Chapter 23

Chapter 23 Rose x Kiss

At this moment, Ji Mingzhu once again sighed at the profundity of Chinese culture.

The same phrase, used in different contexts, could display meanings vastly different.

She lowered her head and glanced at the carpet extending inward. Her and Jiang Ji’s suitcases had already been delivered by the hotel butler.

Ji Mingzhu almost brushed past Jiang Ji’s shoulder. When passing him, she even deliberately bumped him.

Unfortunately, their heights were not equal at all. Ji Mingzhu’s shoulder hit his chest, and after contact, it slid from left to right as if spray-painting across an art wall.

The force wasn’t light nor heavy—perfectly measured.

Ji Mingzhu had taken off the coat she wore in the hotel lobby. The hotel maintained a warm constant temperature; from the elevator up to the corridor, she didn’t feel any chill.

Jiang Ji also wore little, so their earlier contact was separated by only two thin layers of clothing.

Faintly, Ji Mingzhu could feel the warmth of his chest, slowly seeping through.

Jiang Ji had no intention of making a fuss. He merely shifted his shoulder slightly, politely giving way, then covered his hand over the door and closed it, producing a dull sound.

Ji Mingzhu walked slowly inward step by step.

She casually tossed her handbag onto the soft couch in the small living room and followed by sitting down.

Although she had gotten out of the car briefly at the gas station that morning, it still had been a four- or five-hour drive—no joke.

The seat was soft; after sitting for so long, her legs felt numb and sore. From the lobby all the way here, her steps felt as if she were floating, not yet recovered.

Now that she could finally lie down, she naturally resumed her at-home posture, planning to relax.

Ji Mingzhu crossed her legs, softened her waist, and lazily leaned back.

Behind her there was only rustling—Jiang Ji was probably fiddling with the suitcase.

She smoothed her slightly curled long hair and turned to look at him.

Without speaking, she seemed quite satisfied with today, lightly humming a tune.

The girl’s voice carried the relief of finally reaching the destination, completely relaxed.

Ji Mingzhu’s tone was naturally slightly lifted, clear with a soft girlish sweetness. When she spoke slowly, it sounded like coquettishness; when faster, it appeared willful—but not annoying. On the contrary, it was the type that made people fond of her.

Stunning and pleasant to listen to.

This good voice had already shone fully in high school.

At that time, she performed a piano solo with solo singing at the school anniversary ceremony. As the music rose and fell, the curtain reflected youthful vitality. The summer heat surged, and the entire auditorium roof almost seemed about to be lifted by the crowd below.

The only daughter of the Ji family in the south of the city—just in her teens—already hinted at future brilliance and beauty, enjoying boundless glory.

After that, Ji Mingzhu also formed a band through school club activities. However, it didn’t last long; it dissolved before high school graduation.

She hadn’t hummed long before Ji Mingzhu suddenly stopped, her gaze shifting to Jiang Ji, who still seemed busy with something.

Since she lay down on the couch, Jiang Ji had been facing away from her, silent, as if tidying, or lost in thought.

But…

Did a suitcase need to be organized for so long?

Ji Mingzhu didn’t think much of it and directly asked—

“Jiang Ji, which one are you choosing?”

Her tone made it sound as if she were the owner here, hospitable, handing the initiative to Jiang Ji.

Jiang Ji looked over. “Whatever.”

The two rooms had identical layouts; whichever he chose wouldn’t be unfair.

There was just one point—

Neither of them had doors.

This hot spring winery’s founder was from Turkey; to some extent, it was a foreign-funded enterprise seeking development domestically.

And the Jiang Corporation was a shareholder assisting with financing.

Therefore, the style here was neither Chinese nor European—it was completely modeled after Turkish arched design.

If the two of them lay on their beds and turned slightly, they could see half the opposite room.

Although the facilities truly qualified as a presidential suite, this layout looked like a couple’s room no matter how you saw it.

Ji Mingzhu followed the principle of proximity. “Then I’ll also be casual. I’ll take the one on the left.”

After assigning the accommodation for the next two nights, Ji Mingzhu rested enough and soon couldn’t sit still.

She and Jiang Ji ordered room service for lunch. After eating, Ji Mingzhu took her ski suit and headed straight to the winery’s own ski resort.

She hadn’t deliberately planned the itinerary for these two or three days. Everything was within this small area; wherever she wanted to go, she could go directly—comfortable and carefree.

…

The ski resort here leaned against the mountain; the other side of the pine-covered hill was fenced off, enclosing a large area.

Different from what Ji Mingzhu expected, there were few people in the ski field—just a handful going back and forth.

In such cold weather, perhaps most people chose the open-air hot springs.

But that was good too. Without craving crowds, she could enjoy herself more.

Midway, Ji Mingzhu made a video call to Lian Tang, inviting her to see her leisurely skiing life.

“Lian Little Tang, let me show you the charm of nature—so much snow, haha. Yincheng doesn’t have piles this thick~”

Lian Tang looked at Ji Mingzhu’s delicate face wrapped in the ski suit, her tone unmistakably sour.

“Alright, Ji Mingzhu, you’re really something! So carefree and comfortable! What’s that phrase—right—you’re like a pig frolicking in the snow!”

“Heh—seeing how you’re distracted lately and can’t spare time, I won’t argue with you.”

Ji Mingzhu waved her ski pole and lightly hummed.

“Don’t even mention it…” Lian Tang complained. “If you didn’t say it, fine. Now you did, I’m reminded of my miserable life. Before I could still sneak out to play sometimes; now it’s ridiculous—my dad even restricts how often I go out.”

Recently, Lian Tang had been arranged to take many socialite etiquette courses, preparing for upcoming matchmaking.

Ji Mingzhu and Jiang Ji were directly arranged by elders. Lian Tang was different; the Lian family still hadn’t chosen someone for her and were busy with her older sister’s marriage.

The Lian family had two daughters; Lian Rui was seven years older than Lian Tang and currently held a position in the Lian Corporation.

It was said the Shen family had the intention of an alliance and had already extended an olive branch to the Lian family.

“But Little Eight—let me ask, is the news about the Shen family true or false?”

Ji Mingzhu’s younger aunt Ji Keqing had married into the Shen family, so Lian Tang asking her was indeed the right direction.

“You mean the Shen family?” Ji Mingzhu thought. “Anyway, it’s definitely not Shen Shen-ge. He’s already taken, you know that.”

Ji Mingzhu’s second cousin was Shen Shen, who managed Yiqian Entertainment. The person closest to his heart was the company’s popular actress Xu Mo. They were inseparable; how could he go for a marriage alliance.

Moreover, Ji Mingzhu had a good relationship with this second cousin-in-law. If Shen Shen dared test dangerous boundaries, Ji Mingzhu would be the first sharpening her knife.

The Shen family person they were referring to was actually Shen Qing.

Ji Mingzhu didn’t state it directly. After waiting for the silence on the other end to end, she spoke slowly. “How you think, I won’t interfere. But don’t be too negative. The Shen family might not necessarily choose Lian Rui. I’ll help you ask later.”

She paused, then continued, “Alright, I invited you to see the snow, okay? You being this dispirited makes me uncomfortable. I’ll treat you to a big meal when I get back, Lian Little Tang?”

Hearing this, Lian Tang finally perked up. They chatted a few more sentences. Ji Mingzhu only heard Lian Tang say “Ah!” then hurriedly add before hanging up the video—

“Your one is here, I won’t interfere with your two-person world. Go invite Jiang Ji to see the snow!”

…Here?

Ji Mingzhu looked at the suddenly ended call screen, then turned around.

Jiang Ji had come at some point and was standing silently behind her.

Before Ji Mingzhu could speak, he slowly said, “You want to invite me to see the snow?”

“……”

Who invited him to see the snow!

He never seemed interested in anything before, yet certain words and matters were always heard by him at just the right moment, without missing a bit.

Ji Mingzhu decided she would go to a temple later to pray. Not only did she want to switch positions with Jiang Ji, she also wanted to become the absolute suppressor, the kind who controlled everything from above!

“Why did you come to ski too?” Her tone was full of suspicion.

When Ji Mingzhu left the suite, Jiang Ji had been sitting in the small living room, a laptop resting on his legs, looking busy.

Coming out to play yet still distracted by work—he even seemed a bit pitiful. Thinking this, she hadn’t called him and just took her equipment and left.

“Afraid you’d sprain yourself again and no one would carry you.” Jiang Ji replied calmly.

After speaking, he lowered his eyes. Seeing the disbelief gradually appear on Ji Mingzhu’s face, he lightly raised his arm and hooked some snow with his ski, sprinkling a bit of it onto her face.

The snow was icy and cool, not prickly, like spring willow fluff brushing past, making the tip of her nose itch.

Jiang Ji was tall with long legs, so it was very convenient for him. For Ji Mingzhu, it wasn’t so easy.

When she snapped back to her senses and tried to throw snow back, the skis in her hands didn’t cooperate; she couldn’t reach or toss it properly.

And because she wore ski clothes, she was bundled tightly. She wanted to scoop snow with both hands, but she wore protective gloves—at a glance, they looked like Doraemon-style mittens.

The snow she struggled to scoop up fell beside Jiang Ji’s leg before even hitting him.

The two went back and forth in a silent duel for a while, and Ji Mingzhu became displeased.

Every time she was at a disadvantage; she hadn’t even ruffled a single hair of Jiang Ji.

“You’re bullying me like this! Don’t you think it’s unfair?”

“This is bullying?” Jiang Ji stopped and looked down at her.

“Of course. I’m not good at this—if that’s not bullying, what is?”

Jiang Ji played with the ski in his hand unhurriedly, his eyes dark, and said slowly, “Then what are you best at?”

Seeing him fall into the trap in just a few steps, Ji Mingzhu’s peach-blossom eyes glowed with brilliance.

“Jiang Ji, since we’re skiing, let’s make a bet. Whoever wins can order the other person to do three things.”

Ji Mingzhu had skied for many years and was among the best.

If it came to skill and technique, few could match her.

Thinking of this, she emphasized, “Unconditional.”

“You sure you want to bet?” Jiang Ji raised his eyebrow slightly.

“Of course.” Ji Mingzhu blinked at him mischievously, her tone full of confidence.

…

On the way back to the suite from the ski resort, Ji Mingzhu couldn’t muster any spirit.

Like an eggplant struck by frost, powerless.

As if she had returned to the state right after getting out of the car.

Jiang Ji simply wasn’t human.

Not only did he lead every time, he deliberately slowed down at the start and only overtook her at the end.

Best of three—Jiang Ji was the “two.”

He won easily, very gracefully.

Ji Mingzhu had skied for so many years—how could she not tell he had been hiding his skills.

Dog man! He even deliberately suppressed his speed! He just had to enjoy the thrill of overtaking her at the very last moment, right!

After returning to the room, Ji Mingzhu thought about the three requests she had agreed to and felt she had been too rash.

Her calculations had been good, but—while calculating, she ended up calculating herself in.

After dinner, Jiang Ji again sat in the suite’s small living room.

His legs were elegantly crossed, his brows half-lowered, eyes fixed straight ahead.

Occasionally the sound of typing came, along with the gold-rimmed glasses he only wore while working, constantly reminding people that he was indeed busy.

After showering, Ji Mingzhu dragged her slippers. She had originally wanted to pass by Jiang Ji directly, but thinking of the scenes at the ski resort, she took two steps forward, then suddenly turned and backed up again.

She had taken a loss today, so Jiang Ji shouldn’t expect to work peacefully either.

Ji Mingzhu didn’t speak, just wandered around here and there.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Ji seemed to notice and looked up at her.

Ji Mingzhu had just bathed, still carrying a bit of rising warmth. The scent of rose floral water mixed with the indoor temperature and spread unintentionally.

Inside she wore a light purple slip nightdress with thin straps. Her chest was full, stretched taut, faintly revealing the snowy-white cleavage. Over it she draped a light, sheer outer layer.

As she moved, whether intentionally or not, her creamy shoulder showed, glossy and tender white. Her slightly messy long curls fell casually, faintly visible, endlessly alluring.

Jiang Ji withdrew his gaze, then slowly raised it.

Their eyes met in midair.

He reminded her calmly.

“Put your clothes on properly.”

Very good! The fish took the bait!

“I’m dressed just fine. Why are you nervous?” Seeing Jiang Ji respond, Ji Mingzhu sounded innocent. “This is a shared living room, not your room.”

Then she added, “Do you know what a shared living room means? It means—this space is shared. I can do whatever I want here.”

Ji Mingzhu stared at Jiang Ji’s clear, moon-bright face and threw him a flirtatious glance. “Mainly I feel a bit hot. It’s more comfortable like this~”

Jiang Ji was silent for a moment, set the laptop aside, and slowly removed his gold-rimmed glasses.

Holding the glasses in one hand, he lowered his wrist and placed them on his crossed legs. His back leaned slightly, his clean bones forming a sharp arc.

The temperature in Jiang Ji’s eyes remained as before; when he looked at her, they were deep and dark.

He looked at her leisurely. “Since you want to, then keep taking it off.”

Author’s note: 【Mini Theater】:

Ji Ji: Three things, let me think.

Zhu Zhu: Don’t think, best if you forget!

Ji Ji: In the car, in the bathroom, in the kitchen.

Zhu Zhu: ......

Still twenty-five words for a red packet, everyone keep charging! ~