She’s Being Naughty - Chapter 11

The dressing room door was closed softly.

Standing behind it, Xu Zhaoyi leaned against the cool wooden panel, listening as Jiang Yao’s footsteps gradually faded away at the end of the hallway.

She stood there for a long time, only letting out a slow breath once the silence was absolute. As her body relaxed, she realized her palms were slick with sweat.

The words Jiang Yao had just spoken continued to swirl in her head.

“I will be very, very good to you.”

“We can be like friends, like family.”

“You can take your time to think, there’s no rush.”

Every sentence had been uttered with sincerity, every word was laced with warmth. Yet, Xu Zhaoyi’s heart remained a chaotic mess.

She walked to the window and pulled back the curtains. Down in the garden, the swing was still swaying gently, but Jiang Yao was no longer there.

After staring at the empty swing for a moment, she turned to leave the dressing room. It was then that her gaze accidentally brushed over the armchair where Jiang Yao had just been sitting.

On the small side table next to the chair sat a few jewelry boxes and a book. The book was open, held down by a pen.

Xu Zhaoyi hadn’t intended to look. But, as if possessed by a sudden impulse, she walked over anyway.

The book was a professional text on business management, filled with dense English text and flanked by numerous notes written in Chinese. The handwriting was elegant, the same script Jiang Yao had used on the sticky notes.

She flipped through it absentmindedly.

Halfway through, a slip of paper fluttered out from between the pages, landing softly on the carpet.

Xu Zhaoyi bent down to pick it up. It was an old memo, its edges yellowed with age, with a few lines written in fountain pen. The handwriting was somewhat hurried, not Jiang Yao’s.

She looked closer.

“Memorandum of Cooperation Agreement” “Party A: Xu Jiancheng” “Party B: Jiang Yao” “Cooperation Period: Three Years” “Content of Cooperation: Nominal Marriage, no interference in private lives” “Note: Must maintain a normal family relationship in front of Xu Zhaoyi”

Xu Zhaoyi’s fingers froze.

She stared at those few lines for a long time. Once, twice, three times. She recognized every word, but when joined together, they ceased to make sense.

A nominal marriage? A three year cooperation period? No interference in private lives?

What did this mean?

Her head began to throb as if struck by a hammer. Clutching the paper, her hands began to tremble. Suddenly remembering something, she snapped the book shut to look at the cover.

This wasn’t some casual reading material, it was a textbook on business management, the original English edition. There were complex technical terms with detailed annotations in the margins.

Wasn’t Jiang Yao just a typical woman who married into a wealthy family? Shouldn’t she be reading beauty magazines, fashion journals, or other elegant leisure materials? Why was she studying such professional content? And why were the notes so meticulous?

Xu Zhaoyi reopened the book, scanning the notes. Some were about corporate mergers, some about risk control, others about equity structures. Every page was covered in detailed commentary.

The more she read, the heavier her heart felt. This didn’t look like the research of an ordinary socialite.

Unless… unless she was already part of this world.

Xu Zhaoyi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, she folded the slip of paper and tucked it into her pajama pocket. Then, she grabbed the book and hurried out of the dressing room.

Back in her own room, she shut the door and opted not to turn on the main light, switching on only the small bedside lamp.

In the dim, amber glow, she sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the paper out again. Under the light, she scrutinized every character.

“Nominal Marriage.”

Those two words pierced her eyes like needles.

So, Jiang Yao and her father… weren’t a real couple? Their marriage was nothing more than a business deal?

Then why did she move into this house? Why go through with the wedding? Why endure Xu Zhaoyi’s provocations and bullying?

Was it for money?

But Jiang Yao didn’t seem like someone desperate for money. Her clothes, her jewelry, that calm and composed demeanor, those weren’t things you could simply buy with newfound wealth.

Then what was it for?

Xu Zhaoyi lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was a tangled knot of confusion. Suddenly, she remembered the wedding day. At the time, she thought Jiang Yao’s acceptance of the funeral wreath was an act of “magnanimity,” a performance.

Now that she thought about it, perhaps it wasn’t an act. Perhaps she simply didn’t care. Because the marriage was a sham, she didn’t mind the stepdaughter making a scene.

Then she remembered the burnt egg in the kitchen. Jiang Yao had eaten it without changing her expression, even telling her father warmly, “Maybe Zhaozhao just has a misunderstanding about me.”

At the time, she thought the woman was incredibly calculating. Now, she realized Jiang Yao might have just been fulfilling the task of “maintaining a normal family relationship.”

The nightgown. The spilled red wine. The things said in the dressing room…

Everything suddenly had a different explanation.

Xu Zhaoyi rolled over and buried her face in her pillow. A complex surge of emotions washed over her. She couldn’t tell if it was anger, disappointment, or… something else entirely.

She had thought Jiang Yao was targeting her, engaging in a battle of wits, the classic war between a stepmother and a stepdaughter.

But now she realized that from beginning to end, Jiang Yao might never have viewed her as an opponent. She was simply completing a job. A task outlined in a memorandum of cooperation.

Xu Zhaoyi sat up and reached for her phone. She wanted to call her father and demand the truth. But her finger hovered over the dial button and stopped.

Her father was likely at the office or an event. And even if she asked, would he tell the truth? A man as obsessed with “face” as he was, would he ever admit his marriage was just a contract?

She set the phone down and lay back. Moonlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, casting a silver streak across the floor.

She stared at that sliver of light for a very, very long time.

The next morning, Xu Zhaoyi rose early.

Or rather, she hadn’t really slept at all. Her mind was occupied entirely by that piece of paper, those words, and those lingering questions.

When she headed downstairs, Jiang Yao was already in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She wore the same cream-colored loungewear, her hair gathered in a loose bun, and a pale pink apron tied around her waist.

Seeing her descend, Jiang Yao offered a smile. “Morning, Zhaozhao. Did you sleep well?”

Her voice was as gentle as ever; her smile remained perfectly natural.

Xu Zhaoyi stared at her for a few seconds before nodding. “Fine.”

“That’s good.” Jiang Yao turned back to the stove. “We’re having egg sandwiches for breakfast. Is that okay?”

“Yes.”

Xu Zhaoyi took a seat at the dining table, watching Jiang Yao’s busy silhouette. She suddenly thought back to that paper from last night: “Must maintain a normal family relationship in front of Xu Zhaoyi.”

So, everything Jiang Yao was doing now, the eggs, the sandwiches, the tender greetings was it all just… maintaining a “normal family relationship”? Was it all just part of the job?

The thought left Xu Zhaoyi feeling a bit stifled.

“What are you thinking about?” Jiang Yao walked over with a plate and set it before her.

The egg was beautifully fried, golden yellow with slightly crisped edges, looking genuinely delicious.

“Nothing.” Xu Zhaoyi picked up her chopsticks and lowered her head to eat.

Jiang Yao sat down across from her and began her own meal. They ate in silence for a short while.

“By the way,” Jiang Yao spoke up suddenly, “did you try on the dress for the gala? Does it fit?”

Xu Zhaoyi looked up. “I tried it. It fits.”

“Good.” Jiang Yao smiled. “Tonight’s gala is quite high-profile, many important figures will be there. Your father specifically mentioned he wants you to make a good impression.”

Xu Zhaoyi kept her eyes on her. “Do you attend these kinds of events often?”

“Mhm, occasionally.” Jiang Yao took a sip of milk. “I used to attend them frequently back when I was with the Jiang family.”

“The Jiang family…” Xu Zhaoyi paused. “Are you from the Jiang Group?”

Jiang Yao blinked, startled for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. You’ve heard of the Jiangs?”

“I have,” Xu Zhaoyi said. “It’s a very large enterprise.”

“It’s alright,” Jiang Yao said dismissively. Something flashed through her eyes, too quick to catch.

Xu Zhaoyi observed her expression, searching for a crack in the facade. But Jiang Yao quickly regained her gentle smile. “What’s the matter? Suddenly interested in this?”

“Just asking.” Xu Zhaoyi looked down. “I just feel like… you don’t seem like an ordinary housewife.”

Jiang Yao laughed. “Who said I was going to be a housewife?”

“Then why did you come to our house…” Xu Zhaoyi looked up, meeting her gaze. “What is it for?”

The air went still for a moment. Jiang Yao’s smile didn’t falter, but her eyes deepened.

“Why so many questions today, Zhaozhao?” she asked softly, her tone carrying a hint of a joke.

“Just curious.” Xu Zhaoyi tried to keep her voice casual as well. “You have such good qualities. Why would you marry my father? He’s so much older than you.”

Jiang Yao fell silent for several seconds. Then, she set her chopsticks down, folded her hands on the table, and looked directly at Xu Zhaoyi.

“Some things aren’t as simple as they appear on the surface,” she said slowly. “Between your father and me, there are our own reasons.”

“What reasons?” Xu Zhaoyi pressed.

Jiang Yao smiled and shook her head. “I can’t tell you that. It’s between your father and me.” She paused, then added, “But Zhaozhao, you can rest assured. I didn’t come into this home to steal anything from you, nor to hurt anyone.”

“I just…” she sighed softly, “want to do what needs to be done.”

Xu Zhaoyi stared at her without speaking. She wanted to ask: What is it that needs to be done? Is it completing the tasks in the cooperation agreement? Is it maintaining a nominal marriage for three years?

But she couldn’t ask. She knew that even if she did, Jiang Yao wouldn’t tell her the truth.

“Hurry up and eat,” Jiang Yao said, picking up her chopsticks again. “Afterward, I’ll take you to get your hair done. We need to look the part for the gala.”

Xu Zhaoyi gave a soft “mhm” and returned to her food. But in her heart, she had already made a decision.

She was going to get to the bottom of this. She would find out exactly what the relationship was between Jiang Yao and her father. She would find out if the contents of that paper were real.

After breakfast, Jiang Yao indeed took her to a hair salon. It was a high-end establishment, the kind that required advance reservations. Jiang Yao was clearly a regular; the manager personally greeted them the moment they walked in.

“Miss Jiang, what services are we looking for today?”

“I’m here for my daughter’s hair,” Jiang Yao said, naturally taking Xu Zhaoyi’s hand. “A style suitable for a gala.”

The manager looked at Xu Zhaoyi and smiled. “Miss Jiang’s daughter is truly beautiful. Please, this way.”

Xu Zhaoyi was led away to have her hair washed and styled. Throughout the process, Jiang Yao sat in the VIP lounge nearby, flipping through a magazine. Occasionally, she would look up, smile, and nod at her, as if saying “it looks good.”

Xu Zhaoyi watched her through the mirror. She watched her elegant posture, her gentle smile, and her composed expression.

The note came to mind again. If this was all a lie, then Jiang Yao’s acting was simply too good. So good that… it was impossible to tell what was real and what was fake.

“All finished.” The stylist let go. “Miss Jiang, please have a look. Is this alright?”

Jiang Yao walked over, standing behind Xu Zhaoyi, looking at her reflection in the mirror. Then she smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “So beautiful.”

She reached out and lightly brushed a stray hair from Xu Zhaoyi’s temple. “My Zhaozhao is so pretty.”

Fingertips touched her cheek, a warm sensation. Xu Zhaoyi’s face began to heat up again. She stared at herself in the mirror and then at Jiang Yao’s smiling face behind her. That complex surge of emotion rose up once more.

“Let’s go,” Jiang Yao said. “We need to get a pair of shoes. Your black heels won’t quite match tonight’s outfit.”

She led Xu Zhaoyi out by the hand. Her hand was still cool, but this time, her grip was firm.

Xu Zhaoyi let herself be led, her mind still anchored to the paper. She wanted to ask, but she knew now wasn’t the time. She could only wait.

Wait for the right moment. Wait for a time… when she could finally uncover the truth.