Chapter 125: Whispers in the Shadows

In a two-story villa in Ziteng City.

Jiang Qian sat on the sofa, her eyes cold and distant, with long black hair cascading over her shoulders.

She wore pajamas while Fang Meng, armed with a weapon—a fresh carrot—backed a man in a suit into the corner.

“Miss Jiang, Miss Fang, I really don’t know anything!” the man begged repeatedly.

Jiang Qian lifted a cup of coffee and sipped it slowly.

“Keep asking.”

Fang Meng pulled out a peeler from somewhere and began scraping the carrot into thin strips, peeling it bit by bit.

The man swallowed hard, terrified.

Fang Meng’s gaze was sharp; though she seemed ordinary day to day, she served as Jiang Qian’s assistant and part-time bodyguard, with real skills she rarely showed.

“I’ll give you one more chance. Tell us about the eldest miss’s recent schedule, or else…”

She shaped the carrot into a knife-like form, its tip gleaming coldly as she held it against the man’s neck: “Spill it, or you’re out of the bonus!”

The man, shaken by Fang Meng’s terrifying stare, stammered, “This… Miss Fang, what does ‘out of the bonus’ mean? I don’t get school slang.”

“It’s not school slang; it’s from TV,” Fang Meng replied, withdrawing the carrot and speaking word by word: “It means this month, Miss Jiang plans to give everyone a bonus—except you.”

“Ah?! No, please! I work hard, Miss Jiang! I… I’ll talk! But I don’t know much.”

Jiang Qian knew these people didn’t have much information; her sister would never share her schedule if she wanted to keep it secret.

She even spread false info to her subordinates on purpose, just to hide where she went these past few days.

Jiang Qian looked up at him coldly: “Just tell us what you know. Since the National Day holiday, what’s her schedule been like? The more details, the better.”

The man nodded quickly: “Okay! I’ll start from the first.”

Fang Meng jotted down his words on paper, then pulled three hundred yuan from her pocket: “Here, extra bonus. It’s not much, but it’s enough for a few things. Remember, don’t tell anyone about today.”

“Th-thank you, Miss Jiang, thank you, Miss Fang.”

With that, he hurried out.

He even remembered to close the door behind him.

Fang Meng set the peeled carrot aside and updated Jiang Qian on the day’s interrogation results:

“Qian Qian, based on what thirty-seven people said today, I’ve recorded the eldest miss’s schedule. Want to take a look?”

Jiang Qian reached out her hand.

Fang Meng handed over the thick notebook.

As she scanned her sister’s schedule, Jiang Qian slowly frowned:

“On October 1st, she drove to a public restroom in the morning, then went to an amusement park for an ice cream, bought snail noodles at a shop outside the restroom, returned to the amusement park for a second ice cream…

And finally had someone drive her to the snail noodle factory to buy a box of chocolates, which she handed out to kids at the amusement park?”

She set the notebook down: “What on earth is all this nonsense?”

Fang Meng replied: “The eldest miss always does things that are hard to figure out, and everyone gave different versions. This is the combined one, but it’s full of fakes. She wouldn’t be that idle, of course.”

Jiang Qian pushed the notebook toward her: “Xiao Meng, this is on you. Find her real route for me, and fast. It’s the fifth today—the day she’s meeting Lin Zheng Ran. We need to get there first.”

Fang Meng nodded, picked up the notebook, and sat aside. As she sifted through the messy schedule, she glanced at the dazed Jiang Qian.

Qian Qian had said she didn’t care that day in the car, but it was all a lie. Ever since she learned her sister was going on a blind date with Lin Zheng Ran, she’d grown more anxious each day of the holiday.

Now, here they were, digging into the eldest miss’s schedule.

So, deep down, Qian Qian was starting to care about Lin Zheng Ran.

A young woman’s curiosity—who knows where it might lead?

Fang Meng quickly rearranged the chaotic schedule, spotting possible similarities:

“Though the eldest miss fed people fake routes on purpose, we can eliminate the illogical ones—like paths that don’t match distances or times, or ones that conflict with her work and leisure. So, in the end…”

Fang Meng handed the notebook back: “After narrowing it down, these routes are the most likely to be real.”

Jiang Qian examined the routes and noticed the times didn’t overlap. She nodded: “I’ll go change clothes. We’ll drive around and check her meeting spots with Lin Zheng Ran.”

“Got it.”

As Jiang Qian headed to the bedroom, Fang Meng called out:

“Wait, can I ask something? If we actually find the eldest miss on a date with Lin Zheng Ran, what are you planning to do?

After all, you gave up the arranged marriage to her, and she even asked you twice—you agreed. We’ll need a reason to show up.”

Jiang Qian paused, her back to Fang Meng:

“I don’t need to do anything because I know my sister won’t like Lin Zheng Ran. They won’t end up together. I’m just going to stop her from messing with my classmate. We agreed not to interfere in each other’s lives, and she’s breaking that.”

Fang Meng watched Jiang Qian go upstairs to change and shut the bedroom door.

From across the living room, Fang Meng murmured to herself: “Stop the eldest miss from bothering her classmate? That’s a reason, but it feels weak. Qian Qian’s definitely jealous, isn’t she?”

Suddenly, Jiang Qian opened the door upstairs and emphasized: “Don’t overthink it—I’m not jealous. I just don’t like her getting close to my friends, especially in this playful way.”

Then she closed the door again.

Sweat beaded on Fang Meng’s forehead.

Jiang Qian opened the door once more and corrected herself: “Fine, Lin Zheng Ran and I aren’t really friends. Let me rephrase: I just don’t like her contacting my classmates and messing with my social circle. That’s it.”

The door shut again.

In the living room, Fang Meng’s forehead sweat grew heavier.

She sighed helplessly: “I thought it was fine, but after all this fuss from the eldest miss, Qian Qian’s even more fixated on Lin Zheng Ran. That curiosity is trouble.”

So, Jiang Qian and Fang Meng spent the whole day searching for the pair’s meeting spot.

——

Tonight, the sky was full of stars. Lin Zheng Ran changed clothes and stepped out, checking his phone for the address. The meeting place wasn’t far from his home—just a fifteen-minute drive.

But the location was odd—a Lanzhou ramen shop?

Though it seemed random, Lin Zheng Ran didn’t mind; it was just a meeting.

He hailed a taxi and headed to the address sent by his mysterious date.

He wanted to see who it was.

When he arrived, the ramen shop was closed, and the street was quiet. As he reached for his phone,

The door of the neighboring cat cafe swung open, and a young woman in work clothes rushed over to greet him. She looked about twenty, sweet and approachable:

“Are you Mr. Lin? Here for a meeting?”

Lin Zheng Ran wondered who she was.

“Yes, that’s me. And you are?”

Her face flushed slightly as she pointed to the cat cafe: “Your meeting’s inside. I’ll show you.”

Lin Zheng Ran said thanks and followed her into the cat cafe, past the main area where guests petted cats. The shop was closed for now, empty.

Through a couple of doors, they reached the staff back area, and Lin Zheng Ran realized this small cat cafe had hidden depths.

Normally, back areas are cramped for cat care, but here, it opened into a spacious hall, more lavish than the front.

The ceiling sparkled with star-like lights,

And the walls featured pink patterns of cats blended with art. Over twenty cats with collars lounged around, stretching, wandering, or yawning.

In this dreamy room, Jiang Jingshi squatted in a corner, feeding cat treats to a few felines. She wore a silver evening gown and high heels, her wavy hair draped over her shoulders.

From Lin Zheng Ran’s angle, he only saw her profile, but even that was stunningly beautiful.

Her long lashes framed soft, gentle eyes, and her red lips curved slightly, with artistic silver earrings dangling.

She looked like a living work of art.

“Zheng Ran, you’re here?”

Jiang Jingshi heard the door and turned, smiling warmly at Lin Zheng Ran.

Lin Zheng Ran saw it was her and chuckled helplessly; he’d suspected as much.

From yesterday’s chat, the tone didn’t match Jiang Qian’s at school—it screamed Jiang Jingshi.

The woman in work clothes bowed slightly: “Boss Jiang, I’ll head out. Call if you need anything.”

Jiang Jingshi instructed: “Close the front door and lights. We’re closed today—no one in.”

She was clearly guarding against someone.

The staff nodded: “Yes, Boss Jiang,” and left, shutting the door. Now, only Lin Zheng Ran and Jiang Jingshi remained.

Lin Zheng Ran wondered why the secrecy but figured it was a rich person’s habit.

He walked over.

“Jiang Jie, you own a cat cafe here?”

Jiang Jingshi stayed composed facing him, though her expression hinted at disappointment; he didn’t seem as surprised as she’d hoped.

“Did Zheng Ran know it was me all along?”

Lin Zheng Ran joined her: “I didn’t at first, but when Jiang Jie added me on WeChat, your style felt familiar. I pieced it together.”

Jiang Jingshi looked at him disappointedly: “That’s no fun. I thought you’d be shocked, mouth wide open. I’ve never seen you like that.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled and pulled out the photo from his pocket: “Well, since it’s you who added me, and our meeting was set up by our grandfathers, that means… you’re my arranged match? Not Jiang Qian in this photo?”

Jiang Jingshi smiled playfully: “Of course, I’m your fiancée. The girl in the photo? I was slimmer back then.”

Lin Zheng Ran laughed: “Really? But I still think it looks like Jiang Qian.”

Jiang Jingshi blinked, her long lashes fluttering, but didn’t dwell on it since the sisters were easy to tell apart: “So, Zheng Ran, who do you think is prettier—the girl in the photo or me?”

Lin Zheng Ran answered honestly: “They’re both pretty.”

Jiang Jingshi laughed lightly: “Zheng Ran, you’re still so charming. But I’ll take that as a compliment—you think I’m good-looking.”

Just then, an older female cat approached Lin Zheng Ran, staring curiously and meowing tentatively.

Lin Zheng Ran looked down at the cat; it seemed familiar.

The cat rubbed against his leg as if confirming something.

Jiang Jingshi was surprised: “How does it know you? Have you met this cat? They’re usually friendly, but they don’t warm up to anyone but me.”

Lin Zheng Ran crouched and petted its head, realizing: This was the kitten he and Han Wenwen had rescued from a tree that first time they met.

Now it was all grown up.

The cat nuzzled his hand happily, as if thanking him.

Lin Zheng Ran: “I remember now. I saw it once before. So, this cat’s yours, Jiang Jie?”

Jiang Jingshi finished feeding the treats: “All the cats here are mine. I take in ones abandoned at pet hospitals. This one’s the same, and she just had kittens recently.”

She pointed to the nest: “See? Those are her babies.”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at the nest with four or five adorable kittens munching away, meowing cutely.

The kittens seemed drawn to him, mewing and inching closer.

Jiang Jingshi remarked: “Zheng Ran really charms animals. They say guys animals like are kind-hearted—the type girls can trust for life.”

Lin Zheng Ran chuckled while stroking the cat: “You believe that online stuff, Jiang Jie?”

Jiang Jingshi leaned closer: “Not all of it—just what I want to. But you’re definitely the ideal boyfriend material. After you showed up at the music competition, even without performing, so many girls talked about you—I lost count.”

She added slowly: “I felt a twinge of jealousy hearing that, since you’re my fiancé.~”

Lin Zheng Ran turned to her curiously, and she met his gaze.

Lin Zheng Ran asked with a smile: “Someone like you still believes in arranged marriages?”

Jiang Jingshi looked back at the kittens: “Like I said, I only believe what I choose to. And what’s wrong with me having feelings? Can’t I fall for someone or date? I’m a woman too—I need affection.”

Lin Zheng Ran watched the kittens: “Of course you can, but from what I’ve seen, Jiang Jie, you’re not focused on romance. Your priorities are clear—it’s all about your career.”

Jiang Jingshi giggled and gave him a playful glance: “Zheng Ran knows me well. I used to think about dating, but it never clicked until I met you. You’re the kind who sparks curiosity, even in me.”

She smiled mysteriously: “Ever since knowing you, my business ventures haven’t gone smoothly. Take today’s competition—I invested a lot more than last time, and when you appeared, my heart skipped. Because if you win, I lose.”

“Sorry, but—”

“But you still want to beat me?” Jiang Jingshi interrupted.

“It’s not about beating you; it’s about winning the competition,” he replied.

“Is that so? I believe it.” A cat jumped into Lin Zheng Ran’s lap, and Jiang Jingshi gently brushed off the fur on his shoulder: “I’ve always thought I was good at reading people, but you’re a step ahead. Still, it’s strange—last time, when you and Heqing beat me, I was annoyed because it cost me money. But today, hearing those girls rave about you and predicting my team might lose, I wasn’t as upset. I just wondered if I’d run into you in my next project and lose again?”

“Hmm?” Lin Zheng Ran caught something: “Mind if I ask—what’s your next project?”

“An online game tournament. I’m setting up a leaderboard.”

Lin Zheng Ran: “.”

Jiang Jingshi noticed his expression and raised an eyebrow, her lips curving with interest: “Wait, really? We’re that fated?”

Suddenly, several cats sniffed the air around Jiang Jingshi and him, then exchanged looks as if agreeing on something. They dashed into her arms, trying to help.

Jiang Jingshi, already in heels, lost her balance with the cats piling on and fell toward Lin Zheng Ran.

He caught her quickly. “Jiang Jie, watch out!”

Jiang Jingshi steadied herself, glancing at the cats in confusion: “These guys are acting weird today…” She turned to face Lin Zheng Ran, their faces inches apart.

Her soft eyes locked on his, a blush creeping in.

The door burst open as the staff rushed in: “Boss Jiang! Are you okay? I heard—” She froze, seeing Jiang Jingshi in Lin Zheng Ran’s arms.

The staff quickly turned away, covering her eyes: “Sorry, Boss! I didn’t see a thing!”

Jiang Jingshi pulled away, standing and touching her lips, her heart racing. She composed herself and asked sternly: “What was that? Did you knock before barging in?”

The staff stammered: “I’m so sorry! I was going to, but I heard you shout and thought a cat scratched you. Anyway, sorry!”

Jiang Jingshi clenched her fingers, her pulse still fast, but waved it off: “Fine, just be careful next time. What did you need?”

“Oh! Your phone’s been ringing. It’s your sister.”

Jiang Jingshi: “Don’t answer. I’m ignoring her calls today.”

“Understood. I’ll go and remember to knock next time!” The staff hurried out.

Lin Zheng Ran stood: “Jiang Qian’s calling you?”

Jiang Jingshi’s face still held a faint blush as she smiled: “It’s nothing. Hey, Zheng Ran, have you eaten dinner?”

Lin Zheng Ran: “Not yet. I figured I’d grab something out.”

“Perfect. I’ll cook for you.”

“Huh?”

“Why so surprised? Girls cook all the time. I haven’t eaten either, so let’s share. Plus, I wanted to discuss something important about today—beyond the family setup.”

Jiang Jingshi went to a hidden wall door, revealing a luxurious kitchen inside, fully equipped.

“How about steak? I got a good one delivered midday and prepped it knowing you’d come. Just a quick sear, and it’ll be delicious.”

Lin Zheng Ran followed: “Sounds good. Thanks, Jiang Jie.”

“No need to be so formal.”

She tied on an apron and sliced the steak expertly, turning on the vent and adding butter to the pan.

Lin Zheng Ran watched, impressed: “You’re really skilled at this.”

“Mm.” Jiang Jingshi glanced at him: “Is it that shocking I can cook? I have lots of hobbies, cooking included. Not many get to try it—only family, and you’re the first outsider.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled: “I’m honored.”

The steak sizzled in the butter, filling the air with aroma.

Jiang Jingshi blushed slightly: “It’ll be ready soon. About those cats earlier… they don’t usually do that. Sorry for the awkwardness.”

“It’s fine, just a minor slip.”

“I don’t know why I keep acting this way around you. Maybe—” Jiang Jingshi spotted a bit of red on his shoulder—her lipstick.

After a few minutes, she forked a piece and offered it: “Try this. I think it’s pretty good.”

Lin Zheng Ran reached for the fork, but she insisted: “Just open up and see how it tastes.”

He said thanks and ate it, surprised: “It’s great—really tasty. You’ve got talent here.”

Jiang Jingshi beamed: “Really? Have another piece. We’ll take the rest to the table.”

She fed him another, cupping her hand beneath to catch any juices: “Ah, careful—it’s hot.”

They moved to the table, and she sat beside him, not across.

She used a wet wipe with makeup remover on his shoulder: “I got lipstick on you. Eat while I fix this.” Before he could protest: “Let me—girls are better at this; you won’t get it off properly.”

Lin Zheng Ran got to the point: “Earlier, you mentioned wanting to talk about something?”

Jiang Jingshi focused on his shoulder: “It’s about the competition. You saw the whole thing, right? Did anything seem off? I couldn’t spot it, and no one else did, but I had this weird feeling. What about you?”