Shoutout to Alinaza for the commission!
A place like tonight’s occasion, Jiang Se coming, what she would get was nothing but most people’s hypocritical goodwill.
This circle is exactly this realistic, when you are nothing anymore, have no value anymore, you will see the real nature of people.
Jiang Se smiled: “When I left Beicheng, I never found a chance to properly say goodbye to the Chairman and Teacher Ji. Saying a formal goodbye to them here is also pretty good.”
After she changed her surname, Cen Minghong and Ji Yunyi were furious, suppressing their anger, made her return everything and then she left Beicheng.
Indeed she had never properly said goodbye.
And she lived twenty-three years of a life of brocade and jade food, she indeed should properly part with them. What should be thanked should be thanked, what should be severed should be severed.
Lu Huaiyan looked at her once, said nothing.
Jiang Se shifted her eyes to him, smiling as she asked: “When you first met me in Tongcheng, were you certain I couldn’t leave the Cen family, that sooner or later one day I would come back here?”
“Yes.” Lu Huaiyan answered with complete frankness.
Jiang Se pointed her gaze toward the center of the banquet hall, “Do you believe that nine out of ten people here tonight think the same way? Of course, after tonight, they probably won’t think that anymore, the Cen family will only have one daughter.”
Lu Huaiyan looked at her for a few breaths, and then slowly let out a laugh.
Saying it was a farewell, but in truth it was just to sever her relationship with the Cen family completely.
Pretty able to be ruthless.
Cen Yu had already come down the spiral stairs, Cen Minghong and Ji Yunyi accompanying her toward the private room on the east side of the banquet hall.
Inside that private room sat all the people of status in Beicheng; except for Old Master Lu who didn’t come because he was ill, all the heads of each family came.
And Lu Huaiyan was representing the Lu family, if Old Master Lu had come, then naturally he wouldn’t need to go to that room, but since Old Master Lu didn’t come, then even as a junior he should go over.
Seeing him not moving for a long time, Jiang Se asked him: “Aren’t you going?”
Lu Huaiyan looked at her, the corners of his lips still carrying a smile: “I’m not in a hurry, what are you in a hurry for?”
He spoke unhurriedly, the tone carrying a smile, but the manner was indifferent.
Jiang Se for no reason remembered Christmas Eve, him standing under the osmanthus tree luring her to use him, and even asked her whether she wanted him to ruin tonight’s banquet.
When he asked that, his tone was also like this, casually indifferent.
He had always done what he said.
If Jiang Se dared to say she wanted it, then he’d really dare make sure the Cen family couldn’t hold their banquet tonight.
This person was like fire burning in a snowy night.
One side luring you with the illusion that you could warm yourself, one side burning you into a pile of ashes.
The pair of eyes behind the man’s lenses was dark and deep, Jiang Se shifted her gaze away, looked toward the window outside, and said: “I’ll go out and walk a bit, my little aunt will probably need a while.”
She turned to leave, and had not taken two steps when her wrist was held.
Lu Huaiyan glanced at the wind and snow outside the window glass, saying: “You’re going out dressed like this?”
The banquet hall had heating, when Jiang Se came in she had handed her coat to Uncle Chen.
The man’s hand had distinct knuckles, the thin skin carrying a pale coldness, yet also carrying a warming temperature.
Even through a layer of silk gloves she could feel his warmth.
Jiang Se gently pulled away, calmly saying: “Someone will bring my coat over.”
Lu Huaiyan unbuttoned his suit jacket and took off the coat, draping it over her, not allowing refusal as he said: “Wear this first.”
His action drew who knew how many gazes.
Jiang Se did not refuse, lightly gathered the coat on her, pushed open a side door, and left the banquet hall.
Just stepping out, the cold wind blasted fiercely, Jiang Se shivered.
There were some unfamiliar faces standing in the corridor, likely people from the planning company hosting the banquet. These people didn’t recognize her, stepped forward to ask whether she needed someone to guide her.
Jiang Se smiled and shook her head.
After all this was the place she grew up in, how could she not know the way.
To the east of the banquet hall there was a warm conservatory, inside grew priceless rare orchids. Outside the conservatory was a viewing pavilion, and at the center of the pavilion the fireplace built of black marble was burning fire.
At this moment there happened to be someone stationed outside the pavilion, and that familiar face made Jiang Se’s eyes sting slightly.
“Aunt Zhang.” Jiang Se blinked once, asking with a smile, “Why haven’t you gone to the banquet hall?”
Aunt Zhang was now Cen Yu’s housekeeper, she should have been in the banquet hall.
Aunt Zhang was holding a coat with both hands, smiling toward Jiang Se: “The young miss asked me to come wait with you, when you used to get impatient in the banquet hall you would come run here, sure enough I waited and you came.”
The coat resting over her thin arm was exactly the one Jiang Se had given to Uncle Chen earlier. Aunt Zhang looked at the suit jacket draped over Jiang Se with hesitation showing on her face.
Jiang Se said: “Give me the coat, it’s a bit cold.”
The fireplace was burning, and around it were semi-circular long bench sofas.
Jiang Se sat down draped in the coat, Aunt Zhang wanted to step forward to take the suit jacket she had taken off, but heard Jiang Se say: “Just leave it here, this is Little Chairman Lu’s coat, I’ll give it back to him later.”
Aunt Zhang responded, and didn’t ask why Young Master Lu’s coat was draped on Jiang Se, only stood quietly by her side, just like before.
“You sit too, let’s talk.” Jiang Se patted the cushion by her side, bent her brows and eyes in a smile, “I’ve been doing very well in Tongcheng.”
Aunt Zhang’s eyes reddened: “I knew that no matter where Miss was, you would live well.”
Perhaps not wanting to lose composure, she pressed down her voice, smiling as she said: “I had Old Tong make you some black tea, I’ll go see if it’s ready.”
Jiang Se smiled an “mm,” watching Aunt Zhang’s figure swallowed by wind and snow, half her face lit red by the fire in the fireplace.
—
The fire in the fireplace crackled, time slowly passing in the sound of the wind.
Jiang Se waited about ten minutes before hearing footsteps behind her, and not just one.
She looked back, and immediately met Ji Yunyi’s eyes, half gentle, half indifferent.
Aunt Zhang set the black tea on the coffee table, saying: “Madam wanted to speak with Miss, so I took the liberty of bringing her here.” Her voice carried apology.
In the black teacup lay a piece of crushed rose sugar.
“It’s fine.” Jiang Se smiled, “Even if you didn’t lead the way, once Teacher Ji saw this tea she’d guess I’m here.”
She lifted the bone china teacup, smiling as she looked at Ji Yunyi, “Teacher Ji, would you like some? I didn’t know you were coming, so I didn’t have Aunt Zhang make another cup.”
Ji Yunyi didn’t answer, her expression faint as she looked once at Aunt Zhang, and Aunt Zhang instantly understood, respectfully asking: “Madam, what would you like to drink?”
“Black tea.”
Ji Yunyi had quit sugar for many years, the cup in Jiang Se’s hand she naturally wouldn’t touch. Before, she wasn’t without wanting to correct Jiang Se’s bad habit of adding sugar to tea. But this child was rebellious to the bone, the more you forbid something, the more she would do it.
After Aunt Zhang left, Ji Yunyi gathered the silver fox-fur coat around her shoulders, sat beside Jiang Se, and unhurriedly said: “You’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, haven’t you, slapping the faces of your father and me in front of everyone.”
That line earlier of “deep affection,” only Ji Yunyi could hear the sarcasm in it.
She and Cen Minghong each had their own lovers privately, and no one knew this better than Jiang Se.
Jiang Se said with a smile: “Teacher Ji, you used the wrong form of address, the Chairman isn’t my father.”
Ji Yunyi lowered a slanted gaze her way, the corners of her lips lifting gently: “You certainly don’t seem like a Cen family person with that rebellious streak of yours, even if your little aunt is unruly, she’s not like you…”
Jiang Se showed an equally gentle smile, following her words: “Ungrateful, right? Does Teacher Ji know what I felt when I got the DNA report results?”
Her voice paused lightly, she looked into Ji Yunyi’s eyes, smiling as she continued: “It was happiness, and relief. It was truly wonderful not to be Teacher Ji’s and the Chairman’s daughter. When I went to Tongcheng I learned that some parents, in order not to let their daughter feel wronged, really will give everything, for example taking out all their savings to buy me a car so I wouldn’t feel wronged. When I was Teacher Ji’s daughter, Teacher Ji, do you remember what you did when I was wronged?”
These soft words filled with needles landed, and Ji Yunyi’s exquisitely made-up face had already lost its smile.
She looked at Jiang Se for a moment, then slowly pulled up a gentle smile again, stood, and said: “Then I won’t disturb Miss Jiang’s tea. You’re right, today is indeed suitable for saying goodbye.”
Aunt Zhang carried over the freshly steeped tea, saw Ji Yunyi leaving in a hurry, and let out a quiet sigh.
Jiang Se slowly sipped the black tea that had already lost its warmth.
When Aunt Zhang entered the pavilion she softly said: “That tea is cold already, Miss, why don’t you drink this cup?”
“No, that cup doesn’t have sugar.” Her tone carried rare willfulness.
Aunt Zhang shook her head, but didn’t persuade further. Afraid Jiang Se would get cold, she set down the tea and went to turn up the fire in the fireplace.
A cup of ice-cold black tea entering her stomach, Jiang Se felt as if an autumn rain had fallen through her five viscera and six bowels. She stood and went forward, crouching beside Aunt Zhang to watch her adjust the fireplace for more warmth.
The long-missed warmth slowly gathered back. Jiang Se looked at her watch, stood and said: “You should go back—”
Before the words finished, a familiar wave of dizziness suddenly swept in.
She blinked once, and in her daze the snowy scene before her turned into thunder and rain.
Rumbling, shaking her ears painfully.
Jiang Se took a deep breath of cold air, her expression calm as she grabbed Aunt Zhang’s arm, saying: “Aunt Zhang, take me to the restroom.”
—
The pavilion wasn’t far from the banquet hall, but it still took nearly seven or eight minutes, and by the time they reached the nearest restroom, Jiang Se’s legs were already starting to weaken.
The restroom was secluded, empty inside.
Once Jiang Se entered, she began to induce vomiting, and when she couldn’t throw up anything more, she went to the sink, turned on the tap, gulped large mouthfuls of icy water, and continued to force herself to vomit.
Repeating this several times, her stomach began to cramp in pain, but she still endured the pain and gulped down more ice water.
Aunt Zhang didn’t dare leave, seeing Jiang Se’s eyes faintly unfocused, she asked in panic: “Miss, what’s wrong with you?”
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
After saying that, Jiang Se shivered, gritted her teeth, reached into her wristlet, and called Cen Mingshu.
The “du-du” sounds rang through the empty restroom for a long while, but no one answered.
Jiang Se closed her eyes, hung up, and endured the dizziness in her mind, saying to Aunt Zhang: “Please go to the banquet hall and call my little aunt over, as fast as possible.”
Seeing her serious expression, Aunt Zhang nodded and quickly left the restroom.
Jiang Se locked the door, and as the dizziness grew stronger, she lifted the vase on the washstand and smashed it hard, then took off her gloves and grabbed a shard.
In the spinning dizziness, faint footsteps slowly approached, and at the same time, the phone in her coat pocket buzzed.
Her whole body weak, bracing herself on the sink, she took out the phone, the name on the screen already doubled. She was about to press “answer,” when knocking suddenly came from outside the door.
“Jiang Se, it’s me.”
Her fingertips halted, Jiang Se slowly lifted her eyelashes, once thinking it was her own hallucination.
Seven years ago on a thunderstorm night, she had also heard a sentence like this.
Simply, “Cen Se, it’s me,” pulled her back from h*ll to the living world.
Before she could respond, the person outside knocked again, saying: “I’ll count to five, if you can’t open the door, I’ll have someone come open it. One, two, three, four—”
The “five” reached his lips but hadn’t been spoken, and the door clicked open.
Inside, the girl’s shoulders were held very straight, her nose tip and lips red from the cold water earlier, her breathing heavy, but her scattered pupils still held a trace of clarity.
Lu Huaiyan lifted her chin and stared into her eyes for two breaths: “Can you still walk?”
“Yes, I can walk out myself.” Jiang Se looked at Lu Huaiyan, “Take me to the hospital first.”
Lu Huaiyan’s face was as calm as water, glancing behind her.
Jiang Se pressed her lips: “The teacup on the sink, and tonight’s surveillance—”
“Don’t worry, no one can touch these things.” Lu Huaiyan bent his arm, his voice deep, “I’ll take you away now.”
—
They left through the small door Jiang Se had entered tonight. In the backyard’s private parking lot, a stretched Maybach was already waiting.
Lu Huaiyan took the car keys and started the car.
The black sedan drove through the night. Since it was New Year’s Eve, the streets were busy, streetlights bright as day, neon forming lines of rising and falling thin light.
The car interior was filled with a faint, warm scent of agarwood.
Jiang Se closed her eyes, leaning against the seat, her right hand weakly dangling on the seat.
After Lu Huaiyan finished the call, he glanced at her.
Her face was pale as paper, thick long lashes drooping, breathing rapid, lips red like blood-stained roses.
Even though she was at the pinnacle of discomfort, every step leaving the Cen family had been steady.
He thought she was fine, but once in the car, she completely lost strength; soft as melted cotton candy, even the seatbelt had been fastened by him.
“There’s someone monitoring the surveillance room, all the items used for tea are still there. The person who drugged you may go back, or may not. But in any case, someone will investigate this. If they don’t find out who did it, this won’t end.”
His voice was deeper than usual, tone calm, emotion unreadable.
Only someone very familiar with him could detect the concealed anger beneath the plain tone.
Jiang Se parted her eyes slightly, gaze landing on his side profile.
Since his appearance, her tense mind had unconsciously relaxed, and the willpower that had barely resisted the drug’s effect weakened immediately.
When the man spoke, his voice felt close to her eardrum, booming, making her brain work even slower.
This must be the time when the drug’s effect was strongest, she knew this feeling.
She just had to endure it, endure it.
Jiang Se wanted to look elsewhere to distract herself, but she had lost the strength even to avert her gaze.
In her narrow vision, Lu Huaiyan’s side profile was extremely refined: high nose, thin lips, sharply defined jawline, Adam’s apple pushing a prominent right angle at the throat.
Thunder roared in her ears again, rain sound, and raindrops dripping from Lu Huaiyan’s chin onto her arm.
Those unvanished pasts attacked her again.
Like a bone-deep sore, lingering relentlessly.
Her gaze dimmed for a moment.
In the next instant, Jiang Se clenched her right hand, but the pain in her palm didn’t restore any clarity, instead bringing a wave of sharp stimulus.
She bit her lip.
Lu Huaiyan braked at the intersection, turning his head to look at her.
The girl’s dark eyes glistened with moisture, lashes trembling, snow-white teeth biting her lower lip, locking in all the moans lingering in her throat.
A kind of stubborn and ruthless brokenness.
Her jaw slowly tensed. Lu Huaiyan averted his gaze, staring at the traffic light through the windshield, voice low: “Endure it, we’ll be there soon.”
Afterwards, it seemed she had finally endured the strongest wave of dizziness. Jiang Se made no more sound.
At the hospital, she was drenched in sweat, but her consciousness was clearer than before. She immediately recognized the doctor waiting at the hospital entrance as Old Master Lu’s private physician, the renowned Professor Jiang.
Professor Jiang had a kindly face. After examining Jiang Se, he had a nurse draw her blood and personally took the sample to the lab.
The results came shortly after.
“It’s triazolam, concentration not low. Luckily, Miss Jiang induced vomiting in time, ingested little, and drank large amounts of ice water to reduce the drug’s blood concentration, which allowed you to stay conscious until now.”
The old professor held the report, his gaze on Jiang Se showing appreciation: “You handled it well. In one or two hours, once the IV is done, the dizziness will gradually disappear. Your right hand’s injury won’t heal in three to five days. Don’t try to stay conscious through pain again. In that state, pain only stimulates the body to absorb the drug faster.”
After reminding her a few things, the professor left the ward.
Lu Huaiyan pulled over a wheeled chair and sat by the bed, eyes falling on Jiang Se’s right hand.
Had the girl not told the nurse her palm was injured, Lu Huaiyan wouldn’t have known she had been holding a shard of glass all along.
When the black glove was removed, her palm was bloody and raw, the wound crossing it shocking to see.
The nurse treated the wound, plucking out each piece of glass with tweezers. She didn’t look, eyes always down, silent, as if that hand wasn’t hers.
The ward was quiet, only the IV dripping “tick-tick” could be heard.
After some time, Lu Huaiyan lifted his eyes, the thin white lids folding into sharp creases.
He looked at her. In a voice without emotion said: “You’re quite cruel to yourself.”
