her wedding dress unfurling from her feet into a train two meters long.

The only difference was that her marriage had been fake, entered into solely to anger Shen Siyun.

Over the past month, Shen Siyun had repeatedly been infuriated by her, flying into rages again and again.

Admittedly, Jiang Yi had finally vented much of the resentment accumulated during those two wasted years.

Yet Shen Siyun had done nothing more than become angry.

Her relentless insistence that Jiang Yi divorce was merely the product of wounded pride she could not set aside.

Jiang Yi had been waiting all this time.

Waiting for Shen Siyun to truly come to her senses.

Waiting for her to personally say those words—

Let’s get married.

“What are you thinking about?”

Song Rao took her hand. Seeing her expression, she could guess that Jiang Yi was most likely remembering how Shen Siyun had toyed with her.

Second Great-Aunt and her spouse’s wedding vows rang clearly across the stage.

Jiang Yi was, in truth, deeply unhappy.

She knew whom she loved.

She knew whom she wanted to marry and grow old with.

Yet that person did not understand.

In that person’s eyes, there had only ever been an agreement between patron and lover—not even the slightest reverence for marriage.

Jiang Yi also knew that her feelings were being worn away little by little.

Everyone eventually longed for stability. When they could not obtain what they wanted, they could only remain where they were and grow disappointed.

Once she stopped struggling and became content with the present, perhaps she would never have the strength to love anyone again.

“It’s nothing.”

The moment Jiang Yi spoke, a faint nasal note entered her voice.

Song Rao looked sideways at her, lowered her head, and took a tissue from her pocket.

“Wipe your eyes.”

“How touching.”

A voice suddenly came from behind them, neither loud nor soft.

Song Rao froze briefly and turned around, only then noticing Shen Siyun and Xin Wenyue seated behind them.

Shen Siyun sat upright with her legs crossed and her back against the chair. The wind was strong by the mountain lake, stirring the fine curls at her temples.

At Xin Wenyue’s remark, her gaze slowly shifted away from the stage toward them.

More precisely, toward Jiang Yi.

Her emotions were difficult to read.

Song Rao knew very little about Shen Siyun as a person.

She withdrew her gaze and slowly clasped Jiang Yi’s hand, trying to offer her some strength.

She knew her best friend had foolishly fallen for someone she should never have loved.

But what could anyone do?

Once feelings had been poured out, they could not simply be gathered back.

People would not say goodbye until every last expectation had been exhausted.

Song Rao no longer knew how long this experiment could continue.

She was not even certain what kind of reaction it would ultimately produce.

Second Great-Aunt’s wedding concluded that same day.

Early the following morning, Song Rao drove Jiang Yi home.

By the time they returned, it happened to be the weekend.

Jiang Yi looked at the completely empty refrigerator.

“Song Rao, let’s go to the supermarket. There’s nothing left at home.”

Song Rao came over to look and even checked the chilled compartment.

Apart from some seafood specialties their parents had sent, everything else had been eaten.

“Then let’s go.”

The two changed clothes and prepared to leave.

“Song Rao, pass me that black leather bag.”

Jiang Yi ran to the shoe cabinet, took out her low heels, and put them on.

“All right.”

Before leaving, Song Rao could not help taking another look at Jiang Yi’s outfit.

It was a very simple combination: a fitted white knitted dress and, beneath it, black stockings capable of drawing every gaze in the room.

Jiang Yi’s legs were long and slender, making the black stockings seem veiled in an indescribable sensuality.

She casually twisted up her long hair. Perhaps because it was too heavy, it hung low. A few loose strands slipped free, framing a swanlike neck that was slender and pale, like a newly grown willow shoot.

“Did you bring the keys?”

Jiang Yi lowered her head and checked her bag.

“Yes, I have them. Let’s go.”

She walked two steps before realizing Song Rao had not followed.

“What’s wrong?”

She turned around.

Song Rao complimented her, “You look beautiful.”

Jiang Yi graciously accepted the praise.

“You look good too.”

At the nearby supermarket, the two pushed a cart around and bought a large amount of food.

Just as they were about to pay, Jiang Yi received a phone call.

“Jiang Yi! That silly girl Ye Sixin actually went alone to sign a contract with a client. I only just heard that the client is extremely difficult and likes taking advantage of women. I’m afraid she’ll suffer, but I can’t get away from here!

“I asked everyone else, but they all have plans this weekend. Could you go check on her for me?”

Lin Fei sounded extremely anxious over the phone.

Jiang Yi realized that “taking advantage” probably meant bailiantales.comsomething more serious than it sounded.

She immediately asked for the address, told Song Rao to return home by herself, and left the supermarket for the place where Ye Sixin was signing the contract.

Song Rao could only watch her retreating figure and call after her, “Be careful.”

Jiang Yi called a Didi ride from the roadside.

The car arrived quickly.

She glanced at the license plate and confirmed it was correct before opening the door and getting into the back seat.

Lowering her head to fasten her seat belt, she said, “Driver, please go to Taixi Hotel! It’s urgent. Could you drive a little faster?”

After fastening the belt, Jiang Yi received no response.

Nor did she feel the car begin moving.

Frowning, she looked toward the driver’s seat.

The sight nearly frightened her half to death.

And that was not even the worst of it.

From beside her came Shen Siyun’s voice, calling her name with a half-smile.

“Jiang Yi.”

“Why are the two of you here?”

Jiang Yi could not believe that Xin Wenyue was sitting in the driver’s seat.

Even more coincidentally, the person sharing the ride with her was none other than Jiayu’s president, Shen Siyun.

After her initial shock, Jiang Yi remembered Ye Sixin and had no desire to converse with them.

She merely greeted them politely.

“Auntie Shen, what a coincidence. You take shared rides too? How down-to-earth.”

Shen Siyun closed her eyes.

Jiang Yi then greeted Xin Wenyue with a friendly smile.

“I didn’t expect Auntie Shen’s friend to work part-time as a Didi driver.”

Xin Wenyue closed her eyes.

“This car is a Rolls-Royce. Do I look like I need the money from driving for Didi?”

Xin Wenyue choked on the words and tightened her grip on the steering wheel, forced to slowly start her beloved car.

A few days ago, she had lent it to her troublesome younger brother so he could attend the wedding.

Who knew when he had installed a driver app and registered her as a Didi driver?

She and Shen Siyun had just gotten into the car to go to dinner when the system suddenly assigned her a ride.

Jiang Yi did not care whether she needed the money.

She only cared whether they could go faster.

“Miss Xin, could you drive a little faster? I have something urgent to deal with.”

“If Little Niece is in a hurry, get another car. I’m not serving you.”

When had Xin Wenyue ever allowed someone to order her around?

At that precise moment, a phone call came in.

Driving, Xin Wenyue answered, “What is it?”

The caller was none other than her younger brother, his face filled with anxiety.

“Sis! I forgot to tell you. My school requires social-practice experience, so I thought about it and registered as a Didi driver. The school administrators will check the driver ratings and reputation, and it’ll affect my credits and GPA.

“If you don’t want to accept rides, don’t open the request screen.”

“Too late.”

“What do you mean, too late?”

“I already accepted one.”

The other end fell silent.

Then, apparently remembering Xin Wenyue’s temper, her brother began pleading desperately for her not to earn a poor customer rating.

He ended with a heart-rending wail—

“Sis—please!”

Xin Wenyue’s head throbbed painfully.

Furious, she hung up.

“I. Know.”

Jiang Yi listened to the entire call without changing expression.

Then she smiled politely, her face turning sweet and gentle.

“Miss Xin, are you still going to make me get out?”

“…”

Seeing that the car remained at the same speed, Jiang Yi raised her phone.

“If a driver fails to meet a customer’s reasonable request, I believe I have the right to leave a bad review.”

She drew out the final syllable with innocent sweetness.

“…”

Seated at one side of the back seat, Shen Siyun rubbed between her brows.

She could offer no help.

“Speed up.”

Xin Wenyue tightened her jaw.

Swallowing her anger, she increased the speed and resigned herself to working as Jiang Yi’s Didi driver.

Jiang Yi relaxed contentedly against the seat.

Her legs were pressed together, and as the hem of her dress shifted, it revealed the alluring black stockings beneath.

Shen Siyun wore a beige trench coat. Her legs were crossed, and her left elbow rested against the edge of the window as she propped her chin on one hand.

She appeared to be contemplating something while staring outside.

Yet in the reflection on the window, she caught sight of the black stockings flashing stolen contentbeneath Jiang Yi’s swaying skirt.

Her gaze immediately froze.

Then she turned her head and looked her former little lover up and down.

The longer she stared, the darker her expression became.

As far as she remembered, Jiang Yi had never once worn something as seductive as black stockings in front of her.

Today was the weekend.

She was not going to work.

So whom was she dressed like this to meet?

Shen Siyun pressed her red lips into a straight line and asked without revealing any emotion, “Those black stockings… how come I’ve never seen you wear them?”

“I bought them a few days ago.”

Jiang Yi turned and met her gaze.

Seeing Shen Siyun staring unblinkingly at her legs, with no telling how long [read the original at bailiantales.com]she had already been looking, Jiang Yi suddenly felt uncomfortable all over.

She had no choice but to pretend not to notice and turned toward the window.

A few seconds later, she saw in the reflection that Shen Siyun was still staring at her legs.

“…”

Unable to endure it, she turned back around.

“Shen Siyun, I wore these black stockings for my wife. Are you my wife? Why are you looking?”

Driving, Xin Wenyue heard the heart-piercing remark and could not help glancing into the rearview mirror.

Under Jiang Yi’s furious stare, Shen Siyun slowly withdrew her gaze with an icy expression.

She resembled a soldier lowering her flag after defeat, or a battered convoy abandoning its armor in retreat.

She looked exactly like a long-suffering wife…

Xin Wenyue suddenly felt that perhaps she was not suffering that badly after all.

No one spoke for the rest of the journey.

At Taixi Hotel, a discreetly luxurious Rolls-Royce stopped before the entrance.

The doorman assumed some wealthy guest had arrived and prepared to step forward in welcome.

Instead, a beautiful woman in black stockings hurriedly climbed out.

A clear, gentle voice left her lips.

“Thank you, driver. I’ll give you a five-star review when I have time.”

The doorman: “…”

So she was merely a beautiful passenger who had somehow called a Rolls-Royce.

Not long afterward, another elegant beauty stepped out of the car.

The doorman stopped approaching, a trace of disdain entering her gaze.

So she was one of those women who pooled money to fake a wealthy lifestyle.

She had known it was impossible to hail a Rolls-Royce normally.

Even rich people did not play around like this.

Shen Siyun walked over in high heels and habitually instructed, “The Wanghai Pavilion private room.”

She had barely taken two steps when someone stopped her.

“Miss, how many guests?”

“Two.”

“Miss, are you certain?”

The doorman’s tone carried a trace of doubt.

“Wanghai Pavilion is part of our premium private-room section. If there are only a few of you, you could choose one of the lower-tier rooms.”

Shen Siyun stopped.

Since when did having fewer guests prevent her from booking a premium room?

Did she now need a large group before she was allowed to dine somewhere expensive?

“One Wanghai Pavilion room. Did you not understand?”

Shen Siyun’s gaze chilled.

The doorman nodded on the surface, then rolled her eyes where Shen Siyun could not see.

“I understood, I understood. But I still need to remind you that private rooms at the Wanghai Pavilion level have an average minimum spend of over five thousand yuan. For two people, that would be at least twenty-five hundred per person.”

And that was merely the minimum.

There was no real upper limit.

“Are you implying that I can’t afford it?”

Shen Siyun suddenly found the situation amusing.

She stopped and crossed her arms, looking down at the doorman.

“Are you new here?”

After parking the car, Xin Wenyue hurried over and heard the exchange.

With only a moment’s thought, she understood the implication and struggled desperately not to laugh.

Jiang Yi’s promise of a five-star review had apparently been devastating enough to drag even the mighty President Shen of Jiayu into the aftermath.

She had fallen from being mistaken for a woman pooling money to rent a luxury car to one pooling money to fake dining at a high-end hotel.

Xin Wenyue placed a hand on Shen Siyun’s shoulder and tried desperately to hold it in.

But in the end, she still burst into helpless laughter.

“Shen Siyun, she thinks you’re one of those fake socialites. This is killing me—hahahaha!”

She was willing to declare it the funniest joke of the year in the world of company presidents.

Shen Siyun’s face turned pitch-black.

The doorman recognized Xin Wenyue as the owner of the Rolls-Royce.

Rolls-Royce meant money.

A Rolls-Royce Didi driver meant a rich person.

Then she noticed the intimate manner between the two women.

Cold sweat immediately seeped down her back, and she barely dared breathe.

Under the blade-like look Shen Siyun gave her, Xin Wenyue removed her hand.

Her expression turned cold as she looked at the doorman.

“She’s the president of Jiayu. Do you understand? Forget a Wanghai Pavilion private room—she could buy this entire Taixi Hotel.

“If you lack even this much judgment, don’t work in hospitality. You might as well find a factory job.”

The doorman’s face alternated between pale and flushed.

Mortified, she nevertheless forced out a smile, bowed, and invited them inside.

“Yes, yes. You’re absolutely right, Miss. We’ll reserve the Wanghai Pavilion for you immediately.”