Chapter 215 The Reason to Be Together
April 6th, Monday.
Today, Jiang Yao didn’t sleep in. She called Zhong Jing early in the morning.
“I can’t, today is the last day of the Qingming Festival holiday. I have to go to the countryside with my mom to pay respects at the grave. I don’t have time to go shopping with you. Wait until your next break.”
On the other end of the line, Zhong Jing sounded a bit helpless but resolutely declined Jiang Yao’s request to go shopping for clothes.
“You didn’t want to go the other day, and now you remember you want to go?”
Jiang Yao was quite dissatisfied; her voice almost grew louder, probably thinking about how Jiang Yan was busy with housework in the living room, and quickly covered her phone.
“Come on… didn’t I keep making excuses to stay with you the last few days? Little Yao, we really need to exercise some self-control…”
“Bah, do you think I want you to waste sheets with me? Scum!”
Interrupting Zhong Jing’s complaint, Jiang Yao’s cheeks flushed instantly. “My sister is back now. Being at home feels uncomfortable, but I won’t go buy clothes.”
“Go find Xiao Ai or Xiao Dong. The clothes at the club are usually updated by them. Can’t you afford them now? Forget it, I have to go out. I’ll talk to you later!”
Once the call ended, Jiang Yao pouted, feeling a bit emotional, and opened her social media.
Yao Ba Tian: I’ll tell you, last night my sister brought your brother a late-night snack! She didn’t come back until after midnight, and her face was always red. Their relationship is getting really close! (Freaking out JPEG)
A few minutes later, Fa Wai Kuang Tu: … (Sweating JPEG)
Too lazy to say anything more, Jiang Yao began to change clothes and prepared to head to the living room for breakfast. She had already caught a familiar delicious scent.
……
……
“What are you staring at me for?”
At the dining table, Jiang Yan picked up a bun and found Jiang Yao staring at her since she started eating breakfast.
At this moment, Jiang Yan was still dressed as she had been yesterday: a vintage long-sleeve shirt paired with a black skirt featuring golden embroidery, with a white underskirt, her long hair pinned up elegantly with a beautiful snow-white satin clip. With her already composed and serene temperament, she exuded an elegant lady vibe.
“Sis, did Meng De compliment you on your outfit last night, so you decided to wear it again today? You even changed your hairstyle! Are you planning to go to the club to find him again today?”
“But you can’t wear the same outfit two days in a row. Xiao Ling used to say that…”
Pulling her gaze from her sister’s head, Jiang Yao picked up her own bowl of congee.
At the club, the “free clothing” doesn’t count, but it seemed Jiang Yan only had three or four casual outfits for the entire season. As long as they remained clean, she often wore them for two to three days at a time.
Within the Hyacinth community, Jiang Yan’s lack of femininity in her clothing choices was criticized the most.
“I didn’t sweat, and it’s still clean, so I’m wearing it again. We agreed yesterday that I’d accompany him to look at rental apartments today.”
While Jiang Yan spoke unperturbed, she changed seats a few times, avoiding Jiang Yao’s scrutinizing gaze on her hair.
“But you haven’t even visited our new home. I mentioned that we should go shopping for spring and summer clothes together and then check out the new place.”
Jiang Yao muttered, chewing her food in dissatisfaction.
“Let Zhong Jing go with you. His taste is better than mine. He knows how to pick sizes and styles.”
Jiang Yan leisurely sipped her congee and reached for a second bun with her left hand.
Uh… it seemed this was the first time she actively suggested I be with Zhong Jing. Did she and Wan Zhi tacitly approve because they knew I was the queen?
No, that’s not right. Wan Jie should know about the artificial insemination arrangements for me…
All sorts of thoughts rushed through Jiang Yao’s mind, but after Jiang Yan returned home, her inexplicable nervousness eased a lot.
Seeing Jiang Yan’s nonchalant expression made Jiang Yao suddenly feel unaccustomed to the change. After a few seconds, her gaze fell on Jiang Yan’s left hand, and she was even more surprised. “Sis, did you dye your nails? When?”
Jiang Yan was taken aback, looking at her left hand before feeling a bit embarrassed. “I did it in B City. I found a nail salon run by a girl from a homeless background and supported her business… It’s been a month, and it’s almost worn off, so it’s whatever.”
The atmosphere at the dining table felt a bit odd. The two sisters were focused on their meals but both seemed a bit distracted.
“Sis, you look very feminine today.”
Jiang Yao blocked her face with her bowl of congee and suddenly said.
Jiang Yan raised her head, looking at Jiang Yao’s school-style dress, smiled slightly after a few seconds. “Yeah, you too.”
Feeling the conversation over breakfast was awkward, Jiang Yao quickened her pace and finished her meal in a couple of bites before retreating to her own bedroom.
Jiang Yan had been back for two days, but Jiang Yao felt a growing sense of discomfort in their shared space—talking, chatting, eating—there was an increasing unease. Both were trying to conceal something, yet maintaining a clear, perceptible distance between them.
“Did my sister notice something? No, if she knew, her attitude wouldn’t be like this…”
Jiang Yao tilted her head to look in the mirror, fiddled with her facial expression, and then sniffed the back of her hand, feeling quite anxious.
“Little Yao, I’m going out. I won’t be back for lunch. Order takeout yourself. Remember to bring in the clothes from the yard, as it might rain any day.”
Dressed in black mid-heeled round-toed shoes, carrying her old canvas shoulder bag, Jiang Yan left. At the moment she stepped out of the living room, she looked back towards Jiang Yao’s direction and sighed softly.
……
Zhong Jing lied. He did not go to the countryside with his mom to pay respects at the grave; instead, he was driving to the airport to pick up He Jianqian.
From start to finish, Zhong Jing clearly understood the true nature of his relationship with Jiang Yao—friends who were more than friends but not quite lovers.
No matter how developed or deep their relationship had become, he absolutely did not believe that they were a couple, nor were they the taboo siblings of his second-dimensional obsession.
Jiang Yao possessed an undeniably boyish charm—wild, straightforward, generous, and unconcerned with details—yet she was undeniably a beautiful girl, embodying the usual innocence, sensitivity, fragility, and stubbornness typical of girls her age.
These contrasting impressions formed what Zhong Jing perceived as the so-called points of attraction, and they particularly suited his tastes, allowing him to interact with her without any psychological burden.
What puzzled Zhong Jing, however, was that after the most intimate physical contact, their relationship did not change significantly.
After that night, Jiang Yao had never made any demands for a significant change in their interaction patterns, as if this was merely a “help” between friends to resolve emotional instability, rather than a cover for embarrassment, let alone a sublimation of feelings.
Even at the peak of their passionate physical intimacy, Jiang Yao hadn’t expressed even the slightest need for “affection” or “confession”—this was obviously inconsistent with the social psychology of a naive girl achieving ultimate physical and emotional trust with a man she had feelings for.
Friends above, lovers below… sigh, isn’t that just a brotherly relationship? I treat her like a brother but ended up in bed with her. Was she the impulsive one, or am I just unable to control myself…?
As the car entered the airport parking lot, with more than half an hour until the flight’s expected arrival, Zhong Jing didn’t get out but lit a cigarette, using the nicotine to numb his internal anxiety.
“Jing-kun, where are you?”
He lost track of time and how many cigarettes he had smoked until his phone rang, snapping him back to reality. The time had already passed, and he was still daydreaming in the parking lot.
“I’m a bit stuck in traffic, I’ll be there soon. Wait for me at the exit!” Zhong Jing hurriedly tossed his cigarette butt and got out of the car.
……
They planned to look for a rental apartment, but they spent only half an hour at an agency. Both Hao Huai and Jiang Yan had lost interest and ended up just strolling down the street, almost like going for a walk.
As they wandered aimlessly, Hao Huai took Jiang Yan’s hand, and she made no move to resist.
Honestly, since last night, Jiang Yan had felt some anxiety. It wasn’t just about Jiang Yao’s emotional changes; it was more about the pressure that came from her ambiguous interactions with the young man beside her.
She realized that she and Hao Huai seemed to be in a bizarre cycle of quarreling before bed and making up afterward. Whenever she felt she couldn’t take it anymore, inexplicable little incidents would soften her heart, leading her to tolerate him, making her feel as though she was falling deeper and deeper into this situation.
Perhaps subconsciously, she had accepted all of Wan Yue’s hints—Hao Huai was ultimately someone who couldn’t correct himself; only through taking a more proactive approach toward him could change occur.
But that absurd and domineering scene in the early hours had made her lose all sense of proportion. Because at that moment, the peculiar psychological impulse that emerged after breaking through the queen’s boundaries had reappeared.
The feeling of being thrillingly sensitive—almost shameful—accompanied her for a large part of the night.
Could it be that after becoming a queen, one would always be in this state, ultimately becoming an unstable source? Would I end up like Little Yao too? What can I do…
Walking beside Hao Huai, her hand was already sweating from his grip, but Jiang Yan found herself increasingly lost in thought.
She didn’t know when, but Hao Huai had led her to an open-style urban recreational park.
This place was one of C City’s early construction projects that combined leisure and entertainment into a public green space, featuring exquisite landscaping and a wide stone beach with shallow water. Every hot summer, it became one of the most popular leisure spots for C City’s residents, always crowded.
Jiang Yan thought, Zhong Jing should also be part of the Hyacinth, right?
Arriving at the shallow water area, Hao Huai gazed at the empty water surface and suddenly said, “You should ask Zhong Jing, or Wan Jie.”
Jiang Yan didn’t respond directly but let go of Hao Huai’s hand, squatted down, scooped up a handful of cold stream water, and splashed it on her face, disregarding the chaotic feelings simmering within her.
Becoming a blood tribe not only meant facing many unfamiliar things but also uncovering many hidden truths in her once familiar world. Me, my family, we are all like this.
Hao Huai recalled the day Han Jie Li decrypted things for him, remembered the day he met He Jianqian at home, and thought about the many muddled days and nights spent trapped by the Black Blood Tribe.
Hao Huai felt that since birth, his life had been extremely unreal. So stubbornly pursuing the truth had become an obsession he couldn’t shake off, and it perhaps had nothing to do with his mission.
Stealing a glance at his watch, he realized there were less than ten hours remaining until the highest query authority granted to the S Province departments by the Strategic Support Center would expire.
“Meng Huai, last time you said that after completing the task, you would take me to a place that no one knows. Is it true?”
Washing her face with clear water helped Jiang Yan feel much more awake. As she quietly looked at the tall youth in front of her, a sense of unprecedented fear and impulse suddenly surged within her.
She had a growing premonition that either she or Meng Huai would bring disaster to the Hyacinth or even to Little Yao. This wasn’t intentional; it was a fate that could not be avoided once they were tainted by blood.
“Mm…”
Meng Huai was lost in thought for nearly a minute, seemingly finally confirming that he hadn’t misheard. He then avoided Jiang Yan’s gaze, lightly nodding while looking off into the distance.
“Then… let’s go now, so no one can find us!”
Jiang Yan suddenly grabbed Meng Huai’s arm, her serious expression radiating an unexpected urgency.
Perhaps, the only way to prevent the disaster she anticipated was to completely isolate herself and Meng Huai from this world. The impulse that arose from fear seemed to be the only way to protect everyone around her.
Only in this way would Little Yao truly be safe, right? Sigh, I should have realized long ago that Meng Huai’s mission was to find me and Little Yao, and to find Xia Yan and Gu Yao.
At this moment, a bitter and desperate answer finally emerged in Jiang Yan’s mind as if the fog had been lifted.
Wan Jie might have already noticed the oddities and true identities of Meng Huai and the blood invasion, just like she had discovered her and Little Yao’s true identities back then.
So, from the beginning, Wan Jie encouraged her to be with Meng Huai, allowing her to use her identity as a woman and a relationship to bind and transform him in a new way of life, thereby resolving the crisis.
Isn’t this also guiding her to accept a new fate and transform herself? In fact, there was another way to escape everything, which was to kill Meng Huai, but if that happened, perhaps she would lose herself to that darkness…
“What’s wrong with you?”
Meng Huai sensed a shift in Jiang Yan’s aura and quickly grasped her hand.
“Are you going back on your word?!”
Jiang Yan pressed on, her gaze locked onto his eyes.
“…”
Meng Huai’s face reddened slightly, and he didn’t dare to speak.
“Hehe, I was just joking. I find this idea rather amusing. It’s something I’ve only seen in novels and on TV; it feels silly…”
But he also experienced moments of impulse. If he had directly agreed just now, what would I have done…?
Jiang Yan’s expression suddenly shifted, playfully sticking out her tongue, appearing very cute, but her body honestly trembled slightly.
Meng Huai supported Jiang Yan, speaking in a low voice, “Are you feeling unwell? Let’s go back.”
“Meng Huai, let’s go buy clothes together. I used to buy them for you… After we finish lunch, let’s go see a movie this afternoon.”
Jiang Yan took a deep breath, putting on a sweet smile as her emotions gradually calmed down, then gently linked her arm with Meng Huai’s like a girlfriend seeking his approval.
“Sure.”
Meng Huai smiled, gently wrapping his arm around her waist, and they walked out together.
“I’m doing all this for Little Yao…”
Jiang Yan lowered her head, mumbling something only she could hear.
Given that most of Meng Huai’s clothes were still at the Hyacinth Manor, Jiang Yan decided to buy him some new clothes.
Unfortunately, even though it was agreed that she would at least let him buy her some dresses this time, after walking around, no matter what style Jiang Yan chose, Meng Huai provided no constructive feedback other than his absolute patience and monotonous nods.
Jiang Yan didn’t care; she just intended to make herself a part of Meng Huai’s gradually settled life. In the past, Meng Huai had no one else in his life, making him more inclined to isolate and become obsessive.
As Wan Yue had said, “Instead of rushing to change his thoughts and behaviors, it’s better to first capture his heart and soften his stance.”
This insight from the perfect woman only dawned on Jiang Yan at this moment—this is probably the “most vicious” form of tenderness a woman must learn in this world.
……
As evening approached, the two returned home with numerous bags, or rather, it was the first time Jiang Yan actively invited Meng Huai to her home.
Jiang Yao, who had been watching an anime series almost all day, brought instant noodles to the living room. Just as she placed them on the table, she noticed the yard door opening and sensed two familiar presences.
“Sis, I couldn’t wait, so I made myself some noodles… Huh? Meng Huai!?”
Seeing the couple standing at the door to the living room, Jiang Yao dropped the plastic fork in her hand.
“Don’t eat that unhealthy stuff; I’ll make dinner soon. Little Yao, cut the tags off these clothes and sort them by color. We’ll do laundry later… Meng Huai, help me wash these vegetables first.”
Jiang Yan began organizing in an extremely natural manner, immediately assigning household chores to the other two.
Meng Huai glanced at Jiang Yao and nodded slightly before placing the packaged clothes on the sofa and heading into the kitchen with the ingredients he purchased.
“Sis, why did you bring him home…?”
Watching Meng Huai stroll confidently into her kitchen, Jiang Yao felt a bit dazed.
“Zhong Jing is coming; can’t he come?”
Without turning her head while rummaging through the fridge, Jiang Yan casually replied.
“No, Sis… I meant… weren’t you supposed to help him look for rental apartments? Why did you end up shopping instead?”
Jiang Yan opened a package of light summer women’s underwear and then another of a new-style dress, which was very much in line with her usual fashion.
Jiang Yao felt a bit unwilling and opened a third package, revealing a large piece of men’s clothing that Meng Huai would wear.
“Sis, if it’s not yours or Meng Huai’s, what is mine…?”
Jiang Yan frowned slightly, looking displeased.
“I already told you, let Zhong Jing accompany you; I’m not good at picking your style.”
Grabbing a kitchen knife from the wall, Jiang Yan turned and entered the kitchen without looking back.
Jiang Yao leisurely continued to clear away the clothing packaging on the sofa while eavesdropping on every sound coming from the kitchen.
From the kitchen direction came occasional light laughter from Jiang Yan and Meng Huai’s awkward but simple exchanges, resembling a scripted couple’s interaction that made Jiang Yao feel uncomfortable.
“Did they go to Myanmar and suddenly turn into a real couple? Then what exactly is my relationship with Zhong Jing…?”
With thoughts of her bizarre relationship with Zhong Jing lingering, Jiang Yao felt increasingly uneasy.
