Secretly Seducing the Third Female Lead Behind the System’s Back - Chapter 9
Chapter 9: Travel
After the man left, Jiang Yisheng scratched her head and chuckled awkwardly. “Sorry, Bai Chu-jie. I… I thought he was harassing you. I didn’t mean to.”
Bai Chu looked down at her. Watching Jiang Yisheng blink innocently and lower herself to please her, something stirred faintly in her heart.
“My apologies, President Bai. Yisheng didn’t really understand the situation,” Jiang Hang said with a genuinely apologetic expression this time.
Yu Mushan simply smiled and nodded at Bai Chu without saying anything, quietly observing the exchange between Jiang Yisheng and Bai Chu.
“Oh, right, Bai Chu-jie! You still haven’t tried that jianbing I bought you last time. Now’s the perfect time—you have to try it!” Jiang Yisheng turned around to call out, “Taozi, hurry, bring over my deluxe jianbing!”
Jiang Yisheng shoved the steaming jianbing into Bai Chu’s hands before she could say anything. “No refusing! You must try it.”
Bai Chu held the jianbing, the warmth seeping into her palm and spreading through her whole body.
“Thank you,” Bai Chu said softly, lowering her eyes.
“Then we’ll leave you to rest, Bai Chu-jie. Get some early sleep!” Jiang Yisheng grabbed Jiang Hang and Yu Mushan and started walking away, waving back repeatedly.
Bai Chu watched the three of them—looking like a warm little family—and gave a polite smile, nodding slightly.
Back in the car, Zhang Tao jogged up to them from afar.
“President Jiang, I bought a new one to replace the jianbing you gave President Bai earlier.” Zhang Tao handed the jianbing to Jiang Yisheng.
“Taozi! You’re too good to me.” Jiang Yisheng took it and took a big bite, chewing contentedly.
“Not bad at all. Definitely ranks in the top three jianbings I’ve ever had.” She squinted in satisfaction.
Yu Mushan also took a bite. “You never used to eat from street vendors. When did you ever try jianbing?”
Jiang Yisheng paused, stammered, “Uh… I’ve just been trying new things lately. It’s pretty good.”
She quickly changed the topic. “What do you two think?”
“We’ve eaten it before,” Yu Mushan said. “When work gets busy, grabbing a jianbing is already a win.” She pulled out a tissue and wiped the corner of Jiang Yisheng’s mouth.
Jiang Yisheng froze, eyes fixed on Yu Mushan’s hand as she wiped her mouth.
Once done, she turned and looked out the window, then took another big bite.
After dropping Jiang Yisheng off at home, Yu Mushan was thoughtful.
“Wife, don’t you think Yisheng’s gotten more mature?” Jiang Hang said as he looked at her silhouette.
“Yeah… feels like she suddenly grew up. Doesn’t even feel like the same person,” Yu Mushan murmured. “But no matter what, as long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters.”
…
At the entrance to the residential complex, Bai Chu stood looking down at the jianbing in her hand, recalling how Jiang Yisheng had rushed over to shield her.
Why had she done that? Bai Chu didn’t understand.
She turned back toward the complex, unwrapped the jianbing, took a bite, and carefully picked out the scallions before taking another bite.
…
Over the next few days, Jiang Yisheng had no fixed plans. She had Zhang Tao accompany her on a trip out of town.
Yu Mushan and Jiang Hang immediately arranged bodyguards to follow. Jiang Yisheng, the “nouveau riche,” went on a buying spree wherever she went—finally living her dream of shopping without looking at the price tag.
“Taozi, how much did we spend today?” Jiang Yisheng asked while walking with Zhang Tao, the bodyguards trailing behind, arms full of bags.
“228,356 yuan,” Zhang Tao replied after checking her phone.
Jiang Yisheng froze, craned her neck to look at the screen, and whispered, “We’re not out of money, right?”
Zhang Tao whispered back, “Don’t worry, President Jiang. That’s like… the price of two outfits you used to buy.”
“Holy crap.” Jiang Yisheng recoiled. “What kind of clothes cost over a hundred thousand?!”
“What you’re wearing right now,” Zhang Tao pointed sincerely at her jacket.
“Oh man.” Jiang Yisheng looked down and then slung her arm around Zhang Tao’s shoulder. “Let’s go buy one for you too.”
As they walked, Zhang Tao’s phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID and declined the call.
Before Jiang Yisheng could ask, it rang again. Zhang Tao rejected it once more.
“Is it your family? Must be urgent if they keep calling. Why not pick up?” Jiang Yisheng asked.
“It’s nothing, President Jiang.” Zhang Tao’s expression stiffened as she moved to silence her phone—only for the call to come in again.
Holding the phone in both hands, she turned and apologized, “Sorry, I’ll just take this quickly.”
“Sure.” Jiang Yisheng took her arm back and stood there waiting.
When Zhang Tao returned, her eyes were slightly red.
Jiang Yisheng blinked, slung her arm back over Zhang Tao’s shoulders, and pretended not to notice. “Come on. Let’s go get your year-end bonus.”
They entered the next mall. Because the bodyguards were in formal attire, they drew attention everywhere.
“Hey, bodyguards, let me get you both a new outfit too—so we can blend in,” Jiang Yisheng said.
“Yes, Miss,” they nodded.
Jiang Yisheng picked out outfits for all three and paid in full with a swipe of her card. She glanced at the receipt and noticed a line printed at the bottom:
“Thank you for supporting our business. Please take good care of yourself. We look forward to your next visit.”
“Cute little thing. Knows how to write.” She handed the receipt to Zhang Tao. “I’m starving—let’s eat.”
Their trip was to a seaside city. After a morning of shopping, they planned to eat lunch, nap, then watch the sunset on the beach.
But Jiang Yisheng ate too much and knocked herself out—sleeping straight through till 8 p.m. The sun had long since set.
She walked out of the master suite rubbing her eyes and saw the three of them sitting quietly on the sofa in a row.
“Sorry, guys! I promised we’d watch the sunset, but I overslept.” Jiang Yisheng said with messy hair and a sheepish grin.
Zhang Tao smiled and shook her head. “It’s fine, President Jiang. Are you hungry? The restaurant’s booked—we can go anytime.”
Jiang Yisheng rubbed her belly. “Still kinda full. Let’s walk by the beach a bit before we eat.”
…
Recently, He Youran had been arguing with An Hao. Bai Chu invited her over to talk.
While casually flipping through one of Bai Chu’s books, He Youran found a note that fluttered out.
It read: “I’m sorry!” with a doodle of a crying face.
He Youran chuckled. “This isn’t your handwriting. Who’s it from?”
Bai Chu, typing nearby, glanced over. “Mm, from that last meeting…”
Before she could finish, their food delivery arrived. Bai Chu went to the door.
“Sorry, I was swamped today. Didn’t have time to cook. You’ll have to settle for takeout,” she said while unpacking.
“I just came to chat. No need to fuss,” He Youran replied.
“Good. I’m free next week. You pick a place—I’ll take you out to relax,” Bai Chu said.
“Perfect. Let’s go to S City and see the ocean. It’s still warm there.” As she spoke, He Youran pulled out her phone to book flights.
…
Jiang Yisheng ran barefoot on the beach, wearing a T-shirt and shorts. Zhang Tao chased behind her, shouting, “President Jiang, slow down! Watch your step! It’s chilly—put on a jacket!”
“I’m fine, thick-skinned!” Jiang Yisheng yelled, overjoyed. She’d overslept yesterday and missed the sunrise. Today, she was determined to find the best spot.
Unfortunately, thirty minutes before sunrise, the sky turned cloudy. She missed it again.
Dejected, she trudged back to the hotel, determined to make up for the sleep she’d lost.
“Taozi, I want Thai food for lunch. Help me make a reservation, but I’m only sleeping till eleven, okay? If I don’t get up, you have to wake me,” she said.
“Got it.” Zhang Tao checked the time. That Thai place was very popular and only took in-person reservations.
“President Jiang, you go back first. I’ll have a bodyguard escort you. I’ll go book the table,” she said, reaching for her phone.
“Don’t bother. I told them not to follow us this morning. I’ll go back by myself.” Jiang Yisheng felt bad for the working girls—the bodyguards even had to work night shifts—so she insisted they take a break. “Just tell me the room number.”
“1633.”
Jiang Yisheng had been following Zhang Tao the whole time and had no idea which room was hers.
“Okay, got it.” She yawned. Without the thrill of a sunrise, she was even sleepier.
Once on the right floor, she wandered down a long, winding hallway. It was easy to get turned around.
Eventually, she spotted a door left open and looked up. “163…”
She yawned again. Looked like Taozi had asked the bodyguards to leave the door open for her.
Finally. Jiang Yisheng was exhausted. She walked into the master bedroom, didn’t even turn on the lights, stripped down in a flash, and dove under the covers—
…
“Alright, let’s start with Harbor Street tonight and end with fireworks at the back beach,” He Youran and Bai Chu planned their evening.
“Sounds good. Let’s rest during the day. That flight was way too long—my body’s sore,” Bai Chu said, rubbing her aching neck.
“Yep, got your bags sorted? Go sleep and don’t set an alarm,” He Youran smiled. A change of scenery really did lift your spirits.
“My room’s bigger. Want to switch?” Bai Chu offered.
“No way. I don’t sleep well in big rooms. You take it. See you this afternoon.” He Youran nudged her toward the master bedroom.
“Alright then.” Bai Chu nodded.
They’d spent four hours on a plane, then another hour in a car. Neither had slept well the night before. Both were running on fumes.
Bai Chu walked into the room and sat on the edge of the bed, slowly lying down.
She lifted the blanket and reached inside—
Something’s there?!