Jiang Mian looked up, smiled faintly, and spread her fair palm as if to say, "I didn't bring my phone."
"Then let me add you!" His eyes lit up, his gaze clear and transparent.
Jiang Mian pursed her lips and quickly said, "My number is 153625xxxxxx..."
"I've got it."
Even though he'd only heard it once, Shi You had already memorized it. He straightened his chest and said with a proud tone, "See you next time."
The brand had sent two boxes of chocolates, and Sister Ning had told her to take them all home.
Jiang Mian returned home and stared at the two boxes of chocolates, having developed a near PTSD from the photoshoot that afternoon.
She simply called in the bodyguard escort team and had them distribute them.
Xiao Bai asked timidly, "Madam, are these all for us?"
Jiang Mian pushed the paper boxes forward and nodded affirmatively, "Yes, they're all yours."
She couldn't bear to look at chocolate anymore.
She had a preference for sweeter things, and this particular truffle had more bitterness, which didn't quite suit her taste.
Xiao Bai happily picked up a box and said sweetly, "Thank you, Madam! You're so kind!"
Sun Shu gave him a look, and Xiao Hei stepped forward to embrace the other box.
He said with a smile, "Thank you, Madam. We'll be going now."
As soon as the chocolates were distributed, her phone vibrated. Jiang Mian opened it to find another friend request, this time Shi You's second attempt.
He was using a photo of himself as his avatar, so Jiang Mian recognized him immediately.
Her fingertip paused over the "Add Friend" button, and Jiang Mian chose to exit WeChat.
In the evening, Ji Zhixiu messaged her, saying he would be back late and she didn't need to wait for him.
Coincidentally, Ji Lanruo invited Jiang Mian out for hot pot, and she readily agreed.
They arranged to meet at the Central Mall.
To avoid any unnecessary trouble, Jiang Mian wore a mask, revealing only her eyes.
They both arrived at the private room at the same time. Seeing her being so cautious, Ji Lanruo couldn't help but chuckle, "Why are you acting like we're having an affair, afraid of being seen?"
Jiang Mian unzipped her jacket, revealing the fitted apricot-colored inner top, and hung her bag on the hook in the room.
Then she sat opposite Ji Lanruo, resting her chin on one hand, a youthful innocence in her eyes. "This is a private outing, I don't want to be photographed."
"Let's order first!" Ji Lanruo took out her phone and scanned the QR code on the table.
Having spent four years together, they were very familiar with each other. Ji Lanruo barely needed to ask Jiang Mian about her preferences before ordering the dishes.
As she placed the order, she asked, "Busy lately?"
Jiang Mian poured two glasses of sour plum juice, handing one to Ji Lanruo. She then withdrew her hand, stirred the drink, and shook her head. "Rarely this leisurely."
Ji Lanruo chuckled twice, put her phone away, and nudged her with her lips. "How are things between you and your man?"
Jiang Mian's eyelashes fluttered. "Very good."
"What do you mean by 'very good'? Is it good in terms of affection or 'performance'?"
"Cough... cough cough..." Jiang Mian nearly choked on her sour plum juice at the directness of the question.
She took two tissues to wipe her mouth and said with a sweet smile, "It means we're officially together now."
"What about his ex-girlfriend? By normal standards, shouldn't she be causing trouble?"
Jiang Mian blinked and leaned back to let the waiter set up the hot pot. Only after the waiter left the room did she say, "Guess who his ex-girlfriend is."
"Who?"
"Shen Tingyu."
Ji Lanruo searched her memory. "Sounds a bit familiar. Is she the one the gossip news often compares you two to?"
Jiang Mian nodded. "We look a bit alike."
"Do we?" Ji Lanruo disagreed. "She's too delicate, like a little white lotus. Your temperament is different, and your features aren't similar."
Jiang Mian stared at the clear broth waiting to boil, replying, "I heard she's even called 'Little Jiang Mian'."
Of course, that was what netizens called her.
Ji Lanruo laughed heartily and put on her splash-proof apron. "She must know that you're married to your husband, right? Netizens are so vicious, seeing this must drive her mad."
Jiang Mian spread her hands. "We have quite a lot of grievances between us. By the way, you know that Qing Dynasty drama I filmed, right? She's in it too."
The memory of falling into the water that day was still vivid.
Jiang Mian's eyes narrowed, and her tone was uncertain. "She and I filmed a scene together, and I fell into the water. I suspect... she pushed me."
Ji Lanruo's expression turned serious. "She has a lot of hostility towards you. Is she trying to win him back?"
The hot pot bubbled and steamed, the mist rising continuously.
Jiang Mian added ingredients to the yin-yang pot without looking up. "And she's still coveting my man."
Ji Lanruo gritted her teeth. "Is she trying to steal him? I hate people like that. What's your husband's attitude?"
Jiang Mian poured duck blood into the spicy pot. "He pretends not to see it."
"That's the right attitude. A proper ex should be like dead, not out here causing trouble."
Jiang Mian stirred the dry dipping sauce that the waiter had mixed and took a sip from her cup through a straw. "She can't die. Her brother is good friends with my husband."
Ji Lanruo tutted. "Then you should flaunt your affection in front of her every time you meet, to torture her."
Jiang Mian said slowly, "Do we still need to flaunt it? We're already very affectionate."
"Damn it," Ji Lanruo picked up a piece of tripe. "Can you consider my feelings as a single person?"
She took a fierce bite, then said, "You'll be attending the film festival, right?"
Jiang Mian poured some sesame oil and nodded. "Yes, I will."
She asked casually, "Who will you be walking the red carpet with?"
Mentioning this made Jiang Mian think of Song Xingjia.
Director Wang had said he couldn't find him, and there was no news from Night Wing either.
Jiang Mian scooped two beef balls into her bowl with a spoon. "It should be Director Wang."
Ji Lanruo frowned, looking a bit puzzled. "Song Xingjia isn't attending?"
The last time this person appeared in public was to promote "Class Three High School," and since then, he had seemed to disappear.
It made sense. He debuted so early, and over the years, he had won so many awards. A mere Kyoto Film Festival was nothing.
Jiang Mian shook her head. "Director Wang didn't say he would come. Why, are you very concerned about this?"
She asked casually.
However, Ji Lanruo abruptly withdrew her chopsticks from the pot, having not picked up anything yet.
She pouted, "How could I possibly care about him!"
Jiang Mian noticed her change and, resting her chin on her hand, pointed at her. "Lanruo, you've changed."
Ji Lanruo's heart skipped a beat.
"I, I changed what?"
Jiang Mian spoke on behalf of Song Xingjia, accusing her. "You used to be the one in our dorm who liked Emperor Song the most. I remember in the next dorm, someone said Song Xingjia was transgender. You were so angry that you gave that girl a hard time when collecting homework. How can you change so quickly?"
Jiang Mian was confused. "Or have you fallen for another new star?"
It was true that Ji Lanruo had liked Song Xingjia for many years.
Who hadn't lived through the era of Emperor Song?
A lightbulb went off in Jiang Mian's mind. "Don't tell me you're still angry about what happened last time?"
"No!" That incident was long past, and it wasn't Song Xingjia who had harassed her.
Strictly speaking, her idol hadn't disappointed her.
But for some reason, Ji Lanruo felt a sense of unease.
She couldn't explain it, just a feeling of awkwardness and discomfort.
She used a slotted spoon to scoop food into her bowl. She could handle spice better than Jiang Mian, and even though her lips were red from the chili, she didn't stop.
She fanned her mouth with her hand and then took a sip of chilled sour plum soup, feeling refreshed all over.
Her pores opened up, and she felt comfortable and content. Ji Lanruo took a bite of a quail egg. "I just suddenly feel like the filter is gone."
Thinking of that man's businesslike attitude and his silence for months, hearing that he wasn't attending, Ji Lanruo took a deep breath, unsure if she felt a sense of loss.
"Let's not talk about him. Let's change the topic."
Jiang Mian nodded obediently. "Change to what?"
"Shen Tingyu's brother should be Shen Muyuan, right? Then she should also go to the film festival. Even if she doesn't have a nominated work, it's not impossible to go and join the fun."
Jiang Mian was surprised by her familiarity with the relationships within prominent families and nodded. "Yes. But why would her brother go to the film festival?"
"Sponsor."
"Are you coming?"
"No," Ji Lanruo said without hesitation. "But my elder brother will likely be there."
"Why aren't you coming?" Jiang Mian stared at her. "Come and watch me."
Her expression was hesitant. "I'll see. I'm not sure."
"Okay."
...
They chatted and laughed until nightfall.
After eating, Jiang Mian put her mask back on.
"How are you getting back?" she asked.
Ji Lanruo handed her bag to Jiang Mian. "I drove myself, so I'll drive back. What about you?"
Jiang Mian slung her small bag over her shoulder. "A driver is picking me up."
"Okay, then I'm relieved."
They went their separate ways after getting off the elevator, one to the parking lot, the other to the mall entrance.
Xiao Bai was there to pick up Jiang Mian. She got into the car and asked, "Xiao Bai, has the President returned?"
Xiao Bai scratched his head. "Madam, when I left home, I didn't see the President return."
Jiang Mian glanced at her slender wristwatch. "It's 8:30."
"Assistant Fan mentioned that there's a project with the city government that the President is personally overseeing."
"Is that so? Thank you."
"You're welcome, Madam. It's my duty!"
Jiang Mian returned home, took a bath, and sat on the sofa reading a book.
The large crystal chandelier overhead sparkled, its light dazzling.
Jiang Mian held her book and, without realizing it, fell asleep.
A blanket gently fell on her shoulder. Jiang Mian grasped the person's hand and woke up abruptly. "A Xiu!"
Aunt Song smiled faintly at her. "It's me, Madam. Since you're awake, go upstairs to sleep. Young Master would have been heartbroken to see you asleep on the sofa."
Jiang Mian gave an embarrassed smile and let go of her hand. It wasn't that she was deliberately waiting for the man.
She just wanted to wait a bit while reading.
Feeling sleepy, she didn't force herself. Jiang Mian closed her book. "Then I'll go back to my room. Aunt Song, you should rest early too."
"Good night, Madam."
"Good night."
Jiang Mian was woken up in the middle of the night by the man pressing down on her.
The man's fingertips, with an astonishingly hot temperature, lifted the collar of her pajamas. Jiang Mian was still a bit groggy, only feeling her face was a little wet, as if she'd been licked by a large dog.
It wasn't until the man bit her delicate shoulder blade that Jiang Mian frowned in pain and fully woke up.
The familiar scent was close at hand. She whispered, "Are you drunk?"
The man's voice was deep, his eyes frighteningly dark, filled with intense desire. "Not drunk..."
With that, he buried himself in her neck again.
Jiang Mian sensed his intentions, her breathing slowing by half a beat.
Her voice trembled, "Don't bite here... I have an event... it's not good to be seen..."
The man murmured, "It smells... fragrant..."