Volume 1, Chapter 30: I Saw Your Dog at My Archrival's Place

Jiang Yunmiao received word the moment Chen Nianke arrived at Yi Jiang Shan. Duan Yixiao’s young assistant was one of Jiang Yunmiao’s eyes and ears.

“President Jiang, that woman is here again! Dressed so provocatively, you can tell at a glance she’s up to no good.”

“Mm, I see.” Jiang Yunmiao looked at the white clouds drifting across the sky outside the window; her heart remained peaceful and serene. It seemed the show was about to begin. If she weren’t currently in her postpartum confinement period, she would have liked to join the fun.

She gave the assistant a lipstick in the latest popular shade from a luxury brand. “I think this color suits you well. When you get off work, just use my name at the counter to pick it up.”

The assistant was ecstatic. “Thank you, President Jiang!”

The assistant became even more diligent in providing live updates. The two had gotten into an argument, and Chen Nianke had left in a huff. Through the ajar door, the assistant saw that the string of agarwood prayer beads Duan Yixiao always wore had scattered all over the floor. Duan Yixiao was currently hunched over, picking up the wooden beads one by one.

Jiang Yunmiao had long guessed this outcome, as Chen Nianke’s demands were something Duan Yixiao simply could not fulfill. But to think Chen Nianke had actually smashed Duan Yixiao’s prayer beads? Jiang Yunmiao narrowed her eyes. Ye-Ye jumped into her lap, and she gently stroked the soft fur on its back, one stroke after another.

When Duan Yixiao returned that evening, he looked utterly miserable. Seeing him so troubled put Jiang Yunmiao at ease. In her good spirits, she had Sister Xu boil some fermented rice glutinous rice balls for her and kindly asked Duan Yixiao, “Would you like some? Fermented rice glutinous rice balls.”

Duan Yixiao was stunned. Ever since the Laba Festival, Jiang Yunmiao hadn't given him a pleasant look. The two had been in a state of cold war; was this her way of offering an olive branch? And she even had the housekeeper boil the fermented rice he liked?

He hadn’t eaten much for dinner, and the faint fragrance of osmanthus and fermented rice now filling the air piqued his appetite. “Mm, I’ll have a bowl.”

Of course, there is no such thing as a free midnight snack. As Jiang Yunmiao sipped her drink, she mentioned casually, “You really should try to get those prayer beads back. Things that have been consecrated, if worn by someone else, might affect your fortune or something similar.”

Duan Yixiao’s expression stiffened. He fell silent for a moment. He had been having such bad luck lately—could it be because the beads had been touched by Chen Nianke?

“Then... what if they were accidentally broken?” he asked cautiously, not daring to admit they had been snapped by Chen Nianke.

Jiang Yunmiao put on a nervous expression. “You didn’t throw them away, did you?”

“No, no.” Duan Yixiao was startled. “Is there something specific about that?”

Jiang Yunmiao said solemnly, “You’ve probably seen those TV dramas, right? Prayer beads suddenly snapping usually foretells that something bad is about to happen.”

Duan Yixiao’s face turned a shade paler. He forced a smile. “Could that just be dramatic effect?”

“Perhaps. It could also mean they blocked a disaster for their owner. But if a consecrated item is broken or you don’t want it anymore, you can’t just throw it away. You have to wrap it in red cloth and take it to a temple.”

Duan Yixiao nodded absentmindedly. He didn't dare ask what the consequences would be if they were damaged by human hands. Watching the frown deepen on Duan Yixiao’s face, Jiang Yunmiao arched an eyebrow. The fermented rice glutinous rice balls today were truly delicious!

Duan Yixiao hadn’t taken two bites before his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his gaze darkened, and he hung up directly.

Jiang Yunmiao glanced over nonchalantly: Wow, you even dare to hang up on your "white moonlight"—look at you, you’ve really grown a backbone!

“Why aren’t you answering the phone?” she asked lightly.

Duan Yixiao pressed his thin lips into a straight line. “Spam call.”

Jiang Yunmiao thought: Oh, you even saved a spam call under the name “Jin Xin” (Current Heart)—you’re quite the generous soul.

Actually, if this had happened a month ago, Jiang Yunmiao would have been quite heartbroken to see that name. “Jin” from “Jin Xin” was the same as the “Nian” in Chen Nianke’s name; did it also mean his heart was currently tethered to her? But now that she had opened her perspective, she felt much clearer. She no longer needed his validation. People who weren't on the same path would never get far together; it was better to part ways sooner rather than later.

The person on the other end seemed unwilling to give up and called again. Duan Yixiao showed clear annoyance, but he rejected the call once more.

The next second, the call came through to Jiang Yunmiao’s phone. She glanced at Duan Yixiao in surprise and swiped the screen.

“Yunmiao, is Duan Yixiao by your side?” The person on the other end was actually Chen Nianke’s mother.

Jiang Yunmiao answered truthfully, “He is.” She simply switched to speakerphone.

Chen Nianke’s mother’s voice sounded anxious. “Xiao Duan, President Duan, I’m begging you as an aunt—could you please come to our house? Ever since Nianke came home, she’s locked herself in her room and hasn't had a drop of water. No matter what we say, she won’t open the door. Could you help us persuade her? Her father and I would be so grateful.”

Duan Yixiao’s expression changed, and he immediately put down his spoon. “Alright, Auntie, I’ll be there right away!”

With that, he grabbed his phone and rushed out the door as if his life depended on it. As he reached the door, he had a sudden moment of conscience and reported to Jiang Yunmiao, “I’m heading out for a bit.”

Jiang Yunmiao wasn't used to this. “Alright, do your best to persuade her. Don't provoke her.”

Half an hour later, just as Jiang Yunmiao was planning to take a shower, Lu Shengshen called.

“I think I just saw your dog; he went to the Chen residence.”

There was a reason why Lu Shengshen and Chen Nianke were bitter rivals. They had lived in the same villa complex since they were children and constantly crossed paths. In fact, they were friends when they were little. Once, while playing at Lu Shengshen’s house, Chen Nianke suggested they learn to put on makeup like the ladies on TV. Lu Shengshen was worried her mother would be upset if they ruined her cosmetics, but Chen Nianke swore that if they were careful, they wouldn’t be found out. And even if they were, she would say it was her idea and have her mother pay for the damages.

The innocent and kind-hearted Lu Shengshen believed her. In the end, they left a mess of Lu Shengshen’s mother’s makeup all over the floor. Naturally, Lu Shengshen’s mother was furious when she returned. Lu Shengshen, who was counting on Chen Nianke to help shoulder the blame, heard Chen Nianke say, “I’m sorry, Auntie. I tried to tell Lu Shengshen not to play with the makeup, but she just wouldn’t listen.”

Lu Shengshen: “...” She was so shocked she couldn't utter a word. This was completely different from what they had agreed upon.

Lu Shengshen was severely scolded. But being as naive as she was, after Chen Nianke offered a few words of explanation, Lu Shengshen treated her as a friend again. It wasn't until she had been burned a few more times that Lu Shengshen finally realized she was nothing more than a scapegoat. From then on, she stopped playing with Chen Nianke, and the two became bitter rivals.

Therefore, it was perfectly normal for Lu Shengshen to run into Duan Yixiao.

Jiang Yunmiao said calmly, “Be more confident. Remove the word ‘think’.”