ORCBRB – Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Vacations always feel too short. After lunch on the second, Sang Shi'an was on the plane back to her country. Jian Cenyu was still a bit uncomfortable with the altitude, so Sang Shi'an put an eye mask on her as soon as they boarded, forcing Jian Cenyu to sleep.
Sang Shi'an, meanwhile, sat beside her working on linear algebra problems.
Half an hour later, Jian Cenyu took off her eye mask. Sang Shi'an immediately put down her stylus and leaned over. “What’s wrong? Are you dizzy?”
“No, just a little thirsty,” Jian Cenyu said.
Sang Shi'an immediately asked a flight attendant for a glass of water. She tested the temperature with her palm and found it too hot, so she had the flight attendant add some mineral water. Then she found it too cold and had her pour out a fifth of it and add hot water.
She went back and forth several times. If she hadn't bought first-class tickets, the flight attendant might have stopped serving her long ago.
Fortunately, Sang Shi'an had a good attitude, calling the attendant ‘sister’ every time, so the flight attendant had no choice but to help her mix a perfect glass of 37-degree Celsius lukewarm water.
From Jian Cenyu’s perspective, Sang Shi'an’s face, though pretending to be calm, was filled with ‘worry’. As the water was handed to her, Jian Cenyu said, “You don’t have to be so nervous. I used to travel to Europe all by myself and nothing ever happened.”
Sang Shi'an glanced at the departing flight attendant and said righteously, “You were single back then. How can it be the same as now? The environment on a plane flying this high is different from the ground. You must tell me if you feel uncomfortable anywhere.”
“I won’t.” Being fussed over by Sang Shi'an like this, Jian Cenyu couldn’t resist teasing her. “Even if I get a concussion, I won’t forget you.”
It was the first time Sang Shi'an had heard someone curse themselves like that. Her face instantly darkened. She pinched Jian Cenyu’s cheek and said fiercely, “Take back what you just said. If you get a concussion, I’ll be the first to run. Who would want to spend a lifetime with a fool?”
Her beautiful, moist lips opened and closed, and at first, it sounded like a threat.
But Sang Shi'an had said she wanted to spend a lifetime with her.
The nature of her words changed in an instant.
Jian Cenyu’s lowered eyelashes curved slightly. She handed the cup back and put the eye mask on again.
Sang Shi'an asked the flight attendant for a blanket, then, taking advantage of the fact that Jian Cenyu couldn't see her, she propped up a hand and quietly gazed at her.
Her heart suddenly felt incredibly soft and sore.
Her wonderful Cenyu Jiejie, did she used to fly back and forth to the UK all by herself? Luo Wei’s health was poor, so she couldn’t have accompanied her every time. As for Jian Cenyu’s father, he didn’t seem like the type to keep someone company.
Beneath that glamorous exterior, how many things did she not know? Yet, she could still take care of her and coax her. It was like this four years ago, and it was still the same now.
The information Wen Yansheng had sent last night was still on her phone. With Jian Cenyu pressuring her father, Jian Zhihuan, who had been conservative his whole life, was finally starting to reconsider the future of Jian Corporation.
Old Master Jian's increasingly blatant conservative views and favoritism toward his grandson were now out in the open. When Jian Zhihuan and his siblings divided the family assets, Jian Zhihuan received the largest share of stocks. The old master compensated the others with real estate and cash, making Jian Zhihuan the undisputed president of Jian Corporation.
But now, in Jian Cenyu’s generation, if Jian Zhenyang were to receive all of Old Master Jian’s shares, the leadership of Jian Corporation would surely change hands.
Businessmen are profit-driven. Especially Jian Zhihuan, who had been in power at Jian Corporation for nearly twenty years. He could tolerate his nephew and niece making money from the company, but he would never allow the real power to fall into others' hands.
Jian Zhihuan had kept all the evidence from the last time Jian Zhenyang embezzled public funds. He didn't do anything at the time, even taking Jian Cenyu to visit the Sang family, ostensibly to ask for help, but it was merely a show.
It was unknown what Jian Zhihuan had actually done, but Jian Zhenyang was now looking for people to buy and sell shares, clearly to cover the group's deficit.
Wen Yansheng had told her at the time, “It’s a shortfall of nearly six hundred million. The banks that usually have good relations with Jian Corporation seem to have gotten wind of the internal strife and are all in a wait-and-see state. If he can’t cover the deficit and it becomes public news, the public opinion battle alone would be enough to give Jian Corporation a hard time. Jian Zhenyang has to pay this money whether he wants to or not.”
Sang Shi'an didn't ask where Wen Yansheng got this data. Perhaps Wen Yansheng had her own special channels, or perhaps it was from Jian Cenyu.
But Jian Corporation was, after all, a pharmaceutical company. The moment a deficit was exposed, if someone had ill intentions, rumors of cutting corners would immediately appear. Not all drugs are irreplaceable. Even for drugs developed by Jian Corporation, many generic versions would appear after the patent expired. Their effects might not be as good as the original, but they were cheaper and would sell better.
A pharmaceutical company couldn't afford any risk to its public image. A few years ago, there was a vaccine company with a widely used product. Allergic reactions to vaccines were inevitable, but then a rumor spread that people who got this vaccine wouldn't live past ten years. The company's credibility dropped to freezing point, and any mention of that company's drugs was automatically avoided.
Jian Zhenyang had to come up with the money, whether he was willing or not. On WeChat, Sang Shi'an had also voiced her doubts: “As a member of the Jian family, isn’t Jian Zhenyang afraid that his competitors will find out about him selling shares and take advantage of the situation?”
But Wen Yansheng told her, “Anyone who wants to snatch Jian Corporation’s shares would first need enough liquid capital, and second, the guts to offend the Jian family. Jian Zhenyang isn’t the one in power, after all. He only sees Jian Corporation’s external style and never considers the potential dangers, so naturally, he has this confidence.”
Sang Shi'an originally felt that after more than a year of study, she was still clueless about company business. But after hearing what Wen Yansheng said, she suddenly felt that if even someone like Jian Zhenyang could take over a company, why couldn't she?
But it was just a thought; she wasn't that narcissistic yet.
She asked Wen Yansheng to continue keeping an eye on Jian Corporation for her. She would only have time to learn about those maneuvers from Wen Yansheng after her exams next week, but if a suitable opportunity arose, Wen Yansheng could act ahead of time.
Time ticked by, and the sky outside the window gradually darkened. Jian Cenyu’s breathing became steady. Sang Shi'an’s eyes grew sore, and she fell asleep, leaning next to Jian Cenyu.
When she woke up again, Sang Shi'an opened her eyes to meet Jian Cenyu’s gentle gaze, instantly becoming wide awake.
She rubbed her eyes and asked, “Are you feeling okay now?”
Jian Cenyu ruffled Sang Shi'an’s hair and pressed her closer. “I’m fine. I just didn’t sleep very well. Someone kept staring at me and touching me from time to time.”
Sang Shi'an’s lips tightened as she recalled what she had done while staring at Jian Cenyu before falling asleep. She mumbled, “You must have had a wet dream.”
“That’s possible,” Jian Cenyu said with a short laugh. “In any case, it was done to me by the person I like.”
Sang Shi'an snatched the eye mask Jian Cenyu had taken off and quickly put it back on her. “You’re tired. Go back to sleep.”
Jian Cenyu tried to take it off. “I don’t want to.”
Sang Shi'an pressed both hands on the corners of Jian Cenyu’s eyes, gave her a fierce kiss on the lips, and said, “You’re tired. Sleep!”
Seeing that Jian Cenyu was still not satisfied, Sang Shi'an leaned in and kissed her again, then threatened, “If you don’t sleep, you’ll be sleeping on the street tonight.”
Jian Cenyu’s movements stopped, and she lay back down.
Sang Shi'an let out a long sigh of relief and watched Jian Cenyu warily for a few moments.
Jian Cenyu turned her head to the side. Even though her eyes were covered by the mask, her gaze seemed to land precisely on Sang Shi'an’s face.
Her tone was very light. “If I sleep now, can I come to your room tonight?”
Sang Shi'an: ?
Sang Shi'an chose to play dead.
“An'an?” Jian Cenyu asked with great patience. “Why aren’t you talking? Did you not hear me clearly?”
“Then I’ll ask again. Tonight, can I—”
“Stop!”
Sang Shi'an was forced to ‘come back to life’. She clamped a hand over Jian Cenyu’s mouth, afraid that a passing flight attendant would hear her words.
Jian Cenyu nodded cooperatively, then her lips parted slightly, and the tip of her tongue lightly licked Sang Shi'an’s palm.
Sang Shi'an: ...
Sang Shi'an almost cried out.
In contrast, Jian Cenyu had already retracted her tongue, her pale, thin lips slightly pursed, maintaining a cool and detached posture.
Sang Shi'an was numb. “Behave yourself.”
Jian Cenyu lifted the eye mask and said, “But we’re already together.”
Sang Shi'an didn’t give up. “I’m a bad sleeper.”
Jian Cenyu replied without hesitation, “I’ll tuck you in.”
Sang Shi'an’s lips trembled, the corners of her eyes flushing red. Finally, she resigned herself to her fate. “Do whatever you want.”
Anyway, she had to study for her exams. If Jian Cenyu wanted to tuck her in so badly, then so be it.
The next day, coming out of the linear algebra exam room, a listless Su Ningyue, tormented by math, linked her arm with Sang Shi'an’s and said miserably, “I couldn’t answer the last two big questions. Hey, do you think the professor will go easy on us since it’s almost the New Year?”
Sang Shi'an was rummaging through her bag for her phone and nearly choked upon hearing this. “Didn’t I list out those question types for you? Don’t tell me you didn’t write a single word?”
Su Ningyue: “Is there a difference between writing one word and writing nothing?”
Alright, there wasn’t much of a difference.
“However,” Su Ningyue cleared her throat, “I left three lines of New Year’s greetings and wishes for wealth and weight loss on each of the last two big questions.”
Sang Shi'an gave her a thumbs-up. “The professor might actually let you pass.”
Su Ningyue said smugly, “I think so too.”
She had originally thought it was hopeless, but after Sang Shi'an’s agreement, she strangely felt like she had a chance again.
Walking out of the academic building, Sang Shi'an saw Jian Cenyu coming out of the building opposite them, following behind Jian Zhiyan and helping her carry exam papers. The top button of her shirt was fastened, and the meticulously sealed bag exuded a subtle, alluring charm on her.
When Jian Zhiyan saw Sang Shi'an, she waved at her. Under Su Ningyue’s teasing gaze, Sang Shi'an braced herself and walked over to greet them. “Professor Jian, Cenyu Jiejie.”
Jian Zhiyan spoke with the concern of an elder. “Coming out of the academic building at this time, did you just have an exam? How did it go?”
“I reviewed everything,” Sang Shi'an answered modestly.
“That’s good.” Jian Zhiyan adjusted her glasses and chatted idly, “I was just proctoring the first-years’ advanced mathematics exam. Almost no one turned in their papers early. When the bell rang, there were endless complaints. I wonder which professor from the math department set the questions this year, making it so difficult for these freshmen.”
After talking about advanced math, she mentioned a few other anecdotes from proctoring in recent days. Sang Shi'an walked with them to the opposite side. Jian Zhiyan extended her hand to Jian Cenyu. “Give me the things. I’ll be right back.”
Hearing that Jian Zhiyan had other matters with Jian Cenyu, Sang Shi'an said goodbye to Jian Cenyu as Jian Zhiyan entered the academic building. “I’ll be going then.”
Jian Cenyu grabbed Sang Shi'an’s wrist through her coat. Sang Shi'an flinched as if she had a guilty conscience and immediately pulled her hand back. Then she put on a serious expression as if discussing coursework. “I’ll wait for you at home.”
Jian Cenyu looked in the direction where Jian Zhiyan had disappeared, her expression equally serious. “I won’t be having dinner with you. I’ll be back early.”
Sang Shi'an nodded calmly. “Goodbye.”
When she reached the school gate, Su Ningyue hadn't left yet. She was buying a skewer of grilled squid at a barbecue stall by the entrance. Seeing Sang Shi'an, she waved. “Sang Shi'an, over here!”
Sang Shi'an confessed on her own accord, “Senior Jian has important business, so I’ve been ditched. Want to have dinner together?”
Seeing her looking like a neglected wife, Su Ningyue almost died laughing. “I have plans tonight.”
She winked. “But I can bring you along. Wanna come?”
The moment Sang Shi'an saw her expression, she knew something was off. “I have a girlfriend, you know. I’m not going to any shady places.”
Su Ningyue offered the unbitten side of the squid to Sang Shi'an’s mouth. “I do too, but it’s someone’s birthday and they insisted I go. With you there to accompany me, the problem is solved, right? Can you bear to let me go alone?”
Sang Shi'an took a bite but was still hesitant. “But…”
Su Ningyue eagerly offered the squid again. “They’re all honest people from our school, you know most of them. It’s just a mixer disguised as a birthday party. I just want to relax after my linear algebra exam. Come with me, please, please.”
Sang Shi'an took another bite and, for the sake of the squid, agreed. “I’ll just consider it keeping you company.”
Su Ningyue hadn’t lied to Sang Shi'an. It was indeed a group of familiar classmates. After dinner, they went to a quiet bar with a nice atmosphere, without any deafeningly loud music.
But Sang Shi'an had relaxed too soon. The group of about ten people immediately ordered ten cases of beer, the twenty-four-bottle kind. Sang Shi'an didn’t drink much beer and whispered to Su Ningyue, “Can we finish all this?”
Su Ningyue gestured with her chin toward the senior whose birthday it was. “The person she likes is sitting next to her. How can she confess if she’s not half-drunk?”
Sang Shi'an understood. Tonight’s relaxation was all about watching this confession drama unfold. Everyone else was just an audience.
When the drinks arrived, they also brought a few fruit platters, some fried chicken, and some props for bar games.
The punishment was the same old Truth or Dare, a tacit understanding of the birthday girl’s intention to confess.
If you didn’t want to choose, you had to chug a bottle of beer. The alcohol content wasn’t high, but drinking too much would make your stomach bloat uncomfortably.
Two hours later, even the few stubborn ones who absolutely refused to play Truth or Dare had been defeated.
Sang Shi'an had drunk two bottles, not enough to get drunk, but her stomach was so bloated she had to rub it as she watched the new unlucky soul.
Someone suggested, “Today is January third, so go call the thirteenth person on your WeChat list and confess to them.”
The senior didn’t want to agree at first, but his phone was snatched and unlocked, so he could only watch as they counted to the thirteenth person.
Then, the people looking through the phone fell silent for a moment before shouting, “He Feng, when did you add the campus belle’s WeChat?”
Sang Shi'an had been planning to go to the restroom, but upon hearing the words ‘campus belle’, she moved back to her seat.
“Quick, quick! Call Jian Cenyu! What are you afraid of? Confessing to someone else carries the risk of being accepted. Confessing to the campus belle isn’t embarrassing if you fail, and if you succeed, it’s like a pie falling from the sky!”
The surrounding encouragement grew louder. Su Ningyue had just returned from the restroom and, after hearing a few sentences, cautiously glanced at Sang Shi'an’s expression.
Hmm, it seemed quite normal.
Of course, Sang Shi'an wasn’t the petty type to get jealous just because someone was confessing to her girlfriend.
Since it was a confession to the campus belle, people offered suggestions, telling He Feng to first send a few messages about changing exam content before making the WeChat call.
However, before He Feng could dial, Sang Shi'an quietly made a WeChat call to Jian Cenyu first.
Su Ningyue saw her little move and couldn’t help but cover her mouth, pretending to feel sick as she laughed and leaned on Sang Shi'an’s shoulder.
Sang Shi'an unhappily shrugged her right shoulder, which was being pressed down. “Get up.”
Su Ningyue couldn’t stand her and laughed a couple more times.
Making a WeChat call first to block the other person’s call, you’re such a mischievous genius.
However, Su Ningyue’s laughter didn’t last long. She saw that He Feng’s call request, which was on speaker, had been answered. Jian Cenyu’s voice, as cool as snow, came through.
Then she looked over, and Sang Shi'an’s call was still waiting.
Oh no, this is bad.
Under Sang Shi'an’s darkening gaze, Su Ningyue struggled to lean over to He Feng’s side to confirm, only to discover a difference.
—The two of them had different WeChat IDs.
Su Ningyue happily went back to comfort Sang Shi'an. “It’s not that Senior Jian chose him first. The two of you added different WeChat IDs for her. Maybe Senior Jian is using that account right now?”
Not… the same one…
Did that mean Jian Cenyu had other WeChat accounts behind her back?
Sang Shi'an remembered when they were in Australia, Su Ningyue had asked her about Jian Cenyu’s leaked WeChat ID.
Sang Shi'an’s mind was a mess. She asked, “Is it the one you asked me about before?”
Su Ningyue had actually saved a screenshot. She searched for it on WeChat, and the profile picture that popped up was the same one displayed on He Feng’s screen, who had just been rejected.
“...I-I think so?” Su Ningyue said tentatively. “My sister has two accounts too. For people like them, it’s normal to separate work and personal life, right?”
That was true.
It was indeed very normal.
Her brother also had several phone numbers.
The key was, before today, Sang Shi'an had never thought that Jian Cenyu would have other WeChat accounts.
It wasn’t about being completely open in a relationship. It was just for work, so there was no need to add everyone as a friend. As long as you could contact the person, that was enough for WeChat.
What Sang Shi'an cared about was—when she had used the Kitty account to add Jian Cenyu, the verification message was ‘Professor Xu’s student’.
She also remembered what Su Ningyue had said before, about a senior on the forum claiming the WeChat ID as her own and asking the administrator to delete the post.
What if… what if Jian Cenyu had used that same WeChat account to add Professor Xu?
Sang Shi'an tried to calm down. She found Professor Xu’s WeChat and sent a polite message: [Professor Xu, this is Sang Shi'an from the sophomore Finance Department. My WeChat was wiped today, and I lost many contacts. I’ve asked around but couldn’t get first-year graduate student Senior Jian Cenyu’s WeChat. Could you please share her contact card with me? Thank you.]
She had co-authored a paper with Jian Cenyu and had gone to see Professor Xu with her several times. Sang Shi'an waited patiently.
A new round of the game began. Sang Shi'an absentmindedly flipped a card, until her phone screen lit up.
Professor Xu: [Personal Card] shared
[You’re welcome]
Sang Shi'an stared at that WeChat ID for a full minute before her stalled brain finally started working again.
So… the WeChat ID everyone else had for Jian Cenyu wasn't the one she was familiar with.
So… did Jian Cenyu know from the very beginning that Kitty was her?
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