After breakfast, Jiang Yi freshened up and followed the two adults out the door.
Jiang Qionghua was driving today, with Ning Wenying in the passenger seat. Jiang Sixian and Jiang Yi sat in the back, each occupying one side, backs stiff, silent.
Since realizing the true nature of this world, Jiang Yi subconsciously kept her distance from Jiang Sixian. She didn’t have any particular issue with Jiang Sixian herself, but Jiang Sixian’s existence was a ticking time bomb. To put it bluntly, Jiang Sixian was like an infected person in a zombie movie, instinctively frightening Jiang Yi.
Therefore, throughout the journey, Jiang Yi kept her earbuds in, playing games and pretending Jiang Sixian didn’t exist.
She didn’t notice that Jiang Sixian, hands clasped in her lap, was occasionally glancing at her from the corner of her eye.
Jiang Yi didn’t really resemble Jiang Qionghua. Apart from their shared height, Jiang Yi’s features were much sharper. She had narrow, phoenix-like eyes that narrowed further when she played games, resembling a wolf or cheetah on the hunt—a fierce look. Even her eyebrows seemed more assertive than those of most girls.
Just looking at her face, one might assume Jiang Yi wasn’t easy to get along with.
Yet, paradoxically, when she smiled, her eyes lit up like stars, dazzlingly bright.
When Ning Wenying was helping Jiang Qionghua investigate Jiang Yi’s background, Jiang Sixian had happened to see several of her photos. Sometimes, she was sitting by a hospital bed, smiling as she coaxed her mother to eat. Other times, she was rushing out of school with her backpack, cheerfully greeting classmates.
No matter the situation, her eyes seemed devoid of shadows. Even when her mother was gravely ill, she smiled, bearing everything with fortitude.
Jiang Sixian suddenly remembered what her mother had said: “She’s such a vibrant and optimistic child, always striving to live her best life.” Pointing at Jiang Yi’s picture, she had asked, “Isn’t she amazing?”
Jiang Sixian had nodded. “She is amazing.” A completely different person from herself.
Perhaps because she had heard so much about Jiang Yi from her mother, when she was feverish and delirious that day, seeing Jiang Yi’s face had brought her an inexplicable sense of peace.
Then, she had surrendered herself completely to Jiang Yi, her consciousness sinking into the tide of her heat.
She couldn’t quite remember what Jiang Yi had said or done that day. Only the warmth of Jiang Yi’s hand and the steadiness of her back remained a vivid sensation.
Since learning about her mother’s relationship with Jiang Qionghua, Jiang Sixian had accepted the possibility of Jiang Qionghua becoming her stepmother. However, a few months ago, when she suddenly learned Jiang Qionghua had a daughter, she’d felt apprehensive.
But after meeting Jiang Yi that day, her apprehension had morphed into a flicker of anticipation. She felt that becoming friends with someone like Jiang Yi wouldn’t be so bad.
Unfortunately, Jiang Yi didn’t seem to share that sentiment, even expressing a strong desire to keep her distance.
Initially, Jiang Sixian thought Jiang Yi disliked her because of her background. Later, she realized Jiang Yi simply didn’t like her.
Jiang Sixian couldn’t understand this aversion. Usually, when faced with someone’s dislike, she would simply respond with indifference. But with Jiang Yi, she didn’t want to do that.
It was strange, and Jiang Sixian couldn’t quite understand her own feelings. She could only try to suppress her emotions.
Lost in thought, her gaze lingered on Jiang Yi.
Jiang Yi, immersed in her game, sensed someone staring and turned her head. Seeing Jiang Sixian looking directly at her, her eyes widened.
Jiang Sixian is staring at me!
This realization jolted her. Like a startled kitten, she flinched back, bumping her head against the car window.
“Ow!” Jiang Yi cried out, clutching the back of her head.
Her cry startled everyone in the car. Jiang Qionghua looked in the rearview mirror and, seeing Jiang Yi huddled in the corner, asked anxiously, “Jiang Yi, what happened?”
Ning Wenying turned around from the passenger seat. “Xiao Yi, where did you hit yourself? Does it hurt? Is it serious?”
Jiang Yi winced, holding her head as she mumbled, “It’s nothing… just bumped my head.” To cover her embarrassment, she blamed her nominal mother. “Auntie Jiang, can you drive more carefully?”
The term “Auntie Jiang” stung Jiang Qionghua. She replied defensively, “I was driving very carefully. You were too engrossed in your game.”
Jiang Yi, despite being in the wrong, argued back, “You clearly accelerated!”
Jiang Qionghua was in a good mood today and didn’t want to argue. “Fine, fine, it was my fault. Put your phone away, we’ll be there soon.”
Jiang Yi mumbled in agreement but kept her earbuds in, simply stopping her game.
She shifted further into the corner, putting as much distance between herself and Jiang Sixian as possible. Watching her movements, Jiang Sixian suddenly realized that Jiang Yi wasn’t disgusted by her, but rather, seemed afraid.
Like a mouse afraid of a cat.
Jiang Yi was all bark and no bite, a paper tiger. She looked fierce, but wasn’t truly threatening.
Realizing this, Jiang Sixian felt a smile tugging at her lips. Turning her head to hide it, she said casually, “If you’re not hurt, then let’s not worry about it.”
She wanted to see just how afraid Jiang Yi was of her. Jiang Yi’s reaction was quite amusing.
From then on, Jiang Sixian turned and stared directly at Jiang Yi.
Jiang Yi, startled, stared back.
Their eyes locked, neither willing to yield, engaging in a silent battle of wills.
This staring contest made Jiang Yi incredibly uncomfortable. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, the moment Jiang Qionghua parked at the equestrian center, she flung open the car door and practically bolted out.
Jiang Sixian watched her go, then, after a moment’s thought, followed.
She called out to Ning Wenying, “Mom, I’ll take Jiang Yi to the infirmary. She seemed to hit her head quite hard.”
With that, Jiang Sixian deliberately walked beside Jiang Yi, reaching for her hand as she said softly, “Jiang Yi, let me take you to the infirmary.”
The moment Jiang Sixian’s body heat neared, Jiang Yi recoiled like a startled cat, exclaiming, “What are you doing?!”
“I don’t need to go to the infirmary.”
Jiang Yi stepped back, her face screaming, “Don’t touch me!” Seeing her reaction, Jiang Sixian felt her suspicions confirmed: Jiang Yi was truly afraid of her.
Jiang Sixian’s lips curled into a faint smile. Turning her head, she said calmly, “If you don’t want to go, then don’t.”
She wanted to see just how far Jiang Yi’s fear would go. Her reaction was simply too entertaining.
Author’s Note:
Jiang Sixian: Teasing the kitty.
