The four played mahjong all night until the sky turned the color of fish belly.
Xiao Fang had long since fallen asleep on the sofa.
Jiang Mian couldn't help but yawn, her eyes misting over. Her voice softened, "Are you guys tired?"
"Not tired," Chang Min was full of energy. Pulling all-nighters on set was normal for her. Besides, she had slept earlier.
Ye Yi shook his head, looking just as energetic. "Are you tired?"
Jiang Mian nodded, so sleepy she couldn't even see the mahjong tiles clearly. "Tired."
"Then let's call it a night. You go get some sleep. I'll call you later this afternoon when we go to record the show."
Jiang Mian got up. "Then Zhu Yi and I will go sleep for a bit. Oh, right, I lost a lot last night. If you guys aren't tired, I'll treat you to breakfast. Order whatever you want."
"Alright, go get some rest."
Only Ye Yi and Chang Min remained.
Chang Min looked at Ye Yi. "I plan to eat something. Do you want to join, President Ye?"
"Let's call room service. I don't want to go out."
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
They reached an agreement, and Ye Yi made the call.
Room service soon delivered breakfast, and the two sat by the window.
They each held their phones while eating breakfast, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Chang Min took a sip of milk and looked up at him. "President Ye, are you planning to wait until Mian Mian finishes recording the show before returning to Kyoto?"
Ye Yi's gaze shifted from his phone. "Yes. Why?"
"President Ye, you really take good care of Mian Mian," she said casually. She had seen online rumors about Ye Yi's unusual attention to Jiang Mian, and now it seemed to be true.
Ye Yi smiled but said nothing.
Chang Min ate a few bites and put down her chopsticks. "I'm done eating. I'll go sit on the sofa for a while. President Ye, please feel free to do as you please."
Ye Yi nodded.
Jiang Mian slept soundly. When she groggily opened her eyes, the room was exceptionally quiet.
She thought everyone had left. She got out of bed and went into the bathroom to take a shower.
As she came out with her hair covered in a shower cap to find something, she saw Chang Min sitting cross-legged on the carpet. Ye Yi was even more relaxed, sprawled on the sofa with the TV on, but muted.
The scene was inexplicably amusing.
Their gazes met.
"You're awake?"
"You guys didn't leave?" the two voices said in unison.
Chang Min was probably very busy.
Jiang Mian saw her typing rapidly, then looked up. "We were waiting for you to eat. You're awake just in time. Change your clothes and we'll go out to eat."
Ye Yi took the opportunity to scan her from head to toe without restraint.
Her face, flushed and fair from the steam, was beautiful. Ye Yi clicked his tongue inwardly. Her legs were whiter than the fruit-flavored yogurt he had just drunk.
As his gaze was about to move upwards, he met Jiang Mian's eyes.
Instead of feeling guilty, he met her gaze openly and urged her, "Go dry your hair. We're waiting for you."
Jiang Mian hesitated, then held back her words. With a "Be right there," she left.
Chang Min put down her phone, her scrutinizing gaze shifting between Ye Yi's face.
She hadn't missed his expression just now.
Ye Yi raised an eyebrow. "What, you're smitten by my good looks?"
Chang Min lowered her head and smiled. "President Ye is certainly handsome."
She knew she shouldn't leave. Look at how President Ye looked at Jiang Mian, like a puppy spotting a bone.
Jiang Mian quickly changed her clothes. "I'm ready. What are we eating?"
"How about hot pot?"
"No objections."
"Let's go. It'll be lively with more people."
Chang Min had already booked a private room on her phone.
The four of them arrived at the hot pot restaurant and were seated immediately. Jiang Mian thought she would be the only one eating plain broth, but Ye Yi was the same.
Chang Min laughed. "Mian Mian can't eat spicy food. How come President Ye can't either?"
Ye Yi chuckled nonchalantly, showing no embarrassment. He said frankly, "That's right, I can't. It's not shameful for a man to not eat spicy food, is it?"
Chang Min replied, "Of course, masculinity isn't determined by something like that."
Jiang Mian quickly changed the subject. "The broth is boiling. We can start adding ingredients."
After eating, Jiang Mian looked at Ye Yi. "I'm going to record the show later. What about you?"
Ye Yi put his hands in his pockets. "I'll tag along to the recording site and watch."
Chang Min smiled. "Then let's go together."
The show was a long-running variety program with a wide audience.
Reuniting with the crew, everyone was happy.
The atmosphere was pleasant, and the recording was relaxed. It would be broadcasted on time next Saturday.
By the time the recording was finished, it was already dark in Linhai.
Chang Min bid them farewell. "My flight is in two hours, so I won't be joining you for dinner. I have to rush back to the film set to continue shooting. I'll see you in Kyoto. And President Ye, I hope to see you again next time."
Jiang Mian nodded. "Okay, Sister Min. I'll see you in Kyoto."
Ye Yi said, "Have a safe trip."
They watched Chang Min get into the car.
Ye Yi kicked a stone by the roadside. "What are your plans?"
"I'm returning to Kyoto tomorrow. What about you?"
"With you."
Jiang Mian hummed and looked up at him. "Do you have a place to sleep tonight?"
"I've booked it, right next door to yours. Shall we go eat now?" Ye Yi asked.
Jiang Mian shook her head. "I played several games during the recording, and I'm exhausted. Let's just order takeout when we get back."
"Okay."
Back at the hotel, Jiang Mian ordered a large grilled fish. The three of them ate their fill and then sprawled on the sofa.
Li Zhu Yi stood up. "I'm going downstairs to throw out the trash."
Only the two of them remained in the room.
Jiang Mian draped an arm over the sofa and kicked Ye Yi's calf with her feet, a pillow between them. "You can go back now, President Ye—"
She drew out her words, her voice soft and languid. It was very cute.
Ye Yi didn't move. He mimicked her, drawing out his words. "Don't want to go back—"
"You can't. I'm so sleepy today." She was drowsy, only feeling like sleeping after eating.
Ye Yi removed the pillow. "Jiang Mian."
"Yes?" She thought he was going to talk about work and perked up. "Go ahead."
Ye Yi clicked his tongue. "Are you happy to see me?"
"Happy. Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing. As long as you're happy."
He removed the pillow and stood up, his voice tinged with joy. "I'm going to sleep. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
...
Ye Yi arranged for Ye San to pick them up.
Jiang Mian hitched a ride. "I'm not going back to the company. Can you drop me home directly? If it's inconvenient, I'll take a taxi myself."
Ye San glanced at Ye Yi.
Ye Yi lazily agreed. "You can. Drop me off at the company, and then Ye San will take you home."
Jiang Mian remembered what that man had said about waiting for her return.
She wondered if he was home today.
Arriving at Xiushui Mountain Villa, Jiang Mian handed her suitcase to Xiao Bai and asked as she walked, "Is he home?"
Xiao Bai shook his head. "President Ji hasn't been back these past few days."
Jiang Mian frowned, her steps faltering. "He hasn't been back these past few days?"
"Yes, it seems like it's been since the day Madam left."
"Has Fan Cheng been here?"
"No."
Jiang Mian suppressed a flicker of unease. "Did he leave any messages?"
Xiao Bai scratched his head. "Madam, you're joking. How dare we ask the President such things?"
Jiang Mian took out her phone. "I'll call him myself."
She dialed Fan Cheng's number. The phone rang for a long time before it was answered. "Assistant Fan."
However, before the other party could even respond, the line went dead. It was so fast that Jiang Mian almost didn't react.
She looked at her phone screen. It had been hung up, with only two seconds of call time.
At this moment, Fan Cheng shook his phone and looked up. "President Ji, there's absolutely no signal on this snowy mountain."
The screen's light was dim. Fan Cheng quickly locked his phone, with less than four percent battery remaining.
He couldn't afford to use it carelessly.
Ji Zhixiu responded with a low hum. His posture was as imposing as a snow-covered pine tree. His voice, carrying the cold wind, entered her ears. "Did you convey the message I asked you to before I left?"
"Yes, yes, President. I asked Xiao Bai to tell Madam that you were on a business trip, right?" He added, "Why didn't the President tell Madam himself?"
Ji Zhixiu remained silent.
He had promised to wait for her return, but due to a sudden issue in Europe, he had to come over personally.
This was, of course, another broken promise.
...
Xiao Bai peeked in. "Couldn't get through, Madam?"
"He answered and then hung up."
"That's strange," Xiao Bai muttered softly. "I know Assistant Fan has another phone number that's always on. If you call it, he'll definitely answer. Do you need it, Madam?"
Jiang Mian shook her head. "Never mind."
If he wasn't home, then so be it.
Xiao Bai nodded. "Alright. The President must be too busy to come back. The villa has been so quiet without Madam here. Aunt Song hasn't cooked us anything delicious all day."
Jiang Mian was amused by him. "Nonsense. Aunt Song loves you guys the most. How could she not cook for you?"
"Oh, that's different. Aunt Song loves us, but she loves Madam the most." He was sweet-talking.
He delivered the luggage and Jiang Mian to the living room.
Xiao Bai turned back.
Xiao Hei slapped him on the shoulder from behind. "What are you thinking about? So lost in thought."
Xiao Bai replied, "I feel like I've forgotten something."
"What could you have forgotten? You're either eating or drinking all day."
Xiao Bai stopped and glared at him. "Take your hand off my shoulder."
"Alright, you're still angry."
Xiao Bai started walking again. "I'm thinking about something. Why are you disturbing me?"
"What are you thinking about? Tell me, maybe I can help you figure it out."
"Didn't Assistant Fan come to the villa these past few days?"
"He came last night, didn't he?"
Xiao Bai froze. "Last night?? When? I don't remember?"
"You were standing guard at the door. He came to talk to you through the door. Did you forget?"
"It's over!" Xiao Bai slapped his forehead. "My stupid brain! Such an important matter, and I completely forgot!"
He turned and ran. "I remember! Assistant Fan asked me to relay a message to Madam!"
He ran back to the living room, bypassing the robot vacuum cleaner. Aunt Song looked up from the sofa. "What's the matter?"
Xiao Bai asked, "Where is Madam?"
"She just went upstairs to sleep. Are you looking for her? Don't disturb her now. She just got back, let her rest more."
Xiao Bai said sheepishly, "Aunt Song, you're right. I wouldn't dare disturb Madam at a time like this."
He turned. "Then I'll wait until Madam wakes up to talk to her."
Jiang Mian hadn't been asleep for long when the phone rang, waking her.
She grabbed her phone, her eyes closed, and said, "Hello."
The voice on the other end called her name, and Jiang Mian instantly woke up. "Mom."
"Are you in Kyoto?"
Jiang Mian replied obediently, "Yes."
"Can you come to the old residence this afternoon?"
Jiang Mian pursed her lips, unsure why Mrs. Ji was calling her back now. "Zhixiu isn't home."
"I know. Just come," she said, her tone normal, nothing special.
She wanted her to come when Xiu'er wasn't home.
Jiang Mian nodded. "Okay, I understand."
After hanging up, Jiang Mian had a hunch that Mrs. Ji wanted her to come back for a reason.
She knew Ji Zhixiu wasn't home, yet she still wanted her to go to the old residence.
What could it be?
Or perhaps she was overthinking it. It was possible her mother-in-law just wanted to see her daughter-in-law.