Chapter 274: He’s the Boy Who Danced as a Child

What those so-called readers said about her wasn’t wrong. She really was hypocritical, cunning, and a master of disguise—always scheming and dark-hearted, incapable of being sunny and kind.

From the moment she learned she was bound to a system, all she could think about was how to get rid of the damn thing.

She would never leave her fate in the hands of others, much less place her hope in their kindness, sincerity, or promises.

Even a contract written in black and white could be unilaterally torn up, let alone a mere verbal promise.

Mutual interest was the only foundation for cooperation.

That was why, at the very beginning, she’d demanded a transfer of half a million just to test their limits.

There was no such thing as a free lunch; huge gifts didn’t just appear out of thin air. If one did, it must have been because she possessed something the other party coveted—something they were willing to dangle a thirty-billion-dollar prize for.

A smile pulled at the corner of her mouth. She feigned a casual tone and said, "You see, this is the kind of person I am..."

’Dark, cunning, hypocritical, and shameless.’

"So intelligent, perceptive, and resilient," Jasper Sterling finished for her.

’Maneuvering under such a terrifying, powerful, and bizarre force... without enough intelligence, cunning, and mental fortitude, she never would have made it this far.’

"I am so incredibly thankful that you’re this intelligent and resourceful, that you always have the ability to save yourself."

Jasper Sterling lifted her hand, pressing it to his lips for a kiss as a tear fell from his eye.

’What could he do to stop his heart from aching so unbearably, from burning with anger, yet swelling with joy and pride?’

’Pained by what she’d been through, furious that she’d been treated this way, and proud of her intelligence and wit.’

’And joyful that she was willing to trust him completely.’

The tear landed on the back of Jane Lancaster’s hand. The touch was warm, yet it felt as if it had seared a mark upon her heart.

Even when this man cried, it was like watching a god shed tears—a deeply moving sight.

’I must have been bewitched by some enchanting creature,’ Jane Lancaster thought. Unconsciously, she tilted her head up and gently brushed his cheek.

Like a feather brushing past, a warm touch that was gone in an instant.

Just as Jane Lancaster was about to pull away, she met those ink-black eyes.

Her breath hitched, and she subconsciously shrank back.

"Careful!" Jasper Sterling reached out, placing his hand between the car window and the back of her head, acting as a human cushion.

He smiled down at her, teasing, "What did you think I was going to do, Senior?"

Jane Lancaster was left speechless.

She couldn’t help but blush, a little annoyed. "Jasper Sterling, don’t call me Senior!"

"As you command." Jasper Sterling lowered his gaze with a light chuckle.

’Of course he wanted to hold her, to kiss her; he longed for more.’

’But now wasn’t the time. He was too greedy; he wanted this lifetime and all the lifetimes to come.’

’As long as the thing hanging over their heads, controlling their destinies, wasn’t eliminated, his heart would remain in suspense. He lived in constant fear of losing her.’

"By the way, this photo has been circulating privately." Jasper Sterling took out the picture of Jane Lancaster playing the erhu as a child.

Jane Lancaster understood the moment she saw it. "This photo... I saw it a few months ago, in Vincent Holt’s possession. But he’s definitely not the source."

’As for him "accidentally seeing it," she didn’t believe a word of it.’

’From the very beginning, some faction had been trying to trap her, time and time again.’

’But this faction was definitely not aligned with the ’System.’’

Jasper Sterling said, "I’ve investigated Vincent Holt. He secretly joined a group chat dedicated to smearing you, and he’s been collecting information on your enemies and any dirt he can find."

He paused, then added, "Also, Chloe Dave has been investigating the mastermind behind Luna Morgan’s botched kidnapping. She thinks it was you, but it was actually me."

Jane Lancaster wasn’t surprised at all. She had guessed as much long ago.

"You don’t blame me?" Jasper Sterling asked.

Jane Lancaster’s expression was calm. "Why would I blame you? Didn’t you know I wanted to break off the engagement? Besides, I was a beneficiary of that incident."

’Since she had benefited, she couldn’t very well complain about it now.’

Jasper Sterling said, "You know that’s not what I’m asking about."

Of course he knew Jane Lancaster wanted to break the engagement, but at the same time, he was petty and jealous, always subconsciously wondering about Caleb Lowell’s place in her heart.

’If fate hadn’t intervened, would she and Caleb Lowell have gotten together, fallen in love, gotten engaged, and then married...?’

’Just the thought of that possibility twisted his heart with jealousy, breeding malicious thoughts.’

On the surface, Jasper Sterling’s smile was warm and gentle, but inside, he was thinking that if such a thing were to really happen, he wouldn’t mind secretly disposing of Caleb Lowell.

’It would be a pity for her to become a widow, but that was fine. He could be her secret lover.’

’But there was no need to let her know about these dark, morbid thoughts.’

"Caleb Lowell brought that upon himself," Jane Lancaster said, frowning. ’Strange, why do I feel a flash of killing intent?’

She glanced suspiciously at the young man, whose smile was exceptionally beautiful, feeling that he was cooking up some nasty plan.

Jasper Sterling blinked his clear, flawless peach-blossom eyes. "I think so, too."

Jane Lancaster dismissed her suspicions and returned to the topic at hand. "Vincent Holt and the others are probably planning to put me on trial, right? Let them. Don’t interfere."

’After all, this was a chance to zero out Caleb Lowell’s favorability rating.’

Jasper Sterling hummed softly in agreement.

’Of course he’d guessed her intentions. That’s why he was going along with it and guiding the situation.’

’But whether it was Vincent Holt or Chloe Dave, they were destined for disappointment.’

’Because none of that ’dirt’ was the final truth. He would take the evidence he had collected and slap them in the face with it, one piece at a time.’

"The person who’s been trying to corner you... do you know who it is?" As soon as Jasper Sterling asked the question, the answer quickly formed in his own mind.

—Sean Grant.

’The true mastermind who secretly admired Luna Morgan and was always working against Caleb Lowell.’

Jane Lancaster sighed. Before, she had thought he was targeting her to get justice for Luna Morgan.

But tonight’s dream had given her the answer.

She said softly, "He’s the boy who danced when we were kids."

Jasper Sterling was a bit surprised. "It’s him?"

’But that little boy was tall and skinny, like a beanpole. Only because of that did it not look so out of place for him to play a girl, wearing a dress and dancing.’

’But the Sean Grant of today was burly and coarse; no one would ever make that connection.’

But his surprise only lasted for three seconds before he understood.

No matter how much one’s body and appearance change, their eyes don’t change much.

Even though Sean Grant was tall and brawny, his eyes always gave off a refined feeling. Thinking back, he probably had rather feminine features, much like when he was a child.

"Why is he targeting you?" Jasper Sterling frowned.

Jane Lancaster said, "I beat him up when we were kids. I don’t remember why, only that I absolutely couldn’t let him get away with it."

She tapped her head. Her memory was just a chaotic, blurry image of her kicking someone away, but the feeling of rage was crystal clear.

—The next time I see you... I’ll beat you up again!

"Alright, don’t think about it anymore." Jasper Sterling grabbed her hand, his heart aching for her.

"He must have done something unforgivable to make you so angry," Jasper Sterling said softly. "Don’t worry. Leave it to me. I’ll investigate."