Crossing the Line – Chapter 16
by Little PandaEven If It Is, It’s Okay
Xie Shuyi was sure she must be seeing things.
After all, it was hard to make out clearly from this distance. It just looked a bit like her, that was all.
Lin Ji was a daughter of the clouds, a woman nurtured by the heavens themselves. She and Jiang Siyi — that expired heiress, that permanent background fixture in every social gathering — had never moved in the same circles.
If not for Song Ti, the two of them might never have crossed paths in their entire lives.
They occupied two completely separate strata, as distinct as oil and water. She’d never heard of the flower on the peak taking any interest in the rotting leaves on the muddy ground.
Xie Shuyi knew Song Ti had been trying and failing to get a meeting with Lin Ji for ages. If she didn’t even have time for her own cousin, why would she stoop to meet with Jiang Siyi?
She kept finding reasons to deny what she was seeing, but then she heard the excited chatter behind her.
“Confirmed. Someone at Huixiang Space told me it’s one hundred percent Lin Ji, and the event on that side is also a Jiashibi salon.”
“No way, both are Jiashibi salons — why wasn’t I invited to that one? Isn’t that ridiculous?”
“Should we head over now?”
“Of course. You have no idea how many times Lin Ji’s secretarial office has politely turned me down. Let’s go, let’s go — this is a golden opportunity.”
The two people talking were already walking toward the door as they spoke. Xie Shuyi finally understood why the crowd here was thinning out.
They reached the door and were stopped by Oliver.
Having watched his own guests get lured away by Jiang Siyi’s event in wave after wave, Oliver knew that if this kept up, the place would be empty.
He forced a stiff smile. “Our appraisal expert, Teacher Qin, will be arriving any moment. If you leave now, you’ll miss his free evaluation session.”
“Seriously? Do you think any of us care about your lousy little course?”
“Why wasn’t I invited to the salon on the other side? Am I not qualified enough?”
Oliver was left speechless. The two of them brushed past him, and the waiter, looking flustered, opened the padded door for them.
Wan Xin was also trying to hold onto a female guest. The woman was polite enough to make an excuse — she said she had other plans and would be sure to attend the lecture next time. Then she walked past Oliver, leaving him a charming smile, and disappeared through the door.
Wan Xin spread her hands at Oliver. “She went to the other side too.”
A thick pressure lodged itself in Oliver’s chest. He pressed his wine glass hard against the champagne tower.
The fragile, slender glass shattered under the force of his anger, the sharp edge easily cutting into his finger.
Oliver sucked in a sharp breath at the pain. He’d made this mess himself — he didn’t even have the face to cry out.
Xie Shuyi, on the other hand, was far too curious. Her instincts told her there was juicy gossip to be had, so she followed the crowd toward Huixiang Space, completely oblivious to Wan Xin calling after her again and again.
Inside Huixiang Space.
Lin Ji’s fingertips were still suspended between Jiang Siyi’s skin and her clothing.
The curve of her knuckles and the warmth of her skin maintained a distance so slight it was almost imperceptible.
Jiang Siyi’s tipsiness had mostly faded by now. She looked completely rigid, as if Lin Ji’s presence had pinned her in place, but her mind was racing — why had Lin Ji suddenly gotten so close?
Her wide eyes didn’t dare blink.
No, wait… I was the one who leaned in first…
I was the one who whispered in her ear.
Remembering that she had been the one to initiate, her throat moved in a dry, difficult swallow.
Jiang Siyi, you’ve got some nerve.
Lin Ji was checking on the healing of her tattoo — it was professional after-sales service. Why was she acting so strangely? Why was she so flustered?
Don’t let Lin Ji notice. That would be too embarrassing.
“It’s healing well. Pretty much fully recovered.”
From behind Jiang Siyi’s side, in a direction her eyes couldn’t reach, Lin Ji wasn’t actually looking at the tattoo when she said this. She was admiring the small ear that had turned crimson because of her, and the fine beads of sweat at her temple.
“So from now on, I can get it wet directly?”
If they hadn’t been this close, Lin Ji might not have noticed the slight tremor at the end of Jiang Siyi’s voice.
She really could hold it in.
“Mm. Normal bathing and swimming are both fine.”
Not wanting to make her suffer any longer, Lin Ji’s fingertips released the collar.
As she pulled away, she made sure to adjust the folded-back collar back to its original position.
Jiang Siyi hadn’t dared to move much while Lin Ji was examining the tattoo, afraid of affecting her observation.
Now that she could move, she turned slightly and said to Lin Ji, “Thank you.”
She looked like a well-behaved student who had just received an answer from her tutor.
Lin Ji said, “No need. This is all part of Teacher Lin’s job.”
The title “Teacher Lin” sounded like a tease — a jab at Jiang Siyi for not recognizing her at the tattoo studio last time.
The redness that had been on Jiang Siyi’s ears had already migrated to her cheeks, and now it was spreading down her neck.
“Last time, it was really because—”
“Chairman Lin — Chairman Lin — oh, Xiao Jiang, you’re here too?”
Jiang Siyi was about to speak when she was interrupted by an excited male voice.
The man striding toward them was tall, with thick hair and a smooth, unwrinkled face. At first glance, he could have been forty, or maybe thirty.
His surname was Fang, his given name Yi. He was the owner of that Ming dynasty imperial green-yellow jade dragon and phoenix pendant, and also the VIP guest Jiang Siyi had specifically invited to the salon.
Jiang Siyi had wanted Lin Ji to see for herself whether Fang Yi’s pendant was her grandmother’s lost heirloom.
Beyond that, Jiang Siyi had run around collecting other similar jade pendants, hoping Lin Ji could look at several at once to save her time and energy.
Unfortunately, she had already shown Lin Ji the other pendants at the start of the salon. Lin Ji had been able to tell immediately that they weren’t her grandmother’s — there were clear differences.
The biggest possibility for today was the one in Fang Yi’s hands.
Fang Yi had a wide information network. He’d heard that Jiashibi had somehow managed to build a connection with Lin Ji, and that Lin Ji was currently collecting Ming dynasty green-yellow jade dragon and phoenix pendants — and that she herself would be appearing at today’s salon.
Fang Yi hadn’t given the pendant directly to Jiang Siyi. He’d made it clear he would bring it to the salon himself, which really just meant he wanted to meet Lin Ji face to face.
Fang Yi had arrived. Jiang Siyi was about to go receive him.
But before she could take even half a step, Lin Ji secretly tapped the back of her hand.
Jiang Siyi stopped in her tracks: ?
Lin Ji didn’t know whether Jiang Siyi’s tendency to shorten her social distance after drinking applied to other people too.
She wasn’t about to give her the chance to find out.
Not only did she not let Jiang Siyi go over, but when Fang Yi walked over with a cheerful smile, Lin Ji stepped forward, blocking half of Jiang Siyi’s body.
Seeing Lin Ji shield her behind herself, Jiang Siyi immediately understood her intention.
Besides discussing the pendant, Lin Ji and Fang Yi might also talk about business cooperation. It could involve commercial secrets, and it made sense that she wouldn’t want unrelated people to overhear.
Besides, the salon had suddenly gained a lot of new guests. Jiang Siyi decided to go help.
“Then I won’t disturb you.” Jiang Siyi left a professional smile and tactfully walked away.
Lin Ji: ?
She’d just shielded her, and she was already gone?
Fang Yi, completely oblivious to the subtle tension between the two women, launched into a grand discussion about his pendant.
Lin Ji listened with one ear while her gaze followed Jiang Siyi as she walked over to Duan Ning.
The two of them said something, and Duan Ning wrapped an arm around Jiang Siyi’s slender shoulders, whispering in her ear.
Two heads, backs turned to Lin Ji, were very close together.
Lin Ji watched them quietly for a long time, only withdrawing her gaze once they had disappeared into the staff corridor.
Duan Ning told Jiang Siyi that the number of guests had suddenly increased and they could barely keep up.
The two of them hurried to the back prep area. Jiang Siyi spoke with the hotel staff, telling them that from now on, invitations were no longer required for entry — all guests were welcome, don’t turn anyone away. Also, prepare more sofas, and if there wasn’t enough time, comfortable chairs would do.
The staff had all been instructed by their superiors that the salon’s host was a VIP guest. They had also just seen their own boss, Yan Yu, make a personal appearance. Whatever Jiang Siyi wanted, they would do their best to accommodate.
“Understood, Miss Jiang. We’ll get it ready now.”
With a pop, Jiang Siyi expertly opened a bottle of champagne. As the mist of wine spread, she asked Duan Ning:
“Where did all these people come from?”
“No idea. They just showed up all of a sudden, a big wave of them. They should all be collectors. A few look familiar — they’re Jiashibi members. I saw them staring at you and Chairman Lin the moment they walked in. They’re probably here for her.”
Seizing every opportunity, Jiang Siyi immediately pulled out her work tablet from the drawer and began registering the collectors’ information, reminding them that attending future series salons would earn them more points. Accumulating points would grant them corresponding titles, and she hinted that these titles were the entry tickets to exclusive circle salons.
This was Jiang Siyi’s job, and also a natural opportunity for promotion.
On the other side, after Lin Ji finished speaking with Fang Yi, she had Fan Qing send high-resolution photos of the pendant to their partner appraisal studio. The studio responded quickly.
Fan Qing said, “Boss, the studio’s conclusion is ‘highly similar.'”
The pendants Lin Ji had collected before had also shared similarities, and the studio had always used the word “similar.”
As long as there was a chance it was her grandmother’s heirloom, she never let it slip by. She had collected them all at home.
Now there was a “highly similar.”
The shift in wording made Lin Ji feel she had taken a step — and the right step — toward filling that regret.
Lin Ji said to Fang Yi, “I’m grateful to Miss Jiang. This piece very well might be the one I’ve been looking for. Mr. Fang, would you be willing to name a price and sell it to me directly? Any price you’re satisfied with will do.”
Fang Yi prided himself on his long-term vision. Of course, he wasn’t going to gouge Lin Ji at a time like this.
They had already discussed why Lin Ji was searching for the pendant. Fang Yi sighed. “Ah, talking about a price makes it too transactional. Chairman Lin’s filial devotion can’t be measured in money. Those who know jade treasure it. I believe that in your hands, this beautiful jade will be even more appreciated and well cared for. Of course, I’ve cherished it for many years, and it’s hard to part with! If, after you’ve taken it into your collection, you might occasionally allow me to come see it, I’ll have no other requests.”
Fang Yi’s implication was clear: he would gift the pendant to Lin Ji directly, in exchange for a future opportunity to meet with her.
Lin Ji had Fan Qing put the pendant away securely.
“Then many thanks, CEO Fang.”
Fang Yi had given away the pendant for free, but there was no sign of reluctance on his face. Instead, he was beaming, his face flushed red. In a refined tone, he said, “A gentleman should take pleasure in helping others achieve their wishes.”
Jiang Siyi was in the middle of her work when she suddenly remembered she had brought Lin Ji’s shawl with her and hadn’t returned it yet.
If she missed today, she had no idea when she’d see her again.
She went back to the break room, took a moisture-proof bag out of her bag — the shawl was neatly folded inside it.
She was only remembering this now. She had no idea if Lin Ji had already left.
Duan Ning was leaning against the break room doorway, eating ice cream and sighing happily.
“If those two bastards Oliver and Wan Xin knew that not only did our salon succeed, but we also drained all their guests, they’d be so pissed. Such a shame I can’t see it with my own eyes. We have Chairman Lin to thank for this. I think all those collectors came for her. She’s so good to you. The two of you standing together… it’s really something. If it weren’t for that person, I’d be shipping you so hard.”
What Duan Ning had originally wanted to say was, “The two of you standing together look so perfect together.”
But she knew Jiang Siyi still had a fiancée, and she didn’t like jokes of that kind, so she stopped herself in time.
Jiang Siyi understood who “that person” was. Song Ti.
There was nothing to hide. Jiang Siyi said, “I’m single now.”
Duan Ning froze. “Single? Then Song—”
“I’ve already broken off the engagement. She and I are done.”
Duan Ning sucked in a breath. She was stunned for less than a second before a delighted grin spread across her face.
“You broke it off! That’s great! Now that you’ve ditched that bad luck charm, your luck is bound to turn! When did this happen? You didn’t even tell me. You’re so good at keeping secrets.”
Jiang Siyi laughed at her reaction. “I need to go find Lin Ji-jie first. Please keep an eye on the collectors for me. Thanks for the hard work — I’ll treat you to dinner later.”
Duan Ning said, “Go, go. You can even leave with your Lin Ji-jie right now if you want. Just remember to get her that childhood-friend certificate first. And of course, I’ll fully support you if you want to get some other kind of certificate.”
Jiang Siyi: …
Jiang Siyi walked out of the break room carrying the moisture-proof bag. Xie Shuyi, who had been hiding just outside the door, her face a mask of shock, immediately ducked behind the wall.
Broken off the engagement? She really broke it off?
Xie Shuyi let out a silent wow in her heart.
And it sounded like Jiang Siyi was the one who had initiated the breakup? No wonder Song Ti had been so down lately.
Massive gossip!
Xie Shuyi excitedly pulled out her phone and immediately fired off several WeChat messages to the private group chat that didn’t include Song Ti.
…
When Jiang Siyi came out of the break room, she didn’t see Lin Ji and thought she might have already left.
Just as she was feeling a pang of disappointment, she spotted Lin Ji’s assistant, Fan Qing.
“Hello, you—”
“Miss Jiang, just call me Xiao Fan.”
Fan Qing was quite tall. Even in flat shoes, she was about the same height as Lin Ji. Her black hair was pulled back in a neat, professional bun. Her poker face bore a very distinctive mark — a diagonal scar above her right eyebrow that cut straight down across her eye. The fact that her right eye was still intact was probably a stroke of incredible luck. The fierce wound, combined with her cold expression, gave her otherwise delicate features an air of someone not to be trifled with.
Jiang Siyi wasn’t great at acting familiar with strangers. She felt that Fan Qing might not be younger than her, so “Xiao Fan” was a bit hard to say. She also found it hard to look the woman directly in the eye.
“Miss Fan, has Lin Ji-jie left yet?”
“Not yet. Boss is outside taking a call.”
In truth, during the time Jiang Siyi had been busy, Lin Ji had sat through two tedious investment strategy pitches from her advisors, turned down several dinner invitations, and patiently endured round after round of meaningless small talk.
She was clearly waiting for something.
Just now, her mother, Lin Xuebo, had called. The noise inside the venue was too loud, so she had stepped out to the quiet terrace to take it.
Jiang Siyi thanked Fan Qing and headed toward the terrace.
Realizing that Miss Jiang would likely become deeply entangled with the boss from now on, Fan Qing scanned the room and found the colleague who seemed closest to Jiang Siyi — Duan Ning.
“Hello.” Fan Qing approached Duan Ning. “I’m Fan Qing, Chairman Lin’s assistant. Would it be convenient to exchange WeChat?”
Adding Duan Ning on WeChat meant she could better keep track of Jiang Siyi’s work — and even her personal life — going forward.
Proactively solving problems for the boss was the ability and self-awareness expected of a million-yuan-a-year executive assistant.
Duan Ning, however, completely failed to grasp her train of thought. She let out a surprised and slightly flustered “Ah,” and, seeing that this woman was tall, beautiful, and cool, immediately pulled up her QR code.
After they added each other, Fan Qing politely thanked her and left. Duan Ning’s gaze followed her for a good long while.
Only after the woman had disappeared into the crowd did Duan Ning turn around, look at her own flushed face in the glass door, tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and said with a coy smile:
“Even I’m getting lucky today. This makeup really is working, huh.”
Outside Huixiang Space stretched a long cantilevered outdoor terrace, with a ceiling height of over four meters. The backdrop was the city skyline and roses in full bloom.
This was a famous J City landmark, with an incredibly open view and a quiet, vintage aesthetic.
Apricot-pink Yuzu roses filled the terrace, their rich citrus fragrance mingling with the sweetness of lychee, carried by the spring breeze into Jiang Siyi’s senses. The night wind, carrying the chill of dew, brushed gently past, making the flower branches tremble lightly.
Jiang Siyi walked through the flowers. The terrace was so large that she couldn’t find Lin Ji at first.
She saw a figure moving around a corner up ahead. Thinking it was Lin Ji, she quickened her pace — only to hear the sound of men’s leather shoes scuffing against the ground, grinding out a cigarette butt.
A man and a woman were smoking around the corner. Thick smoke rose through the flowers, carrying with it the low, furtive murmur of people gossiping about others.
“That Out-of-season Haute Couture really knows how to invest.”
Hearing those four words, Jiang Siyi stopped in her tracks.
She knew that was the code name her colleagues at the auction house had given her.
“With her limited connections and money, she’s probably bet it all on that Cross-border Money-printing Princess. Why bother listening to those third-rate investment advisors? She should just apprentice herself to the Out-of-season Haute Couture.”
Even though she didn’t want to guess, Jiang Siyi immediately understood that “Cross-border Money-printing Princess” was a veiled reference to Lin Ji.
“Do you think her auction hammer is laced with some kind of love potion? One tap and the Money-printing Princess comes running to back her up?”
“A woman whose schedule is billed by the second actually has the leisure to watch a third-rate auctioneer fiddle with secondhand jade?”
“That’s not all. She was practically glued to her side watching a tattoo.”
“Didn’t I hear she has a fiancée? The Song family one…”
“And she’s still watching her tattoo?”
The two of them clicked their tongues several times in unison.
“Even daring to use the Money-printing Princess — you have to admit the Out-of-season Haute Couture has some skills. Looks all quiet and refined, but she’s probably a real player behind closed doors.”
“Exactly. She’s using the other woman’s influence to gild herself, then jumping straight to the Calligraphy and Painting Department. Code Geek’s probably having a heart attack.”
The two of them went back and forth, their meanness delivered with perfect rhythm.
Over the years, Jiang Siyi had certainly heard plenty of open and veiled mockery. She had endured all kinds of nicknames.
But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt to hear them.
Jiang Siyi was regulating her breath, trying to think of what rebuttals to say and what expression to use when she confronted them, when someone walked out from the depths of the terrace.
The expensive teak decking, which required meticulous manual care, creaked unceremoniously under the pressure of Lin Ji’s high heels.
All the subsequent venom and ridicule from the man and woman died in their throats the moment they saw who was coming. Their pupils contracted simultaneously. Under the gaze of Lin Ji’s icy eyes, they felt as if all the air around them had been sucked away.
Lin Ji didn’t pause beside them. In fact, she quickly and sparingly withdrew her gaze, walked past them, leaving a layer of tight, crawling dread in her wake, and headed toward Jiang Siyi.
Jiang Siyi raised her eyes to look at Lin Ji. Amidst her tangled thoughts, the clearest one was — Did she hear all of that?
Lin Ji said nothing. Under the silent, awkward gaze of the two people behind her, she took Jiang Siyi’s hand. Her eyes drifted to the moisture-proof bag in Jiang Siyi’s hand, and she asked:
“Is that my shawl?”
There was nothing superfluous about it. No element of performance or declaration.
Whether those two people were there or not, Lin Ji would have asked the same question.
It was indifference. It was also the unselfconsciousness of someone who didn’t care what anyone might speculate.
Jiang Siyi’s heart tightened. Her breathing quickened.
In that moment, she didn’t want to let the malicious people win. And she didn’t want to waste Lin Ji’s protection.
“Mm. I wanted to return it to you.” Jiang Siyi forced herself to answer calmly.
It was already embarrassing enough to be caught gossiping by the person you were talking about. And now that person was acting completely at ease. The two of them exchanged a glance, said nothing, and planned to slip away without a sound.
But as they turned around, they found a tall woman standing right in front of them.
There was a terrifying scar over the woman’s eye. The two of them froze, their steps rooted to the spot.
Fan Qing handed each of them a business card.
“Mr. Huo, Ms. Sun. If either of you spreads any more uncivilized rumors like that anywhere else, the next thing you receive won’t be my business card — it’ll be a lawsuit.”
She even knows our names…
The two of them slunk away in silence, too ashamed to speak. But before they could leave, Jiang Siyi called out to them.
“I’ve already broken off my engagement with Song Ti,” Jiang Siyi said.
Lin Ji and Jiang Siyi walked toward the small garden on the other side of the terrace. Before she left, Fan Qing closed the door behind them.
The spring breeze stirred the air, and the layered petals of the Yuzu roses swirled, releasing an even richer, sweeter fragrance.
Lin Ji took the moisture-proof bag. Seeing that Jiang Siyi seemed to have something to say but was holding back, she knew what she was thinking. Not wanting the worry to keep bothering her, she spoke first:
“You don’t need to explain. This is work. I know you’re not.”
Not what those people had said — not using her.
Lin Ji’s understanding allowed Jiang Siyi to let out a deep sigh of relief. The warmth of being unconditionally trusted flooded her heart in an instant.
But she hadn’t expected there to be more.
Amidst the profusion of flowers, Lin Ji turned her gaze. Those peach-blossom eyes were still focused, as if no person or thing in the world could enter her field of vision except Jiang Siyi.
Her tone was gentle and unhurried.
“Even if it is, it’s okay.”
The author has something to say:
Lin Ji: The true fourth step of wife-luring — willingly let your wife use you. And if your wife doesn’t use you, then proactively create opportunities for her to do so.
0 Comments