Chapter 29 Desire for Transgressions

Lan Jia woke up in the middle of the night, feeling thirsty.

He waved his arm and mumbled, "Brother, I want some water." But he found nothing.

She sat up halfway, reached for the light and turned it on, only to find that no one was beside her, and the pillow still had the wrinkles from where she had slept not long ago.

Lan Jia's eyelids drooped, wondering where he had gone. Her throat was so dry that when she saw Meng Cenjun's water glass on the bedside table, she felt as if she had found a life-giving rain. She picked it up and drank it all in one gulp before finally collapsing down, satisfied.

In the still of the night, my ears are especially sensitive. After a while, I heard the sound of water dripping from the bathroom.

It's only a little past four o'clock, why would someone take a shower in the middle of the night?

She was suspicious, but too lazy to figure it out, so she buried her head in the pillow, wrapped herself in the blanket, and fell into a soft sleep.

The moonlight was especially beautiful at that moment, but unfortunately the windows were tightly closed, and a thick gauze curtain blocked the light, as if the moon couldn't bear it.

In the darkness, Meng Cenjun quietly walked to the bedside, her clothes damp with moisture.

He stared at the small mound that had formed in the blankets, his expression complex.

She just lay here trusting him completely? Did she think he would always be her good brother?

After gazing for a while, I walked out slowly.

Lan Jia slept until dawn. When she heard the alarm clock ring, she groggily pondered for a moment before getting up to go to work, full of resentment.

The bedroom was still empty; Meng Cenjun had disappeared without a trace.

Scratching her messy hair, she decided to go back to her room to wash up first. However, as soon as she opened the door, she met Aunt Ming's eyes not far away.

It looks like he just came out of her room. He went to wake her up as usual, but he was disappointed to find her missing. He was looking for her.

For some reason, Lan Jia felt guilty, as if she had been caught red-handed.

"Good morning, Aunt Ming." She shuffled over, smiling awkwardly.

"Good morning." Aunt Ming smiled, but seemed a little awkward. She glanced at the door to confirm that it was Meng Cenjun's room, and a strange look appeared in her eyes.

It was getting late, so Aunt Ming went to the dressing room to pick out clothes and a bag for Lan Jia. Then she went to the bathroom and saw that Lan Jia was still brushing her teeth, so she picked up a bristle comb from the counter and combed her hair.

After growing my hair for quite some time, it's soft and hangs down to my waist. It's not as dry and yellow as it was when I was a child. It's a hazy black color and has a slight sheen. I can comb it all the way to the ends.

She grew up, beautiful and graceful, her flesh and bones seemingly exuding the fragrance of flowers, a youthful bloom in full bloom.

This is certainly worrying.

Lan Jia was brushing her teeth diligently, her mouth full of foam, when she heard Aunt Ming ask from behind, "Miss, are you feeling unwell?"

She felt confused, her words mumbled, and then she shook her head.

Aunt Ming tied her long hair in her hand, revealing her smooth neck. Her nightgown was thin and loosely draped over her body, exposing large areas of her back to the morning light.

Lan Jia felt a scrutinizing gaze, subtle yet not insignificant, like a needle prick. Through the mirror, she noticed Aunt Ming's wandering gaze and realized that she was examining her body.

She spat out the toothpaste foam and asked, "What?"

Aunt Ming seemed unsure how to broach the subject, and after a long pause, she asked tentatively, "Why didn't you sleep in your own room last night?"

"Oh, I was talking to my brother about something, but I was so tired that I accidentally fell asleep."

"He didn't bring you back either." This statement carried a hint of reproach.

"It's okay, he wasn't there afterward anyway."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lan Jia's mind raced. Could it be that Aunt Ming was afraid Meng Cenjun would do something to her?

Something transgressing? Impossible. He's such a self-disciplined person.

Aunt Ming was clearly dissatisfied with Lan Jia's nonchalant attitude. After hesitating for a moment, she decided to offer some advice.

"It would be better to be more careful in the future. Your brother is a man. There is a difference between men and women. You should avoid suspicion."

It's that same old line again. After Meng Cenjun finished speaking, Aunt Ming brought it up again. She's heard it so many times she's tired of it.

They are family, and she just wanted to be closer to him. Is that wrong? Why is it that once people cross the socially defined safe distance, regardless of their relationship, they are always talked about, misunderstood, and stigmatized with that word?

She hates restraint, hates boundaries, and hates being looked at with malicious intent.

Lan Jia remained silent with a sullen face.

Aunt Ming sighed inwardly, feeling that she was still too naive and inexperienced, not understanding the power of gossip. She wasn't blaming her; on the contrary, she felt sorry for her. Her parents had been absent too early, and she had gone abroad to study at a young age, leaving no one to teach her these things at the most crucial time of her development. Even with Meng Cenjun by her side, he was still a man, making it even more inappropriate to bring it up.

Although she was a maid, she had worked for the Yi family for many years and, in Lan Jia's eyes, could be considered a senior figure. Now that she had noticed something amiss, it was necessary to intervene promptly. She couldn't be allowed to continue making the same mistake.

Aunt Ming earnestly advised her, "Miss, please don't take offense at my words, but this matter is fine at home, but it's not good if outsiders find out. Reputation is very important, especially in a family like this. What will the other party think when it comes to marriage?"

"What, you think I'm shameless? That I have no morals or manners?"

“I don’t care what others say, and I won’t give them the chance to say those things about us. Besides, I’ve never even thought about getting married.”

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Aunt Ming frowned disapprovingly. "You'll all get married eventually. Your grandmother only has you as her grandchild. How could she possibly let you go? Even if it's an arranged marriage, there's nothing wrong with it. You can choose someone you like, and you can still live in your own home. It'll be less troublesome and more peaceful, and it'll save you a lot of conflicts. If you have children, they'll take the Yi surname, and someone will take care of everything for you. Even after you get married, you can still do whatever you want, just like you do now."

It was as if, in just a few words, he had already laid out the entire course of her life. A nameless chill crept into her heart.

"What about my brother?" Lan Jia simply couldn't imagine that a strange man would be living in their home in the future. She would have to share her pillow with him, make room for him at the dining table, and even entrust him with managing the company. And what about Meng Cenjun? She suddenly felt a strong sense of alienation, like that of an ancient tribe, as if someone was subtly and gradually replacing Meng Cenjun, trying to completely push him out. She felt a terrifying nausea.

"Your brother?" Aunt Ming said matter-of-factly, "He'll get married someday too. Once he has a family, it's not good for him to live here forever. I guess he'll gradually hand over the responsibilities to others."

Handover? It sounds like delivering a piece of goods intact to another party. Whose responsibility is it? And what is the item? Were her feelings even considered?

"No way!" Lan Jia retorted without even thinking. "We agreed to be family for life, but we don't even live together anymore, so how can we be considered family?"

Aunt Ming thought she was just talking nonsense and was slightly surprised, but more than that, she felt helpless. "How can you say that? What will his future wife think? It will cause conflicts. Besides, even after you get married, he will still be your brother, just like before."

“It’s different.” Lan Jia slammed her toothbrush down into the cup, utterly frustrated. She couldn’t understand why Aunt Ming, who always doted on her, would disagree with her on this matter. Aunt Ming was no longer on her side in everything, and Lan Jia felt a surge of betrayal, anger, and helplessness.

Seeing that she looked unwell, Aunt Ming softened her tone, "Alright, I won't mention it anymore. It's early in the morning, let's not get angry. Hurry up and change your clothes and have breakfast. I specially stewed bird's nest and fish maw porridge, served it out early to cool, and it's just right to eat now."

She gathered her hair up, preparing to tie it into a low ponytail, when Lan Jia suddenly turned around, her face stern, and said to her, "Don't mention it again next time. I don't like saying things like that."

Seemingly surprised by her strong reaction, Aunt Ming was slightly taken aback. Then she heard Lan Jia speak, her tone even harsher than before: "The problem isn't just with me. If we're really going to talk about it, you should also talk to him."

Lan Jia left as soon as she finished speaking, giving no one a chance to argue, actually because she was afraid of losing control of her expression and having someone see it. She really lacked confidence, and as she got dressed and went downstairs, she still thought, Meng Cenjun will understand, right? He will understand her and stand on the same side as her.

With this uneasy feeling, Lan Jia entered the dining room. It was her only hope, her last chance.

Breakfast was laid out, but the familiar spot remained empty. He hadn't come down yet; it was unusual for him to be late.

Unlike when she was sulking a few days ago, Lan Jia didn't sit far away; she sat back down opposite him.

After waiting for a while, Meng Cenjun, dressed in a formal suit, finally arrived late. However, she only passed by the dining room before hurrying to leave.

"Brother!" Lan Jia hurriedly stood up and called out to him.

He turned his head to look at her, but his gaze felt like it had been licked by a tongue of fire, burning and painful, and only lingered for a moment.

"Aren't you going to eat breakfast?" she asked him.

"Okay, let's eat at the company."

His tone was indifferent, which aroused suspicion in Lan Jia's ears.

Overnight, it seemed that only she was unaware of the drastic change that had occurred.

But she didn't say anything in the end, only telling him to be careful on the road.

Meng Cenjun agreed, glanced at her again with a heavy expression, and then turned and left.

Lan Jia slumped into the chair like a piece of clothing that had been taken off, suddenly feeling a mystery surrounding her, a cool shadow hanging over her head, making her both anxious and panicked, not knowing what to do.

Meng Cenjun is hiding something from her.

Looking up, they saw Aunt Ming passing by. After a brief exchange of glances, they both looked away.

After that conversation, an invisible rift seemed to have formed between the two of them. She didn't initiate any more conversation with Lan Jia, but her gaze followed him closely, like a precision detector, searching, analyzing, and flashing a red light to warn him when it detected anything unusual.

She suddenly realized that Aunt Ming had been nearby when she was talking to Meng Cenjun.

Surveillance?

Are you afraid that something outrageous will happen under this roof again?

In the blink of an eye, countless thoughts flashed through Lan Jia's mind.

Aunt Ming came from the old house, so she must have been in contact with them. In a sense, her thoughts were the same as her grandmother's.

A marriage alliance? She had never heard a word about it before, so why did Aunt Ming suddenly bring it up with her? She said it so casually, as if she had already tacitly agreed to it.

And what about Meng Cenjun? Does he know?

If he knew, yet kept it from her so tightly, did he, like everyone else, accept the outcome, and fear that she would cause an uncontrollable scene, so he kept quiet and waited for the right time to forcefully marry her off?

What about all those previous promises? He said he would take care of her forever, and asked if she still wanted to live with him. Were those just excuses? Just a way to keep her calm for now?

Did he decide to leave a long time ago?

Lan Jia's face was gloomy, and she couldn't help but suspect him.

Author's Note: Guess why Brother is taking a shower? [Milk Tea emoji]