Jiang Chuji froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.
Jiang Jinran curled her lip.
[Looks like he really is sick. Beyond saving.]
[There isn't a single normal person in this Jiang Family.]
[Somehow I've become the only normal one.]
Hearing this string of thoughts from Jiang Jinran, Jiang Chuji almost couldn't stop laughing.
When his laughter finally subsided, Jiang Chuji remarked thoughtfully, "Our Xiao Ran really is adorable."
So adorable that he wanted to destroy her.
"What exactly did you call me here for?" Jiang Jinran asked bluntly. She was starting to find it unbearable to stay.
She wanted to take back what she'd thought earlier.
[I'd rather stay with Shi Hui and that pack of demons and monsters than spend time with a lunatic like Jiang Chuji!]
The corners of Jiang Chuji's lips lifted slightly. "What, ready to leave?"
"I just wanted to catch up with my little sister. After all, I haven't been home in a long time..."
"Well, now," Jiang Jinran pointed at the clock on the wall, "are we done catching up?"
"You..." Jiang Chuji shook his head with a seemingly helpless look. "Do you want to leave that badly?"
Jiang Jinran said nothing, but inside-
[Of course I do. I don't want to hang around with a creepy brother!]
"All right." Jiang Chuji rose from the sofa, turned toward a nearby desk, and took a bundle of things out of a drawer. Then he returned to Jiang Jinran and held them out to her. "Take these before you go."
Jiang Jinran frowned.
She accepted the things with a puzzled expression and looked closely-
It was a jar of ointment and a handkerchief.
"Apply it properly to the injuries on your face," Jiang Chuji said with lowered eyes and a half smile. "You really look a mess right now..."
Such a mess that it was a little unpleasant to look at.
Jiang Chuji didn't want to see those red marks lingering on Jiang Jinran's face.
Jiang Jinran was a little taken aback.
[Did my creepy brother with the dark personality suddenly discover his conscience?]
[Wait, does he even have a conscience?!]
Jiang Chuji said nothing and escorted Jiang Jinran to the door with a smile.
"Until next time, little sister."
He leaned against the doorframe, his eyes curving into gentle crescents as he waved at Jiang Jinran.
Jiang Jinran merely glanced at him without a word.
Then she turned and walked away on her own.
Jiang Chuji really was deceptive. He looked all smiles, but underneath, he was sinister.
Seeing the way he'd acted just now, someone who didn't know better might really have thought he was a good older brother.
Most of what Jiang Jinran knew about these older brothers came from the novel's descriptions and the original owner's memories.
But neither the novel nor those memories had told Jiang Jinran that her second brother, Jiang Chuji, was actually a dark, twisted freak!
She only knew the broad milestones of Jiang Chuji's life and his eventual ending.
Thinking about it now, with Jiang Chuji this unhinged, no wonder he'd ended up utterly disgraced...
Jiang Jinran entered the women's restroom, where there was a vanity counter for women to do their makeup.
She opened the ointment and slowly applied it to her face-
A cooling sensation immediately spread.
Miraculously, the ointment seemed to provide coverage as well, instantly making the red marks on Jiang Jinran's face less noticeable.
Hmm, Jiang Chuji did have a little conscience after all.
When Jiang Jinran returned backstage, everyone was gathered together, talking in voices so low she couldn't tell what they were discussing.
Seeing Jiang Jinran return, they only glanced at her briefly before coldly looking away, treating her as though she were invisible as they resumed chatting.
Jiang Jinran glanced at the clock on the wall.
The finals weren't completely over yet.
It had just been an intermission, which was why Jiang Chuji had had time to return to his lounge.
A few more competing teams still had to take the stage.
Once all the performances were over, it would be time for the eagerly awaited awards ceremony.
"My thing is missing..."
Suddenly, Shi Hui's slightly agitated voice reached her ears.
"What is it? We'll help you look."
"It's a handkerchief. A very expensive one..."
"Do you remember when it went missing?"
"I still had it when I came back from the stage. I don't know when I lost it..."
Jiang Jinran sat alone on a sofa in the corner, automatically shutting out the commotion.
However-
That group didn't seem inclined to leave her alone.
"Jiang Jinran, get up!"
A female classmate rushed over and grabbed Jiang Jinran's arm forcefully. "Let's see if Shi Hui's handkerchief is over here."
Before Jiang Jinran could speak, Shi Hui darted over and snatched the handkerchief sticking halfway out of Jiang Jinran's pocket!
"This is my handkerchief!" Shi Hui declared after examining it closely.
Jiang Jinran was utterly bewildered.
This was clearly the handkerchief Jiang Chuji had just given her.
"It's yours just because you say so?" Jiang Jinran broke free of the girl beside her and stepped forward, narrowing her eyes as she fixed Shi Hui with a cold, sharp look.
Shi Hui was sinking lower and lower.
Day after day, all she did was make trouble for her and splash her with dirty water!
All her anger piled up, and Jiang Jinran clenched her fists, a flush rising in her previously snow-white cheeks.
"What else?" Shi Hui lowered her gaze, looking down at Jiang Jinran and meeting her eyes fearlessly. "Are you telling me this handkerchief is yours?"
"This isn't some ordinary handkerchief. It's from SIU. Can you afford it?"
Shi Hui's voice kept rising until her loud, forceful words echoed through practically the entire backstage waiting room.
"SIU? That's a major luxury brand. A single handkerchief costs tens of thousands..." The others immediately chimed in. "Even if Jiang Jinran's family emptied their coffers, they probably couldn't scrape together that much."
"So she got the idea to steal. What a filthy mind!"
"She didn't even hide it properly after stealing it. How stupid."
"Don't covet things that aren't yours. Take a look at yourself first and see if you're worthy."
"That's how paupers are, coveting things they can't afford and resorting to such dirty, low-down tricks..."
"Jiang Jinran, you must be a repeat offender! I don't believe this is the only time you've stolen something. Haven't you stolen plenty before?"
"Why not confess everything now? What else have you stolen?"
Everyone had already decided that Jiang Jinran had stolen Shi Hui's handkerchief, firmly pinning the charge of "theft" on her.
A foul haze of malice and filthy words came sweeping toward Jiang Jinran from every direction.
She pressed her lips together and spoke, refusing to take it lying down, a determined light surging in her eyes. "This handkerchief is mine."
Turning her gaze to Shi Hui, she continued, "Shi Hui, you've taken my handkerchief. If you don't give it back, doesn't that count as robbery?"
Everyone's eyes widened in astonishment.
How could anyone be as shameless as Jiang Jinran!
She refused to admit she'd stolen someone else's belongings and even turned around and accused the other person of robbery!
Her shamelessness truly knew no bounds.
"You're saying I robbed you?" Holding the handkerchief, Shi Hui almost laughed in anger. She simply took out her phone and waved it at Jiang Jinran. "How about we call the police!"
"You stole my things, and you think I robbed you, so let's have the police decide!"