Chapter Thirty-One: Come Sit Over Here

Ruan Mianmian’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly. She hadn’t heard a sound just now, yet this man was suddenly standing silently behind her.

Jiang Ce’s gaze was deep and unreadable as he came to stand before her, asking, “When are you planning to go back?”

So that’s what he wanted to ask.

A flicker of delight rose in Ruan Mianmian’s heart, and her face brightened with a trace of a smile. She looked into Jiang Ce’s eyes and replied, “Anytime is fine. I’ll go along with your arrangements.”

After all, her business here was already settled. She had no intention of staying, so naturally she would follow Jiang Ce back to Starfish Bay.

Although Jiang Ce’s expression remained calm, the faint curve at the corner of his lips betrayed his pleasure at her answer.

But Jiang Ce was never one to wear his emotions openly; even joy was restrained and subtle.

Since the matter was settled, Ruan Mianmian and her companions decided to leave that very night. With Jiang Ce’s private helicopter at their disposal, there was no need to make other travel arrangements.

When everything was ready, the commotion upstairs drew the attention of those gathered below.

Upon learning that Jiang Ce was about to leave, Ruan Chenhan was filled with frustration and regret. Meeting someone as influential as Jiang Ce was not something one could do whenever they wished. Rumor had it that only those with an invitation could even set foot in the place where Jiang Ce resided.

People like them, with no connection whatsoever, found it nearly impossible to meet someone of Jiang Ce’s stature.

Yet no matter how hard Ruan Chenhan thought about it, he simply couldn’t understand how Jiang Ce and Ruan Mianmian had become so close. He’d even heard from the servants that they’d spent last night in the same room.

It was truly inconceivable!

Still, Ruan Chenhan couldn’t help feeling a surge of satisfaction. Given Ruan Mianmian’s current relationship with Jiang Ce, perhaps he could seize this opportunity to befriend Jiang Ce himself.

But he hadn’t expected Jiang Ce and the others to be leaving so soon.

“Father, Mianmian finally came home after such a long time. Why not let her stay a while longer?” Ruan Chenhan turned to ask Ruan Jianwen.

Ruan Jianwen glanced at his son, and with that one look, he saw through the scheme in Ruan Chenhan’s heart.

To be honest, it wasn’t just Ruan Chenhan—even Ruan Jianwen, seeing the connection between Jiang Ce and Ruan Mianmian, wanted to use this chance to win Jiang Ce’s favor.

But Jiang Ce was a reserved and taciturn man, and Ruan Jianwen found it hard to humble himself for the sake of flattery.

Fortunately, with Ruan Chenhan back and of a similar age, perhaps it would be more effective for him to take the initiative.

Ruan Jianwen glanced up toward the second floor and said, “It’s rare for the family to be together like this. Tell the staff to reserve a private room—we’ll have a good meal together tonight.”

A smile flickered in Ruan Chenhan’s eyes as he nodded eagerly. “Alright, I’ll take care of it right away!”

Father and son both clearly understood the real purpose of this dinner: to win Jiang Ce over—or at the very least, to foster a closer acquaintance. With Ruan Mianmian’s connection, who could say what the future might hold?

…

While everyone downstairs harbored their own motives, Ruan Mianmian remained oblivious. She and Jiang Ce stayed nestled in the room—not saying much, but it was far preferable to enduring the sycophancy and flattery of those downstairs.

She sat at the edge of the bed, her gaze quietly fixed on Jiang Ce, not far away.

He was seated awkwardly in an armchair meant for one, his long legs folded up, clearly at odds with the small space. The chair was her favorite spot for curling up when she had nothing else to do; for her, it was just right, but for someone of Jiang Ce’s height, it looked almost comical.

Ruan Mianmian leaned forward slightly, patting the bed beside her. “If you’re uncomfortable over there, come sit on the bed.”

Jiang Ce looked up at her gently, his eyes landing on the spot next to her.

Her heart gave a sudden leap. The look in his eyes reminded her of last night, when he’d pulled her into his arms—just as deep, just as intense.

Yet compared to last night, his gaze was much calmer now.

“It’s fine.”

Jiang Ce shook his head and turned his attention back to his phone.

Ruan Mianmian pursed her lips, muttering, “What could be so interesting? Am I not more pleasant to look at?”

Jiang Ce didn’t respond, but the corner of his mouth quirked up in amusement.

Knock, knock, knock—

A servant’s voice came from outside the door. “Miss, Madam has prepared afternoon tea. Would you like to come down and have some?”

Ruan Mianmian rolled her eyes toward the door in exasperation, grumbling inwardly: How many times is this now? Can’t they just let me be in peace?

This time it was afternoon tea; earlier it had been a fruit platter.

Utterly tedious!

She glanced at Jiang Ce. He remained unmoved.

But Ruan Mianmian knew all too well that this treatment was only because of Jiang Ce. If he weren’t here, no one would be showering her with such attentiveness.

She found it all quite remarkable. Though she knew Jiang Ce was a powerful figure, thanks to the original character’s attitude, she didn’t like him—she was even a bit averse to him. That was why, in the original story, Ruan Mianmian had spent little time with Jiang Ce.

Now, ironically, it was her own presence that had brought about this situation.

She got up from the bed and walked over to Jiang Ce. “Everyone’s busy currying favor with you. Don’t you want to go down and see?”

Jiang Ce didn’t even look up. “There are plenty who try to win me over—why should I care who they are?”

How arrogant!

Ruan Mianmian thought to herself, If I didn’t know you were the second male lead, with this air you’d be mistaken for the protagonist himself!

“But I’m hungry. I want to go down and eat something.” She spoke with a hint of a smile in her eyes, as if a thousand scattered lights had melted into them—utterly captivating.

“Alright.”

Jiang Ce put away his phone, rose slowly, and followed her downstairs.

The atmosphere below, once heavy and subdued, transformed the moment they appeared. Every face broke into a perfect smile, each person vying to greet Jiang Ce with eager deference.

“Master Jiang, come sit over here!”

“Yes, yes! It’s too stuffy upstairs—join us down here.”

Everyone’s attention was on Jiang Ce, while Ruan Mianmian, the actual focus of the gathering, was treated as though she were invisible.

But it didn’t matter to her—she wasn’t bothered in the least.

She found herself an empty seat and sat down. The pastries on the table looked exquisite and tempting; Chen Rong had clearly put a lot of thought into it.

“Master Jiang!” Ruan Chenhan stood up, nodded respectfully to Jiang Ce, and gestured with his hand. “Please, have a seat—anywhere you like.”

Though he said “anywhere,” Ruan Mianmian saw at once that the spot he indicated was the seat of honor.

Had her grandfather still been here, that would have been his seat; now, it was being offered to Jiang Ce.

It was obvious that Ruan Chenhan was eager to curry favor with Jiang Ce.

But Ruan Mianmian had a feeling Jiang Ce wouldn’t sit there.

He was accustomed to being courted, accustomed to a place of prominence. But this time he was attending her grandfather’s funeral—if he accepted the seat of honor, Ruan Chenhan’s attempt at flattery might just backfire, earning him resentment instead.