Chapter Forty-Three: Unfathomable

Jian Yanzhi and Ruan Mianmian had grown up together since childhood. Whether it was kindergarten or secondary school, they always attended the same school, even if sometimes they were in different classes.

Back then, Ruan Mianmian was considered the class beauty in nearly every school she attended. Jian Yanzhi was well aware that boys often slipped love letters and snacks to her in secret.

But she paid them no mind, devoting all her attention to him every day.

At that time, Jian Yanzhi never saw Ruan Mianmian as the beauty others claimed she was. In fact, he found her constant closeness annoying.

But today, Ruan Mianmian suddenly caught his eye.

From the very first moment he saw her that morning, Jian Yanzhi had already been struck by her radiance.

He finally realized that the crying little girl who used to trail behind him had blossomed into a wild rose, delicate and vibrant, just like the dress she wore that day—so beautiful it was impossible to look away.

At that moment, Ruan Mianmian was absorbed in watching the throng outside the window, entirely oblivious to Jian Yanzhi’s gaze.

She seemed startled by something she saw, nearly standing up in surprise.

That silhouette looked so familiar… but then, it was gone.

Ruan Mianmian was at a loss. She was certain she had just seen someone she knew well, but in the blink of an eye, the figure vanished, as if it were only an illusion.

“What are you looking at?” Jian Yanzhi noticed her expression.

Ruan Mianmian shook her head, turning back with a languid look. She thought, “How could it possibly be Jiang Ce? He clearly doesn’t want to see me anymore.”

“Mr. Jian, your coffee is ready.”

A waitress brought their order, and this time, it was a young woman. Ruan Mianmian noticed that as she turned to leave, the girl stole a glance at her.

The waitress’s eyes sparkled with admiration, and when she returned to the counter, she nodded enthusiastically to her colleague.

“She’s truly beautiful! Xiao Liang wasn’t exaggerating.”

Ruan Mianmian heard the comment and felt a little embarrassed. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking especially demure.

Jian Yanzhi let out a mocking laugh. “Alright, that’s enough. You’re overdoing it.”

“Who asked for your opinion!” Ruan Mianmian shot back, engaging Jian Yanzhi in a silent stare-down, completely unaware that the seats behind her were already filled with people pressed comically against their chair backs, trying not to be seen.

Yet, thanks to the high back of Ruan Mianmian’s chair, even Jian Yanzhi couldn’t see what was happening behind her.

Jiang Ce sat in the innermost seat, his expression cold and stern, silent as ice.

A Kuan and Shen Qing’s curiosity was undiminished by the sudden chill in the air; they were all but sprawled over the chair backs, eavesdropping and peeking boldly.

The business partner from Jiangcheng New District finally arrived—a young man named Qian Lei, who looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties.

After brief introductions, the three took their seats and began formal discussions.

Ruan Mianmian could barely interject, but as she listened to Jian Yanzhi and Qian Lei’s conversation, she picked up several points that overlapped with what she’d read in the novel.

The undeveloped land in the New District actually belonged to Qian Lei’s family, but due to limited funds, they couldn’t develop it alone and were seeking a partner.

In recent years, Jiangcheng had developed well, closing the gap with the most advanced second-tier cities.

As a result, the land’s value had soared. Smaller firms in the industry dared not take the risk, leaving only leading conglomerates like Hanhai and Morningstar willing to step in.

Morningstar Group had built its fortune in real estate, making it Qian Lei’s first choice for a partner.

But after the information on the USB drive was leaked, Jian Yanzhi submitted his offer ahead of time, seizing the opportunity and leading to the current situation.

Regret came too late!

Ruan Mianmian quietly waited for the right moment, plotting how to accidentally disrupt the conversation.

“Ahem—” she feigned a cough.

Jian Yanzhi shot her a glance but did not let it break his train of thought; he continued speaking fluently.

So…

Ruan Mianmian’s attention shifted to her coffee. She took a sip, glanced at Jian Yanzhi, and coughed again.

“Ahem—”

Her cough sprayed coffee everywhere.

The next moment, Jian Yanzhi’s pristine white shirt was covered in tiny brown stains.

The conversation halted abruptly.

“You!?” Jian Yanzhi glared at her, but seeing Ruan Mianmian’s face flushed from choking on coffee, he immediately softened.

“You’re a grown woman—can’t even drink coffee properly?”

Ruan Mianmian hadn’t expected to choke for real; her eyes brimmed with tears.

While scolding her, Jian Yanzhi grabbed some napkins and patiently wiped the coffee from the corner of her lips.

Across from them, Qian Lei was first stunned, then broke into a smile.

“Mr. Jian, you’re really attentive to your girlfriend.”

Jian Yanzhi’s hand froze, and he looked somewhat embarrassed.

He was the one covered in coffee, yet he instinctively picked up a napkin to wipe Ruan Mianmian’s lips first.

Ruan Mianmian pushed his hand away. “I’m not his girlfriend.”

Qian Lei grinned even wider, clearly not believing her. To him, they were just a bickering couple.

After all, Ruan Mianmian’s outfit was hardly what one would wear to a business meeting; she looked more like a young woman dressed up for a date.

They were all adults; it wasn’t hard to guess what was happening. Clearly the meeting had become so dull that the “girlfriend” was getting impatient.

Ruan Mianmian had no idea that something so trivial could spark such elaborate speculation in Qian Lei’s mind. She was only concerned that this might be a good opportunity.

“Hurry and go clean yourself up in the restroom,” she urged Jian Yanzhi.

Glancing at his stained shirt, Jian Yanzhi sighed and nodded. “Excuse me, Mr. Qian, I’ll just step out for a moment.”

Qian Lei was easygoing. “Go ahead, it’s fine.”

As soon as Jian Yanzhi left, Ruan Mianmian quickly slid into his seat, facing Qian Lei directly.

“Mr. Qian, weren’t you planning to cooperate with Morningstar Group? Why did you suddenly agree to work with Hanhai instead?”

Her blunt question caught Qian Lei off guard.

But he wasn’t the only one stunned—the three behind the chair backs, just like Qian Lei, wore nearly identical expressions of surprise.

Shen Qing and A Kuan exchanged glances.

Even Jiang Ce hadn’t expected Ruan Mianmian to bring up Morningstar.

Qian Lei recovered and replied with a smile, “From your tone, Miss Ruan, it sounds as if you regret my decision.”

Why would the director of Hanhai Group regret him not choosing Morningstar?

How curious.

Realizing she’d been too direct, Ruan Mianmian tried to smooth things over. “It’s nothing, just curiosity. After all, Morningstar is the real estate giant, while Hanhai is more of a jack-of-all-trades. If it were me, I’d choose Morningstar.”

Her meaning was obvious.

Qian Lei looked at her, now more puzzled than before.

Was she hinting, overtly and covertly, that he’d made the wrong choice with Hanhai? Why?

His curiosity was piqued.

“Miss Ruan, what are you trying to say?”

Ruan Mianmian licked her lips, checking to see that Jian Yanzhi had not yet returned, then spoke plainly, “Let me be frank. I think you should develop that land in partnership with Morningstar Group.”

As her words fell, Shen Qing and A Kuan immediately turned to Jiang Ce, just as confused.

What exactly was Ruan Mianmian trying to do?