Crossing the Line – Chapter 32
by Little PandaThe Palm of Her Hand Was Facing Upwards
At 5:59 a.m., Jiang Siyi propped up her inexplicably weak body and made her way into the bathroom.
Xueqiu had no idea why Jiang Siyi was up so early. Blinking groggy eyes, he wobbled after her, keeping her company. After watching his owner sit dazedly on the toilet, he couldn’t hold on any longer and flopped down by the doorway to continue sleeping.
Her heart wouldn’t stop racing, the hot flush wouldn’t fade, and the corners of her eyes were red. The sensation of touch from the dream still imprinted on her body.
Jiang Siyi had never experienced anything like this before.
The feeling of Lin Ji’s slender hand supporting and gripping her thigh — vivid as if it had truly happened.
She rose weakly, braced herself against the sink, and stared at the disheveled woman in the mirror, asking herself:
She just wants a compliant, low-maintenance wife. What are you doing?
Haven’t you learned your lesson from before?
Jiang Siyi closed her eyes and told herself not to overthink it. This was just an arranged marriage.
After having that kind of dream, meeting the protagonist of it the next day made it hard not to let one’s thoughts run wild.
The woman across the table had used a claw clip to pin back the longer hair that kept falling on both sides, dark tresses cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall. Her features were like brushwork — the ink-wash quality of her brows and eyes made her skin appear even more fair.
The wedding ring on her slender fingers was conspicuous. She held a silver knife and fork, effortlessly slicing into a soft Dutch baby pancake.
The palm of this very hand, in last night’s dream, had been facing upwards.
Fingers spread, reaching out — those long, slim fingers seemed capable of grasping anything they wished to hold, releasing all kinds of joy.
…
“Thank you for treating me to breakfast.”
Lin Ji finished eating and set down her knife and fork.
Jiang Siyi’s resolve wavered; she snapped out of her reverie.
“Don’t mention it. Returning the favor.”
Noticing that Jiang Siyi had been watching her just now, Lin Ji thought for a moment and said, “Could I keep borrowing the hair clip for a while longer? It works really well.”
Today she was still wearing the claw clip she had taken from Jiang Siyi’s home that day. She had never returned it, and she wanted to hang onto it a while longer.
Guilt made Jiang Siyi busy herself once again. She took a sip of her drink before saying, “Sure, go ahead and use it. I have plenty more.”
The phone in her bag was vibrating.
Lin Ji said, “I need to take a call.”
“Mm-hm.”
Lin Ji didn’t leave. She sat right across from Jiang Siyi and took the work call.
Her voice was low and unhurried, with a distinctive texture.
As though the sky could collapse before her eyes and her expression wouldn’t shift or show the least urgency.
That cool detachment — like clear wind and a cold moon — how could desire ever cling to someone like that?
It was hard to imagine those cold, firmly closed lips ever parting to meet someone else’s.
Jiang Siyi withdrew her overly direct gaze and went to settle the bill.
Over the next few days, the two shared several meals together.
They also looked at several custom wedding ring options. Lin Ji let Jiang Siyi decide which pair to wear at the wedding.
In the ultra-luxury jewelry boutique, the classical and opulent wedding rings dazzled Jiang Siyi. She asked Lin Ji, “Will there be a wedding banquet too?”
“You don’t want one?”
“It’s not that…”
Their previous conversation about the marriage had been left unfinished. Lin Ji needed to align timelines with Jiang Siyi and understand her thoughts.
“Would autumn work? October — the weather is nice, and your auction house’s autumn sale is at the end of November, so the timing won’t overlap.”
October was Jiang Siyi’s favorite month, and it would indeed avoid the autumn auction.
It was just… faster than she had expected.
It was already nearly August.
Lin Ji probably had her own timeline for publicly announcing the marriage.
Jiang Siyi said, “Okay.”
Lin Ji continued presenting her with several wedding plans.
From Chinese-style to Western-style, destination weddings to various themed weddings — all printed into a booklet for Jiang Siyi to choose from.
Jiang Siyi was stunned. “So many.”
“I didn’t know which style you’d prefer, so I included every option.”
A thick, full-color coated-paper volume — this wedding plan was more meticulously crafted than a business proposal.
Jiang Siyi thought to herself that Lin Ji was truly gracious, showing such respect even to a spouse from an arranged marriage.
Lin Ji said, “No rush to decide. There’s still plenty of time. Take your time looking.”
“Mm-hm.”
Jiang Siyi carried the thick wedding planning booklet home and read through it all evening.
To her dismay, she found herself drawn to every single option. It was impossibly hard to choose.
She eliminated a few themed weddings that required too much effort. Lin Ji was so busy — would a destination wedding be too much of a waste of time?
Perhaps a fusion of Chinese and Western styles would be best.
Lin Ji was putting so much thought into the wedding; Jiang Siyi couldn’t drag her down.
The rest day was approaching — the day she had agreed to go home with Lin Ji to meet the parents. She needed to perform well.
At the very least, she had to fulfill her role as an arranged-marriage partner.
She had met Lin Ji’s mother Lin Xuebo and father Kong Yuchen a few times before.
They hadn’t had deep conversations, but they were by no means strangers.
She had even called Lin Xuebo “Eldest Aunt” following Song Ti’s lead.
This time, meeting them with a changed identity felt somewhat sensitive.
Jiang Siyi couldn’t help being nervous.
She opened a video streaming app, clicked into the “Romance” category under movies, and pulled up a few books.
She intended to study hard and learn how to play the role of a proper wife.
After that, for a period of time, Jiang Siyi was assigned to train at headquarters. She was surrounded by unfamiliar corporate colleagues, and though she wore her wedding ring, no one asked about it.
In the blink of an eye, the day to meet the parents arrived.
Early that morning, Jiang Siyi sent Lin Ji several photos of outfits, asking what would be appropriate to wear.
Lin Ji replied quickly.
【Don’t be too formal. It’s just a simple meal.】
Jiang Siyi looked at the text and sighed.
She understood the reasoning, but how could she dress casually for her first time meeting the parents?
Sanzhuang Tusi: 【Then eeny, meeny, miny, moe — whichever you land on, I’ll wear.】
Lin Ji saw that she had actually picked up her way of speaking, and her eyes curved slightly.
She reconsidered the four photos and chose the most comfortable option: a suit T-shirt paired with a short skirt.
Sanzhuang Tusi: 【Are you sure? Won’t it be too casual?】
Compared to the other outfits, this one was actually the most comfortable to wear.
It just didn’t feel formal enough.
,: 【It won’t.】
Just two very certain words, with no further explanation — that was Lin Ji’s concise style.
Jiang Siyi thought it over and decided that Lin Ji would know her own family best. She would go with what she said.
Lin Ji’s car pulled up on time outside Jiang Siyi’s building.
When Jiang Siyi came out, a flash of long, fair legs caught Lin Ji’s downward gaze — a remarkably eye-catching proportion.
She was 165 centimeters tall — not particularly tall, but her proportions were excellent.
In a qipao she carried a classical elegance; in modern fashion she was a striking, luminous beauty.
As she walked over, she drew more than a few sideways glances.
Fan Qing, back behind the wheel, kept her eyes straight ahead. Lin Ji, however, stole glances the entire way.
The car carried the two of them to the suburban villa.
When they got out, Lin Ji opened the trunk and took out two gifts.
“You carry one, I’ll carry one.”
These were greeting gifts for her parents.
Jiang Siyi’s heart sank — she had actually forgotten something this important.
She always remembered to bring small gifts when meeting collectors and various clients. But these past few days, all her energy had gone into researching how to be a proper wife, and she had somehow let basic etiquette slip her mind.
“I’m sorry, Lin Ji-jie. I should have been the one to prepare these.”
Lin Ji handed her the lighter of the two gift bags.
“I know their preferences. If I prepare them, the gifts will hit the mark. If my mom asks later, just say you bought them from your auction house.”
There was something slightly dishonest about it, but having everything so thoughtfully arranged felt wonderful.
Jiang Siyi’s vigorous, eager nodding was truly adorable. Lin Ji stole several glances before saying in a low voice, “Could we change how you address me?”
“Lin Ji-jie” — the term was dry and flat, carrying a businesslike tone. It truly didn’t sound like how a partner who had signed a marriage certificate should be addressed.
“Well…”
Jiang Siyi was still thinking when a middle-aged woman in a long dress suddenly emerged from the garden to the left.
“You’re here! Siyi—”
It was Lin Ji’s mother.
Lin Xuebo appeared without warning. Until then, Lin Ji and Jiang Siyi had kept more than half a person’s width between them — a slight but noticeable distance.
The “mother-in-law” appeared when Jiang Siyi was completely unprepared. The skills she had absorbed from movies over the past few days surged to the forefront. She immediately stepped half a pace closer to Lin Ji, slipping an arm around Lin Ji’s arm in a covert embrace, pressing herself against her.
Jiang Siyi had sprayed on a fruity perfume today. The sweet, fresh scent drifted into Lin Ji’s awareness, and the soft sensation of their bodies touching pierced through the barrier of clothing, gently pressing against Lin Ji’s heart.
Jiang Siyi clung to Lin Ji’s arm intimately, as if they were truly a loving couple. She smiled and greeted Lin Xuebo:
“Hello, Auntie—”
The moment those words came out, she and Lin Xuebo both froze.
She had the marriage certificate — why was she still calling her “Auntie”? She should be saying “Mom.”
But in that instant, Jiang Siyi simply could not get the word out.
The atmosphere was already beginning to chill when Jiang Siyi’s brain scrambled for a rescue. She saw Lin Ji take her hand and say to Lin Xuebo:
“I told Siyi — wait until the wedding when you give the greeting fee1, then it won’t be too late to change the term of address.”
A perfectly reasonable explanation. Lin Xuebo’s smile bloomed again, and Jiang Siyi silently exhaled in relief.
Lin Ji saving the day again.
Lin Xuebo said, “Come, let’s go inside and chat.”
During this visit, Jiang Siyi learned that Lin Ji did not live with her parents.
Lin Xuebo took Jiang Siyi’s hand from Lin Ji’s side, patted the back of it, and said, “Don’t worry — we won’t be living with you two. Different generations have different habits. Living together would be so inconvenient.”
Lin Xuebo’s words made Jiang Siyi realize: if she lived with Lin Ji in the future, it would be just the two of them…
Wait — why would they live together?
Don’t overthink it. This was a marriage of mutual convenience. Lin Ji wouldn’t want to live with her.
Lin Xuebo continued, “From now on, Siyi, bring Xiaoyou home more often. She rarely remembers to come see me. You are the only one who can talk her into it.”
Jiang Siyi wore a stiff smile and said, “Okay…”
From the corner of her eye she caught sight of Lin Ji and thought: since when was Lin Ji someone she could talk into anything?
She added, “I’ll… do my best.”
She hadn’t seen Lin Ji’s father and didn’t know why, but it was not her place to ask.
Lin Xuebo volunteered, “Your Uncle Kong knows you’re coming, but he’s abroad and truly can’t make it back. But he’s not important — next time you run into each other, you can meet then.”
Jiang Siyi kept nodding obediently, not suspecting anything.
Lin Ji, however, saw right through it — Lin Xuebo had not told Kong Yuchen that Jiang Siyi was coming to the house at all.
She was still angry about Kong Yuchen arranging blind dates for Lin Ji.
The three of them sat in the living room. Lin Xuebo had someone bring out a spread of teas and pastries, then happily opened the gift from Jiang Siyi.
The Silver Dip Pen Set made Lin Xuebo’s eyes light up.
“I’ve been looking for this brand for a long time. Siyi, where did you find it?”
Jiang Siyi answered according to what Lin Ji had told her earlier.
She had been about to say, “Lin Ji-jie mentioned to me…” but caught herself at the last moment, changing it to:
“Xiaoyou mentioned that you had been looking for this brand of dip pen for a while. I happened to see one at the auction house and brought it over.”
Lin Xuebo’s smile deepened — she really did seem to love it.
“Thank you. You have gone to too much trouble.”
Jiang Siyi said, somewhat guiltily, “Not at all.”
The name “Xiaoyou” drew Lin Ji’s gaze involuntarily toward the person beside her.
Jiang Siyi caught her eye and discreetly scratched her own thigh with her fingertips.
It was too intimate — a little embarrassing…
But her acting had improved since the bank gala, right?
Lin Xuebo was not one to smile much. She appeared stern, and her features shared six or seven parts of similarity with Lin Ji’s cold profile. But in conversation, she showed not the slightest distance or condescension toward Jiang Siyi.
The reasons for Jiang Siyi’s nervousness before coming were manifold.
The last time she had seen Lin Xuebo, she was Song Ti’s fiancée. This time, she was coming as Lin Ji’s wife.
Given Lin Ji’s circumstances, she could easily have found a better marriage partner. Jiang Siyi had worried that Lin Xuebo might be dissatisfied with this complicated relationship.
Fortunately, Lin Xuebo never asked Jiang Siyi why she had broken off her engagement with Song Ti. She didn’t even bring up Song Ti’s name. She was thoroughly kind.
Dinner was just the three of them, and the table was loaded with fine dishes.
The head chef came over to personally introduce the ingredients, preparation methods, and health benefits of each dish to Jiang Siyi.
During the meal, Lin Ji had a work-related video conference. She didn’t leave — she took the meeting right beside Jiang Siyi.
Several more calls followed, even touching on sensitive core business matters, and she didn’t move an inch away.
After dinner, Jiang Siyi went to the bathroom. Lin Xuebo cast a glance at Lin Ji.
“What, you think I’d bully Siyi? You’ve been stuck to her like glue the whole time — not leaving her side for a second.”
Her mother understood her, and she understood her mother.
Lin Xuebo was not a harsh person, but she cared about her daughter too much. In her protectiveness, there was no telling whether she might lose her head.
Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, Lin Ji had no intention of letting Jiang Siyi suffer anyone’s displeasure.
Lin Ji remained noncommittal. Lin Xuebo gave her a look that said, “I know you better than that.”
“How did you get married so suddenly? You didn’t even give your mother a heads-up.”
Lin Xuebo knew she didn’t like nagging, so she kept it to just one comment.
“No one outside knows your spouse is Siyi yet. Aren’t you planning to go public?”
Lin Ji thought about how Jiang Siyi hadn’t immediately put on the ring that time — she had only put it back on so as not to hurt Lin Ji’s feelings. She might not want to go public so soon.
She said to Lin Xuebo, “I’ll follow her lead.”
Lin Xuebo looked at her daughter with an almost unrecognizable gaze.
A daughter who had always been decisive, who never let anyone interfere with her decisions — actually had this side too.
“Since when did you fall for her? At least tell your mother. Was it since you were little…”
After a brief silence, Lin Ji gave a soft “Mm.”
Lin Xuebo understood at once.
Looking back at everything that had passed, it was truly a twist of fate.
“Come to think of it, she was always meant to be your fiancée. Your grandmother originally arranged it between my child and the Jiang family’s younger daughter. It’s just that later…” Lin Xuebo paused, not continuing. She looked at Lin Ji with emotion and said, “The two of you went around in a big circle and still ended up together. That means your connection was destined — unbreakable.”
Her mother’s words stirred something in Lin Ji. Her thumb pressed lightly against the ring on her ring finger, feeling its solid, real presence.
Lin Xuebo understood the reasoning, but the marriage had still come too suddenly.
Even if her daughter had always been strong and never cared what others thought, she as a mother could not just let it be.
She could not let others say her daughter had stolen her cousin’s fiancée, or that Siyi had entered the Lin family right after breaking up with Song Ti — it would be bad for their reputation.
There needed to be a transition. Some groundwork had to be laid.
Her daughter and her daughter’s entire future — she had to plan it thoroughly, leaving no room for a single word of criticism.
Not telling Kong Yuchen today was partly because she was still angry, and partly because she didn’t want him to know just yet, lest he fumble and get in her way.
Lin Xuebo thought for a moment, then asked Lin Ji:
“You mentioned you’re planning a wedding, right?”
“Mm.”
Then it would definitely have to be public. Lin Ji could not show up at the wedding alone.
“When?”
“Provisionally October.”
She calculated — nearly three months. That was enough time to lay the groundwork.
When Jiang Siyi came out of the bathroom, Lin Xuebo said to her, “It’s getting late…”
Jiang Siyi thought she was about to send them off, but instead she said:
“It’s rare for you to visit. Why don’t you stay the night at home with Xiaoyou and keep me company? Xiaoyou’s old room on the second floor has been tidied up.”
Jiang Siyi’s breath caught.
Stay the night — didn’t that mean sleeping in the same room?
The author has something to say:
Lin Ji: Wife-pampering Step 4, of course, is continuing to share a bed.
0 Comments