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Chapter 20: Fallen From The Grace

The timeline rewinds to the year they first met when they were still naive youngsters. But Wei Xiuyang vividly remembers the day he first saw Guan Xi, the day he spilled cola all over himself.

Guan Xi approached, carrying herself with a high and mighty attitude despite her young age. She said, “So, I have a little cousin, huh? Little brother, why do I feel like you’re a bit clumsy? Can’t even hold a cola properly.”

He never said it was because he was clumsy; it was because he was mesmerized by the person walking in through the door, lost in thought. Although he was a few months younger, they were of the same age, so when Guan Xi returned from abroad and joined his school, they ended up in the same class. The family arranged for them to sit together, saying it was for him to take care of Guan Xi in this unfamiliar environment.

But on the first day, he discovered that Guan Xi didn’t need his care at all. She was so beautiful that classmates lined up one after another to get close to her and know more about her. Despite just arriving, she had already made a bunch of friends.

Yet, he still held a favorable position because they were not just classmates but also relatives. So, she was the best to him. However, at some point, he developed a secret that no one knew. He didn’t know when it started. He just felt that he liked being with Guan Xi, liked seeing her stand up for him, liked seeing her laugh and be playful, liked seeing her fearless and unbridled.

During their school days, he often received many love letters from others, but he found himself always comparing those people to Guan Xi.

After the comparison, everything else seemed dull…

But at that time, he just vaguely felt that something was wrong with himself. The real realization that he was enchanted came when he learned about the engagement between Jiang Suizhou and Guan Xi. He crazily detested Jiang Suizhou, feeling that he was the person who least deserved to exist in this world. But he also had to admit that, more than hatred, he felt jealousy.

Jiang Suizhou didn’t like Guan Xi, and his favorite person was right there, almost deemed suitable by others. But besides detesting and hoping that Guan Xi would stay away from Jiang Suizhou, what else could he do?

He couldn’t do anything because his secret taboo was considered shameful by society. All this time, he had hidden it well, for Guan Xi, merely standing in the position of a friend and a younger brother. But what happened that night at the bar almost forcefully dragged out those tightly concealed emotions from the depths of his heart.

Guan Xi was just an adopted daughter… that meant she wasn’t his sister at all, with no connection to him!

He couldn’t suppress the stirrings in his heart. He spent the entire day calmly at home yesterday, drinking a lot alone. He knew he shouldn’t feel happy about such matters, but in the midst of his entanglement and helplessness, there was still a shameful little sense of relief.

“How could I not be attracted to you?” Wei Xiuyang whispered, “We’ve known each other for so long, and you think that’s how I see you?”

Guan Xi calmed down and also felt it was unlikely. She had figured out Wei Xiuyang’s temperament over the years, “Then why care so much? I’m still Guan Xi, still your sister.”

Wei Xiuyang smiled bitterly, “Yes, you are still Guan Xi…”

Guan Xi leaned back in her chair, “Anyway, you should have a rough idea of the situation. Although I don’t know how things will turn out in the future, I’m doing fine now. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

Wei Xiuyang looked at her, “If you encounter any difficulties, tell me. I can help you.”

“At the moment, what difficulties could there be?”

Wei Xiuyang eased up a bit, suppressing those things in his heart and said seriously, “After all, Guan Ying is Aunt’s biological daughter. Now that she knows you’re not her real sister, who knows what she’ll think. Moreover, after this matter is exposed, Jiang Suizhou will definitely break up with you, then—”

“Who said he’s going to break up with me?” Guan Xi interrupted.

Wei Xiuyang frowned, “Jiang Suizhou values his interests more than anyone! If staying with you means losing his utility, he will definitely choose to break up.”

Guan Xi was displeased, “Why would I lose my value? The way you put it makes me sound like a destitute and miserable beggar.”

“What I mean is, Jiang Suizhou won’t take that risk. There wasn’t much affection between you two to begin with.”

Guan Xi glared at Wei Xiuyang, instinctively wanting to refute. Clearly, when she first learned about her own background, she also had similar thoughts about Jiang Suizhou. However, at this moment, hearing it from someone else’s mouth, her first thought was: It’s not true.

Between them, it wasn’t so easy to break apart.

“That’s our matter. It’s not the focus now.”

“Why isn’t it the focus?”

“I said it’s not, so it’s not. Alright, let’s not talk about this today.” Guan Xi was a bit annoyed, “Let’s eat first.”

Wei Xiuyang deflated, “Guan Xi…”

Ignoring him, Guan Xi continued, “Let’s order a salad too. I feel like having something light today.”

…

The meal was tasteless. Guan Xi knew that Wei Xiuyang had always had this attitude towards Jiang Suizhou. She didn’t want to listen, so she stopped talking about it. After the meal, she didn’t linger and drove straight back home.

**

In the following days, Guan Xi maintained a routine, shuttling between the company and home. Three days later, one evening, Guan Xi received a call from Lang Ningyi.

“What’s wrong?”

Lang Ningyi said, “Where are you? Haven’t seen you around.”

Guan Xi, lying on the rocking chair in her room, paused at the words, “I’m at home. Why, where should you see me?”

“What? Isn’t today the Li family’s jewelry banquet…”

Lang Ningyi stopped mid-sentence, realizing something.

Guan Xi did too, hearing about the Li family’s jewelry banquet made her remember.

She remembered that Li Xinran, the young lady from the Li family, mentioned it to her last month, saying there would be a banquet this month and she hoped Guan Xi would attend. Although her mind wasn’t focused on this at the time, she still agreed. Guan Xi has always been a highly sought-after figure in the Beijing social circle. If she didn’t attend a gathering, it wouldn’t be considered a significant social event. So, usually, before each event, the organizers would sincerely send invitations her way. However, this time, she was directly ignored.

Lang Ningyi was furious, “What’s going on? Are they implying you’re not invited?”

Guan Xi paused the video, remaining silent.

Lang Ningyi continued, “Xi Xi, I saw Guan Ying at the venue.”

Guan Xi said, “…”

“Damn, Li Xinran is indeed not a good person. She used to fawn over you, but now that the wind has changed, she immediately sided with Wei Zihan. Not inviting you but inviting Guan Ying, is she trying to humiliate you? What’s her intention—”

Guan Xi had expected something like this would happen. She took a deep breath and said, “Forget it. I don’t really care about that place.”

Lang Ningyi added, “Me neither! I don’t care either! I’m going home now!”

“You don’t need to be so impulsive.”

“No, I have to go. Otherwise, your situation will be too miserable. It’s like being a tragic supporting character!”

“…,” Guan Xi remained calm.

Guan Xi had always been an easy topic for others. Many liked her, but there were also those who envied and disliked her. Born with a crown on her head, fair and beautiful, and with a handsome and wealthy fiancé, it was impossible for no one to feel jealous.

Now that the crown had fallen, people who took pleasure in mocking her emerged, and rumors about her “falling from grace” had been spreading unchecked. Moreover, considering the well-known relationship between her and Jiang Suizhou, people believed that once he found out about the situation, the two of them would inevitably break up soon.

These speculations were circulating even before she went out, and now, with the deliberate exclusion from the banquet, it was like grinding her face against the ground. However, she found herself calmer than she imagined, probably because she had anticipated this kind of situation and had prepared herself mentally.

She realized… This is what is often said in TV dramas, the vicissitudes of life.

**

At noon on the second day, Jiang Suizhou returned from a business trip. After getting off the plane, he was driven back to Jialin Jingyuan by Zhou Hao.

“How is it going on the side of Miss Guan?” Jiang Suizhou asked in the car.

Zhou Hao: “Very clean.”

Jiang Suizhou frowned.

Zhou Hao said, “Miss Guan’s parents are unknown. She was indeed abandoned in the orphanage back then. After Guan Xinghao took Miss Guan away, he gave a large sum of hush money to the orphanage to keep this matter from outsiders. As for the spreading of the party incident before, the person behind it did it very cleanly and left no traces.”

Jiang Suizhou looked out the window and said, “It seems that Wei Zihan is not the only one involved in this matter.”

“Yes, she must have someone backing her up.”

…

Forty minutes later, Jiang Suizhou returned home.

“Mr. Jiang, all the luggage is put away.”

After finishing packing, Zhou Hao saw Jiang Suizhou standing by the French window making a phone call. When he said this, Jiang Suizhou raised his hand, indicating him to wait. Zhou Hao didn’t dare to disturb and waited in place.

But it seemed that his call didn’t get through. One minute later, he turned back and said, “Call Yang Qing.”

Yang Qing is Guan Xi’s assistant, and Zhou Hao often needs to contact her.

“Okay, Mr. Jiang. Do you want to ask her where Miss Guan is?” Zhou Hao, who has been with Jiang Suizhou for so many years, hit the nail on the head.

Jiang Suizhou: “Yes.”

Zhou Hao immediately called Yang Qing. After asking, he hung up the phone and said to Jiang Suizhou, “Assistant Yang said that Miss Guan went to the Crocodile Center tourist area two hours ago.”

Jiang Suizhou was stunned for a moment. He remembered telling her before leaving that she should wait for him at home today. Yet, she had gone to such a distant place, and her phone was turned off.

“Go there,” Jiang Suizhou said in a deep voice.

“Yes.”

Jiang Suizhou had known for a long time that Guan Xi liked to keep some strange animals, but he had never visited such a place before. This was his first time coming to such a location. When led in by the staff, he saw a woman sitting on the steps from a distance.

The place was densely covered with branches and leaves, and the sunlight couldn’t shine through very well. However, the woman sitting on the steps still wore sunglasses and held a sun umbrella. In the past few days, Jiang Suizhou had heard many rumors from others, and many people tried to get information from him directly. If he was facing such situations, then Miss Guan must be having a tough time these days.

When he learned that she was here, he thought she might be seeking solace in such a place.

But…

At this moment, beside Lazy Guan, there were two rows of delicacies on display. She was wearing headphones, swinging her legs, and looked more like having a picnic in the countryside.

It seems he overthought it?

Guan Xi’s ears were filled with explosive music. When she reached out to grab something to eat, she suddenly noticed that there were two long legs on the step above. But she had just told the staff not to disturb her.

Guan Xi lifted the umbrella discontentedly, and when she was about to get angry, she suddenly realized that the owner of the two long legs also had a decent face.

“… Why is it you?”

After putting down the umbrella, Jiang Suizhou glanced at her. Today, she was dressed in green, with dark green overalls, a dark green bag, and even the frame of her glasses was green.

Jiang Suizhou sat down beside her and said, “Are you pretending to be a spring onion today?”

“…”

“No sun, why wear sunglasses.” Jiang Suizhou reached to take them off.

Guan Xi was unprepared, and her glasses were taken off in an instant. She looked at him in surprise, “Give it back!”

Her eyes were all red. Jiang Suizhou’s heart skipped a beat, and he let go of his hand.

“I’m wearing a parent-child outfit, you wouldn’t understand.” Guan Xi quickly put on her glasses again.

Jiang Suizhou looked at her sideways. She acted as if she was on a leisurely picnic.

Ignoring his gaze, Guan Xi pointed to a crocodile lying on a distant stone platform, “Zhou Zhou! There’s a strange uncle here, quickly turn around and let Mommy see!”

Jiang Suizhou: “…”

The animal didn’t react. Guan Xi was not embarrassed at all. She turned back to him and said, “He’s more introverted, but his brother Jiang Jiang is more outgoing. But he’s in the water now, can’t see him.”

Jiang Suizhou cooperatively looked in that direction, “Oh.”

Guan Xi, concerned about UV rays, raised the umbrella again, “So, why did you come here to find me?”

Jiang Suizhou: “Didn’t I say before going on a business trip that you should wait for me at home today?”

Guan Xi paused, “I forgot.”

“Now that you remember, can we leave?”

Leaning on her chin, Guan Xi lazily said, “Not in the mood.”

“Feeling down?”

Guan Xi glared at him, and all the spines on her body stood up at once, “You better shut up now.”

Jiang Suizhou lightly pursed his lips, holding her wrist, he pulled her up, “Alright, I’m back. Everything that needs to be said will be said.”

“What, are you going to pay hush money?”

“That would be a waste of money,” Jiang Suizhou said indifferently, “Let them sew their mouths shut by themselves.”

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