Crossing the Line – Chapter 21
by Little PandaJiejie Jiejie Jiejie Jiejie…
That night in the north of J City, Jiang Siyi had a particularly hard time falling asleep.
In the western villa, Fan Qing tiptoed out to the courtyard to take Lin Xuebo’s call.
【BOSS is asleep.】 Fan Qing said.
【Asleep?】
On the other end of the line, Lin Xuebo thought for a moment. She hadn’t been pestering her daughter about blind dates lately, nor had she bothered her about work. There shouldn’t be any reason for her to avoid talking.
【Really asleep? It’s not even one yet.】
Lin Ji’s earliest bedtime used to be two in the morning. All-night insomnia was par for the course.
Falling asleep at this hour—no wonder Lin Xuebo thought her daughter simply didn’t want to talk to her.
【She went to Miss Jiang’s place, took a shower when she got back, and fell asleep.】
【Which Miss Jiang?】
【Jiang Siyi.】
Lin Xuebo was silent for a few seconds, then gave a quiet 【Mm】 to indicate she understood.
Several seconds after hanging up, the phone was still in her hand, her eyes unfocused.
Her husband Kong Yuchen ambled over from the master’s bedroom on the other side of the corridor. Standing at the ajar door of the mistress’s bedroom, he waited until Lin Xuebo hung up before asking:
“Jiang Siyi—is that the girl? Stella’s fiancée?”
Lin Xuebo didn’t answer.
She already knew that Jiang Siyi had broken off her engagement with Song Ti. For the moment, she didn’t want to say more to Kong Yuchen.
Kong Yuchen said with some emotion, “Xiaoyou still ended up getting close to her.”
Lin Xuebo said expressionlessly, “Isn’t that only natural?”
“Mm, it is…”
Kong Yuchen walked slowly with his hands clasped behind his back. He didn’t enter, and he didn’t leave.
He was only a year older than Lin Xuebo. While she still maintained the grace of a middle-aged woman, frost had already gathered at his temples. Faint traces of his once-strong physique still remained, and the muscles of his face had begun an unstoppable downward slide.
“Is something the matter?”
Lin Xuebo set her phone on the table.
Kong Yuchen: “The Ruihua Bank banquet is coming up soon. I don’t know if Xiaoyou has the time.”
Ruihua Bank was a bank controlled by the Kong family. Its annual spring banquet was the largest cross-industry social event in J City.
The banquet ran from noon until evening.
From bankers to merchants, from master artists to socialites, anyone with a name in the capital markets would vie for a spot at this event.
This year’s banquet was somewhat special.
Kong Yuchen had deliberately scheduled it on Lin Ji’s birthday.
Before going abroad, Lin Ji had never celebrated her birthday. During her years overseas, she had thrown herself into work, with no birthday arrangements at all.
Now that she was back, Kong Yuchen could see she still had no intention of celebrating.
He carried deep guilt over what had happened back then. His wife had separated from him for so many years, and even their daughter’s surname had been changed to her mother’s.
He knew the wrongs he had committed were hard to undo. He could only try his best to make amends.
Lin Xuebo desperately wanted Lin Ji to step out from the shadow of her birthday, while Kong Yuchen planned to take a different approach.
Even if their daughter didn’t want to celebrate her birthday, there were other ways to make her happy.
By scheduling this grand banquet on her birthday, luminaries from far and wide would gather around her as the center of attention. He had also prepared some gifts and surprises to celebrate the return of Huanwei’s headquarters.
He only hoped his daughter could find more joy on the day she was born, and perhaps forget that terrible disaster from years ago sooner.
At the same time, of course, there were also business considerations and other purposes.
Since last month, people had been making indirect inquiries at various occasions, asking Kong Yuchen whether his daughter Lin Ji would attend.
Kong Yuchen certainly wanted the guest of honor to appear, but he’d heard her sleep had been poor lately, and with so much to do after returning to the country, he hadn’t dared disturb her.
With the banquet approaching, Kong Yuchen at the very least needed his wife’s consent first.
After all, when it came to matters concerning their daughter, he had always trodden carefully, deferring to Lin Xuebo’s wishes.
Lin Xuebo rubbed hand cream into her hands, her gaze falling on her own gradually wrinkling hands.
“If she’s willing to go, I won’t stop her.”
That was an indirect yes. Kong Yuchen finally smiled.
“Will you come too?”
Lin Xuebo finally looked at him, her gaze sharp.
“I won’t be going. I don’t want to hear your brother still calling Xiaoyou by her original name.”
Kong Yuchen choked back a response, said nothing more, and went downstairs to personally bring up a cup of his wife’s favorite apple rum mulled wine.
Behind the closed door, Lin Xuebo didn’t drink either. She simply held the cup, letting the warmth of the glass slowly thaw her cold fingers.
In the north of J City, Jiashibi Auction House was holding a daily auction for the Gold, Stone, and Jade Department.
The Spring Auction and the frequent daily auctions of late had honed Jiang Siyi’s skills noticeably. She was no longer nervous while waiting to go on—she could even scroll through her phone and adjust her mood.
After handling a few collectors’ messages, she idly scrolled through her Moments feed.
Scrolling down, she came across Manager Wu’s post from yesterday—a photo of Duan Ning hosting her first auction.
Duan Ning stood at the podium like a soldier heading to the front lines, her whole body so tense she looked ready to face death.
Duan Ning herself wailed in the comments: 【Seriously, Boss Wu, don’t we have any better photos! And you used the native camera! Who uses the native camera to take pictures of a colleague?】
The entire department came over to gloat. Duan Ning replied to each and every one of them, cursing up a storm.
Jiang Siyi smiled and liked the post.
Scrolling further down, she saw a photo taken through a curtain, looking outside.
Sunlight filled the entire frame. Beyond the gap in the curtains, there was the tender green of early spring, dotted with hints of color.
The caption was simple too, just two words:
【Slept well.】
The composition, the caption—a real Y2K vibe, so old-school.
Such a plain Moments post, yet it had several pages of likes, many times more than the one mocking Duan Ning.
Who was this?
It wasn’t until she saw the avatar that Jiang Siyi drew a sharp breath.
It was actually Lin Ji…
She who hadn’t posted to Moments in a thousand years had come to dust off her feed.
No wonder the likes were so insanely numerous.
“Slept well” meant… that awful-tasting calming tea had actually worked on Lin Ji?
It seemed Lin Ji wasn’t just talented in business—her taste buds were a gift of nature.
Still, the thought that Lin Ji had slept well after drinking the calming tea she’d made filled her with happiness.
Those second-generation heirs who hadn’t exchanged a single word with Jiang Siyi in ages had collectively descended on Lin Ji’s post for a team-building exercise.
【I see the light now—the highest state of living isn’t minimalism, but making every day as poetic and picturesque as Jiejie does here.】
【I thought this was a Japanese magazine cover. So gorgeous—Jiejie really knows how to take a photo!】
【That Japanese andromeda by the window is so beautiful. Mine just won’t grow with that kind of ethereal grace [facepalm]… Did Jiejie move into a new place? Can we have a housewarming party with a live tutorial?】
【What flowers are planted in the yard, Jiejie? Even just a glimpse looks so lovely [cute][cute]】
Jiejie jiejie jiejie jiejie…
Jiang Siyi was nearly drowned by the word “Jiejie.”
Seeing this relentless, surging spectacle, she belatedly recalled something she’d known all along—
Lin Ji was extremely popular.
Well… with looks and abilities like hers, it would be strange if she weren’t popular. No one was blind.
Jiang Siyi had even seen her receive love letters.
She couldn’t quite name the feeling. Jiang Siyi, who almost never left comments on anyone’s posts, hesitantly tapped open the comment box.
With so many comments, one little comment from her wouldn’t be noticed, right?
Like a lone figure slipping into a crowded carnival square—surely inconspicuous, easily buried among mountains and valleys of rainbow farts1, right?
Jiang Siyi thought it over and furtively posted two fireworks emoji.
Across the city, Lin Ji had just finished a meeting.
A good night’s sleep was essential—it swept away the fatigue and low pressure of insomnia.
The long meeting hadn’t worn her down. She was in good spirits, even greeting passing shareholders with a rare, faint smile that left them startled.
“Chairman Ji looks like she’s in a great mood.”
“Of course she is. Last month’s performance was stellar, leading the entire industry. No acclimatization issues at all after moving back—who wouldn’t be happy?”
“Didn’t you notice something different about Chairman Ji today?”
The other person said nothing, raising an eyebrow as they waited for the answer.
“Chairman Ji’s hair clip style is noticeably different today. From what I’ve observed, she never likes accessories. Watches, earrings, necklaces—she doesn’t wear any of them. When she ties her hair back, she uses the plainest black hair ties. But look at today—not only is she using a hair clip, it’s a pink one. That means her mood lately is quite extraordinary. I’d say Chairman Ji’s smile isn’t just about business success. I’d guess something good is on the horizon.”
…
Lin Ji returned to her office for a short rest.
Fan Qing knocked and came in to say that Mr. Kong had arrived.
It was clearly about the upcoming Ruihua Bank banquet. Lin Ji hadn’t expected him to come to the company in person.
Lin Ji: “Tell him I still have a meeting. I’ll attend the banquet.”
Fan Qing: “Understood.”
With a definitive answer that Lin Ji would attend, Kong Yuchen left satisfied even without seeing his daughter himself.
When Kong Yuchen got back into his car, he received a voice message.
【Will Xiaoyou be coming?】
The voice on the other end was a middle-aged woman’s, with unmistakable eagerness.
Kong Yuchen replied: 【Yes. Prepare well on your end, and remember what I told you—don’t overstep. Otherwise, there won’t be a next time.】
The voice message that came back began with a couple of laughs, then:
【Don’t worry—you know how I do things.】
…
Back in the office, a business partner had sent Lin Ji some industry gossip over WeChat.
After reading the news, she noticed her Moments post had drawn several hundred likes and comments.
Cutting through the clutter, she knew the person she was waiting for rarely engaged on Moments, hardly ever leaving comments for anyone.
So she didn’t expect much when searching for that little dog avatar.
Unexpectedly, she found it.
Perhaps because she had just met Xueqiu and patted his head, Lin Ji easily picked out the tongue-lolling little Bichon from among the flashy avatars.
Jiang Siyi had left her a comment.
Not much content—just two emoji.
She exited Moments, opened her pinned chat with Siyi, and Lin Ji paced by the window with her phone. One lap, turned back, another lap.
When Fan Qing brought in her coffee, she was still pacing.
When Fan Qing returned a while later with documents, she was still pacing.
What was so hard to decide?
Fan Qing didn’t dare ask. She set down the items and closed the door.
Typing and deleting, in the end Lin Ji sent Jiang Siyi the first, short version of her message.
By the time Jiang Siyi received Lin Ji’s WeChat, she had just finished hosting an auction. During the intermission, she’d gone to the break room for some water.
Buzz—
For work purposes, she had hundreds of WeChat messages every day.
By comparison, her relationship with Lin Ji still carried a lot of unfamiliarity; they hardly ever communicated through WeChat.
But for some reason, in that moment, she had a feeling this message might be from Lin Ji.
She opened it and, as if by some unspoken connection, it really was her.
Lin Ji’s message was, as always, very simple—just two words.
,:【Very effective.】
So Jiang Siyi had been right. Lin Ji had slept well because of the calming tea she’d made.
Lin Ji had gone out of her way to tell her—it was her doing.
I didn’t leave a comment to take credit, you know.
That was what she thought, but the corners of her mouth kept rising.
An intern came to remind her: “Teacher Jiang, you should get ready. Five minutes.”
Jiang Siyi struggled to press down her unruly smile, acknowledged the reminder, and quickly replied to Lin Ji.
【That’s wonderful. I’ll share the calming tea recipe with you later.】
She was about to exit WeChat when she noticed a friend request.
The request had come in last night.
Last night, when Lin Ji was at her apartment, all her attention had been on Lin Ji. Then she’d had a terrible bout of insomnia herself and completely missed the notification.
Jiang Siyi frequently had to add all sorts of contacts. Collectors themselves, collectors’ assistants, agents, agents’ assistants…
Not to mention various peers, media, regulators, and coordinators for events big and small—too many to count.
Often she’d approve friend requests without even looking at them.
But this account was a bit odd.
The avatar was a blue sky with a string of glaringly colorful balloons.
The verification note contained only two characters: “Xiao Jiang,” like a greeting.
The avatar was ordinary, serene, generic.
It felt like it was hiding something.
Jiang Siyi thought about it. She’d already added everyone she had recent work dealings with. There were many, but she could still account for every one of them—no gaps.
A request from out of nowhere was strange.
Jiang Siyi rejected the friend request.
If it was truly urgent, they’d contact her again.
Jiashibi was right here, and so was she. They’d find her.
After ignoring the strange friend request, Jiang Siyi was on her way back to the main podium when she received a WeChat from the watch store clerk.
【Miss Jiang, the watch you reserved has arrived. You may come to the store to pick it up.】
Jiang Siyi replied: 【Great. I’ll come by around eight tonight.】
Wonderful—it had arrived in time for Lin Ji’s birthday.
She put her phone away, adjusted her mood, focused her attention, and took the stage to continue hosting the next auction.
From last night until today, Song Ti had opened her alternate WeChat account countless times, just waiting for Jiang Siyi to accept.
She knew Jiang Siyi—her work required adding people on WeChat constantly. She’d very likely just accept a new friend request without a second thought.
Even if the account didn’t match any of her work contacts, it could mention her surname. Maybe she’d think it was some secret admirer who’d gotten her contact info from someone else.
After all, she’d broken off her engagement—she was probably eager for a new romance.
With all these factors in place, Song Ti couldn’t think of any reason Jiang Siyi would refuse.
She’d waited all night. No acceptance.
Now, with dark circles forming under her eyes, she consoled herself that Jiang Siyi, that workaholic, must have worked late again and been too exhausted to check.
But from last night until now, still no response—that was too much to explain away.
Someone was singing jazz at the daytime bar.
As Song Ti sat with her lower face covered, deep in thought, she sensed someone approaching from behind.
She locked the screen immediately.
Until now, she hadn’t told anyone that her relationship with Jiang Siyi was in crisis.
Some people had their suspicions because Jiang Siyi hadn’t been around lately, but as long as Song Ti said nothing, no one would imagine Jiang Siyi had the nerve to break off their engagement.
The moment the screen went dark, two young women sat down together on the sofa across from her.
Both were regulars in her circle—daughters of wealthy families.
One surnamed Xu, one surnamed Lin.
Miss Xu held a vibrantly colored Cosmopolitan; Miss Lin’s silver cup held a mint julep.
Though their tastes differed greatly, the looks they directed at Song Ti were identical in their sympathy.
Clear sympathy.
“Baby, how did you get so thin?”
“One piece of out-of-season haute couture and you’re this upset? Oh, my silly Stella. If she wants to break off the engagement, let her. We’ll see who ends up regretting it.”
“I really don’t get it. What could she possibly be unsatisfied about? All that devotion of yours, wasted on her.”
“Your single period is the perfect time to go to St. Barts for some sun. Just say the word—our family yacht is on standby.”
The two heiresses chimed in, one after another, comforting Song Ti as they saw fit.
The woman before them wasn’t soothed in the slightest. Her eyes turned practically razor-sharp.
“Who told you she broke off the engagement?”
Song Ti looked ready to devour someone. Miss Xu and Miss Lin exchanged a covert glance, neither daring to speak further.
Seated at the bar, Xie Shuyi covertly nudged Zhou Yanlin. He came over and placed a drink in front of Song Ti.
“The whole circle knows, Stella. You really are the last to know.”
Song Ti: “Who said so?”
Zhou Yanlin sat down on the other side, crossing his long legs.
“Who else? If the Jiang girl wasn’t spreading it everywhere, how would you even be upset?”
Song Ti’s eyes darkened, her jaw clenching hard.
Zhou Yanlin continued: “If you ask me, Stella, there’s really no point in being angry. You’re here fuming, and she’s over there happily buying gifts for someone, without a care in the world. If you make yourself sick, just imagine how she’ll laugh.”
Song Ti caught the key point. Her previously clouded gaze instantly focused on Zhou Yanlin.
“She’s buying gifts for someone? For who?”
The author has something to say:
Lin Ji: Wife-luring step nine—post more on social media, so the wife will come leave a comment.
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