Chapter 14

After sending the message, there was silence from the other end.

Tang Ruan smirked to herself, lying on the carpet and feeling a small sense of triumph.

The author was absolutely right—Ji Jing disliked overly clingy behavior.

At this moment, Tang Ruan felt she had found Ji Jing’s Achilles’ heel.

If this trend continued, she could wield this leverage however she pleased.

…

The sunlight streamed through the windows into the walk-in closet, casting a warm glow on her.

In that moment, everything felt so wonderfully perfect to Tang Ruan.

She was surrounded by things she once thought she could never have. The thought of an impending divorce seemed within reach, and she felt completely elated.

Lying on the carpet with her phone in hand, Tang Ruan noticed Ji Jing hadn’t replied. She simply relaxed further, deciding to bask in the warmth and the luxury surrounding her a bit longer.

…

Meanwhile, Ji Jing was indeed busy with business matters.

He had an important client meeting that required his presence.

By the time he arrived at the company, Ning Ming was already waiting for him downstairs. As soon as Ning Ming spotted him, he approached to provide an update. “President Qi and President Ding have already arrived.”

Ji Jing nodded slightly. “Let’s head up.”

The two entered the office, and Qi Hao greeted Ji Jing with a teasing whistle. “Ah, President Ji has graced us with his presence!”

Ji Jing shot him a glance, as if looking at an idiot.

“Let’s get to business.”

Ding Zerui chuckled softly. He was here to discuss a project that required collaboration among three companies. Having been away on business trips previously, today’s meeting was set to finalize the details.

After about an hour, they concluded their discussion.

Qi Hao couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer and looked at Ji Jing. “I heard Ah Chen ran into you at the mall?”

Ji Jing lifted his eyes slightly, glancing at the two gossiping men across from him. “And then?”

Qi Hao clicked his tongue, shifted to a more relaxed posture, and scrutinized Ji Jing with curiosity, eager for answers. “What’s the deal here? I heard someone called you ‘husband’ and claimed to be your wife? Is that for real?”

When they first heard about it, none of them believed it. After all, this was Ji Jing they were talking about—someone who had always kept himself clean and distant, never mingling with women, let alone being seen shopping with one. Yet, according to Ding Chenye, the woman he was with even called herself Ji Jing’s wife.

The idea seemed absurd to them. Everyone in their circle was well aware of Ji Jing’s wife’s personality and their seemingly distant dynamic.

It was completely beyond their imagination.

Ding Zerui looked over with equal curiosity. “Have things between you two… softened?”

Ji Jing thought for a moment. He didn’t usually like to share his personal matters with others, especially not about him and Tang Ruan. Their relationship didn’t need anyone else’s commentary. But since these were his close brothers, he figured it wouldn’t hurt to say something.

“Yes,” he responded simply.

“What the—” Qi Hao was dumbfounded. “Did the high-and-mighty young lady have a change of heart?”

Ji Jing remained silent. After a moment of thought, he decided not to explain that Tang Ruan was likely acting a part. Instead, he gave a faint nod.

Qi Hao muttered to himself, unable to contain his curiosity. “So that line you asked me about last time… that was for her?”

Ji Jing gave a small affirmative noise.

Qi Hao and Ding Zerui exchanged glances, both seeing surprise reflected in each other’s eyes.

“Wait… hold on.” Qi Hao’s confusion deepened. “Are you two just planning to get along from now on?”

Ji Jing didn’t bother answering that question. Instead, he thought for a moment before asking, “How do you usually apologize to someone?”

…

Qi Hao, while often unreliable, had a knack for certain things.

Which is why the autumn and winter collection had ended up being delivered to Ji Jing’s home later.

–

After instructing Ning Ming to send the items to his house, Ji Jing stopped thinking about it altogether.

He was soon dragged to a golf course by Qi Hao and Ding Zerui, where a group of friends had gathered for a lively game.

When Ning Ming came over to report that the items had been successfully delivered, Qi Hao overheard and immediately jumped in. “Hey, hey, hey, what’s the reaction? Did she say anything?”

Ji Jing paused for a moment but didn’t reply.

Qi Hao clicked his tongue impatiently. “Check your phone. If things are really smoothing out, she’d probably thank you.”

Around his close friends, Ji Jing tended to be more relaxed. After all, they’d known each other since childhood. Without much thought, he pulled out his phone. The moment he opened it, he saw Tang Ruan’s message.

The first few were as expected, but when he reached her final message, Ji Jing happened to be sipping on a glass of red wine—and promptly choked on it.

Qi Hao, even more dramatic, spat out his drink and stared at Ji Jing in disbelief. He pointed at him and exclaimed, “Wait—this… this is really your proud, untouchable young lady back home?”

Ji Jing: “…”

“You sure this isn’t some ‘sweetheart’ you found on the side to trick us?”

Ji Jing didn’t even spare him a glance.

Qi Hao clicked his tongue a few more times, still finding it hard to believe. He reached out, intending to grab Ji Jing’s phone for a better look, but Ji Jing moved it out of his reach.

“Hey!”

Ji Jing shot him a frosty glare. “Shut up.”

Qi Hao couldn’t hold back a smirk as he watched Ji Jing put his phone away. He teased, “Not going to reply to your little sweetheart? She’s literally asking for your love and affection… Tsk, married life sure is sweet.”

Ji Jing paused mid-step, replaying her last message in his mind. His expression darkened slightly, but he ignored Qi Hao and the others’ playful jabs and left the scene.

–

When Ji Jing returned home, the house was eerily quiet.

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t dwell on it, heading straight upstairs.

At that moment—

It had been less than an hour since Tang Ruan had sent him the message.

…

Tang Ruan was awakened by the cold. Though it was still September, the chill in the room made her shiver. She pulled her blanket tighter, her grogginess making her reluctant to wake fully.

Her dreams, however, were vivid and long, blending fragments of her childhood with the original owner’s memories.

She saw herself as a pitiful child, struggling after her parents’ death, despised and passed around like a burden by her relatives.

Her eldest uncle didn’t want to take her in. Her second uncle refused too. The fourth uncle was even more unwilling. Everyone treated her like an unwanted ball, kicked around until her grandmother finally intervened and laid down the law. For the next year, her grandmother became her sole source of love and care. But after her grandmother passed away, Tang Ruan was left utterly alone, a true orphan with no one to rely on.

She remembered the loneliness, the scorn, and the isolation vividly.

Then, her perspective shifted to the original owner’s life—one of indulgence and privilege. Spoiled since childhood, the original Tang Ruan had developed an air of arrogance, aloofness, and superiority.

Growing up surrounded by wealth and luxury, her attitude never wavered. It wasn’t until her parents’ sudden passing that life took a sharp turn. For the first time, she experienced disdainful looks and alienation. Those who once fawned over her no longer bothered, and her so-called friends now offered only biting sarcasm and ridicule.

…

Tang Ruan furrowed her brows and struggled to wake up.

In the next moment, her eyes suddenly flew open, staring blankly at the ceiling. She rubbed her cold arms to warm them, still unable to snap out of her daze.

The walk-in closet was far too cold. After spacing out for a while, Tang Ruan got up from the carpet in a half-dazed state, swaying unsteadily as she tried to return to her room to continue sleeping.

She was groggy and unsteady. Just as Ji Jing came upstairs, he spotted her swaying figure. He was about to call out to her when he saw her walking straight into a white wall, blending seamlessly with the color of the door.

“Ah…”

Ji Jing quickly walked over to her, standing to the side and observing her. “…Still half-asleep?”

Hearing his voice, Tang Ruan instantly snapped awake. The pain on her forehead, combined with the man’s voice beside her, was enough to jolt her out of her dreams.

She looked at Ji Jing in shock, her mouth slightly open. “Why… are you back?”

“Finished with work,” Ji Jing replied indifferently. He paused for a moment and added, “Came back because I needed to.”

“Oh…” Tang Ruan responded softly, not daring to ask more. She felt inexplicably nervous—an indescribable fear, as if Ji Jing’s gaze had a peculiar intensity she couldn’t quite place.

Avoiding his eyes, she murmured, “I’m heading back to my room.”

“Wait,” Ji Jing said, standing beside her. His gaze, though calm and composed, carried an inexplicable depth. It wasn’t as cold as before, but it still felt imposing.

Tang Ruan’s legs felt weak as she heard him speak. Her instincts told her his “reason for coming back” likely had something to do with her. And perhaps… with that last message she sent.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, Ji Jing’s next words made her freeze in place.

Her embarrassment surged—she wished she could dig a hole to crawl into and disappear.

Ji Jing stood casually with his hands in his pockets, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His sharp gaze locked onto her, unrelenting. He leaned in slightly, bringing his face closer to hers, exhaling softly as his deep, magnetic voice carried a teasing question: “What’s wrong?”

“Huh?” she stammered.

“Don’t want ‘pampering’ anymore?” he asked pointedly.

Tang Ruan: “…”

Can she take it back now and pretend this never happened?

The author’s note: Too late, you asked for it.