ORCBRB – Chapter 19
Chapter 19
After sending the message to Jian Cenyu, Sang Shi'an planned to ask Su Ningyue out for a late-night snack and, while she was at it, get an autograph for a junior schoolmate from a celebrity signed under the Su family's company.
As she passed through the living room, Jian Cenyu, who was handling documents, stopped her. “Didn’t you eat enough?”
Sang Shi'an was stunned for a moment upon hearing the voice, then she clutched her coat and turned to look, only to find Jian Cenyu pouring water in the kitchenette.
Sang Shi'an: ???
Was she seeing a ghost? How did Jian Cenyu know she hadn't eaten enough and was going out for a late-night snack?
Could it be that she saw the message from her alternate account and had already guessed it was her?
No, that was impossible.
She had disguised her voice, and her room showed no identifiable features. Most importantly, on her alternate account, she was completely submissive to Jian Cenyu, a stark contrast to her usual self. Jian Cenyu would have to be insane to connect her with that alternate account.
Sang Shi'an immediately composed herself. “Do you know people from the Youth League Committee?”
“I don’t have contact with them.” Jian Cenyu walked over with a coffee mug and explained, “I’ve just noticed that when you go out at this time, it’s usually for a late-night snack.”
Sang Shi'an opened her call history, tapped on an unsaved, missed call from an unknown number, and quickly flashed it in front of Jian Cenyu. “The courier station just called me,” she said. “They said a package was lost and I need to go over.”
She was definitely not that suitor who hadn’t eaten enough and was going out for a late-night snack.
Jian Cenyu returned to her desk, picked up a hair tie to secure her hair in a low ponytail, smiled, and said, “Alright then.”
Sang Shi'an was very satisfied with her being sensible and not prying.
Jian Cenyu added, “Since you’re not getting a late-night snack, come back early. It might snow a little later.”
Sang Shi'an: “Mhm, mhm, mhm, mhm, mhm, mhm.”
Jian Cenyu’s gaze returned to the screen, a fleeting smile flashing in her light-colored eyes.
Once inside the elevator, Sang Shi'an messaged Su Ningyue, telling her not to come over: [I stupidly used my alternate account to tell Jian Cenyu I was going for a late-night snack. I’m afraid she’ll get suspicious if I go out now. Let’s meet up another day.]
Su Ningyue didn’t mind being stood up by Sang Shi'an: [It doesn’t matter to me, I was just going to keep you company. What about you? Didn’t you say you didn’t eat enough at dinner?]
The signal in the elevator was terrible. Sang Shi'an only received the message when she reached the first floor. She pouted and typed two words: [Starve]
Su Ningyue immediately sent a sympathetic emoji sticker.
There were indeed signs of the temperature dropping outside. As soon as she stepped out of the building, the oncoming wind made her ears ache. Sang Shi'an wrapped her coat tightly around herself, deliberately took a detour to the courier station, and waited for two minutes before heading back.
On her way back, she switched her WeChat to her Kitty account and saw that Jian Cenyu had replied to her seven minutes ago: [My preference is not fixed, it depends on the clothes.]
[Busy today.]
So, she had no time to care about her, but she had time to look at clothes?
Was it because her preference was not fixed? Wasn’t it more about whether the clothes were pretty and revealing?
Thinking back to the last video call, Sang Shi'an suddenly felt that the wind wasn't so cold anymore.
But she still had to reply. Annoyed, Sang Shi'an poked at the screen, one word at a time: [Jiejie is so outstanding, unlike me who just lies in bed thinking about Jiejie after class.]
[Did Jiejie miss a message? About that fortune-teller. When I met him today, people around said he was very accurate. Guess what I asked for?]
Jian Cenyu was as cold as ever on WeChat: [?]
Sang Shi'an: [Guess, Jiejie, please? Pretty please?]
Jian Cenyu was direct: [Not guessing.]
Sang Shi'an took a deep breath, thinking to herself that Jian Cenyu wasn't usually this annoying.
But it was fine, she could act.
[I asked about my romantic fate.]
[And the master said that my true love has already appeared and is in contact with me.]
[Jiejie, do you think he's accurate?]
After sending the message, Sang Shi'an used her fingerprint to unlock and push open the door.
Hearing the noise, Jian Cenyu looked at her. “Found the package?”
“Not yet. I’ve already communicated with the seller. The courier will compensate the seller, and the seller will resend the item for me.” Sang Shi'an changed her shoes and walked inside without looking at her.
Jian Cenyu stopped her. “Want some hot pot?”
Sang Shi'an paused, her gaze clearly skeptical. “Now?”
“I ordered ingredients. I was asking if you were hungry just now because I wanted to invite you to join me. If you’re not busy now, come eat with me.” Jian Cenyu glanced at her phone. “It should be delivered in about ten minutes.”
Sang Shi'an was indeed hungry, but she wasn't Kitty right now, so she could afford to be picky. “Which place is it from? I don’t like those healthy hot pots.”
Jian Cenyu named a restaurant. “The reviews say it’s quite clean. I ordered a yuan-yang pot for the base. Want some?”
Sang Shi'an changed her direction and immediately walked towards the dining table. “I’ll go get some drinks.”
Jian Cenyu couldn't help but laugh at Sang Shi'an's lively and sudden change of heart.
As Sang Shi'an opened the refrigerator, she walked over and held the door shut. “Don’t drink anything cold at night. Get something from the cabinet.”
They were standing close, and Jian Cenyu’s voice brushed past her ear like a spring breeze melting snow. Sang Shi'an said, “Oh,” and for once, didn’t argue with Jian Cenyu. She walked to the cabinet where the drinks were stored. “Which one do you want?”
Jian Cenyu glanced over and said, “I’ll have the same as you.”
Just as they finished preparing the tableware, the doorbell rang. The hot pot base and ingredients had arrived.
When Sang Shi'an saw that the hot pot packaging was indeed from the restaurant Jian Cenyu had mentioned, a compliment slipped out. “Jian Cenyu, you’re such a good person!”
“If you can’t give a proper compliment, don’t.”
Sang Shi'an hummed. “I’m being very sincere.”
Jian Cenyu didn’t expose her further. She took out the disposable hot pot utensils from the delivery bag, set them up, and began to unpack the ingredients. Sang Shi'an looked at the dishes one by one, and her eyes suddenly lit up. “You even ordered crayfish!”
Jian Cenyu took out the container, removed the receipt taped to the outermost bag, and explained, “The restaurant is having a promotion. It was free with a minimum purchase.”
Sang Shi'an urged, “Free is good, free is fine. I love them, hurry up and take them out.”
Jian Cenyu placed the crayfish next to the pot, silently crumpled the receipt in her palm, and tossed it into the trash can.
Finding Jian Cenyu’s movements too slow, Sang Shi'an took over directly. “You don’t unpack takeout often, be careful not to splash soup on your clothes. Let me, let me.”
Jian Cenyu sat down. Sang Shi'an still had some conscience, so she asked before putting food into the pot, “Which side should I put it in?”
“You decide.”
“Weren’t you the one who was hungry and ordered it?”
Jian Cenyu leaned back in her chair. Her low ponytail loosened, and a few strands of hair fell by her cheek, gently brushing the corner of her eye. “I drank too much coffee just now, I don’t feel hungry.”
“…” Not eating would be a waste. She wasn't going to be polite then.
Sang Shi'an put a few slices of each type of meat into the pot. Noticing that Jian Cenyu was still watching her, she waved her chopsticks. “If you’re not eating, then do some work. Maybe you’ll get an appetite from the smell.”
“Okay.” Jian Cenyu took a pair of disposable gloves, brought the crayfish in front of her, and began to peel them.
The moment the lid of the crayfish container was opened, a pungent spicy smell filled the air, clearly a level of spiciness that Jian Cenyu couldn't handle. The peeled crayfish meat was placed back into the sauce, and it was self-evident who she was peeling them for.
Sang Shi'an felt a bit awkward with her doing this. “You don’t happen to know the owner of the hot pot restaurant and poisoned it, do you?”
Jian Cenyu said lightly, “I did.”
The piece of crayfish meat Sang Shi'an had picked up was now stuck. She didn't know whether to eat it or drop it, so she just stared blankly.
Jian Cenyu let out a low laugh and changed her tune. “I’m joking with you. I can’t just sit here and watch you while I wait for my appetite to come back, can I? You don’t have a free hand to peel crayfish either, so it’s convenient for me.”
Oh, so she was trying to distract herself by peeling crayfish.
She didn't want to be stared at constantly either.
Sang Shi'an’s psychological burden instantly vanished, and she began to eat one after another. After all, wasting food was shameful.
After eating until she was about a third full, Sang Shi'an suggested, “Then I’ll make you a non-spicy dipping sauce, as a thank you.”
Jian Cenyu was changing into a new pair of gloves. The tips of her long, slender nails were stained with red oil, resembling a cat’s eye manicure, sparkling under the crystal light.
Unfortunately, it was wiped clean by a tissue the next second.
Sang Shi'an watched as Jian Cenyu opened her phone and switched to the WeChat interface to reply to a message. From a distance, the profile picture of the person she was replying to seemed to be the black and white ragdoll cat she had chosen.
A wave of irritation suddenly rose in her heart.
What was Jian Cenyu doing? Messaging her ambiguous online partner right in front of Sang Shiyue’s sister?
As expected, Jian Cenyu hadn’t learned anything good during her four years abroad.
The crayfish in her mouth lost its flavor. Sang Shi'an stuck her serving chopsticks into the hot pot, stirring them as if washing them, until the splashing soup landed on Jian Cenyu’s phone screen.
Jian Cenyu’s eyelids lifted, her gaze pausing for a second. “What are you doing?”
Having been caught, Sang Shi'an simply stirred it again. “None of your business.”
Jian Cenyu squinted her eyes, quietly watching her.
Being looked at like this, Sang Shi'an was inexplicably reminded of Jian Cenyu’s controlling tone during their WeChat chats. A sense of discomfort gradually welled up inside her. “When I eat hot pot with other people, there aren’t so many rules. They let me drink iced beer, and some even proactively serve me food.”
“Serve you?” Jian Cenyu repeated the words. “Who’s so considerate?”
Sang Shi'an frowned. “None of your business who helps me. So many people like me, how can I remember them all?”
“Weren’t all the people who liked you rejected by you?” Jian Cenyu’s tone was subtle.
Sang Shi'an: …
She was finally certain that this hot pot meal was a trap.
Neither the hot pot nor the crayfish tasted good anymore.
Jian Cenyu changed the subject. “You even let people serve you food during hot pot. Are you very used to it?”
Of course not.
Except for very close friends, Sang Shi'an wouldn’t even go for hot pot with others, let alone have someone serve her meat piece by piece with their chopsticks.
It wasn't like her hands were broken.
Jian Cenyu’s tone was somewhat stern. Sang Shi'an couldn’t get angry when she was playing Kitty, but now she couldn’t hold it back. “It’s none of your business.”
Jian Cenyu frowned again. Her gaze shifted from Sang Shi'an's defiant eyes to her reddened lips, lingered for a moment, then moved away.
Just as Sang Shi'an thought she was about to get another lecture, Jian Cenyu stood up. “You eat first. I have something to do. Just leave some raw vegetables for me later.”
The atmosphere suddenly turned strange. Sang Shi'an, who had been planning to find an opportunity to throw a big tantrum, watched in a daze as Jian Cenyu left the table. “You…”
Jian Cenyu turned around. “Anything else?”
“Should I still make the dipping sauce for you?” Sang Shi'an wasn’t sure if she had made Jian Cenyu angry.
Although she had been dissatisfied just now, she had only wanted to bicker a bit, not drive Jian Cenyu away.
Jian Cenyu had ordered this hot pot. What did it make her, a freeloader, to eat it all alone?
But Jian Cenyu seemed to genuinely have something important to attend to, hastily leaving with a “Thanks for the trouble” before leaving the dining room.
Sang Shi'an’s gaze followed her for a long time, until her view was blocked by a decorative piece.
She retracted her gaze, set aside a portion of every ingredient on the table, and then began to prepare the dipping sauce for Jian Cenyu.
She didn’t deliberately add chili; it was a very standard flavor.
The stove was still diligently heating, and the aroma of the hot pot wafted out. Sang Shi'an sighed and took out her phone, planning to find a random video to watch while she ate.
She unlocked the screen and found a WeChat message from a few minutes ago.
The account currently logged in was the Kitty account she had forgotten to switch back from.
[Probably quite accurate.]
Above this message was her question: [And the master said that my true love has already appeared and is in contact with me. Jiejie, do you think he's accurate?]
Sang Shi'an was stunned for a moment.
Another message from Jian Cenyu came in at that moment: [As the person involved, you should know best.]
Sang Shi'an’s chopsticks clattered onto the dining table. What did Jian Cenyu’s two sentences mean? Was that a yes or a no?
Sang Shi'an recalled a promiscuous friend of hers who had started dating in middle school and now had at least eighty, if not a hundred, exes. That was how her friend treated suitors in a bar.
‘What I’m thinking, you as the person involved should know best.’
She pressed her temples, trying to recall what happened next with that friend, but she couldn’t remember the outcome at all.
Sang Shi'an switched back to her main account, found that person in her contact list, and sent a message: [The guy who confessed to you at the ‘Tenth of the Week’ bar last time, did you say yes to him later?]
Friend: [Which one? A lot of people have confessed to me at ‘Tenth of the Week’.]
That had been an extremely special day for Sang Shi'an—the night she and Jian Cenyu were photographed.
[November 3rd, Yueyue’s birthday. Don’t tell me you don’t remember that?]
The friend replied after two minutes: [I remember. What’s up? Did he offend you? Or do you have a crush on him? Or should I have him go find you now?]
It was already ten at night. Since he could come find her, it meant their relationship was already very good. Sang Shi'an: [It’s so late, how can you ask your boyfriend to come to Yanjing University? It’s halfway across the city. I was just asking casually. Never mind.]
This time, the friend replied particularly quickly: [Wait wait wait, who said he’s my boyfriend? We’ve just been hanging out a lot recently. If you spread rumors like that, you’ll ruin my reputation.]
Sang Shi'an: …
So her friend was just stringing him along as an ambiguous partner?
In other words, was that Jian Cenyu’s attitude towards Kitty right now?
The little bit of joy Sang Shi'an had felt, thinking she could complete her mission early, instantly vanished. She switched back to her alternate account and replied to Jian Cenyu: [I’m asking Jiejie because I don’t know.]
[Kitty is pitiful.jpg]
Unexpectedly, Jian Cenyu seemed to have been waiting there, replying instantly for once: [Think for yourself.]
Pushing the same riddle back and forth, Sang Shi'an didn’t feel angry. After all, in her plan, Jian Cenyu wouldn’t agree to her so quickly.
She was concerned about something else now—
Didn’t Jian Cenyu have an emergency to deal with?
Why did she still have time to reply to her messages one after another, right on time?
Could it be that the “matter to be dealt with” was replying to Kitty’s messages?
Was replying to Kitty’s messages more important than arguing with her?
The thought flashed through her mind for only a moment. Sang Shi'an suppressed the subtle emotion in her heart, thinking it was a good sign.
She decided to provoke Jian Cenyu a bit more tonight.
[Is Jiejie busy right now? Can I show you my new clothes?]
Jian Cenyu: [Mm.]
Sang Shi'an pulled up a few photos of cosplay outfits she had bought from a comic convention. Since she had planned this in advance, she had already taken and edited the photos so that it wasn’t obvious they were taken in her room.
She sent five in a row: [Does Jiejie see any that you like?]
While Jian Cenyu was choosing, she made some small talk: [The barbecue I just had was so filling. I also saw a model who’s been really popular lately sending her assistant to buy food. That model has such a great figure. In the past, I would have definitely gone up to ask for a photo.]
Jian Cenyu: [Not going today?]
Sang Shi'an: [No, because my mind is full of Jiejie’s body. I’m already immune to everyone else.]
[When will Jiejie accept me? I miss Jiejie so much, I want to hug Jiejie. I miss you so much my bones ache.]
[Am I being very annoying like this? But I really can’t control myself.]
[Can Jiejie please not hate me, and not give anyone else a chance like this?]
Jian Cenyu: [Quoted message]
Sang Shi'an’s gaze froze. She saw that Jian Cenyu had dragged the first video she had sent out from the dead chat history.
Jian Cenyu: [Others won’t be like this.]
Sang Shi'an typed through gritted teeth: […Alright.]
[Then I’m relieved.]
At the last second of the two-minute window, Sang Shi'an retracted her pretty dress photos one by one.
Jian Cenyu sent a question mark.
Sang Shi'an: [I was just showing Jiejie my inventory. Actually, I’ve already changed my clothes.]
She was going to wear the same outfit as before tonight. She wanted to keep Jian Cenyu in suspense too.
Jian Cenyu: [Okay.]
Sang Shi'an: [The signal here isn’t great. Let me test the internet speed first, okay? Please wait a moment, Jiejie.]
Jian Cenyu: [Mm.]
Full and satisfied, Sang Shi'an put down her chopsticks, returned to her room, and didn’t forget to lock the door.
Practice makes perfect. This time, Sang Shi'an managed to put on the nine-tailed cat demon outfit in under ten minutes. One of the tails had been squashed in the wardrobe and had loosened, the seam looking like it was about to break.
Sang Shi'an simply cut it off.
After putting on her mask, she sent a video call request to Jian Cenyu.
Jian Cenyu still didn’t turn on her camera. The screen only showed her from the neck down, and even her loose hair was a golden wig.
Sang Shi'an skillfully put on her disguised voice and explained her tardiness: “Sorry to keep you waiting, Jiejie. My internet subscription is probably about to expire, so the signal can be unstable. I’ve switched to 5G now.”
Jian Cenyu gave a faint “mm” and said nothing more.
Sang Shi'an couldn’t see her, so she wasn’t sure if Jian Cenyu was watching her intently or doing something else and only glancing at her occasionally.
She clumsily leaned forward, extended a paw-padded hand towards the screen, and let out an almost inaudible, “Meow～”
Jian Cenyu’s tone sounded a bit uncertain. “Kitty?”
“Doesn’t Jiejie like my outfit today? Last time, Jiejie kept me because of this outfit. I thought Jiejie would like it.”
Sang Shi'an’s voice sounded a little pitiful.
She waved her paw again, mimicking a cat trying to please its owner. Because she was kneeling with her legs apart, the gorgeous outfit on her upper body was fully displayed. The slightest movement would cause the gems on the golden threads to sway from top to bottom in sequence.
As long as Jian Cenyu was looking at the phone screen, her gaze would follow her movements.
Just seeing herself on the screen made Sang Shi'an’s ears turn red again, despite herself.
But at least she was fully clothed this time, so Sang Shi'an didn’t think there was anything she couldn’t show. She was just about to act like a cat and replicate some body language to show a cat seeking its owner’s affection when Jian Cenyu on the other end suddenly spoke: “Pan the camera down, let me see your legs.”
Sang Shi'an shivered. The last time Jian Cenyu spoke to her in that tone, she had almost died.
She thought that was the limit for an online relationship.
She didn’t expect that on only the second time, Jian Cenyu would make such a request again.
Just look at her legs?
Nothing else?
Sang Shi'an only lowered the camera a few centimeters. The camera, which was previously only filming her waist, could now see half of her thigh.
Before Jian Cenyu could say anything else, Sang Shi'an turned halfway to distract her. “Jiejie, do you like my tail? Today a witch told me that if I give her one of my tails, she’ll give me the most beautiful dress in the world, so I cut it off before seeing you… ”
Sang Shi'an was following her script, just about to show Jian Cenyu the tail that had fallen off due to poor quality, when she heard Jian Cenyu interrupt her. “Are you hurt?”
Sang Shi'an nodded, continuing with her script. “Yes, but it’s all worth it for Jiejie. I want to wear the most beautiful dress and dance for Jiejie, okay?”
Jian Cenyu: “Spread your legs a little, Kitty.”
Sang Shi'an: ?
Sang Shi'an didn’t move, pretending she hadn’t heard, and continued to fiddle with her fluffy tail.
The next sentence that followed was clearly deeper, carrying a hint of forcefulness and waning patience. “Spread your legs a little. Do you want to be punished?”
Sang Shi'an was caught off guard and shocked, almost instinctively complying in an instant.
The accessories on her cat demon outfit jingled again, urging Sang Shi'an to immediately cover herself.
Just then, a soft laugh came from the phone, and her breathing seemed to slow down. “Your skirt isn’t messed up.”
Sang Shi'an looked down. She was indeed covered up properly. She breathed a sigh of relief. “Jiejie, I…”
Jian Cenyu seemed to take a sip of water; the sound of a cup lid being unscrewed was audible from the close proximity.
“Did you apply medicine?”
Seeing that Jian Cenyu wasn’t making any more outrageous requests, Sang Shi'an immediately followed up. “I did, I did. I applied medicine right after I cut off my tail.”
She forced her voice higher, making it more squeaky. “Does Jiejie want to see?”
The sound of fingers tapping lightly on a desk came from the other end of the phone.
Thump, thump.
The sounds were spaced out, like a premonitory alarm bell.
The voice deepened.
“I was asking—did you apply medicine to your leg?”
Sang Shi'an looked down, confused, until she saw the red mark on her inner thigh from the garter used to hold the outfit in place. It had been several days since she last wore this outfit, and the red mark had already faded, leaving only a faint bruise. But after putting it on again just now, a new mark appeared in the same spot.
The mix of red and blue, coupled with the bright light, looked particularly broken against her fair skin.
So when Jian Cenyu said to look at her leg, she wanted to see her injury?
The sound of fingertips tapping the desk came again, showing dissatisfaction.
But Sang Shi'an didn’t really want to apply medicine.
The medicine was in the living room, which required her to leave her bedroom to get it.
What if Jian Cenyu also happened to come out of her room…
“Jiejie, I don’t have any medicine at home,” Sang Shi'an said. “I’ll go buy some tomorrow, okay?”
The tone from the other side was unquestionable. “Tonight.”
Following that was a 500 yuan transfer.
It was enough to get a delivery runner to go to the 24-hour pharmacy at Yanjing University to buy ointment.
But Sang Shi'an couldn’t.
Because even if she bought the medicine, she still had to go out of her room to get it, which might make it easier for Jian Cenyu to see her.
She hesitated, wondering if she should use a bad connection as an excuse to get away with it.
The next moment, a voice came through. “Don’t hang up. Do you really want to be punished?”
There was a hint of cruelty in the cold tone.
Sang Shi'an subconsciously shivered again, as if she were really there.
She comforted herself, thinking it was because she was worried Jian Cenyu would delete her as a friend.
“I think I have some at home, I’ll go look for it.” Sang Shi'an resigned herself to her fate. She put on a large bathrobe and sneaked out of her room.
She usually didn’t bother applying medicine for such minor injuries, relying on her youth and good health to heal without scarring.
But this time, she proactively got the medicine as quickly as possible and then locked her door again.
Sang Shi'an picked up the face-down phone and showed the ointment to the camera. “Jiejie, I’ve got the medicine. I’ll apply it to myself now, okay?”
Jian Cenyu hummed in agreement.
Sang Shi'an adjusted her skirt to make sure nothing would be exposed, then panned the camera down and unbuckled the garter. White ointment was squeezed onto the injured area of her leg, and the already reddish skin turned even redder.
The slightly broken skin soon started to sting like needles. Sang Shi'an felt like being lazy.
Jian Cenyu’s instructions to apply the medicine began to sound in her ear.
“A little further in.”
“Slower.”
“Good girl, don’t flinch.”
The ointment was very potent. In just a minute, Sang Shi'an couldn’t bear the pain and let out two whimpers.
The other side seemed to have heard it too. The phone was silent for a full five seconds.
“Bear with it, it’s almost done.”
Sang Shi'an was delicate and couldn’t bear it at all.
Whimpering sounds spilled from her lips again.
The voice came through again.
In the quiet room, the phone’s speaker delivered every word clearly into Sang Shi'an’s ear, making the base of her ears tingle and burn, as if the words were whispered right against the side of her neck:
“Don’t make a sound, or else… ”
Holding her breath, Sang Shi'an quickly finished applying medicine to the last wound and showed it to the camera.
The person on the other end hung up the call directly.
Until the moment air re-entered her lungs, Sang Shi'an was still thinking—
Or else, what?
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