Chapter 80: Bought Off

When Shen Qing heard this, she immediately dashed toward the garage—they needed to race against time now.

A-Kuan looked a bit bewildered and asked, “Boss, shouldn’t we notify the police?”

Jiang Ce stood tall, a storm brewing in his eyes, and replied coolly, “Why do you think the kidnappers have shown themselves this time? If we notify the authorities, we’ll probably lose our chance to catch them.”

Shen Qing had already driven the car out of the garage, but Jiang Ce stopped her.

“Shen Qing, let A-Kuan drive. You sit in the passenger seat.”

Shen Qing’s eyes were resolute, almost impatient.

But A-Kuan understood the boss’s reasoning. Shen Qing, in her agitation, could cause an accident—it was safer for him to drive.

“Qing, get in the passenger seat. Let’s not waste any more time.”

Taking advantage of this moment, Jiang Ce went back into the house and instructed Old Zhang, “I’ll leave Mianmian with you. Watch her closely. If there’s any news from the kidnappers, inform me immediately.”

Old Zhang listened, then looked with Jiang Ce at the beauty sitting on the sofa, still stalling for time with the kidnappers, and felt a rush of emotion.

“Young master, please be careful! You mustn’t…”—not like last time, coming back covered in blood.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” Jiang Ce cut him off, gave his shoulder a reassuring pat, and then hurried out the door.

As if she could sense him, Ruan Mianmian instantly looked up, but Jiang Ce had already turned away. She caught only his tall, imposing back.

Jiang Ce…

Ruan Mianmian bit her lip. The image of Jiang Ce wounded last time was still vivid in her mind. This time, all she hoped was for his safe return.

Time ticked by. It was already eleven o’clock; by now, Jiang Ce and the others should have arrived at their destination.

Yet, there was still no news.

Ruan Mianmian kept her eyes glued to her phone, hoping for a message as soon as Jiang Ce and his team rescued Shen Ting.

She waited and waited, and at twenty past eleven, she finally received a call from Jiang Ce.

“Jiang Ce? How is it?” she asked.

“Ruan, it’s me,” came A-Kuan’s voice.

A-Kuan?

Ruan Mianmian’s breath caught. “What happened to Jiang Ce? Is he hurt?”

Hearing A-Kuan’s voice, her first fear was that Jiang Ce had met with another accident.

“No, no, you don’t need to worry,” A-Kuan quickly explained. “We’re all fine, and the person has been rescued. Boss just asked me to call and let you know we’re safe.”

“Phew—” Ruan Mianmian let out a long breath. She asked, “Where’s Jiang Ce? What about the kidnappers?”

“Boss is interrogating them, but…” A-Kuan’s tone faltered, making Ruan Mianmian instantly suspicious.

“What is it? Did something happen?” She couldn’t understand why A-Kuan sounded like this. Since Shen Ting had been rescued, shouldn’t everything be fine?

“Hold on a moment.” A-Kuan suddenly lowered his voice, sounding strange. He moved away before whispering, “I overheard part of the kidnappers’ confession.”

“What did they say?”

A-Kuan hesitated. “The kidnappers confessed that your kidnapping last time was actually orchestrated by Shen Ting. She bribed them and asked them to…”

As she had feared.

Ruan Mianmian fell silent, not knowing how to feel.

She’d had her suspicions, but without proof, she’d clung to a sliver of hope. Never did she expect it really was Shen Ting.

So Shen Ting had always hated her.

“I understand,” Ruan Mianmian replied in a faint voice, devoid of emotion, yet A-Kuan grew even more uneasy.

“Ruan, don’t be upset. The boss saved you. It’s all over now.”

“Mm. You all come back soon.”

“Ruan…” A-Kuan wanted to say more, but the call was already disconnected.

Ruan Mianmian hung up. Old Zhang was waiting anxiously nearby.

She forced a smile and told him, “It’s fine. She’s been rescued.”

“That’s wonderful!” Old Zhang finally breathed easy. Then, as he turned away, he remembered something and said, “There was a call from the Moonlight Villa just now—they wanted to check in. Since everything’s fine, I’ll call them back right away so they don’t worry.”

Someone from Moonlight Villa?

A figure flashed in Ruan Mianmian’s mind, but she still asked, “Who was it?”

“Who else?” Old Zhang replied. “That young Yan—he chased after Xiao Ting for years! A devoted fool, that one. I’d better call him back before they worry themselves sick.”

His voice faded as he walked away, and Ruan Mianmian’s gaze grew icy.

No doubt Yan Jiaxu had played a part in all this as well.

She realized, in that moment, that when she’d thrown herself into seeking out Jiang Ce, she’d already stepped into another den of tigers.

Luckily, it was all behind her now.

Ruan Mianmian glanced at the time—it was exactly noon. She returned to her room, changed into a crisp outfit, grabbed her bag, and drove to Hanhai Group for work.

When she arrived, it was lunchtime, so the office was nearly empty.

Besides, everyone was accustomed to her coming in late and leaving early. No one was about to comment.

Knock, knock—

Ruan Mianmian had just settled in when there was a knock at her door.

She was puzzled, and then, a tall figure, exuding a sharp and unyielding aura, strode in without waiting for a reply.

She half-rose, then sat back down, looking at Jian Yanzhi’s cold face. “What is it? Do you need something?”

Jian Yanzhi’s jaw was set in a stern line, his gaze chilly. He glanced at his watch, barely disguising his impatience.

Ruan Mianmian stood up nervously, trying to get ahead of whatever rebuke was coming. “Let me be clear—I was late today for a reason. I wasn’t just slacking off.”

Jian Yanzhi shot her a cool look. “Let’s go.”

“Go?”

Where to?

And with that familiar tone, had they arranged something?

Jian Yanzhi’s gaze grew colder. “Have you forgotten what I told you? Did you forget what tomorrow is?”

What he had told her before? What was tomorrow?

The more she thought about it, the more confused she grew. Did she and Jian Yanzhi have some anniversary to celebrate?

Could it be…

A sudden flash of inspiration struck her. “Oh, right! The family banquet for the old master’s birthday, isn’t it?”

But she was certain it was still early for that.

Jian Yanzhi seemed to read her confusion and explained, “Tonight is just a family dinner. The old master wants to see you ahead of time, before the big celebration, while it’s still quiet enough to talk.”

So that was it.

Ruan Mianmian rose slowly and looked up. “But isn’t it a bit early? It’s just noon.”

Jian Yanzhi looked her up and down, then replied, “Are you planning to show up…dressed like that?”