The Infatuated Cannon Fodder Has Completely Moved On - Chapter 7

Jin Zhuhuai responds to every request from Jin Yuzhen, being kind to an excessive degree.

A fresh breeze from the corridor squeezed in with her, making the room slightly chilly. The winding, enchanting curls of incense smoke were blown into disorder.

Jin Zhuhuai stood up to greet her. “This shop is much better than when I last visited. Had I known, I would have brought Grandmother along to see it; it would save her from worrying about you every day.”

Jin Yuzhen had been smiling lightly, but as she pulled out a chair to sit and heard those words, a layer of doubt clouded her features.

Was she overthinking it?

Zhuhuai used to nag her like this in the past, and she never thought anything of it. She even viewed it as care from an older sister, but today, it felt uncomfortable to hear.

Her smile faded as she said, “I just came back from seeing Grandmother. She is very much at ease with things here.”

Jin Zhuhuai sat opposite her, moved the incense burner a bit further away, and curled her lips while gazing at her. “Just now? Today isn’t a family feast; did you go to see Grandmother specifically? Did something happen?”

Jin Yuzhen felt even more strange. Why was Zhuhuai so concerned about her visit to the manor? Something was wrong; she could not even stand the sound of Zhuhuai’s words today.

She looked across quietly. Zhuhuai was as elegant and plain as ever, wearing a shirt under a grey-green coat with a crisp collar. A string of bright, lustrous pearls around her neck was mostly hidden by her thick, long curly hair, making her appear approachable and peaceful. Historically, no one could find a flaw in Zhuhuai.

Jin Yuzhen’s gaze softened involuntarily as she said, “It is nothing major. I just spoke a few ill words about Eldest Uncle.”

Jin Zhuhuai’s expression relaxed, the slight tension from a moment ago dissipating as she said with concern, “It is lucky I have returned. Otherwise, if Jin Hong found out, he would definitely trip you up behind your back. What would you do then?”

Jin Yuzhen was utterly perplexed. If Jin Hong tried to sabotage her, she would certainly fight back. It was not exactly a difficult task.

Jin Zhuhuai seemingly realized her tone was too sharp and added, “I am not blaming you; I am just worried.”

“Did you just arrive in Taozhou?” Jin Yuzhen did not continue the previous topic. “If you had arrived earlier, you could have had breakfast with Grandmother.”

Jin Zhuhuai said, “I came to find you first because I certainly have something for you.”

She produced a light velvet gift box from her coat pocket, held it in her palm, and presented it to Jin Yuzhen.

Jin Yuzhen sat up straight, leaning her shoulders forward to get closer. “A gift for me?”

“Who else?” Jin Zhuhuai opened the gift box. “Knowing you do not like jadeite, I picked this instead.”

Jin Yuzhen looked at it seriously. Inside the gift box lay a shimmering, colorful cat-face blue diamond bracelet. The cat’s face was rounded and cute, its edges inlaid with diamonds, and a sapphire in the center was as vivid as a human eye, looking as if it would tremble at a single touch.

Jin Yuzhen froze for a few breaths. It was a strange coincidence.

Jin Zhuhuai noticed a hint of helplessness on her face and asked, “You do not like it? I inquired around; no one in Taozhou has bought this model.” She knew Jin Yuzhen disliked wearing the same items as others, and she had always kept that in mind.

For a moment, Jin Yuzhen did not know how to put it. She had recently met a Miss Nie, and the hair tie Miss Nie had dropped in her car featured the exact same gemstone, down to the last detail. That hair tie was currently wrapped in silk cloth inside her bag.

“It is not that I do not like it; it is just rare to see such a design. It is very interesting.” She took it, hooking the bracelet out with her fingers, placed the velvet box on the edge of the tea table, and held the bracelet against her wrist to compare.

Jin Zhuhuai habitually pulled her wrist over and fastened it for her in a few swift motions. The beaded chain was cold, but after a moment, it blended with her body temperature.

Jin Yuzhen propped her arm on the table, looking closely at her wrist. For a split second, her eyes were clear.

Jin Zhuhuai’s expression slowly froze, because usually, this younger sister’s eyes were covered by a persistent, inseparable haze that was dim and unclear. Today was truly different.

“I have to go back and report to Grandmother. Go about your business; find me for dinner tonight.”

Jin Yuzhen said, “Okay.”

As the two were about to walk out, the assistant, Ye Yun, rushed over, looking as if she wanted to say something but was hesitating. She clearly had something to report, but found it difficult to speak freely with Jin Zhuhuai present.

Jin Yuzhen looked at her. “What is it?”

Ye Yun said, “Boss, Cen Shu’s manager has been waiting downstairs for half an hour, saying she cannot get in touch with Cen Shu.”

Jin Yuzhen was bewildered. “If she cannot contact Cen Shu, does she have to come and ask me? Am I Cen Shu’s guardian?”

Ye Yun stayed silent. She was not.

However, Jin Yuzhen was not one to dodge trouble. Moreover, Jin Zhuhuai was fully aware of the situation between her and Cen Shu, so there was no need to hide anything. She simply escorted Jin Zhuhuai downstairs, intending to settle the trouble herself.

The space downstairs was vast, with antique-style counters. Several pieces of lacquerware were displayed in the most prominent positions. They were exquisite yet low-key.

Qiu Tang was holding a cup of coffee, looking around nervously and paying special attention to the stairs. Before long, she finally heard voices. She put down her cup and followed the sound, running right into the Jin sisters as they descended.

Qiu Tang immediately apologized, “Boss Jin, I did not mean to disturb you, but Cen Shu has disappeared. I am afraid something has happened to her.”

Jin Yuzhen looked at her calmly, her expression showing neither joy nor anger, as if she were hearing trivial news. “You are not that afraid. If you were truly afraid, you would have called the police long ago.”

Qiu Tang said, “I thought she came to find you.”

Jin Yuzhen frowned. “Is that so? But I remember, in the past, even when I begged her to come, she would not. Breaking appointments with me has long been second nature to her.”

“So, she really is not here?”

“She is not.”

Qiu Tang took a deep breath. “Sorry for disturbing you.”

Watching her leave in a panic, Jin Zhuhuai said thoughtfully, “A missing person is a serious matter.”

Jin Yuzhen escorted her all the way outside. “Do not mind it. If she were really missing, they would have reported it already.”

Those two were just liars. This was part of her past mistakes. She could not understand why she had been so obsessed before.

The car stopped in front of the shop. Jin Zhuhuai asked her, “What is wrong? Did you two have a conflict?”

Jin Yuzhen thought for a few seconds. “It is not a conflict; it is hatred.”

Jin Zhuhuai was curious. “I used to advise you to be more careful, but you would not listen, saying she had her own rhythm and was not leading you on. Have you suddenly seen the light today?”

Jin Yuzhen had not planned to tell her this; it was not a dignified matter, so why publicize it? But since Zhuhuai brought it up, Jin Yuzhen admitted defeat, neither hiding nor dodging. “I was blinded by my feelings.”

Jin Zhuhuai said, “It was her being ungrateful.”

Jin Yuzhen loved hearing those words; much of the frustration in her heart dissipated, and the layer of worry on her brow vanished. “Perhaps she and Qiu Tang are tricking me together. There is no place in Taozhou that Qiu Tang cannot find.”

By now, the sun was quite strong, and it was no longer pleasant to stand outside.

Jin Zhuhuai smiled. “Then I will be going. See you tonight.”

The corners of Jin Yuzhen’s mouth quirked up. Just as she was about to say goodbye, she suddenly heard another voice.

“Cen Shu did not trick you this time; she was with me last night. There was no other way. If she wants to get the Jin Corporation endorsement, she has to go through me.”

The sun was scorching, and the air was humid. It was stifling, very stifling.

Jin Yuzhen stood blankly for a long while. Jin Zhuhuai’s car was long gone, but those words still circled overhead like a curse. She suspected she had misheard. Why would Zhuhuai be with Cen Shu? It did not make sense.

In her daze, she raised her hand. The bracelet on her wrist was radiant. Perhaps she was seeing things.

“What a nightmare!”

Qiu Tang used a spare key to enter Cen Shu’s home. Unwilling to give up, she made another call. She expected the phone to still be turned off, but to her surprise, the moment it connected, a ringtone sounded in the bedroom.

She walked over slowly and opened the bedroom door. The sound of running water came from the bathroom.

She cursed under her breath and kicked the bathroom door. “I thought something happened to you! Your phone was unreachable, I could not find you anywhere, and I even went to Jin Yuzhen’s shop.”

Cen Shu heard her but did not reply. The heat continued to expand in the room as the mist swirled, but her heart felt dry and restless.

Last night, she had taken the invitation Jin Yuzhen gave her to the hotel, only to be stopped. She was mentally prepared. Jin Yuzhen’s attitude had been cold and hard, and she had not spoken to her for days. The female companion for the victory banquet had certainly been replaced by someone else.

She could not quite describe the feeling. She was quite familiar with the Jin family. In her view, Jin Yuzhen was already an outcast of the family. That was why she did not even put effort into baiting her.

But then again, the initiative between them had always been in her hands. She could dump Jin Yuzhen, but Jin Yuzhen absolutely could not abandon her.

Halfway through the victory banquet, she still had not managed to get in. Just as she was preparing to leave, she was invited into a car by Jin Zhuhuai’s assistant.

She remembered Jin Yuzhen saying not long ago that Jin Zhuhuai had gone to Yangon for business. Her name was not on the banquet list, which meant she would not be back tonight. Perhaps plans had changed.

She was very nervous because Jin Zhuhuai was the default successor of the Jin Corporation and was very protective. Supposedly out of a sense of compensation, Jin Zhuhuai responded to every request from Jin Yuzhen, being kind to an excessive degree.

Cen Shu sat restlessly in the car. Jin Zhuhuai must have seen everything she had done to Jin Yuzhen. Through the solid car window, she saw sparse figures on the street.

An idea suddenly sprouted in her mind. Jin Yuzhen was no longer of much use to her, so why should she not try to make contact with this eldest Miss Jin? At the beginning of the year, she had wanted the Jin Corporation endorsement, but Jin Yuzhen had nothing but money and could not help her.

Although Ning Fang was still eyeing the Jin family hungrily, as far as she knew, Ning Fang’s daughter had no interest in the family business, so there was no reason for Jin Zhuhuai to lose. Jin Zhuhuai might not be indifferent to her; otherwise, why invite her into the car?

Countless schemes flashed through her mind, only to be shattered the moment Jin Zhuhuai spoke.

“When I was in Yangon, I heard that Zhenzhen changed her companion for tonight,” Jin Zhuhuai looked at her with interest. “How could that be?”

She seemed only concerned with why Jin Yuzhen had changed her mind.

Cen Shu hesitated for a moment and said, “There is a misunderstanding between us.”

Outside the car, the moon’s reflection was lonely; inside, the lights were warm. Jin Zhuhuai turned her head and said flatly, “Then let that misunderstanding continue.”

Cen Shu looked up in surprise.

“I am very grateful to Miss Cen. Before meeting you, Zhenzhen was very detached and had little emotion; I thought she would live like that forever. But after knowing you, she became like a normal person, with normal joys, angers, and sorrows.

Therefore, I will not hold what you have done to her against you. But everything has a limit, and lately, the pain you have brought her seems to have exceeded what I can tolerate.”