Your acting was quite good.

Jiang Ce glanced sideways at the exasperated person beside him, and smoothly tapped to play the voice message as requested.

Then, Ruan Mianmian’s stealthy and somewhat panicked voice instantly rang out.

"Jiang Ce? What should we do? Xiang Kui is drowning her sorrows in alcohol! We literally can't hold her back!"

Before Ruan Mianmian’s words even fully faded, Jiang Ce felt a sudden gust of wind rush past his side. Following closely, he could only catch sight of Chen Ci’s rapid and slightly disheveled figure running away toward the entrance of the banquet.

Jiang Ce barely managed to withdraw his gaze, his toes tapping against the floorboards as he waited somewhat idly for the person on the other end of the line to pick up.

"Nice acting."

Hearing Jiang Ce’s teasing remark, Ruan Mianmian fell silent for a moment before asking tentatively, "Why did you spill it right away? Where is Chen Ci?"

"He left."

"He left?"

"Yeah, you guys should be seeing him very soon."

"Really!"

It seemed her efforts hadn't been in vain after all.

With a light and serene look in his eyes, Jiang Ce slowly walked from the banquet hall to the second-floor terrace. A cool breeze instantly hit his face. He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his collar, his gaze casual and a smile playing on his lips.

His voice was low and deep, carrying a hint of bewitching seduction.

"Missing me already?"

"As if."

Ruan Mianmian let out a proud and dainty laugh, then said softly, "I've been very good, so have I, and so has everyone else. Hurry back, okay?"

"Mn."

Listening to the soft tone on the other end of the line, Jiang Ce let out a low murmur from his well-shaped nose, followed by, "Wait for me."

"Okay."

Ruan Mianmian giggled and hung up the phone, then turned to Xiang Kui and whispered, "It worked!"

"It worked?"

Xiang Kui’s eyes lit up.

Ruan Mianmian took the opportunity to raise her wine glass, clinking it lightly against the one in front of Xiang Kui, and smiled, "Come, come, get a bit more alcohol on your breath so this act can come to an end. The rest is up to you."

Xiang Kui’s eyes shone brightly, as if she had suddenly snapped back to reality. She blinked at Ruan Mianmian and smiled:

"Fine, you're something else."

With that, Xiang Kui leaned a little closer to Ruan Mianmian and asked, "Tell me, are you really this bold in front of Jiang Ce?"

"What's wrong with him? Isn't he just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill kind of guy?"

Ordinary? Run-of-the-mill?

Do you perhaps have some kind of misunderstanding about those two words?

Xiang Kui clicked her tongue and shook her head, muttering, "God damn it, 'a run-of-the-mill kind of guy'."

A man like Jiang Ce, if placed a dozen years ago, would definitely have been a top-tier gang leader on the streets!

Placed in the present day, he’d be prime target material for cracking down on organized crime!

Fortunately, they were all walking the straight and narrow path of legitimate business now, but the reputation of Young Master Jiang of Lancheng was still renowned throughout the industry.

He was hardly the "ordinary" man Ruan Mianmian made him out to be.

Still, Jiang Ce's demeanor did differ somewhat from the rumors she had heard previously. She never expected him to be such a low-key person in private.

This came as quite a surprise to Xiang Kui.

Having successfully fished first-hand gossip from Jiang Ce’s end, Ruan Mianmian was in no hurry now, simply waiting for Chen Ci to willingly deliver himself to their doorstep.

She ate and drank as she pleased, and the glass of beer in her hand was soon empty.

Ruan Mianmian stealthily refilled her glass, looking thoroughly pleased with herself like a cat that had stolen some cream.

Just as the glass of beer was about to hit the bottom again, Ah Kuan hurried over and collected the wine bottles around Ruan Mianmian.

"Brother Ruan, we agreed on just getting a little alcohol on your breath, you can't overdo it, and you definitely can't drag us down with you!"

"..."

Ruan Mianmian shot him a silent sideways glance, pushing her wine glass aside of her own accord. Almost immediately, Shen Qing's quick hands and eyes offered a soft drink instead.

"Brother Ruan, drink this. It'll quench your thirst just the same."

"I really have to thank you so much."

Ruan Mianmian was dripping with sarcasm, but Shen Qing and the others didn't mind at all, each smiling brighter than a blooming flower.

Before long, there was some movement at the entrance.

Chen Ci had been drinking at the banquet and couldn't drive, so he had casually flagged down a taxi by the roadside and rushed all the way over.

"Keep the change."

Chen Ci pulled a stack of red bills from his wallet and, without even looking, tossed them right into the driver's lap before quickly getting out of the car.

The driver remained rooted to the spot, staring longingly at Chen Ci's retreating back for quite a few seconds.

After all, such a generous and unpretentious passenger was a rare sight these days.

"That should be Chen Ci arriving."

Ruan Mianmian muttered, and Xiang Kui's body instantly tensed up.

"One of you go check outside, make sure someone opens the door for him."

Following Ruan Mianmian's instruction, a young man in black from the outer circle stood up and walked briskly toward the entrance.

Ruan Mianmian patted Xiang Kui on the shoulder and smiled, "Don't be so nervous. Besides, if you're going to cry, save the tears for when Chen Ci actually gets here; hold them in for now."

"..."

Xiang Kui raised her eyes in silent reproach and asked, "Is that any way to comfort someone?"

Ruan Mianmian twitched her eyebrows and smiled, "My comforting doesn't really do much anyway. The most important thing depends on Chen Ci."

Xiang Kui lowered her head again in silence.

A moment later, the sound of stumbling footsteps echoed from behind.

Chen Ci had consumed quite a bit of alcohol back at the banquet, but because he usually held his liquor exceptionally well, he hadn't felt much at the time. However, after being hit by the chilly night wind all the way here, it was starting to catch up with him.

His footsteps were unsteady, and had someone not been supporting him, he probably would have taken a few tumbles.

"Xiang... Kui."

The man's deliberate, syllable-by-syllable voice rang out. Ruan Mianmian immediately looked back over her shoulder. Across the distance and through the dim surroundings, it was somewhat difficult to make out Chen Ci's expression clearly.

Yet, in the few encounters Ruan Mianmian had with Chen Ci, he always wore a spring-breeze smile as if he were simply born with it.

This time, however, Ruan Mianmian easily sensed the wave of icy detachment radiating from Chen Ci.

Hearing Chen Ci's voice, Xiang Kui couldn't help shrinking her neck.

Ruan Mianmian offered a helpless piece of teasing, "Young Master Chen, Xiang Kui's already cried several times, so stop trying to scare her."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ruan Mianmian felt Xiang Kui hurriedly pull on her arm, signaling her to stop talking.

Ruan Mianmian glanced at Xiang Kui and whispered, "I think you two should go inside to talk. Don't just drag things out here, the living room is empty."

Xiang Kui shot Ruan Mianmian a grateful look, but her body didn't budge.

With a rolling of her eyes, Ruan Mianmian turned back to the motionless Chen Ci standing in the distance and said, "Xiang Kui sprained her ankle, and no one else dares to touch her. Why don't you carry her into the living room?"

Hearing this, everyone present stared at Xiang Kui with utterly blank expressions.

She was jumping around just a moment ago, so how on earth did she suddenly sprain her ankle?

Before anyone could react, the figure standing not far away strode directly up to Xiang Kui, bent down, and swept her up horizontally into his arms.

Xiang Kui quietly curled up in Chen Ci's embrace, allowing him to carry her toward the living room.

Halfway there, a knowing smile bloomed on Ruan Mianmian's face.

Taking advantage of the moment, Xiang Kui managed to free one hand and flashed an 'OK' sign toward Ruan Mianmian.

Everyone else looked at Ruan Mianmian with eyes full of utter adoration.

Ah Kuan raised his thumb and praised, "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

Shen Qing clapped in agreement, "Masterful skills."

Jin Jiu wore a deadpan expression, "No wonder you're able to keep the boss wrapped entirely around your finger. Truly our eldest sister-in-law!"

Everyone chimed in, "Extraordinary!"

The smile on Ruan Mianmian's face froze for a second as she rolled her eyes and muttered, "Flattery will get you nowhere!"