bestfiction Chapter 532 - 520: I Think You Need to Know Who I Am!
Chapter 532 - 520: I Think You Need to Know Who I Am!
On the cobblestone path flanked by green trees, Jiang Yino walked side by side with Ji Yi.
As they walked for dozens of meters, neither spoke. Their minds, however, were in completely opposite states.
For Ji Yi, this was a test.
For Jiang Yino, it was an excruciating ordeal.
Suddenly, Ji Yi broke the silence with a laugh. "Very good. I thought you’d be the first to speak. You’re impressively composed."
"What did you want to see me for?" Jiang Yino asked, smoothing her wind-tousled bangs. Her expression was placid, her voice even.
"How long have you known Fan? Did you only meet after you started school?" Ji Yi didn’t beat around the bush, getting straight to the point.
Fan? Hearing her use such an intimate form of address, Jiang Yino felt a sudden heartache, the kind that comes from betrayal.
"Yes," Jiang Yino nodded briefly.
"Does he like you? Is he pursuing you?"
Convinced that Ji Yi and Qin Fan were an item, Jiang Yino gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. There’s no point in talking about it."
"Alright, let’s skip that question then," Ji Yi pressed. "Are you interested in him?"
Jiang Yino countered, "In what capacity are you asking?"
"Does it make a difference?"
"If you’re asking as his girlfriend, I don’t think I need to answer."
"And if I’m not?" Ji Yi quirked her lips in a sly smile.
To Jiang Yino, this seemed like a provocation.
"I’ll remain silent," Jiang Yino said, shaking her head. She continued, "Just state your purpose. Be direct. We’re strangers; this isn’t the time for a heart-to-heart. Out of respect for your relationship with Qin Fan, ask away. I’ll answer what I can."
"Have you been in a relationship before?"
"No."
"How many people are in your family?"
"A family of three. I’m an only child."
Ji Yi’s tone shifted. She stopped and looked directly into Jiang Yino’s eyes. "Do you hate me?"
Hate?
Hearing that word, Jiang Yino couldn’t help but shake her head and laugh.
"Hate you? What for? For being Qin Fan’s girlfriend? No, I’m not that fragile, nor am I that sensitive. Qin Fan has always had the right to choose. If you became his girlfriend, it proves you have a radiance that captivates him. For that, I wish you well. There’s no resentment. I admit, I did like him. I worried about him during the days he disappeared without a trace, even dreaming of him. Perhaps it was just the ignorant folly of first love. But that’s all meaningless to talk about now. As his classmate, I wish him the best. And as a stranger to you, I wish you happiness as well. Really, don’t read too much into it. Although I have a competitive streak in me, I won’t force things when it comes to matters of the heart. I can only wish you both well with an open heart. Even though I’ve never been in a relationship, I know that love cannot be forced. Besides, Qin Fan and I only met after school started. To claim it was some deep, profound love would be a stretch. All in all, our relationship was nothing more than that of ordinary classmates. Please, don’t overthink it."
Jiang Yino said all this slowly in a soft, long-winded speech.
Does it hurt? It does. The person who had so passionately confessed to her, who had won her heart, was now on someone else’s arm. Her constant thoughts and worries for him had all turned into a colossal joke. For a young woman on the cusp of love, who had yet to experience its trials, how could it not hurt? It was a lie to say it didn’t. Even though they had never officially been together, the feelings of deception and injustice left Jiang Yino utterly desolate. But she wouldn’t let it show. She had made a habit of bearing her grievances and hardships alone. Even though she had always been the apple of her parents’ eye in her not-so-wealthy family, she had learned to be independent from a young age. She rarely let her pessimism show, not wanting to burden her parents, whose lives were already difficult enough. So, this girl, with pride woven into her very bones, forced herself to endure the piercing pain of a wounded heart in front of others.
Ji Yi was silent for a moment, processing Jiang Yino’s words. Then, staring at her, she asked, "So, you can move on that easily?"
"No. I never had anything to move on from, because Qin Fan and I were never together. And if we had been, the only person who could make me let go would be Qin Fan himself telling me our time was up. Otherwise, no one could stand in my way. But talking about this now is pointless, isn’t it? I don’t know your name, nor do I want to. But because of this connection between us, I’ll say it again: I wish you happiness. Goodbye."
With that, Jiang Yino gave a magnanimous smile and a wave. She turned to leave, but as she did, the sparkle in her eyes faded into emptiness. Her face, growing paler by the second, was etched with sorrow.
But before she could take a step, Ji Yi’s voice rang out from behind her. "Yinuo, I think you need to know who I am! Especially if you want to be with Fan."
What?!
Hearing this, Jiang Yino’s body trembled uncontrollably.
What does she mean by that?
Seeing Jiang Yino’s slight tremble, Ji Yi said nothing more. She just smiled at the girl’s elegant back, waiting for her to turn around.
Ultimately unable to ignore the stirring of her heart, Jiang Yino turned back, her brow furrowed. "I’m sorry, I’m a little confused. What do you mean by that?"
"Hello, Yinuo." Ji Yi smiled, walking toward her and extending a hand. "Let’s reintroduce ourselves. My name is Ji Yi, and I’m Fan’s older sister. We’re not related by blood, but our bond is thicker than water. In my eyes, no matter how powerful he gets, he’ll always be my vulnerable little brother. Since I know he’s looking for a lifelong partner, I feel it’s my duty to properly vet any potential girlfriend. I hope you don’t mind. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I had to pester him endlessly for this opportunity!"
Uh—!
The sudden, melodramatic twist left Jiang Yino completely stunned, her mind blank.
Gazing at Ji Yi, whose cheerful smile now held a hint of cunning, she blurted out, "You’re not Fan’s girlfriend?"
"When did I ever say I was Fan’s girlfriend?" Ji Yi blinked playfully.
"Then you and him...?" Jiang Yino trailed off, finding the words hard to say.
But her implication was perfectly clear.
"You mean how I was holding his arm and leaning on his shoulder?" Ji Yi asked candidly.
Jiang Yino nodded, not denying it.
"If you had known my relationship with Fan from the start, if you hadn’t assumed I was his girlfriend, would you have told me all that? Alright then! Based on everything you’ve said... I approve of this match! Haha!"
With that, Ji Yi cheerfully reached out and took Jiang Yino’s hand in her own. The change in her demeanor was so complete, she seemed like a different person.