After Swapping Identities With My Archenemy - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Do You Dislike Cats?

Shen Wensi stayed by her side all night. When Jiang Huaiyi woke up, she was still sitting there.

During her long, heavy sleep, Jiang Huaiyi had not seen her Master. Panic surged as she realized she couldn’t contact her at all. The moment she opened her eyes, she practically bolted upright in bed.

A fine cold sweat covered her skin. She turned to Shen Wensi and blurted out, “She wasn’t in the dream. She’s really gone.”

Looking down at the fine silk paper clutched in her hand, tears began to fall uncontrollably. This was an outcome she was unprepared for. Shen Wensi picked up a thermos God knows when she had prepared it—and poured two cups of hot water.

“It might have to do with the barrier. The last time you saw her was connected to this. I’ve asked your Uncle; don’t panic yet. Complete the tasks on the silk paper, and she might return.”

Jiang Huaiyi’s hands trembled, but she forced herself to think clearly. If Master had truly disappeared, she would have left a trail. These tasks were those clues. Whether it was for her own survival or to find her Master, she had to press on.

Once she let go of that suffocating breath, the adrenaline faded, leaving only a bone-deep ache. Her body gave way, and she collapsed back onto the bed.

Shen Wensi was at her side in a heartbeat. “What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”

Hearing the genuine tension in the other woman’s voice, Jiang Huaiyi explained, “It just hurts so much. Why doesn’t that pocket dimension have a healing function? You come out exactly as battered as you went in.”

A silence followed. Jiang Huaiyi looked up to see Shen Wensi staring at her with a look of utter exasperation. Jiang Huaiyi sheepishly wiped her tears and murmured, “I’m a little hungry.”

Shen Wensi produced a thermal lunch box from nowhere, set up the over-bed table, and opened it to reveal steaming hot rice noodle rolls. They looked freshly made. Jiang Huaiyi noticed Shen Wensi had changed her clothes, too. She wondered when she had gone home, when she had returned, and if she had slept at all.

A Few Days Later: Homecoming

Jiang Huaiyi was finally discharged. During her stay, her Senior Sister and Uncle had visited Shen Wensi, checking on Jiang Huaiyi as well.

Shen Wensi had vaguely mentioned that Jiang Huaiyi was injured while saving her, which boosted their opinion of her significantly. They now called her “Fellow Daoist Jiang.” This newfound respect felt familiar and comforting, so Jiang Huaiyi didn’t correct them or reveal her true identity.

The moment she stepped back into the house, Xiao Die (the cat) came trotting out.

Shen Wensi followed behind with bags of supplies. She squinted at Xiao Die, who was currently rolling on the floor in an act of extreme cuteness for Jiang Huaiyi. Once the interaction was over, Xiao Die lay there, looking up at Shen Wensi with a gaze that was far from innocent.

Shen Wensi set down her bags and switched her shoes. Looking down at the cat blocking her path, she whispered coldly: “Behave yourself. If you dare bring anything weird into this house, you’re out.”

She stepped over the cat with a blank expression. Xiao Die flipped over, stretched lazily, and sauntered into the kitchen.

Song Rong had also made it out of the scroll. Shen Wensi had dispatched Du Xiaoxin to check on her. Upon waking, Song Rong found she was holding a lampstand a perfect match for the lampwick they had brought out. She promised to bring it over as a thank-you.

Senior Sister and Mu Ze were also coming. Jiang Huaiyi found it strange that those two, who bickered constantly, were traveling together.

Xiao Die hopped onto the sofa and curled up in Jiang Huaiyi’s lap, her big eyes fixed on the fine silk paper in her hand. Jiang Huaiyi smoothed it out. The task this time was incredibly brief.

It was just two words: “River Dragon” (Zou Jiao).

No time, no location. Jiang Huaiyi was baffled. How was she supposed to find a mythical dragon transformation event with no clues?

Xiao Die suddenly lunged and bit the silk paper. Jiang Huaiyi gasped, prying the cat’s mouth open. She rescued the paper, now sporting two tiny tooth marks, and gave Xiao Die’s head a light scolding tap. The cat flattened its ears and put on a look of heartbreaking innocence. Jiang Huaiyi’s anger vanished instantly.

She tucked the paper away and noticed Shen Wensi watching them with a look of deep disdain.

“Do you dislike cats?” Jiang Huaiyi asked.

Shen Wensi glanced at the cat and said flatly, “No.”

“Then what was that look for?”

Shen Wensi remained silent, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the cat again.

“You dislike Xiao Die?” Jiang Huaiyi realized.

Shen Wensi neither confirmed nor denied it. Jiang Huaiyi was confused; Shen Wensi didn’t mind the temple cats, so why the grudge against this cute orange kitty?

Xiao Die looked like the pinnacle of feline perfection: round head, chubby cheeks, and soft, golden fur. Jiang Huaiyi held the cat out toward her. “Why don’t you hold her? Overcome it?”

Behind Jiang Huaiyi’s back, Xiao Die’s ears twitched, and the cat flashed a smug, triumphant grin directly at Shen Wensi.

Shen Wensi’s eyes narrowed. She stood up abruptly and backed away two steps. Xiao Die, feigning terror, scrambled back into Jiang Huaiyi’s embrace.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Huaiyi asked. “You scared her! She’s just a little cat.”

Shen Wensi clenched her fists. She was about to tell her to look at the “little cat’s” actual expression, but her phone rang. Xiao Die immediately switched back to a pitiful, wide-eyed look.

Shen Wensi took a deep breath, let out a cold snort, and went to the door to receive the guests. It was Chu Lianxue.

Jiang Huaiyi cradled the cat’s face. Xiao Die looked up, hoping for a “don’t mind that cold woman” speech. Instead, Jiang Huaiyi said:

“She’s not a bad person, Xiao Die. She might just be a bit afraid of you. Don’t be sad. Everyone likes you! Besides, while I was away, she was the one feeding you. Be a good girl and go play upstairs for a bit.”

Xiao Die froze. The plan had backfired. As she was placed on the second floor, a flash of bewilderment crossed her eyes. She sat behind the wooden banister, watching the scene below.

Jiang Huaiyi began preparing tea, pushing the sofa to a sunnier spot and placing a down pillow where Shen Wensi had been sitting.

The door opened, and the sounds of bickering flooded in.

“I told you to call a cab! You insisted on the pedicab, and now my pastries are ruined!” “Zhiweiguan tastes like cardboard anyway! You live here and you still bought that? You didn’t even try!” “Chu Lianxue, you eat like a pig, what do you know? I queued for two hours for these!”

Song Rong followed behind them, breathless and laden with bags, looking relieved to see Shen Wensi.

The two bickerers went silent the moment they saw Shen Wensi’s face. For some reason, her “cold face” was especially terrifying today. The three of them stood at the door like quiet quails.

Shen Wensi didn’t even greet them. She just turned around and walked back inside.

“Come in and shut the door,” her voice echoed.

Like a granted amnesty, the three filed in.

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