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Chapter 40: Strange

Jiang Liuyi returned home, stifling her frustration. She carried the groceries into the kitchen, and Song Xian came over to help, but neither of them seemed to know exactly what they should be doing. The two fumbled awkwardly around the kitchen, making a mess of things. Jiang Liuyi pulled up a recipe on Baidu and began following it step-by-step, washing vegetables, chopping them, and preparing the seasonings. 

She looked quite serious about it, even resembling a real cook for a moment. However, when she started heating the pan, there was still water inside, and she poured in the oil too soon. Flames shot up high, making her jump back several steps in alarm!

Seeing her flustered movements, Song Xian frowned and said, “Why don’t we just order takeout?”

Jiang Liuyi glanced at her, then at the stove where flames were still licking the air. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Let’s keep going.”

Since she had decided to learn, there was no reason to give up halfway. If she failed, she would simply try again. Holding onto that thought, Jiang Liuyi noticed Song Xian still standing behind her and said, “Go watch TV in the living room. I’ll call you when the food’s ready.”

Song Xian hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she stayed quiet, lowered her head, and quietly left the kitchen.

With only Jiang Liuyi left in the kitchen, she kept searching on Baidu while trying to cook, though she really couldn’t get a handle on the proportions for the oil, salt, and seasonings. Fortunately, they had bought plenty of ingredients, enough for her to make a few attempts. By the time she finally completed a full meal, it was already past two in the afternoon.

Song Xian, who had already eaten two pieces of bread to stave off her hunger, caught the aroma of freshly cooked rice and, for the first time, genuinely felt very hungry.

Jiang Liuyi had made twice-cooked pork, using garlic sprouts instead of green peppers. She probably used too much oil, and the meat had darkened a bit. Handing a pair of chopsticks to Song Xian, she said, “Want to try?”

She didn’t really expect it to taste good—especially knowing Song Xian, who was always brutally honest when it came to food—so she didn’t even bother asking how it was.

Song Xian took a bite, frowning slightly. Jiang Liuyi’s heart tightened along with that frown, already bracing for Song Xian to put down her chopsticks. But to her surprise, Song Xian simply picked up another bite, eating slowly and methodically. She even looked up and asked, “Aren’t you going to eat?”

Jiang Liuyi paused for a few seconds, then tentatively asked, “Does it taste good?”

Song Xian replied, “It’s okay.”

Jiang Liuyi: …

Why did she have to open her mouth? Wouldn’t it have been better to just assume it tasted great without asking? Sitting across from Song Xian, Jiang Liuyi had also made tomato and egg soup—the simplest and the dish she was most confident in. Before Song Xian even finished eating, Jiang Liuyi had already ladled two bowls of soup and placed them next to their rice, ready for them to drink afterward.

Even though Song Xian had said the food was just “okay,” she still finished a bowl of rice, half a plate of the twice-cooked pork, and a full bowl of soup. As Jiang Liuyi finished her own meal, she began thinking about what she should cook for dinner. She realized that all the ingredients they had bought that morning had already been used up—and all for just this small spread.

After they finished eating, Song Xian stood up to clear the dishes. Just then, Jiang Liuyi’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen—it was a call from her mother.

Jiang Liuyi hesitated for a moment, then walked to the window to answer.

Huang Shuiqin’s voice came through sharply: “Why did you just head straight home at noon? What, are you afraid we’ll poison you?”

Jiang Liuyi pressed her lips together.

When she was little, Huang Shuiqin used to speak to her with such gentleness, always asking if she was hungry, if she was cold, repeating reminders every time she went off to school. But now, the words she heard most were: Why won’t you listen? Why are you so thoughtless? Why do you insist on playing that ridiculous piano?

Every time, their conversations would end in hysteria, until Jiang Liuyi gradually forgot the mother she used to remember.

And now, it was starting all over again.

Jiang Liuyi pressed her hand to her forehead. “Mom, Song Xian and I won’t be going back for a while.”

“Why?” Huang Shuiqin gave a cold snort. “Planning not to be part of the Jiang family anymore?”

Jiang Liuyi said, “That’s not it.”

Huang Shuiqin took a deep breath and said, “Your father and I talked it over. Don’t you like playing the piano? Fine. From now on, your father and I won’t argue with you about it anymore. Move back home.”

Jiang Liuyi frowned. After graduating, she hadn’t lived at home anymore because staying there only meant endless arguments. Sometimes even the smallest remark could spiral into a full-blown fight.

As time went on, Jiang Liuyi began to wonder whether her parents opposed her playing the piano—or whether they simply denied her as a person altogether. Besides, Jiang Shan had once said that as long as she insisted on playing the piano, she wasn’t allowed to live at home. Why were they changing their tune now?

Huang Shuiqin continued, “But we have conditions too.”

At that moment, her voice was as cold as a death sentence, each word carrying a chill. A gust of cold wind swept past as Jiang Liuyi heard her say, “You have to divorce Song Xian.”

Jiang Liuyi was furious.

She answered with the same determination she had shown back when she insisted on playing the piano, telling Huang Shuiqin, “I won’t divorce Song Xian.”

Afraid Huang Shuiqin hadn’t understood, she emphasized again, “Not now, not ever!”

When Song Xian finished washing the dishes and walked into the living room, she happened to hear Jiang Liuyi say this. She looked up at her—Jiang Liuyi’s usually slender figure seemed, at that moment, to carry something it normally lacked.

It was determination.

After hesitating for a moment, Song Xian sat down on the sofa and opened her laptop, starting to retouch photos. The next issue’s cover featured a famous model who had been very cooperative during the shoot, so editing the photos now was easy. After a while, she clicked open her WeChat messages and saw that He Xiaoying had sent her a long string of crying emojis.

He Xiaoying: [I can’t take it, I really can’t! I’m seriously done. Wasn’t that Qian Li invited by the Editor-in-Chief? Why does it feel like she’s especially dissatisfied with our magazine? All of my first drafts were rejected!]

Song Xian frowned and replied: [All of them?]

He Xiaoying sent back a flood of crying stickers: [Song Xian, I’m going to suffocate! How is this person so impossible to deal with? It’s all of them, you read that right! Every single draft was rejected!]

At first, she had thought that even though Qian Li was a big name with a bad temper, since the Editor-in-Chief had personally invited her, she would at least show a little courtesy. So when Qian Li requested to see the interview draft in advance, He Xiaoying had even been happy about it, thinking that Qian Li seemed pretty professional.

Professional, my foot! Not even a little!

Not only was she nitpicking every tiny thing, but she outright rejected all her questions. And these were questions He Xiaoying had carefully confirmed with Song Xian—standard ones that should have been completely safe!

She was just deliberately causing trouble!

With her years of experience dealing with collaborators, she could immediately smell the intentional hostility. But what she really couldn’t figure out was why Qian Li, who had already agreed to the collaboration, was now purposely making things difficult.

Was she crazy or what?!

Fuming, she immediately vented to Song Xian.

Song Xian typed back: [Write other drafts first.]

He Xiaoying, still whimpering: [I know, I’m writing… just feeling wronged.]

Seeing those two words—feeling wronged—Song Xian suddenly looked up at Jiang Liuyi. Seeing that she was still on the phone, Song Xian lowered her head again and turned back to her laptop. The screen was filled with He Xiaoying’s complaints, warning that if there was already this much drama before things even started, the collaboration next week was bound to be a nightmare. 

She even told Song Xian to mentally prepare herself.

Song Xian calmly replied: [Got it.]

He Xiaoying: [What are you up to?]

Song Xian: [Editing photos.]

He Xiaoying: [Alright, alright, you keep editing, I’ll get back to writing.]

Song Xian closed the chat with He Xiaoying and continued working on her edits. Not long after, Jiang Liuyi hung up her call. She turned around and walked toward Song Xian, but before she could say anything, her phone rang again. Frowning, Jiang Liuyi picked it up and asked, “What now?!”

Her attitude was clearly displeased, her tone sharp and cold.

Stunned by the accusation, Lin Qiushui froze for a few seconds before calling out, “Liuyi?”

Jiang Liuyi glanced at the screen and saw it was Lin Qiushui. She softened her voice a little. “What is it?”

Lin Qiushui asked, “What’s wrong? Why are you so angry? Who did you argue with?”

Jiang Liuyi said, “No one.”

Lin Qiushui sounded a little surprised. In the past, Jiang Liuyi had rarely kept anything from them—she would say whatever was on her mind. Actually, Lin Qiushui could more or less guess it was something related to her family. Before, she might have pressed for details, but now, she didn’t feel much like asking.

Jiang Liuyi said, “Why did you call me?”

Lin Qiushui gathered herself and then said, “Do you still remember the collaboration with Yu Bai?”

Afraid Jiang Liuyi would misunderstand, Lin Qiushui quickly added, “A work-related collaboration.”

Jiang Liuyi pressed her lips together. After a few seconds of silence, she said, “I remember.”

Lin Qiushui clutched her phone tightly. “Her exhibition has already been set up. She wants you to go take a look in person, see what style would suit it best, and then discuss it with her.”

Jiang Liuyi didn’t immediately refuse. Since it was a professional collaboration, it made sense to be hands-on—visiting the exhibition to see the layout and the style of the works firsthand was necessary to choose the right music. This wasn’t her first time handling such a task. 

Previously, they’d let Yu Bai decide the style herself in order to avoid suspicion. Now that Lin Qiushui was bringing it up, Jiang Liuyi said, “Got it. Send me the address. I’ll head over in a bit.”

Hearing that, Lin Qiushui finally let out a breath of relief.

At least she was still keeping her rationality. Things weren’t as bad as she feared.

As for the mess between Jiang Liuyi and Yu Bai, Lin Qiushui no longer intended to interfere. She had a feeling that if she did, she would only push Jiang Liuyi even further away.

After hanging up, she sent the address to Jiang Liuyi. Jiang Liuyi got ready to go change into another outfit. Glancing down, she saw Song Xian still working on her photo edits. She said to Song Xian, “I’m heading out for a bit.”

Song Xian responded with a quiet “Mm.”

Jiang Liuyi hesitated for a moment, then added, “I’m going to Yu Bai’s exhibition—the job Qiushui took on before.”

Hearing this, Song Xian finally looked up at her. After a few seconds, she said, “Okay.”

Seeing her lower her head again, Jiang Liuyi worried that she might sit at home overthinking things. On impulse, she said, “Why don’t you come with me?”

Hearing that, Song Xian’s hand paused over the keyboard. She looked up and asked, “Go together?”

Jiang Liuyi nodded. “Mm, it shouldn’t take long. Just going over to get a feel for the style.”

Song Xian seemed to be thinking about something. After a few seconds, she said, “Alright, let me finish editing these photos.”

Jiang Liuyi had no choice but to go to the bedroom first to change clothes. She had just finished changing when she saw Song Xian walk in. A little surprised, she asked, “You’re done?”

Song Xian said, “I’m done.”

Jiang Liuyi had thought Song Xian would take a while longer, but she finished surprisingly fast. Standing in front of the mirror, Jiang Liuyi had changed into a slightly more formal undershirt, layered with a light blue wool coat. Her long hair was pinned up, and she wore light makeup. 

Song Xian was also standing in front of the wardrobe, dressed in a pale sweater and jeans—both light colors. With her naturally fair skin, she looked as if she were glowing.

She was picking out a jacket.

Jiang Liuyi reached out and handed her a deep blue one. “Wear this.”

It was similar in color to what Jiang Liuyi was wearing, just a shade darker. Song Xian didn’t refuse. She took the coat and slipped it on. Jiang Liuyi quickly gathered her wallet and phone, then asked if Song Xian wanted to bring a bag. Song Xian nodded, and Jiang Liuyi said, “I’ll put your things in mine, so we don’t have to carry two bags.”

Song Xian watched as Jiang Liuyi naturally tucked her belongings into her own bag, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Yet, in that moment, Song Xian felt a strange sensation.

It was as if something that didn’t originally belong to her had quietly entered her world.

And even stranger—

She didn’t immediately push it away.