Chapter 20

For a moment, Tang Ruan felt that this man’s charm was overwhelming.

The calm smile on his face, his carefree demeanor, commanded attention and made it impossible to ignore him. She couldn’t understand why the original owner of this body didn’t like Ji Jing—maybe it was more about not understanding. How could someone with such an excellent man in front of them not feel even a little stirred?

At least in this moment, hearing Ji Jing say that, Tang Ruan could feel her heart racing faster.

They stared at each other, and her ears slowly turned red. Tang Ruan pretended not to notice, lowering her head to take a sip of water, trying to calm her fluttering heart. She kept reminding herself… it was just one sentence. You’re about to get a divorce. Ji Jing only acts like this because of responsibility, and he doesn’t like you.

After mentally reassuring herself, Tang Ruan lifted her eyes and softly asked, “Are you sure?”

“Up to you.” Ji Jing lowered his head and continued eating. “If you’re worried about my family, you don’t have to.”

Tang Ruan thought for a moment and realized she needed to carefully consider everything. “Alright, I’ll think it over. But about that friend… she’s actually a high school classmate. Is it okay for her to come over sometimes?”

Ji Jing nodded. “As long as it’s not too often, it’s fine. Your friend can come whenever you like.”

Ji Jing was fine with the occasional visit, but if she were to come every day, he wasn’t sure how well he’d handle that. While Tang Ruan’s friend was important to her, they were still married, and some things required compromise.

“Alright.”

She glanced at Ji Jing, still eating, and said, “Then I’ll head back to my room.”

“Mm.”

Ji Jing watched her leave, his gaze lingering until she disappeared around the corner. Then he silently smirked and finished his noodles before heading upstairs.

–

The next morning, Butler Li was in the kitchen, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

He felt like something was off.

Xiaolan peeked in curiously and froze when she saw him. “Butler Li, what’s wrong?”

Butler Li pointed at the large white ceramic bowl in front of him, then turned to Xiao Lan. “Did I not clean up last night?”

Xiao Lan shook her head. “I don’t know.”

She didn’t usually handle the cleaning, but she thought for a moment before asking, “Could it be that the young madam got up in the middle of the night and ate something? Or maybe it was the young master?”

“The young master doesn’t know how to cook, and the young madam doesn’t eat late-night snacks.”

Upon hearing this, Xiaolan’s eyes lit up as she asked, “Could it be that the young madam made it for the young master?”

“Is that even possible?” The young madam, who didn’t even want to apply medicine for their young master, probably wouldn’t be willing to cook for him either. Although Butler Li felt the young madam had become much easier to get along with lately, he still found it hard to believe.

He thought… considering their young master, who barely comes home for half a month or disappears for a week, his charm shouldn’t be that great, right?

Xiaolan choked for a moment but nodded. “It must be. No one else could have.”

The next moment, Butler Li cheerfully left the kitchen, returning shortly with a camera in hand. He snapped a few pictures of the pristine white porcelain bowl, satisfied as he saved them.

“…Butler Li, what are you doing?”

“Sending it to the old master to take a look.”

“…”

Just as she was about to speak, Ji Jing came downstairs, dressed in workout clothes, clearly ready for a jog. The two silenced their conversation, waiting until Ji Jing left before resuming their lively discussion.

–

The morning sunlight was lovely. Although the weather was getting colder, Tang Ruan found it quite pleasant.

She had slept well the previous night. After waking up and opening the window, the fresh air filled the room, refreshing her. Her room had a great layout, complete with a balcony. From there, she could see a small park outside—a private area for the residents of this villa community. In the mornings and evenings, people often went there to jog or exercise.

At this time, the park was already bustling with fitness enthusiasts. Tang Ruan squinted slightly and spotted a familiar figure—Ji Jing, who jogged four to five times a week without fail. Propping her arms on the railing, she leaned forward and watched for a while.

She had to admit, Ji Jing’s running posture was impeccable, like a professional fitness coach. His tall, lean frame made his long strides even more eye-catching as he jogged.

Seemingly sensing someone watching him, Ji Jing raised his gaze slightly and glanced in her direction before calmly looking away.

Tang Ruan chuckled softly. After enjoying the view, she slowly went downstairs for breakfast.

…

Neither of them mentioned the moment when Tang Ruan watched Ji Jing jog that morning. There wasn’t much to say about it anyway.

After breakfast, they each got busy with their own work.

Recently, Tang Ruan had been taking extensive notes on makeup techniques. A good makeup skillset, she believed, could not only transform someone’s appearance and aura but even create an entirely different look—almost like “changing faces.” She knew that highly skilled makeup artists could make themselves look like another person. While not identical, the resemblance could be up to 70 or 80 percent.

She had also recently registered a Weibo account, planning to use it for future video uploads. Tang Ruan knew many beauty influencers started by gaining modest fame on Weibo before getting signed by agencies. Confident in her skills, she felt Weibo was a solid starting platform.

Time flew, and soon it was the day Cheng Mushi was visiting—a day Tang Ruan had been eagerly anticipating.

Cheng Mushi arrived on a Saturday morning. As Ji Jing was heading out, Tang Ruan called out, “Husband.”

“What is it?”

Tang Ruan pointed and said, “My friend is coming over today.”

Ji Jing nodded. “Got it.”

Tang Ruan grinned mischievously. “Thanks for understanding, husband.”

Having grown used to her playful demeanor, Ji Jing lightly nodded and left with the driver. Meanwhile, Butler Li took the news of a guest visiting with utmost seriousness and enthusiasm.

From early morning, he was busy thoroughly cleaning the house and asking Tang Ruan what desserts, drinks, and afternoon tea to prepare. Tang Ruan was both amused and exasperated.

As expected of a wealthy family—hosting a friend felt like preparing to welcome a state leader.

–

Before her was a villa that was tranquil despite being in a bustling area. While not massive, it certainly wasn’t small either. In a first-tier city like this, many people might struggle their whole lives to afford even a standard home in this location, let alone a villa.

When Cheng Mushi arrived, she called Tang Ruan.

“I’m at the gate.”

“Okay.”

Cheng Mushi, slightly nervous, joked, “Your place is too big. I feel weak in the knees getting out of the car. I don’t even dare to go in.”

Tang Ruan laughed and looked at Butler Li. “It’s fine, just come in. I’ll come out to get you.”

As Cheng Mushi continued speaking on the phone, the gates opened. She drove in, parked, and stepped out of her car. Immediately, a housekeeper approached with a warm smile and said, “Welcome, Miss Cheng.”

Cheng Mushi: “…”

This was… a bit much.

Tang Ruan chuckled, turning to Butler Li. “You can all leave for now. I’ll show her around.”

Butler Li: “Understood. Let me know if you need anything, young madam.”

“Alright.”

Once the staff had left, Cheng Mushi finally relaxed and took a deep breath. Shaking her head, she said, “This is too much. Is this what all wealthy families are like?”

Tang Ruan shrugged, feeling much more at ease in Cheng Mushi’s presence. She joked, “Seems like it.”

Smiling, she asked, “Are you tired? Want to rest for a bit?”

“Not at all. Let’s check out your attic. I’ve been looking forward to it since I saw the photos.”

The attic’s design was stunning. Though it was called an attic, its height and space were more than adequate. Tang Ruan had installed starry curtains, with multiple layers of sheer fabric. When the indoor lights were on, they created a magical effect. There was a long white table with neatly arranged makeup products. At the center of the table was a large mirror framed with trendy little lights—perfect for makeup and filming.

The room also had several storage cabinets and a sofa for resting midway. Everything was prepared and ready—only the subject for filming was missing.

As soon as Cheng Mushi walked in, she exclaimed in awe. While she had seen panoramic photos of the space before, stepping inside made her fall in love instantly. This room was irresistible to women, even those who didn’t like makeup. It had everything—youthful charm, freshness, and elegance.

“This is… absolutely stunning!”

Tang Ruan curved her lips into a smile. “This is exactly how I dreamed it would be.”

The current appearance of the attic was precisely what Tang Ruan had envisioned in her dreams. Everything in the room was something she had desired and loved, and now, she had brought it to life with her own hands. The sense of accomplishment was extraordinary.

Cheng Mushi admired her and said, “I really, really love it.”

“Want to give it a try?”

“Sure!”

–

The two adjusted the equipment, and Tang Ruan said softly, “Go wash your face. I’ll do your makeup and see how it turns out.”

Cheng Mushi looked at her and couldn’t help but say, “Alright, let’s try and see if it works. If it’s good, we can post it online.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Once everything was ready, Tang Ruan gently touched Cheng Mushi’s face, familiarizing herself with her features as they discussed what kind of makeup to use.

“I think we can try a retro autumn look today.” Cheng Mushi didn’t have a standard oval face; instead, her face was slightly round, which suited a youthful autumn makeup style.

Cheng Mushi watched Tang Ruan’s hands and found them mesmerizing. Her fingers were long, flawlessly white, and almost glowing. Her nails had a subtle pinkish hue, making them all the more captivating.

“Alright.”

Tang Ruan started applying makeup to Cheng Mushi, carefully attending to every step. A youthful look required lively eyebrows, and the makeup needed to be light and clean overall, with a hint of a retro, vintage vibe reminiscent of women from the Republic of China era.

Her meticulous work even drew Cheng Mushi’s attention, and she began to feel excited about her final appearance.

The process was conducted in quiet concentration. Nearing completion, Tang Ruan took a small brush and lightly dusted Cheng Mushi’s eyelids, adding depth and enhancing the retro feel. The overall look emphasized the lipstick and the eye makeup for that vintage touch.

For lipstick, Tang Ruan used Armani’s new matte lipstick in shade 400. The moment it was applied, it brought out a sophisticated, retro vibe. Although this lipstick tended to be a bit dry and could emphasize lip lines, Cheng Mushi’s lips weren’t severely lined, so the result was just perfect.

–

“All done.”

“Already?”

Tang Ruan smiled faintly and furrowed her brows slightly. “Not perfect. Take a look.”

She felt she still hadn’t fully settled into her rhythm.

Tang Ruan stepped back, allowing Cheng Mushi to face the camera. When Cheng Mushi turned and saw herself, her eyes lit up, and she felt thrilled… but mindful of the ongoing filming, she suppressed her astonishment. After recording the full makeup look and explanation, Tang Ruan turned off the equipment.

Only then did Cheng Mushi look at herself in the mirror. She almost didn’t recognize her reflection.

“This… is really me?”

“It is.”

“It’s so beautiful.” Cheng Mushi blinked. “This feels youthful and retro at the same time. It has such a stylish vibe.” She turned to Tang Ruan, utterly amazed. “Tang Ruan, you’re incredible!”

Tang Ruan opened her mouth, looking at Cheng Mushi’s makeup. The earthy-toned eyeshadow did make her look much better than before, though it still wasn’t entirely up to Tang Ruan’s ideal standard.

“It’s okay. This shade makes you look fairer.”

“Yes, this lipstick is great, and the eyebrows are so pretty. I used to think straight eyebrows were the only style that suited me.”

The two chatted enthusiastically, with Cheng Mushi genuinely impressed by her friend’s skills.

“Shall we watch the video?”

“Sure.”

After watching the video, Tang Ruan asked, “Did you notice any issues?”

Cheng Mushi thought for a moment and said, “The filming isn’t very complete. Honestly, I think you should try doing makeup on yourself. Your skills are so good; you should showcase the whole process.”

“Really?”

“Of course!” Cheng Mushi agreed wholeheartedly. “Why not? You should record yourself. I’ll watch from the side.”

Tang Ruan hesitated for a moment but nodded. “Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

She seemed eager to take on the challenge.

Twenty minutes later, Tang Ruan finished her makeup and turned off the recording.

Cheng Mushi couldn’t hold back and exclaimed, “Wow! Stunning!”

Tang Ruan burst out laughing. “It’s not that exaggerated.”

“It is, it is!” Cheng Mushi insisted. “Look in the mirror. Don’t you think you’re incredibly beautiful?”

She sighed with envy. “I’m starting to feel jealous of your husband.”

Tang Ruan: “…”