Jiang Mian returned home. Hearing the movement, Xiao Yu Gan lightly jumped down from the sofa and ran to the entrance, rubbing against Jiang Mian's pant leg.
Jiang Mian changed her shoes, picked up Xiao Yu Gan, and stroked its head.
Xiao Yu Gan purred contentedly, "Meow."
This was a birthday gift from Ji Zhixiu to Jiang Mian on her birthday last year.
It was a very cute Ragdoll cat, so adorable it melted one's heart.
Jiang Mian liked it very much.
The person and the cat sat on the sofa. The phone in her bag rang.
Jiang Mian looked down, fumbled for her phone, and answered.
"Mianmian, have you brought it up with your man? Did he agree?" Sister Ning's anxious voice rang out.
Three years ago, Jiang Mian had latched onto Ji Zhixiu.
Sister Ning had thought this promising prospect could have a brilliant career and lasting glory, but unexpectedly, she had gone silent ever since!
Mr. Ji! That was Mr. Ji! Even a little bit of his resources would be better than her own years of struggle!
Why did this little girl decide to stay at home and be a housewife!
Jiang Mian was idly grooming Xiao Yu Gan, saying softly, "Haven't said it yet."
She had originally intended to, but then she felt that the man wouldn't agree, so she gave up.
Sister Ning felt like spitting blood. She hated Jiang Mian's unhurried demeanor the most.
But strangely, being anxious was useless.
She was so anxious her hair was about to fall out, "Jiang Mian, can you please pay some attention to yourself! This is your own career!"
Acting was just a hobby for Jiang Mian; she didn't lack money.
When her grandmother was sick back then, she had earned a lot of money but couldn't save her. The salary she had previously handed over to her grandmother had all been saved by the old lady. Now, it was all in her hands.
Moreover, she knew that man had an unusually strong possessiveness towards her, and he would never want to see her act in kissing scenes.
Jiang Mian smiled, "Sister Ning, I've read the script. It has kissing scenes. He won't like it."
"What's so difficult about that? Find a body double for the kissing scene!"
"Then, why don't you talk to him about it?"
Sister Ning shivered. Talk to Mr. Ji about conditions? Forget it, she didn't dare.
"Whatever you want, forget it, I won't say anything more!"
After hanging up the phone, Sister Ning thought resentfully, if only one of the artists under her was more promising, she wouldn't have to pester Jiang Mian from time to time.
The little assistant came over with the schedule, timidly saying, "Sister Ning, this is your schedule for this afternoon."
"Put it here," she said irritably.
...
Xiao Yu Gan meowed a few times. Jiang Mian remembered she hadn't fed it before leaving home this morning.
She got up and found the cat food on the cabinet, only to discover it was almost empty.
Since she had nothing to do anyway, Jiang Mian picked up Xiao Yu Gan and kissed it twice. "Sweetie, wait patiently at home. Mommy is going out to buy you food."
"Meow~"
Jiang Mian went to her usual pet store to buy cat food, then picked out a few nice outfits for Xiao Yu Gan, and also selected some probiotics and other small items.
She bought quite a lot in total. After paying, she left her address and asked for it to be delivered.
Across the street was the city hospital.
Jiang Mian hesitated for a moment and then walked in.
She might as well see how his sister was doing. As a sister-in-law, it was only right to show some concern.
...
Ji Zhixiu heard someone call him, but he didn't turn around.
Seeing the person walking further and further away, Shen Tingyu ran up and stopped him.
"Zhixiu, do you have to walk away every time you see me?" she said, sounding wronged.
Ji Zhixiu stopped. His face was expressionless, and his eyes showed no emotion. "Do you need something?"
His attitude was cold, and Shen Tingyu couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
"If I don't need anything, can't I look for you?"
"Of course not."
Besides being his ex-girlfriend, Shen Tingyu was also his friend's sister. They used to spend a lot of time together. Ji Zhixiu naturally wouldn't refuse her.
"Okay, I do have something I want to tell you."
People occasionally walked by, looking at Shen Tingyu with curious gazes.
Shen Tingyu bit her lip. "Can we talk somewhere else?"
They stood at the stairwell, where there was no one.
"Speak, what is it?"
"Zhixiu, I know I was wrong. I know you're angry with me for leaving without saying goodbye back then. Can you give me another chance? I promise, I'll never do it again!" Shen Tingyu couldn't help but shed tears. After leaving Ji Zhixiu, she realized how good it was to have someone backing her up.
She didn't expect that the "something" she had to say was this. Ji Zhixiu frowned and said faintly, "That all passed."
"No! It hasn't passed!" She didn't expect him to dismiss their past so casually. Shen Tingyu's expression became agitated, and she shouted, "For so many years! I've never forgotten you! Zhixiu, I regret it, I really regret it!"
"Did I make one mistake and never get a chance for your forgiveness?"
"Was all the affection we shared fake?" she asked unwillingly.
Ji Zhixiu paused for a moment. "We were only together for a month."
...
Jiang Mian didn't know which floor Ji Zhilan was on in the inpatient department.
She realized as she got on the elevator that she didn't want to call the man.
She got out of the crowded elevator and decided to take the stairs.
She walked down slowly. She had come on a whim, just to try her luck, and didn't really expect to run into Ji Zhilan.
If she didn't see him, maybe the man had already gone home. She thought.
Thinking of this possibility, Jiang Mian quickened her pace.
When she reached the first floor, she heard a woman's agitated voice from below.
Jiang Mian might not be familiar with the voice, but the male voice that followed would be unforgettable for the rest of her life. That voice had been etched into her bones.
"Stop making a scene." Ji Zhixiu's voice was calm, his handsome face as if covered with a thin layer of ice.
He didn't want things to become awkward. They had parted amicably back then.
These few words shattered Shen Tingyu.
Unwillingly, she embraced the man with all her might.
Jiang Mian was hesitating. After a few seconds of indecision, she summoned her courage, poked her head out, and looked down.
With just one glance, her guess was confirmed. Jiang Mian quickly withdrew, not daring to make a sound. She slowly walked back upstairs.
A chill began to spread through her heart.
Didn't he say he was here to see his sister? Why was he entangled with Shen Tingyu?
She should have rushed out and questioned him.
Jiang Mian was lost. She didn't dare to break this calm.
What if, what if... Ji Zhixiu wanted to end it with her? Jiang Mian couldn't bear to imagine.
From the very beginning, Jiang Mian knew she was determined to have this man.
But after three years, it was still no use...
Almost the second she left, Ji Zhixiu pushed Shen Tingyu away. His voice was still as cold, "Tingyu, I'm very sorry, but we broke up long ago. What's past is past, and saying these things now is meaningless."
He paused. "You used to be very sensible. Clinging on like this isn't your style."
Shen Tingyu leaned against the wall. The pain in her body was less than a tenth of the pain in her heart.
For a moment, she didn't know whether to be happy or not. He had actually noticed her sensible and well-behaved nature?
A family member pushed open the stairwell door and saw this scene. Their gaze flickered between the two of them, imagining a dramatic story.
When they met the man's cold eyes, they flinched and didn't dare to look further, walking upstairs.
Shen Tingyu straightened up, her tearful expression disappearing, and she returned to her usual demeanor.
Ji Zhixiu frowned imperceptibly. He didn't look at her again and strode out.
When Ji Zhixiu arrived home, Jiang Mian had already fed Xiao Yu Gan.
The TV in the living room was on, showing a popular drama.
The person and the cat were sitting on the sofa. Jiang Mian was lounging lazily, her eyes glued to the plot. Hearing the movement, she didn't even lift her eyelids.
Only Xiao Yu Gan jumped off the sofa and went to Ji Zhixiu's leg, "Meow, meow~"
Ji Zhixiu looked down. He didn't react.
Not receiving affection from the master of the house, Xiao Yu Gan kept meowing, persistently blocking his path.
Ji Zhixiu walked, and was blocked; he tried to move, and was blocked again. He bent down, scooped up Xiao Yu Gan, and said as he walked, "I'm back."
Jiang Mian's gaze was fixed on the screen where the male and female leads were passionately kissing after resolving their misunderstanding.
She hugged a soft pillow and said in a soft voice, "I went to the pet store on Jinye Road to buy cat food and just got back. Why are you only getting back now?"
She didn't even glance at the man.
Her heart, however, was pounding.
There was not only a pet store on Jinye Road, but also the city hospital.
Ji Zhixiu didn't think Jiang Mian had encountered him and Shen Tingyu, but he didn't intend to hide it from her.
"Why didn't you call me to come back together when you went out to buy things?"
He took off his coat and sank into the sofa. Xiao Yu Gan obediently jumped off the sofa and returned to its cat tree.
From the moment he entered, the woman hadn't given him a single glance. Ji Zhixiu cupped Jiang Mian's face, forcing her to look at him.
Jiang Mian pursed her lips. Her large, clear black and white eyes held a hint of annoyance. "What are you doing? I'm still watching TV."
Ji Zhixiu looked at her lively eyes and smiled, his stern face softening by a few degrees. "Am I not as good-looking as this?"
A romantic drama like this, of course not.
The protagonists didn't even compare to half of his handsomeness, but Jiang Mian wouldn't say it. A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes. "Indeed, better-looking than you."
She knew he wouldn't like to hear it, but she deliberately said it to provoke him.
Ji Zhixiu's thumb rubbed her red lips. His eyes narrowed dangerously, and then he kissed her with a hint of punishment.
"Mmm... Ji Zhixiu..."
After the kiss, he let go of Jiang Mian and instead wrapped his long arm around her.
With a satisfied and nonchalant tone, he explained, "Zhilan was domestically abused by her ex-boyfriend. I ran into Shen Tingyu while visiting her, and we talked for a few words. There's nothing between us. Believe me, okay?"
His voice was deep and magnetic. With a few words, he clarified the matter.
Jiang Mian's heart felt as if it had been filled with sugar water.
She widened her charming peach blossom eyes, her face flushed red. All her annoyance had disappeared.
Compared to the latter half of his explanation, she was more concerned about the first part. "Zhilan was domestically abused? What kind of man is that? He even lays hands on women!"
She said indignantly. Ji Zhixiu chuckled. "I'm explaining to you, and you're concerned about this?"
Jiang Mian snuggled into his embrace. "Isn't it normal for a sister-in-law to care about her sister-in-law?"
"How could I not believe you?" The corners of her lips curved up unconsciously.
Ji Zhixiu pinched her soft cheek. "You say one thing, but mean another."
"Does Zhilan have someone to look after her? Should I go and see?" Jiang Mian asked tentatively in a low voice.
They had been secretly married for three years, and she had never met Ji Zhixiu's family.