Chapter 29

Chapter 29 Rose x Kiss

“…Can’t you just say everything at once?” Ji Mingzhu wasn’t as excited as Lian Tang. Her tone was slow, without much emotion.

“……….”

“Ji Mingzhu, are you still Ji Mingzhu?!”

Lian Tang said in disbelief, “If someone dared to climb over your head and act up before, you’d be jumping three feet high, you know! Now you’ve wilted like this?!”

“Wuwuwu my Zhu Zhu, I’m going to scold that little white lotus to death!”

Ji Mingzhu laughed when she heard Lian Tang, finding it amusing. “You think I’m angry? You’re too naive. Alright, don’t worry about me, and don’t be impulsive. I’ll go take a look myself. I’m hanging up.”

“Okay, if you feel this matter isn’t handled well enough, and tonight you need a little whip to discipline that high-and-mighty President Jiang, I can provide it as a friendly service—on call anytime!”

“…Just shut up.” Ji Mingzhu didn’t take the “whip” seriously. “I’m really hanging up.”

“Okay! Bye-bye!”

After hanging up, Ji Mingzhu first went to check Weibo’s trending searches.

Sure enough, there was a conspicuous tag, standing out among a bunch of traffic celebrities.

【Zhao Lan Jiang Ji】

Under this tag’s top post was Zhao Lan’s Weibo after last night’s interview video aired, almost like an explanation and clarification.

【Zhao Lan: Sorry for disappointing everyone’s expectations, but this is only the first episode. The good stuff should be saved for later [silly smile.jpg]. This season’s Financial Storm Figures theme has 12 videos in total, two per theme, meaning the six big figures I invited. Same words—stay tuned.】

The comments exploded again—first about her response, and second questioning her vagueness and attempt to confuse.

—Uh… you still didn’t explain clearly, avoiding the important parts.

—It’s just one sentence. Just say it. Did you invite Jiang Ji or not?

—I just saw fans defending, saying the two families have good relations and everything will be clear later. But earlier Zhao Lan herself hinted heavily at Jiang Group.

—If fans come again, I’m going to lose my temper.

—Hahaha, still trying to keep us hanging? I’m telling you, no way!

—Zhao Lan, isn’t it better to be a pure little white flower in the hosting circle? Why step into entertainment? Do you think netizens can’t see your little schemes? [dog head.jpg]

Zhao Lan was probably following the comments closely. Then she specifically replied to the doubts.

【Zhao Lan: I’ve seen everyone’s questions and confusion. But adhering to my usual low-profile principle, I didn’t want to respond too much. However, some malicious smears are too excessive. So I’ll clarify here—our Zhao family and the Jiang family are family friends, we have business dealings, and Jiang Ji and I have known each other since childhood and were classmates. So please don’t maliciously speculate anymore. As for later interviews, I’ve only done one so far. How it goes later, just stay tuned. Thank you~ [heart.jpg]】

As soon as this comment appeared, the 【Zhao Lan Jiang Ji】 trending topic shot up instantly.

Then as it spread, more and more people saw it, flooding in, fermenting into wider circulation.

But strangely, when Ji Mingzhu saw this—Zhao Lan still pretending familiarity in a casual-yet-deliberate manner—she no longer felt like she had to question Jiang Ji like before.

The sour yet swelling emotion in her heart turned into understanding.

This time, she inexplicably felt things weren’t as simple as they appeared.

Everything before connected together, like clouds parting.

From Zhao Lan’s long preheating, to Jiang Ji not appearing in the video, it was clear Jiang Group hadn’t agreed.

Jiang Ji appeared calm and lean on the surface, but his inner thoughts were hard to grasp.

In Ji Mingzhu’s view, many times he seemed somewhat inconsistent.

She had witnessed his indifference and rejection. But more often, it was after returning home, when they lived together.

Jiang Ji to her always seemed like a combination of contradiction and harmony.

Unspeakable, yet real.

She had too many such experiences.

But one thing was certain—perhaps due to his naturally cold temperament, even though many women flocked to him, Jiang Ji really didn’t have much going on in that regard.

After all, after being abroad for so many years, he hadn’t been seen getting a girlfriend.

And the Jiang Group’s response that Lian Tang mentioned…

Ji Mingzhu held back for a while, but ultimately couldn’t resist the curiosity in her heart and tapped it.

It was from the Jiang Group’s Special Assistant Office. Judging from the tone, it should be Assistant Ying—

【Jiang Group Special Assistant Office:

Hello everyone, this is the Special Assistant Office of the Jiang Group President’s Office. We are very sorry to have become the center of public opinion. Here, we need to clarify two things.

Previously, our company’s public relations department did receive various interview invitations from different parties. However, up to now, our company has not agreed to any related projects. Please do not make unfounded speculation.

Jiang Group has always maintained a low-profile approach and has no intention of occupying public resources. For certain improper methods, we express condemnation and will hand them all over to the judicial department for lawyer’s letter handling. Once again, we apologize for disturbing everyone. —Assistant Ying.】

As soon as this Weibo post appeared, netizens rushed in again.

—Oh my god, is this an official response?

—Never seen this before, this Special Assistant Office seems real, a verified account!

—Is this talking about Zhao Lan? And the trending search?

—Improper methods… [laugh-cry.jpg] so the trending topic was bought?

—That slap is loud. No wonder Zhao Lan kept being vague. Key point—has not agreed to any related projects.

—Zhao Lan, you told netizens to stay tuned. Are we supposed to wait for your lawyer’s letter?

…

Jiang Group, top-floor office.

After reporting the new round of work, Assistant Ying cautiously looked at Jiang Ji.

“What is it?” Sensing his hesitation, Jiang Ji slowly raised his head. “Anything else?”

“Not work-related, but tied to the company.”

“Mm, go ahead.”

Assistant Ying pushed his glasses. “Just now HR and PR called. On Weibo… you’re on the trending search.”

Jiang Ji raised his eyebrow, seemingly hearing about this for the first time.

Actually, since returning to the country, his popularity had remained high.

But Jiang Group followed a low-profile route. Aside from natural trends, which didn’t matter, obvious ones bought by competitors had their own solutions.

The company’s PR department dealt with unscrupulous media—lightly with warnings, heavily with lawyer’s letters. So under normal circumstances, Jiang Group would never occupy public resources.

“What trending search?”

“The trending search about you and Host Zhao.” Actually, Assistant Ying still had more to say. Regardless, judging from Jiang Ji’s expression, he truly didn’t know and seemed to be the last to find out.

The whole company already knew.

Even the pantry girl was discussing it.

“From backend information, it seems to be a trending topic artificially purchased.”

“Remove it immediately.” Jiang Ji’s tone turned cold.

“Okay, the Special Assistant Office has already posted a clarification. We’ll discuss it shortly.”

After hearing this, Jiang Ji seemed to think of something and slowly lifted his eyes. “Did that side call?”

That side?

Assistant Ying thought for a moment before understanding.

“The Ji family called to ask. President Ji asked some specifics, and I answered truthfully.” Assistant Ying paused, then added, “If you mean Miss Ji’s side, there’s no movement for now.”

“Mm.” Jiang Ji said lightly.

He unlocked his phone, intending to check WeChat, but with a swipe of his finger, he landed in Photos.

Jiang Ji didn’t like taking pictures, but there were still a few in his album.

The latest one—wasn’t hard to tell—was taken at the top floor of Jiang Group, right in this office.

Such a familiar place.

It felt like it had happened not long ago.

Though casually shot, the composition was very refined.

The distance between the photographer and the subject was especially close, less than one meter.

Because of the light falling in from the floor-to-ceiling window, the girl napping on the sofa looked even softer.

Her eyes closed: her eyelids faintly pink, lips slightly pouted, a peaceful look of being deep in dreams.

Jiang Ji’s slender fingertips rubbed over the screen, his gaze lingering for a long time.

From Assistant Ying’s angle, Jiang Ji looked as if he had poured his whole life into it, eyes lowered.

He actually looked… that gentle.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Ji steadied himself and checked the specific trending content.

He always acted decisively, preferring to settle things in one step.

After skimming through it, after a while, Jiang Ji spoke calmly.

“Assistant Ying, add another clarification.”

…

After Ji Mingzhu finished reading the Special Assistant Office’s post, she tossed her phone aside.

As for how quickly the office clarified, she hadn’t expected it.

But now—she felt even more refreshed than before.

This… what was it because of?

And the group created last night had long been in a storm, messages flooding nonstop, so Ji Mingzhu muted notifications and only occasionally glanced at it.

Since Jiang Group had clarified, that represented Jiang Ji’s attitude.

Ji Mingzhu had just planned to go to the gym room beside the second-floor pool when her phone buzzed twice.

She opened it. It was a message from “Boxing Jiang.”

Jiang Ji: 【The online news isn’t accurate. I have no relationship with her.】

Hmph, she already knew that.

He still came to curry favor.

Ji Mingzhu: 【Mm, I know.】

Right after she sent this reply, Weibo pushed another notification.

But this time, the subject—was Jiang Group.

Ji Mingzhu focused on it, not sure whether to laugh.

How… did Jiang Group also start buying full-network push notifications??!

【Jiang Group Special Assistant Office: The three big men in our secretary office were too busy, just forgot to say one more thing. Not just interviews—regarding what relationship exactly, I climbed up here to relay our President Jiang’s original words—“I won’t accept interviews from strangers.” Everyone, disperse~ [rabbit blush.jpg]

—Assistant Qian!】

Netizens didn’t expect two consecutive posts and were naturally shocked again.

—Holy crap, did they switch people? Why is the tone so different? So cute!

—I'm laughing like a chicken, strangers? Does that mean they’re not even family friends anymore?!

—She even said they were classmates, and it turns out they’re strangers. Tried to steal a chicken and lost the rice, hahaha.

—If I were Zhao Lan, I’d bury my face in the desert. The person involved slapped her in the face—so embarrassing.

—Damn, Assistant Qian is so soft. Must be a cute boy!

—I imagined President Jiang’s tone and nearly stopped breathing. So charming qaq

—Yeah, turns out the big boss is watching the progress in real time. Wonder what Jiang Ji is doing now—holding red wine with a wicked smile—“Want to cling to me? Maybe next life!”

Just as Ji Mingzhu read this part.

The next second, another message came into WeChat.

Jiang Ji: 【What do you want to eat tonight?】

Ji Mingzhu smiled, thinking of the last comment. As for what Jiang Ji was doing—

That President Jiang in netizens’ eyes, noble and wealthy, cold and distant, practically a walking hormone.

In the evening, he would cook for her.

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater:]

Speaking of what to eat—

Ji Ji: Full?

Zhu Zhu: Mm~~~

Ji Ji: Then it’s my turn to eat.

Zhu Zhu: ?

Ji Ji: Eat you.

Twenty-five characters get a red envelope! Charge!! Thanks to the little angels who threw overlord tickets or irrigated nutrient solution during 2020-02-08 06:58:57~2020-02-09 00:59:36~

Thanks to the little angels who threw grenades: hazel 1;

Thanks to the little angels who threw landmines: 37126644, 39314377, 41161190, Qing Jin, 38036794 1 each;

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated nutrient solution: Frog Little Brother 33 bottles; Zhou Gu Liang 14 bottles; Zui 8 bottles; sehun 6 bottles; sadness゜Yaonie, nancy Yu, Wutong Qiao Shu 5 bottles; Appearance Association Senior Meow, Tonight the Stars Fall and Die 2 bottles; Quiet Quiet Quiet Quiet, xuelu, Beef Flat Rice Noodles, Magical Girl biubiubiu, 41751472, Rui’er Who Loves Peaches, 21246194 1 bottle;

Thank you all very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!