YXJ - 6

Lin Wangshu was slightly stunned by his sudden action but said nothing.

She chose a piece by Bach. The professor gave her some revision suggestions, and by the time all the work was done, it was very late. It was raining lightly outside, and she hadn’t brought an umbrella. She glanced at the gloomy sky; this rain didn’t seem like it would stop anytime soon, and it might even get heavier. She hesitated for a moment, then covered her head with her bag and quickly left.

Just as she exited the school gate, a man in a black suit followed her, holding an umbrella. Lin Wangshu had seen him before; he was Jiang Congxian’s subordinate. Although she knew Jiang Congxian always had someone following her, seeing him so close now still annoyed her. It felt as if her private life was being constantly monitored. Her voice, reflecting her current mood, turned ice-cold: “Stay away from me.”

The man lowered his head, placed the umbrella at her feet, and obediently turned and walked away. Lin Wangshu looked at the black umbrella, saying nothing, and walked through the rain to the roadside. Even if it meant getting soaked, she would not accept such filthy charity.

When she arrived home, she was drenched. Aunt Wu saw her and immediately told Xiao Lian to draw a bath for her: “Why are you so drenched? Quickly change out of your wet clothes and take a hot bath.”

Lin Wangshu nodded and asked Aunt Wu: “Has Jiang Congxian returned?” This was the first time she had ever actively asked about Jiang Congxian. Aunt Wu was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded: “Just returned. He’s in the study.”

Lin Wangshu took the dry towel Aunt Wu handed her and wiped the water off herself: “Just put the clothes in the bathroom on the second floor. I’ll change after I take a bath.” Anyway, she just had something to say to Jiang Congxian; it wouldn’t take long.

She went upstairs, water from her skirt dripping from her ankles onto the wool carpet. She curled her knuckles slightly and knocked on the study door. A man’s deep, aloof voice came from inside: “I told you, I’m not hungry.”

Lin Wangshu said: “It’s me.”

A moment of silence: “Come in.”

She pushed the door open and entered. Jiang Congxian’s gaze fell upon her. He slightly raised his chin: “Is this some new kink you’re playing, a wet-body seduction?”

Lin Wangshu didn’t want to bother with his vulgar remarks: “I want to go back to my hometown tomorrow.”

Hearing her words, Jiang Congxian’s voice deepened slightly in his throat: “Hm?”

Lin Wangshu said: “I called my grandmother, but no one answered. There’s been no response for two consecutive days. I’m a bit worried.”

Jiang Congxian closed the documents on his desk and stood up: “I have people guarding that side; nothing will happen.”

“I’m afraid my younger brother might have had another attack. He hasn’t seen his sister in so long; I’m worried he might be scared.”

“A private doctor visits daily for check-ups. What do you have to worry about?”

Lin Wangshu’s eyes were icy: “It’s precisely because it’s you that I’m uneasy.”

He raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly: “Oh?”

Lin Wangshu rarely lost control of her emotions like today. But the thought of Lin Yao potentially being in trouble terrified her. This fear transformed into anger directed at Jiang Congxian. She hated him, but she also hated herself for having to depend on him and live a precarious existence.

“Because you’re the most hypocritical person I’ve ever met. I don’t know how much of what you say is trustworthy.”

The window wasn’t fully closed. The wind carried the curtains inward, bringing bone-chilling coolness.

“I’m not in a good mood today.” Jiang Congxian pinched her chin, all traces of a smile gone from his face, the light in his eyes cold and severe, “So don’t make me angry again.”

Xiao Lian boiled some ginger tea, preparing it to ward off Lin Wangshu’s cold. But no matter how she knocked, there was no response. Lin Wangshu’s face had looked unwell when she came out of the study, and after her bath, she directly shut herself in her room. Her constitution was prone to illness, and getting drenched like that probably meant she already had a fever and a cold.

Xiao Lian was worried, so she went to the study to find Jiang Congxian. He was standing by the window, on the phone. Hearing the movement behind him, he turned to look. Just as Xiao Lian was about to speak, he made a shushing gesture. Only after he finished giving instructions over the phone did he ask her in a flat voice: “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Lian’s face showed concern: “Sister Shushu seems to have a fever, but no one answers no matter how I knock on her door.”

Jiang Congxian’s eyes were deep, betraying no emotion. After pondering for a moment, he opened a drawer, took out a string of keys, and handed them to her. It was the key to Lin Wangshu’s room. Xiao Lian took the key, left the study, and opened Lin Wangshu’s door. She was sleeping face down on the table, her face terribly pale, completely bloodless.

Xiao Lian walked over: “Sister Shushu.” The computer screen was still on the ticket purchase section, showing a flight to Qing City. Xiao Lian placed the bowl aside and felt her forehead with her hand; her temperature was high, a little hot to the touch. She softly called out to her: “Sister Shushu, you’ll feel better if you drink the ginger tea.”

Lin Wangshu was woken by her, sat up: “I don’t want to drink it.”

“But...”

Lin Wangshu’s voice was weak: “Take it away.”

“Then I’ll get you some fever medicine.”

“No need.” She refused coldly, “I don’t want to take it.”

Xiao Lian sighed and could only take the bowl out.

Jiang Congxian stood by the railing, lighting a cigarette. When he saw the untouched bowl of ginger tea in Xiao Lian’s hand, his eyebrows slightly raised: “She won’t drink it?”

Xiao Lian nodded: “She won’t even take medicine.”

Jiang Congxian glanced at the tightly closed door, then extinguished the cigarette he had just lit: “Tell Aunt Wu to brew her a bowl of traditional Chinese medicine.”

Xiao Lian hesitated: “But Sister Shushu is afraid of bitterness.”

He said coldly: “She brought it on herself.”

After speaking, he pushed open the room door and went in. Lin Wangshu was already awake and was continuing to search for the nearest flights. A hand with a faint tobacco smell directly closed the laptop.

Jiang Congxian asked her: “You won’t take your medicine?”

She opened the computer again: “None of your business.”

“Lin Wangshu, have your family spoiled you rotten?” His voice was flat, with no discernible anger, yet it inexplicably carried a strong sense of deterrence. “This isn’t the Lin family, and you’re no longer that Miss Lin. Understand?”

She said nothing, just glared at him fiercely. Her features bore some resemblance to her father’s, always giving off a faint sense of distance. Especially when she was angry, she appeared even more cold-blooded and ruthless. Jiang Congxian disliked her eyes, and he detested her gaze even more. It always reminded him of unpleasant things. He simply pulled off his tie and blindfolded her. Lin Wangshu was too weak from illness to struggle, so she could only let him.

After the medicine was brewed, Xiao Lian brought the bowl upstairs. The bitter smell of traditional Chinese medicine was discernible from outside the door. Xiao Lian saw the scene before her and the faint anger on Jiang Congxian’s face, and she felt secretly worried for Lin Wangshu. But she was only a servant after all and dared not speak too much.

Jiang Congxian took the medicine bowl and looked at Lin Wangshu: “Last time I’m asking, are you going to take your medicine?”

Her voice was weak, but her tone was firm: “No!”

Jiang Congxian’s patience ran out. He pinched her chin and forcibly poured the medicine down her throat. Half the bowl of medicine spilled due to her struggling, soaking the collar of her newly changed clothes. Lin Wangshu held onto the edge of the table, retching from the bitterness.

Jiang Congxian took out a pre-prepared piece of candy and unwrapped it: “Shall I feed you or will you take it yourself?” The tie that had been blindfolding her had fallen off during the struggle. Her eyes were slightly red from being choked. She used the last ounce of her strength to say: “You’re truly disgusting.”

Jiang Congxian threw the candy into the trash can: “Tell Aunt Wu to brew another bowl of medicine for stomach illness.” He said this to Xiao Lian, who was behind him. Xiao Lian went downstairs, unable to bear it. Many times she wanted to advise Lin Wangshu, that occasionally softening up and going against Jiang Congxian would only be like an egg hitting a rock. The one who would always get hurt was herself.

Lin Wangshu had hated the smell of traditional Chinese medicine since she was a child. Already weak from her illness, she was now completely exhausted. Like a fish stranded on the shore, dying. The dual torment of mind and body made Lin Wangshu’s emotions completely collapse. She finally couldn’t bear it anymore and cried. Because she had no strength, even her sobs were weak.

The room lights weren’t on; only a faint light from the corridor slanted in, blocked by the half-open door. Jiang Congxian stood in the darkness, his emotions unclear. Her shoulders trembled as she cried. Jiang Congxian seemed to be swallowed by the darkness, coldly watching the scene before him. Lin Wangshu had never expected him to show her any mercy, nor had she intended to gain his sympathy through crying. Because she knew well what kind of person Jiang Congxian was; even if someone died in front of him, he could remain indifferent.

The surroundings were silent except for Lin Wangshu’s faint sobs, which were soon swallowed by the night. She completely lost her strength, her eyes blankly staring into the void ahead. Soul-less, with only her useless beauty remaining. If there was a knife nearby, she might not hesitate to cut her wrist.

The silence lasted for a long time, finally broken by the man’s cold voice.

“Tomorrow at 8:30 AM. I’ll change my mind if you’re a minute late.”

After coldly dropping these words, Jiang Congxian slammed the door and left. By the time Lin Wangshu reacted, he was already out, and the tightly closed door blocked all light. It was pitch black inside. Lin Wangshu wiped away her tears and hurriedly climbed into bed, afraid she would sleep too late and not be able to get up tomorrow.

________________________________________

In the study, Jiang Congxian smoked one cigarette after another, filling the room with smoke. He didn’t speak, and Jiang Yuan didn’t dare to either. Having followed Jiang Congxian for so many years, he rarely saw him like this—clearly extremely agitated, yet silently swallowing all his negative emotions. In the past, he was cold-blooded and ruthless, directly dealing with anyone who displeased him.

As time slowly passed, the number of cigarette butts in the ashtray increased. Jiang Yuan then hesitated and said: “Previously, because we had our people following Miss Lin, those people didn’t dare to touch her. But Qing City is outside our territory, so protection will be very troublesome. If there’s any oversight, the consequences could be disastrous. Moreover, if someone tracks her and finds Miss Lin’s brother’s residence, that would be the most troublesome.”

Jiang Congxian extinguished the last cigarette and said flatly: “I’ll go with her.”

Jiang Yuan: “Then I’ll send a few more brothers along.”

“No need. You don’t need to worry about anything else.” Jiang Congxian looked at the view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows and lit another cigarette, “Just keep a close eye on things.”

The medicine didn’t take effect quickly. Lin Wangshu was still feverish, feeling hot and cold intermittently, sweating all over uncomfortably. In a blur, she felt someone lift the quilt and lie down beside her. A warm touch. She instinctively leaned closer, actively hugging this sole source of warmth. The “heat source” seemed to freeze for a moment, then tucked the quilt around her. Outside, thunder roared, and he turned over, instinctively covering her ears.