Saturday arrived quickly. That morning, Jiang Yi changed into her work uniform and headed out.
She had originally planned to take a taxi, but as she was leaving, Jiang Sixian called out to her from where she lay sprawled on the bed: “I prepared a car for you. The keys are in the living room—drive that over.”
That car had a dashcam and surveillance system, allowing Jiang Sixian to monitor Jiang Yi’s situation at any time. Jiang Yi instinctively refused: “No need, I can drive myself.”
Jiang Sixian lay on the bed, giving her a soft look before calling out in a coquettish tone: “Jiang Yi…”
Jiang Yi’s brain short-circuited instantly. Jiang Sixian blinked and smiled at her: “Didn’t you say you’d pick me up? Be good, take that car and come get me at five this afternoon.”
The moment Jiang Sixian said “be good,” Jiang Yi was powerless against her. With a resigned sigh, Jiang Yi conceded: “Alright alright, I’ll be good. I’ll drive that car.”
As she spoke, Jiang Yi pushed open the bedroom door: “Remember to get up for breakfast—no lazing in bed. I’m leaving now, bye.”
Jiang Sixian nodded, watching her leave.
Listening to Jiang Yi’s retreating footsteps, Jiang Sixian lay on the bed until she heard the front door close, feeling a pang of regret. She should have clung to her longer—at least gotten a morning kiss.
But regret aside, Jiang Sixian only rested a moment longer before changing clothes and heading out under Ah Quan and the others’ protection.
Chen Wanzhou’s villa was in the suburbs of another district, about an hour and a half’s drive away. By the time Jiang Yi arrived, it was already past eleven.
After entering the gated community, she followed the GPS to the Chen family villa.
From afar, she could see four people standing in a row outside the villa waiting for her.
At the front, Chen Wanzhou crossed her arms and lazily eyed Jiang Yi’s car: “That’s Sixian’s car—must be Jiang Yi.”
As soon as she spoke, the stylishly dressed Lin Yinxi beside her began waving excitedly at the approaching car, shouting: “Jiang Yi! Jiang Yi!”
From behind the wheel, Jiang Yi immediately recognized them. From left to right stood Chen Wanzhou, Lin Yinxi, Jin Duolai, and Zhang Tiantian.
Peering through the window at their faces—more mature than their school days—Jiang Yi felt a wave of nostalgia.
She parked in front of the villa and stepped out. The moment she stood up, Lin Yinxi, Jin Duolai and Zhang Tiantian swarmed her.
Petite but nimble, Jin Duolai threw her arms around Jiang Yi, voice trembling with emotion: “Wahhh…Jiang Yi…”
Lin Yinxi wrapped around them both, while Zhang Tiantian completed the group hug with her long arms, murmuring Jiang Yi’s name: “Jiang Yi…Jiang Yi…”
“I missed you so much…”
Jiang Yi felt herself getting choked up too. Sandwiched between three Alphas, while their pheromones didn’t affect her, she was nearly suffocating from the embrace.
Patting the sobbing Jin Duolai, she comforted them: “Okay okay, didn’t you used to say my pheromones were annoying? Why cling so tight now?”
“Stop crying, all of you—let go. Let’s go inside and talk over food, alright?”
Lin Yinxi abruptly lifted her tear-streaked face, eyes red as she stared at Jiang Yi in shock: “Jiang Yi, you remember that? Chen Wanzhou said you had amnesia—was that fake?”
“Real, real.” Jiang Yi extricated herself and herded them forward: “Inside first. This isn’t the place for reunions—a bunch of people in your twenties crying like kids, how embarrassing.”
As she ushered them in, she turned to Chen Wanzhou: “Have someone park the car for me, thanks.”
Chen Wanzhou gave an OK sign and led them to the BBQ area.
Having skipped breakfast, Jiang Yi was starving. Seeing the ingredients ready, she started the fire to begin grilling.
Jin Duolai hovered nearby, sniffling as she said sheepishly: “Jiang Yi, I never thought I’d see you again. That you’re alive…it’s really wonderful.”
Jiang Yi smiled while tending the flames: “I think so too.”
Lin Yinxi, having finally dried her tears, asked: “What’s this about amnesia? Do you really not remember anything? Was it a head injury or something else?”
Jiang Yi still wasn’t entirely sure whether she had amnesia or had transmigrated. While the distinction mattered greatly when it came to Jiang Sixian, with friends the dilemma felt less significant.
After deciding to meet Jiang Qionghua, Jiang Yi had resolved that within her capabilities, she wouldn’t let anyone connected to “Jiang Yi” grieve unnecessarily.
After some thought, she said: “Physically I’m fine. Haven’t gotten checked thoroughly, but that’s not important…”
“After running into Chen Wanzhou the other day, bits and pieces started coming back.”
Lin Yinxi perked up immediately, pointing at herself eagerly: “Me me me…do you remember anything about me?”
Jiang Yi tilted her head: “Class monitor? I remember you showed me around when I transferred. And…the 800-meter race at sophomore year sports day—you came in second, losing to Jiang Sixian.”
Lin Yinxi’s eyes reddened again as she lunged for another hug, babbling incoherently: “So great…you didn’t forget me, so great…”
Jiang Yi corrected her: “Recalled, not didn’t forget.”
Then Jin Duolai edged closer, barely containing her excitement: “What about me…Jiang Yi, what about me?”
Jiang Yi thought for a moment: “At the masquerade, we had that code phrase—I said ‘The heavens cover the tiger’…”
Jin Duolai instantly finished: “The monitor’s one point five!” [1]
Lin Yinxi protested immediately: “Shut up Duolai! You’re the one who’s one point five!”
Jiang Yi couldn’t help bursting into laughter. Her mirth proved contagious, and soon the courtyard rang with joyous laughter.
Zhang Tiantian gazed at Jiang Yi with hopeful eyes. Meeting her gaze, Jiang Yi said: “Tiantian, during meals you’d praise how cute Jiang Sixian was. At the masquerade you dressed as some demon king!”
Overcome with emotion, Zhang Tiantian wordlessly pulled Jiang Yi into a fierce embrace: “You didn’t forget me—that’s enough.”
As the others took turns reminiscing, Chen Wanzhou watched with glistening eyes, deeply moved.
Arms crossed, she adjusted her glasses and asked Jiang Yi: “What about me? What do you remember?”
Jiang Yi glanced at her and smiled: “I remember you dancing the opening waltz with Jiang Sixian at the masquerade—you looked stunning.”
Jin Duolai piped up in a tiny voice: “You also said she looked like a peacock.”
Chen Wanzhou snorted with laughter, eyes crinkling as she teased: “Has anyone noticed all her memories of us involve Jiang Sixian?”
With a meaningful look at Jiang Yi, she added: “Jiang Yi, did you only recall the masquerade after we met the other day?”
Jiang Yi froze—exactly right.
Chen Wanzhou grinned: “No wonder you were so jealous that day.”
Jiang Yi nearly dropped her basting brush in protest: “When was I jealous?”
Chen Wanzhou tsked: “Weren’t you? When I said I’d make Jiang Sixian my fiancée, that look in your eyes—whew, pure murder.”
Lin Yinxi, momentarily distracted from the jealousy angle, gasped loudly: “What? Dog Chen Wanzhou, you tried to break up my OTP! You said you didn’t like Sixian!”
Chen Wanzhou hastily clarified: “No no, I see Sixian as a sister—she’s Jiang Yi’s. I was just teasing because Sixian said Jiang Yi had amnesia and didn’t acknowledge their relationship.”
Though she explained, it didn’t spare her from a playful beating.
“Hey hey, Lin Yinxi—aren’t you a proper lady? Stop hitting!”
Watching their antics, Jiang Yi suddenly recalled the sports day when the class monitor had cried on Chen Wanzhou’s shoulder while being mercilessly teased. Seeing them now, they seemed like a classic bickering couple. Any lingering jealousy in Jiang Yi’s heart dissipated.
After disciplining Chen Wanzhou, Lin Yinxi scurried back to Jiang Yi’s side. Watching her grill lobster, she asked eagerly: “But Jiang Yi, what’s your situation with Sixian now? Are you dating?”
Jiang Yi lowered her gaze at Lin Yinxi’s starry-eyed expression, remembering how the class monitor had once asked if she liked Jiang Sixian.
She paused before answering, instead asking: “Back in school…did you ask me if I’d ever like Jiang Sixian?”
Lin Yinxi nodded vigorously: “I did! You remember?”
Jiang Yi nodded: “Mm…some bits. Back then I didn’t know, but now…”
Lin Yinxi gazed at her expectantly: “Now?”
Thinking of Jiang Sixian’s adorable face that morning, Jiang Yi’s heart softened. She answered gently: “I do like her.”
Lin Yinxi clutched her chest as if ascending to heaven. After a series of incoherent squeals, she grabbed Jiang Yi’s hand: “Promise me you’ll let me officiate your wedding! I can stay single—you two must get married!”
“And I get to be godmother to your kids!”
Jiang Yi laughed helplessly: “Let’s talk about that later. Enough about me—what about you all? How have you been these years?”
“Everything good?”
[1] The full phrase is a playful insult meaning “The heavens cover the tiger, the monitor is 1.5m tall” – teasing Lin Yinxi for being short. The humor comes from the rhyming structure in Chinese.
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