Jiang Mian visited Chang Qingqing at the hospital a week later, alone.
The baby was out of the observation room and in a bassinet beside the bed. Her features had opened up a bit more since birth. She was quiet, not crying or fussing, playing with her fingers after being fed.
Jiang Mian bent down to play with her, her face filled with affection.
Chang Qingqing had had a C-section and was not recovering as quickly. She sat on the bed, turning her head to look at Jiang Mian, and said gratefully, "When I fell, it was really thanks to you."
Her grabbing the closest person, Jiang Mian, was instinctual, just as Jiang Mian's instinct would be to shake her off.
But she didn't. Thinking back, it was truly frightening.
If Jiang Mian hadn't blocked for her, the consequences would have been much more severe. Jiang Mian shook her head. "It's nothing. Have you named the baby yet?"
Bringing this up, Chang Qingqing hesitated. "Chang Qin and I haven't decided yet. Do you have any suitable names?"
Naming the baby should be a meaningful act for the parents. Jiang Mian blinked. "I'm not good at naming either."
Referring to "Little Fish Treats" was the result of two days of thought.
Chang Qingqing stirred the soup on the table and thought seriously. "Chang Qin and I discussed it. Since you saved me and you like her so much, how about making her your goddaughter?"
Jiang Mian looked up in surprise. A free, instant motherhood? Was there such a good thing?
She nodded eagerly, "Yes, yes!"
"Then it's settled."
Jiang Mian straightened up. "Then I need to think of a good gift for the little darling."
Chang Qingqing smiled. Jiang Mian could see she was still quite weak.
"Alright, now that I've seen you're okay, I can rest easy. I'm heading back now. You get plenty of rest," Jiang Mian said, preparing to leave.
"Okay, take care on your way back."
They bid farewell.
Ji Zhilan stepped out of the elevator, carrying something. As soon as she exited, she saw Jiang Mian walking away. Unfortunately, their directions were different, and she only saw a retreating figure.
She entered Chang Qingqing's hospital room, put down her things, and pouted. "Qingqing, who just left your room?"
Chang Qingqing blinked, unsure of her meaning. "A friend. What's wrong?"
Ji Zhilan waved her hand. "Nothing, nothing."
She couldn't help but wonder if that woman looked so much like Jiang Mian.
Thinking of the last incident made Ji Zhilan feel as disgusted as if she had swallowed a fly. The thought of her brother's favoritism towards her made her even more resentful.
Chang Qingqing saw the constant changes on her face and asked confusedly, "What's wrong, Zhilan? Is there a problem?"
"It's nothing. I'm just relieved to see you're okay. Congratulations to you and Brother Chang Qin on your baby. I suddenly remembered I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now."
"Okay, be careful on your way back."
Ji Zhilan rushed out of the room and called Shen Tingyu. "Are you free, Tingyu? Let's meet up."
At the tea restaurant.
Shen Tingyu looked at Ji Zhilan opposite her. She had been planning to contact Ji Zhilan herself, but didn't expect Ji Zhilan to reach out first.
She cradled a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea and said softly, "Why are you looking for me all of a sudden? Did something happen?"
Ji Zhilan took her hand. "Tingyu, I only acknowledge you as my sister-in-law, you know that."
"Of course. I know that in the Ji family, only you welcome me. Auntie doesn't seem to like me much."
"My mother just doesn't know you well," Ji Zhilan stirred her cup, defending her mother. "Aren't you going to manage the woman around my brother? I've seen her around him several times."
"You mean Jiang Mian?"
"Yes."
The two women immediately looked like they had found an ally, their expressions identical.
"My brother actually gave Xiang Long to her. Xiang Long has always been by his side. He's even willing to give Xiang Long to this woman."
"Your brother has completely focused his attention on this woman now."
They exchanged a glance, their goals aligning.
"I don't want her marrying into the Ji family!"
"I don't want her marrying your brother!"
Shen Tingyu's mind raced. Ji Zhilan saying this implied that the Ji family still didn't know Ji Zhixiu was already married to Jiang Mian.
If they found out, would the Ji family agree? Would Ji Zhixiu be pressured into a divorce? No, she couldn't let that happen, at least not from her.
"Tingyu, you're always smarter than me. Please help me. I can feel that my brother is serious about that woman."
"Unfortunately, when I told my mother, she didn't believe me. She said it's normal for my brother to have a woman, and he'd never bring her home anyway."
After their encounter at the mall, she and Jiang Mian had officially become enemies. How dare she be so arrogant.
She swore that as long as she, Ji Zhilan, was alive, she would never let Jiang Mian set foot in her family's home.
Shen Tingyu's fingers rubbed the rim of her cup. She needed a helper. Ji Zhilan's words were exactly what she wanted to hear.
A faint smile touched her lips. "I don't like her either. It's a shame your brother is blinded."
She pondered for a moment. "I have a plan, but I'll need your help."
"Let Auntie see this woman's true colors. Then you won't have to do anything. Your brother will break up with her."
"How?" Ji Zhilan asked quickly.
"Like this..."
Ji Zhilan nodded repeatedly. "I'll go arrange it now. But are you sure she'll take the bait?"
Shen Tingyu was confident. "She will. She won't miss this opportunity."
...
Jiang Mian stayed at home resting for a few days. The bump on the back of her head wasn't a major issue, but it made sleeping at night quite uncomfortable. No matter how soft the pillow, lying flat caused pain.
Seeing the little girl looking so pitiful, Ji Zhixiu abandoned his beastly desires. Every night, he held her in his arms and gently coaxed her to sleep. Fortunately, after a few days, it subsided considerably.
One day, as she was practicing yoga in her room, Sister Ning video-called her.
"Mianmian, the company has booked you for a magazine photoshoot tomorrow. I've sent you the studio address. Remember to be there on time."
Jiang Mian slowly exhaled. "Who said I had time off until after Chinese New Year?"
Sister Ning gave a dry chuckle. "I didn't want to disturb you, but they offered too much."
"I understand," Jiang Mian agreed.
The next morning, she arrived at the shooting location with Li Zhuyi.
This time, the shooting location was on the twenty-eighth floor of a commercial building. When Jiang Mian arrived, two people from the magazine came to pick her up.
They then led her to the photo studio. One of them was the editor-in-chief. The man was average-looking, and his demeanor was polite. However, for some reason, Jiang Mian felt something was off.
She couldn't explain it, but she always trusted her intuition.
Several other people were busy in the studio. Upon seeing Jiang Mian arrive, they immediately came to do her makeup and styling.
The producer looked at Li Zhuyi, who was standing nearby. "Do you want to go relax outside? We'll be doing makeup and styling for a while."
Li Zhuyi shook her head. She wouldn't. Wherever Sister Mian was, she was.
The producer didn't insist.
After a while, he said, "I just remembered a prop that hasn't been brought down. It's upstairs. Could you please go get it for us? We're quite busy with the staff right now. You just need to give your name, and they'll get it for you."
Li Zhuyi glanced at the surrounding staff, who were indeed busy. She nodded. "Okay, what is it?"
"An inflatable fan-shaped hammer prop."
Li Zhuyi told Jiang Mian, then went out to take the elevator.
Jiang Mian looked at the men behind her in the mirror. Including the editor-in-chief, there were five men and no women.
She smiled and said, "Can I see the clothes I'll be wearing before the makeup?"
The man behind her froze and quickly nodded. "Of course. Wait here, I'll go find them for you."
Jiang Mian stood up and walked towards the door. "I just remembered something I forgot to tell my assistant. Could you wait for me a moment?"
"Stop!" the editor-in-chief called out to her. "We can tell her through the intercom for you."
Jiang Mian didn't stop. "This is not convenient to tell her over the phone."
"Stop her!" The editor-in-chief's expression immediately changed.
The tall, thin person who had been doing Jiang Mian's makeup immediately blocked her path.
Jiang Mian's expression changed slightly, and she turned around. "Who exactly are you?"
"Editor-in-chief," the man smiled. "Hi, why ask so many questions? We won't do anything to you."
Since she had seen through him, he stopped pretending. Everyone in the room was his subordinate. He wasn't afraid of Jiang Mian escaping.
He winked, and someone immediately brought him a chair.
The man sat down and said with amusement, "You're quite beautiful. We're taking money to do a job. Let's be frank. Take a few photos, and I'll let you go."
"Take a few photos" was, of course, not as simple as he made it sound.
Jiang Mian's gaze was calm. She retorted, "Where is my assistant?"
"Don't worry, our target is only you. We won't bother her."
This person was likely the leader of the five. He lit a cigarette and took a puff. "We'll just keep her outside for a while. If you cooperate with us, it won't take ten minutes before we let you both out to reunite."
Kept outside? That meant there were more of them outside. Jiang Mian's heart sank. Who would go to such great lengths to lure her into a trap?
As she sat down, she thought carefully and finally understood where the problem lay.
The editor-in-chief of Ella magazine, when making a "please" gesture, always used his left hand, not his right. This was a small quirk of his.
Jiang Mian had heard Sister Ning mention it before.
If only she hadn't given her bag to Li Zhuyi, Jiang Mian sighed. Her phone was inside, and she couldn't contact anyone right now.
Sister Ning wouldn't harm her, so who had lied to Sister Ning and lured her here? Jiang Mian didn't have time to think.
Because the tall, thin man was gradually closing in.
The boss's voice held a hint of casualness. "Be gentle. Don't scare her. We're not looking for wealth or life, just doing our job. If you're obedient, change your clothes, and take a couple of photos for us, this matter will be over."
Jiang Mian backed away step by step, asking, "Was it the woman with long, wavy hair who instructed you?"
She was describing Shen Tingyu's features.
The tall, thin man shook his head. "She wasn't the one who contacted our boss. Don't ask anymore."
"Why so many questions for someone we're supposed to catch? It's a waste of time. I'll do it myself."