When Will My Childhood Sweetheart Marry Me?-Chapter 227: Jealousy
"Everyone hits a low point in life, but that doesn’t justify taking the wrong path."
Jiang Shuyao picked up the bag from the chair. "Compared to Lu Chen, you’re still clear-headed and rational. You should guide him well in the future. Money earned through legitimate means is the only kind that lets you sleep at night without guilt or leverage for others."
Xie Anyu was at a loss for words after hearing this.
It seemed that from the moment she entered the room until now, all her lengthy lectures paled in comparison to Jiang Shuyao’s brief remark in terms of persuasiveness.
That’s how the world is—the side of righteousness always has an endless supply of cogent arguments.
Watching the figure slowly vanish at the door, Xie Anyu felt an overwhelming sadness.
Some people are destined to lead happier lives than others from the moment they’re born.
Jiang Shuyao, I’m really envious of you.
Emerging from the small pavilion, it was already deep into the night.
The light cast mottled shadows, and the willow branches by the lake hung quietly down. The night breeze rustled through the slender twigs, making the night seem less lonely.
It was the same stone bench as before. Jiang Shuyao leaned forward, her chin resting on her knees, making out the vague reflection of her face in the water by the dim light.
As a child, her grandmother always said not to look into mirrors at night, or else one might suffer nightmares and sleep paralysis.
Thinking about it, even without scientific evidence, it seemed to hold true every time she tried.
But, there are no ghosts in the world. Just like with Aunt Fu’s situation, it’s the seeds of suggestion planted in the mind that can turn any stir of reality into an immeasurable, dark abyss of shadow.
While Jiang Shuyao was lost in her thoughts, a hoarse and deep voice came from behind her.
"Did you wait here on purpose for me?"
Jiang Shuyao felt a chill down her spine, and a cold sweat broke out inadvertently.
She turned to see Pei Yan standing under a willow tree, the street light above him enveloping him in a web of light and shadow, casting a somewhat ghostly air.
He was obviously trying to scare her.
Jiang Shuyao steadied herself against the stone bench as she got up, wanting to ask him about the competition that day. But as her eyes met the tiredness on his face, she couldn’t bring herself to make him talk any more.
She walked over slowly, reaching out to touch his bloodshot eyes. Then she tiptoed and planted a kiss on his sexy chin.
Pei Yan’s movement of taking out a cigarette box paused, and his hand came out of his pocket to rest on the back of the girl’s head, leaning down to cover her lips with his own.
Such a night could have been filled with intimate whispers.
Yet his kiss was quick and restrained—as if he was too tired, or simply not in the mood.
Pei Yan gently pushed her away a little, bowed his head to light a cigarette, turned his face sideways, and exhaled a puff of smoke slowly.
"Did you have fun today?" he asked.
Jiang Shuyao stared at him, nodded, then shook her head.
Pei Yan, smiling, flicked the cigarette but remained silent.
Once a conversation starts, it should naturally flow.
After some contemplation, she found two words to describe her feelings at the time.
"Thrilling," Jiang Shuyao looked up with intense eyes. "More thrilling than enjoyable."
Then she lowered her gaze and murmured softly, "Am I weird?"
She couldn’t stand the sight of victorious, pompous faces and always wanted to turn the tables, even if the outcome was more surprising than expected.
For the first time, the Princess confronted the vulgar side of her inner self.
Pei Yan took the last drag of his cigarette with satisfaction, extinguished the butt, and drew her shoulder toward him as they walked to the hotel.
On a summer night, his voice returned to its usual lazy drawl, sounding especially captivating in her ear.
"It’s okay. You’re a perfect match for a weirdo like me."
Jiang Shuyao choked up.
After a few seconds of silence, she couldn’t help but retort, "Compared to you, I still have a long way to go."
The person in question raised an eyebrow and noncommittally hummed in response.
Nearing the hotel and seizing the moment of privacy, she wanted to ask him about Lu Chen. Just as she was about to speak up, Pei Yan’s phone rang.
From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Lin Yan’s name flickering on the screen.
Jiang Shuyao furrowed her brows, this guy actually saved someone else’s phone number.
Thinking back to the competition, when Lin Yan looked at Pei Yan with that adoring, worshipping gaze, she instantly felt very uncomfortable.
She glanced at the caller ID, chose not to answer, but didn’t hurry to hang up either, letting the phone ring on.
Jiang Shuyao couldn’t fathom what was going on in that person’s mind and tilted her chin up, "What are you waiting for, answer it."
Pei Yan asked with interest, "You really want me to answer?"
She turned her eyes away expressionlessly and stopped paying attention, silently walking forward.
It was quiet at night, and the person behind her did not follow; the ringing was persistent for a while until he answered it.
Jiang Shuyao subconsciously pricked up her ears, listening carefully.
She could only vaguely make out a female voice on the line, unable to discern the specific content.
The call was brief; throughout, Pei Yan only uttered two sentences, both noncommittal fillers.
After hanging up, she asked trying to appear calm, "What did Lin Yan want?"
Pei Yan slipped his hands into his pockets, preparing to take out a cigarette.
"Answer me first, then you can smoke," she insisted.
The Princess’s stern-faced expression was especially adorable.
He couldn’t help but chuckle and said, "She helped a lot with the encryption system, I told her I’d take her out to eat as thanks." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
"You agreed?"
"Hmm, I had promised her beforehand."
At such a delicate moment, it was not as simple as having a meal.
Jiang Shuyao didn’t know what to say.
Since he had already promised, it wasn’t right to go back on his word.
It was just a meal, after all. She forced herself to let it go, thinking it was no big deal. No matter how many meals they had, her boyfriend was still hers.
Lost in thought, she saw Pei Yan yawn and quickly pulled him into the hotel.
"Go to bed early tonight. Since we aren’t heading back until tomorrow afternoon, schedule your meal for the morning. The second-floor breakfast at the hotel isn’t bad."
He was indeed very sleepy, but after hearing the Princess’s heartfelt advice, his drooping eyelids sprang open again.
"You’re saying I should invite Lin Yan to breakfast?"
"Yes, any problem with that?"
Heh.
Pei Yan was thoroughly amused.
His Princess was indeed a delight.
Jiang Shuyao escorted Pei Yan to his room door, pushed him inside, and told Jiang Xubai to keep a close watch that night, to make sure he didn’t stay up late again.
When the boss’s wife issued an order, Jiang Xubai immediately perked up with utmost vigilance.
After a moment of thought, he cleared his throat.
Looking at Pei Yan, who had flopped onto the bed, ready to sleep, he tentatively suggested, "How about I go downstairs and get another room?"
Surveillance was better handled by a woman personally.
"No need, I will be busy tonight."
She had someone else in her room who also needed watching.
Jiang Shuyao finished speaking and casually closed the door, turning to go downstairs without a second glance.
Back in her room, she found Lin Yan already asleep.
Just minutes ago, she was on the phone making meal plans, and now she could sleep so soundly?
Jiang Shuyao sat at the bedside, silently watching for a while, and couldn’t help but marvel at the difference good sleep quality made.
The day’s events had been too tumultuous; but now, as the curtain fell and the deep silence of the night settled in, she still felt a surplus of energy.
Focusing for a moment, it was nearly eleven o’clock; she let out a sigh of relief, got up from the bed, grabbed her pajamas, and went into the bathroom to shower.
