Crossing the Line – Chapter 68
by Little PandaI’m Also Little Jiang Jiejie’s Fan
Lin Ji woke up a little early the next day.
Seeing that Jiang Siyi was still asleep, she pressed a light kiss to her forehead and headed out for a morning run.
The season had entered the best time for outdoor activities.
Linyu Shuian had a professional running track for residents to exercise within the community.
She couldn’t remember how long it had been since she last ran in the morning. In these years of insomnia, waking up always left her groggy and exhausted.
After a solid month of good sleep, jogging in the morning light felt like a long-lost comfort.
She still liked open spaces. She still liked the sun.
After a slow two kilometers, she received a voice call from Lin Xuebo.
She switched her Bluetooth earphones from music mode to voice.
Lin Xuebo: 【Xiao You, has Siyi’s older sister come back to the country?】
Lin Ji had been meaning to tell her. Lin Xuebo had been vacationing in Kyoto recently, and Jiang Siling didn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon, so she’d put it off.
Now Madam Lin was back.
No need to ask where she’d heard the news.
Fan Qing was earning one salary while running errands for two households — quite dedicated.
Should she raise her annual salary again at the end of this year?
Lin Ji ran through a patch of shade beneath the trees.
【Yes. Would you like to meet her?】
Lin Xuebo: 【Of course! I haven’t seen Siling in years. Now that she’s finally back, the in-laws should definitely meet.】
Lin Ji: 【We’re going hiking with Siling today, at Forest Park. It’s not far — about three kilometers total. Want to come?】
Lin Xuebo: 【I’ll come! Then I’ll bring your Auntie Qiao along too.】
Lin Ji: 【Sure.】
Lin Xuebo thought for a moment, then added: 【Is Ah Qing coming?】
Lin Ji: 【Do you want her to come, or do you not want her to come?】
Lin Xuebo: 【If she’s free, invite her along.】
Whether Fan Qing was free or not was entirely up to Lin Ji.
Lin Ji asked again: 【Do you want her to come, or does Auntie Qiao want her to come?】
Lin Xuebo’s eyes curved into a smile. She didn’t answer the question directly, only saying:
【Don’t call her Auntie Qiao in front of Ah Qing. Call her Jiejie.】
Lin Ji: …
Lin Ji: 【Then what should I call you, Xuebo-jie?】
Lin Xuebo: …
Lin Ji: 【See you later, Xuebo-jie.】
After hanging up on her daughter and turning to send Qiao Jin a WeChat message, Lin Xuebo stared at the ceiling, thinking about the conversation she’d just had.
“What kind of generational hierarchy is this? It’s all messed up.”
When Lin Ji returned from her run, she found the sisters already up, rummaging in front of the refrigerator.
Lin Ji: “What are you looking for?”
The sisters looked at her, a bit flustered.
Jiang Siyi: “We wanted to make breakfast. But…”
Lin Ji finished the sentence for her.
“But you don’t have any ingredients you know how to cook.”
Jiang Siyi looked like a pre-made meal kind of girl.
Jiang Siling was probably about the same.
Jiang Siyi fell silent for a moment.
The ingredients in the fridge — not only could she not cook them, she couldn’t even name most of them.
“It’s just… you cooked yesterday, so today we thought we’d take a turn.”
A certain piece of toast probably had no idea how adorable she looked, answering so honestly and trying so hard to take care of someone.
Those exceptionally kissable tender lips, opening and closing, weren’t suited for making logical arguments.
They were suited for being immediately sealed.
However, with her older sister present, Lin Ji simply patted her head.
“I already prepped the ingredients before my run. Just wait to eat.”
Jiang Siyi: “How can I let you do that.”
Lin Ji: “You can.”
Jiang Siyi: …
Lin Ji placed both hands on her shoulders and turned her around to face the living room.
“Dear wife and baby, see that sofa? Sit on it, wait fifteen minutes, then bring your mouth to the table.”
Jiang Siyi: .
She had a feeling this was the same technique she used to direct Xueqiu.
Lin Ji took a quick shower and came out, whipping up breakfast for three in ten minutes.
Jiang Siling sat before the table of beautifully presented, delicious-smelling food with heartfelt gratitude, snapping a photo to send to Glenda.
【My meixi1 — isn’t her cooking amazing?】
Glenda quickly replied with a drooling emoji.
She and Glenda were both the type who couldn’t cook and couldn’t be bothered to try.
Normally they just filled their stomachs with white people food2, and a genuinely good meal depended entirely on the conscience of whatever restaurant they picked.
When she painted, she’d look down and look up and an entire day would be gone — her stomach slower to react than her brain.
These past two days, eating thoughtfully prepared, genuinely delicious home-cooked meals at home, she couldn’t help but feel: this is what home feels like.
She wondered what expression Glenda would make eating Chinese food like this.
As an excellent assistant earning a million-yuan annual salary, handling both BOSS’s professional and personal affairs, being on call was a basic professional requirement.
After Lin Ji moved into Linyu Shuian, she’d also arranged a company-provided townhouse for Fan Qing in the same community.
No matter how large the community was, it was only a ten-minute ride on a hoverboard.
Today was a day off. Lin Ji had told her it was just for fun — hiking — so she dressed very casually.
A short mocha-colored wool coat on top, black leather shorts below, paired with sneakers.
She’d let her long hair down for once, shedding all her usual businesslike air — cool and beautiful, looking several years younger than she did in professional attire.
Fan Qing chewed gum and rode her hoverboard to Lin Ji and Jiang Siyi’s doorstep, casually leaning the board against the yard wall and scanning her face to enter the garage for the car.
Xueqiu was coming along to play today too. Once in the car, it was both nervous and excited, its little head swiveling everywhere.
Lin Ji took the passenger seat, letting the sisters sit in the back with Xueqiu.
As the car slowly pulled out of the garage, Lin Ji messaged friends and family, saying they’d arrive at Forest Park in about an hour.
Yan Yu: 【Got it! We’re heading out now, see you at the main gate in an hour!】
Lin Xuebo: 【We’re coming too!】
Fan Qing, who was driving, keenly caught the key detail. “We”?
At a red light, Fan Qing asked with practiced nonchalance: “BOSS, how many people are coming today? The water in the trunk might not be enough. I should go buy more.”
A million-yuan-salary excellent assistant, and she still didn’t pack enough water.
This excuse would be reasonable from anyone else. To make Lin Ji believe it of Fan Qing, she’d have to crack open her skull and swap in a dumber brain.
Lin Ji didn’t call her out, simply telling her who was coming today.
“Four people and one dog from our side, plus Yan Yu and Cen Lu, and my mom and…”
She paused, genuinely unable to say “Qiao-jie.”
“And Qiao Jin.”
Fan Qing: …
Sure enough.
After avoiding her for so many days, they’d have to meet after all.
At the park, after parking the car, Fan Qing checked herself in the mirror.
Of all days, today’s outfit had walked right into the line of fire.
What kind of kid was this?
Standing next to a certain auntie, wouldn’t she instantly look like her daughter?
She couldn’t exactly change outfits on the spot — that would be too obvious.
After agonizing over it, she twisted her hair up into a bun that clashed thoroughly with her outfit, barely managing to nudge her visual age up a notch.
The moment she stepped out of the car, she locked eyes with Lin Ji, who was on the phone with Lin Xuebo.
Lin Ji spoke while quietly studying her new hairstyle.
Fan Qing: .
BOSS, please stop looking. Everyone has things they’d rather not explain.
Everyone arrived.
Fan Qing and Qiao Jin stood at opposite ends of the group, their eyes not meeting at first.
As if they weren’t the ones who’d kissed nearly out of control that night.
Fan Qing stood with both hands shoved in her jacket pockets, looking at the sky, the ground, the air for a while, before casually glancing at Qiao Jin.
Qiao Jin was wearing a long dress today, as elegant and radiant as ever, her waistline alluring, exuding mature charm.
Except for a small scabbed wound on her lip that clashed with her otherwise flawless appearance — somewhat conspicuous.
Xueqiu saw Lin Xuebo and launched itself into her arms.
Lin Xuebo stroked Xueqiu’s round head, laughing until the corners of her eyes crinkled.
“So you’re this sweet on me now? But I didn’t bring you any treats today.”
Qiao Jin: “Xuebo, Xueqiu — they sound like family already.”
Lin Xuebo: .
Lin Xuebo had been about to glare at her, but noticed the wound instead:
“How did you cut your lip?”
Mauled by a mischievous little cat who didn’t know its own strength.
Qiao Jin’s gaze swept lightly over the culprit’s face.
Fan Qing, who’d been stealing a look, pretended nothing had happened and looked away.
Qiao Jin only said: “Internal heat.”
You’d better actually have internal heat.
Seeing through it but not saying so, Lin Xuebo went along with her excuse and offered several good remedies for reducing internal heat.
Today’s weather was perfect for hiking.
Not too cold, not too hot, the sunlight just right.
The group walked beneath giant banyan trees, a cool breeze rustling through, a small waterfall audible not far away.
Jiang Siyi walked arm-in-arm with her older sister. Both were usually on the quieter side, but together, their chatter never stopped.
They talked about life abroad, about work, and then about Siling’s relationship with Glenda.
Jiang Siyi was surprised. “Glenda confessed first?”
Thinking back to that day, Jiang Siling buried her face in her younger sister’s shoulder.
“You have no idea — it scared me so much I plopped right down on the floor.”
Picturing the scene, the sisters laughed like two little sparrows huddled together on a branch.
“Come to think of it, Glenda was a painter you admired since you were little. She’s older than you by…”
Jiang Siyi counted on her fingers.
Jiang Siling immediately supplied the answer. “Fifteen years.”
Fan Qing, who’d been walking several steps behind them, silently drifted closer upon hearing this conversation.
But the moment she moved in, the sisters shared a knowing laugh and dropped the age-gap topic, pivoting to how impressive Glenda’s art exhibition was.
Wait, is the central thesis of this conversation really that scattered?
Fan Qing huffed and quietly drifted away again.
Jiang Siyi continued chatting with her sister, but her attention kept drifting to Lin Ji walking ahead.
Today Lin Ji had her hair in a ponytail, wearing a burgundy baseball cap with her long black waves pulled through the back. Under her sunglasses she wore lightweight sportswear, the “Shi Shi Ru Yi” persimmon pendant3 dangling at her waist.
If she said she was a college senior, nobody would doubt it.
She looked almost unfamiliar.
And yet she was still her wife.
Jiang Siyi thought with a hint of guilt: it felt like suddenly gaining a brand-new wife.
And how was it that even in sweatpants, those legs looked so, so long?
Lin Ji was still wearing long pants, stingily wrapping up her proportionally stunning legs entirely.
Come to think of it, Lin Ji rarely wore shorts.
Those beautiful legs were rarely exposed to anyone else’s eyes.
But Jiang Siyi’s had roamed over them without restraint.
One night, when Lin Ji had loved her until her mind went completely blank, she’d grabbed onto something, fumbling, searching.
Smooth, supple, incredible to the touch.
Only later did she realize it was Lin Ji’s leg.
Those toned, evenly proportioned, truly spectacular legs — Jiang Siyi had squeezed and kneaded them without mercy, leaving several crisscrossing finger marks.
She’d apologized to Lin Ji afterward.
Lin Ji said it was fine, just compensate me a little.
Back then, Jiang Siyi was naive and agreed immediately.
Then Lin Ji held her and “compensated” her well past midnight.
Under Lin Ji’s ministrations, the redness had spread from her inner thighs to her knees.
…
Her thoughts had wandered completely off track. It wasn’t until Xueqiu trotted over to her feet that she managed to reel them back in.
Before every outing, Xueqiu was always the most excited.
After running a few steps, it would tire out, panting with its tongue out and flopping on the ground like a dog-fur rug. Also Xueqiu.
This time, after only a few hundred meters, it already wanted to be carried.
But with such a large group today, there were plenty of “mounts” to go around.
Xueqiu had been taken to the pet groomer by Lin Xuebo and given the most adorable haircut in Bichon history, making it wildly popular in the community already.
Now it was passed around by everyone one by one — pass the dog4 — hugged and cuddled, kissed and squished.
Xueqiu’s eyes went wide with terror. Its perfectly round, fluffy head of fur had been squished into a Tender Beef Pentagon5. It scrambled free and fled to its real mother.
Scooped into its mother’s arms, Xueqiu wore the expression of someone who’d narrowly escaped the clutches of overly enthusiastic aunties, a lipstick smear of unknown origin on its cheek.
The mommy’s boy dog, fattened considerably under Lin Xuebo’s care, insisted on staying put in Jiang Siyi’s arms.
Jiang Siyi carried a heavy little fat dog and had a backpack full of water on her back.
Lin Ji slowed her pace, falling to her side, and tried to take her backpack.
Jiang Siyi, who’d been independent since childhood and wasn’t used to being taken care of by her wife in front of friends and family, said:
“It’s fine, I can carry it myself.”
Lin Ji didn’t say much more. While Qiao Jin came over to chat with Jiang Siyi, she secretly slipped the water bottle out of the backpack’s side mesh pocket.
With all her attention on the conversation with Qiao Jin, Jiang Siyi didn’t notice her backpack had gotten lighter. She’d walked nearly to the finish line without feeling tired.
She was even thinking: Looks like playing ball lately has paid off. My stamina’s improved a lot.
Lin Ji tucked her water bottle into her own bag and trailed quietly at her side.
Whenever Jiang Siyi wanted a drink, it would be ready to hand over.
When the path got rough, Lin Ji would stop and wait for her, taking her hand to guide her through.
Her eyes held only this one person.
Jiang Siling saw every one of these details.
Before returning home, she’d been afraid her sister was being claimed by a tyrant. She’d never imagined the scene before her now.
The answer she’d wanted most had already been given.
Lin Xuebo appeared beside Jiang Siling at some point, looking at Lin Ji and Jiang Siyi just as she was.
“Xiao You has always been an introverted child who doesn’t express herself well.”
Jiang Siling looked at Lin Xuebo.
Lin Xuebo: “But for the person she treasures, she’s always tried hard to express. Expressing love. Expressing protection. Expressing that it has to be her.”
Jiang Siling knew that Lin Ji’s love for her sister was understated yet meticulous.
Jiang Siling: “My sister is an introverted child too. I never thought two introverted people could fit together so perfectly.”
In Lin Ji, Jiang Siling saw the most concrete embodiment of the word “partner.”
A partner is someone who accompanies you, sharing the burdens of this world, one or two things at a time.
How wonderful — there was now one more person in this world who genuinely loved her baby.
A heart that had been suspended could finally settle, fully and completely at peace.
Inspiration for a new piece was suddenly born!
Lin Xuebo was feeling a bit romantic today.
“How wonderful. After all the twists and turns, it’s still the two of them. These are destined lovers.”
Jiang Siling was still wondering why she’d used the phrase “twists and turns.”
Suddenly she felt two mountains closing in from behind on either side.
“Hey, old classmate — you come back to the country and don’t even look us up?”
Yan Yu slung an arm affectionately around her shoulder.
Cen Lu, walking on her other side, said expressionlessly: “Long time no see. Want to add each other as friends?”
From ahead, Lin Ji cast a quiet glance their way.
Jiang Siling: .
Question: What’s it like to be simultaneously watched by the three biggest troublemakers in your high school class?
Jiang Siling, shrinking into an owl, somehow got her answer more than a decade after graduation.
They reached the end of the hike.
The glass viewing platform with the best panoramic view in all of Forest Park.
It sat at a high elevation, offering a sweeping view of Forest Park’s lush, layered greenery.
In the distance, J City’s landmark buildings were faintly visible.
Even farther away, the western mountain range was gradually blushing with maple red.
The great view was especially photogenic, and there were quite a few people taking selfies, group photos, and checking in at the spot.
Lin Xuebo and Qiao Jin found a good position. A selfie wouldn’t capture the scenery behind them.
Lin Xuebo said to Fan Qing, who had been inexplicably keeping her distance:
“Ah Qing, come take some photos for us.”
Fan Qing moved slowly, as if she hadn’t noticed them at all until now.
“Hm? Sure.”
Qiao Jin’s gaze fell on her calmly. Fan Qing stared at Lin Xuebo’s phone the entire time, studying it like some exotic object she’d never seen before, not looking up once.
Qiao Jin said nothing, simply watching her perform.
Lin Xuebo leaned close to Qiao Jin, heads together, smile perfect.
Fan Qing, ostensibly focused on directing the photo composition, had her focus entirely on Qiao Jin.
Through the phone screen she looked and looked, finally making up for all the viewing she’d missed today.
How could an auntie be this beautiful?
Lin Xuebo’s smile was going stiff, and Fan Qing still hadn’t finished, insisting “one more.”
Lin Xuebo: .
How many was that already?
When they finally wrapped up, Qiao Jin wandered to the other side to photograph the scenery.
Fan Qing thought about it, then followed.
Lin Xuebo called Jiang Siyi over and linked arms with her, saying to Lin Ji beside them:
“Xiao You, take some nice photos of me and my Siyi baby. I want to post them on Moments.”
Lin Ji, who’d been about to take a solo photo with Jiang Siyi, could only temporarily play photographer for her mother and wife.
Lin Xuebo cycled through various poses, draped all over Jiang Siyi.
Jiang Siyi looked like she’d been photoshopped in — every single photo featuring the same smile as a Three Good Student6.
When Madam Lin Xuebo was finally satisfied, Lin Ji returned the phone to her.
Lin Ji was about to suggest taking a photo with Jiang Siyi, but Yan Yu and Cen Lu dragged Jiang Siling over. The two of them flanked the sisters, conscripting Lin Ji as photographer once again.
Lin Ji: …
Did no one bring a selfie stick?
Her fingertip pressed the shutter button so fast it nearly sparked.
She finished in a flash and handed the phone back to Yan Yu.
Yan Yu looked skeptical. “You-jie, why do I feel like you didn’t really try?”
Lin Ji: “Satisfaction guaranteed.”
Yan Yu opened the gallery. Good lord — she’d taken hundreds of photos. Group photo after group photo after group photo, enough for two lifetimes. The sheer quantity made her dizzy.
Though she couldn’t really complain — they did look great…
Now she could finally take a photo with Jiang Siyi, right?
Lin Ji turned around and saw Jiang Siyi surrounded by a group of unfamiliar girls.
Lin Ji: ?
“It’s really the beautiful auctioneer from Jiashibi! Jiang Siyi!”
“Ahhhh! How is she even prettier in person than on video!”
“Little Jiang Jiejie, I’m your fan! Can we take a photo? I’ve been watching your videos for ages!”
Lin Ji: .
Is my wife a tourist attraction now, excuse me?
She hadn’t expected to run into photo requests from strangers.
The girls were so enthusiastic that Jiang Siyi couldn’t bring herself to refuse:
“Sure!”
The girls crowded around Jiang Siyi from all sides, about to snap a photo with a selfie stick.
Then they noticed an extra “stranger” in the frame.
Everyone looked at the woman who’d appeared from out of nowhere, wedging herself next to Jiang Siyi.
A very beautiful woman.
But…
“Who are you?”
Lin Ji, who’d insisted on standing right beside Jiang Siyi, had been about to introduce herself. On second thought, she wasn’t sure if Jiashibi was trying to build Jiang Siyi into a “star auctioneer.”
Stars weren’t supposed to publicly disclose their relationship status.
If she spoke out of turn, she was worried it might affect Jiang Siyi’s career.
But Lin Ji had no intention of stepping aside either.
Under everyone’s stares, Lin Ji tried to look as un-intimidating as possible and smiled:
“I’m also Little Jiang Jiejie’s fan. Her number one fan.”
Everyone: ?
Jiang Siyi: …
So she’s planning to crash the photo as a fan.
But her hand was taken hold of by Jiang Siyi.
“Xiao You, stop messing around.”
Jiang Siyi smiled, helpless and tender, pulling Lin Ji even closer.
Closer than anyone else.
“She is my wife.”
The author has something to say:
Lin Ji: Today was another day of being spoiled by my wife
Footnotes
- 妹媳 | meixi | A Chinese kinship term specifically denoting one's younger sister's wife, combining 妹 (mei, younger sister) and 媳 (xi, daughter-in-law or wife of a junior male relative). Chinese kinship distinguishes in-laws by gender and birth order far more precisely than English.
- 白人饭 | bairen fan | Literally 'white people food' — Chinese internet slang for simple, cold, unheated Western-style meals like salads, sandwiches, and cold cuts requiring minimal preparation. The term went viral on Chinese social media for its austere contrast with China's tradition of hot, freshly cooked meals.
- 柿柿如意 | shi shi ru yi | A pun replacing 事 (shi, 'things') with 柿 (shi, 'persimmon') in the auspicious phrase 事事如意 (shi shi ru yi, 'may all things go as wished'). Commonly featured on persimmon-shaped ornaments and plushies as a symbol of good fortune.
- 击鼓传狗 | ji gu chuan gou | A humorous twist on 击鼓传花 (ji gu chuan hua, 'pass the flower'), a traditional Chinese party game similar to hot potato where players pass an object while music plays and whoever holds it when the music stops faces a forfeit. Here, the 'object' being passed is the dog Xueqiu.
- 嫩牛五方 | nen niu wu fang | Literally 'tender beef pentagon' — a popular KFC China menu item: a pentagon-shaped flatbread wrap filled with seasoned beef, lettuce, and spicy sauce. Its distinctive five-sided shape became a meme reference for anything squished into a pentagon.
- 三好学生 | san hao xuesheng | Literally 'Three Good Student' — a prestigious honor in the Chinese education system awarded to students demonstrating excellence in moral character, academic achievement, and physical fitness. Recipients typically pose with stiff, earnest smiles for award photos.
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