Jiang Ye looked down at her. “How do you think we should renovate it without wasting space?”
Ruan Tang shook her head. “I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it.”
Her family would never encounter such a problem.
Jiang Ye gestured with his hands and shared his idea.
“I want to divide this room in half. The inner part will be the bathroom, and the outer part will be the toilet. What do you think?”
Ruan Tang was puzzled. “There’s a toilet outside. Why do we need one inside?”
Wouldn’t the smell be awful inside?
What if there were flies?
Ruan Tang shook her head with a disgusted expression.
Seeing her reaction, Jiang Ye’s heart sank halfway.
But he still asked, “Do you enjoy lining up to use the public toilet in the alley?”
“It’s scorching hot in summer and freezing cold in winter.”
Hearing this, Ruan Tang shook her head vigorously like a rattle-drum: “No, I don’t like it. In winter, if you squat too long, your bottom freezes.”
Only after saying this did she realize she had spoken so casually in front of him.
Suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed.
She turned around, looking here and there, pretending to be nonchalant.
Noticing her slightly reddened ears, Jiang Ye curved his lips into a smile.
Then he continued on his own, “I want to install a flush toilet like those in apartment buildings. We’ll dig a sewer underneath so waste can be flushed away. As long as we clean it regularly, there won’t be any bad odor indoors.”
Then, he deliberately leaned close to Ruan Tang’s ear and said, “This way, you won’t have to queue for the outdoor toilet anymore, and you won’t have to worry about summer heat or winter cold.”
“Tangtang, what do you think of my plan?”
Ruan Tang thought about it – it seemed quite good.
“I think…” she turned around.
Before she could say “it’s good,” her cheek brushed against Jiang Ye’s lips.
The warm contact made her freeze instantly.
Their eyes met.
Being so close, they could feel each other’s warm breath.
For a moment, Ruan Tang’s mind went blank, and she instinctively held her breath.
Jiang Ye stared at her pink lips, pursing his own.
But when he saw her cheeks puffing up more and more, he couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
He quickly straightened up, stopping his teasing.
Reaching out to pinch her nose, he chuckled, “Silly, breathe! If you hold it any longer, you’ll turn into a little pufferfish.”
Hearing this, Ruan Tang finally dared to take deep breaths.
Seeing the teasing glint in Jiang Ye’s eyes, Ruan Tang blushed.
Not from shyness, but from annoyance at herself for losing composure in front of him.
“I should go now.”
As Ruan Tang stepped to leave, Jiang Ye grabbed her arm, his expression turning more serious.
“Tangtang, are you really sure you don’t need my help?”
This time, Ruan Tang somehow understood his underlying meaning.
She looked up and met those dark eyes again.
Her heart fluttered once more.
This time she didn’t run away, but nodded.
“Okay.”
“But you mustn’t hurt my family.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ye smiled.
He was so happy that he couldn’t resist gently embracing Ruan Tang. “I promise you.”
Being held by Jiang Ye, Ruan Tang completely froze.
Her mind shut down, her body stiff as wood, not daring to move.
Even when Jiang Ye walked her to her doorstep, she remained in a daze.
Seeing no one around, Jiang Ye reached out to ruffle her hair, speaking softly.
“If your family says anything more, just go along with them for now. Leave everything else to me, okay?”
Ruan Tang nodded obediently.
“Okay.”
Jiang Ye gazed at the delicate young woman, truly wishing he could pull her into his embrace and kiss her twice.
But…
“Go back inside. I’m leaving.”
Jiang Ye waited until Ruan Tang entered the house before cycling away.
Instead of heading home, he went to the compound.
People greeted him when they saw him, then returned to their own tasks.
“Monkey, come here for a moment.”
Hou Lin hadn’t gone far and turned back upon hearing this, following Jiang Ye into the room.
“What’s up, boss? Have you set the wedding date? Do you need the brothers’ help?”
Jiang Ye glanced up at him, his gaze instantly making Hou Lin shiver.
Seeing this, Hou Lin chose to shut his mouth, not even daring to breathe loudly, standing straight to await instructions.
Jiang Ye tapped his fingers on the table, thinking for a moment before saying, “Arrange for a few brothers to keep an eye on Cai Xiaolan’s family. Also send people to monitor Wu Mengzhi and Su Jincheng. Report to me promptly what they do every day, where they go, and who they meet.”
Wu Mengzhi was so certain that Cai Xiaolan and Su Jincheng would break up, meaning one of them would definitely leave Beijing.
No need to guess—Cai Xiaolan was more likely to be the one.
Hah, if the shameless woman leaves, what should happen to the scumbag man?
Breaking up lovers is ultimately immoral.
This time, he was willing to do a good deed for free.
Upon hearing the task, Hou Lin immediately understood his boss’s wedding hadn’t been settled yet. Without asking any questions, he accepted the assignment and hurried off.
Jiang Ye didn’t idle either. He cycled to the cotton mill.
Jing Yu smiled teasingly when he saw him: “No need to rush giving me the invitation. You’ll get your gift money.”
“Ah, don’t mention it. The wedding’s off.”
Jiang Ye slumped onto the sofa dejectedly, looking as drained as if a demon had sucked out his energy.
Seeing this, Jing Yu stopped smiling. “What happened?”
“Ah, don’t mention it. Just someone popping up out of nowhere to cause trouble.”
“That Su Jincheng is really persistent. Even after losing his job and dignity, he’s still bouncing around everywhere. So annoying.”
Jing Yu was somewhat surprised. “Even if he tried to crash the wedding, the bride’s parents wouldn’t agree!”
Jiang Ye: “If he came alone, they wouldn’t agree. But he has an all-powerful mother!”
“Not only offering a thousand in bride price, but also promising two jobs at your factory.”
“With that kind of power and generosity, if I were a woman, I’d marry him too.”
“Jobs are so hard to come by these days, yet his mother can easily get two. Really impressive.”
After hearing Jiang Ye out, Jing Yu understood his intention.
He shook his head with a wry smile. What did this brother eat growing up? Every inch of him is full of schemes.
Cross him, and you’ll be calculated down to your last crumb.
“Just tell me what you need me to do.”
“Just help me spread a rumor.” Jiang Ye looked at Jing Yu. “Say that Wu Mengzhi is buying and selling jobs by abusing her position.”
Though called a rumor, it might not necessarily be just that.
With time pressing, he had no leisure to investigate her properly. This method would let the rumor reach the leaders’ ears, prompting them to have a talk with her.
He just needed Ruan Fu and Ruan Mu to believe Wu Mengzhi was under scrutiny from above, making her job promises unreliable.
That day, he had observed carefully—if Wu Mengzhi hadn’t offered those jobs, Ruan Tang’s parents wouldn’t have suddenly changed their minds.
This task posed no difficulty for Jing Yu, so he agreed readily.
Rumor or truth?
Jing Yu had his judgment, and the leaders would have theirs too.
With the matter handled, Jiang Ye prepared to leave.
Before leaving, he asked Jing Yu, “I plan to convert the side room into a bathroom in a few days. I need a helper—do you want to come?”
Jing Yu, looking at the documents in his hand, refused without even raising his head.
“No time, not going.”
Jiang Ye shrugged.
“Alright then. I was actually thinking of having my cousin come over to keep Tangtang company…”
“I’ll go.”
Jiang Ye snorted. “Putting romance before friendship.”
…………
At the Ruan residence.
Just as Ruan Tang was about to start preparing dinner, Ruan Xiangbei suddenly returned.
She looked surprised. “Why are you back when it’s not even the weekend yet?”
“Are you sick?”