Chapter Sixty-Four: I’ll Stay Here With You

Ruan Mianmian had no idea where exactly things had gone wrong. In the past, she had been consumed by jealousy over Song Chenxi, desperately orbiting Jian Yanzhi; but now, it felt as if everything had been reversed.

Song Chenxi was silent for a moment, lost in her own thoughts.

Ruan Mianmian sighed. Looking back, she realized there was no longer any need to compete with Song Chenxi. Let them bask in their sweet romance as the leading couple; she was content to quietly play her supporting role.

“Song Chenxi, I didn't lie to you. One day, you'll understand what I mean.”

Suddenly, Song Chenxi’s voice trembled with fragility, and Ruan Mianmian could faintly hear the threat of tears.

She asked, “Can I trust you?”

“You can.” Ruan Mianmian replied with absolute certainty. “I promise I won’t fall for Jian Yanzhi.”

After hanging up, a wave of irritation welled up within her. Honestly, it was all Jian Yanzhi’s fault. She’d better keep her distance from him in the future.

Just as that thought crossed her mind, the doorbell rang unexpectedly, startling her.

“So late? Who could it be?” Her expression twisted in embarrassment—anyone but that damned Jian Yanzhi.

“Knock, knock, knock—”

The door was rapped again, this time with an impatient urgency.

Barefoot, Ruan Mianmian crept up to the door. There was no peephole, so she couldn't see who was outside. To be cautious, she decided to ask first.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

The low, magnetic voice was unmistakable—intimately familiar to her.

A flicker of delight shone in Ruan Mianmian’s eyes, and she quickly opened the door.

Jiang Ce stood in the corridor, face clouded and expression dour. His long legs seemed out of place in the cramped hallway, crowding the space.

Ruan Mianmian’s voice was drowsy and lazy as she asked, “What brings you here?”

Jiang Ce glanced up at her, his gaze filled with a tangle of unreadable emotions. Ruan Mianmian couldn’t guess exactly, but it was clear he wasn’t in a good mood.

Without a word, he strode in forcefully, leaving her no choice but to step aside as he ushered her into the room.

With a heavy thud, the door closed behind them—a sound that seemed to reverberate in her chest, leaving her heart quivering.

Jiang Ce had clearly been drinking; a faint scent of alcohol clung to him, mingled with a subtle trace of tobacco. Ruan Mianmian was sensitive to smells and usually found cigarette smoke unpleasant, but she had never seen Jiang Ce smoke back at Starfish Bay.

That piqued her curiosity.

“You smoke now?” she asked, wrinkling her nose, her eyes sparkling.

Jiang Ce frowned and sniffed at himself, his own brow furrowing. Hearing that Jian Yanzhi had brought her home, he had rushed over in a hurry and forgotten to change his clothes—or rid himself of the lingering scent of smoke.

“It’s not from me,” he explained tersely, then took off his suit jacket and tossed it straight into the trash.

Ruan Mianmian clicked her tongue. That jacket must have cost at least five figures, and he discarded it without a second thought.

Underneath, Jiang Ce wore a white shirt, the top two buttons undone, revealing sharply defined collarbones and throat—giving him a dangerously alluring air.

Ruan Mianmian raised her brows and shrugged. “Come sit down.”

“Mm.” Jiang Ce entered the living room, glancing around.

He knew this was an apartment arranged by Hanhai Corporation for its employees, but hadn’t expected it to be so well-equipped. Though it was only a one-bedroom, it was spacious and well-lit, located in a high-end complex with excellent security.

Jiang Ce took it all in, feeling a little more at ease.

Taking advantage of the pause, Ruan Mianmian retrieved two cans of beer from the fridge and set them on the table—there was nothing else to drink, not even water.

“Want one?” she asked, her almond eyes wide and dark, shining as if clouded by steam.

Jiang Ce stared, then nodded. “Sure.”

Once they were seated, Ruan Mianmian looked at him and asked, “How did you know I was here?”

Jiang Ce focused on opening his beer, his voice low. “I had A Kuan follow you.”

“Oh…” Ruan Mianmian hadn’t expected him to be so frank about ‘tracking’ her.

Without looking up, Jiang Ce explained, “Don’t blame him. The kidnappers from last time still haven’t been found. I just don’t want anything to happen to you again.”

She understood—he cared about her.

Ruan Mianmian pressed her lips together, a shy smile tugging at her mouth. “I know.”

Jiang Ce picked up the beer and took a long swig, as if he meant to drain it all in one go.

Ruan Mianmian raised her hand to stop him, but she was a beat too late.

He crushed the can and tossed it into the trash.

She stared at the flattened can, blinking in surprise.

He’d actually finished it.

She took the other can, sipped tentatively. The bitter liquid filled her mouth, and she wrinkled her nose before swallowing reluctantly.

Truth be told, she wasn’t used to beer. But the woman she now inhabited had seemed to enjoy it; the fridge contained nothing else. Perhaps she often drank to drown her sorrows? Ruan Mianmian could only guess.

An awkward silence stretched between them. Ruan Mianmian couldn’t quite describe it; Jiang Ce seemed different tonight. He was especially brooding, as if weighed down by something unspoken, and she didn’t know what to say to him.

“Ahem—it’s already eleven,” she finally remarked, glancing at the time, making her meaning obvious. Then she stretched and added, “I’m getting a bit sleepy.”

Surely that was hint enough?

Unexpectedly, Jiang Ce raised his head and said, “I’m here to take you home. I can’t let you sleep here alone. Come back to Starfish Bay with me.”

Surprise lit Ruan Mianmian’s eyes; she hadn’t expected him to come all this way just to fetch her. She was a little touched, in fact.

But then she remembered—Jian Yanzhi had said he’d pick her up in the morning. If she wasn’t here, wouldn’t that seem odd?

She shook her head. “It’s fine. I’m already here; I’ll just sleep here tonight. You can go back.”

“No,” Jiang Ce said, firm and unyielding, unwilling to negotiate.

“It’s all right. I’m too lazy to move. You go ahead, I’ll be fine here.”

Jiang Ce’s expression hardened. “If you insist on staying, fine.”

Ruan Mianmian’s lips curled. But then he added, “Then I’ll stay with you.”

What?

Stay over?

That… didn’t seem proper.

Ruan Mianmian twisted her fingers nervously. “But… there’s only one bed…”

The implication was clear: there’s nowhere for you to sleep.

To her surprise, Jiang Ce looked her in the eye and said, “So what? It’s not like we haven’t shared a bed before.”