Rich Woman, But Got Dumped By A Jerk Three Times. - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: I’m Sorry, I Got You Dirty…

“Come, Boss Jiu, this is the leader, Tangtang,” Chen Ruoyang raised her hand and pulled the flash of red hair from the group, introducing her: “She graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music and founded this band.”

Tangtang, pulled forward, was a little stunned but respectfully bowed: “Hello, Boss.”

“The blonde, Box, is the lead vocalist. Although she’s the youngest in the band, she has iron lungs. The silver-haired one is named Natsuki, graduated from Sichuan Conservatory of Music. Her arranging skills are not to be underestimated, and I hear she’s excellent at choreography too.” As if prepared or truly very familiar, Chen Ruoyang recounted the details of each member.

Following her introduction, the band members who had been called from the backstage didn’t dare to look up, bowing repeatedly. Their humble posture was entirely different from their demeanor on stage.

Yun Jiushu subtly scanned each of them with her eyes, finally setting down her wine glass and chuckling softly, “Alright, I’ve noted them down.”

The band members were initially immersed in the nervousness of meeting a new boss. With the sound of that familiar laugh, they quickly snapped out of their tension.

Especially the one who couldn’t hide anything, Box.

Her eyes widened, staring at Yun Jiushu as if she’d seen a ghost: “How could it be…”

“We’ve collaborated with this boss before,” the quick-witted Tangtang immediately cut off Box, interjecting: “Boss Jiu of Yun Ji Private Cuisine.”

Box, who still wanted to say something, was held back by Natsuki. The two, one gold and one silver, hid behind Tangtang and fell silent.

“So, you’ve already collaborated,” Chen Ruoyang subtly glanced at Nuo Ye, then instantly broke into a smile: “Then my introduction was redundant. Come, Boss Jiu, if you like their qualifications, I might consider giving up a few days a week.”

With the conversation reaching this point, and even using the word ‘sacrifice’ (割愛), Yun Jiushu knew this gift was practically mandatory to accept.

She raised her eyes, looking at the others who were also watching her.

Four people came in, so why are there only three being introduced?

Could Ye Ge not be in this band?

Impossible. The thought was instantly dismissed.

All four people performed together on stage just now. So, did Ye Ge see her and deliberately hide?

But why would she hide from me?

Her thoughts again spun out of control. Her undirected gaze aimlessly settled on one spot.

The band members, unaware of the reason, were so nervous their hearts were in their throats.

Just when Box felt she was being scrutinized to the point of suffocation, she finally heard the person before them speak again.

“Does anyone play an instrument?” Yun Jiushu looked around carefully, then turned to Chen Ruoyang: “Boss Chen may not know, but my private cuisine is mainly for business use. More than singing, I need instrumentalists.”

Seeing Yun Jiushu’s expression, Chen Ruoyang understood immediately and laughed: “Of course! Where’s A-Ci?”

A-Ci?

The name unexpectedly triggered a memory in Yun Jiushu’s mind.

When she had cornered Ye Ge in the back alley, the blonde girl seemed to have called her by that name.

Is this Ye Ge’s stage name? But even if she quit teaching, why change her name too?

Or, is this ‘A-Ci’ entirely two different people from Ye Ge…

Stifling her thoughts, Yun Jiushu lowered her head and took a sip of wine.

She didn’t catch what the band member replied, but Chen Ruoyang’s voice sounded displeased: “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. The sugar mommy today is very generous.”

In the brief moment Yun Jiushu was distracted, Chen Ruoyang had already arranged everything briskly.

“If it’s inconvenient, never mind,” Yun Jiushu held her wine glass, chuckling softly: “How can I take a band that Boss Chen likes so much?”

Chen Ruoyang, however, waved her hand magnanimously: “A’Jiu, speaking honestly, I see you like my little sister. Don’t be polite with me. In Chuncheng, if you ever need anything, just say the word.”

“Exactly, exactly,” Nuo Ye chimed in: “You’re younger than us and have known me for so many years. If you ever need anything, just say it.”

Since entering and taking her seat, Yun Jiushu had barely spoken in two hours.

Chen Ruoyang not only generously shared her liquor supply channels and business contacts, but now she was even offering her band.

She acted warmly and affectionately, as if she had truly taken an instant liking to Yun Jiushu, wanting to share all her resources with her.

The usually talkative Nuo Ye took on the role of the hype man. The two played off each other, like a double act on stage.

This goodwill made Yun Jiushu feel suspicious.

Just as she was lost in confusion, that familiar hint of black approached from afar.

Narrow waist, broad shoulders, and long legs. Even in the bar, even in the most ordinary white hoodie, her approach inexplicably brought an air of sun-kissed youth.

She walked with a slight awkwardness, her left side profile slightly averted, as if she was dodging something.

“This is A-Ci.”

With Chen Ruoyang’s announcement, Yun Jiushu also looked up. The hand holding the wine glass paused slightly. Her gaze followed, catching A-Ci’s averted side profile.

Even though her right eye was completely covered by medical gauze, it couldn’t hide her attractive features.

The bronze skin was washed in the liquor-induced glow. Her long, straight lashes were slightly lowered, yet couldn’t conceal the unbridled sharpness in the corner of her eye.

But what was even harder to ignore were the four finger marks on her left cheek.

Whether it was due to her darker complexion or the severity of the blow, the indentations were bruised and turning purple, giving her a look of unspeakable pitifulness.

“A-Ci, your face…”

Why is it so much deeper?

The question went unasked. Box was beginning to doubt her eyes. She was certain she had checked before going on stage, and the marks were clearly faint and almost gone.

But why did they look so terrifying now?

Yun Jiushu, whose gaze was also fixed on Yi Chengsong’s face, felt the same confusion internally.

Did my slap really leave such a deep mark?

“Even though A-Ci can’t sing, she can play every instrument,” Tangtang paid no attention to their distraction, enthusiastically promoting her: “Seriously, she’s helped with many of the arrangements for our band’s songs.”

The voices around her became excessive again.

The person who had been quiet since her appearance stood at the edge of the group, seemingly trying hard to suppress her presence.

But the more she did this, the less Yun Jiushu could ignore her.

“Pour a drink.”

Yun Jiushu calmly withdrew her gaze and said flatly: “From now on, dedicate a fixed amount of time every day to perform at Yun Ji, but the attire and hair color must comply with the restaurant’s style.”

Tangtang seemed surprised that Yun Jiushu conceded so easily. Her voice caught in her throat, only to be swallowed back with a gulp.

“Why are you spacing out?” Nuo Ye quickly gestured: “Hurry up and thank Boss Jiu!”

Tangtang quickly thanked her, then picked up a beer bottle nearby, swiftly opened it, and drank.

The gesture carried a sense of heroic grandeur and tragedy, like a warrior cutting off her own arm.

“No,” Yun Jiushu looked at her finishing the bottle and said helplessly: “I don’t like that drinking culture. I meant for you to pour wine for Boss Chen and Boss Nuo to thank them for setting up the connection for us.”

The chaotic atmosphere and the inexplicable closeness of the people before her made Yun Jiushu feel extremely annoyed.

Especially after the person came out with the finger marks on her face, the feeling of vexation suddenly amplified tenfold.

Perhaps she was just tired from too much socializing lately.

Randomly finding an excuse for herself, Yun Jiushu raised her cup to drink again, but was stopped.

A large, warm palm reached out. A faint, indescribable scent wafted into her nostrils.

Yun Jiushu looked up, meeting the eyes of the person who was leaning over.

“I will pour the wine for you.”

As if she had already prepared, Yi Chengsong didn’t use sign language. Instead, she typed the words into her phone’s memo app and displayed it.

She had even thoughtfully dimmed the brightness and set it to eye-friendly night mode.

Looking at the face suddenly magnified before her, Yun Jiushu’s gaze shifted from the finger marks to the corner of her lips, inexplicably recalling the streak of red bl00d she saw on the ground earlier.

“A little less.” Yun Jiushu calmly withdrew her gaze and held out her cup.

The cold liquid fell inside.

Whether startled by her reminder or for another reason, the wine that had been steadily flowing suddenly shifted.

The delicate white fingertips were splashed with wine. Yun Jiushu frowned, letting out a soft tsk of displeasure.

The person before her seemed frightened by the sound, her shoulders slightly shrinking as she backed up a bit.

Watching her frightened, startled-bird demeanor, the anger that had been brewing instantly diminished.

The previous suspicion resurfaced in her mind. Yun Jiushu lightly cleared her throat: “It’s fine, just wipe it clean for me.”

She had only asked the band members to pour wine, but Tangtang and Box were immediately surrounding Chen Ruoyang, and Nuo Ye was talking non-stop to the silver-haired one.

There were tissues on the table, but they were a bit far away, and everyone had started drinking.

Too lazy to ask for help, Yun Jiushu switched the wine glass to her other hand, keeping the soiled finger raised.

Under the light, the fingertip glistened with moisture, like jade carving, making it impossible to look away.

Yi Chengsong froze for a moment, then opened her mouth and leaned down.

The temperature inside her mouth was much higher than her body, and it was moist.

Like a newborn puppy, she gently, but not too gently, caught the knuckle with her neat, pearly teeth. Her soft, moist tongue carefully lapped the finger clean.

Yun Jiushu, who had been trying to reach for a tissue, was thunderstruck, frozen in place.

The delicate, smooth sensation echoed on her fingertip. Warm breath washed over it gently.

It was like a spring, just awakened in the third month, accompanied by a whisper of spring wind.

Under the light, the wine on the knuckle was completely licked clean.

Straightening up, Yi Chengsong looked at the woman before her, whose expression was utterly shocked, and curved her lips imperceptibly.

She took out her phone, typed a few words into the memo, and presented it.

“I’m sorry.

“I got you dirty.”