ORCBRB – Chapter 54
Chapter 54
When Sang Shi'an woke up the next day, the entire house was quiet. She opened the window, and instead of the winter chill of Yancheng, a wave of warm, humid air washed over her face.
She stood by the window, enjoying the breeze for a few minutes, then took out her phone and took a few more pictures of the vast garden.
What she had seen last night was only the front yard. The flower fields in the backyard stretched as far as the eye could see. A few giant poodles with shiny red and white coats were dozing in the fields, their fluffy fur adorned with a few flower petals, looking so comical it was hard not to stare.
After washing up, she changed into a red dress she had carefully selected. The cinched waist design made the skirt flow in wave-like layers as she walked. As she went downstairs, she heard the sound of a car outside the manor. Sang Shi'an quickened her pace, but then stopped near the main door, afraid that Jian Cenyu would see how eager she looked.
Unexpectedly, it was only Luo Wei who came in. “You’re awake so early? I was worried you wouldn’t be used to the time difference, so I specifically told Cenyu not to disturb you this morning.”
Luo Wei was wearing a pair of vintage purple jadeite earrings today, which made her complexion look much better. After asking about Sang Shi'an’s preferences, she immediately had someone arrange breakfast.
Although only Luo Wei lived in the house, it was kept very cozy. Every room was filled with brilliantly blooming fresh flowers, and the warm-toned, vintage decor was exquisite. As Sang Shi'an ate her sandwich, she sighed, “Auntie Luo, your house is so beautiful. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get used to my own place when I go back.”
“Isn’t your winter break coming up? You can take the opportunity to redecorate. Just have Cenyu help you with it.” Speaking of Jian Cenyu, Luo Wei’s gaze softened. “You two have been close since you were little. Don’t let the matter of the marriage alliance create any distance or resentment between you.”
Sang Shi'an’s chewing paused. She thought to herself, I’m crazy about Jian Cenyu, there’s no way I’d grow distant from her.
Luo Wei was Jian Cenyu’s mother, after all. When faced with her on this topic, Sang Shi'an still felt a little sheepish and said in a small voice, “Of course not. Cenyu Jiejie and I have a great relationship. My brother actually gets along with her well too, they just didn’t click.”
A weight was lifted from Luo Wei’s mind, and the smile on her face became much more relaxed. She said, “That’s good. When you were little—”
When spending time with elders, they always bring up this kind of topic when there’s nothing else to talk about. Sang Shi'an didn’t want to be teased about how she used to cling to Jian Cenyu and cry, so she raised her hands in surrender and said, “Auntie Luo, I thought you were different from my parents, not the type to enjoy talking about these things.”
A maid of Chinese descent handed Luo Wei her medicine. Luo Wei tilted her head back, swallowed it with water, and then elegantly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. Hearing Sang Shi'an’s small complaint, she chuckled and said, “I can’t help it. Who could resist liking An'an so much? If I had a son, I would have arranged a childhood engagement with your mother long ago.”
Sang Shi'an let out a “Wah” and covered her face. “Auntie Luo, maybe you should just go back to talking about my childhood.”
Luo Wei didn’t tease her further and changed the subject, asking about Jian Cenyu’s recent situation. Sang Shi'an didn’t mention the dirty deeds Jian Zhenyang had done, picking only the good things to share with Luo Wei.
For example, Jian Cenyu’s finance paper had been accepted for publication; for example, the old professors at their university’s Chemistry College were fighting over her again; and for example, how many people were lining up to confess their feelings to Jian Cenyu, and so on.
Luo Wei had actually heard about these things. Although Jian Cenyu hadn’t come to Australia, she contacted her every day. Still, Luo Wei listened very attentively until she saw that Sang Shi'an had finished her milk while talking. Only then did she stop her: “Alright, An'an. I’m relieved to know Cenyu is happy. It’s rare for you to come to Australia, so have Cenyu take you out for a look around later.”
Sang Shi'an had been waiting for those words, but she kept a demure expression on her face. “I came to visit you, Auntie.”
The Sang family had taken great care of Jian Cenyu, so naturally, Luo Wei doted on Sang Shi'an as well and played along readily. “Yes, yes, but Auntie needs to go back to her room to rest. I can’t have you visiting me all day.”
Sang Shi'an said reluctantly, “Then I guess I’ll have to find Cenyu Jiejie.”
She had already finished her sandwich, even eating every last bit of the raw tomato slices she usually disliked. She asked, “Where is Cenyu Jiejie?”
“At a nearby research institute. She should be back soon. Do you want to wait for her at home, or should I have someone take you there?”
“Can I go over there?”
Luo Wei saw through her curiosity and called someone over to make the arrangements.
Fifteen minutes later, Sang Shi'an was led into a private research institute. It was an investment of the Jian family, or to be more precise, an institute established by Jian Zhihuan. It had previously employed many top experts to help Jian Corporation develop pharmaceuticals. After Jian Cenyu returned to China, it became an institute primarily focused on her research.
The clinical trials for the anti-cancer drug were also conducted here.
When Sang Shi'an was led inside, Jian Cenyu was wearing a rare, formal white uniform. It wasn’t a hospital-style lab coat; the buttons were fastened one by one, making her look serious and calm.
The little blonde girl across from Jian Cenyu must have been one of the volunteers. A group of researchers stood around them, taking notes. Sang Shi'an leaned closer to the glass to look, but the cursive English was even more flamboyant than a doctor’s handwriting back home. She disappointedly averted her gaze.
Jian Cenyu was slightly surprised when she turned and saw Sang Shi'an. She turned her head to say something to the person beside her, then pushed open the door and walked toward her.
A sharp, bitter medicinal scent wafted over, accentuating Jian Cenyu’s cool elegance. “Did my mother have someone bring you here?”
“Mhm. Am I disturbing you?” Sang Shi'an pointed behind her. “Should I wait for you outside?”
Jian Cenyu placed a hand on Sang Shi'an’s shoulder and led her in another direction. “No need. They give me progress reports every day. I just came by to check on things since I’m in Australia.”
“I heard that girl just now was one of the volunteers? She’s so young.”
“Stage three bone cancer. The doctors had given up on her when it was discovered. It’s not like back home here; there isn’t as much humanitarian care. Her parents sent her over. Her condition has improved slightly now, and she’s already surpassed the two months the doctors gave her.”
Sang Shi'an hadn’t expected the little girl’s life to be so fraught with hardship, and her mood sank. “Oh, I see.”
“Life and death are a matter of fate. All we can do is our best. Don’t dwell on it.” Jian Cenyu led her into a room and took off her outer coat.
Underneath was a white, Chanel-style dress suit. Pearls with a lustrous sheen were embroidered one by one along the top edge of the strapless dress. Bathed in the sunlight streaming in from the head of the bed, she looked noble and elegant.
Sang Shi'an’s gaze lingered on the pearls for two seconds before she subtly looked away, her ears quietly turning red.
“Can you leave now?”
“Mhm, I’ll take you for a look around. Is there anywhere in particular you want to go?”
Sang Shi'an thought for a moment and said, “Anywhere is fine.”
Although Jian Cenyu was skeptical of her lack of pickiness, she didn’t call her out on it. At worst, they would just have to visit a few more places later.
A convertible Bentley was perfect for this time of year. Plus, the area was vast and sparsely populated. Sang Shi'an offered to drive. Jian Cenyu glanced at her high heels, silently took another pair of shoes from the trunk for her to change into, and then got into the passenger seat. “Test out the car first. If there are no problems, drive straight ahead.”
Sang Shi'an vaguely remembered that when the driver took her to the research institute, it was a right-hand drive car. “Shouldn’t the driver’s seat be on the right?”
Jian Cenyu explained, “The regulations aren’t that strict. If you’re lucky, you might even see a car with the driver’s seat in the middle.”
Sang Shi'an relaxed and started driving. Her driving skills had improved a lot; she could drive smoothly without Jian Cenyu watching her every second.
A gentle, warm breeze blew past her shoulder blades, her long hair lifting in wave-like patterns. It was the season when the jacarandas were in full bloom. Large, dense clusters of blossoms adorned the branches, and the entire road seemed to be immersed in a blue-violet halo.
It felt like an early taste of the summer breeze.
Jian Cenyu only gave Sang Shi'an directions when it was time to turn, without revealing the destination. Sang Shi'an maintained a speed of forty miles per hour, driving slowly. The elegant floral fragrance wafted up gently in waves, making it truly feel like they were on a vacation, stealing a moment of leisure from their busy lives.
“I have a question, may I ask for your guidance?” Sang Shi'an suddenly asked politely.
Jian Cenyu turned her head and replied in the same tone, “Please, do tell.”
“Well, I don’t mean any harm, I’m just concerned for you, putting myself in your shoes.” Sang Shi'an freed one hand to point at her own sundress. “I feel like I’m about to melt in the sun. How are you still able to wear those long sleeves? Is it because you’re getting older and need to bundle up more in the spring?”
Jian Cenyu: ......
Jian Cenyu felt like her patience was about to be completely worn out by Sang Shi'an.
How had she never realized before how infuriating Sang Shi'an could be? A mere three-year age gap, and she was already using age to mock her?
When the time came for her to cross the thirty-year-old threshold first, would she be directly mocked as a middle-aged woman?
Jian Cenyu shot Sang Shi'an an amused glance. “Unbuckling your seatbelt while driving? Did you learn nothing from the theory part of your driving test?”
Sang Shi'an glanced at the rearview mirror, pulled the car over to the side of the road, and then looked at her with an expression that clearly said, ‘The car is stopped now, so you can take off your clothes, right?’
Jian Cenyu raised an eyebrow. No longer hesitating, she met Sang Shi'an’s gaze, unbuckled her seatbelt, leisurely swept her hair to one side, and then placed her hand on her shoulder.
A large expanse of delicate, snow-white skin was revealed with her movement. Yet, Jian Cenyu’s gaze was extremely composed, her cool eyes set against the backdrop of the fluttering jacaranda blossoms. Every frame was as beautiful as a scene from a movie.
The off-the-shoulder neckline accentuated her slender arms, and a necklace of small pearls adorned the area around her collarbone. By the time Sang Shi'an wanted to look away, Jian Cenyu had already leaned over, met her eyes, and said, “It is indeed much cooler.”
Sang Shi'an had started this, and she didn’t want to lose the upper hand. She said deliberately, “You have some pollen on your face. Don’t move.”
As she spoke, she also unbuckled her seatbelt, bent at the waist, and leaned toward Jian Cenyu, her breathing light.
A subtle, hidden emotion seemed to stagnate with their held breaths, then silently spread. Jian Cenyu’s eyes darkened, her lashes lifting slightly, allowing Sang Shi'an to draw closer and closer.
Sang Shi'an placed one hand on Jian Cenyu’s eye, moving with the same care as if she were truly wiping away pollen. Then she let out a small, surprised ‘Ah.’ “It didn’t stick. It’s on your face again. Why does this pollen like you so much?”
She spoke with a straight face, but her eyes held a cunning smile that clearly said, ‘I’m teasing you.’
But Jian Cenyu didn’t expose her, wanting to see just how far Sang Shi'an would go. She said slowly, “Then I’ll have to trouble you to wipe it off carefully for me. Otherwise, if we meet someone later, you’ll be the one who’s embarrassed.”
Losing face was something that could only happen between intimate people. If they were just ordinary friends, they could go shopping together even with a failed makeup job.
Hearing these words with their slightly deeper meaning, Sang Shi'an feigned ignorance with a blink, her gaze moving down to wipe the corner of Jian Cenyu’s lips. “This pollen seems different from the kind back home.”
Jian Cenyu: “How is it different?”
Sang Shi'an let out a short syllable, which was both an answer to Jian Cenyu’s question and a description of the current situation: “It fell down again.”
Her fingertips finally reached the porcelain-white pearl necklace as she had wished. Her slender fingers gently brushed past the collarbone, tracing a path downward, barely there.
As expected, the heartbeat beneath her fingertips quickened.
Sang Shi'an tilted her head up, met Jian Cenyu’s gaze, and curled her lips slightly, reminding Jian Cenyu with both regret and deliberation, “Cenyu Jiejie, I haven’t said yes to you yet.”
Every one of her movements, every trace of her expression, conveyed the same meaning—deliberate seduction.
And, a deliberate retaliation she had spent several sleepless nights concocting.
That’s right. Sang Shi'an never allowed herself to be at too much of a disadvantage. After being teased by her so many times and losing the upper hand, it was about time she fought back.
Jian Cenyu also curved her lips into a smile. “Then when will you say yes to me?”
“Not now, anyway.” Having had her fun, Sang Shi'an hooked both arms around Jian Cenyu’s neck and asked, “Are you angry with me?”
Jian Cenyu: “No.”
Sang Shi'an relaxed and rested her head on Jian Cenyu’s left shoulder. She said, “Jian Cenyu, why are you so good? Even better than I imagined. What should I do? I suddenly want to elope with you.”
As she said this, Sang Shi'an’s face turned a little red. Fortunately, Jian Cenyu couldn’t see her, allowing her to be so bold.
Jian Cenyu gently patted Sang Shi'an’s back. “That’s fine, too. It’s just that supporting me is very expensive. You’d not only have to support me, but that entire research project as well.”
Sang Shi'an actually did a quick calculation in her head. Based on her limited understanding of the research project and a rather rough estimate, she came to one conclusion: she couldn’t afford it.
It burned through too much money.
Sang Shi'an said honestly, “No, no, I’d go bankrupt.”
Jian Cenyu was once again charmed by her cuteness. Unable to resist, she planted a kiss on Sang Shi'an’s cheek, her voice casual. “Then just support me. I’m used to having no title or status anyway. I don’t need anything else.”
Sang Shi'an could tell that Jian Cenyu was playing pitiful to trap her again. She deliberately pretended not to hear and just asked, “Really?”
Jian Cenyu smiled and held up a finger. “But I do have one small request.”
Sang Shi'an was all ears.
Jian Cenyu said, “Warm my bed at night.”
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