LF Chapter 81

Chapter 81 Extra (1)

“Dong, dong, dong…”

The sound of knocking was urgent and solid. Jiang Yinghua, nestled in a beanbag chair and scrolling through her phone, grumbled with annoyance, “Why would anyone be knocking? We just moved in a few days ago. I don’t care, whoever it is.”

Mo Xueyan was busy tidying up, “My little ancestor, why don’t you get up and take a look? I’m already swamped. This *duang, duang* is so annoying. Maybe it’s the property management? Come on, move your long legs, I can’t open the suitcase.”

“Fine, this little treasure will reluctantly agree to your request.” Jiang Yinghua lazily climbed out of the chair, threw on a coat, and went to the living room, peering cautiously through the peephole.

“Ma’am? Unit inspection, could you please open the door?” Outside was a middle-aged blonde woman, whom Jiang Yinghua recognized as the property manager from downstairs.

Without a second thought, she replied, “All right.” Then she casually opened the door.

The moment the door opened, Jiang Yinghua was like a startled groundhog, nearly slamming the door shut again. The blonde woman tilted her head and smiled, shrugging her shoulders. “Your sister, well, have a good day!” Before the words were out of her mouth, she sauntered away.

Jiang Yinghua cursed inwardly, *Good your ass.* On the surface, she forced a smile that was worse than crying, deliberately raising her voice in a teasing tone, “President Jiang, what wind blew such a busy person like you to Country A? Why didn’t you say so in advance?”

The newcomer wore a long, ink-colored, silk damask dress, with a light, casual, linen beige blazer draped over it. A pair of sunglasses obscured her delicate, slender face, making it impossible to read her emotions. Her neat, short hair was parted diagonally, reaching only to her cheeks, giving her an intimidating aura.

Behind her followed another woman of similar height, dressed in impeccable business attire, with half of her long hair loose and the other half tied in a bun. Her features were exceptionally beautiful, her makeup subtle, making people want to take a second look.

This woman was pulling a suitcase, a smile on her face as she looked at Jiang Yinghua, but the smile had a hint of mischief.

The sunglasses-wearing sister sized up the super-short, barely-covering lace negligee Jiang Yinghua was wearing. The eyes behind the sunglasses narrowed slightly as she responded coolly, “Is this not a welcome?”

“How dare I? Please, come in quickly; hello Sister Ying.” Jiang Yinghua stepped aside, holding open the heavy fire door to let them in.

Jiang Jingche looked around the furnishings of the house, a small 1b1b studio apartment that wasn’t very spacious. She found a seat on the living room sofa and asked suspiciously, “Why leave the big house and rent this poorly soundproofed apartment? And why didn’t you bring Aunt Liu with you? It’s not safe.”

Jiang Yinghua got some previously washed fruit from the refrigerator, along with two bottles of milk, and placed them on the coffee table. She casually closed the bedroom door tightly, answering perfunctorily:

“I just wanted to live somewhere new. A lot of the people upstairs and downstairs are students from W University. It’s more lively than a detached house. Aunt Liu is getting old, and I don’t have much to talk about with her. What brings the great President Jiang here? How is Chairwoman Su doing?”

“Here on a business trip.” Jiang Jingche glanced at the sizable suitcase standing in the living room, the zipper half-open, revealing neatly packed items inside. “Are you going out?”

“Ah, I made plans to go to Salt Lake City with a friend. My flight is at 3:00 PM this afternoon, so there are seven hours to go.” Jiang Yinghua chuckled, quickly closing the suitcase and zipping it up tightly.

“You’re traveling alone with this much luggage? It’s too heavy. Repack it, change to a smaller suitcase, and buy anything you need there.” Jiang Jingche said in an unquestionable tone, directly offering advice.

“Oh,” Jiang Yinghua sat to one side without moving, “My sister rarely comes, I should keep you company first. I’ll pack later, there’s still time. You still have to go on your business trip, right? I guess you’ll have to leave in a while, can I chat with you?”

Jiang Jingche felt as if she was trying to rush them out, and the girl’s eyes were darting around, scanning the corners of the living room as if she was afraid of something being seen. She gave Ying Feng a look, and Ying Feng immediately got up and strolled around the living room, saying in a low voice:

“Hua’er has good taste. The little apartment is decorated quite warmly, even the table decorations are in pairs.”

Jiang Yinghua’s face darkened as she said perfunctorily, “Yeah, it looks lively that way. I can’t help but feel lonely when I’m out here alone.”

“Give me a tour of your new home?” Jiang Jingche stood up, smoothed her dress, took off her sunglasses, and was about to head towards the bedroom.

“Don’t,” Jiang Yinghua stretched out her arms, “The bedroom is too messy, don’t look. The living room is the only presentable room.”

“Feng’er,” Jiang Jingche turned and called out to Ying Feng, “There’s a brand new set of bedding in my suitcase. Find it and change it for Hua Hua. Her housekeeping skills have always been terrible.” Then she turned to look at Jiang Yinghua, “I’ve seen enough of your messes. The furniture in this apartment is just so-so, I’ll go in and take a look, and replace anything that’s not good.”

“Really, it’s not necessary, sister. I’m not a kid anymore, I can take care of myself.” Jiang Yinghua blocked the door, determined not to let her in. Ying Feng had already taken out the bedding, watching from the side with a sweet smile. “Here, or should we let Hua’er change it herself.”

Ying Feng held up the bedding, but Jiang Yinghua didn’t take it. Jiang Jingche impatiently took it, scolding, “Your Sister Feng has been holding it for so long, where are your manners? Step aside, go in and change it.”

“Oh.” Jiang Yinghua pouted, reluctantly opening the door. Fortunately, Mo Xueyan had cleaned up the mess on the bed, but the suitcase on the floor was still in its place, filled with double portions of clothes and toiletries. Jiang Yinghua glanced at the bathroom door, which was tightly closed, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Ying Feng followed Jiang Jingche inside, glancing around and saying, “It’s not messy. The blankets are folded neatly. Come on, let me change the sheets for you.”

Jiang Yinghua stood foolishly in the small bedroom, murmuring, “Sister, my house is simple, there’s nothing to see. Let’s go out and wait for Sister Feng.”

Jiang Jingche’s gaze fell on the contents of the suitcase, and her brow furrowed slightly. Looking at the double pillows on the bed, she asked tentatively, “Are you traveling or moving in? Could it be that you have a little boyfriend?”

“No, what are you thinking? I’m usually busy with schoolwork, I’m more likely to marry my problem sets and exams. I’m just helping a friend carry her luggage, I’ll give it to her at the airport.” She stirred her fingers anxiously, secretly cursing Mo Xueyan for being so careless.

Jiang Yinghua had never been good at lying since she was little, fidgeting with her fingers, standing on her tiptoes.

These little actions betrayed her completely. Jiang Jingche didn’t reveal anything, gently pushed open the bathroom door, and found it locked. “Sister has been traveling all day, can I use your bathroom? Why is it locked?”

“Ah, the bathroom is broken, waiting for repairs.” Jiang Yinghua gasped, making up stories, “Sister still has to go on her business trip, or I can accompany you to eat something outside, use a public bathroom, and then you and Sister Feng can go take care of your business.”

“Heh,” Jiang Jingche revealed her trademark cold smile, took off her jacket, threw it on the bed, and gritted her teeth, “Open the door.”

“The, the lock is really broken,” Jiang Yinghua muttered in a low voice. She knew that Mo Xueyan had locked herself in the bathroom, and there was no way she would open the door.

“Broken? Feng’er, call the property management to send someone to fix it. We’ll break the lock right now, I’ll pay the fine.” Jiang Jingche crossed her arms, standing aside as she slowly ordered.

Ying Feng had just seen a letter on the bedside table, and after reading a few lines, she hadn’t said anything. At that moment, she said directly, “Jingche, why don’t you take a look at this first?”

Jiang Jingche reached out to take it. Jiang Yinghua, who was beside her, noticed it and her breath hitched for a moment.

After a long pause, Jiang Jingche’s voice gradually turned cold, “C University Art History PhD admission? Jiang Yinghua, how much are you hiding from me and mom? You promised to return to China after your business degree, you insisted on getting a doctorate, I agreed, so why did you apply for a PhD in Country B?”

Jiang Yinghua twisted the corner of her coat, biting her lip and muttering, “Sister, I don’t like business. C University is fully funded, it doesn’t cost mom any money, let me go.”

“Forget it, we’ll talk about this later. Open the door, don’t force me to do it myself.” Jiang Jingche threw the letter to Ying Feng, put her hands behind her back, and stared at Jiang Yinghua. Jiang Yinghua lowered her head and didn’t move, Jiang Jingche directly knocked on the door, “Inside, don’t hide, is it appropriate to let Hua’er take all the blame?”

Knowing that there was no escaping, the lock clicked open, she stepped out, timidly saying, “President Jiang.”

Jiang Jingche was shocked, “Secretary Mo?” The shock was fleeting, and she scoffed, “Back then, someone told me they were quitting to go abroad to study Shakespearean drama, not to Europe, so how did they end up studying in Country A? What’s going on here today, you and my sister…”

“President Jiang, don’t misunderstand. I’m here at W University on an exchange program, I just happened to bump into Hua’er, so I occasionally come over and stay with her for a while. Since it’s your family gathering, I won’t disturb you, see you later.” Mo Xueyan greased her feet and fled, slipping away faster than a rabbit.

Back when she was Jiang Jingche’s secretary, she was nervous every day, but fate loved to joke, making her meet the cold-faced CEO’s charming sister, falling in love at first sight and never being able to let go.

“Yan Yan?” Seeing the person slip away decisively, Jiang Yinghua raised her foot to pull her back. Jiang Jingche reached out to stop her, the living room door slammed shut, and Mo Xueyan had already run away.

Jiang Jingche looked around, casually picked up a baseball bat and weighed it in her hand, her phoenix eyes half-closed, her lips slightly curved, pointed to the head of the bed, and said to Jiang Yinghua, “Lie down over there, quickly.”

Jiang Yinghua’s face turned pale instantly, she grabbed Ying Feng as a shield, hiding behind her, only revealing a small head, “Sister, let’s talk nicely, it’s illegal to hit children in Country A.”

“Are you a child? Come here!” Jiang Jingche sternly reprimanded, already learning how to keep a mistress, no wonder she hadn’t called home for months, and the money on her credit card was dropping rapidly. Worried, she came to Country A to find her, only to find out that she had secretly rented a new house.

Jiang Yinghua pulled on Ying Feng, refusing to let go, “Sister Feng, save me. Domestic violence is wrong, sister, you studied law, you can’t break the law when you know it. Besides, Sister Feng and you got married in Europe, what’s wrong with me having a Yan Yan? Anyway, this old lady doesn’t know.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jingche seemed to remember something, dropped the weapon, took out her phone, and tapped away. Jiang Yinghua didn’t know what she was doing, she flew forward to snatch the baseball bat, and stuffed it directly into the closet, locking it up.

She turned around with a grin, “Good sister, when are you leaving for your business trip? If it’s not urgent, your 48th birthday is coming up, why don’t you and Sister Feng go on vacation to the beach in Florida? I’ll be your guide, I’ll treat you to food and drinks, okay? Or let me bring Yan Yan along too, you see, you know this person inside and out, I didn’t randomly find any blue-eyed blonde, please don’t be angry.”

Jiang Jingche smiled deeply, raised her hand to pull Jiang Yinghua to the living room, “Where’s your iPad? Mom wants to video chat with you.”

“Ah?” Jiang Yinghua’s features twisted into a ball, pouting her lips and saying, “Sister, why are you still telling tales? Aren’t you putting me in a grave? Hmph, don’t you love me anymore?”

“Never loved you.” Jiang Jingche had a playful expression, pulled Ying Feng to sit on the small sofa, picked up a slice of watermelon that Jiang Yinghua had cut earlier from the fruit plate, and said with a smile, “Feng’er, today I’m treating you to watermelon.”