Chapter 13 Severed “Yue Rongrong, if you think we’re even now, dream on…”

Chapter 13: Squaring Accounts "Yue Rongrong, you think we can just call it even? Dream on..."

Jin Tangsong glanced at Yue Rongrong's pale face, a sly glint flashing in her eyes as she ran toward Shen Jichen and asked carefully, "Cousin, what brings you here?"

Shen Jichen only stared coldly at Yue Rongrong, watching as her head drooped lower and lower until she finally muttered, "I must take my leave now." She brushed past him and fled quickly.

He stiffened slightly, his dark eyes freezing over. After a long moment, he suddenly laughed, a mocking tone seeping through—as if the ice had shattered, each shard cold and piercing.

Jin Tangsong shivered and stepped back, saying, "Cousin, I’ll head back too."

Just as she was about to turn and run, a voice, cold and heavy, came from behind her: "Don’t let it happen again."

She stiffened, stopped in her tracks, took a deep breath, turned around, straightened her back, and said firmly, "Yes, I did it on purpose." She looked up into Shen Jichen’s cold gaze, trembled suddenly, and added, "But those words came from her own mouth! Cousin, she doesn’t love you anymore! If she had loved you three years ago, she wouldn’t have abandoned you for that escort! And now she wouldn’t say such heartless things..."

"Enough!" Shen Jichen roared angrily. He stepped closer to her, his voice low and suppressed, "Stop these pointless games. There’s nothing left between her and me."

**

When Yue Rongrong returned to Yunjin Court, Ren Hanzhen had just finished bathing and was heading back to her room. They bumped into each other. Yue Rongrong’s face was dark, while Ren Hanzhen smiled slightly and brushed past her. Both were acutely aware of the earlier incident with Jin Tangsong’s provocation, and it was hard to maintain any pretense of cordiality.

Ren Hanzhen’s motives weren’t hard to guess, but Yue Rongrong didn’t have the energy to engage with her. She just wanted to earn money. After today’s commotion, she probably wouldn’t be going to the Marquis’s residence anymore. Thinking of Shen Jichen, her heart suddenly ached, and she pressed her hand firmly against her chest. Yes, she was only heartsick about the money she'd nearly had in her grasp.

Unexpectedly, early the next morning, the shopkeeper found her, looking pleased, and asked her to go to the main shop to attend to a noble guest.

"If you serve them well, I’ll give you extra pay!" The shopkeeper was uncharacteristically generous!

Yue Rongrong’s eyes lit up, her gloom swept away: "How much extra?"

She went off in high spirits, determined to use her silver tongue to coax the noble guest into spending lavishly!

The main shop was the storefront of Jinxiu Tower, three stories of opulence. To reach the third floor, guests needed not only wealth but also status!

Yue Rongrong followed the shopkeeper to a private room on the third floor. The shopkeeper knocked on the door—once, twice, three times—the silence making her heart race.

"Come in." It was a woman’s voice, likely a maid.

The shopkeeper pushed the door open with a beaming smile, and Yue Rongrong followed with her head lowered.

"Marquis, Miss Jin, she’s here," the shopkeeper said with a bow.

Yue Rongrong suddenly looked up. Jin Tangsong stood ahead and actually smiled at her.

What the hell?

She couldn’t smile back and averted her gaze, only to see Shen Jichen sitting in an armchair, his profile exquisite and sharp, carved with severity. Just sitting there quietly, he exuded an oppressive aura that made it hard to breathe.

He didn’t even glance up.

Yue Rongrong instinctively wanted to run, but the shopkeeper, anticipating her move, grabbed her hand. Without moving his lips, he whispered threateningly with a smile, "If you run, you won’t see a penny this month!" Then he smiled ingratiatingly again.

Jin Tangsong found his smile unpleasant and waved him away.

Jin Tangsong, shedding her earlier sharpness, smiled warmly and intimately: "Rong Rong, come help me pick." The room was displayed with various dresses, a riot of colors. She said, "I’m getting dizzy from all the choices."

Yue Rongrong was thrown off by her using "Rong Rong." She curled her lip and was about to refuse when she heard Jin Tangsong complain.

"Cousin finally found time to accompany me in choosing everyday clothes for after the wedding, but whenever I ask him which is better, he always says they all look good." She looped her arm through Yue Rongrong’s hand and asked innocently, "Are all men like this?"

Yue Rongrong met her smiling eyes—both familiar and alien.

Back when Jin Tangsong first arrived in Hangzhou and met her, she had also looped her arm through her like this, smiling innocently, yet later she could say such harsh and sharp things to her.

Yue Rongrong gently disengaged her hand and said as gently as she could, "The Marquis dotes on you, Miss. Why not take them all?" It’s not like he couldn’t afford it.

Shen Jichen looked over, his gaze extremely cold. He stood up, his tall and intimidatingly imposing figure. He walked over slowly, standing behind Jin Tangsong, his voice devoid of warmth: "Tangsong wants you to help her choose. Just do as she says."

Yue Rongrong took a deep breath, put on a bright smile, took Jin Tangsong’s hand, and stood before the clothing rack. She effusively praised the virtues and elegance of each dress, complimented Jin Tangsong again, and added, "We also have specially matched headpieces and jewelry here, not displayed publicly—exclusively for esteemed guests. Would you like to see them, Miss?"

Jin Tangsong was momentarily taken aback by her enthusiasm: "Let’s... let’s take a look."

Shen Jichen gave her a cold glance and turned back to his seat.

When Yue Rongrong had someone bring out five or six sets of headpieces, the room instantly was awash in glittering jewels.

Jin Tangsong picked casually and said, "They’re rather mediocre, far worse than what my cousin the Empress sent me the other day. Don’t you think so, Cousin?"

Yue Rongrong’s hand, holding a gold hairpin, paused.

Shen Jichen’s gaze shifted from Yue Rongrong’s hand, and he responded indifferently.

Jin Tangsong then smiled and said, "Let’s try on these clothes first."

Yue Rongrong took down the selected dresses, hung them over her arm, and followed her into the fitting room.

The luxurious clothes were heavy. Yue Rongrong had to make several trips back and forth. As a lavish dress trailed on the ground, she stepped on it, stumbled forward abruptly, and was steadied by Shen Jichen. Her hand was instantly enveloped in his warm palm.

Shen Jichen stood right beside her, his tall figure looming over her. His hand didn’t let go. Yue Rongrong knew he was looking at her but didn’t dare raise her head. After a dazed moment, she tried to withdraw her hand but felt the grip tighten. Surprised, she looked up—Shen Jichen had already released her and stepped back.

Aloof and distant.

Her heart felt hollow. Yue Rongrong was stunned for a moment before murmuring a thanks, gathered the clothes, and headed toward the fitting room.

From behind came Shen Jichen’s voice, clear and cold, full of sarcasm: "You didn’t need to humble yourself like this."

Yue Rongrong jolted sharply, understanding what he meant. After the incident with the betrothal documents back then, if she hadn’t been so proud, if she had listened to him and stayed in Hangzhou temporarily, waiting for his arrangements, or returned to the capital with him as his mistress or concubine—she might not have a life of endless glory today, but at least she wouldn’t lack wealth and honor. The light in her eyes flickered slightly. She turned around and smiled faintly: "What happened back then—you wronged me, and I wronged you. We’re even now. Why bring up the past?" Her attitude of letting bygones be bygones infuriated Shen Jichen.

His gaze darkened bit by bit. Restraining himself, he let out a cold laugh, his voice as if dipped in ice: "Yue Rongrong, you think we can just call it even? Dream on."

Yue Rongrong stiffened. She didn’t understand—clearly, he was the one who deceived her first, he was the one who abandoned her first! Was it just because she later left with Qu Lieshan, wounding his noble pride, that he couldn’t let it go?

"Rong Rong, come here for a moment." Jin Tangsong’s voice came from the fitting room.

Yue Rongrong, though caught off guard, clutched at it like a lifeline, hugged the clothes, and ran in.

"Help me straighten the hem," Jin Tangsong said.

Yue Rongrong looked down at the hem trailing several feet on the floor, bent over.

"Here, and here." Jin Tangsong pointed here and there in the mirror.

Yue Rongrong bent over until her back protested. Finally, when it was done, she straightened up and pressed a hand to her waist.

Jin Tangsong saw it in the mirror and smiled lightly: "If you’re already in this line of work, why cling to pride? Kneel to fix it—your back will feel better."

Yue Rongrong’s face paled, then gradually cooled. She looked quietly at Jin Tangsong and said coolly, "Why bother?"

"What?" Jin Tangsong felt unnerved for some reason under her gaze.

"You’ve already won. Shen Jichen is about to marry you. Why still have it in for me?" Yue Rongrong scoffed.

Jin Tangsong widened her eyes, looking at her incredulously: "You think I'm just..." Suddenly she stopped herself, then relaxed into a light laugh under Yue Rongrong's puzzled gaze. "Because seeing you miserable makes me feel better," she said with an air of generosity. "Considering how hard you've worked, I'll take all the clothes and head accessories here today. Pack them up neatly and deliver them to the Marquis' estate tomorrow. You can collect the payment there as well."

She dismissed Yue Rongrong and had her own maid help her change out of the clothes. As Yue Rongrong stepped out, her face stiff and pale, she noticed Shen Jichen was nowhere to be seen. She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief—the thought of losing face in front of him was something she couldn't bear indifferently.

Despite all the humiliation she endured that day, the weighty purse the shopkeeper gave her brought a genuine smile to her face.

Knowing her love for money, the shopkeeper couldn't resist teasing her: "Rongrong, with looks like yours, finding a wealthy family wouldn’t be hard. Even being a concubine would be a fortunate fate. Why worry about such small sums?"

Yue Rongrong giggled, she said breezily: "But I do worry! Shopkeeper, how about a little extra reward?"

The shopkeeper shot her a glance: "Don't push your luck. Tomorrow, deliver all the items Miss Jin selected to the Marquis' estate. Don’t worry, I’ll have the assistants help you—it won’t be too strenuous. You just handle collecting the payment. Once you’ve received the silver, come back and I’ll give you your commission."

Yue Rongrong felt both pleased and anxious, missing her chance to hesitate or refuse.

The next day, Yue Rongrong left early in the morning. Ren Hanzhen immediately grew wary and casually asked Zhen Xi: "Where did Rongrong go?"

Unaware of the tensions between them, Zhen Xi replied: "She went to the Marquis' estate."

Ren Hanzhen’s face changed abruptly. Hadn’t she been humiliated by Miss Jin? Shouldn’t Miss Jin have driven her out of the estate? But she couldn’t ask that directly, she forced herself to force a smile instead: "Why so early…"

Zhen Xi said: "She always leaves at this hour. Oh, yesterday Miss Jin bought many everyday clothes and head accessories at Brocade Tower. The shopkeeper had her deliver them."

Only then did Ren Hanzhen relax, nodding with a smile.

Yue Rongrong took on the shopkeeper’s task and went to the Marquis' estate with several porters.

Three large cases were placed in the main hall. Yue Rongrong waited for word to be sent to Jin Tangsong so she could inspect the goods and receive payment.

Then a senior maid came out and said to Yue Rongrong: "Miss Yue, the young lady asks you to come to the garden."

Who goes to the garden in such cold weather! Though reluctant, despite the cold, Yue Rongrong thought of collecting the money and completing her task, so she went.

By late February, the Marquis' garden was already in full bloom. Jin Tangsong, wrapped in a crimson cloak, stood beside a curved pond, gazing distractedly. Her maid whispered behind her: "Miss, she’s here."

Jin Tangsong turned and watched as Yue Rongrong emerged from the corridor. The hem of her green dress showed beneath her cloak, flowing gracefully, her cloud-like hair cascading down her back. Though her expression was neutral, she looked strikingly beautiful yet unapproachable.

In her memory, Yue Rongrong always wore a sweet, bright smile, but whenever she saw Jin Tangsong, she became wary, like a kitten bristling ready to fight at any moment. Jin Tangsong smiled faintly and pointed to the pond: "You came just in time. My pearl necklace broke—help me retrieve the pearls from the water."

Yue Rongrong froze in place: "What?" Thinking she’d misheard, she leaned forward to look into the pond. The clear water, aside from decorative plants and stones, revealed a few pearls resting quietly at the bottom, with colorful fish tails glimmering past them.