Chapter Thirty-Two: This Is No Longer My Home

As expected, after hearing what Ruan Chenhan said, Jiang Ce’s previously calm face grew even colder, as if covered in frost. Without so much as a glance at Ruan Chenhan, he went straight to the empty seat beside Ruan Mianmian.

Ruan Mianmian’s hand paused, the spoon clutched in her grip. Sitting this close! Their trousers were practically touching!

Jiang Ce seemed oblivious, while Ruan Chenhan’s hand froze awkwardly in midair.

At that moment, Chen Jiayan appeared out of nowhere, plopping herself down directly opposite Jiang Ce, her smile radiant.

“These tea snacks were made by my aunt herself,” she beamed. “They’re much tastier than anything from those five-star hotels. Young Master Jiang, you must have more.”

The familiarity in her tone would make any outsider think she and Jiang Ce were the closest of friends.

Ruan Mianmian shot her a glare, her mood instantly soured by the way Chen Jiayan gazed at Jiang Ce.

“Exactly! My mother’s cooking is excellent, Jiang, you should try some,” Ruan Chenhan chimed in, undeterred by the awkwardness as he scooted closer. Seeing that Jiang Ce showed no reaction, he turned to Ruan Mianmian with an affectionate smile. “Mianmian, you should eat more too. You’ve grown so thin, it pains your brother to see it.”

Pain? Could he be any more nauseating?

This time, Ruan Mianmian simply set her spoon down on the table, not bothering to save face.

If they wanted to curry favor with Jiang Ce, that was their business. But if they thought they could draw her into their schemes, they could dream on!

Chen Rong, who had been silent on the side, saw Ruan Mianmian’s attitude and her face immediately darkened. Of course, her displeasure wasn’t solely because of Ruan Mianmian.

Ever since the incident with Chen Sheng, although she had managed to persuade him not to act rashly for the moment, Chen Rong had sensed something strange. Looking back on recent events, the only time anyone had even quarreled was that first night, when Ruan Mianmian returned and exchanged a few harsh words with her. No one else had so much as gotten into a heated argument.

Yet Chen Sheng was insistent: someone had been offended, so their family was being targeted in revenge—the entire Chen family collapsing overnight as a result. At first, Chen Rong hadn’t thought to suspect Ruan Mianmian, but after learning more about Jiang Ce’s identity from Ruan Chenhan, a sudden suspicion took root.

Could it be that incident was orchestrated by Ruan Mianmian and Jiang Ce?

Though it was only a suspicion, the more Chen Rong pondered, the more likely it seemed. She resolved to find an opportunity to test her theory.

“Mianmian, are the tea snacks not to your liking?” Ruan Chenhan sidled up again, feigning concern. He had clearly seen her toss her spoon away in annoyance, yet insisted on continuing his cloying act.

Ruan Mianmian had no intention of accommodating his bad habits. Raising her brows with a hint of pride, she replied, “That’s right! I think the hotel buffets outside taste better. It’s been a while since I last visited, but your mother’s cooking has really gone downhill.”

At these words, everyone at the table, save Jiang Ce, looked stunned.

Ruan Chenhan forced an awkward laugh, clearly regretting having provoked her. But the one whose expression soured most was not Chen Rong, but Chen Jiayan.

Chen Rong seemed lost in thought, barely noticing the barb. But Chen Jiayan was visibly stung, especially by Ruan Mianmian’s remark that the hotel buffet tasted better, after she had just finished praising her aunt’s skills over any restaurant.

It was a slap in the face, plain and simple.

Though her face flushed with anger, Chen Jiayan forced herself to rein it in when she glanced at Jiang Ce, and then broke into a smile.

“Mianmian, you’ve really changed since you’ve been away—become wilder, even. How can you speak to your elders that way? If it were just us, it’d be one thing, but with outsiders here, aren’t you making our family a laughingstock?”

She clearly meant Jiang Ce, her eyes flicking frequently in his direction.

Ruan Mianmian saw right through her ploy—trying to malign her in front of Jiang Ce. But whether Jiang Ce would buy it was another matter entirely.

Mimicking Chen Jiayan’s smile, Ruan Mianmian shot back, “Our family? Since when are you part of our family? Do you even remember your parents’ names?”

Chen Jiayan blanched. She hated nothing more than being reminded of her outsider status, but the truth was plain: compared to Ruan Mianmian, she was the intruder here.

Being mocked so pointedly in front of everyone, Chen Jiayan’s embarrassment soon gave way to anger. “Ruan Mianmian, watch your mouth. I’m your cousin, after all!”

Chen Jiayan’s tone was imperious, but Ruan Mianmian didn’t yield an inch.

“Cousin?” she sneered. “Chen Jiayan, have you no shame? You’re Ruan Chenhan’s cousin, not mine. Don’t try to claim kinship with me—it makes you look like a stray cat or dog no one wants.”

“You—!”

Chen Jiayan slammed her palm on the table, but Ruan Mianmian only smiled more brightly.

Leaning into Jiang Ce’s arms, she felt his body stiffen at her sudden closeness, but she paid it no mind and laughed, “I used to be part of the Ruan family, but now I belong to Jiang Ce. If you’re so desperate for this family, you can have it. But if you dare cast your dirty eyes at my Jiang Ce again, don’t blame me for being rude.”

Jiang Ce’s body tensed as she suddenly drew near. Instinctively, he slipped an arm around her waist, his heart fluttering at the feel of her slender figure.

And when she declared, “I belong to Jiang Ce,” his heart melted completely.

He couldn’t explain it—even though her words sounded contrived, he was genuinely delighted.

Chen Jiayan’s face burned with humiliation at Ruan Mianmian’s jibes, especially when she saw the cold mask Jiang Ce wore for others melt into tenderness for Ruan Mianmian. The sight made her feel all the more wretched.

Without a word, Chen Jiayan got up and fled the room.

Watching her retreating back, Ruan Mianmian shot her a cold look before straightening, slipping out of Jiang Ce’s embrace. Facing Ruan Chenhan and the others, she dropped the last vestige of pretense from her face.

She said coldly, “There’s no need for any of you to trouble yourselves further. We’ll be leaving tonight.”

Ruan Chenhan’s expression also darkened as he fixed his eyes on her. “Mianmian, must you do this? Will you only be satisfied if things end like this?”

“Ruan Chenhan, drop the act. Who are you putting on this pained, reluctant face for?”

Ruan Mianmian sneered. “If Jiang Ce weren’t here, would you be treating me kindly? Not a chance. So why waste each other’s time?”

With that, she stood up, her anger simmering beneath the surface. She turned her gaze to Ruan Jianwen, who had remained silent ever since she’d come downstairs.

“Dad, our family fell apart a long time ago—from the moment Mom left. No, to be precise, from the moment you betrayed her with Chen Rong. This place hasn’t been my home since then.”