Chapter 36

Chapter 36 Rose x Kiss

Ji Mingzhu and Lian Tang were a little distance away, unable to hear what Jiang Ji and Xiao Yi were saying.

They could only see the two of them with their heads very close together.

“What are those two whispering about?” Lian Tang asked curiously, turning to the person beside her.

Ji Mingzhu shrugged. “I don’t know either.”

Although she didn’t know what they were doing, the “accidental hit” with the ball just now was clear to both of them.

“After they finish playing, let’s eat together,” Lian Tang blinked. “But I can tell—something must be going on between you two lately, and you haven’t told me!”

“...What could possibly be going on?” Ji Mingzhu paused.

“You hesitated just now!” Lian Tang pressed her shoulder and shook her hard. “As the saying goes, couples who argue—make up at the foot or head of the bed, everything can be solved in bed!”

“...........”

Who taught Lian Tang this?!

Ji Mingzhu was speechless for a moment, then raised her hand to stop Lian Tang. “...Do you believe I could strangle you right now!”

After the fuss, Lian Tang got tired of watching them play basketball and started playing on her phone instead.

Ji Mingzhu, on the other hand, was bored, with nothing she wanted to do. The phone didn’t seem all that appealing at the moment.

She propped her chin up with one hand, tilting her head slightly, and finally focused her gaze on the basketball court.

Jiang Ji and Xiao Yi were taking turns playing, back and forth.

White jerseys, pure black headbands.

Dressed like this, he looked vigorous and youthful, unstoppable in his fresh energy, full of a boyish charm.

Having been used to seeing him in crisp, elegant shirts, Jiang Ji now seemed more real, more approachable than usual.

As Ji Mingzhu focused on Jiang Ji, he seemed to sense it and looked over.

Caught off guard, their eyes met in midair.

Ji Mingzhu drew a hand across her neck, fingertips slightly raised, making the “stab throat” motion.

This was the only “ice-breaking” moment between them in the past few days.

Then, in that very second, Xiao Yi seized the opportunity while Jiang Ji was distracted, winning a crucial round with a two-point lead.

He laughed twice, then started to get arrogant. “President Jiang, what’s going on with you?”

Xiao Yi stood casually and said something annoyingly cocky. “Years abroad and you’ve gotten so weak, have you even eaten? Only this much strength?”

However, unlike what he expected, Jiang Ji seemed in a good mood, his expression calm, as if he didn’t care about his words.

Xiao Yi felt strange, only to see Jiang Ji toss the unused ball directly into his arms.

Caught off guard, Xiao Yi lowered his head to catch it, only to hear Jiang Ji say, “None of your damn business.”

“...........”

Good. True to form.

This was Jiang Ji’s second time letting a sharp remark fly, and it was all aimed at Xiao Yi.

...

After Jiang Ji and Xiao Yi finished basketball and changed clothes, they went out to eat together. This used to be a gathering place for the girls.

Yingli International High School wasn’t strict; the school culture was open. So the campus cafeteria and the nearby commercial street were open to students.

Boys, after gathering, usually went straight to the cafeteria for a quick buffet after basketball—convenient and fast.

So these small shops off-campus weren’t big enough for boys to “bro out” and were still more popular with girls.

The four of them were sitting together, eating light set meals.

Xiao Yi pointed at the various dishes on the plate. “What kind of crap is this? Even dogs wouldn’t eat it.”

“Then will you eat it?”

“No.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen someone call themselves a dog. You’re impressive, Brother Xiao Yi.” Lian Tang gave him a big thumbs-up.

Xiao Yi was momentarily speechless. He paused, then nudged Jiang Ji, who was sitting beside him, with his elbow. “Hey, are you actually eating?”

Jiang Ji lazily lifted his eyelids. “Why do you talk so much nonsense?”

Xiao Yi had no choice and continued nibbling on the “greens.” Halfway through, he curiously asked Ji Mingzhu about her upcoming plans.

“Eat, drink, play, sleep, and spend money on the side,” Ji Mingzhu tossed Xiao Yi a look that seemed helpless but was actually boastful. “Can’t help it. That’s how boring it is.”

“This is what you call boring?” Xiao Yi snorted dismissively. “You haven’t seen me. Busy and bored—that’s deadly.”

“I’ll have to go to my dad’s company soon.”

Ji Mingzhu spoke casually, not noticing that Jiang Ji gave her a meaningful look upon hearing this.

“By the way, Jiang Dog, are you having a birthday party this year?” Xiao Yi wanted to light a cigarette, but after being stopped, he simply held it with one hand.

Jiang Ji shot him a warning glance.

Xiao Yi froze mid-action, then quickly corrected himself. “You heard me wrong. I meant President Jiang.”

Speaking of which, Jiang Ji’s birthday fell in the dead of winter, and it should be coming up soon.

“Most likely, yes.” In the past, Jiang Yucheng usually helped organize it, so there was none while Jiang Ji was abroad.

But this year was particularly important: first, he had returned after completing his studies; second, he had taken over the Jiang family, assuming great power.

Using a birthday banquet to extend and deepen his network, consolidating connections with influential families, was a standard strategy.

Thus, Jiang Ji said “most likely.”

In fact, it should definitely be held.

As they were finishing their meal, whether by prior arrangement or coincidence, Xiao Yi pulled Lian Tang aside. He claimed to have urgent business and needed to leave first.

“I’ll take Lian Tang back. You two can do as you please.”

Ji Mingzhu looked over. “Wasn’t Lian Tang just saying she’d stay at Bai Yue for a night?”

At this moment, Lian Tang had already learned to answer first.

“I have urgent business, really urgent!”

In no time, like a gust of wind, the two of them disappeared.

“Have you finished eating?” Jiang Ji finally spoke after a while, taking the initiative.

Look at him.

This proactive, concerned attitude... it’s completely different from him a few days ago!!

Ji Mingzhu lightly hummed, unable to hold back.

“Almost done. You?”

“Mm, then let’s go back together now.”

Ji Mingzhu remembered her car. “Together? I drove here myself. You can drive back on your own.”

“I didn’t drive today,” Jiang Ji reminded her. “I came in Xiao Yi’s car.”

“............”

What a rare thing. Jiang Ji actually didn’t drive and now wants to hitch a ride with her?

Thinking this, Ji Mingzhu fixed her gaze, carefully looking at Jiang Ji across from her.

Although his gaze was very open, for some reason—

Ji Mingzhu inexplicably, without reason, felt a trace of shamelessness emanating from him.

...

On the way back to Bai Yue, Ji Mingzhu noticed that Jiang Ji was different from usual.

Rather than “different,” it was more like he had become a bit more proactive.

He made every effort to talk to her along the way.

The two of them were exactly the type who, once a conversation started, could talk easily.

Whatever topic she brought up, Jiang Ji could keep up.

This unusual behavior became especially noticeable once they arrived at Bai Yue.

Ji Mingzhu went to the kitchen to get something to eat. When she returned to the living room, she found Jiang Ji still standing there, not leaving.

Usually, he would have gone straight to the bedroom to change.

Moreover—his gaze was fixed on her like a rope, holding her firmly.

“What are you staring at me like that for?”

Ji Mingzhu said as she touched her face.

It didn’t feel rough or ugly at all.

So why was he staring at her like this?

Thinking carefully, it was actually a little unsettling.

As Ji Mingzhu immersed herself in her thoughts, she then heard Jiang Ji slowly speak.

“What happened that morning… it was my fault.”

...

When Ji Mingzhu returned to her room, it still felt somewhat unreal.

The one who said that just now… was it really Jiang Ji?

He shouldn’t have been possessed by Tomi or turned into some kind of robot.

Ji Mingzhu’s gaze fell on the little yellow chicken plush on the bed. She immediately pounced on the bedding, lying on it and picking up the plush, rubbing it.

Her hair was messy, and her mind echoed with Jiang Ji’s words just now.

He said, what happened that morning was his fault.

Ji Mingzhu reflected on it. Although it didn’t feel like Jiang Ji’s usual style, it was very gratifying.

It wasn’t that he had lowered his noble head first, or that he admitted he was wrong.

The point that Ji Mingzhu was tangled over wasn’t about his sudden anger, nor whether he had actually thrown away or drank that mocha latte.

What mattered to her was just one thing: attitude.

The sour ache she had felt before suddenly tightened and then began to beat slowly and alternately, step by step.

That evening, perhaps in a good mood, Ji Mingzhu uploaded the video from the hot spring winery trip.

【rl: Little shells, today’s vlog is here! Surprise! Hot Spring Winery Special—highlights include skiing, hot springs, the winery, plus a helicopter ride giving you a panoramic aerial view~ [Little Chick.jpg].】

This episode had already been edited for some time. Adding post-production effects and cute elements took some effort, but overall, she was satisfied.

Her fans were all night owls—

At this hour, unsurprisingly, they all started responding.

—Wow! What a surprise! Released early!

—Finished watching, full of highlights, so thrilling! Heard Little Pearl’s exclamation while skiing, so cute haha.

—Hot Spring Winery, I’m obsessed, this is too much fun! But why not show a little shoulder in the hot spring? Could vaguely see beautiful legs [dog head.jpg].

—Honestly, really looking forward to the day my Pearl shows her face. I feel like she’s a very pretty young lady!

Besides these everyday praises, there were also some microscope-level fans, focusing on every detail.

—Wow, this hot spring winery is really not cheap!

—At 52 seconds, when the uploader opened the suitcase, there was a moment scanning the room—it looks like a presidential suite! I’m shocked.

—Upstairs, look at her suitcase, a newly released European customized leather suitcase by Loewe, even engraved with her exclusive English name! But looking at her previous videos studying in Australia, undeniably a young rich beauty.

—And the helicopter, seriously? I checked online. This flight base—without connections, it’s impossible to get aerial filming rights! Plus that wine, the winery doesn’t sell it publicly~

—I love my woman, she’s really outstanding. That wine cellar at home looks exquisite.

—Damn, enough of this discussion. At the fifteen-minute mark, listen carefully, there’s a very pleasant male voice, and a tiny bit of clothing appears. I imagined it and couldn’t handle it—it’s just too sweet!

Ji Mingzhu was reading the hot comments. Seeing the last one, she went back to carefully watch her own video.

Sure enough, at the fifteen-minute mark, a little of Jiang Ji appeared—no face, just a bit of clothing and a voice.

At that time, she was probably still packing, and Jiang Ji was waiting for her, asking, “Finished yet?”

She must not have edited it cleanly, accidentally leaving a bit in.

She hadn’t expected such subtle details to be discovered and publicly analyzed by netizens.

Ji Mingzhu couldn’t help but marvel again at the netizens’ sharp eyes—it was like a carpet search.

However, regarding speculations about her family background, Ji Mingzhu never responded directly. When filming videos, she never revealed such real-world information, protecting her three-dimensional privacy well.

She didn’t want to use these things as a gimmick for video views—there wasn’t even enough time to film what she liked, let alone anything else.

Ji Mingzhu scrolled down. A few fans happened to have birthdays today, asking for blessings, hoping for a reply.

—It’s my birthday today, Little Pearl look at me! Big blessings, warm hugs, wild kisses!

For these, she quickly replied—

【rl: Happy birthday, little darling~ [hug.jpg][kiss.jpg].】

Speaking of birthdays—

Jiang Ji’s birthday was also coming soon.

What should she give him, and what should she prepare?

Ji Mingzhu focused for a moment.

After suddenly making a decision in her heart, she immediately felt much more relaxed.

She scrolled through a few more recent comments, all from fans asking for her kisses and hugs.

Then, she stumbled upon something else.

Ji Mingzhu’s attention was again drawn to a zombie account.

【bcdefg8888: My birthday too.】

Seeing this, Ji Mingzhu frowned. Are zombie fans this smart nowadays?

Seeing her fans asking for hugs and kisses, within seconds this automatic zombie fan chimed in.

By now, she was almost familiar with it.

Ji Mingzhu ignored this message entirely and turned off her phone, preparing to wash up.

...

Jiang Ji’s birthday banquet arrived very quickly.

The location was at the Jiang residence.

Jiang Yucheng invited many friends his age, and Lin Manxi had started preparing the banquet decorations early.

The day before the birthday banquet, Lin Manxi had asked the two of them to come stay early, but Jiang Ji refused.

His reasoning was that he would be busy with work, and going back and forth to the company would be inconvenient. Lin Manxi couldn’t argue with him, so the current decision was for them to rest at Bai Yue.

On the night of the banquet, glasses clinked and conversations overlapped.

Inside the residence, lights reflected off hair and clothing; outside, the cold wind blew sharply.

The Jiang residence was a large, connected mansion. It was already vast, so just by moving some dining tables out of the living room, the cleared area was enough for a banquet hall.

Both elders and younger guests invited had arrived; the guest seats were full. Lin Manxi and Jiang Yucheng busied themselves entertaining the guests.

This time, Lian Tang had come with her parents and behaved well, not crowding near Ji Mingzhu.

Everyone knew the relationship between the Ji and Jiang families, so seeing Ji Mingzhu consistently by Jiang Ji’s side to toast, her arm linked in his, looking intimate, caused no surprise.

What was surprising was—

The man was lean and elegant, calm like jade; the woman was graceful and beautiful, bright and charming.

Standing together, they were perfectly matched, looking extremely suited for each other.

“Isn’t Mingzhu having a drink?” An elder, seeing Jiang Ji offering a toast, reminded Ji Mingzhu, who had been standing beside him.

These elders were old-fashioned and deeply rooted in the idea that a wife should be modest and considerate toward her husband.

When it came to toasting, a wife should assist, not just stand by doing nothing.

“She’s been unwell recently; alcohol isn’t suitable for her,” Jiang Ji raised his hand, deflecting lightly.

If Jiang Ji hadn’t spoken, it would have been fine, but now Ji Mingzhu remembered.

In fact, since her last stomachache, Jiang Ji had never allowed her to drink openly again.

Of course, secretly, without being seen, it was still possible.

Just like now, she held a glass of red wine, seemingly able to drink, but it was just for show.

“Sorry.” Ji Mingzhu followed Jiang Ji’s words, smiling innocently as she replied to the elder.

The elder wanted to say more, but noticing Ji Shaoyan walking slowly over from nearby, he quickly withdrew.

Ji Shaoyan had arrived late today; the banquet had already started long before he came. He was alone, without a female companion.

After some interaction, Ji Mingzhu saw him talking with Jiang Yucheng.

Now he approached, giving a slight nod to Jiang Ji, then lightly tapped Ji Mingzhu’s wine glass with his own, producing a clear clink.

“You look beautiful today.”

“You’re very handsome too.” Ji Mingzhu leaned forward slightly, nuzzling against Ji Shaoyan in his arms.

Ji Shaoyan patted her, his gaze falling on the necklace she wore around her neck.

Then, he looked at Jiang Ji’s cufflinks.

It was a matching pair.

Ji Shaoyan nodded in approval and then began discussing business with Jiang Ji. Ji Mingzhu didn’t understand and didn’t want to listen.

Judging by their manner, they would probably be talking for a long time.

“You go rest over there for a bit. Jiang Ji and I still need to discuss some matters,” Ji Shaoyan said, not wanting her to continue standing there.

Jiang Ji raised no objection, suggesting, “Go by the staircase; no one will be there. I’ll come find you later.”

Ji Mingzhu agreed and turned toward the spiral staircase.

If she remembered correctly, halfway up the staircase, there was a terrace with a resting area, furnished with tatami mats.

“Ji Mingzhu.”

Ji Mingzhu had barely taken two steps up the staircase when a voice called from behind, causing her to stop immediately.

She turned around, looking down the stairs.

It was Zhao Lan, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Today, Zhao Lan should have come with Old Zhao, but Ji Mingzhu hadn’t paid much attention, let alone tried to find out about the surroundings or the other guests at the banquet.

So when Zhao Lan called out to her, Ji Mingzhu had no intention of stopping to chat.

Even without anything else, just because of Zhao Lan’s previous antics of sending out press releases randomly, Ji Mingzhu felt too lazy to bother.

However, Zhao Lan didn’t plan to let her go, persisting.

“Wait a moment, I want to talk to you.”

Saying this, she took a few steps up, walking parallel to Ji Mingzhu.

Earlier, the distance had been too far to see clearly; now that she was closer, the necklace became especially noticeable.

Zhao Lan had begged Old Zhao relentlessly to get the chance to attend today.

Once inside the banquet hall, her gaze stayed fixed on the two of them, never shifting elsewhere.

Others may not have noticed, but with her meticulous mind, she immediately saw how different the two were from before.

The distance in atmosphere is a measure of how much one person rejects another.

Beyond that, the wearing of matching jewelry is another form of unspoken understanding.

The necklace Ji Mingzhu wore around her neck matched the cufflinks on Jiang Ji’s sleeves.

They gave off a delicate, subdued gleam, only refracting brilliantly at certain angles.

Zhao Lan felt her eyes sting from the light, that sting spreading through her limbs and penetrating her heart.

“What do I have to talk to you about?” Ji Mingzhu looked at Zhao Lan, whose expression was pitiful and tearful, as if wronged.

“There’s nothing to talk about, I just want to tell you, Ji Mingzhu, don’t get too smug.” Zhao Lan stared intently, speaking softly, but the words were far from pleasant.

“Smug? How am I smug?” Ji Mingzhu slowly raised an eyebrow, looking at her. “Is it because you got slapped hard in the face by Jiang Ji, so you think I’m smug?”

She smiled. “You’re wrong—I’ve been proud since I was little~”

“Is it just pride? Jiang Ji married you, but how much genuine affection is there? You’re just relying on your family background. Besides that, what do you have?” Zhao Lan emphasized “Jiang Ji,” as if reminding and asserting.

It was unclear whether she was trying to convince others or herself.

“Of course I have… I have looks, a figure, education, and a father who loves me.”

Ji Mingzhu finished speaking, looking at her and blinking. “And you? By that measure, you can’t match me in any of those, and you even get the netizens’ scolding—how does it feel to crash and burn?”

Zhao Lan was momentarily speechless.

She only knew that she could not stand seeing Ji Mingzhu get everything so easily.

Zhao Lan recalled the overwhelming online criticism after the Jiang family responded, the PR team stepping back, and when she returned home, facing her parents’ cold eyes. She had to endure immense pressure and announce a pause in filming her interview videos.

She had always been raised being praised, and now she experienced the desolation of being looked down upon.

All of it now boiled into an unquenchable fire in her heart.

It burned away her rationality, leaving only unwillingness and resentment.

Why…

“Why do you, Ji Mingzhu, have it all?” Zhao Lan said coldly. “Jiang Ji only randomly chose someone with a good family background among everyone. Do you think your position is stable? Everything you’ve gotten is built on emptiness, and that’s all your life will ever be.”

Zhao Lan said this, but in truth, she sensed, faintly, the motivation behind Jiang Ji’s actions.

This kind of sour tone, Ji Mingzhu had experienced countless times back in school.

Back then, there were people she didn’t even know, yet they knew everything about her at school and spoke in such a resentful, sour way.

Ji Mingzhu found it a little amusing, not angry at all, and went along with Zhao Lan’s words. “Yeah, it is pretty casual, so why isn’t his fiancée you?”

Saying this, she was too lazy to continue arguing with Zhao Lan and didn’t want to stay there any longer, stepping down the stairs.

“You…” Zhao Lan wanted to say something, but seeing something, the words she was about to speak stuck back in her throat.

The next second, Ji Mingzhu felt her foot catch on something. Just as she was about to fall to the side, Zhao Lan stumbled first.

Probably from being trained by that little robot, she reacted quickly. Ji Mingzhu maintained her last bit of rationality, quickly grabbing the railing to her right to steady herself and avoid falling.

However, she felt the spot she had twisted in the bathroom twinge again.

It was sharper than last time.

But it was just a sudden moment.

She hadn’t twisted it.

Zhao Lan, beside her, began softly crying, probably from pain.

Hearing this sudden sound, Ji Mingzhu turned to look and immediately saw Jiang Ji standing at the bottom corner of the staircase.

Zhao Lan kept her eyes on Ji Mingzhu, having twisted her ankle on the stairs, now looking even more fragile. “Why did you trip me…”

Seeing her like this, Ji Mingzhu hesitated for a few moments but didn’t speak.

Just as Zhao Lan began again, “Why are you—” her words were interrupted by a figure walking up.

Jiang Ji cast a cold glance at Zhao Lan, bypassing her entirely, then reached out, passing his arm under Ji Mingzhu’s legs, and lifted her horizontally, walking upstairs.

Because the guest hall was full of people and it was the cold winter night outside, neither place was suitable.

So Jiang Ji didn’t take Ji Mingzhu anywhere else; he simply carried her straight to his room upstairs.

Once in the room, Ji Mingzhu was placed on the bed. Then she felt her skirt being lifted from below.

A shiver of coolness spread through her.

“Jiang Ji…”

Jiang Ji half-squatted on the floor, unhesitatingly holding her ankles and placing them on his thigh.

His eyes lowered, the indoor light softening the contours of his brows and eyes.

“Whether you believe it or not, I didn’t trip her—she tripped me!”

“I know.” His long hands, like last time, skillfully rested on her ankles, gently massaging.

Ji Mingzhu hummed. “All your flirtatious debts… you’re the cause of them.”

His long lashes lowered, and he asked, “Twisted it?”

Ji Mingzhu’s voice softened. “No… just for a moment… same as last time.”

For some reason, she emphasized, “Anyway, you can’t keep postponing the days I can’t drink!”

Jiang Ji’s mouth curved slightly. His hands remained on her ankles, kneading slowly.

“Does it still hurt?”

“No… it doesn’t hurt anymore.” Ji Mingzhu looked at him kneeling before her, completely submissive, and couldn’t help teasing him. “The kind of pain I want isn’t this kind of pain.”

This time Jiang Ji really laughed.

His delicate features were illuminated by the light, radiant.

The faint smile on his lips gradually became clearer.

Jiang Ji rarely laughed like this. Then he slowly spoke.

“Little princess, who else do you want to care for you?”

The words sounded right in her ear. Ji Mingzhu felt as if the fireworks stored in her chest had exploded; she seemed to see flowers blooming in warm spring light and hear the gentle flow of streams melting from snowy meadows.

Winter night, cold.

Downstairs, music and dancing filled the air, glasses clinking in celebration.

Upstairs, the room was silent.

The light bathed the two of them, their breaths shallow and intertwining.

At this moment, hearing his gentle voice felt so warm.

And that warmth nearly brought tears to her eyes.

Author’s note: 【Mini Scene】:

Ji Ji: [lifts her skirt] [holds the bunny]

Zhu Zhu: What are you doing, Jiang Ji!

Ji Ji: I’m going to care for you.

Two hours later—

Zhu Zhu: You bastard! [covers her bottom]

【Second Update Combined】—I can’t believe I wrote so many words, I’m cracking, still, twenty-five words get a red envelope, love you all! I worked so hard! I want comments and some liquid! Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or watered me with nutrients from 2020-02-14 22:58:46 to 2020-02-15 17:55:07~

Thanks to the little angel who hit the mine: one vote;

Thanks to the little angels who watered with nutrients: 29424099, 20 bottles; Chu Yi Ya, 15 bottles; Zhe Hua and You*, Little Fairy Seven?, 10 bottles; 25577962, 7 bottles; Wutong Qiaoshu, 5 bottles; Little Reader, 3 bottles; Li Yangyang Mio, 2 bottles; Yin Tian Yin Tian, Xiao Lue said he wants to be world number one, Mango-flavored Garden, Vanilla Oreo, Never Encountered Unoccupied, Beef Rice Noodles, Jia Ying Baby, Tonight the Stars Fall and Die, Agassi’s Little Fan, Dog Dad, Fish Roe Hy, Potato Mushroom Cool, Qi Tian Big Head Saint, 1 bottle;

I sincerely thank everyone for your support. I will continue to work hard!