Chapter Nine: Thought to Be a Younger Sister

"Don't talk about her like that. If it were me, I'd have taken a bullet for Brother Jiu too." Xiao Shi's expression was serious and solemn. "And don't go spreading this around. If Brother Jiu hears about it, he'll skin you alive."

"I only told you. As long as you don't sell me out, it's fine."

"You think I'm that kind of person? Are we brothers or not? Is that how you see me?"

Zhao Que pondered for a moment, then added, "But Miss Xin is beautiful and gentle, and her voice is lovely. How come Brother Jiu never mentioned her before?"

Xin Gan stood at the corner, listening as their voices grew fainter and eventually disappeared—apparently, they'd walked out rather than upstairs.

Only when everything was quiet did she descend. Xin Gan pressed her lips together, her face still pale.

The proprietress was absent from the inn; a server was wiping down the tables. Xin Gan asked, "Can I still order food?"

The server replied, "Are you here for breakfast? I'm sorry, the chef is off today. He took leave to go home—his child is sick. If you want breakfast, there's a place down the street."

The inn wasn't especially large, all locally run, and with the tourist season at its low, there was little business. To cut costs, they only kept one cook and two servers.

Xin Gan simply took her money and headed out to find breakfast on the street.

She'd barely stepped outside when the weather began to change. The horizon stretched endlessly, shrouded in dark clouds. Hawks circled above the boundless plain, while people hurried along the street, and vendors selling local goods quickly packed up to head home.

Xin Gan found a breakfast shop, ordered a bowl of beef noodle soup. The flavor was mild, but the beef was generous, and she ate slowly. No one knew her here, and for once, she felt a measure of ease.

It soon began to pour outside. She hadn't brought an umbrella, so she couldn't leave, but the shop owner didn't hurry her along. Since it was raining, she stayed a while longer.

Her phone suddenly rang; it was a local number she didn't recognize. She answered, and Jiang Tang's voice came through.

"It's me, Jiang Tang."

"Hello. How did you get my number?" Xin Gan asked.

"Cheng Jiu gave it to me. I came back to the inn and couldn't find you. It's pouring out—where are you?"

"I'm having breakfast outside."

"You didn't bring an umbrella, did you? Where are you? Send me your location and I'll bring you one."

Xin Gan felt embarrassed to make her come all this way just for her, so she said, "It's alright. I'll wait until the rain eases up before heading back."

Jiang Tang replied, "Who knows when this rain will stop? You're new here, and you don't know your way around—I’m worried you’ll get lost. Is it alright if I call you Xin Gan? Just send me your address and I'll find you."

Xin Gan recalled what Xiao Shi had said earlier at the inn—Jiang Tang had taken a bullet for Cheng Jiu. They'd fought side by side and braved death together.

She thought she might have found a way to break this engagement. If Cheng Jiu didn't care for her, and she didn't care for him, everything would be easier.

"Alright, sorry for the trouble," Xin Gan replied softly.

Jiang Tang arrived quickly, carrying an umbrella. Her short hair brushed her jaw, and she wore fitted jeans and a leather jacket. She walked with an air of confidence—crisp and decisive.

Only then did Xin Gan notice how tall she was—at least half a head taller than herself. Xin Gan was one-sixty-six, so Jiang Tang must be at least one-seventy.

On the way back, Xin Gan thanked her. Jiang Tang smiled and said, "No need to be so polite. Cheng Jiu and I are close—we don't keep score. You're his friend, so you're my friend too."

Xin Gan was still processing this when Jiang Tang added, "Yesterday Cheng Jiu told me you’re not actually his relative—that we’d gotten it wrong. Why didn’t you say so earlier? I thought you were his sister and was about to start calling you that."