Jiang Mian returned home. Hearing the movement, Xiao Yu Gan gracefully jumped down from the sofa and ran to the entrance, gently rubbing against Jiang Mian’s pant leg.
Jiang Mian changed her shoes and scooped up Xiao Yu Gan, stroking its head.
Xiao Yu Gan purred, enjoying the affection.
This was a birthday gift from Ji Zhixiu to Jiang Mian last year.
It was an incredibly cute Ragdoll cat, so adorable it melted one’s heart.
Jiang Mian liked it very much.
The person and the cat settled on the sofa, and the phone in her bag rang.
Jiang Mian looked down, rummaged through her bag, and answered the call.
“Mianmian, have you mentioned it to your partner? Did he agree?” Ning Jie’s urgent voice sounded.
Three years ago, Jiang Mian had latched onto Ji Zhixiu.
Ning Jie had thought this promising prospect would have a brilliant career and enjoy great success, but unexpectedly, she had become inactive ever since!
Mr. Ji! That was Mr. Ji! Even a little resource from him would be better than her own years of struggle!
Why had this little girl decided to give it all up and become a housewife!
Jiang Mian absently groomed Xiao Yu Gan, softly saying, “I haven’t said anything yet.”
She had intended to, but she felt the man wouldn’t agree, so she let it go.
Ning Jie felt like she was spitting blood. She detested Jiang Mian’s unhurried demeanor.
But then again, urgency was useless.
She was so worried her hair was going to turn white, “Jiang Mian, can you please pay more attention to yourself! This is your own career!”
For Jiang Mian, acting was just a hobby; she didn’t lack money.
Back when her grandmother was sick, she had earned a lot of money but couldn’t save her. The wages she had submitted to her grandmother in the past were all saved by the old lady. Now, they were in her hands.
Moreover, she knew that man had an obsessive possessiveness over her that surpassed the ordinary; he would absolutely not want to see her in kissing scenes.
Jiang Mian smiled, “Sister Ning, I’ve read the script. There’s a kissing scene. He won’t like it.”
“What’s so difficult about that? Use a body double for the kiss!”
“Then why don’t you talk to him about it?”
Ning Jie shivered. Talk to Mr. Ji about conditions? Forget it, she didn’t dare.
“As you wish. Fine, I won’t say anymore!”
After hanging up, Ning Jie thought resentfully, if only she had a single artist who was more ambitious, she wouldn’t have to bother Jiang Mian from time to time.
The junior assistant brought the schedule over timidly, “Sister Ning, this is your arrangement for this afternoon.”
“Put it here,” she said irritably.
…
Xiao Yu Gan meowed a few times. Jiang Mian remembered she hadn’t fed her before leaving the house.
She got up and found the cat food on the cabinet, realizing it was almost gone.
Since she was idle anyway, Jiang Mian picked up Xiao Yu Gan and kissed her 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. She also picked out a few nice outfits for Xiao Yu Gan and some small items like probiotics.
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 Central City Hospital.
Jiang Mian hesitated for a moment before walking in.
Might as well check on his sister, she thought. As a sister-in-law, it was only proper to show some concern.
…
Ji Zhixiu heard someone calling him but didn’t turn around.
Seeing him walking further and further away, Shen Tingyu jogged up and reached out to stop him.
“Zhixiu, do you have to walk away every time you see me?” she said, her voice laced with grievance.
Ji Zhixiu stopped. His expression was blank, his eyes devoid of any emotion as he asked, “Is there something you need?”
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?”
“Naturally, you can.”
Besides being his ex-girlfriend, Shen Tingyu was also a friend’s sister. They used to spend a lot of time together, so Ji Zhixiu wouldn’t refuse her outright.
“Alright, I do have something to say to you.”
People occasionally walked by, looking at Shen Tingyu with appraising glances.
Shen Tingyu bit her lip, “Can we talk somewhere else?”
The two stood by the stairwell, where no one else was present.
“Go ahead, what is it?”
“Zhixiu, I know I was wrong. I know you blame me for leaving without a word back then. Can you give me another chance? I promise I’ll never do that again!” Shen Tingyu couldn’t help but shed tears. After leaving Ji Zhixiu, she realized how good it was to have someone to rely on.
She hadn’t expected that the matter she wanted to discuss was this. Ji Zhixiu frowned and said calmly, “That’s all in the past.”
“No! It’s not past!” Unexpectedly, he dismissed their past so lightly. Shen Tingyu became agitated and shouted, “All these years! I’ve never forgotten you! Zhixiu, I regret it, I truly regret it!”
“Did I make one mistake and never get a chance for your forgiveness?”
“Were all the feelings 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.
After getting on the elevator, she realized she didn’t want to call the man.
She got out of the crowded elevator and decided to take the stairs instead.
She slowly walked down. She had come on a whim, not really expecting to run into Ji Zhilan.
If she didn’t meet him, perhaps the man was already home. She thought.
At the thought 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 she would never forget the male voice that followed; it was etched into her very bones.
“Stop making a scene,” Ji Zhixiu’s voice was calm, his handsome face covered with a thin layer of ice.
He didn’t want things to become awkward. They had parted amicably.
These few words shattered Shen Tingyu.
Unwilling, she embraced the man with all her might.
Jiang Mian hesitated. After a few seconds, she gathered her courage and peeked down.
One glance was enough to confirm her suspicions. Jiang Mian quickly withdrew, not daring to make a sound, and 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 to confront him.
Jiang Mian felt lost. She didn’t dare to break this peace.
What if… what if Ji Zhixiu wanted to end things with her? Jiang Mian couldn’t bear to imagine.
From the very beginning, Jiang Mian knew she was determined to win this man over.
But three years, and it was still no use…
Almost the second she left, Ji Zhixiu pushed Shen Tingyu away, his voice still cold, “Tingyu, I’m very sorry, but we broke up a long time ago. What’s past is past; there’s no point in talking about this now.”
He paused, “You used to be very sensible; clinging to me isn’t your style.”
Shen Tingyu leaned against the wall. The physical pain was nowhere near as intense as the pain in her heart.
For a moment, she didn’t know whether to be happy or not; he had noticed her sensible and well-behaved nature?
A family member pushed open the stairwell door and, seeing the scene, their gaze shifted between the two, imagining a dramatic scenario.
Upon meeting the man’s icy glare, they shriveled their necks and didn’t dare to look again, walking upstairs.
Shen Tingyu straightened up, her tearful expression gone, returning to her usual demeanor.
Ji Zhixiu frowned almost imperceptibly. He didn’t look at her again and strode out.
When Ji Zhixiu arrived home, Jiang Mian had already finished feeding Xiao Yu Gan.
The television in the living room was on, playing a popular drama.
The person and the cat sat on the sofa. Jiang Mian sprawled lazily, watching the plot intently. Hearing the movement, she didn’t even lift her eyelids.
Only Xiao Yu Gan jumped off the sofa and went to Ji Zhixiu’s legs, “Meow, meow~”
Ji Zhixiu looked down but made no move.
Not receiving affection from her master, Xiao Yu Gan kept meowing, persistently blocking his path.
Ji Zhixiu, with her blocking him and then him being held back, 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 protagonists 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 Jinyie Road to buy cat food and have already come back. Why are you only getting back now?”
She didn’t give him a glance.
But her heart was pounding.
She wanted to hear him tell the truth.
Jinyie Road not only had a pet store but also the Central 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 either.
“Why didn’t you call me to come back with you when you went out to buy things?”
He took off his coat and sank deep into the sofa. Xiao Yu Gan dutifully jumped off the sofa and returned to its cat tree.
From the moment he entered, the woman hadn’t given him a proper look. Ji Zhixiu cupped Jiang Mian’s face, forcing her to face him.
Jiang Mian pursed her lips. Her large, clear eyes held a hint of annoyance, “What are you doing? I’m still watching TV.”
Ji Zhixiu looked at her lively face, a smile curving his lips, softening his somewhat stern features, “Am I prettier than this?”
This kind of romantic soap opera, of course, wasn’t.
The protagonists couldn’t even compare to half of his handsomeness, but Jiang Mian refused to say it. A hint of slyness flickered in her eyes, “He’s actually better looking than you.”
Knowing he disliked hearing it, she deliberately said something to provoke him.
Ji Zhixiu’s thumb grazed her red lips, his eyes narrowing dangerously, and then, with a hint of punishment, he kissed her.
“Mmm… Ji Zhixiu…”
After the kiss, he released Jiang Mian and embraced her with one arm.
With a satisfied and nonchalant tone, he explained, “Zhilan was abused by her ex-boyfriend. I ran into Shen Tingyu when I went to see her, and we spoke 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 situation.
Jiang Mian’s heart felt as if it were filled with syrup.
She widened her alluring peach blossom eyes, her face flushed. The annoyance from before had long since vanished.
Compared to the latter part of his explanation, she was more concerned about the former, “Zhilan was abused? What kind of man is that? He lays hands on women!”
She spoke with righteous indignation. Ji Zhixiu chuckled, “I’m explaining to you, and you’re concerned about this?”
Jiang Mian nestled in his arms, “Isn’t it normal for a sister-in-law to care about her sister-in-law?”
“Why wouldn’t I believe you?” The corners of her lips curved upward unconsciously.
Ji Zhixiu squeezed her soft cheek, “You say one thing and mean another.”
“Is Zhilan being taken care of? Should I go and see her?” Jiang Mian asked cautiously.
They had been secretly married for three years, and she had never met Ji Zhixiu’s family.