Returning - Chapter 165
Chapter 165: Luring the Tiger Out of the Mountain
It was already deep into the night by the time they had seen off batch after batch of guests and dealt with all the post-wedding matters.
The Zhuang family was constantly bickering even on normal days, and the siblings didn't live together, but tonight, harboring the intent to witness a spectacle, Zhuang Ze and Zhuang Ruyun had deliberately followed everyone back to the old family home.
With no outsiders present, Zhuang Yiqing no longer needed to feign elegance and magnanimity, and she didn't bother giving them a pleasant expression.
Zhuang Ze was manageable; he always played the good boy.
No matter how hypocritical, he at least spent the whole evening comforting Zhuang Yiqing.
But Zhuang Ruyun and Zhuang Yiqing had long since torn off all pretenses, so naturally, she held nothing back, her mocking words flowing freely: "No wonder Dad insisted on forcing me to return home for the wedding."
"So there was such a grand drama unfolding. What a surprise. This trip wasn't in vain; it was worth it."
Zhuang Yiqing never stooped to trading verbal barbs with her. She merely said flatly to the driver beside her, "Send her back to Canada tomorrow morning. My father wants her to focus on her studies. No need to come back in the future unless it's something important. Although she's just a bastard, she still bears the Zhuang name. With that diploma from some third-rate university, she shouldn't be embarrassing our Zhuang family."
Zhuang Zhen and his wife, who had returned a step later, entered the door in their usual state of conflict.
Ji Sui sighed helplessly inwardly and signaled Zhuang Yiqing with his eyes to go upstairs, to ignore all that meaningless noise.
Once inside the elevator, seeing her grim expression, Ji Sui consoled her, "Don't take their words to heart."
Zhuang Yiqing sneered, "No matter how humiliated I am, I'm still better than them."
Both their rooms were on the fourth floor, separated by the elevator and staircase.
After exiting the elevator, he said, "Get some rest," and Ji Sui naturally headed towards his own room, but Zhuang Yiqing suddenly called out to him.
Ji Sui turned back. "Is there something else?"
Zhuang Yiqing smiled. "All these years, no matter what happened, you're the only one who's always been by my side supporting me."
Ji Sui smiled back. "You are my sister. Like Zhuang Ye, I will definitely stand by your side."
"You and Zhuang Ye are not the same." Zhuang Yiqing slowly approached. "He and I are biological siblings, but you and I share no blood relation."
Seeing her draw closer, Ji Sui instinctively stepped back.
"Even without a blood relation, I still see you as my own sister."
"Is that so?" Zhuang Yiqing smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder and leaning her entire body against him. "Is that truly what you think?"
Ji Sui abruptly pushed her arm away and took two large steps back. "Sis, it's late. Get some rest."
Zhuang Yiqing froze for a moment, only then belatedly realizing that he now seemed to call her just "Sis"—a form of address he had once resisted most fiercely.
Her expression soured involuntarily, but she quickly replaced it with a radiant, charming smile and continued advancing towards him. "Tonight, I'll sleep in your room."
"Fine." Ji Sui didn't stop her but turned and walked towards the elevator.
Zhuang Yiqing called after him, "Where are you going?"
Ji Sui paused, looked back and smiled. "This is the Zhuang family villa."
"You can stay in whichever room you like. I have matters to attend to; I'm heading back to my apartment first."
A layer of anger finally colored Zhuang Yiqing's face.
She stared at him for a long moment before asking, "Did you get a girlfriend?"
"No." Because he had promised Zhao Yu to keep it secret for now and hadn't discussed it with her, Ji Sui didn't admit it. But after the denial, he added seriously, "However, there is someone I like. I love her very much."
It wasn't until Ji Sui's figure vanished into the elevator that Zhuang Yiqing's fists clenched tighter and tighter.
Finally, she kicked over the nearby trash can with a vicious stomp.
By the time Ji Sui reached the first floor, everyone had already retired to their respective rooms.
Unable to reach Zhuang Ye, worry gnawed at his heart, so he sought out the housekeeper, Auntie Sun, to inquire.
"He went to the United States. I heard it from Lao Chen. Early this evening, he suddenly called back and asked Lao Chen to bring his passport and US visa to the international airport."
Ji Sui furrowed his brow. "Wasn't he supposed to go find Xu Chengyan? What's he doing in America?"
"That I wouldn't know. You could call Lao Chen and ask."
Just as Ji Sui was about to dial, an unfamiliar number called in.
"Is this Brother Ji Sui? It's Ling Jianwei. I wanted to ask, did Zhuang Ye really go to America?"
"I've been trying his phone but can't get through. Can you guys contact him?"
Ji Sui was startled. "His phone has been off. What happened?"
Ling Jianwei's voice sounded frantic. "Today... at the Wedding Palace, I accidentally overheard him talking with a man. I'm afraid he might do something rash."
Ji Sui's heart tightened. "What exactly is going on?"
Ling Jianwei hesitated, then said, "They mentioned Tang Xi... that's Zhuang Ye's ex-girlfriend."
"She was forced to abort Zhuang Ye's child and break up with him by Zhuang Ye's sister back then."
Ji Sui's face filled with shock. "What did you say?"
"Brother Ji Sui, I know what I did back then was wrong, I let Zhuang Ye down. But we've been brothers for so many years, I'm truly worried about him. It was only after hearing their conversation today that I realized... Tang Xi... indeed, she initiated the seduction towards me back then, and I failed to resist."
"But... but I never imagined she had her reasons, such painful ones. If you don't believe me, you can check the Wedding Palace's surveillance footage. I heard Zhuang Ye has been undergoing psychological treatment. Now that he's learned such a horrifying truth, I fear he might... lose his will to live."
The last sentence successfully drained the color from Ji Sui's face. "So his going to America is..."
"I heard that man help him find out that Tang Xi is now in America. I'm afraid if Zhuang Ye can't find her, he'll break down. And I'm also afraid that once he sees her and confirms the truth, it will be even harder for him to bear. He was already in therapy... what if... I wanted to go too, but I don't have a visa. I hesitated all night before deciding I should still tell you. You're his brother; you surely care more about him than I do."
Ji Sui's expression grew increasingly grim. As he strode quickly towards the underground garage, he asked, "Did you hear them say specifically where in America he was going?"
"I have a multiple-entry US visa. I'll go find him right now."
"That would be great, I was worried... I'll send you the address I overheard."
"Zhuang Ye probably only has a few hours' head start on you. It should still be doable."
Ji Sui hurriedly drove off, returned to his apartment to grab his passport and visa, then headed straight for the airport. Only before boarding did he send a message to Zhao Yu.
Xue Zhan saw the message on Zhao Yu's phone, and at this moment, she still hadn't woken up.
Yet this message held no value for him, because long before this, Ling Jianwei had already sent a message informing Zhao Yu that Ji Sui had taken the bait.
Picking up the phone to glance at it, Xue Zi'ang sneered once more, "As expected, an idiot."
After saying this, he shot an annoyed look at Zhao Yu on the bed.
"Able to see through every man's character, playing them all in the palm of your hand. Impressive."
Seeing Xue Zhan remain silent, Xue Zi'ang added, "Relax."
"By the time they run around in circles and come back, the dust will have settled. Regret will be useless by then."
Xue Zhan indeed feared some slip-up in the plan, but after going through it carefully in his mind, he nodded with relief.
Seeing the WeChat message from Ling Jianwei on Zhao Yu's phone, Xue Zi'ang couldn't help but laugh again.
That little brat mistook him for Zhao Yu and was persistently trying to chat with him.
If Ling Jianwei ever found out Zhao Yu had deceived them all, deliberately charging towards the enemy's blade, he would probably be frantic with worry.
And if he further discovered that the reason Zhao Yu used the "Luring the Tiger Out of the Mountain" strategy on his dear "Brother Ji Sui" wasn't to leave Zhuang Yiqing without support, but simply because she and Ji Sui had slept together long ago and were now boyfriend and girlfriend, and she was merely afraid Ji Sui would blow her cover... that little brat would likely have a complete mental breakdown.
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