Volume 1 Chapter 19: Exposed, She Is Mrs. Li
Inside the elevator, only the two of them remained.
Ruan Wan took a step back, creating distance between them. “Mr. Jiang, is there something you need?”
Jiang Song sneered, “Mr. Jiang? Fine. Then explain why you gave the scarf Su Tongan gave you to this Mr. Jiang? And why you lied to him, saying you knitted it yourself?”
Ruan Wan showed no trace of panic at being exposed.
Instead, she calmly explained:
“I have a husband. To avoid suspicion after receiving a scarf from another man, I passed it on. Besides, I never said I knitted it myself.”
Inside the elevator, the sleek mirrored walls reflected Ruan Wan—her willow-like brows, starry eyes, and a cool, luminous face bathed in soft light, captivating even in silence.
Yet the words she spoke were anything but captivating.
At best, it was rational.
At worst, it was wooden, devoid of charm.
“So, you used me as a garbage disposal?” Jiang Song laughed instead of getting angry.
Ruan Wan shook her head seriously. “A scarf provides warmth; it’s a token of affection, not garbage.”
Jiang Song was left speechless.
Was that the point?
Then he remembered the night of Ruan Wan’s birthday, when she had thrown the sapphire necklace he gave her into the trash. Jiang Song laughed again, this time with anger:
“Ruan Wan, you’re something else!”
“So that shabby scarf Su Tongan knitted is a ‘token of affection’ not to be thrown away, but the necklace I gave you—you just tossed it out?”
“And into the damn wet trash, no less!”
Ruan Wan shook her head. “But you picked it back up, didn’t you?”
“What else was I supposed to do?” Jiang Song laughed bitterly. “Let an eight-figure antique get shredded?”
Ruan Wan also smiled.
Because sometimes, when you’re utterly speechless, you really do laugh.
Jiang Song and Li Minglan truly were cut from the same cloth—former brothers, both the same type of person. They lied so often, they even fooled themselves.
She didn’t expose the gift as a counterfeit, maintaining her usual persona of a blunt, straightforward woman.
“But you said once you give something away, it shouldn’t be returned. So I threw it away, hoping you’d pick it back up yourself. That way, it wouldn’t count as ‘returning’ it.”
Jiang Song: “…”
Quite logical, actually.
Seeing Jiang Song’s expression soften slightly, Ruan Wan’s brows twitched.
Playing the wooden, straightforward woman was a convenient excuse—much like men in relationships who use “I’m just a blunt, clueless guy” to cover their mistakes. Both were excuses for not caring enough.
Negligence and indifference were the real reasons.
Jiang Song laughed in frustration.
But Ruan Wan did not.
She withdrew her hand and took another step back.
“Since Mr. Jiang declined my invitation and accepted someone else’s, please refrain from appearing in front of me for a while. You might not know, but this magazine cover interview is tied to a promotion.”
Jiang Song paused. “I didn’t know. You never mentioned it.”
Ruan Wan shed her usual gentleness, her voice turning cold. “Because I thought keeping one’s word was a basic human quality.”
“…” Jiang Song stood there dumbfounded, opening his mouth to explain.
“Ding—”
The elevator doors opened.
Ruan Wan stepped out first.
Outside stood a crowd of people, including the staff coordinating the follow-up shoot with Jiang Song.
Frowning, Jiang Song looked past the throng, his gaze fixed on that slender retreating figure. An inexplicable frustration welled up inside him.
He had come here to demand answers, so how had he ended up the guilty one?
Before long, it was time to leave work.
Lin Yuying secured the interview with Jiang Song, and her spirits were high with the good news.
Those close to her even celebrated in advance, inviting Deputy Editor Lin to join.
Lin Yuying grinned from ear to ear but waved it off, saying, “Don’t call me that yet—nothing’s certain.”
On the other side, Jiang Song’s photoshoot was also completed.
According to colleagues from the photography team, the shots turned out exceptionally well—each one stunning enough to be a cover.
Now, with his makeup removed, Jiang Song stood at the entrance of the editorial department, his lips slightly more vibrant than usual. Tall and poised, he carried an air of nobility that surpassed even that of idol celebrities.
A smile curved his lips as he addressed everyone, “Thank you all for your hard work. Tonight, dinner is on me.”
Everyone paused their tasks, taken aback.
No one had expected the seemingly aloof Young Master Jiang to lower himself and join in the festivities.
Lin Yuying replied with a smile, “Thank you, Young Master Jiang, but unfortunately, Guangguang and her husband already promised to treat us to dinner tonight.”
“Speaking of Guangguang’s husband, Young Master Jiang, you know him too—he’s an alumnus from our international high school. Guangguang, would you mind if Young Master Jiang joined us for dinner tonight?”
The air grew still, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
All eyes turned toward Ruan Wan.
This cover interview was tied to a promotion, making the relationship between Lin Yuying, Jiang Song, and Ruan Wan particularly delicate.
Under everyone’s gaze, Ruan Wan nodded with a smile. “Of course, if Young Master Jiang would honor us with his presence.”
Jiang Song’s lips curved. “When a beauty extends an invitation, how could I refuse?”
Half an hour later, the group of nine arrived at the restaurant.
The interior featured standard Japanese decor—natural wood, wabi-sabi aesthetics, and a dry landscape garden. The private tatami room offered a secluded and serene atmosphere.
Lin Yuying glanced around. “Guangguang, where’s your husband?”
Ruan Wan replied, “He had an unexpected meeting today and couldn’t make it. It’s fine—order whatever you like.”
Lin Yuying felt a twinge of disappointment.
She had hoped to see the real person meet the stand-in.
But it made sense. With Jiang Song joining the dinner, as former close friends, he would immediately spot the imposter. Naturally, Ruan Wan would be too nervous to let the stand-in show up.
Fortunately, she had another act prepared.
—Li Minglan and Shen Zhizhi would also be coming.
Lin Yuying eagerly anticipated Ruan Wan’s reaction.
How could she not crumble upon seeing her husband shower all his tenderness on another woman?
Lin Yuying kept her expression neutral, sticking out her tongue playfully. “Since your husband isn’t short on money, I won’t hold back!”
She flipped through the menu and, on top of the pre-ordered set meal, added expensive signature dishes for everyone.
“No need, it’s too extravagant,” the colleagues chimed in.
Lin Yuying lowered her voice mysteriously. “It’s fine. You might not know this yet, but Guangguang’s husband is Li Minglan. The Li family is vast and wealthy—what’s a little money to them?”
Li Minglan!
Gasps echoed around the table.
“The Li family’s crown prince, Li Minglan? The face of Jiangcheng’s financial world who often appears in business magazines—that Li Minglan?”
“Team Leader Ruan, is it true?”
“Oh my, Guangguang, you’ve been so low-key!”
“A wealthy heiress was right beside me all along, and I never noticed!”
“…”
Ruan Wan waved her hand dismissively. “You’ve mistaken him for someone else.”
Meanwhile, someone looked up Li Minglan’s photo online and shared it in a small group chat. Even though it had rained last night, they still remembered the face of Ruan Wan’s husband.
It was true! It was Li Minglan!
Seeing that Ruan Wan did not admit it, her colleagues simply assumed she was being modest. Their eyes sparkled with excitement, each one marveling at the experience of working alongside a wealthy socialite.
Only Jiang Song sneered, taking a sip of the white fish soup from the appetizer course, along with some mullet roe.
This suited his mood perfectly.
—Speechless.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuying added more dishes for everyone.
Snow crab with vinegar jelly, sea urchin and caviar sushi, black truffle with goose egg…
Each dish served was modest in portion.
Japanese cuisine, while not necessarily exceptionally delicious, has a high price ceiling. Even the restaurant staff came to knock on the door, asking them to verify the bill.
“That’s correct, we ordered all of these,” Lin Yuying said with a smile.
To an outsider, it might have seemed as though she were the one hosting the meal.
At that moment, Jiang Song asked, “Do you have yellowlip fish maw at your restaurant?”
The waiter replied, “Yes, sir. It’s a treasured dish from our hidden menu.”
Lin Yuying had never heard of this dish before.
But since Jiang Song had specifically requested it, she took charge and said, “Alright, then we’ll add nine more servings of yellowlip fish maw.”