Chapter 4

The woman who had just asked the question froze, exchanging a startled glance with her companion. They had accompanied wealthy young masters here more times than they could count. “Female companion”—they had heard that term far too often. Whenever the men at the table introduced them, it was either with an ambiguous smile or a casual “friend.” Some did not even bother to spare them a glance, as though they were nothing more than a coat draped over the back of a chair—present, but not worth naming. They had long since grown accustomed to such disregard. They had even learned to find their own amusement in it, treating attachment as entertainment and dependence as a skill. But the woman sitting before them… Who was Jiang Duo? He was the only son of the Jiang family, famously cold and indifferent within their circle. He kept himself remarkably clean and had never been known to have a female companion. Yet now, in front of everyone, he had openly acknowledged her. Not as a “female companion,” but as his “girlfriend.” The woman quietly straightened her back, no longer leaning bonelessly against her boyfriend. She secretly studied Shen Ci in the corner, her gaze moving from the plain white bath towel draped over her shoulders to her straight back and lowered eyelashes. Her aura was simply too cold. It wasn't the affected aloofness of someone pretending to be above others, but a genuine sense of distance that seemed to emanate from deep within her bones. It was as though the extravagance filling the room, the game around the table, and even Jiang Duo’s declaration that she was his “girlfriend” had nothing to do with her. She was like a celadon vase that had somehow been misplaced in a place of indulgence—delicate, cool, and almost chilling to the touch. “Which wealthy family raised her…” the woman murmured under her breath to her companion. The woman opposite her gently shook her head, a complicated trace of envy flashing through her eyes. Across the table, Xie Shuheng rolled a poker chip between his fingers. His meaningful gaze swept from Jiang Duo to the corner before he suddenly smiled. There was a hint of mischief and probing curiosity in that smile, like a fox that had just caught the scent of blood. “Sister-in-law must be bored sitting over there by herself,” he drawled, letting the poker chip fall onto the table with a sharp clack. “Why don’t we have her come over and play a few rounds? Duo-ge, you can give her some pointers while you’re at it. That way, we can see for ourselves…” He paused, the corners of his eyes lifting. “How well husband and wife work together.” Jiang Duo did not respond to Xie Shuheng. He turned his head, his gaze passing over the card table and settling on Shen Ci. The light poured down from above her head, casting a faint shadow over her eyelids. She remained sitting perfectly upright, like a porcelain figurine forgotten in a corner. “Want to come over and play?” he asked. His voice was not loud, yet it cut clearly through the noise in the room. Shen Ci raised her eyes. She saw the several gazes fixed on her from around the table—curious, suggestive, like an invisible net. Then she looked at the indescribable expression in Jiang Duo’s eyes. The remnants of this body’s memories told her that the former Shen Ci would have happily rushed over, using the card game as an excuse to lean against him. But she was not the Shen Ci from before. “Everyone,” she said as she stood, the bath towel slipping slightly from her shoulders before she quickly gathered it back into place. She gave the people around the table a slight nod, her manner that of a properly raised young lady bidding farewell. “It’s getting late. I need to go home and rest.” It was not a request. She was simply informing them. Xie Shuheng raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Yin Kuo, who had remained silent on the right, suddenly laughed. There was a hint of teasing in his smile as his gaze moved between Jiang Duo and Shen Ci. “The rooms are already prepared. There’s a suite upstairs, so you can just stay here tonight…” He deliberately paused before looking at Jiang Duo, his tone taking on a suggestive lilt. “Boss, what do you think?” Before Jiang Duo could say anything, Shen Ci immediately shook her head. “Thank you for the offer,” she said calmly, her voice as still as a deep pool. “But I must go home.” Yes, she had to. How could an unmarried woman possibly spend the night outside? That was a matter of principle. Her clear gaze swept over everyone. There was not the slightest hesitation in her eyes, nor any trace of coyness or feigned reluctance. Jiang Duo looked at her. He suddenly noticed that Shen Ci’s eyes were very bright. Not with the moist, flattering gaze of someone deliberately trying to please him, but with a light burning deep within them—almost stubborn in its intensity. She stood perfectly straight, her shoulders slender yet dignified beneath the bath towel, like a bamboo stalk that would rather break than bend. She was completely different from the girl in his memories who took every opportunity to cling to his side, with eyes that held nothing but him. “Fine.” He suddenly smiled. The smile was faint, like a fleeting star in the winter night, disappearing almost as soon as it appeared. “I’ll have the driver take you home.” Shen Ci nodded. “Thank you,” she said. Her tone was polite, distant, and perfectly measured. Jiang Duo’s gaze deepened slightly, but he said nothing. He made a phone call and gave a few quiet instructions. The moment the door closed, Shen Ci seemed to hear a soft laugh from inside, carrying a hint of amusement and curiosity, like a pebble tossed into a deep pool before everything quickly returned to silence. She did not look back. After changing back into the clothes the original Shen Ci had worn when she arrived, Shen Ci stood beneath the corridor outside. The night wind carried the fresh, earthy scent of vegetation toward her. In the distance, the low hum of an engine sounded. A black sedan silently glided to a stop in front of her. The driver stepped out and respectfully opened the door. The car rolled over the gravel road and disappeared into the night. … Inside the private card room, silence lasted for a full three seconds. Xie Shuheng suddenly let out a snort of laughter, spinning the poker chip rapidly between his fingers. “Duo-ge, this girlfriend of yours…” He drew out the words, amusement flickering in his eyes. “She’s quite interesting.” “More than interesting,” Yin Kuo added. He leaned back, the teasing expression on his face replaced by genuine curiosity. “When I said that just now, most girls would have acted shy and coy, pretending to refuse while secretly agreeing. But her? ‘I must go home.’” He imitated Shen Ci’s tone, then shook his head. “I haven’t seen such a proper girl in ages. She’s like an antique.” Jiang Duo remembered Shen Ci’s final look—calm and distant, as though she were looking at a complete stranger. Yet strangely enough, that very sense of unfamiliarity made something deep inside him itch for a brief moment. But it lasted only an instant. When he raised his eyes again, his lips had already flattened into a straight line. His expression was as cold and stern as ever, as though the man who had smiled and arranged a car for her had merely been a figment of everyone's imagination. “Deal the cards,” he said indifferently. Two simple words, neither loud nor forceful, yet they were like a pebble dropped into a still lake. Ripples spread outward, instantly shattering the subtle atmosphere in the room. Xie Shuheng and Yin Kuo exchanged a glance, both seeing understanding in the other’s eyes. This was the Jiang Duo they knew—cold and indifferent, with an innate aloofness that ran deep in his bones. No matter how special a woman was, she could never stir his interest. “Fine,” Yin Kuo said with a shrug. He spun the poker chip in a graceful arc before letting it land back on the table. “Let’s keep playing. I’m winning my money back this round.” The card game resumed. … The sedan traveled through the night. Shen Ci gazed out the window at the neon lights rushing past. The dazzling, unfamiliar colors reflected in her eyes like an unreal dream. Home. She silently repeated the word in her heart as though it were some kind of spell. No matter what world this was, no matter whose body she was in, she first needed to find somewhere she could sleep peacefully, close the door, and shut everything else outside. Then she would think slowly, learn slowly, and live slowly.