The young girl's wronged voice echoed in the dark night, like a kitten's whimper.
With a sense of loss, she released her hand, only to be fiercely pulled into the man's embrace the next moment.
Jiang Mian trembled slightly; the man's chest radiated a heat that was difficult to withstand.
Immediately after, a torrential kiss descended. Jiang Mian froze, then eagerly clung to him with her hands and feet.
The man's lips moved from her soft mouth to her earlobe, which he gently parted and sucked on.
A current like an electric shock surged through Jiang Mian's body. Pleasure climbed rapidly from her spine. She closed her eyes, fully surrendering to the man's touch.
Ji Zhi Xiu's large hand moved lower, and Jiang Mian arched her body in discomfort, a soft moan escaping her lips as she completely fell into his spell.
Ji Zhi Xiu clearly took the lead in their intimacy, and Jiang Mian's cooperation made the encounter even more exhilarating for both.
When it was over, Ji Zhi Xiu held her, lightly pecking her forehead. His voice was still husky with lingering desire, and his face held a look of contentment. "Are you feeling better now?"
Jiang Mian closed her eyes, her breathing gradually calming, her heart still beating fiercely.
Only this way could she feel the man's true presence.
"A Xiu," she called softly, her voice immediately flushing her cheeks.
Her voice was too tender.
She swallowed gently, stirred in his arms, reached for her phone on the bedside table, and held it up to him. "Do... do you want to see the hot searches today?"
When Shen Ting Yu had mentioned it in the afternoon, she hadn't been nervous, dismissing it as baseless gossip.
However, seeing the video tonight, Jiang Mian wasn't sure if this man would... mind.
"I want to hear it from you," Ji Zhi Xiu said in a low voice, not taking the phone.
The young girl's palms were cold. Ji Zhi Xiu felt her nervousness.
Jiang Mian didn't know whether to feel relieved. She put down the phone, licked her slightly dry lips, and fell silent.
"I..."
She exhaled, speaking at an extremely slow pace. "When I was eighteen, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. To raise money for her surgery, I acted in any play I could, took any role I was offered."
"That's when Song Yang approached me. Oh, Song Yang, you might not know him. He's a director. He said he had a film that could make me famous and that he could give me an advance. He asked me to come to his room that night to talk."
"I wasn't ignorant of his intentions, but I was desperate and still held a sliver of hope." She gave a faint, bitter smile.
"When I entered the room, I was like a needle on a pin cushion. Song Yang said he liked things to be consensual. I sat on the sofa, and after much thought..."
"I felt trapped. I didn't want to sell myself, but compared to my grandmother who raised me, it was nothing."
Jiang Mian blinked, and a tear traced a path down her cheek, disappearing into her collarbone.
"And then?" the man's suppressed voice inquired.
His thin lips were pressed into a tight line, his jawline taut. A caged beast within him raged, every nerve screaming, "Ji Zhi Xiu! It's all because of you! You couldn't find her sooner! That's why she suffered so much!"
"So, after an hour, I left the room. The video you were watching when you came out after your shower was surveillance footage of me entering the room, and it was leaked online."
Jiang Mian bit the soft flesh inside her mouth until she tasted blood, then released it.
"I felt so useless. Later, Sister Ning lent me some money. But in the end, my grandmother couldn't be saved, and the money I saved was never used."
"I've finished," she said, pursing her lips, a great weight lifted from her heart. She didn't want to hide anything from this man.
However, Jiang Mian tilted her snow-white neck slightly, looking at his handsome yet inscrutable face.
Ji Zhi Xiu, if you love me, you can't just love my beauty and obedience. You must accept my temper, my insecurities.
You can't just love that I love you.
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, in the silence, Ji Zhi Xiu accurately captured her fragrant lips, deftly parting her teeth and sweeping across her mouth.
This was not the forceful kiss from before; this kiss was filled with gentleness and comfort.
Jiang Mian's eyes welled up, and she instantly understood his meaning. He didn't mind.
Ji Zhi Xiu tasted the faint metallic tang of blood. In an instant, he understood the young girl's awkwardness, her restraint, her apprehension.
After the kiss, Ji Zhi Xiu took her hand, their noses touching. His voice was husky, a low chuckle escaping his throat. "Mian Mian, you are wonderful."
He liked the young girl's honesty.
If she didn't say, he wouldn't force her.
If she was willing to speak, he was willing to listen.
"This won't happen again, and you don't need to dwell on it. I'll be here for you from now on. My dear, I am your support."
His warm fingertip wiped away the tears from her face. Ji Zhi Xiu whispered to coax her, "Sleep well, my dear. I promise, when you wake up, everything will be fine."
Jiang Mian was his gentle solace.
Jiang Mian looked up, her tear-soaked eyes exceptionally clear. Her long eyelashes fluttered gently. Jiang Mian clutched his arm and nuzzled his chest.
She was truly exhausted and had no energy to think about anything else.
Her voice was light and soft, "Goodnight, husband."
"Sleep well."
Ji Zhi Xiu remained awake until Jiang Mian fell asleep.
A subtle pain emanated from his chest. Ji Zhi Xiu lowered his head and looked at the young girl.
He knew then that he could no longer leave Jiang Mian.
The man's features were swallowed by darkness, his eyes filled with boundless coldness.
After a long moment, he slowly curled his thin lips into a smile, a fierce aura emanating from him.
...
The next day.
Jiang Mian slept soundly.
She was woken by the ringing of the phone. She shifted her gaze and slowly sat up, the blanket sliding off her.
Jiang Mian looked down and saw that she was already wearing a neat set of pajamas.
She reached for the phone on the bedside table. "Zhu Yi."
"Sister, Ning Jie asked me to tell you that if you have nothing to do these few days, you don't need to come to the company. She's giving you a vacation."
Jiang Mian moved her arms, which ached intensely. Even if Ning Jie wanted her to go to the company, she wouldn't be able to.
She smiled helplessly. "Okay, I got it."
"And Sister, those things online have already been taken down. Don't let it affect your mood."
Jiang Mian was stunned. That fast? She thought it would escalate.
She heard the man's words from last night, "everything will be fine." Jiang Mian replied, "I know."
After hanging up, she opened Weibo again and searched for "Nan Fang You Yu Le," but it was no longer found.
Jiang Mian re-entered "Jiang Mian" into the search bar. The most recent trending topic was still "Class Three High School."
She couldn't help but curve her lips. This man was always so perfectly in line with her expectations.
...
In Luo Fei's office.
Shen Ting Yu sat on the sofa, her face gloomy. "Luo Fei, such a good opportunity, and you couldn't make Jiang Mian disappear. No wonder you can't have her!"
Luo Fei's mood wasn't much better. Recently, the Luo family had been plagued by countless trivial matters.
He was struggling alone, while also having to guard against that woman's sabotage, making his situation quite dire.
He snorted at her words and cupped Shen Ting Yu's chin, forcing her to look up. "Shen Ting Yu, you should be glad I don't hit women. What right do you have to talk to me? Don't you forget, without me, where would you be today?"
"Indeed, without you, there would be no me today. But don't forget, aren't you also using me?" Shen Ting Yu slapped his hand away, her usual gentleness completely gone, replaced by an indignant expression.
Such a perfect opportunity! How much manpower and resources had she spent to find that surveillance video!
Overnight, it was gone from every platform!
She knew it had to be Ji Zhi Xiu's doing!
Only he possessed that kind of power.
Guessing this outcome, Shen Ting Yu felt a slight dizziness. She knew that with this man's capabilities, he would soon find out she was behind it.
He had let her off the hook several times already. Shen Ting Yu had little confidence that Ji Zhi Xiu would spare her again, even for her brother's sake!
Shen Ting Yu narrowed her eyes slightly. For now, the only solution was to shift all the blame onto Luo Fei!
Thinking of this, she looked at Luo Fei. "Tell me, if I tell Ji Zhi Xiu that you wanted to get Jiang Mian and used this trick to frame her, not only will this man not help you get the Luo family, but with just a flick of his finger, you'll lose any chance of competing with Mrs. Luo!"
Luo Fei sneered. "I underestimated you. Tell me, do you think I don't have any leverage over you?"
His calm demeanor made Shen Ting Yu feel even more unsettled. She propped herself up on the table, her mind in a slight turmoil. "I... what leverage do you have on me?"
"You know exactly what you've done."
Luo Fei smirked, seeing the look on her face. "We're in the same boat. I advise you, before the task is completed, don't try any little tricks on me."
Shen Ting Yu was surprised. "It's already come to this, and you're still not giving up on Jiang Mian?"
"Of course."
Thorny roses were the most attractive, the most challenging.
A playful glint flashed in Luo Fei's eyes. "By the way, here's some news you might not know. Song Yang has been arrested."
Song Yang's father had some influence in the industry, which was why many women had thrown themselves at him for resources over the years.
Shen Ting Yu was even more astonished. "Why is there no news online at all?"
"Of course, Ji Zhi Xiu was behind it," Luo Fei said gravely. Only that man could quietly put Song Yang behind bars.
"Jiang Mian! He must have done this for Jiang Mian!" Shen Ting Yu shrieked.
No, she would never doubt Jiang Mian's importance in Ji Zhi Xiu's heart again!
These were things she had never received!
Her expression turned manic, her voice sharp.
"Shen Ting Yu, what's the difference between you now and a madwoman? Do you think Ji Zhi Xiu will ever fancy you?" Luo Fei sneered.
This woman was testing his patience.
"I won't allow it!! I won't allow it!! Why!!" she shouted, collapsing weakly onto the sofa, murmuring to herself, "What must I do for her to disappear?"
Luo Fei's expression changed. He was beginning to regret his partnership with her.
"Damn it, Shen Ting Yu, I'm warning you. We agreed not to touch Jiang Mian. Don't go crazy."
Shen Ting Yu seemed to snap back to reality. "I'm sorry, I lost my composure. I didn't mean anything by it. Don't worry, everything will proceed as we initially agreed. I just want her to leave Ji Zhi Xiu."
Luo Fei studied her and kindly advised, "I suggest you see a psychologist."
This comment struck a nerve with Shen Ting Yu. Her expression changed and then quickly returned to normal. "I'm not sick."
She retorted mockingly, "I heard Liang Qiao signed with 'Fanhua' and has been frequently photographed with a producer in the industry lately. In this world, the only one who loved you has also left. Director Luo is truly heartless, not showing the slightest bit of sadness."