Jiang Jinyue and Ding Ning were waiting for a taxi on the roadside when Fang Zhi pulled over in Lu Chenhuai’s car.
"Miss Jiang, let me drive you back," Fang Zhi said, his tall frame slightly hunched as he spoke to Jiang Jinyue through the passenger window. "President Lu is not in the car."
They had been waiting at the entrance for twenty minutes, yet not a single taxi had passed by, and the ride-hailing app kept showing that their order was still in the queue.
Jiang Jinyue shoved her phone into her pocket, pulled open the door, and got into the back seat. Ding Ning followed suit and sat down beside her.
"I’m sorry, Yueyue, I was a little impulsive today," Ding Ning apologized.
Apology aside, if she had to do it all over again, Ding Ning would still choose the same course of action. That man named Shi hadn't come to discuss business at all; he had come exclusively for Yueyue.
"Assistant Fang, do you have any Band-Aids in the car?"
"Yes, they're in the armrest console between your seats."
Jiang Jinyue opened the center console. Inside sat an exquisitely carved wooden box—the very one that had held the cufflinks she had once given to Lu Chenhuai. Beside the box was a tin of Band-Aids. Jiang Jinyue took out two and closed the console.
"It would have been much easier to just smash a wine bottle over his head," Jiang Jinyue said, handing the Band-Aids to Ding Ning.
Ding Ning gave a small laugh and took them to cover the skin scraped on the back of her hand. "Next time we run into a situation like this, I’ll do exactly as you taught me."
Just as they finished speaking, Jiang Jinyue’s phone rang. It was Meng Zanchen.
"Yueyue, where are you?" Meng Zanchen’s voice was urgent, backed by the noisy sounds of a crowd.
"We’re in a taxi," she replied.
Fang Zhi thought, *A Cullinan—what a luxurious taxi that is.*
"Are you all right?"
"What could possibly happen?"
Meng Zanchen finally let out a sigh of relief. Heaven knows what had gone through his mind when he saw Ding Ning’s text earlier, saying the two of them were dining with an investment manager from Shuotong.
"That Shi Lei is a total creep who uses his little bit of power to harass women. You two are truly reckless, going solo without checking him out first while I wasn't there! Do you want to give me a heart attack?"
It was noisy where Meng Zanchen was, so he spoke quite loudly. Jiang Jinyue moved the phone away from her ear. "Are you at a wet market? It’s so loud."
"Pretty much. As long as you’re both safe, I’m relieved. See you at the office tomorrow."
Meng Zanchen didn't mention where he was, and Jiang Jinyue didn't ask.
Fang Zhi remained silent throughout the ride, listening intently to the conversation. He couldn't hear the voice on the other end of the phone, but from Miss Jiang’s tone and expression, he could tell the person was very close to her, and his intuition told him it was a man.
Fang Zhi dropped Ding Ning off first, then Jiang Jinyue.
Su Jing brushed past Fang Zhi as he returned. He recognized Fang Zhi and knew that the overbearing license plate belonged to Lu Chenhuai.
The living room was very quiet. Only the balcony lights remained on, left by the nanny. Su Jing put his suit jacket on the sofa and walked over to pour a glass of water, noticing Jiang Jinyue standing at the bar in the dark.
"Just got back?" Su Jing asked.
"Yes."
"A friend brought you back?"
Jiang Jinyue took a sip of water, glanced at Su Jing over the rim of the glass, and said, "I took a taxi."
"Pick out a car from the garage tomorrow. It’s not safe for a girl to take taxis at night."
"I’ve already ordered a car. It will be here in a couple of days."
Su Jing looked at her without speaking. He had wondered countless times what would have happened if he hadn't sent her abroad back then. At the very least, she wouldn't be as distant from him as she was now.
"Brother, if there’s nothing else, I’m going upstairs to rest." Jiang Jinyue walked past him.
"How do you plan to solve the financing for your company?"
Jiang Jinyue paused and said, "I’ve already found an investor."
"Who?"
"Lanchuang Capital."
Su Jing took another sip of water, but it had long since gone cold. It was just plain water, yet he felt a bitter, astringent taste.
Back in her room, Jiang Jinyue took out her phone and messaged Meng Zanchen: *Help me keep an eye out for a place to live, somewhere with a good environment.*
An autumn rain brought a chill to the air. The next morning, Jiang Jinyue wore jeans and a sweater, planning to visit the cemetery to see the things her father had left behind. She had been young when the accident happened, and Su Pei’an had handled all the arrangements. She had visited the grave every year, but she had never looked at her father’s belongings. She was not a brave daughter, nor a particularly dutiful one.
As she came downstairs, she saw Su Yan sitting on the sofa talking to Madam Su. Su Yan’s head was still wrapped in gauze.
"Tell your mother the truth—was it Ye Zhan who caused that injury on your head?" Madam Su’s voice was filled with anger. "If he dared to lay a hand on you, your father and I will not stand by and watch."
Su Yan started to speak, but caught sight of Jiang Jinyue descending the stairs. "It wasn't Ye Zhan. It was one of Yueyue’s friends."
Jiang Jinyue paused. If you cut out the beginning and the end of the story, Lu Chenhuai could technically count as her friend.
"What did you say?" Madam Su turned, glaring at Jiang Jinyue. "Explain yourself, or you aren't leaving this house today."
Jiang Jinyue glanced at Su Yan. She certainly knew how to play this trick well.
"It has nothing to do with me," Jiang Jinyue said, walking toward the door. She knew Su Yan framed her time and again because she was certain Madam Su would always take her side. Since that was the case, nothing she said would matter.
"Stop right there!"
Seeing Jiang Jinyue’s attitude, Madam Su felt a surge of rage in her chest, desperate for an outlet. She reached out and grabbed Jiang Jinyue, but only managed to snag the red string on her wrist holding a silver peace buckle. The string snapped, and the pendant hit the floor with a clink.
Jiang Jinyue’s calm, detached eyes flared with anger.
"It’s just a broken string! I’m talking to you—if you don’t apologize to Yan Yan and give me an explanation, you aren't leaving!" Madam Su tugged at her again.
Thirteen years ago, those same hands had held her, comforting her, telling her not to be afraid because this was her home now. Now, they coldly dismissed her belongings as "just a broken string."
Jiang Jinyue bent down, picked up the broken string, and put it in her pocket. Her gaze swept over Madam Su and finally settled on Su Yan.
"Do you want me to help you recall how you got that injury on your head?"
Su Yan’s eyes flickered with panic for a moment before she steadied herself. "However I got it, it was definitely because of that weird friend of yours."
Jiang Jinyue smiled, pulled out her phone, and gave it a shake. The recording of Su Yan’s words played back clearly.
"I wonder if Lu Chenhuai would be interested to hear that. Maybe you should try smashing your head again and see if you can talk your way out of it this time."