Chapter 14

Chapter 14 Rose x Kiss

“ Auntie, I just have a slight cold, it should be better soon.” Ji Mingzhu cleared her throat, lowering her voice.

“Oh, Mingzhu, you’re right there?” Lin Manxi was surprised for a moment, then quickly reacted. “I understand. You weren’t feeling well yesterday. I’ll talk to Jiang Ji later—honestly!”

That wasn’t enough, and Lin Manxi promptly added, “No matter what, in weather this cold, he still can’t mess around.”

Mess around?

“......”

As if some chain lock had been triggered, Ji Mingzhu felt that the more she explained, the more it would go off track, so she ultimately didn’t continue.

In any case, although the older generation’s focus was rather peculiar, it wasn’t hard to understand. Lin Manxi was, after all, concerned about her.

Only—

When traced back to Jiang Ji, it became quite baffling.

What kind of person could respond so calmly like that!

Without even a hint of hesitation.

Ji Mingzhu really wanted to pry him open on the spot and see whether this person’s heart and guts were the same color as a crow’s.

Warm orange light spilled down from the car’s overhead lamp. Jiang Ji’s profile was hidden in the dim light. He just sat there, listening to Lin Manxi and Ji Mingzhu talk.

During this time, he didn’t interrupt, living like an invisible person.

Lin Manxi didn’t talk for long. After reminding them to return to the Jiang residence more often when they had time, she finally hung up.

Thinking of Jiang Ji’s earlier indifference and lack of explanation, Ji Mingzhu held her bag, lowered her eyes, and looked at the silver diamonds embedded on it, calculating in her mind the damage level if used for close-range attack.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Ji’s voice interrupted her calculations—

“Get out.”

He turned sideways, already having unfastened his seatbelt.

Perhaps Ji Mingzhu’s desire to express something was too strong; the way she looked at him was also too intense.

Jiang Ji received it. His gaze lingered on her bright spring-like pretty face for a moment, then moved to the bag tightly gripped in her hand, and finally landed on the seatbelt.

“What.” He paused. “Do you want me to unfasten it for you?”

“……”

When Ji Mingzhu went back, her high heels clacked loudly.

After entering the foyer, she casually changed into slippers and shuffled straight to her room.

Behind her, Jiang Ji took off his coat, bent slightly, and arranged her shoes neatly.

Ji Mingzhu liked collecting high heels and preferred haute couture and limited editions. Even so, she still had many pairs. When she moved over this time, her walk-in closet was filled. Later, a built-in shoe cabinet was custom-made in the circular foyer, storing quite a lot.

Jiang Ji thought of the way she had kicked off her heels just now. Her calf line was straight, extending downward into an ankle that could be held in one hand.

At the joint was a delicate little hollow, glossy and slender, fair as if it reflected light.

After a long while, Jiang Ji lowered his eyes.

……

The first thing Ji Mingzhu did after returning to her room was viciously deal with that Sally chicken. If she didn’t beat it until it was “bruised and battered,” it wouldn’t relieve her anger.

Who asked him to unfasten it! He talks too much! He’s too thick-skinned!

After hitting it, she felt the thing was quite useful—she could buy a truckload in the future. After relaxing her mind, she leaned against the soft couch and played on her phone. Midway, Ji Shaoyan called to ask about her cold, and she dismissed him with a few words.

The sound of rain outside gradually grew louder. Ji Mingzhu looked toward the balcony; outside was already misty.

Because this was the city center core area, from this angle she could usually vaguely see the Jiang Corporation building. Now she couldn’t even catch a glimpse of a corner.

Ji Mingzhu lowered her eyes and checked the weather forecast for the next few days—continuous gloomy rain.

Early winter brought this kind of weather—cold and inconvenient to go out.

She had originally planned to go into the city to find material for her next vlog, but now there was probably no hope. She could only stay at Park Hyatt.

Before returning to the country, Ji Mingzhu’s plan had been to film a special episode about Yin City. Whether local customs, scenery, or traditions—Yin City had given her far too many memories.

But fortunately she had already come back. Delaying a few days wasn’t a big problem.

Ji Mingzhu closed the weather forecast app. Before opening anything else, a notification popped up.

It was a push related to interview topics.

She normally wasn’t interested in this kind of thing, but her eyes casually swept over and stopped at the two words “Zhao Lan.”

The Weibo title read—

【A Day in the Life of a Pure-Temperament Female Host — About Interviewing the Finance World】

Ji Mingzhu paused and tapped in. It was a video.

There was probably a gap between TV hosts and video bloggers; Zhao Lan’s video wasn’t very popular, with poor reposts and likes. It was probably because of the low popularity that she bought notification push placement.

Ji Mingzhu thought of the conversation between Jiang Ji and his assistant in the car earlier. Linking it to this, everything seemed to become clearer.

The comments under Zhao Lan’s post were also quite interesting.

—【Ah, I’m curious about that mysterious guest teased at the end!】

—【From the description, it sounds like the newly appointed one from the Jiang family?】

—【Oh my god, could it really be Jiang Ji? If she gets the exclusive, Zhao Lan would be impressive.】

—【Not necessarily, didn’t she say it’s still under negotiation?】

—【I came from the push notification. I think it’s impossible.】

—【Agree with above, Jiang Corporation always keeps things tightly sealed.】

Ji Mingzhu roughly dragged the progress bar forward, fast-forwarding to the end.

In the video, Zhao Lan wore a faint smile, telling fans to stay tuned for the mysterious interview guest.

The information revealed was practically short of putting a shiny “Jiang Ji” nameplate on that guest’s head.

But from what she heard from Jiang Ji’s assistant today, it should not have been finalized yet.

She stared at the screen, still unable to figure it out, when there were two light knocks on the door.

Ji Mingzhu got up and opened it. Jiang Ji stood in the hallway, having changed clothes. Under the crisp coat, his figure looked tall and clear.

“You haven’t gone back to the company yet?” she asked, clearly surprised.

Jiang Ji instructed evenly, “Medicine three times a day.”

“I know. You already handed me a whole bag of medicine earlier.”

When he passed it to her before, he had already said three times a day.

Jiang Ji didn’t react much after hearing that, his gaze cool.

Ji Mingzhu suddenly remembered what he said this morning about her taking advantage of him. She crossed her arms, leaned against the doorframe, tilting her head to look at him. “What, afraid I’ll molest you and then infect you?”

Her tone was slow, peach-blossom eyes like mist over Jiangnan waters—bright and alluring.

Jiang Ji lowered his eyes to look at his watch, then shifted his gaze back to her. “Busy today. Next time.”

When Jiang Ji’s figure disappeared into the entry elevator, Ji Mingzhu finally reacted.

…Next time?

Next time for what?

Molesting next time?

No—

He was still waiting for a next time?

“Jiang Ji, you stinky pig head, you jerk, I’m telling you—you wish!” Ji Mingzhu thought he was already gone, so she simply shouted toward the elevator, her voice even slightly raised.

The very next second after she finished speaking, the entry elevator gave a “ding.”

Ji Mingzhu choked on her breath, her heart jumping to her throat. Then when she saw the elevator didn’t slowly open, she finally let out a sigh of relief.

……

After Jiang Ji left that day, he returned to his routine of leaving early and coming back late.

Because of the rainy weather, Ji Mingzhu stayed cooped up in Park Hyatt, so idle she felt like grass was about to grow on her.

When the weather cleared, her cold had completely recovered.

Since she hadn’t shown up for a long time, Ji Shaoyan called her out for a meal.

Knowing her preferences, Ji Shaoyan booked an elegant private room on Avenue des Champs-Élysées. It was just the father and daughter, chatting as they ate.

The weather had improved somewhat, but it was still winter; the chill was wrapped inside their coats.

Ji Mingzhu carried in a trace of cold. After sitting down, she was scolded by Ji Shaoyan, who had been waiting for a long time.

“It’s fine to stay in your room usually, but when you go out, you should wear more.”

Ji Mingzhu picked at the dishes absentmindedly, not continuing the topic. “What’s the big deal? I’ve always been like this before, and nothing happened.”

“I don’t oppose you filming those videos, but you can’t keep idling like this. Once you return to Ji Corporation, you’ll only get busier.” When Ji Shaoyan became serious, his affectionate peach-blossom eyes grew steady, adding the aura of someone in power.

“No need to worry. I’ll try to balance both sides. But Dad, you actually made a good point—I’m planning to sign up for a yoga class. Staying at home all the time makes me feel like I’ve gained weight.”

Ji Mingzhu had never been someone who could stay idle. Even as she said this, she had already paid; she just needed to attend when the time came.

“Good. Having your own plans isn’t a bad thing.” Ji Shaoyan responded simply, then asked, “The cufflinks I asked you to give Jiang Ji last time—did you give them to him?”

Mentioning the cufflinks, Ji Mingzhu remembered—

They were probably still in the glass cabinet in her dressing room, perfectly intact.

Seeing her expression, Ji Shaoyan knew she hadn’t given them yet. He poured her some juice. “Actually, I also ordered a necklace of the same brand at the time. It matches the cufflinks. When you have time, go personally.”

“Can’t I just use the pair myself?”

Ji Shaoyan laughed, lit a cigarette, then blew a smoke ring toward his precious daughter. “No.”

“For Jiang Ji’s birthday banquet later, you two wear these. It’ll count as my intention.”

After she returned to the country, Ji Shaoyan had already arranged everything.

Ji Mingzhu looked at Ji Shaoyan, still upright like a pine, elegant and dashing, and many thoughts suddenly surged in her heart.

Ji Shaoyan had always granted her every request. From childhood to now, he had never spoken harshly to her.

She had heard from her aunt that Ji Shaoyan, when he was younger, was far from how he was now.

The present him was mature and patient.

Thinking of this, Ji Mingzhu lifted her eyes and suddenly called very seriously, “Dad.”

“Mm?” Ji Shaoyan responded.

“How many women have you used this trick on?”

Ji Mingzhu meant the whole matching-set thing—it sounded like he had plenty of experience.

Ji Shaoyan flicked the ash, then helplessly patted her head.

“With my little princess here, how would I dare.”

……

After the meal, Ji Shaoyan said he would take her to the company. Ji Mingzhu couldn’t refuse, so she simply got into his car.

However, when his car stopped outside the building, Ji Mingzhu looked at the structure in front of her. “Dad, you parked in the wrong place, right?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Didn’t you say you were taking me to the company?”

“Isn’t this the company?”

Ji Shaoyan unlocked the car doors. “Go on. It’s not a bad thing for you to take a look at Jiang Corporation.”

Ji Mingzhu was about to say something else when Ji Shaoyan spoke again, “Jiang Ji’s assistant has already come down to pick you up.”

Unable to argue with him either way, Ji Mingzhu rolled her eyes fiercely. “You can even scheme this—I, Miss Zhu, truly see you in a new light.”

When someone from Jiang Corporation arrived, Ji Shaoyan said he had matters to attend to and directly drove off.

While Ji Mingzhu waited, someone walked over and called her.

“Miss Ji.”

She lifted her eyes, and her gaze gradually tightened.

This assistant of Jiang Ji looked extremely familiar. That inexplicable sense of familiarity finally found its source.

Ji Mingzhu recalled a gathering she had attended earlier, invited by a certain partner. Someone had come in midway and spoken with that manager.

The shadows overlapped and merged together.