Chapter 11

Chapter 11 Rose x Kiss

After hearing Jiang Ji’s words, Ji Mingzhu couldn’t recover for quite a while.

You could even “return” playful flirting?

Wait… that wasn’t the point. Who was flirting with him!

Ji Mingzhu turned fully toward him. “Jiang Ji, you did that on purpose?”

Jiang Ji looked calm, but casually nodded his chin toward the phone she had placed on the table.

The meaning was obvious—the source was her.

“Before, under the table… that was because I wasn’t careful.” Ji Mingzhu paused midway, then cleared her throat and began defending herself.

“Do you know what ‘not careful’ means? It’s when you don’t pay attention, your leg swings back and forth—and accidentally hurts you. That kind of not careful.” She stared at him, her gaze frank.

So frank that even she almost believed herself.

Jiang Ji nodded, his gaze shifting away. Lowering his head, he said, “Seems your so-called not careful was quite heartfelt.”

After all, it had been quite forceful.

Ji Mingzhu accepted it fully without fear, smiling sweetly, her voice slightly raised, “Of course~ Young Master Jiang really understands me.”

Jiang Ji glanced at her meaningfully and said nothing more.

Ji Mingzhu was already used to him being like this. Feeling bored, she pulled out her phone again. Before long, faint sounds came from the stairs—the heavy friction of someone coming down.

Mother Jiang followed behind Jiang Father, step by step.

Jiang Yucheng was over forty, with a steady face.

Unlike Ji Shaoyan, who passed through countless flowers without a leaf sticking, Jiang Yucheng was calm and self-restrained, demanding precision and perfection in everything, and he didn’t pick up the bad habits of wealthy families.

Of course, that was Ji Mingzhu’s impression of him before that incident came out.

Before Jiang Yucheng approached, Ji Mingzhu was about to stand and greet him, but he raised a hand to stop her.

“Mingzhu came today?” he asked politely.

“Yes, Uncle. I didn’t have anything to do, so I came over with Jiang Ji.” Ji Mingzhu looked at Mother Jiang. “Auntie went to Park Hyatt today to check on us.”

Jiang Yucheng responded and turned to Mother Jiang. “Manxi, go tell the kitchen to make a few more dishes.”

Lin Manxi nodded, came to Ji Mingzhu’s side, and asked about her preferences. “Mingzhu, is there anything you particularly want to eat? I’ll go arrange it.”

“Auntie, no need to make anything special. I haven’t been eating much dinner lately.”

These past few days, Ji Mingzhu’s appetite had decreased. Her head felt dizzy, and overall she didn’t feel very well.

“Then I’ll have the kitchen add a few home-style dishes. You two chat here.” After saying that, Lin Manxi went to the kitchen.

Silence soon fell over the table again. After a while, Jiang Yucheng spoke. “How’s the company?”

Hearing this, Jiang Ji didn’t even lift his eyelids. “It’s fine.”

When Jiang Ji returned to the country earlier, Jiang Yucheng had entrusted him with heavy responsibility, handing over power. Although there had been pressure from the Lin family, things finally settled and everything returned to track.

Lin Manxi soon returned, and the dishes already ordered were brought to the table one after another.

When she sat down, she noticed the silence and asked, “What’s wrong? Why isn’t anyone talking?”

Jiang Yucheng looked at her. “A-Mo didn’t come today?”

Hearing this, Lin Manxi’s tone cooled.

“You’re asking me? How would I know? Do you think A-Ji and Mingzhu came on their own? If I hadn’t gone to see these two kids today, they might not have come.”

“I was just asking.” As he spoke, Jiang Yucheng’s gaze swept over to Jiang Ji. “A-Ji, if your brother wants to go to the company later, you still have to lend a hand and help him.”

Hearing this, Lin Manxi put down her chopsticks, about to say something, but Jiang Ji interrupted.

“He’s the one who doesn’t want to. How can I help?”

Jiang Mo’s ambitions were not here; in recent years he had devoted himself to photography, with one foot already stepping into the entertainment industry. His way of handling things was rather indifferent, and in appearance and personality he resembled Jiang Ji.

However—

In another sense, the “your brother” Jiang Yucheng mentioned wasn’t truly Jiang Ji’s brother; they only shared half the same blood.

Jiang Mo was the son of Jiang Yucheng and his first love. When he was in his teens, after his mother passed away, he returned to acknowledge his ancestry. For all those years before, the Jiang family hadn’t known of Jiang Mo’s existence. It was precisely because of that ignorance that when the truth later surfaced, it caused a huge uproar.

In terms of age, Jiang Mo was a few years older than Jiang Ji, and Jiang Yucheng married Lin Manxi after that point. In some sense, it seemed hard to blame him.

But afterward, Jiang Yucheng’s excessive care for the motherless child made Lin Manxi feel like a bone stuck in her throat. How could she not care? Those years, she endured them with difficulty.

Fortunately, she still had her son. Jiang Ji looked cold, but toward this mother he was filial and respectful. The relationship between mother and son was more harmonious than that between father and son.

However, no matter how Jiang Yucheng tried, Jiang Mo couldn’t integrate into the Jiang family. By nature he didn’t stir trouble, so in recent years everyone lived separately, maintaining peace.

“He doesn’t want to?” Jiang Yucheng sighed. “You… when you have time, you should still try to persuade him.”

Jiang Ji remained silent, and Lin Manxi didn’t respond, watching coldly.

Ji Mingzhu stood aside, observing quietly, listening carefully, not intending to speak.

This counted as rather private family matters.

Although she had witnessed similar scenes back in high school, this was the first time she felt it so closely.

The meal dragged on slowly. The topics afterward were only a few sparse sentences. Although there were quite a few people at the table, it never became lively.

Jiang Ji showed nothing on his face, but Ji Mingzhu could clearly sense his displeasure.

She secretly glanced at him several times. Jiang Ji didn’t move at all, like a weathered stone statue, solemn and still.

After dinner, Jiang Yucheng looked at them. “I’ll have someone prepare rooms for you two. Stay at the old house tonight.”

Jiang Ji straightened, gestured to Ji Mingzhu, and cleanly refused. “No need. We’re going back.”

Lin Manxi had been arranging a fruit platter. Hearing this, she looked surprised. “Ah? Didn’t we agree to stay a night? Why suddenly go back?”

Her meaning was clear. Jiang Yucheng paused, then looked directly at Jiang Ji. “Why suddenly not staying?”

“I have things to do.” Jiang Ji answered quickly, tone cold.

Hearing this, Jiang Yucheng’s expression immediately darkened.

“Is this house so unbearable for you?”

“The things I need to handle—should I list them one by one right now?”

Jiang Ji lowered his eyes, picked up his coat, and also grabbed the small bag Ji Mingzhu had left on the sofa, preparing to take her and leave.

The words were intimidating. Jiang Corporation was now under Jiang Ji’s control; everything was in his hands. Jiang Yucheng’s face turned livid, and he didn’t respond for a long time.

“Are you really leaving now? But it’s raining outside. In winter the roads are slippery, and it’s so cold. Are you really going at this hour?” Lin Manxi was genuinely worried and hurried over.

“Manxi, let him go. If he had even a bit of consideration for me as his father, he wouldn’t say those words to anger me!” Jiang Yucheng’s face was grim. “If you were half as considerate as your brother, you wouldn’t—”

His words repeatedly highlighted Jiang Mo. Though absent, he seemed present in the Jiang residence.

Ji Mingzhu felt the dizziness from earlier wrap around her even more, clinging tightly.

In her haze, scenes flashed through her mind like frames of a film.

First came high school—Jiang Ji standing in the office, straight as a pine. Beside him stood Jiang Mo; the two looked very similar. Lin Manxi was there too, head lowered, saying something to the teacher. Jiang Ji’s figure was slender, his profile cold.

The scene suddenly shifted—to the Jiang residence courtyard after a birthday banquet, insects chirping. Half of Jiang Ji’s face was hidden in darkness as he lowered his head to look at her, his gaze calm.

Things so distant now felt strangely clear.

Hearing Jiang Yucheng’s words, Ji Mingzhu calmly interrupted him.

“That’s not it, Uncle.”

Just now Jiang Ji had been holding her wrist to pull her. At this moment, Ji Mingzhu grasped him back.

And used a bit of force.

“Jiang Ji said he wanted to go back because I’ve been a bit uncomfortable these past few days. I’m picky about beds, and I don’t adapt well to new places, so he thought of taking me back to Park Hyatt. It wasn’t for any other reason.” Ji Mingzhu looked out the window as she spoke. “But it’s the same wherever we stay. Since it’s raining, we won’t toss around anymore. We’ll stay here tonight.”

Jiang Yucheng’s awkwardness showed clearly. The emotions he hadn’t yet released were pushed back halfway by Ji Mingzhu’s light remark.

Stuck in between.

The previously tense atmosphere also dissipated completely.

He lowered his tone. “Mm.”

Jiang Yucheng didn’t stay long and went upstairs.

Seeing that the two would really stay overnight and wouldn’t change their minds, Lin Manxi immediately beamed, stepping over to Ji Mingzhu and reaching out her hand.

Ji Mingzhu understood, released Jiang Ji’s hand, and clapped palms with Jiang’s mother.

“Mingzhu, you really know how to speak.” Lin Manxi took Jiang Ji’s coat and Ji Mingzhu’s small bag. “Jiang Ji is always like this, never speaks properly to his dad. Old Jiang already plays favorites, and if children keep pushing him away… Look at Jiang Yucheng, now he talks about Jiang Mo all the time.”

By the end, Lin Manxi’s tone faded again.

“But—” she paused, then abruptly changed the subject. “You’ve been feeling unwell these past few days?”

“A little, it’s fine.”

“How about I prepare some granules? Could it be a cold?” Lin Manxi said, about to look for medicine.

“No need. When I studied in Australia, this happened often. It’s nothing serious.”

“Alright, then I’ll go prepare rooms for you two.” Lin Manxi disappeared mysteriously.

Ji Mingzhu blinked, then looked toward Jiang Ji.

He lowered his eyes, gaze falling on his own hand, expression unreadable.

…

Lin Manxi quickly had the room prepared. From toiletries to slippers and sleepwear, everything was complete.

Ji Mingzhu was led in and looked around.

Clean and tidy, with a familiar faint cool scent in the air.

Jiang Ji had just been driven off by Lin Manxi to shower elsewhere. Only she remained here.

She closed the door, glanced outside—the rain seemed to be getting heavier.

After such a long day, Ji Mingzhu felt a bit tired. Unlike the cold outside, the room was warm. She took off her coat, leaving only the cashmere sweater. Just as she reached to remove it, the door slowly opened.

Caught off guard, Ji Mingzhu cried out. The half-exposed snow-white skin was quickly covered again.

Jiang Ji stood at the door, wearing home clothes, black hair half-wet, staring at her.

“What are you doing here?” Ji Mingzhu asked warily, subconsciously raising her arms to hold her shoulders.

Jiang Ji glanced lightly and reminded her, “This is my room.”

Ji Mingzhu: ………

But when Jiang’s mother brought her over, she hadn’t said it was his room!

“I’ll go find Auntie…”

Ji Mingzhu stepped to leave, but Lin Manxi suddenly appeared as if by telepathy.

“Mingzhu, I forgot to tell you. No one has stayed here for a long time, the other rooms are dusty and can’t be prepared in time, so just stay in this one.” Smiling, she pushed Jiang Ji inside and thoughtfully closed the door.

No extra room?

Ji Mingzhu’s gaze fell on the bedding.

After a while, she finally realized the key point.

So… she was going to sleep on the same bed as Jiang Ji tonight?