There's Something Wrong With My Little White Flower - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: The Fallen Republican Era Young Lady X The Overseas-Educated Paternal Aunt

The long summer ended, and autumn arrived with the chill in the wind.

Ruan Jiyun and her classmates were engaged in an activity at the Place du Tertre next to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Artists gathered here, opening their sketchpads on the street to draw spontaneous portraits for passersby. Young people pulled small carts nearby, selling homemade coffee and desserts.

Ruan Jiyun was now accustomed to Parisian life. She wore a black shirt-dress, her long hair tied into a braid with a scarf, hanging loosely over her shoulder. The fluffy hair framed her petal-white cheeks, revealing a girl’s fresh beauty.

A freckled blonde boy secretly watched her. Encouraged by his companion, he stepped forward and offered her chocolate.

Ruan Jiyun thanked him politely. The boy, blushing, invited her on a date in halting French. She couldn’t help but laugh. Before she could decline, she heard someone intercede for her.

“This is my sister,” Jiang Zhiyu said, standing next to her in an impeccably tailored beige trench coat, his manner graceful. “I apologize, but she cannot go on a date with you. Um… thank you for understanding.”

Ruan Jiyun turned her head, smiling: “Brother Jiang, didn’t you say you had something on this morning?”

“How dare I not pick up the eldest young lady of the Jiang family? So I simply took leave.” Jiang Zhiyu glanced at his wristwatch. “The train arrives at one in the afternoon. What time will you finish here?”

“Soon. It’s better if we go wait for Peifeng early.”

Ruan Jiyun quickly packed her sketchpad, said goodbye to a few classmates, and hurried back to Jiang Zhiyu, indicating she could leave immediately.

Jiang Zhiyu really wanted to ignore her eager expression, but he couldn’t hold back: “It’s not that urgent… I see, Sister Ruan, you care much more for Peifeng than I, her own brother, do.”

He hadn’t intended to imply anything, but Ruan Jiyun still blushed. She adjusted her sketchpad on her shoulder and quietly said: “I just miss her a little.”

Jiang Zhiyu nodded in agreement: “I can tell.”

He drove Ruan Jiyun to the train station. On the way, he hesitated for a moment before speaking: “Actually, there’s something I wanted to tell you.”

“About Miss Julia?” Ruan Jiyun asked casually.

Jiang Zhiyu’s eyebrow twitched: “How did you know?”

“Brother Jiang, I’m a woman too.” Ruan Jiyun smiled, raising her eyes. “The look in a lover’s eyes is very hard to conceal. Especially since Miss Julia is a French lady, it’s even more obvious. Congratulations on finally winning your fair lady.”

Jiang Zhiyu chuckled sheepishly.

He and Ruan Jiyun were both in Paris. Initially, Jiang Zhiyu had several misgivings. He had received a modern education since childhood, and his views on marriage and relationships were quite advanced. At the time of the Ruan family engagement, he had wanted to break free from the old customs, but due to his father’s insistence on not breaking a promise, he could only use studying abroad as an excuse to delay the matter.

He hadn’t expected Ruan Jiyun to proactively seek him out shortly after arriving in Paris, directly stating that she had no intention of marrying him at all. This made Jiang Zhiyu feel somewhat ashamed of his own intentions. After reaching a consensus, he often took the initiative to run errands and help her at school. In time, the two became closer than they were in Shanghai.

It was no surprise that someone as smart as Ruan Jiyun would notice Julia’s presence.

“I plan to take Julia back to Shanghai after I graduate this year,” Jiang Zhiyu said. “Sister Ruan, I am truly sorry.”

Ruan Jiyun smiled and shook her head: “I have already gotten everything I wanted. To meet Peifeng, and you… and to be able to study abroad, were all things I never dared to dream of before. Brother Jiang, it’s just a shame we still have two years until we graduate. When Uncle Jiang scolds you, there will be no one to plead for you. Take care.”

Jiang Zhiyu laughed: “The path I chose, I must take responsibility for.”

Having said this, a burden seemed lifted. The worries between his brows vanished. Seeing the road ahead slightly congested, he lightly tapped the steering wheel and casually said: “It looks like coming early was the right choice. What time is it, and there’s already a traffic jam?”

Ruan Jiyun also looked out the window with him. The area around Paris Gare de Lyon was always lively, but today seemed particularly crowded. She casually opened the window. Suddenly, her eyes widened.

A thick plume of black smoke was drifting in the air, carried by the wind. Besides the smoke, there were faint screams, sirens, and what sounded like people shouting.

Jiang Zhiyu suddenly pulled the car to the side of the road: “Damn it, something seems to have happened ahead. A few days ago, I heard that people from the ‘Cross Group’ were causing trouble in the 9th arrondissement… Sister Ruan, wait here. I’ll go see what’s happening.”

As he was about to get out of the car, he saw Ruan Jiyun move faster than him. She had already left the car and was running straight ahead.

Jiang Zhiyu was shocked. Ruan Jiyun might not know, but the Parisian government’s credibility had been falling due to financial incidents, and protests had escalated. This was no joking matter. He quickly chased after her and grabbed her: “You’re just a girl, don’t go over there.”

“Brother Jiang!” Ruan Jiyun found an unexpected surge of strength and managed to struggle free from Jiang Zhiyu’s grasp. She was trembling all over, urgently saying: “That’s the train station. Peifeng, she…”

Jiang Zhiyu was also worried about his sister’s safety. Seeing Ruan Jiyun’s insistence, he could only advise: “Then stay with me. If the situation gets bad, you must come back immediately.”

The two ran toward the train station. Along the way, they saw many people pouring out from the opposite direction. Thick smoke mixed with sporadic cries for help reached them.

Jiang Zhiyu stopped a young man who looked Chinese to inquire about the situation. The young man, still shaken, said: “Protesters were demonstrating in the West Plaza. Then somehow, they clashed with the police… The train station is under martial law now!”

This news made them even more anxious. Indeed, as the young man said, the area around the train station was surrounded by police, checking the documents of every traveler. In the open space not far away, several injured people were lying down.

Jiang Zhiyu went to inquire about the situation with the police, while Ruan Jiyun, following the railing, stood on her tiptoes to peer inside, focusing her gaze on the crowded faces, afraid of missing the one person she desperately needed to confirm was safe.

As she searched frantically, she suddenly heard someone calling for help.

It was a young Eastern woman. Even in such a chaotic setting, it was hard to ignore her exceptionally beautiful and glamorous face. The woman was supporting a man whose face was covered in blood. She spoke in Chinese: “Is anyone Chinese? Please, help me!”

Ruan Jiyun stopped.

The woman lifted her face, looking as if she had found a life raft: “Miss, this is my assistant. He was hit by shrapnel from the explosion. I can’t speak French…”

The man was seriously injured. He was being strenuously supported by the woman, clearly at his limit. Ruan Jiyun immediately helped her support the injured man and called out for help to the nearest police officer in French.

The crowd was chaotic and dense. The two young women couldn’t move an inch. Fortunately, a police officer finally noticed their situation and quickly sent a helper.

“The ambulance can’t get in right now. I need to take you to the nearby temporary shelter,” the officer, seeing they were all women, kindly warned them. “Do you have anyone to contact?”

Ruan Jiyun translated this, and the woman thought for a moment, giving a name: “They said I could call this number if I had any problems.”

Her attitude was very resolute. Ruan Jiyun immediately translated it to the officer and added: “This lady’s assistant needs immediate medical attention. Please help us.”

The officer said: “We have a phone there, but no one who speaks Chinese for translation. Miss, can you help make the call?”

The woman looked at Ruan Jiyun with expectant, pleading eyes. The scene was chaotic, and they were not French citizens. To receive priority treatment, they had to find a way themselves. Ruan Jiyun had never been in such a situation, but at this moment, she was undoubtedly the only person they could rely on. She took a breath: “I will make the call for you.”

With the police assistance, they finally broke through the obstacles and reached the temporary shelter. After dialing the number, Ruan Jiyun quickly explained the situation to the person on the other end, without daring to delay.

“My name is Meng Fanshi.” The woman tightly gripped her hand. “Tell them I had an accident.”

Ruan Jiyun translated as she was told. The person on the other end immediately stated they would send someone over right away.

After clearly explaining the situation and the rendezvous point, Ruan Jiyun finally breathed a sigh of relief. She exchanged glances with the woman. Meng Fanshi asked: “Are you coming with us?”

Ruan Jiyun shook her head: “I have to go back to the station. I still need to find my friend.”

Seeing her determination, Meng Fanshi quickly pulled a name card from her pocket: “It’s too chaotic now to properly thank you. Little Sister, please be sure to contact me after you’ve handled your business.”

Ruan Jiyun casually tucked the name card into her bag, nodded, and ran off.

She found Jiang Zhiyu at the entrance. He clearly had also been through some trouble: “I found out that Peifeng’s train just entered the station. Because of the explosion in the plaza, the passengers haven’t disembarked. They should be let out once the inspection is complete.”

Ruan Jiyun finally felt relieved: “That’s wonderful.”

They followed the crowd to the newly designated exit. At this point, many people were still clearing the other side of the plaza. Ruan Jiyun was anxious, constantly standing on her tiptoes to peer inside.

After a full hour, Jiang Peifeng finally appeared in the crowd. Ruan Jiyun’s heart thumped. Her body reacted before her mind, and she sprinted toward that figure.

When she was tackled into an embrace, Jiang Peifeng instinctively wrapped her arms around the soft, slender waist to prevent Ruan Jiyun from falling from rushing too fast. She laughed: “Hey… Sister Ruan, don’t be afraid.”

“You didn’t see her just now,” Jiang Zhiyu also sighed in relief, seeing his sister was perfectly fine. “She was about to drill into the station to save you.”

Ruan Jiyun held Jiang Peifeng tightly and didn’t let go, even as her siblings joked. Jiang Peifeng knew she was scared and simply patted her back gently, letting her slowly calm down.

After a long while, Ruan Jiyun finally looked up, saying with a wronged expression: “Thank goodness… if something had really happened to you…”

“It won’t.” Jiang Peifeng patted her head. “Our Yunniang is waiting for me. Nothing will happen.”

She proactively took Ruan Jiyun’s hand, saying in a tone to lighten the mood: “Though waiting has made me starving. Brother, don’t be stingy. I want to eat the foie gras at the Ritz Hotel.”

Jiang Zhiyu said: “I already made a reservation. Let’s go. I’ll also take you to meet someone.”

Jiang Peifeng paused for a moment, then realized who he might be referring to. In the original world, this person would appear now. Thinking this, she subconsciously glanced at Ruan Jiyun.

Her gaze met Ruan Jiyun’s. Those beautiful, deer-like eyes were constantly sparkling, staring at her unblinkingly.

Did she already know about this? Jiang Peifeng blinked, giving Ruan Jiyun a comforting smile, but Ruan Jiyun didn’t seem to react, focusing only on holding tightly to her arm.

Jiang Peifeng suddenly felt a surge of possessiveness, hoping that this dependence the little white flower had on her could last a little longer, and a little longer…

Even if she found other happiness later, at least now, she was the person Ruan Jiyun relied on the most, wasn’t she?

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