Ever since that accident, Lu Yunze had been puzzling over a strange question.
How exactly did Jiang Sui manage to find out so much about him ahead of time?
If it was due to pressure from outside political enemies, and she’d used Xiao Lin’s investigations to get the information, then it would make sense for her to learn of major events that way. But for her to know even the tiniest details of his daily life was far too bizarre.
Take last time, for example—she not only knew about his sneaky goodbye kiss with the Guidance Counselor outside the office and that Wang Fengchang wanted to see him, but she even found out that he couldn’t go to see the principal immediately after class.
If she were a practitioner of occult arts, maybe it would be understandable. But for an ordinary person to pull this off was truly uncanny.
With these questions in mind, Lu Yunze found himself acting strangely whenever Jiang Sui visited his home.
“What are you doing?”
“Bringing some watermelon to Young Master.”
“I didn’t order any watermelon. And besides, why did you just barge in without knocking?”
Fortunately, Lu Yunze hadn’t been doing anything shameful in the bedroom just now, or he’d have suffered total social annihilation.
“Don’t be angry, Young Master. In exchange, you’re free to barge into my room whenever you want while I’m sleeping.” Jiang Sui smiled calmly, not at all feeling there was anything wrong with her actions.
“I don’t want that kind of exchange… Wait, what do you mean by ‘also’?”
Jiang Sui tilted her head, as if she didn’t understand what he was saying.
Lu Yunze thought maybe it was time to install a better lock on his bedroom door.
“What, is Young Master concerned about me?” Jiang Sui said as she picked up a slice of watermelon and put it in her mouth.
“No, I’m just thinking about something very important.”
“You might have many questions about me, Young Master, but I can’t answer all of them.”
Jiang Sui kept up her gentle, merchant-like smile.
“Everyone has their own little Secrets. If you’re really worried that I might harm you, you can take my life anytime you want, Young Master.”
With things said so bluntly, Lu Yunze instead found himself at a loss for words and could only use a misunderstanding to brush aside the topic.
“September 24th.”
“What?” Lu Yunze was taken aback.
“That’s my birthday,” Jiang Sui explained. “Next time, if you suspect someone is pretending to be me, Young Master, you can ask that. But I’ve never raised any pets or anything, so if you want a token, you’ll have to buy it for me on the spot.”
What is with this… Why would she care about something like that?
It must’ve been Xiao Lin who overheard and passed it along to her. That woman really can’t keep her mouth shut.
“If Young Master is thinking of me, then I’ll naturally return the favor and think of you all the time,” Jiang Sui said, still looking quite pleased with herself.
Not only could she foresee what was going on with him, she even seemed to know what he was thinking deep down. Could Jiang Sui really possess the ability to read minds and predict the future?
If that were truly the case, then she’d be monitoring his every move, but judging by what he’d seen so far, Jiang Sui didn’t seem to have that kind of all-knowing demeanor.
Asking her directly was definitely out of the question, so Lu Yunze took this doubt with him to school, pondering the issue even during class.
“Hey, Lu Yunze! Big Bro Lu!”
“What? What’s up?” Xiao Lin’s voice snapped Lu Yunze back to reality, and the pen he’d been spinning between his fingers fell onto the desk.
“I wanted to borrow your pen.” Xiao Lin raised his eyebrows. “Big Bro, you’re actually spacing out? You’re usually so focused in class.”
“Ah, I was just thinking about something,” Lu Yunze said as he handed over his fountain pen.
Xiao Lin took the pen, passed it to a nearby roommate, then propped his chin on his hand, scrutinizing Lu Yunze as if he was mulling over something wicked.
“What’s with that look? For the record, I’m not into guys, and I’m not interested, got it?” Lu Yunze shot him a glare.
“Don’t worry, even if I were, I think Big Bro is thinking about someone else.”
“Huh?” Lu Yunze froze.
“If I’m not mistaken, it’s Jiang Sui, right?”
“…”
You figured it out too? Was my inner turmoil really that obvious for everyone to see?
Seeing his shocked expression, Xiao Lin patted his shoulder and said earnestly, “From now on, don’t let your thoughts show on your face, or people will really think you’re super easy to read, Big Bro.”
“Come on, there’s no one in this world who can read me like a book.”
“You never know.” Xiao Lin grinned mysteriously.
Why is everyone acting like this?
Since he’d already been found out, Lu Yunze decided to be upfront with Xiao Lin about his thoughts, including his suspicions and worries about the strange things Jiang Sui could do.
He expected Xiao Lin to be shocked, but the look on his face was completely different—like it was no big deal.
“What, you don’t find this weird?” Lu Yunze couldn’t help asking.
“Big Bro, there’s something you need to understand—women are very mysterious creatures,” Xiao Lin replied with a relaxed tone.
“We can’t judge them with a man’s perspective. What we think is impossible might be a piece of cake for them.”
“Really?”
“Why do you think most of the headlines are about women catching men, not the other way around?” Xiao Lin patted his shoulder again.
“So what’s your conclusion?”
“I don’t think it’s anything strange.”
Xiao Lin shrugged.
His take was that Jiang Sui managing all this, without causing Lu Yunze any harm, actually showed that Lu Yunze held an important place in her heart.
“She’s doing all this for your own good, Big Bro. Such a great girl, and you still doubt her sincerity? Aren’t you being too much?” Xiao Lin wagged a finger at him.
Wait, why does it feel like you’re siding with Jiang Sui?
Lu Yunze suspected he was being set up, but there was no way to prove it.
Even though Xiao Lin’s argument sounded convincing, Lu Yunze still felt there was something missing.
That day after school, Lu Yunze planned to hop on his beloved motorcycle and ride home. Ever since he’d started using it again, he’d rediscovered the joy of speed and freedom.
Men really do crave both freedom and passion.
Just as he was strapping on his helmet and about to start the engine, a figure appeared across the street, making his hand freeze.
Jiang Sui?
Lu Yunze checked to make sure he wasn’t seeing things—yes, it was definitely Jiang Sui, and the direction she was heading wasn’t towards the campus dorms.
After thinking for a moment, Lu Yunze decided to remove his helmet and, while her figure hadn’t yet disappeared from view, quietly followed after her.
This was Lu Yunze’s first time tailing someone. Even if the other person was an acquaintance, he still felt like a sneaky, suspicious character.
Suppressing the thumping in his chest, Lu Yunze kept all his attention fixed on the girl ahead.
Jiang Sui crossed a street, not doing anything out of the ordinary. At most, she would pause by the roadside vendors now and then.
Lu Yunze kept his distance and watched quietly, occasionally peeking around to observe her face.
She was chatting and laughing with the vendor, occasionally picking up some little trinkets that caught her eye, the metallic gleam of them shining faintly.
Of course, as a literature student, it wasn’t odd for her to like pretty things.
But Jiang Sui only looked at them—he never saw her actually spend money on anything.
It made sense, given her modest family situation.
At this point, Lu Yunze’s guilt began to well up, and he wondered why he was even following her.
That vague, inexplicable feeling in his heart finally became clear.
Was he suspicious of her?
No, that wasn’t it.
He was actually worried about her.
Jiang Sui had no real way to protect herself, yet she’d gotten involved in the world of occult practitioners. Add to that her financial struggles, and it was impossible not to worry about her.
Lu Yunze’s concerns didn’t come from a place of distrust or fear that she had special powers.
Rather, he was worried she might fall in with the wrong crowd and get trapped in someone else’s scheme.
With that realization, Lu Yunze felt much lighter, thinking this “investigation” was about done.
He even considered staging a coincidental meeting, so he could take her shopping for those little things she clearly liked but couldn’t afford.
Just then, Lu Yunze saw Jiang Sui turn into a nearby alley, and his brow, which had just relaxed, furrowed once more.
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