Chapter 37
Chapter 37 Rose x Kiss
Ji Mingzhu stared blankly at the person in front of her, trying to suppress the sudden, inexplicable sting rising at the tip of her nose.
She felt as if she had a thousand things to say, countless questions, yet at this moment, with emotions surging like a dam about to burst, she didn’t know how to express them.
Like a water tank being constantly filled, it was only the overflow above the waterline that first escaped.
But this quiet atmosphere didn’t last long. Jiang Ji spoke first.
“Don’t go to the banquet tonight.”
As he said this, his hands continued their kneading and massaging motion. “If it’s convenient for you, wash up and go to bed first.”
Previously, Lin Manxi had suggested that the two of them return to stay for a while, but Jiang Ji had immediately vetoed it.
However, the birthday banquet was indeed being held here, so tonight the two of them were supposed to stay at the Jiang residence.
“Even if you ask me, I don’t want to go anyway…”
Ji Mingzhu murmured quietly. She was genuinely too lazy to socialize and didn’t want to run into Zhao Lan unexpectedly again.
She couldn’t drink, and even standing next to Jiang Ji, she was just decoration.
“But Jiang Ji, last time she wanted your interview, how did you refuse her?”
Jiang Ji raised an eyebrow, seemingly thinking for a moment about who the subject of the sentence was. “Not familiar, and Jiang Group doesn’t need that kind of hype.”
Ji Mingzhu paused, focusing on his words “that kind of.”
He meant… Zhao Lan’s interview… the hype was only that little…?
“I see…”
Ji Mingzhu responded quietly, almost laughing aloud.
She forced herself to suppress her smile, desperately stopping the corners of her mouth from lifting.
In truth, Zhao Lan’s fall today had cost her dearly; it was truly a case of “losing both the lady and the battle.”
After all, Ji Mingzhu hadn’t been tripped, but Zhao Lan’s own fall was not light.
That painful cry didn’t sound fake.
She had probably wanted both of them to fall simultaneously, taking the initiative so it wouldn’t be too obvious.
Now that Ji Mingzhu had come to her senses, she finally understood.
Zhao Lan not only attempted a childish “frame and blame” trick that only kindergartners would use, she may have even intended for Ji Mingzhu to fall along with her.
Judging by this, Zhao Lan truly didn’t know what had clouded her mind.
Once rationality is stripped away, emotions like “incomprehensible anger” become especially apparent.
After all—
In the adult world, such small moves cannot be hidden. The motives and little schemes behind them are transparent, plain to see.
Jiang Ji was usually a bit cold, looking indifferent to matters of love.
But judging by how he handled this incident, while perhaps not giving Zhao Lan face in a semi-public setting, it inexplicably satisfied Ji Mingzhu, giving her a surge of near-“vanity” delight.
For her, it was a complete plus.
And—
It struck straight at her heart.
“I’ll go downstairs first. You’ll stay here by yourself?”
“Sure.”
Ji Mingzhu nodded, watching Jiang Ji lower her ankles, then straighten up and walk toward the door.
Just as he was about to reach the door, something suddenly occurred to Ji Mingzhu. She called out to him.
“Jiang Ji?”
He turned around in response, the corridor light filtering through the door casting a half-light, half-shadow across his face.
“You… later, there’s still the dance… right?”
Ji Mingzhu’s meaning was clear.
She wanted to know… whether Jiang Ji would go down to the dance floor later, whether he would have another dance partner.
After the birthday banquet, following the usual procedure, came the part where dance partners were invited.
If he wanted to dance, it would definitely have to be her.
But right now, she truly wanted to stay upstairs, not go down.
“There is.” He seemed to understand. “Do you want cake?”
Cake…
Speaking of cake, tonight Jiang Ji’s birthday cake hadn’t been cut yet.
Back when they were still in the country, at his birthday banquet, the first slice of cake always belonged to her.
Ji Mingzhu had long been used to taking what she wanted and accepted it naturally.
But ever since that year, it hadn’t happened again—Ji Mingzhu had gone abroad without a word.
What she hadn’t expected was that Jiang Ji still remembered.
“Of course, I want the first slice cut.”
“Mm.”
Seeing him agree so decisively, Ji Mingzhu acted on impulse. “And later at the dance, don’t dance with anyone else either.”
Jiang Ji raised an eyebrow.
Ji Mingzhu looked back at him with full confidence. “What? After today in front of Zhao Lan, you can’t do anything to slap your own face.”
If he stood by her to support her and then danced with someone else…
Anyway… Ji Mingzhu felt her reasoning was solid!
Yes! That’s exactly right!
“Who said I was going to dance with someone else?” Jiang Ji lowered his gaze to her ankles. “Now that you’re like this, I never thought about finding another dance partner.”
…
After Jiang Ji slowly closed the door and went downstairs, Ji Mingzhu sat in place, suddenly burrowing into the bedding.
Then she covered her face with both hands.
When alone, isolated in the room, that racing-heart feeling filled and amplified.
Yes.
Jiang Ji had just called her “little princess.”
He! Called! Her! Little Princess! That’s right!!
Ji Mingzhu twisted a bit, feeling a delicate, thread-like sweetness rise to her chest, spreading wildly.
It was like being sunk into soft cotton candy, only grabbing the sharpest tip to taste.
How could this person… how could he…!
Actually, this kind of pet name was usually only used by Ji Shaoyan.
Among her friends, Lian Tang, Xiao Yi, and Cheng Zhi, after witnessing Ji Shaoyan’s occasional doting on her, had also called her that.
Only Jiang Ji had never.
Never ever.
But this kind of pet name—he not only knew, he actually called her that.
Could it be that in his heart… he already acknowledged… she was a little princess?
Ji Mingzhu smiled faintly for a moment, raising her hand to touch her slightly flushed earlobe.
Of course she was—she always had been.
Her thoughts wandered back—
Why was it that only when Jiang Ji called her that did her heart surge so uncontrollably?
Ji Mingzhu vaguely felt that an answer was waiting for her.
But it was buried in the mist, unclear, hazy and elusive.
Thinking this, she simply turned over in bed.
…
After washing up, Ji Mingzhu lay face down across the bed, her legs raised in the air, swinging gently back and forth.
She had nothing else to do, so she started playing on her phone.
Tonight, if anyone had left the deepest impression on her, it had to be Zhao Lan.
She opened Zhao Lan’s Weibo and found that all the posts about financial interviews she had previously made seemed to have been deleted.
Not a single related video remained.
Under the latest remaining post, comments were flooded with questions and ridicule, a complete bloodbath—almost unreadable.
Why bother…
Ji Mingzhu couldn’t understand why, knowing this, she still insisted on confronting the Jiang family.
Was it just to fight for a bit of pride?
But such self-destructive behavior, recklessly exposing herself, was something Ji Mingzhu couldn’t comprehend.
After all, Jiang Ji already had a fiancée.
Rushing forward like this was a moral and personal issue.
Moreover, as Zhao’s granddaughter, it truly tarnished the family’s reputation.
Ji Mingzhu thought for a moment and roughly understood where those scandalous stories of the wealthy came from.
When the woman acted this way, the man could not resist.
Over time, many things quietly happened behind the scenes.
Ji Mingzhu didn’t spend much time on Zhao Lan. Putting that aside, she felt instinctively that she had forgotten something.
And that feeling, after all the dust of the banquet settled and Jiang Ji returned, finally found its place.
Tonight she was sleeping here, and she had already finished bathing.
That meant… she would again share the same bed with Jiang Ji?
Ji Mingzhu froze at that thought, and Jiang Ji placed the cut slice of cake on the table.
“Do you want to eat it now?”
“Mm, just leave it there, I’ll eat it later.” She lay there on the bed, turning her head to watch him. “The other rooms in your house… haven’t been tidied tonight, right?”
Jiang Ji lazily started loosening his tie, his gaze drifting over. “You’d have to ask my mom about that.”
Ji Mingzhu was about to speak when the door was lightly knocked twice.
“Ah Ji, Mingzhu, am I disturbing you?”
Ji Mingzhu raised her voice, saying “Ah!” and then the door slowly opened.
Lin Manxi walked in with a bright smile. “Jiang Ji said you weren’t feeling well, so I had the kitchen make some pear soup with goji berries and red ginseng. It tastes really good. Drink some.”
After she slowly set down the tray, her gaze landed on the cake on the table, and she exclaimed, “Ah!”
Her tone carried a hint of mischief—
“So this slice of cake was saved for you, huh.”
Ji Mingzhu cleared her throat and called out, “Aunt… I’m a little hungry…”
“Haha, then it’s just perfect to have it together.”
Lin Manxi patted Jiang Ji’s shoulder. “Take off your clothes and go shower, don’t disturb the two of us talking.”
With that, she walked past Jiang Ji and came to Ji Mingzhu’s side.
Jiang Ji, who had intended to shower anyway, didn’t hurry and moved at his usual unhurried pace.
Once the room was left with just the two of them, Lin Manxi saw Ji Mingzhu lying there and leaned closer. “Last time you left in such a rush, I didn’t get a chance to ask—did you sleep well here?”
“Pretty good,” Ji Mingzhu answered honestly, apart from waking up with a sore throat the next morning, it felt comfortable enough.
Probably because in the morning she realized… she had hugged a human-shaped pillow.
“That’s good. I’ve been busy with the birthday banquet these past few days, so I haven’t really had time to talk with you two.”
Lin Manxi’s gaze fell on the bed.
“Hey—did you two use the pillow I had Jiang Ji bring over last time?”
“What pillow, Aunt?” Ji Mingzhu asked, puzzled.
“This long one here.” Lin Manxi deliberately lowered her voice, speaking mysteriously, pointing at the one on the side of the bed.
Ji Mingzhu followed the direction of her finger and saw the “38-line” pillow they had used last time to mark space.
“Used it, and it’s pretty good,” Ji Mingzhu recalled. “This pillow is super comfortable!”
Seeing Ji Mingzhu so satisfied, Lin Manxi smiled deeper. “As long as you think it’s comfortable, that’s good.”
“Tonight, you still have to remember to use it—it works best placed under your body.”
“…….”
Under her body…?!
Ji Mingzhu’s gaze fixed on the pillow, and for the first time, she wanted to smack her own mouth.
Who told her to speak so quickly!
The key was, she had agreed so casually before!
Not long after Lin Manxi left, Jiang Ji came out of the bathroom, freshly cleaned.
Ji Mingzhu was no longer on the bed, sitting at the table, poking at the slice of cake vigorously.
She poked and ate, grumbling angrily.
Hearing Jiang Ji come out, she immediately suggested, “Jiang Ji, tonight let’s not use that pillow when we sleep.”
Jiang Ji seemed a little surprised, his tone calm and unhurried. “Sleeping with me tonight?”
Ji Mingzhu paused.
At moments like this, she really could see that Jiang Ji was indeed Lin Manxi’s biological son.
She glared at him. “Do you know what that pillow is for?”
Of course Jiang Ji knew.
He glanced at her lightly and said slowly, “Finally, you’re not foolish.”
As sleep approached, Ji Mingzhu found herself unable to drift off again.
The phone had no appeal at all.
She felt that tonight Jiang Ji seemed to have opened some door to teasing words.
And there was that faint trace of indulgent affection.
In the quiet, dark room, only the light coming through the window illuminated the space.
The two slept on their respective sides, not disturbing each other.
Ji Mingzhu tossed and turned, unable to make sense of it.
Sometimes she recalled Jiang Ji’s tone, sometimes the expression on his face when he spoke.
Frame by frame, the images rewound in her mind.
The agitation kept her from falling asleep.
Perhaps because she moved too much, Jiang Ji finally spoke in the silence.
“What are you doing, getting so excited?”
Excited…
He had the nerve to ask!
“You’re not asleep yet. I can’t sleep very well,” Ji Mingzhu paused. “Maybe it’s because there’s nothing beside me, I’m not used to it.”
It wasn’t that she had to hug something.
She just felt it was better to have something by her side than being alone.
At the Park Hyatt, there were plush toys; previously at Jiang’s house there was the long pillow.
Even when traveling and staying in hotels, there was always a tall pillow she could treat as a companion.
Jiang Ji was silent for a moment.
“Am I not enough?”
“……Haha.” Ji Mingzhu laughed out loud. “That’s what you said yourself. I never said you weren’t enough.”
“You said not to use the pillow,” Jiang Ji reminded her slowly. “Want it back now?”
“No, I have a grudge against it now. If it’s beside me, I’d resist it even more.”
But after hearing Jiang Ji’s words just now, Ji Mingzhu felt a little unfair.
Clearly, he was the “culprit” for putting her in this state, yet he looked so calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.
Unfair!
“Jiang Ji.”
“Hm?”
“Lend me your arm evenly, will you~”
Jiang Ji didn’t respond at first, and Ji Mingzhu thought she might be refused, but then she heard a soft rustle from the blankets.
Then, his arm reached over.
How to describe the feeling of instructing Jiang Ji and actually getting a response…
It was so blissful it felt like it would bubble over.
Ji Mingzhu realized that obedient Jiang Ji looked especially endearing right now.
She felt secretly pleased but haughtily snorted, “Thanks, I won’t be polite then.”
She grabbed his arm with both hands, holding it tightly, and her head tilted up onto it.
Not long after, Ji Mingzhu drifted off into sleep.
In the darkness, there was one who still hadn’t fallen asleep.
She leaned closer, and unconsciously, as if treating his arm like a pillow, held on tighter.
Like chewing gum stuck fast.
Her breath rhythmically scattered over his arm, and soon the room was filled with the rose fragrance emanating from her.
Blazing desire surged downward relentlessly along with the restlessness.
Jiang Ji closed his eyes, as if trying desperately to restrain himself.
At this moment, he heard Ji Mingzhu murmur in her sleep, almost like a whisper.
Soft, gentle, very pleasant.
“Mm… Jiang… happy birthday…”
…
Since Jiang Ji’s birthday banquet, their relationship seemed to have a time accelerator.
Compared to before, not only were there more topics to talk about, but the two also met more frequently at the Park Hyatt residence.
Although they had lived across from each other, just a few steps away separated by two walls, neither had ever taken the initiative.
Sometimes, they could go a whole day without seeing each other, and that was normal.
For example, a while back they had a small quarrel and didn’t speak for several days.
Now, however, it was like the snow melting in winter, revealing a bright, early spring—full of warmth and vitality.
Ji Mingzhu had been thinking about one thing these past few days.
That was the birthday gift she had prepared for Jiang Ji.
But due to some uncontrollable reason, she still hadn’t been able to get it to him.
On that day, she had forgotten to tell him about the missing gift because of the banquet, and Jiang Ji seemed not to remember either; he hadn’t mentioned it at all.
It was as if he no longer expected the gift.
Yet judging by his expression, it didn’t look like he was disappointed; rather, it was more like… he had already received it.
Truly a man wrapped in mystery, like mist.
…
That day, after her yoga class, Ji Mingzhu waved to Liu Xi, who was seeing her to the door.
“Teacher Liu, this is fine, you can leave me here.”
“Okay,” Liu Xi replied.
“Aren’t you going home?”
“Later. I still need to go back up and pack some things,” Liu Xi said softly.
“Alright, then goodbye.” Ji Mingzhu walked toward the revolving glass doors and out onto Lishé Street.
Today Ji Shaoyan was supposed to pick her up, saying they needed to discuss the next day’s arrangements at the Ji residence.
She had been back in Yin City long enough; it was time to get serious. She couldn’t afford to waste time now.
Most importantly, without any video material to review, sitting alone was rather boring.
Even Lian Tang was being supervised at home and didn’t have time to accompany her.
Ji Mingzhu swung the strap of her crossbody bag around as she looked around but didn’t see Ji Shaoyan’s figure.
Suddenly, two short honks sounded behind her: “Beep beep—.”
Ji Mingzhu turned back. Another new car.
Once in the car, Ji Shaoyan leaned over to fasten her seatbelt.
“How was yoga class?”
“Already seeing results, I can do so many poses! Your dear daughter is amazing, right?!”
Perhaps it really was the effect of yoga class—Ji Mingzhu’s cheeks were rosy, and she looked full of energy.
Her entire aura radiated bright and sweet charm, impossible to hide, like a fully bloomed rose, thorned yet enticing.
Looking at Ji Mingzhu, who had been in a good mood recently, Ji Shaoyan raised an eyebrow and smirked, “Impressive, impressive, you’re the best.”
As Ji Shaoyan started the car engine, he seemed to remember something and asked her, “The person who just saw you to the door, who was that?”
Actually, it wasn’t very clear; there was an automatic revolving glass door separating the inside and outside.
“To the door?” Ji Mingzhu turned her head, “That was Teacher Liu, my yoga instructor. I actually really like her.”
“That’s really unusual. What kind of person could make you say you ‘like’ them?” Ji Shaoyan’s interest was piqued.
“Dad, you just don’t understand. That’s called ‘eye compatibility.’”
Ji Shaoyan didn’t ask further and casually replied, then said, “Go back and prepare properly. Once we’re at the company, you won’t have time to slack off.”
“I know. My university major wasn’t just for show, so you don’t need to worry about this side of me,” Ji Mingzhu smiled. “Dad, let’s go eat at that place on the top of the city center tower tonight, the one with a river view.”
The restaurant was located by the Yin River in Yin City, high up on the tower top, with a Western-style restaurant offering panoramic views.
Reservations had to be made several months in advance; going there on the day meant there’d definitely be no tables.
The restaurant’s popularity dated back to the last century, when people of Ji Mingzhu’s parents’ generation liked to make lifelong promises by the river at the tower, symbolizing eternal love.
Ji Shaoyan had a private box there long-term. To eat, one just needed to book the dishes with the manager in advance and go directly.
Hearing Ji Mingzhu’s suggestion, Ji Shaoyan adjusted the steering wheel and said, “Fine, we’ll do whatever my treasure wants.”
…
The next day, Ji Mingzhu got up early.
Always remembering Ji Shaoyan’s words, she didn’t dare slack off at all on the first day.
Exquisite makeup, a form-fitting skirt suit.
After coordinating her outfit, Ji Mingzhu checked herself in the full-length mirror by the spiral staircase before heading out.
Jiang Ji also needed to go to the company, so inevitably, they ran into each other, leaving them to depart at the same time.
Jiang Ji glanced at her outfit today and quietly withdrew his gaze, “I’ll take you.”
Ji Mingzhu thought about it. Since the Ji and Jiang residences were close, she agreed.
“I haven’t been this regular in a long time. Next is nine-to-five… I wonder if I can adjust to it.”
“Even if you can’t adjust, it’s fine. You can just rest.”
Jiang Ji’s words drew a surprised look from Ji Mingzhu.
This was completely unlike something a capitalist like him would say.
Was this his way of openly letting her… sneak a break while joking around?
Employees of the Jiang Group would never hear their boss speak like this in front of anyone, let alone the small company forum discussions.
A few days ago, Ji Mingzhu had received top-secret info from Xiao Yi about the Jiang Group’s internal forum.
Because each employee had an account registered with the company’s internal email, work discussions could be conducted there, and since Jiang Group had its own server, secrecy was assured.
Aside from work, minor gossip was clearly a favorite pastime of the female employees.
Several threads discussed their boss’s fiancée.
In other words, they were discussing her—Ji Mingzhu herself.
Ji Mingzhu glanced through roughly; all the posts were marveling at her divine looks.
But she clearly remembered she hadn’t shown her face much—how did people call her divine-looking?
The gossip didn’t go further, because after all, work came first, and exceeding the limits would be checked by the company.
Not mentioning how the employees reacted to Jiang Ji’s words, Ji Shaoyan surely wouldn’t allow her to slack off too long.
Occasionally was fine, but prolonged would be unacceptable; Ji Shaoyan was always strict about these matters.
“My dad… he’d definitely assign someone to watch me.”
“Not here, your dad isn’t here.” Jiang Ji said, gradually stopping the car. “We’ve arrived.”
Ji Mingzhu was confused, then looked outside. Her gaze froze.
“............”
“Jiang Ji, this is your company. You delivered me to the wrong place, right?”
“No mistake. The place you need to come to is Jiang Group.”
Ji Mingzhu: ?
Seeing her doubt, Jiang Ji slowly explained, “Because Ji Group and Jiang Group have a cooperative project, you’re currently considered a Ji Group employee stationed at Jiang Group.”
“............”
No wonder!
Yesterday she felt something was off. When Ji Shaoyan discussed the project with her, he didn’t mention the specific position, and she forgot to ask.
“Last time when you brought it up with Xiao Yi, I thought you knew.”
Jiang Ji referred to that day the four of them returned to Yingli International High School, when Ji Mingzhu and Xiao Yi were bickering over the dinner table.
“Do I look like I knew?” Ji Mingzhu said softly, glancing over.
Jiang Ji actually scrutinized her for a moment.
“Definitely not.”
…
Jiang Ji parked the car and directly took her into Jiang Group.
Both were outstandingly good-looking, and their temperaments were top-tier.
Passing the reception, all the employees’ gazes seemed glued to them.
Walking toward the top-floor private elevator, Ji Mingzhu clearly noticed the whispering of the female receptionists.
Watching Jiang Ji press his fingerprint and the elevator doors slowly close, a thought crossed Ji Mingzhu’s mind:
“President Jiang, don’t tell me—I’m here to be some kind of personal secretary or something, right?”
Jiang Ji heard her and leaned against the elevator wall, arms folded, posture relaxed.
“What do you think?”
He didn’t deny it.
Good… very good…
She guessed it just by saying it casually… incredible!
“Aren’t you afraid it’ll leak out?” Ji Mingzhu looked at him across from her. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll see some internal company forum, the super scandalous topics?”
Jiang Ji raised his eyebrows slightly.
“If you want to peek, I suppose it’s not impossible.”
Ji Mingzhu: ?
She felt like Jiang Ji was teasing her.
Author’s note: 【Mini Scene】:
Ji Ji: [silent but starts taking off clothes.gif]
Zhu Zhu: What are you doing!
Ji Ji: This kind of thing can’t be misunderstood.
Ji Ji: I want you to know, it’s not just like that.
Zhu Zhu: ……
【Combined Second Update】—— Another day of writing myself apart. Everyone, my typing is slow, updates are irregular, really sorry, wuwuwu qaq. Tomorrow’s chapter will be a big turning point. I’m trying my best to write it! Mwah! Still twenty-five red envelopes! And because I send them one by one, red envelopes up to Chapter 31 will be sent! Mua~ Thanks to the little angels who voted or watered with nutrients from 2020-02-15 17:55:07 to 2020-02-16 20:48:34~
Thanks to the little angel who threw a grenade: Qiang 1;
Thanks to the little angels who threw landmines: 26655364, jj xixi xi, Xian Xian Bu Xian Xian, Sheng Yuan, leearoo 1;
Thanks to the little angels who watered with nutrients: twochild 27 bottles; Ying Xue, real―pcy 20 bottles; Yan Xi Yao Qi Zao w 14 bottles; 37126644, Zui, Little Fairy Seven? 10 bottles; Zai Shang!, aili 8 bottles; Cat Wearing a Mask 7 bottles; La La La, Chicken Foot Sister, A Xie Ya, Nan Sheng Qian Meng 6 bottles; Di Deng Zhao He Shan, Qian Xi Xi Xi~, Xiao Xiao, ★w★, r, Xiao Yu Mao, Mi Hu, Ah Zhao, .roue 5 bottles; Me Me Meng Li Ah^^ 4 bottles; Magical Girl biubiubiu, Meng Er Yao, Wu Shixun Yi Yang Qianxi Wife, Wutong Qiao Shu, Zhi Yu° 3 bottles; Qian Qian, Excited Daisy, Wu La La Little Fairy, Little Reader, Jia, Sweet Pot Also Qian, Li Yang Yang mio, Little Angel Ya, ruantangxi, Ye Zi, y. 2 bottles; Ping Sheng, A Shi’s Little Cutie, Qi Tian Da Tou Sheng, Your Little Sweet, Feng Gu Bu Wei, Little Pretty Ye, Hugging Maru Running., Hu Yitian’s Wife, Ju Mei Er, Beef Rice Noodles, xback, Cat Sleeping on the Moon, Jia Ying Baby, A Round Taro, 26655364, Jing Jing Jing Jing, Mango Flavor Garden, Qi Yi 1 bottle;
Thank you all very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!