Chapter 78: Different Worlds, Same People
On Saturday, at a top-tier villa in the Q District of C City, a gentle autumn rain caressed the earth, which still emitted the last traces of warmth.
The soft patter of rain washed over the green trees and vines outside the window. A small bird, seeking shelter from the rain, shivered awkwardly on the balcony railing, anxiously waiting for the chance to take flight again.
Sitting on the extravagant sofa in Zhong Jing’s study, Hejian Qingya, dressed in a college-style short skirt and trench coat, held a Japanese novel, quietly flipping through the pages. Not far from her side sat a young man engrossed in his computer.
Loud, deafening game sound effects filled the air. Hejian Qingya put down her book, slowly moved to sit next to Zhong Jing, and turned to look at the screen.
“Do you really enjoy playing computer games, Jing-kun?”
Hejian Qingya shifted slightly closer to Zhong Jing, trying to seem more intimate.
“I’m just looking for something challenging to pass the time,” Zhong Jing replied without turning his head, his hands busy on the keyboard, focused. “To put it plainly, I’m just finding excuses to deal with boredom and seeking a bit of fun.”
It was probably another unpleasant battle experience; he closed the game with a frustrated huff and then turned to the girl beside him: “Miss Hejian, you stay at my house every week, yet I don’t enjoy being with you. Don’t you feel anything?”
After saying that, Zhong Jing lit a cigarette, interestedly observing the pretty face of the Japanese girl.
Hejian Qingya adjusted her sitting posture slightly to maintain a respectable image under his gaze, her face holding a hint of apology: “I’m sorry, perhaps I haven’t done better and disappointed you, Jing-kun.”
“Oh… how old are you?”
Zhong Jing looked at the burning tip of his cigarette, a glimmer of mischief appearing in his eyes.
Hejian Qingya was taken aback, a barely perceptible flash of annoyance crossing her features, but she still lowered her head, her face turning slightly red as she whispered, “Nineteen… didn’t my parents mention it to you?”
Nineteen? An intermediate baroness of the blood clan, if my master hadn’t told me your real age, I might have believed you were ninety-nine…
However, seeing that she acted almost like a typical nineteen-year-old girl, Zhong Jing’s mischievous spirit intensified.
“I don’t particularly like girls who are too young.” Zhong Jing exhaled cigarette smoke in lazy rings, a typical scoundrel expression on his face. “And I still don’t quite understand why your grandfather chose for you to marry into the Zhong family, to me. I don’t see what benefits that brings us.”
Hejian Qingya smiled, elegantly playing with the hair that fell in front of her shoulders, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly: “Jing-kun will one day lead the Zhong Group; the Hejian Consortium will be the biggest backbone supporting the Zhong Group. The stage of the Zhong Group in the future will be the whole world.”
“No, no, no, you still haven’t understood my point. I mean, what are the benefits to you and to me, not to what lies behind us?”
As he spoke, Zhong Jing tossed aside his cigarette butt, casually resting a hand on Hejian Qingya’s thigh, gently caressing her leg, but his eyes held a teasing and mysterious expression.
This action immediately made Hejian Qingya tense up completely, instinctively turning her head to the side.
“Can’t you answer? Or have you never really thought about what benefits this absurd marriage brings you?”
Hejian Qingya’s nervous and fearful appearance was like the small bird outside in the rain, intensifying the urge in Zhong Jing to tease and provoke, his tone growing more frivolous.
“You are the daughter of the Hejian Consortium, very wealthy, but I don’t seem to lack money, do I? Even without you, I could live a more carefree life than ninety-nine point nine percent of men in the world.”
“So for me, when I am looking for a wife, I never consider whether the other person is rich or powerful. What assets do you think you have to attract my attention?”
Hejian Qingya froze, her expression changing continuously as she sensed the malicious mockery from the young man across from her. A sense of anger even tinged with a hint of murderous intent slowly formed within her.
The rain began to intensify, large drops pounding violently against the window, mingling with a string of chaotic and broken tears that blurred the world outside.
On the balcony, the small bird seeking shelter had vanished, leaving behind a few scattered feathers and some blood that was being diluted by the rain on the railing.
Perhaps sensing the mood of its master, the previously wandering ragdoll cat suddenly darted to Hejian Qingya’s side, holding the lifeless small bird in its mouth.
Dropping the bird’s corpse, the ragdoll cat emitted a low growl, similar to a wild cat guarding its food, its sharp little teeth glistening with a hint of blood.
“Are you very unhappy?”
Zhong Jing glanced at the ragdoll cat next to her, smiling as he slowly removed his hand from her thigh and began to play with the lighter in his hands.
“Or do you actually know that you don’t need someone like me to be your husband? Maybe your grandfather is overly ambitious, or maybe you have too many thoughts.”
“Jing-kun, is there something I did wrong… that makes you unhappy, or dislike me…”
Hejian Qingya leaned down to hold the ragdoll cat in front of her, her head lowered, biting her lip tightly, suppressing her inner anger and murderous intent, with her voice trembling slightly: “As your future wife, I will always prioritize my husband’s interests.”
“My interests? Do you even know what I want? Ha, ha!”
Miss Hejian, are you speaking the truth, or just pretending to speak the truth? Playing the part of a canary living in a high cage, what exactly are you thinking? Who forced you into this… ha, ha!
Zhong Jing could no longer contain the mischievous delight rising within him and burst into laughter, even getting up and walking around the room as if on a stroll, feeling entirely at ease.
Hejian Qingya fell silent; she could now clearly feel that the ordinary person in front of her, whom she had previously looked down upon, was openly toying with her.
“Let’s change to a more interesting topic… Last time you said my older brother looks like your sister; I’m quite curious about that.”
Zhong Jing poured a cup of hot juice and walked to Hejian Qingya’s side, his expression returning to a normal polite smile: “Don’t mind me. I’m a spoiled rich kid; when I lose at games, I get a bit temperamental and vent my frustrations on others. Your relatives must have come to visit, so drink some warm juice.”
Hejian Qingya’s inner fire was extinguished by Zhong Jing’s nonsensical words, her face showing a puzzled expression: “Relatives? Jing-kun, I don’t understand…”
“I’m a spoiled brat, and though I might not know much about other things, I’m sensitive to the subtle changes in women. When women are on their periods, they are often sentimental, and you are today.”
Zhong Jing smiled and handed the hot juice to her, gently patting the back of her hand: “Forget it, just call me Zhong Jing. It sounds more approachable in Huaguo, and the politeness in Japan feels too hypocritical to me.”
Hejian Qingya’s face flushed, quickly avoiding his gaze, surprised by his insight.
She couldn’t imagine an ordinary person could sense her physiological changes; could there be ordinary people in this world who are even more sensitive than the blood clan?
“I heard from my dad that you are the only granddaughter of the Hejian family, so I’m curious about who your sister is?”
Zhong Jing lit another cigarette and sat back in his computer chair, as if waiting for a new play of lies to unfold.
Hejian Qingya calmed her emotions, thought for a moment, and a barely perceptible cold smile appeared on her face: “The Hejian family is a large family, with many branches aside from the main line. The sister I mentioned belongs to one of those branches.”
Perhaps recalling many past events, Hejian Qingya surprisingly no longer bothered with the provocation from the young man opposite her and instead appeared more composed: “She is ten years older than I, more outstanding, and more beautiful. She once became the most valued girl outside the main family.”
Hejian Qingya seemed to drift into a certain memory, holding the ragdoll cat as she stood by the window, as if talking to herself: “But she is only a branch of the family. Her whole life was spent living for the family… Hehe, so after I grew up, I stopped envying her and only felt pity for her.”
At this moment, Hejian Qingya completely shed any semblance of a young girl; a sense of weariness that transcended superficial age enveloped her, creating a dissonant beauty.
“Yes, I can see that you are very jealous of her.” Zhong Jing exhaled smoke rings, speaking meaningfully, “She must have been arranged for everything just like you are now, right?”
Hejian Qingya suddenly turned around, her face pale, her eyes no longer hiding her fury, her voice trembling: “Jing-kun, are you pleased that you can provoke me?”
“Now you are finally not like a typical nineteen-year-old girl.”
Zhong Jing shook his head with a smile, his expression neutral, “I’m just stating the facts; you seem to be living a harder and more burdensome life than I am… How should I put it, you or I often have to pretend to be free, to feign being relaxed and unrestrained.”
“Yes, so my sister was arranged to come to Huaguo. She thought she was finally free, but she paid for that freedom with her life…”
“And even now, I don’t think the man she fell in love with has any right to her sincerity… But that man got everything. Isn’t that interesting?”
Hejian Qingya walked in front of Zhong Jing, maintaining her elegance, her face adorned with a rehearsed smile: “Jing-kun, from the moment you became the heir of the Zhong family, you also lost true freedom. Can you guarantee that the woman you choose, or that I choose, will be more sincere and suitable than I?”
“I received an education that surpassed my age from a young age; I understand very well what I can pursue in this world and what I cannot. That’s why I seek out things within my grasp.”
“Since we are both such people, both aware of these truths, why not band together and protect each other? At least, among us, there can be a few strands of genuine resonance and understanding.”
Dropping the ragdoll cat, Hejian Qingya turned her back and slowly walked toward the study door.
She almost scared me to death; it seemed like she wanted to kill me a moment ago?
Indeed, discussing topics that require time to settle with a blood clan baron of an older generation is truly not advisable… Women are truly terrifying.
…
Outside, the autumn rain pattered anxiously, mingling with the sorrowful rustling of fallen leaves.
Zhong Jing continued to immerse himself in the gaming world until Zhong Ma entered the study holding a bowl.
“Ah, son, why did you make Miss Hejian cry today?”
Zhong Ma’s expression was displeased as she walked directly to Zhong Jing, setting down the soup bowl and snatching the mouse from him: “She comes to visit every weekend, learning to make Chinese dishes and understand your tastes. It’s one thing if you’re not here, but you’re being dismissive even when she’s here. What kind of upbringing is that? Which young lady in this world could lower herself like that?
After that, Zhong Ma pointed to the soup bowl: “Look, this is specially prepared for you every week; a whole pot has turned into this one bowl. That’s a girl’s heart; your dad and I haven’t even had any.”
“It’s okay, just chicken bone miso soup.” Zhong Jing laughed, drinking the soup, smacking his lips indifferently, “She cried? I was just chatting with her, dealing with cultural differences. I didn’t offend her.”
“Stop being cheeky. Aren’t you skilled at speaking in front of other strange women? Quickly go and comfort her; it’s time for lunch.”
Zhong Ma pulled Zhong Jing towards the side hall door, firmly tapping his head and standing to the side, watching him.
Alas, my mom, she might be older than the combined ages of both of us. How can I, as a rookie, be her emotional match?
Under Zhong Ma’s watchful gaze, Zhong Jing smiled ruefully and knocked on the door.
“Come in…”
Inside, Hejian Qingya’s soft yet slightly weak voice came through.
In the luxurious bedroom transformed from the side hall, Hejian Qingya lay in her clothes against the headboard, a thin blanket covering her waist, turning to look out the window at the rain, appearing somewhat dazed.
“Did you really cry?”
Zhong Jing walked to the bedside, hands in his pockets, still wearing a mischievous smile.
“Actually… I still envy that sister… at least she knows what true freedom feels like.”
Hejian Qingya ignored Zhong Jing and inexplicably murmured something.
“Mm?”
Zhong Jing was taken aback, unsure how to respond to that.
“Jing-kun, do you have someone you love?”
Hejian Qingya suddenly turned her head, quietly gazing at the young man, her face expressionless, her voice bland like water: “I am destined to marry you; that is the will of the entire family and also recognized by my uncle. I don’t oppose you dating other women, even after marriage, as long as the heir of the future Zhong Group is our child…”
“Stop! This script doesn’t work for me. It’s too clichéd… Do all of you Japanese play it this way?”
Zhong Jing frowned, feeling a hint of disgust, “If you’re not feeling well, just rest more. I’ll have the maid bring you some food later.”
“That doesn’t comply with dining etiquette… Jing-kun, could you step outside for a moment? I need to change… but if you want to watch, that’s also fine.”
Hejian Qingya suddenly smiled, sweetly, with a touch of alluring grace.
Zhong Jing curled his lip, turned around, and strode out.
