Jiang Nuan, with her eyes still half-closed, listened intently to the sound from her phone before finding it under her pillow.
Picking up her phone, she saw it was Rong Yin calling.
Jiang Nuan genuinely found Rong Yin a bit annoying, but thinking of him as her elder brother's brother, she endured it.
Speaking of which, she had long forgotten about the matter she had promised to consider last time.
His call this time was likely about that very issue.
She pressed the answer button, "Hello!"
"Nuan Nuan, why did you take so long to answer?" Rong Yin's voice came through, laced with a smile.
"No, judging by your voice, are you sleeping in during the day?"
Jiang Nuan's face flushed. She had gone upstairs to recover her emotions, never expecting to fall asleep.
"No, is there something you need?" Jiang Nuan would never admit to sleeping in.
Rong Yin chuckled, "Nuan Nuan, let's meet. I'll treat you to dinner."
Jiang Nuan glanced at the time. It was indeed time for dinner. It seemed she had slept quite a long time.
"But I don't want to go out!" Jiang Nuan lazily lay back on the bed, gazing at the ceiling. Sleeping felt so good, leaving her feeling refreshed.
"I'll come to your doorstep to pick you up. It's a traditional famous dish from Jinshi, and it's very delicious," Rong Yin coaxed Jiang Nuan with a smile.
Jiang Nuan could even imagine his slightly upturned, amorous eyes, filled with a mischievous smile.
Jiang Nuan was hungry and also craving good food.
Moreover, she wasn't in the best mood and wanted to go out for a stroll.
"Send me the address. You don't need to come pick me up; I'll go directly." Walking around, moving about, and seeing new sights might improve her mood.
Besides, the cooperation conditions Rong Yin proposed were also very appealing.
She hadn't wanted to cooperate with Rong Yin before, but now she had an extra grandfather. Her grandfather's projects could be linked with Rong Yin's. In the medical field, Rong Yin had always been outstanding.
Furthermore, the cooperation would be very beneficial for her grandfather's side.
Rong Yin smiled, "Alright! I'll send it to you as soon as we hang up."
After hanging up, Jiang Nuan quickly received the address from Rong Yin.
She took a look at the address, then went to shower and change. It took her half an hour. Looking at herself in the mirror, she wore a tea-colored shirt paired with a floral maxi dress. It was a simple, comfortable, and ethereal outfit. Her curves and fair skin complemented each other, creating a stunning and elegant look.
Jiang Nuan grabbed her bag and phone and went downstairs. She saw Meng Yuan sitting alone in the living room, lost in thought.
Meng Yuan didn't notice her until Jiang Nuan got downstairs.
Since receiving Mu Jiuchen's message, although she was looking at documents, she hadn't absorbed a single word.
Her mind was filled with the elegant and melancholic handsome face of He Mingrun.
"Yuan Yuan." Jiang Nuan poured a glass of water, took a few sips, and then called her.
Meng Yuan jolted back to attention, raised her eyes, and blurted out, "What is it?"
Jiang Nuan squinted, watching the distracted Meng Yuan. Was this little girl daydreaming about romance, so engrossed in her thoughts?
"I called you? What are you thinking about? You didn't even see me when I came down."
Meng Yuan shook her head slightly, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about old times. Are you cooking? I'm hungry." When Jiang Nuan was home, she usually waited to be fed.
Her cooking was very mediocre, and she had no affinity with the kitchen. If she entered the kitchen, Jiang Nuan would hate her for three days and nights.
Jiang Nuan pointed to the refrigerator, saying, "There are dumplings and beef in the fridge. You and Xia Xia can have dumplings. I'll pack some delicious food for you when I get back."
"Oh!" Meng Yuan wasn't picky about food; as long as she could eat her fill, it was fine.
"Where's Xia Xia?" Jiang Nuan felt a pang of guilt. She had fallen asleep and hadn't checked on Xia Xia.
Meng Yuan pointed to the backyard and said, "She's been in her room for several hours, and now she's gone to the backyard for a walk."
Jiang Nuan was relieved to hear this. If Xia Xia adjusted her mindset, she wouldn't regret her decision.
Jiang Nuan put down her cup and, seeing Meng Yuan's slightly off mood, sat next to her and asked, "Yuan Yuan, did something happen?" Meng Yuan had a straightforward personality; she wouldn't usually wear such an expression.
Meng Yuan shook her head slightly, not intending to tell Jiang Nuan about it. She already had a pile of her own problems to solve, and if Jiang Nuan were to worry about her, she would become even busier.
"It's nothing, Nuan Nuan, I'm really fine. You look very beautiful dressed like this; you're so womanly, truly gorgeous."
Jiang Nuan preferred dark clothing, especially during the years she was raising children; one rarely saw her in light colors.
Jiang Nuan smiled mysteriously and whispered, "I'm going to see a handsome guy tonight, so of course, I have to dress up nicely."
Meng Yuan's spirits lifted upon hearing this, "Is it Mu Jiuchen?"
Jiang Nuan shook her head slightly. Just hearing that name gave her a headache now.
"No, it's Rong Yin."
"Ah! You're betraying Mu Jiuchen?" Meng Yuan was stunned.
Jiang Nuan: "..." What kind of overthinking plot was this?
Her betraying Mu Jiuchen?!
They hadn't even dated, so how could it be a betrayal?!
"Nuan Nuan, I'm telling you, Mu Jiuchen is a good man. Don't have a discerning eye and be blind; you'll regret it if you misjudge him." Seeing Jiang Nuan remain silent, Meng Yuan took it as an admission.
Jiang Nuan asked in surprise, "How much did Mu Jiuchen pay you to come here and endorse him for me?"
Meng Yuan felt that Jiang Nuan was sometimes really foolish, not sensing the attraction of money but feeling its presence everywhere.
"Jiang Nuan, if Mu Jiuchen gave me money, would I be able to keep it all to myself without saying a word? Stop overthinking. Try to get along with Mu Jiuchen properly?"
Jiang Nuan: "..."
She wasn't overthinking; she just felt that Meng Yuan had been speaking up for Mu Jiuchen these past few days, and she wasn't happy about it.
"I'm leaving." If they continued chatting, they would soon be having their second child.
Meng Yuan: "..." If avoidance could solve problems, why would there be a need for face-to-face discussions?
By running away like this, did she think the problem was solved?
Meng Yuan didn't say anything more, but instead, with a heavy heart, went to the kitchen to eat dumplings.
Forget it, she'd solve her own problems first before worrying about others.
Just as Jiang Nuan drove away, Mu Jiuchen had also just come looking for her.
Seeing Jiang Nuan about to leave, and from a distance, he drove his car to follow her.
It was a good opportunity to talk outside, as she really didn't want to see Miss Yun Xia.
As he followed her out, Mu Jiuchen began to regret it.
Jiang Nuan stopped at the entrance of the Jinshi Hotel, and the person waiting at the entrance was Rong Yin.
Mu Jiuchen watched Jiang Nuan walk towards Rong Yin with a smiling face, and he felt that he shouldn't be sitting in his car at this moment; he should be underneath it.
Seeing the two of them entering the hotel, chatting and laughing, he felt his heart was wounded.
He couldn't stand seeing her smile so uninhibitedly with another man.
Mu Jiuchen sat in his car, staring blankly at the entrance for a long time. The reflected light from the oncoming traffic brought him back to his senses, and he drove away with a stern expression.
Inside a private room at the hotel, Rong Yin had reserved the room in advance, and as soon as they arrived, the dishes began to be served.
Rong Yin was uncharacteristically not wearing red. Today, he was dressed in black and white – a white shirt and black pants, looking much more composed than usual.
He looked at Jiang Nuan with a smile, "Nuan Nuan, what have you considered about what we discussed last time?"