Chapter 40

Shen Siyun remained completely still, her face seeming to turn even paler.

The hand that had been gripping Jiang Yi’s wrist slowly loosened.

“Could you tell me…”

The woman’s voice was very soft, so soft that it carried a faint tremor almost impossible to detect.

“What do I have to do for you to forgive me?”

Jiang Yi had no desire to entertain this self-indulgent performance of repentance and pleas for forgiveness.

She gave Shen Siyun a cool glance, stood, and went into the kitchen to help her mother bring out the food.

By the time everything was almost ready, Father Jiang returned from outside carrying a chess set.

He froze when he saw Shen Siyun.

Mother Jiang hurriedly introduced her, explaining that she was their little grandaunt.

Jiang Yi watched their polite greetings without expression.

Once the pleasantries ended, the family sat around the square dining table to eat.

Shen Siyun sat directly opposite her.

“Little Grandaunt, does the food suit your taste?” Mother Jiang asked.

Shen Siyun had just finished eating a piece of broccoli.

“It’s delicious, Auntie.”

Then she added, “Auntie, please don’t call me Little Grandaunt. Just call me Siyun.”

When they had first met, Mother Jiang had called her Siyun naturally.

Now she was being asked to address someone more than ten years younger than herself as an aunt. She truly found it difficult to adjust.

“All right, Siyun. If you like it, eat more.”

Mother Jiang placed a piece of roast duck in her bowl.

“This roast duck is good too. Jiang Yi used to beg us to buy it all the time when she was little.”

Shen Siyun laughed softly.

“Then I’ll eat a few more pieces.”

Mother Jiang also served her a bowl of corn, carrot, and pork-bone soup.

“Here, have some soup. Look how thin you are.”

Shen Siyun secretly glanced at Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi merely lowered her eyes and ate quietly, looking refined and delicate. Beneath the light, her swanlike neck appeared even paler and more fragile.

After hesitating, Shen Siyun accepted the bowl Mother Jiang handed her.

“Thank you, Auntie.”

Father Jiang wore reading glasses as he searched on his phone.

“Jiayu, Jiayu… That company name sounds familiar. Isn’t that where Aunt Zhang’s son from the market works?”

Mother Jiang suddenly remembered too.

“Oh, that’s right. Aunt Zhang is always boasting about how wonderful her son is. She says he earns fifty thousand a month—or tens of thousands, anyway—works nine to five, and even bought a car.

“Just half a year ago, she still thought our Jiang Yi wasn’t good enough for him.”

“How proud she was! Luckily, Jiang Yi didn’t take a liking to her son. Song Rao’s status as a professor leaves unauthorized copyhim several streets behind!”

Father Jiang disagreed.

“They’re both jobs. Why are you ranking them as superior or inferior? We stopped following that kind of thinking after the economic reforms.”

Mother Jiang complained, “Who asked you? Isn’t a government-funded position stronger than most jobs?

“Of course, Siyun is an exception. Siyun is the boss and manages so many people. If you think about it, Aunt Zhang’s son still has to answer to Siyun. Isn’t that right, Siyun?”

Shen Siyun nodded.

After receiving confirmation, Mother Jiang became even more pleased.

“Say a little less,” Father Jiang told her. “Don’t go talking nonsense in front of Aunt Zhang. She’ll become furious with you.

“It wasn’t easy for her to support a son through university. Becoming a project manager still proves he’s capable.”

He put down his phone, removed his reading glasses, and pursed his lips.

Mother Jiang immediately became displeased.

“You’re the only one who knows how to chatter. Eat your food.

“Jiang Yi, drink more soup. It’s nourishing.”

She turned and began serving soup to her daughter.

Then she noticed something wrong.

She put down the bowl and leaned closer.

“Daughter, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Father Jiang hurriedly looked at her too.

“Who bullied you? Why did you suddenly start crying?”

Shen Siyun’s hand stopped around her spoon, and she looked up as well.

The woman opposite her had slightly reddened eyes. Her delicate chin tilted upward, and two tears suddenly slipped from her beautiful eyes as she stared directly at Shen Siyun.

“Dad, Mom, I’m fine. I suddenly remembered a heartbreaking plot from a historical drama.”

Jiang Yi looked at Shen Siyun across the table and lifted her lips slightly, explaining as though it meant nothing.

“Look at you. You nearly frightened us to death.”

Mother Jiang patted her chest.

“Watch fewer of those tragic dramas in the future.”

“All right.”

Jiang Yi agreed aloud, but her eyes remained fixed on Shen Siyun without blinking—

And on the bowl of soup before her.

Shen Siyun tightened her grip around the spoon.

After hesitating for a moment, she picked up the untouched bowl.

“Auntie, I suddenly remembered that I don’t like carrots. You should drink this soup instead.”

“You don’t like carrots?”

Mother Jiang sounded disappointed.

“All right, then. The next time you come over, I won’t put carrots in the soup.”

She could hardly force someone to eat something they disliked.

“This bone soup simmered for two hours. It’s very nourishing.”

Mother Jiang’s voice was filled with regret.

Shen Siyun could not help looking at the bowl twice more.

She comforted her, “Then Auntie should drink an extra serving for me. I’m simply not fortunate enough to enjoy your soup.”

After dinner, Jiang Yi silently helped her mother clear the table.

A fierce rainstorm arrived without warning, lashing against the windows with a loud clatter.

Jiang Yi hurried over to close them.

The windows were old and had a hidden defect. They often had to be pushed forcefully before they would shut.

Just as she had done as a child, Jiang Yi stood beside the window and pushed with all her strength.

Then another pair of hands landed beside hers and pushed too.

“I’ll help you.”

Shen Siyun stood beside her.

Jiang Yi said nothing.

With both of them applying force, the window finally slammed shut.

Jiang Yi then pulled the curtains closed on both sides.

“The rain is so heavy that it’ll be difficult to get a taxi. Why don’t you stay here for the night, Siyun?”

Mother Jiang came out of the kitchen, snatched the remote control from Father Jiang, and switched to the weather forecast.

“Good thing I didn’t miss it. Haizhe City has issued a yellow rainstorm warning. There may be a severe storm tonight.

“Siyun, you shouldn’t go back. Your foot is injured too. We have a bed here. You and Jiang Yi can squeeze together for one night.”

Shen Siyun did not dare agree immediately.

From the corner of her eye, she observed Jiang Yi’s expression.

Jiang Yi showed no reaction. She merely watched television with Father Jiang, occasionally discussing the plot with him.

Mother Jiang’s suggestion was extremely tempting.

If Shen Siyun agreed, she could sleep in the same bed as Jiang Yi that night.

Even if they had no physical contact whatsoever, she would still be satisfied.

More than that, the warm atmosphere of Jiang Yi’s family—the affection of two loving parents—made Shen Siyun feel an uncontrollable sense of longing.

Forget eating at the same table with both parents.

In more than twenty years, she could count on one hand the number of times her parents had even been beneath the same roof.

She had eaten most of her meals with her grandmother.

The thought made her deeply envious of Jiang Yi.

Seeing her distracted, Mother Jiang reminded her, “What do you think?”

Shen Siyun hesitated, then nodded.

“Auntie, I’ll stay.”

Mother Jiang immediately turned and called Jiang Yi.

“Daughter, get one of your pajamas for your Auntie Shen so she can take a shower. The two of you can make do for tonight.”

Then Mother Jiang brought over fruit for after dinner.

“Here, have some fruit. Siyun, you hardly ate anything tonight. Why is your appetite so small?”

“Thank you for thinking of me, Auntie. I may have eaten too much at lunch, so I didn’t have much appetite for dinner.”

Shen Siyun accepted the fruit and smiled.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Mother Jiang stood and opened it.

“Aunt Zhang? Why are you here?”

Beside Aunt Zhang stood a man dressed in a suit and leather shoes.

It was her son, Zhang Kun.

Aunt Zhang handed her a bag of fruit and explained her purpose.

“Oh, Sister Jiang, I came to visit and chat with you. It’s been so long since we last visited each other.”

The moment Mother Jiang saw her son, she knew exactly what kind of nonsense she was planning.

Who brought a son in a suit when casually visiting?

She had probably come under the pretense of visiting to arrange a blind date.

Thinking of Shen Siyun’s identity, Mother Jiang sneered inwardly.

You once looked down on my daughter, and now you secretly want to steal my daughter’s friend?

There was no such wonderful thing in this world.

You want a blind date?

Fine. I’ll let you have one.

Let’s see whether your son dares to date his boss!

“Aunt Zhang, you shouldn’t have spent money. Come, come inside and sit.”

Mother Jiang warmly welcomed the mother and son.

When Aunt Zhang entered and saw Shen Siyun seated in the living room, her eyes lit up.

Coming here had been the right decision!

That bag of fruit had not gone to waste.

Look at those clothes. She recognized the brand—each piece cost fifty or sixty thousand yuan.

And that watch could not have cost less than seventy or eighty thousand.

Even if her position at Jiayu was not high, her family circumstances were clearly excellent.

She would be a perfect match for her son.

“Xiaoyi, what a coincidence. I’m seeing your friend again.”

Aunt Zhang walked over and warmly greeted Jiang Yi, who had just emerged from the bedroom.

“What is your friend’s name? This young woman has such an elegant bearing. She looks dignified and beautiful.”

When everyone’s gaze landed on her, Shen Siyun could only introduce herself.

“My name is Shen Siyun.”

“Shen Siyun… What a lovely name.”

Aunt Zhang praised her, then tugged at her son.

“Son, don’t you think so too?”

The moment Zhang Kun saw Shen Siyun, he nearly fell apart.

He repeatedly wiped the sweat from his forehead.

His mother had even asked him to comment on President Shen’s name.

He almost wanted to drag her home immediately.

Aunt Zhang did not understand.

“Son? What’s wrong? Don’t be shy. The more friends you know, the more opportunities you have.

“Besides, she works at Jiayu too. You’re in the same company.”

Seated in the single armchair, Shen Siyun looked at the project-manager son Aunt Zhang had mentioned.

Her red lips curved meaningfully.

“Manager Zhang, we certainly have some fate between us.”

Zhang Kun was none other than the deputy manager responsible for the industrial-park project in Maharashtra, India.

He had worked on it for three years.

Mother Jiang pulled Jiang Yi aside like someone settling in to watch an entertaining show.

Jiang Yi had little interest in the spectacle and pulled free from her mother’s hand.

“I’m going to get her pajamas.”

Mother Jiang clicked her tongue.

“You can get them whenever you want.

“Back then, Aunt Zhang openly and secretly belittled you, saying you weren’t good enough for her son. It made me furious.

“Why should my precious daughter be looked down upon just because her salary wasn’t as high as her son’s? Bah.”

“Yes, yes, President Shen. What a coincidence.”

Zhang Kun guiltily tugged his mother’s hand, urging her to stop embarrassing herself.

“President Shen?”

Aunt Zhang finally realized something was wrong.

“She’s your boss?”

Zhang Kun had no choice but to lean closer to her ear.

“She’s the president of Jiayu, Mom. Let’s go home.”

If they did not leave soon, he might be fired the next day for stepping into the company with his left foot first.

His mother’s intentions were far too obvious.

“P-President?”

Cold sweat appeared across Aunt Zhang’s back.

She understood the stakes.

This was her son’s direct superior, someone who could decide his fate with a single sentence.

Aunt Zhang gave an awkward laugh.

“Well, Sister Jiang, it’s getting late. It’s raining outside, so we should head home.”

Mother Jiang came forward and warmly tried to keep her.

“Why not stay a little longer? You seemed to be getting along so well.

“Isn’t that right, Siyun?”

Shen Siyun saw through Mother Jiang’s little scheme and smiled helplessly.

When she looked at Zhang Kun, the smile did not reach her eyes.

“That’s right. Manager Zhang can sit a little longer.”

Hearing Mother Jiang call her Siyun so intimately, while President Shen even cooperated with her, Aunt Zhang’s nails dug into her palms.

Jealousy flashed through her eyes.

What kind of incredible luck had Sister Jiang’s daughter stumbled into to know Jiayu’s president?

The entire family’s tails were practically pointing toward the sky!

How could Zhang Kun truly dare remain seated?

President Shen was clearly visiting Jiang Yi’s family.

If he stayed, it would prove he had no ability to read the situation.

He repeatedly refused.

“President Shen is joking. We shouldn’t disturb you any longer.”

With that, he dragged his resentful mother away in a hurry.

After they left, Jiang Yi went into the bedroom and brought out one of her pajamas for Shen Siyun.

The rain outside was so heavy that it would be difficult for her to return home.

She could only stay at Jiang Yi’s parents’ place for the night.

“Thank you.”

Shen Siyun reached out to accept it.

Beneath the soft fabric, their fingers accidentally brushed.

Both women quickly withdrew their hands.

Jiang Yi no longer felt like watching television.

After washing up, she returned to her bedroom.

This apartment was in the school district where she had unauthorized copylived for many years as a child, surrounded by old neighbors.

Although she had spent most of the two years after graduation at the apartment with Shen Siyun, she had still returned now and then to visit her parents.

Her room had always remained as it used to be.

Mother Jiang cleaned it frequently, so there was almost no dust.

Jiang Yi let down her long hair and prepared to get into bed.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed the bottle of melatonin on the dressing table.

She froze.

Then a heavy ache slowly swept through her heart.

Jiang Yi had never suffered from sleep problems while growing up.

Even during the intensely stressful period before the college entrance examination, she had never experienced insomnia.

The first time she took melatonin was on the day the country legalized same-sex marriage.

It was also the day Shen Siyun told her she would never marry her.

From that point onward, Jiang Yi frequently suffered from insomnia.

Sometimes she would even wake from nightmares in the middle of the night.

Those nightmares were always the same—

Shen Siyun abandoning her.

They clung to her like demons.

At first, whenever Jiang Yi woke in the middle of the night, she would crawl into Shen Siyun’s arms, wake her, and say, “Shen Siyun, I had a nightmare. I dreamed you didn’t want me anymore.”

Shen Siyun would comfort her.

But after hearing the same reassurances too many times, Jiang Yi might have become numb.

Her insomnia returned.

Whenever Shen Siyun traveled for one or two months, Jiang Yi could barely sleep at all.

She had no choice but to increase her melatonin dosage.

Later, her hair began falling out.

It fell out in handfuls.

She was a woman who cared about her appearance.

Every time she showered and saw so much hair coming loose, she would become dazed and frightened.

Then she would stare at herself in the bathroom mirror, unable to stop an image of an ugly witch from appearing in her mind.

She thought that was what she would become in the future.

Shen Siyun would never like an ugly witch.

After all, Shen Siyun had said she liked beautiful girls who were pleasing to look at.

From then on, Jiang Yi refused to shower with Shen Siyun.

After washing alone, she would carefully gather every strand of hair in tissue and secretly throw it away.

Sometimes there would be a great deal of hair on the bed.

Afraid Shen Siyun would see it, Jiang Yi forced herself to wake earlier every morning and pick up each strand one by one before hiding them.

This continued until she could no longer bear it.

She wanted to change.

In her distorted state of mind, she believed she was suffering because she felt pressured while staying beside Shen Siyun.

She used visiting her parents as an excuse to move home for a while.

But she discovered that she still suffered from insomnia at home.

It became even worse.

At one point, she fainted from low blood sugar.

The doctor said the cause was overwhelming psychological pressure.

After hearing that, her parents assumed she was under too much stress at work and even tried to persuade her to resign and remain at home.

They would support her.

This bottle of melatonin had been bought by her elderly parents after they sat helplessly sighing in the bedroom.

They had followed the doctor’s advice and kept it prepared for her.

They were genuinely terrified that their only daughter might suddenly die in her sleep.

Jiang Yi had gone to her best friend, Song Rao.

Song Rao had awakened her to the truth.

Her illness had not come from feeling pressured around Shen Siyun.

It had come from Shen Siyun’s words.

The person she loved with all her heart had told her she would not marry her and could offer her no future.

From that moment onward, Jiang Yi had fallen into an obsession.

She had entered Shen Siyun’s gentle trap and surrendered her entire heart.

She constantly worried about gaining and losing her affection.

She fantasized that Shen Siyun would eventually reach out and pull her up.

She would marry her.

She simply had not considered it yet.

She was young, successful, and focused on her career. It was perfectly normal that she had not settled down and started a family.

So Jiang Yi continued waiting.

And waiting.

But in the end, Shen Siyun merely built the trap higher with another five-year agreement.

Jiang Yi could no longer climb out.

Only Song Rao was willing to reach out and pull her free, accompanying her as she gambled on her final trace of hope.

And the result?

When Jiang Yi lowered her head before that woman and begged for Song Rao’s research funding, Shen Siyun had held a new lover—a new replacement—in her arms and rejected her without hesitation.

That scene had ultimately overlapped with one of the countless nightmares that had tormented Jiang Yi in the past.

Jiang Yi raised her head slightly and forced the tears back.

Shen Siyun had trampled both her dignity and Song Rao’s beneath her feet.

Why should Jiang Yi forgive her?