Chapter Forty-Nine: The Allure of Teasing

I thought something had happened to you! Jian Yanzhi didn’t elaborate, but he was already aware that his emotions were out of sorts. Ruan Mianmian didn’t explain much either, only saying casually, “My phone died, so I couldn’t get in touch with you.”

Jian Yanzhi fixed her with a steady gaze but didn’t probe further; in the end, he simply nodded.

Seeing that his expression wasn’t exactly pleasant, Ruan Mianmian asked, “What’s wrong with you? You came in such a rush—did something happen?”

A trace of impatience flickered in Jian Yanzhi’s eyes. “Nothing. As long as you’re back, that’s all that matters. I have things to take care of. Stay here and rest.”

Before Ruan Mianmian could reply, Jian Yanzhi turned and left.

“Strange,” she muttered to herself, eyeing the door as it closed behind him.

When she turned around, she noticed Ah Kuan had somehow ended up in the corner, clutching his phone and chatting with someone.

“What are you doing?” Ruan Mianmian walked over and asked. To her surprise, Ah Kuan reacted instantly, hugging his phone tightly to his chest.

“Give it here!” she demanded, extending her hand.

He shook his head.

“Oh, please.” Did he really think she would give up so easily?

Ruan Mianmian reached out and rapped him on the head. Instinctively, Ah Kuan raised his arms to protect himself, giving her the perfect opportunity to snatch the phone.

Ah Kuan could only sigh in defeat.

Without looking up, Ruan Mianmian said, “Password.”

He gave it up obediently. Phone in hand, she strolled back to the sofa with a leisurely air.

“Why are you just standing there? Sit.”

At her command, Ah Kuan found a single armchair far away from her and sat down.

With a glimmer of amusement in her eyes, Ruan Mianmian scrolled through a few pages of the chat history. Then she looked up at Ah Kuan with a meaningful smile.

Nervous and helpless, he began, “Ruan, let me explain, I didn’t mean to—really, I just—”

She raised a hand to cut him off, her tone full of disdain. “You’re saying it all wrong. Try again.”

“Huh?” Ah Kuan was caught off guard.

She beckoned him over, then pointed at the screen, highlighting a few lines:

“I think that Jian kid might have feelings for Ruan.”

“Do you think he’s suddenly after our Ruan?”

“Man, with the way Ruan used to act, what if she resists?”

Suppressing the urge to pummel him, Ruan Mianmian forced herself to remain calm. “How is it ‘might have feelings’? It’s certain!”

She tossed the phone aside. “And look at this office—it was personally decorated by Jian Yanzhi! That means he’s had feelings for me for a long time now.”

Ah Kuan was confused. “So… what does that mean?”

She rolled her eyes. “How can you be so slow?”

Just then, Shen Qing’s name popped up with another message.

“How can you tell? Did Jian do something to Ruan?”

Ruan Mianmian arched a brow and told Ah Kuan, “Watch and learn.”

Then she bent over her phone and began typing rapidly:

“Let me tell you, the way Jian Yanzhi looks at Ruan is practically dazed—he can’t take his eyes off her. And his tone! It’s so gentle. I don’t think even the boss has ever spoken to Ruan so gently! Plus, her office was arranged by him personally. Isn’t that proof enough? I think Jian Yanzhi’s changed—he might be shifting his attention to Ruan now! Poor boss!”

Ah Kuan stared at the message, utterly bewildered. “Ruan, are you… trying to get us killed? If the boss finds out, we’ll be done for!”

Unfazed, Ruan Mianmian waited. Soon enough, Shen Qing replied with a string of question marks and a single line:

“What the hell does that kid think he’s doing?”

Satisfied, Ruan Mianmian returned the phone to Ah Kuan. “Don’t reply to any more messages, understood?”

“Why not?” he asked, still anxious.

She curled her lips in a sly smile. “Can’t you figure it out? Otherwise, how will Jiang Ce feel jealous? This is how things move forward!”

She winked mischievously. “Remember, don’t let anything slip. If your boss asks, just repeat what I said—word for word.”

Ruan Mianmian was convinced Jiang Ce would get jealous—how could he not?

Ah Kuan’s eyes widened as he finally caught on, and he nodded along.

Sure enough, even when Shen Qing sent more questions, Ah Kuan didn’t reply.

It didn’t take long for things to develop—soon, Ruan Mianmian received a call from Jiang Ce. She ignored it and sent a message instead:

“Sorry, I was busy and missed your call. What’s up?”

She admired her handiwork as she waited for his reply.

But the response she got caught her off guard.

“Are you having fun?” Jiang Ce asked.

Ruan Mianmian stared at the screen, feeling a bit deflated.

“So you’re sharper than I thought,” she muttered.

Ah Kuan sidled over, asking, “How did it go?”

She shot him a look and admitted, “The plan failed.”

Not bothering to reply to Jiang Ce, Ruan Mianmian killed time until the end of the workday. Then, grabbing Ah Kuan, she all but flew out of the office.

Inside the elevator, she said, “Let’s swing by the snack street nearby. I remember there’s a place that does great roasted pig’s trotters. We’ll grab some to take home.”

Ah Kuan’s eyes lit up, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he replied, “Alright.”

Noticing something odd, Ruan Mianmian glanced at him. “You’re up to something. Why don’t you just confess?”

He looked bewildered, patting his chubby cheeks. “Is it that obvious?”

She raised a triumphant eyebrow. “It wasn’t obvious before, but now it really is.”

So, she’d trapped him.

Ah Kuan chuckled sheepishly. “You’ll see soon enough.”

“So mysterious?” she scoffed. “It must have something to do with your boss.”

He started to smile, but his expression froze instantly.

Ruan Mianmian shook her head with a sigh. Just before stepping out of the elevator, she patted his shoulder and said, “Ah Kuan, you really need to learn how to manage your expressions.”

He was left speechless.

After leaving the elevator, Ruan Mianmian headed straight for the parking garage. If she guessed right, someone would be waiting there for her.

Even though the answer was obvious, she couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips.

So, Jiang Ce had acted so calm on the phone, but it turned out he could get jealous after all.

Thinking of his message—“Are you having fun?”—she couldn’t help but laugh.

“See? This is the power of a little provocation!” she said, quickening her pace without realizing it.