Chapter 27

Ji Jing had been discussing business with friends in a far corner of the room. He had suggested Tang Ruan rest because he thought she might find the event dull and exhausting.

What he hadn’t anticipated was someone having the audacity to make a move on the woman he brought.

Though he had been across the room, Ji Jing had kept a casual eye on her. As soon as the man’s hand reached toward Tang Ruan, Ji Jing moved swiftly, crossing the distance in an instant. He gripped the man’s wrist tightly before any contact was made.

“Ah—”

The man yelped in pain, drawing the attention of nearly everyone in the banquet hall.

Ji Jing sneered, his voice low and filled with contempt. “You dare touch her?”

The man froze when he recognized Ji Jing and quickly stammered, “President Ji, there’s no need for this. I was just saying hello, trying to get acquainted.”

Ji Jing laughed coldly. “She’s someone you think you’re qualified to know?”

He glanced at the stunned Tang Ruan and asked, his voice softening, “Are you alright?”

Tang Ruan shook her head. Her eyes flicked to the man’s trapped wrist, and she furrowed her brow. “I’m fine. He didn’t do anything.” She hesitated, then leaned in and whispered, “Let him go. Everyone’s watching.”

She wasn’t keen on creating a scene.

Ji Jing was powerful, but it was best to avoid unnecessary conflict at public events.

Just as she was about to speak further, Gu Tian, Ding Zerui, and the event host arrived.

Gu Tian smirked at the sight. “President Chen, who’s this?”

President Chen glanced around nervously and offered a forced smile as he apologized profusely. “My apologies to President Ji and… your date for the misunderstanding.” He shot his associate a look. “Apologize now!”

The man wriggled free from Ji Jing’s grip, clearly displeased but muttered begrudgingly, “Sorry.”

Ji Jing’s eyes remained cold as he looked at the group. Then, placing a firm hand on Tang Ruan’s shoulder, he said, “She’s not my date.”

Everyone was taken aback, staring at him in astonishment.

Ji Jing swept his gaze around the room before leaning closer to the man, his voice low and menacing. “This is my…” Before he could finish, Tang Ruan gently tugged on his sleeve and interrupted with a smile, “It’s fine. He didn’t touch me.”

Hearing this, Ji Jing shot her a surprised look, his expression tense and full of displeasure.

Tang Ruan pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

After offering his apologies, the man left with the company of President Chen.

Gu Tian cursed, “That dirty old man actually set his sights on our little sister-in-law.”

Tang Ruan didn’t respond. Instead, she turned to glance at Ji Jing, whose fury was barely contained. She tugged on his sleeve again and asked softly, “Are you still planning to talk business later?”

Ji Jing stared at her for a long moment without answering.

“If not, would you take a walk with me?” Tang Ruan tilted her head up to him, her voice sweet as she playfully begged, “Please?”

His intense gaze softened just slightly. After swallowing hard, he let out a faint grunt of agreement.

–

The night outside the villa was quite picturesque. The garden was expansive, dotted with large trees and carefully arranged flowers and decorative shrubs.

As they stepped outside, a cold breeze swept past, making Tang Ruan shiver.

She glanced back at the reluctant man trailing behind her and had to stifle a giggle.

“Husband,” she coaxed with a grin, sidling up to Ji Jing and leaning in playfully, “thank you for stepping in back there.”

Ji Jing snorted coldly, casting her a sidelong glance. His tone was sharp and sarcastic. “You handled things well enough when you beat someone up at the bar last time. Why didn’t you fight back this time?”

The comment made Tang Ruan feel a little uncomfortable, but deep down, it also filled her with warmth.

A strange, indescribable happiness bubbled up inside her. Somehow, Ji Jing’s caustic words felt right. If he had stayed indifferent, it would have unsettled her even more.

Whether it was his fierce defense tonight or his teasing mockery now, Tang Ruan could sense the deeper meaning behind it all.

He had been worried about her.

Her lips curled into a smile as she raised her head to meet his gaze. “Were you worried?”

Ji Jing chuckled darkly. “Not even a little.”

Tang Ruan chuckled under her breath, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Do I look like someone who’d just let this slide?”

Ji Jing stared at her sparkling eyes, and a flicker of realization dawned on him.

In a quieter corner of the garden, Tang Ruan tugged on his sleeve. “You know who that man is, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

Incidents like this were all too common in their circles. High-level business dealings often intertwined with the entertainment industry, where unsavory power plays and unspoken rules were rampant. Ji Jing was well aware of the ugliness, but his own high standards and disciplined lifestyle kept him far removed from such matters.

In the past, he’d step in when he could, quietly helping unwilling women without drawing attention. His reputation as a composed and self-controlled man had always preceded him. Tonight, however, had been an exception.

The man from earlier… Ji Jing knew him. He was currently working with President Chen on a business deal. His reputation was notoriously vile — a man of limited ability but boundless schemes.

“Does he have powerful connections?” Tang Ruan asked.

Ji Jing gave her a pointed look. “What are you planning?”

“Let’s do something bad.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

Ji Jing: “…?”

–

Even as they reached the parking lot, Ji Jing still didn’t quite understand why he had agreed to this.

Tang Ruan, clutching some object she had mysteriously acquired, strode purposefully in her evening gown. She stopped beside a car and gestured for Ji Jing to get to work.

“Are you done yet?” she whispered anxiously, eyes darting around as she kept watch. Nervous energy made her heart race — the slightest sound had her fearing someone might catch them in the act. Yet Ji Jing remained infuriatingly calm, his pace unhurried.

Holding his phone for light, he methodically searched for the tire valve.

Why had he agreed to deflate someone’s tires? This childish act of sabotage…

Tang Ruan trembled with cold as she shifted from foot to foot. Her voice rose with impatience. “Ji Jing, are you finished? I think someone’s coming!”

Ji Jing inhaled deeply, biting back his frustration. “Wouldn’t smashing the windows be faster?”

“No!” Tang Ruan retorted with an indignant pout. “That would be too obvious. They’d know it was us. We need to be discreet.”

Ji Jing: “…”

Her reasoning was absurdly… reasonable.

Since he was already kneeling by the car, there was no point arguing. He finished the task without further complaint.

Half an hour later, with the tire successfully deflated, they hurried to a hidden corner as guests began emerging from the villa. Tang Ruan grabbed his hand and pulled him away.

“Don’t let anyone see us.”

Ji Jing cast her a weary glance, brushing dust from his sleeve. His voice dripped with sarcasm. “Satisfied?”

“Forgiven.” Tang Ruan flashed a cheeky grin. “I forgive you for calling my makeup ugly earlier.”

Ji Jing choked, momentarily speechless. On impulse, he reached out and pinched her cheek. His voice dropped, low and firm. “No more visiting Ji Ling’s school.”

“Why not?”

“Just don’t.”

“Dictator! Tyrant!”

Ji Jing shot her a sharp look, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Let’s go home.”

“Shouldn’t we say goodbye first?”

“No need.”

He’d shown up — that was enough. Given the night’s events, it was better to leave now. His presence alone had made a statement, and leaving would send another message to President Chen and his ilk. Ji Jing wielded undeniable influence here, but just as Tang Ruan had suggested, there was no need for a public confrontation. Some matters were best handled quietly, behind the scenes.

–

The two returned home. As soon as they got into the car, Tang Ruan felt like she had been rescued. The car’s heater was on full blast, filling the cabin with comforting warmth.

She even put her coat back on, looking excited.

“Can you ask Gu Tian and the others for me?”

“Hm?”

Tang Ruan licked her lips, her eyes sparkling. “I want to see his reaction when that man finds out.”

Ji Jing: “…”

“No.”

Tang Ruan pouted at his reply, muttering under her breath as she sat by the window, “Stingy.”

–

Back at the banquet, by nine or ten o’clock, many people began leaving.

Gu Tian and Ding Zerui, following Ji Jing’s instructions, had plied the man with enough alcohol to leave him drunk and barely standing as they helped him out.

“Take care, Mr. Wang,” they said in unison, exchanging glances as they watched the sleazy man, who clung to a young woman for support while flirting with her.

“Little beauty, let’s pick up where we left off later,” he chuckled, waving lazily at Gu Tian and Ding Zerui, looking both eager and lecherous. “Let’s drink again next time!”

The two smirked. Next time?

Not a chance.

No one who crossed the Ji family ever had a good ending.

Just as Mr. Wang was about to get into his car, the driver hurried over from the front, his expression tense. “Mr. Wang, the tires are flat.”

Still holding his companion’s hand, Mr. Wang scowled. “What happened?”

“I don’t know,” the driver mumbled, scratching his head. “Both rear tires are completely deflated.”

Mr. Wang bent down, squinting in the light, and sure enough, the tires were completely flat. His anger flared as he turned toward the darkness, shouting, “Who did this? Show yourself!”

…

Tang Ruan watched the video Gu Tian had sent, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

Ji Jing glanced at her. “That makes you happy?”

“Of course!” Tang Ruan shut off her phone, turned toward him, and teased, “You’ve heard the saying, haven’t you?”

“What saying?”

She grinned mischievously. “There are two kinds of people you should never cross—women and petty men.” She raised her chin proudly. “Don’t ever provoke me, or I’ll sabotage every car you own.”

Ji Jing: “…”

For a rare moment, a trace of amusement flickered in his eyes. He made a sound of agreement, low and certain. “I won’t.”

Tang Ruan blinked, sensing a shift in the atmosphere. She couldn’t quite grasp why Ji Jing had answered so easily—was it deliberate, or just an offhand remark?

Feeling a bit flustered, she changed the subject. “We’re almost home. Why is traffic so bad today?”

Ji Jing looked out the window but remained silent.

The driver cleared his throat. “There was an accident up ahead.”

Tang Ruan hummed softly in acknowledgment and didn’t ask further.

The rest of the ride passed in silence.

When they arrived home, the housekeeper had already gone to bed, but a light had been left on for them.

Tang Ruan stepped inside and headed for the stairs. Just as she reached the first step, she paused and glanced back, meeting Ji Jing’s eyes. She smiled, her voice gentle. “Thank you for tonight.”

Before he could respond, she turned and dashed upstairs.

Ji Jing stood there for a moment, staring after her retreating figure. A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he turned toward his own room.

Neither of them brought up the events of the day again. They slipped back into their usual rhythm, though something subtle had shifted between them.

Their conversations grew more frequent. Tang Ruan, once skilled at putting on an act, rarely needed to pretend anymore. Most of the time, their interactions felt natural.

As for the housekeeper, he couldn’t have been happier watching the changes in the young couple. He relaxed so much that within two weeks, he had gained five pounds—his already protruding belly growing even rounder.

–

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, several peaceful months had passed.

Tang Ruan lay in bed, calculating. It was already late November—nearly three months since she had arrived in this world in September.

She had kept herself busy lately, posting makeup videos consistently. Her viewership was growing rapidly. Her name was gaining traction, and her videos were shared thousands of times. For her, this kind of attention had once been unimaginable. When she first started, she had never dreamed of amassing over a hundred thousand followers so quickly.

Even Cheng Mushi remarked frequently on how fast her popularity was rising and how loyal and enthusiastic her fans were.

One day, as Tang Ruan relaxed at home, Cheng Mushi messaged her urgently: [Tang Ruan! Help! Emergency!]

Tang Ruan: [What’s going on? Calm down and explain.]

Cheng Mushi: [I have an event tomorrow. It’s a small one, but it’s still a great opportunity. Can you do my makeup for it? Please?]

Tang Ruan thought for a moment. [What time? Where? I’ll come over.]

She was feeling a bit bored anyway.

Cheng Mushi promptly sent over the details.

…

The next morning, as Tang Ruan headed downstairs, she almost bumped into Ji Jing. They paused, eyes meeting.

“Busy today?” he asked.

“Huh?” She blinked at him. “Do you need something?”

He pressed his lips together. “Aren’t you bored at home lately?”

She blinked, confused by Ji Jing’s remark.

“Not… not really. I’m not that bored,” she replied. She could easily spend an entire day in the attic, resting whenever she got tired. While boredom wasn’t entirely absent from her life, it never became unbearable. Besides, with so many followers on her social media, she had makeup reviews to write, chats with the housekeeper, and flowers in the garden to water—she truly wasn’t as idle as he seemed to think.

Ji Jing lowered his gaze slightly and gave a subtle nod.

Tang Ruan, puzzled, asked bluntly, “Did you need something from me?”

He glanced at her briefly, his expression cold. “No.”

With that, he walked downstairs. Tang Ruan trailed after him, pouting. While she was halfway through breakfast, her phone buzzed with a call from Ji Ling. She answered on speakerphone, holding a piece of toast in one hand.

“Hello, Ji Ling?”

An excited voice echoed from the other end. “Sis-in-law! We’re having a sports meet this Wednesday! Want to come watch? That super-handsome senior is competing!”

Her enthusiasm filled the entire dining room.