The hands of the clock moved ever so slightly, and just as Lu Yunze opened the side room in the Courtyard, time seemed to freeze for a moment.
Following his instructions to the letter, Jiang Sui returned to the Hall, and under the pretext of an order from the Bai Family’s master, borrowed a small plate from a member of the Jin Family.
“To think you’d come out here to attend the Ceremony, and still end up having to wait on others. Young lady, you really are diligent.”
The servant was a middle-aged woman, and when faced with Jiang Sui’s request, she responded with sincere understanding.
“You look like you’ve only just come of age. You really shouldn’t do this kind of thankless work. There are plenty of jobs that pay better and aren’t nearly as exhausting.”
“Thank you for your kindness,” Jiang Sui replied with a gentle smile.
But you say there’s no future in this? That’s not necessarily true.
Even as a mere maid, as long as she relied on her own abilities, she could still manipulate the rising generation of influential families and, through that, shake the entire Zhu Family.
With the plate in hand, Jiang Sui wandered between the tables in the Hall, picking out some of the tastier Lotus Root and adding a bit of everything else to the plate. Once she’d filled it, she quietly slipped out of the Hall.
Back in the Courtyard, Jiang Sui avoided a few unfamiliar gazes and made her way to a corner, where she set the plate down.
A clump of grass before her rustled gently, and a Black Cat poked its head out, circling the food tray twice with a look of disdain.
“It’s all piled together. Just looking at it takes away my appetite.”
“If not for Senior insisting you wanted something to eat, I wouldn’t have bothered to get this for you.”
Jiang Sui rested her chin on her palm, her expression feigning indifference.
“You could have just blended in directly with a human form. There was no need to go through all this trouble.”
“Little girl, having a human body isn’t as simple as you think.” The Black Cat flicked its tail twice. “I can’t reveal my true form to people, so I have no choice but to trouble you for now.”
“Senior, is there some reason you have to hide?” Jiang Sui had wanted to ask this for a while. In the original story she’d read, the part about the Black Cat’s origins hadn’t been revealed yet.
“Nothing special. What Arcane Art practitioner doesn’t have a few enemies?”
If the Black Pig were a person right now, she would probably strike a classic “what can you do” pose.
“I discarded my human body out of necessity. When the time comes, I’ll naturally reclaim it and settle my old scores.”
“So it’s really related to revenge against the Zhu Family?”
“Of course it is.” The Black Cat let out a short laugh.
Could it be because her enemy had deep ties with the Zhu Family, and during some hunt or disaster, they’d given her a huge amount of trouble?
But if it was really about revenge, wouldn’t it be easier to go after her enemy directly? Was there another reason she needed to start with the Zhu Family?
Following this train of thought, Jiang Sui figured she might be able to find clues about the Black Pig’s past identity herself.
But… if she got discovered, it might ruin their partnership.
Just then, the Black Cat suddenly slapped its own head, startling Jiang Sui enough to almost let a curse slip out she thought her inner thoughts had been exposed.
“What’s wrong, Senior?”
“It tastes awful. Fool’s Belly is better.”
“Eh?”
Jiang Sui later learned that the ‘Fool’s Belly’ the Black Cat spoke of was actually a brand of pig feed that Tian Nuan had given her that day.
“Senior, I went through a lot of trouble to get this for you, and you only ate half!”
“There are more important things than eating right now.”
The Black Cat’s golden pupils swept over the entire house.
“Just now, while I was walking around the nearby area, I sensed an unusual aura in this old mansion.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t quite explain it, but there’s a strange feeling in the air. And there’s also a bit of hostility.”
After turning into a cat, her sense of smell had definitely improved.
“Senior, your nose can pick up things like that?”
“You didn’t notice anything?”
“If I have to say, this place really does feel suffocating.”
At first, Jiang Sui thought it was just the oppressive atmosphere that ceremonies brought. But now, with the Black Cat’s reminder, she could definitely feel something was off here.
Was something being hidden in this place?
Thinking of Jin Huancheng’s mysterious death and the dubious matters regarding inheritance, Jiang Sui became even more certain that her suspicions were correct.
“So, what are you planning to do?”
Jiang Sui let out a small laugh and stood up. “What else? I’m going to see for myself what’s really going on.”
If it were Lu Yunze who noticed something strange, he’d probably take the cautious route and report it to the Police Station and the Execution Department of Arcane Arts.
But Jiang Sui wouldn’t. Rather than relying on those useless people, she’d rather investigate on her own. Who knew she might even find something unexpected.
“Aren’t you afraid of getting caught?”
“Senior, I’m always prepared.”
With the large sum of money Lu Yunze had given her, Jiang Sui had not only bought materials for refining, but also a real treasure: a sparkling key.
At the sight of it, the Black Cat immediately understood what it was.
Sometimes, Jiang Sui couldn’t help but sigh. In this world, possessing supernatural power was truly convenient. There were even Storage Tools, though space was limited, and the price was outrageously high.
Still, it was enough to carry a few emergency items.
Finding a secluded spot, Jiang Sui took out the set of Transforming Costume she’d prepared from her Storage Tool. She skillfully changed her appearance, then slipped on a gray robe.
“If there’s something Jiang Sui can’t do, I’ll just leave it to the Hidden One.”
The Black Cat handled the family’s outside matters, while Jiang Sui slipped into the mansion, planning to investigate areas related to Jin Huancheng.
She made her way to Jin Huancheng’s room, but didn’t expect to find someone else entering—and even more unexpectedly, that person ended up hiding with her. What’s more, that person turned out to be Lu Yunze!
Under the dim glow of a phone screen, Jiang Sui and Lu Yunze stared wide-eyed at each other.
Just as she was about to speak, Lu Yunze pressed his hand over her mouth.
“Shh! Don’t talk, there’s still someone outside.”
Lu Yunze gestured with his eyes there were still servants lingering just outside the door.
“Don’t move. I won’t hurt you.”
Of course Jiang Sui knew Lu Yunze wouldn’t hurt her so easily, but right now, there was a bigger problem.
The space inside the wardrobe was limited. After squeezing inside together, neither of them could adjust their posture, forcing them to maintain the same position.
Jiang Sui’s gaze drifted downward to the hand resting on her waist.
Lu Yunze immediately understood and whispered, “Sorry, but I need something to support myself right now.”
Fine, that’s a good excuse. Truly worthy of being our family’s changeable young master.
If this weren’t the time to confront him, Jiang Sui would’ve made sure to take back every bit of advantage he was taking now.
Even if Jiang Sui let him use her body for support, their bodies were still pressed so closely they couldn’t help but move in unison.
And then came the most embarrassing part.
Lu Yunze’s leg, with nowhere else to go, ended up pressed directly against Jiang Sui’s thigh. If she so much as relaxed, his knee would press right up against her most sensitive spot.
At first, Jiang Sui managed to hold out with the strength of her own legs. But as their bodies gradually tilted, her strength became useless.
Lu Yunze’s whole body leaned against hers, the pressure of his weight increasing steadily. Not just his hand, even the knee between Jiang Sui’s thighs seemed to be applying more force.
Each time he pressed down, it sent jolts of electricity racing through Jiang Sui’s brain. If she didn’t know the posture they were in, she’d think something else was pressing against her.
Come to think of it, hasn’t this scene played out in many romance stories?
A girl and a man squeezed together in a small closet trying not to be discovered, even as both their bodies and hearts heat up, they grit their teeth and suppress their voices.
If Lu Yunze really dared to do anything, Jiang Sui swore she’d use all her strength to stomp hard on him. She might tease him, but she never said she’d actually roll around in bed with a man.
Time ticked by slowly, and both of them ended up drenched in sweat. They could hear each other’s heavy breathing.
Lu Yunze’s hand and knee were still pressing down, and Jiang Sui’s breathing grew rapid—she could even feel her body heating up in response.
What was this feeling?
She’d never experienced anything like it. At first, she’d only felt uncomfortable from being pinned down, but now she was actually feeling a trace of inexplicable pleasure.
It wasn’t until Lu Yunze tried to shift away that Jiang Sui, instead, tightened her thighs and rubbed against him.
Jiang Sui felt something overwhelming invade her body. Her eyes grew misty, and even though she tried to suppress it, faint sounds still escaped from her lips.
Too good… she almost couldn’t catch her breath.
Just as she was on the verge of losing herself, they both heard the clear sound of a door closing.
A few seconds later, Lu Yunze forcefully pushed open the wardrobe door, and they both tumbled out at the same time.
Finally, they were free.
They collapsed on the ground, greedily gulping the fresh air.
Especially Jiang Sui her hair clung to her sweat-soaked cheeks, her flushed face hadn’t faded, and her gaze at the ceiling was still a little dazed.
Even as the heat gradually left her body, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, leaving her inexplicably empty.
Hearing Lu Yunze get up, Jiang Sui quickly pulled herself together and steadied herself with the bed.
“Why are you here?”
Lu Yunze was going to interrogate her, but when he noticed the blush on the girl’s face and the trace of charm in her expression, he let the matter drop.
“Weren’t you the one being suspicious, Lu Yunze?”
“You’re not here to sabotage this funeral, are you?”
Just what kind of person do you think I am?
Jiang Sui clicked her tongue. Since Lu Yunze was here, she couldn’t continue her investigation. It was better to retreat for now.
Otherwise, if she vanished and the Hidden One appeared, he might start suspecting her identity.
“Wait, why won’t you answer me?” Lu Yunze stepped forward to stop her.
Jiang Sui deftly brushed off his hand, and after pulling away, glared at him.
“Lu Yunze, our relationship isn’t so close that I have to tell you everything, is it?”
At that moment, she was just like a wary little wildcat.
“You’re nothing like the person I first met. Is this the real you?” Lu Yunze muttered under his breath.
“If you’re up to something shady, even if you’re Jiang Sui’s friend, I can’t just ignore it.”
“Ha, that’s funny.”
Jiang Sui walked away, only stopping when her back hit a cabinet.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a small clay statue. Everything else on the shelf had fallen down, but it hadn’t moved an inch.
Jiang Sui instinctively reached out to touch the statue and gave it a hard twist.
“What are you doing—”
Thunk!
Lu Yunze didn’t finish his sentence before the floor beneath their feet lit up, and a Magic Array appeared.
Immediately after, the ground under their feet disappeared, and the two of them fell together.
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