The Woman I Was Flirting With Turned Out To Be A Chaebol Heiress - Chapter 15

“I’m not sure, I’m not in charge of that part.”

“Senior Suzuki usually acts alone. Her schedule isn’t something many people would know.”

After asking around several times, nothing useful came out of it.

The glow from her phone screen illuminated Li Nianyi’s face, which was tinged with a bit of tension. Her fingertips curled slightly as they hesitated on Professor Tanaka’s contact icon.

In the end, she tapped it.

“Professor, I noticed that the backup video files are missing May 28th. Was it left out by accident? Or did Senior not go film that day?”

The message sent successfully.

The professor must have been on their phone this time, the reply came instantly.

“She was sick and took the day off on the 28th. Missed all her classes that day.”

A photo of the official leave slip followed, stamped with the university seal.

Li Nianyi stared at the picture for a long time before letting out a helpless laugh. She really had watched too many suspense and horror films and read too many such novels. It had made her jumpy and prone to conspiracy theories.

Perhaps it’s human instinct to seek benefit and avoid harm.

When one negative speculation is disproven, it often leads to the assumption that other related guesses are likely wrong too, which then fosters a sense of hope.

Just like Li Nianyi now.

Rather than endlessly imagining every little clue related to Suzuki, it would be better to just focus on finishing the project Suzuki left behind. That would ensure her efforts wouldn’t go to waste. That, right now, was the best thing Li Nianyi could do.

As for the truth

That concept felt far too vast and complex for her.

She was curious about the truth buried beneath the corpse, yet simultaneously feared the danger that might come with it.

When a person’s subjective desires can’t be fulfilled through their own efforts or external help, they begin to place hope in things more vague and untouchable.

Like gods.

Or fate.

And Li Nianyi happened to be someone used to being pushed by fate.

Her thoughts drifting, she went on a mental tangent, brainstorming all sorts of chaotic ideas before finally patting her head and pulling her focus back to the matter at hand.

Summer break was approaching she needed to finish her thesis before it started.

As for Jiang Ji

Li Nianyi’s gaze lingered on a Polaroid photo leaning on her bookshelf.

Why is it that once she understood her own feelings, she lost the courage to take initiative?

Before, she simply enjoyed the thrill of flirtation. A few flirty exchanges, an ambiguous look, a pseudo-date those doses of estrogen and dopamine were enough to satisfy her.

But once she became greedy

Those small, fleeting touches and moments of ambiguous emotion were no longer enough. Her increasingly restless heart overflowed with a kind of fear fear of stepping out of her comfort zone.

Forget it…

Anyway, break was coming. She’d carry out her “love plan” during summer. Two long, hot months should be enough to let two people and their two hearts move a little closer… maybe even closer than that.

Night swept over the city.
A high-rise apartment in the harbor district was pitch-black, despite someone being home.

“Humans are inherently social creatures.”
“Their social nature means individuals cannot survive in isolation from the group.”
“An individual is always in the midst of others’ influence especially those who have an important impact on their life. These relationships often overlap.”
“The so called ‘significant others’ a concept from the intersection of psychology and sociology—refers to people who play important roles in an individual’s socialization and psychological development.”

Jiang Ji sat upright at her desk, no lights on in the room. The only illumination came from her computer screen casting a bluish glow across her face, making the whole scene feel like a low-budget horror film.

She had finally lost patience waiting for Li Nianyi’s explanation and ended up researching the concept of “significant other” herself.

Jiang Ji mumbled unfamiliar academic terms under her breath, intending to use them to analyze the deeper meaning behind what Li Nianyi had said.

Fortunately, though the content was unfamiliar, it wasn’t too hard to grasp.

Looking at the bolded words on her screen, she began to wonder:

Could this mean… she’s already become someone important in Li Nianyi’s life?

Just the thought made her heart pound uncontrollably.

Then the excitement faded.

That woman who flirted but never followed up had promised to visit Hua Hua and Pudding often yet now, she didn’t seem the least bit interested in coming over.

Jiang Ji felt like she and her pets had been abandoned.

She walked to the living room, turned on the light, and lay down in front of the fish tank, watching her little fish swim lazily.

“You two still swimming around like nothing happened? Your mama Nianyi doesn’t want you anymore.”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but scold herself for being ridiculous.

Back when they were just flirting, she had sworn she was fine with the status quo. Now that Nianyi really was keeping her distance, she found herself all anxious and restless.

Jiang Ji, with her slightly aggrieved look, resembled a big golden retriever with drooping ears.

Wait she didn’t have blonde hair.

So maybe more like a Doberman.

Realizing her words might not be appropriate in front of her “children,” she added:

“She’s probably just busy and doesn’t have time to come.”

But wasn’t she also busy?
Her days were packed with endless headaches, family messes dumped on her to deal with, thankless and risky responsibilities.

Even her own bar had become a side gig she could barely keep open.

Then again no customers anyway.

Flipping through her phone out of boredom, Jiang Ji realized she had to do something.

This whole idea of “not too close, not too far” wasn’t it just that if the other person stepped back, you should step forward?

It made perfect (albeit slightly twisted) sense to her.

After spending time adjusting the angles, she sent several photos of Hua Hua and Pudding over.

The caption was something she had thought up long ago:

“I’ve moved them into their ‘ocean view suite.’ They seem to be adapting well to the new place.”

The reply took a while to come.

“So pretty!”
“Boss Jiang really is responsible.”

Jiang Ji’s fingers tensed.
Why was she so nervous?
They were just texting.

“Wanna come see them? Feed them a little? It’s actually really relaxing.”

She typed it as a test, but really, her heart was laid bare in the message.

Li Nianyi, holding her phone, smiled.
The exhaustion from a day of thesis work eased a bit.

“Of course I want to see them.”

Just as Jiang Ji thought she had agreed and was about to arrange a time, a second message came:

“But I need to finish my thesis before break. I probably won’t be able to visit for a while.”

The happy little bubble popped.

“But once summer starts and I’m free, I’ll definitely come. Just don’t get sick of me, okay?”

Fine, a new bubble now floated in its place.

From then on, though they didn’t meet in person, they kept in touch online.

They shared an unspoken understanding: every night before bed, they would talk.
Probably because their days were already filled to the brim.

Those short conversations before sleep
Were enough to leave them both feeling deeply happy as they drifted off.

Until one night

A sudden, urgent knock interrupted Li Nianyi just as she was about to close her laptop and finish for the night.

Her brow furrowed.
Knocking, this late?
That was worrying.

Until

“Nianyi… it’s me…”

It was Jiang Ji’s voice!

But that didn’t ease Li Nianyi’s concern. Her frown deepened.

Jiang Ji’s voice sounded weak.

She opened the door and saw the woman, injured and collapsing into her arms.

Jiang Ji tried to support herself, but once she was held tightly, she couldn’t bring herself to pull away.

Familiar scent masked
Overwhelming blood filled Li Nianyi’s nose.

No time for questions.

Li Nianyi quickly shut the door, and the two sank to the floor together.

Jiang Ji leaned weakly against her shoulder, arms wrapped tightly around her waist, breathing shallowly.

Li Nianyi could feel soft pats on her back her own hands trying to comfort and soothe the other’s tense emotions.

What happened?

Why was she so badly hurt?

So many questions surged up in her mind, but what she said was

“Come to the living room. Let me treat your wounds.”

Jiang Ji nodded slightly, chin resting in the crook of Li Nianyi’s neck, her voice muffled and full of grievance:

“Mm.”

Though her wounds were serious, Li Nianyi refused to let her bleed on the couch. Taking a soon-to-be-washed bedsheet from the laundry pile, she spread it over the sofa first.

Her own clothes? Whatever. She’d just toss them in the washer.

“Sit here and don’t move. I’ll get the first-aid kit.”

Jiang Ji, 27 years old, suddenly felt like a kindergarten kid. Obediently, she sat and waited.

Tonight’s Li Nianyi… was someone she’d never seen before.

Still wearing her usual casual homewear, hair loosely tied in a bun, stray strands falling over her face. She looked a bit messy

But the half-black-rim glasses perched on her nose balanced it all out.

That was order within chaos.

Just like her.

Li Nianyi was the only order in Jiang Ji’s otherwise chaotic life.