Chapter 142: Your Attitude Is Problematic

"Yanzhi? There are so many people watching, could you give me a little face?"

Chen Ci tugged at Jian Yanzhi, preparing to leave.

Jian Yanzhi cast a deep, inscrutable glance at Ruan Mianmian, then turned and walked away without saying a word. Ruan Mianmian watched his retreating figure, momentarily at a loss.

"Still looking?"

Someone gripped her chin, forcing her to shift her gaze.

"What are you doing?"

Ruan Mianmian reached out to push Jiang Ce’s fingers away, but to her surprise, he applied a bit more pressure instead. A red mark instantly appeared on her chin.

Jiang Ce abruptly pulled his hand back, his expression displeased. "You seem quite comfortable while I'm away, don't you?"

"It's Elder Jian’s birthday banquet. As a younger generation, shouldn't I be here to offer my congratulations?" Ruan Mianmian replied with logical firmness.

"Tsk." Jiang Ce sounded exasperated. "Do you think I don't exist? Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"

"If I had told you, would you have let me come? It's better to keep it from you and deal with it after I get back."

"..."

Jiang Ce fell into a sudden silence, then released his hold on Ruan Mianmian. He stared at her with his dark, deep eyes, a flicker of impatience spilling out.

"Ruan Mianmian, I am not an unreasonable person."

"I know." Ruan Mianmian looked down and fiddled with her fingers. "I'll remember to tell you next time, won't that do?"

Jiang Ce remained unrelenting. "Your attitude is the problem."

"Fine, my attitude is the problem. Don't talk to me." Ruan Mianmian turned her head away, looking sullen.

Jiang Ce watched her in silence. The two stood there as if locked in a contest of wills, neither willing to speak. When Chen Ci returned, they were still maintaining this standoff.

"Are you serious? I’m cleaning up the mess for you two, and here you are, bickering and sulking?" Chen Ci teased, then patted Jiang Ce on the shoulder with a smile. "Alright, Master Jiang, go easy on our Mianmian."

Jiang Ce’s expression softened considerably, and he reached for Ruan Mianmian’s hand, but she easily dodged him.

"Mianmian, let’s not do this, is it really necessary?" Chen Ci took the opportunity to try and ease the atmosphere.

Ruan Mianmian glanced at him, then turned her eyes to Jiang Ce, her expression calm. She remained silent for a moment before suddenly, in a fit of pique, grabbing a glass of wine from a nearby table. Seeing this, Jiang Ce clamped his hand over her wrist.

"That's enough, don't drink any more."

Ruan Mianmian brushed his hand away, tilted her head back, and downed the entire glass of champagne in one go before slamming it back onto the buffet table in a huff.

Chen Ci was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped. He looked at Jiang Ce’s increasingly gloomy face and suddenly felt that agreeing to bring him along today hadn't been a wise choice.

"Are you angry with me?" Jiang Ce asked, looking at Ruan Mianmian.

Ruan Mianmian looked up, her voice quiet. "No. Can’t I just want a drink?"

"Fine, I’ll drink with you."

With that, Jiang Ce snatched up a glass of champagne and, mimicking her, downed it in one breath.

Chen Ci was so startled he quickly grabbed both of them, whispering, "Are you two elementary schoolers? What is this childish behavior? If you want to drink, do it at my place later. Can you please be mindful of the occasion?"

Ruan Mianmian couldn't be bothered to deal with them and walked off. Watching her storm away, Chen Ci felt a sense of helplessness.

"What on earth did you say to her? Why is she so angry?"

Jiang Ce was silent for a long time before saying flatly, "It’s not about this."

"Huh?" Chen Ci looked at him suspiciously. "There's something else?" *You’re quite the handful, kid!*

Jiang Ce rubbed his brow irritably, ignoring Chen Ci’s question, and set off in the direction Ruan Mianmian had gone.

Ruan Mianmian left the banquet hall without looking back, heading into the courtyard. The evening was quiet, the noise from inside fading into stillness. She crouched down by a flowerbed.

For the past two days, Jiang Ce had been running back and forth dealing with Fang Xiaoyan’s affairs. Ruan Mianmian hadn't crossed paths with her, and she had barely seen Jiang Ce. Even when he returned late at night, he would only hold her for a short while before Fang Xiaoyan would start crying and causing a scene, making it impossible for anyone to sleep. Everyone at Starfish Bay knew she was uncomfortable with the situation involving Fang Xiaoyan, so no one brought it up in front of her. But Ruan Mianmian knew—Jiang Ce had been inseparable from Fang Xiaoyan these past few days.

"Sister Mianmian? Why are you here?"

Le Chen, overwhelmed by the crowds inside, had snuck out to hide and hadn't expected to run into Ruan Mianmian.

"I came out for some fresh air." Ruan Mianmian looked up at him and slowly stood up.

Le Chen approached her with concern. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"I'm fine." Ruan Mianmian shook her head, a hint of a smile touching her lips. "Why are you out here?"

Le Chen scratched his head sheepishly. "It was just as crowded inside; I couldn't get a moment's peace, so I thought it better to hide out here."

"For someone like you, a celebrity, isn't this all second nature? You still get bothered by it?"

Le Chen nodded and laughed. "Of course. When you finally have a bit of time to yourself, you just want to be quiet. Honestly, my only wish right now is for a closed, private space where I can just be alone for three days and three nights."

"Hahaha." Ruan Mianmian couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. "Come to think of it, you seem older than me, so calling me 'Sister' doesn't seem quite right."

Le Chen replied, "Is that so? I hadn't really noticed. I suppose I’m just used to acting."

Ruan Mianmian asked, "Acting? I thought you were a singer and dancer? Are you planning to transition into acting?"

"You misunderstood." Le Chen explained, "Our group members follow an 'idol pretty boy' image, so our ages are often tweaked. For example, I’m actually twenty-three, but publicly, I'm supposed to be turning twenty."

"Oh~ no wonder." Ruan Mianmian nodded with a smile. "But you do have a very youthful look; people would believe you if you said you were nineteen."

Le Chen didn't take it to heart. "It’s all in the makeup and styling. If I were dressed in a suit and tie like my cousin every day, I wouldn't look nineteen at all."

That was true; temperament was a difficult thing to pin down.

"Oh, right, you mentioned coming to the concert with friends. How many of you are there? I should have my assistant set aside tickets." Le Chen suddenly remembered. Since Ruan Mianmian was free, he thought he would ask.

Ruan Mianmian thought about it. With herself, Xiang Kui, and Xiang Nuan, that made three people. Three tickets should be enough, right?

"Three, I think. There should be three of us."

Le Chen raised an eyebrow and smiled. " 'Should be'?"