The Black Swan Trap - chapter 3

Wen Hua’s fingertips brushed over a basic dress.

The beige cashmere carried a hint of pink, with a straight silhouette. Its only decoration was six pearl buttons at the collar.

“This one suits you better. Go try it on.”

Wen Ning nodded and took it.

After changing into the dress, Wen Ning saw a refreshed version of herself in the mirror.

A timid dimple appeared at the corner of her lips. “Thank you, Sister. I really like it!”

Each word was soft and sweet, as if coated in honey.

Jiang Nie, sitting on the sofa, paused when he heard the sound and looked up.

He saw a small, delicate figure wrapped in pale pink and white fabric, as pure as rice paper.

Her earlobe peeked out from her loose hair, a small red mole standing out against her fair skin, like a drop of blood on snow.

This time, Jiang Nie’s gaze lingered on Wen Ning for five seconds, only moving away when his phone chimed with the end of his game.

Wen Ning caught Jiang Nie’s subtle gaze in the mirror, and her lips curled ever so slightly, deepening her dimple.

Seeing how easily Wen Ning was pleased, Wen Hua took out a four-leaf clover necklace from her bag.

“Look at how bare your neck is. You need a necklace to go with the dress for it to truly shine.”

Saying this, she fastened the necklace around Wen Ning’s neck.

“Sister, you’re so good to me.” Wen Ning touched the necklace resting on her collarbone.

She could tell it had been worn many times, showing signs of wear.

Wen Hua paid with her card and, in passing, bought herself the haute couture dress from earlier that didn’t suit Wen Ning.

After the group left, another elegantly dressed woman came in to inquire.

“Which dress did the young lady who just left wear? It looked simple and elegant. I’d like to buy one for my daughter.”

Recognizing her as a regular, the sales assistant hesitated awkwardly. “Mrs. Chen, that was last year’s out-of-season style.”

“Out-of-season? I thought that girl looked quite nice in it. Bring me one.”

Mrs. Chen was much more influential than the Wen Family. Seeing that Mrs. Chen didn’t mind, the sales assistant quickly and cheerfully brought one out.

Jiang Nie had expected Wen Hua to shop for two or three hours-she usually left the mall laden with bags. It was rare for her to be done after just two purchases today.

He stood up and stretched his neck. “Dinner’s at the usual place. Who do you want to invite?”

Wen Hua waved her phone. “I’ve invited Xiao Min and Ah Hao to join us. With more people, my sister won’t feel out of place.”

Ah Hao?

Jiang Nie frowned slightly. Duan Wenhao was a playboy, flamboyant in his ways, often coaxing inexperienced girls into dating him.

With Wen Hua at today’s gathering, he probably wouldn’t do anything inappropriate.

The three of them arrived at the restaurant.

“Hua Hua!”

A brightly dressed girl greeted Wen Hua enthusiastically.

She immediately pulled Wen Hua into conversation, completely ignoring Wen Ning, who had come along.

Wen Hua sat next to the girl, and the seat on the other side was naturally taken by Jiang Nie.

Wen Ning hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Mr. Jiang…”

Jiang Nie turned and met Wen Ning’s almond-shaped eyes, sparkling with light that made his head spin.

Seeing that Jiang Nie didn’t respond, Wen Ning pressed her lips together, her gentle voice brushing past Jiang Nie’s ear. “May I sit here?”

Since both sides of Wen Hua were already taken, it made perfect sense for Wen Ning to sit next to Jiang Nie, who came with her.

Even so, Jiang Nie felt as if a feather had gently brushed his heart, leaving a faint, drifting itch.

Jiang Nie thought, Wen Ning’s voice was actually quite pleasant.

“Sit.”

This was the first thing Jiang Nie had said to Wen Ning that day.

It was obvious Jiang Nie was Wen Hua’s suitor. If she could win over her suitor, perhaps it would provoke Wen Hua a bit.

Besides, Jiang Nie seemed like a very useful tool.
Wen Ning sat down, nodding as she thought, and picked up the tea on the table, sipping it slowly.

“Xiao Min, Ah Hao, this is my younger sister Wen Ning. She grew up in Yunzhou and was only recently brought back.

I invited you out today so you could get to know her. If you run into my sister in Jing City in the future, please look after her.”

After the introduction, Wen Hua turned to Wen Ning and said, “Wen Ning, this is Song Min and Duan Wenhao. They’re both my friends.”

“Hello, I’m Wen Ning.”

Although Wen Ning always appeared quiet, she wasn’t shy at all. She greeted them with a gentle smile.

She observed the group. Judging from their interactions, Wen Hua was clearly the center, which meant the family backgrounds of these two weren’t as strong as the Wen Family.

Of course, if they were truly from elite families, Wen Hua probably wouldn’t have let her meet them so easily.

As for Jiang Nie, although he was hanging out with them, Wen Ning always felt he didn’t quite fit in, as if he was only there because of Wen Hua.

Once she settled back into the Wen Family, she’d have to sort out a lot of things.

Wen Ning was smart, but her past life could never compare to Wen Hua’s. There were many things she couldn’t judge with her current limited understanding.

“The Wen Family really does produce beauties. Wen Hua is already stunning, but I didn’t expect Wen Ning to be just as lovely-like a lotus emerging from water. You’re just a bit too thin. Here, eat more.”

Duan Wenhao spoke as he put a piece of meat into Wen Ning’s bowl, a little too attentive, radiating the goodwill of a rich second-generation.

Wen Ning had noticed it long ago. Since she entered, Jiang Nie and Song Min had been chatting and laughing with Wen Hua.

Only Duan Wenhao kept sizing her up with a look that wasn’t entirely friendly.

Wen Ning was all too familiar with that kind of gaze.

Back when she was working illegally at an internet café, there was a customer who looked at her the same way.

That night, after her shift, that customer cornered Wen Ning in a dark alley.

That alley was so dark that even the moonlight seemed unwilling to shine there.

Wen Ning pressed against the ground, feeling her clothes being torn.

She struggled with all her might, but the man gripped her throat tightly, making it impossible to breathe.

How desperate was Wen Ning at that moment?

She even thought about giving up and letting herself be strangled to death.

But the moment that foul-smelling man pressed down on her, Wen Ning was unwilling to accept her fate!

Finally, Wen Ning managed to grope for a stone on the ground. She picked it up and smashed it hard against the man’s head.

At fourteen, Wen Ning was weak, and the first blow didn’t knock the man out. Instead, he became enraged and tried to slam her head against the ground.

In a burst of strength she had never felt before, Wen Ning pushed the already injured man away with all her might.

She picked up the stone again and struck him over and over.

Red droplets of blood splattered onto Wen Ning’s pale cheeks, shocking her senses.

Just one more blow-just one more and it would all be over!

But Wen Ning stopped.

She knew-she should have known all along!

Her fate shouldn’t be tied to this disgusting man.

If she gave him the final blow, she would never be able to return to the Wen Family cleanly.

Only she could save herself. She should drag the Wen Family down to hell with her.

That night, Wen Ning limped out of the pitch-black alley.

Her face was streaked with tears and blood. She couldn’t remember how long she cried, until the moonlight finally shone down on her with a layer of light that was not quite warm, but at least merciful.

“Thank you, Brother Wenhao.”

Wen Ning smiled as she slowly chewed the piece of meat in her bowl, bite by bite.

Tsk, she called him Mr. Jiang, but called the other one Brother Wenhao, even though he was only three years older than Wen Ning, just like Duan Wenhao.

Jiang Nie seemed to have eaten something he didn’t like and impatiently tossed down his chopsticks.