Chapter 57

Dai Ning played a supporting role in the play. Her appearance lasted only thirty seconds—just enough to frighten the princess in the storyline—before she exited the stage.

However, this brief moment caused a stir among the students in the audience.

“Is that girl from Ninth High? She’s so beautiful. How come no one’s mentioned her before?”

“I heard she’s a new student there.”

“Why does she have so little stage time? I want to see more!”

“Me too!”

Many were left craning their necks, hoping for Dai Ning to reappear, only to be disappointed when her role truly ended after that fleeting appearance.

Her school’s performance was scheduled toward the latter part of the program. Following it, the university group performances began.

Ji Tian was still reeling from the shock of what she’d just seen when she was informed it was her turn to perform. Her expression shifted several times, and she barely resisted the urge to run offstage to confirm whether the person she had just seen was truly Dai Ning.

If it really was Dai Ning, then how? Three years had passed, yet her appearance hadn’t changed in the slightest. Shen Tuo Feng’s subordinates had sworn that the eldest daughter of the Ji family was dead.

But if it wasn’t her, who else in the world could look so much like Dai Ning, as if they were carved from the same mold?

“Ji Tian, are you okay?”

Chen Lianxing looked at her suspiciously. Ji Tian’s face was even paler than her own.

Ji Tian took a deep breath. “I’m fine.”

It was their group’s turn to perform. The girls took the stage one by one, a procession of graceful young women dressed in exquisite costumes. Their elegant silhouettes created a picturesque scene.

“The university group really stands out. You can tell they’re more mature just from their aura.”

“Not bad. But honestly, I’m still curious about that girl from the previous act.”

“Ha, give it up. She’s just a high schooler, probably not even of age yet. So stunning, though. I wonder who’ll be lucky enough to date her in the future.”

Onstage, Ji Tian struggled to focus. Dai Ning’s sudden appearance had thrown her off, leaving her in a state of panic. She nearly missed a step in the choreography.

Ji Tian inhaled deeply. Panicking now wouldn’t help. She quickly steadied herself and synced with the music.

Her graceful movements gradually drew the attention of some young men in the audience.

Instinctively, Ji Tian glanced toward Chen Jing.

But Chen Jing’s gaze wasn’t on her. Instead, he was looking elsewhere, not sparing her a single glance.

Ji Tian’s chest tightened. Following his line of sight, she saw a young girl weaving her way toward him amidst the shifting stage lights.

Chen Jing let the girl sit beside him and handed her a water bottle, twisting the cap open for her.

From beginning to end, his eyes never left her.

Dai Ning turned her sparkling gaze toward Ji Tian—and smiled.

Ji Tian’s face darkened. She forced herself to maintain a stiff smile, finishing the dance despite the turmoil within her.

Dai Ning couldn’t help but admire Ji Tian. Despite everything, she performed with a steady grace, her expression betraying nothing. There was a reason Ji Tian had thrived so well in their previous life.

What had Ji Tian been through in the past three years to become so composed?

“Brother, I’m so sleepy. Let’s go home,” Dai Ning tugged at Chen Jing’s sleeve.

Chen Jing had only come to see her. He nodded, leading her out through the shadows. Their exit was quiet, barely noticed by others. Only a few, recognizing Dai Ning as the mesmerizing performer from earlier, followed her with their eyes.

Chen Jing paused, taking a step behind her to block their view.

Outside, the evening breeze carried a soothing warmth, making one want to sigh in comfort.

Under the fading daylight, Chen Jing finally got a clear look at what Dai Ning was wearing—a sleeveless chiffon dress with satin ribbons tied around her pale arms.

The long skirt revealed flashes of her fair legs as she walked, and the sunlight seemed to grow more dazzling.

Chen Jing frowned. This outfit was far too eye-catching. She was just a child; how could she wear something like this?

Since it was summer, he couldn’t drape his jacket over her. He decided to take her home quickly.

Before they reached the school gate, someone called out, “Chen Dai Dai!”

Dai Ning turned to see Li Hu carrying a paper bag. His gaze swept over Chen Jing before he raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Come here. I need to talk to you.”

“Brother, wait for me over there, okay?” Dai Ning said, running off toward Li Hu without waiting for Chen Jing’s response.

Chen Jing watched as she approached the handsome boy, his face darkening.

The setting sun bathed the sky in orange hues. Under its glow, the boy smiled as he handed the paper bag to Dai Ning. She returned the smile, her eyes curving into crescents.

The two looked of the same age, and the sight was unbearably jarring.

Chen Jing’s fists clenched tightly, his gaze icy as it locked onto Li Hu.

To be fair, Li Hu had a devilish charm to his looks and a roguish charisma that young girls adored.

The longer they talked, the colder Chen Jing’s expression grew. Dai Ning’s face lit up at something Li Hu said, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Li Hu took a candy from his pocket, unwrapped it, and fed it to Dai Ning.

“See you tomorrow.”

With the caramel-flavored toffee in her mouth, Dai Ning returned to Chen Jing with the bag.

Chen Jing turned without a word, striding ahead, his face unreadable.

“Brother, can you hold the bag for me?” Dai Ning asked sweetly.

Chen Jing suppressed his frustration and took the bag from her.

“You mean Li Hu? He’s from the class next door,” Dai Ning said slowly. “I forgot to grab my costume after changing, so he brought it over for me.”

So, Li Hu even accompanied her while she changed? Chen Jing’s thoughts drifted to the snacks Dai Ning had eaten recently.

His expression darkened further. Seeing Dai Ning’s carefree, smiling face, he suddenly reached out and pinched her cheeks.

“Spit it out.”

Dai Ning blinked at him in confusion. “What?”

Her soft, pink cheeks were squished in his hands. Faced with his stormy expression, she blinked again and obediently spat the candy into his open palm.

Chen Jing threw it into a nearby trash can while Dai Ning stared at him, aggrieved.

For so long, Chen Jing had never been stern with her. But today, for the first time, he demanded she spit out the candy, his face dark and tense.

The young lady was not someone to be scolded lightly. While Chen Jing’s mood had yet to improve, Dai Ning was already fuming.

She turned on her heel and stormed off without a second glance.

“Dai Dai!”

Dai Ning didn’t look back. She kicked a small stone on the roadside, her lips pursed tightly, her face clouded with displeasure. When silence lingered behind her, she grew even more frustrated.

After a long while, Chen Jing caught up to her.

Dai Ning tilted her head up, her cheeks puffed with anger. “Go away! I don’t want you as my brother anymore.”

Her words made Chen Jing’s face instantly pale.

He stood there, gazing at her, stunned. Until today, he’d thought she was nothing like Chen Lianxing. But now, he realized the difference was much greater. Even at her most selfish, Chen Lianxing had never casually said something so hurtful in a fit of temper.

Chen Jing’s Adam’s apple moved, emotions churning in his eyes.

They stared at each other for a long time, so long that Qingtuan thought Chen Jing might lose his temper. But instead, Chen Jing closed his eyes and softly said, “I’m sorry.”

“You’ve been treating me badly ever since you got Chen Lianxing as a sister,” Dai Ning said with tears shimmering in her eyes. “And now you’re even scolding me!”

“I didn’t mean to,” Chen Jing struggled to explain, unable to find the right words. Seeing her teary gaze, he stammered, “I—I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose. Brother apologizes.”

Dai Ning was not the type to be reasoned with. She pushed at Chen Jing, trying to shove him away. But when her hands met his solid chest, she found him unyielding. He stood there, unmoving, his eyes fixed on her.

Frustrated, she stomped on his foot, her feelings wounded to the extreme. With a huff, she squatted down on the ground, wrapping her arms around herself.

Chen Jing reached out to touch her head, only for her to swat his hand away.

She bristled like an angry kitten, her whole demeanor fierce and defensive.

Chen Jing crouched down on one knee.

“Dai Dai, let me make it up to you.”

Dai Ning shot him a sideways glance, her tear-streaked face filled with grievance. “Can you even make it the same?”

For a moment, Chen Jing felt his heart sink. To her, he wasn’t even on par with that other boy.

Neither of them spoke. Dai Ning, for all her bravado, wasn’t particularly resilient. After squatting for so long, her legs had gone numb.

It was summer now, and even the evening sun was oppressively hot.

Dai Ning wasn’t one to let herself suffer unnecessarily. When she felt uncomfortable, she tried to stand up, but her legs wobbled, and she fell forward—right into Chen Jing’s arms.

Chen Jing froze for a moment, catching her instinctively.

Qingtuan almost burst out laughing. Haha, Ji Dai Ning!

Dai Ning rarely showed embarrassment, but this time, she was genuinely flustered. Refusing to blame herself, she leaned forward in a huff and bit Chen Jing on the neck.

Her small, sharp teeth left a sharp pain. Chen Jing’s muscles tensed, but he remained still, his lips pressed tightly together as he held her.

She bit down hard, venting her frustration. Chen Jing stared at the ground, relaxed his posture, and let her vent until she finally felt awkward. Then, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pouting.

Chen Jing scooped her up in his arms.

Walking under the shade of the trees, he carried her away. The music and laughter from the concert hall continued faintly in the background. Knowing she had calmed down, Chen Jing flagged a cab to take them home.

In the car, Dai Ning noticed the untouched ice cream Chen Jing had bought earlier. She opened it, took a spoonful, and found it tasted surprisingly good.

The concert hall was quite a distance from home. By the time they arrived, Dai Ning had dozed off in the car.

Chen Jing carried her out of the vehicle.

She was still dressed in her stage costume—a soft, snow-white vision in his arms. At home, with no one else there, Chen Jing had to put her down to unlock the door. That movement stirred Dai Ning awake.

“Brother, are we home?” she asked, her voice sleepy and sweet.

“Mm.”

Neither of them brought up what had happened earlier. While Dai Ning seemed to have let it go, Chen Jing felt a heavy weight in his heart. For the first time in his life, he tasted this kind of bitter emotion.

Even he couldn’t quite understand why it affected him so deeply.

—

Back at the music hall, Chen Lianxing hadn’t expected Ji Tian to notice.

“She? She’s just an orphan who popped up out of nowhere claiming to have amnesia. She clings to my brother, eats our food, uses our things. Just seeing her annoys me,” she said angrily, hoping Ji Tian would agree.

“What’s her name?”

“Chen Dai Dai.”

Ji Tian didn’t believe for a second that Dai Ning had amnesia. Would someone with amnesia coincidentally have that name? Ji Tian wasn’t a fool. If Ji Dai Ning appearing beside Zhao Yu three years ago was a coincidence, then showing up beside “Yan Jing” was absolutely deliberate!

A chill ran through Ji Tian’s heart. Could it be that Ji Dai Ning also had some kind of “golden finger” she didn’t know about? Or, like herself, was she another person who had transmigrated into the story?

She and Ji Dai Ning had long been mortal enemies. Unable to see through Dai Ning’s hand, Ji Tian felt a mix of panic and hatred.

That scene earlier, where Chen Jing was clearly close to Dai Ning—closer than anyone else—made Ji Tian’s plans falter yet again. Her frustration nearly drove her to rage. Could she even continue trying to win over Chen Jing now?

For a fleeting moment, Ji Tian thought of simply telling Zhao Yu the truth—that Ji Dai Ning was still alive.

That madman had been obsessed with Ji Dai Ning for three years. If he learned she was not only alive but also flirting with other men, what would her fate be?

The thought flickered in her mind. Ji Tian curled her lips into a cold smile. Yes, she could tell Zhao Yu.

All the past incidents had been orchestrated by Cui Yao. None of it had anything to do with her. Zhao Yu might not believe her completely, but if Ji Dai Ning was alive, he couldn’t blame her for Ji Dai Ning’s “death.”

But this wasn’t something to rush. Ji Tian decided to bide her time. Ji Dai Ning was a liar. If she denied it when confronted, the plan could backfire. She needed evidence—photos of Dai Ning and Chen Jing being close. Then she would send them to Zhao Yu.

Ji Tian no longer hoped Zhao Yu would return to her. She only wanted to see Ji Dai Ning fall.

Moreover, Ji Tian decided to try once more.

Telling Zhao Yu was a risky move, a last resort. If Ji Dai Ning hadn’t publicly revealed she was alive, then if she quietly disappeared in Fengming, no one would suspect a thing.

That would be the perfect solution.