The Sickly Fake Daughter, But a Beloved Darling of All - Chapter 10

Xu Chengjin faintly sensed something was off. She quickly held onto Xu Jing’s arm and said,
“Elder sister, President Si also graduated from here.”

Only then did Xu Jing’s expression ease a little. She maintained a polite facade and replied,
“So that’s how it is. That makes you and our little Jin schoolmates.”

“Let’s go, we should head over now.” Xu Jing squeezed Xu Chengjin’s hand. She didn’t look at Si Yu at all, simply saying,
“President Si, we still have matters to attend to, so we’ll be taking our leave first.”

Si Yu gave a small nod. “See you next time.”

Xu Chengjin was pulled away by Xu Jing, but she still turned back just in time to wave at Si Yu, not wanting to offend anyone.

“Why were you with her again?” Xu Jing frowned, her tone heavy. “Si Yu isn’t someone to be trifled with. She’s far too calculating. You could easily be deceived.”

Xu Chengjin looked as if she had been taught a valuable lesson. She nodded firmly. “I know, sister, don’t worry. Today was just a coincidence.”

Hearing this, Xu Jing’s tone softened. “In a while I’ll take you to get styled properly. This banquet will have a lot of important figures. You can’t go dressed so plainly.”

“Alright.” Xu Chengjin agreed, but then suddenly remembered something. “My roommate is from the Wu family, Wu Buran.”

Xu Jing looked puzzled. “What about her? Is she treating you poorly?”

Xu Chengjin immediately shook her head, smiling a little embarrassedly. “She’s also going to the banquet tonight. I thought… maybe I could bring her along. It’d be a kind gesture between roommates.”

Xu Jing thought for a moment. Building ties with the Wu family wasn’t a bad idea. And since Wu Buran and Xu Chengjin were roommates, bringing her along wouldn’t be a problem. She quickly relented. “Alright, contact her then. I’ll go bring the car around.”

“Got it.”

Xu Chengjin playfully winked at her sister and pulled out her phone to text Wu Buran:
【Class over yet? My sister’s at the school.】

Wu Buran’s reply came fast:
【Two minutes.】

Seeing this, Xu Chengjin silently exhaled in relief. The atmosphere between Xu Jing and Si Yu earlier had been so strange. She wasn’t sure if they had some kind of past grudge, but judging from their reactions, it certainly wasn’t pleasant.

If the plot hadn’t been altered… would she end up as the one caught in the crossfire?

Xu Chengjin slapped her cheeks lightly and found a spot to wait for Wu Buran, her face expressionless as she mulled over how to deal with future situations, how to react if something unexpected happened. She was so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice Wu Buran had arrived.

“Hey!” Wu Buran snapped her fingers at her, bending down to peer at her expression. “What’s on your mind, looking so serious?”

Xu Chengjin flinched as if startled, quickly scooting back. Realizing it was Wu Buran, she hastily explained, “Nothing, just spacing out.”

“Where’s your sister?”

Wu Buran didn’t press further. She looked around but saw no car.

“Come with me, it’s hard to park here. We need to walk up a bit.”

Xu Jing had sent her location, so Xu Chengjin and Wu Buran just followed the map.

The traffic around the university town was heavy. They had to walk for about a minute before spotting Xu Jing’s car. Xu Chengjin quickened her pace and introduced Wu Buran:
“This is my roommate.”

Xu Jing had been standing outside. When she saw Wu Buran approach, she smiled politely.
“Hello, I’m Xu Chengjin’s elder sister, Xu Jing. Thank you for taking care of her these past few days.”

“Not at all, Xu Chengjin is easy to get along with.” Wu Buran extended her hand for a quick shake, and after the brief pleasantries, they were ready to leave.

Xu Chengjin didn’t get carsick, but to save Wu Buran from feeling awkward, she chose to sit with her in the backseat. Just as she shut the door, she spotted Jin Xi on her way to her part-time job. Coincidentally, Jin Xi also noticed her.

“Jin Xi…” Xu Chengjin whispered, raising a hand to wave. She didn’t call out, but even that small gesture was caught by Xu Jing, who asked while glancing at her through the rearview mirror,
“Who did you see?”

Xu Chengjin quickly withdrew her gaze. “Just a friend.”

Wu Buran also caught the movement. Leaning closer to the window and then to Xu Chengjin’s side, she saw Jin Xi—and felt an inexplicable annoyance. Her words carried a faintly sarcastic edge:
“That friend of yours seems pretty close to you. Always hanging around, huh?”

“Same major, same class. Naturally, we’re familiar.” Xu Chengjin could easily hear the undertone in Wu Buran’s voice. She turned her head, only to see Wu Buran leaning against her shoulder. The posture was so intimate it was hard to tell who was actually closer.

Xu Jing frowned slightly, her voice cool.
“Looks like our little Jin has quite the—”

She cut herself off, catching sight in the rearview mirror of the two pressed so close, as if they might hug the very next second. Who was really closer here?

“—quite the popularity.” Xu Jing’s tone was flat as she started the engine, her aura suddenly growing heavier. “Wu Buran, right?”

“Yes, elder sister.” Wu Buran sat up straighter. As they pulled away, she even exchanged a look with Jin Xi. The meaning behind it was unclear but definitely not friendly. Then, as if switching roles, she reverted into a dutiful “good girl,” the sharp contrast making Xu Chengjin glance at her in surprise.

Xu Jing drove smoothly, putting on some soothing music.
“Seems like you and little Jin get along quite well.”

Wu Buran thought for a moment, then smiled innocently.
“Yes, I really like Xu Chengjin.”

“Is that so?”

Xu Jing’s lips curved into a smile, but at the red light she turned back. Though her words were directed at Wu Buran, her eyes were fixed on Xu Chengjin.
“Our little Jin has always been very well-liked.”

The exchange stirred an inexplicable unease in Xu Chengjin. She wrapped a lock of hair around her finger, speaking softly,
“We’re just friends, really. Nothing about liking or not—it’s probably just a matter of clicking with each other.”

“No, I just really enjoy being with you,” Wu Buran suddenly added. “I feel comfortable when I’m around you.”

Xu Jing drew in a deep breath, her eyes stripped of any smile.
“I see. No wonder you two get along so well.”

Turning back, she resumed driving, but the darkness in her expression was impossible to hide.

Xu Chengjin glanced at the rearview mirror, biting her finger lightly. A flicker of slyness flashed through her eyes.
“Elder sister, do we still have that perfume I always use at home?”

“Yes. Did you run out?”

“No.” Xu Chengjin shook her head, all innocence. “I promised to give a bottle to that friend I just saw. She’s been really nice to me, and I wanted to give her a little gift.”

The smile instantly vanished from Wu Buran’s face. She folded her arms, turning toward the window.
“You and that friend sure are close.”

Xu Jing cast a glance at the backseat. “Mm. I’ll get it for you when we’re home.”

“Thanks, sister.”

Xu Chengjin acted as though nothing were amiss. Just as she finished speaking, the bracelet on her wrist gave a faint vibration. Her eyes flickered with surprise, but she quickly calmed down. The vibration was subtle—only the wearer could feel it.

She lowered her gaze. It was a signal—
the binder was trying to get the wearer’s attention.

And the wearer was her.

The binder… was Si Yu.