Chapter 90 Skylight Sometimes he almost doubted that they were not a man and a woman...
After the weekend, Cui Yiluo returned to school.
Worried about being seen, Cui Yiluo asked Jiang Yunjin to drop her off a street away from the main gate of A University. Jiang Yunjin didn't say anything, only asking when he would pick her up next time.
Cui Yilu blinked: "Sunday, I won't go on Saturday. Finals are coming up soon, I'm so busy."
"good."
Jiang Yunjin finished speaking but kept looking at her, as if he wanted to say something but stopped. Cui Yiluo guessed that he had more to say, and her hand, which was about to open the car door, stopped moving.
After a few seconds of eye contact, Jiang Yunjin spoke, his voice low: "If you need anything, you can send me a message."
need?
Cui Yiluo couldn't hide her complicated expression. Although they were very compatible, the past two days of indulgence made her feel like her soul was about to be knocked out of her body. She wasn't quite at that level of debauchery.
A hint of helplessness flickered in Jiang Yunjin's eyes, clearly sensing the complex emotion in her expression.
That's not what I meant.
Cui Yiluo responded with an "oh," opened the car door, and got out, not taking his words to heart.
They rarely send messages, and when they do, it's usually just to say when they'll visit him. Aside from that, their relationship is similar to when they were just cousins in name only, with little contact between them.
Their meetings were more frequent; aside from when he was away on business, he would pick her up almost every week, first to have dinner, occasionally to watch a movie, and then take her back to his place. Sometimes during the week, Cui Yiluo would also go to see him, and Jiang Yunjin would cooperate.
Cui Yiluo thought this was fine too; the relationship was clear-cut and purely a friendship with benefits.
Cui Yiluo only carried a backpack, so walking back was easy. The outfit that was originally in the backpack was still in Jiang Yunjin's apartment. The fabric was soaked and dirty. Cui Yiluo didn't know what he would do with the outfit. She guessed he would just throw it away. But it didn't matter. She could pick out some new styles next time.
next time……
The sunlight streamed onto the road in the early autumn morning. There weren't many people on the street, and the crisp air filled her lungs. Cui Yiluo suddenly felt a pang of regret. It was because she had gone too far over the weekend that she had been bewitched and agreed to continue this relationship with him.
An improper relationship cannot last a lifetime; it will end someday. What they are doing now is merely indulging in momentary pleasure.
If it wasn't successful this time, it will be even harder to bring it up again next time.
However, being able to continue enjoying Jiang Yunjin's body is also a good thing.
Cui Yiluo went about her usual routine of attending classes, spending time in the library, and preparing for the competition, except for a small hiccup during her elective class on Wednesday evening. The originally planned open-book assessment was suddenly interrupted by a group assignment.
Cui Yiluo and Jiang Zhaoyue chose this course together. While the teacher on the podium was still explaining the requirements of this group assignment, Jiang Zhaoyue next to her had already taken out her phone and was typing away, complaining to her.
"The course was almost over, and they still managed to come up with the idea of suddenly adding group assignments. The list of projects to avoid is about to be updated."
Despite the complaints, Jiang Zhaoyue soon gave her an "OK" sign, indicating that the person had been found. Subsequently, Cui Yiluo was quickly added to the group chat.
As always, they were energetic and energetic.
College student A has a rich and varied extracurricular life. Fearing that they wouldn't be able to find enough time, they decided to arrange to meet in an empty classroom after class to discuss the assignment.
Cui Yiluo didn't know who Jiang Zhaoyue had teamed up with, but judging from their WeChat profile pictures, she guessed that they seemed to be two boys.
It wasn't until they met in an empty classroom that Cui Yiluo realized the two boys in front of her looked somewhat familiar.
Seemingly noticing the slight confusion in Cui Yiluo's expression, Jiang Zhaoyue pretended to be looking up research papers on her computer while sending her a message: "Don't you remember them?"
Cui Yiluo glanced furtively at the two boys opposite her, who were also using computers to research information, their faces half-hidden behind the screens. She openly typed a reply to Jiang Zhaoyue: "Basketball game?"
Last week, Cui Yiluo went to the basketball game with her roommate. Later, in Jiang Yunjin's car, Jiang Zhaoyue brought it up again, asking her which one she thought was more handsome, number 6 or the guy with the surname Yuan. She then said she thought number 6 was more handsome.
Jiang Zhaoyue is always quick in her work, and I didn't expect her to directly use the group assignment to arrange a meeting with people.
Of the two boys in front of me, one must be number 6, and the other must also be from the basketball game. He looks familiar, but I'm not sure who he is.
Cui Yiluo typed, "Which one is number 6?"
Jiang Zhaoyue looked at her in surprise. "The one opposite you is Yuan Ling, and the one opposite me is number 6, Xu Yi. You don't recognize them? Why did you tell me before that you thought Yuan Ling was more handsome?"
Only then did Cui Yiluo match the person with the face. She hadn't noticed before. At the time, he was sitting next to Jiang Yunjin in the car. Although he didn't react, she felt something was off and just wanted to end the conversation quickly, so she just said it casually.
Cui Yiluo gave a vague answer: "I still have a vague impression at the time."
Jiang Zhaoyue didn't delve deeper, but instead became interested again, "Now that you see them, who do you think is more handsome, Xu Yi or Yuan Ling?"
Cui Yiluo glanced at the two boys opposite her and thought they looked similar.
She answered honestly, "More or less."
After replying, she switched to her phone to seriously research the literature. Jiang Zhaoyue was clearly not satisfied with her answer and continued to ask follow-up questions on the other end of the WeChat message.
By the time the discussion ended, it was nearly ten o'clock. Jiang Zhaoyue took the opportunity to say that her dormitory building was close to Xu Yi's, so they could go back together. Cui Yiluo naturally understood her intention and agreed without hesitation.
But perhaps out of guilt for leaving Cui Yiluo behind, Jiang Zhaoyue asked Yuan Ling to give Cui Yiluo a ride before she left.
The security at University A is excellent; there are virtually no areas without streetlights. Seeing that Yuan Ling seemed genuinely going to offer her a ride, Cui Yiluo declined, saying, "You don't need to take me; I can go back by myself."
The teaching building is not far from her dormitory building.
Yuan Ling suddenly spoke up: "Miss Cui, it seems you really don't know."
Yuan Ling has sharp features and a stern demeanor, even in his speech. Although he doesn't smile much, he doesn't have the aloofness that Jiang Yunjin has when interacting with people. Instead, he exudes a direct and sharp aura.
Cui Yiluo's voice turned cold. "If you have something to say, just say it."
Yuan Ling smiled knowingly. "I'd like to make a deal with Miss Cui."
At University A, everyone addresses each other as "classmate." Yuan Ling's way of addressing him is more like something out of a social setting like a banquet. Cui Yiluo vaguely guessed part of it.
"Didn't your father tell you that he arranged a small banquet at Ruyi Restaurant on Saturday, just for the two of us?"
Since hearing Lan Hui say last weekend that they had arranged a blind date for her, Cui Yiluo has stopped answering calls from the Cui family and has also blocked their WeChat messages.
So, the person she was set up with on a blind date was actually Yuan Ling?
In City A, there's only one family with the surname Yuan. While the difference between them and the Jiang family isn't huge—not as great as the difference between them and the Jiang family—it's not small either. Cui Yiluo suddenly felt puzzled; how exactly did they arrange things?
Could it be... that Lan Yi got involved too?
If Lan Yi was indeed involved, the Cui family couldn't contact her, and Lan Yi, who doesn't usually contact her unless absolutely necessary, would definitely be looking for her in the next few days.
Cui Yiluo looked down at the ground, pondering. Yuan Ling continued, "You don't want to go on a blind date, and neither do I. Why don't we take this opportunity to help each other deal with our families?"
Yuan Ling's meaning was clear: he wanted to pretend that they were developing a relationship, so that their parents would definitely not arrange any other blind dates for them.
Cui Yiluo knew that her half-brother, Cui Jun, was incompetent, which was why they planned to use her for a marriage alliance—a scheme that began when she was less than ten years old. As she grew more beautiful, she attracted many suitors, including wealthy and powerful young men many times better off than her family. This only fueled their ambitions. Now, neither her father nor her stepmother would easily let her marriage go; this was just the beginning.
Although the Qing Dynasty has fallen, severing ties with the Cui family isn't so easy for Cui Yiluo now. While the Cui family isn't as wealthy as the Jiang family, they still provide her with ample material comforts, and they've spent a considerable amount of money educating her for the sake of the marriage alliance and prestige. Over the years, the sum has been substantial. This alone prevents her from leaving the Cui family so easily.
She needed time, and the condition Yuan Ling proposed was indeed very tempting.
Yuan Ling didn't urge him on, and only when they were almost at the dormitory building did he slowly ask, "What does Miss Cui think?"
Cui Yiluo did not answer.
“How about this, give me your answer again at Ruyi Restaurant on Saturday,” Yuan Ling said with a half-smile. “Miss Cui should really consider this.”
Cui Yiluo ignored him, finding Yuan Ling's words sarcastic and unsettling. Her dormitory building was just around the corner, so she quickened her pace.
But then she suddenly saw a familiar figure downstairs, and her heart skipped a beat.
What's Jiang Yunjin doing here?
In late autumn, he wore a black overcoat, his tall and straight figure making him stand out even when he was in a secluded spot.
Not knowing how long he had been waiting, Cui Yiluo quickened her pace, but almost as soon as she came out from around the corner, Jiang Yunjin turned his gaze to meet hers. Then, his gaze slowly shifted to the boy behind her, his eyes darkening.
Cui Yiluo noticed the pause in his gaze and realized that Yuan Ling hadn't left yet.
"I have something to do, I'll be going now."
Yuan Ling didn't mention the transaction again, but looked at Jiang Yunjin, smiled and nodded, clearly indicating that the two knew each other. After that, he turned and left, but before leaving, he gave Cui Yiluo a half-smile.
Whether it was because they had noticed her relationship with Jiang Yunjin, or because they were reminding her not to forget the blind date on Saturday, it was unclear.
Cui Yiluo had no time to pay attention to him and looked at Jiang Yunjin, "Cousin, what brings you here?"
He rarely came to the school to see her.
Jiang Yunjin's dark eyes appeared even more intense in the night. Despite the bright streetlights around him, it seemed as if not a single ray of light could penetrate, exuding a sense of oppression and dominance.
"I just happened to be able to buy the calming tea I had before."
Cui Yiluo then noticed that he was also carrying a white paper bag with black trim, printed with a familiar logo.
It was the same one she used to use. Cui Yiluo had poor sleep quality, especially in her university dormitory. Jiang Yunjin had given her a calming tea by chance, and it worked surprisingly well. However, this tea was produced abroad and was difficult to buy in China, so she had been asking Jiang Yunjin to help her buy it. But later, the company shut down its production line, and Cui Yiluo had to give up.
Cui Yiluo took it, "Thank you, cousin, but isn't production halted?"
How did Jiang Yunjin manage to buy it?
"The Jiang family has cooperated with them and reopened the line."
Cui Yiluo was taken aback. This didn't seem to be within Jiang's usual business scope, but this calming tea was indeed effective and might have a considerable market in China. In any case, Jiang Yunjin would always have his own considerations; he wouldn't do something that would result in a loss.
Cui Yilu smiled at him and said, "Then I'll be troubling you again, cousin."
The warm glow of the streetlights softened his pale skin, and Jiang Yunjin looked at her and said softly, "It's no trouble at all."
The paper bag handle still carried the warmth of his fingers, which was especially noticeable in the cool late autumn. The subtle warmth climbed up Cui Yiluo's fingertips and flowed into her chest.
Jiang Yunjin came to give her calming tea, and now that the tea had been taken away, the conversation seemed to be over. Cui Yiluo was about to say goodbye when she heard him speak again.
I just sent you a message, but you didn't reply.
While discussing the group assignment, Cui Yiluo's computer was logged into WeChat, but she was either taking notes or looking up information and didn't check her messages. After leaving the teaching building, Yuan Ling was next to her, so she didn't have time to check her messages either.
When she took it out to look, she found that Jiang Yunjin had sent her a message an hour earlier, saying that he was downstairs in her dormitory.
She didn't reply, and he actually stood downstairs for an hour? Cui Yiluo knew that he always cherished his time.
Aside from a few strange feelings, she felt a deeper sense of guilt. She quickly said, "I'm sorry, cousin, I didn't check my phone earlier. How about I treat you to dinner this Sunday?"
However, Cui Yiluo thought that Jiang Yunjin probably wouldn't care about her meal, so she should treat him better elsewhere...
Jiang Yunjin frowned slightly. Even though he knew Cui Yiluo didn't like owing others, he was different from others, wasn't he? She always had a sense of distance from him, and sometimes he almost doubted whether they were boyfriend and girlfriend.
"It's alright, you don't need to invite me. I'll pick you up Saturday night."
Just as Cui Yiluo was about to agree, she suddenly remembered the blind date banquet Yuan Ling had mentioned earlier. However, she didn't plan to go, nor did she intend to agree to the deal Yuan Ling proposed.
"good."
But Jiang Yunjin still caught that moment of hesitation.
"Is something bothering you?"
"No."
Jiang Yunjin's gaze darkened slightly, revealing a hint of sharpness.
Why did he bring you back just now?
Author's Note: Don't worry, the modern "what if" story is mainly a sweet romance between two people. This chapter is just a transition; soon, the cousin will discover that he's just a kept man all along [doge emoji].
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