Jiang Yi played games for a while, but Jiang Sixian’s expression kept replaying in her mind, making her feel restless.
She put down the game console and sent Jiang Sixian a message: “My condolences. Take care.” Jiang Yi’s mother was an orphan, and Jiang Qionghua’s parents had also passed away. So, in this world, besides Grandma Xu, Jiang Yi didn’t have any grandmotherly figures in her life.
She didn’t really understand the relationship between Jiang Sixian and her grandfather, but the death of a loved one reminded her of the time she lost her mother, bringing an inexplicable wave of sadness. Coupled with Jiang Sixian’s pained expression, she subconsciously wanted to comfort her.
Jiang Sixian replied almost instantly: “Thank you.”
Jiang Yi asked again: “Are you okay?”
Jiang Sixian simply replied: “Mm.”
Okay, so she wasn’t in a good mood. Jiang Yi quickly typed: “Life and death are predestined. You have to look on the bright side.”
Jiang Sixian replied: “I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”
Alright, since Jiang Sixian said so, there was no point in comforting her further. Jiang Yi quickly replied “That’s good,” then put on her headphones and went back to her game.
For the next few days, Jiang Sixian was rarely home, spending most of her time at the Songshan Jiang family home, observing the mourning period.
The Songshan Jiang family, after all, controlled a top-ten food conglomerate in the country. The sudden death of Jiang Wensong, the head of the family, who had always been in good health, was truly unexpected.
Jiang Wensong’s sudden passing, without a completed will, had alerted the media, who, like sharks smelling blood, swarmed the family.
Before Jiang Wensong’s funeral was even over, the internet was flooded with Jiang family gossip.
For example, after Jiang Duobao presented as a Beta, Jiang Sixian’s father had another affair. And on New Year’s Eve, a group of women had shown up at the family home with Jiang Liuyun’s illegitimate children.
Another rumor claimed that it wasn’t Jiang Liuyun who angered Jiang Wensong that night, but his own illegitimate child.
Jiang Yi, reading the online gossip, felt utterly confused. She decided to share the gossip with her friends in their 5A group chat.
Chen Wanzhou, the most reliable source of gossip about wealthy families, calmly recounted the events in the group chat: “Old Man Wensong was quite the playboy in his youth, no less so than Jiang Sixian’s father. He had plenty of mistresses.”
“Starting last year, he took a liking to a young man surnamed Qin at the company. A while ago, when Auntie Ning and your mother were trying to snatch a project from Songshan, it was this Qin who saved the day, securing part of the project.”
“Old Man Wensong, seeing how capable he was, and that he was a single Alpha, married his youngest daughter to him.”
“Then, on New Year’s Eve, in a power grab, it was revealed that this Qin was actually Old Man Wensong’s illegitimate son, and that he’d been having an affair with his younger sister… essentially incest…”
“As you can imagine, the old man collapsed on the spot, and they couldn’t revive him… he kicked the bucket…”
Jiang Yi exclaimed, “Isn’t this just like Thunderstorm?!”
The little monitor clarified, “Thunderstorm is a play criticizing capitalists. Their story is, at most, a tale of a capitalist getting his just desserts. Comparing it to Thunderstorm? It’s not worthy.”
Jiang Yi was speechless.
Chen Wanzhou summarized, “The old man didn’t finalize his will. I heard that Qin is quite cunning. He turned his wife—the old man’s youngest daughter, essentially his half-sister—against the family. The two of them are now trying to carve up the Jiang family fortune.”
“Anyway, this is going to be a good show.”
Jiang Yi wasn’t really interested in these wealthy family feuds. She said, “No matter how dramatic it gets, it has nothing to do with us. Don’t forget we have to prepare for the college entrance exams. Let’s get back to studying.”
After Jiang Yi declared the end of the gossip session, everyone pulled out their workbooks and started doing their homework.
On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Jiang Wensong was buried, officially marking the beginning of the Songshan Jiang family’s inheritance battle.
Jiang Yi didn’t pay much attention to it, only feeling slightly worried about Jiang Sixian. That evening, after dinner at 8 pm, she sent Jiang Sixian a message: “Want some late-night snacks?”
Jiang Sixian, puzzled, replied: “?”
Jiang Yi scratched her face and continued, “Come over, I’ll treat you.”
It was already past nine. Jiang Sixian didn’t understand why Jiang Yi was inviting her over. But since the accident six months ago, she hadn’t had much time alone with Jiang Yi.
Even though she couldn’t smell Jiang Yi’s pheromones, she still held a sliver of hope. Biting her lip, she hesitated for a long time before replying, “Okay.”
Jiang Sixian soon arrived at the cottage. Reaching the second floor, she found Jiang Yi, dressed in long-sleeved pajamas and a jacket, sitting on the living room sofa.
Before Jiang Yi was a fruit platter, two slices of cake, and a small kettle, bubbling softly.
Jiang Sixian, looking at the tea set on the table, sat down and asked, “You invited me for late-night snacks, and you’re serving tea?”
Jiang Yi smiled and started preparing the tea. “Tea and snacks are good for the mood.”
Jiang Sixian suddenly understood that Jiang Yi was concerned about her. She felt a surge of happiness, but still said, “But drinking tea this late will keep me awake.”
Jiang Yi paused, looking at her. “Are you sensitive to caffeine? But eating sweets can improve your mood and help you sleep.”
Jiang Sixian nodded, watching as Jiang Yi poured her a cup of tea. “That’s true.”
Jiang Sixian took a sip of tea and started chatting idly with Jiang Yi. “By the way, how’s your studying going? Which university are you applying to?”
Jiang Yi replied, “The one in the capital. What about you? Huajing University?”
Jiang Sixian didn’t deny it. “I’m considering it, but haven’t decided yet.” Huajing University was too far from the university Jiang Yi was applying to. She worried she wouldn’t have an excuse to contact Jiang Yi again.
Jiang Yi gave a noncommittal “Oh” and asked lazily, “What major are you planning to study?”
Jiang Sixian hesitated, then said, “Law.”
Jiang Yi was surprised. “Huh? Aren’t you going to study business?” After all, in the novel, Jiang Sixian had studied business, then joined Jiang Qionghua’s company after graduation, parachuting into a management position.
Jiang Sixian lifted her teacup, blowing on it gently. “I’m more interested in law now.” Ideally, she’d become a prosecutor. That way, she’d have more in common with Jiang Yi.
She was still unwilling to give up. Jiang Yi was clearly kind to her, they weren’t related, and there was a possibility between them. She didn’t want to give up so easily.
Jiang Yi thought, If you like it, then like it. Whatever.
She decided to change the subject, commenting on how delicious the pastries were, then chatting about other things.
They talked aimlessly, their conversation lacking any real substance, slowly finishing the tea and snacks.
Jiang Sixian had never spent so much time alone with her before. Perhaps it was Jiang Yi’s unusually gentle demeanor that gave her a sense of hope.
As she was about to leave, Jiang Sixian stood by the table, watching Jiang Yi tidy up, and asked, “Jiang Yi, are you concerned about me?”
Jiang Yi looked up at her, slightly surprised. “Aren’t you usually quite smart? Why are you being so dense now? Isn’t it obvious?”
Jiang Sixian stood under the light, looking intently at her. “Some things, if you don’t tell me directly, I won’t know. Jiang Yi, why are you concerned about me?”
Jiang Yi scratched her face, thinking there was no way she could admit it was because she’d noticed Jiang Sixian’s gloomy mood and troubled look these past few days—and her heart ached for her.
She looked down, avoiding Jiang Sixian’s gaze. “You’ve been good to me too. You seemed really sad lately, and I just… I was worried it might affect your exam scores, so I… wanted you to be happy.”
“That’s all. There’s no other reason.”
Jiang Sixian looked down at her, her eyes filled with an unreadable sadness. She bit her lip and said, “But I still feel down.”
Jiang Yi looked up at her, slightly bewildered. “Eating sweets didn’t cheer you up? Usually, if I eat something delicious, I forget all my troubles.”
She truly didn’t know how to comfort girls. After all, when her mother passed away, she’d eaten ice cream for a week to suppress her grief.
Jiang Sixian looked intently at her, her voice serious. “I’m more sensitive than you. I’m not as strong. Maybe I just need a hug to feel better.”
A hug?
Jiang Yi looked at her, slightly taken aback. “Then you should ask Auntie Ning for a hug.” She felt their relationship was, at most, casual acquaintances who occasionally had tea together. Hugging seemed a bit much.
Jiang Sixian didn’t back down. “But Mom isn’t here. You’re the only one here.”
Jiang Yi pointed at herself, incredulous. “You mean… you want me to hug you?”
Jiang Sixian pursed her lips and countered, “Is that a problem? Didn’t you want me to feel better? Can’t you even do this much?”
Jiang Yi was stunned by her question. Jiang Sixian continued, “It’s just a hug. There’s nothing wrong with sisters hugging, is there?”
Jiang Yi felt she was being manipulated. After all, she felt Jiang Sixian had never really treated her like a sister. Ever since the New Year’s Eve ball in her sophomore year, Jiang Yi had sensed something.
It had been a long time since she’d thought about her impending death. But now, looking at Jiang Sixian, she couldn’t help but recall that terrifying thought.
Jiang Yi thought that perhaps her mother, when she received her terminal cancer diagnosis, had felt the same way she did now.
Jiang Yi scratched her face, stood up, and said, “Fine, fine, come here. Since you’ve lost a loved one, I’ll reluctantly give you a hug.”
She moved away from the sofa, stood up straight, and opened her arms like a clothes rack.
Jiang Sixian looked at her intently, then walked towards her step by step.
In the quiet night, Jiang Sixian’s footsteps echoed in Jiang Yi’s ears like a drumbeat against her heart, making it pound uncontrollably.
Finally, Jiang Sixian stood before her, face to face.
Their breaths mingled, their scents intertwined. With each exhale, Jiang Yi could smell the sweet fragrance of Jiang Sixian’s pheromones.
I like it, I like it, I like it so much…
Jiang Yi deciphered this message from Jiang Sixian’s pheromones. Her face flushed, and she turned her head, avoiding Jiang Sixian’s gaze, closing her eyes with a resigned expression. “Didn’t you want a hug? Come on, hurry up.”
Jiang Sixian reached out, wrapped her arms around Jiang Yi’s waist, and rested her head on her shoulder.
In that moment, Jiang Yi was enveloped by the warmth of the Omega’s body and the sweet fragrance of her pheromones. Almost instinctively, her gaze fell on the delicate skin of Jiang Sixian’s neck, lingering on her vulnerable scent gland.
I want to bite… I want to mark her…
Her instincts screamed, her mind filled with inappropriate thoughts. Jiang Yi was torn, her heart in turmoil.
And then, Jiang Sixian took her hand and placed it on her waist. Jiang Yi had no choice but to loosely wrap her arms around Jiang Sixian’s waist, staring at the ceiling with a slightly panicked expression. “Are you done yet?”
She called her “jiejie,” and Jiang Sixian felt a surge of happiness. Pushing her luck, she stepped closer, pressing her entire body against Jiang Yi. “Not yet, just a little longer.”
Fine, fine. Jiang Yi thought she must have been out of her mind to agree to this.
And then, Jiang Sixian whispered, “Jiang Yi, your heart is beating so fast…”
Jiang Yi froze, thinking, Of course it’s beating fast! My ears are burning! I’m practically combusting from embarrassment!
Jiang Yi casually lied, “I’ve been exercising a lot these past six months. My heart is always strong and steady.”
Jiang Sixian rested her chin on Jiang Yi’s shoulder, tightening her grip on her waist. “By the way, Jiang Yi, even this close, I can’t smell your scent.”
She murmured, “Jiang Yi, what does your pheromone smell like?”
Jiang Yi froze, all words caught in her throat.
Jiang Sixian continued, her voice soft and wistful, “You’re such a good person, your pheromones must smell wonderful too.”
Jiang Yi didn’t reply, but Jiang Sixian continued, “But even just the scent of your shampoo and body wash is nice.”
Jiang Yi looked up at the ceiling, her arms tightening around Jiang Sixian’s waist. “Thanks for the compliment.”
Jiang Sixian chuckled. “You’re welcome.”
They hugged for a while longer, then Jiang Sixian hesitated, then said, “Jiang Yi, I think you’re poking me.”
Jiang Yi’s heart skipped a beat, her face instantly flushing crimson. She practically shouted, “Jiang Sixian!”
“Don’t make such inappropriate jokes!”
Poking her? As if! She wasn’t even hard!
Jiang Sixian couldn’t help but laugh, her body shaking against Jiang Yi’s. She nuzzled closer, her voice soft and playful. “Alright, alright… I was just teasing you.”
“I know you don’t have feelings for me.” So, naturally, there wouldn’t be any physiological reaction.
But that was okay. Just because it wasn’t possible now didn’t mean it wouldn’t be in the future.
After her laughter subsided, Jiang Sixian suddenly felt a sense of clarity. She hugged Jiang Yi tightly, then pulled back slightly, looking up at her. “Thank you for tonight, Jiang Yi.”
Perhaps because she’d differentiated into an Alpha, Jiang Yi had grown taller this past year. Looking down at Jiang Sixian in her arms, she suddenly found this seventeen-year-old girl, slightly older than herself, a bit endearing.
Jiang Yi couldn’t resist reaching out and ruffling Jiang Sixian’s hair, her gaze softening. “You’re welcome. After all, you’re my older sister.”
“Life and death are part of life, Jiang Sixian. One day, everyone around you will slowly leave.”
“But as long as you remember the happy times they brought you, they’ll always be with you.”
After all, that was how she’d coped with her mother’s death.
Jiang Yi smiled. “Remember to be happy every day, Jiang Sixian.”
Author’s Note:
Sixian: Actually, I wasn’t that sad.
If you’d like to read ahead and support me, you can request extra chapters or get the full novel as an EPUB.
