However, at Jiang Mian's command, Xiang Long, who had been poised for action, immediately extended a hand through the gap in the door, effortlessly bracing against the doorframe, leaving Shen Tingyu with no recourse. With just a little more effort, he could have pushed Shen Tingyu aside.
Jiang Mian stood by, watching Shen Tingyu in her bathrobe. If she had arrived a moment later, she feared the woman would have been in bed with him by the next second.
Jiang Mian had brought Xiang Long precisely because she was afraid Shen Tingyu would be difficult to handle alone. Shen Tingyu knew she couldn't compete with Xiang Long. Gritting her teeth, she angrily demanded, "Jiang Mian, what exactly do you want?! Do you know I can report you to the police?"
Having found the person she was looking for, Jiang Mian was no longer in a hurry. Looking at Shen Tingyu's state, Jiang Mian was almost certain Ji Zhixiu was in the room. She curled her lips into a smile, completely unfazed by the threat. "Report me? If you don't, I will. I'd like to see how you'll survive in the entertainment industry if this gets out."
"Ji Zhixiu isn't here. Jiang Mian, I'm telling you, if you know what's good for you, you'd better stay far away from him. The Ji family will never accept you."
"I haven't even asked yet, and you've already confessed," Jiang Mian retorted.
Not wanting to waste any more words, she gave Xiang Long a look. The next second, the door was flung open.
Shen Tingyu, without moving, blocked the entrance. "Jiang Mian, are you determined to make things difficult for me?"
Jiang Mian ignored her. "Xiang Long, carry her out."
Xiang Long nodded slightly. "Yes."
Before Shen Tingyu could even struggle, Xiang Long had escorted her outside. Compared to Xiang Long, who had martial arts training, Shen Tingyu seemed almost frail, making Xiang Long appear somewhat like he was bullying the weak.
To prevent Shen Tingyu from stubbornly trying to get back in, Xiang Long swiftly closed the door with a series of practiced movements, blocking her view and standing guard.
Inside the room, with all obstacles removed, Jiang Mian could finally turn her attention to Ji Zhixiu with peace of mind. She walked a few steps to the bedside.
Ji Zhixiu was half-reclining against the headboard, his hair disheveled, his chest bare, his skin flushed with an unhealthy glow. Blood from his forehead trickled down his face. He propped himself up with one leg. Seeing the newcomer, he narrowed his eyes slightly, as if trying to discern who it was.
In his palm, which was clearly veined, he clutched an ashtray, his knuckles bulging. Jiang Mian's heart leaped in shock. Without hesitation, she grasped his hand and began to pry his fingers open, one by one.
Her voice was soft, with a hint of hoarseness. "Good boy, let's let go. Don't hurt yourself, okay?"
Her voice caused Ji Zhixiu's tensed body to relax. He slowly loosened his grip and dropped the ashtray.
As he felt the coolness from Jiang Mian's body, an overwhelming sense of comfort washed over him. Before he could move closer,
Jiang Mian cupped his head and, leaning down, kissed his burning lips. "This time, let me..."
Like a spark igniting a flame, Ji Zhixiu's response was a frantic embrace.
Soon, clothes were scattered, skin met skin, and they were inseparable.
Reason burned away, leaving only primal desire. The intense restraint finally collapsed.
With Ji Zhixiu drugged, his actions were far from gentle, bordering on rough. In this encounter, Jiang Mian felt no pleasure whatsoever.
She furrowed her brow deeply, letting out soft whimpers, yet she tried her best to cooperate.
Only when Ji Zhixiu had completely released did Jiang Mian let out a sigh of relief. Her eyes closed, and she was about to drift off to sleep, but then she remembered that Shen Tingyu had booked this room, and sleeping here felt unsettling.
Her thoughts drifted further, and Jiang Mian slept lightly. In her daze, someone kissed her forehead.
Then, someone grabbed her wrist, licked her earlobe, and slowly left marks on her body.
Jiang Mian suddenly woke up, meeting Ji Zhixiu's gaze. His eyes were filled with tenderness and clarity.
She nestled into his embrace. "You're finally awake."
Ji Zhixiu raised an eyebrow. The dried blood on his face gave him a beautiful, strong, yet tragic aura. He gently enclosed Jiang Mian's palm in his large hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing it. "I'm awake now. Don't be afraid."
Jiang Mian's nose pricked, and tears welled up. The strength she had been forcing herself to maintain instantly dissipated. She hugged Ji Zhixiu. "Do you know how scared I was?"
She pretended to be fierce. "If you'd lost your virginity, I would divorce you immediately."
Uncharacteristically, Ji Zhixiu didn't get angry when divorce was mentioned this time. He gently kissed her fingertips repeatedly. Although he had been drugged, the effects had worn off, and he remembered what had just happened.
At the doorway, he had heard the young girl's voice, which was why he had resorted to self-harm to stay conscious.
And precisely because he remembered everything, the guilt in his heart was unspeakable. Ji Zhixiu's eyes were as deep as the sea, drawing one in. Jiang Mian glared at him, her eyes shimmering, and emphasized, "I'm serious."
As she spoke, her lips accidentally brushed against his. Jiang Mian let out a soft gasp. "Hiss..."
She didn't need to look in the mirror to know her lips were likely red and swollen, making her appearance unrecognizable, all thanks to Ji Zhixiu's earlier work.
A flicker of darkness crossed Ji Zhixiu's eyes. He apologized, "I'm sorry. I couldn't control myself just now."
"Can we do it again? I promise it will be a different feeling this time."
He said it politely, but it was clearly a notification. Jiang Mian's peach blossom eyes widened in surprise as she felt his arousal.
"You... Ji Zhixiu! Your body isn't up to it right now, you can't..."
Her refusal was swallowed between their lips.
This time, Ji Zhixiu's words were true. It was an act entirely meant to please Jiang Mian.
Jiang Mian still cried softly, feeling embarrassed. She had tried to refuse, but now she was crying from pleasure.
Resigned, she pulled the covers over her face.
Ji Zhixiu's brow twitched. "My head hurts..."
Jiang Mian immediately pulled back the covers, forgetting her shyness. "Let's go to the hospital now."
Ji Zhixiu's lips curved imperceptibly. "I'll have Fan Cheng bring clothes."
Jiang Mian didn't object.
Ji Zhixiu lay on his side, holding her, and idly played with Jiang Mian's palm.
Jiang Mian recounted how she found him. Ji Zhixiu responded with a soft "mm."
"So, what do you plan to do?"
Ji Zhixiu smiled wantonly and said slowly, "Naturally, I'll return it to them, one by one."
"What about Shen Tingyu?" she asked.
Ji Zhixiu frowned. "Her brother is coming back. When he does, I'll have Mu Yuan teach her a lesson."
Fan Cheng arrived quickly. Upon learning that Ji Zhixiu was alright, he breathed a sigh of relief. He brought many things and was surprised to see Xiang Long still guarding the door.
They greeted each other, and Fan Cheng handed the items through the door without entering.
"Why are you outside alone?" he asked.
"Guard duty," Xiang Long replied succinctly.
"Why haven't you left yet?" Fan Cheng asked.
"Awaiting the President's punishment," Fan Cheng said weakly.
This time, he had almost made a grave mistake. If the President had been violated by another woman, the consequences would have been unthinkable. Fortunately, fortunately.
Jiang Mian's legs trembled as she got out of bed. She glared at Ji Zhixiu and then shuffled to the bathroom for a shower.
When she came out, dressed, and opened the door, she saw Fan Cheng bowing his head. "President, Madam."
Ji Zhixiu responded with a poker face and turned to Jiang Mian. "I need to go back to the company for a bit. I'll be back in half an hour. You and Xiang Long go back first."
Jiang Mian nodded and left with Xiang Long.
On the way back, Jiang Mian asked, "Shen Tingyu just left like that?"
Given her personality, it didn't seem like her.
Xiang Long honestly replied, "She didn't want to leave, but I blocked the door and she couldn't get in. She was still wearing a bathrobe and was afraid of being seen, so she asked me to send her some clothes before she left. She also told me to tell you to be careful."
In reality, Shen Tingyu had been angered into leaving.
The feeling of being a pawn for others made her head spin. Especially the thought that Jiang Mian would definitely be intimate with Ji Zhixiu upon entering, which filled her with anger and resentment, making her wish she could have taken Jiang Mian's place.
But since things had come to this, it was best to leave before Ji Zhixiu fully regained consciousness.
Jiang Mian smiled sweetly. "She got what she deserved."
...
Fan Cheng followed behind Ji Zhixiu, occasionally glancing up.
"What? Are you going to bore a hole through my back?"
Fan Cheng shook his head. "President, I made a mistake this time. I didn't realize it wasn't Madam calling, and I shouldn't have answered your phone without authorization."
"That's enough," Ji Zhixiu stopped and mused, "You haven't had much contact with her, only a few times, so it's understandable you didn't recognize her. As for answering my phone, it was just a matter of circumstances. This matter is settled. Let it serve as a lesson."
Although Fan Cheng made a mistake, he wasn't entirely to blame.
He lowered his head in shame, his resolve to work diligently by the President's side strengthening. "Yes, President."
"Find out the guest list from tonight's banquet."
"Understood."
...
Ji Zhixiu returned exactly half an hour later as promised. When he got home, Jiang Mian was lying in bed. Hearing the movement, she turned over and faced away from him.
The mattress dipped as the man leaned over her back, his voice affectionate. "Mianmian."
Jiang Mian turned her face. "Did you go to the hospital?"
Ji Zhixiu dismissed it nonchalantly. "No need. It's just a minor injury."
He didn't want to go, and at this late hour, he didn't want to bother. Jiang Mian got up and ran downstairs. A moment later, she came back up, carrying a medical kit. She tilted her chin, directing him, "Come to the sofa. I'll take care of it for you."
Ji Zhixiu suddenly remembered that many years ago, the young girl had persistently handed him a bottle of medicine through the window.
He readily sat down.
Jiang Mian's fingertips carefully parted his messy hair on his forehead and disinfected the wound with an iodine cotton swab. Seeing the cut, she pursed her lips. "Ji Zhixiu, you need to go to the hospital for this."
In his dazed state, he hadn't been able to control the force with which he had injured himself. Jiang Mian could tell at a glance that it would need stitches.
Seeing the worry in the young girl's eyes, Ji Zhixiu rubbed his forehead. "Then I'll call the doctor over."
Ji Zhixiu had his own private doctor, though he hadn't used him in a long time. When the private doctor was woken up from his sleep, he thought Ji Zhixiu was in serious trouble.
He rushed to the villa, only to find Ji Zhixiu perfectly fine, and he breathed a sigh of relief. However, the wound on his forehead was too conspicuous.