Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Rose x Kiss

“You’re overthinking.”

As soon as Jiang Ji finished speaking, he hung up swiftly, cleanly.

Two “beep” sounds—

The receiver was immediately left with the busy tone of a disconnected call.

Abrupt and fast, not giving any chance to respond.

Ji Mingzhu held the phone, pulling it slightly away, her brows knitting as she looked at the call screen.

Great. Hung up.

Not even willing to exchange an extra pleasantry—very Jiang Ji.

Who exactly gave her the illusion just now that Jiang Ji was still in the underground garage?

He actually just hung up on her?

One day! She, Ji Mingzhu! Would make Jiang Ji kneel and sing “Conquest”!

Ji Mingzhu tossed the phone aside and didn’t bother with it anymore.

Anyway, the message had been conveyed, and she had plans for tonight—best of both worlds.

Ji Mingzhu didn’t care, but Lian Tang had heard the conversation clearly: “checking up,” “Hua’an Tingcheng,” “still there,” “underground garage.”

So many keywords gathered and finally formed in Lian Tang’s mind.

“That was Jiang Ji just now, right?”

“Mm-hmm.” Ji Mingzhu responded softly, sprawled on the beauty chair, completely relaxed.

“Jiang Ji went there to pick you up?”

“No.”

“But I clearly heard it!”

“You’ve got super hearing? You can infer all that?” Ji Mingzhu said, picking up the remote and switching channels. “Anyway… no.”

At this point, Ji Mingzhu pondered briefly.

From the sounds over the phone, at this hour Jiang Ji likely hadn’t returned to the Park Hyatt nor gone to the company; he was probably outside somewhere.

Who knew what he meant by calling suddenly.

Lian Tang didn’t give up, leaning closer. “But your wording sounded like flirting—‘Are you checking up on me?’ Hahaha, it really sounded like those drama scenes, the scumbag guy having fun outside while being impatient with the original partner working hard at home.”

Ji Mingzhu was speechless. “Lian Xiaotang, why do you always have so much to say, and nine out of ten times it’s about Jiang Ji? What benefits did he give you?”

Lian Tang turned her face away, continuing to change channels. Her voice lowered. “Xiao Ba, putting other things aside, after all these years, from high school until now, you and Jiang Ji are kind of fated. Haven’t you ever thought about managing it properly?”

Ji Mingzhu went to Australia, studying at the University of Melbourne; Jiang Ji went to the United States, admitted to Columbia University.

Though they weren’t in the same place, rumors about them never stopped.

Back then, Jiang Ji went abroad first, and Ji Mingzhu followed soon after—dozens of gossip versions spread in the circle.

Now Ji Mingzhu returned first, and Jiang Ji followed—again, dozens of gossip versions spread.

Ji Mingzhu’s gaze settled on the smooth marble floor. She didn’t know what she was thinking, not moving for a long while. “Just because we’re engaged, that counts as fate?”

“Of course it counts. And honestly, you two really match. When you suddenly went abroad, I ran to your house and cried for a long time. Uncle Ji was amused, while my dad thought it was embarrassing and almost beat me.”

Back then they were young, in their prime, and sudden separation felt like the sky collapsing.

Looking back, Lian Tang found it funny—after all, Ji Mingzhu wasn’t never coming back, yet it felt like life and death.

Mentioning Ji Shaoyan, Lian Tang remembered something he had asked her. “I think Uncle Ji is very satisfied with Jiang Ji. This matter between you two—I’d say it’s basically settled.”

“So how long did you cry back then?”

“…Is that what you should be focusing on?”

The bit of nostalgia and reminiscence Lian Tang had just felt about the past instantly vanished after hearing Ji Mingzhu’s words.

…

After Lian Tang drove Ji Mingzhu back to the Ji residence that night, she leaned her head out the car window. “Those people heard you came back to the country and kept wanting you to come over. Shall we set a time to gather?”

“Sure. Who’s going?”

“Just Xiao Yi, Cheng Chi, and the others.” Lian Tang paused, then added, “Your dear fiancé might also be there~”

Ji Mingzhu was amused by her cheeky tone and directly swung her bag toward Lian Tang, but the other reacted quickly and dodged everything lightly.

“You’re quick at dodging.” Ji Mingzhu missed, then seemed to think of something. She walked to the window, bent slightly, smiling elegantly. “But just those few people might be a bit dull. Should I invite my cousin too?”

That single line was fatal.

Lian Tang immediately became obedient, stammering. “W-which cousin?”

“Shen Qing.”

After Ji Mingzhu’s aunt Ji Keqing married into the Shen family, she had two sons. The elder, Shen Qing, entered politics; the younger, Shen Shen, went into business, managing the Shen Group and Yiqian Entertainment.

In recent years Shen Qing had been transferred to Yin City, and when free he would visit the Ji residence.

Hearing this, Lian Tang inhaled sharply. “That’s not necessary!”

She started the engine and the car made a neat drift in the night. “I’m leaving!”

Ji Mingzhu had only meant to tease her. Seeing her look like she faced a great enemy, she found it funny and raised her voice slightly. “Drive slower, be careful.”

Only after Lian Tang’s car disappeared into the night did Ji Mingzhu enter the Ji residence.

Unexpectedly, Shu Yuhua wasn’t there today. Instead, Ji Shaoyan, who rarely came home before, sat in the living room.

Tall figure, handsome face hidden behind a newspaper.

“Dad!” Ji Mingzhu was genuinely happy.

At the entrance she quickly changed shoes—barely finished putting them on before leaning over, hooking both arms around Ji Shaoyan’s arm.

Aunt Li came out of the kitchen. Seeing this, she felt helpless yet relieved, bending to tidy the scattered shoes.

“Why are you back so late?” Ji Shaoyan put down the newspaper and looked over.

“I went to a gathering in the afternoon, did beauty treatments with Lian Tang at night, then she sent me back.”

Only then did Ji Mingzhu notice the cup of tea in front of him. It wasn’t steaming—he seemed to have been waiting a long time.

“Eh? You knew I’d come back tonight?”

She had thought he wouldn’t come home as usual, so she hadn’t called. Besides, she was just coming back to get things—no need to report.

“Mm. Jiang Ji let me know, said you’d stay at home tonight.” Ji Shaoyan hugged her. “Why did you stay at Park Hyatt for one day and then come back?”

He raised his brows slightly, voicing his guess. “Did you two quarrel?”

“No, I just came back to get something.” Ji Mingzhu rubbed her head against his shoulder. “Dad, can’t I come back to my own home whenever I want?”

“That’s not what I meant.” Ji Shaoyan tapped her nose. Seeing her face resemble his late wife, he felt both emotional and somewhat melancholy. “It’s late. Go upstairs and sleep.”

“I’m not sleepy.”

Ji Shaoyan couldn’t do anything with her, then remembered something. “The Song family’s full-moon banquet is in a few days. Don’t forget.”

“Okay, okay, I know.” Ji Mingzhu originally wanted to chat longer, but seeing he was about to start a long talk, she went upstairs.

…

The full-moon banquet was indeed only a few days away.

After Ji Mingzhu returned to the Park Hyatt residence, she barely enjoyed a few carefree days before having to dress up carefully and attend the banquet on behalf of the Ji family.

Since his wife passed away, Ji Shaoyan had immersed himself in work and entrusted this matter to her.

Jiang Ji would also attend this banquet, but the two were not going together.

Ever since that night, Jiang Ji seemed to become busy again, leaving early and returning late. He and Ji Mingzhu hardly ran into each other.

The Song family in the south of the city had previously married into the Qian family, and the couple seemed to have a good relationship. Soon a child was born. This evening banquet was held on a grand scale; familiar aristocratic families nearby were invited to support the occasion. Everyone had business dealings, so naturally no one would refuse.

Ji Mingzhu arrived a bit late. By then the meal had ended, and the evening reception had begun. Many people moved in the dance floor. Though the music and lights were gentle, the indoor air still felt somewhat stuffy.

She chatted for a while with several uncles she had known since childhood, then strolled outside.

As the night deepened, the fountain outside the hall murmured.

Holding a wine glass, her slender wrist slightly curved, Ji Mingzhu turned her face a little, lowering her head to listen to several wealthy ladies beside her. A faint smile hung at her lips, as if she were listening attentively.

—“Mingzhu, since you returned to the country, this seems to be the first time I’ve seen you.”

—“Yes, we don’t even know what you’ve been busy with; you’re never around.”

—“My Qingqing has wanted to invite you for a long time, said she wanted to go see an exhibition with you, but couldn’t find you.”

The ladies were elegantly dressed, makeup exquisite. You one sentence, I another—no fast pace, yet seamlessly connected, as if rehearsed.

Ji Mingzhu didn’t speak the whole time, still wearing a faint smile. Midway she only responded with monosyllabic “Mm” or nodded and shook her head—yet the conversation continued without the protagonist participating.

After some time, the ladies were still trying to chat. Everyone knew the Ji family patriarch doted on his daughter; they simply wanted to get closer.

Ji Mingzhu remained elegant, her expression unmoved.

She didn’t find an excuse to slip away simply because she was bored.

Until Lian Tang found her outside, stepped over, said a few brief words to the ladies, and easily took her away.

The two walked back into the hall. Lian Tang glanced back at the ladies, then said, “Don’t you usually hate people nagging? You just handled one versus five. Wait… one versus five isn’t even the point—the point is they’re all aunties from a completely different age group.”

“Just bored. I only want to go home and sleep now.” Ji Mingzhu’s gaze drifted.

“Ah, sleep—with whom?” Lian Tang once again derailed the topic.

“With myself!” Ji Mingzhu switched to another drink. “Have you considered getting a cochlear implant? Your hearing seems to be declining lately—it seriously affects our communication quality.”

“Forget it.” Lian Tang brushed it off, her gaze fixed somewhere, unable to pull back.

After a while she still hadn’t moved.

“What’s wrong?”

Ji Mingzhu found it odd, stepped forward, and followed her gaze.

At the end of the long banquet table was a half-moon carved railing. Inside that area was separated out.

A group of tall young men gathered there.

There were leather sofas nearby, though no one sat on them. Even in lively places, there were quiet corners.

Among them were many familiar faces, mostly heirs cultivated by various families.

Jiang Ji held a wine glass, tall and upright, his lean face expressionless, yet others gathered around him to converse.

The diamond-patterned colored windows of the hall cast light onto his face, like a pine standing in snow.

He hadn’t been there before the banquet began—probably arrived not long ago.

Before Ji Mingzhu withdrew her gaze, her phone vibrated in her clutch.

She came back to herself and checked—it was a message from Jiang Ji—

Wait for me at the side door. We’ll leave together.

This was their first communication in several days.

Since Jiang Ji had taken the initiative, a free ride shouldn’t be wasted.

Ji Mingzhu took a sip of wine and replied—

Oh~ okay.

…

The full-month banquet ended quickly. After all, the hosts’ feelings had to be considered, and the twins were too young to endure being fussed over for too long.

Ever since entering the hall earlier, Lian Tang had disappeared.

Ji Mingzhu asked her by phone how she would go back. After getting a definite reply, she left for the side door.

Compared to the main entrance, the avenue here was quieter, completely isolating the bustle.

She only wore a light jacket, wrapping her graceful figure. After standing in the wind for a while, she began to feel cold.

Ji Mingzhu waited a long time before a car finally drove over and slowly stopped in front of her.

The license plate wasn’t one she recognized.

The driver got out and respectfully opened the rear door for her.

Noticing her confusion, the driver said, “Miss Ji, Young Master Jiang asked me to send you back.”

At that moment, another message slid into her phone—

Sorry, something came up at work. I asked the driver to take you back.