Eleven o'clock.
Jiang Mian was still awake, watching a drama on the sofa. As she watched, she occasionally glanced towards the main entrance.
Aunt Song came out from the kitchen and saw her expression. She smiled and said, "Young Madam, are you waiting for Young Master?"
Jiang Mian covered her mouth and yawned elegantly, "Yes."
As they spoke, a car engine was heard from outside.
Jiang Mian's eyes lit up. She dropped her tablet and ran out quickly to greet Ji Zhixiu.
Under the light, Ji Zhixiu walked over slowly, his face perfect, his features exquisite. The next second, he was embraced by Jiang Mian.
Ji Zhixiu felt a jolt in his heart.
"Honey."
Ji Zhixiu frowned. Jiang Mian's fair, tender feet were clearly visible on the long rug at the entrance. He swept her up into his arms.
"Why did you run out without wearing shoes?"
Reminded by him, Jiang Mian realized her feet were indeed a bit cold. She retracted her feet, "I didn't notice."
Her ten slender, jade-like toes wriggled playfully. Ji Zhixiu's gaze darkened, and he inexplicably felt his throat tighten.
"Pay attention next time," he added as he walked inside.
Jiang Mian wrapped her arms around his neck, "Okay. Why are you back so late today?"
So, she cared about the time he returned? Ji Zhixiu's brow twitched.
"I was drinking with Lu Cong," the explanation slipped out.
Jiang Mian pinched her nose and sniffed. She indeed smelled alcohol on him, "What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing much, he's just prone to temporary madness when drunk." Recalling Lu Cong calling him 'wife' before he left, Ji Zhixiu's expression darkened.
"Did you take him home?"
"No need, he has his own suite in Seattle."
Jiang Mian nodded, that made sense. She made a move to jump down from his arms, "You go take a shower first, I'll go put on shoes."
Ji Zhixiu glanced at the soles of her feet, then shifted his gaze and put her down, "Okay."
Ji Zhixiu was exceptionally… fierce tonight. Jiang Mian didn't know what was wrong with him, but she could only cooperate as much as possible.
The man's bare chest revealed well-defined abs, exuding a masculine aura. A drop of sweat slowly rolled down his forehead.
Jiang Mian's cheeks were flushed, and the air was filled with ambiguous tension. Her long, cascading black hair was disheveled, and she let out a soft whimper, her toes tensing…
Jiang Mian panted, wanting to ask the question she still didn't understand. Her red lips brushed his ear, "Axiu… what do you like about Shen Tingyu?"
Ji Zhixiu didn't hear clearly, only catching the name Shen Tingyu. He grabbed Jiang Mian's wrist, and with a punitive thrust, his voice low and full of desire: "Mianmian, don't mention others at a time like this."
Ji Zhixiu proved to Jiang Mian through action that being distracted at a time like this was the greatest insult to a man.
…
The next day.
When Lu Cong woke up, he was so overwhelmed by the smell of alcohol that he himself found it unbearable.
Looking at the sweater in his hand, he was even more confused. He opened his room door and grabbed a passing waiter, "Hey, hey, hey, don't leave. Who brought me in last night?"
The passing waiter stopped, smiled, and greeted him, but then recoiled slightly after smelling the alcohol, "Good morning, Third Young Master Lu. Last night, it was President Ji who brought you in."
Brother Xiu?
How did his sweater end up here?
Lu Cong couldn't figure it out. Seeing the waiter still standing there, he waved his hand, "Alright, alright, you can go."
The waiter held his breath and nodded, "Okay, Third Young Master, goodbye!"
Can't be bothered with it, he needed a shower first.
After a refreshing shower, Lu Cong called Ji Zhixiu, "Brother Xiu, how is your sweater at my place?"
It seemed he had forgotten everything that happened last night. Ji Zhixiu's expression was complicated, "Have you forgotten what you did last night?"
Lu Cong was shocked, "Last night? What happened last night? Did I get drunk and act crazy?"
He remembered he had only mused about his innocent "love" last night. After being enlightened, he had come to terms with everything. He wouldn't have gotten drunk and clung to a beautiful woman, that would be too embarrassing.
"Nothing much, you just hugged me and called me 'wife'. Looks like I'll have to ask your mother to introduce you to someone."
Was it an illusion? Lu Cong felt like he was joking. What was with that tone that seemed like he was showing off his wife?
He breathed a sigh of relief, at least he hadn't embarrassed himself. Lu Cong said boldly, "Do I lack a partner? I just don't want to find one. A single tree versus a forest, a seasoned player like me knows what to choose. Last night was just a small accident in my life, and it won't happen again because of this reason."
"If nothing else, I'm hanging up."
"No, no, no. Do you want the sweater or not?" Lu Cong asked.
Ji Zhixiu frowned, "No, it's yours. Just transfer the cash equivalent to me."
Lu Cong rolled his eyes. Ji Zhixiu wore custom-made clothing, which wasn't cheap. "Black-hearted merchant, you're giving it to me but still want money."
Ji Zhixiu's expression was unperturbed, "Thank you for the compliment."
After hanging up, he glanced at the woman sleeping soundly on the bed, and Ji Zhixiu went downstairs.
"Aunt Song, prepare a light and nutritious breakfast for Young Madam. I'm going to the office."
"Yes, Young Master. Are you coming back for dinner tonight?"
Ji Zhixiu thought for a moment, "Yes."
Before Jiang Mian could wake up for breakfast, a woman arrived at the villa.
Aunt Song looked at Madam Ji, her hands on her apron tightening, and she forced a smile, "Madam, why are you here today?"
Madam Ji looked around, "I was worried about Xiu'er living alone, so I came to see him. Where is he?"
"Young Master has already gone to work."
Madam Ji nodded, "Xiu'er is ambitious and always pays attention to the company. How has he been lately? With no one to look after him, I'm truly worried."
Aunt Song said cautiously, "Young Master is doing very well, please rest assured, Madam. I came from the Ji family and have always taken meticulous care of Young Master in terms of diet."
"I know you. You've always treated Xiu'er like your own son."
Aunt Song was an old servant of the Ji family. She originally had a son. Unfortunately, her husband's gambling cost them their fortune, and Aunt Song was reduced to a servant.
She reported her husband herself and was reborn, but her son did not understand his mother. He had long since severed ties with her and gone out to make his own way.
Aunt Song felt a pang of misery. Although she didn't know why Young Master and Young Madam were secretly married, she knew that if Madam found out that Young Master had married without her knowledge, she would make a huge scene.
She secretly thought, Sun Shu, why didn't you say something before letting Madam in?
Little did she know that Sun Shu was also in a difficult position. Madam Ji was President Ji's mother; how could he dare to stop her?
The moment she entered the door, he had sent Xiao Bai to inform Aunt Song in advance.
As he was thinking, Xiao Bai ran back, panting, "Captain, it's too late. By the time I ran over, Madam was already in the living room…"
Sun Shu looked up at the sky, "Then there's nothing we can do. We can only help Young Madam this much."
In the living room.
"Aunt Song?" Madam Ji interrupted her thoughts.
Aunt Song snapped back to attention, "Yes, Madam, please speak."
Her inquisitive gaze fixed on Aunt Song, "I said, I want to go upstairs and take a look."
Aunt Song's heart tightened. Young Madam was upstairs. It was precisely at times like these that one couldn't be nervous. Aunt Song feigned composure and encouraged herself, "Madam, please, if you need anything, just call me."
After Madam Ji went upstairs, Aunt Song quickly put away the shoes in the shoe cabinet.
The reason Madam Ji didn't notice anything unusual at the entrance was that Jiang Mian's shoes were all stored in the shoe cabinet. If Madam Ji had opened the shoe cabinet and taken a look…
Aunt Song could only pray silently, hoping that Young Madam would hide.
After all, Young Master was not at home. If any conflict arose, it would be absolutely unfavorable to Young Madam.
She was too nervous to continue her chores and waited in the living room.
There were many rooms on the second floor. Madam Ji found the master bedroom and tried the handle, "It's locked…" she murmured to herself.
Locking the room when going out, Madam Ji wasn't sure whether to say her son was too guarded.
She had no interest in looking at the other rooms.
Madam Ji slowly descended the stairs. Aunt Song nervously watched her expression. She probably hadn't discovered anything, had she?
"Madam, is there anything else you need?" she asked proactively.
Madam Ji shook her head, "No, I just came to see. You don't need to be nervous. I'm leaving. Take good care of Xiu'er."
"Yes, Madam, safe journey."
Jiang Mian had been hiding in the adjacent room for a long time. If Madam Ji had opened one more room, she would have been found, and there would have been no escape.
Her mood was complex. She never expected Madam Ji to come to the villa, nor did she expect to feel a trace of fear.
She didn't know how to face Madam Ji, nor how to explain to her.
Lowering her eyelids, Jiang Mian gave a self-deprecating smile. She was truly like a mistress.
The lock on the master bedroom was her own doing from the outside, creating the illusion that Ji Zhixiu had locked the bedroom door when he left.
She didn't know if she had deceived her.
Jiang Mian perched on the windowsill and watched until Madam Ji's back disappeared from view, then she slowly went downstairs.
Aunt Song saw her and exclaimed in surprise, "Young Madam, Madam was just here."
Jiang Mian nodded, "I know."
She had woken up when Madam Ji was talking to Aunt Song downstairs.
Seeing no surprise on her face, Aunt Song asked, "Were you hiding?"
"I hid in the next room and locked the master bedroom."
"No wonder Madam went downstairs so quickly." Aunt Song gave her a thumbs-up, "Young Madam is clever."
Jiang Mian pursed her lips, unable to smile. This was the consequence of a secret marriage, like being unable to see the light.
Aunt Song could see she was in a bad mood and changed the subject, "Young Madam, have breakfast. Are you hungry? Young Master instructed me to prepare breakfast for you before he left for the office. Come and eat."
Jiang Mian's expression brightened. She felt a warmth in her heart, knowing Aunt Song cared about her. She sat down at the table and said, "Okay, bring it up."
…
Madam Ji had come to the villa on a whim to take a look.
Ever since Ji Zhixiu moved out, he rarely returned to the Ji mansion. Without seeing her son, Madam Ji sometimes missed him.
After checking on him today, Madam Ji felt reassured. Aunt Song had taken excellent care of the house and grounds.
On the way back, Madam Ji thought for a moment, then said to the driver, "Go to the company."
The driver obediently turned the car around, "Yes, Madam."
There were some things she wanted to tell her son right away.