She’s Being Naughty - Chapter 18

The car remained parked at the villa entrance for a long time.

Jiang Yao’s hands gripped the steering wheel, she didn’t speak, and she didn’t move.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Xu Zhaoyi watched Jiang Yao’s tense profile, a tide of unease rising within her.

“You…” she hesitated. “Will you really stand on our side?”

Jiang Yao turned her head to look at her.

The light in the car was dim, but her eyes were bright, filled with complexities that Xu Zhaoyi couldn’t decipher.

“Yes,” Jiang Yao said simply, but with absolute certainty.

Then she unbuckled her seatbelt. “Let’s go inside.”

The two entered the villa together. The housekeeper was cleaning and greeted them with a smile, saying dinner was ready. But Xu Zhaoyi had no appetite.

After lunch, Jiang Yao mentioned she had errands to run and told Xu Zhaoyi to look after herself for the afternoon.

She went upstairs and changed into a sharp, tailored black suit. Her hair was tied back in a clean low ponytail, and her makeup was minimal yet striking. Suddenly, the gentle woman from before had been replaced by someone sharp and formidable.

“I’ll be back late,” she said while putting on her shoes. “Don’t wait up for dinner.”

“Where are you going?” Xu Zhaoyi asked.

“To handle some business.” Jiang Yao didn’t elaborate; she just offered a small smile. “Don’t worry.”

She grabbed her bag and walked out.

Standing at the door, Xu Zhaoyi watched the car pull away, her anxiety intensifying. She returned to her room, took out her phone, and after a long hesitation, messaged Zhou Xiaoxiao.

“Are you there? I want to ask you something.”

Zhou Xiaoxiao replied almost instantly. “I’m here. What’s up?”

“If someone… told you about something dangerous, something that might involve illegal activities, what would you do?”

After hitting send, Xu Zhaoyi stared at the screen, her heart racing. A moment later, Zhou Xiaoxiao called her directly.

“Zhaoyi, tell me exactly what’s going on.”

Xu Zhaoyi gave a brief overview of what Jiang Yao had told her, omitting specific details and identities. There was a long silence on the other end of the line.

“Zhaoyi,” Zhou Xiaoxiao’s voice was serious. “This sounds… complicated. My advice? Don’t get involved. If it really involves illegal acts, it’s dangerous.”

“I know,” Xu Zhaoyi said. “But she… she seems to be in danger.”

“She?” Zhou Xiaoxiao paused. “You mean… your stepmother?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t she say it herself? For you to stay out of it.” Zhou Xiaoxiao sighed. “Zhaoyi, I know you’re soft-hearted, but some things aren’t for us to handle. Besides… she’s a Jiang, she must have her own ways. You just need to look after yourself.”

Xu Zhaoyi remained silent.

Zhou Xiaoxiao continued, “And Zhaoyi, don’t you think it’s a bit strange? Why would she tell you about something so dangerous?”

Xu Zhaoyi froze. Why indeed?

“Maybe… she just wanted me to know?” Xu Zhaoyi said uncertainly.

“Or…” Zhou Xiaoxiao paused. “Maybe she was warning you to stay far away?”

Hanging up, Xu Zhaoyi lay on her bed staring at the ceiling, her mind a mess. Her thoughts were filled with Jiang Yao, the Jiang Yao smiling gently in the sunlight; the tense, nervous Jiang Yao in the car, the sharp, professional Jiang Yao in the suit. Every image was clear, yet entirely contradictory.

Who is Jiang Yao, really? What is she thinking?

At 4:00 PM, the sound of a car returned.

Xu Zhaoyi looked out her window to see Jiang Yao getting out, clutching a folder. She walked into the house with hurried steps, her brow furrowed and her expression grim.

Xu Zhaoyi hesitated but eventually went downstairs. She found Jiang Yao on the phone, her tone severe.

“…Right, it’s tonight. Make sure they’re ready. And tell Lawyer Zhou I need to see him first thing tomorrow morning; all documents must be finalized.”

As she hung up, she turned and saw Xu Zhaoyi on the stairs. She blinked in surprise. “Zhao Zhao?”

“Are you… okay?” Xu Zhaoyi walked toward her.

Jiang Yao forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just a bit tired.” She tossed the folder onto the coffee table. “What do you want for dinner? I’ll have the cook prepare it.”

“Anything.” Xu Zhaoyi looked at her. “What were you saying just now… about being ready tonight?”

Jiang Yao’s smile faded, her eyes narrowing. “How did you know about that?”

“I… I overheard a little,” Xu Zhaoyi admitted.

Jiang Yao studied her for a few seconds before sighing. “It’s nothing, just some work stuff.”

“Is it dangerous?” Xu Zhaoyi pressed.

Jiang Yao didn’t answer. She walked to the window, pulled back the curtain, and looked out at the garden. The setting sun had dyed the sky a deep orange, lining the clouds with gold. It was beautiful, but Jiang Yao’s gaze was heavy.

“Zhao Zhao,” she said suddenly. “If I told you not to leave the house tonight, would you listen?”

Xu Zhaoyi’s heart tightened. “Why?”

“Because…” Jiang Yao turned around. “Tonight might get a little messy.”

“Messy? What does that mean?”

Jiang Yao shook her head, refusing to say more. She picked up the folder and prepared to go upstairs.

“Wait,” Xu Zhaoyi called out. “You have to tell me what’s going to happen.”

Jiang Yao stopped, her back to the girl. After a long silence, she spoke.

“The Jiang family… they might come tonight.”

Xu Zhaoyi’s heart skipped a beat. “Come here? For what?”

“To find me,” Jiang Yao said calmly. “Or… to cause trouble.” She looked back at Xu Zhaoyi. “So, be a good girl. Don’t go out tonight. No matter what you hear or see, stay in your room and lock the door.”

With that, she disappeared up the stairs.

Xu Zhaoyi stood frozen, her mind reeling. The Jiang family is coming? Here? To cause trouble?

She chased after Jiang Yao, following her into her bedroom. “What exactly do they want?”

Jiang Yao, busy organizing files, looked up with a frown. “Zhao Zhao, I told you…”

“I want to know!” Xu Zhaoyi interrupted. “This is my home too. I have a right to know what’s happening!”

Seeing the stubbornness in the girl’s face, Jiang Yao sat down on the edge of the bed. “Someone in the Jiang family is forcing me to hand something over. Something very… important.”

“What is it?”

“Evidence,” Jiang Yao said. “I have evidence that could cause them… a lot of trouble. They don’t want it falling into anyone else’s hands, so they’re doing everything they can to take it.”

“Then just give it to them,” Xu Zhaoyi said. “You said it’s dangerous. Wouldn’t giving it back make it safe?”

Jiang Yao laughed, a hint of irony in her voice. “If I give it up, I lose my value. At that point, they’d find any excuse to ‘deal’ with me. Besides, this evidence… it’s not just about my safety.”

She stood up and walked to Xu Zhaoyi. “This evidence can also protect you and your father. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could be used against you both.”

Xu Zhaoyi was stunned. “Against… us?”

“Yes.” Jiang Yao nodded. “The Jiangs don’t just want me, they want your father’s company. My evidence protects me, and it protects you.” She reached out, gently patting Xu Zhaoyi’s head. “So, I can’t give it to them. I have to protect it.”

Looking at Jiang Yao’s face, Xu Zhaoyi saw absolute sincerity and determination. There was no hesitation, no retreat. It was as if her own safety didn’t matter, only the evidence and the people she was protecting.

“Why?” Xu Zhaoyi asked. “Why are you doing this? What’s in it for you?”

Jiang Yao’s hand lingered on her hair before slowly pulling back.

“Because… I promised myself I wouldn’t let anyone else be hurt by my choices,” she whispered. “Your mother… she was a wonderful person. I never met her, but your father told me about her. She must have loved you very much and wanted to protect you. Now that she’s gone, since I am in this house, it’s my responsibility… to protect her daughter.”

Xu Zhaoyi felt a sting in her nose. She looked down, avoiding Jiang Yao’s gaze.

“Then… be careful,” she finally whispered.

Jiang Yao smiled. “I will.” She squeezed Xu Zhaoyi’s shoulder. “Now, go back to your room. Remember, no matter what you hear, do not come out.”

Dinner was a lonely affair. Jiang Yao stayed upstairs, and Xu Jiancheng called to say he was stuck at the office. Xu Zhaoyi sat at the large table, picking at her food.

By 9:00 PM, the house was eerily silent. Xu Zhaoyi sat on her bed, clutching her phone, debating whether to message Jiang Yao.

Suddenly, a faint sound drifted from downstairs. The sound of a door being pushed open very quietly.

Her heart rate spiked. She crept to her door and pressed her ear against the wood.

Footsteps.

Light, careful, but there were several of them. At least three or four people.

She held her breath, her palms slick with sweat. The footsteps began to ascend the stairs, one by one, drawing closer. She retreated from the door, hiding by the wardrobe.

The footsteps stopped right outside her room.

Then, the doorknob turned. Someone was trying to open it, but she had locked it. The person outside seemed to pause, and then the footsteps moved away.

Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, a low, cold male voice rang out from the hallway.

“Miss Jiang, we know you’re in there.”

“Come out. Let’s have a proper talk.”