After Running Away From Her Wedding, The Tsundere Young Lady Went Crazy - Chapter 23.1

You are my fiancée

Her body was soft; every hollow was filled with water, like a clear spring that had met the rain, rising and overflowing until water was everywhere.

Suddenly, the ground shook. The mountains crumbled and the earth split.

Ji Songshu felt her body drop abruptly. She snapped her eyes open to find herself lying in bed, her phone vibrating beside her.

It was all a dream, all a dream, she whispered to herself, struggling to erase the memories from her mind. She patted her burning cheeks and picked up her phone.

As luck would have it, it was the other protagonist of her dream.

Shang Keyu: “Are you free tomorrow?”

The dog wearing sunglasses in her profile picture had a sharp gaze. Through the layers of the sunglasses and the screen, it stared sneakily at Ji Songshu, as if it had seen through her dream and the thoughts in her heart.

Ji Songshu covered her face; guilt was flooding her. She composed herself first before slowly considering how to reply.

She didn’t want to see Shang Keyu; she didn’t dare see Shang Keyu! The moment she saw her, she would think of the events in the dream. How was she supposed to face her?

Are you free tomorrow? Will we meet? Why are you avoiding me?

Ji Songshu couldn’t answer the string of questions. Could she really tell her, “I dream about doing ‘this and that’ with you every night, so I’m too embarrassed to see you”? Ji Songshu let out a whimper and began coming up with all sorts of excuses to brush her off.

I have class, a friend is looking for me, my face is swollen, I’m stuck to the bed…

She used every excuse in the book and refused for several days in a row. Shang Keyu’s tone grew colder, evolving from “Are you free today?” to a blunt “?”.

Sensing the change and fearing Shang Keyu might actually be angry, Ji Songshu began stealing scenery and lifestyle photos from Pei Jiyue’s social media feed every day to send to her. She used them as “daily updates” to prove she was indeed too busy to get away.

Shang Keyu didn’t reply to any of them, but Ji Songshu persisted.

Finally, on this day, Shang Keyu was either moved by her persistence or simply annoyed. She showed mercy and replied:

“What about you? If you don’t appear in the photos, how do I know you aren’t using someone else’s pictures to fool me?”

Having been caught red-handed, Ji Songshu scratched her head awkwardly. She ran to the bathroom, faced the mirror, and flashed a peace sign.

Without thinking, she sent the original photo immediately. Realizing what she’d done, she retracted it instantly, tossed it into a beauty app to touch it up, and resent it.

In the office, Shang Keyu’s hands were fast; she had already saved the original. Looking at the girl’s dazed expression in the photo, a flash of a smile crossed her lips.

This smile was keenly captured by Carlotta, who was currently reporting on work. She said:

“Eldest Miss, I investigated Miss Pei Jiyue’s recent itinerary.”

“She isn’t bogged down by affairs. Instead, she goes to a certain cafe every day and stays for over six hours.”

Shang Keyu pulled back her smile and set her phone on the desk, her tone becoming stern.

“Carlotta, I don’t recall asking you to monitor her.”

“My apologies, Eldest Miss. It was my own discretion.” Carlotta lowered her head and remained silent for a moment before finishing the second half of her sentence:

“However, that is a maid cafe that uses ‘the feeling of being in love’ as its selling point.”

In an instant, it was as if the mute button had been pressed in the office.

Nearly a minute passed before Shang Keyu spoke: “Where she goes and what she does—what does that have to do with me? She isn’t mine.”

Her expression was indifferent, as if she were discussing an irrelevant stranger.

Carlotta watched her young mistress quietly, understanding perfectly. She said nothing more, but as she finished her report and left, she intentionally slowed her pace, taking a long time to reach the door.

Just before the door closed, Shang Keyu suddenly said: “Clear two hours from my schedule tomorrow afternoon.”

“Yes,” Carlotta smiled.

The following day was not a bright one.

Raindrops pattered against the window, and the branches outside swayed—a sign of an approaching storm.

Ji Songshu sat on the swaying bus, looking down at her phone. She clicked on Pei Jiyue’s social media and was slightly shocked to see the latest post.

Pei Jiyue: “Wife-chan, so cute~”

The attached photo showed Pei Jiyue and a cute girl in a maid uniform, pressing their faces together and making a heart gesture. Their poses were exceptionally intimate.

Ji Songshu suddenly understood. No wonder Pei Jiyue had been leaving early and returning late lately; she had moved on from her ex and found her eighth girlfriend.

She wondered what Pei Jiyue would be swindled out of this time—money or feelings?

“The vehicle is starting, please hold onto the handrail. Next stop: Jikang Hospital.”

After the broadcast ended, Ji Songshu put away her phone and prepared to get off.

She visited her sister at the hospital every week. The days weren’t fixed; today was nothing special, except that Dr. Shen happened to be on leave.

When Ji Songshu entered the room, Ji Chaoxi was holding a copy of Game Theory.

Hearing the door, Ji Chaoxi looked up, her expression quickly turning joyful like a lit firework.

“Sister, you’re here!”

Ji Songshu noticed a thick stack of books by her sister’s bed and asked, “Where did these books come from?”

“Sister Weiyi helped me borrow them,” Ji Chaoxi said with a bright smile. “She also said I might be able to leave the hospital for a few days next month. Sister, let’s go see the osmanthus flowers at Mingwan Park then.”

“Sure, and we can use your student ID for half-price tickets.”

Ji Songshu sat by the bed and reached out to touch her sister’s thin face, but her hand was suddenly caught.

“Sister, what happened to your hands?” Ji Chaoxi cried out.

She held her sister’s hand—a hand with distinct joints and fair fingers—but most of the fingertips were wrapped in Band-Aids with rabbit patterns.

Ji Songshu pursed her lips. “I started practicing the piano recently.”

“Really?” Ji Chaoxi squealed excitedly. “Sister, I remember you used to be amazing at the piano. You won every competition you entered. Everyone said you were a genius.”

“I didn’t realize you were so incredible,” a smiling voice came from the doorway.

The sisters turned to see Shen Weiyi standing at the door. Unlike her usual white lab coat, she was dressed quite casually today in a light brown trench coat and jeans that made her legs look long and slender. She was carrying a fruit basket.

“I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Sister Weiyi, you look so beautiful today!” Ji Chaoxi’s eyes lit up, and she gave a thumbs-up.

“I’m on leave today, and I thought I’d come see you both.”

Both.

Ji Songshu noticed the “both.” How did Shen Weiyi know she was visiting Xiaoxi today?

She shot a sharp look at her sister.

Ji Chaoxi tilted her head, avoiding her sister’s “death stare,” and made small talk: “Oh right, Sister Weiyi, I’ve finished all the books you borrowed for me. Can you help me return them?”

“Of course. What do you want to read next?”

“Ah, I want to read something about psychology, like General Psychology…”

“The version by Peng Danling or Philip Zimbardo?”

“Either is fine. Which one is better for a beginner?”

“I think…”

They chatted back and forth, giving Ji Songshu no chance to interject. she just sat there with her eyes open and her ears listening.

She didn’t actually want to blame her sister. Xiaoxi lived in the hospital and had the most contact with her attending physician, Shen Weiyi; it was natural to be fond of her.

She quietly observed the talkative Shen Weiyi.

In all fairness, Shen Weiyi was an ideal partner for dating or marriage—gentle, considerate, attractive, highly educated, and with a respectable job.

It was just that she, personally, didn’t have much interest in dating. Furthermore, dating her sister’s doctor was a major taboo.

Suddenly, a vibration in her pocket interrupted her thoughts. She checked her phone; it was a message from Pei Jiyue:

Pei Jiyue: “Come to 216 Jiangyang Road right now.”

Ji Songshu: “What kind of place is that?”

Pei Jiyue: “You’ll know when you get here.”

Ji Songshu: “I’m at the hospital right now.”

Pei Jiyue: “Hurry up. Don’t forget you still owe me a favor.”

Ji Songshu sighed helplessly and looked at her sister. “Sorry, Xiaoxi, something came up. I have to go.”

Ji Chaoxi thought she was angry. Her face darkened instantly, and she said flustered, “Ah, Sister, I know I was wrong. I won’t try to set you up with Dr. Shen on purpose again… Please don’t be mad at me.”

Ji Songshu smiled and stroked her sister’s head. “I’m not mad. Something really did come up. I’ll come see you in a few days.”

“Okay.”

“Songshu, I’ll give you a ride wherever you’re going,” Shen Weiyi offered.

Ji Songshu thought for a moment. It would take over an hour by subway to get to Jiangyang Road but only ten minutes by car, so she didn’t refuse.

The weather outside was terrible. Wind and rain clashed, and the gale shook the large trees, making them look like dark shadows. Huge raindrops slammed against the glass with explosive sounds.

The atmosphere in the car was heavy and silent.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Ji Songshu felt uneasy. She didn’t know if it was being alone with Shen Weiyi, Pei Jiyue’s sudden summons, or if it was simply a bad premonition.

Outside the windshield was a world of rain. The red light of the traffic signal pierced through the mist, diffusing into a field of red as the car slowly stopped.

“You studied piano as a child?” Shen Weiyi initiated the conversation.

“Yes, I had some foundation when I was young. I started picking it up again recently.”

“I wonder if I’ll have the honor of hearing a piece?”

“I’m still practicing,” Ji Songshu gripped her hands. “I’m not at a point where I can perform for anyone yet.”

“I’ve studied some music theory myself. Perhaps I can offer some suggestions.”

“I really don’t want to trouble you,” Ji Songshu said, her tone firming.

Shen Weiyi paused and then said as if casually, “Is it because you’re playing it for someone specific, so I can’t listen?”

Ji Songshu was startled. “No.”