Chapter 170: A Few Things About the Gathering 1

Once again, only darkness surrounded her.

Once again, her vision was ruthlessly stripped away, leaving only her hearing.

Once again, she played this strange little game with the man who left her with such complicated and peculiar feelings.

“Trust me~ Walk forward six steps~~”

“Stop thinking~ Just listen to me~”

Please trust me~ Ji Yuenián~”

That voice echoed in her ears. She could hear her own rapid breathing, hear the wild pounding of her heart.

Should she really trust him?

She should… be able to, right.

Thinking back to the role Jiang Chi played in her physical exam this time, if not for him, she’d probably be on the road to getting a new ID and changing her name by now.

So… can she trust him?

She can… probably.

Just a little bit, just trust him that much, just trust Jiang Chi a little bit.

Ji Yuenián took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all sorts of thoughts at the bottom of her heart. She emptied her mind, following the man’s commands and movements—forward five steps, turn left, forward three steps… one step after another.

Her body seemed lighter and lighter, her toes as if stepping on clouds of cotton candy, soft and buoyant.

She didn’t need to think, only to carry out instructions.

There were no recent worries, no mental exhaustion from overthinking, and none of life’s troubles; it was as if a fish had leaped into a clear pond, or as if she were drinking iced beverages in the parched heat of midsummer. Her whole being was filled with an indescribable sense of comfort and satisfaction.

She didn’t even feel tired. It was as if all of this were an illusion—a dream that would end as soon as she opened her eyes.

This round of the game went very smoothly, so smoothly that even Jiang Chi felt it was unbelievable. As soon as the game ended, Ji Yuenián returned to Jiang Chi’s side. Without even taking off her blindfold, she took the bottle of mineral water he handed her and gulped it down.

Not until Jiang Chi spoke up, telling her to take off the blindfold, did Ji Yuenián slowly remove the black eye mask. It was like waking after a long sleep, or like being reborn after dying once—as if a caterpillar had broken out of its cocoon and become a butterfly, she had come back to life…

Jiang Chi keenly sensed that Ji Yuenián seemed a little different, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what had changed. It felt as if something extra had been added to himself.

“Jiang Chi.” She was still drinking water when she suddenly looked at him, her eyes bright and piercing like dazzling stars in the night sky.

“Mm?”

“Don’t betray my trust.”

Jiang Chi fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

“Mm.”

“Hibernation break just ended, I’m still a bit muddleheaded~~” Just as the atmosphere was turning serious, a string of cheerful bells suddenly rang out, interrupting the slightly ambiguous mood. It was Ji Yuenián’s phone on the guest table.

Ji Yuenián glanced at Jiang Chi. Jiang Chi quickly stepped aside, and Ji Yuenián pinched her throat and answered, “Hey, bro, what’s up?”

On the other end, Ji Haotong’s voice came, sounding a little off: “Dad said we’re going out to eat on Saturday, still at Qingfeng Court, um… damn… little ancestor, I’m begging you, can you stop calling me big brother?”

Ji Yuenián looked utterly confused: ???

“My little brother’s not talking to you.” Ji Haotong’s voice sounded again from the other side, tinged with helplessness, as if he was struggling with something.

“Haotong-gege, Haotong-gege.”

“Onii-chan, Onii-chan.”

“Don’t you like this kind of little sister?” The girl blinked her big watery eyes, her face full of grievance.

Ji Haotong took a deep breath: “Meng Mengtu, I’m begging you, let go of my hand, okay?”

“No way~~” the girl pouted.

“If you kick me out, I’ll go find Aunt Huang and tell her you bullied me~~”

After a round of noisy interference, Ji Yuenián put down her phone, clicking her tongue in amusement. She marveled at how her brother really knew how to have fun, then called Jiang Chi over to bring the haircut kit for their usual trim.

“Every time I transform, my hair grows right back. This totally defies the law of conservation of energy.” Watching the long strands fall to the floor, Ji Yuenián couldn’t help but complain.

She glanced at the man behind her, who was focused on cutting her hair, and asked, “Chi-bao, do you understand the principle behind this?”

“No idea.” The man replied just like that.

Time quickly passed, and soon it was Saturday. The Ji family arrived by car at the city center.

In the bustling heart of the city stood a grand and luxurious hotel—Qingfeng Court.

The exterior of the hotel cleverly combined modern and classical designs. The tall structure had smooth, natural lines, and the golden decorations dazzled in the brilliant sunlight. Massive floor-to-ceiling windows shone like enormous mirrors, clearly reflecting the surrounding splendor.

Stepping into the lobby, the first thing that caught the eye was a gigantic crystal chandelier. It was like a blooming flower, brilliantly radiant, illuminating the whole lobby as bright as day.

The floor was made of marble, smooth as a mirror. Every step brought a keen sense of luxury and refinement.

On one side of the lobby was a spacious lounge area, furnished with comfortable sofas and coffee tables. The sofas were made of top-grade silk, soft and smooth to the touch, and the tables were adorned with fresh flowers and exquisite snacks.

The reception staff—handsome men in crisp uniforms, elegant women in stylish qipao—together embodied the extremes of luxury and indulgence.

Though it was called a restaurant hotel, in reality, it was more a hub for social relations and a display of banquet culture.

Here, this was an upper-class haunt for leisure and entertainment.

A first-time visitor might look around curiously, but Ji Yuenián, who had visited many times, was already numb to it—perhaps even a bit disgusted.

This hotel belonged to Yuè Yù Group. That’s right, it was an industry under Jiang Chi’s father’s company.

Ever since the two families’ companies agreed to a joint venture into finance, Ji Hong would bring his family here for a meal every few weeks. But to call it a meal was a stretch; it was more like a business show, meant to signal to the city’s elite their unwavering partnership.

Please forgive Ji Yuenián for her lack of business knowledge—she truly couldn’t figure out how her family’s fashion business and Jiang Chi’s family’s food industry could find mutual interests.

They took the elevator to the second floor. Compared to the first and third floors, there were far fewer people here. If the first and third floors were all about drinking and socializing, the second floor was simply for dining.

“Miss Tang.” Passing by a crowd, Ji Haotong’s eyes lit up. He suddenly called out to a tall, curvy woman in a short jacket and tight pants, exuding a strong “queen” aura.

“Uncle, why is it you again?” The queenly woman turned around. There was surprise in her eyes when she looked at Ji Haotong, and when her gaze fell on Ji Yuenián, it was mixed with curiosity.

Ji Haotong smiled, acting more proactive than usual, which left Ji Yuenián dumbfounded. Yesterday, he had sworn off dating—so why was he already betraying the revolution today?

“Miss Tang, I wonder if you’re free these days…”

“Nope. Uncle, stop trying to hit on me.” Tang Xueting waved her hand, cutting him off. Then, seeing a young man just returning from the restroom, she grabbed him and pulled him to her side, smiling sweetly.

“By the way, Uncle, let me introduce you—this is my fiancé, Yao Shiming.”

“I’m here to celebrate his birthday today.”

With that, she bent down and planted a kiss on the dazed young man’s cheek, then wrapped her arm around his and headed for her private room.

“Uncle, I’ll go ahead. Have fun.”

Once the queenly lady and her little boyfriend had vanished from sight, the Ji family quickly entered their reserved private room.

At this moment, Ji Haotong’s state was clearly off. As soon as he stepped inside, his eyes darted around the room. He looked left and right, as if searching for something, even pressing his ear against the wall, straining to hear what was happening outside.

His bizarre behavior left the other three stunned. Huang Qingchuan was especially suspicious, wondering if her eldest son had suddenly fallen ill.

Until Ji Yuenián finally couldn’t help but ask, “Bro, what on earth are you doing?”

Hearing her, Ji Haotong slowly turned his head, forcing a smile uglier than a cry: “Meng Mengtu is still following me.”