Song Yi liked Jiang Mian's obedient demeanor. The young girl was pretty but lacked any spoiled arrogance, always treating people gently. Who wouldn't like her? She nodded, "Then I'll watch and cook. Will the young master be back for dinner today?" Jiang Mian paused her petting of the cat, "I forgot to ask Fan Cheng just now. I'll call him." Song Yi tied her apron, "Okay, then I'll go get busy. Let the young madam know later." "Okay." Jiang Mian called Ji Zhixiu, but his phone was off. She then called Fan Cheng. Fan Cheng was on his way back, "What is it, Madam?" "Why is your president's phone off? When you get back to the company, ask him to call me back." Fan Cheng was surprised, "The president didn't come to the company today." "He didn't?" "Yes, he texted me last night to pick you up."
At seven in the morning, a nurse came to change Shen Tingyu's dressing. Her arm was fractured and in a cast, but she still had some minor wounds to attend to. Shen Tingyu, fearing Ji Zhixiu's misunderstanding, waited until the nurse left before saying what she hadn't had a chance to say last night, "I was at a party last night and accidentally bumped into something on the way back." Ji Zhixiu didn't care about this, but he still nodded slightly. Seeing that she seemed to be in good spirits, he prepared to leave, "You rest well. The caregiver I found for you will be here soon." Shen Tingyu quickly sat up, "Are you leaving already?" Ji Zhixiu looked down at his watch, his phone had run out of battery overnight. "I have company matters." Shen Tingyu's mind raced, but she had no more excuses to keep him. She could only pretend to be generous, "Then you go ahead and be busy. Thank you for your trouble, Zhixiu. I'll treat you to a meal another day." When she didn't bring up the past, she was quite normal. Ji Zhixiu was also willing to treat her as his sister from before, his voice as calm as ever, "Okay, you rest well then." Ji Zhixiu returned to the company, and Fan Cheng rushed to greet him, "President, why was your phone off? Madam even called me." "What did she say?" "She asked if you were coming back to the villa for lunch." Ji Zhixiu nodded, "Got it. I'll call her back later."
At noon, Ji Zhixiu returned to the villa. Song Yi was overjoyed to see him, "The place only feels alive when the young master is back." When Ji Zhixiu wasn't at the villa, Song Yi was in charge of everything. He always respected her greatly. He said, "When Mian Mian graduates, she'll live here. Thank you for your trouble, Song Yi." "No trouble, no trouble. Hurry up and eat, young master. The young madam is waiting for you in the living room." He walked slowly into the living room and saw Jiang Mian drinking chicken soup, holding a packet of dried fish. Ji Zhixiu was displeased, "Why are you holding it while eating?" Jiang Mian put down her spoon and held up the dried fish, feigning sadness, "Dried Fish, does your father dislike you? What's wrong with Mom hugging you? It's because our Dried Fish is so cute." Dried Fish meowed twice in response. With Jiang Mian around, it had become bolder, refusing to get off her. Ji Zhixiu picked up Dried Fish and put it down, pinching Jiang Mian's soft cheek, "Didn't you say you'd wait for me to come back to eat? Why did you start without me?" Jiang Mian licked her lips, which were shiny from the chicken soup, "I haven't tasted Song Yi's cooking in a long time and I was hungry, so I ate first." "Where were you last night? Fan Cheng said you weren't at the company this morning," she asked casually, her expression natural. "Is Mrs. Ji checking up on me?" Jiang Mian shot him a watery glance, "Can't I?" "Eat first, aren't you hungry?" he changed the subject. After eating, Ji Zhixiu hadn't left yet. Jiang Mian looked up at him, "Aren't you going to the company?" "No, I'm not. There's nothing urgent for now. I've handed it over to Fan Cheng." "Then I'll go upstairs and read for a while." Ning Jie had sent her two notebooks, which she hadn't had a chance to read yet. Ji Zhixiu's handsome brows furrowed slightly, "Come here." Jiang Mian walked over, not understanding why. Ji Zhixiu pulled her into his arms, "I've created a rose garden for you in the backyard. Want to see?" Jiang Mian sat on his lap and, hearing this, exclaimed happily, "A rose garden?" Ji Zhixiu leaned close to her ear and kissed her gently, "Yes, let's go see." He had been preparing this gift for a long time. Jiang Mian immediately stood up, "Together." "Okay." Ji Zhixiu's private villa was very large, with ample space in both the front and backyards. The front yard was usually used by the security team. The backyard had a swimming pool and a garden. When she had visited before, Jiang Mian hadn't really taken a good look. Ji Zhixiu held her hand as they walked. This rose garden was separate and built next to the garden. As they got closer, the scenery came into view. In the center of a Roman-style fountain was a sea of flowers, with a long corridor, night lights, and two swings. In winter, when everything was withered, the cultivation of such a large area of deep purple roses must have taken considerable effort. Jiang Mian blinked. The scene before her was too dreamlike, too shocking, almost unbelievable. "It snowed... and they're still in bloom?" Jiang Mian asked suspiciously. Ji Zhixiu pointed to a switch on a nearby lamp, "See? As soon as the button is pressed, an open-air transparent roof will immediately appear." Jiang Mian gave him a thumbs-up, "The power of technology." "No, it's the power of money to do whatever you want." Jiang Mian couldn't refute this. She turned her head and stood on tiptoe to kiss Ji Zhixiu twice, "It's beautiful, I like it very much, it's stunning." A fleeting smile flashed in Ji Zhixiu's eyes, "I'm glad you like it." "Why purple roses? What variety is this?" "Louis XIV, figure it out yourself." This touched upon Jiang Mian's knowledge gap. Although she didn't understand, it didn't diminish her affection. "We can put two lounge chairs here in the future, watch the stars at night, how romantic." "We'll talk about it in the summer." The two walked back hand in hand. Ji Zhixiu said, "I need to go upstairs for a video conference." "Then I'll go upstairs to read." However, Jiang Mian didn't end up reading. Her college roommate Ji Lanruo called her. They agreed to meet at a milk tea shop near the school entrance. When Jiang Mian arrived, Ji Lanruo had already ordered two milk teas. Seeing Jiang Mian approaching, she pouted, "Your taro ball boba milk tea, heated and with extra sugar." Jiang Mian sat opposite her, "Thanks. Why did you think of asking me out today?" Ji Lanruo was the daughter of a wealthy family with three older brothers, extremely doted upon at home. She rested her chin on her hand, her brow furrowed, "There's something I can't figure out. Susu and Duoduo have both gone back to their hometowns, and there's no one to talk to, so I thought of you." Of the four roommates, only Ji Lanruo and Jiang Mian were from the capital. Jiang Mian lowered her head and took a sip of milk tea, "Tell me about it." "My mom wants to arrange a marriage for me. What do you think, in this day and age, people still do this? So outdated." Jiang Mian pulled at her scarf, "Have you met the person? Is he handsome? Is he rich?" Ji Lanruo stuck out her tongue, "I haven't met him, but my mom said their family is very well-off, and it's only because of some connection that I'm even considered." "Then you could have a chance to meet him first and then decide. It's not too late." "You're right. I'll have my mom arrange a meeting later." Jiang Mian smiled, "It's too early to say. Don't overthink it." Ji Lanruo chuckled, "Actually, I haven't seen you all in a long time, and I missed you. Chinese New Year is in a month. Do you have any plans?" Speaking of Chinese New Year, Jiang Mian said, "I might go abroad for the holidays." Ji Lanruo's eyes lit up, "Darling, tell me where you're going then. I'll see if there's anything good you can help me buy." Jiang Mian was momentarily speechless, "My dear lady, is there anything you lack? Please don't trouble me." "Yes, I lack a man." Ji Lanruo was beautiful, and there was no shortage of admirers at school. "Tell me, why is no one pursuing me?" Jiang Mian thought to herself: You'd have to ask your three brothers. At the school's art festival, Jiang Mian had seen Ji Lanruo's three brothers. They were wearing suits and ties, looking quite proper. But then Jiang Mian saw one of them punch one of Ji Lanruo's suitors. It was likely due to these three brothers that Ji Lanruo had no suitors. "Okay, enough about me. Let's talk about your secretly married husband. Haven't you won him over yet?" Everyone in the dorm knew that Jiang Mian had married a mysterious person at a young age. It was a flash marriage, and also a secret marriage. Jiang Mian yawned, feeling consistently sleepy lately, "The latest news is that his ex-girlfriend has returned to the country." "Have you met her?" "I've met her once. She's very beautiful." Ji Lanruo couldn't help but click her tongue, "Don't let someone steal your man." Jiang Mian spread her hands and buried her head in her scarf, avoiding eye contact, "It's been three years. If my charm can't make him like me, then there's nothing I can do." "If he doesn't like you, why did he marry you?" Jiang Mian couldn't answer this. She couldn't say she was a substitute for the CEO's novel, could she? Would she still have any dignity left? "Maybe he thought I was pretty and wanted to marry me as a vase." Ji Lanruo didn't know the details of their relationship and couldn't comment. She sucked up all the pearls in her milk tea in one gulp, "If you ask me, you shouldn't be hanging on to one tree. There are plenty of men out there." "It depends." As long as Ji Zhixiu didn't bring it up first, Jiang Mian felt she wouldn't break up with him. It was too cold outside, so they got lazy and sat in the shop to chat. They didn't talk for long before Ji Lanruo received a call and had to go home. They said goodbye at the milk tea shop and agreed to meet when school started. When Ji Lanruo arrived home, her second brother, Ji Lanyu, was returning to pick up a document. Seeing his younger sister, he poked his head out from the second floor, "Where have you been playing again?" Ji Lanruo took off her coat, "I just met up with my roommate." Ji Lanyu looked thoughtful and went downstairs, asking, "Jiang Mian?" "How do you know her name?" Ji Lanruo looked at her brother, her existing guess deepening, "You don't… have feelings for Jiang Mian, do you?" It seemed not impossible, after all, with Jiang Mian's face, if she were a man, she would be smitten too. Ji Lanyu frowned, and the scene of their first meeting flashed in his mind. There is a beauty, and I can't forget her when I see her. "Tell me, do I, your brother, have a chance?" Ji Lanruo shrugged, saying without hesitation, "No hope." "Why?" "Oh, I said no hope, so there's no hope. Why so many 'whys'? Second brother, you should hurry to the company, or Dad will scold you again." All three of her brothers were training in their family's company, starting from the lowest positions. The eldest and third brothers were already managers, but only the second brother was still at the bottom rung. Ji Lanyu was dejected after being hit by his own sister's words. He ruffled her hair, "I'm leaving. I'll bring you a small cake tonight."