Being Raised in Captivity by the Former Canary - Chapter 20

Jiang Jixue rested her head in one hand, her eyes lowered, a subtle smile playing on her lips. She seemed to be in a dreamy, detached state, lost in her thoughts.

In the VIP lounge of the art museum, Xiao Li, her little assistant, couldn’t help but stare in astonishment.

This… this… this!

Could Teacher Jiang be… in love?!

“Teacher Jixue…” Xiao Li ventured hesitantly.

Jiang Jixue turned to look at her, her voice languid and relaxed. “Hmm? What is it?”

Xiao Li pointed to the corner of her mouth. “Why have you been smiling like that?”

“Hmm? Have I?” Jiang Jixue raised a hand to touch her cheek, and indeed, the muscles there were curved upward.

Well, she had been thinking about Quan Ruo’an, whom she had “teased” while he was asleep. She was imagining his reaction when he discovered the lipstick mark on his face.

“Just thinking about something funny,” Jiang Jixue told Xiao Li.

Xiao Li noticed the radiant blush on Jiang Jixue’s face, her cheeks blooming like peach blossoms. She hesitated, wanting to ask but ultimately holding back, respecting her teacher’s privacy.

Yet Xiao Li couldn’t fathom which man could elicit such a lovestruck smile from Teacher Jixue. The very thought of Jiang Jixue with a man felt jarringly incongruous, like a mismatched puzzle piece.

Xiao Li felt a pang of regret at seeing Jiang Jixue in this state. Even the lofty mountain flower must descend to earth and be plucked by a mortal hand?

“Xiao Li, what’s wrong? Why that expression?” Jiang Jixue noticed Xiao Li’s expression and teased gently.

Hearing her light, melodious voice, Xiao Li couldn’t help but feel a little dejected.

“I just think there isn’t a man in the world worthy of you… They all pale in comparison when standing beside you.”

“Ah? Ha ha ha ha ha—”

Jiang Jixue froze for a few seconds before bursting into laughter, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.

Xiao Li was utterly bewildered. These were her heartfelt words! Why was Teacher Jiang laughing so hysterically? Did she say something wrong?

After laughing for a while, Jiang Jixue calmed down, meeting Xiao Li’s gaze with a forced coolness.

“Who said the person by my side has to be a man? Silly girl, have you ever considered what’s most common in our circle?” Jiang Jixue said, her voice still trembling with laughter.

Most people in their circle were either asexual or homosexual. Heterosexuals existed too, of course, but Jiang Jixue was surrounded by many ambisexual women and men.

Xiao Li’s eyes widened in realization. “I knew there was something different about you! You never gave off that ‘I like men’ vibe!”

Jiang Jixue chuckled at Xiao Li’s dramatic reaction, placing her hands on the table and gazing at her with smiling, crescent-shaped eyes.

Xiao Li grew self-conscious under her gaze, her cheeks gradually flushing crimson.

For some reason, knowing that Teacher Jiang was a lesbian stirred a strange new feeling within her.

Xiao Li quickly averted her eyes! She didn’t want to be turned gay by Teacher Jiang!

At half-past five, Jiang Jixue stepped outside and proactively called Quan Ruo’an.

The willow trees in late spring were sprouting new green branches, noticeably greener than the day before. A gentle spring breeze brushed softly against Jiang Jixue’s face, lifting her spirits.

Jiang Jixue squinted at the distant scenery. “Hello?” Quan Ruo’an’s clear, pleasant voice came through the phone.

“Are you using your new phone yet?” Jiang Jixue asked, a smile playing on her lips.

“…Not yet.”

Jiang Jixue’s voice remained light and cheerful. “Then I want to see you using it when you pick me up later.”

“I’ll leave at six and be there by six-thirty. Is that okay?”

“Perfect,” Jiang Jixue replied. “That gives you half an hour to set up your new phone.”

“Got it.” Quan Ruo’an’s gaze fell on the gift bag standing upright. “…Thank you for the phone.”

“No need to thank me,” Jiang Jixue said warmly. “It’s all mutual, isn’t it?”

Quan Ruo’an knew exactly what she meant.

The call ended with unspoken understanding.

Quan Ruo’an finally took the box out of the gift bag, turned on the device, inserted the card, and imported the data.

By the time she finished, it was time to leave. She hadn’t packed much, so Xiao Xue generously offered her entire walk-in closet. Xiao Xue also enjoyed helping her choose outfits. When Quan Ruo’an woke up from her afternoon nap and returned to the master bedroom, she found a complete outfit laid out on the bed, perfectly coordinated from the outerwear and inner layers down to the earrings and bracelets.

Quan Ruo’an put on each item as Xiao Xue had selected. The khaki trench coat, double-breasted with a belted waist, softened even the sharpest woman’s demeanor, lending her an air of artistic warmth.

As she fastened her wristwatch and bracelet, Quan Ruo’an grabbed her car keys and headed out.

Upon arriving at the art museum’s parking lot, Quan Ruo’an remained in her car and made a call. This time, Jiang Jixue didn’t ask if she was using the new phone. After a simple “Okay,” she hung up.

Ten minutes later, Quan Ruo’an sat in her car and spotted a slender, graceful figure approaching from a distance.

Jiang Jixue’s outfit was completely different from what she had worn that morning. Even from a distance, Quan Ruo’an immediately recognized the khaki trench coat she was wearing—the same style as her own.

The car door swung open, and in the dimly lit underground garage, their clear gazes met.

Jiang Jixue leaned slightly from the passenger seat, tilting her head to look at Quan Ruo’an. Her long eyelashes, like butterflies poised to take flight, framed eyes brimming with amusement.

Her lustrous hair cascaded down her back, the ends curled into large, sweeping waves with a curling iron. She wore a khaki trench coat similar to Quan Ruo’an’s, though with subtle variations in design.

Quan Ruo’an’s gaze drifted downward, settling on Jiang Jixue’s fair, delicate wrist. As expected, the watch was the same brand, and the bracelet was a high-end couples’ model.

Is this some new flirting tactic? Quan Ruo’an thought, realizing she had fallen right into Jiang Jixue’s trap.

Jiang Jixue’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she took in Quan Ruo’an’s outfit, which mirrored her own down to the smallest detail.

“Ruo’an, you’re so obedient,” she purred, her voice soft and teasing. The words echoed through the quiet underground garage like a sudden thunderclap on a still lake. Quan Ruo’an maintained her composure, but a flicker of surprise flashed across her eyes as she glanced at Jiang Jixue.

Jiang Jixue gave her a faint smile before sliding into the passenger seat.

The car moved smoothly and quietly down the road.

Jiang Jixue leaned back in her seat, browsing posts with a relaxed air.

Quan Ruo’an’s heart began to race again as she recalled Jiang Jixue’s subtle flirtation earlier, calling her by her last two names. The memory of her own face, lipstick-stained in the mirror that afternoon, stirred a strange, restless heat within her.

Jiang Jixue’s gaze drifted to the navigation screen, which showed their destination: the same Western restaurant from five years ago, where she had her first solo date with Yue Tingqin. That place held a lifetime of humiliation and helplessness for her.

The scene of Quan Ruo’an toying with her feelings remained vivid in her mind.

Jiang Jixue rested her head against the car window, watching the scenery blur past in streaks.

For the past few days, she had been acting like a local tour guide, showing her Elder Sister, who lived far away, around familiar haunts.

Perhaps this was a form of cathartic revenge, a thrill of how things had changed. Even Jiang Jixue wasn’t sure what she truly wanted.

But one thing was clear: she wanted to see Quan Ruo’an’s reaction.

How would she react to revisiting this place?

The waiter led them to a pre-reserved window seat in the back row, with a floor-to-ceiling window on the left and an aisle on the right, offering more privacy than other tables.

A single crimson rose adorned one side of the table.

When the vibrant red caught Quan Ruo’an’s eye, a fleeting ripple of emotion stirred in his gaze, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

Both women pretended it was their first time here, feigning ignorance of the rose’s symbolic meaning.

Outside, the night sky deepened, illuminated by dazzling city lights. Jiang Jixue opened a bottle of red wine, and the waiter poured it into their stemmed glasses.

“If we drink, we’ll need a designated driver,” Quan Ruo’an remarked.

Jiang Jixue shrugged dismissively. “So what? We’ll just call one.”

She had brought Quan Ruo’an here for dinner, not to be her chauffeur.

The crimson wine swirled in their glasses, its aroma blossoming as it aerated. Jiang Jixue raised her wrist in a toast.

“Happy weekend, darling.”

A waiter pushing a service cart down the aisle glanced at them with a knowing smile, a hint of envy for their apparent romance on his face.

Quan Ruo’an lifted his glass, tilting it to clink against Jiang Jixue’s with a crisp, resonant sound.

After several sips, Jiang Jixue watched the crimson liquid pour into the teapot and said to Quan Ruo’an, who was sitting across from her, “This bottle is our mission for tonight. We have to finish it all.”

Quan Ruo’an pretended not to understand her, asking instead, “Are you still drinking?”

So she had always known. She had always known about my past, yet even during the time I was being kept, she never brought it up in front of me. Jiang Jixue’s eyes dimmed slightly.

“No, I’m not anymore. Ever since I met you, Elder Sister, I’ve rarely touched alcohol.”

Though the initial withdrawal period had been agonizing, she had been utterly alone and terrified of Quan Ruo’an abandoning her. She had forced herself to quit cold turkey.

“That’s good.”

Quan Ruo’an’s unspoken implication was that they didn’t need to finish the bottle together. But Jiang Jixue pretended not to understand, continuing to pour glass after glass for her.

Before they had finished even half the bottle, Quan Ruo’an’s cheeks flushed crimson. Her eyes grew watery and unfocused, and a nameless fire seemed to be raging in her belly.

“Elder Sister, how did your alcohol tolerance get so bad?” A figure rose from across the table and approached her, a fragrant aura enveloping her. “Never mind, never mind. If you can’t drink anymore, don’t force yourself.”

Jiang Jixue took the wine glass from her hand and whispered softly in her ear, “Being half-drunk and half-awake is the best state to be in.”

Quan Ruo’an could still engage in that kind of activity even after drinking; she had experienced it firsthand.

Why not let the weekend be more enjoyable? Jiang Jixue’s gaze deepened. They had only eaten half the food on the table, but she had no time to worry about that now. She turned and went to pay the bill.

By the time they returned home, it was already ten o’clock at night. Quan Ruo’an was soaking in the master bedroom’s bathtub, the air thick with steam. The flush of intoxication mingled with the heat, painting her face a rare, alluring blush. The usually aloof beauty now radiated a natural, captivating charm.

Suddenly, Jiang Jixue heard footsteps approaching the door.

Standing at the entrance, Jiang Jixue maintained a calm expression and a determined gaze, but her chest rose and fell rapidly.

Will Elder Sister reject me?

She could tell that Quan Ruo’an had been suppressing her desires these past few days.

With the alcohol’s haze today, she shouldn’t avoid me anymore.

Jiang Jixue’s footsteps halted before the mist-shrouded door. She reached out and pulled it open.