After Running Away From Her Wedding, The Tsundere Young Lady Went Crazy - Chapter 4

“Is This a Date Invitation?”

Ji Songshu agreed without a second thought.

In fact, no matter what conditions Shang Keyu set, she would have agreed. For her sister’s sake, she had no room for choice. Once the goal was set, all she had to do next was give it her all.

She stared into Shang Keyu’s eyes, trying to look through those ink-colored depths to see the person clearly—to see right through her.

Shang Keyu seemed as if she wanted to say something more, but a work-related phone call forced her to leave early. They waved their goodbyes.

Soon, only Ji Songshu and her aunt and uncle remained in the house. For a moment, the silence was as cold as death.

Ji Songshu gazed at the doorway where Shang Keyu had departed, her mind swirling with various thoughts. How should I do this? Where should I start? What does Shang Keyu like? In truth, she had absolutely no experience in romance.

Standing there, she failed to notice her aunt and uncle’s cold eyes fixed upon her, a storm brewing within them.

“Ji Songshu, we of the Pei family raised you to this age. Where exactly did we mistreat you? Why are you stealing my daughter’s things?”

The uncle was the first to lash out. He slammed his palm onto the coffee table, causing the teacup to jump and spill its entire contents.

“I…” Ji Songshu was startled. Her instinct was to explain herself; she opened her mouth, but then swallowed her words.

It was unnecessary. She had tried many times before, and it only ever made things worse. In the ears of someone who does not love you, an explanation is just a lie, a sophisticated excuse. Since the die was cast, she could only do her best to win Shang Keyu over.

“Playing dumb, are you? You’ve really turned the world upside down!” Her uncle picked up a cup nearby and hurled it at Ji Songshu.

Ji Songshu stepped aside. The teacup brushed past her ear and smashed against the floor, exploding into a spray of shards.

“You dare dodge? Do you think just because you’ve latched onto that eldest miss that your wings have hardened? Do you think you can just ignore me now?”

“Xiaoming, calm down. Go back to the car first. I’ll talk to Songshu.” Her aunt stepped in front of the uncle, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the exit while giving him a meaningful look. Her uncle snorted and slammed the door as he left.

The aunt sighed and took Ji Songshu’s hand, patting it comfortingly in her palm. “Songshu, your uncle just has that kind of temper. He’s always been like that. Don’t blame him.”

Ji Songshu gave a low response of acknowledgment.

“You went to the hospital today, right? The doctor told me everything. Here, I brought some supplements for you.”

Only then did Ji Songshu notice a row of supplement boxes lined up by the sofa. She glanced over them—they were all things to nourish blood and qi: bird’s nest, donkey-hide gelatin, goji berries…

When she saw the honey, her eyes dimmed for a moment. She put on a formulaic smile and said, “Thank you, Auntie.” Having said that, she began to clear the shards of the broken teacup from the floor.

Ji Lan watched Ji Songshu’s back as she crouched on the floor and then sat down on the sofa.

“Songshu, are you wondering why I said you were my daughter?”

“In that situation, I could only make the best of the mistake. Miss Shang had a very bad first impression of Yueyue. If she found out she had identified the wrong person, this marriage would definitely fall through.”

“If this marriage succeeds, we can secure the partnership for cell therapy. Chaoxi needs that technology to treat her leg.”

“There is something I haven’t had the chance to tell you yet.”

“The doctor did another evaluation today. Chaoxi’s condition is worse than expected. The surgery has been canceled.”

Ji Songshu felt a sharp constriction in her heart.

“So, the cell therapy in Shang Keyu’s hands is the only chance left.”

“Exactly. Therefore, you must win over Shang Keyu—for Chaoxi’s sake.”

“I understand,” Ji Songshu nodded solemnly.

Ji Lan added, “In my heart, you and Yueyue are both my daughters. I cannot be so selfish as to ruin your whole life over this. How about this: you only need to keep Shang Keyu happy during these three months. You don’t actually have to marry her.”

“This…” Ji Songshu was stunned. “What if Shang Keyu refuses to accept that when the time comes?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. we adults will arrange everything.”

Ji Songshu found it difficult to press further. After tidying up the living room, she saw her aunt out the door.

Once everyone was gone, the atmosphere finally relaxed. Just as Ji Songshu wanted to take a breath and wash her face to calm down, there was a “bang.” Pei Jiyue emerged from her room like a precisely timed monster spawn.

She caught sight of the row of supplements on the floor, and her tone immediately turned sarcastic.

“I really don’t get it. What kind of spell did you cast on them? Shang Keyu is being played by you, and even my mom is being so nice to you. Clearly, I’m her biological daughter.”

Ji Songshu didn’t want to talk to her. She turned to walk toward her room. After all the maneuvering, her head felt dizzy again, and she just wanted to lie down for a while.

“Are you deaf? I’m talking to you!” Pei Jiyue caught up in two or three steps, grabbed Ji Songshu by the collar, pulled her close, and raised her hand high.

Just as a slap was about to fall, Pei Jiyue’s arm was suddenly grabbed by someone.

Ji Songshu looked at the person in a daze. “Why are you back?”

“I forgot to give you something.” Shang Keyu tossed Pei Jiyue’s hand aside like she was throwing out trash.

“How did you get in?” Pei Jiyue questioned loudly.

Shang Keyu acted as if she hadn’t heard her, carefully inspecting Ji Songshu’s face. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. How did you get in?” Ji Songshu asked softly.

“The door wasn’t locked,” Shang Keyu said. Then, as if sensing there were too many people present, she gestured with her eyes for Pei Jiyue to leave.

“This is my house! Why should I listen to you?” Pei Jiyue shrieked.

“Because it’s your house, you think you can hit your sister?”

“When did I hit her? Which eye saw me hit her? Did my palm even land on her face?”

The words had barely left her mouth when a crisp slapping sound echoed through the living room. Pei Jiyue’s face was knocked to the side.

Ji Songshu looked at Shang Keyu in disbelief. After a moment of stunned silence, she asked, “Does your hand hurt?”

“A little. I forgot to take off my ring.”

“You! Both of you! I’m going to tell my parents!” Pei Jiyue bit her lip, filled with grief and indignation.

“Go ahead and tell them. That way, you can get another slap from your parents. You should know their attitude toward me.” Shang Keyu frowned in disgust.

“I really hate sharing a room with a drunkard. Have you lost your mind from drinking? You drank a bottle of tequila and half a bottle of brandy the night before last. Moreover, you are covered in the scent of at least three different people’s perfumes. It stinks.”

Ji Songshu stared at Shang Keyu in shock. “How do you know that?”

“I can smell it.”

Ji Songshu sniffed the air forcefully and muttered under her breath, “Why can’t I smell it?”

Pei Jiyue was gnashing her teeth in rage, but she had to admit Shang Keyu was right. She shifted her furious gaze to Ji Songshu.

She saw Ji Songshu holding out her right hand to Shang Keyu, asking, “How do I smell?”

Shang Keyu gave a sniff but didn’t answer. She shot a sideways glance at Pei Jiyue. “Are you still here?”

Pei Jiyue covered her face and ran out the door. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to curse harshly: “You just wait! I’ll be back!”

Ji Songshu suddenly felt she looked a bit like a cartoon villain being blasted off. She couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Shang Keyu laughed along with her.

As they laughed, their eyes met.

“Thank you, Miss Shang.”

“No need for such formality. Just call me by my name.”

“Shang Keyu,” Ji Songshu paused. “Can you let go of my hand first?”

“No,” Shang Keyu said. “Give me the other hand, too.”

Not understanding, Ji Songshu held out both hands.

To her surprise, Shang Keyu took off the sapphire ring from her own right index finger and slipped it onto Ji Songshu’s left middle finger.

Although Ji Songshu didn’t know exactly how big a “pigeon egg” diamond was, she was certain that the sapphire set in this ring was definitely larger than a pigeon egg. Especially since the large “pigeon egg” was surrounded by a circle of diamond “quail eggs.”

“Take this. If anything happens, you can use this to come to my house and find me. I’m busy with work, so I might not see calls or messages in time. Just show this to the housekeeper; she will let you in.”

Ji Songshu was frightened. “This is too valuable. I can’t accept it.”

“You don’t have the right to refuse,” Shang Keyu said calmly. “Besides, don’t think you’re that special. This is just a habit of mine.”

Giving away such a luxurious ring is a habit?

Ji Songshu couldn’t help but imagine: Had Shang Keyu previously worn rings on all ten fingers and handed them out whenever she met a pretty girl?

She looked at the sparkling gemstone on her middle finger and suddenly remembered that wearing a ring on each finger seemed to have a different meaning.

“Is this… an engagement ring?” Ji Songshu paused and looked up at Shang Keyu.

Those beautiful eyes, even hidden behind black contact lenses, still possessed a soul-stirring magic.

Shang Keyu suddenly lost her surrounding composure. She shifted her neck unnaturally and said, “No, it’s just a small gift.”

“Then don’t wear it on this finger. It will cause misunderstandings,” Ji Songshu grumbled, moving the ring to her right middle finger. “This finger represents attracting wealth and treasures. It’s a good omen.”

Shang Keyu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

She thought for a moment and offered comfort: “It’s common for parents to favor one child. You don’t need to be sad; you are in no way inferior to your sister.”

“Thank you, I understand.” Ji Songshu tilted her head. “But why are you helping me like this? You’re making me feel like, even though I haven’t done anything and we’ve only met for the first time, you’ve already fallen in love with me.”

“Then you must think the whole world is in love with you,” Shang Keyu said bluntly.

Ji Songshu pouted.

“Also, this isn’t our first meeting. We met that night at Sinus Amoris. You dropped your earring back then.”

“So the earring is with you! That’s great. Thank you. Can you return it to me?” Ji Songshu cupped her hands.

Shang Keyu looked into her eyes, which were as clear as spring water. After a silence, she said, “I forgot to bring it today.” She paused. “Do you have time tomorrow?”

Tomorrow was the weekend. Ji Songshu nodded.

“Do you have time the whole day?”

Ji Songshu blinked, suddenly realizing something. “Is this a date invitation?”

“If you insist on interpreting it that way, you can. I don’t mind.”

“I will prepare for it as if it’s a date,” Ji Songshu responded with a smile.

“Has nothing to do with me.”

Shang Keyu turned and left.

The door slowly closed. As Ji Songshu’s face disappeared behind the closing door, Shang Keyu touched the feather earring in her pocket. The feather tickled her palm, feeling crisp and tingly. She unconsciously curled her lips into a smile.