Chapter 56

Chen Jing didn’t ride his bike tonight. The school wasn’t far from home, so he took Dai Ning’s bag and walked with her.

“Brother, why are you here? What about Li Ming?”

Previously, Dai Ning had meals with Li Ming and others, and Chen Jing didn’t think much of it when Li Ming was responsible for taking her home. But now, a faint sense of displeasure crept into his heart.

“From now on, I’ll pick you up.”

It was his negligence. Li Ming was a grown man, after all. No matter how much he trusted him, he couldn’t allow him to be the one escorting his younger sister.

“You can get off work early now?”

“Yeah.”

“Great!” Dai Ning’s lips curled into a happy smile.

They passed a cold drinks shop, and Dai Ning pointed, “Brother, I want a Cornetto.”

It was already 11 p.m., and the shop wasn’t crowded. This small request was something Chen Jing naturally fulfilled. He walked over and bought her an ice cream.

The shop assistant’s curious eyes lingered on the scar on Chen Jing’s neck. Chen Jing remained calm, took the ice cream, and left.

Dai Ning tore open the wrapper. The summer night was stifling, and the faint sound of cicadas could be heard from the roadside in Fengming City.

She bit into the Cornetto and stepped on Chen Jing’s shadow.

She didn’t speak, and Chen Jing, being the silent type with his rough voice, didn’t initiate any conversation either. The atmosphere turned quiet.

In the past, Chen Jing used to dislike her noisiness, and this quietness would have suited him perfectly. But now, an inexplicable irritation bubbled in his chest. He even wished she would say something—anything. Whether it was a funny story from school or her stage play rehearsals, he just wanted to hear her voice.

It felt like she was a child who had grown wild outside, no longer sharing the little details of her life with him.

Dai Ning ate half of her ice cream, fully aware of the gloomy mood radiating from the man beside her. Only then did she speak, “Next week is the arts festival, and our school will perform in the music hall. Brother, will you come watch?”

Chen Jing exhaled lightly, as though relieved. “I’ll come.”

Dai Ning smiled but didn’t say anything else. She finished the other half of her ice cream slowly. Her mischief was as unreasonable as ever. Having experienced her warmth before, Chen Jing now felt neglected. This push-and-pull dynamic made his emotions feel like a marionette in her hands—she would drive him crazy eventually.

Chen Jing finally couldn’t take it anymore and took the initiative. “Rehearsals—are you happy with them?”

“Of course! There’s this super cool girl—she’s really tall and always has this grumpy face, acting as the background character. And there’s this really handsome boy, he—”

Dai Ning abruptly stopped mid-sentence, acting as if she had never mentioned the second part. She switched the topic seamlessly. “It’s my first time in a stage play, you know. My role is super fun, and I even get to wear prettier clothes than the female lead.”

For some reason, the words she didn’t finish weighed heavily on Chen Jing’s mind.

A really handsome boy?

“What are you thinking about, Brother? Were you even listening to me?”

Chen Jing pressed his lips together. “Yes.”

Dai Ning jumped in front of him, forcing him to stop.

“The arts festival—Chen Lianxing will be performing too. If you come, will you cheer for her or for me?”

The girl tilted her face up at him. Chen Jing understood her temperament. His wandering thoughts finally snapped back to the present. He stopped dwelling on what she had left unsaid and replied, “You.”

Dai Ning grinned, her smile bright and unrestrained, completely devoid of subtlety.

“You better keep your word. Don’t even buy her a bottle of water.”

Her domineering tone surprisingly lightened Chen Jing’s mood, which had been heavy all evening. A faint hint of amusement finally appeared in his eyes. “Okay.”

Chen Jing always kept his promises, and Dai Ning believed he would. She was already looking forward to next week’s performance.

They walked slowly, and Dai Ning blinked sleepily.

Chen Jing glanced at her. In the past, she would have acted spoiled and demanded to be carried. But now, even as her eyelids drooped, she stubbornly pushed herself to keep walking, never once suggesting he carry her.

Cars roared past them, and Chen Jing suddenly realized it had been a long time since she had leaned against him with such closeness.

She had taken all his lessons to heart, yet he couldn’t feel genuinely happy about it.

He had told her not to rely too casually on other men, but he forgot that he, too, was a man she couldn’t get too close to.

Chen Jing lowered his gaze to look at her, yet she remained oblivious to his emotions.

—

Meanwhile, Ji Tian was messaging Chen Lianxing on her phone.

“Are you going to invite your brother to the arts festival next week?”

Ji Tian had her own plans. In the upcoming play, she was cast as the lead role—a stunning, ethereal girl who exuded the purity of jasmine after the rain. She embodied youth so perfectly that it was captivating.

She was confident Chen Jing would be moved upon seeing her performance.

Ji Tian’s confidence wasn’t unfounded. With people like Chen Lianxing as her supporting cast, Ji Tian stood out effortlessly. She had prepared for this moment for a long time and was ready to shine.

“He’ll definitely come. You know my brother—he cares about me the most. If I’m performing, he’ll surely be there,” Chen Lianxing replied quickly.

But deep down, she wasn’t so sure.

Ever since staying at the small villa, Chen Jing had been leaving early and returning late. Their sibling relationship hadn’t improved much. The performance day was a weekday, and she wasn’t certain Chen Jing would skip work for her.

Chen Lianxing had always been aware of Ji Tian’s feelings for Chen Jing. It made her uncomfortable. Why did so many people fancy a man she herself didn’t care for?

Chen Lianxing still harbored dreams of marrying into a wealthy family and couldn’t afford to sever ties with Ji Tian.

She wouldn’t dare admit to Ji Tian that a little vixen had recently entered their home, practically stealing her brother’s soul.

Chen Jing didn’t say much, but Chen Lianxing wasn’t blind. The way he looked at Dai Ning was completely different. Who looks at their sister like that?

Reassured by Chen Lianxing’s response, Ji Tian felt a wave of relief.

She hadn’t seen Chen Jing in ages. She had tried other ways to meet him, but his new job was entirely out of her reach. Her people couldn’t even get into his workplace. Ji Tian was burning with curiosity but had no way to investigate further.

Her only hope lay in Chen Lianxing.

This time, she was determined to make progress with Chen Jing!

The “plastic sisters” each harbored their own thoughts as they chatted about random topics. The sound of a key turning in the lock drew Chen Lianxing’s attention.

Chen Jing entered with a bag, first placing pink slippers in front of Dai Ning. After changing her shoes, Dai Ning headed straight to her room without even glancing at Chen Lianxing.

“Brother, you went to pick her up?” Chen Lianxing asked.

Chen Jing looked at her but didn’t reply.

“She’s not a child anymore. You work so hard every day, and yet you still go out of your way to pick her up? She knows her way home. Isn’t she being inconsiderate of you?”

It wasn’t Dai Ning who asked him to pick her up. Chen Jing didn’t bother explaining. Not even he fully understood his reasons, so how could he articulate them to her?

He went to wash his hands, and Chen Lianxing followed him, leaning against the doorframe.

“There’s something I wanted to tell you. Next week, we’re having our Arts and Sports Festival. You know, the Rose of the Rainy Season production we’ve been rehearsing for ages. You’ll come, won’t you?”

Chen Jing smirked faintly.

In the past, Chen Lianxing avoided him as much as possible. Since when did she start extending invitations like this?

“I’m not coming.” Chen Jing’s voice was hoarse as he shut off the faucet and walked away.

Chen Lianxing hadn’t expected his refusal to be so blunt and direct. Embarrassment swept over her, quickly followed by a pang of unease.

Chen Jing was no longer the brother who had worked himself to the bone to earn money for her expenses. His attention had shifted elsewhere, and so had his emotions.

In the past, she would have thrown a tantrum. Tonight, however, she didn’t dare.

Some changes didn’t need to be spoken aloud—they were evident to everyone. Someone had entered his once-empty life and ignited his desires, giving him the power to choose and to prefer.

And that preference wasn’t her.

—

The annual Arts and Sports Festival in Fengming City was held at the music hall, an event bustling with activity.

Beyond the athletic competitions, the artistic performances were the highlight, with participants ranging from elementary to university students.

Ji Tian, dressed in a gown adorned with camellia petals, glanced out the window. “Lianxing, where’s your brother?”

Chen Lianxing’s face went pale. “Maybe he hasn’t arrived yet.” She dared not admit the truth, fearing Miss Ji would find her unworthy.

Ji Tian, unsuspecting, let the makeup artist begin her work.

Thanks to her family’s wealth, their team had hired professional makeup artists. Ji Tian’s appearance was exquisite, making her the standout figure in the dressing room.

In stark contrast, other dressing rooms were chaotic as students hurriedly prepared themselves.

Dai Ning was part of the high school group and waited for Li Hu to bring her costume. Since she had joined the production at the last minute, her outfit had to be custom-made.

Sitting on a high stool, she rested her head on the table, casually chewing on a piece of rainbow candy.

The boys couldn’t help sneaking glances at her. Her beauty was undeniable—aloof and seemingly indifferent, yet impossible to dislike.

The girls’ reactions, however, were mixed, ranging from admiration to outright hostility.

Zhang Youying strode over with a sour expression and pulled Dai Ning off the stool. “Li Hu said to tell you to go to the dressing room and change.”

Seeing Dai Ning’s half-asleep demeanor, Zhang Youying grew increasingly irritated. Grabbing her wrist, she dragged her along.

The girl’s wrist was slender and soft, prompting Zhang Youying to loosen her grip slightly.

“I’m warning you: Li Hu is in charge of this project. If you mess it up and drag him down, you’ll regret it.”

“Why do you like him so much?” Dai Ning asked, genuinely curious. Was love always this undignified, with one person giving unconditionally while the other remained indifferent? She glanced at Zhang Youying’s unflattering background-character costume, baffled.

“You wouldn’t understand even if I explained,” Zhang Youying grumbled, annoyed.

When they reached the dressing room, Li Hu was indeed waiting.

“Chen Dai Dai, change into this dress.”

Zhang Youying couldn’t resist sneaking a glance. The white, airy fabric of the gown was delicate and elegant. On her, it wouldn’t fit, let alone look good.

Dai Ning accepted the dress without a hint of concern about its fit or appearance and went to change.

—

Over in the university group, Ji Tian noticed someone outside and perked up.

“Your brother is here,” she said.

Chen Lianxing’s eyes widened in disbelief. What? She looked out and indeed saw Chen Jing sitting in a corner of the audience, dressed in a black shirt.

How could this be? Hadn’t he refused to come? Why did he change his mind?

Chen Lianxing was puzzled, but for now, she was relieved. At least her lie wouldn’t be exposed.

As the audience filled the seats, the atmosphere grew lively.

Performances started with the elementary school group, whose innocent charm delighted the crowd. The middle school performances were more mature, with several adapted sketches.

As time passed, it was finally the high school group’s turn. In the university dressing room, Ji Tian watched the high school acts on a monitor, finding them laughable.

“These performances are so amateurish,” she scoffed, confident that her appearance would outshine everyone.

The host announced, “Next up, an adapted fairy tale by Fengming No. 9 High School: Sleeping Beauty.”

Adapted fairy tales were always attention-grabbing.

The stage lights illuminated a conventional opening, with a king waging wars. Ji Tian idly watched, noting that the student playing the king had an attractive, slightly wicked appearance.

But true gravitas? Only Chen Jing possessed that effortlessly.

As the scene shifted to a rainy night in a forest, tension built. The dimly lit forest exuded an eerie vibe, making the audience anxious for the princess.

Then, a soft laugh echoed. A decayed tree began to emit a gentle glow.

From below, the light revealed a pair of slender, ribbon-bound feet. It traveled upward, revealing delicate calves, draped in translucent fabric that swayed like mist.

Finally, the light illuminated her face.

Chen Jing’s gaze lifted, his gray-brown eyes capturing her image.

The girl onstage smirked mischievously, holding a thin sword that pointed at the princess. Her chestnut curls framed her face, and a violet gemstone glinted on her forehead. She exuded an air of seductive elegance.

Chen Jing thought back to the evening he found her, never imagining she would be this breathtaking.

Not only the students but even the adults in the audience were stunned. Was this truly just a high school student? Her looks could rival a celebrity’s.

Back in the dressing room, Chen Lianxing bit her lip. So this was it! Chen Jing wasn’t here to see her.

But someone else had an even more extreme reaction.

Ji Tian gripped her water cup, trembling as she stood abruptly.

That was… Ji Dai Ning! She was supposed to have died three years ago in Xinghua Village!