Chapter Ten: Coming and Going Together

"What did you say? Who are you calling an enemy? Ruan Mianmian, you'd better make yourself clear!"

Faced with Shen Ting's voice, brimming with anger and disdain, Ruan Mianmian felt a surge of irritation. She didn't want to hear anything related to Jian Yanzhi right now, nor did she want to hear the voice of his subordinate.

Ruan Mianmian replied impatiently, "I'm talking about you. Can't you understand plain language? If you've got something to say, spit it out. My time is precious, I don't have the patience to bicker with you."

"You!"

Shen Ting was so infuriated that she momentarily lost her breath, then quickly assumed a superior posture and demanded,

"Ruan Mianmian, you really don't want to stay in the company, do you? Do you believe I won't go straight to President Jian with this?"

Her words dripped with pride and threat, because she knew that Ruan Mianmian used to be terrified of this tactic. Whenever Ruan Mianmian disobeyed, she would bring out this threat, and it worked every time.

But this time Shen Ting was disappointed. The current Ruan Mianmian wished nothing more than to sever all ties with Jian Yanzhi.

"I don't care. Tell whoever you want! I'm not afraid."

As if! Did they really believe Jian Yanzhi was some kind of prize? This time, Ruan Mianmian's intellect was fully engaged; she'd never again be intimidated by their threats!

On the other end of the phone, Shen Ting was silent, clearly caught off guard by Ruan Mianmian's unexpected reaction.

"Fine, Ruan Mianmian. Remember, you said it yourself—don't regret it!"

With that, Shen Ting hung up. She was furious, but none of them believed Ruan Mianmian would actually change. They'd seen her clingy, pestering behavior before.

When President Jian really issued the dismissal order, they'd see how arrogant Ruan Mianmian could be then!

Ruan Mianmian could easily guess Shen Ting's intentions. They thought she'd break down, beg and plead to return.

Sorry, but this time, their expectations would fall flat.

After hanging up, Ruan Mianmian's mood improved significantly. She crossed her legs, swung her feet, and even hummed a tune.

But hardly a moment passed before she suddenly sat upright in bed. She remembered something troublesome.

"No, I must go to the company!"

She recalled that before plotting the kidnapping, her original self had prepared a USB drive, intending to hand it over to Jian Yanzhi once things were done. The USB was kept in her office drawer.

Now that Ruan Mianmian had seen Jian Yanzhi's true colors and was determined to seek Jiang Ce instead, if that USB fell into Jian Yanzhi's hands, chaos would surely ensue!

Thinking of the contents on the USB drive, she couldn't sit still. She jumped out of bed and rushed out the door.

Akun was standing guard outside. Hearing the commotion, he prepared to check on her, but before he could, the door was flung open and Ruan Mianmian barreled out, colliding with him.

"Ah! My hand!"

Ruan Mianmian cried out in pain, knocked to the ground. Akun was startled and hurried to help her up.

"Miss Ruan, are you alright?"

Ruan Mianmian lifted her head and shot him a glare, as if saying: Try it yourself and see how you fare!

Fortunately, her wounds had already scabbed over. Though the collision hurt, it wasn't serious. Once she was back on her feet, she looked at Akun and asked,

"Where's Old Zhang? I need to go out—can you lend me a car?"

Akun was taken aback, immediately shaking his head. "No, Miss Ruan, you're still injured. What if something happens while you're out? If you need anything, let me handle it."

Anything else could be delegated, but not this!

Ruan Mianmian weighed her options. If the USB ended up with Jiang Ce, she could never hope for his forgiveness. No one, especially Jiang Ce's people, could know about it.

"It's nothing important, really. I can handle it myself. Just lend me a car."

Her insistence left Akun helpless. But Butler Zhang had instructed him to watch over Miss Ruan carefully. What was he supposed to do?

"Miss Ruan, why don't you wait in your room while I ask Butler Zhang? If he agrees, you may go out," Akun suggested.

Ruan Mianmian's eyes brimmed with anxiety. Actually, it would be best to sneak out without anyone knowing—certainly not Jiang Ce's people. If Old Zhang found out, he would certainly report to Jiang Ce.

No, that couldn't happen. Jiang Ce must not know about this.

"Forget it, it's not urgent," she said, temporarily shelving the idea for lack of a better plan.

Back in her room, Ruan Mianmian closed the door again, but Akun outside seemed deep in thought.

Although she claimed it wasn't urgent, he could sense her anxiety and her reluctance to explain.

To play it safe, Akun reported the matter—not to Butler Zhang but directly to Jiang Ce.

Everyone could see how extraordinary the boss's concern was for Miss Ruan; anything concerning her, none dared conceal.

At Beishan Sanatorium, where Jiang Ce was recuperating, upon hearing the report, his expression remained calm, though doubt flickered in his eyes.

Shen Qing noticed and suggested, "Why not have Akun accompany Miss Ruan? That way, you won't need to worry, sir."

Jiang Ce glanced at him, a look full of meaning and coldness.

Shen Qing scratched his nose, saying no more, but it was clear to everyone how much the boss cared about Miss Ruan. Since Jiang Ce was reluctant to speak, Shen Qing voiced it for him.

As expected, though Jiang Ce's expression was sour, he didn't refuse Shen Qing's proposal. In effect, he gave tacit approval.

...

Ruan Mianmian originally intended to sneak out, but knowing Akun was stationed at the door made her feel awkward—how could she evade him?

Before she could devise a plan, Akun arrived with Jiang Ce's instructions.

"Miss Ruan, Butler Zhang says you may come and go as you please, but for safety, I must accompany you. Is that acceptable?"

Shen Qing had specifically advised not to mention the boss's permission directly, so Akun attributed it to Butler Zhang.

Ruan Mianmian hadn't expected Akun's diligence, which made her feel a rising goodwill towards him.

Never mind, better to be accompanied than not able to go out at all—it would be worse if her plan failed.

And so, she agreed.