Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Rose x Kiss

Although she felt he looked familiar, his face didn’t match any memory she had.

Ji Mingzhu lowered her head in thought. Even though she couldn’t retrieve any information about him, she subconsciously felt she must have seen him before.

But maybe she was mistaken—there were plenty of similar-looking people in the world.

Inside the private room—the situation flipped instantly because of the company manager’s final flattering words, completely opposite to before.

After that, the conversation at the table no longer revolved around toasting and drinking.

Ji Mingzhu’s earlier curiosity was crushed to pieces. She wasn’t interested in this kind of gathering that claimed to be an event but was actually about accompanying drinks, so she remained distracted most of the time.

When the gathering ended, Ji Mingzhu was practically escorted out by the so-called company manager.

She greeted the bloggers who were warmly trying to build connections with her, then took her leave, declining the invitation to ride back together.

Speaking of “going back”—

Ji Mingzhu suddenly remembered she hadn’t told Jiang Ji about returning, let alone when to pick her up.

After dropping her off, Jiang Ji had looked like he was leaving immediately; she didn’t know where he had gone. Asking him to make another trip now didn’t seem worthwhile.

Of course, whether he would be willing to lower himself to come again was another unknown.

She stopped at the lobby entrance. The late-night cold wind hit her face, sobering her somewhat.

Ji Mingzhu didn’t hesitate. After quickly running through ideas in her mind, she decided where to go.

She had left several telephoto zoom lenses at the Ji residence. They weren’t important and she wouldn’t use them for editing videos, but if she suddenly wanted to record something later, it would be inconvenient.

Thinking of this, she planned to use tonight’s outing as an opportunity to return to the Ji residence.

However, the gathering wasn’t late, and it ended earlier than expected. It wasn’t that late yet.

Going back too early would leave her with nothing to do.

Ji Mingzhu simply called Lian Tang, asking her to pick her up, and set their next meeting place at a high-end club in the city.

It offered various beauty treatments, with private customized rooms for members—perfect for tea, chatting, and relaxing with friends.

Most importantly, it was open twenty-four hours.

…

Lian Tang had moved out during college. Though she seemed loud and talked nonsense, she was actually quite independent.

She lived near Hua’an Tingcheng, so she drove herself. After picking up Ji Mingzhu, she whistled in a roguish manner.

After entering the club, Lian Tang was still surprised.

“I thought the Park Hyatt was basically your long-term hotel suite. You’ve only stayed there a few days, and now you want me to send you back to the Ji residence?”

Her remark wasn’t without reason. When moving things earlier, Ji Mingzhu hadn’t been polite at all, directing her as if she were a brick to be moved wherever needed.

“To be precise, one day.” Ji Mingzhu enjoyed the essential oil spa, her voice lazy. “Oh no, more precisely… one night?”

“So it’s…”

“You two?”

“…One day and one night?!”

—Beside her, Lian Tang tentatively fired off a string of questions.

Her tone was both excited and shocked.

One day and one night.

Was that even human?

Even with her eyes closed, Ji Mingzhu could imagine Lian Tang’s gossiping expression.

She slowly spoke, baiting like fishing, “Do you know those square-dancing aunties at Changxin Plaza?”

“Yeah.”

Lian Tang didn’t think much of it. That plaza was lively; from evening onward it would be occupied and surrounded by the square-dancing auntie groups, full of singing and dancing.

And during the pauses between each set of music, they would transform into gossiping aunties, endlessly discussing young girls.

So famous that even she, a young person, had heard a bit about them.

“Good, very self-aware.” Ji Mingzhu’s tone carried a hint of understanding. “Like attracts like. They and you are exactly the same.”

“I’ve only heard of opposites attract. What kind of crooked logic is that?” Lian Tang snorted. “If you ask me, Miss Ji, you went to that so-called gathering—does that count as like attracts like?”

“Stop right there.” Ji Mingzhu closed her eyes. “That was just a small accident.”

After finishing the spa, the two felt more energized and then went to a private room on the top floor.

On the side where they drank tea and enjoyed the night view, there was a liquid-crystal projector for broadcasting TV channels.

Lian Tang casually glanced at the screen. An advertisement was playing, quite frequently. When she saw the face clearly, her brows furrowed.

“Zhao Lan can take ads now?” Lian Tang couldn’t figure it out. “Isn’t she just a host?”

Hearing that, Ji Mingzhu also looked over.

The woman on the screen looked delicate and charming, with a perfectly measured smile, her face extremely pure.

She was saying—

【This is Alin’s exclusive interview. A new season, new challenges. Column interviews with influential figures in finance—please stay tuned with me.】

After finishing the introduction, Zhao Lan mentioned the partner she would be collaborating with for the interviews.

It wasn’t strange that Lian Tang knew Zhao Lan.

Zhao Lan was the daughter of the Zhao family, belonging to the northern part of the city along with the Shu family. In contrast, the Jiang family, Ji family, Song family, and Gan family were the long-established wealthy clans occupying the south.

Ji Mingzhu wasn’t very familiar with Zhao Lan. They hadn’t interacted much since childhood, and their parents weren’t close either.

But judging from Lian Tang’s attitude, she seemed somewhat indignant.

“You two know each other?”

“No, but my friend knows her.” Lian Tang shrugged. “Apparently she was the third party with my friend.”

Ji Mingzhu, not wanting to pry into others’ private matters, just nodded. As she was about to say something more, her thoughts were interrupted by a ringtone.

She took out her phone. The fluorescent screen lit up, the call interface appearing as the device vibrated.

“Where are you?”

The voice was cool and calm—recognizably Jiang Ji.

“…Ah?”

He asked where she was right away, catching Ji Mingzhu off guard.

She came back to herself, coughed lightly, and glanced at the club’s name on the wall.

The club itself was respectable, but the name… not exactly respectable—

Huangshang Jiahuang.

Each syllable sounded normal, but together it invited imagination.

“Are you still at Hua’an Tingcheng?”

Perhaps hearing she hadn’t answered, he continued.

Ji Mingzhu rested her fingers on her raised knee, tilting her head. “Are you checking up on me?”

Hearing those words, Lian Tang gave a teasing look, making Ji Mingzhu reach out and twist her hair.

“I’m not there now. Just telling you—I’m going back to the Ji residence tonight. I want to pick up some things.”

Jiang Ji fell silent for a moment, then gave an “Mm.”

There were intermittent noises in the receiver, like wind rolling through, occasionally mixed with distant car horns.

A sudden realization came to Ji Mingzhu, and the words slipped out—“You… you’re not in the underground garage at Hua’an Tingcheng, are you?”