Jiang Nuan stopped what she was doing and looked at Le Cheng, a hint of confusion on her face. "Who's looking for me?"
Le Cheng's eyes were wide with adoration. "A peerless handsome man! Sister, he's so dashing, truly a look that captivates for a lifetime!"
Jiang Nuan smiled at her doting expression. "It's getting warm, I'll go take a look."
"Okay, Sister." Le Cheng quickly walked away, thinking that she was not worthy of such a handsome man; she was only fit to admire him from afar.
Jiang Nuan arrived in the hall and looked around. By the window, a man stood with his back to her, bathed in light. He wore a light grey casual suit, his frame not perfectly tailored but tall and exuding an air of dominance.
Jiang Nuan frowned, a flicker of anger on her face. Why was he here?
Hearing footsteps, the man slowly turned. A handsome face suddenly met Jiang Nuan's eyes. His eyebrows were like a painting, his nose straight yet delicate, his lips sensual. This face, compared to Rong Yin, was no less striking.
On his earlobe, which was beautifully formed, a silver star-shaped stud gleamed in the light, lending him a touch of rebelliousness, yet making him stylishly handsome.
"Why are you here?" Jiang Nuan's tone was tinged with annoyance.
The man smiled, his gaze falling on her fair, exquisitely beautiful face. He had clearly seen the fleeting anger on her expression. "What? Can't I come here?"
Jiang Nuan wouldn't engage in playful banter with him. "Don't you know your identity?"
"I do. It's still early, isn't it? No one will recognize me. Nuan Nuan, you're being too serious." The man sat down elegantly. "This place is quite nice. It's your style."
"Nanzhou, you're insane! You said you would never come back here in your life?" Jiang Nuan could never have dreamed it would be him.
Nanzhou, her partner from abroad.
Nanzhou chuckled, "Nuan Nuan, I never said that."
Jiang Nuan knew his untamed temper and said with a stern face, "Leave."
Nanzhou looked at the cold Jiang Nuan but wasn't angry. She had a right to be upset, after all, he had been careless during their last mission.
"Nuan Nuan, you're still taking on missions? I want to partner with you again." After she left, he realized she was indeed the best partner.
Jiang Nuan sat opposite him, looking at him seriously. "I'm not taking on missions anymore, Nanzhou. Go back and live your own life."
Nanzhou's gaze flickered, then he smiled. "Is this how you treat guests? I came here to eat. Bring me some pastries and some health tea."
"Nanzhou..."
"Nuan Nuan, you want me to live a normal life, so I will. But now that I've settled here, with you around, I won't feel lonely." Nanzhou gave her a gentle smile.
Jiang Nuan said, "You can settle here, but I don't want to know you."
Nanzhou straightened up slightly and smiled. "Why are you so stubborn, little girl? In this mundane world, you should do things you enjoy. Especially since your skills are so good."
Jiang Nuan glanced at the health establishment. "I just want to live a quiet life like this now."
"Nuan Nuan, are you content? Don't you want to forge a path for your three children?" Nanzhou couldn't believe she had given up so easily.
Jiang Nuan raised an eyebrow slightly, a glint flashing in her eyes. "They have their own paths to walk. I don't need to do anything for them."
"Nanzhou, there's no need to challenge a life without a future. Spend more time loving yourself. You're also of marriageable age. Find a woman you love and live a peaceful life; that's the best choice for you."
After speaking, Jiang Nuan stood up to leave.
Nanzhou suddenly reached out and stopped her. He looked up at her annoyed little face, a reverent smile curving his lips.
"Nuan Nuan, then let's get married. I'll accompany you in a peaceful life."
Jiang Nuan froze, looking him up and down. "Nanzhou, what kind of joke is this?" she asked indignantly.
Nanzhou's smile remained reverent. "I'm not joking. I'm serious about this. We are kindred spirits. When we're busy, we feel like we lack nothing. But when we're idle, we realize we have nothing."
"Don't you feel that way?"
Jiang Nuan shook her head, looking at him and saying earnestly, "No, I don't. I have three children, friends, and a visible future. I don't feel like I lack anything."
Nanzhou looked down and smiled, releasing her. He handed her an invitation. "Nuan Nuan, this is an invitation. In a week, my family is hosting a welcoming banquet for me. You must come."
Jiang Nuan glanced at the high-end, white and gold embossed invitation. Her gaze fell, filled with confusion, on his peerless handsome face.
Nanzhou smiled. "Come to the address on it. If you don't, I'll wait for you."
Nanzhou stood up and, as he walked past her, his expression turned serious. "Nuan Nuan, I never wanted you to blame yourself for that incident. You want me to live a peaceful life, so from today on, I will live a peaceful life and won't engage in dangerous activities anymore."
"Remember, you did nothing wrong. I saved you because you are Jiang Nuan. Also, in that situation, I would have saved anyone, not just you."
"Nuan Nuan, neither of us did anything wrong. I am still alive now."
After speaking, Nanzhou smiled again and strode away.
Jiang Nuan clenched her fists slightly. "Nuan Nuan, neither of us did anything wrong."
Did they really do nothing wrong?
She had almost killed Nanzhou.
The events of eight months ago were still vivid in her mind. How could she forget the moment he had risked his life to save her?
Nanzhou's underestimation and her anger had both led them to suffer the consequences of their emotions.
Jiang Nuan slowly raised the invitation card in her hand, opened it, and looked at the address.
Qilang Villa Area, Zone C, Building 1.
She didn't know this place. Seeing the date, she noted it was this Saturday.
She took a deep breath, suppressed all her emotions, and turned back into the kitchen.
"Sister, you're back." Le Cheng looked at her curiously. "Sister, who was that handsome guy?"
Jiang Nuan looked at her curious eyes and smiled. "It's no one. Go confirm the orders."
Hearing this, Le Cheng knew she didn't want to talk about it.
"Oh, I'm going." Le Cheng hopped out.
Jiang Nuan also busied herself, preventing herself from overthinking.
Meng Yuan woke up, and it was already past four in the afternoon.
After washing up and changing her clothes, she went downstairs and saw Jiang Xingyu handling official business in the main hall. She called out, "Big Brother Jiang, I'm going out. Can you handle your own dinner? There are ingredients in the fridge. If you don't have time to cook, you can order takeout. The takeout nearby is quite good."
Jiang Xingyu looked back at her and smiled. "Go ahead. Don't worry about my dinner. I'm going out later and will be back around ten."
"Okay, be careful." Meng Yuan put on her shoes and left.
Jiang Xingyu also glanced at his computer; the information he needed had been sent by the other party.
He closed his laptop and went out to meet the other party.