Ji Cheng’s movements noticeably stiffened before she slowly withdrew her leg. She hoped that the “Ah Cheng” she had just heard was merely an illusion, but the footsteps behind her cruelly shattered her fantasy.
In truth, every time Shen Che called her “Ah Cheng,” Ji Cheng’s heart would tremble. She still vividly remembered the circumstances of Shen Che’s first use of this intimate address.
Back then, Ji Cheng had gone to plead with Shen Che about Hao Ren’s matter. It was in the bamboo grove that she first heard him call her this way. And on that very evening, Shen Che confronted her, bitterly tearing away her facade.
Whenever Shen Che held the upper hand, he would be exceptionally gentle towards her, like a tiger facing its prey. He always walked as quietly as possible to avoid startling his intended meal.
Now, as Ji Cheng heard Shen Che address her this way again, how could she not tremble?
As Ji Cheng’s back stiffened, Shen Che’s shoes appeared in her peripheral vision. A hand extended diagonally from mid-air – Shen Che’s gesture to help Ji Cheng stand.
Ji Cheng turned her head, back to Shen Che. She pressed her hands against the ground and rose lightly. Though the movement wasn’t particularly graceful, when performed by Ji Cheng, it was still somewhat pleasing to the eye.
“Do you need something?” Ji Cheng faced the lotus pond, her eyelids slightly lowered. Inwardly, she thought about how she had come out for a morning stroll only to encounter Shen Che. Perhaps she should visit a temple to pray for better luck.
The two stood side by side. The whiter the lotuses before they appeared, the more noticeable the blush on Shen Che’s ears became. Ji Cheng’s attitude kept him at arm’s length. Even if Shen Che wanted to soften his approach and have a proper conversation with Ji Cheng, her cold demeanor made it impossible for him to speak.
Ji Cheng and Shen Che weren’t the only early risers on this summer day. In the Nanxun Garden by West Lake, Princess An He, who rarely slept much, was already standing in the Jinglan Pavilion, gazing at the pond full of white lotuses. The white lotuses wouldn’t bloom for much longer, making them all the more cherished.
An He hadn’t expected to see Shen Che’s figure so early in the morning. Her eyesight wasn’t as sharp as in her youth, so she turned to ask Weiyu, who was attending to her: “Who’s that standing next to Ah Che?”
Weiyu stood on tiptoe to look for a moment, then said uncertainly, “It seems to be Miss Cheng.” She was familiar with Ji Cheng and recognized her figure at a glance, but she didn’t dare to state it definitively in front of Princess An He. She also wondered why Ji Cheng would be standing by the lotus pond with the Second Young Master so early in the morning.
However, it must be said that the two figures – one tall and straight, the other slender and graceful – with their clothes gently fluttering in the morning breeze, created an indescribable ambiance. It made one mesmerized, bringing life to the silent white lotuses in the pond. If Weiyu were skilled in painting, she would have longed to capture this scene on canvas for posterity.
Ji Cheng waited for a moment, but Shen Che didn’t speak again. She turned her head slightly and said, “The Old Madam should be awake by now. I must go attend to her.” Living under someone else’s roof, Ji Cheng naturally had to be more diligent than others. Although the Old Madam didn’t need her assistance in the early morning, Ji Cheng’s presence – chatting, helping choose accessories – greatly pleased the elderly lady.
Old people fear loneliness the most. If Ji Cheng hadn’t consistently shown herself to be obedient and considerate, even if the Old Madam had guessed Shen Che’s feelings, she might not have bothered to try and enlighten these two young people at odds with each other.
However, at this moment, Ji Cheng’s words indicated her intention to avoid Shen Che.
Ji Cheng’s attitude of avoiding him like a fierce tiger made Shen Che narrow his eyes. The words he had been struggling to formulate were now unnecessary. “Avoiding me like this, yet having to put on a show – isn’t it exhausting?” he asked.
Shen Che’s tone was full of sarcasm and barbs, making Ji Cheng want to retort that he could not keep Fang Xuan by his side, yet he came to take out his frustrations on her so early in the morning. What kind of man was he?
But Ji Cheng had never been one to confront others head-on. Shen Che was currently in a state of dejection and anger, and she refused to bring trouble upon herself. So, she composed her cold facial expression, adjusted her hair, and said softly, “Cousin misunderstands. In my current situation, the fact that you allow me to barely survive is already a great kindness. Ji Cheng is not an ungrateful person.”
These words were so acidic that even Ji Cheng herself felt goosebumps rising. But her heart was full of resentment, making it difficult for her to fully commit to the act.
Shen Che sneered, “Is there anyone in this world more ungrateful than you? You speak of kindness, but aren’t you already planning how to harm me a second time?”
Although Shen Che had pointed out the truth, there hadn’t been any good opportunities recently. Even if Ji Cheng had such intentions, she lacked the means to carry them out. However, hearing Shen Che speak this way, Ji Cheng knew she could no longer placate him. She had originally intended to say a few soft words and leave, to avoid being seen by others in the garden and sparking rumors. Now, she could only retract her forced smile and say, “Cousin, with your vast capabilities, is there anything about me that you don’t know? Let alone harming you a second time, even the first time was merely you turning the tables on me.”
Shen Che turned to look at Ji Cheng and said slowly and softly, “You didn’t deny it.”
Ji Cheng didn’t understand immediately. “Deny what?”
“Deny that you would long to have me tortured to death if given the chance,” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng’s heart skipped a beat. This man was too good at grasping the key points; even she hadn’t realized that she hadn’t denied the possibility of a second or third attempt.
Ji Cheng decided to be straightforward: “Whatever I say now, I fear Cousin wouldn’t believe me anyway. The Ji family and the Ling family are both in your hands now. I’m just a grasshopper that can’t hop out of your palm. If Cousin wants to humiliate Ji Cheng, isn’t it just a matter of lifting a finger? It’s just…”
Ji Cheng paused, then continued word by word: “It’s just that Cousin is saying such things now – do you expect me to be overwhelmed with gratitude, thanking you for sparing my life?” Ji Cheng was also angry. She had woken up with her eyelid twitching, and now being targeted by Shen Che’s misplaced anger, her words became somewhat careless.
Shen Che didn’t speak, looking at Ji Cheng for a long time, so long that Ji Cheng averted her direct gaze. Only then did he say, “Quite a temper, huh? Shouldn’t you be overwhelmed with gratitude? If it were someone else, would you still be standing here, daring to lose your temper at me like this?”
Ji Cheng was stunned by Shen Che’s questions, involuntarily following his train of thought.
Shen Che paused, then asked, “What do you think you’re relying on?” This was perhaps the most blatant hint yet.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, both Shen Che and Ji Cheng were taken aback, their emotions surging.
Shen Che, who prided himself on his astuteness, only now realized he had been a fool. Ji Cheng was no ordinary person; to say that she didn’t understand his feelings at all was something Shen Che didn’t believe. Observing her actions, she was indeed treading carefully, but her refusal to bow her head also showed a sense of having nothing to fear. The longer time dragged on, the more she seemed to understand that he wouldn’t really do anything to her, so why should she lower her head?
Ji Cheng was struck to the core by Shen Che’s words. What she had realized, what she was relying on, was indeed Shen Che’s continued interest in her, that he hadn’t grown tired of her yet. So although she was anxious, she wasn’t hysterical, just slowly maneuvering and looking for opportunities.
With the conversation having reached this point, Ji Cheng truly feared Shen Che might become angry out of embarrassment. She smiled bitterly and said, “What I’m relying on, hasn’t Cousin already warned me about it? It’s just the little remaining value I have for you to use.”
Seeing Ji Cheng still evading, Shen Che felt an indescribable disappointment. “Oh, so you think that in this world, apart from you, no one else can read account books?”
Shen Che’s words were becoming increasingly explicit, causing Ji Cheng unspeakable anxiety. Was this man planning to adopt a conciliatory approach? Ji Cheng didn’t wish to continue discussing this topic, so she said, “There are certainly many in this world who can read account books, but Lady Fang’s music is irreplaceable.”
The two were at odds, with Ji Cheng at a disadvantage, causing her to speak somewhat carelessly. She deliberately mentioned Fang Xuan to provoke Shen Che, hoping to break the previous atmosphere.
Although Ji Cheng intended to sarcastically remind Shen Che not to misplace his anger, that he shouldn’t come here to vent just because he couldn’t keep a woman, men – especially confident men – think differently from women. Shen Che suddenly realized that Ji Cheng might be jealous.
Perhaps jealousy was too strong a word, but there must be at least a slight sourness in her heart. Shen Che recalled the previous night when he had signaled Ji Cheng to take the noisy Shen Qian away, and her pretense of not seeing his signal. Comparing the two incidents, it did seem to have a hint of jealousy.
Shen Che’s heart was filled with an indescribable feeling. The tightly pressed lips that had shown his displeasure earlier had now imperceptibly relaxed. He was tempted to tease Ji Cheng a bit, but he knew this wasn’t the right time.
“If you hadn’t schemed to trap Fang Xuan in Gumuo, she wouldn’t have returned to the capital at all this time,” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng was confused for a moment by Shen Che’s abrupt response. What did Fang Xuan’s return to the capital have to do with anything? “So, are you saying you should thank me then?” she asked.
“What do I need to thank you for?” Shen Che countered.
Ji Cheng had already caught on a bit by now, but unfortunately, she was too clearheaded to be fooled by Shen Che. Wasn’t this man’s roundabout talk just hinting that he still had some interest in her? Because of this little interest, he naturally thought of keeping her around to toy with for a few years.
However, things in this world are rarely so straightforward. Ji Cheng had to pretend to be naive and said, “Cousin has refused to agree to marriage for so many years, isn’t it because you’ve been waiting for Lady Fang? Actually, with Cousin’s abilities, you could easily help Lady Fang change her identity. Marrying her shouldn’t be impossible.”
Such obvious feigning of ignorance couldn’t escape Shen Che’s notice. He indeed felt some embarrassment and anger. He had mistakenly thought Ji Cheng was feeling jealous, but in reality, she clearly understood his intentions and simply chose to disregard them. Was she afraid he would cling to her?
“Since you have the leisure to worry about my marriage, why don’t you worry about your own?” Shen Che coldly retorted.
Ji Cheng’s face had long been thickened by Shen Che’s treatment. She lowered her eyelids and said, “Isn’t Cousin worrying about my marriage?”
“You seem quite at ease. Even though you’re about to marry someone like Liu Jun, you can still joke around,” Shen Che said. “However, if things could be set right, Ah Cheng could rise to a higher position.”
Shen Che bent down and whispered in Ji Cheng’s ear, “What do you think, will I give you this opportunity, Ah Cheng?”
Ji Cheng stood with a stiff back, her hands hanging at her sides, tightly clenched into fists. She knew things were never that simple, and Shen Che would never have any merciful feelings towards her.
“Going to great lengths to climb the social ladder, even willing to betray your childhood sweetheart, never taking past promises seriously, and willing to marry someone like Liu Jun despite knowing what kind of person he is. Someone as heartless and shameless as you – wouldn’t it be too easy to just let you off like this?” Shen Che raised his hand and lightly stroked Ji Cheng’s cheek.
Ji Cheng trembled with anger and reflexively slapped Shen Che across the face. The previous words, though unpleasant, were indeed reflective of Ji Cheng’s actions, but the phrase “shameless” truly struck a nerve. She slapped Shen Che and, before he could react, turned and started running.
By now, people were coming and going in the garden, and Shen Che couldn’t possibly chase after her. Ji Cheng was confident of this point, which allowed her to act so recklessly. After all, if she didn’t hit Shen Che, he wouldn’t let her off either.
However, Shen Che had no intention of chasing Ji Cheng. Instead, he slowly turned towards the direction of the Jinglan Pavilion, meeting Princess An He’s gaze from afar.
Author’s Note: Shen Er: Confession failed.