Volume One, Chapter 58: Uneasy Conscience

Brown liquid splattered across the silk sheets.

Ji Jiali’s expression was one of astonishment.

Her eyes widened, forgetting to tidy up, her tone urgent and tense.
“Jiang Wan, is that you?!”

Holding the bowl, Ji Jiali’s body froze.

She remained motionless until Jiang Wan walked in.

Once she was sure it wasn’t a hallucination, a hint of guilt flashed in Ji Jiali’s eyes.

She gulped down the remaining medicinal soup in the bowl, her gaze following Jiang Wan as she approached.

Ji Jiali’s reaction was overly dramatic.

Jiang Wan’s brows furrowed as she drew closer, her words direct and sharp: “What’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I…”
Ji Jiali realized her loss of composure and hastily tried to recover.

“I thought I was delirious from the fever and just seeing things.”

She nervously avoided Jiang Wan’s eyes, putting down the empty bowl, and grabbed a couple of tissues from the bedside table to wipe up the mess.

“You just showed up without a word—how could that not startle me?”
Ji Jiali muttered.

At her words, Jiang Wan’s brows knitted tighter.

The woman who was usually impeccably dressed and dazzling now appeared bare-faced, with not a trace of makeup.

Though her features remained delicate, her skin looked a bit dry.

Like a wilted rose, drained of vitality.

Jiang Wan reached out, pressing the back of her hand to Ji Jiali’s forehead.

Her temperature was noticeably higher.

“Have you seen a doctor?”
She asked, taking tissues from Ji Jiali’s hand, helping her clean the sheets, and straightening the pillows behind her.

“Mm…”
Ji Jiali replied, “Just… a regular cold… a few days’ rest and I’ll be fine.”

As she answered, her eyes quickly flicked over Jiang Wan, searching for any subtle shift in expression.

Fortunately, Jiang Wan didn’t press further.

Ji Jiali let out a quiet sigh, her tension slowly fading.

She tugged at the blanket, covering herself from the chest down, and placed her hands naturally over her abdomen.

“What brings you here so suddenly?”
Now settled, Ji Jiali asked, her curious gaze tinged with a hint of probing.

In the past—

Unless absolutely necessary, Jiang Wan would never come to the Lin house.

It always took three invitations and three refusals.

This time, she came uninvited, and after the surprise, Ji Jiali found herself unexpectedly flattered.

Sensing the implication in her gaze,

Jiang Wan felt awkward as well.

“I came to bring you a gift, then I’ll leave.”

Her tone was cool as she took a beautifully wrapped gift box from her bag.

“So you won’t have an excuse to complain about me for the rest of your life.”

Jiang Wan handed it to her.

Her tone seemed aloof, but Ji Jiali was overjoyed.

“I knew you had a conscience.”

She shot Jiang Wan a playful glare, but couldn’t wait to untie the ribbon and open the box.

At the sight of the velvet case inside, she could already guess it contained jewelry.

Ji Jiali’s face was bright with happiness, her lips curving upwards uncontrollably. Yet—

When she opened the box,

The “Dripping Blessings” butterfly brooch was revealed, and Ji Jiali’s face changed dramatically.

“Ah—”
She screamed reflexively, dropping the box and sending it flying.

The butterfly brooch tumbled out, landing awkwardly on the floor.

Ji Jiali’s agitated and abnormal reaction made Jiang Wan frown. “What’s wrong?”

She picked it up, smoothing it in her palm.

“Even if you don’t like it, isn’t this a bit much…”

Before Jiang Wan could finish, Ji Jiali cut her off, agitated: “It’s not just that I don’t like it, this is so unlucky!”

“...” Jiang Wan paused, incredulous as she looked at Ji Jiali. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, this thing is bad luck.”

Ji Jiali pointed at the brooch in Jiang Wan’s hand. “Look at what you gave me—a brooch with ominous energy, terrible symbolism. And it’s only half a butterfly, isn’t that even more unsettling?”

“And then there’s the teardrop… absolutely no sign of good fortune.”

She withdrew her gaze, urging Jiang Wan, “Put it away, quickly.”

“...” Jiang Wan’s finger touched the gemstone, and suddenly it felt as if a needle had pricked her.

She looked down at the brooch in her palm.

Hearing Ji Jiali’s words,

A brooch meant to symbolize layered blessings was now dismissed as worthless.

“Fine.”

Jiang Wan picked up the discarded box, leaving the bedside.

She stood beside the bed, dusted off the outer box, and tucked the brooch back into the velvet case.

“It’s not that I didn’t give it—it's you who refused.”

Her tone was icy.

She bundled up the torn wrapping paper and ribbon, stuffing them all into her bag.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

With that, Jiang Wan turned to go.

“Hey!”
Ji Jiali suddenly realized something, anxiously tossing aside the blanket and stepping out of bed.

She hurried after Jiang Wan, reaching out to grab her.

“I never said I didn’t want it, so why are you upset?”

After a moment of inner struggle, Ji Jiali relented. “Give it to me, I’ll keep it in the closet—it should be fine.”

Her reluctant tone drew a self-mocking smile from Jiang Wan.

“No need. Even if you want to keep it, I no longer wish to give it.”

Jiang Wan said, trying to pull her hand free.

But as soon as she made to do so,

Ji Jiali, as if predicting her move, let go of Jiang Wan’s wrist, returning her freedom.

Now free,

Jiang Wan strode forward without looking back, opened the door, and left.

As she walked down the corridor, her gaze was cold and somber.

Every visit left her frustrated.

There would not be a next time.

Jiang Wan silently resolved, her eyes sharpening.

Just as she headed toward the staircase,

Ji Jiali chased after her, “Jiang Wan, wait.”

The figure ahead didn’t pause, so Ji Jiali quickened her steps.

“Jiang Wan!”

Ji Jiali grabbed Jiang Wan’s hand once again.

This time, she pressed something into her palm.

Feeling the unfamiliar object, the texture of the fabric, Jiang Wan couldn’t help but pause.

She opened her hand to look.

A palm-sized blessing pouch. The golden cloth was tightly cinched at the top, and silver threads embroidered the words “Jing’an Temple” intertwined.

Jiang Wan frowned, puzzled as she looked at Ji Jiali.

“Don’t blame me for being superstitious—it's been this way for years.”

Ji Jiali held her hand, her expression complex as she told Jiang Wan, “After your last accident, I went to Jing’an Temple to pray and make a wish. The master said we should be extra cautious these days, so I’ve been overthinking everything!”

“This safety charm—I got it specifically for you. Keep it with you at all times.”

“That way, you’ll feel at ease, and so will I.”

Ji Jiali had always been superstitious.

Whenever something happened, she’d resort to spiritual solutions.

Before Jiang Wan could say anything,

Ji Jiali pressed her fingers over the pouch, closing them tight around it.

“No matter how much you resent me, broken bones are still connected by sinew—I’ll always be your mother.”

Her tone softened, gentle and kind, “Listen to me, alright?”

“Alright.”
Jiang Wan didn’t seem very willing, but she accepted the safety charm.

Only then did Ji Jiali’s face show relief.

She let go, reminding her to take care on the way home.

Watching Jiang Wan’s departing figure, Ji Jiali’s smile slowly faded.

Her expression grew more complicated.

Her hands, hanging at her sides, gradually moved up to cover her abdomen.

Ji Jiali turned back to her room, while Jiang Wan descended the stairs.

As she reached the ground floor,

Lin Zhi was sitting on the sofa in the living room, reading.

“Jiang Wan, leaving so soon?”

Lin Zhi put down her book and stood up. “Why not stay for dinner?”

“No, I…”

Before Jiang Wan could finish, standing at the foot of the stairs, she saw that familiar Rolls-Royce glide slowly through the open iron gates.