C9 They Had Failed
In the days that followed, Bai Chuman tried repeatedly to get a response but to no avail. She looked at Jiang Yichen, still in his deep sleep, unsure if she felt disappointment or something else.
Holding his hand, she carefully trimmed his nails with a clipper, her mouth running nonstop. "Wouldn't it be great if you suddenly opened your eyes and woke up? Here in this house, I'm all alone. It probably won't be long before I'm in real trouble, all because of your special status..."
She was so focused on trimming his nails that she didn't notice him frown slightly at her chatter.
Bai Chuman wanted to build a subconscious connection with Jiang Yichen, but the staff in the villa always found excuses to keep her from disturbing him.
Lying on a rocking chair in the glass conservatory, she gently swayed back and forth, counting on her fingers. It seemed like four days had passed since she last saw Jiang Yichen. She sighed heavily.
Four days were enough to undo the bond she had been trying to build.
She had been in this villa for over a month now, living more comfortably than she had expected. There was none of the relentless pressure she anticipated from her own family, nor any trouble from the Jiang family regarding Jiang Yichen.
Bai Chuman furrowed her brow slightly. Logically, after ruining the Bai family's chance to strike it rich, that couple wouldn't just let it go. Even if they occasionally tried to smear her reputation, it would be more normal than this eerie silence.
Lately, she had been feeling a strange sensation, as if someone was watching her. But every time she spun around unexpectedly, she found nothing.
Just like now!
Chuman suddenly turned around, jumping up from her lounge chair. Behind her, the lush spider plants, left mostly untrimmed, nearly touched the ground. A plump little bird living among them was startled by her sudden movement, flapping its wings as it flew to another perch.
She suspiciously scanned her surroundings. The glass conservatory was empty except for her, so she relaxed and lay back down, closing her eyes. She gently fanned herself with a palm fan.
Meanwhile, in the basement of the villa, Jiang Yichen, who should have been resting in bed, was seated in front of a surveillance screen. He watched as Bai Chuman, dressed in a white cotton-linen dress, lay comfortably on the bamboo lounge chair, occasionally springing up to perform a counter-surveillance sweep. Yichen's brooding gaze was almost palpable. The elderly butler stood respectfully by his side, nervously wiping away cold sweat.
"Sir, the lady's awareness is quite sharp. Those surveillance cameras will likely be discovered by her soon."
Yichen's long, pale fingers tapped rhythmically on the glass table, his face as cold as ice. His well-shaped lips were tightly pressed together, revealing his impatience. He watched the high-definition screen, observing Chuman's face, which wasn't particularly striking, yet her lively eyes and guarded demeanor piqued his curiosity. He recalled the words she had spoken to him a few days ago—annoying, yet oddly intriguing—and that kiss, a warm, soft, unfamiliar sensation...
His meticulously organized plans were now disrupted by this unexpected woman. She was a variable, yet he couldn't determine if she'd propel his plans forward or lead to their downfall. He closed his eyes, contemplating the flaws in his strategy, but her face lingered in his mind. He gently rubbed his temples, feeling a bit weary.
"Do you think she was sent by them?" Yichen suddenly asked.
The butler hesitated before finally shaking his head. "I don't think so. I've had people look into her past, and there's no connection with those people. I believe the family had her marry in just to cut off your chances of an alliance, without any further intentions."
Jiang Yichen pondered for a moment, then let out a cold snort. "Becoming comatose might not pose much of a threat to them now, but that doesn't mean a person in a coma will never wake up. Be prepared; they won't be able to hold back much longer."
The butler nodded in agreement. The basement was slightly chilly, so he gently draped a coat over Jiang Yichen's shoulders. Although Yichen had miraculously survived that orchestrated car accident, his immune system wasn't what it used to be.
Yichen glanced at the screen, where Bai Chuman was sleeping soundly with her mouth slightly open. "She's... not trustworthy yet. Keep monitoring her for a while longer."
