Chapter 17
Their eyes met, one was taken aback, the other indifferent.
“I was born in 1996 and died 20 years later. I came here when I was 6 years old.”
Cheng Xiucheng looked down at the girl in front of him, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
Twenty-four years old.
"You died so young?"
Seeing that Jin Chuwan didn't respond, he coughed awkwardly.
“I was born in 1990 and died 20 years ago, but I died suddenly from heart failure. And it seems I wandered around for a while after I died, and then somehow I became this family’s child…”
"To be precise, I was born via rebirth."
After listening, Jin Chuwan glanced at the handsome and dashing man in a suit and tie.
"You know quite a lot of words?"
"Um... my sister told me this."
When Cheng Xiucheng mentioned his sister, he seemed to open up and start talking.
“I already have a younger sister, and her name is also Aya. Actually, she's the one who told me the story of this book. She loves reading these kinds of novels; she's almost addicted to them…”
The man's tone held a hint of resentment when he mentioned this.
Jin Chuwan felt inexplicably guilty upon noticing the other person's emotions—in a way, she was also one of those who were deeply involved.
However, Sung Soo-seung quickly came to terms with it.
"As long as Aya is happy, these are all minor issues."
"To be honest, I thought it was absurd when I first came here, but after Cheng Ya was born, I didn't think that way anymore. Besides, I am now the heir to a large corporation, whereas before I was just a painter with some fame."
As Jin Chuwan listened to Cheng Xiucheng recount his background in one breath, she smiled faintly and then glanced at the man in front of her.
"So... have you considered going back?"
Cheng Xiucheng chuckled and shook his head upon hearing this, his beautiful eyes, just like Cheng Ya's, now fixed on Jin Chuwan.
It's strange, really. Just ten minutes ago he was disgusted by her, but now he finds her somewhat pleasing to the eye.
“I am already dead, and before I died, Aya also left this world due to the same illness. In fact, I had nothing left to cherish in that world.”
Cheng Xiucheng habitually reached into his pocket for a cigarette, but then stopped, thinking of Jin Chuwan beside him.
"Perhaps my sister is the current Cheng Ya, but she just doesn't remember it."
At this point, the man suddenly pulled out his phone from his pocket and moved closer to Jin Chuwan.
“Look, this is a portrait I drew for Aya before, and this is a photo of Chengya. Don’t they look alike? They’re practically the same person, right? Sometimes I think, maybe I was reincarnated to protect my sister…”
Perhaps because of the distance between them, or perhaps because they weren't familiar with each other, Kim Cho-wan realized that most of her previous judgments about Sung Soo-seung were actually wrong.
The only thing I guessed correctly was that he was a sister-complex.
"By the way, let's exchange contact information. After all, we're from the same world, and we might need each other's help in the future."
Jin Chuwan hesitated for a moment, but then she thought that maybe only the two of them understood each other's situation, so she nodded.
"I'm about to take the college entrance exam, so I'll be very busy lately. It's best not to contact me unless it's something important."
Cheng Xiucheng nodded as he entered the two people's numbers.
"No problem. Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm actually quite busy."
"After all, managing the entire group involves a lot of social engagements, unlike you who can just relax and be a poor student..."
This time it was Jin Chuwan's turn to be taken aback. She looked up at Cheng Xiucheng.
This person—?
If you can't speak properly, can't you just shut up like Jiang Chen?
“I said, why don’t we make Cheng Ya the heir? The way you are, the Cheng family might be ruined in your hands.”
Sung Soo-seung, who had just entered his phone number, lifted his eyelids slightly.
"That's amazing, he actually said the same thing as my grandfather."
--
While Kim Cho-man and Sung Soo-seung were chatting, they suddenly heard some noise at the door, and they both looked out at the door at the same time.
"Well... that's all for now. Today is Aya's birthday, so I can't stay here with you for too long."
Cheng Xiucheng pressed the doorknob, but as he opened the door, he seemed to remember something and turned to look at Jin Chuwan.
"I heard you're staying at Jiang Chen's house. If you find it inconvenient, I can help you."
He meant well.
After all, this is just a world in a book, and without 'Jin Chuwan' interfering, the male and female protagonists would most likely fall in love more smoothly.
In that case, Kim Cho-man might be in a rather awkward position.
"Thank you, but I don't need it."
Jin Chuwan smiled. Now she just hoped Cheng Xiucheng would leave quickly so she could change her clothes and go home. The man seemed to notice Jin Chuwan's disdain. He chuckled and then opened the door.
Because the banquet was in full swing, there weren't many people in the lounge at that time.
However, the moment Sung Soo-seung opened the door, a look of surprise appeared on his face.
"Jiang Chen?"
A tall, aloof young man stood outside the door, his dark eyes staring straight into the room.
Hearing the sound, Jin Chuwan turned around and looked back. She hadn't expected Jiang Chen to be outside. Although she was a little puzzled, Jin Chuwan guessed that Jiang Chen probably wanted to use the lounge, so she pointed to her clothes.
"I'll go out after I change my clothes."
Jiang Chen's eyes flickered.
He nodded, then moved two steps toward the door.
At this moment, Cheng Xiucheng realized that he seemed to be ignored by this 'future brother-in-law'. He pushed up his glasses, sneered, and walked away.
He's changed his mind now; he'll never entrust his precious little sister to someone like that.
When Jin Chuwan saw Cheng Xiucheng leave, she also came to the door. She glanced at Jiang Chen standing outside the door, and—the silver-haired boy who was leaning against the wall and smiling lazily.
Yin Zhihua raised his hand, ready to greet them, but the door was closed the next second.
Then he heard his friend's laughter.
Yin Zhihua's face stiffened, and he pointed to the lounge.
"Is this the well-behaved and obedient little sister you used to talk about?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen looked at Yin Zhihua with a puzzled expression, as if trying to recall when he had said such a thing.
Yin Zhihua glanced at the lounge speechlessly.
It was only recently that he remembered hearing the name Kim Cho-wan somewhere.
Although he and Jiang Chen weren't particularly close, they had known each other for many years and had a fairly good relationship.
Although it was rare, Jiang Chen would occasionally ask to go home early when everyone was having a great time because of this name. He had complained before, suspecting that Jiang Chen was making up an excuse to lie to them.
It seems he really does have a younger sister.
"But how come I've never heard of the Jiang family having another girl?"
When Yin Zhihua asked, Jiang Chen replied casually, "She is the daughter of Butler Jin, two or three months younger than me. We grew up together, so she is also considered my younger sister."
However, Jin Chuwan never called him "brother". Most of the time she called him by his name, and if she was in a bad mood, she would call him "young master".
Jiang Chen leaned against the door, but his gaze unconsciously drifted towards the young man who was already chatting and laughing in the banquet hall.
"I heard you're staying at Jiang Chen's house. If you find it inconvenient, I can help you."
That slow, gentle voice lingered in my ears.
The boy's smile was faint, but his eyes looked dark and deep.
At that moment, the door to the lounge suddenly opened.
The two looked over together and saw Jin Chuwan peeking out with a tired expression.
She glanced at the two of them, then finally fixed her gaze on Jiang Chen.
"Come in for a moment."
Jiang Chen entered the room with a puzzled look on his face. Yin Zhihua was about to sneak in and follow him when the door suddenly closed, blocking his way.
After being turned away twice, Yin Zhihua turned to leave, but he quickly stopped.
The boy crossed his arms, his eyes gradually becoming ambiguous.
For the sake of his first kiss, he decided to endure it one more time.
--
Meanwhile, in the lounge...
Kim Cho-wan stood in front of the huge floor-length mirror, explaining to Jiang Chen with great frustration.
As an adult, Jin Chuwan naturally knew that this was somewhat inappropriate. But fortunately, she was wearing clothes under her skirt, so it wasn't too embarrassing.
"Just loosen it a little, you know, my bones are as hard as steel. I've tried so hard, but I still can't reach it—"
Having lived two lives, this was the first time Jin Chuwan had felt so exhausted and anxious just from taking off a dress.
But after she finished speaking, Jiang Chen did not respond for a long time.
"Or, could you please invite a waitress in for me..."
Thinking about it carefully, given her relationship with Jiang Chen, asking her to do something like this was indeed a bit difficult.
But Jiang Chen remained motionless, standing silently with his dark eyes fixed on Jin Chuwan.
"...So, you just had him help you like that too?"
Hearing Jiang Chen's inexplicable question, Jin Chuwan looked up in confusion.
"What makes whom?"
Their eyes met, and the boy, who had been suppressing some emotion, looked away without making a sound after seeing the girl's puzzled look.
He lowered his head and coughed lightly, then glanced at Jin Chuwan.
"Never mind, it's nothing... You can turn around first."
Jin Chuwan frowned and glanced at Jiang Chen, then hesitated before turning around.
In just two or three seconds, feeling her collar loosen, Jin Chuwan finally breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at Jiang Chen, who was now facing away from her.
"Thanks."
"kindness."
"..."
Jin Chuwan thought for a moment and then spoke.
"Um, aren't you going out?"
--
When the lounge door opened again, Yin Zhihua saw Jiang Chen, whose expression was slightly gloomy.
"What's wrong? Jin Chuwan seemed a bit strange just now?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen glanced at his friend beside him.
"You two know each other?"
Upon hearing this, Yin Zhihua smiled and hooked his arm around Jiang Chen's shoulder.
"What's there to know or not know? Your sister is my sister."
--
Jin Chuwan, who had changed her clothes a short while later, also came out of the lounge. She glanced at the two people who seemed to be chatting, gave them a brief greeting, and then walked out of the hotel.
She's very tired today and wants to go home and rest early.
Cheng Ya's arranged driver was already waiting outside. When he saw Jin Chuwan come out, he presented her with the gift that the young lady had prepared.
Looking at the gift, Jin Chuwan suddenly felt that it seemed to be a tacit understanding between her and Cheng Ya.
"Thank you for your help this year too."
The driver waved and smiled, then started the car.
Not long after Kim Cho-wan left, Jiang Chen also left Sung-ah's birthday party.
The man who was determined to ruin his sister and Jiang Chen's relationship waited for a long time but the scene of the two meeting in private never came. Cheng Xiucheng, who had already drunk who knows how many drinks, suddenly glanced at his beloved sister who was happily tapping on her phone next to him.
“Aya, tell your brother the truth.”
What is your relationship with Jiang Chen?
Cheng Ya, who had just finished replying to the text message, suddenly heard her older brother's words and looked up in confusion.
"My relationship with Jiang Chen..."
As the girl spoke, a cold smile suddenly appeared on her face, which was out of character for her.
"Why should I have anything to do with that guy who hogs my time every night and is incredibly rude?"
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