Chapter 101: A Date

Could that be done too?

Xiang Nuan blinked her innocent eyes, envy glimmering within them.

Ruan Mianmian smiled and said, “I’ll take you next time. This time, no.”

Xiang Nuan asked almost at once, “Why not?”

“I have a date.”

Ruan Mianmian drew out the last word, her red lips curving ever so slightly, the look in her eyes as alluring as could be, leaving one’s thoughts to wander.

Sure enough, Xiang Nuan wore an expression of sudden understanding and began stifling her laughter behind her hand.

At four in the afternoon, Ruan Mianmian and Jiang Ce arrived at the door of Little Sunflower Bar right on time.

“Let’s make this clear first. Follow my lead.”

“Huh?”

Ruan Mianmian had just lifted a foot to go inside when Jiang Ce’s puzzled voice sounded beside her.

He glanced at her, a faint warning in his eyes, and said in a low voice, “Whether you get to drink, or how much you’re allowed to drink, is up to me.”

Like I’d listen to you.

Ruan Mianmian said nothing. She merely rolled her eyes at him and strode inside with bold, unrestrained steps.

It was still early. The true nightlife would not begin for a few more hours, so the bar was quiet for the moment.

A few waiters moved about from time to time, looking as though they were cleaning.

No matter how busy or lazy they might have been, though, every one of them would smile and step forward to greet Jiang Ce whenever they saw him.

Ruan Mianmian frowned and said with a mocking grin, “Well, well, a regular!”

Jiang Ce caught up to her in a few quick steps. He slipped an arm around her slender waist and said with a hint of overbearing authority, “Not that familiar.”

“Tch.”

Ruan Mianmian jabbed him with her elbow, but Jiang Ce let her fuss all she wanted and simply refused to let go.

From behind, the two of them looked like a pair of squabbling children from kindergarten.

Childish, and oddly adorable.

The bar’s owner, Chen Ci, was entertaining friends there tonight, so he had arrived early to prepare.

He had not expected that, so early in the day, he would hear Jiang Ce had come, and that he had even brought a sweet, soft, and lovely girl with him.

Although Chen Ci had not known Jiang Ce for very long, he had heard plenty of rumors about how Jiang Ce kept away from women.

Now that Jiang Ce had actually brought a girl along, Chen Ci’s curiosity was immediately piqued.

He wondered which unlucky girl had boarded Jiang Ce’s ship of no return.

A glint of interest curved Chen Ci’s lips as he made his way down from the third floor.

Ruan Mianmian and Jiang Ce were seated inside a half-enclosed booth, though in truth it was just a row of curved high-backed chairs forming a seating area and not a real private room at all.

At this moment, besides the two of them, the only other people in the bar were the cleaning staff. There was no one else.

That made Chen Ci spot them instantly in the corner.

The girl was sitting on the inner side, and from Chen Ci’s angle he could only see half of her profile. Though blurred and indistinct, it was still enough to tell that she must be a graceful, lovely beauty.

Chen Ci hurried over.

Then he saw that, for some reason, the atmosphere between them did not seem pleasant.

Jiang Ce leaned close and whispered something to the girl. No one knew what he had said, but the girl’s face promptly turned shy, and she covered her face at once.

Jiang Ce then placed an arm behind her and drew her into his embrace.

Chen Ci stared, dumbfounded.

This was the man who was supposed to avoid women?

Jiang Ce’s way with girls was no weaker than anyone else’s, from what he could tell.

Chen Ci’s curiosity only deepened, and he quickened his pace.

“Young Lord Jiang, long time no see!”

Chen Ci greeted him, though all his attention was on the girl beside Jiang Ce. His gaze deliberately slid past Jiang Ce and landed squarely on Ruan Mianmian.

And then he froze.

“You! You’re not...”

At the sound, Ruan Mianmian quickly leaned out to take a look. Seeing Chen Ci’s astonished expression, she slowly smiled.

“Long time no see, Boss Chen!”

Chen Ci had not yet recovered and asked, “What’s going on between the two of you?”

Jiang Ce lifted his cold eyes, as though Chen Ci had just asked something obvious, and replied, “What do you think?”

When he said that, he even shifted the arm around Ruan Mianmian’s waist up onto her shoulder, all for the sake of making his presence felt at this very moment.

“I...”

Chen Ci was instantly choked silent. His gaze kept darting back and forth between Ruan Mianmian and Jiang Ce.

The last time Ruan Mianmian had come here with Jian Yanzhi, he clearly remembered that Jian Yanzhi had feelings for her.

Back then, Chen Ci had even assumed they were a couple.

Who would have thought that today Ruan Mianmian would come with Jiang Ce instead?

What in the world was going on?

Chen Ci was completely thrown off.

Ruan Mianmian removed Jiang Ce’s arm from her shoulder and explained to Chen Ci, “Last time I didn’t get the chance to make it clear. I have nothing to do with that person, so don’t go making wild guesses in your head.”

Chen Ci fell silent at once.

Jiang Ce’s dark eyes drifted to Ruan Mianmian as he asked, “Who’s that person?”

“None of your business!”

Ruan Mianmian could not be bothered to explain any further. She got up, made Jiang Ce shift over a little, then took the outer seat and said to Chen Ci, “I’ve been here forever, and you still haven’t even thought to host me?”

Chen Ci smiled and answered, “We’re old acquaintances. If you want to drink anything, just go ask at the counter.”

“Hey, you!”

Ruan Mianmian curled her lips, then laughed. “Fine, I’ll go.”

Watching Ruan Mianmian’s cheerful figure, Jiang Ce shook his head as well.

Tonight, it looked like that drink was unavoidable.

Chen Ci sat down slowly across from Jiang Ce, a trace of hesitation on his face, and still would not give up as he asked, “You two are really together?”

Jiang Ce stared at him expressionlessly and asked again, “What do you think?”

Chen Ci hurriedly shrank back a little and waved his hands. “All right, all right, I won’t ask. With your temper, even if the girl is with you, I’m afraid it won’t last long.”

Having been teased, Jiang Ce was unexpectedly different this time. He leaned back languidly, a touch of laziness coloring his gaze.

“Whether it lasts or not doesn’t matter. I love her.”

“...”

Chen Ci was instantly dumbstruck, as though he had just been force-fed a bowl of dog food.

Honestly, he had known Jiang Ce for so long, yet he had never seen him like this before.

It was the look of someone utterly determined, someone whose obsession had turned into certainty.

He said it did not matter, but Chen Ci could tell he truly loved that girl.

Chen Ci could not help lowering his head and laughing softly, as if something amusing had come to mind.

Jiang Ce gave him a cool glance.

Chen Ci quickly explained, “Don’t look at me like that. I have a wife too, you know.”

“Oh.”

Jiang Ce answered coldly.

Then Chen Ci turned to look at Ruan Mianmian.

By now, Ruan Mianmian was seated at the counter, while the bartender had been forced to set aside his other work and put on a little show.

“Wow! Amazing! Your technique is really flashy.”

The bartender flipped the shaker over and over, yet each time caught it cleanly in his hands.

Ruan Mianmian clapped excitedly without stopping, looking delighted beyond words.

Chen Ci suddenly felt a mischievous impulse and glanced at Jiang Ce.

“Boss Jiang, can you really stand there and watch the girl you like cheer for someone else with such admiration?”