The Amnesiac Omega Who Reels Me In Every Day – Chapter 24
by Little PandaThe Foolish Drunkard
Wanting a Kitty
Jiang Jinyi froze. What did Jiang Youwan just say?
Call… call her jiejie?
Jiang Jinyi rarely called her jiejie. Whether it was four years ago or now, to be precise, she had never called her jiejie while sober.
Yet now, Jiang Youwan was actually making such a demand. Although she was indeed her older sister, actually saying the word made Jiang Jinyi feel incredibly embarrassed.
Noticing that Jiang Jinyi had stopped stroking her, the little kitten in her arms rubbed against her palm in dissatisfaction, letting out a sweet, needy meow.
Jiang Jinyi looked down at the kitten’s unsatisfied look and couldn’t help but give her two more gentle rubs.
But that word, jiejie, remained stuck in her throat, proving exceptionally difficult to voice.
Jiang Youwan’s eyes seemed to ripple with gentle warmth. The corners of her mouth curved slightly as she watched her in silence.
She looked exactly like a confident hunter waiting for her prey to walk straight into the trap.
“One call of jiejie in exchange for one kitty.”
Jiang Jinyi frowned, her cheeks puffing out like a pufferfish without her even realizing it. She made no attempt to hide her displeasure, yet Jiang Youwan did not immediately coax her as she usually did upon seeing her unhappy. She was actually refusing to indulge her.
Spoiled by her indulgence, Jiang Jinyi now felt a little aggrieved.
If she didn’t call her jiejie, would she really not give her the kitten?
Unable to contain her frustration, she turned her head away and muttered petulantly, “I don’t even care. What kind of cat can’t this Miss get if she wants one?”
“Oh, is that so?” Jiang Youwan stared at Jiang Jinyi’s profile, reaching out as if resigned to lift the kitten by its armpits. The kitten let out a meow, and Jiang Jinyi could only watch helplessly as the fluffy little ball was taken from her arms.
“What a pitiful little kitten,” Jiang Youwan murmured, cradling the cat in her arms. She tapped its tiny head and let out a helpless, melancholy sigh. “Xiao Jin doesn’t want you. She says she’s going to find another cat. Since she doesn’t want me either, is she also going to go find another jiejie?”
Jiang Jinyi’s eyelashes fluttered. She felt so wronged—she had never said anything about finding another jiejie!
But… but…
The kitten, unable to comprehend the subtle grievance in Jiang Youwan’s words, merely let out a sweet meow. It turned its head to look at Jiang Jinyi, its blue eyes glistening with a watery, pitiful light.
…
Jiang Youwan lazily stroked the kitten’s head and ears, occasionally brushing its tail. Enjoying the attention, the kitten rolled over in her arms to expose its belly, its short little paws batting at the air, completely forgetting about Jiang Jinyi.
“What an unprincipled little kitten, letting anyone pet you. Once you’re comfortable, you show your belly and forget your own name.”
“Meow~”
Jiang Youwan kept murmuring to the kitten, and Jiang Jinyi heard every single word from where she stood. It made her heart itch with longing. She clenched her fists, yet she simply could not bring herself to swallow her pride.
She could only watch eagerly as the kitten bared its belly in Jiang Youwan’s arms, gently wagging its fluffy tail and blinking its innocent eyes at her.
This was torture.
“What a shame, Xiao Jin doesn’t want you.” Jiang Youwan sighed softly, sounding utterly crestfallen. Seeing that Jiang Jinyi remained silent, after a moment, she turned her head and said, “Then rest well, Xiao Jin. The little one is probably hungry, so I’ll go feed her. The maid will come up to call you when it’s time for dinner.”
With that, Jiang Youwan left the room carrying the kitten. The door shut with a soft click, leaving Jiang Jinyi all alone.
She actually took her away!
Jiang Youwan had changed!
Four years ago, Jiang Youwan was never like this. She had spoiled her and indulged her, unable to bear seeing her even slightly displeased.
Jiang Jinyi felt a pang of sorrow. Flopping onto the bed, she buried her face in the blanket, secretly feeling sad.
Why had she suddenly skipped four years into the future? Now, her mother was gone, Jiang Youwan had changed, and so many things had become unknown. It made her feel incredibly insecure.
But…
But that kitten from earlier was just so adorable. The moment Jiang Jinyi thought of her, her mind filled with nothing else. She was a silver-white Napoleon dwarf kitten with short little legs, a big fluffy tail, sapphire-blue eyes, and pink ears. She was sweet, well-behaved, and probably only two or three months old.
If only she had been willing to call Jiang Youwan jiejie just now, the cat would have been hers!
Was Jiang Youwan feeding her milk right now? The way she drank milk had to be incredibly cute.
It had to be said, Jiang Jinyi was starting to regret her decision.
Dinner time arrived quickly. The family chef had not changed; it was still Old Huo, who had prepared her meals every day four years ago. The servants had mostly stayed the same too, and Butler Chen remained the butler. Many of them were familiar faces to Jiang Jinyi.
Knowing that Jiang Jinyi’s memory had reverted to four years ago, Jiang Youwan had done her best to keep the Jiang Family Villa looking unchanged. She even remembered Jiang Jinyi’s favorite flowers from four years ago and had them imported from abroad.
And then there was the kitten.
She had bought it specifically to make Jiang Jinyi happy, and… to make up for what she owed her from four years ago.
She knew how happy Jiang Jinyi had been the moment she laid eyes on the little creature. It had been her happiest moment in days.
Only Jiang Youwan knew how much her own heart had fluttered when Jiang Jinyi looked at her with stars in her eyes and smiled. Driven by her selfish desires, she had boldly made a demand.
“Call me jiejie, and the cat is yours.”
She knew Xiao Jin was stubbornly proud, so she had desperately wanted to see her forced to cast aside her pride and call her jiejie.
It was bound to be adorable.
During dinner, Jiang Jinyi seemed somewhat distracted. No one knew what she was thinking as she kept picking at her plain white rice. Jiang Youwan placed a piece of spare rib in her bowl. “You should eat some side dishes. Isn’t this your favorite, Xiao Jin?”
Without thinking, Jiang Jinyi picked up the rib and popped it into her mouth. The meat was tender, succulent, and juicy. She had almost finished the entire rib when she suddenly remembered she was supposed to be angry with Jiang Youwan. She froze mid-chew, her pupils dilating slightly.
How had she ended up eating the rib she gave her? She needed to vent her displeasure and let this wicked woman, Jiang Youwan, know it, so that she would hand over the cat and coax her.
Throughout the entire meal, she did not say a single word to Jiang Youwan, keeping her head down and eating in silence. Jiang Youwan, unlike her usual self, acted as though she noticed nothing at all. Once she finished eating, she excused herself and headed straight into the study.
Having failed to get coaxed, Jiang Jinyi felt even more aggrieved, pouting and fuming with rage.
Watching from the side, Butler Chen felt his heart ache with worry. He stepped forward respectfully and inquired, “Has something made you unhappy, Miss?”
Jiang Jinyi pursed her lips and remained silent for a long moment. Butler Chen grew even more anxious. He had heard from the Eldest Miss that the Second Miss had injured her brain and suffered amnesia. He believed that returning home safely was already a blessing, and that it would be wonderful as long as the two sisters could get along well. Seeing her look so solemn now, he wondered if she had suddenly regained her memories.
Butler Chen opened his mouth, wanting to say something tentative, but before he could utter a single word, Jiang Jinyi suddenly turned her head to look at him. She gestured with her finger as if she wanted to share a secret. With trepidation, Butler Chen leaned in closer.
Jiang Jinyi whispered, “Do you know where Jiang Youwan put that kitten?”
—Phew.
Only then did Butler Chen’s suspended heart finally settle back into his chest.
Ah, the cat.
Butler Chen recalled for a moment and said, not quite certain, “It should be in the Eldest Miss’s room. I heard her mention not long ago that it had fallen asleep.”
In Jiang Youwan’s room?
Having obtained this intelligence, a spark of excitement flashed through Jiang Jinyi’s eyes, and her lips curled up in a faint smile. Butler Chen asked, “Is Miss planning to—”
“No, I’m not,” Jiang Jinyi interrupted coldly before he could finish his sentence.
“Butler Chen, you should go attend to your work.” Jiang Jinyi resumed her usual aloof, noble eldest miss persona.
Butler Chen blinked in surprise. “Oh, very well.”
Butler Chen quickly left to attend to his duties. Only when she heard the door shut did Jiang Jinyi’s expression change. Clearly eager yet pretending to be reserved, she made her way up to the second floor.
Jiang Youwan was currently in her study handling business matters. With Jiang Corporation being so massive, its affairs could not be resolved in a single evening. She must still be in the study right now, Jiang Jinyi thought. With this in mind, she pushed open the door to Jiang Youwan’s room, closed it softly behind her, and began searching for her target.
Jiang Youwan’s room was extremely neat and decorated in a minimalist style. The air was filled with her scent of datura, which brought an inexplicable sense of comfort.
Jiang Jinyi’s gaze locked onto a bunny-eared cat bed near the balcony. Her eyes lit up as she squatted down to peer inside. The kitten was sleeping, and the cushion was pink!
Jiang Jinyi tapped it gently, but the kitten didn’t react. She tapped again, a bit harder this time, and the kitten pulled back its paws. Jiang Jinyi smiled, her dimples showing, determined to wake her up. The kitten had barely opened her eyes, still in a daze, when Jiang Jinyi scooped her out of the bed and cradled her in her arms to give her a thorough petting.
“Meow~”
The kitten did not resist. Instead, her blue eyes gazed up at her with curiosity. Enticed by Jiang Jinyi’s cascading long hair, she occasionally batted her short little paws at it, but they were too stubby to reach.
“Meow~”
She was truly adorable, and her temperament was so gentle.
She had no idea where Jiang Youwan had managed to find such an adorable kitten. Jiang Jinyi felt certain she would never find another one like this.
Sitting on the floor, Jiang Jinyi became so thoroughly engrossed in playing with the kitten that she did not even notice the bedroom door opening.
It was only when the footsteps drew closer and a shadow cast over her that she snapped out of it. The hand stroking the kitten froze, and she stiffened in place.
She was doomed. Caught red-handed.
The kitten also spotted Jiang Youwan. She squirmed out of Jiang Jinyi’s arms and waddled over to her with her tail held high, letting out a soft meow.
Jiang Youwan looked down at the girl sitting sprawled on the floor. Her gaze darkened slightly. After a long moment, a soft chuckle escaped her nose. “Didn’t Xiao Jin say she didn’t care about her?”
Jiang Jinyi did not dare to turn around. She wished she could vanish on the spot—preferably taking the kitten with her.
Jiang Youwan squatted down a short distance behind her. She bowed her head to look at the kitten, her slender, fair fingers stroking its head as she spoke to it, “Someone claimed she didn’t care about you, yet she snuck in while I wasn’t looking to disturb your sleep. Hmm—”
Before Jiang Youwan could finish her sentence, Jiang Jinyi whipped around and clamped her hand over her mouth.
“Stop talking!”
Meeting those slightly red, watery peach blossom eyes1, Jiang Youwan froze. At this very instant, she felt a swell of profound emotion surge into a tight knot within her chest, threatening to burst. Her heart fluttered uncontrollably, leaving her completely breathless.
…
Jiang Jinyi’s cheeks burned with an unnatural flush. Her gaze was awkward and bashful; she was clearly mortified to the extreme.
Being caught red-handed was simply too humiliating. She couldn’t even construct a single plausible excuse. This was Jiang Youwan’s room, her territory. Aside from wanting to see the kitten, she had absolutely no reason to be here.
She could only overbearingly clamp her hand over Jiang Youwan’s mouth.
With only half her face exposed, Jiang Youwan’s eyes curved into a smile, making no attempt to resist.
The kitten watched them curiously, showing exceptional politeness by not disrupting them.
Only after a few seconds did Jiang Jinyi pull her hand away and lower her head, the heat on her face refusing to subside in the slightest.
Jiang Youwan was certain that if she teased her just a bit more, her face would turn another shade redder.
Would she turn red enough to combust? If that happened, her pheromones would surely leak out, spilling everywhere in sheer embarrassment.
Jiang Youwan spoke with simulated worry, “Does Xiao Jin want her or not? Since I thought you didn’t, I was thinking of giving her to—”
Before she could say who she would give it to, Jiang Jinyi suddenly looked up and hurriedly blurted out, “I want her!”
“Jiejie, I want her!” Hearing that Jiang Youwan might give such an adorable cat to someone else, Jiang Jinyi could no longer care about face or her tsundere pride. Since she wanted to hear her call her jiejie, then she would do it.
She grabbed her sleeve, tugging it gently as her pink lips parted. “Jiejie, jiejie, jiejie, I want… I want her.”
Perhaps it was the nature of an omega; she was actually very good at acting spoiled. When she did, it felt entirely natural—sweet, clingy, soft, and tender.
Hearing her say jiejie so many times in a row, only one thought flashed through Jiang Youwan’s mind: Give her, give her, give her.
Whatever she wanted, she wanted to give it to her.
“Do you really like her that much?” Jiang Youwan asked softly, unable to hide the doting affection in her eyes. She couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch her cheek.
This cat was meant for Xiao Jin all along, she thought to herself. Yet, she was in no hurry to agree out loud. The present Xiao Jin was so rare and so exceptionally adorable that she selfishly wanted to enjoy this moment a little longer.
Jiang Jinyi did not resist either. She simply raised her eyes to look at her expectantly, letting her pinch her cheek.
Jiang Youwan pursed her lips and whispered, “I want to hear it again.”
Jiang Jinyi blinked. “Jiejie~”
Jiang Youwan shifted her hand from her cheek to the top of her head, stroking her hair. “What a good girl, Xiao Jin.”
“Is the kitty mine now?” Jiang Jinyi added in an extra sweet, whiny tone, “Jiejie~”
Jiang Youwan’s expression was as gentle as water. “Yes, she’s yours.”
She was hers!
Jiang Jinyi instantly beamed, scooping the kitten up, holding her by her armpits and raising her high in front of her face. Eye to eye, Jiang Jinyi spoke to her with mock solemnity, “You must remember this: from now on, you are Jiang Jinyi’s cat. To be Jiang Jinyi’s cat, you must strictly observe feline virtue! You are not allowed to hiss or bite. You must let me pet you, hold you, and kiss you!”
The kitten blinked, entirely unable to understand her words. “Meow?”
Jiang Youwan merely watched her with a faint smile, waiting until she finished lecturing the kitten on the ‘rules for being Jiang Jinyi’s cat’ before chiming in, “Why don’t we give her a name?”
“Right, she needs a name…” Jiang Jinyi cradled her and began to ponder. “What should we call her?”
“How about Xiao Yu?” Jiang Youwan suggested.
“…Xiao Yu?”
Five years ago, July in Luo City.
A long luxury limousine had pulled up in front of the entrance of a five-star club located in Luo City’s most bustling district. Driver Uncle Dong had been the first to step out, opening the back door to chivalrously assist the pampered Eldest Miss as she climbed out.
Stepping out of the vehicle, she stood tall and elegant. She wore a custom pale pink strap dress that showcased a generous expanse of her delicate collarbones. Her rounded shoulders glowed with a healthy, rosy tint, and her swan-like neck was fair and slender. Her long, curled eyelashes lifted lazily, revealing a pair of mesmerizing peach blossom eyes. Bright-eyed and radiant, she possessed a natural aura of unapproachable nobility.
In her arms, she cradled a meticulously framed painting as she walked toward the lobby with graceful steps.
Numerous luxury cars were parked outside the venue, and those stepping out were all young masters and wealthy heiresses dressed in splendid, opulent attire—a typical gathering of high society.
The moment Jiang Jinyi appeared, countless eyes glued themselves to her figure. Even those who harbored grudges against her could not resist stealing a few glances.
She truly lived up to her status as an SS-class omega.
Whispers rippled through the crowd, but Jiang Jinyi did not fear a single gaze cast her way. Confidence was something bred into her very bones from the moment of her birth.
Uncle Dong escorted Jiang Jinyi into the banquet hall.
“Xiao Jin, you’re here!” A gentle, sweet female voice drifted through the crowd to her ears. Jiang Jinyi’s haughty, distant expression softened instantly. Her eyes curved slightly, making the soft contours beneath her eyes and her dimples look exceptionally charming.
The owner of the voice wore a blazing red dress. Holding a wine glass, she walked over to Jiang Jinyi’s side, every smile and gesture exuding elegance. She whispered in Jiang Jinyi’s ear, in a volume only the two of them could hear, “Xiao Jin, you’re finally here. I’ve been waiting for you.”
The way she spoke made it seem as if everyone else at this birthday party was completely insignificant, expressing a deep affection reserved solely for Jiang Jinyi.
Jiang Jinyi handed the painting to her, smiling. “Senior Qin, happy birthday.”
Qin Yue looked down at the painting. It depicted the Carnation Ocean, utilizing bold, sophisticated colors that made the viewer feel entirely immersed in the scene. Though she was no connoisseur, she could tell that Jiang Jinyi had poured an immense amount of effort into this piece.
Accepting it with a smile, she showed not a single flaw in her expression, her eyes filled with obvious delight.
“Did you paint this yourself, Xiao Jin? You’re so thoughtful. This is the best gift I’ve received tonight.”
Jiang Jinyi replied, “I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it.” Qin Yue patted Jiang Jinyi’s arm, her tone coaxing. “I still need to greet the other guests, so go ahead and mingle first, Xiao Jin. I’ll come find you in a bit, okay?”
Jiang Jinyi nodded and bid her a brief farewell, finding a random spot to sit down, thoroughly bored.
Most of the attendees at this banquet were Qin Yue’s friends, and to some extent, they all knew about Jiang Jinyi’s temperament. Few had the courage to approach and strike up a conversation, fearing that a cold look from the Eldest Miss Jiang would leave them red-faced and wishing the ground would swallow them.
Suddenly, a goblet appeared in front of Jiang Jinyi.
The hand holding the goblet was slender, fair, and smooth, and the glass contained a red liquid, a very high-end red wine.
“Eldest Miss Jiang~”
Jiang Jinyi knew exactly who it was just by the voice. Accepting the glass, she tilted her head back and took a sip, only to discover it was a soft drink. Frowning, she shoved the glass back and muttered in dissatisfaction, “Only kids drink juice.”
Huo Qi chuckled, lazily sitting down in the seat next to Jiang Jinyi. She crossed her legs elegantly and held out another goblet to her, drawling:
“Here. I almost forgot that our Eldest Miss Jiang is already an adult, and not long ago even differentiated into an SS-class omega.”
Jiang Jinyi forced the soft drink back onto her and elegantly took a sip of actual red wine, indeed looking very much like an adult. Huo Qi tilted her head and watched her with a smile. Jiang Jinyi asked casually, “Why did you come, too?”
“Why shouldn’t I come?” Huo Qi replied unhurriedly. “Don’t you remember? My boyfriend is Qin Yue’s cousin, so technically, I’m her sister-in-law.” As she spoke, she sounded rather proud.
Jiang Jinyi said flatly, “You change boyfriends so fast, who could possibly keep track?”
Huo Qi gave her a cheeky grin. “Is Miss Jiang jealous? But now that you’re an adult, you can start dating. Do you want me to introduce an alpha to you?”
Jiang Jinyi shot her a glance and parted her red lips. “No.”
“Tsk.” Huo Qi squinted at her. “Don’t tell me you don’t like men? Do you like Qin Yue? I heard she just differentiated into an alpha recently.”
Jiang Jinyi frowned. Why on earth would anyone think she liked Qin Yue?
“Because any man you could introduce to me wouldn’t be worthy. How outstanding are they, anyway? How handsome? How premium are their pheromones? I don’t care for them—they’re all low quality.” Jiang Jinyi made no effort to hide her utter disdain.
Huo Qi blanked for a moment, then burst out laughing. “You truly are the Eldest Miss of Luo City’s wealthiest family.”
Everything her mother had provided for her since childhood indeed supported her supreme confidence.
Indeed, no one is worthy of you, Huo Qi thought.
“What did you prepare for Qin Yue’s gift?”
Jiang Jinyi said indifferently, “A painting.”
“You painted it yourself?” Huo Qi laughed, her tone teasing. “That’s weak. I thought the gift from Luo City’s Number One Eldest Miss would be worth at least ten million.”
Jiang Jinyi huffed, “Why is your head filled with nothing but money?”
Huo Qi smiled, draping her arm over Jiang Jinyi’s shoulder. Half-jokingly and with a hint of hidden meaning, she said, “The one whose head is filled with money isn’t me, my sweet Xiao Jin.”
Hearing these sarcastic words, Jiang Jinyi shrugged Huo Qi’s hand off her shoulder in annoyance. Huo Qi didn’t mind. Stepping out of Jiang Jinyi’s line of sight, she brought the soft drink Jiang Jinyi had rejected to her lips, took a sip, and rose to saunter away.
Ten minutes later, the guests had mostly arrived. Qin Yue had been busy entertaining everyone and hadn’t been able to attend to Jiang Jinyi. Now, as she prepared to go onstage to give a speech, she called out to Jiang Jinyi and headed into the dressing room to touch up her makeup to ensure she looked her absolute best.
Not long after Qin Yue went inside, Uncle Dong, who had been waiting near the entrance, walked over to Jiang Jinyi’s side. Squatting down, he handed her a phone. “Miss, Miss Huo is on the line. She says it is urgent.”
Jiang Jinyi looked down at the screen, then reached out to take it.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
In the dressing room, Qin Yue leaned lazily in a chair in front of the vanity mirror as a makeup artist dbed her face. The artist asked casually, “Are you satisfied with the gift that Eldest Miss gave you today?”
Qin Yue crossed her legs and let out a light sigh. With an expression of resignation mixed with a touch of disdain, she closed her eyes and drawled, “Of course I am overwhelmed by her favor. I love it very much.”
The makeup artist sneered, “That is rare. You actually like such a worthless piece of junk.”
Qin Yue let out a soft huff. “I hinted to her some time ago that I wanted that limited-edition gemstone necklace. Who would have thought Xiao Jin would take me so seriously, spending so much effort to paint me a piece of junk like this?”
She opened her eyes to glance at the artist. “Tell me, shouldn’t I be disgusted?”
The woman thought about it and agreed. Half-sighing, half-playfully, she said, “The Eldest Miss Jiang’s paintings might be worthless, but her love is incredibly valuable. Once she is completely infatuated with you, won’t you have as much money as you want? Who knows, maybe the entire Jiang Corporation will be yours in the future.”
Those words were exactly what Qin Yue had been thinking. A smile curled on Qin Yue’s lips. “Exactly. That is why I have to take my time and find a way to conquer her. Oh, what is that phrase again? Ah, right—an ATM-ji2.”
The woman burst out laughing and chimed in, “So Eldest Miss Jiang is Qin Yue’s ATM-ji. Qin Yue, you are truly amazing.”
Qin Yue hummed in amusement, “An exceptionally cute ATM-ji, too.”
The woman was surprised. “Jiang Jinyi is cute?”
Qin Yue shot her a look, her tone carrying a sense of ‘you haven’t seen anything yet’. “You have a bias against our Xiao Jin. You’ve never seen just how cute she can be.”
No matter what, Jiang Jinyi was an SS-class omega, naturally beautiful and charming.
It was easy to hear the showing off in Qin Yue’s tone. The woman naturally understood. “Yes, yes, yes, Miss Qin has her little cute ATM-ji completely wrapped around her finger. But do not forget, Jiang Jinyi treating you like this today is partly thanks to—”
Before the word “credit” could leave her mouth, the dressing room door was suddenly flung open. Qin Yue froze, spotting Huo Qi’s glamorous face reflected in the mirror before her.
She stood paralyzed, turning around while failing to conceal her panic. “Huo Qi, how… How did you get in here?”
Huo Qi looked at her with disdain, stepping inside unhurriedly. She picked up a phone from the vanity table that was actively in a call, waving it in front of Qin Yue. “It is not just me who is here.”
The phone screen faced Qin Yue, clearly displaying the call interface connected to Jiang Jinyi.
Her pupils dilated instantly. Realizing what was happening, she lunged forward to grab Huo Qi’s phone, shouting into the speaker incoherently, “Xiao Jin, let me explain! I was just joking earlier, please don’t take it seriously…”
With a soft beep, the call disconnected.
Qin Yue’s face turned as dark as a coal pot. Huo Qi reached out and reclaimed her phone. Qin Yue shot her a venomous glare before turning on her heel and storming out.
Huo Qi watched her disheveled retreat with amusement, a cold trace of disgust flashing in her eyes.
In a quiet corner of the banquet hall, Jiang Jinyi took off her earpiece. Her face looked as though it were frozen in ice. Her once sweet, charming countenance now wore an indescribably dark and terrifying expression. Even Uncle Dong felt a shiver run down his spine. He wanted to ask what had happened, yet did not dare to speak.
Clutching her phone, Jiang Jinyi fixed her gaze on her Carnation Ocean painting, which had been placed at the very back of the exhibition display. She turned her head and ordered Uncle Dong, “Uncle Dong, go. Bring it down.”
Uncle Dong frowned. “This…”
Uncle Dong obeyed the command, removing the Carnation Ocean from the display. This action undoubtedly drew the attention of everyone present.
“Why is she taking back a gift she already gave?”
“Holy fuck, looks like there’s going to be a good show.”
The guests looked at one another, having no idea who had managed to provoke her, eagerly waiting to see the drama unfold.
Scanning the banquet hall with a lofty, superior air, Jiang Jinyi turned to Uncle Dong to confirm, “This place belongs to Jiang Corporation, correct?”
Uncle Dong nodded. “This entire building belongs to Jiang Corporation.”
Jiang Jinyi saw Qin Yue clearly as she rushed out of the restroom, trying to stop her in near despair. “Xiao Jin, don’t do this…”
Yet, every ounce of her goodwill toward Qin Yue had been utterly obliterated the moment she heard those words. Jiang Jinyi was certainly not someone who would meekly swallow an insult.
“There is no need for this banquet to continue. Find someone to pull the power switch.” Jiang Jinyi’s tone was lazy, yet it carried a sharp, ruthless edge. Turning around, she said unhurriedly:
“Let’s go.”
The venue erupted instantly as the crowd fell into stunned disbelief. Qin Yue froze on the spot while Jiang Jinyi walked out of the banquet hall amidst the clamor of the guests.
Moments later, the power to the banquet hall was cut, plunging it into total darkness. The birthday banquet they had planned was completely ruined.
Barring any surprises, Qin Yue would soon become the laughingstock of Luo City’s business circle.
Naturally, Jiang Jinyi’s name would also trend on the hot search. What would people say about her? How would they talk?
That she was a tyrannical bully who abused her power?
Jiang Jinyi’s arrogance and willful behavior were famous throughout Luo City. But why was she deemed willful? Because people only looked at the surface. They only saw what she did, and most of the time, they could not be bothered to investigate the reasons behind her actions. They would merely say, “Look, Jiang Jinyi is abusing her status as the Eldest Miss to bully others again.”
Having dealt with this since childhood, Jiang Jinyi simply decided to lean into the ‘crime’. She was indeed arrogant, willful, and acted without any regard for the consequences. She had never learned to tolerate others, to swallow her pride, or to quietly suffer in silence—nor did she ever need to learn.
She loved nothing more than watching people despise her while being utterly powerless to do anything about it.
Jiang Jinyi sat in the backseat, the painting having been returned to the trunk. In the front seat, Uncle Dong glanced at her through the rearview mirror from time to time. He could only see her face turned toward the window, her wind-disheveled hair veiling her features and obscuring her expression.
Uncle Dong did not know what had transpired, nor did he understand why his young mistress had acted so drastically. He only knew she was in a terrible mood.
If the young mistress was unhappy, then it was definitely Qin Yue’s fault.
Uncle Dong was clumsy with words and had no idea how to comfort her. After pondering for a long while, he spoke cautiously, “Miss, I heard Chairman Jiang is returning in a few days. After being busy for so long, she will definitely make time to accompany you, so please don’t be unhappy.”
Jiang Jinyi stared out the window, her pupils reflecting the heavy flow of traffic outside, remaining silent for the entire ride.
The sun had completely set, and a deep blue blanket shrouded the sky. The wind had grown cooler, and the lights inside the villa were lit. Jiang Youwan stood beneath a tree in the courtyard, perhaps simply feeling the embrace of nature.
She remained absolutely still until the sound of an approaching vehicle in the distance alerted her. She turned her face toward the noise, her eyes closed, yet looking as though she could perceive everything.
Jiang Jinyi was still wearing her evening gown, holding the Carnation Ocean that symbolized ‘you are very important to me’. She walked briskly. As she passed the trash can, she discarded the painting beside it without a single shred of hesitation. She did not even spare it a glance, yet her eyes were red.
Hearing the commotion, Jiang Youwan frowned.
When the servants stepped forward to greet her, Jiang Jinyi ignored everyone, walking rapidly upstairs. A heavy slam of a door followed immediately after.
Jiang Youwan continued to stand silently in the courtyard, catching the faint murmurs of the servants gossiping nearby.
“I heard that during Miss Qin’s birthday party just now, the young mistress suddenly flew into a rage. Not only did she take back her gift, but she also cut the power to the entire banquet, leaving absolutely no face.”
“Ah, no way! How could Miss Qin have provoked her? Didn’t everyone say they were about to start dating?”
“Who knows?”
“It’s such a pity about that painting. It took the young mistress over ten days of hard work! It was so beautiful.”
Jiang Youwan stood in the courtyard for a long time, her expression soft and tranquil as the evening wind gently ruffled her long hair. Suddenly, leaning on her blind cane, she walked over to the trash can, squatted down, and began searching with her hands until she touched the discarded canvas. She could not see, so she felt its texture piece by piece.
The Eldest Miss’s life had always been smooth sailing, with virtually no setbacks. What setback had she suffered today? She had been treated as nothing more than an ATM-ji by someone she considered precious.
Everyone in the Jiang villa knew their Eldest Miss was furious.
The servants had gathered at her door attempting to coax her out, but she had snapped at them fiercely, dismissing them all early.
Knowing the temper of their young mistress, they packed up their things and clocked out for the day.
Jiang Jinyi locked herself in her room until nightfall. During this time, calls kept flooding in—some from Qin Yue, others from Song Lian, and some from Huo Qi.
She refused to answer any of them. Finding it incredibly annoying, she powered down her phone.
Once the house was finally empty, she snuck down to the basement where Jiang Ningshu’s private wine cellar was located.
Her dark emotions could no longer be contained; they had to be completely vented. In the past, when she was unhappy, she would search for her mother, though she was often teased for still acting like a child. Now that her mother wasn’t around, she remembered she was already an eighteen-year-old adult, so she ran down to the wine cellar to vent in a ‘mature’ fashion.
Without even looking at the labels, she grabbed bottles off the racks at random and poured them into a glass. As she drank, she began to cry, chugging the alcohol down.
However cold and heartless she had appeared at the banquet, she was now equally devastated.
Her peach blossom eyes were misty with tears, dampening her eyelashes. Her eyes were red, presenting a delicate picture of sheer, heart-wrenching vulnerability.
“Uuuhuhu… Bastard! Bastard!”
This was too humiliating. Deception was simply too embarrassing. Foolishly spending over ten days painting for someone only to have her sincerity trampled on was utterly degrading.
Qin Yue’s acting skills had been exceptional; she had truly believed she was regarded as a precious friend.
About six months ago, during a school break, Jiang Jinyi was sitting alone in the classroom feeling unwell. Suddenly, a burly alpha came to pick a fight with her, even pushing her and causing her to sprain her ankle. At that moment, Qin Yue, who was a senior in her third year, happened to pass by and carried her to the school clinic.
As a senior schoolmate, Qin Yue was incredibly warm and treated her wonderfully in every aspect. They quickly became friends. Because she had plenty of money, Jiang Jinyi was exceptionally generous to her friends. Many of Qin Yue’s expensive clothes and shoes had been gifted by her, continuing all the way until now, right up to tonight’s birthday banquet.
Having heard those words, she finally understood everything.
The woman chatting and laughing with Qin Yue was the very alpha who had caused her ankle sprain back then. She remembered that voice.
From the very beginning, it had all been planned by Qin Yue just to swindle her out of her money.
She, the proud Eldest Miss of the Jiang family, had actually been played like a fool by a woman.
With one bottle of red wine completely drained, Jiang Jinyi’s entire face flushed pink. Her dizzy brain had turned to mush. Suddenly, she wanted to call Qin Yue and curse her out. She searched all over the floor for her phone, but her vision spun too wildly to find it. Unable to contain her anger, she stood up unsteadily and staggered toward the living room to look for the landline, bringing another bottle of red wine along with her.
Sitting on the rug before the coffee table, she slurred curses under her breath. She picked up the receiver and began dialing the number, but her vision was too blurry to see the buttons clearly. After dialing several non-existent numbers in a row, she slammed the landline onto the floor in a fit of rage. She sat cross-legged and dejected beneath the sofa in front of the coffee table, feeling she should have been even more ruthless to her at the banquet, crying and fuming at the same time.
As she wept, she suddenly recalled that she was Jiang Jinyi and would never cry over a woman. She immediately wiped away her tears, but as soon as she finished, she forgot who she was again and went right back to sobbing.
What was wrong with that? Couldn’t the Eldest Miss of the Jiang family cry?
Leaning her back against the sofa, she buried her face in her knees and cried.
In her daze, not knowing whether she had fallen asleep and begun dreaming, Jiang Jinyi heard incredibly soft footsteps. She felt completely muddled, forgetting who this could be, and lifted her face from her knees to blink and look around.
Blurry and indistinct, she saw a beautiful woman walking toward her. Her long hair reached her waist, and her eyes were closed. Although she wore an ordinary shirt, she possessed an otherworldly aura, looking like… like a celestial maiden.
Jiang Jinyi’s muddled gaze followed her. The woman squatted down in front of her. Jiang Jinyi could not make out her expression, hearing only her soft, soothing, and magnetic voice.
“Miss Jiang, what is the matter?”
Jiang Jinyi stared blankly for a long moment before her brain registered the question. What was wrong with her?
What was wrong with her? What was wrong with her?
Frowning, she looked at her with a look that said ‘Are you stupid?’ and pouted, “Can’t you tell? I… I’m drunk!”
Jiang Youwan raised her eyebrows in surprise. This was the first time she had ever heard a drunkard actually admit to being drunk.
A rich scent of alcohol mingled with her hyacinth pheromones.
It was not unpleasant; in fact, it had become more fragrant. The originally sweet hyacinth scent now carried an enticing, seductive undertone.
The tone she used was vastly different from her usual self—simultaneously fierce and sweet, slurring her words, sounding thoroughly intoxicated. This eldest miss seemed truly drunk.
Completely drunk.
“Why did you get drunk?” Jiang Youwan’s voice softened unconsciously. “Does Miss Jiang have something troubling her?”
“Who are you?” Jiang Jinyi squinted with glazed eyes, scanning the woman before her with newfound wariness. “Who are you? I’m not telling you!”
Jiang Youwan chuckled. “You don’t recognize me?” After a brief pause, she added, “I am Jiang Youwan.”
“Jiang You… Wan… Jiang Youwan…” Jiang Jinyi repeated the name slurringly. It took her several long moments to remember who Jiang Youwan was. Puffy-cheeked like a pufferfish, she blurted out inexplicably, “I hate you!”
Jiang Youwan said nothing.
“Do you hate me?” Jiang Youwan asked in a hurt tone. “Am I not well-behaved enough? Why do you hate me?”
Jiang Jinyi let out a “Hmph” and buried her face back into her knees. A moment later, she peeked out again, her moist eyes staring intently at Jiang Youwan.
After a while, Jiang Youwan murmured softly, “Are you truly drunk?”
“Ugh…” Jiang Jinyi blinked. Feeling that her capability was being questioned, she suddenly grabbed the red wine bottle from the coffee table and took a few more gulps straight from the bottle, which instantly made her feel even dizzier. “My… My alcohol tolerance is amazing!”
“Pfft.”
“You really are drunk. You’ve become so cute.”
These bizarre actions were certainly not things the sober Eldest Miss Jiang would ever do.
The corners of Jiang Youwan’s mouth curved up. After contemplating for a moment, she asked softly, “Miss Jiang, did you fall gravely ill when you were a child? The kind that was extremely painful…”
Jiang Jinyi frowned, staring at her in bewilderment. “How… How did you know?”
“Mm… I just do,” Jiang Youwan murmured. “Then do you know what your mother did in order to cure your illness?”
Jiang Jinyi fell silent for a long while. Jiang Youwan could not see her expression, only hearing soft purring sounds from her throat, much like a kitten.
After a very long time, she whispered, “I know…”
She knew.
Jiang Youwan’s brow twitched. “Tell me in secret?”
“Hmph, not telling you.” Jiang Jinyi pouted, suddenly turning fierce and rebellious, scolding her, “Bad girl!”
A sweet, petulant shout of “bad girl.”
Jiang Youwan felt as though a kitten had just hissed at her without a shred of real threat, baring its tiny fangs yet not daring to bite.
“Why are you calling me a bad girl?” Jiang Youwan asked patiently and gently.
Jiang Jinyi blinked her moist eyes, murmuring, “Because… because…” She seemed to recall something sorrowful, starting to sob softly, weeping with immense sadness.
Jiang Youwan asked, “Why are you crying?”
“It hurts… uuuhuhu…” Jiang Jinyi clutched her stomach, whimpering continuously. She looked at Jiang Youwan helplessly, her tone so pitifully soft it could melt a heart. “Jiejie, my stomach hurts…”
Jiejie?
Just moments ago, she had been calling her a bad girl, yet now she was calling her jiejie. It carried no trace of sarcasm—it was a good, pitiful, and innocent call of jiejie.
Jiang Youwan fell silent for a moment. She went to the kitchen and was gone for a while, during which Jiang Jinyi’s sobbing gradually subsided as if she had grown exhausted. Carefully carrying a bowl of porridge, Jiang Youwan sat down beside her.
“Miss Jiang, eat some porridge. It will make your stomach feel better.” Jiang Youwan raised her hand to feel for her. Touching a soft, fluffy texture, she realized she must have touched her head.
Jiang Jinyi obediently raised her head and sniffled, looking at Jiang Youwan warily. “How… How did you know my stomach hurts?”
A drunken brain truly was utterly useless.
Jiang Youwan chuckled softly. “Miss Jiang, you were the one who just said you felt unwell. Does it still hurt now?”
Jiang Jinyi bit her lip, her eyes pooling with water as she whined in a sweet, needy tone, “It hurts.”
“It won’t hurt anymore after you eat this. Xiao Chen kept it especially for you.” Jiang Youwan carefully pushed the bowl closer to her.
Jiang Jinyi took the bowl a beat late, downing the small bowl of porridge in just two or three gulps.
To think a drunkard was actually being cared for by a blind person.
With a warm bowl of porridge in her stomach, Jiang Jinyi’s abdominal pain eased considerably. However, her state of intoxication had not lessened in the slightest; her mind remained muddled and chaotic, jumping erratically from one thought to the next.
Staring at Jiang Youwan with curiosity, she reached out to poke her cheek and asked, “What do you look like when you open your eyes?”
Jiang Youwan’s expression stiffened slightly before she quickly changed the subject, saying, “Miss Jiang has a weak stomach; you should not be drinking alcohol.”
…
“But… but…” Jiang Jinyi pouted aggrievedly. “I’m unhappy.”
Jiang Youwan was incredibly considerate and gentle. “What happened? Why are you unhappy?”
Jiang Jinyi bit her lip, only releasing it after a long moment to speak in a soft, pitiful, tearful voice, “Do you hate me very much?”
Having asked, she immediately added, “You must hate me a lot.”
Footnotes
- Peach blossom eyes (桃花眼, táohuāyǎn) describe an eye shape that resembles peach petals, watery and curved up at the corners, often conveying a flirtatious or beautiful look.
- ATM-ji (ATM姬) is Chinese internet slang combining 'ATM' with the character 'ji' (meaning princess or girl) to describe a wealthy partner or friend who is treated solely as a source of money.
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