CH 80

Her voice seemed to drift from a distant place, hollow and ethereal. Tian Lin wasn't sure if she misheard or if she was dreaming.

Ranran?

Cheng Suran?

That name also existed in a deep, distant corner of her memory.

Tian Lin fell silent for a moment, looking at the absent-minded Jiang Yu with a sigh. "It's been five years."

"Yeah, five years..." Jiang Yu murmured.

She had thought that with enough time passing, everything could be taken away. But the impression of that girl was etched more clearly in her heart. When she didn't deliberately think about it, it seemed like she had forgotten. But when the other person reappeared before her, she realized that she had never forgotten.

The last time Jiang Yu saw Cheng Suran was at the entrance of the wedding hotel.

After returning, she stored away everything related to Cheng Suran, hiding them in a corner of a small warehouse. This included the gift she received on her birthday, which she couldn't bear to throw away. Then she threw herself into busy work.

Her career as a model had ended, but her career as a talent agent and designer was just beginning.

Over the past five years, SIENA MODEL had gradually grown and become a leader in the industry. They established a complete industry system, from model scouting to training and management, with the headquarters in Jiangcheng and dozens of branch offices in southern China, northern China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas. Their business expanded continuously, with nearly a thousand signed models and clients and partners spread across major fashion centers worldwide.

Meanwhile, the brand ETERNO, which she founded with her designer friend a few years ago, was also gaining momentum. Regional headquarters were established in various countries, and she served as a shareholder and one of the designers, overseeing the Chinese market, although she didn't directly participate in day-to-day operations most of the time.

Every year during the four major fashion weeks, Jiang Yu watched as models walked the runway in clothes she had designed, feeling proud and fulfilled. However, no matter how busy she was during the day, in the quiet of the night, she still felt a sense of loneliness and emptiness. Work could fill her up, but there were always moments of pause. She went everywhere alone, did everything alone, without anyone to share or confide in.

And then she started seeking lovers again, returning to the days of "keeping birds" in the past.

This time, the template for her lovers was not Qi Yan but Cheng Suran.

In the first two years, she had kept eight "canaries," the longest for two months and the shortest for one week. Without exception, they were young girls in their early twenties—pure-looking, with clear eyes and sweet dimples. They were petite, no taller than 165 cm, obedient and quiet, and they sang beautifully, at least knowing one foreign language.

Each person had some resemblance to Cheng Suran.

Jiang Yu had them apply a milk-scented body lotion and wear pink silk robes. They wouldn't meet during the day, only occasionally accompanying her on nights. The freshness came and went quickly, and with each new lover, the period of being alone grew longer and more tiresome.

The last lover was the most reminiscent of Cheng Suran. At first, Jiang Yu didn't realize it, but one night when they were drinking together and a bit intoxicated, in a moment of affection, she called out that nickname to the girl.

The next day, the girl asked, "Who is Ranran?"

So, she kicked her out.

Because of this, Tian Lin teased her, saying, "Can't you find a different template?"

Since then, Jiang Yu had never kept any "birds" again. It had been three years, and she remained alone.

The longer the time passed, the more anxious she felt. In the end, she had to admit that she had developed genuine feelings in an unequal relationship. If it had been just that, it would have been forgivable, but what tormented her heart was that she had driven away the girl in the most ruthless and hurtful way, something she was reluctant to face in every possible way.

The sound of ship whistles echoed between the tall buildings on both sides of the strait.

"I never thought I would see her again. You know, what are the chances of such a serendipitous encounter..." Jiang Yu stared at the distant lights, and a bright glow illuminated her eyes.

Once at the age of eighteen, once at thirty-two, and once at thirty-eight.

Tian Lin whispered, "You should have the answer in your heart."

Jiang Yu fell silent.

"Where did you see Miss Cheng?"

"In the meeting room."

Jiang Yu slowly recounted everything that had happened that afternoon.

"Ranran has grown up. You don't know how beautiful she looked sitting there. I couldn't find a trace of her past self in her. She felt so unfamiliar, yet she was still her. Everything has changed, and nothing has changed..." She spoke as if talking to herself, her eyes flickering with a sense of gratification.

Tian Lin asked again, "How did she treat you?"

The smile on Jiang Yu's lips froze, and her complexion gradually turned dim.

After a while, she lowered her head and said, "She was polite. After all, it was a business discussion, and it's been so many years. It's impossible for things to be the same as before."

It sounded more like she was consoling herself.

"Well, that's understandable. It's been so long, Miss Cheng has achieved success in her career, and she must have plenty of suitors around her. Maybe she already has someone in her life and has forgotten about the past. Life is long," Tian Lin analyzed seriously, worried that Jiang Yu might recall unpleasant experiences and wanted to console her, but little did she know that her words only made her more disheartened.

Jiang Yu furrowed her brows tightly. "You're right..."

She might already have someone in her life.

Tian Lin seemed to understand what she was thinking and sighed. "She's just an old lover. If you meet, you meet. You have your own life, and she has hers. Just focus on your cooperation and be happy. Isn't that good?"

Jiang Yu remained silent.

Seeing her like this, Tian Lin had some guesses in her mind.

Guesses that had been there for five years.

Jiang Yu always wrapped herself up tightly, even those closest to her couldn't fully understand her. Even though Tian Lin knew a bit about her family background and a few things about her childhood, she couldn't truly grasp Jiang Yu's heart.

"If you really can't let go, then take this opportunity..."

"She must hate me a lot," Jiang Yu interrupted softly.

Tian Lin placed a hand on her shoulder and comfortingly patted her. "Even if she hates you, it's a good thing."

"Why?"

"When there's hatred, there's still concern, and there's a glimmer of hope. If there's no hatred, if she completely lets go, then you'll become nothing more than familiar strangers."

Jiang Yu fell into contemplation.

Hot gusts of wind blew by, mixed with a sense of dryness, and the surrounding air felt stifling and scorching.

At night, Jiang Yu couldn't sleep.

She lay on the large bed surrounded by rabbit dolls, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, Cheng Suran's face appeared in her mind. She grabbed her phone from the pillow and opened a web page, searching for "Cheng Suran."

Surprisingly, there was relevant information on the encyclopedia.

Cheng Suran, female, former French translator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, graduated from Jiangcheng Foreign Language University... The introduction was brief, with only one work photo.

The photo of Cheng Suran showed her dressed in a black suit, with her hair styled in a low ponytail. There were name cards and three long microphones placed in front of her. Her expression was calm, her demeanor composed, her eyes bright and spirited, radiating a vibrant aura. She was completely different from the shy and timid little canary of the past.

Jiang Yu continued to search for some political news and watched videos of relevant international conferences, making an effort to find Cheng Suran's presence among a group of male leaders. Finally, in a news segment, she found it—Cheng Suran sitting next to the leaders, her presence understated yet impossible to ignore. Jiang Yu replayed the video multiple times, deeply captivated by that figure, experiencing subtle emotions in her heart.

Pride, contentment...

And a slight fluttering sensation.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and felt her body sink into the depths of a silent sea. The dim light from the night lamp grew distant, fading away...

With a contract signing scheduled for 10 o'clock, Jiang Yu got out of bed before 7 o'clock. Like performing a sacred ritual, she went through her morning routine and stood in front of her walk-in closet.

Faced with a room full of clothes, she felt helpless.

What should she wear?

She opened her "Coco's Capsule Wardrobe," filled with timeless classic pieces in shades of black, white, gray, and camel, along with some uniquely designed accessories. Any combination would result in a comfortable and effortlessly sophisticated look, which she usually loved. However, today she was dissatisfied no matter how much she tried different outfits.

How should she dress to meet Ranran?

After half an hour of indecision, she managed to put together three outfits and went to the guest room to pull a groggy Tian Lin along.

Due to work reasons, Tian Lin had been staying at Jiang Yu's house recently. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she followed behind Jiang Yu and asked, "What's wrong, Sister Yu?"

"Help me decide which outfit to wear," Jiang Yu said, pointing at the clothes.

Tian Lin looked at her in astonishment, then glanced at the clothes, laughing. "Aren't you mistaken? You're a model, you should be better at styling than me. I can't believe you don't know what to wear..." She said that, but still went through the wardrobe one by one, seriously contemplating.

"Today is for signing a contract, so it shouldn't be too flashy for a serious occasion, but it's summer, so it shouldn't be too dull either..."

"Forget it, go back to sleep," Jiang Yu waved her hand.

Tian Lin: "..."

After Tian Lin left, Jiang Yu stood in front of the dressing mirror, looking at herself and imagining how the kid would see her.

From 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., and then to 8:30 a.m...

In the end, Jiang Yu chose a light gray shirt dress, paired with a thin belt. She unbuttoned the top two buttons, revealing a hint of her collarbone, and added a simple silver pendant necklace for a touch of color.

After breakfast, she carefully applied light makeup and spent some time in front of the mirror until 9:20 a.m. before heading out.

Today she would drive herself.

The traffic was heavy on the road, causing a bit of congestion. Around 9:40 a.m., Jiang Yu arrived at the entrance of the building and saw a black car parked at the corner. The passenger door happened to open.

A woman with long hair got out of the car.

Ranran?

Jiang Yu narrowed her eyes and drove forward slowly, stopping at a distance, observing carefully.

Audi A6L.

Tsk.

Cheng Suran closed the car door and walked a few steps in six or seven-centimeter high heels. Suddenly, she stopped, turned around, and at that moment, the driver's side door opened, and another woman got out of the car.

From this angle, the woman's face was not visible.

The person had a tall figure, shoulder-length hair, and was wearing a simple apricot-colored short-sleeved shirt. She was holding a document bag and walked around the front of the car to hand it to Cheng Suran, saying something.

Cheng Suran smiled, and two small dimples faintly appeared, exuding a sweet and gentle charm.

The woman raised her hand and carefully tidied Cheng Suran's hair.

Jiang Yu gripped the steering wheel tightly.

Soon, the two women went their separate ways. Cheng Suran walked toward the lobby on the first floor, while the other woman turned around, finally allowing Jiang Yu to see her face.

Her eyes were deep and her eyebrows were defined. She had a high nose, with a slightly mixed-race appearance, but not the strong features often associated with it.

She got into the car, and there was no further movement.

[Miss Cheng has achieved success in her career, and she must have plenty of suitors around her. Maybe she already has someone in her life and has forgotten about the past...]

Jiang Yu remembered Tian Lin's words.

Could it be Ranran's partner?

The way Ranran looked at that person with such tenderness, and the sweet smile she showed to that person, used to be reserved only for Jiang Yu. Ranran hadn't become cold or distant, she had just given all her warmth and beauty to someone else.

A sense of melancholy and a faint feeling of loss welled up in Jiang Yu's heart. She sat for a while, then drove the car to the intersection ahead, made a U-turn, and entered the underground parking lot, estimating the time it would take to go upstairs.

"Miss Jiang, Manager Cheng has already arrived. This is the contract prepared by the Legal Department."

Yesterday's suited man was the Manager of the Business Department who delivered the prepared contract, but he would not be involved in the signing process. This was Jiang Yu's request.

"Mm." Jiang Yu took the contract and flipped through it. Seeing that there were five minutes left until ten o'clock, she stood up and left her office.

The meeting room was downstairs, with a spacious and bright reception area on the outside. Just as Jiang Yu stepped out of the elevator, she saw Cheng Suran sitting on a sofa chair, head down, engrossed in reading a document.

Cheng Suran sat with grace, her back straight and her white blouse tied with a long necktie. Her light pink dress had a touch of gauze, giving off a gentle and capable aura. Sitting quietly, she was like a beautiful painting.

Elegant and captivating.

Jiang Yu hesitated to disturb and slowed her pace.

A strand of chestnut hair slipped from Cheng Suran's shoulder onto the paper. She tilted her neck and raised her hand to tuck it behind her ear. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a figure approaching, and when she looked up, she met Jiang Yu's burning gaze.

Her heartbeat momentarily paused.

It was as if she was transported back to that night in the hotel a few years ago, when the snake-like woman turned and glanced back.

The memory flashed by, and Cheng Suran quickly regained her composure. She calmly closed the folder, stood up, and wore a polite smile on her lips. "Miss Jiang."

"Miss Cheng, you're here so early." Jiang Yu stared at her face.

"Yes, I'm used to arriving early."

There was no trace of flaw on her face, as if she was wearing the most perfect mask. The smile didn't reach her eyes, it was just surface-level politeness, balanced between being too warm and too indifferent.

There was no longer the little girl who couldn't hide her thoughts.

Jiang Yu suddenly remembered the scene downstairs just now. She saw Cheng Suran smiling at the woman next to her, a smile she was familiar with, and couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness. She withdrew her gaze and turned to walk towards the meeting room. "Come in."

In that instant when she turned around, Cheng Suran put away her smile.

They entered the meeting room one after the other.

There were glass bottles of mineral water on the table. Cheng Suran took a seat first. Jiang Yu glanced at the file bag in her hand and casually asked, "What were you looking at just now?"

"The materials for the afternoon meeting."

"There's another meeting? Is your schedule that packed?"

The question seemed somewhat unnecessary and disrupted the professional atmosphere between them. Cheng Suran sensibly perceived it and deliberated for a moment before choosing reason over emotion.

"Yes, very busy, so I prefer to focus on the present matters."

She continued to smile flawlessly.

For small contracts like this, there was no need for a formal and serious occasion, nor did it require a grand and solemn ceremony. Both parties would read through it, confirm that there were no issues, and sign it in a matter of minutes.

Everything was just work. That's how Cheng Suran saw it.

Jiang Yu nodded and didn't say anything more. She pushed the prepared contracts over. "Take a look at these contracts."

The scene felt familiar.

As Cheng Suran flipped open the contract, a vivid image flashed in her mind...

The girl sat on the sofa, obedient and reserved, with her legs placed neatly and properly. On the opposite side sat the snake-like woman, cold and piercing, her predatory gaze assessing her.

[Sister, is this legally binding?]

[No. Just giving the kid a sense of ceremony. As long as you behave well, sister will keep her word.]

The red, bolded text: Do not be tempted.

It was as sharp as blood.

It was August 28, 2019, a sunny morning. She anxiously waited for the benefactor to sell her off like a piece of pork at the market, and then she fell in love in that unequal relationship.

Six years had passed, and she still remembered that humble and weak version of herself, the ugly and miserable self. She remained deeply entrenched in it, even though she knew she couldn't have it.

But that version of herself was also charmingly foolish, with a sincere and pure heart, wasn't she?

She wouldn't hate herself anymore.

The contract was only a few pages long, and Cheng Suran quickly flipped through both copies. She raised her head and said, "No issues."

Jiang Yu was lost in her thoughts, staring at her. Startled by Cheng Suran's voice, she quickly handed over a pen and an ink pad.

Pretending not to know, Cheng Suran smoothly signed her name and pressed her thumbprint.

Jiang Yu also stamped the company seal.

"Pleasure working with you."

She smiled and extended her hand.

Cheng Suran hesitated for a moment before shaking hands with her. As their palms touched, feeling the warmth and softness of her skin, Cheng Suran's heart skipped a beat. She quickly withdrew her hand as if she had been shocked and casually said, "Pleasure working with you."

She swiftly packed up her documents and stood up.

"Since it's a pleasant collaboration, how about having a meal together? My treat," Jiang Yu closed her palm, wanting to preserve the warmth that belonged to her.

Cheng Suran politely declined, "Thank you for the offer, Miss Jiang, but I have work in the afternoon."

With that, she turned to leave.

"When I arrived earlier, I saw a black Audi parked at the entrance," Jiang Yu sat in her chair, watching her.

"..."

"Is she your girlfriend?"

"No."

Cheng Suran's words rushed out, fearing that any delay would lead to misunderstandings. Suddenly, she realized that she had no obligation to answer personal questions.

Why was she so obedient? Answering anyone's questions without even considering it for a second.

She glanced at Jiang Yu with a slight panic.

Jiang Yu's gaze grew deeper.

"Miss Jiang, if you'll excuse me."

After all, she was an important client. Cheng Suran comforted herself with this thought, not wanting to stay a moment longer.

"Ranran—"

Jiang Yu stood up and grabbed her hand, a moment of urgency causing her to pull with too much force, making Cheng Suran sway and nearly hit the corner of the table. Jiang Yu hurriedly supported her waist.

A strange silence filled the air.

Cheng Suran quickly regained her balance, breaking free from her grip and taking two steps back. "Is there anything else, Miss Jiang?"

She struggled to maintain her composure as an adult.

Jiang Yu's lips trembled, wanting to say something, but looking at Cheng Suran's calm face, she swallowed her words and said, "It's nothing."

Cheng Suran left the meeting room.

The heavy door closed again, and the sound insulation here was excellent. All external noises were shielded, and a deafening silence surrounded Jiang Yu from all directions.

The silence was almost painful to the ears.

Jiang Yu slumped onto the chair, lowered her head, and looked at her own hands. She spread her fingers and then closed them, suddenly feeling somewhat fortunate.

She asks, and she answers. She reaches out, and she avoids. She calls her by her nickname, and she wants to run away. Until today, she couldn't be sure if Ranran had truly let go of everything. Were they only able to maintain a polite working relationship, becoming the most familiar strangers to each other?

She would rather have Ranran hate her, scold her, accuse her, be hysterical towards her, than see Ranran expressionless or smiling at her.

Cheng Suran's actions showed her that she wasn't as calm as she appeared...

Perhaps there was still a chance for her?

Jiang Yu took a deep breath, took out her phone, unlocked it, and habitually spent some time looking at the wallpaper. It was a photo of Ranran taken by her in the car at Qi Yan and Lu Zhiqiao's wedding five years ago.

Then she opened Weibo and switched to her alternate account.

@Carnivorous Herbivore JWY: My girl is back.

Author's Note:

Jiang Scum: I'm jealous, but I won't say it. QAQ.