When Shen Fang woke up in the morning, he felt dizzy and lightheaded. His mind was foggy from staying up for several nights in a row. He had waves of pain in his stomach and was covered in cold sweat.
He didn't go to the company; he lay in bed all day, half-conscious and half-asleep, his mind wandering and confused.
In a daze, he felt as if he had returned to that vacation when his stomach problems flared up. Jiang Fei would be by his bedside, her eyes red with worry, holding hot water and medicine, looking at him with concern in her eyes.
At that time, he was full of impatience with her, and even found her extremely annoying.
But he forgot that Jiang Fei was always the first to notice his illness and the only one who would stay up all night to watch over him.
Shen Fang gave a bitter laugh, forced himself to find his stomach medicine, but there wasn't a drop of hot water in the entire apartment. In the end, he swallowed a few pills dry and collapsed onto the bed again.
The medication gradually took effect; my stomach was still aching, but my consciousness was gradually becoming blurred.
As darkness fell outside, Shen Fang lay on the bed, vaguely hearing his phone vibrate. He tried to pick it up, but couldn't; his arm felt unusually heavy, and he could only let his body sink into a deeper sleep.
In my dream, I seemed to hear knocking on the door, one knock after another, before I realized it wasn't a dream.
Shen Fang struggled to his feet, his vision blurred, and before he could even turn the doorknob, he collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious.
Jiang Fei opened the door and saw Shen Fang lying on the ground.
No wonder he hasn't replied to my messages.
Jiang Fei raised an eyebrow, glanced at his 99% favorability rating that was just one step away from being achieved, bent down to help him up, threw him on the bed, thought for a moment, and then turned and walked out.
When Chen Fang regained consciousness, he heard footsteps but did not speak. His stomach felt empty and achy, his forehead began to burn, his vision became increasingly blurry, and his whole body felt like it was being burned by fire.
Apart from the cleaning lady, no one from outside will come here anymore.
No one will ever come again.
Shen Fang closed his eyes, enveloped in darkness.
He felt someone touch his forehead, and then he heard the sound of a stove being lit in the kitchen, and someone fed him something.
The burning heat throughout my body gradually subsided, and the throbbing stomach pain slowly eased. Someone replaced the ice pack on my forehead...
A familiar, light fragrance lingered around him, dispelling even the gloom in his dreams.
Shen Fang suddenly opened his eyes.
It was already broad daylight outside; it was the next morning.
A heaviness settled on his forehead. Chen Fang touched it and found an ice pack, wrapped in a towel, that had melted into water. On the bedside table sat a half-finished glass of water and some medicine.
The sound of a movie playing softly came from the living room.
Is it your aunt? Or...?
Thinking of the faint fragrance in his dream last night, Chen Fang's heart skipped a beat, and he walked barefoot into the living room.
A movie was playing on TV, but there was no one around.
Shen Fang's breath hitched, but he still searched the kitchen, bathroom, and guest room relentlessly. Finally, he stood panting in the living room.
No.
There was nothing there.
There was a soft sound at the door, and the door was opened from the outside.
"You're awake?" the girl asked in surprise.
Chen Fang's body stiffened, and he remained standing in place, hesitant to turn his head, fearing that it was just his imagination again.
That voice, that voice...
Until Jiang Fei walked up to him, holding a paper bag in her hand, which contained a breakfast.
It really is her.
Shen Fang looked at her light-colored long dress and her long hair that fell in front of her as she bent over, and his eyes suddenly reddened.
Such scenes only appeared in my dreams afterward.
"Sorry, I took your key because you were still asleep." Jiang Fei placed the key on the coffee table, her tone indifferent.
Shen Fang's Adam's apple bobbed. He wanted to tell her that there was a key to this apartment that belonged to her, but in the end, he didn't say it. He only asked with difficulty, "How did you end up here?"
Jiang Fei put down the breakfast and said calmly, "I sent you a message, but you didn't reply, so I came to check."
Shen Fang stared blankly at her: "Last night, you were the one taking care of me..."
It's not "auntie," it's "her."
Jiang Fei smiled distantly: "It was just a small favor."
Shen Fang opened his mouth, felt a lump in his throat, and picked up his phone to hide his discomfort, but paused when he saw the unread messages.
She said she had thought it through.
“This is…” Shen Fang stared at her intently.
"Regarding what you said that night, I think I can give you my answer now." Jiang Fei paused for a long while, "I..."
"Jiang Fei!" Shen Fang suddenly interrupted her, his voice tinged with panic, "It's already 8:30..."
For some reason, he was somewhat afraid to listen to what she was going to say next.
Even if it means being tortured by subtle means, they are unwilling to be eliminated.
Jiang Fei was puzzled.
"Aren't you going to school?" Shen Fang smiled, picked up the keys from the coffee table, and said, "I'll take you."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the door.
“Sinking…”
Shen Fang, however, moved even faster.
Jiang Fei shrugged and followed.
The timing was perfect; there were quite a few elderly people in the apartment who all looked over when they saw Jiang Fei and Shen Fang.
There were a few people that Jiang Fei vaguely recognized.
An old man stopped, looked at Jiang Fei, then at Shen Fang with a smile, and said, "Young man, it's been a while since you've seen your sister—no, your fiancée—here?"
Shen Fang panicked. He had taken it upon himself to tell everyone that she was not his sister, but his fiancée.
He glanced quickly at Jiang Fei, then hurriedly explained, "That's not what I originally meant. If you don't want to, I can go and clarify with them..."
“I promise you,” Jiang Fei interrupted him, speaking slowly.
Shen Fang froze, staring blankly at her: "What?"
Jiang Fei smiled: "The proposal that night..."
"I promise you."
Shen Fang stood there in a daze, a sudden surge of joy rising in his heart.
She accepted his marriage proposal?
Will she truly become his fiancée?
But when he saw Jiang Fei's expression, his ecstasy suddenly froze.
Her expression was indifferent, showing neither joy nor shyness.
Her feelings for him were no longer as passionate as before.
But he still couldn't give up. Maybe... the future is so long, maybe...
"Thank you, Jiang Fei."
Chen Fang's favorability rating: 100.
...
Jiang Fei's being sent to school by Shen Fang caused quite a stir, with people discussing her love triangle with Shen Fang and Song Yan all day long.
However, the absence of Song Yan, one of the main characters, from the school greatly diminished the enthusiasm of the onlookers.
Jiang Fei never cared about being talked about, but she never expected to be stopped by someone near the end of the school term.
She looked at Ruan Tang standing in front of her, her face pale, her teeth gently biting her lip, as if she had finally mustered up the courage to stand in front of her, looking exceptionally pitiful.
Jiang Fei smiled and asked in confusion, "Student Ruan?"
Ruan Tang's eyelashes trembled: "Jiang Fei, you're already with Song Yan... why, why are you still seeing Shen Fang? How can you do this to Song Yan?"
Jiang Fei raised an eyebrow: "How did I offend Song Yan?"
Ruan Tang was a little annoyed: "You're clearly already with Song Yan!"
"Who spread the rumor?" Jiang Fei frowned, then walked up to Ruan Tang. "When did I ever say I was with Song Yan?"
"You...you two did such intimate things..."
"What is this intimate thing?" Jiang Fei asked, not ashamed to ask.
Ruan Tang's face turned even paler: "You two were kissing in the classroom..." She just couldn't bring herself to say the last word, "kiss."
"Kiss?" Jiang Fei said it for her.
Ruan Tang pursed her lips tightly: "Jiang Fei, Song Yan is so proud, he's not the kind of person who can play games with you. He chose you, I admit defeat, but how could you do this, how could you be so shameless... two-timing..."
Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by an innocent voice behind her: "Two boats?"
A commotion erupted as those who hadn't left looked at the boy who appeared at the door. He was dressed in white, with delicate features and an innocent appearance, but several wounds on his face added a touch of eccentricity and wildness.
Jiang Cuo slowly walked to Jiang Fei's side, looked at Ruan Tang and complained, "Senior, why isn't it three boats?"
Ruan Tang was stunned, looking at the handsome young man in front of her, seemingly not expecting Jiang Cuo to say such a thing.
Jiang Cuo looked down at her, his eyes kind, his tone aggrieved: "Am I not good enough for you?"
Ruan Tang's fingers trembled slightly at what she said.
The boy was smiling, but he was like a venomous snake, his gaze cold and chilling.
Jiang Cuo looked at the fear in her eyes, smiled innocently, and turned to look at Jiang Fei, but her eyes were full of flattery, asking for praise: "Sister, you didn't go home last night?"
Fearing she still didn't want to see him, he waited outside the Jiang family villa. Unexpectedly, he waited all night without seeing her, but this morning he learned that she had been sent to school by Shen Fang.
Jiang Fei glanced at his soft hair and the wound on his face, and simply smiled: "Mm."
After saying that, he walked past him toward the door.
Jiang Cuo looked at her indifferent expression and remained standing there. After a long while, he turned his head and glanced at Ruan Tang casually: "Senior, you've got a lot on your mind."
After saying that, Chunliang smiled and followed Jiang Fei away.
Ruan Tang stood there, her face pale, her fingers trembling uncontrollably.
That boy... was like a devil.
The back seat of the Jiang family's car.
Jiang Fei remained calm and did not utter a word.
Jiang Cuo sat opposite her, watching her. Even after they returned to the Jiang family home, Jiang's father and Aunt Wen had not yet come back. Just as Jiang Fei was about to go upstairs, Jiang Cuo slowly spoke from behind her: "Did you have fun with Shen Fang last night, sister?"
Jiang Fei glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Jiang Cuo walked up to her and said, "I know you might not want to see my face right now, but you didn't come home all night. Just thinking about what you might have been doing makes me feel so bad."
"I've told you before, sister, why bother looking for those other people when you like them?"
"I wouldn't mind becoming that kind of person, and I'd definitely be better than him in bed!"
“Jiang Cuo!” Jiang Fei frowned.
Jiang Cuo laughed: "Sister, only I can understand the novelty you crave. Even if you're still angry, you can't deny that we're the ones best suited to walk together..."
"I've accepted Shen Fang's marriage proposal," Jiang Fei interrupted him calmly.
Jiang Cuo's voice stopped abruptly, his smile froze on his face, and after a long while, with some doubt in his eyes, he asked in confusion, "A marriage proposal is..."
"Yes, I will become his wife in the future, and he will become my husband."
“Like…Wenjuan and Jianglin?” Jiang Cuo asked.
Jiang Fei said, "Just like Aunt Wen and my father."
The smile on Jiang Cuo's face vanished completely.
Jiang Fei didn't say anything more, only glanced at the chaotic favorability rating above his head, then turned and went upstairs.
Jiang Cuo remained standing downstairs, his gaze fixed on the stairwell where Jiang Fei had disappeared.
He had witnessed Wenjuan and Jianglin's marriage, which was filled with violence and resentment.
Therefore, he wasn't afraid that Jiang Fei's marriage would turn out this way, since they would eventually separate anyway.
However, he had also seen Wenjuan's appearance when she was with Jiang's father; she was gentle and charming.
If Jiang Fei and Shen Fang were like Wen Juan and Jiang's father...
Jiang Cuo suddenly found it difficult to control himself, and even breathing became difficult.
If he wants to spend his life with his sister in the future, wouldn't he be carrying around an extra burden of Chen Fang forever?
Marriage is such a disgusting relationship.
She still hasn't forgiven him for his past mistakes, which is why she agreed to this disgusting relationship.
The night was deep.
After taking a shower, Jiang Fei leaned lazily against the sofa.
The mission is complete once the little pervert gains 5 more points of favorability.
This is really...exciting.
My phone rang once.
Jiang Fei picked up her phone and saw a message from Shen Fang about the engagement date, which was the day after tomorrow.
To be precise, the two had already made a verbal engagement eight years ago, and this was just a private banquet to make it public.
Jiang Fei did not reply and tossed her phone aside.
There was a knock on the door.
Jiang Fei raised an eyebrow and glanced at the time: midnight.
She stood up and walked to the door. When she opened it, Jiang Cuo was standing there, quietly watching her. A few wisps of hair fell down, obscuring his bright and sparkling eyes.
"Sister," he called softly.
Jiang Fei: "Is there something you need?"
“Hmm,” Jiang Cuo nodded, looking down at her, “Sister, reach out your hand.”
"What?"
Jiang Cuo had already grabbed her hand and placed a ring of cold stuff in her palm, his movements serious.
Jiang Fei lowered her eyes in confusion, then froze.
In her palm was a delicate golden chain, slender and exquisitely crafted, with a small golden padlock.
"you……"
“Isn’t my sister still angry about what I did at the bar?” Jiang Cuo grabbed her hand and unlocked the chain. “You even did something like accepting a marriage proposal.”
Jiang Cuo's favorability +1.
“If you’re not satisfied, you can take pictures of me as you please, make them public or not, humiliate me or do whatever you want,” he said, locking one end of the chain around his wrist and handing the other end to her to control. “...Anything is fine, I don’t mind.”
Jiang Cuo's favorability +1.
"Just tell Shen Fang that you've changed your mind, that you don't want to marry him at all, and that you don't want any conflict with him..."
Jiang Cuo's favorability +1.
Jiang Fei looked at Jiang Cuo. Although the little pervert was abnormal and his thoughts were different from ordinary people, his thinking was always extremely clear. Even when he was surrounded and beaten, he remained calm.
He rarely acted so chaotically; he resembled... a bewildered baby elephant, clueless about its origins, recklessly using the exact same methods it had employed before to try and retain its owner.
"elder sister……"
"Xiao Cuo," Jiang Fei interrupted him, reaching out to gently stroke his cheek.
Jiang Cuo turned his head and rubbed his palm against hers.
Jiang Fei lowered her head, unlocked the chain on his wrist, and threw it aside.
Jiang Cuo remained staring at her.
Jiang Fei smiled and took a half step back: "The engagement banquet is the day after tomorrow."
After saying that, he closed the door.
Jiang Cuo's favorability rating: 99.
...
On the plane back to Chen City.
Song Yan looked down at the note in his hand, which only had the simple words "Have a safe journey" on it.
It was found on the suitcase early the next morning after that night.
What Jiang Fei left behind.
Suddenly, I thought of that kiss from that night, the first kiss he had ever given so wholeheartedly since he had given up on himself.
Song Yan's expression tightened slightly, and his eyes darkened unconsciously. He couldn't think of her; if he did, he would no longer be himself.
She pursed her lips and put the note into her pocket.
“Say, you love me.”
The girl's charming voice suddenly rang out, tinged with an ambiguous ending.
Song Yan's body stiffened.
He and Jiang Fei have never been in a romantic relationship, neither in the past nor now.
She loved to toy with him.
He endured her manipulation and became someone he no longer recognized.
Their relationship was so full that it left no room for feelings like "love".
The plane landed at 6 p.m.
The Song family's butler came to pick him up.
After reporting what had happened in the past few days, the housekeeper fell silent. Song Yan didn't say anything more either. Sitting in the back seat of the car, holding the documents, he couldn't help but think about seeing Jiang Fei tomorrow and having to endure the gossip and stares of the whole school because of her.
With her by his side, he could never go back to his peaceful life.
“Oh, right, young master,” the butler suddenly remembered something, “Old Mr. Song is feeling unwell and wants you to attend an engagement banquet in his place.”
Song Yan responded softly, "Hmm," then, after a moment's thought, asked inexplicably, "What engagement banquet?"
"The young master of the Shen family and the eldest daughter of the Jiang family."
With a "thud," the document in Song Yan's hand fell to the ground.
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