Chapter 157: Eavesdropping
Xie Jingyan saw He Shang leave.
He tossed out a sentence: “I’ll go persuade him.”
Then he ran after him too.
Wei Jin saw the atmosphere was off, coughed lightly: “How about we all go relax next week? Just to the ancient temple.”
Sui Tang immediately agreed: “Good! He Shang can go or not, I’m going anyway, and I’m bringing Jin He too, Cousin, you come too, you haven’t hung out with me in a long time.”
Jiang Ning’s head throbbed.
Her impression of that josen was “top streamer singer” and he looked very gentle, with a temperament just like Zhou Yuchu’s.
Jiang Ning wasn’t really into that type.
But seeing Sui Tang irritated, she didn’t want to disappoint her, so she agreed: “Alright, let’s go play next Saturday.”
Sui Tang’s mood turned from cloudy to sunny, hugging Jiang Ning’s arm and acting cute: “Cousin, you’re the best.”
Jiang Ning glanced at her, laying down a condition: “Anyone but Jin He, don’t invite them, especially that josen.”
Sui Tang pouted: “Cousin! Why do you have an opinion on him too.”
Jiang Ning didn’t bother arguing with her: “Did you hear me?”
Sui Tang pursed her lips, a bit deflated as she hung her head: “Got it, I won’t invite him then, I wasn’t planning to anyway, you don’t know how busy josen’s schedule is, he already flew out of province today, he has tons of concerts.”
Jiang Ning ignored her, instead saying to Wei Jin: “Then it’s settled, and…” She smiled: “Remember to deal with that group always trailing us.”
Wei Jin looked a bit awkward, scratching his hair: “Got it, I guarantee those minions won’t affect our plans!”
Jiang Ning nodded, then pulled Sui Tang away.
“Did you forget you promised me you’d study hard?”
“Aww, but studying is so tiring, can’t I just play? Wuu wuu wuu.”
“No!”
“Hmph, so bossy.”
Their voices faded into the distance.
Wei Jin checked the time, sighed, looks like he’d have to skip class again today, he had to go take care of that group from the night before last, or they’d buzz around like flies popping up in front of them now and then.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Xie Jingyan found He Shang.
The two were at the pavilion in the school’s most remote corner, and only when the class bell rang did Xie Jingyan set his schoolbag on the stone table.
He Shang leaned against the lacquered red beads, surprised: “Yo, Xie the top scholar who never comes late is willing to be late just to keep me company?”
Xie Jingyan’s expression was cold: “You’re overthinking it, I’m just here to tell you one thing.”
He Shang pursed his lips: “Cold-blooded, what is it? Come to check my task progress again? I see you’ve been getting close to Jiang Ning lately, even picking her up at the Jiang Family for school, you’ve infiltrated the internal circle already, right? Don’t tell me you’ve succeeded before me?”
He teased lightly on purpose, but actually when Sui Tang said that, he panicked hard too.
Yeah.
Compared to josen who really rescued Sui Tang, he was the one with the worst intentions.
Sui Tang was right, he was the worst one.
Every time he thought about soon bringing down the Sui Family, he panicked so much he couldn’t sleep.
He wondered if Sui Tang would still trust him so completely if she found out.
While he was lost in thought, Xie Jingyan’s voice rang out: “I’ve decided to abandon this mission, as for that person’s money, I’ll return it intact.”
He Shang’s eyes widened suddenly: “You’re crazy? Do you know the consequences of betrayal? Yan Bro, it’s too late for you to turn back now.”
Xie Jingyan pursed his lips: “But if I wait until the plan is set in stone, I won’t be able to turn back, I… can’t go harm Jiang Ning.”
He Shang looked stunned: “Yan Bro, you…”
Xie Jingyan thought of all the moments with Jiang Ning lately, he sighed: “Yeah, I’ve fallen for her, no matter the cost, I don’t want to harm Jiang Ning.”
“But she bullied you for a whole year! You forgot those unbearable days, what kept you going was your hatred for Jiang Ning, how can you just say you’re giving it up, just because she stopped bullying you, you’ve got a crush now?” He Shang started laughing as he spoke.
He couldn’t help but chuckle, finding Xie Jingyan almost unrecognizable.
Clearly he wasn’t the type to fall for his enemy.
“If you can forgive Jiang Ning for harming you, then can you forgive Su Wanyuan too!” He Shang said sharply.
He couldn’t accept his brother from the same front suddenly bailing, leaving him alone.
Xie Jingyan’s expression sharpened: “He Shang, the wrongs committed by Jiang Ning and Su Wanyuan can’t even be compared, and besides, the one who harmed me wasn’t Jiang Ning!”
He Shang’s eyes widened in disbelief, muttering: “I think you’ve really gone crazy, Jiang Ning is still the same Jiang Ning, you’ve been blinded by love, seeing everything as right.”
Xie Jingyan didn’t know how to explain.
Saying Jiang Ning had split personality, no one but him would believe it.
Just like He Shang’s expression right now.
But once Xie Jingyan decided something, no one could talk him out of it.
“I’m just here to let you know, I won’t use that stock to lure the Jiang Family anymore, and I don’t want to hate Jiang Ning anymore, it’s too exhausting.”
Hating someone takes all your strength.
Constantly using those bloody memories to wash away the pain.
Xie Jingyan didn’t want to live in darkness anymore.
He didn’t want to hate Jiang Ning anymore.
Xie Jingyan said again: “Sorry, He Shang, please forgive my decision.”
He Shang stood there fuming speechlessly.
First Sui Tang the sweet and naive one, when he wasn’t around, got rescued by that josen and went crazy obsessing over him.
Then Xie Jingyan.
The one who promised to get rich together.
He looked back, oh ho, no wonder he wasn’t running anymore, he’d hooked up with a rich lady.
He Shang said sarcastically: “Really want Jiang Ning to see you looking so worthless, hilarious.”
Xie Jingyan silently gave him a look.
He Shang finally sighed: “Sigh, if you’re quitting, then me going after the Sui Family doesn’t mean anything, we’re good brothers, we should advance and retreat together, you’re going to return the money, right? I have money too, my cheap dad now only has me this one son by his side, he’s super nice to me, always giving me pocket money, I really get Zhou Yuchu’s life before, now he’s exiled abroad, probably hates me a lot, I’m living his good life.”
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Xie Jingyan hesitated: “If you quit too, I’m afraid the Huo Family will retaliate against you.”
He Shang made a gesture: “Stop, it’s not retaliating against me, but against the Zhou Family, best if we can bankrupt them, I’ve long been annoyed with them, shut down soon!”
He Shang patted Xie Jingyan’s shoulder: “I won’t say much else, we’ll advance and retreat together.”
The two smiled at each other.
As if both had let go of their heaviest burdens.
Xie Jingyan nodded: “Good.”
“Let’s go, to the classroom, you aren’t afraid of getting scolded for being late, but I don’t want the teacher tattling on me.”
Their voices drifted farther away.
By the pond shielded by bushes.
Su Wanyuan’s eyes were full of shock.
She had heard the whole thing.
And the moment they started talking… she recorded it.
