Chapter 19

Satisfied with their reactions, Tang Ruan gave Ji Jing a knowing glance. “It’s all thanks to my husband’s good guidance.”

Ji Jing: “…”

He was at a complete loss for words when his mother returned from the kitchen. Noticing the strange expressions around her, she frowned. “What’s going on?”

The same aunt who had spoken earlier regained her composure, smirking slightly. “Oh, nothing. Ruan Ruan was just joking with us.”

Tang Ruan froze, then tilted her head toward the aunt, her smile sharp. “I wasn’t joking. I meant every word. My husband agrees with me, don’t you, Ji Jing?”

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes as she asked lightly, “Unless, of course, you believe my husband is the type to joke about such things?”

She suddenly remembered why Tang Ruan didn’t like this family or coming back here.

Among the many relatives in this household, apart from Ji Jing’s parents, grandfather, and younger sister, the others were generally unfriendly toward Tang Ruan. To them, as an outsider, Tang Ruan was more often the target of sarcastic remarks and veiled criticism. They might have been indifferent if the Ji family had merely provided Tang Ruan with food and lodging—after all, with the Ji family’s wealth, supporting one more person wouldn’t make a difference.

What upset them, however, was the fact that Tang Ruan was highly favored by the family patriarch. This esteem was so significant that she and Ji Jing had registered their marriage during her senior internship year, which made these extended relatives feel threatened.

…

The aunt’s face turned awkward as the pressure from Ji Jing’s father and Ji Jing bore down on her. She forced a laugh and said, “Auntie was just joking.” To change the topic, she turned to Tang Ruan and continued with her barbs, “So, what birthday gift did you prepare for your father today, Ruan Ruan? Another watch?”

Tang Ruan replied smoothly, “Not this time.”

She had prepared gifts for everyone but hadn’t realized it was a birthday celebration. Still, Tang Ruan thought her gift would hold its own, certainly more unique than the usual repetitive watches from previous years.

–

The servants, understanding the unspoken cues, presented Tang Ruan’s gifts. She took one out herself and handed it to Ji Jing’s father, speaking softly, “Dad, this is the gift I prepared for you. While it may not be as expensive as in previous years, I believe you’ll like it.”

Her gift was a selection of tea leaves she had taken from home—if she remembered correctly, it was the kind Ji Jing liked but was reluctant to use often.

Ji Jing paused in surprise when he saw the gift. Just as he was about to speak, his father’s glance silenced him.

Ji Jing’s father examined the gift and smiled. “Of course, I like it. Ruan Ruan was thoughtful enough to remember my fondness for tea.”

Tang Ruan beamed. “I’m glad you like it.”

She turned to Ji Jing’s mother. “I’ve also prepared gifts for Mom, Grandpa, and Ji Ling. Isn’t she here today?”

Ji Jing’s mother was momentarily stunned before smiling warmly. “She’s upstairs keeping Grandpa company. You two should go see him as well.”

“Okay.”

Tang Ruan handed Ji Jing’s mother her gift. “This is for you, Mom.”

After delivering her gifts, Tang Ruan ignored the extended relatives and allowed Ji Jing to guide her upstairs by the shoulder.

As they walked away, the remaining guests exchanged awkward glances. One of them remarked, “Ruan Ruan really seems to have changed.”

“She certainly has,” Ji Jing’s mother said, holding her gift with satisfaction. “Well, carry on. Dinner will be ready soon.”

–

Once out of the public eye, the couple naturally separated.

Upstairs, Tang Ruan and Ji Jing spent some time with his grandpa. Upon noticing Tang Ruan’s changed demeanor, the old man grew even more fond of her, smiling non-stop.

By the end of the gathering, he had been praising her from start to finish, paying little attention to anyone else—not even Ji Jing received as much regard, let alone the children of the uncles and aunts.

However, such grand family gatherings were exhausting. Even with just the immediate family present, the crowd was larger and more draining than typical extended family reunions.

On the way home, Tang Ruan slumped back into her seat as soon as they got into the car. Interacting with all those aunts and uncles had left her mentally and physically drained.

Ji Jing glanced at her but remained quiet.

Deep down, though, he felt a hint of gratitude for how Tang Ruan had restored some pride to his parents that evening.

Suddenly, Tang Ruan opened her eyes and turned to Ji Jing. “Is this how all wealthy families are?”

Ji Jing gave her a sideways glance. “You’re just realizing this now?”

Tang Ruan chuckled softly and shifted her position to face the window. Gazing at the nightscape, she murmured, “My family was never this complicated.”

Before the Tang family’s downfall, their circumstances were indeed different.

This time, Ji Jing didn’t argue. Every family had its struggles, and the Ji family’s journey to its current stature had not been without its burdens.

The rest of the ride home was silent.

As they reached home and Tang Ruan stepped out of the car, Ji Jing stopped her.

“Tang Ruan.”

“What is it?”

Ji Jing looked at her intently. “Regardless of your intentions today… thank you.”

Tang Ruan chuckled lightly. She turned back and stepped closer to him, tilting her head up to meet his eyes. “Husband,” she called sweetly.

“…”

“What intentions could I possibly have?” Tang Ruan blinked innocently. “Stop assuming the worst of me, will you?”

Ji Jing hesitated before nodding. “Alright.”

Tang Ruan gave him an “okay” gesture and said softly, “I’m a bit tired, so I’ll head to my room to rest now.”

Once her figure disappeared from view, Ji Jing inexplicably chuckled. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why he found the evening amusing—perhaps it was the sight of their often-critical relatives being subtly outmaneuvered by Tang Ruan.

Dealing with those relatives had always tested his patience.

Ji Jing’s position in the family, while granting him prestige, also came with constraints he couldn’t avoid, unlike Tang Ruan, who could act freely. It was both his privilege and his cage.

–

After that birthday gathering, their interactions became notably fewer.

Tang Ruan was fully immersed in her business, spending her days in secretive discussions with Butler Li about how to renovate her little attic. Having redecorated rooms herself before and studied numerous design templates, designing it was effortless for her, especially since money was no longer a concern.

She could afford to do it however she pleased.

Each day, as soon as Ji Jing left for work, the renovation of the attic would begin. After more than half a month, the space had transformed into exactly what Tang Ruan had envisioned—perfect in every way. She even moved all her belongings into it, making the setup look thoroughly professional.

During this time, Cheng Mushi occasionally chatted with her. She was just a week away from finishing her last scenes before wrapping up and taking a break.

One day, they were messaging on WeChat.

Tang Ruan: [Did you find anyone?]

Cheng Mushi: [You weren’t satisfied with any of the people I showed you. What exactly are you looking for?]

Tang Ruan: [It’s hard to describe. I’m just looking for someone who feels right—an instinct.]

She wasn’t the easiest person to get along with, and since the recording sessions would take place at her home, the candidates so far didn’t seem appropriate.

Suddenly, an idea struck her. She asked, [You don’t have any new projects lined up after this, right?]

Cheng Mushi: [Nope. Why?]

Tang Ruan: [How about being my model?]

Cheng Mushi: […Are you serious?]

Tang Ruan: [Of course. After thinking it over, you and Ji Jing’s sister are the only suitable choices. But his sister is still in school, and she’s not suited for public exposure.]

Faced with such a direct offer, and with her own schedule clearing up soon, Cheng Mushi hesitated only briefly. No woman could resist the allure of makeup and beauty products. Finally, she agreed. [Alright. When should we try it?]

Tang Ruan: [Come over after you wrap up.]

Cheng Mushi: [Fine, I’ll give it a try. But it’ll be inconvenient if I have to start filming again.]

Tang Ruan smiled at the message. [We’ll see how it goes first.]

She was already feeling excited. There was just one potential issue—if Cheng Mushi was going to visit frequently, Ji Jing’s approval would be necessary.

Inviting a friend over for a casual visit wouldn’t normally require his consent. But this wasn’t a one-time thing; Cheng Mushi might be in and out often. It seemed appropriate to inform her…

Roommate.

Yes, Tang Ruan had decided to classify her relationship with Ji Jing as that of housemates living under the same roof. They barely interacted, only acknowledging each other’s existence. The only difference? She didn’t have to pay rent.

–

Ji Jing had been exceptionally busy lately. A new company project had just launched, bringing numerous issues. His days started at six in the morning, and he didn’t return until ten at night.

It had been nearly half a month since he’d last seen his wife.

When he walked into the house and saw her sitting in the living room, he was momentarily surprised.

“Do you need something from me?”

Tang Ruan nodded, her posture poised and elegant as she looked at him. “Husband, you’ve been working all day. Are you tired? Want some supper? You look thinner. Making money must be exhausting.”

Ji Jing: “…”

By now, he was entirely accustomed to his wife’s unpredictable changes in demeanor.

He gave her a brief, assessing look and nodded slightly. “If your offer of supper makes it easier to discuss whatever you need, I wouldn’t mind a bite.”

He was, in fact, hungry.

Tang Ruan: “…”

She sighed. Asking for a favor left her with no choice.

“I’ll make something, then.”

“Can you cook?”

Tang Ruan raised her chin proudly. “With you gone all the time, I got bored and learned a bit from Butler Li. I bet you didn’t know that.” Her expression turned pitiful, eyes brimming with mock grievance, like a lonely beauty abandoned at home. “My husband doesn’t care about me at all.”

“Doesn’t love me.”

Ji Jing: “…What kind of supper do you know how to make?”

Tang Ruan faltered, then glared at him playfully. “Noodles.”

“Thank you.”

Grumbling under her breath, Tang Ruan headed to the kitchen. Her cooking skills were actually decent. She had been learning from Butler Li recently only to conceal her true talents. If she ever slipped up and made something too impressive, she could always claim she learned it from him.

As she began cooking, Ji Jing excused himself to take a shower.

When he returned, her supper was ready.

–

Twenty minutes later, Ji Jing stared silently at the bowl in front of him. Two pieces of green vegetables floated atop the noodles.

“Hubby, don’t you want to eat?” Tang Ruan whimpered, trying—and failing—to squeeze out a tear.

“Are you disappointed in my cooking?”

Ji Jing sighed, rubbing his temples wearily. “Was there nothing else in the fridge?”

Amused by his exhausted expression, Tang Ruan laughed and gestured at the bowl. “Stir it with your chopsticks.”

He raised an eyebrow but complied.

Beneath the surface were layers of sauce. Tang Ruan had used her special blend, perfected for mixed noodles. She had prepared it that afternoon, and Butler Li had even praised her quick mastery—not realizing she already knew how to make it.

Ji Jing’s eyes widened in surprise. He glanced at her and offered a rare apology. “Sorry.”

He had underestimated her.

“It’s nothing.” Tang Ruan waved it off lightly. His suspicion that she had deliberately served plain, pity-invoking noodles wasn’t entirely unreasonable. She smiled mischievously. “Go on, try it. It’s my first time making it, so I’m curious if it tastes good.”

Ji Jing nodded and stirred the noodles before taking a bite.

The moment the food touched his mouth, he was surprised. The flavor of the sauce-mixed noodles was… better than any he had ever tasted.

It could be the hunger, or perhaps something else, but there was no denying it—Ji Jing was impressed by the noodles.

He looked at Tang Ruan, who was propping her chin up and gazing at him, and coughed slightly before asking, “First time making this?”

“Yes.” Tang Ruan smiled. “I must have a natural talent for making sauce-mixed noodles, right? Butler Li was praising me all afternoon.”

“You do,” Ji Jing agreed.

It was indeed delicious.

Ji Jing took a few more bites and wiped his mouth as he looked at her. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

Tang Ruan hesitated before pointing at him and saying, “I have a friend who might come over to our place often, but I’ll make sure she doesn’t wander around. We’ll stay in the little attic. Is that okay?”

Upon hearing this, Ji Jing furrowed his brows. He had a strong territorial instinct and wasn’t fond of unfamiliar people coming in and out of his home regularly.

“What does she need to come here for?”

“I…” Tang Ruan thought for a moment, then cautiously asked, “You won’t oppose it, right?”

“Go ahead, tell me.”

Tang Ruan felt it wouldn’t matter telling Ji Jing. Over time, she had learned that he wasn’t as rigid as some might think; in fact, he was open to new ideas and things.

“I want to do a makeup livestream. You know, the beauty tutorials and makeup videos that are popular online. I’ll experiment with different makeup looks and share tips on how to look better.”

Ji Jing nodded. “I know about those.”

“So I found a model to do the makeup on and film it. After all, I can’t appear on camera myself.” Tang Ruan actually wanted to appear on camera. As a makeup artist, she knew her own features best and how to enhance them. But since she was still Ji Jing’s wife, if the relatives found out, she was sure they’d mock Ji Jing again.

Even if she didn’t love Ji Jing, while still carrying this identity, she thought it was best to consider his feelings.

Ji Jing raised his eyes to her. “Why can’t you appear on camera? Is it a personal reason?”

Tang Ruan laughed, incredulous. “I’m your wife. If I show my face, what if your parents find out? They’ll have plenty to say.”

“They won’t.”

“What?”

Ji Jing put down his chopsticks and said calmly, “My parents aren’t unreasonable. This is something you want to do, something you enjoy. You’re free to pursue it.”

Although the Ji family was wealthy, it wasn’t as though they had to hide from the public eye. In today’s internet era, Tang Ruan’s pursuit of her passion was something Ji Jing supported.

He also knew that Tang Ruan was genuinely interested in this.

Tang Ruan listened, feeling a stirring of excitement.

She did want to appear on camera, to continue her dream of being a successful makeup artist or beauty influencer.

She looked up at Ji Jing, their eyes locking. For some reason, when she looked into his deep gaze, she felt as though that look could give her strength.

“What about the relatives? If they bring it up, it’ll put both you and your parents in a tough spot. It might not be good.”

Hearing this, Ji Jing smiled.

He sat there lazily, watching Tang Ruan with a relaxed smile, and said each word slowly, “No one can interfere with what my wife wants to do.”