My online dating circle has millions of followers, why would she put a collar on me?

the next day.

It was almost eleven o'clock when we left the Gu family villa.

The March sunshine in Kyoto was just right, warming the skin, but Jiang Yi's mood was completely opposite to the weather.

He only tutored Gu Qingying for less than an hour today, going over the questions he had covered last time. He didn't teach any new lessons or play games with her.

The girl was clearly not happy, muttering, "When are you going to pay me back for the ranked games you owe me?", but Jiang Yi really wasn't in the mood to play with her today.

He made up an excuse about "something happening at school" and quickly ended the conversation.

Stepping out of the gates of Lanyue Mansion, Jiang Yi stood by the roadside, took out his phone, and dialed Jiang Miaomiao's number.

It rang several times before being answered, and Jiang Miaomiao's weak voice came from the other end: "Brother..."

"Where?"

"The dormitory? Where else could it be?"

Jiang Yi glanced at the time: 11:03.

"Come out, I'll treat you to dinner."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, then Jiang Miaomiao's voice suddenly rose eight octaves:

"Really? You're treating me to dinner? Bro, are you running a fever?"

"You're the one with a fever. Stop talking nonsense, what do you want to eat?"

"Hot pot! I want hot pot! I know a new one just opened near the school!"

"Okay," Jiang Yi interrupted her, "Okay, you pay."

"...Brother, you're treating me to dinner and I still have to pay for it myself?"

"Yes.."

"So you said 'I'll treat you to dinner'?!"

"I'll treat, you pay. Is there a difference?"

Jiang Miaomiao's voice, filled with gritted teeth, came from the other end of the phone: "Jiang Yi, you're not human."

"When you used my photos to scam money, did you ever think about whether I was even human? Stop talking nonsense. If you dare not come, I'll tell my parents about you."

After saying that, he hung up the phone, scanned a shared bicycle, and rode towards Jiang Miaomiao's school.

I hadn't ridden far when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

I know who it is without even looking.

He parked his bicycle on the side of the road, took out his phone, and sure enough—there was another barrage of messages from Su Xiaoyue, starting at seven in the morning.

Little Moon: Good morning, honey~ Today is another day I've been thinking of you (✪ω✪)

Little Moon: Honey, are you going to work today? Remember to eat breakfast, and no more instant noodles!

Little Moon: I weighed myself today and I've lost three pounds since before the surgery. I'm so happy!

Little Moon: Honey, why are you ignoring me again? (╥﹏╥)

Little Moon: Are you busy? Then I'll wait for you patiently.

The last message was posted twenty minutes ago.

Jiang Yi took a deep breath and typed a reply: "I was busy just now and only just saw the message. You got up early today, that's good."

He replied almost instantly.

Little Moon: Honey!!! You finally answered me!

Little Moon: I woke up at six o'clock this morning and couldn't fall back asleep.

Jiang Yi: "Why can't you sleep?"

Little Moon: Because I'll be able to see my husband in just two days! I'm so excited I can't sleep!

Jiang Yi stared at the words "two days" on the screen, his fingers unconsciously tightening.

There are indeed only two days left until next Wednesday.

Two days later, Su Xiaoyue will fly to Kyoto to see him.

He still hasn't figured out what to do.

Little Moon: Honey, why aren't you saying anything again?

Jiang Yi snapped out of his reverie and quickly typed: "No, I was just wondering if you ate properly today."

Little Moon: I ate! This morning I had a bowl of porridge, an egg, and a glass of milk.

Little Moon: I took pictures! Honey, look!

[picture]

Jiang Yi clicked on the picture, which was a photo taken of the dining table.

A bowl of plain congee, a boiled egg, a glass of milk, and a small dish of pickled vegetables on the side.

The plating was exquisite, and the tableware looked expensive, but the food was so simple that it didn't seem like something a rich heiress from a multi-billion dollar family would eat.

Little Moon: I used to dislike eating breakfast, but since you told me to eat properly, I started eating now.

Little Moon: I've been eating for three days! Aren't I being a good girl? (✪ω✪)

Jiang Yi looked at the message and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved into a smile.

But then, that familiar feeling of guilt surged up again.

He took a deep breath and typed, "Good job, keep it up."

Little Moon: Yes, yes! I will!

Little Moon: Honey, you're busy, I won't bother you anymore. Remember to call me tonight, okay? I want to video chat with you, I miss you!

Little Moon: Mua! (*╯3╰)

Jiang Yi replied with an "okay," put his phone back in his pocket, and got back on his bicycle.

The wind brushed past his ears, making the hem of his clothes flutter.

He's much clearer-headed now and knows he needs to keep it from Su Xiaoyue; at least for now, he has a goal.

When I arrived at the hot pot restaurant, Jiang Miaomiao was already there.

She chose a seat by the window, where the table was already laden with dishes.

Tripe, duck intestines, shrimp paste, fatty beef, wide rice noodles... a table was piled high with food, and the red oil in the pot was bubbling and steaming.

"Brother! Over here!"

Jiang Miaomiao waved to him, smiling broadly, and seemed to be in a good mood.

Jiang Yi walked over and sat down opposite her. He glanced at the table full of dishes and his lips twitched.

"You ordered so much, are you sure you can finish it all?"

"We can just pack up the leftovers," Jiang Miaomiao said matter-of-factly. "Anyway, you said you were treating."

"I said you'd pay."

"We're practically family, your money is my money, isn't it?"

"Of the 1.3 million you swindled, did I get a single penny?"

Jiang Miaomiao's expression froze for a moment, then she lowered her head sheepishly and dipped a piece of tripe into the pot: "Brother, can you please not mention that matter anymore..."

"No." Jiang Yi picked up his chopsticks, took a slice of fatty beef, and threw it into the pot.

"I have 110 million left after selling the account. What should I do with the rest of the money?"

Jiang Yi asked in a deep voice.

"One million one hundred thousand." Jiang Miaomiao repeated the number, her voice trembling. "Brother, we really can't pay it back. Should we run away?"

"Run away?" Jiang Yi looked up at her. "Run away to where? Abroad? Do you have a passport? Do you have a visa? Do you have money?"

Jiang Miaomiao was speechless when asked the question and could only lower her head and eat voraciously.

Jiang Yi felt both angry and heartbroken looking at her like that.

He put down his chopsticks, remained silent for a while, and then said, "Miaomiao, I have something to tell you."

Jiang Miaomiao looked up, a piece of tripe still dangling from her mouth: "Hmm?"

"Su Xiaoyue is coming to Kyoto next Wednesday."

Jiang Miaomiao froze instantly.

The tripe slipped from her mouth, fell back into the bowl, and splashed a small amount of oil.

"...What?" Her voice trembled. "She's coming? To Kyoto? To see you?!"

"Come see 'me'," Jiang Yi corrected. "Come see her 'husband' whom she's been dating online for a year."

"Brother, you said yes?!"

"I didn't agree, but she's already booked her ticket for next Wednesday morning's flight."

Jiang Miaomiao leaned back in her chair, her face deathly pale.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no... Bro, what do we do when she comes? Will you go see her for me? I'm telling you, she's a really nice person. When you see her, just explain that the photos are yours and that the person you're chatting with is actually your sister. She'll definitely understand—"

"Understand what?" Jiang Yi looked at her coldly, "Understand that you cheated her out of 1.3 million?"

"Then...then I can just pay her back..."

"How are you going to pay it back? Your 230,000? How do you plan to pay back the rest? Sell a kidney?"

Jiang Miaomiao opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end she couldn't utter a word.

The hot pot was bubbling and steaming, with red oil churning and steam rising from it.

But neither of the two people at the table touched their chopsticks again.

After a long silence, Jiang Miaomiao finally spoke softly:

"Brother, don't you have a girlfriend? Xia Anmian... does she know about this?"

Jiang Yi's fingers tightened slightly: "I don't know."

"You're not going to tell her?"

"Why tell her?" Jiang Yi's voice was somewhat irritated. "To make her live in fear along with me?"

"But...she's your girlfriend, you shouldn't be hiding this from her, right?"

"Jiang Miaomiao." Jiang Yi raised his head and stared intently into her eyes.

Jiang Miaomiao shrank back under his gaze and dared not speak again.

Jiang Yi lowered his head, ate a few bites of food, finished what was in his bowl, and put down his chopsticks.

"Miaomiao, I'm serious."

Jiang Miaomiao looked up and saw Jiang Yi's expression, her heart skipped a beat.

She rarely saw her brother like this.

His brows were furrowed, his lips were pressed into a thin line, and there was something indescribable in his eyes.

It was exhaustion, helplessness, and a resolute sense of "I have no way out."

"elder brother……"

"I will go see Su Xiaoyue."