One Year After Her Sister-In-Law Was Widowed - Chapter 26.1

At four o’clock in the afternoon, when Xiao Shuangyu appeared at the Huarui Building, the experts had already departed; even the brand experience center on the first floor was nearly finished packing up.

Until six o’clock, Xiao Shuangyu was unable to catch a glimpse of Ji Zhuozhou.

Everything seemed no different from usual, yet Xiao Shuangyu’s heart was filled with a trace of relief mixed with an even deeper sense of dejection.

Regarding the events at noon—even now, the memory made her heart race, and a thick sense of guilt enveloped her.

If she hadn’t wanted to see Ji Zhuozhou off while she escorted the experts, she might have run back to the shop next to Ji Zhuozhou’s house long ago to search for a business card to photograph.

Or perhaps, as she often did, she would have gone to the nearby Lexing to rent a drum room and play until her mind went blank.

She was afraid that if she saw Ji Zhuozhou unprepared, Ji Zhuozhou would see through her guilt; thus, she felt that not running into her was, in a sense, a good thing.

And yet, she felt dejected by the fact that she considered not seeing Ji Zhuozhou a “good thing.”

Finally, after seeing Ji Zhuozhou from a distance, all those emotions dissipated like smoke.

The scent of the perfume she had applied in the morning had faded significantly; unless one leaned in close to sniff, almost no scent remained.

But the moment Ji Zhuozhou walked near, the atmosphere of rain and mist re-ignited the faint fragrance of the perfume. The scents intertwined, swirling around the tip of her nose.

Ji Zhuozhou stopped. In her usual soft, light voice, she bid farewell to them, “See you tomorrow.”

Following behind Wang Ran, Xiao Shuangyu dryly uttered a “See you tomorrow.”

It was indeed “see you tomorrow,” but it was also certainly different.

It wasn’t tomorrow at six p.m., but “tomorrow” just after midnight, after her shift ended.

Nevertheless, Xiao Shuangyu really disliked this farewell right now.

It sounded so distant.

Following Wang Ran, those emerald-like eyes landed gently upon her, accompanied by lightly curved lashes that seemed to carry a hint of a smile.

Xiao Shuangyu blinked. The tentacles sprouting around her body waved gently, drilling into Ji Zhuozhou with all their might.

Since moving into Ji Zhuozhou’s home, the eye contact they shared when Ji Zhuozhou got off work had almost become a secret signal.

Ji Zhuozhou was saying: I’ll wait for you to come back.

Xiao Shuangyu was saying: I’ll be back soon.

Then, Ji Zhuozhou would leave. She would chase Ji Zhuozhou’s silhouette until it entered the unseen underground parking entrance, and then watch the car pull out and merge into the traffic until it vanished from sight.

Xiao Shuangyu withdrew her gaze.

Today was the same; nothing had changed.

It was as if her panic from the morning and noon had never existed. Xiao Shuangyu quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

At eight o’clock in the evening, Xiao Shuangyu did not continue working until midnight; she had asked Wang Ran for a half-day leave.

Rushing as fast as she could, she took a taxi to the TH Bar, arriving just a few minutes past nine.

A-Nan and Nie Siyu were already waiting at the back door. Seeing her get out of the car, they practically grabbed her immediately and started running.

“Oh my god, you have no idea how scary Sister Xunxia is. When she smiled and asked, ‘Are you not coming again?’ we were scared to death!”

A-Nan snatched the canvas bag from her hand, her short legs churning rapidly, still finding the time to shudder.

“I wasn’t scared at all. Only a certain someone was scared. Don’t believe the rumors, don’t spread them,” Nie Siyu countered.

Nie Siyu shoved her into a chair, nimbly dodging an elbow from A-Nan, and picked up eyeshadow to smear onto her face.

Xiao Shuangyu wanted to say she could do it herself, but she was pinned down firmly on both sides and could only resign herself to letting the two of them do her makeup.

The process was very fast. By the time Xiao Shuangyu was shoved into the fitting room and the curtain was pulled for her to change, the argument between A-Nan and Nie Siyu—about how the two sides of her face looked different—had also progressed rapidly.

A-Nan said Nie Siyu drew the eyeliner too long; Nie Siyu said A-Nan made the eyeshadow too big.

Xiao Shuangyu couldn’t tell what the difference was between the two sides; she hadn’t even had time to look in a mirror before being pushed inside.

But she knew clearly that her lateness had caused the dispute. She changed her clothes efficiently and hurried out to pull the two of them apart.

“I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Xiao Shuangyu’s mediation was ineffective; the two continued to bicker all the way onto the stage.

The drum kit’s position was always at the back of the band. Xiao Shuangyu sat down first in the shadows of the rear, looking forward to it.

Ji Xunxia, with her shock of red hair, seemed to be standing below the stage, arms crossed as she watched them.

A-Nan seemed to notice as well and immediately performed a powerful guitar solo. “Hello everyone! We are the Rainshower Band, and I am the lead singer, A-Nan!!!”

It was no longer A-Nan’s usual voice or tone; it was a powerful shout infused with the essence of rock.

A-Nan didn’t stop. “Bass! Nie Siyu!!!”

Nie Siyu remained silent, only playing a heavy, rhythmic bass line.

Then, A-Nan turned in another direction. “Drummer! Lenn!!!”

Xiao Shuangyu had already lowered her gaze, her entire form melting into the shadows. Hearing the cue, she swung her drumsticks and struck the drums.

Dong-dong-qiang-qiang. Her hands were a blur of motion.

The atmosphere in the venue was ignited, and the Rainshower Band officially began their performance.

In the intervals between songs, Xiao Shuangyu looked up. Ji Xunxia, who had been below the stage, was gone.

Unconsciously, she too breathed a sigh of relief.

Ji Xunxia was a senior from the same school, three years older than her and two years older than the other two. In school, she had been the student council president, a “know-it-all,” and a legendary figure focused on making money.

It was she who had recruited the band to work at the bar, but it wasn’t until she graduated that they realized she was the one who had opened the bar in the first place.

As a senior, Ji Xunxia was kind and friendly, but as a boss, she would occasionally become “evil.”

Even with the same expression and the same smile, the pressure she exerted was immense.

Especially when one was already at the party at fault.

After coming off stage, they met Ji Xunxia once again in the backstage lounge.

Walking in front, A-Nan spotted her, shivered, and took half a step back—nearly stepping on Xiao Shuangyu’s foot—before flashing a smile. “Sister Xunxia~”

Ji Xunxia sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, giving a grunt as an acknowledgment. Her sultry eyes landed directly on Xiao Shuangyu behind A-Nan. “Have you become a security guard?”

Xiao Shuangyu looked at A-Nan. A-Nan tried to slip away but was caught by Nie Siyu.

A-Nan grinned sheepishly. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”

It really wasn’t on purpose.

After all, beyond the employer-employee relationship, they were long-time friends. Seeing Xiao Shuangyu take leave so many times in a row without mentioning the reason, Ji Xunxia naturally couldn’t help but care.

The result of that care was a little bit of coaxing, and A-Nan blurted everything out. Nie Siyu only found out when it was too late.

Therefore, at this moment, Nie Siyu also looked at Xiao Shuangyu with a hint of guilt for failing to keep a lid on A-Nan.

Xiao Shuangyu shook her head. There was nothing to keep secret about her working as a security guard; she was just curious how Ji Xunxia had suddenly found out.

Those eyes were dark and deep, retaining their presence even under heavy makeup; her expression didn’t look particularly convincing.

But the Rainshower Band had been together for so long that they weren’t incapable of making these judgments. A-Nan’s eyes immediately became watery, filled with the joy of being “saved.”

Nie Siyu also let go of A-Nan and sighed helplessly.

Seeing that the interaction was finally over, Ji Xunxia spoke again, “Alright. If you couldn’t find a job, why didn’t you tell me? Quit that place next week; I’ll find one for you.”

A-Nan’s mouth felt open, and Nie Siyu was also somewhat shocked.

Xiao Shuangyu blinked, her pitch-black eyes meeting Ji Xunxia’s gaze. “No.”

She said, “It’s not that I couldn’t find a job. I wanted to be a security guard. I won’t quit.”

Ji Xunxia stared at her intently, as if confirming how much sincerity was in her eyes.

After a moment, Ji Xunxia nodded. “If you have any trouble, come find me anytime.”

Xiao Shuangyu nodded in return. “Thank you.”

Ji Xunxia shrugged and flashed a charming smile. “Thank me for what?”

Having said that, she tilted her chin toward the wine bottles nearby. “Have a drink?”

Xiao Shuangyu did not nod.

Ji Zhuozhou was still waiting for her; she had to get back quickly.

A-Nan and Nie Siyu were fine, however, and quickly gathered around the table, happily pulling Ji Xunxia into a drink.

After saying goodbye and watching Xiao Shuangyu’s figure disappear behind the door, Ji Xunxia unconsciously lowered her gaze.

She knew that Xiao Shuangyu was very talented.

Her grades in school had always been excellent, the projects she participated in were all successful, and she had even graduated as an “Outstanding Graduate.”

A resume like that should have made it easy to find a job; she should have been recruited by major corporations long before graduation.

But Xiao Shuangyu didn’t go to the graduation ceremony, and she didn’t go to any major corporations.

This was something the two people in front of her didn’t know.

Ji Xunxia sighed inwardly, looking at the wine glass in her hand.

She thought again: A security guard is fine. Isn’t Huarui a big company? What’s wrong with that?