Chapter 350: Volume 1, Chapter 350: Deceptive Mirage (20)

Her moving fingers stopped, and after a moment she asked:

"Why?"

Wen Chijin sighed, "I don't want to see you smile at anyone but me."

His words were blunt and obscure.

Jiang Zhi dazedly lifted her gaze.

Wen Chijin smiled at the sight, his voice low and enticing.

"I was just joking."

His voice was inaudible to Jiang Zhi, but seeing his pallid, cold face exude a heart‑racing beauty, set off by a flawless smile, it seeped into her heart like a deadly poison.

Jiang Zhi was like a butterfly caught in a spider's web, unable to break free, falling into the trap he had woven.

"……" She flinched away from his deep, narrow eyes, her fingers forgotten mid‑air.

…

The three matches ended quickly.

Wen Chijin, holding his phone, received a video call from his parents.

The screen showed the two elders' faces worn by time; unable to speak, they could only gesture in sign language before the camera.

How's the competition?

And Jiang Zhi, participating in a large competition for the first time, could not hide her excitement, constantly waving her fingers.

Mom, Dad, I came first in all three events, the prize money is substantial, and a teacher said that if I go to university, I'll be directly admitted to their school—the best in the city—so I don't have to worry about tuition.

Jiang Zhi's parents were overjoyed; especially Jiang Mu, tears streaming uncontrollably.

They hadn't forgotten Wen Chijin beside them, signing: "You've worked hard, Xiao Chi."

Although Wen Chijin is clearly younger than Jiang Zhi, he is calm and steady, looking more like an older brother.

It's fine, Mom and Dad; I'm happy to accompany my older sister.

The two elders felt relieved, gave a few parting words, then reluctantly ended the video call.

When the tickets were booked and they were preparing to leave the hotel, Yu Shian walked over to her, knowing she couldn't hear, and this time stood directly in front of her.

Jiang Zhi stopped in her tracks, looking at him blankly.

Yu Shian is a quick learner; in just a few days he had mastered basic sign language.

Are you planning to apply to the capital's art academy for college?

Given her drawing talent, she would surely pass, but he still came over to ask, uneasy.

Jiang Zhi was still unsure: "I should take the exam—what's up?"

Yu Shian handed her a slip of paper: "This is my phone number; once you get in here, contact me."

In the art world, Yu Shian, called a genius youth and 'Yu Shen,' is so hard to get in touch with that it's harder than climbing to heaven.

But the girl didn't take it, shaking her head: "We'll talk about it later—I have to catch the train."

After saying that, she turned to Wen Chijin and signed: "Let's go, A Chi."

Wen Chijin's slender, beautiful fingers slipped around her shoulder, pulling her into his arm as he led her away.

Still standing where he was, Yu Shian kept his pose, the hand hanging in the air slowly tightening, the paper in his palm crumpled into a ball.

…

Leaving the hotel, the girl broke free from his embrace, walked to a spot one step away from him, and stopped, her shoulders trembling slightly.

The warmth of her body lingered between their arms; Wen Chijin rubbed his fingertips together, a flicker of displeasure crossing his eyes before vanishing.

Jiang Zhi lowered her gaze and signed: "A Chi, don't hug me in public—people will get the wrong idea."

Thinking of how that couple on the train had mistaken them for a couple, she feared others would do the same.

That would be bad for him.

Wen Chijin's dark eyes sank slightly: "Do you think walking with me will make the person you like misunderstand?"

Jiang Zhi quickly shook her head: "I don't like anyone."

Wen Chijin stepped closer; his tall frame cast a shadow that enveloped her, exuding a maturity beyond his years.

Or do you dislike me and not want to get close?

Seeing his words, Jiang Zhi hurriedly explained: "No, no."

Before she could react, the boy reached out and gripped her shoulders, pulling her into a tight embrace.

Wen Chijin's expression softened, like melting snow, giving an almost unreal sense of perfection.

I don't care what others think; I just want you to get close to me.

But you just avoided me, and it hurt me.

Jiang Zhi's ears flushed red, her lovely cheeks blooming with a rosy hue that spread to her neck and collar; realizing how close they were, a tear‑shaped mole at the corner of her eye glistened vividly, and she helplessly lifted a finger to sign.

I… understand.

Wen Chijin released her, a faint fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose, coming from her hair.

The girl lowered her head; the exposed nape of her neck was snow‑white and slender, as beautiful as a swan's, impossible to look away from, carrying a hint of fragility, her skin smooth and lustrous.

He wanted to pierce that patch of skin with his sharp teeth, to taste whether her blood was as sweet and delicious as a person's.

Not yet the time.

He wanted to strip away her hopes and thoughts bit by bit, destroy her whole world, and drag her roughly into hell.

As Jiang Zhi lifted her gaze, the darkness in his eyes faded completely, restoring his usual harmless, gentle expression.

…

Once again they boarded the green‑skinned train to head home.

The booked berth was still a sleeper, but the people sitting opposite had changed from a couple to two disheveled men.

Smoking is prohibited on the train, but some people still blatantly ignore the ban and smoke.

For example, these two men lit up as soon as they sat down, puffing one cigarette after another, filling the carriage with smoke; several people who couldn't stand the smell preferred to go stand in another carriage rather than stay here and inhale their secondhand smoke.

Jiang Zhi was still in the upper berth; she smelled the smoke drifting up and curling around the top, her lungs felt uncomfortable, she covered her mouth and coughed softly a few times.

Wen Chijin went to the toilet; the lower berth was now empty, and Jiang Zhi sat on the inside side.

At that moment, the shorter of the two men walked over and rudely sat down beside her, a cigarette between his fingers, exhaling clouds of smoke, he squinted and smiled at her: "Hey girl, do you have a boyfriend?"

Out of politeness, Jiang Zhi shook her head.

The man chuckled, propped his hand on the edge of the bunk, ignoring her retreat, he shifted closer and said, "You've been staring at me, do you think I'm handsome?"

Jiang Zhi couldn't hear outside sounds with her ears, but by reading lips she could understand what he was saying; seeing his words, she quickly waved her hands, picked up a pencil, and wrote on her sketchbook.

(No, I'm deaf and mute; I can read lips—I just want to know what you're saying.)

Seeing those words on her sketchbook, the man furrowed his brows, annoyed that she didn't appreciate his advance, he grabbed the sketchbook from her hand and tried to tear it apart.

Jiang Zhi, seeing this, clutched the sketchbook to her chest, struggled, and dodged his reaching hand.

Seeing her fierce resistance, the man felt a urge to conquer, clenched the cigarette butt between his teeth, and immediately moved to snatch the sketchbook from her arms.

But the girl struggled desperately, refusing to let him touch the sketchbook in her arms; the man then seized her wrist, intending to drag her onto the bunk and pin her down, but Jiang Zhi had been on guard and gripped the bunk's rail tightly.