Chapter Fifty-Four: Shall We Go Home?

All the conversation inside the car was transmitted through the camera to Jiang Ce on the other end. Jiang Ce’s face grew darker and darker, yet for the moment, there was nothing he could do.

Shen Qing, having caught wind of the situation, hurried over to the garage. “Boss? What happened?” he asked, breathless, clearly having run all the way.

Jiang Ce shot him a chilling glance, then opened the car door without getting out, instead turning from his seat to look at Shen Qing. “Shen Ting is in Jiangcheng.”

It wasn’t a question, but a statement. From the look of things, Shen Qing had no room to argue. “Boss, let me explain, Tingting, she…”

“You knew from the beginning, didn’t you?” Jiang Ce cut him off.

“I… I just found out myself! I thought she was still in Lanshi, just like you did. Who would have thought she’d followed us to Jiangcheng?”

Shen Qing’s voice grew quieter with each word.

Jiang Ce fished a lighter from his pocket, rolling it between his palms. His expression was cold and desolate. He’d quit smoking a long time ago—because Ruan Mianmian didn’t like the smell, he hadn’t touched a cigarette for years. Yet, from time to time, he still carried a lighter, only taking it out when his mind was deeply unsettled.

Sensing something was seriously wrong, Shen Qing ventured, “Did Tingting get into some kind of trouble?”

Jiang Ce let out a cold laugh, his eyes frosted with disdain. “At the Moonlight Villa, the waiter who tricked Ruan Mianmian into going downstairs and took the opportunity to plant the USB drive in her room was sent by Shen Ting.”

Jiang Ce’s calm statement made Shen Qing’s face change instantly. “How could that be? What would she have to gain by doing that?”

“I’d like to know that myself,” Jiang Ce replied. “And that’s not all. The anonymous email containing the USB’s contents that was sent to that Jian fellow—that, too, was sent by your dear sister.”

Shen Qing was stunned. “Impossible! She has no reason to do such a thing!” He might not know others well, but he knew his own sister—Shen Ting would never betray the boss.

“Boss, there must be some misunderstanding here! You know Tingting would never betray Morningstar!”

“Nothing is impossible. She’s already done it,” Jiang Ce said, fixing Shen Qing with a cold stare. “Get in the car. We’re going to her place.”

With that, Jiang Ce got out and moved to the passenger seat.

Shen Qing didn't know exactly what had happened, but seeing the situation, he realized there was no choice but to confront Shen Ting face to face.

The car started, and they drove out. Meanwhile, Ruan Mianmian had already met up with Jian Yanzhi. On screen, Jian Yanzhi was fastening his seatbelt in the front passenger seat. Jiang Ce stared at his phone, his lips pressed into a tight, thin line.

Shen Qing noticed, suspicion flickering in his eyes, but he didn’t know where to begin questioning.

“Have you found her address?” Ruan Mianmian’s calm voice came through the phone, Jiang Ce’s gaze glued to the screen.

Jian Yanzhi then teased, “Of course. But can you tell me what you’re going there for? With all this tension, what did she do to offend you?”

Ruan Mianmian’s face was taut, silent, but the whitened knuckles gripping the steering wheel betrayed her agitation.

Shen Qing couldn’t see the screen, but from their words, he’d pieced together the gist.

“Brother Ruan is going to see Tingting too?” he ventured cautiously.

“Mm,” Jiang Ce replied, hiding nothing.

Shen Qing’s anxiety deepened. “Boss, what’s really happened?”

Jiang Ce lifted his eyes slightly, voice icy: “I’ve made it clear. You’ll know when we get there.”

The rest of the drive passed in silence. When Jiang Ce’s car pulled into the Jiaxin Compound, Ruan Mianmian’s car was not far ahead. She’d lost some time detouring to pick up Jian Yanzhi, so they arrived almost simultaneously.

Ruan Mianmian got out first and strode toward the apartment building. Jian Yanzhi quickly grabbed her arm. “Wait! Miss Ruan, you should at least tell me what’s going on. What happened?”

She turned back, annoyed. “This has nothing to do with you. Go home.”

With that, she pushed his hand away and headed straight for the elevator. Jian Yanzhi, biting back his temper, followed, stepping into the elevator beside her.

It was already half past eleven at night. The elevator was empty, and seeing Ruan Mianmian so agitated, Jian Yanzhi felt his own irritation ebb.

“Don’t tell me this is about me?” he teased.

Ruan Mianmian shot him a glare. “As if you’re that important.”

Jian Yanzhi only laughed. “Aren’t you the one who knows best whether I am or not?”

In the past, Ruan Mianmian had often gotten jealous over Jian Yanzhi, and he used to scoff at it. Now, though, there was a trace of pride in his tone.

She didn’t reply. The elevator arrived, and she walked briskly out, heading straight for unit 1208.

Bang, bang, bang!

She didn’t bother with the doorbell, hammering loudly on the door with her hand. Jian Yanzhi tried to stop her. “Hey, Miss Ruan, do you know what time it is? If you wake the neighbors, you’re going to get us both in trouble!”

Bang, bang, bang!

She ignored him, pounding on the door, but there was no response from inside.

Soon, hurried footsteps echoed behind them. Ruan Mianmian kept knocking, not looking back. Jian Yanzhi turned to look—and his expression changed at once.

Jiang Ce, still in casual clothes, hair tousled, face set in grim lines, was coming toward them. No, not toward them—he was staring at Ruan Mianmian.

Jian Yanzhi was completely ignored, but he recognized this man. Outside the Western restaurant, Ruan Mianmian had once admitted in front of him that this was the man she loved.

Seeing Ruan Mianmian pounding the door so desperately, Jiang Ce’s face softened in concern. He strode over and gently took her hand.

Ruan Mianmian, thinking it was Jian Yanzhi meddling again, tried to shake free. But Jian Yanzhi stepped forward and pushed Jiang Ce away.

“What are you doing? Who are you people?”

Hearing the commotion, Ruan Mianmian finally turned. Jian Yanzhi’s face was flushed with anger, and the same fury was written on Jiang Ce’s face as the two men glared at each other, each radiating an imposing aura.

Ruan Mianmian simply looked at Jiang Ce, saying nothing.

Jiang Ce glanced at Jian Yanzhi, barely acknowledging him. He stepped forward, standing before Ruan Mianmian. His voice softened, “Let’s go home, shall we?”

Her eyes turned red. Seeing Jiang Ce, all the grievances she’d been holding back threatened to spill over. But she forced them down, turning away once more to resume knocking on the door.