Chapter 102: A Man’s Jealousy

“What’s there to endure?”

Chen Ci curved his lips, thinking, This brat really is stubborn.

Then, in the very next second, Jiang Ce said with deep sincerity, “As long as it makes her happy, I can accept anything.”

Anything that makes her happy? Very well.

The smile on Chen Ci’s face froze.

That line was utterly swoon-worthy, a pity the person it was meant for never heard it.

“Miss Ruan, please try it.”

The bartender nudged the glass over to Ruan Mianmian, his gaze carrying a hint of showmanship and ingratiation.

Ruan Mianmian’s attention was entirely captured by the brilliantly colored custom cocktail before her, and her face instantly lit up with a lovely smile.

“You’ve worked hard!”

With that, Ruan Mianmian hopped down from her seat, cradling the glass as she jogged back to Jiang Ce.

Chen Ci had thought the girl had come over to show off.

Instead, Ruan Mianmian looked at Jiang Ce with a coquettish expression and asked in a soft, sweet voice, “Can I drink alcohol?”

Chen Ci instantly began to question reality.

He was unquestionably the third wheel.

Jiang Ce was in an excellent mood. He gave a slight nod. “Only half a glass.”

“Okay!”

The little girl ran happily back to the bar seat, then turned to the bartender, whose face was full of astonishment, and said, “Just make half a glass later. Too much would be wasteful.”

Ruan Mianmian’s eyes shimmered with brilliance, as if filled to the brim with twinkling stars, making it impossible not to stare.

The bartender’s cheeks flushed red, and he nodded.

Ruan Mianmian smiled and lowered her head to smell it. A clean, crisp fragrance of alcohol rushed into her nose. The next moment, she took a small sip.

Mellow sweetness mixed with a hint of mint, with a touch of tartness underneath. The alcohol taste was not very strong, but it was still delicious.

“This is really good.”

Just as the praise left Ruan Mianmian’s lips, a large, well-defined hand reached in from beside her and directly took the glass away.

Ruan Mianmian froze for a moment, then turned her face to look at him and said with a smile, “I only just took one sip.”

Her look seemed to say, We agreed on half a glass.

“Mm.”

Jiang Ce’s low voice sounded. He lifted the glass and examined it closely twice, then, while Ruan Mianmian was not paying attention, tilted his head back and drained it in one go.

His throat bobbed up and down, and the sexy curve was especially pronounced.

Before Ruan Mianmian could get angry, the sight in front of her drew her in, and she could not help but look a few more times.

Then Jiang Ce reached out and handed the glass back, his expression deeply meaningful.

The bartender could not bear the pressure and hurriedly took the glass, no longer daring to let his gaze linger on Ruan Mianmian for even a second.

Ruan Mianmian rested her chin in her hand and watched Jiang Ce from the side, a smile of unclear meaning slipping from the corner of her lips.

At this moment, the inner commentary floating through Ruan Mianmian’s mind would probably have been something like this:

Ahhhhh! This man is insanely handsome!

Sexy, mesmerizing, and effortless!

He is my man! He is my man! He is my man!

Suddenly, Ruan Mianmian’s vision went black, and her thoughts were instantly cut off.

“Don’t be silly. Why are you covering my eyes?”

She still wanted to admire him a little longer.

Ruan Mianmian’s voice carried a hint of petulance as she reached up to pull at Jiang Ce’s large hand over her eyes.

Unexpectedly, her shoulder suddenly sank, and the faint scent of alcohol drifted through the air, spreading before her nose.

Ruan Mianmian’s face reddened, and her hands and feet did not know what to do.

What was Jiang Ce doing?

This was a public place. Why was he hugging her in front of everyone?

“Don’t you dare look at other people with that expression!”

Jiang Ce’s voice sounded beside Ruan Mianmian’s ear, deep and seductive, lethal without seeming to try.

The hands Ruan Mianmian had been trying to push away froze in place.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“If you look at others like that, I’ll get jealous,” Jiang Ce said lightly.

“You...”

Ruan Mianmian bit her lip, and a sweet warmth instantly surged up inside her.

Not far away, Chen Ci had been silently watching all of this. Seeing that scene, he could not help giving Jiang Ce a thumbs-up in his heart.

What happened to not caring?

That careless glance Jiang Ce had just thrown at the bartender had nearly sent the poor guy straight to the grave.

Men and their jealousy.

Then Chen Ci suddenly remembered the rumors that had once circulated in Jiangcheng about this big shot Jiang Ce.

He could not help muttering inwardly: What the hell kind of woman-avoiding man is this?

By a little after eight in the evening, the bar that had been dull and quiet during the day now seemed pumped full of adrenaline, instantly displaying the vigorous energy it possessed at this hour.

After coming out of the private cinema on the second floor, Ruan Mianmian and Jiang Ce went down to the first-floor lobby.

At that moment, an energetic dance track was playing onstage, and the dance floor was packed with men and women moving to the music.

Excitement colored Ruan Mianmian’s eyes. She took Jiang Ce by the hand and led him toward the dance floor.

“Jiang Ce, let’s go dance!”

“I...”

Before the word no could even leave his mouth, Jiang Ce had already been led away by Ruan Mianmian.

Ruan Mianmian knew Jiang Ce disliked being crowded in with other people, so she did not go into the center of the dance floor. She simply led him along the edge, swaying with the music.

“You don’t have to be so gloomy. Move a little, Jiang Ce!”

Ruan Mianmian wore a brilliant smile, and with a touch of absurd mischief, she seemed eager to see Jiang Ce make a fool of himself.

A helpless smile curved his lips as he looked steadily at the girl before him.

Ruan Mianmian was bright and beautiful, and her figure was excellent. Add to that those dazzling, singularly luminous eyes, and she quickly drew the attention of many people.

If not for the cold, intimidating presence of Jiang Ce beside her, the line of people coming to ask for her contact information would probably already have reached the door.

“Let’s go somewhere else and play,” Jiang Ce said suddenly, stepping forward to wrap an arm around Ruan Mianmian’s waist and, in a possessive gesture, drawing her firmly into his embrace.

Ruan Mianmian almost failed to react. “What? Why are you hugging me? It’s hot.”

She had barely stopped moving, and a fine layer of sweat had already formed on her body.

When Jiang Ce leaned in to hold her, the fabric clung to her skin, sticky and uncomfortable.

Ruan Mianmian tried to push him away, but Jiang Ce only held her tighter.

“Let’s go.”

Jiang Ce’s tone had already cooled. With an arm around Ruan Mianmian, he strode out of the dance floor and headed toward a somewhat quieter corner.

Although Ruan Mianmian was still a little confused, sensing Jiang Ce’s mood, she obediently followed along.

The moment they sat down, a waiter brought over two iced drinks.

It was obvious Chen Ci had arranged it in advance.

Ruan Mianmian casually picked up the cup and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls. Jiang Ce could not help but grasp her wrist and take the cup from her hand.

The chilly ice-coldness passed through the cup into Jiang Ce’s palm, and he frowned slightly without meaning to.

“It’s too cold. Drink less.”

Ruan Mianmian protested, “But it’s so hot.”

“Next time your period makes you uncomfortable, don’t expect me to hold you.”

“...”

That threat was very effective.

Ruan Mianmian immediately fell silent, her little eyes darting toward Jiang Ce from time to time, her mouth puckering so high it almost reached the sky.

Jiang Ce could not help but laugh softly and took a sip from the cup.

The crisp liquid, laced with sour and sweet notes, filled his mouth and brought a trace of freshness.

Jiang Ce raised an eyebrow. “Not bad.”

Ruan Mianmian instantly rolled her eyes at him.

“I’m going to the restroom.”

Ruan Mianmian stood up in a huff, but because Jiang Ce’s long legs were stretched across the space between them, she was boxed in.

Jiang Ce chuckled as he drew his legs back and rose with her. “I’ll go with you.”

Ruan Mianmian frowned and looked at Jiang Ce. “Are you crazy? I’m going to the women’s restroom. Stop following me!”