Redeeming that Beautiful, Strong, and Miserable Omega [Transmigrated into a Book] - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Memory

The next day, early morning.

“Miss, are you sure you want to do this?”

The Chen family bodyguard held Wen Yan’s background report, his voice tinged with unease. Chen Sili tightly fastened the belt of her trousers, silent for a moment. After a while, she said slowly, “Mhm.”

The bodyguard, sent by Mrs. Chen to supervise, couldn’t help but remind her, “You are free to act according to your own ideas, but if Madam finds out you aren’t listening to her, she might get angry.”

As for the consequences of anger, the bodyguard didn’t elaborate, but Chen Sili knew well enough; it would just mean a more difficult situation. She hadn’t been through worse over the years.

“Miss, forgive me for speaking out of turn. If you follow Madam’s instructions, even if you fail to secure the marriage alliance with the Wen family, Madam will at most just complain. But if your self-initiated plan fails, I’m afraid…”

Chen Sili’s tone was calm. “I will bear the consequences of failure.”

The bodyguard sighed.

Wen Yan pulled open the curtains and felt her gaze. The person downstairs looked up, her lips moving. Wen Yan opened the window and heard her voice.

“Wen Yan, good morning!”

Chen Sili smiled, waving at Wen Yan from downstairs. Wen Yan politely raised her hand in response.

Once outside, Wen Yan noticed that Chen Sili’s attire today was very different.

Abandoning the sexy style that didn’t suit her looks, Chen Sili was dressed very casually today: a white shirt paired with black trousers, her long hair tied into a neat high ponytail. She looked much more comfortable.

Wen Yan took a few extra glances at her. Chen Sili keenly caught her gaze and smiled. “I’m usually very busy with work and often don’t have time to dress up, so I like to wear this. Does it look strange?”

Wen Yan shook her head. “It suits you.”

Chen Sili’s eyes lit up. Seeing that it had an effect, she immediately brought up a few more topics that Wen Yan might be interested in, but this time Wen Yan politely responded to her questions.

The two walked in silence. The bodyguard followed behind them, sighing in a place where they couldn’t see him.

He knew that Miss wouldn’t be able to win over the Wen family’s daughter just by appealing to her preferences. She had to listen to Madam and seal the deal.

A piercing horn suddenly sounded from outside their view. The bodyguard following behind didn’t even react, but Wen Yan suddenly frowned and pulled Chen Sili, who was standing on the outside of the road.

Chen Sili stumbled. Before she could realize what happened, a car suddenly rushed out from the side lane, speeding past, just grazing her arm.

“…”

Chen Sili recovered with a lingering fear and looked at Wen Yan, who was gripping her arm. “…Thank you.”

The two maintained a half-hug stance. Chen Sili’s gaze fell on their closely pressed arms. Wen Yan immediately released her grip. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Chen Sili pursed her lips. Wen Yan picked up her phone. “It’s safer to contact a doctor just in case.”

Chen Sili didn’t stop her. After a while, Chen Sili suddenly spoke. “Wen Yan.”

Wen Yan raised her eyelids. “Mhm?”

“Are you this kind to everyone?”

Wen Yan realized she had misunderstood and was about to explain, but Chen Sili suddenly smiled. “Never mind.”

“No need to call a doctor. I’m not hurt, and I’m not that easily scared.”

The next few days were peaceful between them. Neither brought up the engagement again, and Wen Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The day before returning home, Wen Yan received a call from Wen Li.

When Wen Yan woke up, she stared at the missed call with the bright red numbers, mentally preparing herself for a while before calling back.

The call connected quickly.

“Mom.”

“How was the blind date? Is the engagement settled?”

Getting straight to the point was indeed her mother’s style. Wen Yan sighed and answered truthfully, “Chen Sili and I weren’t interested in each other. There’s no plan for an engagement.”

“Is that so? Why did the Chen family tell me that Chen Sili is very satisfied with you and very willing to get engaged, and that it’s just you unilaterally refusing?”

Wen Yan: …

Wen Yan prepared to make up a random excuse to get past it.

“If you’re not interested, then come back.”

The person on the other end of the phone suddenly said.

A hint of surprise flashed in Wen Yan’s eyes. Before she could be happy, the person on the other end added.

“The Li family has a young daughter. She’s smart and capable, just graduated from the Wharton School of Business today. I’ve met her a few times, and her character and looks are acceptable.”

“Oh right, and there’s the eldest daughter of the Wang family. Although she’s a few years older than you, she has experience running a company. You should meet her when you get back, too. And also…”

“…”

Wen Yan threw her phone onto the carpet, lying completely still like a dead salted fish.

One Chen Sili was gone, but countless “Chen Silis” were waiting for her.

The phone on the carpet rang again with a notification sound. Wen Yan struggled to get up, preparing to reply to the message from Wen Li to prevent her from initiating a flurry of calls to everyone else.

But unexpectedly, the sender was Chen Sili.

[Chen Sili]: Should we have a meal together?

[Chen Sili]: There’s a very nice café nearby.

Chen Sili sent the address of the café. Wen Yan located it on her phone and found it was not far away, so she casually put on a jacket and prepared to go.

The café.

Wen Yan pushed open the door of the café and immediately heard the soothing sound of a piano.

The player’s emotion was rich, and the technique was skillful. Wen Yan was drawn in by the emotion contained in the music and walked toward the source of the piano sound.

In the empty café, a slender back sat there.

Her fingers danced between the black and white keys. She closed her eyes, enjoying the notes flowing from her fingertips, focused and captivating.

As the gentle, melancholic piece came to an end, Wen Yan gently clapped her hands. Chen Sili turned around, and seeing that the person applauding her was Wen Yan, a slight curve appeared on her lips. “Wen Yan, you’re here.”

Wen Yan nodded slightly. Chen Sili stood up and led her to a seat near the window. After Wen Yan ordered based on both their preferences, she noticed Chen Sili resting her cheek on her hand, looking at her, her eyes twinkling with fragmented laughter.

Wen Yan touched her cheek, then checked her clothes. After confirming everything was fine, she couldn’t help but ask, “Is there anything strange about me? Why are you staring at me?”

Chen Sili smiled. “I just find it a little amusing.”

Wen Yan frowned. “What’s amusing?”

“From the moment you walked in, you headed straight for the piano. Even now, your gaze keeps falling on the piano, yet you show no intention of getting closer. Is it because you dislike it, or…”

Chen Sili smiled. “Are you avoiding something?”

Wen Yan: …

Chen Sili picked up her coffee cup and took a small sip. Wen Yan looked out the window, deep in thought.

The phone rang again. Wen Yan looked down at the caller ID. After a moment of hesitation, she chose to hang up, but the other party quickly called again.

Normally, she would answer to prevent Wen Li from disturbing others, but now Wen Yan felt inexplicably irritated. She didn’t know if it was because Chen Sili had pinpointed her inner thoughts. Chen Sili looked over and asked, “Was that Auntie calling?”

“Mhm.” Wen Yan turned off her phone. The ringing finally stopped. Wen Yan put away her phone and, for the first time, seriously looked at the woman sitting opposite her.

Chen Sili was calmly sipping her coffee. Wen Yan stared into those brown eyes and pursed her lips. “How did you know…”

Before she could finish, her phone suddenly vibrated. Wen Yan’s gaze fell on Chen Sili’s phone next to her.

Chen Sili picked up the phone. When Wen Yan realized who was calling Chen Sili, she spoke with a hint of apology. “I’m sorry. My family keeps a tight watch on me. You don’t have to answer…”

Chen Sili answered the call. Wen Yan’s fingers gripping the coffee cup tightened slightly.

“Yes, Auntie. Wen Yan is with me. Please rest assured, I will safely send her back.”

“Dine together next time? That would be my honor. Let me choose the restaurant this time.”

“My mother always talks about you and asks when you’re free to come over and visit.”

Their conversation was extremely intimate.

Wen Yan listened distractedly, finally understanding why Chen Sili was Wen Li’s top choice for a marriage alliance.

In terms of family background, she and Chen Sili weren’t actually a perfect match. Although the Chen family’s business was large, they had only become wealthy in recent years, not comparable to her mother’s multi-generational accumulation.

But Chen Sili was ambitious enough and possessed the ability to support that ambition. This was the real reason Wen Li chose Chen Sili as her alliance partner.

The call ended. Chen Sili took a sip of coffee and couldn’t help but sigh. “Auntie is truly vibrant, completely unlike someone her age.”

Wen Yan’s tone was calm. “She just has strong control issues and doesn’t like things to escape her grasp.”

Chen Sili paused, then laughed. “I envy you for being able to say that directly.”

Wen Yan looked at her. Chen Sili smiled and turned her head, her gaze falling on a luxury car outside the window. A Chen family bodyguard stood by the car door, cautiously surveying the surroundings.

Wen Yan remained silent. Chen Sili finished the last sip of coffee and stood up. “I really want to break free from this situation, but—”

A helpless smile crossed the woman’s lips. “I failed, Wen Yan.”

Wen Yan looked up. “What?”

Chen Sili shook her head helplessly. “It seems I’ve been casting my pearls before swine. I’ve been revolving around you these past few days, specifically playing the piano for you, and even abandoning the backup plan my family prepared for me. Haven’t you felt any sincerity in my proposal for our marriage alliance?”

Chen Sili didn’t explicitly say what the backup plan was, but Wen Yan could guess, as this wasn’t the first time she had encountered this.

“Never mind.” Chen Sili sighed. After finishing the last bit of coffee, she stood up. “Let’s go back.”

“Wait a moment.”

Chen Sili stopped, looking at Wen Yan in confusion. Wen Yan looked at her calmly. “Give me some time. I will reconsider.”

Chen Sili was startled.

“Regarding the marriage alliance.”

Chen Sili’s eyes lit up. She hadn’t expected Wen Yan to concede so quickly. Just as she was about to speak, Wen Yan suddenly said, “But just as you mentioned earlier, we can only be about mutual benefit.”

Chen Sili’s smile froze at the corner of her mouth. After a moment, she said softly, “Of course.”

Wen Yan expressionlessly stirred the melted sugar in her coffee with a spoon.

She agreed to the marriage alliance with Chen Sili for no other reason than that by rejecting one Chen Sili, there would be countless “Li Silis” and “Wang Silis” appearing around her.

She was tired of this life and didn’t want to worry, even when staying in a hotel, about whether some drugged woman might suddenly break into her room and demand she take responsibility.

“By the way, Wen Yan.”

Wen Yan looked up at Chen Sili, who was smiling. Chen Sili stared at her fingers. “There’s one thing I’ve wanted to ask you for a long time.”

Wen Yan looked confused. “What is it?”

Chen Sili’s gaze fell on Wen Yan’s hand. Wen Yan followed her gaze. The light refracted the deep blue luster of the diamond, like the deepest starry sky.

Chen Sili smiled. “Is this decorative? I haven’t seen a blue diamond of this quality in a long time. However, after we get engaged, we might need to choose a new diamond to replace it.”

“Do you like blue? I remember that the raw stone of the Hope Diamond will be auctioned off in a few days. We can bid on it and ask a professional designer to make two identical rings.”

“…”

“Wen Yan, why are you crying?”

Chen Sili panicked, frantically pulling out a tissue. Her tone was somewhat flustered. “Did I say something wrong? Please don’t cry!”

The tears in Wen Yan’s eyes rolled down, landing on her left ring finger. The blue diamond refracted a captivating, deep blue light.

“I apologize, Miss Chen, but I think I need to retract what I just said.”

Chen Sili frowned. “Why?”

“I’m already married.”

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