The Male Lead's Sister Reborn (GL) - Chapter 20

“Wait a minute!” Jiang Qian righteously extended her hand like Er-kang.

Then, she pursed her lips and “swoosh,” she pulled down her pants.

The view was completely exposed.

Emmm… she felt a bit cool down there.

Jiang Qian’s mind was in a peculiar state. After being overwhelmed to the point of numbness, there was a sense of puzzling stoicism.

Look then, look. It’s not like you haven’t seen it before. What’s the big deal? Just pretend I’m wearing a bikini.

Whatever, everything is whatever.

As long as you, Elder Sister, are happy and satisfied looking at it, that’s enough.

Jiang Qian was even humming a tune inwardly. She turned over and lay flat on her stomach on the bed.

So shameful, but this time my heart won’t hurt anymore, because it’s already numb.

What was Shen Xiruo doing? Why was she taking so long to take the next step?

After waiting for a while, Jiang Qian felt something wasn’t quite right. She frowned, turned around, and asked, “What are you doing? I’m getting cold.”

Then she heard Shen Xiruo let out an uncontrollable “pfft” and burst out laughing.

Once she started, it was as if a switch had been flipped. Shen Xiruo just kept laughing and laughing, laughing non-stop, laughing hysterically.

“Hahahahaha… hahahaha…”

Jiang Qian was filled with question marks.

She was lying there with her bare bottom exposed, listening to Shen Xiruo laughing uncontrollably at her? What kind of bizarre scene was this? Just thinking about it made her want to explode!

Jiang Qian angrily struggled to turn her head and shouted, “What are you laughing at!”

Shen Xiruo was laughing so hard that tears filled her eyes. At this moment, her image was not very good, and she looked just like an ordinary girl.

Jiang Qian watched for a moment, then was momentarily stunned.

Although Shen Xiruo was probably laughing at her, seeing Shen Xiruo so relaxed and carefree… she felt it was… actually quite nice.

Jiang Qian turned her head, burying her face in the pillow, pretending she was lying on a massage table, and muttered, “Alright, alright, laugh all you want. It’s my credit for making you laugh once.”

Shen Xiruo’s laughter gradually subsided, and then she said with a hint of a smile in her voice: “Over here… there’s a really big bruise. I need to get you some ointment.”

Jiang Qian lay on the bed, feeling like she had lost the ability to react, like a large white fish at the mercy of others.

She said weakly, “Okay.”

Shen Xiruo covered her with a bit of the quilt and went out, returning after a while.

Jiang Qian felt the air moving in the room and felt a little chilly.

In this season, City A had entered late autumn, and it was quite cold if the heating wasn’t on in the room.

“I’ll apply it for you,” Shen Xiruo said calmly.

Although Jiang Qian had long anticipated this, when it came down to it, she was still a little nervous and struggled to say, “Can’t I do it myself?”

Shen Xiruo calmly asked, “How can you do it yourself? Do you want me to hold a mirror for you?”

This… the scene was too beautiful to imagine.

Jiang Qian closed her eyes, hardened her heart, and flopped onto the pillow: “Fine, you do it.”

Afterward, she internally chastised herself for the terrible line she had just uttered!

Soon, she felt a damp sensation on her butt.

Shen Xiruo squeezed the ointment into her palm and then used her whole palm to rub the bruised area, spreading the ointment evenly over a large area.

The process was actually quite fast and not uncomfortable, only a slight numbing pain.

However, the atmosphere in the entire room began to change.

Just those few casual touches brought a certain reaction from Jiang Qian.

She didn’t know what to do, so she buried her face deeper into the pillow, afraid that the other person would notice her irregularity.

This state felt even stranger than when she was drugged that time… because at that time, she didn’t know the other person’s identity.

But now, they were both familiar friends, and this feeling was very subtle.

I wonder what Shen Xiruo is thinking… Would she also recall that night, just like me?

Shen Xiruo was quick. After applying the ointment, she waited patiently for it to absorb, carefully wiped off the excess ointment around the edges with a tissue, and then covered Jiang Qian with the quilt.

She stepped out for a while. Judging by the sound, she probably went to the bathroom.

Jiang Qian lay on the bed, feeling truly relaxed only now.

She felt a little clueless about what had just happened. Perhaps that undercurrent of ambiguous tension was truly just her imagination.

It was so comfortable lying in the bed, and it was also very comfortable when Shen Xiruo’s soft hands touched her…

Unbeknownst to her, Jiang Qian drifted into a dream.

She dreamt of a beautiful woman, whose face was unclear, pressing down on her.

“Qianqian, wake up.”

The woman in the dream spoke. When Jiang Qian woke up, she stared blankly at the face in front of her. For a moment, she couldn’t distinguish between reality and dream.

The woman in front of her was also extremely beautiful, and from this angle, she seemed to be above Jiang Qian.

She couldn’t help but want to lean up and kiss her.

As she raised her head, she felt a sharp pain in her butt.

Ah! How embarrassing! This is reality! This is Shen Xiruo! Not the person in the dream!

Jiang Qian immediately lay back down stiffly, making a small dent in the pillow, closing her eyes tightly, and praying that Shen Xiruo hadn’t seen her foolish pouting expression just now.

Shen Xiruo’s lips curled up silently, but her voice was completely fine, still concerned and gentle: “Can you still walk?”

Jiang Qian opened her eyes, looked around, and tried to move on the bed. She smiled: “I think I can.”

Shen Xiruo nodded and reached out her hands.

Jiang Qian thought she was going to help her get up and quickly raised her upper body, preparing to get out of bed.

But unexpectedly, Shen Xiruo suddenly slipped her hands under Jiang Qian’s armpits, wrapped them around her back, clasped her shoulders, and then slid the other hand under her knees.

Jiang Qian opened her mouth in confusion, letting out a meaningless exclamation: “En ah?”

Shen Xiruo smiled and picked her up from the bed in a princess carry. She leaned in and whispered in her ear: “I’m afraid you might not walk well, so I’ll carry you.”

Jiang Qian: “…”

While a million alpacas stampeded through her mind, she obediently extended both hands and wrapped them around Shen Xiruo’s neck.

Shen Xiruo carried her in a standard princess carry, first to the bathroom, and gently placed her down on the floor. This inexplicably reminded Jiang Qian of the labels on many express delivery boxes: handle with care, this end up…

Then, Shen Xiruo put one arm around her waist, letting her lean against her, and used the other hand to hand her a toothbrush.

Jiang Qian joked: “Your service is very attentive.”

Shen Xiruo casually replied: “It can be even more attentive.”

Jiang Qian: “Huh?”

Shen Xiruo: “You’ve experienced my service before, and weren’t you very satisfied?”

Jiang Qian: “I… I’m sorry, just pretend I didn’t say anything.”

She quickly brushed her teeth after taking the toothbrush, and then rushed to wash her face.

Because Shen Xiruo was watching her unblinkingly from the side, Jiang Qian did everything very quickly, but there was one thing she had to slow down for.

Her face was as red as a lobster. She turned and tugged on Shen Xiruo’s sleeve: “Um, could you go out for a moment…”

Shen Xiruo looked at her.

Jiang Qian’s gaze drifted towards the toilet.

Shen Xiruo suddenly realized and smiled: “Can you manage by yourself?”

Jiang Qian nodded repeatedly.

Shen Xiruo left, leaving a message: “Call me if you need anything. I’ll be right outside the door.”

Jiang Qian yelled in internal collapse: “I just fell on my butt, I didn’t break my leg! You really don’t have to be so careful!”

A light laugh came from outside the door. Shen Xiruo said: “Alright, I’m leaving. Come to the dining room when you’re done.”

Jiang Qian breathed a sigh of relief, quickly finished her personal business, and suddenly realized: Holy cow, Shen Xiruo has been joking with me all along! She said I can come to the dining room myself, which means she knows I can walk. Why did she princess-carry me to the bathroom then! Ahhh! This evil and insidious woman! Was it to take advantage of me?

Comparing their looks, Jiang Qian rationally dismissed the thought.

Heh, it’s more like I’m taking advantage of her.

All in all, this woman was truly sinister and couldn’t be judged by common sense! I must be careful, yes!

Jiang Qian clenched her fists, encouraged herself, and hobbled out of the bathroom to the dining room.

A pale green tablecloth was laid on the table, topped with plate after plate of exquisite food.

Shen Xiruo was making the final arrangements on the table, setting down cutlery, and serving drinks like lemon water and sweet sparkling water.

The pale green tablecloth, the creamy white placemats, the white porcelain plates holding colorful, eye-catching food, and a small vase on the corner of the table with the large bouquet of lilies brought back yesterday—the overall color scheme was beautiful, practically ready for a “Happy Life” commercial on TV.

As for the red roses sent by Shen Xizhou… oh, they were tossed into the trash outside the hotel.

Jiang Qian first let out an astonished “Wow,” and then her heart softened again.

Although this woman is very sinister, she is still… very good to me…

She must have spent a long time preparing so many dishes, and they are all for me…

Having a woman who meticulously prepares delicious food for me—this kind of happiness is simply indescribable.

Jiang Qian sat down, sniffing the appetizing aroma of the food. She was filled with mixed emotions, and her eyes were even a little moist.

She said, “I thought you only knew how to make breakfast.”

But I didn’t expect you to have so many skills and such great craftsmanship, and to show it all for me without reservation.

I’m so touched.

Shen Xiruo smiled: “Hurry and eat. I woke up early to make this, and some dishes cooled down and had to be reheated in the microwave. The taste might not be the best, but try it.”

There were a total of four dishes and one bowl of soup on the table. They were not the common Chinese dishes Jiang Qian was familiar with, but had a sense of Chinese and Western fusion.

For example, the soup bowl in the center held Western-style cream soup, with a rich aroma continually spreading. Beside it was a visually appealing plate of rosemary roasted veal steak.

But the other dishes, like the stir-fried vegetables and fish-flavored eggplant, were all colorfully and deliciously cooked in the Chinese style.

Seeing this, Jiang Qian understood. The original novel mentioned that Shen Xiruo had studied in the UK before. She probably learned to cook then.

“It’s really delicious.” She picked up a piece of veal steak with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth, squinting her eyes in satisfaction and praise.

For a little foodie, the happiest thing is to eat delicious meat first thing in the morning! Of course, this “first thing in the morning” was a little late… her stomach was already growling.

“Have some soup. I learned this soup in the UK and used to make it often. I wonder if my skill has regressed now.” Shen Xiruo smiled and scooped a bowl of soup for her.

Jiang Qian took a sip of the cream vegetable soup and immediately felt completely soothed and warm. The warmth started from her esophagus, traveled to her stomach, and finally even her fingertips seemed to become cozy.

“Ah, it really is delicious!” She squinted her eyes contentedly and drank a few more sips of the soup, feeling that all the worries from the morning had been swept away.

Even my butt doesn’t hurt as much! she thought with narrowed eyes.

After finishing a delicious lunch, Jiang Qian intended to get up and clean up, but her butt hurt when she moved, so she had to collapse onto the sofa and turn on the TV.

Shen Xiruo was busy in the kitchen. After putting the dishes and cutlery into the dishwasher and washing her hands, she came out and sat down next to Jiang Qian, asking: “What are your plans for your next step?”

Jiang Qian thought back on her schedule. Since she had just debuted and hadn’t formally taken on any work yet, she didn’t have much to do.

She turned to Shen Xiruo and asked: “I don’t seem to have anything planned. Why?”

Shen Xiruo pursed her lips, smiling, with a hint of hesitation in her expression. Finally, she made up her mind and said: “I have annual leave recently, and I want to go to the seaside. Do you want to come with me?”

Shen Xiruo’s eyes curved into crescent moons. Her smile carried a trace of uncertainty, making her look incredibly endearing.

When such an ice-queen beauty acts spoiled, she doesn’t need to make any movements. Just her eyes and expression are enough to evoke a desire for protection and possession in others.

At least, looking at her like this, Jiang Qian suddenly felt an urge to lick her lips.

I can’t resist this! If she keeps tempting me like this, let alone the seaside, I, Jiang Qian, would follow her to heaven!

Jiang Qian thought for a moment and said: “Then let’s go. A short trip is fine. You set the time, and I’ll give you the money.” Thinking about Shen Xiruo’s “past offenses,” she quickly added: “You’re not allowed to stop me from spending money! If you don’t let me spend money, I won’t go! Also, don’t book too expensive a hotel! I don’t have that much money!”

Her statement effectively blocked Shen Xiruo from saying, “I’ll cover your expenses.”

Shen Xiruo’s words were caught in her throat, but her beautiful eyes shifted, and she still smiled: “Then stay here and rest up these few days. When you’re better, we’ll go have fun.”

Before Jiang Qian could refuse, Shen Xiruo quickly reached out a finger and pressed it against Jiang Qian’s lips: “No saying no. You can’t recover well in the dorm, so you’ll stay here with me.”

From then on, Jiang Qian began an extremely comfortable life staying at Shen Xiruo’s house.

During the day, Shen Xiruo would leave for work, after preparing a simple breakfast for her before leaving.

Jiang Qian would sleep until nearly noon, eat her brunch, and then collapse on the sofa, binge-watching dramas and variety shows.

At noon, Shen Xiruo would order takeout for her and have it delivered to the house right on time.

After eating the high-end restaurant takeout that Shen Xiruo ordered, Jiang Qian would continue to lounge until the afternoon. When Shen Xiruo returned, they would eat dinner together and then sit on the sofa to watch dramas and variety shows together.

Around ten o’clock, Shen Xiruo would urge Jiang Qian to go to sleep. Her life was more about healthy living than even the elderly ladies doing plaza dances downstairs.

However, Jiang Qian certainly wouldn’t be so obedient about going to sleep. Shen Xiruo would secretly push open the door between eleven and twelve o’clock to check if she was playing on her phone.

Initially, Shen Xiruo would send her messages on her phone to see if she would reply.

Jiang Qian usually replied instantly when she saw a message, but after being caught a few times, Jiang Qian forced herself not to reply, and then Shen Xiruo started secretly opening the door to check.

One night, after being caught by Shen Xiruo again, Jiang Qian exclaimed: “Ahhh, are you a dean of students! Why do you control me looking at my phone, you scary woman!”

Shen Xiruo smiled faintly, snatched her phone, and put it somewhere she couldn’t reach: “You’re still recovering. Behave yourself. For your health, no staying up late.”

Just as Jiang Qian was about to enter “furious mode,” she heard Shen Xiruo’s tone suddenly shift to a low voice: “I just… want you to get better soon so we can go on a trip together.”

A stream of curses got stuck in Jiang Qian’s throat.

Shen Xiruo’s eyes were tearful, making her look pitiable and delicate, like a white lotus from the snowy mountains that everyone would want to cherish. She was so beautiful that people couldn’t bear to refuse any of her requests.

Jiang Qian had no choice but to pull the quilt over her head: “Alright, I’m sleeping. No more phone, I promise.”

Shen Xiruo gently stroked Jiang Qian’s hair and whispered, “Good night, have a sweet dream.”

Jiang Qian felt a soft touch on her head, which was very comfortable. Sleepiness washed over her, and she quickly drifted off.

Unbeknownst to her, during the time she closed her eyes and fell asleep, Shen Xiruo stayed beside her, smiling, watching her sleep, before quietly turning off the light and leaving.

After staying at Shen Xiruo’s house for several days, Jiang Qian lost all sense of time. She felt like her days were spent on soft clouds, utterly carefree.

This must be what a “fairy life” was like… She wouldn’t trade her current life for a change with Jack Ma! Jack Ma might be rich, but did he have the beautiful Shen Xiruo, who cooked for her every day? No, he didn’t! This was called “a person lying at home, and a beauty descends from the heavens.” Life was too sweet.

Jiang Qian was sprawled out on the sofa, happily sipping a cup of “otaku cola,” when she suddenly heard the doorbell ring outside.

She quickly tidied herself up, got up, and walked toward the door, asking as she went: “Who is it?”

A low male voice came from outside the door: “It’s me.”

Jiang Qian’s steps paused. She thought to herself, How did I attract the world’s number one plague god?

Should I open the door? Sigh, it’s my fault for having to speak up just now. Now it’s come to this. He’s at the door and knows someone is home. I can’t very well not open the door.

Jiang Qian felt extremely unlucky. She dropped a brief “Wait,” turned, went inside to change her clothes, and tidied herself up. She didn’t care that Shen Xizhou was waiting outside the door. Only after she was completely ready and her hair was tied up did she go and open the door.

Shen Xizhou stood outside the door, his mood already complicated. When he heard the person inside respond twice, he became even more furious.

It seemed that what Su Xiangxue had intentionally or unintentionally mentioned to him was true!

Su Xiangxue had told him that Jiang Qian was involved with his sister, but he hadn’t believed it. After all, he had never seen a real lesbian and always thought such things were just attention-seeking from women.

But who knew that today, taking advantage of Shen Xiruo’s absence, he had personally come to verify, and he really heard Jiang Qian’s voice!

Shen Xizhou knew this apartment was under Shen Xiruo’s name, and he also knew Shen Xiruo didn’t frequently stay here. However, according to the report from his informant in his sister’s company, his sister had been returning directly to this apartment every day for the past few days! This meant that Shen Xiruo was returning to this apartment every day to rendezvous with Jiang Qian!

Two women are actually doing such indecent things right under my nose…

Shen Xizhou was so angry he nearly fainted, but he maintained his composure, intending to severely question Jiang Qian the moment the door opened.

However, he waited outside the door, minute after minute, and no one came to open the door for him.

Shen Xizhou’s temper grew increasingly irritable, and he kept checking his watch.

Five minutes passed… Ten minutes passed…

Shen Xizhou felt his legs were getting a little sore from standing, and the fire in his heart flared up.

Finally, at the fifteenth minute, someone opened the door.

When Shen Xizhou looked up, he felt the raging flame in his heart “pfft” and extinguish. A wave of heartache washed over him.

The Jiang Qian in front of him was very slender, short in stature, and had a pure appearance. Her smooth, simple hair was tied into a casual ponytail at the back of her head. She wore a long T-shirt and loose long pants, looking like a fragile doll wrapped in ill-fitting clothing.

Her appearance was exactly the type Shen Xizhou was most attracted to.

And now, as Shen Xizhou looked at her, the image of Su Xiangxue suddenly flashed in his mind.

Su Xiangxue… was a divorced woman after all. It was impossible for her to be as pure as she was during her student days, as she was in his memory. Although he and Su Xiangxue had outwardly become a loving couple recently, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed every day.

Su Xiangxue was getting old.

But Jiang Qian was still young.

She was so close to the ideal woman in his heart.

Shen Xizhou looked at the small, pitiful, and helpless Jiang Qian in front of him. He stared at her deeply for a while, then deliberately lowered his voice: “Why did you take so long to open the door? I’ve been waiting for a long time.”

He knew that no woman could resist his magnetic voice when he lowered his tone.

“Do you need something, Mr. Shen? Please say it directly.”

However, Jiang Qian was completely unmoved, and there was even a look of disgust in her eyes.

What Shen Xizhou couldn’t stand the most was Jiang Qian’s expression of disdain. This expression, on the contrary, made him feel challenged and gave him a greater impulse to subdue her.

He raised an eyebrow at Jiang Qian, smiled dominantly: “Move aside, I’m coming in.”

Jiang Qian’s small body blocked the doorway. She looked up and met his gaze without fear: “This is your sister’s apartment. Without her permission, I cannot let you in. Please leave.”

Shen Xizhou clenched his jaw, letting the sharp lines of his chin fully show: “You can enter her apartment, so why can’t I? Move out of the way!”

He tried to force his way in, reaching out directly to grab Jiang Qian’s hand.

However, Jiang Qian let out a cold laugh and simply and resolutely slammed the door shut.

“Ah!” Shen Xizhou’s fingers were caught in the gap of the door. The pain made him yelp and nearly jump up.

The door bounced open slightly due to the impact and didn’t close completely.

Jiang Qian heard his scream through the crack and said calmly: “You should go back. It’s very dangerous here. Your sister might return at any moment.”

Shen Xizhou gritted his teeth, not allowing himself to cry out. He just stared at Jiang Qian, who was holding the door from inside, his eyes blazing with furious flames: “How dare you treat me like this, you woman… You’re the first woman who has ever done this to me!”

Jiang Qian chuckled: “Do you dominant CEOs all have a specialized training manual? I’ve read that line at least eight hundred times. Alright, it seems you don’t have anything important to do, so I’m closing the door. Go downstairs and put some medicine on your finger. Goodbye.”

Jiang Qian finished speaking in a light tone and quickly closed the door, shutting Shen Xizhou outside.

Shen Xizhou nearly passed out from anger, and his finger hurt even more.

He held his injured finger, about to rage at the door, when he suddenly noticed a shadow next to him.

He quickly tightened his jaw and maintained a calm expression on his face as he looked over, only to see an elderly lady carrying groceries standing in the hallway, looking at him in surprise.

The elderly lady subconsciously said: “Hey, what are you doing?”

Stared at by her scrutinizing gaze, Shen Xizhou felt both embarrassed and ashamed. He didn’t know how much the elderly lady had seen, and her expression… was hard to describe.

The elderly lady thought: The way this young man forcefully tried to enter just now, he looks like a thief or a robber. Should I call the police?

Shen Xizhou was scrutinized up and down by the elderly lady’s strange gaze and couldn’t continue knocking or threatening Jiang Qian. He had no choice but to cover his finger and awkwardly run away.

The elderly lady, with her shopping basket, became even more certain of her guess: That’s right, this man is definitely a thief! He looks very fierce, and he just tried to break in. How terrifying. I must fulfill my responsibility as a resident and talk to the security and property management. We must take the security of this building seriously!

Jiang Qian had originally thought that she might hear Shen Xizhou’s furious pounding on the door after closing it and was mentally prepared. She was simultaneously praying that Shen Xiruo’s door was sturdy enough and preparing to send a message to Shen Xiruo.

But after waiting a while at home, she saw that Shen Xizhou made no noise and seemed to have disappeared.

So, she put down her phone, thinking that this small matter wasn’t worth bothering Shen Xiruo over, and didn’t send her a message.

In the evening, Shen Xiruo returned with groceries for dinner as usual.

Jiang Qian was sprawled on the sofa watching TV. When she heard the lock click, she immediately jumped up, pleasantly going to greet Shen Xiruo.

She was now walking almost without a limp, very smoothly. She walked directly to the hallway, put the groceries Shen Xiruo brought back into the kitchen, and then came back to greet her: “You’re back a bit late today. Were you busy working overtime? Actually, I think you can relax appropriately and leave some minor tasks to trusted subordinates…”

She habitually rambled on, when she suddenly noticed Shen Xiruo holding a piece of paper.

Shen Xiruo was standing in the foyer, still wearing her shoes, and was looking her up and down.

Jiang Qian’s voice slowly trailed off: “Why… why are you looking at me like that?”

Shen Xiruo scrutinized her for a long time, then revealed a relaxed expression and said: “Nothing, I was worried you might have a problem. My brother was here today, wasn’t he?”

Jiang Qian: “…How do you know? Do you have surveillance cameras in the house?”

Shen Xiruo shook her head and handed her the paper in her hand.

Jiang Qian took it and nearly burst out laughing.

The paper was a crudely made flyer, showing a color photo taken by the hallway surveillance camera. The person in the photo was Shen Xizhou, whose face was clearly visible, but his “chiseled” face was extremely distorted, looking very malicious.

The flyer had large, bold print that read: “Attention residents! This person entered Unit X, Floor X, Building X today, attempted to force his way in, and fled. He is highly suspicious, possibly a thief or robber. Please be vigilant! If anyone sees this person, please notify security directly and do not engage with him! Lock your doors and windows at all times, do not disclose personal information, and beware of fire and theft!”

Jiang Qian looked at it repeatedly, confirmed that the person in the photo was indeed Shen Xizhou, and found the situation utterly hilarious.

“Hahahaha… who did this? I really have to give a thumbs up to this enthusiastic resident! Hahahaha no wonder Shen Xizhou ran away this morning and didn’t even knock again…”

While laughing loudly, Jiang Qian seriously recounted everything that happened this morning, without missing a single detail.

Shen Xiruo had been observing her expression and, seeing that she truly didn’t seem to be hiding anything, she asked subtly: “You didn’t let him in?”

Jiang Qian nodded: “Of course not. I’m a poor, weak, and helpless young girl. If I let such a dominant CEO in, wouldn’t I be inviting a wolf into the house? I don’t look that stupid, do I?”

Shen Xiruo watched Jiang Qian for a moment, then said: “Do you… still really dislike him?”

Jiang Qian nodded vigorously: “Does that even need to be said? He has done many things that I hate up to this point, and I have every reason to dislike him.”

Shen Xiruo pursed her lips and looked at the content on the flyer: “Then, if he did something that you liked, would you still dislike him?”

Shen Xiruo was being so persistent because deep down, she still couldn’t quite believe that the current Jiang Qian was so profoundly different from the one in her memories from her past life.

The Jiang Qian in her past life’s memory was deeply in love with Shen Xizhou. Even after being repeatedly abandoned and mistreated by Shen Xizhou, and even having several miscarriages for him, she still believed that Shen Xizhou loved her, and there were just some reasons he hadn’t shown it.

In her past life, after Jiang Qian’s miscarriages, Shen Xiruo was the one who always accompanied her at the hospital, caring for her and listening to her talk about her deep affection and tolerance for Shen Xizhou.

Shen Xiruo knew that this only friend of hers had fallen in love with her brother at first sight.

However, the current Jiang Qian felt nothing for Shen Xizhou, whom she should have fallen in love with at first sight, only dislike…

Shen Xiruo was afraid that Jiang Qian was lying, but she couldn’t verify it. She could only forcibly suppress the inner unease and sadness.

Furthermore, even if one dislikes someone at first, it’s hard to guarantee that hatred won’t turn into love in the end.

Shen Xiruo asked the question but didn’t expect Jiang Qian’s answer.

She was afraid that Jiang Qian’s answer would be ambiguous or show signs of wavering.

However, Jiang Qian widened her eyes and shook her head vehemently: “How is that possible? Not to mention that he couldn’t possibly do anything I would like, even if he did, what does that have to do with me? I couldn’t possibly like him. Whatever he does, I won’t care. It’s that simple. He’s just a repulsive jerk in my heart.”

Shen Xiruo looked into Jiang Qian’s eyes in surprise and then realized that Jiang Qian was telling the truth.

That look, that sincerity, could not be faked.

Shen Xiruo felt the sense of instability in her heart instantly settle down. The stone had dropped to the ground, and she felt much more secure.

“You’re right, he is indeed a jerk,” Shen Xiruo nodded, smiled, and stood up, saying to Jiang Qian, “How about clam soup for dinner tonight?”

Jiang Qian nodded obediently, smiling brightly, and also got up to follow Shen Xiruo into the kitchen: “I’ll help you!”

Shen Xiruo pushed her away with her hand: “Don’t come over here. The kitchen is messy, and you’re still hurt…”

But Jiang Qian hobbled over anyway, insisting on standing next to Shen Xiruo. She took off her apron and said: “I’m fine! Besides, I’ve been lying down all day, and I want to stand up and move around. Moving around will make the injury heal faster!”

Shen Xiruo smiled helplessly. Seeing Jiang Qian approach her with the apron, she was stunned for a moment before realizing that the other person wanted to put the apron on her.

Jiang Qian first slipped the apron over Shen Xiruo’s long neck and then asked Shen Xiruo to turn around.

“Turn around, I’ll tie it for you—oops, there! The bow I tied is so pretty!” she said proudly, while忍不住 couldn’t help but touch Shen Xiruo’s slender waistline through her clothes.

So nice to touch… I should do this apron-tying activity more often in the future, hehe.

Shen Xiruo was preparing the ingredients in the kitchen, assigning simple tasks like washing vegetables to Jiang Qian.

Jiang Qian couldn’t actually help much. She just followed Shen Xiruo around, talking non-stop.

She had been cooped up all day with no one to talk to. She didn’t have many friends since coming to this world, so naturally, she could only wait for this time in the evening to talk with Shen Xiruo and exercise her restless tongue.

“I heard that it’s osmanthus season in Suzhou recently, and there are many osmanthus-flavored specialties. Should we change our plan and go to Suzhou instead?”

“Oh, and I now have a fan club official Weibo! Li Hong has already contacted them and said they will hold a small event soon, synchronizing with the drama’s promotion. But they are still planning, so I wonder what kind of event it will be.”

“Xiruo, Xiruo, why don’t you say anything? Are you not interested in me talking about these trivial things?”

Shen Xiruo was cutting vegetables. She turned her head and saw Jiang Qian batting her big eyes, her face very close.

So close that she could clearly see Jiang Qian’s young, pore-less skin.

Those lovely big eyes, which always seemed to be filled with honey, were even more beautiful up close. She could see the wonderful nebula-like patterns in her eyes.

It was an indescribable, soul-stirring beauty.

Shen Xiruo was staring blankly when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her hand.

“Ah! You’re bleeding!” Jiang Qian immediately pushed the vegetable knife away from her hand, cupped Shen Xiruo’s hand, and was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan: “Oh dear, oh dear, how did you cut your hand! It’s bleeding, it’s bleeding. What should we do? This is truly, oh dear, it’s all my fault, all my fault for talking too much and distracting you… We need to rinse it with water first, then find iodine, and then stick a band-aid on it, right?”

The injury on Shen Xiruo’s hand didn’t hurt at all, but seeing Jiang Qian so nervous made her heart feel incredibly warm.

Jiang Qian cared about her so much.

Perhaps I really can protect her for a lifetime.

Jiang Qian was anxious. She was about to pull Shen Xiruo’s hand to rinse it under the water, but then remembered that rinsing a wound might hurt.

In her haste, a memory suddenly flashed in her mind.

When she was very, very young, still in open-crotch pants, she had also cut her hand.

At that time, the closest caregiver, an auntie who took care of her, had directly put her little hand in her mouth and held it for a while, smiling and patting her head to comfort her.

Jiang Qian subconsciously put Shen Xiruo’s fair, delicate, bleeding fingertip into her mouth.

A metallic taste immediately filled her mouth—the taste of Shen Xiruo’s finger blood.

Shen Xiruo’s eyes widened. She looked at Jiang Qian’s action in extreme surprise and instinctively tried to pull her hand back.

However, Jiang Qian held her hand with one hand, preventing her from leaving, and raised her other hand to her head, stroking her hair.

“Good girl, no pain.” Jiang Qian vaguely said these words, following her blurry memory.

Shen Xiruo was completely stunned.