She’s Being Naughty - Chapter 19

After the voice outside the door finished that sentence, everything fell back into silence.

Xu Zhaoyi leaned against the closet door, her hand pressed firmly over her mouth, terrified she might accidentally make even the slightest sound. Her heart was pounding so loudly it made her eardrums ache. She could clearly hear the thumping of her pulse and her own ragged breathing.

Minutes and seconds ticked by. There was still no movement outside.

Had those people left? Or…

Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, footsteps echoed outside once more. This time, they came from the other end of the hallway.

It was Jiang Yao’s footstep. Xu Zhaoyi could recognize it. Jiang Yao walked with a light, steady, and rhythmic gait.

The footsteps stopped in the middle of the hallway. Then came Jiang Yao’s voice, calm but carrying a chill she didn’t usually possess.

“Gentlemen, this is my home. If you have business, let’s talk downstairs.”

The deep male voice spoke again. “Miss Jiang is indeed here. Then, please, after you.”

The sounds of footsteps moved toward the lower floor. Xu Zhaoyi’s heart leaped into her throat. She wanted to go out and see, to know what was happening downstairs, but she remembered Jiang Yao’s warning: No matter what happens, do not come out.

She bit her lip, her hands gripping the closet door so tightly her nails unconsciously clawed at the edge of the wooden panel.

Voices drifted up from downstairs, but they were too far away to make out clearly. She could only catch glimpses of Jiang Yao’s voice interspersed with several unfamiliar male voices.

After a while, the volume suddenly increased. It sounded like an argument.

“…Miss Jiang, I suggest you be more sensible,” an unfamiliar man raised his voice. “Hand the item over. It’ll be better for everyone.”

“And if I don’t?” Jiang Yao’s voice was icy.

“Then don’t blame us for being impolite,” the man threatened.

Xu Zhaoyi’s heart beat even faster. She could no longer restrain herself, she crept to the door and pressed her ear against it, listening intently.

“How do you plan to be impolite?” Jiang Yao’s voice actually carried a hint of a smile. “In my own home, moving against my people?”

“Your people?” The man sneered. “Miss Jiang, don’t forget, you are a member of the Jiang family. Turning against your own isn’t exactly a wise choice.”

“I stopped being a member of the Jiang family long ago,” Jiang Yao said placidly. “From the day you all forced me to marry into this family, I wasn’t one of you anymore.”

The downstairs area went silent for a few seconds.

Then the man spoke again. “Miss Jiang, don’t be so dramatic. The Jiang family raised you for all these years; you think you can just say you aren’t one of them and it becomes true?”

“You know better than anyone how I grew up,” Jiang Yao’s voice turned cold. “So, don’t use that to threaten me. It won’t work.”

“Then what will work?” the man asked. “The name ‘Xu Zhaoyi’ is that useful?”

Xu Zhaoyi’s entire body went stiff. They were talking about her.

Downstairs, Jiang Yao’s voice changed noticeably. “You dare try to touch her.”

“We’ll see about that,” the man laughed. “Miss Jiang, I hear you care quite a bit about this stepdaughter? If something were to happen to her, would your conscience be able to handle it?”

“You…”

“What about us?” the man interrupted Jiang Yao. “Miss Jiang, we’re just here for the item. Once we have it, we leave. Miss Xu will naturally be unharmed. But if you insist on refusing…”

He didn’t finish, but the implication was clear.

Xu Zhaoyi leaned against the door, her hands and feet ice cold. They were using her to threaten Jiang Yao because Jiang Yao cared about her.

She thought back to everything Jiang Yao had said and done for her recently. The gentleness, the concern, the protection… was it all real? Did she really care enough to be held hostage by a threat?

Downstairs, Jiang Yao was silent for a long time. So long, in fact, that Xu Zhaoyi began to wonder if she had already agreed.

Then, Jiang Yao suddenly spoke. “Fine. I’ll give it to you.”

Xu Zhaoyi was stunned. Jiang Yao agreed?

While she was still reeling, Jiang Yao added, “The item is upstairs. I’ll go get it. But you all have to step outside first and wait at the door.”

“Why should we go out?” the man asked.

“Because I don’t trust you,” Jiang Yao said directly. “What if I give you the item and you refuse to leave? So, go outside and wait by the entrance. Once I have the item, I’ll bring it to the door for you.”

Silence fell again. They seemed to be deliberating.

After a moment, the man said, “Fine, we’ll trust you this once. But Miss Jiang, don’t play tricks. We know Mr. Xu isn’t home tonight, it’s just you and Miss Xu. If you try anything, the consequences…”

Again, the threat was left hanging.

Footsteps moved toward the entrance. The door opened, then clicked shut. The house fell quiet.

Xu Zhaoyi held her breath, waiting for Jiang Yao to come upstairs. But she waited for a while, and Jiang Yao didn’t appear.

Just as she was about to risk going out to look, her phone suddenly vibrated. She jumped and quickly checked it. It was a message from Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao: Zhao Zhao, stay quiet. Those people are still waiting for me outside. I’m going to ask you a question, answer me seriously.

Jiang Yao: Were you scared just now, while you were in your room?

Xu Zhaoyi stared at the message, her fingers trembling slightly. She replied: Yes. I was scared something would happen to you.

After hitting send, she watched the screen, waiting for a reply. A moment later, Jiang Yao messaged back.

Jiang Yao: Then come out now and come to my room. Be quiet, don’t make a sound.

Xu Zhaoyi hesitated for a split second before gently opening her door and stepping out. The hallway was silent, with only a faint light near the stairs. She tiptoed to Jiang Yao’s room and pushed the door open softly.

Jiang Yao was standing right behind the door. As soon as Xu Zhaoyi entered, she closed it.

“Zhao Zhao,” she whispered.

The main lights weren’t on; only a small bedside lamp was lit. In the dim, amber glow, Jiang Yao looked a bit pale, but her eyes were bright and determined.

“Those people…” Xu Zhaoyi whispered. “Are they still outside?”

“Yes,” Jiang Yao nodded. “Waiting for me at the door.”

“Are you going to give them the item?”

“Not for now,” Jiang Yao said. “I need to stall for time. My people are on their way.” She paused, looking at Xu Zhaoyi. “But I just said I was going upstairs to get the item. So, I need you to do me a favor.”

“What is it?”

“Help me act the part,” Jiang Yao said. “Once I go back down, they’ll think I’m upstairs searching. But in reality, I won’t be looking for anything. I just need you to make some noise up here during this time, so they believe I’m actually searching for the item.”

Xu Zhaoyi blinked. “What kind of noise?”

“Anything. The sound of walking, the sound of rummaging through things,” Jiang Yao explained. “But you can’t speak, and it can’t be too loud, or they’ll get suspicious. Can you do that?”

Xu Zhaoyi nodded. “I can.”

“Good.” Jiang Yao smiled and lightly patted her shoulder. “I’m counting on you.”

As she turned to leave, Xu Zhaoyi suddenly called out to her. “Jiang Yao.”

Jiang Yao turned back.

“Are you…” Xu Zhaoyi bit her lip. “Are you really sure about this? Will they…?”

“Nothing will happen,” Jiang Yao interrupted softly. “Trust me.” She paused, then added, “Also, about your message saying you were scared something would happen to me…” She looked at Xu Zhaoyi, her eyes curving slightly. “I’m very happy.”

With that, she turned and left.

Xu Zhaoyi was left standing alone in the room, her heart racing. Jiang Yao said she was happy… because I was worried about her. So, did she feel happy because I cared?

Xu Zhaoyi stood in a daze for a moment before remembering her task. She hurried out of the room and into the hallway, beginning to fake the sounds of walking. Her footsteps were neither too light nor too heavy, echoing clearly in the silent corridor.

She walked to the top of the stairs, walked back, and paced again. Every step was as natural as possible, mimicking the movements of someone searching for something. At the same time, her ears were pricked, listening to the activity below.

It was quiet downstairs, but she could catch snippets of Jiang Yao’s voice.

“…The item is upstairs, I’ll be down shortly.” “…What’s the rush? For something so important, of course I have to look carefully.” “…Don’t worry, I won’t keep you waiting long.”

Her voice was calm, sounding entirely devoid of tension. Hearing this, Xu Zhaoyi relaxed slightly. It seemed Jiang Yao really did have everything under control.

Time passed minute by minute. The hallway was silent save for her own footsteps. After about five minutes, she felt a bit tired and was about to take a break.

Just then, the screeching of tires erupted outside. Several cars pulled up simultaneously in front of the gate. Then came the sound of car doors slamming and frantic footsteps.

They were here. Jiang Yao’s people.

Xu Zhaoyi’s heart jumped into her throat. She hurried to the top of the stairs and looked down. It was too dark to see anything clearly, but the sounds were unmistakable.

First came Jiang Yao’s voice, tinged with a smile. “Oh, you got here fast.”

Then an unfamiliar voice: “Miss Jiang, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Jiang Yao said. “But those gentlemen at the door… I might need you to help take care of them.”

“Understood.”

Next came the sound of scuffling, followed by the voice of the man from earlier, now filled with obvious rage.

“Jiang Yao! You dared to play us!”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Jiang Yao’s voice remained cool. “When you used Zhao Zhao to threaten me, you should have expected this day.”

“You”

“Take them away,” Jiang Yao interrupted. “Lawyer Zhou will handle the aftermath. As for you all…” She paused. “Go back and tell the old man: stop using such pathetic tactics. If he wants the item, he can come talk to me himself.”

The man seemed to want to say more, but he was dragged away. The sound of footsteps faded, and then the front door shut. The house fell silent once more.

Xu Zhaoyi stood at the top of the stairs, hesitating over whether to go down. Just then, Jiang Yao’s voice floated up.

“Zhao Zhao, come down.”

Only then did Xu Zhaoyi slowly descend the stairs.

In the living room, Jiang Yao was standing by the sofa. Two men in suits stood nearby. Seeing Xu Zhaoyi come down, the two men discreetly stepped toward the door, giving them space.

“It’s over.” Jiang Yao smiled at her, though the smile looked a bit weary. “Did I scare you?”

Xu Zhaoyi shook her head, then nodded. “A little.” She walked over to Jiang Yao, looking at her. “Are you really… not hurt?”

“No,” Jiang Yao said. “They wouldn’t have dared to do anything, it was just intimidation.” She paused. “However, tonight might just be the beginning. The Jiang family won’t let this go easily.”

Xu Zhaoyi frowned. “Then what should we do?”

“I’ll handle it,” Jiang Yao said firmly. “But you, and your father, will have to be more careful from now on.” She looked at Xu Zhaoyi, her gaze serious. “Zhao Zhao, promise me, no matter what happens in the future, protect yourself first. There might be times I can’t look after you, you must learn to protect yourself.”

Looking into those serious eyes, a surge of complex emotions hit Xu Zhaoyi.

She remembered how Jiang Yao’s voice had turned instantly cold when those men threatened her. She remembered the determination in her voice when she said, “You dare try to touch her.” She remembered the calm with which Jiang Yao had orchestrated the plan.

This woman, who seemed so gentle and elegant, was actually far stronger than she had imagined and cared about her far more than she had realized.

“Jiang Yao,” she suddenly asked, “You said you want to protect me because…”

“Because I promised myself,” Jiang Yao interrupted softly, “that I would never let anyone else get hurt because of me again.” She paused, her eyes locked onto Xu Zhaoyi’s. “Especially you.”

Xu Zhaoyi’s heart skipped a beat. “Why… especially me?”

Jiang Yao was silent for a moment, then she laughed, a smile tinged with a bit of helplessness. “You tell me.”

Without waiting for an answer, she waved to the two men at the door. “Alright, you’ve worked hard. Thank you for tonight, go back and get some rest.”

The two men nodded and left. Only the two of them remained in the living room.

Jiang Yao finally let out a long breath, her body swaying slightly as she gripped the back of the sofa for support.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Zhaoyi hurried over to support her.

“Nothing,” Jiang Yao shook her head. “I’m just a bit tired.” As her hand gripped Xu Zhaoyi’s arm, Xu Zhaoyi could feel her hand trembling slightly.

“You…” Xu Zhaoyi looked at her pale face. “Are you really okay?”

“I really am.” Jiang Yao smiled, straightening her posture. “I was just… a little nervous just now.” She paused, looking at Xu Zhaoyi. “Do you know what I was thinking downstairs when I heard them say they were going to use you to threaten me?”

Xu Zhaoyi shook her head.

“I was thinking,” Jiang Yao said softly, “if only someone could have protected my mother like that ten years ago, it would have been so much better.”

With that, she let go and headed upstairs.

Xu Zhaoyi was left standing alone in the living room, her heart unable to find peace for a long time.