After the Vicious Supporting Female Character Became the Heroine's Cat - Chapter 38.2

Ji Hanfeng scratched his head, a little embarrassed. “I wasn’t sure what to get you, so I asked an aunt who’s a designer I know to design these brooches. The symbolism is something like ‘Bloodthirsty Crescent Moon Falling into the Ocean Waves.” I thought it sounded a bit ominous, but apparently, it’s quite well-regarded in the design world.”

Shen Yunmiao picked up the two brooches and smiled. “Thank you, Hanfeng. They’re beautiful.”

The symbolism of the bloodthirsty crescent moon and the clear ocean waves made it quite obvious who they represented. Cheng Jianian felt a bit guilty. “Mm… they are quite nice.”

Shen Yunmiao naturally picked up the red one and pinned it to the fabric over Cheng Jianian’s chest on her white suit, comparing it before nodding. “It looks lovely on you.”

Cheng Jianian was initially a bit embarrassed, but then she remembered that the person sitting across from them was her love rival, and Shen Yunmiao had pinned it on her so openly without any hesitation.

She felt a little better inside.

Ji Hanfeng watched the two being all lovey-dovey and sighed, “It’s really great. I actually thought you two wouldn’t have much to do with each other and was worried Miaomiao would be stuck with a lifelong crush.”

The speaker may have had no ill intent, but the listener took it to heart. Shen Yunmiao thought about how quickly their relationship had progressed and felt a twinge of unease.

Cheng Jianian felt a dull ache in her heart. Yes, if she hadn’t turned into a cat, she and Yun Miao might never have been together in this lifetime.

That person’s deep and intense affection would have remained buried at the bottom of a box, just like that notebook.

Ji Hanfeng glanced at Shen Yunmiao’s bracelet and remarked casually, “But, Young Master Cheng, as a friend, I’m quite curious about something. If you two ever break up, will you take back that bracelet on Miao Miao’s wrist?”

Shen Yunmiao looked down at her wrist. The smooth, lustrous white jade beads made her skin appear even more porcelain-like. It dawned on her belatedly that this bracelet wasn’t something one would casually give to an ordinary friend.

She looked at Cheng Jianian in surprise, but Cheng Jianian only smiled and said, “I don’t break up.”

Ji Hanfeng felt somewhat reassured. “I didn’t mean anything else, Young Master Cheng. You know Yun Miao doesn’t have many relatives, I’m her only friend. If one day you stop protecting her.”

“That day will never come,” Cheng Jianian interrupted him. “Thank you for caring about Shen Yunmiao, but Ji Hanfeng, rest assured, unless I die someday, I will absolutely never break up with her.”

Shen Yunmiao immediately covered her mouth. “What nonsense are you talking about? Stop bringing up death all the time.”

She had been holding back this frustration for days. Every time Cheng Jianian made a vow, she would mention death, it was infuriating.

Cheng Jianian gently removed her hand, smiling warmly. “Alright, I’ll live a very, very long life and stay with Miaomiao forever.”

Ji Hanfeng: “…”

With matters settled and gifts given, they finished their meal and went their separate ways.

Before leaving, Ji Hanfeng quietly pulled Shen Yunmiao aside and whispered, “Miaomiao, I didn’t mean anything by it, it’s just you know your WeChat account.”

Shen Yunmiao guessed what he was about to say and curved her dark eyes teasingly. “What if it is?”

Ji Hanfeng’s face instantly fell. “Then forget it.”

Shen Yunmiao sighed helplessly. “It’s fine. The WeChat account is mine, and A’Nian won’t snoop around. But is there something you can’t say now?”

Ji Hanfeng shrugged. “It’s not that. I’m just afraid you might get hurt one day.”

“After all, we’ve been through life and death together, Yun Miao. I hope you’ll always be happy.”

Shen Yunmiao looked at him and said, word by word, “I will be.”

Cheng Jianian, returning from a phone call, overheard this. She couldn’t ask what it meant in front of Ji Hanfeng, so she had to hold back.

Once they were in the car, she lay her head on Shen Yunmiao’s lap, blinking up at her. “Miao Miao.”

Shen Yunmiao sighed softly. “Hmm?”

“We didn’t talk about anything important. He just asked if you would check my WeChat, and I said you wouldn’t.”

Cheng Jianian let out a disdainful “hmph.” “Of course I wouldn’t do something like that! He really doesn’t trust me at all.”

Shen Yunmiao gently stroked her soft hair. “That’s what I told him that you wouldn’t do such a thing, right?”

Her dark eyes were tender and shimmering, like rippling water.

Cheng Jianian’s heart skipped a beat, and she replied slowly, “Yes, I wouldn’t.”

Cheng Jianian never expected she would break her promise so soon.

Cheng Su had struck again.

And this time, it was even worse than before clearly, he meant business.

Although Shen Yunmiao had stopped acting, Cheng Jianian didn’t want her staying home every day, so she made sure to take her for walks in the nearby parks.

Shen Yunmiao held her hand, smiling brightly. “What do you mean? Did Ji Hanfeng really guess right? Are you afraid I’d think you’re restricting my movements?”

Cheng Jianian leaned against her back, resting her face on Shen Yunmiao’s shoulder, her voice soft. “I’m worried you’ll get bored staying at home, but I’m also afraid it’s unsafe for you to go out alone.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” Shen Yunmiao said, her eyes curving into crescents. “The reason I don’t go out is so you won’t worry. Honestly, whether I go out or not doesn’t matter, the villa has its own garden, after all.”

After returning from Jiangnan, the two had moved from their previous place in Ruijing to this villa.

Of course, the villa Cheng Jianian lived in came with a spacious garden and scenic views.

But no matter how large the garden was, it couldn’t compare to the outside world. Cheng Jianian muttered gloomily, “It’s still not as fun as going out.”

“Alright, then let’s go out and have fun together, okay?” Shen Yunmiao gently squeezed her fingertips. “Going out alone isn’t as enjoyable as watching you work.”

Cheng Jianian nodded, then suddenly noticed something. “Hey, there’s an ice cream stand over there. Do you want some?”

It was almost August, and summer was fading into autumn, the weather gradually turning cooler.

Shen Yunmiao smiled. “Let’s get one then. We can share it, I can’t finish one by myself.”

Cheng Jianian said, “Stay here and wait for me. I’ll be right back.”

There was a lounge chair nearby, and Cheng Jianian didn’t want Shen Yunmiao to walk back and forth. She gently pressed her down and dashed toward the ice cream stand.

Shen Yunmiao obediently sat down, watching as Cheng Jianian approached the vendor and said something to them.

The surroundings were quiet and serene, as if the entire world had narrowed down to just this one person.

Her heart raced for her.

Cheng Jianian quickly bought a vanilla-flavored swirl ice cream and walked back toward the lounge chair with a smile.

But in that very moment, a speeding car suddenly appeared. Having experienced similar situations so many times before, Cheng Jianian reacted instantly.

She threw the ice cream aside, leaped forward, and pulled Shen Yunmiao into a rolling tumble onto the grass.

Her heart still pounding, she clung tightly to the person in her arms. Even though the car had already sped away, she didn’t dare relax her hold even slightly.

Shen Yunmiao, breathing in the rich scent of roses, felt her heart ache so intensely she could barely breathe.

“A-Nian, A-Nian!” she murmured softly.

Cheng Jianian’s entire body ached. Though the grass was soft, the pain in her heart was overwhelming. The person she couldn’t bear to lose was trembling in her arms.

What should she do?

She didn’t know. She felt more lost than anyone.

All she wanted was to protect this person, so why did it always end in more pain?

“Miaomiao, Miaomiao, Miaomiao.” she called out repeatedly, as if responding to Shen Yunmiao’s earlier whispers.

The security team, which had not yet fully withdrawn, swarmed over. The car seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

The security personnel hesitated to approach Cheng Jianian from a distance. Heartbroken and despairing, Cheng Jianian held Shen Yunmiao tightly, tears streaming down her face.

“Miaomiao, Miaomiao, what should I do? Please tell me what to do. I’m in so much pain, Miaomiao…”

Shen Yunmiao, still dazed, wrapped her arms around Cheng Jianian in return. For a moment, she felt a chilling fear spreading through her entire body.

One was silent; the other wept bitterly.

Perhaps the world truly didn’t want to grant them even a single moment of peace.

In the end, they didn’t return home but went straight to the hospital.

Shen Yunmiao truly couldn’t believe that in less than a month, she had ended up in the hospital twice, each time in such a brutal way.

She didn’t know what to say or do, sitting silently on the hospital bed, gazing at the bright moon hanging high in the sky.

Outside, Cheng Jianian was making a phone call alone. The call connected quickly, and Cheng Su’s voice came through: “It’s Jianian!”

“Don’t pretend with me,” Cheng Jianian’s voice was hoarse. “What exactly are you trying to do?”

“Nothing much. I’m just heartbroken that I was the last to know my daughter is in a relationship. I had no choice but to give you a wedding gift.”

Cheng Su’s voice was so calm, as if she wasn’t talking about a car accident but merely giving some other precious gift.

Cheng Jianian’s tone was even colder: “What do you want me to do?”

“Heh…” Cheng Su chuckled. “Nothing much. Just do what you’re supposed to do.”

“Jianian, you’re my only heir. Why would I let anything happen to you? Don’t worry.”

The implication was already clear. Cheng Jianian said wearily, “Do you want me to help you secure the chairman position?”

“I can do that, but I’m begging you, Mother, please don’t harbor any ill intentions toward Miaomiao anymore. Otherwise, you’ll have to handle this matter yourself.”

Cheng Su laughed lightly: “See how pathetic this is? When your wings aren’t fully grown, this is how it is. You’ll always be constrained by others.”

“But I’m happy. I am your mother, after all. What grudges could we possibly hold overnight?”

The call ended. Cheng Jianian leaned exhaustedly against the wall, her heart aching so much she could barely breathe.

They were discharged from the hospital just two days later. Cheng Su was right she hadn’t intended for anything serious to happen to them this time. The car had given them enough reaction time and slowed down.

It was just a strong warning.

It wasn’t that Cheng Jianian was inferior to Cheng Su; rather, she lacked Cheng Su’s ruthlessness and couldn’t bring herself to be so extreme.

She was her mother, the one who gave birth to her and raised her. For that alone, Cheng Jianian could never repay her in this lifetime.

But even if she couldn’t do it, she had to.

Cheng Jianian peered through the small glass window on the hospital room door. Inside, the young girl lay pale on the bed, looking as fragile as if she might break at any moment.

She had found something more important than life itself, and she had to protect it, even if it cost her her life.

Dark thoughts swirled wildly in her heart. She could no longer bear to be separated from this person for even a second it would feel like losing her life.

Because there were too many accidents in this world, especially ones targeting the person inside.

Only by staying by her side every moment could she ensure she wouldn’t suddenly disappear.

No, she absolutely couldn’t let her go out again.

Cheng Jianian thought with sorrow:

What a pity. She was going to break her promise.

But she truly couldn’t control herself. If this was the outcome, then they should never be apart again.

Shen Yunmiao, lying on the hospital bed, was unaware of the thoughts outside her room. She opened her phone and saw a message from Ji Hanfeng:

“Yunmiao, how about 7 p.m. this weekend? It should only take about an hour. Nothing will happen. Ask Cheng Jianian.”

Shen Yunmiao had been certain that Cheng Jianian would let her go, but after what happened that night, she hesitated.

Should she go?

How should she bring it up? She had a feeling that A’Nian would be terrified.

But she had already promised Ji Hanfeng and she still owed him a favor.

That was many years ago, yet she still hadn’t managed to fully repay that debt.

The two of them truly shared a bond forged through life and death.

It was Ji Hanfeng who had saved her once.

Shen Yunmiao couldn’t choose to forget that incident. If she went this time, she could finally clear all her debts.

That would be excellent as well.

She watched with distress as the girl walked in, her face forced into a strained smile.

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