The Sickly Fake Daughter, But a Beloved Darling of All - Chapter 46

“Getting married?”

The smile instantly faded from Xu Jing’s face. She looked at Xu Chengjin in confusion: “You have someone you like?”

“No, I’m just stating a fact.”

Xu Chengjin curved a smile. She glanced at Jin Xi and Wu Boran: “I’m a little tired. I want to go upstairs and rest. If you need anything, just come find me.”

She seemed genuine, truly feeling weary. Xu Chengjin sighed soundlessly: “I’m leaving. I spent the whole afternoon putting on makeup, and now that I’m moving, I feel completely drained.”

“Xiaojin…”

Jin Xi still wanted to ask something. She followed Xu Chengjin to the stairs, hesitated for a moment, and then asked: “Will your… future spouse be a political marriage [or an arranged marriage for alliance]?”

She asked the question very carefully, feeling a bit absurd herself. After all, talk of political marriages was something she’d only heard about in novels and online; she didn’t really know what it entailed. But if Xu Chengjin were to have one, the other person would certainly have to be a suitable match, someone who could protect Xu Chengjin.

No, no matter who it was, they should protect Xu Chengjin.

Xu Chengjin had already stepped onto the first stair. She turned around and looked down at Jin Xi, her tone laced with helplessness: “Although the Xu family’s standing is not low and is a coveted match among several major families, my body doesn’t allow me to enter into an arranged marriage. The doctor even once said I wouldn’t live past eighteen.”

Of course, Xu Chengjin didn’t believe this herself. As a cannon fodder villain, and a character who plays an extremely important role in the plot, how could she die so early? However, the Xu family grew very anxious after hearing it. That year was her coming-of-age ceremony; they didn’t host a banquet for anyone. They simply bought a cake themselves, and the family surrounded Xu Chengjin to celebrate her eighteenth birthday together.

They were all very happy that day. Xu Chengjin had to admit that she truly grew up surrounded by love.

She reached out and gently touched Jin Xi’s face. She said, “Arranged marriages also depend on many factors. Besides, the Xu family hasn’t declined to the point of needing an arranged marriage for resurgence, and marrying a sick girl is a lot of trouble.”

“No!”

Jin Xi reacted quickly. She didn’t know what she was doing, but her hand moved faster than her brain. She tightly grasped Xu Chengjin’s hand, her eyes anxious: “It’s not trouble! With slow care, you’ll get better eventually!”

“Mhm.”

Xu Chengjin gently pulled her hand free. The movement was very gentle, but her attitude clearly didn’t tolerate disagreement.

“Thank you for your wishes. I’ll also work hard to take care of my body.”

Xu Chengjin turned and walked up the stairs, not looking back at Jin Xi again. She walked steadily, and as she was about to reach the second floor, she spotted Si Yu in the corner.

She looked over: “CEO Si.”

Si Yu was sitting on a sofa. There weren’t many people on the second floor. She was holding a glass of wine, and an empty bottle was placed in front of her. The lights in this area were off, and the lighting was very dim. It would be hard to notice this spot unless one specifically looked for it.

“Why aren’t you speaking?”

Xu Chengjin sat down opposite Si Yu. She reached out and looked at the wine bottle on the table. The smile on her face visibly lessened. She picked it up and examined it. The alcohol content wasn’t low: “It seems CEO Si is indeed immune to getting drunk.”

“I only had a little.”

Si Yu put the glass down. She leaned back on the sofa and casually looked up at the ceiling: “It’s not much.”

“Is that so?” Xu Chengjin’s tone lightened a bit. She seemed to be smiling, but her words didn’t sound very gentle, “Are you saying that you promised me you’d drink less, and then opened a bottle again tonight?”

“Don’t you care about your health?”

Xu Chengjin was almost laughed into anger by Si Yu: “If you dislike a healthy body so much, just give it to me.”

Her words were fast and urgent. Perhaps due to the intense reaction, she choked on her own words and instantly bent over, coughing a few times. Xu Chengjin’s breathing was rapid: “Why do you…”

Her words halted because Si Yu’s gaze seemed very earnest, as if she were seriously considering the offhand comment Xu Chengjin had made, but that wasn’t allowed.

Xu Chengjin turned her head and leaned back to relax: “You haven’t answered my question.”

Si Yu pinched the bridge of her nose. Fatigue finally surfaced in her eyes: “I want it [my health]. I’m just a little bothered.”

“Work?”

“No, life.”

Si Yu’s position allowed her to see the first floor, and what she could see now were the three people standing together. They seemed to be arguing about something, and all three of their faces looked unhappy.

Xu Chengjin clasped her hands together, looking down at the key in her grasp. She spoke: “The gift you gave me is too valuable. I can’t accept it.”

“Why?”

Si Yu frowned: “Why not? The value is for me to decide. I think you deserve this gift. Just accept it, there’s no need to say anything else.”

Xu Chengjin didn’t change her mind. She asked another question: “What did you originally plan to do with this manor after you bought it at the auction?”

Si Yu’s entire figure was submerged in the darkness. Only a tiny bit of light could define the edges, but it was far from enough. Si Yu still exuded an aura of dejection, as if something was affecting her.

Si Yu looked exhausted.

Seeing her like this, Xu Chengjin couldn’t help but guess why Si Yu had bought the manor. Could she really just be someone with too much money who bought it for fun?

She didn’t believe that.

Xu Chengjin planned to help manage the manor after Si Yu told her, which would make her feel more at ease.

She gripped the key tightly, feeling a subtle tension in her heart. However, Si Yu quickly gave her answer: “To give it to someone.”

As soon as she spoke, Xu Chengjin was stunned. Her eyes were filled with disbelief. She let out an “Ah,” as if she didn’t quite understand Si Yu’s words: “To give to someone? To whom?”

Si Yu merely gave her a deep look and said nothing.

Seeing that Si Yu didn’t answer, Xu Chengjin sat up straight. The key in her hand seemed to be burning in her palm.

Why won’t you answer me?

Who was it for? Or did she give it to me because she couldn’t give it to the intended person?

Xu Chengjin wrestled with her thoughts for a while. She let out a soft laugh, various ideas clashing in her mind. She bit her lip: “Say something.”

She finally asked.

“I bought it intending to give it to someone. There was no specific person. Maybe I thought there would be a suitable person in the future.”

Si Yu drained the wine in her glass. She exhaled and began to change the subject: “Do you feel that Jin Xi’s attitude towards you is a bit unusual, and very obvious?”

Xu Chengjin had no trace of a smile on her face. Her finger rubbed the key in her hand, her mind still replaying Si Yu’s words. If there was a more suitable person or someone who appeared earlier than me, this key wouldn’t have landed in my hand, right?

She lowered her head and subtly curled her lip, her tone revealing neither happiness nor anger: “Why do you ask about that?”

How could I not know? I’ve known all along.

Si Yu closed her eyes. She seemed a little drunk; her vision felt hazy: “Then what do you think?”

“What do I think?” Xu Chengjin turned her head, no longer looking at Si Yu. She gripped her skirt tightly, trying to keep her voice normal, “That’s her and my business. Discussing it in front of you might be disrespectful to Jin Xi.”

“You’re right.” Si Yu’s voice was airy; she let out a breath, “You’re quite protective of them. Spending every day together on campus makes for strong feelings.”

Xu Chengjin remained silent, so Si Yu continued: “And Xu Jing. You’ve lived together for so many years, not to mention your living habits and affection. She protects you like a mother protecting her young. That’s not bad; at least you won’t get hurt.”

“Your bracelet and watch today were nice, too. It’s clear they put thought into them. Happy… birthday, Xiao jin.”

Xu Chengjin still didn’t speak. It was only then that Si Yu noticed something was off. She looked up and saw that Xu Chengjin was staring at her. When she saw Si Yu looking, Xu Chengjin spoke softly: “I really like their gifts, too.”

“But your gift—”

Xu Chengjin stood up, placed the key on the table, and turned to leave: “I don’t want it.”

Si Yu wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt a hint of a sob in Xu Chengjin’s voice.

“Wait!”

Si Yu completely panicked. She grabbed the key and chased after her, the alcohol completely gone from her system: “Xiao jin! Xiao jin!”

Xu Chengjin had never walked so fast. And she was currently wearing high heels, making a tap-tap sound on the floor. She didn’t want to hear anything; she just wanted to get back to her own room to rest.

Seeing her walk so quickly, Si Yu worried that she would fall. As Xu Chengjin walked into the lounge, Si Yu rushed over and managed to block the door just as it was about to close. Xu Chengjin was directly pressing against the door, so Si Yu didn’t dare to use force, only asking: “Why don’t you want it?”

“I don’t want it.”

Xu Chengjin looked down, unwilling to meet Si Yu’s eyes. She pursed her lips: “You’re right. This is your property. After tonight, I won’t come here again.”

“Xiao jin?”

Si Yu was completely flustered. She didn’t know why Xu Chengjin would say that. She wanted to enter but didn’t dare to use force: “No, you can come whenever you want. This is for you, a gift from me to you.”

“I said I don’t want it!”

Xu Chengjin’s voice suddenly rose. She looked up, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were red: “I said… I don’t want it…”

Si Yu felt her breath catch at the sight. She took the opportunity to push the door open and walked in: “Xiao jin.”

Xu Chengjin backed away, wiping her tears: “Get out.”

“Where did you go wrong? You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just that I don’t want it.” Xu Chengjin’s wrist was grasped by Si Yu. She stopped, biting her lip and looking up at her, tears welling up in her eyes. The slightest blink would send them falling instantly. She choked out, her tone aggrieved, “Si Yu—”

“I don’t like your gift.”