Chapter 19

Chapter 19 Rose x Kiss

Ji Mingzhu’s ankle still felt numb that night. There was actually a bit of warmth too, but because the sprayed medicine was rather cool, the two sensations counteracted each other, so it wasn’t too hard for her to fall asleep.

Early the next morning, somehow Ji Shaoyan got the news. Probably thinking she was going to be “crippled,” he insisted on sending Sister Li over to take care of her.

It was boring staying at Boyue anyway, and if Sister Li came, she probably wouldn’t be able to sit still either. Moreover, Ji Mingzhu hadn’t suffered any serious injury, so she simply refused decisively. After repeatedly emphasizing that she was fine, Ji Shaoyan finally relented and let her off.

…

At the Ji residence, after hanging up the phone, Ji Shaoyan instructed Sister Li, “Sister Li, you don’t need to go. Mingzhu said she’s fine.”

Sister Li had been busy. Hearing this, she raised her head. “Is Miss really okay?”

“Let her be. Jiang Ji is over there, it’s not like no one’s around.” Ji Shaoyan sat on the sofa, lowering his head, not knowing what he was looking at.

Only then did Sister Li nod. “That’s good, but if I have time later, I still want to go take a look. Miss just returned to the country and hasn’t stayed at home many days. I can’t quite put my mind at ease. I feel I have to personally see how she’s living and whether she’s doing well before I can be reassured.”

Sister Li had been taking care of the Ji residence since Ji Shaoyan’s generation. Perhaps because the Ji family had few members, she got along quite well with them. Over the years, they lived harmoniously, almost like family.

When Ji Mingzhu was little and still too young to remember things, if Ji Shaoyan was busy, Sister Li was usually the one who took care of her.

So in a sense, Ji Mingzhu grew up under Sister Li’s watch.

Ji Shaoyan responded, “She has plenty of tricks. How would she let herself be wronged? I don’t mind. If you want to go, just tell her yourself.”

Sister Li gave an “ai,” then walked away briskly.

Ji Shaoyan put the documents in his hand into a file folder, carried it, and went upstairs from the living room.

By the spiral staircase, Shu Yuhua had been standing there, watching for who knows how long.

Before Ji Shaoyan approached, she murmured, “Shaoyan, why didn’t you tell me you came back?”

Ji Shaoyan glanced at her, expression calm. “Do I need to notify others when I return to my own home?”

“You just mentioned Mingzhu. Should I go over there to take a look too?” Shu Yuhua was unaffected by his words and continued directly, her face like still water, without any ripple.

“You don’t need to worry about her.”

The man’s figure was tall. As he passed her, there was a faint scent of tobacco, very captivating.

The smell drifted into her nose, making Shu Yuhua recall the silhouette from entertainment newspapers a few days ago.

At Ji Shaoyan’s dinner gathering, young beautiful actresses surrounded him, sitting very close.

Through the smoke, Ji Shaoyan’s handsome face was captured, a faint smile at the corner of his lips.

He held a cigarette between his fingers, exuding laziness and haziness.

Shu Yuhua clenched the hem of her skirt tightly, her fingertips turning white. She tried to keep her voice steady. “Shaoyan… did you go to the north of the city that day?”

“You didn’t come back that night… where did you stay?” Shu Yuhua hadn’t wanted to ask, but she found she couldn’t suppress herself.

Looking at the man before her, there was a feeling of helplessness yet willingness in her heart, tugging at her. Even after so many years, this feeling remained vivid and real whenever she saw him.

Ji Shaoyan seemed to smile faintly after hearing her, stopped, turned toward her, and raised his brow slightly. “You’re investigating my whereabouts?”

“…I didn’t investigate. It’s all over entertainment newspapers. I don’t mind you playing along outside, but these newspapers… the family has already seen them. They’ve all been calling me asking what’s going on.”

Her implication was that she hoped Ji Shaoyan would give her some face outside. Those entertainment magazines were clearly something he could handle with a flick of his finger, yet he chose not to.

“What’s going on.” Ji Shaoyan repeated her words and walked closer.

“You know best what’s going on, don’t you?” Ji Shaoyan lowered his head, gaze probing her. “Shu Yuhua, after entering the Ji residence, stay properly in your own position.”

“Want to control me.” Ji Shaoyan paused deliberately, tone frivolous. His gaze swept across her chest, then he clicked his tongue. “Probably still needs to be—bigger.”

Shu Yuhua’s face turned white and red, half embarrassment, half anger.

But he hadn’t treated that person like this before.

Ji Shaoyan ignored her reaction. After speaking, he strolled leisurely toward the study. Before he reached it, the person behind him trembled, “...Do you not believe me? But I already showed you before, and said it long ago—there’s no clue at all! Why won’t you give up?!”

Her words, however, drew no response from Ji Shaoyan. Only a sudden sound of the door closing remained, separating the two.

Shu Yuhua only felt her heart twisting like knives. A surge of jealousy rushed straight to the top of her head, continuing without stop.

…

Since that “bathroom door” incident, although Jiang Ji was at the company, his reach became especially long.

He managed everything, even how long Ji Mingzhu stayed in the bathroom.

Though he didn’t say she wasn’t allowed to go out, privately he had Tomi observe her and report her every move.

Ji Mingzhu also tried English mode, wanting to experience controlling high-end technology and the feeling of someone bowing to her. But the little robot didn’t buy it at all, just minding its own cheerful hopping around.

The more cheerful it was, the more helpless she felt. Later, Ji Mingzhu even used both the soft cute loli mode and the domineering mature-woman mode, yet none of these worked. The little robot remained completely unmoved.

Only after it ran out of battery did Ji Mingzhu finally feel relieved.

Once she could go out, Ji Mingzhu wanted to stroll around and get some inspiration.

She dressed up a bit and went out, but the moment she stepped outside, Jiang Ji’s message arrived right after.

Boxing Jiang: 【You went out?】

Ji Mingzhu: 【...Did you install some all-seeing eye somewhere...】

Boxing Jiang: 【Don’t want your leg anymore?】

Ji Mingzhu: 【Didn’t I tell you already? It’s nothing serious.】

Boxing Jiang: 【Be careful.】

Look at that arrogant tone.

At certain times, Jiang Ji really rivaled Ji Shaoyan.

Just as Ji Mingzhu wondered whether there really was an all-seeing eye at home, another message from Jiang Ji popped up—

Boxing Jiang: 【Where are you going.】

Ji Mingzhu: 【Just walking around.】

Boxing Jiang: 【Give me the specific address.】

Ji Mingzhu: 【?】

Boxing Jiang: 【When I finish work tonight, I’ll come pick you up.】

Ji Mingzhu: 【You sure? A certain pigeon from before still hasn’t been stewed [arrogant.jpg]】

Boxing Jiang: 【This time won’t happen.】

Before Ji Mingzhu could reply, Jiang Ji’s next sentence followed—

【I don’t want to be given a title starting with “dog” again.】

“……”

Just that once—she had only said it once and he heard it!

And Jiang Ji still remembered it now.

Ji Mingzhu stayed silent for a moment, then sent a message—

【Forget it. I’ll just walk around near your company, then you can take me back.】

No matter what, she just wanted to wander. Her yoga class hadn’t started yet. In short, she wanted some space to expend the energy she had built up these past days.

Boxing Jiang: 【I’m not at the company. I’m in the north of the city discussing business.】

Boxing Jiang: 【Want Uncle Lin to pick you up?】

Ji Mingzhu: 【No need.】

Ji Mingzhu: 【Too troublesome. You do your thing. I can go back myself tonight.】

She originally wanted to stroll. If Uncle Lin picked her up and Jiang Ji then sent her back to Boyue, wouldn’t she not need to move her legs at all—just lie flat.

Ji Mingzhu waited a few seconds, and finally the other side responded.

Boxing Jiang: 【Mm.】

…

When Ji Mingzhu went out, she also took her camera along. If she encountered something she liked while scouting, she could just capture it directly.

In Yin City, along the southern coastal area, there were asphalt roads and stretches of coniferous forests. In the northern area, there were long rows of parasol tree shade and evergreen leaves.

Skipping past early winter, in the deep winter season, the sea wind would surely cut painfully into the bones. Thinking of this, her steps, which had been aimless, suddenly turned, and she immediately had a direction.

The north of the city had many evergreens. With ginkgo leaves falling and red maples changing color, it must be breathtakingly beautiful.

Ji Mingzhu deliberately took the city scenic trunk line bus. This double-decker bus was a sightseeing vehicle specially launched by Yin City for tourists.

There were many routes. The most popular was the circular route around the entire city. Ji Mingzhu chose the special line from the city center to the north, so she wouldn’t need to trouble herself much on the way back.

Because it was winter, the second floor of the sightseeing bus was deserted. Although there was a giant canopy, anyone smart wouldn’t choose to go up and freeze at this time.

Actually, there weren’t many people on the first floor either. There were plenty of seats to choose from. Ji Mingzhu picked a single seat by the window. Looking out, all the scenery was in full view.

After the sightseeing bus drove for a short while, it entered the northern district.

The tall buildings here weren’t like those in the south. Most retained Yin City’s older appearance, full of last-century charm.

After admiring for a moment, Ji Mingzhu adjusted the camera focus and concentrated on recording the sightseeing route.

The farther north they went, the more obvious the leafy shade became. As the sky gradually darkened, every brick and tile along the street looked beautiful.

When the bus slowly stopped to wait for passengers, Ji Mingzhu suddenly paused while looking at the recording screen.

On the display, beside the asphalt road appeared the figure of a tall man.

His side profile, movements, and the low-key yet refined car beside him all felt especially familiar.

He stood by the car door, with a woman standing close beside him.

The two seemed to be talking.

At this moment, the bus slowly started again and drove forward.

Ji Mingzhu came back to her senses, but the pair of figures gradually receded until they could no longer be seen.

She pressed the playback on the camera, flipping frame by frame.

The pair had been recorded, so they appeared again after only a short search.

Ji Mingzhu lowered her head and looked carefully, discovering that the person talking with Jiang Ji was Zhao Lan.

Author’s note: 【Mini Theater】:

Ji Mingzhu: No need.

Jiang Ji: Sure? [leans down.gif]

Two minutes later—

Ji Mingzhu: Jiang Ji, you’re annoying!

There’s another update tonight. Everyone read it early, don’t wait. Also, twenty-five-character red packets again! Go!

By the way, two new ideas are up in the column pre-collection: “Tonight’s Sweet Wine” and “Little Love Song.” Interested readers can follow, hehe. Thanks to the little angels who threw overlord tickets or irrigated nutrient solution during 2020-01-31 00:37:02~2020-02-01 23:02:22~

Thanks to the little angels who threw grenades: Spicy Big Lobster 3;

Thanks to the little angels who threw mines: Ball Ah Qiu 3; Wood, Spicy Big Lobster 2; Yi Qian灬 1;

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated nutrient solution: Pei Hanzhou Chased Sang Sang Today 30 bottles; Cha Cha Favorite★ 20 bottles; Little Meng Meng 8 bottles; Zai Zai, sfver 7 bottles; 66666 Ah 6 bottles; Gu Xiao Jiu, Lord Juan’s Little Whale, Tonight the Stars Fall and Die., Mi Mie Bei, Arthur 5 bottles; Nie “B 3 bottles; Qu Bu Xia, Li Yangyang mio 2 bottles; bianxiaoxian, Zui, Laughing Hydroxide, yoon, bonbon, Pig Ah o^o, Come Back Pick Stars For You, Mountain P’s Wife 1 bottle;

Thank you very much for everyone’s support, I will continue to work hard!