The Creator's Grace - Chapter 15

Chi Yu had purchased the device capable of replicating an iris, but after wearing it for only half an hour, her eyes were already dry, stinging, and incredibly uncomfortable.

In the past, she had worn cosmetic contact lenses for an entire day without feeling much of anything. This thing in her eye was far more agonizing than any beauty lens.

But to reclaim her sister’s legacy, Chi Yu could endure it.

She pulled the magnifying mirror in front of her, widening her eyes to inspect the lens carefully. Only under bright, intense light could the edges of the device be seen; in slightly dimmer settings, it was perfectly concealed.

However, it couldn’t be too dim, or the device wouldn’t be able to recognize and replicate the iris.

Chi Yu thought for a moment; she had a plan. For the past few days, Ran Jin had been closely following the progress of the lunar mining rights project. This project was massive, a matter of life and death for the conglomerate, and the most significant decision she had made since taking over the Chi family business. Not a single mistake could be allowed.

During lunch, Ran Jin was at the company cafeteria, discussing work with the CEO and CTO. The phone in her pocket vibrated several times.

Ran Jin took a look; it was a WeChat message from Chi Yu.

【Sister Ran, are you coming home tonight?】

The message was followed by an emoji of a little blushing bun. Seeing the cute emoji, Ran Jin couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile.

The CEO and CTO—who were currently losing hair from the pressure of Ran Jin’s rigorous efficiency—caught sight of their President smiling at her phone with a hint of bashfulness. Their coffee cups froze mid-air; they were utterly stunned.

Realizing she had let her emotions show, Ran Jin quickly tucked away her smile. In a professional tone, she said, “I need to make a call,” before getting up and walking toward a deserted floor-to-ceiling window.

“What is it, Xiao Yu? You want me back tonight—is there something you want to tell me?” Ran Jin returned the message with a voice call.

It was quiet on Chi Yu’s end. She was at Qi Tong’s studio; after maintaining eye contact with Qi Tong for ten seconds, she checked the mobile app and confirmed that the iris replication was successful. Everything was ready.

“It’s nothing urgent. I just know you’ve been busy with company matters lately and haven’t had time for a proper meal. That night you drank too much with me, and I wasn’t sure if you’d rested well afterward. Originally, I should be the one worrying about company affairs…” Chi Yu sighed, then quickly changed the subject.

“I’ve learned a few tricks from Auntie Su and wanted to treat you. If you don’t have other plans, come home for dinner tonight.”

The so-called “going home” naturally meant returning to the Chi family villa. The words “going home” struck a unique chord in Ran Jin’s heart.

Just as Ran Jin was about to speak, Chi Yu seemed to anticipate her refusal and immediately added, “Besides, I have some other things I want to talk to you about.”

Ran Jin was silent for a moment. She said, “Hold on,” switched out of the call to check her schedule, and then told her, “I should be home around eight o’clock.”

“As long as you can make it.”

Hearing her agreement, Chi Yu seemed to smile. The sound of that smile brushed against the microphone, turning into a breath of air that made Ran Jin’s ears itch.

“Then I’ll be waiting for you at home, Sister Ran.”

Ran Jin wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she thought she heard a sense of anticipation in Chi Yu’s final sentence.

Xiao Yu didn’t know how to cook; she had been pampered since childhood. Years ago, on her sister’s birthday, she had tried to show off her skills, but after nearly setting the kitchen on fire, Chi Li and Auntie Su had joined forces to banish her from the kitchen. After that, Chi Yu likely realized that specialized tasks should be left to experts; cooking was both exhausting and dangerous, so she never stepped foot in the kitchen again.

After hanging up, Ran Jin thought for a moment and sent a follow-up WeChat message.

【Don’t go into the kitchen. We can just have a casual bite. Do you want canelés from L’s?】

Canelés from L’s were Chi Yu’s favorite dessert back in high school. There was a period when the academic pressure was immense; a transfer student had arrived and surpassed Chi Yu by a single point, snatching away the first-place ranking she had held for several semesters.

Chi Yu was a person who hated to lose. During that time, she studied day and night, suffered from lack of sleep, and had a terrible temper. Even Chi Li didn’t dare provoke her.

Chi Li had complained to Ran Jin, saying the girl’s temper was fiercer than a ghost’s. While complaining, she was also worried, asking Ran Jin, “I haven’t pressured her. If she’s not first, she’s not first; second place is also very good. Why must she fight so desperately?”

Ran Jin looked straight ahead, focused on driving, and analyzed the situation for Chi Li: “Xiao Yu has always been ambitious. If she can be first, she won’t settle for being beneath anyone. It’s likely because of this temperament that she keeps becoming more outstanding.”

Chi Li sat in the passenger seat, looked at Ran Jin silently for a while, and asked, “Is there a way to coax her? At least to stop her from being so worked up.”

Ran Jin thought seriously for a moment and said, “I’ll think of something.”

After dropping Chi Li off, Ran Jin went to a group chat full of young female employees to ask what everyone liked to do for stress relief lately. A young girl recommended the desserts from L’s, saying they were incredibly delicious, not greasy at all, and made her mood joyful after eating.

Ran Jin messaged the girl privately.

【Which dessert is the best there?】

【The canelés! Everyone who tries them loves them!】

The next morning, Ran Jin went to the dessert shop early, only to find a long line already formed before it even opened. Ran Jin, who was only in her early twenties then and focused entirely on working for Chi Li, didn’t understand youth trend culture; she couldn’t fathom why people would line up like this for a dessert shop.

Thinking that Chi Yu often discussed trends with her friends, Ran Jin guessed she would like them, so she followed the long line, inching forward bit by bit. It took nearly an hour to reach her, and there was a limit of one box of four canelés per person.

Ran Jin remembered delivering the dessert to the school. She waited at the gate until the break for calisthenics, and Chi Yu came out after being notified. Across the barrier at the entrance, Chi Yu spotted the box from L’s and froze.

“Your sister is busy, so she asked me to bring you a snack.” Ran Jin lifted the box and presented it to Chi Yu.

Chi Yu took it, and the gloom that had covered her face for days finally gave way to a smile. She said to Ran Jin, “You went to buy this? These are hard to get; people line up all day. I’ve even seen scalpers reselling them online.”

Ran Jin lied, “I just bought them from a scalper.”

Chi Yu opened the box immediately. “Canelés? My sister actually knew to have you buy canelés? Why don’t I believe that?”

“She went out of her way to ask around.”

Chi Yu took a bite with the small fork provided by the shop. Satisfied, she instinctively tried to feed one to Ran Jin. Ran Jin quickly said, “No need, you eat.”

Chi Yu smiled, her eyes curving like crescents. “Thank you, Sister-in-law!”

From then on, Ran Jin would observe Chi Yu’s mood every few days. If she saw her becoming irritable again, she would go buy these desserts for her. During that semester, Chi Yu ate the trendy desserts—which others spent all morning in line for—as her meals. With a better mood, she learned faster. During the final exams, Chi Yu scored eight points higher than the transfer student, reclaiming her spot as the top of the grade.

Afterward, Chi Yu went abroad, and Ran Jin no longer had the chance to bring her desserts.

Ran Jin waited by the window for a while, but Chi Yu didn’t reply to the message, so she sat back down. It wasn’t until half an hour later that Chi Yu’s reply came in.

【No need to bring anything. Just bring yourself.】

Ran Jin read the message several times before putting her phone back and returning to work discussions.

That evening, after finishing her last meeting, Ran Jin left the building just after seven and arrived at the Chi family villa before eight. When she entered, Chi Yu truly had a table full of dishes prepared.

As Ran Jin took off her coat, she scanned the table.

“I’ll confess everything,” Chi Yu said, pouring wine from a decanter. “Only these fried chicken wings were made by me. Everything else is Auntie Su’s handiwork.”

“You actually fried chicken wings? Did the oil splash on you?”

“I stayed far away, I’m fine.” Seeing Ran Jin staring at the wine glass, Chi Yu explained, “This is for me to drink. I don’t want you getting drunk and feeling miserable again. You drink peach juice.”

Chi Yu set down the decanter, went to the kitchen to get the peach juice, and poured it into the glass in front of Ran Jin. This brand of peach juice was always stocked in the Chi house; Chi Yu loved it and often gave it to Ran Jin in the past.

“What did you want to talk to me about?” Ran Jin asked.

Chi Yu stood beside her, one hand resting on the back of the chair. They were looking into each other’s eyes. This was the perfect opportunity to replicate the iris.

Unfortunately, before the five-second mark was reached, Ran Jin turned her gaze away.

Chi Yu blinked, not in a hurry. She set the juice down and patted Ran Jin’s shoulder, gesturing for her to sit and chat. “This isn’t the office; we’re not in a rush.”

Ran Jin sat down, and Chi Yu sat opposite her. The crystal chandelier above the table wasn’t on; instead, candles were lit around them, giving the scene the feeling of a candlelit dinner.

A tingling sensation on Ran Jin’s neck surfaced without warning, making her feel inexplicably parched.

Chi Yu was watching her. Ran Jin didn’t know if her flushed face was revealing anything in the dim light. She unconsciously sat up straighter and touched her tightly fastened cufflinks.

During the meal, Chi Yu kept searching for an opportunity to replicate the iris, but for some reason, every time Ran Jin realized their eyes had met, she would quickly look away.

“I’ve been having insomnia lately. Even after drinking that night, I still couldn’t sleep.”

Chi Yu had one final tactic. She pressed the wine glass to her red lips and tilted her head back, draining it in one go. In the warmth of the house, Chi Yu wore only a cherry-colored silk nightgown. The belt wasn’t tied very tightly, causing the collar to be a bit loose and revealing quite a bit of skin. The slow ripple in her throat as she swallowed the wine made her snowy swan-like neck appear even more alluring in the dim, warm light.

Ran Jin’s gaze stalled for a moment. She quickly snapped back to her senses, withdrew her eyes, and focused intently on her peach juice.

Chi Yu set her glass down and continued to pour. “As you know, my parents passed away early; I barely remember them. To you, my sister was an ex-girlfriend who saved your life. To me, she was both sister and parent. Now that she’s gone, I’ve dreamed of her several nights in a row…”

Chi Yu spoke these words with sincere emotion; she truly had been dreaming of her sister. Dreaming of her sister lying in a pool of blood, asking her when she would move against Ran Jin to avenge her.

“I can’t sleep.” Chi Yu’s voice carried a hint of a sob, and her eyes grew moist. She asked Ran Jin softly, “Sister Ran, can you stay and sleep with me tonight?”