Chapter 30: Part 1 — “I fear the roar of the lioness from the east side of the river, how would I dare to live at a plush house with a concubine?”

Translator: Barb

Editor: Chiyo

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En route to the Jiang company, Su Yan received a call from her close friend Wan Yi.

“Xiao Yan, I just got off work. Are you at home?” Wan Yi originally wanted to call Su Yan in the afternoon, however she went to work and became so busy that she forgot. Now that she got off work, she hurriedly called Su Yan to tell her of the afternoon’s affair.

“Ah, I am not at home. Did something happen?” Su Yan’s first thought was about Shen Peiran’s matter, she had talked to Wan Yi about it before, and now she was looking for her. It was highly likely to be about that matter. Immediately, she suddenly felt a bit  apprehensive, not knowing whether the news was good or bad.

“Well, Shen Peiran came to meet me today. I told him what you told me, but maybe I’m not really good at negotiating, anyway, it went terrible, and it didn’t look like Shen Peiran listened. I am really sorry, Xiao Yan. Not only was I not able to help you, but this matter might end up dragging your leg in the future.”

Wan Yi was constantly deliberating on this matter in her mind. While she was working,  she would occasionally recall Shen Peiran’s last expression when her thoughts wandered. It really wasn’t like the expression of a person who wanted to let go. She again recalled the words she spoke to him. The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. She could only call to apologise and warn Su Yan to be a bit cautious.

Su Yan did not know what Wan Yi had said, but the situation at present was also within her expectations. Just think about it, your lover suddenly established a sexual relationship with another man without you knowing. Even if your lover and that man had a lawful relationship,not many men would be able to just grit their teeth and endure it, right?

Regarding speaking of this matter to Wan Yi, at first it seemed like a bad decision, but after careful thinking, in the current scenario, that was the only decision that could have been employed. From the start, there was no other way to resolve this deadlock. Therefore, she had no choice but to tread and run on a dangerous path. The sharp edged-sword had already slanted^[1], not knowing at whom it would cut.

“En, I understand. Still, thank you.” Su Yan was genuinely grateful. Wan Yi did not need to trample on the soil and wade in the muddy waters^[2], but still, due to her connection with her as a friend, she got involved in this matter. Regardless whether the outcome was good or bad, she ought to be thankful to her.

Wan Yi was silent for some time before saying: “Xiao Yan, as long as it is okay with you. Since you have already made up your mind, then don’t give up halfway. It won’t be good for the three of you.” Wan Yi said those words because she was anxious that Su Yan still had affection for Shen Peiran. If she saw him be so broken-hearted her heart might soften for him.

Su Yan turned her head to look at the scenery outside the car window, it was summer now. Days were longer and nights were shorter. At the moment, the setting sun was shining and sprinkling their rays on the tall high-rise buildings, as if coating them with a layer of golden light. After a day of hard work, office workers couldn’t hide the exhaustion on their face. Such scenes appeared so authentic that she was somewhat fascinated.

“I know. You do not realise that my mind is much clearer now.”

She abruptly realised that she was no longer that proud and reckless Su Yan of the Imperial Harem.

Everything had been completely overturned to start all over again. However, what did not change was that she still knew what she wanted clearly.

Wan Yi’s heart somewhat relaxed upon hearing Su Yan’s words. The two people chatted casually for a while, afterwards Wan Yi said: “I am going to go home now. If you have any matters, you can call me anytime. Even if I am busy and won’t be able to help much.”

“Okay, thank you very much.” Su Yan’s heart was filled with warmth. She could feel that this girl was truly concerned about the original body. The type of concern without any ulterior motive or profit, just pure concern.

After hanging up the phone, Su Yan wasn’t as alarmed or bewildered as before. To boil it down, within her heart she was accustomed to the fickle emotions of people, having experienced people trying to cheat each other. Now that she calmed down, the deadlock in front of her eyes was nothing to her.

In fact, the person who was in a passive position was not her or Jiang Jingchuan, rather, it was Shen Peiran.

Since the situation had already advanced to this extent, and her attitude had already been made clear. What could Shen Peiran do?

She really hoped from her heart that Shen Peiran could think about it clearly and let go. He still had a long and bright future ahead of him, he should not be so hung up on a single matter.

Now that another person occupied this body, she did not have any affection for Shen Peiran. Since it was futile to waste time, and Shen Peiran also felt sad, then why not let go early?

Su Yan decided that she would inform Jiang Jingchuan of this matter. No matter what Shen Peiran did next due to impulse, at least Jiang Jingchuan would be on guard in advance. She did not intend to bear this anxiety and fear on her own. That said, this also was her treating Jiang Jingchuan sincerely and frankly, right?

Now that she knew that there was the possibility of an unknown danger happening, she did not want to conceal it and keep it to herself. So as to avoid crying without tears when the moment came.

Lu Yang sat in Jiang Jingchuan’s office for a while then left. The calligraphy characters were still running in his mind as he came out of the elevator and walked towards the parking lot. He suddenly returned to reality, it seemed that he was thinking too much and couldn’t help but shake his head and laugh at himself. He just didn’t expect Mrs. Jiang to be able to write such beautiful characters.  

In fact, after finding out the background of Su Yan, he wholeheartedly admired this woman. Indeed, Su Yan was a really beautiful woman. In these wealthy and influential families, what kind of beauties had they not seen? These women were all the same, clever enough to play around and not settle for any of them. But in which household will they truly marry? The Su Family was different. No matter what the reason was, they could make the elders of the Jiang Family come to speak personally and then honourably marry into the Jiang Family, and furthermore also receive Jiang Jingchuan’s respect. This Su Yan wasn’t so simple.

Just as he took out the car key and approached his car, suddenly, a car drove over, and immediately stopped steadily into the lot beside him. In the next moment, he saw the driver come out, walk around the car towards the back and respectfully open the door.

The first thing Lu Yang saw were nude coloured heels accentuating a pair of slender legs with lean calves and fair skin. Before he could see enough, the owner of the beautiful legs came out.

Su Yan was aware that someone was looking at her. She lifted her head to see and immediately recognised Lu Yang, she smiled in a conditioned reflex, “Mr. Lu? What a coincidence.”

Saying that, she walked over to Lu Yang’s side, since he was not only the Venerable Sir Chen’s successor, but was also Jiang Jingchuan’s school mate, she should exchange a few words with him.

Lu Yang felt that Su Yan got more and more beautiful. He didn’t have any lack of women beside him. And it also wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen women more beautiful than Su Yan, just that compared to her beauty, all the other faces he had seen didn’t look as attractive as before. In contrast, when he first saw Su Yan, his impression of her was rather vague and not as distinctly charming as now. He only remembered that her appearance was fine and beautiful, but as they saw each other more, her image became more striking. As she was approaching him, he could only stare at her in rapt attention, not wanting to shift his attention elsewhere.

Lu Yang smiled and nodded, “Hello Mrs. Jiang.”

Su Yan had been rigorously instructed by Empress Dowager on etiquette and control of expression from childhood. She had never made any mistakes on this before, and now, the smiling expression on her face was just right, “Mr. Lu, have you come to see Jingchuan?”

“Yes……” Lu Yang glanced at the lunch boxes in the driver’s hands, he couldn’t help but smile and say: “Jingchuan is really lucky to have a wife who would bring him food, truly enviable.”

Although it sounded like simple flattery, Lu Yang was speaking truthfully. He truly envied Jiang Jinchuan who had a wife who wasn’t only pretty, but also had an unmatchable temperament who cared for him.  No wonder Jiang Jingchuan paid so much attention to her.

If she was his wife…...cough cough! Lu Yang immediately stopped his thoughts.

Su Yan just smiled.

Mrs. Jiang, do you know Lu Jiaying?” Lu Yang also didn’t know what was going on with him but he wanted to stay a little longer with Su Yan. Immediately, his female cousin came to mind.

Su Yan used all her efforts to recall, in a few seconds she remembered that that day while shopping with Jiang Jingjing, it seemed like that fellow classmate of hers had this name, so she hesitatingly nodded.

Lu Yang was clearly relieved, and continued: “Jiaying is my younger sister. That day she had told me about that meeting, you don't know how excited that girl was. It is really a small world. I didn’t expect the person who had helped my sister 2 years ago to be Mrs. Jiang.”

This world really was too small!

Su Yan also didn’t expect the person whom the original body helped to turn out to be Lu Yang’s sister!

“It cannot be? Such a coincidence?” Su Yan was still somewhat in a daze.

Finding Su Yan’s helpless expression amusing, Lu Yang couldn’t help but laugh. He nodded: “Yes, well, when my younger sister told me, I was very surprised. Mrs. Jiang, my family is very grateful to you for this matter. My uncle and aunt also said to invite you for a meal to show our gratitude.”

“Huh? This, please do not bother. There is no need to be so polite.” She was unworthy of such gratitude, the one who helped Lu Jiaying was obviously the original body.

Lu Yang’s smile deepend, “It is necessary. How about this? Let’s consider it when you have time. I won’t delay you today.”

Su Yan had heard from Jiang Jingchuan that, after Lu Yang returned, the power in A city was almost again re-divided. If a person can build good relations with him, then it would not be a bad thing for Jiang Jingchuan, would it?

She slightly hesitated before nodding and watched as Lu Yang got in his car and left the parking area. Afterwards, the driver accompanied Su Yan till the elevator.

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Barb Notes:

1. Sharp edged-sword had already slanted - It refers to an unconventional gambit or an unconventional winning move. In here she means the risk has already been taken, she doesn't know if it would be useful to her or not.

2.To trample on the soil and wade in the muddy waters - It is an idiom which means to get involved in an unsavory situation.