When Jiang Mian woke up the next day, the man was at home and hadn't gone to work.
She looked at the clean pajamas on her body, and memories from the night before flooded her mind.
Oh god… Lu San was right, she had underestimated this wine.
Jiang Mian felt a bit ashamed thinking about her actions last night, it was truly… She let out a soft sigh.
When she opened the door, she saw the man, like a celestial being of serene grace, meticulously trimming the nails of a little dried fish.
He turned his head, "Awake?"
Jiang Mian puffed out her cheeks, "We're sleeping in separate rooms for a week! You're not touching me this week!"
As soon as she got out of bed, her waist felt like it wasn't her own.
Ji Zhixiu's previously smiling face turned cold, "I can not touch you, but we are not sleeping in separate rooms."
Jiang Mian sniffled and complained softly, "My waist hurts, my legs are sore."
"Come here, I'll rub it for you."
The little dried fish had long since disappeared when Ji Zhixiu started speaking.
Jiang Mian lay in his arms, enjoying the man's gentle massage.
"Shall I take you to Ireland for Chinese New Year this year?" Ji Zhixiu asked.
He owned a manor in Ireland, built according to Jiang Mian's preferences, wanting to give her a surprise.
Once the Chinese New Year passed, it would be the fourth year of her and Ji Zhixiu's secret marriage.
Jiang Mian closed her eyes and hummed in agreement, a mixture of sweetness and sadness in her heart. She then asked, "Is it convenient on your family's side?"
The Ji family was large, with many branches, and during the New Year, many relatives would try to get close to Ji Zhixiu.
He could ignore them, but he couldn't be absent.
He had already planned for this, "I've spoken to Grandpa, and he agrees."
Jiang Mian wrapped her arms around his waist, "Okay, I heard December over there is very lively. I've wanted to see it for a long time."
…
Ji Zhilan was hospitalized for half a month.
During this half month, she hadn't replied to Jiang Cheng's messages.
After being discharged, Xiang Long packed her things for her and was supposed to take her back to the Ji residence.
Ji Zhilan thought for a moment and said, "I'm fine now. You can go back to my brother's place. I'll go back by myself."
Xiang Long stood behind her like a terracotta warrior, carrying the bags, "Mr. Ji asked me to ensure your safe arrival home."
Ji Zhilan was speechless, Xiang Long was completely unyielding.
Fine, she had just returned from a "vacation" on a Philippine island, and it was indeed time to go back to the Ji residence first.
Upon arriving at the Ji residence, Xiang Long handed her things to the maid without her saying anything and left.
The Ji residence covered a vast area, and it took another ten minutes to walk in from the main gate. A nanny car arrived, and Ji Zhilan comfortably sat in it, rubbing her back.
She reached the living room entrance and walked in. Mother Ji was playing mahjong with some ladies. Upon seeing her return, her well-maintained face lit up, "Lanlan, you're finally back."
Ji Zhilan kissed her on the cheek and greeted Mother Ji's mahjong partners before asking, "Where are Dad and Grandpa?"
Mother Ji played a tile, "Grandpa is in the backyard garden. I don't know where your dad is."
Ji Zhilan nodded, "Then Mom, you and the aunts continue playing. I just got off the plane and will go upstairs to rest for a while."
After she left, Mrs. Wang said enviously, "Your Zhilan is beautiful and obedient. I wonder if she has a boyfriend?"
Mother Ji's expression stiffened for a moment, then she casually denied, "My Zhilan hasn't dated anyone yet. If you have any good young men in your families, you should introduce them to our Zhilan!"
"Don't worry!"
"Certainly, certainly."
Mother Chang looked at Mother Ji and didn't say anything. She had heard from that brat Chang Qin that Ji Zhilan had a boyfriend of several years.
Ji Zhilan slept soundly at home. Although she had been in a VIP ward in the hospital, she still felt uncomfortable.
She hadn't thought about Jiang Cheng, and it seemed like she didn't feel this relationship was that hard to let go of.
She was in a good mood, grabbed a bag, and prepared to go shopping.
The largest shopping mall in Kyoto.
Food, drinks, entertainment, everything was available here. It was under the Ji Corporation's umbrella.
Ji Zhilan put on sunglasses and headed directly to the tenth floor's jewelry section.
She entered a high-end jewelry store closest to her. The sales assistant immediately knew she wasn't an ordinary person by her attire.
Smiling, she approached and said, "What would the lady like to buy? Would you like us to introduce you to some items?"
Ji Zhilan looked around and said, "Anything is fine, you can introduce whatever you think is best."
With that, the sales assistant's smile became even more sincere.
Standing beside her, the sales assistant extended her hand and introduced, "Miss, you can take a look at this sapphire bracelet. The sapphire is 7.0 carats, the diamonds are 2.0 carats, and the gold weight is 11 grams. I see Miss has fair skin, and this bracelet would complement your complexion wonderfully."
Ji Zhilan shook her head listlessly.
The sales assistant was not discouraged and immediately pointed to the next item, "Then Miss, how about this one? An 18k gold emerald bracelet, personally crafted by the famous French jewelry artist Rita Sha. This gemstone is of excellent quality, with abundant small diamonds, making it incredibly luxurious."
Ji Zhilan glanced at it, showing a little interest, but not much liking.
Her gaze swept across another item in the display case, her eyes lit up, "I want this one!"
The sales assistant followed her gaze and shook her head with a hint of difficulty.
What Ji Zhilan fancied was an 18k Paraiba bracelet, inlaid with countless tiny diamonds in a lake-blue hue, with a unique design that captivated at first sight.
"What is it?"
Sales assistant: "Miss has excellent taste, but this bracelet was custom-made for a special someone as a gift. We are only displaying it, and the customer hasn't picked it up yet."
Ji Zhilan frowned, "Then never mind."
She turned and went downstairs to a clothing boutique.
She picked out a dress, and the sales assistant said with a beaming smile, "Since Miss likes it, why don't you try it on in the fitting room first? To see how it looks."
Ji Zhilan's heart fluttered, "Okay."
As soon as she entered the fitting room, a man followed her in from behind.
Before Ji Zhilan could even cry out, someone covered her mouth.
Jiang Cheng closed the fitting room door and, with bloodshot eyes, said fiercely, "Finally, you're out, Ji Zhilan! I've been following you for so many days, and you've finally shown yourself!"
He had asked the servants at the Ji residence, who said the young lady had gone out. Jiang Cheng didn't believe it. He had waited outside for so many days and finally got to see her return.
He had been following her since she left home.
Ji Zhilan didn't expect it to be him. She shook her head frantically, regretting it immensely now. She should have asked Xiang Long to follow her.
She bit her lip slightly, her mind in a panic, trying to get Jiang Cheng to let go first.
Jiang Cheng's eyes greedily swept over her entire body, "If I let go, can you promise not to scream?"
Ji Zhilan nodded.
Jiang Cheng released her, and she gasped for air, her eyes full of wariness.
"What exactly do you want?"
"Lanlan, don't break up with me, okay? I can't live without you." Jiang Cheng hugged her waist and pleaded.
"Impossible, Jiang Cheng, stop pestering me. Don't you remember how many times you've said this?" Ji Zhilan flatly refused.
She had been hesitant before, but Jiang Cheng's current behavior only solidified her decision to break up. After all, this relationship had never been favored by her family.
"Fine, you're turning your back on me, aren't you? Ji Zhilan, after dating you for so many years, you said you wanted to eat the small wontons from Xu Fu Zhai, and I queued up at midnight to buy them. I bought them and fed them to you by the bedside, and I even had to endure the humiliation from your family. Now you're saying break up just like that? Why?"
Jiang Cheng pulled open her pants and thrust himself between them, "It's been so long, you don't miss your husband, hmm?"
"No… don't… Jiang Cheng, don't do this…"
"Stop pretending, it's not our first time, be good."
…
Ji Zhilan endured everything with humiliation. Her stomach churned with nausea.
Her eyes seemed to want to devour him. Jiang Cheng sneered, "Alright, stop acting like a chaste woman. If you want to sue me, go ahead. Let's see if your Ji family can afford to lose face."
He put on his clothes, "I've said what I needed to say. Hurry up and tell your family that I want to marry you."
After saying that, he waved his hand and left without leaving a trace.
Ji Zhilan looked at the messy fitting room. She put on her clothes and walked out, ignoring everyone's gaze, "Sales assistant, please pay for this dress."
After leaving the store, she directly threw the dress, worth 180,000 yuan, into the trash can.
…
Jiang Mian was in a good mood. Even Shen Tingyu's humiliation that day hadn't affected her much.
Ji Zhixiu said he had ordered a bracelet for her. He had intended to give it to her himself, but he was too busy these past few days. Since she was free, Jiang Mian volunteered to pick it up herself.
When she arrived at the jewelry store, she gave her name, and the attendant was about to pack it for her.
Jiang Mian smiled, "No need to pack it, just put it on me directly."
The attendant fastened the clasp for her and praised, "This bracelet looks extremely good on you."
"Thank you."
Jiang Mian was also very satisfied. This bracelet was designed by Ji Zhixiu himself and custom-made by a craftsman, making it one of a kind in the world.
She extended her slender arm and took a photo to send to the man.
In the spacious conference room, her phone rang without warning.
Everyone's eyes turned to the source. The supervisor, who was reading a report, stopped speaking. He wanted to see who was so reckless as to not silence their phone during a meeting.
Oh, it was Mr. Ji. That changed everything.
Ji Zhixiu calmly took out his phone and glanced at it. Under the light, the little girl's arm was fair and smooth, and the bracelet on her wrist made her skin look like radiant jade, very beautiful.
He didn't reply, a barely perceptible curve appearing at the corner of his lips. He clicked save.
Then he put down his phone and resumed his usual demeanor, coldly saying, "What are you all standing around for? Continue."
"Oh, oh, okay." The supervisor looked at the file and continued with great enthusiasm.
When he returned home that evening, the house was dark.
"Mian Mian?"
"Little dried fish?"
No one answered him in the house.
He was about to switch on the light when Jiang Mian spoke, "Don't turn on the light!"
Ji Zhixiu narrowed his eyes and saw the woman sitting on the sofa by the moonlight from outside.
She was wearing a white slip dress with a large bow, revealing her delicate collarbone. The thin silk fabric concealed the important parts, making it even more tantalizing.
"Why aren't you turning on the light?" he asked calmly.
"Why didn't you reply to my message?" Jiang Mian stretched and yawned.
"I was in a meeting, it was inconvenient."
Jiang Mian nodded, then stood up, "I understand. You sleep alone tonight, I want to sleep by myself."
She walked slowly, and as expected, within three seconds, the man came over and swept her into his arms.
Jiang Mian gave a small gasp and wrapped her arms around his neck. The man's unique scent wafted into her nostrils.
It was a light cedarwood scent, very pleasant.
Jiang Mian had chosen this perfume for him.
Even in the darkness, Ji Zhixiu easily found his way. He kicked open the bedroom door, dropped her onto the large bed, and turned on the bedroom light.
The warm light flickered on.