Nightwing was caught off guard, pushed directly by her. He took two steps back, his face full of hurt. "I'm serious."
Jiang Mian subtly rolled her eyes, then looked up with a charming smile. "I'm going in. You can enjoy the breeze by yourself."
Nightwing watched her unceremoniously departing figure. "Tsk, I'm liking her more and more..."
As Jiang Mian walked back, she wondered why Li Laidi hadn't come out with the red wine yet.
Just as she was thinking, her phone received a message.
[Sister Mian, I'm feeling a bit unwell and am in the restroom. I'll find you when I come out.]
Jiang Mian lowered her head and typed, [Okay, no rush.]
After finishing, she put away her phone. The next second, someone stood in front of her, blocking her way.
"Miss Jiang, be careful when you walk."
Jiang Mian looked up at the sound. "President Luo."
The last time she saw Luo Fei was before the Lunar New Year. She nodded slightly. "Long time no see."
Seeing Jiang Mian again, the young woman had even more charm than before. Luo Fei felt a pang of desire.
Jiang Mian was beautiful, with delicate features and a petite frame. What he liked most was the hint of spoiled arrogance that occasionally flickered in her expression.
Ever since Jiang Mian filmed a drama at their film and television base a few years ago, Luo Fei had glanced at her as he passed by, and he had never been able to forget her.
However, he knew that this young woman had a temper and didn't like to be bothered by him.
A little temper was good; things that were too easily obtained were not interesting.
He was dressed in a custom-made gray suit and said gently, "Why are you alone? Shall I show you around? The scenery on Angel Star is very beautiful, you'll like it."
Jiang Mian could see his attentiveness, but she disliked Luo Fei from the bottom of her heart.
She smiled faintly and politely declined. "No, thank you. I just came back from the deck. I should be heading back to the banquet hall now."
"Why the rush to go back? The evening's banquet activities haven't even started yet."
Jiang Mian's mind raced. What did his words mean? Could Luo Fei be the one hosting this party?
Luo Fei took a step forward. "Why don't you come with me to take a look?"
Jiang Mian instinctively took a step back, her pretty face turning cold. "I don't like looking at scenery."
The more she was like this, the more impatient Luo Fei became. When she was angry, her expression was even more captivating, making one want to... bully her.
He suppressed the decadent thoughts in his heart. He had gone to great lengths to get the invitation to her, so he couldn't ruin things now.
Luo Fei looked at her meaningfully. "No rush, there's plenty of time."
With that, he moved aside. "I'll see you in the banquet hall later."
After she left, Shen Tingyu emerged from a corner, as if she had discovered a great secret.
Luo Fei seemed to be somewhat interested in Jiang Mian?
Although she was reluctant to admit it, Jiang Mian's face indeed had the capital for it. Shen Tingyu pondered whether or not to give Luo Fei a hand.
...
The Ji family's skyscraper in the city center's CBD was brightly lit.
Fan Cheng held a gilded invitation. "Mr. Ji, this is an invitation from President Luo for a cruise party. It's tonight. Are you going?"
Ji Zhixiu didn't even look up. "No."
"Xiang Long said the young madam also received an invitation and has already gone."
Ji Zhixiu put down his pen and looked up at him. "Why didn't you say so earlier? Get the car ready."
Fan Cheng thought to himself that he had been busy all day and hadn't given him a chance to mention it.
...
Jiang Mian returned to the banquet hall and poured herself a drink. She saw a few familiar directors, each accompanied by someone engaged in conversation. With her status, Jiang Mian felt she was just here to broaden her horizons.
She put down her wine glass and walked towards the restroom.
As soon as she entered, she saw Liang Qiao touching up her makeup in the mirror. Liang Qiao saw Jiang Mian in the mirror. "It's you."
Jiang Mian: "It's me. I'll use the restroom first, and we can talk outside."
A minute later, she came out to wash her hands. Liang Qiao was still there, examining her face and commenting, "You're quite good-looking."
"Thank you, you are too," Jiang Mian replied politely.
"You're quite direct," Liang Qiao pouted.
Jiang Mian didn't say anything and left the restroom before her.
Back in the banquet hall, Jiang Mian poured another glass of wine. Just as she was about to send a text message to Li Laidi, asking why she hadn't come out yet.
The lights in the banquet hall suddenly went out, plunging it into darkness.
Immediately, murmurs arose.
"What happened? Why is there a sudden power outage?"
"Oh my god! It's so dark, I'm so scared!"
"What's going on? How could there be a power outage?"
In the darkness, a deep, powerful voice reached Jiang Mian's ears. "Don't be afraid."
She felt someone embrace her waist, but because it was pitch black, she dared not move rashly.
Jiang Mian lowered her voice. "Let go of me!"
A slightly teasing voice came. "I'm saving a damsel in distress, aren't you going to thank me?" Then he actually let go.
But the soft, warm touch seemed to linger on his palm.
Jiang Mian fumbled for her phone and turned on the flashlight, illuminating each other. It was indeed Nightwing. "It's just a power outage, hardly a damsel in distress."
Before Nightwing could answer, the lights in the banquet hall flickered back on.
He glanced at Jiang Mian, took the wine glass from her hand without a word, and said, "Don't drink this."
They exchanged a look, and Jiang Mian understood the meaning in his eyes. She nodded. "Okay."
The host hurried over with a microphone. "My apologies, there was a small incident just now. Everything is fine now."
"No, there is a problem!" A voice suddenly broke the calm atmosphere.
Jiang Mian looked over at the sound. Liang Qiao was standing in the center, looking anxious. She whispered something to the host.
Soon, the host announced again, "Our Miss Liang Qiao has lost a watch worth five million. Has anyone seen it? If anyone has found it, please return it as soon as possible."
Nightwing rubbed his chin, a hint of schadenfreude in his eyes. "I think it's aimed at you."
Jiang Mian glared at him humorlessly. "Don't talk nonsense."
She and Liang Qiao had never had any interaction. Why would Liang Qiao target her?
Jiang Mian frowned, feeling that nothing was going right today.
"Sister Mian, I'm here! I'm sorry for the delay." Li Laidi ran over, out of breath.
Jiang Mian looked at her. "Where did you go? Why are you only here now?"
Li Laidi lowered her voice. "I went to the restroom on the second floor, and I don't know who locked my door. I shouted for a long time before someone came to open it. The power outage just now scared me to death."
Jiang Mian's brow furrowed. She was about to say something else.
Suddenly, Liang Qiao said, "Jiang Mian, did you take my watch?"
Although she used the word "take," her tone was quite impolite.
Under the gaze of dozens of eyes, questioning, appraising, and even watching with amusement, Jiang Mian remained calm. "I didn't take it."
She had never even seen Liang Qiao's watch.
"I just went to the restroom to touch up my makeup and took off my watch. This was the last time I saw it. And at that time, only you and I were in the restroom. If it wasn't you, who else could it be?"
Jiang Mian found her words amusing. "Firstly, I haven't seen your watch. Secondly, just because I went to the restroom proves I took it? You might have dropped it there, and someone else took it later?"
Seeing that the situation was escalating, a waiter quickly went to find Luo Fei to take charge.
"Because someone saw..." Liang Qiao gritted her teeth, unable to say the name. She puffed out her chest. "In short, don't quibble. Whether it was you or not will be clear if I search you."
The situation was clearly disadvantageous for her, and private party venues generally didn't have surveillance. Yet, Nightwing saw Jiang Mian's lips slowly curve into a smile, though the smile didn't reach her eyes.
Jiang Mian looked up, her eyes filled with unyielding pride. "What if I refuse to be searched?"
"Then it can only prove that you are the thief!" she declared loudly.
Shen Tingyu in the crowd's heart was pounding. Liang Qiao was really helpful, doing a good job. She couldn't hide her excitement.
"I didn't expect this. President Luo wouldn't invite someone like this, would he?"
"She's a pretty young girl, doesn't seem like the type to steal things."
"You can't judge a book by its cover. Look at her clothes, they're not branded. This evening gown, you can't even tell the brand. It's probably some knock-off!"
"How can any Tom, Dick, or Harry get in? This person has ruined everyone's good mood!"
"Everyone, hurry up and look around. Did anything else go missing?"
Luo Fei stood opposite her, his gaze meeting Jiang Mian's for a brief moment.
Luo Fei mouthed a few words, and Jiang Mian understood his intention. As long as she lowered her head, Luo Fei would help her.
But did she need it?
Li Laidi was both anxious and angry. "Sister, how can this Liang Qiao frame someone out of thin air?"
"If you want to search, fine. I have no objections as long as everyone accepts the search," Jiang Mian said to Liang Qiao, unhurriedly.
Shen Tingyu didn't understand. At this point, why was this woman still so calm!
Why didn't she accept the search? If she accepted the search, she would have a way to ruin Jiang Mian's reputation!
Liang Qiao hadn't intended to escalate things. As long as Jiang Mian allowed her to search, she could let it go, regardless of whether it was her or not. But Jiang Mian's unyielding attitude only fueled Liang Qiao's anger.
She hadn't lost just any watch; it was a watch that Luo Fei had given her for her birthday not long ago, and it held extraordinary significance for her.
"Okay, I'll make you understand why only you will be searched. Everyone here is a prominent figure. You're just an 18th-tier celebrity. If it wasn't you, who else would do such a thing? Only you have the motive!"
Jiang Mian was silent for a moment. Did her lack of fame give people the illusion that she was poor?
In the past few years, she had used very little of the money Ji Zhixiu sent her. She had lost count of the zeros in her bank account each month after the deposit.
Not to mention Ji Zhixiu's money, Jiang Mian's own earnings were more than enough to make her a millionaire.
As for their criticism of her attire, Jiang Mian was speechless.
Her clothes were personally selected by Ji Zhixiu. New outfits arrived every month. She had two rooms at home just for clothes. She didn't know the brands, but she had never worn the same outfit twice. She knew for a fact that they were not the cheap fakes these people were talking about.
Her silence, in the eyes of the crowd, seemed like an admission.
Even Nightwing looked at her worriedly. Had she been hit hard?
Jiang Mian smiled brightly. "If the accusation is made, why worry about the reason?"
She knew her explanation was weak, but she would never admit to something she hadn't done.
As she smiled, she radiated a brilliance that was breathtaking.
Nightwing's heart fluttered.
Liang Qiao's anger flared. "Guards, grab her!"
"I'd like to see who dares?"
A sharp voice echoed in everyone's ears.
Ji Zhixiu appeared before them with Fan Cheng.
He was dressed in a black suit, his gaze slowly sweeping across the crowd, a cold smile on his lips, but his eyes were filled with utter indifference. His aura was so chilling that the atmosphere instantly changed, and a sense of pressure enveloped them.
Everyone could feel the cold emanating from him. Ji Zhixiu spoke softly, his expression mocking. "Is this the cruise party President Luo invited me to? I'll have to have a good talk with your father someday."
His words struck Luo Fei's weak spot, and his face turned pale.
He had only given Ji Zhixiu an invitation as a formality and had never expected him to actually come.
Shen Tingyu's limbs went stiff. She hadn't expected Ji Zhixiu to show up at such a time...
Liang Qiao was even more mortified. This was President Ji... the most untouchable President Ji in the capital. Even Luo Fei avoided his glare. Was he protecting Jiang Mian?
Only Jiang Mian's eyes sparkled, and the smile in them deepened.
No one spoke.
The vast banquet hall fell into an unusual silence with Ji Zhixiu's arrival.