YXJ - 5

After waiting about ten minutes, Jiang Congxian’s name was finally called. The wound on his wrist was deep and needed stitches. He didn’t use anesthetic. Just looking at the needle for stitching made Lin Wangshu’s scalp tingle, yet he didn’t even frown. Lin Wangshu wasn’t particularly concerned, at most she asked out of curiosity: “Doesn’t it hurt?”

Jiang Congxian looked up and chuckled softly: “Caring about me?”

“No, just curious.”

His tone was flat: “I’ve gotten used to pain a long time ago. This much is still tolerable.” Lin Wangshu was actually quite curious about his past. What kind of experiences could cultivate such a twisted psyche?

“Gotten used to pain?”

He hugged her, rubbing gently: “Still saying you don’t care about me.”

Lin Wangshu: “...”

She couldn’t be bothered to respond further and sat on a nearby chair to wait. After the stitching was done, the doctor gave a few simple instructions. Outside the hospital, Jiang Congxian stopped in front of the car and asked Lin Wangshu: “Home or...?”

Her expression was calm: “Do I have a second option?”

He chuckled: “Doesn’t seem like it.”

She ignored him, walked directly to the passenger side, opened the door, and got in. She didn’t want to sit with Jiang Congxian. As she buckled her seatbelt, she looked up and saw Jiang Congxian sitting in the driver’s seat. His left hand still had a sterile gauze dressing. Lin Wangshu frowned slightly: “Can you drive?”

He casually replied: “Let’s try. It’s not like I’ll die.”

Lin Wangshu’s dwindling patience ran out: “What exactly do you want to do?”

She had a cool temperament, rarely argued with people, let alone got angry. Towards Jiang Congxian, she felt fear, but more so, disgust. Outsiders rumored that he was responsible for her father’s death and now had taken her for himself.

The first time she met Jiang Congxian two years ago was at Uncle Sun’s birthday banquet. He was as composed then as he was now, but his acting was better. At least Lin Wangshu couldn’t discern any clues. He was refined and gentle, treating people courteously. All the esteemed young ladies regarded him as their cherished white moonlight.

During the banquet, the elders toasted him, and he drank a bit too much, going to the restroom to vomit. When he came out, he coincidentally met Lin Wangshu, who was adjusting the sash around her waist. She was an eighteen-year-old girl, with clear features, her face full of collagen. Even draped in a sack, she would look beautiful. But she wasn’t wearing a sack; she was in a white haute couture gown, its satin ribbon accentuating her slender, graspable waist. Seeing Jiang Congxian walk somewhat unsteadily, she stepped forward and asked: “Do you need me to call someone for you?”

He smiled and shook his head: “Could I trouble you to help me to the main hall?”

Jiang Congxian’s leisurely tone pulled her thoughts back: “You don’t want to sit with me?”

Lin Wangshu pondered for a long time, eventually compromising. She obediently got out of the car and sat in the back. Jiang Congxian chuckled softly in his throat and also got out of the car. Lin Wangshu sat pressed against the car door, far away from him. Jiang Congxian didn’t force her. He had drunk a bit too much just now and felt a little light-headed. He closed his eyes and rested for a while.

The night was cool like water, and the car weaved through the city’s nightscape. The car’s interior lights were off, and occasionally, the lights from outside reflected through the windows. Jiang Congxian rested his head against the window, one half in shadow, the other illuminated. His sleeping face was peaceful, his slender eyelashes casting a faint shadow beneath his eyes. His tie was loosened, and his collar button was undone at some point, leaving his shirt slightly open. His entire demeanor was cool and noble.

Lin Wangshu’s first impression of him wasn’t actually bad. But who knew, he was merely a facade. Beneath that beautiful exterior was nothing but a rotten, foul soul.

After arriving home, the driver sat quietly in the driver’s seat, not rushing to wake Jiang Congxian. Lin Wangshu didn’t want to stay with him for another moment, so she opened the car door and got out.

Xiao Lian had returned from her holiday and was pickling vegetables with Aunt Wu in the kitchen. Lin Wangshu liked spicy food and enjoyed sour and spicy pickled vegetables, so they always prepared some. Seeing Lin Wangshu return, Xiao Lian wiped her hands and came over: “Sister Shushu, I brought you some specialties from my home.” She took out a yellow paper bag and handed it to her, “Zhou Hei Ya.” Lin Wangshu took it and thanked her. Xiao Lian said: “There are freshly pickled vegetables in the kitchen. Go try some and see if they taste good.”

Lin Wangshu hadn’t eaten much today and was indeed a bit hungry. Xiao Lian used chopsticks to pick up a small piece of radish and fed it to Lin Wangshu’s mouth. She tasted it: “It’s quite delicious.” It was sweet and sour, very appetizing, making her even hungrier. Xiao Lian heard the rumbling in her stomach and chuckled: “I’ll get you a bowl of rice.”

Xiao Lian had cooked for herself since childhood. Although her cooking wasn’t as good as the chef in the kitchen, it was still quite good. She sat at the dining table, watching Lin Wangshu eat small bites of rice, still excited: “Aunt Wu told me you have a competition selection in a few days?”

The school had a charity performance at the end of the year in New York. This stage was connected to international standards, and if she could be selected, it would greatly help her future development. Although Lin Wangshu had signed up, she wasn’t very confident she would be chosen.

Xiao Lian had seen Lin Wangshu play the cello once. On the first day she was brought over, it happened to be the Master’s birthday. He asked her to play a song for him. Lin Wangshu wore a beautiful white dress, her features cool and clear, without a hint of a smile. But the song she played was beautiful. Xiao Lian fell in love with the cello after just one listen. No wonder the Master liked her; even as a girl, she found her beautiful.

The front door was pushed open, and Jiang Congxian entered. He had already returned to his usual meticulous appearance. He glanced at Lin Wangshu sitting at the dining table, who averted her gaze. He didn’t mind and went straight upstairs.

Xiao Lian saw the wound on his wrist and asked Lin Wangshu worriedly: “How did the Master get hurt?”

Lin Wangshu said: “He accidentally scratched himself.”

Connecting the dots, with the two of them entering one after another, Xiao Lian asked curiously: “Did you two come back together today?”

Lin Wangshu nodded: “Yes.” Xiao Lian knew Lin Wangshu disliked Jiang Congxian and usually didn’t even want to speak a word to him. She couldn’t believe they came back together today.

“But didn’t the Master go to a social engagement? Did you meet by chance on the way?”

Lin Wangshu clearly didn’t want to elaborate on the matter and briefly said: “We met by chance at the party.” Xiao Lian knew Lin Wangshu didn’t want to continue, so she didn’t ask further.

Going upstairs to her room, Lin Wangshu called her grandmother for a video chat as usual, but no one answered. Usually, at this time, they would be playing in the courtyard. Lin Wangshu felt uneasy and called again, but still no answer. She could only send a text message asking her grandmother to call her back when she saw the message.

To prepare for the selection at the end of the month, Lin Wangshu had been practicing in the music room these past few days. The allure of the reward was too great, and there would surely be many people signing up. Lin Wangshu needed this opportunity, very much.

Xun Ya wasn’t at school during this period. For her thesis, she had joined a nearby archaeological team to open up a new site. Yesterday, as soon as she arrived at the camp, she sent Lin Wangshu a video. The location was very remote, deep in the mountains. She was incredibly excited: “It’s a Han Dynasty tomb!”

Lin Wangshu didn’t have many friends. Xun Ya was the only friend she had made in college. With her out of school, Lin Wangshu returned to her solitary and quiet routine. However, she didn’t feel anything about it; habit becomes second nature.

She hadn’t been to the school cafeteria in a long time, except for once during her freshman year when a senior took her there. She ate small portions and just got some plain vegetables, then found a seat by the window. The food in the school cafeteria wasn’t as good as what the chef at home made; it was a bit greasy. She ate a few bites and put down her chopsticks, sipping milk slowly to cut the greasiness.

Suddenly, two or three more meal trays appeared in front of her, followed by several tall, sturdy boys. They sat down in the chairs opposite her: “No one’s sitting here, right?”

She bit her straw and nodded: “Yeah.”

Hearing her say that, they confidently sat down. However, they didn’t eat much. They spent the entire time trying to flirt with her: “Do you have a boyfriend, junior?”

“Are you free tonight? We opened a table at a bar outside. Want to go for a few drinks?”

“Don’t be afraid, we mean no harm. We just want to invite you to dinner. There are also a few sophomore girls, and one who, like you, studies Western music. Just think of it as making more friends.”

Lin Wangshu coldly refused: “Excuse me, I have plans tonight.”

The person chuckled: “Don’t lie, junior. I’ve been observing you for a long time. Your only friend went on a trip yesterday. Who else would have plans with you?”

Lin Wangshu tightly gripped the milk carton in her hand, her eyes calm.

A tall shadow fell over her. Xu Jingyang put his arm around her shoulder, his laugh clear and smooth: “Excuse me, my girlfriend actually does have plans tonight.”

Most of them knew Xu Jingyang. His family had some connections at the school, so he wasn’t easy to offend. Suddenly feeling uninterested, they chuckled apologetically and left.

Xu Jingyang released her hand and apologized to Lin Wangshu: “I just wanted to help you out, so I...” He was referring to putting his arm around her shoulder.

Lin Wangshu shook her head: “I should be thanking you.”

Xu Jingyang’s lips twitched somewhat unnaturally, his face slightly flushed: “Next time you come to the cafeteria, you can call me to accompany you.”

“Thank you.”

It was that same distant, indifferent tone. However, Xu Jingyang was long used to it; being able to talk to her was already good enough. He walked out of the cafeteria with her: “You didn’t seem to eat much just now. Was it not to your taste? I know a Japanese restaurant nearby that’s quite good. If you don’t want Japanese food, I also know a Korean restaurant...”

Lin Wangshu paused: “I don’t think I’ve told you what I like to eat.”

Xu Jingyang quickly explained: “I’m different from those people; I didn’t investigate you. It’s... “ He suddenly became a bit hesitant, “It’s because I asked Xun Ya, and she told me.”

Since her father’s incident, she had experienced being followed a few times, so Lin Wangshu’s nerves were constantly on edge.

“No, thank you. I’m already full.” Thinking that her tone might have been a bit harsh just now, Lin Wangshu offered him the unopened carton of milk in her hand as an apology.

“Here, you can have this.”

Xu Jingyang was stunned for a long moment, staring at the milk she offered, not moving. Her slender, fair fingers, with neatly trimmed, rounded nails, appeared faintly transparent pink in the sunlight.

Lin Wangshu tilted her head slightly: “Don’t you like it?”

Just as she was about to retract her hand, Xu Jingyang quickly said, “I like it.” After taking the milk, he seemed afraid she would take it back, clutching it tightly: “Thank you.”

In midsummer, cicadas chirped noisily, and the scorching sun cast blistering rays through the dense tree branches. Lin Wangshu was going to the music room, and Xu Jingyang kept following her. She looked at him puzzled, and he explained: “I’m going to the student council, and it’s this way too.” She nodded, saying nothing further.

Xu Jingyang watched her retreating figure, small and delicate, with the exposed calves beneath her long dress appearing fair and slender. Are girls’ stomachs really that small? Just a bite or two for a meal. Yet she was so thin, as if a stronger gust of wind could blow her away. Thinking this, Xu Jingyang instinctively stood beside her, coincidentally blocking the wind.