CH 52.3

… 

Watching as Ji Fanyin blissfully devoured a quarter of the Eggs Benedict in a single mouthful, Song Shiyu belatedly realized that he no longer confused Ji Fanyin for Ji Xinxin.

It was weird. 

He used to fall for the illusion slyly crafted by Ji Fanyin, and it often left him frustrated how easily she was able to make a fool out of him. But now… 

It has been like this, especially after the two of us spent Christmas together. Ji Fanyin’s gestures and voice are still identical to Ji Xinxin’s, but somehow, I am able to subconsciously distinguish between the two of them.

Along with that came the realization of just how little he knew about Ji Fanyin.

What does Ji Fanyin like? What does she hate? What does she do when not meeting with me? What usually goes through her mind? Is there some special reason why she used to like me? What was she thinking when she first accepted my offer to become Ji Xinxin’s substitute?

Song Shiyu knew none of the answers to those questions.

He desperately tried to fish the answers out of her, but no matter what he asked, all he heard were Ji Xinxin’s responses.

Ji Fanyin was sitting right in front of him, smiling gently at him. Yet, he felt like she was hidden beneath a layer of ice, existing in a domain beyond his reach… 

No, that’s not it. The person sitting in front of me is ‘Ji Xinxin’.

When this thought flashed across Song Shiyu’s mind, he subconsciously clenched his fists tightly. He took a deep breath and tried his best to recall whatever he knew about Ji Fanyin.

He had known these two twin sisters for many years now, so surely he should be able to find something of use here.

“I remember that you used to…” Song Shiyu did manage to dig something up in the end. “… I mean, I heard that your big sister is good at studying. She’s able to grasp anything right away. Could the reason you frequent museums be to catch up with her?”

While chewing on her food, Ji Fanyin flashed Song Shiyu an embarrassed smile before slowly nodding her head. 

Her smile was as impeccable as always, sweet and pure, but Song Shiyu felt like he could see a hint of contempt in her eyes. It was as if she was mocking him for his desperation in trying to resuscitate something that was already long gone. 

“Shall we head to the observatory today?” Song Shiyu remembered that there was a famous observatory in the city.

Ji Fanyin swallowed the final mouthful of her Eggs Benedict before replying with a faint smile, “That sounds great. It’s just a pity that we can’t bring big sis with us.”

Song Shiyu felt a stifle in his chest. “… We can call her next time.”

“That won’t do.” Ji Fanyin shook her head smilingly. “Big sis doesn’t like those things anymore.”

Song Shiyu’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. He found himself at a loss. “What does she like then?”

Ji Fanyin looked at him doubtfully. “When did you start caring so much about big sis? Is the person you like me or my big sis?”

Her words were so light and casual, as if she was just asking a question that had little significance to her. 

It made Song Shiyu realize just how worthless her previous feelings for him had become as soon as she stopped liking him. She used to like him so much, but there was nothing left now.

He couldn’t accept this huge change.

He was already accustomed to having Ji Fanyin at his beck and call. Even when he insulted her, she would quietly tolerate it without the slightest grudge. It felt like those affectionate eyes she always directed toward him would be the only constant thing in the world. 

He couldn’t accept how he had already shattered his mental barrier to finally confess to Ji Fanyin, only to be met with her disdain.

“Now that you mentioned it, it has been a while since we have last been to the observatory. Should we head there at night?” Ji Fanyin carried the conversation forward without the slightest awkwardness. “We can watch the stars at night. I’m sure that it’ll be beautiful.”

Song Shiyu was just about to respond when a young man suddenly entered the brunch restaurant. That young man ignored the waiter’s greeting and headed straight toward Song Shiyu and Ji Fanyin’s table. 

With both hands inserted inside his aviator jacket, the young man looked at Song Shiyu with his usual cool face and said, “What a coincidence.”

Coincidence? You’re obviously here to hinder us. But how did he know that we’re here?

… No, this isn’t right. The real question is who’s he really trying to hinder here?

Song Shiyu sharply glanced at Bai Zhou. He swallowed down all of the conflicted feelings bubbling inside him and grabbed Ji Fanyin’s hand. “Let’s go.”

At the very least, he was confident that Ji Fanyin wouldn’t reject his request during ‘service hours’.

“Alright.” Ji Fanyin stood up without any complaints.

However, Bai Zhou stepped forward to block Ji Fanyin’s path. It was clear that he was here to cause trouble.

Song Shiyu felt an inexplicable rush of fury surging into his head.

At least at this very moment, Ji Fanyin belongs to me and me alone!

Then he jolted in surprise.

Does Bai Zhou harbor the same thoughts as me?

The tension between Song Shiyu and Bai Zhou swiftly escalated. Right before an argument was about to break out, Ji Fanyin suddenly interjected, “Zhouzhou, I’m on a date. You shouldn’t cause a scene here.”

With her sweet voice, she uttered freezingly cold words to Bai Zhou.

Feeling the full brunt of the impact, Bai Zhou widened his eyes in disbelief. Even if it was just an act, she had used the word ‘date’.

Song Shiyu felt his heartbeat hasten for two seconds, but his rationality swiftly dragged him back into the abyss. 

He knew that Ji Fanyin was saying those words not because she liked him but that he had paid her for it. Should the situation be flipped around and Bai Zhou had been the one who paid the money, he would have been the recipient of those freezingly cold words. 

Just the thought of those words being directed at him left him feeling indescribably bitter.

I never knew that it was this unbearable to lose a person’s preferential treatment, Song Shiyu thought in remorse.

He couldn’t believe that he had thrown it away himself back then.