The Black Swan Trap - chapter 2

The plane landed.

Wen Jiming had to leave early for work and told Wen Hua to take good care of Wen Ning.

Although Wen Hua and Wen Ning were biological sisters, the two looked nothing alike.

Wen Hua’s eyes were large and bright, full of lively spirit.

She was dressed in a custom Chanel-style outfit and high heels, her whole appearance radiating the confidence and pride of a wealthy young lady.

By contrast, Wen Ning wore a cheap, simple T-shirt and jeans. The exposed wrists on her slender arms were as thin as snapped plum branches.

“Sis, over here.”

Wen Hua led Wen Ning toward the exit.

She made small talk about family with Wen Ning in a tone of easy familiarity, as if the two were truly close sisters reunited after a long absence.

“Was the flight tiring? This is your first time in Jing City-there’s so much fun here.”

“It’s still early. I’ll take you shopping first and buy you a new set of clothes.”

“Mom gave me a lot of pocket money. Let’s spend it all together, just us sisters!”

That “Mom” naturally referred to Zhao Qianru, whom Wen Hua called with ease and affection.

Actually, Wen Ning wanted to say she was tired.

But she knew Wen Hua had already made all the decisions for her, so anything she said would be pointless.

All she could do was nod and follow Wen Hua.

“Over here!”

At the airport entrance, Wen Hua waved into the distance.

A luxurious car pulled up in front of them.

A young man in his early twenties stepped out, his gaze cold-clearly not someone easy to approach.

He didn’t even look at Wen Ning. Only when speaking to Wen Hua did his expression soften.

“Why did you suddenly ask me to pick you up?” Though Jiang Nie spoke as if complaining, there was obvious enjoyment in his tone.

Wen Hua feigned annoyance. “Oh, so you don’t even want to pick me up? In that case, maybe I won’t keep your racing secret from Uncle Jiang anymore!”

Her words were laced with playful coquettishness.

Jiang Nie played along, raising his hands in surrender. “Miss Wen, spare me. Didn’t I come? How about I buy you dinner as hush money?”

“Hmph! That’s more like it.”

Wen Hua turned and pulled Wen Ning over to introduce her. “This is my sister, Wen Ning.”

“Oh.”

Jiang Nie glanced at Wen Ning. She kept her head down, shrinking back a little, so thin she looked like a bent iris stem.

His gaze lingered only a second before shifting back to Wen Hua.

“Where do you want to eat?”

“Let’s get in the car first.”

Wen Ning sat in the back seat while Wen Hua took the passenger seat.

Seeing Jiang Nie’s lack of interest, Wen Hua’s faint displeasure quickly faded.

She knew that after she had left with her father, Wen Ning’s life in Yunzhou must not have been easy.

She did feel some sympathy for Wen Ning-more accurately, pity.

But that was her father’s choice; it had nothing to do with her.

She had always been more outstanding than Wen Ning. Her father was right to choose to nurture the more promising daughter.

Now that Wen Ning had been brought to Jing City, as long as their family made it up to her, that would be enough.

That’s what she thought, but when she saw Wen Ning again in Yunzhou, she still felt a trace of discomfort in her heart.

In Wen Hua’s world, Wen Ning could never surpass her.

But Wen Ning had grown up, and her features were now very much like their mother’s-even surpassing her in some ways.

Wen Ning was kneeling at their mother’s grave when Wen Hua saw her.

Dressed in cheap clothes, her body thin and undernourished, she was as docile and meek as always.

Yet her face was sculpted like jade, her features perfect, and her eyes were as gentle and captivating as the misty rain of Jiangnan.

That kind of expression was something Wen Hua could never learn in her lifetime.
Flawless as moonlight, beauty without the slightest aggression-yet able to pierce the heart and make it quietly bleed.

Given time, if this flower is allowed to bloom, who knows how beautiful it could become.

Even in terms of looks, Wen Hua believed she was naturally superior to Wen Ning.

So, while waiting at the airport, she sent a message to Jiang Nie, asking him to pick her up.

Right now, Wen Ning was at her most rustic and down-and-out. Wen Hua wanted to use this opportunity to let everyone around her see Wen Ning like this.

She wanted them to instinctively think of Wen Ning as a country girl.

Wen Hua had always known Jiang Nie liked her, so she wasn’t worried that Jiang Nie would develop any feelings for Wen Ning.

Jiang Nie was the young master of the Jiang Family, a background comparable to the Wen Family.

For some unknown reason, Jiang Boyu, the young master of the powerful Jiang Family in Jing City, was willing to keep Jiang Nie in his circle.

Wen Hua was clever enough to enjoy Jiang Nie’s attentions, but she always intended to use him as a springboard to get closer to Jiang Boyu.

Since she had been groomed by the Wen Family, she was determined to marry into an even better family.

Only then would her parents be happy, only then would they know they were right to choose her.

The car glided smoothly along. Wen Hua, sitting in the front passenger seat, touched up her lipstick and spoke to Jiang Nie.

“It’s still early. Come to the mall with us for a while, and in the evening let’s invite some friends for dinner. Think of it as a welcome for my sister.”

Jiang Nie had no objections to Wen Hua’s arrangements and nodded in agreement.

The whole way, Wen Ning listened as Wen Hua and Jiang Nie chatted.

From Bernier to Florence, from private jewelry exhibitions to symphony halls.

She could see the confidence radiating from Wen Hua’s expression.

But if Wen Hua thought she could use this to make Wen Ning feel out of place and insecure, she was mistaken.

Wen Ning had always been clear-headed. What were these things, really?

Just masks built from gold and jade. If Wen Hua wanted to seek attention now, Wen Ning would indulge her.

She had endured for eleven years; she didn’t mind a few more days.

Wen Ning knew her past was a world apart from Wen Hua’s, and that changing herself would take time.

She was the most patient hunter.

*

The car stopped, and the three of them arrived at a famous mall in Jing City.

As soon as they reached the entrance, someone came forward to greet them, a fawning smile on his face.

“Young Master Jiang, Miss Wen!”

Jiang Nie said nothing-shopping for clothes was girls’ business. He found a sofa and sat down to play with his phone.

Wen Hua pulled the quiet Wen Ning forward and said to the sales assistant, “Pick out an outfit for my sister.”

In fact, as soon as Wen Ning entered the store, the assistant had noticed her, but ignored her because she looked so out of place.

Now, with Wen Hua’s introduction, the assistant instantly switched from ignoring to friendliness:

“So she’s Miss Wen’s sister! Please come with me.”

Wen Ning walked along, carefully observing the clothes in the shop. Though she had never worn them, she had seen them in all sorts of magazines.

The assistant picked out a haute couture dress from D’s spring-summer limited collection for Wen Ning.

Ivory silk base embroidered with golden Baroque vines, a neckline adorned with tiny diamonds, and a fishtail hem-it was an extremely figure-hugging dress.

Wearing it would outline a slender waist in perfect curves.

Wen Ning was about to accept it obediently, but was intercepted by the smiling Wen Hua.

“This dress doesn’t suit you.”

With that, Wen Hua took the haute couture dress and held it up in front of Wen Ning.

“I’ll be blunt-don’t overthink it.”

“This style is too flashy, it doesn’t match your demure look. You haven’t had contact with these big brands, you don’t understand-simple is best.”

Wen Ning nodded, her voice gentle and unreadable. “I’ll listen to you, sister.”