Chapter Sixteen: I Will Take Care of You

After A-Kuan drove the car into Starfish Bay Villa, Jiang Ce had already disembarked from the helicopter with Li Zheng, apparently having rushed back as well.

Once the car came to a stop, A-Kuan got out and walked over to Jiang Ce, whose gaze remained fixed on the car, yet the person in the back seat did not appear for a long while.

“What’s going on?” Jiang Ce asked in a low, steady voice.

A-Kuan glanced back, then replied, “I’m not sure either. Miss Ruan said she saw someone, and after that she hasn’t spoken a word—she’s just been sitting in the car, crying…”

His voice grew quieter and quieter. Jiang Ce, unable to contain himself, stood up from his wheelchair despite the pain, and strode directly toward the Land Rover.

Li Zheng took a couple of steps after him, wanting to offer support, but then stopped himself. This was not the right moment for them to intrude.

After all, this rare moment belonged to just the two of them.

Inside the car, Ruan Mianmian sat in the back seat, her head bowed, shoulders trembling ever so slightly. If one looked closely, it was clear she was silently weeping.

Jiang Ce stood outside the car door, gazing at her, his heart twisting in pain.

His movement earlier had pulled at his wounds, making it hard for him to breathe; he had to exhale cool air from time to time. Yet he could not bear to simply watch her like this. Instead, he opened the car door and got in.

Ruan Mianmian, slim and delicate, had curled herself up, leaving the back seat nearly empty. Jiang Ce easily took up most of the remaining space.

As the seat beside her sank and the door closed softly, Ruan Mianmian started. She lifted her eyes and met Jiang Ce’s gaze—serene yet brimming with suppressed pain.

It was the first time Ruan Mianmian had seen him look at her with such gentleness, with a hint of restrained heartache.

Her swollen, red eyes looked to Jiang Ce like those of a pitiful little rabbit.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Jiang Ce asked gently.

Her gaze dropped to his abdomen. Though he was dressed now, the memory of him swathed in bandages lingered vividly in her mind.

She had known Jiang Ce was badly injured, but only now did she truly understand what he had been through.

She sniffled, moving closer to him. Her forehead accidentally brushed his chin, making him freeze for a split second.

“Does it hurt?” She pressed her hand to his abdomen. Even through the clothes, she could feel the thick bandages beneath.

Jiang Ce’s eyes flickered as he stared at the side of her face, momentarily at a loss for words.

He had grown used to pain since childhood, his body and nerves numbed to it. Yet every sensation awakened whenever Ruan Mianmian was near.

He could ache for her, and his heart could stir for her.

Was this what people called fate? Perhaps he owed her a debt from a previous life.

A wry smile touched his lips as he shook his head. “It doesn’t hurt.”

Ruan Mianmian’s breath caught. She knew it was a lie—so many wounds, so much blood; how could it possibly not hurt?

She looked up at him, her eyes full of distress. Jiang Ce was taken aback for a moment and met her gaze in silence.

“Jiang Ce, thank you.”

Her gratitude was sincere. Had he not risked everything to save her, she might not be alive now.

The memory of narrowly escaping death did not make her feel lucky—rather, it filled her with lingering fear.

Jiang Ce replied calmly, “No need to thank me. I promised your grandfather I would take good care of you.”

She looked up at him suddenly, but his eyes were as calm as ever, as if he were merely commenting on the weather.

Seeing the restraint in his expression, Ruan Mianmian’s heart ached even deeper.

She opened her arms and hugged him around the waist, burying herself in his embrace.

“Jiang Ce, from now on, I’ll take care of you.” Her voice was full of grievance, yet equally filled with sincerity.

Jiang Ce stiffened, not daring to move. He looked down at the little head nestled in his arms, momentarily at a loss.

He truly could not understand Ruan Mianmian anymore. She used to be like a blank sheet of paper, wholeheartedly fond of Jian Yanzhi and equally sincere in her dislike for him.

Now, everything seemed reversed. She went to great lengths to please him, hoping to stay by his side, while turning a cold face to Jian Yanzhi.

When he heard she was going to Hanhai Group, Jiang Ce had been ice-cold inside, convinced her words before had only been to placate him.

But now, he could not help but wonder—had Ruan Mianmian become too deeply immersed in her own act?

“A-Kuan said you saw someone. Who did you see?”

Jiang Ce bypassed her words, asking directly, “Who was it? Why did it frighten you so much?”

Ruan Mianmian shivered again, and Jiang Ce immediately sensed it. He could not remain indifferent; he gently wrapped an arm around her waist.

She looked up, lips trembling with lingering fear, then whispered, “That kidnapper. I saw the kidnapper.”

Jiang Ce frowned. “How could that be? The police have already taken them away; how could you possibly see them?”

“I didn’t mistake it.” Ruan Mianmian shook her head, her gaze unwavering. “I’ll never forget that face for the rest of my life. It was in the underground parking lot at Hanhai Group. I saw him clearly, but I couldn’t catch up.”

It was too strange—someone who had already been arrested, suddenly appearing in the parking lot of Hanhai Group?

Jiang Ce’s gaze lingered on her face. Was it possible they were still after her?

He suddenly realized the kidnapping was perhaps not as simple as it appeared. Maybe those criminals had never intended to let Ruan Mianmian go from the very beginning.

His eyes darkened at the thought, and Ruan Mianmian, sensing his mood, grew suspicious, uncertain what he was thinking.

“Jiang Ce, what have you thought of?” she asked.

He lowered his head, gently taking her fingers and placing them in his palm, comforting her, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of them. You should go rest.”

Though she had been trembling with fear moments ago, his words instantly soothed her heart. She was deeply grateful for the choice she had made.

Compared to Jian Yanzhi, Jiang Ce was the one she could truly rely on.

“Okay.”

Ruan Mianmian nodded, suddenly looking forward to a future with Jiang Ce.