The question she wanted to ask was ground over and over at the edge of her lips.
Looking at Jiang Heng's tightly furrowed brow, Jiang Ningchu ultimately didn't speak again.
He was probably… really drunk.
Jiang Ningchu pressed her lips together.
By her usual nature, she would have already retreated to her own room and burrowed under the covers by now…
But leaving just like that, she truly couldn't rest easy.
After hesitating a moment, she quietly sat back down on the edge of the bed.
Jiang Heng seemed to sense her approach; the furrow between his brows eased slightly.
His eyes remained closed, a faint curve brushing across the corner of his lips.
"Wait a moment…" Jiang Ningchu assumed he was feeling unwell from drinking too much, murmuring to herself, "I'll go downstairs and pour you a cup of honey water."
With that, she rose and headed for the door.
Warm water flowed slowly into the glass.
The scenes of the entire evening, accompanied by Pei Yi's words, kept flashing back through her mind:
Jiang Heng, lying silently on the sofa with his eyes closed, resting; Jiang Heng, suddenly appearing in the bathroom to rescue her; Jiang Heng, sitting carelessly in the passenger seat, joking around…
And Jiang Heng, gripping her wrist.
Holding the stirrer, Jiang Ningchu watched the amber honey dissolve in slow circles in the warm water, lost in a daze.
The head of Jiang Corporation, invincible in everyone else's eyes—even when in a bad mood… was he this restrained, this silent?
It was just… far too lonely.
She wrapped both hands around the cup, confirmed the temperature, and carried the warm honey water back upstairs.
At the end of the corridor, the Gyrfalcon ornament came into view.
Jiang Ningchu's steps paused.
In the past, she'd only ever noticed its proud posture and piercing gaze, its imposing presence—she'd never dared look at it for long.
But now, in the dim light, its head-held-high stance somehow exuded a quiet sense of guardianship.
Something in her heart suddenly softened.
She pushed open the door and walked back to the bedside.
"Big brother…"
She handed the cup to him, saying softly, "Drink a little. It'll help you feel better."
Jiang Heng opened his eyes, took the cup, and quietly finished it.
Jiang Ningchu took back the empty cup and set it on the nightstand, then leaned over to straighten the slightly rumpled edge of the blanket.
Though it was her first time in his room, her movements were as natural as if she'd done it countless times.
When she finished, even she was slightly taken aback.
The room was very quiet.
As if steeling her resolve, she sat down in the beanbag chair beside the bed, hugging her knees, and suddenly spoke, "Big brother Pei Yi said… you don't sleep at night?"
Jiang Heng was silent for a moment.
"Occasionally." His voice was slightly deep, carrying the hoarseness of alcohol.
Occasionally?
Jiang Ningchu blinked.
That answer…
She suddenly remembered the sight of Jiang Heng sitting alone in the living room late at night, remembered the tent on the mountaintop, the matter-of-fact expression he wore when he said he wasn't sleeping.
Perhaps…
What Pei Yi said wasn't entirely a joke.
"Then…" She turned her head and looked straight at him. "Can you fall asleep now?"
Jiang Heng met her clear gaze, his Adam's apple bobbing.
After several seconds, he answered in a low voice, "Mm."
"Good."
Jiang Ningchu suddenly grew serious, her back straightening. "Then I'll wait until you're asleep before I leave."
Jiang Heng didn't respond, closing his eyes again.
Outside the window, the night was tranquil.
Jiang Ningchu was very goal-oriented.
She had been sitting properly, waiting quietly.
But these past few days she'd been working overtime rushing through proposals, and after having some fun with her colleagues that evening, she was already a bit tired. Then she'd gone up to the top floor—first the scare in the bathroom, then driving back in a state of high tension…
Now the dimness of the room worked like a sedative, and her eyelids grew heavier bit by bit.
At first she forced herself to stay awake through sheer willpower, her head resting against the edge of the bed, sinking down little by little.
Before she knew it, her body slowly sank into the beanbag sofa, her forehead resting lightly against its edge, her breathing gradually evening out.
She had fallen asleep.
Jiang Heng opened his eyes in the darkness.
By the thin light of the moon, he quietly gazed at her sleeping profile.
Loose strands of hair lay softly against her cheek, her lashes casting faint shadows.
She looked soft and utterly defenseless.
He watched her like this for a long while, then slowly rose, picked up the thin cashmere blanket at the foot of the bed, and carefully draped it over her.
Morning light filtered through the glass, spreading a pale gold across the room.
The phone on the carpet buzzed from time to time.
Jiang Ningchu frowned in her sleep and unconsciously burrowed her face deeper into the blanket.
Jiang Heng woke.
The moment he opened his eyes, he felt a momentary daze.
It wasn't the familiar loneliness of facing the ceiling alone in the dead of night, but a long-lost clarity rising from the depths of sleep.
He had actually slept through the entire night, just like that.
The phone on the carpet was still vibrating. Jiang Heng turned his head.
Jiang Ningchu was curled up in the beanbag sofa, sleeping soundly, wrapped tightly in the blanket with only half of her flushed, pressed-against-the-cushion cheek showing.
Her breathing was light and even.
A certain guess that had hung in his heart for a long time grew one degree heavier.
He got up, picked up the phone from the floor, silenced it, and set it back down beside her.
Jiang Ningchu woke anyway.
Her lashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes groggily, slowly turning toward him.
"… Brother?"
"Mm." Jiang Heng answered, his gaze lingering on her sleep-tousled hair and slightly flushed cheeks.
Jiang Ningchu picked up her phone, glanced at it, then looked out the window at the brightening sky, feeling a little embarrassed. "When did I… fall asleep?"
The memories of the previous night gradually came together, and the question she'd been clinging to before falling asleep reactivated.
Hugging the blanket, she sat up and looked up at him, probing carefully. "Did you… sleep?"
Jiang Heng didn't answer right away.
He walked to the window and pressed the switch, and the electric curtains slowly drew open.
Morning light poured in instantly.
He stood with his back to her for a moment before replying in a low voice, "Mm."
Jiang Ningchu stared blankly at his silhouette by the window, pressing her lips together.
Mm?
What did "mm" mean?
Did that mean… he slept?
Or… he didn't?
The doubt in her heart didn't lessen—it only grew.
She felt rather annoyed with herself for being so useless, falling asleep without even realizing it.
If she could have held out a little longer, perhaps she would have found out whether what Pei Yi said was true or false.
It was already morning; she'd have to find another chance later.
"Go back to sleep for a while."
Jiang Ningchu pushed the blanket aside and stood up, tucking her hair casually behind her ear, her tone turning lighter.
"I'm going back to my room to freshen up… and catch up on sleep."
"Mm," Jiang Heng replied flatly.
Jiang Ningchu folded the blanket, placed it back on the bench at the foot of the bed, walked slowly to the door, and gently closed it behind her.
Back in her own room, she washed up, then sank back into the soft bedding and drifted off to sleep.
Top floor of the Wuzhi Hotel, Nancheng. The Pearl Banquet Hall.
The annual Nancheng Chamber of Commerce banquet was underway as scheduled.
At the entrance to the venue, the staff at the check-in desk wore perfectly tailored dark teal qipaos, their postures deferential and their smiles gracious.
At the center of the long table, a polished Chinese sandalwood case lined with black velvet held silk wristbands in black, purple, and red, arranged from left to right.
The black wristbands on the far left were few in number. The deep ink-black silk shimmered faintly, embroidered on both sides with an ultra-fine gold thread depicting a Coiled Dragon Motif—the dragon's body exuded restrained majesty, its eyes calm and cold, radiating the oppressive weight of power.
The purple wristbands in the middle were slightly more numerous. An elegant, dignified crimson-purple, not overly bright, with an Intertwining Lotus Motif embroidered in silver thread mixed with a touch of pale gold—the lotus buds poised to bloom, their luster soft, carrying an air of gentle refinement.
The red wristbands on the far right were the most plentiful. A vivid, brilliant true red, stately and grand, embroidered with a neat Ruyi Cloud Pattern in flat-stitched multicolored silk thread—exquisite craftsmanship.
Jiang Ningchu's gaze passed calmly over this row of wristbands that marked rank and status.
She had long heard Zhou Yichi mention the much-anticipated industry cocktail party hosted by the Nancheng Chamber of Commerce, but this was her first time experiencing it in person.
A few days earlier, Jiang Heng had sent her a time and location on WeChat, telling her to come directly, saying that someone wanted to meet her.
Jiang Heng hadn't explained anything—no context, no reason, just this abrupt notice. Her first instinct had been to refuse.
She assumed it was nothing more than a drinking party for rich young men like Pei Yi. She had no interest in such vanity fairs, nor did she want to go out socializing under the identity of the Jiang family's adopted daughter.
As it happened, Lin Wei had come to her asking about the Nancheng Chamber of Commerce's industry cocktail party, wondering if she could get her hands on an invitation.
Firefly Creative was still in its startup phase, far from qualifying for an invitation. But if she could get in, even a brief conversation with any of Nancheng's influential entrepreneurs would be immensely valuable.
After much deliberation, Jiang Ningchu agreed to help Lin Wei.
At the check-in desk, the staff member finished processing a few guests' entry and, turning back, her eyes fell on Jiang Ningchu, who was standing quietly to the side.
She leaned forward slightly and asked softly, "Hello, ma'am. Are you waiting for someone? Would you like me to check you in first?"
Jiang Ningchu took out her phone to check the time and said hesitantly, "My friend hasn't arrived yet. I'd like to wait for her."
"There aren't many people right now, so you can go ahead and register."
The staff member nudged a gold signing pen toward her. "That way, when your friend arrives, you can go straight in."
"All right." Jiang Ningchu walked up to the check-in desk, phone still in hand, waiting for the next instruction.
The staff member turned sideways with her palms facing upward in a respectful gesture. "Then, may I see your invitation to the party?"
"Um…"
Jiang Ningchu froze for a moment.
Jiang Heng had only sent her a location pin—he hadn't said a single word about an invitation.
She paused, then opened WeChat and found her chat with Jiang Heng. Somewhat embarrassed, she said, "I'm sorry, I was told to come directly. I never heard anything about an invitation… Maybe I should make a call and ask."
The staff member reacted quickly, raising a hand in a "please wait" gesture.
Then she took a step closer to Jiang Ningchu and asked in a low voice, "May I have your name? And who invited you…?"
"I'm Jiang Ningchu."
Jiang Ningchu pressed her lips together. Giving only her own name probably wouldn't help. "It was Jiang Heng who invited me."
"Understood. One moment, please."
The staff member pressed a hand to her earpiece, turned to murmur something to a colleague, and jotted a few notes on her iPad.
A moment later, she turned back and gave Jiang Ningchu a slight bow. "Ms. Jiang, you don't need to go through the check-in process. Once your friend arrives, you may enter directly."
With that, she retreated behind the check-in desk and inclined her head politely once more. "Sorry to have troubled you."
"……"
Jiang Ningchu was a little dazed.
She knew Jiang Heng's name carried weight, but she hadn't expected it to carry this much weight……
"Jiang Ningchu?"
Zhuang Jingyi approached from a few steps away, her gaze lingering on her, a trace of unmistakable surprise in her tone. "It really is you?!"
Jiang Ningchu had been about to message Lin Wei to ask where she was. At the sound of the voice, she looked up and saw Zhuang Jingyi walking toward her.
Zhuang Jingyi wore a lotus-pink Chinese-style ensemble—a modified short qipao-style top with a lustrous freshwater pearl button at the collar, paired with an ankle-length A-line skirt, its lines smooth and graceful.
It suited the venue's aesthetic rather well.
Jiang Ningchu came back to her senses. After thinking for a good while about how to address Zhuang Jingyi and finding no answer, she simply tilted her head slightly in greeting.
Zhuang Jingyi seemed not to mind. She walked straight to the check-in desk, briskly presented her invitation, and had a staff member fasten a wristband on her.
The purple wristband sat against the white jade bangle on her wrist, a bright accent against it.
She rotated her wrist, lowered her eyes to examine it closely, and asked lightly, as if in passing, "Why purple?"
The staff member answered with practiced ease: "Hello, ma'am. The wristband serves as a token and keepsake for this banquet's invited guests. The different colors are mainly to facilitate crowd management and service guidance, ensuring a more comfortable and efficient experience for all our guests."
Zhuang Jingyi's gaze swept over the stacks of red wristbands nearby, then flicked toward the sparse few black ones on the other side. She pressed her lips together, seemed to accept the explanation, and turned her attention back to the plum-purple on her wrist. "Fine. Thank you."
Then, as if remembering something, she turned to Jiang Ningchu standing nearby, her tone carrying just the right degree of curiosity. "And your wristband, Miss Jiang? What color is it?"
The staff member followed her gaze to Jiang Ningchu, keeping a professional smile on her face, saying nothing.
Jiang Ningchu couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush and answered directly, "I don't have a wristband."
"You don't?!" Zhuang Jingyi took half a step closer, her voice rising slightly. "No wristband…… then how are you getting in?"
She turned to the staff member. "Aren't the wristbands the entry passes? Can you get in without one?"
The staff member maintained her flawless smile and made no reply.
Zhuang Jingyi looked at Jiang Ningchu in confusion, then at the silent staff member, and a vague guess began to form in her mind.
No formal invitation meant, naturally, no proof of invitation.
Judging by the way she stood alone at the entrance looking around, she was probably waiting for someone.
So the person bringing her in hadn't arrived yet, and she could only wait at the door.
The thought of Zhou Yichi—feted as an honored guest every year—made the smile at the corners of Zhuang Jingyi's mouth stiffen slightly.
She turned back to the staff member, her tone returning to its usual gentle elegance. "Excuse me, may my invitation admit one companion as well?"
"Yes, madam." The staff member smiled and nodded, explaining patiently, "Accompanying guests with invitations are all given red wristbands."
Zhuang Jingyi's brow arched slightly. After thanking the staff, she walked slowly over to Jiang Ningchu and said in a low voice, "Junior, standing around here like this won't do. How about… I give you my companion slot? Your dress is so plain—a red wristband would actually make it pop."
Jiang Ningchu lowered her eyes and glanced down at herself.
When it came to what to wear, Lin Wei had been nervous about it all evening. This was an opportunity she'd worked hard to secure, and she took it very seriously.
Jiang Ningchu was different.
She had mainly come along to accompany Lin Wei—at most, she was the "bag carrier."
As for Jiang Heng, he hadn't even made clear what kind of event it was. Clearly, whether she showed up or not didn't matter much to him.
So she had picked a relatively "simple" dress.
Simple wasn't quite the word—more like understated.
A moon-white, single-piece cut, with lines flowing like water. Not a single extraneous embellishment anywhere, yet it perfectly outlined her slender, supple figure.
Her smooth, shoulder-length hair was loosely gathered at the nape of her neck, and her makeup was light and clean.
At first glance, she really did look like someone who had just thrown on any old thing and headed out the door.
"No need…" Jiang Ningchu's lips curved slightly, her smile faint. "Thank you, senior."
"You're still young. You don't understand the rules of occasions like this."
Zhuang Jingyi gently took hold of Jiang Ningchu's wrist and led her a few steps to the other side of the check-in table. Lowering her voice, she said earnestly, "Everyone has a wristband—you're the only one who doesn't. Once you're inside, what will the others think of you…"
"…"
Jiang Ningchu had no idea how to respond.
This woman was quite something. She spoke as if she had Jiang Ningchu's best interests at heart, yet everywhere her words emphasized "she doesn't belong."
Zhuang Jingyi sighed, her voice going soft. "Red is a bit ordinary, I suppose… but it's better than nothing."
"Jiang Jiang, baby, I'm here!"
Jiang Ningchu was just fretting over how to refuse Zhuang Jingyi when she looked up and saw Lin Wei striding over, waving her hand.
Lin Wei wore a sharp, crisp pantsuit.
The dark gray blazer was made of structured fabric, and the deep V-neck silk blouse underneath draped softly, lending a touch of softness to the strong silhouette. The straight-leg trousers hung beautifully, making her look tall, polished, and radiating the composed presence of an urban professional.
"And this is?" Lin Wei's gaze swept over Zhuang Jingyi, who was still holding Jiang Ningchu's wrist, and she gave a slight nod.
Before Jiang Ningchu could speak, Zhuang Jingyi extended her hand first, her smile warm. "Hello, I'm Jiang Ningchu's senior from school—Zhuang Jingyi, from the School of Medicine."
Lin Wei had already heard about Zhuang Jingyi from Jiang Ningchu. She reached out and gave her hand a light shake, her smile bright. "What a coincidence! I'm her senior too!"
The two exchanged a brief round of pleasantries. Seeing that Jiang Ningchu still showed no sign of going to register, Zhuang Jingyi's eyes shifted slightly. "You two… aren't going to check in?"
Lin Wei, not understanding what was going on, looked at Jiang Ningchu.
Jiang Ningchu glanced at the staff member, who immediately understood and respectfully made a "please" gesture.
"We've already registered."
Jiang Ningchu turned to Lin Wei, her tone calm. "We can head straight in."
Zhuang Jingyi froze, her gaze pausing on their bare wrists.
Really doesn't know what's good for her.
Forcing her way into a circle that isn't hers, stubbornly holding out now—she'll have plenty to regret once the embarrassment hits.
Her lips curved slightly as she spoke first: "Well then… I'll go in ahead."
With that, Zhuang Jingyi lifted her chin, squared her shoulders, and strode off without a backward glance.
Inside the venue, the air was thick with perfume and glamour, figures weaving in and out.
Businesspeople wearing wristbands of various colors clustered in small groups, chatting and murmuring.
"So, she thought you were feeling guilty? That you were kindly trying to save her face?"
After Jiang Ningchu finished recounting what had happened at the check-in desk, Lin Wei couldn't help but laugh. "Does she not know who you are? She's been trailing around after Dr. Zhou all day—surely she can't be so clueless about your identity?"
"Honestly." She shook her head with a laugh, lowering her voice a little. "Don't tell me… she also thinks you're some distant Jiang relative who sneaked in riding on the Jiang family name?"
Jiang Ningchu shrugged.
Plenty of people at the university knew she was "the Jiang family's youngest daughter," but strictly speaking, even Zhou Yichi didn't know the full story.
Jiang Ningchu's mother, Shen Shuning, and Su Wanqing had been close friends since childhood, handkerchief sisters in the old sense.
When Jiang Ningchu was four, Shen Shuning and her husband died in an accident, and Su Wanqing took the young girl in without a moment's hesitation.
Su Wanqing deliberated for a long time over the question of identity.
At first, she planned to have Jiang Ningchu take the surname Jiang, transfer her household registration, and become the Jiang family's daughter in every official sense.
But "Ningchu" was a name Shen Shuning herself had chosen—"Ningchu" meant "born of Ning," making her "Jiang Ningchu" in spirit as well. In the end, Su Wanqing couldn't bear to sever that thread of remembrance.
Weighing everything, she finally chose a compromise: publicly, the adoption would never be mentioned—Jiang Ningchu would call them Mom and Dad like their own daughter—while at home, she addressed them as godfather and godmother.
The fact that Jiang Ningchu was an adopted daughter of the Jiang family was known only within a small circle of extremely close family friends.
"Jiang" and "Jiang" (姜 and 江) were homophones, and most people never bothered to probe further.
On the rare occasion someone asked, Jiang Ningchu preferred not to elaborate, and they simply assumed she was a collateral branch of the Jiang family and let the matter drop.
"Member of the Jiang family"—it was, in effect, a label.
Jiang Heng had gone abroad early, and upon returning became an untouchable figure in their circle, while Jiang Yao, with her stellar record, upheld the "daughter of the Jiang family" image at Nancheng University's Business School.
From then on, the younger members of the Jiang family's collateral branches needed only to mention the surname to move comfortably through most circles.
Lin Wei pulled Jiang Ningchu up to the second floor, and immediately spotted Zhou Yichi in the crowd not far away.
Beside Zhou Yichi, Zhuang Jingyi stood holding a glass of red wine, chatting with someone, her smile gentle and her poise impeccable.
When her gaze swept over this way, her lips lifted slightly, and she raised her glass a little toward Lin Wei.
"She's so annoying. How can anyone act this well?" Lin Wei muttered to Jiang Ningchu, gripping her hand tighter. "Come on, let's go find your Dr. Zhou."
But who would have thought Pei Yi would appear out of nowhere midway.
Jiang Ningchu had no choice but to stop and exchange a few pleasantries with him.
By the time Pei Yi was called away, Zhou Yichi had already moved with a group of people to a round table on the other side.
Zhuang Jingyi, however, came strolling over alone, wine glass in hand.
"This is the networking area for purple wristband guests," she said, her gaze flitting over their empty wrists, her tone mild though her inflection carried a trace of doubt. "Without wristbands… are you allowed in here?"
Lin Wei casually picked up a glass of champagne from a waiter's tray, tapping a fingertip lightly against the stem, and smiled: "What, are you security now?"
"…"
Zhuang Jingyi's smile didn't falter; she merely lowered her lashes, then changed the subject:
"Miss Lin, I heard your advertising company just got started."
"Actually… there's really no need to go to such lengths to get acquainted with someone as important as President Pei. Given the caliber of today's reception, someone from his circle probably wouldn't be able to help you much anyway."
"Sometimes it really is hard without connections—I understand."
Her voice softened, as if genuinely considering the other person's interests. "How about this—I'll keep an eye out for you from now on. If anything needs marketing and promotion comes up, I'll refer it your way. Who knows, maybe one deal is all it takes for your company to take off?"
Lin Wei met Jiang Ningchu's eyes and couldn't help letting out a very soft snort.
She had seen this kind of "middleman" routine far too many times.
It was nothing more than openly and subtly mocking her for being unable to land any resources, then swooping in to play the good person.
If the company actually did take off someday, it might even become her gossip material.
Sincere help? Impossible. She'd be the first to kick someone when they were down.
"No need to refer any resources."
She swirled the champagne in her hand, her tone casual. "How about… introducing me to a few men instead?"
Zhuang Jingyi froze, asking reflexively, "…What do you mean?"
"Oh my~"
Lin Wei took a sip of her wine, eyes curving. "Right, of course—you wouldn't have any 'man resources.' Otherwise, why would you spend all day clinging to other people's boyfriends? Am I right?"
Zhuang Jingyi barely managed to hold her smile, said "Ridiculous," and turned to leave.
Watching Zhuang Jingyi's retreating figure—practically sparking with every step—Jiang Ningchu finally couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.
She lightly touched Lin Wei's arm. "Why bother getting worked up over her?"
"Green tea bitches just annoy me. I can't stand the act."
Lin Wei's lips pouted high, her face full of smugness. "It's her fault for always clinging to our Dr. Zhou. I was planning to call her out right in front of Dr. Zhou, but today she got away fast."
Jiang Ningchu did feel a bit stifled inside too; she just had never been good at this kind of face-to-face confrontation.
Knowing Lin Wei was standing up for her, she picked up a soda water and clinked glasses gently with her. "Thank you, my dear senior Weiwei."
"No need to be polite~"
Lin Wei suddenly tilted her chin toward the terrace not far away. "There—looks like someone's looking for you. Go on."
Jiang Ningchu followed her gaze.
At the edge of the terrace, Jiang Heng stood in a dark gray suit, leaning against the doorframe.
The loose strands that usually fell across his forehead were now all swept back, revealing his defined brow bone and forehead.
An air of rare, imposing formality beneath his usual refined elegance.
"What are you standing around for?" Lin Wei gave her a gentle push. "Didn't your brother send you here?"
"Ah… right." Jiang Ningchu snapped out of it, took a step forward, then turned back to signal to Lin Wei. "I'll go see what's going on. I'll find you later!"
Lin Wei made a "call me" gesture, waving her off to hurry along.
Jiang Ningchu nodded and wove through the crowd in small steps until she reached Jiang Heng's side.
She tilted her face up, getting straight to the point. "Who wants to see me?"
"You don't come find me first when you arrive?"
Jiang Heng looked down at her, a flicker of unreadable emotion passing through his eyes. "But you chat quite animatedly with people who have nothing to do with you?"
Jiang Ningchu was completely baffled.
People who had nothing to do with her?
Who? Zhuang Jingyi?
What had he seen…
"It wasn't that animated…"
Jiang Ningchu tried hard to recall. Sure, Lin Wei had been worked up, but she'd only said a few words—it couldn't have been much of a scene. "We just said hello."
"Stop wandering off."
Jiang Heng straightened up and glanced at his watch. "I'm going to pick someone up. I'll be back soon."
"Who?"
Someone Jiang Heng would pick up personally…
And someone who specifically wanted to see her…
What connection could there possibly be between her and him?
Jiang Ningchu racked her brain but came up with nothing.
"Your godparents?"
Her eyes lit up, and the corners of her mouth lifted. "Godmother is coming too? Should I go with you to pick her up?"
"What kind of brain do you have?"
Jiang Heng scoffed, lifting his eyelids slightly, his gaze carrying undisguised disdain. "If those two are coming, why would I need to go pick them up?"
"…Fair enough."
Jiang Ningchu muttered quietly to herself, "If Godfather and Godmother are coming, I can just head out with them, right?"
The bit of unpleasantness Zhuang Jingyi had stirred up had, without her noticing, completely dissipated.
Instead, a stubborn curiosity arose in her at this moment, and she pressed on, "Then who on earth is it? Someone you'd personally pick up, and who wants to meet me too—I really can't think of anyone."
The corner of Jiang Heng's thin lips twitched slightly.
The undercurrent surging in the depths of his ink-black eyes was especially clear under the lamplight.
Hmm?
Jiang Ningchu frowned, just about to ask if he was laughing at her, but the words froze on her lips.
Since when…
Had she become so natural, joking around with Jiang Heng like this…
Her gaze drifted to his wrist, where he wore his watch.
It was bare there too.
No wristband.
"You really can't give me a hint?"
Jiang Ningchu bit her lip, looking rather unconvinced. "The people we both know… besides Big brother Pei Yi, could there possibly be anyone else?"
"Stop guessing."
Jiang Heng curled his knuckles and rapped her lightly on the forehead—not too hard, not too soft. "That little brain of yours won't get anywhere with guessing. The person will be here soon, so just wait here like a good girl."
"Hiss—"
Jiang Heng's knock hadn't been all that gentle. Jiang Ningchu covered her forehead, furrowing her brows and glaring at him.