See You Again (Time Already Knows) - Chapter 68
Chapter 68 - “Don’t Look Anymore, Shi Jian.”
Naturally, the formal attire that Yi Pei sent over for the banquet was much more high end than the one she bought. Shi Jian glanced at the brand. It was a high end evening wear brand from Paris. Their dresses were all beautiful and enchanting. She had worn a custom made…… wedding dress from this brand before.
There was an entire set of matching jewelry to go along with the dress. No wonder Uncle Yang joked that the Yi family had sent betrothal gifts.
Auntie helped her bring the dress and jewelry to her room, wearing a smile on her face the whole time. It was just as if someone had really sent betrothal gifts. Auntie and Uncle both knew about her having to go play piano at the Yi family banquet. Only, Yi Pei doing this was too considerate and too kind.
Oh, it was probably Zhang Kai’s doing.
Shi Jian opened the box. From the style, she knew immediately that Zhang Kai was the one who chose it. Zhang Kai liked reading fashion magazines and had pretty good taste. Of course, men who picked out clothes for women were usually more feminine than women themselves.
Shi Jian called Zhang Kai. Zhang Kai even smugly apologized to her: “President Yi had long given me this task. It’s me who had forgotten after being so busy these past few days. I only remembered about it today…… Shi Jian, try it on quick.”
“Thanks.” But, Shi Jian still had to tell Zhang Kai, “Um, I’ve already bought a dress for the banquet.”
Zhang Kai thought she was just being polite, “Shi Jian, this is nothing much. Your formal outfit should be prepared by the Yi family anyway.”
“You can keep the dress afterwards. As for the jewelry…… If you want to, you can keep those too.”
If you want to, you can keep those too. Zhang Kai spoke carefreely, and sounded like he wasn’t trying to probe anything out. It seemed like regardless of whether it was Emily or Zhang Kai, they all hoped that she would grab onto Yi Pei. Of course, the man was walking upwards, and it wasn’t unreasonable……
Only, when she remembered that she used to think about making advances towards Zhang Kai, she kind of wanted to vomit blood.
This nude-colored dress was one from this year’s Paris fashion week catwalk. Auntie laid it out and also sighed in appreciation. Then she smiled and asked whether she wanted to try it on. Shi Jian shook her head no. A young girl’s heart was too easily moved by beautiful and luxurious things. Maybe once she tried on this expensive dress, she would look disdainfully at the dress she’d bought with her own money. Moreover, she was only an assistant. Wearing something she shouldn’t be wearing would attract criticism from others.
Shi Jian tried on her own aquamarine blue dress. The skirt ended below her knee, and it was just as beautiful paired with the high heels. Auntie told her that Uncle would also attend the Yi family banquet tomorrow. He originally wasn’t going to participate, but because of certain mysterious circumstances, he had to participate now.
Shi Jian seemed to understand why he had to.
“I’m afraid you will be bullied! Don’t think I don’t know that Ye Jiacheng and Yi Biya are together now.” Yang Jiantao seemed to be frustrated and disappointed. Auntie had gone to lull Nini to sleep. Yang Jiantao spoke in a low voice, as if afraid Auntie would be worried if she heard him.
Auntie and Uncle had always cared about Shi Jian since her childhood, even more than her own mother and father. When a male exchange student was bothering her when she was in school, Yang Jiantao had picked her up and dropped her off everyday, until many people mistakenly thought that he was her dad.
Shi Jian leaned back in her chair. So many things had turned terrible when she came back in time, but many things had made her happy, too, such as the fact that Uncle didn’t spend five years in prison, and that Nini could continue to grow up in a happy family.
But, Shi Jian still had to say with a small smile: “I was the one who dumped Ye Jiacheng. Why would I be bullied?”
“I have to worry that you’ll be bullied because you dumped him,” Yang Jiantao glared at her and then really shook his head, “Otherwise, what would I be worried about?!”
Shi Jian felt a little anger.
Yang Jiantao glanced at the things Yi Pei sent over and asked confidently, “You dumped Ye Jiacheng because of Yi Pei, right?”
What? How could Uncle think that……
“Don’t think that I don’t know. Don’t even mention Yi Pei sending things over this time. Last time you lost your bicycle, Yi Pei drove you home, and two days later, the stadium employee brought your lost bicycle back. You think our family was the one who opened the stadium?” Yang Jiantao spoke with reason and even asked, “Would he really do that just for a five hundred yuan bicycle?”
Shi Jian inwardly felt at a loss.
Yang Jiantao also sighed and clapped her shoulder. He was completely certain: “Since you’ve always liked Yi Pei, and Yi Pei has broken the engagement with the Zhao family, why would you have to go after that President Ye? He is right to get with that Miss Yi to get back at you.”
Shi Jian: “……” Whatever, let’s just leave it at that.
“Every time you do a good thing, the one who suffers is me,” Uncle changed the topic. His tone wasn’t completely free of pain. After a moment, he also seemed to comfort her, “Luckily, I still have a conscience. Otherwise, I would be made a miserably wretched man.”
What would have made him a miserably wretched man? Shi Jian didn’t understand and stared at Uncle in worry.
Yang Jiantao didn’t mind saying it aloud. He even said it with some trauma, “After you and Ye Jiacheng broke up, I even attended Ye Mao’s construction bidding party. I didn’t expect to be chosen. There were clearly other contractors with better terms, but Ye Jiacheng chose Yang Corp. Why? Don’t even mention that I had a big disagreement with Yi Qindong. Ye Jiacheng even gave me such good terms. Even without thinking I can tell there are scams hidden inside it. With Ye Mao’s background, and Ye Jiacheng’s strategies…… He carelessly gave me a chance. Yang Corp is done…… So sure enough, I didn’t agree.”
Shi Jian: “……”
When Yang Jiantao finished, he smiled, pleased with himself. He took the opportunity to teach her: “Thus, one must always think carefully before making decisions…… What are you looking at? I’m talking about you.”
Shi Jian looked away: “……Uncle, I’m going to bed now.”
Yang Jiantao waved her away: “Go. Be more careful in the future.”
[Please read on jeytranslations.blogspot.com | Do not repost to other sites. ]
Shi Jian laid on her bed and called Ye Jiacheng’s number. The line rang for a while. No one picked up. Ten minutes later, Ye Jiacheng called her back. Shi Jian set down the psychology book she was reading and answered, putting her phone by her ear.
“Shi Jian, you were looking for me?” Ye Jiacheng spoke first and explained why he didn’t pick up the first time, “I just got out of the shower.”
Shi Jian made an “en” sound, then said, “I just wanted to ask about what’s going on between Ye Mao and Yang Corp.”
Ye Jiacheng had been rubbing a towel through his hair when he noticed a missed call from Shi Jian. He genuinely went blank for a long time. If the little fox was trying to stir him up again, what would he do? How could that be possible……
Ye Jiacheng smiled disdainfully at himself. He really had suppressed himself for too long, that he had too much sperm piled up in his body and that his IQ and principles were completely gone.
Shi Jian had called him to ask about him and Yang Corp. So it was about this. That’s right, he had tried to work with Yang Jiantao before and had given him very good terms. But Yang Jiantao did not agree.
“Don’t come looking for my Uncle anymore in the future,” Shi Jian said to him.
He wouldn’t. When he did that, he wasn’t with Yi Biya yet. Now, he didn’t go as far as to not understand. Ye Jiacheng agreed and even found a reason: “I used to think we were all close to each other……”
“Ye Jiacheng, are you not a tiny bit afraid?” Shi Jian asked him a rhetorical question, “Yang Jiantao is my Uncle.”
He couldn’t help but notice that he really was a little afraid. Ye Jiacheng maintained his silence with a small smile.
“Maybe you don’t know, but my whole family is very angry at you. So every time you run into my family members in the future, try your best to avoid them. Otherwise……”
“Otherwise what?” Ye Jiacheng asked a bit dumbly. On the contrary, his voice was still warm.
Before Shi Jian could even speak, Ye Jiacheng lightly interrupted, “……Alright, I got it.”
Ye Jiacheng tossed his cellphone onto the sofa and pulled on a pretty broad smile. The bright light from the living room hit his elegant face, making him look even more harmless and helpless. He was already a rat running by on the street to everyone by the little fox’s side. Was everyone shouting to kill him?
Did he need to shut himself inside? Unfortunately, tomorrow was the banquet, and he would still have to run into them.
Ye Jiacheng received an invitation to the Yi family banquet from Yi Qindong. He was also part of the Yi family now, but his girlfriend seemed to not give him any information at all. Ye Jiacheng couldn’t help but be skeptical. Yi Biya didn’t even tell her family that they were dating. Yi Biya and the little fox really were completely different people. One had no confidence at all, the other hadn’t dated before, but clearly was full of confidence. Clearly, he couldn’t be that Mr.Architect of hers.
The next day, Ye Jiacheng not only attended the Yi family banquet, he also wore a newly-bought tuxedo. He stood in front of the mirror and made his mood better as he knotted his necktie. He went together with Yi Qindong. Yi Qindong told him: “The piano player tonight is Assistant Shi. My father personally chose her.”
Is that so? Ye Jiacheng replied with a single sentence: “Forefather Yi certainly likes her a lot.”
“Originally, the Third Young Master Yi wanted to arrange for his pianist girlfriend from the Jia Shi Platinum Club……” Zhang Kai said to Shi Jian, “Unexpectedly, Forefather Yi chose you instead.”
Shi Jian followed Zhang Kai to the Yi household first. The weather was a bit cold. She wore a black sweater with slitted sleeves outside of her dress. Yi Pei still had some business to do in the afternoon, so he had Zhang Kai bring her to the Yi household beforehand.
Shi Jian had never been to the grand Yi estate before, but she knew that after Forefather Yi passed away, the three buildings of the Yi estate fell into Yi Qindong’s hands. Then, after Yi Qindong had squandered his inheritance, he sold the estate to Yi Pei. Forefather Yi spent the latter half of his life defending against his descendants’ attempts to fight over their inheritances. In the end, a reason the Yi family fought so terribly was that there was no will. Tonight’s banquet was held in the recently renovated main house. This was also the building that was built after the original Madam Lin passed away. The buildings in the back were the original Yi estate. President Yi would occasionally come back and stay here for a while. The main house was very magnificent. Shi Jian glanced at the two buildings in the back, not knowing what they looked like inside.
The Yi estate was already very lively. Zhang Kai smoothly exchanged greetings with people from all angles. Madam Guo also enthusiastically greeted her: “Miss Shi, we are troubling you again this time.”
“No problem,” Shi Jian smiled, and went to try out the grand piano in the drawing room. She played a few notes and discovered that something wasn’t right. This piano was a little bit off-pitch.
“Do re mi……” It was slightly off, and had a little bit of an effect.
Shi Jian sat at the piano. Madam Guo came over with a plate of fruit, asking: “What’s wrong?” She didn’t say anything. Madam Guo spoke first: “Miss Shi, the piano has absolutely no problems. It was bought just this year.”
Shi Jian thought that Madam Guo may not know that the piano had a problem. If she said that the piano had a problem, it would damage Madam Guo’s face. But the piano’s sound really was a bit off. Shi Jian didn’t know whether she should mention it or now. Could they find someone to tune it right now?
Actually, she knew someone that could tune the instrument, and that person would definitely be here later.
Ye Jiacheng came with Yi Qindong. He had a smile on his face from the time between stepping through the front door until he saw Shi Jian sitting at the piano. His whole person had an aura of one who was refreshed by a spring breeze.
They were all guests here, and some were more energetic than he was.
Yi Biya was still busy inside. The two of them hadn’t seen each other in quite a few days. Ye Jiacheng looked towards his girlfriend and raised the corner of his lip. Yi Biya walked over in a bit of surprise: “You came?”
“Am I not supposed to be here?” Ye Jiacheng replied, gently meeting Yi Biya’s delicate eyes.
Yi Biya looked down. Madam Guo had already arrived and warmly greeted him. Ye Jiacheng made a suitable greeting as well. Madam Guo seemed to not be aware that he and Yi Biya were dating.
He couldn’t help but admit that the little fox had definitely affected him, that he had lingering fears. When an ordinary couple dated, who would tell their family as soon as possible? Was it such a simple thing to spend a lifetime together?
Ye Jiacheng couldn’t help but glance a few times in the direction of the piano again. He only saw a snow white hand falling onto the keys, probably wielding their beauty like a weapon, and full of confidence.
Shi Jian straightened her back, but was still slightly affected. Someone had taught her in the past that when one had no confidence, they should take two deep breaths, and give themselves time to breathe. She tried two more keys. Madam Guo could not comprehend and said: “Miss Shi, is there a problem with the piano?”
Just as Shi Jian was about to reply, Ye Jiacheng spoke up first: “Madam Guo, this piano does have an issue.”
Madam Guo did not understand and said: “I was just newly bought this year. It can’t be broken. The piano teacher came to teach Xiao Tian just yesterday, and used this piano.”
“It definitely isn’t broken.” Ye JIacheng had a smile on his face, and emphasized, “But it is a little off-pitch.”
“Ah, then what should we do?”
Shi Jian had already stood up. Beside her, Yi Biya came up with an idea: “Is it too late to go find a piano tuner?”
“No need to worry,” Ye Jiacheng said calmly, “Let me try.”
Shi Jian knew that Ye Jiacheng knew how to tune a piano. She gave her spot to him. Ye Jiacheng smiled modestly at her. This smile really was him feigning capability, Shi Jian quietly watched Ye Jiacheng tune the piano. It wasn’t a new scene to her.
The whole time, he just played a note, listened, and tuned…… Ye Jiacheng had very accurate sensitivity to pitch. In the past, she had sighed and wondered how he knew how to tune a piano. He had confidently told her: “If I didn’t have any abilities, how could I catch your eye?”
Now, who was catching whose eye? Shi Jian watched with a small smile. When Ye Jiacheng finished tuning, he courteously said to her: “Miss Shi, try it now.”
Shi Jian replied: “Thank you, President Ye.”
Ye Jiacheng nodded and pursed his lip: “You’re welcome.”
The banquet started. The lights were all lit up. Each tree had strings of tiny flickering light bulbs hanging on them, as if it was a festival. Yi Biya was the one who planned the banquet this time. One could tell that she spent time on each detail of it.
Yi Biya really was quite a good person. Other than her status being good, she was beautiful and also kind. It’s just that she was a bit cowardly. But Ye Jiacheng had always quite liked this type of girl. It triggered his protective instincts.
Ai, she unexpectedly had low self esteem now. Shi jian received another thank you red envelope from Madam Guo. She didn’t open it. She put it directly into her handbag. When she finished playing the piano, Yi Pei, who was wearing a completely black suit, personally came to escort her down. She didn’t know why, but she was a bit afraid of facing Ye Jiacheng today, and was also afraid of facing Yi Pei.
Luckily, the Yi estate was very large. They didn’t need to be facing each other or seeing each other all the time.
She couldn’t stomach much of the delicious food. Shi Jian walked to the outside freely. The sky had already completely darkened. She really was walking towards the darkness now, knowing nothing of where she was headed. If someone gave her hand a pull right now, maybe she would just follow after them.
Thus, she was especially afraid of facing Yi Pei tonight.
Shi Jian left the main house wearing her high heels. There were people all around the Yi estate. She walked towards the two buildings in the back. The moonlight above her head was enchanting. She suddenly wanted to sing a few verses and amuse herself.
But, Shi Jian still quieted down. Even her steps had stopped. In front of her, her friendly husband was currently hugging his new girlfriend, romantically kissing under the lights. It was such a warm scene.
Was she drunk? Clearly she only had a little bit of a cocktail tonight. Shi Jian felt herself swaying back and forth, but her head was still clear. She should probably quickly disappear from her, but her feet stubbornly refused to move.
How terrible. She had pretended for so long, but her efforts were ruined in one moment. She still couldn't forget. Ye Jiacheng was still the Ye Jiacheng that used to love her dearly.
What to do? She still couldn’t forget!
At this moment, Shi Jian was hateful. She wished she could pick up all the stones in the side garden and hurl them over there. She was hurting, so she wanted him to hurt with her. Shi Jian bit her trembling lip. In the end, the most annoying thing was that she couldn’t even find a reason to hate Ye Jiacheng.
Did she hate that he didn’t love her enough, or that he was currently being confident and accomplished?
She didn’t hate anything anymore. If she had to blame someone, she could only blame herself, and blame time.
She hated this joke that time was playing on her, making her gently lose Ye Jiacheng. Oh, she could still blame Mr.Ye, because he had lied to her.
He’d lied that she was the only perfect one for him, and made her believe it to be true. It was because of that lie that the situation was like this now. But, she didn’t even have a chance to properly question Mr.Ye about why he lied to her. If she had an answer, then she wouldn’t have to persevere in helplessness and suffering.
The Ye Jiacheng in front of her seemed to notice something. But her courage was just too strong after drinking some alcohol. Shi Jian raised her head, not afraid of anything at all. She still looked on unmovingly, until a strong hand fiercely brought her into its chest.
“Don’t look anymore, Shi Jian.”
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