Amnesia Trap (GL) - Chapter 42

The rest area was not particularly large, indicating that Ji Qingfan was not the type of person who frequently rested in the office during lunch breaks.

However, despite its size, it had everything—not just a bed, but also a fully equipped bathroom.

Sheng Zhi was already frustrated, and hearing Ji Qingfan’s words only made her feel more irritated.

“Don’t make excuses for her. It’s clearly her fault.”

The fire in her heart couldn’t be suppressed when she thought about what Jiang Wanyin had said to her.

When Sheng Zhi acted spoiled, she was truly sweet, but when she was angry, her beautiful face became cold and gloomy. At this moment, anyone else would definitely not dare to say another word.

But Ji Qingfan knew from her expression that she wasn’t truly angry. There was anger, yes, but once the initial heat passed, it would be over. Sheng Zhi always had a soft heart for those she categorized as “her own people.”

Ji Qingfan had to find a way to make the relationship between Sheng Zhi and Jiang Wanyin collapse completely.

And those other friends around Sheng Zhi…

As face after face flashed through her mind, Ji Qingfan thought: I still only want Sheng Zhi to play with me—

This desire had truly never changed.

However, she couldn’t make it too obvious. If it was too blatant, it would be noticed. She didn’t want Sheng Zhi to fear her, nor did she want her to hide.

Ji Qingfan’s voice remained soft and gentle, unchanged: “Then, does Jiao Jiao still want to reconcile with her?”

She knew perfectly well that Sheng Zhi was just in a fit of pique, but she asked anyway, deliberately waiting for a “no” so that whatever she did next would seem natural.

Sure enough, hearing the question, Sheng Zhi answered almost categorically: “No reconciliation. It’s over. Jiang Wanyin is too annoying, saying those kinds of things to me…”

“I see,” Ji Qingfan responded, stroking her hair with a doting tone. “Jiao Jiao can make any decision she wants. After all, no matter what happens, I will only be on your side.”

Sheng Zhi heard her start with those fake, affectionate words again, but since she wasn’t in a good mood, she was too lazy to act back.

Forget the fact that she hadn’t actually lost her memory; even if she truly had, these words wouldn’t move her much. Ji Qingfan had disguised herself very well lately and was very indulgent, but how could anyone unconditionally side with someone else no matter what happened? The practice of abandoning someone for the sake of profit was far more common.

It was only because she was currently the Sheng Zhi of the Sheng family that Ji Qingfan could say such things. If the Sheng family fell, a mercenary person like Ji Qingfan would surely leave faster than anyone else, and perhaps even kick them while they were down to gain new benefits.

Ji Qingfan sensed that Sheng Zhi clearly didn’t believe her, so she didn’t pursue the topic. Instead, she smiled and changed the subject: “Jiao Jiao, don’t work this afternoon. If you’re not in the right state, don’t force it. Have a nap here, okay?”

Hearing this, Sheng Zhi instinctively looked at the small bed they were sitting on.

The bed was so small that it would be a struggle for two tall adults to sleep in it. They would likely have to embrace so tightly that they became inseparable just to avoid falling onto the floor.

At that thought, she wanted to refuse, but before she could, Ji Qingfan spoke first as if she had anticipated her concern: “I won’t be sleeping at noon; I have some matters to finish processing. If Jiao Jiao rests here, no one else will disturb you.”

Sheng Zhi was actually tempted by the suggestion. She had stayed up late last night due to her bad mood. Hearing that no one would bother her, that Ji Qingfan wouldn’t be sleeping with her, and that she didn’t have to work all afternoon, she had already agreed in her heart. However, she still feigned a moment of deliberation before reluctantly nodding.

“Then Jiao Jiao, rest well here. Contact me if anything happens.” Ji Qingfan’s statement about having work to do didn’t seem like an excuse; she checked her watch and indicated she was heading out.

The door to the rest area was slid shut, fitting perfectly and designed to look exactly like the surrounding wall.

Ji Qingfan looked at the surveillance footage on her phone screen, watching Sheng Zhi’s figure lie down on the bed.

When Sheng Zhi slept alone, she always liked to curl her body up. Her long hair was scattered about—she looked like a soft, fluffy cat.

As she watched, Ji Qingfan couldn’t help but raise her hand to cover her lips, the corners of her eyes flushing with a red hue of excitement.

…So cute.

The thought that only she knew, and only she could see, caused an uncontrollable surge of excitement to flood her entire body.

Jiang Wanyin looked at the time on the screen.

She had been waiting for nearly twenty minutes, which made her suspect if Ji Qingfan intended to stand her up.

She still remembered her surprise when she received the message from Ji Qingfan. It wasn’t detailed, just a brief sentence: “Zhi Zhi has words she wants me to bring to you in person.”

Sheng Zhi asked Ji Qingfan to deliver a message, and it had to be in person…?

It seemed unlikely, but seeing those words and thinking about how Sheng Zhi had been avoiding her for the past two days—and how she continued to be blocked even after changing her phone number—Jiang Wanyin eventually agreed.

But now…

She had been waiting here for almost half an hour.

Was Ji Qingfan just playing with her?

Jiang Wanyin stared at the digital clock as the numbers changed. Her expression shifted, but just as she stood up, she saw Ji Qingfan walk in.

“You’ve waited a long time, Miss Jiang,” Ji Qingfan said. She ignored Jiang Wanyin’s posture of being about to leave and sat down naturally across from her. She casually toyed with a strand of her long hair, her tone indifferent. “I was delayed a bit, but I imagine a good person like Miss Jiang wouldn’t mind.”

Not expecting Ji Qingfan to enter at that exact moment, Jiang Wanyin didn’t have time to adjust her expression. However, hearing Ji Qingfan’s tone—the complete opposite of the gentle, friendly one she used when Sheng Zhi was present—Jiang Wanyin didn’t bother hiding her hostility. She sat back down and looked at her with an unfriendly gaze. “Drop the flowery talk. Did Zhi Zhi really ask you to bring me a message?”

“I wouldn’t bother lying to you about such a thing; I’m just telling the truth,” Ji Qingfan said, meeting her eyes. “Zhi Zhi is fed up with you. She has no intention of reconciling and hopes you will stop pestering her.”

Jiang Wanyin stared at her, then suddenly let out a sharp laugh, her gaze turning mocking. “…You’re lying, aren’t you? We’ve been friends for years; you didn’t think these few words would drive a wedge between us, did you? Let me guess, did you say something to Zhi Zhi? Hmm?”

Compared to Jiang Wanyin’s fraying emotions, Ji Qingfan merely looked at her calmly. “Instead of speculating about me, you should think about what you said to Zhi Zhi.”

As she spoke, she took out a small device. With a click, Sheng Zhi’s voice came through: “No reconciliation. It’s over. Jiang Wanyin is too annoying, saying those kinds of things to me…”

Jiang Wanyin’s expression froze instantly.

She was very familiar with Sheng Zhi’s voice and tone; she knew immediately that these were indeed Sheng Zhi’s words.

Ji Qingfan seemed completely uninterested in her reaction. After playing the recording, she put the device away. “I’ve already settled the bill. The message has been delivered. I’m leaving.”

Jiang Wanyin snapped back to reality.

Seeing that Ji Qingfan really just came to deliver a message, Jiang Wanyin lost her confidence. The more she thought about it, the more panicked she became. In the past, Sheng Zhi had blocked her during arguments, but never so comprehensively across all platforms, and never with the immediate re-blocking even after seeing a new number.

Did Sheng Zhi really ask Ji Qingfan to tell her to stop bothering her?

Why?

Did she already hate her to that extent?

Seeing Ji Qingfan about to leave, Jiang Wanyin instinctively reached out to ask for more details. “Wait…”

But the moment she extended her hand, she was cowed into place by the other woman’s icy gaze. She couldn’t describe the emotion suppressed in that look, but it sent a wave of goosebumps down her arms.

She couldn’t help but recall the gentle and friendly way Ji Qingfan acted when Sheng Zhi was around.

The resulting surge of irritation finally suppressed that sense of strangeness. Jiang Wanyin adjusted her breathing and raised an eyebrow, speaking meaningfully as if she had just discovered something: “But I have to say, Ji Qingfan, you’re quite the actress. You’re targeting me so obviously; don’t think I can’t see your intentions toward Zhi Zhi.”

Seeing Ji Qingfan’s eyes narrow slightly, Jiang Wanyin’s palms began to sweat, but her tone became even more contemptuous. “Zhi Zhi is just throwing a tantrum. Before long, we’ll be friends again. But you’re different. Have you forgotten how much she used to hate you? If you don’t want me to tell Zhi Zhi exactly what you’re thinking and everything about your past, you’d better help me with her…”

As if feeling that her earlier moment of being intimidated was too embarrassing, Jiang Wanyin didn’t withdraw her hand as she spoke. Instead, she stepped forward and casually patted Ji Qingfan’s shoulder.

However, just as she patted her, and before she could finish her sentence, her wrist was twisted back.

Ji Qingfan looked at her with dark pupils, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, her voice very soft: “Fine. Go ahead and tell her.”

“Go tell her. Tell her I love her.”

“If she believes it, I love her. If she doesn’t believe it, I still love her. If she feels disgusted, I continue to love her. Every effort I have made up to now is to be worthy of her, to make her rely on me, to possess her…”

She twisted Jiang Wanyin’s wrist back, her voice—full of obsessive love—growing even softer. “Go tell her. Is that enough? If not, I’ll cut my heart open so you can take it to her as well.”

“As for the past?” Her smile widened. “Even if Zhi Zhi hadn’t lost her memory and hadn’t forgotten me, I would have made her fall in love with me again.”

Jiang Wanyin was forced to retreat by her sheer intensity. Ji Qingfan’s gaze was like that of a poisonous snake, cold enough to make her shiver instinctively. It was as if she were a lifeless object, no different from the tables and chairs nearby.

This sense of dread even made her instinctively ignore the sharp pain in her wrist.

It wasn’t until after Ji Qingfan left that Jiang Wanyin belatedly recovered. She took out her phone, but her hands were shaking so much that she failed several times to unlock the screen. The black screen reflected her eyes, which were filled with leaked panic.

She thought about how confidently Sheng Zhi had said she was going to toy with Ji Qingfan and bully her.

She didn’t even dare to think about who was actually toying with whom in the end…

No, she had to tell Sheng Zhi.

This woman was too good at acting, too dangerous.

…She was a complete lunatic.

Sheng Zhi was absolutely no match for her.