The itinerary for Ireland was set for a week.
The intention was to let the guests enjoy themselves to the fullest.
However, on the third day, due to an urgent company matter, Ji Zhixiu had to return to the country.
Jiang Mian thought for a moment and decided to go back with him, leaving the remaining guests to Ye Yi.
Ye Yi chuckled twice, feeling that his headache from drinking too much with Lu Cong last night was even worse now, "You two are something else."
Ji Zhixiu, rarely embarrassed, looked at Ye Yi, raised his hand to pat his shoulder, and said earnestly, "Thank you for your hard work."
Ye Yi stiffened, stuffed his hands into his pockets uncomfortably, and urged them away, "Alright, you two should leave quickly."
On the way back.
Jiang Mian leaned on Ji Zhixiu's shoulder, "Have you noticed that you're treating Ye Yi differently?"
"How so?"
"Your attitude towards him," Jiang Mian smiled, "Before, you treated him like a stranger, ignoring him. But that's changed."
Ji Zhixiu tapped on his document with one hand, his expression unchanged, "Really?"
Jiang Mian pouted, "You brothers are the same, both stubborn."
She pulled down her cap to block the sunlight from the window, "I'm going to sleep, don't disturb me!"
...
After the wedding, the year-end approached.
For Ji Zhixiu, he was still busy.
For Jiang Mian, there was no difference.
Most of her days were spent leisurely, aside from looking at scripts sent by Sister Ning, she ate and drank.
Until that night, Ji Zhixiu returned with a hint of drunkenness on his face.
Jiang Mian knew it was their company's annual party that day.
Being pregnant, she was sensitive to such smells. Ji Zhixiu had showered downstairs before coming up, but Jiang Mian still detected it.
Ji Zhixiu stood by the bed, frowning, "Perhaps I should sleep in the guest room tonight."
Jiang Mian didn't reply. She took out perfume from the drawer and sprayed it on him, "There, all better."
Ji Zhixiu breathed a sigh of relief; he certainly didn't want to be separated from Jiang Mian.
But as they held each other, she still caught a faint scent on Ji Zhixiu that didn't belong to her.
It was a fresh citrus note, very subtle.
Jiang Mian buried her face in his chest, her voice calm but with a hint of concern, "Who did you drink so much with tonight?"
"President Cheng and a few others, along with the company department managers," Ji Zhixiu kissed her forehead, "What's wrong?"
"Were there any women?" she asked.
"Yes," Ji Zhixiu paused, "Fang Ying."
As soon as he mentioned her, Jiang Mian remembered; this was the substitute he had found for her.
Due to various reasons later on, they didn't have much contact.
"I gave her a sum of money to terminate the contract, and I've asked Fan Cheng to continue looking for a new substitute."
Ji Zhixiu hadn't intended to say anything, but since she asked, he explained.
Jiang Mian said with a tired voice, "Why?"
"She was unhappy that you were resting for too long, which affected her work."
Jiang Mian blinked, a little slow to process, "Affected her work? Isn't her job to be my substitute? Even if I rested, you still paid her, didn't you?"
"Greed knows no bounds. Let's not talk about her," Ji Zhixiu reached out to turn off the light.
The room plunged into darkness, causing Jiang Mian to miss the fleeting disgust in his eyes when he mentioned Fang Ying.
The next morning, they went to the hospital for a prenatal check-up.
The examination was normal. Jiang Mian, bundled up warmly, waited for Ji Zhixiu to drive over.
She looked up and saw Fang Ying standing in front of her.
Her face, similar to Jiang Mian's, held a touch of anxiety and lacked Jiang Mian's usual demeanor.
Fang Ying grabbed Jiang Mian's arm and said urgently, "Jiang Mian! I want to talk to you!"
Jiang Mian, visibly pregnant, frowned slightly and said softly, "Let go of me, we can talk slowly."
Fang Ying glanced around, "Then come with me!"
Jiang Mian nodded, "Okay."
The two sat down in a cafe next to the hospital.
Ji Zhixiu called several times, and Jiang Mian sent a message to let him know she was safe.
Then she looked up and happened to be asked by a waitress what she wanted.
"Hot orange juice," she said calmly, then looked at Fang Ying, "Now you can say what you want to say."
Fang Ying's expression was conflicted, her demeanor serious. She took a deep breath and said solemnly, "I'm sorry, Jiang Mian, but I have to say, what was supposed to happen between me and President Ji, happened, and what wasn't supposed to happen, also happened."
Jiang Mian almost spat out the orange juice in her mouth. She concealed her shock, "What do you mean, what wasn't supposed to happen also happened?"
Fang Ying silently apologized in her heart, then closed her eyes and hardened her resolve, "It means... it means that night at the annual party, when he was drunk, President Ji slept with me!"
Jiang Mian nodded, her expression unreadable, "So?"
Fang Ying, relieved that she wasn't furious, then pleaded, "Jiang Mian, Sister Mian, I hope you can let me stay by President Ji's side. Please! You're pregnant during this time anyway, you can't help President Ji. We look so much alike. I don't mind if President Ji uses me as a substitute... I'll leave him on my own when the time is right, okay?"
Jiang Mian propped her chin with one hand, wanting to laugh but unable to, "Why did you come to me? Didn't you go to President Ji?"
Fang Ying's face flushed, "President Ji told me to leave. But I know, he's doing this because he's afraid you'll find out, and it's also to protect me."
Jiang Mian nodded again, then said, "So you think if I agree, you can stay by his side?"
"Yes! Don't worry, I definitely won't compete with you for President Ji! Please... just let me stay!" she pleaded desperately, as if Jiang Mian were a terrible sinner.
Jiang Mian chuckled lightly, "I'm afraid I cannot agree."
Fang Ying's face changed, "Why? Why are you so selfish? Someone of President Ji's status and position has many women outside, yet he considers your feelings. Why can't you think for him? You're pregnant! Are you still going to cling to him?"
Jiang Mian was not angry. Instead, she looked at her, her tone rising with a hint of sharpness, "Did you really have a relationship?"
Fang Ying's body stiffened imperceptibly.
Before she could answer, Jiang Mian continued, "You know better than I do what really happened. I just want to say that even if I let you stay, he won't agree. Don't harbor vain hopes."
With that, Jiang Mian threw down two hundred yuan for the bill and walked towards the door.
"Why?!" Fang Ying stood up abruptly, looking at her retreating back, and asked her inner unwillingness.
"Because..." Jiang Mian turned back and smiled sweetly, the warm sunlight outside highlighting her pure and flawless face, "He loves me."
On the way back.
The atmosphere in the car was heavy.
Jiang Mian popped a preserved plum into her mouth, coughed, and then said sweetly, "Husband, do you want some?"
"No," the man's jawline was taut, and he refused outright.
"Husband, are you thirsty?"
"No."
Jiang Mian was annoyed, "Ji Zhixiu, I'm not even angry yet, and you're sulking without telling me the truth. What are you doing with that face?"
Ji Zhixiu pinched his temples and explained helplessly, "That's a separate matter. What if she did something to you when you went out with her? I would worry if I wasn't by your side."
Jiang Mian's eyes reddened, and she turned her head away, clearly not wanting to listen.
She knew she was being a little emotional, but she clearly couldn't help it.
Ji Zhixiu sighed softly, put an arm around her shoulder, "Wife."
Jiang Mian ignored him.
Ji Zhixiu continued, "I didn't say anything because I didn't want to dirty your ears. That night at the annual party, she offered me a drink and said some inappropriate things. I asked her to take the money and leave, but I didn't expect her to approach you."
At this point, his thin lips pressed together, and his expression was grim.
If anything had happened to Jiang Mian because of Fang Ying, he would never forgive her.
Jiang Mian ignored him, playing with her phone.
Ji Zhixiu was helpless, "I was wrong. I promise I'll tell you next time. Wife, my heart is only for you."
Jiang Mian continued to ignore him, not saying a word to him even when they got home.
Xiao Bai saw them return and quickly handed over a package, "President, this is from President Lu in Hong Kong. He specifically asked for Madam to open it."
Ji Zhixiu stopped, "Lu Yun Shen?"
He had no prior dealings with Lu Yun Shen, except for that one time in Hong Kong, but they hadn't interacted directly.
Xiao Bai: "Yes, he said it's to congratulate the President and Madam on their wedding."
"Send it to the living room."
"Okay."
Jiang Mian sat on the sofa as soon as she got home. Ji Zhixiu asked her, "Want to open it?"
Jiang Mian didn't want to move, "You open it."
Ji Zhixiu opened the package and showed it to her.
Inside was a yellow paper safety charm, along with instructions on how to use it.
Both of them said in unison, "This is from Qin Xiao Yan."
However, Ji Zhixiu thought more deeply. The safety charm was from Qin Xiao Yan, but sent in Lu Yun Shen's name.
His eyebrows rose slightly. These two...
Jiang Mian liked it very much. Qin Xiao Yan's safety charm was very useful to her. She placed it by her bedside and slept soundly every night.
He withdrew his thoughts and looked down at the young girl's happy face, "Are you not angry anymore?"
Jiang Mian wasn't angry in the first place. Just as she was about to speak, she felt a slight heaviness and the little one in her belly moved.
Ji Zhixiu quickly supported her, "Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
"I feel uncomfortable when you have a straight face," Jiang Mian replied quickly.
Perhaps she had been spoiled by this man, to the point that now, whenever she saw his cold expression, she felt wronged.
Ji Zhixiu frowned. He was too worried about Jiang Mian's safety.
But now, seeing her looking as if he had bullied her, Ji Zhixiu could only say, "It's my fault. Do you want some fruit? I'll peel it for you. The doctor said you should eat more fruit, it's good for pregnant women."
Jiang Mian complained with teary eyes, "Are you doing this for my own good, or for the baby's?"
Ji Zhixiu finally understood what Chang Qin had said earlier about pregnant women's moods being changeable.
He admitted defeat, "Of course, it's for you."
Jiang Mian's face lit up in an instant, and she hugged him, "Husband, when will I give birth? I suddenly feel that pregnancy is so tiring."
"Soon. After this one, we won't have any more, okay?" Ji Zhixiu coaxed her.
"Okay," Jiang Mian nodded vigorously, "Do you want a boy or a girl?"
She had asked this question too many times. Ji Zhixiu pondered for two seconds and cautiously said, "A girl, perhaps. She'll be cute."
This was because last time he had answered "boy," but she was clearly not satisfied.
"But I think this one is a boy. Qing Qing also said so."
"A boy is good too."
"So you still prefer boys?" Jiang Mian tugged at his arm, unwilling to give up.
Clearly, no matter how he answered, she had something to say.
His eyes darkened, and he placed a large hand on her head, choosing to kiss her chattering lips to end the conversation.
"Mmm..."
As their lips met, their hot breaths swept over them, causing a tremor in each of them.
Jiang Mian leaned against him weakly, her cheeks flushed, her peach blossom eyes filled with moisture, both delicate and reproachful, "You're pressing on the baby..."
"Kissing requires focus," Ji Zhixiu stroked her soft, long hair, his voice clear and melodious.
His eyes held a hint of uncontrollable desire, and he immediately leaned in again.