Crossing the Line – Chapter 28

by Little Panda

Does the Marriage Alliance Proposal Still Count?

Just wants an obedient and hassle-free wife, that’s all.

Was she really talking about me?

Jiang Siyi stepped back instinctively, retreating into the banquet hall.

Her mind was a mess of embarrassment, subconsciously grasping for excuses.

Maybe she was on the phone with a friend, talking about a friend’s situation, and I misunderstood?

Like that Miss Yan.

“Jiang Siyi, you’re here.”

A clear female voice came from behind her. It was Yan Yu.

And in the corridor, Lin Ji was still on the phone.

Jiang Siyi stood frozen, cold all over. Yan Yu had already walked up to her, spotted the two glasses of wine in her hands, and casually took one, downing it in gulps before saying something.

All Siyi could see was those pretty, pink lips opening and closing cheerfully — whatever was said didn’t register in her ears at all.

The excuse she had just made up for Lin Ji was punctured by reality almost immediately.

Lin Ji hadn’t been on the phone with Yan Yu.

She didn’t seem to have many friends, and even fewer she could discuss private matters with.

Maybe she hadn’t been talking about someone else.

Jiang Siyi thought self-deprecatingly — then it all made sense.

Everything fell into place.

If Lin Ji wasn’t serious about marriage — if, as she had said herself, she only wanted an obedient wife — then everything that had puzzled Jiang Siyi before now had an answer.

Compared to the many other suitors, from family background to temperament, she would indeed be the most hassle-free one…

So that was it…

Was that really it?

As Jiang Siyi surfaced from her daze, she vaguely heard Yan Yu asking whether her tattoo had healed.

She had no idea what she answered — like a puppet suddenly stripped of its soul.

Yan Yu asked in a low voice, “You didn’t wish You-jie happy birthday, right?”

Jiang Siyi forced herself to focus and replied, “No. The atmosphere felt a bit off — didn’t seem like a birthday party.”

“Good. Glad you’re smart.”

Yan Yu breathed a sigh of relief and linked arms with Jiang Siyi affectionately, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“You know, You-jie has a bit of a taboo about birthdays. It’s never changed all these years. Today’s banquet was actually arranged specially by her dad, Uncle Kong, to make a big production of it — so that even if she doesn’t celebrate her birthday, You-jie can still have a good time on this special day. Of course, there are some business considerations too, just a bunch of tedious nonsense.”

Jiang Siyi asked, “Why does she have a taboo about birthdays?”

Yan Yu faltered with an “Uh.” “You don’t remember?”

Jiang Siyi looked confused. “I remember? It’s related to me?”

Yan Yu hadn’t realized Jiang Siyi had never known — clearly Lin Ji hadn’t discussed it with her either. Regretting her own loose tongue, she began to stammer.

“It’s not exactly related to you. Not related to you in that kind of way.”

“What kind of way?”

Unexpectedly persistent, Jiang Siyi pressed on, so Yan Yu could only say, “This matter is You-jie’s private business. It’s a painful part of the past that’s hard for anyone to talk about. Better to let her tell you herself.”

Jiang Siyi was never curious about other people’s private matters, but this one seemed inextricably linked to her.

Had she had some connection with Lin Ji before?

In her memory, from childhood to now, the only close encounter had been that time Lin Ji carried her home on her back.

Beyond that, it was like the rainy night at the gas station when Lin Ji draped a coat over her — they hadn’t exchanged more than a few words.

What else had she forgotten, or never even known?

Yan Yu couldn’t very well say more. Just then, Huang Qingzheng finished her call with CEO Gu and walked back, spotting Yan Yu.

“Xiao Yu, you’re here too.”

Huang Qingzheng had been Yan Yu’s first painting teacher. At the sight of Teacher Huang’s stern, unsmiling face, nightmares from her years of studying painting came flooding back, and Yan Yu instinctively snapped to attention.

The two exchanged small talk. From behind and to the side, someone else approached and called Jiang Siyi’s name.

Jiang Siyi turned. The moment she saw who it was, her gaze froze.

In the corridor.

Lin Ji paced as Cen Lu on the other end of the line continued talking about the marriage prospect her family had arranged.

Lin Ji didn’t have many close friends. Aside from Yan Yu, Cen Lu was the one she knew best. Cen Lu had run into trouble in northern Myanmar a while back — nearly lost her life. Since returning to China, she’d been in a persistent funk.

Now she wanted to discuss the arranged marriage with Lin Ji. It wouldn’t be right to leave her hanging, so Lin Ji had picked up.

Lin Ji knew Cen Lu’s suitor — they’d collaborated during an overseas IPO. The man was capable but far too profit-driven. He had scammed multiple romantic partners and was cunning enough to leave no evidence behind. Emotionally fickle, a standout among playboys — obviously not someone to settle down with.

What he clearly wanted was just an obedient wife — a chip for commercial gain, a tool to be manipulated to handle his family.

After hearing Lin Ji’s description, Cen Lu fell silent on the other end for a few seconds, then said:

【You’re right. I can’t agree to this marriage. Even without a foundation of love, I need to find a normal person, or the consequences will be endless.】

Lin Ji agreed with a few words, then asked, 【Still can’t sleep?】

【Yeah.】

【What happened to you in northern Myanmar?】

【Hard to explain. I’ll find time to tell you and Yan Yu later. I don’t really want to talk about it right now.】

【Mm. Go at your own pace. I can recommend my doctor to you.】

【Thanks. I do need one.】

Both were the type who spoke little and disliked small talk. Every time the three friends got together, it was the two of them listening while Yan Yu talked nonstop.

With the business discussed, they were about to hang up. Before hanging up, Cen Lu hesitated a moment, then said to Lin Ji:

【Is the banquet interesting tonight?】

Lin Ji knew what Cen Lu wanted to say, but she didn’t need the four words “happy birthday.” Her friend understood, and didn’t say them directly.

She glanced back at Jiang Siyi in the crowd and gave a soft “Mm.”

【Good. I’ll treat you and Yan Yu to dinner sometime.】

After hanging up, Lin Ji returned to the banquet hall — and in that brief moment, Jiang Siyi was nowhere to be seen.

Lin Ji asked Yan Yu, “Where is she?”

Yan Yu was being scolded by Huang Qingzheng for not doing proper work, her head buzzing. Only when Lin Ji asked did she realize Jiang Siyi was no longer beside her.

“She was just here. Maybe she got thirsty and went to get a drink?”

Jiang Siyi’s head flashed through the crowd. Lin Ji followed.

Kong Yuchen and his older brother Kong Yuming were searching everywhere for Lin Ji and spotted her just in time. Before Kong Yuchen could speak, his older brother called out, “Kong Ji!”

People nearby who didn’t understand asked their companions in confusion, “Kong Ji?”

The person being asked gave a soft cough, their voice as quiet as could be. “That was Lin Ji’s old name.”

Lin Ji didn’t look back. Her pace didn’t even slow, and she soon disappeared from their view.

Kong Yuming snorted and said in displeasure, “Not coming to greet us is one thing, but she can’t even be called back. The older she gets, the less she knows about propriety.”

Kong Yuchen could only smooth things over. “Maybe she’s not sensitive to that name. She didn’t hear.”

“Not sensitive? That’s her original name. It was written on her household registration. How could she not be sensitive to it?”

Kong Yuming thrust one hand into his pocket. When he spun toward Kong Yuchen, the wine in his glass nearly sloshed out. “What happened back then was an accident. Nobody wants their own daughter to go missing. The child was found, wasn’t she? But Lin Xuebo sure knows how to press an advantage — blamed it on you, insisted on changing the daughter’s surname to hers. Where in the world is there such a principle!”

Kong Yuchen said coldly, “Don’t talk about Xiaoyou going missing in public. Xuebo doesn’t want anyone to bring it up.”

Kong Yuming gave a cold snort but didn’t continue.

Many years had passed, but whenever Kong Yuming thought about it, he remained deeply resentful. Especially watching Lin Ji’s achievements grow ever higher, only for her to become a member of the Lin family — they couldn’t even invite her back to the Kong house for a meal without deference to Lin Xuebo’s mood. It was absurd and ridiculous.

Kong Yuming jabbed a finger at his brother’s chest. “Spoiling Lin Xuebo like this will only embolden her to take more. Look at today — such an important banquet, and she simply doesn’t come. People who don’t know better would think you don’t have a wife!”

Faced with his brother’s attacks, Kong Yuchen said nothing. All these years, his older brother had been going around and around about this matter like a broken record, with no regard for the fact that it was the family’s deepest wound — deliberately calling out Lin Ji’s former name in any setting. Of course Lin Xuebo didn’t want to come.

Kong Yuming was about to say more, but Kong Yuchen greeted a couple ahead and quickly walked away from his side.

In a corner of the banquet hall, Jiang Siyi stood face to face with a woman.

The woman before her was in her early forties, with upward-slanting eyes and long hair dyed a striking champagne gold. Her sexy backless gown was thoroughly attention-grabbing.

This was Song Ti’s aunt, Song Hui. Song Hui was a famous curator in the West 5th District. Jiang Siling’s overseas career had benefited greatly from her patronage. That was also the reason Jiang Siyi had been unable to bring herself to break the engagement at first.

“Jiang Siyi, I heard you broke off your engagement with Stella. Is that true?” Song Hui asked very directly.

Jiang Siyi answered just as directly: “Yes.”

Song Hui nodded. “As someone who fed your sister plenty of resources, I need to know the reason. As far as I know, Stella was very good to you — picking you up, dropping you off, always respecting your opinions. She told her family that whenever you were ready, she could prepare the wedding at any time. You’ve been engaged for three years — that’s not a short time. If you didn’t want to get married, why didn’t you say so earlier? Did you have ulterior motives?”

Facing Song Hui’s interrogation, Jiang Siyi understood how early Song Ti had started laying traps. Song Ti had always played the role of a thoughtful and attentive fiancée in front of family and friends — so that after the engagement was broken, no one could find fault with her, and instead they would pick apart Jiang Siyi.

In the past, facing this level of truth-twisting, Jiang Siyi would have been angry, agitated. But after the previous confrontations and the crucible of the major auction, her mental fortitude had improved considerably.

Jiang Siyi rebutted calmly, “You know full well that I was the weaker party in that marriage arrangement. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here accusing me without knowing the reason.”

Song Hui raised her chin slightly, hit where it hurt, and fell silent for the moment.

“Having the weaker party solely decide on a major life event — that’s either a trap or an abdication of responsibility. If anyone has ulterior motives, it’s Song Ti herself. She’s had a lover in London for a long time, and she’s been using every kind of cold violence to force me into being the one to initiate the breakup. What she wanted to achieve is exactly this: instead of blaming the one who cheated, you come questioning me about why I didn’t desperately push someone who never intended to marry to set a wedding date sooner.”

Song Hui asked skeptically, “Stella has a lover in London?”

“Golden brown curly hair, heavy makeup, a woman about 1.7 meters tall.”

Song Hui’s expression shifted slightly. Clearly, someone she knew matched Jiang Siyi’s description.

Jiang Siyi knew Song Hui had figured it out and didn’t want to say more. Just as she was about to leave it at that, Song Hui said, “Whatever the reason for your broken engagement, you’re now a complete outsider — which means your sister’s career is no longer any of my business.”

Jiang Siyi said, “An agency has already recognized her talent.”

Song Hui sneered. “Without my years of cultivation and marketing, would NEXT have even noticed her? If I hadn’t curated and championed her, let alone holding exhibitions — to this day she might not even be able to feed herself. Sleeping on the streets would be her lot. You’re not one of us Songs. Taking back what I’ve invested is only right.”

The words “take back” made Jiang Siyi’s chest tighten.

“What are you going to do?”

Song Hui said, “Nothing much. I just had a word with NEXT. If NEXT would turn against me over some obscure little painter, then I’ve wasted all these years building my career overseas.”

She said it very bluntly, almost through gritted teeth. Anyone could hear the implication.

Last time she’d spoken to her sister, she’d told Siling to show her the NEXT contract so a lawyer could review it. For so many days, her sister had never contacted her about the contract. She’d had her own slew of changes at work and in life, and hadn’t gotten around to asking.

Song Hui had probably already blocked her sister’s collaboration with NEXT, severing her path upward.

Jiang Siyi clenched her fists, knuckles white.

“You know perfectly well who’s the one in the wrong.”

Song Hui shrugged indifferently. “So what? Stella is my niece. What are you and your sister?”

…

Hearing Song Hui’s retreating footsteps, Lin Ji — separated by a single wall — didn’t come out immediately. She listened carefully to Jiang Siyi’s movements.

No rapid breathing. No unsteady footsteps. No talking. No crying.

After about a minute of silence, Jiang Siyi took out her phone and dialed a video call to Jiang Siling.

【Siyi…】

In the video, Jiang Siling was forcing herself to look cheerful, wearing her usual smile — the one that kept her little sister from worrying.

Jiang Siyi asked directly: 【NEXT still hasn’t given you the contract, have they?】

Jiang Siling startled. 【You already know.】

【Mm. I just ran into Song Hui.】

Jiang Siling sighed and told her the truth. She’d suspected before that NEXT’s failure to produce a contract might mean something had gone wrong. Not wanting to keep waiting in anxiety, she’d taken the initiative to call her agent Jules. It took two days to get through.

Jules was still calling her “dear” every other word. When Jiang Siling asked about the contract, he expressed with great regret that the company had other considerations and wasn’t signing new painters for the time being.

Her uneasy premonition had come true. Jiang Siling knew Jules was making excuses. Before hanging up, Jules encouraged her, saying that with her talent, she would succeed even without signing with NEXT.

Jiang Siling exchanged a few polite pleasantries and ended the call. She’d been thinking about her next steps and how to break the news to her sister — when her sister called first.

【So it really was Song Hui who went to NEXT and ruined this.】

Exactly as Jiang Siling had guessed.

Jiang Siyi said: 【Has any other agency approached you?】

Jiang Siling shook her head.

【How much money do you have left? How long is your lease?】

Jiang Siling didn’t answer for a moment, and Jiang Siyi knew the answer.

【If things don’t work out, come back to China first. Stay with me. When a better opportunity comes along, you can go back out.】

Jiang Siling hung her head, a low sound of frustration rising from deep in her throat.

【Baby, I want to try a little longer. Give me a bit more time…】

Jiang Siyi blinked her bright eyes, trying to clear the blur from her vision.

【I’m just suggesting. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Okay — do it your way. If you run into any trouble, tell me. Remember you have me.】

【Okay…】

After ending the video call, Jiang Siyi held her phone, her gaze passing through the glass window before her to the distant sunset quietly covering the entire city.

The products of modern civilization — bright, clean surfaces that hid dirt and rot underneath.

Lin Ji’s figure was reflected in the glass.

She didn’t know when Lin Ji had arrived, or whether she’d heard the conversation with her sister. But that didn’t matter. Pierced through with disappointment, Jiang Siyi couldn’t be bothered to think further.

“Lin Ji-jie.”

Jiang Siyi didn’t turn around. She stared straight at the phantom Lin Ji in the glass and said, “Does the marriage alliance proposal still count?”

Whether Lin Ji wanted to use her to suppress someone, or just wanted an obedient and hassle-free wife, an ornamental piece to her liking — either way, she could manage it.

She needed Lin Ji too.

Each taking what they needed. Fine.

Lin Ji’s eyes shifted slightly, but she wasn’t surprised.

“Mm.”

One simple syllable. It was settled.

Something tangled in Jiang Siyi’s chest was suddenly punctured, utterly without warning. The process was nothing like she’d imagined, yet there was a reckless, nothing-to-lose kind of relief to it.

Jiang Siyi finally turned. Her smile was so intense it made Lin Ji feel she was looking at a stranger.

“So — when do we register? Just let me know in advance.”

Lin Ji didn’t know why Jiang Siyi had suddenly grown distant, but the matter she’d been unable to get a reply on was finally answered. It must have something to do with her sister’s situation. Her sense of morality had been too strong, constraining her, making her hesitate and suffer.

A Jiang Siyi willing to cast aside worldly conventions and use her — that probably wouldn’t happen a second time.

Lin Ji: “Today.”

Jiang Siyi thought she’d misheard and let out a questioning “Mm?”

Lin Ji checked the time on her phone, confirming the marriage registry office hadn’t closed yet.

She said again: “Just today.”

The author has something to say:

Lin Ji: When you receive your wife’s invitation, you must agree in one second 2.0.

Wife-luring (1/1). Next step: wife-pampering plan.