Chapter 20 Cousin
The towering skyscrapers gleamed with a cold, hard luster in the sunlight, the huge advertising screens were dazzling with color, and well-dressed people hurried through the spacious and brightly lit terminal.
This was completely different from the tranquility of Z City. She was like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden for the first time, looking around and finding everything new and interesting.
"Ningning, Ningning, over here!"
A familiar voice pierced through the crowd. Jiang Yining looked in the direction of the voice and saw her eldest cousin, Jiang Yunyan, holding a sign. He was much more mature and composed than she remembered, but his eyes still carried the gentleness unique to the Jiang family.
"Brother!" Jiang Yining dragged her suitcase and ran over quickly.
Just as she ran towards Jiang Yunyan and opened the car door to get into the passenger seat, not far away, next to another black sedan that had just stopped, a tall man in a well-tailored black suit was opening the car door to get in.
"Ningning," Jiang Yunyan's voice came clearly.
The man's movement of pulling the car door suddenly stopped.
Ningning?
This sound, etched deep into his bones, suddenly pierced his frozen senses. Almost reflexively, he abruptly raised his head, his sharp, hawk-like gaze instantly sweeping towards the source of the sound.
In sight, there was only a slender figure in a light-colored dress, bending down to get into an ordinary family car. The car door closed, blocking the view. The car quickly started and merged into the traffic outside the airport.
Xie Shiyan remained in that slightly stiff posture for a few seconds. Only his heart beat heavily and slowly in his chest, bringing a sharp yet familiar ache. Was it a hallucination? Or... yet another ridiculous misunderstanding caused by a similar name?
He gave a self-deprecating smile, lowered his eyes, and expressionlessly got into the car, closing the door. He shut out all outside sounds and light, and also shut out that absurd, heart-pounding moment. The black sedan smoothly drove away, heading in the opposite direction from the car carrying Jiang Yining.
The car drove towards the city. As Jiang Yunyan drove, she couldn't help but glance at her "cousin" in the passenger seat through the rearview mirror. The more she looked, the more astonished she became. It wasn't just a resemblance; they were practically identical.
Even the subtlest expressions were strikingly similar. Thinking of his deceased cousin, and then looking at the girl beside him who also shared the name "Yi Ning," Jiang Yunyan felt a mix of emotions. He couldn't help but tentatively say, "Ning Ning, it's inconvenient to stay at home, so I booked you a room at a hotel. It's close to Yunming's place. You... don't mind." He was a little afraid that the girl would be sad if she knew she was a "substitute."
Jiang Yining was looking curiously at the bustling street scene rushing past the window when she heard this. She turned her head and gave Jiang Yunyan a bright, slightly mischievous smile, saying casually, "Brother, you're overthinking it. I know I look like that Ningning sister, and we even have the same name. It's okay, just treat me like her. I'm happy being a substitute." She even winked playfully.
Jiang Yunyan: "..."
Well, he's narrow-minded. This girl has a big heart, and her personality is similar to Ningning's.
Upon arriving at the hotel, Jiang Yunyan helped Jiang Yining check in and then gave her a few more instructions: "There's a lot to do with wedding preparations, and I really can't spare the time to go sightseeing with you lately. Familiarize yourself with the environment first, and call me if you need anything." After giving these instructions, he hurriedly left.
Jiang Yining dragged her luggage into the room. Just as she took out her clothes to wash up, her phone rang. It was a video call from her mother.
"Ningning, have you arrived yet? Are you settled in? Have you eaten?" Jiang's mother's face appeared on the screen, with the living room in the background, and a series of questions came at her.
"Mom, I've arrived. Yunyan took me out to eat, and he's in his hotel room now. He's busy, so I told him to go back first." Jiang Yining held up her phone to show her mother the clean and tidy room.
The mother and daughter chatted for a few minutes before hanging up. Jiang Yining walked to the window, gazing down at the dazzling night view of S City. Countless lights stretched like a galaxy on the ground, reaching all the way to the horizon. An indescribable flutter and trepidation quietly crept into her heart.
She gently stroked the cold glass, gazing silently at the vast expanse of lights outside the window, and asked: "Brother Shiyan, I tried calling your old number, but it's no longer in service. Where are you now? This city is so big, where can I find you? If I suddenly appeared before you... would you be afraid?"
The next morning, Jiang Yunyan's phone rang right on time: "Ningning, have you had breakfast? I really can't get away today, I can't be with you..."
"It's okay, bro," Jiang Yining said cheerfully. "You go ahead with your work, I can manage on my own. It'll be a good opportunity to get familiar with the area." After hanging up, she changed into a light dress and decided to go shopping in the most bustling commercial district in the city center.
The prosperity of City S far exceeded her expectations. Crowds thronged shoulder to shoulder, luxury shop windows displayed a dazzling array of goods, and the air was filled with the mixed aroma of coffee and high-end perfumes.
Jiang Yining was like a curious child, looking around and touching everything. She went into a women's clothing store and picked out two dresses with a fresh style. Then she wandered into a jewelry store with a strong sense of design and was attracted by a collarbone necklace inlaid with lemon yellow crystals in the window.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
