Chapter 9
The words "give it a try" were like an invisible contract, quietly taking effect the moment Xia Wan nodded. However, the days that followed were not the passionate and exciting ones she had imagined, nor were they awkward and distant. Instead, they were filled with a kind of...almost eerie calm.
Jiang Yu didn't disappear, nor did he press her any further. He was like a precision instrument with a programmed function, intervening in her life in a steady and regular manner.
The next day, Xia Wan received a message on her phone from an unfamiliar local number: "Hello, Miss Xia, this is Mr. Jiang's assistant, Li Mo. Mr. Jiang has made an appointment for you for professional rehabilitation therapy at 3:00 PM tomorrow. The address will be sent shortly. Please arrive on time."
There were no unnecessary greetings, no inquiries about her wishes, as if this was just a pre-arranged schedule.
Xia Wan stared at the message, a mixture of emotions. Was it compensation? For that night? Or for his uncontrolled roar in the factory? She replied, "Thanks for letting me know." She didn't refuse. She needed physical therapy; her old injuries to her ribs and arm certainly required more professional treatment. She couldn't refuse this "practical" concern.
The treatment was professional and effective, the technician's skillful technique relieving her discomfort. Afterward, she left the center and spotted the familiar black sedan parked on the curb. The windows were down, and Jiang Yu was in the driver's seat, his profile sharply defined in the afternoon sun.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his eyes sweeping over her as if assessing her condition.
"Much better, thank you." Xia Wan whispered, opened the car door and got in. This time, there was less resistance and more resignation.
The car drove smoothly. Silence still dominated, but the atmosphere seemed a bit more relaxed than last time. Jiang Yu would ask about her work or her brother, Xia Yang, and the topics revolved around "responsibility" and "recovery," with clear boundaries. Like a dedicated doctor or project manager, he focused on the progress of the "project" (her health and family troubles), but carefully avoided any areas that might touch on personal feelings.
Xia Wan's initially tense nerves gradually relaxed, only to sink deeper into confusion. Was this what he meant by "trying"? Trying to make amends more effectively? Trying to play the role of a responsible "creditor"? She couldn't discern his true intentions beneath his calm surface. The weighty words "I owe you" and "I'm afraid it's too late" were like a boulder dropped into a deep pool, leaving only a lingering echo in her heart while the surface returned to calm.
A few days later, she returned home from work and found an insulated bag at her apartment door. She opened it, revealing an exquisite Japanese bento box with fresh ingredients and carefully prepared dishes. Attached was a small printed note: "Eat on time." The signature was a simple "J." A warm feeling washed over her, mixed with a deeper confusion. He even cared about this?
She took a photo of the lunch box and sent it to him: "Thank you. It's so troublesome."
This time, he replied, still concisely: "No trouble."
This distant "care" continued. He would occasionally pick her up from work, take her to follow-up physical therapy appointments, and when she worked late, he would have Li Mo bring her warm midnight snacks. Like a silent guardian, he erected an invisible wall around the boundaries of her life, a wall of "compensation" and "responsibility." Xia Wan sat within this wall, feeling the warmth of care, yet also clearly sensing its coldness and alienation.
She tried to break this delicate balance. Once, he took her home, and she didn't get out of the car immediately when she got downstairs.
"Jiang Yu," she mustered up her courage and turned her head to look at him, "You don't have to... do this."
"What?" He asked calmly.
"These... lunch boxes, pick-up and drop-off, physical therapy." Xia Wan chose her words carefully, not wanting to seem ungrateful, yet unable to ignore the awkwardness deep in her heart. "I know you feel like you owe me... but really, there's no need to be like this. You've already helped a lot with Xia Yang's situation, and that night... it was me... too. You don't have to feel burdened."
Jiang Yu's fingers on the steering wheel curled slightly. He was silent for a few seconds, his eyes fixed on the dark night outside the car window. The street lights cast flickering shadows in his deep eyes.
"Xia Wan," he said in a low voice, with an unquestionable tone, "I said give it a try, and that includes these."
He paused, turned his head, and his gaze fell on her face again. There was no ripple on her face, but there was a strange stubbornness in it.
"This is my way. Just accept it."
His way. Simple, direct, unyielding, and brimming with his characteristic need for control. Xia Wan's efforts to draw a line seemed powerless in the face of his calm, assertive presence. She could only nod, open the car door, and get out.
"Xia Wan." He called her again.
She stopped.
"This weekend," he looked at her, his tone as calm as if he was arranging work, "accompany me to go somewhere."
"Where are we going?" Xia Wan asked subconsciously.
"An occasion... where a female companion is needed." Jiang Yu didn't say it explicitly, but Xia Wan understood instantly. A business event. As the "test partner," she was now required to fulfill some superficial duties.
The weekend arrived quickly. Jiang Yu's car appeared downstairs on time. Xia Wan had changed into a well-cut black dress and put on light makeup to hide the fatigue in her eyes. She got into the car. Jiang Yu's eyes lingered on her for a few seconds, without commenting, and he simply said, "Not bad."
The venue was the banquet hall of a high-end hotel in the city center. Crystal chandeliers shone, and elegantly dressed people filled the air. Jiang Yu's appearance instantly became the center of attention. He greeted everyone calmly, introducing Xia Wan with the simple "Miss Xia." Xia Wan tried to play the role of a proper companion, smiling, nodding, and occasionally joining in a conversation, but her heart was tense. She was keenly aware of the many gazes lingering over her, with a curious gaze and a subtle hint of... comparison? She knew she wasn't the type to be dazzling. At 168cm tall, she wasn't short in the crowd, but her slight figure and slightly arched eyes made her appear aloof and distant, rather than cuddly.
"Mr. Jiang, this Miss Xia... doesn't look familiar?" A middle-aged man with a large belly and a glass of champagne approached, his eyes unabashedly scrutinizing Xia Wan with a greasy smile. "I've never seen you bring her out before? A new girlfriend?"
The smile on Jiang Yu's face faded a little, and he unnoticeably pushed Xia Wan behind him, saying in a calm voice, "Mr. Wang, you're joking. Miss Xia is my friend."
"Friends? Haha, are all Mr. Jiang's friends so beautiful and elegant?" Mr. Wang obviously didn't believe it and wanted to tease him a few more times.
At this moment, a familiar female voice with exaggerated surprise interrupted: "Hey! Isn't this Jiang Yu? Long time no see!"
Xia Wan looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman in a sequined gown and delicate makeup swaying towards her, a glass of wine in hand. She was tall and curvy, with a sweet smile, but a sharp, scrutinizing look in her eyes. Xia Wan recognized her as her high school classmate, Su Qian.
"Su Qian." Jiang Yu nodded slightly, his attitude obviously much colder than before towards Mr. Wang.
Su Qian's gaze fell on Xia Wan like a searchlight, scanning her up and down with undisguised surprise and... a hint of contempt. "Hey, Xia Wan? It's really you! Oh my god, I almost didn't recognize you! I haven't heard from you since high school. I heard you were out of town... working on a construction site?" She deliberately emphasized the three words "working on a construction site," as if it were some unbelievable job.
"Yes, for engineers and building appraisers." Xia Wan answered calmly, meeting Su Qian's gaze, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Su Qian exclaimed exaggeratedly, but her eyes drifted towards Jiang Yu, tentatively, "Jiang Yu, how come you two... are together? Are you old classmates reminiscing about the past?" She was obviously extremely surprised and curious about Xia Wan appearing next to Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu did not answer Su Qian's question, but just frowned slightly and said in a cold tone: "We have something else to do, excuse me." He put his arm around Xia Wan's shoulders, turned around and left with her without any question, leaving Su Qian standing there in astonishment and unwillingness.
Xia Wan was led forward by him, feeling the warmth and strength of his palm on her shoulder, a declaration of ownership. She felt a mixture of emotions. Su Qian's scrutiny and disdain had pierced her heart like needles, reminding her of the vast gulf between her and Jiang Yu, and her position as "unsuitable" in the eyes of others. But Jiang Yu's unwavering protective gesture rekindled the faint flame in her heart.
Was he defending her, or was he merely defending the dignity of his "companion"?
Jiang Yu finally let go of her hand when they reached the relatively quiet terrace. The evening breeze brought a hint of coolness.
"Don't worry about it," he murmured, his eyes fixed on the lights of the city in the distance.
"Yeah." Xia Wan responded, also looking off into the distance. After a moment's silence, she couldn't help but ask softly, "Do you... often have to deal with situations like this?" She was referring to Su Qian's probing and scrutiny.
Jiang Yu turned his head to look at her. In the dim light, his eyes were somewhat deep and difficult to discern.
"More in the past." He said lightly, without further explaining what period "before" referred to or with whom he dealt with it.
Xia Wan didn't press the issue. The figure of that "spoiled" ex-girlfriend stood between her and Jiang Yu like an invisible barrier. She could sense the deep, unfathomable scar in his heart, yet she couldn't touch it, couldn't even confirm whether it truly existed, or if it had anything to do with her.
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