Chapter 38

Chapter 38 Rose x Kiss

“You want me, I want you even more…” Ji Mingzhu cleared her throat and deliberately averted her gaze.

However, Ji Mingzhu was genuinely curious—

“All these little topics on your forum, do you just ignore them?”

Jiang Ji nodded, “Freedom of speech, as long as it’s not too extreme.”

After a pause, he added, “There are also reward and punishment measures. If the internal forum moderators find a rumor post, they delete it and deduct the corresponding employee’s salary; conversely, there are bonuses.”

But the posts Xiao Yi showed Ji Mingzhu earlier were all discussing the Jiang and Ji families, including topics about Jiang Ji’s fiancée.

These little gossips… were not deleted.

Could the moderators be some kind of immortals…?

Ji Mingzhu remembered correctly: the topic about her being a “divine face” even had a red word next to it—hot.

Her gaze immediately focused, then she asked, “If the Jiang forum has dedicated staff managing it, it must be easy, right?”

Compared to something like a personal secretary position, this seemed way more interesting.

At the very least, she could see who was posting behind the forum and who was more into gossip.

Jiang Ji gave a look of “you’re overthinking,” “These are employees doing two roles part-time; there’s no dedicated management.”

Seeing Ji Mingzhu’s sheepish expression, he spoke again,

“If you want to try, I can give you separate access permissions.”

Ji Mingzhu’s eyes immediately lit up, “Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then after I’m familiar with the work, don’t forget, okay~” Ji Mingzhu winked at Jiang Ji, “President Jiang?”

As her tone fell slightly, the elevator doors slowly opened; they had reached the top floor.

“Here we are.” Jiang Ji stepped forward half a pace, reminding her to follow.

Ji Mingzhu followed closely. Outside the CEO office, the three assistants of the executive assistant all stood up, but showed no surprise upon seeing Ji Mingzhu.

In fact, any surprise had already been displayed and worn off in the past few days.

“President Jiang, Miss Ji.”

Jiang Ji slightly nodded in response, then stepped into the office with his long legs.

Among the three assistants, Ji Mingzhu was more familiar with Assistant Ying. She raised her hand and waved, “Assistant Ying.”

After catching his attention, Assistant Ying’s mind somehow recalled that night’s phone call. Even he, a man of integrity and iron will, had his first reaction upon seeing Ji Mingzhu—look at Jiang Ji beside her.

It was obvious to his boss, who followed his gaze, cold and inexplicably sharp.

Assistant Ying found himself in an awkward dilemma, cleared his throat, and steadied himself before greeting Ji Mingzhu, “Hello, Miss Ji.”

Ji Mingzhu nodded. Seeing Jiang Ji stop and about to head further into the office, she called after his back, “Jiang Ji, let my desk be next to Assistant Ying, so I can ask him if there’s anything I’m not familiar with.”

She had forgotten to ask in the elevator where her secretary position would be.

Compared to the executive assistants, her role as a junior secretary probably wouldn’t be higher up, so Ji Mingzhu naturally assumed she would be outside the main office.

She didn’t think there was anything wrong with that arrangement.

After all, she had no prior internship experience. From some perspectives, Ji Mingzhu could be considered a “connected” person.

Being directly placed in the top floor of Jiang Corporation, if she were any more high-profile…

But Jiang Ji turned and looked back at her, “Your position has already been arranged.”

“…Hmm?”

“In my office.” Jiang Ji’s voice was calm, then he reached out to push open the door to his office and looked at her, “Come in.”

In his office?

Ji Mingzhu froze for a moment, then hurriedly followed.

…

Once both of them had entered, Assistant Qian and Assistant Tian quickly came over, no longer maintaining that detached, indifferent demeanor from before.

“Miss Ji is so beautiful, and quite approachable too.” —This was Assistant Tian’s comment.

“Yes, but why didn’t she greet the two of us first? That’s so biased. I’m not worse-looking than Assistant Ying! But just thinking that Miss Ji is now in the top floor makes me feel… delighted.” —This was Assistant Qian’s comment.

Assistant Ying simply sat at his own desk, ignoring the two.

But this did nothing to stop Assistant Qian’s chatter.

“But how did I not know that Miss Ji’s desk would be in President Jiang’s office? No wonder the company forum exploded! So intense!”

Assistant Tian wasn’t as excited as Qian. “A couple days ago, when President Jiang asked me to set up a desk, I already guessed. If you connect the dots, Miss Ji is coming as a secretary. How hard is that to guess?”

Tian’s tone was full of genuine curiosity.

Only Assistant Ying, hearing Qian, thought he really had little insight.

Speaking of intensity—

Today’s small office drama was nothing compared to what he had personally overheard on the phone that night—the seductive sounds from the bathroom.

It was like a small flame meeting a roaring fire.

After regaining his composure, Assistant Ying threw himself into work.

He decided to swallow this unexpected “discovery” and not reveal a word.

Sandwiched on both sides, Assistant Qian felt a bit awkward.

He stretched, pretended to sway a little, then sat down.

…

After Ji Mingzhu entered Jiang Ji’s office, her sharp eyes spotted a new desk.

At least, it hadn’t been there the last time she visited.

The desk was near the sofa, located on Jiang Ji’s right side.

Behind her seat was a small meeting area partially blocked by a screen.

Jiang Ji’s office was spacious; adding this milk-white desk didn’t look out of place.

“This should be my desk, right?”

“Yes. Take a look and see if anything’s missing,” Jiang Ji replied.

Ji Mingzhu looked around and found everything fairly complete. Even a small adjustable standing mirror was neatly placed next to the computer for her.

“Nothing’s missing. But—if I’m working in your office, I’ll probably see some senior executives, right? Won’t it be awkward for them to see me here?”

She was actually thinking about sitting next to Assistant Ying.

Mostly, she didn’t plan to ask Jiang Ji about any problems, wanting to show off a little in front of him.

Assistant Ying… would know the basics anyway.

Jiang Ji, always so perceptive, understood the meaning behind her words and simply asked, “You’d be embarrassed?”

“I wouldn’t. I mean them.”

“Then it’s fine.” Jiang Ji looked at her, speaking in a tone like an elder giving advice, “Just focus on yourself.”

He then walked to the left side lounge, changed into a lighter outer jacket, and when he came back out, he pointed to the wooden door behind him, “This is the lounge. If you get sleepy this afternoon, you can come here.”

Ji Mingzhu strode to her desk, swung her legs onto the desk corner, and looked at him, “I’m here to work, President Jiang. I’m very professional!”

Seeing that Jiang Ji’s expression remained unchanged, she added, “Aren’t you afraid the employees will complain that you’re favoring me?”

And the person whom Ji considered the “deliberately favoring” center, had already arrived at his own desk.

Because he had taken off his coat, his outer shirt was light blue, and over that, Jiang Ji wore a layer of snow-white cashmere. On a winter morning, the sunlight was dazzlingly pure, streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making him look like a moon salvaged from water—clear and jade-like.

Hearing Ji Mingzhu’s words, Jiang Ji didn’t even lift his eyes, replying lightly,

“My fiancée—who dares to complain?”

…

Although Ji Mingzhu outwardly maintained a righteous demeanor, adhering to fairness, and striving to set an example for employees, after lunch—she still set her sights on the small lounge.

“…I’ll just sleep for twenty minutes!” Ji Mingzhu felt no embarrassment that her previous words now sounded like a balloon being popped, slapping her in the face.

Employee codes, following rules, no fooling around, professionalism—

All of that evaporated at this moment.

Not enough, she added an explanation, “I woke up too early this morning. I’ll adjust my body clock… in a few days, it’ll be fine!”

But the main reason wasn’t even that. Earlier at noon, she hadn’t gone downstairs to eat with the assistants; she had snagged Jiang Ji’s luxurious lunch set and overeaten. The drowsiness hit her like medicine spreading through her veins.

Why… did she always feel sleepy every time she came to Jiang’s?

If it weren’t for the small lounge, the sofa would have been a better choice, just like last time.

Hearing Ji Mingzhu, Jiang Ji seemed to smile slightly, “Adjusting your body clock?”

Ji Mingzhu, caught but unafraid, replied, “I don’t care. You brought it up yourself. I’m going in.”

She had just started her first day, handling a few minor tasks, and then had nothing to do.

The more important matters were handled by the three assistants outside; it was practically the same.

Ji Mingzhu was bored to the point… she nearly offered to pour coffee and water for Jiang Ji.

Jiang Ji, as if understanding completely, said, “I didn’t stop you.”

The implication: she could go ahead.

Receiving the “go ahead” from the high-and-mighty Jiang Ji, Ji Mingzhu didn’t hesitate. She strode in.

After removing her coat, she began inspecting the space. Last time she’d visited Jiang’s, she had been in a hurry—no time or chance to explore.

Now, seeing this not-so-small lounge, Ji Mingzhu silently muttered, “Someone really knows how to enjoy themselves.”

Previously, she thought it was just a simple rest area. But now that she entered, she realized it was a hidden gem.

The bed was spotless. A TV with a LCD screen was placed in front of it. Nearby, there was a usable bathroom. The decor clearly reflected Jiang Ji’s taste: clean and refreshing.

Compared to home, it was more formal and cold, like a high-end hotel suite.

When Jiang Ji was busy, he didn’t return to Jiang Mansion or Nanyuan; he probably stayed here. Ji Mingzhu could almost still smell his unique, pleasant scent lingering.

She lazily lay on the bed, sinking into thought.

Earlier that morning, while getting familiar with Jiang Ji’s business, she had drifted off a few times.

If before, Ji Mingzhu only felt that Jiang Ji seemed to have switched on some primeval power…

Then today, Jiang Ji’s words planted a seed deep in her heart, letting it sprout.

He had said: “My fiancée—who dares to complain.”

Each word gradually formed a vivid image in Ji Mingzhu’s mind.

It lingered, refusing to dissipate.

…This was not “seems like”!

“Seems like” should be removed completely!!

Ji Mingzhu felt that ever since the birthday banquet, what Jiang Ji said left her mind wandering with endless fantasies.

Ambiguity—now that is truly tormenting…

She was still lost in her own thoughts, lying on the bed. Sleepiness was gradually creeping in, and just as she was about to drift off—the lounge door slowly opened.

Accompanying it were a few footsteps, neither heavy nor light.

Ji Mingzhu raised her eyes slightly, turned her face a little, and looked up at the newcomer.

Jiang Ji walked to her side in a few steps, then, as if no one else existed, began rifling through the wardrobe next to the bed.

“…What are you doing… changing clothes?”

Ji Mingzhu’s tone carried some puzzlement. As far as she remembered, Jiang Ji seemed to have changed this morning already.

How many times must he change—how clean does one person need to be?

“No.” Jiang Ji slowly closed the wardrobe in response to her questioning tone. “I’m here to rest.”

“…”

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?”

She could have tried to argue or explain, but—Jiang Ji wasn’t idle.

Ji Mingzhu hadn’t spoken much to him all morning. It wasn’t that they were in a little quarrel; it was purely because… Jiang Ji was just too busy.

The three assistants were busy as well, faces serious, rotating in and out for reports and handovers, spinning around non-stop. Ji Mingzhu didn’t think to interfere, instead becoming a graceful background figure.

This scenery… for now, went unnoticed.

“You seem to have misunderstood one key point,” Jiang Ji said calmly. “This is originally my lounge.”

Ji Mingzhu rolled her eyes at him, realizing she couldn’t argue her way out; twisting and turning only made herself more tangled.

After all, he was a capitalist—let him enjoy as he pleased.

“Yeah, I know. Capitalists really are different,” Ji Mingzhu hummed twice, self-consciously giving him a bit of space.

Earlier, she had sprawled across the bed, occupying the entire space.

Jiang Ji adjusted the central air conditioning slightly, lowering the temperature. “Don’t leave the blanket off. Lie down and sleep.”

Ji Mingzhu half-closed her eyes, feeling sleepier and sleepier. She didn’t say a word, curling into the bed, resting her head without a pillow, hugging a cushion and lying on her side, drifting off comfortably.

Some time later, the bed slightly sank on one side.

Jiang Ji didn’t lie down; he leaned against the headboard, half-reclined, eyes lightly closed for a short nap.

The winter afternoon sun filled the room with a gentle warmth.

After a while, a soft knock came at the lounge door—very light, just two taps.

Jiang Ji opened his eyes, first glancing at the sleeping Ji Mingzhu, covering her with the blanket and tucking in the edges neatly. Only then did he slowly get up and walk toward the door.

The person outside was measured—after two knocks, even without a response, they didn’t disturb further.

Jiang Ji opened the door and slowly closed it again, cutting off any view inside completely.

Assistant Ying, who had no intention of peeking, followed Jiang Ji, walking behind him. “President Jiang, the people from the Market Research Department are waiting outside.”

Jiang Ji rubbed his temple to clear his thoughts. “Mm, let them in in three minutes.”

Jiang Group’s AI robots had been strategically deployed to parts of the market a week ago.

The specifics and changes in application required weekly reports to ensure proper scale and preparation for future production.

This project’s initial investment was large, and short-term capital relied entirely on Jiang Group’s rotation. Since the company’s self-developed AI hadn’t officially launched, profits hadn’t returned yet, meaning each step needed careful attention.

To prevent failures at critical moments.

At this moment, Jiang Ji could no longer indulge in that trace of rose fragrance, no matter how much he wished.

Ji Mingzhu slept very soundly. When she woke up, it felt as if some warm, glowing light was shining on her face.

She slowly opened her eyes and realized it was the sunset outside the window, a soft yellow glow, extraordinarily beautiful.

The weather in Yin City had been good recently.

She remained quietly still for a moment.

Mm…

Sunset glow.

Sun! Set! Glow!

Ji Mingzhu suddenly jolted awake, bouncing up half-sitting on the bed, reaching for her phone at the bedside.

The time glared at her clearly.

It was already 4:30 p.m.

In other words, it wasn’t just the twenty minutes she had promised verbally!

…She had slept for over four hours!

Without thinking about why Jiang Ji hadn’t come to wake her, Ji Mingzhu glanced around—he wasn’t by her side.

Although outsiders wouldn’t know exactly, the three assistants coming in and out of the office would surely notice her absence.

First day on the job, and she was the personal secretary to the big boss Jiang.

And she had “slept through” her duty!

Ji Mingzhu collected herself, thinking there was still a way to make up for it. She hurriedly got dressed, tidied her makeup and hair slightly, and opened the lounge door, walking outside.

As she stepped out, she heard some noisy voices.

Just waking up, her brain was still a little fuzzy, and that tiny bit of irritation instantly flared up.

While smoothing her long curls with one hand, she used a slightly urgent, slightly complaining tone to scold Jiang Ji, “Jiang Ji, I’ve slept this long and you didn’t even wake me!”

Her tone sounded less like a complaint and more like a small, unintentional display of affection.

The words had barely left her mouth when Ji Mingzhu lifted her head—and froze on the spot.

In front of Jiang Ji’s desk, a group of people stood in an arc.

Hearing the sound, they all looked in Ji Mingzhu’s direction.

In an instant, she realized where the earlier noise had come from.

But the silence now… was the most crushing, stabbing her heart directly.

If she could, she wanted to fly straight to the Sahara Desert and be a buried ostrich with only her butt sticking out.

And at this crucial moment, the thought that passed through Ji Mingzhu’s mind was—

Good thing I’m dressed… good thing I’m not disheveled!

But what Ji Mingzhu herself overlooked was that her hair was messy, draping over her shoulders in wild tangles.

And the sleepy, lazy aura she carried when waking looked remarkably like… someone thoroughly ravaged.

Jiang Ji raised his eyes in response but ignored the reactions of others, simply motioning with his hand for the group in front to stop.

“Up?”

“…Ah.”

“Go sit at your own desk.”

These people had ears long enough to rival Pinocchio’s nose, thinking to themselves:

What kind of situation is this!

This desk, in front of Jiang Ji, was one thing—but judging from the tone, she had… slept for so long!

As Ji Mingzhu slowly moved toward her seat, she felt that her image was probably beyond redemption.

In the eyes of this group, she was no longer just a personal secretary—she might as well be a personal, flirty little enchantress. :)

While she was lost in such thoughts, Jiang Ji spoke slowly, “I told you before, tomorrow is when you officially start work. No need to come early to get familiar.”

…Was that so?

When had he “told her before”?

But soon, Ji Mingzhu realized.

Although Jiang Ji’s words were directed at her, they were more like an explanation to his group of employees.

The perspective instantly shifted.

For some inexplicable reason, Ji Mingzhu had been labeled by Jiang Ji as “diligent and studious.”

…

The meeting lasted another half hour before finally ending.

Ji Mingzhu treasured Jiang Ji’s final words that had helped her—it felt incredibly valuable.

Afterwards, she made a point of personally brewing a cup of homemade coffee for him.

“Jiang Ji~ are you tired? Have some coffee to relax,” Ji Mingzhu said, fulfilling her “personal secretary” duty, gently offering the cup.

Jiang Ji raised his head, glanced at her lightly, “At this rate, are you going to give me a back massage too?”

Ji Mingzhu paused, feeling that he was pushing boundaries a bit—but it wasn’t unacceptable.

She stepped to his side, “…That’s fine too.”

Though it wasn’t unacceptable, she still applied a bit of intentional pressure.

Jiang Ji slowly lifted the cup, savoring it carefully. At some point, he frowned slightly, though only for a second before his expression returned to normal.

Ji Mingzhu continued massaging his shoulders from behind. “So, my skills aren’t bad, huh?”

With that, she smacked his shoulder firmly.

Jiang Ji set down the cup, raised his hand, and firmly grabbed Ji Mingzhu’s restless hands, stopping her. “They are quite good.”

Ji Mingzhu wanted to continue, but the next second—

The hands Jiang Ji was holding radiated a force that couldn’t be refused.

She was pulled forward, almost bent over, pressed against him.

They were so close that their breaths mingled.

Ji Mingzhu’s arms were restrained by Jiang Ji, bending her slightly at the waist.

But because she was standing while Jiang Ji was sitting, she still looked down at him from above.

“So, now, do you think they’re good?”

Jiang Ji lifted his eyes, staring at her steadily, slowly speaking.

“…”

Of course, she thought they were good!

Ji Mingzhu stared at the cold, handsome man right in front of her. His long, narrow eyes were like ink, dark as a deep pool.

Some impulse seemed to arise from somewhere, urging her downward… further downward…

Ji Mingzhu didn’t hesitate. She lowered her head.

Then, almost involuntarily, she kissed Jiang Ji on the face.

Light, fleeting.

A soft “pop” sounded.

Both of them froze in place.

The air instantly seemed filled with countless intangible, floating transparent bubbles, tinged with pink.

Ji Mingzhu herself hadn’t expected it. Her voice stammered, “Um… sorry… I just… thought you were too good-looking…”

What she didn’t realize was that, in the moment she wasn’t looking, Jiang Ji’s ear tips turned fiery red in an instant.

Author’s note: 【Mini Scene】:

Ji Ji: Keep kissing.

Zhu Zhu: ?

Ji Ji: I’m not just good-looking above.

Zhu Zhu: ??

Ji Ji: Also below.

Zhu Zhu: ………

【Double Update】—Late but packed! Comments can go wild! Thanks to all the little angels who voted or sent “nourishing liquids” from 2020-02-16 20:48:34 to 2020-02-17 23:58:26~

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