After the Online Romance with the Campus Beauty Roommate Went Wrong - Chapter 18

Sang Shi’an stared intently at Jian Chenyu’s reply, her body burning with heat. The exposed skin above her clothes flushed crimson, trembling slightly beneath the delicate ornaments.

Only when the cat ears perched on her head tilted forward, slipping out of place, did Sang Shi’an snap back to awareness. She raised a stiff hand and yanked off the hairband hidden from the camera’s view.

The cat ears, still attached to two shimmering strands of yellow gemstone tassels, splashed onto the white bedsheets like scattered mermaid jewels.

Sang Shi’an’s hands shook uncontrollably, and a strange thought crossed her mind: This really is Jian Chenyu herself.

Of course it is, she thought. Didn’t I already know Jian Chenyu was interested in girls and had a fondness for cat-themed outfits?

She had simply catered perfectly to Jian Chenyu’s preferences. Her WeChat profile picture was a beautiful ragdoll cat, and her friend request explicitly stated she was a Junior Sister from Yanjing University, ensuring Jian Chenyu felt no pressure.

So it was only natural that Jian Chenyu would reply.

With such a beautiful body, of course Jian Chenyu would reply.

But she wasn’t Sang Shi’an now; she was just a secret admirer. Jian Chenyu wouldn’t offer her any warmth.

Sang Shi’an repeatedly brainwashed herself, reviewing the video frame by frame. The plain white sheets and spotless walls matched the hotel room perfectly, leaving no room for doubt.

Yet when her gaze returned to Jian Chenyu’s reply, Sang Shi’an nearly dropped her phone in shock. She even considered deleting Jian Chenyu altogether.

But she couldn’t.

Enduring this momentary humiliation was preferable to enduring decades of regret. Sang Shi’an knew her choice.

Just as she was about to decide, a new WeChat message arrived—a voice note. Sang Shi’an tapped to play it.

“Scared?”

The voice was slightly different from Jian Chenyu’s usual tone, but not disguised. It had shed the patience she reserved for Sang Shi’an, becoming colder and more detached.

Though not professionally polished, the voice resonated with a raw intensity that surpassed every sound Sang Shi’an had heard at the Anime Convention that afternoon.

It radiated the absolute authority of someone being courted.

The second voice note followed: “You started this, Cat Cat.”

There was even a hint of unmistakable sternness.

As if her memory had suddenly returned, Sang Shi’an recalled her own words from the video: “Older Sister, I love you so much. I want you to fvck me every night.”

How could I have said that?

Help! Help!

Sang Shi’an found herself in a precarious situation, like riding a tiger she couldn’t dismount. She frantically rubbed her burning ears, slowly typing out a message in the same coy tone Cat Cat had used earlier that afternoon: Older Sister, I was so thrilled to see you accepted my WeChat request! I was so excited I ran around the balcony, which is why I couldn’t reply right away. Please don’t be mad, okay?

Jian Chenyu replied: Mm.

Seeing this terse response, Sang Shi’an worried Jian Chenyu was losing patience. She quickly added: Pulling up my clothes might not be a good idea. I heard WeChat’s moderators have been banning accounts lately. How about I show you something else? My legs are super pretty too!

After sending the message, Sang Shi’an hurriedly struck a new pose. She bent her knees, pressed them together, and crossed one arm over her knees, positioning them perfectly to conceal her chest. Her long, slender legs were adorned with countless gold gemstone chains, the bands digging into her skin at the thighs, leaving red marks. Her tightly curled toes betrayed her nervousness and unease.

She snapped a photo and added: Would Older Sister like this better?

This time, the reply was delayed. After a long silence, Jian Chenyu finally responded: I don’t like dishonest children.

The oppressive feeling that had been present from the start intensified.

Sang Shi’an nearly thought Jian Chenyu had recognized her. Fortunately, she had been scrutinizing every message from Jian Chenyu like a complex calculus problem, finally deciphering her meaning: Does Older Sister think I’m a boy pretending to be a girl in cosplay to deceive people?

The “对方正在输入” indicator appeared on Jian Chenyu’s end, but no message followed, clearly implying agreement.

So many boys in cosplay were mistaken for girls this afternoon, Sang Shi’an thought. I didn’t realize Jian Chenyu was so knowledgeable about this.

Sang Shi’an: So, if I can prove I’m a girl, Older Sister will let me stay and won’t delete me?

Jian Chenyu: Yes.

Sang Shi’an: Older Sister, you’re so kind! You’re nothing like the rumors say.

Jian Chenyu: Thanking me?

My thanks aren’t empty words, Sang Shi’an thought, immediately following up with: I’ve liked Older Sister for so long! Before I mustered the courage to confess, I was so worried you’d hate me because of my feelings.

She didn’t specify whether Jian Chenyu would hate her for being confessed to by a girl or for the video manipulation.

If Jian Chenyu had no interest in women, she would have refuted this immediately. Instead, she replied: I don’t hate you. You’re very passionate.

So Jian Chenyu really is trying to deceive my brother, Sang Shi’an thought. When I ruin their engagement later, she can’t blame me.

To avoid revealing the costume change through camera shake, Sang Shi’an first put on a disposable mask, then initiated a video call.

Jian Chenyu didn’t answer immediately. After apologizing to Wen Yansheng, who was dining with her, she pressed her lips into a tight line, rose, and went to the private room’s restroom, closing and locking the door behind her.

The moment she answered, the warm yellow light overhead flickered briefly. She immediately turned off her camera, leaving only Sang Shi’an’s elaborate, gold-flecked cat demon costume visible on the screen.

Inside the spacious bed, Sang Shi’an’s soft, nine-tailed tail unfurled behind her. Her hand, adorned with gilded claws, slowly unfastened a decorative chain around her neck.

Clink—

The necklace fell, striking a jeweled chain around her waist or thigh. The culprit, feigning innocence, let out a bewildered “Oops!” and repeatedly apologized, “I’m so sorry, Older Sister! I’m not used to this costume. I unfastened the wrong thing.”

If anyone else had done this, Jian Chenyu would have immediately suspected deliberate seduction. But the person on the screen was Sang Shi’an, whose trembling hands hadn’t stopped shaking since the call began.

She clearly doesn’t know what she’s doing, yet she’s clumsily trying to seduce me like others do.

Jian Chenyu closed her eyes briefly. A thin layer of moisture seeped onto the side of her neck, slowly soaking into her taut nerves, suppressing everything beneath a veneer of calm.

“No rush,” she said.

Sang Shi’an finally found the right ribbon.

The elaborate cosplay outfit wasn’t as simple as slipping on regular clothes or zipping up a few zippers. Every inch of fabric clung tightly, making the ribbons indistinguishable from the decorative chains.

As the ribbon was slowly untied, brushing against her jade-like neck, Jian Chenyu’s clavicles visibly trembled in the video.

Jian Chenyu chuckled softly.

Her laughter only made Sang Shi’an more nervous. The tense clavicles repeatedly relaxed and tightened, gradually revealing skin as smooth and delicate as soft jade.

One inch.

Then another.

By the time the garment had been lowered halfway, it was unmistakably clear that the figure was female. But Jian Chenyu didn’t stop her, and Sang Shi’an continued to pull it down.

Sang Shi’an’s movements grew slower and slower, like a drawn-out tug-of-war.

A bead of sweat trickled from the corner of Sang Shi’an’s eye.

In the suffocating silence and oppressive tension, Jian Chenyu finally spoke. “That’s enough.”

Her voice was strained. “I believe you now, Cat Cat.”

Granted permission, Sang Shi’an quickly ended the video call and collapsed onto the bed, utterly drained.

Jian Chenyu turned on the faucet, adjusted it to cold water, and let the stream wash over her burning palms.

After a long while, when she finally looked up, the turmoil in her eyes had subsided. She brushed a water-dampened strand of hair behind her ear, leaving her crisp white shirt without a single wrinkle.

She pushed the door open again.

A waiter brushed past her, carrying a tray with a small bill.

Wen Yansheng had already paid.

Jian Chenyu walked back and sat down across from Wen Yansheng. “Sorry for making you wait, Senior Sister. I had to take a call.”

“Don’t worry about it. You’re busy. No need to be so polite with me.”

Wen Yansheng sipped her soup with leisurely grace. Ever since Jian Chenyu had known her, she had always carried herself with this effortless poise, as if she could handle any situation with ease.

“Since you insist, Senior Sister, I won’t stand on ceremony.” Jian Chenyu wiped his hands with a napkin and asked, “Did you give up on schools in Yan City and choose to return to Cloud City because you finally found the person you were looking for?”

Wen Yansheng owned a bar in England. Its lively atmosphere stood in stark contrast to her usual reserved demeanor. When Jian Chenyu first visited, he found it hard to reconcile the Wen Yansheng he knew with the owner of that bustling establishment.

Later, he learned that Wen Yansheng had met a girl at the bar during the lowest point of her life. What followed was a fruitless wait that had lasted until this very day.

“No,” Wen Yansheng replied, her voice calm and her expression flawless. “I chose to return to Cloud City because my home is there.”

Jian Chenyu raised his wine glass in a toast. “Then I wish you all the best, Senior Sister.”

Wen Yansheng took a sip of red wine but didn’t immediately set the glass down. The dark crimson liquid swirled, catching the light with a luminous glow.

“You, on the other hand, seem distracted during our meal. You’ve been to the restroom several times. Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, it’s just work,” Jian Chenyu replied.

Wen Yansheng studied her for a moment before chuckling softly. “That girl you were with earlier—the one from the Anime Convention? It must have been quite a feat to get her outside the venue. Your Junior Sister was much more lively around her than she was last time.”

Wen Yansheng had been in the car when Jian Chenyu went to find Sang Shi’an and had witnessed the entire exchange.

Seeing Jian Chenyu’s brow furrow, Wen Yansheng finally set down her glass and rested her hands naturally on the table, revealing a delicate bracelet. “You couldn’t resist after all.”

Knowing she had been seen through, Jian Chenyu didn’t bother denying it.

“When I first returned home, I only thought of her as a younger sister I hadn’t seen in years. But after meeting her again and having dinner at her house…” Jian Chenyu lowered her gaze to the beautifully filleted East Star Grouper on her plate and smiled wryly. “I couldn’t sleep that night.”

That’s why, the next day, when Sang Shi’an’s mother called to ask if she wanted to move in with Sang Shi’an, she wavered.

Sang Shi’an didn’t need to do anything; simply standing there was enough to make people want to draw closer, effortlessly awakening emotions that had never stirred in Jian Chenyu during her time abroad.

In youth, everyone is self-centered, yet Jian Chenyu had managed to divide her attention during the intense pressures of high school to tutor another person.

Back then, Sang Shi’an was the only one who could be her sister.

Now, Sang Shi’an was the only one who could stir other feelings within her.

Jian Chenyu had drawn many warning lines to keep Sang Shi’an at a distance.

Until today, when Sang Shi’an added her personal WeChat account using a secondary account.

Even the phone number registered with Professor Xu wasn’t this one.

Wen Yansheng, three years older than Jian Chenyu, couldn’t help but feel a pang of tenderness toward her.

“Since you’ve made up your mind, as a friend, I won’t object. But what’s your next move? She doesn’t seem like someone who’d date women. And the last time we saw her, she was being confessed to by a guy. I doubt that’s just a coincidence, right?”

Jian Chenyu remained silent.

Wen Yansheng continued, “You two live together, after all. You could casually bring it up during your chats.

“Like, ask if she’s completely opposed to dating women?”

Perhaps because Wen Yansheng was leaving for the south tomorrow, the tipsy atmosphere made Jian Chenyu unusually willing to confide.

Jian Chenyu pressed down on her napkin with her slender, pale fingers, her brows and eyes radiating a cool, restrained aura. Her thin lips were slightly pursed, tinged with a faint blush. “She created a new account today, wanting to start an online relationship with me.”

Wen Yansheng’s eyes widened in surprise. “She wants to date you online? How is that even possible?”

Shouldn’t it be Jian Chenyu who couldn’t resist reaching out to her?

Jian Chenyu remained silent.

She, too, felt as if the new account that had appeared in her contacts was like a dream.

“Do you want to hear my opinion?” Wen Yansheng asked.

Jian Chenyu looked at her.

“The fact that she wants to date you online suggests she’s not opposed to same-s3x relationships. Of course, it could just be a childish prank, but since she’s the one who approached you, you shouldn’t come on too strong. You’ll scare her away.”

“What if she’s already being very forward?”

Wen Yansheng frowned. “How forward? Did she confess directly?”

Jian Chenyu fell silent again.

She couldn’t show Wen Yansheng the chat logs directly.

That would violate Sang Shi’an’s privacy.

She would never allow a third party to see them.

“Even more forward than that,” Jian Chenyu said, her brow furrowing. “Senior Sister, you don’t need to ask for details.”

Wen Yansheng hadn’t expected her curiosity to be met with such a cold response.

She finally understood.

All those passionate and outgoing people abroad hadn’t caught her junior sister’s eye.

It wasn’t that Jian Chenyu preferred someone passionate and proactive.

Jian Chenyu, who appeared so aloof, restrained, and otherworldly, had fallen for someone right under her nose within just three months of returning home.

Truly remarkable.

Monday morning arrived, and the 8 AM classes left everyone drowsy. As always, the school forum buzzed with activity, reaching a weekly peak.

Which College of Agriculture thesis got trashed? Which Business School professor bought a new luxury car? Which department’s student got coffee thrown on them for cheating? The drama never ceased.

The CP thread about Sang Shi’an and Jian Chenyu’s cohabitation had been buried, only resurfacing occasionally when someone bumped it.

Sang Shi’an’s class schedule remained the same: Economic Law and Tax Law on Monday mornings. Su Ningyue slept through almost the entire Economic Law lecture. It wasn’t until the break during the second Tax Law class that she finally managed to open her eyes and check on Sang Shi’an.

Sang Shi’an was watching a gardener trim the bushes outside the window. The gardener’s movements were clumsy, and his face was unfamiliar. He kept going back and forth, leaving the shrubs uneven. Sang Shi’an pushed open the window and offered a few tips, but the gardener only made the bushes look more like they’d been gnawed on by a dog.

Suppressing a laugh, Sang Shi’an silently closed the window and turned her back.

Seeing her finally free, Su Ningyue pulled her aside for a private chat. “Did you manage to do what you were planning yesterday?”

Sang Shi’an recalled the previous night’s ordeal and wanted to curse.

After hanging up on Jian Chenyu, she spent another half-hour struggling to remove that outfit. The thigh straps had chafed her inner thighs raw, leaving angry red marks that still stung.

She even worried if Jian Chenyu’s initial “special preference” was actually the bizarre clothing she had guessed.

If there was something else…

Would she even survive?

She had to confirm their romantic relationship with Jian Chenyu and obtain concrete evidence before he proposed marriage to her brother, Sang Shiyue, to prevent their union.

Sang Shi’an naturally wouldn’t reveal the immense sacrifice she had made by posting the video; she had her pride. “I added her. She seemed very interested, but I haven’t replied to her today. Anything else you want to know?”

“That went too smoothly! Are you sure she didn’t recognize you? Show me your chat history right now!” Su Ningyue didn’t believe her for a second and pressed Sang Shi’an to show her the chat logs.

Sang Shi’an steeled her resolve and directly showed Su Ningyue the video of herself wearing the cat demon outfit.

After watching just the first few seconds, Su Ningyue let out an exaggerated howl. “Sang Shi’an, you—!”

Since they were still in the classroom, Sang Shi’an immediately clamped her hand over Su Ningyue’s mouth. Su Ningyue sent her a WeChat message: You’ve been hiding this treasure from me all this time?!

Sang Shi’an glanced at the back of the classroom and, finding no one paying attention to them, lowered her voice. “I filmed it last night. There shouldn’t be any flaws, right? I’ve checked it over and over.”

“But Senior Jian ran into you at the Anime Convention yesterday, didn’t she? Do you think she might suspect it was you?” Su Ningyue remained cautious.

Sang Shi’an wasn’t worried. “Just search the school forum. You’ll see how many students went to the convention yesterday. They even exposed Senior Sister as a cosplayer there! Besides, didn’t you tell me to find a teacher to seduce Jian Chenyu?”

Su Ningyue nodded, acknowledging the logic.

“I told you there were no loopholes! Now you have to believe me, right?” Sang Shi’an was quite pleased with her meticulous planning.

“Fine, fine. It’s just…” With three minutes until class, Su Ningyue slowly edged closer, meeting Sang Shi’an’s questioning gaze. She rubbed her hands together. “Sangsang, can I watch that video again?”

You already filmed it—don’t waste such a masterpiece by letting Senior Jian keep it to herself! Good things are meant to be shared!

Sang Shi’an chuckled twice and flipped her phone face down. “Leave me alone. I need to study.”

For the rest of the day, Sang Shi’an immersed herself in the sea of knowledge, not sparing a moment for anything else. Even during lunch, she went straight to the library to avoid Su Ningyue’s relentless questioning.

But in the library, she ran into Jian Chenyu.

Jian Chenyu was still reading chemistry books, looking nothing like a finance student and showing no interest in her studies.

Seeing this reminded Sang Shi’an of the last time she had asked Jian Chenyu why she was pursuing a second master’s degree at Yanjing University. But in the end, whether Jian Chenyu graduated or not was none of her concern. If she wanted to study chemistry, let her. Sang Shi’an had given up trying to decipher Jian Chenyu’s inner thoughts. All that mattered was smoothly manipulating her into a relationship through their online connection.

Sang Shi’an deliberately avoided Jian Chenyu’s floor and found a window seat on the fourth floor. She casually snapped a photo of the library and posted it to her small account’s “Moments” to keep it active.

Truth be told, Sang Shi’an had felt a pang of guilt when Su Ningyue asked if she had succeeded. After Jian Chenyu said she believed her the previous night, Sang Shi’an had abruptly ended the video call, a move that hardly seemed like the behavior of someone pursuing a romantic interest.

Jian Chenyu hadn’t sent her any messages since then. Could she be upset with her?

Sang Shi’an carried this anxiety for days. Even when she ran into Jian Chenyu at home, her gaze involuntarily carried a hint of resentment.

Fortunately, Jian Chenyu didn’t overthink it, assuming Sang Shi’an was simply in a bad mood and throwing another little tantrum.

As the days passed, Sang Shi’an realized that the longer she delayed, the slimmer her chances of successfully starting an online relationship with Jian Chenyu became. After three days of hesitation, she logged back into her “Cat Cat” account.

She noticed three small red dots on her WeChat Moments icon.

This account had only one friend. Clicking it, she found exactly what she expected: Jian Chenyu had liked every post—the ones from Sunday to Monday, including the one she’d specifically gone to the Academy of Fine Arts to take, all to prove she was a Yanjing University student.

Sang Shi’an’s heart began to race.

Was it really this easy to get Jian Chenyu hooked?

She tapped Jian Chenyu’s profile picture and began to “work”:

Older Sister, I see you’ve been browsing my Moments! Are you not angry with me?

I thought you were upset with me that day. I secretly cried for so long, my makeup ran. I was so heartbroken.

I didn’t dare message you, fearing I’d see that dreaded red exclamation mark indicating you’d deleted me from WeChat.

Nearly two minutes passed before Jian Chenyu replied:  Why would I be angry?

Sang Shi’an:  After our video call that day, you didn’t ask me to stay. Everyone at school says you dislike people who talk too much. I felt like I’d made a terrible impression and worried you’d find me annoying and get angry.

Jian Chenyu:  But I never said I didn’t want to talk to you.

Sang Shi’an:  ?

So, Older Sister, does this mean I can stay on your contacts list and chat with you whenever I want?

Sang Shi’an waited a very long time this time—a full ten minutes—but Jian Chenyu didn’t reply.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

“An’an.”

Sang Shi’an looked up and saw Jian Chenyu standing in the doorway, her hair in a low ponytail. The warm lamplight softened her features, and she held a plate of sliced fruit.

Sang Shi’an was momentarily disoriented, her mind still caught up in the conversation. “Huh?” she mumbled.

Jian Chenyu gestured to the fruit plate. “Nothing much,” she said casually. “Your mom sent this fruit over today. I sliced some for you.”

This week, Sang Shi’an’s parents were going abroad for vacation. They must have come to check on her before leaving. “Oh,” Sang Shi’an replied, walking over. “Thanks. I’ll slice the fruit next time.”

Jian Chenyu neither agreed nor disagreed, turning and leaving the room.

At the same moment, the long-awaited reply finally arrived: Okay.

Not the cold, curt Mm. Sang Shi’an suddenly felt an inexplicable urge to burrow under her blanket and roll around. But as she took a step, she snapped out of it, realizing how absurd she was being.

She sat back down and began eating the sliced fruit.

The honeydew melon was exceptionally sweet tonight, and the cherries were particularly crisp.

Even as she drifted off to sleep later, she felt unusually at peace.

On Saturday morning, Sang Shi’an attended an outdoor team-building event organized by the Student Union for the freshmen.

They had chosen a spot for camping and barbecuing. The freshmen were indeed full of energy, chattering non-stop.

After filling their stomachs, someone suggested playing games. The moment Sang Shi’an heard “play games,” her temples began to throb. She immediately refused, “I’m not playing Truth or Dare. You guys just keep asking the same questions over and over, and you don’t even believe the answers. It’s pointless.”

“Don’t be so stingy, Senior Sister Sang!” a group of junior sisters pleaded, surrounding her with pitiful looks. “We’ll let you make up stories if you don’t want to tell the truth. Just say something!”

“Say more, say more!”

Sang Shi’an wasn’t one to indulge them. She flicked one of their foreheads. “What if you block my love luck?”

“Hey, hey, hey! How about a different game? The girl next to you is a little fortune-teller. Let her predict your love luck—it’s guaranteed to be accurate!”

Another girl was pushed forward to stand before Sang Shi’an.

Sang Shi’an wanted to refuse. “Our Student Union aligns with the Party. We don’t engage in feudal superstitions.”

The girl persisted, “Xu Xiaoxiao is incredibly accurate! Just try it! Especially when it comes to predicting love luck—she was famous for her accuracy during military training!”

Sang Shi’an thought to herself, No one is worthy of me. What love luck could I possibly have?

Fine, let’s just hear what Junior Sister Xiao Xiao has cooked up.

“Alright, Junior Sister Xiao Xiao, right? Give Senior Sister a reading.”

Xu Xiaoxiao pulled out a deck of playing cards and began shuffling them in front of Sang Shi’an. Sang Shi’an quickly interrupted, “Did you bring the wrong cards? Aren’t tarot cards used for readings?”

Xu Xiaoxiao shook her head. “That’s the Western method. If Senior Sister doesn’t like playing cards, I can go gather some leaves instead.”

Sang Shi’an: … This is even more ridiculous.

Fine, it’s just humoring the junior sister. Any method will do.

Sang Shi’an watched as Xu Xiaoxiao shuffled the cards, muttering unintelligible words under her breath with an air of solemnity, as if chanting a magical incantation.

After finishing the incantation, Xu Xiaoxiao tossed the deck into the air. A sudden gust of wind swept dozens of cards into Sang Shi’an’s lap.

Under Sang Shi’an’s skeptical gaze, Xu Xiaoxiao took the top card without showing it to her. She compared the card’s pattern to Sang Shi’an’s facial features for a full three minutes before solemnly declaring, “Senior Sister Sang, your destined love has already crossed paths with you.”

Sang Shi’an mentally reviewed every man she knew, but couldn’t think of a single one. “I don’t think you’re very accurate.”

Xu Xiaoxiao wore an air of profound mystery. “Of course it’s true, Senior Sister! Your Red Phoenix Star has risen, bringing you love luck. Even the cards we drew earlier showed a double red heart two—definitely not bad luck. Senior Sister, you must think carefully and not miss this fated connection!”

Sang Shi’an’s tone was skeptical. “Could this be some elaborate scheme to pry information out of me by fabricating a love interest?”

Xu Xiaoxiao waved her hands frantically. “Senior Sister, this is genuine love luck! You have to believe me! If you don’t, go consult a fortune-telling master outside—anyone will tell you the same thing: this is a true fated connection!”

Seeing the junior sister’s desperation, Sang Shi’an chuckled and nodded. “Alright, alright, I believe you. I’ll keep an eye out recently.”

But the fortune-telling is clearly inaccurate.

After being pestered by this group all day, Sang Shi’an didn’t return home until nine at night.

Jian Chenyu was working on her laptop in the study area of the living room, several documents spread out before her. When their eyes met, Sang Shi’an nodded coolly and retreated to her room.

Then she began her daily “business”:

Today I went out with friends and bought so many pretty dresses! Older Sister, besides Cat Cat, what else do you like? Should I wear them for you?

I didn’t get to chat with Older Sister today, and she still didn’t contact me first. cries

It’s Saturday, so I won’t see Older Sister at school either. If I don’t hear from her tonight, I won’t be able to sleep!

Looks like Older Sister is busy. I didn’t get enough to eat at the team-building event with the juniors today, so I’ll grab a late-night snack while I wait for her. I have some good news to share with her!

Jian Chenyu went to her family’s company as usual today. As soon as she arrived, she learned that her cousin had botched a major deal. The root of the problem was that her cousin had been short on cash recently and desperately needed money. Coincidentally, the company had just signed a contract for a large order requiring high-specification pharmaceuticals.

After some scheming, her cousin diverted the high-quality batch for resale and then purchased a cheaper, less purified alternative from the warehouse under his wife’s name. He supplied this inferior product to the client.

Both medications were liquid injectables, visually indistinguishable. However, a patient had an allergic reaction to the substitute drug. After thorough investigation, the hospital traced the supply source back to the company.

The matter had already been resolved, but Jian Chenyu still pulled up all the company’s inventory records for the past two months, determined to comb through them overnight and ensure no similar incidents had slipped through the cracks.

After reading Sang Shi’an’s message from her burner account, Jian Zhiyan’s message popped up next. Worried that something might have happened to the Jian Clan again, Jian Chenyu decided to address Jian Zhiyan’s concerns first.

Jian Zhiyan sent a flurry of messages:

As long as the matter is resolved. If it weren’t for the old man protecting him, he’d be spending some time behind bars.

I heard your parents took you to meet Sang Shiyue? I’ve seen him in the news a few times—he’s definitely handsome. But what’s he like in private?

If he seems decent, you should consider it. Use the Sang Family’s influence to seize control and stop those parasites from harassing you every other day.

Jian Chenyu didn’t want to reply about Sang Shiyue. For one thing, their relationship was purely professional, centered around business cooperation. For another…

Jian Chenyu glanced toward Sang Shi’an’s room, her lips pressing into a thin line.

For another, when Sang Shi’an, innocent and naive, had taken the initiative to add her on WeChat and confess her feelings, Jian Chenyu knew that all the boundaries she had set for Sang Shi’an had completely crumbled.

Those boundaries weren’t just for Sang Shi’an; they were even more for herself.

She hadn’t wanted to scare her precious girl.

Yet…

Even if this was just a passing whim of Sang Shi’an’s.

Or a malicious deception.

—She didn’t want to sever ties with Sang Shiyue so quickly.