After Being Targeted By A Sweet Girl With Big Eyes - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: A False Call

As dusk settled, Jiang Ruyi returned home under the bright moonlight. She sat with one leg tucked onto the wooden stool, aggressively shoveling rice into her mouth. Fu Tian, having silently descended from upstairs at some point, appeared out of nowhere and gracefully sat down opposite her.

This sudden “live appearance” nearly made Jiang Ruyi’s eyes pop out. She thumped her chest to swallow the congee, her eyes full of questioning, demanding to know what stunt Fu Tian was pulling now.

Fu Tian didn’t speak. She just shook her head, blinked, and held a slight, knowing smile on her lips, gesturing for Jiang Ruyi to continue eating.

Jiang Ruyi was genuinely famished from being out so long and ignored her questions, burying her head to continue eating.

Fu Tian rested her chin in her hand, watching her quietly, her gaze gentle. The air was so still you could almost hear their breathing, permeated by an inexplicable sense of ambiguity.

Fu Tian suddenly pointed to the piano nearby and asked, “Do you still play the piano?”

Jiang Ruyi looked over. The shadow of the Swiss cheese plant was cast upon the black piano stand. She replied casually, “It was my sister’s when she was little. I’m decent, but I wasn’t really interested, so I didn’t master it. Back then, I was so small; I just did whatever my parents told me, and I didn’t even know if I liked it. Why, do you want to play? Go ahead, play openly. Anyway, my sister hasn’t touched it in ages. If she doesn’t use it, it’ll just become a decoration.”

She wiped her mouth and slumped onto the sofa next to the piano. “Come on, let me hear what other talents our Fu Tian has. Is it as outstanding as your singing?”

“Sure.” Fu Tian was completely unfazed. After sitting down, a familiar melody flowed from her fingertips.

Jiang Ruyi closed her eyes and savored it for a moment before realizing: Isn’t this the Wedding March?

She suddenly opened her eyes, meeting Fu Tian’s intense, smiling face, the mischief in her eyes undeniable.

This person clearly had ulterior motives.

“Fu Tian,” Jiang Ruyi sat up straight. “What exactly do you like about me? Thinking back to our first meeting at the bar, it wasn’t just not good, it was utterly terrible. I suspect you might have a masochistic tendency.”

“Liking someone doesn’t need standards.” Fu Tian stared at her lips, which looked particularly vibrant after eating, avoiding the heart of the matter. “I just like you.”

“Of course, there are standards for liking someone!” Jiang Ruyi retorted. “I like tall, sharp-featured, sisterly types.”

“I’m not short, and my features are quite three-dimensional too,” Fu Tian argued.

“Your ‘three-dimensional’ isn’t the kind of three-dimensional I want,” Jiang Ruyi scrutinized her. “You have a round face, you know that?”

“It’s an oval face.”

“It’s round.”

“It’s an oval face.”

“Fine, fine, oval face,” Jiang Ruyi conceded. “But your eyes are large, round almond eyes. Your nose is indeed straight, but it’s delicate. There are too many soft angles on your face. I like—I like a look that’s a bit more pointed and sharp. Sorry, but you just have too much collagen.”

“Can’t you try to like me even just a little bit?” Fu Tian’s voice took on a hint of grievance, and her eyes reddened slightly.

Jiang Ruyi’s heart softened seeing her on the verge of tears. After all, she had rejected her several times today. It was all Fu Tian’s fault for forcing the issue. She was about to open her mouth to comfort her, but then she thought: Wait a minute. Didn’t you say you wanted to pursue me? Why should I comfort you? Is this the right attitude for a pursuer?

So, she hardened her heart and said cruelly, “Sorry, I can’t go against my aesthetic preference. If you want to pursue me, take your time. I’m going back to my room to shower.”

…

The Cat and the Confession

The hot water from the shower streamed down from head to toe. Jiang Ruyi closed her eyes. Steam slowly filled the entire bathroom, and her thoughts drifted.

As she came out of the bathroom, toweling her hair, there was a soft knock on the door. Jiang Ruyi opened it but saw no one until a ball of fluff rubbed against her foot.

“Meow~”

“Oh, Laicai (Wealth Come)~”

Jiang Ruyi instantly switched to a high-pitched, childish voice. She squatted and picked up the orange cat, only then noticing Fu Tian sitting cross-legged by the door. “What’s up?”

Fu Tian reached out and stroked the cat in her arms. “This little cat kept running to my door. At first, I thought it liked me, but then I realized your room is above mine. Maybe it just got the wrong floor? So, I brought it up to check.”

The upstairs floor was usually shared by Jiang Ruyi and Wang Rumeng. Since Wang Rumeng was absent, it was Jiang Ruyi’s territory. Fu Tian happened to be staying in the room directly below Jiang Ruyi’s.

“That’s exactly it, this silly cat,” Jiang Ruyi laughed. “Don’t let its smart look fool you; it gets completely lost once it’s on the stairs. It usually doesn’t come up unless I carry it, so its sense of direction is terrible. I wondered why I’ve been sleeping so soundly lately. Turns out it ran off to harass you. Does it wake you up at six or seven every morning?”

Fu Tian smiled. It was true.

The two had a rare, pleasant conversation. Just as Jiang Ruyi was about to dismiss her, Fu Tian suddenly said, “I just took a set of photos just like yours.”

“What photos?”

“I won’t tell you.”

“Then why mention it?” Jiang Ruyi was speechless.

Fu Tian walked to the door, then turned back. “Oh, I almost forgot the main thing. I actually have a small dog too. I really envy your Laifu being able to run freely on the grassland. I feel so guilty that she has to live in a restricted space with a ceiling. So, I want to bring my dog over. Would that be okay?”

“That’s no big deal. Bring her over. Are you going to pick her up yourself, or how?”

“I signed her up for a summer camp to let her make some friends. I’ll just contact the teacher to send her over later. I’ll handle it myself.”

“Alright. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Fu Tian lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling, a smile playing on her lips.

She had just glanced inside Jiang Ruyi’s room. The layout was similar to hers, which meant her bed was directly below Jiang Ruyi’s bed. That realization made her blush.

Then, she turned over, feeling gloomy again.

The spot where she sat just now felt strangely familiar. She had intended to take a few photos to tease Jiang Ruyi, but then she remembered that someone as proud as Jiang Ruyi, a child born and raised on such vast grasslands, would actually run to an ex-lover’s doorstep to squat and cry, begging for forgiveness.

A wave of indescribable bitterness washed over her.

Moreover, even after she had confessed her intentions, Jiang Ruyi remained unchanged—neither disgusted nor careful to avoid suspicion, opening the door to see her while wearing a bathrobe. This frankness made her feel both secure and disheartened.

She picked up her phone and messaged Fan Ling: What exactly does she like? Be specific.

Fan Ling’s reply was brutally honest: Your opposite.

Fu Tian: Hahahahaha, hahahahahaha! You’re so vicious!

Fu Tian: Stop joking. You’re my strategist. Give me some advice, please, please.

Fan Ling: [Shocked emoji] I never said I’d be your strategist.

Fan Ling looked at the bright night view outside her French window. Before she could finish replying to Fu Tian, a message from Jiang Ruyi popped up.

She sighed helplessly and replied to Fu Tian first: You know, Xia Lin. Even after what happened, her preference hasn’t changed. Go search for Xia Lin’s early debut image. As far as I know, all her subsequent girlfriends were that style. That’s all the help I can give you, sis. The rest is up to you. [Flexing arm emoji]

Fan Ling then thought of a highly summarized description and added: She likes people who have an aggressive look, like herself. Don’t you think there’s a bit of narcissism there? You could directly copy her style. It’s easy since you’re staying at her house, but don’t blame me if she calls you a copycat. [Speechless emoji] [Disdain emoji]

Once Fan Ling started, she couldn’t stop, revealing a hint of relief at finally being able to vent: She just likes people with her own aggressive look. You can see the self-love there. You can just copy her style! Since you are at her house, it is easier to study, but don’t blame me if you get called a copycat.

Fu Tian was silent for a long time. Fan Ling then opened Jiang Ruyi’s message.

Jiang Ruyi: Ling, I need to tell you something. Don’t tell anyone.

Fan Ling thought, Besides Fu Tian, what else could she possibly have to share?

She replied: Go on.

Jiang Ruyi seemed to have already drafted the message, and a long string of text came back instantly:

It’s about the last time we went to the bar, and I complained to you about Fu Tian… Okay, I admit, I was annoyed by her makeup and that cute expression. I immediately assumed she was trying to charm men, you know? That’s why I wasn’t particularly fond of her. But then, she caught me, right? It’s my fault for being so engrossed and detailed in my description. Later, I checked her out and found she’s actually not bad. She’s a good person and somehow gets along with me.

Jiang Ruyi: And for certain reasons, I agreed to let her pursue me.

Fan Ling: Wait, that’s way too much left out! [Shocked emoji]

Jiang Ruyi: She set me up. I don’t want to talk about it. I have to honor the bet.

Jiang Ruyi: But you know, my last relationship just ended not long ago. I feel like a two-timing scum woman. Of course, agreeing to let her pursue me doesn’t mean I want to be with her. Plus, she’s not my type. Except for being female and her height being somewhat close to what I like, she’s completely different.

Fan Ling: So, what exactly are you trying to say?

She truly couldn’t figure out what Jiang Ruyi was trying to express. Was it distress or something else? Her words held a hint of ambivalence; with her temper, if she truly disliked her, she would have rejected her already. Why struggle here?

Jiang Ruyi: I don’t know. I just wanted to tell you.

Fan Ling: I don’t like you. Stop testing me. [Disdain emoji]

Jiang Ruyi: Get lost!

She slammed her phone onto the bed. That Fan person! She must be overfed and think I would actually like her!

…

The Revelation

That night, a sudden storm rolled in, and thunder rumbled faintly outside the window.

The next morning, the orange cat Laicai was apparently smart this time, having found the right floor after being guided yesterday. At 6:58 AM, two minutes before seven, its meows woke Jiang Ruyi from her sleep.

Jiang Ruyi groggily opened the door, stroked the cat a few times, and her mind slowly cleared. When she went downstairs after washing up, the butler and maids were setting the table. She glanced around and didn’t see Fu Tian.

She sat on the left side of the table. Under the watchful eyes of her grandparents, she reluctantly returned Donovan’s “Good morning.” Just as she settled in, she heard the tap-tap of footsteps from the staircase.

Fu Tian, dressed in a light pink cheongsam (Qipao), gracefully walked down. Even with the rain and the gloomy sky outside, it couldn’t dim her bright, captivating appearance.

Jiang Ruyi’s heart skipped a beat.

Everyone set down what they were doing and focused intently on her. Fu Tian greeted everyone with composure. Jiang Ruyi’s grandmother was so delighted by her appearance that she couldn’t stop smiling, holding her hand and praising her continuously. “Such a pretty girl! A truly pretty girl!”

Young people wearing it always look beautiful.

The elderly couple glanced at Jiang Ruyi. They didn’t say anything, but it felt like they said everything.

As wealthy and open-minded parents, sometimes they couldn’t find a reason to lecture their juniors. Take Jiang Ruyi: she was idle at home every day, but so what? The family was rich enough to support countless Jiang Ruyis. They couldn’t fault her for not bringing home a partner—she didn’t like boys, and that conveniently canceled out her sister liking too many.

But they genuinely liked a girl like Fu Tian.

Although Jiang Ruyi had only introduced her as a friend visiting, the elderly couple were sharp and had already sensed Fu Tian’s intentions toward Jiang Ruyi.

They saw through it but wouldn’t say a word.

Ultimately, the decision still rested with Jiang Ruyi.