Chapter 1

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

Hello everyone,

This is the first chapter of my first translation! I’m a little excited 😀

Anyway, enjoy

In August, as autumn began, City G was still sweltering, and only when evening came around did the nine o’clock breeze take a little edge off the heat. On the bar street, neon lights as bright as day illuminated a group of skateboarders whistling in the crowd not too far away.

In sight was a young woman walking and talking on the phone. She walked a little faster, holding a small bouquet of warmly blooming red roses under one arm. She wore a smoky-grey pantsuit with matching trousers, all of a thin, fine material. Her skin was extremely fair, her lips red and delicate, and her facial features possessed a subtle charm that stole the eyes of the beholder.

The skaters whistled again.

Jiang Ci noticed this time and turned her face to glare at them. Her beautiful glazed eyes were chilly, and after only a moment, she closed them and turned away. She continued walking for a few minutes, until she reached a certain bar. Looking up at the sign, she said into the phone: “Wait, I’m here.”

In private room “SEVEN” 『1』, Huo Zhenzhen dropped the microphone to rush over and give Jiang Ci a big hug. “You busy girl,” she said, “I finally caught you today!” The smell of alcohol was already strong in the room, and it seemed that Huo Zhenzhen had already drank a lot.

Jiang Ci stepped back and presented her the roses, saying, “Happy birthday, these are for you.”

Huo Zhenzhen took it and hugged her. Seeing that there was an ornate envelope inside the bouquet, she opened it and saw two front row seats to an upcoming concert.

Huo Zhenzhen screamed: “Fuck!!! These are so hard to buy! I couldn’t even get a spot on the day of the sale!”

Jiang Ci: “I also covered round-trip airfare and the hotel, so you and Gu Xiaowei can go and enjoy yourselves.”

Huo Zhenzhen hiccuped: “I forgot to tell you, Gu Xiaowei dumped me.”

Jiang Ci: “…Huh?”

Jiang Ci was a full time tuning consultant 『2』 for a piano company. She mainly worked with pianist who have contracts with her brand, and in the past few months, had just returned to City G from a global tour with an orchestra. Before then, she and Huo Zhenzhen hadn’t been in close contact, so not much information traveled between them. As such, she couldn’t help asking: “When did it happen?”

Huo Zhenzhen: “It’s been half a month, he cheated on me and his colleague got pregnant, and now they’re going to get married”『3』

Jiang Ci: “……”

“His parents didn’t like me either. I heard that this girl’s father is a teacher, and her mother is a doctor. Their family is more worthy of him than me.” Huo Zhenzhen waved her hand noncomittally and said she didn’t want to mention it again. She turned to the table to get more wine, saying, “today is my birthday, you have to drink with me, come on, come on~” As she turned, Jiang Ci could see the back of Huo Zhenzhen’s halter dress, showing off the many tattoos on her back.

As a smoker, a drinker, and the owner of a tattoo shop, Huo Zhenzhen was at odds with Gu Xiaowei’s family. Over the past two years, Jiang Ci didn’t know how many wrongs she had suffered. The original stalemate was also a torture to both sides, Jiang Ci thought to herself, it was not a bad thing to divide.

From just one look at Huo Zhenzhen it was obvious that she was drunk tonight. Jiang Ci didn’t dare to drink too much out of concern for both of their safeties, and after a while Huo Zhenzhen stopped trying to pursuade her to drink with her. Eventually, she picked up the microphone and continued singing to the tune onscreen.

Suddenly, Jiang Ci’s phone turned on, and “Jiang Lin” began flashing on the screen. Sharing a tacit nod with Huo Zhenzhen, she took the phone and walked outside the private room. In a secluded corner, Jiang Ci finally answered the phone: “Mom.”

Jiang Lin said on the other end: “Ah-Ci, I had tea with your Aunt Ning this afternoon. Do you know what she told me? Wen Nian is pregnant!”

Pregnant again?

Jiang Ci froze for several seconds before reacting: “…Oh.”

Jiang Lin switched topics: “You and Lu Xingxue have been married for more than three years right? Obviously, forget pregnancy and giving birth, but have you spent more than three weeks together? You run around all day. I never said anything, but your attitude is problematic. No one forced you to marry Lu Xingxue, right? Ah-Ci, it’s not uncommon to have no basis for feelings, but feelings can be cultivated Can’t you learn from Wen Nian? “

Jiang Ci put her hands into her pockets, and said casually: “En.”

“What is this ‘En, en?'” Jiang Lin heard her carelessness: “I think you are trying to ignore me! Now, I am telling you, bring Lu Xingxue home tomorrow and we will have dinner together.”

Jiang Ci: “Maybe not, I’m not in town at the moment—”

Jiang Lin: “Don’t think about lying to me, you think I don’t know? The tour you followed ended a few days ago. You must be in City G right now! Even if you are not here, you will come back tomorrow! Understand?”

At this time, another private room door beside the aisle opened, and the noise carried out into the hall. Jiang Lin heard through the phone and asked Jiang Ci: “Where are you?”

Jiang Ci told the truth: “At the bar.”

Jiang Lin immediately: “With whom?”

Jiang Ci said helplessly: “No one, Mom, it is Huo Zhenzhen’s birthday today.”

“Huo Zhenzhen, Huo Zhenzhen, why don’t you spend more time with Lu Xingxue?” Jiang Lin held onto her over the phone for several minutes, and Jiang Ci wandered the bar the whole time.

Wen Nian

When Jiang Ci was 5 years old, her mother brought her to live in Yushui Nanyuan. Initially there was no contact between the houses, until one day, Jiang Ci knocked on the door.

His rage was like a thunderstorm that day『4』, so everything that could be destroyed was destroyed. Jiang Lin was thrown on the sofa and beaten. Jiang Ci was so scared that she cried, but then she was slapped so hard she hit the wall, and cut her forehead. It was Wen Nian who held her and covered her mouth, murmuring, “don’t be afraid,” and took her away. Jiang Ci learned later that Wen Nian was also like her, an illigitimate daughter.

Later, Jiang Lin remarried into the Tong family, and Wen Nian was taken back to the Wen family to teach Lady Wen’s oldest son, because he was too stubborn. After moving away, they drifted apart.

–In fact, this is not the reason.

Wen Nian was Jiang Ci’s best friend during her teenage years. When Wen Nian was sent out to study, Jiang Ci always ran to see her. There was a time when she thought they were connected by more than friendship, but she realized it was just her own wishful thinking.

Now, Wen Nian had a husband and children.

On late nights, sometimes her mind would go to Wen Nian, while her body lay on the sofa in the living room, and she would think of her until dawn.

If not for Wen Nian’s husband, Jiang Ci thought she wouldn’t agree to marry Lu Xingxue.

Both their grandparents had a fateful relationship, so the two were promised to be married.

However, Lu Xingxue’s father did not follow the arrangements of his elders, and had a daughter instead of a son. Grandfather Lu felt that he had broken his promise first and was ashamed to face the Jiang family; while Jiang Ci’s grandfather was very prideful and believed that the Lu family, with their big businesses, disliked the Jiang’s shabby ownings. The two families gingerly pulled away from each other. Afterward, Lu Xingxue’s parents passed away due to an accident. Grandpa Lu gave aged rapidly, and his personality became withdrawn. As he grew older, the two sides broke off completely. 『5』

Three years ago, Grandfather Lu underwent heart surgery and his physical condition took a turn for the worse. Looking back on his life from the sick bed, he brooded about his dishonesty towards Jiang Ci’s grandfather.

Lu Xingxue was reluctant to give up when her grandfather was old and still had a heart knot, so she took the initiative to contact Jiang Ci and gave her a marriage contract.

In the contract, Lu Xingxue only made two requirements: the marriage lasts for five years. If Grandfather Lu dies before this time, the divorce can be advanced accordingly; she does not interfere with Jiang Ci’s behavior, and Jiang Ci will live alone. The other was to cooperate with her during the festival and do her filial piety in front of Grandfather, to satisfy him. As for the compensation, Lu Xingxue reserved enough space and sincerely left it to her to fill in.

At that time, Jiang Ci was emotionally frustrated and didn’t consider compensation at all, so she signed it directly.

Since the duration of their marriage contract is unknown, Jiang Ci couldn’t invest her emotions into this relationship doomed to divorce, and the same is true for Lu Xingxue.

Eventually, Jiang Ci silently hung up 『6』. On the way back to the private room, Jiang Ci saw a group of women approaching, hanging off a man who was half-drunk.

“Listen,” he said to the women. “If you satisfy me tonight, I’ll give you all my money!” Jiang Ci stared at him for a few seconds, and avoided him. For the benefit of the family, the Wen family married Wen Nian to the famous prodigal player in the circle, Lin Xiao.

The man didn’t notice Jiang Ci, and he still had his tongue out, and said, “My wife—you know, Mrs. Wen, the “Four Seasons” president, has a cold personality. She is almost like a dead fish in bed…”

Jiang Ci stopped when she heard the sound, and then caught sight of the simple champagne tower on the wine table.

“Lin Xiao.”

Lin Xiao heard the familiar sound, spun around 360 degrees in the same place, squinted his eyes and looked again, recognizing, Jiang Ci, he smiled: “Hey~!…This can’t be coincidence, it’s my sister-in-law! Nian Nian is pregnant~ You know—”

Jiang Ci wordlessly poured the wine.

“Ahhhhh!” Lin Xiao’s companion yelled and accused Jiang Ci: “What’s wrong with you? Say something before walking up and throwing wine on someone!”

Lin Xiao calmly wiped his face, and said, “This wine is strong enough.”

Jiang Ci threw away the glass, turned, and left.

Lin Xiao looked at her back and deliberately said, “So, what was I saying? Oh, my wife, Mrs. Wen, are on the bed… Haha, it’s just a dead fish. How can I say it, she didn’t do anything. Is she cold or something?”

Jiang Ci walked faster and faster, and almost ran away in the end.

In the private room, Huo Zhenzhen sang and sang and burst into tears, and had no time to care about Jiang Ci’s emotions. Only after Jiang Ci sat back, she turned her head and said in a low voice: “Your mother just called me to check on you.”

Jiang Ci nodded perfunctorily and picked up her wine glass.

The two of them drank intermittently until past midnight. Huo Zhenzhen got more and more excited, clamoring to have Jiang Ci meet her newly recruited tattoo artist.

He’s big and tall, with an buzz cut and broad shoulders, but he’s young, handsome, and that scumbag Gu Xiaowei is only eighteen streets! 『7』

As she said that, she staggered to call the tattoo artist to pick them up.

The tattoo artist Xiao A『8』 rushed over. As soon as he entered the private room, he saw Huo Zhenzhen barefoot, standing on the edge of the table. For fear that she would step out into empty space, he rushed forward: “Boss! Are you so drunk you are not afraid of danger!?”

Huo Zhenzhen casually pointed to Jiang Ci: “Is my girlfriend here? She and I know how to get drunk!”

Xiao A went to look at the boss’s best friend, who was sitting quietly, her eyes were red and obviously out of focus.

“Come on, maybe she is more drunk than you!”

Huo Zhenzhen laughed: “Aren’t you here to pick us up?”

Xiao A rolled his eyes and somehow got the two drunk people out of the bar. Pushing Huo Zhenzhen into the car, Xiao A was going to pull Jiang Ci in as well. At this time, a man stepped forward: “Leave Miss Jiang to me.”

Xiao A: “?”

Jiang Ci: “?”

Huo Zhenzhen rolled down the car window and stuck her head out: “You, who are you?”

Jiang Ci was unsteady, struggling to identify the face. “…Familiar,” she muttered.

The other party said helplessly: “Miss Jiang, I am Wei Ning, Mrs. Lu is waiting for you in the car.”

Huo Zhenzhen stretched out her hand to grasp for Jiang Ci, and asked her: “…who is it?”

“Ah!” Jiang Ci looked left and right, wavering unsteadily: “Lu, Lu Xingxue, is she here?”

Huo Zhenzhen stopped making noise when she heard Lu Xingxue’s name. She patted the car door and said to Little A, “Okay, that’s that’s fine, we can go.”

Jiang Ci vigorously waved goodbye to Huo Zhenzhen, and then followed Wei Ning’s guidance staggering forward. Wei Ning dared not touch her, but reminded her to pay attention to her feet from time to time. When they arrived at the parking place, the car door opened automatically. Jiang Ci tilted her head and looked in, and the person inside stared back at her.

The lights are on in the car, and it really is Lu Xingxue.

Lu Xingxue was wearing a dark cheongsam, and her breasts were slightly exposed. Her tone was soft and gentle as always. She asked Jiang Ci: “Are you drunk?”

Jiang Ci did not speak, and clambered into the car with both hands and feet.

Lu Xingxue: “You’re so drunk, aren’t you afraid of danger?”

Jiang Ci was dizzy, she completely overlapped Lu Xingxue’s question and Huo Zhenzhen and Xiao A’s answer. After a pause, as Jiang Ci struggled to respond, she recalled Huo Zhenzhen and said: “My girlfriend…” She straightened up as she spoke, she still had some vague consciousness, and knew that there was no Huo Zhenzhen, only Lu Xingxue, the driver, and the bodyguard.

Jiang Ci spoke again. This time, her speech became clearer, and she faced Lu Xingxue. Pausing on every word, she said: “Aren’t you here to pick me up?”

TL Notes:

This name is in English, so I’ve left it capitalized for effect.I’m not sure about this, raw is 姜瓷是一家品牌钢琴的专职调律师, any clarifications in comments or on discord would be appreciated.I extrapolated, 他把他同事肚子搞大了，现在女孩子要和他结婚。 something like getting belly biggerMore unsureties. Seems there was some unnamed person involved.To be honest, no idea about this white hair black hair bit (两家人各怀心思地减少了联络，加之鹿行雪的父母因为意外早早过世，鹿爷爷白发人送黑发人，性格变得孤僻，年深日久，两边就断了往来)My mom would kill me if I did this, lol(大高个，寸头，肩背宽阔，可他妈帅了，还年轻，甩人渣顾晓唯十八条街！) No idea what 18 streets are.This A is in English, so the literal is more like little A, but that seemed a bit out of place. Read as the letter A

Thank you for reading everyone,

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