The night was as thick as ink, so dense it could not be dissolved.
When Cen Jin reached the front of the villa, she had finished her ice cream. Because she had left her phone in Jiang Baizhou's living room, she went back in to get it. As she was about to leave, she found Jiang Baizhou standing by the foyer, looking at her with unusual eyes.
"About that... I'll transfer the money for the ice cream to you via WeChat later," Cen Jin moved her steps, forcing a smile under his intense gaze, and spoke with difficulty.
"No need."
"That's not right! Even siblings settle accounts clearly!" Cen Jin smiled and retorted.
Hearing this, Jiang Baizhou's eyes slightly darkened, and a subtle change occurred in his expression as he tucked one hand into his pants pocket and turned towards the house. His indifferent tone suddenly took on a peculiar sarcasm: "Since you insist, you might as well pay back what you owe from before!"
Cen Jin was instantly stunned, her charming face showing some surprise, and she racked her brain to think carefully, still failing to understand: "What do you mean? I remember I paid back everything I borrowed from you before!"
"There's one thing you haven't returned."
"What?"
Pausing at the stairway, Jiang Baizhou turned his head to look at her: "Is there a time when even a scholar's brain doesn't work?"
"..."
Cen Jin was speechless, giving him a sideways glance, her gentle and charming face carrying traces of anger: "That's a personal attack."
"Think for yourself." Jiang Baizhou's gaze covered a layer of depth as he indifferently withdrew his sight and lifted his legs to walk up the stairs.
After his figure disappeared from sight, Cen Jin also withdrew her gaze and exited the villa of Jiang Baizhou's house, carefully pondering over his words but finding herself completely at a loss.
They grew up as childhood friends, and indeed, from a young age, she borrowed money and things from him countless times. But she could confidently say she always returned them with careful seriousness, whether it was money or items. Even when he offered her drinks and food, she reciprocated. However, he was always difficult to please, especially when it came to food, often refusing when she tried to return the favor.
Could it be about that?
But rationally, Jiang Baizhou wouldn't be one to fuss over such trivial matters.
So what was it that she owed him?
Returning home, because Ms. Qin and Miss Yu Hui were out for a walk, she was the only one in the villa. Lying on the bed and thinking for a long time, she couldn't figure it out. Initially, she wanted to ask Jiang Baizhou about it on WeChat, but when she saw that stiff black avatar, she suddenly lost the courage and silently exited.
As the night deepened, tiredness overcame her, and she fell asleep while thinking about these things, completely forgetting about transferring the money to Jiang Baizhou.
On the other side, Jiang Baizhou showered and stepped out of the bathroom, towel in hand, wiping his hair. He glanced at the phone resting on the nightstand, tapped the screen lightly, but saw no message notifications. His cool lips pressed into a tight line, instinctively turning his head toward the balcony direction. Hesitating only for about two seconds, he walked over.
His articulated hand gently lifted the curtain, seeing the light still on in the opposite room. A bit of warmth crept into his cold, frosty eyes; he lowered the curtain and sat at the edge of the bed, his thoughts drifting aimlessly.
Just when did she become important in his heart?
He didn't know where it went wrong, able to read everyone else's intentions from a glance or an action, yet before Nie Cenjin, he stumbled.